pillars in a warm benefice； to be easily inclinable； if he have
nothing else that may rouse up his studies； to finish his circuit
in an English Concordance and a topic folio； the gatherings and
savings of a sober graduateship； a Harmony and a Catena； treading
the constant round of certain common doctrinal heads； attended with
their uses； motives； marks； and means； out of which； as out of an
alphabet； or sol…fa； by forming and transforming； joining and
disjoining variously； a little bookcraft； and two hours'
meditation； might furnish him unspeakably to the performance of
more than a weekly charge of sermoning： not to reckon up the
infinite helps of interlinearies； breviaries； synopses； and other
loitering gear。 But as for the multitude of sermons ready printed
and piled up； on every text that is not difficult； our London
trading St。 Thomas in his vestry； and add to boot St。 Martin and
St。 Hugh； have not within their hallowed limits more vendible ware
of all sorts ready made： so that penury he never need fear of
pulpit provision； having where so plenteously to refresh his
magazine。 But if his rear and flanks be not impaled； if his back
door be not secured by the rigid licenser； but that a bold book may
now and then issue forth and give the assault to some of his old
collections in their trenches； it will concern him then to keep
waking； to stand in watch； to set good guards and sentinels about
his received opinions； to walk the round and counter…round with his
fellow inspectors； fearing lest any of his flock be seduced； who
also then would be better instructed； better exercised and
disciplined。 And God send that the fear of this diligence； which
must then be used； do not make us affect the laziness of a
licensing Church。
For if we be sure we are in the right； and do not hold the truth
guiltily； which becomes not； if we ourselves condemn not our own
weak and frivolous teaching； and the people for an untaught and
irreligious gadding rout； what can be more fair than when a man
judicious； learned； and of a conscience； for aught we know； as good
as theirs that taught us what we know； shall not privily from house
to house； which is more dangerous； but openly by writing publish to
the world what his opinion is； what his reasons； and wherefore that
which is now thought cannot be sound？ Christ urged it as wherewith
to justify himself； that he preached in public； yet writing is more
public than preaching； and more easy to refutation； if need be；
there being so many whose business and profession merely it is to
be the champions of truth； which if they neglect； what can be
imputed but their sloth； or unability？
Thus much we are hindered and disinured by this course of
licensing； toward the true knowledge of what we seem to know。 For
how much it hurts and hinders the licensers themselves in the
calling of their ministry； more than any secular employment； if
they will discharge that office as they ought； so that of necessity
they must neglect either the one duty or the other； I insist not；
because it is a particular； but leave it to their own conscience；
how they will decide it there。
There is yet behind of what I purposed to lay open； the
incredible loss and detriment that this plot of licensing puts us
to； more than if some enemy at sea should stop up all our havens
and ports and creeks； it hinders and retards the importation of our
richest merchandise； truth； nay； it was first established and put
in practice by Antichristian malice and mystery on set purpose to
extinguish； if it were possible； the light of Reformation； and to
settle falsehood； little differing from that policy wherewith the
Turk upholds his Alcoran； by the prohibition of printing。 'Tis not
denied； but gladly confessed； we are to send our thanks and vows to
Heaven louder than most of nations； for that great measure of truth
which we enjoy； especially in those main points between us and the
Pope； with his appurtenances the prelates： but he who thinks we are
to pitch our tent here； and have attained the utmost prospect of
reformation that the mortal glass wherein we contemplate can show
us； till we come to beatific vision； that man by this very opinion
declares that he is yet far short of truth。
Truth indeed came once into the world with her divine Master； and
was a perfect shape most glorious to look on： but when he ascended；
and his Apostles after him were laid asleep； then straight arose a
wicked race of deceivers； who； as that story goes of the Egyptian
Typhon with his conspirators； how they dealt with the good Osiris；
took the virgin Truth； hewed her lovely form into a thousand
pieces； and scattered them to the four winds。 From that time ever
since； the sad friends of Truth； such as durst appear； imitating
the careful search that Isis made for the mangled body of Osiris；
went up and down gathering up limb by limb； still as they could
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