THe Churches of Zealand having observed some while since, with sorrow and great griefe of heart, the great troubles, perils, and feares, which are befallen the Chur­ches of England, Scotland, and Ireland, through the dange­rous differences and mis-understandings between the King and his great Councell the Parliament, which (as all good men observe) threaten the disturbance of the Reformed Religion, and of that flourishing Church, and the restoring againe of that cursed Papistrie in those Lands, that so there might be brought in againe that abomination of desolation, the Kingdome of Antichrist, which in former time cost so much blood of holy Martyrs, so much trouble and spoile of the inhabitants, and so much labour, charges and paines of the godly, before it could be driven out againe: And seeing that hitherto, by the grace of God, and the wise government of their Majesties, the Queene Eliza­beth and King Iames of happie memorie, the same hath bin kept out, and the true and pure worship and Religion (which all the godly in those kingdomes [Page 3]esteeme more deare and precious then their owne lives and temporall prospe­ritie) hath been hitherto continued, notwithstanding all the fearfull attempts, conspiracies, and murders, which those of the Popish faction have underta­ken against the sacred persons of the aforesaid King and Queen, and against the peace and prosperitie of the bodies and soules of their subjects. And be­cause the Churches of Zealand stand bound & obliged together with the Church­es of England in one Faith, in one Baptisme, and in one holy Communion, be­ing all of the houshold of Faith, having one Father, one Inheritance, one com­mon Worship and salvation: As also the Churches of England have taken greatly to heart the welfare of our Churches in the first times of the first Re­formation, and also the establishing of the Church of God in these Lands, in the time of heavie contentions against the Faction of the Remonstrants in the yeare 1618. And moreover, there have been, and yet are, many exceed­ing godly Lights in England, which by their godly Labours and Writings have greatly edified other Reformed Churches in Doctrine, and especially in the practice of pietie, or practique Theologie: And in regard also of the bond of mutuall love in the holy Communion of the bodie of Christ (so that when one member suffers the other member suffers also, and we must mourne with them that mourne) therefore the Churches of Zealand could not neglect to poure out their complaints and griefe there, where they hope, or see any helpe, or meanes of helpe is to be found, for that perplexed and troubled State of the Church of England: This doing, not onely out of conscience of the duty we owe to our Brethren, but also that we may escape the curse which God hath pronounced against those which sit still, and are not troubled at the afflicti­ons of Ioseph, and seek not the prosperity of the Israel of God in the time of need. Curse ye Meroz (saith the Angel of the Lord) yea curse the inhabitants because they came not out to help the Lord against the mighty. And that we may on the other side obtaine the blessing of God which commeth upon all those who seeke the welfare of Israel: O pray for the peace of Ierusalem, let them prosper that love her, Psa 122.6. It is with such a respect and spirit that we your hum­ble Subjects, and yet Ministers of the Church of Christ, and in the name of Christ pray and entreat, First, that your Lordships will be pleased to appoint in our Province of Zealand, (for an example to other States and Kingdomes) to publish a publique day of fasting and prayer, to be first and solemnly kept by speciall command, and after to be kept and held weekly or monethly, as shall be appointed, untill that the heavie troubles in England be ceased and stilled; and also that by your Lordships intercession in the Assembly of the States generall, the same may be obtained in all other the united Provinces: That so we may seeke to God by prayer and humiliation, for the prosperity, rest, and peace of the troubled Churches in England, and for the removing of Papistry out of the Churches of that Kingdome, and out of all other Lands and Townes, and that the pure and true worship of God, which is according to Gods Word may be exercised. To this end is it that we present to your Lordships these following moving considerations.

