The way to peace amongst all Protestants: being a letter of reconciliation sent by Bp. Ridley to Bp. Hooper, with some observations upon it. Licensed, July the 14. 1688.
         Johnson, Samuel, 1649-1703.
      
       
         
           1688
        
      
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         ESTC R3678
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         99834882
         39499
         
           
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         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 39499)
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             The way to peace amongst all Protestants: being a letter of reconciliation sent by Bp. Ridley to Bp. Hooper, with some observations upon it. Licensed, July the 14. 1688.
             Johnson, Samuel, 1649-1703.
             Ridley, Nicholas, 1500?-1555.
             Hooper, John, d. 1555.
          
           [4], 8p.
           
             printed for Richard Baldwin,
             London :
             1688.
          
           
             The bulk of the text is by Samuel Johnson.
             Sometimes also attributed to Nicholas Ridley.
             With a final advertisement leaf.
             Identified as Wing R1453 on UMI microfilm (Early English books, 1641-1700) reel 508.
             Reproductions of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Protestants -- Early works to 1800.
           Peace -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           The
           WAY
           To
           PEACE
           AMONGST
           All
           Protestants
           :
           Being
           A
           LETTER
           Of
           RECONCILIATION
           Sent
           by
           
             Bp.
             Ridley
          
           to
           
             Bp.
             Hooper
          
           .
           With
           some
           Observations
           upon
           it
           .
        
         
           Licensed
           ,
           
             July
             the
             14
             1688.
          
           
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             Richard
             Baldwin
          
           ,
           1688.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           Books
           lately
           Printed
           for
           
             Rich.
             Baldwin
          
           .
        
         
           PVrgatory
           prov'd
           by
           Miracles
           :
           Collected
           out
           of
           Roman-Catholick
           Authors
           .
           With
           some
           remarkable
           Histories
           relating
           to
           
             British
             ,
             English
          
           ,
           and
           
             Irish
             Saints
          
           .
           With
           a
           Preface
           concerning
           the
           Miracles
           .
           6
           d.
           
        
         
           The
           Tryal
           of
           
             Philip
             Stansfield
          
           ,
           Son
           to
           Sir
           
             Iames
             Stansfield
          
           of
           New-Milns
           ,
           for
           the
           murther
           of
           his
           Father
           ,
           and
           other
           Crimes
           Libell'd
           against
           him
           ,
           Feb.
           7.
           1688.
           1
           s.
           
        
         
           The
           Revolter
           ;
           A
           Tragi-Comedy
           :
           Acted
           between
           the
           Hind
           and
           Panther
           ,
           and
           
             Religio
             Laici
             ,
             &c.
          
           6
           d.
           
        
         
           An
           Historical
           Relation
           of
           several
           Great
           and
           Learned
           Romanists
           who
           did
           embrace
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           with
           the
           Reasons
           of
           ●heir
           Change
           ,
           delivered
           in
           their
           own
           Words
           ,
           Collected
           chiefly
           from
           the
           most
           Eminent
           Historians
           of
           the
           Roman
           Persuasion
           :
           to
           which
           is
           added
           ,
           a
           Catalogue
           of
           several
           Great
           Persons
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           Religion
           who
           hath
           all
           along
           oppos'ed
           the
           Tenents
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           6
           d.
           
        
         
           A
           Seasonable
           Discourse
           ,
           shewing
           the
           Unreasonableness
           and
           Mischiefs
           of
           Impositions
           in
           Matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           Recommended
           to
           Serious
           Consideration
           .
           By
           
             Andrew
             Marvell
          
           
             Esq
          
           late
           Member
           of
           Parliament
           .
           6
           d.
           
        
         
           Reflections
           upon
           the
           
             New
             Test
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Reply
           thereto
           with
           a
           Letter
           of
           Sir
           Francis
           Walsingham's
           ,
           concerning
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           made
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           .
           3
           d.
           
        
         
           A
           Letter
           of
           Advice
           to
           a
           Young
           Lady
           ,
           being
           Motives
           and
           Directions
           to
           establish
           her
           in
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           :
           Written
           by
           a
           Person
           of
           Honour
           ,
           and
           made
           publick
           for
           the
           use
           of
           that
           Sex.
           3
           d.
           
        
         
           A
           Seasonable
           Collection
           of
           Plain
           Texts
           of
           Scripture
           (
           in
           words
           at
           length
           ,
           against
           several
           Points
           in
           the
           Romish
           Religion
           )
           for
           the
           Use
           of
           
             English
             Protestants
          
           :
           2
           d.
           
        
         
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           they
           may
           be
           able
           to
           do
           good
           to
           many
           .
           Farewell
           in
           the
           Lord
           my
           most
           dear
           Brother
           ,
           and
           if
           there
           be
           any
           more
           in
           Prison
           with
           you
           for
           Christ's
           cause
           ,
           I
           beseech
           you
           ,
           as
           you
           may
           ,
           salute
           them
           in
           my
           Name
           .
           To
           whose
           Prayers
           I
           do
           most
           humbly
           and
           heartily
           commend
           my self
           and
           my
           fellow
           Prisoners
           and
           Captives
           in
           the
           Lord
           ,
           And
           yet
           once
           again
           and
           for
           ever
           in
           Christ
           my
           most
           Dear
           Brother
           farewell
           .
        
         
           
             N.
             Ridley
             .
          
        
      
       
         
           Some
           Observations
           upon
           the
           foregoing
           Letter
           .
        
         
           There
           cannot
           be
           a
           more
           Blessed
           Work
           than
           to
           Reconcile
           Protestants
           with
           Protestants
           .
           And
           a
           man
           would
           think
           it
           should
           be
           one
           of
           the
           Easiest
           ,
           because
           we
           are
           able
           to
           say
           to
           them
           as
           Moses
           did
           to
           the
           two
           contending
           
             Israelites
             ,
             Sirs
             ,
             Ye
             are
             Brethren
             ,
             why
             do
             ye
             wrong
             one
             to
             another
             ?
          
