Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	church_n	true_a	visible_a	19,269	5	9.3685	5	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88870	The bramble berry: or, A briefe discourse touching participating in mixt assemblies at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, wherein is most full and cleare satisfaction given to every weak and doubting Christian, both by testimony out of Gods Word, and many invincible reasons and arguments for that purpose, grounded upon the same, wherein is first principally discussed and resolved these three maine questions following: I. Whether the Congregationall assemblies in England be true churches of Jesus Christ, yea or no? 2. Whether it be lawfull to participate at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper among carnall and prophane men? 3. Whether the admitting of ungodly men to the table of the Lord be sufficient warrant for ministers to desist the publike administration of the Sacrament, or for particular members to decline it, or separate themselves? Secondarily, briefe and satisfactory answers given to all the principall places of Scripture alleadged to maintaine a separation from our church assemblies, besides their arguments and allegations sufficiently resolved: set forth for the benefit of the tender conscience. By W. L. a faithfull petitioner and carefull practitioner for the peace and welfare of the church and people of God.	W. L., a faithful petitioner and careful practitioner for the peace and welfare of the church and people of God.	1643 (1643)	Wing L84; Thomason E56_8; ESTC R413	53,887	63

her first love 2. In Smyrna divers professed themselves to be Jewes Rev. 2.4 Rev. 2 9. Rev. 2.14.15 Rev. 2. v. 19.20 and were even of the Synagogue of Satan 3. In Pergamus there were divers that held the Doctrine of Balaam teaching to eate things sacrificed to Idols and to commit fornication and divers that held the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes 4. The Church of Thyatira though the Lord commends her for her charity faith patience as the other Churches yet shee also suffered Jezabel to seduce people to fornication and idolatry 5. The Church of Sardis had onely a name that shee lived and was dead Rev. 3.1.4 there were but a few names in Sardis that had not defiled their garments by spirituall fornication 6. Philadelphia also had some that professed themselves Jewes Rev. 3.8.9 yet were of the Synagogue of Satan so some render it however she had but a little strength 7. Laodicea a remarkable Church for lukewarmnesse selfe conceitednesse yet poore miserable blind and naked 4. The Church of Galatia corrupt also 1. They were even bewitched with the Doctrine of workes Gal. 3.12.7 thinking salvation had beene by keeping the Law a fundamentall errour for then Christ died in vaine 2. They turned againe to weake and beggerly rudiments observing dayes moneths times and yeares in so much that for their superstition Paul was afeard of them Gal. 3. â— 10.11 that though they professed Christ yet his labour was in vaine bestowed upon them yet all this while none of these evils in any of these Churches made a nullity of the Church but they were called and accounted by the Lord Christ and by the Apostle true Churches of Christ and that upon these three grounds before delivered in the proposition at first laid downe concerning the markes of a visible Church for I speake not now of the markes of an invisible Church as these following and such like 1. To be borne of God 2. To be knowne of God 3. To have the Spirit of God 4. To be joyned to Christ by faith but of the markes of a true visible Church which are these three especially and essentially 1. The preaching of the word of Christ 2. Administration of the Sacraments 3. Visible profession to both And it will appeare thus Acts 13.26 1. If God would make a people to become his people or Church he sends his word the Doctrine of salvation to them Go saith the Lord Christ Mat. 28.19 teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father c. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Amen hence is that our Saviour speakes concerning the Jewes John 4.22 Salvation is of the Jewes that is Acts 13.26 the Word and Doctrine of salvation is with them the Word and Doctrine of salvation is sent to this purpose that men may beleeve Acts 18.10 and for the sake of beleevers Paul also is said to preach the Word at Corinth because the Lord had much people there to convert to him 2. The Lord addes Seales of his Covenant to such a people as Baptisme and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper for as Circumcision was a signe of the Covenant betweene God and the Jewes under the Law Gen. 17.1 so is Baptisme to Christians under the Gospel therefore our Lord Christ saith to his Disciples Goe teach and baptize c. And for the nourishment and strengthening his people in his wayes in their graces the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Acts 2.47 Ch. 4.5 3. The visible profession of obedience to the Word of God and the Ordinances of God is the maine marke of a member of a visible Church And the Lord added to the Church such as should be saved that