Meat out of the eater, or, Hopes of unity in and by divided and…Meate out of the eater, or, Hopes of unity in and by divided and…

here then was the occasion, and indeed a sad occasion to many, who in the extremity of opposition to Antichristian ways, obtruded themselves upon as sad, or worse inconveniences, going off not only from vain Rites; but Religion it self; and instead ⟨p. 22⟩of leaving corruptions left worship, and indeed any other thing could not be expected, if we consider▪ how loose and slack the reins of Government have been of late, with what violence and tumult this change was managed, not in the solemn grave way of conviction and humiliation. Buildings stand whose foundations are laid in those deeps: But otherwise 'twill be hard to settle things, partly because till the error be rightly stated the truth is not found out, partly because such changes make men lose all awe and reverence in the matter of Religion, and so every man digresseth into his own way, and adoreth the Idol of his own brain, usually you will find what ever is carried on by scoffs and popular tumults, seldom succeedeth well, I confess God loveth to pour contempt upon the sons of Levi that are partial in the Covenant, ^*& 'tis his way many times to cause the voice of many waters ^*(id est) of the confused multitude to go before the voice of mighty thunderings (id est) the regular act of the magistrate whose sentences and decrees are terrible as Thunder, and therefore I do adore the justice of divine providence in causing the former Ministry to become base and contemptible before all the people; But however I cannot but sadly bewail the mischiefs that abound amongst us by the neglect of men; though the corruptions of Episcopacy made it justly odious, yet it would have been better it had been, rather then jested down: arguments would have done more good then scoffs, besides the danger of returning to folly: do but consider the present inconveniences of making so great a change without more public & rational conviction, when things that before were of reverend esteem are of a sudden decried, what's the effect? why! Religion it self is of less esteem, men suspect all, ⟨p. 23⟩can as well scoff out truth as error,³