inwardly and outwardly not by extraordinary revelations and apparitions dreams and visions as formerly but by means of grace appointed ordained both for converting and building up to and in Jesus Christ they had the Temple their Sacrifices their Sacraments the same God and the same Christ that we have so we have our Temple our Altar our high Priest 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Mat. 28 19. Mat. 18.20 our Sacrifices our Sacraments all in a more substantiall and spirituall manner they had the Law we the Gospel they the promise of Gods presence so we they the promise of life and salvation by Christ so we upon condition of faith and repentance Acts 19.18 Acts 8. â—7 Marke 16.16 John 3.15 they served God under the Law we under Grace If God call a whole Nation to a visible and externall Covenant with him by the preaching of the Word the giving them the Ordinances of life and salvation by giving them hearts to make profession of obedience thereto as in England the Lord hath done I know nothing against it but that England may be as true a Nationall Church as the Church of the Jewes was and as lawfully called and constituted though very corrupt in Disciplinâ—â—â—d Doctrine and members also the Word may be preached to Heathâ—ns and Infidels for conversion as Paul did to the Athenians and to the blasphemous Jewes and yet had no externall communion with them as members of the same body Ans The Word may be preached to them that are without for their conversion to the faith to them that are within the Church by Baptisme and externall profession for their sound conversion unto God from particular sinnes and building forward in grace and godlinesse there is no communion with Heathens nor infidels because they are not of the Christian society but scandalous persons received in by Baptisme and not cast out by publike censure the Word is preached to them as members and not as unto bare hearers and they are admitted to the prayers of the Congregation as well as hearing of the Word being members of the externall Covenant to use one Ordinance and not another is to make a Schisme in the Church and as the preaching of the Word not the bare tender of the Word but the giving of it to dwell and abide with a people is a note of a true Church so is the hearing of the Word an act of communion with the Church And if the presence of wicked men at the Sacrament did defile the Ordinance to the beleever so their presence in hearing the Word would have the same effect to defile the Word also to the faithfull but the presence of the wicked defile not the ordinance to the worthy beleeving Communicant neither the Word to the prepared and sincere hearer therefore it is lawfull to participate in mixt Assemblies Object If this be all that declares a Church to be a true Church preaching of the Word administration of the Sacraments and visible profession thereunto of obedience then the Church of Rome may be a true Church Ans In the Church of Rome the Word of God is not truly taught the Ordinances and Sacraments of the Lord Christ are not dispensed therefore there can be no visible profession of obedience to them neither can it be a true Church For consider it is not the preaching of some one truth or other that is a marke of a true Church when fundamentall points upon which salvation or damnation dependeth are erroniously maintained and that by the whole Church as it is this day in the Church of Rome that cannot possibly be a true Church of Jesus Christ that maintaines universally fundamentall errors quite overthrowing the very being of Christ you may call such a Church if you will yea a true Church but let it be a true Church of Antichrist For consider 1. They permit not the word of God the Doctrine of salvation but in an unknowne tongue 1 Cor. 14. the whole chap. that people cannot understand quite contrary to the rule of the Apostle Paul 2. They will not suffer private men Lay men so much as to reade the Scriptures which is absolutely against the command of Christ and the salvation of mankind the Lord Christ saith Search the Scriptures for they testifie of me John 5.39 Acts 17.11 and in them yee thinke to have eternall life and see the men of Berea commended by Saint Paul for that the Pope prohibits upon paine of Inquisition 3. They preach and presse their owne tenets the Popes Decrees and their owne Traditions before the commands of God placing more infallibility and confidence in the Pope a sinfull mortall man then in the Scriptures themselves which is the word of truth 4. They are corrupt in such fundamentals both in Doctrine and Discipline that cannot stand with a true Church of Christ 2 Cor 5.14 Eph. 2.1 Luk. 17.10 Mat. 15.30 Hosea 4.6 2 Tim. 3.15 Mat. 9.3.4 5 6. Esa 42.1 Mat. 24.22.24 Luke 18.7 Rom. 9.11.11.15 Heb. 7.25 1. Tim. 2.5 Heb. 12.24 Heb. 24. Mark 5.36 Rom. 3.25.27 yea very contradictions to the Word of God and to the essence of Christ as the all-sufficient Saviour of all that beleeve maintaining the Doctrine of Freewill of merits of inherent righteousnesse maintaining also lawfull ignorance nay commending it for the Mother of Devotion which the Lord himselfe saith is the cause of perishing they hold also the Scripture is not sufficient to salvation but the Popes Canons must be added they also hold and maintaine confession of sinnes to Priests That the Pope and Popish Priests have power to forgive sinnes they can sell pardons for money They deny the Doctrine of Election and Predestination which the Word of God so fully holds out They maintaine prayer for the dead Eccles 11.3 Luke 16.22.27 Psal 49.8 9. They make more Intercessors and Mediators besides Christ who is and ought to be the onely Mediatour of our peace They overthrow the Doctrine of Gods free Grace and of justification by faith in Christ by the workes of super-erogation merit c. They worship Saints and Angels contrary to the Word and command of God ordain seven Sacraments five more then Christ ordained Esa 42.8 Col. 2 1â— Rev. 19. â— Acts 10.25 26. Judg. 13 15 16. Mat. 4 10. Luk. 22.15 16 17 18 19 20. John 6.33 They also turne the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ to an Idoll Masse and maintaine that grosse and palpable errour of Transubstantiation which is quite against a cloud of witnesses John 6.53.54 55 56 57 58. John 6.63 John 16.7 the 17.10 11. 1 Cor. 10.16.17 1 Cor. 11.26 John 6.47 48 50. 2 Cor. 10.14 Matth. 24.23 and 26.11 Marke 16.19 Luke 24.2 3. John 16.28 Phil. 3.20 Heb. 8.1 and 10.12 Besides these and other fundamentall errours as the palpable Idolatry c. many other of lesse concernement as their Feast dayes Fast dayes Doctrine of single life to the Clergie Dispensations to sinne