is all that were saved made profession of obedience to the Doctrine of Christ and came into an externall Covenant with beleevers not that all were saved that were added to the Church but the Lord brought them into the way of salvation by making them members of the Church for though none were excluded that would professe Christ and such as were saved were added to the Church yet all that were added doubtlesse to the visible Church were not saved for there was never such a Church upon the face of the earth that had not unsound members true if we take it to be meant of the invisible Church then none are added but such as are saved but very hypocrites professing the faith of Christ are members of the visible Church the Eunuch before he was baptized and admitted into the Church-fellowship made profession of his faith so that both godly and hypocrites must make profession if they will be members of the visible Church Object Doth there not actuall and inward obedience belong to a true Church as well as outward profession Answ Yea to make men true members of the invisible Church but outward profession is the visible marke of a member of a visible Church Object If profession serve the turne then a true Church may consist of hypocrites Answer No it is impossible for the Lord never sends his word to any people but where he hath his owne number to call in therefore Paul preached at Corinth because the Lord had much people there Object But many wicked men who are accounted members of the Church of England doe not make profession of obedience to the Gospel therefore they cannot be of the Church neither can it be a true Church that countenances members that doe not so much as professe Answ Although there be such among our Assemblies yet they are members though unsound for 1. They are borne of Christian parents men professing faith in Christ 2. They are baptized into the Christian faith and so admitted and received as visible members of the Church 3. The most prophane of them especially such as come to the ordinances of hearing and receiving the Sacraments doe verbally confesse Christ though their conversation deny him so that however God hath not given them grace to walke according to their profession yet they doe verbally confesse obedience to Christ and faith in his name they acknowledge no other way of salvation but by Christ nor worship no other God all the outside service they doe is to the true God though it be in a way of their owne perishing there were many prophane ones in the Church of the Jewes and also in Corinth yet true Churches and these most of them in their best tempers and coole bloud will speake well of the wayes of God though in heart they hate the children of God under the notion of hypocrites while they indeed are guilty in the highest degree of hypocrisie by their thrusting themselves into the Assemblies of Gods people claime interest in the Ordinances of God nay in the Lord Christ taking the name of God into their mouthes Psal 50.16 yet hate to be reformed 4. Though

drinkes c. worshipping of Angels c. while they neglect the head of the Church which is the Lord Christ what colour men may here have to separate from the ordinances of God I know not as for being subject to humane ordinances we must not conceive that the Apostle meanes we should resist the lawfull power and authority of men set over us in Church and Commonwealth 1 Pet. 2.13 for then we should make one Scripture crosse another for Saint Peter exhorts us to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake Then by humane ordinances are such here meant as were Heathenish and Jewish that were types and shadowes of the substance which could not now be consistent in the Church with the being of Christ not such ordinances as the Word preached Sacraments and Prayer these are the ordinances of God and not humane ordinances though there may bee some corruptions in the dispensation and administration of them yet they being the ordinances of God we ought not to separate from them 15. Matth. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world c. Answ What there is here to maintaine a separation from the publike assemblies of Gods people and worship I know not if Christ have left any such command with his Disciples surely it would be found extant in Scripture especially a point of so high concernment 1 Pet. 1.22 23. 1 Tim. 2.1.13 not sutable to the purpose besids the command of Christ and the presence of Christ is to be found for the justification of those that attend his ordinance Such other places of Scripture as seeme to have more weight in them follow 16. Rom. 12.5 For we being many are one body in Christ hence the Separation conclude that all that partake of the Sacrament are of one and the same body and must therefore of necessitie be Saints at least in outward appearance Answ 1. I answer all that come to the Sacrament whether godly or prophane may be accounted members of the same visible body by an externall covenant being by baptisme admitted into the fellowship of the visible Church and making a profession of faith in Christ though their lives are unanswerable Secondly The Apostle when he saith here we being many are one body in Christ he speakes of that mysticall union that is betweene Christ and beleevers and speakes here of the invisible Church not of the visible and it will appeare that he spake onely of beleevers because it is unpossible for an hypocrite to be joyned to the body of Christ more than a prophane person and doubtlesse there were hypocrites among them Yet saith he we being many are one body in Christ Thirdly Admit he should speake of the visible Church and that they ought all to be such as in judgement of Charity are Saints he doth not say if there be any prophane person among you separate or cut your selves from the body 17. 