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haughty_a
it_o be_v not_o the_o province_n nor_o in_o the_o power_n of_o private_a man_n to_o reform_v religion_n this_o be_v whole_o lest_o to_o the_o prudent_a management_n of_o those_o governor_n who_o the_o divine_a providence_n have_v constitute_v and_o appoint_v to_o rule_v over_o us._n wherefore_o that_o precipitant_n and_o rash_a zeal_n which_o some_o miscall_v puty_n will_n more_o disturb_v the_o peace_n of_o their_o own_o conscience_n and_o prejudice_v the_o interest_n of_o the_o church_n than_o their_o charitable_a and_o peaceable_a compliance_n with_o those_o seem_a error_n and_o defect_n which_o they_o so_o much_o cavil_v at_o and_o complain_v of_o 7._o it_o be_v the_o great_a argument_n then_o of_o imprudence_n and_o indiscretion_n to_o run_v upon_o manifest_a and_o real_a evil_n upon_o those_o fear_n and_o jealousy_n which_o be_v mere_o groundless_a and_o only_o imagine_v to_o be_v so_o will_v any_o man_n of_o reason_n and_o religion_n dare_v to_o forsake_v god_n public_a ordinance_n and_o make_v a_o schism_n in_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n because_o perhaps_o there_o may_v be_v some_o probable_a defect_n in_o her_o communion_n for_o god_n command_n to_o attend_v his_o public_a worship_n and_o endeavour_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n be_v plain_a and_o positive_a whereas_o the_o error_n object_v against_o we_o be_v dubious_a and_o disputable_a and_o now_o to_o cast_v the_o scale_n the_o far_o great_a number_n of_o pious_a learned_a &_o judicious_a man_n be_v on_o our_o side_n so_o that_o for_o any_o thing_n they_o know_v they_o may_v be_v mistake_v but_o grant_v they_o that_o we_o do_v err_v let_v our_o governor_n see_v to_o it_o we_o have_v a_o sufficient_a rule_n for_o our_o obedience_n nor_o dare_v we_o subtract_v it_o for_o the_o sake_n of_o a_o inconvenience_n only_o if_o their_o command_n be_v not_o sinful_a but_o they_o have_v none_o for_o their_o disobedience_n and_o therefore_o see_v they_o have_v no_o lawful_a authority_n to_o reform_v the_o least_o error_n or_o mistake_n in_o government_n it_o will_v be_v the_o great_a prudence_n and_o more_o christian_n like_o to_o pray_v &_o mourn_v in_o secret_a for_o what_o they_o apprehend_v amiss_o than_o to_o disobey_v and_o exasperate_v their_o governor_n stir_v up_o division_n in_o the_o church_n &_o run_v upon_o the_o dangerous_a hazard_n of_o a_o licentious_a and_o unwarrantable_a separation_n 8._o we_o shall_v be_v always_o more_o concern_v for_o promote_a the_o interest_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o our_o own_o national_a church_n than_o the_o gratify_n of_o our_o own_o personal_a and_o private_a fancy_n and_o opinion_n for_o it_o have_v be_v a_o great_a fault_n in_o most_o of_o our_o brethren_n of_o the_o nonconformity_n who_o have_v be_v so_o wed_v to_o their_o own_o private_a humour_n and_o conceit_n that_o they_o have_v almost_o quite_o forget_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o true_a interest_n of_o the_o protestant_n reform_v religion_n hence_o have_v spring_v those_o heresy_n and_o schism_n and_o that_o atheism_n and_o profaneness_n which_o have_v so_o strange_o overspread_v the_o whole_a nation_n to_o the_o great_a scandal_n of_o our_o religion_n and_o government_n and_o have_v do_v what_o in_o their_o power_n lie_v to_o yield_v up_o themselves_o and_o we_o a_o prey_n to_o our_o cruel_a and_o merciless_a enemy_n whereas_o if_o they_o have_v