A Treatise of the Church, Book 2 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. How the Separiſts to iuſtifie their ſeparation from the Church of England, doe ſhamefully peruert the holy Scriptures.
AS for the proofe of the particular points wherein wee and you of the ſeparation doe differ, you ſhamefully abuſe and peruert the ſacred Scriptures, euen all of you without exception, as manifeſtly appeareth by the premiſes: ſo in the maine difference, concerning the ſeparating of your ſelues from our church, you doe the like, whereof I will giuegive the Reader likewiſe a taſt. For the iuſtifying of their ſeparation, they alleadge diuers places of holy Scripture, and ſpecially three, which they take to be very pregnant for them. One of them is taken out of the 19. Chapter of the Acts of the Apoſtles. The wordes bee theſe.Verſ. 8. Moreouer he (that is Paul) went into the Synagogue, and ſpake boldly for the ſpace of three moneths, diſputing and exhorting to the things that appertaine to the Kingdome of God, 9. But when certaine were hardned and diſobeyed, ſpeaking euill of the way of God before the multitude, he departed from them, and ſeparated the Diſciples, and diſputed daily in the Schoole of one Tyrannus.
We anſwere: Theſe men from whom Paul and other Chriſtians ſeparate, were open contemners, nay blaſphemers of the way of God: Becauſe of this open contempt of theirs, for it is ſaide, they ſpake euill of that way before the multitude: the Apoſtle durſt not Preach the word of God vntounto them, neither could hauehave done without ſinning againſt God: for our Sauiour hath fordidden to giuegive that which is holy vntounto Dogges, Matth. 7.6.and to caſt pearles before Swine. And leaſt wee ſhould thinke this were onelyonly true of priuate admonition or reproofe, wee may remember that to the 70 Diſciples hee giueth the ſame commaundement concerning publike teaching: ſaying to them when he ſent them foorth to Preach by two and two:Luke 10.10. But into whatſoeuer Citie yee ſhall enter, if they will not receiue you, goe your wayes out into the ſtreetes of the ſame, and ſay, Euen the very duſt which cleaueth on vsus of your Citie, wee wipe of againſt you. Except therefore we be ſuch deſpiſers as theſe, this Scripture maketh not for their Separation, but is miſapplied and wreſted by them: And notwithſtanding S. Paul with the other Chriſtians did well in ſeparating from them aforeſaide, they doe ſinfully in departing from vsus.
Another teſtimonie of Scripture, and of all the moſt vſuall and principall, they take out of the 6. Chapter of the ſecond Epiſtle of S. Paul to the Corinthians. Verſ. 14.15.Bee not vnequally yoaked with Infidels; for 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? 16. And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idoles? for yee are the Temple of the liuing God: as God hath ſaide, I will dwell among them, and walke there: and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people, 17. Wherefore come out from among them, and ſeparate your ſelues ſaith the Lord: and touch none vncleane thing, and I will receiue you, 18. And I will bee a father vntounto you, and yee ſhall bee my ſonnes and daughters, ſaith the Lord Almightie. Thus endeth the 6. Chapter, and thus farre doe the Separiſts coate and vrge this Scripture, but no farther. But heereunto let vsus adde the firſt verſe of the 7. Chapter: for that maketh greatly for the right vnderſtanding of this Scripture. Seeing then we hauehave theſe promiſes, dearely beloued let vsus cleanſe our ſelues from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and Spirit, and finiſh our ſanctification in the feare of God.
