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

Obj. 24. Agreement with the Church of Rome is more desirable on the terms described by Dr. Heylin in A. B. Lauds life, and you would make it impossible?

Ans. We are for a just concord with all Christians; but true Popery we cannot agree with; and as to Papists they are but a part (a third or fourth part saith your Primate Bishop Bramhall) of the Catholic Church. We must unite with the whole Church, or else we are Schismatics. To embody in the faction of the Papists is as Schismatical, as to do it with a smaller faction. And if you will unite with all Christians, I still say, you must unite on Vinc. Lirinensis terms, on that which all Christians are agreed in, that indeed deserve the name of Christians.

Ans. We are for a just concord with all Christians; but true Popery we cannot agree with; and as to Papists they are but a part (a third or fourth part saith your Primate Bishop Bramhall) of the Catholick Church. We must unite with the whole Church, or else we are Schismaticks. To embody in the faction of the Papists is as Schismatical, as to do it with a smaller faction. And if you will unite with all Christians, I still say, you must unite on Vinc. Lirinensis terms, on that which all Christians are agreed in, that indeed deserve the name of Christians.

Now if you establish your concord on the Scripture, and on universal terms, all Christians in the world will confess that your Religion, yea all your Religion is certain truth, and that it hath also all things universally necessary to Salvation; and this is a fair degree of unity, though they say that yet you want their Traditions. And then you can tell a Papist quickly, where your Religion was before Luther, Even where ever the Scripture was received. And you do not wilfully and resolvedly cut off your selves from Communion with all the Protestant Churches, who do not hold the Traditions and Decrees of Rome. But you are united with all the Christians in the world in Christianity, and so far as they have any union among themselves. And then all those that will needs go further, do run the hazard of their own additions. We will live in peace with them, if they will live in peace with us. But if the Papists be such men, that they will hold no communion with any that hold not all their Religion, that is, all the Decrees of their Councils, than neither Abassines, Armenians, Greeks, nor Protestants can be received into their Communion. And do you think it desirable to comply and embody with them in such a schism and factious combination against all the rest of the Churches of God? If you will deal like Christians, Catholics and wise men, let us first be as moderate as may be in our Doctrinals, and not pretend that we are further disagreed with Papists or any other Christians than indeed we are. I am one of those who believe that in many Doctrines, quarrelsome ignorant men have made differences where there are none; and have made those that be seem, wider than they are; cut off these superfluities and spare not; and then reduce your terms of Union and Communion to the Primitive simplicity of Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline; and if any will have more, let it be a matter of liberty and not of necessity; or if they will not be limited as we are, let them take their scope. Or if you your