me, I am ready to retire from my office, and resign it to whomsoever ye may choose. Only
let the Church be one. But if I have been lawfully made and consecrated, entreat those who
have contrary to the law mounted the episcopal throne to resign it.
These things I have said, not as dictating to you, but only to secure and protect you.
Since every one of you is come to age, and will have to give account of the things which he
has done, I entreat you not to cast the whole matter on us, and consider yourselves to be
irresponsible, that ye may not go on fruitlessly deceiving yourselves, and at last bewail it.
An account indeed we shall have to give of your souls; but it will be when we have been
wanting on our part, when we fail to exhort, when we fail to admonish, when we fail to
protest. But after these words, allow even me to say that “I am pure from the blood of all
men” (Acts xx. 26.); and that “God will deliver my soul.” (Ezek. iii. 19, 21.) Say what ye will,
give a just cause why ye depart, and I will answer you. But no, ye will not state it. Wherefore
I entreat you, endeavor henceforward both to resist nobly and to bring back those who have
seceded, that we may with one accord lift up thanksgiving to God; for to Him belongs the
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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Ephesians 4:4-7