Neither lay and impose this yoke upon the necks of Christs Disciples your self, nor suffer it to be imposed by others. But if you see that the Bishops disagree about this matter among themselves, assemble a Synod, and cause this controversy to be examined by the Scriptures. And then look what shall be proved by plain testimonies, and strong reasons, propound that to be observed by all, and command by your decree• that that be observed, and so take disagreement out of the Church. For your gracious Majesty ought to be very careful, that there be no innovation in religion, but according to the word of God. By this means shall a true peace, concord and unity of the Churches be preserved. But if the proceeding be otherwise, what other thing will it be, then to take away unity, and to trouble the Christian peace? And this I may not pass over with silence, that by this novelty of the business, not only the public peace shall be troubled in that kingdom, but also many else-where out of that kingdom will have occasion given them to raise new contentions in Churches, and that to the great hinderance of godliness, and the more slow proceeding of the Gospel. For all men know, that the most part of all the Churches, who have fallen from the Bishop of Rome, for the Gospels sake, do not only want, but also abhor those garments, and that there be some Churches, though few in comparison of the former, which do as yet retain those garments invented in Popery, as they very stiffly retain some other things also, because the reformers of those Churches, otherwise worthy men, and very faithful servants of Christ, durst not at the first (neither judged they it expedient) utterly abolish all Popish things. But as the common manner is, every man likes his own best. Now I call those things a mans own, not so much which every man hath invented, as those beside, ⟨p. 108⟩which every man chooseth to himself, receiveth, retaineth, and pursueth, though they be invented to his hand by others. But if there be also annexed the examples of other men, they be more and more hardened in them, and are not only hardened, but also do their uttermost endeavour by word and writing, to draw all the rest to be of their mind?
Neither lay and impose this yoke upon the neckes of Christs Disciples your selfe, nor suffer it to be imposed by others. But if you see that the Bishops disagree about this matter among themselves, assemble a Synod, and cause this controversie to be examined by the Scriptures. And then looke what shall be proved by plaine testimonies, and strong reasons, propound that to be observed by all, and command by your decree• that that be observed, and so take disagreement out of the Church. For your gracious Maiestie ought to be verie carefull, that there be no innovation in religion, but according to the word of God. By this means shall a true peace, concord and unitie of the Churches bee preserved. But if the proceeding be otherwise, what other thing will it be, then to take away vnitie, and to trouble the Christian peace? And this I may not passe over with silence, that by this noveltie of the busines, not onely the publick peace shall be troubled in that kingdome, but also manie else-where out of that kingdome will haue occasion given them to raise new contentions in Churches, and that to the great hinderance of godlines, and the more slow proceeding of the Gospell. For all men know, that the most part of all the Churches, who haue fallen from the Bishop of Rome, for the Gospels sake, doe not onely want, but also abhorre those garments, and that there be some Churches, though few in comparison of the former, which doe as yet retaine those garments invented in Poperie, as they verie stifly retaine some other things also, because the reformers of those Churches, otherwise worthy men, and verie faithfull servants of Christ, durst not at the first (neither iudged they it expedient) vtterly abolish all Popish things. But as the common manner is, every man likes his owne best. Now I call those things a mans owne, not so much which everie man hath invented, as those beside, ⟨p. 108⟩which every man chooseth to himselfe, receiveth, retaineth, and pursueth, though they be invented to his hand by others. But if there be also annexed the examples of other men, they bee more and more hardened in them, and are not onely hardened, but also doe their uttermost endevour by word and writing, to draw all the rest to be of their minde?
