THE which day and place, the Presbytery being met, and taking into their most serious consideration; that altho’ the Lord hath visited us both with mercy and judgment in his smiling and more frowning dispensations, we have neither seasonably nor suitably observed the doings of the Lord, nor regarded the operations of his hand; but Jeshurun like, waxen fat and kicked at this kind and bountiful dispenser both of common and special goodness.  And considering, that when foreign nations and people far less deserving, are visited with the desolating sword of war, with pestilence and threatened famine; he has not as yet made those judgments more severely to pass over unto us, in these covenant-breaking isles, who have in every respect made the cup of our iniquity more fully than ever those nations were capable of.  It therefore becomes all and every one, and chiefly those who have any remaining sight and sense of their own and the land’s heavy load of guilt and transgression, relying upon the promised grace and strength that is in Christ Jesus, to set their face to seek the Lord God, by prayer and supplication, with fasting, being deeply humbled before him.  Particularly,

First, For the many and heinous iniquities of ourselves and fathers, which have separated between us and our God, provoked him to withhold good things from us, hide his face, and in a great measure forsake his house and sanctuary {2} service.  Namely, the lamentable defection from, and overturning the once established and glorious work of a covenanted reformation in these lands; by the unhallowed deeds of backsliders and apostates therefrom, still persisted in and gradually multiplied, to this very day.

Secondly, The general silence at, and satisfaction of these nations with, the anti-scriptural and anti-covenanted establishments therein, both ecclesiastical and civil; the unhallowed union of this and our neighbour land, on terms quite opposite unto our covenant conjunction; toleration of almost all errors and heresies, which, instead of being lamented over, is, by the most part, gloried in, and fled unto for a refuge and covering unto their sinful and pernicious ways; and by many of whom the way of truth, according to the word of God, is evil spoken of.

Thirdly, The increasing grievous tyranny and oppression upon the church of Christ and consciences of men, by the exercise of Erastian supremacy, patronized and supported by those in ecclesiastic order: Most violent intrusions often made upon the heritage of the Lord, whereby thieves and robbers are put into, and take the houses of God in possession; in which trespass, the hands of this national church, (both ministers and members) are almost universally dipp’d.  The abounding of Arian, Arminian, Socinian, Pelagian, Deistical and Latitudinarian errors and heresies;—a dangerous halving and dividing the reformation cause and covenant of our God.  Moral harangues and legal doctrine, are generally put and entertained in place of preaching a crucified Christ, and his imputed righteousness, the alone meritorious ground of our justification and acceptance unto eternal life.—The Holy Spirit’s efficacy made to stoop to natural ability in working out our salvation.  Thus God, his Son Jesus, and the ever-blessed Spirit, are dishonoured and wounded, yet we have not grieved.

Fourthly, Real faithfulness in testimony-bearing, for a whole covenanted reformation, reviled, opposed, and publicly impugn’d by profess’d owners of the same cause: Anabaptistical and Independent tenets and opinions are increasing.—National covenanting much vilipended;—the moral obligation of these nations’ solemn vows openly disclaimed, while most in these nations are sunk in the ignorance of these {3} our sacred engagements, and of what the Lord did for his church and land in the covenanting days of our fathers.

Fifthly, The heinous sin and guilt that has generally overspread the nations, and cries aloud for vengeance upon us: As murder, uncleanness of almost every kind, blaspheming the name, attributes of God, and graces of his Spirit; profanation of the sabbath, stealing, lying, covetousness, oppression and fraudulent dealing between man and man: These with many more awful sins, greatly abound.—Idleness, pride, sensuality, levity, lascivious speeches, looks and gestures;—stage-plays, night-balls and assemblies are frequented, especially by the great; a sinful license for those granted and embraced; and divine threatenings against such evils contemn’d, while the house of God is by most of such deserted; piety and zeal for the honour of God treated with ridicule and disdain; and any faithful warners of such sinners accounted enemies, because they tell them the truth. [Gal. 4.16.]

Sixthly, The great prevailing ignorance of God and his truths; of Jesus Christ his righteousness, offices and relations; of the Holy Spirit’s graces and operations: Little zeal for God’s glory, love unto him, his cause and people: Great deadness and formality in all religious duties and exercises: Much hurrying, excusing, shifting and neglect of devoted time and service unto God for secret, private and social worship—Great neglect of spiritual meditation, reading the holy scriptures and other suitable helps, for our improvement in divine knowledge, and heavenly communication with others on sabbath or week days; while the worldly talk of the carnal and earthly disposed is too readily join’d with.—Great neutrality in sanctuary preparation, little longing after and small concern to find the living God in holy ordinances.  Much forgetfulness to pay our vows made at solemn sealing times and seasons.—Great estrangedness to perform family and social fasting.  Too much bodily indulgence, and little soul contrition felt on public humiliation days, as is evident from the small conformity of our after lives to the solemn profession of repentance then made.  All which too manifestly discovers, in a great measure, the Lord’s departure, restraint of his Spirit, and giving unto his church a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. [Hos. 9.14.]

For these, with many other causes that may be mentioned, and which, on like occasions have been condescended upon, {4} the Presbytery appoint the 27th day of December, being the 4th Thursday, to be observed as a day of public solemn humiliation by themselves, and all the people under their inspection.  And they earnestly desire and entreat all and every one, (especially of their concerns) to endeavour heart-sincerity in this solemn work and duty: therein fervently to mourn over the many grounds of the Lord’s displeasure and righteous controversy with us:—And denying ourselves, our own righteousness, to look by faith above and beyond all our duties unto the meritorious blood of Jesus for pardon and purifying from all our sins.  And notwithstanding, the contrary desert [deserving] of our iniquities, we ought with thankfulness to acknowledge the divine goodness and favour, in granting a plenteous harvest, and so far preserving the fruits of the earth in threatened danger: With the more special enjoyments of both word and sacrament continued among us.  And to plead that the Lord may turn back our captivity, revive his cause and people; make his work prosperous in the hands of his servants, in this and other lands, where called to display the banner of truth.  And that he may yet cause his servants and people to see eye to eye when he thus turns back his Zion.