Gods Ark Overtopping the Worlds Waves, Parliamentary chronicle (2 of 2)
But, heer, before I proceed to the narration of the enſuing Parliamentarie-mercies, which immediately ſucceeded the moſt happie and holy entring into the League or Covenant with God and our Brethren of Scotland and Ireland for the proſecution of a pure and perfect Reformation, in all the three Kingdomes,An Apologie for the pretermiſſiō of ſome preceding Parliamentarie-Mercies in the third Part of the Parliamentary-Chronicle, and wch come now to be heer related. with which Covenant wee cloſed and ſhut up our former Continuation or Second Part of this our Parliamentarie-Chronicle: Give me leave now (good Reader) in the firſt place to premiſe and ſet down a few very memorable mercies, pretermitted (by too much haſte to finiſh the former Part, at the importunitie of the Stationer) in our ſaid Second Continuation, wherein, I was, I ſay by the Stationers over-much haſte to publiſh that ſecond part) enforced to omit many memorable paſſages, or if not to omit, yet to miſplace many, between the Moneths of June, July, Auguſt, and September then next following, my orderly Concluſion of that ſecond part being about the midſt of June, renowned Sir William Waller being then victorious in the Weſtern parts of the kingdome, with his faithfull and courageous Achates, Sir Arthur Haſlerig; as you may ſee clearly about page 380, 381, 82, &c. Give me leave now I ſay in the firſt place to make a fuller ſupply of the deficiencies of thoſe foreſaid Moneths with divers memorable paſſages there omitted, but yet, which fell out in order and came to my knowledge before ſome of thoſe laſt mentioned Parliamentarie Mercies, wherewith (I ſay) I concluded that Second Part; and which now I thought fit heer to make mention of rather than to ſuffer them to be raked up in the aſhes of oblivion, which, briefly, are theſe that follow.
The happy and bleſſed Aſſembly of Divines being Convened at Weſtminſter for the rectifying and ſetling of things amiſs in the Church,July, 1643. A recitall of ſome former Parliamentarie-Mercies, omitted in their proper place, in the former Narration. both touching Doctrine and Diſcipline (as hath been mentioned in the former Narrations of this our Parliamentarie Chronicle, pag. 352.) It pleaſed the Lord, immediately after the ſetling of their ſaid Convocation or Aſſembly, namely, July the 19th, 1643, to put into the hearts of our ſaid venerable Aſſembly (among many other ſacred and ſerious matters) to exhibite a Petition to both Houſes of Parliament, The Aſſembly of Divines petitiō the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for ſpeedy reformation of ſome ſpeciall evills among us.which Petition, coming to my hands, I thought fit to give the godly Reader a ſight and ſenſe of the ſweet and fragrant ſent thereof, together with both the Houſes comfortable anſwer thereunto, the happie and holeſome effects whereof have ſince that time dropped and diſtilled like ſo many honey-dewes upon our Church, already, and is like to be more and more (by Gods gracious aſſiſtance and bleſſing on their pious endeavours) manifeſted among us, in Gods due time, as in their proper places we ſhall have occaſion to make mention of, & as in good meaſure, we have had former opportunities hereunto. Which Petition, I ſay, for the excellencie and ſingular ſweetneſs thereof, and for the high honour of God, and the heart-reviving comfort of his children; yea and for the juſt and eternall credit of the pious Petitioners themſelves, I have heer, I ſay, thought fit to inſert, which was as followeth.