1 THe wisdome of governours you must not blame, in that they, forecasting the manifold, strange, and dangerous In­novations, which are more then like­ly to follow, if your Discipline should take place, have for that cause thought it hitherto a part of their duty, to withstand your endeavours that [Page 2] way. The rather, for that they have seene already some small beginnings of the fruits thereof in them, who concurring with you in Iudgment, about the necessity of that Discipline, have adventured with­out more adoe to separate themselves from the rest of the Church, and to put your speculations in exe­cution. These mens hastynesse, the waryer sort of you doe not Commend, you wish they had held themselves longer in, and not so dangerously flowne abroad before the feathers of the cause had bene growne. Their errour with mercifull termes yee reprove, nameing them in great commiseration of mind,1. Pet. 22. your poore Brethren.

2. They, on the contrary side, more bitterly ac­cuse you as their false Brethren, and against you they plead, saying, From your brests it is that wee have sucked those things, which when yee delivered vnto us, ye termed that heavenly, sincere, and whol­some milke of Gods word, howsoever yee now abhorre as poyson, that, which the vertue thereof hath wrought and brought forth in us. Ps [...]l. 55.13. Yee sometimes our Compa­nions, Guides, and familiars, with whom we have had most sweet consultations are now become our professed Adversaries, because wee thinke the statute-Congre­gations in England to be no true Christian-Churches, because wee haue severed our selves from them, and be­cause without their leave or licence that are in civill Authority, wee have secretly framed our owne Church­es according to the platforme of the word of God. For, of that point betweene you and us, there is no contro­versie. [Page 3] Alas! what would you have us to doe? At such time as yee were content to accept us in the number of your owne, your teachings wee heard, wee read your writings: and though wee would, yet able wee are not to forget with what zeale yee ever have profest, that in the English Congegations (for so many of them as bee ordered according unto their owne Lawes) the very publique service of God is fraught, as touch­ing matter, with heaps of intolerable pollutions, and as concerning forme, borrowed from the shop of Anti­christ; hatefull both waies in the eyes of the most holy: the kind of their Government by Bishops and Arch-Bishops Antichristian; that Discipline which Christ hath essentially tyed, that is to say, so united unto his Church that wee cannot account it really to be his Church, which hath not in it the same Discipline, that very Discipline, no lesse there despised, Pref. against Docter Ba­ner. then in the high­est Throne of Antichrist; all such parts of the word of God, as doe any way concerne that Discipline, no lesse vnsoundly taught and interpreted by all authorized English Pastors, thē by Antichrists factors themselves; at Baptisme Crossing, at the lords supper kneeling; at both, a number of other the most notorious badges of Antichristian recognisance vsuall. Being moved with these, and the like your effectuall discourses, where­unto wee gave most attentive eare, till they entred even into our soules, and were as fire within our bosomes, wee thought wee might hereof bee bold to conclude, that sith no such Antichristian Synagogue may bee accomp­ted a true Church of Christ, yee by accusing all Con­gregations [Page 4] ordered according to the Lawes of England, as Antichristian, did meane to condemne those congre­gations, as not being any of them worthy the true name of a Christian Church; Yee tell us now, it is not your meaning. But what meant your often threatnings of them, who professing themselves the inhabitants of Mount Sion, were too loath to depart wholy, as they should, out of Babilon; Whereat our hearts being fear­fully troubled, wee durst not, wee durst not continue lon­ger so neere her confines, least her plagues might sud­denly overtake us, before wee did cease to bee partak­ers with her sinnes: for so wee could not chuse but ac­knowledge with greife that wee were, when they doing evill, wee, by our presence in their Assemblies, seemed to like thereof, or, at leastwise not so earnestly to dislike as became men heartily zealous of Gods glory. For, ad­venturing to erect the Discipline of Christ, without the leave of the Christian Magistrate, happily Yee may condemne us as fooles, in that wee hazard thereby our estates and persons, further then you (which are that way more wise) thinke necessary: but of any of­fence or sinne therein Cōmitted against God, with what Conscience can you accuse us, when your owne positi­ons are, that the things wee observe, should every of them bee dearer unto us then 10000 lives? that they are the peremptory Commandements of God; that no mortall man can dispence with them, & that the Magi­strate greivously sinneth, in constraining thereunto; Will Yee blame any man for doing that of his owne ac­cord, which all men should be compelled vnto, which are [Page 5] not willing of thēselves? when God Commandeth, shall wee answer that wee will obey, if so be Caesar will grant us leave? Is Discipline an Ecclesiasticall matter, or a Civill? If an Ecclesiasticall, it must of necessity belong to the duty of the Minister. And the Minister (Yee say) holdeth all his Authority of doing whatsoever be­longeth unto the spirituall Charge of the house of God, even immediatly from God himselfe, without dependen­cy upon any Magistrate. Whereupon it followeth as we suppose, that the hearts of the people being willing to bee under the scepter of Christ, the Minister of God, into whose hands the Lord himselfe hath put that scepter, is without all excuse, if thereby he guide them not. Nor doe we find that hitherto greatly yee have disliked those Churches abroad, where the people with directi­on of their Godly Ministers, have even against the will of their Magistrate, brought in either the doctrine, or discipline of IESVS CHRIST. For which cause wee must now thinke the very same thing of you which our SAVIOUR did sometimes vtter, concerning falsehearted Scribes and Pharisies, THEY SAY AND DOE NOT. Thus the foolish Barrowist deriveth his schisme,Mat. 3.23. by way of conclusion, as to him it seemeth, directly and plainly out of your principles. Him, therfore, wee leave to bee satisfied by you from whom he hath sprung. And if such, by your owne acknowledg­ment, be persons dangerous, although as yet, the al­terations which they have made are of small and ten­der growth; the changes likely to ensue within this land, in case your desire should take place, must be thought upon.

