Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 107 – Section 109
But here Mr Bern. excepts against our exposition of these places pag. 136.of Levit▪ and the like, as miserably wrested, and falsly applyed to our separation. For by Gods separating them from other people, is meant, sayth he,Mr B. a setting apart of Abrahams posterity to a speciall service of God, and therein to be a people differing from all the world. And by other people is meant such as worshipped not the true God; which is nothing to them that worship Iesus Christ, &c. but no Israelites to separate from other Israelites, which were even then when Moses thus spake of separation, a corrupt people a…g themselves.
And is this your righting of our wrestings Mr B? Els-where youAnsw. tell vsus, that the Lord separates a people from others, and takes them to be his before he so much as commaund them any thing▪ and here thepag. 176. Lord sets a people apart to be his, and separates them from others in respect of some special peice of service appointed them. The things you speak are contrary, but neyther of them true. The Lord never did, nor will take people vntounto him, but by their submission, and obedience vntounto his commaundements: and for that speciall †R…. 9. 4.service of God enioyned the Israelites, it was an effect of their separation from other people, and covenaunt with God: and no cause by, or for which, they became the Lords separated people. We must alwayes consider the Church of God principally, and properly in the persons of men, and secondarily in their works: as we must first consider the “Isa. 5. …. 7 Math. 21. 33. 34.vineyard in the trees, and afterwards in the fruites they bring forth. And so was Israel separated, and set apart from other people. Your addition, tha… by other people, is meant such as worshipped n… …he true God, which is nothing to you which worship Iesus Christ, &c. and that there is no place to prove that Israelites were to separate from other Israelites, for their corruptions, as false matter, is like that which goes before. For first, Papists, and Anabaptists, with Idolaters, and Heretiques many mo, do worship Iesus Christ; from whose societies notwithstanding you professe separation. 2. The Ismaelites, & Edomites, did worship the true God, though not after a true manner, and yet the Israelites were a people separated from them: so as an Edomite (though he had voluntarily joyned himself to the people of God) might not beare any publick office amongst them, to the third generatiō, which you too ignorātly expound▪ pag. 248▪ of his admission into the Church. Yea I do further adde, that even Israelites, and those which came of Israel, or Iaakob, were cōmaunded to separate themselves from Israelites, and that for an vsurpation in the ministery, as the scriptures make it playn, Num. 16. as afterwards also vponupon Ieroboams defection in the ministery, worship, & holy dayes, which he forged in his own hart. 2 Chron. 11. 13. 14. 15. 16. with … King. 12. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
And thus is the exposition cleared, against your frivolous exceptions of such scriptures in Levit: and els where as make mention of the separation of the Iewish nation from all other nations: which do fitly also serve to confirm, & justifie the separation of all the Churches in the new testament from such people and assemblies in all nations, as of whom the Lord by his revealed will cannot besayd to accept, as I am sure he cannot prophane, and godles persons.
Now bycause▪ the yssue of all controversies depends vponupon the true exposition of the scriptures, whose letter men will bring on both sides: and that Mr B. takes speciall exception in this place against the expositions we give of such scriptures, as seem to vsus most materiall for our separation: I wil therefore take in his exceptions, as I return whence I came, and make manifest, as God inableth me, the insufficiencie of them.
The next place that comes into cōsideratiō is, Act. 2▪ 40. where, …ayth Mr B. Peter speakes to the Iewes of such Iewes, as denyed Christ, & Mr B.renounced the very foundation, even Iesus Christ, which is (if we will beleeve him) nothing to them that profesie him to be the true Messias.
It seemes then that separation is not to be made from the Papists,Answ. for they hold I…sus Christ to be the true Messias, & the very foundation: yea even the merit of their works do they found vponupon the merit of Christs obedience: derogating lesse in truth (though far too much) from thē vertue of his Preisthood, then you do in the constitution of your Church from the dignity of his kingdom in the outward government, & administration of it. 2. Your nationall Church is so farre from being separated from them, that deny Christ, as it is indeed, for substance, compact, and gathered of such▪ to wit of impure, and prophane persons, who whatsoever they do professe … word do deny in deed, and visibly both “…. 2. 15. 16. … 4.God, and our Lord Iesus Christ, as the scriptures do expresly testifie. And to deny that apparant wicked and prophane men, or Churches, do rayse the foundation of religion, is a prophane errour, tending to libertiuism: and which foundeth all religion, and Christianity in the brayn, and nothing in the heart. Lastly Peters exhortation vponupon the occasion in hand, was, that the faithful Iewes should separate from that froward generation: wherevpon the generall doctrine is rightly raysed, that the faithfull at all tymes must be separated from all froward generations. And of this duty wee are to make the greater conscience, considering the words of the Apostle, which are, that we save our selves from such froward generations: as indeed (considering the duty we ow vntounto our brethrē for their humbling, if they be froward in sinne; the discomfort wee hauehave in continuing communion with them; the want of that godly furtherance wee should hauehave by our brethren in our holy communion: and lastly the daunger wherein wee stand, eyther to be corrupted by them, or at least to hauehave our zeal, and other graces of God decayed in vsus) our salvation doth not a little consist in our departure from the assembly of the prophane, as Beza rightly notes vponupon this scripture.
Of the same nature with the former place is the next in order; where the Apostle Paul both departs himself, & separates the disciples from such as were hardened, and would not obey, but spake evill of the way of the Lord before the multitude. Act. 19. 8. 9. But this, you say, proves not our purpose: and your exceptions are,
First, that our way is not the way of God; 2. that if is were, yet wee Mr B.have not spoken to all your Church, & made it known to all, nor hauehave found all hard hearted: and 3. that the place teacheth separation from such obstinate wicked, which will not bee wonne to the Church: and that▪ here is a departing of some true members of the Church, from such as be not the Church, but not of members of the true Church, forsaking mēbers of the true Church.
That our way is the way of God, appeareth by this very scriptureAnsw. amongst many others: wherein also wee hauehave both the reformists at home, and reformed Churches abroad giving testimony with vsus for the substance of it. But put the case ours be not, yet if the way of the reformed Churches be the way of God, our separation is justified by this scripture. For first, your convocatiō house & Church representative is hardened against the way of the reformed Churches, blaspheming, and persecuting it, and all them that eyther seek, or plead for it. And their act, being the cheif, is, by your own graunt, to be accounted the act of all, though the rest come not Pag. 145.to consent: so that you are all, by your own words, to be acounted a disobedient, and hardened people, vponupon the former praemises, namely, that the way of the reformed Churches, is the way of God. But howsoever it be eyther with vsus, or them▪ yet if that “Mat. 7.narrow way, whereof Christ speakes, that leads vntounto life, be the way of God, then surely there are thowsands in your nationall Church, & many in every parish Ch: in the kingdom, which speak evill of the way of God, yea hate and persequute it to the vtmost of their power, and all them, that endeavour in any uprightnes to walk in it. Whereof you your self also Mr B. in former dayes hauehave had experience: though for the opposing, reviling, and persequuting of vsus, you▪ and they agreed well, & like Herod, & Pylate were made freinds. Now if wee separate from all them which thus disobey, and speak evill of the way of God, wee know too well, wee can have no cō munion with any assembly in the Land. Lastly, you are greatly overseen in saying that Pauls separation was not from the Church, nor members of the true Church. It was from the Church of the Iewes, & the members of that Church with whom formerly he had held cō manion, as the true Church of God; which for this their disobedience,Rom. 11. and vnbeleif, were broken off, and so afterwards in deed to be reputed.