those great deliverances and strange Providences of the Almighty, carrying on the
Parliament in the execution of Justice upon the chief Author, and some of the eminent
Instruments of both these Wars, and that some hopefull progresse hath been
made in setling the Government of this Common wealth in such a way as (by Gods
blessing) may secure it against the like Tyranny for the future, and be a foundaeion
of happines and freedom; And that the Parliament (having by these troubles in England
been intercepted from sending releif to Ireland) did now resolve (by Gods asistance)
to speed a considerable Force thither for reducing that Land to the Obedience
of the Parliament of England: It could hardly have been suspected that any
especially such as have professed a zeal for God, hi truth, and People, should have
retarded so good a work, but rather should have unanimously given assistance thereunto,
the security of England, and Religion it self being so much, concerned in it:
Yet at this time a new distemper discovered it self, kindled and fomented by some
turbulent spirits, acted Jesuiticall Councels and Principles destructive to Government,
who,d sliking every thing where of themselves might have the Honour, did designe
to pluck up all that hath been planted, to bring the Nation into confusion,
destroy all property, eradicate Law and true Liberty at once, and obstruct
the releif of IRELAND (which otherwise might by this have been sent thither.)
And to that end by traducing the actions of the Parliament in the things, which
before they were done, themselves petitioned for, and since seemed to rejoyce in
and by unjust scandalls upon some chiefe Officers in the Army (the Generall himselfe
not being accepted) whom God had made Instrumentall in so may victories
and preservations of the whole Nation, and by holding forth specious pretences of
liberty and benefit to the people, had seduced some few of the inferior Officers of
the Army and a considerable number of the Souldiery to decline the service of Ireland,
and wrought a disaffection thereunto in many of those who were designed to
that work: How dangerous the designe was in it selfe, and how deeply laid to the
apparent hazard of Ireland, and the embroiling this Nation in a further and more
desperat War: The Parliament of England being very sensible, and considering the
especiall providence of God in the timely discovery of it, and the seasonablenesse of
the mercy, in crushing the Serpent in the Egge, and by his good hand upon the Forces
under the Generall, suppressing that Rebellion and insurrection, and to preventing
the sad and fearfull consequences which it might have produced, held themselves in
duty bound, publickly to acknowledge Gods goodnesse therein, and to look upon it
as a pledge of future mercies to this poore and unworthy Nation, and of his willingnesse
to heale it, if yet it will be healed.
And therefore the Parliament doe Enact and Ordain, and be it Enacted and Ordained,
that a day of publick rejoycing and Thanksgiving to our gracious God, for
this wonderfull and signall mercy, be observed and kept on Thursday the senventh of
June, 1649. in all Churches and Chappells within the Cities of London and West-minster,
the late Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, and in all
other Churches and Chappels within England and Wales, on Thursday the 28.
day of the same moneth of June 1649 And the Parliament do earnestly exhort and
require all that truly fear God in this Common Wealth, to lay aside all bitternesse
and opposition against the present dispensations of God towards this Nation, and
to consider how much it concerns the Interest of Christ, his Truth and people, to unite
themselves, and to serve the Lord and his providences with one shoulder; and