_Alex Henderson. Sam. Rutherfurd. Robert Baillie. George Gillespie._
_The Letter from the Synod of Divines in the Kirk of_ England, _to the
Generall Assembly._
_Right Honourable, right Reverend, and dearly beloved Brethren in_ Jesus
Christ,
The blessing and comfort of that inviolable Union which our gracious GOD
hath vouchsafed to both Churches and Nations, gave us opportunity the last
year, to breath out some of our sighs into your compassionate bosomes; And
such have been the soundings of your bowels, as have offered violence to
Heaven by your effectuall fervent prayers, and brought many sweet
refreshing to our languishing spirits by your pious and comfortable
Letters, in answer to ours.
This makes us studious of all means of acknowledging your tender
Sympathie, and of laying held on all opportunities of repaying again to
the same streams of consolation: for which end, as we canno but confesse,
that in the midst of those boysterous waves wherein we have been daily
tossed, wee have met with many gracious and unexpected encouragements, so
we must needs renew our former mournings, and rend our hearts afresh unto
you, with greatest instance for all the assistance that your Prayers,
Tears, Learning, Piety, and Largenesse of heart can possibly contribute to
your poor afflicted and still-conflicting Brethren: And this we the rather
beg of you, who, having bin first in the furnace of affliction, and are
come out of great tribulation, are meetest to commiserate, and best able
to comfort others in any trouble, by the comforts wherewith you your
selves have been comforted of GOD.
It was in our desires to have presented to your Venerable Assembly, some
of our dearest respects in writing, by that eminently learned and much
honored Commissioner of yours, the Lord _Waristoun_: But his departure
hence was so sudden to us, and unexpected by us that we could not have
time (as his Lordship can inform you) to tender by him such a testimony of
our Brotherly & intimate affections, as may in some measure suite with
your manifold and most affectionate expressions toward us, when our
sighings were many, and our hearts faint: For such hath been your love,
that no waters can quench it, and such the undertakings of the whole
Kingdome of _Scotland_ through your furtherance, that we already begin to
reap the fruits of all that Piety, Prudence, and Valour, which at this day
render your Nation worthily renowned in the Christian World; and us,
exceedingly straitned and restlesse in our selves, untill God please to
open a way for our endeavours, to make some more answerable returns.
Toward this, our thoughts and hopes were to have made, ere now, some
proceedings of our Assembly legible in yours, But such are the continued
distractions which lye upon our spirits, by means of the sad and bleeding
condition of this Kingdome, as have cast us much behinde our own
expectations, and hindred that expedition which the necessities of this
Nation, and the desires of our Brethren abroad, do earnestly call for at
our hands.
Sometimes through GODS goodnesse wee have a prosperious Gale, Sometimes
againe, we saile like _Paul_ and his company, _very slowly many dayes_.
And even then, when wee draw near _the fair Havens_, some contrary Windes
put us out into the Deep again. We walk in paths that have hitherto been
untrodden by any Assembly in this Church: We therefore are inforced to
spend more time in our inquiries, and in seeking of GOD a right way for
us, that at length we may put into that high way, the way of holinesse,
wherein Wayfaring men, though fools, shall not erre: And we will wait upon
our GOD (before whom we have been this Day humbling of our souls) untill
he lead us into all these Truths which we seek after; and we shall labour
to be yet more vile in our own eyes, as finding by experience that it is
not in man to direct his way.
Those Winds which for a while do trouble the Aire, do withall purge and
refine it: And our trust is that through the most wise Providence and
blessing of GOD, the Truth by our so long continued agitations, will be
better cleared among us, and so our service will prove more acceptable to
all the Churches of Christ, but more especially to you, while we have an
intentive eye to our peculiar Protestation, and to that publick Sacred
Covenant entred into by both the Kingdomes, for Uniformity in all his
Majesties Dominions.
