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 thus we have nakedly and with all simplicity rendered a clear and true account of our ways and spirits hitherto; Which we made choice of now at first to make our selves known by, rather then by a more exact and Scholastic relation of our judgements in the points of difference about Church government; reserving that unto the more proper season and opportunity of this Assembly, and that liberty given by both Honourable Houses in matters of dissent; or as necessity shall after require, to a more public way of stating and asserting of them. In the mean time from this brief historical relation of our practices, there may a true estimate be taken of our opinions in difference, which being instanced in, and set out by practices, is the most real and least collusive way, and carries its own evidence with it. All which we have taken the boldness together with our selves humbly to lay at the feet of your wisdom and piety; Beseeching you to look upon us under no other Notion, or character, then as those, who if we cannot assume to have been no way furtherers of that reformation you intend, yet who have been no way hinderers thereof, or disturbers of the public peace; and who in our judgements about the present work of this age, the reformation of worship and discipline, do differ as little from the Reformed Churches, and our Brethren, yea far less, then they do from what themselves were three years past, or then the ⟨p. 31⟩generality of this kingdom from it self of late. And withal to consider us as those, who in these former times, for many years suffered even to exile, for what the kingdom it self now suffers in the endeavour to cast out; and who in these present times, and since the change of them, have endured (that which to our spirits is no less grievous) the opposition and reproach of good men, even to the threatening of another banishment, and have been through the grace of God upon us, the same men in both, in the midst of these varieties;

And thus we have nakedly and with all simplicity rendred a cleare and true account of our wayes and spirits hitherto; Which we made choice of now at first to make our selves known by, rather then by a more exact and Scholastique relation of our judgements in the points of difference about Church government; reserving that unto the more proper season and opportunity of this Assembly, and that liberty given by both Honourable Houses in matters of dissent; or as necessity shall after require, to a more publique way of stating and asserting of them. In the meane time from this briefe historicall relation of our practices, there may a true estimate be taken of our opinions in difference, which being instanced in, and set out by practices, is the most reall and least collusive way, and carries its own evidence with it. All which we have taken the boldnes together with our selves humbly to lay at the feet of your wisdom and piety; Beseeching you to look upon us under no other Notion, or character, then as those, who if we cannot assume to have been no way furtherers of that reformation you intend, yet who have been no way hinderers thereof, or disturbers of the publique peace; and who in our judgements about the present work of this age, the reformation of worship and discipline, do differ as little from the Reformed Churches, and our Brethren, yea far lesse, then they do from what themselves were three yeers past, or then the