The Searchers for Schism Searched, Treatise · Answer 19 – Question 20
Anſwer.
1. We ſay again, as ſome of us have Printed and ſaid, That you who have tranſgreſſed at ſuch a rate as you have done, and ſtill do againſt the Doctrine of Chriſt, have not God as his Church, according to 2 Joh. 9. nor is this vain Philoſophy (as you vainly enquire) but ſound words and wholſome Doctrine, which ſome of you will find to your ſorrow in the day of account, if you repent not.
2. Nor can any Church rightly conſtituted be unchurched by this reaſon, Becauſe Churches rightly conſtituted do not tranſgreſs againſt the Doctrine of Chriſt, but continue in it, and have both the Father and the Son; nor can it be ſaid of the Hebrew Church, that they had not God, becauſe they underſtood not all thoſe things hard to be uttered, relating to the Prieſtly Office of Chriſt; becauſe they had laid all the Principles of Chriſts Doctrine, Heb. 5.12. and 6.1, 2. which you have not, and continued in them, Act. 2.42. which you do not. Their fault for which the Apoſtle blames them, was, their ſlack and ſlow growth for the time they had been a Church, built upon the Rock Chriſt, and the Foundation-Principles of his Doctrine; by which neglect, they became dull of hearing, and were yet but as Babes unskilful in the Word of Righteouſneſs, and therefore he exhorts them to go on to perfection, Heb. 6.1. that they might redeem their loſt time, and avoid the danger they ſtood in of falling away from what they were partakers of; their danger being ſuch, that if they ſhould ſtill continue ſlothful and negligent, and not go on to perfection, they would at length fall from, and not continue in the Doctrine of Chriſt on which they were built, which if they did, there was no renewing them by repentance.
3. And indeed thoſe things of which they were ignorant, were thoſe parts of the Doctrine of Chriſt that belong'd to perfection, and their further growing up in him; but not the Foundation or beginning part of Chriſtians. Nor though they were dull of hearing, and could not receive thoſe things hard to be uttered, relating to the Prieſtly Office of Chriſt; yet were they not Denyers, Oppoſers, and Diſputers againſt it, as you have been againſt laying on of hands, more than twenty years.
4. The Churches in Aſia were true conſtituted Churches, and yet they tranſgreſſed and did not abide in all Chriſts Doctrine, for which cauſe (though the Spirit commends them in ſome things) they would not have God long as his Church, except they repented of thoſe Tranſgreſſions; I will remove thy Candleſtick out of its place, except thou repent, Rev. 2.5. By which it may plainly be perceived that their not abiding in the Doctrine of Chriſt, would unchurch them that were true conſtituted Churches, without Repentance, and doing their firſt works; though we will not ſay that they were ipſo facto declared no Churches of Chriſt, and ſuch as have no communion with God as his Church: Though we dare ſay that you, whoſe Church-conſtitution was never right, have not God as his Church; and we dare ſay, That the Churches in Aſia, and the Church of Corinth for ſuffering the inceſtuous perſon, and for ſaying, (ſome of them) the Reſurrection was paſt, &c. after all lawful endeavours made, and means uſed to purge them from thoſe evils, had they not repented, but ſtill perſiſted in their Sin and Impenitency, they would ſoon find they ſhould ceaſe to be a Church in God, and incommunicable for their not abiding in the Doctrine of Chriſt and Oracles of God. And thus much we dar… ſay of them, or of any that fail like them, Tha… then (as afore) they are no Churches, have no… communion with God as his Church, becauſ… they abide not in all his Doctrine.
5. Your Argument then is not of ſuch forc… to turn the edge of ours upon us, as you think … for we anſwer it by diſtinction thus: If in you… minor Propoſition, by failing and coming ſho… of many things Chriſt taught them, you mea… fundamental things, we deny your minor. O… if you mean a failing and coming ſhort of man … things Chriſt taught, as in the Churches of Aſia, and the Church of Corinth, joyned with impenitency, all lawful means being uſed to purg… them, we then likewiſe deny your minor. B… if you do not mean Fundamentals, nor ſins joyned with Impenitency, as is aforeſaid; then … ſay, God owns ſuch for Churches, and w… ſhould ſin if we did not; though they fail an… come ſhort of perfection in many things. B… then it follows not that God owns, or that … ought to own ſuch for Churches, that fail an… come ſhort in Fundamentals, or the firſt Rud… ments of Chriſtianity, as you do.
Queſt. 20.
Whether it be not an abuſe of that Text, 2 Joh… to infer from the Doctrine of Chriſt there menti… ed, That there can be no Churches nor Churc… Members, where every thing that Chriſt taught, is …t obſerved and continued in: When by Doctrine, …ere, a man of a ſhort ſight may perceive is meant …e confeſſing that Jeſus Christ is come in the fleſh, … appears verſ. 7. which whoſoever abideth not in, …ut ſhall deny, hath not God; and if this be not the …enſe, but the other (viz.) That he that continues …ot in all Chriſts ſayings, hath not God, and is no Member of Chriſt; then either your ſelves are no Church, or elſe you are all perfect, and guilty of no …, becauſe all ſin is a tranſgreſſing Chriſts Doctrine, …d he that ſaith he hath no ſin, is a Lyar, and the …ruth is not in him, 1 John 1.10.