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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76085	The second part of that book call'd Independency not Gods ordinance: or the post-script, discovering the uncharitable dealing of the Independents towards their Christian brethren, with the jugglings of many of their pastors and ministers, to the misleading of the poor people to the detriment of their own souls, and the hurt both of church and state, with the danger of novelties in religion; proving that Independency, is one of the most dangerous sects, that ever appeared in the world, since mortality inhabited the earth. In the which also there is a satisfactory answer given to the principall cavils of him that writ that railing pamphlet, stil'd The falshood of Mr Will. Prynnes Triumphing in the antiquity of popish princes and parliaments. With Doctor Bastvvicks just defence against some calumnies in way of preface. / By John Bastvvick, Dr in Physick.; Independency not Gods ordinance. Part 2	Bastwick, John, 1593-1654.	1645 (1645)	Wing B1069; Thomason E287_9; ESTC R200091	93,218	111

banished they come to the knowledge of the truth and errour and so to shun the one and love the other And now I come to the sixth and last It is impossible for a man saith he to hold fast truth or be fully perswaded in his own heart of what he does or what Religion he makes choice of unlesse after he hath searched the Scriptures and tryed the Spirits whether they be of God or no it be lawfull for him to reject that which shall appear to him as evill and adhear to that which seemes good in his own judgement In a word by this mans Divinity without there be a tolleration of all Religions and that it be left arbitrary for every man to take and choose what Religion he pleaseth it is impossible to hold fast the truth for this is his meaning now if this be good doctrine then the devill is a good teacher for this came from hell but because this his Position hath the greatest appearance of reason of all the rest with the simple people who much conside in the strength of it it will not be amisse to say something to it although with any rationall men if it be well considered and weighed it can never infer a necessity of a tolleration of all Religions an opinion so hetrogeniall to the holy Scripture and so contrary to piety for the Word of God which must be the rule of our faith in diverse places declares Gods dislike of all strange opinions and doctrines commanding all ministers and people to cleave unto the Law and to the Testimony Esa 8. And that they should teach no other doctrine 1 Tim. 1.3 And that they should take heed of fables c. vers 4. That is of mens inventions And that they should hold fast the form of sound words 2 Tim. 1.13 And if any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godlinesse that they should withdraw themselves from such 1 Tim. 6.3.5 And that they should hold fast the faithfull Word as they have been taught Tit. 1.9 And that they should rebuke men sharply that they may be sound in the faith not giving heed to Jewish fables and the Commandements of men that turn from the truth ver 13.14 And that they should not be wise above that which is written 1 Cor. 4.6 And that whosoever teacheth a contrary doctrine tending to seduction should be put to death Deut. 13. All this the holy Scripture teacheth in numberlesse places Now then when Christians know the good will and pleasure of God and are likewise taught out of the Word of God as Deut. 6. and Deut. 11. And in divers other places that it is their duty that they should bring up their children and families in the nurture and fear of the Lord and instruct them in the knowledge of his Commandements that is that they should educate them according to the Will of God and in the knowledge of the holy Scriptures as Timothies grand-mother and mother did him from his child-hood I say when all Christian Parents bring up their children and indoctrinate their families after this rule and manner they may hold fast the truth very well and be fully perswaded of it in their own hearts although they never so much as hear of any Heresie or of any strange opinion For as our Saviour saith Matth. 22. Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures c. So that the knowledge of the Scripture it self is able to keep all men from error as teaching the way the truth and the life c. And as all wilfull ignorance of the Scripture is both sinfull and blame-worthy amongst all good men so there is a learned nescience which is as commendable as the other is vituperable and that is when men desire not to be wise above that which is written for so they are commanded so that the understanding of that which is written in the Book of God and to know God to be the only true God and him who he hath sent Jesus Christ which is life eternall Iohn 17. This is the only knowledge necessary to salvation and all this a man may learn and attaine to without a tolleration of all Religions which they call liberty of conscience which is a most irreligious opinion and no way beseeming a Christian for as Saint Paul saith Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from evill 2 Tim. 2.19 Now tolleration of all Religions is such an evill as there cannot be a greater and more displeasing to God for it is a very fighting against God And for that liberty of conscience the Scripture speaketh of it is no other then that all Christians are now freed from the yoak of all legall Ceremonies and traditions and inventions of men and from the curse and rigour of the Law but from that liberty to infer a tolleration of all Religions is most impious