Whatsomelamentof，werathershouldrejoiceat，shouldratherpraisethispiousforwardnessamongmen，toreassumetheill—
deputedcareoftheirreligionintotheirownhandsagain。A
littlegenerousprudence，alittleforbearanceofoneanother，andsomegrainofcharitymightwinallthesediligencestojoin，anduniteinonegeneralandbrotherlysearchaftertruth;couldwebutforgothisprelaticaltraditionofcrowdingfreeconsciencesandChristianlibertiesintocanonsandpreceptsofmen。Idoubtnot，ifsomegreatandworthystrangershouldcomeamongus，wisetodiscernthemouldandtemperofapeople，andhowtogovernit，observingthehighhopesandaims，thediligentalacrityofourextendedthoughtsandreasoningsinthepursuanceoftruthandfreedom，butthathewouldcryoutasPyrrhusdid，admiringtheRomandocilityandcourage:IfsuchweremyEpirots，Iwouldnotdespairthegreatestdesignthatcouldbeattempted，tomakeaChurchorkingdomhappy。
Yetthesearethemencriedoutagainstforschismaticsandsectaries;asif，whilethetempleoftheLordwasbuilding，somecutting，somesquaringthemarble，othershewingthecedars，thereshouldbeasortofirrationalmenwhocouldnotconsidertheremustbemanyschismsandmanydissectionsmadeinthequarryandinthetimber，erethehouseofGodcanbebuilt。Andwheneverystoneislaidartfullytogether，itcannotbeunitedintoacontinuity，itcanbutbecontiguousinthisworld;neithercaneverypieceofthebuildingbeofoneform;nayrathertheperfectionconsistsinthis，that，outofmanymoderatevarietiesandbrotherlydissimilitudesthatarenotvastlydisproportional，arisesthegoodlyandthegracefulsymmetrythatcommendsthewholepileandstructure。
Letusthereforebemoreconsideratebuilders，morewiseinspiritualarchitecture，whengreatreformationisexpected。Fornowthetimeseemscome，whereinMosesthegreatprophetmaysitinheavenrejoicingtoseethatmemorableandgloriouswishofhisfulfilled，whennotonlyourseventyelders，butalltheLord’speople，arebecomeprophets。Nomarvelthenthoughsomemen，andsomegoodmentooperhaps，butyoungingoodness，asJoshuathenwas，envythem。Theyfret，andoutoftheirownweaknessareinagony，lestthesedivisionsandsubdivisionswillundous。Theadversaryagainapplauds，andwaitsthehour:whentheyhavebranchedthemselvesout，saithhe，smallenoughintopartiesandpartitions，thenwillbeourtime。Fool！heseesnotthefirmroot，outofwhichweallgrow，thoughintobranches:norwillbewareuntilheseeoursmalldividedmaniplescuttingthroughateveryangleofhisill—unitedandunwieldybrigade。Andthatwearetohopebetterofallthesesupposedsectsandschisms，andthatweshallnotneedthatsolicitude，honestperhaps，thoughover—timorous，ofthemthatvexinthisbehalf，butshalllaughintheendatthosemaliciousapplaudersofourdifferences，Ihavethesereasonstopersuademe。
First，whenacityshallbeasitwerebesiegedandblockedabout，hernavigableriverinfested，inroadsandincursionsround，defianceandbattleoftrumouredtobemarchingupeventoherwallsandsuburbtrenches，thatthenthepeople，orthegreaterpart，morethanatothertimes，whollytakenupwiththestudyofhighestandmostimportantmatterstobereformed，shouldbedisputing，reasoning，reading，inventing，discoursing，eventoararityandadmiration，thingsnotbeforediscoursedorwrittenof，arguesfirstasingulargoodwill，contentednessandconfidenceinyourprudentforesightandsafegovernment，LordsandCommons;andfromthencederivesitselftoagallantbraveryandwell—groundedcontemptoftheirenemies，asiftherewerenosmallnumberofasgreatspiritsamongus，ashiswas，whowhenRomewasnighbesiegedbyHannibal，beinginthecity，boughtthatpieceofgroundatnocheaprate，whereonHannibalhimselfencampedhisownregiment。
