When they were together in their Taverns, or jocundly sitting together, then they were plotting & studying what it was that such and such men did scruple most at, and oh says one, this, no says another not this but this will catch such a one; Let him have it said they. It may be the old ceremonies §1would catch some; others perhaps would break through the §2old, therefore there must be new ones devised; others again §3it may be would break through the new ones, Oh but the book of liberty on the Sabbath, that would catch them; and §4if they break that through, then the Oath of canonical obedience that would catch them. Thus they laid nets to break the consciences of men, and they knew that if they could but once break their consciences they might do with them what they would; certainly they saw that there was no way to make them to be their own, to be filij Ecclesiae as they called them, but to crack their consciences at first. Many men have found this to be true by experience, and we have seen it: For otherwise what is the reason when they have come with all the flatteries they could to some (that have stood out many years and perhaps God hath done good by their Ministry) to draw them but to any thing, and when they have but once prevailed (they imagined that there was so much the more in it against their consciences, they saw men look pale and trembled and were loth to yield, but) when they had got them once, they concluded that certainly they did that which was against their consciences, and now said they, we have got them, and then they would heap all their injunctions upon them one after another until they had broken their consciences all to shivers.1 And as it is with some birds and beasts that when they are caught they are presently fatted up, so it was with some Ministers and others, when they were once got in their nets, presently they had livings and preferment and some got to be Bishops Chaplains and the like; And as some other birds when they are caught they are presently nipped in the head or their limbs are broken: so when they had caught some others, they would deal ruggedly, severely, maliciously ⟨p. 352⟩with them, and would never leave until they had broke them all to pieces. These were our men that have been a snare upon Mispah and a net spread upon Tabor;
When they were together in their Taverns, or jocundly sitting together, then they were plotting & studying what it was that such and such men did scruple most at, and oh saies one, this, no saies another not this but this will catch such a one; Let him have it said they. It may be the old ceremonies §1would catch some; others perhaps would break through the §2old, therefore there must be new ones devised; others again §3it may be would break through the new ones, Oh but the book of liberty on the Sabbath, that would catch them; and §4if they break that through, then the Oath of cannonical obedience that would catch them. Thus they laid nets to break the consciences of men, and they knew that if they could but once break their consciences they might do with them what they would; certainly they saw that there was no way to make them to be their own, to be filij Ecclesiae as they call'd them, but to crack their consciences at first. Many men have found this to be true by experience, and we have seen it: For otherwise what is the reason when they have come with all the flatteries they could to some (that have stood out many yeers and perhaps God hath done good by their Ministry) to draw them but to any thing, and when they have but once prevail'd (they imagined that there was so much the more in it against their consciences, they saw men look pale and trembled and were loth to yeild, but) when they had got them once, they concluded that certainly they did that which was against their consciences, and now said they, we have got them, and then they would heap all their injunctions upon them one after another until they had broken their consciences all to shivers.1 And as it is with some birds and beasts that when they are caught they are presently fatted up, so it was with some Ministers and others, when they were once got in their nets, presently they had livings and preferment and some got to be Bishops Chaplains and the like; And as some other birds when they are caught they are presently nipped in the head or their limbs are broken: so when they had caught some others, they would deal ruggedly, severely, maliciously ⟨p. 352⟩with them, and would never leave until they had broke them all to pieces. These were our men that have been a snare upon Mispah and a net spread upon Tabor;
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