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 ...…

XI. I am not willing to be guilty of the peoples suffering as Recusants. I would encourage them to patient suffering for their Duty; but not draw them into a sinful Omission of Duty to their penal suffering. I said before, that a Man may be accepted of God for a Well-meant Action, when the Matter of it is culpable by mistake. But I that dare not Cheat or Rob men of their Money, or entice them unjustly into suretyship; dare not use the name of God and Religion knowingly, to entice many hundred honest Christians to suffer for the Omission of a Duty to God and Man.

XI. I am not willing to be guilty of the peoples suffering as Recusants. I would encourage them to patient suffering for their Duty; but not draw them into a sinful Omission of Duty to their penal suffering. I said before, that a Man may be accepted of God for a Well-meant Action, when the Matter of it is culpable by mistake. But I that dare not Cheat or Rob men of their Money, or entice them unjustly into suretiship; dare not use the name of God and Religion knowingly, to entice many hundred honest Christians to suffer for the Omission of a Duty to God and Man.

XII. I am resolved, that I will not wilfully be guilty of hardening any in Persecution, or in sinful afflicting conscionable Christians on pretence of Laws, or Concord. And I am sure, that when they see that sufferers are deceived, and suffer for omitting a public Duty; it is the likest way in the World, to quiet their Consciences, who afflict them, when they can say, We punish them for their faults; they that understand not the difference of faults, are like to justify themselves as doing well. Yea, if any shall persecute Godly Men for doing their Duty, or refusing to Sin; if they find them guilty but of one Fault or Error, it will make them think, that the rest is like it; and that shall serve to justify their persecuting Truth and Duty. And if it be so terrible to cause the stumbling of one little one, shall we cause the stumbling of any into so damning a Sin as Persecution?

XII. I am resolved, that I will not wilfully be guilty of hardening any in Persecution, or in sinful afflicting conscionable Christians on pretence of Laws, or Concord. And I am sure, that when they see that sufferers are deceived, and suffer for omitting a publick Duty; it is the likest way in the World, to quiet their Consciences, who afflict them, when they can say, We punish them for their faults; they that understand not the difference of faults, are like to justifie themselves as doing well. Yea, if any shall persecute Godly Men for doing their Duty, or refusing to Sin; if they find them guilty but of one Fault or Error, it will make them think, that the rest is like it; and that shall serve to justifie their persecuting Truth and Duty. And if it be so terrible to cause the stumbling of one little one, shall we cause the stumbling of any into so damning a Sin as Persecution?