Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sir Though I should have desired to have understood your thoughts about the point of Sacrilege, that so I might have formed up my thoughts into some better order and clearer issue then I did in my la•t: yet to show unto you how much I value this correspondence with you, I am willing to make some return to your last. And first touching the Schoolmaster intended, &c. — The Accommodation you speak of is a great and a good work for the gaining into the work such useful parts and interests as might very much heal the discord, and unite the strength of men to oppose destructive ways, and in my opinion more feasible with those men then any other, if they be moderate and godly: for we differ with them rather about some pinnacles of the Temple then the foundation er abbuttresses thereof. I would not have much time spout in a formula of doctrine or worship: for we are not much distaxt in them and happily no more then with one another: But I would have the agreement attempted in that very thing which chiefly made the division, and that is Government; heal that breach and heal all: there begin and therein labour all you can. What influence this may have upon others I know not in this exulceration of mens minds: but the work speaks it self g•od, and your reasons for the attempting of it are very considerable. For the Assembly, you know, they can meddle with just nothing but what is sent u•to them by Parliament or one house thereof (as the order saith) and for that reason never took upon them to intermeddle therein. What they do in such a thing, must be done as private persons, and not as in the capacity of Assembly men, except it come to them recommended by the Parliament. The great business is to find a temperament in ordination and government, in both which the exclusion or admittance of Presbyters (dicis causa) for a shadow, was not regular: and no doubt the Presbyters ought and may both teach and govern, as men that must give account of souls. For that you say of every particular Church having many Presbyters, it hath been considered in our Assembly, and the Scripture speaks fair for it, but then the Church and City was of one extent:

Sir THough I should have desired to have understood your thoughts about the point of Sacriledge, that so I might have formed up my thoughts into some better order and cleerer issue then I did in my la•t: yet to shew unto you how much I value this correspondence with you, I am willing to make some return to your last. And first touching the Schoolmaster intended, &c. — The Accomodation you speak of is a great and a good work for the gaining into the work such useful parts and interests as might very much heal the discord, and unite the strength of men to oppose destructive ways, and in my opinion more feasible with those men then any other, if they be moderate and godly: for we differ with them rather about some pinacles of the Temple then the foundation er abbuttresses thereof. I would not have much time sput in a formula of doctrine or worship: for we are not much distaxt in them and happily no more then with one another: But I would have the agreement attempted in that very thing which chiefly made the division, and that is Government; heal that breach and heal all: there begin and therein labour all you can. What influence this may have upon others I know not in this exulceration of mens minds: but the work speaks it self god, and your reasons for the attempting of it are very considerable. For the Assembly, you know, they can meddle with just nothing but what is sent uto them by Parliament or one house thereof (as the order saith) and for that reason never took upon them to intermedle therein. What they do in such a thing, must be done as private persons, and not as in the capacity of Assembly men, except it come to them recommended by the Parliament. The great business is to find a temperament in ordination and government, in both which the exclusion or admittance of Presbyters (dicis causa) for a shadow, was not regular: and no doubt the Presbyters ought and may both teach and govern, as men that must give account of souls. For that you say of every particular Church having many Presbyters, it hath been considered in our Assembly, and the Scripture speaks fair for it, but then the Church and City was of one extent: