the_o naked_a truth_n or_o the_o true_a state_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n by_o a_o humble_a moderator_n zach._n 8._o 19_o love_v the_o truth_n and_o peace_n gal._n 4._o 16._o be_o i_o therefore_o become_v your_o enemy_n because_o i_o tell_v you_o the_o truth_n print_a in_o the_o year_n 1675._o a_o humble_a petition_n to_o the_o right_n honourable_a the_o lord_n and_o commons_o assemble_v in_o parliament_n my_o lord_n and_o noble_a gentleman_n you_o have_v full_o express_v your_o zeal_n to_o god_n and_o his_o church_n in_o make_v law_n for_o unity_n in_o faith_n and_o uniformity_n in_o discipline_n for_o as_o our_o saviour_n say_v a_o kingdom_n divide_v against_o itself_o can_v stand_v so_o the_o same_o may_v certain_o be_v say_v of_o a_o church_n the_o reason_n be_v the_o same_o for_o both_o and_o i_o call_v the_o searcher_n of_o all_o heart_n the_o god_n of_o life_n and_o death_n to_o witness_v that_o i_o will_v most_o ready_o yea_o most_o joyful_o sacrifice_v all_o i_o have_v in_o this_o world_n my_o life_n and_o all_o that_o all_o nonconformist_n be_v reduce_v to_o our_o church_n but_o it_o fall_v out_o most_o sad_o that_o your_o law_n have_v not_o the_o desire_a effect_n our_o church_n be_v more_o and_o more_o divide_v such_o be_v the_o perverse_a nature_n of_o man_n niti_fw-la in_o vetitum_fw-la obstinate_o to_o oppose_v authority_n especial_o when_o they_o can_v pretend_v the_o colour_n of_o religion_n and_o conscience_n this_o carry_v so_o great_a a_o applause_n among_o the_o vulgar_a still_o envious_a at_o superior_n that_o it_o be_v as_o it_o be_v nut_n to_o a_o ape_n sweet_a to_o they_o than_o any_o other_o thing_n this_o world_n afford_v for_o the_o enjoyment_n of_o this_o they_o will_v endure_v any_o thing_n imprisonment_n loss_n of_o good_n yea_o sometime_o of_o life_n also_o and_o this_o be_v it_o which_o main_o nourish_v our_o division_n give_v great_a advantage_n to_o the_o growth_n of_o popery_n and_o threaten_v the_o total_a ruin_n of_o 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seek_v god_n in_o this_o but_o upon_o my_o reason_n allege_v nor_o do_v i_o expect_v that_o upon_o my_o reason_n you_o shall_v approve_v all_o yet_o i_o beseech_v you_o serious_o consider_v all_o and_o god_n of_o his_o infinite_a goodness_n direct_v you_o to_o that_o which_o may_v make_v for_o the_o unity_n of_o our_o church_n by_o yield_v to_o weak_a one_o if_o not_o wilful_a one_o also_o as_o far_o as_o your_o reason_n and_o conscience_n will_v permit_v sure_o you_o can_v so_o loathe_v all_o condescension_n as_o not_o to_o loathe_v more_o and_o detest_v papal_a confusion_n which_o certain_o come_v on_o apace_o by_o our_o division_n and_o of_o two_o evil_n both_o reason_n and_o religion_n require_v we_o to_o choose_v the_o less_o now_o doubtless_o you_o can_v think_v condescension_n if_o evil_a at_o all_o sure_a not_o so_o evil_a as_o papal_a idolatry_n and_o that_o papistry_n be_v idolatry_n be_v so_o clear_o prove_v by_o our_o learned_a dr._n still_v fleet_n as_o it_o be_v lose_v labour_n to_o say_v more_o of_o it_o condescension_n may_v seem_v in_o some_o respect_v imprudent_a but_o whether_o in_o this_o conjuncture_n of_o affair_n imprudent_a i_o beseech_v you_o again_o consider_v well_o the_o wise_a man_n have_v change_v their_o counsel_n and_o resolve_n upon_o second_o thought_n much_o more_o upon_o experience_n and_o approach_v evil_n not_o at_o first_o discover_v it_o be_v a_o common_a thing_n with_o prince_n when_o they_o find_v their_o main_a enemy_n power_n increase_n much_o to_o make_v peace_n with_o lesser_a enemy_n on_o condition_n never_o before_o to_o be_v endure_v self-preservation_n be_v the_o prime_a principle_n in_o