Two papers of proposals concerning the discipline and ceremonies of the Church of England…

III. Concerning Ceremonies. Returning our humble thanks for your Majesties gracious Concessions (of which we are assured you will never have cause to repent:) We further crave,

1. That your Majesty will leave out those words in your Declaration, concerning us [That we do not in our Judgments believe the practise of those particular Ceremonies which we accept against to be in it self unlawful] for we have not so declared our Judgments. Indeed, we have said, That treating in order to an happy uniting of our Brethren through the Land; our work is not to say, what is our own opinion, or what will satisfy us, but what will satisfy so many as may procure the said Union. And we have said, that some think them flatly unlawful, some but inconvenient; some think some of them unlawful in themselves, and others but inconvenient; and while th• Imposer thinks them but indifferent, we conceived they might reasonably be entreated to let them go, for the saving of their Brethren's consciences, and the Churches peace. We are sure that a Christians conscience should be tender of adding to, or diminishing from the matter of Gods Worship in the smallest point. The Laws of God being herein the only perfect Rule, Deut. 12.32. And that Synod infallibly guided by the Holy Ghost, would lay upon the Churches no other burden but necessary things, Act. 15.28. And that for things indifferent, Christians should not despise or judge each other, Rom. 14. Much less by silencing the able and faithful Ministers of the Gospel, to punish the Flock even in their Souls, for the tolerable differences and supposed mistakes of Ministers. We doubt not but Peter and Paul went to Heaven without the Ceremonies in question.

1. That your Majesty will leave out those words in your Declaration, concerning us [That we do not in our Judgments believe the practise of those particular Ceremonies which we accept against to be in it self unlawful] for we have not so declared our Judgments. Indeed, we have sayd, That treating in order to an happy uniting of our Brethren through the Land; our work is not to say, what is our own opinion, or what will satisfie us, but what will satisfie so many as may procure the sayd Union. And we have sayd, that some think them flatly unlawful, some but inconvenient; some think some of them unlawful in themselves, and others but inconvenient; and while th Imposer thinks them but indifferent, we conceived they might reasonably be entreated to let them go, for the saving of their Brethrens consciences, and the Churches peace. We are sure that a Christians conscience should be tender of adding to, or diminishing from the matter of Gods Worship in the smallest point. The Laws of God being herein the only perfect Rule,