THe Churches of Zealand having obſerved ſome while ſince, with ſorrow and great griefe of heart, the great troubles, perils, and feares, which are befallen the Churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland, through the dangerous differences and miſ-underſtandings between the King and his great Councell the Parliament, which (as all good men obſerve) threaten the diſturbance of the Reformed Religion, and of that flouriſhing Church, and the reſtoring againe of that curſed Papiſtrie in thoſe Lands, that ſo there might be brought in againe that abomination of deſolation, the Kingdome of Antichriſt, which in former time coſt ſo much blood of holy Martyrs, ſo much trouble and ſpoile of the inhabitants, and ſo much labour, charges and paines of the godly, before it could be driven out againe: And ſeeing that hitherto, by the grace of God, and the wiſe government of their Majeſties, the Queene Elizabeth and King Iames of happie memorie, the ſame hath bin kept out, and the true and pure worſhip and Religion (which all the godly in thoſe kingdomes eſteeme more deare and precious then their owne lives and temporall proſperitie) hath been hitherto continued, notwithſtanding all the fearfull attempts, conſpiracies, and murders, which thoſe of the Popiſh faction have undertaken againſt the ſacred perſons of the aforeſaid King and Queen, and againſt the peace and proſperitie of the bodies and ſoules of their ſubjects. And becauſe the Churches of Zealand ſtand bound & obliged together with the Churches of England in one Faith, in one Baptiſme, and in one holy Communion, being all of the houſhold of Faith, having one Father, one Inheritance, one common Worſhip and ſalvation: As alſo the Churches of England have taken greatly to heart the welfare of our Churches in the firſt times of the firſt Reformation, and alſo the eſtabliſhing of the Church of God in theſe Lands, in the time of heavie contentions againſt the Faction of the Remonſtrants in the yeare 1618. And moreover, there have been, and yet are, many exceeding godly Lights in England, which by their godly Labours and Writings have greatly edified other Reformed Churches in Doctrine, and eſpecially in the practice of pietie, or practique Theologie: And in regard alſo of the bond of mutuall love in the holy Communion of the bodie of Chriſt (ſo that when one member ſuffers the other member ſuffers alſo, and we muſt mourne with them that mourne) therefore the Churches of Zealand could not neglect to poure out their complaints and griefe there, where they hope, or ſee any helpe, or meanes of helpe is to be found, for that perplexed and troubled State of the Church of England: This doing, not onely out of conſcience of the duty we owe to our Brethren, but alſo that we may eſcape the curſe which God hath pronounced againſt thoſe which ſit ſtill, and are not troubled at the afflictions of Ioſeph, and ſeek not the proſperity of the Iſrael of God in the time of need. Curſe ye Meroz (ſaith the Angel of the Lord) yea curſe the inhabitants becauſe they came not out to help the Lord againſt the mighty. And that we may on the other ſide obtaine the bleſſing of God which commeth upon all thoſe who ſeeke the welfare of Iſrael: O pray for the peace of Ieruſalem, let them proſper that love her, Pſa 122.6. It is with ſuch a reſpect and ſpirit that we your humble Subjects, and yet Miniſters of the Church of Chriſt, and in the name of Chriſt pray and entreat, Firſt, that your Lordſhips will be pleaſed to appoint in our Province of Zealand, (for an example to other States and Kingdomes) to publiſh a publique day of faſting and prayer, to be firſt and ſolemnly kept by ſpeciall command, and after to be kept and held weekly or monethly, as ſhall be appointed, untill that the heavie troubles in England be ceaſed and ſtilled; and alſo that by your Lordſhips interceſſion in the Aſſembly of the States generall, the ſame may be obtained in all other the united Provinces: That ſo we may ſeeke to God by prayer and humiliation, for the proſperity, reſt, and peace of the troubled Churches in England, and for the removing of Papiſtry out of the Churches of that Kingdome, and out of all other Lands and Townes, and that the pure and true worſhip of God, which is according to Gods Word may be exerciſed. To this end is it that we preſent to your Lordſhips theſe following moving conſiderations.

