¶ AN Exhortation to the Bishops to deal Brotherly with their Brethrens.  
ALthough both through lack of learning and experience/ I be far short in ability/ to exhort or dehort in any respect/ especially sith the matter doth concern those that are or should be both well learned and experienced themselves/ and thereby understand more than I can advise: yet being grieved in conscience/ and somewhat I find in you blame worthy/ and seeing you bend not your knowledge to amend that in you is amiss: pardon me though I presume to admonish you in brotherly sort/ as my slender skill will permit. But justly it may be objected to me that there are many far more fit and able/ then I to deal in such a matter/ and sith they do not/ it may be thought great arrogancy in me to intermeddle in the same: In deed my want of ability/ as before/ so again I confess/ and the great plenty of others that are far more able/ I must needs acknowledge/ and withal my heart I wish better wills in men added to their skill/ then (the Lord knoweth) are to be found amongst us: as for arrogancy to be imputed to me in this case/ surely I hope there shall not/ for/ God is my witness/ I only seek to discharge my conscience in showing my dislike of that/ wherein as I think you deal scarce brotherly. If any good fall out hereby I shall be glad/ and praise God for the same/ if none/ yet have I satisfied mine own conscience in uttering my mind. Thus much for excuse/ now to the matter. I understand/ beloved in Christ/ of a certain book lately published abroad by some of our brethren/ the matter whereof as it is much misliked/ so is the manner not well allowed of/ and both so evil taken as our poor brethren for the same feel the pain and punishment of most heinous offenders: if their fault be great yet they are our brethren/ and therefore by you aught somewhat to be regarded/ if it be not great/ as they are our brethren/ you not regarding them/ be greatly to be blamed. And surely for my part I think your duty were to discover unto the world by the warrant of the word/ how truly or falsely they have written/ which if you would do in simplicity of conscience/ then perhaps their fault would not be so grievous as you make it/ wherein I durst appeal unto your own conscience if the matter did not touch you so nearly as it doth. For I pray you examine their case with me a little: they put forth a Book in the time of Parliament/ wherein they disclose the disorders of our church of England/ and humbly desire a Reformation of the same according to the rule of God's word: is this an innovation? they say there ought to be no lordliness in the ministery: Bishops livings aught to be abated: their great circuits cut shorter: and themselves made equal to their brethren: is this to overthrow a whole state? they say the Book of common Prayer is full of corruptions/ they mislike with our unlearned ministery/ they find fault with our disorderous Discipline/ and put down their opinions how these things may be reformed: is this intolerable? their Book standeth on many points needless here to be rehearsed/ and if in any part thereof they show such contemptuous disobedience towards our sovereign as some seek to enforce/ none shall think them more worthy punishment than I: but to seek reformation of deformities in God's church/ to say the Bishops should be unlorded and abridged of their huge livings/ and to crave that all deformities may be cut of and corrected by the prescript rule of God's holy word/ is to seek the furtherance of God's honour and glory/ and therefore great blame worthy are they that so seek to aggravate the matter/ in charging them with disobedience to her Majesty/ as though to honour the almighty/ were to dishonour the Prince. I marvel that men of learning professing christian religion/ will contrary to their profession deal so unchristianlye with their brethren: surely in my iudgemnt these be very slender arguments to say/ these men desire a reformation/ therefore they seek innovations/ as though it were so strange a matter to have a church reformed/ it is as weak an argument to say they would have Bishops unlorded/ their livings abated/ the ministery brought to his right course/ and true discipline restored/ therefore they would overthrow the whole state. A third reason is used/ as fond and feeble as the rest: and that is/ that their dealing is untolerable/ surely what it is to innovate in your sense I know not/ but sure I am/ there can be no innovation found in that motion that hath any part of God's word to warrant it. For that is far more ancient than the disorders of our church/ or any order devised by man/ and till our disorders be removed and Christ his ancient orders set in place/ till we cease to be guided and ruled by men/ and yield to be directed by the word of God/ I can not hope of any great good in our congregations. As for overthrow of the whole state truly England were in a strange case/ if the state thereof/ either in increase or decay/ dependeth upon the maintenance or overthrow of the Bishop's Lordships and livings. And as for your argument of intollerablenesse/ in deed in one sense it may hold true/ and that is in that yourselves will not tolerate their dealings herein/ but aggravate their cause to make it seem more grievous in the sight of men/ otherwise I see no reason how (justly) their doing may be thought intolerable/ for it may be counted tolerable that God's word doth allow. But whether their book agreed or disagree with the word of god/ I mean not to deal/ leaving that to be judged by the learned/ as for me/ according to my grief conceived/ I mind to exhort you to Bishoply & brotherly dealing with these that are (although you bear the titles and names of Lord and Lords grace) fellow pastors and preachers of the eternal word of God/ together with you. In deed my purpose tended somewhat further/ but that is cut off by a contrary report that I have heard/ & therefore leaving this as a thing needless to be rehearsed I proceed to the matter in hand: Your brethren are in prison and have been these many days for the book before named/ and which of you all since their imprisoning hath opened his mouth to speak one word for their delivery? nay/ which of you hath not inveighed bitterly against them by word/ since the publishing of that book? They have been dealt as close prisoners a long time/ so that no friend/ no not scarce their wives may come to them/ and which of you all have sued for their further liberty? nay which of you all hath not been ready to hinder their liberty sought for by others? They have lain long at great charge/ and are very poor and needy/ & which of you all hath opened your purse to relieve them? if any of you have (though it be your duties) I must needees commend him or them: if none of you/ as it is your duties/ I must needs condemn you. A lamentable case that Lording should so lead away the hearts of the learned/ that they forget their duties in their calling: for see how foully you forget yourselves: Papists lie abroad in your dioceses untouched/ in contempt of the truth and her majesties laws/ refuse to frequent divine service and sermons/ and yet if any honest man present them unto you/ a favourable speech or letter of some worshipful (though not very godly) in the Shire/ shall easily obtain their dispatch. But if any of our brethren strive or endeavour themselves zealously to further the building of God's temple/ and to procure reformation of things amiss/ it is easily seen by these/ what help they should have at your hands/ and if a christian brother make suit for him/ favour is hardly obtained/ or not at all/ if it fall out otherwise/ by this I shall be glad and yield myself faulty in saying thus of you. Many lewd light books and ballads fly abroad printed/ not only without reprehension/ but cum privilegio/ the authors and printers whereof continued daily amongst us without controlment/ and yet the Lord by his holy scriptures forbiddeth all filthy communication/ & therefore writing: but if any of our brethren put in Print any book of a godly zeal/ that tendeth to the furtherance of God's glory and sincerity/ and urgeth a reformation of things amiss/ he is new fangled/ he is not friend to Cesar/ he is to be removed from amongst the people. Alas dear brethren what hath so bewitched and blineded you/ that you can not perceive/ and see your own evil dealing herein? if the title of Lordship/ cast it off/ if your huge livings/ forsake them: be not so wrapped in the desire of worldly things/ that you neglect your duties in your vocation and calling: I can not think so well of you/ but that I must needs say you neglect your duties: I think surely there is none of you but would be glad to see reformation of things amiss/ for some of you I know have said so/ neither can you deny but that many things are out of order in our Church of England/ even many things that they make mention of in their book: what then moveth you to make their offence so grievous in the sight of the world/ or rather why do you not allow that is good in their book/ seeing they seek reformation thereby of that you would gladly see reformed yourselves: surely I think (to speak my conscience) that there are some things in the book/ which gladly you would have omitted/ that hindereth your liking of the rest/ & that is the inveighing against your Lordships and livings/ for most of you would be glad to have all remnants of Popery/ superstition/ and idolatry utterly removed/ but none of you would willingly loose his Lordly dignity and living/ Hinc illae lachrymae against your poor brethren/ hence riseth your dislike/ this is the cause you seek not their deliverance/ liberty and release/ you would be glad of a reformation/ but you would not be reformed yourselves/ but in these things/ there is but one truth or falsehood. If they hold the truth/ why