A discourse concerning evangelical love, church-peace and unity with the occasions and reasons of…

In this state of things we have hitherto contented our selves with the Testimony of our own hearts unto the sincerity of our desires, as to walk in Love and Peace with all Men, so to exercise the fruits of them on all occasions administered unto us. And as this alone we have thus far opposed unto all those Censures and Reproaches which we have undergone to the contrary; so therewithal have we supported our selves under other things, which we have also suffered. Farther to declare our thoughts and Principles in and about the worship of God, than they are evidenced and testified unto, by our Practice, we have hitherto forborne; least the most moderate claims of an especial interest in the common Faith and Love of Christians, should ⟨p. 6⟩occasion new contests and troubles unto our selves and others. And we have observed, that sometimes an over-hasty endeavour to extinguish flames of this nature, hath but increased and diffused them; when perhaps if left alone, their fuel would have failed, and themselves expired. Besides, a peaceable practice, especially if accompanied with a quiet baring of injuries, gives a greater conviction to unprejudiced minds, of peaceable principles and inclinations, than any verbal declaration, whose sincerity is continually obnoxious to the blast of evil Surmises. In a Resolution therefore to the same purpose we had still continued, had we not so openly and frequently been called on, either to vindicate our Innocency, or to confess and acknowledge our Evil. One of these we hope is the aim and tendency of all those charges or Accusations, for want of Love, peaceableness, and due compliance with others, of being the Authors and somentors of Schisms and divisions, that have been published against us, on the account of our dissent from some Constitutions of the Church of England. For we do not think that any good men, can please themselves, in merely accusing their Brethren, whereby they add to the weight of their present troubles, and evidently expose them unto more. For every charge of Guilt on those who are already under sufferings, gives new encouragement and fierceness to the minds of them from whom they suffer. And as no ⟨p. 7⟩greater encouragement can be given unto men to proceed in any way wherein they are engaged, then by their Justification in what they have already done;

In this state of things we have hitherto contented our selves with the Testimony of our own hearts unto the sincerity of our desires, as to walk in Love and Peace with all Men, so to exercise the fruits of them on all occasions administred unto us. And as this alone we have thus far opposed unto all those Censures and Reproaches which we have undergone to the contrary; so therewithall have we supported our selves under other things, which we have also suffered. Farther to declare our thoughts and Principles in and about the worship of God, than they are evidenced and testified unto, by our Practice, we have hitherto forborne; least the most moderate claims of an especial interest in the common Faith and Love of Christians, should