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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 eternal to him； shall name him； the Lord Brook。 He
writing of episcopacy； and by the way treating of sects and
schisms； left ye his vote； or rather now the last words of his
dying charge； which I know will ever be of dear and honoured regard
with ye； so full of meekness and breathing charity； that next to
his last testament； who bequeathed love and peace to his disciples；
I cannot call to mind where I have read or heard words more mild
and peaceful。 He there exhorts us to hear with patience and
humility those； however they be miscalled； that desire to live
purely； in such a use of God's ordinances； as the best guidance of
their conscience gives them； and to tolerate them； though in some
disconformity to ourselves。 The book itself will tell us more at
large； being published to the world； and dedicated to the
Parliament by him who； both for his life and for his death；
deserves that what advice he left be not laid by without perusal。
And now the time in special is； by privilege to write and speak
what may help to the further discussing of matters in agitation。
The temple of Janus with his two controversial faces might now not
unsignificantly be set open。 And though all the winds of doctrine
were let loose to play upon the earth； so Truth be in the field； we
do injuriously； by licensing and prohibiting； to misdoubt her
strength。 Let her and Falsehood grapple； who ever knew Truth put
to the worse； in a free and open encounter？ Her confuting is the
best and surest suppressing。 He who hears what praying there is
for light and clearer knowledge to be sent down among us； would
think of other matters to be constituted beyond the discipline of
Geneva； framed and fabricked already to our hands。 Yet when the
new light which we beg for shines in upon us； there be who envy and
oppose； if it come not first in at their casements。 What a
collusion is this； whenas we are exhorted by the wise man to use
diligence； to seek for wisdom as for hidden treasures early and
late； that another order shall enjoin us to know nothing but by
statute？ When a man hath been labouring the hardest labour in the
deep mines of knowledge； hath furnished out his findings in all
their equipage： drawn forth his reasons as it were a battle ranged：
scattered and defeated all objections in his way； calls out his
adversary into the plain； offers him the advantage of wind and sun；
if he please； only that he may try the matter by dint of argument：
for his opponents then to skulk； to lay ambushments； to keep a
narrow bridge of licensing where the challenger should pass； though
it be valour enough in soldiership； is but weakness and cowardice
in the wars of Truth。
For who knows not that Truth is strong； next to the Almighty？
She needs no policies； nor stratagems； nor licensings to make her
victorious； those are the shifts and the defences that error uses
against her power。 Give her but room； and do not bind her when she
sleeps； for then she speaks not true； as the old Proteus did； who
spake oracles only when he was caught and bound； but then rather
she turns herself into all shapes； except her own； and perhaps
tunes her voice according to the time； as Micaiah did before Ahab；
until she be adjured into her own likeness。 Yet is it not
impossible that she may have more shapes than one。 What else is
all that rank of things indifferent； wherein Truth may be on this
side or on the other； without being unlike herself？ What but a
vain shadow else is the abolition of those ordinances； that
hand…writing nailed to the cross？ What great purchase is this
Christian liberty which Paul so often boasts of？ His doctrine is；
that he who eats or eats not； regards a day or regards it not； may
do either to the Lord。 How many other things might be tolerated in
peace； and left to conscience； had we but charity； and were it not
the chief stronghold of our hypocrisy to be ever judging one
another？
I fear yet this iron yoke of outward conformity hath left a
slavish print upon our necks； the ghost of a linen decency yet
haunts us。 We stumble and are impatient at the least dividing of
one visible congregation from another； though it be not in
fundamentals； and through our forwardness to suppress； and our
backwardness to recover any enthralled piece of truth out of the
gripe of custom； we care not to keep truth separated from truth；
which is the fiercest rent and disunion of all。 We do not see
that； while we still affect by all means a rigid external
formality； we may as soon fall again into a gross conforming
stupidity； a stark and dead congealment of wood and hay and
stubble； forced and frozen together； which is more to the sudden
degenerating of a Church than many subdichotomies of petty schisms。
Not that I can think well of every light separation； or that all
in a Church is to be expected gold and silver and precious
stones： it is not possible for man to sever the wheat from the
tares； the good fish from the other fry； that must be the Angels'
ministry at the end of mortal things。 Yet if all cannot be of one
mindas who looks they should be？this doubtless is more
wholesome； more prudent； and more Christian； that many be
tolerated； rather than all compelled。 I mean not tolerated popery；
and open superstition； which； as it extirpates all religions and
civil supremacies； so itself should be extirpate； provided first
that all charitable and compassionate means be used to win and
regain the weak and the misled： that also which is impious or evil
absolutely either against faith or manners no law can possibly
permit； that intends not to unlaw itself： but those neighbouring
differences； or rather indifferences； are what I speak of； whether
in some point of doctrine or of discipline； which； though they may
be many； yet need not interrupt THE UNITY OF SPIRIT； if we
could but find among us THE BOND OF PEACE。
In the meanwhile if any one would write； and bring his helpful
hand to the slow…moving Reformation which we labour under； if Truth
have spoken to him before others； or but seemed at least to speak；
who hath so bejesuited us that we should trouble that man with
asking license to do so worthy a deed？ and not consider this； that
if it come to prohibiting； there is not aught more likely to be
prohibited than truth itself； whose first appearance to our eyes；
bleared and dimmed with prejudice and custom； is more unsightly and
unplausible than many errors； even as the person is of many a great
man slight and contemptuous to see to。 And what do they tell us
vainly of new opinions； when this very opinion of theirs； that none
must be heard but whom they like； is the worst and newest opinion
of all others； and is the chief cause why sects and schisms do so
much abound； and true knowledge is kept at distance from us；