necks they are properly stiled children of Belial their hellish design is clean contrary to the Text to cause divisions and offences amongst you 2. As it is necessary to prevent divisions that you submit to the same Government so that you walk by the same rule What is that It is either Principal or Subordinate Principal even the Law and the Testimony the sacred Scriptures Subordinate even according to the Scriptures the rules and canons and Customes of the Church without a due respect to both these rules in their right places it is impossible Christians should speak all the same things but there will be divisions among them I dare assert and think it not difficult to maintain by the Scriptures as well as clear reason that there is an obligation upon the members of that Church in which they were born baptised and bred up to submit unto and obey the rules and canons and customes thereof if they be not able to prove them contrary to the Scriptures or the clear light of natural reason in us or at least such conclusions as are properly directly and evidently deduced from them There is much in that argument of the Apostle to confirm the sober-minded herein p 1 Cor. 11. If any man be contentious we have no such custome neither the Churches of God And in that of our Saviour If the Offender will not hear the Church let him be to thee as an Heathen and a Publican and again he that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Do not think I ascribe to the Church any Popish infallibility or call for any blind obedience unto it O no if any of its rules or injunctions appears to be contrary to the Word of God like Nebuchadnezzar's to the three Children to fall down to his Image or Darius his to Daniel not to pray to any other God or the High-Priests to the Apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus then must we answer with them whether must we obey God or man judge ye But then we must not deny our obedience to such Church rules and canons as repugnant to God's Word upon light surmises and slender presumptions this were to speak evil of the things we know not q Jude 10. O no r As I take it this is the excellent Bishop Sanderion in one of his Sermons No worse for that as in the Courts of Civil Justice men are not ordinarily put to prove themselves honest men but the proof lieth on their accusers part and therefore it is sufficient for the acquitting any man in soro externo that there is nothing of moment proved against him it being requisire to the condemning a man that there be a clear and a full evidence against him So in these moral trials when enquiry is made into the lawfulness or sinfulness of our Churches rules and customes and our Governours commands it is sufficient to warrant them if there can be nothing produced from express Scriptures or sound reason against them and to condemn or disobey them upon remote consequences and weak deductions though it be from Scripture-Texts can ne'r be excused of rashness and unrighteousness Sure obedience is an unquestioned duty obey them that have the rule over you saith the Apostle for they watch for your Souls and therefore unless it be manifest that their Lawes and injunctions be against the Word of God all our questions are but carpings and needless stumbling blocks laid in our way by the Troublers of Israel The safest way is obedience which also is absolutely necessary among Christians that they may speak the same things and that there be no divisions among them Then 3. More particularly still to this end that as Christian Brethren ye may speak the same things without divisions it is necessary that ye all joyn in the same form of prayer praise and manner of worshipping God It was David's earnest desire O magnifie the Lord with me Psal 34.3 and let us exalt his Name together And the Holy Ghost in the Acts mentions this Uniformity in the Churches Infancy and time of her first love to be one chief cause of its prospering and inlarging Acts 4.24 The multitude of Believers lifted up their voice in praises with one accord Acts 4.24 The people with one accord gave heed to the things that Philip spake Acts 8.6 And it s a great part of the blessedness of the heavenly Jerusalem Rev. 4.10 that the Elders sing with one voice unto the Lord. So doth the Apostle make it his earnest prayer for the Romans Rom. 15.6 that they might be like minded one towards another that with one mind and with one voice they might glorifie God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and with one mouth too while men think to glorifie God in several ways and several forms it is scarce intelligible how they can do it in this desirable manner with one mind and with one mouth so many several ways so many several mouths and that can never tend to the glory of God The Apostles expression intimates that like-mindedness unanimity and uniformity are very subservient to the glory of God What an honour is it to the God of Israel when all Israel came in as one man to do him worship when that admirable variety of Gifts and Administrations and Offices that are in his Church do not jar and clash one against another but sustain and mutually supply out of their stores the wants each of other and all conspire together in their several kinds to glorifie God What else is musical harmony but concord in discourse variety in consort it makes the musick full and delightful when there is a well-ordered variety of voices and instruments in it but if all instruments were perfectly well tuned yet if the men could not agree what to play but one would have a nimble Galliard another a frisking Jig another a grave Air and if all of them should be so wilful as without yielding to the rest to scrape on his Tune as loud as he could what a hideous hateful noise may you imagine would such a mess of Musick be no less odious to God and equally grievous to every godly man it is when such Vices as these are heard in the Church of God I am of Paul and I of Cephas 1 Cor. 1.12 and I of Apollo When one Pamphleteer will have the Church governed after this fashion another after that when one Mountebank in Religion will have this way of Worship and form of Prayer another that to the great scandal of the Reformed Religion and the manifest dishonour of God Surely beloved such an Uniformity as of all Christian Members of the same Church to be of one mind and worship God in one place and in one way and form and manner with one accord would be the most beautiful and comely and happiest thing in
and drinking the same spiritual drink in the holy Communion and therefore all reason that as members of the same Body and servants of the same Family we speak the same things and there be no divisions amongst us Mr. Baxter in his Cure of Divisions urgeth two or three things well in this Topick of the Church as that our union with the Church is a sign of our proportionable union with Christ and our separation from the Church is a sign of our separation from Christ nay that union is not only an accident but of the very Essence of the Church without which it is no Church and without which we can be no members of it Unity being necessary to the very being of the Church and of Christianity and that our union is necessary to our nourishment from and Communion with Christ and his Church but I refer you for these to him See it page 66. whom perhaps some will rather hear than us if we should speak the same words I shall amongst many particulars urge only four things with reference to the Church that shews the need you have to speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst you 1. This is the only way to forward the work of God for the building up of the Church which Faction and divisions on the other hand obstructeth so as nothing more You often read in Scripture of edifying the Body of Christ Eph. 4.12 2 Cor. 12.19 and of doing all things to edifilcation The expression is metaphorical taken from material buildings often used by the Apostle with application to the Church of God and the spiritual building thereof 1 Tim. 3.15 for the Church is the House of the Living God and all Christian-members of this Church are as so many stones of this building