‘_To the heads and governors of this nation, who have put forth a declaration, for the keeping of a day of solemn fasting and humiliation, for the persecution, as you say, of divers people beyond the seas, professing the reformed religion, which, ye say, has been transmitted unto them from their ancestors._ ‘A profession of the reformed religion may be transmitted to generations, and so holden by tradition; and in that, wherein the profession and tradition is holden, is the day of humiliation kept; which stands in the will of man, which is not the fast that the Lord requires, to bow down the head like a bulrush for a day, and the day following be in the same condition as they were the day before. To the light of Christ Jesus in your consciences do I speak, which testifieth for God every day, and witnesseth against all sin and persecution; which measure of God, if ye be guided by it, doth not limit God to a day, but leads to the fast which the Lord requires, which is, “To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free.” Isa. lviii. 6, 7. This is the fast the Lord requires; and this stands not in the transmission of times, nor in the traditions of men: but this stands in that which was before times were, and which leads out of time, and shall be, when time shall be no more. And these that teach for doctrine the commandments of men, are they that ever persecuted the life and power when it came. And whereas ye mention a decree, or edict, that was made against the said persecuted Protestants; all such decrees or edicts, proceed from the ground of the pope’s religion and supremacy; and therein stands his tyranny and cruelty, acted in that will, which is in that nature, which exerciseth lordship, over one another, (as you may read, Mark, x. 42. Luke, xxii. 25,) as all the heathen do, and ever did; and in the heathenish nature is all the tyranny and persecution exercised, by them that are out of the obedience to the light of Christ Jesus in the conscience, which is the guider and leader of all who are tender of that of God in the conscience. But who are not led by this, know not what it is to suffer for conscience sake.