Which Work we carry on (against what ever difficulties are cast in our
way) with more ease and comfort, by the great sedulity and seasonable
assistance wee daily receive from your Noble and Reverend Commissioners
sitting among us: Their Prudence will (we doubt not) sufficiently furnish
you with more particular information touching our affairs; And here, we
cannot but acknowledge that the assidious presence of these our learned
and highly-esteemed Brethren among us, and their free and faithfull
contributing of their counsels to us, doe oblige us much to a double duty;
the one of Thanks, which we now heartily render to you, for sending to us
such excellent Helpers; the other of Request, which wee earnestly make for
their continuance with us, untill the Work bee brought up to the finishing
Cubite.
Now, the Great Master-Builder (without whose Almighty concurrence, the
Builders labour but in vain) accomplish and perfect all his own glorious
Work in your hands, and in ours, also, to his own Glory, the peace and
edification of all the Churches, and the comfort of our selves over all
our travels and sufferings.
_Westminster_, May 17. 1644.
_Your most affectionate Brethren and servants in the Lord, by the
direction, and in the Name of this whole Assembly,_
William Twiffe, _Prolocutor_.
Cornelius Burges, _Assessor_.
Henry Robrough, _Scriba_.
Adoniram Byfield, _Scriba_.
_The Generall Assemblies Answer to the right Reverend the Assembly of
Divines in the Kirk of_ England.
_Right Honourable, right Reverend, and most dearly beloved in our Lord,_
We do thankfully acknowledge your respectfull remembrance of us by your
Letters at all occasions; and not a little rejoyce to see that happie
correspondence and Christian communion so sweetly entertained amongst us,
which is so acceptable in the sight of the Lord, so pleasant and
profitable, especially when kept and entertained betwixt Kirks and
Kingdomes about affairs of highest and most publick concernment and
interest: We have nothing more in our desires than to entertain that
harmonious correspondence, that Christian sympathie and compassion, that
sounding and resounding of bowels, which well beseemeth Kirks and Nations,
United by a solemn League & sacred Covenant, for mutuall endeavours, by
all lawfull means to a further unitie in that Faith once delivered to the
Saints, and greater Uniformitie in Divine Worship, Discipline, and
Government, according to the Paterne.
The case and condition of your bleeding Kingdome is no lesse sensible to
us, than if our selves were in affliction with you; but we trust all is
working to your best, and to our Lords glory: That some of you hes fallen,
it is to try you, purge you, and make you white: If the Lord by those
means be with that Reformation of his Ordinances, bringing also alongst
that other Reformation of hearts and lives should it not be welcomed with
all joy, although it bee upon the expence of blood and lives? The Lord
will turn the bygone rage of Man to his glory and your spiritual good the
remnant of rage will hee restraine. The Lord delivereth his owne by
degrees, _he is with them in trouble, and delivereth them, and honoureth
them_; He who hath been sensibly with you hitherto, and upholden you in
your trouble, will we trust, yet deliver you, and honour you: The more ye
sow in tears, the greater shall be your harvest of peace and joy, when the
Lord according to the dayes wherein he hath afflicted you, and the years
wherein yee have seen evill, shall make you glad, and his Work to appeare
unto you, and his glory unto your children, and the beautie of the Lord
your God to be upon you, and shall establish the work of your hands; yea,
even establish the work of your hands.
We should prove both unthankfull to God, and unfaithfull to men, did wee
not hold out unto you the Lords gracious and powerfull dealing with us in
the like condition, and comfort you with the consolations wherewith wee
our selves have been comforted: We were involved in the like difficulties;
we had the strong opposition of highest Authoritie set over two powerfull
Kingdoms, beside this of ours; and the unhappy providence of our wickedly
wise and wary Prelates, had done what in them lay, to make the Ministery
of this Land sworn Enemies to the intended Reformation: So that we walked
in a very wildernesse, in a labyrinth, and as upon deep waters, wherein
not onely did our feet lose footing, but also our eyes all discovering or
discerning of any ground; yea; wee were ready to lose our selves: Yet the
Lord hath graciously rid us, and recovered us out of all these
difficulties, and set our feet upon a rock, and ordered our goings. The
experience wee have had in our own persons, affoordeth us confidence and
hope concerning your affaires; and wee trust this hope shall not be
disappointed; it is our duety to hope upon experience, and it is the Lords
word and promise, that such an hope shall not be ashamed. It cannot choose
but beget confidence in you, when ye shall consider, that ye have seen
before your eyes your neighboring Ship of this Kirk and Kingdome, having
(as it were) loosed from your side, in the like or self-same storme,
notwithstanding all tossing of windes and waves, yet (_not by might, nor
by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts_) to have arrived safe
and sound to the Port and Harberie; yea, and to have dared to put out
again unto the storm, to contribute her weak endeavours for your help.