[Page 6]3. First, concerning the supreame power of the high­est, they are no small Prerogatives, which now thereunto belonging, the forme of your discipline will restraine it to resigne. Againe, it may justly be feared, whether our English Nobility, when the mat­ter came in Tryall, would contentedly suffer them­selves to bee alwayes at the talye, and to stand to the sentence, of a number of meane persons, assisted with the presence of their poore Teacher, a man (as sometimes it hapeneth) though better able to speake, yet no whit apter to judge, then the rest, from whom, bee their dealings never so absurd (unlesse it bee by way of complaint to a Synod) no appeale may bee made unto any one of higher power, in as much as the order of your discipline admitteth no standing inequality of Court, no spirituall Iudge to have any ordinary superior on Earth, but as many su­premacies as there are Parishes and severall Con­gregations.

4. Neither is it altogether without cause, that so many doe feare the overthrow of all Learning, as a threatned sequell of this your intended discipline. For,Sapien. 6.24. if the Worlds preservation depend on the mul­titude of the wise; and of that sort the number here­after be not likely to waxe overgreat,Eccle. 26 29. when (that wherewith the sonne of Syrack professeth himselfe at the heart greived) men of vnderstanding are alrea­dy so little set by: how should their minds whom the love of so precious a Iewell, filled with secret Iea­lousy, even in regard of the least things, which may [Page 7] ny way hinder the flourishing estate thereof, chuse, but misdoubt least this discipline which alwaies you match with divine doctrine, as her naturall and true Sister, bee found unto all kinds of knowledge a step­mother? seeing that the greatest worldly hopes, which are proposed unto the cheifest kinde of learn­ing, yee seeke vtterly to extirpate as weeds; and have grounded your Platforme on such propositions, as doe in a sorte undermine those most renowned habi­tations, where through the goodnesse of Almighty God, all commendable Arts and Sciencies are with exceeding great industry hitherto (and so may they for ever continue) studied, proceeded in, and pro­fest. To charge you as purposely bent to the over­throw of that wherein so many of you have attained no small perfection, were injurious; only therefore I wish that your selves did wel consider how opposite certaine your positions are unto the state of Collegi­ate Societies, wherein the two Vniversities consist. Those degrees which their Statutes binde them to take, are by your lawes taken away; your selves who have sought them yee so excuse, as that yee would have men to thinke yee Iudge them not allowable, but tolerable only, and to be borne with for some helpe which yee finde in them unto the furtherance of your purposes, till the corrupt estate of the Church may be better reformed. Your Lawes forbidding Ecclesiastical persons vtterly the exercise of Civill power, musts needs deprive the Heads and Masters in the same Colledges of all such authority [Page 8] as now they exercise either at home, by punishing the faults of those, who, not as Children to their Parents by the Law of Nature, but altogether by Civill authority are subject unto them, or abroad, by keeping Courts amongst their Tenants. Your Lawes, makeing permanent inequality amongst Mi­nisters, a thing repugnant to the Word of God, en­force those Colledges, the Seniors whereof are all or any part of them Ministers, under the government of a Maister in the same vocation, to choose as oft as they meet together a new President. For, if so yee judge it necessary to doe in Synods, for the avoyd­ing of permanent inequality amongst Ministers, the same cause must needs, even in these Collegiate Assem­blies, enforce the like. Except peradventure yee mean to avoyd all such absurdities by dissolving those Corporations, and by bringing the Vniversities un­to the forme of the Schoole of Geneva. Which thing men the rather are inclined to looke for, in asmuch as the Ministery, whereinto their Founders with sin­gular providence have by the same Statutes appoint­ed them necessarily to enter at a certaine time,Humb. moti­on to the L. L. P. 50. your lawes binde them much more necessarily to forbear, till some parish abroad call for them.

