The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by…

Reply. And may we not thus mention orthodox Persons to men that profess they agree with us in Doctrinals, unless we digress to tell you who they be? What if we were pleading for civil Concord among all that are loyal to the King, must we needs digress to tell you who are loyal? We are agreed in one Rule of Faith, in one Holy Scripture, and one Creed, and differ not (you say) about the Doctrinal part of the 39. Art. And will not all this seem to tell you who are Orthodox. If you are resolved to make all that a matter of Contention, which we desire to make a means of Peace, there is no remedy while you have the Ball before you, and have the Wind and Sun, and the power of contending without ⟨p. 63⟩control. But we perceive, [That the Catholic consent of Antiquity] must go into your definition of the Orthodox, but how hard it is to get a reconciling determination, what Ages shall go with you, and us, for the true Antiquity, and what is necessary to that consent that must be called Catholic, is unknown to none but the unexperienced. And indeed we think a man that searcheth the holy Scripture, and sincerely and unreservedly gives up his Soul to understand, love and obey it, may be Orthodox, without the knowledge of Church-History; we know no universal Law-giver, nor Law to the Church, but one, and that Law is the sufficient rule of Faith, and consequently the test of the truly Orthodox, though we refuse not Church-History, or other means that may help us to understand it. And to acquaint you with what you do not know, we our selves (after many Pastors of the Reformed Churches) do question your Liturgy, as far as is expressed in our Papers: And we profess [to adhere to Scripture, and the Catholic Consent of Antiquity] (as described by Vincentius Liniensis) If you will say, that our Pretence and Claim is unjust, we call for your Authority to judge our Hearts, or depose us from the number of the Orthodox, or else for your proofs to make good your Accusation. But however you judge, we rejoice in the expectation of the righteous Judgment, that shall finally decide the Controversy; to which, from this Aspersion, we appeal.