A consideration of certaine controversies at this time agitated in the kingdome of England, concerning the government of the church of God. / Written at the command and appointment of the Walachrian classis, by Guilielmus Apollonii, minister of the Word of God at Middleburgh. And sent from the Walachrian churches, to declare the sense and consent of their churches, to the Synod at London. Octob. 16. 1644. Stilo novo. Translated out of Latine accorning to the printed copy.

To the most Excellent and Noble Lords, The Lord William Boreel, Lord of Duynbeque, &c. Counsellour and chiefe Syndick of the City of Amsterdam; The Lord John de Reede, Lo. of Reinswoud, &c. Deputy in Or∣dinary in the Generall Assembly of the United Provinces, in the name of the Province of Ʋtrecht; The Lord Albert Joachimi, LORD of Oedekenskerk in Oostende, Secretary of the Re∣publike of ter-Goes; Ambassadours in the name of the High and Mighty Lords, the States Generall of the United Provinces of the Netherlands.

Most Excellent, most Noble, Magnificent, and most Illustrious Lords,

THe Pastors of the Churches of the Wala∣chrian Classis, being moved with the de∣plorable face and condition of the English Churches, would gladly contribute some assistance

for the quenching of that flame of controversies, ri∣sen amongst them, concerning the Discipline and spirituall Government of the Kingdome of Christ; and afford not their prayers only, but their counsell and assistance also, meet for composing these conten∣tions, whereby the billows of dissentions might be asswaged, and a happy peace restored to those trou∣bled Churches. By their authority therefore and command, they have imployed me in this present worke; and out of pure zeal and brotherly love to those Churches, have lately injoyned me to exhibite to the Assembly of Divines at London, our Eccle∣siasticall Government, proved by the word of God, and confirmed by grounds of holy Scripture, and the cōsent of Reformed Divines. Which work being now finished, and after a diligent Examination by those Pastors approved, I offer to your most Noble and most Excellent Lordships: for to you, as is well known to us all, the tenderest care of the true Reli∣gion, and the sacred peace and unity, together with Truth, of the Churches of England, is, by the Com∣mand of the High and Mighty Lords, the States Generall of the Netherlands principally cōmitted. The promoting whereof with all your utmost endea∣vours would even by the event be manifest, if so be the condition of the Kingdome and Church there would permit. And surely, if God shal by his provi∣dence sometime prosper your endeavours, and make the earnest prayers of us all effectuall; I do certainly trust that the wounds of the Church of Eng. may by

your assistance and help be cured, and the dissentions raised, by your peaceable and prudent counsell, be composed. For God hath conferred on you large gifts of Wisdome, Prudence, Piety, and Zeale; whereby the disturbed condition of the Church of the Sonne of God may be reduced to the moderate counsels of Peace; and the perplexed affaires of a shaken Kingdome to the straight bonds of renewed amity. Which that the Great and Gracious God may more and more stir up and increase in you, and blesse with prosperous successes in the businesse committed to your most excellent Lordships, I beg with fervent prayers; and from my soule desire, that he will gratiously preserve your most Excel∣lent, most Noble, Magnificent, & most Illustrious Lordships; and inspire those counsels into his Roy∣all Majestie, and the High Court of Parliament, which, you affording your assisting indeavour, may restore to the Churches of England peace and tran∣quillity, together with edification in the faith, and increase of love.

Middleburgh, the first of November, 1644.

Your most Excellent and Noble Lordships most observant, Guilielmus Apollonii,

Pastor of the Church of God at Middleburgh in Zeland.