whereof the house is made up and the bringing in unbelievers into the Church by converting them to the Christian Faith is as the fetching of more stones from the Quarries to be laid in the building Now the building in it self and that is edification is the well and orderly joyning together of Christian men as living stones in truth and love that they speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst them that they may grow together as it were into one entire building to make up a strong and comely house for the Masters use and honour a 1 Pet. 2.9 Indeed there is nothing more conduceth hereunto than Peace Love and Concord Knowledge is very little or nothing but a puff in comparison of Charity in order to Edification b 1 Cor. 8.1 It may swell and look big and make a shew but Charity doth the deed c 1 Cor. 1.10 It lays the stones together and makes them couch close one to another and binds them up with Fillings and Cement to make them hold Hence that wise Master-builder S. Paul that knew well what belongs to this work when he speaks of compacting the Church into a building mentions the edifying of it self in love d Eph. 4.16 Indeed when all the Workmen intend the main business each in his place and office performing their appointed task with chearfulness and good agreement then doth the work go on and the building gets up apace and strongly but when one man draws one way and another another way one will have things done after this fashion another after that one mars what another makes pulls down what another sets up how is it possible while things go thus that ever the building should be brought to any perfection or handsomness and therefore well doth the Apostle joyn these two together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 e Rom. 14.19 Let us follow after the things that make for peace and things wherewith we may edisie one anot her Where the hearts and tongues of the builders are divided the building will either come to nothing or prove but a Babel of confusion for where envy and strife is there is confusion and every evil work f James 3.16 Strife will make ill work it will build up nothing unless it be Babels walls It is peace and concord that builds up the walls of Jerusalem which as it hath its name from peace so hath it also its perfection from peace and then and not before shall Jerusalem be built as a City that is at unity in it self g Psa 122.3 whe◠they that build Jerusalem are first at unity amongst themselves when they speak the same things and there is no divisions amongst them 2. As this is the way to build the Church so it is the way to preserve in both in peace beauty and safety 1. In peace The concord of Familie is their peace so is amity and concord in the Church whereas the divisions and discords of Christians disturbs their minds and discomposeth the Church Pray for the peace of Jerusalem h Psa 125. saith the Psalmist but by different forms and ways there is a breach of that peace such divisions in the Church are like wars and tumults in the Commonwealth they discompose and set it out of order It was Sir Henry Wotton's excellent saying Disputandi pruritus Scabies Ecclesiae The Itch of Disputing doth cause the Scab of the Church Every Sect finds some little pleasure in scratching by zealous wranglings and disputes for their several Opinions till the blood be ready to follow and at length it proves the bain of peace and charity and love which is the very life and soul of Christian Religion Now is not this or should it not be an effectual Motive to this Unity Unamity and Uniformity How dear should be the Churches peace to every member thereof Dulce nomen pacis the very name of peace sounds sweetly to the ear there is such a mixture of pleasantness and profitableness in it as wrapt the Psalmist into admiration ut prius miraretur quà m ostenderet he admires it himself and rouzeth others to the like admiration i Psa 133.1 Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is Brethren to dwell together in unity some things are pleasing not good as Epicurism and Good-fellowship some things good not pleasing as Fasting and Martyrdom but this both for pleasure it is like the Oyl poured out on Aaron's Head for goodness it is like the Dew on Hermon's Hill which made the Valleys fruitful So good and pleasant it is that nothing can be pleasant without it It is the desire of all hearts the rest of all Nations the end of all Contentions pacem te poscimus omnes nothing more desirable in Families in Kingdoms much more in the Church And therefore lest we violate the Churches peace it concerns us to speak the same things lest there be no peace but divisions amongst us 2. It is the way to preserve the Church in beauty and honour the concord of Christians is their beauty and honour and their divisions and discord is their deformity and shame The Church
stands upon two Staves the Staff of Beauty and the Staff of Bands if the Staff of Bands be once broken the Staff of Beauty cannot long stand but by divisions our Beauty becomes deformity Reformation deformation as when one hand is black and another white one cheek pale another red so whilst we become several Churches several Bodies what do we but make a Monster of the Church the Body of Christ Indeed nothing more tends to the Churches dishonour and Christs dishonour than this there is no such scandal to the Churches Enemies of all sorts than this the common Enemies of the truth of Religion are chiefly Atheism and Superstition and wherefore serveth the home-differences of Christians especially about indifferent things about Gestures and Vestures and other indifferent Rites and Formalities that for such things as these things in their own nature indifferent and never intended to be otherwise imposed than as matters of circumstances and order men should desert their Ministerial Charges fly out of the Church as out of Babylon stand at open Desiance against lawful Authority and sharpen their tongues and pens with so much petulancy and virulency as some have done wherefore serveth this but to the dishonour of Christians and Christianity and to give scandal to the Enemies thereof 1. To the Athiest for he till all men be of one Religion and agreed in every point thereof too which I doubt will never be whilst the World lasteth thinketh it the best wisdom to be of none nay makes it his best pastime to jeer at all The agreement of Christians is an ocular demonstration to the World that they have a certainty of the Faith which they profess and that it is of a healing nature and tendeth to the felicity of the world so that never was Christians observed to live in an undivided Unity and unfained love but the very Infidels and ungodly round about them did reverence both them and their Religion for it whereas their discords and divisions give occasion to Atheists and Unbelievers to blaspheme as if there were no certainty in their belief or as if it were of a vexatious and destructive tendency so that never were Christians divided implacable and bitter against each other but it made them and their profession a scorn to the unbelieving and ungodly World Their despising and vilifying one the other teaches the wicked to despise and vilifie them all as a well ordered Army and a City of uniform and comely building is a pleasing and inviting sight to beholders whereas a confused Rabble and ruinous heap bree is abhorrence even so the very sight of the concordant society of Christians is amiable to those without whereas their disagreements and separations makes them odious Hence the former conduceth much to the conversion and salvation of men and the latter hardens men in wickedness and hinders their coming into the Church and their obedience to the truth Who loveth to thrust himself into a fray and what wise men will joyn with drunken men that are fighting in the streets A more effectual way cannot be devised to drive men from Christ than to represent Christians like a company of mad-men that are tearing out the threats of one another when one Faction slies upon and speaks ill of one another what wonder if the Atheist and Infidel speak ill of and flies further from them all