IT hath pleased the good and only wise GOD for our and the Nations crying sins , to manifest His displeasure for many years together against these once flourishing , now sadly divided , distracted , and almost ruined Nations : and yet , blessed be GOD , this Honourable City hitherto hath been no proportionable sharer in the Calamities which our Brethren in other parts of these ( now miserable ) Nations have suffered ; which are now aggravated by our Divisions , and such a general decay of Trading , as doth exceed the worst of former times ; All which we look upon , as a most sad presage of some heavie and dismal Judgment very near at hand , if not our sudden ruine : together with the destruction and utter dissolution both of Church and State , which will inevitably ensue as a just reward upon our multiplied provocations , under the most signal manifestations of GOD'S most gracious presence , and the most engaging mercies that ever People did enjoy ( unlesse it please our most gracious GOD , whose Name hath been exceedingly dishonoured by the Violation of sacred and solemn Oaths ) amongst us to work our deliverance out of this contexture of dangerous mischiefs , into which we have already wound our … s : or which , as the inundations of mighty waters , may suddenly break-in upon us : and being sadly sensible of the calamities , under which the three Na●●●●● groan for want of a well-ordered and established Government : We being Members in the same Political Body cannot but sympathize with the rest of Brethren : And forasmuch as your endeavours may contribute very much there to , and the well or ill management of your Talents , in the discharge of Trusts , may now make these Nations happy , or else leave them irrecoverably miserable : We hold our selves obliged in conscience to GOD and our ●●●ntry , both by the Laws of GOD and the Land , in the behalf of our selves and all good and peaceable People in the Land , and the many thousands 〈◊〉 know not their right hand from their left ; and in the behalf of the Children unborn , who in time to come may have cause to blesse or curse the day of ●●r birth for your sakes , do make 〈◊〉 this humble Addresse to you , as the only means under GOD now left us to redresse these growing mischiefs , which make and the three Nations , in these times of our great trouble , cry unto you ( as those of Macedonia did in the Apostles Vision ) Come and help us . And , 〈◊〉 beseech you , our most grave and worthy Senatours , as you tender the welfare of these bleeding Nations , to stand in the wide gap of our Breaches , with ●●●r prayers , improving your Counsels , and every Talent ( which God hath reposed in you ) for the Honour of GOD , and the Peace of His Church by a 〈◊〉 Reformation ; and we question not but our most gracious GOD will then break through the thick clouds of these black and dark providences , and re●●●● unto us our Judges as at the first , and our Counsellours as at the beginning , with the abundance of the blessings of Peace , that Judgement may run ●n our streets , and Righteousnesse as a mighty stream . And we humbly desire the two great Pillars of the Land , Magistracy and Ministery , may be … rted and encouraged : In order unto which , we humbly present to your grave and serious considerations , ●●●st , The Priviledges of the Gospel which we do enjoy at this day in the faithfull preaching and dispensing of GODS holy Word and Sacraments , together 〈◊〉 ●he Labours of so many of His faithfull Servants in the Ministry , and the liberty of these sacred Ordinances , being the best and choicest of our National … gs ; in respect of which , we may well say ( with holy David ) God hath not dealt so with any Nation : which with thankfulness we desire to acknow●●●●● 〈◊〉 as a great mercy to this Land : And should the LORD remove His Candlestick out of his place ( as we have just cause to fear He will , unlesse we do ●●pent Then may we indeed complain with Phineas his wife , The glory is departed from our Israel , and a dark and dismal night of black and gloomy ●gnorance , Errour and Prophanenesse will invelope our valley of vision . And to the end that this choice Blessing ( which we account more precious than ●ur lives ) may be conveyed to Posterity , We most humbly desire the Ministery may be countenanced and encouraged , the Universities upheld and main●ained , which have nursed many famous Preachers for Piety and Learning in this and former Ages , and your Authority used for the terrour of evil-doers , 〈◊〉 ●ut the praise of them that do well .

Secondly , We esteem and assert as our undoubted birth-right , the Freedom and Priviledges of our Parliaments , as being the great Charter of the People ●f England , which we account equally dear with our Lives , in the enjoyment of which we yet hope under GOD to see a happie and lasting Settlement ●oth in Church and State : Therefore we most humbly desire that a new Election may be made , or else that those worthy Gentlemen , chosen to serve ●s Members in the late free Parliament , may be restored to their Priviledges , and sit without disturbance or force from the Army . That they may consider 〈◊〉 ●●is evil time , what England , Scotland and Ireland ought to do , which ( with submission to your Grave Judgments ) we humbly conceive to be the ●●st probable means under GOD to establish the true Protestant Religion , reform the Laws , secure our Liberties , and preserve our Lives and outward ●●●ernments , to promote Learning , and encourage Virtue ; whereby Peace with our neighbour Nations may be renewed and established , the Army safed , their Arrears paid , and Trading restored . In all which , most grave and worthy Senatours , your own concernments ( aswell as ours ) are so deeply ●●●●ged , that we perswade our selves you will be instrumental to further our Desires , by all peaceable and lawfull means ; And we hope it will put an end to 〈◊〉 Divisions , which ( if GOD in mercy prevent not ) may soon break out into another Civil War , and render us as a prey to a forreign enemy : For , a King●●● divided against it self cannot stand .

Now we leave it unto you , our most grave and worthy Senatours , duly to consider if you part with these our great National Blessings , whether you will not discover a palpable breach of Trust , and leave your Names for a reproach to the Generations following , who will in the Ages to come rise up and call you blessed , if you be carefull to preserve them now , and convey them to Posterity : And now We beseech the LORD to strengthen both your hearts and hands , and give you wisdom from on high to direct you in all your Consultations , as may be most for the Honour of GOD , the Peace of His Church throughout the World , and the Settlement , Safety and Happinesse of these poor Nations ; And by His Assistance we resolve to stand by you , and with you to the utmost hazard of our lives , and all that is dear unto us , to promote the same .