That we and our Churches in these Lands have enjoyed this help of other [Page 2] [...] [Page 3] [...] [Page 3]Reformed Churches in the time of our troubles. The Churches of Scotland, in the yeare 1618. held their publike Fasts and prayers in our behalfe; and the godly in England also held their particular dayes of Fasting and Prayer in re­gard of our troubles and have celebrated the same together in private because they could not doe the same in publike by reason of the Tyranny of the Bi­shops: unthankfull should we then be, if we shewed not the same zeale, grief, and affection about their welfare, which they have shewed to us. It is a lau­dable use with your Lordships and by the whole government of our State ap­proved and practised, that dayes of prayer are published and kept when there is any Towne on our side by besieging to be won or lost: for example, behold in the time of the siege of Breda! Bosch. and Mastricht, in which Townes there was as well the exercise of the Popish idolatry, and superstitious worship as the exercise of the true Religion: How much more laudable is the exercise of fasting and prayer for a whole kingdome planted with the true worship of God. and out of which all publike exercise of idolatrous worship was rooted out, that so they might the freer keepe and exercise their Religion without trouble free from the publike exercise of Popish Religion, which bringeth in and erects the Kingdome of Antichrist

There is not one godly soule, which hath sighed for the prosperity of the kingdome of Jesus Christ his Saviour, and love to an holy peace, which de­sires not that unity and peace between his Majesty of England and his Parlia­ment, (who together, as the body, make the constitution of that high power of Government in England) and their people, might be attained, and that by contentions between them Papistry may not be tolerated in that Kingdome; What more soveraigne remedy can there be to procure the same, then to set apart dayes of humiliation, and with zealous prayer to seeke the favour and helpe of God, who onely hath the heart of Kings in his hand, and turneth them as the Rivers of waters; who must also touch the hearts of the people, that they may follow their Kings and Governours, who likewise by the breath of his mouth shall destroy the Kingdome of Antichrist, that so he may not exalt himselfe against the Kingdome of his Sonne. How laudably and fruitfully hath our State used dayes of fasting and prayer in times of trouble and distra­ctions in Religion, and confusions of our Land, in the yeare 1618. Every godly man rejoyced in that God heard them, and gave such a good successe thereunto. The distrastions of England are our Brethrens, yea by conse­quence and reflection are our owne, and all which our enemy (the Kingdome of Antichrist) wins therein by these contentions, the same he wins from us. We pray therefore that God will move the hearts of your Lordships to use the meanes which hath been found so profitable ond fruitfull in our State, in such distractions, for redresse of the same. For this every good soul longs, sighs, and desires: All the Ministers of the Churches under your Lordships com­mand, long that they may exercise this worke of devotion and humiliation in publike, to the preventing of Gods wrath, and the reconciliation of the King­dome of England. It is so that in cases of Gods worship vour Lordships have not used to oppresse your trusty and faithfull subjects, the Churches of the Re­formed [Page 5]religion, or to hinder them, but rather to approve and favour their zeale, and satisfie their desires.

How richly shall the faithfull and godly in England reward us with their prayers and exercises of humiliation in time of our need, when God shall be wrathfully displeased with us, then will they also set themselves in the breach, even as we doe now desire to doe for them. And seeing we are pressed by our owne consciences, (which is onely knowne to God) and constrained in secret to mourne and sigh, and with our owne families and friends to keep dayes of fasting and prayer apart, so rewarding our brethren in England, the same they have done for us there in time of our troubles, which in publike they could not doe, because of the oppression of the Bishops; knowing that we so doing discharge the duty of our consciences get praise and approbation before God, and free our selves of all fault and blame, which by our neglect in this case might otherwise redound unto us. Therefore we beseech your Lordships, that it may be granted unto us, that we may by your Lordships authority doe it, and that the people of your Lordships Province by your authority may be called together, and so holy a service performed.