Your opinion concerning the Law Civill is, that the knowledge thereof might bee spared, as a thing which this Land doth not need, Professors in that kinde being so few, yee are the bolder to spurne at them, and not to dissemble your minds concern­ing theire removall: in whose studyes, although my [Page 9] selfe have not much beene conversant, neverthelesse, exceeding great cause I see there is to wish, that there­unto more encouragement were given, as well for the singular treasures of Wisdome therein contain­ed, as also for the great use wee have thereof, both in decision of certaine kinds of causes, ariseing day­ly within our selves, and especially for commerce with Nations abroad, Whereunto that knowledge is most requisite.

5. The reasons wherewith yee would perswade, that Scripture is the only rule to frame all our Acti­ons by, are in every respect as effectuall for proofe, that the same is the only Law whereby to determine all our Civill Controversies. And then what doth let, but as those men have their desire, who frankly broach it already, that the worke of Reformation will never be perfected till the Law of Jesus Christ bee received alone; so pleaders and Counsellours may bring their bookes of the Common Law, and bestow them as the Students of curious and needlesse Arts did theirs in the Apostles time?Act. 19.19. I leave them to scan how farre those words of yours may reach, where­in yee declare, that whereas many houses lye waste through inordinate sutes in Law,Humb. moti­on P. 74. This one thing will shew the excellency of Discipline for the wealth of the Realme, and quiet of Subjects; that the Church is to cen­sure such a party who is apparently troublesome and contentious, and without REASONABLE CAVSE up­on a meere will and stomacke doth vex and molest his Brother, and trouble the Country. For my owne part [Page 10] I doe not see, but that it might agree very well with your Principles, if your discipline were fully plant­ed, even to send out your writs of surceace unto all Courts of England besides, for the most things hand­led in them. A great deale further I might proceed, and descend lower.

6. But for as much as against all these and the like difficultyes your answer is,Counterp. 6. P. 108. that wee ought to search what things are consonant to Gods word, not which be most for our owne ease; and therefore that your discipline being (for such is your errour) the absolute commandement of Almighty God, it must bee received, although the world by receiv­ing it should be cleane turned vpside downe, herein lyeth the greatest danger of all. For whereas the name of divine Authority is used to countenance these things which are not the commandements of God, but your owne erronious collections; on him you must father whatsoever yee shall afterwards be led either to doe, in withstanding the Adversaries of your cause, or to thinke, in maintenance of your doe­ings; and what this may bee God doth know: In such kindes of errours, the minde once imagining it selfe to seeke execution of Gods will, laboureth forthwith to remove both things and persons which any way hinder it from takeing place, and in such cases if any strange or new thing seeme requisite to be done, a strang and new opinion concerning the lawfullnesse thereof is withall received and broach­ed vnder countenance of divine Authority.