all_o creature_n rational_a and_o irrational_a spring_v from_o nature_n itself_o it_o shall_v in_o nature_n and_o reason_n overbalance_n any_o other_o consideration_n and_o whatever_o be_v do_v to_o this_o end_n if_o not_o sinful_o do_v must_v needs_o be_v wise_o do_v i_o most_o humble_o beseech_v the_o alwise_a god_n and_o sole_a giver_n of_o wisdom_n to_o pour_v down_o his_o holy_a and_o wise_a spirit_n upon_o you_o amen_n to_o the_o reader_n christian_n reader_n so_o i_o term_v you_o hope_v you_o have_v in_o some_o measure_n the_o spirit_n of_o christ_n and_o desire_v it_o more_o the_o spirit_n of_o meekness_n humility_n charity_n not_o to_o censure_v my_o error_n and_o inveigh_v against_o they_o but_o to_o pity_v and_o endeavour_v to_o rectify_v they_o if_o you_o find_v any_o and_o i_o assure_v you_o in_o the_o word_n of_o a_o christian_a i_o shall_v be_v far_o more_o ready_a to_o recant_v than_o to_o vent_v a_o error_n if_o you_o be_v not_o thus_o christianly_o dispose_v i_o earnest_o beseech_v you_o read_v no_o furtner_n for_o i_o be_o sure_a you_o will_v be_v displease_v with_o it_o and_o can_v you_o think_v it_o wisdom_n to_o run_v yourself_o into_o displeasure_n enjoy_v your_o present_a quiet_a and_o let_v i_o rest_v but_o if_o you_o be_v so_o christianly_o dispose_v as_o i_o mention_v than_o i_o as_o earnest_o hag_n of_o you_o to_o proceed_v to_o discover_v my_o error_n and_o amend_v they_o but_o perchance_o you_o will_v ask_v who_o i_o be_o why_o do_v i_o not_o tell_v you_o by_o put_v my_o name_n to_o this_o pamphlet_n i_o will_v ingenuous_o confess_v the_o cause_n i_o be_o a_o weak_a man_n of_o great_a passion_n not_o able_a to_o bear_v commendation_n or_o reproach_n my_o small_a ability_n put_v i_o out_o of_o danger_n of_o the_o first_o but_o in_o great_a fear_n of_o the_o late_a why_o then_o be_v i_o so_o forward_o to_o publish_v my_o weakness_n to_o have_v it_o cure_v yet_o true_o i_o have_v not_o be_v very_o forward_o for_o it_o be_v now_o above_o two_o year_n since_o i_o have_v these_o thought_n in_o which_o time_n i_o have_v read_v and_o confer_v all_o i_o can_v to_o discover_v if_o i_o be_v in_o a_o error_n but_o for_o all_o i_o yet_o can_v meet_v with_o do_v not_o find_v it_o so_o but_o hope_v all_o i_o say_v be_v truth_n and_o that_o it_o may_v he_o useful_a to_o the_o public_a in_o this_o present_a conjuncture_n of_o affair_n therefore_o i_o proceed_v and_o in_o the_o next_o place_n most_o humble_o beseech_v all_o that_o read_v this_o to_o lay_v aside_o all_o bias_n of_o interest_n or_o education_n both_o be_v very_o great_a i_o be_o sure_a i_o find_v it_o so_o very_o long_o before_o i_o can_v master_v they_o and_o that_o of_o education_n most_o difficult_a be_v it_o not_o so_o there_o can_v not_o be_v that_o difference_n of_o opinion_n in_o christian_a religion_n all_o allow_v the_o bible_n for_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n the_o papist_n themselves_o do_v not_o reject_v it_o but_o add_v to_o it_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n i_o very_o believe_v there_o be_v thousand_o of_o papist_n lutheran_n calvinist_n
they_o come_v in_o sincerity_n of_o heart_n reject_v not_o those_o who_o god_n accept_v i_o may_v go_v on_o thus_o to_o handle_v other_o ceremony_n as_o the_o cross_n in_o baptism_n the_o ring_n in_o marriage_n etc._n etc._n but_o i_o conceive_v it_o needless_a the_o same_o reason_n be_v applicable_a to_o all_o and_o he_o that_o be_v once_o bring_v to_o be_v indifferent_a and_o unconcerned_a in_o one_o will_v soon_o be_v so_o dispose_v to_o all_o wherefore_o i_o conclude_v this_o point_n of_o ceremony_n with_o st._n paul_n he_o that_o regard_v a_o day_n regard_v it_o unto_o the_o lord_n and_o