Beames of former light,: discovering how evil it is to impose doubtfull and disputable formes or practises, upon ministers: especially under the penalty of ejection for non-conformity unto the same. As also something about catechizing.

§. 7.

THe great difficulty which the Ho∣nourable Houses found, to pitch upon any thing suddainly in Church-Government, especially in what they judged not to be fun∣damental, and of the substance of it, for that was sooner setled by them: And the possibility upon further experience to make altera∣tions in Circumstantials and lesser matters. Did beget a tenderness in them, and gracious indulgence to such as were to submit, in what they then setled: as

1 In the establishing of matters more doubtful for three years only,

or a shorter time. 2 What was to be for a standing Law, or Rule, and for longer time, had no ruining penalty, to enforce submission. 3 A forbearance was consulted, for such as through tendernesse of Consci∣cence could not come up to that rule, prudently and piously consi∣dering; What was not without so much difficulty resolved upon in their own Consciences to esta∣blish: might after establishment, finde some difficulty in other mens Consciences to be submitted unto.

And the truth is, such matters as Civil Governours and others have looked upon as small diffe∣rences, or but Circumstances, or at most, not of the substance of Di∣scipline or Worship: yet it hath fal∣len out otherwise, in the Conscien∣ces of those that have been to pra∣ctise, knowing their God to bee a jealous and severe God, in mat∣ters wherein his Worship and Name is concerned, Small things are

great to a searching tender Consci∣ence, and where doing or not doing, thrusts a man between these two rocks; the offending of God or man.

Notes

• So they say, Ordi. of March 14. 1645.
• Exod. 20.