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

To the Readers.

The Author of the Friendly Debate having smitten us on the face, both on the right cheek and on the left; lest our deep silence be brought in evidence to proclaim our guiltiness, and so having lost our Livings, we should lose our good Names also, which ought to be dearer to us than our very Lives, It may seem high time to Apologize for our selves, and to make it appear to the World, that we are not so black and ugly as we are painted, nor so bad as we are represented. Our Apology shall be that of the blessed Apostle St. Paul, a little altered, (against whom also they brought many and grievous Accusations, which they were not able to prove) They have not found us in the Temples (or Churches) disputing with any man: neither raising up the people, neither in the Synagogues, (or places of Convention for Religious Exercises) or in the City; neither can they prove the things whereof they accuse us. But this many of us confess, That After the way that they call Schism and Fanaticism, so worship me the God of our Fathers; believing all things that are written in the Old and New Testament, and in the Articles ⟨image 3⟩of Religion of the Church of England, so far as concerns the Doctrine of Faith and Sacraments. And are still ready to subscribe to all that the Learned and Famous Mr. Chillingworth saith was meant by Subscription; namely, That we are persuaded that the constant Doctrine of the Church of England is so pure and Orthodox, that whosoever believes it, and lives according to it, shall be saved; and that there is no Error in it, which may necessitate any man to disturb the peace, or renounce the communion of it. Now this being our Judgment, I humbly conceive we are acquitted from Schism in the Opinion of Mr. Chillingworth, and ought to be so in the Judgement of that learned and judicious Bishop Saunderson, who (as I have been credibly informed) being asked what he thought of the Subscription before mentioned, said, (after he had read it and considered it) I never subscribed in any other sense my self. And that this Subscription might suffice in Equity and Conscience (if the Supreme Authority should think fit) my Lord Chancellor Bacon hath declared in his Considerations about Ecclesiastical Affairs, tendered unto King James: His words are these, — For Subscription, it seemeth to be in the nature of a Confession, and therefore more proper to bind in the Unity of Faith;