To THE Kings most Excellent MAJESTY. The humble and grateful acknowledgement of many Ministers of the Gospel in, and about the City of London, to his Royal Majesty for his gracious Concessions in his Majesty's late Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs. Most Dread Sovereign, WE your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, Ministers of the Gospel in your City of London; having perused your Majesty's late Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs; And finding it, to the joy of our hearts, so full of Indulgence and Gracious condescension, We cannot but judge ourselves highly obliged, in the first place to render our unfeigned thanks to our good God, who hath so mercifully inclined your Majesty's Royal heart to this Moderation, and next, our most humble and hearty acknowledgements unto your sacred Majesty, that we may testify to your Royal Self, and all the World, our just resentment of your Majesty's great goodness and clemency therein expressed. May it please your Majesty, THe liberty of our consciences, and the free exercise of our Ministry in the Work of our great Lord and Master, for the conversion and salvation of souls, aught to be, and are more dear to us, than all the profits and preferments of this world; And therefore your Majesty's tenderness, manifested in these so high concernments, doth wonderfully affect us, and raise up our hearts to an high pitch of gratitude. We cannot but adore Divine Goodness for your Majesty's steadfast adherence to the Protestant Religion, notwithstanding all temptations and provocations to the contrary, and your professed zeal for the advancement and propagation thereof, Declaring, that nothing can be proposed to manifest your zeal and affection for it, to which you will not readily consent. Your Majesty hath graciously declared, That your Resolution is, and shall be, to promote the power of Godliness, to encourage the Exercises of Religion, both public and private, to take care that the Lords day be applied to holy Exercises, without unnecessary divertisements; and that insufficient, negligent, and scandalous Ministers be not permitted in the Church. Your Majesty hath granted that no Bishop shall Ordain, or exercise any part of Jurisdiction which appertains to the censures of the Church, without the advice and assistance of the Presbyters, and neither do, nor impose any thing, but what is according to the known Laws of the land. Excluded Chancellors, Commissaries, and Officials from Acts of Jurisdiction: so happily restored the power of the Pastors in their several Congregations; and granted a liberty to all the Ministers to assemble monthly, for the exercise of the Pastoral persuasive power, to the promoting of knowledge and godliness in their flocks. Your Majesty hath graciously promised a Review, and effectual Reformation of the Liturgy, with Additional forms to be used at choice: And in the mean time, that none be punished, or troubled for not using it. Your Majesty hath graciously freed us from subscription required by the Canon, and the Oath of Canonical obedience; And granted us to receive Ordination, Institution and Induction, and to exercise our function, and enjoy the profits of our live, without the same. Your Majesty hath gratified the consciences of many, who are grieved with the use of some Ceremonies, by indulging to, and dispensing with their omitting those Ceremonies, viz. Kneeling at the Sacrament, the Cross in Baptism, bowing at the Name of Jesus, and wearing of the Surplice. All this your Majesty's indulgence and tender compassion (which with delight we have taken the boldness thus largely to commemorate) We receive with all humility and thankfulness, and, as the best expression thereof, shall never cease to pray for your Majesty's long and prosperous Reign; and study how in our several stations, we may be most instrumental in your Majesty's service: And that we may not be defective in Ingenuity, We crave leave to profess, that though all things in this frame of Government be not exactly suited to our judgement, yet your Majesty's Moderation hath so great an influence upon us, that we shall to our utmost, endeavour the healing of the breaches, and promoting the peace and union of the Church. There are some other things that have been propounded by our Reverend Brethren, which, upon our knees with all humble importunity, we could beg of your Majesty, especially that Reordination, and the Surplice in Colleges may not be imposed; and we cannot lay aside our hopes, but that that God, who hath thus far drawn out your Majesty's bowels and mercy, will further incline your Majesty's heart to gratify us in these our humble desires also. That we be not further burdensome; We humbly beg leave to thank your Majesty for the liberty and respect vouchsafed to our Reverend brethren in this weighty affair of accommodation. The God of heaven bless your Majesty, and all the Royal family, Your Majesty's most Loyal Subjects Sa. Clarke Tho. Case Jo. Rawlinson Jo. Sheffield Tho. Gouge Gab. Sanger Will. Cooper Will. Whitaker Tho. Jacomb Tho. Lie Jo. Jackson Jo. Meriton Eli. Pledger Will. Bates Jo. Gibbon Mat. Poole with many others. This Address was presented to his Majesty at Whitehall, Nou. 16. by some of these Ministers, to whom he was pleased to return a very gracious answer. LONDON, Printed by his Majesty's approbation for Joh. Rothwel, at the sign of the Fountain, in Cheapside in Goldsmiths Row. 1660.