Abrahams seed and heirs according to promise and in the 7th verse Know you therefore that they which are of Faith the same are the children of Abraham And for the Antitype of Circumcision it is evident to be the inward work of grace in the heart In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ and so Rom. 2.28 29. Rom. 4.9 10 11 12. and divers other places Now that which I desire you to observe in order to the finding out the everlasting infallible bounds of Gods true Church and Character of his true children on earth is that these Anti-types of Abraham's fleshly Seed and Circumcision are made use of in the Gospel and pleaded for the same end That the Types themselves were under the Law as you may read at large in the Epistles to the Romans and Galatians the chief drift and scope of those Epistles being to convince the Jews that what they formerly enjoyed by vertue of Abraham's Covenant were now made out to believers by Faith in Christ pleading with them that now all partition walls betwixt Jew Gentile were broken down Eph. 2.13 14. And shewing that in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by Love Ga. 5.6 And so Peter Act. 10.34 said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him and if you do but consider the Apostles Arguments in the aforesaid Epistles to prove the Gentiles to be fellow-Heirs with the Jews and of the same body partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel as in Eph. 3.6 you shall find he proves it by proving that they are Abrahams seed Rom. 4.15 16 17. Rom. 9.7 8. Gal. 3.16 29. And therefore heirs according to promise Rom. 8.17 Gal. 3.29 Eph. 3.6 And that they were not of the uncircumcised but were the true circumcision Rom. 2.25 26 27 28 29. Rom. 4.9 10. 1 Cor. 7.19 Phil. 3.3 Col. 2.11 From all which Scriptures and abundance more that might be added of like tendency it is evident that the distinguishing Character of Gods People and Church in Abrahams Covenant continues the same and ought to be observed by Gods Ministers and People to the end of the world to be the true unalterable and infallible bound of Gods Church and mark of Gods Children The swerving from which hath led into all those confusions and divisions which are at this day in Gods Church most particular opinions and perswasions laying waste those old Church bounds and clipping off Gods antient Sheep mark would confine the place of his flock to their own Folds and owne none to be his Pasture sheep but such as will receive their by marks against whom the Sons of the Church of Christ may justly take up that complaint Labans sons made against Jacob Gen. 31.1 He hath taken away all that was our Fathers And of that which was our fathers hath he gotten all this glory Some on the one hand wholy breaking down this hedge about Gods Vineyard they will not so-much as admit of an inward work of grace and regeneration of heart of being born again which is the undoubted type of Circumcision and Abrahams seed as before to be the visible bound of Gods visible Church and mark of visible Saints but content themselves with a bare profession of the Christian Religion and some others there are as we minded before will add some further uncertain disputable qualifications of knowledge and suitable conversation But doubtless this unsound Principle hath Antichrist set himself upon his thron by and laid Waste the mountain of God by and trodden under his Feet the holy City by This hath let in the Boare out of the wood and the wild Beasts out of the Field to devoure that it is time for the Church to cry out against this Principle with the Prophet Isay 64.10 Sion is a wilderness Jerusalem a desolation and to plead with the Lord in the words of the Psalmist Why hast thou broken down her hedges so that all they which passe by the way do pluck her the Boar of the forrest doth waste it and the wild beast of the Field doth devoure it Psal 80.12.13 For it is evident that Antichrist if you do but observe the History of the Churches declining state made his way into Gods Church and ushered all his train of false Prophets and false Doctrines by laying waste the Churches true fence and bounds and by laying the garden enclosed Cant. 4.12 into an open field in which every unclean beast may make his den and pass through Psal 80.12 13. And as these ancient bounds of Gods Church are again discovered and made up that our spiritual watchmen may keep their guards upon the towers of these holy walls so shall the Churches purity and unity be recovered But now there are some other Christians that admit visible grace and holiness to be a distinction nay the chief and main distinction betwixt Gods Church and the world beleevers and unbeleevers but they will not admit it to be the onely distinction but will add some other private mark according to their particular opinions and perswasions some doctrine or practice that they have attained to some different understanding in from the rest of Gods people must be as a post of their own set up by Gods post as in Ezek. 43.8 in the bounds of his Church Now though this be not so dangerous as the former in regard it preserves holiness and visible grace as the main rule or bound yet the effect of this error is very sad for this was the apparent inlet of all those divisions and carnal contentions that happened in the Church of Corinth and the rest of the Churches in the Primitive times and that continues and increaseth the same at this day even to the hazard of the total ruine and destruction of the Church of Christ as we shall more at large prove when we come to speak of the particular evil consequences of it For Jerusalem must not onely be as a City of righteousness an holy City Isa 52.1 Isa 1.26 but as a City compact Psal 122.3 A City with walls Psal 51.18 Lam. 2.8 18. Cant. 5.7 Now the way to avoid both these extreams is to observe the bounds and marks that God hath set about his Church to walk about Sion and go round about her and tell the towers thereof mark ye well her Bulwarks and consider her Palaces that ye may tell it the generations following the right observation and preserving of which would make the Church to be comly as Jerusalem Cant. 6.4 God would then be known in her Palaces for a refuge Psal 48.3 we should then behold how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity Psal 133.1 But for the first and worst
