g and resounding of bowels, which well beseemeth Kirks and Nations,
United by a solemn League & sacred Covenant, for mutuall endeavours, by
all lawfull means to a further unitie in that Faith once delivered to the
Saints, and greater Uniformitie in Divine Worship, Discipline, and
Government, according to the Paterne.

The case and condition of your bleeding Kingdome is no lesse sensible to
us, than if our selves were in affliction with you; but we trust all is
working to your best, and to our Lords glory: That some of you hes fallen,
it is to try you, purge you, and make you white: If the Lord by those
means be with that Reformation of his Ordinances, bringing also alongst
that other Reformation of hearts and lives should it not be welcomed with
all joy, although it bee upon the expence of blood and lives? The Lord
will turn the bygone rage of Man to his glory and your spiritual good the
remnant of rage will hee restraine. The Lord delivereth his owne by
degrees, _he is with them in trouble, and delivereth them, and honoureth
them_; He who hath been sensibly with you hitherto, and upholden you in
your trouble, will we trust, yet deliver you, and honour you: The more ye
sow in tears, the greater shall be your harvest of peace and joy, when the
Lord according to the dayes wherein he hath afflicted you, and the years
wherein yee have seen evill, shall make you glad, and his Work to appeare
unto you, and his glory unto your children, and the beautie of the Lord
your God to be upon you, and shall establish the work of your hands; yea,
even establish the work of your hands.

We should prove both unthankfull to God, and unfaithfull to men, did wee
not hold out unto you the Lords gracious and powerfull dealing with us in
the like condition, and comfort you with the consolations wherewith wee
our selves have been comforted: We were involved in the like difficulties;
we had the strong opposition of highest Authoritie set over two powerfull
Kingdoms, beside this of ours; and the unhappy providence of our wickedly
wise and wary Prelates, had done what in them lay, to make the Ministery
of this Land sworn Enemies to the intended Reformation: So that we walked
in a very wildernesse, in a labyrinth, and as upon deep waters, wherein
not onely did our feet lose footing, but also our eyes all discovering or
discerning of any ground; yea; wee were ready to lose our selves: Yet the
Lord hath graciously rid us, and recovered us out of all th