whereas contrarily the best means to win the World to a love of Holiness is if they can see that holiness makes men fervent and unfeigned in the love one of another k 1 Pet. 1.22 Christs words in his prayer are notable to this purpose l John 17.20 21 22 23. I pray saith he for them that shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one As thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me c. It plainly implies that the Unity of Christians is a great means of converting the World to the Christian Faith and convincing Infidels of the truth of Christ as sent by God and so on the contrary their divisions must needs be a scandal to them Upon which account also we have reason to take heed to speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst us 2. Such divisions give scandal to Papists You read how loth was Abraham to fall out with Lot and how desirous he was to compound the differences that were between their Herdmen and one reason is hinted in that it is said m Gen. 13.7 the Canaanites and Perizzites dwelt at that time in the Land So have we in our Land many Canaanites and Perizzites at this day that take offence at these divisions of ours and makes it a chief occasion to alienate their hearts from the Truth of God There be many Papists and Romanists confirmed and made obstinate in their Opinion of the Catholickness of the Romish Faith Hereby when they hear of so many things which have been ever and are still retained in the Church of England in common with the Church of Rome as they were transmitted both to them and us in a continued Line of Succession from our Godly and Orthodox Forefathers who lived in the Ages next to Christ and his Apostles to be now inveighed against and decryed as Popish and Superstitious And when they see men pretenders to Piety Purity and Reformarion more than others not contenting themselves with those just Exceptions that had been formerly taken by the Church of England and her regular children against some Erronious Doctrines and Forms of Worship taught and practised in the Church of Rome and endeavoured to be unduly and by her sole Authority imposed upon other Churches when they see them not contenting themselves with these things but even so far transported with a spirit of contradiction as that they care not so as they may but run far enough from Rome whether or how far they run although they should run themselves as too oft they they do quite beyond the bounds of Truth Allegiance common Reason and even common Humanity also Besides we know it hath been and is one grand objection of the Papists against the Reformed Churches that the Fanatical dissentions amongst our selves are evident signs of an Heretical spirit as Bellarmine Stapleton Kellison and others argue and Fitz Simon an Irish Jesuite hath written a whole Volumn on this argument which he â—alls Britanio-Machia It 's true how unhappy they have prov'd in this pretended Unity which they make a note of their true Church any one may judge that will but read the writings of Doctor Field Discourse concerning the Idolatry practised in the Church of Rome by D. Edw. Stillingfleet Bishop Jewel and even the late Book of the Excellent Doctor Stillingfleet upon this argument which proves them nevertheless faulty however we be blame-worthy As Gregory Nazianzen did answer those in his time that used the
in Ezra t Ezra 3.11 all Gods people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house was laid so David to aggravate the misery of his present estate v Psal 42.4 he speakes of the joy and comfort he formerly took in going to the house of God with a multitude of them that kept holy day And in that great joy the people of God had at the celebration of the passover in Hezekiahs time This is expressed for one cause thereof that the number of the communicants was so great w 2 Chro 30.26 for there Assembled to Jerusalem much people to keeep the passover a very great congregation On the other side the faithful and truely pious have ever grieved to hear or see that the Assemblies of the Church are unfrequented or neglected or that any false or Schismatical worship or congregations were set up in stead thereof Old Eli was much more afflicted for takeing a way of Gods arke then for the slaughter of the people or for the death of his own two Sons Hophni and Phinehas x 1 Sam. 4.17 in like manner the Holy Ghost noteth of his daughter in law that being in extremities of her pain and anguish it would never out of her mouth while breath was in her body that the glory was departed from Israel for the ark of God was taken away y 1 Sam. 4.22 So was it this that troubled that zealous man of God Elijah and made him weary of his life z The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant 1 Kings 19.10 saith he that is they are fallen from thy holy Religion they have thrown down thy holy altars that is they have abolished and shown contempt and hatred to thy holy worship and why should I then desire to live any longer in such a time And for the Ecclipse of Church Assemblies we have a notable expression a Zeph 3 18. I will gather them saith the Lord that are sorrowful for solemne Assemblies who are of thee to whom the reproach of it was a burden in which Text we may observe five things 1. That it was one of the greatest sorrowes of Gods people in their captivite that they then wanted their solemne Assemblies doubtless they might have then some Religious meetings for Gods worship yea they had publique fasts then four times a year as appears b Zâ—â—h 8.19 yet their Assemblies was nothing so solemne or so populous as they was wont to be at Jerusalem that was their grief 2. The Caldeans their enemies was wont to reproach them for this and to say to them to this effect where are your solemne Assemblies now c Lam. 1.7 they did mock at their Sabbaths they rejoyced and reproached over them because they could have no such Assemblies as they was wont to have just as many wicked ones do now mock at our Churches and their ministers because people having the reins loosed may without fear forsake the publique Assemblies to erect private conventicles for themselves and do what they list as some can say to our very faces now 3. The Text saith this was a burden to to Gods people to have this reproach cast upon them as it is certainly to every true Protestant and godly man to hear of the separatists insolenttaunts to the congregations of the Church and the ministers thereof 4. Of these that were so sorrowful for the solemne Assemblies the Lord saith to his Church these are of thee they are natural Kindly children of the true Church that do stand thus affected 5. To them he doth make a promise I will gather them saith the Lord I will have a special respect to them and though they be scattered and dispersed not one of them shall be lost but I will bring them back again to their one Land I will gather them saith the Lord that are sorrwful for the solemn Assemblies who are of thee to whom the reproach of it was a burden Indeed it is a burden to every one that hath a true love and zeal of God in him to see Religion suffer the least ecclipse in any kind in any place to lose any thing of that lustre of purity sincerity or power that once it had Hence when the foundation of the Temple was laid under Zorobabel Gods people that had seen no better rejoyced in it but the Priests and Levites and chief of the fathers who were Ancient men that had seen the first house they wept with a loud voice while the rest shouted for joy b 〈◊〉 3.12 why O it grieved their hearts to see how far short that house which God was now to have came short in beauty and glory of that that God had had before in Jerusalem For as much then as it is every ones duty especially the ministers to consider the State of the Churches and especially that of which they are members and ministers to be affected with them and to pray for them and by all means to oppose the enemies thereof And there is none of us but stand in great need to be well grounded in these points that relate to the Church least we be seduced by the cunning and diligence of seducers that are abroad in the world and all our comfort will be