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 ...…

XVII. I would not drive the Conformists from us, by departing too far from them! By such reasons as you plead for separating from them, you will teach them to justify separating from us: Tho our faults be not the same, we are all faulty: And so we shall run away from each others, to the increase of our too great distance. Yea, experience of the contrary course encourageth me: In both the places where my Ministry was first exercised, is an honest Conformist, and a Nonconformist, (since the writing of this, one is dead, and the other expelled,) who live in as great Love and Peace, as if there were little difference between them; the Nonconformists hearing and loving the public Minister. If you think not this better than Church-wars, I do: And I am sure Religion there prospereth much more, than it would do by mutual avoidance.

XVII. I would not drive the Comformists from us, by departing too far from them! By such reasons as you plead for separating from them, you will teach them to justifie separating from us: Tho our faults be not the same, we are all faulty: And so we shall run away from each others, to the increase of our too great distance. Yea, experience of the contrary course encourageth me: In both the places where my Ministry was first exercised, is an honest Conformist, and a Nonconformist, (since the writing of this, one is dead, and the other expelled,) who live in as great Love and Peace, as if there were little difference between them; the Nonconformists hearing and loving the publick Minister. If you think not this better than Church-wars, I do: And I am sure Religion there prospereth much more, than it would do by mutual avoidance.

XVIII. And truly, I am so tender of the honour of the Nonconformists, that I will do my part to keep them from reproach: And as I said before, too many are apt to judg of all their cause, by any one weakness or mistake. It was the reason why, in 1660. and 1661. when we attempted a Concord with the Bishops in vain, we never said a word against a Form of Prayer, n•r the most of the Liturgy, nor Holy-days, nor Kneeling at the Sacrament, (but only against Excommunicating the faithful that scruple it) nor the Surplice, nor the Ring in Marriage, nor laying the Hand o a Book in Swearing, and other such; because, at least, much may be said for them; and if we laid our stress on doubtful things, many would think the rest were no other. And if we should be so weak as for the Liturgy, &c. to avoid all Communion with the Parish Churches as unlawful, we might flatter one another, as all Sects do, but standers by would hence judg of all the rest, and deride or pity us, as scrupulous Fanatics, that judg not by evidence, but by prejudice and self conceit.