then resist you it in these private respects to please yourselves? if their opinion be false/ show the reason and then will we believe you/ but wrist not the word to satisfy your own fancy/ and whether your honours and Lordships stand or fall/ let not the holy scriptures loose their due dignity and reverence. It is a lamentatable thing to behold how (to make their own matters good) men will in these days mangle the scriptures of God/ but the Lord will not be so dallied with all/ how so ever they please to dally with the simple men of the world/ and he will be revenged on you for neglecting to see this foul fault redressed. But to my purpose our brethren lie in prison/ where beside their bonds they lack liberty of enjoying the company of their friends/ and have great need to be relieved: let them in some sort find you careful and mindful of them/ travail for their delivery/ if that will not be obtained/ yet endeavour to procure them some further liberty/ if neither will be had/ forget not to relieve them. Their book is out and cannot be called back again/ if it may be justified by the word of truth/ take heed that by you the truth be not betrayed/ try it by the touch stone/ examine it by the word/ set all affections apart/ think it no disgrace to come down from your Lordly dignities/ if the word of the Lord will have it so. Feed not your own fantasies/ but follow the word/ & think not scorn to be controlled by the same word/ out of whose mouth so ever it come. Balaam was a Prophet of the Lord/ yet at one instant his Ass taught him a better lesson than he could teach himself/ I am not to teach you/ neither mean I so to take upon me/ only I exhort you to deal Bishoply and brotherly/ and let no vain love of Lorldly dignity make you careless of your brethren/ who wish you good in the Lord/ though they would be glad you were unlorded/ not for malice/ but because scripture alloweth no such title to a Bishop. If passionate affection shall so carry you away/ that because your lordliness is touched/ you will therefore not deal so/ but against your brethren I know not what others will conceive thereof/ but for my part (to speak as I think) I must needs doubt/ your lordliness hath made you utterly to forget what aught to be in a Bishop. If they do hold any error or behave themselves licentiously and loosely/ or neglected their vocation/ I were easily put to silence/ but in doctrine they are sound/ in life not to be touched/ that ever I heard/ and were diligent in their calling: why then should you so little esteem them/ or why should you not use them as brethren/ let it not be truly said of you/ that the blasphemous swearer/ and the filthy adulterer may find more favour among you then our christian brethren/ and fellow workmen in the Lord/ I know for the first of these there is no law to touch him/ and for the second very slender punishment provided/ yet for both the Lord hath left unto us very sharp laws/ these are unexecuted/ and the wicked escape many times for money. Many good laws (thanks be to God) are provided to bridle the wicked/ but in them oftentimes the godly are snared/ and by them you yourselves (if not now) yet at other times have been instruments to burden your brethren's backs/ and that hath some of them felt in more sharp sort (as I have heard) than I will hear speak. Well/ let that pass/ and now deal more christianly for the Lords sake with your brethren/ let not laws that were purposely made for the wicked/ be made snares by you to catch the godly/ lay aside this Lording/ and show yourselves brethren in deed/ if they have offended you/ admonish them brotherly/ let not the usurped names and titles of Lord & Lords grace so puff you up/ as you forget yourselves to be pastors, preachers: the lord called you or the most of you to this office to join as labourers together with your brethren in his vinyeard/ he never called you to these lordly names & dignities: the office of bishop I find appointed by scripture: the office of Lordbishop I find no warrant for there/ but in this I mean not to wade further/ only I beseech you/ that as Christ hath allotted you to be fellow ministers together with them/ so you will as companions in the Lord join together to further one truth & sincerity/ & let these poor men taste of your christian charity towards them/ as brethren/ and cease lordly to neglect them/ & Lord it no longer/ think it no discredit to you/ or an abasing of yourselves/ to join in equaliti with your brethren/ but think it great presumption in you to climb higher than the lord hath appointed: remember it was not in vain said of Christ our saviour/ Principes gentium dominantur in eas, etc.: inter vos autem non erat sic, I seek not to teach/ neither take I upon me so to do/ yet despise not the admonition of your faithful brother in the Lord/ who wisheth to you all such godly consideration of your duties/ as in no respect you omit any part thereof.  