the_o least_o sense_n of_o their_o duty_n and_o interest_n they_o will_v keep_v close_o at_o this_o time_n especial_o to_o our_o communion_n which_o under_o god_n will_v be_v their_o chief_a refuge_n and_o yield_v in_o some_o small_a matter_n though_o less_o agreeable_a to_o their_o own_o private_a sentiment_n and_o opinion_n for_o the_o great_a benefit_n of_o the_o public_a 9_o no_o prejudice_n shall_v prevail_v with_o any_o man_n so_o far_o as_o to_o make_v he_o unwilling_a to_o recant_v and_o disclaim_v his_o error_n upon_o a_o through_o conviction_n and_o return_v to_o the_o way_n of_o truth_n and_o peace_n from_o which_o he_o have_v former_o err_v and_o therefore_o it_o be_v a_o great_a fault_n in_o many_o who_o be_v unwilling_a to_o retract_v those_o error_n which_o they_o have_v espouse_v lest_o they_o shall_v be_v censure_v by_o their_o party_n as_o renegado_n and_o apostate_n from_o their_o religion_n whereas_o if_o they_o will_v but_o serious_o consider_v it_o it_o will_v be_v their_o great_a honour_n as_o well_o as_o interest_n and_o a_o special_a evidence_n of_o their_o integrity_n to_o acknowledge_v &_o recant_v their_o error_n &_o mistake_v nor_o need_v any_o man_n be_v ashamed_a or_o afraid_a to_o confess_v he_o have_v err_v st._n aug._n write_v a_o whole_a book_n of_o retractation_n for_o which_o he_o be_v deserve_o as_o much_o esteem_v as_o for_o any_o of_o his_o other_o work_n nor_o can_v any_o man_n come_v under_o the_o vile_a imputation_n and_o scandal_n of_o a_o apostate_n who_o change_v only_o some_o mistake_a error_n and_o opinion_n not_o his_o religion_n and_o last_o other_o have_v be_v extreme_o to_o blame_v in_o set_v up_o their_o own_o private_a gloss_n and_o interpretation_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n as_o infallible_a maxim_n and_o necessary_a conclusion_n insomuch_o that_o they_o i_o rather_o disturb_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o community_n than_o be_v persuade_v to_o recede_v from_o they_o for_o be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o scope_n and_o meaning_n of_o those_o sacred_a and_o lively_a oracle_n they_o present_o sancy_v without_o the_o least_o true_a ground_n that_o every_o passage_n sound_v that_o way_n must_v be_v a_o strong_a and_o forcible_a argument_n to_o prove_v and_o confirm_v their_o opinion_n the_o scripture_n indeed_o be_v allow_v and_o be_v of_o important_a and_o necessary_a use_n for_o the_o conduct_n of_o their_o faith_n and_o manner_n in_o the_o way_n of_o religion_n but_o then_o shall_v every_o mechanic_n presume_v to_o be_v a_o interpreter_n and_o judge_n and_o think_v himself_o as_o infallible_a as_o the_o pope_n in_o cathedra_fw-la of_o all_o the_o abstruse_a and_o difficult_a passage_n in_o holy_a writ_n now_o what_o can_v it_o be_v but_o mere_a enthusiasm_n and_o delusion_n in_o any_o one_o to_o pretend_v to_o interpret_v the_o dark_a point_n of_o scripture_n which_o neither_o concern_v man_n faith_n nor_o manner_n without_o the_o use_n of_o those_o mean_n which_o be_v out_o of_o the_o reach_n of_o the_o vulgar_a they_o will_v ready_o grant_v that_o in_o all_o other_o profession_n art_n and_o science_n a_o man_n must_v be_v a_o considerable_a time_n and_o take_v great_a pain_n to_o gain_v experience_n ere_o he_o can_v be_v capable_a of_o manage_v and_o must_v be_v a_o approve_a artist_n before_o any_o one_o will_v entrust_v he_o with_o business_n in_o his_o way_n of_o deal_n in_o the_o world._n shall_v every_o novice_n then_o who_o can_v scarce_o