Five disputations of church-government and worship

2. By this means the people will be involved in the guilt of bitter contending, and hating all that conform not to their way, and uncharitably reproaching them as schismatics, and consequently of disliking the very doctrine that they preach, or hold, and the way they take; and thus if uncharitableness, and all this sin, the off-spring of it▪ be the way to Hell, then you may see what a notable service they do to Satan, and how they ensnare and undo mens souls, that make such forms of common Necessity to the Unity or Peace of the Church.

2. By this means the people will be involved in the guilt of bitter contending, and hating all that conform not to their way, and uncharitably reproaching them as schismaticks, and consequently of disliking the very doctrine that they preach, or hold, and the way they take; and thus if uncharitableness, and all this sin, the off-spring of it▪ be the way to Hell, then you may see what a notable service they do to Satan, and how they ensnare and undo mens souls, that make such forms of common Necessity to the Unity or Peace of the Church.

3. By this means they will involve themselves and the Magistrate ⟨p. 375⟩in the guilt of persecution: For no better will it prove, even in many cases where the refusers scruples are unjust.

4. By this means they will hinder the Edification of the Church. What if a Minister have a Congregation that (suppose upon mistakes) do scruple these forms, and by prejudice or weakness are hindered from serving God with cheerfulness and profit, where they are used; must we be bound to deny them that mode of worship which their weakness doth require? and to force them to that which will not down with them? Must a Physician be bound to give all his Patients one kind of diet? What if it be wholesome? Will you say, If that will not down with him, he shall have none: let him die? This is contrary to the end of our office: we are commanded to do all to Edification, which this doth contradict.