We acknowledge your impediments to be great and many, the sufferings of
your Brethren, the People of GOD, cannot choose but both damp your
spirits, and divide your thoughts: Your walking in an untroden and unknown
way, must put you (though never so willing to go on speedily, yet) to take
time and leisure to ask for the right way, and ye want nor the opposition
of some amongst your selves, to whom notwithstanding we trust the Lord
will reveale his truth in his own time. Never the lesse (much honoured and
dear Brethren) go on couragiously against the stream of all opposition;
every Mountain in the way of _Zerubbabel_, the Lord shall make plain; and
as many of you as are perfect, be thus minded, that forgetting the things
that are behinde, and looking to the things that are before, you presse
hard towards the mark, as having before you, not onely the prize of the
high calling and recompence of reward, but also at the end of this race,
these two precious Pearls and inestimable Jewels of Truth and Unity, and
all the Reformed Churches beholding and looking on, not onely as
witnesses, but also being ready to congratulate and embrace you.
We were greatly refreshed to hear by Letters from our Commissioners there
with you, and by a more particular relation from the Lord _Waristoun_ now
with us, of your praise-worthy proceedings, and of the great good things
the Lord hath wrought among you and for you: Shall it seem a small thing
in our eyes, that the Covenant (the foundation of the whole Work) is
taken? That that Antichristian Prelacy with all the traine thereof is
extirpate? That the door of a right entrie unto faithful Shepherds is
opened; many corruptions, as Altars, Images, and other Monuments of
Idolarry and Superstition removed, defaced and abolished; the Service-book
in many places forsaken, and plaine and powerfull preaching set up; the
great Organs at _Pauls_ and _Peters_ taken down; That the Royal Chappell
is purged and reformed, Sacraments sincerely administrate, and according
to the paterne in the Mount, That your Colledges, the Seminaries of your
Kirk, are planted with able and sincere Professors? That the good hand of
GOD hath called and kept together so many pious, grave, and learned
Divines for so long a time, and disposed their hearts to search his Truth
by their frequent Humiliations, continuall Prayers, and learned and
peaceable debates? Should not all and each one of these stir up our souls
to blesse the Lord, and render both you and us confident, that he who hath
begun the good Work, will perfect it, and put the Copestone upon it; That
the beauty of a perfected Worke may shine to all Nations, and we may say
and shout, _Grace, Grace, unto it_; That the time may be when full liberty
and leasure shall be to all the Builders of the House of GOD, to give
themselves with both their hands to the building up and edifying the
People of GOD in these things that belong to life and Godlinesse, to the
making of them wise to salvation, and throughly furnished to every good
work, and when the Lord shall delight to dwell more familiarly, and to
work more powerfully in, and by his throughly purified Ordinances? That
you afflicted and tossed with tempests and not comforted, shall have your
stones laid with fair Colours, your foundation with Saphires, your
Children shall be taught of GOD, and shall have great peace, and no Weapon
framed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that riseth against you
in Judgement shall bee condemned; That the Lord will awake as in the
ancient dayes, as in the generation of old; That the Redeemed of the Lord
shall come unto Zion with singing, and sorrow and mourning shall flee
away.
