■# ,. I , / 'V . K ^ . V '»■ ' /■ ' “' -A ' -s ^ . *• s '■ ' .■’, ' mj. ';.' I'i” > ,'-■>.• • >' -y 'V- • ♦ - If*)'. ». r"^' V^' xr^' ‘V ' f*l. ’ ' ^;-' • W: ■ ■4 ■)S?-A->..- . />r/ 4 . - V -r. T T H E Lawfulnefs and Duty SEPARATION from Corrupt M.inijlers and Chpirches Explained and Vindicated. Written by the RevErekd and Learned Mr. James Fraser of " Brae ^ Esrs of i-K/= 3X ^ulroU-, Againft the finjul Compliances of his Day j And now publifhed Againft the finful Compliances of ourV . Printed from bis own original Manufcript. A(5ls xix. 9 . But tohcn dhers vpere hardned^ and he^ licved not, but fpuke Evil of that Way before the Multitude, be departed from them, and Jeparated the Difciples. EDINBURGH, Printed for and fold by Georgr Paton Boob- feller in Linlithgow, and by other Fookfellers in Town and Country^ MDCCXLIV* / Advertifement. T George Paton^s Shop in Linlithgoxoy is to be fold, a Collection of feveral remarkable and valuable Sermons, Speeches and Exhortations, at re¬ newing and fubfcribing the National Covenant of Scot-- land, and at the entring into and fubfcribing the lemn League and Covenant of the three Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland; wherein the Nature, Neceflity and Excellency of the Duty of Covenant¬ ing, with the Evil and Danger of Apoftafy, are clearly and convincingly held forth from the Word of God. By feveral reverend, learned and pious Di¬ vines Which, upon reading and ferious Confiderati- on thereof, will be found to be moft ufeful, neceflary and advantageous, for affording Light anent the pre- fent Duty of thefe Lands, their entring into and re¬ newing their folemn Engagements to the moft high GOD, and for carrying on a Work of Reformation ' in (bis preftnc Period, [ iii 3 ( THE PREFACE T O T H E READER. Re ADER,~_ T H E Reverend Mr. yantes Frafer, the Au¬ thor of the enfuing Treatife, was famous and remarkable in his Days s and his o- ther Writings, particularly his Memoh’Sy publiihed anno 1738. continue to fpeak out what be was: Wherefore it does not feem needful to ihfin: upon his Chnra^er here. This Book is faithfully printed from a Manu- feripe, which is known and has been attefted to be Mr. Frajer's Hand-Writing. And, in regard the Minifters of the Ajjodate Presbytery are now expofed to almoft every Body’s ill Nature and Jealoufy, fo that fuch as (hall not reli(h this Performance, and yet care not for attacking the Author, maypoflibly charge fome of them with vitiating the fame; the Publifher, therefore, thinks it not improper to figni- fy, that none of them are concerned in the Publicati¬ on thereof, nor in the leaft accountable for any Sen¬ tence of it. The Author’s Manufeript is infitled, ‘An En- * quiry into that fo much debated Cafe, viz. Whe- ‘ ther IV 7he PREFACE f tber it be the Duty of the Lord’s People in Brtta'm * and Ireland, to hear fuch as have fubmitted to the ‘ Vrelatical Government, or to join with them while ‘ in the Exercife of fuch Adis as do belong to their * paftoral Office.’ But as the Argument, therein 1 uaanaged, is, in itfelf, evidently of a larger Extent than the particular Cafe of Prelacy; therefore the ; Publiflier hath ufed the Freedom to prefix the general Title which it now bears. Tho* this Treatife is particularly levelled againft Gomplianpe with Prelacy,znd. Communion with Pre- latickt, yetthe Pubiicaifion thereof, at this Time, is reckoned highly fuitable onto our prefentSituation and Controverfy in Scotland: For as the fond Reception, which Mr. George Whitefield, a Priefl: of the Church of ^ England, and his latitudinarian Scheme, have met with, , do plainly call us to Arms againft an Invafion of Pre¬ lacy ; lb the Arguments here pled are plainly applica¬ ble unto, and of equal Force againft the finful Com¬ pliances of our Day, with the Defedtions of theefta- bliffied Church of Scotland, and Communion with the Judicatories thereof, with whom Communion is now impradlicable, without Involvement in that Current of Apoftafy wherewith they are all carried ^own. Mr. Currie is the moft barefaced and bqfy Advo¬ cate that has appeared in Defence of Communion with the eftablifhed Church •, and he hath colledled the moft of what has been, or, I fuppofe, can be • advanced upon that defperate Caufe- The enfuing Treatife contains a very fuitable Reply to hipi, in regard the Arguments which were ufed by the Prc- latickc, againft Seceffion from them, and which are here fufficiently refuted, are generally the fame v/ith what Mr. Currie ufes againft Seceffion from the efta- ililhedChurch ; and the Anfwers here given unto Pr^- laticks, are as valid againft him in the Cqijfe he ma¬ nages. to the R E A D E R.’ V That Mr. Currie homologates with the Curates in his Arguments againft the prefent Secellion, will appear, il we confider that, , 1. Mr. C«mV has adduced xxiii. 1,2,3. as an Argument againlt Seceffion from the prefent efta- . blilhed Church, P. 41. Conferences^ P-p, loi, iS*). So did x.\it Curates ot old again!! Seceffion from Prelacy, as is evident from the following Book, Chap. IV. Sed. i. P.166, &c. 2. Mr. Currie makes Ufe of Phil. i. iS. as an Ar¬ gument againll Separation from the prefent Church, Conf. P. 5p. So did the old Curates, in their own Behalf, Chap. IV. Seft. 2. P, iSi, &c. of the fol¬ lowing Treatife. 3. Mr. Currie makes Ufe of iSam. ii. 3^. againft Separation from the prefent Church, EJJ'ay, P. 122. Conf P. 174. So did the Curates, Chap. IV. Sedt. 3. P. 185, c>r. 4. My. Currie makes Ufe of Matth.\'nu4. in be¬ half ol the prefent Church, Ejfay,P.4l. Vindication, P. iSo. Conf. P. 185^. So did the Curates, Chap. IV. Sedl.4. P i 26 ,&c. 5. Mr. C’«r?7e makes Ufe of the Argument drawn from the Communion that the Lord’s People kept with the yejp/yi? Church, which was guilty of many and grofs Backflidings, to condemn Separation from the prefent Church, Effay, P. 40, 41, 50, 57, 64, I4<), 163, 176. Vmd. P. 141, 142, I4S, 15S, 1 ( 5 ( 5 , iSo, iSl, 185, 353. Conf. PrefP. 5. Conf.P, g, 20, 21, 22, 106, 166. 210. So did the old Chap. IV. Sedl. 5. P. i8p, &c. 6. Mr. Currie has made Ufe of an Argument, drawn from the Pradticeof the Chriftian Churches mentioned in the New Teftament, in which many Corruptions prevailed, to condemn Separation from the prefent Church, Effay, Pref. P.4, 12. Effay, t** h Ih IJi Ipi r-', vi rhe PREFACE 154, 176. Conf. Pref. P. 5, 8. Conf. P. 7,28, 166, 210. So did the Curates to condemn Separation from Prelacy., Chap. IV. Sedt. 6, P. 194, 7. Mr. Cmrie has made Ufe of the Argument drawn from the Evil of Separation, Effay^ P. 214 --224. and in almoft every Page of his Writings on this Subjed. So did the! Curates, Chap. IV. Sed. 7. P. 196, &c. 8. Mr. Currie has made Ufe of an Argument drawn from the Contempt bf Ordinances, New Tejl. P. 45. and ail his Writings on this Subjed. So did the Curates, Chip. IV. Scd. 8. P. 204, 9. Mr. Currie has made Ufe of our Predeceflbrs Condud, with reference to Prelacy, in the Period be¬ fore 1638. EJfay, P. 12- 1 ( 5 . Conf, P. 21, 106, I 54 > 155. 156, i<^7, 202,203. So did the CV/r/irrw, Chap. IV. Sed. 9. P. 207, &c. 10. Mr. Currie has made Ufe of an Argument drawn from fome worthy and godly Men who were in their Judgment, {\ich2iS Ridley, Cranmer, Hooper, Hall, 8cc. to vindicate keeping Communion with Mr. Whitefield, Conf P. 9^. The Curates did the fame, Chap. II. Se(d. i. P. 18. 11. Mr. Currie has, in the moft impudent and dar¬ ing Manner, poured out Floods of Taunts, Mocks and Reproaches upon our folemnCovenmts, and the glorious Work of Reformation, Ejfay, Pref. P. 6, 7. EJJay, P.20, 21, 27,32, 33>34 93 , 127,181, 182, 183, 1S4, 185. So did the C«r<7fa of old. Chap. II. Sed. 6. P. 80. 12. Mr. Currie has pled for unlimited Subjedion to the unlawful and iniquous Sentences of Church- Judicatories, EJJay, P. 95, 95. P/W. P. Io 6 ,< 107. Conf. P, 120-13^. So did the Curates of old. Chap. III. Sed. 3. P. II5* 13. Mr. Currie has made Ufe of an Argument drawn from the Ravens feeding the Prophet Elijah, to juftify the keeping Communion with the corrupt Minifters to the R E A DsE r; Vli irvlinifters oF this Church, Conf. P. 185;. So did the fCurateSi Chap. III. Se£l. 4. P. 122. ' 14, x\lr. Currie has made Ufe of an Argument drawn from good Men bearing the Incfepende77ts, to vindicate joining with Mr. Whitefield, Conf. P« 95. So did the Curates, Chap. III. Se6l. 9. P. 161, ds^c. Iv Mr. Currie has brought in the Separation of the Donatifis, to condemn Separation from this Church, Ejfay, P. 124. Conf. P. ijd, 1S4,207. So did the^Curates, Chap. III. Seif. 7. P. 143. 1(5. Mr.Cwmebasftretched his Wittotheutmoft in reproaching and difcrediting our folemn CovenantSy and impugning their Obligation upon Poftericy, tho* in a very fecret and fly Way, Ejfay, P. 61, loi, 102, III, iS-), 202. Conf W, PS. So did the C’«- rateso{ old. Chap. III. Sedl. p. P. 154. 17. Mr. Currie has brought in the Separation of the Bromiifls and Separatijls, to condemn Separati¬ on from the prefent Church, Conf. P. 171, 174. So did iht Curates of old. Chap, IV. Sedl. 7. P. 202. iS. Mr. Currie has made Ufe of an Argument drawn from former godly Writers againft Separati¬ on, to condemn Separation from the prefent Church, as is evident from almoft every Page of his Writ¬ ings on this Subjedf. So did the Curates of old. Chap. IV. Se(Sl. 7. P. 203. In Mr. Writings, all that ever wrote upon Separation are quoted with very high Encomiums, tho’ the Paflages of their Writings, which, for moft part, are unfairly cited, bear not the fmalleft Reference to this Subjefl:. And to gain Credit to his Quotations, and amufe the Am¬ ple Readers, he calls his Authors holy, eminent and learned, and great Men in their Day. Some have com¬ pared his Writings to the Jack-Daw mentioned in Phitdrus's Fables, which, for Ornament and Beau¬ ty, drefled itfelf with the Feathers of a Peacock; and which was juftly ftripped of its borrowed flumes, and hifled at by the; Peacocks: So, fay vHi Ihe PREFACE they, fliould Mr. Currie's, \\f ritings be hifled at, and ftripped of their borrowed Finery. Thus it evidently appears chat Mr. Currie homo¬ logates with the Curates, in his Arguments againft Separation from this Church. All which Argu¬ ments Mr. Prafer has folidly and judicioufly anfwer- cd. And it looks too like as if he were alfo pretty far gone into Uniformity with them in Principle and judgment, as will clearly appear to every unpreju¬ diced Perfon, if he confiders what high Encomi¬ ums be pafles upon Trelatick Minifters, fuch as Cran- mer^ Hall, &c. artd fuch as in the Days of Queen JElifaheth did not feparate from the Euglijh Church, whom he compliments with the Epithets of holy, reverend and learned, Conf. P. 51, 52. Particularly ihis will clearly appear from what he has advan¬ ced anent one Penry a Separatiji in the Time of Queen EUfabeth, Conf. P. 210. of whom he fays, ‘ That he, ‘ when he came to die, lamented, faying. He de- ^ ferved Death, for that he had feduced many to a ' Separation from hearing the Word of Life in the ‘ PariHi-Churches j which, though he himfelf had ‘ learned to difcover the Evil of it, yet he could ' never prevail to recover divers whom he had fe- * duced 3 and therefore the Blood of their Souls was ‘ ^uftly required at his Hands.’ And he fays, Conf. P. 209. to the Seceder, ‘ It might be to your Profit * to confider this very rcmarkahle Pafiage.* Which is a very bright Evidence of Mr. Currie's being Vre~ latick in bis Judgment. This alfo appears from his keeping Communion with Mr. Whitefield, a Prieft of the ETJglijh Church, and fpending a whole Sec¬ tion in his Conferences to juftify keeping Commni- on with him,v/z. Seff. 5. P. 94'-99. yea, from the Confideration of this, and ocher Pafiages in his Writings to this Purpofe, fome Minifters of the eftabltfhed Church have given it as their Judgment, that Mr. Currie is evidently Prelatick in his Frin-* dples. It IX ';o the R 5 A D E R,’ fc is pretty well known, to many, that Mr. C«y- rie has left no Stone unturned to procure Arguments againft the Secejfton^ the mighty Eye-Sore of all Ma- lignants j and, to confirm this, Ibme Years ago, when he was writing one of his Books againft the Brethren, he was fo barefaced, as to go once and again to Bifhop Freehairn, as he was commonly called, for fome of their Prc/atick Records and Writings, in order to aflift him in managing his Gaufe againft the Seceding Mini- JlerSf which farther confirms, thaiMr. Cmrie is Pre~ iatick in his Judgment and Principles, as above af- ferted. If Mr. Currie fhall have the AfTurance to de¬ ny this, the Publifher undertakes to prove the Truth of the fame» Mr; Currieis alfo evidently Erajlmi in his Judg¬ ment, as will appear to fucb as confider, that be has written vigoroully in Defence of obferving Fajls ap¬ pointed by civil Authority, Without the Concurrence of the Church, when Accefs may be had thereto in her conftitute State, Conf. P. 63-75. As alfo, this will appear from his writing in Defence of the Minifters Who took the Abjuration-0athi and read the A6f of Parliament anent Vorteous g all which are evidently Erafiian Encroachments. Again, Mr. C«me is evidently for paflive Obedi¬ ence and Non-refiftance unto the Sentences of Church- Judicatories. He is for giving a blind and unlimi¬ ted Obedience to a)l the iniquous. Sentences of the Judicaturesof this Church. This is evident from his writing in Defence of the Sentence of Depofition that was pafled by theAflembly 1740. againft thefeced- ing Minifters, Conf. ii. P. 37—6 z. In which tho’ he endeavours artfully to conceal his own Sentiments 5 yet it is evident, that he heartily approves of fhac Sentence, and rakes together all the Argunnents that can be advanced in Vindication of the fame t And be has the AfTurance to argue in Defence th^eof, from the holy Scriptures, our Confeflion of Faith, and Our b bibgif X 7/je P RE FAC E other Standards. But there is one PafTage of our Confeflion ot Faith that deftroys all his Argn- nients, and fhews that the faid Sentence is no more binding, than it it had never been palled, and fully vindicates the faid Minifters for difregarding ir, Cottf. Chap. xxxi. Se( 5 l. 3. Where fpeaking of the Sentences and Determinations of Church-Judicato¬ ries, it is faid, ' Which Decrees and Determinations, ‘ if {N. B.) confonant to the Word of God, are to ‘ be received with Reverence and Submiflion.