To conclude/ in the name of god I beseech you yield no such fruits of the gospel/ as where you should be careful/ you show yourselves careless of your brethren/ neither post the matter over in such sort as you have done/ from one to an other/ but so long as they keep them within the limits of the law of god: join christianly & brotherly with them & assist them/ and cease so to affect lordship & living as thereby you be withdrawn from yielding to a known & manifest truth. The Lord in his rich mercy give every of us grace so to avoid all snares of sathan/ as wholly without let or hindrance we may be dedicated unto him/ and yield ourselves all together obedient unto his will/ so that what he hath commanded we may strive to maintain/ & what he hath forbidden/ we may endeavour to suppress. Thus praying your favourable acceptation hereof I commit you to the lord jesus.   

❧ An Exhortation to THE BISHOPS AND THEIR Clergy to answer a little book that came forth the last Parliament/ and to other Brethrens to judge of it by God's word/ until they see it answered/ and not to be carried away with any respect of man.  
COnsidering the unity of the body of Christ which are we (because it is governed with one head and one spirit/ and yet notwithstanding a diversity of parts and members/ for the body is not one member/ for if they were all one member/ where were the body)? 
1. Cor. 12.13.14.19.  I have to direct my talk to a whole body/ yet so that either part harken to that only which is belonging unto him/ not snatching that unto him/ which is not proper to him/ and unto every member severally/ but in such sort/ that they be not divided or cut a part from the whole. There are in the Church of Christ eyes and ears/ there are also hands and feet/ to either of these I have a request to make/ for their profit/ if they hear it/ to their smart/ if they reject it. 
15.26.  I speak unto them in the Lords name/ and do herein but his message. I require understanding ears therefore/ & watchful eyes/ I demand diligent hands/ and painful feet. It is not unknown (brethren) how it hath pleased the Lord of late to bring forth to the eyes and hands of you all a little scroll/ containing as you know/ matters concerning the true reforming and building of god's church/ whether it tend in deed to that end or Noah/ I have not here to debate / but that it pretendeth/ at this I have seen some storming/ as in the grief of man is easily to be perceived: and the authors of it/ as we know also/ be in the place of thieves & murderers: for them I have nought else to say/ but that they are there justly/ if falsely and untruly they have gone about to spoil and rob us of an unfeigned truth/ and murder our souls with a corrupt and poisoned water/ drawn out of a stinking puddle of the filthy dunghill of man's brains. For how were that to be suffered in the civil laws of earthly princes'/ that some one of the comen sort/ or else other/ should go about to disannul the order & law set out by the Prince/ Gods lieutenant in earth in those cases/ to place his own devise? much more in the house of God/ which is his church. To me it seemeth a thing so untolerable/ that all the New gates and old gates yea and all tibournes in England are too little for such rash and presumptuous heads/ that will not give God leave to rule/ but will take the sceptre out of his hand. Being more over and beside that/ a shameful & horrible thing to make strife and contention between the people of God/ which are commanded to be one as their head/ and his father are one. 
joh. 17.22  It was the last and newest commandment that Christ left unto us/ that we should love one another/ even as he loved us/ and this he told us/ should be a sign whereby we should be known to be his disciples/ if we love one an other as he loved us/ which is not fleshly or carnally/ or for any worldly respect/ but in the consent and agreement of his commandment/ in following the prescript of his word/ wherein consisteth the cause of all our love/ and cause of all hatred/ even of our parents'/ when they serve from it: 
joh. 15.11 13.35.  
john. 14.23.15.10.14. mat. 10.35  which surely cannot be maintained/ where new and strange orders in God's matters are invented/ broached/ and published/ be who so be may/ the causers or founders of such devices. And therefore better it were for them/ that a millstone were hanged about their necks/ & they drowned in the midst of the sea/ then one of the lest of the kingdom of Christ/ should be offended by their devices. 
mat. 18.0.  But as I said/ I mind not to entreat of that matter/ my desire is/ & that for Israel's sake/ I mean the children and church of God/ that they which are the eyes of the church/ & are our overseers to watch for our souls (for our blood must be required at their hands) would take this matter in hand/ to debate the equity & truth of the cause/ by the scriptures and word of God/ which is the only food of our souls/ and stay for the direction of all our godly actions/ that we the sheep of Christ might know false fodder from true/ corn from chaff/ Schism from Truth/ Christ from antichrist. 
