Englands distractions to be Englands peaceable directions. [ 766]
AUlus Gellius tells of certain Men, that were in a ship ready to perish, by rea∣son of a great Tempest,* 1.1 and one of them being a Philosoper, fell to asking many trifling questions; to whom they answered, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we are a perishing, and dost thou trifle? So it may be said of us, Is England a sinking, and is this a time to be raising of unnecessary Disputes, to be wrangling in Con∣troversies about points of Church-Government, when God knows whether we shall have any Go••ernment either in Church or State at all, when there is Hannibalad portas, a generation of Men crying out, No Governours, no Church, no Ministers, no Sacrament. As Elisha said to Gehezi, Is this a time to receive money? so it may be said again,* 1.2 ••e••us sic stantibus, Is this a time to divide? Is such a time as this, a time to trouble England with new opinions? Is this a time to divide? Nay is it not rather a time to unite, and to have quiet hearts, and peaceable dispositions one towards ano∣ther, that so the God of peace may delight to dwell amongst us?