Reformation not Separation, Letter 1
For Mr. Z. C. Priſoner in the TOWER.
DEAR BROTHER,
YOU cannot enough believe, how much your renewed publick Communion, with we know not whom, in the Ordinances, which they think cannot but be materially corrupt, eſpecially in that place, hath grieved and alienated the hearts of the Godly; not only Members, but Miniſters: Defend it how we can, They cenſure it not only Impolitick, but Impious; hardning our Enemies, weakning our Friends, undoing your good Teſtimony, and giving away the CAUSE, it being aeque, if not aequaliter; as if you ſhould Read and Adminiſter the Form: They think there can be no Obligation of Duty, or Edification warranting the one, which may not alſo juſtifie the other. The matter of Doctrine, and worſhip of Prayer, ſeems to be not only the objectum ad quem, but alſo per quibus, whether things or perſons; wherein they take it for granted, the Common-Prayer is corrupt: As when you pray for Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, as Miniſters of a ſuperiour Degree (and indeed according to the new corrected Form of Ordination, of the only Holy Order and Inſtitution) wherein they are an Antichriſtian Order, &c. Or if only the Circumſtance of the Form were exceptionable, yet you judge the Nurſe may as well be bound in Duty and Neceſsity to give the Child his bread out of a Chamber pot, as ſhe her ſelf, or the Child feed themſelves out of it: Plead then you muſt neceſſity, for both or neither; and they expect you ſhould do th'other too (ſe defendendo) or elſe ſuperſede this for the time to come: But if you proceed, I perſwade my ſelf of that very many Brethren which are foreign in the reſt, you will be alone in this; for they can with more patience brook to the preſent, where there be perſonal corruptions in the Matter, than where there are circumſtantial, material Offences in the Form.
Yours, Bound in your Bonds. P. E.