“I do not complain of its severity; on the contrary, considering the sharpness of my fifth letter, I gratefully acknowledge it is _kinder_ than I had reason to expect. But permit me to tell you, Sir, I look for _justice_ to the scriptural arguments I advance in defence of truth, before I look for _kindness_ to my insignificant person, and could be much sooner satisfied with the _former_, than with the _latter_ alone. As I do not admire the fashionable method of advancing general charges without supporting them by particular proofs, I shall take the liberty of pointing out some mistakes in your ‘Narrative,’ and, by that means, endeavour to do justice to Mr. Wesley’s ‘Declaration,’ your own ‘Sermons,’ my ‘Vindication,’ and, above all, to the cause of practical religion.” Fletcher then proceeds to quote numerous texts of Scripture in support of the doctrine of a second justification by works, and argues that it “will rouse Antinomians out of their carnal security, stir up believers to follow hard after holiness, and reconcile fatal differences among Christians, and seeming contradictions in the Scripture.” In sundry passages he treats the Antinomians with deserved severity; but, in a long foot-note, observes:— “I beg I may not be understood to level the following paragraphs, or any part of these letters, at my pious _Calvinist_ brethren. God knows how deeply I reverence many, who are immovably fixed in, what some call, _the doctrines of grace_; how gladly (as conscious of their genuine conversion and eminent usefulness) I would lie in the dust at their feet to honour our Lord in His dear members; and how often I have thought it a peculiar infelicity to dissent from such excellent men, with whom I wanted both to live and die, and with whom I hope soon to reign for ever. “As these _real_ children of God lament the bad use Antinomians make of their principles, I hope they will not be offended if I bear my testimony against a growing evil, which they have frequently opposed themselves. While the _Calvinists_ guard the _foundation_ against _Pharisees_, they will, I hope, allow the _Remonstrants_ to guard the _superstructure_ against _Antinomians_. If in doing these good offices to the Church, we find ourselves obliged to bear a little hard upon the peculiar sentiments of our opposite friends, let us do it in such a manner as not to break the bonds of peace and brotherly kindness; so shall our honest reproof become matter of useful exercise to that _love_ which _thinketh no evil_, _hopeth all things_, _rejoiceth_ even _in the_ galling _truth_, and is neither _quenched by many waters_, nor damped by any opposition.” In his second letter, Fletcher protests against Shirley recanting the doctrines contained in his published sermons, and concludes as follows:—