The Difference of the case, between the separation of Protestants from the Church of Rome, and the separation of Dissenters from the Church of England
      
       
         
           1683
        
      
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             The Difference of the case, between the separation of Protestants from the Church of Rome, and the separation of Dissenters from the Church of England
             Clagett, William, 1646-1688.
             Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
          
           [2], 71 p.
           
             Printed for Thomas Basset ... and Fincham Gardiner ...,
             London :
             1683.
          
           
             Written by W. Clagett. Cf. DNB; NUC pre-1956; Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.).
             Also attributed to John Williams. Cf. Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.).
             Errata: p. 71.
             Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Church of England.
           Dissenters, Religious -- England.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           DIFFERENCE
           Of
           the
           CASE
           ,
           Between
           the
           Separation
           of
           Protestants
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           And
           the
           Separation
           of
           Dissenters
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Thomas
             Basset
          
           at
           the
           George
           in
           Fleetstreet
           ,
           and
           
             Fincham
             Gardiner
          
           at
           the
           
             White
             Horse
          
           in
           Ludgate-street
           .
           1683.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           The
           Difference
           of
           the
           Case
           ,
           between
           the
           Separation
           of
           Protestants
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           the
           Separation
           of
           Dissenters
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           SInce
           the
           happy
           Reformation
           of
           this
           Church
           ,
           they
           of
           the
           Romish
           Perswasion
           have
           with
           their
           utmost
           Art
           insinuated
           ,
           that
           our
           Reformation
           proceeded
           upon
           Principles
           Destructive
           of
           all
           
             Order
             and
             Government
          
           in
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           naturally
           tends
           to
           
             endless
             Separations
          
           .
           To
           this
           end
           they
           have
           laid
           hold
           upon
           that
           advantage
           which
           the
           Divisions
           amongst
           Protestants
           have
           offered
           them
           ,
           and
           said
           that
           the
           Reasons
           upon
           which
           we
           ground
           
             our
             Separation
          
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           will
           hold
           to
           justify
           the
           Separation
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           And
           the
           Truth
           is
           some
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           have
           been
           so
           Indiscreet
           ,
           to
           say
           no
           more
           ,
           as
           to
           alledge
           the
           same
           thing
           .
           And
           I
           am
           very
           sorry
           that
           Men
           of
           the
           same
           Perswasion
           with
           us
           in
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Impious
           Errors
           and
           Practices
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           should
           give
           so
           much
           Countenance
           to
           that
           grievous
           Charge
           upon
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           as
           some
           of
           them
           have
           done
           .
           The
           Papists
           are
           too
           much
           beholden
           to
           them
           for
           giving
           the
           Occasion
           of
           this
           Accusation
           :
           but
           to
           joyn
           with
           them
           in
           the
           same
           Charge
           ,
           is
           too
           great
           a
           kindness
           in
           all
           Reason
           ,
           and
           indeed
           Destructive
           of
           the
           Common
           Cause
           
           of
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           by
           insinuating
           one
           of
           these
           two
           things
           ,
           either
           that
           there
           was
           no
           Reason
           for
           this
           Separation
           on
           either
           part
           ;
           or
           else
           that
           notwithstanding
           our
           pretended
           Reformation
           ,
           we
           are
           still
           as
           bad
           as
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           for
           otherwise
           they
           cannot
           have
           the
           same
           Reason
           to
           separate
           from
           us
           ,
           that
           we
           had
           at
           first
           to
           separate
           from
           that
           Church
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           with
           Gods
           help
           to
           shew
           in
           a
           short
           and
           plain
           Discourse
           upon
           this
           subject
           ,
           that
           the
           Cases
           are
           vastly
           different
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           have
           very
           good
           Reasons
           wherewith
           to
           justify
           our
           Separation
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Dissenters
           who
           forsake
           our
           Communion
           cannot
           by
           any
           good
           Consequence
           from
           those
           Reasons
           ,
           warrant
           their
           separation
           from
           our
           Church
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           attempt
           ,
           I
           am
           sensible
           that
           I
           have
           Adversaries
           on
           both
           sides
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           often
           happens
           to
           be
           a
           nice
           and
           hazardous
           business
           to
           determine
           between
           two
           Extremes
           .
           But
           I
           hope
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           to
           apprehend
           great
           Danger
           in
           this
           Case
           ;
           since
           it
           is
           the
           same
           false
           Charge
           against
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           in
           which
           these
           Extreme
           Parties
           agree
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           of
           that
           nature
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           all
           one
           whether
           I
           confute
           it
           against
           the
           Papists
           ,
           or
           against
           the
           
             Protestant
             Separatists
          
           ,
           for
           if
           it
           be
           disproved
           against
           one
           ,
           't
           is
           shewn
           to
           be
           unjust
           in
           both
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           our
           Case
           ,
           that
           as
           we
           Charge
           those
           of
           the
           Separation
           from
           our
           Church
           with
           Schism
           ,
           so
           do
           the
           Romanists
           Charge
           us
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           with
           Schism
           too
           :
           But
           with
           this
           Difference
           ,
           as
           we
           pretend
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           good
           Reason
           for
           that
           ,
           so
           have
           not
           they
           for
           this
           .
           For
           Schism
           is
           a
           
             Causeless
             Separation
             from
             a
             Church
          
           .
           And
           we
           think
           we
           may
           appeal
           to
           all
           Disinteressed
           and
           Judicious
           Christians
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           shewn
           our
           Separation
           from
           Rome
           to
           be
           grounded
           upon
           Just
           and
           Necessary
           Causes
           ;
           but
           that
           the
           Dissenters
           have
           shewn
           none
           
           such
           for
           their
           Separation
           from
           us
           .
           And
           when
           all
           is
           done
           it
           should
           not
           incline
           any
           Man
           to
           think
           that
           the
           Truth
           is
           either
           with
           the
           Romanist
           or
           with
           the
           Dissenter
           ,
           because
           the
           Charge
           of
           Schism
           is
           laid
           by
           the
           Romanist
           against
           us
           ,
           and
           by
           us
           against
           the
           Separtist
           with
           equal
           Confidence
           ,
           unless
           he
           sees
           withal
           that
           it
           is
           laid
           with
           equal
           Justice
           .
        
         
           For
           it
           was
           not
           indeed
           to
           be
           expected
           ,
           but
           that
           when
           some
           Protestants
           demanding
           a
           farther
           Reformation
           ,
           separated
           from
           our
           Church
           ,
           this
           pretence
           would
           soon
           after
           be
           set
           on
           foot
           both
           by
           those
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           by
           those
           of
           the
           Separation
           .
           It
           lay
           fair
           for
           them
           both
           ,
           and
           right
           or
           wrong
           was
           likely
           to
           be
           taken
           up
           by
           both
           ;
           since
           it
           would
           serve
           exceedingly
           well
           to
           help
           a
           bad
           Cause
           and
           to
           give
           popular
           colours
           to
           the
           weak
           Arguments
           ,
           both
           of
           the
           one
           and
           of
           the
           other
           side
           .
           The
           Romanist
           was
           not
           likely
           to
           forego
           such
           an
           advantage
           as
           the
           Separation
           of
           our
           Dissenters
           gave
           him
           ,
           to
           disgrace
           the
           Reformation
           amongst
           those
           that
           loved
           Unity
           .
           Nor
           was
           the
           Separatist
           likely
           to
           omit
           that
           advantage
           ,
           which
           our
           Reformation
           gave
           him
           ,
           to
           commend
           his
           Separation
           from
           us
           under
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           farther
           Separation
           from
           Rome
           ,
           to
           those
           that
           abhorred
           Popery
           .
           And
           therefore
           it
           will
           stand
           all
           Discreet
           persons
           in
           hand
           to
           weigh
           the
           merits
           of
           the
           Cause
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           admit
           any
           prejudice
           against
           our
           Communion
           in
           favour
           either
           of
           the
           Papist
           or
           the
           Sectary
           ,
           meerly
           because
           they
           both
           say
           that
           in
           justifying
           our
           Separation
           from
           the
           Papist
           ,
           we
           vindicate
           the
           Separation
           of
           the
           Sectary
           from
           our selves
           .
        
         
           I
           must
           not
           in
           this
           narrow
           Compass
           pretend
           to
           enter
           upon
           a
           Discussion
           of
           the
           several
           Questions
           controverted
           between
           us
           and
           our
           Adversaries
           on
           both
           sides
           :
           But
           shall
           take
           it
           for
           Granted
           ,
           that
           what
           has
           been
           said
           in
           Answer
           to
           the
           several
           Objections
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           against
           our
           
           Communion
           has
           been
           well
           argued
           against
           them
           :
           And
           likewise
           that
           in
           charging
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           with
           those
           several
           Corruptions
           in
           Doctrine
           and
           Practice
           ,
           which
           have
           made
           her
           Communion
           Intolerable
           ,
           we
           have
           said
           upon
           each
           point
           no
           more
           than
           what
           has
           been
           well
           proved
           against
           
             that
             Church
          
           ;
           and
           which
           upon
           all
           fit
           Occasions
           ,
           we
           shall
           ,
           by
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           ,
           be
           ready
           to
           make
           good
           again
           .
           But
           my
           principal
           design
           is
           to
           shew
           that
           there
           is
           no
           manner
           of
           Inconsistence
           in
           the
           way
           we
           take
           to
           vindicate
           our selves
           from
           Schism
           charged
           upon
           us
           by
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           with
           those
           principles
           upon
           which
           we
           accuse
           our
           Dissenting
           Brethren
           of
           that
           fault
           ,
           who
           separate
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           :
           And
           that
           the
           Romanist
           cannot
           take
           our
           Arguments
           against
           the
           Separation
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           to
           condemn
           our
           Reformation
           ;
           nor
           the
           Separatist
           our
           Reasons
           against
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Romanist
           ,
           to
           acquit
           himself
           in
           forsaking
           the
           Communion
           of
           our
           Church
           .
        
         
           This
           I
           conceive
           will
           be
           made
           to
           appear
           .
           1.
           by
           laying
           down
           the
           Reasons
           on
           both
           sides
           ;
           those
           by
           which
           we
           pretend
           to
           justify
           our
           Separation
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           and
           those
           upon
           which
           the
           Dissenters
           lay
           the
           stress
           of
           their
           Separation
           from
           us
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           By
           Comparing
           them
           together
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           Judg
           wherein
           and
           how
           far
           these
           Cases
           agree
           with
           ,
           or
           differ
           from
           one
           another
           .
        
         
           In
           laying
           down
           the
           Reasons
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           I
           shall
           begin
           with
           the
           grounds
           upon
           which
           this
           Church
           separated
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           and
           then
           proceed
           to
           those
           upon
           which
           the
           Dissenters
           separate
           from
           us
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           To
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           charging
           us
           with
           Schism
           we
           Answer
           in
           general
           :
           That
           our
           Separation
           from
           her
           was
           necessary
           by
           Reason
           of
           those
           Corruptions
           in
           her
           Communion
           ,
           which
           we
           could
           not
           comply
           with
           against
           
           the
           Conviction
           of
           our
           Consciences
           .
           More
           particularly
           we
           say
           ,
           That
           this
           Church
           of
           England
           had
           no
           dependence
           upon
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           which
           She
           might
           not
           lawfully
           throw
           off
           ,
           and
           that
           She
           does
           not
           owe
           any
           Subjection
           to
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           but
           had
           just
           Power
           without
           asking
           his
           leave
           ,
           or
           staying
           for
           his
           Consent
           ,
           to
           Reform
           Her self
           .
           And
           withal
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ought
           to
           have
           Reformed
           Her self
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           done
           ,
           since
           there
           were
           most
           necessary
           Causes
           for
           so
           doing
           ;
           the
           Communion
           of
           that
           Church
           being
           defiled
           with
           the
           profession
           of
           those
           damnable
           Errors
           ,
           and
           the
           practice
           of
           those
           Superstitions
           and
           Idolatries
           which
           we
           have
           done
           away
           .
           To
           this
           purpose
           we
           challenge
           those
           of
           that
           Communion
           with
           the
           particulars
           of
           their
           
             Doctrine
             of
             Transubstantiation
          
           ,
           their
           
             Sacrifice
             of
             the
             Mass
          
           ,
           their
           
             Service
             in
             an
             unknown
             Tongue
          
           ,
           their
           
             half
             Communion
          
           ,
           their
           
             Worship
             of
             Images
          
           ,
           their
           
             Adoration
             of
             the
             Host
          
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           those
           Abominations
           ,
           whereof
           the
           Communion
           of
           that
           Church
           doth
           in
           great
           part
           Consist
           .
           We
           acknowledge
           that
           we
           separated
           from
           them
           in
           these
           things
           ,
           when
           we
           Reformed
           our selves
           ;
           but
           in
           so
           doing
           we
           were
           not
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           that
           if
           nothing
           else
           were
           to
           be
           said
           ,
           because
           this
           Church
           owes
           no
           Subjection
           to
           that
           :
           but
           withal
           that
           the
           Causes
           of
           the
           Reformation
           being
           so
           necessary
           as
           we
           pretend
           them
           to
           be
           ,
           the
           Separation
           of
           Communion
           that
           ensued
           upon
           our
           being
           ,
           and
           their
           hating
           to
           be
           Reformed
           ,
           was
           on
           our
           side
           just
           and
           necessary
           upon
           that
           account
           also
           ,
           and
           therefore
           not
           Schismatical
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           our
           Answer
           is
           twofold
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           being
           by
           no
           kind
           of
           Right
           ,
           subject
           to
           the
           Roman
           ,
           or
           any
           Forreign
           Bishop
           ,
           
             had
             full
             Power
             and
             Authority
             without
             asking
             leave
             of
             Forreigners
             
             to
             Reform
             her self
             .
          
           And
           this
           we
           say
           would
           have
           cleared
           her
           from
           the
           Imputation
           of
           Schism
           ,
           if
           the
           causes
           of
           the
           Reformation
           had
           not
           been
           so
           necessary
           as
           indeed
           they
           were
           .
           If
           before
           the
           Reformation
           there
           had
           been
           no
           Unlawful
           conditions
           of
           Communion
           required
           in
           the
           Western
           Churches
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           fault
           that
           could
           have
           been
           found
           in
           them
           ,
           had
           amounted
           to
           no
           more
           than
           bare
           Inconveniences
           and
           Imprudence
           in
           the
           manner
           of
           their
           Discipline
           ,
           or
           in
           ordering
           the
           outward
           Mode
           of
           Worship
           ;
           it
           had
           yet
           been
           free
           for
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           to
           have
           Reformed
           those
           lesser
           faults
           within
           her self
           ,
           though
           no
           other
           Church
           would
           have
           done
           the
           like
           .
           And
           though
           for
           such
           defects
           remaining
           in
           other
           Churches
           abroad
           she
           
             ought
             not
          
           to
           have
           Separated
           from
           their
           Communion
           ;
           yet
           she
           might
           very
           justly
           and
           Commendably
           
             free
             her self
          
           from
           them
           
             at
             home
          
           .
           But
           if
           a
           Forreign
           Church
           suppose
           that
           of
           Rome
           ,
           should
           hereupon
           have
           abstained
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           this
           Church
           ,
           till
           we
           had
           returned
           to
           the
           former
           Inconvenient
           ,
           though
           Lawful
           Rites
           ,
           and
           Customs
           ,
           that
           Forreign
           Church
           had
           been
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           in
           so
           doing
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           not
           willing
           to
           part
           with
           her
           Liberty
           and
           to
           prostitute
           her
           Authority
           to
           the
           Usurpation
           of
           the
           See
           of
           Rome
           ,
           should
           have
           adher'd
           to
           her
           own
           Reformation
           ,
           she
           had
           not
           been
           guilty
           of
           the
           breach
           of
           Communion
           ,
           following
           that
           her
           Resolution
           ;
           because
           she
           had
           done
           nothing
           ,
           but
           what
           was
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           her
           just
           Power
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           in
           which
           she
           was
           not
           liable
           to
           be
           controuled
           by
           any
           other
           Church
           .
        
         
           We
           say
           with
           St.
           Cyprian
           ,
           that
           
             the
             Episcopal
             Government
             of
             the
             Church
             ought
             to
             be
             but
             one
             ,
             
             spread
             abroad
             amongst
             Bishops
             ,
             many
             in
             number
             ,
             but
             heartily
             agreeing
             together
             .
          
           But
           with
           the
           same
           excellent
           Man
           we
           say
           too
           ,
           that
           
             it
             is
             Equal
             that
             every
             one
             of
             them
             should
             have
             a
             part
             of
             the
             Flock
             assigned
             to
             him
             ,
             
             which
             he
             is
             to
             Govern
             ,
             remembring
             
             that
             he
             is
             to
             give
             an
             account
             of
             his
             management
             to
             God.
             
          
           Which
           he
           said
           ,
           in
           asserting
           the
           Freedom
           of
           the
           African
           Churches
           from
           Subjection
           to
           the
           Roman
           .
           This
           we
           think
           is
           justly
           applicable
           to
           our
           Case
           .
        
         
           The
           Church
           of
           England
           is
           a
           
             National
             Church
          
           ,
           once
           indeed
           under
           the
           Usurpation
           of
           the
           Roman
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           at
           length
           rescued
           from
           that
           servitude
           ;
           we
           are
           at
           present
           United
           together
           by
           Common
           Rules
           for
           Government
           and
           Worship
           ,
           Consulted
           upon
           and
           agreed
           unto
           by
           the
           Bishops
           and
           Presbyters
           in
           Convocation
           ,
           and
           then
           made
           Laws
           to
           all
           the
           particular
           Churches
           of
           this
           Kingdom
           ,
           by
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Soveraign
           .
           These
           Laws
           shew
           the
           Reformation
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           And
           they
           do
           not
           want
           any
           Authority
           they
           ought
           to
           have
           ,
           for
           wanting
           the
           consent
           of
           the
           Roman
           Bishop
           ,
           upon
           whom
           we
           have
           neither
           Ecclesiastical
           nor
           Civil
           Dependence
           .
           For
           if
           any
           one
           single
           Bishop
           of
           the
           African
           Church
           might
           determin
           Causes
           ,
           and
           judge
           matters
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           cognisance
           (
           which
           yet
           was
           seldom
           done
           in
           things
           of
           moment
           without
           the
           advice
           of
           Collegues
           when
           the
           Church
           had
           rest
           from
           Persecution
           )
           and
           this
           without
           allowing
           Appeals
           to
           Rome
           ;
           much
           more
           may
           the
           Bishops
           of
           a
           whose
           Christian
           Kingdom
           confederate
           together
           to
           order
           Church
           matters
           Independently
           upon
           the
           See
           of
           Rome
           ,
           especially
           being
           required
           thereunto
           by
           their
           Christian
           Soveraign
           to
           whom
           they
           all
           owe
           Subjection
           and
           Obedience
           in
           all
           things
           ,
           saving
           their
           Common
           Christianity
           .
           So
           that
           if
           the
           Causes
           of
           the
           Reformation
           had
           not
           been
           so
           weighty
           as
           indeed
           they
           were
           ,
           yet
           considering
           the
           Authority
           by
           which
           it
           was
           effected
           ;
           our
           Separation
           from
           Rome
           thereupon
           ensuing
           was
           wholly
           Guiltless
           on
           our
           part
           ,
           it
           being
           necessary
           unless
           we
           would
           submit
           to
           the
           Unjust
           and
           Tyrannous
           Claims
           of
           a
           Forreign
           Bishop
           .
        
         
         
           2.
           
           To
           the
           charge
           of
           Schism
           laid
           against
           us
           by
           the
           Romanist
           ,
           we
           Answer
           also
           ,
           that
           
             the
             conditions
             of
             Communion
             required
             in
             the
          
           Roman
           
             Church
             ,
             were
             many
             of
             them
             Vnlawful
             to
             be
             submitted
             unto
          
           ;
           since
           we
           could
           not
           Communicate
           with
           her
           without
           professing
           Doctrines
           that
           are
           plainly
           contrary
           to
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           nor
           without
           doing
           several
           things
           that
           are
           clearly
           and
           particularly
           forbidden
           by
           it
           .
           And
           since
           it
           is
           not
           in
           the
           Power
           of
           any
           Man
           or
           Church
           ,
           to
           dispense
           with
           our
           Obligations
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           ,
           we
           could
           not
           be
           obliged
           to
           preserve
           Communion
           with
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           and
           his
           Adherents
           ,
           upon
           those
           Terms
           .
           But
           because
           Catholick
           Communion
           ought
           to
           be
           preserved
           ,
           they
           ought
           to
           have
           put
           away
           those
           Scandals
           from
           amongst
           themselves
           ,
           which
           since
           they
           have
           not
           done
           ,
           though
           the
           Separation
           is
           equal
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           yet
           the
           Schism
           is
           not
           ours
           but
           theirs
           only
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           we
           farther
           say
           that
           if
           the
           Corruptions
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           (
           which
           God
           forbid
           )
           should
           ever
           come
           to
           be
           establisht
           in
           this
           Church
           of
           England
           again
           by
           the
           same
           Authority
           that
           has
           abolisht
           them
           ;
           it
           were
           not
           only
           Lawful
           ,
           but
           a
           necessary
           Duty
           to
           separate
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           this
           Church
           in
           that
           Case
           .
           We
           have
           that
           Reverence
           of
           Church
           Authority
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Supreme
           Magistrate
           ,
           that
           we
           will
           submit
           to
           their
           Determinations
           in
           all
           things
           wherein
           God
           has
           left
           us
           to
           our
           own
           Liberty
           .
           But
           if
           they
           Command
           us
           to
           do
           things
           contrary
           to
           his
           Determination
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           that
           liberty
           which
           he
           has
           not
           given
           us
           ,
           we
           must
           remember
           that
           we
           are
           to
           obey
           God
           rather
           than
           Man.
           We
           have
           that
           sense
           also
           of
           the
           mischief
           of
           Divisions
           and
           Separations
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Duty
           of
           maintaining
           Church-Communion
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           be
           but
           observed
           ,
           we
           are
           not
           only
           ready
           to
           comply
           with
           what
           our
           own
           Superiours
           impose
           upon
           us
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           Peace
           and
           Unity
           at
           home
           ;
           
           but
           if
           we
           were
           to
           go
           abroad
           ,
           we
           should
           observe
           the
           Customs
           of
           other
           Churches
           ,
           though
           perhaps
           very
           different
           from
           ours
           ,
           and
           this
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           maintaining
           one
           Communion
           of
           Christians
           every
           were
           .
           But
           neither
           abroad
           ,
           nor
           at
           home
           can
           we
           purchase
           Unity
           of
           Communion
           at
           so
           dear
           a
           rate
           as
           to
           break
           Gods
           Commandments
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           We
           know
           it
           is
           a
           good
           thing
           for
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           the
           Church
           to
           have
           but
           one
           Communion
           ,
           but
           we
           
             must
             not
             do
             evil
             ,
             that
          
           even
           this
           
             good
             may
             come
          
           :
           And
           least
           of
           all
           that
           evil
           which
           Church
           Communion
           and
           Church
           Authority
           were
           in
           great
           part
           designed
           to
           prevent
           .
           For
           as
           we
           believe
           that
           Christ
           formed
           his
           Disciples
           into
           a
           Spiritual
           Society
           ,
           so
           we
           have
           great
           reason
           to
           conclude
           that
           one
           main
           end
           hereof
           was
           ,
           that
           by
           the
           Communion
           of
           Christians
           under
           their
           Governours
           ,
           the
           holy
           Truths
           and
           Laws
           of
           God
           concerning
           his
           Worship
           and
           our
           Salvation
           might
           be
           more
           advantageously
           held
           forth
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           more
           effectually
           guarded
           and
           maintained
           .
           And
           therefore
           to
           keep
           this
           Communion
           one
           as
           much
           as
           in
           us
           lies
           ,
           we
           will
           do
           any
           thing
           required
           by
           our
           Superiors
           that
           God
           has
           left
           us
           free
           to
           do
           or
           not
           :
           But
           to
           deny
           that
           Holy
           Truth
           or
           any
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           or
           to
           break
           any
           of
           those
           Divine
           Laws
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           which
           this
           Communion
           it self
           was
           Instituted
           ,
           neither
           of
           these
           things
           dare
           we
           do
           to
           prevent
           Divisions
           and
           Separations
           .
           And
           we
           are
           as
           sure
           that
           
             Transubstantiation
             ,
             Adoration
             of
             the
             Host
             ,
             Worshiping
             of
             Images
             ,
             Praying
             to
             the
             Dead
          
           and
           
             Praying
             in
             an
             unknown
             Tongue
          
           ,
           are
           Repugnant
           to
           several
           express
           Texts
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           to
           Common
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           :
           We
           are
           I
           say
           as
           sure
           that
           they
           are
           the
           plain
           Laws
           and
           Truths
           of
           God
           to
           which
           these
           things
           are
           contrary
           ;
           and
           withal
           that
           to
           guard
           these
           Truths
           God
           Instituted
           
             a
             Church
          
           ,
           and
           
             a
             Communion
             of
             Saints
          
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           that
           there
           was
           any
           such
           thing
           as
           a
           
           Church
           Instituted
           ,
           or
           Church
           Communion
           required
           .
           And
           truly
           if
           Separation
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           such
           cause
           for
           it
           ,
           as
           we
           pretend
           ,
           were
           not
           a
           necessary
           Duty
           ,
           it
           might
           becom
           the
           Duty
           of
           Christians
           to
           be
           United
           in
           Scandalous
           Impieties
           and
           Damnable
           Errors
           .
           And
           I
           think
           no
           body
           will
           say
           that
           in
           such
           things
           one
           Communion
           is
           either
           to
           be
           desired
           or
           excused
           ,
           but
           rather
           to
           be
           broken
           ,
           and
           that
           every
           Man
           is
           concerned
           as
           much
           as
           his
           Salvation
           is
           worth
           to
           break
           away
           from
           it
           .
           And
           we
           are
           certain
           it
           can
           never
           be
           necessary
           to
           any
           Mans
           Salvation
           to
           be
           a
           Schismatick
           .
        
