Church concord

12. These private separated Churches also do give great advantage to the secret Enemies of the Truth, and Corrupters of Sound Doctrine, to creep in and sow the Tares of Heresies among poor Christians that have no Pastor at hand to contradict Deceivers. And most of the horrid Errors of these times, that have poisoned Souls, dishonoured God, divided us and disturbed our Peace, have crept in at these back Doors: Few have made their Entrance at the Public Assemblies, in comparison of those that have come in at private Meetings. And here it is that Papists and other Adversaries have opportunity to Play their Games, and to lay their Trains of Gun. Powder to blow up both Church and State, without the Odium of being Traitors and Powder-Plotters, yea, by the Countenance and Favour of the State. It will not secure us, that Papists are excepted from Liberty among us, as long as a Vizier, or another Name, and some Equivocation shall be to them a Patent for Liberty and Toleration.

12. These private separated Churches also do give great advantage to the secret Enemies of the Truth, and Corrupters of Sound Doctrine, to creep in and sow the Tares of Heresies among poor Christians that have no Pastor at hand to contradict Deceivers. And most of the horrid Errours of these times, that have poysoned Souls, dishonoured God, divided us and disturb'd our Peace, have crept in at these back Doors: Few have made their Entrance at the Publick Assemblies, in comparison of those that have come in at private Meetings. And here it is that Papists and other Adversaries have opportunity to Play their Games, and to lay their Trains of Gun. Powder to blow up both Church and State, without the Odium of being Traitors and Powder-Plotters, yea, by the Countenance and Favour of the State. It will not secure us, that Papists are excepted from Liberty among us, as long as a Vizir, or another Name, and some Equivocation shall be to them a Patent for Liberty and Toleration.

13. Moreover, our Separations tend to the grievous Pollution of the Ordinances of God, by setting up profane Persons as Ministers, and encouraging profane Administrations, and Societies, and so dis•o•ouring the Christian Name, and hardening the Ignorant and Ungodly by these means. For when those that are most Zealous against Profaneness are withdrawn, and leave the ignorant careless People to themselves, they will have Ministers like themselves (if such are tolerated) and they will make up such Churches as are uncapable of Discipline, and will go on as smoothly in the Abuse of Sacraments, and the Praises of God and all Holy Ordinances, as if they were the only Christians in the Land, and theirs the only regular Churches, and none but Sectaries differed from them. Or if they were not allowed the Public holding of Undisciplined Churches, and profanation of Holy Ordinances, yet as long as all may have what private Assemblies they please, they will there at least have their Ignorant unworthy Ministers to fit all their Humours, and there they