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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	act_n	king_n	scotland_n	2,696	5	8.4241	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85281	The fifth monarchy, or Kingdom of Christ, in opposition to the beasts, asserted, by the Solemn League and Covenant, several learned divines, the late General and Army, (viz.) in their declaration at Muslebrough, August 1650. wherein the old cause is stated, appeals made, the Scottish blood spilt, and the banners yet in Westminster-Hall witnessing the great decision then given on Christs side. Also, by a letter from the officers of the Army in England, to their brethren in Ireland, the 11 of May, 1653. justifying on Christs accompt, the dissolution of the Parliament; and consonant thereunto, the Generals speech to those that succeeded in the government, the fourth of July following ...		1659 (1659)	Wing F890; Thomason E993_31; ESTC R207791	44,997	55

of which hath made us we confess not to idoliz the Covenant as we fear too many do though we trust it will appear before God Angels and Men that we shall ever pursue its true and lawful ends according to the plain candid meaning thereof though we do not upon every occasion urge the Covenant as we see every party though as far different as light and darkness apt to do the Lord having by his Word and by his Spirit convinced us of our duty therein though there had been no such Covenant at all entred into But when we saw that under pretence of the Covenant a corrupt party in Parliament by their worldly policy after the War was ended in England and the late Kings party subdued with the loss of thousands of the lives of Saints whose death is precious in the sight of the Lord did endeavour to set up the King upon his own terms and with him to establish a National Church Government not in all things agreeable to the WORD OF GOD but is destructive to the just Liberties of the true Spiritual Church of Christ which he hath by his own most precious blood purchased for them and is now come forth to bestow upon them which did sufficiently demonstrate it self by the dealings of the then Master-builders with the Churches of Jesus Christ in and about London that were then threatned to be dissolved and Laws made to prevent the Communion of Saints with one another except only in that one publick Form then about to be established to the astonishment of many of us that had lifted up our hands to God and sworn to endeavour a Reformation according to the Word of God and therefore after much waiting upon God by prayer and examining our own hearts about the ends and sincerity thereof we were abundantly satisfied that it was not onely lawful but our duty to keep our Arms in our hands till the ends beforementioned should be accomplished and to that purpose the Army whereof we are a part did refuse to disband did march up to London to propose to the Parliament a way of Establishment that might be more for the carrying on of the ends of Religion and Liberty though therein we were not at that time successful yet most wonderfully and graciously preserved by the Lord and extraordinarily convinced after much seeking the Face of God that our failing was in endeavouring to set up the King upon any terms he being a man of so much blood that the Lord would have no peace with him nor any that should go about to establish him Whereupon after his own hard heart had hindred him from yeilding to any overtures that were made to him by the Parliament through whom all the Armies Proposals were to be tendered and a second War more dangerous then the former contrived by him and his Son now with you together with those in Scotland that ●…ated us of the Army of England under the name of Sectaries being by the unspeakable goodness and mighty power of God waded through and a second testimony given from Heaven to justifie the proceedings of his poor servants against that bloody Antichristian brood though with the loss of many precious Saints we were then powerfully convinced that the Lords purpose was to deal with the late King as a man of blood And being perswaded in our consciences That he and his Monarchy was one of the ten horns of the Beast spoken of Rev. 17.12,13,14,15 and being witnesses to so much of the innocent blood of the Saints that he had shed in supporting the Beast and considering the loud cries of the souls of the Saints under the Altar we were extraordinarily carryed forth to desire Justice upon the King that man of blood And to that purpose petitioned our Superiour Officers and the Parliament to bring him to Justice which accordingly by an high hand of Providence was brought to pass which Act we are confident the Lord will own in preserving the Commonwealth of England against all Kingdoms and Nations that shall adventure to meddle with them upon that account When God executes his judgements upon Malefactors let none go about to resist When he brings forth those his Enemies that will not suffer Jesus Christ to be King in the midst of his Saints and breaks them in pieces like a Potters vessel let not Scotland nor any other Nation say What dost thou We fear they have been too busie already the Lord that sees the secrets of all hearts knows the compliance of Scotland with the late Kings Issue now with you was in order to disturb the Peace of England for being Gods Executioners upon a bloody Tyrant and a supporter of the Throne of the Beast But blessed be the Lord the crafty are taken in their own suare England sits in peace