CHAPTER 13.

The Utility that shall flow from this Reformation to all Estates.

1. Seeing the end of this Spiritual government and polity whereof we speak, is that God may be glorified, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ advanced, and all who are of his mystical body may live peaceable in conscience: Therefore we dare boldly affirm that all those who have true respect to these ends, will, even for conscience cause gladly agree and conform themselves to this order, and advance the same, so far as in them lies, that their conscience being set at rest, they may be replenished with spiritual gladness in giving full obedience to that which God's Word and the testimony of their own conscience do crave, and in refusing all corruption contrary to the same.

2. Next we shall become an example and pattern of good and godly order to other nations, countries, and churches professing the same religion with us, that as they have glorified God in our continuing in the sincerity of the Word hitherto, without any errors, praise be to his Name, so they may have the like occasion in our conversation, when as we conform ourselves to that discipline, polity, and good order which the same Word and purity of reformation crave at our hands; otherwise that fearful sentence may be said to us, "the servant knowing the will of his master, and not doing it," etc.

3. Moreover, if we have any pity or respect to the poor members of Jesus Christ, who so greatly increase and multiply among us, we shall not suffer them to be longer defrauded of that part of the patrimony of the Church which justly belong to them: And by this order, if it be duly put to execution, the burden of them shall be taken off us to our great comfort, the streets shall be cleansed of their cryings and murmurings, so as we shall no more be a scandal to other nations as we have hitherto been for not taking order with the poor among us, and causing the Word which we profess to be evil spoken of, giving occasion of slander to the enemies, and offending the consciences of the simple and godly.

4. Besides this, it shall be a great ease and commodity (convenience) to the whole common-people, in relieving them of the building and upholding of their churches, in building of bridges, and other like public works; it shall be a relief to the labourers of the ground in payment of their teinds; and, shortly, in all those things wherein they have been hitherto rigorously handled by them that were falsely called churchmen, their tracksmen (lessees), factors (agents, bailiffs), chamberlains and extortioners.

Finally, to the King's Majesty and Commonweal of the Country this profit shall redound, -- that the other affairs of the Church being provided according to the distribution of which we have spoken, the surplus being collected in the treasury of the Church may be profitably employed, and liberally bestowed upon the extraordinary support of the affairs of the Prince and Commonweal, and specially of that part which is appointed for the reparation of churches.

So to conclude, all being willing to apply themselves to this order, the people suffering themselves to be ruled according thereto; the Princes and Magistrates not being exempt, and those that are placed in the ecclesiastical estate rightly ruling and governing, God shall be glorified, the Church edified and the bounds thereof enlarged, Christ Jesus and his Kingdom set up, Satan and his Kingdom subverted, and God shall dwell in the midst of us, to our comfort, through Jesus Christ, who, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, abides blessed in all eternity. Amen.