that thus our evills grew upon us first they were hatched by the ignorance iniquity and violence of the former times when things are very badde men are apt to fly out into the contrary extremities and began to breake out upon this great change which the former corruptions did even necessitate and enforce as usually you know great and violent changes occasion great tumults ill humours in the body discover themselves upon a straine when God changed his own Ordinances erroneous spirits were busie I meane in the first times of the Gospel when a people begin to innovate 't is an hard mater to keep them within the bounds of any moderation and therefore 't is the policy of the Church of Rome to change nothing ne videatur errasse Reformations are very perillous especially to corrupt bodyes here then was the occasion and indeed a sad occasion to many who in the extremity of opposition to Antichristian wayes obtruded themselves upon as sad or worse inconveniencies going off not onely from vaine Rites but Religion it selfe and instead of leaving corruptions left worship and indeed any other thing could not be expected if wee consider how loose and slack the reines of Government have been of late with what violence and tumult this change was managed not in the solemne grave way of conviction and humiliation Buildings stand whose foundations are lay'd in those deepes But otherwise 't will 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 braine usually you will finde what ever is carried on by scoffes and popular tumults seldome succeedeth well I confesse God loveth to powre contempt upon the sonnes of Levi that are partiall in the Covenant * 't is his way many times to cause the voyce of many waters * id est of the confused multitude to goe before the voyce of mighty thunderings id est the regular act of the magistrate whose sentences and decrees are terrible as Thunder and therefore I doe adore the justice of divine providence in causing the former Ministery to become base and contemptible before all the people But however I cannot but sadly bewayle the mischiefes 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 jeasted downe arguments would have done more good then scoffes besides the danger of returning to folly do but consider the present inconveniences of making so great a change without more publicke rationall conviction when things that before were of reverend esteeme are of a suddaine decryed what 's the effect why Religion it selfe is of lesse esteeme men suspect all can as well scoffe out truth as error Calvines Observation is excellent he saith that in times of changes there are Luâ—i-amici homines qui jocose et per Ludibrium gerunt adversas supersistiones Papatus interim nullo tanguntur timore dei c. many that are of Lucians temper who by jeasting against received rites insensibly loose all sense and awe of religion and by scoffing at false Gods come the lesse to dread the true consider and see if the former liberty of tongues and pens hath not begotten that present irreverence and fearelessnesse that is in the spirits of men against things that undoubtly are of God but this is not all doe but consider how many are hardened in their old wayes and prejudiced against the reformers as if they were men that did procedere non ad perfectionem sed ad permutationem * were men given to changes meerly to love things out of passion and present dislike or which is worse out of self aimes and are ready to say of them as Austin said of some who appeared against the Pagans non pietate everterunt idola sed Avariti â onely to divide the spoile And all this because the grounds reasons and necessity of the change have not beene publickly enough discovered and truly it were very well if the loose principles and indirect practises of some did not give occasion to these slanders all that I shall farther say is this that to leape out of one way into another either out of base aimes or without due sham and sense of former miscarriages will but make our own station the more questionable for certainly selfe-respects have no majesty with them and though we be in the right yet having a wrong heart God recompenceth into our own bosomes the very measure of our dealing with others wee now have so and the great occasion of the spreading of those evile amongst us which were hatched under the iniquity of the former times and possibly let alone as the last reserve against endeavours of reformation and now meeting with a people capable of such impressions * who love to wander they are the more easily diffused and propagated some are ensnared by their owne pride and foolish singularity others by discontent base aimes unworthy reflections upon their honour profits c. most by a spirit of opposition against the Ministery God hath set us out * to be men of contention to the whole earth Those that are censores morum whose office is to taxe publicke abuses will be looked upon as men of strife we might justly suspect ourselves if this were not the portion of our cup * this spirit certainly acteth many enemies will snarle when the great voice bideth the witnesses come up bither * Surely some doe behold their late ascention and glory with envy and indignation others possibly may be led by a desire of being somebody in the world Simon Magus would be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Act. 8. 9. there is a naturall itch desire after mastership in Israel Iames cheketh it Iames 3. 