The point of church-unity and schism discuss'd by a nonconformist, with respect to the church-divisions in England.
         Corbet, John, 1620-1680.
      
       
         
           1679
        
      
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             The point of church-unity and schism discuss'd by a nonconformist, with respect to the church-divisions in England.
             Corbet, John, 1620-1680.
          
           [8], 67, [3] p.
           
             Printed for Thomas Parkhurst ...,
             London :
             1679.
          
           
             Advertisements: [3] p. at end.
             Errata: p. [8]
             Imperfect: pages cropped and tightly bound with slight loss of print.
             Reproduction of original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Church -- Unity.
           Schism.
           Theology, Doctrinal.
        
      
    
     
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           The
           point
           of
           CHURCH-UNITY
           AND
           
             SCHISM
             Discuss'd
          
           ,
           BY
           A
           NONCONFORMIST
           With
           respect
           to
           the
           Church-Divisions
           IN
           ENGLAND
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Thomas
             Parkhurst
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Bible
           and
           
             Three
             Crowns
          
           at
           the
           Lower
           end
           of
           Cheapside
           .
           1679.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           CONTENTS
           .
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             I.
             
          
           
             
               Of
               the
               Church
               and
               its
               Polity
               .
            
          
           
             
               WHat
               the
               Church
               is
               both
               in
               its
               invisible
               and
               visible
               state
               .
               The
               state
               of
               the
               Church
               Catholick
               .
               The
               state
               of
               particular
               Churches
               ,
               and
               their
               Pastors
               ,
               Elders
               or
               Bishops
               .
               Of
               the
               partition
               of
               Churches
               by
               local
               bounds
               .
               Of
               the
               Interests
               of
               Bishops
               or
               Pastors
               in
               any
               assigned
               circuit
               of
               Ground
               .
               Of
               the
               association
               or
               combination
               of
               Churches
               .
               Of
               a
               National
               Church
               .
               Of
               the
               Interest
               of
               Civil
               Magistrates
               in
               the
               state
               of
               the
               Church
               .
               Of
               a
               Diocese
               and
               a
               Diocesan
               Bishop
               .
               Of
               exercising
               the
               Ministery
               without
               Subordination
               to
               a
               Diocesan
               Bishop
               .
               No
               human
               power
               may
               prejudice
               Christs
               Interest
               in
               his
               Ministers
               or
               People
               .
               All
               have
               a
               judgment
               of
               Discretion
               about
               their
               own
               acts
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             CHAP.
             II.
             
          
           
             
               Of
               true
               Church-Unity
               .
            
          
           
             
               The
               names
               of
               Unity
               and
               Schism
               should
               be
               rightly
               applied
               .
               True
               Church-Unity
               is
               the
               Unity
               of
               the
               Spirit
               ;
               what
               is
               included
               therein
               .
               True
               Unity
               is
               primarily
               of
               the
               Church
               in
               its
               mystical
               ,
               secondarily
               in
               its
               visible
               state
               .
               Holy
               love
               is
               the
               Life
               and
               Soul
               of
               this
               Unity
               .
               Church-Unity
               considered
               in
               three
               points
               .
               1.
               
               In
               the
               essentials
               and
               all
               weighty
               matters
               of
               Christian
               Faith
               and
               Life
               .
               2.
               
               In
               the
               essentials
               and
               integrals
               of
               Church-state
               .
               3.
               
               In
               the
               accidentals
               of
               Religion
               .
               The
               different
               value
               of
               these
               different
               points
               of
               Unity
               .
               The
               Rule
               of
               Unity
               is
               Gods
               Word
               .
               Of
               the
               Scriptures
               sufficiency
               as
               a
               Rule
               thereof
               .
               Of
               things
               left
               to
               human
               determination
               ,
               with
               the
               Pastors
               and
               Magistrates
               Interest
               therein
               .
               The
               Rulers
               Wisdom
               in
               setling
               the
               right
               bounds
               of
               Unity
               .
               The
               burden
               of
               things
               unnecessary
               not
               to
               be
               laid
               on
               the
               Churches
               .
               Unity
               of
               external
               order
               is
               subservient
               to
               Faith
               and
               Holiness
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             CHAP.
             III.
             
          
           
             
               Of
               Schism
               truly
               so
               called
               .
            
          
           
             
               Schism
               is
               the
               violation
               of
               the
               Unity
               of
               the
               Spirit
               .
               Separation
               and
               Schism
               are
               not
               of
               equal
               extent
               .
               The
               violation
               of
               holy
               Love
               is
               the
               root
               of
               Schism
               .
               Schism
               lies
               primarily
               in
               a
               breach
               made
               upon
               the
               Unity
               of
               the
               Church
               as
               mystical
               ,
               and
               secondarily
               as
               visible
               .
               The
               highest
               point
               of
               Schism
               against
               the
               Church
               as
               visible
               ,
               is
               that
               which
               is
               about
               the
               essentials
               and
               weighty
               matters
               of
               Christian
               Faith
               and
               Life
               .
               How
               both
               Persons
               and
               Churches
               may
               be
               guilty
               of
               it
               .
               The
               next
               point
               of
               Schism
               is
               about
               the
               essentials
               and
               integrals
               of
               Church
               state
               .
               This
               may
               be
               either
               against
               the
               Catholick
               or
               a
               particular
               Church
               ;
               Instances
               of
               both
               kinds
               .
               The
               lowest
               point
               of
               Schism
               is
               about
               the
               accidentals
               of
               Religion
               .
               How
               any
               are
               guilty
               or
               not
               guilty
               in
               this
               point
               .
               A
               preposterous
               valuation
               made
               of
               the
               aforesaid
               different
               points
               ,
               tends
               to
               Schism
               .
               The
               setting
               of
               other
               bounds
               of
               Unity
               ,
               than
               Gods
               word
               allows
               ,
               is
               to
               make
               a
               breach
               upon
               it
               .
               Terms
               of
               Unity
               may
               be
               allowed
               
               of
               God
               as
               to
               the
               Submitters
               ,
               when
               they
               are
               not
               allowed
               as
               to
               the
               Imposers
               .
               The
               danger
               of
               acting
               against
               conscience
               rationally
               doubting
               .
               T
               is
               a
               false
               Unity
               that
               is
               set
               up
               to
               the
               hindrance
               of
               Faith
               and
               Holiness
               ;
               and
               not
               to
               adhere
               to
               it
               is
               no
               Schism
               but
               Duty
               ;
               Instances
               hereof
               .
               Of
               the
               right
               of
               drawing
               together
               into
               new
               Congregations
               on
               such
               occasion
               .
               What
               endeavour
               of
               Reformation
               is
               unlawfull
               to
               Subjects
               .
               A
               difference
               between
               inimical
               separation
               and
               amicable
               necessary
               Segregation
               .
               The
               objected
               inconveniences
               against
               the
               amicable
               Segregation
               answered
               .
               The
               import
               of
               the
               Text
               ,
            
             Rom.
             16.
             17.
             opened
             .
          
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             IV.
             
          
           
             
               Of
               the
               Schisms
               that
               were
               in
               the
               more
               ancient
               times
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               and
               the
               different
               case
               of
               the
               Nonconformists
               in
               these
               times
               .
            
          
           
             
               Of
               the
            
             Donatists
             .
             
               Of
               the
            
             Novatians
             .
             
               Whether
               the
               case
               of
               the
               present
            
             Nonconformists
             
               be
               the
               same
               with
               the
               case
               of
               these
               or
               any
               others
               anciently
               reputed
               
               Schismaticks
               .
               The
               case
               of
               such
            
             Nonconformists
             ,
             
               as
               be
               more
               remote
               from
               accomodation
               with
               the
               Established
               Order
               .
               The
               case
               of
               such
               of
               them
               ,
               as
               be
               more
               disposed
               to
               accommodation
               .
               An
               Answer
               to
               objections
               against
               relaxing
               the
               terms
               of
               Conformity
               .
               Of
               diverse
               other
               remarkable
               Schisms
               in
               the
               ancient
               times
               ;
               and
               the
            
             Nonconformists
             
               case
               different
               from
               theirs
               .
               An
               appeal
               to
               Antiquity
               and
               to
               our
               Superiors
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             V.
             
          
           
             
               Of
               making
               a
               right
               estimate
               of
               the
               guilt
               of
               Schism
               ,
               and
               something
               more
               of
               the
               right
               way
               to
               Unity
               .
            
          
           
             
               The
               great
               abuse
               of
               the
               name
               Schism
               ,
               and
               the
               bad
               consequence
               thereof
               .
               The
               degree
               of
               the
               Schism
               to
               be
               duely
               considered
               for
               making
               an
               equal
               judgment
               of
               the
               guilt
               thereof
               .
               Examples
               of
               Schismatical
               animosities
               in
               Worthies
               of
               ancient
               times
               .
               Charity
               in
               censuring
               thence
               inferred
               .
               True
               Unity
               is
               founded
               in
               true
               Holiness
               ,
               and
               promoted
               by
               impartiality
               and
               equity
               towards
               all
               real
               
               Christians
               ,
               and
               by
               the
               due
               exercise
               of
               true
               Church-Discipline
               ,
               and
               by
               removing
               the
               snares
               of
               Division
               ;
               and
               as
               by
               the
               equity
               and
               charity
               of
               Superiors
               ,
               so
               by
               the
               humility
               and
               due
               submission
               of
               Inferiors
               .
               A
               Question
               considered
               about
               the
               warrantableness
               of
               submission
               to
               things
               not
               in
               themselves
               unlawfull
               ,
               but
               inexpedient
               .
            
          
        
      
       
         
           Errata
           .
        
         
           PAg.
           2.
           lin
           .
           2.
           r.
           regeneration
           ,
           p.
           12.
           l.
           8.
           r.
           without
           ,
           ib.
           l.
           16.
           r.
           and
           in
           ,
           p.
           22.
           l.
           6.
           r.
           due
           extent
           ,
           p.
           25.
           l.
           14.
           r.
           account
           of
           accidental
           .
           p.
           32.
           l.
           16.
           r.
           injured
           Christians
           as
           are
           ,
           p.
           33.
           l.
           25.
           r.
           Segregation
           ,
           p.
           42.
           l.
           27.
           r.
           renouncing
           ,
           p.
           47.
           l.
           21.
           r.
           deposed
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         The
         point
         of
         CHURCH-UNITY
         AND
         
           SCHISM
           Discuss'd
        
         .
      
       
         
           CHAP.
           I.
           
        
         
           
             Of
             the
             Church
             and
             its
             Polity
             .
          
        
         
           THe
           Church
           is
           a
           Spiritual
           Common-wealth
           ,
           which
           according
           to
           its
           primary
           and
           invisible
           State
           is
           a
           Society
           of
           regenerate
           Persons
           ,
           who
           are
           joyned
           to
           the
           Lord
           Christ
           their
           Head
           ,
           and
           one
           to
           another
           as
           fellow
           Members
           by
           a
           mystical
           Union
           through
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           are
           justified
           ,
           Sanctified
           ,
           and
           adopted
           to
           the
           inheritance
           of
           Eternal
           Life
           ;
           but
           according
           to
           
           its
           secondary
           and
           visible
           state
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           Society
           of
           Persons
           professing
           Christianity
           or
           Regeration
           ,
           and
           externally
           joyned
           to
           Christ
           ,
           and
           to
           one
           another
           by
           the
           Symbals
           of
           that
           Profession
           ,
           and
           made
           partakers
           of
           the
           external
           priviledges
           thereunto
           belonging
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           one
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           which
           according
           to
           the
           invisible
           Form
           ,
           is
           the
           whole
           company
           of
           true
           Believers
           throughout
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           according
           to
           its
           visible
           Form
           ,
           is
           the
           whole
           company
           of
           visible
           Believers
           throughout
           the
           World
           ,
           or
           Believers
           according
           to
           human
           judgment
           .
        
         
           This
           Church
           hath
           one
           Head
           and
           Supream
           Lord
           ,
           even
           Christ
           ,
           and
           one
           Charter
           and
           System
           of
           Laws
           ;
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           and
           Members
           ,
           that
           are
           free
           Denizons
           of
           the
           whole
           Society
           ,
           and
           one
           Form
           of
           Admission
           or
           solemn
           Initiation
           for
           its
           Members
           ,
           and
           one
           kind
           of
           Ministery
           and
           Ecclesiastical
           Power
           .
        
         
           This
           Church
           hath
           not
           the
           power
           of
           its
           own
           Fundamental
           Constitution
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           Laws
           ,
           and
           Officers
           ,
           and
           Administrations
           intrinsecally
           belonging
           to
           it
           ,
           but
           hath
           received
           all
           these
           from
           Christ
           its
           Head
           ,
           King
           and
           Lawgiver
           ,
           and
           is
           limited
           by
           him
           in
           them
           all
           .
           Nevertheless
           ,
           it
           hath
           according
           to
           the
           capacity
           of
           its
           acting
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           according
           to
           its
           several
           parts
           a
           power
           of
           making
           Secondary
           Laws
           or
           Canons
           ,
           either
           to
           impress
           the
           Laws
           of
           Christ
           upon
           its
           Members
           ,
           or
           to
           regulate
           circumstantials
           and
           
           accidentals
           in
           Religion
           ,
           by
           determining
           things
           necessary
           in
           genere
           ,
           not
           determined
           of
           Christ
           in
           specie
           .
        
         
           As
           the
           Scripture
           sets
           forth
           one
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           so
           also
           many
           particular
           Churches
           ,
           as
           so
           many
           Political
           Societies
           distinct
           from
           each
           other
           ,
           yet
           all
           compacted
           together
           as
           parts
           of
           that
           one
           ample
           Society
           ,
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           .
        
         
           Each
           of
           these
           particular
           Churches
           have
           their
           proper
           Elder
           or
           Elders
           ,
           Pastor
           or
           Pastors
           ,
           having
           authority
           of
           teaching
           and
           ruling
           them
           in
           Christs
           name
           .
           An
           Ecclesiastical
           Order
           of
           Presbyters
           or
           Elders
           ,
           that
           are
           not
           Bishops
           ,
           is
           not
           found
           in
           holy
           Scripture
           .
           For
           all
           Presbyters
           or
           Elders
           ,
           being
           of
           a
           sacred
           Order
           in
           the
           Gospel
           Church
           that
           are
           any
           where
           mentioned
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           are
           therein
           set
           forth
           as
           Bishops
           truly
           and
           properly
           so
           called
           ,
           and
           are
           no
           where
           set
           forth
           as
           less
           than
           Bishops
           .
           These
           Elders
           or
           Bishops
           are
           Personally
           to
           Superintend
           all
           their
           Flock
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           no
           grant
           from
           Christ
           to
           discharge
           the
           same
           by
           Delegates
           or
           Substitutes
           .
        
         
           A
           distinction
           between
           Bishops
           and
           Presbyters
           ,
           and
           a
           Superiority
           of
           the
           former
           over
           the
           latter
           ,
           was
           after
           the
           Scripture
           times
           anciently
           and
           generally
           received
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           .
           Yet
           it
           was
           not
           a
           diversity
           of
           Orders
           or
           Offices
           essentially
           different
           ,
           but
           of
           degrees
           in
           the
           same
           Office
           ,
           the
           essential
           nature
           whereof
           is
           in
           both
           .
           The
           Bishop
           of
           the
           first
           
           Ages
           was
           a
           Bishop
           not
           of
           a
           multitude
           of
           Churches
           ,
           but
           of
           one
           stated
           Ecclesiastical
           Society
           or
           single
           Church
           ,
           whereof
           he
           was
           an
           immediate
           Pastor
           ;
           and
           he
           performed
           the
           work
           of
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           or
           immediate
           Pastor
           towards
           them
           all
           in
           his
           own
           Person
           ,
           and
           not
           by
           Delegates
           and
           Substitutes
           ;
           and
           he
           governed
           not
           alone
           ,
           but
           in
           conjunction
           with
           the
           Presbyters
           of
           his
           Church
           ,
           he
           being
           the
           President
           .
        
         
           Though
           several
           Cities
           in
           the
           same
           Kingdom
           have
           their
           different
           municipal
           Laws
           and
           Priviledges
           according
           to
           the
           diversity
           of
           their
           Charters
           ,
           yet
           particular
           Churches
           have
           no
           Divine
           Laws
           and
           Priviledges
           diverse
           from
           each
           other
           ,
           but
           the
           same
           in
           common
           to
           them
           all
           ,
           because
           they
           have
           all
           the
           same
           Charter
           in
           specie
           from
           Christ.
           Therefore
           each
           of
           them
           have
           the
           same
           power
           of
           Government
           within
           themselves
           .
           And
           the
           qualifications
           requisite
           to
           make
           men
           Members
           or
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Universal
           Church
           ,
           do
           according
           to
           Christs
           Law
           sufficiently
           qualifie
           them
           to
           be
           Members
           or
           Ministers
           of
           any
           particular
           Church
           ,
           to
           which
           they
           have
           a
           due
           and
           orderly
           call
           .
        
         
           Local
           ,
           presential
           Communion
           in
           Gods
           Ordinances
           ,
           being
           a
           main
           end
           of
           erecting
           particular
           Churches
           ,
           they
           should
           in
           all
           reason
           consist
           of
           Persons
           ,
           who
           by
           their
           cohabitation
           in
           a
           vicinity
           are
           capable
           of
           such
           Communion
           ,
           and
           there
           may
           not
           be
           a
           greater
           local
           distanc●
           of
           the
           Persons
           than
           can
           stand
           with
           it
           .
        
         
         
           A
           Bishops
           Church
           was
           anciently
           made
           up
           of
           the
           Christians
           of
           a
           City
           or
           Town
           ,
           and
           the
           adjacent
           Villages
           ,
           who
           might
           and
           did
           Personally
           meet
           together
           ,
           both
           for
           Worship
           and
           Discipline
           .
        
         
           All
           Christians
           of
           the
           same
           local
           Precinct
           are
           most
           conveniently
           brought
           into
           one
           and
           the
           same
           stated
           Church
           ,
           that
           ●here
           might
           be
           the
           greatest
           Union
           among
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           occasion
           of
           straggling
           and
           running
           into
           several
           Parties
           might
           be
           avoided
           .
           Yet
           this
           local
           part●●ion
           of
           Churches
           is
           not
           of
           absolute
           necessity
           a●d
           invariable
           ,
           but
           if
           there
           be
           some
           insuperable
           impediment
           thereof
           ,
           the
           partition
           must
           be
           made
           as
           the
           state
           of
           things
           will
           admit
           .
        
