And as for your Honours, together with the Honourable House ⟨image 2⟩of Commons, we have that which cannot but be a comfort to thousands of truly godly people in the land, for which they praise God. Namely, an Order from you that the Commit of Lords and Commons appointed to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland, and the Committee of the Assembly do endeavour the finding out some way how far tender consciences who cannot in all things submit to the common rule, may be tolerated according to the word of God; We see in your Lordships and the Honourable House of Commons, a Nobleness, joined with much tenderness to the godly party, whom God hath made so instrumental for you; for which, the blessing of God be upon you, and your posterities. But it cannot but much sadden our hearts, that any party in the Kingdom should seek to quench that spark of favour and hope, that so good a hand of God hath begun to kindle, for his people who fear him. Yea, that so many of our brethren who lately were under bondage, with whom we joined in fasting and prayer, crying to heaven for deliverance from our yokes; and that those who awhile since were left destitute, and fled to this City for refuge from the rage of the enemy: yet as soon as they have found succour here, that they should rise up to oppose a forbearance of their brethren, who together with them love Jesus Christ, and agree with them in the substance of worship, and the doctrinal part of Religion; yea, and in matter of Discipline differ not from them but in that which is controversial; not so clear to themselves, but that they will acknowledge, godly and peaceable men may mistake in; what no forbearance in these things? How comes this hardness, this severity, into those hearts, where the spirit of Jesus Christ rules? where are those bowels? those bowels they say are so stirred in them, surely there is want of bowels, or if they be there, Oh that they would work some other way then yet they have done. Nay further, this cannot but go to our hearts, to see these brethren to stir up the Assembly and City against them who love them in the Lord;1 and to be so vehement to promote that, which very lately many, if not most of them understood not, of which they have given out no Model to the Kingdom, with proofs and reasons.
And as for your Honours, together with the Honourable House ⟨image 2⟩of Commons, we have that which cannot but be a comfort to thousands of truly godly people in the land, for which they praise God. Namely, an Order from you that the Committe of Lords and Commons appointed to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland, and the Committee of the Assembly doe endeavour the finding out some way how farre tender consciences who cannot in all things submit to the common rule, may be tolerated according to the word of God; Wee see in your Lordships and the Honourable House of Commons, a Noblenesse, joyned with much tendernesse to the godly party, whom God hath made so instrumentall for you; for which, the blessing of God be upon you, and your posterities. But it cannot but much sadden our hearts, that any party in the Kingdom should seek to quench that sparke of favour and hope, that so good a hand of God hath begun to kindle, for his people who feare him. Yea, that so many of our brethren who lately were under bondage, with whom we joyned in fasting and prayer, crying to heaven for deliverance from our yokes; and that those who awhile since were left destitute, and fled to this City for refuge from the rage of the enemy: yet as soon as they have found succour here, that they should rise up to oppose a forbearance of their brethren, who together with them love Iesus Christ, and agree with them in the substance of worship, and the doctrinall part of Religion; yea, and in matter of Discipline differ not from them but in that which is controversall; not so cleare to themselves, but that they will acknowledge, godly and peacable men may mistake in; what no forbearance in these things? How comes this hardnesse, this severity, into those hearts, where the spirit of Iesus Christ rules? where are those bowels? those bowels they say are so stirred in them, surely there is want of bowels, or if they be there, Oh that they would worke some other way then yet they have done. Nay further, this cannot but goe to our hearts, to see these brethren to stirre up the Assembly and City against them who love them in the Lord;1 and to be so vehement to promote that, which very lately many, if not most of them understood not, of which they have given out no Modell to the Kingdome, with proofes and reasons.
- 1Si tantū habet pondus aliquod verum, ut vires discentis excedat, suspendendum est, ut extendat crescentem, non imponendum, ut obterat parvulum. August. Quest. in Mat. 11.Si tantū habet pondus aliquod verum, ut vires discentis excedat, suspendendum est, ut extendat crescentem, non imponendum, ut obterat parvulum. August. Quest. in Mat. 11.
