Plea for Pauls Presbytery in Scotland, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Quest. 11. Whither or no separation from a true Church because of the sinnes of professors and manifest defence of scandalous persons can be proved from Gods word, to be lawfull.
DIvers places of Scripture are abused by Separatists, to maintaine the lawfullnesse of their separation, 2 Cor. 6. 17. Come out from amongst them and separate your selves saith the Lord, 1. Obiect. Of Separatists.and touch no uncleane thing, and I will receive you, Ainsworth counterposs. pag. 8.Ergo (saith Ainsworth) It is commanded us of God to come out of a corrupt Church, and separate from it, if we would be in covenant with God.
Answ. 1. This is no locall separation commanded the Corinthians, Erasm. Sarcer. in loc. 2 Cor. 6.as Erasmus Sarcerius observeth, but a separation in affection, and if it were a locall separation, it is from the Idol-table of the Gentiles, at which some did eate at Corinth to the great offence of the weake, 1 Cor. 8. 10. 1 Cor. 10. 17, 18, 19, 20. but from this is badly concluded separation out of the Church of Corinth, or any other true Church, where the word and sacraments are in purity, suppose some errors be practised by some: Paul borrowed this place from Isa. 52. 11. as Calvin thinketh,Calvin in l…c. where the Lord chargeth the people to come out from Babilon, seeing Cyrus had proclaimed liberty to them to come home, and applyeth it to the case of Corinth, that they should flye all fellowship with Idols, and Idols temples and tables, 1 Cor. 8. 10. because light and darkenesse, Christ and Beliall cannot agree, as he citeth from Ezech. 37. Ezech 43. 7. Levit. 26. in the former verse, Marloratus in 2 Cor. 6.as Marlorat teacheth. Now this separation in Corinth was in a Church from the Idolatry in it, which separation we allow, but not a separation out of a Church, else the wordes would beare that Paul will have them to forsake the Church of Corinth, for idolatrous tables in it, and set up a new Church of their own, which the Separatists dare not say, and is contrary to other places, 1 Cor. 5. 4. 1 Cor. 11. 1 Cor. 14. Where he commandeth and alloweth their meeting and publike Church communion, therefore this place proveth not their point.
2. This separation is such a separation as is betwixt light and darkenesse, Christ and Beliall, but the separation is not from externall communion, which Separatists urge, but from all spirituall and internall communion. For Separatists teach that alwayes there are in the Church visible hypocrites and true beleevers, for the which cause M. Barrow saith,Barrow. it is compared to a draw-net wherein there are both good and bad; now Hypocrites and believers together in one visible Church are light and darknesse together, and externall Church communion with the hypocrite (which is lawfull) cannot be a touching of an uncleane thing, and so Church-fellowship with the wicked cannot be Christ and Belial together.
3. That Separation here commanded is from the worship of God corrupted in the matter, where need force the Corinthians behoved to be joyned to Idols, v: 16▪ For what agreement (saith he) hath the Temple of God with Idols? Now he meaneth, that the faithfull who were Temples of the holy Spirit should not sit and eat at the Idols Table, which is called, 1 Cor: 10. 20, 21. The Divels Table and cup. But what Logicke is this? Separate from Idols, ergo, separate from a Church, where the true worship of God is, and is professed and taught; this is to be yoaked with Christs body, Spouse, truth, but to fly the errours that are in the body, which we also teach.
2. They object, 2. Object.Rev: 18. 4. Goe out of her my people that yee be not partakers of her sinnes, and that y… receive not of her plagues. Ergo, we must seperate from the Church where there is any thing of Romes worship.
Answ. It followeth not; for it is as if one would say, the wrath of God is to come upon the whore of Rome, who hath overturned the foundation of true faith. Ergo, if Corinth will not excommunicate the incestuous man after ye have warned them of their duty, come out of that Babel also, least ye be partakers of her sinnes. For they teach were a visible Church never so sound, pure, holy, faire in doctrine and life, yet if they refuse to cast out a scandalous person, and will spare and defend him, they are to be separated from, and those that stay in that Church and▪ keepe communion with her, are partakers of her sins. Howbeit some saving truths remain in the Church of Rome, and in that we keepe yet a materiall and reall union with Rome in as farre as they professe one God; three persons, two natures in Christ, &c. but we have separated from Rome. 1. Because their Doctrine of professed and commanded Idolatry, and their other Heresies everteth the foundation of Faith. 2. Because they lay another foundation above the foundation Christ, the Pope, and a multitude of Idol-gods, but it followeth in no sort. Ergo, we are to separate from every true Church of Christ, that is incorrigible in one fault or other.
Where is there a Christian Church that we could live in in the Earth, yea except the Anabaptists-Church, a Church of white paper as faire as Heaven, and the Sunne, that there is not a spot on more then on the triumphing Church, this on Earth is a city in the Moone.
3. They object, Obiect. 3. Ainsworth ib.Come not ye to Gilgall, neither goe yee up to Bethaven, therfore people were to separate from Idolatrous Israel.
Answ. I have prooved that the true Prophets commanded Church-fellowship with Israel after their Idolatry: and judge if this be good, Goe not to Bethaven, that is the house of vanity, called Bethel the house of God, where Jeroboams calves were worshipped, ergo, separate from all the worship of God in Israel: we say, Ex negatione speciei, malè concluditur negatio generis, separate from Ieroboams calves: therfore separate from all true worship of God in Israel, it is a bad consequence.
4. They object, Obiect. 4.In the old Testament the Law consisted of outward ordinances, and if they were outwardly performed, there was no cause to separate from them. But under the new Testament, all things are become now and spirituall, where Christ hath given power to all the faithfull to censure scandalous sinnes,Barrow di…cov of false Church p▪ 39, 40 all should separate from a corrupt Church: So Barrow. But Master Smith helpeth him, Smith paral. cens. p. 29, 30.All things were shadowes in the old Testament: David, Jehoshaphat, &c. suffered knowne sinnes in the land, yet were they the true matter of the typicall Church, being typically and ceremonially cleane: for to the constitution of the typicall Church, there was not required true holinesse, but ceremoniall cleannesse: Holinesse was required of them for their acceptation before God, but not for the constitution of their Church: so there were there typicall Saints, typicall Hypocrites, that might have no communion together till they were purified, and yet being indeed wicked persons they might have Church-communion together. But our constitution, ministry, communion, separation are contrary to theirs,Robinson against Bernard. p, 248. true holinesse is required under the new Testament. Robinson addeth, No man could absolutely separate from the Church of the Jews, for it was the onelyonly one visible Church upon the face of the Earth, tyed to one Temple, Altar, Sacrifice, Priest-hood and place, they had not excommunication, as we have now, the offender was by bodily death cut off from the common-wealth, as from the Church?
Answ. It is most false that externall performances of duties were sufficient to make men members of the visible Church of the old Testament.If this difference of ceremoniall & spirituall h…linesse betwixt the church of old, and the Church of the new Testament stand, then the Church of the new Testament, where there are any hypocrites s…al be no true vis…b…e Church, because hypocritos in the new Testament hath but ceremoniall and external holines, not reall or spirituall, as the hypocrites of the old Testament. 1. Because man-slayers▪ adulterers, &c. were to be cut off and excommunicated from the congregation of the Lord, and their prayers were not accepted of God, even by Moses his law, Num: 35. 33, 34. Es: 1. 10, 11, 14, 15. Es. 66. 3, 4, 5. 2 It is false that all the worship under the new Testament is so spirituall that outward performances of externall profession in the new Testament doth not also make professours Ecclesiastically holy and separated from other people not of the visible Church, for Ananias, Saphira, Simon Magus for a time were externally holy, and differenced from Pagans without the Church by their baptisme and externall profession. Then Barrow must quit all places in the old Testament, for separation from a wicked Ministry, as that Prov. 15. The Sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to God, was as true in the old as in the new Testament. Ergo, the Sacrifices offered by the wicked Priest were no ordinances of God, and did pollute others, who did communicate with him.
