WE are exceedingly apprehensive of the desireableness of our Churches Peace, and of the pleasantness of Brethrens Unity, knowing that when Peace is set upon its proper Basis, viz. Righteous­ness and Truth, it is one of the best possessions, both delectable and profitable; like Aarons Oint­ment, and the dew of Hermon. It is true, by rea­son of different lights, and different sights among Brethren, there may be dissenting in Opinion; yet,What is the keeping Conven­ticles, or private Meetings, but se­parating from our Church-Communion. Why should there by any separating from Church-Communion? The Churches Coat may be of divers colours, yet, Why should there be any rent in it? Have we not a touch­stone of Truth, the good Word of God; and when all things are examined by that Word, [Page 2]then that which is best may be held fast; but first they must be known, and then examined afterward. If our dissenting Brethren after so many importunate intreaties, would have been perswaded (either in zeal to the Truth, or in sincere love to the Churches peace and unity among Brethren, or in respect to their own reputation by fair and ingenuous dealing, orYet the Mini­sters of this per­swasion made as little Conscience of their Subscri­ptions, Promises, yea, Oaths of Ca­nanical Obedi­ence to their re­spective D [...]oce­sans. in conscience to their promise made with the Minister of London, now five years since, or any such like reasonable consideration) at last to have given us a full Narrative of their Opinions, and Grounds of their Separation, we are perswaded they would not have stood at such a distance from us, as now they do: But they chose rather to walk by their own private lights, than to unbosome themselves to us their most affe­ctionate Brethren; and to set themselves in an untrodden way of their own, rather than to wait what our Covenanted Refor­mation, according to the Word of God, andShew us the example of one Reformed Church, which alloweth her Mi­nisters Liberty not to use her Established Rites and Ceremonies. examples of the Best Reformed Churches, would bring forth. But the offence doth not end here, it is much that our Bre­thren should separate from the Church, but that they should endeavourThis is plain­ly our Brethrens Design and En­deavour at this time. to get a War­rant to authorize their Separation from it, and to have liberty (by drawing Members out of it) to weaken and diminish it, till (so far as lies in them) they have brought it to no­thing; this we think to be plainly unlawful; [Page 3]yet this we understand is their present design and endeavour. Wherefore (Reverend Bre­thren) having had such large experience of your zeal of Gods glory, your care of his af­flicted Church, your earnest endeavours to promote the compleat Reformation of it, and of your ready concurrence with us in the improvement of any means that might be found conducible to this end; we are bold to hint unto you these our ensuing Reasons against the Toleration of Independency in this Church.

1. The desires and endeavours of Indepen­dents for a Toleration, are at this time ex­treamly unseasonable and praeproperous: for,

1. The Reformation of Religion is not yet perfected and setled among us, according to our Covenant. And why may not the Re­formation be raised up at last to such purity and perfection, that truly tender Consciences may receive abundant satisfaction for ought that yet appears?

2. It is not yet known what the Govern­ment of the Independents is, neither would they ever yet vouchsafe to let the world know what they hold in that point, though some of their party have been too forward to chal­lenge the London Petitioners as led with blind obedience, and pinning their souls upon the Priests sleeve, for desiring an establishment of the Government of Christ, before there was any model of it extant.

[Page 4] 3. We can han hardly be perswaded, that the Independents themselves (after all the stirres they have made amongst us)The Presby­terians (although often pressed thereunto) will not declare wherewith they would be all con­cluded, how farr they mean to got and where to stay in their desires of Toleration or Condescention. are as yet fully resolved about their own way wherewith they would be concluded, seeing they publish not their model (though they are nimble e­nough in publishing other things) and they profess Reserves, and new Lights, for which they will (no doubt) expect the like Tolera­tion, and so in infinitum. It were more sea­sonable to move for Toleration when once they are positively determined how farr they mean to go, and where they mean to stay.

II. Their desires and endeavours are unrea­sonable and unequal in divers regards.

1. Partly because no such Toleration hath hitherto been established (so far as we know) in any Christian State by the Civil Magi­strate.

