2. They both of them despised the Church, continued to absent themselves, laid false charges against them, separated in a private meeting, went off to the Anabaptists without asking leave, and so became (supposed) Members of one, before they were regularly discharged of their obligation to another Church: all which things are against the Anabaptists own professed Rules if they will stand to their confession. Whereas he faith, their not hearing the Church was nothing else but their not coming when the Church sent for them] it is a foolish pretence: their not hearing the Church was their appearing and proving themselves impenitent and that after many Treaties used with them many solemn Admonitions laid upon them, convictions sufficiently offered, of sins against the light of their Consciences, and which (it's certain) they would have acknowledged, had it not been for fear of being reconciled to the Church, whose Excommunication they feared not, but impudently desired. The truth is, they were weary of their Church Relation, and resolved to get rid of it, and not knowing any regular way to obtain it, they chose to sin rather then suffer; and undergo a just Excommunication, that they might be by themselves; presuming that they could blind the World with a vain pretence that they were ejected for no other reason but because they questioned the right of Infant Baptism. Hence Thomas Gold did particularly express before the Church his desire to be excommunicated, which yet they proceeded not to (till by a first and second refusal to appear at the Churches citing of them) they proved ⟨p. 16⟩themselves incorrigible. Besides, it is to be observed that these men (having privately exercised their gifts in Meetings with applause) began to think themselves wronged that their light was put under a bushel; and finding no remedy in our Churches, threw on, a cloak of Anabaptism, and so gained the thing they aimed at, in a disguise.
2. They both of them despised the Church, continued to absent themselves, laid false charges against them, separated in a private meeting, went off to the Anabaptists without asking leave, and so became (supposed) Members of one, before they were regularly discharged of their obligation to another Church: all which things are against the Anabaptists own professed Rules if they will stand to their confession. Whereas he faith, their not hearing the Church was nothing else but their not coming when the Church sent for them] it is a foolish pretence: their not hearing the Church was their appearing and proving themselves impenitent and that after many Treaties used with them many solemn Admonitions laid upon them, convictions sufficiently offered, of sins against the light of their Consciences, and which (it's certain) they would have acknowledged, had it not been for fear of being reconciled to the Church, whose Excommunication they feared not, but impudently des•red. The truth is, they were weary of their Church Relation, and resolved to get rid of it, and not knowing any regular way to obtain it, they chose to sin rather then suffer; and undergo a just Excommunication, that they might be by themselves; presuming that they could blind the World with a vain pretense that they were ejected for no other reason but because they questioned the right of Infant Baptisme. Hence Thomas Gold did particularly express before the Church his desire to be excommunicated, which yet they proceeded not to (till by a first and second refusal to appear at the Churches citing of them) they proved ⟨p. 16⟩themselves incorrigible. Besides, it is to be observed that these men (having privately exercised their gifts in Meetings with applause) began to think themselves wronged that their light was put under a bushel; and finding no remedy in our Churches, threw on, a cloak of Anabaptisme, and so gained the thing they aimed at, in a disguise.
