A Letter from Mr. Robert Johnston, one of the Elders of Edinburgh, directed to Master William Agard in Cambridge, with a Petition of the English there enclosed, to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. Also Master Agards Letter to his friend in London, containing matters of great moment, tending to the pacification of the miserable distractions of these Present times. keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. portrait Printed at London for T. How. 1642. A Letter From Mr. Robert Johnston, one of the Elders at Edinburgh, directed to Mr. William Agard in Cambridge; with a Petition of the English there enclosed, to the most excellent Majesty of the KING. SIR, I joy to hear that my good x your wife is already the happy Mother of two sons, for whom as for myself I pray daily; desining to have an opportune meeting, that we may rejoice together in the Lord. I doubt not of your diligence in doing your God service. You are one of those watchmen upon Jerusalem's walls; Never hold your peace, keep not silence, give him no rest, until he shall establish and make his Zion a praise in the earth. There is great cause now, for (with great regret) I feel a fearful shake given to the half happy Act of Pacification: Papists and Prelates join with men (acted by the spirit of Satan) to separate the King from His Parliament in England; and his loyal Subjects (here and there as in Ireland) to the ruin of all: would to God they were all gone that so trouble us. We have hope here (and I pray for the like with you) that their wicked rod shall not long rest upon your Lot. Let it please you to peruse the enclosed Petition, it came to me by a good hand, tends to a right end, from a firm ground, through a midst answerable your furtherance will do much, but God only can accomplish the work which I pray for, and am still Your loving x, Robert Johnston. Edinburgh the 12. of Septemb. 1642. To the most Excellent Majesty of the King, and to the most Honourable the Lords and peers of this Realm. As also to the honourable the Lords and others, Knights Citizens, Barons and burgesses in the Commons House of Parliament now ASSEMBLED. The most humble Petition of the Churches of God in England, and of every lively member of the same, whereof the Lord Christ Jesus is the Head. Showeth. THat I am, is the God of unity and Order, But his enemy (Satan) is the author of division & disorder; as appears by the first Adam's fall, & the second Adam's reparation, when to prevent the malice of Abaddon, God united his deity to humanity in the person of his dear son, and him sent to seek and save, all poor lost sinners believers: That in the hypostatical union, there are 3. distinct Offices, of Prophet, Priest, and King, of all which (in his humanity) the Lord Jesus had possession, yet alleged that his kingdom (as then) was not of this world, remaining now and ever since at the right hand of his most holy Father in glory, until his enemies shall be made his footstool. That in 1642 years from the incarnation, the Almighty hath already vindicated the prophetic and Priests Offices to his Son, against all Turks, Jews, Papists, infidels: The regal Office only remains undetermined: And the axe is now laid to the root, he that will not take the Lord Jesus Christ for his K. must be brought out and slain. That your Most Excellent Majesty (the fountain of piety and justice, and the life of the Law unto us your most humble Petitioners & obedient Subjects) have set to your seal and in acknowledgement of God's truth, have subscribed, Christo auspice Regno. Posui Deum adiutorem meum, and the like. That your Lordships and Honours have likewise come into the same Government, contending against those Laws and customs, opposite to the Law established by the Lord Jesus, and which Elutherius prescribed to Lucius first Christian King of this Nation, and to both the Doctrine and Discipline settled by the Apostles, when at Antioch the Disciples were first called Christians, That the recovery of that name Christian will expel the by names, Papists, Protestants, Lutherans, Brownists, Sectaries, Roundheads, Prickeare, and what not, disgracefully put upon the Christian Subjects of this kingdom; Quiet the present distractions and distempers, clear all fears and jealousies, settle the true Religion, and fundamental Laws of England, Your majesty's Prerogative, the Parliaments privilege, and the Subjects propriety and peace, will so be all at one, to your general contentment, and the saving of All in all. May it therefore please Your most Excellent Majesty and your Parliament to agree speedily upon that one thing necessary, and prevent the malicious intendments of the Common adversary. For which your petitioners are daily suppliant at the almighty's throne, and your laborious servants. A Letter From one Master Agard to his friend in London. Sir, I Have read his majesty's Declarations at large, printed at Cambridge, as also his majesty's vindication, written as I have heard say by a Parliament man, but without his name thereunto printed and published. I have also seen the passages (Published) between the Scots and the English answering one another, and agreeing together to a far better end (as I hope) than Samson's Foxes with their fire brands, for they burned up only the standing corn of the Philistines, who did then Lord it over Israel; these I hope will eradicate all those foxlike incendiaries, Papists and Prelates, that have wrought their ends upon the continent of Europe hitherto, and now are at work in England and Ireland. Blessed be God, the North Country Scotland, & the parts of England bordering thereupon, are some in calmer condition for the present, Pray God continue it, and let the eternal Majesty be pleased to tell his Majesty (our most Gracious sovereign) that the Protestant Religion in England is not yet sufficiently reformed, and that his Majesty may not stand still as the Sun (albeit Joshuah should command it) much less go back as in Hezechiahs' time; but he must go forward as a giant, fight the good fight, and finish his course in keeping faith, that he may not stagger, but stand fast to his temporal Crown in this life, and so obtain an eternal crown of glory: to which my prayer made in the name and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, let the Almighty God, and all his faithful servants say, Amen. I have sent you herewith a Copy of a Petition which came from England to Edinburgh, and is thence again returned unto me in a Letter from my x Johnston, the originals are here enclosed, you may consider how useful they may prove, and use them as you please. Pray let me hear from you as you can with the first opportunity▪ I will repay it thankfully, and rest From my house in Lond. 24. Sept. 1642. Yours to be commanded. William Agard. FINIS.