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

Nay, I will tell the world here the certain truth of our success and usage. I preach, I write, and I frequently and openly talk against Separation, and for the lawfulness of joining with the Church in the use of the Liturgy, and to rebuke mens extremes and censures of the Episcopal Clergy, and for an impartial love of all ⟨p. 63⟩true Christians. I sharply reprove the weak reasonings of those that are otherwise minded; and by this I occasion the true Sectarians every where to speak against me; and yet even these Sectaries wish me well, and would do me no harm; and the generality of my hearers bear all this well, and seem to be of the same mind. And yet when I am loved by those that I plead against, I am reviled and abused by those that I plead for. Yea more, I must profess it before the world, that I plead your cause as far as conscionably I can, and its you that hinder me, and none like you. You would have us do your work with the people, and you would not let us do it. You use us, as I saw a man lately do by a Colt, who tied him fast to a great tree, and lashed him most cruelly to make him draw. You make our work difficult if not impossible, and then think us worthy of your smarting wrath, for not performing it. Were it not for two things, we could do much to reconcile the people to you. 1. If you would not impose those Oaths, Subscriptions, and such like burdens, which we are our selves unable without fraud and falsehood to defend. 2. If you would not silence their faithful Teachers, but would encourage Godliness and good men impartially, and would exercise LOVE as openly and largely as you exercise WRATH.

Nay, I will tell the world here the certain truth of our success and usage. I preach, I write, and I frequently and openly talk against Separation, and for the lawfulness of joining with the Church in the use of the Liturgy, and to rebuke mens extreams and censures of the Episcopal Clergy, and for an impartial love of all ⟨p. 63⟩true Christians. I sharply reprove the weak reasonings of those that are otherwise minded; and by this I occasion the true Sectarians every where to speak against me; and yet even these Sectaries wish me well, and would do me no harm; and the generality of my hearers bear all this well, and seem to be of the same mind. And yet when I am loved by those that I plead against, I am reviled and abused by those that I plead for. Yea more, I must profess it before the world, that I plead your cause as far as conscionably I can, and its you that hinder me, and none like you. You would have us do your work with the people, and you would not let us do it. You use us, as I saw a man lately do by a Colt, who tyed him fast to a great tree, and lashed him most cruelly to make him draw. You make our work difficult if not impossible, and then think us worthy of your smarting wrath, for not performing it. Were it not for two things, we could do much to reconcile the people to you. 1. If you would not impose those Oaths, Subscriptions, and such like burdens, which we are our selves unable without fraud and falshood to defend. 2. If you would not silence their faithful Teachers, but would encourage Godliness and good men impartially, and would exercise LOVE as openly and largely as you exercise WRATH.