the same. Wherein we
assure our selves of their ready and willing affections, considering the
great service they may do to God, and the great honour may redound to
themselves in becoming the Instruments of a glorious Reformation, not
onely through this Iland, but from thence possibly to be spread to other
Churches now oppressed under the Antichristian bondage, and tyrannie of
the Popish and prelatical Faction. We will not say there lies any
obligation upon this Church and Kingdome, to comply with the desires of
the two Houses of Parliament; though we might call to minde that God by
the hand of the Church and Kingdome of England, did once reach forth
assistance and aid unto this Nation, and hath since used them as a help to
that blessed Reformation it now enjoyes. And who knoweth whether the wise
providence of God hath not suffered this Church and Kingdome to be tempted
thereby, to make them the more feasible of the present miseries of their
brethren, and likewise given them a good issue, with the tentation, that
they might be made a means of our deliverance? We shall not need to offer
any grounds of prudence to invite them hereunto, who have already
prevented us in the acknowledgement of what might be said of that kinde in
the advice presented by the Commissioners of the General Assembly. July 6.
1643. unto the Convention of Estates, expressing as one remedie of the
present dangers of this Church and Kingdome, their earnest desire of
renewing the league and association with England, for the defence of
Religion against the common enemie, and of further extending the same
against Prelacie, and Popish Ceremonies, for Uniformity in externall
worship and Church-government. And we hope that the same God who hath put
these desires into the hearts of both Kingdomes, will make use of this
present opportunity to knit them both to himself, and each other in a most
strict and durable Union, and thereby the more firmly to establish truth
and peace in both Nations. Howsoever this which we have done in discharge
of our duty, will afford the comfort of a good conscience in our greatest
distresses, and give us ground to expect deliverance some way or other
from the manifold wisedome and power of God, who though men and means
fail, will not cast off his people, nor forsake his inheritance. We have
onely this to adde further, that we are commanded by both Houses to let
this reverend Assembly know that it is their earnest desire, that what