and absurd and it is as wicked to conclude that we are not tyed to the obedience of the Law both Morall and Evangelicall for this is against all the tenure of the holy Scriptures and against all sound reason as will by by appear And therefore all Christian parents ought to instruct their children and housholds in the Law and Gospell as they will answer it before God at his dreadfull Tribunall And if their children will not by kindness be induced and brought to that that is good they are to be forced to it by the Rod and correction for Solomon so instructeth all Parents in diverse places of the Proverbs And it was the sinne of old Ely in 1 Sam. 2. that he did not chastize his children and severely punish them for their wickednesse and force them to obey the commands of God and this was the cause of the Lords displeasure against him that he cast off his Family from being Priests and removed the place of his worship from Shilo to teach all Christians to take heed by his example saying I will honour them that honour me and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed of So that to see sinne and errors in children and to connive at them and not to punish them for it is to despise God And therefore they ought to force them to obedience unto that religion God hath appointed and if they will yet persevere and continue to be rebellious against God and their Parents they are to be cut off by the Law of God Conscience here must be forced the Will of God must be obeyed there is no dispensation given to transgression or to commit evill though good might come of it and that Will and good pleasure of God we have set downe clearly and evidently in the holy Scriptures Psal 19. The knowledge of which is enjoyned to all Christians as necessary to salvation But for all vaine opinions and new Doctrines and traditions and inventions of men under the name of New-lights if a

listen after it The same may be said of all the former Christians and Martyrs in Ages past and of all our glorious Martyrs here in England some of which were haled before King Henry the eighth and others in Queen Maries dayes before all the Tribunals before the Judges and Rulers of the Land by which means as they gave evidence unto the truth and sealed it with their blood so it was one of the principall causes of first propagating the Protestant Religion through the Kingdome and of afterwards establishing of it here whereas if they had never been questioned for their consciences by all likelyhood it would only have remained in some corners of the Kingdome and in some private Families and never have been publickly authorized For the confirmation of all I have now said the places above cited and Christs own words might sufficiently evince But it will not be amisse to hear Pauls testimony concerning this point whose witnesse I conceive is more to be credited then all the Independents put together much lesse then this Bablers He in 2 Tim. chap. 2. vers 9. speaking by the Spirit of God concerning persecution saith Wherein I suffer trouble saith he as an evill doer unto bands but the Word of God is not bound and in 2 Tim. chap. 4. vers 7. The Lord stood with mee and strengthned mee that by mee the preaching might be fully known that all the Gentiles might heare c. Out of the which words we may observe two things First that the Apostle suffered for his conscience not for evill doing Secondly that his suffering notwithstanding hindred not the preaching of the Gospell to all Nations for he himself affirmeth the contrary saying That by his bonds the Word of God was not bound and by this his questioning and persecution the preaching of the Gospel was made fully knowne that all the Gentiles might hear c. I refer it therefore to the judgement of any learned and intelligible man whether we ought rather to believe the Spirit of God speaking in Paul or this Chatter of uncircumcised ears and lips And Paul in Acts 20.22 23. saith And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem not knwing the things that shall befall me there save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me The same also was foretold unto him by Agabus in Chap. 21. vers 11. Yet Pauls bonds neither in Jerusalem nor in any other City and his being questioned for matters of conscience about the Resurrection before Foelix King Agrippa and Festus hindred not the propagation of the Gospell to all Nations as this Jangler would infer for Paul himself testifying the contrary in his Epistle to the Philippians chap. 1. vers 12 13. But I would ye should understand Brethren saith the Apostle that the things that hapned unto me speaking there of persecution have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospell so that my bonds for Christ are manifest in Caesars Court and in all other places By this testimony also of Paul it is evident that the persecution for cause of conscience rather furthereth the preaching of the Gospell to all Nations then hindreth it as is yet more manifest through the whole story of the Acts as for one instance chap. 8. vers 4. where it is said That they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the Word And all Ecclesiasticall histories testifie the same so that by this that I have now said and many more evidences that might be produced it is clear that persecution for cause of conscience imposes not an impossibility that by it the Gospel should be preached to all Nations For persecution is the Bellowes of the Gospell driving every spark of truth into a flame So that all judicious men may see the vanity and invalidity of this Cavillers first assertion And this shall suffice to have been spoken