whilst Scotland receives into their chief City their new King at the very hour wherein an Army had marched 300 miles is sacing them at the very gates We wish our Brethren of Scotland especially those that truly fear the Lord would consider these things and not slight the Providences of God so much as they do When Scotland chose new gods and would have a King out of a Family that God had rejected then was War in the Gates And though we do not think Providences alone a sufficient rule for Gods people to walk by yet we do know that the Lord speaks to his people by his Providence as well as by his Word and he is angry with his people that do not take notice thereof and promiseth blessing to those that do Psa 107. and the latter end And here give us leave not in a boasting spirit but in meekness and fear to tell you That we are perswaded we are poor unworthy instruments in Gods hand to break his Enemies and preserve his people You have acknowledged us in your own papers to be a rod of iron to dash in pieces the Malignants but withal say We must now be broken in pieces because we now set our selvs against the Lor of Gods inheritance Let us here speak for our selves yea the Lord speak for us who knows our hearts and all our ways we value the Churches of Jesus Christ who are the Lot of Gods inheritance ten thousand times above our own lives yea we do bless the Lord we are not onely a Rod of Iron to dash the common enemies in pieces but also a hedge though very unworthy about Christs Vineyard and if we know our own hearts where ever the Lot of Gods inheritance shall appear to be found in Scotland we shall think it our duty to the utmost hazard of our lives to preserve the same But if there be any that have taken counsel together against the Lord and against his Anoynted whom the Lord hath decreed to set upon his holy Hill of Zion we are perswaded the Lord hath brought us hither as instruments through which he will speak to them in his wrath and vex them in his sore

The Fifth Monarchy OR KINGDOM OF CHRIST In opposition to the BEAST'S Asserted By the Solemn League and Covenant several learned Divines the late General and Army viz. in their Declaration at Muslebrough August 1650. wherein the Old Cause is Stated Appeals made the Scotish blood spilt and the Banners yet in Westminster-Hall witnessing the great decision then given on Christs side Also by a Letter from the Officers of the Army in England to their Brethren in Ireland the 11 of May 1653. justifying on Christs accompt the Dissolution of the Parliament and consonant thereunto the Generals Speech to those that succeeded in the Government the fourth of July following With a short Application and some brief Proposals grounded on Scripture in order to a lasting Settlement in this hour of distraction the Foundations being out of course Luk. 17.32 Remember Lots Wife Zach. 12.23 Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all people and in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it LONDON Printed for Livewel Chapman 1659. PREFACE IT being manifest that very many formerly engaged in the work of God with their lives in their hands in much appearing zeal and self-denial have as their own expression is warped aside soon forgetting his works with their vows and promises in the day of distress and falling in love with this worlds glory the profitable pleasant things thereof have some of them in the last past years set themselves in opposition to such as plead for the prosecution of the Lords work and full following of him therein sometime loading them with reproaches of discontented giddy fanatick Munster-spirited people It may not be unseasonable when the least ground of hope is given that they are not wholly fallen under the Lords displeasure so as no more to be owned in his work in sincere and unfeigned love to present to their view if the Lord please to improve and bless it for their further recovery what was held forth formerly by the Parliament and Army and some who in those days were esteemed Seers consented unto also in solemn Engagements by the dispersed throughout the Land lovers of God his Ways and People in asserting The Cause then contended for unto blood and which still remains as an Obligation unto others to be pressing after Englands Engagement by all sorts in the Solemn League and Covenant WE Noble-men Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts of the Kingdom of England Scotland and Ireland Having before our eyes the Glory of God and the Advancement of the Kingdom of JESUS CHRIST Each of us for himself with our hands lifted up-to the most high God do swear that we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God in our several places and callings endeavour The Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches and that we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresy Schism and Profaneness and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the Power of Godliness lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms c. And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to bless our designs and proceedings with such success as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny to joyn in the same or like Association or Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST and the peace and tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths And consonant hereunto the Army in their Declaration of Muslebrough tell the Scots We did many of us rejoyce at the Covenant because we found in it strains towards