Verily, we could creep on our knees unto you, For the Lord's sake, let our words be accepted with you, do not despise our request; Accept this Petition, as if it were written in the mingled tears, of us and your People. Verily, these are the things, that they do sigh out before the Lord in secret. Shall none of their miseries nor necessities move you? Was the tongue of the dumb-born son of Croesus loosed, by the vehement commotion of Nature in him, when he saw one about to murder his father? And shall not the necessity of Souls loose yours? O think, by whom shall these be gathered? We beseech you, by the Children (as it were) of your own †bodies, by the *Love you bear to our precious Saviour, (whose Interest it is, not our own, that we have all this while pleaded with you;) We beseech you, by your high and holy Calling, by all the Commands and Promises of the glorious Gospel, by all your Vows to the most high God at your solemn Admission to your sacred Function, Feed the Flock of God, which he †hath purchased with his own Blood. In a word, by the bowels of Fathers, by the tears and cries of Children, by the necessities, distresses, groans, and sorrows of our afflicted Mother, we beseech you do not turn a deaf ear to these Requests. Fulfil you your Peoples joy: refresh their bowels in the Lord. We are in deepest earnest with you, and do in some measure feel what we speak. We go not to act a part. The case is very deplorable, that is before you. You see what havoc is made, and what is like to become of poor souls. O if there be any *consolation in Christ, any Comfort ⟨p. 30⟩of Love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any bowels and mercies, feed Christ's Lambs, feed his Sheep. We humbly and tremblingly leave all at your feet; and fearing lest all our beggings to you will not prevail, we turn our selves to beg of God for you, and the souls committed to you and us.
Verily, we could creep on our knees unto you, For the Lord's sake, let our words be accepted with you, do not despise our request; Accept this Petition, as if it were written in the mingled tears, of us and your People. Verily, these are the things, that they do sigh out before the Lord in secret. Shall none of their miseries nor necessities move you? Was the tongue of the dumb-born son of Croesus loosed, by the vehement commotion of Nature in him, when he saw one about to murder his father? And shall not the necessity of Souls loose yours? O think, by whom shall these be gathered? We beseech you, by the Children (as it were) of your own †bodies, by the *Love you bear to our precious Saviour, (whose Interest it is, not our own, that we have all this while pleaded with you;) We beseech you, by your high and holy Calling, by all the Commands and Promises of the glorious Gospel, by all your Vows to the most high God at your solemn Admission to your sacred Function, Feed the Flock of God, which he †hath purchased with his own Blood. In a word, by the bowels of Fathers, by the tears and cryes of Children, by the necessities, distresses, groans, and sorrows of our afflicted Mother, we beseech you do not turn a deaf ear to these Requests. Fulfil you your Peoples joy: refresh their bowels in the Lord. We are in deepest earnest with you, and do in some measure feel what we speak. We go not to act a part. The case is very deplorable, that is before you. You see what havock is made, and what is like to become of poor souls. O if there be any *consolation in Christ, any Comfort ⟨p. 30⟩of Love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any bowels and mercies, feed Christ's Lambs, feed his Sheep. We humbly and tremblingly leave all at your feet; and fearing lest all our beggings to you will not prevail, we turn our selves to beg of God for you, and the souls committed to you and us.
- †Job 19. 17.
- *John 21. 15, 16, 17.
- †Act. 20. 28.
- *Phil. 2, 1.
