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

2. Having said thus much of the Judgement of Congregational men in New-England against Separation, I shall add somewhat of the second Assertion, That it concerneth the Congregational Party, as much in point of Interest, to be against it, as any sort of men whatsoever. 1. Because their Churches have no other bond of Concord (here) but voluntary Consent; And if that break, they are dissolved. 2. Because their members being usually neither, so low as to be ignorant of matters of Controversy, nor so high as to be able solidly to Resolve them, are most like to be quarrelsome, and fall into divisions. And honest people that have a zeal of God, and for Truth and Unity, and not knowledge enough to guide it steadily, are likely to contend and trouble one another, than either they that are more careless, and have less zeal, (and therefore like swine will leave such pearls to any that ⟨p. 170⟩will take them up,) or they that have sound knowledge to guide their zeal. 3. And the power which too many of them give the people, over the Pastors and themselves, will do much to increase these divisions, and cause their dissolution.

2. Having said thus much of the Iudgement of Congregational men in New-England against Separation, I shall adde somewhat of the second Assertion, That it concerneth the Congregational Party, as much in point of Interest, to be against it, as any sort of men whatsoever. 1. Because their Churches have no other bond of Concord (here) but voluntary Consent; And if that break, they are dissolved. 2. Because their members being usually neither, so low as to be ignorant of matters of Controversie, nor so high as to be able solidly to Resolve them, are most like to be quarrelsome, and fall into divisions. And honest people that have a zeal of God, and for Truth and Unity, and not knowledge enough to guide it steadily, are likey to contend and trouble one another, than either they that are more careless, and have less zeal, (and therefore like swine will leave such pearls to any that ⟨p. 170⟩will take them up,) or they that have sound knowledge to guide their zeal. 3. And the power which too many of them give the people, over the Pastors and themselves, will do much to increase these divisions, and cause their dissolution.