A faithful REMEMBRANCE AND ADVICE TO The General Council of Officers OF The Armies of England, Scotland & Ireland, FROM Divers in Cornwall and Devon, IN Behalf of themselves and sundry hundreds, cordial friends to the blessed CAUSE of RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH GOD hath stated and pleaded with a stretched out Arm, in these (and in the sight of all the) Nations.  
May 4th LONDON: Printed for L. Chapman at the Crown in Popes-Head-Ally, 1659. May 4.   

A faithful Remembrance and Advice TO The General Council of Offices, etc.  
SIRS,  
THough the most High hath set the Bounds of our Habitations in a corner of this Nation, somewhat remote from you, yet have not only the reports and influence of the late Affairs depending before you already reached us, but withal, we have hopes that the faithfulness of this brief word may as effectually extend itself even to you. However, we think ourselves eminently concerned and called upon to give you some taste of our Spirits, while we behold these works of the Lord, and what Desolations he hath made in the Earth.  
We, having for a long time mourned in the sense of our own Iniquities, and of the sore backsliding of this day, from that glorious Cause of the Lord, wherein, in former days (some of) you have been used and owned by him, as famous Instruments, have yet been held up by grace, in expectation that his Work should be revived again, and our hearts should be made glad therein.  
In tracing the Lords footsteps in order hereunto, though we have been instructed with a strong hand to cease from man; yet, was it some refreshment to us, to see some passages in your Representation of the sixth of April— 59 (viz.) your professed indearment to the GOOD OLD CAUSE, your awakenings, and deep sense of the great reproaches, eminent dangers, and even death at hand upon it; your bewailing your own great failings, turn aside, and backslidings, and your resolutions for better things for the future: in which matters we should reckon ourselves happy, if we might minister any farther effectual Conviction and Assistance to you: in order whereunto, we think ourselves bound to put you farther in Remembrance,  
I. That while you were in a sincere virgin-Spirit, pursuing the true and single Interest of this Cause, you had constant experience of the marvellous Presence and Blessing of the Lord on your Affairs, in Camp and Council, by Sea and Land; as also the cheerful concurrence of many thousand upright-hearted ones, whose Prayers, Persons, Estates, and all that was dear to them, were gladly engaged to strengthen your hands to the uttermost, in those amusing Dispensations wherein you were led, and did not stumble; and for a recompense, you were also enlarged & engaged cheerfully in spirit, not only to follow the Lords conduct through any difficulties, but to give yourselves up by Promises, Declarations, and Appeals, in Judgement and Conscience, by which to this day you stand religiously and indispensibly obliged, to follow His glorious Work, entrusted in your hands, unto its just issues, in the face of all opposition whatsoever.  
II. That while you were in the just & direct process of that Good Work and Cause of GOD, the Lords leadings, and your observing experiences farther and farther, taught you, that (so righteous and prevailing were the true principles thereof, commending themselves in their own evidence, as that) the reducing it to practise, was found to have a real inconsistency with the ancient constitutions and forms of this Nation's government, which for the most part were accommodated to Lust and Antichristian Tyranny over the Persons, Estates and Consciences of the People; and therefore in its progress (wherein it had your then cheerful concurrence) you saw it proved ruinous to them, & exploded they were, how Ancient, Honourable and Dear soever they seemed to be, to men of low and selfish Principles.  
III. That ever since the great Revolt from these Principles, all the inventions and endeavours sought out, and used, to espouse the National Pomp and Greatness to the Notion of this Cause; Whatever Interests have been courted, or Instruments form to that end; they have all fallen before it with their own weight: and instead of attaining the aimed-at-settlement in the Relics of this Glory, there hath not only a continual blasting befallen all your erterprises; but by degrees hath been a very fair opportunity administered unto the Quintessence of all the Wisdom, Policy and Malignity of every one of those formerly-conquered Interests, to stand up again in full and equal Liberry and Authority in the Supremest Judicature of the Nation, to contend for Mastery, until even now, yourselves found there was not safety and shelter left, no, not for your own selves, although in the midst of your possessed strength.  
iv That now again in the mighty GOD hath put into your hands one opportunity more to do some notable things for him; he hath again discovered the Foundations to the Neck, hath laid spoiled at your feet another promising piece of goodly Glory. You have moreover before you the advantage of a large taste of the spirits of Men and Parties, in these Nations: who have abode firm to their former Principles, under all manner of disadvantages: and on the other hand, who, under either a fawning, or courted pretention of compliance, have been contriving and preparing instruments of Cruelty that would have ruined it and you, for the old Hatred.  
Upon these and the like Considerations that we might tender, we present our Advice.  
I. If in truth your hearts are thorough for this work of GOD, though your reviving it be in a troublesome time, to you and to the poor Nation, yet having your eye to the Lord, whose the Cause is, be ye of good courage, and be assured that there are multitudes, who have been mourning in secret a long time, whom you will find in a preparation of spirit, to join heart and all with you in your righteous pursuance of that Blessed Cause; yea rather, you may be sure the Lord of Hosts will be with you, while you are with him.  
II. That you speedily claim and receive to yourselves, as your true propriety, the light and assistance of such in Council with you, as in the faithfulness of their Testimony have been laid aside, or compelled to forsake their places during the time that this stain hath lain upon your Glory; whom you may receive with the advantage of their having been refined by the sharp trials they have since sustained; for whom there will be room and opportunity at large, by your performing a parallel Act of Faithfulness, namely, your speedy dismission from among you of such as have been an hindrance and snare to your faithful proceed hitherto; of whom also you cannot but have much experience.  
III. That you will give great diligence to what you leave behind, or lay anew in the Foundation to be laid of future Settlement: let not any carnal reasonings lead you to make haste, to fall in with any painted interests, short of It, though they may seem made ready to your hand; but rather having well reviewed and digested not the Name only, but the true Nature and Principles of the Cause you mention, and being instructed to trust the Lord, invite, own and assist such for the establishing the Religious and Civil Rights of this poor Nation, as have approved themselves mwn disengaged from any interest that necessarily binds them up, and renders them incapable of carrying on the work spoken of, to its just issues. Men of such an anointing, as may indeed conscientiously prosecute the just ends of all those Declarations, Engagements and Appeals of yours, and of all the blood, treasure and hopes of ours. And in so doing, you may expect the Lord of hosts will help you, covering you with that strength, recovering for you that glory, and recompensing you with that reward, that shall make and bespeak you a Blessing in the Earth.   
FINIS.