           The
           meekest
           Man
           in
           all
           the
           Earth
           took
           another
           course
           with
           the
           Egyptian
           ;
           but
           as
           for
           Brethren
           ,
           he
           endeavoured
           all
           he
           could
           to
           set
           them
           at
           one
           again
           .
           This
           is
           the
           only
           Design
           of
           this
           Paper
           in
           laying
           before
           you
           the
           Example
           of
           two
           Protestant
           Bishops
           ,
           who
           wisely
           found
           out
           the
           way
           to
           put
           an
           happy
           period
           to
           their
           unhappy
           Differences
           :
           Which
           are
           the
           very
           same
           as
           have
           been
           since
           taken
           up
           by
           Protestants
           again
           ,
           af●er
           those
           two
           Good
           Men
           had
           laid
           them
           down
           .
           In
           the
           struglings
           of
           Ridley
           and
           Hooper
           there
           were
           two
           Nations
           strugling
           in
           the
           Womb
           ,
           the
           two
           great
           Parties
           of
           the
           Conformists
           and
           Nonconformists
           :
           For
           those
           two
           Persons
           differed
           about
           the
           self-same
           matters
           as
           we
           do
           now
           ;
           the
           establish'd
           Ceremonies
           ,
           the
           dress
           of
           Religion
           ,
           certain
           By-matters
           and
           circumstances
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           Hooper
           the
           Nonconformist
           could
           not
           comply
           with
           ,
           And
           Ridley
           the
           Conformist
           ,
           because
           they
           were
           according
           to
           Law
           ,
           insisted
           upon
           and
           would
           not
           abate
           .
           So
           that
           in
           their
           old
           Differences
           ,
           we
           find
           exactly
           our
           present
           distemper
           :
           And
           therefore
           in
           their
           Cure
           ,
           why
           should
           we
           not
           also
           find
           our
           own
           Remedy
           ?
           It
           is
           an
           Approved
           remedy
           ;
           it
           cured
           men
           who
           thought
           one
           another
           Superstitious
           and
           Imposing
           on
           one
           side
           ,
           and
           stubborn
           and
           intolerably
           willful
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           And
           yet
           they
           came
           afterwards
           to
           Believe
           one
           another
           to
           be
           ,
           as
           they
           Really
           were
           ,
           Upright
           Men
           on
           both
           sides
           .
           We
           have
           the
           Receipt
           in
           these
           few
           ,
           but
           very
           weighty
           words
           .
           
             But
             now
             my
             Dear
             Brother
             ,
             forasmuch
             as
             I
             understand
             by
             your
             Works
             ,
             which
             I
             have
             but
             superficially
             seen
             ,
             That
             we
             throughly
             agree
             and
             wholly
             consent
             together
             in
             those
             things
             which
             are
             the
             Grounds
             and
             substantial
             Points
             of
             our
             Religion
             ,
             against
             the
             which
             the
             World
             so
             furiously
             rageth
             in
             these
             our
             days
             ,
             Howsoever
             in
             time
             past
             in
             certain
             By-matters
             and
             Circumstances
             of
             Religion
             ,
             your
             Wisdom
             and
             my
             Simplicity
             ,
             I
             grant
             ,
             hath
             a
             little
             jarred
             ,
             each
             of
             us
             following
             the
             abundance
             of
             his
             own
             Sense
             and
             Iudgment
             :
             Now
             I
             say
             ,
             b●
             you
             assured
             ,
             that
             even
             with
             my
             whole
             heart
             (
             God
             is
             my
             witness
             )
             in
             the
             Bowels
             of
             Christ
             ,
             I
             Love
             you
             in
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             Truths-sake
             ,
             which
             abideth
             in
             us
             ,
             and
             as
             I
             am
             perswaded
             ,
             shall
             by
             the
             grace
             of
             God
             ,
             abide
             in
             us
             evermore
             .
          
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           first
           Consideration
           which
           arises
           from
           these
           words
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           the
           Agreement
           there
           is
           amongst
           Protestants
           in
           the
           main
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           should
           drown
           and
           extinguish
           all
           lesser
           Differences
           .
           The
           Substance
           of
           Religion
           which
           we
           all
           hold
           ought
           in
           reason
           to
           have
           more
           power
           to
           Unite
           us
           ,
           than
           all
           the
           By-matters
           and
           Circumstances
           in
           the
           world
           to
           Divide
           us
           .
           We
           have
           all
           but
           one
           Rule
           of
           Faith
           and
           Life
           ,
           one
           Standard
           of
           Religious
           Worship
           and
           Practice
           ,
           which
           is
           one
           and
           the
           same
           
             English
             Bible
          
           ;
           And
           why
           should
           we
           not
           then
           All
           be
           of
           One
           Heart
           and
           One
           Soul
           ?
           We
           all
           believe
           that
           there
           is
           one
           God
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           Polytheism
           .
           We
           believe
           that
           this
           God
           is
           to
           be
           worshipped
           in
           Spirit
           and
           in
           Truth
           ,
           in
           contradiction
           to
           Idolatry
           ;
           without
           absurdly
           changing
           the
           Glory
           of
           the
           Incorruptible
           God
           into
           the
           similitude
           of
           a
           Corruptible
           Man
           ,
           or
           worshipping
           our
           Maker
           in
           form
           of
           Bread.
           We
           all
           believe
           in
           the
           Father
           ,
           Son
           ,
           and
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           in
           whose
           Names
           we
           are
           Baptized
           .
           We
           are
           all
           taught
           of
           God
           to
           Hope
           for
           everlasting
           Happiness
           through
           the
           merits
           of
           our
           only
           Redeemer
           ,
           Mediatour
           ,
           and
           Advocate
           
             Iesus
             Christ
          
           the
           Righteous
           ,
           who
           is
           the
           Author
           of
           eternal
           Salvation
           to
           all
           those
           that
           Obey
           him
           .
           We
           are
           all
           assured
           by
           many
           Infallible
           proofs
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           gone
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           to
           prepare
           a
           place
           for
           all
           his
           true
           Disciples
           and
           Followers
           ;
           And
           that
           the
           Heavens
           must
           
           contain
           him
           till
           the
           r●stitution
           of
           all
           things
           :
           And
           that
           therefore
           He
           is
           not
           in
           any
           Tabernacles
           or
           Boxes
           here
           below
           .
           We
           all
           know
           assuredly
           ,
           That
           in
           every
           Nation
           he
           that
           feareth
           God
           and
           worketh
           Righteousness
           ,
           is
           accepted
           of
           him
           ;
           And
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           God
           is
           not
           now
           limited
           or
           confined
           to
           the
           Iewish
           ,
           or
           to
           any
           other
           Nation
           ,
           but
           is
           truly
           Catholick
           and
           Universal
           .
        