         
           No
           Bishop
           or
           Pastor
           can
           by
           Divine
           right
           or
           warrant
           ,
           claim
           any
           assigned
           circuit
           of
           Ground
           as
           his
           propriety
           for
           Ecclesiastical
           Government
           ,
           as
           a
           Prince
           claims
           certain
           Territories
           as
           his
           propriety
           for
           Civil
           Government
           ;
           so
           that
           no
           other
           Bishop
           or
           Pastor
           may
           without
           his
           Licence
           ,
           do
           the
           work
           of
           the
           Ministery
           ,
           in
           any
           case
           whatsoever
           within
           that
           Circuit
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           not
           the
           conjunction
           of
           a
           Bishop
           or
           Pastor
           with
           the
           generallity
           or
           the
           greater
           number
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           that
           of
           it self
           declares
           the
           only
           rightfull
           Pastor
           or
           true
           Church
           within
           this
           or
           that
           Circuit
           .
           For
           many
           causes
           may
           require
           and
           justifie
           the
           being
           of
           other
           Churches
           therein
           .
        
         
         
           Seeing
           particular
           Churches
           are
           so
           many
           integral
           parts
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           and
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           each
           others
           help
           in
           things
           that
           concern
           them
           joyntly
           and
           severally
           ,
           and
           they
           have
           all
           an
           influence
           on
           each
           other
           ,
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           leads
           them
           to
           Associations
           or
           Combinations
           greater
           and
           lesser
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           capacities
           .
           And
           the
           orderly
           state
           that
           is
           requisite
           in
           all
           Associations
           ,
           doth
           naturally
           require
           some
           regular
           Subordination
           in
           the
           several
           parts
           thereof
           ,
           either
           in
           way
           of
           proper
           authority
           or
           of
           mutual
           agreement
           .
           And
           the
           Associated
           Churches
           and
           particular
           Members
           therein
           ,
           are
           naturally
           bound
           to
           maintain
           the
           orderly
           state
           of
           the
           whole
           Association
           ,
           and
           to
           comply
           with
           the
           Rules
           thereof
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           not
           repugnant
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           A
           Bishop
           or
           Pastor
           and
           the
           People
           adhering
           to
           him
           ,
           are
           not
           declared
           to
           be
           the
           only
           true
           Church
           and
           Pastor
           within
           such
           a
           Precinct
           ,
           by
           their
           conjunction
           with
           the
           largest
           Combination
           of
           Bishops
           or
           Pastors
           and
           their
           Churches
           .
           For
           the
           greater
           number
           of
           Bishops
           may
           in
           such
           manner
           err
           in
           their
           Constitutions
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           rightly
           informed
           Persons
           uncapable
           of
           their
           Combination
           .
        
         
           A
           National
           Church
           is
           not
           a
           particular
           Church
           properly
           so
           called
           ,
           but
           a
           Combination
           or
           Coagmentation
           of
           particular
           Churches
           ,
           united
           under
           one
           Civil
           Supream
           ,
           either
           Personal
           as
           in
           a
           Monarchy
           ,
           or
           Collective
           as
           in
           a
           Republick
           .
           
           And
           the
           true
           notion
           thereof
           lies
           not
           in
           any
           Combination
           purely
           Ecclesiastical
           and
           Intrinsecal
           ,
           but
           Civil
           and
           Extrinsecal
           ,
           as
           of
           so
           many
           Churches
           that
           are
           collected
           under
           one
           that
           hath
           the
           Civil
           Supremacy
           over
           them
           .
           The
           National
           Church
           of
           England
           truly
           denotes
           all
           the
           Churches
           in
           England
           united
           under
           one
           Supream
           Civil
           Church-Governour
           ,
           the
           Kings
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           Civil
           Magistrates
           as
           such
           ,
           are
           no
           Constitutive
           parts
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           The
           Christian
           Church
           stood
           for
           several
           Centuries
           without
           the
           support
           of
           their
           authority
           .
           But
           Supream
           Magistrates
           have
           a
           Civil
           Supremacy
           in
           all
           Ecclesiastical
           matters
           ,
           and
           a
           political
           ,
           extrinsecal
           Episcopacy
           over
           all
           the
           Pastors
           of
           the
           Churches
           in
           their
           Dominions
           ,
           and
           may
           compell
           them
           to
           the
           performance
           of
           their
           Duties
           ,
           and
           punish
           them
           for
           negligence
           and
           mal-Administration
           ;
           and
           they
           may
           reform
           the
           Churches
           ,
           when
           they
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           Reformation
           .
        
         
           The
           possession
           of
           the
           Tithes
           and
           Temples
           doth
           not
           of
           it self
           declare
           the
           true
           Pastor
           and
           Church
           ,
           nor
           doth
           the
           Privation
           thereof
           declare
           no
           Pastor
           and
           no
           Church
           .
           For
           these
           are
           disposed
           of
           by
           the
           secular
           power
           ,
           which
           of
           it self
           can
           neither
           make
           ,
           nor
           make
           void
           a
           Pastor
           or
           Church
           .
        
         
           A
           Diocess
           is
           a
           collective
           body
           of
           many
           Parishes
           under
           the
           Government
           of
           one
           Diocesan
           .
           If
           the
           several
           Parishes
           be
           so
           many
           particular
           
           Churches
           ,
           and
           if
           their
           proper
           and
           immediate
           Presbyters
           be
           of
           the
           same
           order
           with
           those
           which
           in
           Scripture
           are
           mentioned
           by
           that
           name
           ,
           and
           were
           no
           other
           than
           Bishops
           or
           Pastors
           ;
           then
           a
           Diocess
           is
           not
           a
           particula●
           Church
           ,
           but
           a
           Combination
           of
           Churches
           ,
           an●
           the
           Diocesan
           is
           a
           Bishop
           of
           Bishops
           ,
           or
           Governour
           over
           many
           Churches
           and
           their
           i●mediate
           Bishops
           .
           If
           the
           Parishes
           be
           not
           a
           knowledged
           to
           be
           Churches
           ,
           nor
           their
           Presbyters
           to
           be
           realy
           Bishops
           or
           Pastors
           ,
           but
           the
           Diocess
           be
           held
           to
           be
           the
           lowest
           Political
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           Diocesan
           to
           be
           a
           Bishop
           of
           the
           lowest
           rank
           ,
           and
           the
           sole
           Bishop
           or
           Pastor
           of
           all
           the
           included
           Parishes
           ;
           I
           confess
           ,
           I
           have
           no
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Divine
           right
           of
           such
           a
           Church
           or
           Bishop
           ,
           or
           of
           any
           precept
           or
           precedent
           thereof
           in
           Scripture
           .
           For
           every
           particular
           Church
           mentioned
           in
           Scripture
           was
           but
           one
           distinct
           stated
           Society
           ,
           having
           its
           own
           proper
           and
           immediate
           Bishop
           or
           Bishops
           ,
           Elder
           or
           Elders
           ,
           Pastor
           or
           Pastors
           ,
           who
           did
           Personally
           and
           immediately
           Superintend
           over
           the
           whole
           Flock
           ,
           which
           ordinarily
           held
           either
           at
           once
           together
           ,
           or
           by
           turns
           Personal
           ,
           present
           Communion
           with
           each
           other
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           .
           But
           a
           Diocess
           consists
           of
           several
           stated
           Societies
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           the
           Parishes
           which
           are
           Constituted
           severally
           of
           a
           proper
           and
           immediate
           Presbyter
           or
           Elder
           having
           cure
           of
           Souls
           ,
           and
           commonly
           called
           a
           Rector
           ,
           and
           the
           People
           
           which
           are
           his
           proper
           and
           immediate
           charge
           or
           cure
           .
           And
           the
           People
           of
           the
           Diocess
           do
           not
           live
           under
           the
           Personal
           and
           immediate
           oversight
           of
           their
           Diocesan
           ,
           but
           under
           his
           Delegates
           and
           Substitutes
           .
           Nor
           do
           they
           ordinarily
           hold
           Personal
           present
           Communion
           with
           each
           other
           in
           Gods
           Worship
           ,
           either
           at
           once
           together
           or
           by
           turns
           .
           Nevertheless
           ,
           which
           way
           soever
           a
           Diocess
           be
           considered
           ,
           I
           have
           nothing
           to
           object
           against
           submission
           to
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           Diocesan
           ,
           as
           an
           Ecclesiastical
           Officer
           established
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Land
           under
           the
           Kings
           Supremacy
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           nothing
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           Office
           of
           Presbyterate
           (
           which
           according
           to
           the
           Scripture
           is
           a
           Pastoral
           Office
           )
           that
           shews
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           exercised
           no
           otherwise
           than
           in
           Subordination
           to
           a
           Diocesan
           Bishop
           .
           Christ
           ,
           who
           is
           the
           Author
           and
           only
           proper
           giver
           of
           all
           Spiritual
           Authority
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           hath
           not
           so
           limited
           the
           said
           Office
           ,
           and
           men
           cannot
           by
           any
           act
           of
           theirs
           enlarge
           or
           lessen
           it
           as
           to
           its
           nature
           or
           essential
           state
           ,
           or
           define
           it
           otherwise
           than
           it
           is
           stated
           of
           Christ
           in
           his
           word
           .
        
         
           No
           power
           Ecclesiastical
           or
           Civil
           can
           discharge
           any
           Minister
           of
           Christ
           from
           the
           exercise
           of
           his
           Ministery
           in
           those
           circumstances
           ,
           wherein
           Christ
           commands
           him
           to
           exercise
           it
           ,
           nor
           any
           Christians
           from
           those
           duties
           of
           Religion
           ,
           to
           which
           the
           Command
           of
           Christ
           obligeth
           them
           .
        
         
         
           As
           the
           Magistrate
           is
           to
           judge
           what
           Laws
           touching
           Religion
           are
           fit
           for
           him
           to
           enact
           and
           execute
           ,
           so
           the
           Ministers
           of
           Christ
           are
           to
           use
           a
           judgment
           of
           discretion
           about
           their
           own
           Pastoral
           acts
           ;
           and
           all
           Christians
           are
           to
           do
           the
           same
           about
           their
           own
           acts
           of
           Church-Communion
           .
           The
           too
           common
           abuse
           of
           the
           judgment
           of
           discretion
           cannot
           abrogate
           the
           right
           use
           thereof
           ,
           it
           being
           so
           necessary
           that
           without
           it
           men
           cannot
           act
           as
           men
           ,
           nor
           offer
           to
           God
           a
           reasonable
           Service
           .
        
      
       
         
           CHAP.
           II.
           
        
         
           
             Of
             true
             Church-Unity
             .
          
        
         
           WHen
           the
           names
           of
           Unity
           and
           Schism
           are
           by
           partiality
           and
           selfishness
           commonly
           and
           grosly
           abused
           and
           misapplied
           ,
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           things
           to
           which
           those
           names
           do
           of
           right
           belong
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           diligently
           inquired
           into
           ,
           and
           clearly
           and
           distinctly
           laid
           open
           .
           For
           a
           groundwork
           in
           this
           inquiry
           I
           fix
           upon
           two
           very
           noted
           texts
           of
           Scripture
           .
           The
           one
           is
           Eph.
           4.
           3.
           
           Indeavouring
           to
           keep
           the
           unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           in
           the
           bond
           of
           Peace
           .
           The
           other
           is
           Rom.
           16.
           17.
           
           Mark
           them
           that
           cause
           Divisions
           and
           Offences
           contrary
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           that
           ye
           have
           learned
           ,
           and
           avoid
           
           them
           .
           The
           former
           guides
           us
           to
           the
           knowledge
           of
           true
           Church-unity
           ,
           and
           the
           latter
           shews
           us
           the
           true
           nature
           of
           Schism
           .
        
         
           By
           the
           former
           of
           these
           Texts
           ,
           all
           Christians
           are
           obliged
           to
           maintain
           that
           Spiritual
           Unity
           ,
           which
           they
           have
           one
           with
           another
           under
           Christ
           their
           Head
           ,
           by
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           in
           all
           due
           acts
           of
           holy
           Communion
           in
           Peace
           and
           Concord
           .
           Several
           important
           things
           are
           here
           to
           be
           taken
           notice
           of
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           There
           is
           a
           Spiritual
           unity
           between
           all
           Christians
           in
           the
           form
           of
           one
           mystical
           Body
           ,
           as
           there
           is
           a
           natural
           unity
           between
           all
           the
           members
           of
           the
           natural
           Body
           .
           The
           members
           being
           many
           are
           one
           body
           and
           members
           one
           of
           another
           .
           2.
           
           This
           Unity
           is
           under
           Christ
           as
           the
           Head
           of
           it
           .
           What
           the
           head
           is
           to
           the
           natural
           Body
           ,
           that
           is
           Christ
           and
           much
           more
           to
           his
           mystical
           Body
           the
           Church
           .
           3.
           
           This
           Unity
           of
           Christians
           one
           with
           another
           under
           Christ
           ,
           is
           by
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           and
           therefore
           called
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           .
           The
           Spirit
           of
           Christ
           the
           Head
           ,
           doth
           seize
           upon
           and
           reside
           in
           all
           the
           Faithfull
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           become
           Christs
           mystical
           Body
           ,
           and
           are
           joyned
           one
           to
           another
           as
           fellow-members
           .
           4.
           
           This
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           among
           Christians
           is
           witnessed
           ,
           maintained
           ,
           and
           strengthened
           by
           their
           holy
           communion
           of
           Love
           and
           Peace
           one
           with
           another
           ,
           but
           is
           darkened
           ,
           weakened
           ,
           and
           lessened
           by
           their
           uncharitable
           Dissentions
           .
        
         
         
           Hence
           it
           is
           evident
           that
           the
           Unity
           here
           commended
           ,
           is
           primarily
           that
           of
           the
           Church
           in
           its
           internal
           and
           invisible
           State
           ,
           or
           the
           Union
           and
           Communion
           of
           Saints
           ,
           having
           in
           themselves
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           Life
           ,
           and
           Power
           of
           Christianity
           .
           T
           is
           the
           unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           we
           are
           charged
           to
           keep
           in
           the
           bond
           of
           Peace
           .
           But
           concord
           in
           any
           external
           order
           with
           a
           vital
           Union
           with
           Christ
           and
           holy
           Souls
           ,
           his
           living
           members
           ,
           is
           not
           the
           unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           partake
           of
           the
           same
           new
           Nature
           and
           Divine
           Life
           .
           Secondarily
           ,
           it
           is
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Church
           in
           its
           external
           and
           visible
           State
           ,
           which
           is
           consequent
           and
           subservient
           to
           the
           internal
           ,
           and
           stands
           in
           the
           profession
           and
           appearance
           of
           it
           ,
           in
           the
           professed
           observation
           of
           the
           duties
           arising
           from
           it
           .
           Where
           there
           is
           not
           a
           credible
           Profession
           of
           Faith
           unfeigned
           and
           true
           Holiness
           ,
           there
           is
           not
           so
           much
           as
           the
           external
           and
           visible
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           .
           Therefore
           a
           sensual
           Earthly
           generation
           of
           men
           ,
           who
           are
           apparently
           lead
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           not
           by
           the
           Spirit
           that
           is
           of
           God
           ,
           have
           little
           cause
           to
           glory
           in
           their
           adhering
           to
           an
           external
           Church
           order
           ,
           whatsoever
           it
           be
           .
        
         
           Holy
           love
           ,
           which
           is
           unselfed
           and
           impartial
           ,
           is
           the
           Life
           and
           Soul
           of
           this
           unity
           ,
           without
           which
           it
           is
           but
           a
           dead
           thing
           ,
           as
           the
           Body
           without
           the
           Soul
           is
           dead
           .
           And
           this
           love
           is
           the
           bond
           of
           perfectness
           ,
           that
           Cement
           ,
           that
           holds
           altogether
           in
           this
           mystical
           Society
           .
           
           For
           this
           being
           seated
           in
           the
           several
           members
           ,
           disposeth
           them
           to
           look
           ,
           not
           to
           their
           own
           things
           ,
           but
           also
           to
           the
           things
           of
           others
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           the
           undue
           advancement
           of
           a
           Party
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           common
           good
           of
           the
           whole
           Body
           .
           Whosoever
           wants
           this
           love
           ,
           hath
           no
           vital
           Union
           with
           Christ
           and
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           no
           part
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           Saints
           .
           The
           Church
           is
           much
           more
           ennobled
           ,
           strengthened
           ,
           and
           every
           way
           blessed
           by
           the
           Communion
           of
           holy
           love
           among
           all
           its
           living
           members
           ,
           or
           real
           Christians
           ,
           than
           by
           an
           outside
           uniformity
           in
           the
           minute
           circumstances
           ,
           or
           accidental
           modes
           of
           Religion
           .
           By
           this
           love
           it
           is
           more
           beautifull
           and
           lovely
           in
           the
           eyes
           of
           all
           intelligent
           beholders
           ,
           than
           by
           outward
           pomp
           and
           ornament
           ,
           or
           any
           worldly
           splendor
           .
        
         
           The
           Unity
           of
           the
           Church
           as
           visible
           ,
           whether
           Catholick
           or
           particular
           ,
           may
           be
           cons●dered
           in
           a
           three-fold
           respect
           ,
           or
           in
           three
           very
           different
           points
           .
           The
           first
           and
           chief
           point
           thereof
           ,
           is
           in
           the
           essentials
           and
           all
           weighty
           matters
           of
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Life
           .
           The
           second
           and
           next
           in
           account
           is
           in
           the
           essentials
           and
           integrals
           of
           Church
           state
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church-Worship
           ,
           Ministery
           and
           Discipline
           ,
           considered
           as
           of
           Christs
           institution
           ,
           and
           abstracted
           from
           all
           things
           superadded
           by
           men
           .
           The
           third
           and
           lowest
           point
           is
           in
           those
           extrinsecal
           and
           accidental
           Forms
           and
           Orders
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           are
           necessary
           
           in
           genere
           ,
           but
           left
           in
           specie
           to
           human
           determination
           .
        
         
           Of
           these
           several
           points
           of
           Unity
           ,
           there
           is
           to
           be
           a
           different
           valuation
           according
           to
           their
           different
           value
           .
           Our
           first
           and
           chief
           regard
           is
           due
           to
           the
           first
           and
           chief
           point
           ,
           which
           respects
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Life
           ;
           The
           next
           regard
           is
           due
           to
           that
           which
           is
           next
           in
           value
           ,
           that
           which
           respects
           the
           very
           constitution
           or
           frame
           of
           a
           Church
           ;
           And
           regard
           is
           to
           be
           had
           of
           that
           also
           which
           respects
           the
           accidentals
           of
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           in
           its
           due
           place
           and
           not
           before
           things
           of
           greater
           weight
           and
           worth
           .
           Things
           are
           of
           a
           very
           different
           nature
           and
           importance
           to
           the
           Churches
           good
           Estate
           ;
           and
           a
           greater
           or
           lesser
           stress
           must
           be
           laid
           upon
           Unity
           in
           them
           ,
           as
           the
           things
           themselves
           are
           of
           greater
           or
           lesser
           moment
           .
        
         
           The
           Rule
           or
           Law
           of
           Church
           Unity
           is
           not
           the
           will
           of
           man
           ,
           but
           the
           will
           of
           God.
           Whosoever
           keeps
           that
           Unity
           which
           hath
           Gods
           word
           for
           its
           Rule
           ,
           keeps
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ;
           And
           whosoever
           boasts
           of
           a
           Unity
           that
           is
           not
           squared
           by
           this
           Rule
           ,
           his
           boasting
           is
           but
           vain
           .
        