* Where it is alTerted, That, when the Sentences of a Judi¬ catory are confonant or agreeable to the Word of God, they are to be obeyed j but, when they are otherways, as in the prefent Cafe, they are not to be regarded. Which is both a Presbyterian and Pro- teflant Principle. For, if an unlimited Subjcdlion is to be given to iniquous Sentences, then muft Mini¬ fters be intirely at the Devotion of the Church, and cdntradidl their Duty to God, to themfelves, and to the Souls of Men, if Judicatories oppofe it. But this Principle has been, to very good Purpofe, vin¬ dicated and defended by the leceding Minifters, in their Ksvievoof the Commiffion’s Narrative j'ixom Page 4S to 62. where they have clearly proven. That when Sentences are pafled by Eccleftajlical Courts^ which prejudge ithe publick Caufe of God, and a Teftimony for Truth, that, in this Cafe, Obedience to fuch Sentences, or a filent Submillion unto them^ is a Departing from a Teftimony for Truth, and a Giving-up with the Caufe of God. And Mr. Wil- Jon, both in his Defence and Continuation, hath fully vindicated the faid Principle from all the Excepti¬ ons laid againft it by Mr. Currie. Ag^m, Mr. Currie is latitudinarian in his Princi¬ ples, as is abundantly evident from all his Writings in Defence of the prefent Judicatoriesj and particu¬ larly from what he has advanced anent Mr. Whiteftldi in his Conferences, from Page 5^4 to pp- and XI to the R E A D E R.’ and what he has faid anent the Work at Qamhuf- lang^ Kiljytby See. \nh\s New Tejimony. Fromthele it appears, that Mr. Currie is tor an almoft bound- lefs Toleration. In the following Treatife, which is levelled main¬ ly againft Prelacy^ all the Arguments that the Cup¬ rates then adduced in their own Favours, are fo- lidly and judicioufly anfwered. And we have found that the Agents for the prefent Church have defen¬ ded themfelves and her with the very fame Wea- ons; So that, mutatis mutandisy this Treatife isde- figned for overturning any Arguments this Church can advance in her own Behalf, and for confirming all honeft Seceders in their Secefjion from her. And whereas we find, chat, in this Performance, the C«- rates are charged with great Wickednefs, Scan¬ dals and Errors, and the Author’s Arguments, for Separation from them, are in fo far founded on thefes and fo fome may be ready to objedt, that fuch Wickednefs, Scandals and Errors cannot be laid to the Charge of the prefent Church: There¬ fore, to accommodate this Treatife to our prefent Circumftances, I (hall attempt to prove chat Wicked¬ nefs, Scandals and grofs Errors are rampant in the prefent Church, of a worfe Nature, and attended with more aggravating Circumftances, than the Scandals or Errors the Curates were charged with. And, if this once be made appear, it will be obvi¬ ous to every body, that this Treatife is as appli¬ cable to the preftnt Time, as tbo’ it had been written with an exprefs Defign againft the prefent Church. And, I. This Church, and the far greateft Part of her Members, are chargeable with the Sin of burying and fopiiing our Solemn Covenants, and tolerating fuch as have impugned their Obligation upon Pofte- rity. It is evident, that this Church hath never, in exprefs Terms, owned the Obligation of tliefe Cdve- r.ants. xii ^he PREFACE rants, or fn th’e leaft endeavoured to make the Ge¬ neration fenfible of their heinous Breaches of the fame: Yea, have they not, on the contrary, turned the iharpeft Edge of their Refentment and Wrath againff all fuch as have owned them, and that Re¬ formation we are b^und unto by them? This is a Scandal that is obftinately perfifted in. 2. This Church is lying under the Scandal of‘difre- garding and burying in Silence our covenanted Refor¬ mation attained to, betwixt the Years 163 8 and 1650. 3. Are they not under the Scandal of perfilUng wilfully and obftinately in a Courfe of Defeftion and Apoftafy from the Lord, in Spite of all reclaim¬ ing Means ? 4. Are they not under the Scandal of violating their national Faith to God, in our Solemn League and Covenant, by going into the incorporating Union with England, and accepting Eftablilhment of this Church, upon the fame Foundation eftabliftiing the Hierarchy of the Church of England in all Time coming ? 5. Are they not under the Scandal of fwearing the Ahjuration Oath, and protecting and fcreening all thofe who have defiled their Confciences with that finful and enfnaring Oath ? 6 . Are they not under the Scandal of renouncing their Holding of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and fub- ordinating themfelves to the prefent civil Powers, by their reading the ACt of Parliament anent Cap¬ tain Bofteous, and fcreening from Cenfure fuch as have been guilty of that notorious Scandal ? By this iheir Deed they have grofly profaned the Lord’s Day, polluted his Ordinances, and homologated that Erajlmn Encroachment upon the Headfhip and So¬ vereignity of Z/o«’s King. All which may be clear7 Jy feen in Mr. Wdfon's Defence, P. 163—169. 7. Are they not lying under the Scandal of profe- cuiing, perfecuiing and flaying the Witnefteg for thg King- ta the Reaper. xiii Kingdom, Laws and Truth of our Lord Jefus Cbrift, as ismanifeft from the Ajfe7nbly 1740. depofing the fecedin^ Mhiijlers ? S. Are they not under the Scandal of robbing th? Flock and Heritage of God, of their Right to chufc iheir own Pallors, (a Right that has been purchafed ifor them by the Blood of our Redeemer) and obtrud¬ ing Hirelings upon them, when they were reclaim¬ ing and diflenting ? This Scandal h^s been, of all o- thers, moll wilfully perfifted in, and in which they are Hill waxing worfe and worfe. 9. Are they not lying under the Scandal of pro- pedling and fcreening Time-SerYerS;, Hirelings and In¬ truders, and joining with them ? 10. Are not many of the prefent Minifters lying under the Scandal of countenancing, employing, and giving the Right Hand of Fellowlhip unto Mr, IVhitefieldy a Peffon leavened with grofs Errors, en- thufiallick Delufions, and are not all the reft ly¬ ing under the Scandal of tolerating fuch as have been thus guilty ? 11. Arc they not lying under the Scandal of tole¬ rating, fpreading and venting many grofs and dam¬ nable Errors, fuch as the Errors of the Arlans^ Socmi- ans, Artninians, Legalifls Meonomians: Some of which have been but ftightly cenfured, and others tolerated and defended m fome of AJfemhlieSy as the AJ[embli?s I’Jl'Jt 1720, I7^^ and 173(5 ? All which grofs Errors are condemned in theand 2>- Jl'wiony emitted by the Affociat? Presbyteryi^nd in their A<^ coNcerfjing the Doctrine of Grace. And farther. Are not many of the Minifters of this (ihurch very lax and irregular in their Lives and Converfations ? Many of them are chargeable with very grofs Scan¬ dals as to their Morals, and Unfaithfulnefs as to their Office. Yea, are there not a Set of Preachers lately gone gbroad^ who know riotbingof Chriftianity, but enter- xiv 'the PREFACE entertain the People with vile heterodox Amman Stuffi to the poifoning the Souls of Men. . The above are fome of the many grofs Scandals and Errors that prevail in the ejiablijhed Church at this Day, many of which are more highly aggrava- vated than thofe that prevailed among the Curates ; all which are confidered and condemned in the judici¬ al A(fi and Jejimonyy emitted by th.t\AJp}cjate Pref- hytery» and their other Ads and Proceedings fince. I find Mr. Curriey in the 4th Chapter of his Effay^ condefcends upon what he reckons fix fufficient Groundsel Separation from any Church, viz, (i.) Herefy, or Error in Dodrine. (2.) Idolatry in Worlhip. (3.) Tyranny in Government. (4.) The Intrufion of Minifters upon ChriftianCongregations. (<).) The fcandalous Lives of Minifters. (( 5 .) Sin¬ ful Terms of Communion. All thefe Mr. WHfotty in bis Letter to Mr. IVardlawy his Defencej and the Continuation thereof, bath clearly proven to be in the prefent Church: So that, according to Mr, Currie's own Conceflions, there are juft and war¬ rantable Grounds of Separation from this Church, tho’ be, according to his ufual Pradice, endeavours to extenuate thefe grofs Evils, and labours to prove them no Grounds of Separation, according to the Meafure and Degree in which they prefently pre¬ vail j and fome of them he, with very much AfTur- ance, denies, tho’ it is obvious, to every one ac¬ quainted with the Situation of out Ecclefiaftical Af¬ fairs, that every one of thefe are to be found in this Church, and confequently Separation from her is become a necefiary and important Duty. ’ But if any, to ftiift the Strength and Force of the Arguments contained in this Book, ftiall alledge, that, in regard it was written when Prelacy was eftablifhed in this Land, and to difcountenance bearing of the CurateSy it cannot be of Ufe or Ser¬ vice at this Time, when Prelacy is not a debateable Point to the Reader. Xv point amongft us. But, in Anfwer, it may with equal Juftice be alledged, that Mr. Durham"s Treatife on Scandal, which was written in the Time when the Church of Scotland was {battered by the woful Pub- lick Refoktions, can be of no Ufe now, feeing tbefe are not a Point of Controverfy with us. But it will, be, evident unto all fober thinking Perfons, who read both thefe Treatifes, that they are of excel¬ lent Ufe at this Time, and in all Periods of the Church, unlefs wire-drawn and perverted to humour the corrupt Fancies of Apoftates from the Truth, who wreft almoft every Thing to their own Deftruc- tion. There is, perhaps, no Book that has been, or can be written, that will fuit the Cafe of a particular Church at all Times. This Preemi¬ nence the holy Scriptures can only claim, which are a perfedf Rule of Faith and Manners unto the Church at all Times, in all Places and Periods. But, upon Perufal, the judicious and attentive Read¬ er will fee, that the following Treatife is very appli¬ cable unto our prefent Situation j for the- prefent Church, and all her Members, are treading in the fame Steps with the old Prelatick Curates, by ob¬ truding Hirelings upon diffenting and reclaiming Congregations j by joining with the Intruders; by carrying on a Courfe of horrid Apoftafy and De- fedlion from the Lord Jefus, and his precious Truths; by exercifing a tyrannical Power and Authority over fuch as refufe to involve themfelves in the Guilt of their Defections j by venting and propagating Prela¬ tick Principles 5 by advancing the Argu¬ ments of the Prelatical Gang, and no other, for fup- porting and defending their iniquous Practices; by flaying (by Church-Difciplinc moft vilely abufed)* Chrift’s Witneffes for his injured and born-down Truths andCaufe. And to every one, acquainted with the Cafe and Situation of the National EJla- hlijhment, it will be evident, that there is but too much xvi ^he PREFACE much Ground to affirm, tbatmoftof the CharafterS which Mr. Brafer gives unto the Perfons he deals with inthisTreatife, aremoft juftly applicable unto the Miniftersof this Church, who have, in a great Meafure, departed from the Lord, and refufe to be reformed* And confequently that there are but too many juft Grounds for feparatihg from them. So that the Difference is only as to Perfons, and not Faults or Backflidings. And there is one Thing that this Author, in the following Performance, makes a fpecial Ground of Separation, and that is, a wil¬ ful Obftinacy in a Gourfe of Backfliding, in Spite of all reclaiming Means. And that this is to be found in the prefent Church, they are Strangers in our Ifiael who don’t know it. For has not fhebeen dealt with, from Time to Time, to turn from her evil Ways, and difplay a Teftimony for the Caufe and Trutbsof Zw/’s King ? And has ftie not refufed to be reformed ? Nay, Has fhe not wiped her Mouth, and faid, I am clean ? Has fhe not ftiled the Cor¬ ruptions that have been juftly fixed upon her, fcan- dalous and groundlefs Refledfions ? Has fhe not turn¬ ed the keeneft Edge of her Wrath and Refentment a- gainft thofe, both Minifters and People, who would fain have reformed her, and rejoiced in feeing her re¬ turn unto the Lord, by a full and explicite Confeffion of all her Guilt and Corruptions? Nay, on the con¬ trary, has (he not treated herbeft Friends as an ««r hallowed Moby while thofe who have had the mofl adive Hand in all the Guilt fhe has brought upon her- felf, and would exult and triumph in her Downfal, have been bugg’d and carrefled ? And have not thofe, who have lately appeared in her Behalf, ftrength- ned and confirmed her in her backfliding Courfes, by their juftifying and extenuating almoft all her evil Deeds ? Particularly, Mr. Currie has done more real Harm to the Church of Scotlandy by his WriiingSj rfianall her open Enemies. That Word in ^enyu R E A D E K. ivli t4, i<). is moft applicable to him, and others his Stamp, T/jey have healed the Hurt of the Daughter of my people (lightly fiyhtgt Peace, Veace, when therein no Peace.' Wire they afhajjied when they had committed Abomination ? Nay, they were riot at all ajhamed, neither could they blujf). And it is Matter of no fmall Sur¬ prize, and will be Ground of Aftohilhmenc to af¬ ter Ages, that this Church has never ferioufly re- fleftcd upon all the Corruptions and Backflidings (be has been charged with, by thofe who moft juftly have feparated from her, fo as to be humbled for them, and redrefs thefe melancholy Grievances, which render Communion with her quite uii-, fafe. It is ftrange file has never been amamed 5 f her evil Ways, and endeavoured to reform Abufes, and purge out Corruptions. Either (he will not, or Ihe cannot do it. l am afraid the firft is the Cafe, and therefore her Condition is moft difmal and me¬ lancholy. So that I wifh we may not have Reafotl to cry out with the Prophet Jeremiah, Chap. vi. 2p, 30. The Bellows are burnt, the Lead is confumed of the fire, the Founder riielteth in vairi ; for the Wicked are riot plucked away. Reprobate Silver jhall Men call them, becaufe the Lord hath rejected them. Mr. Currie, in his Conteridmgs for his own and the Generation’s Apojlajy, does not feem fo fond, by far, of any Arguments from Scripture or Reafori, a 5 he does of human Authorities, which he fhapes tohi^ own Fancy, and wherewith his Writings are pitifully fluffed. It may hot therefore be improper here to give him a little Swatch of his own dear Way of Rea- foning, but without imitating him in his Cuftom of Vitiating and wreftingthe Verdidlof his hum an Jury. And thisftiall be done in anfweiing fomc Charges he advances againft the Seceders. I. Mr. C'KnvV charges the Seceders with cenfuring and depoling thcMinifters of the Church, becalufe they cinnot join with them in the prclent Com fe of c ifietr xviii r;je P R EFACE their Apoftafy. To which I anfwerin the Words o£ Mr. Shields^ in his Letter tb the Vrifoners in Dunno- tar-Caftle, printed anno P. lo. ‘ We may with- ‘ draw our Communion from fuch as would be liable ‘ to Sufpenfion j we may withhold our Hearing of * and Joining with them 5 fuch as would be feverely re- ‘buked, we may ftiew fome Difcountenance, tote- ‘ ftify our Dillike ol their Ways j not taking upon us ‘ to infliil thefe Things as Cenfures, (for we have no ‘ Power) but only fignifying our Senfe of the moral ‘ Obligation and Equity of thefe Cenfures, whether ‘ they be inflidcd or not.* And, P. 14. he fays. But * fuppofe a Minifter could have a fixed Station amongfl: ‘ a People, even in this difturbed State of the Church, ‘ and turned either infufficient, or fcandalous, or un- ‘ faithful, and fo deferved a Sufpenfion, I conceive ‘ the People have Power from Cbrift, (when a Pref- ‘ cannot be had) to do the Equivalent of it.* And, Page 17. he fays, ‘ I could never find a folid Ar- *■ gument againll hearing of the Curatesy which did * not as forcibly militate againft the Indulged.' 2. Mr. CutTte charges the Seceders with rendingy tearing and reje&ing the Commijjtons of his backflidden Brethren, and dijbvoning of their Minijlry, becaufe they feparate from them. To which I anfwer, in the Words of the fame Mr. Hind let hoje^ P. 228. where, fpeaking of Minifters being obftinate in their finful Courfes, he fays, ‘Tho’his {viz. theun- ‘ faithful Minifter’s) Scandals be fo grojsy that we muft difcountenance him, when he perfifts in them s ‘ yet that is not a difowning of his Miniftry, or a re- ‘ jeding his Commiffion, but a difcountenancing for ‘ his DiforderSy until they be removed.’ And Mr. Durham, in his Commentary upon the Revelation, in a Digreffion upon//crtnwg-. Edit. 4to. P. 55. fays, ‘ In Matters of Hearing, it is not fohard todifcern ‘ who are to be counted to fpeak without God’s Com- ^ mifiion to the R E A D E R.' XJ*X ' miflions bscanfe ordinarily fuch have no warrant- ‘ able Call at all, (no not in the outward Form, and ‘ fo cannot be counted but to run unfent) or by pal- ‘ pable Pefedlion from the Truth, and CommilTion * given them in that Call, they have forfeited their ' Commiffion, and fo are no more to be accounted * AmbalTadors of Chrift, or Watchmen of his Floclc, ‘ than a Watchman of a City is to be accounted an * Obferver thereof, when he hath publickly made De- ‘ fedion to the Enemy, and taken on with hina.’ See this farther cleared and confirmed in the following Treatife. J. Mr. Currie charges the Seceders with tiifiwan'ant- able Separation from the Church of Scotland^ which he maintains to be a true Church. To which I an- fwer, in the Words of Mr. GiUefpy^ in h\s Ajfertion of the Government of the Church of Scotlandy P. iSS. where he fays, ‘ Sifter-Churches, when they fee a particular Congregation doing amifs, out of that ‘ Relation which they have to her, being all in the * fame Body, under the fame Head, may and ought to ‘ admonifti her s and, in cafe of general Apoftafy,ihey ‘may withdraw that Communion from her, u^ich ‘ they hold with the true Churches of Chrift.’ And Mr. Forrejiery in his Regius Injlruendumy Part 3. Chap. I. P. 7. fays, ‘ I allow every Separation is ‘ not Schifm, even from the Church which hath Ef- ‘ fentials, yea, and more than Eflentials, if it be from ^thofe, tho’.never fo many, who are drawing back ‘ from whatever Piece of Duty and Integrity is ac- ‘ tained j for this is ftill to be held faft, according to ‘ many Scripture Commands.’ And Mr. Durham CiW Scandal, P. 129. zWo'VS, if Scandals become excef- five, to depart to another Congregation. And the Au¬ thor of Re6iius Injtruendum fays, ‘ There is a com- ‘ manded Withdrawing from Perfons and Societies * evenin Worfhip^; the Precepts,xvi. 17.2 Cor. ‘ vi. xj: The PREFACE « vi. 17. Pt’ov. xix. 27. A^s ii. 40. will clearly im- ‘ port this by Confequence.-Surely the Minifters ‘ and ProfelTors adhering to the Reformation, muft ‘ hQiht imtChtirch of Scotland, tho’ the lefler Num« ‘ her. Thofe.Soldiers, who keep the General’s Orders, ‘ are the true Army,"nor the Deferters of the fame.* 4. Mr. Currie charges the Seceders with Sd/ifm and wiTQ arrant able Separation, becaufe they feparqte from the prefenc Church. To which lanfwer, with Mr. Putherford, in his due Right of Preshytery^ P, 255. ‘ when thegreateft Part of the Church maketb Defeq- ‘ tion from the Truth, the lefTer Part remaining ^ found, thegreateft P^rt is the Church ofSeparaiifts, ^ tho’themapieft^nd greateft Part in theadlualEx- ^ ercifeof Difciplinebe the Church j yet, in the Cafe of right Difcjpline, thebeft, tho’ thefeweft, is the ‘ true Church. For Truth is like Tihe, that retireth ‘ frorn the manieft Members unto the Heart, and ^ there remaineth ip its Fountain in cafe of Dan- ‘ gers. $0 that it is th^ major Parr, which hath ‘ made Defedlion, that are to be accounted Separa- tift§, and not fuch who ftand to their Principles, ‘ tho’ they cannot comply or join with the corrupt ^ Majority,’ Air. Shields, in his Hind let loofe, P. :;6S. fays, * That Party in a reformed Church, ’^whicb,having overturned her Reformation, bath (hue ‘ cut, laid afide, and perfecute away found Adherers thereunto, both Minifters and Prpfeflbrs, and will ' not admit Minifters to ofticiate bat upon thelinful ‘ Terms of Compliance with their Way, are Schif- ^ inaticks, and their Way is the Schif n, which we are ' bound to extirpate in the Covenant.’ See this Cafe of the Lccrfulnefs and Duty of Separation more clear¬ ly and unanfwerably proven \n ths Hind-kt loofe, P. 220——where the learned Author, with the fame Arguments that he proves the Warr^nt- ablenefs of Separation from, the Curates, clearly i»roye3 the Lawfulnefs of Separation from the In¬ dulged } Jfo R E A D E sxi bulged; which Arguments, mutatis mutandlsy equal¬ ly itrike againft the prefent Church. Andalfo Mr, Reriwick, in the fourth Head of the Informatory Vin- dicatioUi proves the very fame Thing, and fo do Mr. Brown and Mr. MacWard, in the Hijiory of the Indiil- gence, as alfo Mr. MacWard in his Earnefi, Contend- ivgs. <). Mr. C«?T/V afferts, that the can conde- fcend upon no Place of Scripture, either Example or Precept, either in the Qld or New Teftament,that will warrant their Separation from this Erajlmt Church, and fuch as involve themfelyes in the Guilt of her De- feiftions. But, in Anfwer, I fay. That this Author, in the following Treatife, bath clearly proven, by many Scriptures, both in the Old and New Tefta- mcnt, the Lawfulnefs and Duty of Separation from jcorrupt Miniflers and Churches j and has plainly proven, that both Cbriftand his Apoftles feparated, and taught Separation frpm the fewif} Church, efpe- cially from thefe four Scriptures following, Matth. XV. 14 * JokiX. 5. A/lsx\x.g. zCor. vi. 14. Thefe are pofiiivefcripturai Grounds warranting Separati¬ on from this corrupt Church, which, in fpiteof all healing and reclaiming Means, continues wilful and obftinate in her Apojlajy from the Lord. And asthey are well explained in the following Treatife, fo I look upon them to be fuch Scriptures as will not only war¬ rant Separation from the prefent corrupt Church, but alfo from all Churches that refufeto be reformed. It were indeed a fad and melancholy Conlideration, if we could fix upon no Precept in Scripture, noappro- ven Example of the Saints, to juftify our Seceffion from this Church. If this were the Cafe, 1 con¬ fers Mr. Currie would have the better of the Argu¬ ment, and wedeferve juftly tobeexpofed zsSchifim- t/cks and Renters of the Church of Chri(L But this is not our Cafe ; we have plain and pofitive Scripture- Precepts on our Side j we have the Pixamnles of the thief Shepherd and ks Apoftles i we have Abun¬ dance xxii 7he PREFACE dance of human Teftimonies and Authorities, all ful-i ly warranting our prefenc Scceffion. And tho* our Praiftice were not fo clearly and fully warranted by the Word of God, as it is, yet, I am fure, we maintain no Principles but what are contained in the Word of God, and received and approven by this Church in her Standards, and fworn to in our folemn Covenants. Our Principles, with reference to Doc¬ trine, Worlhip, Difcipline and Government, arena other than what the Church of Scotlmdy in her beft Times, held and contended for. Can then it believe with any Body, that a Set of Minifters and People, who hold and maintain no other Principles, but fuch as are received and approven by our reforming Ance- ftors, are Schifmaticks and Renters of the Church of Chrift ? Don’t thefe Names rather belong to this er¬ roneous, corrupt, tyrannical and Erajtian Church ? Mr. Currie does indeed twit us with holding Anti- Reformation Principles. And what are thefe ? No other than our Seceilion. But as this is plainly a Begging of the Queftion, fo it d^ferves no Manner of Regard. Mr. Currie has indeed, in his late Writ¬ ings, poured out Abundance of Reproaches upon us j according to the Example of the old Curates^ and has loaded us with the vileft Names and Epithets. For which unchriftian Treatment, we don’t think it proper to render Railing for Railing, but defire heartily to forgive him, and pray for his Recovery and Amendment. Thus it evidently appears, that Mr. Currie homo¬ logates with the CurateSi in his Arguments againft theprefentSec^tw; that he is pretty far gone into Uniformity with them in Principle and Judgmenr, and that all the Charges he advances againff the 5 ec?- derSy with reference to unwarrantable Separation from the eflablijhed Church, are entirely gronndlejs- Without multiplying Citations from Authors any farther here, 1 refer Mr. C«?77c to the Treatife enfu- ing. Howcver> I pretend not to canonize this Per¬ formance 10 tie Kb AD i r ; xxiii [ermance as abfolucely faultlefs* or free from Slips, in regard the beft of Men are liable to Efcapes 5 for, IS the Author himfelf notices, P. 203. ‘Godly Men ' do fome Times over-reach tbemfelves, and endea- ■ vouring to ftrike at Error, which is before them, ' with the drawirig back of their Handj to give it ' the more found Stroke, they feem to wound Truth ^ a little with their back Blow.’ But, however, the following Treatife is of excel¬ lent Ufe, at this Day, for the Edification of the Lord’s People, foreftabliftiingand confirming all honeftS^- ceders in the Teftimony they bear againft the Corrup¬ tions and Backflidings of thir Dregs of Time where¬ in our Lot is fallen, as they will be convinced of, upon a feriops and deliberate Perufal thereof. Par¬ ticularly, This Treatife is a clear and bright Vindication of the prefent Seceffion from the ejiahlijhed Church, which is perfifting witjully and ohft'mately in corrupt Courfes. And it is a double Rebuke to, and publick Teftimo¬ ny againft all fuch as have abandoned their former Principles, and embarked with Mr. Wlmefield in his latitudinanan and delujive Principles and Schemes. Farther, it is a Anfwer unto, and Ref utation of the Arguments advanced by Mr. Currie^ in his late Writings, for condemning and blackening the Banner which the Lord has given to his Servants, to be dif- played becaufeof the Truth: All which Arguments are borrowed from and picked out of the Epifcopal Writings, as is undeniably clear from his having been feenand challenged for frequenting theHoufe of Bi- fliop Freebairtii to procure Writings from him, as is noticed before. It is very remarkable, that when Mr. Currie conld fix upon no proper Place of Scripture, nor find enough of Arguments from human Writings, wherewith to fight againft the Caufe and Work of God in the Hands of the AJfodate Mmiftersj he made Applica¬ tion xxiv 7he P RE FAC E tion to the old Prtlatey arrd others of his perjured Stamps for feme of bis old rotten Stuff, in order to \t^age Waragainft our covenanted Refor77tation-Prmci- ples, as the fame are maintained by ihofe of theS'i?- ceftoii. And the prefent Cbmpliers were fo fond of his (lolen Wares, that they gave him large Sums of Money o\M of the Churches publick Ftmd to recompenfe his Pains ; and amply recommended them to all they had Influence with, to lull them afleep in their Apo- ftafy and Deteftion from the Lord, and prevent their efpoufing and contending for the good bid Way, dow Uinverjatly Jpokeh againjl. The Compilers fay. That the prefent Teflhnoiiy is the Spring and Caiife of much Divifion, Strife and Debate. But let fuch as talk thus at Random know, that it is not the Teftimony, but the Oppofition and Contempt thereof, that occafions fuch Things; to¬ gether with the corrupt and finful Courfes of the Time. They afcribe Schifm' and Divifion to fuch as have no Hand in it. It Carl be eafily proven, that fuch as adhere to the Scriptures of Truth, and the o- tber Standards of this Church, and who, thro* Grace, endeavour to teftify againft all Defedlions and Devia¬ tions from the fame, can, in no Senfe, be called Scbifmaticks, and Renters of Chrifl's feamlefs Coat, unlefs Zeal for Truth, and Oppofition to Error be Schifm. And it would appear, that Mr. Currie and his Gtf?;g'areof thisPrinciple, while, upon all Occafions, they brand fuch as are valitmt for the Truth, and the Faithful in the Land, with the odious Epithets of Dividers and Schifmatich. But Wiflom mil be jufiified of her Children, tho^ others are given up of God to firong Delafiojis to believe a Lie. If any of the Agents and Advocates for the pre¬ fent Detc<51;ion (hall fay. That this Book does not ftrike againfi: hearing the prefent Conipliers, in regard it was written againlt hearing the Curates, who ferved under an unlawful Government which was fworrt i- gainft y XXV to the Read e R.' gainft ; to this I anfwer. That Mr. Wilfon, in his Defence of the Reformation-Prmci^les of the Church ^ Scotland, and others, have clearly, as with a Sun- Beam, proven the prefent Church to be Era ft i an in her Government and Principles j znd Eraflianj/m, as Well as Prelacy, is condemned in the Standards of this Church 5 andj by the Covenants, we are as really bound to oppofe and contend againft Erajlianijm as Prelacy. Therefore all the Arguments in this Treatife, that ftrike againft the hearing of Curates^ equally mili¬ tate againft countenancing the prefent corrupt Par¬ ty, in regard Erajlktt Principles and Pradlices, where¬ with they are fadly leavened, are as contrary to the Word of God, and the Reformation-Principles of this Church, as Prelacy. And, for our Vouchers in this Matter, let Mr. 'John Brown, in his Hijiory of the Indulgence, Mr. Renwick, in the fourth Head of the Informatory Vindication, Mr. Shields, in his Hind let loofe, and Mr. Mac-Ward, in his Earneft Contend^ mgs, be confulted: And it will be found, ihatj with the very fame Arguments whereby they prove the Lawfulnefs and Neceffity of Separation from the Cw- rates, they clearly prove the fame from the Indulged^, upon the Head of Erajlianifn. Andj that the pre^ fent Church is more highly Erajlian than the Indulged were, is undeniably evident to all that don’t wilfully fhut their Eyes. Whereof a few Inftances are conde- feended upon above, to which many more might be added, if it were needful. So consequently the Ar¬ guments in the following Treatife, that ftrike againft hearing of the Curates or Conformijis, equally mill* tate againft, and prove the Lawfulnefs, and Neceffity of Separation ixom xhe prefent corrupt Church, con- fidered in her reprefentative Capacity, efpecially fee¬ ing many have countenanced Mr. Wlntefield, an Eng- lijh Prieft, and who puhlickly owns himfelf to be fucha Mr. Currie has written and publiftied no lefs than d four xxvi ne PREFACE' four Defences of the prcfent Defe^ion and Apojiajy from the Teftimony and Truths of Zw;’s King, which are manifeftly calculated to difcredit the Reformation- Principles of this Church, to harden thofe who are al¬ ready involved in the Corruptions of the Timej yea, to encreafe the Lord’s Anger and Controverfy againft us more than ever. And it is obferveable, that Mr. Curriei in all his late Writings, does not found his Ar¬ guments ngzxn^Separationy upon plain and pointed Scriptures, but mainly and chiefly upon what he finds in human Writings j yea, in the War he prefently wages Againft the Seceding Minijlers, he always comes out to the Field, armed cap-a-pie with Hearfays, LieSy and long Quotations from Men. His firfl: Per¬ formance, he calls an EJfay on Separationy &c. the fecond, A Vindication of the real Reforma¬ tion-Principles of the Church of Scotland j the third. Serious Conferences anent Separation ,* and the fourth, he calls, A new Teftimony unto, and farther Vindication of the extraordinary Work at Cambuflang, <^c. All which Writings are inconcefted and publick Evidences, that he is grofs, lax and erroneous in his Principles. The firfl: Two of thefe, viz. his BJfay ' and Vindication, are fully anfwered by the late reverend Mr. Wilfotty Minifter of the Gofpel at Perthy in his , D^ence and Continuation. The third, viz. the Seri¬ ous Conferences, wherein he is more barefaced and erroneous than the former Two, which was publifh- ed a little before Mr. Wilfun's Death, requires no An- fwer, in regard it is, tor moft Part, made up of what he advanced before, upon which he ftill conti¬ nues to harp and crow, which, in the Judgment of the molt judicious and learned Men, was twice fully: anfwered already ; which all attentive Readers, ac¬ quainted with the State of the Controverfy, will clearly fee. As for the fourth, viz. h\s new Teftimo¬ ny, it requires as little Anfwer, in regard it contains many Things which mx.WilJon has fully and judi- cioufly xxvn to the R E A D E R.' cioufly anfwered already. And what concerns the Work of CambuJlatJg, KUfythy &c. it contains no¬ thing neWj but what Meffieurs Robe and Webfier have advanced. Which Work has been confidered, and proven to be an arrant Delufion of Satan by Meffieurs Ralph Erskine and Fi(her yin their Anfwers to Meffieurs Robe and IVebJier. And truly, in my Opinion, nothing needs to be farther faid in Anfwer to Mr. Currie's Performances, or in Vindication of the AJfociate Presbyteryy with reference to the Secefftoriy than what Mr. IVilfon has faid in his Writings on that Subjeft. And tho’ Mr. Wtlfon bad never writ a Word upon this Controverfy, the following Treatife is a full An¬ fwer to all that Mr. Currie has written upon Sepa¬ ration; the fame being almoft all colledled and bor¬ rowed out of Prelatick Writings : And while Mr. C«;r/V makes Ufe of no other, and no better Argu¬ ments than the CurateSy he muft take the Anfwers that have been given to them, until he can find better Arguments to defend his defperate and perijlmg Caufe. And it is very remarkable, the Way that Mr. Curriey and his backfliding Brethren, manage their Defences of the prefent Apoftafy and Defe&on in all their Writings, is ftill bringing in and advancing the Backflidings and Corruptions of other Churches, to juftify, vindicate, and extenuate the prefent finful Gourfes, as if thefe had been written for our Learn¬ ing to backflide and apoftatize j which is the very Way that all Compliers with Courfes of Defedtion have taken before them to defend their Apoftafy, which is a fcandalous, erroneous, and finful Way of Reafoning, toftrengthen the Hands of Compliers in carrying on the pref^ent Apoftafy, to ripen us for and haften the Judgment, notwithftanding of the Lord’s exprefs Warnings and Teftimonies in Scripture, a- gainft thefe and the like Corruptions i and when thefe Churches went on in the fame, as a farther Teftimo- ny of his high Difpleafure thereof, he has long fince * laid » - V' sxviii l^he PREFACE laid them defolare, and written a final Rejection on the Threftiolds of thefe Churches j and it we fol¬ low the Footfteps of thefe Churches in Sinning, we may lay our Account to meet with the like Judg¬ ments with them, and be laid defolate, as they long fince have been j and when Perfons bring in the Cor-? ruptions of others, loftrengthen their Hands ingoing on in their own, it feems to me, that they are refolved to go in them, till they be laid defolate, and that they are refolved to be laid defolate before they reform. Mr. Currie is ftill for gojng on in complying and joining with finful Courfes of Sackfliding and De¬ fection, from Step to Step, from evil tp worfe, and ffill crying out, That this and that is not a fufiicient Ground of Separation j and which is a clear Proof that he is a Man of very lax and erroneous Principles. By this very Door Prelacy and Popery were firft introduced into the Church j for it was by a gradu¬ al Declining ftom Truth, and by a gradual Advance in Error, that the dangerous Gavgrene of Dcfedlion and Apofiafy in Principle and Pradlice landed the Church in Babylon. But X find learned and orthodox Divines have been for oppofing the very firft Appearances and Beginnings of Error and Backflidingsj and when the Compilers with Steps of DefeCfion would not be reclaimed therefrom, have feparate from them : As, for Inftance, (i.) Mr. Brown, in his 4 pologetical Relation, when ftiewing what Lengths Compilers (that were of Mr. Currie's backfliding Principle) were come to in Defec¬ tion and Apoftafy in bis Day, Page 419. fays,' They ‘ are now gone all the Length defired, ferupling at * nothing, which is a Warning to all to beware of the ' Beginning of DefeCfion.’ (2.) The Authors of Naphtali, or the IVreJllings of ihe Church ©/Scotland for the Kingdom ofChriJl, print¬ ed 1693. Page 198. fays, ‘ We are confident, that it ? hath always been bothiheSin. and Mifery of alUr ‘poftatizing XXIX to the Reader. ‘ poftatizing Churches, that they have oot reGfted th^ ‘ Beginnings oi: Defection j and when the Authors ‘ chereof did prove incorrigible, tho’formerly Mini- ‘ fters, that they did not Separate from them, and ac- ‘ count them as Heathens and Publicans j which ‘ Courfe, if duly and zealoufly obferved, had undoubt- * edly put a great Stop and Hindrance to the Rife and ‘ wicked Ufurpation of Antichrift j all whofe Ma- ‘ lipe and Violence, y/ithout the Delufion and Com- * pliance of Inch who oU^ht to have refifted them, had ‘never provenfo tffedlual.’ But Mr. Currie has thought fit to ftand up for ex- ciiGng and vindicating, not only the Beginnings, but the Progrefs of Defection: And the Lord hath, in righteous Judgment, left him to go awful Lengths, in complying with, and, upon the Matter, defending all the Height that Apoftafy has come to in thisLand: Yea, he has been left to turn over into the Camp of Curates s as, for Inftance, in his repioaching our Cove¬ nants) pzrdciilzdyihc Solemn League andCovenaiit) ^ as if it didnotftrike againft al) Sorts of Epifcopacy, contrary to what is manifell in that Covenant, and opened up in the following Treatife, Chap. Ill, Seit. 9. Accordingly he has come to that Height of Impudence, under the Banner of Prelacy, as to re¬ vile and traduce our reforming Aflemblies, and the Reformation they were enabled to carry on j and ic .is not improper here to record what the reverend Mr. W/lJbn fays of him, Defence, Page 22 ( 5 . ‘I ‘ know none of the Presbyterian Denomination in ‘ Scotland, that have Dot borii writ and fpoke honour- ^ably of this Period, (bitwixt 1638 and 1(5^0.) till ‘ the Author of the EJJay qn Separation appeared up- ‘ on the Field.-P. 273. I never heard of any of * the Presbyterian Denomination in Scotland, who ‘ have not always Ipukc, and writ honourably, and with * EJfay, P. S4. CckJ, P. 95. XXX “the PREFACE ' with regard to this Aflembly (i63S.)and their Pro- « ceedings, nil the Author of the EJfay, under a Vref- * hyterian Charafter and Profeffion, has thought fit ‘ to vent himfelf in a very indecent and injurious Man- ' ner againft them, while he treats feveral of their ^ Proceedings as unreafonably bad and tyrannical, ‘ P. 291. And I am forry that I mull fay it of one of ‘ our Author’s Profeffion and Denomination, that he ‘ has given too much Ground to hold and efteem him ^ an unjuft Accnjer and Slanderer of a faithful, reform- ing Aflembly of the Church of Scotland.* And it is very remarkable, that Mr. Curriey in his Writings againft the Afjhciate Brethren, and the Lord’s 'Work among their Hands, when Arguments bor¬ rowed from Prelacy iaW him, betakes himfelf to the Church of Ro 77 ie, in order to ftrengthenhim to fight againft ih^Seceffion; as ^Ar.lVilJon, m\k\sDefi 7 ice of Reformation-Principles, clearly fhews, P. iSi, 1S5. And Mr. Wilfon, in Page 63, 64. Ihews, that Mr. Currie takes not only the Fopif Way of Reafon- ing with the Seceders, but alfo he Ihews, that Mr, Currie gives the the very fame Names of Re¬ bels znd Schifnaticks, that the Dodlors ot the Church of Rome gave to our worthy Rejormers, when they made a SeceJJion from the Church of Rotfie; fo that all the bad Names that- Mr. Currie gives the Seceders, have both a Prelatick anfl Pcpijh Savour, and all this is, becaufe the cannot comply and join with the eftablilhed Church, in carrying on a Courfe of Apoftafy and Defe^fion from our received and efta¬ blilhed covenanted Reformation-Principles. I lhall conclude this Preface with a few Quotati¬ ons from fome learned Men, fhewing the tru^ Na¬ ture of Schifm, and that the prefent Seceflion from the eftablilhed Church, can in no iuft Senfe be brand¬ ed with that odious Name. And, ^ I. John Owen, in \{\i Enquiry into vhe Nature and to the R E A D E R. Xxxi md Commtmm ofEvangelick Churches, printed i6Sl. P. ii 6 . fays, ‘ A Schifm that confifts in giving a ‘ Teftimony unto the Inftiiutions of Chrift, and ftand- ^ ing faft in the Liberty wherewith he hath made Dif- ‘ ciples free, is that wbofe Guilt no Man needs to fear. ‘ P. 2S4.-Therefore, tho’ a Church, or that ‘ which pretends icfelf on any Grounds fo to be, do ‘ not profefs any heinous Error in Dodtrine, nor be ‘ guilty of idolatrous Pradtice in Worlhip, deftroy- ‘ ing its Nature and Being ; yet there may be fuffici- ‘ ent Reafons to refrain from its Communion in ‘ Church-Order and Worfhip, and to join in or with ‘ other Churches for Edification j that is, that where ‘ fuch a Church is not capable of Reformation, or is ‘ obftinate in Refolution not to reform itfelf under * the utmoft Neceflity thereof, it is lawful for all, or ‘ any of its Members, to reform themfelves according ‘to the Mind of Chrift, and Commandsof thcGof- ‘ pel. P. 288.-And their Want may be a juft ‘ Caufe of refraining Communion from a Church ‘ w hich yet we are not obliged to condemn as none at ' all. P. 209.-Altho’ a Church, or that which ‘ pretends itfelf on any Ground fo to be, doth not pro- ‘ fefs Error in Dodtrine, or be guilty of idolatrousPra- ‘ dlicesin Worftiip; yet, if that Church do nor, will ‘ not, or cannot reform itfelf, it is a fuflicient Ground ‘of Separation from fuch a Church. P. 197, That * a Diffent from the corrupt Rules and human Infti- ‘ tntions of a Church-Communion, is as far from ‘ Schifm, as Man can need defire.* ' 2. The learned Gisbert Voetius, as cited by Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs, in his Ircnicum, printed i 6 i, 6 . P. 173. fays, ‘The Blame of Schifm rauft not be ‘ upon tbofe who forfake fuch as have forfaken * Chrift, and the ancient Faith, but qponthofe who ‘ have thus forfaken Chrift, and his Truths: Yea, ‘ farther, if they impofe that which is not neceflary, ‘ (tlio* in itfelf not linful^ and will not bear with the ‘ Weak- xxxii 'fhe PREFACE * Weakneffes of fuch as think it to be evil •, if,- upon ‘ that, they be forced to withdraw, in this the Gover- ‘ nors are the Scbifiiuiticksj becaufe the Rent is in ‘ them.’ 3. The learned Dr. Stillwgfleet^\n his Irenicum.^ fays, * If two Churches differ one from another, a Man is ‘ bound to join with that C hurch which appears moil ‘ to retain its evangelical Purity.* 4. I ihall (hut up all, with a Confeflion, which (unluckily for him) is extorted from Mr. Lavo- forty Minifter at Clofeburn, in his printed Letter, ift Edit. P. 28. ‘ If there be warrantable Grounds of Se- ' paration, even tho’ but one, any Member, or Num- ‘ber of Members in a Church, tho’ never fo few, * may and ought to feparatc from fuch a Church, nn- ‘ der the Hazard of Sin ; add then they are a true ‘ Church, tho’never fo few.’' March 6 . 1744* / tim, Src. It will not be improper here to fubjoin the foU lowing Reajons of publifiing this T reatise. I. Q Cripture Arguments, for Separation from cor^ rupt Minifters and Churches, are explained and applied, and the Lawfulnefs, Duty and Necef- fity ol Separation from them, are clearly proven. II. Anfwers are given to fuch Scriptures as are adduced by Carriers on and Compliers with Cour- fes ofDefedtion, for their Juftification, difcovering that they have no Warrant, Precept, or laudable Ex¬ ample, for their Compliances. HI. That Church-Judicatories have no Authori¬ ty but what they have from the Scriptures and, when they a 61 : without Scripture-Authority, they act illegally j and their unlawful Sentences are not binding Reafons of Publication* xxxiii binding, nor ratified in Heaven, and fo nd Obedi¬ ence is due to the fame. IV. The Marks and Cfaaradlers of Minifters that fliould be heard, and Diftindtions concerning the Withdrawing from Minifters, and what is a Mini- fter’s Gommiflion, and when he forfeits his Com- miflion, and when he runs without a Gommiflion. V. What are infufficienc and unwarrantable Grounds of Separation, and what are fufiicient and warrantable Grounds of Separation from Minifters 3 and when Hearing is finful, and when a Duty. VI. What are the Scripture-Marks of Minifter?; that ftiould be heard, and the Scripture-Marks of Minifters that ftiould not be heard; and what are the Marks both of true and falfe Shepherds 3 and chat unlefs they have the Marks of true Shepherds, recorded in Scripture, they ftiould not be heard* VII. That good Men are not to be followed in a finful Courfe j and the better the Men are, the greater is their Sin and Scandal in joining with finful Courfes, and the more unlawful it is to hear them 5 and the greater Snares they are to the People to follow them, and the more ftiould they be teftified againft, when carrying on finful Courfes* VIII. Several Arguments proving that it was un¬ lawful to hear the Scribes and PharifeeSj who were both Backfliders, Perfecutors, Blafphemcrs, and guilty of the Sin againft the Holy Ghoft, and that neither Chriftnor his Apoftles joined with them* IX. Arguments proving that it was the Sin of Eli’s Sons to offer Sacrifices, while under their moral Uncleannefs, and that the People ftiould not have given their Sacrifices to them, but to other Priefts* X. Arguments againft keeping Communion With the Jewijh Church, and proving that the Saints or Prophets under the Law did not join with fcanda - lousPerfons or Corruptions, and that neither Chrifl nor his Apoftles joined with the Church of ihe^ewSi % XL Ar- f xxxiv Reafons of Publication^ XI. Arguments proving that the feveral Cor¬ ruptions, mentioned in the Chriftian Churches in the New Tc-ftament, are no Argument or Warrant for People to join with backfliding and apoilatizing Minifters and Churches. XII. Anfwers to the Argument drawn from the Pradicc of the Reformers joining with Prelacy be¬ fore the Year 1^38. proving that there were then fome that did feparate from Prelacy; and tho’ others pined with Prelacy^ yet that will not warrant or juftify our joining with that or the like Defedtion. XIII. A;ifwers to the Arguments drawn from the Evil of Separation, and the Contempt of Ordinan¬ ces, proving that withdrawing from Hirelings and Compliers with Courfes of Defedfion, is no Con¬ tempt of Ordinances, but a clear Teftimony of Zeal for Ordinances, and the Purity thereof. XIV. Anfwers to feveral other Arguments for hearing corrupt Minifters, clearly proving that it is better to have no Minifters at all, than to have corrupt Minifters; and that others, joining with corrupt Minifters and Churches formerly, are no Rule nor Warrant for us to do the like. XV. Arguments proving that the People have not ufed all the Means that God hath appointed for recovering backfliding Minifters, until they with¬ draw and feparate from them, that they may be a- Ihamed of the Evil of their Way. XVI. What is the Chriftian People’s Judgment of Diferetion, and proving that the fame is noway prejudicial to the Authority of Minifters or Church- Judicatories, but that each of them have their diftindl Rights and Privileges recorded in the Scriptures. XVII. This Treatife fully clears thefe Scriptures, that Meflis. Williamfony Currie^ Laxvjofi, and their Adherents, pervert, and anfwers thofe Arguments they adduce in Defence of the prefent Defedion, and againft the aflociate Brethren for oppofing the faid- Renfom of Publication^ xxxv /aid Defeftion, and adhering to the covenanted Re¬ formation Principles ol this Church: And farther confirms what the reverend Mr. William Wilfon has faid in Vindication of the Covenants and Work of Reformation, in his Letter to Mr. Wardlawy and in his Defence of the Reformation-Principles of the Church of Scotlarjd, and in his Continuation of the faid Defence, in Anfwer to Mr. Currie. X VIII. This alfo (hews and proves, that the faid Mefirs. Williamfon, Currie and Lawjon make ufe of the very fame Arguments againft the affociate Brethren, and thofe who are joined with them in the prefent Work of Reformation, which the old malignant, Prelaticky perfecuting Curates and Prelates made ufe of againft the fuffering Presbyterians, who could not join with them in their Prelatick Apoftafy, which were long lince fully anfwered by the above named reverend and learned Author j which Per¬ formance will be a ftanding Anfwer to all that ever wrote, or (hall write, in favours of joining with Courfes of Defedion. XIX. In this Book the Cafe and Nature of Schifm and Separation is cleared, and the true fcriptural Terms of Church-Communion, and Grounds of Sepa¬ ration from corrupt Churches and Minifters, carrying on backlliding Courfes from the covenanted Reforma¬ tion-Principles of the Church of Scotland, are clearly handled, and the fame proven to be juft and warrant¬ able Grounds of Separation, and many ufeful Cafes of Cpnfcisnce concerning Separation j and what arc juft and warrantable Grounds of Separation, and what are not, are folidly, learnedly, and