         
           Upon
           this
           account
           ,
           we
           say
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           in
           Queen
           
           Mary's
           days
           chose
           to
           lay
           down
           their
           lives
           ,
           rather
           than
           return
           to
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           were
           so
           far
           from
           being
           Schismaticks
           that
           they
           were
           Gods
           Martyrs
           in
           so
           doing
           .
           And
           had
           it
           been
           ,
           or
           should
           it
           be
           our
           lot
           to
           have
           this
           choice
           so
           hard
           to
           Flesh
           and
           Blood
           offered
           to
           us
           ;
           we
           trust
           ,
           that
           through
           the
           mighty
           Grace
           of
           God
           ,
           we
           should
           follow
           the
           Faith
           and
           Patience
           of
           those
           holy
           Men
           and
           Women
           ,
           who
           Sealed
           this
           Cause
           with
           their
           Blood
           ,
           meekly
           suffering
           under
           the
           Displeasure
           of
           that
           Just
           Authority
           ,
           the
           Unjust
           Commands
           whereof
           they
           could
           not
           honestly
           obey
           .
           This
           plain
           ,
           though
           General
           account
           ,
           we
           give
           of
           the
           Separation
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           And
           if
           we
           pretend
           no
           more
           in
           our
           own
           Defence
           against
           that
           Church
           ,
           than
           we
           can
           prove
           ,
           we
           have
           Reason
           to
           think
           our selves
           safe
           on
           that
           side
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Let
           us
           now
           see
           upon
           what
           Principles
           and
           by
           what
           pleas
           the
           Dissenters
           Defend
           their
           Separation
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           To
           us
           therefore
           charging
           them
           with
           Schism
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           they
           Answer
           also
           ,
           That
           our
           Communion
           is
           Corrupt
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           cannot
           with
           a
           
             safe
             Conscience
          
           continue
           in
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           are
           bound
           
           for
           
             greater
             Purity
          
           of
           Worship
           and
           Ordinances
           ,
           to
           divide
           from
           us
           .
           But
           in
           making
           out
           this
           general
           Answer
           they
           do
           not
           all
           go
           the
           same
           way
           ,
           nor
           do
           some
           of
           them
           allow
           those
           to
           be
           good
           Reasons
           for
           a
           Separation
           ,
           which
           others
           think
           substantial
           enough
           .
           That
           in
           which
           most
           of
           them
           do
           agree
           is
           in
           assigning
           some
           Ceremonies
           injoined
           in
           our
           Church
           ,
           concerning
           which
           some
           of
           them
           say
           that
           they
           are
           Unlawful
           to
           be
           used
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           ;
           others
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           great
           cause
           to
           doubt
           whether
           they
           be
           Lawful
           or
           not
           ;
           And
           these
           dare
           not
           join
           in
           our
           Communion
           with
           Scrupulous
           and
           Unsatisfied
           minds
           .
           The
           things
           of
           this
           sort
           are
           the
           
             Sign
             of
             the
             Cross
             in
             the
             office
             of
             Baptism
             ,
          
           (
           though
           this
           be
           made
           by
           the
           Minister
           only
           )
           
             Kneeling
             in
             the
             Act
             of
             Receiving
             the
             Eucharist
             ,
          
           and
           
             the
             Ministers
             wearing
             a
             Surplice
             in
             Publick
             Worship
             .
          
           The
           other
           Faults
           they
           find
           with
           the
           Liturgy
           ,
           however
           they
           are
           thought
           by
           the
           Generality
           of
           Dissenters
           to
           be
           a
           Reason
           sufficient
           to
           ground
           Separation
           upon
           ,
           are
           not
           I
           think
           produced
           by
           those
           that
           should
           best
           understand
           the
           Cause
           ,
           as
           amounting
           to
           make
           our
           Communion
           directly
           Unlawful
           .
           But
           yet
           there
           are
           that
           say
           ,
           they
           
             ought
             not
             to
             prefer
             a
             worse
             mode
             of
             serving
             God
             before
             a
             better
             :
          
           And
           the
           mode
           which
           themselves
           observe
           being
           better
           they
           are
           to
           prefer
           that
           before
           ours
           ,
           and
           therefore
           to
           separate
           from
           us
           for
           the
           most
           part
           .
           Others
           go
           yet
           further
           from
           us
           ,
           and
           take
           Liturgies
           ,
           and
           prescribed
           Forms
           of
           Prayer
           to
           be
           Unlawful
           to
           be
           used
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           suspect
           them
           so
           to
           be
           .
           And
           all
           these
           do
           Generally
           dislike
           the
           Form
           of
           Diocesan
           Episcopacy
           :
           However
           they
           seem
           not
           to
           lay
           the
           stress
           of
           their
           Separation
           upon
           that
           ,
           since
           they
           acknowledge
           our
           Churches
           to
           be
           true
           Churches
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           if
           it
           were
           not
           for
           other
           things
           ,
           might
           be
           Lawfully
           Communicated
           with
           ,
           although
           they
           are
           governed
           by
           Bishops
           .
           And
           because
           the
           Civil
           Authority
           concurs
           with
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           in
           requiring
           
           Conformity
           to
           our
           Church
           Laws
           ,
           they
           do
           not
           pretend
           those
           Laws
           to
           be
           enforced
           by
           an
           Authority
           to
           which
           they
           are
           not
           bound
           to
           submit
           .
           And
           therefore
           as
           far
           as
           I
           can
           find
           they
           rather
           chuse
           to
           Justify
           their
           Separation
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           the
           Unlawfulness
           ,
           or
           suspected
           Unlawfulness
           of
           the
           things
           Imposed
           ,
           or
           upon
           the
           preference
           of
           a
           better
           Communion
           then
           ours
           is
           .
           But
           out
           of
           these
           I
           must
           except
           the
           Independents
           who
           acknowledge
           no
           other
           Church
           to
           be
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           such
           a
           Company
           of
           Christian
           People
           United
           one
           to
           another
           by
           a
           particular
           Covenant
           under
           Officers
           of
           their
           own
           chusing
           ,
           as
           can
           at
           once
           Assemble
           in
           the
           same
           place
           for
           the
           Worship
           of
           God.
           And
           these
           Men
           think
           the
           very
           Constitution
           of
           our
           Church
           to
           be
           reason
           enough
           for
           a
           Separation
           from
           it
           .
           I
           will
           take
           notice
           of
           no
           other
           Dissenters
           at
           present
           ,
           but
           those
           that
           Separate
           upon
           some
           one
           ,
           or
           more
           of
           these
           grounds
           ;
           which
           may
           be
           reduced
           to
           three
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           a
           National
           Church
           Authority
           ,
           is
           an
           Usurpation
           upon
           particular
           Congregations
           ,
           which
           are
           pretended
           to
           be
           the
           only
           Churches
           of
           Christs
           Institution
           ,
           and
           that
           every
           such
           Church
           has
           full
           Power
           in
           it self
           to
           order
           all
           things
           relating
           to
           Worship
           and
           Discipline
           ,
           and
           is
           not
           of
           right
           accountable
           to
           any
           other
           Authority
           for
           the
           order
           it
           shall
           take
           to
           govern
           it self
           in
           these
           things
           ;
           And
           therefore
           the
           Independents
           ,
           as
           I
           said
           ,
           think
           themselves
           clear
           of
           the
           Guilt
           of
           Schism
           as
           having
           Separated
           from
           a
           Church
           which
           is
           not
           of
           Christs
           Institution
           .
           For
           they
           take
           an
           Independent
           Congregation
           only
           ,
           to
           be
           such
           .
           But
           yet
           these
           are
           willing
           to
           come
           in
           with
           the
           other
           Dissenters
           for
           their
           Interest
           in
           the
           next
           ground
           of
           Separation
           ,
           upon
           which
           all
           of
           them
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           I
           can
           Judge
           ,
           hope
           to
           find
           the
           surest
           Footing
           ;
           And
           that
           is
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           the
           conditions
           of
           our
           Communion
           ,
           those
           
           namely
           before
           mentioned
           ,
           are
           not
           Lawful
           for
           a
           Christian
           to
           Submit
           unto
           .
           And
           here
           I
           include
           those
           that
           do
           but
           Scruple
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           those
           things
           which
           are
           injoined
           in
           our
           Church
           .
           For
           they
           that
           say
           positively
           they
           are
           Unlawful
           ,
           and
           they
           that
           but
           suspect
           them
           to
           be
           Unlawful
           ,
           produce
           the
           same
           Arguments
           ,
           the
           former
           to
           justify
           their
           Peremptoriness
           ,
           the
           latter
           their
           Scruples
           .
           The
           Reasons
           I
           say
           upon
           which
           they
           go
           are
           the
           same
           ,
           only
           they
           work
           up
           some
           of
           them
           to
           a
           greater
           height
           of
           confidence
           then
           others
           are
           come
           to
           ;
           and
           some
           again
           they
           leave
           altogether
           doubtful
           what
           to
           say
           ,
           whether
           to
           conclude
           for
           us
           or
           against
           us
           .
           They
           agree
           in
           blaming
           our
           Church
           for
           requiring
           things
           to
           be
           done
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           which
           he
           has
           not
           Commanded
           ,
           some
           also
           of
           which
           have
           been
           and
           still
           are
           done
           by
           Papists
           in
           their
           Idolatrous
           Services
           ,
           from
           whom
           we
           ought
           to
           depart
           in
           all
           things
           that
           are
           not
           necessary
           to
           be
           done
           .
           Upon
           these
           grounds
           some
           pretend
           to
           be
           sure
           ,
           others
           to
           be
           afraid
           that
           to
           suffer
           their
           Children
           
             to
             be
             signed
             with
             the
             sign
             of
             the
             Cross
             ,
          
           to
           
             Kneel
             at
             the
             Communion
          
           ,
           to
           
             be
             present
             at
             Divine
             Service
             where
             a
             Surplice
             is
             worn
             ,
          
           and
           to
           submit
           to
           
             Liturgies
             and
             prescribed
             Forms
             of
             Worship
             ,
          
           are
           Unlawful
           .
           And
           these
           Reasons
           I
           find
           owned
           in
           the
           
             Case
             of
             Indifferent
             Things
             used
             in
             Gods
             Worship
             ,
             Stated
             on
             the
             behalf
             of
             Dissenters
             ,
          
           just
           now
           published
           .
        
         
           For
           thus
           that
           Author
           declares
           in
           their
           behalf
           ,
           
             We
             cannot
          
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             conceive
             it
             Possible
             that
             in
             things
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             things
             of
             an
             Indifferent
             Nature
             should
             be
             the
             Just
             matter
             of
             any
             Human
             Determination
             ,
             
             farther
             than
             the
             particular
             Practice
             of
             the
             Person
             determining
             .
          
           
           And
           again
           ,
           
           
             Where
             in
             matters
             of
             Worship
             God
             hath
             wrote
             Ors
             ,
             whether
             by
             his
             Pen
             in
             Sacred
             Writing
             or
             by
             his
             not
             prescribing
             the
             particular
             Circumstances
             ,
             no
             Man
             can
             blot
             them
             out
             ;
             though
             themselves
             may
             as
             to
             their
             own
             Practice
             ,
             for
             this
             or
             that
             Time
             or
             Act
             ,
             where
             they
             cannot
             use
             more
             
             than
             one
             of
             those
             Postures
             or
             Circumstances
             .
          
           That
           is
           ;
           where
           God
           hath
           left
           Men
           at
           their
           Liberty
           to
           do
           this
           ,
           Or
           that
           ,
           they
           may
           Determin
           themselves
           ,
           but
           no
           Human
           Authority
           may
           Determin
           for
           them
           .
           Farther
           ,
           
             As
             to
             things
             in
             Gods
             Worship
             not
             Determined
             by
             God
             ,
             they
             Judge
             every
             Man
             is
          
           Sui
           Juris
           
             and
             ought
             to
             be
             Determined
             by
             God
             alone
             to
             this
             ,
             Or
             that
             ;
             i.
             e.
          
           he
           can
           be
           obliged
           to
           this
           or
           that
           Part
           by
           God
           only
           .
           And
           he
           says
           plainly
           that
           ,
           most
           of
           them
           
             are
             Confident
             that
             in
             matters
             of
             Worship
             no
             Superiors
             may
             restrain
             what
             God
             hath
             left
             at
             Liberty
             .
             In
             Pursuance
          
           of
           this
           general
           Principle
           he
           says
           ,
           some
           Posture
           in
           an
           
             Human
             Action
             being
             necessary
             ,
             and
             none
             by
             God
             Determined
             in
             every
             Act
             of
             Worship
             ;
             where
             there
             is
             no
             Determination
             ,
             they
             believe
             themselves
             at
             Liberty
             ,
             
             and
             think
             they
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             Determined
             by
             any
             thing
             but
             their
             own
             practical
             Judgment
             ,
             according
             to
             present
             Circumstances
             :
             It
             is
             a
             Liberty
             with
             which
             God
             hath
             made
             them
             free
             .
          
           Again
           ,
           He
           acknowledges
           that
           they
           Judge
           it
           Vunlawful
           to
           obey
           Laws
           concerning
           
             Words
             in
             prayer
             which
             God
             hath
             left
             at
             Liberty
             ,
          
           
           and
           concerning
           
             Habits
             and
             Gestures
             ,
             supposing
             them
             to
             be
             left
             at
             Liberty
             ,
             and
             that
             none
             who
             is
             to
             use
             them
             verily
             Judgeth
             them
             Vnlawful
             .
          
           And
           he
           intimates
           more
           then
           once
           that
           
             things
             not
             necessary
             ,
             
             and
             Ordinarily
             used
             in
             Idolatrous
             and
             Superstitious
             Services
             may
             not
             ,
          
           in
           their
           Judgment
           ,
           
             be
             lawfully
             used
          
           :
           How
           well
           he
           has
           proved
           these
           Positions
           I
           am
           not
           concerned
           to
           examine
           ;
           but
           leave
           him
           for
           that
           to
           his
           Learned
           Antagonist
           .
           These
           Observations
           are
           particular
           enough
           for
           my
           purpose
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           shew
           the
           Difference
           between
           the
           ground
           of
           our
           Separation
           from
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           and
           those
           of
           their
           Separation
           from
           us
           whom
           this
           Gentleman
           defends
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           There
           are
           those
           who
           ,
           for
           all
           this
           ,
           seem
           not
           to
           think
           our
           Communion
           Unlawful
           in
           it self
           ,
           since
           they
           
           can
           sometimes
           Communicate
           with
           us
           in
           our
           whole
           Service
           .
           But
           they
           Judge
           the
           way
           of
           the
           Separate
           Meetings
           to
           be
           more
           perfect
           ,
           and
           a
           better
           means
           of
           Edification
           ;
           and
           the
           ground
           of
           their
           Separation
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           Unlawful
           to
           Communicate
           Ordinarily
           in
           a
           more
           imperfect
           way
           of
           Worship
           and
           enjoying
           the
           Ordinances
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           where
           a
           better
           may
           be
           had
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           come
           now
           to
           the
           second
           Point
           which
           is
           to
           compare
           the
           grounds
           of
           Separation
           on
           both
           sides
           together
           ;
           that
           we
           may
           Judge
           wherein
           they
           differ
           or
           how
           far
           they
           agree
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           I
           do
           acknowledge
           that
           the
           most
           general
           ground
           of
           all
           is
           the
           same
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           may
           be
           so
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           we
           Separate
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           in
           a
           
             full
             Perswasion
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           that
           so
           we
           ought
           to
           do
           ;
           And
           that
           the
           Dissenters
           Separate
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           with
           the
           like
           Perswasion
           .
           But
           how
           far
           this
           Agreement
           makes
           the
           Case
           of
           Separation
           the
           same
           on
           both
           sides
           ;
           and
           whether
           it
           will
           equally
           justify
           the
           the
           Church
           of
           
           England's
           Separating
           from
           Rome
           ,
           and
           the
           Dissenters
           Separating
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           will
           be
           Considered
           ,
           time
           enough
           after
           all
           the
           other
           Reasons
           are
           compared
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           next
           general
           Reason
           on
           both
           sides
           alledged
           is
           ,
           that
           Separation
           was
           necessary
           for
           
             greater
             Purity
             of
             Worship
             and
             Ordinances
             .
             We
          
           for
           greater
           Purity
           Separated
           from
           Rome
           :
           The
           Dissenters
           for
           greater
           Purity
           Separated
           from
           us
           .
           Now
           whether
           this
           may
           or
           may
           not
           reasonably
           be
           pretended
           by
           the
           Dissenters
           in
           their
           Case
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           by
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           Hers
           ,
           will
           best
           oppear
           when
           we
           have
           laid
           together
           the
           particulars
           exaepted
           against
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           by
           us
           with
           Reference
           to
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           by
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           with
           Reference
           to
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           and
           have
           also
           Considered
           the
           way
           of
           maintaining
           Objections
           against
           the
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           with
           Rome
           or
           England
           ,
           that
           is
           peculiar
           to
           each
           side
           .
           But
           ,
        
         
           3.
           
           There
           is
           not
           the
           same
           Plea
           offered
           to
           justify
           the
           Separation
           in
           both
           Cases
           with
           Respect
           to
           that
           Authority
           by
           which
           the
           Conditions
           of
           Communion
           are
           prescribed
           .
           For
           we
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           do
           unanimously
           deny
           that
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           hath
           any
           Just
           Authority
           to
           make
           Rules
           for
           the
           Communion
           ,
           or
           to
           prescribe
           Laws
           for
           the
           Government
           of
           our
           Church
           .
           But
           all
           the
           Dissenters
           do
           not
           question
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           that
           Authority
           by
           which
           our
           Liturgy
           is
           Establisht
           ,
           and
           those
           things
           which
           they
           Object
           against
           are
           required
           .
           For
           those
           of
           the
           Presbyterian
           Perswasion
           amongst
           us
           ,
           however
           they
           dislike
           Diocesan
           Episcopacy
           ,
           yet
           seem
           not
           to
           insist
           upon
           it
           in
           their
           late
           Writings
           ,
           as
           a
           ground
           of
           Separation
           from
           this
           Church
           ;
           but
           if
           other
           things
           were
           Reformed
           according
           to
           their
           mind
           ,
           they
           would
           Submit
           to
           our
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           by
           their
           Conformity
           contribute
           to
           uphold
           the
           Order
           of
           this
           
             National
             Church
          
           .
           But
           then
           the
           Independents
           indeed
           must
           in
           Consequence
           of
           their
           Principles
           ,
           deny
           that
           Bishops
           singly
           or
           jointly
           ,
           whether
           with
           the
           Civil
           Authority
           or
           without
           it
           ,
           have
           any
           right
           to
           prescribe
           to
           their
           Congregations
           in
           matters
           Ecclesiastical
           ,
           since
           in
           these
           things
           they
           hold
           their
           Members
           to
           be
           accountable
           to
           no
           Authority
           under
           God
           ,
           but
           that
           of
           the
           Congregation
           to
           which
           they
           belong
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           I
           shall
           compare
           the
           two
           Cases
           of
           Separation
           with
           respect
           to
           three
           things
           which
           will
           ,
           I
           conceive
           ,
           Comprehend
           all
           the
           forementioned
           Pleas
           on
           both
           sides
           ;
           that
           is
           with
           respect
           ,
           1.
           to
           Authority
           .
           2.
           
           To
           
             Terms
             of
             Communion
          
           ,
           and
           under
           this
           head
           to
           the
           Common
           pretence
           
           of
           
             Separating
             for
             greater
             Purity
          
           .
           3.
           
           To
           the
           
             Plea
             of
             Conscience
          
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           With
           respect
           to
           Authority
           .
           We
           are
           divided
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           as
           one
           particular
           Constituted
           Church
           from
           another
           ,
           neither
           of
           which
           has
           any
           Authority
           to
           prescribe
           to
           the
           other
           in
           matters
           Ecclesiastical
           .
           And
           therefore
           as
           I
           said
           before
           ,
           tho
           the
           Terms
           of
           the
           Communion
           of
           that
           Church
           were
           not
           Unlawful
           ,
           yet
           if
           She
           would
           have
           no
           Communion
           with
           us
           ,
           unless
           we
           would
           be
           govern'd
           by
           Her
           Laws
           :
           And
           if
           our
           Church
           Governours
           should
           use
           their
           own
           Liberty
           and
           Authority
           to
           prescribe
           to
           us
           what
           they
           Judged
           more
           Sutable
           to
           the
           General
           Rules
           of
           Scripture
           and
           more
           Conducible
           to
           the
           great
           ends
           of
           Christianity
           :
           The
           Separation
           ensuing
           upon
           that
           Churches
           affecting
           an
           Usurpation
           over
           us
           ,
           could
           not
           be
           Schismatical
           on
           our
           Part
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           the
           Subjects
           of
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           :
           but
           upon
           the
           Part
           of
           that
           Church
           it
           would
           be
           so
           for
           Her
           exercising
           an
           Authority
           ,
           where
           She
           has
           no
           right
           so
           to
           do
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Case
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           is
           far
           otherwise
           ,
           who
           Separate
           from
           this
           National
           Church
           in
           which
           they
           were
           Born
           and
           Baptized
           ,
           and
           where
           they
           live
           .
           For
           by
           thus
           doing
           we
           say
           that
           they
           withdraw
           their
           Obedience
           from
           their
           Lawful
           Governours
           ;
           from
           whom
           if
           they
           Divide
           ,
           especially
           if
           they
           set
           up
           a
           Communion
           distinct
           from
           that
           of
           their
           Superiors
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Congregations
           under
           them
           ,
           they
           are
           guilty
           of
           manifest
           Schism
           ,
           unless
           the
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           be
           Unlawful
           .
           For
           it
           is
           by
           no
           means
           sufficient
           to
           clear
           them
           of
           this
           fault
           ,
           that
           those
           things
           which
           fall
           within
           the
           Compass
           of
           Church
           Authority
           are
           not
           well
           order'd
           ;
           because
           ,
           although
           this
           were
           true
           ,
           yet
           in
           these
           things
           their
           practice
           is
           to
           be
           Determined
           by
           that
           Authority
           .
           For
           we
           think
           it
           very
           Evident
           that
           no
           Society
           can
           be
           united
           and
           maintained
           without
           this
           Principle
           ,
           that
           a
           Lawful
           Authority
           is
           to
           
           be
           Submitted
           unto
           and
           Obeyed
           by
           Inferiors
           in
           all
           Lawful
           things
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           mere
           Imprudence
           or
           Inexpedience
           of
           its
           Determinations
           ,
           cannot
           absolve
           them
           from
           their
           Obligation
           to
           comply
           therewith
           .
        
         
           Now
           that
           it
           is
           a
           Lawful
           Authority
           upon
           which
           the
           Constitutions
           of
           this
           National
           Church
           stands
           ,
           I
           think
           no
           Man
           can
           deny
           that
           will
           grant
           a
           National
           Church
           it self
           to
           be
           but
           a
           Lawful
           Constitution
           .
           For
           there
           is
           the
           Concurrence
           both
           of
           Civil
           and
           Ecclesiastical
           Superiors
           to
           give
           them
           force
           .
           The
           Bishops
           and
           Presbyters
           first
           agreed
           upon
           the
           same
           Rule
           and
           Order
           for
           Church
           Government
           and
           Worship
           ,
           which
           being
           afterward
           approved
           by
           the
           Lords
           and
           Commons
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           was
           then
           made
           a
           Law
           by
           the
           King.
           so
           that
           if
           the
           Confederation
           of
           the
           particular
           Churches
           of
           this
           Kingdom
           to
           govern
           themselves
           and
           to
           serve
           God
           in
           Religious
           Assemblies
           ,
           by
           the
           same
           Rule
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           the
           same
           Term
           ,
           can
           become
           the
           matter
           of
           a
           Law
           obliging
           all
           Christians
           amongst
           us
           to
           Conformity
           ;
           here
           is
           no
           Auhority
           wanting
           to
           induce
           such
           an
           Obligation
           .
        
         
           And
           it
           is
           to
           be
           Consider'd
           that
           every
           one
           who
           Separates
           from
           that
           Parochial
           Congregation
           where
           he
           lives
           ,
           and
           betakes
           himself
           to
           an
           Opposite
           Communion
           ,
           had
           been
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           in
           so
           doing
           ,
           although
           the
           Churches
           of
           this
           Kingdom
           had
           not
           been
           United
           as
           they
           are
           into
           a
           National
           Form
           ;
           but
           each
           Bishop
           with
           his
           Presbyters
           had
           made
           Rules
           for
           Religious
           Assemblies
           Independently
           upon
           the
           Rest
           .
           But
           now
           the
           fault
           of
           such
           Separation
           is
           heinously
           Aggravated
           as
           the
           Case
           stands
           by
           these
           two
           Considerations
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           those
           Orders
           or
           Impositions
           upon
           the
           account
           whereof
           he
           Separates
           from
           the
           Parish
           where
           he
           lives
           ,
           were
           made
           by
           the
           Common
           advice
           of
           the
           Pastors
           of
           Christs
           Flock
           in
           this
           Kingdom
           ;
           and
           that
           for
           a
           Common
           Rule
           to
           them
           All
           :
           Which
           method
           was
           a
           most
           
           proper
           means
           to
           Unite
           their
           particular
           Churches
           more
           closely
           one
           to
           another
           ,
           and
           to
           Edify
           and
           Strengthen
           them
           by
           such
           Union
           .
           Therefore
           that
           Separation
           which
           would
           have
           been
           blameable
           of
           it self
           ,
           is
           so
           much
           the
           worse
           as
           it
           tends
           to
           break
           so
           profitable
           an
           Union
           ,
           and
           to
           expose
           the
           Authority
           of
           so
           many
           Church
           Governours
           to
           Contempt
           ,
           as
           contributed
           towards
           it
           by
           their
           Advice
           and
           Consent
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           since
           the
           Rules
           thus
           agreed
           upon
           are
           made
           Laws
           also
           by
           the
           Soveraign
           Power
           ;
           such
           Schism
           is
           aggravated
           farther
           by
           Disobedience
           to
           the
           Lawful
           Commands
           of
           the
           Civil
           Authority
           under
           which
           we
           live
           ,
           and
           to
           which
           all
           particular
           Churches
           in
           this
           Kingdom
           do
           owe
           Obedience
           in
           all
           Lawful
           things
           .
           And
           now
           I
           believe
           our
           Presbyterian
           Brethren
           will
           grant
           that
           upon
           these
           accounts
           there
           is
           a
           vast
           difference
           between
           the
           Cases
           of
           Separation
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           and
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           in
           point
           of
           Authority
           .
        