augmented if by the light of reason and Gods word preached from such Texts as this I have read we can prevent the Apostacy of any from the Church and can discover the wickedness of those that are dayly forsaking the Assemblies thereof And it cannot but be matter of greatest grief to the truly godly to see the solemne Assemblies neglected or unfrequented or private congregations erected in opposition unto them All these particulars shew I have great reason to make choice of the Text and such like unto it till I have so fully discharged my duty and discovered the mind of God out of the Scriptures about it that I may leave the forsaking of our Church assemblies inexcusable so that they can never plead Ignorance of their duty and sin and that I may say liberavi animammeam I have delivered mine own soul To this end and purpose have I pitched on the Text. Not forsaking the Assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is For the coherence of the Text I shall wish you to look no further back then the 22 verse For the Apostle haveing in the former part of the Chapter shewn them that the Sacrifice of Christs body which he once offered hath for ever taken away sin He presseth thence a double exhortation The first in 22 vese let us draw near to God how even in and through Christ with a true heart and full assurance of faith c. And the Second is in the 23 verse Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering that is this Doctrine of Christ sacrificed and the merits thereof The truth we have received from Christ let us avow it and not
another pure in all her members Adams house that as the first Church on earth yet did it contain Cain a bloody murder as well as Abel a devout worshiper in it Presently after did God raise up Seth instead of Abel to be a holy seed unto him and even then did not the Church continue long free from prophane mixtures but the sons of God became enamoured with the beatuy and matched with the daughters of men And so the deluge came upon them Now from the deluge God preserved Noah in the Ark there was the Church again and behold in that ark there was accursed Cham as well as a blessed Shem. As also in Abrahams family a scoffing Ismael as well as a devout Isaac And in Isaacs a prophane Esau as well as an holy Jacob And O what Scandals brook out among the Patriarchs Ruben became incestuous Simeon and Levi brethren in evil After this when the Church was inlarged into great congregations and assemblies O what impatient murmuring do we read of among the children of Israel what foul Idolatries committed in the Wilderness what serveing of Baalim time after time in the Land of Canaan what horrible and scandalous sins were committed amongst them under the Judges how was polygamy and unreasonable devorces and setting up high places in the daies of the best Kings and what a deludge of prophaneness and Idollatry must you needs think there brake out in the worst when men did not onely sin secretly but openly they shewed their sin as Sodom when the Priests that should have restrained them led them on by evil examples when the more holy were as signes and proverbs of reproach and yet in all these successive generations we do not read of any seperations from or forsaking the Church assemblies as the manner of some now is It s true in Idolatrous times the Saints did refuse to joyne with the ungodly in Idolatrous worship So in Ahabs time there were seven thousand that had not bowed their knee to Baal but yet never was the wicked until convicted and censured debarred from joyning with the Godly in the true worship nor was the Godly ever enjoyned to separate from them for fear of defilement by them Nay on the contrary we shall find that when our Saviour was born then was the Church so corrupted that the Temple was become a den of thieves and yet then Joseph and Mary the parents of Christ did joyn themselves to the congregation in Gods publick worship Nay they went a long Journey with their child Jesus to satisfie the law to offer their turtle Doves and a pair of young Pigeons and to take part with the Priests and Gods people in that which was good and for the rest they meddled no further then their places required an Example Saith Calvin and Marlorat express against our Brownists and all our Separatists and Recusants and that which may justly and finally stop their mouths for ever might be this if they would but consider how corrupt was the State of the Church in our Saviour's time and yet how far forth our Saviour did communicate with them in the service of God not forsakeing the assemblies of the Church though then so corrupt 1. For the Priests and Teachers they were ignorant and unlearned g Matt. 23.16 verse 3. Nay wicked and ungodly h John 11.44 even the High priest himself did enter unlawfully into his calling for whereas by Gods ordi nance be was to hold that once during his life it was bought and sold and made annual which is imply'd in that expression i Luke 4.28 29. Caiaphas was high priest for that year 2. Most of the people in most of the places where our Saviour conversed were notoriously and obstinately wicked He lived most in Nazareth and see what they were there k Matt. 11.20 21. All that were in the Synagogue were fill'd with wrath and resâ— up and thrust him out of the City and led him to the edge of a hill to thrust him down headlong yea and all the Cities where most of his great works had been done he upbraided wo to thee Corazin wo to thee Bethsaida l nor were the people of Jerusalem better For when Pilat a Gentile offered to release him all the multitude crying out at once not him but Barabas now Barabas was a robber m Luk. 23.18 And when Pilat washed his hands protesting for Christs innocency they all said desperately his blood be upon us and our children n Mat. 27.25 And for the worship it self that was used in our Saviours time it was very corrupt 1. They then urged the use of many superstitious ceremonies more strictly then the commandement and ordinances of God o Mark 7.9 2. They prophaned the Temple and made it a den of thieves 3. They abused the Discipline and censures of the Church shamefully p Joh. 9.22 the Jewes decreed that if any one confessed that Jesus was the Christ he should be excommunicated ipso facto 4. Their doctrine was corrupted in many points as these of divorce of thest Murder adultry q Mat 5.21.28 Socorrupt was the Church then and yet mark out Saviour did not separate from it but communicated with the publick assemblies in the worship of God 1. When an infant he was circumcised and by that Sacrament incorporated into that Church r Luk. 2.21 2. When his mother was purified he was brought to the Temple and presented to the Lord with his offering as the custome was Å¿ Luk. 2.22 3. He often heard such teachers as taught in the Church t Luk. 2.46 4. He was wont every Sabbath to joyn in publick prayer with the Congregation that were at Nazareth u Luk. 4.16 5. He received the Sacrament of Baptism in a congregation of that people x Luk. 3.2 When all the people were Baptized he was baptized also 6 He communicated in the passeover with the people and the Priest y Joh. 2.13 7. He allowed his Disciples to hear those teachers z Mat. 23.12 Nay he commanded the Leper whom he cleansed to go and shew himself to the Priest and offer his gift in the Temple a Mat. 8. Neither did any of the Saints in any Age nor Christ himself nor his Disciples separate from nor forsake the publick assemblies of the true Church that enjoyed the word and doctrine of Salvation for any corruptions in them Then these instances what can be said more convincing if men had ears to hear what the spirit hath recorded of the Churches The fore quoted Mr. Hildersham upon this point hath two other reasons why we may not forsake them for their corruptions who because he is of much authority with many dissenters and I wish they were all of his sober spirit therefore I will offer them to your consideration Valeant quantum valeer possent Indeed there is no cause to forsake them for their corruptions because 2. Notwithstanding such
