A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Answer to preface · Section 5 – Section 6
Sect. 5. No approved practice of the Saints, afore the Law, Countenanceth separation from the present preachers in England.
Yet, saith this Author, inasmuch as some Beams of Light may be communicated unto the present Enquiry, by a retrospection into the state of things in the time of the Old Law, it shall not be grievous to us (nor will it be altogether unprofitable to the Reader) briefly to remark, so far as may concern the matter in hand, the state and management of affairs under that Oeconomy and Dispensation: Not to mention the Administration of Holy things in the time of the Antediluvian Fathers; nor the General Apostacy from the pure wayes of God, in the dayes of Seth; (when according to their duty, the faithful remnant (the sons of God) separated from the Wicked (or the daughters of men) and solemnly joyned themselves together to worship God according to his holy appointments, Gen. 4.26.) Let us take a brief view of things, with relation unto the People of God, after the giving of Moses Law, when a Standard was set up for them to repair unto, and they became (being gathered into one) as a City on an Hall, conspicuous unto all.
Answ. How some beams of light may be communicated unto the present enquiry, by a retrospection into the state of things in the time of the Old Law, will not be easie to discern, if the whole thereof be divolved on the Scriptures of the New Testament. Yet it will not be grievous to me to examine what I find produced for his purpose. I grant that Dr. Owen hath in his Book in Latine, of the nature, rise, progress, and study of true Theologie, shewed divers Corruptions in the Ages before and after the Flood of Noah in Theologie; and the pure Worship of God, unto Moses his time; and that the restitution of true Theologie was sometimes by a separation from the Wicked, when there was a general Apostacy from the true wayes of God, unto a prophaning of the Name of God, (as some conceive Gen. 4.26. is meant) either by blaspheming, or by setting up of Idol-worship; as it was before Abrahams separation, Josh. 24.15. But neither by him, nor I think, by any other is it shewed, that a separation was approved from Preachers, that teach no worse Doctrine than is held forth by the Articles, Homilies, and other avowed Books of the Church of England; or from a Society or Church that was no more polluted by Idolatry or other Corruptions in Worship, than are chargeable on the publick enjoyned Worship of the Church of England. If Gen. 4.26. be meant of a Reformation, by setting up separate Congregations (as Dr Owen conceives in that Book, l 2. c. 3.) it was, that therein they might call on the Name of the Lord; which shews it was from them that did not call upon the Name of the Lord, not from them that did as in the Worship of the Church of England is done. And if Noah did reform by separation, it was from Wicked men, who had filled the earth with violence, Gen. 6.13. which doth indeed make a necessary separation, (though it appear not but that Noah continued to preach to them, and live among them, 1 Pet. 3.20. 2 Pet. 2.5.) But is not the cause of the separation avowed by this Author from the Ministers and Church of England. And though it be true, that by the Law at Mount Sinai, and other acts of Gods providence, Israel became (being gathered into one) as a City on a Hill, conspicuous unto all, yet how then a Standard was set up for the people to repair unto, needs some explication, sith such as Job, and such like holy persons (if he or any other lived at that time) seem not to have repaired to them, nor were bound to repair to them, unless they would be made Proselytes, which the avoiding Idolatry, of the Gentiles might require of them; not such Corruptions onelyonly as are in the Church of England. But let us see what beams of light may be communicated unto the present enquiry, by retrospection into the state of things in the time of the Old Law.
Sect. 6. Jewish Laws admitted some dispensation and addition.
First then, saith he, that the Lord gave unto the people of the Jews (whom he had chosen out of all the Nations of the World, to be a People near to him, his peculiar Treasure above them all) Statutes and Ordinances to walk by, both with relation to Civils and Ecclesiasticks, which they were indispensably bound to conform to, without adding to, or detracting therefrom: That the management of all their affairs was singly to be bottomed upon, and conform to these Statutes and Judgments is very frequently asserted in Scripture, Exod. 21.1. Lev. 18.4. & 19.37. & 20.22. & 25.18. & 26.15▪ 43. Deut. 4.1, 5, 8. & 5.1. & 7.11. & 11.1, 32. & 12.1. & 26.16. & 30.16. 1 Chron. 16.12. & 28.7. Psal. 89.30. Ezek. 5.6. & 36.27. Dan ▪ 9.5.
Answ. It is granted that the Lord gave unto the people of the Jews Statutes and Ordinances to walk by, both with relation to Civils and Ecclesiasticks, or (as usually they speak) Ceremonials; and that they were bound to conform to them, and so much the Texts alledged do prove. But that they were bound indispensably to conform to these Statutes, without adding to, or detracting therefrom; and that the management of all their affairs was singly to be bottomed upon, and conform to these Statutes and Judgments, is not asserted in those Scriptures, there being not one of them, that saith that they were bound indispensably to conform to them. Our Lord hath determined to the contrary in justifying his Disciples plucking the ears of Corn on the Sabbath; Davids eating the shew bread and entring into the house of God, and confirming his determination by the words of the Prophet Hosea, 6.6. in his dissertation against the Pharisees, Mat. 12.3, 7. in which there was a dispensation with, and detraction from the Laws of the Sabbath, and the Shew-bread about Ecclesiasticks, for a time in some Case. And for addition to Laws Ecclesiastical the assemblies keeping other seven dayes besides those prescribed in the Law of the Passover, 2 Chro. 30.23. and to civils that ordinance of David, 1 Sam. 30.25. Shew, that in both some additions might be by the Prince, Captain or private persons to both sorts of Lawes with Divine approbation. And that the management of all the affairs of the people of Israel, both civil and ecclesiastical, was not singly to be bottom'd upon and conform to those statutes and judgments, but that in both sorts of affairs humane prudence, and the Rulers Authority might order many things, may be cleared from sundry instances of David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and others; which there will be occasion more fully to discusse in examining the allegations brought by this Author to prove the major of his first argument Ch. 1. of this treatise.