Certain Additionall REASONS To those presented in A LETTER By the MINISTERS of London to the Assembly of DIVINES at Westminster, 1 jan. 1645.  
Of like power and force against the TOLERATION OF INDEPENDENCY Together with some taken out of the Letter itself (of those Ministers in which their Reasons are enclosed) which lay couched somewhat obscurely.  Quos perdere vult— dementat. 2 Tim. 3.9. 
They shall proceed no further: but their folly shall be made manifest to all men, as theirs also was.  Isa. 42.19. 
Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent?  joh. 11.48. 
If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans will come, etc.  joh. 19.12. 
If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend.  2 Pet. 15. 
Account that the Toleration of the Lord is salvation.  Lam. 4.3. 
Even the sea-monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the Ostriches in the wilderness.  
London, Printed for Giles Calvert, at the black spread-Eagle, at the West end of Paul's, 1645.   


THe Reasons under the first head, viz. That the desires and endeavours of the Independents for a Toleration, are at this time extremely unseasonable and preproperous.  
1. The gap is not wide enough for the enemy to break in upon us, Therefore it is at this time extramely unseasonable and preproperous, to make it up by endeavouring a Toleration of Independency.  
2. The Independents great service and faithful assistance in the rescue of the Kingdom near lost, is now fresh in every one's eye, Therefore the desires and endeavours of the Independents for a Toleration are at this time extremely unseasonable and preproperous.  
3. The State for the present hath great need of the continuance of their assistance, Therefore their desires to the State for a Toleration are at this time extremely unseasonable and preproperous.  
4. The Independents have hopes for the considerations mentioned, that if now they move, their desires and endeavours may speed for a Toleration, Therefore it is extremely unseasonable and preproperous for them so to do.  
5. The Parliament have appointed a Committee to find out a way of Accommodation and Agreement between the Presbyterians and Independents, and out of our large experience of your Zeal of God's glory and care of his afflicted Church, and earnest endeavours to promote the complete Reformation of it, and of your ready concurrence with us to improve any means that may be found conducible to this end; We are persuaded through you it will come to nothing; Therefore it is extremely unseasonable and preproperous for the Independents to desire and endeavour a Toleration.  
6. The Independents will not be persuaded, to join with us as some of the City did in Petitioning the Parliament to alter their rule that we might be invested with full power, and so to intrust us with their Liberty, Therefore it is at this time extremely unseasonable and preproperous for the Independents to desire and endeavour and Toleration.   

Reasons under the second head, which is, That their desires and endeavours after Toleration are unreasonable and unequal in divers regards.  
1. We are the Major number and have the Major part in the Kingdom adhering to us even those that have no Religion, Therefore the desires and endeavours of the Independents for a Toleration are unequal.  
2. There is an exceeding great want of godly and learned Ministers to instruct the people in the knowledge of jesus Christ, so that many parts of this Kingdom must be left destitute except the Independents be employed, Therefore their desires and endeavours for Toleration are unreasonable and unequal.  
3. A Toleration should be given the Independents without ask in consideration of their good service (above specified) if no more, The King said what hath been done to Mordecay for this, the King's servants said, There is nothing done for him, Hest. 6.3. Therefore the Independents desires and endeavours for Toleration are unreasonable and unequal.  
4. The Independents are persuaded in their consciences, that the Order, Discipline and Government, they hold forth, is of jesus Christ, Therefore their desires and endeavours for Toleration are unreasonable and unequal.  
5. We do acknowledge the Independents, godly and and learned Brethren, and such as God hath received, Rom. 14.3. Therefore do judge it unreasonable and unequal to hear from them of dwelling in unity with them by a Toleration.  
And this appears further from those Scriptures, Rom. 15.1. Phil. 3.15, 16. & Gal. 6.1. bear one another's burdens, Therefore a Toleration is unreasonable and unequal.  
Also that Mat. 9.13. Go ye and learn what that means, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, Therefore the desires and endeavours of Independents for Toleration, and mercy in the different manner of sacrifice or outward worship is unreasonable and unequal.  
And that Scripture, Rom. 13.10. Love is the fulfilling of the Law, which we preach all of us against the Antinomians in such a way as do bear the name of Legal Preachers. Now love beareth long, and is kind, envieth not, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, 1 Cor. 23.4, 5, 7. Therefore the Independents desires of love to be expressed in Toleration are unreasonable and unequal.  
6. The Bishops would never allow us a Toleration, Therefore the desire is unreasonable, etc.  
7. Many of us it is well known suffered with our Independent Brethren under the Bishop's tyranny, and groaned under sad burdens, then, Therefore we judge it unreasonable and unequal, that they dissenting from us now, should desire a Toleration.  
8. All things are not to be tolerated, nor all men to do what they list, as we in our ordinary preaching do plead against the Independents, Therefore the Independents desire to be considered in the smaller matters of uniformity, is unreasonable and unequal.  
9 Yourselves have undertaken to the Independents long since, namely in your Considerations tendered Dec. 23. 1643. in these words, That no doubt the counsels of the 
* Ego & Rex meus.  Assembly, and the care of the Parliament will be not only etc. but to preserve whatever shall appear to be the rights of particular Congregations according to the word, and to bear with such whose consciences cannot conform in all things to the public Rule, so fare as the word of God would have them borne withal. Therefore it is unreasona le for the Independents to desire and endeavour a Toleration.   

