Mr. Richard Baxter's last legacy in select admonitions and directions to all sober dissenters

The sparks of Schism are kindled, when proud Persons are brainsick with a fond estimation of their own opinions, and heart-sick for propagating them.

Till Church Divisions be rightly apprehended, as Whoredom, Swearing and Drunkenness are, they will never be well cured. Imprint therefore on your minds the true Character of them, and consider the Effects, and then you will fear this confounding Sin, as much as a consuming Plague.

Pag. 63 When you are tempted to separate from any Church for defectiveness in its manner of Worship; enquire how God is Worshipped in all the Churches on Earth, and then consider if you lived among them, you would forsake communion with them all. Read the Church History, and consider what Heresies have been in times past, and what havoc Schisms have caused among Christians, for if this had been known by well meaning Persons in our days, we should not have seen those same opinions applauded as New Lights, which were long ago exploded as Old Heresies: Nor should we have seen many honest People taking that same course to reform the Church now, and advance the Gospel, which in so many Ages and Nations destroyed the Church, and cast out the Gospel. A narrow Soul that taketh all Christs Interest in the World to lye in a few of their Separate Meetings, and shuts up all the Church in a Nut-shell, must needs be guilty of the foulest Schisms. It is a Catholic Spirit and Principles loving a Christian as a Christian, abhorring the very name of Sects and Parties, as the Churches Wounds, that makes a Catholic indeed.

Pag. 63 When you are tempted to separate from any Church for defectiveness in its manner of Worship; enquire how God is Worshipped in all the Churches on Earth, and then consider if you lived among them, you would forsake communion with them all. Read the Church History, and consider what Heresies have been in times past, and what havock Schisms have caused among Christians, for if this had been known by well meaning Persons in our days, we should not have seen those same opinions appleaded as New Lights, which were long ago exploded as Old Heresies: Nor should we have seen many honest People taking that same course to reform the Church now, and advance the Gospel, which in so many Ages and Nations destroyed the Church, and cast out the Gospel. A narrow Soul that taketh all Christs Interest in the World to lye in a few of their Separate Meetings, and shuts up all the Church in a Nut-shell, must needs be guilty of the foulest Schisms. It is a Catholick Spirit and Principles loving a Christian as a Christian, abhorring the very name of Sects and Parties, as the Churches Wounds, that makes a Catholick indeed.