Ministers p. 140 ERRATA PAge 7 l. 1. r Iohn 17.3 p. 17. l. 8. r. which p. 26. l. 24. for the r. that p. 44. l. 12. for care r. Core p. 60. l. 19. r. unseasonable p. 66. l. 21. r. quoted p. 32. 33. 34. p. 72. last line for peace r. place p. 85. l. 16. r. p. 68. p. 98. l. 8. r. aflictions p. 101. l. 10. for time r. kinde p. 104. l. 11. r. as it is p. 116. l. 11. r. p. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35 p. 119. l. 1. for which r. such GOSPEL-SEPARATION SEPARATED From its Abuses Wherein is asserted the Duty of Gods Churches separating from the World AS it is a Principle in Moral Philosophy that vertue is usualy found in mediums and Vice in extreams so may it be admitted in a great measure that Divine truth is found in mediums Errous in extreams For the Lord was not in the Wind nor in the Earthquake nor in the Fire but in the still small voyce 1 Kings 19.11 12. And therefore the way of truth in Scripture is held forth to be the strait-way Psal 5.8 Isai 40.3 4. and 42 1â— Matth. 3.3 in opposition to the crooked ways of Errour Psal 125.5 Prov. 2.15 Therefore they that would walk in the strait-path of truth and peace must take heed they avoid the Errours of the right hand as well as the left Deut. 5.32 Josh â— 7 2 Kings 22.2 Prov. 4 27. Jsai 30.21 all which Scriptures evidence to us that there is danger of running into Errour of both hands which many Christians not duely considering have runne into sad extreams like those people Amos mentions that fled from a Lyon and a Bear hath met them Amos 5.19 And as this sad evill of extreamity hath had its influence over most controversal points at this day amongst the rigid sticklers for them so in especiall manner hath it produced sad effects in the point of separation wherein as on the one hand several professing Christ not duely weighing the bounds the Lord hath set in distinguishing the Precious from the Vile have opened the door of the Church too wide so many others under pretence of separating the sheep from the Goats do shut the door too close and reject those that God hath chosen and keep such sheep out of Christs fold as have his own mark upon them And he that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just even they both are an abomination unto the Lord Pro. 17 15. And therefore that the truth may be found out in this weighty case I shall make an enquiry after the rule of Christ in Church-separation from the world shal therein occasionally discusse the several principles and practices which those that erre in the extreams of either hand are stumbling in that betwixt both the straite and narrow yet sweet and pleasant path of puritie and unitie may be found out and walked in And for the more distinct handling of this matter that the truth I plead for may be as well discerned as the Errour pleaded against I shall state these two general Positions First That it hath been in all ages wherein God hath had a visible Church on earth a duty required by the Lord from such his Church and People to separate themselves in matters of his worship from all the rest of the Nations and People of the world For proof read Exod. 19.6 compared with 1 Kings 8.53 so Ezra 10.11 and 6.21 Exod. 23.16 Lev. 20.23 24 25 26. so Neh. 9 2. and 13.3 Rom. 1.1 2 Cor. 6.1 Secondly That it hath been also required by the Lord as an equal duty from his Church and People so separated to walk together in the practice of all those dutyes of worship and service required at their hands without dividing or separating from one another Deut. 5.1.3 and 18.6 and 1 Kings 8.55.62 1 Chron. 13.5 6 7 8. and 28.21 and 2 Chron. 30.1 and 35.3 Ezra 10.5 Psal 31.23 24. In which Scriptures consider the word ALL Israel and ALL Saints and so Eph. 4. to the 14. Cant. 6.9 Psal 133. Hosea 10 1 2. Rom. 16.17 and 1 Cor. 1.10 and 3.3 and 11.18 But these two Positions thus generally stated I judge will be agreed unto by most if not all sober Christians and therefore I shall spend no time in the demonstration of them in this place but referr the Reader to the Scriptures quoted and to what shall be spoken in the ensuing discourse to the several particulars relating to them And first I desire you to note if the first Position be true then the difference amongst Christians about separation is rather about the manner or extent then the thing for that the church of God in the world should be a separated People from the the World in matters of Gods worship would be ridiculous to deny Therefore the difficulty lieth in a right distinguishing betwixt the World and the Church wherein some would have that part of the World called the Christian World to be the universall Catholique Church and only the Nations of the Jews Turks Pagans c. to be the World but I hope the most vehement against separation among the reformed Churches will not admit this extent if they should it would be a difficult thing for them to clear themselves from those brands of Separatists and Schismaticks cast upon them by the Papists which if they do not they then assent that a separation may be lawfull from a People makeing an outward profession of the Christian Religion But say others when there is not only an outward