these ends viz. the destruction of Antichrist the advancement of the KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST the Deliverance and Reformation of his Church in the establishment of his ordinances amongst us according to his Word and the just civil Liberties of English men although some being more enlightned did apprehend it to be so mixt with worldly interest that they justly seared the INTEREST OF JESUS CHIST would be but onely pretended to and the interest of this world and of Antichrist himself carryed on in a vizard as we have since had abundance experience of And let us in the presence of the Lord further assure you that we have already examined our Conscience as before the Lord and have a clear assurance in our hearts that he will countenance us in this action and that we do not break any Covenant which we have sworn before God Angels and Men but would be content should we not thereby idolize the Covenant to march to any Engagement with you if called thereunto by the Lord with the Covenant on the tops of our Pikes and let the Lord judge who hath observed the ends of the Covenant best we or you In Mr. Burrough's Sermon before the House at the publick Thanksgiving Sept 7. 1641. for the peace concluded betwixt England and Scotland he hath this passage Page 44. God in this latter age is about to raise himself a glorious Name in the world to set up his King upon his holy Hill to make Jerusalem the praise of the whole earth This that hath been already done viz. by the Scots and Parliaments Conjunction against King and Bishops is a preparation for a fore-runner of and a furtherance to this great and glorious work of God and blessed are those men whom God shall please to make instrumental herein The greatest-blow that ever was given to the Antichristian Government is that which now it hath had Babylon is fallen is fallen so fallen as it shall never rise again in power We hear a noyse not onely from many waters but from the thunder saying Hallelujah the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Rev. 19.6 The voyce from the many waters was from the people but that was despised contemned but the voyce from the thunder is from those in places of dignity and power and this voyce is terrible to the Adversary Mr. Thomas Goodwin in his Sermons many years since at Antholins

you have sought his face with us about the same that so we may further know through you his will concerning us And we shall not fail in this and all other opportunities to seek the Lord for you that you may be preserved from every evil to his glorious Kingdom that you may be kept blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke And we beseech you in the spirit of love and meekness to stir up all that fear God amongst whom you converse yea though of different judgments as to the form of Church-government to seek the Lord with us in these things for sure it cannot but be the desire of every one that is a living member of Christs body that the work of Christ should prosper and that all that fear the Lord may be of one heart and one mind in the things that concern his great affairs in a time when his work is to establish his own Kingdom in the ruine of BABYLON as in the apprehension of many of his people it is this day Thus presenting our most indeared affection to you we heartily recommend you into the Bosome of Jesus Christ and rest Your Christian Friends and fellow Souldiers White-hall May 20. 1650. To all our dear Friends and fellow-Souldiers that fear the Lord. Will. Constable William Roe Rich. Sa●key Griffith Lloyd T. Harrison He. Haynes Will. Style Stephen White Nath. Rich W. Stane Tobias Bridge Nic. Lockier Edw Whalley Will. Goffe Jo. Merreman Thomas Hancock Charles Fleetwood Azariah Husbands Will. Gough George Joyce Tho. Pride John Blackwel Edw. Orpin Tho. Else Math. Tomlinson Jo. Mason Robert Barrow Tho. Bayley John Okey Jenkin Lloyd Samson Larke Isaac Knight Paul Sismey We desire that what Return you make hereof be directed to Colonel Barkestead at White-Hall to be by him communicated to the Officers at the Head-quarters A DECLARATION OF The English ARMY now in SCOTLAND TO The people of SCOTLAND especially those a mong them that know and fear the LORD We the Officers and Souldiers of the English Army do send Greeting AT the beginning of the great and wonderful workings of GOD in these two Nations of England and Scotland we the Under-Officers and Souldiers of the English Army now in Scotland were most of us if not all men of private Callings and not at all interested in matters of Publick and State-affairs but yet very many of us in whom the Lord had begun to reveal himself in the Face of Jesus Christ were sensible of the ANTICHRISTIAN Tyranny that was exercised by the late King and his Prelates over the Coxsciences Bodies and Estates of the true Spiritual Church of Jesus Christ namely those that were born again and united to him hy his Spirit who were then by that Antichristian crew termed Puritans Sectaries Schismaticks c. and for not conforming to all the Canons and Ordinances of their Nation-Church were frequently imprisoned banished and otherwise grievously molested at the pleasure of those that then ruled amongst us Under these sad sufferings of the people of God our souls mourned and understanding by the manifold gracious promises in the Word of God that a time of deliverance was to be expected to the Church of CHRIST and destruction and ruine to BABYLON Our hearts together with all truly godly in England were exceedingly stirred