To encourage by compliance a generation and design of men that overthrow Christ's and his Apostles rule of Communion, and by invented impositions of their own, would make Church-Concord impossible, and would propagate this way of certain Schism, and stablish it in the World, is to confederate for tearing the Church of Christ, and making Schism common and uncurable.
XII. It is granted that he that after his greatest study is persuaded that unnecessary Oaths, Subscriptions, Covenants, Ceremonies are sinful; is condemned if he go against his Conscience, tho' he should mistake.
XIII. Those therefore that make such snares for Souls, and then tell us [If you go against your Consciences you are damned for that, and if you do not you are damned as Schismatics, for disobeying us] are far unlike the Ministers of Christ, or Men that help to save our Souls.
XIV. We Non-Conformists offer cur solemn Oaths that we have by Prayer and earnest search and study, laboured to know the truth herein: And as our worldly interest would persuade us to conform, so we would readily do it, did we not believe that it is sin against God: Yea we take it (as to us) to be no small but heinous sin, by the aggravations which I am mentioning.
XV. Seeing then the way of our Condemners is either to cast all Christians out of the Church, that have not a greater degree of Knowledge herein, than I have, and all men of my Rank, or else to bring all men implicitly to believe all to be lawful that is commanded them, we cannot consent to either of these two Measures for the Church.
XVI. It is agreed that Perjury is so heinous a Sin, as that few are greater: It so taketh God's Name in vain, as to engage ⟨p. 210⟩his Justice in a special Revenge. It depriveth Kings of due Security for their Lives and Crowns, by the Oath of Fidelity. It destroyeth all Trust, and consequently all Commerce among Men; as well as all Hope of public Justice: It exposeth the Estates and Lives of all men to the will of Perjured men; so that he that dare be perjured, may be supposed liable to any other Wickedness how great soever. Therefore if we Ministers should be perjured; we should make our selves utterly unmeet for our Office.
XVII. It is agreed that to sin deliberately by a Covenant under our Hands, is one of the most heinous sorts of sinning; and if it be done knowingly, showeth the person to be a wilful Servant of sin.
To encourage by compliance a generation and design of men that overthrow Christ's and his Apostles rule of Communion, and by invented impositions of their own, would make Church-Concord impossible, and would propagate this way of certain Schism, and stablish it in the World, is to confederate for tearing the Church of Christ, and making Schism common and uncureable.
XII. It is granted that he that after his greatest study is perswaded that unnecessary Oaths, Subscriptions, Covenants, Ceremonies are sinful; is condemned if he go against his Conscience, tho' he should mistake.
XIII. Those therefore that make such snares for Souls, and then tell us [If you go against your Consciences you are damned for that, and if you do not you are damned as Schismaticks, for disobeying us] are far unlike the Ministers of Christ, or Men that help to save our Souls.
XIV. We Non-Conformists offer cur solemn Oaths that we have by Prayer and earnest search and study, laboured to know the truth herein: And as our worldly interest would perswade us to conform, so we would readily do it, did we not believe that it is sin against God: Yea we take it (as to us) to be no small but heinous sin, by the aggravations which I am mentioning.
XV. Seeing then the way of our Condemners is either to cast all Christians out of the Church, that have not a greater degree of Knowledge herein, than I have, and all men of my Rank, or else to bring all men implicitly to believe all to be lawful that is commanded them, we cannot consent to either of these two Measures for the Church.
XVI. It is agreed that Perjury is so heinous a Sin, as that few are greater: It so taketh God's Name in vain, as to engage ⟨p. 210⟩his Justice in a special Revenge. It depriveth Kings of due Security for their Lives and Crowns, by the Oath of Fidelity. It destroyeth all Trust, and consequently all Commerce among Men; as well as all Hope of publick Justice: It exposeth the Estates and Lives of all men to the will of Perjur'd men; so that he that dare be perjur'd, may be supposed liable to any other Wickedness how great soever. Therefore if we Ministers should be perjured; we should make our selves utterly unmeet for our Office.
XVII. It is agreed that to sin deliberately by a Covenant under our Hands, is one of the most heinous sorts of sinning; and if it be done knowingly, sheweth the person to be a wilful Servant of sin.
