IT hath been and is the grand designe of Sathan, the old deceiver, to raise up strong and complicated oppositions against the work of Reformation; And we are not ig­norant, that he fashions his snares and deceipts so curiously, and twists and insinuates himself so subtilly, that he makes use of the very Instru­ments of that work, at once to hinder and to un­dermine it. It is a damp to our spirits to consider that the sun of glory, which had advanced it sell so far in this our Meridian, should go back so ma­ny of these Nations: and that from such splendid hopes, as once there were, by reason of gross and thick interpositions, it should tend almost to an universall Eclipse. We know not, where the remora and Obstructi­on is, nor is it our purpose to fix the blame up­on any: But we lay our hands upon our hearts, and accuse our own vanity and folly, and uneven walkings, that have been the cause of depriving us of so rich a mercy. We cannot but with grief take notice of the unhappy disunions and diffe­rences, that have been, and are yet amongst those [Page 2] who should close together in most intimate onenesse: For the divisions of the people of God there are at this day great thoughts of heart; and we must not so much as hope for the happi­ness of Halcion days, untill they return and em­brace each other in love and harmony. It is too too evident, that the malignant party are busie, and combining together to enslave us; and they have now fresh blooming hopes, that this is their time to appear for the bringing back of that re­jected Line, and for the raising of themselves up again in our downfall. Nor could they have such strong confidences, were they not confede­rate with that soure, ridgid, discontented party, whom nothing will please, unlesse they can glut themselves by setting their foot on our necks: Who though they once contested against that old Royall Interest, yet now they cannot possi­bly fancy a lasting settlement, but by recalling him in again upon their own terms. This flame also is blown up by those, who whet their biting and imbittered tongues for mischief against us, who prepare scourges for our backs. And be­cause we walk in a track different from them, and seperate from them and the world, in things of spirituall concernment; they are enraged, and devise devises against us, and strongly en­deavour to erect their own Dominion in our crushing and extirpation. The great Engine, which all parties make use of, to gratifie at once this their Ambition and enmity, is, the vast di­stance, contests, and divisions, that are unhappily [...]rept in amongst us; whilest we lye scattered as [Page 3] Corn in the Feild, not bound up in sheaves; whilest we are dwelling in distinct Islands, not entertaining commerce with each other: And whilest we speak, or rather babble out different voices & languages, to our own confusion, & the dishonour of our Master. Is it not then high time to awaken, and to raise our selves from the bed of sloth and security? Should we not unite to­gether in love and sweetness? Should we not humble our selves before our God? Should we not pray? believe, confer, and take counsell to­gether, as in the dayes of old, when the blessed presence of the Lord was like fresh springs of water in our souls? Should we not consider from whence we are fallen, and repent, and do our first works, and remember the loves of our Vir­ginity? These we think, are things proper and suiteable unto the present times we live in. Surely, we are begirt with dangers from all sides: surely, the judgments of the Lord are already gon out against us; and they sound a loud and dread­full alarum in our ears: If we yet be stupid, and not take warning, and return unto the Lord, we may justly expect the full viols of his wrath to be emptied out upon us. In such an extraor­dinary day, as this is, we conceive, that there is a more than ordinary duty incumbent on us. The most fine gold is become dimme, and hath con­tracted the mixture of much dross: The most glorious cause, which at the beginning brake forth fresh and vigorous, and appeared like a Bride decked with ornaments, is now become sullied, being faded in its beauty; and is so chan­ged, [Page 4] and mishapen with a strange dresse, we had almost said, with the attire of an Harlot, that we have at once both lost our selves and our full-grown hopes, whilest in vain we endeavour to finde it. We have been all made drunk, as it were with sweet wine, through the confluence of earthly enjoyments, and delights: And we have not onely deserted the work put into our hands, but we have so blemished it, that we have given our Adversaries advantages thereby, as well to blaspheme, as to rejoyce. It is as hard now to know what we have to doe in this doubt­full juncture, as it is easie to see; that we are out of the way, and have lost the foot-steps of that glorious presence, which heretofore conducted us. We will open our very hearts unto you, be­cause we can say, through grace, that we endea­vour to keep a good conscience, void of offence both towards God, and towards man. We must needs say, that we would not have the Authori­ty and Kingdome of our Lord Jesus slighted and neglected: We would not have superstitions and false worships creep up again, and appear in publique, uncontrouled; We would not have the Consciences of our fellow-brethren burden'd, and under the yokes of rigid impositions: We would not have Tyranny, Oppression, and In­justice, so much as seen amongst us in any of their shapes and appearances; We would not have the prophane spirit of the world gratified in their excesses, and in their pastimes not sute­able to a well-guided Common-wealth; we would not have the just Liberties of the Nation trampled on by any, nor under the footstool of an Arbitrary disposall: If in these things we of­fend, [Page 5] we are sorry, and if we are convinced there­of, we shall amend. Sure we are, it was once the main designe, to extirpate every thing that stood in the way of a through Reformation. It was once the great principle, that swayed our actings, to advance the best things, and to entrust the management of them in the hands of the best, and most upright persons. But how far we have warped, and deflected from these things. Let all sober unprejudiced spirits, that doe not willingly shut their eyes, be the judges. Be not displeased then, that we call upon you to stand in the good old way, and to return into that path, where the Lord met you and owned you, and displayed his marvellous loving kindnesses, and his trium­phant excellencies before your eys. Remember that the Vows of God are upon you; if through your remisnesse and inadvertency ruine over take us, we shall have an hiding place in the chambers of divine love, in the midst of those desolations: But what comfort you can have, that you have not discharged the duty incum­bent on you, in this day of danger, whilest an op­portunity was in your hands to do it; we now lay it upon your Consciences to consider, before it is yet too late. The Lord poure out upon us richly the spirit of love and of unanimity; the spirit of courage and of activity, the spirit of wis­dome and zeal; that the sun of glory may again visite us, and ascend unto its perfect height and splendour: That we may doe worthily for God, and for his people in our generations: And that the undoubted Rights and Liberties of these Na­tions may be fixt upon the lasting durable foun­dation of Truth and Righteousnesse.