any thing deare Christ an have fallen from my pen distastefull to the tender conscience I desire it may be imputed to my weaknesse and want of time to make things more cleare rather then want of affection to give satisfaction to such a soule for as the meditations are irretoricall and broken so are the peeces a d patches of time spent upon them as my calling would permit And to the end thou maiest profit I desire thou wouldest have patience to reade it first once thorow by reason it is not so methodicall as I could wish it and afterward with more deliberation consider Secondly that thou wouldest not receive prejudice at the meannesse of the Author who intends thy good And lastly I desire the Lord to adde such a blessing as may tend to his glory the peace of his Church and also thy particular satisfaction and edification and I shall be encouraged to ingage my poore Talent for the like furture benefit Thine in the Lord Jesus W. L. A briefe discourse touching participating in mixt Assemblies at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper wherein is most full and cleare satisfaction and resolution given to every weake and doubting Christian concerning these three Questions following to such places of Scripture as seeme to maintaine a Separation from our Church Assemblies COnsidering there are many in this Kingdome and in these dayes of division and distraction that question the truth of the Church and Church Assemblies in England or at least the truth of the Church of England I have thought good by way of Introduction to that which I mainely intend to wit the second Question Whether it be lawfull to participate in and among prophane and ungodly men at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to speake something to the first and onely so much as shall be requisite to make way to the second and third question which by Gods assistance I hope will satisfie the impartiall and indifferent Reader First then concerning the truth of our Church Assemblies that they are true Churches of Jesus Christ I lay downe this as an undeniable truth that that Church or Church Assembly wherein the fundamentall truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly taught the Sacraments and Ordinances of Christ dispense â—sufficient means offered to salvation obtained and had and a visible profession of obedience to the same that is a true visible Church of Christ notwithstanding there may be many corruptions in it both in Doctrine and Discipline and members thereof For the proofe hereof I propound the example of the Church of the Jewes the Apostolike Churches of Corinth Galatia and also the the 7. Churches of Asia spoken of by Saint John Revel cap. 1. vers 4. all which are confessed by all to be true Churches of Christ yet divers of them as corrupt as the Churches of England at this day both in Doctrine Discipline and members in one degree or other 1. For the Church of the Jewes Esa 56.10 Mat. 23.16 Mat. 23.3 Mat. 15.14 It was exceedingly corrupt in all three particulars their Priests were ignorant unlearned vicious and prophane blinde leaders of the blinde Christ therefore exhorts the people not to doe after their workes but after their sayings for they said and did not very hypocriticall binding heavy burthens upon others but not touching them themselves with their least fingers proud and ambitious loving the uppermost seates in the Synagogues and made broade their phylactaries all what they did was to be seene of men their callings was also corrupt for whereas the high Priest by the Law ought to have held his Office for his life Exod 29.5 Eâ—ek 22.26 they chose 〈◊〉 every yeare and according to our best expositors they bought and sold the Office for money they were also principall violaters of the Law of God Secondly the people were generally notorious and prophane for at Nazareth they were so evilly disposed and so inraged against Christ that they all rose up to throw him headlong downe the hill whereon the City was built Luk 4 28. See Caparnaum Corazin and Bethsaida how the Lord Christ was against them for their impiety and infidelity Mat. 11.21 22. notwithstanding the great workes Christ had done among them and as for Jerusalem Luke 19.41 Christ beheld the City and wept over it saying Oh that in this thy day thou hadst knowne the things that belong to thy peace See also how they made havocke of the Lords Prophets beating them stoning them c. and as for their affection to the Lord Christ Luke 23.19 they preferre Barrabas a thiefe and murtherer before him Marke 7.8.9 Mat. 21.2 Thirdly for their worship it was filled with superstitious Ceremonies and Traditions and these they preferred before the commands of God the Temple also was prophaned and made a denne of theeves they bought and sold Oxen and Doves and made it an exchange for coyne John 9.12 Mat. 15.4 Mat. 5.21 Mal. 1.8 Deut. 14.2.3 29.10.11 12. 7.6.7 Esa 1.2 3 4 10. Lam. 4.6.22 Ezek. 16.46.47 Also their Discipline was exceedingly corrupt for if any man confessed Jesus to be the Christ he was cast out of the Synogogue their Doctrine also depraved for they made the fifth Commandement of no effect a man might neglect his Parents by giving to the Temple they forbad murther and adultery in the act but allowed them in the heart their Sacrifices also corrupted offering the blinde and lame which were not onely forbidden but hatefull to God in a word the same people that the Lord cals his peculiar and chosen ones he calleth also a stiffe-necked unwise and rebellious people a sinfull Nation yet all having right to the externall Covenant and all joyne together in the externall worship ordinances and service of God yet the scandalous infected not the better part though they had fellowship in externall communion therefore from hence we see a Church may be exceedingly corrupt and yet be a true Church 2. The Church of Corinth was corrupt in Doctrine and Discipline 1. In Doctrine some of them erred in fundamentals 1 Cor. 15.12 1 Cor 7.16 2 Cor. 12.20 21. denying the Resurrection of the dead 2. They held the Doctrine of single life yea Paul himselfe 3. There were amongst them fornicators uncleane and contentious persons 4. Divers prophane persons came to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper some comming hungry some drunke and many of hereticall and schismaticall spirits and opinions which are more hurtfull in the Church of God then prophane men by reason one is an evill that every man knowes the other being an errour to seduce the judgement is more hurtfull and dangerous 2. Corrupt in Discipline 1. Their Discipline was not put in practise for there was fornication among them not onely unpunished but unsorrowed for 2. These Schismes and Heresies continued in the Church and no course taken for the casting them out 3. Consider what the Churches of Asia were 1. Ephesus had lost
