Consideration of Certain Controversies, Title page – To the noble lords
A CONSIDERATION OF Certaine Controverſies at this time agitated IN THE KINGDOME of ENGLAND, Concerning the Government of the CHURCH of GOD.
Written at the Command and appointment of the Walachrian Claſſis, BY Guilielmus Apollonii, Miniſter of the Word of God at Middleburgh.
And ſent from the Walachrian Churches, to declare the ſenſe and conſent of their Churches, to the SYNOD at LONDON.
Octob. 16. 1644. Stilo novo.
Tranſlated out of Latine according to the printed Copy.
London, Printed by G. M. for Tho. Ʋnderhill at the Bible in Woodſtreet. 1645.
To the moſt Excellent and Noble Lords, The Lord William Boreel, Lord of Duynbeque, &c. Counſellour and chiefe Syndick of the City of Amsterdam; The Lord John de Reede, Lo. of Reinſwoud, &c. Deputy in Ordinary in the Generall Aſſembly of the United Provinces, in the name of the Province of Ʋtrecht; The Lord Albert Joachimi, LORD of Oedekenskerk in Oostende, Secretary of the Republike of ter-Goes; Ambaſſadours in the name of the High and Mighty Lords, the States Generall of the United Provinces of the Netherlands.
Moſt Excellent, moſt Noble, Magnificent, and moſt Illuſtrious Lords,
THe Paſtors of the Churches of the Walachrian Claſſis, being moved with the deplorable face and condition of the Engliſh Churches, would gladly contribute ſome aſſiſtance for the quenching of that flame of controverſies, riſen amongſt them, concerning the Diſcipline and ſpirituall Government of the Kingdome of Chriſt; and afford not their prayers only, but their counſell and aſſiſtance alſo, meet for compoſing theſe contentions, whereby the billows of diſſentions might be aſſwaged, and a happy peace reſtored to thoſe troubled Churches. By their authority therefore and command, they have imployed me in this preſent worke; and out of pure zeal and brotherly love to thoſe Churches, have lately injoyned me to exhibite to the Aſſembly of Divines at London, our Eccleſiaſticall Government, proved by the word of God, and confirmed by grounds of holy Scripture, and the cōſent of Reformed Divines. Which work being now finiſhed, and after a diligent Examination by thoſe Paſtors approved, I offer to your moſt Noble and moſt Excellent Lordſhips: for to you, as is well known to us all, the tendereſt care of the true Religion, and the ſacred peace and unity, together with Truth, of the Churches of England, is, by the Command of the High and Mighty Lords, the States Generall of the Netherlands principally cōmitted. The promoting whereof with all your utmoſt endeavours would even by the event be manifeſt, if ſo be the condition of the Kingdome and Church there would permit. And ſurely, if God ſhal by his providence ſometime prosper your endeavours, and make the earneſt prayers of us all effectuall; I do certainly truſt that the wounds of the Church of Eng. may by your aſſiſtance and help be cured, and the diſſentions raiſed, by your peaceable and prudent counſell, be compoſed. For God hath conferred on you large gifts of Wiſdome, Prudence, Piety, and Zeale; whereby the disturbed condition of the Church of the Sonne of God may be reduced to the moderate counſels of Peace; and the perplexed affaires of a ſhaken Kingdome to the ſtraight bonds of renewed amity. Which that the Great and Gracious God may more and more ſtir up and increaſe in you, and bleſſe with prosperous ſucceſſes in the buſineſſe committed to your moſt excellent Lordſhips, I beg with fervent prayers; and from my ſoule deſire, that he will gratiouſly preſerve your moſt Excellent, moſt Noble, Magnificent, & moſt Illuſtrious Lordſhips; and inspire thoſe counſels into his Royall Majeſtie, and the High Court of Parliament, which, you affording your aſſiſting indeavour, may reſtore to the Churches of England peace and tranquillity, together with edification in the faith, and increaſe of love.
Middleburgh, the firſt of November, 1644. Your moſt Excellent and Noble Lordſhips moſt obſervant, Guilielmus Apollonii, Paſtor of the Church of God at Middleburgh in Zeland.