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 ...…

2. As I said, Do not some write against the Lawfulness of Parish-Communion? And some against Infant Baptism, and the Lords Day? And do not they divide by Writing against them? And did Mr. Tombs and Mr. Nigh forbear, as aforesaid, for fear of Division? If we are already divided in Judgment and Practice, sure giving each other an account of our reasons, is rather the way to heal us.

2. As I said, Do not some write against the Lawfulness of Parish-Communion? And some against Infant Baptism, and the Lords Day? And do not they divide by Writing against them? And did Mr. Tombes and Mr. Nye forbear, as aforesaid, for fear of Division? If we are already divided in Judgment and Practice, sure giving each other an account of our reasons, is rather the way to heal us.

3. But I confess this Objection seemeth so sad and ugly to me, that it hath no small hand in urging me to what they object against. Alas, what are such come to? They that separate because of the Liturgy, Ministry, or People, do virtually separate, as I said, from almost all the church on Earth. For it is on a cause common to almost all. Yea, not only all the Churches in the Eastern, Southern and Northern parts, and all in the West, save themselves, have Liturgies, or separate not from them. But even of the Non-conformists in England, those that of old, or of late have pleaded their Cause have taken the Liturgy for no sufficient cause of separation: Nay, even the old Separatists, called Brownists, denied not the lawfulness of forms of Prayer, nor refused to join with the Parish-Churches in our Liturgy sometimes; only they thought, that when Crossing, or such Ceremonies were used, they were bound to disown them. And shall men that separate from the Communion of almost all the Churches on Earth as unlawful, pretend that their way is the way of Unity; and that the contrary doth divide? Is our shunning Division from the Christian World, a dividing Practice? In Holland, Mr. Smith thought no man capable of Baptizing him, and so Baptized himself; and some others have done so since, thinking none fit for Communion, but the few that are their Flocks. Yet these that divided from all the World, cried down Dividing from themselves. But were all dividers, that were against them? This is the saddest of all Objections.