up to pray to the Lord even day and night that he would Arise to dectroy ANTICHRIST and to save his people Whilst this Spirit of Prayer was poured forth upon Gods people in England attempts are made upon Scotland to bring them to a conformity in religious Worship by endeavouring to impose upon them a Popish Service-Book which was through the great goodness of God by his people in Scotland rejected which made the wrath of the late King and his Prelates wax so hot against them so as Scotland had no other way to preserve it self but by coming into England with an Army which the godly in England did not then count an Invasion to destroy England no more then they do this our present march for the ruine of Scotland but rejoyced to see some appearing against that ANTICHRISTIAN power that had persecuted the Saints and were assured That the LORD was come forth to answer the many Prayers and Tears that were then poured and pouring forth for that purpose and therefore so far as we had any opportunity farthered the designs of that Army some of us hazzarding our lives by spreading their Book intituled The SCOTS INTENTIONS and pleading for the justness of their Proceedings Let us remember how the Lord was pleased gratiously to answer the prayers of his people at that time in their deliverance from the Army raised by the late King and his Prelates for the destruction of all the people of God in England and Scotland insomuch That soon after Scotland sits in Peace enjoying their former Liberties without being imposed upon by the Antichristian Prelacy in England and England obtains a Parliament to whom they have opportunity to complain of their grievances and through the great goodness of God so constituted that grievances are heard and overtures made to the late King for their redress which was so irksome to his Oppressing Tyrannical and Bloody Spirit that he again betook himself to overthrew the Parliament by force and to that end entertains the Officers of the Army that had gone forth against our Brethren of Scotland and withdrawing himself from his Parliament an appearance of a Civil War begins which being made known to us the inseriout Officers and Souldiers of this Army then in our private Callings we found our hearts extraordinarily stirred up by the LORD to assist the Parliament against the King being abundantly satisfied in our judgments and consciences that we were called forth by the Lord to be instrumental to bring about that which was our continual prayer to God viz. The DESTRUCTION of ANTICHRIST and the deliverance of his CHURCH and PEOPLE And upon this simple accompt we engaged not knowing the deep policies of worldly Statesmen and have ever since hazarded our lives in the high places of the field where we have seen the wonders of the Lord against all the opposers of this work of Jesus Christ whom we have all along seen going with us and making our way plain before us And having these things singly in our eye namely the destrustion of Antichrist the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Deliverance and Reiormation of his Church in the Establishment of his Ordinances amongst them in purity according to his Word and the just civil Liberties of Englishmen we did many of us rejoyce at the Covenant because we found in it a strain towards these ends although some being more enlightned did apprehend it to be so mixt with worldly interest that they justly feared the interest of JESUS CHRIST would be onely pretended to and the interests of this world yea of ANTICHRIST himself carried under a vizard as we have since had abundant experience

greater difficulties and to follow the LAMB more fully then ever We nave had a breathing time while our Brethren have been bringing forth the deliverance of IRELAND through sore pangs And now the Symptomes of travelling pain begin to take hold upon us and as that glorion birth hath been thus far brought forth in IRELAND through the Prayers of the Saints so we are encouraged to believe while we finde the spirit of Prayer crying earnestly for the accomplishment of CHRISTS designes thorow all these dark dispensations that the Close will be the bringing forth of Zions deliverance And to that end deat Friends we are hold in the Name of our Lord whom ye love to provoke you to fervent Prayer at this time for the clear manifestation of the presence of Christ with us in whatever service he shall call us unto We are now again alarm'd by him to come forth into the field but both our Work and the Issue is onely and wholly known to himself Pray for us that we may not ●ant that Pillar of five before us and the Cloud behind us and that we may be found faithful Servants waiting onely upon our Lords good pleasure and ler both you and us be instant in Prayer for the uniting of the hearts of all that fear the Lord in this and our Neighbour Nation of SCOTLAND that there may not be found any of the generation of the Just joyning Issue with those that support the Beast and oppose the advancement of the KINGDOM of our LORD JESUS CHRIST the King of Saints But that some special and signal discovery of the good Will of God to his people may now appear in separating the pretious from the vile both in their counsels and actions And it is most earnestly desired that ●ervent Supplication and Prayer be made for all such of us as shall be called to the management of Publick Affairs that the Lord would make his way plain before us That so in all our undertakings we may be subservient to the affairs of Jesus Christ and walk in