An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in…

What fierce and violent Contentions have been of late among Ministers and People, about Things of a religious Nature? How much is the Gospel-Ministry grown into Contempt? and the Work of the Ministry, in many Respects, laid under uncommon Difficulties, and even in Danger of sinking amongst us? How many of our Congregations and Churches rending in Pieces? Church Discipline weakened, and Ordinances less and less regarded? What wild and extravagant Notions, gross Delusions of the Devil, and strange Practices have prevailed, and do still prevail, in many Places, under a Pretext of extraordinary Purity, Spirituality, Liberty, and Zeal against Formality, Usurpation, and Conformity to the World? How strong and deeply rooted and general are the Prejudices that prevail against vital Religion and the Power of Godliness, and almost every Thing that appertains to it or tends to it? How apparently are the Hearts of People, every where, uncommonly shut up against all Means and Endeavours to awaken Sinners and revive Religion? Vice and Immorality, of all Kinds, withal increasing and unusually prevailing?—May not an attentive View and Consideration of such a State of Things well influence ⟨p. 71⟩the People that favours the Dust of Zion, to Earnestness in their Cries to God for a general Out-pouring of his Spirit, which only can be an effectual Remedy for these Evils?

Besides the Things that have been mentioned, the fresh Attempts made by the antichristian Powers against the Protestant Interest, in their late Endeavours to restore a popish Government in Great-Britain, the chief Bulwark of the Protestant Cause; as also the Persecution lately revived against the Protestants in France, may well give Occasion to the People of God, to renewed and extraordinary Earnestness in their Prayers to him, for the Fulfilment of the promised Downfall of Antichrist, and that Liberty and Glory of his Church that shall follow.

Besides the Things that have been mentioned, the fresh Attempts made by the antichristian Powers against the Protestant Interest, in their late Endeavours to restore a popish Government in Grea•-Britain, the chief Bulwark of the Protestant Cause; as also the Persecution lately revived against the Protestants in France, may well give Occasion to the People of God, to renewed and extraordinary Earnestness in their Prayers to him, for the Fulfilment of the promised Downfal of Antichrist, and that Liberty and Glory of his Church that shall follow.