THe Successes of all the Consultations and Actions of the Sons of Men have their Dependence on the Pleasure of that God, who is Wonderful in Counsel, and Mighty in Working: And there­fore, as in all other Affairs, so especially in those which are of greatest concernment, it is our Du­ty to seek the Lord, with whom alone is Wisdom and Strength, that we may testifie our Hope to be in him, and our Dependence on him alone. It is the Priviledge of those who are in Covenant with the Lord, that they have a God nigh unto them in all that they call upon him for. The People of God in this Nation (if they had observed them, or have not forgotten them) may pro­duce so large a Catalogue of Mercies given in answer to Prayers, as no Nation under the Heavens can parallel: in not a few of which the Lord hath as it were exemplified that Promise, Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear; and in others, given a proof of his Faithfulness in what he had said, Ask of me concerning my Sons, and concerning the Works of my Hands command ye me: All of them so many real Demonstrations, that he hath not said unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: So that above all the People in the World, those who fear the Lord in these Nations have cause to say of him, Because he hath heard my voice, therefore will I call upon him so long as I live: And as if the Lord would try us whether we will do so or not, he is pleased to administer variety of occasi­ons to prove the Faith of his People. This present season exhibits matter of deep Humiliation, and earnest Sup­plication. Who can look back on the Providences wherewith the Lord hath exercised us the Year passed, but hath cause to say, My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgements? And if we do but with an eye of common Prudence, take a Prospect of those great Actions which are like to be the Product of the ensuing Year, and weigh the Consequences of them, may we not say, Lord, we know not what to do, but our eyes are unto thee? His Highness the Lord Protector seriously considering these things, and having by the Advice of His Privy Council called a Par­liament to meet in January next, and being not a little sensible how great an influence the Deliberations and Determi­nations of that His great Council may have, not onely upon the Civil Peace and outward Prosperity of these Three Nations, yea of all the Protestants abroad, but also in reference to the Spiritual Liberties which the Lord hath in an especial maner reserved as a Blessing to be given in to this Generation, and likewise to the concernments of the Gospel through the World: Therefore His Highness, by Advice of His Privy Council, holds it a seasonable and ne­cessary Duty as in His own Person, so to call upon, and invite others who are concerned herein, in a Solemn maner to humble themselves before the Lord, and earnestly to seek his Favor and Blessing on the Counsels and Affairs of these Nations, and especially on that Great Council, that he who is the Counsellor and Prince of Peace, will sit among them, guide their Spirits, and lead them to such Counsels of Peace and Good for these Nations, and the Interest of the Lord Iesus in them, that the Generations to come may rise up and call them Blessed, and the Na­tions round about us may be filled with Admiration at the Lords gracious dealings with us, and we may have further cause to say, The Lord is in the midst of us, therefore we shall be established. For which purpose His Highness doth appoint, That in all Places within England and Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Wednesday the Nine and twentieth day of December instant, and in Scotland and Ireland, Wednesday the Fifth of January next, be observed as a day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation in all Churches, Chappels and Congregations within the same; ear­nestly exhorting all those whose hearts the Lord hath touched with a due sense of these things, to be instant with the Lord in this behalf, in such a Serious and Solemn maner, as the nature of so Spiritual and Extraordinary a Duty doth require, and that every one in their Places will study how they may second their Prayers with sutable endeavors, tending to Vnity and Peace: And His Highness doth Will and Require all Ministers and Pastors of Congregations, to Read this Declaration in their Meetings for Publique Worship on the Lords Day next before the said Day of Publique Fasting, to the end the same may be the better taken notice of: And the holding of all Markets and Fairs are hereby Prohibited on that day.

Given at WHITE-HALL this Sixteenth day of DECEMBER One thousand six hundred fifty and eight.