The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…

4. If a Bishop build a Temple on London Road, where Travellers shall be his ordinary Hearers, whom he shall never see again, this is a Temporary Transient Church; but verily it is another sort Church that is described in Scripture, and by Ignatius, Cyprian, and all Church-writers. And when the Bishop was to visit the Sick, and take care of the Poor, and to exhort from House to House, it was as for a Church, and not merely as for Christian Neighbours: And do you think no more consent was necessary to his special Duty to these more than to others, and theirs to him, than bare Assembling? Atheists, Infidels, Heretics, may Assemble with the rest; and Catechumens ordinarily did so, and were never made themselves the judges, whether and when they should be Baptized and admitted to Communion; but the Pastors were the judges.

4. If a Bishop build a Temple on London Road, where Travellers shall be his ordinary Hearers, whom he shall never see again, this is a Temporary Transient Church; but verily it is another sort Church that is described in Scripture, and by Ignatius, Cyprian, and all Church-writers. And when the Bishop was to visit the Sick, and take care of the Poor, and to exhort from House to House, it was as for a Church, and not meerly as for Christian Neighbours: And do you think no more consent was necessary to his special Duty to these more than to others, and theirs to him, than bare Assembling? Atheists, Infidels, Hereticks, may Assemble with the rest; and Catechumens ordinarily did so, and were never made themselves the judges, whether and when they should be Baptized and admitted to Communion; but the Pastors were the judges.

§ 7. As to your oft mentioning the words [Covenants and Oaths] for such Church Associations, as if I had written for Oaths, or had not written against all needless Covenants, which though you say not, your words would make the Reader believe, whilst over and over it is but Consent competently expressed, which I require; those that know not your Honesty as I do, I doubt will judge it to savour of some worse Cause than I am willing to name. If Consent be not expressed, how shall it be known? And I still say Caeteris paribus, the plainest Expressions are fittest to attain their End, as the plainest Language is counted the best for Communication: Oh! how much did Cyprian, and all the old Churches differ from you about consent!