But if Men, if Churches, will make Additions in or unto the Rites of religious Worship, unto what is appointed by Christ himself, and require their Observance in their Communion, on the force and efficacy of their being so by them appointed, no Disciple of Christ is or can be obliged, by virtue of any Divine Institution or Command, to join in total, absolute Communion, with any such Church. He may be induced on various considerations to judge, that something of that Nature at some season, may not be evil and sinful unto him, which therefore he will bear with, or comply withal; yet he is not, he cannot be obliged by virtue of any Divine Rule or Command, to join ⟨p. 71⟩himself with, or continue in the Communion of such a Church. If any shall suppose that hereby too much Liberty is granted unto Believers in the choice of their Communion, and shall thereon make severe Declamations, about the Inconveniences and Evils, which will ensue; I desire they would remember the Principle I proceed upon, which is, that Churches are not such sacred Machines as some suppose, erected and acted for the outward Interest and Advantages of any sort of men; but only means of the Edification of Believers, which they are bound to make use of, in Obedience unto the Commands of Christ, and no otherwise. Whereas therefore the Disciples of Christ, have not only a Divine warranty justifying them in the doing of it, but an express command making it their indispensable Duty to join in the Celebration of all that Religious Worship, which the Lord Christ the only Law giver of the Church, and who was faithful both in and over the House of God, as the Son, •ath Instituted and commanded; but have no such warranty or command for any thing else, it is their Duty to stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free. And if by the same •reath, in the same Rule, Law or ⟨p. 72⟩Canon, they are commanded and obliged to observe in the Worship of God, what the Lord Christ hath appointed, and what he hath not appointed, both on the same Grounds, namely, the Authority of the Church, and on the s••e Penalties of their Omission, no man can be divinely obliged to embrace the Communion of any Church on such Terms.
But if Men, if Churches, will make Additions in or unto the Rites of religious Worship, unto what is appointed by Christ himself, and require their Observance in their Communion, on the force and efficacy of their being so by them appointed, no Disciple of Christ is or can be obliged, by vertue of any Divine Institution or Command, to joyn in total, absolute Communion, with any such Church. He may be induced on various considerations to judge, that something of that Nature at some season, may not be evil and sinful unto him, which therefore he will bear with, or comply withal; yet he is not, he cannot be obliged by vertue of any Divine Rule or Command, to joyn ⟨p. 71⟩himself with, or continue in the Communion of such a Church. If any shall suppose that hereby too much Liberty is granted unto Believers in the choice of their Communion, and shall thereon make severe Declamations, about the Inconveniences and Evils, which will ensue; I desire they would remember the Principle I proceed upon, which is, that Churches are not such sacred Machines as some suppose, erected and acted for the outward Interest and Advantages of any sort of men; but only means of the Edification of Believers, which they are bound to make use of, in Obedience unto the Commands of Christ, and no otherwise. Whereas therefore the Disciples of Christ, have not only a Divine warranty justifying them in the doing of it, but an express command making it their indispensible Duty to joyn in the Celeb•ation of all that Religious Worship, which the Lord Christ the only Law giver of the Church, and who was faithful both in and over the House of God, as the Son, •ath Instituted and commanded; but have no such warranty or command for any thing else, it is their Duty to stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free. And if by the same •reath, in the same Rule, Law or ⟨p. 72⟩Canon, they are commanded and obliged to observe in the Worship of God, what the Lord Christ hath appointed, and what he hath not appointed, both on the same Grounds, namely, the Authority of the Church, and on the s••e Penalties of their Omission, no man can be divinely obliged to embrace the Communion of any Church on such Terms.