accurate¬ ly difeufted and refolved, and the Cafe of Separation clearly ftated, handled and determined ; and Sepa¬ ration from corrupt Minifters and Churches is fully vindicated •, and the true Scripture-Marks of Time- Servers and Hirelings, who fhould be feparated from. 5:xxvi Reafom of Publication; from, are given from the Word of God. All which are mod neceflary and feafonable for thefe Times, and may be a Warning and Caution to all the Lovers of Truth, and of the valuable Covenants and Work of Reformation in Scotland, and who have a juft Regard to the fame, to beware of carry¬ ing on, or complying with, or countenancing Courfes of Backfliding and Defeftion from the fame, and that the Fraftice of fuch, who do fo, is unwarrant¬ able and unfafe, having no Foundation or Warrant in the Word of God for the fame. XX. This Treatifeis a clear Vindication of our worthy and faithful Sufferers for their not Hearing the Curates, and alfo will be a ftrong and ftand- ing Bulwark, both againft Prelacy, and hearing of Curates, in all Times coming, which may be of great Ufe at this Day, when thofe, whom they call good Men, and the better Fart of the Church, of whom it was leaftexpedfed, are joining with Mr. IVhitefield, on EnglijhPsK^, who is bringing Prelacy into the Church at a Back-Door. And alfo this Book clearly ftiews, that altho’ the prefent Com- pliers call themfclves Presbyterians, yet they are drinking in, and propogating Prelatkk Principles. And it mav be farther added here, that, Laftly, This Book, being calculated for clearing the Duty of the Lord’s People, in Britain and Ire¬ land, not to hear fuch as have fubmitted to the Pre- iatical Government, or to join with them while in the Exercifeof fuch Adis as do belong to their pafto- ral Office, plainly ftiews the Unlawfulnefs and Sin- fulnefs of countenancing the Mini[irations of Mr. IVhitefield, who has only Epificopal Ordination, which is litre proven to be contrary unroour Lord’s Tnfti- riuion with reference unto the Conveyance of Church- Power. And befides all this, which is, of itfelf, a fufficienc Argument for rejedbng him as a Stran¬ ger and Hireling, whom Chrift^s Sheep are com¬ manded Reafons of Publication." xxxvii manded to avoid, he is chargeable with dreadfal Error, ^Sigxzv\x.EnthtiJiafm, gxois Delufion^ and hor¬ rid BlaJphemicSi notwithftanding of all his high Pre¬ tences CO eminent Piety and exalted Devotion. And fuch as would fee more of the Evil and Danger of joining with Mr. Whitefieldy may fee and perufe a large Colleftion of his Errors, Enthujiafm and Delu- /ton in the reverend Mr. yo/m Bijfet's. Book, who has colleded the fame from his pubdick Papers, apd refuted and fet them in a pretty clear Light. A Performance, which has been a Mean to open the Eyes of many, to fee their Error and Folly in countenancing him. And notwithftanding that he is chargeable with fo many horrid Things, yet many Minifters of this Church, and vaft Multitudes of People, have countenanced him, extolling him to the Skies, as the People of Samaria did Simon Magus, pnto whom, indeed, he is pretty fimilar in his Con- du6l and Converfation, while Blafphemy and inipof- mg upon the World, with enthuftajikk Airs and Jufpi- cions Arts, feem to comprehend the main Parc of his Character; and filthy Lucre, thro’ an />;- fatiahk Thirjl after Money, feems to be the Thing he cbufiy aims at in all his publick Appearances. Tho* this is the Cafe, and his fcandalous Pradices are more fiagrattt chan any of the old perjured Curates, yet, becaufe he is a fit Tool for fuppreffing and break¬ ing the Seceffion, he is extolled as another Apoftle PatiL and carefted by all that have apoftatized from Ithe Truths of Chrift. , . P. S. The Puh/ijher has fubjoined unto this Trea- tife, a fmall Colieition of fome publick Papers re^ lative to the fame Qucftion therein dilcufled, which be hopes may be of loin. Ule. THE [ ] THE CONTENTS. CHAP. I. W Herem Jbme Things are premifed touching the the Occafton of this Treatife, and fating of the (Mejiion. JPage I Sedl. I. The Occafion of this Treatife. I Sedl. Z. The Cafe Jiatedy andTerms explained. 4 Sed. 3. Some preliminary Pofitions andConcefjions. IZ CHAP. II. Some Queflmts cleared. 14 Sedl. I. Whether thePxQldiiQS he 14 Seol. Z. Whether all the Conformifts Office doth flow from the Prelate, and as Jhch, or not ? zi Sedt. 3. Whether Conformifts he lawful and real MiniflerSi or net ? 4^ Sedt. 4. Whether the Conformifts Preaching he not a Sin ? 6 ^ Sedl. 5. When is Communion in Worjhip lawful, and when not ? Sedt. 6 . Whether may we withdraw from any in pri¬ vate Converfation, and yet cannot withdraw from them while in the Exercije of their Offices ? 77 CHAP. III. Containing Arguments againfl hearing the Confor¬ mifts. S6 Sedf. l. Wherein the firfl Aj'gument from Z Cor. vi. 14, &c. is handled. 86 Seft. The CONTENTS. Seft. 1. Wherein a fecond Argument againjl hearing the Conformifts, from John x. i-14. is profe- cuted. Page 100 Ssft. 3 • Wherein a third Argument is handled^ drawn from the Contormifts Want of a Commifjiony as it is Jer. xxiii. 21. John xiii. 20. Rom. x. 15. Heb. 4 - llo Se6l. 4. Wherein a fourth Aigument is handled^ jhew- mg that we cannot hear the Conformilts in Faith, Jer. xxiii. 32. Macth. xv- 9. 120 Seft. 5. Wherein a fifth Argument is handled, from Ifa. I. II— and\y.s\. 34. Ezek. xx. 39, becaafi of the Sinfulnefs of the Cerates Preaching. 12 j Seft. 6. Wljerein a fixth Argument is handled, drawn from the fad Confequences of hearing the Conformifts. 129 Sedl. 7. Wherein a feventh Argument is handled, drawn from fame providential Confiderations. 137 Seil. 8. Wherein other Arguments, before hinted at, are briefly laid down and confirmed. 14S Se6t. 9. Wherein an Argument, taken from the Solemn League and Covenant, is handled. 154 CHAP. IV. Wherein various Arguments, advanced by the Curates and their Abettors, in favours of hearing them, are confidered and anfwered. 166 Sedl. I. Wherein the Conformifts Argumetit for hear¬ ing, drawn from Maith. xxiii. i, a, 3, is refu¬ ted. 166 Sec, (2.) All fucb ashav? taken the Oath of Ca- Sed. 2. from corrupt Mini per s 'vindicated. Canonical Obedience. (3.) Such as have taken Col¬ lation fron:i the (4.) Such as have promif- ed (tho’ neither by Writ nor Oath) to fubmit to the Government.' (5.) Such as are ordained by the Pr^- late. (6.) Such as come to the Prelate's Synods or Presbyteries, and concur with him in juridical Adts. (7.) Such as forbear ledturing, fing the Doxoiogy, caufe repeat the Creed 111 Jlaptifm ; Which are all Badges of the Prelate's Authority. Now, all thefemay come under a threefold Con- lideration. ijl. Such as have been ordained fince the Government was changed, idly. Such as have been ordained by Presbyters, but, hnce the Prelates have came in, have fubmicted to them. \dly. Such as fcruple at Oath or Writ, but promife to live peaceably and preach, and come to their ecclefia- ftick Courts. It may be granted, that tho’ all thefe Ferfons have not conformed in the fame Meafure, yet have all conformed, and are all fubjedt to the Government. As, when Chrift was on Earth, all that refufed him, did not refufe him in the fhme Manner: For fome cried out. He is the Heir, let tis hill him: We xvillmt have this Man to reign over us y and therefore defpiteftdly ufed his Servants: Yet fome were more civil, and made Excufes of Oxen, Farm and Wife, Matth. xxii. <>, 6. tho’ all flighted him, and came to one End. So it is in this prefeiit Gene¬ ration : All have not in the fame Way revolted from him, nor difplayed a Banner fo openly and diredfly againft Chrift ; for fome are for crucifying of him, and his Members, and Caufe; but others are for chajtifwg of them, and fo let them go, and, if they inuft needs condemn them (left they be accounted £- nemies to Cefar) they will wafh their Hands, cry and hope, that they are guiltlefs concerning their Blood, but doftill go on. This I mean by Conformjis. But, II. Let us look on Confotnnijls, or Curates, in their moral Capacity, and fee what Manner of Per- fons (5 *The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap.!,’ fons they are. (i.) They are the Under-Officers in that Army affimbled under the Standard of £- pijcopacyy which is againft the Lamb ana his Follow¬ ers, like thefe Localts having tne Fiffrw hut Tails with Stings like Scorpionsy Rev. ix. 7, lo. which are Samaritansy pretending to bjiid Jerufaleniy yet fecretly undermining it, Ezraw. z, 3. (z.) They are fuch as are, therefore, in adtaai Rebellion a- gainft God. {3.) They aie Perfons, for moft part, fcandalous, Haters of Godlin fs, Peifecutors, Mockers, covetous, Drunkards or Tippiers, lenfual and ignorant. (4.) They are all guurv ot rh. dread¬ ful Sm of Perjury, and curfed Achans in meddling vSKh ihz acettrfed Lhing. (<).) T'; ’ molt moderate among them are Perfons given to fome Sin or other ; fo that, for my own Part, (1 fpeak ir in the Prefence of God ) I never knew a Conformijl, but was either ignorant, or worldly, or frothy, or felt-conceited, tho’ in better Times they appeared fomething elfe. (6.) They are Perfons generally unfitted for that Office, by reafon of their grofs Ignorance, Weak- nefs of natural Parts, Want of Gifts and Experience, contrary unro tbeC^iahficanons Minifters fhould be pofTefTed of, mentioned I i/w;. hi. i-7. (7.) In better Times they were generally the Roots of Bitternefs, chat did both fecrctly and openly oppofe the Work of God, and draw down the Lord’s Wrath and Curfe on the Land, tho’ the great Slucc was not opened till of late j they were as Thorns in the Sides of the truly godly, of whom they could not be 1 id, they being too hard for them, like the Sons of Zeruiah, and therefore behoved to figh and groan under this Body of Death : So that (to conclude) fuch a wretched ungodly AfTembly was never before conveened out of Hell. I ihall not fay but fome of them may b" dear to God, ( tho’ unknown to me) but f am much afraid, chat Prelacy ( as it now ffands) is fuch a Pity that they that are abhorred of the Lord Sect. 2. from corrupt Minifters 'vindicated. 7 do fall into. Nor is it any perfonal Prejudice (God knows) that moves me thus to fpeak. If it were the Lord’s Will, I wi(h the poor miferable Creatures might fee the Evil of their Way, and be brought in, and humbled for their mocking of, and Rebellion a- gainft the Lord. III. I mean by Epifcopal Authority, the Prelate's I Power, as in himfelf as in the firft Fountain, and I from him derived to his inferior Officers, and exer- I cifed by, with, and upon them 5 or the Government I of the Church regulated by the Bifhop as Head, and the reft of inferior Officers under him. But let us confider z Prelate in his moral Capacity. He is (l.) the Spawn of Pride creeping in amongft the Apoftles, whofe Beginning Chrift cruffied in the Shell, (z.) The Prelate was the firft Step-Stone of the greateft I Enemy to Chrift, I mean the Antichriil j a Pope in Seed; aPreeminence in Church-Officers was iheDoor ! thro’ which Antichrift ftepped in to the Temple of I God ; And tho’ this Cloud appeared but of an Hand- breadth at firft, yet did, at laft, cover the whole Face of the Firmament with Darknefs. (3.) When Antichrift was up, and came to the Stature of a Man, the Prelates were his chief Supporters; and were the greateft Enemies to God and his People. (4.) When the Fulnefs of Time was come, in which it pleafed God to deftroy in Part that Man of Sin, by the Breath of his Mouth, and the Bright-- nefs of his Coniwg, and one of his Heads woun¬ ded to Death, yet thefe Prelates ( being the Seed of Antichrijl) left bis deadly Wound, as it were, ' healed again . Thefe Dregs ftill continued, and were not fo clearly fecn by our firft Worthies. ( So as one Perfon may be both as a Butler and a Cook, or diftini^l Officers, and yet one may be both. -2. We look not now on a Presbyter in a general Confideration, that is to fay, largely, fora Church- Officer i in which refpeit Ruling Elders may be called Presbyters, I Tim. v. 17. nor yet for a Church- Officer capacitated to teach and adminiftraie the Sa¬ craments; for this is common to another Office, and Offices efpecially diftindl from Presbyters, name¬ ly, to Apoftles and Evangelifts, in which refpedfc I Peter calls bimfelt a Presbyter, 1 Pet, v. i. and fo ! cannot be the eflential Concept of a Presbyter, as he is now taken. 3. According to the Prelates Principles, a Presby~ j ter, formally confidered, is one having Power from I tbeBifliop, to teach, rule, and adminifter the Sacra- t ments; for, according to their Principles, the 47f«only have Power of Jurifdiifion and Ordination. 4. A Presbyter, according to the Scriptures, and : the ordinary Officer now, of which the Queftion is, is a qualified Perfon appointed by God, through his Church,with Power to adminiftrate the Sacraments, and to rule and preach with Authority, in the Houfe of God, with and in Subordination to his Bre¬ thren, in a fixed Way. I call him a qualified Per- , fon, to diftinguifli him from unfitted Perfons, fuch j as are now a-days. I call him, appointed by ! God, to diftinguifli him from Officers of Man’s De¬ viling. I fay, commiffioned by his Church, to di- i ftinguifli him from extraordinary Apoftles, who werenotof Man, nor of the Will of Man, but had 1 their Commiffion immediately from Chrift. I fay, with Power to preach authoritatively, and to admi¬ niftrate the Sacraments, to diftinguifli him from j 6 *The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. II. _ I Prophets and ruling Elders, that have no fuch Pow¬ er. I fay, with and in Subordination to his Bre¬ thren, to diftinguifli him from Prelates who lord < over their Brethren, and are not iubj.dl ro them at all. I fay, ina fixed Way, to diftinguilh him from ‘ the Evangelifts, whofe Commiflion and particular Charge was unfixed. This is the Presbyter I am ^ tofpeakof, and who is the only lawful Ofiicer to ' ^ difpenfe all divine Myfteries authoritatively. And the ; Qjieftion is. Whether the Prelate may be faid to be fuch an Officer as is here defci ibed ? ! I (hall not much need to infift upon the Expediency •of determining this Queftion, becaufe fo obvious to . every Body: However, thefe Things being premifed, ' ^ I anfwer negatively, namely, That z Prelate czmot , be faid to be z Presbyter at all. My Reafons are, (I.) Becaufe the Prelate^ like the Devil, hath left ; his firft Station, and got into another j and fo , hath quit that Employment oizPresbytcri to rule and , preach as a P?v/rt!fe, and, for this Caufe, his Room and Apoftleffiip being void, asy«r/<«j’s was when he | hanged himfelf, others are fet to take ancUo fill it j ; and therefore his Employment is diverfe from what ; it was before. Juft as when one^quits the Office be had before, and another fuccceds thereunto, he is ., not any more the fame Officer. Nor will it avail to , fay, as fomedo. That the Prelate preaches and rules. ,, ftill, which are a Presbyter's Ads of Office, and Mj therefore may ft'.ll be called a Presbyter; becaufe 'ji Preaching and Ruling is not that which formally yi conftitutes a Presbyter, as formerly defcribed 5 but it ; j is Preaching and Ruling in fuch a Way, in and with Subordination to his Brethren. This the Prelate -j hath left off to do, and preaches and rules over his'* Brethren, and that ex officio, (z.) He that frot^ a \ Captain turns a Colonel, , tho’ he command as fcA'-' , Bierly, yet, becaufe not in the fame Way and Place, | cannot be efteemed formally a Captain j becaufe^ he | hath 1 Se£l. I. from corrupt Minifters 'vindicated. 