The Unreasonableness of Separation, Part 2 · Section 7
Sect. 7. 2. I come therefore to consider the Principles of our new Separatists, as to the Ministry of our Church; and to discover, how little they differ from the old Separatists, when this matter is throughly enquired into, as to the Argument for Separation.
I. In General, they declare, That they only look on those as true Churches, which have such Pastors whom they approve. How oft have I told you, saith Mr. B. that I distinguish,Answer to my Sermon, p. 63. and take those for true Churches, that have true Pastors. But I take those for no true Churches, that have,
1. Men uncapable of the Pastoral Office.
2. Or not truly called to it.
3. Or that deny themselves to have the power essential to a Pastor.
And one or other of these he thinks most, if not all the Parochial Churches in England fall under.
You will say then, Mr. B. is a Rigid Separatist; and thinks it not lawful to joyn with any of our Parochial Congregations: but this is contradicted by his own Practice.
There lies therefore a farther subtilty in this matter; for he declares in the same place, he can joyn with them notwithstanding. But how? as true Churches, though he saith they are not? No; but as Chappels and Oratories, although they be not Churches, as wanting an essential part. This will bring the matter to a very good pass, the Parish Churches of England shall only be Chappels of Ease to those of the Non-conformists. This I confess is a Subtilty beyond the reach of the old Brownists, and Non-conformists, for they both took it for granted that there was sufficient ground for Separation, if our Churches were not true Churches, and the Proof of that depended on the Truth of our Ministry. Now, saith Mr. B. Although our Parochial Congregations be not true Churches, because they want an essential part, viz. a true Ministry, yet he can joyn with them occasionally, as Chappels or Oratories. From whence it appears, that he accounts not our Parochial Churches as true Churches, nor doth communicate with them as such; but only looks on them as Publick places of Prayer, to which a Man may resort upon occasion without owning any relation to the Minister, or looking on the Congregation as a Church. For, where he speaks more fully, he declares, That he looks on none as true Churches, but such as have the Power of the Keys within themselves, Sacrileg. desert. p. 34.and hath a Bishop or Pastor over them with that Power; True way of Concord, Ch. 10.and any Parochial Church that hath such a one, and ownes it self to be independent, he allows to be a true Church, and none else. So that unless our Parochial Churches and Ministers assume to themselves Episcopal Power, in opposition to the present Constitution of our Church, as he apprehends, he at once discards them all from being true Churches: but I shall afterwards discover his mistake as to the nature of our Parochial Churches; that which I only insist on now is, That he looks on none of them as truly constituted Churches, or as he calls it, of the Political Organized Form, as wanting an essential part, viz. a true Pastor. From hence it necessarily follows, either that Mr. B. communicates with no true Church at all; or it must be a Separate Church; or, if he thinks himself bound to be a Member of a true Church, he must proceed to as a great Separation as the old Brownists did, by setting up new Churches in opposition to ours. It is no sufficient Answer in this case, to say, That Mr. B. doth it not; for we are only to shew, what he is obliged to do by vertue of his own Principles: which tend to as much Separation, as was practised in former times, and hath been so often condemned by Mr. B.