THe danger set forth, Theologically and Politi­cally.

1. Theologically, in regard of our sinnes; which are;

• 1. A generall slighting of the publike ministerie of the Word. They mocked the Messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his Prophets, until the wrath of the Lord a­rose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the King of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the Sword. 2 Chron. 36.16, 17.

  And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell, Mat. 11.23.

  The time well come, when they will not endure sound Doctrine, but after their own [...], shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables, 2 Tim. 4.3, 4.

• 2. A Decay of the power of godlinesse under that great plenty and varietie of choice meanes, which no age hereto­fore [Page 2]hath afforded: I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first-love, Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to thee quickly, and will remove thy Candle-stick, Revel. 2.4.5.

• 3. The many sad breaches, and unnaturall Divisions, that are amongst us. Every Kingdom divided against it self, is brought to desolation, and every City or house divided against it self, shall not stand, Mat. 12.25.

  Wheras there is among you, envying, and strife, and divi­sions, are ye not carnall and walk as men? While one saith, I am of Paul, and another I am of Apollo, are ye not carnall? 1 Cor. 3.3, 4.

• 4. The great neglect of the Publike, and every one mostly regarding his owne private Interests: Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your sieled houses, and this house lye wast? Ye looked for much, and loe it came to little. Why saith the Lord of Hosts? because of mine house that is wast, and ye run every man to his own house, Hag. 1.4.-9.

  For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christs, Phil. 2.21.

• 5. Incorrigiblenesse under the heavie judgements of God, viz. The Pestilence lately devouring at home, and the sword still abroad. I have sent among you the pestilence, after the manner of Egypt, your young men have I slain with the sword,—Yet ye have not returned to me, saith the Lord, Amos 4.10.

  The people turneth not to him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts: therfore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush in one day. Isaiah 9.13, 14—
  —I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repen­ted not, Behold I will cast her into a bed—Rev. 2.21, 22.

• 6. Insensiblenesse of our Brethrens calamities:—But they [Page 3]are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph, Amos 6.6, 7. Therfore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, contrary to 1 Cor. 12.26.

• 7. Carnall securitie, notwithstanding the abundance of Soul-awakening Ordinances: And as it was in the dayes of Noah, so shall it be also in the dayes of the Sonne of man, they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in mar­riage, untill the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and the floud came and destroyed them all,—Luk. 17.26, 27, 28, 29.

  When they shall say peace and safetie, then sudden destruction commeth upon them, as travell upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. 1 Thess. 5.3. Vid. Judg. 18.27. Isa. 28.15, 17.

• 8. The abounding of erroneous and hereticall opinions unsuppressed: Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest the woman Jezabel, which calleth her self a Prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to Idols,—Be­hold I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adulterie with her, into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds, Revel. 2.20, 22.
  —There were false Prophets also among the people, even as there shall be fals-teachers among you, who shall bring in dam­nable heresies.—2 Pet. 2.1, 2.

  There are certain men crept in unawars,—turning the grace of God into lasciviousnesse,—Jude v. 4.

• 9. Breach of our Covenants with God. I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrell of my Covenant, Levit. 26.25.

  Set the trumpet to thy mouth, he shall come as an Eagle a­gainst the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my Covenant,—Hos. 8.1.

  Let your owne consciences be Judges, how you can suffer all sorts of Heresies to passe unpunished, the seeds of [Page 4]manifold Schismes to be spread abroad uncontrol'd, pro­phane erroneous opinions to be commonly broacht with­out restraint in that CITY, which hath so expresly inga­ged it self in a most solemn and sacred Covenant before Al­mighty God, to extirpate all errours, heresies and schismes out of the house of God.

2. [...]. E [...]clesiarum Valla [...]. ad Sy­ [...]odum Londi­ [...]iensem. Politically in regard of our selves, and in regard of our enemies.