1 Cor. 10.17 For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread The Apostle here also sheweth that one-nesse and spirituall Communion that all beleevers have with Christ the true bread of life and the true head of that mystical body This Scripture is of the same nature with the former therefore already spoken unto 18. 1 Cor. 5.11 If any man that is called a Brother be a fornicator or covetous or an Idolater or a rayler or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one eate not Answ It is true we ought not willingly to eate with such a one or to have any voluntary familiarity with him this place hath no relation at all to the Sacrament Object If we ought not to eat common bread with him much lesse to joyne with him in the Sacrament Answ It is in our owne power to have familiarity or common society with him or not but not in our power to eat or not to eat with him at the Sacrament if the Church be remisse in exercise of discipline the remedy to be used in this case the Apostle prescribes in the last clause of the Chapter Therefore put away from you that wicked person he saith not if the Church be remisse and that he be not put away come not to the table of the Lord. The Text beareth no such weight that way but that in discharge of my duty I ought to frequent the ordinance unlesse it were in my power to cast him out but of this heretofore 19. 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no uncleane thing and I will receive you This Text and that of Revelation 18.4 are the two master-pieces of all their Scriptures I will speake first to that 2 Cor. 6.17 where wee must consider first who are to separate secondly from whom they are to separate thirdly what are the uncleane things there not to bee touched First they that are to separate are the beleeving Corinthians men converted from Heathenish and Idolatrous customes and services to faith in Jesus Christ Secondly they must separate from Infidels men destitute of the knowledge of Christ and men voyd of faith men not professing Christ palpable Idolaters as appeares in the foregoing verses What fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse or what concord hath Christ with Beliall the beleever with the infidell or what agree-hath the Temple of God with Idols Thirdly the uncleane things from which they are to separate are their Idols and prophane sacrifices and truely if in the visible face of our assemblies Christ were not professed his ordinances dispensed if the ordinances were superstitious and Idolatrous in their nature and institution and heathenish Gods were worshipped by us it were indeed good reason for all Gods people all that beleeve in Christ to separate but that this place tolerates any man to separate from ordinances instituted by Christ and ministred in assemblies professing Christ and where are many beleevers met together in the name of Christ this I finde no warrant for though there may be many corrupt members exercised in and about them the ordinances remaine the ordinances of Christ notwithstanding prophane men have to doe in the dispensation of them Elies sonnes were wicked but the ordinances kept their owne nature and use to Gods people that came duly prepared to them If those that pleade for separation can make it appeare that in all the booke of God there is any one place to countenance or warrant a separation from ordinances of the Lord Christs owne institution notwithstanding the evill managing of them and corrupt men imployed about them then they say something but because Scripture commands Gods people to separate from the Assemblies of heathens which worshipped false Gods as the Sunne Moone c. and such as observed Idolatrous customes and practises in ordinances invented of their owne braine not instituted by Christ this

