TO THE Honourable the COMMONS House Of PARLIAMENT: The humble Petition of the Ministers of the City of London.  
Humbly showeth;  
THat your Petitioners with joyfulness have entertained, and with all thankfulness do acknowledge the frequent and affectionate expressions of your pious resolutions for the firm settling of this church's peace, especially in your first Remonstrance; wherein you are pleased to declare, That it is far from your thoughts, purpose or desire, to let lose the golden reins of Discipline and government in the Church; to leave private persons or particular Congregations to take up what form of service they please; As likewise in the late national COVENANT, wherein both Houses of Parliament and the three kingdoms stand solemnly engaged to the MOST HIGH GOD, for a full Reformation and uniformity in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and government, and in Convening an Assembly of godly and Learned Divines for that end.  
Yet notwithstanding, sore are the pressures under which we groan; Give us leave therefore we beseech you (in pursuance of our national COVENANT) to sigh out our sorrows at the feet of this HONOURABLE SENATE.  
Through many erroneous opinions, ruinating schisms and damnable heresies (unhappily fomented in City and country) the Orthodox Ministry is neglected; the people seduced; Congregations torn asunder; families distracted; rights and duties of relations, national, civil and spiritual, scandalously violated; the power of godliness decayed; Parliamentary Authority undermined; fearful confusion introduced; imminent destruction threatened, and in part inflicted upon us lately in the West;  
May it therefore please your wisdoms (as a sovereign remedy for the removal (as we humbly conceive) of our present miseries and prevention of their farther progress) to expedite a Directory for public Worship, and to accelerate the establishment of a pure Discipline and government (according to the Word of GOD and the example of the best Reformed Churches) and to take away all obstructions that may impede and retard our humble desires.  
And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.  
This Petition was by the Ministers of the City of London, presented to the Honourable House of COMMONS, Septemb. 18, 1644. And received with great acceptation.