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

The case of the Summer Islands as related by Mr. Vaughan, a worthy Minister come from thence upon discouragement, would make a Christians heart to bleed. To hear how strict and regular, and hopeful that Plantation once was, and how one godly Minister by Separation, selecting a few to be his Church, rejecting all the rest from the Sacrament, the rejected party were dolefully estranged from Religion, and the selected party turned Quakers. But our own case is yet a more lamentable proof, what Separation hath done against Religion; so that it is my wonder that any good man can over-look it.

Above all things I entreat the dividing Brethren,¹ if they can so long lay aside partiality, to judge of the reasons of their separation. The defects of the Liturgy, and the faults of those by whom we suffer, are easily heightened even beyond desert. But when many of us vent untruths, and slanders against our Brethren, and multiply public untruths, we never make scruple of communion with such. Suppose one should say, that a People guilty of such sins, as are condemned, Exod. 23. 1, 2. Psal. 15. 3. Rom. 1. 30, &c. (i. e. raising false reports, reproaching our Neighbours, strife and debates) should not be communicated with, especially when not one of those offenders is called to repentance for it, what answer will you give to this which will not confute your own objections against communion with many Parish Churches in this Land?

Above all things I intreat the dividing Brethren,¹ if they can so long lay aside partiality, to judge of the reasons of their separation. The defects of the Liturgy, and the faults of those by whom we suffer, are easily heightned even beyond desert. But when many of us vent untruths, and slanders against our Brethren, and multiply publick untruths, we never make scruple of communion with such. Suppose one should say, that a People guilty of such sins, as are condemned,