2. The Sacraments of the Jewish Church in substance were one and the same with our Sacraments, Heb. 13. 8. 1 Cor. 10. 1, 2, 3. Joh. 8. 56. Joh. 6. 50, 51. Col. 2. 11, 12. 1 Cor: 5. 7. all say this except▪ Papists, Anabaptists, Arminians and Socinians, and for notoriously wicked persons to use the Sacraments with prophane and wicked hearts, was most unlawfull and made them in that no members of the true Church, but as Sodome and Gomorrah, …s. 1. 10. as Aethiopians, Aegyptians and Philistins, Amos 9. 7. and such were forbidden to take Gods covenant in their mouth, seeing they hated to be reformed, Psal. 50. 16, 17. Their prayers were abomination when their hands were bloody, Es: 1. 15. their Sacrifices like the murthering of a man, and the Sacrificing of a dogg, which was abomination to God, Isa, 66. 3. and so are all the means they use, but I believe, if Christ was the Spouse, Priest, head of the body to the Church of the Iews, as to us, to the constitution of this body visibly worshipping him in a Church-state, there was required that the people should be not only typically holy, but really, and that God should be sanctified not only typically, but really, by reall declaration of all that drew nigh to him, and the Song of Solomon saith, that the communion was morall, spirituall, beside that it was typicall in some points.3 Petition to K. James. 3. pos. And this is direct contrary to their confession, where they make Separation from a corrupt Church morall, and to that separation of the godly from the wicked was taught of God, before the Law, under the Law, and under the Gospell, and they teach, That all true Churches from the beginning, to the end of the world are one in nature, and essentiall constitution: And would the Lord have these to receive the seales of his covenant, as true members typicall of a typicall Church: This they say is 1 To take the name of God in vain. 2. That the Lord doth seale unrighteousnesse. 3. That he prophaneth his Sons bloud and death: then a people laden with iniqu…ty, a Sodome, a generation of Idolaters might all by Gods typicall command, claime to the promises of the covenant, and they only.
3. The common beleevers amongst the Iewes had the power of the keyes, as well as we, if Separatists teach right, for they had power to rebuke one another, Levit: 19. 17. and this to them is a part of the power of the keyes,Smith paral▪ 60, 61 as Smith saith, they had power of ordination to lay hands on their officers, and the right of election, as they would prove from, Levit: 8. 2, 3. a place notwithstanding abused,Separatist 3. petition, 3 posit. 3▪ reas. p. 47. for the congregation there is the Princes of the congregation, as it is a hundred times taken in the old Testament, els how could six hundreth thousand persons, beside aged men, women and children lay hands on the officers? They did also excommunicate no lesse then our Church of believers, as they say,3. Petit. 8▪ posit. therfore their Church in the essence of a visible Church was every way as ours, except in some accidentall ceremonies.
Lastly, suppose the Iewes were the only visible Church that none could separate from, yet Christ and Belial, light and darknesse should never dwell together.
5. They object, Robinson. …insworth. Smith. M. Canne.A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, and so a scandalous sinner not censured, maketh the whole Church an infected lump, therfore we are to separate from that Church, if they goe on, except wee would be leavened: So Robinson, Ainsworth, Smith, Canne, object.
Answ 1. There is a double infection, one physicall as leaven, that by touching leaveneth, and pest-cloaths that by touching defile the ayre or mens bodies: the comparison holdeth not in this, I am sure. There is a morall infection by evill example, and so the incestuous Corinthian, not excommunicated, did infect, if any should use his company as a brother and member of the Church; of this latter sort, the place 1 Cor: 5. is to be understood. The incestuous man would infect, if the guides and the Apostles spirit should …t cast him out: Hence it is true that Church guydes, in not excommunicating, did what was in them morally, to infect and leaven the Church: but 1. It followeth not that the Church was actu secundo, and actually infected, howbeit, no thanks to the guides. 2. It followeth not that they should separate from a Church that might infect, because that is not Gods meane of eschewing infection to lowpe out of one true Church to another for one fault.