Next，itisalivelyandcheerfulpresageofourhappysuccessandvictory。Forasinabody，whenthebloodisfresh，thespiritspureandvigorous，notonlytovitalbuttorationalfaculties，andthoseintheacutestandthepertestoperationsofwitandsubtlety，itarguesinwhatgoodplightandconstitutionthebodyis;sowhenthecheerfulnessofthepeopleissosprightlyup，asthatithasnotonlywherewithtoguardwellitsownfreedomandsafety，buttospare，andtobestowuponthesolidestandsublimestpointsofcontroversyandnewinvention，itbetokensusnotdegenerated，nordroopingtoafataldecay，butcastingofftheoldandwrinkledskinofcorruptiontooutlivethesepangsandwaxyoungagain，enteringthegloriouswaysoftruthandprosperousvirtue，destinedtobecomegreatandhonourableintheselatterages。MethinksIseeinmymindanobleandpuissantnationrousingherselflikeastrongmanaftersleep，andshakingherinvinciblelocks:methinksIseeherasaneaglemewinghermightyyouth，andkindlingherundazzledeyesatthefullmiddaybeam;
purgingandunscalingherlong—abusedsightatthefountainitselfofheavenlyradiance;whilethewholenoiseoftimorousandflockingbirds，withthosealsothatlovethetwilight，flutterabout，amazedatwhatshemeans，andintheirenviousgabblewouldprognosticateayearofsectsandschisms。
Whatwouldyedothen？shouldyesuppressallthisflowerycropofknowledgeandnewlightsprungupandyetspringingdailyinthiscity？Shouldyesetanoligarchyoftwentyengrossersoverit，tobringafamineuponourmindsagain，whenweshallknownothingbutwhatismeasuredtousbytheirbushel？Believeit，LordsandCommons，theywhocounselyetosuchasuppressingdoasgoodasbidyesuppressyourselves;andIwillsoonshowhow。Ifitbedesiredtoknowtheimmediatecauseofallthisfreewritingandfreespeaking，therecannotbeassignedatruerthanyourownmildandfreeandhumanegovernment。Itistheliberty，LordsandCommons，whichyourownvalorousandhappycounselshavepurchasedus，libertywhichisthenurseofallgreatwits;thisisthatwhichhathrarefiedandenlightenedourspiritsliketheinfluenceofheaven;thisisthatwhichhathenfranchised，enlargedandliftedupourapprehensions，degreesabovethemselves。
Yecannotmakeusnowlesscapable，lessknowing，lesseagerlypursuingofthetruth，unlessyefirstmakeyourselves，thatmadeusso，lessthelovers，lessthefoundersofourtrueliberty。Wecangrowignorantagain，brutish，formalandslavish，asyefoundus;butyouthenmustfirstbecomethatwhichyecannotbe，oppressive，arbitraryandtyrannous，astheywerefromwhomyehavefreedus。Thatourheartsarenowmorecapacious，ourthoughtsmoreerectedtothesearchandexpectationofgreatestandexactestthings，istheissueofyourownvirtuepropagatedinus;yecannotsuppressthat，unlessyereinforceanabrogatedandmercilesslaw，thatfathersmaydispatchatwilltheirownchildren。Andwhoshallthenstickclosesttoye，andexciteothers？nothewhotakesuparmsforcoatandconduct，andhisfournoblesofDanegelt。
AlthoughIdispraisenotthedefenceofjustimmunities，yetlovemypeacebetter，ifthatwereall。Givemethelibertytoknow，toutter，andtoarguefreelyaccordingtoconscience，aboveallliberties。
Whatwouldbebestadvised，then，ifitbefoundsohurtfulandsounequaltosuppressopinionsforthenewnessortheunsuitablenesstoacustomaryacceptance，willnotbemytasktosay。IonlyshallrepeatwhatIhavelearnedfromoneofyourownhonourablenumber，arightnobleandpiouslord，who，hadhenotsacrificedhislifeandfortunestotheChurchandCommonwealth，wehadnotnowmissedandbewailedaworthyandundoubtedpatronofthisargument。Yeknowhim，Iamsure;yetIforhonour’ssake，andmayitbeeternaltohim，shallnamehim，theLordBrook。Hewritingofepiscopacy，andbythewaytreatingofsectsandschisms，leftyehisvote，orrathernowthelastwordsofhisdyingcharge，whichIknowwilleverbeofdearandhonouredregardwithye，sofullofmeeknessandbreathingcharity，thatnexttohislasttestament，whobequeathedloveandpeacetohisdisciples，IcannotcalltomindwhereIhavereadorheardwordsmoremildandpeaceful。Hethereexhortsustohearwithpatienceandhumilitythose，howevertheybemiscalled，thatdesiretolivepurely，insuchauseofGod’sordinances，asthebestguidanceoftheirconsciencegivesthem，andtotoleratethem，thoughinsomedisconformitytoourselves。Thebookitselfwilltellusmoreatlarge，beingpublishedtotheworld，anddedicatedtotheParliamentbyhimwho，bothforhislifeandforhisdeath，deservesthatwhatadviceheleftbenotlaidbywithoutperusal。