• First, the great distractions that are in our armies, which mightily weaken their hands, and utterly disable them, from doing us that service, that might otherwise be expect­ed from them, by the blessing of God, upon their indeavors.
• 2. Our Brethren of Scotland, at a great distance, who if the storme should suddenly fall upon us, are not ready (as with hearts so) with hands to helpe the Lord against the mighty.
• 3. Our City forces much decayed and broken, whose courage and forwardnesse in the Cause, hath formerly bin very advantageous, and chiefly succesfull, for the preserva­tion of City and Kingdome, against the common Adver­farie.

In regard of our enemies, we only hint these conside­rations.

• 1. Their active Instruments abroad, to bring in forraign Forces.
• 2. Their union among themselves at home.
• 3. Their strong expectations, of great advantages, by our present divisions.
• 4. Their industry, for the speedy raising of a numerous Army.
• 5. Their grand designe, against the Parliament and City.
• 6. Their necessity of expediting that designe,
  • 1. Because many of their Quarters are not able any longer to maintain them.
  • [Page 5]2. Their parties much weakned, in severall parts.
  • 3. Their feare of the Scots advance.

The Remedies that we humbly offer, are likewise Theologicall and Politicall.

• First, unfained Humiliation, in a deeper sense of our pre­sent sins and sufferings, then hitherto hath bin manifested.
  • Neh. 1.4. Nehemiah's fasting.
  • Jerem. 9.1. Ieremiah's weeping.
  • Ezek. 7.16 Ezekiels mourning.
  • Hab. 3.16. Habbakuks trembling.
  • 2 Cor. 11.29. Pauls burning in a god­ly zeal for the good of his brethren.
  How suitable would they be to such times as these are.
• 2. A setled uniforme method of Worship, Discipline, and Government amongst us, according to our late so­lemne Covenant, whereby all Achans may be removed from our Camps, and all that visible profanenesse from the face of our Congregations, which the pure eyes of a holy God, cannot endure to look upon. Vid. Josh. 7. Levit. 10. Hab. 1.
• 3. A holy Concord and Unanimity amongst Brethren, especially those of the Ministry, All having the same love, All being of one Heart, and of one way, All perfectly joyned together in the same mind, and in the same Judge­ment, All endeavouring to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, All of publike spirits, not seeking great things for themselves, but seriously intending the things of Jesus Christ. Psal. 133.1. Phil. 2.2. Ier. 32.39. 1 Cor. 1.10. Eph. 4.3. Ier. 45.5. Phil. 2.21.
• 4. A frequent publishing, pressing, and urging of the late solemne League and Covenant, for a through Re­formation, by the Ministers in their severall Charges, [Page 6]whereby our Davids, and our Ioshua's, Superiours, Inferi­ours, Magistrates, Ministers, All of all sorts may be per­swaded, and incouraged to pay their vowes, and to goe one before another in the Example of a Reall, and not a verball Reformation. Psal. 102.2. Iosh. 24.15.

• 1. That as all Israel by Gods appointment in times of their emergent dangers, so LONDON, and the parts ad­jacent be every man and horse, fit for service, instantly prepared against the day of battell, the manner whereof, we referre to the wisdome of the State, of which great Number by incouragements out of Gods Word, and ex­ercise of Armes, the Spirit of Fortitude will doubtlesse come upon multitudes, to fight Christs Battles against his Antichristian Adversaries. Numb. 1.2. Prov. 21.31. Deut. 20.1.
• 2. That least we be prevented herein, the Parliament be humbly and earnestly petitioned, to expedite the com­pleating of the Army, according to their New Modell.
• 3. That some more effectuall course be taken then hath been heretofore, to purge the Citie of all treacherous Pa­pists, dangerous malignants, whether strangers or others, who are alwayes plotting mischiefe against this Citie, and will then be sure to ingratiate themselves with the Ad­versary, by putting their plots in execution, when they may be most pernitious and destructive.

We have given out these Advertisements, that we might awaken the Citie out of their present deep security, unto a more then ordinary Activity, for the Parliaments, their owne, and the Kingdomes safety, for there is yet hope in this our Israel concerning this. Ezra 10.2.

Or that at least, we may deliver our own soules from the guilt of bloud. Having used our utmost endeavours, to save life, and not to kill. Mark 3.4.