Lord Mayor to the Ministers

I T hath pleased the Right Honorable the Lord Major of the City of London, once and again to write unto the Ministers thereof respectively, in a very pious and pathetical manner. Not only to bewail the profanation of the Lord's day, the Christian Sabbath, and to signify what he hath done by way of Precept; but also to promise what ever the power of his place may do for the strengthening of their hands; and likewise to desire all and every particular Minister in the City, as they tender the honor of Christ, and the good of people's souls, and welfare of the City, yea and earnestly in the name of God to entreat (as in the said Letters appeareth more fully,) that they the Ministers of Christ Jesus, press the duty of Sanctifying that holy day, show the danger of profaning of it, and persuade not only to public worship, but also to retire in private families to such holy duties as the Lord requireth.

We who are some of those to whom the foresaid Letters were directed, have therefore accordingly endeavored something heretofore in order to the desired end, but of late more seriously in our Provincial Assembly (where through God's mercy we have opportunity to confer about matters of Religion) we have weighed those foresaid Letters, and labored mutually to have our hearts affected (as in the sight of God) with the contents thereof. And as we bless God unfeignedly for stirring up the Magistrate to mind the Sabbath, and quicken us in our duty about it, (the rather because in these times many are of Gallio's temper careless of such matters.) So we the Ministers there assembled, with the assistance of the Elders, have consulted among ourselves, wherein, and how we might be most serviceable to our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepherd of the sheep, in decrying Sabbath-breaking, and in furthering the true Sanctification of that holy rest, both in public and private, throughout all the Congregations and families within the said City, the Liberties thereof, and the bounds of the Province.

And because the Delegates there assembling are but few of many Ministers within the City, we judged it necessary by writing to stir up ourselves and the rest of our Brethren and fellow-laborers in the work of the Lord, that as one man with one shoulder we may apply ourselves to procure in the first place the sanctifying of the Sabbath, as the fountain and foundation of a more perfect Reformation in all other things appertaining to Religion.

To that end we make it our request unto all our dear Brethren & to yourself in particular, that upon and after as you see occasion, you choose some pertinent Scripture to open and apply for instruction of your hearers about the Sabbath, that all duties belonging to it may be enforced, and all Errors in judgment, and sinful practices whereby it is polluted, may be discovered, confuted and reproved.

And because there are divers Acts and Ordinances of Parliament in force for the better sanctification of that day, we desire also that every Officer may be stirred up to act conscientiously and vigorously according to the duty of his place, as is in them prescribed.

And what, though we be poor and despised, yet we may not forget God's Law. We fear a great part of our trouble arises from hence, that we are not sufficiently zealous for that rest. If we can vindicate the Lord's day, His holy Ordinances will soon regain their credit. The Calling of the Ministers will not die, if conscience of the Sabbath do revive. But if that fall, which of us, or what Ordinance of God shall be able to stand?

It should be no small encouragement unto us that God hath prepared the Magistrates heart to accompany us in our desires and endeavors this way. And that we have so solemn an Ingagement as his promise in writing to everyone of us particularly, that he will use all the power of his place to press and carry on this work, until it come unto perfection. We want not many other, yea stronger and more sacred grounds and reasons, to enforce these duties upon our consciences, yet His encouragements, zeal and forwardness should provoke us, as the like in Jehoshaphat and Nehemiah did among the Priests and Levites. God threatens Sabbaths of desolation, the Land (saith he) shall enjoy her rest, because it rested not in the days and years which He had set apart; This in some proportion hath been verified in mos • of those Churches which bear the name of Reformed. To England we may say, considering the state of other places, Be not high-minded, but fear. Repent and do thy first works. Yea let thy last be better then thy first, lest God remove thy Candlestick. We speak not this as if we needed to put words into our Brethren's mouths, but to stir up their pure minds and to testify how sincerely we desire to sympathize with all those who mind the things of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Which we desire so much the more to love, and look after, as they are hated or neglected by others We forbear to press arguments from the duty of your calling, because of yourself, we hope you are sufficiently sensible thereof. The good Lord prosper all your labor in the Lord, to whose blessing we commend you.