And oh, how sweet and pleasant it is to the truly spiritual eye to see several sorts of believers, several forms of Christians in the school of Christ, every one learning their own lesson, performing their own peculiar service, and knowing, owning, and loving one another in the their several places and different performances to their Master.... For this is the true ground of love and unity, not that such a man walks and does just as I do, but because I feel the same Spirit and life in him....

The great error of the ages of the apostacy hath been to set up an outward order and uniformity, and to make men's consciences bend thereto, either by arguments of wisdom, or by force; but the property of the true church government is, to leave the conscience to its full liberty in the Lord, to preserve it single and entire of the Lord to exercise, and to seek unity in the light and in the Spirit, walking sweetly and harmoniously together in the midst of different practices.

Source: Isaac Penington, Works, 1681 edition, Pt. 1, pp. 240-41, as quoted by NEYM and LYM Faith and Practice. Provided by Bruce Hawkins.

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