The second, that wee in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, desire most humbly with Prayer and sighs, is, that your Lordships will bee pleased to use the Power, Authority, Honour, and meanes which GOD hath put into your Lordships hands, and approve to that end; that the true and pure Reformed Religion, and exercise of the same in the Kingdome of England, may suffer no damage or detriment, and the Popish Religion get no advantage in the exercise of it; but that the same with remainders in doctrine, Divine Worship, and spirituall Government of the Church, may bee destroyed and rooted out of that Church. To move your Lordships hereunto, we give you to consider. The Kingdome of England hath in the Yeares 1617. and 1618. used great endeavour to maintaine the pure and upright truth of the Christian Reformed Religion amongst us. It is not unknowne unto the Members of this Noble and mighty Assembly the writings and famous endeavours of King Iames in the Cause of Conradus I'orstius. The Office and zealous labour of that Noble and no lesse excellent Learned Carleton, Ambassadour of that Kingdom, concerning the case of Religion, against the Innovators of the same: the ma­nifold advises, exhortations, (&c.) which by the King, the Parliament, Arch­bishops, and Bishops (&c.) were sent unto our States and Church, and the great weight which the Divines of the Church of England, in the Synod of Dort, got to the main [...]aining of the true and pure Religion, and suppressing of errors; this burning love and zeale of the Church of England toward our State and Religion manifested in that time, requires also the same of us to­wards them in these times. The King in his Letter the 20 March 1617, to the Lords the States generall, desired and conjured them in the name of GOD, which you (saith he) hitherto so happily have maintained, to suppresse errors and facti­ons which the Devill by the subtilty of your enemies hath brought in among you, and al­ready so advanced among you, that in regard thereof, destruction of your State is at hand, if you doe not with all expedition, speedily prevent it; and hold you wholly close and fast to [Page 5]your old, and true doctrine, whereof you have alwaies made profession and which is appro­ved and received among you, by the common consent of all the Reformed Churches, and of which there is a generall confession, as the first and chiefest foundation, and also a strong and the onely fast cement which held and maintatined the straight friendship, and intelli­gence, that hath bin so long time maintained between our Crowne and your Provinces. These endeavours his Majestie in the same Letters testifieth hee hath taken for the stopping of the ruine of our Religion and State, being moved through the zeale he had to the Church of God, and out of his especiall affection which his Majesty bore to the welfare of our State. Oh that our State would now re­compence that good which England by their King hath done to our Religion, and pure worship in those times of our troubles.

This State hath more ground and Reason to do it, seeing that their zeale and care should be not onely against the errors of the Remonstrants, which simply concerne Religion and faith, but also against Idolatry, Superstition, and sedi­tious Papistry, which concerneth the security of the Civill State, and the life of the Soveraigne power. For albeit some Papists, moved by morality and considerations of an honest life, or by an imbred disposition of nature, or by feare of temporall punishment, seeme to manifest obedience to the Ordinances and Laws of the Magistrate yet notwithstanding it is certain, that those of the Reformed Religion, hold and maintaine the Ordinances and Lawes of the Magistrate for Conscience sake. But the Papists defend and maintaine these wicked and damnable positions, as 1. That the Pope hath power to excom­municate all Christian Kings in the whole World. 2. That hee hath power to absolve and to discharge all Subjects of their faithfull obedience. 3. That the Pope hath power to depose Kings and Princes from their Crownes, and Thrones, and to give them unto others. 4. That they are not bound to keepe their Faith and Troth with Heretickes. 5. That whoever is not in commu­nion with the Romish Church is an Heretick. 6. That no spirituall person can commit any Treason against any Earthly Prince or King because he is not the Kings Subject, but the Popes, and the like, &c. Which Maximes being main­tained, that it is unpossible to governe the Civill State in Peace and Tranqui­lity under the naturall and lawfull Governours thereof, (as we thinke) the ex­perience in France, Venice, and England, hath sufficiently taught, and your Lord­ships out of naturall Reason can easily conclude. To keepe the Kingdom of England from such a subjection under the Romish Sea; wee thinke it to bee a worke becomming the care of all Reformed Potentates, and chiefly the care of our State: The rather because we esteem the destruction and weakening of the Reformed Churches in England, to be the beginning of the ruine of all the Reformed Churches in whole Europe. Scotland notwithstanding it's conjun­ction with the Kingdome of England, under one Soveraigne, equality of Pri­viledges and Lawes, and it's so neere Neighbourhood if not communion, shall not possibly escape the same state of Religion with England, and will also bee forced to forsake and lose the same freedome and