Master Edmund Calamies leading case

Mr. S•rin. When I was called upon either to conform to the Laws for Uniformity, or to leave my Ministry, I asked of my self two things, Whether I would rather suffer death then use the thing• imposed in a Church professing the foundation, and urging them as things indifferent, not pressing them as binding consciences in themselves, or as needful ⟨p. 11⟩to salvation? And whether the execution of my Ministry (which was pressed upon my conscience with • woe, if I neglected it) should be as dear to me as my life.

Mr. S•rin. When I vvas called upon either to conform to the Lavvs for Uniformity, or to leave my Ministry, I asked of my self tvvo things, Whe•her I would rather suffer death then use the thing• imposed in a Church professing the foundation, and urging them as things indifferent, not pressing them as binding consciences in themselves, or as needful ⟨p. 11⟩to salvation? And whether the execution of my Ministry (which was pressed upon my conscience with • wo, if I neglected it) should be as dear to me as my life.

P.S. Good God, to see to what pass small errors have brought us! how difference of apprehension hath brought forth difference of judgment: and difference of judgment bath brought forth difference of practice, and disagreement of affection. The difference of practice hath moved Authority to silence and suppress refusers of conformity. The disagreement in affection doth move you who are deprived, to speak and act against persons in authority; whereby in the event the course of the Gospel is interrupted, and of Popery enlarged; the friends of Zion are grieved, the enemies rejoice; the enemy of mankind is gratified, and the Lord is displeased; the Church is rent with schism, the truth scandalized by dissension; the Ministers undone by loss of living, and the unity of brethren living in the same house, professing the same faith and rejoicing in the same hope, is pulled in pieces, and this like to continue God knows how long.