As for the Brethren, that have thought good to prefix an Epistle to such a Narrative and there […] declare, that Molestation is given, and severity is exercised towards […] England, merely for a supposed Error about the subject of […], and holy men, they are marvellously deceived in ⟨image ?⟩[…] possibly I do not fully cape their meaning when they say, […] Protest and Congregation to persecute another, is more unreasonable then all […] of the […] Church Some are ready to take it for an intimation, that […] Churches of Christ in New-England, are more cruel and unreasonable than […] Romish Synagogue; like as the Anabaptists in Germany, looked upon such […] Luther, Bullinger, Calvin, Zuinglius, &c. to be worse than the Pope and his […]. But I hope they are far from any such insinuation, and that they design no other then to suggest unto us, that for men whom God hath by his holy spirit made one through faith in Christ, to be cruel to their Brethren, is most unreasonable. Which Assertion, (though true in Thesi) if applied to the Churches of the Lord Jesus, in this Wilderness; it is both an erroneous conception, […] unjust reflection, Protestants ought not to persecute any; yet, that Protestants may punish Protestants; and as the case may be circumstanced, a Congregation of such as call themselves Protestants: cannot rationally be denied. Those of the Congregational way (as themselves in the preface to their confession of Faith have professed) fully concur with the old puritan Non-conformists, such as Cartwright, Rainold, Whitaker, Bains, Parker, &c. in whose writings, Congregational, Principles about Church Government, are to be seen. Now the old […] notwithstanding their sufferings from those that took delight to […] fellow servants) did believe that disorders in whole Congregations were […] to the civil Magistrates censure, as is evident from that excellent and judicious […], called Puritanismus Anglicanus, composed by Mr. Bradshaw, and published by Dr. Ames. Affirmant si particular is aliqua ecclesia erraverit, Magistratus civilis […] in […] redigere, Cap. 2. Th. 6. Why then should we be rendered as men of […] rigid spirits and principles; when we say nothing but what […] Puritans, (worthy Confessors, and sufferers for the Truth) […] affirmed.
As for the Brethren, that have thought good to prefix an Epistle to such a Narrative and there 〈…〉 declare, that Molestation is given, and severity is exercised towards 〈…〉 England, meerly for a supposed Error about the subject of 〈…〉, and holy men, they are marvelously deceived in ⟨image ?⟩〈…〉 possibly I do not fully cape their meaning when they say, 〈…〉 Protest and Congregation to persecute another, is more unreasonable then all 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 Church Some are ready to take it for an intimation, that 〈…〉 Churches of Christ in New-England, are more cruel and unreasonable than 〈…〉 Romish Synagogue; like as the Anabaptists in Germany, looked upon such 〈…〉 Luther, Bullinger, Calvin, Zuinglius, &c. to be worse than the Pope and his 〈…〉. But I hope they are far from any such insinuation, and that they design no other then to suggest unto us, that for men whom God hath by his holy spirit made one through faith in Christ, to be cruel to their Brethren, is most unreasonable. Which Assertion, (though true in Thesi) if applied to the Churches of the Lord Jesus, in this Wilderness; it is both an erroneous conception, 〈…〉 un just reflection, Protestants ought not to persecute any; yet, that Protestants may punish Protestants; and as the case may be circumstanced, a Congregation of such as call themselves Protestants: cannot rationally be denied. Those of the Congregational way (as themselves in the preface to their confession of Faith have professed) fully concurre with the old puritan Non-conformists, such as Cartwright, Rainold, Whitaker, Bains, Parker, &c. in whose writings, Congregational, Principles about Church Government, are to be seen. Now the old 〈…〉 notwithstanding their sufferings from those that took delight to 〈…〉 fellowservants) did believe that disorders in whole Congregations were 〈…〉 to the civil Magistrates censure, as is evident from that excellent and judicious 〈…〉, called Puritanismus Anglicanus, composed by Mr. Bradshaw, and published by Dr. Ames. Affirment si particular is aliqua ecclesia erraverit, Magistratus civilis 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 redigere, Cap. 2. Th. 6. Why then should we be r•ndred as men of 〈…〉 rigid spirits and principles; when we say nothing but what 〈…〉 Puritans, (worthy Confessors, and sufferers for the Truth) 〈…〉 affirmed.
