Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…

But these do not set up new Churches.

If a company of men who have estates,¹ should not be satisfied with that Ministry that belongs to that company that now they are joined with, and should buy a piece of ground close to the place where they were, and build upon it, and have leave of the State to make a new Parish of those dwellings they build; who would blame them for gathering a Church thus? Hence it is apparent, that withdrawing from our Churches, and gathering other, is not according to the judgements of our Brethren against any Church Principle; the offence that is, is only against some civill constitution.

If a company of men who have estates,¹ should not be satisfied with that Ministery that belongs to that company that now they are joyned with, and should buy a piece of ground close to the place where they were, and build upon it, and have leave of the State to make a new Parish of those dwellings they build; who would blame them for gathering a Church thus? Hence it is apparent, that withdrawing from our Churches, and gathering other, is not according to the judgements of our Brethren against any Church Principle; the offence that is, is onely against some civill constitution.

1. 1Answ.

Secondly, this thing in effect hath been ordinarily practiced heretofore without any offence to the godly; yea, and is still practiced without any complaint: Hath it not been and is it not still ordinary for many not to communicate in the Parishes where they live? nor commonly to hear there, but from all parts of the City to come to some Parishes where they conceive the best Ministers to be, and there to hear and communicate, and this in a constant way, and that with allowance to the maintenance of such Ministers? yea, and thus the Husband goes one way, and the Wife another, and yet none offended; it may be the Gentleman can content himself with his