* But I do not include that venerable man, Mr. _Philip Henry_, nor any that were of his Spirit, in this number. I know they abhorred contending about _externals_. Neither did they _separate themselves_ from the church. They continued therein, till they were driven out, whether they would or no. I cannot but tenderly sympathize with these; and the more, because this is, in part, our own case. Warm men spare no pains, at this very day, to drive us out of the church. They cry out to the people, wherever one of us comes, “A mad dog, a mad dog!” If haply we might fly for our lives, as many have done before us. And sure it is, we should have complied with their desire, we should merely for peace and quietness have left the church long before now, but that we could not in conscience do it. And it is on this single motive, it is for conscience sake, that we still continue therein; and shall continue, (God being our helper) unless they by violence thrust us out.
9. * But to return. What are the stumbling-blocks in the present case, compared to those in any of the preceding?
We do not dispute concerning any of the _externals_ or _circumstantials_ of religion. There is no room; for we _agree_ with you therein. We approve of, and adhere to them all; all that we learned together when we were children, in our _catechism_ or _common prayer-book_. We were born and bred up in your _own church_, and desire to die therein. We always were, and are now, _zealous for the church_; only not with a blind, angry zeal. We hold, and ever have done, the same _opinions_, which you and we received from our forefathers. But we do not lay the main stress of our religion on any _opinions_, right or wrong: neither do we ever begin, or willingly join in any _dispute_ concerning them. The weight of all religion, we ♦apprehend, rests on holiness of _heart_ and _life_. And consequently, wherever we come, we press this with all our might. How wide then is the difference between our case and the case of any of those that are above-mentioned? They _avowedly separated_ from the church: we utterly disavow any such design. They severely, and almost continually, inveighed against the _doctrines_ and _discipline_ of the church they left. We approve both the _doctrines_ and _discipline_ of our church, and inveigh only against _ungodliness_ and _unrighteousness_. They spent great part of their time and strength in contending about _externals_ and _circumstantials_. We agree with you in both; so that having no room to spend any time in such vain _contention_, we have our desire of spending and being spent, in promoting plain _practical religion_. How many stumbling-blocks are removed out of _your way_? Why do not you acknowledge the work of God?
♦ “apperehend” replaced with “apprehend”
10. If you say, “Because you hold _opinions_ which I cannot believe are true:” I answer, Believe them true or false; I will not quarrel with you about any _opinion_. Only see that your heart be right toward God, that you know and love the Lord Jesus Christ; that you love your neighbour, and walk as your master walked, and I desire no more. I am sick of _opinions_: I am weary to bear them. My soul loaths this frothy food. Give me solid and substantial religion. Give me an humble, gentle lover of God and man; a man full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy: a man laying himself out in the work of faith, the patience of hope, the labour of love. Let my soul be with _these_ Christians, wheresoever they are, and whatsoever _opinion_ they are of. _Whosoever_ thus _doth the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother_.
11. Inexcusably infatuated must you be, if you can even _doubt_ whether the propagation of this religion be of God! Only more inexcusable are those unhappy men, who _oppose_, _contradict_, and _blaspheme_ it.
How long will you stop your ears against him, that still crieth, _Why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks_; for a man to _contend with his Maker_. How long will you despise the well-known advice of a great and learned man, _Refrain from these men, and let them alone. If this work be of man, it will come to nought. But if it be of_ God, _ye cannot overthrow it_. And why should you _be found even to fight against_ God? If a man fight with God, shall he prevail? _Canst thou thunder with a voice like him?_ Make haste. Fall down. Humble thyself before him. Lest he put forth his hand and thou perish!