1 mybrethren be not many masters we naturally affect the honor of this chaire some bottles wil burst if they have not vent * Tertullian observeth that this was the reason why divers went over to the Gnostickes and the opposite partyes in his time young men and men otherwise unfit presently Commenced into some esteeme and mastership thus you see different men acted by different spirits and all one way or another increasing the distractions of the times which being thus occasioned and diffused are supported and kept up by factions and partyes men severally prosecuting their crosse designes without any regard to the truth and advantage of Religion and if any party be opposed and discountenanced their delusion is the more strong by a supposall of perfection for by comparing their state with the state of the people of God who suffered under the fury of former times their prejudices are increased and thinke it can be no lesse then Religion and truth of zeale
of dispensations as there was before from the Law naturall to the Law of Tables and from the Law of Tables to the Gospel but now beyond this time there is nothing but the everlasting state There remaineth no more sacrâ—fice for sinne No other way of salvation to be expected beyond the Gospel this is the largest sense which not being noted hath occasioned some mistakes 2. More strictly for that space of time that immediately precedeth the worlds ruine that is to be considered in its morning and evening 1. In its morning or former part which is every where in Scripture made to be of a dismall and doubtfull appearance and therefore doe we so often heare of the evil of the latter times dayes ful of delusion desolation a world of delusion and error there is then 1 Tim. 4. 1. The Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter dayes men shall depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits God hath expressly foretold what will be the fate of those times So for desolation 2 Tim. 3. 1. in the latter times there shall come hard or perillous times {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} times of great difficulty and distresse 2. In its evening or latter part which is bright and glorious therefore do we so much heare of the goodnesse of the latter dayes as Hosea 3. 5. They shall make hast to feare the Lord and his goodnesse in the Latter dayes So of safety no provoking briar no pricking thorne Eze. 28 24. So also Isa. 2. 1 The mountaine of God above all mountaines in the latter dayes that is above the reach of opposition and violence looke as there is a morning light that goeth before the Sunshine so there are some streakes of glory and times grow better and better as they draw neerer nerer to the great day of the Lord I have done with that expression in that day 2. The next is there shall be one Lord Hitherto there have beene divers Lords The Heathens had their severall Deityes the Turkes their Mahomet the Jewes their imaginary Messiah the Papists their Lord the Pope many nations doe not as yet call Christ Lord Other Lords have dominion over them Isaiah 26. 13. But then Jesus Christ shal be the person acknowledged he shall be acknowledged alone hee shall be acknowledged as Lord all this is included in the expression c. That Christ alone shall be spoken of invocated adored in all the Churches they shall be subjected to him as the only King and guided by him as the onely Shepheard Ezek. 20. 24. Hold of him as the only head and stand to his appointment as the only Law-giver James 4. 12. And indeed here is the ground of all for t is unity of Religion that begetteth unity of affection the one Lord causeth the one Name when men have one King give themselves up to the will of Christ and have one Shepheard guided by the Spirit of Christ and have one Law-giver are willing their opinions should stand or fall at the appointments of Christ then will there be a sweet and happy agreement 3. The last clause to be examined is that his Name one at first I conceived the meaning to bee that men should looke only at one power and dignity whereby to indeare themselves to the respects of God thought the expression paralell to these Scriptures Act. 4. 12. That there is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we must be saved but only by Jesus Christ this is the one name or that Phil. 2 10. That at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bowe But considering it more seriously I saw the necessity of another sense for this is but the result and effect of the former phrase now it seemes to be added for the greater Emphasis and aggravation of the mercy that there should be not only one Lord but one Nâ—me therefore what is intended There are divers acceptions of the Name of God in Scripture that which I conceive most proper is when ' it s taken for Worship the way of our Religion and profession as Micah 4. 