A96239:16
A letter from the Assembly of Divines in England, and the commissioners of the…
A letter from the Assembly of Divines in England, and the commissioners of the Church of Scotland, written, and sent by order of the honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament, to the Belgic, French, Helvetian, and other reformed churches. Translated into English, and now published with the several inscriptions to those churches. By order of the said House.A letter from the Assembly of Divines in England, and the commissioners of the Church of Scotland, written, and sent by order of the honorable House of Commons assembled in Parliament, to the Belgick, French, Helvetian, and other reformed churches. Translated into English, and now published with the severall inscriptions to those churches. By order of the said House.
London: printed by Richard Cotes for Ralph Smith, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Letter: A Letter from the Assembly of Divines in England, and the Commissioners of the Church o…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And all these things so apparent, that abundance of Popishly affected Prelates and Ministers adventured in every part of the Kingdom publicly to preach and leaven their people with almost all points of Popery, (except the Supremacy) and to introduce abundance of corrupt innovations in the worship of God, compelling the people to yield conformity to them, with persecuting such as would not. Insomuch as many who looked at ⟨p. 4⟩Religion only for outward advantage, found it best for their gain and safety to turn Papists: And many godly Ministers, who would not publish a book purposely set forth to allow such sports on the Lords day, which the Reformed Churches think unlawful at any time; or who would not conform themselves to their other superstitions; have had their mouths stopped, and many thousands of their people with them compelled to seek for refuge amongst your selves, or in remote parts of the world.
And all these things so apparent, that abundance of Popishly affected Prelates and Ministers adventured in every part of the Kingdome publickly to preach and leaven their people with almost all points of Popery, (except the Supremacy) and to introduce abundance of corrupt innovations in the worship of God, compelling the people to yeeld conformity to them, with persecuting such as would not. Insomuch as many who looked at ⟨p. 4⟩Religion onely for outward advantage, found it best for their gaine and safety to turne Papists: And many godly Ministers, who would not publish a book purposely set forth to allow such sports on the Lords day, which the Reformed Churches thinke unlawfull at any time; or who would not conforme themselves to their other superstitions; have had their mouthes stopped, and many thousands of their people with them compelled to seeke for refuge amongst your selves, or in remote parts of the world.
Yea so far they had advanced in their presumption, as to impose upon the whole Kingdom of Scotland a new Popish book of Service, Rites, and Ceremonies; and a book of Canons: To which when the piety and zeal of that Nation would not submit, they prevailed (alas) with his Majesty to proclaim them Rebels and Traitors, & to raise a formidable army against them; to which all the Papists, & popishly affected did professedly contribute their best assistance. And certainly had not the Lord by his blessing upon the Scottish Army, by the manifestation and acknowledgement of the wrongs done them, by the calling of this Parliament, and their godly care to clear the Innocency of their Brethren, and by the Treaty of Peace concluded betwixt the two Kingdoms, prevented it, the two Nations long since through the treachery and rage of these brutish men, had been imbruing their hands in each others blood.