         
           We
           all
           believe
           the
           two
           future
           states
           of
           Heaven
           and
           Hell
           ,
           for
           the
           Just
           and
           for
           the
           Unjust
           ;
           And
           neither
           our
           Books
           nor
           we
           know
           of
           any
           other
           ,
           nor
           indeed
           of
           any
           other
           sorts
           of
           Men
           ;
           Nor
           do
           any
           of
           us
           believe
           one
           word
           concerning
           the
           Profitableness
           of
           singing
           for
           a
           Soul.
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           since
           we
           are
           so
           Unanimous
           in
           these
           and
           many
           other
           the
           most
           important
           Truths
           ,
           shall
           we
           fall
           out
           about
           Ceremonies
           ,
           about
           Postures
           and
           Gestures
           ,
           about
           the
           Hatt
           and
           the
           Knee
           ,
           about
           dignifiing
           and
           distinguishing
           Titles
           ,
           about
           Garbs
           or
           Garments
           ,
           about
           Modes
           and
           Fashions
           ,
           and
           things
           which
           are
           very
           far
           from
           the
           Heart
           ,
           and
           many
           removes
           from
           the
           Essence
           of
           Religion
           ;
           nay
           things
           which
           are
           Shadows
           and
           meer
           Nothings
           when
           compared
           with
           the
           Substantial
           matters
           ,
           wherein
           we
           are
           Agreed
           ?
           Nay
           further
           ,
           I
           am
           bold
           to
           say
           we
           are
           all
           Agreed
           in
           these
           inferiour
           Matters
           of
           Difference
           ,
           and
           do
           not
           know
           it
           :
           For
           instance
           ,
           we
           are
           all
           agreed
           ,
           That
           kneeling
           at
           the
           Sacrament
           is
           no
           part
           of
           our
           Saviour's
           Institution
           ;
           That
           kneeling
           at
           the
           most
           solemn
           Prayer
           that
           can
           be
           ,
           is
           a
           fitting
           posture
           ;
           That
           kneeling
           to
           the
           Sacrament
           in
           imitation
           of
           or
           compliance
           with
           the
           Popish
           worship
           of
           the
           Host
           ,
           is
           absolutely
           Unlawful
           :
           And
           yet
           we
           squabble
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           hear
           one
           another
           out
           ,
           nor
           understand
           one
           anothers
           Meanings
           ;
           but
           scuffle
           in
           the
           Dark
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           all
           Friends
           ,
           and
           all
           of
           a
           side
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           all
           the
           distance
           that
           is
           betwixt
           English
           Protestants
           ,
           is
           occasioned
           by
           little
           Mistakes
           and
           misapprehensions
           about
           very
           little
           matters
           ,
           and
           still
           they
           are
           so
           much
           of
           one
           mind
           even
           as
           to
           the
           matters
           in
           Difference
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           Conformists
           thought
           the
           Ceremonies
           Popish
           ,
           they
           would
           immediately
           turn
           Nonconformists
           ;
           and
           if
           the
           Nonconformists
           did
           not
           app●ehend
           them
           to
           be
           Popish
           ,
           they
           would
           never
           have
           scrupled
           them
           .
           So
           that
           they
           both
           of
           them
           plainly
           mean
           the
           same
           thing
           .
        
         
           Hooper
           scrupled
           the
           Ceremonies
           under
           the
           notion
           of
           Popish
           Ceremonies
           ,
           and
           under
           the
           same
           notion
           Ridley
           would
           have
           hated
           and
           rejected
           them
           .
           Ridley
           and
           the
           other
           Bishops
           said
           in
           defence
           of
           these
           Ceremonies
           ,
           
             That
             they
             were
             small
             matters
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             Fault
             was
             in
             the
             Abuse
             of
             the
             things
             and
             not
             in
             the
             things
             themselves
             ,
             and
             that
          
           Hooper
           
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             so
             stubborn
             in
             so
             light
             a
             matter
             ,
             and
             that
             his
             Willfulness
             therein
             was
             not
             to
             be
             suffered
             .
          
           And
           would
           not
           Hooper
           himself
           have
           passed
           the
           same
           Censure
           upon
           his
           own
           Refusal
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           had
           just
           the
           same
           thoughts
           and
           opinion
           of
           the
           Ceremonies
           ?
           But
           he
           thought
           ,
           that
           a
           thing
           in
           it self
           indiffe●ent
           ,
           but
           having
           been
           abused
           to
           Superstitious
           purposes
           ,
           could
           never
           after
           be
           lookt
           upon
           as
           indiff●rent
           and
           innocent
           ;
           but
           it
           must
           of
           necessity
           pass
           under
           that
           Notion
           which
           common
           and
           corrupt
           Usage
           had
           put
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           was
           spoyled
           and
           had
           utterly
           lost
           its
           former
           Indifferency
           .
           For
           which
           reason
           
             these
             Rites
             and
             Ceremonies
             were
             offensive
             to
             his
             Conscience
             ,
          
           as
           the
           King
           's
           Grant
           of
           Dispensation
           to
           him
           ,
           by
           the
           Advice
           of
           the
           Privy
           Council
           ,
           expresses
           it
           ;
           But
           Cranmer
           and
           Ridley
           and
           the
           other
           Bishops
           were
           so
           far
           determined
           by
           the
           Laws
           ,
           that
           the
           King's
           Dispensation
           ,
           granted
           to
           Hooper
           upon
           that
           occasion
           ,
           did
           not
           take
           place
           .
           Nor
           indeed
           was
           it
           in
           their
           power
           to
           admit
           of
           it
           .
           For
           being
           these
           Ceremonies
           were
           Enacted
           by
           Law
           ,
           and
           fastened
           to
           the
           Freehold
           ,
           and
           made
           part
           of
           the
           Establishment
           by
           the
           Universal
           Consent
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           nothing
           but
           the
           same
           Consent
           could
           take
           them
           away
           again
           .
        