Andnowthetimeinspecialis，byprivilegetowriteandspeakwhatmayhelptothefurtherdiscussingofmattersinagitation。
ThetempleofJanuswithhistwocontroversialfacesmightnownotunsignificantlybesetopen。Andthoughallthewindsofdoctrinewereletloosetoplayupontheearth，soTruthbeinthefield，wedoinjuriously，bylicensingandprohibiting，tomisdoubtherstrength。LetherandFalsehoodgrapple;whoeverknewTruthputtotheworse，inafreeandopenencounter？Herconfutingisthebestandsurestsuppressing。Hewhohearswhatprayingthereisforlightandclearerknowledgetobesentdownamongus，wouldthinkofothermatterstobeconstitutedbeyondthedisciplineofGeneva，framedandfabrickedalreadytoourhands。Yetwhenthenewlightwhichwebegforshinesinuponus，therebewhoenvyandoppose，ifitcomenotfirstinattheircasements。Whatacollusionisthis，whenasweareexhortedbythewisemantousediligence，toseekforwisdomasforhiddentreasuresearlyandlate，thatanotherordershallenjoinustoknownothingbutbystatute？Whenamanhathbeenlabouringthehardestlabourinthedeepminesofknowledge，hathfurnishedouthisfindingsinalltheirequipage:drawnforthhisreasonsasitwereabattleranged:
scatteredanddefeatedallobjectionsinhisway;callsouthisadversaryintotheplain，offershimtheadvantageofwindandsun，ifheplease，onlythathemaytrythematterbydintofargument:
forhisopponentsthentoskulk，tolayambushments，tokeepanarrowbridgeoflicensingwherethechallengershouldpass，thoughitbevalourenoughinsoldiership，isbutweaknessandcowardiceinthewarsofTruth。
ForwhoknowsnotthatTruthisstrong，nexttotheAlmighty？
Sheneedsnopolicies，norstratagems，norlicensingstomakehervictorious;thosearetheshiftsandthedefencesthaterrorusesagainstherpower。Giveherbutroom，anddonotbindherwhenshesleeps，forthenshespeaksnottrue，astheoldProteusdid，whospakeoraclesonlywhenhewascaughtandbound，butthenrathersheturnsherselfintoallshapes，exceptherown，andperhapstuneshervoiceaccordingtothetime，asMicaiahdidbeforeAhab，untilshebeadjuredintoherownlikeness。Yetisitnotimpossiblethatshemayhavemoreshapesthanone。Whatelseisallthatrankofthingsindifferent，whereinTruthmaybeonthissideorontheother，withoutbeingunlikeherself？Whatbutavainshadowelseistheabolitionofthoseordinances，thathand—writingnailedtothecross？WhatgreatpurchaseisthisChristianlibertywhichPaulsooftenboastsof？Hisdoctrineis，thathewhoeatsoreatsnot，regardsadayorregardsitnot，maydoeithertotheLord。Howmanyotherthingsmightbetoleratedinpeace，andlefttoconscience，hadwebutcharity，andwereitnotthechiefstrongholdofourhypocrisytobeeverjudgingoneanother？
Ifearyetthisironyokeofoutwardconformityhathleftaslavishprintuponournecks;theghostofalinendecencyyethauntsus。Westumbleandareimpatientattheleastdividingofonevisiblecongregationfromanother，thoughitbenotinfundamentals;andthroughourforwardnesstosuppress，andourbackwardnesstorecoveranyenthralledpieceoftruthoutofthegripeofcustom，wecarenottokeeptruthseparatedfromtruth，whichisthefiercestrentanddisunionofall。Wedonotseethat，whilewestillaffectbyallmeansarigidexternalformality，wemayassoonfallagainintoagrossconformingstupidity，astarkanddeadcongealmentofwoodandhayandstubble，forcedandfrozentogether，whichismoretothesuddendegeneratingofaChurchthanmanysubdichotomiesofpettyschisms。