[Page 11]7. One example herein may serve for ma­ny, to shew that false opinions touching the will of God to have things done are wont to bring forth mighty and violent practises against the hinde­rances of them; and those practises new opinions more pernicious then the first, yea most extreamely opposite unto that which the first did seem to intend, where the people took upon them the Reformation of the Church by casting out Popish superstition, they having received from their Pastours a generall instruction,Mat. 15.13. that whatsoever the heavenly Father hath not planted must be rooted out, proceeded in some for­raigne places so farre, that downe went Oratories and the very Temples of God themselves. For, as they chanced to take the compasse of their Commis­sion stricter or larger, so their dealings were accor­dingly more or lesse moderate. Among others,Anabaptists. there sprung up presently one kinde of men; with whose zeale and forwardnesse the rest being compared, were thought to be marvellous cold and dull. These grounding themselves on rules more generall; that whatsoever the Law of Christ commandeth not, there­of Antichrist is the Authour, and whatsoever An­tichrist or his adherents did in the world the true Professours of Christ are to undoe; and found out many things more then others had done, the extirpation whereof was in their Conceipt as necessary as of any thing before removed. Hereupon they secretly made their dolefull complaints every where as they went, that albeit the World did begin to professe [Page 12] some dislike of that which was evill in the kingdome of darknesse, yet fruits worthy of a true repentance were not seene; and that if men did repent as they ought, they must endeavour to purge the truth of all manner of evill, to the end there might follow a new World afterward, wherein righteousnes only should dwell. Private repentance they said must appeare by every mans fashioning his owne life contrary unto the custome and orders of this present World, both in greater things and in lesse. To this purpose they had alwayes in their mouthes those great things,Guy des Bres contre l'erreur des Anabapt. pag. 4. Charity, Faith, the true Feare of God, the Crosse, the Mortification of the flesh. All their exhortations were to set light of the things in this World, to count riches and honours vanity, and in token thereof, not only to seek neither, but if men were possessours of both, even to cast away the one and resigne the o­ther,pag. 5. that all men might see their unfained conversa­tion unto Christ. They were sollicitours of men to fasts,pag. 16. pag. 118. pag. 119. to often meditations of heavenly things; and as it were conferences in secret with God, by prayers not framed according to the frozen manner of the World: but expressing such fervent desires as might even force God to hearken to them. Where they found men in diet, attire, furniture of house, or any o­ther way observers of Civility and decent or­der,pag. 120. pag. 116. such they reproved as being carnally and earthly minded. Every word otherwise then se­verely and sadly uttered, seemed to pierce like a sword through them.pag. 124. If any man were pleasant, their [Page 13] manner was presently with sighs to repeat these words of our Saviour Christ,Luk. 6.12. Woe bee to you which now laugh, for you shall lament. So great was their de­light to be alwayes in trouble, that such as did quiet­ly lead their lives, they judged of all other men to be in most dangerous case. They so much affected to crosse the ordinary custome in every thing,pag. 117. that when other mens use was to put on better attire, they would be sure to shew themselves openly abroad in worse, the ordinary names of the dayes in the week they thought it a kind of prophanenesse to use, and therefore, accustomed to make no other distinction then by number; the 1, 2, 3, day.

8. From this they proceed unto publique Re­formation. First, Ecclesiasticall, and then Civill. Touching the former they boldly avouched that themselves only had the truth.pag. 40. Which thing upon perill of their lives they would at all times defend; and that since the Apostles lived, the same was never before in all points sincerely taught. Wherefore that things might be brought againe to that ancient inte­grity which Iesus Christ by his word requireth, they began to controule the Ministers of the Gospell, for attributing so much force and vertue unto the scriptures of God read; whereas the truth was, that when the word is said, to engender faith in the heart and to convert the soule of man, or to work any such spirituall divine effect, these speeches are not there­unto appliable as it is read or preached, but as it is in­grafted into us by the power of the Holy Ghost, o­pening [Page 14] the eyes of our understanding, and so revea­ling the mysteries of God, according to that which Ieremy promised before should be,Ier. 31.34. saying, I will put my law in their inward parts, and I will write it in their hearts. The book of God they notwithstāding for the most part so admired,pag, 29. that other disputation against their opinions, then only by allegation of scripture, they would not heare,pag. 27. besides it they thought no other writings in the World should be studyed, in­somuch that one of their great Prophets exhorting them to cast away all respects unto humane writings, so farre to this motion they condescended that as many as had any Bookes, save the holy Bible, in their Custody, they brought and set them publiquely on fire.

