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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	church_n	form_n	prayer_n	4,781	5	6.5105	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91187	A fresh discovery of some prodigious new wandring-blasing-stars, & firebrands, stiling themselves nevv-lights, firing our church and state into new combustions. Divided into ten sections, comprising severall most libellous, scandalous, seditious, insolent, uncharitable, (and some blasphemous) passages; published in late unlicensed printed pamphlets, against the ecclesiasticall jurisdiction and power of parliaments, councels, synods, Christian kings and magistrates, in generall; the ordinances and proceedings of this present Parliament, in speciall: the national covenant, assembly, directory, our brethren of Scotland, Presbyterian government; the Church of England, with her ministers, worship; the opposers of independent novelties; ... Whereunto some letters and papers lately sent from the Sommer-Islands, are subjoyned, relating the schismaticall, illegal, tyrannical proceedings of some Independents there, in gathering their new-churches, to the great distraction and prejudice of that plantation. / Published for the common good by William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne, Esquire.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1645 (1645)	Wing P3963; Thomason E261_5; ESTC R212456	96,461	90

none for either they must frame Religion to the people as the Popes and Romish Clergy did heretofore making it suteable to the dispositions of most men or else which is more usuall feign a people to Religion admitting and accounting whom they lift through partiality favour and sinister respects to be truly religious though they be not and so receiving them into the Church as true converts though they can bring no good testimony of their conversion and conversation This policy I confesse may have faire pretences and would advance them highly above all men As they which opening no man can shut and shutting no man can open this would set them a● Gods in the Temple of God the Church and bring them in infinite gaines But it would set up many Antichrists as busie violent and rigorous within the small spheare of their activity as the great Antichrist hath been in his It would turne Religion into policy making it serve for humane purposes The faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ should be had in respect of persons It would prove a tyrannicall usurpation over the true Church as the popish policy hath done for which as for sundry other reasons that might be alleadged if it were not palpably wicked it ought not to be suffered 17. Whether there be any place of Scripture to justifie such a Separation as is afore mentioned they say yes because John the Baptist said to the Scribes and Pharisees O generation of Vipers who hath forewarned you to fire from the wrath to come therefore a Minister may keep out of the Church such as cannot bring testimony of their true conversion and holy conversation This and other like reasons they alleadge which are so insufficient that they need no answer especially having no purpose as I have said to dispute here But a matter of so great consequence ought to be clearly and foundly proved which doubtlesse they can never doe 18. What times they were wherein the Church did thus separate from it selfe all that could not bring sufficient testimony of their conversion and holy conversation because they say in former times it was the usuall practice of the Church but shew not in what times nor where nor for what causes There is no doubt but those that live or fall into grosse or manifest sins may be separated or excluded Also in times of persecution they would no doubt be very wary what strangers they did admit into the Church but that 's not the thing in question 19. Many other doubts in this matter they leave untouched or uncleared As 1. Whether Infants shall be received into the Church by Baptism before they can bring this testimony 2. Whether those that have been baptized without such testimon● have been rightly entred into the Church or shall need to be baptized againe such a rumour there is spread upon what occasion I know not 3. What manner of testimony this must be 4. Who must give it and whether a man 's own testimony may not serve in this case and when c. these and many other like should be cleared which we passe over 20. Whether they meane that any man may of himselfe excommunicate another when they say frequently a man may or I would passe a private excommunication against such or such a man 21. What they meane to alter in the administration of the Sacraments I heare there is much variety of late The last child which I saw baptized the Minister required the Father to say his Creed which done the Minister made an exposition of it making some doubt also of some part of it and then asked the Father if he would have his child baptized into that faith who answering yea it