there be many such prophane wretches that thrust themselves into the Assemblies yet the Lord hath his number of chosen ones that both professe and practise obedience to the Gospel for whose sake the Ordinances are continued and the presence of God in them so that the uneven walking of wicked men doth neither take away the benefit of the Ordinances from the godly nor give a nullity to the Church 5. This also is that that will leave them one day without excuse that they sinned in a Land of uprightnesse in the middest of so much light and of enjoyment of so much means and also aggravate their sin that they have presumptuously laid claime to the Ordinances of God and have beene negligent and carelesse to walke sutable hereby they in the Sacrament eate and drinke to their owne damnation and become guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord Christ in trampling his sacred bloud under their feete and crucifying to themselves the Lord of life Object The Church of the Jewes was a true Church and so the Church of Corinth and the rest named they were a people in Covenant with God rightly constituted and there was never a nationall Church since the Jewes were rejected Mr Balâ—â—â—â—â— â—rounds oâ— Sep pag. 1â—â— Ans Religion ever since the fal is all one in substance thogh different in the dispensation and the Church one and the same though different in its manner of government and measure of its gifts fitted to the severall ages thereof the mysteries are varied according to the times but the faith whereby we live is the same in all ages and as God is unchangeable so is the Covenant unchangeable that excepted which was peculiar to the manner of dispensation the confederates and members of the Church one and the same by Gods approbation and so the common nature and essence of all true Churches and essentiall constitution from the beginning to the end of the world In all ages of the Church the members thereof ought to be holy and Saints or they shall not be approved by God Psal 50.5.16 they are Saints who have made a Covenant with God by way of Sacrifice the wicked have nothing to doe with the Covenant the end of the calling of the Church is holinesse to the glory of God at all times and is true in all ages Gen 4.26 Luke 20.26 Mat. 5.16 1 Pet. 2.12 Acts 2.47 And they which are unanswerable to this end or cleane contrary affected they are not called into Covenant or communion with God if in one age of a Church the Scripture ascribe not holinesse to a people for some few sake if the rest be unholy and prophane it ascribes it not to them in any age If in one state of the Church uncleane persons doe pollute Lev. 14.46 4â— Hag. 2.12.13 14. 1 Cor. 5 6 7 and unhallow cleane persons and things as a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe this must hold true in every age in its proportion And therefore if ignorant unwise impenitent uncircumcised in hearâ— and life rebellious and stiffenecked in course and conversation might be in externall Covenant with God and in that respect a separate and holy chosen people with whom the people of God might hold externall communion in the Ordinances of worship then it is lawfull for Christians to partake in the Ordinances of Gods worship though scandalous livers be admitted with whom in partaking we have onely externall communion for if the scandalous were in Covenant in the Jewish Church they may be so now if communion with the wicked defile now it defiled then Lev. 19.17 if the godly might communicate then because they could not cast them out even so may they now if the faithfull be bound now to reprove their delinquent brother and not suffer sinne to rest upon him the same duty concerned them in former times If the Sacraments be now available and of use according to Covenant and promise which God hath made to the faithfull and their seede and no otherwise Gen. 17 7.2â—.4 as indeed the Sacraments are all one in the common nature so are they in their use onely available to the children of the Covenant at all times If it be contrary to the maine ends for which the Lord calleth and gathereth a Church and preserveth it upon the earth that wicked and ungodly should be received into Covenant or permitted to continue in the externall society of the faithfull Jer. 5.31 Jer. 9.2.3 Esa 57.3 1.4 it was unlawfull in the Jewish Church as well as now in Christian Churches And therefore if the Church of the Jewes notwithstanding all that hath beene said were the true Church of God when it was corrupt in doctrine manners officers ordinances of worship when the teachers were dumb Dogges Jer. 11.14 Esa 50.1 Jer. 3.11.2.13.11 blinde guides the Prophets prophesied lies the Priests received gifts and the people rebellious adulterous oppressours an assembly of rebels when the Priesthood was bought and sold the Temple defiled the Law corrupted with false glosses and made voyde with sinfull Traditions when errour heresie idolatry oppression stubbornnesse and all manner of sinne was rise among them If for all this they continued the Lords visible flocke and the Lord owned them for his people and the Prophets and faithfull held externall communion with them in the Ordinances of God then the Covenant of God is not disanulled with his people nor the Church unchurched though ignorant profane persons are tolerated in the Assembly nor the godly defiled because scandalous persons are suffered to communicate Besides I would faine know what may be said of the Church of the Jewes in defence of it under the Law that may not in a more ample and large sense be spoken in justification of the Christian Assemblies under the Gospel First for the Covenant made betweene God and them chusing them from other nations to place his name among them and making Covenant with them to be their God and they his people all was upon condition of faith and obedience and this Covenant was made with them onely but the Covenant under the Gospel betweene God and his people is of a farre larger extent reaching to all Nations neither is his presence limited to any one particular place or people as then it was Esa 55.1.2 3 4 5.7 Joel 2.32 John 4.20 21 22 23 24. nor his worship consists of so many burdensome Rites and Ceremonies and legall performances the dispensation of the Covenants and of the worship of God differ but the condition is all one made and built upon faith and obedience as then it was though they by faith saw the Lord Christ yet to come in types figures and shadowes we behold him in his word by faith already come having finished the worke of our redemption and now abides in the Heavens to make intercession for his people God cals people now to him by the Word and by the Spirit