there be many such prophane wretches that thrust themselves into the Assemblies yet the Lord hath his number of chosen ones that both professe and practise obedience to the Gospel for whose sake the Ordinances are continued and the presence of God in them so that the uneven walking of wicked men doth neither take away the benefit of the Ordinances from the godly nor give a nullity to the Church 5. This also is that that will leave them one day without excuse that they sinned in a Land of uprightnesse in the middest of so much light and of enjoyment of so much means and also aggravate their sin that they have presumptuously laid claime to the Ordinances of God and have beene negligent and carelesse to walke sutable hereby they in the Sacrament eate and drinke to their owne damnation and become guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord Christ in trampling his sacred bloud under their feete and crucifying to themselves the Lord of life Object The Church of the Jewes was a true Church and so the Church of Corinth and the rest named they were a people in Covenant with God rightly constituted and there was never a nationall Church since the Jewes were rejected Mr Balâ—â—â—â—â— â—rounds oâ— Sep pag. 1â—â— Ans Religion ever since the fal is all one in substance thogh different in the dispensation and the Church one and the same though different in its manner of government and measure of its gifts fitted to the severall ages thereof the mysteries are varied according to the times but the faith whereby we live is the same in all ages and as God is unchangeable so is the Covenant unchangeable that excepted which was peculiar to the manner of dispensation the confederates and members of the Church one and the same by Gods approbation and so the common nature and essence of all true Churches and essentiall constitution from the beginning to the end of the world In all ages of the Church the members thereof ought to be holy and Saints or they shall not be approved by God Psal 50.5.16 they are Saints who have made a Covenant with God by way of Sacrifice the wicked have nothing to doe with the Covenant the end of the calling of the Church is holinesse to the glory of God at all times and is true in all ages Gen 4.26 Luke 20.26 Mat. 5.16 1 Pet. 2.12 Acts 2.47 And they which are unanswerable to this end or cleane contrary affected they are not called into Covenant or communion with God if in one age of a Church the Scripture ascribe not holinesse to a people for some few sake if the rest be unholy and prophane it ascribes it not to them in any age If in one state of the Church uncleane persons doe pollute Lev. 14.46 4â— Hag. 2.12.13 14. 1 Cor. 5 6 7 and unhallow cleane persons and things as a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe this must hold true in every age in its proportion And therefore if ignorant unwise impenitent uncircumcised in hearâ— and life rebellious and stiffenecked in course and conversation might be in externall Covenant with God and in that respect a separate and holy chosen people with whom the people of God might hold externall communion in the Ordinances of worship then it is lawfull for Christians to partake in the Ordinances of Gods worship though scandalous livers be admitted with whom in partaking we have onely externall communion for if the scandalous were in Covenant in the Jewish Church they may be so now if communion with the wicked defile now it defiled then Lev. 19.17 if the godly might communicate then because they could not cast them out even so may they now if the faithfull be bound now to reprove their delinquent brother and not suffer sinne to rest upon him the same duty concerned them in former times If the Sacraments be now available and of use according to Covenant and promise which God hath made to the faithfull and their seede and no otherwise Gen. 17 7.2â—.4 as indeed the Sacraments are all one in the common nature so are they in their use onely available to the children of the Covenant at all times If it be contrary to the maine ends for which the Lord calleth and gathereth a Church and preserveth it upon the earth that wicked and ungodly should be received into Covenant or permitted to continue in the externall society of the faithfull Jer. 5.31 Jer. 9.2.3 Esa 57.3 1.4 it was unlawfull in the Jewish Church as well as now in Christian Churches And therefore if the Church of the Jewes notwithstanding all that hath beene said were the true Church of God when it was corrupt in doctrine manners officers ordinances of worship when the teachers were dumb Dogges Jer. 11.14 Esa 50.1 Jer. 3.11.2.13.11 blinde guides the Prophets prophesied lies the Priests received gifts and the people rebellious adulterous oppressours an assembly of rebels when the Priesthood was bought and sold the Temple defiled the Law corrupted with false glosses and made voyde with sinfull Traditions when errour heresie idolatry oppression stubbornnesse and all manner of sinne was rise among them If for all this they continued the Lords visible flocke and the Lord owned them for his people and the Prophets and faithfull held externall communion with them in the Ordinances of God then the Covenant of God is not disanulled with his people nor the Church unchurched though ignorant profane persons are tolerated in the Assembly nor the godly defiled because scandalous persons are suffered to communicate Besides I would faine know what may be said of the Church of the Jewes in defence of it under the Law that may not in a more ample and large sense be spoken in justification of the Christian Assemblies under the Gospel First for the Covenant made betweene God and them chusing them from other nations to place his name among them and making Covenant with them to be their God and they his people all was upon condition of faith and obedience and this Covenant was made with them onely but the Covenant under the Gospel betweene God and his people is of a farre larger extent reaching to all Nations neither is his presence limited to any one particular place or people as then it was Esa 55.1.2 3 4 5.7 Joel 2.32 John 4.20 21 22 23 24. nor his worship consists of so many burdensome Rites and Ceremonies and legall performances the dispensation of the Covenants and of the worship of God differ but the condition is all one made and built upon faith and obedience as then it was though they by faith saw the Lord Christ yet to come in types figures and shadowes we behold him in his word by faith already come having finished the worke of our redemption and now abides in the Heavens to make intercession for his people God cals people now to him by the Word and by the Spirit
