An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II.…

But when I came into another County, I met with divers private poor men that were very zealous Nonconformists, against whom I was so forward a Disputer, that the first Controversy that ever I wrote on, was against a Minister of one of theirs, which condemned Kneeling at the Sacrament, which I confuted so as to silence the opponents. (Mr. Paybody having fully satisfied me in that.) But yet they brought me to resolve to read the writings of both sides impartially, especially Dr. Ames his Fresh Suit; so that setting upon the Controversy again with my most serious studies, I settled in the judgment which I never since changed, about Liturgy and Ceremonies, expressed after in my 5 Disput. of Church-Government; but still I was absolutely for Episcopacy as ⟨p. 60⟩it is with us, till 1640. when the new Canons came out with the &c. Oath, and that was the very thing that occasioned such Nonconformity as I am guilty of at this day. For when my mind was before quiet, in the way that I was in, (being at Bridgnorth, where six Parishes were under an Ordinary and Court of their own, exempt from the Bishops Jurisdiction, so that I never used Cross or Surplice, having liberty to forbear them), when I saw that I must swear, the reverence of an Oath excited me to an exacter scrutiny. I thought, as in subscribing I wrote but my opinion, which did not provoke me to so strict a search, so when I must swear, That the Government by Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, &c. was that which ought to be, and that I would never consent to change it; Without so much as excepting, If the King himself would have a change; it was time for me well to understand what I did. For I supposed that he that feared not an Oath, feared not God; and that he that would venture on perjury, would stick at no sin in the world as sin, and was unfit for humane converse. Whereupon we appointed a meeting of the Ministers about it; and Mr. Cartwright (afterwards of York) disputing for the Oath, did not satisfy me, but I resolved now to hear what both sides said, before I would bind my self by an Oath for all my life ensuing. Whereupon I got Gersom Bucer de Regimine Eccles. & Altar Damascene. and Paul Bains Diocesans Trial, and Parker de Polit. Eccles. and others. And on the other side Saravia, and Bilson, and Andrews, besides Hooker and Downham before mentioned.

But when I came into another County, I met with divers private poor men that were very zealous Nonconformists, against whom I was so forward a Disputer, that the first Controversie that ever I wrote on, was against a Minister of one of theirs, which condemned Kneeling at the Sacrament, which I confuted so as to silence the opponents. (Mr. Paybody having fully satisfied me in that.) But yet they brought me to resolve to read the writings of both sides impartially, especially Dr. Ames his Fresh Suit; so that setting upon the Controversie again with my most serious studies, I setled in the judgment which I never since changed, about Liturgy and Ceremonies, expressed after in my 5 Disput. of Church-Government; but still I was absolutely for Episcopacy as