inwardly and outwardly not by extraordinary revelations and apparitions dreams and visions as formerly but by means of grace appointed ordained both for converting and building up to and in Jesus Christ they had the Temple their Sacrifices their Sacraments the same God and the same Christ that we have so we have our Temple our Altar our high Priest 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Mat. 28 19. Mat. 18.20 our Sacrifices our Sacraments all in a more substantiall and spirituall manner they had the Law we the Gospel they the promise of Gods presence so we they the promise of life and salvation by Christ so we upon condition of faith and repentance Acts 19.18 Acts 8. â—7 Marke 16.16 John 3.15 they served God under the Law we under Grace If God call a whole Nation to a visible and externall Covenant with him by the preaching of the Word the giving them the Ordinances of life and salvation by giving them hearts to make profession of obedience thereto as in England the Lord hath done I know nothing against it but that England may be as true a Nationall Church as the Church of the Jewes was and as lawfully called and constituted though very corrupt in Disciplinâ—â—â—d Doctrine and members also the Word may be preached to Heathâ—ns and Infidels for conversion as Paul did to the Athenians and to the blasphemous Jewes and yet had no externall communion with them as members of the same body Ans The Word may be preached to them that are without for their conversion to the faith to them that are within the Church by Baptisme and externall profession for their sound conversion unto God from particular sinnes and building forward in grace and godlinesse there is no communion with Heathens nor infidels because they are not of the Christian society but scandalous persons received in by Baptisme and not cast out by publike censure the Word is preached to them as members and not as unto bare hearers and they are admitted to the prayers of the Congregation as well as hearing of the Word being members of the externall Covenant to use one Ordinance and not another is to make a Schisme in the Church and as the preaching of the Word not the bare tender of the Word but the giving of it to dwell and abide with a people is a note of a true Church so is the hearing of the Word an act of communion with the Church And if the presence of wicked men at the Sacrament did defile the Ordinance to the beleever so their presence in hearing the Word would have the same effect to defile the Word also to the faithfull but the presence of the wicked defile not the ordinance to the worthy beleeving Communicant neither the Word to the prepared and sincere hearer therefore it is lawfull to participate in mixt Assemblies Object If this be all that declares a Church to be a true Church preaching of the Word administration of the Sacraments and visible profession thereunto of obedience then the Church of Rome may be a true Church Ans In the Church of Rome the Word of God is not truly taught the Ordinances and Sacraments of the Lord Christ are not dispensed therefore there can be no visible profession of obedience to them neither can it be a true Church For consider it is not the preaching of some one truth or other that is a marke of a true Church when fundamentall points upon which salvation or damnation dependeth are erroniously maintained and that by the whole Church as it is this day in the Church of Rome that cannot possibly be a true Church of Jesus Christ that maintaines universally fundamentall errors quite overthrowing the very being of Christ you may call such a Church if you will yea a true Church but let it be a true Church of Antichrist For consider 1. They permit not the word of God the Doctrine of salvation but in an unknowne tongue 1 Cor. 14. the whole chap. that people cannot understand quite contrary to the rule of the Apostle Paul 2. They will not suffer private men Lay men so much as to reade the Scriptures which is absolutely against the command of Christ and the salvation of mankind the Lord Christ saith Search the Scriptures for they testifie of me John 5.39 Acts 17.11 and in them yee thinke to have eternall life and see the men of Berea commended by Saint Paul for that the Pope prohibits upon paine of Inquisition 3. They preach and presse their owne tenets the Popes Decrees and their owne Traditions before the commands of God placing more infallibility and