Reasons under the third head, viz. That Independency is a Schism.  
1. The Independents do departed from the corruptions of our Churches; therefore Independency is a Schism.  
2. The Independents do profess they cannot approve of all that we do or would have established, nor join with us therein without sinning against Christ, therefore Independency is a Schism.  
3. The Independents by holding out their way, and by the success thereof, are to us an occasion of envyings, strife, and division, so that we walk as men, and appear to be carnal that should be thought to be spiritual; therefore Independency is a Schism.  
4. The Independents design is to divide and separate the Saints from the World, which we would piece together, for the Church's coat may be of divers colours, as we say in the beginning of our Letter; therefore Independency is a Schism.   

Reasons under the fourth head, viz. Many mischiefs will inevitably follow upon this Toleration, and that both to Church and Commonwealth.  

First, To the Church.  
1. God is now pulling down Antichrist, and pulling up the foundation and stump of that Monster which lies in the Pride, Ambition and Worldliness of the Ministry, which the Independents by their preaching are daily discovering and rooting up; and the perfecting of this is a mischief that will inevitably follow upon the Toleration of Independency. Now shall not Dagons' stump stand? shall the Saints proceed further against Antichrist then Antichrist can against them? (the Lord still leaving them a seed;) therefore it is but time to cry with that Watcher from heaven, Dan. 4.23. Leave the stump of the root thereof in the earth.  
2. Our Trade and living would by degrees fall to the ground by Toleration; for either we must part with all the godly that will not endure mixture, or else we must make a Schism, and displease the worldly party, and where is then our subsistence? so that Independency endangers the cutting off of a Tribe in Israel, not Benjamin but Levi; therefore Independency is a mischief to the Church.  
3. The Independents by their preaching and other deportment do insinuate into, and gain upon the people the reputation of painful and humble spirited men; so that they will in time clothe themselves with the love of all that are but civil and rational, and we the godly, painful and Orthodox Ministry of the Land, if we shall proceed as is our desire to do, we shall not only lose our maintenance, but our honour and esteem; therefore the toleration of these men is mischievous to the Church.  
4 The Independents do intrust the people in a Liberty which they say Christ hath given them, and cry up the Scripture for the only Rule, and that complete and perfect, and exalt Christ in his prophetical Office, directing all men to a dependence on the Spirit of Christ for deciding Controversies, and resolving Doubts, and by this means Ministers and Synods will not have that Authority they have formerly had, when the people shall examine their determinations, by which they ought to be concluded. Therefore Independency is mischievous to the Church.  
5 Independents are not only against Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, etc. but against all whatsoever Prelacy of Ministers, (and so directly against that Presbyterian power we would have established;) judging it a plant which God hath not planted, and therefore will root it up; therefore Independency is a mischief to the Church.  
6. The Independents will ever be looking for further light, and go on still in Reformation, and would carry the people along with them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. 3. last, by which means things will never be settled perfectly while the Church is militant, therefore Independency is a mischief to the Church.  
7. The Scripture says, Persecution shall always await the Saints in the world as being appointed thereunto, 1 Thes. 3.3. Now if there be toleration, there will be no persecution; and then this mischief will follow, the word of God will fall to the ground, and the Church will want that glory of Martyr's sufferings and suffrages to the truth, and trials of Faith, and that glory of God's justice in executing judgement on such as will not see when his hand is lifted up, whom yet he will make to see and be ashamed for their envy at the people (according to that Scripture Isa. 26.11.) and the fire of the enemies themselves shall devour them.  
8. It is impossible the whole Land should be of one mind and judgement in all the matters of Religion, be it never so much endeavoured on all hands, unless those that be contrary minded be destroyed; therefore toleration is a mischief to the Church.  
9 The tares are forbidden to be pulled up, lest the wheat be rooted up with them, which danger will be avoided by a toleration; therefore toleration is a mischief.  
10 The Independents notwithstanding all our Declarations (both in Pulpits and public places) and private suggestions against them, as that they are Antimagistratical, that they will not make known their way, that they cannot suffer Presbytery, that they will in the end use the sword for themselves, that they are the Authors of all the divisions, that Independency is the inlet to all Errors and Heresies; in which we are credited by some, and notwithstanding our endeavours to keep them and cast them out of Lectures, and to withdraw the stipend from the Exposition Lectures; yet for all this they increase daily, and whether they do draw 'tis sure enough the godly cleaves to them: Therefore this mischief must needs grow by the toleration of them; and therefore how unequal and unreasonable it is for them to desire such a thing?   