2. The eschewing and separating from the error of the Church, and the mans company, is enough to them to eschew the infection. They urge, But it is atempting of God to stay in an infected lump, suppose you be not actually infected your selfe, for no thankes to you, as it is a tempting of God, to keepe company with a wicked man, suppose by Gods grace, yee learne not his wicked fashions, a man is guilty of selfe-murther, who rydeth a swelling and dangerous river, and sinneth in so doing, suppose God graciously pardon his rashnesse, and carry him through the river safe.
I Answ. 1. To stay in every place where sinners are, and to haunt the wicked mans company as his companion, is a sinfull tempting of God, suppose ye be not actually insnared: but to stay in the company or Church, carefully flying every spot and soule ayre, that may blow sin upon you, is no tempting of God.
But secondly, they thus urge, to stay a member of a leavened Church, and keepe Church-communion with that infected Church, is to tempt God, therfore God calleth you to separate from that Church.
I answer 1. To stay a member of that Church wholly leavened, and where the matter of the worship is leaven, and fundamentall points corrupted and obtruded upon the conscience, is to tempt God, for then I keepe communion with a leavened Church, as leavened, such as is Babell: but the assumption now is false, and the case not so here, but to keep my self and remain a member of a Church leavened in part with one sin, and to take no part with the sinne, and yeeld no consent therunto is no tempting of God; Paul joyned as a member with the Church of Corinth, and acknowledged them as a Church, and commanded to keepe Church fellowship with them, 1 Cor: 5. 4. even when this leavened lump was souring amongst them.
But thirdly they urge, the incestuous mans sinne not censured, infected the Church, the infected Church infecteth the worship.
Answ. I deny that the sinne of the worshippers infecteth the worship to others that are not guilty, it infecteth the worship to themselves, but not to others, a worship corrupt by accident only through the fault of the worshipper, may and doth make the Lords Supper damnation to the eater, and therefore the eater is forbidden so to eat; a worship in the matter and intrinsecall principle unjust and sinfull is defiled both to the man himselfe and to all that taketh part with him, as the teacher of false Doctrine and all that heareth and believeth are defiled, but if the sin of an unworthy communicant even knowne to be so be damnation to himselfe, and defile the worship to others, then Paul would have said, he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation, and the damnation of the whole Church, and Paul should have forbidden all others to eat and drinke withall, who communicateth unworthily, if he allowed separation, but he saith, he eateth and drinketh damnation, foreign, to himselfe, not to all others.
But fourthly, they urge thus, We must not onelyonly strive to rebuke, and censure one another, but we must not stay a member of that Church, in the which we are not permitted to doe the duty that Christ hath commanded us, for the station and place is unwarrantable, where we are necessitated to sinne, that is, to omit a duty of the Keyes, that God hath given to all the faithfull. Ergo, we must separate from that Church, where all the faithfull may not use the Keyes.
Answ. 1. Also if the power of the Keys be in the hands of the people, as some teach, so as they are under a commandement of God to rebuke authoritatively, and judicially to censure and excommunicate, their universall omission of that duty seemeth to be sinfull; and (howbeit I be loath to teach Separation) I see not how the authours who give the power of the keyes to all private Christians, are not to separate from all Churches where Presbyteriall government is, no lesse then the strictest Separatists do….
2. Affirmative precepts tye not in all differences of time: To rebuke your brother is alwayes lawfull, so it be done, observing due circumstances; but that every be…eever rebuke Church-wayes, and judicially by the power of the keyes doth not tye at all, because Christ never gave that power to all. 2. Some duties tye absolutely, as to pray, these we cannot forbeare: Suppose a Church should make a Law, like Darius to borrow a dumbe Devill, for thirty dayes, and to pray none, that Church should not be heard, and not acknowledged in that. Other dutyes tye conditionally, as not to pray in publicke with a man notoriously serving Satan, and deserving to be excommunicate; yet if the Church excommunicate not, wee are not to separate from the prayer of the Church, because that person is suffered there: so these duties that tye upon a condition that dependeth upon others and not upon my selfe, tye not alwayes. I am obliged to beleeve what point the Pastor teacheth, but not absolutely, but upon condition it agrees to Gods Word.
