in a civil uproar
among the citizens, sitteth still a looker-on and a neuter (_Plut. in
Vita. Solon_); much more deserve they to be so accounted of who shun to
meddle with any controversy which disquieted the church, whereas they
should labour to win the adversaries of the truth, and, if they prove
obstinate, to defend and propugn the truth against them. In things of this
life (as Calvin noteth in _Epist. ad Protect. Angl._) we may remit so much
of the right as the love of peace requireth, but as for the regiment of
the church which is spiritual, and wherein everything ought to be ordered
according to the word of God, it is not in the power of any mortal man
_quidquam hic aliis dare, aut in illorum gratiam deflectere_. These
considerations have induced me to bestow some time, and to take some pains
in the study of the controversies which are agitated in this church about
the ceremonies, and (after due examination and discussion of the writings
of such as have played the proctors for them) to compile this ensuing
dispute against them, both for exonering myself, and for provoking of
others to contend yet more for the truth, and for Zion's sake not to hold
their peace, nor be at rest, until the amiable light of long-wished-for
peace break forth out of all these confusions, Isa. lxii. 1; which, O
Prince of Peace! hasten, who "wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast
wrought all our works in us," Isa. xxvi. 12.

ORDER.

Because polemic and eristic discourses must follow the adversaries at the
heels whithersoever they go, finding them out in all the lurking-places of
their elaborate subterfuges, and conflicting with them wheresoever they
pitch, until not only all their blows be awarded, but themselves also all
derouted, therefore, perceiving the informality of the Formalists to be
such that sometimes they plead for the controverted ceremonies as
necessary, sometimes as expedient, sometimes as lawful, and sometimes as
indifferent, I resolve to follow the trace, and to evince, by force of
reason, that there is none of all those respects to justify either the
urging or the using of them. And albeit the Archbishop of Spalato (_Pref.
Libror. de Rep. Eccl._) cometh forth like an Olympic champion, stoutly
brandishing and bravading, and making his account that no antagonist can
match him except a prelate, albeit likewise the Bishop of Edinburgh
(_Proc. in Perth, Assembly_, part iii. p. 55) would have us to think that
we