X90 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. " Some things," say they, " appear to us repugnant to the word of dod ; as the allowance of an unlearned ministry, reading the apocrypha in the service of God, private baptism, and the government of the church. And to us many things appear very doubtful, some of which it is impossible for us to practice with a good conscience. Yet, as we judge not others in the practice of them ; so we desire that we may not be judged by them, but left to our liberty in riot subscribing. There are other things to the use of which we have subscribed, because they are tolerated for a time, and imposed upon us by the laws of the church yet we see not how they agree with the word of God, and cannot approve of them. But if we offend against any law of the church or statute, we humbly crave such favour and clemency as is not contrary to law ; but if this cannot be obtained, we submit ourselvesto the censures of the law, still avowing our peaceableness both in church and state. 44 We, therefore, must humbly on our knees, beseech your honours, that we may be freed from the subscription now urged upon us ; or have so much time allowed us to examine and consider the case, as your wisdoms shall think fit ; or we must give up our places for the peace of the church. For we most humbly confess before God and the elect angels, that to subscribe as now required, we should act contrary to the doctrines of faith and repentance which we have taught among the people of our charge : We should subscribe to somethings against our consciences, to many things with a doubtfulconscience, and most of all with an ignorant conscience ; from all such dealing the Lord ever preserve us. We commend to your wise consi- deration the indignity and reproach which is likely to be cast upon us and our ministry, being accounted disloyal and seditious against her majesty ; but we much more commend to you our doubtful, fearful, and distressed con- sciences, and the miserable state of our poor and distressed people hungering after the word of life, who, when they are deprived of us, almost despair of having a learned and godly ministry. If they might have better than ourselves, we should rejoice, and be much more content. We bless the Lord, that the people of our charges are free from heresies and sedition, and most of them from gross crimes, and all, so far as we know, are faithful subjects, and many of them are known and approved christians. But what may befall them when they are left as sheep without
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