11. It may be farther observed, the religion of those we now speak of, is entirely clear from _bigotry_. (Perhaps this might have been ranked with _superstition_, of which it seems to be only a particular species.) They are in no wise _bigotted_ to _opinions_. They do indeed hold right opinions. But they are peculiarly cautious not to rest the weight of Christianity there. They have no such overgrown fondness for any opinions, as to think those alone will make them Christians, or to confine their affection or esteem to those who agree with them therein. There is nothing they are more fearful of than this, lest it should steal upon them unawares. Nor are they _bigotted_ to any particular branch, even of practical religion. They desire indeed to be exact in every jot and tittle, in the very smallest points of _Christian practice_. But they are not attached to one point more than another: they aim at uniform, universal obedience. They contend for nothing _trifling_, as if it was important; for nothing _indifferent_, as if it were necessary; for nothing _circumstantial_, as if it were essential to Christianity; but for every thing in its own order.
12. Above all, let it be observed, that this religion has no mixture of _vice_ or _unholiness_. It gives no man of any rank or profession, the least licence to sin. It makes no allowance to any person, for ungodliness of any kind. Not that all who follow after have attained this, either are already perfect. But however that be, they _plead_ for no sin, either inward or outward. They condemn every kind and degree thereof, in themselves as well as in other men. Indeed, most in themselves; it being their constant care, to bring those words home to their own case, _Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all_.
* 13. Yet there is not found among them that _bitter zeal_, in points either of small or of great importance, that spirit of _persecution_, which has so often accompanied the spirit of reformation. ’Tis an idle conceit, that the spirit of persecution is among the _Papists_ only: it is wheresoever the devil, that old murderer, works; and he still _worketh in_ all _the children of disobedience_. Of consequence, all the children of disobedience, will on a thousand different pretences, and in a thousand different ways, so far as God permits, persecute the children of God. But what is still more to be lamented is, that the children of God themselves, have so often used the same weapons and persecuted others, when the power was in their own hands.
Can we wholly excuse those venerable men, our great _reformers_ themselves, from this charge? I fear not, if we impartially read over any history of the _reformation_. What wonder is it then, that when the tables were turned, bishop _Bonner_ or _Gardiner_ should make reprisals? That they should measure to others (indeed _good measure shaken together_) what had before been measured to them? Nor is it strange, when we consider the single case of _Joan Bocher_, that God should suffer those (otherwise) holy men, archbishop _Cranmer_, bishop _Ridley_, and bishop _Latimer_, to drink of the same cup with her.
14. But can you find any tincture of this in the case before us? Do not all who have lately known the love of God, know _what spirit they are of_? And that _the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them_? Do they approve of the using any kind or degree of _violence_, on any account or pretence whatsoever, in matters of _religion_? Do they not hold the _right_ every man has to judge _for himself_, to be sacred and inviolable? Do they allow any method of bringing even those who are farthest out of the way, who are in the grossest errors, to the knowledge of the truth, except the methods of reason and persuasion? Of love, patience, gentleness, long-suffering? Is there any thing in their _practice_ which is inconsistent with this their constant _profession_? Do they in fact hinder their own relations or dependents from worshipping God according to their own _conscience_? When they believe them to be in error, do they use _force_ of any kind, in order to bring them out of it? Let the instances, if there are such, be produced. But if no such are to be found, then let all reasonable men who believe the _bible_, own, that a work of God is wrought in our land: and such a work (if we survey in one view the _extent_ of it, the _swiftness_ with which it is spread, the _depth_ of that religion which was so swiftly diffused, and its _purity_ from all corrupt mixtures,) as it must be acknowledged, cannot easily be paralleled, in all these concurrent circumstances, by any thing that is found in the _English_ annals, since Christianity was first planted in this island.