A LETTER Sent to the General Assembly OF THE KIRKE of SCOTLAND:  
BY Oliver Cromwell Lord General of the ARMY of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND now in SCOTLAND etc.  
Aug. 9 LONDON Printed for Hanna Allen at the sign of the Crown in Popes-head-Alley, MDCL   

TO THE General Assembly of the KIRKE of SCOTLAND: OR, In case of their not Sitting, To the Commissioners of the KIRKE of SCOTLAND.  
SIRS,  
YOur Answer to the Declaration of the Army we have seen; Some godly Ministers with us, did at Berwick compose this reply, which I thought fit to send you. That you or we, in these great transactions, answer the will and mind of God: it is only from his grace and mercy to us, and therefore having said (as in our papers) we commit the issue thereof to him who disposeth all things; assuring you that we have light and comfort increasing upon us day by day, and are persuaded, that before it be long, the Lord will manifest his good pleasure, so that all shall see him, and his people shall say, This is the Lords work, and it is marvellous in our eyes: This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will be glad and rejoice therein  
Only give me leave to say in a word, you take upon you to judge us in the things of our God, though you know us not; though in the things we have said unto you (in that which is entitled the Army's Declaration) we have spoken our hearts, as in the sight of the Lord who hath tried us▪ and by your hard and subtle words you have begotten prejudice in those who do too much (in matters of conscience, wherein every soul is to answer for itself to God) depend upon you, so that some have already followed you to the breathing out of their souls, others continue still in the way wherein they are lead by you (we fear) to their own ruin: and no marvel, if you deal thus with us, when indeed you can find in your hearts to conceal the papers we have sent you, from your own people, who might see and understand the bowels of our affections to them, especially such among them as fear the Lord. Send as many of your papers as you please amongst ours, they have free passage, I fear them not; what is of God in them would it might be embraced and received.  
One of them lately sent, directed to the under Officers and Soldiers in the English Army, hath begotten from them this enclosed Answer, which they desired me to send you, not a crafty politic one, but a plain simple spiritual one; such as it is God knoweth, and God also will in due time make manifest, and do we multiply these things as men? or do we them for the Lord Christ and his people's sakes?  
Indeed we are not, through the grace of God, afraid of your numbers, nor confident in ourselves We could (I pray God you do not think we boast) meet your Army, or what you have to bring against us. We have given (humbly we speak it before our God, in whom all our hope is some proof, that thoughts of that kind prevail not upon us. The Lord hath not hid his face from us since our approach so near unto you, your own guilt is too much for you to bear, bring not upon yourselves the blood of Innocent men, deceived with pretences of King and Covenant, from whose eyes you hid a better knowledge I am persuaded that divers of you, who lead the people have laboured to build yourselves in these things, wherein you have censured others and established yourselves upon the Word of God. Is it therefore infallibly agreeable to the Word of God all that you say?  
I beseech you in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken: Precept may be upon Precept, Line may be upon line, & yet the Word of the Lord may be to some a word of Judgement, that they may fall backward & be broken, and be snared, and be taken: There may be a spiritual fullness, which the world may call drunkenness as in the second of the Acts; there may be as well a carnal confidence, upon misunderstood, and mis-applyed Precepts, which may be called Spiritual Drunkenness, There may be a Covenant made with Death and Hell, (I will not say yours was so) but judge if such things have a politic aim, to avoid the overflowing scourge, or to accomplish worldly interests, and if therein we have confederated with wicked and carnal men, and have respect, or otherwise drawn in to associate with us, whither this be a Covenant of God and spiritual bethink yourselves, we hope we do. I pray you read the 28th of Esaiah from the 5th, to the 15th. and do not scorn to know that it is the Spirit that quickens and giveth life, and the Lord give you and us understanding to do that which is wellpleasing in his sight, committing you to the Grace of God I rest,  
Your humble Servant, O. CROMWELL. Muscleborough 3 Aug. 1650.   
FINIS.