OF THE PACIFICATION OF THE CHURCH. 85 



of faith, and to be urged rather for articles of doc 

 trine, than for rites and ceremonies, and points of 

 outward government. For howsoever politic consi 

 derations and reasons of state may require unifor 

 mity, yet Christian and divine grounds look chiefly 

 upon unity. 



TOUCHING A PREACHING MINISTRY. 



To speak of a learned ministry : it is true that 

 the worthiness of the pastors and ministers is of all 

 other points of religion the most summary ; I do 

 not say the greatest, but the most effectual towards 

 the rest : but herein, to my understanding, while 

 men go on in zeal to hasten this work, they are not 

 aware of as great or greater inconvenience, than 

 that which they seek to remove. For while they 

 inveigh against a dumb ministry, they make too 

 easy and too promiscuous an allowance of such as 

 they account preachers ; having not respect enough 

 to their learnings in other arts, which are hand 

 maids to divinity ; not respect enough to years, 

 except it be in case of extraordinary gift ; not res 

 pect enough to the gift itself, which many times is 

 none at all. For God forbid, that every man that 

 can take unto himself boldness to speak an hour to 

 gether in a Church, upon a text, should be admitted 

 for a preacher, though he mean never so well. I 

 know there is a great latitude in gifts, and a great 



