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

I. Perhaps you think that such or such a Church-government, or Forms, or Ceremonies, are unwarrantable, and such and such oaths and subscriptions are unlawful, and therefore you cannot have local communion with the Churches that impose them. If it were so, yet take heed of […] these no Churches of Christ, or pretending ⟨p. 297⟩that Christ disowneth and rejecteth them. If they cast out you by imposing any thing which you think is sin, yet take heed that you excommunicate not them. If there be a difference between a weak and culpable Christian, and no-Christian, there is a difference between a weak and culpable Church, and no-Church; And as there are innumerable degrees of good or evil, strength or weakness in particular Christians, so there is in Churches also.

I. Perhaps you think that such or such a Church-government, or Forms, or Ceremonies, are unwarrantable, and such and such oaths and subscriptions are unlawful, and therefore you cannot have local communion with the Churches that impose them. If it were so, yet take heed of 〈…〉 these no Churches of Christ, or pretending ⟨p. 297⟩that Christ disowneth and rejecteth them. If they cast out you by imposing any thing which you think is sin, yet take heed that you excommunicate not them. If there be a difference between a weak and culpable Christian, and no-Christian, there is a difference between a weak and culpable Church, and no-Church; And as there are innumerable degrees of good or evil, strength or weakness in particular Christians, so there is in Churches also.

You may perhaps find that another Minister is more profitable to you, and another Churches principles more pleasing to you, and their discipline better in your account: And therefore you think that you are bound, to choose the best for your personal Communion. Be it so: There is yet some modesty in these terms: But do not therefore conclude that Communion with that Church which you turn from is simply unlawful; or that another may not use it who can have no better! Or that you your selves should not rather join with that than with none? Or that you may not occasionally sometimes communicate with them, though your more ordinary communion be elsewhere. Nor do not disown all spiritual communion with them, though in body you are absent. But when ever you pray to God, go to him as a member of the Universal Church, and and not of a Sect only: Pray for the whole Church, and desire a part in the prayers of the whole. Own them and their worship so far as Christ owneth them. While you disown their errors and failings, yet own their faith, and all that is sound in their prayers and worship; And