thatallthesermons，allthelecturespreached，printed，ventedinsuchnumbers，andsuchvolumes，ashavenowwellnighmadeallotherbooksunsaleable，shouldnotbearmourenoughagainstonesingleEnchiridion，withoutthecastleofSt。AngeloofanImprimatur。
Andlestsomeshouldpersuadeye，LordsandCommons，thattheseargumentsoflearnedmen’sdiscouragementatthisyourOrderaremereflourishes，andnotreal，IcouldrecountwhatIhaveseenandheardinothercountries，wherethiskindofinquisitiontyrannizes;whenIhavesatamongtheirlearnedmen，forthathonourIhad，andbeencountedhappytobeborninsuchaplaceofphilosophicfreedom，astheysupposedEnglandwas，whilethemselvesdidnothingbutbemoantheservileconditionintowhichlearningamongstthemwasbrought;thatthiswasitwhichhaddampedthegloryofItalianwits;thatnothinghadbeentherewrittennowthesemanyyearsbutflatteryandfustian。ThereitwasthatI
foundandvisitedthefamousGalileo，grownold，aprisonertotheInquisition，forthinkinginastronomyotherwisethantheFranciscanandDominicanlicensersthought。AndthoughIknewthatEnglandthenwasgroaningloudestundertheprelaticalyoke，neverthelessItookitasapledgeoffuturehappiness，thatothernationsweresopersuadedofherliberty。Yetwasitbeyondmyhopethatthoseworthieswerethenbreathinginherair，whoshouldbeherleaderstosuchadeliverance，asshallneverbeforgottenbyanyrevolutionoftimethatthisworldhathtofinish。Whenthatwasoncebegun，itwasaslittleinmyfearthatwhatwordsofcomplaintIheardamonglearnedmenofotherpartsutteredagainsttheInquisition，thesameIshouldhearbyaslearnedmenathome，utteredintimeofParliamentagainstanorderoflicensing;andthatsogenerallythat，whenIhaddisclosedmyselfacompanionoftheirdiscontent，Imightsay，ifwithoutenvy，thathewhomanhonestquaestorshiphadendearedtotheSicilianswasnotmorebythemimportunedagainstVerres，thanthefavourableopinionwhichIhadamongmanywhohonourye，andareknownandrespectedbyye，loadedmewithentreatiesandpersuasions，thatIwouldnotdespairtolaytogetherthatwhichjustreasonshouldbringintomymind，towardtheremovalofanundeservedthraldomuponlearning。Thatthisisnotthereforethedisburdeningofaparticularfancy，butthecommongrievanceofallthosewhohadpreparedtheirmindsandstudiesabovethevulgarpitchtoadvancetruthinothers，andfromotherstoentertainit，thusmuchmaysatisfy。
AndintheirnameIshallforneitherfriendnorfoeconcealwhatthegeneralmurmuris;thatifitcometoinquisitioningagainandlicensing，andthatwearesotimorousofourselves，andsosuspiciousofallmen，astofeareachbookandtheshakingofeveryleaf，beforeweknowwhatthecontentsare;ifsomewhobutoflatewerelittlebetterthansilencedfrompreachingshallcomenowtosilenceusfromreading，exceptwhattheyplease，itcannotbeguessedwhatisintendedbysomebutasecondtyrannyoverlearning:andwillsoonputitoutofcontroversy，thatbishopsandpresbytersarethesametous，bothnameandthing。Thatthoseevilsofprelaty，whichbeforefromfiveorsixandtwentyseesweredistributivelychargeduponthewholepeople，willnowlightwhollyuponlearning，isnotobscuretous:whenasnowthepastorofasmallunlearnedparishonthesuddenshallbeexaltedarchbishopoveralargedioceseofbooks，andyetnotremove，butkeephisothercuretoo，amysticalpluralist。HewhobutoflatecrieddownthesoleordinationofeverynoviceBachelorofArt，anddeniedsolejurisdictionoverthesimplestparishioner，shallnowathomeinhisprivatechairassumeboththeseoverworthiestandexcellentestbooksandablestauthorsthatwritethem。
Thisisnot，yeCovenantsandProtestationsthatwehavemade！
thisisnottoputdownprelaty;thisisbuttochopanepiscopacy;