profession of the Christian Religion but also a competent knowledge of the Doctrine of the Gospel and a suteable life and conversation thereto there are the bounds of the true Church but the terms of this Qualification will admit of so much difficulty in their explanation that the generality of Christians will be as far to seek for their satisfaction in this point as before For first some will interpret that term of a competent knowledge of the doctrine of the Gospel to be a bare ability through education to answer to questions given them in a Catechism which a child of six or Seaven years of age is usually more capable of and expert in then persons of grown yeares which if that be admitted then repentance from dead works and faith towards God Heb. 6.1 with all other Gospel qualifications attending the work of conversion and regeneration may be spared as to Church fellowship on earth But as various as men opinions are in the several points of Religion at this day in controversy so various are their explanations of a competent knowledge of the principles of Religion each makeing those points wherein they differ from others in and separate upon part of those points of Doctrine which the knowledge of is necessary to a Church-member the discussing of all which would take a Treatise by it self Then for the other term of a suitable conversation that will admit of as
out and remove the cause and partly to prepare and arme themselves against the necessary and sad consequences that might attend them which Duty the division of our days among Gods people loudly calls for which to speak a word unto I shall make a little digression which is to entreat all who desire in sincerity to set upon this work of heart-searching in order to find out the cause and avoid the cosequences of the sad Divisions amongst us to consider the following directions 1. Search thine own heart and way throughly for this cursed spirit of Division may have hidde it self under such plausible pretences of good that whilst thou seekest for it among thy temptations and corruptions it may be close hid in several of thy best duties and religious qualifications And therefore if thou find him not amongst thy temptations of pride of minde self conceit affecting Singularity a desire to seem some body amongst those with whom thou walkest a loving preheminence over thy Brethren or in a froward rash uncharitable spirit c. If thou searchest thy heart throughly and find him not dwelling there under the Covert of these or the like temptations or corruptions then proceed to a further heart searching as to the tryall of thy graces and religious dutyes for this spirit of darkness knows how to transform it self into an angel of light If thou beest one that hath attained to an eminent knowledge and hath found out the mind of God in some special truths that many other of Gods people are dark in then search whether thy knowledge hath not pufft thee up as in 1 Cor. 4.18.19 4 chap. verse 8. Col. 2.8 and begotten in thee an high esteeme of thine own things Phil. 2.4 and a low esteem of the things of others Phil. 2.3 Whether thy gifts graces and religious endowments have not been more employed by thee in promoting and propagating of disputable points and doubtfull questions Rom. 14.1 tending rather to strife about words 1 Tim. 6.4 and 2 Tim. 2.23 and vaine janglins 1 Tim. 1.7 then to godly edifying 1 Cor. 14.26 Whether by thy knowledge thou hast not laid a stumbling block in thy weak brothers way Rom. 14.13 by pressing upon him more remote dutys while the immediate duties of his present state in grace have been neglected contrary to that of our Saviour who had many things to say but could not say them then because the Disciples could not bear them John 16.12 And to that of Paul who could not speak to the Church of Corinth as spirituall but unto carnal even unto babes in Christ 1 Cor. 3. 1. And therefore fed them with milke and not with strong meat verse 2. I say search and examine whether thy knowledge hath not been employed by this Spirit of Division in some such or the like failings which hath so visibly tended to the promoting the dissentions and divisions among Gods People But secondly Art thou one that hath attained to an extraordinary zeal for God his wayes and truths that thou thinkest thou couldest say with the Psalmist The zeal of thy House hath eaten me up Psal 69.9 then search and try thy zeal for fear this spirit of division hath not hid it self there the Jews misguided zeal mentioned Acts 21.20 provoked them to cry out against Paul verse 28. Men of Israel help this is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people and the Law and this place c. It was Paul's misguided zeal before conversion for the tradition of his fathers Gal. 1.14 that provoked him beyond measure to persecute the Church of God and waste it verse 13. and so Phil. 3.6 And therefore when thou art zealous be sure it be in a good thing Gal. 4 18. It is dangerous being exceedingly zealous for points of Doctrine or practice in matters disputable and much controverted betwixt both godly and able Christians least whilest like those Pharisees Luke 11.42 thou be zealous in Tything Mint and Rue and pass over Judgement and the Love of God For as holy zeal rightly managed is the most excellent grace among Christians so misguided is the most dangerous and thus in thy searchings of heart for the divisions among Saints go on by the same rule to search and try every grace and gift in thee lest thou missest of thy care in searching the wound Now for the sad effects and evil consequences flowing from Divisions among Christians I may say they are unmentionable for it is very hard to name an evil that at this day the people of God and this Commonwealth groans