confidence in the Pope a sinfull mortall man then in the Scriptures themselves which is the word of truth 4. They are corrupt in such fundamentals both in Doctrine and Discipline that cannot stand with a true Church of Christ 2 Cor 5.14 Eph. 2.1 Luk. 17.10 Mat. 15.30 Hosea 4.6 2 Tim. 3.15 Mat. 9.3.4 5 6. Esa 42.1 Mat. 24.22.24 Luke 18.7 Rom. 9.11.11.15 Heb. 7.25 1. Tim. 2.5 Heb. 12.24 Heb. 24. Mark 5.36 Rom. 3.25.27 yea very contradictions to the Word of God and to the essence of Christ as the all-sufficient Saviour of all that beleeve maintaining the Doctrine of Freewill of merits of inherent righteousnesse maintaining also lawfull ignorance nay commending it for the Mother of Devotion which the Lord himselfe saith is the cause of perishing they hold also the Scripture is not sufficient to salvation but the Popes Canons must be added they also hold and maintaine confession of sinnes to Priests That the Pope and Popish Priests have power to forgive sinnes they can sell pardons for money They deny the Doctrine of Election and Predestination which the Word of God so fully holds out They maintaine prayer for the dead Eccles 11.3 Luke 16.22.27 Psal 49.8 9. They make more Intercessors and Mediators besides Christ who is and ought to be the onely Mediatour of our peace They overthrow the Doctrine of Gods free Grace and of justification by faith in Christ by the workes of super-erogation merit c. They worship Saints and Angels contrary to the Word and command of God ordain seven Sacraments five more then Christ ordained Esa 42.8 Col. 2 1â— Rev. 19. â— Acts 10.25 26. Judg. 13 15 16. Mat. 4 10. Luk. 22.15 16 17 18 19 20. John 6.33 They also turne the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ to an Idoll Masse and maintaine that grosse and palpable errour of Transubstantiation which is quite against a cloud of witnesses John 6.53.54 55 56 57 58. John 6.63 John 16.7 the 17.10 11. 1 Cor. 10.16.17 1 Cor. 11.26 John 6.47 48 50. 2 Cor. 10.14 Matth. 24.23 and 26.11 Marke 16.19 Luke 24.2 3. John 16.28 Phil. 3.20 Heb. 8.1 and 10.12 Besides these and other fundamentall errours as the palpable Idolatry c. many other of lesse concernement as their Feast dayes Fast dayes Doctrine of single life to the Clergie Dispensations to sinne

power in the Church should know a man to be a grosse hypocrite they ought to be as shye and carefull to cast him out as a common drunkard or adulterer 2. It is necessarily implied and more By the example of all Apostolike Churches who had all of them corrupt members and corruptions in them in Doctrinein Discipline yet I never read of any that were beleeving that ever separated or had any toleration so to doe indeed the Apostle saith they went out from us because they were not of us 1 Joh. 2 1â— if they had beene of us they would have continued with us false hearted professors fell off and departed but no believer no Saint separated I speake now no more how they were corrupted both the Church of the Jewes Corinth Galatia and the seven Churches of Asia of that heretofore in Corinth there was that abuse that I never saw in our Assemblies the Sacrament given to a drunkard in his drunkennesse as we see the text is there plaine for it Some came hungry some drunke or drunkards have a little more shame though they be drunke weeke after weeke and day after day yet when they come to the Lords table they will be some body for shame they will not then be drunke if they were I thinke none would be so madde as to give the Sacrament to them The second thing considerable is to shew the lawfulnesse of joyning in mixt Assemblies the premises considered with those cautions formerly delivered and it will appeare lawfull if we consider these particulars ensuing First As I have said no place or part of Gods word doth forbid it for though some places of Scripture have some semblance that way yet when I come to that particular to answer them it will appeare otherwayes Secondly As we have proved we have Gods command for it as the former instance of Christ and the Apostle Paul Thirdly The example of Gods people in all ages see Elkanah and Hannah under the law See the Jewes also in the Prophets time none decline the publike assemblies of Gods worship ordinances and people though as hath beene largely proved both Priest and people were corrupt in Doctrine and Discipline yea also in their conversations See this also in the Apostolike Churches before alledged Fourthly It is our duty to come to the ordinances if we would have benefit by them Heb. 10.25 the Apostle exhorts to this duty and reproved them that did forsake the Assembly Fifthly The sinnes of others are not charged upon us if we come duly prepared and as we ought to doe Sixthly The errors of the governours of the Church are not made over to particular members no more then the sins of Elies sons was upon Elkanab and Hannah or the rest of Gods people Seventhly The uses ends and effects of the ordinances are obtained in mixt assemblies which are such as these following 1. To strengthen our faith and other graces 2. To renew our Covenant with God 3. To commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ all which may be attained notwithstanding the