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

Whereupon he never came to the Church-Assembly more, professing separation from them as Antichristian: And not only so, but he withdrew all private Religious communion from any that would hold Communion with the Church there. Insomuch as that he would not pray, nor give thanks at meals with his own Wife, nor any of his Family, because they went to the Church-Assemblies. Divers of the weaker sort of the Church-members, that ¹had been throughly leavened with his Opinions, of which number were divers Women that were zealous in their way, did by degrees fall off to him: Insomuch as that he kept a Meeting in his own house, unto which a numerous company did resort, both on the Sabbath day and at other times, by way of Separation from, and opposition to the Church-Assembly there: Which the prudent Magistrates understanding, and seeing things grow more and more towards a general division and disturbance; after all other means used in vain, they passed a Sentence of Banishment against him, out of the Massachusetts Colony, as against a disturber of the Peace of the Church and Commonwealth. After which Mr. Williams sate down in a place called Providence—and was followed by many of the Members of the Church of Salem, who did zealously adhere to him, and cried out of the Persecution that was against him: Some others ⟨p. 173⟩also resorted to him from other parts. They had not been there long together, but from rigid Separation they fell to Anabaptistry, renouncing the Baptism which they had received in their Infancy, and taking up another Baptism, and so began a Church in that way. But Mr. Williams stopped not there long; For after some time he told the people that had followed him, that he was out of the way himself, and had misled them; For he did not find that there was any upon earth, that could administer Baptism, and therefore their last Baptism was a nullity as well as their first: And therefore they must lay down all, and wait for the coming of new Apostles: And so they dissolved themselves, and turned Seekers; keeping that one Principle, That every one should have liberty to worship God, according to the light of their own Consciences; but otherwise not owning any Churches or Ordinances of God, any where upon earth.] So far the History.

Whereupon he never came to the Church-Assembly more, professing separation from them as Antichristian: And not only so, but he withdrew all private Religious communion from any that would hold Communion with the Church there. Insomuch as that he would not pray, nor give thanks at meals with his own Wife, nor any of his Family, because they went to the Church-Assemblies. Divers of the weaker sort of the Church-members, that