1. That the true reason why I wrote and spake so much, so long, and so vehemently, had it been possible to have prevented many Impositions, was principally because I undoubtedly foresaw how great a number of faithful worthy Ministers would else be silenced by them; and how ill the Church could spare those Ministers, while there are so many hundred thousands of ignorant and ungodly people in the land; and what sort of ⟨p. 31⟩Ministers in too many places must unavoidably succeed them, unless the Church doors should be shut up? and I foresaw how the people under such Ministers would be affected to Religion, and to the Bishops, and Ministry? And I foresaw what multitudes of Religious persons would take the things imposed as unlawful, and would separate from Communion with the public Churches; and would worship God in private meetings with the silenced Ministers. I foresaw how many Ministers and people that did Conform with a grudging Conscience, would do more at last to undermine the Impositions, than the Non-Conformists. I foresaw easily what jealousies; displeasure, severities, imprisonments, &c. would follow the private preaching of the silenced Ministers, and the private meetings of the people: And I knew well that other Ministers as well as I, would judge it no better than perfidious sacrilege, to forsake the holy calling to which they were consecrated and devoted, and to desert so many thousand needy souls: But, above all, I foresaw, how certainly and sadly the Churches divisions would be hereby increased, and the Love of each party to the other would be abated, if not destroyed: How hard it was for one side to Love and Honour the Non-conformists, that accounted them Persecutors and unconscionable men: And how hard it was for the other side to Love and Honour those that they suffered by: And how little Reproaches, Fines, and Imprisonments, do use to increase mens Love to others. I •or• knew that one side would call the other Rebellious Schismatical Fanatics; and the other side ⟨p. 32⟩were like enough to account them, Perjured Perfidious Persecutors; and that in the midst of such thoughts, such words, such usage, Love was no more like to prosper, than fire in the sea. And I knew that whatever zeal be pretended for Obedience and Order on one side, or for purity of Worship on the other, when Love dieth, Religion dieth;
1. That the true reason why I wrote and spake so much, so long, and so vehemently, had it been possible to have prevented many Impositions, was principally because I undoubtedly foresaw how great a number of faithful worthy Ministers would else be silenced by them; and how ill the Church could spare those Ministers, while there are so many hundred thousands of ignorant and ungodly people in the land; and what sort of ⟨p. 31⟩Ministers in too many places must unavoidably succeed them, unless the Church doors should be shut up? and I foresaw how the people under such Ministers would be affected to Religion, and to the Bishops, and Ministry? And I foresaw what multitudes of Religious persons would take the things imposed as unlawful, and would separate from Communion with the publick Churches; and would worship God in private meetings with the silenced Ministers. I foresaw how many Ministers and people that did Conform with a grudging Conscience, would do more at last to undermine the Impositions, than the Non-Conformists. I foresaw easily what jealousies; displeasure, severities, imprisonments, &c. would follow the private preaching of the silenced Ministers, and the private meetings of the people: And I knew well that other Ministers as well as I, would judge it no better than perfidious sacriledge, to forsake the holy calling to which they were consecrated and devoted, and to desert so many thousand needy souls: But, above all, I foresaw, how certainly and sadly the Churches divisions would be hereby increased, and the Love of each party to the other would be abated, if not destroyed: How hard it was for one side to Love and Honour the Non-conformists, that accounted them Persecutors and unconscionable men: And how hard it was for the other side to Love and Honour those that they suffered by: And how little Reproaches, Fines, and Imprisonments, do use to increase mens Love to others. I •or• knew that one side would call the other Rebellious Schismatical Phanaticks; and the other side ⟨p. 32⟩were like enough to account them, Perjured Perfidious Persecutors; and that in the midst of such thoughts, such words, such usage, Love was no more like to prosper, than fire in the sea. And I knew that whatever zeal be pretended for Obedience and Order on one side, or for purity of Worship on the other, when Love dieth, Religion dieth;
