The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

On the other side, if ye that use these things, will do the like to your Brethren, we doubt nor but therein you shall please God, and comfort the Hearts of many, which are wounded to see extremity used against these godly Brethren: Humane arguments or coloured Rhetoric, we use none to persuade you, only in Charity we desire you to mind the sentence of Peter, Feed the Flock of Christ which is committed to your charge, caring for it, not by constraint, but willingly; not being as Lords of Gods Heritages, but being examples to the Flock. We further desire you to meditate upon that sentence of Paul, Give no offence neither, to Jews, nor Gentiles, nor to the Church of God; in what condition you and we both travel, at least are bound to travel for the promoting of Christs Kingdom, you are not ignorant; therefore we are the more bold to exhort you to deal more wisely, then to trouble the godly for such vanities, for all things which seem lawful, edify not; if Authority urge you farther then your Consciences can bear, I pray you remember, that the Ministers of the Church are called the Light of the World, and Salt of the Earth; all Civill Authority hath not always the Light of God shining before their eyes, in Statutes and Commands, for their affections savour too much of the earth and worldly wisdom: therefore we tell you, That ye ought to oppose your selves boldly, not only to all power that dare extol it self against God, but also against all such as dare burden the Consciences of the faithful, farther then God chargeth them in his own Word. But we hope you will excuse our freedom in that we have entered in reasoning farther then we intended in the beginning; now again we return to our former request, which is, That the Brethren among you who refuse the Romish Rags, may find of you who use and urge them, such favour as our Head and Master commandeth each one of his Members to show to another, which we look to receive of your courtesy, not only because you will not offend God in troubling your brethren for such vain Trifles, but also because you will not refuse the earnest request of us your Brethren and fellow Ministers, in whom although there appear no worldly pomp; yet we are assured you will esteem us as Gods servants, travelling to set forth his glory against the Roman Antichrist;

On the other side, if ye that use these things, will do the like to your Brethren, we doubt nor but therein you shall please God, and comfort the Hearts of many, which are wounded to see extremitie used against these godly Brethren: Humane arguments or coloured Rhetoricke, we use none to perswade you, onely in Charity we desire you to minde the sentence of Peter, Feed the Flock of Christ which is committed to your charge, caring for it, not by constraint, but willingly; not being as Lords of Gods Heritages, but being examples to the Flock. We further desire you to meditate upon that sentence of Paul, Give no offence neither, to Iewes, nor Gentiles, nor to the Church of God; in what condition you and we both travell, at least are bound to travell for the promoting of Christs Kingdom, you are not ignorant; therefore we are the more bold to exhort you to deale more wisely, then to trouble the godly for such vanities, for all things which seem lawfull, edifie not; if Authority urge you farther then your Consciences can bear, I pray you remember, that the Ministers of the Church are called the Light of the World, and Salt of the Earth; all Civill Authority hath not alwayes the Light of God shining before their eyes, in Statutes and Commands, for their affections savour too much of the earth and wordly wisdome: therefore we tell you, That ye ought to oppose your selves boldly, not onely to all power that dare extoll it selfe against God, but also against all such as dare burthen the Consciences of the faithfull, farther then God chargeth them in his own Word. But we hope you will excuse our freedom in that we have entred in reasoning farther then we intended in the beginning; now againe we return to our former request, which is, That the Brethren among you who refuse the Romish Rags, may finde of you who use and urge them, such favour as our Head and Master commandeth each one of his Members to shew to another, which we look to receive of your courtesie, not onely because you will not offend God in troubling your brethren for such vain Trifles, but also because you will not refuse the earnest request of us your Brethren and fellow Ministers, in whom although there appear no worldly pompe; yet we are assured you will esteem us as Gods servants, travelling to set forth his glory against the Roman Antichrist;