9. When they and their Bibles were alone to­gether, what strange fantasticall opinion soever at any time entred into their heads, their use was to thinke the spirit taught it them. Their frensies con­cerning our Saviours Incarnation: the state of soules departed and such like, are things needlesse to be re­hearsed. And forasmuch as they were of the same suit with those, of whom the Apostle speaketh, say­ing,2. Tim. 3.7. They are still learning but never attaining to the knowledge of truth, it was no marvaile to see them every day broach some new thing never heard of before, which restlesse levity they did in­terpret to be their growing to spirituall perfection, and a proceeding from faith to faith.pag. 65. pag. 66. The differen­ces among them grew in a manner infinite, so that [Page 15] scarcely was there found any one of them, the forge of whose braine was not possest with some speciall mystery.pag. 135. Whereupon although their mutuall con­tentions were most fiercely prosecuted among them­selves, yet when they came to defend the common cause, common to them all against the Adversaries of their factions, they had wayes to lick one another whole, the sounder in his owne perswasion excusing The deare Brethren, pag. 25. which were not so farre en­lightned, and professing a charitable hope of the mercy of God towards them, notwithstanding their swarving from him in some things.pag. 71. Their owne Mi­nisters they highly magnifyed, as men whose vocati­on was from God: the rest,pag. 124. their manner was disdain­fully to terme Scribes and Pharisees, to accompt their calling an humane creature, and to detaine the people, as much as might be, from hearing of them.pag. 764. As touching Baptisme administred in the Church of Rome, they judged to be an execrable mockery, and no Baptisme, both, because the Ministers there­of in the Papacy are wicked Idolaters, lewd persons, Theeves and Murderers, cursed creatures, ignorant beasts; and also, that for to baptize is a proper action belonging unto none but the Church of Christ, whereas Rome is Antichrists Synagogue.pag. 748. The cu­stome of using God-fathers and God-mothers at Christnings they scorned. Baptizing of Infants, pag. 512. al­though confest by themselves to have been continu­ed even sithence the very Apostles owne times, yet they altogether condemned, partly,pag. 518. because sundry [Page 16] errours are of no lesse antiquity:pag. 722. and partly because there is no commandement in the Gospell of Christ which saith Baptize Infants, but he contrariwise say­ing, Goe preach and Baptize, doth appoint that the Minister of Baptisme shall in that action first admi­nister doctrine, and then Baptisme, as also in saying, whosoever doth believe and is Baptized, pag. 688. he appointeth that the person, to whom Baptisme is administred, shall first beleeve, and then be Baptized; to the end that beleeving may goe before this Sacrament in the receiver, no otherwise then preaching in the giver, sith equally in both, the law of Christ declareth, not only what things are required, but also in what or­der they are required.pag. 38. The Eucharist they received (pretending our Lord and Saviours example) after Supper: and for avoyding all those impieties which have beene grounded upon the mysticall words of Christ, This is my body, this is my bloud, they thought it not safe to mention either body or blood in that Sacrament,pag. 122. but rather to abrogate both, and to use no words but these, Take, eat, declare the death of our Lord; Drinke, shew forth our Lords death.

In Rites and Ceremonies their profession was, ha­tred of all conformity with the Church of Rome: for which cause they would rather endure any torment, then observe the solemne festivalls which others did, in asmuch as Antichrist (they said) was the first In­ventor of them.

10. The pretended end of their Civill Reforma­tion was, that Christ might have dominion over all; [Page 17] that all Crownes and Scepters might bee throwne downe at his feet; that no other might raigne over Christian men but he; no Regiment keep them in awe but his discipline; amongst them no sword at all to be carried besides his, the sword of Spirituall Ex­communication. For this cause they laboured with­all their might in overturning the Seates of Ma­gistracy, because Christ hath said,pag. 841. Kings of Nati­ons; in abolishing the execution of Iustice, because Christ hath said, resist not evill; in forbidding Oathes the necessary meanes of Iudiciall Tryall, because Christ hath said, Sweare not at all; finally,pag. 849. in bringing in community of goods, because Christ by his Apo­stles hath given the World such example, to the end that men might excell one another, not in wealth, the pillar of secular authority, but in vertue.

