The axe laid to the root of separation, or, The churches cause against it by the author who wrote in the late Times for free admission to the Lord's Supper.

Reader,

THere happening this Leaf to re∣main vacant, I will fill it up with a Letter, which I had but just now from a Private Christian, to whom I Communicated several of these Sheets, before the Last was wrought off at the Press; he being a Man who hath con∣sidered these Things, and of known In∣tegrity to the Church; whose Let∣ter also will have its Use: Or else, I confess, I should have chose rather to have left it for the Bookseller to have fill'd with a Catalogue of Books.

The Author.

SIR,

YOƲ were not mistaken in thinking, as You told me, That this Book would agree with my Sentiments, touching the Latitude of the Church. It seems to me to have much in it, not to be found elsewhere, and that Matter mo∣mentous, striking at the Root of our Divisions a∣bout Church-Communion.

You have well observed, That God is ne∣ver behind hand with Men, in a Willingness to any thing that tends to their Salvation; and therefore, the Church must not be so. And in∣deed, there is so great Advantage by Coming into the Church, given to Men Thereunto, that I wonder any should oppose it. The Word is nigh them, in their Mouth, and in their Heart. There is no Part of the Christian Church, where eve∣ry Member, that comes to the Ʋse of Reason, does not learn the chief Doctrines of Christianity, con∣tain'd in the Creed, without Book; which have a mighty force to bring Men to Repentance, and an Holy Life. And as this is so great Advantage to Them, so it is no Means to corrupt the Church, so long as the Discipline of Christ is observed, which you take care of.

I know no other Book, that hath given me so clear an Ʋnderstanding of the Church, and Kingdom of God and Christ, together with the Covenant of Allegiance proper to it. That hath proposed the Rule (which you have particularly recited, p. 75. and 140.) for Admitting his Subjects into the same. That hath laid this Rule on its right Foun∣dation, which is the General Grace of the Gospel, so exactly defined to the End, (p. 16. to 21.) That hath carried the Cause through all its Diffi∣culties, at you have done. This is the Opinion of

Your Engaged Friend, Thomas Seymor.