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

In all this time many persons importuned me to endeavour that all Non-conformists might agree in one, by what measures to walk as to their Communion ⟨p. 37⟩with the Parish Churches, and such other things, (for many reasons: And I ever shunned all such attempts; 1. Because it is the way that we have blamed so much in others, to make narrow measures for other mens practices, and unnecessary terms of Brotherly Concord: We must unite as Christians in necessary things; and if one man can, e. g. kneel at the Sacrament and another cannot, if one can join in Common-prayer, and another cannot; yea, if one can Conform to the Liturgy and Ceremonies, and another cannot, it must not break our unity or peace. 2. Because that Non-conformists are not all of the same judgement in every particular among themselves: And how can they then agree upon the same practice in every point? If they should; either the most scrupulous must come up to them that think that lawful which they scruple, or else the later must come to the former: If they yield that think the things unlawful, and do as the others do, they shall sin: And then they might as well Conform? And if they that hold more things to be lawful must agree in practice with them that hold the fewest lawful, than such must 1. Forsake their own understandings, and live in many sins; and 2. They must be always at an uncertainty in their practice, because some may yet arise, that may count more things unlawful; And so the whole party may change their practice every year, as new scruples or errors arise in any; 3. And so the most scrupulous though the most erroneous, must be the Standard and Rule of all the rest. 4. And so we should tempt others still to new scruples, and ⟨p. 38⟩to make more and more things sinful, that so they might obtain the Rule of all. I ever thought therefore that without any combinations, our way is, every man to know the truth as well as he can, and practice accordingly; and live in Love and Peace with those that differ from him in tolerable things. And thus I hope most Non-conformable Ministers do.

In all this time many persons importuned me to indeavour that all Non-conformists might agree in one, by what measures to walk as to their Communion ⟨p. 37⟩with the Parish Churches, and such other things, (for many reasons: And I ever shanned all such attempts; 1. Because it is the way that we have blamed so much in others, to make narrow measures for other mens practices, and unnecessary terms of Brotherly Concord: We must unite as Christians in necessary things; and if one man can, e. g. kneel at the Sacrament and another cannot, if one can joyn in Common-prayer, and another cannot; yea, if one can Conform to the Liturgie and Ceremonies, and another cannot, it must not break our unity or peace. 2. Because that Non-conformists are not all of the same judgement in every particular among themselves: And how can they then agree upon the same practice in every point? If they should; either the most scrupulous must come up to them that think that lawful which they scruple, or else the later must come to the former: If they yield that think the things unlawful, and do as the others do, they shall sin: And then they might as well Conform? And if they that hold more things to be lawful must agree in practice with them that hold the fewest lawful, than such must 1. Forsake their own understandings, and live in many sins; and 2. They must be alwayes at an uncertainty in their practice, because some may yet arise, that may count more things unlawful; And so the whole party may change their practice every year, as new scruples or errors arise in any; 3. And so the most scrupulous though the most erroneous, must be the Standard and Rule of all the rest. 4. And so we should tempt others still to new scruples, and