Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…

To the Minor I answer, It is not true, That it is only Liberty that is pleaded for the Communion in question. It is great Duty that is pleaded:¹ 1. The Duty of Christian Union, and Concord, and Love, and Peace. 2. The Duty of obeying the Commands and Example of Christ and his Apostles. 3. The Duty of avoiding the Principles of Schism, and the condemning and false accusing the Church of Christ on earth. 4. The Duty of bearing Witness against the Principle (of the sinfulness of Communicating with a Church in Liturgies) which would make Christ in most Ages to be no King, as having no Kingdom or Church on earth. 5. The Duty of taking warning by the mischiefs of Causeless Separation, in Ages that hath so much smarted by it. 6. The Duty of seeking our own Edification. 7. The Duty of keeping thousands of Christians from ceasing all Public Worship, where they can have no other, but in the Parish-Churches. 8 The Duty of keeping thousands of good people from being ruined for mistakes and evil doing. 9. The Duty of obeying Magistrates in Lawful things. 10. And the Duty of avoiding Scandal on the other side: Is all this nothing but pretence of Liberty?

To the Minor I answer, It is not true, That it is only Liberty that is pleaded for the Communion in question. It is great Duty that is pleaded:¹ 1. The Duty of Christian Union, and Concord, and Love, and Peace. 2. The Duty of obeying the Commands and Example of Christ and his Apostles. 3. The Duty of avoiding the Principles of Schism, and the condemning and false accusing the Church of Christ on earth. 4. The Duty of bearing Witness against the Principle (of the sinfulness of Communicating with a Church in Liturgies) which would make Christ in most Ages to be no King, as having no Kingdom or Church on earth. 5. The Duty of taking warning by the mischiefs of Causeless Separation, in Ages that hath so much smarted by it. 6. The Duty of seeking our own Edification. 7. The Duty of keeping thousands of Christians from ceasing all Publick Worship, where they can have no other, but in the Parish-Churches. 8 The Duty of keeping thousands of good people from being ruined for mistakes and evil doing. 9. The Duty of obeying Magistrates in Lawful things. 10. And the Duty of avoiding Scandal on the other side: Is all this nothing but pretence of Liberty?

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