A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

each of us following the abundance of his own sense and judgment, Now, I say, be you assured, that even with my whole heart, God is my witness, in the bowels of Christ, I love you in the truth, and for the truth's sake, which abideth in us, and as I am persuaded shall, by the grace of God, abide in us for evermore.

each of us following the abundance of his own sense and judgment, Now, I say, be you assured, that even with my whole heart, God is my witness, in the bowels of Christ, I love you in the truth, and for the truth's sake, which abideth in us, and as I am perswaded shall, by the grace of God, abide in us for evermore.

Again, if others have less latitude. It would be far from us to add to the affliction they are liable to, upon that very account, by a vexatious urging and importuning them. Especially to do it with insulting ⟨p. 98⟩threats, and menaces, and labour to overawe their brethren, against their consciences, into the embracing of their sentiments and way. Is it possible a Christian should not understand how necessary it is to every ones duty and peace that he exactly follow that direction of the Apostles, and esteem it most sacred. Rom. 14.5. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. And that we firmly resolve never to do any thing with regret or a misgiving heart, at least. Not against a prevailing doubt, for in very doubtful cases to be rid of all formido oppositi or suspicion that the matter may be otherwise is perhaps impossible to me, but to do any thing against the preponderating inclination of my judgment and conscience, were great wickedness, and such as, if it were known, would make me unfit for any communion whatsoever. And I do here appeal to you who most severely blame any of us for our dissent from you, whether if we should thus declare to you, That 'tis truly against our consciences to communicate with you upon your terms, we believe we should greatly offend God in it, and draw upon us his displeasure, but yet to please you, and prevent our temporal inconvenience, or ruin, we will do it. I appeal to you, I say, whether we should not hereby make our selves uncapable of any Christian communion with you or any others? This is then the plain State of the case, and you do even put these words into our mouths: If we follow the dictate of our consciences we must decline you; if we go against it, you must decline us; supposing we declare it, if we declare it not, we have nothing to qualify us for your communion but hypocrisy and dissimulation! And what do you gain by such an accession to the Church? you have gained, in any such case, not half the man, the outside, the carcass only, or the shadow of the man, i. e. when you have debauched our consciences, when you have spoiled us, and made us worth nothing, then we are yours, wherein you show nothing of love either to us or to your selves!