208 The HIS '1'0 R Y of the PuRITA~S~ VoL. II,' K. Charles I. . ~o. the requeil: of the independents, of being exempted from the ju– -~ rtfdH~l:ton of their clart'es, and having a liberty of eretling feparate congregations the preibyterians replied, Jb. P· 2o,2r, 1. That this implied a total feparation from the eil:~blifhed rule. 2. The .lawfulnefs of gathering churches out of other true churches. 3· That the parliament would then deihoy what they had fet up. 4· That the member$ of independent churches, would then have greater privilege than thofe of the eil:abli!hment. 5· That this would countenance a perpetual fchifm. And, 6. Introduce all manner of confuuon in families. They therefore propofed, that fuch as after conference with their pa– rifh miniil:er were not fatisfied with the eil:ablifhment, !hould not be compelled to communicate in the Lord's fupper, nor be liable to cenfures from clafles or fynods, provided they joined with the parifh congregation where they lived, and were under the government of it in other ref– peCls. J!nfwer of The independents replied, that they did not intend a total feparation, the indepen- but G1ould agree with' their brethren in the moil: effential points; as in ;;;,tfar :c~- wor!hipping accordin~ to the dire~l:ory, in chooGn~ the. fame ~fficers, commodation. paflors, teachers, rulmg-elders, wllh the k'lme quahficattons as m the p. 29, 30. rule; that they !hould require the fame qualifications in their members as ·the aflembly bad advifed, that is, v!Jible faints prrfdfing faith in Chrijl, and obedience to him, according to the rules offaitb and lije taught by Chrijl and his apojl!es; that they !hould practife the fame church-cenfures, be– ing accountable for their conduCt to their civil fuperiors. They would alfo hold occafional communion with the preibyterian churches, in bap– ti(m and the Lord's fupper, communicating occafionally with them, and receiving their members to communion as occauon required. Their mi– niil:ers !hould preach for each other, and in cafes of difficulty they would call i~ their ailiil:ance and advice; and when an ordination falls out, they would deure the prefence and approbation of their miniflers with their own. Now furely fay they, this does 'not imply a total feparation; but if in fome things men cannot comply with the eflablijhed rule without fin, we think fuch perfons ought not to live without communicating in the Lord's fupper all their days, rather than gather into churches where they lb.:P· 35,36. may enjoy all ordinances without offence to their confciences.-Nor ought fuch feparation to be accounted Jchijin, which is a name of :e– ·proach we deure not to be branded with, when we are willing to mam– tain chriflian love and communion with our neighbours, as far as our lb. p. 40. .confciences will permit.--'thcy add further, that if the Jlate is plea– fed to grant them this liberty, they will refer themfelves to the wifdo~ of the legiilature, to confider of limiting their congregations to a certam · num~
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