OVR Lord and King IESVS CHRIST , when hee was now about to go vnto his Father , and desirous to leaue vnto those whom he loued , some excellent benefit , ( a benefit then which the earth cannot yeeld a greater , ) hee left them Peace : Peace at his death as a Legacy , he bequeathed them : My Peace ( saith he ) I leaue vnto you , my Peace I giue vnto you ; for neither could men wish from heauen a greater blessing , neither could the Angels declare vnto men from heauen a more welcome message , then Glory in heauen , and Peace in earth .

This Bond , by which heauen vnto earth , and earth vnto heauen reciprocally is vnited , hath so straitly bound the heart of the Kings Maiesty of great Brittaine , that according to the exceeding care which he hath euermore had of the safe-guard and defence of true Religion , of settling Peace and Concord amongst Christian Princes throughout the world ; but especially , Most Illustrious , Noble , and Magnificent Lords , of procuring the good and tranquillity of this your State , to which he acknowledges his Kingdom to bee linkt by the Tye of an ancienter and straiter League : Hee hath sent vs hither with this especiall charge , that as much as in vs lyes , we procure your prosperity , and your Churches Peace .

Certainly , an exceeding desire of Peace & the publique good , possest his Princely heart , when hee commended vnto your Lordships the care of Religion .

This his Maiesties prouident care can neuer bee vnwelcome , if it may please your Lordships , according to your Wisedome and Piety , to recount the benefit of the reformed Religion , and the blessings of Gods fauour , which like showres from heauen , haue watered your Prouinces far & neere . I suppose , it cannot be vnknown vnto your Lordships , what & how much you owe to true Religion . Religion it was , which from bloud and tempest reduced your State to these flourishing daies of quietnesse and Sun-shine . Religion it was , which first begate , then enlarged , and finally established your prosperity . Let your Lordships now consider with your selues , what you will repay vnto Christ for all these blessings . Of your Lordships , Christ , who is King of Kings , and Lord of Lords , requires this , that for and aboue all his other benefits , you preserue the Peace which he bequeathed you .

The bond of the publique good is Religion , and of Religion , Peace ; those therefore who eyther themselues raise dissentions in the Church , or cherish such as are raised by others , what doe they else intend , but the rooting vp of Peace and Religion ; the banishment of Christ out of your coasts ? that by iarring of Church-men , the edification of the Church may be hindered , that the consciences of the multitude be troubled , that wauering and vnstable soules be carried about with euery winde of Doctrine , that the contempt of the Minister bring with it a contempt of his doctrine ; till at length these Cockatrice egs bring forth the Basiliske , euen open Impiety and Atheisme . If the Church-affaires be ill managed , all sorts of men , the people , the Priest , yea you your selues shall bee accountable vnto Christ for it . In the people he requires obedience , in the Priest light & truth , that is , knowledge ioyned with holinesse of life . But I know not whether I may impute it eyther to the corruption of this our time , or to the sleights of the Deuill , trying all his plots and deuices now in this declining age of the world , that some are arisen , who eyther quite reiecting , or at least too much neglecting purity of life , a garment which best of all adornes the Priests of God , haue altogether diuerted vpon iangling disputes , & vnprofitable , yea pernitious contentions . From hence come feruor , and emulation , and ostentation of Wit ; meane while , the building of the Church is interrupted , yea her ruine by vndermining is closely practised , by some that lye in wait to betray your happinesse .

Awaken and stirre vp your selues , most Noble Lords , establish that Peace in the Church , which in the Common-wealth you haue establisht , yea that Peace , I say , which your Lordships , by the vigilancy and prowesse of his Excellency , peaceably , without any noyse and tumult , but not without the present assistance of God , haue lately attempted , and at length accomplisht , is to bee entertain'd with the ioyfull applause of all the Churches , and to be for euer remembred to your eternall praise and glory .

