Richard Baxters answer to Dr. Edward Stillingfleet's charge of separation containing, I. some queries…

XXIX. The mutual Condemnations in the times of the Novations, Donatists, Nestorians, Eutychians, Monothelites, Phantasiasts, Image-Patrons, &c. tell the World how needful, mutual forbearance is, to prevent worse Divisions and Confusions: And the Papists take themselves to be all of one Church, though they differ even in Doctrines of Morality, as dangerously as the Jansenists, against the Jesuits have showed; and though many Sects and Orders be permitted to Live, and Worship God with very great diversity in their several sorts of Monasteries: ⟨p. 58⟩Why then should the little differences of our questioned Assemblies be thought to be so great as maketh us not to be of one Church.

XXIX. The mutual Condemnations in the times of the Novations, Donatists, Nestorians, Evtychians, Monothelites, Phantasiasts, Image-Patrons, &c. tell the World how needful, mutual forbearance is, to prevent worse Divisions and Confusions: And the Papists take themselves to be all of one Church, though they differ even in Doctrines of Morality, as dangerously as the Jansenists, against the Jesuits have shewed; and though many Sects and Orders be permitted to Live, and Worship God with very great diversity in their several sorts of Monasteries: ⟨p. 58⟩Why then should the little differences of our questioned Assemblies be thought to be so great as maketh us not to be of one Church.

XXX. Some good Christians think, That though an undisciplined Church may be Communicated with, occasionally, yea, and constantly, while there is a hopeful Trial of its Reformation; yet when there is no hope after Patient Trial, a better Course and Communion should be chosen, where it may be had: And they think, that Multitudes whom they know to be profane Swearers, Cursers, Drunkards, Fornicators, Haters of serious Piety, Hobbists, Infidels, Atheists, Sadducees, &c. are continued in the Church of England: And they say, they scarce ever heard one Man of all these Excommunicated; nor one Man of them all, ever brought to Public Confession and Repentance. And they think, Lay Chancellors, having not rightfully the Power of the Keys, there is no ordinary Means of hopeful Reformation, and Exercise of Discipline; especially, the Largeness of the Dioceses making it impossible to be used to One of an Hundred, that (according to the Law of Christ) it should be used on. And they think, That the Church-Discipline is not only None, as to the Right Use, and made Impossible; but worse than None, while it is used most to Excommunicate from Christ's Church, the True and Conscionable Members of Christ, that dare not Conform; and so to lead to their Imprisonment, and utter Ruin. And they think, That no Man hath true Authority, to confine them to such an Undisciplined, and Ill disciplined Church; and forbid them the Use of better, where Christ's Discipline may be used. Whether these Men be in the Right, or in the Wrong, if the Matter of Fact be true, I should desire rather the Reformation of such a Church, than the Reproach or Afflicting of Men, as Separatists and Schismatics, that choose another sort of Communion, as to their more Ordinary Practise; not denying this to be a true Diseased Church.