Is the ignorance you complain of among this people (you who object to the _people_ more than to their _teachers_) of another kind? Don’t they “know, how in meekness to reprove or instruct those that oppose themselves?” I believe what you say: all of them do not: they have not put on gentleness and long-suffering. I wish they had: pray for them that they may; that they may be mild and patient toward all men. But what if they are not? Sure you do not make this an argument that God hath not sent us? Our Lord _came_, and we come, _not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance: passionate_ sinners, (such as these whereof you complain) as well as those of every other kind. Nor can it be expected they should be wholly delivered from their sin, as soon as they begin to hear his word. * 27. A greater stumbling-block than this is laid before you, by those that _say and do not_. Such I take it for granted will be among us, although we purge them out as fast as we can: persons that _talk much_ of religion, that _commend_ the preachers, perhaps are diligent in hearing them: it may be, read all their books, and sing their hymns; and yet no change is wrought in their hearts. Were they of old time as lions in their houses? They are the same still. Were they (in low life) slothful or intemperate? Were they tricking or dishonest? Over-reaching or oppressive? Or did they use to borrow and not pay? _The Ethiopian hath not changed his skin._ Were they (in high life) delicate, tender, self-indulgent? Were they nice in furniture or apparel? Were they fond of trifles, or of their own dear persons? _The Leopard hath not changed her spots._ Yet their being with us for a time proves no more, than that we have not the miraculous discernment of spirits. * Others you may find, in whom there was a real change. But it was only for a season. They are now turned back, and are two-fold more the children of hell than before. Yet neither is this any manner of proof, that the former work was not of God. No, not though these apostates should, with the utmost confidence, say all manner of evil against us. I expect they should. For every other injury hath been forgiven, and will be to the end of the world. But hardly shall any one forgive the intolerable injury, of _almost persuading him to be a Christian_. When these men therefore who were with us, but went out from among us, assert things that may cause your ears to tingle, if you consider either the scripture, or the nature of man, it will not stagger you at all. Much less will it excuse you, for not acknowledging the work in general to be of God. * 28. But to all this it may possibly be replied, “When you bring your credentials with you, when you prove by _miracles_ what you assert, then we will acknowledge that God hath sent you.”