A brief vindication of the non-conformists from the charge of schism as it was…A brief vindication of the non-conformists from the charge of schisme as it was…

Yea, (3) Out of tenderness unto them, and to prevent all offence to be taken by them at the liberty of the Gentiles they did order that the Believers of the Gentiles, should forbear for a season the use of their natural liberty in some few things, whereby the other were, in their common meetings, as in eating and drinking together, usually scandalized; giving them also unto the same end, direction concerning one thing evil in it self, whose long usage and practice among the Gentiles had ⟨p. 8⟩obliterated a sense of its guilt, wherewith they could not but be much offended.

(4) With this determination or state of things thus settled by the Apostles, (no doubt but that) a multitude of the Jewish Believers did rest content and satisfied. But certain it is, that with many of them it was otherwise. They were no way pleased that they were left unto the freedom of their own judgment and practice, in the use and observance of the legal Ceremonies, but they would impose the observation of them on all the Churches of the Gentiles wherever they came. Nothing would serve their turn, but that all other Churches must observe their Ceremonies, or they would not admit them unto communion with them. And in the pursuit of this design, they prevailed for a season on whole Churches, to forego the liberty wherein Christ had made them free, and to take on them the yoke of bondage which they imposed on them, as it was with the Churches of the Galatians.

(4) With this determination or state of things thus setled by the Apostles, (no doubt but that) a multitude of the Jewish Believers did rest content and satisfied. But certain it is, that with many of them it was otherwise. They were no way pleased that they were left unto the freedom of their own judgment and practice, in the use and observance of the legal Ceremonies, but they would impose the observation of them on all the Churches of the Gentiles wherever they came. Nothing would serve their turn, but that all other Churches must observe their Ceremonies, or they would not admit them unto communion with them. And in the pursuit of this design, they prevailed for a season on whole Churches, to forego the liberty wherein Christ had made them free, and to take on them the yoke of bondage which they imposed on them, as it was with the Churches of the Galatians.