The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

85. The greatest plague of our continued Divisions, will be (and is) the destruction of Christian Love, which is the essential mark of Christs disciples, and of absolute necessity to Salvation. If it were possible for such fiery and bloody books to be written against brethren as by some now are, or such scornful books as Martin Marprelate and Martin Marpriest wrote, without any abatement of Love in themselves, can they believe that they will do nothing to destroy it in others: can all of their own side read words that are written to make men odious, and not hate them: Or all of the other side, hear themselves reviled without the least temptation to uncharitableness? Is it more natural to water to quench fire, than for such books, and other effects of discord, to quench brotherly love? (Allowing the difference between a natural agent and a Voluntary). Nay the authors themselves do plainly profess that they do it to draw men to hate those that they write and speak against: and will scarce call them Brethren themselves, unless in a fit of special humility.

85. The greatest plague of our continued Divisions, will be (and is) the destruction of Christian Love, which is the essential mark of Christs disciples, and of absolute necessity to Salvation. If it were possible for such fiery and bloody books to be written against brethen as by some now are, or such scornful books as Martyn Marprelate and Martyn Marpriest wrote, without any abatement of Love in themselves, can they believe that they will do nothing to destroy it in others: can all of their own side read words that are written to make men odious, and not hate them: Or all of the other side, hear themselves reviled without the least temptation to uncharitableness? Is it more natural to water to quench fire, than for such books, and other effects of discord, to quench brotherly love? (Allowing the difference between a natural agent and a Voluntary). Nay the authors themselves do plainly profess that they do it to draw men to hate those that they write and speak against: and will scarce call them Brethren themselves, unless in a fit of special humility.

And if really they can possibly believe themselves, that they have lost none of their charity (if they ever had it) I suppose they scarce look that any one else should believe them; whilst, as Persius faith, Scintillant oculi, dicisque sacisque quod ipse Non sani esse hominis, non sanus juret Orestes.