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

Postscript.

LET the Reader, who hath read my Repetitions of Martins and Bicot's Stories in other books, know that this was written before them all, and cast by, till mens importunity have prevailed with me to publish it.

LET the Reader, who hath read my Repetitions of Martins and Bicots Stories in other books, know that this was written before them all, and cast by, till mens importunity have prevailed with me to publish it.

AND now we humbly lay these Petitions at your feet, and beseech you (not for our own ease, or honour, or wealth, but) for the Souls of many Hundred thousands of ignorant, sensual, impenitent sinners, that you who call your selves their Pastors, and the Fathers of the Church, will not deny them the bread of life. We beseech you for the Souls which are ready to appear before their Judg, and to receive their final doom, and are lost for ever, if they be not presently recovered! Their lives are going! Time will not stay while you are waiting for advantages to attain your ends! They are posting into another world! O let them know whither they are going before they are there! And feed not your anger, envy, or interests, at so dear a rate, as the damnation of so many! If you believe that if the Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, and that men cannot love, desire or seek what they know not, deny not poor souls the means of knowledge. If you yet believe that ignorance and sin is not so common as we think, or that the silly, dry and dead discourses or sayings over of some broken Notes, which is the food of too many Churches, is enough to cure them; we beseech you come out of your Palaces a while, and dwell in some Country-Village, and be familiar with the people, and confer with all the poor of the Parishes, as we have done, that you may not see many Hundred thousands damned, by your means, and have nothing to say when it is too late, but a non putarem. As ever you believe there is a Heaven to be obtained, hinder not Souls from entering in, if you will not help them: Strive not for a title to the Keys, that you may lock the doors, and neither enter your selves, nor suffer them that would to enter. If you believe there is a Hell, have some pity on Souls, and tie not their hands who desire to save them. If you believe not the Gospel, confess it, and deal plainly with the world. If you do believe it, forbid us not to preach it, till you have made our labours needless by better supplies. We beseech you remember the price that was paid, the blood that was shed by Christ for Souls, and sell them not now for a thing of nought, and make not merchandise of them for your honour, interest, or passions. Remember that you, and we, and they, are ready to lye down in rottenness and dust, and our Souls to appear before our Judg!