heavinesse of your stroake; but
though _the Lord hath delivered the men, every one into his neigbours
hand, and into the hand of his King, and they have smitten the Land, yet
the rod of the wicked shall not not rest upon the lot of the righteous_:
This cloud shall speedily passe away, and a fair sun-shine shall appear.

As for us, though your extreeme calamitie did not threaten the ruine of
our Religion, Peace, and Liberties, as it doth most evidently, we would
hate our selves, if we did not finde our hearts within us melting with
compassion over you: You are engraven on the tables of our hearts to live
and die with you: we could desire that our heads were waters, and our eyes
a fountain of tears, that we might weep day and night for the slain of the
daughter of the Lords people; So calamitous a condition of any of the
Kirks of Christ, could not but be very grievous unto us; How much more
shall not we stoup and fall down in the dust to embrace our dearest
Brethren of England, to whom we are tied in to near and tender relations.
When we were but creeping out of the deep darknesse and bondage of Popery,
and were almost crushed with the fury of Foreigne Invaders, joined with
intestine enemies, pretending the name and warrand of authority, as now
your oppressours do; Then did the Lord by your Fathers send us seasonable
assistance against that intended and begun bondage both of soul and body:
The repayment of which debt, the Divine Providence seemeth now to require
at our hands. And whereas of late through our security we had fallen into
a wofull relapse, and were compassed about with dreadfull dangers on all
hands, while we aymed at the recovery of our former puritie and libertie:
Then we wanted not the huge supply of your fervent Prayers, and other
brotherly assistance of that Nation, while those who are now your
malignant enemies, would have swallowed us up.

These strait bonds of your ancient and late love, do so possesse our
hearts, that when the motions of the Commissioners of honourable House of
Parliament, and your Letters did challenge our advice and aid for defence
of Religion, and advancement of Reformation, our desires for a more strict
Union and Uniformitie in Religion betwixt both the Nations, did break
forth into a vehement flame, in such sort, as when the draugt of a League
and Covenant betwixt both Kingdoms for defence of Religion, &c. was read
in open audience, it was so unanimously and heartily embraced, wi