17 hath quit it, and another fucceeds j fo it is here. (3.) A Man cannot, in the fame Way, be fuperior and inferior to himfelf, as one Man, in refpeil of himfelf, cannot be both a Subjeft and a King: Nor can oneSubjedl found contrary Relation to both the Extremes. A Presbyter is one defoBo inferior to the Bijhopy and de jure co-ordinate and fubjedl to bis Bre¬ thren i the Prelate is one above the Presbytery and his Superior, and not fubjedl at all to his Brethren j trgOy he cannot be a Presbyter at all without Contra- didion, (4.) One Thing cannot be dependent and independent on one and the fame Subject. Nor can one Thing be both Fountain and Streams j thePre- late is the Fountain of Power, the Presbyters are the Streams depending on him: Therefore he cannot hQ 3 i Presbyter. (5.) One Effeft cannot flow from two total Caufes, whatever it may do from partial concurring Caufes. But a Presbyter is an Officer, whofe Power flows from Chrift, by Means of his Church, totally j and the Bipwp is an Officer whofe Power flows from the King totally 5 and both thefe profefsjlpiat the total Power of difpenfing that Of¬ fice is from themfelves: Therefore he cannot be a Preslrytery feeing a Presbyter hath no Power from the ; King 3 \\. ( 6 .) One Man cannot be both an Of- I ficer of Chrift, and an Officer of Anticbrift j for a f Man cannot ferve two Mafters: But the Prelate is [ adiually an Officer of Antichrift 5 therefore be can- i not be an Officer of Chrift; For vpbat Fellowpdp r batb Cbriji with Belial ? Unlefs ye would throw a- 1 way one Half of him to the Devil. But I fear the , Devil will make a Plea for, and challenge him all I as his own. Bur, ObjeB. I. Such as were ordained by the Prelates before, were ever judged real Minifters, and were , not re-ordained > therefore it feems the Prelate is a f Presbyter, and, as fucb, did ordain, otherways I none' ordained by him were to be acknowledged real ^ C Mi- l8 *fhe Lawfuliiefs of Separation CiiAt. 11. IVlinifters ; for none buc Ipreshyters can ordain. I anfwer. Thcfe Minifters, and their Ads of Office proceeding from them, were valid, not becaufe of any inrrinfical Power conferred upon them by the Vre- Ordination, but becaufe they fubmittingtothe true Minifters of Jefus Chriff, and being received by them, their former invalid Ordination became va¬ lid : For (as Mr. Durham faith) r/jo’ a Popifl> Vriejl continuing in Popery cannot be a real Minijier of Chrijl, yet a Popijh Pajlor ordained by the Church of Rome, and afterwards turning to the true Churchy ipfo fado that which before was invalid becomes valid : So Prelatical JVlinifters turning in, and fubmitting to the Preshy- i terian Church, and they accepting them, they mate- i rially and equivalently re-ordain them, and ratify I their former Ordination. And ’tis known that an illegal Ad, if not quarrelled, but ratified by them in whom the Icgiflative Power is, ftands valid and ef- fedual. To the Pure all Things are pure. Objedl. 2. Stronglier, then, are we to efteem all the primitive Bifhops, with Ridley, Cranmer, Hooper, See. noPresbyters, and confequcntly no Minifters, feeing thefe were Bijhops with as much Pirwer and Authority as our Bifhops now have. In anfwer to this great Objedion, feme tell roundly. That in¬ deed they were no Minifters, but that God blefled their Labours to the poor People. Buc ’tis hard to fay, the Church Efiglandveas no organical Church in Time of the Reformation. Some fay, they were not Bi¬ fhops in the fame Way ; Bur, tho’ this might be faid of the primitive Bifhops in Conflantine'sTxvat an\ Jeromis, yet it cannot be faid of Ridley and Cranmer. And therefore, omitting ihele Anfwers as weak, I anfwer. That I judge thefe holy Men did that Ad> which, as to the Matter, in a civil Way, did for¬ feit them of the Office of Presbyters; yet it being the Times of Ignorance, in regard they were to be efteem- sd as Minors and Pupils,and fo in a Manner interdided to Se^l. from corrupt Mimfters vindicated, if 10 do Ads to their Lefion, the Lord, their great Tu¬ tor and Judge, was pleafed not to fufFer that Adi of accepting a Vrelatical Office, to the Prejudice of their former, to (land, but accounted them as fuch that never did it; For it is not the Adi Amply that legally forfeits a Perfon’s Right, but the Perfon do¬ ing fuch an Adi is to be confidcred: Wherefore one Adt done by feveral Perfons is not the fame Adi in Law. For, if a Minor difpone his whole Eftate, which Adi, as in itfelf, doth really alienate his Eftate from him, yet the Law provides this Difpofition null, and revocable at the Years of his Majority, if within twenty five Years: Even fo thefe holy Men. doing Adis in their Ignorance, which was the Time of their Minority, and in the Sincerity of their Heart, which itfelf did clearly enough invalidate their Office, yet, being but Minors and Children, new born out of the Darknefs of fopery, the Lord, by the Law of Grace, would not fuffer it to ftand, God not looking fo much to the civil Formality of Things, as to the Sincerity of Heart, which a- yaileth Ihd maketh all Things pure, and Uncirctnn^ cifton to he Circumcifioni Rom. ii. i6. Col. ii. 11. Tit. i. 15. But the Vrelatesy being not under the Law of Grace, and moft impure in their Hearts and Converfations, and, withal, come to Years, living under the bright Shining of the Gofpel, and fo no Children in refpedl of the Difpenfation of the Times they lived in, but, if ignorant, are wil¬ fully ignorant, I fay, cannot expeft the fame Favour with the Lord’s Children, but muft Hand to their Deeds, and their Circumcifion is rather counted Uncircumcifion, and (hall be made to eat the Fruit of their own Ways, and fo quitting their firft Station and Subftance of an Office, and betaking tbemfelves to a Shadow, they are to be accounted no other than a Frelnte, which is an Idol, the Work of Men’s UtJ- d?fftanding. to The Lavjjulnefs of Separation Chap. 11 ^ Ohje 5 i. 3. LaJL The Apojlles yrext fupertor \xnto the Presbyters, and yet were themfelves Presbyters too, I Pet. V. I. 2. John i. Therefore a fuperior Power and an inferior may exijl in one Subject j there¬ fore fomay a Prelate and a Presbyter. I anfwer, (i.) The Cafe is not alike: For the Apoftolick Office was a lawful Office, and did in irfelt include the Office of a Presbyter, not formally, but virtually, they having, as Apoltles, Power to adl as Presbyters. Bur, if their Office was unlawful, as the Prelate'sis, they could not have this Power j for no lawful Power is included in an unlawful one. (2.) Suppofing they were Presbyters and Apoftles, yet not being fo eodetn modo, or in the fame Manner, tho’ thefe two be contrarious, bccaufe not after the fame Way, yet, becaufethey exift not one Way in the Subjedl, may therefore inexift: For they were Apoftles in an ex¬ traordinary Manner j and whatever they did as Pref- ^ hyters, they did not as Apoftles in hoc injianti j but were Presbyters only. Not fo the Prelates, who would be counted both Presbyters and Prelates, as ordinary Officers, and fo, confequently, conftantly fo. (3.) I deny a Presbyter and Apojile to be contrarioully re¬ lated to each other, as inferior and fuperior, or that the Apoftles had Jurifdidion of Power overconfti- tute Presbyters s and therefore, in every cbnftitute Church, the Apojiles ailed as Presbyters. Nor is the Difference betwixt Presbyter and Apoftle thu«, that tlie one ailed fubordinately to the other, but that the one is immediately from Chrift, the other by ' Means of the Church; the One’s Commiffion isex- tenfive over the whole World, the other is fixed to fome particular Churches; and that the one had a greater Meafure of Gifts and Graces than the other, from all which did refult a Priority of Dignity; and hence called fitjl in the Church. And that 'they ailed as and aflumed no fuch Jurifdiilion, is clear from xi. xy. both fubrnitting to a Con- ven- I Se5:. 2 . from corrupt Minifters 'vindicated. 21 vention of Brethren. But {loftly) which doth loofe the Knot altogether, they were Presbyters, taking the Name ot Presbyter largely, for any Church- Officer, as I faid in the Beginning j fo a General of an Army may be called a Soldier, tho’ not for¬ mally fo : Bur, take it ftridtly, they were not Pres¬ byters : For, if they had Superiority in themfelves over Presbyters, as the Objedtion would contend, then would they not be inferior to themfelves, fuch as Presbyters were, and fo could not be Presbyters fornrially j for neither Paul nor Peter were chofen by the Church, &c. And fo, tho’ they have the Power of a Phsbyter, yet not the Office of a Presbyter^ Sect. II. Wliether all the Conformifts Office doth flow front the Prelate, and as fuch, or not? THERE is much Strefs'laid on the Conformifts Or¬ dination, efpecially fuch of them as have been ad¬ mitted under Presbytery, alledging, That their Pref- hyterian Ordination ftandeth, and therefore all fuch are authorized to preach, and, being Minifters, may be heard* And therefore, to roll this Stone away from this Sepulchre, I think it expedient to enquire into this Matter: And, that we may the better do this, we will firft explain and ftate the Queftion, and then proceed to the Refoluiion thereof. What 1 mean by Conformifts I have already fhewn, asalfo what i mean by the Prelates. I will (hew you now (i.) what I mean by [Offices j] and (2.) what it is to [flow from.] Firft, The Word [Office] in Scripture, is ufed two Ways, (i.) For the Adts flowing from any Rela¬ tion j thus I. 16. i 7 >/;z. iii. i. (2.) It is taken for the Relation from which thefe Adis do proceed. Thus a Captain is faid to be in Office while unre¬ duced, and under Pay, tho’ he go not always about the Adis that do belong to that Offices and thus 1 take it here. Now, as in every Relation there ar 22 I’he LavjfulneJs oj Separation Chap. 11 .’ are thefe three Things, ifl. The two Extremes. zdly. The Reafon upon which the Relation is built j as in the Relation of a Matter and Servant, there is the Perfon ferving, and the Perfon whom he ferves, which are the two Extremes. And there is, idly, the Reafon of the Relation, which I take to be the mutual Compadl betwixt the Matter and Servant. Even fo, in the Office of a Minifter or Paftor, there is the Fresbtery and the Perfon himfelf, which are the two Extremes j and there is his Miffi- pn, which includes the Pattor’s Confent, which is the third, and the Reafon of the Relation upon which it is founded, including the People’s Confent j and from this doth bis Relation of Pattor unto them flow. Now, as all Offices of thisKind flow from Authorityj elfe null i hence, if we would enquire from what Fountain the Office of Conlormifts doth flow, we mutt enquire from what Fountain their Authority doth flow ; and hence we ffiall find the Words [Au¬ thority, Power, Commiffion, Ordination] promif- cuoufly ufed for one and the felf-fame Thing, Secondly., What is it to flow from ? A Thing may be faid to flow from another diverfeWays. (i.) Phy.- fically, as the Streams from the Fountain, and the Paffions from the Soul j and fo Conformijls Preaching flows from their Ptrfons. (2.) Occafionallyj as Thankfgiving does on the 29th of May^ from the King’s RettorationbnthatDay. (3.) By the remov¬ ing of Impediments; as, when a Phyfician doth cure a Minitter of the Fever, the Minitters After-preach¬ ing might be faid to flow from the Phvfician. If a Minifter were in Prifon, and if the Vrelate did let him our, and come betwixt him and the Hazard of the Law, in that Cafe the Minifter’s Afrer-preach- ing might be faid to proceed from the prelate. Some Conformijls fay, (for think it they cannot) That the Vrelate hath only removed the phyfical Impediment that was in the Way; But I fear, upon narrow Search, Sc£t. 2. frorH corrupt Mhiifiers ’vindicated. 25 it will be found the Vrehte had more of his Hand in it than fo. How hard is it to take with Guilt I As tho’ indeed the Covj'ortnijis had done no more than f'lbmitted to have the Penalty of the Law annulled : If fo, What mean thel'e Promifes of Submiffion, and coming to the EpifcopnlSynod? (4.) Asa Condition fine qua non: Thus all Offices ol State are bellow¬ ed on Perfons, on Condition they declare againft the Covenant, which Condition, tho’ unlawful, yet the Authority ol fuch Perfons depending thus on that Condition, is lawful, and is the Condition rather of their having the Office, than of the Office itfelf,which it may well confift without. (<).) By Way of Inven¬ tion : Thus all the Conformifis Miniftry is from God: For God did ordain the Office of a Minifter, and it flows from God, but as it is their Office, if is an¬ other Qucftionj and thus every Minillcr’s Office is from God, tho’ their Inveftment with it be from Men: For, it any ffiould ufurp the Office of Minifter, and preach and baptize, look upon thefe Adis abfo- lutely, as in themfelves, they might be laid to flow from God, becaufe the Lord appointed preaching and baptizing, tho’ the legal Conveyance of that Office •be not. God may be the Author of an Office, and yet your Right unto that Office bad enough. There is a Difference betwixt a Thing, and the Application of that Thing to me s and a fad Quellion it was to him that wanted the Wedding-Garment, How canieft thou in hither ? God will fay to many Co7iforviiJis, How came ye hither ? The Office is mine, but how came ye by it? PJ'alm 1 , 21. A Charter andlnfeft- ment is not a valid Title to pofttfs Lands, unlefs there be a legal Conveyance of it. PolTtffion is no Title in God’s Account. Forty Years Prelcripiion will not make a Conformifl\ Title to his Office valid j ’ris dangerous, a robbing of God j better the TurL T/ce- ran were the Author of your Office, if ye Ihew no Title to it from God. {Lajily) A Thing may be faid to 24 *I’he Lavifulnefs of Separation Chap. II. j to flow from another effentially, as from an efficient | or fiibjedlive Caufe: Thus all Creatures move from | God j and thus the Sheriff’s Power doth flow from j the King: As therefore every Ad is fpecified from j its principal Objed, even fo it is here. If a Man j and an Angel fhould throw one Stone unto one Place, j yet ihefe Ads were fpecifically diftind, in refped a i Man and an Angel, the two Principles of thefe Ac- • tions, were fpecifically different: Not fo, if two Men I did throw it: And hence, if two Men were throw- • ing one Stone to diverfe Places, yet thefe Adions | were fpecifically different, in refped of the Diverfity j of Places to which the Stone was thrown: If one j of the fame Men did caft a Tree and a Stone to one | Place, in refped of the Objed thefe Ads were fpe- | cifically diftind j and fo, it a Man in Office, and a- i nother out of Office, would do the fame Ad, viz. , pafs a Decreet, yet thefe Ads were not the fame, t morally confidered. So, unlefs the Ends, Principles and Adions be good, the Adion is not morally good. Now then to the Cafe in Hand. The Que- ftion will be. From what fubjedive moral Prin¬ ciple the Cmformifi's Ads of preaching, and fo, confequcntly, his Office, do proceed ? Whether from the Frelatical Authority of late eftablifhed, to which he bath fubmitted, or from the ’Presbyterian ? And now, that every Conjorm'tjl hath bis Power of preaching from the Prelate^ tho’ lie were firft ordain¬ ed by Presbyteriansi I maintain and affirm, that their former Ordination is null, and of no Force at allj and, that this may be the better done, 1 will (i.) pre- mife fome Things for clearing of the Queftion. (2.) Lay downfomegeneral Grounds. (3,) Infer fomc Conclufions, (4.) Prove the Argument, the pre- fent Cafe in Debate J and (5.) loofefomeObjedions, . I. Then, I premife (i.) that all Perfons, whether Civil or Ecclefiaftick, muff have fomePower - that is legal or moral. It is not enough for a Man to have Seft. 2. 'from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. IT have Gifts and Parts to preach authoritatively, unlefs he be legally invefted with that Office. Ability is non enough to authorize a Magiftrate’s Adis, unlefs called thereunto by a lawful Power, Heb. v. 4. Hence Chrift gave not only his Apoltles Power, but Autho¬ rity, Mattb. X. I. (2.) That all Power Eccicfiaftick is in Chrift as in the firft Fountain, Mattb. xxviii. 