Die Jovis penult. Maii, Sess. 2.
_The Letter from the Presbyeerie with the Army in_ England, _to the
Generall Assembly._
_Right reverend_,
Having the opportunity of the sitting of this Venerable Assembly, we
thought our selves obliged to render some accompt of the state of our
Affairs. It hath pleased the Lord to exercise us since our out-coming,
with many straits and difficulties, yet in the mids thereof he hath
wonderfully upheld and carried us through. The depth of his wisedome hath
suspended us for a time from any great action, to make us walk humbly
before him, and to keep us in a continual dependance upon himself: And yet
he hath by his own power scattered before us the great Popish Army, and
much diminished the number thereof, so that they do not now appeare
against us in the Fields; That all may learne to trust in GOD, and not in
Man. It was farre from our thoughts and intentions to have come this
length at that instant when the course of Divine Providence pointed out
our way unto us, which led us on by some long and speedie marches to joyne
with my Lord _Fairfax_ and his Sonne their Forces. The City of _York_,
wherein a swarme of obstinate Papists have taken sanctuary, is blocked up;
Now and then God favoureth us with successe in some enterprises about it,
and wee look for more if the time be come which he hath appointed for the
deliverance of this People.
Our Soules do abhorre the treacherous attempts of our disnatured
Countrey-men, that have endeavoured to make their native Kingdome a seat
of Warre, and our bowels within us are moved to think upon the maine
mischiefs, if not timeously prevented, that may follow upon the unatural
Warres there; Like unto these under which this Kingdome hath groaned for a
long time. We have found none more malicous and cruel against us than
these of our own Nation, and we measure those at home, by these here;
_Cursed be their rage, for it is fierce, and their anger for it is
cruell._ The present danger calls upon all to lay out of their hands what
ever may hinder their haste, as one Man to come together for saving the
Vine-yeard that the wilde Boares would lay waste, and taking the Foxes
that would destroy the Vines. You are, Right Reverend, now set upon the
highest Watch-tower, from whence you may discover the dangers that
threaten on all coasts, and we need not put you in minde to give warning
to the Watch-men in their severall stations; To rouze up the People from
their too great security; To call them to unfeigned Humiliation, and to
stirre them up to wrestle with GOD by prayer; that hee would preserve
Truth and Peace at home against the machinations of Malignants; That hee
would prepare the People here, and make them more fit to embrace the
intended Reformation; And that hee would command these unnaturall and
bloudy Warres to cease, that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish
through the three Dominions, Praying GOD to send upon you the Spirit of
truth, who may lead you in all truth. We remaine
_Middle-thorp, 20. May, 1644._
_Your loving Brethren, The Presbyterie of the Scottish Army in_ England,
Master _Robert Douglas_, Moderator in their name.
_The Petition from the distressed Christians in the North of_ Ireland.
To the Reverend and Honourable Moderator and remanent Members of the
Generall Assembly of _Scotland_, conveened at _Edinburgh_ in May 1644.
_The humble Petition of the distressed Christians in the North of_
Ireland.
_Humbly sheweth,_
That whereas your former enlarged bounty, and our present overflowing
straits would require a gratefull acknowledgement of the one, and a
serious representation of the other: Our case is such, as neither can be
expected at our hands, being stricken with astonishment, and full of the
furie of the Lord. We are these indeed who have seen affliction by the rod
of his wrath: So that it were more fit, we had a Cottage in the
Wildernesse amongst the Owles to mourn out our imbittered Spirits, then
that by word or writ we should compeere before any of his People: Although
you cannot be wearied in wel-doing, yet we shall up way think it strange,
if now you shall give over any more care of us; Seeing the Lord hath
testified against us, and the Almighty hath afflicted us. Your judgement
is with the Lord, and your reward is with God, not onely for your two
years visiting and watering a barren vineyard, but also for your zeale and
care to have your Reformation spred amongst other opprest and borne-down
Churches, whereof you have given an ample and famous testimony in sending
hither that blessed League and Covenant which wee much desired and longed
for, as by our Petitions to the Church & State of our Native Kingdome is
knowne unto you; which hath had a wished and gracious successe by the
favour and blessing of God, accompanying the pains of these to whom the
tendering thereof was intrusted by you. And we conceiving a chief part of
our miserie to consist in our want of opportunitie to joyne our selves
with the People of God in the foresaid Leagues; Esteeming our selves
rejected of God and unfit to be joyned in any comfortable fellowship in
the Gospel with them, when the said League and Covenant was presented to
the Regiments; Wee made bold to lay hold upon the opportunity (though
aflicted abjects) and cheerfully and unanimously joyned our selves
thereunto: That if wee peerish in our misery, wee may die a Covenanted
People: and, if our miserable life be prolonged, we may finde shelter and
refreshment under the shadow thereof in our fierie trials, confidently
expecting from the Lord by our neerer conjunction with you than before, an
accomplishment of what is agreed into the Covenant, which ye bountifully
expressed before we were one with you, to your never-dying-commendation.