11. These men at the first were only pittied in their errour, and not much withstood by any;pag. 40. the great humility, zeale and devotion, which appeared to bee in them was in all mens opinion a pledge of their harmlesse meaning. The hardest that men of sound Iudgement conceived of them, was but this,Lactant. O quàm honestâ voluntate miseri errant; with how good a meaning these poore soules doe evill! Luther made re­quest unto Frederick Duke of Saxony, that within his dominion they might be favourably dealt with and spared,Just. lib. 5. cap. 19. for that (their errour exempted) they seemed otherwise right good men. By meanes of which mercifull toleration they gathered strength,pag. 6. much more then was safe for the state of the Com­mon-wealth [Page 18] wherein they lived. They had their se­cret corner-meetings and assemblies in the night, the people flocked unto them by thousands. The means whereby they both allured and retained so great multitudes were most effectuall;Pag. 4. 20. first, a wonderfull shew of zeale towards God,Pag. 55. wherewith they seem­ed to bee even rapt in every thing they spake. Secondly, an hatred of sinne and a singular love of integrity, which men did thinke to be much more then ordinary in them, by reason of the Custome which they had to fill the eares of the people with invectives against their authorized Guids, aswell Spirituall as Civill. Thirdly, the bountyfull releife wherewith they eased the broken estate of such needy Creatures as were in that re­spect the more apt to be drawne away. Fourthly, a tender Compassion which they were thought to take upon the miseries of the Common sort, over whose heads their manner was,Pag. 6. 7. even to powre downe showrs of teares, complaining that no respect was had unto them, that their goods were devoured by wicked Cormorants, their persons had in contempt, all liberty both temporall and spirituall taken from them, that it was high time for god now to heare their groanes and to send them deliverance: Lastly, a cunning slight which they had to stroake and smooth up the minds of their followers, as well by appropriating unto them all the favourable Titles, the good words and the gra­tious promisies in Scripture; as also by casting the contrary alwaies on the heads of such as were sever­red [Page 19] from that retinue. Whereupon, the Peoples com­mon acclamations unto such deceivers was, These are verely the men of God, these are his true and sincere Prophets. If any such Prophet or man of God did suffer by order of law condigne and deserved pu­nishment, were it for Fellony, Rebellion, Murder or what else, the people (so strangely were their hearts inchanted) as though blessed Saint Stephen had bene againe Martyred,Pag. 27. did lament that God tooke a­way his most deare servants from them.

12. In all things beeing fully perswaded, that what they did it was Obedience to the will of God, and that all men should doe the like; there remain­ed after speculation, practise, whereby the whole world thereunto (if it were possible) might be framed.Pag. 6. This they saw could not be done without mighty opposition and resistance: against which to strengthen themselves, they secretly entred into a league of association. And peradventure, consider­ing that although they were many, yet long warrs would in time wast them out; they began to thinke whether it might not be that God would have them doe for their speedy and mighty increase, the same which sometime Gods owne chosen people, the people of Israell did. Glad and faine they were to have it so: which very desire was it selfe apt to breed both an opinion of possibility, and a willing­nesse to gather arguments of likelyhood that so God himselfe would have it. Nothing more cleare unto their seeming, then that a new Ierusalem beeing [Page 20] often spoken of in Scripture, they undoubtedly were themselves that new Ierusalem, and the old did by way of a certaine figurative resemblance signifie what they should bee and doe. Here they drew in a Sea of matter by applying of all things unto their owne company, which are any where spoken con­cerning divine favours, and benefits bestowed upon the old common wealth of Israell, concluding that as Israell was delivered out of Egypt, so they spiritu­ally out of the Egypt of this Worlds servile thral­dome unto sinne and superstition; as Israell was to root out the Idolatrous Nations, and to plant in­stead of them a people which feared God, so the same Lords good will and pleasure was now, that these new Israelites should under the Conduct of o­ther Ioshuas, Sampsons, and Gideons performe a worke no lesse miraculous in casting out violently the wicked from the earth, and establishing the king­dome of Christ with perfect liberty: and therefore as the cause why the Children of Israell tooke unto one man many wives, might be, least the casualties of warre should any way hinder the promise of God concerning their multitude from takeing effect in them, so it was not unlike that for the necessary pro­pagation of Christs kingdome under the Gospell, the Lord was content to allow asmuch. Now what­soever they did in such sort collect out of Scripture, when they came to justifie or perswade it unto o­thers, all was the heavenly fathers appointment, his commandement, his will and charge. Which thing is [Page 21] the point, in regard whereof I have gathered this declaration. For my purpose herein is to shew, that when the minds of men are once erroniously perswaded, that it is the will of God to have those things done which they fancy; their opinions are as thornes in their sides, never suffering them to take rest till they have brought their speculations into practise; the rests & impediments of which practise, their restlesse desire and study to remove, leadeth them every day forth by the hand into other more dangerous opinions, sometimes quite and cleane contrary to their first pretended meanings; so as what will grow out of such errours as goe masked under the cloake of divine Authority, impossible it is that ever the witt of man should imagine, till time have brought forth the fruits of them; for which cause it behooveth wisdome to feare the sequells thereof, even beyond all apparent cause of feare. These men in whose mouthes at the first sounded nothing but only mortification of the flesh, were come at the length to thinke they might lawfully have their six or seven Wives a peece. They which at the first, thought judgement and justice it selfe a mercylesse cruelty; accompted at the length their owne hands sanctified, with being imbrued in Chri­stian blood; they, who at the first were wont to beat downe all dominion and to urge against poore Con­stables, Kings of Nations, had at the length both Con­sulls and Kings of their owne erection; finally, they which could not brooke at the first, that any man [Page 22] should seek, no not by law, the recovery of goods injuriously taken or withheld from him; were growne at the last to thinke, they could not offer un­to God more acceptable service, then by turning their Adversaries cleane out of house and home, and by inriching themselves with all kind of spoyle and pillage,pag. 41. which thing being layd to their charge, they had in all readinesse their answer, that now the time was come, when according to our Saviours promise, The meeke ones must inherit the earth, Mat. 5.5. and that their title hereunto, was the same which the Righte­ous Israelites had unto the goods of the wicked E­gyptians. Exod. 11.2.