By theſe words of the Apoſtle it ſhould ſeeme that ſundry Chriſtians in Corinthus (according to their accuſtomed manner before the time of their conuerſion) went ſometimes to their idols Temples, where were nothing but groſſe and heatheniſh Idolatrie, and their with their neighbours, vvho were heathens and infidels, did ioyne together in their idolatrous worſhip; or at leaſt in their holy feaſts, (as is ſaid 1. Cor. 8.10.) which they did celebrate to the honour of their Idols, and ſo were d…fi…ed with the worſhip of idols: thinking with themſelues that they might lawfully ioyne with them in externall idolatrie, and thus farre yeeld with their bodies, ſo long as they kept their ſoules pure to the Lord. The Apoſtle hearing of this great corruption among many others, telleth them that they muſt withdraw themſelues from this idolatrous worſhip, and defilement, and ſeparate themſelues: For they cannot worſhip God and the Diuell, they are ſo contrarie one to another, euen as light and darkn…ſſe: But if they thus worſhip idols, they worſhip the Diue…l, and there…ore ſo doing they cannot worſhip God. That they who worſhip idols doe worſhip the Diuell, hee hath ſhewed them in his former Epiſtle in theſe words: What ſay I then? That the idol is any thing? 1. Cor. 10.19.Or that that which is ſacrificed to idols is any thing? Nay, but that theſe things which the Gentiles ſacrifice, they ſacrifice to Deuils, and not vntounto God: and I would not that you ſhould hauehave fellowſhip with the Deuils. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table, and of the table of Deuils. And whereas they excuſed this fact of theirs thus, (as ſundry doe their going to Maſſe at this day) that now they went not with this minde as ſometimes they did, to giuegive honour to the idols; for they knew well that an idol is nothing, that is, that there is not any God-head in an idol, and therefore did keepe their ſoules pure from all pollution, hee anſwereth, that they whom God vouchſafeth this honour to be his children, muſt keepe themſelues pure not only in ſoule, but alſo in body,1 Cor. 6.20. called h…re fl…ſh: glorifying God in their bodies and in their ſpirits, for they are Gods, that ſo they may be wholly pure. Thus we ſee the occaſion, the ſcope and drift of the Apoſtle, and the true ſence and meaning of theſe words. Whereby wee learne, That the worſhippers of the true God, may not communicate with heathens, and infidels in their idolatrous or idol worſhip, which is no b…tter then the worſhip of the Diuell. And to apply this: That a Chriſtian at this day being in Turkey, may not pertake with them in their worſhipping of Mahomet: or beeing among heath…ns ioyne with them in their heatheniſh and idolatrous ſeruice. Which maketh nothing for their ſeparating from vsus in the worſhip of the true God, becauſe of ſome corruptions therein. Except it be all one when externall worſh…p in part is corrupted, as in ſome matter of circumſtance or ceremonie, and when it is corrupted in the whole ſubſtance and body thereof: which no man ſure in his wits will affirme. Theſe men in alleadging this Scripture for the iuſti…ying of their Separation, doe compare and equall, firſt, our publike worſhip of God, with the Idolaters of Corinthus their publike worſhip. Secondly, thoſe Idolaters with vsus. And except there bee a likelihood and equalitie betweene theſe worſhips and worſhippers, this place of holy Scripture they peruert and abuſe: becauſe otherwiſe it proueth not their Separation to bee lawfull. Let vsus therefore ſee the ſweet harmony that is betweene theſe things and perſons. Wee in our Churches or Church-aſſemblies vvorſhip the true and liuing God, and (touching the ſubſtance) according to his word. Wee in our Temples hauehave the Word of God read, and as ſoundly interpreted and …ightly applyed as either is, or euer hath beene in Chriſtendome ſince the Apoſtles dayes: with great power, fruit, and efficacie in the hearts of the hearers, ſo as ſinners are thereby conuerted from going aſtray, themſelues being iudges. Wee in our publike aſſemblies call vponupon the liuing God, and that onelyonly in the name of Ieſus Chriſt: and doe receiue onelyonly the Sacraments which the Lord Ieſus hath inſtituted. But the Corinthians in their Temples fell downe before their Idols, which vvere repreſentations of their feined gods; prayed before them, and