196 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. " the otherlords, of the council)judges of my cause ; before "whose presence I ought to fear, and the steps ofwhose " feet I humbly reverence. If, before your honours, I " should be convinced of these pretended crimes, with what " shame should I hide icy face all the days Of my life ! " Where were the rejoicing that I have in God, in all things " that he bath wrought by me ? Where were their comfort, " who have so desirously heard me ? Where were the good " opinion of many, and all the good-will you have shewed " me ? I am not so ignorant, that I see not this. Therefore " persuade yourself; that I am on sure ground. Trial shall " teach your eyes and ears the truth. And to persuade your " heart, I give unto you my faith, I cannot accuse myself " of any thought, of my mind, inwhich I have not honoured " the magistrate, or word of my mouth, inwhich I have not " regarded the peace of the church. And I thank God, " who of hisunspeakable mercy, bath kept for me this coo- " science against the dayof trouble. " If you muse now, how these slanders have risen, you " may easily know, that the malice of satan is great against " the Ministry of the gospel. I know I have given no " cause, more than I have confessed ; and with what words " I have spoken, I desire to be judged by the hearers. And " so much the more bold I now speak to you, because my "lord of London, of late told me, before Mr. Attorney " and Mr. Solicitor, that he could not accuse me of any such thing. As I was glad to hear this discharge, so I " should have been much more glad, if, upon so free a con- " fession, he would favourably have restored, me to may " lecture. Though it be somewhat strange to punish " man before he,offend, lest hereafter he should offend; yet " I am contented with it, and leave it unto them, who " should be as much grieved as myself to see so great acon- " gregation dispersed." Mr. Deering next proceeds to prove the lordship and civil government of bishops to be unlawful, and contrary, to scripture. " The lordship andcivil government of bishops," says he, " is utterly, unlawful. The kingdom of Christ is " a spiritual government only. But the government of the " church is a part of the kingdom of Christ. Therefore, " the government of the church is only a spiritual govern- ,g orient. What the kingdom, of Christ is, and what " government he hath established in it, learn not of me, but " of God himself. What can be plainer than the words of " Christ ? My kingdom is not of this worlds How plainly
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