8

If they should lesse attend upon then formerly, yet in

case the congregationall way be of Ch^t, it will

not grieve godly ministers that their hearers

follow after cht, w^h neglect of them; no more

then it troubled John Baptist, that many of

his best disciples forsooke him to follow Ch^t, Joh. 3.26

But in case y^e congregationall way should be

proove to be, not y^e Justificaton of Ch^t (as we take

it) but y^e Invention of men, then doubtlesse the

presbyteriall forme (if it be of god) will

swallow up the other, as moses his rod devoured

y^e rods of the Egyptians; Exod.

To y^e 2^d Exception w^ch was that we take no

“ course for y^e gayning & calling in of Ignorant

“ and Scandalous & Erroneous psons, whom we refuse

“ to receive into o^r churches; we conceive the

receiving them into o^r churches would rather

loose and corrupt o^r churches, then gayne and

heale them: especially if y^e greater part of the

parishes consist of offensive members; & it may be

their ministers many tymes not much better W[ee?]

therefore find it safer to square rough, and

unhewen stones before they be laid into y^e building

rather then to hammer & hew them, when they lye

unevenly in the building: And accordingly two

meanes we use to gayne & call in such as are

Ignorant, & scandalous: first, the publike ministry

of y^e word, upon w^ch they are required by

wholesome Lawes to attend; and it is that use [?]

y^e power of God to y^e calling & winning of

soules. Secondly private conference & conviction