under that our Divisions hath not had an hand in if not the main cause of Is there cause to complain the much prayed for and expected reformation hath been obstructed and retarded Why consider whether Division hindred it not if the generality of the godly could but agreed on good things to have proposed them or joyntly desired them we have not wanted an Authority to have granted and confirmed them but the several opinions and perswasions in Religion have had every one a Reformation to promote wherein an equal provision of liberty and encouragement for all that are truly godly have been declined and the extreams of each of their different perswasions insisted on like the cruel harlot Solomon gave judgement against they have rather chosen half a dead child then their opposites should enjoy a living one 2. Is there cause to complain of the spreading of Errors Heresies and Blasphemies c. Why Division opens the door for them for every one making their particular opinions a particular different Religion and separating thereupon hath given a kinde of reputation to â—â—â—aration though it be from the most pure Churches and holy people so that if any make shipwrack of Faith and a good conscience and suck in principles inconsistent with grace and godliness And observe they will not be born among the people with whom they then walked why it is but separating and setting up for themselves and they have field-room enough to sowe their tares in Whereas were the people of God who are sound in the Substantials of Religion united together within the bounds before mentioned and exercising that discipline God hath set in his Church it would bear an Authority that as the Apostle saith 2 Thes 3.14 Tit. 2.8 The offending person would be ashamed which now it doth not for now the personmarked Rom. 16.17 or withdrawn from with all others observing him not of the same way or fellowship with them that past the censure do but look at it as a censure past by a few Christians upon the account of opinion and from thence heed it not That I may say the solemn Ordinances of Christ for the healing and recovery of the diseased and infected of his people are become contemptible which nothing but the union of his Church that the censure of one congregation may be the censure of the whole will remedy And then if the walls of our Gospel Jerusalem
Doctrine and holy example to convince them of their errors and withall presseth them to unity and warns them against their divisions as the worst of their errors as it is evident from those Scriptures quoted From whence I argue That if the Apostles and infallible penmen of Scriptures who were able to judge of matters of controversie without mistake did for the Churches peace sake permit persons holding and maintaining many great and dangerous errors to abide in the Church and there own them as fellow-Brethren whilest they manifested visible sanctitie in the main and retained the substance of true Faith and that in the most pure time of the Church when the erroneous persons could not receive those errors by tradition and education from Christian Ancestors or Teachers Then much more ought the Ministers of the Gospel and with them all Gods people now being themselves fallible in judgement and exceedingly disagreeing among themselves about the points in controversie even the able and gracious of them and especially considering the time we live in is but the dawning of the day of Gospel light and knowledge out of a long dark night of Antichristian error and pollution through which many of themselves not long since were groping in the dark about several Gospel truths in which the light of Christ hath since more fully informed them to walk towards one another with all tenderness and charity putting in practice that rule of forbearing one another in love Ephes 4.2 And thereby endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace verse 3. But it is evident the Apostle and holy Pen-men of Scripture did so walk in like cases when there was not the like Reason Therefore Gods Ministers and people ought so to walk now Object 2. Then you are for the permitting of all Errors in the Church for if we must not separate from Errors of this nature what shall we separate from Answ To make a particular discrimination by name of all Errors or to determine the degree of any particular Errors that shall render the erroneous person incommunicable is too hard a task for me to undertake I shall onely propose some general Rules and Cases which the Scriptures seems to countenance and shall submit them to the judgement of judicious Christians First That Churches and Beleevers ought to withdraw from and deny Communion with all such who though they profess the true form of godliness yet deny the power of it Secondly From such who though they make a profession of the power as well as the form of Religion by holding regeneration and visible grace to be necessary qualifications for visible members of Gospel Churches yet when they are so corrupt in judgement that their Errors are first contrary to godliness or secondly inconsistent with true Grace or thirdly destroy the foundation Doctrine of Salvation they ought to be withdrawn from For the first By persons denying the power of godliness I mean such who though professing of and practising the true external Acts of Gods worship as they may be generally professed and practised by the generality of sound Christians yet in their declared principles and conversation disown the inward life and power of it exprest by the visible effects of true Grace as the work of regeneration and being born again Jo 3.3 with all other visible signes of Repentance from dead Works and Faith towards God as Hebr. 6.1 to be necessary qualifications for Gospel-fellowship