18. Col. j 2 .yobn V. 22. IJa. Iv. 4. Ail that have Power muft have it from him i for no Man taketh this to him- felf, and that by a legal Progrefs, as Paul calls it his Power received oj tbe Lord jfejhs, Adis xx. 24; Likeas, in a Kingdom, all Officers and Rulers de¬ rive their Authority from him that is King thereof. (5.) The Lord Jefus not being in Earth, butgone to Heaven to prepare a Place for his People, hath intrufted his Power to his Church, Mattb. xxviiii 19, 20. & xviii. 17. iCo/\ xii. 28. & v. 3, 4, Mattb. xvi. 18. Hence faid to be gathered in tbc Power of tbe Lord yeftis. I grant the Apoftles had their Power immediately from Chrift: But all fuc- ceeding Officers have ever had their Power from Men immediately, who were therewith authorized by Chrift. (4.) Whoever therefore, in the Church of God, ex- ercife Power, muft have it running from this Channel j and all Church-Officers and authoritative Adis muft proceed from the Power that is in the Church, if fet¬ tled (andfo I except extraordinary Cafes of Troubles and Perfecutions) which Power, if in the Hands of many Officers, is Prcshyterial; if in the Hands of one, is Epifcopal: If, therefore, there is no Government adlually in the Church h^x. Epifcopaly from that A- pifcopal Power muft the Officers Authority in that Church (they fubmitting to it) proceed. (S*) The Conveyance of that Power to its inferior Officers is by Ordination, which is all one witfa Commiffion i which is the fetiing apart fome i*er- i) fons a 6 *Ihe Lawfulnefs oj Separation Chap. II.' fonsqualified for difpcnfingof divineMyfteriesj which Ordination is either exprefs, formal, and explicit and folemn, as in the ordinary Way of Ordination one is ordained j or it is material, implicit, or equi¬ valently fo 5 which is, when thcreisnoi fucha for¬ mal Declaration of the Perfon’s Inveftiture, but when, with Confentofall Parties, the Perfon is ap¬ pointed to regulate or officiate in fuch a Place; or when ihePerfon that is to officiate comes to them who have the fupreme Power, and defires of , them to preach in fuch a Place, promifing Submiflion, and ihe Superior grants it. Noristherea Neceffity, when I appoint any to an Office, that I fay, I ap¬ point you to fuch an Office: *Tis enough if it be granted and accepted by Parries interefted } and in this thercisprefuppofeda moralPrinciple of Authority and Power, from whom the received Office doth pro¬ ceed ; and a Perfon that receives this Power and the Ordination, which is indeed materially the Will and Confeni of both Parties for that Effed, or the Will of the Superior including the Inferior’s Confent 5 and, when it is folemn, it is exprefs and formal j and therefore wherever there is a Power, and Perfonsfub- initting to that Power, and depending on it, there is Ordination flowing from that Power, which is as the Union by which the Extremes are united. Nor, can there be a Power, and Perfons fubmitting to that Power in their official Capacity, having Influence on the A£ls of Office, without Ordination from them, either material or formal, no more than there can be a Body receiving Influence from the Soul, unlefs it be united thereunto. II. The fecond Thing I propofed, was. To lay down Grounds for farther Clearing of this. And (1.) an authoritative Relation may be changed, when it is the fame Perfon that adts toward the fame People in the Adts that he formerly exercifed j as a Perfon in Office under one Governor, fubmitting to a diftindt Form Sc^t. 2. from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. 27 Form of Government in the fame Plate, this Man’s Relation is changed s and the Ground is, becaufe a Relation is a Thing confifting effentially of two Ex¬ tremes, which mutually refpetl one another, and a Foundation of this Relation or mutual Refpetf. Hence any of thele being changed, which are tlT.ntial to it, the Relation is not the fame j and therefore, if the Authority of his Commiffion be changed, which is the Foundation of his Relation, the Relati¬ on is not the fame. The Commiflion is changed, when the Principle, from which the Authority doth flow, ! is changed. And hence, if a Sheriff under Arljlocracy : (hall lubmit to an ufurping Monarch, tho’ he con¬ tinue doing the fame Ads towards the fame People, if in Subordination to bis lafl Matter, this Man’s Of- I fice is changed j becaufe the Power from which he ; ads is changed. An Officer under the Ufurper did ; not ad by the fame Power, when under Kingly Go¬ vernment. CotjformtJls, therefore, under Epijcopal Au¬ thority, are not under the fame Power ot "Presbytery they were under before. ^ zd Ground. The Synodical Convention in every re- fpedive Province, meeting iwo Times in a Year, is an Epifcopal Meeting, and not a Presbyterian. Rati¬ onal and ingenuous Spirits would not put one to the Probation of this. But it is plain it isfo, (i.) Be¬ caufe called and diflblvedby thePre//7/rr, who have no Power over Presbyterian Conventions ad intra. No Man can, by Reafon of an intrinfical Power, call a Meeting or diffolve it, which is not under his Jurifdidion, fo as it cannot be without him. (2.) The Members of this Synod are PrelaticaU fuch as BijhopSi DeanSy Chaptersy §^c. and therefore the Synod, compounded of fuch, islikeways as a Meeting of Englijb Perfons is an Englijh Meeting. (5.) In refped Preshyterial Meetings ! are difcharged by Law. (4.) hPresbyterian Meet¬ ing hath, as a Part of its Conftuuiion, Puling The Lawfulnejs of Separation Chap^IIJ- Elders; but this hath none. {<,.) A Preshyterial Sy-- nod hath Power to chufe their own Moderator j ’tis not fo here. ( 6 .) If this be not an Epifcopal Meeting, then hath not Epifcopal Government been introduced at all. For where kythes it unlefs here ? (L<7/?/jy) Let any Man tell what is required to the making up of an Epifcopal Synod, which this wants. Some fay this comes as the Reprefentatives cAPreshyterian Govern¬ ment. Oh Madnefs and Ignorance! id Ground. All Officers, as fuch, fubmitting to a Government, and adually officiating, derive their Office and Authority from that Government. If therefore Cof 7 forraiJls be under Prelacy, and have there¬ unto fubmitted, their Power mult flow therefrom ; Into whatever Stock an Imp is ingrafFed, from that it receives Nouriffimenr, and in it lives and brings forth Fruit. If a Captain leave bis own Party, and fubmit unto and take Place from the Enemy, his Ads henceforth can be but interpreted to proceed from his newRelation; For it is abfurd to think of an Officer’s fubmitting, as fuch, to an Authority, and yet not to ad under it: For an Officer’s Submiffion to another Government is all one with a new Commiffion, and is an Evidence, that he hath undoubtedly defertcd his old. ’Tis abfurd to imagine one Member ading juridically in a Court by virtue of anotherPower. Nor can any Officer under fubmit to the Pre¬ lates. 4th Ground, No Perfon can be at once under two fupreme diflind Governments j becatfe 7 io Man can ferve two Maflers. You cannot, at one Time, be fubjed to Epifcopal and Presbyterial Government; For it involves a Contradidion s and thereby a Ne- ceffity v/ill be laid of obeying contradidory Comr mands. ‘^th Ground. A Perfon may be under a Govern¬ ment, tbo’ he never, in exprefs Words, fubmit tq that Government. We are all the King’s Subjeds, tho* we ScfSt. 2. from corrupt Minifers vindicated. 29 ve never took, many of us, the Oath of Allegiance. I When I come before a Court, and defend, I am thereby made fubjeil to the Authority of that Court, tho’ the Judge ask me not, in the Beginning, whether I own the Authority of that Court or not; To vote : judicially in a Court, is equivalent to an exprefs De¬ claration of my fell a Member of that Court. And fo. Hearing of C.onformijls is an implicit and ma¬ terial involving mylelf in a Relation-Tye to the C«- ‘ rate. Conforming to the authoritative Com¬ mands is adireft Submifllon to him 5 for hisSer- : vants we are whom we obey. Doers of the Bijhop's I Will are his Servants. Beware of a Heart and pradi- ' cal Covenant with Death and Hell. That was a (^eflion fome of the fews asked, tVhen theMcJJiab : xoill come, mil he do greater Works than the/e ? So I fay, when ye hive fworn, I have renounced Fresby- ierian Government, will ye do greater Works of Compliance? namely, zocom^ to Synods, caufe re¬ peat the Creed, forbear leduring, and Lord the j Prelate. Many queffioned the Apolflc’s Authority j and how doth he prove it ? Were not the Works of an Apojlle, faith he, done by me ? So, I fay, are not the Works of the Frelate’% Servants done by you? His you are, and his Luffs you will do. 6th Ground. A Paftor’s regimental Ads, and his dodrinal Ads, do proceed from the fame Power and Relation, and not from twodiffindPrinciples. A Shepherd, as fuch, hath both Power to guide and feed the Flock. If the Conformifls Ads of Rule do pro¬ ceed from the Prelate, then do their Ads of Wor- fhipand Teaching likeways proceed from him : One Key opens both thefe Doors, and both thele Keys hang, as ir were, on one String. For their Dodrines muff be tried and cenfured by him, and hence they muff be fubjed to one. 7th Ground. Governnaent doth not con- in one Perfon, as the adequate Snbjed of Rule, but 30 *l’he Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. If/ but in many j in one as in the Fountain, and from him it ftrt-ams to others j as Monarchy is not denomi¬ nated from the Prince only, but hktways from the Subjeft. Government contameth both Superiors and Inferiors. ^th Ground. The Denomination of Epifcopal Go- vernment IS not taken from the P^rfons, by which, on which, or through which u is exercifed, but from the Form and Manner of Government ufed among thefe Ferfons. We did notj in the Covenant, abjure the Perfons of any Man, or Men j but we did ab¬ jure the Form of Government exercifed by fuch; And, feeing no Form can exift without itsSubjedf, we did thtrefore renounce Bif^ops and Deutjs in the Concrete. I have added thefe two lalt, becaufc fome fay they do fubrnii to Epifcopnl Government in Synods, becaufe they join with tbePresbyterianSj the fame Perfons that were with them before.This is but a Say, for it is not the Perfons, but the Form of Government that gives the Denomination to a Go¬ vernment 5 for Perfons may change, and new Ages may produce new Perfons, and yet no new Govern¬ ment, till the Form be changed. Thofe that do join with Bijhops and Deans, lubmit formally unto Epi- Jjcopal Government, and ibo’ thefe be the fame Per¬ fons, phyfically confidered, yet not the fame morally: So like ways, when it isalledgetl, that other ters ordain with the Bijhcp, and the Ordained are commifTionated by FresbyterSi and not by the Frelatei What then ? Tho’ all this were true, yetis be or- dainedby a Authority j becaufe, as I faid in my feventh Ground, the Authority is difperfed thro’ every Officer under it: And therefore, ordain who will, the Intrant is ordained by Vrelatical Au¬ thority and Power. III. The third Thing to be bandied, is fome Con- clufions arifing from the Premifles. And the firff is this. All Power of Jurifdiifion and Ordination is in Sedi 2, from corrupt Miniflers vindicated. 31 in the Prelate defaiio} for dejure it is not j the Ci¬ vil Magiftrace’s Pleafure and Bounty being his beft Charter. I fay, he hath all Power in him de ja&o. I need no Proof of this j for Epijtopa- cy is the Power of the Church ingraff,d in ’ one, by which it differs from Vreshyterial Governm'=nt, which is the Power in many equally diftributed. If therefore there be Eptfcopol Government eredfed amongft us, then furely the adlual Power of that Church is ingraff.d in him. This is fuffic'ently known by their Doctrine and Tenets, and by the Con- llitution of that Government, and by the arbitrary Frailice of the Erelates : And hence he affumes a gative Vote in Synods, and fits not as Moderator there, but as a plenipotentiary Vrinc; and hence may folely excommunicate, depofe, and fufpend as he pleafes; And truly, amongft his Curatesy I may juftly fay, he is the Chiefof the Children of V ride. It is true, he will not turn any Thing againft the Synod’s Mind: No more will the King in his Parliament, who vet hath all Power engroffed in him • And there¬ fore this doth not p-oceed,as I fuppofe, from Want of Power, but bom Want of Pomp and Grandeur to at¬ tend the royal Sentence iffuing out of ihatPower: And therefore Adis are not ordinarily done bybimfelfa- lone, becaufc it is not fitting the royal Majefty of a Vrelate to do ought without his Train. Therefore it is that the poor Curates vote with him, ordain with him, not to add Authority to any Thing he doth, which is full in himfelf without them, bur to add Grandeur and Splendor thereunto: Yet will the Vrelate fometimes fhew Sovereignty to manifeft that be can adl alone, and is worth Ten Thoufand of them. This is the Truth, let Men mince it as they will, and talk of the P;v/rt!re as TiVreshyter iWt bath I a negative Vote of Jurifdidlion, which no Vreshyter hath, and has as much Power as many abfolute Princes have. 3 2 *Ihe Lawfutnefs of Separation Chap. IT. ConcluJ. id. Conformifts are fome way under the Vrelate, which is clear in this, (i.) That they givd an Oath or Promifeof Obedience, which involves Subnaiffionj they fubnaic to fynodical Cenfures,which have their Life and Authority from the Prelate. (2.) He is their Creator, he calls them, and they are 5 he clofes up, and they return unto their firft moral Nothing j and he is their God, in a Manner, in whom they live, niove^ and have their Being. (3.) This appears, in that their Preaching, Praying., Singing and Baptizing, are regulated, bounded and ordered by the Vrelate. If he forbid, they lecture not they fing what VJahn he pleafes, and take Words from him ' in Prayer: So that, in all tbeirjofficial Ads, you may fee the Sign of the Prelate's Ads ftamped on them. In Prayer fee the Neceflity of it: Impolition of the Lord’s Prayer is more than Chrift arrogated to himfelf, who commanded to pray after this Man- ner: In baptizing, the Sign of it is, in caufing re¬ peat the Creed s yea, fo impofed under Pain of De- pofition. If thefe authoritative Ads did not pro¬ ceed from him at all, how would he regulate or bound them, not pretending to the civil Magiftracy in that? (4.) The Bipsop may and doth depofe th^m j which he could nor do, unlefs they were un¬ der him : For none can put out of Office, but he who hath Power to put in. {Lafly) This appears, in that thefe poor miferable Creatures do peaceably fubmit to his Cenfures: And as they were before fubjed toVreshyterial Government, and hence fub- mitted to their Cenfures, and were ordered by them, fo, in their prefent Ads of Office, they pay fome Kind of Subjedion to the Vrelate 3 and Vrclatical Government. Concluf ^d. Conformifts are under the 'Prelates as Minifters: And this I demonftrate thus ■, they are fome Way under them, as I have proven already: Now, all the Relation Minifters come under, is either Seft. 2. from corrupt Minifers vindicated. 