A second true defence of the mere nonconformists against the untrue accusations, reasonings, and…A second true defence of the meer nonconformists against the untrue accusations, reasonings, and…

§ 3. But the utter ambiguity is in the word separate; And that you may understand it he explaineth it by repeating it. By separation he means withdrawing to separate Congregations. But the doubt is, which are the separate Congregations. I named many sorts of Lawful and unlawful separations, but he will not tell us which he meaneth by any entreaty.

§ 3. But the utter ambiguity is in the word separate; And that you may understand it he explaineth it by repeating it. By separation he means withdrawing to separate Congregations. But the doubt is, which are the separate Congregations. I named many sorts of Lawful and unlawful separations, but he will not tell us which he meaneth by any intrea•y.

§. 4. I would my self yet that I may be understood, tell the reader what sorts of separation I renounce and what I own: But I have done it so oft and largely, that I am ashamed to repeat it, as oft as mens confusion calls me to it. The reader who thinks it worth his labour, may see it done in my first Plea for Peace, and in the Preface to my Cath. Theol. and specially in the beginning of the third Part of my Treat. of Concord, and in Christ. Direct. And he calls me here afterward to the same

Certainly it is only sinful separation that is in the question; and as certainly there are many sorts not sinful. I am locally separate from all Churches save that where I am. I morally separate from the Roman Church as an unlawful Policy, and all other which are in specie against Gods word: I separate from some for Heresy as being not capable matter of a Church, while they own not all the Essence of Christianity. I separate from some ⟨p. 24⟩as Imposing sin, and refusing my Communion without it. I separate from some as having no lawful Pastors; some being uncapable matter, and some, being usurpers that have no true call: I separate from some only so far as to prefer a better rebus sic stantibus; sometime a better as to the Doctrine, sometime as to the Worship, sometime as to the Discipline sometime and mostly as to the Pastors worth and work; some go from their own Parish, because the Minister is very ignorant in comparison of another to whom they go: some that hear the Minister preach against preciseness and for Ceremonies, had rather hear another that calleth them to holiness: some that have tolerable Preachers go to Doctor Stilling sleet and Doctor Tillotson as better: some go for nearness to another Church. Some go from their own Parish because the Minister cuts the Commonprayer too short, and Preacheth too long; some because they would have it so, go to such: some because the Parson is an Arminian; others because he is contrary. Some go to the Minister that is strict in keeping the scandalous from the Sacrament: some therefore go from him: some remove their Dwellings or Lodgings for these ends; and some do not: some go from their own Parish for the benefit of the Organs in another. And of old, when Nonconformists had Parish Churches and used some part of the Liturgy, many went to them from their own Parishes. Some of these are lawful, some are unlawful: Most certainly they that go from their own Parishes, yea, or to Nonconformists Assemblies, in London, go not all on the same account: Nor doth the Doctor and such other separate from me as I am said to do from them, but otherwise and much more.