of that Now I come to prove my second conclusion viz. That persecution for cause of conscience hindreth not the growth of grace and knowledge in the Saints yea it is so far from hindring Christians from growing in knowledge and from one measure and degree of faith unto another as this fond Babler in his second assertion would inferre as it every way improves their graces and knowledge as we may see in those in Heb. 11. concerning some of which the Lord giveth this testimony vers 34 35 c. Who through faith quenched the violence of the fire escaped the edge of the sword out of weaknesse were made strong waxed valiant in fight turned to flight the armies of the Aliens And others were tortered not accepting deliverance that they might obtaine a better resurrection And others had triall of cruell mockings scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment They were stoned they were sawne asunder were tempted were slaine with the sword they wandred about in Sheepskins and Goatskins being destitute afflicted tormented of whom the world was not worthie they wandred in Deserts and in Mountains and in Dens and Caves of the Earth and all these having obtained a good report through faith received not the promise c. All these thrived rather by their afflictions and persecutions and increased in grace and out of weaknesse were made strong if we may believe the Scripture The same is also affirmed concerning afflictions persecution for conscience sake in Rom. 8. where Paul saith Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep to the slaughter nay in all these things we are more then conquerours through him that loved us By this witnesse of the Apostle persecution which has been the lot of the Saints all the day long that is to say in all ages is so far from hindring the increase of grace and the degrees of faith that it makes them more then conquerours through him that loved us And Peter writing to his counntrey men that by persecution were scattered and dispersed through Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithinia affirmeth the same who in chap. 1. vers 5 6 7 c. saith That they were kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time wherein meaning persecution ye greatly rejoyce saith he though for a season if need be ye are in heavinesse through many temptations that the triall of your faith being much more precious then that of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glorie at the appearing of Jesus Christ who having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glorie receiving the end of your hope even the salvation of your soules And in chap. 3. vers 14 15. But if ye suffer

as idolatry and errours is a cause of Gods wrath and by that a cause of all troubles so the removing of the cause is the way to settle the peace of Kingdomes And if we reade the History of the Judges and indeed all the Prophets and holy Scriptures we shall finde the not questioning and bringing of the Seducers and false Prophets to condigne punishment was the cause of all their captivities and of all the warres and troubles the Israelites were continually imbroyled with And therefore they that are acquainted with the holy Scriptures may easily see the falsity and impiety of this assertion to say nothing what all Ecclesiasticall Histories and the Stories of all Ages relate of the continuation of peace in all those Nations and Kingdomes as long as men were both questioned and punisht for bringing in of Heresies and teaching of false doctrines and as long as they preserved the truth of Christian doctrine amongst them which no sooner begun to be corrupted and errors set up but immediately upon it Gods wrath was kindled against those Kingdomes and Countries and if we will give credit unto the Word of God and to the Annals of times the suffering and tollerating of errors in religion amongst them was the cause that the Lord was angry with them and removed at last their Candlesticks from them as we may see at this day in the seven Churches of Asia and all the Easterne and Westerne Churches and if we will not shut our eyes we may see also it has been the cause of all these miserable distractions and troubles that now these three Kingdomes are involved in which if they had established the Gospell in its purity and kept out Idolatry and all Heresies wickednesse and Schismes we should not have thus been afflicted on every side at home and abroad for the neglect of our duties in not keeping out of errors in religion hath brought down all these judgements upon us and therefore the tollerating of them all would much more increase our misery and disturbe the peace both of the Cities and countrey and therefore all such as plead for a tolleration of all religions ought to be spued out of the Kingdome as prophane and impious men And this shall suffice to have been spoken of this third assertion which is indeed to make war against God himself and not against us only For the fourth where he saith That it is impossible to prescribe such a way for suppressing new or different opinions whatsoever which to any State or Church may seem hereticall but there will still be left a gap a possibility of fighting against God even when such State on Church think they fight for him most of all This Position also is not only contrary unto the Word of God but indeed overthroweth all authority and by this no justice should be done against any blasphemous Seducers or against any impious offendours in points of Religion or against such as offend against the Lawes of Kingdomes and Nations because for footh by doing of their duty which God requires at Magistrates hands