The Cry of a Stone, Section 5
It is no wrong to Gods people, when the carnall multitude is taxed, and they perſwaded to leave them.
IF now upon theſe and the like conſiderations wee leave the generall SECT. 5.and carnall multitudes in the pariſh aſſemblies, in all ſuch actions, as are proper and peculiar to the faithfull, and in feare of offending God and ſtrengthening his enemies in evill, we joyne into Chriſtian fellowſhips apart from them, what hurt of injury doe we to any? what hurt was it to Iehoſaphat, when Eliſha in his preſence proteſted againſt Ioram, as againſt one betweene whom and God, he 2 King. 3. 13. 14. Mat. 15. 14. Luke 12. 52. Mat. 23. 27. It is no fault to taxe wicked men, and forbeare communion with them.would not intercede? what hurt was it to Chriſts Diſciples▪ when their naturall friends the Iewes, were taxed by Chriſt, and called blind guides, and blind leaders of the blind, diſſemblers, hypocrites, &c. So when we tax here the multitude of carnall people, and proteſt againſt them that they are not Gods children▪ nor that they have no right to his ſacred ordinances, nor to come neere his altar▪ nor uſe his name and word, untill they repent. But that thoſe holy and conſecrated things belong onelyonly to the faithfull Chriſtians of which there are many in the aſſemblies, whom we tell that they are not in their proper place, nor right fellowſhip, but ought to withdraw themſelves from that ſociety Act. 2. 40. 41. 44. 47.in all ſuch actions as are proper to the Saints and unite themſelves in the fellowſhip of godly men, with whom they may freely and comfortably participate, in the ſweet myſteries of the Lord; doe wee in this ſpeake blaſphemie? and are wee worthy for ſuch words and practiſes, to be taxed and traduced in print and pulpit; for wicked and damnable Schiſmatiques? For what Chriſtian man is there, that had not rather converſe with godly men then ungodly? are not It is no fault to aſſociate onelyonly with the godly in the Sacraments.the preſence of faithfull Chriſtians ſweeter to a Chriſtian, when hee commeth to powre out his prayers, and offer his oblations than the ſociety of carnall men? Well then, what is the matter, that wee for holding and practiſing theſe things, muſt be thus toſſed about and abuſed? Why muſt we be put in priſon, confiſcate goods, goe into exile, and death for holding and practiſing no otherwiſe than every Pſal. 16. 3.Chriſtian ſoule in heart deſireth? we would begin our heavenly harmony here & our delight ſhould be only in the Saints▪ and it is cuſtome, Tailor on Titus, pag. 691.wit and art, that fighteth againſt grace, conſcience and Scripture; and it is they out of their idle viſions, that perſwade to give holy things to Dogs, and mingle light and darkneſſe, Chriſt and Belial together; and 2 Cor. 6. 14. 15. and 5. 10.though times favour theſe abuſes, and puniſh us for our right grounded aſſertions, yet anon we ſhall come before a moſt juſt Judge, and then wee ſhall ſee whoſe righteouſneſſe and juſt judgement ſhall be Pſal. 37. 6.brighteſt, and who hath gone the righteſt courſe.
Wee labour to juſtifie the righteous, and condemne the ungodly, and would not have the honourable name of Chriſtians or godly 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. 11.men, given to ſwearers, liers, drunkards, oppreſſors, ſlanderers, &c. but would have them know, that as they live and delight in ſinne, and hate to be reformed; ſo no comfort, no priviledge nor favour belongs Pſal. 50. 16.unto them in that eſtate, but till they repent and breake off their ungodly courſes, no peace can be to them, nor no fellowſhip in the ſeales and badges of Saints can be had with them but as they are of the world, ſo we muſt account them, and under the kingdome of darkneſſe, Epheſ. 2. 2. Ezra 4. 3.and it belongeth not to them, but unto us to build an houſe to the Lord our God, unto them belongs no promiſe of any favour till they repent, but onelyonly the Law, thereatnings, judgements, comminations and ſharpe rebukes, which they are alwayes to heare, both publikely and privately, upon all occaſions, but nothing muſt ever be ſaid or done to them, by which they have any cauſe to thinke they are in Gods favour before they turne from their ſinnes; for if the 1 Pet. 4. 18.moſt righteous ſcarcely, and with much adoe, be ſaved, where ſhall ſuch wicked and ſinners appeare, and what hope is there for them?
And ſeeing in the things of this life they have their eaſe, pleaſure and priviledges above the godly, what are then the priviledges of the Saints? Pſal. 73. 2. 3. Iob 21. 9. 10.if alſo in ſpirituall ordinances and heavenly prerogatives they are equallized with them; alas, the men of this world feaſt and laugh, and dominere in their purple, ſcarlet, and fleſhly wantonneſſe, when many 2 Sam. 15. 23. 30. 1 Cor. 4. 11. 12. Rom. 5. 2. Epheſ. 3. 12.of Gods deare children weepe and mourne in ſecret before the Lord, and are faine to pinch hard, goe thin, lie in priſon, and ſometimes goe to the ſhambles, that they may be tryed as gold in the fire, and all the privileges of the Saints, is their free acceſſe to God, their fellowſhip in their Sabbaths, Sacrifices, Prayers, bleſſings, ſeales▪ and new ſongs of praiſe, in all which they meet with Chriſt their Saviour, Pſal. 99. 1. Phil. 1. 21.and ſo gather new comfort and refreſhing daily, amidſt the many croſſes and troubles of this tranſitory world.