A letter from the general meeting of officers of the army and directed to the officers of the several garrisons and regiments of souldiers both in Ireland, Scotland, and England.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A87975 of text R211632 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.16[83]). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         EarlyPrint Project
         Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO
         2017
         A87975
         Wing L1521
         Thomason 669.f.16[83]
         ESTC R211632
         99870342
         99870342
         163236
         
           
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         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A87975)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 163236)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f16[83])
      
       
         
           
             A letter from the general meeting of officers of the army and directed to the officers of the several garrisons and regiments of souldiers both in Ireland, Scotland, and England.
             Margetts, Thomas.
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             Printed by Henry Hills, and are to be sold by him in Fleet-yard, and by Thomas Brewster at the Three Bibles in Pauls Church-yard,
             London :
             1652 [i.e. 1653]
          
           
             Dated and signed at end: James's, Westminster January 28. 1652. Thom. Margetts.
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Great Britain -- Armed Forces -- Officers -- Early works to 1800.
           Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A87975  R211632  (Thomason 669.f.16[83]).  civilwar no A letter from the general meeting of officers of the army, and directed to the officers of the several garrisons and regiments of souldiers Margetts, Thomas 1653    1167 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A This text  has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription.  
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           A
           Letter
           from
           the
           General
           meeting
           of
           Officers
           of
           the
           Army
           ,
           and
           directed
           to
           the
           Officers
           of
           the
           several
           Garisons
           and
           Regiments
           of
           Souldiers
           both
           in
           
             Ireland
             ,
             Scotland
             ,
          
           and
           
             England
             .
          
        
         
           
             DEAR
             FRIENDS
             ,
          
        
         
           AFTER
           it
           pleased
           the
           Lord
           so
           wonderfully
           to
           appear
           for
           his
           people
           in
           owning
           the
           poor
           endeavours
           of
           his
           servants
           as
           to
           the
           late
           Wars
           in
           
             Ireland
          
           and
           
             Scotland
             ,
          
           and
           by
           that
           Glorious
           victory
           he
           was
           pleased
           to
           give
           us
           at
           
             Worcester
             ,
          
           this
           Nation
           being
           restored
           to
           such
           an
           unexpected
           peaceable
           condition
           ,
           It
           was
           the
           expectation
           of
           those
           that
           feared
           the
           Lord
           ,
           that
           some
           suitable
           returns
           would
           have
           been
           made
           to
           the
           glory
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           comfort
           of
           the
           godly
           ,
           and
           the
           well
           being
           of
           the
           People
           of
           this
           
             Common-wealth
             .
          
        
         
           But
           hitherto
           it
           hath
           been
           matter
           of
           sad
           lamentation
           ,
           that
           the
           good
           things
           hoped
           for
           ,
           have
           not
           been
           brought
           forth
           amongst
           us
           ;
           insomuch
           that
           the
           work
           of
           the
           Lord
           hath
           seemed
           to
           stand
           still
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           instruments
           thereof
           have
           been
           like
           men
           of
           no
           might
           ,
           or
           like
           a
           woman
           in
           travel
           ready
           to
           faint
           for
           want
           of
           strength
           to
           bring
           forth
           ,
           whilest
           those
           that
           stand
           by
           are
           waiting
           for
           the
           birth
           ;
           Which
           Satan
           ,
           the
           grand
           Enemy
           of
           God
           and
           his
           people
           ,
           observing
           ,
           hath
           not
           been
           wanting
           to
           stir
           up
           his
           instruments
           ,
           to
           conceive
           new
           hopes
           ,
           and
           by
           new
           designs
           to
           endeavour
           the
           destroying
           of
           that
           interest
           the
           Lord
           hath
           hitherto
           owned
           ;
           and
           to
           set
           up
           an
           opposite
           interest
           ,
           which
           might
           reproach
           the
           glorious
           works
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           make
           the
           instruments
           whom
           he
           hath
           used
           ,
           and
           blessed
           ,
           Offenders
           .
        
