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PAge 3. line 17. for Moralities: r.Immoralities: p. 13. l. 26. r. Treasury: p. 84. l 5. after why put?: p. 96. l. 4, r. were: p. 112. l. 15. blot out at Sion Colledge: p. 113. l. 5. for shall r. may: and l. 20. for suspensions r. suspicions: p. 116. l. 9. for Lordships r. preferments: p. 112. l. 17. r. consent to.
Omissions are p. 79. at the end, And if any (not accusing others) should think, truly or mistakingly, that all these or any one of them are imposed on him by man, his obedience thereto cannot be expected, till his judgement be changed: and if he 〈◊〉〈◊〉rreth not, he sinneth not: p. 100. l. 12. add, we apply this bu〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the general question, and not to any par〈◊〉〈◊〉icular case or persons: p. 115. marg. add, at Qu. 4, 5, 6. None of these Questions are put to our Superiours, who have recei∣ved many Ministers into the Church upon their Conformity, who some preacht, some wrote, some fought against the Kings cause; But they are only to those that would have the Act of Oblivion forgotten, and st〈◊〉〈◊〉ll talk of th〈◊〉〈◊〉 war in a malicious plot, to silence and ruine multi∣tudes that had no hand in it.
Note that nothing in this book is written to dishonour our Rulers, nor the Conforming Clergy, nor to deprave the Liturgie: But as I greatly rejoice that England hath yet so many Learned and able and laborious publick Preachers, (especially London) and write this much to abate their unjust censures of us that we may come to our necessary Concord; so having read all the Old Liturgi〈◊〉〈◊〉s in the Biblioth. Patrum, I do with old John Ball that excellent Non-Con∣formist (in his Treat▪ of Liturgies against Separation) thank God that England hath a better Liturgy than any of them all, and one of the best in all the World (that is so particular and long.)
Glory to God in the Highest, on earth Peace, to men Good-will. Amen.
THe sence of the House of Commons in Queen Elizabeths days, (who sure were no Presbyterians) is thus related by D. Hey∣lin, Hist. of Presbyt. pag. 288.
[A smart Petition is presented to the Lords in the name of the Commons, for rectifying of many things which they conceived to be amiss in the state of the Church: The whole Petition did consist of 16. particulars; of which the first six did relate to a Preaching Ministry, the want of which was much complained of in a supplication—In the other ten it was desired— That no Oath or subscription might be tendered to any at their entrance into the Ministry, but such as was prescribed by the statutes of the Realm, and the Oath against Cor∣rupt entering: 2. That they may not be troubled for Omission of some Rites or Offices prescribed in the book of Common prayer: 3. That such as had been suspended or deprived for no other offence,
but only for not subscribing, might be restored. 4. That they may not be called and urged to answer before the Officials and Com∣missaries, but before the Bishops themselves. 5. That they might not be called into the High Commission, or M••ot out) of the Diocess where they lived, except for some notable offence. 6. That it might be per∣mitted to them, in every Arch-Deaconry to have some common exer∣cises, and conferences among themselves, to be limited and prescribed by the Ordinaries. 7. That the high censure of excommunication may not be denounced or executed for small matters. 8. Nor by Chancel∣lours Commissioners (Commissaries) or Officials, but by the Bishops themselves with the assistance of grave persons. 9. That non-re∣sidency may be quite removed out of the Church. 10. That at least, according to the Queens Injunctions Art. 44. No-nonresident having already a Licence or Faculty may enjoy it, unless he depute an able Curate that may weekly preach and Cutechize, as was required by her Majesty in the said injunctions] Against (saith Heylin) the violence of this Torrent the Arch-Bishop interposed both his power and Reason—But finding that the Lord Grey and other of that house (of Lords) had been made of the party, he drew the rest of the Bishops to joyn with him in an humble Petition to her sacred Majesty, and the Queen put an end to that dispute, not only for the present but all Parliaments fol∣lowing.
Here you see, 1. What was the sence of the Lords and Com∣mons: 2. What was the heinous evil desired that seemed in∣tolerable to the Bishops: 3 By whom and how it was defeated] The Lord have mercy on his Church; and the souls that men have little mercy for, and save them especially from themselves, and next from their Reverend Overseers. Dr. Stoughton citeth Luther saying, Nunquam periclitatur religio nisi inter reverendissimos.
As this was coming out of the Press, a Sermon of Dr. Stilling∣fleet's oft calls me to account, about Separation. When I see a satisfactory answer to what I have lately said hereof in my Book of Concord and the first part of the Plea for peace, if I have life and liberty I shall return my thanks to the Consuter: But I am not now at leisure to open other mens confounding or mistaking touches, who have not leisure to say that which requireth an answer, for them that impartially have read the books, which he excepteth against.