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

Quest. Are the high Sons of the Church advanced so many degrees as is pretended above the poor Nonconformists in their Charity? See Debate, p. 20. Ed. 1.

Answ. There is just cause to fear that amongst them, some there are, who have a greater Charity for the Church of Rome, than for the Presbyterians; that is, for them that differ from the Church of England in Substantials, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government; that for them who differ from them only or chiefly in Circumstantials, in lesser and lighter matters, not of the Foundation of Religion, but belonging only to the Superstructure; or if you please, at best to the adorning of it. For my own part (and for all the Nonconforming-Ministers) I may say, for ought I know, That we would sooner give the Right Hand of Fellowship to the highest and most rigid Father or Son of the Church of England, than join hands with Rome. That some of our Brethren of the other side have not a heart so enlarged with Charity to all men, and particularly to Dissenters, as is pretended and boasted, may be evinced by the Treatise under consideration; which may seem to be designed to render their Brethren, and Ministers of the Gospel too, ridiculous, if not odious. I heard no mean man say, That the design was, To put the Beasts Skin upon us, and then to cry, Ha-lo! Ha-lo! I must needs confess, it appears to me at least very uncivil, if not uncharitable also, to go about to pluck off the Healing and Sovereign Plaster, which his Majesties Royal Hands, with the Advice of his Parliament (a whole College ⟨p. 35⟩of Physicians) in the Act of Indemnity had laid on the bleeding Wounds which the late War had made amongst us. I might add also, that there are some passages so full of Lightness and Drollery, that they might better become some Ecclesiastical Hudibras; or a Ben-Johnson, a Doctor of the Stage, than a Rabbi, or a grave Doctor of the Church.

Answ. There is just cause to fear that amongst them, some there are, who have a greater Charity for the Church of Rome, than for the Presbyterians; that is, for them that differ from the Church of England in Substantials, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government; that for them who differ from them onely or chiefly in Circumstantials, in lesser and lighter matters, not of the Foundation of Religion, but belonging onely to the Superstructure; or if you please, at best to the adorning of it. For my own part (and for all the Nonconforming-Ministers) I may say, for ought I know, That we would sooner give the Right Hand of Fellowship to the highest and most rigid Father or Son of the Church of England, than joyn hands with Rome. That some of our Brethren of the other side have not a heart so inlarged with Charity to all men, and particularly to Dissenters, as is pretended and boasted, may be evinced by the Treatise under consideration; which may seem to be designed to render their Brethren, and Ministers of the Gospel too, ridiculous, if not odious. I heard no mean man say, That the design was, To put the Beasts Skin upon us, and then to cry, Ha-loo! Ha-loo! I must needs confess, it appears to me at least very uncivil, if not uncharitable also, to go about to pluck off the Healing and Soveraign Playster, which his Majesties Royal Hands, with the Advice of his Parliament (a whole Colledge