The HISTORY of the PuRITANs. VoL. U. K. Charles I. lowing fevere ce~fure, impartially Jpeaking, 'tis flufi with fchifm, .feditio1z ~43· and cruelty, I w1ll therefore fet the fubll:ance of the petition before the ""-J reader in their own language, that he may form his own judgment up– on it, and upon the ftate of the nation. 'l'o the right honourable the lords and commons alfembled in padiament, 'l'be humble petitionifdivers miniflers of Chrfft in the name of themfilves., and fundry others, Humbly jheweth, AJ!embly'; '' T H A T your petitioners upon ferious confideration, and deep pellltoll for a'' fenfe of God's heavy wrath lying upon us, and hanging over ~fuw. " our heads, and the whole nation, manifell:ed particularly by the two Vol. V. " late fad and unexpected defeats of ou r forces in the north and in the P· 344· " weft, do apprehend it to be our du ty, as watchmen for the good of " the church and ki-ngdom, to p refent to your religious and prudent con– c.c fideration thefe enfuingrequefis, in the name of JEsus CHRIST, your " Lord and ours. Firfl, " That you will be pleafed to command a public and extra– ,, ordinary day of humiliation this week, throughout the cities of London, " Weftmitifier, the fuberbs of both, and places adjacent within the week– ,, ly bills of mortality, that every one may bitterly bewail his own fins, " and cry mightily to God, for Chrift fake, to remove his wrath, and " to heal the land ; with profeffedly new refolution of more full " performance of the late covenant, for the amendment of our " ways. Secondly, " That you wouH.l vouchfafe inftantly to take into your moft ·« feriou s confideration, how you may more fpeedily fet up CHRIST " more glorioufly in all his ordinances within this kingdom, and reform ·" all th ings amifs throughout the land, wherein God is-more fpecially, " and more immediately di!honoured, among whrch we humby lay be– ·« fore you thefe particulars. I. " That the bruti!h ignorance, and palpable darknefs poifeffing ·" the greateft part of the people, in all plat:es of the kingdom may be " remedied, by a fpeedy and ftriCl: charge to all minifters, conftantly " to catechize all the youth and ignorant p(:ople within their pa– ... ri!hes. 2. " That the grievous and l:feinous pollution of the Lord's fupper, ·« by thofe who are grofly ignorant, and notoriou!ly profane, may be hence-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=