THE HUMBLE PETITION Of many well-affected Freemen, and Citizens of the City of LONDON, for themselves, and the rest of those Covenant-ingaged Citizens, whose Names were subscribed to the late humble Representation presented to the PARLIAMENT.  
To the Right honourable the LORD MAYOR, the Right worshipful the Aldermen, and COMMONS of the City of LONDON in common-council Assembled.  
Presented january 25. 1646.  
Published according to Order.  
LONDON: Printed for Tho: Underhill at the Bible in Woodstreet. 1646.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE the Lord Mayor, the Right worshipful the Aldermen and Commons of the City of LONDON, in common-council Assembled.  
The humble PETITION of many well affencted Freemen, and Citizens of the Ci y of London, for themselves, and the rest of those Covenant-ingaged Citizens whose Names were subscribed to the late humble Representation presented to the Parliament. Presented January 25. 1646.  
Sheweth:  
THat the favourable acceptation of this Honour●ble Court which we have ever found in all our humble addresses, and particularly in your cheerful concurrence with your Petitioners in their late humble Representation to the Honourable Houses of Parliament( which we cannot but with all joy and thankfulness aclowledge) doth further embolden us in all humility again to renew our requests unto you. And because we are not ignorant how oftentimes the good endeavours, and worthy results of the Counsels of this Honourable Court( produced with much pains and faithfulness, have presently perished after the birth: and the comfort●ble expected fruits thereof through the subtle practices, and fruitless opposition of factious Sectaries have been frustrated unto us: And for as much as we have learned by too often experience( the best School mistress of all others) that the worthiest undertakings have proved abortive for want of an uncessant and vigorou● prosecution.  
We therefore humbly pray, that in your wisdoms you will please to advice and conclude upon such ways and means, as may best tend to the furtherance of such an effectual Answer to the humble Petition of this Honourable Court, and our late Representation by you presented to the Parliament, as may yield sufficient remedy against our pressing and afflicting grievances: And give such Commission by your Authority to those whom you shall appoint continually to attend the Honourable Houses, which may beget that countenance and respect as may hopefully produce so full and expeditious satisfaction of our just desires therein, as the urgency and importance of them do●h require.  
And because the glory of God in the propagation of his Gospel, & the winning of souls to Jesus Christ, ought chiefly to be the design of Christians that fear his Name, and do profess his truth: And it is certain that one singular means of promoting so glorious ends is the countenance and encouragement of a painful, learned, and godly ministry: And considering the sad condition of many Congregations of this City, who for want of such to break unto them the bread of life, are fain to wander about to other places, as sheep that have no Shepherd; either having lost their painful orthodox Teachers for want of competent maintenance, or not being able to find any that are willing to take their Charges upon them, by reason of the shortness of the means of their subsistence, together with the uncertainty of that which is in being, through the subtle undermining devices of Malignants, and Sectaries, who are continually labouring what in them lies, to discourage the ministry by withholding what is due: And being very sensible into what contempt and scorn the ministry itself is brought through want of an honourable Maintenance according to Christs appointment, 1 Tim. 5.17. And withall understanding what this Honourable Court hath begun already to act with relation to this blessed work. Therefore( as we cannot but hearty bless God, who hath graciously put these worthy thoughts into your hearts, so) we are bold humbly to beseech, that( out of the sincere affections, which we are confident you bear to the House of God, and to his truth) you would hasten these good beginnings to full maturity and perfection, as they may be ready to receive with all convenient speed the confirming stamp of Civill Authority from both the Honourable Houses of Parliament. Which undertaking( if God shall honour you to accomplish) will rest undoubtedly as a Crown of glory upon the head of all your other actions, and procure a rich and certain blessing from the God of heaven: Mal. 3.10. and be a worthy President to the Kingdom, to the great joy and comfort of all Gods faithful people, and much redound to the furtherance of his glory.  
And whereas the Honourable House of Commons hath lately put forth a Declaration, expressing their dislike of, and resolution to proceed against such as take upon them to Preach, and expound the Scripture in any public place, being not ordained, &c We do entreat that this Honourable C●urt will please to represent our thankful acknowledgements to that Honourable House for these so hopeful beginnings; and further to move the Honourable Houses, that( in pursuance of these pious resolutions) they will please to annex such power by the joint and mutual Authority of them both, as may give the Magistrate encouragement to suppress these mechanic and schismatical Preachers; and enable him for this end to punish their presumption in this kind for time to come.  
And further, we earnestly do pray, that you will please to certify our humble desires to the Honourable Houses, for removing that part of the Army without delay which at this present is quartered near the City, as also for a prevention of the like for the future; considering the great scarcity that is like to follow by their so near approach( the inconvenience whereof we do already feel.) And the discontents that may arise among the poorer sort by means thereof, the greatness of whose numbers is not to be despised: As also what other mischiefs may hereby be intended, as it will appear to be no groundless suspicion and fear, if the mutinous and menacing words of some of the soldiery be well weighed.  
And lastly, Because we hold ourselves obliged to do what in us lies, as we are Citizens, to maintain the Honour of the City, and Authority of this Honourable Court; we cannot but declare the deep sense we have of the bold presumption of the weekly pamphleteers, who with their scurrilous Pens upon all occasions are still traducing your Religious Actions founded upon our solemn Covenant, being constant Factors for their beneficial Masters the Sectaries; putting fair Colours upon their heretical, and Church-dividing practices, and, to gratify these, labour to besmeare the proceedings of this Honourable Court to render this City and their Actions odious to the Kingdom. For which cause in conscience of our duty we humbly pray, that this Honourable Court will please to put forth their Authority for the future suppression of these lying & ungodly Pamphlets; and inflict such punishment upon the wicked contrivers of them, as your Power will reach unto: that the mouths of liars may be stopped, and Truth and Innocency may take place.  
And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.  
PResentend to the common-council, monday the 25. of January, 1646. by many Citizens of known integrity, and good quality; To whom Thanks was returned by the Lord Mayor in the Name of that Honourable Court: and a Committee appointed to take the particular Branches of it into consideration. And by the said Court, in Answer to the first Head of the Petition, voted, that the Aldermen and the Common-Councellmen of two Wards of the City, with such Citizens of these Wards as they shall think fit to take to their assistance, shall attend day by day in course upon both the Houses of Parliament in the Name of the City of London, till they receive an effectual Answer of their humble Petition and Representation now lying before the Honourable Houses.  
FINIS.