presence of wicked men at the ordinances Eighthly We cannot as hath beene proved be said to joyne with wicked men in the ordinances though we be present with them the premises considered Ninthly My owne preparation and examination makes me worthy and capable of the ordinances the sinfullnesse and unpreparednesse of others makes me not uncapable To the pure all things are pure Tit. 1.15 but unto them that are defiled and unbeleeving nothing is pure but even their mindes and consciences are defiled Tenthly It is one thing for a man to joyne himselfe with a congregation of Idolaters in their Idolatrous worships and wages another thing for a prophane man to joyne himselfe nay rather thrust himselfe among Gods people exercised in and about the ordinances of God Eleventhly No example in Scripture of any that ever separated from the publike assemblies of Gods worship I stand not now to prove whether our assemblies are so because of that heretofore 12. That which sometimes and in some respect may be unlawfull in some other respect becomes lawfull 1 Cor. 5 9.10 11. 2 Thes 3.14 as Davids eating the shewbread in case of necessity So I am commanded not to eate with an inordinate brother but rather then I will starve for food I may eate with him I ought not to have to doe with wicked men at all if I could avoyd it but if my calling compell me I am permitted now if the necessity of the body alter the case and make things lawfull that are otherwayes unlawfull much more the necessity of the soule now we know there is a necessity laid upon Gods people either to partake in mixt assemblies at the Sacrament or they cannot enjoy the benefit of the ordinances Rom. 8.35 the food and nourishment of the Soule unlesse they will separate which they have no warrant for Eph. 3.17 Joh. 6.56 1 Joh. 4.13 13. Nothing can separate betweene Christ the head and the beleeving Christian Christ dwells in the beleever and the beleever in Christ therefore it is neither man nor devill death sinne nor hell can separate them much lesse the company of prophane men that thrust themselves amongst Gods people in the Sacrament 14. Had it beene unlawfull absolutely to participate in mixt assemblies either our Lord Christ or the Apostle would have laid a prohibition upon it for there is nothing of absolute necessity for a Christian man to know and practice tending to life and salvation but it is revealed in the word of God by precept or example nor no fundamentall error but it is also therein forbidden 15. Exek 18.14 God is just and he punishes not one man for the sinnes of another unlesse he make them his by consenting to them and liking or approving them which none of Gods people doe by the sinnes of wicked men in the Sacrament The soule that sinneth shall die 1 Cor. 5.4 5. 16. It is agreeable to the rule to cast out the offender but not for the innocent to cast out themselves there is no rule for that 1 Cor. 6.14 17. Unbeleevers thrusting in themselves gives them no fellowship with the Saints for they can have no fellowship with them 18. Errors in discipline nay in many points of doctrine take not away the use of fundamentalls nor the essentialls of a Church 19. He that is cast out of the Church is delivered up to Satan though he be cast out against his will what becomes then of those that cast out themselves consider truely unlesse God have more care to preserve them from the snares of Satan then they bewray herein they would become a very prey to the devill 20. That exposition of Scripture which is unreasonable is false but to say the Apostle would have us not at all to company with wicked men in the Sacrament or that we should deprive our selves of the meanes of life and salvation and of the

a true man and have a palsie hand Rom. 12.4 5. 1 Cor. 6.15 Ephes 5 30. or a rotten finger and the way to preserve life is to cut off the dead rotten member not to cut off the sound if there should be any of that other opinion I should as the proverbe saith count him a good Chirurgion but a very bad Physitian Mat. 13.24 25. Fifthly to a field wherein is Cockle as well as corne Tares as well as Wheate And though some hold that this parable hath relation to the whole world and by Kingdome of heaven is meant the Gospell of the kingdome yet it may as rightly be applyed to the condition of the visible Church which shall consist of Tares as well as Wheate to the end of the world Yet take it which way ye will see the Lord of the Harvest is very carefull to preserve the Wheate and therefore would not have the Tares medled withall till harvest not that I would so apply it as that prophane men in the Church should not be dealt withal but to this purpose to let men know the way to preserve a Church is not by plucking up the godly or the Wheate but rather to roote out the Tares the weedes the ungodly and let the good Corne stand and grow till harvest to be gathered into Gods barne Sixthly The Ordinances in the Church as the Word and Sacraments and Prayer are compared to the Wedding Feast to which a man should bring his wedding garment when in that Parable of the marriage of the Kings Sonne the King came in he never reproved them that satâ— at table that had on