to a falſe God; and together with their Idols worſhipped the Diuell, as wee hauehave heard. And as for theſe Corinthians they were all Heathens and Infidels, voide of all knowledge, and profeſsion of the true Religion: whereas wee all profeſſe the true religion, and many of vsus (through the grace of God) walke according to our ho…y profeſsion. Conſidering then the great difference and inequalitie betweene vsus and them; our worſhip & theirs, it may very well be, nay is lawfull to communicate with vsus in diuine worſhip, and yet vtterly vnlawfull to partake with ſuch groſſe Idolaters as theſe Corinthians in their worſhip. And what an abſurd kinde of re…ſoning is this: We may not ioyne with Heathens and Infidels in their idol-worſhip, and ſeruice (indeede) of the Diuell: Therefore not with Chriſtians in the worſhip of the true God corrupted. This teſtimonie of the Apoſtle proueth only this Antecedent, or firſt part of this reaſon: and the concluſion here is that which (in the general) you inferre of this Scripture. Looke well I beſeech you in the feare of God of this conſ…quence, and conſider of the lightneſſe and vanity thereof. To alleadge this Scripture or any ſuch like for the proofe of the aforeſaid concluſion, and the iuſtifying of your ſeperation, is a very childiſh part, and to no purpoſe, and yet there is not any thing more vſuall with you. If you will write and ſpeake as beſeemeth but men, and to the point in hand: ſhew vsus where the Apoſtle moueth the Chriſtians in Corinthus or elſewhere, which were more holy and ſincere then the reſt, to ſeperate from the other Chriſtians, becauſe of ſome corruptions in the externall worſhip of God. And this may aboundantdantly ſuffice for anſwere to this your ſecond teſtimony of holy Scripture. Wherein I hauehave been the larger, becauſe the wiſe and conſiderate Reader may from thence receiue an anſwere to the third place of Scripture here alleadged by you taken forth of the 18. Chapter of the Reuelation, where thus S. Iohn ſpeaketh.Verſe 2.4. And I ſaw another Angell come downe from heauen, and he cryed out mightily with a lowd voice, ſaying, it is fallen, it is fallen, Babylon that great Citie, and is become the habitation of Diuels, and the hold of all foule ſpirits, and a cage of eueryevery vncleane and hatefull bird. 4. And I heard another voice from heauen ſay, Goe out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſinnes▪ and that ye receiue not of her plagues. Both theſe Scriptures teach and perſwade though by diuers reaſons one & the ſame thing: that is, That wee muſt ſeparate and goe out from idolaters, and not communicate with them in their idolatrous or idol-worſhip: and therfore one and the ſame anſwere may ſerue them both. They differ onelyonly in this, that the one ſpeaketh of heathen, the other of Antichriſtian Idolatry, and idolaters condemning all communion with them in externall worſhip. And heare that which before we hauehave heard wee muſt againe remember, and not forget: That it is one thing when the worſhip of God is corrupted in the ſubſtance and whole body thereof, as it is in the better of theſe worſhips, and another thing when it is corrupted in part, as vvith humane ceremonies or ordinances of leſſer moment. With the former of theſe kindes of worſhip we may hauehave no communion, which theſe two places of holy Scripture doe directly proue, but nothing elſe: With the latter kinde (of which our worſhip is) vve may lawfully communicate. Thus vve ſee how the principall teſtimonies vvhichwhich out of the ſacred Scriptures the Separatiſts produce to vvarrant their ſeparation are falſely applyed, miſerably vvreſted, and peruerted by them. The ſcope vvith the true ſence, applyed to a l…ke caſe, is a true allegation of Scripture; elſe it is but a wretched abuſe thereof, as one ſaith very well.
Nay, you hauehave ſo accuſtomed your ſelues to ſinne in your allegations and quotations of Scripture, that oftentimes when you hauehave the truth in hand, and goe about to confirme that by Scripture, you are then alſo faulty herein, vvhereof I vvill giuegive you and the Reader a taſte.
Princip. and Infer. 12.The meanes (ſay you) of ſaluation are: the Word, Sacraments, Prayers, Cenſures, and the ordinances of Chriſt for the diſpenſing of them all. Rom. 3.2. & 4.11. Luk. 19.46. Mat. 18.15.17. Act 2.42. 1. Cor. 11.23.26. Mat. 28.19. Pſal. 149 6.9.
