Chap. IV. The HIS T 0 R Y of the PORITANS; 54-I· " you will own thefe juil: things, and give us that affifl:ance that becomes Inter- " the churches of Chrifl:, in purfuance of this work. And we do aifure R~%~~~· " you, we !hall comply as far as poffible, with refpect had to the fecuri- ~· " ty and fafety of th(! nation, and prefervation of our antient birth- " rights and liberties. And we !hall pray, that we may be kept from '' goin()' out of God's way in doing God's work. " l 0 do in the name of the whole army, and myfelf, give all our af– " fectionate thanks for this your work of love; and though we are not " able to make fuch returns as are in our hearts and defires to do, yet we '·' Dull endeavour by all ways and means, to exprefs our care and love t() " the churches, and !hall leave the reward to him wl'lo is the God ot " peace, and has in fpecial aifured all bleffings to the peace- makers. I " conclude with the words of David, I Sam. xxv. 32, Bleffed be the " Lord God of lfrael, and bleifed be your advice, and bleifed be you " all. Now the Lord God be a wall of fire round about you, and let– " his prefence be in his churches, and they filled with his glory. I have " no more, but to entreat your prayers for an happy iifue of this un– " happy difference; which is the prayer of him, who is, reverend firs, , " and dear friends, your very affectionate brother and fervant, . Edinburgh, Nov. 23, 1659· G. Monk•. In one of the general's letters to the parliament, written about June·W elw: . 1659• he declares fl:rongl y for liberty of confcience, and an abfolute com- ;::em. d' . n1onwealth, in language which in another would be called the fumes if fa- N~:~r:''• ' naticiftn. "You are the people (fays he) who have filled the world '' with wonder, but nothing is difficult to faith; and the promifes of God· " are fure and certain. We acknowledge that we ourfelves have very " much contributed to the Lord's departing from our ljf-ael, but we fee " God's hour is come, and the time of the people's deliverance, even the " fet time is at hand. He cometh jkipping over all the mountaim ofJin, '' and unworthinrfs, &c. We humbly befeech you, not to heal the " wounds of the daughter of God's people flightly, but to make fo · " fure and !ailing provifion for both cbriflian and civil rights, as both " this and future generations may have caufe to rife up and call you blef- · " fed, and tae blackefl: of defigns may never be able to call: dirt in your ~· fa~e~ any more~" He then defires them to encourage none but god.. · ly mmtll:e~S· and-mag1fl:rates, that no yoke may be impofed upon confcience · but what IS agreeable to the word of God, and that they would efiablifu the government in afree Hate or commonwealth, Signed by general Monk and twenty-five of his .chief officers, Upon
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