We are nothing shaken in our minds with the odious aspersions of sedition,
combination against the King: and overthrow of Muncipal Laws, &c.
(wherewith our Covenant is branded) nor with the threats of these who
should be comfortable to us in our troubles: But are the more encouraged
to beleeve that God shall raise up the Tabernacle of _David_ that is
fallen, and repair the breaches thereof: For since we Covenanted with God,
and united our selves together, our dying Spirits have revived, and we
sing like those who have come forth from their Graves, for God hath had
mercy on _Jacob_: In testimony whereof he hath opened the bowels of the
Churches of _Holland_, who were strangers to us, and yet dear Brethren,
and tender Sympathizers with our afflictions and sorrows, who, when these
who were left of the Sword were in danger to dye by famine, did
plentifully relieve us in our straits, not onely by comfortable
encouragements to walk humbly with God, and wait for him who hides his
face from the house of _Jacob_ for a season; but also by their rich supply
in Victuals and others necessar for our relief and comfort, which we
humbly desire our Lord to repay seven-fold in their bosome, and become
your Supplicants to joyne with us in a grateful acknowledgement of their
singular favours: And upon the heels of these favours you have continued
your unparalled compassions in keeping your forces and enabling them,
together with the other Forces, for avenging the cruel murders, and
effusion of Christian blood in this Land, notwithstanding of your owne
multiplied difficulties. The Lord hath begun to delight into us, and in a
day of salvation hath helped us (So happy are the people who are in
Covenant with God.) We are these (indeed) who may justly be burnt up for
our unfruitfulnesse in the dayes of our plenty, & stubbornesse in the
dayes of our affliction, which has brought us so low, that where we once
enjoyed a blessed plenty, we must now beg of the crumbs that fall from
your Table: We cannot dissemble, but so farre as we can discern our owne
hearts, we would preferre the joyful sound of the Gospel to our much
wished Peace and precious lives: But it may be discerned, your
Consultations of before have been guided by the Spirit of the Lord; in
that when wee twice in our forward hasting desires begged the present
loosing and planting of some Ministers amongst us, you judged it more
convenient to supply us by turnes, as foreseeing that our Captivity was
likely to endure: Our hopes are so far revived, that we trust to see the
day when he shall take the Cup of trembling out of our hands, and put it
in the hands of them that afflicted us.
And therefore, if you account us fellow-partners of the Purchased
Inheritance, Yet again suffer our necessitie to plead with you, that as it
hath been by the Committee of Bils already advised, that a competent
number of Ministers may be gifted to us by your Commission when they shall
set the Calling cleared, the same may be granted as a testimony of your
confidence, and expectation of our delivery; And in the meane time some
others may be sent by turnes to keep in the dying lives of above twenty
foure desolate Congregations, who are in danger to perish for want of
Vision: And although we do proteste, we count not our selves worthy of
such favours, yet as we have resolved to dye with the cry of hope in our
mouthes to the Lords Throne; So in obedience of the use of the means by
him appointed, we stretch out our hearts and our hands to you for help,
and have sent our Brother _William Mackenna_ Merchant at _Belfast_, to
attend what answer it shall please the Lord by you to returne unto
_Your distressed Brethern and Supplicants._
_Subscribed by very many hands._