Eze. 3.17.  
joh. 6.27 Heb. 5.12. Psal. 119.105.  The accusation is grievous wherewith our clergy is burdened/ they are indired as the followers of Antichrist/ their ministry is vouched to be from the Pope/ their superiority which they have by order of this realm/ as Lords spiritual/ and a necessary part of the high house of Parliament in establishing politic laws for the profit of the common weal/ beside the jurisdiction episcopal/ which they have over their dioceses/ is there condemned as a thing in no wise tolerable by the word of God/ which thing amasseth & dazzleth the eyes of us the simpler and unlearned sort/ that we know not how to esteem of them/ or of ourselves/ if the truth be so/ we aught not to hear them/ although they speak a truth/ more than the devil was to be suffered/ although he professed Christ. 
Luk. 4.41  If it be not so/ we marvel why so short & pivyshe a thing is not by them answered/ that many simple-men/ which will well to gods 'cause/ and are somewhat shaken with this pamphlet/ might have better stay/ that they be not carried away with it. Therefore my humble suit is to the learneder part in the name of christ/ and the behalf of his congregation/ that they would answer it & help us which are unlearned. And here in I shall in God's name/ and as they will answer at the last day/ exhort them to use simple & sincere dealing/ and not to wring the scripture to serve their own turn/ or other men's fantasies. For if they do/ it will easily be spied: and beside other inconuenices that will ensue thereof/ the people whom they shall deceive thereby/ shall be their condemnation at that day. Cog not therefore/ nor forced/ neither bombast it with Rhetoric/ or man's authoritiy to make a show/ but let the word of the eternal be judge between both/ which is gold and silver/ and which is dross and stubble: which is corn/ and which is chaff. Call I beseech you/ to remembrance this saying of an ancient father. quam sapiens argumentatrix sibi videtur humana ignorantia, 
Tertullian lib. de spectaculis.  praesertim cum aliquid de gaudijs et fructibus seculi metuit amittere? How wise a dysputer (saith Tertullian) doth man's ignorance seem to itself/ chiefly when it feareth to loose any pleasure or worldly profit. But answer I pray you the whole book/ and not by pieces/ for otherwise your doings will be suspected/ neither do it in/ or secretly/ or in a tongue that the people know not/ for than it will be said that you dare not publish it/ but do it openly/ that all the people may see that you stand upon a good ground/ upon which if you do stand/ let not your doings fear the light. 
job. 10.12  We crave nothing of them/ but what they are bound unto of duerye/ they are our wachmen: we take/ yea rather they themselves take these for wolves/ why then do they not chase them away? They are fast enough ye will say. It is true/ but their tales are not? they free as fire brands from place to place/ and set all the country on fire. It is requisite also that they be prisoned; but that will not otherwise be/ they with the like reason must captivate reason/ a word will not be bound but with a word/ the keys of the kingdom of heaven must come forth here/ or else the keys of Newgate will do no good. And if they do not come torch/ ignorant men and simple/ will say that the other are to little purpose brought forth. There is a better way for Bissops/ and Bishops of Christ/ to confute a schism by/ than prisons and chains: those were and are Antichristes' bishops arguments being taken a part: as they are the just weapons of a lawful and godly Magistrate/ if the other go before. Some say they remember well that godly saying of that learned man/ Augustin/ I think it be: Si terrerentur et non docerentur improba quasi dominatio videretur. If they should be feared & not taught/ it might seem a wicked governance/ the● se●t not practised of the clergy/ they are glad to see their Prince to come with terrerentur, they would as fame see the Bishops come with docerentur. So you see what of duty they require/ and surely let me say with your honours patience what I think/ is it not a great discredyte to your Lordships that such a scald trifling book can not be answered in this season? It is very short/ you bear us in hand it is foolish/ join the folly of it with the brevity/ it might easily have been answered ere this; If there had been taken almost but for every leaf a month: there are scarce so many leaves in it/ as there are months past since it came forth/ what remaineth then/ but that I renew my suit/ that herein (with the consideration of Chryst and his flock) you would have regard to your own honours and creadyte/ that it be not further spread/ and said you could not answer it? They do not satisfy themselves with pollytyque reasons/ in that that some say even from your L. that it is a subversion of a state/ it is a great troubling of a governance. They say the question is not/ whether it be troublesome to bring that in which they would/ but whether it be a truth that those men say or no? If that be once resolved/ then have they to stay themselves: They are ready enough to object the difficulty of Elyas time/ how heard a thing it was in the ears of the king & people to speak to them of the worship of one god/ which were now doting worshippers of their Balims: 
1. re. 18.17.  what an impossible thing it was to bring in the true priesthood of Moses amongst a sort of Idolaters which had cast Moses out of the temple. 
