The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…

M. You may know by your self. 1. Men study their own matters in which they feel themselves concerned; and as for ours they think they are not much concerned to know them. 2. At least not at the rate of any hard and diligent study, which neither love nor necessity leads them to. 3. Most are strangers to us, even they that dwell near us, and converse not with us. 4. The rather because that as we are out of the rising way, and are under public discountenance, and banished from Corporations, and much from converse with men of public place and interest, so our familiarity is become fearful, lest it brings those that are familiar with us into suspicion. 5. And they converse with those that through Ignorance or Malice do describe us and our Cause and Books, as they would have all men think of us; and it is not good manners or safe to contradict them. And so the notice of our Mind and Case must be received, not from us, but from our accusers. Do you observe this method in Westminster ⟨p. 4⟩minister-Hall. 6. And how much interest can bias mens judgments, common experience too easily tells us: They that are uppermost seldom want applauders, nor dejected men accusers. Every School-boy can tell you out of Ovid. de Trist. Dum fueris felix multos numerabis amicos: Nullus ad amissas ibit amicus opes. Aspicis ut veniunt ad candida tecta Columbae: Accipiet nullas sordida turris aves. A few serious Believers that look for a more righteous and important judgment after death, do not lose the treasure of Truth and Innocency in Shipwreck, it being as near them as themselves: But caetera fortunae non mea turba fuit.

M. You may know by your self. 1. Men study their own matters in which they feel themselves concerned; and as for ours they think they are not much concerned to know them. 2. At least not at the rate of any hard and diligent study, which neither love nor necessity leads them to. 3. Most are strangers to us, even they that dwell near us, and converse not with us. 4. The rather because that as we are out of the rising way, and are under publick discountenance, and banished from Corporations, and much from converse with men of publick place and interest, so our familiarity is become fearful, lest it brings those that are familiar with us into suspicion. 5. And they converse with those that through Ignorance or Malice do describe us and our Cause and Books, as they would have all men think of us; and it is not good manners or safe to contradict them. And so the notice of our Mind and Case must be received, not from us, but from our accusers. Do you observe this method in Westminster