was baptized and thus I heare he useth of late to baptize others Now it would be knowne why it may not serve the turne for the Father to testifie his assent to the Articles of the Creed c. as heretofore hath been used 2. Whether the child and parent also may not be very uncertaine of the Faith into which the child was baptized seeing the Ministers exposition is not recorded 3. Whether they have the same opinion of the Creed that they seeme to have of the Scriptures that it may not bee publikely read or repeated unlesse it be also expounded by a Minister and why 4. Whether this tying of the Baptism to the Ministers exposition may not serve as a fit opportunity for Hereticks not yet discovered to baptize children into their Heresie 22. Whether the Scriptures be not the word of God able to make a man wise unto salvation except only then when they are pronounced and expounded by a Minister And whether the places of Scripture that we which are no Ministers alledge in any case be not also the word of God as true and of as much sorce as if they were pronounced by a Minister 23. Whether the writings of Eminent and approved Divines may not be read in the Church when there is no Sermon Nay whether they may not prove more profitable then the Sermons of some schismaticall or other unworthy Ministers 24 Whether our English Common Prayer having never yet been called in may not be read in the Church such things being altered or left out as have bin doubtfull or offensive to good Christians Or whether it is so faulty that it may not bee used at all Because they will not suffer it to bee read at all where they preach and as I heare intend to abolish the reading of it quite 25 Whether they will permit any other book of Common Prayer used in any other Reformed Church or some other that may be framed or that no set form at all may be used but such prayers only as the Minister doth then conceive nor any thing read no not out of the Scriptures but what the Minister doth then expound 26 How long it is they mean when they say a few dayes that they would have men that would be converted or receive a further degree of grace to exercise themselves in humiliation before they shall partake of those enlightnings and comforts they speak of and after what manner this is to be done and from what ground of Scripture 27 What Covenant it is which they perswade so much all the members of this Church to enter into at their admittance and which as is thought is already begunne whereby they must bee bound one to another and how farre forth they must assist and defend one another what are the particular parts and circumstances of this Covenant and how it shall be confirmed whether by subscription or by some solemn vow 28 Whether he which hath entred this Covenant shall still remayn as hee was a true member of the Church and Common wealth of England or be of some other Reformed Church or of some Separate Independent Church 29 We grant there is often mention in Scriptures of a Covenant betwixt God and the people c. but whether there

but there would a fearfull ataxy follow without the present Government whereof I so approve that I have and do willingly submit to it and them and have and will presse the same upon others 3 For the Ceremonies that are in use among us as I have already subscribed so I shall diligently and daily practise neither have I ever been accused for neglect therein where I have formerly exercised my Ministry but to them do give my full approbation and allowance 4. For the Book of common-Common-Prayer the Lyturgie of the Church and what is in them contained finding them agreeable unto the word of God I have used as other Ministers have done and am resolved so to do and have not been Refractory in this particular at any time nor do I intend to be God willing and to these I Subscribe with my heart and hand humbly submitting them and my self to your Lordships pleasure Your Lordships in all humble service HUGH PETER London the 17. of August 1627. IF Master Peter be now of another Judgement it manifests either his grosse ignorance or temporizing then or his levity now and that he is as unsteady in his opinion as in his excentrick motion from place to place But this is in verity the essentiall property of our Lunacy New sights who like the Moon whose light Predominates in them are alwayes changing yea ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth which they continually intricate with their Independent doubts Section IX Containing Libellious Scandalous unchristian Censures and Invectives against those Persons who out of conscience have Written or Preached against the Independents Seditious Schismaticall wayes and Practises I Shall first begin with such Invectives as concern my self What large Encomiums beyond my deserts I received from the Independent party before I writ against their new wayes opinions only in a moderate modest manner by way of Questions is very well known to themselves and others being such and so many that modesty forbids