32 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Lay your hand upon the book. You must take an oath. G. I will swear by the name of God, if there be any need; but not by, or upon, any book. T. He has a hot brain., How do you like the collects, and epistles and gospels ' for the saints'-days, as they are in the Book of Common Prayer ? B. Idislike all. We ought not so touse prayers and scriptures. Lond. May wenot make commemorationof the saints' lives in the church ? B. Pot after your manner, by giving peculiar days, eves, fasts, feasts, and worship, unto them. T. What is there idolatrous in this ? B. It is all idolatrous. We ought not so to use the scriptures. Lond. What not in commemoration of the saints ? B. As I have said, not after yourmanner. T. What evil is there in it ? B. It is all evil, my lord. For, by thus abusing the scripture, we make it an idol. Things in themselves good, thus become evil. As, in the mass- book, whence this stuff' is taken, there are sundry good collects and places of scripture, which superstitious abuse renders abominable. Buck. He is out of his wits. B. No, my lord, I speak the words of truth and soberness, as I could make appear, if I might be suffered. T. Herewe pray, that our lives may be such as theirs were, void of covetousness. B. So we ought to do. Yet not to use the scriptures in this manner to daysand times, nor to be so restrained or stinted in our prayers, as to be tied to this form of words, time, place, manner, kneeling, standing, &c. Buck: This fellow delighteth to hear himself talk. A. He is a sower of errors ; and, therefore, I committed him. B. You, indeed, committed me half a year close prisoner in the Gatehouse, and I never until now understood the cause, neither do I yet know what errors they are Shew them, therefore, I pray you. Buck. He has a presumptuous spirit. B. My lord, all spirits must he tried and judged by the word of God. But if I err, my lord, it is meet I should be shewn Wherein. Chan. There must be stricter laws made for such'fellows. B. Would to God there were, my lord, our journey would then be the shorter. T. You complained to usof injustice ; wherein have you receivedwrong ? B. By being imprisoned, my lord, without due trial. T. You said you were condemned upon the statute. B. Unjustly, my lord. That statute was not made for us. T. There most be stricter laws made for you. B. 0, my lord ! speak morecomfortably. We have sorrows enow. T. Indeed, thou lookest as if thou hadsta troubled conscience. B. No, my lord, I praise God for it. But it is an aw ful thing, thatthe sword of our princeshould thus be drawn against her faithful subjects. T. The queen's sword is not yet drawn against Mr. Barrow and his fellow-prisoners. B. We have been long confined in close prison. T. Have you not had a conference ? Lond. Several have been with them, whom they mocked. B. We have mocked no man. Miserable physicians are you all. We desireda public conference, that all might know our opinions, and wherein we err. A. You shall have no such conference, you have published too much already; and, therefore, I committed you close prisoners.
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