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

30. Therefore as the very Papists difference mortal sin from Venial, and we approve of the distinction as it signifieth the sin which is inconsistent with spiritual life and Love, and so an evidence of a state of death, and that which is consistent, and therefore pardoned] And as God himself who more hateth sin than any of us, doth yet love and pardon and save those who have no other sin, but what consisteth with a predominance of faith, Love and obedience, and doth not equal such with the fleshly worldly and ungodly; even so must we his Ministers in imitation of our heavenly father.

31. And we the less wonder that there are more differences among the zealouser sort in matters of Religion, than among the ungodly who really have no Religion, but are indifferent to all, which letteth them ⟨p. 198⟩quietly enjoy their sin: For men that highliest value any thing, are likest to be tempted to strive about it. If you cast gold and jewels in the street, men are liker to fight and quarrel for them, than dogs or swine. We are glad they seriously value truth, though we are sorry that they cannot more clearly and concordantly understand it.

32. If we thought that mere Civil good neighbourhood, and the common state and life of men in their unrenewed naturals, were better, or as good as the state and life of imperfect believers, with all their troublesome mistakes and […], we would next become humble Petitioners to Authority, that they would put down both Prelates and Presbyters, and take their lands and Tithes into their own lands, and employ them to some better use; and that they would shut up the Church doors, and banish the Clergy as the plague and troublers of the land, that do but vex the world with fables, and will not let men live in peace. For experience assureth us that Perfection is not the state of Christians in this life.