5. All people will walke every one in the name of his God but we will walke in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever That is severall people serve there severall distinct wayes of Worship and profession and the reason why the Scripture useth this word in this matter is because men are called and named after the way of their worship and profession thus the holy worshippers are called Christians from Christ and Mahometans from Mahomet c. and among Christians men are called according to their distinct way chiefe opinion as Papists Socinians Arminians c. well then 't is promised here that there shall be one Name that is as one Lord so one way of worship and badge of distinction we see now and wee may bewayle it that among the holy people there are distinct names as Lutherans Calvinists Presbyterians Independants But then all these shall vanish be no more heard of the whole family shall be named Christians from Christ And indeed this is no meane blessing the Divell gets great advantage by names and therefore his instruments are busie this way inventing such as may either tend to contempt and dirision * as Christians of old Puritans of late or to tumult and division as those names amongst us under which the members of Christ sadly gather into bodies and parties I have done with the explication I come to the points they are two Doct. 1 1. That in the latter dayes there shall be great unity in the Church of God D. 2 2. That this unity shall spring from their acknowledging of the right Lord and the right way Purity is the ground of this unity I shall at this time discusse the first point That in the latter dayes there shall be great unity and agreement The maine confirmation of the point lyeth in Promises for that 's the assurance wee have of it however I shall forbeare to heape up Scriptures together you will finde many in this discussion reduced to their proper place and heads The Reasons are these 1. Because this will suite best with the quiet and happy estate of those times God will usher in the glorious and everlasting estate by some preparative degrees the latter times are more blessed times * former things are to be done away That is the former kinde of dispensations and providences many promises there are which hint the great peace and rest that shall then be in the Church now that could not be if there were divisions and distinctions they would produce factions and factious Warrs and contentions and the contentions desolations Amos 7. 4. The fire devoured the great deepe that is contention brought desolation upon places and countreys that are most populous Publicke differences will end in publicke disturbances this is all wee can looke for in such cases and therefore if there
were not unity how could the other promises be fulfilled such as these Isa. 33. 10. Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a â—abernacle that cannot be taken downe the stakes thereof shall not be removed nor the coards broken T is spoken of the Church in the times of the Gospel whose state hitherto hath been most disturbed and perplexed like the Arke upon the waves it may be there hath been some relaxation and short breathing time as 't is said Rev. 8. 1. There was silence in heaven for the space of halfe an houre a little respit given to the Church in Constantiâ—e's beginning till Licinius because not equally prayed for and honoured by the Christians with Constantine raysed a new persecution then and so at other times there hath been silence for the space of halfe an houre but then the miseries returned againe with violence enough only in the latter dayes is Jerusalem a quiet habitation a fixed Tent then there are not such uncertaine happinesses and such interchangeable removes so Ezek. 28. 24. And there shall be no more any pricking thorne nor any provoking bryer of all that are round about her God hath promised to take away all provocation and molestation and what ever is grievous therefore all the cause of its difference and disagreement differences in Religion stirre up the greatest violences and most deadly hatred that which should restraine and bridle our passions is the fuell of them as long as there is difference in Religion and worship there will bee disturbances and there cannot be that quiet and happy security which the promises doe generally annexe to those times 2. Because God will then make some visible provision against the scandall of dissentions the glory of Christ hath bin mightily darkened by them no such stone of stumbling and rock of offence to the world as the contrariety of opinions and great differences that have bin among Christians Observe and you will finde it alwayes to be the great prejudice against Christianity in the primitive times * Zozomen saith many would turne Christians but they were alwaies discouraged by that dissonancy of doctrines and opinions that were amongst them And so * Chrysostome speaketh of a certaine Ethnicke that came unto him and told him I would become Christian but there is such variety of Sects among you that I cannot anchor upon any thing as certaine in your Religion Certainly nothing begets Atheisme so much as this Men have suspected the Gospel because there hath bin such differences and strife about it it makes them doubt of all to see distinct factions making the word of God ductile and pliable to so many severall purposes Therefore now an universall unity would much vindicate and recover the glory of Christ out of the hands of such a scandall and be an excellent provision for the credit of Christianity to this end Christ prayeth and urgeth this very argument to his Father John 17. 23. Let them all be one and again Let them be made perfect in one that the world may know that thou hast sent me as if he had said Father thou knowest how easily the world doe take up any prejudice against my doctrine now if there should be division among my worshippers they will thinke the Gospel a fable Religion but a device oh let them be perfect in one that the world may know and owne me for the true Messiah Should wee goe to our owne experiences this we finde amongst our selves that Religion never lost its awe so much as now God was terrible in his holy places in the assemblies of his Saints and in the lives of his holy people the gravity the strictnes of their conversation had a majesty with it and did dart reverence and awe into the hearts of men but now all this glory and power is lost and religion is looked upon but as an empty pretence and covert to some designes 'T is said Acts 4. 