3$6 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VIII. Queen Elizabeth, SINGULARITY: 1592. tMJ Which though it be not fubje& to any punifhment of law, yet is " fuggefted againft us by fuch as favour not our molt humble delire ofa.- " further reformation, to difgrace us, and make us odious with others, and " chiefly with your excellent majefty; whereunto ouranfwer is, that the " difcipline of the primitive church is antient, and fo acknowledged by the " book of CommonPrayer, in thefe words, that there was agodly dip- " plisse in the primitive church ; infleadwhereof, until thePaiddfcipline may be reftored again (which thing is much to be wifhed) it is thought come- " nient to 'ufefuch a form of commination as is prefcribed. " Further alto, if it pleafe your majefty with favour to underfland it " from us, we are ready to Phew, that in fuch points of ecclefiaftical dif- " cipline of our church, which we defire moft humbly may be reformed, " we hold no fingular or private opinion, but the truth of the word of " God, acknowledgedto be fuch by all the belt churches and writers of " ancient time and of this prefent age. " Thus have we declared, right gracious fovereign, truly and fincerely, " as we will anfwer it before God, and to your majefty upon our alle- giance, whatjudgment weare ofconcerning the matters informed againft R' us; and further teftify, that no minifter within this land defiring a fur- " ther reformation, with whomwe have had any private acquaintanceor " conference of thefe matters (whofoever may be otherwife informed) is " of any other mind or opinion in thefe cafes that have been named; by which declaration if (according to our earneft prayers to almighty God) " your majefty (hall clearly difcern us to (land free from all fuch matters " as we are charged with, our moft humble fuit is, that your majefty's "" gracious favour (which is more dear and precious to us than our lives) " may be extended to us, and that by means thereof we may enjoy the " comfortable liberty of our perlons and miniftry, as we did before our " troubles; which if by your highnefs's fpecial mercy and goodnefs we " may obtain, we promife and vow to almighty God, and your excellent majefty, to behave ourfelves in fo peaceable and dutiful fort in every " refpeOt, as may give no juft caufe of your highnefs's offence, but accord- " ing to our callings, both in doEtrine and example as heretofore, fo al- " always hereafter, to teach due obedience to your majefty among other " parts of holy doEtrine ; and to pray for your majefty's long and bleffed !' reign over us, &c. Mr. Cart- It was not till Tome time after this that Mr. Cartwright was releafed, weight re- upon promife of his quiet and peaceable behaviour, and reftored to his leafed. holpital
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