They fifthly urge. But I am necessitated in a false Church to communicate with those whom I know to be no members of the true Church, but limbs of Satan, because in Gods court they are excommunicated, and no members of the Church; but through the corruption of these that have the power of the keyes, these are permitted to be members of the Church, who in Gods court are no members at all; and if I remaine in the Church, I must communicate with them, yea if I remaine in the Church, I must communicate at that table where the holy things of God are prophaned by dogges and swine, therefore in that case I must separate.
Answ. In your holiest independant Church where discipline is m…st in vigour, you meet with this doubt, and must separate also, if this reason be good: For suppose you know one to be guilty of adultery and murther, and had seen it with your eyes, the party guilty to you is not guilty to the Church: For 1. you are but one, none is guilty Ecclesiastically, and to be debar…ed penally and judicially from the holy things of God, except by confession to the Church, or by two or three witnesses. 2. You know what is holden by all our Divines,Thmomas Aquin. Ca…etan de authoritat pap. cap 19. yea even the Canon Law and Papists teach that the Church cannot judge of hid things, and acts of the mind.S…to. 22. q. 1. a…t. 3. Durand. So saith Thom. Aquin. Cajetan, Soto, Durandus, Almain, Gerson, Navar. Driedo, Joan. Maior. Paludan. Almain de potest. eccl cap. 10.Antonin. their ground is good: The Church cannot judge of that they cannot see;Gerson de vit… spir. lect. 4. lit. G. H. And the Churches power of the keyes is all for the externall policy of the Church,Navar. in sumin. cap. 27. …. 57. and therefore such a sinne cannot be the object of Church-censure,Driedo de li…ert. Christ. li. 3. ca. 5. or cause of Separation,Maiorm. Excommunication is ever used against externall scandals,Pa…u …a in 4. q. 3. Antonin. 3. Mat. 18. 15. 1 Cor. 5. 1. 1 Tim. 1. 19, 20. 2 Thes. 3▪ 14. shew one place where the Church excommunicateth for non-regeneration.
6. They object, 6. Obiect.It is not lawfull to call God Father ioyntly with these who are not brethren,Smith. paral. pag. 107. but sonnes of Satan, Ergo, we are to separate from such. So Smith reasoneth.
Answ. Except they be all and every one the sonnes of God,7. Obiect. that are in our visible Church, and not one hypocrite or childe of Satan amongst them, by this argument we must separate from them, and so Separatists are to separate from their owne Congregation, wherein they acknowledge there be hypocrites. This is Anabaptisticall holinesse, Isa. 65.
7. They object, It is not lawfull to make Christ a Mediator to all the prophane in the land, and to make all the prophane members of his body, Ergo, we are to separate from a confused Church?
Answ. So was Corinth, Galatin, Ephesus, confused Churches, wherein there were hypocrites. We make Christ Mediator and Head to the visible Church, according to the best part, as Christ speaketh, Joh. 17. Thine they were, when Judas was never Gods. And Paul calleth Corinth Saints, Colosse Saints, and faithfull brethren,1 Cor 1. 1, 2. and Peter, the elected according to the fore-knowledge of God,Col. 1. 1, 2. begotten againe to a lively hope, where yet there was some at Corinth.1 Pet. 1. 2, 3, 4. 2. Cor. 2. 16. To whom the Gospell was the savour of death unto death, some to whom it was hidden, whom Satan had blinded, 2 Cor. 4. 3. And some in Colosse carried away with Angel-worship,Col. 2. 18, 19. not holding the head Christ, some of those to whom Peter writeth were such, 1 Pet. 2. 8.who stumbled at the stone laid on Zion, and there was amongst them, false teachers privily bringing in damnable Heresies, 2. and many followed their pernicious wayes,2 Pet. 2. 1, 2, 13. spots, feasting amongst the Saints, having eyes full of Adultery, that cannot cease from sinne, &c.
