SS INTRODUCTION, addition to many other troubles, were both suspended for nonconformity. As the storm approached, theministers of Norfolk prepared for it, by presenting their humble sup- plication to the council, in which they express themselves as follows :-"As touching your letters wherein you say, that her majesty is fully bent to remove all those, who cannot be persuaded to conform themselves to all orders established, it grieveth our souls very much, considering what desolation is likely to come upon the poor flock of Christ, by being thus bereaved of many excellent pastors, who dare not yield to that conformity. Yet knowing that the hearts of princes are in the hands of God, we commit our cause, beingGod's own cause, unto him, waiting for a happy issue at his hands. In the mean time, we pour out our prayers before the throne of his mercy, to direct her majesty to promote his glory, lamenting our sins, and the sins of the land, as the reason of our prince being set against so godly a cause. " As for ourselves, though we are willing to yield our bodies, goods, and lives to our sovereign prince, we dare not yield to this conformity, for fear of that terrible threat, ening of the Lord Jesus : Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones, it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into: the depth of the sea.' And though we have ever so, much knowledge of christian liberty, we, dare not cause our wear brother to perish, for whom Christ died. For in sinning against them, and wounding their consciences, we sin against Christ. We conclude with the apostle, Where, fore if meat (so we say of ceremonies) make my brother to offend, Iwill eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.' Therefore we dare not yield to these ceremonies, because, so far from edifying and building up the church, they have rent it asunder, and torn it pieces, to its great misery and ruin, as God knoweth ; and unless some mitigation be granted, still greater misery and ruin will follow, by stopping the mouths of the servants of God. "Although her majesty be incensed against us, as if we would obeyno laws, we take the Lord of heaven and earths to witness, that we acknowledge, from the bottom of our hearts her majesty to be our lawful queen placed over us by God for our good ; and we give God our most humble and hearty thanks for her happy government; and, both in public and private, we constantlypray forher prosperity.
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