They would reverently and affectionately protect
all religions because they love and venerate the great principle
upon which they all agree, and the great object to which they are
all directed. They begin more and more plainly to discern that we have
all a common cause, as against a common enemy. They will not be so
misled by the spirit of faction as not to distinguish what is done
in favor of their subdivision from those acts of hostility which,
through some particular description, are aimed at the whole corps,
in which they themselves, under another denomination, are included. It
is impossible for me to say what may be the character of every
description of men amongst us. But I speak for the greater part; and
for them, I must tell you that sacrilege is no part of their
doctrine of good works; that, so far from calling you into their
fellowship on such title, if your professors are admitted to their
communion, they must carefully conceal their doctrine of the
lawfulness of the prescription of innocent men; and that they must
make restitution of all stolen goods whatsoever. Till then they are
none of ours.
You may suppose that we do not approve your confiscation of the
revenues of bishops, and deans, and chapters, and parochial clergy
possessing independent estates arising from land, because we have
the same sort of establishment in England.
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