well as our Brethren in _England_, there being much sin in both Kingdomes
procuring all this evill, and justly deserving these, and heavier
judgements. And as wee desire in the first place to be humbled for our own
sins, and the sins of this Nation, so we trust, our Brethren will bee
willing to be put in minde of the necessity of their Humiliation and
Repentance for the Nationall sins of the Kingdome; which wee shall wish
rather to be sadly considered by them, then expressed by us. One thing wee
are confident of, that God hath had a speciall controversie against his
People of old for the sin of a broken Covenant, and unwillingnesse to bee
Reformed and Purged according to the Word of the Lord; and that till their
sinnes were acknowledged and repented, his controversie did not take an
end.

And here is the wisdome and patience of the Saints, to choose affliction
rather then iniquity, to do duety in the worst of times, and to trust God
with events and in so doing, to hope to the end and wait upon the Lord,
untill hee plead their cause and execute judgement for them: So shall they
bee more purified and not made blacker (as, alas, some are) but whiter in
times of tryall.

More particularly, wee do desire that Presbyteriall Government may be
setled and put in practice through out that Kingdom, according to the Word
of God, and example of the best Reformed Churches: for without this wee
know no other proper and effectuall remedy against the present dangers of
Religion there, or for purging the Church from scandals, which are
destructive either to sound Doctrine, or to Godlinesse: And herein we are
confident, the experience of all the Reformed Churches will bear witnesse
with us. Nor do we doubt but in _England_ also, time and experience will
more and more commend, not only the beautifull order, but the great
utility, yea, necessity of this Government, and dispell all the clouds of
aspersions and prejudices which it lieth under among such as know it not,
who ought therefore to beware of speaking evill of the things they
understand not. Yet we would not have our zeal for Presbyteriall
Government mis-understood, as if it tended to any rigour or domineering
over the flock, or to hinder and exclude that instructing in meeknesse
them that oppose themselves, which the Apostolicall rule holds forth; or
as if wee would have any such to bee intrusted with that Government, as
are found not yet purged, either from their old profannesse, o