         
           But
           then
           I
           must
           confess
           the
           Independents
           are
           likely
           enough
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           these
           Impositions
           are
           as
           truly
           Usurpations
           upon
           particular
           Congregations
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           been
           enforced
           upon
           this
           Kingdom
           by
           a
           pretended
           Authority
           from
           Rome
           .
           And
           if
           there
           were
           no
           difference
           between
           saying
           and
           proving
           ,
           we
           might
           here
           be
           at
           a
           considerable
           loss
           .
           However
           this
           must
           be
           granted
           ,
           that
           an
           
             English
             Bishop
          
           may
           have
           good
           Authority
           to
           Govern
           his
           Diocess
           ,
           and
           a
           Presbyter
           his
           Parish
           here
           in
           England
           ;
           and
           yet
           it
           may
           be
           foolish
           and
           unjust
           in
           a
           
             Forreign
             Bishop
          
           to
           claim
           any
           Authority
           over
           the
           one
           or
           the
           other
           .
           And
           I
           hope
           they
           will
           not
           deny
           that
           the
           King
           has
           good
           Authority
           here
           ,
           though
           the
           Pope
           has
           none
           ;
           nor
           that
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           concerning
           Religion
           and
           Gods
           Worship
           ,
           do
           bind
           the
           Consciences
           of
           the
           Kings
           Subjects
           something
           more
           ,
           than
           if
           they
           had
           wanted
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Legislative
           Power
           at
           home
           ,
           and
           came
           to
           us
           from
           
           abroad
           with
           nothing
           but
           the
           Seal
           of
           the
           Fisherman
           to
           recommend
           them
           ;
           
             i.
             e.
          
           that
           in
           this
           latter
           case
           we
           might
           have
           refused
           them
           as
           wanting
           Authority
           ,
           but
           not
           so
           in
           the
           Former
           ;
           but
           that
           the
           matter
           of
           them
           being
           supposed
           to
           be
           Lawful
           ,
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           complied
           with
           .
           And
           whereas
           the
           Independents
           suppose
           the
           Independency
           of
           their
           Congregations
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Right
           ,
           both
           in
           Opposition
           to
           Episcopal
           Superiority
           ,
           and
           to
           National
           Church-Government
           ,
           this
           we
           must
           leave
           to
           the
           merits
           of
           the
           cause
           between
           them
           and
           us
           .
           And
           I
           may
           as
           well
           take
           it
           for
           granted
           ,
           that
           their
           pretended
           Right
           to
           Independency
           has
           been
           as
           clearly
           argued
           of
           Novelty
           and
           Weakness
           ,
           as
           the
           Popes
           pretended
           Right
           to
           Supremacy
           has
           been
           ;
           argued
           I
           say
           of
           
             more
             Novelty
          
           ,
           and
           almost
           
             as
             much
             Weakness
          
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           step
           a
           little
           out
           of
           the
           way
           of
           my
           present
           business
           ;
           I
           may
           appeal
           to
           all
           understanding
           persons
           ,
           who
           cannot
           judge
           of
           the
           Learning
           used
           on
           both
           sides
           ;
           whether
           that
           Notion
           of
           
             a
             Church
          
           or
           
             of
             Church-Communion
          
           is
           likely
           to
           be
           true
           ,
           which
           makes
           it
           impossible
           for
           the
           particular
           Churches
           of
           a
           Christian
           Kingdom
           to
           be
           United
           under
           the
           Soveraign
           Authority
           in
           the
           observation
           of
           the
           same
           Rules
           advised
           upon
           ,
           and
           the
           same
           Laws
           made
           for
           the
           benefit
           of
           them
           all
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           I
           conclude
           this
           head
           with
           saying
           ,
           that
           though
           the
           Pope
           has
           no
           Authority
           in
           this
           Kingdom
           ,
           yet
           it
           follows
           not
           that
           
             every
             particular
             Congregation
          
           must
           be
           Independent
           .
           And
           I
           challenge
           any
           Man
           to
           take
           any
           one
           Argument
           used
           by
           any
           of
           our
           Church
           to
           prove
           the
           Independency
           of
           
             our
             Church
          
           upon
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           make
           it
           hold
           to
           prove
           the
           Independency
           of
           a
           Congregation
           ,
           either
           upon
           a
           National
           or
           Episcopal
           Church
           if
           he
           can
           .
           Wherefore
           supposing
           the
           Decrees
           of
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           to
           be
           of
           no
           good
           Authority
           amongst
           us
           ;
           and
           
             our
             own
             Laws
          
           in
           matters
           Ecclesiastical
           to
           want
           no
           good
           Authority
           ,
           the
           conditions
           of
           
           Communion
           being
           otherwise
           Lawful
           on
           both
           sides
           ;
           then
           the
           Separation
           ensuing
           upon
           our
           refusal
           to
           submit
           to
           those
           Decrees
           ,
           would
           not
           be
           Schismatical
           on
           our
           part
           ;
           but
           the
           Separation
           of
           our
           Independents
           ,
           and
           all
           others
           amongst
           us
           refusing
           to
           Submit
           to
           these
           Laws
           would
           be
           so
           on
           their
           part
           .
           And
           thus
           much
           for
           the
           Difference
           in
           point
           of
           Authority
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           We
           are
           to
           compare
           the
           Cases
           also
           with
           respect
           to
           the
           
             Terms
             of
             Communion
          
           relating
           to
           matters
           of
           Faith
           and
           Worship
           .
        
         
           And
           in
           the
           first
           place
           the
           Dissenters
           acknowledge
           that
           the
           Faith
           professed
           in
           this
           Church
           is
           pure
           and
           intire
           ,
           and
           that
           she
           does
           not
           require
           the
           profession
           of
           any
           Doctrine
           in
           Order
           to
           her
           Communion
           ,
           which
           a
           good
           Christian
           has
           reason
           to
           suspect
           .
           And
           this
           makes
           a
           great
           difference
           between
           the
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           with
           our
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           Terms
           thereof
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           which
           requires
           the
           profession
           of
           Gross
           and
           Palpable
           Errors
           ,
           of
           all
           whom
           she
           admits
           to
           her
           Communion
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           great
           ossence
           is
           taken
           at
           our
           Forms
           of
           
             Divine
             Service
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Ceremonies
           thereunto
           belonging
           .
           And
           the
           offended
           parties
           are
           of
           three
           sorts
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Those
           that
           do
           not
           directly
           charge
           any
           of
           our
           practices
           in
           Worship
           as
           Sinful
           ,
           but
           suppose
           some
           of
           them
           to
           be
           Inexpedient
           and
           Vnedifying
           :
           And
           they
           that
           Separate
           upon
           this
           account
           must
           acknowledge
           this
           Difference
           in
           the
           Case
           ,
           that
           whereas
           we
           separating
           from
           Rome
           forsook
           an
           Unlawful
           Communion
           for
           one
           that
           was
           Lawful
           ;
           they
           Separating
           from
           us
           forsake
           a
           Lawful
           Communion
           for
           one
           that
           they
           believe
           to
           be
           better
           .
           And
           of
           these
           I
           shall
           take
           notice
           again
           in
           a
           fitter
           place
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Another
           sort
           are
           they
           who
           pretend
           something
           
           more
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           they
           Scruple
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           the
           things
           enjoined
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           ought
           not
           to
           Communicate
           with
           us
           so
           long
           as
           they
           remain
           under
           these
           doubts
           .
           And
           these
           Men
           also
           must
           confess
           a
           great
           difference
           between
           the
           reason
           upon
           which
           they
           Separate
           from
           us
           ,
           and
           that
           for
           which
           we
           Separate
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           :
           Since
           we
           are
           
             past
             doubting
          
           in
           the
           case
           ,
           and
           positively
           affirm
           those
           conditions
           of
           Communion
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           which
           we
           complain
           of
           ,
           to
           be
           in
           themselves
           Unlawful
           .
           And
           in
           Consequence
           hereof
           ,
           they
           must
           not
           deny
           that
           there
           is
           a
           great
           difference
           also
           between
           those
           grounds
           upon
           which
           they
           and
           we
           pretend
           against
           
             that
             Church
          
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           her
           Impositions
           ,
           and
           those
           upon
           which
           they
           suspect
           the
           like
           of
           ours
           ;
           And
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           Roman
           Church
           is
           by
           us
           attacqued
           with
           clear
           and
           unquestionable
           evidence
           of
           Reason
           and
           Scripture
           against
           her
           ;
           but
           that
           it
           remains
           doubtful
           whether
           there
           be
           any
           good
           evidence
           in
           Scripture
           against
           us
           ;
           concerning
           which
           more
           will
           be
           said
           under
           the
           next
           head
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           it
           does
           by
           no
           means
           follow
           ,
           that
           because
           Separation
           is
           Just
           and
           Necessary
           ,
           where
           some
           things
           are
           required
           to
           be
           done
           which
           we
           
             certainly
             know
          
           God
           has
           forbidden
           ;
           therefore
           it
           is
           Just
           and
           Necessary
           also
           where
           other
           things
           are
           required
           ,
           concerning
           which
           we
           do
           not
           know
           but
           they
           may
           be
           Lawful
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           third
           sort
           are
           they
           that
           pretend
           these
           Forms
           of
           Worship
           ,
           and
           Ceremonies
           ,
           which
           the
           former
           either
           Scruple
           ,
           or
           judge
           only
           Inexpedient
           ,
           to
           be
           indeed
           Sinful
           ,
           and
           to
           render
           our
           Communion
           not
           only
           suspected
           ,
           and
           
             less
             desirable
          
           ,
           but
           
             plainly
             Vnlawful
          
           .
           And
           I
           grant
           that
           these
           are
           the
           Men
           who
           come
           up
           to
           the
           point
           ;
           And
           if
           they
           could
           but
           make
           good
           what
           they
           say
           ,
           they
           would
           shew
           their
           Separation
           from
           our
           Church
           to
           be
           grounded
           upon
           one
           General
           Reason
           of
           our
           Separation
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           which
           would
           sufficiently
           
           clear
           us
           from
           the
           Imputation
           of
           Schism
           ,
           if
           no
           other
           reason
           were
           to
           be
           given
           .
           But
           I
           believe
           a
           very
           wide
           difference
           of
           the
           case
           will
           appear
           when
           we
           come
           to
           consider
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           
             particular
             Practices
             themselves
          
           which
           are
           by
           us
           said
           to
           be
           Unlawful
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ;
           and
           those
           which
           by
           the
           Dissenters
           are
           said
           to
           be
           Unlawful
           in
           ours
           .
           And
        
         
           2.
           
           
             The
             way
             and
             means
          
           by
           which
           we
           pretend
           to
           
             prove
             those
          
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           which
           they
           pretend
           to
           
             prove
             these
          
           Unlawful
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Let
           us
           Consider
           the
           particulars
           themselves
           .
           The
           Dissenters
           do
           with
           us
           Condemn
           as
           Unlawful
           ,
           Prayers
           in
           
             an
             unknown
             Tongue
          
           ;
           the
           
             Adoration
             of
             the
             Host
             ;
             Worshipping
             the
             Cross
             ,
          
           and
           the
           like
           Practices
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           in
           Her
           Forms
           of
           Worship
           ,
           from
           which
           they
           acknowledge
           also
           that
           we
           have
           Purged
           our
           Communion
           .
           But
           they
           say
           we
           have
           retained
           other
           Practices
           something
           akin
           to
           these
           ,
           though
           not
           quite
           so
           bad
           ;
           for
           Instance
           
             Kneeling
             at
             the
             Communion
             ;
             wearing
             the
             Surplice
             ;
             Signing
             with
             the
             Sign
             of
             the
             Cross
          
           ;
           and
           some
           of
           them
           add
           ,
           
             the
             Publick
             use
             of
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             .
          
           Now
           all
           that
           I
           design
           under
           this
           head
           in
           Comparing
           the
           former
           and
           the
           later
           particulars
           together
           ,
           is
           to
           shew
           ,
           that
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           the
           former
           being
           supposed
           ,
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           the
           latter
           cannot
           be
           from
           thence
           inferr'd
           ;
           And
           that
           for
           this
           plain
           Reason
           ,
           because
           the
           Questions
           concerning
           the
           one
           and
           the
           other
           ,
           are
           perfectly
           distinct
           from
           one
           another
           .
           For
           as
           the
           Bishop
           of
           
           Rome's
           having
           no
           Authority
           here
           in
           England
           ,
           shall
           not
           hinder
           the
           Authority
           which
           our
           Bishops
           exercise
           in
           England
           from
           being
           Lawful
           and
           Good
           :
           So
           to
           pray
           in
           an
           
             unknown
             Tongue
          
           may
           be
           absurd
           and
           contrary
           to
           Scripture
           ,
           but
           for
           all
           this
           
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
          
           in
           a
           Language
           understood
           by
           the
           whole
           Congregation
           ,
           may
           not
           only
           be
           Lawful
           but
           Profitable
           ,
           and
           
           in
           most
           Cases
           necessary
           .
           The
           Adoration
           of
           the
           Host
           may
           be
           an
           Idolatrous
           Practise
           ;
           yet
           to
           Kneel
           in
           the
           Act
           of
           receiving
           the
           Eucharist
           ,
           where
           such
           Adoration
           is
           disclaimed
           ,
           shall
           be
           no
           such
           Practise
           .
           We
           may
           Sign
           the
           Baptized
           ,
           Insant
           with
           the
           Sign
           of
           the
           Cross
           ;
           and
           yet
           not
           Worship
           that
           Sign
           :
           we
           may
           do
           the
           former
           in
           token
           of
           the
           Obligation
           which
           Baptism
           layeth
           upon
           us
           :
           without
           Attributing
           any
           of
           that
           Virtue
           or
           Efficacy
           thereunto
           ,
           which
           makes
           the
           Popish
           use
           of
           it
           Foolish
           and
           Superstitious
           .
           What
           Practice
           is
           there
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           which
           we
           as
           Unlawful
           have
           abandoned
           ,
           from
           whence
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           
             Wearing
             a
             Surplice
          
           ,
           or
           seeing
           it
           worn
           ,
           can
           with
           any
           Colour
           of
           Reason
           be
           drawn
           ?
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           what
           
             Erroneous
             Doctrine
          
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           or
           Unlawful
           Practice
           confess'd
           by
           the
           Dissenters
           to
           be
           by
           us
           rejected
           ,
           can
           be
           assign'd
           ,
           from
           which
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           any
           of
           those
           things
           excepted
           against
           in
           our
           Liturgy
           can
           be
           inferr'd
           ?
           Let
           them
           take
           any
           one
           Argument
           used
           by
           us
           to
           prove
           such
           or
           such
           a
           particular
           Condition
           of
           Communion
           Unlawful
           which
           that
           Church
           requires
           ,
           and
           by
           that
           Argument
           prove
           some
           Condition
           Unlawful
           in
           ours
           ,
           if
           they
           can
           .
           But
           perhaps
           they
           will
           say
           ,
           That
           if
           they
           can
           prove
           this
           by
           other
           Arguments
           ,
           the
           Case
           in
           general
           will
           still
           be
           the
           same
           .
           This
           I
           confess
           and
           therefore
           I
           proceed
           to
           the
           second
           Point
           which
           was
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           To
           shew
           the
           Difference
           between
           the
           
             way
             and
             means
             by
             us
             used
             to
             prove
          
           those
           Conditions
           of
           the
           Roman
           Communion
           Vnlawful
           ,
           which
           we
           except
           against
           ;
           and
           the
           
             manner
             of
             arguing
          
           used
           by
           the
           Dissenters
           against
           us
           .
           Now
           our
           way
           is
           plain
           and
           direct
           ;
           for
           we
           prove
           those
           particulars
           in
           the
           Roman
           Worship
           Unlawful
           which
           we
           Condemn
           ,
           by
           this
           Argument
           that
           they
           are
           forbidden
           in
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           and
           this
           we
           prove
           by
           those
           express
           and
           
           particular
           places
           of
           
             Holy
             Scripture
          
           to
           which
           they
           are
           repugnant
           .
           And
           if
           we
           fail
           not
           of
           producing
           such
           Testimonies
           against
           the
           Corruptions
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           we
           have
           the
           Advantage
           against
           the
           Papists
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Dissenters
           charge
           
             any
             Condition
          
           of
           our
           Communion
           with
           Repugnancy
           to
           Gods
           Law
           ,
           and
           can
           as
           clearly
           shew
           where
           he
           hath
           forbidden
           it
           ,
           they
           have
           the
           like
           Advantage
           against
           us
           .
        
         
           Now
           indeed
           they
           say
           that
           the
           things
           Imposed
           upon
           them
           ,
           however
           weesteem
           them
           but
           Indifferent
           ,
           are
           by
           themselves
           Judged
           Unlawful
           .
           
           Thus
           the
           forementioned
           Author
           saith
           Could
           they
           
             [
             Dissenters
             ]
             but
             look
             upon
             the
          
           Forms
           and
           Rites
           of
           our
           Worship
           
             under
             that
             Notion
          
           [
           of
           things
           Indifferent
           ]
           
             possibly
             their
             Contest
             would
             neither
             be
             great
             nor
             long
             .
          
           
           I
           do
           not
           like
           these
           words
           ,
           for
           that
           which
           may
           be
           may
           not
           be
           ;
           and
           
             possibly
             the
             Contest
             would
             be
             great
             and
             long
             ,
          
           though
           they
           should
           
             look
             upon
          
           these
           things
           as
           Indifferent
           .
           However
           he
           saies
           ,
           
           that
           
             we
             suppose
             those
             things
             indifferent
             which
          
           they
           
             cannot
             but
             Judge
             Vnlawful
             ,
             as
             they
             have
             often
             told
             their
             Brethren
             .
          
           But
           how
           do
           they
           prove
           them
           Unlawful
           ?
           Do
           they
           shew
           where
           God
           hath
           forbidden
           them
           ?
           As
           we
           ,
           for
           Instance
           ,
           produce
           the
           
             second
             Commandment
          
           to
           tshew
           that
           in
           that
           Commandment
           God
           hath
           forbidden
           he
           
             Worship
             of
             Images
          
           ,
           so
           do
           they
           ;
           or
           can
           they
           produce
           any
           such
           Testimony
           of
           Scripture
           against
           Kneeling
           when
           we
           receive
           the
           Eucharist
           ?
           And
           as
           we
           alledge
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           against
           praying
           in
           an
           
             unknown
             Tongue
          
           ;
           can
           they
           shew
           us
           any
           Text
           in
           all
           the
           Bible
           against
           praying
           by
           a
           
             Form
             of
             Words
          
           ?
           No
           ;
           this
           is
           not
           what
           they
           pretend
           to
           do
           .
           But
           then
           we
           are
           apt
           to
           Conclude
           ,
           that
           if
           these
           things
           be
           not
           forbidden
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           at
           least
           Indifferent
           ,
           and
           therefore
           Lawful
           .
           And
           which
           is
           something
           more
           ,
           we
           have
           their
           leave
           also
           thus
           to
           Conclude
           ,
           
           seeing
           
             there
             is
             none
             of
             them
             but
             agreeth
             with
             us
             in
             our
             Notion
             of
             Indifferent
             
             things
          
           viz.
           
             that
             they
             are
             such
             things
             as
             by
             the
             Divine
             Law
             are
             neither
             enjoyned
             nor
             forbidden
             :
             Things
             undertermined
             by
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             in
             Nature
             or
             Scripture
             .
          
           How
           then
           do
           they
           prove
           those
           things
           Unlawful
           to
           be
           done
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           ,
           which
           God
           hath
           not
           forbidden
           either
           in
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           or
           Scripture
           ?
           To
           make
           short
           Work
           of
           it
           :
           Those
           particulars
           in
           our
           Communion
           which
           they
           except
           against
           ,
           are
           Unlawful
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           not
           necessary
           to
           Worship
           ,
           nor
           Commanded
           by
           any
           express
           Law
           of
           God.
           Which
           is
           as
           much
           as
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           though
           they
           
             are
             Indifferent
          
           because
           they
           are
           
             neither
             enjoyned
             nor
             forbidden
             by
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             in
             Nature
             or
             Scripture
          
           ;
           yet
           they
           are
           not
           Indifferent
           ,
           and
           that
           because
           they
           are
           
             not
             enjoyned
          
           .
           So
           that
           whilst
           our
           Brethren
           allow
           the
           Determination
           of
           Indifferent
           things
           to
           Authority
           ,
           they
           take
           away
           with
           one
           hand
           ,
           what
           they
           give
           with
           the
           other
           .
           For
           according
           to
           their
           Principles
           there
           is
           nothing
           left
           for
           Authority
           to
           Determin
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           ordering
           of
           Gods
           Publick
           Worship
           .
           For
           one
           would
           think
           that
           the
           matter
           of
           such
           Determination
           should
           be
           those
           things
           ,
           which
           God
           hath
           left
           to
           our
           Liberty
           .
           But
           you
           are
           mistaken
           if
           you
           think
           so
           ;
           since
           for
           this
           very
           Reason
           that
           they
           are
           
             left
             at
             Liberty
          
           ,
           it
           is
           Unlawful
           for
           one
           Man
           be
           his
           Authority
           what
           it
           will
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           it
           is
           but
           Human
           Authority
           ,
           to
           Determin
           in
           them
           for
           another
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           Unlawful
           for
           this
           other
           Man
           to
           Submit
           to
           his
           Determination
           .
           For
           we
           are
           told
           that
           
             the
             Light
             of
             Nature
             directeth
             us
             to
             use
             the
             most
             Convenient
             Circumstances
             for
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             the
             Law
             of
             Nature
             will
             enforce
             Men
             in
             doing
             Actions
             ,
             to
             use
             Time
             and
             Place
             .
             For
             other
             things
             ,
             such
             as
             the
             Postures
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             or
             Words
             used
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             the
             Holy
             Scripture
             is
             every
             where
             as
             sufficient
             to
             us
             as
             the
             Law
             of
          
           Moses
           
             was
             to
             the
          
           Jews
           ,
           
             which
             Commanded
             as
             to
             the
          
           Passover
           
             the
             offering
             a
             Lamb
             
             or
             a
             Kid
             ,
             and
             left
             it
             to
             the
             Discretion
             and
             Conveniency
             of
             the
             Offerer
             to
             Determin
             which
             —
             .
             So
             for
             Standing
             ,
             Sitting
             ,
             or
             Kneeling
             at
             Prayer
             ,
             God
             indeed
             hath
             left
             the
             one
             or
             the
             other
             of
             them
             to
             us
             not
             Determined
             ,
             leaving
             it
             to
             our
             Choice
             or
             Conveniency
             which
             to
             use
             ,
             
             who
             sometimes
             cannot
             use
             Standing
             ,
             
             another
             time
             cannot
             use
             Kneeling
             .
             He
             hath
             Commanded
             us
             to
             pray
             ,
             and
             that
             with
             our
             Voice
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             our
             Hearts
             ;
             But
             that
             he
             hath
             not
             told
             us
             what
             Words
             we
             should
             always
             use
             —
             .
             God
             hath
             therefore
             left
             us
             at
             Liberty
             what
             Words
             to
             use
             ,
             as
             he
             left
             the
          
           Jews
           
             at
             Liberty
             whether
             to
             offer
             a
             Lamb
             or
             a
             Kid
             —
             And
          
           Moses
           
             might
             by
             the
             same
             Authority
             have
             tied
             up
             all
             the
          
           Jews
           
             to
             Offer
             none
             but
             Kids
             ,
             or
             none
             but
             Lambs
             ,
             as
             Superiors
             can
             tye
             up
             Inferiours
             to
             use
             none
             but
             such
             or
             such
             Words
             in
             Prayer
             .
             And
             the
          
           Jews
           
             might
             every
             whit
             as
             Lawfully
             have
             Obeyed
          
           Moses
           
             in
             such
             a
             Command
             ,
             as
             we
             can
             Obey
             any
             Superiors
             in
             such
             a
             Case
             .
          
           That
           is
           ,
           it
           
             had
             been
             Vnlawful
          
           in
           the
           
             Jews
             to
             have
             Obeyed
          
           Moses
           
             in
             such
             a
             Case
          
           ,
           and
           
             it
             would
             be
             Vnlawful
          
           in
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           
             it
             is
             Vnlawful
          
           in
           us
           to
           
             Obey
             our
             Superiors
          
           in
           any
           of
           their
           Determinations
           Concerning
           
             things
             in
             Gods
             Worship
             which
             God
             hath
             left
             at
             Liberty
             .
          
