An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed

If we have, let them be recited; if not, it is hard that this should even by you be thus affirmed as is said by us, which we have not said. We have said, [That the Ceremonies have been the Fountain of much evil, occasioning divisions, but not what you charge us to have said ⟨p. 15⟩in words or sense. 3. And may not you alter them without approving, or seeming to approve the reason upon which the alteration is desired, when you have so great store of other reasons? The King in his Declaration is far enough from seeming to own the Charge against the things which he was pleased graciously to alter so far as is there expressed. If a Patient have a conceit that some one thing would kill him, if he took it, the Physician may well forbear him in that one thing, when it is not necessary to his health, without owning his reasons against it. If his Majesty have Subjects so weak as to contend about things indifferent, and if both sides err, one thinking them necessary, and the other sinful; may he not gratify either of them without seeming to approve their error? By this reason of yours he is by other men in such a case necessitated to sin; for if he settle those things which some count necessary, he seems to approve of their opinion, that they are necessary; if he take them down when others call them sinful, he seems to own their charge of the sinfulness. But indeed he needeth not to do either; he may take them down, or leave them indifferent; professedly for unity and peace, and professedly disown the Errors on both sides. We are sorry if any did esteem these Forms and Ceremonies any better then mutable indifferent Modes and Circumstances of Worship; and did hazard estate or life for them as any otherwise esteemed: And we are sorry, that by our Divisions the Adversary of Peace hath gotten so great an advantage against us, as that the Argument against necessary charitable forbearance is fetched from the interest of the reputation of the contending Parties, that things may not be abated to others which you confess are indifferent and alterable, and which many of them durst not use, though to save their lives. And this because it will make them thought the pious, tender conscienc'd men, and make others thought worse of. But with whom will it have these effects?

If we have, let them be recited; if not, it is hard that this should even by you be thus affirmed as is said by us, which we have not said. VVe have said, [That the Ceremonies have been the Fountain of much evil, occasioning divisions, but not what you charge us to have said