A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…

As to the points themselves, having written a Treatise on the subject, (under the name of Confirmation) and therein distinctly showed my Opinion in reconciling terms, (though it may seem stricter than these propositions, and more inclining to the dissenters in some things) I shall say nothing of it here. But by this it is visible, that the New-England Synod do not only exclude the practice of Gathering Churches out of Churches (which was the great contest in England between the Assembly and the Congregational party); but they provide that not so much as any particular persons that were Baptized in their Churches in Infancy, shall be made Church-members de novo (unless by removing from one Church to another), but shall be accounted members till they apostatize notoriously or are Excommunicated: And so ⟨p. 159⟩shall their children after them succeed by the way of Baptism into the Church, and they will have no other ordinary Church-door but Baptism. And so gathering Churches of Baptized persons will cease, unless it be in a ravelled state, when the old Churches being dissolved, believers are to embody themselves anew. And Mr. Davenport and a few more, seeing that by this way their Churches would fall into the way of England and other Churches, by a succession of Members growing up from Infancy (and not by making them up of new Adult enterers, as the Anabaptists do,) did oppose himself by writing against the Synod, which by some of them is largely Answered: Wherein they tell us that there were n•t ten in a Synod of above seventy that did in any thing Vote on the Negative, and not above three against the third Proposition, which carrieth the Cause. They frequently disclaim Separation: They cite Allen and Shepherd p. 33. as advising for the Reformation of such Churches as our Parishes, that they be acknowledged true Churches, and then called to Repentance and Reformation, and a select number of those that agree to it, being fit for the sacrament, &c. to be admitted, and go in the Congregational way, pag. 42. they cite Cotton, Holin. of Chur. Mem. p. 92. saying, [Neither among us doth irregeneration alone keep any from Church-fellowship with us, unless it be accompanied with such fruits as are openly scandalous, ⟨p. 160⟩and de convincingly manifest irregeneration.] They prudently tell us, p. 45.

As to the points themselves, having written a Treatise on the subject, (under the name of Confirmation) and therein distinctly shewed my Opinion in reconciling terms, (though it may seem stricter than these propositions, and more inclining to the dissenters in some things) I shall say nothing of it here. But by this it is visible, that the New-England Synod do not only exclude the practice of Gathering Churches out of Churches (which was the great contest in England between the Assembly and the Congregational party); but they provide that not so much as any particular persons that were Baptized in their Churches in Infancy, shall be made Church-members de novo (unless by removing from one Church to another), but shall be accounted members till they apostatize notoriously or are Excommunicated: And so