Wee haue found it written (Right Worshipfull) that where noe vision is the people perrish. The Consederation where of forceth vs to become humble 498sutours to your worshipp, to solicite in our behalfe some godly Minister, to pitty the miserable estate and Condicion wee are in for want of those blessed meanes which the lord hath appointed to the fortherance of our saluation: hoping he will stirre vp your hart with all conueniant speede to supply (out of your abundance) vs his poore people heere whoe are almost starued for want of the spirituall foode of our soules. Wee shall not neede to vse many arguments to moue you; whoe canne better apprehend our misery, then wee expresse itt. Maye it please you Mr. Blackstone haeth formerly promised to come and liue with vs, but wee nowe finde by his answers to some, that his hopes are fedd with the expectation of farre greater profitt by his husbandry there; then hee should haue had by his ministry here, which God only knowes. Nowe Sir for the accommodation of a Minister thus farr wee canne goe at present; hee shall haue a very good howse, with an Inclosure to it for the planting of corne, and allsoe a stipend of 20li per annum; which wee hope in a short time wilbe doubled if not trebled. Neather will wee seeke to tye him to any other manor of dissipline then what shalbe found approueable out of word of God: which must be the touchtone and triall of all our actions, good Sir lett not any former scandals which haue beene (partly iust and partly vniust raysed vppon vs) be any obstacles to hinder the good and proffitt which by this meanes may through Gods blessinge betide our poore soules heere after. What wee haue spoken vouchsafe to take into your serious Consideration: and affectually answer vs by the ferst opportunity; soe shall wee praye for a continuall increse of Gods fauour towards you, in derecting all your accions to his glory to home wee leaue you and rest Your humble Suppliants euer to command

By returne of our speciall freinds, I could not but returne a thankfull acknowl­499edgment of all your former kyndenesses, and your last loving entertaynement, and also to give you an account of such businesses, which were in part commended to our care, touching the ripening of such passages of the Synod,2 which were of wayt and worthy record and consideration: you may be pleased therfore to vnderstand, that Mr. Higgynson, who was the scribe in assembly, hath imployd his tyme since his coming, to transcribe such things which were of vse, but because the things were many and his tyme short, our freinds returning so speedily, he could not accomplish much, but hath taken his papers with him downe to the mouth of the river, whither his occasions call him for the present, and from whence he will send you such particulars as he shall perfectly write out, and that by the soonest conveyance The good Lord prosper these begynnings for the setling of peace and truth with you in all his churches. I dayly expect many stratagems of Satan to be plotted and practised: All that I would crave leave to present to your iudicious apprehension is that in short: I have ever iudged it, in cases of difficulty which must come to scanning, most safe, to attend nothing for ground of determination, but that which will cary an undeniable evidence to an impartiall iudge: he that desires multitude of arguments to cary a cause, and therfore take illegible the weaknes of some dishonor and illegible the wayt of the rest: For execution let it be so secret and suddayne that it cannot be prevented, so resolute and vncontrolable that it may tak off hope from the adversary that it can be resisted: and this damps opposition and prevents hazard, men will not attempt resistance when ther is no expectation to attayne what they do attempt, whereas opennes and fayntnes of resolution provokes men to oppose and to adventure vpon hazard in opposition: you will not be offended that I shot my bolts, your loving acceptance adds encoragement in this kynd. The Lord steare your course for you and give a blessing to all your indeavors and godly proceedings So he wisheth who rests in all thankfulnes Yours in all due respect