         
           Now
           therefore
           the
           nicety
           of
           the
           Difference
           betwixt
           them
           lay
           in
           this
           ,
           whether
           Ceremonies
           which
           were
           once
           indifferent
           and
           had
           been
           abused
           ,
           might
           be
           so
           purged
           and
           freed
           from
           those
           Abuses
           ,
           as
           to
           become
           indifferent
           and
           fit
           to
           be
           used
           again
           .
           And
           
           this
           is
           a
           matter
           so
           hard
           to
           be
           decided
           ,
           that
           it
           must
           be
           weighed
           in
           Gold
           Scales
           ,
           where
           the
           very
           least
           moment
           ,
           or
           even
           a
           Man's
           breath
           on
           the
           one
           side
           or
           the
           other
           ,
           is
           sufficient
           to
           incline
           the
           ballance
           .
           For
           it
           is
           with
           indifferent
           Ceremonies
           and
           Usages
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           with
           Words
           that
           are
           indifferent
           .
           The
           word
           Ballad
           was
           once
           an
           innocent
           and
           inoffensive
           word
           ,
           and
           signified
           as
           the
           word
           Song
           now
           does
           ;
           but
           the
           word
           has
           been
           abused
           and
           applied
           to
           the
           meanest
           and
           most
           rascally
           sort
           of
           Poetry
           ,
           and
           has
           for
           a
           long
           time
           been
           taken
           in
           the
           worser
           sense
           .
           Suppose
           therefore
           that
           some
           Men
           desirous
           to
           speak
           as
           their
           Fore-fathers
           did
           ,
           who
           called
           the
           Book
           of
           Canticles
           the
           Ballad
           of
           Ballads
           ,
           as
           reverently
           as
           we
           now
           call
           it
           the
           Song
           of
           Songs
           ,
           should
           say
           ,
           That
           if
           Authority
           require
           that
           this
           word
           be
           used
           in
           its
           first
           and
           best
           sense
           ,
           why
           then
           we
           may
           very
           lawfully
           and
           reverently
           use
           it
           in
           that
           sense
           again
           :
           Because
           though
           the
           word
           has
           been
           abused
           and
           ill
           applied
           ,
           yet
           the
           Fault
           is
           in
           the
           abuse
           of
           the
           word
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           the
           word
           it self
           .
           And
           further
           ,
           that
           no
           man
           ought
           to
           refuse
           to
           read
           that
           Book
           upon
           this
           trifling
           account
           ,
           because
           he
           dislikes
           the
           Title
           of
           it
           :
           Especially
           when
           a
           publick
           Law
           has
           declared
           ,
           That
           the
           self-same
           is
           meant
           by
           this
           Title
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           Dissenter
           had
           had
           the
           wording
           of
           it
           himself
           to
           his
           own
           Mind
           ,
           and
           had
           called
           it
           the
           Hymn
           of
           Hymns
           .
           This
           is
           the
           substance
           of
           what
           Cranmer
           and
           Ridley
           said
           .
        
         
           On
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           
           Hooper's
           Opinion
           in
           this
           supposed
           Case
           was
           ,
           That
           though
           our
           Fore-fathers
           had
           used
           that
           word
           very
           Religiously
           and
           Reverently
           ,
           yet
           it
           had
           since
           been
           so
           corrupted
           and
           abused
           ,
           and
           had
           contracted
           so
           profane
           a
           Signification
           ,
           as
           no
           Authority
           could
           wholly
           deface
           ,
           nor
           could
           so
           inoffensively
           resto●e
           the
           word
           to
           be
           used
           in
           Religious
           Matters
           any
           more
           ,
           but
           that
           Sober
           Men
           would
           always
           hav●
           a
           Prejudice
           against
           it
           .
           This
           was
           
           Hooper's
           very
           sense
           .
           He
           looked
           upon
           the
           Reformed
           Ceremonies
           as
           still
           retaining
           a
           Popish
           Tang.
           But
           tho
           a
           Law
           could
           not
           cure
           his
           Prejudices
           ,
           yet
           that
           ,
           and
           the
           higher
           Considerations
           of
           doing
           Service
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           God
           ,
           did
           quite
           over-rule
           them
           :
           And
           he
           wisely
           complied
           with
           those
           Ceremonies
           ,
           which
           if
           he
           had
           been
           left
           to
           his
           Choice
           he
           would
           rather
           have
           forborn
           .
        
         
           Obj.
           But
           now
           it
           may
           here
           be
           objected
           and
           said
           ,
           That
           when
           the
           Clergy
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           saw
           that
           good
           Men
           and
           great
           Men
           ,
           and
           the
           glorious
           Martyrs
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           such
           as
           Hooper
           was
           ,
           were
           offended
           with
           these
           Ceremonies
           ,
           they
           should
           have
           used
           their
           utmost
           endeavours
           to
           have
           gotten
           them
           discharged
           by
           Law
           as
           they
           were
           imposed
           by
           Law
           ,
           and
           not
           have
           left
           them
           to
           remain
           as
           a
           standing
           offence
           ,
           and
           a
           perpetual
           Stumbling-block
           ,
           to
           all
           others
           of
           
           Hooper's
           mind
           .
        
         
           Answ.
           This
           I
           confess
           would
           be
           an
           Objection
           very
           much
           to
           the
           Prejudice
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           could
           it
           not
           be
           truly
           said
           ,
           that
           the
           Clergy
           did
           heartily
           endeavour
           to
           procure
           this
           ease
           to
           scrupulous
           Consciences
           ,
           though
           without
           success
           .
           For
           all
           the
           eminent
           Bishops
           of
           England
           in
           Queen
           
           Elizabeth's
           time
           ,
           
             Sandys
             ,
             Iewel
             ,
             Horn
             ,
             Grindall
             ,
          
           &c.
           nay
           Dr.
           Cox
           himself
           Bishop
           of
           Ely
           ,
           who
           was
           the
           unhappy
           occasion
           of
           all
           the
           Troubles
           at
           Franckfort
           ,
           did
           all
           of
           them
           labour
           in
           this
           point
           ,
           and
           could
           not
           prevail
           with
           the
           Queen
           to
           consent
           to
           it
           :
           As
           appears
           by
           a
           heap
           of
           their
           Letters
           ,
           written
           to
           Bullinger
           at
           Zurick
           ,
           which
           is
           still
           extant
           .
           Which
           being
           the
           Remains
           of
           those
           great
           Men
           ,
           and
           so
           noble
           a
           Monument
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           
           England's
           Moderation
           ,
           is
           very
           well
           worth
           the
           going
           thither
           to
           see
           it
           .
           But
           to
           conclude
           ,
           make
           your
           best
           and
           your
           worst
           of
           Ceremonies
           ,
           they
           are
           in
           
           Ridle●'s
           words
           ,
           but
           Circumstances
           and
           By-matters
           ;
           they
           are
           of
           as
           little
           concern
           to
           Religion
           as
           those
           Meats
           which
           occasioned
           differences
           in
           the
           Apostles
           times
           ;
           and
           they
           will
           not
           bear
           the
           Charges
           of
           falling
           out
           about
           them
           ,
           either
           on
           the
           one
           side
           or
           on
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Especially
           in
           the
           second
           place
           ,
           when
           Protestants
           have
           somewhat
           else
           to
           do
           :
           Or
           as
           
           Ridley's
           words
           are
           ,
           
             When
             the
             World
             so
             
             furiously
             rageth
             against
             the
             Grounds
             and
             substantial
             points
             of
             our
             Religion
             ,
             in
             these
             our
             days
             .
          