        
         
           How
           this
           Author
           hath
           pursued
           his
           Argument
           ,
           is
           not
           my
           business
           to
           Consider
           .
           It
           is
           sufficient
           for
           my
           design
           to
           shew
           the
           vast
           difference
           between
           the
           
             grounds
             upon
             which
          
           we
           charge
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           with
           requiring
           Unlawful
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           with
           her
           in
           her
           Worship
           ,
           and
           
             those
             upon
             which
          
           the
           same
           fault
           is
           imputed
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           by
           the
           Dissenters
           .
           we
           prove
           our
           charge
           ,
           by
           shewing
           ,
           that
           
             God
             hath
             forbidden
          
           what
           that
           Church
           requires
           to
           be
           done
           :
           They
           prove
           theirs
           against
           us
           by
           shewing
           that
           
             God
             hath
             left
             those
             things
             at
             Liberty
          
           which
           are
           required
           in
           this
           Church
           .
           We
           shew
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           injoyns
           Practices
           that
           are
           
             Vnlawful
             for
             any
             Man
             to
             Determin
             himself
             to
             :
             
             They
          
           shew
           that
           this
           Church
           enjoyns
           Practices
           which
           are
           
             not
             Vnlawful
          
           for
           a
           Man
           to
           choose
           
             for
             himself
          
           ;
           but
           for
           Authority
           to
           choose
           for
           him
           .
           The
           things
           they
           except
           against
           in
           our
           Communion
           are
           
             in
             themselves
          
           Indifferent
           ,
           and
           they
           cannot
           make
           them
           Unlawful
           otherwise
           then
           by
           fetching
           a
           Compass
           about
           ,
           and
           pretending
           that
           they
           are
           then
           Unlawful
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           when
           our
           Superiors
           require
           us
           to
           do
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           I
           may
           leave
           it
           to
           the
           Judgment
           of
           all
           Men
           that
           can
           Consider
           a
           Case
           without
           great
           Prejudice
           ,
           whether
           there
           be
           Reason
           to
           forsake
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           Unlawful
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           pretended
           to
           be
           in
           her
           Worship
           ;
           as
           well
           as
           upon
           the
           same
           account
           to
           leave
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           whether
           a
           thing
           may
           become
           Unlawful
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           for
           not
           being
           Commanded
           by
           God
           ,
           and
           for
           being
           enjoyned
           by
           Man
           ;
           because
           every
           thing
           that
           God
           hath
           forbidden
           is
           neither
           Lawful
           to
           be
           Commanded
           by
           Man
           ;
           nor
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           so
           Commanded
           .
           I
           know
           not
           whether
           some
           of
           our
           Brothers
           party
           may
           not
           think
           that
           he
           hath
           given
           us
           too
           much
           Advantage
           by
           reducing
           the
           Question
           to
           this
           State.
           But
           I
           think
           it
           is
           not
           his
           Weakness
           but
           the
           Weakness
           of
           
             his
             Cause
          
           that
           has
           led
           him
           to
           it
           .
           For
           they
           are
           not
           able
           to
           prove
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           the
           present
           Impositions
           in
           Order
           to
           Communion
           ,
           but
           upon
           such
           Principles
           as
           these
           are
           .
           And
           I
           may
           appeal
           to
           Mankind
           Concerning
           the
           
             Difference
             of
             the
             Case
          
           between
           them
           against
           us
           ,
           and
           us
           against
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           in
           this
           matter
           ;
           that
           the
           Reason
           of
           our
           Separation
           from
           Rome
           will
           not
           justify
           their
           Separation
           from
           us
           ,
           nor
           that
           the
           Reason
           upon
           which
           we
           challenge
           them
           of
           Schism
           ,
           can
           fly
           in
           our
           own
           Faces
           ,
           when
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           challengeth
           us
           of
           the
           same
           Crime
           .
           But
           I
           shall
           say
           no
           more
           of
           this
           Point
           at
           present
           ,
           
           because
           I
           foresee
           Occasion
           of
           resuming
           it
           presently
           in
           another
           place
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           Author
           offereth
           another
           Reason
           also
           of
           the
           Vnlawfullness
           of
           those
           things
           that
           are
           required
           ,
           and
           that
           because
           they
           have
           been
           and
           still
           are
           used
           in
           
             Idolatrous
             Services
          
           ,
           and
           are
           
             not
             of
             themselves
             necessary
          
           to
           be
           used
           by
           us
           .
           I
           think
           I
           may
           venture
           to
           say
           that
           this
           Reason
           has
           been
           sufficiently
           exposed
           .
           But
           my
           business
           is
           to
           note
           the
           
             Difference
             of
             the
             Case
          
           :
           We
           Separate
           from
           Rome
           ,
           because
           otherwise
           we
           must
           Communicate
           with
           her
           in
           her
           Idolatry
           ,
           which
           is
           
             necessary
             not
             to
             be
             done
          
           :
           The
           Dissenters
           Separate
           from
           us
           ,
           because
           otherwise
           they
           must
           do
           some
           things
           
             not
             necessary
             to
             be
             done
          
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           and
           still
           are
           done
           by
           Idolaters
           .
        
         
           Again
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           as
           he
           says
           
             Scruple
             Kneeling
             in
             the
             Act
             of
             Receiving
             the
             Communion
             ,
             because
             there
             is
             an
             Objectum
             Motivum
             ,
          
           as
           he
           calls
           it
           ,
           
             before
             their
             eyes
          
           .
           I
           think
           he
           means
           because
           the
           Elements
           are
           Worshipped
           by
           the
           Papists
           ,
           who
           say
           they
           believe
           them
           to
           be
           no
           longer
           Elements
           ,
           but
           God
           himself
           .
           And
           to
           Kneel
           therefore
           when
           we
           take
           these
           into
           our
           hands
           ,
           is
           to
           give
           some
           occasion
           to
           others
           to
           think
           that
           we
           Worship
           the
           Elements
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           Dissenters
           
             Question
             the
             Lawfulness
             of
             an
             Adoration
             of
             God
             under
             these
             Circumstances
             .
          
           I
           am
           glad
           if
           it
           be
           but
           Question
           and
           Scruple
           ,
           though
           I
           am
           sorry
           't
           is
           so
           much
           .
           But
           whether
           they
           only
           Scruple
           Kneeling
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           or
           more
           than
           Scruple
           it
           ,
           for
           this
           Gentleman
           does
           not
           always
           speak
           so
           distinctly
           as
           I
           could
           wish
           :
           There
           is
           however
           this
           difference
           in
           the
           Case
           ;
           that
           whereas
           one
           principal
           Reason
           why
           we
           Separate
           from
           the
           Papists
           ,
           is
           because
           we
           dare
           not
           Worship
           Bread
           ,
           which
           
             without
             all
             Question
          
           is
           Idolatry
           ;
           one
           reason
           why
           the
           Dissenters
           Separate
           from
           us
           ,
           is
           because
           we
           who
           have
           so
           loudly
           declared
           against
           that
           Idolatry
           ,
           do
           Worship
           (
           not
           the
           Bread
           ,
           which
           we
           believe
           to
           retain
           its
           
           own
           Nature
           ,
           but
           )
           God
           only
           ,
           as
           they
           
             themselves
             confess
          
           ,
           when
           we
           partake
           of
           that
           Bread.
           
        
         
           And
           here
           I
           may
           be
           content
           to
           let
           the
           matter
           rest
           ,
           that
           whether
           we
           consider
           the
           Particulars
           pretended
           to
           be
           Unlawful
           in
           both
           Communions
           ;
           or
           the
           way
           taken
           by
           us
           
             to
             prove
          
           those
           Unlawful
           which
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           would
           impose
           upon
           us
           ,
           and
           
             that
             way
          
           which
           the
           Dissenters
           use
           to
           
             make
             out
          
           the
           like
           charge
           against
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           the
           difference
           is
           so
           great
           ,
           that
           the
           charge
           of
           Schism
           which
           ,
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           viz.
           of
           
             Terms
             of
             Communion
             in
             Worship
          
           ,
           we
           bring
           against
           the
           Dissenters
           for
           Separating
           from
           us
           ,
           cannot
           with
           Reason
           and
           Modesty
           be
           returned
           upon
           our selves
           for
           Separating
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           now
           compared
           the
           two
           Cases
           with
           Respect
           to
           Authority
           and
           
             Terms
             of
             Communion
          
           .
           But
           before
           I
           proceed
           to
           compare
           them
           with
           respect
           to
           the
           
             Plea
             of
             Conscience
          
           ;
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           represent
           some
           other
           Differences
           of
           the
           Case
           that
           are
           plainly
           consequent
           upon
           one
           or
           both
           of
           those
           Differences
           which
           we
           have
           already
           considered
           .
           And
           they
           are
           these
           three
           ;
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Difference
           of
           the
           Case
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           Separation
           for
           
             greater
             purity
             of
             Worship
             and
             Ordinances
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Difference
           with
           respect
           to
           that
           Common
           Question
           
             who
             shall
             be
             the
             Judge
          
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           Difference
           of
           the
           principles
           upon
           which
           either
           side
           Separates
           ,
           as
           to
           their
           
             tendency
             either
             to
             maintain
             ,
             or
             to
             overthrow
             one
             Communion
             amongst
             Christians
             .
          
        
         
           1.
           
           With
           respect
           to
           Separation
           ,
           for
           
             greater
             purity
          
           of
           Worship
           and
           Ordinances
           .
           The
           Dissenters
           say
           ,
           that
           
             if
             for
             greater
             purity
          
           England
           
             Separated
             from
          
           Rome
           ,
           
             others
             also
             may
             for
             greater
             purity
             Separate
             from
             England
             .
          
           And
           because
           I
           perceive
           this
           Consequence
           is
           insisted
           upon
           ,
           not
           only
           by
           well
           meaning
           People
           ,
           but
           by
           some
           that
           would
           
           not
           be
           thought
           the
           meanest
           of
           the
           party
           ,
           I
           shall
           examin
           it
           as
           throughly
           as
           I
           can
           ;
           hoping
           to
           gain
           the
           Readers
           Pardon
           ,
           if
           I
           repeat
           some
           things
           that
           have
           been
           already
           Discoursed
           ;
           but
           which
           are
           necessary
           to
           be
           observed
           in
           order
           to
           a
           right
           understanding
           of
           this
           matter
           .
        
         
           The
           ground
           I
           shall
           proceed
           upon
           in
           Discoursing
           of
           this
           Consequence
           ,
           is
           that
           we
           and
           the
           Dissenters
           do
           not
           understand
           the
           same
           thing
           by
           
             greater
             purity
          
           .
           By
           the
           Impurity
           or
           Corruption
           of
           the
           Roman
           Communion
           which
           is
           the
           principal
           Reason
           of
           our
           departing
           from
           it
           ,
           we
           understand
           the
           Sinfulness
           thereof
           ;
           and
           by
           
             Separating
             from
             that
             Church
             for
             greater
             purity
          
           we
           therefore
           mean
           forsaking
           her
           Communion
           that
           we
           might
           not
           
             partake
             in
             her
             Sins
          
           ;
           which
           otherwise
           we
           could
           not
           avoid
           .
           To
           make
           good
           this
           charge
           ,
           that
           her
           Communion
           was
           and
           still
           is
           Corrupted
           in
           this
           Sense
           ,
           we
           have
           but
           that
           one
           plain
           way
           already
           declared
           .
           We
           shew
           that
           there
           are
           several
           Doctrines
           which
           she
           Professeth
           ;
           several
           Things
           in
           her
           Worship
           which
           she
           Practiseth
           ,
           that
           are
           plainly
           contrary
           to
           the
           Truth
           which
           God
           hath
           revealed
           and
           to
           the
           Laws
           which
           he
           hath
           delivered
           to
           us
           :
           And
           that
           those
           Errors
           and
           these
           Practices
           are
           
             not
             of
             a
             slight
             Nature
          
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           grate
           upon
           the
           very
           Foundations
           of
           Christianity
           :
           And
           moreover
           ,
           that
           she
           
             exacteth
             the
             profession
          
           of
           the
           one
           ,
           and
           
             the
             doing
          
           of
           the
           other
           from
           all
           her
           Members
           .
           So
           that
           when
           we
           say
           ,
           that
           we
           
             Separate
             from
             that
             Church
             for
             greater
             purity
             ,
          
           we
           mean
           that
           there
           are
           several
           Impure
           ,
           or
           Sinful
           conditions
           of
           Communion
           required
           in
           that
           Church
           ,
           with
           which
           ,
           as
           she
           has
           ordered
           the
           matter
           ,
           we
           must
           pollute
           our selves
           ,
           and
           of
           which
           we
           our selves
           must
           be
           guilty
           ,
           if
           we
           Communicate
           with
           her
           at
           all
           :
           And
           therefore
           it
           was
           necessary
           for
           us
           to
           depart
           from
           her
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           most
           necessary
           not
           to
           deny
           the
           Truths
           or
           break
           the
           Laws
           of
           God.
           Therefore
           also
           by
           
           saying
           that
           we
           Separated
           for
           greater
           purity
           ,
           we
           mean
           not
           that
           we
           have
           forsaken
           
             but
             some
          
           Corruptions
           only
           of
           the
           Roman
           Worship
           ,
           as
           if
           our
           Communion
           were
           now
           indeed
           purer
           then
           theirs
           though
           not
           
             so
             pure
          
           as
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           .
           This
           is
           not
           our
           meaning
           :
           For
           we
           contend
           that
           this
           Church
           hath
           purged
           away
           all
           those
           Practices
           ,
           and
           abolisht
           all
           those
           Rules
           relating
           to
           Gods
           Worship
           ,
           which
           are
           contrary
           to
           his
           Word
           ;
           and
           by
           Consequence
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Impurity
           left
           in
           the
           conditions
           of
           our
           Communion
           ;
           so
           that
           any
           Man
           whose
           Conscience
           is
           rightly
           informed
           may
           Communicate
           with
           us
           without
           Sin.
           Wherefore
           this
           comparative
           expression
           of
           Separating
           for
           
             greater
             purity
          
           from
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           respecteth
           the
           State
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           supposing
           indeed
           that
           all
           the
           conditions
           of
           that
           Churches-Communion
           were
           not
           impure
           ,
           but
           withal
           implying
           that
           some
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           those
           truly
           
             not
             a
             few
          
           ,
           were
           so
           ;
           And
           therefore
           that
           her
           Communion
           was
           
             not
             pure
             enough
          
           for
           any
           Christian
           to
           join
           in
           it
           with
           a
           good
           Conscience
           .
           Thus
           I
           have
           shewn
           what
           we
           understand
           by
           Separating
           for
           greater
           purity
           ,
           and
           how
           we
           maintain
           this
           Plea
           in
           Answer
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
        
         
           Now
           therefore
           although
           the
           Dissenters
           use
           the
           same
           Plea
           in
           Words
           ,
           in
           Answer
           to
           us
           ,
           yet
           if
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           the
           same
           thing
           by
           it
           that
           we
           do
           ,
           nor
           attempt
           to
           make
           it
           out
           by
           shewing
           wherein
           our
           Communion
           is
           Corrupted
           with
           such
           conditions
           as
           oblige
           the
           Members
           of
           this
           Church
           to
           do
           what
           God
           hath
           forbidden
           ,
           or
           to
           neglect
           what
           he
           hath
           Commanded
           them
           to
           do
           ,
           or
           to
           contradict
           what
           he
           hath
           revealed
           ;
           This
           Plea
           I
           say
           if
           it
           be
           not
           made
           out
           by
           such
           particulars
           as
           these
           ,
           is
           by
           them
           weakly
           brought
           to
           justify
           their
           Separation
           from
           us
           ,
           by
           our
           example
           in
           Separating
           from
           Rome
           .
           And
           though
           the
           general
           pretence
           may
           serve
           to
           delude
           Injudicious
           People
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           learnt
           to
           distinguish
           
           between
           Reasons
           and
           Colours
           ;
           yet
           it
           will
           neither
           acquit
           them
           before
           God
           ,
           nor
           in
           the
           Judgment
           of
           Wise
           Men
           who
           can
           easily
           discern
           and
           will
           Impartially
           consider
           the
           Difference
           of
           the
           Case
           .
           It
           is
           indeed
           a
           plausible
           Colour
           for
           their
           Separation
           from
           us
           ,
           that
           we
           Separated
           from
           Rome
           for
           
             greater
             purity
          
           ;
           and
           but
           a
           Colour
           unless
           they
           could
           shew
           wherein
           our
           Communion
           is
           Impure
           ,
           or
           which
           is
           all
           one
           ,
           what
           are
           those
           conditions
           thereof
           which
           be
           Sinful
           or
           Repugnant
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           But
           what
           is
           it
           that
           they
           mean
           by
           this
           
             greater
             purity
             of
             Worship
          
           for
           which
           they
           Separate
           ?
           Wherein
           doth
           this
           purity
           consist
           ?
           Let
           Reasonable
           Men
           Judge
           .
           
             Extemporary
             Prayers
          
           are
           more
           pure
           than
           
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
          
           :
           To
           
             Receive
             the
             Communion
             Sitting
          
           or
           Standing
           is
           more
           pure
           than
           to
           
             Receive
             it
             Kneeling
          
           .
           To
           
             omit
             the
             Sign
             of
             the
             Cross
             after
             Baptism
             ,
          
           is
           more
           pure
           than
           to
           use
           it
           .
           And
           the
           Ministers
           Praying
           in
           a
           
             Coat
             or
             a
             Cloak
          
           ,
           is
           more
           pure
           then
           to
           Pray
           in
           a
           Surplice
           .
           But
           till
           they
           can
           shew
           that
           our
           way
           in
           any
           of
           these
           instances
           is
           forbidden
           by
           God
           ,
           either
           they
           cannot
           justly
           pretend
           that
           
             it
             is
             Impure
          
           ;
           or
           at
           least
           they
           must
           confess
           that
           they
           mean
           by
           Impurity
           ,
           something
           else
           when
           they
           charge
           it
           upon
           us
           ,
           than
           what
           we
           mean
           by
           it
           ,
           when
           we
           charge
           it
           upon
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Romish
           Church
           ,
           and
           therefore
           that
           they
           do
           not
           use
           the
           same
           Plea
           against
           us
           ,
           that
           we
           produce
           against
           that
           .
           For
           with
           us
           Impurity
           is
           Sin
           ,
           and
           an
           Impure
           Communion
           is
           a
           Communion
           in
           which
           
             we
             cannot
             Communicate
             without
             Sin
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           without
           transgressing
           the
           Law
           of
           God.
           But
           as
           far
           as
           I
           can
           see
           ,
           Impurity
           with
           them
           must
           go
           for
           something
           else
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           either
           for
           doing
           things
           that
           God
           hath
           not
           forbidden
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           omitting
           of
           things
           that
           he
           hath
           not
           Commanded
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Church
           hath
           Power
           in
           Indifferent
           things
           ;
           and
           that
           be
           pure
           ,
           against
           which
           there
           is
           
             no
             Law
          
           ;
           their
           pretence
           of
           Separating
           
           for
           
             greater
             purity
          
           is
           altogether
           groundless
           ,
           unless
           they
           can
           prove
           that
           they
           cannot
           have
           Communion
           with
           us
           ,
           without
           neglecting
           to
           do
           what
           God
           Commands
           ,
           or
           doing
           what
           he
           forbids
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           the
           former
           discourse
           concerning
           
             Terms
             of
             Communion
          
           shews
           that
           there
           is
           a
           vast
           difference
           between
           this
           Plea
           as
           it
           is
           used
           by
           us
           ,
           and
           as
           it
           is
           used
           by
           the
           Separatists
           against
           us
           .
           For
           we
           do
           not
           Separate
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           upon
           this
           principle
           that
           
             the
             Church
             hath
             no
             Power
             to
             make
             Orders
             for
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             in
             matters
             that
             are
             left
             to
             our
             Liberty
             ,
          
           or
           
             to
             prescribe
             Rites
             and
             Ceremonies
             that
             are
             not
             contrary
             to
             Gods
             Word
             .
          
           But
           upon
           this
           principle
           as
           far
           as
           we
           can
           Judge
           ,
           do
           the
           Dissenters
           Separate
           from
           us
           ;
           and
           the
           main
           controversie
           we
           have
           with
           them
           is
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           Human
           Authority
           to
           prescribe
           in
           things
           of
           this
           sort
           ;
           and
           consequently
           whether
           it
           be
           part
           of
           the
           Duty
           of
           Christians
           to
           submit
           unto
           ,
           and
           in
           their
           Practice
           to
           comply
           with
           such
           prescriptions
           .
           They
           will
           not
           deny
           ,
           that
           we
           shew
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           where
           the
           Scripture
           forbids
           what
           that
           Church
           requires
           ,
           and
           this
           ,
           through
           all
           those
           instances
           of
           their
           Corruption
           in
           Worship
           ,
           for
           which
           we
           pretend
           it
           necessary
           for
           us
           to
           depart
           from
           her
           Communion
           .
           Now
           if
           the
           Dissenters
           can
           shew
           the
           like
           of
           any
           condition
           in
           our
           Communion
           I
           promise
           to
           recant
           all
           that
           I
           have
           said
           in
           behalf
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           under
           this
           head
           of
           the
           
             purity
             of
             her
             Communion
          
           ,
           and
           instead
           of
           Vindicating
           my
           Defence
           of
           our
           Church
           as
           to
           this
           particular
           ,
           to
           depart
           from
           her
           Communion
           in
           that
           thing
           ,
           whatever
           may
           come
           of
           it
           ,
           from
           this
           time
           forwards
           .
           And
           I
           trust
           that
           through
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           I
           should
           not
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           any
           Worldly
           Interest
           ,
           either
           resist
           the
           Evidence
           of
           any
           clear
           Argument
           tending
           to
           my
           conviction
           ,
           or
           act
           in
           
           contradiction
           to
           a
           convinced
           conscience
           and
           judgment
           ,
           in
           a
           matter
           of
           this
           high
           nature
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           deal
           plainly
           ,
           the
           Dissenters
           seem
           to
           be
           very
           sensible
           of
           the
           uncasiness
           of
           this
           task
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           of
           proceeding
           in
           the
           same
           method
           to
           convince
           us
           of
           Vnlawful
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           ,
           which
           we
           use
           against
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           .
           They
           go
           another
           way
           to
           work
           ,
           and
           it
           would
           make
           an
           Indifferent
           Man
           suspect
           their
           cause
           ,
           to
           see
           what
           shifts
           they
           use
           to
           make
           good
           their
           pretence
           .
           They
           demand
           of
           us
           
             where
             Scripture
             Commands
          
           ,
           or
           
             what
             need
          
           there
           is
           of
           those
           things
           ,
           which
           our
           Church
           requires
           .
           They
           pretend
           that
           the
           Liberty
           of
           Christians
           does
           in
           great
           part
           consist
           in
           this
           ,
           that
           they
           ought
           not
           by
           Man
           to
           be
           determined
           to
           any
           practice
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           ,
           to
           which
           God
           ,
           or
           the
           Nature
           of
           the
           thing
           has
           not
           determined
           them
           .
           They
           say
           ,
           that
           the
           appointment
           of
           
             Significant
             Rites
          
           and
           Ceremonies
           is
           a
           derogation
           from
           the
           Royalty
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           the
           sufficiency
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           And
           to
           give
           some
           countenance
           to
           these
           pretences
           they
           would
           perswade
           us
           that
           the
           Scripture
           it self
           intimates
           some
           such
           thing
           ,
           as
           if
           nothing
           were
           to
           be
           done
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           but
           what
           is
           by
           God
           himself
           Commanded
           ,
           excepting
           always
           those
           circumstances
           necessary
           to
           action
           ,
           the
           choice
           whereof
           must
           yet
           be
           left
           to
           every
           Man
           ,
           and
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           now
           taught
           ,
           Authority
           must
           not
           so
           much
           as
           meddle
           with
           them
           .
           To
           this
           purpose
           we
           are
           told
           of
           the
           
             Pattern
             in
             the
             Mount
          
           ,
           of
           
             Strange
             Fire
             that
             was
             not
             Commanded
             ,
          
           and
           of
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           
             adding
             to
             ,
             or
             diminishing
             from
             the
             Law
             of
          
           Moses
           :
           As
           if
           these
           places
           of
           Scripture
           made
           all
           impositions
           concerning
           the
           Order
           of
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           as
           Unlawful
           ,
           as
           the
           express
           Word
           of
           God
           shews
           so
           many
           particular
           practices
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           in
           her
           Worship
           to
           be
           .
           But
           leaving
           these
           attempts
           of
           theirs
           to
           be
           examined
           in
           the
           more
           particular
           Controversies
           :
           Who
           sees
           not
           what
           a
           wide
           difference
           
           there
           is
           in
           the
           particular
           management
           and
           application
           of
           this
           general
           Proposition
           ,
           that
           we
           must
           not
           Communicate
           with
           any
           Church
           in
           Impurity
           ,
           between
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           against
           the
           Papists
           ,
           and
           between
           the
           Dissenters
           against
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ?
           For
           we
           are
           secure
           against
           all
           just
           accusation
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           if
           this
           one
           Proposition
           be
           true
           ,
           That
           
             it
             is
             not
             in
             the
             Power
             of
             any
             Church
             to
             dispense
             with
             the
             Laws
             of
             God
             ,
             or
             to
             absolve
             us
             from
             our
             Obligation
             to
             keep
             them
             .
          
           But
           the
           Dissenters
           cannot
           avoid
           the
           Justice
           of
           our
           charge
           against
           them
           ,
           unless
           this
           proposition
           be
           true
           also
           ,
           That
           
             the
             Church
             hath
             no
             Authority
             in
             things
             of
             an
             Indifferent
             Nature
             ,
             to
             prescribe
             such
             in
             Divine
             Service
             ,
             as
             shall
             be
             thought
             most
             agreeable
             to
             the
             general
             Rules
             of
             Reason
             and
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             most
             Sutable
             to
             the
             great
             ends
             of
             Chrstianity
             .
          
