The sight of your worthy messengers our welbeloved freinds, did exceedingly refresh our hearts, but ther message both unexpected and sad, we know not, wether it did more afflict then the other did refresh: We have putt our selves into your place and stead in our owne apprehensions, as being the only way to work a fellow-feeling with Bretheren in the same fayth: Those heavy distractions, had they assaulted our weaknes, we should have conceaved them vnsupportable and therfore we could not but conclude them exceeding uncomfortable vnto your selves, though gratiously furnished with sweet supplyes from the good hand of God: We could have wished, that our teares and prayers, which we have, and do desire to send vp to heaven in your behalfs, might have excused our sending vpon this occasion: The tymes are dangerous, our begynnings raw, our encumberances great necessityes many, our helps few, and those few weake, the little oyle in the creuse not sufficient to refresh our owne faynting spirits, all those presented themselves before vs, and pleaded with vs. But when we weighed whose was the cause vpon whom lay the hazard from whom came the request, the cause of Christ to be attended, the churches of Christ to be surtorn the members of Christ call for that little help torn hands: torn or torn loves obliterated deare, to do the duty of torn to torn Jesus and to your selves in him and for him vnder whose wing we were first sheltered when we were obliterated into this westerne corner of the world, and are willing therfore not only to do what you desired, but may be more then you did expect, having resolved and purposed to send both our elders in the next fitt season, to be serviceable to you to the vtmost of ther ability, in the wayty occasions which now be offered to consideration, vnlesse some overruling hand of providence appeare beyond that which in an ordinary course of common conceaving we do expect: the severall passages which came into our consultations in the debate of the busines, and the conclusion which issued therfrom, touching the season of our coming, we leave to the re­521lation of these our beloved brethren the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ: and your selves and them and the cause to the guidance and blessing of our good God, in whom we rest: Yours in the truth truly