have no right to the Ordinances 3. Mourne for the abominations and corruptions in the Church and wrastle earnestly with godly prayers for reformation but desist not thy duty though Ministers be corrupt and many people prophane at the Sacrament doe thou prepare thy owne heart and receive to thy comfort for know thus much there never yet was any vâ—â—ible Church of God upon earth that was without its corruptions in Doctrine in manners in officers in members as hath beene sufficiently showed concerning the Church of the Jewes Corinth Galatia and the seven Churches of Asia yet I never read of any toleration to separate from them or that they ceased to be true Churches by reason of the corruptions in them 1. Our Saviour Christ departed not from the publike Assemblies of the Jewes Luke 2. for he was circumcised and so admitted a member of the Assemblies Luke 2 22. 2. His Mother was purified and he presented and an offering given for him as for other children Luke 2.40 3. When he came to age he was content to heare them he was found amongst them in the Temple where there was also prayer and preaching every Sabbath day Acts 16.13.14 4. He observed their Feast of Passeover and his Disciples eate it amongst them as Divines give it forth from the 26. Matth. 2.3 and John 2.23 however he observed it as they did 5. He was baptized among them publikely Matth. 3.13.15 Marke 1.9 6. He allowed his Disciples to doe as he had done Matth. 23.12 exhorting them to heare their Doctrine viz. the Scribes and Pharisees thogh they should not follow their practise because they had the Word of God taught among them though their lives were unanswerable so that he tolerates none to separate neither by his Doctrine or example Salvation saith he is of the Jewes John 4.24 that is the Word of salvation is with them or salvation is had among them by the meanes of grace with them So also see Pauls example Notwithstanding the Church of Corinth was so exceedingly corrupt both in Doctrine and Discipline as hath beene said formerly yet he gives no toleration to separate but rather showes in such cases what Gods people should doe out of whose power it was and is to reforme abuses in the Church viz. private Christians 1. Showes them their errour in admitting unworthy receivers 2. The danger of unworthy receiving and how farre it extended to their owne destruction and condemnation besides those temporall diseases and sicknesses brought also upon such disorderly Communicants 3. Showes them the right institution of it 4. The cure and remedy of this malady that it might not be hurtfull to the whole Church Let every man therefore examine himselfe looke to his owne heart and so let him eate c. not Let any one separate if that had beene the way surely he would have said there is an incestuous person not cast out there are schismes strifes and contentions there are drunkards c. in the Church men of strange opinions come not among them nor partake of the Sacrament with them lest you eate and drinke damnation to your soules no no such matter such there are among you saith he but every one of you examine your owne soules prove your selves that you be not of the number of them and so eate and so drinke to your comfort though the other eate and drinke damnation to themselves And further stirres them up to the duty 1. By showing them what he delivered to them he received from Christ 2. That it was their duty so to doe for thereby they kept a a continuall remembrance of Christ and shewed forth the death of the Lord till he come one of the maine ends of the institution of this Sacrament See the example of Gods people in former ages The sin of Elies sons was very great as great as any Ministers can be and as publike they were impudent lying with women before the doore of the Tabernacle they prophaned the Sacrifices yet the people of God came accustomarily to Shilo where they did administer to performe their duty notwithstanding the wickednesse of the Priests as Elkanah and Hannah at Jerusalem the Church was wonderfully corrupted both in Priest and people yet the faithfull in it that mourned not separated Ezek. 9 4. are taken speciall notice of so in our Saviours time he gives them no toleration to separate from the Church of the Jewes but to hear them joyn with them Mat. 23.12 and if any man can give me any example of any member either under the Law or in Christ or the Apostles time that did separate from the publike Assemblies of Gods worship oâ— had any warrant so to doe out of the word of God notwithstanding the great corruptions that hath beene proved to be in Churches in all ages then I should thinke they speake something to the purpose true indeed for Jewes to separate from Infidels and the Heathen Nations and Idolatrous practise and so for Christians under the Gospel so to doe is justifiable and both commanded by God and expected to be done but for one Jew to separate from the publike Assemblies of Gods worship from other Jewes or one Christian from the publike Ordinances and worship of God from the rest this I never read of But to speake more fully to this purpose I will 1. answer those Arguments given in to maintaine a separation from our publike Assemblies as they were given unto me in the controverting of this point 2. I will show the lawfulnesse of joyning in our mixt Assemblies 3. The unlawfulnesse to separate 4. Give satisfaction in some measure to those places of Scripture that are brought in defence of that opinion 5. Give caution to keepe off aspersion or prejudice that may be cast upon me or any of my judgement in this point Their first Argument is this They that see the Lord Christ crucified are guilty of the body and bloud of Christ but Gods people at the Sacrament see the Lord Christ crucified by wicked men therefore they are guilty of the body and bloud of Christ Answ This Argument is false in every part of it For 1. Men may see the Lord Christ crucified and not be guilty of the body and bloud of Christ for it is the very maine end and use of the Lords Supper to behold Christ crucified and to show the Lords death till he come in a speciall manner 2. If all that see Christ crucified should be guilty of his death and of his body and bloud then Mary the mother of Christ and his disciples and friends that saw him despightfully used by the Jewes when he was haled and nailed to the Crosse who were heartily grâ—eved at it and would if they could have prevented it were guilty oâ— the body and bloud of Christ and all that saw Judas betray Christ by the same reason were guilty of betraying him also even the Disciples themselves 3. Know no godly man can
