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

40. Labour for a sound judgement to know good from evil, least you trouble your selves and others by mistakes: Forsake not the guidance of a judicious Teacher, nor the Company of the agreeing generality of the Godly.

41. Let not the bare fervour of a Preacher, or the loudness of his voice, or affectionate utterance, draw you too far to admire or follow him, without a proportion of solid understanding and judiciousness.

43. Your belief of the necessary Articles of faith, must be made your own, and not taken merely on the Authority of any. And in all points of belief or practice, which are necessary to Salvation, you must ever ⟨image 24⟩keep company with the Universal Church: For it were not the Church; if it erred in those. And in matters of Peace and Concord the major vote must be your guide. In matters of humane obedience your Governors must be your guides. And in matters of high and difficult speculation, the judgment of one man of extraordinary understanding, is to be preferred before the Rulers, and the major Vote.

43. Your belief of the necessary Articles of faith, must be made your own, and not taken meerly on the Authority of any. And in all points of belief or practice, which are necessary to Salvation, you must ever ⟨image 24⟩keep company with the Universal Church: For it were not the Church; if it erred in those. And in matters of Peace and Concord the major vote must be your guide. In matters of humane obedience your Governours must be your guides. And in matters of high and difficult speculation, the judgment of one man of extraordinary understanding, is to be preferred before the Rulers, and the major Vote.