were it so that the equity of the law of Moses, could prevail, or the zeal of Hezekiah could be found in the hearts of those guid• & governors, under whom we live, or the voice of Gods own prophets could only be heard, or the example of the Apostles be followed, yea or their precepts be answered with full & perfect obedience, the•e abominable rags, polluted garments, marks & sacraments of Idolatry, which power as you see constraineth us to wear, & conscience to abhor, had long •ere this day, been removed both out of sight, & out of memory. But as now things stand, behold to what narrow straits we are driven, on the one side we fear the words of our Saviour Christ, woe to them by whom scandals and offences come, on the other side, at the Apostles speech we can not but quake and tremble, if I preach not the Gospel woe unto me, Being thus hardly beset, we see not any other remedy, but to hazard our souls the one way, that we may the other way endeavour to save them. Touching the offence of the weak therefore, we must adventure it: If they perish they perish: Our Pastoral charge is Gods absolute commandment, ⟨p. 14⟩Rather then that shall be taken from us, we are resolved to take this filth, and to putt it on, although we judge it to be so unfit, and inconvenient, that as oft as ever we pray or preach, so arrayed before you, we do as much as in us lies, to cast away your souls, that are weak minded, and to bring you unto endless perdition: But we beseech you brethren have care of your own safety, take heed to your steps, that you be not taken in these snares, which we lay before you, and our prayer in your behalf is, that the poison which we offer you, may never have power to do you harm. This is the miserable Apology of a man, putting on the Surplice, which he thinketh inconvenient, upon such grounds as the Rej. did hold, and doth not yet condemn; This all such do speak either in deeds or words, that putt on a Surplice in that manner: The state of the question is now changed saith the Rej. and the Cerem. held unlawful, whereupon many mischiefs follow: It may be the compass of our Prelates intention, to which the former tenet had reference, is varied by some degrees, towards the Autartique, as Dr. B.
were it so that the equity of the law of Moses, could prevaile, or the zeale of Ezekias could be found in the hearts of those guid• & governours, under whō we live, or the voice of Gods owne prophets could only be heard, or the example of the Apostles be followed, yea or their precepts be answered with full & perfe•t obedience, the•e abominable raggs, palluted garments, marks & sacraments of Idolatry, which power as you see constraineth us to weare, & conscience to abhor, had long •ere this day, beene removed both out of sight, & out of memory. But as now things stand, behold to what narrow streits we are driven, on the one side we feare the words of our Saviour Christ, woe to them by whom scandals and offences come, on the other syde, at the Apostles speech we can not but quake and tremble, if I preach not the Gospell woe unto me, Being thus hardly beset, we see not any other remedy, but to hazard our soules the one way, that we may the other way indeavour to save them. Touching the offence of the weake therefore, we must adventure it: If they perish they perish: Our Pastorall charge is Gods absolute commandement, ⟨p. 14⟩Rather then that shall be taken from us, we are resolved to take this filth, and to putt it on, although we judge it to be so unfitt, and inconvenient, that as oft as ever we pray or preach, so arayed before you, we do as much as in us lyes, to cast away your soules, that are weak mynded, and to bring you unto endlesse perdition: But we beseech you brethren have care of your owne safety, take heed to your stepps, that you be not taken in these snares, which we lay before you, and our prayer in your behalf is, that the poyson which we offer you, may never have power to doe you harme. This is the miserable Apology of a man, putting on the Surplice, which he thinketh inconvenient, upon such grounds as the Rej. did hold, and doth not yet condemne; This all such do speake either in deeds or words, that putt on a Surplice in that manner: The state of the quaestion is now changed saith the Rej. and the Cerem. held unlawfull, wherupon many mischeifs follow: It may be the compasse of our Prelats intention, to which the former tenet had reference, is varyed by some degrees, towards the Autartique, as Dr. B.
