426 2_he HISTORY of the PuRXTAxs; Chap. I. Ámióomes I. fuperftitioufly abufe the one, as the Ifraelites did the other; what found anfwer fhall I make to them for their better fatisfaëtion ? Thirdly, Whereas it has been this day alleged, that it is convenient " and neceffary to preferve the memory of the crois of Chrift by this means ; if haply any of the other fide (hall come to me, and fay, " that the memory of the crofs of Chrift might be fufiiciently, and " more fafely preferved by preaching the doärine of the gofpel, the fum whereof is Chrift cruc:fied ; which was fo lively preached to the " Galatians, as if his bodily image had been crucified among them; and yet we know not of any material or fignal crofs, that was in ufe in the church at that time ; I delire toknow what fatisfaétion or anfwer " muff be given to them. Moreover, I proteft that all my fpeeches now are uttered by way of 1° propsJìtion, and not by wayof oppotion, and that they all tend to work " a pacification in the church; for I put great difference between what is u lawful and what is expedient, and between them that are fchifmaticai, " and them that are fcrupulous only upon Tome ceremonies, being other- " wife learned, ftudious, grave and honeft men. " Concerning thefe laft, I fuppofe, if upon the urging them to abfolute fubfcription, they fhould be ¡tiff, and choofe rather to forego their " livings, and the exercife of their miniftry, though I do not juftify " their doings herein, yet furely their fervice will be miffed at fuch a " time, as need ¡hall require us and them to give the right hand offel- lowthip one to another, and to go arm in arm againft the common. " adverfary. _ Likewïfe confider who muff be the executioners of their depriva- " tien ? Even we ourfelues the bifhops, againft whom there will be a great clamour of them and their dependants, and many others who are well " affefted towards them, whereby our perfons will be in hazard to be " brought into extreme diflike or hatred. " Alfo remember, that when the B3enjansites were all deftroyed, fav- " ing fix hundred, and the men of Ifrael fware in their fury that none " of them would give his daughter to the Benjamites to wife, though they fuffered for their juft deferts, yet their brethren afterwards la- " mented and faid,, there is one tribe cut off from Ifrael this day, and they ufed all their wits to the uttermoft of their policy, to refiere that " tribe again. " la like fort, if thefe our brethren aforefaid (hall be deprived:of their. " places for the matter premifed, I think we fhould find caufe to bend, " our wits to the utmoft extent of our ¡kill, to provide Come cure of " fouls for them, that they may exercife their. talents. Further-
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