1. THat the straightest, and so the shortest Rule, to compose differences in wayes, is to agree of ends; for delibe­rations are not duly drawne up, when the designe is uncertaine. Hee that hath no certaine port, hath no certain winde: Therefore it were to bee wished, before wee goe too farre in Collaterall heats, and divertive retar­dings in diversity of Projects, that we well understood what Reformation of our Church doth import in a so­ber sense: For untill that be fore-laid, and allowed by an Universall Vote, it will be very easie for the averse partie to blast all blessed beginnings, and to raise rub­bish to become a Rocke, or at least a Remora of our Reformation.

2. That the worke in hand is not planting of a Church, laying fundamentals, nor onely the reducing of practises to fore-laid principles, but the perfecting and improving, cum effictis, those Orders and Ordinan­ces that have beene either omitted or corrupted; and in the removin [...] what doth pregnantly produce such dis­tempers: [Page 4] That so wee may secure future Relapses by reall Clauses conservative.

3. That though the rule of Supernaturals is not de­fective, nor difficult in the necessaries to the beeing or well beeing of the Catholique Church; yet in relation to the better being of particular Churches, there must be beating out of advantages by serious consideration of consequences; not as to single salvation, but in respect of common edification, as we are collectively conside­red in a visible societie: Now the fewer deductions that wee admit, the safer it is, both in relation to humane reason, and Antichristian Tyranny, which runnes up all into Authority; which is brought in not onely as au­xiliarie, but as authentique also in a concurrent way.

4. That it is very safe, and savours of a prudent and peaceable spirit, not easily to conclude many things in Governement, Iure Divino; For as fundamentals in point of beliefe are few, and fully revealed, and soberly to be held without any supplementive additionals; and the admitting of more is the cause of all the mischie­vous miseries in the Church in point of Doctrine: so it sets us at a distance from peace, at defiance amongst our selves, and disableth all accommodation, to pitch downe a Governement Iure Divino; yea, produces ma­ny hard charges, prejudicating the truth of God; and gives ground plausibly to arrest and attaint Religion, for suspition of disturbance or incroachment, by such fore-stalling the Civill State, and rendring the busi­nesse of Reformation for the future impossible.

5. That though in a degenerate time, and Church, it be well and wisely done to discover as much as may [Page 5] be for Information, as necessary to Reformation; yet wee may doe as well to be wary, that we discard not all wee dislike with the same degree of detestation: So that as we have cause not to blesse all that we would have, with a Iure Divine, so we may finde reason not to blast all that we desire should be removed, with an Antichristi­an brand: For we are firre from peace, while wee put ill-sounding consequences upon other mens opinions and practises, or by provoking parallels, or envious aggravations, represent them odious. This is very hardly to be avoyded, where affaires are carried with few heads and many hands; and when they take de­structive worke to be their way, and that to have most of Justice which hath most of Primitive proceedings in it. This course hath cost Christendome deare, for seldome any Councels but fell fowle upon opinions by extreame sentences: Now though middle Councels are seldome safe in affaires of State, yet seldome hurt­full in businesse of the Church.

6. That though it be unpleasing, and may prove pernitious, peremptorily to lay downe a way of go­vernement, Iure Divino, to the decrying of all others in an exclusive way; yet it is very reasonable and con­formable to the principles of a Christian Church, to propose the designes Iuris Divini, coasting in all con­sultations closest, to that which is by divine permissi­on of approbation; as what is most for Christian peace, freest from scandall, fullest for edification, most for the glory of God: which Rules binde not onely be­cause they are written, but also because they are reason. And in thus doing wee shall bee true to the end and [Page 6] reason of the State, which is to be a most Christian nationall Church.

7. That as change is no wise mans choice, but h [...]d chance often puts him to yeeld to it, who would never positively have pitched upon it for a remedy; so it is reason in alterations to take care that some things which are mutable, as to their originall, be not too easily chan­ged upon colour of Inconvenience, without such a necessi­ty as is as easily discovered: For as it is dangerous [...] venter upon the inconveniences of any great alteration, so it will be difficult to avoid the like grievances upon the same grounds, because if we change now evill for good, upon mens advice, why may wee not change againe for the better; and so we shall alwayes be med­ling under the consideration of mending: and while we complaine of Innovations, wee shall doe nothing but innovate.

8. That we shall doe well to distinguish upon what is to be reformed, whether the corruptions be incorpo­rated by Custome, have colour of Law, or are meere matter of Fact, which doe rise and fall with a faction: Dis-usage to carry men off insensibly, may be safe in the first; over-ruling by interpretation in the second; and exemplary discountenance in the third; for where such men get no heat, they will take no cold. And so we shall appeare, such as seeke more to remove what we feare then what we hate.

9. That as it is a slip in Judgement to confound Persons and things, Fact and Law, in a destructive way, so it may be an errour in good desires; and something dash our designe to goe direct and downe-right wayes, [Page 7] though to upright ends in point of Edification, with­out allowance of due time for men to see reason in what is laid downe as a Rule: For all sudden depar­tures are dangerous and offensive, as prodigious; there­fore it may be a consideration worthy the weighing, and will prove a great assurance of peace, to lay foun­dations of Governement at a good latitude, that the Reformation may bee of a growing constitution; and so may beare up against corruption; as well underlaid by its owne good temper, and not onely stand or fall by the temper or distempers of men.

10. That if it be not well to goe on in provoking wayes, when tis possible to pacifie and sweeten, then it is not wise to stirre many matters at once, because ma­ny matters engage many men; yea, many times move more than is fit to bee removed, or to bee discovered moveable: Therefore in punishing persons, Refor­mers shall doe well to be tender of the honour of Offices; and in discarding Superstition in point of places, times, and performances, take heed of fostering prophane­nesse in any of those respects, I confesse tis hardly to be avoyded, but that party which is to suffer Reforma­tion, must needs for the time be neare to ruine: for many that hate the Clergies Canons and Orders, love not Gods Commandements nor Ordinances.

11. That though Civill States may be free from temporall turnes and interests in the Reformation they designe on the Church, yet they shall hardly avoid the suspition of it, if the Clergy be not respectively called to Consultation: Therefore it may be well, and is expected that there bee communicating not onely in a private [Page 8] way with men, whose mindes they know afore-hand, and it may be, have already suggested their sence; but with such also as are dis-ingaged and resolved to be re­served untill such a time, as a publique agitation may give ground to declare their judgements; this will be of no ill influence upon the whole worke in relation to the Christian world.

12. That seeing Politique Lawes should be laid in with Morall possibility, and multiplicity of commands makes them impossible, as well as the difficulty of the duties; therefore it is beleeved a good course not to over-lay any State with positive penall Lawes, pro­missarie Oathes, discovering Subscriptions, or multi­tude of Ceremonies; especially a Church that hath the Law of God as a perfect rule of Doctrine, Man­ners, and necessarie Discipline: But let the things be few that are required, and then let them bee strongly commanded. For many indifferent things have cost too deare, having beene put on too hard upon pious and peaceable men, without any accommodation or tolle­ration: Thus without cases reserved to an arbirrarie power, conscientious men may bee moderately dealt with, that they complaine not of a rigorous remedy as a grievance and persecution of mankinde.