Right Honorable, Right Worshipful;
Your Honor and Worships being (by the good guiding providence of God) the General, Captains, and Lieutenants of this metropolis, this chief city and castle of the kingdom, wherein (by the same providence) I am (though one of the meanest, yet) one of the watchmen; To whom ought I rather to present these fruits of my watchman's function, than to your Honor and Worships? As duty in regard of your places, so gratefulness also in regard of your kindnesses, requires as much. My Father, Grandfather, and other predecessors, have of old from time to time been beholding to this honorable city: the kindness which they formerly received, is still continued to me. Which as I do with all humble thankfulness acknowledge, so from my heart I desire the Almighty to remember your Honor and Worships, together with the whole estate of this honorable city, in goodness, and not to wipe out the kindness which is showed to the ministers of his Word, and to poor distressed people. Long has the Gospel been purely, powerfully, plentifully preached in this honorable city, and great countenance and maintenance has by many therein been given thereunto. Good orders have within these later years been taken for the better sanctifying of the Lord's Sabbath. Much relief is from time to time given to the poor. These and such like works of piety and charity, are the beauty, honor, strength, and wealth of this city. I deny not, but that in the outward politic government of this great corporation, and the many several companies therein, London may be accounted the glory of the earth. But the things which make it exceed in glory, are, the fair houses of prayer and preaching the Word; the great assemblies of God's people frequenting the same to worship God: the spacious hospitals and places of charity, together with the liberal provision therein made for relief of poor children and orphans, of aged and impotent men and women, of lame and maimed soldiers, and of many other like succorless persons; the thrones of justice and judgment, with the like, wherein London may be compared to Zion the city of God, whereof great and excellent things are spoken. Right Honorable and Right Worshipful, go on this way, (which is the only right way) to procure the peace and prosperity of your city. Let the ministry of God's Word be more and more promoted: Let the Lord's Sabbaths have their due observations, let the poor be relieved, and the oppressed be succored; let profane persons and all evil doers (the enemies of Christian policies) be punished: In a word, let God's ordinances be advanced, and right judgment executed, and so shall London be accounted the city of the great King, where he will delight to dwell, and bestow his blessing. For in these things is God highly honored: Now God who can and will perform it, has said it; Them that honor me, will I honor (1 Samuel 2:30). It lies much in the power of magistrates to procure or hinder the blessing of God in those cities and places over which they are set. For they being public persons, their good deeds are by the wise God publicly rewarded, and their evil deeds publicly revenged. Right Honorable and Right Worshipful, accept, I pray you, the duty, and pardon the boldness of your watchman. And, O Lord of Lords, do good to this city of yours, continue the peace and prosperity thereof: so prays,
Your Honors and Worships in all duty forever bound, William Gouge.