love as becometh Saints towards all dissatisfied Brethren both in ENGLAND and SCOTLAND that our indeared affection to them as to the lot of Gods inheritance may appear in all our demeanors towards them and in theirs towards us That so the enemies of CHRIST may be disappointed and these Clouds of Division scattered to the abundant Glory and Praise of God and comfort of all his people Who knows but yet after the late too great Unchristian Differences between the Children of the same Father this may be the day wherein shall be begun the fulfilling of those glorious promises which God hath made to his people in the last days And I will give them one heart and one way Jer. 32.39 and That Ephraim shall not envie Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim Isa 11.12,13,14 And that we may be active and constant in the work of the Lord we farther provoke you to be earnest with him on the behalf of all the Saints and particularly for us that our hearts may be taken off from the poor low things of this world That we may not seek our selves nor great things for our selves but the glory and honour of JESUS CHRIST who hath so gratiousl● owned us and manifested his glorious presence with us through all the many temptations and tryals that we have been exercised under and the sore trouble our eyes have seen All which he hath done that he might humble us and that he might prove us to do us good in the latter end And for all these ends the Lord hath stirred up our hearts to set apart the Fifth day of the next week being the Thirtieth of this present Moneth May 30. 1650 as a solemn time to seek his Face in and about this work Wherein hoping you will joyn with us we defire that both you and we may be humbled before the Lord for all our former and latter evils that we have commi●ted notwithstanding the multitude of his tender mercies towards us It may be since we have been at ease we have contracted rust the Lord make us every one sensible of the plague of his own heart and grant that this may be a cleansing day that he would both reprove and enable us to turn at his reproof that so what employment soever the Lord calleth us unto we may go to it leaving our sins behind us And let us with all fervency of spirit pray that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would so pour out his Spirit upon us that thereby our hearts being purged from all filthiness of flesh and spirit our holy conversation may declare us to be the people of the Lord yea the Army of the LAMB who is King of kings and Lord of lords whose followers are called Chosen and saithful And since the Lord hath taught us that to hang down the head as a Bulrush for a day is not such a fast as he hath chosen we do further therefore lay it upon our own hearts and yours that if any either Officer or Souldier be guilty of any prosaneness to the scandal of the Gospel discovery thereof may be made and such course therein ●…ken as may be agreeable to the Gospel and Discipline of the Army Further that we use our utmost endeavours in our several places to reform those gross Enormities of Drunkenness Swearing open Prophanation of the Lords day and contempt of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ which are too much to be sound in the Army that so as much as in us lyeth we may purge out every accursed thing from amongst us Dear Brethren let us labour through the power of the Spirit of Christ to sanctifie our selves and the Camp for the LORD that is in the midst of us is a holy God let us not too much presume upon our former mercies but well consider what the Lord hath said to his own people that were as neerly related to him as we can be Josh 24.19 The Lord he is a holy and a jealous God he will not forgive your transgressions and your sins if you forsake the Lord and serve strange Gods then he will turn and consume you and do you hurt after that he hath done you good and again Josh 7.12 13. Read the words as also Isaiah 63.8,9,10 Read the words Oh let these Scriptures and others to the same purpose deeply ●ffect us that so whilst we are used as a Rod of iron in Christs hand to dash his enemies in pieces we our selves may serve him with fear and rej●yce with trembling All that now seem to be on Christ's side will not hold out unto the end Be we faithful unto death and Christ will give us a Crown of life Dear Friends we shall earnestly long to hear from you to the end we may know how the Lord is pleased to affect your hearts with these things and what impressions of his Spirit he shall through his Word set upon you after

displeasure VVe desire it may be known to you our Brethren of Scotland that we are not Souldiers of Fortune we are not meerly the servants of men we have not onely proclaimed Jesus Christ the King of Saints to be our King by Profession but desire to submit to him upon his own terms and to admit him to the exercise of his Royal Authority in our hearts and to follow him whithersoever he goeth he having of his own good will entred into a Covenant of Grace with his poor Saints and be assured it is he that leadeth us into Scotland as he hath done in England and Ireland And therefore we do in the spirit of brotherly love and of the fear of the Lord beseech you to look about you for our Lord Jesus is coming amongst you as a refiners fire and as Fullers sope and blessed are those in whom the least dram of sincerity shall be found VVe have a Paper directed to us from the people of Scotland it having been publickly made known to us at the head of our Regiments