And as we are confident that the Lord who heareth Prayer, and hath
promised to guide his Servants in all truth, will bring your labours to a
comfortable Conclusion: So do all the Reformed Kirks, and the Kirk of
Scotland above all others extreamly long for the taste of the fruits of
their pious labours and continual pains: And so much the more, that we
have suspended some material determinations amongst our selves, upon
expectation of Uniformity; And that in the meane time so many scandalous
Papers come to our view, and to the hands of the People here, for libertie
of Conscience, toleration of Sects, and such Practices as are contrary to
the Doctrine, Goverment, and Peace of all the Reformed Kirks. For stopping
and suppressing whereof, as wee doubt not, but your wisedome, and the
Authority of the honourable Houses of Parliament will use some more
effectual means; So do we hope that your Determinations shall carry such
evidence of Divine Truth, and demonstration of the Spirit, that those
unhappy Clouds of darknesse shall be so scattered, that they shall be no
more gathered nor appear hereafter, to the dishonour of God, the prejudice
of his Truth, and the scandalizing of so many Souls for which Christ hath
dyed.
We do with hearty thankfulnesse resent all the kindnesse and respect you
have shown to our Commissioners, and your high esteeme of them in love for
the Works sake; Although their presence here would be very comfortable
unto us, very steedable to the publick, and necessar in respect of their
great and important particular charges and Stations; yet do we willingly
dispense with all, yea nothing shall be too dear unto us, so that this
Work be finished with joy, and _Jerusalem made the glory and praise of the
whole Earth: Because of the house of the Lord our God we will feel her
good: For our Brethren and Companions sake, we will now say, Peace be
within her Walls, prosperity within her Palaces._
_Edinburgh 4 June 1644,_
Subscribed in name of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of _Scotland_, by
the Moderator of the Assembly.
_The Assemblies answer to their Commissioners at_ London.
_Reverend and Beloved Brethren,_
It would have been the rejoycing of our hearts, and the lightning of our
countenances, to have seen your faces, and injoyed your presence here with
us, especially, should yee have arrived unto us loaden with the spoils of
Antichrist, the Trophees of the Kirk of Christ, and the long longed-for
fruits of your painfull labours: But seeing it hath pleased the Lord whose
Interest in the businesse is main and principall otherwise to dispose, it
doth become us with all humility to submit to his good pleasure, with
faith & patience to attend his leasure, _for he that beleeveth maketh not
haste_, and with more frequency and fervencie in prayer seek to him who
will be sought for these things and having _begun the good work will
perfect it_, and double the benefit by bestowing it in a more seasonable
time unto us.
We have not been a little refreshed with your Letters sent unto us and the
Commissioners of the preceeding Assembly, and with these from the Reverend
Synod of Divines, the answer whereof you will be pleased to present unto
them: by all which and more particularly by a full Relation from the Lord
_Waristoun_ a faithfull witnesse and a fellow labourer with you there, we
see and acknowledge that by the Lords blessing, the Progresse of the Work
is already more, than we can overtake in the course of our thankfulness;
that your labours are very great, your pains uncessant, your thoughts of
heart many, that ye endure the heat of the day; but being confident of
your patient continuance in wel-doing, and that your labours shall not be
in vaine in the Lord, wee have renewed your Commission, and returned the
Lord _Waristoun_ unto you, according to your desire, that ye may prosecute
that great Work which the Lord hath blessed so farre in your hands.
When the Ordination and entry of Ministers shall be conformable to the
Ordinance of God, there is to be expected a richer blessing shall be
powred out from above, both of furniture and assistance upon themselves,
and of successe upon their labours; for which end as our earnest desire
is, that the Directory for it may be established: so doe we exceedingly
long to see the common Directory for worship perfected, which may prove an
happy meane of that wished for Uniformity in the Kirks of the three
Kingdomes, shall (we trust) direct by all Rocks of offence and occasions
of stumbling, and shall remove all these corruptions wherewith the Lords
sacrifice and service hath been defiled.
That point concerning a change of the Paraphrase of the Psalmes in Meeter,
we have referred to the Commissioners here, whose power and Commission
granted by the preceding Assembly, we have renewed and continued. That
there be difficulties concerning Kirk-Government, wee think it not strange
for these reasons you lay our before us; yet because the minds of men are
still in suspense upon the successe of the determination of that Reverend
Assembly on the one hand, and upon the successe of the Warre on the other:
which doth not a little faint their hearts and feeble their hands, both
you and we must be instant with God and man for a finall determination of
all these debates, and a happy and speedy conclusion of this great
affaire, so much concerning his own glory and the good of his Kirk. _Now
the Lord lead you in all truth, and give you understanding in all things._
Edinburgh 4. June 1644.