         
           Whilest
           the
           consideration
           of
           these
           things
           lay
           sad
           upon
           our
           hearts
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           late
           miscariage
           of
           our
           Fleet
           ,
           it
           pleased
           the
           Lord
           to
           put
           into
           the
           heart
           of
           the
           General
           &
           the
           Officers
           now
           at
           the
           Head-quarters
           being
           of
           ,
           and
           belonging
           to
           the
           Forces
           in
           
             Ireland
          
           and
           
             Scotland
             ,
          
           as
           well
           as
           
             England
             ,
          
           to
           seek
           the
           Lord
           together
           ,
           and
           to
           humble
           our selves
           at
           his
           feet
           ,
           for
           those
           evils
           which
           might
           cause
           him
           to
           withdraw
           his
           presence
           from
           us
           ,
           and
           to
           manifest
           tokens
           of
           his
           displeasure
           against
           us
           .
           And
           after
           several
           daies
           waiting
           at
           the
           Throne
           of
           Grace
           ,
           we
           were
           generally
           convinced
           .
        
         
           That
           our
           hearts
           have
           been
           looking
           after
           the
           things
           of
           this
           world
           ,
           and
           our
           own
           private
           affairs
           ,
           more
           then
           the
           things
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           and
           his
           People
           .
        
         
           That
           we
           have
           been
           overtaken
           with
           a
           slothful
           spirit
           ,
           and
           growing
           weary
           of
           the
           work
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           have
           been
           ready
           to
           say
           with
           
             Baruch
             .
             Wo
             is
             me
             now
             ,
             for
             the
             Lord
             hath
             added
             grief
             to
             my
             sorrow
             ,
             I
             fainted
             in
             my
             sighing
             ,
             and
             I
             find
             no
             rest
             ,
          
           Jer.
           45.
           3.
           
        
         
           That
           those
           that
           fear
           the
           Lord
           ,
           both
           in
           the
           Army
           and
           elsewhere
           ,
           have
           not
           in
           this
           time
           of
           peace
           so
           improved
           their
           interest
           one
           in
           another
           as
           they
           ought
           ,
           to
           the
           
             edifying
             of
             each
             other
             in
             love
             ,
          
           as
           the
           Churches
           did
           Act.
           9.
           31.
           
           (
           
             Then
             had
             the
             Churches
             rest
             throughout
             all
          
           Judea
           
             and
          
           Galilee
           
             and
          
           Samaria
           ,
           
             and
             were
             edified
             ,
             and
             walking
             in
             the
             fear
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             comfort
             of
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             were
             multiplied
             .
          
           )
           But
           have
           been
           too
           apt
           by
           evil
           sirmisings
           ,
           and
           jealousies
           ,
           to
           grieve
           the
           hearts
           ,
           and
           weaken
           the
           hands
           of
           one
           another
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           people
           of
           this
           Nation
           are
           subject
           to
           grievous
           oppressions
           through
           the
           obstruction
           of
           Justice
           :
           and
           that
           the
           Lord
           might
           say
           to
           us
           ,
           for
           whom
           he
           hath
           done
           such
           great
           things
           in
           
             England
             ,
          
           as
           he
           did
           to
           his
           Vine-yard
           
             Isa.
             5.
             7.
             
             And
             he
             looked
             for
             Judgement
             ,
             but
             behold
             Oppression
             ,
             for
             Righteousnesse
             ,
             but
             behold
             a
             Cry
             .
          
        
         
           That
           through
           the
           corruption
           of
           many
           in
           places
           of
           authority
           ,
           some
           
             good
          
           men
           are
           made
           to
           suffer
           for
           conscience
           sake
           and
           many
           bad
           men
           take
           encouragement
           in
           their
           licentious
           principles
           ,
           and
           prophane
           practises
           ,
           by
           reason
           whereof
           wickedness
           doth
           very
           much
           abound
           amongst
           us
           .
        
