Yet do three things not a little comfort my mind.
The first is that, in some communications had of late together,
there hath appeared good likelihood of some good agreement to grow
together in one accord of our faith. The second is that in the
meanwhile, till this may come to pass, contentions, disputations,
and uncharitable behaviour are prohibited and forbidden in effect
upon all parties--all such parties, I mean, as fell before to fight
for it. The third is that in Germany, for all their diverse
opinions, yet as they agree together in profession of Christ's
name, so agree they now together in preparation of a common power,
in defence of Christendom against our common enemy the Turk. And I
trust in God that this shall not only help us here to strengthen us
in this war, but also that, as God hath caused them to agree
together in the defence of his name, so shall he graciously bring
them to agree together in the truth of his faith. Therefore will I
let God work, and leave off contention. And I shall now say nothing
but that with which they who are themselves of the contrary mind
shall in reason have no cause to be discontented.
First, as for purgatory: Though they think there be none, yet since
they deny not that all the corps of Christendom for so many hundred
years have believed the contrary, and among them all the old
interpreters of scripture from the apostles' days down to our time,
many of whom they deny not for holy saints, these men must, of
their courtesy, hold my poor fear excused, that I dare not now
believe them against all those.
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