The works of Ephesus explained in a sermon before the honourable House of Commons…The workes of Ephesus explained in a sermon before the honovrable House of Commons…

Secondly, the words hold forth the justice and equity of such Trials. Such as pretend divine Authority ought not to be rejected or condemned before Trial. Thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles. It is most reasonable that so high and sacred a plea as that should be fully heard. Prejudices and suspicions, bare reports and accusations, miscarriages and ill successes cannot single, or all together, bear out the rejection of any thing or person, before Trial, which claims by Divine right.

Secondly, the words hold forth the justice and equity of such Tryals. Such as pretend divine Authority ought not to be rejected or condemned before Tryall. Thou hast tryed them which say they are Apostles. It is most reasonable that so high and sacred a plea as that should be fully heard. Prejudices and suspitions, bare reports and accusations, miscarriages and ill successes cannot single, or all together, beare out the rejection of any thing or person, before Tryall, which claimes by Divine right.

Thirdly, the words hold forth the fruit and benefit of such Trials. Due trial will quickly discover those who are but pretenders, it will unmask hypocrites: Thou (having tried) hast found them liars. As the Furnace to metal, or the Balance to coin, such is due Trial to men, it will show what is Dross, what is Light. I say, due Trial will show it: For if you bring a light piece to a false beam, it will return for currant. Then it must be a due trial; due for the Nature of it, not a Trial of Curiosity, but of Sobriety, not of Temptation, but of Disquisition. Due also in regard of the Rule it is made by. Not by Tradition, not by Custom, not by Councils, not by that which is usually called Antiquity: ¹The torn Garments, and mouldy bread of cunning Gibeonites, will not prove them come from the far country. Some things are so old that they are the worse for it. Like the Gibeonites bread they mould: Truth doth not so. It is as ancient as God, and (except the Law of Ceremonies) ancient, as God is, who never waxeth old. Truth is old, but it waxeth not old; that which doth is ready to vanish ⟨p. 57⟩