impious or evil abfolutely either against faith or maners no law can poffibly permit, that intends not to unlaw it felf: but thofe neighbouring differences, or rather indifferences, are what I speak of, whether in fome point of doctrine or of difcipline, which though they may be many, yet need not interrupt the unity of Spirit, if we could but find among us the bond of peace. In the mean while if any one would write, and bring his helpfull hand to the flow-moving Refor mation which we labour under, if Truth have fpok'n to him before others, or but feem'd at leaft to fpeak, who hath fo bejefuited us that we fhould trouble that man with afking licence to doe fo worthy a deed? and not confider this,

that

that if it come to prohibiting, there is not ought more likely to be prohibited then truth it felf; whose first appearance

to our eyes blear'd and dimin'd with prejudice and cuftom, is more unfightly and unplaufible then many errors, ev'n as the perfon is of many a great man flight and contemptible to fee to. And what doe they tell us vainly of new opi-. nions, when this very opinion of theirs, that none must be heard, but whom they like, is the worft and neweft opinion of all others; and is the chief caufe why fects and fchifms doe fo much abound, and true knowledge is kept at diftance from us; befides yet a greater danger which is in it. For when GoD fhakes a Kingdome with ftrong and healthfull

commotions to a generall reforming, 'tis not untrue that many fectaries and falfe teachers are then bufiest in seducing; but yet more true it is, that God then raifes to his own work men of rare abilities, and more then common industry not only to look back and revise what hath bin taught heretofore, but to gain furder and goe on, fome new enlightn'd fteps in the discovery of truth. fuch is the order of God's enlightning his Church, to difpenfe and deal out by degrees his beam, fo as our earthly eyes may best fuftain it. Neither is GoD appointed and confin'd, where and out of what place thefe his chofen fhall be firft heard to fpeak; for he fees not as man fees, choofes not as man chooses, left

For

we

we should devote our felves again to fet places, and affemblies, and outward callings of men; planting our faith one while in the old Convocation-houfe, and another while in the Chappell at Westminster; when all the faith and religion that shall be there canoniz'd, is not sufficient without plain convincement, and the charity of patient inftruction to fupple the least bruise of conscience, to edifie the meaneft Christian, who defires to walk in the Spirit, and not in the letter of human trust, for all the number of voices that can be there made; no though Harry the 7. himfelf there, with all his leige tombs about him, fhould lend them voices from the dead, to fwell their number. And if

the

the men be erroneous who appear to be the leading fchifmaticks, what witholds us but our floth, our felf-will, and diftruft in the right caufe, that we doe not give them gentle meetings and gentle difmiffions, that we debate not and examin the matter throughly with liberall and frequent audience; if not for their fakes, yet for our own? feeing no man who hath tafted learning, but will confeffe the many waies of profiting by thofe who not contented with ftale receits are able to manage, and fet forth new pofitions to the world. And were they but as the duft and cinders of our feet, fo long as in that notion they may yet ferve to polish and brighten the armoury of Truth, ev'n for that refpect