         
           An
           Hypothesis
           that
           nothing
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           is
           lawfull
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           expresly
           prescribed
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           is
           by
           some
           falsly
           ascribed
           to
           a
           sort
           of
           men
           who
           earnestly
           contend
           for
           the
           Scriptures
           sufficiency
           ,
           and
           perfection
           for
           the
           regulating
           of
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           and
           
           the
           whole
           state
           of
           Religion
           .
           God
           in
           his
           Word
           hath
           prescribed
           all
           those
           parts
           of
           his
           Worship
           ,
           that
           are
           necessary
           to
           be
           performed
           to
           him
           .
           He
           hath
           likewise
           therein
           instituted
           those
           Officers
           that
           are
           to
           be
           the
           Administrators
           of
           his
           publick
           Worship
           in
           Church
           Assemblies
           ,
           and
           hath
           defined
           the
           authority
           and
           duty
           of
           those
           Officers
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           essentials
           and
           integrals
           of
           Church
           state
           .
           As
           for
           the
           circumstantials
           and
           accidentals
           belonging
           to
           all
           the
           things
           aforesaid
           ,
           he
           hath
           laid
           down
           general
           Rules
           for
           the
           regulation
           thereof
           ,
           the
           particulars
           being
           both
           needless
           and
           impossible
           to
           be
           enumerated
           and
           defined
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           point
           God
           hath
           declared
           his
           mind
           ,
           Deut.
           4.
           2.
           
           Ye
           shall
           not
           add
           unto
           the
           word
           which
           I
           command
           you
           ,
           neither
           shall
           ye
           diminish
           ought
           from
           it
           .
           Deut.
           12.
           32.
           
           What
           soever
           thing
           I
           command
           you
           ,
           observe
           to
           do
           it
           ,
           Thou
           shalt
           not
           add
           thereto
           nor
           diminish
           from
           it
           .
           The
           prohibition
           is
           not
           meerly
           of
           altering
           the
           Rule
           ,
           Gods
           written
           Word
           by
           addition
           or
           diminution
           ,
           but
           of
           doing
           more
           or
           less
           than
           the
           Rule
           required
           ,
           as
           the
           precept
           is
           not
           of
           preserving
           the
           Rule
           ,
           but
           of
           observing
           what
           is
           commanded
           in
           it
           .
        
         
           Such
           human
           institutions
           in
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           as
           be
           in
           meer
           subserviency
           to
           Divine
           institutions
           ,
           for
           the
           necessary
           and
           convenient
           modifying
           and
           ordering
           thereof
           ,
           are
           not
           properly
           additions
           to
           Gods
           commandments
           .
           For
           
           they
           are
           of
           things
           which
           are
           not
           of
           the
           same
           nature
           ,
           end
           and
           use
           with
           the
           things
           which
           God
           hath
           commanded
           ,
           but
           of
           meer
           circumstantials
           and
           accidentals
           belonging
           to
           those
           things
           .
           And
           these
           circumstantials
           are
           in
           genere
           necessary
           to
           the
           performance
           of
           Divine
           Institutions
           ,
           and
           are
           generally
           commanded
           in
           the
           Word
           ,
           though
           not
           in
           particular
           ,
           but
           are
           to
           be
           determined
           in
           specie
           by
           those
           to
           whom
           the
           power
           of
           such
           determination
           belongs
           .
        
         
           They
           that
           assert
           and
           stand
           to
           this
           only
           Rule
           ,
           provide
           best
           for
           the
           Unity
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           For
           they
           are
           ready
           to
           reject
           whatsoever
           they
           find
           contrary
           to
           this
           Rule
           ,
           they
           are
           more
           easily
           kept
           within
           the
           bounds
           of
           acceptable
           Worship
           ,
           and
           all
           warrantable
           obedience
           ,
           they
           lay
           the
           greatest
           weight
           on
           things
           of
           the
           greatest
           worth
           and
           moment
           ,
           they
           carefully
           regard
           all
           Divine
           institutions
           and
           whatsoever
           God
           hath
           commanded
           ,
           and
           they
           maintain
           Love
           ,
           and
           Peace
           ,
           and
           mutual
           forbearance
           towards
           one
           another
           in
           the
           more
           inconsiderable
           diversities
           of
           Opinion
           and
           Practice
           .
        
         
           Those
           things
           that
           are
           left
           to
           human
           determination
           ,
           the
           Pastors
           ,
           Bishops
           or
           Elders
           ,
           did
           anciently
           determine
           for
           their
           own
           particular
           Churches
           .
           And
           indeed
           it
           is
           very
           reasonable
           and
           naturally
           convenient
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           are
           the
           Administrators
           of
           Divine
           institutions
           ,
           and
           have
           the
           conduct
           of
           the
           People
           in
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           and
           know
           best
           what
           is
           most
           expedient
           
           for
           their
           own
           Society
           ,
           should
           be
           intrusted
           with
           the
           determination
           of
           necessary
           circumstances
           within
           their
           own
           Sphere
           .
           But
           forasmuch
           as
           the
           Supream
           Magistrate
           is
           intrusted
           of
           God
           with
           the
           care
           of
           Religion
           within
           his
           Dominions
           ,
           and
           hath
           a
           Civil
           Supremacy
           in
           Eclesiastical
           affairs
           ,
           and
           a
           great
           concern
           in
           the
           orderly
           management
           of
           publick
           Assemblies
           ,
           he
           is
           authorized
           of
           God
           to
           oversee
           the
           determinations
           and
           actings
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Persons
           ,
           and
           may
           assume
           to
           himself
           the
           determination
           of
           the
           aforesaid
           circumstantials
           for
           the
           honour
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           Churches
           edification
           and
           the
           publick
           Peace
           ,
           keeping
           within
           the
           general
           rules
           prescribed
           in
           Gods
           Word
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           maintaining
           of
           Church-Unity
           ,
           that
           is
           according
           to
           Gods
           word
           ,
           it
           is
           the
           part
           of
           Subjects
           to
           submit
           to
           what
           their
           Governours
           have
           determined
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           their
           submission
           is
           allowable
           by
           the
           said
           rule
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           the
           part
           of
           Governours
           to
           consider
           well
           the
           warrantableness
           of
           their
           determinations
           .
           More
           especially
           their
           wisdom
           and
           care
           is
           much
           required
           in
           settling
           the
           right
           bounds
           of
           Unity
           .
           In
           this
           regard
           the
           terms
           of
           admission
           to
           the
           Communion
           and
           Ministery
           of
           the
           Church
           must
           be
           no
           other
           ,
           than
           what
           the
           declared
           will
           of
           God
           hath
           made
           the
           terms
           of
           those
           privi●edges
           ,
           and
           which
           will
           shut
           out
           none
           ,
           whom
           God
           hath
           qualified
           for
           and
           called
           to
           the
           same
           .
           The
           setting
           of
           other
           boundaries
           ,
           besides
           the
           
           iniquity
           thereof
           ,
           will
           inevitably
           cause
           divisions
           .
        
         
           The
           Apostles
           ,
           Elders
           and
           Brethren
           assembled
           at
           
             Jerusalem
             ,
             Acts
          
           15.
           28.
           writing
           to
           the
           blieving
           Gentiles
           declare
           ,
           
             It
             seemed
             good
             to
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             and
             to
             us
             to
             lay
             upon
             you
             no
             greater
             burden
             than
             these
             necessary
             things
             .
          
           From
           which
           it
           is
           evidently
           inferred
           that
           the
           burden
           of
           things
           unnecessary
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           laid
           on
           the
           Churches
           .
        
         
           The
           things
           injoyned
           by
           that
           Assembly
           were
           antecedently
           to
           their
           Decree
           ,
           either
           necessary
           in
           themselves
           or
           in
           their
           consequents
           according
           to
           the
           state
           of
           things
           in
           those
           times
           and
           places
           .
           And
           whatsoever
           is
           made
           the
           matter
           of
           a
           strict
           injunction
           ,
           especially
           a
           condition
           of
           Church
           Communion
           and
           Priviledges
           ,
           ought
           to
           have
           some
           kind
           of
           necessity
           in
           it
           antecedent
           to
           its
           imposition
           .
           Symbolical
           Rites
           or
           Ceremonies
           instituted
           by
           man
           to
           signifie
           Grace
           or
           Duty
           ,
           are
           none
           of
           those
           things
           ,
           which
           being
           necessary
           in
           general
           ,
           are
           left
           to
           human
           determination
           for
           this
           or
           that
           kind
           thereof
           .
           They
           have
           no
           necessary
           Subserviency
           to
           Divine
           institutions
           ,
           they
           are
           no
           parts
           of
           that
           necessary
           decency
           and
           order
           in
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           without
           which
           the
           Service
           would
           be
           undecent
           .
           And
           indeed
           they
           are
           not
           necessary
           to
           be
           instituted
           or
           rigidly
           urged
           in
           any
           time
           or
           place
           whatsoever
           .
           The
           being
           and
           well
           being
           of
           an●
           rightly
           constituted
           Church
           of
           Christ
           ,
           ma●
           〈◊〉
           without
           them
           .
        
         
         
           St.
           Paul
           resolves
           upon
           the
           cases
           of
           using
           or
           refusing
           of
           meats
           ,
           and
           the
           observance
           or
           non-observance
           of
           days
           ,
           which
           God
           had
           neither
           commanded
           nor
           forbidden
           ,
           and
           of
           eating
           of
           those
           meats
           which
           had
           been
           offered
           in
           Sacrifice
           to
           Idols
           ,
           Rom.
           14.
           and
           1
           
             Cor.
             8.
             
             That
             no
             man
             put
             a
             stumbling
             block
             ,
             or
             an
             occasion
             to
             fall
             in
             his
             Brothers
             way
             .
          
           The
           Command
           here
           given
           ,
           extends
           to
           Pastors
           and
           Governours
           as
           well
           as
           to
           other
           Christians
           ,
           and
           is
           to
           be
           observed
           in
           acts
           of
           Governments
           as
           well
           as
           in
           other
           acts
           .
           St.
           Paul
           was
           a
           Church
           Governour
           and
           of
           high
           authority
           ,
           yet
           he
           would
           not
           use
           his
           own
           liberty
           in
           eating
           Flesh
           ,
           much
           less
           would
           he
           impose
           in
           things
           unnecessary
           to
           make
           his
           Brother
           to
           offend
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           cases
           aforementioned
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           greater
           appearance
           of
           reason
           for
           despising
           ,
           censuring
           or
           offending
           others
           ,
           than
           there
           can
           be
           for
           some
           impositions
           now
           in
           question
           among
           us
           ,
           viz.
           on
           the
           one
           side
           a
           fear
           of
           partaking
           in
           Idolatry
           ,
           or
           of
           eating
           meats
           that
           God
           had
           forbidden
           ,
           or
           of
           neglecting
           days
           that
           God
           had
           commanded
           ,
           as
           they
           thought
           ;
           on
           the
           other
           side
           a
           fear
           of
           being
           driven
           from
           the
           Christian
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           of
           restoring
           the
           Ceremonial
           Law.
           Nevertheless
           ,
           the
           Apostle
           gives
           a
           severe
           charge
           against
           censuring
           ,
           despising
           or
           offending
           others
           of
           different
           Persuasions
           in
           those
           cases
           .
           And
           if
           it
           were
           a
           Sin
           to
           censure
           or
           despise
           one
           another
           ,
           much
           more
           is
           
           it
           a
           Sin
           to
           shut
           out
           of
           the
           Communion
           or
           Ministery
           of
           the
           Church
           for
           such
           matters
           .
        
         
           The
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Rule
           of
           Church-Unity
           ,
           evidently
           shews
           that
           the
           unity
           of
           external
           order
           must
           always
           be
           Subservient
           to
           Faith
           and
           Holiness
           ,
           and
           may
           be
           required
           no
           further
           than
           is
           consistent
           with
           the
           Churches
           Peace
           and
           Edification
           .
        
         
           The
           Churches
           true
           Interest
           lies
           in
           the
           increase
           of
           regenerate
           Christians
           ,
           who
           are
           her
           true
           and
           living
           Members
           ,
           and
           in
           their
           mutual
           love
           ,
           peace
           and
           concord
           ,
           in
           receiving
           one
           another
           upon
           those
           terms
           which
           Christ
           hath
           made
           the
           bond
           of
           this
           Union
           .
           The
           true
           Church
           Unity
           is
           comprized
           by
           the
           Apostle
           in
           these
           following
           Unities
           ;
           One
           Body
           ,
           one
           Spirit
           ,
           one
           Hope
           ,
           One
           Lord
           ,
           one
           Faith
           ,
           one
           Baptism
           ,
           one
           God.
           But
           there
           is
           nothing
           said
           of
           one
           ritual
           or
           set
           Form
           of
           Sacred
           Office
           ,
           one
           policy
           or
           model
           of
           Rules
           and
           Orders
           ,
           that
           are
           but
           circumstantial
           and
           accidental
           in
           a
           Church
           state
           and
           very
           various
           and
           alterable
           ,
           while
           the
           Church
           abides
           the
           same
           .
        
      
       
         
           CHAP.
           III.
           
        
         
           
             Of
             Schism
             truly
             so
             called
             .
          
        
         
           HEre
           I
           lay
           down
           general
           positions
           abou●
           Schism
           without
           making
           application
           
           thereof
           ;
           Whether
           these
           positions
           be
           right
           or
           wrong
           Gods
           Word
           will
           shew
           ;
           and
           who
           are
           ,
           or
           are
           not
           concerned
           in
           them
           ,
           the
           state
           of
           things
           will
           shew
           .
           Schism
           is
           a
           violation
           of
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           or
           of
           that
           Church-Unity
           which
           is
           of
           Gods
           making
           or
           approving
           .
           This
           Definition
           I
           ground
           on
           the
           afore-cited
           Text
           ,
           
             Mark
             them
             that
             cause
             Divisions
             and
             Offences
             contrary
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             that
             ye
             have
             learned
             .
          
        
         
           Separation
           and
           Schism
           are
           not
           of
           equal
           extent
           .
           There
           may
           be
           a
           Separation
           or
           Secession
           where
           there
           is
           no
           Schism
           .
           For
           Schism
           is
           always
           a
           Sin
           ,
           but
           Separation
           may
           be
           a
           Duty
           ,
           as
           the
           Separation
           of
           the
           Protestants
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           there
           may
           be
           Schism
           where
           there
           is
           no
           Separation
           .
           The
           violation
           of
           Unity
           or
           the
           causing
           of
           Divisions
           may
           be
           not
           only
           by
           withdrawing
           ,
           but
           by
           any
           causing
           of
           others
           to
           withdraw
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           or
           by
           the
           undue
           casting
           or
           keeping
           of
           others
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           or
           by
           making
           of
           any
           breaches
           in
           Religion
           contrary
           to
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           .
        
         
           By
           looking
           back
           to
           the
           nature
           ,
           and
           rule
           ,
           and
           requisites
           of
           true
           Church-Unity
           ,
           we
           shall
           understand
           the
           true
           nature
           and
           the
           several
           kinds
           ●nd
           degrees
           of
           Schism
           .
        
         
           As
           holy
           love
           is
           the
           life
           and
           Soul
           of
           Church-Unity
           ,
           so
           that
           aversation
           and
           opposition
           which
           contrary
           to
           love
           ,
           is
           that
           which
           animates
           
           the
           sin
           of
           Schism
           ,
           and
           is
           as
           it
           were
           the
           heart
           root
           of
           it
           .
           Whosoever
           maintains
           love
           ,
           and
           makes
           no
           breach
           therein
           ,
           and
           whose
           dissenting
           or
           withdrawing
           from
           a
           Church
           is
           no
           other
           than
           what
           may
           stand
           with
           love
           in
           its
           extent
           ,
           is
           no
           Schismatick
           .
        
         
           The
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           being
           primarily
           that
           of
           the
           Church
           as
           mystically
           ,
           the
           breach
           thereof
           lies
           primarily
           in
           being
           destitute
           of
           the
           Spirit
           and
           Life
           Spiritual
           ,
           much
           more
           in
           being
           opposite
           thereunto
           ,
           under
           the
           shew
           of
           Christianity
           ;
           also
           in
           the
           languishing
           or
           lessening
           of
           Spiritual
           Life
           ,
           especially
           of
           the
           acts
           of
           holy
           love
           .
        
         
           The
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           being
           secondarily
           ,
           that
           of
           the
           Church
           as
           visible
           in
           its
           external
           state
           ,
           and
           the
           first
           and
           chiefest
           point
           thereo●
           being
           in
           the
           essentials
           and
           weighty
           matters
           of
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Life
           ;
           the
           highest
           violation
           thereof
           and
           the
           chiefest
           point
           of
           Schism
           lies
           in
           denying
           or
           enormously
           violating
           th●
           said
           essentials
           or
           weighty
           matters
           .
           And
           it
           directly
           a
           violation
           of
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           particular
           Churches
           only
           .
        
         
           Not
           only
           particular
           Persons
           ,
           but
           Churches
           ,
           yea
           a
           large
           combination
           of
           Churches
           bearing
           the
           Christian
           name
           ,
           may
           in
           their
           Doctrine
           ,
           Worship
           and
           other
           avowed
           Practice
           ,
           greatly
           violate
           the
           essentials
           ,
           or
           very
           weighty
           matters
           of
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Life
           ,
           and
           be
           found
           
           guilty
           of
           the
           most
           enormous
           breach
           of
           Unity
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           no
           Schism
           to
           withdraw
           or
           depart
           from
           any
           the
           largest
           combination
           or
           collective
           body
           of
           Churches
           ,
           (
           though
           for
           their
           amplitude
           they
           presume
           to
           stile
           their
           combination
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           )
           that
           maintain
           and
           avow
           any
           Doctrine
           or
           Practice
           ,
           which
           directly
           ,
           or
           by
           near
           and
           palpable
           consequence
           overthrows
           the
           said
           essentials
           .
        
         
           The
           next
           point
           of
           external
           Unity
           being
           about
           the
           essentials
           and
           integrals
           of
           Church
           state
           ,
           the
           Sacraments
           and
           other
           publick
           Worship
           ,
           the
           Ministery
           and
           Discipline
           of
           the
           Church
           considered
           as
           of
           Christs
           institution
           ,
           the
           next
           chief
           point
           of
           Schism
           is
           the
           breach
           hereof
           .
           And
           this
           may
           be
           either
           against
           the
           Catholick
           ,
           or
           a
           particular
           Church
           .
        
