The HI STORY of f the PURITANS. Chap. VIII. ".anfwer whatfoever (hall be demanded of us. Of this kind of oath ` we find neither rule nor example in the word of God; but:contrari- " wife both precepts and precedents of all lawful oaths reported in the fame tend to this, that an oath ought tobe taken with judgment, and fo " as he that fweareth may fee the bounds of his oath, and to what condi " tion it does bind him, &c. But this oath is to enquire of our private " fpeeches and conferences, with our deareft and neareft friends ; yea, of " the very fecret thoughts and intents of our hearts, that fo we may fur. " nifh both matter of accufation' and evidence of proof againft ourfelves, " which was not tiled to be done in caufes of here or high-trefon; for " thefe are the words of the ftatutes of your molt noble father, Henry VIII. " For that the moll expert and heft learned, cannot efcape the danger of " filch captious interrogatories (as the law calleth them) which are acculions. " ed to be adminiflered by the ordinaries of this realm; as a/fo that it /land- " eth not with the right order ofjuflice, or good equity, that any perfon " fhould be convialed, or put to the lofs of life, good name, or goods, unlefs " it be by due accufation andwitnefs, or byprejentment, verdict, èonfeon, " or procefs of out-]awry : And further, for the avoiding untrue ac- " cufations and prefentments which might be malicioufly confired, and kept " fècret and unrevealed, till time might be efpied to have men thereof by " malice conviëled, it was ordained that none fhould be put to anfwer but upon accufation and prefentments taken in open and manifeft " courts, by the oath of twelve men. SCHISM. *` As to the charge of Schifm, and that we fofar condemned the liate " of the church, that we hold it not or any true, vifible church of " God, as.it is efiablifhed by publick authority within the land, and there- " fore refer to have anypart or communion with it in publickprayers, or " in the mini/lry of the wordand facraments: If this were true, we were " of all men living the molt unthankful, firft to almighty God, and " next to your excellent majefly, by whole bleffed means we are par- " takers of that happy liberty of the profefiïon of the gofpel, and of the " true fervice of God, that by your highnefs's gracious government we " do enjoy. We acknowledge unfeignedly, as in the fight of God, that " this our church, as it is by your highnefs's laws and authority efta- " blifhed among us, having that faith profeffed and taught publickly in " it, that was agreed of in the convocationof 1562. and filch form of ` publick prayers and adminiftration of the facraments, as in the fire -" year of your molt gracious reign was eftablifhed (notwithftanding any " thing that mayneed to be reviled and further reformed) is a true vifi " ble
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