one godly man of this soule nourishment it is true our Saviour Christ saith Cast not Pearles before Swine nor holy things to Dogs Matth 7.6 that is spoken as well of the doctrine of the Gospell as of the Sacrament yea and more properly Christian exhortations admonitions and reproofes are there meant as appeares by the following words Lest they turne againe and all to rent you or lest they spurne at and reject your reproofes admonitions and you also This also is of the same importance Reject him that is an heretique Tit. 3.10 after the first and second admonisâ—ion both places import thus much that if wicked men would with patience and meekenesse receive and heare the word of God with Christian admonitions c. and not resist and reject them they might receive the benefit of them and though they might be yet uncapable of the Sacrament that which I infer from that place of Scripture is that it hath no relation at all to the Sacrament more then to other holy ordinances Secondly that though we ought not to give holy things to dogs nor Pearles to Swine yet holy persons those to whom such precious mercies belong ought not to be denyed them although the first inference should bee denied concerning the relation of that place of Matthew to the Sacrament yet no reasonable man can deny the latter 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. 1 Cor. 11.28 1 Cor 11.26 Matth. 26.26 27 28. 3ly Consider the command of our Saviour Christ for the performance of this duty Doe this in remembrance of me and so also we have an Apostolicke injunction for it Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of this bread and drinke of this cup also consider the use and end of its institution for as oft as yee eate of this bread and drinke of this cup yee show the Lords death till he come so also drinke ye all of it for this is my blood of the new Testament that is shed for many for the remission of sinnes and in the same place concerning the bread he saith Take eate this is my body c. Fourthly wee have the example as of all Gods people in all ages partaking in mixt assemblies so of Gods Priests and Ministers in all times yea in the Apostolike Churches of Corinth Galatia the seven Churches of Asia the Church of the Jewes under the Law yea also in our owne Congregations since the reformation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper hath beene received in mixt assemblies as hath beene already largely proved and if Gods people have received it in mixt assemblies by consequence Gods Priests and Ministers have delivered it in mixt assemblies indeed God blames the Priests under the Law for admitting people uncircumcised to his holy ordinances but never for giving holy things to holy persons or to any that were in externall Communion with them though doubtlesse many of them were vitious in their lives Saint Paul doth not say if the incestuous person or those drunkards or Schismatiques that were in the Church of Corinth were not cast out that they should cease the publike administrations no not a word to that purpose but use all lawfull meanes in our power to purge abuses of this nature out of the Church but especially out of our owne hearts Let every man examine himselfe and so let him eate c. Fiftly godly Ministers give occasion to carnall men to despise the worke of reformation while they see even those that seeme to be most forward that way different in their practises some desisting the administration some continuing it See say they what manner of reformation these men would have they differ so among themselves they know not what they would have so hinder the worke of reformation and scandall the wayes of God by their divisions among themselves and give great advantage to the adversaries of our Religion Sixtly as it is better for Gods sheepe to feed upon pasture where some weeds grow rather then starve for want of food so it is better for Gods shepheards to suffer some weeds to grow in the sheeps Pasture if they cannot prevent it then to starve their flocke yea and as it is better for the sheepe to feed among goates rather then starve so it is better the shepheards should suffer goates to feed upon the sheeps pasture though it should poyson them then for the sheepe to be kept from it it being as I said out of their power to reforme it 7. Consider there is neither command in Scripture nor example of any Priest under the Law or Minister or Pastor under the Gospell that upon this or any such ground did lay aside the administration of publike Ordinances especially the Sacrament of the Lords Supper But we see it is expresly commanded to be observed and enjoyned Gods people to frequent and if Gods people ought not to forsake the Assembly or the Ordinances or turne their backes upon them from any such ground much lesse ought the Ministers who by their absence give a cessation to the Ordinances deprive Gods people of the benefit and use of them for whose sakes they were as I said principally ordained Object Gods Ministers doe but desist the administration a while till it please God to open a doore of enlargement that power may bee put into their hands to cast out offenders and to have a people congregated according to God Answ Wee all ought to labour and indeavour this way both by prayer and all other lawfull meanes to forward this worke of reformation but I know no warrant any Minister of God hath upon any such ground to deny either Gods people or themselves the benefit of this Ordinance they may as well desist all other publike administrations upon one and the same ground suppose divers honest men were confined to a place where they could not bee without the company of ungodly men and that there were a keeper appointed to looke to them to give them that by which their lives and comforts are preserved and maintained what would we thinke of that keeper that would refuse to administer such things as are of absolute necessitie to preserve them in health till they come as it were out of prison to have their tables spread in their owne houses and families out of such wicked company not knowing when the time of their confinement would end surely we would conclude him an ignorant or idle fellow that would rather suffer them to starve in keeping their allowance from them then giving it them in an untoward way or among theeves and robbers and as foolish would they be found that upon such grounds refuse to receive their nourishment even so though Gods people bee constrained either to partake with wicked men at the Lords table or lose the benefit of it I hould it a very weake argument that the presence of wicked men should debarre them of it surely the necessity Gods people have of it the right they have
