THe anxiety and sorrow, arising from the lamentable condition of the Kirk in Ireland, and troubled Estate of the Kirk in England, doth so vex and torment us, and the extream danger to which they are brought is so great, and our desire of their delivery so vehement, that if we would, yet we cannot sufficiently expresse the same.

We acknowledge, that for our sins the Kirks are afflicted with these great miseries, forasmuch as in this so great light of the Gospel, Pride, Covetousnesse, Ambition, Drunkennesse, Wantonnesse, filthy Lusts, and such like pestilent evils, do no lesse abundantly spring up among us, then when we sate in the darknesse of Paganisme and Po­pery: wherefore that which is written hath befallen us: I have for­saken mine house, I have left mine heritage, I have given the dearly be­loved of my Soul into the hand of her enemies: with what measure we have mete out unto the Lord, with the same he is againe measuring unto us.

We heare from all quarters, of the boasting and pride of Moab; of the loftinesse and arrogancy of his heart; that skipping for joy, he glorieth, that now the fatall day is come, and the fairest occasion that ever was, is now offered to cut off such as they do hate with deadly hatred, and with one stroke to overthrow the reformed Kirks, and to root them out together, that they be no more. And verily, if wee looked only to the arme of flesh, we might conceive this their inso­lent boasting not to be without cause; for if they be able to prevaile over the Kirks of the flourishing and potent Kingdom of England, they are hopefull without difficulty to overturn the Kirks of Scot­land, as also to bring easily the reformed Kirks of the Netherland [...] to the same desolation; and that there is no reformed Kirk in Europe which shall be able to withstand their formidable power: yea, they shall with open throat swallow them all up as a morsell of bread, feeding themselves upon these hopes, with great courage, extream endeavours, and united forces, they addresse themselves to this work. So must also the reformed Kirks do, they must joyne their Counsels, courage, and strength, that they may make the present pernicious [Page 2] blow aimed at them, return upon the heads of the enemies; if herein they bee deficient, such shamefull cowardise will be inexcusable to all posterity.

And whereas (much honoured) we use this compellation by our Letters, we earnestly entreat you, that ye take not this our dealing in ill part, as if we took upon us to waken you out of a deep sleep (farre bee such arrogancy and rashnesse from us) there are extant to the world most evident testimonies of your zeal for the reformed Reli­gion. But the true cause of saluting you by these our Letters, is, that we may approve by our suffrage your diligence and zeal, and that wee may poure out into your bosomes the fear of the dolefull event wherewith wee are perplexed. And that we may declare our desire and affection towards the Kirks of England, with which the Kirks within our bounds are so united, that we judge if the Kirks of Eng­land perish, they cannot escape ruine. Pardon therefore our freedom, in that we make bold thus to trouble you with our Letters, if it may be called trouble.

We entreat your wisdomes, forasmuch as ye are joyned to these afflicted Kirks in neighbourhood, and nearest bonds under the go­vernment of one King, who is resolved to live and die in the reformed Religion, as in his publick Declarations plainly he hath professed, that with all carefull endeavours ye aid them against the rage and fury of the factious and malignant.

And first, seeing the deplorable division between the Kings most Excellent Majesty and his Parliament, is exceeding perillous and hurtfull to the Kirks of that Kingdome, that yee leave nothing un­essayed for healing of that rent, by prayer, supplications, interces­sions, and all other lawfull meanes.

Secondly, let it never come to passe, that these Kirks, deserted by you, become a prey to Popish Forces, and be wofully torne by them. O how much blood would be spilt! The times of Queen Mary would returne, yea much more cruell then these: no cruelty that sa­vages could devise would be omitted, no sex would be spared: keep not therefore your selves quiet in this difficil time, as if from a high rock ye were beholding securely a tempest and present shipwrack: Far, far be such a minde from you, as it is indeed; not like to Meroz whom the Angel of the Lord accursed: Therefore make haste to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty. So shall ye oblige all the reformed Kirks of Europe unto you.