me to relate them lest I should be thought the Herald of my own praises and deserts How many Libells Scandals and false reports of all kindes they have causlesly published of me since by Speech and Printed Libells only because I differ from them in opinion and have in point of conscience being requested so to do declared my opinion of their new groundlesse wayes and Tenets is very well known unto many who have leisure to peruse the severall empty Pamphlets and Invectives daily published a gainst me I shall give you a taste of some few in lieu of many It pleased Iohn Lilburne among others for whom I have done some courtesies but never the least injury or discourtesie in word or deed upon the coming out of my Truth Triumphing over Falshood c. Licensed by a Committee of Parliament for the Presse before ever he had read the Book to write a Libellous Letter to me concerning it which he sent to the Presse and published in Print without License before I received and perused it which though answered in Print by others without my privity openly complained of in the Commons House who referred it to the Committee of Examinations as a most Seditious Libell against the Parliament and Assembly yet I deemed it more worthy contempt then any Answer as refuting not one syllable in my Book In this Letter he stiles me An inciter of higher Powers to wage war with the King of Saints and his Redeemed ones An endeavourer to set the Princes of the earth together by the ears with Christ to pluck his Crown from his head his Scepter out of his hand and his Person out of his Throne of State that his Father hath given him to raign gloriously in He most falsely chargeth me with this false Position That there is no rule left in the word how we may worship God but that Kings and States may set up what Religion they please or may mould it to the manners of their people Whereas there is not any such syllable in any of my Books but the contrary profe●sedly asserted and the Controversies therein debated concerne not the substance of Gods worship or Religion but only the Circumstance of Church-Government which I asserted then on such grounds as their party hath not yet refu●ed not to be precisely set down determined in the New Testament in all particulars but yet conclude that no Church Government ought to be set up but that which is agreeable to the Scriptures though not dogmatically and precisely prescribed in them ●o that if this Libeller were not past all shame he might have blush● to Print and ●●print so notorious a falshood without retractation After this he thus proceeds Had I not seen your name to your Books I should rather have judged them a Papists or a Iesuits then Master Prynnes and without doubt the Pope when he sees them will CANONIZE YOU FOR A SAINT in throwing down his enemy Christ Certainly no Book of mine either in the Front or Bulke carries the least badge of a Priest or Jesuit in it and so far am I from demeriting any thing from the Pope or to be Canonized by him for a Saint that I can without vanity or ostentation affirme before all the world that I have done more disservice to Priests Iesuits and the Pope made more discoveries of their Plots and written more against them and Popery then all the whole generation of Sectaries and Independents put together and I challenge all their Sects to equalize or come near what I have really performed in this particular so that if any man this day breathing in England deserve an Anathema Maranathae from the Pope his party I have more cause to expect itthen any other The whole Kingdom therefore will Proclaim him a notorious slanderer in this particular He proceeds yet further Surely he writes but his words are no Oracles you have given away your ears and have suffered as a busie-body in opposing the King and the Prelats without doubt all is not Gold that glisters for were you not a man that had more then truth to look after namely your own ends and particular interests which I am afraid you strive to set up more then the publike good you should have importuned the Parliament to have continued their favour and respect to that people that cannot prostrate their consciences to mans devices Surely my conscience tells me that I am free from this injurious calumny For my ears I blesse God I gave them not away but lost them in a just quarrell against all Law and Iustice as both Houses of Parliament have unanimously adjudged But whether you did not justly lose your ears for Sedition then and deserve not to lose he remainder of them that I say no more for your Seditious and Libellious carriage now is a great question among your most intelligent friends For my opposing King and Prelates as a busie-body perchance it might be your

