The Unreasonableness of Separation, Part 2 · Section 5
Sect. 5. But we here meet with an excellent Reason for the lawfulness of this Occasional Communion with our Churches; viz. because to hold Communion with one Church exclusively to all others, is contrary to their true Catholick Principles, which teach them to hold Communion, though not equally, with all tolerable Churches. Or as Mr. B. expresses it,Sacrileg. de …ertion, p. 16. The benefit of Christian Love and Concord may make it best, for certain seasons, to joyn even in defective Modes of Worship, as Christ did in the Synagogues and Temple in his time: though the least defective must be chosen, when no such accidental Reasons sway the other way. From whence we may take notice, (1.) That no obligation to the Peace and Vnity of this Church, as they are Members of it, doth bring them to this occasional Communion with it, but a certain Romantick Fancy of Catholick Vnity; by which these Catholick Gentlemen think themselves no more obliged to the Communion of this Church, than of the Armenian or Abyssine Churches. Only it happens, that our Church is so much nearer to them, than the others are, and therefore they can afford it more occasional Communion. But I would suppose one of these Men of Catholick Principles to be at Ierusalem, where he might have occasional Communion with all sorts of the Eastern Churches; and some of the Members of those Churches should Ask him, What Church he is Member of? If he should Answer, He could have occasional Communion with all tolerable Churches, but was a fixed Member of none: Would they take such a Man for a Christian? What, a Christian, and a Member of no Church! That, they would all agree, was no part of Catholick Christianity. And I much doubt, whether any of them would admit such a one to occasional Communion, that could not tell what Church he was Member of. For, as to the Church of England, he declares, That he holds only occasional Communion with that, as he would do with any other tolerable Churches. But, Were they not Baptized in this Church, and received into Communion with it as Members of it? if so, then if they Communicate no otherwise with it, than as a tolerable defective Church, they must renounce their former Membership; for that did oblige them to fixed and constant Communion with it. And if they do renounce their Membership in this Church, their occasional Presence at some duties of Worship can never excuse them from Separation. We thank them, that they are pleased to account our Churches tolerable, but we cannot see, how in any tolerable sense they can be accounted Members of our Church; so that this great favor of occasional Communion, which they do not chuse but submit to for some accidental reasons, and some very good occasions, is not worth the speaking of among Friends; and so far from looking like Communion, that it hath hardly the face of a Civility.
(2.) That, if the least defective way of Worship is to be chosen, as they say, then this occasional Communion cannot be lawful above once or twice in a Man's Life: For that is sufficient to shew their true Catholick Principles; and Mr. B. faith, When no such accidental Reasons do sway, they are to choose the least defective way of Worship; or as Mr. A. speaks, To sit down ordinarily with purer Administrations. If then a Man be bound, out of love to his Soul, to prefer the best way of Worship, and he judges the way of the Separate Congregations to be such, there will arise a difficult case of Conscience, concerning the lawfulness of this occasional Communion. For the same Reasons, which moved him to prefer one Communion above the other, will likewise induce him to think himself bound to adhere constantly to the one, and to forsake the other. And why should a Man, that is acquainted with purer Administrations, give so much countenance to a defective way of Worship, and have any Communion with a Church which walks so disorderly, and contrary to the Rules of the Gospel; and not reprove her rather, by a total forbearance of her Communion? And why should not those general Rules of approving the things that are more excellent, and holding fast that which is good, and not forsaking the Assembling themselves together, perswade such a Man, that it is not lawful to leave the best Communion, meerly to shew, what defective, and tolerable Church he can communicate with? Which is, as if a Man should forsake his Muskmelons, to let others see what Pumpions he can swallow; or to leave wholsom Diet to feed on Mushroms, and Trash.
(3.) That here are no bounds set to the Peoples Fancies of Purer Administrations, and less defective wayes of Worship. So that there can be no stop to Separation in this way. Suppose some think our Churches tolerable, and Mr. B's. or Mr. A's. Meetings were eligible; but after a while, when the first rellish …. they afford occasional Communion to the … or Quakers, and then think their way more … and the other only tolerable; Are not these Men bound to forsake them, for the same Reasons, by which they were first moved to leave our Communion, and joyn with them, unless they be secure, that the absolute perfection of their way of Worship is so glaringly visible to all Mankind, that it is impossible for them, either to find or fancy any defect in it?Defence of the Cure of Divis. Introd. p. 50. Mr. Baxter once very well said, Separation will ruin the Separated Churches themselves at last; it will admit of no consistency. Parties will arise in the Separated Churches, and Separate again from them, till they are dissolved. Why might not R. Williams of New-England (mention'd by Mr. B.) proceed in his course of Separation from the Church of Salem, Ibid. p. 170.because he thought he had found out a purer and less defective way of Worship than theirs; as well as they might withdraw from our Churches on the like pretence? Why might he not go on still refining of Churches, till at last he dissolved his Society, and declared, That every one should have liberty to Worship God according to the light of his own Conscience? By which remarkable Instance we see, that this Principle, when pursued, will carry Men at last to the dissolution of all Churches.