In doctrine they were in some things short; in other things, to avoid one
extreme, they ran into another: and for worship, there was, for the
generality, more of man in it than of God. They owned the spirit,
inspiration, and revelation, indeed, and grounded their separation and
reformation upon the sense and understanding they received from it, in
the reading of the scriptures of truth. And this was their plea; the
scripture is the text, the spirit the interpreter, and that to every one
for himself. But yet there was too much of human invention, tradition,
and art, that remained both in praying and preaching; and of worldly
authority, and worldly greatness in their ministers; especially in this
kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and some parts of Germany. God was therefore
pleased in England to shift us from vessel to vessel; and the next remove
humbled the ministry, so that they were more strict in preaching, devout
in praying, and zealous for keeping the Lord's day, and catechising of
children and servants, and repeating at home in their families what they
had heard in public. But even as these grew into power, they were not
only for whipping some out, but others into the temple: and they appeared
rigid in their spirits, rather than severe in their lives, and more for a
party than for piety: which brought forth another people, that were yet
more retired and select.
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