he_o that_o regard_v not_o the_o day_n to_o the_o lord_n he_o do_v not_o regard_v it_o he_o that_o eat_v eat_v to_o the_o lord_n for_o he_o give_v god_n thanks_o and_o he_o that_o eat_v not_o to_o the_o lord_n he_o eat_v not_o and_o giveth_z god_n thanks_o so_o he_o that_o kneel_v kneel_v to_o the_o lord_n and_o he_o that_o kneel_v not_o to_o the_o lord_n he_o kneel_v not_o and_o i_o desire_v you_o far_a to_o observe_v this_o circumstance_n in_o st._n paul_n word_n how_o he_o call_v the_o zealous_a observer_n of_o ceremonial_a matter_n the_o weak_a brother_n and_o command_v the_o strong_a not_o to_o despise_v he_o it_o be_v real_o a_o despicable_a weakness_n and_o a_o childish_a or_o effeminate_a kind_n of_o devotion_n to_o be_v zealous_a in_o any_o ceremonial_a observance_n which_o masculine_a spirit_n be_v apt_a to_o despise_v but_o in_o christian_a charity_n ought_v rather_o to_o pity_v and_o bear_v the_o infirmity_n of_o other_o wherefore_o let_v we_o be_v man_n of_o understanding_n man_n in_o devotion_n be_v zealous_a and_o hold_v fast_o the_o substantial_a part_n of_o religion_n piety_n justice_n temperance_n chastity_n truth_n sincerity_n stand_v fast_o for_o these_o not_o recede_v one_o hair_n breadth_n from_o these_o keep_v but_o our_o ground_n and_o fight_v it_o out_o like_a man_n to_o death_n against_o all_o power_n and_o principality_n on_o earth_n or_o under_o the_o earth_n and_o let_v we_o leave_v it_o to_o woman_n and_o child_n to_o contend_v about_o ceremony_n let_v it_o be_v indifferent_a to_o we_o whether_o this_o or_o that_o or_o no_o ceremony_n whether_o kneel_v or_o not_o kneel_v bow_n or_o not_o bow_v surplice_n or_o not_o surplice_n cross_n or_o no_o cross_n ring_n or_o not_o ring_n let_v we_o give_v glory_n to_o god_n in_o all_o and_o no_o offence_n to_o our_o brethren_n in_o any_o thing_n now_o if_o any_o man_n will_v be_v so_o curious_a as_o to_o ask_v why_o st._n paul_n do_v not_o determine_v this_o point_n whether_o they_o shall_v eat_v herb_n only_o or_o other_o meat_n also_o whether_o regard_v a_o day_n or_o not_o and_o so_o establish_v uniformity_n among_o they_o i_o can_v imagine_v any_o other_o reason_n but_o mere_o to_o teach_v we_o this_o charitable_a compliance_n with_o one_o another_o as_o necessary_a a_o practice_n as_o any_o other_o man_n be_v a_o very_a ticklish_a animal_n to_o govern_v he_o will_v not_o always_o be_v guide_v by_o reason_n and_o authority_n man_n have_v a_o will_n as_o well_o as_o reason_n and_o will_v have_v his_o own_o will_n in_o many_o thing_n even_o the_o godly_a very_o few_o be_v find_v so_o entire_o pious_a as_o whole_o to_o deny_v themselves_o it_o be_v so_o high_a and_o sharp_a a_o point_n of_o religion_n as_o you_o may_v break_v the_o heart_n string_n of_o many_o in_o wind_v they_o up_o so_o high_a and_o thus_o crack_v all_o their_o religion_n perchance_o you_o will_v find_v it_o so_o yourselves_o have_v the_o nonconformist_n the_o screw_v you_o up_o as_o you_o they_o wherefore_o consider_v yourselves_o lest_o you_o also_o be_v tempt_v be_v charitable_a to_o the_o weak_a proceed_v not_o so_o severe_o against_o they_o in_o your_o court_n of_o judicature_n but_o remember_v what_o st._n paul_n say_v colos._n 2._o let_v no_o manjudge_v you_o in_o meat_n or_o in_o drink_n or_o in_o respect_n of_o a_o holy_a day_n or_o of_o the_o new_a moon_n or_o of_o the_o sabbath_n day_n which_o be_v a_o shadow_n of_o thing_n to_o come_v but_o the_o body_n be_v of_o christ_n will_v you_o then_o in_o respect_n of_o a_o holiday_n cross_n in_o baptism_n stand_v at_o the_o creed_n kneel_v at_o the_o sacrament_n and_o the_o like_a will_v you_o in_o respect_n of_o such_o shadow_n judge_n excommunicate_a sentence_n to_o