they care not for hearing them having itching ears they hunt out or up heap teachers to themselves To these men I shall first offer two or three things that directly tend to their better information concerning their Obligation to their own Pastor and then I shall answer their complaints of him and shew how groundless their forsakeing the solemn assemblies is in this respect The notes I shall give tending directly to your better information are Mr. Hildershams again who I believe gives in them the sence of all the old Nonconformists in this point and if they be well weighed I do believe they startle those of he Presbyterian perswasion that separate themselves from our Church or set up private meetings in time of publick worship and consequently in oppositito it They are these 1. Doubtless it is Gods own ordinance that every Pastor should have his own flock to attend upon and labour amongst them for so it is written Å¿ Acts 14.23 the Apostles ordained Elders in every congregation so speaks S. Paul to Titus t Titus 2.5 for this cause left I thee in Creet that thou shouldest ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee 2. By necessary consequence from the former it must needs be alike the ordinance of God that every one of Gods people should have a Pastor of his own to depend upon attend unto For the duty of Pastor and People is relative and mutual if the one be obliged by Gods ordinance to attend to a particular people then is that particular people obliged by the same ordinance to attend to their particular Pastor He may discharge this duty indeed though they be so head strong as not to submit to his ministry though they will not hear or be warned by him as their watchman yet may he by a Faithful fulfilling the work that he hath recieved of the Lord deliver his own soul but then all this while they by their own perverseness may lose the benefit of his ministry and by forsaking him deprive themselves of those holy warnings and instructions which he from the Lord prepareth for them as the straying sheep doth of that inspection and provision which his careful shepheard would have over it had it continued in its just bounds so that it is every ones duty by the ordinance of God to expect the Law at his own Pastors mouth To depend upon his ministry and hear what the Lord shall speak to him Yea he is obliged to this even in order to his own benefit 3. It is Gods ordinance also because requisite by good order in the Churches which is Gods ordinance that Christians should be distinguished sorted into congregations according to their dwellings that they that dwell next together should be of the same congregation and assembly The general equity of these rules shewes that it is Gods ordinance u 1 Cor. 14.33 and 40. God is not the Author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints And let all things be done decently and in order the word Parochia signifying parish doth evidently in its Element denote a compass or circuit of Inhabitants dwelling next together and so belonging to the same Congregation this as it evidently took place for order sake amongst the Jewes Moses being read to every particular Congregation in their particular Synagogues in every Church every Sabbath day Acts 15.21 So for the same same good Orders sake which was the undoubted ordinance of God the same is still on force under the Gospel For St. Paul left Titus in Creet to ordain Elders in every City So that they that lived together in the same town was apparently to be under the charge of the same Pastor and Elder x Titus 15. Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint c. y 1 Pet. 5.2 Stilling fleet Irenicum 353. Alii 4. Our Author while he with other moderate Dissenters from the Church have in some respects allowed mens leaving their own Pastors to hear others better pleasing to them yet have they so far acknowledged the evidence of the truth of these particulars shewing peoples obligation to their own Pastors that they taught it thus That men might not ordinarily or usually leave them and when they leave them they must carfully approve their hearts to God that they have no other ends in so doing but their own sound edification onely and that they go to another Pastor onely because they find they can profit more in knowledg or Faith or Sanctification than by their own they complain that many Christians make choice of and applaud and admire some particular teachers without any judgment or discretion That some admire another Pastor rather then their own because he makes more ostentation of eloquence or reading or learning or such like humane gifts As the Corinthians did preferring other teachers before St. Paul himself because he was rude in speech z 2 Cor. 11.5 6. And some onely leave their own Pastors to go to others for variety sake they have itching ears and so must have a heap of teachers a 2 Tim. 4. one teacher let him have never such excellent gifts cannot please them long And some preferrs others before their own Pastors onely because they shew more seeming zeal in their voice and gesture and Phrase of speech and manner of delivery though perhaps their teaching be nothing so powerful wholesome or fit to edifie their consciences as is the Doctrine of their own Pastor These and other particulars they complain of which shewes that people are fickle and giddy headed and leave their own Pastors for want of knowledge and judgment So that whoever they be that leave them must be sure to approve themselves to that God that searcheth the heart that they do it not for any other end or upon any other account but for better edification Nay the Authors urge that when a man leavs his own Pastor go to another though he doth it in uprightness of heart onely in a desire to edifie himself yet must he seek to do it with his own Pastors good leave and consent why It is his unquestioned duty to acknowledge that by the ordinance of God he owes duty to him as to his superior in things belonging to the soul b Thes 5. ii Know them that labour among you and are overseers in the Lord and admonish you and esteem them very highly in love for their work sake Nay he is bound to seek his Pastors comfort and give him all good incouragement that he may do the work of his ministry with joy chearfulness according to the Apostles rule c Heb. 13.17 Obey them thâ—t have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy not with grief for that is unprofitable for you See here what
one of the best prâ—sbyterian Guides that ever this Church had delivereth as sound Doctrine oppose these perticulars to Mr. Baxters late answer of Toleration not to abused a book wherein are many strange ill disgested conceits in my poor judgment and the pretences of other Setters up of private assemblies and see if they can have consistence and agreement and observe that while this Pious Author allows mens going to another Pastor than their own for better edification yet doth he evidently understand the settled Pastor of a neighbour Church which makes the case quite different from mens present forsaking their own Pastors to hear unsettled intruding preachers who whether they be lawfully called to that holy function I am confident thousands are utterly ignorant not have any good grounds to think it So that for as much as even these sober dissenters which did plead for or at all allowed mens ordinary leaving their own Pastors to go to another have yet allowed it with such cautions as these that men must do it for no by end but for their better edification onely and must be very careful it be not for want of judgment in their choice and it must be with their own Pastors consent and as acknowledging his superiority over them and their obligation unto him and as seeking his joy and comfort and incouragement and for as much as this their allowance was only with relation to settled Pastors and if a man should not but with such caution leave the Pastor of his own Church to hear the Pastor of another Church much less may he to hear an unknown novel corner intruder d vide in Hildersham on John 4.32 page 342 By this it appears how tender and nice a good conscience should be to do it and what a horrible guilt of transgressing the very ordnance of God there lyes upon the consciences