which may be discerned either by their palpable ignorance as Nicodemus Joh. 3.4 or otherwise by their apparent enmity to or scorn of gracious qualifications in others by deriding the godly as holy brethren and sisters or by the scorning the spirit in its gifts and graces in the Saints Now such though they may profess the form do visibly deny the power of godliness from whom we have an express rule to withdraw 2 Tim. 3.5 From such turn away and from such doubtless the Apostle presseth the Corinthians to separate themselves 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16 17. Be ye not unequally â—â—aked together with unbeleevers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what commmunion hath light with darkness And what concerd hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidel And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you 2. Second sort of persons that the Scripture is clear the Churches and Servants of God are to separate from is from persons holding opinions or living in Practises contrary to Godliness I mean such opinions as tends to a denying of God to be a patterne of Life in his revealed communicable qualities manifested by his word and by the Life of Christ who was the express Image of his Father Heb. 1.3 and the lives of his holy Prophets and Apostles concerning which Paul to Timothy gives an express command 1 Tim 6.3 If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to Godliness c. from such withdraw thy self and further in the first Chapter and 1 verse But thou oh man of God flie these things and follow after Righteousness Godliness c. Nay the same Apostle to Titus makes this the distinguishing Character of the true faith Titus 1.1 Paul a Servant of God according to the faith of Gods Elect and the truth which is according to Godliness So in Titus 2.11 12 verses for the grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World and by well considering the scope of those three short Epistles you may plainly observe what the Apostles meaning was by doctrines according to Godliness in all persons of what State of condition soever as in People towards Magistrates 1 Tim 2.1 2 3. Titus 3.1 In Ministers in their places Chap. 3. Chap. 4.6.12 vers 2 Tim. 2.15.24 Chap. 4.2 Titus 1.6 7 8 9. in private Christians towards their Ministers Chap. 5.1 17 18 19. In Servants towards Masters Chap. 6.1 2. Titus 2.9.10 In rich toward the poor Chapter 6.17 18 19 verses In aged men Titus 2 2. In aged women Titus 2 3 4. In young women Titus 2.4 5. In young men vers 6. Teaching us by all those Scriptures with all other of like tendency in the Word of God that then are Opinions to be esteemed contrary to the truth which is according to Godliness when they tend to break the Bonds of natural and Civil relations and to slight the duties of them and fill the Heads and minds of Christians with loose
separating from the Saints differing minded and dissimulation rather then his Error Chap. 2.11 12 13 14. that made Paul withstand him to the face verse 11. But it is my opinion most other fundamental Errors are included under the three heads foregoing and therefore I shall not venture any further upon this difficult work of distinguishing fundamentals but conclude my Answer to this Objection with this one Argument That if those Errors and Heresies the Scripture mentioneth as dangerous and unsufferable in the Church of God which the Churches and Saints of God are onely exhorted to reject and withdraw from was all either of a scandalous prophane nature denying the power of godliness on the one hand or contrary to a godly life inconsistent with true grace or striking at the foundation of Saving Faith on the other hand Then the Churches and Saints of God who desire not to be wise above what is written at this day ought onely to reject and withdraw from such But the Errors and Heresies the Scripture mentions as dangerous and insufferable in the Church of God whom the Churches and Saints of God were exhorted to reject and withdraw from were only such Ergo the Churches and Saints at this day ought only to reject withdraw from such Object But there are several commands or rules in Scripture to withdraw from and note persons for offences that seem to be of a different nature from these general Rules proposed by you as for disorderly walking 2 Thes 3.6 Now we command you brethren in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly c. and and so for disobedience verse 14. If any man obey not the word by this Epistle note that man c. Answ I do admit all offences and disorders coming within the rules of Church censure to be incommunicable after the Church censure is past so far as such censure extends to excommunicate and consequently persons living in such disorders and not manifesting repentance and resolution to reform ought to be refused admission into fellowship if they should tender themselves and none other It being my opinion that whatsoever is sufficient to unqualifie a person for a Church state before admission would also be sufficient to cast him out or withdraw from him if he were already in But the cases quoted with all other of that nature I judge come clearly within the second rule laid down of opinions and practises contrary to the Doctrine which is according to godliness For if you observe these two verses quoted with what the Apostle saith betwixt them by way of explanation we shall not need to search further for his meaning by these two rules which are indeed but one intending both the same persons and the same things which was not Errors of judgment or opinion but Errors of life and conversation as ver 11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all but are busie bodies now such we command and exhort by the Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own bread By which we may discern there were some members of this Church that were idly disposed living in the neglect of their callings and not onely so but busying themselves about matters they were not called unto tending not onely to the burthen and charge of the Church 1 Thes 2.9 2 Thes 3.8 but to the disturbance and disquiet of it 1 Thes 4.11 And also to the scandal of the Gospel to them that were without verse 12. which sort of persons are onely meant here by the Apostle and of the like disorder he further complains 1 Tim. 5.13 And they withall learn to be idle wandring about from house to house and not onely idle but tatlers also and busie-bodies speaking things which they ought not and therefore this cannot concern any persons who are of holy blameless conversations for their Error in judgement not within the former rules proposed Object But is there not an Order that God hath appointed his Churches to walk in which such as refuse to observe ought to be excluded and withdrawn from as Disorderly persons Answ Yes there is an Order God hath appointed which such as refuse may be withdrawn from as disorderly persons yet all disorder doth not arise to that height of offence as to be liable to that censure and therefore we must consider disorderly walking amongst Christians chiefly to consist of offences against one of these two Rules First either against the Rule of Gospel conversation or Secondly Against the Rule of Gospel visible worship Against the first of these Rules did all those offend which we observe the Apostle to Timothy writes against and those idle busie-bodies mentioned by Paul to the Thessalonians as in the former Objection of such Peter prophesied 2 Pet. 2.2 By reason of whose pernitious wayes the way of truth shall be evil spoken of So Paul to the Philippians Chapter 3.18 For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ Now these sort of disorderly persons I hope all that are gracious will agree to disown But the difficulty lieth in the second head of disorders against the rule of Gods visible worship the controversie about which hath produced more rents and divisions among Gods people then Doctrines of Faith or inward qualification of grace hath done for such as never were able to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Jude verse 3. nor to understand the mystery hid from ages and generations Col. 1.26 such as never had acquaintance with the power of godliness in their own hearts have been very able to plead for the form of it from rational conclusions out of the History of the Gospel with which they have filled their heads and therefore it must be admitted that not onely carnal Christians but even Jews Turks and Pagans that are capable of reading the Scriptures are capable of discovering and observing the outward form of Gods worship for what men are rationally capable to oppose they are rationally capable to judge of and observe But Atheists Jews and Turks c. are rationally capable to oppose Therefore rationally capable to judge of and observe the visible written rule of Gods worship and therefore though the visible rule and true form of Gods worship laid down in Scripture ought to be highly valued by all sincere Christians and by them all faithfully observed yet when through the general Apostacy of Professors of the true Religion or the corrupt estate of the Church the visible form of Gods worship becomes corrupted and from thence controversies arise about the Primitive patern betwixt persons equally aiming at purity in it there ought then to be much of tenderness and caution in such about their striving for the right form lest thereby they stifle and destroy the true power which is the end
they should proceed against us and withdraw from us upon this Account Answ Having as before walked with all tenderness and unblamableness towards them let not that offend you that is their Sin so to abuse an Ordinance of God it is not yours the fear of this punishment kept many a beleeving Jew from publiquely owning the Gospel John 12.42 Neverthelesse among the chief rulers also many beleeved on him but bicause of the Pharisees durst not confesse him least they should be put out of the Synagogue so John 9.22 Acts. 22.19 Object But would not this be a meanes to foment and encrease a great deal of contention and strife in every particular Church for where congregations do consist of persons so different-minded each enjoying an equall liberty of professing and practising their different perswasions this must necessarily tend to a frequent begetting disputes and controversies amongst them whereby the mutual edification and comfort of the whole would be endangered Answ Without doubt the different perswasions of Christians walking together in the same fellowship will be attended with many difficulties and hazards which the mercy of unity of understanding would remove but put them all in the ballance with the fore-mentioned evils which their dividing and separating from one another as at present is attended with and then judge which is the greatest for where a necessity of evill is upon us one in competition with the other it is our duty to admit the least that which least dishonors God and tends least to the ruine and desolation of his Church and people and sure I need not bring the evils attending each of these cases in competition to find out which is the greatest but when you find such Errors or Erroneous persons singled out the admitting of whom into the Church of God or giving the right hand of fellowship unto would be attended with equall evill either as to Gods dishonour or to the damage of his Church that our present Divisions are attended with then and not else I judge you ought to assent