           Now
           if
           what
           we
           say
           in
           these
           things
           will
           hang
           well
           together
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           if
           the
           former
           Proposition
           be
           true
           ,
           and
           if
           the
           Truth
           thereof
           ,
           shall
           not
           hinder
           the
           latter
           from
           being
           false
           ;
           then
           with
           very
           good
           Reason
           may
           we
           pretend
           that
           it
           was
           necessary
           for
           us
           to
           Separate
           from
           Rome
           for
           
             greater
             purity
          
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           avoiding
           of
           Sin
           :
           But
           the
           Dissenters
           will
           have
           no
           just
           ground
           from
           our
           example
           to
           pretend
           the
           same
           ,
           in
           their
           Separation
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           And
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           the
           Difference
           is
           plainly
           enough
           confess'd
           by
           those
           of
           the
           Separation
           that
           hold
           
             occasional
             Communion
          
           with
           our
           Church
           to
           be
           Lawful
           ,
           that
           is
           who
           think
           it
           Lawful
           to
           Communicate
           actually
           with
           us
           upon
           occasion
           ,
           though
           they
           are
           all
           the
           while
           Members
           of
           Separate
           Churches
           .
           For
           if
           our
           Communion
           is
           polluted
           with
           Sinful
           conditions
           ,
           how
           comes
           it
           to
           pass
           that
           this
           
             occasional
             Communion
          
           as
           they
           call
           it
           ,
           should
           be
           more
           Lawful
           then
           Constant
           Communion
           ?
           Unless
           they
           will
           say
           it
           is
           Lawful
           sometimes
           to
           break
           Gods
           Commandments
           ,
           but
           not
           Lawful
           to
           do
           it
           ordinarily
           .
           But
           I
           know
           
           they
           will
           not
           say
           so
           .
           And
           therefore
           when
           they
           say
           that
           they
           cannot
           without
           Sin
           become
           Members
           of
           our
           Churches
           ,
           though
           without
           Sin
           they
           can
           sometimes
           join
           in
           our
           Publick
           Worship
           ;
           they
           seem
           to
           suppose
           that
           the
           way
           of
           Worship
           in
           the
           Separate
           meetings
           ,
           is
           more
           perfect
           than
           ours
           in
           respect
           of
           those
           things
           which
           do
           not
           fall
           under
           any
           particular
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           may
           be
           ordered
           better
           or
           worse
           ,
           as
           Men
           are
           more
           or
           less
           prudent
           ,
           or
           as
           they
           take
           greater
           or
           less
           heed
           to
           the
           general
           Rules
           of
           Reason
           and
           Scripture
           concerning
           things
           Indifferent
           .
           And
           withal
           that
           there
           is
           so
           much
           more
           gravity
           ,
           Decency
           ,
           Simplicity
           and
           Tendency
           to
           Edification
           in
           the
           outward
           mode
           of
           their
           Worship
           ,
           that
           it
           would
           be
           a
           Sin
           to
           let
           it
           fall
           ,
           or
           in
           practise
           to
           prefer
           ours
           before
           it
           .
           But
           by
           this
           I
           think
           any
           body
           may
           see
           what
           a
           Difference
           there
           is
           between
           what
           we
           ,
           and
           these
           Men
           mean
           by
           the
           same
           pretence
           of
           
             refusing
             to
             Communicate
             ,
             where
             it
             cannot
             be
             done
             without
             Sin.
          
           For
           our
           meaning
           is
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           such
           conditions
           of
           Communion
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           that
           as
           the
           Case
           stands
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           a
           Wickedness
           to
           Communicate
           with
           her
           at
           any
           time
           .
           But
           they
           mean
           no
           such
           thing
           against
           us
           ,
           since
           without
           Scruple
           they
           can
           sometimes
           Communicate
           with
           us
           ;
           only
           they
           suppose
           they
           have
           set
           up
           a
           more
           perfect
           Communion
           ;
           and
           they
           do
           not
           forsake
           our
           Communion
           as
           Unlawful
           in
           it self
           ,
           but
           they
           think
           it
           their
           Duty
           to
           prefer
           a
           better
           before
           it
           .
           So
           that
           in
           this
           pretence
           for
           Separation
           ,
           these
           Men
           do
           not
           understand
           purity
           in
           opposition
           to
           Sin
           ,
           or
           breaking
           any
           of
           Gods
           Commandments
           ;
           but
           purity
           in
           opposition
           to
           a
           
             less
             Convenient
             or
             Prudent
          
           ordering
           of
           the
           outward
           mode
           of
           Worship
           .
           That
           is
           ,
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           the
           same
           thing
           by
           Separating
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           a
           Church
           for
           greater
           purity
           ,
           that
           we
           understand
           by
           it
           :
           Nor
           can
           they
           urge
           that
           pretence
           for
           Separation
           from
           us
           ,
           as
           we
           do
           urge
           it
           against
           
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           :
           And
           consequently
           our
           Reason
           of
           Separating
           from
           that
           Church
           for
           
             greater
             purity
          
           ,
           does
           not
           hold
           to
           justify
           their
           Separation
           from
           us
           .
        
         
           Upon
           consideration
           of
           the
           whole
           matter
           I
           hope
           the
           Papists
           will
           find
           no
           Protestant
           of
           our
           Church
           easy
           and
           silly
           enough
           to
           be
           deluded
           by
           such
           Superficial
           Colours
           as
           these
           are
           .
           
             You
             see
             ,
             say
             they
             ,
             what
             is
             become
             of
             leaving
             the
             Communion
             of
             the
             Church
             
               for
               greater
               purity
            
             .
             The
             Protestants
             at
             first
             forsook
             the
             Catholick
             ,
             i.
             e.
             Roman
             Church
             for
             greater
             purity
             .
             And
             do
             not
             the
             Presbyterians
             forsake
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             for
             greater
             purity
             ?
             And
             so
             do
             the
             Independents
             set
             up
             their
             Congregations
             for
             greater
             purity
             .
             And
             the
             Anabaptists
             for
             the
             same
             reason
             depart
             from
             them
             :
             And
             the
             Quakers
             from
             them
             All
             :
             And
             there
             is
             no
             end
             of
             breaking
             Communion
             upon
             such
             pretences
             as
             these
             are
             ;
             which
             are
             as
             good
             against
             your selves
             ,
             as
             they
             are
             against
             us
             :
             And
             therefore
             you
             may
             choose
             whether
             you
             will
             return
             to
             the
             Church
             from
             which
             you
             first
             brake
             away
             under
             pretence
             of
             Reformation
             ,
             or
             whether
             you
             will
             follow
             your
             Principle
             till
             you
             are
             Refined
             into
             Quakers
             ,
             or
             it
             may
             be
             into
             a
             more
             absurd
             and
             mad
             sort
             of
             People
             than
             the
             Quakers
             themselves
             are
             .
          
        
         
           It
           is
           a
           lamentable
           thing
           to
           see
           Men
           of
           Common
           understanding
           couzened
           by
           such
           Palpable
           Fallacies
           as
           these
           are
           ;
           though
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           wondred
           at
           ,
           that
           the
           Agents
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           make
           the
           best
           use
           of
           them
           ,
           they
           can
           ;
           since
           a
           Foul
           Cause
           must
           be
           beholden
           to
           such
           Artifices
           as
           these
           ,
           to
           blanch
           it
           over
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           pray
           might
           there
           not
           be
           
             such
             Corruptions
          
           in
           your
           Church
           ,
           that
           we
           with
           good
           Reason
           might
           pretend
           it
           necessary
           to
           forsake
           your
           Communion
           for
           
             one
             that
             was
             purer
          
           ;
           and
           yet
           there
           may
           be
           none
           in
           ours
           to
           give
           any
           Man
           Just
           Cause
           to
           leave
           us
           upon
           that
           pretence
           ?
           Is
           it
           
           impossible
           that
           it
           should
           ever
           be
           just
           and
           necessary
           to
           depart
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           a
           Church
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           her
           Corruptions
           ,
           because
           every
           Man
           that
           has
           a
           mouth
           ,
           and
           can
           speak
           ,
           may
           say
           if
           he
           please
           ,
           that
           he
           Separates
           for
           greater
           purity
           ,
           though
           there
           be
           no
           reasonable
           Cause
           to
           say
           so
           ?
           Or
           does
           it
           follow
           that
           because
           our
           Dissenters
           are
           mistaken
           in
           Believing
           that
           we
           have
           given
           them
           sufficient
           cause
           to
           deal
           by
           us
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           done
           by
           you
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           to
           forsake
           our
           Communion
           
             for
             greater
             purity
          
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           forsaken
           yours
           upon
           the
           same
           account
           ;
           that
           therefore
           we
           also
           must
           needs
           proceed
           upon
           mistakes
           in
           so
           doing
           ?
           What
           if
           some
           of
           them
           are
           Erroneously
           perswaded
           that
           they
           ought
           not
           to
           submit
           to
           
             Human
             Orders
          
           in
           the
           performance
           of
           Gods
           Worship
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           
             no
             particular
             Warrant
          
           in
           Gods
           Word
           for
           them
           ;
           may
           not
           we
           for
           all
           this
           be
           sure
           that
           your
           Church
           requireth
           Men
           to
           do
           things
           which
           God
           hath
           
             particularly
             forbidden
          
           ?
           And
           if
           we
           be
           sure
           of
           this
           upon
           the
           plain
           Grounds
           of
           Reason
           and
           Scripture
           ;
           should
           we
           be
           afraid
           to
           reject
           your
           Communion
           in
           these
           things
           ,
           because
           another
           sort
           of
           Men
           are
           so
           unreasonably
           wilful
           as
           to
           reject
           our
           Communion
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           things
           that
           are
           nothing
           like
           to
           these
           ?
        
         
           What
           if
           they
           conceiving
           that
           
             our
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             are
             not
             so
             Edifying
             ,
          
           that
           
             our
             Rites
             and
             Ceremonies
             are
             not
             so
             expedient
             ,
          
           but
           rather
           Vnlawful
           as
           being
           
             Human
             Inventions
          
           ;
           what
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           if
           they
           lay
           so
           great
           a
           stress
           upon
           these
           things
           as
           to
           set
           up
           a
           Communion
           which
           they
           Fancy
           to
           be
           more
           refined
           and
           unexceptionable
           ?
           May
           they
           not
           be
           
             to
             blame
          
           in
           all
           this
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           Church
           of
           
             England
             not
             be
             liable
             to
             blame
             ,
          
           but
           worthy
           of
           commendation
           for
           departing
           from
           you
           
             in
             your
             Latin
             Service
             ,
             your
             half
             Communion
             ,
             your
             Praying
             to
             Dead
             Men
             and
             Women
             ,
             your
             giving
             Divine
             Honors
             to
             a
             Wafer
          
           and
           
             your
             other
             Gross
             Superstitions
             and
             Idolatries
             ?
          
        
         
         
           Although
           our
           Church
           had
           not
           ordered
           her
           publick
           Worship
           so
           discreetly
           and
           carefully
           ,
           but
           that
           in
           sundry
           things
           it
           might
           be
           reformed
           to
           good
           purpose
           ;
           it
           might
           yet
           by
           no
           means
           be
           necessary
           for
           any
           of
           her
           Members
           to
           forsake
           her
           Communion
           ;
           but
           it
           would
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           be
           their
           great
           fault
           so
           to
           do
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           she
           holds
           forth
           all
           the
           necessary
           means
           of
           Salvation
           and
           requires
           nothing
           to
           be
           professed
           ,
           or
           to
           be
           done
           that
           is
           contrary
           to
           Gods
           Word
           .
           But
           yet
           it
           would
           be
           necessary
           to
           renounce
           the
           profession
           of
           your
           Impious
           Errors
           ,
           and
           to
           forsake
           you
           in
           all
           things
           wherein
           your selves
           have
           departed
           from
           the
           plain
           Truths
           of
           Reason
           and
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           contradicted
           the
           plain
           Word
           and
           Laws
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           Though
           it
           may
           happen
           that
           a
           Man
           may
           do
           so
           Foolishly
           ,
           as
           to
           run
           himself
           upon
           great
           inconvenience
           in
           forsaking
           his
           Habitation
           ,
           because
           there
           is
           some
           petty
           Disease
           reigning
           thereabouts
           ,
           which
           is
           known
           to
           endanger
           no
           Mans
           Life
           ;
           yet
           it
           may
           be
           Wisely
           done
           by
           another
           Man
           to
           run
           his
           Country
           when
           the
           Plague
           is
           raging
           in
           every
           corner
           of
           it
           ,
           especially
           if
           he
           could
           know
           that
           it
           were
           impossible
           for
           him
           to
           escape
           ,
           if
           he
           should
           tarry
           there
           any
           longer
           :
           And
           yet
           ,
           I
           suppose
           ,
           you
           will
           not
           deny
           but
           the
           one
           as
           well
           as
           the
           other
           may
           pretend
           that
           he
           left
           his
           dwelling
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           
             better
             health
          
           ,
           and
           
             more
             safely
          
           :
           But
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           grant
           that
           the
           later
           pretends
           this
           like
           a
           Wise-Man
           ,
           though
           the
           other
           does
           it
           like
           a
           Fool.
           The
           case
           we
           are
           upon
           is
           much
           what
           the
           same
           .
           From
           you
           it
           was
           necessary
           to
           depart
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           
             greater
             purity
          
           ;
           but
           so
           it
           is
           not
           necessary
           for
           you
           or
           others
           to
           depart
           from
           us
           ;
           and
           yet
           others
           may
           take
           the
           same
           Plea
           into
           their
           mouths
           against
           us
           ,
           and
           we
           may
           not
           be
           able
           to
           help
           it
           ;
           though
           we
           can
           well
           shew
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           no
           good
           reason
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           much
           for
           the
           Difference
           of
           the
           Case
           with
           respect
           to
           
             Separation
             for
             greater
             purity
          
           .
        
         
         
           2.
           
           I
           proceed
           next
           to
           consider
           the
           Difference
           with
           respect
           to
           that
           common
           Question
           ,
           
             Who
             shall
             be
             the
             Judge
          
           ?
        
         
           The
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           arrogating
           to
           her self
           an
           Infallibility
           in
           determining
           all
           Questions
           of
           Faith
           ,
           doth
           in
           pursuance
           of
           this
           claim
           deny
           private
           persons
           the
           Liberty
           of
           examining
           her
           Definitions
           by
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           ;
           and
           requireth
           them
           to
           acquiesce
           therein
           without
           more
           ado
           ,
           as
           there
           is
           great
           reason
           they
           should
           ,
           if
           indeed
           they
           have
           reason
           to
           believe
           her
           Infallible
           .
           The
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           pretendeth
           not
           to
           Infallibility
           ;
           But
           we
           say
           that
           she
           is
           not
           deceived
           in
           those
           points
           which
           she
           propounds
           to
           be
           believed
           as
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           nor
           in
           rejecting
           those
           other
           Articles
           which
           the
           Roman
           Church
           propounds
           under
           that
           notion
           :
           And
           agreeably
           to
           this
           pretence
           she
           hath
           Translated
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           into
           
             plain
             English
          
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           best
           means
           whereby
           to
           Judge
           ,
           if
           what
           she
           says
           be
           not
           true
           ;
           she
           not
           only
           alloweth
           the
           People
           to
           Read
           them
           ,
           but
           exhorteth
           and
           requireth
           them
           so
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           causeth
           them
           to
           be
           
             Publickly
             Read
          
           to
           the
           People
           in
           all
           
             Religious
             Assemblies
          
           .
           By
           this
           means
           she
           traineth
           up
           her
           Members
           to
           an
           Ability
           of
           Judging
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           several
           Capacities
           ;
           not
           only
           concerning
           All
           that
           she
           teaches
           them
           to
           believe
           ,
           but
           also
           concerning
           All
           that
           she
           teaches
           them
           to
           do
           as
           their
           Duty
           to
           God
           or
           Man
           ;
           so
           that
           she
           does
           not
           bring
           them
           up
           ,
           as
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           Educates
           her
           Children
           to
           an
           
             Implicit
             Faith
          
           ,
           and
           a
           
             Blind
             Obedience
          
           .
        
         
           But
           yet
           the
           Superiors
           of
           our
           Church
           do
           challenge
           a
           Right
           to
           Judge
           in
           some
           things
           for
           the
           People
           commited
           to
           their
           charge
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           allow
           that
           in
           those
           things
           they
           should
           Judge
           for
           themselves
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           
             All
             things
             that
             relate
             to
             Publick
             Order
             ,
          
           and
           which
           may
           without
           Sin
           be
           determined
           one
           way
           or
           another
           ,
           but
           are
           capable
           of
           a
           better
           or
           worse
           Determination
           ;
           
           that
           is
           ,
           
             All
             Indifferent
             things
          
           .
           We
           say
           that
           things
           of
           this
           nature
           being
           determined
           by
           a
           
             Competent
             Authority
          
           ,
           ought
           without
           farther
           inquiry
           into
           the
           Reasons
           of
           such
           Determination
           ,
           to
           be
           done
           by
           all
           that
           are
           under
           that
           Authority
           .
           As
           for
           the
           Peoples
           Faith
           in
           God
           ,
           and
           their
           Obedience
           to
           him
           in
           doing
           what
           he
           hath
           Commanded
           and
           avoiding
           what
           he
           hath
           Forbidden
           ,
           our
           Church
           does
           not
           resolve
           that
           into
           her
           own
           Authority
           ,
           but
           into
           those
           very
           Reasons
           upon
           which
           they
           that
           are
           in
           Authority
           do
           build
           their
           own
           Faith
           and
           Obedience
           ;
           which
           Reasons
           are
           included
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           .
           But
           as
           to
           her
           Appointments
           and
           Orders
           in
           all
           things
           neither
           injoined
           by
           God
           himself
           ,
           nor
           by
           him
           forbidden
           ,
           she
           expecteth
           Submission
           to
           them
           upon
           the
           Account
           of
           her
           own
           Authority
           ;
           and
           alloweth
           not
           us
           to
           Judge
           of
           the
           Expediency
           or
           Inexpediency
           of
           them
           before
           we
           will
           Conform
           our
           Practice
           to
           them
           .
           All
           which
           is
           so
           to
           be
           understood
           that
           still
           her
           Authority
           in
           these
           things
           is
           supposed
           to
           be
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           Duty
           of
           Submitting
           thereunto
           required
           in
           the
           general
           precepts
           of
           Obedience
           to
           Superiors
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           any
           Man
           ask
           ,
           
           
             Who
             is
             to
             be
             Judge
             of
             things
             Indifferent
             as
             to
             a
             Mans
             practice
             ,
             whether
             his
             own
             Conscience
             or
             his
             Superior
             ?
          
           
           I
           Answer
           that
           as
           to
           a
           Man
           's
           own
           practice
           ,
           
             himself
             is
             to
             be
             Judge
             what
             things
             are
             Indifferent
             ,
          
           and
           which
           consequently
           come
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           Human
           Authority
           to
           Determin
           .
           For
           it
           is
           plain
           enough
           that
           by
           the
           same
           Rule
           which
           sheweth
           us
           what
           is
           Duty
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           Sin
           ,
           we
           come
           to
           Judge
           of
           what
           is
           Indifferent
           .
           And
           therefore
           when
           we
           grant
           to
           Private
           Persons
           a
           Judgment
           of
           Discretion
           concerning
           Sin
           and
           Duty
           ,
           we
           cannot
           deny
           them
           the
           right
           to
           Judge
           what
           is
           neither
           Duty
           nor
           Sin
           ,
           but
           Indifferent
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           Sum
           of
           what
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Case
             in
             behalf
             of
             Dissenters
          
           hath
           said
           upon
           that
           matter
           .
           
        
         
           But
           then
           how
           can
           Authority
           pretend
           to
           abridge
           private
           
           Persons
           of
           Judging
           ,
           as
           to
           their
           own
           practice
           concerning
           Indifferent
           things
           ?
           To
           this
           I
           Answer
           in
           the
           Words
           of
           the
           same
           Author
           ,
           where
           he
           acknowledges
           his
           Adversary
           to
           have
           
             said
             well
             to
             those
             who
             cannot
             comply
             with
             some
             things
             required
             in
             the
             Liturgy
             and
             can
             say
             no
             more
             then
             that
             they
             think
             them
             not
             Decent
             ,
          
           
           
             not
             Expedient
             ,
             not
             Orderly
             ,
             for
             ,
          
           says
           he
           ,
           
             no
             Private
             Person
             is
             a
             Judge
             of
             these
             things
             .
          
           Which
           is
           an
           excellent
           saying
           ,
           but
           so
           directly
           contrary
           to
           the
           main
           principles
           of
           his
           Book
           ,
           that
           I
           wonder
           how
           it
           fell
           from
           him
           .
           We
           are
           then
           to
           Judge
           whether
           the
           things
           required
           by
           Authority
           be
           Indifferent
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           Lawful
           ;
           and
           then
           to
           Judge
           no
           farther
           
             as
             to
             our
             own
             Practice
          
           :
           But
           for
           the
           Decency
           and
           Expediency
           and
           Orderliness
           of
           those
           things
           to
           leave
           our
           Superiors
           to
           Answer
           to
           God
           for
           that
           .
           Our
           doing
           them
           is
           Warranted
           by
           our
           Rule
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           obey
           Authority
           in
           all
           Lawful
           things
           .
        
         
           Now
           it
           is
           things
           of
           this
           sort
           only
           ,
           and
           with
           respect
           to
           Order
           and
           Decency
           ,
           and
           Prudent
           Determination
           of
           what
           is
           most
           likely
           to
           Edify
           ,
           that
           our
           Superiors
           pretend
           to
           Judge
           for
           us
           what
           is
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           not
           to
           be
           done
           ;
           so
           as
           to
           
             allow
             us
             no
             right
             to
             Judge
             for
             our selves
             ,
             about
             them
             .
          
           They
           claim
           Obedience
           to
           their
           Constitutions
           in
           these
           things
           ,
           upon
           the
           Account
           of
           their
           Authority
           ,
           which
           ,
           when
           the
           matter
           is
           Lawful
           ,
           should
           without
           more
           ado
           conclude
           our
           Practice
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           they
           Judge
           also
           what
           Faith
           we
           are
           to
           profess
           ,
           what
           Worship
           we
           are
           to
           offer
           up
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           what
           Life
           we
           are
           to
           lead
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           our
           receiving
           the
           benefit
           of
           Church
           Communion
           ;
           and
           by
           consequence
           they
           do
           take
           upon
           them
           to
           Judge
           in
           our
           behalf
           ,
           what
           are
           the
           Articles
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           what
           is
           the
           true
           Christian
           Worship
           ,
           and
           what
           it
           is
           to
           lead
           a
           Christian
           Life
           .
           For
           otherwise
           it
           were
           impossible
           that
           the
           Ministers
           of
           Christ
           ,
           should
           discreetly
           and
           honestly
           use
           that
           
           Authority
           which
           he
           hath
           left
           them
           to
           take
           into
           the
           Church
           those
           that
           are
           duly
           qualified
           for
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           turn
           out
           those
           that
           are
           no
           longer
           fit
           to
           be
           continued
           in
           it
           .
           But
           still
           there
           is
           a
           great
           difference
           between
           their
           Judging
           for
           us
           in
           those
           things
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           matters
           aforementioned
           .
        
         
           For
           they
           suppose
           that
           the
           Articles
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Faith
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Commandments
           of
           God
           ,
           are
           the
           same
           that
           ever
           they
           were
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           is
           not
           in
           the
           Power
           of
           Man
           to
           make
           any
           alterations
           in
           these
           standing
           Rules
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           that
           Obedience
           is
           not
           due
           to
           any
           Authority
           of
           Man
           going
           about
           to
           make
           such
           alterations
           .
           From
           whence
           it
           follows
           that
           Private
           Persons
           should
           be
           able
           to
           Judge
           wherein
           true
           Christianity
           consinsts
           as
           well
           as
           their
           Superiors
           ,
           that
           they
           also
           may
           offer
           up
           unto
           God
           a
           Reasonable
           Service
           .
           To
           which
           end
           the
           Bible
           is
           put
           into
           all
           Mens
           hands
           ;
           the
           meaning
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           is
           opened
           in
           our
           Religious
           Assemblies
           ;
           the
           People
           are
           trained
           up
           to
           understand
           the
           particulars
           of
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Obedience
           ,
           with
           the
           Reasons
           and
           Motives
           thereof
           ,
           that
           as
           we
           said
           before
           ,
           they
           may
           be
           able
           to
           resolve
           their
           Faith
           into
           the
           same
           grounds
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           upon
           which
           the
           Bishops
           and
           Pastors
           of
           the
           Church
           do
           themselves
           believe
           .
           And
           we
           do
           Unanimously
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           if
           this
           Church
           makes
           the
           profession
           of
           false
           Doctrine
           ,
           or
           the
           braking
           of
           any
           of
           Gods
           Commandments
           ,
           a
           condition
           of
           her
           Communion
           ;
           they
           that
           upon
           this
           account
           Separate
           from
           her
           Communion
           are
           before
           God
           clear
           of
           the
           Guilt
           of
           Schism
           in
           so
           doing
           .
           And
           here
           she
           makes
           all
           Private
           Persons
           Judges
           for
           themselves
           ,
           whether
           she
           doth
           this
           or
           not
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           training
           them
           up
           the
           best
           way
           she
           can
           ,
           to
           be
           able
           to
           inform
           themselves
           in
           these
           matters
           .
        
         
         
           But
           the
           case
           is
           otherwise
           with
           respect
           to
           Indifferent
           things
           relating
           to
           Gods
           Worship
           .
           For
           though
           our
           Superiors
           profess
           that
           they
           are
           not
           to
           meddle
           ,
           in
           adding
           to
           or
           taking
           from
           the
           Faith
           and
           the
           
             Commandments
             of
             God
          
           ;
           and
           though
           they
           appeal
           to
           Private
           Persons
           ,
           that
           they
           do
           not
           in
           Fact
           usurp
           an
           Authority
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           which
           they
           profess
           to
           disclaim
           ;
           yet
           in
           these
           Indifferent
           things
           ,
           they
           claim
           a
           Power
           to
           add
           ,
           or
           diminish
           ,
           or
           to
           make
           such
           expedient
           alterations
           ,
           as
           they
           shall
           think
           fit
           to
           be
           made
           ;
           and
           this
           without
           being
           any
           way
           accountable
           to
           the
           People
           for
           their
           discretion
           in
           so
           doing
           ,
           before
           their
           Orders
           be
           obeyed
           :
           And
           we
           say
           that
           whoever
           they
           are
           ,
           that
           will
           not
           be
           concluded
           by
           Authority
           in
           these
           things
           ,
           but
           upon
           any
           pretence
           whatsoever
           taken
           from
           them
           ,
           do
           break
           away
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           they
           are
           Guilty
           of
           Schism
           in
           so
           doing
           .
           And
           this
           must
           be
           truly
           said
           ,
           if
           what
           that
           Author
           himself
           hath
           said
           be
           true
           ,
           
             that
             no
             Private
             Person
             is
             Judge
             of
             those
             things
             .
          
