The second and last part of Reasons for refusall of subscription to the Booke of common prayer vnder the hands of certaine ministers of Deuon. and Cornwall, as they were exhibited by them to the right Reuerend Father in God William Cotton Doctor of Diuinitie, and Lord Bishop of Exceter. As also an appendix, or compendious briefe of all other exceptions taken by others against the bookes of communion, homilies, and ordination, word for word, as it came to the hands of an honorable personage. VVith an ansvvere to both at seuerall times returned them in publike conference, and in diuerse sermons vpon occasion preached in the cathedrall church of Exceter by Thomas Hutton Bachiler of Diuinitie, and fellow of S. Iohns Colledge in Oxon.

These are directly against the word and true faith, Heb. 10.19. By the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place. And verse 22. Let vs draw neare with a true hart in assurance of faith, &c. And Heb 4.16. Let vs goe boldly to the throne of the grace. These places are directly against doubting, and slauish feare: Ergō not to be Subscribed vnto.

Be they, and euer may they he places directly against doub∣ting, and slauish feare. Such doubting as is a slauish feare we admit not, because the assurance of our faith doth not: yet our knowledge in Scripture teacheth thus much, that Faith is beholding vnto feare, both in h••r entrance, and afterwards in the growth. In the entrance, when she takes possession of our harts. For the iudgements of God and the terrors of the law in humbling vs, are a Schoole master vnto Christ, and after too, when we many times are likely to play the wan∣tons, and thinke our estate like mount Sion that cannot be mo∣ued, so as what is said of Faith and Charitie is a true saying of assurance and feare.* 1.1 They are better distinguished in our Bookes, then in our persons. Much there is in vs of the flesh, that is vnregenerate, though like a begger still mending his cloke, we make vp the breaches by dayly repentance. At the entrance how it worketh may appeare by a similitude taken from a Sempsters worke,* 1.2 who whither Dorcas, or some other drawing her néedle in & out bringeth the silke after. The needle commeth and goeth, the silke stayeth and maketh a gar∣ment of needle-worke, yea if maketh a samplar for many yeares, though the needle breake, or be lost, or the partie dead: So is it in feare. The worke begun, the point maketh an entrance, after which the mercies of God as soft as silke follow, and stay to make vp a garment to put on, where no needle is now, but once was, so no shew of feare to fore, but the effect of it may be seene in the euill not of punishment, but of sinne,* 1.3 which as certainely draweth on punishment, as Ahaz diall in a Sunne-shine day casts his shaddow. Farre wide he is (saith Bernard) that doth so kisse the foote of Gods mercie that he doth not heede the foote of his iustice, as

if he were a father and not a Lord. If a Father where is his loue, if a Lord, where is his feare? Malach. 1.6.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fides & chari∣tasbené distin∣guntor in libris sed malé in mo∣ribus.
• * 1.2

  Act 9.38.
• * 1.3

  Osculatur mise ricordi•• pedem vt pedem indi∣cis non attendat Ber••serm de S. Maria.