thisisbuttotranslatethePalaceMetropolitanfromonekindofdominionintoanother;thisisbutanoldcanonicalsleightofcommutingourpenance。Tostartlethusbetimesatamereunlicensedpamphletwillafterawhilebeafraidofeveryconventicle，andawhileafterwillmakeaconventicleofeveryChristianmeeting。ButIamcertainthataStategovernedbytherulesofjusticeandfortitude，oraChurchbuiltandfoundedupontherockoffaithandtrueknowledge，cannotbesopusillanimous。
Whilethingsareyetnotconstitutedinreligion，thatfreedomofwritingshouldberestrainedbyadisciplineimitatedfromtheprelatesandlearntbythemfromtheInquisition，toshutusupallagainintothebreastofalicenser，mustneedsgivecauseofdoubtanddiscouragementtoalllearnedandreligiousmen。
Whocannotbutdiscernthefinenessofthispoliticdrift，andwhoarethecontrivers;thatwhilebishopsweretobebaiteddown，thenallpressesmightbeopen;itwasthepeople’sbirthrightandprivilegeintimeofParliament，itwasthebreakingforthoflight。Butnow，thebishopsabrogatedandvoidedoutoftheChurch，asifourReformationsoughtnomorebuttomakeroomforothersintotheirseatsunderanothername，theepiscopalartsbegintobudagain，thecruseoftruthmustrunnomoreoil，libertyofprintingmustbeenthralledagainunderaprelaticalcommissionoftwenty，theprivilegeofthepeoplenullified，and，whichisworse，thefreedomoflearningmustgroanagain，andtoheroldfetters:allthistheParliamentyetsitting。Althoughtheirownlateargumentsanddefencesagainsttheprelatesmightrememberthem，thatthisobstructingviolencemeetsforthemostpartwithaneventutterlyoppositetotheendwhichitdrivesat:
insteadofsuppressingsectsandschisms，itraisesthemandinveststhemwithareputation。Thepunishingofwitsenhancestheirauthority，saiththeViscountSt。Albans;andaforbiddenwritingisthoughttobeacertainsparkoftruththatfliesupinthefacesofthemwhoseektotreaditout。ThisOrder，therefore，mayproveanursing—mothertosects，butIshalleasilyshowhowitwillbeastep—dametoTruth:andfirstbydisenablingustothemaintenanceofwhatisknownalready。
Wellknowshewhousestoconsider，thatourfaithandknowledgethrivesbyexercise，aswellasourlimbsandcomplexion。TruthiscomparedinScripturetoastreamingfountain;ifherwatersflownotinaperpetualprogression，theysickenintoamuddypoolofconformityandtradition。Amanmaybeahereticinthetruth;andifhebelievethingsonlybecausehispastorsaysso，ortheAssemblysodetermines，withoutknowingotherreason，thoughhisbeliefbetrue，yettheverytruthheholdsbecomeshisheresy。
Thereisnotanyburdenthatsomewouldgladlierpostofftoanotherthanthechargeandcareoftheirreligion。Therebe——whoknowsnotthattherebe？——ofProtestantsandprofessorswholiveanddieinasarrantanimplicitfaithasanylayPapistofLoretto。Awealthyman，addictedtohispleasureandtohisprofits，findsreligiontobeatrafficsoentangled，andofsomanypiddlingaccounts，thatofallmysterieshecannotskilltokeepastockgoinguponthattrade。Whatshouldhedo？fainhewouldhavethenametobereligious，fainhewouldbearupwithhisneighboursinthat。Whatdoeshetherefore，butresolvestogiveovertoiling，andtofindhimselfoutsomefactor，towhosecareandcredithemaycommitthewholemanagingofhisreligiousaffairs;somedivineofnoteandestimationthatmustbe。Tohimheadheres，resignsthewholewarehouseofhisreligion，withallthelocksandkeys，intohiscustody;andindeedmakestheverypersonofthatmanhisreligion;esteemshisassociatingwithhimasufficientevidenceandcommendatoryofhisownpiety。Sothatamanmaysayhisreligionisnownomorewithinhimself，butisbecomeadividualmovable，andgoesandcomesnearhim，accordingasthatgoodmanfrequentsthehouse。Heentertainshim，giveshimgifts，feastshim，lodgeshim;hisreligioncomeshomeatnight，prays，isliberallysupped，andsumptuouslylaidtosleep;rises，issaluted，andafterthemalmsey，orsomewell—spicedbrewage，andbetterbreakfastedthanhewhosemorningappetitewouldhavegladlyfedongreenfigsbetweenBethanyandJerusalem，hisreligionwalksabroadateight，andleaveshiskindentertainerintheshoptradingalldaywithouthisreligion。
