To the right Honourable the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, the Humble Petition of  
Humbly showeth,  
THat we account true Religion the life and crown of all our Liberties and Privileges; a pure and perfect Reformation in all Christ's Ordinances, the lustre and beauty of Religion; and those persons or Nations much honoured of their God, whom he pleaseth to employ in the promoting and accomplishing of such a Reformation. Such Honour was in part cast upon our pious Predecessors in the days of King Edward the Sixth, and Queen Elizabeth (of happy Memory) when after the dark midnight of Popery, the day of Reformation in Doctrine and Worship began sweetly to dawn upon this Kingdom: But Divine providence hath devolved a double honour upon this Age, and therein principally upon you (Noble Senators) whom God hath wonderfully raised up, more perfectly to repair his House in all the beauties of Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, having mightily stirred up your Spirits, hearty to resolve it, solemnly to Covenant it, and really to exhibit some first fruits of it in the Directory for public Worship, which we accept with all thankfulness.  
Notwithstanding we are not able longer to conceal from your Honours, how extremely our Spirits are perplexed and amazed, that the great business of Church-Government and Discipline, (whereupon the whole stress of the present Reformation will lean, and whereby all Christ's precious Ordinances, and in particular the Lord's Supper should be preserved from all contempt and profanation) should to this very day remain unestablished by your civil sanction: For, we verily believe that England was never blest with such a Parliament as you are; That English Parliament never had such a learned pious and faithful Synod, to hold forth sincerely the mind of Christ, and the Model of Church Government agreeable to his will, as you have: That no Parliament ever had such, and so many forcible engagements upon them from God, and unto God as are upon you: And that this City of London did never so flourish with such a conscionable and painful Ministry (ready to put the Government and Discipline of Christ into execution, for a pattern and encouragement to all the Kingdom) as we have at this day: whence then should it be, that the children being come so near to the birth, there is yet no strength to bring forth?  
Bear with us a little in this fervour of our Spirits (it is for our Religion, Reformation and the House of our God, and we cannot hold our peace) what way soever we cast our eye, we cannot but see most sad fruits of the not settling of Church-Government to this day; Hence many abominable errors and damnable Heresies are broached amongst us without control: And the precious truths which jesus Christ sealed with his blood are trampled under foot. Hence the pure and holy Ordinances of Christ, especially that of the Lords Supper, are either woefully profaned by persons grossly ignorant and scandalous: Or, uncomfortably omitted in many places, now for a long time together, which should be often dispensed: Hence, multitudes of unstable souls have fallen off (especially within these two or three year's last passed) into many strange Sects, maintaining most horrid and blasphemous opinions: Incorporating themselves into separate Assemblies; setting up illiterate persons to be their Pastors: And managing their meetings with great boldness and insolency, in contempt of all Authority, to the disturbance of the City, every one doing what is right in his own eyes, and there is no course to reclaim them. Hence, unnatural flames of division (especially about Church-Government) are occasioned, in the same Kingdom, betwixt people and people; in the same City, betwixt Minister and Minister; in the same Congregation betwixt Pastor and Flock: yea, in the same Family betwixt Master and Servant, betwixt Parents and Children, betwixt Husbands and Wives: differences in opinions breeding alienation of affection, and both breaking out into many bitter, and reproachful contentions; Hence Orthodox Ministers are despised and discouraged in their Ministry: Hopeful Plants disheartened and deterred from the Ministry; Public Assemblies are forsaken; The pretended Preachers of new Gospels cried up: Universal toleration of all opinions and Religions pleaded for: The Sabbaths and monthly days of Humiliation (though backed by your Authority) wilfully contemned: And a wide sluice opened unto all profaneness and licentiousness. Finally, hence it comes to pass, that the hearts of the truly Godly, who have so long groaned after Reformation, are overwhelmed with grief and faintings through Hope deferred: Our friends in foreign Countries, especially our dear Brethren of Scotland, are astonished at our delays: Our enemies at home scorn and insult over us, as given up to a spirit of giddiness, looking at this City as a stage of Schism, Faction, and Heresy: Our distempers grow more incurable, and Reformation every day more difficult and improbable: And though our God hath rewarded our beginnings of Reformation, with his beginnings of deliverance; yet hath he also of late manifested divers sad and remarkable tokens of his displeasure from heaven against England and Scotland, both by sword and pestilence, because (as we justly fear) we make no more haste to complete the Reformation in all the  perfections of it, according to our Covenant, wherein (led both by your precept and example) we have religiously lifted up our hands to the most high God.  
