to the Covenant in _England_, having them alwayes in our
hearts before the Lord, so we desire to be refreshed with their singlesse
and boldnesse in the cause of God, according to their places. This is the
time of their triall, and the houre of tentation among them; blessed shall
they be who shall be found following the Lamb, and shall not be ashamed of
his testimony. We know in such dark houres, many are drawne away with the
multitude, whom the Lord will again purge and make white; And we doubt not
but many such are in _England_, whom the bold clear preaching of Christ
may reclaim; Much therefore lieth upon the Watch-men all this time, that
their Trumpet may give a certain and distinct sound, warning and exhorting
every one, as those that must give account; And blessed shall those
servants be, who shall be found faithfull in their Lords house,
distributing to his houshold what is meet for this season, and can say
they are free of the blood of all men, having shewen them the whole
Counsell of God, being in nothing terrified of the threats of their
adversaries; And blessed & happy shall that people be, that walk in the
light holden forth by them, and staye upon the Lord in this dark time,
harkning to the voyce of his servants, & walking in the light of his word
& not in the sparks of their owne kindlings, which will end in sorrow. How
inexcusable will _England_ be, having so foulie revolted against so many
faire testimionies, which the Lord Christ hath entred as Protestations to
preserve his right, in these ends of the earth long since given unto him
for his possession, and of late confirmed by Solemne Covenant. Christs
right to these Kingdomes is surer then that he should be pleaded out of it
by pretended liberty of Conscience, and his begun possession is more
precious to him, then to be satisfied with a dishonourable toleration. All
that yet we have seen, doth not weaken our confidence of the Lords
glorifying the house of his glory in these lands, and of his sonnes taking
unto him his great power, and reigning in the beauty and power of his
Ordinances in this Island. His name is wonderfull, and so also are his
workes, we ought not therefore to square them according to our line, but
leave them to him, who hath the government laid upon his shoulder, all
whose wayes are judgement, & whose ruling these Kingdoms had never yet
reason to decline. It is good for us to be stedfast in our duty, and
therein quietly to wait and hope