The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

When we were met together, most beloved Brethren, we read your Letters, which for (or ••) the integrity of your faith, and the fear of God you wrote to us by our Bishops, Felix and Sabin••s, signifying that Basilides and Martial being blotted (or d•fil•a) with Libels of Idolatry, and guilty of heinous crimes, ought not to exercise the Office of Bishops, and administer the Priesthood of God: And you desired us to write back to you hereof, and that your necessary solicitude might ⟨p. 313⟩be eased either by the comfort, or the help of our judgment or sentence. But to this your desire, not so much our Counsels as Gods Precepts give an answer, in (or by) which it is long ago (or already) by the heavenly voice commanded, and By the Law of God prescribed, who, and what sort of men must serve at the Altar, and celebrate the Divine Sacrifices. For in Exodus God speaketh to Moses, and warneth him, saying, Let the Priests who draw near to the Lord God be sanctified, lest God forsake them; and when they come near to minister at the Altar of the Holy, let them not bring themselves into sin, lest they die. And in Leviticus God commandeth and saith, Let not the man that hath a blemish or vice draw near to offer gifts to God. 2. Which things being already spoken and manifest to us, it is necessary that our obedience attend to God's commands: Neither may mans indulgence accept the person, or grant any thing to any one in such things where God's prescription, intercedeth and giveth a Law. For we must not forget what God by the Prophet Isaiah saith to the Jews, reproving them, and angry with them, that contemning the commands of God, they followed the doctrines of men. This people, saith he, honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far separated from me; and in vain do they worship me, teaching the commands and doctrines of men: which the Lord also in the Gospel repeateth and saith, Ye reject the command of God, that you may establish your own tradition. Having these things before our eyes, and carefully and religiously considering them, in the Ordinations of Priests, we ought to choose no Bishops but men unspotted and entire, who holily and worthily offering the Sacrifices ⟨p. 314⟩to God, may be heard in the prayers which they make for the safety of the people of God; seeing it is written, that God heareth not a sinner, but if any man worship God, and do his will, him he heareth. 3.