The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

36. The people who now adhere to the Nonconformists, who were at age before the Wars (whom we that write this were acquainted with) had very hard thoughts of the Bishops persons, and some of Episcopacy it self, because of the foresaid silencing of Ministers, and ruining of honest men, about Sunday-sports, Reading that Book, and other such things, besides Nonconformity: But when the Ministers that guided them, began to seem more reconciled to the Episcopal Party, and upon the reports and promises which they had heard, had put them in hope that the next Bishops would prove more moderate, peaceable and pious, than the former, and would by experience avoid divisions and persecution, the said people began to be inclined to more reverent and favourable thoughts of Episcopacy and the Bishops; and were, upon experience of the late confusions, in a far fairer ⟨p. 140⟩way to union & submission to them than before. But when they saw their Teachers taken from them, and some such set over them against their wills, who were better known to them than to the obtruders; and when they heard of about 2000 silenced at once, this so much alienated them from the Bishops, that it was never since in our power to bring them to so much esteem of them, and reverence to them, as might have been; but multitudes by this were driven further from Conformity than the silenced Ministers.

36. The people who now adhere to the Nonconformists, who were at age before the Wars (whom we that write this were acquainted with) had very hard thoughts of the Bishops persons, and some of Episcopacy it self, because of the foresaid silencing of Ministers, and ruining of honest men, about Sunday-sports, Reading that Book, and other such things, besides Nonconformity: But when the Ministers that guided them, began to seem more reconciled to the Episcopal Party, and upon the reports and promises which they had heard, had put them in hope that the next Bishops would prove more moderate, peaceable and pious, than the former, and would by experience avoid divisions and persecution, the said people began to be enclined to more reverent and favourable thoughts of Episcopacy and the Bishops; and were, upon experience of the late confusions, in a far fairer ⟨p. 140⟩way to union & submission to them than before. But when they saw their Teachers taken from them, and some such set over them against their wills, who were better known to them than to the obtruders; and when they heard of about 2000 silenced at once, this so much alienated them from the Bishops, that it was never since in our power to bring them to so much esteem of them, and reverence to them, as might have been; but multitudes by this were driven further from Conformity than the silenced Ministers.