         
           Of
           such
           Schism
           against
           the
           state
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           there
           are
           these
           instances
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           When
           any
           one
           part
           of
           professed
           Christians
           how
           numerous
           soever
           ,
           combined
           by
           any
           other
           terms
           of
           Catholick
           Unity
           ,
           than
           what
           Christ
           hath
           made
           ,
           account
           themselves
           the
           only
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           excluding
           all
           Persons
           and
           Churches
           that
           are
           not
           of
           their
           combination
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           When
           a
           false
           Catholick
           Unity
           is
           devised
           or
           contended
           for
           ,
           viz.
           a
           devised
           Unity
           of
           Government
           for
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           un●er
           one
           terrene
           Head
           ,
           personal
           or
           collective
           ,
           ●●uming
           a
           proper
           governing
           power
           over
           all
           
           Christians
           upon
           the
           face
           of
           the
           whole
           Earth
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           When
           there
           is
           an
           utter
           disowning
           of
           most
           of
           the
           true
           visible
           Churches
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           having
           no
           true
           Church
           state
           ,
           no
           not
           the
           essentials
           thereof
           ,
           and
           an
           utter
           breaking
           off
           from
           communion
           with
           them
           accordingly
           .
        
         
           Of
           Schism
           against
           a
           particular
           Church
           in
           point
           of
           its
           Church
           state
           ,
           there
           be
           these
           instances
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           renouncing
           of
           a
           true
           Church
           as
           no
           Church
           ,
           although
           it
           be
           much
           corrupted
           ,
           much
           more
           if
           it
           be
           a
           purer
           Church
           ,
           though
           somewhat
           faulty
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           An
           utter
           refusing
           of
           all
           acts
           of
           communion
           with
           a
           true
           Church
           when
           we
           may
           have
           communion
           with
           it
           ,
           either
           in
           whole
           or
           in
           part
           ,
           without
           our
           personal
           sin
           of
           commission
           or
           omission
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           causing
           of
           any
           Divisions
           or
           Distempers
           in
           the
           state
           or
           frame
           of
           a
           true
           Church
           contrary
           to
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           is
           no
           Schism
           to
           disown
           a
           corrupt
           frame
           of
           Polity
           ,
           supervenient
           to
           the
           essentials
           and
           integrals
           of
           Church
           state
           in
           any
           particular
           Church
           or
           combination
           of
           Churches
           ,
           like
           a
           leprosie
           in
           the
           Body
           ,
           that
           doth
           grosly
           deprave
           them
           ,
           and
           in
           great
           part
           frustrate
           the
           ends
           of
           their
           constitution
           .
        
         
           The
           last
           and
           lowest
           point
           of
           external
           Unity
           lying
           in
           the
           accidental
           modes
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           matters
           of
           meer
           order
           ,
           extrinsick
           to
           〈◊〉
           
           essentials
           and
           integrals
           of
           Church-State
           ,
           the
           violation
           thereof
           is
           the
           least
           and
           lowest
           point
           of
           Schism
           ,
           I
           mean
           in
           it self
           considered
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           such
           aggravating
           circumstances
           as
           it
           may
           be
           in
           .
        
         
           Those
           accidental
           Forms
           and
           Orders
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           are
           necessary
           in
           genere
           but
           left
           in
           specie
           to
           human
           determination
           ,
           are
           allowed
           of
           God
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           determined
           according
           to
           prudence
           ,
           and
           charity
           for
           Peace
           and
           Edification
           ,
           and
           accordingly
           they
           are
           to
           be
           submitted
           to
           .
           Consequently
           it
           is
           one
           point
           of
           Schism
           to
           make
           a
           Division
           from
           or
           in
           a
           Church
           upon
           the
           accountal
           of
           accident
           Forms
           and
           Orders
           so
           determined
           according
           to
           Gods
           allowance
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           any
           of
           the
           accidentals
           be
           unlawfull
           ,
           and
           the
           maintaining
           or
           practicing
           thereof
           be
           imposed
           upon
           us
           as
           the
           terms
           of
           our
           communion
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           Schism
           but
           Duty
           to
           abstain
           from
           communion
           in
           that
           case
           .
           For
           explicitly
           and
           personally
           to
           own
           errors
           and
           corruptions
           even
           in
           smaller
           points
           is
           evil
           in
           it self
           ,
           which
           must
           not
           be
           committed
           that
           good
           may
           come
           .
           In
           this
           case
           not
           he
           that
           withdraws
           ,
           but
           he
           that
           imposes
           causeth
           the
           Division
           .
           And
           this
           holds
           of
           things
           sinfull
           either
           in
           themselves
           ,
           or
           by
           just
           consequence
           .
        
         
           And
           herein
           he
           that
           is
           to
           act
           ,
           is
           to
           discern
           and
           judge
           for
           his
           own
           practice
           ,
           whether
           the
           things
           imposed
           be
           such
           .
           For
           Gods
           Law
           supposeth
           
           us
           rational
           creatures
           able
           to
           discern
           its
           meaning
           ,
           and
           to
           apply
           it
           for
           the
           regulating
           of
           our
           own
           actions
           ;
           else
           the
           Law
           were
           given
           us
           in
           vain
           .
           Submission
           and
           reverence
           towards
           Superiors
           obligeth
           no
           man
           to
           resign
           his
           understanding
           to
           their
           determinations
           ,
           or
           in
           compliance
           with
           them
           to
           violate
           his
           own
           conscience
           .
           Persons
           meek
           ,
           humble
           ,
           peaceable
           and
           throughly
           conscientious
           and
           of
           competent
           judgment
           ,
           may
           not
           be
           able
           by
           their
           diligent
           and
           impartial
           search
           to
           see
           the
           lawfulness
           of
           things
           injoyned
           ,
           and
           t
           is
           a
           hard
           case
           if
           they
           should
           thereupon
           be
           declared
           contumacious
           .
        
         
           Seeing
           there
           be
           several
           points
           of
           Unity
           ,
           the
           valuation
           whereof
           is
           to
           be
           made
           according
           to
           their
           different
           value
           ,
           mens
           judgment
           and
           estimation
           of
           Unity
           and
           Schism
           ,
           is
           very
           preposterous
           ,
           who
           lay
           the
           greatest
           stress
           on
           those
           points
           that
           are
           of
           least
           moment
           ,
           and
           raise
           things
           of
           the
           lowest
           rank
           to
           the
           highest
           in
           their
           valuation
           ,
           and
           set
           light
           by
           things
           of
           the
           greatest
           moment
           and
           highest
           value
           ;
           as
           indeed
           they
           do
           ,
           who
           set
           light
           by
           soundness
           of
           Faith
           and
           holiness
           of
           Life
           ,
           and
           consciencious
           observance
           of
           Divine
           institutions
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           not
           also
           unanimity
           and
           uniformity
           in
           unscriptural
           Doctrines
           and
           human
           ceremonies
           .
           And
           they
           that
           make
           such
           an
           estimate
           of
           things
           ,
           and
           deal
           with
           Ministers
           accordingly
           ,
           do
           therein
           little
           advance
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           or
           indeavour
           to
           keep
           it
           in
           the
           bond
           of
           Peace
           .
        
         
         
           Seeing
           the
           word
           of
           God
           is
           the
           rule
           of
           Church
           Unity
           ,
           a
           breach
           is
           made
           upon
           it
           ,
           when
           other
           bounds
           thereof
           are
           set
           than
           this
           rule
           allows
           .
           An
           instance
           hereof
           is
           the
           devising
           of
           other
           terms
           of
           Church-communion
           ,
           and
           Ministerial
           liberty
           ,
           than
           God
           hath
           commanded
           ,
           or
           allowed
           in
           his
           Word
           to
           be
           made
           the
           terms
           thereof
           ;
           Also
           any
           casting
           or
           keeping
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           or
           Ministery
           such
           as
           Gods
           Word
           doth
           not
           exclude
           from
           either
           ,
           but
           signifies
           to
           be
           qualified
           and
           called
           thereunto
           .
        
         
           God
           doth
           not
           allow
           on
           the
           part
           of
           the
           Imposer
           such
           tearms
           of
           Church
           communion
           or
           Ministerial
           station
           ,
           as
           are
           neither
           Scriptural
           nor
           necessary
           to
           Peace
           and
           Edification
           ,
           nor
           are
           any
           part
           of
           that
           necessary
           order
           and
           decency
           ,
           without
           which
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           would
           be
           undecent
           ,
           nor
           are
           in
           any
           regard
           so
           necessary
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           may
           be
           dispensed
           with
           for
           a
           greater
           benefit
           ,
           and
           the
           avoiding
           of
           a
           greater
           mischief
           .
           And
           they
           are
           found
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           that
           urge
           such
           unscriptural
           and
           unnecessary
           things
           unto
           a
           breach
           in
           the
           Church
           .
           Such
           Imposers
           are
           not
           only
           an
           occasion
           of
           the
           breach
           that
           follows
           ,
           but
           a
           culpable
           cause
           thereof
           ,
           because
           they
           impose
           without
           and
           against
           Christs
           warrant
           ,
           who
           will
           not
           have
           his
           Church
           to
           be
           burdened
           ,
           nor
           the
           consciences
           of
           his
           Servants
           intangled
           with
           things
           unnecessary
           .
        
         
           Nevertheless
           ,
           such
           unscriptural
           or
           unnecessary
           things
           ,
           if
           they
           be
           not
           in
           themselves
           
           unlawfull
           nor
           of
           mischievous
           consequence
           ,
           may
           be
           of
           Gods
           allowing
           as
           to
           the
           submitters
           .
           Thereupon
           they
           are
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           ,
           who
           meerly
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           those
           unnecessary
           things
           yet
           lawfull
           as
           to
           their
           use
           ,
           though
           wrongfully
           urged
           upon
           them
           ,
           forsake
           the
           communion
           of
           the
           Church
           or
           their
           Ministerial
           station
           ,
           where
           things
           are
           well
           settled
           as
           to
           the
           substantials
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           ends
           of
           Church
           order
           ,
           and
           when
           they
           themselves
           are
           not
           required
           to
           justifie
           the
           imposing
           of
           such
           unnecessaries
           .
           Here
           I
           speak
           of
           contumacious
           refusers
           ,
           who
           will
           rather
           make
           a
           breach
           than
           yield
           .
           But
           refusers
           out
           of
           conscience
           believing
           ,
           or
           with
           appearance
           of
           reason
           suspecting
           the
           said
           lawfull
           things
           to
           be
           unlawfull
           ,
           are
           either
           accquitted
           from
           Schism
           ,
           or
           guilty
           but
           in
           a
           low
           degree
           ,
           and
           much
           less
           culpable
           than
           the
           Imposers
           ,
           who
           might
           well
           forbear
           to
           impose
           .
        
         
           Be
           it
           here
           noted
           that
           when
           Superiors
           sin
           in
           commanding
           a
           thing
           exempt
           from
           their
           authority
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           the
           Subjects
           duty
           to
           observe
           the
           thing
           commanded
           .
           In
           this
           case
           the
           said
           observance
           is
           not
           an
           act
           of
           obedience
           ,
           for
           that
           can
           arise
           only
           from
           the
           Rulers
           authority
           to
           command
           .
           But
           it
           is
           an
           act
           of
           prudence
           ,
           equity
           and
           charity
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           good
           and
           necessary
           for
           the
           ends
           sake
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           regard
           t
           is
           an
           act
           of
           obedience
           ,
           though
           not
           to
           the
           Earthly
           Ruler
           ,
           yet
           to
           God
           who
           commands
           us
           to
           follow
           Peace
           and
           maintain
           Unity
           in
           all
           lawful●
           〈◊〉
           and
           means
           .
        
         
         
           In
           the
           judgment
           of
           the
           Apostle
           it
           is
           no
           slight
           matter
           to
           act
           against
           conscience
           rationally
           doubting
           ,
           or
           suspecting
           a
           breach
           of
           Gods
           Law
           ,
           
             Rom.
             14.
             5.
             
             Let
             every
             man
             be
             fully
             persuaded
             in
             his
             mind
             ,
          
           v.
           14.
           
           
             To
             him
             that
             esteemeth
             any
             thing
             to
             be
             unclean
             ,
             to
             him
             it
             is
             unclean
             ,
          
           ver
           .
           23.
           
           
             He
             that
             doubteth
             ,
             is
             damned
             if
             he
             eat
             ,
             because
             he
             eateth
             not
             of
             Faith
             ,
             for
             whatsoever
             is
             not
             of
             Faith
             is
             sin
             .
          
           The
           command
           of
           Rulers
           is
           no
           good
           security
           for
           acting
           against
           a
           rational
           doubting
           conscience
           .
           When
           I
           am
           in
           doubt
           touching
           the
           lawfulness
           of
           the
           thing
           injoyned
           ,
           I
           have
           no
           certainty
           of
           being
           on
           the
           safer
           side
           ,
           by
           complying
           with
           Rulers
           .
           For
           though
           in
           general
           obedience
           to
           Rulers
           be
           a
           certain
           Duty
           ,
           yet
           in
           the
           particular
           doubted
           case
           ,
           I
           cannot
           be
           certain
           that
           my
           compliance
           is
           right
           and
           warrantable
           obedience
           ,
           and
           not
           a
           breach
           of
           Gods
           Law.
           Is
           it
           plain
           that
           I
           ought
           to
           obey
           the
           commands
           of
           Rulers
           in
           things
           that
           have
           Gods
           allowance
           ?
           so
           t
           is
           as
           plain
           that
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           obey
           their
           commands
           in
           things
           which
           God
           hath
           forbidden
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           it
           is
           as
           plain
           that
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           act
           against
           my
           own
           conscience
           ,
           which
           as
           being
           the
           discerner
           of
           the
           will
           of
           God
           concerning
           me
           ,
           is
           of
           right
           the
           immediate
           director
           of
           my
           actions
           .
           Indeed
           my
           conscience
           cannot
           alter
           Gods
           Law
           ,
           or
           make
           that
           which
           God
           hath
           made
           my
           duty
           to
           be
           not
           
           my
           duty
           ,
           yet
           it
           will
           not
           suffer
           me
           to
           act
           in
           disconformity
           to
           its
           directions
           .
        
         
           Seeing
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Spirit
           is
           always
           in
           conjunction
           with
           Faith
           and
           Holiness
           ,
           to
           which
           the
           Unity
           of
           external
           order
           is
           always
           to
           be
           subservient
           ,
           it
           follows
           that
           when
           Unity
           of
           external
           order
           doth
           not
           tend
           to
           advance
           but
           hinder
           sound
           Faith
           and
           true
           Holiness
           ,
           then
           a
           false
           Unity
           is
           set
           up
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           Unity
           is
           abandoned
           ,
           and
           divisions
           and
           offences
           are
           caused
           .
           And
           it
           is
           no
           Schism
           but
           a
           duty
           not
           to
           adhere
           to
           a
           Unity
           of
           external
           order
           so
           set
           and
           urged
           ,
           as
           that
           it
           tends
           to
           the
           destruction
           or
           notable
           detriment
           of
           Faith
           and
           Holiness
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           end
           of
           all
           Church
           Order
           .
           The
           means
           are
           good
           in
           reference
           to
           their
           end
           ,
           and
           must
           never
           be
           used
           in
           a
           way
           destructive
           to
           it
           .
           Of
           the
           hinderance
           of
           the
           said
           ends
           ,
           there
           be
           these
           following
           instances
           .
        
         
           Here
           laid
           down
           in
           general
           ,
           without
           intendment
           of
           particular
           application
           to
           any
           Churches
           now
           in
           being
           ,
           which
           are
           left
           to
           be
           tryed
           and
           judged
           by
           that
           rule
           by
           which
           all
           must
           stand
           or
           fall
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           When
           a
           Church
           or
           Churches
           ,
           a
           Congregation
           or
           Congregations
           have
           an
           establishment
           of
           external
           Polity
           ,
           and
           an
           ordained
           Ministery
           ,
           and
           a
           Form
           of
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           but
           are
           destitute
           of
           such
           Ministers
           as
           are
           qualified
           to
           feed
           the
           Flock
           ,
           and
           are
           burdened
           with
           such
           
           as
           are
           altogether
           unfit
           to
           have
           the
           charge
           of
           Souls
           committed
           to
           them
           ,
           who
           are
           either
           unable
           to
           teach
           ,
           or
           teach
           corruptly
           ,
           either
           teaching
           corrupt
           Doctrine
           ,
           or
           abusing
           ,
           mishandling
           and
           misapplying
           sound
           Doctrine
           ,
           to
           encourage
           the
           Ungodly
           and
           discourage
           the
           Godly
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Where
           there
           are
           some
           Ministers
           able
           and
           apt
           to
           teach
           and
           duly
           qualified
           ;
           but
           their
           number
           is
           in
           no
           wise
           proportionable
           to
           the
           number
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           there
           be
           multitudes
           that
           cannot
           have
           the
           benefit
           of
           their
           Ministery
           ,
           so
           that
           if
           they
           have
           no
           more
           placed
           among
           them
           than
           those
           few
           ,
           they
           have
           in
           effect
           none
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Where
           sincere
           Christians
           ,
           or
           credible
           Professors
           of
           Christianity
           are
           cast
           out
           of
           an
           established
           Church
           by
           wrong
           sentence
           ,
           or
           are
           debarred
           from
           its
           communion
           by
           unlawfull
           terms
           injoyned
           them
           ,
           or
           unnecessary
           terms
           which
           are
           to
           them
           unlawfull
           by
           real
           doubts
           of
           conscience
           ,
           and
           which
           Christ
           hath
           not
           authorized
           Rulers
           to
           injoyn
           as
           terms
           of
           Church
           communion
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           When
           Ministers
           ,
           whom
           Christ
           hath
           furnished
           and
           called
           ,
           are
           driven
           out
           of
           their
           publick
           station
           by
           unlawfull
           terms
           injoyned
           ,
           or
           by
           terms
           unnecessary
           and
           to
           them
           unlawfull
           by
           real
           doubts
           of
           conscience
           ,
           and
           which
           Christ
           hath
           not
           authorized
           Rulers
           to
           injoyn
           as
           terms
           of
           the
           publick
           Ministery
           .
        
         
         
           Upon
           the
           cases
           here
           mentioned
           ,
           I
           inquire
           whether
           the
           said
           Ministers
           and
           People
           may
           not
           draw
           together
           into
           new
           congregations
           .
           Let
           it
           be
           considered
           whether
           the
           determinations
           of
           men
           may
           be
           a
           perpetual
           bar
           to
           true
           visible
           Christians
           ,
           (
           it
           may
           be
           to
           multitudes
           of
           them
           )
           against
           the
           injoyment
           of
           those
           most
           important
           priviledges
           ,
           to
           which
           God
           hath
           given
           them
           right
           .
           Yea
           ,
           suppose
           their
           consciences
           were
           culpably
           weak
           in
           scrupling
           things
           imposed
           ,
           yet
           they
           may
           suffer
           wrong
           by
           such
           an
           excess
           of
           punishment
           ,
           as
           so
           great
           a
           deprivation
           .
           And
           Christ
           doth
           not
           reject
           them
           for
           such
           weaknesses
           .
        
