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

Brethren, I am sure that Christs body is but one: I do not despise all those words of Christ and the Spirit which I cited in my book: I know that the diversity of knowledge and gifts among true Christians, should not make diversities of Churches, ⟨p. 17⟩1 Cor. 12. When I know this, and cannot choose but know it, why should any be angry with me for knowing it? I know that the Godly Conformists and Non-conformists in England should be united, as well as each party among themselves; I know that our division gratifieth the Papists, and greatly hazardeth the Protestant Religion, and that more than most of you seem to believe or to regard; I know that our division advantageth Profaneness, and greatly hindereth the success of Ministers on both sides: I know that it greatly pleaseth Satan, and buildeth up his Kingdom, and weakeneth the Kingdom of our Lord: His own mouth hath told us so: And shall I not believe him? As in our Worcestershire Agreement heretofore, we proceeded on terms which excluded not the Episcopal; so in our desires and terms of Concord, we must still go the same way, and shut out none from our Love and Communion, whom Christ receiveth and would have us receive. If they shut out us, that is not our sin but theirs. The hurt and loss is far more to the excluder than the excluded; to him that loseth his Charity, than to him that loseth but Communion with others. And I know that as none shall take out of Christs hands, those that are given him by the Father, and he himself will in no wise cast them out; so he will at last give no more thanks either to Diotrephes or to any separating parties, that would rob him of his own, and say that his Children are not his Children, and that his Churches are not his Churches, and that his Worship is not his Worship, but Idolatry, than you will give to him that will turn out your Children and servants, and take away your ⟨p. 18⟩goods and lands, and say that they are not yours.

Brethren, I am sure that Christs body is but one: I do not despise all those words of Christ and the Spirit which I cited in my book: I know that the diversity of knowledge and gifts among true Christians, should not make diversities of Churches, ⟨p. 17⟩