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

And by the base scorns that they now pour out against good Arch-Bishop Grindal, calling such men as would strengthen us against Popery by reconciliation, by the names of Grindalizers and Trimmers, and such as would betray the Church: And how they reproach and use Dr. Whitby for his Protestant Reconciler, and Mr. Bold for his Sermon, and the Author of the four Pleas of the Conformists for the Non-Conformists, and such others, you know: The Author of the Reflections, and the Samaritan they have not yet found out. Mr. Tho. Beverley feareth them not: The Bishop of Hereford, Dr. Crofts, (the first man that ever I saw go forth with a Troop raised by his Brother for the King, and his Sermon in my Pulpit the first that ever I heard against the Parliament, when the King was in Yorkshire, and he himself had been a Papist, and is still zealous for their Church cause) because he wrote the Book called Naked Truth, to heal us and strengthen us against Popery, they gnash ⟨p. 222⟩the Teeth at him; and so they do at Dr. Barlow Bishop of Lincoln, that wrote of the treasonable principles of Papists, tho' these Bishops are too big for them yet to vilify, and openly oppose.

L. You may be more against Popery than they, and yet bring it in imprudently by dividing us.

M. Who do you think in your Conscience is liker to bring it in, we or they? Who hath done and suffered more to keep it out? We lay down all that we have to that end: They will not part with a Ceremony, or one Oath, or a Re-ordination, or an Excommunication of Christs Members to keep it out; but plainly tell us, that they had rather Popery came in than abate a jot of their Self-made Religion or Impositions, or than such as I should Preach the Gospel. But I confess I am not able to deny it, that the Non-Conformists may be the occasion of bringing in Popery, by way of Antiperistasis; some men hate us and all serious Godliness so much, that they are like enough to be for Popery, because godly men are against it: And I fear lest they that see the Non-Conformists would reform their Prelacy and Church-Courts, and reduce them to the Primitive Episcopacy, described by Bishop Usher, will be so much afraid, lest they lose some of their Wealth and Domination by it, that some of them will hearken to the Papists, that will promise them an Increase of that which they so esteem. And indeed it is already no strange thing to hear them say, They had rather the Papists came in with Popery, than the Dissenters with their Reformation. I think ere long you are like to be convinced more effectually than by Writing, which Party is liker to bring in Popery, and to turn Papists. In the mean time I begin to praise Stephen Gardiner, and such others, for their Modesty, that when they burnt Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, Philpot, Rogers, and the rest, that they did not charge them with bringing in Popery, and say we burn you for that.