           Is
           it
           a
           time
           for
           us
           to
           trouble
           our
           heads
           with
           trivial
           matters
           ,
           when
           the
           sum
           and
           substance
           of
           our
           Religion
           is
           in
           danger
           ,
           and
           lies
           at
           stake
           ?
           For
           have
           we
           not
           lately
           seen
           the
           Papists
           laying
           the
           Axe
           to
           the
           root
           of
           the
           Tree
           ,
           and
           the
           weekly
           Representer
           in
           particular
           for
           several
           Weeks
           successively
           Ridiculing
           and
           making
           Sport
           with
           our
           Bible
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           whole
           Religion
           of
           Protestants
           ?
           Does
           he
           not
           say
           that
           we
           have
           as
           many
           Bibles
           as
           Heads
           ,
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           That
           the
           Bible
           it self
           ,
           without
           their
           Infallible
           Blind
           Guides
           to
           interpret
           it
           ,
           is
           wholly
           Useless
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           every
           Man
           may
           as
           well
           frame
           a
           several
           Religion
           of
           his
           own
           Head
           ,
           without
           any
           Bible
           at
           all
           ?
           Truly
           if
           it
           be
           so
           Useless
           and
           so
           Mischievous
           a
           Book
           as
           that
           Author
           has
           Represented
           it
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           enough
           to
           put
           a
           stop
           to
           the
           Printing
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           it
           ought
           also
           to
           be
           Prohibited
           .
           Do
           they
           not
           daily
           make
           Scandalous
           attempts
           and
           efforts
           against
           the
           Trinity
           of
           Divine
           Persons
           ,
           Father
           ,
           Son
           ,
           and
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           in
           whose
           Names
           we
           are
           Baptized
           ;
           only
           because
           we
           will
           not
           also
           believe
           in
           a
           Breaden
           God
           Almighty
           ?
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           Do
           they
           not
           endeavour
           to
           wrest
           all
           Scripture
           out
           of
           our
           Hands
           ,
           because
           we
           will
           not
           receive
           their
           false
           and
           forged
           Traditions
           with
           the
           same
           Reverenc●
           ?
           Our
           present
           Business
           therefore
           is
           to
           lay
           a
           dead
           hold
           upon
           our
           Bibles
           ,
           and
           to
           maintain
           the
           Grounds
           and
           Substantial
           Points
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           and
           to
           suffer
           Circumstances
           and
           By-matters
           to
           take
           their
           Chance
           .
           Nay
           ,
           we
           ought
           to
           be
           in
           a
           readiness
           to
           Compound
           for
           our
           Bibles
           ,
           and
           rather
           to
           throw
           all
           Ceremonies
           over-board
           with
           our
           own
           Hands
           ,
           than
           to
           endanger
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           which
           is
           infinitely
           more
           Valuable
           .
           And
           though
           I
           know
           not
           of
           any
           one
           Ceremony
           injoyned
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           both
           Lawful
           and
           Primitive
           ,
           and
           of
           an
           elder
           date
           than
           Popery
           ;
           yet
           because
           the
           Slovenly
           Papists
           have
           spit
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           by
           corrupting
           and
           abusing
           them
           have
           endeavoured
           to
           make
           them
           their
           Own
           ,
           I
           hope
           the
           Wisedom
           of
           the
           Nation
           may
           hereafter
           suffer
           them
           to
           be
           so
           ;
           Especially
           since
           all
           wise
           Protestants
           know
           very
           well
           ,
           that
           we
           can
           Live
           without
           them
           .
           And
           we
           ought
           the
           rather
           to
           be
           of
           this
           mind
           ,
           because
        
         
           3.
           
           In
           the
           third
           place
           ,
           we
           see
           to
           what
           Terms
           of
           Abatement
           and
           Accommodation
           that
           Blessed
           Martyr
           Ridley
           has
           descended
           in
           these
           following
           words
           .
           
             Howsoever
             in
             time
             past
             in
             certain
             By-matters
             and
             circumstances
             of
             Religion
             your
             Wisdom
             and
             my
             Simplicity
             I
             grant
             hath
             a
             little
             jarred
             ,
             each
             of
             us
             following
             the
             abundance
             of
             his
             own
             Sense
             and
             Iudgement
             .
             Ridley
          
           had
           sincerely
           followed
           his
           own
           great
           Judgement
           in
           this
           Dispute
           ;
           but
           because
           that
           Judgement
           had
           jarred
           with
           the
           Sense
           of
           as
           Hearty
           a
           Protestant
           as
           himself
           ,
           therefore
           you
           see
           how
           he
           undervalues
           and
           disparages
           it
           .
           We
           take
           it
           for
           granted
           that
           Hooper
           was
           in
           the
           wrong
           and
           Ridley
           was
           in
           the
           right
           ,
           especially
           because
           a
           Law
           had
           interposed
           in
           that
           behalf
           ;
           And
           yet
           here
           it
           seems
           ,
           that
           the
           two
           Contending
           Parties
           were
           