2.It's notori­ous, Presbytery would not in the late times Tole­rate Episcopacy. Partly because some of them have solemn­ly profest, that they cannot suffer Presbytery; and answerable hereunto, is their practice in those places where Independency prevails.

3. And partly becauseTo grant Indulgence unto a few, would of­fend many more of all parties. Why may not Independents, and all other Secta­ries, desire the same favour in case they provide Readers or Curates. to grant to them and not to other Sectaries who are free born as well as they, and have done as good service as they to the publick (as they use to plead) will be counted injustice and great partiality; but to grant it unto all, will scarce be cleared from great impiety.

[Page 5] III. Independency is a Schism, for,

1.Ye already do, and (in case your Toleration be granted) will draw our Members from our Congregations, which ye acknow­ledge true Churches. Independents do depart from our Churches, being true Churches, and so acknow­ledged by themselves.

2. They draw and seduce our Members from our Congregations.

3.Ye do in ef­fect set up sepa­rate Churches. They erect separate Congregations under a separate and undiscovered Government.

4.Ye receive not the Sacra­ment (except some few) in our Churches, but at private Meetings. They refuse Communion with our Churches in the Sacraments.

5. Their Ministers refuse to preach among us as Officers.

6. Their Members, if at any time they joyn with us in hearing the Word and Prayer, yet they do it not as with the Ministerial Word and Prayer, nor as acts of Church-Communion.

No Schism is to be Tolerated, as ye grant. But Presbytery is a Schism now, as much as Independency was by you declared to be then: Wherefore, according to your own grounds, it is not to be Tolerated. Now we judge that no Schism is to be Tole­rated in the Church,Schisms. [...], 1 Cor. 1.10. 1 Cor. 12.25.Divisions. [...], Rom. 6.17. with 1 Cor. 3.3. Gal. 5.20.

[Page 6] IV.Should Pres­bytery be Tole­rated, it would produce all the very same evils in Church and State, you affirm Independency (if To­lerated) would have done; and the same reasons strongly prove, that as Independency was not, so Presbytery is not to be Tolerated. Many mischiefs will inevitably follow upon this Toleration, and that both to Church and Common-wealth.

First, to the Church, as,

1. Causeless and unjust revolts from our Mi­vistry and Congregations.

2. Our peoples mindes will be troubled, and in danger to be subverted, as Acts 15.24.

3. Bitter heart-burnings among Brethren will be fomented and perpetuated to po­sterity.

4. The Godly, Painful, and Orthodox Mi­nistry will be discouraged, and despised.

5. The life and power of godliness will be eaten out by frivolous Disputes, and vain Janglings.

6. The whole course of Religion in private Families will be interrupted, and under­mined.

7. Reciprocal Duties between persons of nearest and dearest Relations, will be extreamly violated.

8. The whole work of Reformation, especially in Discipline and Government will be retarded, disturbed, and in danger of being made utterly frustrate and void, whilst every person shall have liberty upon every trivial discontent at [Page 7]Presbyterial Government and Churches, to re­volt from us, and list themselves in separated Congregations.

9. All other Sects and Heresies in the King­dom will be encouraged to endeavour the like To­leration.

10. All other Sects and Heresies in the King­dom will safeguard and shelter themselves un­der the wings of Independency, and some of the Independents in their Books have openly avowed, that they plead for Liberty of Consci­ence as well for others, as for themselves,

11. And the whole Church of England in short time will be swallowed up with distra­ction and confusion. And God is not the Au­thour of confusion, but of peace, 1 Corinth. 14.33.

Secondly, To the Common-wealth. For,

1. All these mischiefs in the Church will have their proportionable influence upon the Com­mon-wealth.

2. The Kingdome will be wofully weakened by Scandals and Divisions; so that the enemies of it, both Domestical and Forreign, will be encouraged to plot and practice against it.

3. It is much to be doubted, lest the Power of the Magistrate, should not only be weakened, but even utterly overthrown, considering the principles and practices of Independents, to­gether with their compliance with other Secta­ries, sufficiently known to be Anti-Magistratical.

