graces of the Gospel shining in them This counsell unto them hee edgeth with the Summary of his own doings and sufferings for them Then hee renues his importunity with profession of great affection unto them and with expectation of the like from them ver. 11 12 13. using this as an ingaging insinuation And so in the following verses the better to advance his Gospel designe that they may with improvement intertaine the Grace of God hee puts in caveats by way of dehortation against communion with the ungodly in their sinfull wayes and this by severall arguments 1. One drawn from the imparity that is betwixt Saints and unbeleevers ver. 14. Bee not unequally yoked How unmeet a match is it for you Corinthians to bee yoked with such you cannot well draw together in Gospel wayes 2. Another from the high autipathy and invincible contrarietie that is betwixt them ver. 14 15. What concord you may as well reconcile light and darknesse Christ and Beliall as Beleevers and Infidels 3. The last from the rich advantage they have by their interest in such precious priviledges and promises ver. 16. That hee may make them perfect Separatists from evill and the more prevailingly perswade them to walk with God as becommeth Saints you shall finde in these words two generall things to that purpose First A serious Adhortation to make a full Separation from unclean persons and things ver. 17. and this as a conclusion out of the foregoing premises intimated in that particle of illation wherefore This {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} this wherefore carries an ingagement with it Wherefore come out from among them and bee yee separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing Secondly A quickning incouragement to act it ver. 17 18. And I will receive you and will bee a Father unto 〈◊〉 and yee shall bee my Sonnes and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty The Spirit of God knew wee need strong arguments to dis-ingage us from our Belived evils Nothing below God himselfe can bee a prevailing attractive his love and favour is the best loadstone to draw us from sin to himselfe This Adhortation of the Apostle ver. 17. is expressed almost in the words of the Lord by his Prophet Isaiah Chap. 52. 11. Depart yee depart yee goe yee out from thence touch no uncleane thing goe yee out of the middest of her bee yee clean Thus our Translators following the Hebrew wherein likewise they have Hierome going before them render the words Indeed the Seventy Interpreters in their Greek Translation make here some difference The word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which Hierome renders mundamini and our Translators bee yee cleane they read it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} bee yee separate This Paul makes use of by his Apostolicall Authority though it seeme not every way so answerable to the Hebrew I confesse many have been puzzled about some places of Scripture quoted out of the Old Testament in the New as in Hebr. 2. 13. c. partly because our narrow mindes are not able to comprehend the whole wisedome of the Spirit of God therein as in Hebr. 5. 5. c. partly because wee doe not observe that Liberty which the Holy Ghost useth many times to follow the sense rather then the words as in 1 Cor. 2. 9. c. partly because wee doe not consider that in citing some places out of the Old Testament the Originall is not alwayes exactly followed but sometimes the Septuagint even where that differs somewhat from the Hebrew Text This appeares if you compare Act. 8. 33. with Isai. 53. 8. and also in divers other places The Greek Translation of the Old Testament was then most common and amongst them then best understood and when the Apostles made use of it if they did not finde it yet possibly they might make it Scripture they being guided by the Spirit of God infallibly what they revealed as the mind of God to the Churches in what words so ever it was Canonicall Therefore bee not offended at any little variation here when you compare the words of the Apostle Paul and of the Prophet Isaiah Onely for your better direction herein bee pleased to remember that whereas the Prophet Isa. 52. 11. exhorted the remnant of Israel that they would come fully out of unclean Babylon the Apostle here applies it to Christians to the Saints at Corinth perswading them so farre to renounce communion with the wicked that they bee not polluted by them Herein they were to take three steppes wherein you are to follow them First Come out from amongst them Sometimes even locally by a personall withdrawing of your selves The pollutions may grow so generall that you cannot dwell amongst them without infection from them You may heare a voyce from Heaven calling the people of God out of Babylon Rev. 18. 