Vol. I. their Divifion, will fall under Ecclefiaftical Cenfure, which, befides the Spiritual disadvantages of it, is followed by confiderable Evils Inflicted by the Civil Power.

That in this ftate of things I may dif charge my felf with that Charity that I truly have for those who have divided our Church, with that Obedience which I do out of Confcience owe the Government, and with that Duty and Vigilance I owe my Cure, I will take the Liberty to confider this Rule or Method of Unity.

1. With respect to fuch who are Actually in the state of Division or Separation.

2. With Respect to the Government, and those who Act under it in this prefent Method.

3. With Respect to us our felves as private Perfons, that fo they who Err, may as far as lies in me, be inform'd, that the Government, and they who Act under it, may not lie under the Burden of Afperfions: or any undeferved Imputation; And that,

Laftly, We in our particular Converfations may know how to behave our felves towards our Diffenting Brethren.

1. Of this Rule, with Refpect to thofe Serm. 1. who are Actually in Separation from

us.

I suppose we may take it for granted, that this Rule of Lowlinefs, and Meekness, and Forbearance in Love does as ftrongly Oblige the Subject and private Men towards their Governours, as it can the Magiftrates and the Government towards their Inferiours and Subjects; how well this Duty has been discharged by these Men, will appear from three Confiderations.

1. Whether thofe grounds by which they pretend to juftifie themselves be a juft and neceffary Caufe of Divifion.

2. Whether they have done all for the Nations and Churches Peace, which they themselves acknowledge they Lawfully may do.

3. On fuppofal, that their Pretences for Separation were both juft and neceffary, whether they have obferved that Lowlinefs, and Meeknefs, and Forbearance, to which this Rule doth Oblige them, in the Forming, Propagating, and Defending their Separation.

1. Whether those grounds, &c.

You will eafily be able to judge of this, if I can make it appear, that there is no juft ground of Separation from our

Church

Vol. I. Church, either upon the Account of its Doctrine, Government, or Rites.

1. Not upon the Account of its Do&trine. The Articles of our Church are fuch, in which most of those that are divided from us do agree with us, excepting in those which relate to the Government of the Church, (of which in its place) whatever be our difference in this point, in any Article wherein they differ from us, they do therein as widely differ from one another. But fuppose the People should not approve of every thing contain'd in our Book of Articles, what Neceffity is there that they fhould? Are they bound to declare their Affent to them by Oath or Subfcription? Or are any of them ever excluded our Communion for Diffenting from thefe Articles in fome one Opinion or other? What fummary of Faith is there in any part of our Churches Liturgy, in which the People joyn in our Affemblies, befides the three Creeds? And I do not know any of them unless Socinians and Qua kers, &c. which have renounc'd the Belief of thefe; if they have, we hope we fhall be Pardoned by God and all the Reformed Churches, if we will not part with our Creed for the fake of Unity: In a word, fo well do we agree in the

points of Doctrine, that it has been of Serm. 1. late Difputed with fome heat, which kept closest to the fenfe of our Articles, the Clergy of the Church of England, or those of the Separation. We have no Anti-trinitarian Doctrines, which divided the Primitive Churches; we Teach no Infallibility, no Power of Indulgences, no Tranfubftantiation, no Adoration of Images, Invocation of Saints, &c. which gave Occafion, and that a just one, to the Modern Divifions of the Reformed and Roman Churches; we continue in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship, and in breaking of Bread, and Prayer, Acts 2. 22. As to the Credenda we hold fast the form of found words, 2 Tim. 1. 13. And as to the Agenda, we Teach thofe things that become found Doctrine, giving unto Cæfar the things that are Cæfars, and to God the things that are Gods. We admit of nothing but Truth and Justice, Obedience and Charity, and will not allow of Equivocation or Perjury; or in a word the doing evil, that good may come thereof: I think this is confeffed on all hands, and it is a matter of no small moment for it follows from hence,

1. That our Church is a true Church, for all of the Reformed Religion think B

no

Vol. I. nothing more Effentially neceffary to a true Church than the Confeffion of the true Faith, and right Administration of the Sacraments; and both thefe, I think, our Diffenting Brethren will allow us, excepting Anabaptifts, a Sect of no great Reputation through all Chriftendom for many Years together,as every one knows, who has fo much Hiftory as to underftand its Birth and Progrefs, and at this day Condemn'd with much bitterness by all other Profeffions of Chriftians.

2. It follows from hence that our Brethrens Separation from us is Condemn'd by all those who deny Separation Lawful from that Church, where the Word of God is truly Preach'd, and the Sacraments rightly Adminiftred, who upon fearch may be found to be not only the Celebrated Authors of the Proteftant Reformation, but the moft Learned Divines of the Reformed Churches ever fince.

3. It will from hence follow, that it is abfurd, and almoft contradictious for those who embrace our Doctrine, to charge us with Idolatrous and Superstitious Rites, fince 'tis fo unlikely, that I cannot tell whether I may affirm it an utter impoffibility, that that Church fhould enjoyn in its Conftitution Super

ftition