100 The HISTORY oj the PuRITANS~ VoL. II. K. Charles I· " termined in all debates, to yield to the utmofl: latitude of their confci– ~ " ences, profeiling it to be as high a point of religion, to acknowledge " their mifl:akes when they are convinced of them, as to hold fafl: the " truth; and when matters are brought to the nearefl: agreement, to pro. " mote fuch a temper as may tend to union, as well as truth. " They therefore befeech the honourable houfes of parliament, not to " look upon them as diil:urbers of the public peace, but to confider them '· as perfons that differ but little from their brethren; yea far lefs than " they do from what themfelves practifed three years ago. They befeech " them likewife to have fome regard to their pail: exile, and prefent fu f– " ferings, and upon thefe accounts to allow them to continue in their " native country, with the enjoyment of the ordinances of Chriil:, and " an indulgence in fame leifer d ifferences, as long as they continue pea– " ceable fu bjects." Signed by, Tho. Goodwin, Sydrach Simpfon, Philip Nye, Jer. Burroughs, Willliam Bridge. Rm•arhs. The reverend Mr. Herle, afterwards prolocutor of the affembly, in his imprimatur to this apology, calls it a performance full of peaceablenefs, rnodeil:y, and candor; and though he wrote againil: it, yet in his preface to his book, entitled The Independency upon Scripture if the Independency if Churches, fays " the difference between us and our brethren who " are for independency, is nothing fo great -as fome may conceive; at moft ~· it does but ruffle the fringe, not any way rend the garment of Chrill ; " it is fo far from being a fund amental, that it is fcarce a material diffe· " · rence." The more rigid prefbyterians attacked the apology with greater feverity; [warms of pamphlets were publiilied againfl: it in a few months; fame reflecting on the perfons of the apologijls, and others on their prin– ciples, as tending to break the uniformity of the church, under the pre• tence of liberty of confcience. The moil: furious adverfaries were Dr; Bqflwick, old Mr. Vicars, and Mr. Edwards. miniil:er of Chrij! Church L ondon, who printed an antapologia, of three hundred pages in quarto; full of fuch bitter invectives, that the pacific Mr. Burroughs faid, "he " quei1:1oned whether any good man ever vented fo much ma'lice againil: « others, whom he acknowledged to be pious and religious perfons." But we !hall have occalion to remember this gentleman hereafter. Lord. 2
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