A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

Yea more then so, I will allow thee to go to one that differeth from me in the way of his Religion: Ask an Anabaptist, if thou think him more impartial, whether A Holy and Heavenly heart and life be not the best? and try whether he will not say as I do. Ask those that you call Episcopal, or Presbyterian, or Independents, or Separatists: Ask an Arminian, or one of the contrary mind: Yea ask a Papist, and see whether he will not say as I do? It is true, they are every one of them of minds somewhat different about some points in the order and manner of their seeking God. But all of them, that are but sober men, will confess as with One mouth, that God should be loved above all, and sought and served above all, and that all should live a Holy, Diligent, Heavenly life.

2. But yet if all this will not satisfy you, I will come yet lower: Who is it that you would have to be Judge or Witness in th• ⟨p. 123⟩case? Is it thy malignant, or worldly, or drunken, and ungodly friend? I am contented that the case be referred even to him, and to as many of them as thou wilt, upon condition that he will but first Try the way that he is to judge of. Let him but make an unfeigned trial of a life of Holy Faith, and Love, and Obedience, and Self-denial, as long as I have done, and we will receive his Testimony: Nay more, let him thus try a life of Holiness, (inwardly and outwardly) but one year, yea or but one month, or day, or hour, and we will take his Testimony: But to be judged by a man in a matter of salvation, that speaks of what he never knew nor tried one hour, but speaks against he knows not what, this is a motion too bad to be made to a very Bedlam.

2. But yet if all this will not satisfie you, I will come yet lower: Who is it that you would have to be Judge or Witness in th• ⟨p. 123⟩case? Is it thy malignant, or worldly, or drunken, and ungodly friend? I am contented that the case be referred even to him, and to as many of them as thou wilt, upon condition that he will but first Try the way that he is to judge of. Let him but make an unfeigned tryal of a life of Holy Faith, and Love, and Obedience, and Self-denyal, as long as I have done, and we will receive his Testimony: Nay more, let him thus try a life of Holiness, (inwardly and outwardly) but one year, yea or but one moneth, or day, or hour, and we will take his Testimony: But to be judged by a man in a matter of salvation, that speaks of what he never knew nor tryed one hour, but speaks against he knows not what, this is a motion too bad to be made to a very Bedlam.