11-246 -the HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap, I KingjamesI. cc trous original, and has a tendency to lead men into that fin, they think r6t. os. " it unlawful, and to be laid afide." The abridgment concludes with a fhort table of fundry other excep_ ceptions againft the three books whereunto they are required to fubfcribe, which they purpofe to juftify and confirm in the fame manner as they have done in refpe t of thofe contained in this book ; a fummary whereof we fhall meet with hereafter. Afwers to The abridgment was anfwered by bithopMoreton and Dr. Barges, who thenbridg- after having fuffered himfelf to be deprived for non-conformity, June 19. mean. 1604. was perfuaded by king James to conform, and write in defence of his prefent condu& againft his former arguments. Bifhop Moreton .endeavours to defend the innocence of the three ceremonies from feripture, antiquity, the teftimony of proteftant divines, and the prallice of thenon - conformifis themfelves in other cafes, and has faid'as much as can be faid in favour of them; though it is hard to defend the impfng them upon thofe who efleem them unlawful, or who apprehend things indifferent ought to be left in the date that Chrift left them. Dr. Downham, Sparkes, Covel, Hutton, Rogers, and Ball, wrote for the ceremonies; and were anfwered by Mr. Bradfhaw, Mr. Paul Baynes, Dr. Amesand others. Ramk;, From the arguments of thefe divines it appears, that the puritans were removing to a greater diftance from the church; for whereas (lays Dr. Barges) Mr. Cartwright and his brethren wrote fharply againft the cere- monies as inconvenient, now they are oppofed as abfolutely unlawful, nei- ther to be impofed nor ufed. The cruel feverities of Bancroft and the high commiflionerswere the occafion of this ; for being pufhed upon one of thefe extremes, either to a confiant and full conformity, or to lay down their minifiry in the church, many of them at one of their conferences, came to this conclufion, that if they could not enjoy their livings without Jab- fcribing over again the three articles above-mentioned, and declaring at the fame time, they did it WILLINGLY AND FROM THEIR HEARTS, it was their duty to rfgn. Thefe were called brethren of the fecond fepa- ration, who were content to join with the church in her doIrines and facraments, though they apprehended it unlawful to declare their hearty approbation of the ceremonies; and if their conduit was grounded upon a conviIion that it was their duty as chriftians to bear their teftimony againft all unfcriptural impofitions in the worfhip of God, it muff deferve the commendation of all impartial and confident protefiants. No men could go greater lengths for the fake of peace than they were willing to do; for in their defence of the minifters reafons for refùfal offubfcrip- lion to the book of commonprayer.again/1 the cavils of F. Hutton, B. D. Dr. Covel and Dr. Sparkes, publifhed 16o7, they begin thus, " we proteft before the almighty God, that we acknowledge the churches of
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