mat. 21.33. joh. 19.12 Acts. 4.7.  They have the example of Christ and his Apostles at the fingers end/ and that the priests than said/ by what authority dost thou this. And again to Pilate/ if thou let him go thou art not Cesar his friend. In his good and just purpose they could accuse him of treason/ of a conspiracy/ and for their own parts ask him by what authority/ and so is it now say they with our bishops/ they go not to the scriptures as christ willeth in the person of the scribes/ but they cry out against these poor men they are not the queens friends/ they make a trouble in a state/ these and such like are their words/ your honours have to consider upon the matter accordingly. And thus much to your honours wishing your safety/ if it so please God without any shaking/ and that your thrones may stand for ever/ if they be from God/ which these men seem to call in doubt/ and I trust your Lordships will show in vain/ & how vainly they stand. Now to you my brethren/ which are of the inferior sort/ I have to desire you to cleave to the truth/ and be not moved for what so ever. If this be truth which our honourable clergy do now maintain/ cast away that peevyshe and fond book/ let not a leaf of paper scrabled/ and blindly by stealth printed/ more prevail with you/ then an order so long maintained by ancient canons and civil law/ let not one or two private men of no account or countenance/ more persuade with you then multitudes of good place/ and doers in the behalf of your virtuous Prince and Country. Let not the judgement of young men prevail against the grey heads of old fathers: for so may you quickly fall from a truth/ and go astray when you think you go straight. 
1. reg. 12.8  Set before you the example of Rehoboam/ who if he had followed the advise of his old counsellors/ and not the rash and green heads of young men/ his kingdom had not been so soon rend from him. 
1. reg. 1.21. Act. 4.19.5.30.  But if on the contrary side/ the truth go on their side/ if by good and diligent conference of the scriptures/ you may see that they are in the right way/ then what other counsel should I give you/ but if Baal be God/ follow him: if the Lord be God/ follow him/ better it is to obey God than man. Better it is to go straight with Elias and Christ/ then to go a whoring with all the Baalites/ Scribes/ and pharisees: a multitude may as easily err as one/ it was so then/ it is so now/ four hundredth and fifty Prophets of Baal for one Elias/ four hundred false Prophets against one Micheas: 
1. re. 18.22. 1. reg. 22.6  the most part of the world now Mahometistes and Papists: and surely it was truly said of him/ who so ever he were Nihil omnino agimus qui nos per multitudinis exempla defendimus. We do nothing at all/ which defend ourselves by example of the multitude: Not always the best learned were the wisest in Gods matters: example of Nicodemus/ who understood not what it was to be born again: 
john. 3.4. joh. 9.30. mar. 7.2.3.  Not always the wisest favour wisdom most/ but rather resist it/ and strive more for the washing of hands and pots than they do for the kingdom of God. Masters of religion are not always the most zealous in setting forth a truth/ sometimes they can say to the poor lame man/ Sabbathum est, 
joh. 5.10.  it is the sabbath day/ non licet tibi tollere grabbatum: it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed: and if the blind will stand and dispute with them/ and say that Christ is not homo peccator a sinful man/ although to their thinking/ Sabbathum non servat, 
joh. 9.34.  he keepeth not the Sabbothe/ he shall be excommunicate. The unlearned sometime are so allowed of God for their good and godly endeavours/ that he maketh them schoolmasters of the learned and great doctor. Look upon poor Philip how he instructed nathanael Inuenim sillum, 
