Whereas of late divers Applications have been made, as well in writing as by verbal Messages, inviting the Ministers of London, or some of them, to meet with the Officers of the Army, in their consultations about matters of Religion; We, Ministers of the Gospel within the Province of London, hold it our Duty, as then to refuse any such meeting as was proposed; so now to give your Lordship and your Council the Reasons of that Refusal, least by our silence we should seem to be wanting in that ingenuity and Candour which becomes all, but especially the Ministers of Jesus Christ. And understanding that some of our Brethren, at one Conference before your Lordship and some of your Council,a and at another with some of your chief Officers,b have already ⟨p. 2⟩manifested their dislike, both of your late Actions towards many of the Worthy Members of the Honourable House of Commons, and what likewise you have published in your late Remonstrance and Declaration, as your intention for settling the Affairs of the Kingdom, (as we were informed by some of them, and willed thus to signify,) We thought fit hereby to manifest our Concurrence with those our Reverend Brethren; Humbly desiring, That while we use that Plainness and Freedom which becometh the Ambassadors of Christ, this our performance may not be misinterpreted, either as a transgressing the Law of Christian meekness, or an exceeding the Bounds of Ministerial liberty; We being commanded to cry aloud, and to lift up our voices as Trumpets, to show the People their Transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.
WHereas of late divers Applications have been made, as well in writing as by verball Messages, inviting the Ministers of London, or some of them, to meet with the Officers of the Army, in their consultations about matters of Religion; We, Ministers of the Gospel within the Province of London, hold it our Dutie, as then to refuse any such meeting as was proposed; so now to give your Lordship and your Councell the Reasons of that Refusall, least by our silence we should seem to be wanting in that ingenuity and Candor which becomes all, but especially the Ministers of Jesus Christ. And understanding that some of our Brethren, at one Conference before your Lordship and some of your Councell,a and at another with some of your chief Officers,b have already ⟨p. 2⟩manifested their dislike, both of your late Actions towards many of the Worthy Members of the Honourable House of Commons, and what likewise you have published in your late Remonstrance and Declaration, as your intention for setling the Affairs of the Kingdom, (as we were informed by some of them, and willed thus to signifie,) We thought fit hereby to manifest our Concurrence with those our Reverend Brethern; Humbly desiring, That while we use that Plainnesse and Freedom which becometh the Abassadors of Christ, this our performance may not be misinterpreted, either as a transgressing the Law of Christian meeknesse, or an exceeding the Bounds of Ministeriall liberty; We being commanded to cry aloud, and to lift up our voices as Trumpets, to shew the People their Transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.
- aMr. Marshall, Mr. Calamy. Mr. Whitakers. Mr. Sedgwick, &c.
- bMr. Whitaker. Mr. Calamy. Mr. Ash, &c.
