in the Providence of God, they were but the noyse of many waters,
and the voyce of a great thunder before the voyce of harpers harping with
their harps, which shall fill this whole Iland with melodie and mirth, and
the name of it shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.

_The Declaration of the Parliament of_ England, _sent to the Assembly._

The Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, finding to
their great grief, that the distractions of this Kingdome dayly increase,
and that the wicked Counsels and practises of a malignent party amongst us
(if God prevent them not) are like to cast this nation into bloud and
confusion, To testifie to all the World how earnestly they desire to avoid
a Civill Warre, they have addressed themselves in an humble Supplication
to His Majestie, for the prevention thereof. A Copy of which their
petition, they have thought fit to send at this time to the National
Assembly of the Church of _Scotland_, to the intent that that Church and
Kingdome (whereunto they are united by so many and so near bounds and
tyes, as well Spiritual as Civil) may see that the like minde is now in
them, that formerly appeared to be in that Nation. And that they are as
tender of the effusion of Christian bloud on the one side, as they are
zealous on the other side of a due Reformation both in Church and State.
In which work, whilest they were labouring, they have been interrupted by
the plots and practises of a malignant party of Papists, and ill affected
persons, especially of the corrupt and dissolute Clergy, by the incitement
and instigation of Bishops and others, whose avarice and ambition being
not able to bear the Reformation endeavoured by the Parliament, they have
laboured (as we can expect little better fruit from such trees) to kindle
a flame, and raise a combustion within the bowels of this Kingdom: Which
if by our humble supplication to His Majesty it may be prevented, and that
according to our earnest desire therein, all Force and Warlike
preparations being laid aside, we may returne to a peaceable parliamentary
proceeding, We do not doubt, but that by the blessing of Almighty God upon
our endeavours, we shall settle the matters both in Church and State, to
the encrease of His Majesties honour and State, the peace and prosperitie
of this Kingdome, and especially to the glory of God, by the advancement
of the true Religion, and such a Reformation of the Church, as shall be
most agreeable to Gods W