Anothersorttherebewho，whentheyhearthatallthingsshallbeordered，allthingsregulatedandsettled，nothingwrittenbutwhatpassesthroughthecustom—houseofcertainpublicansthathavethetonnagingandpoundagingofallfree—spokentruth，willstraightgivethemselvesupintoyourhands，make’emandcut’emoutwhatreligionyeplease:therebedelights，thereberecreationsandjollypastimesthatwillfetchthedayaboutfromsuntosun，androckthetediousyearasinadelightfuldream。
Whatneedtheytorturetheirheadswiththatwhichothershavetakensostrictlyandsounalterablyintotheirownpurveying？
Thesearethefruitswhichadulleaseandcessationofourknowledgewillbringforthamongthepeople。Howgoodlyandhowtobewishedweresuchanobedientunanimityasthis，whatafineconformitywoulditstarchusallinto！Doubtlessastaunchandsolidpieceofframework，asanyJanuarycouldfreezetogether。
Normuchbetterwillbetheconsequenceevenamongtheclergythemselves。Itisnonewthingneverheardofbefore，foraparochialminister，whohashisrewardandisathisHercules’
pillarsinawarmbenefice，tobeeasilyinclinable，ifhehavenothingelsethatmayrouseuphisstudies，tofinishhiscircuitinanEnglishConcordanceandatopicfolio，thegatheringsandsavingsofasobergraduateship，aHarmonyandaCatena;treadingtheconstantroundofcertaincommondoctrinalheads，attendedwiththeiruses，motives，marks，andmeans，outofwhich，asoutofanalphabet，orsol—fa，byformingandtransforming，joininganddisjoiningvariously，alittlebookcraft，andtwohours’
meditation，mightfurnishhimunspeakablytotheperformanceofmorethanaweeklychargeofsermoning:nottoreckonuptheinfinitehelpsofinterlinearies，breviaries，synopses，andotherloiteringgear。Butasforthemultitudeofsermonsreadyprintedandpiledup，oneverytextthatisnotdifficult，ourLondontradingSt。Thomasinhisvestry，andaddtobootSt。MartinandSt。Hugh，havenotwithintheirhallowedlimitsmorevendiblewareofallsortsreadymade:sothatpenuryheneverneedfearofpulpitprovision，havingwheresoplenteouslytorefreshhismagazine。Butifhisrearandflanksbenotimpaled，ifhisbackdoorbenotsecuredbytherigidlicenser，butthataboldbookmaynowandthenissueforthandgivetheassaulttosomeofhisoldcollectionsintheirtrenches，itwillconcernhimthentokeepwaking，tostandinwatch，tosetgoodguardsandsentinelsabouthisreceivedopinions，towalktheroundandcounter—roundwithhisfellowinspectors，fearinglestanyofhisflockbeseduced，whoalsothenwouldbebetterinstructed，betterexercisedanddisciplined。AndGodsendthatthefearofthisdiligence，whichmustthenbeused，donotmakeusaffectthelazinessofalicensingChurch。
Forifwebesureweareintheright，anddonotholdthetruthguiltily，whichbecomesnot，ifweourselvescondemnnotourownweakandfrivolousteaching，andthepeopleforanuntaughtandirreligiousgaddingrout，whatcanbemorefairthanwhenamanjudicious，learned，andofaconscience，foraughtweknow，asgoodastheirsthattaughtuswhatweknow，shallnotprivilyfromhousetohouse，whichismoredangerous，butopenlybywritingpublishtotheworldwhathisopinionis，whathisreasons，andwhereforethatwhichisnowthoughtcannotbesound？Christurgeditaswherewithtojustifyhimself，thathepreachedinpublic;yetwritingismorepublicthanpreaching;andmoreeasytorefutation，ifneedbe，therebeingsomanywhosebusinessandprofessionmerelyitistobethechampionsoftruth;whichiftheyneglect，whatcanbeimputedbuttheirsloth，orunability？
