As then the not giving a mans self up unto any way, 1and submitting to any establishment pretended, or pleaded to be of Christ, which he hath not light for, and which he was not by any act of his own formerly engaged in, cannot with any colour or pretence of reason be reckoned unto him for Schism, though he may, if he persist in his refusal, prejudice his own ⟨p. 260⟩Edification; So no more can a mans peaceable relinquishment of the ordinary communion of one Church in all its relations, to join with another, be so esteemed. For instance of the first case; suppose by the Law of this Nation the several parochial Churches of the Land, according to arbitrary distributions made of them, should be joined in Classical Associations, and those again in the like arbitrary disposal into Provincial, and so onward; (which cannot be done without such interveniences as will exonerate conscience from the weight of pure institution:) or suppose this not to be done by the Law of the Land, but by the voluntary consent of the Officers of the Parochial Churches, and others joining with them; the Saints of God in this Nation, who have not formerly been given up unto, or disposed of, in this order, by their own voluntary consent, nor are concerned in it any farther, then by their habitation within some of these different Precincts, that by public Authority, or consent of some amongst them, are combined as above: nor do believe such Associations to be the institutions of Christ, whatever they prove to be in the issue; I say they are by their dissent and refusal to subject themselves ⟨p. 261⟩to this Order, not in the least liable to the charge of Schism; whatever they are, who neglecting the great duty of Love, and forbearance, would by any means whatever impose upon them a necessity of so doing. For besides what they have to plead, as to the Non-institution of any such ordinary Associations, & investiture of them with power and Authority in, and over the Churches, they are not guilty of the disturbance of any order, wherein they were stated according to the mind of Christ: nor of the neglect of any duty of Love, that was incumbent on them.
As then the not giving a mans selfe up unto any way, 1and submitting to any establishment pretended, or pleaded to be of Christ, which he hath not light for, and which he was not by any act of his own formerly engaged in, cannot with any colour or pretence of reason be reckoned unto him for Schisme, though he may, if he persist in his refuseall, prejudice his own ⟨p. 260⟩Edification; So no more can a mans peaceable relinquishment of the ordinary communion of one Church in all its relations, to joyne with another, be so esteemed. For instance of the first case; suppose by the Law of this Nation the severall par•chiall Churches of the Land, according to arbitrary distributions made of them, should be joyned in Classicall Associations, and those againe in the like arbitrary disposall into Provinciall, and so onward; (which cannot be done without such interveniences as will exonerate conscience from the weight of pure institution:) or suppose this not to be done by the Law of the Land, but by the voluntary consent of the Officers of the Parochiall Churches, and others joyning with them; the Saints of God in this Nation, who have not formerly been given up unto, or disposed of, in this order, by their own voluntary consent, nor are concerned in it any farther, then by their habitation within some of these different Precincts, that by publick Authority, or consent of some amongst them, are combined as above: nor do believe such Ass•ciations to be the institutions of Christ, whatever they prove to be in the issue; I say they are by their dissent and refusall to subject themselves ⟨p. 261⟩to this Order, not in the least liable to the charge of Schisme; whatever they are, who neglecting the great duty of Love, and forbearance, would by any means whatever impose upon them a necessity of so doing. For besides what they have to plead, as to the Non-institution of any such ordinary Associations, & investiture of them with power and Authority in, and over the Churches, they are not guilty of the disturbance of any order, wherein they were stated according to the minde of Christ: nor of the neglect of any duty of Love, that was incumbent on them.
- 1§. 43.
