And thereupon they were ready to reflect the same
things that dissenters had very reasonably objected upon the national
churches, that have coercively pressed conformity to their respective
creeds and worships. Whereas these things related wholly to
conversation, and the outward, and, as I may say, civil part of the
church; that men should walk up to the principles of their belief, and
not be wanting in care and charity. But though some have stumbled and
fallen through mistakes, and an unreasonable obstinacy even to a
prejudice; yet, blessed be God, the generality have returned to their
first love, and seen the work of the enemy, that loses no opportunity or
advantage by which he may check or hinder the work of God, and disquiet
the peace of his church, and chill the love of his people to the truth,
and one to another; and there is hope of divers of the few that yet are
at a distance.
In all these occasions, though there was no person the discontented
struck so sharply at, as this good man, he bore all their weakness and
prejudice, and returned not reflection for reflection; but forgave them
their weak and bitter speeches, praying for them, that they might have a
sense of their hurt, and see the subtilty of the enemy to rend and
divide, and return into their first love that thought no ill.
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