32 33. The multitude of believers were of one heart and one soule and then the truths of Christ had power and great grace fell upon them Christianity hath more lustre when there is such a common consent and sweet brotherly accord The truths of God have their power and the servants of God their grace with them Well then the scandall being so great the Prayer of Christ so urgent God will at one time or another doe somewhat eminently and visibly to right the honour of Jesus Christ and to recover the lustre of Christianity and our glorious profession for I take this for graunted that at some speciall times God will roll away the reproach of every eminent scandall that hath bin cast upon Christ and Religion And because God loveth like the good housholder to bring forth the best wine at last it hath not bin done hitherto but is reserved for the latter dayes for indeed you shall finde that all the latter providences are but so many vindications and clearings of Christ from the former scandalls of the world as for the scandall of meannesse hitherto Not many noble not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty are called Christ's company hath bin despicable and poore but now in the latter dayes it is every where promised that Kings shall bring their glory into the Church that they shall hold their mouthes at Christ Isa. 52. ult. That is with silence and reverence receive his commands and the like every where So for the scandall of persecution it is every where declared that in the latter dayes the enemies shall be the subjected party glad to take bold of the skirt of a Jew Zech. 8. bowe to the soales of their feet Isa. 60. The magistrates shall call the inhabitants of Jerusalem their strength and the like elsewhere So againe the Church hath beene under the abasure of reproaches but God hath promised a vindicatioÌ„ in the latter dayes that he will establish Zion a praise throughout the earth set it as a royall diadem Isa. 62. 3. with the 7. that he will give them prayse in the lands of their shame Zeph. 3. Proportionably to their abasures that they shall have glory So for paucity and fewnesse which is another scandall there are promises of the Gospel's being propagated of the flowings out of living waters of the flying in of Converts like doves to the windowes Isa. 60. and the like So in this present case because of the variance of the people of Christ under former dispensations there are promises of speciall unity and sweet accord in the latter dayes Of one Lord and one King of one Shepheard one Head Hosea 1. 11. of one shoulder Zeph. 3. 9. And that God will make Jew and Gentile and all that feare him to lye down together in peace and safety and to be all called by one name 3. The misery of these times doth seeme to inforce the greater unity I take this for the manner and course of heaven to worke one contrary out of another by the greatest
Controversie and matters were carried not so much in a disputative way but by way of friendly collation and loving discourse it would much conduce to the ending of our differences certainly where such meetings have been set up and wisely ordered much good hath come by them if we could allure Christians the lot of whose dwellings is disposed among our Churches into these Conferences wee should finde them of much availe I conceive much might be said out of Scripture for them certainly wee doe not come together so often as we should to comfort our selves with the mutuall faith of one another Rom. 1. 11 12. I beleeve that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} spoken of Heb. 10. 25. will inferre some other meeâ—ing besides the publick assembly this benefit you would find by such a course that your own would be stablished others would be lesse violent if brought to these friendly consultations haply it may be a businesse that may ingage you to much labour selfe-deniall but that should not sway with a Christian Minister whose worke is not ended with an houres discourse in the Pulpit Wee are very often calling for power to punish heretickes but let us sadly smite vpon the thigh and consider if any of us in private have improved those loving courses to gaine them that have been in our power Luther hath a pretty saying Igne charitatis comburendi sunt haereticis you talk of burning hereticks burne them first in the fire of love or at least burne them with the fire of the Spirit The Apostle speaketh of trying the worke by fire 1 Cor. 3. 