Goodwin or they shall at last after long expectation set down in Writing If yea that contradicts their owne Profession and Prot●station in their Apollogy takes away that liberty of conscience they contend for and Attributes a greater Authority to them alone to oblige their party then to the whole Parliament or Synod If no then certainly it is vaine to exspect a set 〈◊〉 of Church-government from those fluctuating Divines who till neither under-take to oblige themselves or others for the future by anything they resolve on or practise for the present and a meare sottishnesse for any people to depend upon such unstable weather-cocks and roling stones who know not where to rest or settle And that way certainly can be none of Christs on which the very prime sticklers for it d●re not absolutely and immutably to fasten for the future what ever they pretend for the present 5. Whether publike preaching prophefying and expounding the Scriptures by Independent Souldiers Taylors Weavers and other illiterate Mechanicks neither publikely called to not fitted for the Ministry especially when and where there are able painfull preaching Ministers to instruct the people be not a most exorbitant arrogant scandalous and disorderly practice no where warranted by Gods word but directly condemned by Numb 18. 21. 22 23. c. 16. 3. to 41. 2 Sam. 6. 6. 7 2 Chron. ●6 16. to 23. Ier. 14. 14. c. 27. 19. Hosea 4. 4. 9. Mal. 2. 7. 2 Chron. 17. 8. 9. Neb. 9. 4 5. c. 12. throughout Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. Mar. 16. 14. 15. 20. Acts 20. 28. Gal. 6. 6. Hebr. 13. 17. c. 5. 4. 1 Tim. 3. 2. c. 4. 14. 16. 2 Tim. 4. 2. 5. Rom. 10. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 12. 28. 29. c. 14. 29 to the end Tit. 1. 7. 9. Contrary to the very light of Nature the Priests among all heathen Nations whatsoever being distinguished from t●e people and not all promiscuously Priests Gen. 42. 22. 26. 2 King 17. 32. 1 Kings 12. 31. 32. Zeph. 1. 4. Acts 14. 13. And quite opposite to the practice of all christian Churches in all ages ● 6. Whether Mr. Hanserd Knols the illitterate Anabaptist his Moderate Answer to Dr. Bastwicks booke p. 19. 20. where he averres That the condition upon which people are to be admitted into the Church are Faith Repentance and BAPTISME and NONE OTHER And whosoever poore as well as rich bond as well as free servants as well as masters did make a profession of their faith in Christ Iesus land would be baptized he meanes re-baptized into he should say in the name of the Father Son and holy Spirit were admitted Members of the Church but such as did not beleeve and would not be baptized though formerly baptized by others they would not admit into church communion And that this hath bin the practise of some churches in this city ●ithout urging or making any particular covenant with members upon admittance Doth not herein diametrally contradict his other Independent brethren who exact particular covenants from their new admitted Members and do not re-baptize them Whether he hath not plaid the Anabaptisticall jugler with Mr. Cranford in printing onely Imprimatur IA CRANFORD in the title of his Booke and leaving out the preceding formall words of his License to the great abuse both of the Reader and Licenser viz. I have perused this Treatise called A Moderate Answer to Dr. Bastwick which THOUGH● IUDGE ERRONIOUS yet to satisfie the desire of a Friend and prevent the cavils of some Adversaries I oppose Imprimatur Ia Cranford And whether these and such like practices proclaim not the Anabaptists such as Dr. Foa●ly proves them A False and lying sect if not blasphemous too as the premised Sections declare some of them to be A Transcript of a Letter lately written from the Sommer Islands to William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne Esquire relating the Schismaticall Tyrannicall and Seditious Proceedings of the Independents there and how they Lord it over the soules and bodies of those who dare oppose them how contemptuously they speak against the power of Parliaments the Church of England and scandalize all others whatsoever who are not of their Faction Which Gods Providence newly brought to my hands from thence when I was closing up the premised Discovery Worshipfull Sir ALI health happinesse and prosperity wished unto you as to mine owne soule The occasions moveing me at present to trouble you with these unprofitable papers are great and many and happily I being a stranger unto your Worship you may account it more then boldnesse yea even peremptory saucinesse in me to presume to write and crave favour to and from one who never had the least knowledge of me But the manifold reports I have heard of you by divers good Christians emboldeneth me but especially seeing your good works which I have perused with care and diligence which from Mr Sparks his brother I procured enforceth me so much the more in this my boldnesse not doubting but that you are a true hearted Christian truly fearing God embracing piety and hateing iniquity a faithfull well-willer to the Church of God and to all the Israel of God and to all true Israelites who with faithfull hearts love the Sion of God truly and sincerely without hypocrisie or halting between opinions dessenting from it in any by or false respects