An apologetical narration, humbly submitted to the Honourable Houses of Parliament. By ThoAn apologeticall narration, humbly submitted to the Honourable Houses of Parliament. By Tho

And whereas our silence upon all the forementioned grounds (for which we know we can never lose esteem with good and wise men) hath been by the ill interpretation of some, imputed either to our consciousness of the badness and weakness of our Cause, or to our unability to maintain what we assert in difference from others, or answer what hath been written by others, we shall (with all modesty) only present this to all mens apprehensions in confutation of it. That what ever the truth and justness of our Cause may prove to be, or how slender our abilities to defend it, yet we pretend at least to so much wisdom, that we would never have reserved our selves for, but rather by all ways have declined this Theatre, of all other, the most judicious and severe, an Assembly of so many able, learned, and grave Divines, where much of the piety, wisdom, and learning of two Kingdoms are met in one, honoured and assisted with the presence of the Worthies of both Houses at all debates (as often as they please to vouchsafe ⟨p. 28⟩their presence) as the Stage whereon first we would bring forth into public view our Tenets (if false and counterfeit) together with our own folly and weakness: We would much rather have chosen to have been venting them to the multitude, apt to be seduced, (which we have had these three years opportunity to have done.) But in a conscientious regard had to the orderly and peaceable way of searching out truths, and reforming the Churches of Christ, we have adventured our selves upon this way of God, wisely assumed by the prudence of the State; And therein also upon all sorts of disadvantages (which we could not but foresee) both of number, abilities of learning, Authority, the stream of public interest; Trusting God both with our selves and his own truth, as he shall be pleased to manage it by us.

And whereas our silence upon all the forementioned grounds (for which we know we can never lose esteeme with good and wise men) hath been by the ill interpretation of some, imputed either to our consciousnesse of the badnesse and weaknesse of our Cause, or to our unability to maintain what we assert in difference from others, or answer what hath been written by others, wee shall (with all modesty) onely present this to all mens apprehensions in confutation of it. That what ever the truth and justnesse of our Cause may prove to be, or how slender our abilities to defend it, yet wee pretend at least to so much wisdome, that wee would never have reserved our selves for, but rather by all wayes have declined this Theatre, of all other, the most judicious and severe, an Assembly of so many able, learned, and grave Divines, where much of the piety, wisdome, and learning of two Kingdomes are met in one, honoured and assisted with the presence of the Worthies of both Houses at all debates (as often as they please to vouchsafe