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

My dear friend, and judicious brother Mr. John Corbett hath newly published a small book to the same purpose with this, of the true state of Religion and Interest of the Church, with a discourse of Schism, which I commend ⟨image 11⟩to the Reader as much worthy of his perusal, and which if written on the hearts of Rulers, and Teachers and people according to its certain truth and weight, would heal us all. The Lord forgive our heinous sins which deserve that he should excommunicate and forsake us; and save England from English men, and save us all from our selves, our most dangerous enemies, and Christians and Pastors and friends from one another. For as Mr. Jones his Welsh Proverb saith, Though thy dog be thy own, trust him not when he is mad.

IV. I hear some say of my book that cometh out with this (of the case of the Non-conformists) and may say of this, that 1. It is unseasonable to mention our own differences when we are called to unite against the Papists: 2. And that too hard-accusations of conformity are intimated.

I answer to the first, 1. That it is never more seasonable to write for Unity than when we are most obliged to unite: Though indeed it can never be unseasonable. And to take Non-conformists for heinous Schismatics and call on Magistrates to silence and imprison and ruin them, is not the way to unity; nor consistent with it; and therefore to deprecate such unpeaceable ways, is the necessary work of a Peacemaker. 2. I have waited in vain these seventeen years ⟨image 11⟩for a fit season; And with me in likelihood it must be Now or Never: for there is no doing it in the grave; and I dare not die, and leave it undone on pretence that it was not seasonable.