THat your Petitioner is unfainedly sorrowful for all his late miscarri­ages, whether testified against him, or ac­knowledged by him; and for the great and sinful unsutableness of them to his Calling and Condition.

That upon earnest seeking of God, and diligent enquiring into his Will, your Petitioner is convinced [Page 2] that the alteration of Civil Govern­ments are ordered by, and founded by the wise and righteous providen­ces of God; who removeth Kings, and setteth up Kings, ruleth in the Kingdoms of men, and giveth them to whomsoever he will.

That the providences of this God, have in the judgement of your Peti­tioner, as evidently appeared in the removing of others from, and invest­ing your Honors with the Govern­ment of this Nation, as ever they appeared in the taking away, or be­stowing of any Government in any History of any Age of the world.

That he apprehends that a refusal to be subject to this present Authori­ty, under the pretense of upholding the Title of any upon earth; is a re­fusal [Page 3] to acquiesce in the wise and righteous pleasure of God; such an opposing of the Government set up by the Soveraigne Lord of Heaven and Earth, as none can have peace, either in acting in, or suffering for; and that your Petitioner looks upon it as his Duty, to yeild to this Au­thority all active and cheerful obedi­ence in the Lord, even for Consci­ence sake: to promise (he being re­quired) truth and fidelity to it; and to hold forth the grounds of his so doing to any, as God shall call him thereunto.

That though an Imprisonment, accompanied with the loss of estate, and to be followed (without your gracious prevention) with a speedy Arraignment before an high and [Page 4] eminent Judicatory, is far from being pleasing to flesh and blood; and though the enjoyment of your grace and favour be a blessing most deser­ving to be reckoned among the best of Temporals; yet that neither the feeling and fearing of the former, nor the expectation of the latter, could have induced your petitioner against the light of his own Judgement, and the prepondering part of his owne Conscience, to have made or present­ed this Acknowledgement; he sadly forecasting, that a whole skin is but a contemptible recompence for a wounded Conscience.

That nevertheless (he trusteth) he shal be excusable in tendring thus far even his outward condition, as to re­present to your Honors, that he is [Page 5] in most apparent danger of his irre­parable loss of his health (the sweetest of outward blessings) unless by your gracious grant he may speedily en­joy a more free and open Ayr then this close confinement will allow him.

And this Christian favor (which even for Christ's sake your poor Pe­titioner most humbly beggs) your Honors are as able to enlarge, even to a pardoning of his offences, and a perfect releasing of him from his Im­prisonment, as he is submissively for­ward in desiring them, though con­fessedly far from deserving them.

He nevertheless promising, that your compassionate affording here­of, shall be a strong and standing en­gagement upon him; daily beseech­ing [Page 6] the heart-making and heart-changing God, that all those who ei­ther through former unaccustomed­ness, or present inadvertency do not cleerly discern the mind of God con­cerning the alteration of this Gover­ment, may by observing your prime and pious industry, to advance throughout this Common-wealth the power of godliness, a Scripture refor­mation, and the truth as it is in Jesus; be won to a yeilding to your honors conscionable obedience; and not on­ly in word, but in heart and life may be true and faithful to this present Government.

Resolved &c. That M. Jenkin be pardened both for Life and Estate; and that M. Atturny General be re­quired to prepare the Pardon to be passed under the great Seal of England; and that his body be forthwith discharged [...] Imprisonment, and his Estate from Sequestration.