joh. 1.46.  we have found him of whom Moses wrote/ and the Prophets even jesus the son of joseph/ that man of Nazareth. And let not the vileness of Nazareth any thing amaze us/ such false preiudicies' may shut up the kingdom of heaven against us/ we can not say that no good can come out of poor men's studies/ if we do so/ we should speak foolishly as they did in those days/ can there any goodness come from Nazareth. God is not in deed bound to Nazareth: 
Mark. 1. Luk. 2.8. Math. 22. Mat. 28 joh. 20.18  no more is he debarred from doing good by Nazareth: he is not bound to any poor simple man: no more is he cut of from showing the vision of Angels unto shepherds/ & himself to women/ but slender messengers to the sight of the world/ to inform the world and witty of the birth and resurrection of Chryst. It saith oftentimes also/ that the wise and mighty men of the world will say to Christ/ of & against the crying out of his poor disciples) chide them: 
Lu. 19.39.  But if they do you know what Christ said at the time/ & he saith so now to: I tell you/ if these hold their pieces/ the stones shall strait way cry out: his disciples may hold their peace/ I say the Bishops may hold their peace/ and I say because Christ said/ stones/ these stones may speak: There may be a foul gloze made upon a good matter/ an evil favoured cloak put upon a fair body: The truth may be accused of sedition/ of trouble/ of breaking of states/ 
Act. 14.5.  if it be so/ it is no new thing/ if ye be once assured of an undoubted truth/ if it be not foul within/ & fair without/ if it be gold & silver/ and not stubble grounded upon the true foundation jesus Christ care you not/ for that Christ called his truth a sword/ a fire/ and he himself long ago was spited at for thee/ & accused to. 
Luk. 20 20. john. 11 20. Mat. 10 25.  Non est servus supra magistrum, there is no servant above his master/ if they called the master of the house Belzebub/ how much more them of his household? the more the men are cried out upon for calling for the practice of God's word/ if it should destroy all policies in the world/ (although they that say so/ say nothing/ for the contrary is true/ the practising of God's word/ & walking in his religion uprightly/ is the establishing and strengthening of kingdoms) the more I say they are cried out upon/ the more they aught to go forwards/ as well as the blind man did/ when whole multitudes bade him hold his peace: they may not cease I say/ although whole multitudes cry out against them/ & say hold your peace/ hold your peace/ if they will be restored to their sight/ & be delivered from blindness to cry/ & to cry out a loud: 
Luk. 15.39.  Thou son of David have mercy on me: These poor men may cry out/ yea aught to cry out/ if they see us in blindness/ O son of David have mercy on them/ and so they deserve our favour & friendship/ rather than prisons & Newgate: if we be blind/ I say if we be/ for that will be discussed I trust by the learned. And if they hold their peace/ we have to think we are in blindness/ & that they cry well/ son of David have mercy upon us. In deed if their book be true (and that I may speak as one of you/ simple & unlearned/ I shall think it to be true/ until I see it confuted by the scriptures) then will I also as well as you/ as well as they/ cry out in despite of all the multitude/ because I have a greater desire to be restored to sight/ them fear to displease them/ O son of David have mercy upon us: And if all jerusalem should be displeased because I say/ blessed is he that cometh in the name of the lord/ yet would I alone cry out/ blessed is he the cometh in the name of the Lord/ were it as new and as strange as it was then/ seem it never so great a monster to call the Samaritans from worshipping in the mountain Garazim/ or the jews from the settled place Jerusalem/ from an old and ancient custom/ which hath possession many hundredth years/ yet had I rather be with christ/ than with the woman of Samarie/ until she come to Christ. 