4. when ever Rome becomes a Sodome for filthy uncleannesse an Aegypt for cruell bondage and a Babylon for Idolatry and other great abominations it is high time for the Saints to leave it Secondly Bee yee Separate if you doe not alwayes bodily and locally renounce the society of all wicked men yet evermore spiritually bee yee separate from them expresse your dislike of their wicked courses bearing witnesse against them Possibly your Callings and Relations may oblige you to civill converse with them yet whilst you are constrained to stay amongst them thinke affect speak act as men of another spirit maintaining an holy separation from their impurity Thirdly Touch not the unclean thing Here the Apostle bespeaks a more ful renouncing of fellowship with al uncleannesse Moses Law provided against unclean touches under the Gospel Saints should bee as carefull Hee doth not only say beware lest you wallow in filthinesse not onely forbid them to act that which is evill but dischargeth them from touching the unclean thing Suffer not your spirits and consciences to bee defiled in any degree no not with the least touch of wickednesse by any voluntary compliance with it The incouragement backs the Adhortation And I will receive you and will bee a Father c. That you may bee willing to act the Adhortation separating your selves from all uncleannesse you may finde here almost as many incouraging arguments as words First God promises receptionem I will receive you As if the Lord should say when I have called you out from amongst the wicked and discharged you from fellowship with the uncleane you must make account as you separate from them they will with scoffes scornes and persecutions disclaime you when Saul was become a Paul there was a change in his old friends as well as in him his former Patrons became his bitter persecutors the more zealous hee grew for his God the more violently did they oppose him In such a case the Lord would have all Proselytes know they shall exchange with advantage suppose by
to shake hands in lesser things harmoniously concurring in matters of Church-government The Devill hath a great plot a dangerous design upon us herein the Lord make us more vigilant against it when other attempts prosper not hee indevours by dividing our spirits to weaken our Counsels of Reformation hee knows how by the affixing of exasperating names Presbyterians Independents c. to blow the coale and inflame the differences in things Come into some companies you shall heare people talk themselves and one another into a passion against Independents others will draw as ugly a picture of Presbyterians and through both these names too many strike at the power of godlinesse yea and by the words heighten the differences themselves more then needs Whereas if there were such prudent love as the relation of Brethren bespeaks they might reason themselves into an hopefull agreement Presbyterians would appeare in so many things Independents and Independents in so many Presbyterian or rather Classicall Divines will bee so farre Congregationall and Congregationall ones so farre Classicall for indeed the word Independent seemes not so comely either for creatures or Churches the very law of Nature will not allow the same persons to bee parties and Judges without an appeale that both might bee much satisfyed The meeknesse of wisdome in much love studying the Word of God might possibly discover such a reconciling way wherein the Presbytery shall have so much power as will helpe to bound the Liberty of the People and withall the interest of the People bee maintained in such a manner as may best ballance the power of the Presbytery Whereas if the differences bee fomented remember the Apostles doome Gal. 5. 15. But if yee bit and devoure one another take heed that yee bee not consumed one of another If the Almighty Lord give such incouraging entertainment to the generation of Right Separatists then I hope you will easily bee perswaded both as patternes and Patrons of purity to cherish and promote it in your selves and others In these times of Reformation so manage all your counsels that the Result may bee a pure Separation from all uncleannesse Never had any generation of Nobles in England a more rich price put into their hands The Lord fill your spirits with that wisdome which is first pure then peaceable and full of good fruites that you may with all your might improve it Some of your Ancestors had thirsty desires for the purging of England but they wanted opportunity The set time for God to favour this Sion was not come His good hand hath cast you into that juncture of things lets you see such a concurrence of providences enemies as well as friends helping forward the work Ministers Preaching the people petitioning for purity O where Right Honourable are your hearts where are your proportionable affections to welcome such a season God forbid that this should lye at your doore that such and such Nobles in England had a great price put into their hands but they wanted hearts to improve it In former dayes it was accounted a great matter that a Commission was granted to some persons to do somewhat towards the cleansing of England following Parliaments in Queen Elizabeths time cleansed some of the cisterns but still left much mud in the Fountaine God hath reserved you to have an honourable share in this service you will allow mee the liberty to say to yoâ— as Mordecai to Esther Chap. 4. 