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

Answ. 'Tis our duty not only to prevent out Brothers fall, but his fears; and to keep his heart from sinking, as well as his feet from falling. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some, 1 Cor. 9.22. 'Tis the part of a good Shepherd to carry the Lambs in his Arms, and gently to lead the Ewes that are great with young; and of Nursing Fathers and Mothers, to be tender-hearted and tender-handed towards Babes, towards weak and young Children. If it be said, We must not grieve or vex the Magistrate: I answer, 'Tis true, we must not; but if the Magistrate please to remove the Law; where there's no Law, there's no Disobedience; and then the Offence ceaseth: And where there's no Offence committed by the Inferior, there should be no Offence taken by the Superior; or when there is none given, there should be none taken. The things are alterable in themselves. The Magistrate is a Minister of God for good; and if he shall please to remove every stumbling-stone and grieving-thorn out of the way to the Church, and out of the way of Obedience, How shall God and his people bless him? All the power that the Church hath, it is to edification, and not to destruction; and there's a far greater necessity of Unity, than of Uniformity: 'Tis a great deal better not to make Canons, than to make such as we fore-see will be ⟨p. 134⟩broken by thousands, and that under a pretence of Conscience, and who are serious, sober, civil people in their Lives and Conversations.

Answ. 'Tis our duty not onely to prevent out Brothers fall, but his fears; and to keep his heart from sinking, as well as his feet from falling. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some, 1 Cor. 9.22. 'Tis the part of a good Shepherd to carry the Lambs in his Arms, and gently to lead the Ewes that are great with young; and of Nursing Fathers and Mothers, to be tender-hearted and tender-handed towards Babes, towards weak and young Children. If it be said, We must not grieve or vex the Magistrate: I answer, 'Tis true, we must not; but if the Magistrate please to remove the Law; where there's no Law, there's no Disobedience; and then the Offence ceaseth: And where there's no Offence committed by the Inferiour, there should be no Offence taken by the Superiour; or when there is none given, there should be none taken. The things are alterable in themselves. The Magistrate is a Minister of God for good; and if he shall please to remove every stumbling-stone and grieving-thorn out of the way to the Church, and out of the way of Obedience, How shall God and his people bless him? All the power that the Church hath, it is to edification, and not to destruction; and there's a far greater necessity of Unity, than of Uniformity: 'Tis a great deal better not to make Canons, than to make such as we fore-see will be