That we and our Churches in theſe Lands have enjoyed this help of other 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Reformed Churches in the time of our troubles. The Churches of Scotland, in the yeare 1618. held their publike Faſts and prayers in our behalfe; and the godly in England alſo held their particular dayes of Faſting and Prayer in regard of our troubles and have celebrated the ſame together in private becauſe they could not doe the ſame in publike by reaſon of the Tyranny of the Biſhops: unthankfull ſhould we then be, if we ſhewed not the ſame zeale, grief, and affection about their welfare, which they have ſhewed to us. It is a laudable uſe with your Lordſhips and by the whole government of our State approved and practiſed, that dayes of prayer are publiſhed and kept when there is any Towne on our ſide by beſieging to be won or loſt: for example, behold in the time of the ſiege of Breda! Boſch. and Maſtricht, in which Townes there was as well the exerciſe of the Popiſh idolatry, and ſuperſtitious worſhip as the exerciſe of the true Religion: How much more laudable is the exerciſe of faſting and prayer for a whole kingdome planted with the true worſhip of God. and out of which all publike exerciſe of idolatrous worſhip was rooted out, that ſo they might the freer keepe and exerciſe their Religion without trouble free from the publike exerciſe of Popiſh Religion, which bringeth in and erects the Kingdome of Antichriſt

There is not one godly ſoule, which hath ſighed for the proſperity of the kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt his Saviour, and love to an holy peace, which deſires not that unity and peace between his Majeſty of England and his Parliament, (who together, as the body, make the conſtitution of that high power of Government in England) and their people, might be attained, and that by contentions between them Papiſtry may not be tolerated in that Kingdome; What more ſoveraigne remedy can there be to procure the ſame, then to ſet apart dayes of humiliation, and with zealous prayer to ſeeke the favour and helpe of God, who onely hath the heart of Kings in his hand, and turneth them as the Rivers of waters; who muſt alſo touch the hearts of the people, that they may follow their Kings and Governours, who likewiſe by the breath of his mouth ſhall deſtroy the Kingdome of Antichriſt, that ſo he may not exalt himſelfe againſt the Kingdome of his Sonne. How laudably and fruitfully hath our State uſed dayes of faſting and prayer in times of trouble and diſtractions in Religion, and confuſions of our Land, in the yeare 1618. Every godly man rejoyced in that God heard them, and gave ſuch a good ſucceſſe thereunto. The diſtraſtions of England are our Brethrens, yea by conſequence and reflection are our owne, and all which our enemy (the Kingdome of Antichriſt) wins therein by theſe contentions, the ſame he wins from us. We pray therefore that God will move the hearts of your Lordſhips to uſe the meanes which hath been found ſo profitable ond fruitfull in our State, in ſuch diſtractions, for redreſſe of the ſame. For this every good ſoul longs, ſighs, and deſires: All the Miniſters of the Churches under your Lordſhips command, long that they may exerciſe this worke of devotion and humiliation in publike, to the preventing of Gods wrath, and the reconciliation of the Kingdome of England. It is ſo that in caſes of Gods worſhip vour Lordſhips have not uſed to oppreſſe your truſty and faithfull ſubjects, the Churches of the Reformed religion, or to hinder them, but rather to approve and favour their zeale, and ſatisfie their deſires.

How richly ſhall the faithfull and godly in England reward us with their prayers and exerciſes of humiliation in time of our need, when God ſhall be wrathfully diſpleaſed with us, then will they alſo ſet themſelves in the breach, even as we doe now deſire to doe for them. And ſeeing we are preſſed by our owne conſciences, (which is onely knowne to God) and conſtrained in ſecret to mourne and ſigh, and with our owne families and friends to keep dayes of faſting and prayer apart, ſo rewarding our brethren in England, the ſame they have done for us there in time of our troubles, which in publike they could not doe, becauſe of the oppreſſion of the Biſhops; knowing that we ſo doing diſcharge the duty of our conſciences get praiſe and approbation before God, and free our ſelves of all fault and blame, which by our neglect in this caſe might otherwiſe redound unto us. Therefore we beſeech your Lordſhips, that it may be granted unto us, that we may by your Lordſhips authority doe it, and that the people of your Lordſhips Province by your authority may be called together, and ſo holy a ſervice performed.