13. Rationall and friendly conviction will do much at least it will beget a sweet and brotherly correspondence and 't is to be hoped wee shall finde more meeknesse where things are not carried in the way of a set disputation I have done with my addresse to the Ministry Thirdly Give me leave to speak a word to your selves not as if I would prescribe to you but onely humbly offer two or three Considerations to your thoughts it may be I may not shew so much discretion in it yet if I do affection I have my aime which is not so much to direct you as to draw you into a consultation about these matters and therefore I humbly propose the businesse to your care think of the Churches unity you have covenanted to endeavour that the Lord be one and his Name one Consider civill peace depends much upon Church peace Religion is called so a religando it being the greatest bond to linck men together contrary opinions in Religion usually cause much alienation of affection and great disturbances in the Common-wealth Therefore this matter appertaineth to you in reference to unitie I humbly desire 1. That you would seriously do your utmost to draw things to an agreement you have appointed a Committee of accommodation already we do not know what is done suppose you did try once againe When * the Remonstrants troubled the Churches of the Low Countryes there were often Collations and they did select men once and againe and againe to consider how to compose the differences 't is true those endeavours did not succeed because those meetings were made up of the most violent sticklers and the Arminians by the means of Vtenbogardus had the secret incouragement and countenance of some of the Magistrates that nothing should be done to their disservice and disadvantage and so both parties strove to make the best of their opinion and faction but now if you would be pleased to try once againe God knows what will be the successe I suppose there can be no danger in trying Call some men together whose eminency for the power of godlinesse will make the matter the more venerable entertained with the more reverence and awe when the people smell selfe and interest in any endeavours they have the less majesty with them Call men through age and experience versed in such a work men of a moderate and sober spirit who preferre the interest of religion before that of a party blessed be God England doth not want such call them together to think of wayes of reconciliation though many thirst pant after it yet cannot effect it being but private men and so not so much regarded and in bodies assemblies they cannot so well drive it on men of middle interests being always suspected have a prejudice upon their endeavours and indeed good men cannot be imagined to be so without all touch and sense of their own particular opinion as not to dispute stickle ingage for it in such bodies and assemblies but now if such were called together by your authority to make it their onely worke to provide for the advantage of religion and to compose the differences possibly and by the blessing of God much good might be done however you will manifest that you have not been wanting to your duty and therefore weigh it in your thoughts 2. That you would quicken your Ministers and Elders in their Provinciall and Classicall meetings by some charge and command to think of waies how best to gain and deale with dissentients The matter is not below the care of a Christian Magistrate * Histories tell us how Constantine did beseech his Bishops to an agreement oversee their Counsels travaile in the peace of the Churches Socrates saith he was affected with the schisme of the Church as his own calamity Well then if you would be pleased to quicken them by your command and inable them by your authority to find out and to act in such wayes as may tend to the ending of the differences and controversies much good might be done I humbly conceive the true nature and intent of such meetings is not altogether or chiefly to give laws authoritatively to the particular Churches as to consider how to compose differences that do arise in them and 't were sad if the Mint and Commin were preferred above the weighty works and the chiefe of their care were spent either in triviall disputes or in making rules for their own rather then in studying all brotherly waies of gaining those that differ and healing the breaches of the Church This I say were sad indeed the true intent and nature of these meetings being to give satisfaction and to carry things with more clearnesse of demonstration and to give out the sense of the Church in matters of difficulty for indeed the lesse of a Court and the more of a Councell they have in them the better therefore if you would command and chiefly commend these things of unity to their care debates some hope might arise that way Thirdly That you would take care that Ministers put out for scandall may not be so easily taken in againe against those that are humbly penitent and modestly ingenuous no man would open his mouth but for the others I am perswaded they are and will be a great means of our troubles partly as they occasion no
for the glory of God to expose themselves to so many hazards and they doe the more confidently beleeve it because Gods Witnesses have mostly Prophecied in sackcloth and hitherto Christ hath appeared for the most part against the Worship and customes of Nations John saith Christ came into the world 1 Io. 3. 8. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to unravell Satans webbes he hath been indeed acting the demolishing rather then the adstructive part but therefore they goe away with erroneous mistakes as if he would never build establish and set up and as if the Kings of the earth should never bring in their glory to the Church * And Martyrs were made so more by the blood and suffering then by the cause Thus I have touched upon the causes and state of the present distempers much more might be said upon this subject But now I was onely willing to point at the heads of things But you will say then what hopes I Answer our wound is grievous but not incurable many things there are to incourage us to keepe silence and waite upon God till he ordaine better things for us let me speake a word or two in this matter consider then Errors usually are not long-lived the next age declareth the folly of them 1 Cor. 3. 