        
         
           And
           now
           I
           think
           any
           one
           may
           see
           a
           vast
           difference
           between
           the
           claim
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           only
           Judge
           of
           what
           she
           imposes
           upon
           her
           Members
           ,
           and
           the
           claim
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           to
           the
           same
           with
           reference
           to
           hers
           ;
           that
           in
           the
           former
           case
           it
           is
           unjust
           and
           unreasonable
           ;
           but
           in
           the
           later
           very
           equal
           and
           necessary
           ,
           and
           which
           no
           Man
           that
           is
           not
           over-ruled
           by
           a
           fit
           of
           passion
           and
           prejudice
           ,
           but
           must
           allow
           to
           a
           Competent
           Authority
           .
        
         
           Whereas
           therefore
           we
           have
           considered
           the
           points
           in
           Question
           between
           the
           Dissenters
           and
           our selves
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           
             Prudence
             ,
             Expedience
          
           ,
           and
           
             Better
             Edification
          
           :
           We
           say
           withal
           that
           this
           is
           more
           than
           we
           were
           bound
           to
           do
           in
           order
           to
           the
           Conviction
           of
           Dissenters
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           their
           Duty
           to
           conform
           to
           the
           Liturgy
           and
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           And
           that
           because
           the
           Authority
           by
           
           which
           they
           are
           Establisht
           obligeth
           us
           to
           Submission
           (
           if
           there
           be
           nothing
           in
           them
           to
           make
           our
           Communion
           with
           the
           Church
           Sinful
           )
           though
           we
           should
           be
           so
           arrogant
           as
           to
           think
           we
           could
           have
           ordered
           these
           matters
           with
           more
           discretion
           ,
           if
           
             our
             Advice
          
           had
           been
           taken
           .
           But
           if
           ,
           setting
           aside
           the
           consideration
           of
           Authority
           ,
           we
           have
           moreover
           shewn
           that
           upon
           all
           accounts
           of
           Decency
           and
           
             Expediency
             ,
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
          
           are
           to
           be
           preferred
           before
           
             Extemporary
             Prayers
          
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           particulars
           now
           excepted
           against
           are
           so
           far
           from
           betraying
           any
           want
           of
           Judgment
           in
           those
           that
           prescribed
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           Indications
           of
           the
           great
           Wisdom
           and
           Caution
           wherewith
           they
           proceeded
           ;
           we
           have
           not
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           performed
           this
           ,
           believing
           it
           necessary
           to
           prove
           the
           Separation
           to
           be
           Vnjustifiable
           ,
           but
           intending
           to
           shew
           thereby
           that
           it
           is
           
             more
             Inexcusable
          
           .
           And
           although
           it
           was
           no
           part
           of
           our
           Design
           to
           render
           those
           of
           the
           Separation
           more
           Inexcusable
           by
           this
           performance
           ,
           yet
           I
           beseech
           them
           to
           take
           care
           that
           it
           happens
           not
           so
           in
           the
           Event
           .
        
         
           If
           after
           all
           ,
           it
           be
           asked
           what
           an
           Inferior
           is
           to
           do
           ,
           that
           Judgeth
           those
           things
           to
           be
           Vnlawful
           ,
           which
           his
           Superiors
           in
           full
           Perswasion
           that
           they
           are
           Indifferent
           at
           least
           ,
           require
           him
           to
           do
           ?
           I
           Answer
           ,
           as
           all
           Men
           that
           have
           a
           Sense
           of
           Honesty
           will
           Answer
           ;
           That
           whilest
           he
           is
           perswaded
           that
           they
           are
           Unlawful
           ,
           he
           ought
           to
           forbear
           them
           .
           But
           then
           ,
           as
           no
           Man
           of
           Understanding
           will
           deny
           ,
           he
           is
           yet
           a
           Sinner
           before
           God
           for
           refusing
           that
           Obedience
           to
           a
           Lawful
           Authority
           ,
           which
           he
           ought
           to
           perform
           ;
           since
           in
           order
           to
           the
           performance
           of
           it
           ,
           he
           might
           and
           ought
           to
           understand
           his
           Duty
           better
           than
           he
           does
           .
           For
           as
           the
           forementioned
           Author
           says
           ,
           
             Things
             Indifferent
             and
             Things
             Commanded
             and
             Forbidden
             are
             not
             Things
             which
             we
             Fancy
             ,
          
           
           
             but
             which
             indeed
             are
             so
          
           .
           If
           the
           Light
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           are
           a
           Rule
           of
           what
           is
           Duty
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           Sin
           ,
           they
           
           are
           a
           Rule
           also
           of
           what
           is
           Indifferent
           :
           And
           the
           same
           Light
           that
           shews
           what
           is
           
             necessary
             to
             be
             done
          
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           
             necessary
             not
             to
             be
             done
          
           ,
           does
           withal
           shew
           what
           is
           Lawful
           to
           be
           done
           or
           to
           be
           forborn
           .
           And
           as
           an
           Erroneous
           perswasion
           that
           something
           is
           Lawful
           which
           God
           hath
           forbidden
           ,
           will
           not
           acquit
           any
           Man
           ,
           that
           hath
           the
           means
           of
           better
           Information
           ,
           from
           Sin
           ,
           in
           doing
           according
           to
           his
           Perswasion
           of
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           what
           he
           does
           :
           So
           neither
           will
           any
           Mans
           Erroneous
           Perswasion
           that
           his
           Superiors
           require
           him
           to
           do
           what
           is
           Vnlawful
           ,
           when
           the
           thing
           it self
           is
           Lawful
           ,
           acquit
           him
           of
           the
           Guilt
           of
           Disobedience
           in
           following
           that
           Perswasion
           .
           In
           what
           degrees
           this
           or
           that
           Mans
           Ignorance
           in
           these
           things
           is
           culpable
           ,
           God
           only
           knoweth
           for
           the
           most
           part
           ,
           and
           therefore
           he
           only
           can
           
             Judge
             the
             World
             in
             Righteousness
          
           .
           But
           more
           or
           less
           culpable
           it
           is
           in
           All
           that
           have
           means
           of
           Knowledge
           .
           And
           it
           concerns
           every
           one
           of
           us
           ,
           as
           we
           love
           our
           own
           Souls
           ,
           to
           consider
           Impartially
           ,
           what
           God
           hath
           Commanded
           and
           what
           he
           hath
           forbidden
           in
           his
           Word
           ,
           and
           consequently
           what
           he
           has
           left
           to
           our
           Liberty
           ;
           and
           that
           because
           his
           Word
           is
           a
           Rule
           sufficiently
           plain
           as
           to
           these
           things
           .
        
         
           For
           if
           those
           to
           whom
           God
           hath
           given
           Authority
           ,
           being
           corrupted
           in
           their
           Judgments
           by
           Passion
           or
           any
           Worldly
           Interest
           ,
           take
           those
           things
           to
           be
           Lawful
           which
           
             God
             hath
             forbidden
          
           ,
           and
           impose
           them
           upon
           All
           that
           are
           subject
           to
           their
           Rule
           ;
           their
           Perswasion
           shall
           not
           hinder
           their
           being
           grievous
           Sinners
           against
           God
           ,
           nor
           Exempt
           them
           from
           being
           answerable
           to
           him
           for
           
             abusing
             their
             Authority
          
           ,
           and
           for
           all
           the
           pernicious
           consequences
           thereof
           in
           
             drawing
             some
             Men
             into
             Wicked
             Practices
             ,
          
           and
           in
           
             punishing
             others
             for
             well
             doing
          
           .
           And
           by
           like
           Reason
           ,
           if
           Subjects
           not
           rightly
           attending
           to
           the
           Rule
           of
           their
           Duty
           ,
           are
           grown
           to
           a
           Perswasion
           that
           those
           things
           are
           Vnlawful
           ,
           which
           their
           Superiors
           injoin
           them
           to
           do
           ;
           whereas
           indeed
           
           they
           are
           Indifferent
           ;
           and
           thereupon
           refuse
           to
           do
           them
           :
           This
           Perswasion
           shall
           not
           acquit
           them
           before
           God
           ,
           nor
           hinder
           them
           from
           being
           answerable
           for
           
             Abusing
             their
             Liberty
          
           ,
           and
           for
           all
           the
           pernicious
           Consequences
           of
           their
           Disobedience
           ,
           in
           
             Setting
             a
             bad
             Example
          
           ,
           in
           
             Breaking
             the
             Peace
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
          
           in
           
             Disturbing
             Publick
             Order
          
           ,
           and
           ,
           which
           very
           often
           happens
           ,
           in
           
             Giving
             occasion
             to
             the
             worst
             of
             Men
             to
             profane
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             to
             speak
             Evil
             and
             Blasphemous
             things
             of
             his
             Holy
             Religion
             .
          
           I
           say
           ,
           Ignorance
           will
           help
           no
           more
           in
           this
           later
           case
           than
           in
           the
           former
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           as
           easie
           for
           the
           Subject
           to
           know
           what
           is
           Indifferent
           ,
           as
           for
           the
           Ruler
           to
           know
           what
           is
           Vnlawful
           .
           These
           considerations
           I
           confess
           do
           more
           properly
           belong
           to
           the
           last
           Plea
           of
           Conscience
           ;
           but
           it
           was
           very
           convenient
           to
           touch
           upon
           them
           here
           ,
           where
           we
           have
           been
           inquiring
           what
           things
           they
           are
           ,
           in
           which
           Authority
           is
           to
           over-rule
           private
           Judgment
           ,
           and
           to
           determine
           the
           Practice
           of
           Inferiors
           ;
           and
           withal
           how
           great
           a
           difference
           there
           is
           between
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           Answering
           this
           Common
           Question
           :
           
             Who
             shall
             be
             the
             Judge
          
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           come
           now
           to
           the
           last
           Difference
           consequent
           upon
           the
           
             two
             first
          
           respecting
           Authority
           ,
           and
           
             Terms
             of
             Communion
          
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           the
           
             Difference
             of
             the
             Principles
             upon
             which
             each
             side
             Separates
             ,
             as
             to
             their
             tendency
             either
             to
             maintain
             ,
             or
             to
             overthrow
             one
             Communion
             amongst
             Christians
             .
          
        
         
           This
           will
           fall
           under
           a
           double
           Consideration
           .
           1.
           
           That
           of
           maintaining
           one
           Communion
           amongst
           Christians
           in
           this
           Kingdom
           .
           2.
           
           That
           of
           maintaining
           one
           Communion
           with
           Forreign
           Churches
           .
           I
           shall
           begin
           with
           the
           First
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           
             Vnity
             at
             home
          
           .
           The
           Romanist
           pretends
           that
           upon
           the
           grounds
           of
           
             our
             Reformation
          
           ,
           Divisions
           and
           Separations
           
           will
           be
           endless
           amongst
           us
           ;
           We
           also
           pretend
           that
           the
           principles
           of
           the
           
             Separation
             from
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
          
           tend
           to
           the
           same
           :
           But
           with
           what
           difference
           of
           Reason
           on
           each
           side
           ,
           it
           is
           easy
           to
           Judge
           by
           what
           has
           been
           said
           already
           .
           We
           have
           Reason
           to
           think
           there
           would
           be
           no
           end
           of
           Divisions
           ,
           if
           a
           
             Competent
             Authority
          
           ,
           injoining
           nothing
           but
           what
           is
           Lawful
           to
           be
           done
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           Christians
           ,
           is
           not
           to
           be
           obeyed
           :
           And
           certainly
           this
           may
           be
           very
           true
           ,
           although
           it
           be
           false
           ,
           that
           to
           Submit
           to
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           and
           that
           too
           in
           things
           Unlawful
           to
           be
           done
           by
           any
           Christian
           ,
           or
           by
           any
           Man
           ,
           is
           necessary
           to
           prevent
           Divisions
           .
           We
           say
           farther
           ,
           that
           there
           can
           be
           no
           need
           of
           an
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Tyranny
          
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           ,
           and
           a
           
             blind
             Obedience
          
           on
           the
           other
           ,
           to
           keep
           those
           Christians
           together
           in
           one
           Communion
           that
           live
           within
           one
           Jurisdiction
           ;
           if
           a
           due
           use
           of
           Authority
           in
           Lawful
           Superiors
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           ,
           and
           a
           
             Dutiful
             Subjection
          
           of
           Inferiors
           thereunto
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           ,
           would
           do
           the
           business
           ,
           as
           most
           certainly
           it
           would
           .
           But
           if
           some
           Men
           will
           be
           Stubborn
           ,
           we
           cannot
           help
           that
           ,
           any
           more
           than
           we
           can
           hinder
           other
           Men
           from
           being
           Tyrants
           .
           But
           we
           are
           sure
           it
           concerns
           both
           the
           one
           and
           the
           other
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           their
           Salvation
           concerns
           them
           ,
           not
           to
           be
           so
           .
           And
           if
           this
           consideration
           will
           not
           keep
           them
           within
           bounds
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           Wise
           and
           Honest
           ;
           they
           must
           Answer
           it
           to
           God
           one
           day
           .
           And
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           Subjects
           that
           Suffer
           Vnjustly
           for
           refusing
           to
           Obey
           the
           Wicked
           Commands
           of
           their
           Superiors
           ,
           must
           bear
           it
           as
           patiently
           as
           they
           can
           ,
           and
           by
           their
           
             Prayers
             to
             God
          
           ,
           and
           their
           
             Meek
             Obedience
             to
             their
             Rulers
          
           in
           all
           Lawful
           things
           ,
           endeavour
           to
           recover
           themselves
           into
           their
           good
           Opinion
           .
           And
           Superiors
           that
           are
           vexed
           with
           Froward
           and
           Disorderly
           Subjects
           who
           break
           Christian
           Communion
           when
           no
           just
           Cause
           is
           given
           them
           ,
           must
           do
           what
           they
           can
           to
           lay
           
           the
           Truth
           before
           them
           ;
           and
           if
           this
           be
           to
           no
           purpose
           ,
           they
           must
           use
           their
           Authority
           as
           Prudently
           as
           they
           can
           to
           prevent
           the
           Evil
           Example
           from
           going
           farther
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           sensible
           what
           advantages
           the
           Papists
           make
           to
           themselves
           against
           our
           Reformation
           by
           the
           examples
           of
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           the
           Dissenters
           by
           the
           Papists
           .
           When
           the
           Papists
           have
           Men
           and
           Women
           of
           weak
           understandings
           to
           deal
           with
           ,
           they
           tell
           them
           ,
           that
           
             the
             Reformation
          
           is
           run
           out
           into
           several
           Sects
           and
           Parties
           ,
           and
           no
           Man
           can
           tell
           where
           Separation
           will
           end
           :
           If
           therefore
           you
           Love
           Vnity
           ,
           return
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           where
           we
           are
           all
           of
           one
           Faith
           and
           Communion
           .
           The
           Separatists
           on
           the
           other
           side
           set
           off
           their
           claims
           to
           an
           unrestrainable
           Liberty
           of
           choosing
           in
           what
           Communion
           to
           Worship
           God
           ,
           by
           shewing
           to
           their
           Proselytes
           the
           Tyranny
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           .
           Now
           we
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           are
           as
           much
           against
           the
           
             Tyrannical
             Vsurpations
          
           of
           that
           Church
           as
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           as
           much
           for
           
             Vnity
             against
             causless
             Separation
          
           ,
           and
           for
           Obedience
           to
           Lawful
           Authority
           
             against
             Stubbornness
          
           ,
           as
           the
           Romanists
           .
           And
           both
           these
           upon
           principles
           that
           consist
           well
           with
           one
           another
           .
           We
           say
           on
           the
           one
           side
           that
           a
           Foreigner
           should
           not
           affect
           an
           Authority
           over
           us
           ,
           and
           that
           those
           who
           have
           the
           Authority
           ,
           ought
           to
           require
           nothing
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           Christians
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           agreeable
           to
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           and
           Lawful
           to
           be
           done
           :
           And
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           that
           in
           such
           things
           we
           ought
           to
           do
           what
           is
           Commanded
           ,
           and
           by
           no
           means
           to
           run
           into
           a
           Separate
           Communion
           .
           Upon
           these
           principles
           we
           departed
           from
           Rome
           ,
           and
           stick
           where
           we
           are
           ;
           and
           I
           trust
           that
           through
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           ,
           we
           shall
           neither
           go
           back
           to
           Rome
           ,
           nor
           run
           after
           the
           Separation
           ,
           there
           being
           no
           need
           ,
           either
           of
           the
           former
           to
           preserve
           Vnity
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           later
           to
           avoid
           Tyranny
           .
        
         
           To
           draw
           to
           a
           conclusion
           of
           this
           matter
           ;
           The
           main
           
           Reason
           of
           our
           Separation
           from
           Rome
           was
           this
           ,
           that
           we
           could
           not
           continue
           in
           her
           Communion
           ,
           without
           doing
           things
           that
           God
           hath
           plainly
           forbidden
           :
           The
           Reformation
           of
           our
           Church
           was
           at
           first
           effected
           by
           ,
           and
           hath
           all
           along
           stood
           upon
           Good
           and
           Just
           Authority
           :
           She
           does
           not
           only
           hold
           forth
           all
           necessary
           means
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           but
           she
           requires
           nothing
           to
           be
           done
           in
           her
           Communion
           that
           is
           contrary
           to
           Gods
           Word
           .
           And
           therefore
           we
           hold
           our selves
           bound
           under
           the
           pain
           of
           Schism
           to
           continue
           in
           her
           Communion
           .
           Now
           I
           do
           not
           understand
           how
           upon
           these
           principles
           Men
           must
           run
           into
           
             Endless
             Separations
          
           ,
           unless
           it
           be
           impossible
           for
           us
           (
           whatever
           we
           pretend
           )
           to
           know
           who
           are
           our
           Lawful
           Governours
           ,
           and
           to
           know
           what
           God
           hath
           Commanded
           ,
           and
           what
           he
           hath
           Forbidden
           us
           to
           do
           .
           And
           I
           must
           confess
           if
           these
           things
           be
           Impossible
           to
           be
           known
           't
           is
           a
           Foolish
           thing
           for
           any
           Man
           to
           trouble
           his
           Conscience
           with
           Cases
           of
           Communion
           and
           Separation
           .
           As
           for
           the
           Dissenters
           (
           to
           omit
           the
           Independents
           whose
           Churches
           are
           in
           their
           very
           Constitution
           inconsistent
           with
           Submitting
           to
           a
           Common
           Authority
           in
           matters
           of
           Worship
           )
           they
           have
           forsaken
           us
           for
           nothing
           but
           because
           the
           Forms
           of
           our
           Worship
           ,
           or
           our
           two
           or
           three
           Ceremonies
           in
           it
           ,
           are
           not
           Commanded
           in
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           and
           because
           in
           things
           left
           otherwise
           to
           our
           Liberty
           ,
           we
           are
           determined
           by
           the
           Authority
           of
           our
           Superiors
           :
           Or
           because
           these
           things
           might
           be
           better
           ordered
           ,
           and
           because
           the
           Communion
           which
           they
           have
           taken
           upon
           them
           to
           set
           up
           in
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           is
           purer
           than
           ours
           ,
           though
           ours
           be
           a
           Lawful
           Communion
           .
           Now
           these
           principles
           do
           indeed
           tend
           to
           Endless
           Separations
           unless
           these
           Men
           could
           tell
           us
           either
           how
           we
           could
           be
           United
           in
           one
           Communion
           ,
           though
           
             all
             of
             us
             believed
             it
             Vnlawful
             to
             Obey
             a
             Competent
             Authority
             that
             should
             presume
             to
             determin
             any
             Indifferent
             things
             relating
             to
             Gods
             Worship
          
           ;
           
           or
           
             what
             particular
             Communion
             that
             is
             from
             which
             it
             would
             be
             Vnlawful
             to
             Separate
             even
             upon
          
           this
           principle
           ;
           
             That
             there
             is
             no
             Obligation
             to
             Communion
             ,
             where
             there
             is
             any
             thing
             possible
             to
             be
             mended
             in
             the
             outward
             mode
             of
             Gods
             Worship
             .
          
           In
           a
           Word
           ,
           they
           that
           Separate
           upon
           Just
           and
           Necessary
           cause
           as
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           hath
           done
           from
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           ,
           and
           stop
           there
           ,
           are
           not
           to
           be
           charged
           with
           the
           consequence
           of
           their
           practice
           ,
           who
           Separate
           without
           such
           Causes
           ,
           as
           the
           Dissenters
           do
           from
           
             our
             Church
          
           .
           And
           if
           they
           have
           proceeded
           farther
           than
           they
           are
           able
           to
           justify
           themselves
           by
           the
           principles
           of
           our
           Reformation
           ,
           they
           must
           Answer
           for
           it
           themselves
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           principles
           of
           
             our
             Reformation
          
           do
           not
           obstruct
           our
           Communion
           with
           any
           true
           Church
           of
           Christ
           abroad
           ,
           where
           there
           are
           no
           Unlawful
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           .
           But
           so
           do
           the
           principles
           of
           the
           
             Dissenters
             Separation
          
           .
        
         
           By
           the
           same
           reason
           that
           our
           Governours
           determin
           one
           Common
           order
           of
           Worship
           and
           Discipline
           for
           the
           Churches
           over
           which
           they
           have
           Authority
           ;
           The
           Governours
           of
           other
           Churches
           also
           may
           determin
           in
           these
           things
           according
           to
           their
           Prudence
           for
           the
           People
           subject
           to
           their
           Authority
           .
           And
           we
           ,
           who
           blame
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           for
           interposing
           her
           Authority
           amongst
           us
           ,
           with
           whom
           she
           has
           no
           more
           Right
           to
           meddle
           than
           any
           other
           Forreign
           Church
           has
           ,
           must
           in
           all
           things
           that
           come
           within
           the
           Liberty
           of
           Christians
           ,
           leave
           other
           Churches
           that
           are
           as
           Independent
           upon
           Vs
           as
           we
           are
           upon
           Rome
           ,
           to
           their
           Authority
           and
           Liberty
           .
           And
           this
           is
           what
           our
           Church
           has
           expresly
           declared
           .
           
             In
             these
             our
             doings
             we
             condemn
             not
             other
             Nations
             nor
             prescribe
             any
             thing
             but
             to
             our
             own
             People
             only
             ,
             for
             we
             think
             it
             convenient
             that
             every
             Country
             should
             use
             such
             Ceremonies
             as
             they
             shall
             think
             
             best
             to
             the
             setting
             forth
             of
             Gods
             Honor
             and
             Glory
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             to
             the
             reducing
             of
             the
             People
             to
             a
             most
             Perfect
             and
             Godly
             living
             without
             Error
             or
             Superstition
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             should
             put
             away
             other
             things
             ,
             which
             from
             time
             to
             time
             they
             perceive
             to
             be
             most
             abused
             ,
             as
             in
             Mens
             Ordinances
             it
             often
             chanceth
             diversly
             in
             divers
             Countries
             .
          
           In
           pursuance
           of
           which
           excellent
           and
           truly
           Catholick
           Declaration
           ,
           I
           would
           not
           only
           Communicate
           with
           Foreign
           Churches
           ,
           who
           differ
           from
           us
           in
           nothing
           but
           matters
           of
           From
           and
           Ceremony
           ;
           but
           if
           I
           were
           amongst
           them
           ,
           I
           should
           observe
           their
           Establish'd
           Modes
           and
           Forms
           of
           Worship
           ;
           and
           though
           I
           thought
           our
           own
           way
           at
           home
           ,
           worthy
           upon
           all
           the
           accounts
           of
           Order
           and
           Decency
           and
           Tendency
           to
           Edification
           ,
           to
           be
           preferred
           before
           theirs
           ;
           yet
           I
           should
           not
           only
           conform
           to
           their
           way
           ;
           but
           Religiously
           abstain
           from
           creating
           any
           prejudice
           against
           it
           in
           the
           minds
           of
           Christian
           People
           in
           those
           places
           ;
           and
           rather
           do
           all
           that
           Honestly
           I
           could
           to
           bring
           those
           to
           a
           favourable
           Opinion
           of
           it
           ,
           who
           were
           prejudiced
           against
           it
           .
           This
           is
           that
           Rule
           which
           St.
           Austin
           thought
           should
           take
           place
           ,
           not
           only
           in
           respect
           of
           those
           Orders
           which
           were
           Establish'd
           by
           
             Synods
             of
             Bishops
          
           ,
           but
           in
           respect
           also
           of
           those
           Customs
           which
           had
           crept
           into
           particular
           Churches
           though
           it
           was
           hard
           to
           tell
           why
           or
           how
           they
           came
           in
           .
           
             In
             things
             of
             this
             Nature
          
           saith
           he
           
             there
             is
             one
             most
             wholesom
             Rule
             to
             be
             observed
             ,
          
           
           
             That
             wherever
             we
             see
             any
             of
             them
             obtain
             which
             are
             neither
             contrary
             to
             Faith
             nor
             good
             Manners
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             have
             some
             tendency
             to
             Edification
             ,
             we
             should
             not
             only
             abstain
             from
             finding
             fault
             with
             them
             ,
             but
             Commend
             and
             Practise
             them
             our selves
             .
          
           And
           yet
           he
           complains
           in
           this
           very
           Epistle
           of
           the
           multitude
           of
           Ceremonious
           Observations
           ,
           in
           which
           particular
           Churches
           differed
           from
           one
           another
           ,
           and
           wishes
           that
           a
           Reformation
           were
           made
           by
           Authority
           .
           Thus
           in
           the
           foregoing
           Epistle
           ,
           speaking
           of
           the
           different
           observations
           of
           divers
           places
           ,
           for
           Instance
           ,
           that
           
             some
             
             fast
             upon
             the
             Saturday
          
           and
           
             some
             do
          
           not
           ,
           
           &c.
           and
           of
           all
           other
           things
           of
           this
           kind
           which
           are
           
             to
             be
             accounted
             Indifferent
             ;
             Nothing
             ,
          
           says
           he
           ,
           
             does
             more
             become
             the
             Gravity
             and
             Prudence
             of
             a
             Christian
             ,
             then
             to
             do
             after
             the
             manner
             of
             that
             Church
             into
             which
             he
             shall
             happen
             to
             come
             .
          