there will still be left a gap and a possibility of fighting against God as if to do good and that which God enjoynes them would leave open a gap and a possibility of fighting against God I have read That we may not do evill that good may come of it I have also read that God can create good out of evill and bring light out of darknesse but I have never read in the Word of God That Christian Magistrates and Rulers should be deterred from doing their duty suppressing of Schismes Errors and Heresies because through the wickednesse of men and the craft and subtilty of Satan there may sometimes troubles immediately arise to any Nation by it All good Magistrates are to do their duty and what God commands and leave the successe to God and to commend themselves and their endeavours to the Lord who hath a recompence of reward in store for them for their well doing and ought not to be deterred from their duties by such poor cavils as these which are both impious and ridiculous And whereas in the fifth assertion he affirmeth That it is impossible that either the weak believers misbelievers or unbelievers can be wonne by our godly conversation as is required 1 Pet. 2.12 and 3.1 2. and 1 Cor. 7.12 16. So long as we will not suffer them to live amongst us What is this but openly to fight against Gods Word and God himselfe Who Deut. 13. and in many other places of Scripture commandeth that Secucers should be put to death and exterminated and cast out from amongst Gods people whose wicked conversation would corrupt others and be so far from winning weak Believers mis-believers or unbelievers as it would make them all worse and worse and utterly vitiate all the places they dwell in as daily experience teacheth us and as the Scripture affirmeth which assert that A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Cor. vers 6. As for the places of Scripture he there citeth as they make nothing for his purpose so they sufficiently shew that he is a meer stranger in Divinity and in the Word of God as I could evidently make appear if I studied not brevity And it might also be made evident that the banishments and persecutions of many of Gods people as well as their presence and co-habitations amongst the wicked have been the cause of many thousand mens conversions who seeing men willingly to relinquish all earthly things and leaving their own countries and nighest relations for their religion made others the more to look into that doctrine and to enquire after that religion that men for the love of would lose all things yea liberty and life it selfe which I say hath been the cause of the conversion of many thousands so that not only the presence but the absence of men is the cause of many others conversion by which the vanity of this assertion is also sufficiently manifest But it seemes strange to me that this wrangler should use this Argument to prove a Tolleration of all Religions when the practise of the Independents is contrary who cast all that are of a different opinion from them out of their Congregations and where they have power in their hands banish them from amongst them and yet here in England they would have all Religions tollerated to do mischiefe when Saint John notwithstanding in his 2 Epistle to the Elect Lady forbids her and in her all Christians to receive false teachers into their houses or so much as to bid them God speed lest they that shall so do partake with them in their evills by which doubtlesse he never gave a tolleration of all Religions but as I said before it is well known that people are converted many times as well by the absence of men as by their presence whether it be for errour or for the Truth for by enquiring after the cause of it and why they were

trouble me whether it were in regard of my reputation or of my estate as for infamy and reproach I said there was no fence against them in the school of wit or Art and that I had already had my share in all manner of calumnies and had been so often wounded with them by all sorts of people as I beleeved there was scarse a narrow left in the quiver of malice that they could now shoot at me or scarse any reproach or contumely that ever was coyned in the mint of mens hatred that had not past as currant through the world against me so that now I was so used unto it that there was no lesson more perfect unto me and I had learned quietly to go through good report and bad report and I knew it had been the lot of all the Prophets some of the which confest that their hearts were broke with reproaches yea the Lord of life himself escaped not free from prodigious and blasphemous reproaches who was counted a wine-bibber and a friend of sinners and one that had a devill and all the Apostles had tasted and drunk of that cup and all the Primitive Christians had been abused after the same manner and that Luther and his followers in that age of the world had his Cocleus to rail of him and Calvin had a Bolsecus to abuse him and all our holy Martyrs here in England had those that most impiously traduced them and so had the poor Puritans and all that stood up for Reformation in their severall generations those that both maligned and reviled them as all the precious and godly people at this day by the Independents and all Sectaries and all manner of Malignants are causelesly traduced and therefore I must never look for better measure at their hands then all the godly that ever lived who all went to heaven through many afflictions And all they saith Paul that will live godly in Christ Iesus must go through many afflictions and it is not the lest but indeed one of the greatest to be reproached and railed on yea