M. Briefly, 1. Because Christ hath Commanded us to live in the utmost Love, Union and Concord with all his Church on Earth, that we possibly can.
2. Because they hold all the essentials of Christianity, which constituteth them Members of Christ's Church, and no error that nullifieth their Christianity, or maketh their Communion unlawful to me.
3. Because my own edification hath required it: I have long lived where I could have no better Communion; and after I found Communion with both sorts most profitable to me; I found the Liturgy in the main, fit for my serious desires and praises to ⟨p. 230⟩God, and the Preachers that I heard were profitable Preachers, and if some words were amiss, I past them by; and the very Concord and Presence of Christians (though faulty) is pleasant to me.
4. I lived where and when these Parish Churches were slandered by mistakes, to be such whose Communion was unlawful; and my constant avoiding them, would have made me seem a consenter to the slanders, and so to be guilty of scandal.
5. I lived in a time and place, where the Rulers and Laws Commanded Parish Communion; and to forbear it against such commands and penalties, seemeth plainly to tell the world that I hold it unlawful, which is an untruth.
6. I had seen whither this extreme of separation had brought this Nation, formerly, and of late; and what a hopeful Reformation it shamed and destroyed, and that by such Rebellious and mad actions, as made them, and accidentally others, the scorn and hatred of the World, and have occasioned all our sufferings.
7. I lived where men that I thought guilty of our sinful persecution and the danger of the land, did discern the mistake of them that overcharged the Liturgy and Parish Communion, and thereupon took them for a proud Fanatic sort of People, worthy of all that doth befall them, and think they do God service in ruining us all, as if we were such: And I durst not thus scandalize and harden men in grievous persecutions.
8. I was loth to misguide others by my example; and I doubted not but when necessity drove them to it, many would see cause to Communicate with the Parish Churches. And I was willing that they should sooner see these Reasons, and not seem to do it only to save themselves.
9. I had read the writings of those excellent men of God against Brownists, or Separation heretofore;
M. Briefly, 1. Because Christ hath Commanded us to live in the utmost Love, Union and Concord with all his Church on Earth, that we possibly can.
2. Because they hold all the essentials of Christianity, which constituteth them Members of Christ's Church, and no errour that nullifieth their Christianity, or maketh their Communion unlawful to me.
3. Because my own edification hath required it: I have long lived where I could have no better Communion; and after I found Communion with both sorts most profitable to me; I found the Liturgy in the main, fit for my serious desires and praises to ⟨p. 230⟩God, and the Preachers that I heard were profitable Preachers, and if some words were amiss, I past them by; and the very Concord and Presence of Christians (though faulty) is pleasant to me.
4. I lived where and when these Parish Churches were slandered by mistakes, to be such whose Communion was unlawful; and my constant avoiding them, would have made me seem a consenter to the slanders, and so to be guilty of scandal.
5. I lived in a time and place, where the Rulers and Laws Commanded Parish Communion; and to forbear it against such commands and penalties, seemeth plainly to tell the world that I hold it unlawful, which is an untruth.
6. I had seen whither this extream of separation had brought this Nation, formerly, and of late; and what a hopeful Reformation it shamed and destroyed, and that by such Rebellious and mad actions, as made them, and accidentally others, the scorn and hatred of the World, and have occasioned all our sufferings.
7. I lived where men that I thought guilty of our sinful persecution and the danger of the land, did discern the mistake of them that overcharged the Liturgy and Parish Communion, and thereupon took them for a proud Fanatick sort of People, worthy of all that doth befal them, and think they do God service in ruining us all, as if we were such: And I durst not thus scandalize and harden men in grievous persecutions.
8. I was loth to misguide others by my example; and I doubted not but when necessity drove them to it, many would see cause to Communicate with the Parish Churches. And I was willing that they should sooner see these Reasons, and not seem to do it only to save themselves.
9. I had read the writings of those excellent men of God against Brownists, or Separation heretofore;
