Deliverance-obstruction

To the Right Honourable the House of PEERS, In Parliament now assembled.

MY LORDS,

What Complaint that blessed Reformer HEZEKIAH sent once to the Prophet ISAIAH, that the ISAIAHS of our time do now make in your ears, who are our REFORMERS, The children are come to the birth,¹ and there is not strength to bring forth. To make some discovery where the OBSTRUCTION lieth, is the humble and faithful endeavour of this Sermon; which as it waits the second time upon your Commands; so if your ⟨image 3⟩Lordships please (at your sparer times) to let your eye second the travel of your ear, it may through his power, ²who quickens the dead, and calls things that ARE NOT, as though they WERE, become some way serviceable to the Work you have in hand (the end of its first and second attendance upon your Honours.) There was a time when Temple-work^* PROSPERED in the hands of the LORDS AND COMMONS OF JUDAH, by the prophesyings of HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH: O that such might be the blessed fruit of that abundance of GOSPEL-PROPHECY which hath been preached in the ears of Englands Parliament, since the time you were first engaged in this great Work, not only of STATE, but of CHURCH-Reformation. Truly, my Lords, we desire to look upon your Call of us the poor Ministers of Christ to this Service, not a STATE-COMPLEMENT, but as your truly ^*NOBLE desires of consulting with the Oracles of God. And for a real evidence thereof, give me leave, I beseech you, to become an humble Petitioner to your Honours for two things.