The Unreasonableness of Separation, Part 2 · Section 24
Sect. 24. (2.) This Pretence of Separation would make Vnion among the Protestant Churches impossible, supposing them to remain as they are. For the Lutheran Churches have the same, and more Ceremonies, and Vnscriptural Impositions (as they are called) than our Church hath. They use the Cross in Baptism, Kneeling at the Communion; and the observation of Holy-days and times of Fasting, and Set-Forms of Prayer, &c. yet these Churches have been thought fit to be united with the most reformed Churches, by the best and wisest Protestants both abroad, and at home. I do not mean only to have Communion with them in Faith and Love, as Dr. O. speaks, but to joyn together so, as to make the same Bodies of Churches. A Synod of the Reformed Churches in France, at Charenton, A. D. 1631. declared, that there was no Idolatry, or Superstition in the Lutheran Churches, and therefore the Members of their Churches might be received into Communion with them, without renouncing their own opinions or Practices, Which shews, that they did not look on those as sufficient grounds of Separation; for then they would not have admitted them as Members of the Lutheran Churches, but have told them, they ought to forsake their Communion, and embrace that of the Reformed Churches. Look over all those learned and peaceable Divines, who have projected or perswaded an Vnion with the Lutheran Churches and others; and see, if any of them make the particulars mention'd any cause of Separation from them. Praefat. ad Confess. Helot. & art. 17, 27.The Helvetian Churches declare, That no Separation ought to be made for different Rites and Ceremonies, where there is an Agreement in Doctrine: and the true Concord of Churches lies in the Doctrine of Christ and the Sacraments delivered by him. And this Confession was first drawn up by Bullinger, Myconius and Grynaeus, and subscribed afterwards by all their Ministers; and by those of Geneva and other places. And they take notice of the different Customs in other Churches about the Lords Supper and other things, yet, say they, because of our consent in Doctrine, these things cause no Breach in our Churches. And they make no scruple about the indifferency of any of the Ceremonies used in the Lutheran Churches, except those of the Mass and Images in Churches.Consens. Polon. p. 220. At Sendomir in Poland, A. D. 1570. Those who followed the Helvetian, Auspurg, Bohemian Confessions, came to a full agreement, so as to make up one Body, notwithstanding the different Rites and Ceremonies among them; which, they say, ought not to break the Communion of Churches, as long as they agree in the same purity of Doctrine, and the same foundation of Faith and Salvation;Confess. August. art. 7. and for this they appeal to the Auspurg and Saxon Confessions. The Auspurg Confession declares, That agreement in Doctrine and Sacraments is sufficient for the Churches Vnity; then Separation cannot be lawful meerly on the account of Ceremonies and Human Traditions.Confess. Argent. c. 14. And the Confession of Strasburg saith, That they look on no Human Traditions as condemned in Scripture, but such as are repugnant to the Law of God; and bind the Consciences of Men; otherwise if they agree with Scripture, and be appointed for good ends, although they be not expresly mention'd in Scripture, they are rather to be looked on as Divine than Human: and the contempt of them is the contempt of God himself: nay, they say, though the Laws seem very hard and unjust, a true Christian will not stick at obeying them, if they command nothing that is wicked.
Ioh. Crocius distinguisheth of 3 sorts of Ceremonies.Croc. de Ecc…es unit. & Schism. c. 6. …. 4.
The First Commanded,
The Second Forbidden,
The Third neither Commanded, nor Forbidden.
The Vnity of the Church supposeth the observation of the First, and yet for every omission the Communion of the Church is not to be broken. The Second breaks the Churches Vnity; yet its communion not to be forsaken for one or two of these, if there be no Tyranny over the Consciences of Men: but for the Third, Men ought not to break the Vnity of the Church. And in another place he gives particular instances in the ceremonies observed in the Lutheran Churches,Comment. de Aug. confess. 9. c. 4. p. 33. c. 29. Page 435. the Exorcism in Baptism, the Linnen Garments and Wax Candles, the Holy-days and Confession, &c. and declares, That we ought not to break off communion with Churches, or make a Schism for these things.Zanch. 1. de. Re…. p. 765. Zanchy accounts it a great sin to disturb the Peace of Churches for the sake of indifferent ceremonies; and contrary to that charity we ought to have to our Brethren and to Churches.Amyrald. de Secess. ab Eccl. Rom. Deque pace cum Evangel. constit. p. 23. Amyraldus speaking of the ceremonies in the Lutheran Churches, saith, That those which came in use after the Apostolick times, have no other obligation on us, than that for the sake of indifferent things, though at first appointed out of no necessity, nay though there be inconveniency in them, yet the Churches Peace ought not to be disturbed.
And he very well observes, That the Nature of ceremonies is to be taken from the Doctrine which goes along with them; if the Doctrine be good the Rites are so, or at least, are tolerable: if it be false, then they are troublesome, and not to be born; if it be impure, and lead to Idolatry, then the ceremonies are tainted with the Poyson of it.Hornbeck de Consociat. Evang. Sect. 1. n. 3. But, saith he, the Lutheran Churches have no false or wicked Doctrine concerning their Rites; and therefore he adviseth persons to communicate with the Lutheran Churches, as their occasions serve: and so do others. And Ludovicus Prince Elector Palatine, not only congratulated the mutual communion of the several Churches in Poland, but Pray'd for the same in Germany too, Sencent. D. Daven. p. 5.as Bishop Davenant tells us; who proves at large, that there is no sufficient Reason to hinder it; which he makes to lie only in three things.
I. Tyranny over Mens Faith and Consciences.
II. The Practise of Idolatry.
III. The denial of some Fundamental Article of Faith.
And none of these things being chargeable on the Lutheran Churches, the lawfulness of the terms of Communion with them doth fully appear.
And now I desire our Brethren, who justifie their Separation upon pretence that our Terms of communion are unlawful, to reflect upon these things. Will they condemn so many Protestant Churches abroad, which have harder Terms of communion than we? What would they think of the Exorcism of Infants, of Auricular Confession, of Images in Churches, and some other things, besides what are observed among us? Do we want Discipline? Do they not in other Churches abroad?
The Transylvanian Divines in their Discourse of the Vnion of Protestant Churches, Iren…c. tract. Pror. p. 55.declared, That little or none was observed among them. Will they then Separate from all Protestant Churches? Will they confine the Communion of Christians to their Narrow Scantlings? Will they shut out all the Lutheran Churches from any possibility of Vnion with them? For, What Vnion can be justifiable with those whose terms of Communion are unlawful? They may pity them, and pray for them, and wish for their Reformation, but an Vnion doth suppose such a Communion of Churches, that the Members of one may communicate in another. Do they allow this to the Lutheran Churches? If not, then they render Vnion among the Protestant Churches impossible, because unlawful. If they do, will they be so unjust, as not to allow the same favor and kindness to our own Church? Can they think Separation necessary from our Church on those grounds, which are common to us with other Protestant Churches; and yet think Vnion desirable and possible with them notwithstanding? Do they think that … Members of the Reformed Churches could lawfully communicate with the Lutheran Churches, although they have the Cross in Baptism, K…e…g at the Communion, the Surpless, and other Ceremonies which we have not? and yet, Is it necessary to S…parate from our Churches Communion on the account of such things as these; where there is acknowledged to be a full Agreement in the Substantials of Religion? Either therefore they must differ from the judgment of the Reformed Churches, and the most emine… ▪ Protestant Divines abroad, or they must renounce this Principle of Separation.