         
           Let
           it
           be
           also
           considered
           ,
           whether
           such
           injured
           as
           Christians
           are
           wrongfully
           excluded
           from
           Gods
           Ordinances
           ,
           and
           such
           neglected
           Souls
           as
           are
           left
           destitute
           of
           the
           necessary
           means
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           may
           lawfully
           be
           deserted
           by
           Christs
           Ministers
           .
           Should
           not
           the
           Stewards
           of
           the
           mysteries
           of
           God
           indeavour
           to
           supply
           what
           is
           lacking
           to
           such
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           rigourousness
           or
           negligence
           of
           others
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           we
           may
           not
           do
           evil
           that
           good
           may
           come
           ,
           nor
           break
           the
           laws
           of
           Unity
           for
           such
           respects
           ,
           the
           answer
           is
           ,
           that
           this
           is
           not
           to
           do
           evil
           ,
           but
           a
           good
           work
           and
           a
           necessary
           duty
           ,
           and
           here
           is
           no
           breach
           of
           Unity
           that
           is
           of
           Gods
           making
           or
           allowing
           .
           The
           necessary
           means
           of
           saving
           Souls
           are
           incomparably
           more
           pretious
           than
           
           uniformity
           in
           external
           ,
           accidental
           order
           ,
           especially
           when
           t
           is
           unwarrantably
           injoyned
           ,
           and
           attended
           with
           such
           evil
           consequents
           .
           If
           within
           any
           local
           bounds
           assigned
           for
           the
           Pastoral
           charge
           of
           any
           Ecclesiastick
           ,
           the
           People
           be
           left
           destitude
           of
           competent
           provision
           for
           their
           Souls
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           intrusion
           or
           breach
           of
           Unity
           if
           an
           other
           Pastor
           perform
           the
           work
           of
           the
           Ministery
           within
           those
           bounds
           .
        
         
           Subjects
           may
           not
           by
           coercive
           power
           reform
           the
           publick
           State
           and
           change
           the
           Laws
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           work
           of
           the
           Supream
           Magistrate
           .
           But
           let
           it
           be
           considered
           whether
           they
           may
           not
           have
           their
           voluntary
           Assemblies
           for
           Gods
           Worship
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           driven
           from
           the
           communion
           of
           the
           legal
           Churches
           by
           the
           imposition
           of
           ●nlawfull
           terms
           ,
           or
           unnecessary
           terms
           appre●ended
           by
           them
           to
           be
           unlawfull
           .
           For
           in
           this
           ●ase
           they
           are
           forced
           either
           to
           hold
           such
           Assem●lies
           ,
           or
           to
           abide
           perpetually
           without
           those
           ●piritual
           priviledges
           which
           are
           their
           due
           ,
           and
           ●●e
           ordinary
           means
           of
           their
           Salvation
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           a
           great
           difference
           between
           inimi●l
           Separation
           ,
           like
           Sedition
           in
           a
           Common-●ealth
           ,
           and
           Secregation
           upon
           necessary
           causes
           ●ithout
           breach
           of
           charity
           .
           And
           among
           the
           ●ecessary
           causes
           this
           may
           be
           one
           ,
           that
           all
           sober
           ●hristians
           ,
           who
           for
           conscience
           sake
           cannot
           ●●bmit
           to
           the
           way
           of
           the
           Established
           Churches
           ,
           ●ay
           be
           relieved
           ;
           and
           that
           none
           may
           be
           exposed
           
           for
           lack
           of
           that
           relief
           to
           be
           lead
           aside
           into
           the
           error
           of
           the
           wicked
           ,
           as
           Heresie
           ,
           Infidelity
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           course
           of
           Impiety
           .
           Indeed
           here
           is
           some
           variation
           from
           the
           ordinarily
           regular
           bounding
           of
           Churches
           .
           But
           the
           partition
           of
           one
           Church
           from
           another
           by
           local
           bounds
           ,
           is
           not
           of
           absolute
           necessity
           and
           invariable
           ,
           but
           naturally
           eligible
           from
           the
           convenience
           thereof
           ,
           when
           it
           may
           be
           had
           .
           But
           the
           state
           of
           some
           Christians
           may
           be
           such
           ,
           as
           to
           compel
           them
           to
           vary
           from
           it
           .
           The
           scope
           hereof
           is
           not
           to
           set
           up
           Churches
           agains●
           Churches
           ,
           but
           either
           occasional
           and
           temporary
           Assemblies
           ,
           or
           at
           the
           most
           but
           dive●●
           Churches
           distinguished
           by
           their
           several
           place
           of
           assembling
           ,
           or
           by
           diversity
           of
           external
           order
           ,
           as
           the
           allowed
           Congregations
           of
           Foreigners
           in
           London
           ,
           are
           distinguished
           from
           the
           Parish
           Churches
           .
        
         
           If
           any
           object
           the
           inconveniencies
           that
           ma●
           follow
           the
           permitting
           of
           Church
           Assemblies
           b●
           sides
           those
           of
           the
           Established
           Order
           ,
           the
           a●swer
           is
           ,
           That
           the
           wisdom
           and
           clemency
           Rulers
           in
           any
           Nation
           where
           this
           case
           may
           supposed
           can
           provide
           ,
           that
           as
           few
           as
           may
           should
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           that
           permission
           ,
           fixing
           the
           terms
           of
           Church
           communion
           a●●
           Ministerial
           liberty
           to
           such
           a
           latitude
           ,
           as
           m●●●
           comprehend
           all
           the
           more
           moderate
           Dissente●●
           And
           after
           such
           comprehension
           ,
           Christian
           ch●rity
           
           will
           plead
           ,
           that
           all
           tolerable
           Dissenters
           (
           that
           is
           ,
           all
           who
           believe
           and
           live
           as
           Christians
           )
           may
           be
           tolerated
           within
           such
           limits
           ,
           as
           may
           stand
           with
           publick
           Peace
           and
           safety
           .
           That
           which
           is
           here
           proposed
           ,
           may
           make
           for
           the
           relief
           of
           many
           thousand
           serious
           Christians
           without
           breach
           of
           the
           external
           order
           ,
           which
           is
           necessary
           to
           be
           maintained
           ,
           and
           is
           not
           set
           up
           to
           the
           hinderance
           of
           things
           more
           necessary
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           to
           be
           noted
           that
           the
           offenders
           expresly
           marked
           out
           by
           the
           Apostle
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           Rom.
           16.
           17.
           were
           ungodly
           men
           that
           opposed
           or
           perverted
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           being
           Sensualists
           and
           deceivers
           disturbed
           and
           polluted
           the
           Christian
           Societies
           ,
           and
           seduced
           the
           simple
           into
           destructive
           error
           and
           practice
           .
           Wherefore
           the
           Text
           is
           ill
           applied
           to
           the
           rigorous
           condemnation
           of
           honest
           and
           peaceable
           men
           ,
           that
           dissent
           only
           in
           some
           accidental
           or
           ,
           ●nferior
           points
           of
           Religion
           ,
           for
           which
           the
           Apostle
           forbids
           Christians
           to
           despise
           or
           judge
           one
           ●nother
           .
           Yet
           not
           only
           false
           Teachers
           ,
           but
           all
           ●chismaticks
           are
           here
           condemned
           under
           this
           de●●ription
           ,
           viz.
           those
           that
           cause
           Divisions
           and
           Offences
           .
           And
           though
           they
           be
           not
           direct
           op●osers
           of
           sound
           Doctrine
           ,
           yet
           being
           Dividers
           〈◊〉
           Disturbers
           ,
           they
           practice
           contrary
           to
           the
           ●octrine
           of
           Christ
           ,
           which
           teacheth
           Unity
           ,
           ●ove
           and
           Peace
           .
           But
           still
           it
           must
           be
           observed
           ●●at
           the
           reality
           of
           Schism
           lies
           not
           in
           being
           divided
           
           or
           disordered
           ,
           but
           in
           causing
           the
           division
           or
           disturbance
           ,
           or
           in
           a
           voluntary
           violation
           of
           or
           departing
           from
           true
           Church-Unity
           .
        
         
           They
           that
           cause
           Divisions
           are
           not
           excused
           from
           Schism
           by
           the
           support
           of
           Secular
           Power
           ,
           nor
           are
           others
           convicted
           of
           it
           meerly
           by
           the
           want
           of
           that
           Support
           .
           The
           Magistrates
           power
           in
           Sacred
           things
           is
           accumulative
           ,
           not
           destructive
           o●
           diminitive
           to
           the
           rights
           of
           Christs
           Ministers
           and
           People
           .
           It
           takes
           not
           from
           them
           any
           thing
           that
           Christ
           hath
           granted
           them
           ,
           but
           gives
           them
           a
           better
           capacity
           to
           make
           use
           thereof
           .
        
      
       
         
           CHAP.
           IV.
           
        
         
           
             Of
             the
             Schisms
             that
             were
             in
             the
             mor●
             ancient
             times
             of
             the
             Church
             ;
             and
             th●
             different
             case
             of
             the
             Nonconformist●
             in
             these
             times
             .
          
        
         
           OF
           those
           parties
           which
           were
           anciently
           r●upted
           Schismaticks
           ,
           as
           violating
           the
           Un●ty
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           yet
           not
           Hereticks
           ,
           as
           d●nying
           any
           Fundamental
           point
           of
           the
           Chris●●an
           Faith
           ,
           the
           Novatians
           and
           Donatists
           are
           the
           chiefest
           note
           .
           Forasmuch
           as
           both
           the●
           are
           looked
           upon
           as
           the
           greatest
           instances
           Schism
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           requisite
           for
           me
           to
           consid●●
           
           the
           true
           state
           of
           their
           separation
           from
           the
           main
           body
           of
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           passing
           by
           accidental
           matters
           ,
           and
           insisting
           on
           the
           merits
           of
           their
           cause
           according
           to
           their
           main
           Principles
           and
           Practices
           .
        
         
           As
           concerning
           the
           Donatists
           ,
           the
           breach
           made
           by
           them
           had
           this
           rise
           .
           Donatus
           with
           ●is
           Complices
           vehemently
           opposed
           Cecilianus
           ,
           who
           had
           been
           chosen
           Bishop
           of
           Carthage
           ,
           in
           design
           to
           thrust
           him
           out
           of
           his
           Bishoprick
           .
           They
           accuse
           him
           of
           being
           ordained
           by
           one
           that
           had
           been
           a
           Proditor
           ,
           and
           of
           having
           admitted
           into
           Ecclesiastical
           Office
           one
           that
           was
           guilty
           of
           the
           like
           fault
           .
           This
           Cause
           was
           by
           the
           Emperor
           
           Constantine's
           appointment
           heard
           before
           several
           Councils
           and
           many
           Judges
           .
           The
           Accusers
           still
           fail
           in
           their
           Proofs
           of
           the
           ●hings
           objected
           ,
           Cecilianus
           is
           acquitted
           and
           confirmed
           in
           his
           Office.
           The
           Party
           of
           Donatus
           failing
           in
           their
           design
           ,
           were
           carried
           in
           a
           boundless
           rage
           of
           opposition
           to
           a
           total
           ,
           and
           ●rreclaimable
           Separation
           from
           all
           the
           Churches
           ●hat
           were
           not
           of
           their
           Faction
           ,
           and
           became
           very
           numerous
           upon
           a
           pretence
           of
           shunning
           ●he
           contagion
           of
           the
           wicked
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Sacraments
           .
           Their
           principles
           were
           ,
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           was
           no
           where
           ●o
           be
           found
           but
           among
           themselves
           in
           a
           corner
           of
           Africa
           ;
           also
           that
           true
           Baptism
           was
           not
           Administred
           but
           in
           their
           Sect.
           Likewise
           they
           
           proceeded
           to
           great
           tumult
           ,
           and
           violence
           ,
           and
           rapine
           .
           And
           a
           sort
           of
           them
           called
           Circumcelliones
           gloried
           in
           a
           furious
           kind
           of
           Martyrdom
           ,
           partly
           by
           forcing
           others
           to
           kill
           them
           ,
           and
           partly
           by
           killing
           themselves
           .
        
         
           The
           Novatians
           took
           their
           name
           and
           beginning
           from
           Novatus
           a
           Presbyter
           ,
           first
           at
           Carthage
           ,
           afterwards
           at
           Rome
           ,
           who
           held
           that
           they
           who
           lapsed
           in
           times
           of
           Persecution
           unto
           the
           denying
           of
           Christ
           ,
           were
           not
           to
           be
           readmitted
           unto
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           though
           they
           repented
           and
           submitted
           to
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Discipline
           of
           Pennance
           .
           He
           separated
           from
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           and
           was
           made
           a
           Bishop
           by
           Bishops
           of
           his
           own
           judgment
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           Cornelius
           Bishop
           of
           
             Rome
             Cyprian
          
           gives
           a
           very
           bad
           character
           of
           him
           ,
           a●
           a
           turbulent
           ,
           arrogant
           and
           avaritious
           Person
           But
           of
           what
           Spirit
           soever
           he
           was
           ,
           his
           Judgment
           and
           Canon
           was
           received
           among
           many
           that
           were
           of
           stricter
           lives
           ;
           and
           he
           himself
           i●
           reported
           to
           have
           suffered
           death
           in
           the
           persecution
           under
           Valerian
           .
        
         
           At
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Nice
             ,
             Acesius
          
           Bishop
           o●
           the
           Novatians
           being
           asked
           by
           Constantine
           whether
           he
           assented
           to
           the
           same
           Faith
           wit●
           the
           Council
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           observation
           of
           Easte●
           as
           was
           there
           derceed
           ,
           answered
           that
           he
           full
           assented
           to
           both
           .
           Then
           being
           again
           aske●
           by
           the
           Emperor
           ,
           why
           he
           separated
           from
           th●
           
           Communion
           ,
           he
           recited
           for
           himself
           things
           done
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Decius
           ,
           and
           the
           exquisite
           observation
           of
           a
           certain
           severe
           Canon
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           after
           Baptism
           had
           fallen
           into
           that
           kind
           of
           sin
           ,
           which
           the
           Scripture
           calls
           a
           sin
           unto
           death
           ,
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           partakers
           of
           the
           Divine
           mysteries
           ;
           but
           to
           be
           exhorted
           to
           repentance
           ,
           and
           to
           expect
           the
           hope
           of
           remission
           not
           from
           the
           Priest
           but
           from
           God
           ,
           who
           hath
           power
           to
           forgive
           .
           By
           this
           it
           appears
           that
           the
           Novatians
           did
           not
           deny
           the
           Salvability
           of
           the
           lapsed
           ,
           or
           others
           that
           had
           fallen
           into
           a
           sin
           unto
           death
           ,
           but
           only
           refused
           to
           admit
           them
           to
           Sacerdotal
           Absolution
           and
           Church-Communion
           .
           And
           thus
           they
           made
           a
           very
           unwarrantable
           separation
           ,
           grounded
           upon
           an
           unjust
           rigor
           of
           very
           bad
           consequence
           .
        
         
           Nevertheless
           their
           error
           was
           no
           other
           ,
           than
           what
           holy
           and
           good
           men
           might
           be
           ensnared
           ●n
           by
           the
           appearance
           of
           a
           greater
           detestation
           of
           ●in
           ,
           and
           its
           tendency
           to
           prevent
           the
           lapse
           of
           Christians
           into
           Idolatry
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           them
           more
           resolved
           for
           Martyrdom
           .
           And
           by
           as
           ●redible
           History
           as
           any
           we
           have
           of
           the
           an●ient
           times
           ,
           they
           are
           reported
           to
           have
           had
           among
           them
           men
           eminently
           Pious
           ,
           and
           some
           ●amous
           for
           Miracles
           .
           They
           unmovably
           ad●ered
           to
           the
           Homousian
           Faith
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           maintenance
           of
           it
           together
           with
           the
           Orthodox
           ,
           ●uffered
           dreadfull
           Persecutions
           .
           They
           had
           
           some
           Bishops
           remarkable
           for
           Wisdom
           an
           Godliness
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           were
           consulted
           with
           by
           some
           of
           the
           chief
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           that
           with
           good
           success
           for
           support
           of
           the
           Common
           Faith
           against
           the
           Arrians
           and
           such
           like
           Hereticks
           .
           Under
           a
           certain
           Persecution
           ,
           wherein
           they
           were
           Companions
           of
           the
           self
           same
           suffering
           ,
           it
           is
           said
           that
           the
           Catholicks
           and
           Novatians
           had
           Prayers
           together
           in
           the
           Novations
           Churches
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           those
           time●
           they
           were
           almost
           united
           ,
           if
           the
           Novations
           had
           not
           utterly
           refused
           that
           they
           might
           keep
           up
           their
           old
           institutes
           ;
           yet
           they
           bare
           such
           good
           will
           one
           to
           another
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           die
           one
           for
           another
           .
           These
           and
           many
           other
           things
           of
           like
           nature
           are
           reported
           of
           them
           by
           Socrates
           ,
           whom
           some
           indeed
           suspect
           to
           have
           been
           addicted
           to
           them
           ,
           yet
           upon
           no
           other
           ground
           ,
           but
           because
           he
           gives
           them
           their
           due
           upon
           evident
           proof
           .
           And
           besides
           what
           he
           hath
           reported
           ,
           Sosomen
           thus
           testifies
           of
           them
           ,
           
             L.
             2.
             
             C.
             30.
             
             That
             when
             other
             Sects
             expired
             ,
             the
             Novatians
             because
             they
             had
             good
             men
             for
             the
             Leaders
             of
             their
             way
             ,
             and
             because
             they
             defended
             the
             same
             Doctrine
             with
             the
             Catholick
             Church
             ,
             were
             very
             numerous
             from
             the
             beginning
             ,
             and
             so
             continued
             ,
             and
             suffered
             not
             much
             dammage
             by
          
           Constantines
           
             Law
             for
             suppressing
             of
             Sects
          
           ;
           And
           Acesius
           their
           Bishop
           being
           much
           favoured
           by
           the
           Emperor
           ,
           for
           the
           integrity
           of
           his
           life
           
           greatly
           advantaged
           his
           Church
           .
           Also
           
             L.
             4.
             
             C.
          
           19.
           
           He
           reports
           the
           great
           amity
           that
           was
           between
           them
           and
           the
           Catholicks
           in
           a
           time
           of
           common
           Persecution
           .
        
