too The L 1 F F of the Part III. § 21 5. This Queftion, Whether Toleration of us in our different Affemblies, or filch an Abatement of 1 npohtions as would reftorc fome Minifters to the Public.k Affemblies by a Law, were more defireable? was a great Controverfiethen among the Nonconformifts ; and greater it had been, but that the hopes of Abatements, called then a Comprehenfion) were fo low as made them the,lefs concerned in the Agitation of it But when ever there was a new Sefhonof Parliament, which put them in fome little hope of Abatements, the Controverfie began to revive, accor- dingdo the mca a e of thofe Hopes : The Independents, and all the Seamier, and fomc 'few Prescyee? mans, efpecia1l .. in London, who had large Congregations, and Liberty and Encouragement, iöète rather for a Toleration. The relt of the Pres- byterians, and the Epifcopal Noncónformífts, were for Abatement and Comprehenfion. The Reafons of the fanner were, r. The Parliament will abate fo little, as will take it but few. z. It will tempt the yell to ftretch their Confciences. 3. It will divide us. 4. It will leave thofe that Conformnot under greater Contempt and Severities. We hall have much purer Worfhipand Difcipline as we are. 6.' What Corr nti.vns are notnow removed by this Abatement will be the falter fettled, and the :fr anation left more hopelefs : Thegrolfer are our Church-Cor- raptions, the more lope of a Reformation. Some that were of the other Mind on the contrary thus Stated their Delires. We would not have Asatcraents alone, but beiides that a Toleration ofall thatare Toler- able : And when they ash us, What Abatements will fatasfteau, and procure ourVnian with them? We will truly tell them in feveral Degrees, [ So much will fatiefie all and procere a perfci Vnion: So much left will take in molt, or half; andfo much lets will tike in a few : And we muff take that meafure whiehyou willgrant au, inwhore power it iv. And their Reafons were filch as aforefaid for this Choice : r. They fold that it is the Religion which obtaineth the Publiek Chardtes; andMaintenance which will be the Religion of the Land, and which theBody ofthe People will be of. z. Ifwe are fhot our wholly thence, fo bad a fort will.come in, as will be ready to ftrikeupan Agreement with the Papifts, and let them in onpretence ofConcord or Moderation, when worldly Iistereft (hall require it. 3. If we are Pis but of the Publick Churches, we Shall Rill be look'd on as their Enemies with jealoufie and ill will, and as Separatifts withReproach. 4. Few of the Rich and Rulers will joynwithus, and fowe Pallprepare Parlia- ments and juftices by Alienation to further Severities againft us. 5. Thework of Converfon will go Slowlyon; for we Pall fpeakto fewbut thofe that are already Religious, and the Conformifts, who are very many ofthem cold and lifelefs, mull he the Preachers to the Ignorant, and Vicious, and Ungodly: And fo the Land will grow warfe and wore. 6. WePall keep opena Door for all Seats andSchifms, and the Reproach ofthem all will be raft on ns. 'a. We Pall be Rill uncertain of the continuanceof our Liberty for one Week : It is eafieto find Reafons to raft us out of all, when-ever Intereft or Wrath Pall requireit. 8. We are a hated People to too many of our Superiours ; and it is not for our Sakes that Liberty is granted, us ; we Pall hold it no longer than the Papifts will ; for whore fakes we have it, that they alfo may have theirs : And that they will grant it us no longer than the Intereft and Increafe of their Religion And
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