Gentlemen and fellovv^ Bhethren all I hope in the grace & fear of the Lord Jesus, we are not at present unsensible of our dying State & Condition, as to tliis world a State which all the Sons k Daughters of Adam in this globe must now one after another run through ere they can be satisfied with that eternity of which so often by Di\'ines is treated of -- In consideration of which for death we may be better prepared, like penitent Mortals here on earth, we Submit our lives. & all that unto us appertaineth into the hands of divine protection prostrating ourselves before the foot Stoole that immaculate Lamb of God who taketh away the Sinns of the world hoping that through his meritorous death & passing our iniquities shall be done away & our pardons Sealed on earth before we go hence & are seen no more, humbly imploring that not through our own meritts of Justification but rather through the merit of him that is willing to save our souls, might become precious in the Eyes of God & live forever in the Kingdome of Etemall Glory when time shall be no more -- as to our State in this world among the rest of our hard fortunes in this seat of tears it is true we have lately on the important request of a Committee choose by the Major Part of the Inhabitants of this province & taken (to the present gi-iefe & vexation of our poore afflicted relations left behind) great & weighty matters of State affairs requiring at Such an he! me more wise & Cunning powerfull Pilotts. then either of us ever was. but considering that in the time of this distracted Countrey's greatness, necessity amongst us -- no such Persons could be found but that those that were any wayes, in Capasity of Uniting us afj^ainst a Common enemy would not undertake, we conceive for the Glory