nscience this
way: As first, you are many of you strangers, as to y^e persons, so to
y^e infirmities one of another, & so stand in neede of more
watchfullnes this way, least when shuch things fall out in men & women
as you suspected not, you be inordinatly affected with them; which
doth require at your hands much wisdome & charitie for y^e covering &
preventing of incident offences that way. And lastly, your intended
course of civill comunitie will minister continuall occasion of
offence, & will be as fuell for that fire, excepte you dilligently
quench it with brotherly forbearance. And if taking of offence
causlesly or easilie at mens doings be so carefuly to be avoyded, how
much more heed is to be taken y^t we take not offence at God him
selfe, which yet we certainly doe so oft[=e] as we doe murmure at his
providence in our crosses, or beare impatiently shuch afflictions as
wherwith he pleaseth to visite us. Store up therfore patience against
y^e evill day, without which we take offence at y^e Lord him selfe in
his holy & just works.

A 4. thing ther is carfully to be provided for, to witte, that with
your co[=m]one imployments you joyne co[=m]one affections truly bente
upon y^e generall good, avoyding as a deadly [41] plague of your both
co[=m]one & spetiall comfort all retirednes of minde for proper
advantage, and all singularly affected any maner of way; let every man
represe in him selfe & y^e whol body in each person, as so many rebels
against y^e commone good, all private respects of mens selves, not
sorting with y^e generall conveniencie. And as men are carfull not to
have a new house shaken with any violence before it be well setled &
y^e parts firmly knite, so be you, I beseech you, brethren, much more
carfull, y^t the house of God which you are, and are to be, be not
shaken with unnecessarie novelties or other oppositions at y^e first
setling therof.

Lastly, wheras you are become a body politik, using amongst your
selves civill govermente, and are not furnished with any persons of
spetiall eminencie above y^e rest, to be chosen by you into office of
goverment, let your wisdome & godlines appeare, not only in chusing
shuch persons as doe entirely love and will promote y^e co[=m]one
good, but also in yeelding unto them all due honour & obedience in
their lawfull administrations; not behoulding in them y^e
ordinarinesse of their person