Sin Stigmatized, Part 2 · Section 195
§ 195.
BUt is it warrantable, Queſt. may ſome ſay, to ſeparate from our old acquaintance, That it is lawfull to withdraw our ſelves from their ſociety and how.(being vicious) and other the like companie?
Not totally; for then we muſt goe out of the world, 1 Cor. 5.10. nor from any in all caſes; Anſw. for then we muſt ſeparate from the publike aſſemblies: nor in regard of civill ſociety, and neceſſary commerce; for this were to unglew the whole worlds frame, which is contexted onelyonly by commerce and contracts, therebe certaine wiſe uſes to be made of them, for our convenience or neceſſity, which need not, yea, muſt not be forborne: as wherefore ſerves diſcretion, but that (as a glaſſe window) it may let in the light, and keepe out the winde?
Neither can wicked men, in this caſe, be avoided: but ſo long as wee are in this World, we muſt converſe with men of the World: and we know it is lawful enough, in tearms of civility, to deale with infidels, yea, even the ſavage Cannibals may receiue an anſwer of outward courteſie. If a very dog fawne upon us we ſtroke him on the head, and clap him on the backe, much leſſe is the common bond of humanity untyed by grace; diſparity in ſpirituall profeſſions, is no warrant for ingratitude: yet a little friendſhip with ſuch, is enough; the leſſe communion with any of Gods enem…es, the more ſafety: and ſure I am, that thoſe who affect a familiar entireneſſe with ſuch, bewray either too much boldneſſe, or too little conſcience.
Yea, we may not only converſe with evill men, but communicate with them alſo without harme, ſo it be not in evill things: as in the Sacrament the unworthy receiver eateth and drinketh damnation to himſelfe, ſibi, non tibi, to himſelfe, not to thee.
But as touching a familiar entireneſſe, and leagues of amity, that they are unfit, unwarrantable, dangerous, is eaſie to prove. As what ſaith the Holy Ghoſt by S. Paul? Wee command you brethren, in the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that ye withdraw your ſelves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the inſtruction which ye received of us, 2 Theſ. 3.6 And againe, ſpeaking unto the converted Epheſians, touching others among them who were whoremongers, uncleane perſons, covetous men, and idolaters, hee ſaith, be not companions with them, Epheſians 5.5.7. And laſtly, in that caſe of the inceſtuous Corinthian, hee doth not only excommunicate him, but makes a rule upon it, that if any one, which profeſſeth himſelf a Chriſtian, ſhall live in any ſcandalous courſe, that they ſhall not afford him ſo much as civill and familiar converſe, 1 Corinth. 5.11. If any man that is called a brother, ſaith he, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with ſuch an one eate not. Marke this all ye ſwiniſh drunkards, and beaſtly livers, that God diſchargeth us your ſociety.
But to proceed. Why was that Law enacted, for the ſtrict avoiding of Leprous perſons? it was not the body only that was herein reſpected, by the God of ſpirits; thoſe that are ſpiritually contagious muſt be ſtill and ever avoided, they muſt be ſeparated from us, we from them; they from us, by juſt cenſures; or if not, we from them, by a voluntary declination of their familiar converſation: or if they can joyne our heart to theirs, they will disjoyne it from God; to let paſſe Saint Pauls charge, 2 Corinthians 6.17. come out from among them, and ſeparate your ſelves: And that of the Angell, Revelation 18.4. come out of her my people, which eſpecially have relation to Idolaters; ſee what hath beene the practiſe of Gods people ſince Noah, Lot, Abraham, and Iſrael, which have beene alledged already. Doth not David ſay, I have not ſate with vaine perſons, neither kept company with the diſſemblers. I have hated the aſſembly of evill doers, and will not company with the wicked, Pſal. 26.4.5. And was not Ioſeph, whom the Holy Ghoſt ſtileth a juſt man, fully minded (before the Angell forbad him) to put away Mary, after he was betrothed unto her, when hee but ſuppoſed her to bee diſhoneſt? Matthew 1.19. And was not all this, to ſhew us what we ſhould doe in the like caſes?
Wherefore, let us tread in their ſteps, and ſay with a worthy Divine, though I may have many bad acquaintance, yet I will have no bad companions: for even the tame beaſts will not keepe with the wild; nor the cleane dwell with the leprous. But above all, let us keepe no drunkards, nor ſwearers in our houſes, Pſalme 101.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. no, nor ſcoffers, Iſmael muſt be turned out of doores, when hee once fals a jeering of Iſaac: and indeed if we doe, it is a ſhrewd ſuſpition we are not ſincere our ſelves: for grace, as it is reſembled to heate, ſo like heat, it gathereth together things of one kind, ſeparateth things of a contrary nature, as droſſe from Gold.
In fine, if they have forſaken all honeſty and good conſcience, it is time for us to forſake them: if they depart from us, in the foundation of faith and good workes; let us (as juſtly wee may) depart from them, in the building of brotherly fellowſhip: they build on the ſand, let us build on the rock: yea, if they forſake the right way, wee muſt forſake them, or Chriſt will forſake us.