deplore with a bleeding heart the Schifms of the Church, and ardently pray for her Peace and Profperity. I fhall ftudy more to live, than to dif pute for none but the Devil gains by thofe contentions, who keeps Men's heads thus bufied, whilft he feizes upon their hearts. For these Questions, the next Age may fee their Iffue; for me I reft in that of Gamaliel, If this Counsel or Work be of Men it cannot ftand, if it be of God, it cannot be deftroyed.

Are

For my Sermon, I fhall defire you to give a fair and benign interpretation, and to take it no worfe than I intended it when it was Preached; It and I had many more thanks than we deferved, from the beft of my Auditors, among others from the *Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield, from the † Dean of Winchester, the Dean of Glocefter, Dr. Goad, Dr. Harris, and how think you of these? they Arminians? Do not help to caft upon your Friend an odious and ungrounded Imputation, from which he is yet, and ever will be free. If you have any more to fay, yet write no more; for I fhall anfwer all your Letters in this kind with filence. When you and I next meet, we may more freely and fafely communicate our thoughts. If I have been vehement, excufe me, and blame your felf; my Reputation is dear unto me, and I could not be patient in the Reproach and Sufpicion of Herefy. In the mean while continue to love your poor friend, but efpecially to affift him with your Prayers; I fhall retaliate in both: and fo commending you with all that are dear unto you, with my

Tho. Morton D. D. formerly Bp. of Chefter, afterwards of Durham.

+ John Young D. D.

Tho. Winiffe afterwards Dean of St. Pauls and Bp. of Lincoln.

loving good Coufin, Mr. Benfon, his Wife and Family, to the rich Mercies of God, in our Lord Jefus, I ceafe to write, but never to be

THE

EXAMINATION

O F

TILENUS

Before the TRIERS

In order to his intended Settlement in the Office of a Public Preacher, in the Common-wealth of UTOPIA.

WRITTEN BY THE

Right Reverend Father in GOD LAURENCE WOMOCK, D.D.

SOMETIME LORD BP.

OF

St. DAVID's

THE

PREFATORY EPISTLE:

M

Viro pari & familiari meo

M. S. P.

Y dear, and good Friend, thefe Papers come now to your hands, to give you affurance, that my many late difcourfes upon the Subject here treated of, were in good earnest. Whatever it was that occafioned the forming of my conceptions into this fhape, there is nothing in the World hath had a greater hand (if fo it may be faid of motives) to give them Birth, than your paffionate oppofition. For I am weary of those debates by word of mouth, wherein Men of much Zeal and Prejudice grow so hot and so far transported, that inftead of folid Arguments advancing orderly under the command of fober Reason, they can Levy no other for ces but Froth and Choler to affift them. That I may no more break the peace, in this kind, with you, nor endanger making the least flaw in that dear Friendship, that hath by fo long a Conversation grown up to so great a height betwixt us; I have refolved to take this calmer courfe, to give an account of fome grounds of my prefent perfuafions, wherein 1 differ from your Judgment. Perhaps they may fome-time or other find your Affections fo quiet, your Understanding fo well awakened, and

I i

your