read_v a_o chapter_n distinct_o in_o the_o bible_n presume_v to_o have_v as_o much_o skill_n in_o divinity_n and_o the_o holy_a scripture_n as_o he_o that_o have_v be_v train_v up_o all_o his_o life_n in_o the_o school_n of_o the_o prophet_n have_v the_o advantage_n of_o all_o useful_a book_n understand_v the_o language_n wherein_o the_o scripture_n be_v original_o write_v and_o make_v this_o study_n his_o whole_a business_n and_o profession_n these_o be_v such_o wild_a and_o extravagant_a conceit_n as_o one_o will_v think_v that_o no_o man_n of_o common_a reason_n and_o prudence_n shall_v once_o pretend_v to_o and_o yet_o there_o be_v several_a illiterate_a country_n hobbs_n and_o conceit_a tradesman_n in_o market_n town_n and_o of_o my_o acquaintance_n as_o there_o be_v in_o most_o place_n of_o this_o kingdom_n who_o will_v undertake_v to_o interpret_v the_o scripture_n and_o preach_v according_a to_o their_o way_n and_o yet_o with_o more_o boldness_n and_o confidence_n than_o the_o great_a doctor_n of_o the_o chair_n but_o we_o leave_v such_o to_o their_o own_o fancy_n and_o delusion_n which_o can_v neither_o concern_v you_o nor_o i_o more_o at_o present_a than_o to_o pity_n and_o pray_v for_o they_o that_o they_o may_v come_v in_o due_a time_n to_o a_o true_a sense_n of_o their_o unaccomtable_a error_n and_o whilst_o unretract_v unpardonable_a mistake_v these_o i_o be_o persuade_v be_v such_o reason_n as_o will_v puzzle_v our_o dissent_v brethren_n to_o answer_v and_o obviate_v all_o their_o pleay_n and_o pretence_n to_o a_o warrantable_a separation_n from_o the_o church_n of_o england_n however_o sir_n such_o as_o they_o be_v be_v humble_o offer_v to_o your_o serious_a perusal_n and_o probable_o they_o may_v be_v useful_a to_o you_o in_o your_o present_a circumstance_n have_v calculate_v they_o primary_o for_o that_o meridian_n yet_o let_v not_o these_o or_o any_o other_o so_o bound_v you_o up_o as_o to_o neglect_v great_a and_o better_a of_o your_o own_o for_o it_o will_v be_v your_o great_a interest_n and_o advantage_n to_o weigh_v and_o measure_v the_o drift_n and_o design_n of_o all_o counsel_n by_o the_o dictate_v of_o your_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n i_o doubt_v i_o have_v weary_v your_o patience_n with_o a_o tedious_a epistle_n the_o subject_n be_v so_o copious_a have_v draw_v it_o out_o to_o a_o undue_a proportion_n yet_o when_o you_o have_v serious_o consider_v the_o scope_n and_o design_n of_o it_o in_o its_o full_a latitude_n and_o importance_n i_o hope_v you_o will_v candid_o excuse_v not_o only_o the_o length_n but_o all_o other_o mistake_v and_o defect_n in_o it_o without_o any_o further_a apology_n whatever_o indiscretion_n i_o have_v be_v guilty_a of_o either_o in_o the_o undertake_n or_o management_n and_o composure_n of_o this_o discourse_n be_v whole_o imputable_a to_o my_o self_n none_o of_o your_o relation_n or_o friend_n be_v yet_o acquaint_v with_o it_o for_o all_o which_o i_o do_v most_o earnest_o and_o humble_o beg_v your_o pardon_n now_o that_o god_n almighty_n may_v ever_o bless_v preserve_v succeed_v and_o prosper_v you_o in_o your_o progress_n and_o return_n and_o that_o all_o your_o endeavour_n may_v be_v acceptable_a to_o he_o well-pleasing_a to_o your_o friend_n and_o a_o comfort_n and_o benefit_n to_o yourself_o shall_v be_v the_o most_o earnest_a hearty_a and_o constant_a prayer_n of_o prayer_n of_o honour_a sir_n your_o humble_a devote_a servant_n march_z 6h_o stylo_n vetere_fw-la 1687_o 1687_o 8._o