wherein we are first desired to consider the lawfulness of our marching into Scotland We bless God we did that before we came and are abundantly satisfied that we are brought hither by the Lord nay many of us lying under temptations of flesh and blood and going about to frame excuses to take us from this march found that to have staid behind had been to have turned our backs upon Jesus Christ and to have deprived our selves of much sweet communion with God that now through his goodness we do enjoy VVe have also considered the Arguments by which you go about to weaken the grounds of the Parliaments and our Superiour Officers leading us into Scotland and must needs give you this Return That we are still abundantly established in this belief that what the Parliament of England hath done in sending us into Scotland hath been of absolute necessity to preserve themselves from being destroyed in their Religion and Liberties which they have been at so much cost both of Blood and Treasure to purchase and preserve and therefore by the way we must needs tell you that we cannot endure to hear them called A pretended Parliament which we desire you to take notice of that if you write to us again you would speak more reverently of the Authority of our Nation or else we shall easily think you will upon every occasion be ready to invade England that you may set up an Authority which you may call lawful And let us as in the prefence of the Lord further assure you That we have already examined our consciences as before the Lord have a clear assurance in our hearts That he will countenance us in this action and that we do not break any Covenant which we have sworn before God Angels and Men but could be contented should we not thereby idolize the Covenant to march to any Engagement with you if called thereunto by the Lord with the Covenant on the tops of our Pikes and let the Lord judge who hath observed the Ends of the Covenant best you or we Yet we do acknowledge we have not been the exact Performers though not the wilful breakers thereof our consciences also bear us record we do above any thing in the world desire the Union of the two Nations and it is our prayer dayly That those that fear the Lord in England and Scotland may become one in the hand of the Lord and joyn together in the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and throwing down and trampling upon the Seat of the Beast VVhy should not Scotland as well as England rejoyce to see the horns of the Beast cut off that we may joyn together to hate the VVhore and to burn her flesh with fire The Lord is our witness whom we fear we come not to oppress you or shed your blood we have cryed to the Lord again and again to prevent it we have sent you our Declaration of Love to the People of God in Scotland which some amongst you though they pretended to answer yet do most injuriously and unchristianly keep from their sight nay most falsly mis-representing us as a people come with intentions to destroy the poor inhabitants and that we are left of our God to be destroyed but we have made our prayer to the Lord and made known before him their sayings who have told the people of Scotland that God hath forsaken us and therefore bid them persecute and take us for now the Sectaries day is come c. But the Lord is still with us he is our Refuge and a present help in trouble ready to be found we do believe the cry of the oppressed in Scotland will be heard and wo to those that are the Cause thereof Our Quarrel is still against Malignants the Root whereof is now through the evil policy of some Statesmen become the head of Scotland VVe dare not quarrel with those whose hearts are upright with Jesus Christ and faithful and loving to England but with those who are most treacherous and false to both and therefore we daie not any of us though tempted thereto by your papers be so carnally wise as to desert the Cause and VVork of Jesus Christ in which we have hitherto been so long and so miraculously carried on Do you think we are men so weakly principled as to be perswaded without the least strength of Argument to desert the interest of out own Nation and expose thousands of the precious Saints of Jesus Christ to be trampled upon as the dirt in the streets when the Lord is about to put on their beautiful garments and to make them a praise in the earth Or can we think you betray our superiour Officers in whom we see so much of the sweet Spirit of Jesus Christ into your hands whose mouths are opened wide to devour them VVe pray you not to wait for such a thing The Lord hath brought us hither by his Providence and upon him we shall with confidence depend till we see a glorious Issue which we humbly and heartily desire may be without the effusion of any more blood and if it be the Will of God both speedy and comfortable to you and us that we may return with joy into England and leave Scotland rejoycing that an English Army hath been amongst them which possibly may be the sooner effected were you and we suffered to confer and open our hearts one to another we do believe much of the bitterness of spirit would be allayed in our Brethren of Scotland did they know how exceedingly we are slandered by the pens and tongues of many of your Kirk-men concerning our Religion and faith towards God which though we may not vainly boast of yet according to the Apostles direction we are ready to give an answer to the meanest Christian in Scotland that shall ask a reason of the faith and hope that is in us with meekness and fear And