of most that forsake the assemblies out of dislike of their own Pastours and go to others which particulers being so clearly laid down I come to shew how groundless these mens usual complaints of their own Pastors are And that in these following Objections Object 1. Concerning his life It is lewd or Scandalous so as they cannot look for benefit by his ministry Object 2. His opinion it is dangerous so as they fear to be perverted by him Object 3. His gifts they are mean so as they cannot hope for much good by him Object 4. His carriage it is indiscreet or intollerable and not to be indured 1. It is indeed the weightiest prejudice many have against their Pastors so as to forsake the assembly for his sake when they can justly pretend his life is lewd or scandalous and would you have us then bound up to his minstry whose example is enough to undo us must we needs hear him who hears not himself must he guide us to heaven who walks himself in the in the paths of hell how can we credit his words who shews his own unbelief by his wicked life who confutes his sermons by his practices who pulls down with his life what he builds up with his lips will the Spirit lodge in his lips in whose heart he hath no room will the holy God make use of a prophane instrument who can gather grapes of Thorns or sigs of Thistles how can we be bound to hear him whose life is so lewd or if we hear him what benefit can we hope for from him Ans I confess it is the most grievous complaint this that can be if it be just A wicked minister being of all men most odious and abominable If the salt hath lost its savor it is good for nothing but the dunghil if the light of the world be darkness how great is that darkness The Vrim and Thummim Purity of Doctrine and exemplarity of life are the two great requisites in a Faithful minister of Christ far be it from me to patronize or plead for any in whom there is a notorious defect of these any such enemy of Christ or Judas like traytor to Christ as every scandalous minister is But yet may I oppose to this prejudice these necessary considerations 1. From such the purest Church upon earth cannot be free And that â— By reason of that innate corruption that is in ministers as well as in other men Alas they are but flesh tempered of the same clay with others polluted with the same original corruptions prone to the same vices being Angels by office yet men by nature to whom though God hath committed the heavenly treasure yet are these but earthly vessels still as frail and weak as other men And 2. Being as prone to sin as others their temptions are far more then other mens For Satan the common adversary of all souls knows his greatest advantage is in devouring those that should save mens souls As the Syrians was commanded to fight especially against the King of Israel So do the devils chiefly combate with the Priests and Prophets of Israel The pulling down of these pillars is to weaken or raise the whole building the misleading of these guides is the way to make all to err The smiting of the shepheard is to scatter the slock to lull a sleep these watchmen is the way to surprise the whole army It s Satans compendious way of destruction to prevert those that should convert others to deform those that should reform others so that they being as weak as others and Satan grudging no pains continually to assault them is it any wonder if they be after foiled from such therefore the purest Church on earth cannot be free 2. When thy own Pastor is such yet hast thou reason to hear him and no reason to forsake the publick assemblies for his lewdness sake The heathen Seneca could advise men non quia loquitur sed quid not so much to weigh who speaks as the matter spoken and the Scripture warneth them not to have mens persons in admiration e Jude 16. nor to have the Faith of God with respect of persons f James 2.1 Though an Angel from Heaven should bring an untruth declare another Gospel we ought to give no ear to him let him be accursed g Gal. 1.8 and though a divel from Hell should utter a truth it is not to be rejected for his sake that speaks it Truth is Gods where ever it grows As a mine of God or silver is the Princes in whose ground soever it be found It must be received for the love thereof as truth and for his sake who is the God of Truth by whom soever it be spoken Moses learnt of the Heathen Jethro his Father in Law a plat-form for the ordering the magistracy of Israel h Exod. 4. Pharoah learnt of his prisoner Joseph how to prevent a famine in Egypt i Gen. 41 41. Naaman was instructled by his captive Damosel where he might get his Leprously healed k 2 Kings 5. Old Eli was taught by the Child
thou must answer for it and be judged by it at the last day That for the first motive for this forsaking the assemblies which you see is groundlesse the prejudice men have to their Pastor concerning his life Obj. 2. Concerning his opinion For so will some say would you have us bound to hear him who is popishly affected or the next door strict in the Law too canonical nay we fear superstitious and so may mix the childrens bread with poyson and mislead us out of the right way is it not dangerous to hear him Answ To this I oppose these considerations was not Elias Jeremy John Baptist Saint Paul and our blessed Saviour who spake as never man spake accounted pestilent fellows ring leaders of Sects troublers of State Deceivers of the people how should these instances warn you of slandering your Pastor causelesly or concluding him erronious upon the malicious hear sayes or surmises of those that are not able to judge of the doctrine whether it be of God or no. Yet suppose he be erronious then must you consider of what Nature his error is for though all truths be pretious yet are truths of different natures some essential fundamental points de Fide of the faith once delivered to the Saints some circumstantial ceremonial indifferent some are perspicuously revealed in the Scriptures wherein errors are damnable some are more darkly revealed of which wise and holy men in all ages have doubted now if it be onely in circumstantial and less necessary truths wherein you dislike your Pastors opinions then must not this difference of opinion beget in you any heart burning or alienation of affection though you do discentire think diversly yet ought you not discordare disagree they that unwillingly differ in judgment ought yet to be one in heart The Spirit of God is promised to lead all his chosen into all necessary truths but not to all less essential disscâ—ntions have in all ages been between great Clerks and holy Saints contentions have even through Satans crast been cherished in the Church they are apt to disagree on earth that shall meet in the same heaven What remaines then but that love be still kept on foot and we all endeavour to avoid bitterness of contention about these things to follow the truth in love As in building Solomons Temple there was no noise heard of Ax or hammer f 2 Kings 6.7 So in the spiritual building of the Church we should not let any sound of contention be heard among us such is the duty of both Pastor and people especially it is the peoples duty to be so a ware of Satans stratagems which is to divide them from their Pastor if it be possible as not to entertain any needless jealousies or evil surmisings judge cautiously of your minister if possible Search the Scriptures as the Bereans did to see if what he delivers be agreeable to Gods word and if you find of a truth that he and you differ in opinion in things less necessary and material your care must be to pare the Apple and leave the worm and that which is eaten by it take the good and leave the bad which directions being sound and wholesome if they be observed it will naturally follow that this is no sufficient ground neither for any to leave our Church assemblies for any prejudice men have against their Pastors opinion Obj. 3 The third prejudice is against their gifts alass will some say our Minister though he be good and orthodox yet is hê a very mean preacher he is no Body for gifts where such or such come in comparisons His knowledge shallow how can he inlighten us he