thereto But if once union of Saints had that weight upon our hearts which it ought to have I do not judge differences of judgement amongst Members of the same Church could be so inconsistent to its Peace and Edification For 1. The Church must allow an equal liberty to all controversal points either in doctrine or practice and withal must provide an equal rule to limit and restrain the extreams of unseasonable unsober and troublesom promotions of them or oppositions to them of each hand so that the mutual edification and comfortable walking of the whole in the practice of those main duties wherein there is a mutual agreement may not be interrupted for God is not the Author of confusion saith the Apostle but of Peace in all Churches of the Saints 1 Cor. 14.33 And James doth not say Where difference of understanding is but where envying and strife is there is confusion every evil work and therefore do but make an equal provision against carnal contentions and disorderly promotions of controverted points and then the holding them or sober preaching and practising of them could not be inconsistent to union in the same Church Object But would not this be a means to prejudice and block up the way of some despised controverted truths which much the least part of the people of God have received and the generality is very much prejudiced against And this way would subject the Saints professing them to the united Church power of such as oppose them and thereby bring such truths of God and the professors of them under great discouragements and contempt Answ Whatsoever the rule of Christ directs us unto in order to the promoting controverted despised truths is the best way to promote them howsoever to our reason it may not seem so to be and when we lay our hands to any part of Gods work we must be careful to keep our feet in the way of his pathes and though controversies and differences of understanding have been in all ages in the Church yet produce one Instance out of Gods Word to justifie Separation thereupon before you plead for the practice of it but this Union would not at all tend to the prejudice of any particular truth that may be at present under reproach amongst the generality of Christians for nothing more tends to the damage of an opposed despised truth then the reproach and dishonour brought upon it by weak self-conceited sticklers for it whose unseasonable and unsober contending for it doth so much offend and stumble the contrary minded that they take a prejudice against the truth for the promoters sake whereas were Saints united in Church Order there might be special times and places appointed for the most able and sober of each different perswasion to hold forth their grounds for their judgement either Doctrinally by way of Preaching or otherwise by a sober and Christian conference betwixt such as the brethren of each different perswasion should make choice of where all might have liberty to be present and to make their sober Objections against what should be delivered as they see cause and this might be done without the least disturbance of the peace and with mutual edification of the whole as a Church which would also exceedingly tend to remove those discouragements on the one hand which lye in the way of despised Truths and those encouragements on the other hand that are given by our divisions to several applauded Errors For when the Judgment of any person made him neither more nor lesse esteemed nor advantaged Christians would then receive or reject controverted points singly to answer a good Conscience towards God in obedience to his will made known to them whereby doubtless Truth would much prevail against Error for a sincere sober Conscience no ways byassed seldome miscarries in its judgement And so in our present divided confused state several controverted Truths may suffer much prejudice by the many Errors they are accompanied with in the Professors of them and oft-times so inter-woven and intangled in their practice that such as may have a desire to professe the Truth are discouraged and kept off thereby whereas this Union upon Gospel principles removes all that and leaves every Truth single and pure without any addition or detraction thou mayest then take up such a trampled on pearl though it be found among Swine and adde it to the Bracelet of thy former graces or duties without wallowing with them in the mire to enjoy it or perform it Object But there are many whom we judge godly both Ministers and private Christians that will be opposite to us in this work upon the account of our separation from the carnal multitude and visible unbelievers they admitting a bare profession of the Christian Religion with some other additional qualifications not evidencing conversion nor visible grace to be the rule of Church-membership c. now how should we walk towards them Answ
of them that afflicted thee shall come bending to thee and All they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and They shall call thee the City of the Lord the Sion of the holy one of Israel verse 14. That whereas in thy divided disunited State thou hast been forsaken and haâ—ed so that no man went through thee I will make thee an eternal excellency a joy of many generations verse 15. the whole Chapter is spent in seting forth the mighty encrease of Gods Church in the day of its Vnity 5. The renewing of the Churches unity would abundantly tend to renew its joy and comfort The ransomed of the Lord shall then return and come to Sion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Isa 35.10 compared with the 8. and 9. verses which speaks of the Churches Unity So Psal 48.1 Let mount Sion rejoyce let the Daughter of Judah be glad c. compared with the 12. and 13. verses which speaks