Reformation of Church and Policy, which they with such honour and glory by their Armes, lately have obtained; What weight and consequence it hath concerning our Religion and [Page 6]State, we leave it to your Lordships wise and provident judgement to consi­der, to whom the mutuall combination and conjunction of both Govern­ments is better knowne then to us, knowing this onely from the fore-related words of King Iames, that the generall confession of faith, is the first and chief­est foundation, and the onely strong and fast cement which hath maintained the straight friendship and Intelligence which hath beene of a long time be­tweene the Crownes of England and Scotland, and our Provinces. And what hath the Church of France to expect from such an example, which is now strip­ped of all defence, onely rests on the favour which by their friends, or by their enemies, they can get from the King. The Lord preserve his Church from such a blow, that their judgement and destruction proceed not from England, from whence in former times came, the advancement and prosperity, and pre­servation of the purity of Religion, and yet is to be expected in the time of trou­ble. Hence it is, that it was so laudably practised in the time of the first Re­formation, that the Potentates and Ruler of those Lands in which the Refor­mation of Religion was set up, have used such a mutuall correspondence, ad­vise, and Counsell, which have given to others such faithfull warnings and admonitions, and helps to the furtherance, and maintenance of the begun Reformation of Religion here, in following the holy examples (by God him­selfe approved) of the Kings of Iuda, Ezekias, and Iosiah, which in their Govern­ment were not content onely to raise up the ruines of the decayed Church of Iuda, but also invited the Israelites though captivated under the power of the Assyrians, to the maintenance of the pure Worship of God. For we must not thinke that wee are to set the same limits to our Lands, and to our duties, for the enlarging of Gods glory. Therefore Christian Princes, who have great power, and much meanes in their hands, must not thinke they have well and faithfully performed their Office, when they onely take care for the Churches, and Religion which is under their Government, and goe no further, not re­garding what befalls their oppressed Brethren and Religious friends, but must be Nurses to the Church of God in all Lands, where they may or can prevaile with their Authority and Power.

Since then that the love and friendship between the united Netherlands and the Kingdome of England are so firmely and naturally joyned together, by so many civill respects, and mutuall interresses, that the respect of this State may prevaile very much with the King and Parliament to the defence of our holy Religion. Therefore know (Noble and Mighty Lords) that in regard of God as a duty, this lyeth upon your Consciences, namely to employ in England all your power for the maintenance of the true Religion and Worship of GOD, that Religion we say which is reverend and full of Majestie, in regard of the good Lawes, and righteous Ordinances; in regard of the Truth, Power, and Vertue of it, unreprovable in respect of the Doctrine leading to all Godlinesse and Vertue, diswading from all evill and sinne; a Religion approved of GOD himselfe, revealed by his owne Wisdome, confirmed by his spirit, written in the holy Scriptures, Sealed with the blood of many hundred Martyrs, constant­ly confessed by all the holy Professors, defended by the first Christian Empe­ror, [Page 8]loved of all the Primitive Fathers; which giveth to God that which is Gods, and to Cesar that which is Cesars; which to defend is godly, even in an Idiot, but zeale in wise and understanding people: And in a Prince and Ru­ler a Kingly and Godly Magnanimity. That help and profit which this Re­ligion shall obtaine in her feared danger, by this great Assembly before other Provinces, Republiques, and Kingdomes shall bee your glory, and Crowne, and an everlasting blessing and praise shall be upon your Lordships persons and Government. Therefore we your Lordships faithfull Subjects, entreate your Lordships most humbly, with all subjection; Yea we desire and beseech you in the name of God and our Saviour, that your Lordships will not strength­en the hands of the ungodly, of the Popish Faction, by the power and blessing of your Land, against the faithfull Protestants and professors of the Religion: remaining still by the laudable resolutions of Neutrality, which your Lord­ships lately have made. But rather weaken and debilitate all those which en­deavour to weaken our Faith and Religion, and Worship. And come and help the crying necessity of the afflicted Church in England, by such meanes as the feare of God, the holy Wisdome, and good providence of your Lordships shall teach you. We desire your Lordships to take this our zeale in good part, and to interpret it as pleasing to God, being expressed through our love to our holy Religion and Worship, and proceeding from such of your Subjects, as are of intentions, so upright and sincere, in such humble obedience and un­spotted faithfullnesse to serve your Lordships, as the faithfullest Israelite ever shewed unto King David: trusting that your Lordships will alwaies remain constant defenders of the true reformed Religion, and who will empoly al­waies your godly care for the rooting out of all Idolatry.