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…

Here it is imputed unto us that we have devised a rite to preserve the unity and prevent the dissolutions of the body, which we conceive is intended of this promise of not removal without leave, which promise is not required of us nor made in our Church Covenant, (as we have said) and the ground of this imputation is also a mere mistake arising from the confounding of a second answer to the objection against our first reason, with the second reason of our practise, which are distinct and have a different▪ ⟨p. 184⟩scope, for whereas some might object, that this reason from the Covenant, holds with such as grant such a Covenant lawful, the answer saith that some indeed question the necessity of it: but we hope you do not question the lawfulness, and thereupon the answer first gives reasons and proofs of the lawfulness of it. And secondly, for the necessity which is taken from the nature of all societies incorporate, which by a fundamental rule, do require of all that enter into them, and partake of the privileges thereof, to conform to all such lawful rites and orders as are expedient for the well being of that society; the contrary whereof would be injurious to him to offer, and confusion in them to accept; and from hence it easily follows, that a Church being a body of a people enjoying privileges together, it is necessary fundamentally that they should be joined in some promise or Covenant, which Covenant (though in civill societies it may consist in rites and orders devised by themselves for their good) yet in the Church which is the body of Christ, this Covenant is no other but to perform the duties required in the Gospel towards God and one another, without any rites or order, devised by themselves, as we professed in setting forth the nature of the Covenant; and this being the true scope of those words, let any judge what ground is given by us of such an imputation of devising rites, &c. Neither doth the second reason in the answer give any ground of this imputation; for though it dispute from the necessary ruin of the Church, and all Churches, if it were lawful for any member when, whither and wherefore he please to depart from the Church without consent:

Here it is imputed unto us that wee have devised a rite to preserve the unity and prevent the dissolutions of the body, which wee conceive is intended of this promise of not removall without leave, which promise is not required of us nor made in our Church Covenant, (as wee have said) and the ground of this imputation is also a meere mistake arising from the confounding of a second answer to the objection against our first reason, with the second reason of our practise, which are distinct and have a different