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

And if both parties in this exasperated age, should never so much revile and s•ander me, (though a surviving name be little of my interest) I make no doubt but our posterity, will be constrained by experience, to think better of Peace-makers than of Contenders. The names of Melanchthon, Bucer, Calixtus, Bergius, Burroughs, Hall, ⟨p. 20⟩Davenant, &c. are far more grateful and honourable to after times, than the name of Flacius (though an excellent learned man) or of Schlusselburgius, Calovius, or any of our fiery Contenders or destroyers.

To all this I add, that even the separated Churches themselves do find a necessity of Union and Concord for their preservation. Division else will pursue the several pieces, and the same principles which I write-against, if they go along with them, will crumble them all to dust. The separated Churches in Holland (of the English) fully proved this. Even those members in New-England, which Mr. Norton sadly told Mr. Ash and me, did withdraw and gather themselves to an unlearned Pastor, and would not be entreated by Magistrates or Ministers, yet when they were separated, would fain keep Concord among themselves. And if half of that separated body, should again have separated from the rest, that fragment would fain keep themselves in Unity. And still nature teacheth them to feel that their Unity is their strength and life, and that their Division is their dissolution.

To all this I add, that even the separated Churches themselves do find a necessity of Union and Concord for their preservation. Division else will pursue the several pieces, and the same principles which I write-against, if they go along with them, will crumble them all to dust. The separated Churches in Holland (of the English) fully proved this. Even those members in New-England, which Mr. Norton sadly told Mr. Ash and me, did withdraw and gather themselves to an unlearned Pastor, and would not be intreated by Magistrates or Ministers, yet when they were separated, would fain keep Concord among themselves. And if half of that separated body, should again have separated from the rest, that fragment would fain keep themselves in Unity. And still nature teacheth them to feel that their Unity is their strength and life, and that their Division is their dissolution.