ction and Sedition. This is a faithful account of
the sum and intention of all his undertaking, for which, I confess,
he was as pick'd a man as could have been employed or found out in a
whole kingdome; but it is so much too hard a task for any man to
atchieve, that no goose but would grow giddy with it."[165:1]

In reply to what Parker had written about the unreasonable fuss made by
the Dissenters over the "two or three symbolical ceremonies" called
sacraments, Marvell says:--

"They (the Nonconformists) complain that these things should be
imposed on them with so high a penalty as want nothing of a
sacramental nature but divine institution. And because a human
institution is herein made of equal force to a divine institution
therefore it is that they are aggrieved.... For without the sign of
the Cross our Church will not receive any one in Baptism; as also
without kneeling no man is suffered to come to the Communion.... But
here, I say, then is their (the Nonconformists') main exception that
things indifferent and that have no proper signature or significancy
to that purpose should by command be made conditions of
Church-communion. I have many times wished for peaceableness' sake
that they had a greater latitude, but if, unless they should stretch
their consciences till they tear again, they cannot conform, what
remedy? For I must confess that Christians have a better right and
title to the Church and to the ordinances of God there, than the
Author hath to his surplice.... Bishop Bramhall saith, 'I do profess
to all the world that the transforming of indifferent opinions into
necessary articles of faith hath been that _insana laurus_ or cursed
bay tree, the cause of all our brawling and contention.' That which
he saw in matter of doctrine, he would not discern in discipline....
It is true and very piously done that our Church doth declare that
the kneeling at the Lord's Supper is not enjoined for adoration of
those elements and concerning the other ceremonies as before. But
the Romanists (from whom we have them and who said of old we would
come to feed on their meat as well as eat of their porridge) do offer
us here many a fair declaration and distinction in very weighty
matters to which nevertheless the conscience of our Church hath not
complyed. But in this particular matter of kneeling which came in
first with the do