Three letters to the bishop of Bangor

...terrors of men, or the empty words of regular and uninterrupted successions The doctrine of Apostolic Succession, the idea that bishops have an unbroken spiritual chain of authority stretching back to the Apostles, authoritative blessings, excommunications, the nullity or validity of God’s ordinances religious rituals like baptism or the Lord's Supper based on technicalities and trifles, or any other such fantasies original: "Dreams".

My Lord, this much must be implied here: do not be afraid of the terrors of men who would persuade you of the danger of being in one denomination original: "Communion" or another, and frighten you into specific ways of worshipping God. They would make you believe that certain sacraments and a specific clergy are necessary to recommend you to His favor. For these things, your Lordship affirms, we may disregard original: "contemn" if we are only certain of our own integrity.

So it follows that if a man is not a hypocrite, it does not matter what religion he belongs to. This is a proposition that seems hostile original: "of an unfriendly Aspect" to Christianity. But that it is entirely your Lordship’s view is plain from what you declare on page 90: That everyone may find it true in their own conduct that their title to God’s favor cannot depend upon actually being or continuing in any particular method; but upon their real sincerity in the conduct of their conscience. Again, on page 91: The favor of God follows sincerity, considered as such, and consequently follows every equal degree of sincerity equally.

So, I hope I have not twisted original: "wrested" your Lordship’s meaning by saying that, according to these notions, if a man is not a hypocrite, it does not matter what religion he belongs to. By this logic, not only are sincere Quakers, Ranters, Muggletonians, and Fifth Monarchy-Men These were radical religious sects in 17th-century England; the author uses them as examples of groups considered extreme or heretical to show the perceived absurdity of the Bishop's logic just as much in the favor of God as any of the Apostles, but so are sincere Jews and Turks original catchword: "Turks"; in this period, "Turk" was a common term for a Muslim.