The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

It is the Duty of every Man who takes care of his own present Edification, and the future salvation of his Soul, peaceably to withdraw from the Communion of such Churches, and to join in such others, where all the ends of Church Societies may in some measure be obtained. Men may not only do so, because all obligation unto the use of means for the attaining of such an end, doth cease, when the means are not suited thereunto, but obstructive of its attainment; but also the giving of a Testimony hereby against the Declension from the Rule ⟨p. 16⟩of Christ in the Institution of Churches, and the dishonour that by this means is reflected on the Gospel, is necessary unto all that desire to acquit themselves as Loyal Subjects unto their Lord and King. And it cannot be questioned by any, who understand the nature, use and end of Evangelical Churches, but that a relinquishment of the Rule of the Gospel in any of them, as unto the practice of Holiness, is as just a cause of withdrawing Communion from them, as their forsaking the same Rule in Doctrine and Worship.

It may be some will judge that sundry inconveniences will ensue on this Assertion, when any have a mind to practise according unto it. But when the matter of Fact supposed, is such as is capable of an uncontrollable evidence, no inconvenience can ensue on the practice directed unto, any way to be compared unto the mischief of obliging Believers to abide always in such Societies, to the ruin of their Souls.

It may be some will judge that sundry inconveniences will ensue on this Assertion, when any have a mind to practise according unto it. But when the matter of Fact supposed, is such as is capable of an uncontrollable evidence, no inconvenience can ensue on the practice directed unto, any way to be compared unto the mischief of obliging Believers to abide always in such Societies, to the ruine of their Souls.