NotthatIcanthinkwellofeverylightseparation，orthatallinaChurchistobeexpectedgoldandsilverandpreciousstones:itisnotpossibleformantoseverthewheatfromthetares，thegoodfishfromtheotherfry;thatmustbetheAngels’
ministryattheendofmortalthings。Yetifallcannotbeofonemind——aswholookstheyshouldbe？——thisdoubtlessismorewholesome，moreprudent，andmoreChristian，thatmanybetolerated，ratherthanallcompelled。Imeannottoleratedpopery，andopensuperstition，which，asitextirpatesallreligionsandcivilsupremacies，soitselfshouldbeextirpate，providedfirstthatallcharitableandcompassionatemeansbeusedtowinandregaintheweakandthemisled:thatalsowhichisimpiousorevilabsolutelyeitheragainstfaithormannersnolawcanpossiblypermit，thatintendsnottounlawitself:butthoseneighbouringdifferences，orratherindifferences，arewhatIspeakof，whetherinsomepointofdoctrineorofdiscipline，which，thoughtheymaybemany，yetneednotinterruptTHEUNITYOFSPIRIT，ifwecouldbutfindamongusTHEBONDOFPEACE。
Inthemeanwhileifanyonewouldwrite，andbringhishelpfulhandtotheslow—movingReformationwhichwelabourunder，ifTruthhavespokentohimbeforeothers，orbutseemedatleasttospeak，whohathsobejesuitedusthatweshouldtroublethatmanwithaskinglicensetodosoworthyadeed？andnotconsiderthis，thatifitcometoprohibiting，thereisnotaughtmorelikelytobeprohibitedthantruthitself;whosefirstappearancetooureyes，blearedanddimmedwithprejudiceandcustom，ismoreunsightlyandunplausiblethanmanyerrors，evenasthepersonisofmanyagreatmanslightandcontemptuoustoseeto。Andwhatdotheytellusvainlyofnewopinions，whenthisveryopinionoftheirs，thatnonemustbeheardbutwhomtheylike，istheworstandnewestopinionofallothers;andisthechiefcausewhysectsandschismsdosomuchabound，andtrueknowledgeiskeptatdistancefromus;
besidesyetagreaterdangerwhichisinit。
ForwhenGodshakesakingdomwithstrongandhealthfulcommotionstoageneralreforming，’tisnotuntruethatmanysectariesandfalseteachersarethenbusiestinseducing;butyetmoretrueitis，thatGodthenraisestohisownworkmenofrareabilities，andmorethancommonindustry，notonlytolookbackandrevisewhathathbeentaughtheretofore，buttogainfurtherandgoonsomenewenlightenedstepsinthediscoveryoftruth。ForsuchistheorderofGod’senlighteninghisChurch，todispenseanddealoutbydegreeshisbeam，soasourearthlyeyesmaybestsustainit。
NeitherisGodappointedandconfined，whereandoutofwhatplacethesehischosenshallbefirstheardtospeak;forheseesnotasmansees，choosesnotasmanchooses，lestweshoulddevoteourselvesagaintosetplaces，andassemblies，andoutwardcallingsofmen;plantingourfaithonewhileintheoldConvocationhouse，andanotherwhileintheChapelatWestminster;whenallthefaithandreligionthatshallbetherecanonizedisnotsufficientwithoutplainconvincement，andthecharityofpatientinstructiontosuppletheleastbruiseofconscience，toedifythemeanestChristian，whodesirestowalkintheSpirit，andnotintheletterofhumantrust，forallthenumberofvoicesthatcanbetheremade;no，thoughHarryVIIhimselfthere，withallhisliegetombsabouthim，shouldlendthemvoicesfromthedead，toswelltheirnumber。
Andifthemenbeerroneouswhoappeartobetheleadingschismatics，whatwithholdsusbutoursloth，ourself—will，anddistrustintherightcause，thatwedonotgivethemgentlemeetingsandgentledismissions，thatwedebatenotandexaminethematterthoroughlywithliberalandfrequentaudience;ifnotfortheirsakes，yetforourown？seeingnomanwhohathtastedlearning，butwillconfessthemanywaysofprofitingbythosewho，notcontentedwithstalereceipts，areabletomanageandsetforthnewpositionstotheworld。Andweretheybutasthedustandcindersofourfeet，solongasinthatnotiontheymayyetservetopolishandbrightenthearmouryofTruth，evenforthatrespecttheywerenotutterlytobecastaway。ButiftheybeofthosewhomGodhathfittedforthespecialuseofthesetimeswitheminentandamplegifts，andthoseperhapsneitheramongthepriestsnoramongthePharisees，andweinthehasteofaprecipitantzealshallmakenodistinction，butresolvetostoptheirmouths，becausewefeartheycomewithnewanddangerousopinions，aswecommonlyforejudgethemereweunderstandthem;nolessthanwoetous，while，thinkingthustodefendtheGospel，wearefoundthepersecutors。
