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

I know that many excellent Protestants have made it the sense of that article of the Creed, I believe that my own sins are pardoned, and say that this Proposition, My sins are pardoned, is de fide Divina And yet I know that in propriety and strictness of speech (which should be used in Controversies) it is not true. I know that many of the School-mens assertions are commonly rejected as erroneous, because they are not commonly understood. I know that Luther maketh the Doctrine of Justification to be Articulus stantis vel cadentis Ecclesiae; and yet I know that Ludovicus le Blank of Sedan in his Theses hath greatly narrowed the difference, and understands it much better than Luther seemeth to have done. Which I may say also of Bucer, Conradus Bergius, (In Praxi Cathol.) Ludov. Crocius, and many other such Conciliators. And that Luther on the Galatians is so acceptable to the Antinomians, that I conceive divers passages in it have need of as candid an [Greek or Hebrew] as the Doctrine of Scotus, and many Papists on that point. I am my self a Christian, and that is my Religion; and I own the name Protestant for no greater reason than because it is the Protestant Religion to be mere Christians, and to protest against the Roman Superadditions, and depravations of it. And so to be a Protestant, and to be a mere Christian adhering to Scripture sufficiency as the test and terms of Union and Communion, are all one. Yea, if any one doubted of the Canonicalness of the Canticles, Esther, or some one or few Books, and acknowledge the main body of the Scriptures ⟨p. 132⟩and the ancient articles of faith I would not cast such a one from my Communion. And these terms or none (I have foretold it you oft) must heal the Church if ever it be healed.

I know that many excellent Protestants have made it the sense of that article of the Creed, I believe that my own sins are pardoned, and say that this Proposition, My sins are pardoned, is de fide Divina And yet I know that in propriety and strictness of speech (which should be used in Controversies) it is not true. I know that many of the School-mens assertions are commonly rejected as erroneous, because they are not commonly understood. I know that Luther maketh the Doctrine of Justification to be Articulus stantis vel cadentis Ecclesiae; and yet I know that Ludovicus le Blank of Sedan in his Theses hath greatly narrowed the difference, and understands it much better than Luther seemeth to have done. Which I may say also of Bucer, Conradus Bergius, (In Praxi Cathol.) Ludov. Crocius, and many other such Conciliators. And that Luther on the Galatians is so acceptable to the Antinomians, that I conceive divers passages in it have need of as candid an as the Doctrine of Scotus, and many Papists on that point. I am my self a Christian, and that is my Religion; and I own the name Protestant for no greater reason than because it is the Protestant Religion to be meer Christians, and to protest against the Roman Superadditions, and depravations of it. And so to be a Protestant, and to be a meer Christian adhering to Scripture sufficiency as the test and terms of Union and Communion, are all one. Yea, if any one doubted of the Canonicalness of the Canticles, Esther, or some one or few Books, and acknowledg the main body of the Scriptures