A letter to the author of the pamphlet called An answer [sic] to the…A letter to the author of the pamphlet called An answeer [sic] to the…

And to what Purpose is that Passage that you cite from the Platform, wherein it says, That all Churches ought to preserve Communion one with another? We can conceive of nothing that you can intend by it, unless it be this, viz. That because the Platform says, That all Churches ought to hold Communion, that therefore they ought to exercise that Communion in every Thing that is an Act of Communion; but if this be what you mean, then it will follow, That all the Churches in the World ought to be consociated; for the Synod in 1662 mentions Consociation of Churches as one Way of exercising the Communion of Churches; however, they have expressly limited that Exercise of Communion to Churches in a convenient Vicinity: Or else you must mean, That because the Platform says all Churches should hold Communion, & one Way of Communion there mentioned is to consult other Churches, that therefore a particular Church ought to consult all other Churches.—But 'tis ridiculous to infer any other from what the Platform says, than this, viz. That every Church ought to be ready to exercise Communion with all other Churches in all those Ways, as the Disposals of Providence, in the Circumstances and Occasions of Churches shall open a Door for it and call to it. And to what Purpose are those other Passages that you cite, where the Platform says a particular Church ought to consult OTHER CHURCHES? Which you seem to think should be taken so much Notice of, and observe that it is said other Churches at large; does it thence follow, That the Platform neither does, nor can Design that Churches should be especially limited to neighbour Churches? What sort of arguing is ⟨p. 17⟩this. The Platform says, Churches should consult other Churches, therefore it no where especially limits them to neighbour Churches! Can't the Platform tell us that we must consult other Churches, and then afterwards tell us what other Churches? Can't a Parent advise a Child under Difficulties to consult others, and then in the same Discourse tell him who? And after he has told him, must the Child, because his Father first said others, still look upon himself on more directed by his Father to one than another? The Platform does indeed sometimes say other Churches, but then in other Places, from Time to Time, both before and after, tells what Churches, viz. neighbour Churches; it specifies them without any Conjunction;

And to what Purpose is that Passage that you cite from the Platform, wherein it says, That all Churches ought to preserve Communion one with another? We can conceive of nothing that you can intend by it, unless it be this, viz. That because the Platform says, That all Churches ought to hold Communion, that therefore they ought to exercise that Communion in every Thing that is an Act of Communion; but if this be what you mean, then it will follow, That all the Churches in the World ought to be consociated; for the Synod in 1662 mentions Consociation of Churches as one Way of exercising the Communion of Churches; however, they have expresly limited that Exercise of Communion to Churches in a convenient Vicinity: Or else you must mean, That because the Platform says all Churches should hold Communion, & one Way of Communion there mention'd is to consult other Churches, that therefore a particular Church ought to consult all other Churches.—But 'tis ridiculous to infer any other from what the Platform says, than this, viz. That every Church ought to be ready to exercise Communion with all other Churches in all those Ways, as the Disposals of Providence, in the Circumstances and Occasions of Churches shall open a Door for it and call to it. And to what Purpose are those other Passages that you cite, where the Platform says a particular Church ought to consult OTHER CHURCHES? Which you seem to think should be taken so much Notice of, and observe that it is said other Churches at large; does it thence follow, That the Platform neither does, nor can Design that Churches should be especially limited to neighbour Churches? What sort of arguing is