           Hooper's
           Wisdom
           and
           
           Ridley's
           Simplicity
           .
           A
           little
           of
           these
           Good
           Mens
           inward
           humility
           ,
           self-denial
           ,
           and
           mutual
           condescension
           would
           heal
           our
           Breaches
           and
           compose
           our
           Differences
           much
           better
           ,
           than
           the
           most
           strict
           outward
           Uniformity
           could
           .
           For
           as
           the
           Levelling
           project
           ,
           to
           make
           all
           Mens
           Estates
           Equal
           ,
           was
           only
           a
           Project
           for
           a
           Day
           ,
           for
           on
           the
           Morrow
           all
           their
           Estates
           would
           have
           been
           Unequal
           again
           ;
           Whereas
           Contentment
           is
           that
           standing
           Leveller
           ,
           which
           makes
           every
           man
           always
           as
           rich
           as
           another
           :
           In
           like
           manner
           a
           perfect
           Uniformity
           in
           these
           Circumstances
           and
           By-matters
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           possible
           to
           be
           attained
           ,
           would
           not
           last
           long
           ;
           because
           ,
           as
           our
           Church
           in
           the
           Preface
           to
           the
           Common-Prayer
           has
           wisely
           observed
           ,
           Rites
           and
           Ceremonies
           are
           in
           their
           own
           nature
           Alterable
           and
           Changeable
           according
           to
           the
           variety
           of
           Times
           and
           Occasions
           ,
           whereby
           they
           are
           Expedient
           at
           one
           time
           and
           Inexpedient
           at
           another
           ,
           for
           which
           reason
           even
           the
           same
           Persons
           ,
           and
           those
           the
           most
           Constant
           &
           the
           farthest
           from
           newfangledness
           ,
           cannot
           be
           always
           alike
           satisfied
           
           with
           them
           ,
           much
           more
           they
           will
           be
           sure
           to
           be
           Liked
           and
           Disliked
           by
           several
           Persons
           according
           to
           their
           several
           apprehensions
           ,
           who
           must
           needs
           differ
           about
           them
           ;
           But
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           a
           mutual
           forbearance
           ,
           allowance
           ,
           and
           condescension
           in
           these
           By-matters
           ,
           would
           supply
           the
           place
           of
           a
           perfect
           Uniformity
           to
           the
           worlds
           end
           .
        
         
           I
           must
           confess
           ,
           that
           Ridley
           says
           these
           Diminishing
           things
           of
           himself
           in
           the
           absence
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           after
           those
           Statutes
           which
           enacted
           these
           Ceremonies
           were
           Repealed
           ,
           and
           swallowed
           up
           by
           Popery
           :
           For
           which
           cause
           it
           cannot
           be
           Expected
           ,
           That
           the
           Church
           of
           
           England-Clergy
           should
           make
           such
           Condescensions
           at
           this
           time
           as
           Ridley
           did
           ,
           and
           acknowledge
           their
           Simplicity
           in
           adhering
           to
           the
           Laws
           .
           For
           Laws
           while
           they
           are
           in
           Being
           have
           as
           much
           Reverence
           due
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           is
           owing
           to
           the
           wisdom
           of
           the
           whole
           Community
           by
           which
           they
           were
           made
           ,
           and
           nothing
           else
           but
           our
           Preingagements
           to
           God
           himself
           can
           excuse
           us
           from
           the
           observance
           of
           them
           :
           And
           therefore
           it
           cannot
           be
           required
           by
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           that
           good
           Understanding
           ,
           which
           I
           here
           endeavour
           and
           humbly
           beg
           there
           may
           be
           amongst
           Protestants
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           arraign
           Five
           and
           twenty
           Statute
           Laws
           at
           once
           under
           the
           Infamous
           Name
           of
           Draconica
           ;
           Especially
           when
           by
           one
           of
           the
           Draconica
           ,
           the
           whole
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           under
           the
           Covert
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           all
           the
           Dissenters
           in
           England
           ,
           hold
           their
           Bibles●
           No
           ;
           Every
           wise
           and
           considerate
           Protestant
           ,
           though
           he
           be
           not
           a
           Nonconformist
           ,
           would
           rather
           lie
           under
           all
           the
           penalties
           of
           Non-conformity
           ,
           than
           go
           about
           to
           weaken
           or
           undermine
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Laws
           which
           secure
           to
           all
           Protestants
           their
           Lives
           ,
           and
           a
           much
           greater
           thing
           than
           their
           Lives
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           Bible
           ,
           which
           I
           say
           again
           is
           the
           whole
           Religion
           of
           all
           Protestants
           .
           As
           for
           By-matters
           ,
           they
           may
           very
           well
           be
           left
           where
           the
           Law
           for
           Ages
           Immemorial
           has
           lodged
           all
           the
           Concerns
           of
           the
           English
           Church
           ,
           which
           is
           in
           a
           Lawful
           English
           Parliament
           ;
           whose
           necessary
           Power
           in
           that
           behalf
           appears
           by
           the
           very
           Writ
           ,
           both
           of
           their
           Summons
           ,
           and
           of
           their
           due
           Election
           :
           And
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           notwithstanding
           our
           different
           apprehensions
           about
           them
           ,
           let
           us
           love
           one
           another
           .
           And
           ,
           which
           brings
           me
           to
           the
           next
           point
           ,
        
         
           4ly
           .
           Let
           us
           mutually
           express
           our selves
           in
           the
           following
           words
           of
           the
           Blessed
           Martyr
           .
           
             Now
             I
             say
             be
             you
             assured
             ,
             that
             even
             with
             my
             whole
             heart
             ,
             God
             is
             my
             Witness
             ,
             in
             the
             bowels
             of
             Iesus
             Christ
             I
             love
             you
             in
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             Truth's-sake
             which
             abideth
             in
             us
             ,
             and
             as
             I
             am
             perswaded
             shall
             by
             the
             Grace
             of
             God
             abide
             in
             us
             for
             evermore
             .
          
