The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…

The 2d Concl. is, [The Churches that have it not in the most plain obliging way are defective, spotted, and ill-favoured,] because I said that the more express way is laudable ad bene esse: As if all were called spotted and ill-favoured, that want any thing laudable ad bene esse, (And will Christ take away his Churches spots and wrinkles, Ephes. 6. when there were none?)

And he saith, [This he calls the true and only way of the Churches Concord.] As if every word in the Book were called [the true and only Way.] [It rather tendeth (saith he) to Discord, and to make every single Minister a Pope, or Church-tyrant, and to make Churches Schismatical and traitorous Combinations, dividing themselves from all other Churches and Christians, &c.]

And he saith, [This he calls the true and only way of the Churches Concord.] As if every word in the Book were called [the true and onely Way.] [It rather tendeth (saith he) to Discord, and to make every single Minister a Pope, or Church-tyrant, and to make Churches Schismatical and traiterous Combinations, dividing themselves from all other Churches and Christians, &c.]

Ans. 1. And yet he before said himself, that the unwilling cannot be Pastor and Flock: And is not this the same? 2. Thus all Christ's Churches that ever I read of for 300, yea, a 1000 Years, are Stigmatized, who still made expressed consent necessary. 3. A Pope is one that claimeth Sovereignty over all the Church on Earth: Doth he do so that taketh none for his Flock, but Consenters? 4. Which is liker Tyranny, not to pretend to Government over any but Volunteers, or to say, I will Govern you whether you will or not? 5. Is it Dividing and Schism, to know my Flock as Consenters, and not to take other Mens Flocks Sine literis Communicat•riis, as oft as they will dwell or lodge in my Parish? The words [Oaths,] and [Covenants] are oft again so mentioned by him, and his profession; that he hath the Episcopal and Presbyterian on his side, and other untruths so rashly uttered, that I am heartily grieved for the success of his Temptation: And whether he or I be Schismatical, and differ from the Ancient Churches, I refer the Reader to my Abridg. of Church History, and to my Citations in my Book of Right to Sacraments: My Preface to Mr. Rawlet's Book of the Sacrament, confutes some of his Intimations. I thank God that I am going to a more peaceable World.