5. It is inconsistent with that sincerity in profession that is re- quired of us. Our public conjunction with others in acts and duties of religious worship is a part of that profession which we make ; and our whole profession is nothing but the declaration of the subjection of our souls unto the authority of Christ, according unto the gospel.
244 AN ANSWER UNTO TWO QUESTIONS.
Wherefore, in this conjunction in worship we do profess that it is divinely required of us, and that it is part of that obedience Avhich Ave owe to Jesus Christ; and if we do not so judge it, we are hypo- critical in what we do, or the profession that we make. And to deny that our practice is our profession in the sight of God and men, is to introduce all manner of licentiou.sness into religion.
6. Such a practice is, in very many instances, contrary unto the great rule of not giving offence [1 Cor. x. 82] ; for it is unavoidable but that many will be given and taken, and some of them of per- nicious consequence unto the souls of men. In particular, —
First, " Woe will be unto the world because of these offences:" for hence our adversaries will take occasion to justify themselves in their most false and injurious chai'ges against dissenters, unto the hardening of them in .their Avaj^s; as, — (1.) They accuse them as factious and seditious, in that they Avill not do Avhat they can do, and what, by the present practice, they OAvn to be the mind of God that they should do (or else expressly play the hypocrite), for the sake of peace, order, and obedience unto magistrates. (2.) That they pretend conscience Avherein indeed it is not concerned in their OAvn judgment, seeing, on outward considerations A\'hich conscience can have no regard unto, they can do Avhat is required. On these appre- hensions they Avill justify themselves in their security, and harden themselves in their sins, it may be to their perdition. Woe be unto them by whom such offences come!
Secondly, By this practice Ave cast in our suffrage on the part of 'persecutors against the present sufferers in the nation ; for we justify Avhat is done against them, and condemn them in their sufferings, as having no just cause or warranty for what they do, as Ave declare by our practice of Avhat they refuse. There is no man who complies in this matter but it is a part of his profession that those Avho refuse so to do, and are exposed to sufferings thereon, do not suffer accord- ing to the will of God, nor do their sufferings redound unto his glory; and no offence or scandal can be of a higher nature.
Thirdly, Differences and divisions will on this practice unavoidably arise between churches themselves and members of the same church, Avhich will be attended with innumerable evil consequences, unto the dishonour of the gospel, and, it may be, to the loss of all church- communion.
Fourthly, Many Avill be induced, on the example of others, espe- cially if they be persons of any reputation in the church who shall so practise, to folloAV them against their own light, having the great Aveight of the preservation of their liberties -and goods lying on the same side; and experience Avill quickly shoAV Avhat Avill be the event hereof, either in total apostasy, or that terror of conscience wliich
AN ANSWER UNTO TWO QUESTIONS, 245
they will find no easy relief under, as it hath fallen out with some already. And, —
Fifthly, It is a justification of our adversaries in the cause wherein we are engaged, — (1.) In their churcJi-state ; (2.) In a reading minis- try; (3.) In their casting us out of communion on the present terms; (4.) In their judgment concerning us on the point oi schism; as might easily be manifested.
Lastly, There is in this practice a visible compliance with the de- sign of the prescription of this form of service unto the sole use of the church in the duties of divine worship. And this, in the nature of the thing itself, is an exclusion of the exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in that worship, which is given and continued by Christ to this very end, that the church may be edified in divine worship and the due performance of it. And whether this answers our loyalty unto Christ in his kingly office ought to be well inquired into.
And we shall hereby, on a mere act of outward force, join with them in church- communion who have cast us out of their commu- nion by the imposition of principles and practices in divine worship no way warranted by the Scripture or authority of Christ, who allow us no church-state among ourselves, nor will join in any one act of church-communion with us! who persecute us even unto death, and will not be satisfied with any compliance without a total renun- ciation of our principles and practice in the worship of God, and giving awa}'- our whole cause about the state of the church and other divine institutions! Besides, we shall seem to be influenced by a respect unto their excommunications; which, as they are managed and administered at present, are not only a high profanation of a sacred ordinance, but suited to expose Christian religion unto scorn and contempt.