The reformed Churches throughout Europe , hauing recouered their liberty , and shaken off the heauy yoke of Rome , to shew themselues more thankefull to Christ their Redeemer , haue seuerally set forth confessions of their Faith , which though they were many , yet they so well agree in one consent and harmony of mindes , that we may plainely discouer , it was the voyce of one onely Spirit , which in so many Nations , so many Languages deliuered it selfe . In this generall concord of other Nations , your consent did beare a part ; your praises were in the Gospell , your authority in the Church much set by . But now the neighbor Churches round about enquire , question , and wonder , what it might be which in these confessions your Church alone quarels with : Against which , none of the rest , sincethe reformation , haue taken exception .

Giue me leaue to aske of you in the Apostles words , Proceeded the Word of God from you alone ? or hath it come onely vnto you ? Other Nations and Prouinces preserue the doctrine of the Gospell which they haue receiued , whole and sound , without any alteration and change , and resolue by Gods helpe , heereafter so to continue .

This is that which his Maiesty commends vnto you , euen the vnity and consent of Confession , the spring and originall of reformation ; hee commends vnto you the consent of the Churches , hee requires you , that what forme of Church you haue receiued from your Fathers , you will deliuer ouer to your posterity ; that what Doctrine now these twenty or thirty yeeres hath beene publikely taught amongst you , you preserue in its former purity ; that you shut vp all gappe and inlette , which may euery day giue way to innouation , that such treasures of Christ as are committed to your trust , you preserue safe , without suffering them to bee embased by admixtion of false and counterfeit stuffe . Vnto you are committed the Oracles of God ; keepe your Faith vnspotted , and vndefiled vnto God and Christ the Churches King : You are seriously to take heed , that your Doctors , leauing the simplicity of holy Scriptures , diuert not vpon abstruse and intricate quirkes ; that they set not before you smoake , in stead of solid meate . At least , thus much are you carefully to looke to , that those who handle the Word of Life , abstaine in their Sermons to the people , from those deeper speculations , which pose the Schooles themselues , and our sharpest wits , and may with probabilitie on both sides be disputed : Lest the Faith of the Church , which is stable and immooueable , seeme to be ambiguous and doubtfull ; and Scandall creepe in , in place of edifying . Your consent in Doctrine with other Churches , shall bee a sacrifice of sweet sauor vnto God , when one soule of so many people shall cleaue vnto him , and it shall bee welcome newes vnto the Churches , and Honourable vnto your Lordships , when they shall vnderstand , that you hold Brotherly fellowship one with another in Christ ; for God giues not grace and glory to such as walke seuerally , euery one in his owne waies , but such as meete together in one Communion of Saints . Factions & part-takings haue wounded the Church on both sides ; on the right hand , and on the left : yet these wounds , we doubt not , are curable , if they fall into the hands of a skilfull Physician . The true Physicke must bee administred by the hand of your authority : as for our labour and industry , if it may be any way auaileable to the Churches Peace , it shall be euermore ready and at hand : Neyther are we ready onely with our labour and care , but if it so please GOD , in whose hands wee are , euen with our dearest bloud to procure the Churches Peace .

But since the Church which Christ hathredeemed with his bloud , according to the example of our Lord himselfe , requires not the bloud of her Ministers in peace , but in persecution : by a peculiar fate , ( if I may so speake ) of the Church , it falls out , that men proue stronger vnder the Crosse , and in affliction , then in times of peace . In times of persecution they loue not their liues for Christ : in time of peace they sticke not to bandy factions against Christ . O how difficult is the Churches ease ! what straight conditions is she tied vnto , eyther shee suffers persecution with inward peace and ioy of the spirit , or she is outwardly at peace with the world , but with intestine and ciuill warres .

The Sonnes of God , like little children are most easily disciplined vnder the rod ; lay the rod by , and presently they return to sidings , to faction , to contentions . But all things turne to the best to those that feare God ; and not onely afflictions , but faction and schisme , yea errors and heresies themselues ; GOD , who is omnipotent , shall turne to the good of his Church , that those who are faithfull may be tried , and their faith being tried , may be made manifest , and such as loue the Trueth , may not be ashamed to conquer and triumph ouer their owne errors .