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

But though I write this to give them the due honour of their moderation and sober judgement, yet not as making them or any men our Rule, in faith or worship.

Obj. Therefore the Churches of New-England reprove not separation from a Common-prayer Church, though they would have none separate among themselves, because there is no just Cause.

Ans. 1. The former answer may serve to make it probable, that they would join with them as Churches, in case they had not better to join with on lawful terms. 2. And their own expressions signify that they take the English Parishes that have godly Ministers, for true Churches, though faulty. 3. And those that I now write for cannot forget, that they gathered their Churches by separation out of our Parish-Churches, when there was no Commonprayer nor Ceremonies used, nor any difference in worship found among us, that I ⟨p. 178⟩know of; And that in New-England it self, the Principles which I deny, do too of procure separation from those Churches, that have nothing which moderation and peaceableness will think a sufficient cause of such disjunction.

Ans. 1. The former answer may serve to make it probable, that they would joyn with them as Churches, in case they had not better to joyn with on lawful tearms. 2. And their own expressions signifie that they take the English Parishes that have godly Ministers, for true Churches, though faulty. 3. And those that I now write for cannot forget, that they gathered their Churches by separation out of our Parish-Churches, when there was no Commonprayer nor Ceremonies used, nor any difference in worship found among us, that I ⟨p. 178⟩