[Page 3] Thirdly, so far as in you lieth give all diligence, that the foresaid Kirks, now freed of the Episcopall yoke, and purged from all the rites and dregs of Antichrist, be not drawn back to the same bondage, nei­ther by fraud nor force. The Lord of his infinite goodnesse hath be­stowed this favour on you, and hath put it in the heart of the Kings most excellent Majesty, that he will not have your necks pressed any longer with the yoke, or rather intolerable tyranny of Episcopall government, (we heartily congratulate with you in this your hap­pinesse.) But withall it is our desire, that ye lay your accompt, that if the neighbouring Kirks bee drawn back to that yoke of bondage, (which God of his mercy avert) your liberty will not be long sure: for the enemies of the truth being strengthened by a new addition of forces, and encrease of power, they will uncessantly pursue you, that at last ye will yeeld, and of your own accord take on that iron yoke, which, though by a slow, yet by a sure pace, leadeth to utter destruction.

Ye ought therefore to strengthen and support the Kirks of Eng­land by your whole power, and to exhort them, that they come never again under that tyrannicall yoke; but rather that they may stand couragiously for the maintenance of their liberty (yet so, that they fall not on the other extream, Anarchy, a more dangerous evill) yea, that they have not the least fellowship with any idolatrous rites or ceremonies. The Christian tabernacle no lesse then the Jewish ought to bee built according to that pattern shewed in the Mount of the Scripture, so that there be not in the curtaines thereof so much as a loop or a tach, but according to the prescript of God the only Law-giver.

Long experience hath taught us, that there is in such rites a secret and wonderfull power to defile, if but the smallest part thereof be ad­mitted, it will not long continue so, but speedily, like a gangrene, it will begin to spread, whilst at [...]ast it corrupt the whole worship, ha­ving lost the simplicity and purity of Christs institution. What? were she not a foolish and mad woman, who would adorne her selfe with ornaments borrowed from some vile harlot, supposing thereby the better to please her husband? What filthier harlot is there then the Romish strumpet, most accomplished in all sorts of spirituall villanies, surpassing all the bounds of impudency? Let us never therefore be so demented, as to accompt the worship of God, most pure by Christs institution, to be more pleasing unto God, when it is performed with [Page 2] [...] [Page 3] [...] [Page 4] ornaments borrowed from the Romish Bordell. Let us think that the Lord cannot but be highly offended, take away his holy Spirit, and depart far with the light of his grace, so soon as men begin to bee so mad; then hee suffereth them from day to day to sink deeper in the dunghill of superstitious rites, wherein they delight, while at last they be suffocated therein as it came to passe in the Papacy.

We confesse indeed, that for things indifferent we like not to bee contentious, neither left we the Romish Kirk for these or such like things; but for the denying of that only sacrifice of Christ in their Masse; for their adoration of a breaden god and of Saints, for their ex­alting the Pope above God, and for his tyranny; for their contempt & prohibition of the use of Scripture; for justification by works, and hun­dreds more of that kinde. If the Romish Kirk had been tainted only with some smaller blemishes, or had been defiled only with some indif­ferent rites; if for these we had departed from her we might have been justly taxed as Scismaticks, yea, a generation of vipers, which bursting through the mothers bowels, is not brought forth but by particide.

But first having once departed for their accursed idolatry, and the Kirk being purged, to returne back againe unto Popish rites, once cast out, appeareth evidently to be extream dangerous, by reason of the subtilty and restlesnesse of Sathan.

2. Whosoever ceaseth not eagerly to presse and to introduce these rites, though they perceive all things to be turned up side down ther­by, they make manifest, that it is not for these ceremonies alone they stir up such troubles, but that they do secretly project some other thing

3. As for such ceremonies and rites as have their origin all from minds arrogant, and not contented with divine institution, & to which an opinion of necessity is added, as if without these, holy things could not be decently gone about, and the worship but coldly performed; truely we cannot see how such ceremonies can be called indifferent.

Suffer never therefore (much honoured brethren) so farre as is in you, that the English Kirks be forced to receive such ceremonies; but rather use all meanes that they and yee in Kirk-government may be brought to as near agreement as may be. Hence shall redound mani­fold and great utilitie.