8, They object, 8. Obiect.These that are mixed with unbeleevers consent to all the sinnes of the unbeleevers, and to all their prophanation of the holy things of God, seeing God hath given them the power of the keyes to hold out and excommunicate all wicked persons; therefore beleevers are to separate from all prophaners of the Covenant, except they would forfeit their Covenant.
Answ. A simple worshipping with hypocrites whom we know not is not a consent to their prophanation of the holy things of God; Christs eating the Passeover with Judas; the Disciples eating the Passeover, when Christ said, One of you hath a Devill, one of you shall betray me, did not import consent, nor partaking with Judas his prophaning of the Sacraments. 2. Neither hath God given to all beleevers the power of the keyes that way, as is alleadged. 3. Suppose the Eldership in whose hands onelyonly are the keyes, should permit a knowne adulterer, who never professed his repentance therefore to the Lords Table; yet this were not in the Eldership the sinne against the Holy-Ghost, and to forfeit the Covenant, though it were a great sinne.
9. They object, God commandeth the godly to plead with their mother, because (saith he) she is not my wife, nor I her husband, Ergo, if the Church turne a harlot, the children are to protest and plead against her, as reputing her no mother, and so they are to forsake her.
Answ. If this place prove lawfulnesse of separation from the Jewish Church, as from a harlot cast off of God, it shall crosse a maine principle of Separatists, that the Jewish Church was the onelyonly visible Church from which it was not lawfull to separate, seeing the Messiah behooved to be borne there, and the Temple, sacrifices were onelyonly there. Also this pleading was for harlotry and Idolatry: But M. Smith and others say, that wickednesse and Idolatry did not marre the constitution of the Jewish Church, so being they had ceremoniall and typicall holinesse according to the letter of the outward legall service; and so from this separation from the true Church is vainly collected. 2. Plead with your mother for her harlotries. Hence it followeth first, 1. They were to esteem her as a mother, and of duty as sonnes to plead with her. 2. If they were to plead with her, and rebuke her, they were to keep communion with her; because non-rebuking for a time is a signe of separation and suspending communion for a time, Ezech. 3. 26. Thou shalt be dumbe, and shalt not be to them a reprover, for they are a rebellious house, Ergo, reproving is a signe of communion. But they say, they were to plead with their mother by power of the keyes; and if their mother would not return to the Lord her first husband, then they were to goe on to a full separation from her.
I answer: Then two or three faithfull ones in the Church of the Jewes, no lesse then in the Christian Church were a true visible Church, having the power of the keyes. This is contrary to their owne doctrine, who make a typicall and ceremoniall cleannesse sufficient to constitute the Jewish Church; but require a reall, true, and spirituall holinesse, to the constitution of the Church of the New Testament: For if the children may plead with the mother for want of spirituall chastity and marriage-love to her Lord, and for that contend against her, to separate from her, as from a harlot and non-Church, then is reall holinesse required for the constitution of a visible Church amongst the Jewes, as amongst us, which Separatists deny.
10. They object, Abraham 10. Object.behooved to separate from his fathers house, for the idolatry thereof, before Abrahams family was made the true Church of God, therefore there is no remaining in a Church where the worship is corrupted?
Answ. Separation from a Society professing Idolatry and corrupting altogether the doctrine of the Covenant, such as was Abrahams fathers house, we grant is lawfull, their father was an Hittite, and their mother was an Ammorite, Ezech. 16. 3, 4, 5, &c. Isa. 51. 1, 2. but what is this to separate from a Church where are the true signes of Gods presence, the Word and Sacraments in substance professed. 2. God in a particular call went before Abraham to make a Church of him, of whom the Messiah was to come, and to whom he was to give his Covenant, whereas his Covenant was not in Abrahams fathers house: This call is not made, nor this Revelation to these who separate from the Church and true Covenant.
