The Preface. 49 to fuck Rules, unto whom as unto their prefent Elate and condition, neither Peace nor Mercy dobelong ; For there is no Peace to the Wicked. He who bath direaed and commanded the end of Church Unity and Peace,, hatli alfò appointed the Meanes and Meafures of them. Nothing is moredifagreeable unto, Nothingmore incon- fiftent with the Wifdom, Care, and Love of Chrilt unto his Church, than an Imagination, that whereas he flri&ly enjoynes Peace and Unity in his Church, he hath not himfelf appointed theRules, Bounds, and Mea- fures of them, but left it unto theWill and Difcretion of Men. As ifhis Command unto his Difçiples had been, Keep Peaceand `Unity in the Church, by doing and of f ruing rehateverforemen under a Pretence ofbeing the Guides of the ChurchPall make neceJfry unto that End ; Whereas it is plainly otherwife, namely, that we fhould fo keep the Peace and Unity of the Church, by doing and obferr ing all whatever that he commands us. Andbetides we aria ly require, that fòme one Inftance be given us, of a Defeét in the Rule given by Chrift himfelf, which muff be fupplyed by humane Additions, to render it corn- pleat for the End ofChurch Peace and Unity. In vain have we defired, in vain may we for ever expect, any Infiance ofthat kind. This Principle we (hall not be eafily difpoffeffed of And whilft we are under the Protection of it, we have a fife Retreat and íhelter, from the moll vehement Ac- cufations of schifnne for a Non - compliance with a Rule, none of his, different from his, and in force things con- trary unto his, for the PreCervation of Church Peace and Unity. All the Difpute is whether we keep unto this Rule of Chrill or no; whereinwe are ready at any It time
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