Sedition.  This is a faithful account of the sum and intention of all his undertaking, for which, I confess, he was as pick’d a man as could have been employed or found out in a whole kingdome; but it is so much too hard a task for any man to atchieve, that no goose but would grow giddy with it."[165:1]

In reply to what Parker had written about the unreasonable fuss made by the Dissenters over the “two or three symbolical ceremonies” called sacraments, Marvell says:—­

“They (the Nonconformists) complain that these things should be imposed on them with so high a penalty as want nothing of a sacramental nature but divine institution.  And because a human institution is herein made of equal force to a divine institution therefore it is that they are aggrieved....  For without the sign of the Cross our Church will not receive any one in Baptism; as also without kneeling no man is suffered to come to the Communion....  But here, I say, then is their (the Nonconformists’) main exception that things indifferent and that have no proper signature or significancy to that purpose should by command be made conditions of Church-communion.  I have many times wished for peaceableness’ sake that they had a greater latitude, but if, unless they should stretch their consciences till they tear again, they cannot conform, what remedy?  For I must confess that Christians have a better right and title to the Church and to the ordinances of God there, than the Author hath to his surplice....  Bishop Bramhall saith, ’I do profess to all the world that the transforming of indifferent opinions into necessary articles of faith hath been that insana laurus or cursed bay tree, the cause of all our brawling and contention.’  That which he saw in matter of doctrine, he would not discern in discipline....  It is true and very piously done that our Church doth declare that the kneeling at the Lord’s Supper is not enjoined for adoration of those elements and concerning the other ceremonies as before.  But the Romanists (from whom we have them and who said of old we would come to feed on their meat as well as eat of their porridge) do offer us here many a fair declaration and distinction in very weighty matters to which nevertheless the conscience of our Church hath not complyed.  But in this particular matter of kneeling which came in first with the doctrine of transubstantiation, the Romish Church do reproach us with flat idolatry, in that we, not believing the real presence in the bread and wine, yet do pay to something or other the same adoration.  Suppose the ancient pagans had declared to the primitive Christians that the offerings of some grains of incense was only to perfume the room—­do you think the Christians would have palliated so far and colluded with their consciences?  Therefore although the Church do consider herself so much as not to alter her mode unto the fashion of others, yet I cannot see why she ought to exclude those