An humble apology for non-conformists with modest and serious reflections on the Friendly debate…

Answ. No. God, who is Love it self, would have spared Sodom for the sake of ten righteous persons. And surely our enemies when they are serious and sober, and their passions not predominant, both of old and of late, might find (if they would look about) more than ten righteous persons, godly, meek, modest, charitable and peaceable among the Nonconformists. In the beginning of the Reformation, there were a sort of Anabaptists rose up in Germany, and did horrid things at Munster and elsewhere; was the fault therefore in the Reformation? Although the Papists use to charge it upon the Protestant Religion, ⟨p. 109⟩that it is the Spring and Fountain of Sedition and Rebellion where it is received; Yet both We, and our Brethren Conformists, are able to wipe off that foul aspersion; and so are the Nonconformists of these days, the dirt that is thrown in their faces by the aforesaid Author. If any have called Conformists Egyptians, Babylonians, Canaanites, Antichristians, or the like, let it not be charged on those that disapprove and condemn their sayings. If any speak in the Clouds, and you fancy they challenge to themselves a power by Prayer to rain down Blood upon us, let it not be charged upon them that live quietly and peaceably in the Land, & teach men so to do by their life and doctrine, if they preach at all, If there be any man that designs by preaching or otherwise, to throw the Nation into War and Blood again, I wish he may prophesy in Sackcloth; And when he pretends to pour out Vials of Wrath, his threatenings may be like water spilt upon the ground.

Answ. No. God, who is Love it self, would have spared Sodom for the sake of ten righteous persons. And surely our enemies when they are serious and sober, and their passions not predominant, both of old and of late, might find (if they would look about) more than ten righteous persons, godly, meek, modest, charitable and peaceable among the Nonconformists. In the beginning of the Reformation, there were a sort of Anabaptists rose up in Germany, and did horrid things at Munster and elsewhere; was the fault therefore in the Reformation? Although the Papists use to charge it upon the Protestant Religion, ⟨p. 109⟩that it is the Spring and Fountain of Sedition and Rebellion where it is received; Yet both We, and our Brethren Conformists, are able to wipe off that foul aspersion; and so are the Nonconformists of these dayes, the dirt that is thrown in their faces by the aforesaid Author. If any have called Conformists Egyptians, Babylonians, Canaanites, Antichristians, or the like, let it not be charged on those that disapprove and condemn their sayings. If any speak in the Clouds, and you fancy they challenge to themselves a power by Prayer to rain down Blood upon us, let it not be charged upon them that live quietly and peaceably in the Land, & teach men so to do by their life and doctrine, if they preach at all, If there be any man that designs by preaching or otherwise, to throw the Nation into War and Blood again, I wish he may prophesie in Sackcloth; And when he pretends to pour out Vials of Wrath, his threatnings may be like water spilt upon the ground.