is no Orator how can he work on our affections or perswade us what good can we expect from his dry sapless weak Sermons or why should we be bound to hear him when we may have better by whom we may profit more to this I oppose these considerations Answ 1. There may be in Ministers great difference of gifts without any in equality at all for which the one should be preferred before the other For he who is inferior to him thou admires in one kind may excell in another perhaps in a kind more useful and benefical The gifts of God to his Church are dispenced in a marvellous great variety so that there are scarce any two ministers but they differ in their gifts g Cor. 12.14 There are diversity of gifts but the same Spirit In the Body natural the eye seeth better but the tongue uttereth better if the whole body were eye what would it do for a tongue Saint Paul had more learning and knowledge h 1 Cor. 11. being at Lystra stiled for his utterance Mercury or chief speaker i Acts 14.11 yet was not of that excellent presence as other Apostles were Barnabas in comforting the afflicted excelled him being therefore stiled the son of Consolation k Acts. 4.36 John Baptist was excellent in terrifying secure sinners l Luk. 12.17 he came in the spirit and power of Elias but our Saviour was milder not breaking the bruised reed nor quenching the smoking flax m Mat. 12.20 In liklyhood Peter did in some gifts excell the rest to whom Christ gave in special charge to feed his Lambs n Joh. 21.15 Yet in powerful reproving of sin and denouncing Gods judgments James and John excelled him being therefore styled Boanerges Sons of thunder so in the great diversity of his gifts that is amongst ministers yet each of them excelleth in their kind one may have deeper matter another a more eloquent mouth one may be sweeter in comfort another more powerful in reproof one may be graceful in pulpit another in private conference one may be excellent in interpreting to increase knowledge another in application to breed good affections in men o 1 Cor. 12.8 To one is given a word of wisdome by the Spirit to another the utterance of knowledge by the same Spirit one may excel in this gift another in that none in all Now 2. Consider this is the Lords doing for the beauty and benefit of his Church their different education dilligence or industry is not all the cause of this diversity of gifts though it be one Gods gift being now to be acquired in the use of these means whence St. Pauls injunction to Timothy p Tim. 4. â—3 give attendance to reading c. But it comes chiefly from Gods free disposition who distributed to every man severally as he will q 1 Cor. 12.11 And this 3. Makes much for Gods glory and the benefit and beauty of his Church For Gods glory for the greatness of his wisdom and freedome of his grace shineth in this difference perspicuously and for the Churches beauty and benefit for flowers of divers bigness for colour and smell do adorn a feild exceedingly with it's party coloured coat difference of voice base treble tenor and counter tenor and difserence of strings in an
loth to deny themselves as in effect to acknowledge they was formerly in an error and in the wrong It s pride that make some desire to go in some singular way and loath to go on in a beaten tract wherein they may be obscured in the throng with Theudas they are ambitious to be some body with Simon Magus to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some knowing or Zealous person they would be taken notice of by their neighbours as a stricter sort of livers and would be eminent though by the infamy of Schism or separation To be called of men Rabbi Rabbi is inchaunting musick to any Pharisee and the very essence and constitutive parts of a Schismatick is the esteem of himself and the contempt of others I am not as this Publican was the Pharisees voice whose very name signifies separation and our modern separatists do but eccho the same note when they pronounce these Church assemblies and the members thereof heretical or carnal from whom they withdraw themselves r Esa 65.5 they say as those in Esay Stand of come not near me for I am holier then thou But let it be remembred that while the Pharisee lookt so fastidiently on the poor Publican he renounc'd communion in prayers much more acceptable to God then his own and the observation is truly applyable in our case The Transcendant purity and Saintship and holiness which our Separatists boasts of being if brought to the touch but a more sublimated wickedness And their pretence for spiritually being onely verified in spiritual pride By their fruits of rebellion disobedience to and contempt of Magistracy and Ministry rash censures mallice evil speakings and bitterness headiness treasons high maindedness and the like fruits you may know them So this pride is another partition wall that Satan useth to divide us from God and one another and to make men forsake the Assemblies of the Church 3. It is the manner of some also to forsake them out of curiosity this is that baneful weed which the divel made shift to steal even into Paradise which hath ever since affected the richest soils the most pregnant understandings I do not altogether mean that speculative curiosity about the mysterious parts of our religion though that be a notorious mean also to propagate Heresies when men will not be soberly wise but will attempt to find out the depths of those mysteries which God hath thought fit to make secret prying into the Ark of the secret counsells of God But that curiosity of men which is usually about those little trifling notions and thin aerial speculations which do not at all tend to make men wiser to salvation Men are not content to know those divine truths which tend to Godly practice therefore they think such preachers as insist of them dry and insipid and forsake them to follow those who will offer them nicer speculations be they never so unprofitable to the great end of Salvation s vide The Decayes of Christianity in the causes of disputes Besides there is another curiosity that is deep in the guilt of drawing men from the Assemblies to which they belong A curiosity to hear strange preachers they have itching ears their ordinary food do not please them a new besome sweeps clean an uncouth bit is for their palates a Minister of the best gifts cannot please them long as the Athenians were all for enquirng of news so are these men all for novelties In a short time they distaste the ministry of their ordinary Pastors and so to please the distempered palates of their fickle souls they must needs be gadding abroad to hear every upstart Mountebank that is near them and so this is one great reason of their forsakeing their ordinary assemblies as the manner of many is 4. Another reason hereof is covetousness and interest the great Idol to which the world bowes as the Apostle saith they that will be rich fall into divers temptations so do they fall into this sin among the rest Some men will be rich therefore out of respect to their profit they absent themselves from the Assemblies of the Church they must needs spend some Sabbaths in going to Fairs or going jorneys or makeing bargains or meeting customers or looking to some house business they cannot get their living they say by coming to Church and when they come they must needs leave a great part of their family behind them for some worldly advantage or other These are like those in Malachi t Mal. 3â—4 That said it is in vain to serve the Lord and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances And others there be in the world that make a show of religion and piety that have no other end in their broaching and maintaining Schisms and separations from the assemblies of the Church then their proper advantages They make divinity an handmaid religion a stalking horse to a policy Jeroboam made the Golden Calves become more venerable Deities when he found them sit to serve his jealousies and Matchiavels policy that states and persons should secure themselves of religion was a common practice long before it was a rule In the Old Testament we read of mercenary Prophets that turned the office into a