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sectaries； as if； while the temple of the Lord was building； some
cutting； some squaring the marble； others hewing the cedars； there
should be a sort of irrational men who could not consider there
must be many schisms and many dissections made in the quarry and in
the timber； ere the house of God can be built。 And when every
stone is laid artfully together； it cannot be united into a
continuity； it can but be contiguous in this world； neither can
every piece of the building be of one form； nay rather the
perfection consists in this； that； out of many moderate varieties
and brotherly dissimilitudes that are not vastly disproportional；
arises the goodly and the graceful symmetry that commends the whole
pile and structure。
Let us therefore be more considerate builders； more wise in
spiritual architecture； when great reformation is expected。 For
now the time seems come； wherein Moses the great prophet may sit in
heaven rejoicing to see that memorable and glorious wish of his
fulfilled； when not only our seventy elders； but all the Lord's
people； are become prophets。 No marvel then though some men； and
some good men too perhaps； but young in goodness； as Joshua then
was； envy them。 They fret； and out of their own weakness are in
agony； lest these divisions and subdivisions will undo us。 The
adversary again applauds； and waits the hour： when they have
branched themselves out； saith he； small enough into parties and
partitions； then will be our time。 Fool！ he sees not the firm
root； out of which we all grow； though into branches： nor will
beware until he see our small divided maniples cutting through at
every angle of his ill…united and unwieldy brigade。 And that we
are to hope better of all these supposed sects and schisms； and
that we shall not need that solicitude； honest perhaps； though
over…timorous； of them that vex in this behalf； but shall laugh in
the end at those malicious applauders of our differences； I have
these reasons to persuade me。
First； when a city shall be as it were besieged and blocked
about； her navigable river infested； inroads and incursions round；
defiance and battle oft rumoured to be marching up even to her
walls and suburb trenches； that then the people； or the greater
part； more than at other times； wholly taken up with the study of
highest and most important matters to be reformed； should be
disputing； reasoning； reading； inventing； discoursing； even to a
rarity and admiration； things not before discoursed or written of；
argues first a singular goodwill； contentedness and confidence in
your prudent foresight and safe government； Lords and Commons； and
from thence derives itself to a gallant bravery and well…grounded
contempt of their enemies； as if there were no small number of as
great spirits among us； as his was； who when Rome was nigh besieged
by Hannibal； being in the city； bought that piece of ground at no
cheap rate； whereon Hannibal himself encamped his own regiment。
Next； it is a lively and cheerful presage of our happy success
and victory。 For as in a body； when the blood is fresh； the
spirits pure and vigorous； not only to vital but to rational
faculties； and those in the acutest and the pertest operations of
wit and subtlety； it argues in what good plight and constitution
the body is； so when the cheerfulness of the people is so sprightly
up； as that it has not only wherewith to guard well its own freedom
and safety； but to spare； and to bestow upon the solidest and
sublimest points of controversy and new invention； it betokens us
not degenerated； nor drooping to a fatal decay； but casting off the
old and wrinkled skin of corruption to outlive these pangs and wax
young again； entering the glorious ways of truth and prosperous
virtue； destined to become great and honourable in these latter
ages。 Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation
rousing herself like a strong man after sleep； and shaking her
invincible locks： methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her mighty
youth； and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam；
purging and unscaling her long…abused sight at the fountain itself
of heavenly radiance； while the whole noise of timorous and
flocking birds； with those also that love the twilight； flutter
about； amazed at what she means； and in their envious gabble would
prognosticate a year of sects and schisms。
What would ye do then？ should ye suppress all this flowery crop
of knowledge and new light sprung up and yet springing daily in
this city？ Should ye set an oligarchy of twenty engrossers over
it； to bring a famine upon our minds again； when we shall know
nothing but what is measured to us by their bushel？ Believe it；
Lords and Commons； they who counsel ye to such a suppressing do as
good as bid ye suppress yourselves； and I will soon show how。 If
it be desired to know the immediate cause of all this free writing
and free speaking； there cannot be assigned a truer than your own
mild and free and humane government。 It is the liberty； Lords and
Commons； which your own valorous and happy counsels have purchased
us； liberty which is the nurse of all great wits； this is that
which hath rarefied and enlightened our spirits like the influence
of heaven； this is that which hath enfranchised； enlarged and
lifted up our apprehensions； degrees above themselves。
Ye cannot make us now less capable； less knowing； less eagerly
pursuing of the truth； unless ye first make yourselves； that made
us so； less the lovers； less the founders of our true liberty。 We
can grow ignorant again； brutish； formal and slavish； as ye found
us； but you then must first become that which ye cannot be；
oppressive； arbitrary and tyrannous； as they were from whom ye have
freed us。 That our hearts are now more capacious； our thoughts
more erected to the search and expectation of greatest and exactest
things； is the issue of your own virtue propagated in us； ye cannot
suppress that； unless ye reinforce an abrogated and merciless law；
that fathers may dispatch at will their own children。 And who
shall then stick closest to ye； and excite others？ not he who takes
up arms for coat and conduct； and his four nobles of Danegelt。
Although I dispraise not the defence of just immunities； yet love
my peace better； if that were all。 Give me the liberty to know； to
utter； and to argue freely according to conscience； above all
liberties。
What would be best advised； then； if it be found so hurtful and
so unequal to suppress opinions for the newness or the
unsuitableness to a customary acceptance； will not be my task to
say。 I only shall repeat what I have learned from one of your own
honourable number； a right noble and pious lord； who； had he not
sacrificed his life and fortunes to the Church and Commonwealth； we
had not now missed and bewailed a worthy and undoubted patron of
this argument。 Ye know him； I am sure； yet I for honour's sake；
and may it be e