_Subscribed in name of the Generall Assembly by the Moderator._
_The Assemblies Letter to the Kirks in the_ Netherlands.
Fratres in Domino plurimum colendi.
_Quæ Anno superiore Ecclesiarum Zelandicarum nomine, missæ sunt ad nos
Literæ, ut eas communis totius Ecclesiæ vestræ Religicæ voluntatis restes
suisse interpretaremur, effecit benevolentia vestra tot tantisque officiis
nobis spectata: Quam sententiam nobis confirmarunt ea quæ copiosè
clarissimus Eques_ D. Archibadus Jonsto nus Varistonus _in soro supremo
Judex, à reliquis tum Ordinum cum Ecclesiæ hujus Regni Delegate_ Londine
_nonita pridem remissus, in hac ipsa Synodo Nationali de eximio vestro
erga nos syudio commemoravit: Præfertim quanta fid, quam solicita
diligentia nofsram, vel Domini potius nostri Jesu Christi causam, quæ
nunc_ Londini _agitur & promoveriitis, & promovers etiamnum fatagatis. Quo
in negotio, ex iis, quorum ab eo resitata audivimus nomina, de propensa
reliquorum voluntate & cura, ut conciliandæ Ecclesiarum Britannicarum
unionis fæliciter suscepta consilia, vestra ope & opera prosperum mature
fortiantur exitum, minime obscura fecimus indicia. Sunt hæc tam illuseria
__ benevolentiæ vestræ testimonia, & in omnium bonorum oculis adeo
perspicua ut eorum memoriam nulla unquam delere potuerint oblivia. Laboris
autem & jam inpensi & porrò suscepti ad controversias in Synodo_
Londinensi _suborientes fœliciter expediendas & decidendas nequando
pœniteat ex eo quem per divinam jam benedictionem fructum cepistis, optima
quæque in posterum sperare consentaneum est._
_Huic tam honorifice beneficiorum vestrorum commemorationi à_ D.
Varistonio _factæ supervenerunt ex partibus Hiberniæ aquilonaribus Literæ
multorum Chirographis subsignatæ; Qui singularis gratiæ in illam Ecelesiam
divinitus effusæ, ex quo tempore in societatem fœderistrium unitorum sub
Rege nostro Regnorum admissi sunt,_ “_mentione facta, hujus inquiunt
divinæ benedictionis amplissimum nuper habuimus testimonium. Sanctorum in
Belgio liberalitatem eximiam; Qui nobis, ignotis licet & poregrinis,
fratres se nostri amantissimos, & malorum nostrorum sensu tenerrima
compunctos aperte demonstrârunt. Pauculos enim nos gladis superstites, &
fame propediem interituros, omnibus extremis circumventos, in ipso
articulo sublevarunt: Nec tantum oratione ad consolationum composita nobis
animos confirmârunt, hortantes ut humiliter incedentes Deum liberatorem
expectemus, qui non nisi ad breve tempus aciem suam à domo_ Jacob
_abscondere solet, sed subsidio insuper opulento cum annonæ tum aliarum
rerum ad nostram intantis angustis relaxationem & solatium necessarium
copiose nos refocillârunt. Tantum munificentiam cum supplices a Deo
contendimus, ut septuplam ipsis in sinum rependat tum demisse vos etiam
atque etiam rogamus ut in tanti beneficii agnitione Ecclesiis Belgicis,
nobi eum gratias agatis. Hæc illi. In quo quidem officio si illis desimus,
in nos pariter & illos graviter peccemus._”
_Agnoscimus igitur illustrissimorum & potentissimorum_ Hollandiæ,
Zelandiæ, _aliorumque Ordinum_ Belgicorum _tam eximiam beneficenciam:
Quibus non conniventibus modo & permittentibus (quod ipsum non vulgare
beneficium habendum esset) sed authoribus etiam modumque & rationem
ræscribentibus, exemplo qnoque præunitibus in subsidium fratrum nostrorum_
Hiberne _collecta per Ecclesias facta ad ipsos mature deportata sit:
