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To the right Honourable the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, the Humble Petition of
THat we account true Religion the life and crowne of all our Liberties and Priviledges; a pure and perfect Reformation in all Christs Ordi∣nances, the lustre and beauty of Religion; and those persons or Nations much honoured of their God, whom he pleaseth to employ in the promoting and accomplishing of such a Reformation. Such Honour was in part cast upon our pious Predecessors in the dayes of King Edward the Sixth, and Queene Elizabeth (of happy Memory) when after the dark mid-night of Popery, the day of Reformation in Doctrine and Worship began sweetly to dawn upon this Kingdom: But Divine providence hath devolved a double honour upon this Age, and therein principally upon you (Noble Senators) whom God hath wonderfully raised up, more perfectly to repaire his House in all the beauties of Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, having mightily stirred up your Spirits, heartily to resolve it, solemnly to Covenant it, and really to exhibit some first fruits of it in the Directory for publike Worship, which we accept with all thankfulnesse.
Notwithstanding we are not able longer to conceale from your Honours, how extreamely our Spirits are perplexed and amazed, that the great businesse of Church-Government and Discipline, (whereupon the whol stresse of the present Reformation will leane, and whereby all Christs precious Ordinan∣ces, and in particular the Lords Supper should bee preserved from all contempt and profanation) should to this very day remaine unestablished by your civill sanction: For, we verily believe that England was never blest with such a Parliament as you are; That English Parliament never had such a learned pious and faithfull Synod, to hold forth sincerely the minde of Christ, and the Modell of Church Government agreeable to his will, as you have: That no Parliament ever had such, and so many forcible engagements upon them from God, and unto God as are upon you: And that this City of London did never so flourish with such a conscionable and painefull Ministry (ready to put the Government and Discipline of Christ into execution, for a patterne and encouragement to all the Kingdom) as we have at this day: whence then should it be, that the children being come so neare to the birth, there is yet no strength to bring forth?
Beare with us a little in this fervour of our Spirits (it is for our Religion, Reformation and the House of our God, and we cannot hold our peace) what way soever we cast our eye, we cannot but see most sad fruits of the not setling of Church-Government to this day; Hence many abominable errors and damnable Heresies are broached amongst us without controule: And the precious truthes which Iesus Christ sealed with his blood are trampled under foot. Hence the pure and holy Ordinances of Christ, especially that of the Lords Supper, are either wofully profaned by persons grosly ignorant and scanda∣lous: Or, uncomfortably omitted in many places, now for a long time together, which should be often dispenced: Hence, multitudes of unstable soules have fallen off (especially within these two or three yeares last past) into many strange Sects, maintaining most horrid and blasphemous opinions: Incorpora∣ting themselves into separate Assemblies; setting up illiterate persons to bee their Pastors: And mannaging their meetings with great boldnesse and insolency, in contempt of all Authority, to the disturbance of the City, every one doing what is right in his own eyes, and there is no course to reclaime them. Hence, unnaturall flames of division (especially about Church-Government) are occasioned, in the same Kingdome, betwixt people and people; in the same Citty, betwixt Minister and Minister; in the same Congregation betwixt Pastor and Flock: yea, in the same Family betwixt Master and Servant, betwixt Parents and Children, betwixt Husbands and Wives: differences in opinions breeding aliena∣tion of affection, and both breaking out into many bitter, and reproachfull contentions; Hence Orthodox Ministers are despised and discouraged in their Ministry: Hopefull Plants disheartned and deterred from the Ministry; Publike Assemblies are forsaken; The pretended Preachers of new Gospels cried up: Universall tolleration of all opinions and Religions pleaded for: The Sabbaths and monthly dayes of Humiliation (though backed by your Autho∣rity) wilfully contemned: And a wide sluce opened unto all profanesse and licenciousnesse. Finally, hence it comes to passe, that the hearts of the truly Godly, who have so long groaned after Reformation, are overwhelmed with griefe and faintings through Hope deferred: Our friends in forraign Coun∣treys, especially our deare Brethren of Scotland, are astonished at our delayes: Our enemies at home scorne and insult over us, as given up to a spirit of giddinesse, looking at this City as a stage of Schism, Faction, and Heresie: Our distempers grow more incurable, and Reformation every day more difficult and improbable: And though our God hath rewarded our beginings of Reformation, with his beginings of deliverance; yet hath he also of late mani∣fested divers sad and remarkable tokens of his displeasure from heaven against England and Scotland, both by sword and pestilence, because (as we justly feare) we make no more haste to compleat the Reformation in all the desireable perfections of it, according to our Covenant, wherein (led both by your precept and example) we have religiously lifted up our hands to the most high God.