           Men
           that
           love
           the
           Truth
           for
           God's
           sake
           will
           love
           other
           Men
           for
           the
           Truth
           's
           sake
           which
           they
           all
           Profess
           .
           And
           I
           am
           satisfied
           that
           this
           was
           the
           reason
           which
           moved
           Hooper
           to
           seek
           first
           to
           Ridley
           ,
           and
           to
           prevent
           him
           with
           two
           kind
           Letters
           ,
           before
           his
           present
           Answer
           was
           written
           .
           For
           when
           Hooper
           saw
           Ridley
           stand
           up
           as
           a
           Champion
           for
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           (
           whom
           perhaps
           formerly
           in
           their
           unhappy
           Differences
           he
           mistook
           to
           be
           Popishly
           affected
           ,
           or
           not
           far
           enough
           removed
           from
           Popery
           ,
           and
           too
           zealous
           for
           the
           raggs
           of
           Rome
           )
           Then
           he
           writes
           ,
           Then
           he
           sends
           to
           him
           ,
           Then
           he
           consults
           him
           as
           an
           Oracle
           .
           And
           I
           have
           often
           thought
           ,
           That
           it
           must
           needs
           produce
           the
           same
           effect
           in
           all
           the
           Sincere
           and
           Hearty
           Protestants
           amongst
           the
           Dissenters
           at
           this
           time
           ,
           when
           they
           see
           the
           Clergy
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           of
           whom
           they
           have
           had
           jealous
           thoughts
           lest
           they
           were
           too
           much
           Popishly
           inclined
           ,
           now
           approving
           themselves
           the
           Defenders
           and
           Champions
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Cause
           :
           Which
           they
           have
           Maintained
           with
           that
           clearness
           and
           strength
           ,
           that
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           the
           downfall
           of
           Rome
           will
           hereafter
           be
           dated
           from
           the
           time
           of
           their
           writing
           .
           Blessed
           be
           God
           ,
           (
           must
           the
           Dissenters
           needs
           say
           ,
           )
           That
           we
           are
           so
           happily
           Disappointed
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Clergy
           are
           not
           the
           Men
           we
           took
           them
           to
           be
           ,
           but
           as
           Hearty
           Protestants
           as
           our selves
           ;
           And
           from
           this
           day
           forward
           we
           will
           own
           ,
           and
           love
           them
           as
           such
           .
        
         
           The
           Priests
           and
           Jesuits
           and
           their
           Assistants
           
           have
           not
           indeed
           been
           wanting
           to
           revive
           and
           heighten
           the
           Dissenters
           old
           Jealousies
           in
           this
           kind
           ,
           by
           several
           late
           Pamphlets
           ,
           pretending
           a
           wonderful
           Agreement
           betwixt
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           and
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           And
           that
           New
           Popery
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           pleased
           to
           call
           it
           ,
           is
           as
           bad
           as
           the
           Old
           ,
           Or
           the
           Daughter
           as
           bad
           as
           the
           Mother
           ;
           But
           this
           is
           Transubstantiation-work
           and
           goes
           on
           but
           heavily
           ,
           for
           Men
           will
           not
           be
           outfaced
           out
           of
           their
           Senses
           .
           And
           therefore
           they
           have
           almost
           dropt
           the
           Cry
           of
           Popery
           ,
           to
           set
           up
           a
           louder
           one
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           and
           to
           lay
           all
           the
           Miseries
           which
           the
           Nonconformists
           have
           suffered
           to
           our
           Charge
           .
           But
           if
           any
           body
           take
           my
           Right
           Hand
           and
           therewith
           bruise
           and
           batter
           my
           Left
           ,
           is
           my
           Right
           Hand
           therefore
           become
           a
           Persecutor
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           really
           Persecuted
           as
           well
           as
           the
           other
           ?
           And
           has
           it
           not
           a
           fellow
           feeling
           and
           a
           share
           of
           the
           Misery
           ?
           And
           suppose
           my
           Left
           Hand
           were
           so
           over-ruled
           and
           managed
           against
           the
           Right
           ,
           would
           it
           not
           be
           the
           same
           thing
           ?
           And
           would
           not
           the
           Design
           be
           the
           same
           ;
           to
           mischief
           ,
           and
           maim
           ,
           and
           disable
           both
           Hands
           ?
           And
           after
           all
           ,
           would
           it
           not
           be
           the
           Addition
           of
           a
           Scorn
           to
           this
           Misery
           ,
           to
           accuse
           or
           blame
           either
           of
           my
           Hands
           in
           this
           Case
           for
           hurting
           its
           fellow
           ?
           To
           conclude
           ,
           There
           is
           a
           Charm
           in
           the
           very
           naming
           of
           Hooper
           and
           Ridley
           to
           reconcile
           Nonconformists
           and
           Conformists
           together
           ;
           for
           their
           Differences
           were
           alike
           ,
           their
           Misunderstandings
           of
           one
           ●nother
           were
           alike
           ,
           And
           the
           Papists
           in
           Queen
           Maries
           time
           loved
           those
           two
           Protestants
           and
           used
           them
           just
           alike
           .
           For
           they
           were
           both
           of
           them
           so
           long
           and
           miserably
           tormented
           in
           the
           Flames
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           forced
           to
           mingle
           with
           their
           Prayers
           to
           God
           these
           doleful
           outcries
           to
           the
           People
           .
           
             For
             God's
             love
             (
             good
             People
             )
             let
             me
             have
             more
             Fire
             ,
          
           says
           
             Hooper
             .
             For
             Christ's
             sake
             let
             the
             Fire
             come
             unto
             me
             ,
          
           says
           Ridley
           Our
           Enemies
           made
           no
           difference
           betwixt
           those
           that
           are
           for
           Ceremonies
           and
           those
           that
           are
           not
           ;
           And
           why
           should
           we
           ?
           Let
           us
           rather
           Bless
           God
           for
           the
           concurring
           Testimony
           which
           these
           Good
           Men
           ,
           though
           of
           different
           perswasions
           in
           By-matters
           ,
           have
           both
           given
           to
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ;
           and
           let
           us
           exceedingly
           value
           and
           prize
           the
           free
           Use
           of
           our
           Bibles
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           Purchase
           of
           theirs
           and
           of
           the
           other
           Martyrs
           Blood
           :
           According
           to
           what
           Latimer
           said
           when
           he
           and
           Ridley
           were
           both
           of
           them
           at
           the
           Stake
           ;
           
             Be
             of
             good
             Comfort
             Master
          
           Ridley
           ,
           
             and
             play
             the
             Man
             :
             We
             shall
             this
             day
             light
             such
             a
             Candle
             by
             God's
             grace
             in
          
           England
           ,
           
             as
             (
             I
             trust
             )
             shall
             Never
             be
             put
             out
             .
          
           And
           we
           ought
           to
           Unite
           and
           hold
           close
           together
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           shield
           and
           cover
           this
           Light
           from
           the
           open
           mouths
           and
           impetuous
           blasts
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           seek
           to
           Extinguish
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           leave
           us
           and
           our
           Posterity
           in
           the
           old
           Egyptian
           Darkness
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           For
           this
           is
           the
           End
           and
           the
           very
           Use
           and
           Advantage
           we
           are
           to
           make
           of
           our
           Reconciliation
           ,
           and
           of
           our
           mutual
           love
           and
           Agreement
           ,
           as
           we
           see
           by
           the
           following
           words
           of
           this
           Blessed
           Martyr
           .
           