a true man and have a palsie hand Rom. 12.4 5. 1 Cor. 6.15 Ephes 5 30. or a rotten finger and the way to preserve life is to cut off the dead rotten member not to cut off the sound if there should be any of that other opinion I should as the proverbe saith count him a good Chirurgion but a very bad Physitian Mat. 13.24 25. Fifthly to a field wherein is Cockle as well as corne Tares as well as Wheate And though some hold that this parable hath relation to the whole world and by Kingdome of heaven is meant the Gospell of the kingdome yet it may as rightly be applyed to the condition of the visible Church which shall consist of Tares as well as Wheate to the end of the world Yet take it which way ye will see the Lord of the Harvest is very carefull to preserve the Wheate and therefore would not have the Tares medled withall till harvest not that I would so apply it as that prophane men in the Church should not be dealt withal but to this purpose to let men know the way to preserve a Church is not by plucking up the godly or the Wheate but rather to roote out the Tares the weedes the ungodly and let the good Corne stand and grow till harvest to be gathered into Gods barne Sixthly The Ordinances in the Church as the Word and Sacraments and Prayer are compared to the Wedding Feast to which a man should bring his wedding garment when in that Parable of the marriage of the Kings Sonne the King came in he never reproved them that satâ— at table that had on these Wedding garments but him that had none takes him and casts him out the rest were not shut from the table because they sate with him that had not on his garment nor reproved for it he sinned and he onely suffered so consequently the beleeving prepared Communicant shall not be blamed for the unbeleeving and impenitent but his sin shall be upon his owne head And as the sinnes of wicked men and their presence at the Sacrament cannot hinder the godly from eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ spiritually by faith so they can no way hinder the beleever from life and salvation Joh. 6.54 by this their spirituall feeding upon Christ Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood shall not perish but have everlasting life Tenthly It will appeare it is unlawfull to separate from our visible and publicke a semblies because the Lord continues his presence among us Let no man be more holy than God For so long as the Word and Sacraments are continued and the visible signes of Gods gracious presence making the meanes effectuall to convert and build up in the wayes of God as the Lord be praised wee have sufficient proofe dayly of we may conclude it is utterly unlawfull to separate They themselves that do separate do confesse they had their conversion in our assemblies and their beginnings of grace though some of them evade it and say not by the meanes in the Church of England but by reading and private conference and the like but we have daily sufficient and good testimony of the benefit received by the Ordinances and meanes of grace continued in our publique assemblies I hope every godly heart among us hath large testimony of the daily heate life and comfort that is found in them we finde that prophesie in the 42 of Isaiah and the 16. verse fulfilled to us and so Isaiah 29.18 where the Lord by the Prophet foretells what he would doe for his people under the Gospell he would bring the blinde by a way they knew not that he would make darkenesse light before them and crooked things straight so in that 29. Chapter In that day shall the deafe heare the words of the booke and the eyes of the blinde shall see out of obscurity and out of darkenesse c. And truely the proofe of the efficacy of the meanes of grace in our publique assemblies hath received the witnesse of many hundreds who have suffered persecution for it and have many of them sealed it with their dearest blood who doubtlesse are now enjoying the blessed fruites of their sufferings for the name profession and Gospel of Christ none of all which Martyrs did ever account in the Church of England the Ordinances of God Idolatrous or Antichristian or till it did wholly apostate and as it now stands it was in Kings Edwards time Iohn 9.25.32 What better witnesse can there be than experience or how is the tree knowne but by its fruites this perswaded the blinde man of the truth of Christs Doctrine even the miracle that he wrought upon him Surely saith he God heares not sinners and I am sure I once was blinde and I now see as I hope many of us in our assemblies can say whose eyes the Lord hath opened and whose hearts the Lord hath changed Let the Separation raile upon our Ordinances Ministers and Assemblies as much as the Scribes and Pharisees against Christ and his Apostles and Disciples and labour to seduce men as they would have done the blinde man whose eyes he had opened I say let them do what they will to reproach us we may truely say once we were blind and we now see and we are sure the Lord hath opened our Eyes by this contemptible meanes and as by vertue of Christs prayer the clay and spittle became effectuall so by vertue of the Spirit of God and the Intercession of Jesus Christ for his poore Saints the meanes of grace becomes effectuall both to convert and to confirme and establish to eternall life By workes Saint James saith faith is made manifest or perfect Jam. 2.22 and so our Saviour saith The workes which I doe testifie of me and as the miracles and great workes of Christ ought to have convinced the Jewes that he was Christ so the many yeares large and plenteous fruite reaped by the publique administrations of the Ordinances in our publique assemblies ought to be sufficient to convince all gainesayers that deny the truth and lawfulnesse of them for surely were not the presence and power of God in the Ordinances they would become dead and fruitlesse 11. If a man were desirous to separate and that it were lawfull where is the Word of God the Gospell of Jesus Christ more fully clearely truely and powerfully preached than in our publique assemblies and in many places the Sacraments as duely and reverently administred And I am confident there are as few false-hearted professors in the Church of England considering the proportion as in the most exact assembly of separation by Professors are meant not onely such as are in externall Communion but such as seem in a more speciall manner to performe godlinesse and of these for uprightnesse they may set forth to most exact assemblies c. of separation 12. Consider Salvation is to be had in the Church of England by the meanes of
