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

13. Yea, before our eyes, the most pernicious Heresies, even those of Quakers, are still not only continued, but increase. And we see men that to day condemn Communion with the Parish Churches, and then with the Presbyterians; do shortly fly from Communion with the Independents too. And mens passions in sufferings pervert their judgements; And frequently men are overcome by trial, when they think they are most constant and have overcome. Its commonly known how many of late are turned Quakers; And what considerable persons lately in prison, fell to that unhappy Heresy. Yet they that by a Prison lost their Religion, no doubt thought themselves more honourable by their sufferings, than those that go to Commonprayer. And shall we stand by and see this ⟨p. 50⟩work go on, and neither lament their sin, that drive men to this, nor warn them of the Passions and Principles that lead to it.

13. Yea, before our eyes, the most pernicious Heresies, even those of Quakers, are still not only continued, but increase. And we see men that to day condemn Communion with the Parish Churches, and then with the Presbyterians; do shortly fly from Communion with the Independents too. And mens passions in sufferings pervert their judgements; And frequently men are overcome by tryal, when they think they are most constant and have overcome. Its commonly known how many of late are turned Quakers; And what considerable persons lately in prison, fell to that unhappy Heresie. Yet they that by a Prison lost their Religion, no doubt thought themselves more honourable by their sufferings, than those that go to Commonprayer. And shall we stand by and see this ⟨p. 50⟩work go on, and neither lament their sin, that drive men to this, nor warn them of the Passions and Principles that lead to it.

14. Separation will ruin the separated Churches themselves at last, (By separation I mean the same thing that the old Non-conformists wrote against by that name) It will admit of no consistency. Parties will arise in the separated Churches, and separate again from them, till they are dissolved. I beseech my deer brethren that are otherwise minded to open their eyes so far as to regard experience. Brethren, what now Comparatively are all the separated Churches or parties upon Earth? Would you have all Christs Churches, and all the interest of the Christian Religion to be as short lived, and to stand upon no more certain terms than they do? How few separated Churches do now exist, that were in being an hundred years ago? Can you name any? And would you have had all the Churches of Christ on Earth, to be dissolved, when they were dissolved? Or do you think that all were dissolved with them? This would make us all seekers indeed.