Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…

And First, of the Cause which I write of, in its self and its consequents: 2. The Season of it: 3. The Manner, as to the Authors whom I gainsay and confute and the manner of confuting them: 4. My Reasons for the writing of this Confutation.

I. I am not writing against Episcopacy, Presbytery, Independency or Rebaptizing: I am so far from judging any part of them to be men rejected by Christ, or to be cast out of the Church, or denied leave to worship God in their own Way, or persecuted for it, that I would do any lawful thing for their just Liberty: Yea, so far, that it is only the contrary principle and endeavours by which they strive against, and condemn one another, and call aloud to their followers (such I mean that are for the opposed Separation) to avoid one another, as ever they would scape the guilt of Idolatry or wilful sin. And if I see one man in the streets beating all about him, I cannot keep peace without resisting his unpeaceableness.

I am not justifying all that is required to Conformity, nor all in the Liturgy: Let them do it, that can. Mr. Warner speaketh untruly when he talks of my change herein, and as if I went to the Parish-Churches for some worldly end. I have been at no Church since August was ⟨image 116⟩Twelvemonth, nor am ever more like to be, unless the Church come to my bed-side or my door. Is Mr. Warner so lately born, that he never saw nor heard of our joint endeavour when the King came in, 1660. to have prevented these Confusions, by getting a Reformation of the Liturgy? at least, before he said he knew not what, of one whom he knoweth not, he should have enquired, whether I have not, to this day, since then, 1660. held constant Communion with good Ministers in the Parish-Churches.