11. They object, 11. Object.The Ministery of the Gospell should be as the holy flocke,Ezech 36, 38. So Ainsworth. as the flocke of Jerusalem in their solemne feasts, that the oblation might be sanctified; but when the people is a confused prophane multitude, they are not the oblation of the Lord, and so not the Church that we can remaine in to, and offer such lamed sacrifice to God in our prayers?
Answ. The same will follow in their Churches, where Minister and professors beeing whited wals, and painted hypocrites, though not knowne to others: A scabbed sacrifice is offered to God, and that hypocrites are in the Church alwayes, we and they agree and teach joyntly. 2. What though the people be prophane and knowne to be a bad sacrifice, seeing they professe the truth, shall they be excluded from the prayers of the Church, and none offered to God in the prayers of the Church, but onelyonly beleevers? shall not these be offered in prayer to God, who are yet unconverted? what meaneth that petition then (Thy Kingdome come) is it not a prayer of the Churches for the non-converted.
12. They object, 12. Obiect.With that Church we cannot ioyne with, as members thereof, where Images and Pictures of Devils are laid upon Gods Altar for spirituall sacrifices, which is as abominable to God, as uncleane beasts were under the Law: And Christ cannot be a Priest to offer these in publicke Church-service to God; but prophane men in the Church are such pictures of Devils, Ergo, the true Church should not offer them to God, nor should we stay in that Church where such are offered, as Christ will not offer unto God.
Answ. 1. That same inconvenience shall ever retort upon the objectors, because hypocrites that are still in the visible Church shall be Images and Pictures of Devils offered to God, and Christ can be no Priest to offer such to God.
2. That a visible Church may be a holy oblation laid upon the Altar of God, to be offered to God, by our High-priest Christ: It is not required for the Essence of a true and acceptable sacrifice of worship, that all and every one of the Congregation be holy and spiritually cleane: For then the Church of the Lords Disciples and followers in the dayes of his flesh should not be a cleane offering to God, for amongst them was Judas. The Church of beleevers, Acts 2. should not be an holy oblation, but an offering to God of Images and Pictures of Devils: For in their visible Church was Ananias, Saphira, and Simon Magus: Christ our High-priest beareth the twelve Tribes of Israel in his breast, and offereth Israel to God as the typicall Priest did; yet all and every Idolater, Sorcerer, Murtherer in Israel, are not written on Christs breast, but onelyonly thos… that are sealed of every Tribe, Rev. 7. It is sufficient to make the oblation holy, that there are some few beleevers that are stamped with the Image of God, and offered in a holy and cleane oblation to God, by out High-priest Christ: For amongst Separatists were sound revolt…rs that left their Congregation, and wrote against the Separation; yet these were once offered to God while they were visible Saints, and esteemed to be taught of God and sound beleevers.
13. They object, Obiect. 13.That it is not lawfull to have communion with a Church, where there is any superstition or Idolatry, or false worship: For David would not take up the names of Idols in his lips; nor is it lawfull to touch the garment spotted of the flesh, in respect, one Achan taking the accursed spoyle, brought iudgement on all the rest, and therefore they must separate who would be free of the curse.
Answ. It is not lawfull to communicate with the holiest Church on earth in an act of false worship we grant; but every false worship doth neither make a true Church, a false Church, or no Church; neither giveth it a ground and warrant of Separation; for there was much false worship in Corinth, where many were partakers of the Idols Table, 1 Cor. 8. 10. and many denyed the Resurrection, and so Thyatira, Pergamus, Rev. 2. where were Balaams doctrine, and Jezabel the false Prophetesse, and yet none of these are to be separated from, as false Churches, and the Separatists would observe this, that when Churches in the New Testament are most sharply rebuked, if communion with these Churches going on in their sinnes be Idolatry and false worship, and offering of Devils Images to God, how is it, that the Lord and his Apostles rebuketh the faults, but never warneth the true and sound beleevers to separate and make a new Church, seeing this is the only remedy to them, and there is not another way to escape the judgement of the whol… Church? 2. David would not take up the names of Idols in his lips, nor should any touch the garment spotted of the …lesh, nor consent unto, or countenance Idols, but to communicate with a Church where there is a prophane people and a false worship, in some points, is not to touch unclean garments, for the cleane and the sound worship of God is cleane, and as for the example of Achan, it is most impertinent, Israel knew not Achans sacriledge, till the Lord found out the man, and if this stand good, a lurking hypocrite, and an unseene Achan in a visible Congregation, bringeth a curse on the Congregation, and from such a Congregation we are to separate, What madnes is this, we are to separate from a society, before we know any Achan to be amongst them. But Separatists say, God would not have punished Israel by making them …ly before the men of Ai, Josh. 7. If Israel did take no part with Achan, but because of Achans sacriledge they were punished, ver. 11. Israel hath sinned and transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them: for they have taken the accursed thing.
