he Preface to the Readers. t:rieveraaes, fed alp eis rec.:Jew-es, Et cap. 23. Infe- perabilis eft bona vita a fide (lux per dileaionern operatarirn ma vero ea ipfa e bona vita. Had I laid fb, it would have been offenfive. Theoccafion. of this writing ( as I have (hewed in the beginning of it) was a ftrangeVolum ofMr. Cran- dons, feconded by Mr. Kendal, inhered in by Mr. Byre, and modeftly commended to the Publike view by Mr. Caryl : This writer did by an Epiftle to the Minifters of England invite them to fuch dealing, as he had given them an Example of. Seeing he bath led me that way , I amwilling that They should have the Hearing and wise knowledge of the caufe. Thoug,h I then hated keen Cenfures and Divifions in the Societies that I affedeq, yet I inuft confefs the time was when I had tooNarrow thoughts of the Church ofChrift, and little minded the Peace of any but of that Partie in it which I molt- ho- noured ; and thus was involved in the guilt of Fadion for want of fuch Catholike Confiderations and Affe- aions as befeern a Member of the Catholike Church. Then was I loved and efteemed by my Brethren, and met with noneof their Cenfures or Calumnies ; For though I did not wholly put mine eyes and ears into .their keeping, having ftill an unfatisfied thirft after Truth, yet theywere the Perfons whom I united and fubicribed to. But fince I have Peen and difclofed the Evil of a Private Spirit, and of dividingprinciples and extrearns in Doarinte and Pratife, I find the indigna- tion of that Spirit Which I oppofe. Chrift came not to ,bring me peace, when he fliewed me his Truth. Since I Grew into fo high an efleern of Unity, force would con- .ftrain me to be a man of Contention : and fince I fo va- lued _Peace as to be even fond on it , it seems to draw back. Me
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