lasting Peace, so that there may be no agreement
without establishing and enjoyning the Covenant in all these three
Kingdoms; and that for this end God would give wisdom to all that are
intrusted in the managing of publick Affairs that they may seasonably
discover and carefully avoid all snares which may be laid either by
Sectaries, or Malignants, or both, under colour of a Treaty of Peace. And
we are confident, through the Lord, that all the obstructions and
oppositions, by which his work has been retarded and interrupted in this
Island, shall not onely be taken out of the way, but shall turn to the
advantage and furtherance of it at last. The onely wise God can and will
bring about his holy purposes by unlikely, yea by contrary means: And God
forbid that either our Brethren in England or our selves should give way
to despondency of Spirit, and cast away the hopes of that so much prayed
for and so much wished for Reformation of Religion, and Uniformity in all
the parts thereof according to the Covenant: And now it is our hearts
desire and prayer to God, that amidst the many tryals and tentations of
these times, none of the Servants of God and witnesses of Jesus Christ may
be deserted, or left to themselves to comply either with the Malignant
party upon the one hand, or with Sectaries upon the other. Brethren pray
for us, and the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal
glory, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish
strengthen and settle you.

August. 2. 1648. _Antemeridiem,_ Sess. 26.

_Answer to the Letter of the Reverend Assembly of Divines in_ England.

_Right Honourable, Right Reverend and Wel beloved in our LORD,_

We cease not to give thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, by whose
strength you keep the Word of his patience now in these times, when many
depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing Spirits; As also, that he
who hath founded _Zion_, hath been pleased, by our Covenant sworn to the
most high God, to lay the hopefull foundation of a glorious Work in these
three Kingdoms, to unite his People therein, as one stick in the hand of
the LORD.

We cannot but acknowledge to the Honour and Glory of the Lord, Wonderfull
in counsell and excellent in working, that hee hath strongly united the
spirits of all the godly in this Kingdom, and of his Servants in the
Ministery, first in the severall Presbyteries and Synods, and now in this
Nationall Assembly, in a