it is worse then death it self for he that takes away a mans good name is worse then Cain for he in killing his brother made him live for ever and eternalized his name but they that take away mens reputations kill them alive and ruin them and their posterity which as it is a fearfull sin so the frequentest in the world every man making it his occupation to reproach and vilifie those they bear a malice to as all the Independents and Sectaries dayly to the Presbyterians and against any that stand forth to oppose their Novelties and I being in the number of those that resolve to the last period of my life to maintain truth against falshood expect and look for no lesse favour at all Malignants hands and tongues then all the generations of the just have found before me and therefore I blesse God I have before-hand sate down and counted with my self what my love to the truth will cost me from all the enemies of it in respect of my reputation and name and have learned of my King and Master the Lord Jesus Christ to rejoyce and be exceeding glad yea to leap for joy when I am reviled and suffer reproach for his names sake for so he hath commanded me Mat. 5. Luke 6. And if I suffer in regard of my estate by this my diligence I know in whom I have ever trusted and in whom now I beleeve and that I came naked into the world and that naked I shall go out and if my God gives me food and raiment I have learned to be content for the riches of this world are but like the Mannathat fell about the Tents of the Israelites those that gathered more of it had but enough to serve their turn or if they gathered more it was but a trouble and annoyance to them and they that gathered lesse had no want And truely he that would but look upon the world at this time and behold with attention the instability of all these things under the sun he would have little cause to confide in uncertain riches for they may dayly see many men rich in the morning and all beggers at night and they that were beggers in the forenoon made rich in the evening and within two dayes after they shall see the same men lye naked and dead upon the ground and deprived of all and life it self so that there is no man can promise unto himselfe prosperity or the stability or possession of any thing a day neither by sea nor land and therefore he that is inamored with the world cannot be a friend to God For the friendship of the world is enmity with God as Saint James saith and therefore through Gods goodnesse I have learned Saint Pauls Lesson To be contented in every condition for I am crucified unto the world and the world to me and will not for the love of that desert my love to the truth or fear to defend it for fear of losing any thing in my estate but will roul my self upon Gods Providence and commit my soul and my wayes unto him who is the Preserver of all especially of those that beleeve in him 1 Tim. 4. These and many such passages did I relate unto many of those that would have deterred me from writing in defence of the Presbytry against Independency and yet they still continued dayly to sollicet me not to set forth my book against that way and although I told them again and again that I was resolved to publish my opinion they intreated me then that I would tarry but till the Reasons and Grounds of their way were published which they say would be in a short time and all this was contrived to strengthen their faction and to anticipate the people and settle them in their Novelties against whatsoever should be published against their doctrine of Independency And when they heard that my book was gone to the Presse it would exceed beleef if I should recite all the passages of their under-hand dealings in that businesse and how diligent some of them were about the Presse and how they went about reproaching me and it and all to make it hatefull and odious to all and to deterre the people from reading of it or regarding of it and wheresoever any of them met me they told me it should be answered yea some of them reported that there was already an answer prepared to come forth as soon as mine It seemes these men are resolved with themselves be it right or wrong to maintain their Faction and uphold their party yet I am confident through the strength and power of my God that I shall ever be able to reply to whatsoever they can say but this I will say for them as the Jesuits in subtilty and cunning crastines exceeded all the other Monks and Fryers that went before them so the Independents in their generations are more cunning then ever

but the cursed people followed Christ meaning the poor and Saint Paul saith not many mighty but the poore and mean things hath God chosen and the Protestants of France were usually called the poor men of Lyons and the Puritans were all counted a company of poor fellows now the Independent Ministers they have got all the rich sheep from out of their fellow Pastors folds it seems they are the best Purvey ours for the kingdome of Heaven they have already got abundance of rich Saints in these latter dayes so that when the World groweth poorest the Independent-churches and congregations and their Pastors grow all richest and I am afraid they will make merchandize of a great many more simple Ewes if their Watchmen and Pastors be not the more carefull and vigilant to look to their flocks for they have a singular faculty of plundering and have their Emissaries for that purpose in all the parts of the Kingdome and yet the World is so blinde they cannot discerne into the juglings of these men They blame in the Papists as it is blame-worthy indeed that they not only Lord it over Gods heritage by