john. 4.20.  Antiquity may deceive us, nay we see it hath deceived us/ I can not tell whether it would still deceive: it is not true to say/ it is old/ therefore it is good: 
joh. 14.30.  Satan hath been Lord of this world a great while: Antichrist of Rome pleadeth the continuance of many years (I know not) how many HUNDRED years/ neither doth it follow it is new/ therefore it was naught: 
Mar. 1.27.  it was said to Christ/ what new doctrine is this: yet it was no false doctrine: so said the false priests & Bishops of Paul's doctrine and the rest/ but it was not therefore nought: 
Act. 24.14.  will you try the old and the new/ and see in deed which is the new/ which is the old/ search the scriptures. If it be found there/ it is old/ say Bishops what they will/ let the Priests call it as new as they list: if it be not found there/ it is new/ let them say what they can/ & bring never so many father's/ and never so good fathers: better than she brought/ I am sure they can not/ and yet did Christ prevail/ and so will he still: for he is the same in his word/ that he was then in bodily presence/ the writing of the Apostles do paint him out truly/ and nothing but him. If it be true that they say/ that this authority of Bishops/ & church hierarchy which they maintain/ come from the Pope/ and hath no ground but in his law/ and that God can not suffer to be served according to men's pleasures in ruling of his house/ as though he were such a fool that he could not set order himself or were careless (which is no point of wit) that he did not: or that he see so little/ as to devise an order which could not be for all times & places/ so that we should have need of a new holy ghost/ (for all this followeth upon that ground that they stand upon) away with that vile doctrine/ or what so ever ye list to term it/ what inconvenience so ever were like to ensue/ what antiquity so ever be against it/ for you see there is a blasphemy joined with it/ which maketh our God a foolish/ a careless/ a uncircumspect/ and unprovident god. Well/ peradventure they see something more than they say/ & some things I am sure they would have to be reformed/ which they can not bring to pass as they would/ & therefore think it better with policy to save the gospel/ then to have it clean shut out: It is a common saying of two evils it is best to choose the lest: 
Ih. 10.1  better it is to have a gospel of Christ joined with a piece of antichrist/ then to have none at all: thus they persuade themselves/ the other do not so/ they think it not lawful to join God & Belial together: surely they have some reason/ nay they have great reason/ for what society hath light with darkness. 
2. Cor. 6 14.  If all the world might be gained with a little breach of God's word/ it were not to be done/ better it were that the whole world should perish/ then one jot of God's truth should be over slipped: 
Ih. 19.1.  Pilate thought he had behaved himself wisely when he whipped christ/ and put upon him a rob of scarlet/ thinking by that means/ making him to appear vile to the Jews/ to have had him let go/ that they might have contented themselves with that little punishment/ & so might Christ have preached still. But it is wickedly done to policy the matters of Christ after that sort. Who so ever thinketh by putting a foles' cote upon Christ and clothing him with a garment which is not his own/ to entertain him still/ & thinketh he is content by such means to have licence to go preaching amongst the people/ he deceiveth himself/ & shall right well understand at the day of accounts/ that God will not be mocked. Thus in some respect you have well to weigh the things that are put forth unto you/ by the scriptures/ without further circumstances/ least in leaving the rule/ ye go out of rule. But I doubt not but our lords & clergy will quickly show you whether it be well ruled or no/ they have said already in their sermons to you/ that it is a very foolish book/ I trust they will give it unto you in writing/ that you may the better way both. But before all things take heed to the word let not the show of man deceive you: Peradventure some of you will be persuaded/ because a bishop an old man/ a very learned man saith so/ because this state hath continued a great while many years amongst good fathers: 
john. 5.39. Act. 1.21  do not so/ that is no warrant of the word/ you have had examples enough to show unto you/ how easy it is to be deceived therein/ on the other side let not the simplicity of men bear you away/ for that way also you may err: the only strait way (as I have told you) to keep you from going astray/ is the word of god/ wherewith they as well as you/ I trust/ will be content to be tried/ otherwise they have no ground against the papists: if they will not/ but refuse to be judged by the word/ leave them there/ those poor prisoners have the right/ whether they be whipped & scourged/ or utterly hanged/ & assure yourselves as well of them as of yourselves/ if they suffer with Christ/ they shallbe glorified with Christ/ & so shall you. 
Rom. 8.17.  That we may so do/ god give us the knowledge of the truth/ & when we know it to stand steadfast in the truth/ that the love of the world/ & fear of man may not more prevail with us then the love of heaven and fear of god. These things that I have said unto you rudely/ I pray you take in good part (good brethren) both you that are of the learned sort/ & you that are of the simpler/ I pray you lay forth the truth/ as your duty bindeth you/ & you give ear to the truth. Confute schisms by the scriptures/ & judge you then by scriptures also/ as prisons be used/ so let the word which is the armour of your warfare be practised: Let not Newgate be the only means to stay false proceedings: If you do so/ where error is redressed by the magistrate/ you shallbe judged because you did not your duty/ & bring them into the way if they be out/ or by such good conference they bring you home. The which the father of all mercies grant through his son Christ by our comfortor the holy ghost.  
FINIS.