The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

I doubt not but you still think that the good which you have done doth far weigh down all the direct and accidental hurt. What that Good is, you know better than I: Dr. Heylin in the Life of Arch-Bishop Laud tells us what some accounted then most desirable; And how much more desirable it is to open the Church doors so wide as that moderate Loyal Romanists may come in, as they did in Queen Elizabeths first years, and to reconcile them by nearer approaches or concessions, rather than to go further from them to unite with a few inconsiderable Puritans, whose principles are against the Power and Wealth of the Church, we have often heard from others: As also that the ejection of the near two thousand non-conforming Ministers, was the Churches deliverance from them that would have done more hurt within, than they can do without. The converted Priest Mr. Smith, in his Narrative of the Popish Plot, dedicated ⟨image 4⟩to the King, nameth more reasons, which I will not name, which some were moved by.

For my part, as with fear I foresaw, so with grief I see, so many hundred Ministers under the restraints and penalties which you know of, of whom I have better thoughts than you have: believing from my heart, by the acquaintance which I have had with very many, that notwithstanding the faulty former actions of some few of them, and the unjustifiable scruples of others, you cannot name that Nation under heaven out of our Kings Dominions, which hath this day so many Ministers, more sound in doctrine, heart and life, and liker to further mens salvation, than those that in England have been silenced and cast out. Name that country if you can! And I believe that Christ hath given us no supernumeraries of such useful men; but if all faithful Ministers Conformists and Non-conformists were employed and encouraged, they would be still too few to do the work upon the ignorant, ungodly and vicious which is to be done. And considering how many souls a faithful Minister may hope to edify and save, I consider then how many thousands are like to be losers where such are lost and ⟨image 5⟩wanting. It grieveth my soul to see what advantage Satan hath got in England, against that Christian Love which is the life and character of Christs disciples, and to cause wrath, envy, hatred and strife, when God saith, He that hateth his brother is a murderer, and no murderer hath eternal life in him,