         
           Whether
           the
           case
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           from
           the
           Uniformity
           now
           required
           ,
           be
           in
           point
           of
           Schism
           of
           the
           same
           or
           like
           reason
           with
           the
           above
           mentioned
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           anciently
           reputed
           Schismaticks
           ,
           is
           now
           to
           be
           considered
           .
           And
           it
           is
           the
           case
           of
           those
           that
           dissent
           not
           in
           the
           substance
           of
           Religion
           ,
           but
           only
           in
           things
           pertaining
           to
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Polity
           or
           external
           Order
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           that
           it
           here
           taken
           into
           consideration
           .
           Of
           these
           ,
           some
           being
           persuaded
           of
           the
           necessity
           of
           their
           own
           Church-Order
           ,
           desire
           to
           remain
           as
           they
           are
           in
           their
           severed
           Societies
           ;
           yet
           they
           do
           not
           nullify
           the
           legal
           Churches
           or
           Ministery
           ,
           or
           the
           dispensation
           of
           the
           Word
           ,
           Sacraments
           and
           Prayer
           therein
           performed
           .
           Others
           being
           satisfied
           in
           the
           constitution
           of
           Parochial
           Churches
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           substance
           of
           the
           Established
           Form
           of
           Worship
           ,
           would
           gladly
           embrace
           a
           freedom
           of
           Communicating
           and
           Administring
           therein
           ,
           upon
           the
           removal
           of
           some
           bars
           that
           lie
           against
           them
           ,
           and
           which
           they
           think
           may
           well
           be
           removed
           .
           Thereupon
           they
           seek
           an
           Accommodation
           and
           Union
           by
           a
           sufficient
           comprehensiveness
           in
           the
           publick
           constitution
           ;
           and
           withall
           a
           reasonable
           indulgence
           towards
           
           those
           Brethren
           ,
           who
           for
           the
           straightness
           of
           their
           judgments
           cannot
           be
           comprehended
           .
        
         
           Neither
           Party
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           here
           described
           can
           be
           charged
           with
           any
           thing
           like
           the
           Donatistical
           fury
           before
           expressed
           .
           If
           Austin
           sought
           the
           suppression
           of
           that
           Sect
           by
           the
           secular
           power
           ,
           in
           regard
           of
           the
           horrible
           outrages
           committed
           by
           them
           ,
           it
           cannot
           reasonably
           be
           urged
           for
           a
           precedent
           (
           as
           it
           hath
           been
           by
           some
           )
           for
           the
           suppression
           of
           men
           Sober
           and
           Peaceable
           ,
           and
           sound
           in
           the
           main
           points
           of
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Life
           .
           Nor
           can
           either
           Party
           of
           us
           be
           charged
           with
           that
           intolerable
           presumption
           and
           arrogance
           of
           the
           Donatists
           ,
           in
           confining
           the
           Flock
           of
           Christ
           to
           their
           own
           Party
           ,
           or
           the
           disannulling
           and
           utter
           denouncing
           of
           all
           Churches
           besides
           their
           own
           .
           Nor
           is
           the
           ground
           of
           our
           dissatisfaction
           like
           theirs
           ,
           which
           began
           in
           a
           quarrel
           against
           a
           particular
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           was
           maintained
           by
           animosity
           against
           those
           that
           would
           not
           condemn
           him
           .
           It
           is
           well
           known
           that
           another
           manner
           of
           account
           is
           to
           be
           given
           of
           our
           Dissents
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           objected
           ,
           that
           those
           Dissenters
           whose
           principles
           bind
           them
           up
           to
           persevere
           in
           their
           severed
           Societies
           ,
           seem
           in
           this
           respect
           to
           be
           as
           the
           Novatians
           ,
           who
           would
           not
           admit
           a
           re-Union
           with
           the
           other
           Churches
           ;
           it
           may
           be
           answered
           for
           them
           ,
           that
           reasons
           
           have
           been
           offered
           in
           the
           foregoing
           parts
           of
           this
           Discourse
           for
           indulgence
           to
           conscientious
           People
           ,
           who
           are
           intangled
           by
           the
           narrowness
           of
           their
           principles
           touching
           Church-Order
           .
           Besides
           ,
           they
           do
           not
           stand
           off
           upon
           so
           harsh
           and
           rigorous
           a
           point
           as
           the
           Novatians
           did
           ,
           viz.
           The
           utter
           repelling
           of
           the
           lapsed
           ,
           though
           penitent
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           And
           they
           have
           ordinarily
           communion
           in
           the
           Word
           and
           Prayer
           with
           Congregations
           that
           are
           not
           of
           their
           Church
           way
           ,
           and
           occasionally
           in
           the
           Sacrament
           with
           those
           Congregations
           ,
           where
           they
           apprehend
           a
           care
           of
           the
           exercise
           of
           Discipline
           .
           Nor
           may
           they
           be
           judged
           so
           irreconcilable
           to
           the
           Established
           Order
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           holy
           lives
           of
           those
           in
           the
           publick
           Ministery
           ,
           and
           their
           lively
           Preaching
           ,
           and
           a
           greater
           care
           of
           true
           and
           real
           Church-Discipline
           ,
           might
           do
           much
           to
           their
           recovery
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           why
           may
           not
           these
           be
           upon
           as
           good
           terms
           under
           the
           present
           Government
           ,
           as
           the
           Novatians
           were
           under
           the
           Government
           of
           their
           times
           ?
           Church
           History
           reports
           that
           they
           were
           cruelly
           Persecuted
           by
           the
           Arrian
           Emperours
           and
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           had
           great
           indulgence
           under
           Orthodox
           Emperours
           ,
           and
           with
           many
           Catholick
           Bishops
           and
           Patriarchs
           ,
           whose
           prudent
           and
           moderate
           Government
           did
           best
           provide
           for
           
           the
           Peace
           of
           their
           Churches
           .
           But
           those
           Orthodox
           Bishops
           ,
           who
           took
           from
           them
           their
           Churches
           and
           Estates
           ,
           were
           chiefly
           either
           such
           as
           took
           to
           themselves
           a
           Secular
           Power
           ,
           and
           ruled
           imperiously
           and
           with
           violence
           ,
           or
           such
           as
           with
           their
           zeal
           had
           more
           of
           wrath
           and
           rashness
           than
           of
           meekness
           and
           prudence
           .
           This
           can
           be
           easily
           proved
           in
           the
           particular
           instances
           ,
           if
           need
           were
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           is
           not
           the
           case
           of
           all
           Nonconformists
           .
           For
           part
           of
           them
           (
           and
           upon
           good
           experiment
           made
           ,
           they
           may
           be
           found
           the
           greater
           part
           )
           do
           not
           seek
           to
           abide
           in
           a
           severed
           State
           ,
           but
           desire
           a
           Union
           .
           It
           is
           well
           known
           they
           are
           as
           sensible
           of
           the
           evil
           of
           Schism
           ,
           and
           as
           Studious
           of
           the
           Churches
           Peace
           and
           Concord
           ,
           as
           any
           others
           .
           And
           though
           they
           have
           not
           the
           same
           latitude
           of
           judgment
           with
           others
           in
           some
           points
           ,
           yet
           they
           have
           a
           right
           Catholick
           Spirit
           to
           promote
           the
           common
           Interest
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           more
           especially
           the
           Protestant
           Reformation
           ,
           and
           dread
           the
           weakning
           and
           shattering
           of
           it
           by
           needless
           Divisions
           ,
           and
           are
           ready
           to
           go
           as
           far
           as
           conscience
           will
           allow
           in
           compliance
           with
           the
           injunctions
           of
           Rulers
           .
           But
           they
           are
           cast
           and
           kept
           out
           of
           the
           Established
           Order
           by
           the
           injunction
           of
           some
           terms
           ,
           which
           in
           regard
           of
           their
           present
           judgment
           ,
           they
           can
           not
           comply
           with
           ,
           but
           under
           the
           guilt
           of
           so
           
           great
           a
           sin
           as
           dissembling
           in
           the
           matter
           of
           Religion
           .
        
         
           Touching
           Church-Government
           ,
           they
           admit
           the
           Episcopacy
           that
           was
           of
           ancient
           Ecclesiastical
           custom
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Ignatius
           ,
           yea
           ,
           or
           of
           Cyprian
           .
           Bishop
           
           Usher's
           model
           of
           Government
           by
           Bishops
           and
           Arch-bishops
           with
           their
           Presbyters
           ,
           was
           by
           some
           of
           them
           presented
           to
           the
           Kings
           Majesty
           for
           a
           ground-work
           of
           Accommodation
           .
           They
           acknowledge
           the
           Kings
           Ecclesiastical
           Supremacy
           according
           to
           the
           Oath
           in
           that
           case
           required
           .
           His
           Majesty
           in
           his
           gracious
           Declaration
           concerning
           Ecclesiastical
           Affairs
           ,
           gives
           a
           Testimony
           concerning
           the
           Ministers
           that
           attended
           him
           in
           Holland
           ,
           in
           these
           words
           ,
           
             viz.
             To
             our
             great
             satisfaction
             and
             comfort
             ,
             We
             found
             them
             Persons
             full
             of
             affection
             to
             Us
             ,
             and
             of
             zeal
             to
             the
             Peace
             of
             Church
             and
             State
             ,
             and
             neither
             Enemies
             (
             as
             they
             had
             been
             given
             out
             to
             be
             )
             to
             Episcopacy
             or
             Liturgy
             ,
             but
             modestly
             to
             desire
             such
             alterations
             in
             either
             ,
             as
             without
             shaking
             foundations
             might
             best
             allay
             the
             present
             Distempers
             .
          
        
         
           They
           are
           ready
           to
           engage
           that
           they
           will
           not
           disturb
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           nor
           indeavour
           any
           point
           of
           alteration
           in
           its
           Government
           by
           Rebellious
           Seditions
           ,
           or
           any
           unlawfull
           ways
           .
           Those
           points
           of
           Conformity
           wherein
           they
           are
           dissatisfied
           ,
           are
           but
           some
           accidentals
           of
           Religion
           and
           external
           
           modes
           ,
           and
           the
           Declarations
           and
           Subscriptions
           importing
           an
           allowance
           of
           all
           and
           every
           thing
           contained
           in
           the
           Liturgy
           .
           And
           they
           think
           that
           these
           points
           are
           not
           so
           necessary
           in
           themselves
           or
           in
           their
           consequents
           ,
           but
           they
           are
           very
           dispensable
           as
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           Governours
           shall
           see
           cause
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           objected
           ,
           that
           if
           any
           thing
           should
           be
           yielded
           to
           them
           ,
           there
           would
           be
           no
           end
           of
           their
           cravings
           ,
           that
           which
           I
           have
           to
           say
           is
           ,
           That
           reasonable
           men
           will
           be
           satisfied
           with
           reasonable
           concessions
           ;
           and
           if
           Subjects
           know
           not
           what
           is
           fit
           for
           them
           to
           ask
           ,
           Governours
           know
           what
           is
           fit
           for
           them
           to
           give
           .
           By
           granting
           the
           desired
           relaxation
           ,
           the
           Church
           would
           not
           (
           as
           some
           alledge
           )
           be
           self-condemned
           ,
           as
           confessing
           the
           unlawfulness
           of
           her
           injunctions
           ,
           or
           as
           justifying
           the
           Opinions
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           .
           For
           it
           can
           signifie
           from
           her
           no
           more
           than
           either
           her
           indulgence
           to
           the
           weak
           ,
           or
           her
           moderation
           in
           things
           less
           necessary
           and
           more
           controverted
           ,
           which
           would
           not
           turn
           to
           her
           reproach
           ,
           but
           to
           her
           greater
           justification
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           here
           nothing
           to
           say
           to
           them
           that
           object
           against
           any
           relaxation
           after
           that
           manner
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           desired
           not
           our
           Conformity
           but
           our
           perpetual
           exclusion
           .
           Such
           may
           be
           answered
           in
           due
           season
           .
           And
           I
           have
           here
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           those
           that
           argue
           against
           
           ●s
           from
           Politick
           considerations
           ,
           respecting
           a
           particular
           Interest
           too
           narrow
           for
           an
           adequate
           foundation
           of
           Church-Peace
           and
           Christian-Concord
           .
           But
           my
           scope
           is
           to
           consider
           what
           may
           be
           done
           by
           the
           Higher
           Powers
           and
           Church
           Guides
           for
           the
           healing
           of
           breaches
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Wisdom
           which
           is
           from
           above
           ,
           which
           is
           first
           pure
           ,
           then
           peaceable
           ,
           gentle
           and
           easie
           to
           be
           intreated
           ,
           full
           of
           mercy
           and
           good
           fruits
           ,
           without
           partiality
           and
           without
           hypocrisie
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           made
           particular
           observation
           of
           those
           too
           most
           remarkable
           Parties
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           looked
           upon
           as
           the
           chief
           instances
           of
           Schism
           in
           the
           more
           ancient
           times
           .
           The
           other
           Schisms
           that
           I
           find
           of
           any
           remark
           in
           those
           times
           were
           raised
           ,
           sometimes
           by
           Persons
           cast
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           for
           their
           Crimes
           ,
           and
           thereupon
           drawing
           Disciples
           after
           them
           ,
           as
           was
           that
           of
           Meletius
           a
           Bishop
           ●n
           Egypt
           ,
           who
           was
           desposed
           for
           having
           sacrificed
           to
           Idols
           .
           Sometimes
           by
           offence
           unjust●y
           taken
           at
           some
           supposed
           faultiness
           in
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           as
           was
           that
           of
           an
           Orthodox
           Party
           ●n
           Antioch
           ,
           against
           another
           Meletius
           ,
           an
           Orthodox
           and
           right
           worthy
           Bishop
           of
           that
           City
           ,
           only
           because
           he
           was
           at
           first
           brought
           ●n
           by
           the
           Arrians
           ;
           sometimes
           by
           the
           exasperations
           of
           the
           People
           for
           injuries
           done
           
           to
           them
           or
           their
           Pastors
           ,
           and
           outrages
           committed
           by
           their
           opposites
           ,
           as
           was
           that
           of
           the
           Johannites
           at
           Constantinople
           upon
           the
           banishment
           of
           Chrysostom
           ;
           and
           somtimes
           by
           meer
           animosity
           and
           humor
           of
           discontentment
           ,
           as
           was
           that
           of
           Lucifer
           a
           Bishop
           in
           Sardinia●
           who
           separated
           from
           Eusebius
           Bishop
           of
           Vercellis
           and
           others
           ,
           because
           they
           disliked
           his
           rash
           act
           of
           Ordaining
           Paulinus
           to
           be
           Bishop
           of
           Antioch
           ,
           as
           tending
           to
           perpetuate
           the
           Schism
           there
           begun
           .
        
         
           Touching
           all
           the
           said
           Parties
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           observed
           that
           they
           did
           not
           plead
           that
           any
           Opinions
           or
           Forms
           were
           imposed
           on
           them
           to
           which
           their
           consciences
           did
           reluctate
           ,
           no●
           did
           they
           desire
           others
           forbearance
           toward●
           them
           in
           such
           things
           as
           might
           bear
           too
           har●
           upon
           them
           ;
           but
           they
           themselves
           woul●
           not
           bear
           with
           others
           in
           that
           which
           they
           supposed
           faulty
           ,
           but
           did
           rather
           choose
           wholly
           to
           abandon
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Churches
           and
           did
           not
           seek
           nor
           care
           for
           accomodatio●
           with
           them
           .
           But
           this
           is
           not
           the
           case
           of
           〈◊〉
           least
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           of
           the●
           times
           .
           For
           they
           importune
           an
           accommodatio●
           with
           the
           Churches
           of
           the
           Established
           Orde●
           and
           for
           Peace
           sake
           ,
           are
           willing
           to
           bear
           wit●
           the
           practice
           of
           others
           in
           that
           which
           themselves
           dislike
           or
           doubt
           of
           ;
           but
           they
           canno●
           
           obtain
           a
           Dispensation
           from
           others
           ,
           in
           some
           things
           which
           are
           very
           dispensable
           points
           according
           to
           their
           judgment
           ,
           but
           are
           forced
           to
           abide
           in
           a
           severed
           state
           ,
           unless
           they
           will
           profess
           what
           they
           believe
           not
           ,
           or
           practice
           what
           they
           allow
           not
           .
        
         
           Now
           because
           the
           judgment
           and
           practice
           of
           antiquity
           is
           much
           insisted
           on
           ,
           I
           pray
           that
           it
           may
           be
           considered
           ,
           whether
           in
           the
           Primitive
           ,
           or
           ancient
           times
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           men
           ,
           yea
           ,
           many
           hundreds
           of
           men
           duly
           qualified
           for
           the
           Ministery
           by
           sound
           Faith
           and
           good
           Life
           ,
           as
           also
           by
           their
           Learning
           and
           Industry
           ,
           and
           offering
           all
           reasonable
           security
           for
           their
           submissive
           and
           peaceable
           demeanure
           ,
           were
           or
           would
           have
           been
           cast
           and
           kept
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           for
           their
           Nonconformity
           to
           some
           Opinions
           ,
           Forms
           and
           Ceremonies
           ,
           which
           at
           the
           best
           are
           but
           the
           accidentals
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           truth
           or
           lawfulness
           whereof
           ,
           the
           Dissenters
           were
           wholly
           dissatisfied
           ,
           and
           which
           the
           Imposers
           judged
           to
           be
           but
           things
           in
           themselves
           indifferent
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           further
           pray
           that
           it
           may
           be
           considered
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           easier
           for
           the
           Nonconformists
           to
           be
           self-condemned
           in
           Conforming
           to
           some
           injunctions
           against
           their
           consciences
           ,
           and
           in
           deserting
           the
           Ministery
           to
           
           which
           they
           are
           dedicated
           ,
           than
           for
           Superiours
           either
           by
           some
           relaxation
           to
           make
           them
           capable
           of
           Conforming
           ,
           or
           to
           bear
           with
           their
           peaceable
           exercise
           of
           the
           Ministery
           in
           a
           state
           of
           Nonconformity
           ,
           while
           some
           of
           their
           injunctions
           confine
           them
           to
           that
           state
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           CHAP.
           V.
           
        
         
           
             Of
             making
             a
             right
             estimate
             of
             the
             guilt
             of
             Schism
             ,
             and
             something
             more
             of
             taking
             the
             right
             way
             to
             Unity
             .
          
        
         
           THe
           confused
           noise
           about
           Schism
           ,
           and
           the
           unjust
           imputation
           thereof
           ,
           that
           is
           commonly
           made
           ,
           hath
           greatly
           disordered
           the
           minds
           of
           many
           .
           Some
           have
           been
           thereby
           swaid
           to
           an
           absolute
           compliance
           with
           the
           most
           numerous
           or
           the
           most
           prevailing
           Parties
           .
           Others
           discerning
           the
           abuse
           of
           this
           name
           ,
           but
           forgetting
           that
           there
           is
           something
           truly
           so
           called
           ,
           have
           made
           light
           of
           the
           thing
           it self
           ,
           which
           is
           indeed
           of
           a
           heinous
           nature
           .
           I
           have
           been
           engaged
           in
           this
           Disquisition
           by
           a
           deep
           sense
           of
           the
           evil
           of
           Schism
           ,
           and
           an
           earnest
           care
           of
           keeping
           my self
           from
           the
           real
           guilt
           thereof
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           here
           written
           ,
           I
           willingly
           submit
           to
           a
           grave
           and
           just
           examination
           .
           
             Errare
             possum
             ,
             Haereticus
             ,
             Schismaticus
             esse
             nolo
             .
          
