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find them。 We have not yet found them all； Lords and Commons； nor
ever shall do； till her Master's second coming； he shall bring
together every joint and member； and shall mould them into an
immortal feature of loveliness and perfection。 Suffer not these
licensing prohibitions to stand at every place of opportunity；
forbidding and disturbing them that continue seeking； that continue
to do our obsequies to the torn body of our martyred saint。
We boast our light； but if we look not wisely on the sun itself；
it smites us into darkness。 Who can discern those planets that are
oft combust； and those stars of brightest magnitude that rise and
set with the sun； until the opposite motion of their orbs bring
them to such a place in the firmament； where they may be seen
evening or morning？ The light which we have gained was given us；
not to be ever staring on； but by it to discover onward things more
remote from our knowledge。 It is not the unfrocking of a priest；
the unmitring of a bishop； and the removing him from off the
presbyterian shoulders； that will make us a happy nation。 No； if
other things as great in the Church； and in the rule of life both
economical and political； be not looked into and reformed； we have
looked so long upon the blaze that Zuinglius and Calvin hath
beaconed up to us； that we are stark blind。 There be who
perpetually complain of schisms and sects； and make it such a
calamity that any man dissents from their maxims。 'Tis their own
pride and ignorance which causes the disturbing； who neither will
hear with meekness； nor can convince； yet all must be suppressed
which is not found in their Syntagma。 They are the troublers； they
are the dividers of unity； who neglect and permit not others to
unite those dissevered pieces which are yet wanting to the body of
Truth。 To be still searching what we know not by what we know；
still closing up truth to truth as we find it （for all her body is
homogeneal and proportional）； this is the golden rule in theology
as well as in arithmetic； and makes up the best harmony in a
Church； not the forced and outward union of cold； and neutral； and
inwardly divided minds。
Lords and Commons of England！ consider what nation it is whereof
ye are； and whereof ye are the governors： a nation not slow and
dull； but of a quick； ingenious and piercing spirit； acute to
invent； subtle and sinewy to discourse； not beneath the reach of
any point the highest that human capacity can soar to。 Therefore
the studies of learning in her deepest sciences have been so
ancient and so eminent among us； that writers of good antiquity and
ablest judgment have been persuaded that even the school of
Pythagoras and the Persian wisdom took beginning from the old
philosophy of this island。 And that wise and civil Roman； Julius
Agricola； who governed once here for Caesar； preferred the natural
wits of Britain before the laboured studies of the French。 Nor is
it for nothing that the grave and frugal Transylvanian sends out
yearly from as far as the mountainous borders of Russia； and beyond
the Hercynian wilderness； not their youth； but their staid men； to
learn our language and our theologic arts。
Yet that which is above all this； the favour and the love of
Heaven； we have great argument to think in a peculiar manner
propitious and propending towards us。 Why else was this nation
chosen before any other； that out of her； as out of Sion； should be
proclaimed and sounded forth the first tidings and trumpet of
Reformation to all Europe？ And had it not been the obstinate
perverseness of our prelates against the divine and admirable
spirit of Wickliff； to suppress him as a schismatic and innovator；
perhaps neither the Bohemian Huns and Jerome； no nor the name of
Luther or of Calvin； had been ever known： the glory of reforming
all our neighbours had been completely ours。 But now； as our
obdurate clergy have with violence demeaned the matter； we are
become hitherto the latest and the backwardest scholars； of whom
God offered to have made us the teachers。 Now once again by all
concurrence of signs； and by the general instinct of holy and
devout men； as they daily and solemnly express their thoughts； God
is decreeing to begin some new and great period in his Church； even
to the reforming of Reformation itself： what does he then but
reveal himself to his servants； and as his manner is； first to his
Englishmen？ I say； as his manner is； first to us； though we mark
not the method of his counsels； and are unworthy。
Behold now this vast city： a city of refuge； the mansion house of
liberty； encompassed and surrounded with his protection； the shop
of war hath not there more anvils and hammers waking； to fashion
out the plates and instruments of armed justice in defence of
beleaguered truth； than there be pens and heads there； sitting by
their studious lamps； musing； searching； revolving new notions and
ideas wherewith to present； as with their homage and their fealty；
the approaching Reformation： others as fast reading； trying all
things； assenting to the force of reason and convincement。 What
could a man require more from a nation so pliant and so prone to
seek after knowledge？ What wants there to such a towardly and
pregnant soil； but wise and faithful labourers； to make a knowing
people； a nation of prophets； of sages； and of worthies？ We reckon
more than five months yet to harvest； there need not be five weeks；
had we but eyes to lift up； the fields are white already。
Where there is much desire to learn； there of necessity will be
much arguing； much writing； many opinions； for opinion in good men
is but knowledge in the making。 Under these fantastic terrors of
sect and schism； we wrong the earnest and zealous thirst after
knowledge and understanding which God hath stirred up in this city。
What some lament of； we rather should rejoice at； should rather
praise this pious forwardness among men； to reassume the ill…
deputed care of their religion into their own hands again。 A
little generous prudence； a little forbearance of one another； and
some grain of charity might win all these diligences to join； and
unite in one general and brotherly search after truth； could we but
forgo this prelatical tradition of crowding free consciences and
Christian liberties into canons and precepts of men。 I doubt not；
if some great and worthy stranger should come among us； wise to
discern the mould and temper of a people； and how to govern it；
observing the high hopes and aims； the diligent alacrity of our
extended thoughts and reasonings in the pursuance of truth and
freedom； but that he would cry out as Pyrrhus did； admiring the
Roman docility and courage： If such were my Epirots； I would not
despair the greatest design that could be attempted； to make a
Church or kingdom happy。
Yet these are the men cried out against for schismatics and
sectaries； as if； while the temple of the Lord was