everlasting_a flame_n a_o soul_n that_o hold_v of_o the_o body_n of_o christ_n believe_v all_o his_o holy_a gospel_n accord_v with_o you_o in_o one_o faith_n one_o baptism_n who_o acknowledge_v the_o only_a true_a god_n creator_n of_o heaven_n and_o earth_n and_o jesus_n christ_n who_o he_o have_v send_v to_o be_v the_o redeemer_n of_o mankind_n which_o our_o saviour_n affirm_v to_o be_v eternal_a life_n will_v you_o condemn_v such_o a_o one_o to_o eternal_a death_n god_n forbid_v my_o reverend_a father_n and_o judge_n of_o the_o church_n i_o with_o st._n paul_n col._n 3._o beseech_v you_o put_v on_o fatherly_a bowel_n of_o mercy_n kindness_n humbleness_n of_o mind_n meekness_n long_o suffer_v towards_o your_o poor_a weak_a child_n and_o so_o long_o as_o they_o hold_v fast_o the_o body_n christ_n be_v not_o so_o rigorous_a with_o they_o for_o shadow_n if_o they_o submit_v to_o you_o in_o substance_n have_v patience_n though_o they_o do_v not_o submit_v in_o ceremony_n and_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o tell_v you_o my_o poor_a opinion_n this_o violent_a press_v of_o ceremony_n have_v i_o humble_o conceive_v be_v a_o great_a hindrance_n from_o embrace_v they_o man_n fear_v your_o intention_n therein_o to_o be_v far_o worse_o than_o real_o they_o be_v and_o therefore_o abhor_v they_o have_v you_o never_o observe_v a_o flock_n of_o sheep_n forcible_o drive_v over_o a_o narrow_a bridge_n the_o poor_a sheep_n fear_v they_o be_v go_v into_o some_o pen_n for_o slaughter_n choose_v rather_o to_o leap_v into_o the_o river_n then_o go_v forward_o but_o drive_v they_o on_o gentle_o and_o patient_o they_o will_v of_o themselves_o take_v the_o way_n you_o desire_v uniformity_n in_o ceremony_n be_v a_o good_a and_o desirable_a thing_n therefore_o endeavour_v it_o but_o unity_n in_o faith_n and_o charity_n be_v better_a and_o therefore_o if_o you_o can_v obtain_v that_o be_v sure_a to_o preserve_v this_o this_o be_v the_o one_o thing_n necessary_a choose_v this_o better_a part_n if_o you_o can_v have_v both_o for_o this_o fierce_a urge_v uniformity_n in_o worship_n have_v cause_v great_a division_n in_o faith_n as_o well_o as_o charity_n for_o have_v you_o by_o abolish_n some_o ceremony_n take_v the_o weak_a brethren_n into_o your_o church_n they_o have_v not_o wander_v about_o after_o seduce_a teacher_n nor_o fall_v into_o so_o many_o gross_a opinion_n of_o their_o own_o but_o be_v daily_o catechise_v and_o instruct_v by_o your_o orthodox_n and_o sound_n preach_v they_o will_v have_v follow_v you_o like_o good_a sheep_n whereas_o now_o they_o wander_v about_o into_o a_o hundred_o by_o path_n of_o error_n many_o whereof_o lead_v beadlong_o to_o hell_n now_o i_o beseech_v you_o in_o the_o fear_n of_o god_n set_v before_o your_o eye_n the_o dreadful_a day_n of_o judgement_n when_o christ_n on_o his_o tribunal_n of_o justice_n shall_v require_v a_o account_n of_o every_o word_n and_o deed_n and_o shall_v thus_o question_v you_o here_o be_v several_a soul_n who_o take_v offence_n at_o your_o ceremony_n have_v forsake_v my_o church_n have_v forsake_v the_o faith_n have_v run_v into_o hell_n the_o soul_n for_o which_o i_o shed_v my_o precious_a blood_n why_o have_v you_o suffer_v this_o nay_o why_o have_v you_o occasion_v this_o will_v you_o answer_v it_o be_v to_o preserve_v your_o ceremony_n will_v not_o christ_n return_v unto_o you_o be_v your_o ceremony_n more_o dear_a unto_o you_o then_o the_o soul_n for_o which_o i_o die_v who_o have_v require_v these_o thing_n at_o your_o hand_n will_v you_o for_o ceremony_n which_o you_o yourselves_o confess_v to_o be_v indifferent_a no_o way_n necessary_a unto_o salvation_n 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