Thusmuchwearehinderedanddisinuredbythiscourseoflicensing，towardthetrueknowledgeofwhatweseemtoknow。Forhowmuchithurtsandhindersthelicensersthemselvesinthecallingoftheirministry，morethananysecularemployment，iftheywilldischargethatofficeastheyought，sothatofnecessitytheymustneglecteithertheonedutyortheother，Iinsistnot，becauseitisaparticular，butleaveittotheirownconscience，howtheywilldecideitthere。
ThereisyetbehindofwhatIpurposedtolayopen，theincrediblelossanddetrimentthatthisplotoflicensingputsusto;morethanifsomeenemyatseashouldstopupallourhavensandportsandcreeks，ithindersandretardstheimportationofourrichestmerchandise，truth;nay，itwasfirstestablishedandputinpracticebyAntichristianmaliceandmysteryonsetpurposetoextinguish，ifitwerepossible，thelightofReformation，andtosettlefalsehood;littledifferingfromthatpolicywherewiththeTurkupholdshisAlcoran，bytheprohibitionofprinting。’Tisnotdenied，butgladlyconfessed，wearetosendourthanksandvowstoHeavenlouderthanmostofnations，forthatgreatmeasureoftruthwhichweenjoy，especiallyinthosemainpointsbetweenusandthePope，withhisappurtenancestheprelates:buthewhothinkswearetopitchourtenthere，andhaveattainedtheutmostprospectofreformationthatthemortalglasswhereinwecontemplatecanshowus，tillwecometobeatificvision，thatmanbythisveryopiniondeclaresthatheisyetfarshortoftruth。
TruthindeedcameonceintotheworldwithherdivineMaster，andwasaperfectshapemostglorioustolookon:butwhenheascended，andhisApostlesafterhimwerelaidasleep，thenstraightaroseawickedraceofdeceivers，who，asthatstorygoesoftheEgyptianTyphonwithhisconspirators，howtheydealtwiththegoodOsiris，tookthevirginTruth，hewedherlovelyformintoathousandpieces，andscatteredthemtothefourwinds。Fromthattimeeversince，thesadfriendsofTruth，suchasdurstappear，imitatingthecarefulsearchthatIsismadeforthemangledbodyofOsiris，wentupanddowngatheringuplimbbylimb，stillastheycouldfindthem。Wehavenotyetfoundthemall，LordsandCommons，norevershalldo，tillherMaster’ssecondcoming;heshallbringtogethereveryjointandmember，andshallmouldthemintoanimmortalfeatureoflovelinessandperfection。Suffernottheselicensingprohibitionstostandateveryplaceofopportunity，forbiddinganddisturbingthemthatcontinueseeking，thatcontinuetodoourobsequiestothetornbodyofourmartyredsaint。
Weboastourlight;butifwelooknotwiselyonthesunitself，itsmitesusintodarkness。Whocandiscernthoseplanetsthatareoftcombust，andthosestarsofbrightestmagnitudethatriseandsetwiththesun，untiltheoppositemotionoftheirorbsbringthemtosuchaplaceinthefirmament，wheretheymaybeseeneveningormorning？Thelightwhichwehavegainedwasgivenus，nottobeeverstaringon，butbyittodiscoveronwardthingsmoreremotefromourknowledge。Itisnottheunfrockingofapriest，theunmitringofabishop，andtheremovinghimfromoffthepresbyterianshoulders，thatwillmakeusahappynation。No，ifotherthingsasgreatintheChurch，andintheruleoflifebotheconomicalandpolitical，benotlookedintoandreformed，wehavelookedsolongupontheblazethatZuingliusandCalvinhathbeaconeduptous，thatwearestarkblind。Therebewhoperpetuallycomplainofschismsandsects，andmakeitsuchacalamitythatanymandissentsfromtheirmaxims。’Tistheirownprideandignorancewhichcausesthedisturbing，whoneitherwillhearwithmeekness，norcanconvince;yetallmustbesuppressedwhichisnotfoundintheirSyntagma。Theyarethetroublers，theyarethedividersofunity，whoneglectandpermitnototherstounitethosedisseveredpieceswhichareyetwantingtothebodyofTruth。Tobestillsearchingwhatweknownotbywhatweknow，stillclosinguptruthtotruthaswefindit（forallherbodyishomogenealandproportional），thisisthegoldenruleintheologyaswellasinarithmetic，andmakesupthebestharmonyinaChurch;nottheforcedandoutwardunionofcold，andneutral，andinwardlydividedminds。
