370 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Upon the publication of the advertisements, for enforcing a more strict conformity, Dr. Humphrey wrote to Secretary Cecil, earnestly desiring him to use all his influence towards stopping their execution. In this letter, dated April 23, 1566, he says, " I am sorry that the old sore is broken out again, to the calamity of many, and to the wonder and sorrow of all. The cause is not so good, in my poor *Ilion, as it is represented. The trouble is greater thanwe imagine. The inhibition of preaching, how strange and lamentable ! The cries of numbers awaken the pity of God and man. The book of advertisements contains many things, which, on many accounts, are much disliked by wise men. The execution of it, which has hitherto been vehement, has greatly agitated and spoiled all. I humbly request you to be a means with the queen's majesty, to put a stop to the execution of it, and that the book may sleep in silence. The people in these days, require other kind of advertise- ments. We stand in need of unity and concord ; but these advertisements have produced greater variekj and discord than was ever known before. To your wisdom and goodness, I refer all.". About the same time, he wrote a very warm and affec- tionate letter to the bishops, boldly expostulating with them about their corrupt and unchristianproceedings. He says, "The gospel requireth Christ to be openly preached, pro- fessed, and glorified ; but, alas 1 a man qualified with inward gifts, for want of outward shews in matters of cere- mony, is punished ; and a man only outwardly conformable, and inwardly unfurnished, is exalted. The preacher, for his labour, is beaten ; the unpreaching prelate offending, goes free. The learned man without his cap, is afflicted : the man with his cap is not touched. Is not this a direct breach of God's laws ? Is not this the way of the pharisees ? I s not this to wash the outside of the cup, and leave the inside uncleansed ? Is not this to prefer mint and annis, to faith, and judgment, and mercy ? Is not this preferring man's traditions before the ordinance of God ? Is not this a sore disorder in the school of Christ ?-Charity, my lords, would first have taught us, equity would first have spared us, brotherly-kindness would have warned us, pity would have pardoned us, if we had beenfound transgressors. God is my witness, that I think honourably of your lordships, esteeming you as brethren, reverencing you as lords and Strype's Parker, p. 217.
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