The ſecond, that wee in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, deſire moſt humbly with Prayer and ſighs, is, that your Lordſhips will bee pleaſed to uſe the Power, Authority, Honour, and meanes which GOD hath put into your Lordſhips hands, and approve to that end; that the true and pure Reformed Religion, and exerciſe of the ſame in the Kingdome of England, may ſuffer no damage or detriment, and the Popiſh Religion get no advantage in the exerciſe of it; but that the ſame with remainders in doctrine, Divine Worſhip, and ſpirituall Government of the Church, may bee deſtroyed and rooted out of that Church. To move your Lordſhips hereunto, we give you to conſider. The Kingdome of England hath in the Yeares 1617. and 1618. uſed great endeavour to maintaine the pure and upright truth of the Chriſtian Reformed Religion amongſt us. It is not unknowne unto the Members of this Noble and mighty Aſſembly the writings and famous endeavours of King Iames in the Cauſe of Conradus I'orſtius. The Office and zealous labour of that Noble and no leſſe excellent Learned Carleton, Ambaſſadour of that Kingdom, concerning the caſe of Religion, againſt the Innovators of the ſame: the manifold adviſes, exhortations, (&c.) which by the King, the Parliament, Archbiſhops, and Biſhops (&c.) were ſent unto our States and Church, and the great weight which the Divines of the Church of England, in the Synod of Dort, got to the main • aining of the true and pure Religion, and ſuppreſſing of errors; this burning love and zeale of the Church of England toward our State and Religion manifeſted in that time, requires alſo the ſame of us towards them in theſe times. The King in his Letter the 20 March 1617, to the Lords the States generall, deſired and conjured them in the name of GOD, which you (ſaith he) hitherto ſo happily have maintained, to ſuppreſſe errors and factions which the Devill by the ſubtilty of your enemies hath brought in among you, and already ſo advanced among you, that in regard thereof, deſtruction of your State is at hand, if you doe not with all expedition, ſpeedily prevent it; and hold you wholly cloſe and faſt to your old, and true doctrine, whereof you have alwaies made profeſsion and which is approved and received among you, by the common conſent of all the Reformed Churches, and of which there is a generall confeſsion, as the firſt and chiefeſt foundation, and alſo a ſtrong and the onely faſt cement which held and maintatined the ſtraight friendſhip, and intelligence, that hath bin ſo long time maintained between our Crowne and your Provinces. Theſe endeavours his Majeſtie in the ſame Letters teſtifieth hee hath taken for the ſtopping of the ruine of our Religion and State, being moved through the zeale he had to the Church of God, and out of his eſpeciall affection which his Majeſty bore to the welfare of our State. Oh that our State would now recompence that good which England by their King hath done to our Religion, and pure worſhip in thoſe times of our troubles.

This State hath more ground and Reaſon to do it, ſeeing that their zeale and care ſhould be not onely againſt the errors of the Remonſtrants, which ſimply concerne Religion and faith, but alſo againſt Idolatry, Superſtition, and ſeditious Papiſtry, which concerneth the ſecurity of the Civill State, and the life of the Soveraigne power. For albeit ſome Papiſts, moved by morality and conſiderations of an honeſt life, or by an imbred diſpoſition of nature, or by feare of temporall puniſhment, ſeeme to manifeſt obedience to the Ordinances and Laws of the Magiſtrate yet notwithſtanding it is certain, that thoſe of the Reformed Religion, hold and maintaine the Ordinances and Lawes of the Magiſtrate for Conſcience ſake. But the Papiſts defend and maintaine theſe wicked and damnable poſitions, as 1. That the Pope hath power to excommunicate all Chriſtian Kings in the whole World. 2. That hee hath power to abſolve and to diſcharge all Subjects of their faithfull obedience. 3. That the Pope hath power to depoſe Kings and Princes from their Crownes, and Thrones, and to give them unto others. 4. That they are not bound to keepe their Faith and Troth with Heretickes. 5. That whoever is not in communion with the Romiſh Church is an Heretick. 6. That no ſpirituall perſon can commit any Treaſon againſt any Earthly Prince or King becauſe he is not the Kings Subject, but the Popes, and the like, &c. Which Maximes being maintained, that it is unpoſſible to governe the Civill State in Peace and Tranquility under the naturall and lawfull Governours thereof, (as we thinke) the experience in France, Venice, and England, hath ſufficiently taught, and your Lordſhips out of naturall Reaſon can eaſily conclude. To keepe the Kingdom of England from ſuch a ſubjection under the Romiſh Sea; wee thinke it to bee a worke becomming the care of all Reformed Potentates, and chiefly the care of our State: The rather becauſe we eſteem the deſtruction and weakening of the Reformed Churches in England, to be the beginning of the ruine of all the Reformed Churches in whole Europe. Scotland notwithſtanding it's conjunction with the Kingdome of England, under one Soveraigne, equality of Priviledges and Lawes, and it's ſo neere Neighbourhood if not communion, ſhall not poſſibly eſcape the ſame ſtate of Religion with England, and will alſo bee forced to forſake and loſe the ſame freedome