Three letters to the bishop of Bangor

...the errors of men, or the empty words of regular and uninterrupted successions The doctrine of Apostolic Succession, an unbroken line of bishops from the Apostles, authoritative blessings original: "Benedictions", excommunications—the invalidity or validity of God’s sacraments original: "Ordinances" to the people based on small details and trivial matters original: "Niceties and Trifles", or any other similar fantasies original: "Dreams".

My Lord, this much must be implied here: do not be afraid of the threats of men who would persuade you of the danger of being in this or that denomination original: "Communion", and frighten you into particular ways of worshipping God—men who would make you believe that specific sacraments and a specific clergy are necessary to recommend you to His favor. For these, your Lordship claims, 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 with a hostile outlook original: "unfriendly Aspect" toward Christianity. But that this view is entirely your Lordship’s 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 their actually being or continuing in any particular method of worship, but upon their real sincerity in following 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 follows. By this logic, not only are sincere Quakers, Ranters, Muggletonians, and Fifth Monarchy Men these were radical or nonconformist religious groups in 17th and 18th-century England, often viewed as extreme or heretical by the established Church just as much in the favor of God as any of the Apostles; but likewise sincere Jews, [Turks] The text continues on the next page with "Turks," a contemporary term for Muslims