A treatise of liturgies, power of the keys, and of matter of the visible…A treatise of liturgies, power of the keyes, and of matter of the visible…

Answ. If you will needs account not joining in that stinted imposed Liturgy, to be a moderate separation, we must confess, we have witnessed against such separation; yea, not only conformed to that corrupt Worship, but also to divers of the Ceremonies thereof, some of us with shame before the Lord may confess it: But we desire that may be no prejudice to the truth since discovered to us: but we have ever conceived, that the separation witnessed against, both by your selves and us, have been such as to separate from the Churches of England as no true Churches, the Ministry, as no true Ministry: their separations from corruptions in Doctrine and Worship, their endeavour to enjoy all the ordinances of the Lord Jesus in purity, if we be not mistaken, your judgement and practise with ours, have always approved; and the question now in hand is not about a new kind of separation more moderate, from the Churches and Ministry of England; but whether the Liturgy of England be not indeed one of those corruptions in Worship, which you and we had need reject, as well as the ceremonies, and no longer conform to the same. And we heartily wish that the growing endeavours of the godly, after more purity of Worship, and to be purged from all the pollutions of the man of sin, be not too rashly branded with the odium of separation: and breach of peace and unity of the Church. As for degenerating into the rigid separation, we think you need not fear it, upon our principles, no more then upon the common grounds of Non-conformists, and you know what they infer upon those principles, ⟨p. 41⟩now justly it concerns you to consider, as well as us; but as it is truly observed in England, it was the justification and pressing of ceremonies and other corruptions, that drave many to separation, not the endeavour of further Reformation; so you may fear, the too too much conformity of Ministers to humane impositions, and justification of the Liturgy, &c. have and will more dangerously alienate godly minds from your Churches and Ministry, and so drive to separation; then all the principles and progress of the godly in ways of reformations:

Answ. If you will needs account not joyning in that stinted imposed Liturgy, to bee a moderate separation, wee must confesse, we have witnessed against such separation; yea, not onely conformed to that corrupt Worship, but also to divers of the Ceremonies thereof, some of us with shame before the Lord may confesse it: But we desire that may be no prejudice to the truth since discovered to us: but wee have ever conceived, that the separation witnessed against, both by your selves and us, have been such as to separate from the Churches of England as no true Churches, the Ministery, as no true Ministery: their separations from corruptions in Doctrine and Worship, their endeavour to enjoy all the ordinances of the Lord Jesus in purity, if wee bee not mistaken, your judgement and practise with ours, have alwayes approved; and the question now in hand is not about a new kinde of separation more moderate, from the Churches and Ministery of England; but whether the Liturgy of England be not indeed one of those corruptions in Worship, which you and wee had need reject, as well as the ceremonies, and no longer conforme to the same. And wee heartily wish that the growing endeavours of the godly, after more purity of Worship, and to bee purged from all the pollutions of the man of sinne, bee not too rashly branded with the odium of separation: and breach of peace and unity of the Church. As for degenerating into the rigid separation, wee think you need not feare it, upon our principles, no more then upon the common grounds of Non-conformists, and you know what they inferre upon those principles,