             And
             because
             the
             World
             (
             as
             I
             perceive
             Brother
             )
             ceaseth
             not
             to
             play
             his
             pageant
             ,
             and
             busily
             conspireth
             against
             Christ
             our
             Saviour
             with
             all
             possible
             force
             and
             power
             ,
             Exalting
             high
             things
             against
             the
             knowledge
             of
             God
             :
             Let
             us
             joyn
             Hands
             together
             in
             Christ
             ,
             and
             if
             we
             cannot
             Overthrow
             ,
             yet
             to
             our
             Power
             as
             much
             as
             in
             us
             lyeth
             let
             us
             shake
             those
             high
             Altitudes
             ,
             not
             with
             Carnal
             but
             with
             Spiritual
             weapons
             .
             The
             World
             Conspires
             ,
          
           as
           Bishop
           
           Ridley's
           word
           is
           ,
           
             against
             Christ
             our
             Saviour
          
           ;
           Regulars
           and
           Seculars
           ,
           Jesuits
           and
           Dominicans
           ,
           Pope's-men
           ,
           Council-men
           and
           Blackloists
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           that
           Colluvies
           and
           Gallimawfrey
           of
           Sects
           of
           which
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           is
           made
           up
           ,
           do
           lay
           aside
           all
           the
           Differences
           of
           their
           several
           Factions
           ,
           and
           are
           Confederate
           against
           God's
           true
           Religion
           :
           And
           though
           none
           of
           them
           are
           agreed
           in
           other
           things
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           all
           for
           Extirpating
           the
           pestilent
           Northern
           Heresie
           ,
           
             and
             they
             all
             march
             steadily
             to
             the
             same
             end
             .
          
           And
           shall
           not
           we
           all
           then
           Unite
           in
           our
           utmost
           endeavours
           to
           Support
           that
           true
           Faith
           ,
           which
           they
           call
           Heresie
           ?
           Shall
           we
           not
           be
           as
           ready
           to
           give
           one
           another
           the
           right
           hand
           of
           Fellowship
           ,
           and
           to
           joyn
           Hands
           together
           in
           
           Christ
           and
           for
           him
           ,
           when
           we
           see
           how
           Unanimou●
           They
           are
           in
           banding
           together
           against
           him
           ?
           This
           is
           the
           common
           Concern
           of
           us
           all
           .
           For
           every
           Man
           has
           a
           Soul
           to
           be
           saved
           ,
           one
           as
           well
           as
           another
           ;
           Every
           Man
           has
           an
           equal
           share
           in
           the
           Bible
           ;
           Every
           Mans
           stake
           is
           the
           same
           ,
           and
           they
           have
           all
           a
           like
           Interest
           in
           their
           Religion
           ;
           And
           therefore
           all
           the
           Protestants
           of
           England
           ought
           to
           be
           as
           one
           Man
           in
           the
           Maintenance
           and
           Support
           of
           their
           Religion
           :
           And
           every
           single
           Man
           in
           his
           several
           capacity
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           his
           power
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           as
           zealous
           for
           it
           ,
           as
           if
           He
           alone
           were
           to
           support
           it
           ;
           And
           he
           should
           say
           to
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           hold
           to
           that
           saying
           ,
           
             Though
             all
             men
             forsake
             thee
             ,
             yet
             will
             no●
             I.
          
           By
           this
           means
           under
           God
           we
           shall
           preserve
           our
           Religion
           ,
           and
           transmit
           it
           to
           our
           Posterity
           at
           a
           far
           cheaper
           rate
           ,
           than
           Ridley
           and
           Hooper
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Blessed
           Martyrs
           conveyed
           it
           down
           to
           us
           .
           By
           this
           means
           we
           shall
           disengage
           our selves
           from
           all
           needless
           Disputes
           about
           Meats
           and
           Drinks
           and
           such
           like
           things
           ,
           in
           which
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           God
           does
           not
           consist
           ,
           and
           from
           those
           Skirmishings
           which
           have
           deteined
           us
           too
           much
           upon
           the
           Frontiers
           of
           Religion
           ,
           without
           cultivating
           and
           reaping
           the
           Fruits
           of
           th●
           Holy
           Land
           ,
           in
           that
           measure
           as
           we
           ought
           ●●
           have
           done
           .
           By
           this
           means
           our
           private
           A●●●
           mosities
           and
           groundless
           Quarrels
           will
           cea●●
           when
           we
           all
           engage
           in
           the
           
             Lord
             's
             Quar●●●
          
           as
           Bishop
           Ridley
           calls
           in
           it
           this
           Letter
           .
           I●
           word
           ,
           by
           this
           means
           we
           shall
           be
           freed
           fro●
           Divisions
           ,
           and
           those
           unhappy
           Diversio●●
           which
           have
           been
           purposely
           given
           us
           ,
           to
           hi●●der
           us
           from
           exercising
           the
           power
           of
           God●●●ness
           ;
           both
           in
           reforming
           our
           own
           Liv●●
           and
           in
           putting
           a
           stop
           to
           that
           deluge
           of
           I●●piety
           ,
           which
           has
           been
           let
           into
           the
           Natio●
           in
           order
           to
           make
           way
           for
           Popery
           :
           And
           t●
           shall
           have
           an
           opportunity
           to
           imploy
           o●
           United
           Endeavours
           in
           promoting
           the
           G●●spel
           ,
           to
           the
           high
           Honour
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           t●
           the
           Edifying
           of
           his
           Church
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Sa●●vation
           of
           our
           Souls
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Contents
           of
           the
           latter
           part
           〈◊〉
           this
           Letter
           ,
           they
           are
           of
           so
           nice
           and
           difficu●●
           Application
           ,
           that
           a
           Man
           may
           be
           soon
           thoug●●
           to
           say
           either
           too
           much
           or
           too
           little
           of
           the●
           for
           which
           reason
           I
           shall
           wholly
           forbear
           ,
           a●●
           leave
           them
           to
           the
           Reader
           as
           they
           are
           ,
           Th●●
           he
           may
           make
           his
           own
           Observations
           .
        
      
       
         FINIS
         .