Lord:
Who is with you in the Judgement: and standeth in the Congregation of the
mighty_: Humbly to present your Honours with our thoughts and desires
concerning the duties which the exigency of this time expecteth from your
hands.

The impunity of known Incendiaries and Malignants, as by the course of
Divine providence (permitting those who have formerly escaped the hand of
Justice to be the prime instruments of our present Troubles) it is held
forth for a cause of the Wrath which yet burneth more and more; So hath it
been acknowledged before GOD in our publick Humiliations, to be a maine
cause of GODS Controversie with the Land, and an accession to the
guiltinesse of the cruelty, villainy, and other mischiefs committed by
them and their followers: And to lye still under the guilt after solemne
Confession, were an high provocation of GOD, and an heavy aggravation of
our sinne; And on the one part, doth grieve the Godly, discourage their
hearts, and weaken their hands, On the other part, doth harden them who
are already engaged, to persist in their unnaturall and bloudy practices,
heartneth others, who have not hitherto avowed their Malignancy, openly to
declare themselves, and is laid hold upon by the disaffected, who lye in
wait to finde occasions, as fitting to work the People to an
unwillingnesse of undergoing necessary Burthens imposed for publick good.

Although the Lord hath shewn unto us great and sore Troubles, and our
heart may be broken with reproach, shame, and dishonour, put upon us by
the vilest among men; Yet hath he made known unto us the power of his
working amidst these manifold troubles, bringing forward the much desired
Work of Uniformity in Worship and Government to a greater perfection then
was expected (as your Honours and wee did see the other day with joy of
heart) which is a Testimony from Heaven, That the Lord hath not left us in
the fiery Furnace, but dwelleth still in the midst of the burning Bush,
and should rouze up our drouping spirits to follow GOD fully, and quicken
our slownesse to hasten and _help the Lord against the mighty_. In delay
there is perill of strengthening the arme of the intestine Enemie, making
faint the hearts of our Neighbours and Friends, and disabling us for
reaching help unto those who are wrestling against much opposition to
perfect the Work of Reformation. The reproach under which we lye almost
buried, should bee so farre from retarding proceedings, that it should