2 The Preface. For (I.) Many of thofe who refufed to conform unto the Church in all its Conftitutions, yet thought it their Duty towait quietly for a kational Reformation, think- ingno other poffible, began to oppofeand write againft them, who utterly Separated from the Church, con- demning its Aflèrnblies as Unlawful. And herein, as the manner ofmen is on fuch Occafions, they fell into {harp Inve?cives againft them, with feuere Cenfures and Sen- tences concerning themand their Praerice. And (2.) Thole whodid fo feparate, being not agreed among themfelves, as unto all Principles of Church- Order, nor as unto the Meafures of their Separation from the Church of England, there fell out differences and diforders among them, accompanied with perfonal Imprudencies and Mifcarriages, in not a few. Neither was it ever fcarcely otherwife among them who firft at- tempted any Reformation, unlefs like the Apoftles they were infallibly guided. Thefe mutual Contefis which they had among themfelves, and with the :71(onconfor- mi.fis who abode in their private Stations in England, with their Mifcarriages allo, were publithed unto the World, in their own Writings and thofe of their Ene- mies. Hinc omnic pendet Lucilius. Thefe were the things that gaie advantageunto, and are the Subftance of the Htory ofour Author concerning Separation ; wherein all I can find unto our prefent Inftru&ion is, that Iliacos intra muros peccatur e, extra ; There are and ever were Sins, Faults, Follies, and Mif- carriages among all forts of Men ; which might be far- ther evidenced by recounting on the other hand, what were
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