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

28. Yet we are so far still from thinking that the better sort of Christians have not many faults, that it is one of the greatest and most continual sorrows of our hearts, to think how too little they excel the better part of unbelievers, and how great and common failings are amongst them, and how much their faults do dishonour their blessed Master and holy profession: and what a hinderance this is to the conversion of the Infidel and Heathen world: and what a malignant influence it hath upon the Church by corrupting, troubling and dividing it; and upon the peace of Kingdoms many times, and always on their own peace and true felicity: Especially through the common sin of being overconfident of their own opinions.

29. But we perceive that their faults are but the relicts of that which is common to the world, and predominant in the unsanctified: If any of them err about Church Communion or discipline or infant baptism, we would gladly heal their error; but we account it not so mortal, as the common practical error of the ungodly, who think a sensual worldly life to be better for them than a holy life, and value earth above heaven, and the body above the soul, and the creature above the Creator, and the pleasures of time, before those of eternity. And the very sin of self-conceitedness we find so natural and common to mankind, that in all Civil or worldly matters, it is hard to meet with those that in their mistakes are not still confident of the rightness of their own apprehensions: And in matters of Religion even old ignorant sinner, that know not the Creed, do usually think themselves too wise to be taught, and are as stiff and obstinate in their most erroneous conceits as the grossest sectaries.

29. But we perceive that their faults are but the relicts of that which is common to the world, and predominant in the unsanctified: If any of them err about Church Communion or discipline or infant baptism, we would gladly heal their error; but we account it not so mortal, as the common practical error of the ungodly, who think a sensual worldly life to be better for them than a holy life, and value earth above heaven, and the body above the soul, and the creature above the Creatour, and the pleasures of time, before those of eternity. And the very sin of self-conceitedness we find so natural and common to mankind, that in all Civil or worldly matters, it is hard to meet with those that in their mistakes are not still confident of the rightness of their own apprehensions: And in matters of Religion even old ignorant sinner, that know not the Creed, do usually think themselves too wise to be taught, and are as stiffe and obstinate in their most erroneous conceits as the grossest sectaries.