their own tyrannicall traditions but for that they most sacrilegiously mutilate the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and take away the Cup from the people and they notwithstanding are guilty of both these crimes in a more deep manner then the Papists for they impose in a most Lordly manner their traditions and novelties as Gods own lawes upon the people and not as traditions and they take not away the cup only from the people but take away both the bread and wine from them also and that from the deer servants of God and from such as against whom either for their knowledge or conversation they have no just exception and debar both men and women through beleevers and such as are baptized from the Sacrament and deny baptisme the feal of the Covenant to their Children then the which shew me in the world either a greater and more Lordly tyranny or a more horrid sacriledge And this and many more such insolencies of their Lording it over Gods heritage might be instanced to the dishonour of God and the Gospell and yet the people have not eyes to see it nor hearts to consider what a yoak of slavery they have voluntarily now put themselves under when by the exceeding kindnesse of God towards us and through the wisdome and help of this Parliament we were freed from the unsupportable yoak and tyranny of the Prelates Truely when I read their railing and blasphemous Pamphlets and when I hear their bitter expressions both against the Parliament and Presbytery and all their Christian brethren whom they stile Presbyterians and persecutors of the wayes of God and when I consider their Lording of it over their brethren and their under-hand practises for the upholding of their Faction and their unchristian dealing in all respects I have admired the patience of the great God and the humanity of the people I say I have admired the patience of the great God that hath no more severely punished this Nation for their so great ungratitude towards him for his longanimity and so many deliverances of us both from our Enemies and from our feares and for those unheard of blasphemies both against his Divine Majesty and all authority they dayly utter besides their despising of his Ministers and Ordinances and I have also wondred to see the lenity and curtesie of the people towards these men that although both in their preachings and in their writings they proclaim them all enemies of Jesus Christ and his Kingdome and thrust them all from the holy things and count of them all as a company of Infidels they yet endure all their abuses with moderation neither do I think that the humanity of this Nation towards them can be parallell'd by any other country under heaven who I am most assured would never have suffered half those insolencies they dayly exercise towards them And yet I dare say for all the godly Presbyterians in England whom they count such persecutors there is not one of them that desires a hair of any of their heads should fall to their detriment or that would not be as sorry that any evill should betide any of them as they would be glad and rejoyce to see them return again into the bosome of the Church that they might live in love unity as they ought and formerly they have done and joyn all their prayers and forces unanimously against the common enemies of Christ and his Gospell and so take away the scandall they have already given and heale up all those breaches that by their wantonnesse in opinions have been made to the great dishonour of God And if there were any spark of godly love or any bowels of compassion in our brethren towards their Christian brethren and towards their countrey they would easily be induced now to make up all breaches and lay aside all those novelties that have proved so pernitious already to us all For what is it that any thankfull Christian can desire that God hath not done for us He hath delivered his people in this famous City and in many other parts of the Kingdome from the Antichristian yoake and from all the ceremonies and what soever was really offensive to tender consciences and by his Divine providence has put it into the hearts of the great Counsell to make such Ordinances as by which the Ministers are inabled through the Kingdome to admit of none to the Sacrament but such as for their knowledge and godly life shall be thought sit communicants so that now there is no just cause of separation from our Assemblies seeing all scandals are taken away and the Gospell is preached in such purity as it never was since the Apostles times and that by as godly orthodox painfull and able Ministers as any are in the World Why therefore should our Brethren so slight what God hath done for us and count all that nothing without they may establish a bondage unto themselves more heavie then ever yet lay upon any mans shoulders as surely their Independency will prove For the people of themselves I have that confidence in them such is my opinion of their moderation that when they shall duly and upon deliberation consider the sad effects these Novelists have already brought forth they will relinguish them and give God thanks that the danger of them was so timely discovered and they will againe returne into the bosome of the Church and follow their own Ministers and by whom they shall be built up in their holy faith and continually fed with the sincere milke of the Word and with such wholsome doctrine as tends both to the peace of their own souls and the quiet of Church and state But that they may at last get their feet out of the snare and free themselves from their slavery and bondage I shall desire them but to consider a little the practises