814 A P P E N D I X . and learned, are otherwife perfwaded, whole confciences are continually ftricken with thefe fentences: What hath Chrift Jefus to do with Belial? What fellowfhip is there betwixt darknefs and light ? If furplice, corner cap, and tippet, have been badges of idolaters in the very ad of their idolatry, what bath the preachers of chriftian liberty, and the open re- baker of all fuperftition, to do with the dregs of the romifh beaft ? Our brethren that of confcience refufe that unprofitable apparel, do neither damn yours, or moleft you that ufe fuch vain trifles : if you fhall do the like to them, we doubt not but therein ye (hall pleafe God, and comfort the hearts of many which are wounded with extremity, which is ufed againft thofe godly, and our beloved brethren. Colour of rheto- rick, or manly perfwafion will we ufe none, but charitably we defire you to call that fentence of pity to mind: Feed the flock of God which is committed to your charge, caring for them, not by conftraint, but wil- lingly, not as though ye were lords over God's heritage, but that ye may be examples to the flock. And further allo, we delire you to meditate that fentence of the apoile, faying, give none offence, neither to the yews, nor to the Grecians, nor to the church of God. In what condi- tion of time ye and we both travel in the promoting of Chrift's king- dom, we fuppofe you not to be ignorant. And therefore we are more bold to exhort you to walk more circumfpeltly, than that for fuch va- nities the godly fhould be troubled. For all things that may feem law- ful, edify not. If the commandment of authority urge the confcience of yours and our brethren, more than they can bear; we unfainedly crave of you, that ye remember that ye are called the light of the world, and the earth. All civil authority bath not the light of God always fhining before their eyes in their ftatutes and commandments; but their affeftions oft -time fa- vour too much of the earth, and of worldly wifdom. And therefore we think that ye fhould boldly oppone yourfelves to all power, that will or dare extol itfelf, not only againft God, but allo againft all fuch as do burthen the confciences of the faithful, farther than God bath burthened them by his own word. But hereinwe confefs our offence, in that we have entered farther in reafoning than we purpofed and promifed at the beginning : And therefore we fhortly return to our former humble fupplication, which is, that our brethren, who among you refufe the romp rags, may find of you, the prelates, fuch favours, as our head and mafter commands every one of his members to thew one to another, which we look to receive of your gentlenefs, not only for that ye fear to offend God's majefty, in troubling of your brethren for fuch vain trifles; but alto becaufe ye will not refufe the humble re- quefts
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