14. Who knoweth whither thou aâ—â— come to the Kingdom for such a time as this Whether God hath raised you to such a high station for this very service to help to purify England Let it bee the everlasting honour of this Parliament and of you Noble Senators herein to pluck up all our weeds take away all our drosse to remove all our 〈◊〉 yea to doe your utmost to advance a pure Separation from all uncleannesse If any ask as I hope divers of you are so truely Noble that you will inquire What should wee doe that wee may advance a pure Reformation in England Bee pleased to observe and improve these few directions First Begin with your selves bee cleansing your selves from all personall 〈◊〉 of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. O that all our Reformers were indeed self-reformers O that all our great Counsellorâ— would often keepe a become Committee in their own Consciences to examine and discover their own errours and exorbitancies You have many to humour to flatter and adore you but few will admonish few dare reprove you lest your smiles become frownes You have the more need to bee searching and cleansing your selves according to the Word of God Psal. 〈…〉 You should wisely consider your Greatnesse hath an influence 〈◊〉 wayer If you are good your goodnesse will bee the more glorious being ioyned with greatnesse but if 〈◊〉 your greatnesse greaâ—â—ns your sins your height makes you the more notoriously evill Wee expect Oracles in Noblemens speeches 〈…〉 by their actionâ— coppies from their conversations wee looked at Judges should first judge themselves and remember to condemn that in their own practâ—es which they sentence in other mens You may passe good â—ills and Ordinances against swearing and Sabbath-breaking yet if you continue to blaspheme his Name and prophane his day even our Law-makers by their unhappy examples will teach others to bee Law-breakers O bee sweeping every day before your own doores God forbid that whilst you condemn the Antinomians Doctrine any of you should bee found Antinomians in practice Secondly As friends to purity have a speciall eye upon the chiefe springs never expect pure streames whilst the Fountains continue full of mud There are three springs in England the cleansing of which is of great consequence Vniversities Innes of Court Noble mens Families 1. The main Spring is the Vniversity There your Sonnes the hopes of your Family are bred If they suck in unwholesome aire thence that may breed such diseases as prove incurable If those Nurceries bee not well pruned you may receive such Chaplains thence as may study to corrupt you and yours flattering you into everlasting misery 2. Another Spring is the Innes of Court Those Honourable Societies where the young Nobles and Gentry should bee fashioned and shaped for the service of their God and of their Country As the Vniversity breed Ministers for the Church so the Innes of Court breeds Magistrates and Parliament men for the State If filth bee tolerated there for want of cleansing preaching and purging Government the whole Kingdome will bee in danger to derive pollution thence 3. A third Spring much to bee considered is Noblemens Families If there should bee found Chappels to the Devill in regard of ignorance profanenesse and superstition rather then Churches in their houses maintaining Family Religion worshipping God purely and walking in holinesse of conversation If there a Mercenary Chaplain bee entertained who is like one of Baals or Jeroboams Priests
rather then like a Timothy or a Titus who should learne in all things to show himselfe a pattern of good workes in Doctrine uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity If there bee nourished a set of vicious Servants who are slaves to the lusts of their Lords or Ladies besides the sad experience of the poysoning of many young Nobles by such Chaplaines and servants what a dangerous Influence will all this have upon the Tenants and Neighbours and so by this one muddy Spring many uncleane streames shall bee fed abroad in the Country Thirdly As you desire to perfect a pure Reformation extirpate all noysome weeds Pluck up every plant which is not of Gods planting whether persons or things whether Offices Ceremonies Innovations c. A few weeds when rooted and seeding will soon over-runne a great deale of ground To this purpose it is good to consider where our defilements chiefely began It was a notable hint that Cassander gave who by two severall Emperours Maximilian and Ferdinand was set on work as a Reconciler to compose the quarrels of the Church The Principall cause said hee of the calamity and distraction of the Church is to bee laid on those which being puffed up with a vaine insolent conceite of their Ecclesiasticall power proudly and scornfully contemned and rejected them which did rightly and modestly admonish their Reformation Wherefore my opinion is that the Church can never hope for any firme peace unlesse they make the beginning which have given the cause of the distraction There is the same reason for purity Wee cannot expect a good and sound peace in the Church