UPon the 28. day of the last Moneth, there were assembled together neere Old-street (at a zealous Conventicle) divers persons, of severall degrees and functions, for the laying open their sad grievance, and [Page]heavie [...]ppressions (as they tearm them) oc­casioned by the late good Votes of the ho­nourable Houses of Parliament, for the putting downe, and abolishing of all Sects and Sectaries, within the Realm of Eng­land, &c.

And after some houres spent in dispu­tation, they generally resolved to persist on, and adhere to the Rules of the [...] owne reformed Churches, protesting and (inge­niously professing) not to revo [...] in the least from their Opinions which they were now grounded in; saying, that if Li­berty of Conscience would not be allow­ed of with in this Kingdome, they would become Strangers to Forreign Princes; and take their leave of this their native Soyle, But notwithstanding the late Ordinance of Parliament, they still proceed on in their Meetings and Conventicles, using their own Form of Worship, contrary to the Discipline of the Church of England.

But (indeed) they are up-held by many strong Agents, and animated and incoura­ged on by those who have broached most [...]ntollerable thins of late yeares against the [Page]high and honourable Court of Parlia­ment; the grand and chiefe Ring-leaders being now in custody, for endeavouring to sow the Seed of Discord within the Bow­els of this Kingdome, both by their severall Writings, and printed Papers, which hath enflamed the hearts of many thousands within this Kingdome: therefore, I may say, A lame Hand, is better then a lewd Pen: Therefore to shew much courage in a bad matter, is rather a token of a desperate fol­ly, then any badg of a magnanimous mind. For, is it not apparent, to all true Christi­ans, that this kind of people hath for these two or three yeares practised and endea­voured to raise a division, and to stirre up strife and envie in the hearts of the people, against the most high and supreame Coun­cel of this Kingdome.

Therefore, what a wofull course hath this people ran into, not only through their own lewd practice, but also their infecting of others; so that even the sinnes of thou­sands they must give a [...] acco [...]t for.

But it is apparent, that since the creeping in of so many Sects within the Church of England, many sad disasters have arose ther­by; for where there is tolleration of too many sorts of Opinions, there ariseth no­thing but strife and contention for superi­ority, and every one that hath gained a lit­tle experience in the Scriptures, takes upon him the great Office of a Minister, and ad­mististers the Word; by which meanes, too many poor soules are ensnared and deluded: therefore, beleeve not every one that taketh upon him to be a Preacher, but try the Preachers, whether they are of God, search the Scriptures dayly, and see whether those things are so, that such preachers say, prove all things, and receive that which is good, [...] John. 4.1.

Christ himself saith, that if the blind doth lead the blind, both shal fall into the ditch, Matth. 15.14.

Nay further, the Lord himself saith, the Leaders of this people, that teacheth them Errours and false Doctrines shal cause them to erre, and they that are led of them are destroyed, Esa 9.14, 15.

And vers. 16, Therefore shall the Lord have no pleasure in their young men, [...] ­ther have pitty of their fatherlesse and wi­dowes; for they are altogether Hypo [...]i [...]s, and wicked, and all their mouthes speake follie: After all this, is not the Lords wrath ceased, but yet his band is stretched out still.

Thus may we see, and plainly discerne the wonderfull and horrible things which hath been done in this Land, by the wicked Seducers of our times, by their false and er­roneous Doctrines, and their changing and altering of the sacred Scriptures.

Oh the sad things which are now bro­ched: How is the Church of England defi­led, She is become black and bespotted; nay her beauty which formerly shined through­out all Europe, is now eclipsed, because of the too many diversity of Opinions, which are crept within her very bowels.

But now the beauty of our Church be­ginneth (once again) to shine in its full lustre, the Curtain is drawn, the Clouds are dissolving, and all Sects and Schismes now vanquishing.

So that now it is hoped, the Church wil enjoy her former purity, and that by the vanquishing of these Sects and Heresies, she will become undefiled, and without spo [...] or blemish, and appear in the full beauty of al her Members.

God grant that all such wicked Seducers of the people may become new Christians, and reformed; and if not, God give the peo­ple grace to know them, to shun them, and to fly from them.