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

That which I first meet withal directly unto this Purpose is, Part 2. pag. 157. The Forbearance of Communion with the Church of England in its Parochial Assemblies (that is in the way and manner before described) he opposeth with two Arguments. The first respects those who allow occasional Communion with Parochial Churches but will not comply with them in that which is constant and absolute. For he says, if the first be lawful, the latter is necessary, from the commands we have to preserve the Peace and Unity of the Church. And the not doing it, he says, is one of the provoking sins of the Non-conformists; but whether it be a sin or no is sub Judice; that it is provoking unto some is sufficiently evident. I shall not make this any part of my Contest. Those who have so expressed their Charity; as to give countenance unto this pretended Advantage, will easily free themselves from the force of this Inference. For it must be remembered that this constant total Communion, doth not only include a conscientious Observance of all things appointed to be done by the Rules or Canons in those Assemblies, but a Renunciation also of all other ways and means of Edification by joint Communion, as unlawful and Evil. And it will be hard to prove that on a Concession of the Lawfulness of Communion ⟨p. 253⟩in some Acts of Divine Worship, it Will be necessary for men to oblige themselves unto total constant Communion, with a Renunciation and Condemnation of all other ways and means of joint Edification. It may also be lawful to do a thing with some respects and Limitations, at some times, which it, may not be lawful to do absolutely and always. It may be necessary from outward circumstances to do that Sometimes which is lawful in itself, though not necessary from itself; it can never be necessary to do that which is unlawful. Of the first sort they esteem occasional Communion, and the other of the latter.

That which I first meet withal directly unto this Purpose is, Part 2. pag. 157. The Forbearance of Communion with the Church of England in its Parochial Assemblies (that is in the way and manner before described) he opposeth with two Arguments. The first respects those who allow occasional Communion with Parochial Churches but will not comply with them in that which is constant and absolute. For he says, if the first be lawful, the latter is necessary, from the commands we have to preserve the Peace and Ʋnity of the Church. And the not doing it, he says, is one of the provoking sins of the Non-conformists; but whether it be a sin or no is sub Judice; that it is provoking unto some is sufficiently evident. I shall not make this any part of my Contest. Those who have so expressed their Charity; as to give countenance unto this pretended Advantage, will easily free themselves from the force of this Inference. For it must be remembered that this constant total Communion, doth not only include a conscientious Observance of all things appointed to be done by the Rules or Canons in those Assemblies, but a Renunciation also of all other ways and means of Edification by joint Communion, as unlawful and Evil. And it will be hard to prove that on a Concession of the Lawfulness of Communion