         
           Upon
           all
           these
           and
           the
           like
           considerations
           ,
           we
           have
           been
           strongly
           convinced
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           a
           duty
           very
           much
           incumbent
           upon
           us
           to
           awaken
           our selves
           ,
           and
           by
           all
           lawful
           waies
           and
           means
           to
           endeavour
           the
           procuring
           of
           these
           following
           things
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           promised
           by
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           and
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           informed
           ,
           are
           under
           their
           present
           consideration
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           For
           the
           preventing
           the
           many
           inconveniencies
           apparently
           arising
           from
           the
           long
           continuance
           of
           the
           same
           persons
           in
           Supreme
           Authority
           ,
           That
           there
           may
           be
           successive
           Parliaments
           consisting
           of
           men
           faithful
           to
           the
           interest
           of
           the
           Commonwealth
           ;
           Men
           of
           truth
           ,
           fearing
           God
           ,
           and
           hating
           covetousnesse
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           That
           the
           Lawes
           may
           be
           regulated
           in
           such
           sort
           ,
           that
           what
           is
           good
           in
           them
           may
           be
           maintained
           ,
           and
           the
           corruptions
           ,
           abuses
           ,
           delaies
           ,
           vexations
           ,
           unnecessary
           travels
           and
           expences
           ,
           and
           whatsoever
           shall
           be
           found
           really
           burthen
           some
           and
           grievous
           to
           the
           people
           ,
           may
           be
           taken
           away
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           That
           liberty
           and
           protection
           may
           be
           given
           by
           a
           Law
           to
           all
           the
           truly
           godly
           though
           of
           different
           judgements
           ,
           to
           worship
           God
           peaceably
           ,
           without
           imposing
           upon
           ,
           or
           molesting
           one
           another
           .
           And
           that
           no
           encouragement
           be
           thereby
           given
           to
           such
           as
           are
           popish
           or
           prophane
           in
           the
           exercise
           of
           their
           superstitious
           forms
           ,
           or
           licentious
           practises
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           That
           the
           Gospel
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           may
           be
           dispensed
           to
           all
           the
           people
           of
           this
           Common-wealth
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           labour
           faithfully
           in
           that
           work
           ,
           receive
           all
           due
           countenance
           and
           encouragement
           .
        
         
           And
           having
           thus
           freely
           opened
           our
           hearts
           to
           you
           ,
           we
           earnestly
           begg
           the
           assistance
           of
           your
           prayers
           ,
           (
           in
           which
           we
           trust
           you
           will
           be
           frequent
           and
           fervent
           )
           that
           we
           may
           in
           all
           things
           demean
           our selves
           as
           becometh
           us
           .
           And
           what
           the
           Lord
           shall
           set
           upon
           your
           hearts
           ,
           by
           way
           of
           conviction
           either
           as
           to
           sin
           ,
           or
           duty
           ,
           if
           you
           do
           communicate
           the
           same
           to
           us
           ,
           we
           shall
           take
           it
           as
           a
           sign
           of
           your
           acceptance
           of
           this
           our
           brotherly
           freedome
           towards
           you
           .
        
         
           We
           shal
           now
           commend
           you
           to
           the
           grace
           of
           our
           Lord
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           and
           remain
           your
           most
           affectionate
           Friends
           and
           brethren
           .
        
         
           
             
               James's
               ,
               Westminster
            
             
               
                 January
              
               28.
               1652.
               
            
          
           
             Signed
             in
             the
             name
             and
             by
             the
             appointment
             of
             the
             General
             meeting
             of
             Officers
             of
             the
             Army
             
               Thom.
               
               Margetts
               .
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 January
                 29.
                 
              
            
          
        
         
           
             Imprimatur
             
               Gilbert
               Mabbot
            
             Agent
             to
             the
             Army
             .
          
        
      
       
         
           
             London
          
           printed
           by
           
             Henry
             Hills
             ,
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           by
           him
           in
           
             Fleet-yard
             ,
          
           and
           by
           
             Thomas
             Brewster
          
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Bibles
          
           in
           
             Pauls
             Church-yard
          
           1652.