and Reformation of Church and Policy, which they with ſuch honour and glory by their Armes, lately have obtained; What weight and conſequence it hath concerning our Religion and State, we leave it to your Lordſhips wiſe and provident judgement to conſider, to whom the mutuall combination and conjunction of both Governments is better knowne then to us, knowing this onely from the fore-related words of King Iames, that the generall confeſſion of faith, is the firſt and chiefeſt foundation, and the onely ſtrong and faſt cement which hath maintained the ſtraight friendſhip and Intelligence which hath beene of a long time betweene the Crownes of England and Scotland, and our Provinces. And what hath the Church of France to expect from ſuch an example, which is now ſtripped of all defence, onely reſts on the favour which by their friends, or by their enemies, they can get from the King. The Lord preſerve his Church from ſuch a blow, that their judgement and deſtruction proceed not from England, from whence in former times came, the advancement and proſperity, and preſervation of the purity of Religion, and yet is to be expected in the time of trouble. Hence it is, that it was ſo laudably practiſed in the time of the firſt Reformation, that the Potentates and Ruler of thoſe Lands in which the Reformation of Religion was ſet up, have uſed ſuch a mutuall correſpondence, adviſe, and Counſell, which have given to others ſuch faithfull warnings and admonitions, and helps to the furtherance, and maintenance of the begun Reformation of Religion here, in following the holy examples (by God himſelfe approved) of the Kings of Iuda, Ezekias, and Ioſiah, which in their Government were not content onely to raiſe up the ruines of the decayed Church of Iuda, but alſo invited the Iſraelites though captivated under the power of the Aſsyrians, to the maintenance of the pure Worſhip of God. For we muſt not thinke that wee are to ſet the ſame limits to our Lands, and to our duties, for the enlarging of Gods glory. Therefore Chriſtian Princes, who have great power, and much meanes in their hands, muſt not thinke they have well and faithfully performed their Office, when they onely take care for the Churches, and Religion which is under their Government, and goe no further, not regarding what befalls their oppreſſed Brethren and Religious friends, but muſt be Nurſes to the Church of God in all Lands, where they may or can prevaile with their Authority and Power.

Since then that the love and friendſhip between the united Netherlands and the Kingdome of England are ſo firmely and naturally joyned together, by ſo many civill reſpects, and mutuall interreſſes, that the reſpect of this State may prevaile very much with the King and Parliament to the defence of our holy Religion. Therefore know (Noble and Mighty Lords) that in regard of God as a duty, this lyeth upon your Conſciences, namely to employ in England all your power for the maintenance of the true Religion and Worſhip of GOD, that Religion we ſay which is reverend and full of Majeſtie, in regard of the good Lawes, and righteous Ordinances; in regard of the Truth, Power, and Vertue of it, unreprovable in reſpect of the Doctrine leading to all Godlineſſe and Vertue, diſwading from all evill and ſinne; a Religion approved of GOD himſelfe, revealed by his owne Wiſdome, confirmed by his ſpirit, written in the holy Scriptures, Sealed with the blood of many hundred Martyrs, conſtantly confeſſed by all the holy Profeſſors, defended by the firſt Chriſtian Emperor, loved of all the Primitive Fathers; which giveth to God that which is Gods, and to Ceſar that which is Ceſars; which to defend is godly, even in an Idiot, but zeale in wiſe and underſtanding people: And in a Prince and Ruler a Kingly and Godly Magnanimity. That help and profit which this Religion ſhall obtaine in her feared danger, by this great Aſſembly before other Provinces, Republiques, and Kingdomes ſhall bee your glory, and Crowne, and an everlaſting bleſſing and praiſe ſhall be upon your Lordſhips perſons and Government. Therefore we your Lordſhips faithfull Subjects, entreate your Lordſhips moſt humbly, with all ſubjection; Yea we deſire and beſeech you in the name of God and our Saviour, that your Lordſhips will not ſtrengthen the hands of the ungodly, of the Popiſh Faction, by the power and bleſſing of your Land, againſt the faithfull Proteſtants and profeſſors of the Religion: remaining ſtill by the laudable reſolutions of Neutrality, which your Lordſhips lately have made. But rather weaken and debilitate all thoſe which endeavour to weaken our Faith and Religion, and Worſhip. And come and help the crying neceſſity of the afflicted Church in England, by ſuch meanes as the feare of God, the holy Wiſdome, and good providence of your Lordſhips ſhall teach you. We deſire your Lordſhips to take this our zeale in good part, and to interpret it as pleaſing to God, being expreſſed through our love to our holy Religion and Worſhip, and proceeding from ſuch of your Subjects, as are of intentions, ſo upright and ſincere, in ſuch humble obedience and unſpotted faithfullneſſe to ſerve your Lordſhips, as the faithfulleſt Iſraelite ever ſhewed unto King David: truſting that your Lordſhips will alwaies remain conſtant defenders of the true reformed Religion, and who will empoly alwaies your godly care for the rooting out of all Idolatry.