of their high words, magnifying the discipline, I leave to your better remembrance:  but, above all points, I am desirous this one should be strongly enforced against them, because it wringeth them most of all, and is of all others—­for aught I see—­the most unanswerable.  You may notwithstanding say, that you would be heartily glad these their positions might be salved, as the Brownists might not appear to have issued out of their loins:  but until that be done, they must give us leave to think that they have cast the seed whereout these tares are grown.

[Sidenote:  “Godless politics”]

Another sort of men there are, which have been content to run on with the Reformers for a time, and to make them poor instruments of their own designs.  These are a sort of godless politics, who, perceiving the plot of discipline to consist of these two parts, the overthrow of Episcopal, and erection of Presbyterial authority; and that this latter can take no place till the former be removed; are content to join with them in the destructive part of discipline, bearing them in hand, that in the other also they shall find them as ready.  But when time shall come, it may be they would be as loath to be yoked with that kind of regiment, as now they are willing to be released from this.  These men’s ends in all their actions is distraction; their pretence and colour, reformation.  Those things which under this colour they have effected to their own good, are, 1.  By maintaining a contrary faction, they have kept the Clergy always in awe, and thereby made them more pliable, and willing to buy their peace. 2.  By maintaining an opinion of equality among ministers, they have made way to their own purposes for devouring Cathedral Churches, and Bishops’ livings. 3.  By exclaiming against abuses in the Church, they have carried their own corrupt dealing in the Civil State more covertly.  For such is the nature of the multitude, that they are not able to apprehend many things at once; so as being possessed with a dislike or liking of any one thing, many other in the mean time may escape them without being perceived. 4.  They have sought to disgrace the Clergy, in entertaining a conceit in men’s minds, and confirming it by continual practice, That men of learning, and especially of the Clergy, which are employed in the chiefest kind of learning, are not to be admitted to matters of State; contrary to the practice of all well-governed commonwealths, and of our own till these late years.

[Sidenote:  Atheists]

[Sidenote:  Causes of Atheism]

A third sort of men there are, though not descended from the Reformers, yet in part raised and greatly strengthened by them; namely, the cursed crew of Atheists.  This also is one of those points, which I am desirous you should handle most effectually, and strain yourself therein to all points of motion and affection; as in that of the Brownists, to all strength and sinews of reason.  This is a sort most damnable, and