the which are the only causes moving me hereunto And for which I have suffered and a●● and have beene these thirteen mōnthes prisoner in bonds for standing in defence and an opposite unto or against a certaine Independent Church hatched and forged in the braines of our Divines and by them constituted erected and fully accomplished and with us held in great repute and adoration yea and the Actors of it not as men but even as demy gods attributing that unto them which is only proper unto God especially unto their Pastor Mr VVhite the chiefe Actor of their Faction a most seditious turbulent and hatefull malicious person and as politick as Achitophell and as crafty and subtle as the Devill having as he holds the world in hand that by his wisedome none can excell him in the lawes both Ecclesiasticall and Civill and therefore amongst us a company of poore simple ignorant and undiscerning people he is so accounted of as all his words are oracles and himselfe no lesse sent from God and therefore whatsoever he saith is and must be a law whether it concernes Body Soule or Conscience for he cannot crre so perfect is he in their conceits And if Christians in griefe and distractions of soule and conscience at their courses shall sue unto our Rulers for redresse of their factious aud seditious courses by way of humble petition for a cessation of those things till we shall heare from England what Discipline the high Court of Parliament and Synod hath concluded upon and that to embrace and follow then shall we presently be summoned to an Assizes and there undergoe such penalties as by

me leave to use by way of similitude the words of Mordecay unto Ester c. 4. 14. who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdome for such a time as this Even so say I to you Sir what know you whether the God of mercy and consolation hath raised you up as an instrument or meanes for these distracted times yea what know you whether by your help and assistance you may not be a meanes and help for the release and delivery of many poore distressed and distracted Christians from the cruelty and tyranny of these Schismaticall Schismaticks whose mercies are meere cruelties which we know by woefull experience we shall finde And however we are farre remote from you yet we beseech you I speak in the behalfe of many let your goodnesse by your ayde and assistance even stretch it selfe to the utmost ends of the world if occasion be offered for the good of Gods Church and people and as your works comming by Gods blessings amongst us to our great joy and comfort and to the vexation of our malignant adversaries who notwithstanding slights them saying you have writ according to your understanding and to the corruption of your owne heart and that you have beene answered and foiled in your owne arguments perswading poore simple ignorant people unto any thing for divers having seene your twelve Interrogatories struck them into such a damp and distemperature that they knew not what to say or doe untill their Pastor especially with their Elders through deluding speeches gave them as they suppose some comfort otherwise I perswade my selfe many of their adherents had revolted from them and turned Cat in the pan But no marvell though they sleight you for they doe sleight all the most reverend Divines and men of learning wisedome and gravity whose lives have beene cautious pious and religious that have beene before them let a man name any forreigne and domestick some they will set at naught others happly with a more reverend respect yet sleight them as my selfe at times have produced at least a hundred upon occasions they will answer they were good Reverend men in their dayes and taught well according to their times though you name the Interpreters of the Scriptures or bring in Beza or Iunius upon their Annotations yet say they these were but men subject to failings and errours and their dayes were the times of ignorance and of superstition and the cleare light of the Gospel was not then so manifestly and so clearly made knowne unto them as now it is the Lord revealing his will with a greater splendor in these latter dayes unto his Servants the Ministers then in former times for the calling and gathering together of his Elect from the foure corners of the world and by them in these latter times hath shewed a more nearer and easier way to Heaven then formerly O impious impiety wherewith they delude poore simple people deceiving them being voyd of understanding and discerning even to their destructions for let a man discourse with them and shew them their solly and their blindnesse and shew them the erroneous wayes they are in this presently is their answer we doe know that our Teachers who are our Leaders they are wise learned religious pious and holy men and they cannot erre say they and they have paund their soules upon this way and would they wilfully damne their soules were it not the right way no t is impossible therefore we will never forsake this way but whatever