• 1 The pure manner of worship being preser­ved, the inestimable treasure of the purity of doctrine, which is com­mitted to us, shall be the better kept, and transmitted uncorrupt to Posterity.
• 2 If the Kirk be purged from all Popish leaven, she will be the more comely in the eyes of her bridegroome, and will obtain [Page 5] the larger showre of blessings; and, as a field purged of tares, shall be the more fruitfull.
• 3. This will exceedingly settle the Estate of your Kirks against the continuall Plots and Conspiracies of Papists; united Forces are strongest. The purity of worship being established, your Kirks shal grow up together with the English in a more sollid and durable concord.
• 4 This will cut short the Popish Emissaries of all hope of comming speed by their crafty wiles. They perceive that the reformed Kirks doe extreamly abhorre their Idolatry: therefore they despaire to introduce the same wholly and together: but they essay to creep in by degrees. They labour to perswade, that there is no danger, if with the singing of Psalmes, Organs be joyned as a part of Divine worship: if for the simple and ordinary habit of Ministers the Surplise bee used: if with the Lords day, there be celebrated also Fe­stivall dayes in memory of the Martyrs: If these things shall prosper in their hands; then in place of a Table, yee shall have an Altar; for sitting at Communion, kneeling: and if they have successe herein, then shall yee have Images, and the whole mask of Popery: with this hope they uphold themselves, and of this hope they are to be cut short.
• 5 This also shall constrain such of ours who are busied about Recon­c [...]liation that is to say, who labour to make up a Communion between day and night, darknesse and light, to relinquish their foolish undertaking.

And let not that move you which is pretended; that such cere­monies as kneeling in the holy Supper, conduceth much to stir up piety, and to avoid contempt: that forewarning of the Apostle hath taken deep impression in our hearts, That such things have a shew of wisedome in will-worship and humility: but in effect are of no worth. Such things have the appearance of wisedome, but not the reality thereof. What? came not such a thought into our Saviours minde? Why then sate hee after the ordinary custome of the countrey? Why enjoyned he not kneeling? Next, what if some other should appoint for greater humility and submission of minde, that wee should come with sack-cloth and ashes to the holy Supper? Yea, if another should appoint, that wee ought to come with ropes about our necks, that by this signe they might openly declare their extreame unworthinesse, and that they had deserved death, as the servants of Benhaded came unto the King of Israel? And in end, what shall bee the end, if this doore shall once be opened? therefore wee must not passe from the Primitive worship.

[Page 6] But wherefore then, may some say, doe your selves passe from the Primitive way? Why stand they in the French Kirks at the Lords Supper? Why sit yee in the Netherlands? And why doe yee not leane every where? The reformed Kirks have their answer ready: When we come to eat and drink at Table, it is all one, whether ac­cording to the custome of our countrey, we leane, sit, or stand; in none of these gestures is Religious worship placed: but to receive meat kneeling, is no where usuall.

But that jugling enemie, who can transforme himselfe into a thou­sand shapes, after he hath brought in kneeling, can remove a Table: for what hath kneeling to doe with a Table? And having once remo­ved a Table, can easily bring in an Altar: and then at last perswade to offer there a sacrifice for the living, and for the dead.

Neither need yee (Right reverend) to bee afraid of them, who by their vile lies and calumnies labour to stirre up against you the hatred of your most excellent King, as if ye were enemies to His Honour, and Royall Highnesse, or envied His greater Honour and Glory: For the King out of His deep Wisdome knoweth, that Hee hath not any more loyall Subjects, then these who are devoted to the reformed Religion: Hee knoweth that there is nothing can establish more His Throne, that can enlarge His Royall Honour and Magnificence more, or can better preserve His Royall Person, then if with His whole Power He defend the reformed Religion, against all the adver­saries thereof: For the Kings most excellent Majesty knoweth, that such flatterers carry the shew of good-will, but in effect are the most deadly enemies of His Honour. Let not therefore such vaine shadows of feare scare you, but goe on constantly, and couragiously in help­ing the afflicted Kirks. God shall abundantly blesse your endevours, and shall grant unto you that the whole Antichristian crew, in vaine shewing their teeth, and opposing you, yee having obtained your de­sires, shall have large matter of giving thanks to his divine Majesty.

As for us, both in publike and private, in all the reformed Kirks throughout the Netherlands, wee poure forth our earnest desires to God, that at last he would pitie his afflicted Kirks, would calme their horrible tempests, and make them flourish in truth, piety and peace, would remove all the impediments that hinder so great happinesse.

Farewell, right reverend and dearly beloved Brethren, and inter­pret to the better part this our brotherly dealing, as flowing from our good affection.