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

The great advantages that Satan hath got upon the Church through the sin of the Pastors,¹ in these later days, is by division. By this he hath promoted all the rest of his designs. Our division gratifieth the Papist,² and greatly hazardeth the Protestant Religion, more than most of you seem to believe or regard. It advantageth Profaneness, and greatly hindereth the success of the Ministers; it pleaseth Satan and builds up his kingdom.

1. 1Preface to Confess.
2. 2Defence, p. 17.

The hand of God is apparently gone out against the Separatists;¹ you see you do but prepare Persons for a further progress; Seekers, Ranters, Quakers and too many professed Infidels, do spring up from among you, as if this were the journeys end and perfection of your revolt. By such fearful desertions did God formerly witness his detestation of those that withdrew from the unity of the Church.² And separation will ruin the separated Churches themselves; it will admit of no consistency. Parties will arise in the separated Churches, and separate again from them till they are dissolved. I beseech my Brethren to open their eyes so far, as to regard experience. How few separated Churches do now exist, that were in being an hundred years ago, can you name any? and would you have all the Churches of Christ to be dissolved?

The hand of God is apparently gone out against the Separatists;¹ you see you do but prepare Persons for a further progress; Seekers, Ranters, Quakers and too many professed Infidels, do spring up from among you, as if this were the journeys end and perfection of your revolt. By such fearful desertions did God formerly witness his detestation of those that withdrew from the unity of the Church.