Ninthly, if force be so far followed till it have changed mens judgements or conquered conscience, or exterminated and destroyed all that will not be thus changed or conquered, who differ from superiors in unnecessary things, will it not (all things well considered) prove a dear price for that which might be had at much cheaper rates? Are not the most conscientious, necessary helpers of the Ministry, by their example, to cure the unconscionableness of the rest? And therefore should be countenanced & encouraged? Tenthly, would not the cessation of unnecessary impositions, cast out the most of the scruples of conscientious people, and cease the saddest divisions of the Churches? If Rome could have been content with a Religion of no more Articles than ⟨p. 381⟩the Apostles was, and would on those terms have held Communion with other Churches? O what rends and ruins had it prevented in the Christian world? Are not the old Apostolical rules and terms sufficient to the safety and peace of Christians? Were those worthy persons. B. Usher, B. Hall, B. Davenant, B. Morton, with the Bergii, the Crocii, and all the great pacificators deceived, who wrote and preached and cried out to the world that [so much as all Christians are agreed in, is sufficient matter for their concord; if they would lay it upon no more] vid. Ush. serm. before King James at Wansted. Or do you think it was their meaning [Let all Rulers multiply unnecessary scrupled impositions in their own dominion, and for scrupling them, let them silence, imprison and banish at home; And then let them send to their neighbour Churches for Unity, Peace and Concord, and tell them that the subscribing to the Scriptures generally, and to the Creed, Lords Prayer, and Decalogue and Sacraments particularly, are terms sufficient to this end. (Supposing that good order, decency and peace be kept up by suitable discipline both Ecclesiastical and Civil.) And why would not this serve for all the world? Or why should more scrupled things be called necessary to order and decency than indeed are so? My desire of the Churches peace which caused me to write all the rest, provoketh me to touch this subject briefly, which will scarce endure to be touched.
Ninthly, if force be so far followed till it have changed mens judgements or conquered conscience, or exterminated and destroyed all that will not be thus changed or conquered, who differ from superiors in unnecessary things, will it not (all things well considered) prove a dear price for that which might be had at much cheaper rates? Are not the most conscientious, necessary helpers of the Ministery, by their example, to cure the unconscionableness of the rest? And therefore should be countenanced & encouraged? Tenthly, would not the cessation of unnecessary impositions, cast out the most of the scruples of conscientious people, and cease the saddest divisions of the Churches? If Rome could have been content with a Religion of no more Articles than ⟨p. 381⟩the Apostles was, and would on those terms have held Communion with other Churches? O what rends and ruines had it prevented in the Christian world? Are not the old Apostolical rules and terms sufficient to the safety and peace of Christians? Were those worthy persons. B. Vsher, B. Hall, B. Davenant, B. Morton, with the Bergii, the Crocii, and all the great pacificators deceived, who wrote and preached and cried out to the world that [so much as all Christians are agreed in, is sufficient matter for their concord; if they would lay it upon no more] vid. Vsh. serm. before King Iames at Wansted. Or do you think it was their meaning [Let all Rulers multiply unnecessary scrupled impositions in their own dominion, and for scrupling them, let them silence, imprison and banish at home; And then let them send to their neighbour Churches for Unity, Peace and Concord, and tell them that the subscribing to the Scriptures generally, and to the Creed, Lords Prayer, and Decalogue and Sacraments particularly, are terms sufficient to this end. (Supposing that good order, deconcy and peace be kept up by suitable discipline both Ecclesiastical and Civil.) And why would not this serve for all the world? Or why should more scrupled things be called necessary to order and decency than indeed are so? My desire of the Churches peace which caused me to write all the rest, provoketh me to touch this subject briefly, which will scarce endure to be touched.
