The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

Answ. 1. The Neighbour Pastors shall renounce Communion with him, and reject him from their neighbour Communion. And they shall warn that people to avoid him (by virtue of the common relation which they have to the universal Church of Christ.) 2. The people (as Cyprian determineth) are bound to forsake him: not by an act of Government over him or themselves; but by an act of obedience to God, and of self-preservation; As Soldiers must forsake a traitorous General, or Seamen a perfidious or desperately unskilful Pilot that would cast them all away. As the people did always choose their Pastors to Govern them, so may they in such a case refuse them, without usurping any Government themselves.

Answ. 1. The Neighbour Pastors shall renounce Communion with him, and reject him from their neighbour Communion. And they shall warn that people to avoid him (by virtue of the common relation which they have to the universal Church of Christ.) 2. The people (as Cyprian determineth) are bound to forsake him: not by an act of Government over him or themselves; but by an act of obedience to God, and of self-preservation; As Souldiers must forsake a trayterous General, or Seamen a perfidious or desperately unskilful Pilot that would cast them all away. As the people did always choose their Pastors to Govern them, so may they in such a case refuse them, without usurping any Government themselves.

Well! Now let us see what influence this ⟨p. 97⟩truth should have upon your Church-Communion.

Do you say that your neighbours are not to be accounted members of the Church, nor to be communicated with? Who took them into the Church by Baptism? Was it not a Minister of Christ? If you say no, you must prove your accusation. If you grant it, was it not his Office so to do? Hath not God made his Ministers Judges whom they are to baptize? And afterward also whom to catechise and instruct and admit to the communion of the Church? There is no doubt of it. If then they are admitted by an entrusted Officer, will you venture to usurp the place, yea and to do them the wrong to say that they are no members? Is it any of your trust or work? I pray you mark what a mercy it is to you, that the Officers and not the private members are entrusted with this work. First, if it were your work, you must study and be able to perform it. Secondly, you must watch for it, and constantly attend it. If a Heretic pervert the Text of Scripture, you must convince him by your skill in the Originals or in the sense. How many hundred or thousand persons are there in a Parish to be tried? The worst of them must have a hearing and just trial at least, before you can refuse him lawfully: And how accurately must this difficult work be done, that the weakest be not denied his right, nor the unfit admitted? How long must a sinner be admonished and exhorted to repentance? And are you able and willing to leave all your callings, to do all this?