An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II.…

And thus I have told you who put these scruples into my head. Had you not driven me to swear, I had never been like to have so scrupled. And I am confident if men were not driven so much to subscribe and swear as they are at this day, and their Consciences thus awakened to search, and scrupulosity, but the Agenda of Religion might be only Agenda, and the doing of them might serve the turn, you would have had much fewer scruplers and Nonconformists.

But you'll ask, How came those Lay-men to scruples, whom I before mentioned, if not from Ministers? I must still answer you ⟨p. 61⟩Historically. There were but two Nonconformists in all those Countries then. One was one Mr. Atkins, my neighbour, who would never talk either for it or against it, but almost always talk so seriously of Heaven, and a Heavenly life that you could scarce get him to talk much of any thing else. The other was that most excellent Disputant John Ball; to whom some of the men that I speak of went purposely to be strengthened by him against some arguments used by the Conformists. And he perceiving their humour to be set towards faction and Ceremonious disputes, did so School them, and rebuke their factious humour, that they would never come at him more. And I my self still perceived in some of the younger hotter sort, so much inclination to censoriousness, and siding and self conceit, that I almost still opposed them when we met, and set my self to repress their confidence, and to bring them to better thoughts of the Conformists. And so much to that part of your charge, that it is we that put these scruples into their heads, when I confess, I think, It is you.

But you'l ask, How came those Lay-men to scruples, whom I before mentioned, if not from Ministers? I must still answer you ⟨p. 61⟩Historically. There were but two Nonconformists in all those Countrys then. One was one Mr. Atkins, my neighbour, who would never talk either for it or against it, but almost always talk so seriously of Heaven, and a Heavenly life that you could scarce get him to talk much of any thing else. The other was that most excellent Disputant John Ball; to whom some of the men that I speak of went purposely to be strengthened by him against some arguments used by the Conformists. And he perceiving their humour to be set towards faction and Ceremonious disputes, did so School them, and rebuke their factious humour, that they would never come at him more. And I my self still perceived in some of the younger hotter sort, so much inclination to censoriousness, and siding and self conceit, that I almost still opposed them when we met, and set my self to repress their confidence, and to bring them to better thoughts of the Conformists. And so much to that part of your charge, that it is we that put these scruples into their heads, when I confess, I think, It is you.