2 Branch. Mischiefs to the Commonwealth.  
1 In the multitude of people is the safety and honour of the Commonwealth: if there be no Toleration, there will be a diminution of people; therefore a Toleration is mischievous to the Commonwealth.  
2 Gods blessing goes along with his people that truly fear him, and redounds to the benefit of Families and Nations that entertain and cherish them. I will bless them that bless thee. Therefore the toleration of Independents is a mischief to the Commonwealth.  
3 The unthankfulness of a people to those that have been the instruments of their salvation, hath brought judgements upon them, as in that instance of Abimolech and the men of Shechem, between whom God sent an evil spirit, whereby fire came forth to the mutual destruction of one another; and this for not remembering the Lord their God, and not showing kindness to the house of Gedeon, according to all the goodness he had showed to Israel, judg. 8 34, 35. Therefore the toleration of Independents who have been instruments of so much good to the kingdom, is mischievous to the Commonwealth. For which of these good works do you stone me?  
4 The honour and wisdom of Commonwealths is, to nourish those that are peaceable and beneficial; therefore it is mischievous to the Commonwealth to tolerate Independents.  
5 The principles of the Independents carry them to suffer where they cannot obey, though under those who own their safety to them (in a great measure) under God: therefore the toleration of Independents is a mischief to the Commonwealth.  
6 It is a Maxim or Rule in Policy, Make much of knaves, honest men will do you no hurt: Therefore the toleration of Independents, is a mischief to the Commonwealth.  
7 The sight of those that have been so obliging as cannot be requited, is an eysore: therefore the toleration of Independents is a mischief to the Commonwealth.    

Reasons explicitly drawn forth, that were but implicitly couched in the Letter itself.  
1 We are exceeding apprehensive of the desirableness of the Church's peace, and of the pleasantness of brethren's Unity: Therefore our Brethren the Independents must not be tolerated.  
2 Page 1 By reason of different lights and different sights among brethren, there may be dissenting in opinion: therefore there ought not to be a toleration of any opinion differing from us.  
3 Page ●ad. The Church's Coat may be of divers colours, yet why should there be any rent in it? By Non-toleration it is de facto rend asunder: Therefore there must be no toleration.  
4 Pag. ead. Have we not a Touchstone of Truth, the good Word of God? The Independents desire no other; holding it to be the only one, and will not admit an Assembly of Divines into the place thereof: therefore the Independents are not to be tolerated.  
5 Page 2 The Independents will not unbosom themselves to us their most affectionate Brethren. Now we being their most affectionate Brethren, cannot permit any Toleration of them in such things, as we reckon the disputes engendered about them to be but frivolous and vain janglings, as Reason 5, under the first branch of the fourth Head.  
6 Page 6 None should have more rejoiced then ourselves in the establishment of a brotherly, peaceable and Christian Accommodation, which can be attained by no other means then a Toleration: for our worldly interests and prudential principles will not suffer us to go to them, and their Consciences will not suffer them to come to us; therefore we cannot judge it reasonable they should be tolerated; nay, we detest and abhor the much endeavoured Toleration.  
7 Pag ead, Our bowels, our bowels are stirred within us, therefore they must not be tolerated that have kept the sword out of our bowels, and preserved our liberty of professing the doctrine of Salvation. O our bowels, our bowels, all does us no good whatsoever we do enjoy or have in hope, so long as Mordecay sits in the King's Gate    
FINIS.