           I
           am
           liable
           to
           Errour
           as
           others
           are
           ,
           but
           I
           am
           sure
           I
           am
           no
           wilfull
           Schismatick
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           commonly
           given
           to
           men
           to
           pass
           a
           
           severe
           judgment
           upon
           every
           dissent
           from
           their
           own
           Opinions
           and
           Orders
           .
           Whereupon
           ,
           as
           that
           hath
           had
           the
           character
           of
           Schism
           stamped
           upon
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           such
           indeed
           ;
           so
           that
           which
           is
           Schism
           in
           a
           low
           and
           tolerable
           degree
           ,
           hath
           been
           aggravated
           to
           the
           highest
           ,
           and
           prosecuted
           against
           all
           rules
           of
           prudence
           and
           charity
           .
        
         
           To
           make
           an
           equal
           judgment
           of
           the
           guilt
           of
           Schism
           in
           Persons
           or
           Parties
           ,
           the
           degree
           of
           the
           Schism
           is
           duly
           to
           be
           considered
           .
           Our
           Saviour
           teacheth
           that
           reviling
           language
           ,
           contemptuous
           words
           and
           rash
           anger
           ,
           are
           breaches
           of
           the
           Sixth
           Commandment
           ,
           yet
           in
           degree
           of
           guilt
           ,
           they
           are
           vastly
           different
           from
           the
           act
           of
           wilfull
           Murther
           .
           And
           indeed
           in
           the
           kind
           of
           delinquency
           here
           treated
           of
           ,
           there
           are
           as
           great
           differences
           of
           degrees
           as
           of
           any
           other
           kind
           .
           The
           case
           of
           those
           that
           are
           necessitated
           to
           a
           non-compliance
           in
           some
           lawfull
           things
           by
           them
           held
           unlawfull
           ,
           yet
           seeking
           union
           would
           gladly
           embrace
           a
           reasonable
           accomodation
           ,
           is
           much
           different
           from
           theirs
           ,
           who
           upon
           choice
           and
           wilfully
           sever
           themselves
           ,
           because
           they
           love
           to
           be
           severed
           .
           In
           like
           manner
           the
           case
           of
           those
           who
           desire
           and
           seek
           the
           conformity
           of
           others
           ,
           and
           would
           gladly
           have
           fellowship
           with
           them
           ,
           yet
           through
           misguided
           zeal
           ,
           are
           approvers
           of
           such
           unnecessary
           
           impositions
           as
           hinder
           the
           conforming
           of
           many
           ,
           is
           much
           different
           from
           theirs
           ,
           who
           designing
           the
           extrusion
           of
           others
           ,
           contrive
           the
           intangling
           of
           them
           by
           needless
           rigors
           .
           Many
           other
           instances
           might
           be
           given
           to
           express
           the
           great
           disparity
           of
           cases
           in
           point
           of
           Schism
           ,
           all
           which
           may
           teach
           us
           in
           the
           estimate
           that
           we
           are
           to
           make
           thereof
           ,
           to
           put
           a
           difference
           between
           honest
           minds
           ,
           that
           by
           mistake
           are
           drawn
           into
           Division
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           out
           of
           their
           corrupt
           minds
           and
           evill
           designs
           do
           wilfully
           cause
           Division
           .
        
         
           In
           many
           things
           we
           offend
           all
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           behoves
           us
           to
           consider
           one
           another
           ,
           as
           subject
           to
           the
           like
           errours
           and
           passions
           .
           We
           should
           not
           judge
           too
           severely
           ,
           as
           we
           would
           not
           be
           so
           judged
           .
           There
           be
           many
           examples
           of
           Schismatical
           animosities
           and
           perversnesses
           ,
           into
           which
           in
           the
           ancient
           times
           such
           Persons
           have
           fallen
           ,
           as
           were
           otherwise
           worthily
           esteemed
           in
           the
           Church
           .
           Cyril
           with
           the
           greater
           number
           of
           Bishops
           in
           the
           Ephesine
           Council
           ,
           too
           rashly
           deposed
           John
           of
           Antioch
           ,
           and
           his
           Party
           of
           Bishops
           upon
           a
           quarrel
           that
           arose
           between
           them
           .
           And
           John
           with
           his
           Adherents
           returning
           to
           Antioch
           ,
           did
           more
           rashly
           depose
           Cyril
           and
           his
           Party
           ,
           and
           yet
           both
           Parties
           were
           Orthodox
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           issue
           joyned
           in
           the
           Condemnation
           of
           Nestorius
           .
           
           But
           the
           most
           remarkable
           instance
           in
           this
           kind
           ,
           is
           the
           disorderly
           and
           injurious
           proceeding
           of
           so
           venerable
           a
           Person
           as
           Epiphanius
           ,
           against
           so
           worthy
           a
           Person
           as
           Chrysostom
           ,
           to
           which
           he
           was
           stirred
           up
           by
           the
           instigation
           of
           that
           incendiary
           Theophilus
           of
           Alexandria
           .
           The
           said
           Epiphanius
           goes
           to
           Constantinople
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Church
           without
           the
           City
           held
           a
           sacred
           Communion
           ,
           and
           Ordained
           a
           Deacon
           ;
           and
           when
           he
           had
           entred
           the
           City
           ,
           in
           a
           publick
           Church
           he
           read
           the
           Decree
           made
           by
           himself
           and
           some
           others
           in
           the
           condemnation
           of
           Origens
           Books
           ,
           and
           excommunicated
           Dioscurus
           and
           his
           Brethren
           called
           the
           long
           Monks
           ,
           worthy
           and
           Orthodox
           men
           persecuted
           by
           the
           Anthromorphites
           .
           And
           all
           this
           he
           did
           without
           and
           against
           the
           consent
           of
           Chrysostom
           the
           Bishop
           of
           the
           Place
           ,
           and
           in
           contempt
           of
           him
           .
           I
           may
           further
           instance
           in
           the
           long
           continued
           division
           between
           Paulinus
           and
           Meletius
           ,
           with
           their
           Parties
           at
           Antioch
           ,
           though
           both
           of
           them
           were
           of
           the
           Nicene
           Faith
           ;
           likewise
           in
           the
           long
           continued
           Separation
           made
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Constantinople
           ,
           by
           the
           followers
           of
           Chrysostom
           after
           his
           banishment
           ,
           because
           they
           were
           exasperated
           by
           the
           injuries
           done
           to
           their
           worthy
           Patriarch
           .
        
         
           These
           weaknesses
           in
           good
           men
           of
           old
           times
           ,
           I
           observe
           not
           to
           dishonour
           them
           ,
           but
           
           that
           we
           may
           be
           thereby
           warned
           to
           be
           more
           charitable
           and
           less
           censorious
           towards
           one
           another
           ,
           in
           case
           of
           the
           like
           weaknesses
           and
           disorders
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           sollicitous
           to
           maintain
           Peace
           ,
           and
           to
           prevent
           discord
           among
           all
           those
           that
           are
           united
           in
           the
           substantials
           of
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Practice
           ,
           and
           for
           this
           end
           to
           be
           more
           carefull
           in
           avoiding
           unreasonable
           oppositions
           ,
           unwarrantable
           impositions
           ,
           and
           all
           causless
           exasperations
           .
        
         
           True
           Holiness
           is
           the
           basis
           of
           true
           Unity
           .
           For
           by
           it
           the
           Faithfull
           cleave
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           one
           to
           another
           in
           him
           and
           for
           him
           ,
           and
           are
           inclined
           to
           receive
           one
           another
           on
           those
           terms
           ,
           on
           which
           God
           hath
           received
           them
           all
           .
           And
           by
           it
           they
           are
           turned
           from
           that
           dividing
           selfishness
           ,
           which
           draws
           men
           into
           several
           or
           opposite
           ways
           according
           to
           their
           several
           or
           opposite
           ends
           .
        
         
           Let
           not
           a
           carnal
           wordly
           Interest
           in
           a
           Church
           state
           ,
           be
           set
           up
           against
           Holiness
           and
           Unity
           .
           Let
           the
           increase
           and
           peace
           of
           the
           Church
           visible
           ,
           be
           sought
           in
           order
           to
           the
           increase
           and
           peace
           of
           the
           mystical
           .
           Let
           no
           one
           Party
           be
           lifted
           up
           against
           the
           common
           Peace
           of
           sound
           Believers
           ;
           and
           let
           not
           any
           part
           of
           the
           legitimate
           Children
           of
           Christs
           Family
           be
           ejected
           or
           harassed
           upon
           the
           instigation
           of
           others
           ,
           but
           let
           the
           Stewards
           in
           the
           Family
           carry
           it
           equally
           ,
           and
           so
           gratifie
           one
           part
           in
           their
           
           desired
           Orders
           ,
           that
           the
           other
           part
           be
           not
           oppressed
           .
           Let
           not
           them
           be
           still
           vexed
           ,
           who
           would
           be
           glad
           of
           tolerable
           terms
           with
           their
           Brethren
           .
           In
           Church-Governours
           let
           the
           power
           of
           doing
           good
           be
           enlarged
           ,
           and
           the
           power
           of
           doing
           hurt
           restrained
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           will
           stand
           with
           the
           necessary
           ends
           of
           Government
           .
        
         
           Let
           the
           Discipline
           of
           the
           Church
           commend
           it self
           to
           the
           consciences
           of
           men
           .
           Let
           the
           edge
           of
           it
           be
           turned
           the
           right
           way
           and
           its
           vigor
           be
           put
           forth
           ,
           not
           about
           little
           formalities
           but
           the
           great
           and
           weighty
           matters
           of
           Religion
           .
           Zeal
           in
           substantials
           and
           charitable
           forbearance
           in
           circumstantials
           ,
           is
           the
           way
           to
           gain
           upon
           the
           hearts
           of
           those
           that
           understand
           the
           true
           ends
           of
           Church-government
           ,
           and
           what
           it
           is
           to
           be
           Religious
           indeed
           .
        
         
           Let
           the
           occasions
           of
           stumbling
           and
           snares
           of
           division
           be
           taken
           out
           of
           the
           way
           ,
           and
           let
           controverted
           unnecessaries
           be
           left
           at
           liberty
           .
           Discord
           will
           be
           inevitable
           ,
           where
           the
           terms
           of
           concord
           remain
           a
           difficulty
           insuperable
           .
           The
           Conscientious
           that
           are
           willing
           to
           bid
           high
           for
           Peace
           ,
           cannot
           resign
           their
           consciences
           to
           the
           wills
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           humility
           and
           soberness
           doth
           not
           oblige
           them
           to
           act
           contrary
           to
           their
           own
           judgments
           out
           of
           reverence
           to
           their
           Superiors
           ;
           they
           cannot
           help
           themselves
           ,
           but
           their
           Superiors
           may
           .
           T
           is
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Antichrist
           that
           is
           fierce
           and
           violent
           ;
           but
           the
           
           Spirit
           of
           Christ
           is
           dovelike
           ,
           meek
           and
           harmless
           ,
           and
           that
           Spirit
           inclines
           to
           deal
           tenderly
           with
           the
           consciences
           of
           Inferiours
           .
           Tenderness
           of
           conscience
           is
           not
           to
           be
           despised
           or
           exposed
           to
           scorn
           ,
           because
           some
           may
           falsly
           pretend
           to
           it
           .
           The
           Head
           of
           the
           Church
           and
           Saviour
           of
           the
           Body
           is
           compassionate
           towards
           his
           Members
           ,
           and
           he
           hath
           said
           ,
           
             Whoso
             shall
             offend
             one
             of
             these
             little
             ones
             ,
             that
             believe
             in
             me
             ,
             it
             were
             better
             for
             him
             that
             a
             milstone
             were
             hanged
             about
             his
             neck
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             were
             drowned
             in
             the
             depth
             of
             the
             Sea.
             
          
        
         
           As
           the
           way
           of
           unity
           lies
           much
           in
           the
           wisdom
           ,
           equity
           and
           charity
           of
           Superiours
           ,
           so
           in
           the
           humility
           and
           due
           submission
           of
           Inferiours
           ,
           in
           their
           ready
           closing
           with
           what
           is
           commendable
           in
           the
           publick
           constitutions
           ,
           in
           their
           bearing
           with
           what
           is
           tolerable
           ,
           in
           making
           the
           best
           improvement
           of
           what
           is
           therein
           improvable
           for
           their
           own
           and
           others
           Edification
           ,
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           in
           denying
           no
           compliance
           ,
           which
           piety
           towards
           God
           and
           charity
           towards
           men
           doth
           not
           forbid
           .
        
         
           Matters
           of
           publick
           injunction
           ,
           which
           Inferiors
           stick
           at
           ,
           may
           be
           considered
           by
           them
           either
           as
           in
           themselves
           unlawfull
           ,
           or
           as
           inexpedient
           .
           Now
           it
           is
           not
           only
           or
           chiefly
           the
           inexpediency
           of
           things
           commanded
           ,
           but
           the
           supposed
           unlawfulness
           of
           divers
           of
           those
           things
           that
           the
           Nonconformists
           generally
           stick
           
           at
           ,
           whereof
           they
           are
           ready
           to
           render
           a
           particular
           account
           ,
           when
           it
           will
           be
           admitted
           .
           Howbeit
           a
           question
           may
           arise
           about
           the
           warrantableness
           of
           submission
           to
           things
           not
           in
           themselves
           unlawfull
           but
           inexpedient
           ,
           especially
           in
           respect
           of
           scandal
           ,
           the
           solution
           whereof
           may
           be
           requisite
           for
           the
           clearing
           of
           our
           way
           in
           such
           things
           .
        
         
           Upon
           this
           question
           it
           may
           be
           noted
           ,
           That
           in
           those
           cases
           ,
           wherein
           there
           is
           no
           right
           of
           commanding
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           due
           of
           obedience
           .
           Nevertheless
           ,
           things
           unwarrantably
           commanded
           are
           sometimes
           warrantably
           observed
           ,
           though
           not
           in
           obedience
           ,
           yet
           in
           prudence
           ,
           as
           to
           procure
           Peace
           ,
           and
           to
           shew
           a
           readiness
           to
           all
           possible
           compliance
           with
           Superiors
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           Rulers
           have
           no
           authority
           to
           command
           that
           ,
           which
           in
           it self
           is
           not
           unlawfull
           ,
           when
           Christian
           charity
           forbids
           to
           do
           it
           in
           the
           present
           circumstances
           by
           reason
           of
           evil
           consequents
           .
           For
           all
           authority
           is
           given
           for
           Edification
           and
           not
           for
           Destruction
           .
           Likewise
           our
           Christian
           liberty
           includes
           no
           Licence
           to
           do
           that
           act
           at
           the
           command
           of
           Rulers
           ,
           the
           doing
           of
           which
           in
           regard
           of
           circumstances
           ,
           is
           uncharitable
           .
           But
           here
           it
           must
           be
           considered
           ,
           how
           far
           the
           law
           of
           charity
           doth
           extend
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           and
           when
           it
           doth
           ,
           or
           doth
           not
           forbid
           my
           observance
           of
           what
           the
           Ruler
           hath
           unwarrantably
           ,
           because
           uncharitably
           commanded
           .
        
         
         
           True
           charity
           doth
           not
           wholly
           destroy
           Christian
           Liberty
           ,
           though
           it
           regulates
           the
           use
           thereof
           ;
           and
           it
           doth
           not
           extend
           it
           so
           far
           one
           way
           as
           to
           destroy
           it self
           another
           way
           .
           If
           I
           am
           bound
           up
           from
           doing
           every
           indifferent
           thing
           ,
           at
           which
           weak
           consciences
           will
           take
           offence
           ,
           my
           liberty
           is
           turned
           into
           bondage
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           left
           in
           thraldom
           to
           other
           mens
           endless
           Scrupulosities
           .
           This
           is
           I
           think
           a
           yoke
           which
           Christians
           are
           not
           fit
           nor
           able
           to
           bear
           .
           This
           bondage
           is
           greater
           and
           the
           burden
           lies
           heavier
           upon
           me
           ,
           if
           by
           reason
           of
           others
           weakness
           ,
           I
           must
           be
           bound
           up
           from
           observing
           an
           indifferent
           thing
           at
           the
           command
           of
           Rulers
           ,
           and
           by
           them
           made
           the
           condition
           of
           my
           liberty
           for
           publick
           Service
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           when
           my
           conscience
           is
           fully
           satisfied
           that
           it
           is
           lawfull
           ,
           and
           otherwise
           expedient
           for
           me
           to
           do
           it
           .
           As
           for
           the
           warrantableness
           of
           enjoyning
           ,
           the
           Ruler
           must
           look
           to
           that
           .
           Are
           some
           displeased
           and
           grieved
           that
           I
           do
           it
           ?
           As
           many
           or
           more
           may
           be
           displeased
           and
           grieved
           if
           I
           do
           it
           not
           .
           Do
           some
           take
           occasion
           by
           my
           necessary
           use
           of
           a
           just
           liberty
           ,
           to
           embolden
           themselves
           to
           sin
           ?
           My
           forbearing
           of
           it
           may
           be
           an
           occasion
           of
           sin
           to
           others
           ,
           as
           their
           persisting
           in
           some
           troublesom
           Errour
           to
           their
           own
           and
           others
           Spiritual
           dammage
           ,
           and
           in
           unwarrantable
           non-compliance
           with
           their
           Governours
           .
           And
           the
           loss
           of
           my
           liberty
           for
           publick
           Service
           consequent
           to
           such
           forbearance
           ,
           must
           also
           be
           laid
           in
           the
           ballance
           .
        
         
         
           When
           both
           the
           using
           and
           forbearing
           of
           m●
           liberty
           is
           clogged
           with
           evil
           consequents
           ,
           I
           kno●
           no
           safer
           way
           than
           duly
           to
           consider
           of
           what
           moment
           the
           consequents
           are
           on
           either
           side
           ,
           and
           t●
           incline
           to
           that
           which
           hath
           the
           lesser
           evil
           .
           Here
           in
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           the
           prudent
           is
           to
           direct
           his
           wa●
           upon
           the
           impartial
           view
           of
           all
           circumstance
           which
           come
           under
           his
           prospect
           .
           And
           if
           goo●
           conscience
           and
           right
           reason
           ,
           guided
           by
           the
           general
           Rules
           of
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           lead
           me
           to
           make
           us●
           of
           my
           Christian
           liberty
           in
           compliance
           with
           m●
           Superiors
           ,
           I
           must
           humbly
           and
           charitably
           apply
           my self
           to
           remove
           the
           offence
           ,
           that
           some
           take
           by
           clearing
           the
           lawfulness
           and
           expediency
           o●
           my
           act
           to
           their
           judgments
           .
           But
           if
           that
           canno●
           be
           discerned
           by
           them
           ,
           I
           am
           by
           my
           Christia●
           good
           behaviour
           to
           make
           it
           evident
           to
           thei●
           consciences
           ,
           what
           in
           me
           lies
           ,
           that
           what
           I
           do
           ,
           〈◊〉
           do
           sincerely
           and
           faithfully
           ,
           and
           that
           I
           am
           n●
           temporizer
           ,
           man-pleaser
           and
           self-seeker
           .
           〈◊〉
           humbly
           conceive
           that
           that
           high
           saying
           of
           th●
           Apostle
           ,
           
             If
             meat
             make
             my
             Brother
             to
             offend
             ,
             〈◊〉
             will
             eat
             no
             Flesh
             while
             the
             World
             standeth
          
           doth
           admit
           such
           equitable
           interpretation
           ,
           as
           th●
           circumstances
           of
           time
           ,
           place
           ,
           person
           ,
           and
           th●
           whole
           state
           of
           things
           declares
           to
           be
           most
           reasonable
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           A
           humble
           representation
           of
           my
           own
           case
           touching
           the
           exercise
           of
           the
           Ministery
           .
        
