An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…

Now Schism he tells us, is as great and dangerous a sin as Murder, p. 45. and we know that no Murderer hath eternal Life abiding in him, 1 Joh. 3.1•. So that all men here seem to be adjudged unto Hell, who comply not with, who submit not unto, our Ecclesiastical Constitutions or Canons. God forbid that ever such Doctrine should be looked on, as to have the least affinity unto the Gospel, or such Censures to have any savour of the Spirit of Christ in them. The Lord Jesus Christ hath not cast the Eternal Condition of those whom he purchased with his own most precious blood, into the Arbitrary disposal of any, that shall take upon them to make Ecclesiastical Constitutions and Orders, for Conformity in Rites and Ceremonies, &c. Shall we think that he who upon the best use of Means for his Instruction which he is capable of, with fervent Prayers to God for Light and Direction, cannot comply with, and submit unto some Ecclesiastical Constitutions and Orders, however pretended to be made fo• the preservation of Peace ⟨p. 61⟩and Unity of the Church, on this Ground principally, because they are not of the Appointment, nor have the Approbation of Jesus Christ, though he should mistake herein and miss of his Duty, is guilty of no less sin than that of Murder; suppose of Cain in Killing his Brother? For all Murder is from Hatred and Malice. This is that which inflames the Differences amongst us. For it is a Scandal of the highest nature, when men do see that Persons who in any thing dissent from our Ecclesiastical Constitutions, though otherwise, sober, honest, pious and peaceable, are looked on as bad, if not worse than Thieves and Murderers, and are dealt withal accordingly. Nor can any thing be more effectual to harden others in their Immoralities, than to find themselves approved by the Guides of the Church in comparison with such Dissenters.

Now Schisme he tells us, is as great and dangerous a sin as Murder, p. 45. and we know that no Murderer hath eternal Life abiding in him, 1 Joh. 3.1•. So that all men here seem to be adjudged unto Hell, who comply not with, who submit not unto, our Ecclesiastical Con•titutions or Canons. God forbid that ever such Doctrine should be looked on, as to have the least affinity unto the Gospel, or such Censures to have any savour of the Spirit of Christ in them. The Lord Jesus Christ hath not cast the Eternal Condition of those whom he purchased with his own most precious blood, into the Arbitrary disposal of any, that shall take upon them to make Ecclesiastical Constitutions and Orders, for Conformity in Rites and Ceremonies, &c. Shall we think that he who upon the best use of Means for his Instruction which he is capable of, with fervent Prayers to God for Light and Direction, cannot comply with, and submit unto some Ecclesiastical Constitutions and Orders, however pretended to be made fo the preservation of Peace