13. Wherfore sith the World hath had in these men so fresh experience how dangerous such active errours are, it must not offend you, though touching the sequell of your present misperswasions much more be doubted, then your owne intents and pur­poses doe happily ayme at. And yet your words all-ready are somewhat, when ye affirme that your Pa­stours, Mart. in his 3. libel. P. 28. Elders, Doctours, and Deacons, ought to bee in this Church of England, whither his Majesty and our State will, or no; when for the animating of your Confederates, yee publish the Musters which yee have made of your owne bands, and proclaime to amount unto, I know not how many thousands; when yee threaten, that sith neither suits to the Par­liament, nor supplications to our Convocation-House, neither your defences by writing, nor challenges of disputation in behalfe of that cause are able to pre­vayle, [Page 23] wee must blame our selves, if to bring in disci­pline some such meanes bee used hereafter, as shall cause all our hearts to ake. Demonstr. in the Preface. That things doubtfull are to be construed in the better part, is a principle that ought not to be followed in matters concerning the publique state of a Common-wealth. But howsoever these and the like speeches be accompted as arrowes idly shot at randome, without either eye had to any marke, or regard to their lighting place: hath not your longing desire for the practise of your disci­pline, brought the matter already unto this demur­rer amongst you; whether the people and their godly Pastours, that way affected, ought not to make sepa­ration from the rest, and to begin the exercise of di­scipline, without the licence of Civill powers, which licence they sought for, and are not heard? Upon which question, as ye have now divided your selves, the warier sort of you takeing the one part, and the forwarder in zeale the other; so in case these earnest ones should prevaile? what other sequell can any wise man imagine, but this; that having first resolv­ed, that attempts for discipline without superiours, are lawfull, it will follow in the next place to be dis­puted what may bee attempted against superiours, which will not have the scepter of that discipline to rule over them?

14. Yea even by you, which have stayed your selves from running headlong with the other sort, somewhat notwithstanding there hath bene done, without the leave or likeing of your lawfull Superi­ours, [Page 22] [...] [Page 23] [...] [Page 24] for the exercise of a part of your discipline a­mongst the Clergy thereunto addicted. And least examination of principall parties therein, should bring those things to light, which might hinder and let your proceedings; behold for a barre against that impediment, one opinion yee have newly added unto the rest, even upon this occasion, an opinion to exempt you frō takeing Oathes; which may turne to the molestation of your Brethren in that cause. The next neighbour opinion, whereunto when occasion requireth, may follow for dispensation with Oathes already taken, if they afterwards be found to im­port a necessity of detecting ought which may bring such good men into trouble or damage whatsoever the cause bee. O mercyfull God! what mans witt is there able to sound the depth of these dangerous and fearfull evills, whereinto our weake and impotent nature is inclinable to sinke it selfe, rather then to shew an acknowledgment of errour in that, which once wee have unadvisedly taken upon us to defend, against the streame, as it were, of a contrary publique resolution? Wherefore if wee any thing respect their errour, who being perswaded even as yee are, have gone further upon that perswation then yee al­lowe, if wee regard the present estate of the highest Governour placed over us, if the quality and dispo­sition of our Nobles, if the Orders and Lawes of our famous Vniversities, of the profession of the Civill or the practise of the Common-Law amongst us, if the mischieves, whereinto even before our eyes, so ma­ny [Page 25] others have fallen headlong from no lesse plausi­ble and faire beginings, then yours are: there is in e­very of these considerations most just cause to feare, least our hastinesse to imbrace a thing of so peril­lous Consequence, should cause posterity to feele those evills, which as yet are more easy for us to pre­vent, then they would be for them to remedy.The Concl. of all.

