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

An Answer to Dr. Stillingfleets Book of the Unreasonableness of Separation, in Defence of the Vindication of Non-Conformists from the Guilt of Schism.

An Answer to Dr. Stillingfleets Book of the Unreasonableness of Separation, in Defence of the Vindication of Non-Conformists from the Guilt of Schisme.

THE Preceding Discourse was written for the most part, before the publishing of the Treatise of the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet, Entitled the Unreasonableness of Separation. Yet was it not so without a Prospect, at least a probable Conjecture, that something of the same kind and tendency with the Doctors Book, would be published in Defence of the Cause which he had undertaken. And I was not without hopes, that the whole of it might have been both finished and communicated unto public view, before any thing farther were attempted against our Cause, whereby many Mistakes might have been prevented. For, as I was willing, yea very desirous if it were the Will of God, that I might see before my departure out of this World, the Cause of Conformity, as things are now stated between us and the Church of England, pleaded with Judgment, Moderation, and Learning, with the best of those Arguments whereby our Principles or Practises are opposed; so considering ⟨p. 248⟩on what hand that work was now like to fall, I thought, si pergania dextra, &c. and am of the same Mind still. But my expectation being frustrate, of representing our whole Cause truly stated, for the Prevention of Mistakes, by the coming out of this Book against all sorts of Nonconformists, I thought it convenient to publish this first Part of what I had designed, and to annex unto it the ensuing Defence of the Vindication of Non-conformists, from the charge of Schism. For although I do know that there is nothing material in the whole Book of the Unreasonableness of Separation, but what is obviated or answered before hand, in the preceding Discourse; so as that the Principles and Demonstrations of them contained therein may easily be applied unto all the Reasonings, Exceptions, and Pleas, in and of that Book, to render them useless unto the End designed, which is to reinforce a charge of Schism against us; Yet I think it necessary to show how unsuccessful, from the disadvantage of his Cause, the Doctor hath been in his laborious endeavour to stigmatize all Protestant Dissenters from the Church of England, with the odious name of Schismatics. I have therefore altered nothing of what I had projected, either as to Matter or Method in this first Part of the Discourse designed on the whole Subject of Church Affairs.