A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Chapter 10 · Section 6
Sect. 6. Christs and his Apostles going to the Jewish meetings, is opposite to the Separatists opinion and practice.
Object. 2. If it be said, But we find Christ and his Apostles after him, going frequently into the synagogues, where the Scribes and Pharisees Preached. Ans. We answer first, That all that Christ and the Apostles did, is not lawful for Saints to practice, will not be denied: many instances are near at hand for its confirmation, should it so be. 2▪ That 'tis one thing to go into the synagogues, and another thing to go thither to attend upon the Ministry of such as taught there: This is the present case, which that Christ or the Apostles ever did, cannot be proved. 3. They went thither to oppose them in, and confute their innovations and traditions in the worship of God, to take an opportunity to teach and instruct the people in his way and will: which when any have a spirit to do, and are satisfied that they are thereunto called by the Lord, in respect of the present Ministers and worship of England, we shall be so far from condemning them therein, that we shall bless God for them. But this is not to the purpose in hand: the attendance of our brethren upon the Ministers of England, is quite another thing, that requires other arguments for its support, than we have hitherto met with. —Parvas habet spes Troia si tales habet.
I reply, It is clear from Luke 2.46. that our Lord went to the Temple at Jerusalem, sate in the midst of the Doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. Luke 4.16. That he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up to read, that he cured persons there, Preached in the synagogues, that Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the hour of prayer the ninth, Acts 3.1. That Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and sate down, and did not speak to the people till after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, Acts 13.14, 15. That on the sabbath St. Paul went out of Philippi by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made, and sate down; and that this was his manner, Acts 16, 13. and 17.2. Now neither were these synagogues by any appointment of God that we find, nor their meeting, nor their rulers, nor the order of their reading of the Law and the Prophets, nor their Teachers, nor their worship at the Temple without many corruptions; and yet our Lord and his Apostles were present at them, and joyned with them in hearing them read, and such other services of Religion as were done to God. Which is a good reason, wherefore it should not be counted necessary to separate from the present Assemblies in England, and the publick Ministers, notwithstanding such corruptions in their worship, such defect in their calling, such pullutions in the places of meeting, as are by this Authour and other Separatists urged as a sufficient reason of their separation. The answers hereto are insufficient. For 1. Though all that Christ and his Apostles did either out of peculiar power or Commission, or instinct be not lawfull for us to do, as to…whip buyers and sellers out of the Temple, to sentence persons to death as Peter did Ananias and his wife: yet what they did as men, or part of the Jewish people in the worship and Church of the Jewes, is a warrant to us in the like case to do in the assemblies of the Christians, there being no cogent reason, why we may not in these things do as they did, and if these things may not be used for direction and setling our Consciences▪ they are in vain written by the Spirit. 2. Though Christ and his Apostles did not go into the Synagogues to attend on the Ministry of such as taught there, yet they did there hear the Law and Prophets read, and joyned in prayers, which this Authour will not allow his brethren to do in the Church Assemblies of England. 3. That Christ or his Apostles went into the Synagogues to oppose them in, and confute their innovations, and traditions in the worship of God, is more than I remember to have read: nor do I know that any that have or shall come into the assemblies of the Church of England to such an end, as Quakers and other Separatists heretofore have done, can be judged to do it out of any other spirit than a turbulent and evil spirit, without any true calling by the Lord, which might satisfie their Consciences: And though we should bless God, if liberty were granted more than is, and opportunities taken to teach the people, especially where there is want thereof, in the way and will of God, yet we should not rejoyce that mens particular opinions, or such unnecessary truths, as being unseasonably delivered, would tend to division, and not to edification, should be vented, especially in such auditories, as are in the common sort of those assemblies, and most of all where there are able preachers, who constantly and rightly teach the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ. It is added,