13. the day shall declare it time will shew what is stubble and hay though men have high thoughts of it for the present we raise so much dust by the heate of our contentions that our eyes are blinded the glory of truth darkened but things will cleare up againe we wounder at the contests of former ages and so will they at ours When God commeth into his holy Temple all the earth will keepe silence Hab. 2. 20. The neerer we aproach to Antichrists ruine God will give out more light Revel. 18. Babylon fell when the earth was inlightened with the Angells glory Light will increase towards the perfect day and as light increaseth so doth love that great unity spoken of before is when there shall be more knowledge for that 's the reason rendred Isa. 11. 9. For the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the world as the waters cover the Sea And then againe the Divell usually overacts himselfe by appearing in some odious delusion no longer as an Angell of light but as a foule fiend in such direct opposition to Christ that all good men loath him usually when God maketh any great change things come to an extremity and excesse of corruption The Arrians prevailed for a long time but being so detestably vicious and insolently cruell they ruined their own cause Or else Satan runneth himself out of breath in some civill Commotions The Remonstrants in the low-countryes quite overturned their cause when they began to raise tumults and troubles every where so those under the conduct of Muncer in Germany did but run themselves violently like * the Gadarens swine upon their owne ruine and destruction usually when Satan hath such great wrath his time is but short Revel. 12. 12. God delighteth mightily to ruine him by the violence of his owne endeavours Use 2 It serveth to Exhort and presse you to hasten and set on these hopes promises doe not exclude action but ingage to it Hope keepeth up endeavours what you doe in this kinde will not be in vaine in the Lord the promises hold forth unity strive after it 1. By Prayers 2. By Endeavours 1 By Prayers when things are otherwise itremediable heere is the last refuge Psal. 122. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love it If you love it that 's the least you can doe to mourne over the matter to God indeed sometimes 't is all that wee can doe * Learned Perkins said of his times Non sunt ista litigandi tempora sed orandi Prayers are fitter for these times then disputes Carnall zeale may put us upon disputes 't is true zeale that puts us upōprayer when we are so tenderly affected for Gods glory as that in that respect we can go mourne over the matter to him when Luther thought to redresse the evil of his times one told him abi in cellam et dic miserere nostri go and cry Lord have mercy upon us truly things seeme past help and cure I but goe and urge the matter to God that which is marvilous in our eyes * is not so in his a man goeth most cheerefully to the throne of grace when he hath the incouragement of a particular promise heere is a promise not onely to the case but to the times in that day there shall be one Lord and one name and that you may not thinke it a casuall promise and comfortable word that dropped out of the mouth of God unawares you shall see 't is a blessing full in the eye of the generall Covenant for 't is very observeable that when the tenor of the Covenant is expressed Unity is made one of the chiefe blessings of it Jer. 32. 39. I will give them one heart and one way for the good of them and of their children after them marke he saith in the former verse that he will be their God and they shall be his people which is the forme of the Covenant and then he undertaketh to give them one heart and one way union in opinion and union in affections so Ezek. 19. 11. I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within them 'T is a maine branch of the Covenant to give them one heart an heart united to God and so to one another urge God then with his own promise and Covenant be instant and earnest with him 2 Thess. 3. 16. The Lord of peace give you peace alwayes by all meanes the Lord of peace God that loveth it God that worketh it and the latter phrases alwayes and by all meanes note the vehemency and intentnesse of his desires one way or another let God finde out a meanes to ordaine peace for you for your incouragement consider you doe not only pray but Christ prayeth with you Christ intercedeth with the Father for the same thing John 17. 21. That they may be all one and that they may be perfect in one that the world may know that thou hast sent me that Prayer is but the coppy of his continuall intercession He knoweth what a scandall it is to his Name c. and therefore he saith let them be one now this is a great comfort when Christ prayeth for the same thing for which you pray he is worthy to be heard though you be not God will not refuse him that speaketh in Heaven however he dealeth with poore crawling wormes in earth 2. By Endeavours follow hard after it I shall speake heere to the people in generall then to the ministery and then shall be bold to lay two or three considerations at the feet of this honourable Assembly to helpe on this worke 1. To the people oh