Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 77
To proceed, where you affirm that our position insinuates, that Mr. B.the sinne of one dissolves the b…nd of alleageance between God, and another, it it is no thing so. The sin, and apostasie of others can no way hinder,Answ. or praejudice our salvation, or standing with God, if wee discharge our duty towards them. But here is the oversight, that men cōsider not, that, as God hath commaunded men to worship him, receive the sacraments, and to vse other his ordinances, so he hath also called, and separated vntounto himself a Church, a communion, or fellowship of saynts, and holy ones, in & amongst which those holy things are to be vsed, Psal. 147, 19. Rom. 3. 2. & 9. 4. and that we are as well to look in what fellowship, and communion we receive the holy things of God▪ as what the things are we do receive. And as in the naturall body there must first be a naturall vnion of the parts with the head, and one with an other, before there can be any▪ action of naturall communion eyther between the head, and the members, or one member, and an other: so in this spirituall body▪ the Church, the members must first be vnited with Christ the head▪ and become one with him, before they can any way partake in his benefits, o… hauehave communion with him, eyther in the merits or vertue of his death, and obedience, Ioh. 15. 2. 4. 5. Rom. 8. 1. as also one with an other, as members of the same body, vnderunder him the head, before they can communicate in their works, or operations. Communion in works, and actions, doth necessarily presuppose vnion of persons.
And if it be true which Mr B. labours so much to justify, both in his “pag. 104. 105. 106. 107.former, and *pag. 171. 172. 173. 174.latter writing, that a man is onelyonly to look to his own person, that it be holy, and to the thing in hand, that it be commaunded of God, and that it matters not, to how vnholy a society this holy person adjoynes himself, in the communion of this holy thing, then may …e lawfully repute, and acknowledge an assembly of atheists, haeretiques, and idolaters (though as the assembly gathered, Mark. 5. 9.) usurping the holy things of God, for the temple of the living God, and for his *2 Cor: 6. 16. 18.sonnes and daughter…, among whom he doth dwell, and walk there. There may he call upon God, as their common father, and say with faith, as Christ hath taught his discipls, †Mat. 6. 9.our father; there may he have “1 Cor. 11 1…. 17.cōmunion in the body and blood of Christ, as with the members of Christ. But the Lord Iesus in teaching his Church, with one hart, and voice, to say our father, hath established an other brotherhood: & in †Mat. 26. 26. 27.giving his body and blood to be eaten, and drunken of all, in communion, hath knit in one an other society. The Apostle writing vntounto the Church of1 Cor. 11. 16. 17. Corinth, compares the whole Church to a mans body, and the persons in the one, to the members of the other, viz▪ to the head, 1 Cor. 1….foot, …y, ear, hand, and other parts: and endeavouring purposely to draw them to the right vse of those spirituall gifts, wherewith they abounded, without contempt, or envie, he shewes that all have need▪ and vse, each of others, the head of the foot, the hand of the ey, and so mutually one of an other, and that without the help ech of other, neyther could consist. Now since every part stands need of other, even the head, the cheifest, of the feet the meanest, doth it not concern the head to consider what a foot it hath? the ey to see what an hand it hath? and so every member to forecast, that it be coupled with such other members in this body mysticall, as may not fayl it in the time of need? *Eccles. 4. 9. 10.Wo be to him that is alone (sayth the wise man) for if he fall there is not a second to lift him vp, but if two be together the one will lift vp his fellow, if he fall. And how behoofull both for the comfort, and safety of the severall members, and whole body it is, that joyntly and severally, all, and every part be so fitted and furnished, as they may faithfully discharge their duties, and affoard their service vponupon occasion, and as need stands, and how great not onelyonly the discomfort, but the daunger is, when there is a fayling this way, both the word of God and cōmon reason, and every mans own experience will teach him. Wherevpon I conclude, that it concernes every man as first, and most, to look to his own person, and to consider how things stand betwixt God and himself, so in the next place to take heed he joyn himself in such a communion, as wherein he may with comfort call vponupon God as a cōmon father, and partake in his ordinances by a cōmon right to him, & the rest: & that being so joyned, he fayl not the body, or any member of it, as there is need of his help, & service, otherwise Mr B. reasons will not bear him out, no not though for scores, he put hundreds, which being compared with the scriptures, and grounds from them formerly layd down, will appear to be the very froath of his own lipps, neyther solid, nor savoury.