TherehavebeennotafewsincethebeginningofthisParliament，bothofthepresbyteryandothers，whobytheirunlicensedbooks，tothecontemptofanImprimatur，firstbrokethattripleiceclungaboutourhearts，andtaughtthepeopletoseeday:Ihopethatnoneofthosewerethepersuaderstorenewuponusthisbondagewhichtheythemselveshavewroughtsomuchgoodbycontemning。ButifneitherthecheckthatMosesgavetoyoungJoshua，northecountermandwhichourSaviourgavetoyoungJohn，whowassoreadytoprohibitthosewhomhethoughtunlicensed，benotenoughtoadmonishoureldershowunacceptabletoGodtheirtestymoodofprohibitingis;ifneithertheirownremembrancewhatevilhathaboundedintheChurchbythissetoflicensing，andwhatgoodtheythemselveshavebegunbytransgressingit，benotenough，butthattheywillpersuadeandexecutethemostDominicanpartoftheInquisitionoverus，andarealreadywithonefootinthestirrupsoactiveatsuppressing，itwouldbenounequaldistributioninthefirstplacetosuppressthesuppressorsthemselves:whomthechangeoftheirconditionhathpuffedup，morethantheirlateexperienceofhardertimeshathmadewise。
Andasforregulatingthepress，letnomanthinktohavethehonourofadvisingyebetterthanyourselveshavedoneinthatOrderpublishednextbeforethis，\"thatnobookbeprinted，unlesstheprinter’sandtheauthor’sname，oratleasttheprinter’s，beregistered。\"Thosewhichotherwisecomeforth，iftheybefoundmischievousandlibellous，thefireandtheexecutionerwillbethetimeliestandthemosteffectualremedythatman’spreventioncanuse。ForthisauthenticSpanishpolicyoflicensingbooks，ifI
havesaidaught，willprovethemostunlicensedbookitselfwithinashortwhile;andwastheimmediateimageofaStarChamberdecreetothatpurposemadeinthoseverytimeswhenthatCourtdidtherestofthoseherpiousworks，forwhichsheisnowfallenfromthestarswithLucifer。Wherebyyemayguesswhatkindofstateprudence，whatloveofthepeople，whatcareofreligionorgoodmannerstherewasatthecontriving，althoughwithsingularhypocrisyitpretendedtobindbookstotheirgoodbehaviour。AndhowitgottheupperhandofyourprecedentOrdersowellconstitutedbefore，ifwemaybelievethosemenwhoseprofessiongivesthemcausetoinquiremost，itmaybedoubtedtherewasinitthefraudofsomeoldpatenteesandmonopolizersinthetradeofbookselling;whounderpretenceofthepoorintheirCompanynottobedefrauded，andthejustretainingofeachmanhisseveralcopy，whichGodforbidshouldbegainsaid，broughtdiversglossingcolourstotheHouse，whichwereindeedbutcolours，andservingtonoendexceptitbetoexerciseasuperiorityovertheirneighbours;menwhodonotthereforelabourinanhonestprofessiontowhichlearningisindebted，thattheyshouldbemadeothermen’svassals。AnotherendisthoughtwasaimedatbysomeoftheminprocuringbypetitionthisOrder，that，havingpowerintheirhands，malignantbooksmighttheeasierscapeabroad，astheeventshows。
ButofthesesophismsandelenchsofmerchandiseIskillnot。
ThisIknow，thaterrorsinagoodgovernmentandinabadareequallyalmostincident;forwhatmagistratemaynotbemisinformed，andmuchthesooner，iflibertyofprintingbereducedintothepowerofafew？Buttoredresswillinglyandspeedilywhathathbeenerred，andinhighestauthoritytoesteemaplainadvertisementmorethanothershavedoneasumptuousbride，isavirtue（honouredLordsandCommons）answerabletoyourhighestactions，andwhereofnonecanparticipatebutgreatestandwisestmen。