of England without purity Our pollutions being many occasioned amongst us great separation in divers places tender consciences were necessitated at least in regard of some personall acts to suspend communion with their Congregations where they lived Beginne your cleansing work there Wee have great hope that such a pure Reformation as might satisfie godly spirits would produce an happy Reconciliation amongst sober mindes and possibly would recover many who have incogitantly runne into great extremities However doe your duty put forth your utmost indevours and humbly wait upon God till hee appeare in his glory for the compleat purging of this Sion Fourthly Imploy your power to advance the Ministery of the Gospel in the purity of it so will you much promote a pure Separation from all uncleannesse Joh. 15. 3. Through the word yee are clean Where are the filthy sinkes in this Kingdome but in such corners as have wanted a faithfull Minister This made Cathedrall aire for the most part so impure where they had so much empty externall pompe in stead of the purity and simplicity of Christ When a Minister preacheth in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit of God which is a most pure Spirit there the Sunne of righteousnesse shines and such light will purifie There the Holy Ghost breathes and such Gospel aire is purgging it will not indure fogges of errors or mists of superstition where a man of God Preaches his Doctrine drops as the rain his speech distils as the dew as the small rain upon the tender herb and as the showers upon the grasse this will purify as well as sanctify Yea by the Ministery of the Gospel sinners are directed unto Jesus Christ in whom there is a full and overflowing fountaine for the washing away all their pollutions This was his Soule-cleansing method Ephes. 5. 25 26 27. Out of love to his Church Christ gave himselfe for it that hee might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that hee might present it glorious without spot or wrinkle c. If you would indeed befriend the Church in England and make us an unspotted people concurre with your great Lord and Master in opening the passages for a cleansing Ministery of the Word all the Kingdome over The Lord Almighty act your Counsels and prosper your undertakings to make England so pure that it may bee glorious Amen FINIS Gratius est no men pietatis quam potestatis Let Purity and Liberty goe hand in hand James 3. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Seven Orations in the commendation of Paul Chrysost. tom. 8 Two generall parts of the words Adhortation Incouragement First generall Part Adhortation Why many so much unsatisfied about some places quoted out of the Old in the New testament Non verbis inhaeret sed sensum proponit Musc. Three steps of renouncing communion with the wicked 1 Come out from amongst them Râ—v. 11. 8. Rev. 18. 2 3. 2 Bee ye separate 3 Touch not the uncleane thing {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Chryso Second generall part â—ncouragement Duo Deus proâ—â—â—tet Receptionem Adoptionem Cajetan 1. Reception Volo vos vagaâ—â—ri sed exeuntes at separatos ego suscipiam voâ— in mea domo spirituali loco tandem aete na in caelis Cajetan 2. Adoption Officio paterno erga vos meâ—geram amando providendo curam habendo c. Cajetan 1 Observation See booke of Solm Proverbs Act. 11 26. The Devil hath made much use of bad names to oppose good both persons and things Vid. Catalog Testium veritatis l. 15. Petr de Buis Mat. 5 8. Many faithfull Servants of God in England cryed downe heretofore as Puritans and now as Separatists God expects from his Saints a fivefold Separation 1 From unclean courses 2 From unclean company Qui non dignoscitur exse dignoscitur exsocio 3. From the very appearance of uncleannesse There are reâ— malae malae pariter species Bern. V. Pembles Estius his Notes V. Calvin in locum Appearance of evill Reall Imaginary See Godwyns Iewish Antiq. p. 152. In dubiiis elige tutissimum Illa est pars tutior in qua non est periculum peccandi Ames Cas. Confc l. 3 c. 17. S. 26. 4 From communion with a false Church when unclean in the very substantialls See reverend Mr. Heldershant on John 4. p. 159 160 See 1 Cor. chapters 5 6 11 15. Non fugimus sect fugamur Vide Davenant ad pacem eccles. adhort Vide Camero de eccles. Tract de Schismat 5 From fellowship in any thing that is unclean even in the true Churches of Christ See Chilling worth in praef. Ans. to 2 Motive Schisma Negativum PositivuÌ„ Fide Cameron de Eccles. Tract. de Schismat Reasons why the Saints should separate from uncleannesse 1 From the Saints priviledges 1 Pet. 2. 9. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} In Templo vis orare in te ora sed prius esto Templum Dei Ille enim in Templo suo audit orantem Aug. 2 From the filthinesse of sin and sinners Matth. 3. 7. Matth. 7. 6. Isa. 1. 6. Eze. 24. 11 12 Hebr 6. 8. 2 Tim. 2. 17 1 King 8. 38. 3 No reconciliation with Christ but by separation from sin {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 4 Inevitable danger of communicating with sin and sinners Revel. 18. 4.