An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Whatsoever therefore becomes of this controversy between him and us, whether reconciliation or not reconciliation, yet we have peace in this, that what we have done in the resisting of a deluge of misery that was coming upon us, if we had not done it, our consciences would have upbraided us, the generation to come would have cursed us, the Nations about us and our very enemies would have scorned us and derided us for our base cowardliness, for our sordid spirits, for an unworthy generation that should see it self and posterity sinking into misery and brought under slavery, and out of base fear and sluggish litherness of spirit and effeminate softness, should suffer all to be brought into bondage to the humours and lusts of a few men. We can therefore with comfort and boldness stand at Gods Tribunal and plead the uprightness of our hearts and justness of our cause in this Controversy whatever becomes of it. But in the controversy that God hath against us, there we fall down at his feet and acknowledge our selves guilty before him, yea, we come with sackcloth upon our loins and ashes on our heads, with ropes on our necks, and plead only mercy for our lives. And this is the work that we have to do in all the days of our humiliation, to seek to make an Atonement between God and our souls and the Land in regard of that dreadful controversy he hath against us. Now blessed God, because thou tellest us in thy word, Because I WILL do this, therefore prepare to meet thy God O Israel: Thou threatenest hard, great and sore evils, and thou callest now to us, because Thou wilt do this, England, O England ⟨p. 17⟩prepare to meet God; We come (Oh that this might be our answer) we come Lord and meet thee with our souls bowed towards thee, with our hearts bleeding that we have provoked thee to cause so much bloodshed of our brethren amongst us. O Lord our hearts are open to thee, and with trembling spirits we cry to the Lord, what wilt thou have us do? If thou proceedest against us in thy controversy we are undone, we are undone, Oh Lord forgive, Oh Lord arise and be merciful we beseech thee, for by whom shall Jacob rise for he is small? by whom shall the people arise? by whom shall the power of godliness and thine Ordinances be maintained?

Whatsoever therefore becomes of this controversy between him and us, whether reconciliation or not reconciliation, yet we have peace in this, that what we have done in the resisting of a deluge of misery that was coming upon us, if we had not done it, our consciences would have upbraided us, the generation to come would have cursed us, the Nations about us and our very enemies would have scorned us and derided us for our base cowardliness, for our sordid spirits, for an unworthy generation that should see it self and posterity sinking into misery and brought under slavery, and out of base fear and sluggish litherness of spirit and effeminate softness, should suffer all to be brought into bondage to the humors and lusts of a few men. We can therefore with comfort and boldness stand at Gods Tribunal and plead the uprightness of our hearts and justness of our cause in this Controversie whatever becomes of it. But in the controversie that God hath against us, there we fall down at his feet and acknowledg our selves guilty before him, yea, we come with sackcloath upon our loins and ashes on our heads, with ropes on our necks, and plead only mercy for our lives. And this is the work that we have to do in all the daies of our humiliation, to seek to make an Atonement between God and our souls and the Land in regard of that dreadful controversie he hath against us. Now blessed God, because thou tellest us in thy word, Because I WILL do this, therefore prepare to meet thy God O Israel: Thou threatnest hard, great and sore evils, and thou callest now to us, because Thou wilt do this, England, O England