degroom, lamenting for the evils which have befallen Christs Bride in
England, in the very night before her expected espousals, and not sit down
and mourn with them except his heart be fallen asleep and frozen within
him? This pitiful condition of our sister Church in England hes matter
enough we confesse to move, yea, to rend our bowels.

If we should weigh this your heavie grief in the scales of common reason,
we behoved either to stand aloof from your plague as men astonished, or
sink down in heavinesse and be swallowed up of sorrow: but when we ponder
your sad condition in the Ballance of the Sanctuary, we finde that nothing
hath as yet befallen unto you, save that which hath been the exercise of
the Saints in former times, who have been made to sit down for a while in
the shadow of death before the day of their deliverance. We finde nothing
but that which may be a fit Preparation for a comfortable out-gate from
all your troubles. What if it was necessary in the wise dispensation of
Almighty GOD, that a People in great estimation for wisedome and power,
such as England, should be thus farre humbled, as you declare, to the end
that your deliverance maybe seen hereafter to be of the Lord, and not of
your selves? What if the Lord would not draw back his hand from the
Wine-presse wherein you now lye, till he should draw forth from you these
pitiful expressions of your low estate, and so provide himself witnesses
against the day to come, that he may have the greater and purer glory in
your salvation, and your gloriation may be in the Lord alone! Dear
Brethren, comfort your selves in the Lord; this sowing in tears, doth
promise a reaping in joy, and who knoweth how soon he will give to you who
are mourners in Zion, beauty for ashes, the oyle of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse; That you may be called the
trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be
glorified.

Though weeping be in the evening of this begun Reformation and purging of
the Lords House among you, yet in the morning when the discovered
filthinesse and sweepings of the Temple shall be orderly cast out, joy
shall come with thanksgiving and praise. Though a fire be kindled in the
Land, yet it is not to consume any of the mettal, for the Lord is sitting
down as a Refiner amongst you, and especially to purifie the sons of
_Levi_, that he may have a more pure oblation of spiritual worship and
service in all his