When we consider these things, we could pour out our very souls in us. For God is our record (and your Honours also in part can bear us witness) what we have done and suffered in this concerning Cause of God and Religion; And how we have spared neither our prayers, nor tears, nor outward estates, nor limbs, nor blood, nor our dearest lives for the public; but especially for the promoting of a speedy and perfect Reformation in all matters of Religion. Without which we value no worldly comforts: With which we hope we shall fear no earthly crosses; and till this be effected, we cannot expect that God will fully bless either you or us with complete deliverance.  
Wherefore we most ardently and humbly importune this Renowned Parliament (our chief hope and help under God in this case)  
1. That as you tender the happiness of this now miserable Church: The true prosperity of this distracted City and Kingdom: The timely comfort of all your real friends: The seasonable cure of all our deep distempers before they grow remediless: The hastening of the Kingdom's enlargement from all its pressing distresses, and its enjoyment of all contrary blessings from the Lord: The exaltation of the name of God, whose glory is now profaned to the dust: And your faithful performing of Covenant with the most high God touching Reformation: you would make all possible haste forthwith to establish, by your civil Sanction, that Government and Discipline amongst us, which Christ hath left to his Church, (A Model whereof the Reverend Assembly of Divines, according to the wisdom given unto them, have framed, and (as we understand) already presented to your Honours) which being established, we shall better be enabled with greater hope and patience to wait till the Confession of Faith, and public Cathechism can be finished; which must necessarily take up a fare longer time than can possibly be spared from the settling of Government without many unavoidable and desperate mischiefs. And we beseech you to remember how the Lord hath hastened of late to load you and us in a short space with his many benefits; as the Victory at Nazeby, the quick recovery of Leicester, the relief of Taunton, the surrender of many strong holds into your hands, as Bridgewater, Scarborough, Pomfret, Canon-froom, Sherburne, and Bristol: And what more real expression of gratitude for such high favours, can you render unto the Lord, then to hasten the repair of his House, that so hastens the building up of yours; as you were effectually pressed at the Public Thanksgiving after Nazeby field, which Sermon was by Order of both Houses of Parliament commanded to be printed, which gives us good hope that our seconding of that now which was then preached in our ears, and took deep impression on our spirits, will be an acceptable service unto your Honours.  
2. That whensoever Church-government shall be settled by your authority amongst us, it may be established with such a complete measure of power and authority upon the Presbyteries which shall be erected in England, as may fully enable them to maintain all Christ's sacred Ordinances, especially the holy Supper of the Lord, in their highest splendour and purity, held forth in the Word, against all contempt, pollution, and profanation whatsoever, by gross ignorance or scandal, that so the Lord may be fully for you, when you shall be fully for him: The glory of this may surpass the glory of all former reformations: All occasion of schism and separation, by reason of impurity, or imperfection of Ecclesiastical administrations, may be removed: All stumbling blocks to tender consciences may be so taken out of the way, that all the Brethren (though now of different opinions) may sweetly join together in the worship of their God, with one heart and one soul: All our precious Ministers may be encouraged to hold on in their stations, without being enforced to desert them: And all gracious spirits at home, together with all our godly friends abroad, may hearty cry Grace, Grace.  
And your Petitioners beholding the Lord Christ triumphing thus gloriously in the utmost purity of all his Ordinances, shall never repent of what they have already done or endured; nor repine at what they may hereafter possibly do, or endure in reference to this so glorious a work: But shall constantly triumph in the praises of our God, both for crowning our Church with such spiritual glory, and for lifting up your hearts in these sacred things, to do so worthily.