Agnoscimus piorum in iisdem Ecclesiis Belgicis tam expromptam: volantatem
& liberalitatem; tantum beneficium non in __ ipsos magis fratres nostres,
quam in illorum persona in nosinet ipsos esse collatum: Vosque (fratres
Reverendi) obnixè rogatos volumus, ut quemadmodum nos ad omnem grati animi
significationem prompti semper erimus, ita quâ potissimum ratione commodum
videbitur, illustrissimis & potentissimis Ordinibus nostre nomine gratias
agatis populo autem Christiano curæ vestræ commisso tum publice universo,
tum privatim singulis, ut occasio tulerit, demonstretis quam honorifice de
ipsis sentiamus, & quanti faciamus tam eximiam benevolentiam & charitatem,
quâ in Ecclesiarum_ Hibernicarum _consolatione viscera nostra
refocillaverunt. Quæ autem vestræ fuerint partes, fratres charissimi, quam
pio studio & labore, quam assidua diligentia tantæ charitatis semen in
segetem & maturam tandem messem provexeritis, cum nos libentes agnoscimus,
tum res ipsa loquitur, & fructus opimus abunde testatur. Inprimis autem
(quod caput est) tantæ gratiæ authorem & largitorem nos una cum Ecclesiis_
Hibernicis _laudamus & celebramus: comprecantes ut in vos universos, in
Ecclesias a Domino vobis commissas, in illustrissimos_ Belgii _vestri
Ordines Spiritum suum copiose effundat, ut quemadmodum in Rep. vestra
adversus hostem potentissimum defendenda, & inter tantas bellorum moles
indies amplificanda, in Evangelii luce & veritate incontaminatâ contra
inferorum portas in vestris Ecclesiis propugnandâ, atque inde latius
propagandâ, immensa Dei vobis excubantis potentia, multiformis sapientia,
& eximia beneficentia, per universum terrarum orbem hactenus celebrata
est; ita bonis omnibus vos deinceps cumulare pergat idem fons omnis
bonitatis, ut frementibus religionis & libertatis vestræ hostibus,
sapientiæ & optimarum artium juxta ac armorum triumphorumque gloriâ inter
nobilissimas gentes Resp. vestra fœderata quotidie magis emineat, Ecclesia
sacrorum puritate, & cælestis veritatis splendore perspicua refulgeat;
eoque prosperè vobis cedant vestra prudentissima & saluberrima consilia,
quibus certissimum ad fælicitatem publicam compendium vos capessure
demonstratis, nec vobis tantum consulitis, sed de vicinis etiam Ecclesiis
soliciti, quâ operâ, quâ consilio opibusque vestris eas sublevatis &
confirmatis omnes, & quasi de specula unversis prospicientes de periculis
imminentibus commonefacitis, & ad ruinam ab hostibus dolosè machinatam
maturè precavendam armatis._
_Ergo quod anno superiori, veluti signo dato, Reformatas omnes Ecclesias,
missis ex_ Zelandia _literis commonuistis, ut cum impostores_, Jesu _nomen
impudenter ementiti, cæterique Antichristi satellites, quo securius in
populum erroribus Pontificiis fascinatum grassari, & puriores Christi
Ecclesias funditus extirpare queant, arctissimâ conjuratione Sociati ad
impia consilia patranda sese accinxerunt, Ita Ecclesiæ quoque Reformatæ
sine mora consilia in medium alacriter conferant, & animos ac vires
conjungant, ut perniciem sibi omnibus intentatam in hostium capita
retorqueant: ni fecerint, tam pudendæ ignaviæ excusatione apud
posteritatem carituri: consilium non minus prudens & fidum, quam fælix &
salutare libenter & tum agnovimus & nunc ipso etiam eventu comprobamus._
_Principio autem ad hoc consequendum necessarium videtur, ut sine morâ
convolemus omnes ad Deum nostrum clementissimum, qui postquam Ecclesiarum
