The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

3. What Separation, and what Gathering of Assemblies or Churches is unlawful, and what lawful.

I. Though some mens abuse of the word [Schism] and calling mens duty to God by that name, hath proved a great temptation to many, to take it but for a word of Passion, or of no certain or odious signification (even as the Papists abuse of the word [Heresy] and [Heretic] hath been to others) yet the evil of true Shism and the odium that God layeth on it in the Scripture, should move all Christians, to fear the thing and use the name with the disgrace that it truly importeth (without misapplication,) and to avoid all guilt of so great a sin.

I. THough some mens abuse of the word [Schism] and calling mens duty to God by that name, hath proved a great temptation to many, to take it but for a word of Passion, or of no certain or odious signification (even as the Papists abuse of the word [Heresie] and [Heretick] hath been to others) yet the evill of true Shism and the odium that God layeth on it in the Scripture, should move all Christians, to fear the thing and use the name with the disgrace that it truely importeth (without misapplication,) and to avoid all guilt of so great a sin.

II. There are several sorts and degrees of Schism, which greatly differ from each other ⟨p. 38⟩Its one thing to divide from a Church, and another to cause divisions or factions in it. Its one thing to divide our selves from it, and another to cause others to divide. Its one thing to draw men away by words, and another to drive them away by laws or execution, by unjust excommunication or by violent persecution. Its one thing to tempt away or drive away a single person, or a few; and another thing to draw or drive away multitudes. Its one thing to separate from the Universal-Church, and another from a particular Church, or a few only. Its one thing to separate from the species of particular Churches, and another from some individuals only. Its one thing to separate from the Churches of Christs institution, and another to separate only from those of mens institution. Its one thing to separate from such as men make lawfully, and another from such only as they make without authority, and sinfully. And here separating from one whose sinful constitution is traitorous against Christs prerogative (as the Papal Universal Usurpation) much differeth from separating from one whose constitution though sinful, is of no such perniciousness.