Schisme, properly so called, is a most grievous sin;
1. Because it is _against charity towards our Neighbour_, &c.
2. Because it is _against the Edification of him who makes the separation, in that he deprives himself Communion in spirituall good_.
3. _Because it is against the honour of Christ, in that, at much as in it lyeth, it takes away the Unity of his mysticall body._
4. _It makes way unto Heresie, and separation from Christ._ And therefore it is a sin by all good men to be abhorred.
2. The second sort are such, as _separate from our Churches, as false Churches_; And from our _Ministry, as Antichristian_: and differ from us not only in Discipline, but in Doctrine also. We purpose not to undertake a particular confutation of your Errours.
1. To beseech you to consider, whether you did not receive the _work of Conversion from sin unto God, which ye presume to be wrought in you first of all, in these publique assemblies, from which you now separate?_ And if once you found Christ walking amongst us, How is it that you do now leave us? Do you not therein leave Christ also? Are we lesse, and not rather more reformed then we were? If the presence of Christ, both of his power and grace, be with us, why will you deny us your presence? Are ye holier and wiser then Christ? Is not this an evident token that we are true Churches, and have a true Ministry, because we have the seal of our Ministry, even the conversion of many sons and daughters unto God? Doth not the Apostle from this very ground, [176]argue the truth of his Apostleship? Is it not apparent, that our Ministers are sent by God, Because their Embassage is made successfull by God, for the good of souls? Did you ever read of true conversion ordinarily in a false Church? Will the Lord concur with those Ministers whom he sends not? Doth not the Prophet seem to say the quite contrary, _Ier._ 23.33. And therefore either renounce your conversion, or be converted from that great sin of separating from us.
2. To consider, whether there was not a time, _when ye could have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to those Ministers, whose eyes you would now pluck out, and whom now you hate, and think you do God good service, in reviling and persecuting them._ How is it, that you are thus altered and changed? _Are they become your enemies, because they tell you the truth?_ You will Reply, It is because they are _Ministers Ordained by Antichristian Bishops_; and therefore before they have renounced their false Ministry, we cannot with a safe conscience hear them, nor expect a blessing from their Ministry. This Reply is, we confess, a great stumbling block to many godly people, in this Kingdome; for satisfaction to it, we offer these particulars: