of opinion, that the churches of Rome and of
England, excluding Puritans, were radically one church. This made him
say,(304) "I do find here why to commend this church, as a church
abhorring from Puritanism, reformed with moderation, and worthy to be
received into the communion of the Catholic church." In the following
words, he tells, that he could carry something out of the church of
England which should comfort all them who hate puritan strictness, and
desire the peace of the church (meaning them who desired the same
reconciliation with himself). What is more clear, than that the English
ceremonies were that which made him prosecute, and gave him hope to
effectuate a reconciliation betwixt the church of England and that of
Rome.

_Sect._ 5. But put the case, that as yet we had seen no greater evils
following upon the ceremonies, yet must they be acknowledged to be
inconvenient, because they are dangerous preparatives for many worse
things than we are aware of, and may draw after them sundry evil
consequences which are not feared. We have heard before from Spotswood,
that novations in a church, even in the smallest things, are dangerous.
Who can then blame us to shun a danger, and, fearing the worst, to resist
evil beginnings,--to give no place to the devil,--to crush the viper while
it is in the shell,--to abstain from all appearance of evil, 1 Thes. v.
22,--and to take the little ones of Babylon whilst they are young, and dash
their heads against the stones?

It matters not that many will judge us too precise for doing so. What? Do
they think this preciseness any other than that which the law of God
requireth, even observing of the commandment of God, without adding to it,
or diminishing from it, Deut. xii. 32; and keeping the straight path,
without declining to the right hand or the left? Deut. xxviii. 14; or, do
they think us more precise than Mordecai, who would do no reverence to
Haman, because he was an Amalekite, Esth. iii. 2, and so not to be
countenanced nor honoured by an Israelite? Deut. xxv. 19. Are we more
precise than Daniel, who would not close his window when he was praying,
no, not for the king's edict, knowing, that because he had used to do so
aforetime, his doing otherwise had been both a denying of his former
profession, and an ensnaring of himself by yielding in small things, to
yield in greater, and after an inch to take an ell? Dan. vi. 10. Are we
more precise than the Apostle Paul who gave