[Page 8] V. Such a Toleration is utterly repugnant and inconsistent with that Solemn League and Covenant, for Reformation and Defence of Religion, which not only both Houses of Parliament, but also persons of all sorts in both Kingdomes of England and Scotland, have subscribed, and with hands lifted up to the most High God, have sworn: Which Covenant likewise, both you, and we, and those that most earnestly pursue the estab­lishment of this Toleration, have made, (or should have made) in the presence of Al­mighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, as we shall answer at that great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. For,

1. This is opposite to the Reformation of Re­ligion, according to the Word of God, and the example of the best Reformed Churches, Article 1.

2.The Tolera­tion of Presby­tery is no less de­structive to the Conjunction and Uniformity of all the three Kingdoms, then Independency. It is destructive to the three King­doms nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion and Government, which might lead us and our Posterity after us as Brethren to live in Faith and Love. Art. 1.

[Page 9] 3.Seeing Pres­bytery is as much a Schism from Episcopacy, as Episcopacy or Independency was from Pres­bytery, why do ye now, instead of extirpation, desire the Toleration of it, contrary to your Covenant? It is plainly contrary to that extirpa­tion of Schism, and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine, and the power of Godliness, which we have sworn sincerely, really, and constantly to endeavour without respect of persons. Art. 2.

4.Toleration of Schism ren­dereth Mag­strates and M [...]ni­sters access [...]ry to the Errors, Sins, and Destruction of Seduced and Deluded people. Hereby we shall be involved in the guilt of other mens sins, and thereby be endan­gered to receive of their plagues. Art 2.

5. It seems utterly impossible (if such a Toleration should be granted) that the Lord should be one, and his name one in the three Kingdoms. Art. 2.

6. This will palpably hinder the Reformation of Religion, inevitably divide one Kingdome from another, and unhappily make Factions and Parties among the people, contrary to this League and Covenant; of which evil Offices, whoso­ever shall be found guilty, are reputed in the words of the Covenant,The Tolera­tion of deformi­ty, even in little matters, some­times causeth Factions and Parties amongst the people. Let us have a care we be not Incendiaries, or evil Instruments for Sacrilegious Spirits to work by, ill-affected as well to Presbytery as Episcopacy. Incendiaries, Ma­lignants, or evil Instruments, to be discovered, that they may be brought to publick tryal, and receive condigne punishment, Art. 4. and 5.

[Page 10] These are some of the many considerati­ons which make deep impression upon our Spirits against that great Diana of Indepen­dents, and all the Sectaries so much cryed up by them in these distracted times, viz. A To­leration, a Toleration. And however, none should have more rejoyced then our selves in the establishment of a Brotherly, Peaceable, and Christian Accommodation: yet this be­ing utterly rejected by them, we cannot dis­semble how upon the fore-mentioned grounds, we detest and abhor the much endeavoured Toleration, Our bowels, our bowels, are stir­red within us, and we could even drown our selves in tears, when we call to minde how long and sharp a travel this Kingdom hath been in for many years together, to bring forth that blessed fruit of a pure and perfect Refor­mation; and now at last after all our pangs and dolors, and expectations, this real and through Reformation, is in danger of being strangled in the Birth by a lawless Toleration, that strives to be brought forth before it.

Wherefore (Reverend and Beloved Bre­thren) we could not satisfie our selves till we had made some discovery of our thoughts unto you about this matter; not that we can harbour the least jealousie of your zeal, fidelity, or in­dustry in the opposing and extirpating of such a root of gall and bitterness as Toleration is and will be, both in present and future Ages; but that we may what lies in us endeavour mutu­ally [Page 11]to strengthen one anothers resolutions a­gainst the present growing evils, and that our consciences may not smite us another day for sinful silence, or sluggish deficiency in any point of duty tending to the Glory of Christ, Honour of the Truth, Peace of the Church, Perfection of Reformation, Performance of our Covenant, and Benefit of present and succeeding Generations.