they say or teach we will build our Salvation upon it and seale it with our blood Thus have they taken poore soules captives and deceived them and through their delusions we have daily a falling away forsaking the old way which is the true way and turning to Sinne and Schisme and erroneous Factions which are new invented wayes never heard on till not much my time before Wherefore we beseech you we beseech you in the bowels of love and compassion let the serious consideration hereof move you to enter list with this stout Champion whose pride we know to be such that hee will overcome ten thousand better then himselfe and not only to enter list but also as God hath called you to and seated you in a place in that high Court of Parliament that so you would oppose his enterprises and hinder him of his desired purposes that so he may not come with Power and Authority from that High Court to lord it and to beare rule over the Lords inheritance amongst us but rather forced to recant and lay downe all his and their Schismaticall courses or confine them all together to some other place Things comming into my minde one after another causeth me not to set them downe so exactly in order as they hapned but somewhat confusedly I should have told you at first this man Mr White was by the Company of Adventurers sent over some yeares since Minister for our two Tribes Pembrook and Devon and by the Earle of Dorset then Governour with the whole Company they bound him in a bond of two hundred pound stirling to live with us peaceably and quietly and to follow the Orders and Discipline of our Church for the space of three yeares after his arrivall which argued he was a man of a turbulent spirit in the place where he was at Knights bridge neare Westminster during this time of his bonds he was at hot a zealot as possible might or could be both for the Book of common-Common-Prayer as also for all other Ceremonies of the Church as kneeling at the Sacrament Crosse in Baptisme Ring in the Marriage and all other things whatsoever so long at his bonds lasted But suddenly after he turned upside downe and after foure yeares hee began these things and seeing he could not accomplish his desire with us he made shewes of leaving us and goe to another Charge that was vacant unlesse we would sue unto him by humble petition as unto a Prince which we refused to doe the other they did and gave him a Call and with their Call a hogge of forty shillings price which Call he received and embraced forsook us and went unto them He had not long beene there but by some of our Tribe he was sued unto to come to us to baptize three children the which he did he and his wife Mr Copeland and his wife being witnesses to one where his Text being He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that d●spiseth me de●●iseth him that sent me At which time he did so exclaime against us saying we despised him and his Doctrine and had cast both him and it from us and so consequently God the Sonne and God the Father because we would not sue unto him by way of petition When he also for our fact pronounced a doome against us in his Pulpit saying Stand up ye of Pembrook Tribe and heare your doome which was you shall live here these twenty yeares without a preaching Minister comparing

also our Reader to the Idoll Dagon the Reading-pew to the place of Desolation saying Here sits the Idoll of Abomination in the place of Desolation saying our Book of common-Common-Prayer was an Idoll also And still in their weekly Exercises defame they our Church and Church Discipline with the Orders and Manner thereof crying she is uncleane she is uncleane polluted defiled with Antichristianisme both in Church-government Manners Orders and Discipline yea throughout therefore say they Come out of her my people and take not of her pollutions with divers such like yet for the man I must confesse he hath beene and is a worthy and reverend Teacher which causeth many yea most people the easier and sooner to be deceived as also by humble carriages and pious walking which is such that as our Saviour saith is able to deceive the very Elect by their walking in sheeps clothing but sure I am they are ravening wolves and easily may be discerned by their fruits that is by their Doctrines the which however it sound good to simple people and is as honey in their mouthes but sure I am they tend only and wholly to their owne Schismaticall Faction And thus have I beene large in my Discourse and troublesome unto you though in briefe Now Sir you know that he who cutteth wood over his head is in danger of the chips flying in his face so fareth it with me I having beene an opposite against them both by speaking and writings they are therefore become mine inveterat enemies and have from time to time traduced me and as the case once was yours so is it and hath beene mine having suffered much by our Rulers through their meanes they being all in a confederacy and likely if he can possibly suffer more but I hope will defend me from their cruelty by the help and meanes of you who are able to sympathize another mans case by his owne and be the easier stirred up to compassionate my case and to doe your best endeavour for me and many more honest hearted people who by me desire from you the like favours so shall I and them also be bound to pray for your prosperity here and everlasting happinesse hereafter desiring you to keep this writing to your selfe and make use of them and not shew them to any except to some sure friends not but that any thing herein contained is also absolutely true but that they are mine inveterate and malicious enemies and if by the Parliament they should get their desires then am I sure to suffer most exceedingly therefore I am forced to send to you underhand by way of Mr Spark and another to write the subscription of his Letter that my hand bee not seen such laying wait there is for any my writings This Gentleman the Bearer hath in some measure beene a co-partner with me in suffering and hath had much trouble and is now come for England to cleare himselfe from many false accusations laid to his charge as also to maintaine the Countreys agrievances and his owne also And if your Worship shall bee pleased to doe him any friendly office either by word or Counsell he will be thankfull and so shall more and with my selfe in especiall be bound to pray for you and ever rest your truly devoted and faithfull well-willer in heart till death to be commanded Richard Beake Sir I desire your favour I may heare from your Worship which will be a joy to me and many others who rejoyce of you and hope well in you This Letter is seconded by sundry others from thence to the same effect and to move the Honourable Houses of Parliament to take some speedy course for the quenching of those flames of Schisme and Sedition which these New Independent Lights and Firebrands have kindled in this Plantation and taking off the unsupportable yoak of Tyrannicall and Arbitrary Government over the Persons Estates and Consciences of the Free-borne English Subjects there which these Lordly Tyrants have imposed on them threatning ruine to this Plantation which I hope their Honours and all others concerned in it will seriously lay to heart I shall adde to this two other Papers to wit a Petition and Advertisement sent lately from the same Islands to me by Mr Richard Norwood which fully discover the Schismaticall and arrogant Proceedings of the Independents there and refute their present Innovations in a substantiall satisfactory manner To the Right Worshipfull our Worthy Governour Captaine Iosias Forster and his Councell Right Worshipfull and worthy Governour c. I Know you are not ignorant of the rent or division here begun which though I beleeve as you have often testified you favour not yet through your gentlenesse and forbearance towards the Authours and Abetters It growes very strong and is like to prevaile which I suppose you know not but may further understand if you be pleased to make enquiry and to heare other men For mine owne part I frame not this as a complaint or accusation against them being but one man and the matter concerns all besides I have seene the successe that others have had that wayes and I know they are too strong a party for me or any one man to encounter with But being very sensible of the danger approaching lost by my silence I might seem to consent unto it I thought it necessary to give notice and to endeavour what in me lies to prevent it whatsoever may befall me for so doing Therfore I have written this Advertisement following which I could wish might come to the hands of all The intent and scope wherof is to invite and perswade all to a cessation from setting up any new discipline and government amongst us untill we heare what is decreed by the Honorable Assembly of Parliament Or if that cannot be obtained as I have small hope considering how eagerly they pursue their ends and how great a number they have gayned to their party yet that the authours would expresse punctually in writing what manner of Discipline and Government it is which they would set up And because it may be they will say that they have already exprest it in their Sermons especially in their Lectures ordayned for that purpose therefore I have set down thirty or more doubts of speciall moment which they have not yet cleared Neither is it fit that our Religion or this part of it which they would seem to make a principall part should remain in their breasts only for so they may adde detract or alter as they please but ought to bee fully exprest in writing And I beleeve they are scarce agreed themselves touching all points of their intended Discipline which you may perceive if you please to examine them severally according to these or such other questions as you shall think fit Therefore in the first place according to my duty I humbly present this Advertisement to the consideration of your Worship and your Councell to whom God hath committed the Government of this place and