and though it be nono of our intent to cast the least unmeet Reflections ⟨p. 367⟩upon the Right Reverend Bishops and Learned Brethren who think not meet to yield to any considerable Alterations to the Ends expressed in your Majesty's Commission, yet we must say, that it is some quiet to our Minds that we have not been guilty of your Majesty's and your Subjects disappointments, and that we account not your Majesty's gracious Commission, nor our Labour, lost, having Peace of Conscience in the discharge of our Duties to God and you: that we have been the Seekers and Followers of Peace, and have earnestly pleaded, and humbly petitioned for it; [and offered for it any price below the offence of God Almighty, and the wounding or hazard of our own, or of the Peoples souls; 1and that we have in season born our testimony against those Extremes, which at last will appear to those that do not now discern it, to have proceeded from uncharitable mistake, and tended to the division and trouble of the Church: that whatever shall become of Charity, Unity and Concord, our Life, our Beauty, and our Bands, our Conferences tell us we have not deserted them, nor left any probable means unattempted, which we could discern within our power]. And we humbly beseech your Majesty to believe, that we own no Principles of Faction or Disobedience, nor Patronize the Errors or Obstinacy of any: It is granted us by all, that nothing should be commanded us by Man, which is contrary to the Word of God: that if it be, and we know it, we are bound not to perform it; God being the Absolute Universal Sovereign; that we must use all just means to discern the Will of God, and whether the Commands of Man be contrary to it: that if the Command be sinful, and any through the neglect of sufficient search, shall judge it lawful, his culpable Error excuseth not his doing of it from being sin: and therefore as a reasonable Creature must needs have a Judgment of discerning, that he may rationally obey, so is he with the greatest care and diligence to exercise it in the greatest things, even the obeying of God and the saving of our Souls; and that where a strong probability of great sin and danger lieth before us, we must not rashly run on without search; and that to go against Conscience, even where it is mistaken, is sin and danger to him that erreth.
and though it be nono of our intent to cast the least unmeet Reflections ⟨p. 367⟩upon the Right Reverend Bishops and Learned Brethren who think not meet to yield to any considerable Alterations to the Ends expressed in your Majesty's Commission, yet we must say, that it is some quiet to our Minds that we have not been guilty of your Majesty's and your Subjects disappointments, and that we account not your Majesty's gracious Commission, nor our Labour, lost, having Peace of Conscience in the discharge of our Duties to God and you: that we have been the Seekers and Followers of Peace, and have earnestly pleaded, and humbly petitioned for it; [and offered for it any price below the offence of God Almighty, and the wounding or hazard of our own, or of the Peoples souls; 1and that we have in season born our testimony against those Extreams, which at last will appear to those that do not now discern it, to have proceeded from uncharitable mistake, and tended to the division and trouble of the Church: that whatever shall become of Charity, Unity and Concord, our Life, our Beauty, and our Bands, our Conserences tell us we have not deserted them, nor left any probable means unattempted, which we could discern within our power]. And we humbly beseech your Majesty to believe, that we own no Principles of Faction or Disobedience, nor Patronize the Errours or Obstinacy of any: It is granted us by all, that nothing should be commanded us by Man, which is contrary to the Word of God: that if it be, and we know it, we are bound not to perform it; God being the Absolute Universal Soveraign; that we must use all just means to discern the Will of God, and whether the Commands of Man be contrary to it: that if the Command be sinful, and any through the neglect of sufficient search, shall judge it lawful, his culpable Errour excuseth not his doing of it from being sin: and therefore as a reasonable Creature must needs have a Judgment of discerning, that he may rationally obey, so is he with the greatest care and diligence to exercise it in the greatest things, even the obeying of God and the saving of our Souls; and that where a strong probability of great sin and danger lyeth before us, we must not rashly run on without search; and that to go against Conscience, even where it is mistaken, is sin and danger to him that erreth.
- 1These underlined Passages were left out in that presented to the King