When we consider these things, we could poure out our very soules in us. For God is our record (and your Honours also in part can beare us witnesse) what we have done and suffered in this concerning Cause of God and Religion; And how we have spared neither our prayers, nor teares, nor outward estates, nor limbs, nor blood, nor our dearest lives for the publike; but especially for the promoting of a speedy and perfect Reformation in all matters of Religion. Without which we value no worldly comforts: With which we hope we shall feare no earthly crosses; and till this be effected, we cannot ex∣pect that God will fully blesse either you or us with compleat deliverance.
Wherefore we most ardently and humbly importune this Renowned Parliament (our chiefe hope and help under God in this case)
1. That as you tender the happinesse of this now miserable Church: The true prosperity of this distracted City and Kingdom: The timely comfort of all your reall friends: The seasonable cure of all our deep distempers before they grow remedilesse: The hastening of the Kingdoms enlarge∣ment from all its pressing distresses, and its enjoyment of all contrary blessings from the Lord: The exaltation of the name of God, whose glory is now profaned to the dust: And your faithfull performing of Covenant with the most high God touching Reformation: you would make all possible haste forthwith to establish, by your civill Sanction, that Government and Discipline amongst us, which Christ hath left to his Church, (A Modell whereof the Reverend Assembly of Divines, according to the wisedom given unto them, have framed, and (as we understand) already presented to your Honours) which being established, we shall better be enabled with greater hope and patience to wait till the Confession of Faith, and publike Cathechism can be finished; which must necessarily take up a farre longer time then can possibly be spared from the setling of Go∣vernment without many unavoydable and desperate mischiefs. And we beseech you to remember how the Lord hath hastened of late to load you and us in a short space with his many benefits; as the Victory at Nazeby, the quick recovery of Leicester, the reliefe of Taunton, the surrender of many strong holds into your hands, as Bridgewater, Scarborough, Pomfret, Canon-froom, Sherburne, and Bristoll: And what more reall ex∣pression of gratitude for such high favours, can you render unto the Lord, then to hasten the repaire of his House, that so hastens the building up of yours; as you were effectually pressed at the Publike Thanksgiving after Nazeby field, which Sermon was by Order of both Houses of Par∣liament commanded to be printed, which gives us good hope that our seconding of that now which was then preached in our eares, and took deep impression on our spirits, will be an acceptable service unto your Honours.
2. That whensoever Church-government shall be setled by your authoritie amongst us, it may be established with such a compleat measure of power and authoritie upon the Presbyteries which shall be erected in England, as may fully enable them to maintaine all Christs sacred Ordinances, especially the holy Supper of the Lord, in their highest splendour and puritie, held forth in the Word, against all contempt, pollution, and profana∣tion whatsoever, by grosse ignorance or scandall, that so the Lord may be fully for you, when you shall be fully for him: The glorie of this may surpasse the glorie of all former reformations: All occasion of schisme and separation, by reason of impuritie, or imperfection of Ecclesiasticall ad∣ministrations, may be removed: All stumbling blocks to tender consciences may be so taken out of the way, that all the Brethren (though now of different opinions) may sweetly joyne together in the worship of their God, with one heart and one soule: All our precious Ministers may be en∣couraged to hold on in their stations, without being enforced to desert them: And all gracious spirits at home, together with all our godly friends abroad, may heartily crie Grace, Grace.
And your Petitioners beholding the Lord Christ triumphing thus gloriously in the utmost puritie of all his Ordinances, shall never repent of what they have already done or endured; nor repine at what they may hereafter possibly do, or endure in reference to this so glorious a work: But shall constantly triumph in the praises of our God, both for crowning our Church with such spirituall glorie, and for lifting up your hearts in these sacred things, to do so worthily.