these Wedding garments but him that had none takes him and casts him out the rest were not shut from the table because they sate with him that had not on his garment nor reproved for it he sinned and he onely suffered so consequently the beleeving prepared Communicant shall not be blamed for the unbeleeving and impenitent but his sin shall be upon his owne head And as the sinnes of wicked men and their presence at the Sacrament cannot hinder the godly from eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ spiritually by faith so they can no way hinder the beleever from life and salvation Joh. 6.54 by this their spirituall feeding upon Christ Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood shall not perish but have everlasting life Tenthly It will appeare it is unlawfull to separate from our visible and publicke a semblies because the Lord continues his presence among us Let no man be more holy than God For so long as the Word and Sacraments are continued and the visible signes of Gods gracious presence making the meanes effectuall to convert and build up in the wayes of God as the Lord be praised wee have sufficient proofe dayly of we may conclude it is utterly unlawfull to separate They themselves that do separate do confesse they had their conversion in our assemblies and their beginnings of grace though some of them evade it and say not by the meanes in the Church of England but by reading and private conference and the like but we have daily sufficient and good testimony of the benefit received by the Ordinances and meanes of grace continued in our publique assemblies I hope every godly heart among us hath large testimony of the daily heate life and comfort that is found in them we finde that prophesie in the 42 of Isaiah and the 16. verse fulfilled to us and so Isaiah 29.18 where the Lord by the Prophet foretells what he would doe for his people under the Gospell he would bring the blinde by a way they knew not that he would make darkenesse light before them and crooked things straight so in that 29. Chapter In that day shall the deafe heare the words of the booke and the eyes of the blinde shall see out of obscurity and out of darkenesse c. And truely the proofe of the efficacy of the meanes of grace in our publique assemblies hath received the witnesse of many hundreds who have suffered persecution for it and have many of them sealed it with their dearest blood who doubtlesse are now enjoying the blessed fruites of their sufferings for the name profession and Gospel of Christ none of all which Martyrs did ever account in the Church of England the Ordinances of God Idolatrous or Antichristian or till it did wholly apostate and as it now stands it was in Kings Edwards time Iohn 9.25.32 What better witnesse can there be than experience or how is the tree knowne but by its fruites this perswaded the blinde man of the truth of Christs Doctrine even the miracle that he wrought upon him Surely saith he God heares not sinners and I am sure I once was blinde and I now see as I hope many of us in our assemblies can say whose eyes the Lord hath opened and whose hearts the Lord hath changed Let the Separation raile upon our Ordinances Ministers and Assemblies as much as the Scribes and Pharisees against Christ and his Apostles and Disciples and labour to seduce men as they would have done the blinde man whose eyes he had opened I say let them do what they will to reproach us we may truely say once we were blind and we now see and we are sure the Lord hath opened our Eyes by this contemptible meanes and as by vertue of Christs prayer the clay and spittle became effectuall so by vertue of the Spirit of God and the Intercession of Jesus Christ for his poore Saints the meanes of grace becomes effectuall both to convert and to confirme and establish to eternall life By workes Saint James saith faith is made manifest or perfect Jam. 2.22 and so our Saviour saith The workes which I doe testifie of me and as the miracles and great workes of Christ ought to have convinced the Jewes that he was Christ so the many yeares large and plenteous fruite reaped by the publique administrations of the Ordinances in our publique assemblies ought to be sufficient to convince all gainesayers that deny the truth and lawfulnesse of them for surely were not the presence and power of God in the Ordinances they would become dead and fruitlesse 11. If a man were desirous to separate and that it were lawfull where is the Word of God the Gospell of Jesus Christ more fully clearely truely and powerfully preached than in our publique assemblies and in many places the Sacraments as duely and reverently administred And I am confident there are as few false-hearted professors in the Church of England considering the proportion as in the most exact assembly of separation by Professors are meant not onely such as are in externall Communion but such as seem in a more speciall manner to performe godlinesse and of these for uprightnesse they may set forth to most exact assemblies c. of separation 12. Consider Salvation is to be had in the Church of England by the meanes of

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