Who conſidering theſe manifold teſtimonies can otherwiſe thinke, but that this propoſition in eueryevery part therof is ſoundly proued? I deny not, but acknowledge this to be an vndoubted truth, but onelyonly take exc…ption againſt your manner of prouing it. You are to proue here, and pretend to proue, firſt, that the word is a meanes of ſaluation. To this end you ſend vsus to Rom. 3.2. VntoUnto the Iewes were committed the Oracles of God. Is not heere a goodly proofe of the aforeſaid Propoſition? Tell me, I pray you, whether any place in Scripture wherein mention is made of the word of God, be not as good a proofe as this produced by you. Had you quoted Ioh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye thinke to hauehave eternall life: Or, 1. Pet. 1.23. Where the word of God is cal…ed immortall ſeede: Or 1. Cor. 1.28. & 21. It pleaſeth God by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching to ſaue thoſe that beleeue: Or any ſuch as theſ…, whereof there be ſtore in the booke of God: then had your allegation b…en pertinent, where now they be friuolous. And what meane you to omit theſe vvitneſſes which would ſpeak materially and to purpoſe, and inſtead of them bring forth ſuch as doe not ſay a word for you. It argueth that there is not that feare in you of taking Gods Name in vaine, and of doing the work of the Lord negligently that ſhould be. In like manner you deale in the other parts of this poſition. For whereas you ſhould proue, that the Sacraments are a meanes of ſaluation, and the like by prayer, and cenſures, you ſend the Reader to ſome pla es of ſcripture, where there is mention indeed of a Sacrament, of Prayer, and of Cenſures, but not a word there to proue them to bee the meanes of ſaluation. Such as theſe are a l the quotations you hauehave for proofe of your opinions.
The way or doore (ſay you) whereby both members and officers enter in is Chriſt, that is, the way taught by Chriſt in his word, Pag. 13,Ioh. 14.6, & 10.3.7.9. & 17, 17. Mark. 13.34.37. Hereby you intimate that for as much as we walke not in this way, nor enter in by this doore, members into communion, and officers into offices, therefore our people are not in communion, or bee not members of true viſible Churches, nor our Miniſters Eccleſiaſticall Officers, but meere priuate. That in this way wee walke, and enter into the Church and Miniſtery by this doore, it hath touching the former of theſe beene already made manifeſt. True it is that in neither of theſe we hauehave walked, or doe with that ſtraight foote we ſhould, and that in them wee bewray humane frailtie: but ſuch as through the mercy of God in Chriſt, nullifies not our Church and Miniſterie: no more then Iacobs infirmities in the way hee walked to the bleſſing, hindered him of the bleſſing: Or his faultie entrance into the married eſtate with Leah, made a nullitie in their Matrimonie, ſo as they liued perpetually in adultery.
And ſeeing I am fallen into this point, of your peruerting and abuſe of Scripture, and got into this field, (a large one I conf…ſſe, and able to tyre a horſe) I will goe a fewe ſteppes, or paſes further therein. I take no exception againſt this poſition, but your proofes thereof. In Ioh. 14.6. I am that Way, that Trueth, and that Life: Our Sauiour ſpeaketh of the way to Heauen, that by him we muſt come thither, if euer wee will bee there; That by him we muſt hauehave life eternall, elſe we dye eternally. This to be Ieſus his meaning we may eaſily ſee by the dependance of this verſe with the former. Chriſt fortelling his Diſciples of his Paſſion then approaching, and of his going to Heauen, to prepare a place for them, vſeth thereupon theſe wordes: And whither I goe yee knowe, and the way yee knowe. Thomas anſwers Lord we knowe not whither thou goeſt: how can we knowe the way? Ieſus replies, I am that way: meaning that leades to Heauen, which is the place whither I goe. This is the right ſence and meaning of this Scripture. For our Sauiour returning a direct anſwere to Thomas, and therefore concerning that way which leadeth to the place whither hee was now going, which was Heauen, it muſt needes be that he ſpeaketh