Their Reason will be better attended to, when this earnestness hath a little spent it self. For Men who have attained more than perhaps they ever aimed at, at least than they had just reason to ⟨p. 4⟩expect, have commonly for a while strong desires to secure their possessions, which Time and a due consideration of their Title and Interest, may somewhat calm and allay. In the mean time, because You expect it, I shall give you a brief account of my thoughts concerning the Matter treated of by them; and if that do not too long detain me, of the reasonings also which they make use of. Some things I do much commend their Ingenuity in; For whereas two things were proposed to them, A Compliance with some by way of Condescension, and a Forbearance of others by way of Moderation, they equally declare against them both. They will neither admit others to them, but upon their own terms to the utmost Punctilio; nor bear with any in their dissent from them in the least different Observances; but all must be alike pursued by Law and Force, to their Ruin. Whether this seem not to be the frame of mens spirits, whose Fortune and Power (as one of them speaks) tempts them to an insolency, sober and dis-interested persons will judge. The minds I confess of fortunate Men are for the most part equal unto their Successes: and what befalls them, they count their due. Nothing else could persuade these men that they alone were to be esteemed English, Men, and that not only as unto all Privileges and Advantages attending that Title; but so far also, as to desire that all who differ from them, should be exterminated from their Native Soil. It were well if we could see more of their endeavours to merit so high a favour, more of that usefulness, and advantage which they bring to the Kingdom, that might countenance them in pleading that they alone ought to be in it. For my part, I can see little consistency with Christianity, Humanity, or Prudence, in these Resolutions. For certainly if that be Christian Religion which we are taught in the Gospel, it inclines men, especially those who are Teachers of it, (such as the Authors of these Discourses, at least most of them, seem to be) unto a greater Condescension than that expressed, upon the Causes, and for the Ends of its being desired.
Their Reason will be better attended to, when this earnestness hath a littl• spent it self. For Men who have attained more than perhaps they ever aimed at, at least than they had just reason to ⟨p. 4⟩expect, have commonly for a while strong desires to secure their possessions, which Time and a due consideration of their Title and Interest, may somewhat calm and allay. In the mean time, because You expect it, I shall give you a brief account of my thoughts concerning the Matter treated of by them; and if that do not too long detain me, of the reasonings also which they make use of. Some things I do much commend their Ingenuity in; For whereas two things were proposed to them, A Compliance with some by way of Condescention, and a Forbearance of others by way of Moderation, they equally declare against them both. They will neither admit others to them, but upon their own terms to the utmost Punctilio; nor bear with any in their dissent from them in the least different Observances; but all must be alike pursued by Law and Force, to their Ruine. Whether this seem not to be the frame of mens spirits, whose Fortune and Power (as one of them speaks) tempts them to an insolency, sober and dis-interested persons will judge. The minds I confess of fortunate Men are for the most part equal unto their Successes: and what befalls them, they count their due. Nothing else could perswade these men that they alone were to be esteemed English, Men, and that not onely as unto all Priviledges and Advantages attending that Title; but so far also, as to desire that all who differ from them, should be exterminated from their Native Soyl. It were well if we could see more of their endeavours to merit so high a favour, more of that usefulness, and advantage which they bring to the Kingdom, that might countenance them in pleading that they alone ought to be in it. For my part, I can see little consistency with Christianity, Humanity, or Prudence, in these Resolutions. For certainly if that be Christian Religion which we are taught in the Gospel, it inclines men, especially those who are Teachers of it, (such as the Authors of these Discourses, at least most of them, seem to be) unto a greater Condescention than that expressed, upon the Causes, and for the Ends of its being desired.