           Then
           he
           relates
           St.
           Ambrose
           his
           celebrated
           Answer
           to
           Monica
           about
           things
           of
           this
           sort
           :
           
             When
             I
             am
             at
          
           Rome
           
             I
             Fast
             on
             the
          
           Saturday
           ,
           
             when
             I
             am
             here
             at
          
           Milan
           
             I
             do
             not
             Fast
             .
             And
             so
             when
             thou
             comest
             into
             any
             Church
             ,
             observe
             its
             Customs
             if
             thou
             wouldest
             neither
             give
             just
             Cause
             of
             Offence
             ,
             nor
             take
             Offence
             without
             Cause
             .
          
           This
           advice
           St.
           Austin
           magnified
           highly
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           he
           thought
           of
           it
           the
           better
           he
           liked
           it
           .
           For
           ,
           says
           he
           ,
           
             I
             have
             often
             with
             great
             sorrow
             considered
             how
             the
             minds
             of
             Weak
             Christians
             have
             been
             disturbed
             ,
             by
             the
             Quarrelsom
             humour
             and
             Superstitious
             Niceness
             of
             some
             of
             the
             Brethren
             ,
             who
             upon
             very
             slight
             grounds
             of
             Reasoning
             ,
             or
             being
             addicted
             to
             their
             own
             Customs
             at
             home
             ,
             or
             fond
             of
             what
             they
             have
             observed
             abroad
             ,
             raise
             such
             Wrangling
             Disputes
             about
             things
             that
             cannot
             be
             clearly
             Determined
             either
             by
             the
             Authority
             of
             Holy
             Scripture
             ,
             or
             the
             Vniversal
             Tradition
             of
             the
             Church
             Catholick
             ,
             or
             by
             the
             Consideration
             of
             what
             is
             best
             for
             Reformation
             of
             Life
             ,
             that
             they
             seem
             to
             reckon
             nothing
             well
             done
             ,
             but
             what
             they
             do
             themselves
             .
          
           I
           shall
           add
           no
           more
           but
           that
           plain
           Rule
           he
           gives
           elsewhere
           to
           this
           purpose
           :
           
             As
             to
             things
             in
             which
             the
             Scripture
             defines
             nothing
             certain
             one
             way
             or
             the
             other
             ,
          
           
           
             the
             Custom
             of
             the
             Church
          
           ,
           
           
             and
             the
             Decrees
             of
             our
             Ancestors
             ,
             are
             to
             be
             held
             for
             Law.
             
          
        
         
           Now
           by
           this
           and
           much
           more
           that
           might
           be
           produced
           ,
           we
           may
           see
           what
           the
           true
           Notion
           of
           that
           Liberty
           was
           which
           
             the
             Ancient
             Church
          
           allowed
           in
           matters
           of
           Indifference
           .
           Not
           that
           there
           was
           no
           Rule
           in
           the
           particular
           Churches
           for
           the
           Ordering
           and
           Regulating
           of
           things
           of
           this
           sort
           :
           For
           we
           find
           the
           Bishops
           did
           use
           their
           Authority
           in
           these
           things
           ,
           over
           their
           charges
           ,
           as
           St.
           
           Ambrose's
           
           Words
           to
           St.
           
           Austin's
           Mother
           about
           the
           forementioned
           case
           do
           plainly
           imply
           .
           
           
             Resist
             not
             thy
             Bishop
             in
             this
             matter
             ;
             but
             what
             he
             does
             ,
             that
             do
             thou
             without
             any
             Scruple
             or
             Dispute
             :
          
           And
           besides
           those
           
             particular
             Customs
          
           ,
           the
           Variety
           and
           Multitude
           of
           which
           St.
           Austin
           complains
           of
           ,
           
           there
           were
           the
           
             Determinations
             of
             Episcopal
             Synods
          
           concerning
           things
           not
           Determined
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           which
           he
           does
           not
           complain
           of
           .
           But
           their
           Liberty
           consisted
           in
           this
           ,
           that
           the
           Rules
           of
           this
           sort
           establisht
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           any
           Church
           ,
           were
           not
           imposed
           upon
           Foreign
           Churches
           ▪
           and
           Catholick
           Communion
           was
           not
           broken
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           different
           Rites
           ,
           and
           Customs
           .
           For
           though
           St.
           Austin
           was
           sorry
           to
           see
           the
           minds
           of
           some
           Weak
           Christians
           troubled
           about
           Questions
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           yet
           I
           do
           not
           find
           that
           he
           had
           any
           occasion
           given
           him
           to
           complain
           that
           Communion
           was
           broken
           upon
           these
           accounts
           ;
           as
           before
           his
           time
           it
           had
           been
           ,
           by
           Pope
           Victors
           rashness
           in
           presuming
           to
           Excommunicate
           the
           Asiatick
           Bishops
           for
           observing
           Easter
           upon
           the
           fourteenth
           of
           March
           ;
           had
           not
           Irenaeus
           and
           other
           Wise
           and
           Moderate
           persons
           seasonably
           interposed
           .
        
         
           To
           apply
           all
           this
           to
           the
           matter
           in
           hand
           :
           Since
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           has
           made
           such
           things
           conditions
           of
           Communion
           with
           her
           as
           are
           in
           St.
           
           Austin's
           phrase
           
             contrary
             to
             Faith
             and
             Good
             Manners
             ,
          
           our
           Separation
           from
           her
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           does
           not
           at
           all
           hinder
           us
           from
           Communicating
           with
           any
           true
           Church
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           does
           not
           bar
           us
           out
           by
           Unlawful
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           .
           For
           in
           things
           that
           God
           hath
           left
           at
           Liberty
           ,
           this
           Church
           persumes
           not
           to
           interpose
           her
           Authority
           abroad
           ;
           nor
           refuses
           the
           Communion
           of
           those
           Churches
           whose
           Customs
           and
           Observations
           are
           different
           from
           ours
           meerly
           because
           they
           are
           different
           .
           Nay
           ,
           let
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           her self
           make
           an
           end
           of
           Imposing
           
             False
             Doctrines
          
           and
           
             Wicked
             Practices
          
           ,
           and
           there
           will
           be
           an
           
           end
           of
           our
           Separation
           from
           her
           :
           Let
           her
           give
           over
           Commanding
           things
           that
           God
           hath
           Forbidden
           ,
           and
           makeing
           Articles
           of
           Faith
           of
           things
           that
           are
           not
           revealed
           ,
           but
           are
           indeed
           contrary
           to
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ;
           and
           she
           may
           for
           us
           use
           her
           Authority
           
             at
             home
          
           in
           things
           Indifferent
           ;
           and
           though
           she
           be
           guilty
           of
           
             great
             Abuses
          
           even
           in
           this
           kind
           ,
           which
           need
           a
           Reformation
           ;
           yet
           I
           for
           my
           part
           should
           not
           break
           Communion
           with
           her
           for
           these
           things
           ,
           if
           she
           would
           throughly
           Purge
           her self
           from
           the
           other
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           we
           are
           of
           one
           Communion
           with
           all
           Foreign
           Churches
           that
           presume
           not
           to
           change
           the
           Faith
           ,
           nor
           to
           contradict
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           this
           we
           should
           demonstrate
           by
           actual
           Communion
           with
           them
           ,
           if
           we
           had
           occasion
           to
           go
           abroad
           amongst
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           makes
           our
           case
           very
           Different
           from
           that
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           who
           Separate
           from
           the
           Church
           .
           For
           so
           long
           as
           they
           withdraw
           from
           our
           Communion
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Order
           that
           are
           not
           contrary
           to
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           and
           Separate
           from
           us
           upon
           this
           principle
           ,
           that
           every
           thing
           is
           Unlawful
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           which
           is
           not
           Commanded
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           but
           enjoined
           by
           our
           Superiors
           only
           ;
           they
           must
           not
           upon
           those
           principles
           have
           Communicated
           with
           any
           Church
           in
           the
           Primitive
           times
           ,
           when
           there
           were
           far
           more
           
             Vncommanded
             Rites
          
           and
           Vsages
           Establish'd
           ,
           for
           the
           regulating
           of
           Worship
           ,
           than
           now
           there
           are
           in
           our
           Church
           .
           And
           upon
           these
           principles
           they
           must
           not
           Communicate
           with
           any
           Reformed
           Churches
           abroad
           ,
           since
           how
           different
           so
           ever
           the
           External
           Mode
           of
           their
           Worship
           may
           be
           from
           ours
           ,
           yet
           some
           they
           all
           have
           ,
           and
           that
           consisting
           of
           Rules
           not
           Determined
           by
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           Law
           or
           Custom
           of
           Man.
           To
           
             New
             England
          
           they
           must
           not
           go
           ,
           hoping
           to
           find
           a
           Communion
           there
           Lawful
           to
           be
           embraced
           upon
           these
           principles
           .
           The
           Nonconformists
           to
           our
           Liturgy
           and
           Discipline
           that
           are
           there
           ,
           will
           stand
           to
           their
           own
           censures
           
           concerning
           Worship
           and
           Discipline
           ,
           and
           will
           make
           out
           by
           their
           Church
           Authority
           such
           as
           it
           is
           ,
           what
           they
           cannot
           shew
           Chapter
           and
           Verse
           for
           .
           Our
           Separatists
           if
           they
           go
           thither
           shall
           find
           no
           other
           use
           of
           their
           Liberty
           allowed
           there
           ,
           but
           Conformity
           and
           Compliance
           with
           that
           way
           of
           Worship
           and
           Government
           which
           there
           obtains
           .
           It
           is
           a
           plain
           case
           that
           they
           who
           Separate
           from
           our
           Church
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           Unommanded
           Rites
           and
           Practices
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           ,
           are
           something
           more
           obliged
           by
           this
           principle
           to
           avoid
           Communion
           with
           all
           Foreign
           Churches
           ;
           if
           Rules
           for
           Customs
           concerning
           things
           Indifferent
           are
           to
           be
           found
           amongst
           them
           all
           ,
           as
           most
           certainly
           such
           Rules
           more
           or
           fewer
           all
           of
           them
           have
           :
           For
           in
           the
           former
           case
           our
           Separatists
           are
           disobedient
           to
           their
           
             proper
             Governours
          
           and
           Pastors
           ,
           whose
           Authority
           over
           them
           is
           some
           thing
           more
           clear
           and
           indisputable
           ,
           than
           that
           of
           the
           Governours
           of
           
             other
             Churches
          
           where
           they
           might
           happen
           to
           go
           .
           And
           therefore
           if
           they
           will
           not
           in
           things
           of
           this
           Nature
           ,
           be
           Determined
           by
           an
           Authority
           
             at
             home
          
           ,
           there
           is
           less
           reason
           to
           believe
           their
           Consciences
           will
           suffer
           them
           to
           be
           Determined
           therein
           by
           one
           abroad
           .
           I
           conclude
           therefore
           that
           though
           
             our
             Reformation
          
           leaves
           usfree
           to
           Communicate
           with
           all
           Churches
           abroad
           ,
           that
           do
           not
           require
           Sinful
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           as
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           does
           ;
           yet
           the
           
             Separation
             of
             the
             Dissenters
          
           from
           us
           proceeds
           upon
           grounds
           destructive
           of
           Communion
           with
           any
           Church
           in
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           Indeed
           I
           believe
           ,
           most
           of
           our
           Dissenters
           would
           Communicate
           with
           several
           
             Reformed
             Churches
             abroad
          
           ,
           but
           in
           so
           doing
           they
           must
           depart
           from
           the
           principles
           upon
           which
           they
           Separate
           
             at
             home
          
           ;
           unless
           they
           can
           find
           a
           Reformed
           Church
           ,
           which
           exerciseth
           no
           Authority
           in
           Forms
           of
           Prayer
           ,
           nor
           in
           
             any
             Indifferent
          
           things
           for
           the
           external
           Regulation
           of
           Publick
           Worship
           .
           But
           where
           
           such
           a
           Church
           is
           to
           be
           found
           ,
           I
           am
           yet
           to
           be
           informed
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           much
           concerning
           those
           Differences
           of
           the
           Case
           ,
           that
           are
           Consequent
           upon
           the
           Difference
           in
           point
           of
           Authority
           and
           of
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           come
           now
           to
           consider
           the
           last
           Plea
           I
           propounded
           which
           I
           confessed
           was
           not
           only
           Common
           to
           both
           sides
           ,
           but
           which
           also
           may
           be
           as
           
             truly
             alledged
          
           on
           the
           one
           side
           ,
           as
           on
           the
           other
           .
           And
           that
           is
           the
           Plea
           of
           Conscience
           .
        
         
           The
           Dissenters
           say
           that
           they
           Separate
           from
           us
           ,
           being
           perswaded
           that
           they
           ought
           so
           to
           do
           .
           And
           I
           must
           needs
           say
           that
           some
           Degree
           of
           Integrity
           is
           implyed
           in
           this
           Plea
           ,
           if
           honestly
           it
           be
           made
           ;
           and
           such
           a
           Degree
           it
           is
           ,
           as
           without
           which
           no
           Man
           can
           be
           an
           honest
           Man.
           And
           therefore
           instead
           of
           going
           about
           to
           make
           it
           questionable
           whether
           indeed
           it
           be
           out
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           that
           they
           generally
           Separate
           from
           us
           ;
           I
           shall
           here
           admit
           it
           ,
           adding
           only
           that
           it
           stands
           every
           one
           of
           them
           in
           hand
           ,
           to
           be
           as
           sure
           as
           they
           can
           be
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           this
           Reason
           at
           least
           for
           their
           Separation
           from
           us
           .
           And
           I
           hope
           none
           of
           them
           will
           take
           this
           admonition
           in
           ill
           part
           ;
           since
           I
           charge
           my self
           and
           desire
           all
           the
           People
           of
           our
           own
           Communion
           to
           be
           careful
           that
           we
           be
           fully
           perswaded
           in
           our
           own
           minds
           that
           in
           Duty
           to
           God
           we
           are
           bound
           to
           Separate
           even
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           do
           not
           either
           chuse
           one
           Communion
           or
           refuse
           another
           for
           Carnal
           and
           Worldly
           Interest
           .
           For
           we
           say
           the
           very
           same
           thing
           ,
           viz.
           That
           in
           Conscience
           we
           are
           perswaded
           ,
           that
           to
           forsake
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           of
           every
           Church
           in
           her
           Communion
           ,
           as
           the
           Terms
           of
           her
           Communion
           now
           stand
           ,
           is
           a
           necessary
           Duty
           .
           But
           then
           if
           we
           had
           no
           more
           to
           say
           for
           our selves
           then
           this
           comes
           to
           ,
           we
           should
           make
           
           but
           a
           very
           Weak
           Apology
           for
           our
           Separation
           from
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           and
           have
           some
           Reason
           to
           be
           ashamed
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           For
           ,
           to
           deal
           plainly
           ,
           this
           is
           no
           more
           then
           what
           a
           Turk
           or
           a
           Jew
           may
           say
           for
           refusing
           to
           become
           a
           Christian
           ,
           and
           no
           more
           then
           what
           he
           may
           truly
           say
           too
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           his
           Conscience
           will
           not
           let
           him
           be
           a
           Christian
           ,
           since
           he
           is
           verily
           perswaded
           that
           Christianity
           is
           not
           from
           God
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           it
           is
           contrary
           to
           the
           Religion
           by
           him
           professed
           .
           Now
           this
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           truly
           said
           ,
           shall
           make
           him
           a
           
             more
             honest
             Turk
          
           or
           Jew
           ,
           than
           another
           that
           is
           in
           his
           Conscience
           convinced
           of
           the
           Truth
           ,
           which
           with
           his
           mouth
           he
           denies
           ,
           yet
           it
           shall
           not
           make
           that
           which
           he
           professes
           to
           be
           more
           true
           in
           his
           mouth
           ,
           than
           it
           is
           in
           the
           mouth
           of
           a
           Hypocrite
           .
           And
           I
           suppose
           no
           Christian
           will
           say
           that
           his
           pretence
           of
           Conscience
           though
           it
           be
           not
           meer
           pretence
           ,
           will
           acquit
           him
           of
           Sin
           in
           rejecting
           the
           Gospel
           of
           Christ
           when
           it
           's
           offered
           to
           him
           with
           reasonable
           Evidence
           .
           From
           whence
           I
           think
           it
           follows
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Misinformation
             of
             his
             Conscience
          
           ,
           or
           his
           
             Erroneous
             perswasion
          
           is
           his
           Sin.
           And
           therefore
           though
           it
           be
           true
           that
           we
           do
           Separate
           from
           the
           Roman
           Communion
           out
           of
           Conscience
           ;
           yet
           whether
           we
           do
           well
           upon
           the
           whole
           matter
           in
           this
           or
           not
           ,
           must
           be
           judged
           of
           by
           those
           reasons
           upon
           which
           we
           are
           perswaded
           that
           so
           we
           ought
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           not
           meerly
           by
           our
           perswasion
           it self
           .
           For
           otherwise
           we
           should
           lay
           down
           a
           principle
           that
           would
           Vindicate
           a
           Man
           in
           the
           greatest
           Errors
           that
           can
           be
           profess'd
           ,
           and
           justify
           him
           in
           the
           most
           Wicked
           things
           that
           can
           be
           done
           under
           an
           Erroneous
           perswasion
           that
           those
           are
           not
           Errors
           and
           that
           these
           are
           not
           Wicked
           Things
           .
        
         
           Wherefore
           I
           beseech
           all
           those
           that
           forsake
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           upon
           a
           general
           and
           loose
           perswasion
           of
           which
           they
           are
           able
           to
           give
           little
           or
           no
           particular
           account
           ,
           that
           they
           do
           well
           in
           forsaking
           us
           ,
           
           and
           that
           they
           should
           Sin
           in
           Communicating
           with
           us
           :
           I
           beseech
           them
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           to
           lay
           this
           to
           heart
           ,
           and
           a
           most
           evident
           truth
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           if
           their
           perswasion
           be
           Erroneous
           ,
           they
           are
           notwithstanding
           their
           perswasion
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           :
           And
           withal
           ,
           that
           if
           they
           are
           perswaded
           ,
           this
           is
           no
           great
           matter
           ,
           as
           I
           plainly
           perceive
           they
           are
           for
           the
           most
           part
           ,
           yet
           if
           Schism
           be
           a
           very
           great
           and
           aggravated
           Sin
           ;
           neither
           will
           their
           Ignorance
           acquit
           them
           of
           guilt
           proportionable
           to
           the
           heinous
           Nature
           of
           the
           Sin.
           For
           my
           part
           I
           should
           not
           envy
           their
           safety
           ,
           could
           I
           believe
           they
           had
           reason
           to
           be
           secure
           ,
           upon
           giving
           this
           account
           of
           their
           Separation
           and
           that
           honestly
           too
           ,
           that
           
             they
             are
             satisfied
             in
             Conscience
          
           about
           it
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           an
           end
           .
           But
           I
           have
           reason
           to
           warn
           them
           of
           the
           Danger
           of
           such
           Presumption
           ;
           since
           many
           of
           the
           Jews
           and
           Heathens
           that
           delivered
           up
           the
           Servants
           of
           Christ
           to
           be
           Killed
           for
           their
           profession
           ,
           were
           doubtless
           satisfied
           in
           Conscience
           ,
           that
           they
           did
           God
           Service
           in
           so
           doing
           .
           And
           for
           ought
           I
           know
           some
           that
           have
           served
           the
           ends
           of
           the
           Bloody
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           may
           have
           been
           so
           perswaded
           too
           .
           But
           do
           you
           think
           that
           God
           will
           give
           them
           thanks
           for
           what
           they
           did
           ,
           because
           of
           their
           good
           meaning
           ?
           And
           if
           you
           do
           not
           think
           so
           ;
           you
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           conclude
           that
           you
           shall
           be
           acquitted
           from
           your
           Separation
           ,
           if
           a
           Sin
           it
           be
           ,
           and
           a
           
             great
             one
          
           too
           ,
           meerly
           because
           you
           do
           not
           believe
           it
           to
           be
           a
           matter
           of
           any
           great
           Consequence
           ,
           or
           indeed
           any
           fault
           at
           all
           ,
           but
           rather
           a
           Duty
           .
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           know
           to
           what
           purpose
           Divine
           Truth
           is
           made
           known
           to
           us
           by
           Nature
           and
           by
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           are
           Written
           upon
           our
           Hearts
           ,
           and
           these
           and
           more
           Laws
           besides
           Written
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           if
           we
           might
           yet
           be
           safely
           Ignorant
           of
           our
           Duty
           as
           we
           are
           Men
           ,
           or
           as
           we
           are
           Christians
           ,
           and
           of
           that
           Truth
           which
           is
           necessary
           to
           the
           performance
           of
           that
           Duty
           .
           To
           what
           
           end
           hath
           God
           made
           known
           his
           Will
           ,
           and
           given
           us
           the
           means
           of
           knowing
           it
           ,
           and
           a
           Reasonable
           Nature
           to
           make
           us
           capable
           of
           using
           those
           means
           ,
           if
           Ignorance
           might
           still
           be
           Pleaded
           in
           our
           Justification
           ?
           For
           my
           Part
           I
           cannot
           tell
           ,
           and
           let
           him
           that
           cannot
           look
           to
           it
           ,
           that
           no
           Prejudice
           nor
           Passion
           ,
           nor
           Laziness
           ,
           nor
           Worldly
           Interest
           lye
           at
           the
           bottom
           of
           his
           Heart
           either
           to
           hinder
           his
           searching
           ,
           or
           if
           he
           searches
           ,
           to
           hinder
           his
           finding
           out
           that
           Divine
           Truth
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Rule
           of
           his
           Duty
           .
           I
           say
           this
           the
           rather
           ,
           because
           no
           body
           will
           deny
           that
           it
           is
           well
           said
           .
           But
           it
           fares
           with
           this
           as
           it
           does
           with
           many
           other
           good
           Sayings
           ,
           it
           is
           still
           by
           all
           acknowledged
           to
           be
           good
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           by
           few
           well
           applied
           .
           But
           thus
           far
           at
           least
           I
           may
           desire
           those
           of
           the
           Separation
           to
           apply
           it
           to
           themselves
           ,
           that
           if
           they
           Vnnecessarily
           Divide
           themselves
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           this
           Church
           ,
           the
           perswasion
           of
           their
           Conscience
           that
           they
           are
           bound
           to
           divide
           from
           us
           ,
           will
           by
           no
           means
           bring
           them
           off
           in
           so
           doing
           from
           the
           Condemnation
           that
           belongs
           to
           
             that
             Sin.
          
           
        
         
           To
           break
           the
           Communion
           of
           Christians
           is
           quite
           contrary
           to
           the
           Ordinance
           and
           Institution
           of
           Christ
           ,
           who
           made
           his
           Church
           
             one
             Body
          
           ;
           and
           the
           Consequences
           of
           it
           are
           very
           Destructive
           of
           all
           the
           great
           ends
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           in
           such
           Cases
           ,
           the
           blame
           is
           very
           great
           ,
           wherever
           it
           lies
           ;
           and
           I
           will
           be
           bold
           to
           say
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           be
           very
           great
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           hard
           for
           an
           honest
           and
           unprejudiced
           mind
           to
           find
           what
           ought
           ,
           and
           what
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           done
           to
           maintain
           
             Vnity
             of
             Communion
          
           amongst
           Christians
           .
           And
           therefore
           it
           concerns
           every
           Man
           as
           he
           tenders
           the
           Salvation
           of
           his
           Soul
           ,
           to
           look
           to
           it
           ,
           that
           the
           Cause
           of
           his
           Separation
           be
           Just
           .
           For
           this
           is
           one
           of
           those
           Cases
           wherein
           a
           meer
           Perswasion
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           will
           not
           secure
           a
           Man
           acting
           according
           to
           it
           from
           sinning
           against
           God.
           And
           from
           
           hence
           it
           is
           evident
           that
           this
           Plea
           that
           we
           cannot
           in
           Conscience
           hold
           Communion
           with
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           ,
           may
           in
           our
           mouths
           be
           a
           very
           good
           Plea
           against
           the
           Papists
           ,
           as
           without
           question
           it
           is
           if
           our
           Consciences
           are
           rightly
           informed
           as
           to
           the
           Points
           controverted
           between
           them
           and
           us
           :
           But
           the
           same
           Plea
           in
           the
           mouths
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           against
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           may
           not
           be
           good
           ,
           as
           most
           certainly
           it
           is
           not
           ,
           if
           they
           are
           perswaded
           that
           our
           Church
           hath
           given
           them
           just
           Cause
           for
           their
           Separation
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           indeed
           no
           such
           matter
           .
           And
           therefore
           we
           may
           at
           least
           hope
           that
           they
           will
           all
           of
           them
           now
           seriously
           apply
           themselves
           to
           consider
           the
           merits
           of
           the
           Cause
           between
           them
           and
           us
           ,
           which
           they
           are
           now
           in
           an
           especial
           manner
           bound
           to
           do
           ,
           since
           the
           Charity
           of
           the
           Ministers
           of
           this
           City
           hath
           made
           the
           doing
           of
           it
           easie
           to
           all
           Persons
           ,
           that
           will
           be
           at
           the
           Pains
           to
           Judge
           for
           themselves
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           bringing
           down
           the
           particular
           Questions
           in
           Controversy
           between
           them
           and
           us
           to
           the
           Capacity
           of
           
             Ordinary
             Christians
          
           .
           And
           if
           they
           will
           not
           use
           this
           Opportunity
           that
           is
           given
           them
           to
           Consider
           these
           things
           they
           will
           have
           the
           more
           to
           Answer
           to
           God
           ;
           and
           they
           most
           of
           all
           that
           disswade
           them
           from
           it
           .
        
