Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 112
Mr B. 2. obiection, is, (which he also makes the 4. head of hisMr B. division) that there is no proportion betwixt the persons here mentioned, to be separated from, being infidels, and such as were no members of the Church, and Gentiles, that had enterteyned no profession of Christ, on the one side: and the members of the Church on the other side: and that the consequence followes not from infidels, Heathens, Pagans, Idolaters, led by the Divell, to Christians professing Christ, though in life not answerable to their profession.
Even now you justified separation from Papists by this scripture:Answ. and here you restreyn it vntounto Infidels, and Gentiles, that had not enterteyned any profession of Christ: as though Papists were infidels, or without all profession of Christ, which is contrary both to truth, and to your own expresse affirmation *pag. 132. 225. 226.every where.
But my answer is, that howsoever infidelity, and Idolatry be two greivous sinnes, and which do principally separate those which continue in them, from God, & his Church, yet not they alone, but any other transgressions as well as they, obstinately stood in, do rayse this vvall of separation: as is manifest in the scriptures.
And first, the Apostle in this very place disioynes righteousnes & I.vnrighteousnes, light & darknes, as farre a sunder, as beleevers & vnbeleevers, as the temple of God & Idols: in which former also, the vnion betwixt Christ & Belial is as monstrous, as in the latter. VntoUnto which I do also adde, that Mr B. in this very place, debarring infidels, and idolaters from being matter of the true Church,Rom. 8. 14. Gal. 5. 15. 2 Tim 2. 26. 1 Ioh. …3. 8. layes this down as a cause, or reason, that they are led by the Divel: wherevpon it followeth, that since none other wicked men are led by Christ, but all by the Divell, aswell as they, that none other can be matter of the true Church, more then they. And that some persons led by the Divel should be matter of the Church, and some not, is a distinction not found in the scriptures, but devised for a remedy against the iniquities of the tymes, and for the avoyding of trouble, and dissipation.I….
Secondly, as the scriptures do every where denounce the same judgements vponupon other wicked men, and vponupon idolaters, and infidels; for example, that, as well he †Ezech. 18 & 11. 12. 13.that de…ileth his neighbours wife, or oppresseth the poore, or gives forth vponupon vsury, shall dy the death, as he that eates vponupon the mountaynes, or lifts vp his eyes vntounto the Idols: and that aswell “Rev. 22. 1…. see also chap…. 2…. 8.whoremongers, un…rtherers, and such as love, or make lyes▪ as Idolaters, shalbe without the heavenly Ierusalem: so do they also both warrant, & direct vsus the same course of walking towards the one, and other. The Lord Iesus, Mat. 18. 17. enjoyns the Church to account every obstinate offender as an Heathen. And the Apostle Paul gives the Corinthians in charge as much to avoyd †1 Cor. 5. 11.form…atours, covetous persons, raylers, drunkers, and …xtortioners, as Idolaters. And no marvayl, for *Ephe. 5. 5▪covetous persons are Idolaters; and so are carnall men, Idolaters, making *Phil. 3. 19.their belly their God. VntoUnto these adde, that the same Apostle vntounto ‘*Ch: 1. 15 16.T…tus calles vnholy, and profane persons (what profession of God soever they make) †foreign.unbeleevers, or Infidels, which are the same. Which scripture I wish the Reader to observe in respect of Mr B. bould ch…lendge of all the Brownists in the world to sh…w the term, or name of vnbeleevers to be given to such as are not become absolute Apostates from Christ.Pag. 2… ▪ ….