Episcopal Admonition BY THE Right Reverend Father in God, Dr. Joseph Hall, Late Lord Bishop of EXETER, Sent in a LETTER to the House of Commons, April 28. 1628.
FOR God's Sake be wise in your well meant Zeal: Why do you argue away pretious Time that can never be revoked or repaired? Wo is me, while we dispute our Friends perish, and we must follow them; Where are we, if we break (and I tremble to think) we cannot but break if we hold so stiff. Our Liberties and Proprieties are sufficiently declared to be sure and legal; our Remedies are clear and irrefragable: What do we fear? Every Subject sees the way now chalked out for future Justice, and who dares henceforth tread besides it? Certainly, while Parliaments live, we need not misdoubt the Violations of our Freedoms and Rights: May we be but where the Law found us, we shall sufficiently enjoy our selves and ours; It is no season to search for more: Oh let us not whilst we over-rigidly plead for an higher strain of Safety, put our selves into a necessity of Ruine and utter despair of Redress. Let us not in the suspitions of Evils that may be, cast our selves into a present Confusion. If you love your selves and your Country, remit something of your own Terms; and since the substance is yielded by your Noble Patriots, stand not too vigorously upon points of Circumstance. Fear not to trust a good King, who after the strict Laws made, must be trusted with the Execution. Think that your Country, nay, and Christendome, lies on the mercy of your present Resolutions. Relent, or farewel Welfare.
LONDON, Printed for C. G. 1681.