of Unity if for the divisions of Reuben there were such great searchings of heart surely for the healing of the divisions of Reuben there must flow in great Comfort and Joy of heart and therefore saith David who had great experience of the evil of divisions among Gods people the sense he had thereof made him cry out Psal 133. How good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to live together in unity It s like the precious ointment upon the head that runs down upon the beard even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garments as the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountain of Sion c. He could not think of things excellent enough to compare the sweetness and comfortableness of union unto I might further proceed upon this Head as to the encrease of the Peace and all other outward prosperitie with the encrease of all spirituall graces both in the enjoyment and exercise of them but I shall leave the rest to the Readers enlargement and close up this head with this following Argument That that mercy which would prepare the way for and bring in with it such a multitude of other precious mercies must needs be it self a glorious mercy and of all other mercies inferior to it to be laboured after and prayed for But such is the mercy of the Saints union as before Therefore it ought of all mercies inferior to it to be prayed and laboured for I shall now proceed to the answering of such Objections as I can remember to have met with or have ground to beleeve will be made against the several forementioned heads and arguments drawn from them which I have deferred for this place rather then to annex them to the head or argument they may most properly oppose in regard several of them are so general that they will include the several particulars that might be made against each part thereby avoiding prolixity Now the persons from whom the ensuing objections may be expected must be either from such as do erre in the extream against my first proposition in not approving of a separation betwixt Beleevers and Unbeleevers or visibly gracious and visibly ungracious persons or otherwise from such as do erre in the extream against my second generall position of the duty of all true Beleevers and Churches separated from the World c. to walk together in the performances of all Religious worship and services without separating or dividing from one another Which two sorts of persons will include the contrary-minded to this truth in both extreams And being desirous to avoid all names of distinction that might be offensive earnestly wishing that those Nicknames of division among Saints might be like those names of Baalâ—m Hos 2.17 taken out of our mouths that the old good names of Beleevers and Unbeleevers or godly and Ungodly might be again revived I shall state the objections in a general way leaving the reader to choose such as are his own and consider the Answers to them as to himself accordingly for I judge there will be several objections that would be joyntly made by persons of several perswasions and from several Principles which to answer to distinctly would be a meanes to multiply many words to the same thing Object 1. We do admitt all true Beleevers and holy gracious persons to have a right to all Gods Ordinances and to be admitted as true members of his Church But they which only seem to be such and are poysoned with Errours and Delusions with which they would infect the flock of Christ thâ—se we only reject and speak against as Schismaticks and Hereticks c. Answ Such as the Errours and delusions may be your rejection may be just but the generality of Christians so rejected and stigmatized with nick-names by you are not of that sort but generally holds the foundation points of Doctrine and substance of Religion with you the difference lying in things very controversal Now in the purest times of the Church there were believers tainted with divers errors of a dangerous nature who yet were not rejected as incommunicable nor reproached with the odious names of Schismaticks c. by the rest of their brethren though several of them erred in points of great weight as denying Justification by Faith without the works of the Law against whom Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans and Galatians the chief scope of which Epistles being to prove the erroneousness and danger of those Doctrines with which you may observe the Ephesians Colossians and Philippians were also tainted which error as it was held by those Christians I judge was of a more dangerous tendency then the generality of those controversies Christians in these dayes usually separate upon and in the Church of the Colossians there were several deluded with Philosophical errors and Heathenish opinions and customs as worshipping of Angels c. Col. 2.8 compared with the 16 17 18 19 verses And further what sad errors and schisms was the Church of Corinth infected with there were contentions strifes and vain janglings 1 Cor. 1.10 and 3.3 4. contradiction and contempt of their Ministers 1 Cor. 1.12 even of Paul himself whom God had used as the instrument of their conversion 1 Cor. 11.12 2 Cor. 10.1 10. given to vexatious Law suits to the shame of the truth among the heathen chap. 6. verses 1 2. and abusing of their Christian liberty to the hazzard of the destruction of the Faith of their brethren chapter 8. Errors in the administration and receiving of the Lords Supper even to the prophaning that holy Ordinance Chap. 11. Yet the Apostle in all he wrote against these great errors and miscarriages gives not a word of Command or direction to the more sober and sound to separate from those corrupted nor cast them out of the Church nor to esteem them as Schismaticks c. but labours by sound