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

When we presented to His Majesty these our Proposals and Requests, and expected to meet with the like Concessions and Approaches of our Brethren (not yet made Bishops), we met with his Majesties Gracious acceptance, but our expectations failed of all the rest; having never received any such thing from that day unto this. But we shortly after received a sharp Answer to our Proposals; to which when a Reply was drawn up, we purposely cast it by, lest turning the work of Pacification into a dispute, should frustrate it by exasperating altercations.

But when we that should have been the forwardest to Peace, could do no more to an Agreement among our selves, his Majesty was pleased to do more, and published his Gracious Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs; In which, though he granted us not Archbishop Ushers Model of Episcopacy, nor all that we desired, yet granted he so much as made us thankfully rejoice, in hope to have seen the Churches unity and peace: Because we thought the terms were such, as to which we could without any guilt of sin, or check of conscience, have laid out our selves, in persuading all our Brethren to conform. And accordingly the London-Ministers did presently draw a Thanksgiving to his Majesty (yea, the Commons House of Parliament themselves did thank him). There was nothing now remaining for the confirmation of our hopes, but the intended Alterations of the Liturgy, and the Confirmation of his Majesties Gracious Concessions. When we had a Commission from his Majesty to attempt the first, we hoped to do it by mutual compliances in gentle and amicable Conference: But it was resolved to us, that we being the Plaintiffs, must bring in a draught of all the Alterations of the Liturgy which we desired, and also of those Additional forms which we had proposed as an expedient for Concord. Upon this some of our Brethren would have insisted on a refusal, believing that it would but spin out time, and end in nothing which would attain that Concord which was our end: But others persuading them rather to do as was imposed on us, than to go no further; because at the worst, our case would in writing be less liable to mis-reports, than if we had only spoken for our selves, perhaps under checks, in temptations and restraints (For we had heard many wish, that the Conference at Hampton-Court, in King James his time, had been by writing). Hereupon we ventured on the imposed task: We brought in writing some exceptions against some passages in the Liturgy. To this