LordsandCommonsofEngland！considerwhatnationitiswhereofyeare，andwhereofyearethegovernors:anationnotslowanddull，butofaquick，ingeniousandpiercingspirit，acutetoinvent，subtleandsinewytodiscourse，notbeneaththereachofanypointthehighestthathumancapacitycansoarto。Thereforethestudiesoflearninginherdeepestscienceshavebeensoancientandsoeminentamongus，thatwritersofgoodantiquityandablestjudgmenthavebeenpersuadedthateventheschoolofPythagorasandthePersianwisdomtookbeginningfromtheoldphilosophyofthisisland。AndthatwiseandcivilRoman，JuliusAgricola，whogovernedoncehereforCaesar，preferredthenaturalwitsofBritainbeforethelabouredstudiesoftheFrench。NorisitfornothingthatthegraveandfrugalTransylvaniansendsoutyearlyfromasfarasthemountainousbordersofRussia，andbeyondtheHercynianwilderness，nottheiryouth，buttheirstaidmen，tolearnourlanguageandourtheologicarts。
Yetthatwhichisaboveallthis，thefavourandtheloveofHeaven，wehavegreatargumenttothinkinapeculiarmannerpropitiousandpropendingtowardsus。Whyelsewasthisnationchosenbeforeanyother，thatoutofher，asoutofSion，shouldbeproclaimedandsoundedforththefirsttidingsandtrumpetofReformationtoallEurope？AndhaditnotbeentheobstinateperversenessofourprelatesagainstthedivineandadmirablespiritofWickliff，tosuppresshimasaschismaticandinnovator，perhapsneithertheBohemianHunsandJerome，nonorthenameofLutherorofCalvin，hadbeeneverknown:thegloryofreformingallourneighbourshadbeencompletelyours。Butnow，asourobdurateclergyhavewithviolencedemeanedthematter，wearebecomehithertothelatestandthebackwardestscholars，ofwhomGodofferedtohavemadeustheteachers。Nowonceagainbyallconcurrenceofsigns，andbythegeneralinstinctofholyanddevoutmen，astheydailyandsolemnlyexpresstheirthoughts，GodisdecreeingtobeginsomenewandgreatperiodinhisChurch，eventothereformingofReformationitself:whatdoeshethenbutrevealhimselftohisservants，andashismanneris，firsttohisEnglishmen？Isay，ashismanneris，firsttous，thoughwemarknotthemethodofhiscounsels，andareunworthy。
Beholdnowthisvastcity:acityofrefuge，themansionhouseofliberty，encompassedandsurroundedwithhisprotection;theshopofwarhathnottheremoreanvilsandhammerswaking，tofashionouttheplatesandinstrumentsofarmedjusticeindefenceofbeleagueredtruth，thantherebepensandheadsthere，sittingbytheirstudiouslamps，musing，searching，revolvingnewnotionsandideaswherewithtopresent，aswiththeirhomageandtheirfealty，theapproachingReformation:othersasfastreading，tryingallthings，assentingtotheforceofreasonandconvincement。Whatcouldamanrequiremorefromanationsopliantandsopronetoseekafterknowledge？Whatwantstheretosuchatowardlyandpregnantsoil，butwiseandfaithfullabourers，tomakeaknowingpeople，anationofprophets，ofsages，andofworthies？Wereckonmorethanfivemonthsyettoharvest;thereneednotbefiveweeks;
hadwebuteyestoliftup，thefieldsarewhitealready。
Wherethereismuchdesiretolearn，thereofnecessitywillbemucharguing，muchwriting，manyopinions;foropinioningoodmenisbutknowledgeinthemaking。Underthesefantasticterrorsofsectandschism，wewrongtheearnestandzealousthirstafterknowledgeandunderstandingwhichGodhathstirredupinthiscity。