grace continued in it therefore it is a true Church and unlawfull to separate from it and to turne our backes upon the Ordinance Object We that separate doe not turne our backes upon the Ordinances but we desire to enjoy them with more purity Answ It is lawfull to desire and indevour this way but let no man be more holy than God commands him nor doe unlawfull actions that a good end may be produced out of it Let any man shew me where Scriptuâ—e allowes of or commands any such separation from a true Church for any such ends and I shall be silent it is true there are many places pointing out Gods people to separate from heathens publike Idolaters and Idolatrous worshippers but never did I read that one Jew separated from the publique assemblies of Jewes nor one Christian warranted to separate from the publique assemblies of that Church of which hee is a member borne of Christian parents which were members of this Church and themselves admitted members by baptisme into the visible assemblies of Gods worship and ordinances that such a one should rip himselfe from the publike assemblies of Gods people for any errour in Doctrine or Discipline especially not fundamentall 1 Tim 2.1.2 Deut. 17.18 Iosu 3.6 and 6.6 1 King 2.35 2 King 18.4 1 Chron. 13.12 15 1.11.12.16 2 Chron. 8.14 17.6 7 8 9. 19.18 Mat. 22.21 Rom. 13.1 2. 1 Pet. 2.13 Mat. 10.23 or though it be fundamentall if not the errour of the whole Church it gives no warrant to separate for I doe not account the private opinions of some of our Divines who are corrupt in some tenents as that of Arminius Pelagius Socinus c. to bee the errour of the whole Church For many hundreds for one disclaime these errours both clergy and Laity they have no calling to create a Church to themselves without consent of authority the civill Magistrate having power both as I conceive to establish and reforme Religion and so long as he doth do it according to God we must obey actively if he derogates then we must obey passively if the Magistrate command me to heare the Word to observe the Sabbath c. I am bound in conscience I conceive to obey but if he command me to goe to masse I may and ought to refuse but not resist obey passively in this as in all other I subject to better judgements Yet I hold it also lawfull to flie rather then resist or suffer but this flying I account is passive also Fourthly I come now to speake something of those places of Scripture alledged for tâ—e maintaining of these errors of separation Deut. 33.28 From the matter First Numb 2.34 the children of Israel did according to all that Moses commanded them from the Lord so they pitched by their standards and so they set forward every one after their Families according to the house of their Fathers Answ I know not at all what relation this hath to the matter in hand or how to conclude a separation lawfull from hence and though the Israelites did observe Gods direction in their journeys yet many of them were wicked enough in their lives and yet the other separated not from them if they would conclude from hence that Christians should undertake nothing under the Gospel but what they have command from God for in matter of worship or otherwise then I conclude they must not separate because God never commands that we should separate from the publique assemblies of his people but I will cease to speake any thing at all to those places of lesse concernment onely quote them in the Margent that the Reader may peruse them himselfe and speake to those which seeme to have more strength Deut. 7.6 7. â— Ibidem Secondly Levit. 20.26 and yee shall be holy unto me for I the Lord your God am holy and have severed you from other people Answ This is farre from the matter in hand here is a command to Israel to be holy because God their God is holy and had severed them from other heathen and Idolatrous nations what warrant this gives one Jew to separate from another or one godly man to separate from publique assemblies of Gods worship I know not our Saviour Christ â—â—yes the same command upon his Disciples and so upon us to be holy as he is holy and he chose his Disciples out of the world doth this give them warrant to separate one from another all true beleevers are chosen out of the world that is from the common sinfull courses customes and fashions of the world yet they ought to hold fellowship in the worship of God Thirdly Ezra 9.2 the Israelites are blamed for a sinfull mingling themselves which were the holy seed with the Idolatrous and heathen nations that worship Idols and false gods Sunne Moone Planets c. and that in an especiall manner prohibited viz. marrying with them This is unsutable to the occasion it is quoted for if wee worship Idols or our ordinances be Idolatrous in their institution then it were to some purpose John 15.19 Because I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hate you Answ All Gods people are chosen out of the world and upon the same ground are hated by the world doth this give any liberty to decline the ordinances Fourthly 1 Pet. 2.9 10. But ye are a royall Priest-hood a chosen Generation Answ This Text hath reference to all the elect of God as appeares in the first Chapter and first Verse to strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia who were converted and hath no relation at all to a Sacramentall Communion or Church fellowship onely intimates all beleevers are chosen and peculiar to God which we deny not in opposition to the vast multitudes of prophanors in the world Fifthly 2 Chro. 23.19 Jehojada appointed Porters to the house of the Lord that none that was uncleane should enter in Answ Put case that Leviticall cleansings and purifications were not now out of date yet this is not to the purpose For if he had set Porters to keepe out the cleane from the ordinances because of some uncleane among them that were already entred in it had beene something though but a little to this purpose by reason many things and many men at some times were then accounted uncleane that now are not to be counted uncleane under the Gospell as by touching a dead carkas or having an issue of seed c. these are cleane under the Gosspell which were then uncleane Sixtly Ezekiel 44.9 No stranger uncircumcised in heart or in flesh should enter into the Sanctuary Answ Though no stranger should enter because they were not in the limits of the nationall Covenant of circumcision yet all that were admitted members of the Jewish nation by circumcision were also admitted to the ordinances and yet many of them as vicious and prophane as hath formerly beene proved as any in our assemblies can be