I answer, This giveth us occasion to speake a little of the communion with other mens sins: We partake these wayes of the Churches sins. 1. When we worke with them, and are helping causes, this communion is unlawfull. 2. When we counsell or perswade to false worship. 3. When we omit what we are obliged to doe, or commit that we should not doe, from whence others are occasioned to sin; for by morall interpretation, he promoveth the sin of others, who doth not give all due and obliged diligence to hinder the committing of sin. 4. Those who consent to sin, who approve and praise the fact, and the committers of the fact. 5. Those that doe not rebuke sinne. 6. Those who are not displeased for it, and doth not mourne for it, Ezech. 9. and are not humbled for it, and doth not pitty the sinner, and pray that God in his mercy or justice may be glorified. Now of all these we are to consider how Israel did properly communicate with Achans sin. Some say there is a seventh way different from all, when we in heart desire to doe, what others doe wickedly, in the externall fact, As Israel also coveted in their heart what Achan tooke with his hands, or when we doe the same sinne by Analogy, that others are doing, as the Marriners are punished for Jonahs sinne, when as they were doing a sinne by Anology like the sinne of Ionah: For Ionah fled from Gods presence, as if God could not have followed him through the Seas, and had been like the Idoll-gods; and the Marriners did the same, they worshipped an Idol-god, and knew not the God that made the Heaven and the Earth. Now wherein none of these seven wayes we partake of the sins of a Church, how can their worship be defiled to us, or have any influence to infect us? but the truth is Israel were guilty of Achans sin, because they did not carefully observe, and wa…ne one another to take heed that they medled not with the accursed thing, but Joshuah never dreamed of Separation from Israel for Achans sin, and the Text saith not that; for they could not separate from the Church for Achans sacriledge, which was not known to them, while God discovered the same, else by this Text we are to separate from all Churches, where there doth live hidden and covered Achans, and unseen hypocrites, and thus we behoved to remove and separate up to the Church tryumphing in Heaven, or then with Anabaptists find a spotlesse Church on Earth.
14. They object, 14. Obiect.To be present at a Masse is to countenance an Idol-worship, so to be present in a Church-worship where there is any errours in the worship is to countenance the errour, for what worship we countenance, to that we say Amen, and so we must consent to the wrong constitution of a Church where are prophane people?
Answ. 1. …o countenance a worship professedly Idolatrous, where the name of the worship doth import the worshipping of a false god, is unlawfull, for others doe interpret our presence a joynt worshipping with them. But our presence at every lawfull worship that is acknowledged lawfull, doth not give so much as interpretatively signification of our consent to every particular in the worship, because hearing, discerning, choosing or refusing, beleeving or not beleeving, according as you find the points agreeable to Gods word, or dissonant therefrom, doth interveene betwixt your presence at the worship, and your consent to the worship; now the act of consenting, approving and receiving the point of worship is formally to partake of the worship, else we could not obey the precept, 1 Thess. 5. 21. Try all things: some things in the Preacher are to be borne with; the Preachers of the Separation have not an Apostolick and infallible spirit, if any of them preach unsound Doctrine, the presence of the hearers doth not involve them in the guilt of the Preachers erronious worship. The Pharisees corrupting of the Law was knowne and rebuked by Christ, but yet Christ forbad Separation, Heare them (saith Christ, Mat. 23.) they sit in Moses his chaire.