Thus, Rev. Sir, we have endeavoured to vindicate ourselves from your Reproaches, and to lay Matter of Conviction before you, that you have exceedingly gone out of the Way, and how greatly you have abused us, both in what you have done and written: We can't tell what Entertainment it will meet with from you, or with what Frame you will receive it: We earnestly entreat that you would not suffer Resentment to prevail so far, but that there may at least be some serious Consideration. You say some serious considerate Christians have been a little surprised at our confident appealing to GOD as our Judge in this Case; which was not, as you injuriously represent, that we have been sinless and perfect in all that we have done in it; but with regard to the goodness of our Cause. and (as we in Words express it) with respect to our uprightness in this Affair: And let who will be surprised at it we confidently do it still: We pray GOD to judge between us and you. Tho' now possibly your Heat of Spirit, and Contempt of us, may forbid any Self-reflections; yet will it always be a Comfort to you, to think that you have obtained the Victory and got your Will in this Case, and have been the Instrument of rendering the religious State of this County, that before always flourished in an undisturbed and happy Union, our religious Affairs being, with Peace and Love, & general Consent, managed within ourselves? Will you always be glad that you have broke up that Order that has hither to been maintained amongst the Ministers of the County, for the Preservation of the Purity of Doctrine among us, and have laid us under an Incapacity for defending ourselves any more from encroaching Error, by opening a Door that Candidates for ⟨p. 83⟩the Ministry amongst us may go where they will for their Judges & Approvers? Our only Hope is that GOD himself, who has lately so wonderfully poured out his Spirit, and wrought in this County, will again appear for the upholding his own Interest among us, and that he has suffered our Hands to be thus weakened, to prepare the Way for the greater Glory to his Power, by carrying on his Work in our Weakness, by his own immediate Hand. If you think it not your Duty to repair the Injuries you have done us, we desire you for your own sake, that you would not go on to injure us by vilifying and misrepresenting us more.
Thus, Rev. Sir, we have endeavoured to vindicate ourselves from your Reproaches, and to lay Matter of Conviction before you, that you have exceedingly gone out of the Way, and how greatly you have abused us, both in what you have done and written: We can't tell what Entertainment it will meet with from you, or with what Frame you will receive it: We earnestly entreat that you would not suffer Resentment to prevail so far, but that there may at least be some serious Consideration. You say some serious considerate Christians have been a little surprized at our confident appealing to GOD as our Judge in this Case; which was not, as you injuriously represent, that we have been sinless and perfect in all that we have done in it; but with regard to the goodness of our Cause. and (as we in Words express it) with respect to our uprightness in this Affair: And let who will be surprized at it we confidently do it still: We pray GOD to judge between us and you. Tho' now possibly your Heat of Spirit, and Contempt of us, may forbid any Self-reflections; yet will it always be a Comfort to you, to think that you have obtained the Victory and got your Will in this Case, and have been the Instrument of rendring the religious State of this County, that before always flourished in an undisturbed and happy Union, our religious Affairs being, with Peace and Love, & general Consent, managed within ourselves? Will you always be glad that you have broke up that Order that has hither to been maintain'd amongst the Ministers of the County, for the Preservation of the Purity of Doctrine among us, and have laid us under an Incapacity for defending ourselves any more from incroaching Error, by opening a Door that Candidates for ⟨p. 83⟩the Ministry amongst us may go where they will for their Judges & Approvers? Our only Hope is that GOD himself, who has lately so wonderfully poured out his Spirit, and wrought in this County, will again appear for the upholding his own Interest among us, and that he has suffered our Hands to be thus weakened, to prepare the Way for the greater Glory to his Power, by carrying on his Work in our Weakness, by his own immediate Hand. If you think it not your Duty to repair the Injuries you have done us, we desire you for your own sake, that you would not go on to injure us by vilifying and misrepresenting us more.