         
           To
           conclude
           this
           Point
           :
           whereas
           the
           Papists
           declaim
           against
           our
           Separation
           from
           them
           ,
           under
           pretence
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           as
           if
           this
           had
           shewn
           the
           way
           to
           all
           sorts
           of
           Sectaries
           to
           Separate
           from
           us
           upon
           the
           same
           pretence
           :
           We
           hope
           that
           all
           Persons
           who
           are
           not
           willing
           to
           be
           deceived
           ,
           will
           be
           able
           to
           Distinguish
           between
           a
           misguided
           Conscience
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           ,
           and
           a
           
             well
             Informed
             Conscience
          
           on
           the
           other
           ;
           and
           then
           proceed
           to
           examine
           the
           Reasons
           of
           our
           Separation
           ,
           whether
           they
           be
           not
           Just
           and
           Necessary
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           find
           them
           so
           to
           be
           ,
           that
           they
           will
           acquit
           us
           from
           all
           their
           blame
           ,
           who
           Separate
           without
           
             such
             Reasons
          
           .
           For
           it
           is
           very
           Foolish
           
           and
           unjust
           not
           to
           allow
           the
           pretence
           of
           Conscience
           to
           be
           good
           in
           any
           Case
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           not
           so
           in
           all
           Cases
           .
           Surely
           if
           one
           Mans
           Conscience
           tell
           him
           that
           he
           may
           and
           ought
           to
           Rebel
           ,
           while
           himself
           does
           not
           believe
           that
           't
           is
           Rebellion
           he
           is
           going
           about
           ;
           this
           hinders
           not
           ,
           but
           another
           Man
           may
           Lawfully
           and
           justly
           pretend
           Conscience
           for
           his
           Loyalty
           ,
           and
           Duty
           to
           the
           Government
           .
           And
           though
           in
           some
           Places
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           there
           are
           Sovereign
           Princes
           ,
           who
           extend
           their
           Authority
           for
           the
           maintaining
           of
           
             Damnable
             Errors
          
           ,
           and
           the
           suppressing
           of
           Gods
           
             Holy
             Truth
          
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           while
           believe
           that
           they
           use
           their
           Power
           as
           they
           ought
           to
           do
           ;
           yet
           this
           shall
           not
           hinder
           but
           that
           Princes
           who
           believe
           and
           profess
           the
           true
           Religion
           ,
           and
           withal
           protect
           and
           encourage
           it
           with
           their
           Authority
           as
           much
           as
           they
           can
           ,
           being
           fully
           perswaded
           that
           so
           they
           ought
           to
           do
           ,
           that
           they
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           shall
           for
           this
           receive
           Gods
           thanks
           and
           rewards
           ,
           while
           the
           former
           shall
           go
           without
           them
           .
           In
           like
           manner
           Conscience
           may
           be
           pretended
           for
           Disobeying
           the
           just
           Laws
           of
           that
           Authority
           which
           God
           hath
           set
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Church
           ;
           but
           this
           shall
           not
           hinder
           his
           Plea
           from
           being
           good
           ,
           who
           pretends
           Conscience
           for
           refusing
           to
           Commit
           Idolatry
           ,
           though
           all
           the
           Powers
           under
           Heaven
           should
           require
           him
           so
           to
           do
           .
           Men
           may
           by
           mistake
           ,
           think
           they
           do
           God
           good
           Service
           in
           murdering
           his
           Servants
           ;
           For
           this
           has
           been
           done
           by
           you
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           And
           if
           in
           such
           Plain
           Cases
           as
           these
           ,
           your
           understandings
           have
           been
           so
           foully
           Corrupted
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           so
           greatly
           to
           be
           wondred
           at
           ,
           that
           the
           Judgments
           of
           other
           Men
           are
           so
           perverted
           by
           Interest
           and
           Passion
           ,
           as
           to
           believe
           themselves
           Countermanded
           by
           God
           in
           things
           required
           by
           their
           Superiors
           ;
           but
           in
           which
           it
           would
           
             not
             be
             their
             Sin
          
           ,
           but
           a
           
             Performance
             of
             their
             Duty
          
           to
           obey
           .
           And
           yet
           I
           hope
           this
           Answer
           
             whether
             it
             be
             better
             to
             Obey
             God
             or
             Man
             ,
             Judge
             ye
             ,
          
           was
           once
           Truly
           and
           
           Pertinently
           made
           ;
           and
           may
           be
           so
           again
           .
           And
           so
           much
           for
           the
           Difference
           of
           the
           Case
           with
           respect
           to
           Conscience
           ;
           which
           was
           the
           last
           thing
           to
           be
           considered
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           I
           know
           that
           all
           this
           will
           signify
           very
           little
           to
           any
           Man
           that
           brings
           not
           an
           honest
           mind
           with
           him
           to
           Consider
           it
           ,
           or
           who
           had
           rather
           take
           his
           Opinions
           in
           these
           things
           upon
           Trust
           ,
           than
           be
           at
           the
           Pains
           to
           Judge
           for
           himself
           .
           But
           why
           should
           a
           Man
           disparage
           himself
           so
           much
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           use
           that
           Understanding
           which
           God
           hath
           given
           him
           in
           matters
           that
           Concern
           his
           Salvation
           ?
           Why
           should
           he
           be
           such
           an
           Enemy
           to
           himself
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           let
           go
           a
           Dangerous
           mistake
           ,
           when
           he
           may
           enjoy
           the
           Truth
           instead
           of
           it
           ,
           if
           he
           will
           use
           Reasonable
           Diligence
           to
           Consider
           what
           is
           said
           on
           both
           sides
           ?
           Give
           me
           leave
           to
           put
           you
           in
           mind
           of
           your
           Duty
           in
           this
           Case
           ,
           in
           the
           Words
           of
           an
           Ancient
           Christian
           Writer
           
             In
             all
             matters
             of
             Practice
             and
             Duty
             it
             Concerns
             every
             Man
             to
             use
             his
             own
             Judgment
             and
             Discretion
             ,
             in
             searching
             for
             Truth
             ,
             and
             in
             weighing
             what
             is
             fit
             to
             be
             done
             ,
             rather
             then
             to
             be
             betrayed
             into
             Error
             and
             Sin
             ,
          
           
           
             by
             such
             a
             Credulous
             reliance
             upon
             others
             ,
             as
             if
             himself
             had
             not
             the
             Reason
             of
             a
             Man
             ,
             and
             were
             incapable
             of
             Consideration
             .
          
           God
           
             has
             given
             to
             every
             Man
             his
             share
             of
             Wit
             both
             to
             find
             out
             some
             things
             by
             himself
             ,
             and
             to
             weigh
             those
             which
             he
             hears
             from
             others
             .
             'T
             is
             Natural
             to
             all
             men
             to
             love
             Wisdom
             ,
             and
             to
             desire
             the
             Knowledge
             of
             the
             Truth
             .
             And
             they
             make
             Fools
             of
             themselves
             ,
             who
             without
             Discretion
             take
             the
             Words
             of
             their
             Leaders
             for
             all
             that
             they
             say
             ,
             and
             follow
             them
             more
             like
             Beasts
             ,
             than
             like
             Reasonable
             Creatures
             ,
          
           which
           words
           are
           not
           so
           to
           be
           taken
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           Dishonourable
           or
           Dangerous
           to
           any
           Man
           to
           make
           use
           of
           the
           help
           of
           others
           in
           Learning
           the
           Truth
           :
           For
           this
           were
           to
           destroy
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Ministry
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           away
           the
           benefit
           of
           mutual
           endeavours
           to
           lead
           
           one
           another
           into
           a
           right
           Understanding
           of
           our
           Duty
           .
           But
           for
           all
           this
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           a
           very
           Foolish
           and
           Unmanly
           part
           ,
           and
           it
           may
           betray
           us
           into
           very
           Dangerous
           Errors
           ,
           not
           to
           use
           our
           own
           Judgment
           at
           all
           in
           matters
           of
           Sin
           and
           Duty
           ,
           and
           in
           Opinions
           leading
           to
           the
           one
           or
           the
           other
           ;
           but
           instead
           thereof
           to
           rely
           altogether
           upon
           their
           Authority
           whom
           we
           have
           taken
           for
           our
           Guides
           .
           This
           is
           what
           we
           say
           both
           to
           the
           People
           of
           the
           Popish
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Dissenting
           Party
           ;
           that
           if
           they
           would
           apply
           themselves
           with
           Ordinary
           Diligence
           ,
           and
           with
           a
           sincere
           mind
           ,
           to
           find
           out
           the
           Truth
           in
           thse
           Cases
           they
           would
           not
           meet
           with
           any
           great
           Difficulty
           to
           Perplex
           them
           in
           the
           way
           ;
           especially
           if
           they
           whose
           Authority
           they
           very
           much
           rely
           upon
           ,
           would
           speak
           as
           plainly
           and
           clearly
           to
           the
           Points
           in
           Question
           as
           ,
           without
           Vanity
           I
           may
           say
           ,
           we
           have
           hitherto
           done
           .
        
         
           We
           do
           not
           desire
           them
           to
           stop
           their
           Ears
           against
           those
           whom
           they
           follow
           at
           present
           :
           All
           that
           we
           beg
           of
           them
           is
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           not
           take
           every
           thing
           upon
           Trust
           ,
           that
           others
           tell
           them
           in
           these
           matters
           ,
           but
           hear
           what
           we
           also
           have
           to
           offer
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           not
           only
           hear
           ,
           but
           consider
           and
           weigh
           it
           with
           the
           best
           Judgment
           they
           have
           .
           And
           let
           me
           say
           this
           to
           all
           those
           whom
           I
           now
           speak
           of
           ,
           whether
           Papists
           or
           Dissenters
           ,
           that
           if
           you
           set
           your selves
           with
           a
           sincere
           desire
           of
           being
           rightly
           Informed
           ,
           to
           compare
           our
           Reasons
           ,
           with
           them
           whom
           hitherto
           you
           have
           trusted
           ,
           some
           Advantage
           you
           will
           gain
           by
           it
           ,
           whatever
           the
           Success
           be
           .
           For
           
             if
             the
             Truth
             be
             not
             on
             our
             side
             ,
          
           you
           will
           in
           all
           likelihood
           get
           this
           benefit
           by
           it
           ,
           to
           be
           Confirmed
           in
           your
           own
           way
           ,
           upon
           better
           grounds
           than
           you
           had
           before
           .
           But
           
             if
             it
             be
          
           ,
           it
           is
           then
           to
           be
           hoped
           that
           through
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           you
           will
           discorn
           it
           ,
           and
           entertain
           it
           ,
           for
           which
           blessing
           you
           and
           we
           shall
           have
           great
           reason
           to
           
           yield
           our
           hearty
           Thanks
           and
           Praises
           to
           the
           
             Father
             of
             Lights
          
           ;
           who
           
             giveth
             Wisdom
             to
             them
             that
             ask
             him
             .
          
           But
           if
           you
           should
           be
           so
           unhappily
           Prejudiced
           on
           the
           wrong
           side
           as
           to
           miss
           this
           benefit
           ,
           yet
           let
           me
           tell
           you
           it
           will
           turn
           to
           some
           good
           account
           for
           you
           at
           last
           ,
           that
           you
           took
           Pains
           to
           be
           better
           informed
           ;
           and
           that
           you
           were
           not
           altogether
           wanting
           to
           your selves
           to
           come
           to
           a
           right
           Understanding
           of
           your
           Duty
           in
           these
           Particulars
           ,
           by
           disposing
           your selves
           to
           Impartiality
           ,
           and
           by
           Reading
           ,
           and
           Meditating
           ,
           and
           Praying
           in
           all
           this
           ,
           for
           the
           Illumination
           of
           Gods
           Holy
           Spirit
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           I
           trust
           ,
           there
           is
           little
           need
           to
           tell
           you
           ,
           that
           if
           your
           Leaders
           discourage
           you
           from
           taking
           this
           pains
           ,
           it
           may
           justly
           make
           you
           suspect
           that
           your
           Cause
           will
           not
           bear
           the
           Trial.
           If
           they
           would
           keep
           up
           your
           Confidence
           by
           
             their
             own
          
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           while
           divert
           you
           from
           comparing
           one
           thing
           with
           another
           ,
           and
           from
           trying
           what
           is
           said
           on
           both
           sides
           ;
           you
           have
           sufficient
           Cause
           to
           Question
           either
           their
           Honesty
           or
           their
           Understanding
           .
           And
           the
           more
           unwilling
           they
           are
           that
           you
           should
           examin
           what
           we
           and
           they
           say
           ,
           the
           more
           Reason
           do
           they
           give
           you
           to
           resolve
           that
           you
           will
           do
           so
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           shewn
           how
           greatly
           different
           the
           Case
           of
           the
           True
           
             English
             Protestant
          
           is
           from
           that
           of
           the
           Papist
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           the
           Separatist
           on
           the
           other
           .
           And
           though
           the
           difference
           be
           so
           very
           notorious
           as
           it
           is
           ,
           yet
           we
           know
           the
           
             Popish
             Priests
          
           have
           represented
           our
           Reformation
           under
           such
           Colours
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           it
           look
           like
           Fanaticism
           ,
           and
           the
           Dissenters
           are
           made
           to
           believe
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           that
           our
           Reformation
           is
           but
           a
           better
           sort
           of
           Popery
           .
           And
           some
           little
           popular
           things
           are
           said
           on
           both
           sides
           to
           make
           these
           pretences
           look
           like
           
           Truth
           .
           But
           now
           I
           have
           brought
           these
           Colours
           into
           the
           Light
           ;
           and
           if
           you
           will
           but
           take
           upon
           your selves
           to
           use
           your
           own
           Eyes
           ,
           you
           may
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           easily
           discern
           that
           you
           have
           been
           all
           this
           while
           abused
           .
           At
           least
           I
           have
           given
           you
           Reason
           enough
           to
           make
           farther
           Inquiries
           ,
           and
           to
           Consider
           more
           particular
           Questions
           .
           But
           if
           upon
           Reading
           this
           general
           Discourse
           ,
           you
           should
           resolve
           to
           keep
           where
           you
           are
           ,
           and
           to
           trouble
           your selves
           no
           farther
           ;
           I
           am
           Confident
           the
           true
           Reason
           thereof
           must
           be
           this
           ,
           that
           you
           are
           afraid
           to
           proceed
           ,
           lest
           you
           should
           be
           convinced
           ;
           and
           this
           is
           nothing
           less
           than
           Wilfully
           to
           bar
           up
           your
           minds
           against
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           the
           Truth
           .
           For
           though
           I
           have
           no
           conceit
           of
           this
           performance
           ,
           as
           if
           I
           had
           done
           any
           great
           matter
           in
           it
           ;
           yet
           I
           am
           Conscious
           to
           my self
           that
           I
           intended
           honestly
           all
           along
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           I
           have
           Written
           plainly
           ,
           and
           have
           laid
           some
           things
           together
           that
           may
           give
           just
           occasion
           to
           any
           well
           meaning
           Papist
           or
           Sectary
           to
           Question
           the
           safety
           of
           the
           way
           he
           is
           in
           at
           present
           ;
           especially
           if
           he
           has
           never
           troubled
           himself
           to
           Consider
           these
           things
           before
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           I
           do
           heartily
           desire
           you
           all
           ,
           for
           I
           cannot
           desire
           this
           too
           often
           or
           too
           earnestly
           ;
           that
           you
           would
           take
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           for
           your
           Rule
           ,
           and
           propound
           the
           Rewards
           of
           another
           Life
           for
           your
           end
           ,
           and
           set
           the
           Fear
           of
           God
           before
           your
           Eyes
           ,
           whilest
           you
           Consider
           and
           Examin
           these
           things
           .
           It
           is
           our
           concern
           for
           the
           
             safety
             of
             your
             Souls
          
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           for
           the
           Welfare
           of
           this
           Poor
           Church
           so
           distressed
           with
           Adversaries
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           that
           putteth
           us
           forward
           upon
           all
           occasions
           ,
           to
           lay
           these
           things
           before
           you
           .
           Do
           not
           therefore
           Read
           these
           Books
           which
           are
           indeed
           publisht
           for
           
             your
             sakes
          
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           Written
           
             against
             you
          
           .
           There
           is
           not
           one
           of
           us
           ,
           I
           am
           Confident
           but
           is
           troubled
           to
           see
           you
           expose
           
           your selves
           to
           the
           penalties
           of
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           that
           are
           against
           you
           :
           But
           we
           are
           more
           sorry
           to
           consider
           ,
           that
           at
           the
           same
           time
           you
           do
           also
           incur
           the
           high
           displeasure
           of
           God.
           We
           would
           sain
           have
           you
           to
           avoid
           both
           the
           one
           and
           the
           other
           .
           And
           if
           you
           would
           hearken
           to
           us
           ,
           the
           worst
           you
           would
           get
           by
           it
           ,
           is
           to
           live
           with
           less
           Disturbance
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           but
           whether
           that
           should
           prove
           true
           or
           not
           ,
           you
           would
           walk
           in
           a
           more
           Safe
           and
           Plain
           way
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           than
           that
           which
           any
           of
           you
           are
           in
           at
           present
           .
           And
           I
           hope
           you
           would
           not
           grudge
           that
           good
           which
           this
           Church
           should
           receive
           by
           your
           return
           to
           us
           ,
           when
           you
           would
           do
           your selves
           so
           much
           more
           by
           it
           .
        
         
           If
           therefore
           you
           think
           our
           Importunity
           troublesom
           ,
           pray
           remember
           what
           it
           is
           that
           makes
           us
           Importunate
           ;
           and
           let
           no
           misconstruction
           of
           the
           Design
           of
           your
           Friends
           ,
           render
           their
           honest
           endeavours
           Ineffectual
           to
           your
           conviction
           .
           We
           would
           have
           you
           understand
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           do
           your
           Duty
           ;
           And
           as
           this
           end
           is
           Charitable
           ,
           so
           you
           must
           needs
           grant
           those
           means
           to
           be
           Charitable
           also
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           are
           contributing
           towards
           it
           .
           It
           is
           indeed
           our
           Concern
           that
           these
           means
           should
           take
           place
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           yours
           something
           more
           ,
           if
           you
           are
           under
           great
           and
           dangerous
           ,
           mistakes
           as
           I
           am
           perswaded
           you
           are
           .
           But
           if
           you
           should
           be
           so
           prejudiced
           against
           us
           as
           to
           think
           that
           we
           Write
           these
           Controversies
           more
           in
           Concern
           for
           the
           Temporal
           Interests
           of
           this
           Church
           ,
           than
           for
           your
           Spiritual
           Good
           ,
           Pray
           will
           you
           make
           this
           profitable
           use
           of
           that
           hard
           thought
           ,
           as
           to
           excel
           us
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           by
           being
           more
           careful
           not
           to
           mix
           any
           Carnal
           and
           Worldly
           affection
           with
           your
           Judgment
           in
           Reading
           these
           things
           ,
           then
           you
           imagine
           us
           to
           be
           in
           Writing
           of
           them
           .
           Be
           as
           strict
           as
           you
           will
           in
           Examining
           what
           we
           say
           in
           behalf
           of
           our
           Church
           ;
           only
           be
           willing
           that
           Truth
           should
           
           Overcome
           ;
           and
           Consider
           that
           if
           that
           prevails
           against
           your
           Errors
           ,
           you
           indeed
           are
           the
           Conquerours
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           greatest
           Gain
           will
           be
           yours
           ,
           both
           in
           this
           World
           and
           in
           the
           World
           to
           come
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           no
           mind
           to
           prejudge
           which
           Party
           it
           is
           that
           we
           may
           hope
           to
           win
           more
           of
           to
           the
           Truth
           than
           of
           the
           other
           ;
           being
           very
           willing
           to
           believe
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Cause
           of
           despairing
           to
           do
           good
           on
           either
           side
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Dissenters
           ;
           methinks
           ,
           it
           should
           not
           be
           hard
           to
           disswade
           the
           most
           of
           them
           ,
           from
           breaking
           the
           Communion
           of
           that
           Church
           any
           longer
           ,
           with
           which
           they
           agree
           in
           the
           Substance
           of
           Faith
           and
           Worship
           ,
           and
           from
           differing
           with
           Authority
           for
           the
           future
           about
           things
           Indifferent
           .
           The
           Cause
           of
           the
           Separation
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           managed
           by
           themselves
           is
           so
           very
           Slight
           ,
           that
           one
           would
           hope
           they
           should
           be
           of
           themselves
           something
           afraid
           to
           venture
           their
           being
           Schismaticks
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           consequently
           that
           they
           should
           be
           ready
           to
           consider
           what
           has
           been
           said
           to
           shew
           that
           there
           is
           indeed
           no
           Just
           Cause
           given
           them
           to
           Separate
           from
           our
           Church
           ;
           and
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Reason
           to
           call
           any
           thing
           Popery
           which
           they
           dislike
           in
           our
           Communion
           ;
           as
           some
           of
           them
           have
           done
           to
           the
           great
           disadvantage
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           ;
           since
           as
           much
           as
           in
           them
           lay
           ,
           they
           have
           made
           the
           World
           believe
           that
           the
           Cause
           of
           Popery
           is
           better
           than
           it
           is
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           doth
           not
           consist
           only
           of
           Opinions
           and
           Practices
           that
           cannot
           be
           defended
           ,
           but
           of
           some
           also
           that
           may
           .
           And
           it
           is
           not
           the
           least
           kindness
           that
           the
           indiscreet
           Zeal
           of
           some
           Protestants
           hath
           done
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           inveighed
           against
           some
           things
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           easily
           justified
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           also
           were
           
             Popish
             Corruptions
          
           .
           And
           the
           Learned
           Men
           of
           that
           Church
           have
           not
           been
           behind
           hand
           in
           making
           use
           
           of
           this
           advantage
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           straining
           their
           utmost
           Wit
           ,
           to
           represent
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           under
           such
           Colours
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           stood
           in
           Opposition
           to
           Episcopacy
           and
           Liturgy
           ,
           and
           to
           all
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Canons
          
           and
           Constitutions
           .
           And
           I
           am
           perswaded
           the
           Dissenters
           cannot
           do
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           a
           greater
           kindness
           ,
           than
           by
           forbearing
           to
           give
           them
           this
           occasion
           for
           the
           Future
           .
           For
           let
           a
           Cause
           be
           never
           so
           good
           in
           it self
           ,
           it
           is
           never
           likely
           to
           thrive
           in
           their
           hands
           ,
           who
           instead
           of
           pressing
           their
           Adversaries
           with
           what
           they
           can
           never
           maintain
           ,
           are
           still
           forward
           to
           deny
           what
           they
           are
           well
           able
           to
           prove
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Papists
           amongst
           us
           ,
           their
           mistakes
           in
           Faith
           and
           Worship
           are
           so
           Gross
           and
           Foul
           that
           if
           they
           would
           give
           themselves
           a
           little
           time
           to
           Consider
           what
           has
           ,
           and
           what
           may
           farther
           be
           said
           to
           convince
           them
           ;
           I
           do
           not
           doubt
           but
           all
           of
           them
           that
           are
           endued
           with
           a
           Competent
           Understanding
           ,
           and
           an
           Honest
           Sense
           of
           things
           ,
           would
           soon
           feel
           those
           palpable
           Errors
           ,
           into
           the
           belief
           and
           practise
           of
           which
           they
           have
           been
           hitherto
           deluded
           ,
           by
           an
           unreasonable
           deference
           to
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           and
           no
           longer
           stand
           off
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           The
           bigger
           any
           fault
           is
           ,
           one
           would
           think
           ,
           it
           should
           be
           more
           easily
           spied
           .
           Now
           these
           Men
           Separate
           from
           us
           meerly
           because
           we
           have
           abandoned
           those
           wicked
           Doctrines
           and
           Practices
           ,
           which
           are
           of
           themselves
           a
           most
           necessary
           Cause
           of
           Separation
           from
           any
           Church
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           should
           Impose
           them
           .
           And
           therefore
           they
           of
           all
           Men
           are
           the
           most
           Notorious
           Schismaticks
           that
           can
           be
           imagined
           .
           And
           I
           beseech
           God
           to
           open
           their
           Eyes
           to
           see
           it
           ;
           and
           to
           recover
           into
           the
           
             way
             of
             Truth
             all
             such
             as
             have
             Erred
             and
             are
             Deceived
          
           ;
           that
           those
           who
           have
           hitherto
           been
           obstinate
           may
           
             prove
             all
             things
          
           ,
           
           and
           that
           those
           who
           can
           
           be
           perswaded
           to
           Consider
           these
           things
           ,
           may
           
             hold
             fast
             that
             which
             is
             good
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Rom.
               15.
               5
               ,
               6.
               
            
             
               And
               the
               God
               of
               Patience
               and
               Consolation
               grant
               us
               to
               be
               like
               minded
               one
               towards
               another
               according
               to
               Christ
               Jesus
               .
            
             
               That
               We
               may
               with
               one
               Mind
               and
               one
               Mouth
               Glorify
               God
               ,
               even
               the
               Father
               of
               our
               Lord
               Jesus
               .
               Amen
               .
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERATA
           .
        
         
           Page
           18.
           line
           18.
           for
           Term
           read
           Form.
           p.
           15.
           l.
           31.
           for
           cppear
           r.
           appear
           p.
           25.
           l.
           27.
           r.
           l
           Cor.
           14.
           
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A33206-e120
           
             Ad
             Antonianum
             ,
             Ep.
             52.
             
          
           
             Ad
             Cornclium
             ,
             Ep.
             55.
             
          
           
             Case
             on
             behalf
             of
             Diss
             .
          
           
             P.
             5.
             
          
           
             P.
             17.
             
          
           
             P.
             16.
             17.
             
          
           
             P.
             9.
             
          
           
             P.
             20.
             &
             c.
             
          
           
             Case
             on
             behalf
             of
             Diss
             .
          
           
             P.
             2.
             
          
           
             P.
             3.
             
          
           
             P.
             3.
             
          
           
             Case
             .
          
           
             P.
             29
             ,
             30.
             
          
           
             Case
             in
             behalf
             of
             Dissenters
             .
          
           
             P.
             2.
             
          
           
             P.
             3.
             
          
           
             P.
             36.
             
          
           
             P.
             3.
             
          
           
             Preface
             to
             the
             Liturgy
             .
          
           
             Ad
             Januarium
             .
          
           
             Ep.
             119.
             
          
           
             Ep.
             118.
             
          
           
             Ad
             Casulanum
             .
          
           
             Ep.
             86.
             
          
           
             Ep.
             86.
             
          
           
             Ep.
             119.
             
          
           
             Lactant.
             lib
             2.
             
             De
             Origine
             Erroris
             .
             Sect.
             7.
             
          
           
             1
             Thess
             .
             5.
             21.