Written "In Answer to Dr. William Nichols's Defence of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England," this work was first written in Latin and then translated into English.

It is a massive (622 pages) and detailed history and doctrinal defense of the Dissenters and "An Appeal to Foreign Divines, Professors, and all other Learned Men of the Reformed Religion."

Part one covers the history and controversies surrounding nonconformity, drawing from sources ancient to the author's day (in 288 pages).

Part two is titled "Concerning the Doctrine of the Church of England." It deals with separation, backsliding into Popish ways, civil resistance, the power of the magistrate and numerous other topics of importance to Reformed Christians.

Part three, "Concerning Discipline, and Modes of Worship," systematically exposes numerous specific errors of the Prelates (in worship and government), while defending the testimony of the Dissenters. Chapters in this section include,

• "Of the Government of Bishops"
• "Of Singing and Music in Churches"
• "Of the Public Liturgy"
• "Of the Sign of the Cross in Baptism"
• "Of Godfathers and Godmothers"
• "Of Confirmation"
• "Of the Surplice, and other Ecclesiastical Habits"
• "Of the Ring in Marriage"
• "Of Kneeling at the Sacraments"
• "Of the Observation of Holidays"
• "Of Bowing in the Name of Jesus"
• "Of Reading Apocryphal books in the Church"
• "Of the Faults found with the English Liturgy"

...and much more.

This last section is particularly revealing, as it exposes how far many, in our day, that claim to be Reformed (like Steve Schlissel), have actually backslidden into the rejected ways of Popery and Prelacy -- casting off some of the greatest attainments of the Reformation (notably the second Reformation) in the process. This is especially evident in the modern "Reformed" rejection of the regulative principle of worship and the subsequent (ignorant) embracing of many worship practises which our worthy Reformed forefathers rightly abominated (as idolatry), confessed outside the church, and sometimes even gave their lives fighting against.

This book might be called a miniature encyclopaedia of dissent. It should not be overlooked by those interested in the great Puritan revolution which Pierce here defends -- a revolution which is once again being revived (by the power of Almighty God) in our day and is destined to one day cover the whole earth!