ions of shuch difficultie & danger as lieth
upon you, to a both more narrow search & carefull reformation of your
ways in his sight; least he, calling to remembrance our sines
forgotten by us or unrepented of, take advantage against us, & in
judgmente leave us for y^e same to be swalowed up in one danger or
other; wheras, on the contrary, sine being taken away by ernest
repentance & y^e pardon therof from y^e Lord sealed up unto a mans
conscience by his spirite, great shall be his securitie and peace in
all dangers, sweete his comforts in all distresses, with hapie
deliverance from all evill, whether in life or in death.

Now next after this heavenly peace with God & our owne consciences, we
are carefully to provide for peace with all men what in us lieth,
espetially with our associats, & for y^e watchfullnes must be had,
that we neither at all in our selves doe give, no nor easily take
offence being given by others. Woe be unto y^e world for offences, for
though it be necessarie (considering y^e malice of Satan & mans
corruption) that offences come, yet woe unto y^e man or woman either
by whom y^e offence cometh, saith Christ, Mat. 18. 7. And if offences
in y^e unseasonable use of things in them selves indifferent, be more
to be feared then death itselfe, as y^e Apostle teacheth, 1. Cor. 9.
15. how much more in things simply evill, in which neither honour of
God nor love of man is thought worthy to be regarded. Neither yet is
it sufficiente y^t we keepe our selves by y^e grace of God from
giveing offence, exepte withall we be armed against y^e taking of them
when they be given by others. For how imperfect & lame is y^e work of
grace in y^t person, who wants charritie to cover a multitude of
offences, as y^e scriptures speake. Neither are you to be exhorted to
this grace only upon y^e co[=m]one grounds of Christianitie, which
are, that persons ready to take offence, either wante charitie, to
cover offences, of wisdome duly to waigh humane frailtie; or lastly,
are grosse, though close hipocrites, as Christ our Lord teacheth, Mat.
7. 1, 2, 3, as indeed in my owne experience, few or none have bene
found which sooner give offence, then shuch as easily take it; neither
have they ever proved sound & profitable members in societies, which
have nurished this touchey humor. But besids these, ther are diverse
motives provoking you above others to great care & co