Whatsomelamentof，werathershouldrejoiceat，shouldratherpraisethispiousforwardnessamongmen，toreassumetheill—
deputedcareoftheirreligionintotheirownhandsagain。A
littlegenerousprudence，alittleforbearanceofoneanother，andsomegrainofcharitymightwinallthesediligencestojoin，anduniteinonegeneralandbrotherlysearchaftertruth;couldwebutforgothisprelaticaltraditionofcrowdingfreeconsciencesandChristianlibertiesintocanonsandpreceptsofmen。Idoubtnot，ifsomegreatandworthystrangershouldcomeamongus，wisetodiscernthemouldandtemperofapeople，andhowtogovernit，observingthehighhopesandaims，thediligentalacrityofourextendedthoughtsandreasoningsinthepursuanceoftruthandfreedom，butthathewouldcryoutasPyrrhusdid，admiringtheRomandocilityandcourage:IfsuchweremyEpirots，Iwouldnotdespairthegreatestdesignthatcouldbeattempted，tomakeaChurchorkingdomhappy。
Yetthesearethemencriedoutagainstforschismaticsandsectaries;asif，whilethetempleoftheLordwasbuilding，somecutting，somesquaringthemarble，othershewingthecedars，thereshouldbeasortofirrationalmenwhocouldnotconsidertheremustbemanyschismsandmanydissectionsmadeinthequarryandinthetimber，erethehouseofGodcanbebuilt。Andwheneverystoneislaidartfullytogether，itcannotbeunitedintoacontinuity，itcanbutbecontiguousinthisworld;neithercaneverypieceofthebuildingbeofoneform;nayrathertheperfectionconsistsinthis，that，outofmanymoderatevarietiesandbrotherlydissimilitudesthatarenotvastlydisproportional，arisesthegoodlyandthegracefulsymmetrythatcommendsthewholepileandstructure。
Letusthereforebemoreconsideratebuilders，morewiseinspiritualarchitecture，whengreatreformationisexpected。Fornowthetimeseemscome，whereinMosesthegreatprophetmaysitinheavenrejoicingtoseethatmemorableandgloriouswishofhisfulfilled，whennotonlyourseventyelders，butalltheLord’speople，arebecomeprophets。Nomarvelthenthoughsomemen，andsomegoodmentooperhaps，butyoungingoodness，asJoshuathenwas，envythem。Theyfret，andoutoftheirownweaknessareinagony，lestthesedivisionsandsubdivisionswillundous。Theadversaryagainapplauds，andwaitsthehour:whentheyhavebranchedthemselvesout，saithhe，smallenoughintopartiesandpartitions，thenwillbeourtime。Fool！heseesnotthefirmroot，outofwhichweallgrow，thoughintobranches:norwillbewareuntilheseeoursmalldividedmaniplescuttingthroughateveryangleofhisill—unitedandunwieldybrigade。Andthatwearetohopebetterofallthesesupposedsectsandschisms，andthatweshallnotneedthatsolicitude，honestperhaps，thoughover—timorous，ofthemthatvexinthisbehalf，butshalllaughintheendatthosemaliciousapplaudersofourdifferences，Ihavethesereasonstopersuademe。