of the way to Heauen. What meane you now ſpeaking of the way, or entrance into the viſible Church, to coate this Scripture for confirmation thereof? In the way Ieſus heere ſpeaketh of, the Elect onelyonly and the inuiſible Church doeth walke: for to them alone he is the way. In the way you ſpeake of, the viſible Church, the reprobate as well as the Elect doe walke. All that walke in the way Ieſus ſpeaketh of, ſhall be ſaued: But many of thoſe which tread the way you ſpeake of ſhall bee damned. Chriſt Ieſus then & you ſpeake both of diuers ſocieties and of diuers wayes. Indeede you ſpeak of a way, and heere that word way is vſed. Is that enough? If I were to prooue, that by Chriſt Ieſus as by a doore wee muſt enter into Heauen: and for proofe thereof ſhould alleadge, Gen. 6.16. The doore of the Arke thou ſhalt ſet in the ſide thereof: Or Gen. 19.6. Then Lot went out at the doore vntounto them and ſhut the doore after him: all men would laugh at me. Be not offended with me. Thus M. Smith deale you, M. Iohnſon, Ainſworth, Robinſon, and Barrow full often in your allegations of Scripture. There is nothing more vſuall with all of you then this, to vnderſtand that of the viſible Church, which by the holy Ghoſt is meant and ſpoken of the inuiſible Church, or ſome members thereof. Heere is Church, and Church; but different Churches, and Societies: members and members, but of diuers bodies: and therefore the Scriptures concerning one, make not at all for the other. Your quotation of Ioh. 17.17. Sanctifie them with thy trueth; thy word is trueth: is idle, and to no purpoſe. Ieſus ſpeakes there of his eleuen Apoſtles, (as is euident by the verſes precedent and ſubſequent, ſpecially by the 20. verſe) praying for them to his Father: that ſeeing he was now to ſend them into the world, to Preach the Goſpell to eueryevery crea…ure, as h…s Father had ſe…t him into the world to performe the worke of redemption, as verſ. 18. that he would indue them with gifts of his Spirit, for the diſcharge of the office of Preaching, or of Apoſtleſhip. This you alleadge to prooue, …hat the way taught by Cbriſt in his word, is the way or doore whereby members are receiued into the viſible Church, and Officers into Offices. Frame your argument, and conclude this propoſition from this Scripture, and the vanitie of your proofe will appeare. Like to this is your laſt teſtimonie, Mark. 13.34.37. And thoſe things that I ſay vntounto you, I ſay vntounto all men, watch.
For further proofe of your abuſe of Scripture, your confirmation of your tenth poſition in the 71. Page of your Apologie may ſuffice. To prooue that the Sacraments being ſeales of Gods couenant, ought to be adminiſtred onelyonly to the faithfull, and duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page baptiſme to their ſeede, which no Chriſtian man (vnderſtanding this poſition aright) denies or doubts of, you coate aboue 50. teſtimonies of holy Scripture: and that which is worſe, ſcarce halfe of them (as I verily thinke) doe manifeſtly and directly prooue that for which they are by you alleadged. And for a tryall and taſt thereof, let vsus heare one or two of your teſtimonies in ſtead of many, as Ezek. 13.22. Becauſe with your lies yee hauehave made the hearts of the righteous ſadde, whom I hauehave not made ſadde, and ſtrengthened the hands of the wicked, that hee ſhould not returne from his wicked way, by promiſing him life: And Reuel. 17.1. Then there came one of the ſeuen Angels, which had the ſeuen vialls, and talked with me, ſaying vntounto me, come: I will ſhew the damnation of the great whore that ſitteth vponupon many waters. Hereunto adde, Prou. 9.1.5. Hoſ. 2.2.4. Ezek. 16.59.60.61.62.63. And 23.41.42. Pſal. 22.30. with ſundry others. Theſe men being told of their abuſe of Scripture, doe vtterly deny it, and caſt it from them as a very ſlander. But how iuſtly they are by vsus charged therewith, and how ſinfully they ſtand out againſt it and bleſſe themſelues in that which is euill, doth partly heere appeare, but more fully throughout this whole Treatiſe.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Darrell, A Treatise of the Church (1617)