A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…

If the Accusers of the Non-conformists shall say, [By the censure of your Book and Person you see what Non-conformists are, that will join in receiving ⟨p. 66⟩and venting false reports, even of their brethren, before they saw or heard one line of the book,] I Answer to such: 1. Call not that the act of the Non-conformists, which some of one party of them are drawn to by misinformation. 2. There were so great persons and so many of the Conformists concurred in the report, that you may well be silent as to Parties, and say that Iliacos intra muros, &c. We are all to blame. 3. It cannot be denied, that among all parties in England, there are so many that take up false reports, and think it no sin if they did but hear it from credible persons, and hereby are Satan's instruments to vend false defamations, that it is become the shame and crime of the land; and many strict Professors (excepting the graver and soberer sort) are too commonly guilty of it, though not so much as others. I will not deny but humane converse requireth some credulity: But if men meddled not with other mens matters without a call, and withal did Love their neighbours as themselves, and were as tender Conscienced as they ought to be, and knew how little before God it will excuse a Lie or Slander to say, [I heard it of such an honest man, or I said but what I heard of many,] it would prevent a great deal of sin.

If the Accusers of the Non-conformists shall say, [By the censure of your Book and Person you see what Non-conformists are, that will joyn in receiving ⟨p. 66⟩and venting false reports, even of their brethren, before they saw or heard one line of the book,] I Answer to such: 1. Call not that the act of the Non-conformists, which some of one party of them are drawn to by misinformation. 2. There were so great persons and so many of the Conformists concurred in the report, that you may well be silent as to Parties, and say that Iliacos intra muros, &c. We are all to blame. 3. It cannot be denyed, that among all parties in England, there are so many that take up false reports, and think it no sin if they did but hear it from credible persons, and hereby are Satans instruments to vend false defamations, that it is become the shame and crime of the land; and many strict Professors (excepting the graver and soberer sort) are too commonly guilty of it, though not so much as others. I will not deny but humane converse requireth some credulity: But if men medled not with other mens matters without a call, and withall did Love their neighbours as themselves, and were as tender Conscienced as they ought to be, and knew how little before God it will excuse a Lie or Slander to say, [I heard it of such an honest man, or I said but what I heard of many,] it would prevent a great deal of sin.