15. The best and safest way therefore for you, my deare Brethren, is, to call your deeds past to a new reckoning, to examine the cause yee have taken in hand, and to try it even point by point, Argument by Argument, with all the diligent exactnesse yee can; to lay aside the Gall of that bitternesse where­in your minds have hitherto overabounded, and with meeknesse to search the Truth; thinke yee are men, deeme it not impossible for yee to erre; fift un­partially your owne hearts, whether it bee the force of reason or vehemency of affection which hath bred and still doth feed these opinions in you. If truth doe any where manifest it selfe, seeke not to smother it with glosing delusion, acknowledge the greatnesse thereof, and thinke it your best victory when the same doth prevaile over you.

16. That yee have bene earnest in speaking and writing againe and againe the contrary way, shall bee no blemish nor discredit at all unto you. Amongst so many so huge volumes as the infinite paines of Saint Augustine hath brought forth, what one hath gotten him greater love, commendation, and ho­nour then the booke wherein he carefully collecteth [Page 26] his owne oversights, and sincerely condemneth them? Many speeches there are of Iobes, whereby his wis­dome and other vertues may appeare: but the glory of an ingenious mind hee hath purchased by these words only,Iob. 39.37. Behold, I will lay mine hand on my mouth, I have spoken once, yet will I not therefore maintaine argument: yea twice, howbeit for that cause, further I will not proceede. Farre more comfort it were for us (so small is the joy wee take in these strifes) to labour under the same yoake, as men that looke after the same eternall reward of their labours, to bee injoyed with you in bands of indissoluble love and amity, to live as if our persons being many, our Soules were but one, rather thē in such dismem­bred sort, to spend our few & wretched dayes in a te­dious prosecutiō of wearysome contentions, the end whereof, if they have not some speedy end will bee heavy even on both sides. Brought already wee are, even to that estate, which Gregory Nazianzene mournfully described, saying.

G. Naz: Apol. My mind leadeth mee (sith there is no other re­medy) to fly and to convey my selfe into some corner out of sight, where I may scape from this cloudy tempest of maliciousnesse, whereby all parts are entred into a dead­ly warre amongst themselves, and that little remnant of love which was, is now consumed to nothing. The only godlynesse wee glory in, is to find out somewhat whereby wee may Iudge others to bee ungodly. Each others faults wee observe, as matter of exprobration, and not of greife. By these meanes wee are growne [Page 27] hatefull in the eyes of the heathens themselves, and (which woundeth us the more deeply) able we are not to deny, but that wee have deserved their hatred. With the better sort of our owne, our fame and Credit is cleane lost. The lesse wee are to marvaile, if they Judge vile­ly of us, who although wee did well, would hardly allow thereof. On our backs they also build, that are lewd, and what wee object one against another, the same they use to the utter scorne and disgrace of us all. This wee have gained by our mutuall home dissentions. This wee are worthyly rewarded with, which are more for­ward to strive, then becometh men of vertuous and mild disposition. But our trust with the almighty is, that with us, contentions are now at their, highest floate, and that the day will come (for what cause of dispaire is there,) when the passions of former enmity being allayed, wee shall with ten times re­doubled tokens of our unfainedly reconciled love, shew our selves each towards other the same, which Ioseph and the Brethren of Ioseph, were at the time of their intervew in Egypt. Our comfortable expect­ation, and most Thirsty desire whereof, what man so­ever amongst you shall any wayes [...] to [...] (as wee truely hope there is no one amongst you but some way or other will) the blessing of the God of peace, both in this world, and in the world to come, be upon him, more then the starres of the firmament in number. AMEN.