A letter from the Assembly of Divines in England, and the commissioners of the…

Thus (Reverend and Dear Brethren) we have given you the face, or rather the shadow, (for what words are able to express the face?) of our miserable condition in England: Our civill Liberties in danger to be lost, our goods spoiled, our houses plundered, our blood poured out in every corner: (things though otherwise very precious to us we omit to mention.) If our God will lay our bodies as the ground, and as the dust under their feet; the will of the Lord be done: Might our blood be a Sacrifice to ransom the rest of the Saints of Christ from antichristian fury, most gladly would we offer it upon this service. But that which breaks our hearts is, the danger we behold the Protestant Religion, and all the Reformed Churches in at this time. We know their rage is insatiable, and will not be quenched with our blood: their fury is kindled against us, not as we are sinful men, but as men engaged in the defence of the true Religion, and panting after a right Reformation: And if once the Lord deliver us as a prey into their teeth, Oh the darkness and horror, the bondage, slavery and persecution, which all who will not receive the mark of the beast, are like to be wrapped in, in these three woeful Kingdoms! And not here only, but they are like to attempt the same in all the Reformed Churches in Europe. Your own thoughts can easily suggest unto you, with what rage the beast which came out of the bottomless pit, the Woman who hath thus long drunk the blood of the Saints is filled now before her utter destruction, against that Virgin Company that follow the Lamb.

Thus (Reverend and Deare Brethren) wee have given you the face, or rather the shadow, (for what words are able to expresse the face?) of our miserable condition in England: Our civill Liberties in danger to bee lost, our goods spoiled, our houses plundered, our blood poured out in every corner: (things though otherwise very precious to us wee omit to mention.) If our God wil lay our bodies as the ground, and as the dust under their feet; the will of the Lord bee done: Might our blood bee a Sacrifice to ransome the rest of the Saints of Christ from antichristian fury, most gladly would wee offer it upon this service. But that which breaks our hearts is, the danger wee behold the Protestant Religion, and all the Reformed Churches in at this time. Wee know their rage is insatiable, and will not bee quenched with our blood: their fury is kindled against us, not as wee are sinfull men, but as men ingaged in the defence of the true Religion, and panting after a right Reformation: And if once the Lord deliver us as a prey into their teeth, Oh the darknesse and horrour, the bondage, slavery and persecution, which all who will not receive the mark of the beast, are like to bee wrapped in, in these three wofull Kingdomes! And not here only, but they are like to attempt the same in all the Reformed Churches in Europe. Your owne thoughts can easily suggest unto you, with what rage the beast which came out of the bottomlesse pit, the Woman who hath thus long drunk the blood of the Saints is filled now before her utter destruction, against that Virgin Company that follow the Lamb.