4.15 whilst Gods people by an even and peaceably walking following the truth in love and by keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Ephe. 4.3 might adorne the Gospell and by their godly conversation incourage others to come in And now in all that I have said having declared my owne judgement which I shall ever carry in my hand and lay at the feet of him that shall give mee further light though I desire not to meddle with too many doubtfull disputations my time nor abilities affording it I beseech the Lord to perswade our hearts what is good and acceptable to him and how to walke in all well pleasing before him to whom be all honour and glory for evermore Amen A Postscript AMongst many friendly solicitations I had for the publishing this Treatise I met with one whom I made acquainted with my intentions that thought it not convenient at this time by reason as be conceived it would give some advantage to our wicked Malignants to cherish in themselves their evill thoughts of the Churâ—h and people of God for their division by reason this booke also in diverse pâ—aces of it reprehendeth the like misdemeanours in the Church which the Papists and our prophane ones so much cast in the face of our Religion and truely before I brought it to the presse I debated the businesse with my selfe whether the premises considered I ought rather in conscience to bring it forth for the benefit of the Church and people of God or to conceale it for this supposed disadvantage and being very willing to remove all scruples from their tender conscience I thought good briefely to set downe the reasons and arguments which inforced the birth of that which otherwise had beene buried in oblivion First I considered many had laboured with mee to have it made publike and but one onely that objected any thing against it and that onely for the time present be thought not convenient Secondly I considered the fuller of distractions the Church and State is the more need is there to hasten forth such a subject as this is Thirdly that we ought to have a farre more high esteeme of the satisfying the conscience of the weake Christian and to have a greater care to settle the divisions which are in the Church then to trouble our selves with the evill constructions of the wicked Foâ—rthly there is nothing made knowne herein either to Papists or Maâ—ignants that they can take the least advantage but what they already know they know too well by our rents and schismes in the Church that wee are divided whether any man should indeavour the unitie thereof yea or no surely wâ—e should not be ashamed to make peace betweene neighbours though some others doe thereby take notice of the difference betweene them much lesse ought wee to neglect to indeavour the quiet of the Church and people of God although even hereby some men take notice of the distractions in it Fifthly the best way to convince the adversaries of truth is to side with them so farre as they speake the truth neither ought wee to bee ashamed to speake that which is a truth although the prophanest wretch in the world shâ—uld speake the same for by the same reason because the Devill acknowledged Christ to bee the Sonne of God the Disciples should have denied him Sixthly men of prophane and malignant spirits never trouble themselves much with bookes of Divinity especially in these times wherein nothing sells but State matters I dare presume where there is one malignant buyes this Booke to abuse it twentie honest men will buy it for their benefit Seventhly the neglect of treating upon this and the like subject is a maine cause of the divisions of the Church there not being one of a hundred that spend their time in publike or private by word or writing this way and if the consciences of Gods people bee satisfied in this point there will consequently be more peace in the Church and lesse ground of scandall the cause being removed the effect must needs cease Eighthly if every man should be silent this way it would be a tacit justification of the preposterous proceedings of them that make such disturbances in publike assemblies which no honest man dare doe Ninthly whatsoever truth of Gods Word there is that concernes his glory and his Churches welfare to bee declared this ought not to be smothered for some seeming disadvantage 10. If we must write nor speak no truths that wicked men will carpe at and draw false conclusions from truely many precious truthes would lie in obscuritie as that of free Grace of Predestination and many other of like concernment nay wee see by experience in generall how the standing so much for a reformation hath caused many malignants to spend their wits wealth time and strength to oppose it 11. There is not a word of encouragement in all the Booke to countenance wicked men in their sinfull approaching the Lords Table although Gods people may warrantably participate notwithstanding 12. If Christians would rest satisfied in this point and waite upon God in the use of the meanes of grace till the Lord by a lawfull power perfect the worke of reformation this would be both a great forwarding to the worke and the best way to stop the mouth of the adversaries of peace and truth 13. So long as the divisions of the Church are continued and especially if countenanced by silence it gives the enemy cause to blaspheme the name of God and speake evill of his wayes farre more then such indeavours for peace as this is or any way can doe 14. The worst they can say or see from hence is that the Church is divided this they say and see too apparent the more neede of a speedy reconciliation 15. If bookes of this nature give advantage to Papists and malignants to cry out upon the divisions of the Church how much more those hundreds that maintaine a separation and so occasion division 16. If this Booke maintaine malignant Tenets so doth the Author and as farre as it doth and then it can be no scandall at all to the people of God it will be conceived the worke of a malignant but I see no cause if it have Jacobs voyce why it should have Esaues garment put upon it it may peradventure meete with the like entertainment from some particulars as the Sunne and Moone doth in their course there is a kind of bird that loves not the Sunne and a kinde of beast that will barke at the Moone yet the Planets themselves of admirable use to the whole Creation even so some one or other may bee offended hereat that is no true friend to light truth or peace but I am comforted in this what I have written is well bottomed upon God Word intended for his glory and the peace of his Church And I am confident of this that while wicked men like Serpents sucke poyson out of the purest grape Gods people like the Bee will draw bony out of this Bramble Berry for whose sakes I have published it the Lord make it successefull FINIS