THE COPY OF A LETTER Sent from the COMMISSIONERS Of the Church of Scotland, To the several PRESBYTERIES and Provincial Assemblies in Scotland: Giving them warning of the dangerous Designs of evil affected men, against the Church and Cause of GOD.  
LONDOD, Printed for Ralph Smith, at the sign of the Bible in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange. 1648.   

The Copy of a LETTER, Sent from the COMMISSIONERS OF The Church of Scotland to the several Presbyteries and Provincial Assemblies in Scotland.  
Reverend Brethren,  
IN our Letter of the last of March to the Synod, which we suppose all of you have seen and perused, we did acquaint you with our desires given in to the honourable estates of Parliament, about that time, and since after some Conferences had, and some Papers interchanged between their Lordships and us, upon these desires whilst we had received no satisfaction theirto, they were pleased to fall upon the consideration of the breaches of the Treaty & Covenant, & have sent demand to the Parliament of England for reparation therein, or of those demands concerning Religion, (having first voted the same, before our advice was sought thereto) they did thereafter communicate unto us that we might return our thoughts thereon. In answer to which, after some insinnuations of their laying aside their former way of applycations both to the King and Parliament of England, and of their encroaching upon the liberty of the Kirk, by their taking resolution in that which concerneth Religion without us, and conceiving the demand, in case it should be refused, to be intended as a ground of war, we delayed to give any judgement thereof, until our former desires should be first satisfied, and withal entreating that they would be pleased to communicate unto us their Resolutions upon the whole matter, that we might see that all things were so carried on as would contribute for securing of Religion, and preserving of the union between both Kingdoms, and thereafter we did present unto their Lordships an humble and earnest Petition, pressing their answer to our former desires, containing an exonoration of ourselves, and of the Kirk of Scotland, if they should refuse to hearken thereunto, which their Lordships having considered, did after some days communicate unto us, a Declaration containing the grounds and Resolutions of the Parliament upon the whole matter, together with another Paper which referreth us unto the Declaration for satisfaction of our right desires, containing likewise their Answer to the other particulars, which we added unto our Petition, and in our Answer upon the demand concerning Religion, wherein they intimate unto us, that in those things in their Declaration, which concern Religion, they will be ready to hear and consider the advice of the Commissioners of the Kirke, but after perusal of their Declaration and other Papers, we are far from finding satisfaction to our first desires, or to the other particulars afterwards given in by us to their Lordships, which we have already in part by a Paper of 25th. of March made known unto them, and we resolve in a very short time, more fully to represent our minds unto their Lordships, and now concerning the liberty of the Kirk to be very fare prejudiced by the Parliaments proceed to determine in those things which so nearly and highly concern Religion, without the advice and consent of the Kirke (and many considerable Members of Parliament, who have been of constant integrity in the Cause of God, disenting therefrom, and protesting against the same, for the liberties of the Kirke) we found ourselves necessitated to protest for the preservation of the liberties of the Kirke, according to the word of God, Solemn Covenant and former Laws, and laudable customs of this Kirke and Kingdom, and that the act of Parliament be no preparative for the future, and that it shall yet be free unto us according to the duty of our places, and as there shall be cause to give our judgement in an Ecclesiastical way of the matter of Religion, the said Declaration, so fare as Religion is therein concerned, as freely as if their Lordships had taken no resolutions thereupon, but we hope in a short time to give you a more full and perfect information of all these things by seeing the Papers themselves; and we should now have been silent, were it not that we are not ignorant of the devises of Malignant and evil affected men, who do endeavour nothing more diligently then (if it be possible) by subtle words and fair speeches on the one side, and slander and false reports on the other side, to gain some of the Ministry to be subservant to their desing against the Kirke and Cause of God, knowing that by this means especially it was that the liberty of this Kirk was betrayed and the Ordinances of Christ corrupted.  
These things we speak not as if we were afraid of any of you our dear Brethren, we hope thatafter so many tears and temptations, so many prayers and supplications, so great power of the Lords hand delivering us from so great a yoke of bondage, and after so many vows and promises every Minister of Christ throughout the Land, will abhor to be accessary to any thing that may promote the purposes of those, who study to under-mine the work of God; nay these many Letters to ourselves, and supplications to the Parliament from many Synods and Presbyters, as they are unto us a matter of much refreshing in the midst of many difficulties and straits, wherewith God is pleased at this present to exercise us, so we take them for Evidences of the steadfastness of those from whom they have come; and albeit all have not had the opportunity to express themselves that way, yet we make no question of their constancy, and that they will be ready to witness their affection to the cause of God as they shall see need, but as Fellow-labourers with you that are employed in the work of the Lord; we give you warning of the danger, and stir you up to be earnest with God in prayer and supplication, for your own steadfastness, so to give such full and timous warning unto all with whom you have to do, against all the snares and temptations of these times: And that you may now so carry yourselves in all things, that when the Lord shall be pleased to bring his servants together in a general Assembly, all of them may come thither furnished with the spirit of integrity, unity and zeal, that so the boasting of adversaries may be put to silence, and their hopes blasted, when they shall see us to be of one mind, and hear us speak the same thing, for carrying on the work of the Gospel, and obviating every danger that threatneth the same at home and from abroad, which as we trust will be the endeavours of all Presbyteries, so it is the earnest desire and prayer of  
Your affectionate Brethren the Commissioners of the General Assembly. EDINBURGH April 1648.  
FINIS.