         
           I
           Have
           been
           in
           the
           Ministery
           near
           fourty
           years
           ,
           having
           been
           ordained
           Presbyter
           according
           to
           the
           Form
           of
           Ordination
           used
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           And
           being
           called
           to
           this
           Sacred
           Order
           ,
           I
           hold
           my self
           ●ndispensibly
           obliged
           to
           the
           work
           thereof
           ,
           as
           God
           enables
           me
           and
           gives
           me
           opportunity
           .
           The
           nature
           of
           the
           Office
           is
           signified
           in
           the
           Form
           of
           Words
           ,
           by
           which
           I
           was
           solemnly
           set
           apart
           thereunto
           .
           
             viz.
             [
             Receive
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             whose
             sins
             thou
             dost
             forgive
             ,
             they
             are
             forgiven
             ,
             and
             whose
             sins
             thou
             dost
             retain
             ,
             ●hey
             are
             retained
             :
             And
             be
             thou
             a
             faithfull
             Dispenser
             of
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             and
             of
             his
             holy
             Sacraments
             ,
             in
             the
             name
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Son
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             Amen
             .
             ]
          
           The
           former
           part
           of
           these
           Words
           being
           used
           by
           ●our
           Saviour
           to
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           in
           conferring
           upon
           them
           the
           Pastoral
           Authority
           ,
           fully
           proves
           that
           the
           Office
           of
           a
           Presbyter
           is
           Pastoral
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           same
           nature
           with
           that
           which
           was
           ordinary
           in
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           in
           which
           they
           had
           Successours
           .
        
         
         
           Likewise
           ,
           this
           Church
           did
           then
           appoin●
           that
           at
           the
           ordering
           of
           Priests
           or
           Presbyters
           certain
           portions
           of
           Scripture
           should
           be
           read
           as
           belonging
           to
           their
           Office
           to
           instruct
           them
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           it
           ,
           viz.
           That
           portion
           o●
           Act.
           20.
           which
           relates
           St.
           Pauls
           sending
           to
           Ephesus
           ,
           and
           calling
           for
           the
           Elders
           of
           the
           Congregation
           with
           his
           exhortation
           to
           them
           ,
           
             To
             take
             heed
             to
             themselves
             and
             to
             all
             the
             Flock
             ,
             over
             which
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             had
             made
             them
             Overseers
             ,
             to
             rule
             the
             Congregation
             of
             God.
          
           Or
           else
           1
           Tim.
           3.
           which
           sets
           forth
           the
           Office
           and
           due
           qualification
           of
           a
           Bishop
           .
           And
           afterwards
           the
           Bishop
           spake
           to
           them
           that
           were
           to
           receive
           the
           Office
           of
           Priesthood
           ,
           in
           this
           form
           of
           words
           ,
           
             (
             Ye
             have
             heard
             ,
             brethren
             ,
             as
             wel
             in
             your
             private
             examination
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             exhortation
             and
             holy
             Lessons
             taken
             out
             of
             the
             Gospels
             and
             Writings
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             of
             what
             dignity
             ,
             and
             how
             great
             importance
             this
             Office
             is
             whereto
             ye
             are
             called
             ,
             that
             is
             to
             say
             the
             Messengers
             ,
             the
             Watchmen
             ,
             the
             PASTORS
             and
             Stewards
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             to
             teach
             ,
             to
             premonish
             ,
             to
             feed
             ,
             to
             provide
             for
             the
             Lords
             Family
             .
          
        
         
           I
           mention
           my
           Ordination
           according
           to
           the
           Episcopal
           Form
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           of
           greatest
           esteem
           with
           them
           ,
           to
           whom
           this
           Representation
           is
           more
           especially
           tendred
           .
           Nevertheless
           ,
           I
           own
           the
           validity
           of
           Presbyterial
           Ordination
           ,
           and
           judge
           that
           Ministers
           so
           Ordained
           ,
           
           may
           make
           the
           same
           defence
           for
           exercising
           the
           Ministery
           ,
           in
           the
           same
           case
           that
           is
           here
           represented
           .
        
         
           Christ
           is
           the
           Author
           and
           the
           only
           proper
           Giver
           of
           this
           Office
           ;
           and
           though
           he
           give
           it
           by
           the
           mediation
           of
           men
           ,
           yet
           not
           by
           them
           as
           giving
           the
           Office
           ,
           but
           as
           instruments
           of
           the
           designation
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           solemn
           investiture
           of
           the
           Person
           to
           whom
           he
           gives
           it
           .
           As
           the
           King
           is
           the
           immediate
           Giver
           of
           the
           power
           of
           a
           Mayor
           in
           a
           Town
           Corporate
           ,
           when
           he
           gives
           it
           by
           the
           Mediation
           of
           Electors
           and
           certain
           Officers
           ,
           only
           as
           instruments
           of
           the
           designation
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           solemn
           investiture
           of
           the
           Person
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           not
           conscious
           of
           disabling
           my self
           to
           the
           Sacred
           Ministrations
           ,
           that
           belong
           to
           the
           Office
           of
           a
           Presbyter
           ,
           by
           any
           Opinion
           or
           Practice
           ,
           that
           may
           render
           me
           unfit
           for
           the
           same
           .
           Touching
           which
           matter
           ,
           I
           humbly
           offer
           my self
           to
           the
           tryal
           of
           my
           Superiors
           to
           be
           made
           according
           to
           Gods
           Word
           .
        
         
           Nothing
           necessary
           to
           authorize
           me
           to
           those
           Ministrations
           is
           wanting
           that
           I
           know
           of
           .
           I
           am
           Christs
           Commissioned
           Officer
           ;
           and
           I
           do
           not
           find
           that
           he
           hath
           revoked
           the
           authority
           which
           I
           have
           received
           from
           him
           ;
           And
           without
           the
           warrant
           of
           his
           Law
           no
           man
           can
           take
           it
           from
           me
           .
           Nor
           do
           I
           find
           ,
           that
           the
           nature
           of
           this
           Office
           ,
           or
           the
           declared
           will
           of
           Christ
           
           requires
           ,
           that
           it
           be
           exercised
           no
           otherwise
           ,
           than
           in
           subordination
           to
           a
           Disocesan
           Bishop
           .
        
         
           That
           I
           do
           not
           exercise
           the
           Ministery
           under
           the
           regulation
           of
           the
           Bishop
           of
           the
           Diocess
           ,
           and
           in
           other
           circumstances
           according
           to
           the
           present
           established
           Order
           ,
           the
           cause
           is
           not
           in
           me
           ,
           who
           am
           ready
           to
           submit
           thereunto
           ;
           but
           a
           bar
           is
           laid
           against
           me
           by
           the
           injunction
           of
           some
           terms
           in
           the
           lawfulness
           whereof
           I
           am
           not
           satisfied
           ,
           whereof
           I
           am
           ready
           to
           give
           an
           account
           when
           it
           is
           required
           .
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           understand
           that
           I
           am
           under
           any
           Oath
           or
           Promise
           to
           exercise
           the
           Ministery
           ,
           no
           otherwise
           than
           in
           subordination
           to
           the
           Bishop
           ,
           or
           the
           Ordinary
           of
           the
           Place
           .
           The
           promise
           made
           at
           my
           Ordination
           to
           obey
           my
           Ordinary
           and
           other
           chief
           Ministers
           ,
           to
           whom
           the
           government
           and
           charge
           over
           me
           is
           committed
           ,
           concerns
           me
           only
           as
           a
           Presbyter
           ,
           standing
           in
           relation
           to
           the
           Bishop
           or
           Ordinary
           ,
           as
           one
           of
           the
           Clergy
           of
           the
           Diocess
           ,
           or
           other
           peculiar
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           in
           which
           relation
           I
           do
           not
           now
           stand
           ,
           being
           cast
           out
           and
           made
           uncapable
           thereof
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           in
           whatsoever
           capacity
           I
           now
           stand
           ,
           the
           said
           Promise
           must
           be
           understood
           either
           limitedly
           or
           without
           limitation
           .
           If
           limitedly
           ,
           as
           in
           things
           lawfull
           and
           honest
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           conceive
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           understood
           )
           then
           I
           am
           not
           bound
           by
           it
           in
           the
           present
           case
           .
           For
           it
           is
           not
           lawfull
           nor
           honest
           for
           
           me
           to
           comply
           with
           the
           now
           injoyned
           Conformity
           against
           my
           conscience
           ,
           or
           in
           case
           of
           such
           necessitated
           non-compliance
           ,
           to
           desist
           from
           the
           Ministery
           that
           I
           have
           received
           in
           the
           Lord.
           If
           it
           be
           understood
           without
           limitation
           ,
           ●t
           is
           a
           sinfull
           promise
           in
           the
           matter
           thereof
           ,
           and
           ●hereupon
           void
           .
           Absolute
           and
           unlimited
           obedience
           to
           man
           may
           not
           be
           promised
           .
           Let
           ●t
           be
           considered
           also
           that
           the
           objected
           promise
           could
           not
           bind
           me
           to
           more
           than
           the
           Conformity
           then
           required
           .
           But
           since
           my
           Ordina●ion
           and
           Promise
           then
           made
           ,
           the
           state
           of
           Con●ormity
           hath
           been
           much
           altered
           by
           the
           injunction
           of
           more
           ,
           and
           to
           me
           harder
           terms
           than
           ●ormerly
           were
           injoyned
           .
           When
           I
           was
           Or●ained
           ,
           I
           thought
           that
           the
           terms
           then
           requir●d
           were
           such
           as
           might
           be
           lawfully
           submitted
           to
           .
           But
           young
           men
           (
           such
           as
           I
           then
           was
           )
           may
           be
           ●asily
           drawn
           to
           subscribe
           to
           things
           publickly
           ●njoyned
           ,
           and
           so
           become
           engaged
           ,
           before
           they
           have
           well
           considered
           .
        
         
           The
           Ordainer
           or
           Ordainers
           ,
           who
           designed
           me
           to
           this
           Office
           of
           Christs
           donation
           ,
           and
           not
           ●heirs
           ,
           could
           not
           by
           any
           act
           of
           theirs
           lessen
           it
           ●s
           to
           its
           nature
           or
           essential
           state
           .
           Nor
           can
           they
           ●erogate
           from
           Christs
           authority
           over
           me
           ,
           and
           ●he
           obligation
           which
           he
           hath
           laid
           upon
           me
           ,
           ●o
           discharge
           the
           Office
           with
           which
           he
           hath
           ●ntrusted
           me
           .
        
         
           That
           a
           necessity
           is
           laid
           upon
           me
           in
           my
           present
           
           state
           to
           preach
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           I
           am
           fully
           perswaded
           ,
           in
           regard
           of
           the
           necessities
           of
           Souls
           which
           cry
           aloud
           for
           all
           the
           help
           that
           can
           posibly
           be
           given
           by
           Christs
           Ministers
           ,
           whethe●
           Conformists
           or
           Nonconformists
           .
           The
           necessary
           means
           of
           their
           Salvation
           is
           more
           valuable
           than
           meer
           external
           Order
           or
           Uniformity
           in
           things
           accidental
           .
        
         
           I
           receive
           the
           whole
           Doctrine
           of
           Faith
           an●
           Sacraments
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Articles
           of
           th●
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           am
           ready
           to
           subscrib●
           the
           same
           .
           I
           have
           joyned
           ,
           and
           still
           am
           ready
           to
           joyn
           with
           the
           legally
           established
           Churche
           in
           their
           publick
           Worship
           .
           The
           matter
           o●
           my
           sacred
           Ministrations
           hath
           been
           always
           consonant
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Reforme●
           Churches
           ,
           and
           particularly
           of
           the
           Church
           o●
           England
           .
           I
           meddle
           not
           with
           our
           present
           differences
           ,
           but
           insist
           on
           the
           great
           and
           necessar●
           points
           of
           Christian
           Religion
           .
           I
           design
           not
           th●
           promoting
           of
           a
           severed
           Party
           ,
           but
           of
           mee
           Christianity
           or
           Godliness
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           willing
           to
           comply
           with
           the
           will
           〈◊〉
           my
           Superiors
           as
           far
           as
           is
           possible
           with
           a
           saf●
           conscience
           ,
           and
           to
           return
           to
           my
           Ministeri●●
           station
           in
           the
           Established
           Churches
           ,
           may
           I
           b●
           but
           dispensed
           with
           in
           the
           injunctions
           ,
           wit●
           which
           my
           conscience
           ,
           till
           I
           be
           otherwise
           informed
           ,
           forbids
           me
           to
           comply
           .
           In
           the
           whol●
           of
           my
           dissent
           from
           the
           said
           injunctions
           ,
           I
           ca●
           
           not
           be
           charged
           with
           denying
           any
           thing
           essen●●al
           to
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Life
           ,
           or
           to
           the
           ●onstitution
           of
           a
           Church
           ,
           or
           any
           of
           the
           weigh●er
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           or
           with
           being
           in
           any
           ●hing
           inconsistent
           with
           good
           Order
           and
           Go●ernment
           .
        
         
           My
           Case
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           sincerely
           set
           it
           forth
           ,
           I
           ●umbly
           represent
           to
           the
           Clemency
           of
           my
           Go●ernours
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           charity
           ,
           equity
           and
           candor
           ●f
           all
           Christs
           Ministers
           and
           People
           .
           I
           am
           sure
           design
           to
           follow
           after
           the
           things
           which
           make
           ●or
           Peace
           ;
           and
           I
           hope
           I
           am
           not
           mistaken
           in
           ●he
           way
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           
             J.
             C.
             
          
        
      
       
         FINIS
         .
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Books
           lately
           Printed
           for
           
             Tho.
             Parkhurst
          
           at
           the
           Bible
           and
           Three
           Crowns
           in
           
             Cheap
             side
          
           .
        
         
           
             ONe
             Hundred
             of
             Select
             Sermon
             upon
             several
             occasions
             ,
             by
          
           Tho.
           Horton
           ,
           
             D.
             D.
          
           
        
         
           
             Sermons
             on
             the
          
           4th
           .
           Psal.
           42.
           
           Psal.
           5●
           and
           63.
           
           Psal.
           by
           Tho.
           Horton
           ,
           
             D.
             D.
          
           
        
         
           
             A
             Compleat
             Martyrology
             ,
             both
             of
             Fo
             raign
             and
          
           English
           
             Martyrs
             ,
             with
             th●
             Lives
             of
             26
             Modern
             Divines
             ,
             by
          
           Sam
           Clark.
           
        
         
           
             A
             Discourse
             of
             Actual
             Providence
             by
          
           John
           Collings
           ,
           
             D.
             D.
          
           
        
         
           
             An
             Exposition
             on
             the
             5
             first
             Chapter
             of
             the
          
           Revelation
           
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           〈◊〉
           Charles
           Phelpes
           .
        
         
           
             A
             Discourse
             of
             Grace
             and
             Temptat●on
             ,
             by
          
           Tho.
           Froysall
           .
        
         
           
             The
             Revival
             of
             Grace
             .
             Sacrament
             Reflections
             on
             the
             Death
             of
             Christ
             Testator
             .
          
        
         
           
             A
             Sacrifice
             and
             Curse
             ,
             by
          
           John
           Hur●
        
         
         
           
             A
             Glimps
             of
             Eternity
             to
             Awaken
             Sinners
             and
             Comfort
             Saints
             ,
             by
          
           Ab.
           Coley
           .
        
         
           
             Which
             is
             the
             Church
             ,
             or
             an
             Answer
             to
             the
             Question
             ,
             Where
             was
             your
             Church
             before
          
           Luther
           ?
           by
           Rich.
           Baxter
           .
        
         
           
             The
             Husbandmans
             Companion
             ,
             or
             Meditations
             sutable
             for
             Farmers
             ,
             in
             order
             to
             Spiritualize
             their
             Employment
             ,
             by
          
           Edward
           Bury
           .
        
         
           Mr.
           Adams
           
             Exposition
             of
             the
             Assemb
             .
             Catechism
             ,
             showing
             its
             Harmony
             with
             the
             Articles
             and
             Homilies
             of
             the
             Church
             of
          
           England
           .
        
         
           
             The
             present
             State
             of
          
           New-England
           ,
           
             with
             the
             History
             of
             their
             Wars
             with
             the
          
           Indies
           .
        
         
           
             Popery
             an
             Enemy
             to
             Truth
             and
             Civil
             Government
             ,
             by
          
           Jo.
           Sheldeck
           .
        
         
           
             Spelling
             Book
             for
             Children
             ,
             by
          
           Tho.
           Lye.
           
        
         
           
             Principals
             of
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             with
             Practical
             Applications
             to
             each
             Head
             ,
             by
          
           Tho.
           Gouge
           .
        
         
           
             Almost
             Christian
             ,
             by
          
           Matth.
           Mead.
           
        
         
           
             Godly
             Mans
             Ark
             ,
             by
          
           Edmund
           Calamy
           .
        
         
         
           
             Heaven
             and
             Hell
             on
             Earth
             in
             a
             good
             or
             bad
             Conscience
             ,
             by
          
           Nath.
           Vincent
           .
        
         
           
             Little
             Catechism
             for
             Children
             ,
             with
             short
             Histories
             ,
             which
             may
             both
             please
             and
             profit
             them
             ,
             by
          
           Nath.
           Vincent
           .
        
         
           
             Ark
             of
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             with
             an
             Epistle
             prefixed
             by
          
           John
           Owen
           ,
           
             D.
             D.
          
           
        
         
           
             This
             Author
             hath
             lately
             Published
             this
             Book
             Intituled
             ,
          
        
         
           The
           Kingdom
           of
           God
           among
           men
           .
           A
           Tract
           of
           the
           sound
           state
           of
           Religion
           ,
           or
           that
           Christianity
           which
           is
           described
           in
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           of
           things
           that
           make
           for
           the
           security
           and
           increase
           thereof
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           designing
           its
           more
           ample
           diffusion
           among
           Professed
           Christians
           of
           all
           sorts
           ,
           and
           its
           surer
           propagation
           to
           future
           Ages
           .
           
             Printed
             for
          
           Tho.
           Parkhurst
           .