trade that divined for money and even for handfuls of Barley and pieces of Bread And in the New St. Paul speaks of deceivers that speak things they ought not for filthy Lucres sake u Titus 1.11 And the same Apostle declaiming against the love of money as the root of all evil he reproves it from its having made men erre from the faith x 1 Tim. 6.11 And it is St. Peters prediction that the most damnable Heresies even the denying of the Lord that bought them should be introduced by those who through covetousness should make Merchandize of their Proselytes y 2 Pet. 2.3 And is it not plain how mens itching ears in this Age do invite many Mountebanks in Religion to try experiments upon them when men Nauseats Old truths and Old teachers because they are acquainted with them and embrace Doctrines and broachers of them because they are new when men love such teachers and are bountiful to none but such as they love how can it be doubted but some will suit themselves to their disciples humours to gain money to themselves when by sowing tares they can immediately reap Gold our age hath given us sufficient experience hereof would God that this way of divelish traffique were at an end And doubtless as there be many leaders so are there many Disciples in the separation in whom covetousness and self interest reigns exceedingly and by it they are animated in their obstinate continuance in their erronious waies so as to stop their ears to the charmes of sound doctrines charme they never so wisely Now O that such would consider what the character of infamy is that remaines yet upon Achan that he troubled Israel to inrich himselfe And on Balaam that he
not only loved the wayes of covetousness but ensnared the people in uncleannesses and upon those in the Gospel that made Gods house a house of Merchandize and so a den of thieves So that another ground and reason of mens forsaking and propagating separations from our publick assemblies Covetousness selfe interest I 'le name a 5. Even Idleness and this both spiritual and natural spiritual for because many men will take no paines in the practise of the duties of godliness which might well imploy mens whole lives therefore they fall into nice and new opin ions to imploy their active mindes So spiritual Idleness in things in which they should be imployed makes men curious and curiosity contentious The zeal of practise of humility and patience and self denyal and mortifying the flesh with the affections and lusts and renouncing the world and the other parts of real goodness this zeal grows cold and so that of disputes gets and gathers heat and vigor A lass our good works in this age fall short of the first Christians and then no wonder that our controversies exceeds theirs because we spend not our time in the one which is irksome to flesh and blood and therefore we imploy it in hammering and forging the other Pharaoh understood this well though he applyed it ill when he thought the Israelites proposals of travelling into the wilderness to their divotions was the effect of their idleness and so increast their taskes as the properest way to divert their design and as spiritual Idleness so also natural is often the cause of division For as experience sheweth such men as desert or neglect their secular callings are most apt to run after new teachers and with the widowes that neglected their office of Ministration to be busibodies and in many families the she-zealots neglecting their proper business the guiding of the house have therefore run into conventicles and upon them have seducers acted their designs most leading captive silly women to become duck coyes to whole families besides these there are another sort of Idle persons to that can sit at home lurke by their fire sides when they should be in Gods house and though they have little or nothing to hinder them from attending his ordinance yet any pretence a showr of rain a sore finger an Aking head a thin blast of weather will serve the turn to divert them O that such would remember Hezekiahs example who with in three dayes after he had been sick of a most painful and mortal disease went into the Temple a Esa 38.22 And the woman that on the sabbath resorted to the Synagogue though she had a spirit of infirmity eighteen yeares b Luk. 13.10 â—1 Alass the cause is mens hearts are dead and void of grace and the love of God and his word and so they find little comfort they take no delight in his publick worship and therefore are glad of an excuse David loved Gods tabernacle well For his heart and his flesh rejoyced for the living God c Psa 84.12 Those that tast how sweet the Lord is will desire the sincere milk of this word d 1 Pet. 2.2 3 O thou that art so careless whether ever thou appear in the assemblies of Gods Church in this life thou hast cause to fear thou shall never stand in the congregation of the righteous in the life to come e Psa 1.5 That 's a fifth cause of mens forsakeing or absenting from the assemblies as the manner of many is 6. There is a sixth which I will name because I will miss none and but name it because I have spoken in effect to it before The manner of some is to forsake them upon pretence they can spend their time and serve God as well pray and read good books at home as in the Church of God But God loves the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob f Psal 87.2 David sure being both a prophet and a King could serve God as well in private as any pretenders and he had both a prophet and a Priest with him in his Banishment yet did he for all that long for the publick worship of God bewailed the want of it exceedingly g Psal 84.3 But I have fully shown you before the excellency and acceptableness of publick worship perfoâ—rmed by Godly ministers together with his people in a publick place above any private whatsoever that 's a sufficient consideration to convince them of sin that forsake the assemblies upon this account as the manner of some is Thus have I now both discovered the evident duty of all Christians and their obligation to frequent the publick assemblies in order to the publick worship of God and the sin of those men that either upon pretence of corruptions in the Church though they acknowledg it Orthodox and right in the substantials of religion or of some faults in the ministers life or opinion or gifts or carriage but in truth out of malice or hatred against him or out of pride or curiosity or Idleness or upon pretence they can as well serve God at home do neglect or forsake the publique assemblies Now what remaines but a word of exhortation to all that have an ear to hear what Gods Spirit saith unto the Churches and members of them 1. I beseech you Beloved in the Lord to learn to lay to heart your obligation to attend upon Church Assemblies and beware of those that endeavour the divisions of the Church or to divide and separate you from it It 's the Apostles own earnest exhortation g Rom. 16 17. now I beseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which you have learned and avoid them They are no lovers of your souls as they pretend they are no servants of God for your good they are no fit guides for salvation that for things meerly external adiaphorous indifferent matters of meer order or decency separate themselves from the society of a true Church and would have you so to do As if a furious brainsick sailor should upon every occasion of anger or discontent cast himself overboard presuming to be safe enough out of the ship the ordinary road way of Gods saving any soul is in the unity of the Church And that is in a conjunction of them to some visible ordinary congregation according to that h Act. 2.47 the Lord added to the Church such as should be saved but exceruntè nobis they who go out from amongst us because they was never of us as to their hearts I will not presume to judge them as to their final state yet this I 'le say that the Church being the Spouse of Christ and Schism and Heresie being a work of the Flesh an effect of so bad causes as I have shown you fully ranked by the Apostle with fornication and drunkenness and adultery and the like I would not dye in their state for all the