Refutation of a Puritan-Papist, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Reaſons againſt Toleration and Permiſsion of diuers Religions out of the New Teſtament.
Toleration vnlawfull by the New Teſt.Neither is the New Teſtament any thing more fauourable herein, then the Olde; for GOD is iealous of his honor as well in the one as in the other, and cannot endure any corruption, or falſe worſhip.
1 That ſaying is well knowne,Chriſt. The Iewes meddle not with the Samaritanes, Ioh. 4.9. Wherefore Chriſt commaunded his Diſciples ſaying; Into the cities of the Samaritanes enter ye not. Matth. 10.5.
2 Chriſt will hauehave all obſtinate Heretiques and Idolaters to be ſolemnly excōmunicated out of the Church; If he refuſe to heare the Church, let him be vntounto thee as an heathē man & a Publican. Matt. 18.17.
3 Againe, Chriſt ſaith; Beware of falſe Prophets, which come vntounto you in ſheepes clothing, Matth. 7.15. Take heed & beware of the leauen of the Phariſies and Sadduces, Matt. 16.6. Take heed that no man deceaue you, for many ſhall come in my name. Matth. 24.4. Many falſe Prophets ſhall ariſe and ſhall deceaue many, Matth. 24.11.
4 The Apoſtles in like manner, diligently inculcate the ſame doctrine. Paul.I beſeech you, brethren, (ſaith Paul) marke them diligently which cauſe diuiſion and offences contrary to the doctrine which you hauehave learned, and auoid them. For they that are ſuch ſerue not the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, but their owne bellies, and with faire ſpeech and flattering deceiue the hearts of the ſimple. Rom. 16.17.18.
5 Againe, I beſeech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that you all ſpeake one thing, and that there be no diſſentions among you: but be ye knit together in one minde, and in one iudgement &c. 1. Cor. 10. Where he reproueth the ſchiſme of ſuch as tearme themſelues of Pauls ſide, or of Apollos, or of Cephas.
6 Furthermore, Purge the old leuen, 1. Cor. 5.7. What fellowſhip hath righteouſneſſe with vnrighteouſneſſe? And what communion hath light with darkeneſſe? And what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? Or what part hath the beleeuer with the Infidell? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? 2. Cor. 6.14.15.16.
7 Alſo, If an Angell from heauen preach vntounto you otherwiſe than that which we hauehave preached, let him be accurſed. If any man preach vntounto you otherwiſe then you hauehave receiued, let him be accurſed. Gal. 1.8.9.
8 And, Be not intangled againe with the yoke of bondage. Would to God they were euen cut off, which doe diſquiet you. Galat. 5.1.12.
9 To the Philippians he writeth, Beware of dogges, beware of euill workers, beware of the conciſion. For many walke, of whom I hauehave tolde you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt. Philip. 3.2.18.
10 Likewiſe to the Theſſalonians, We warne you, brethren, in the name of our lord Ieſus Chriſt, that you withdraw your ſelues from eueryevery Brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the inſtruction which he receiued of vsus. 2. Theſſ. 3.6. How can ſuch be auoided if they be promiſcuouſly permitted in the ſame ſocietie?
11 And to Timothie, Stay prophane and vaine bablings, for they ſhall encreaſe vntounto more vngodlineſſe: And their word ſhall fret as a Canker: of which ſort is Hymineus and Philetus, which as concerning the truth hauehave erred from the marke. 2. Tim. 2.16.17.18. And, Alexander the Copper-ſmith hath done me much euill, the Lord reward him according to his workes: Of whom be thou ware alſo, for he withſtood our preaching ſore. 2. Tim. 4.14.15.
12 But moſt plainely to Titus, Reiect him that is an Heretique after once or twice admonition: Knowing that he that is ſuch is peruerted and ſinneth, being damned of his owne ſelfe. Tit. 3.10.11.
13 The Apoſtle Peter ſaith. Peter.Yee therefore, beloued, ſeeing you know theſe things before, beware leaſt ye be alſo plucked away with the errour of the wicked, and fall from your owne ſtedfastneſſe. 2. Pet. 3.17.
14 Iohn willeth vsus: Iohn.If there come any vntounto you, and bring not this doctrine, receaue him not to houſe, neither bid him God-ſpeed. For he that biddeth him God-ſpeed, is partaker of his euill deedes. 2. Iohn. 10.11.
15 In the Apocalypſe the Lord writing vntounto the Angels or Biſhops of the ſeuen Churches of Greece; commendeth the firſt, of Epheſus, becauſe he could not beare with them which are euill, and had examined them which ſaid they were Apoſtles and were not, and had found them lyers; alſo, becauſe he hated the workes of the Nicolaitans. Apoc. 2.2.6.
16 But he reproueth the third, of Pergamus, becauſe he ſuffered them which taught the doctrine of Baalam, which taught Balac to put a ſtumbling blocke before the children of Iſraël, that they ſhould eate of things ſacrificed vntounto Idols, and commit fornication; to wit, which maintained the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Apoc. 2.14.15.
17 And the fourth likewiſe, of Thyatyra, becauſe he permitted the woman Iezabel to teach and to deceiue his Seruants, to make them commit fornication, and to eate meates ſacrificed vntounto Idols. Apoc. 2.20.
18 Finally, he reproueth the ſeuenth, of Laodicea, becauſe he was Luke-warme, neither hoate nor cold. This Biſhop was a true picture of Neutralitie: Such alſo are they who permit toleration of diuers Religions, and ſeriouſly imbrace none at all, whom God will ſpue out of his mouth. Apocal. 3.15.16.