The `Preface. 45 InGeneral, that whereas the whole DefignofthisBook, is to charge all forts ofNonconformifts with Schifine,and todenounce them Schifmaticks ; yet the Author of it doth not once endeavour to hate the true notion and nature of Schifine, wherein the Confciences of Men may be concerned. He fatisfies himfelf in the Inveútives of Erne ofthe Antients againft Schifete, applicable unto thole which were in their days, wherein we are not concern- ed. Only he feems to proceed on the general Notion ofit, that it is a Caufelef Separationfrom a true Church, which departs from that ofthe Aomanifs, who will al- low no Separation from the Church but what is Caufe- les. To make Application hereof unto us ; it is fup- poled (i.) That the Church of England is a true Church in its 'National Confitution, and fo are all the Parochial Churches in it ; which can be no way ;unified but by a large extenfive Interpretation ófthe Word True. For there is but onefort of Churches infiituted by Chrift and his Apoffles 5 but National and `Parochial Churches dif- fer in their whole kind, and therefore cannot both of them be ofa Divine Original. (2.) That we are Members of this Church by our ciwi Confent. How we ihouldcometo be fo otherways,I know not 5 If we are fo by being born and baptized in England, then thofe who are born beyond Sea and baptized there, are made Members ofthis Church by an ./IU of Parlia- ment for their Naturalization and no otherwife. (3.) That we feeparate from this .Church, in things wherein we are obliged by the ./authority of Chri.FE to hold communionwith it; which neither is nor will ever' be proved, nor is it endeavoured fo to be, by any In- fiances in thisTreatife. (4)That
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