Reformatarum mores minimè reformatos multis annis longanimitate suâ
pertulisset, ferulam primum, mox etiam gladium vibratum interminata,
tandem rubentem & madidum suorumque sanguine calentem & spumantem per
regiones plurimas jam diu circumtulis; in nos denique reliquos nunc
intentat, nisi mature resipuerimus, & de domo ipsius amplius purgandâ, de
gratia Domini nostri_ Jesu Christi_ pluris facienda, de cultu Dei
ipsiusque institutis religiosius habendis, de Sabbatho ejus sanctificando,
a quo nimium oculos nostros avertimus, & de moribus ad pietatis normam
componendis magis serio quam hactenus a nobis factum est, nobiscum
statuentes cum populo Dei sub_ Nehemia, Josia, _reliquisque piis
Gubernatoribus, religioso fœdere percusso, tanquam firmissimo vinculo Deo
obstricti, nos internes arctius adversus hostes univerimus, ut avertat
Deus jam fumantem & capitibus nostris imminentem iram, quam peccata nostra
plurima & maxima adversus nos prevocerunt & accenderunt._
_Non tantum nobis deferimus, nondum eos renovato cum Deo fœdere, & votis
nuncupatis dignos edidimus fructus, ut nostrum exemplum vobis proponere
libeat: Quod tamen experti fumus, de Dei erga nos gratia, quod gratitudo
erga Deum, quod gloria ipsius a nobis flagitat, celare non audemus.
Quecunque nostra male merita sunt in conspectu Dei & hominum; certe ex quo
die nos de religìoso fœdere cum Deo & inter nos ineundo cogitavimus, a
portis inferorum revocari, & res nostræ omnes in Deum nostrum necessario
__ conjectæ melius habere cæperunt, & fæliciore hactenus successu
processerunt. Quod si de fœderis huiusmodi religiosa societate cocunda
(quod rerum veltrarum & Religionis in_ Britannia _nostra ex fœdere nuper
inito perpurgandæ & stabilandæ commodo fieri possit) vestræ prudentiæ
visum fuerit cogitare, & ex consilio eorum quorum interest statuere, ac
eum aliis Reformatis Ecclesiis agere (proea qua apud omnes valetis gratia)
ut eandem vobiscum ineant rationem, non dubium est, per Domini ac Dei
nostri benignissimi_ Jesu Christi _in Ecclesias suas gratiam, fore, ut non
modo, quod certissimum adversus impendentia mala persugium anno superiore
missis ex_ Zelandia _literis denunciastis: Ecclesiæ Reformatæ arctioris
Societatis vinculo inter se unita ad hostium conatus impetusque frangendos
corroberentur & confirmantur; sed disiecti etiam lapides Domus Dei per_
Germaniam _ex rudere & cineribus ridevivi recolligantur, ac gloriosum
Domini nostri Templum ibidem instauretur: & purioris Religionis
Professores in istis Ecclesiis, per resipiscentiam ad eum qui percussit
eos, reversi, & quod nullis canescat sæculis fœdere, Domino nobiscum
coadunati, malis, sub quorum pondere tot annos gemiscunt, tandem
subleventur. Qui Dies longe optatissimus si per Dei gratiam semel
illuxerit: de consiliorum communione inter Reformatarum Ecclesiarum
Synodos per Legatos & Literas concilianda redivivi possit ratio, per quam
Ecclesiæ hostes compescantur, hæreses opprimantur, & schismata
retarciantur, pax cum Deo & inter Ecclesias firma conservetur, & gloriosum
Dei opus in Evangelio per orbem terrarum propagando, & Antichristi regno
abolendo promoveatur. Quod ut optandum, & sperandum, piis & prudentibus
vestris meditationibus, ut bonnum semen fæcundissimo solo commendamus._
_Edinburgi._ 4 Junii 1644.
Vestræ Dignitati & Fraternitati addictissimi, Pastores & Seniores
Nationalis Synodi Scoticanæ, &c. nostro omnium nomine ac mandato.