Apology for the Reformed Churches, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. That it is ſometimes lawfull to ſeparate from a Company of men profeſſing Chriſtianitie.
BUt though union be a very great good, and diviſion an extreme miſchief, it followeth not thence▪ That it is not ſometimes permitted us to ſeparate in ſome ſort, from ſome Societies, who make profeſſion of ſerving God. Indeed how can it but be ſo, in a ſchole that is full of precepts and examples to that purpoſe? in a ſchole wherein we are commanded to reject a man that is an heretick, after the firſt and ſecond admonition? Tit. iii. 10. to exclude them out of our houſes, and to eſteem them not fit to be greeted, who bring us any other doctrine then that of Jeſus Chriſt? 2 John x. to abhorre the Apoſtles, nay even Angels, and to avoid them as curſed and excommunicated perſons, if they ſhould take the boldneſſe to preach ought elſe but that Gospel which is already delivered? Gal. i. 8, 9. To depart ſtraight out of Babylon, and not to be kept in there, leſt we partake at once of her ſinnes and plagues? Revel. xviii. 4. In a ſchole, where thoſe of Epheſus are commended for having hated the Nicolaitans, and thoſe of Pergamus blamed for having tolerated their doctrine? Rev. ii. 6, 15. In a ſchole where, even at the beginning, the children of the Church had continually ſo much care to ſeparate from the communion of hereticks, as Samoſatenians, Arians, and others?
Who ſeeth not, that according to this diſcipline, it is ſometimes not lawfull onelyonly, but even neceſſary to ſeparate from ſome Societies that make profeſſion of Chriſtianitie? and that in this caſe we muſt blame not generally and ſimply all that make a ſeparation, but thoſe onelyonly who make it either lightly and without reaſon, or unjuſtly and without neceſſity. The matter ſeems ſufficiently cleare. For ſince the conſervation of ſuch things as are united is the end of union, 'Tis evident that we are not to entertain any union but onelyonly with them, who may help forward that deſigne, and ſo farre onelyonly as they may help it forward.
If therefore there be any, who under colour of the bleſſed name of Chriſt ſubvert His doctrine, annihilate His authority and our ſalvation▪ 'tis ſo far from being our duty to unite our ſelves to them, that on the contrary we are obliged to part from them; becauſe to unite with them were in effect to diſunite from Chriſt and from His body, and in ſtead of coming to ſalvation to fall into eternal ruine. If in a State, a City or Province ſhould oblige thoſe that live within it, to perform actions that are contrary to the Majeſtie and ſervice of the Soveraigne, the loyal inhabitants may thereupon ſeparate themſelves, and even oppoſe and reſiſt the rebels with all their power, if occaſion be offered. For 'tis a law generally engraven by nature in all parts of the Univerſe (even in inſenſible creatures) That every thing ſeeks after the company of that which is like it, and with equal violence avoids to be near (or have any thing to do with) that which is contrary to it.
So then, both the diſcipline of Jeſus Chriſt, and the lawes of Civil ſocieties, and even thoſe of nature her ſelf, permit us to avoid the communion of ſuch as under any pretence, name, or colour whatſoever, go about to deſtroy and ruine Chriſtianity. What, did I ſay that they permit us? nay they command it ſo expreſly, that we cannot refrain from ſuch ſeparations without offending God, ſcandalizing our neighbours, and deſtroying our ſelves. And though this be a truth received among all Chriſtians, yet there is no Society or company of them, wherein it is more ſtrictly and more ſeverely practiſed, then among thoſe againſt whom we now diſpute. For who knows not with what rigour Rome hath continually rejected the Communion of thoſe who diſſent from her? In the infancy of Chriſtianitie ſhe anathematized the Churches of Aſia for a matter of nothing, viz. becauſe they celebrated Eaſter otherwiſe then ſhe: and in theſe later dayes how hath ſhe perſecuted with fire and ſword all thoſe that would venture never ſo little to oppoſe her power and greatneſſe? How many ages have paſſed over her head ſince ſhe broke with the Eaſtern, Northern, and Southern Churches, with which notwithſtanding ſhe boaſteth much of her having ſo great conformity of belief and ſervice? So nice is ſhe and delicate in this point, that we have ſeen not long ago the chiefeſt of her Monks, the moſt exquiſite of her Religious Orders, fly off and ſeparate from the State of Venice, and renounce there her Churches and Altars (where all the Articles of her faith were dayly publiſht, where all her devotions and ſervices were continually celebrated) onelyonly upon pretence, That this wiſe Commonwealth would not endure, that Pope Paul the fift ſhould bereave her of the power ſhe had, to make and execute lawes for the government of her ſubjects. So that if ſeparation ſimply be a crime, who ſeeth not that our Adverſaries are faulty too, and conſequently are not to be admitted to bring in the accuſation againſt us?