55 either as they are civil Ferfons, and thus they are fub- jedl to the King; or as they are fpiritual Perfons; and, if fo, either as private Chriftians, and then how required to fit in Synods, and what more they than other private Chriftians ? It remains therefore, that, as Cnurch-Officers, they are fubjedl to him. Concluf. r^tb. Their authoritative Adis, whether preaching, or ruling, do proceed from Epifcnpal Au¬ thority: For feeing, as Officers, they are fubjedlto him, and thefe Adis following from them as fuch, thefe their Adis, therefore, muft flow from the fii- Pwp': For the Fountain and Streams flow together* And, for farther clearing of it, I will, IV. In the fourth Place, give fome Arguments to prove it. Arg. I. Thofe whom the Pretoe can depofe,cen- ; fure, or ordain, are under the Prelate : But the Prelate 1 may do this according to Law 10 aWConformiJis, I and adlually doth it: Therefore, no Man can take away a Power, but he that gives it j the fame Power that annihilates, creates both morally and phyfical- ly. And tho’ the Prelates ufurp it, yet they, com¬ plying thereunto, are legally and adlually under it. And hence, if the Conforviifls Power did flow from Presbytery^ none but the Presbytery could depofe or ccnfure them. Arg. id. All authoritative ecclefiaftick Adis, fuch as preaching, difpenfing of the Sacraments, do pro¬ ceed from that Authority under which the Perfon ifluing forth fuch Adis doth live, and which is in the Church, and to which the l^erfon hath fubmitted, as is clear in my third Ground. But the ConformiJlSt as Minifters, are therefore fnbjedl to tlye Prelate, or Prelatical Authority, as I have proven in my third Conclujion. Arg. id. If the Conformijls regimental Adis do proceed from the Prelate, then their dodlrinal Adis do likeways proceed from him : But the Cott- i E for-' 34 *The Lciv^fulaefs oj Separation Chap. II.' jormijis regimental Adis do proceed from the Pre- late^ &c. I have proven this Propofition in my 6 th Ground. The Minor is plain, viz. That all Adis of Difciplinedo proceed from the Prelate. Let any that would fee a Proof of it, come but toa 5 y- nody and his Eyes and Ears may know it. Arg. 4th. If the Prelate can regulate, moderate, fufpend, order, rellrain, cut and carve upon the Conformijls preaching, praying, and baptizing, and chap them after what Manner he plcafes, then thefe Adis are fome Way liable to the Prelate to cog- nofce upon : For none can bound, order and regulate Adis, but he that hath an intrinfical Power over them, and in them ; but the Prelate doth fo. Would you then fee the Prelate'^ univerfal Power over the Curates, and all their Adlions ? Then but look to a Conformiji in Synods, preaching, praying and bap¬ tizing, ye fhall fee the Stamp of the Prelate’s Autho¬ rity in every one of thefe. The negative Votes in Sy¬ nods fpeak it j their forbearing of ledluring fhews it in preaching ; Repetition of the Creed fhews it in Bap- lifm j the Doxology in finging of Ffalms; the Lord’s Prayer in Prayer. Ye will fay, ihePrelate ufurps it over you, and meddles with what is not his. But why do ye fubmit ? When ye give it, ye give him a Title j volenti non fit injuria. Ye fhould have, at ieaft, remonftraied and proiefled, and then ye fhould have preferved your ravifhed Liberties to your- felves : This ye did not, and therefore guilty. This is more evil within, that the General Allembly in Presbyterial Government did command ledluring : And if iheCurates Authority did now adlually pro¬ ceed from the General Affembly, Why is not the General Alfemby obeyed ? Why forbear' ye ledluring at the Prelate's Command ? Ye have cafl off the Command of your old Mailers, as a Token that ye have rejedled themfclve.*:. His Ser- vants ye are whoiji ye obey: The Prelates ye are, and Sed. 2. from corrupt Mini fen 'vindicated, hts Lufts ye will do. Wbat needs more Witneffes ^ Arg. f^th. Thofe who are united to aGovernmenr, either adually, by receiving Ordination therefrom, or paffively,by coming under its Influence, or fuffcr- ing It to overpower them, muft needs derive all Life and Authority from that Power and Government: But Conf'ormifis have cut themfelves from the Vine of Presbytery, and have fubmitted to the Prelate ; and, in lubmitting to the Prelate, imped themfelves into that Stock; And, therefore, in and from him muft they bear Fruit. Their firft Husband liveth, and they are married to another j and therefore the Children they bring forth are not legitimate, but Baftards,Children of theBoftd Woman,that mtfl becajl out. In fome Kingdoms, if a Countels, her Husband being dead, remain a Widow, fhe hath the Place flie had tormerly, not fo if married to an inferior Subject. Ye that are married to Prelacy, cannot claim the Power that the unmarried Widows of Presbytery may do. A runaway Officer doth not officiate there, by virtue of his old Authority and Place, in the E- nemy’s Camp, but by virtue of the new. Now, the Conformijts have fubmitted to the Prelate, and ac¬ knowledged his Courts, and by this their Submiflion, as the ratio fmdandi, there is a Relation of Superior and Inferior betwixt them : And all their after Adfs of Office proceeding from them, in which refpeft they do fubmit, muft be interpreted to flow from this new Relation : The Body a£ts from that Soul to which it is united. This is farther confirmedrin that there is a Law difeharging Presbyterial Go¬ vernment, and fetting up Prelatical in its Stead, which Law doth not ftrikeagainft thofe who have, and do yet ftand to their former Principles. Now, Conformifts, by Submiflion to the Prelates, have ra¬ tified that Law, and are adlually under the Domi¬ nion of prelates, according to the Law; which Do¬ minion, iho’ unjuft, yet are Conformijhi by active ^6 The Lavifninefs of Separation Chap, II. and aftual Submiffion thereunto, under it, tho’they fin in fo doing. It may be faid, that the Government is not changed, but a new Officer fet up, and they continue as they did formerly j they preach Chrift as they did formerly. 1 anfwer, ’Tis falfe j for it were fo/if a new Presbyterian were put upon the Flock j i but the Adverfary of Chrift Jefus, with whom he hath been folong contending, and againft whom his loving Subje, 7. zChron. xi. 15. becaufe that i| was fubftantiallv requireu in the Law. R Ajfer. 6. All Def^dsin an Adionor Thing, Which f ground Redudion, and a Sentence dedarijig it null, fc when quarrelled or purfued, are Nullirijs. And the \ Ground i^ becaufc the Sentence of the Judge doth not 48 *The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. II. not make a Thing void or null j it only declares it to be fo, or makes it fo forenfically 5 as the Wicneffes make not the Deed true, tho’ they do it forenfically, it being true in itfelf antecedaneoufly to theirTeftimo- nyj as, 'mLev.'mu 3. the Prieft did not make the leprous Man unclean, he did but pronounce him unclean. Hence {Deut. xvii. p, 10.) the Judge is laid to ftiew the Law, not to make the Law. Ajfer. 7. A Thing incapable to attain the End for which it was ordained and made, hath in it a Nullity. Or, I fay, when the Def'edl is fuch, as that, through it, the End of the Law cannot be at¬ tained, there is there a Nullity in it, and a Ground ofRedudlion. Therefore, if a Beaft, or a Fool, or a mad Man, fhould be chofen to any Office, the Incapacity of thefe Creatures to exercife that Office will necelTarily, in itfelf, contain a Nullity: Hence Impotency nullifies a Marriage, becaufe the Ends of Marriage thereby cannot be attained. Ajjer. 8. Omiffion of Formality, or Things re¬ quired by the Law to attend fuch an Adion as to its moral Being perfect, (as all in their own Nature do not infer a Nullity) fo are there made by the Civil Laws more Grounds of Reduction than in the Lord’s Law. And hence the Omiffion of many Things, which, according to the Civil Law, would infer a Nullity ; yet is the Lord fo pleafed to difpenfe with them, as that, thro’ their Want, theAdlion is not null. Hence, tho’ a Child be baptized with the Sign of the Crofs, and one of the Names of the Per- fonsof the holy Trinity be omitted thro’ Forgetful- nefs, and poffibly be performed by one not in Au¬ thority, yet is not the Adion null j which Thing the Lord doth for the Security of his People, who other- ways would be ftill doubting anent the Validity of their Privileges: And hence there arc as few irri¬ tant Claufes in his Tranfadions as may be. And then the Lord v/ill not have bis Name to be taken in vain, and SeSt, from corrupt Aiiniflers vindicated. 49 .and hence will not have Reiterations. Hence tho% ex parte, operis, there might be a Nullity, yet the Law makes it not fo, and God, ex plenitudinc juris, provides otherways, by difpenfing with it. AJfer. 9. Actions in themlelves null, and contrary to the Subllance of the Law, and therefore, in them- felves, and by the Law, null and void j yet, when done, if ratified by him in whom the fupreme legifla- tive Power is, become of invalid Adf ions valid, who may either require new preftable Conditions which they wanted formerly j and, if acquired, the Adions become valid , or hefimply declares, that no Contra¬ riety in the Adion to the Law (hall make it null, or, by Silence, approves it. As, if a Maid vow a Vow without her Father’s Confent, the Vow is null init- fdf, and his Diflike pronounces or declares it fo j if yet hearing tell of this, and not declaring againft it, or 1 ratifying it, the Vow, before null, becomes valid. I So, in our Time, all Sentences paft in Time of the ' Englifh (according to our Principles) are null, asbe- ' ing done without Authority i yet, the King and ' Parliament after ratifying them, they become valid, ' viz. by adding that to them which before they want¬ ed : And this Ratification is either exprefs or formal, i as when a formal Ad of Ratification paffes here¬ upon i or it is implicit and material, when the Per- f fons having Authority do any Thing equivalent to a i Ratification of a Thing, as in the Cafe cited of the ti Maid’s Vow. Bonds made by Minors are declared li null, if yet not quarrelled in annos utiles^ (as they fay) II after the Minor is twenty five Years old, they become i valid. AJfer. 10. A Title, Adion, or Thing in Law, r. tho’ reducible, yet (lands adually irreduced in Civil profane Way in which they difpenfe thefe Ordi¬ nances, neither underftanding what they fay, nor in the leaft affedfed with it j and therefore horribly pro- ' fane the Name of the Lord, 2 Sam. xii. 14. Ye may learn from and hear Parrots as well. Conclvf. 2. Conformijls ought not to preach, but to fufpend. (I.) Becaufe the Uncircumcifed in . Heart ought not to approach unto the Lord’s Houfe. So 70 The Lavifulnefs of Separation Chap. II.’ So faith the Scripture, Ezek. xliv. 7. Jer. xliv. 5. xxi. zS.The Couformifis are fo outwardly and inward¬ ly both, (2.) Becaufe it is their Duty to leave off, as the reft have done j and therefore, without a Con- tradidtion, it is not Duty to preach j otherways ye condemn fuch as have left off to preach. (3.) Con¬ tinued Preaching is continued Submiffion j and con¬ tinued Submiflion is continued Perjury j and conti¬ nued Perjury is moft unlawful j not a Time that he mounts the Pulpit, but afreftihe perjures himfelf. (4.) They are to leave their Gifts before the Altar, becaufe their Brother hath fomething to fay againft them for their Perjury : And therefore, before they can offer at the Altar, let them be reconciled to tbofe whom they have juftly offended, Matth. v. 23, 24. Hof. viii. 6. (5.) They have a Beam in their own Eye, which until they put out, how can they fay to their Brother, Let me pull out the Mote that is ht thy Eye, Luke vi. 41,42. (6.) Becaufe they are in their Uncleannefs, and therefore fhould waih, and not pollute the holv Things of the Lord. A bodily Imperfedtion or Uncleannefs did incapacitate the Sons of Aaron to minifter unto the Lord, Lev. xxi. 21,22,23. & xxii. 2%. Shall bodily Blemifties incapa¬ citate Priefts, according to the Law, to minifter, and fttallthe known fpiritual Uncleannefs of our Curates not incapacitate them ? Doth God take Care for Oxen ? Or hath he Eleaftire in the Legs of a Man ? I ftiall next remove fome OhjeBions. By what is faid, ye may perceive that it is a Sin to Ccnformifs to preach, and that they (hould fufpend, and not preach. Object.i. If this Argument bold good, then we can¬ not join with unregenerate Perfons in Prayer, feeing their Sacrifice is abominable in the Sight of God: Therefore, tho’ the Conformiji fin in preaching, yet be is not to leave his Office, but to exercife it. Seel. 4. from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. 7 1 Attf. (I.) Unregenerate Men are not to pray with Intention to continue in Sin. (z.) If iheydoj and yet be grofly fcandalous, they fin more in pray- i ing than omitting. (3.) And, if this were known to ; others, they ftiould not be joined with. And, when , a Wearer or known Drunkard gives manifeft Signs j of bis Intentions to continue in Sin, I queftion, whe- : ther we ftiould hear him take the Name of God in !! vain, and abufe his Ordinances. (4.) It is not every ;i Kind of Defedl that will make a Duty to be fufpen- jded, or the Omiflion lefs finful than the Doing of it: I Nor is it of fuch Sinfulnefs we mean : But when the Duty becomes, by reafon of Circumftances, necefla- rily finful, fo as it ought to be omitted and fufpen- ded, in that Cafe it fhould not be immediately gone about. Now, unregenerate Perfons Prayers are not of this Nature, but are accidentally finful, by I reafon of their Corruptnefs, and their Manner of go¬ ing about them : But Conformijh fin neceflarily in preaching, it being impoflible for them to preach as Things ly ftated, tho’ they ftiould preach ever fo zea- loufly andfincerely: Becaufe Preaching, as an Adt of Office, is, antecedently to the Conformifts exer- Icifing it, finful, becaufe from the Vrclate's Authority j ;and therefore not to be meddled with. {5.) There siis no fuch Reafon for Omiffion of Prayer as Preach- i^ing, for Prayer is a Mean to convert and bring .lout of Sin, and a moral Duty tying all j hence all ® Perfons, good and bad, are bound to it : Not fo £ Preaching, which is peculiar only to fome Men to go Btabout, and determined by Law to fuch. i ! Ohje^. 2. Idol-Shepherds are reproved for not j preaching, Ezek. xxxiv. 2. Should not the Shephei ds \feed the Block ? i Anf (i.) Some apply this to Magiftrates J and lif fo, no Argument for it againft us. (2.) Thefe j^iwere Shepherds lawfullv chofen, but unfaithful in the ji Management of their Offices and fo the omitting of 72 The Ldvjfulnejs of Separation Chap. IT. of the feeding of the Flock being their Sinj there¬ fore preaching in Seafon, and out of Seafon, was their Duty, Likeas Conformifis great Sin is Confor¬ mity to the Vrelate; fo renouncing of the Vrelate's Authority, and carting it off, is their Duty 5 ’tis an¬ other Sin and Tranfgreffion are guilty of. Object. %. The Co77/om^f fome of them were not admitted contrary unto the Law, becaufe, whatever they proved afterwards, they were fomething then; and being chofen thus, they ought to be continued, at leart, until they be depofed. I anfwer. The Forfeiture of their Office doth take place from the Time of their Rebellion and obrtinate Treafon, and not from the Time of the Sentence con¬ demning as fueh. For as, in our Laws, one ar¬ raigned and convicted prefently for Treafon done twenty Years ago, he is not to be accounted a Rebel from the Time of his Sentence, but from the Time of his Rebellion; from which Time all Manner of Difpofitions made by him are declared null. Hence our Conformiftsy as foon as they joined with the Lord’s Enemies, did forfeit their Right to their Office, ASis \. z<>. Object. 4. fudas was a wicked Man, and fo were E/i’s Sons, and yet both allowedly continued in their Offices exercifing them. Anf. I deny Eli's Sons fhould minifter in the Priert’s Office ; and whoever gave Sacrifice to them to offer, did fin, they being in the typical Unclean- nefs. And as iovjudasy tho’hewas a Hypocrite, and a wicked Man, and unregenerate, yet notwith- ftanding was an appearing Saint, and fo, in the Judgment of the Church, a godly Man; for they go jecundum allegata et probata ; not fo the Confer- tnijisy who arc openly wicked. Sect. Sed. 5. frm corrupt Minifiers •vindicated. 73 Sect. V. 1 When is Commimion in Worjhip lawfuU and when not ? I IT may be faid. What doth all this Arguing prove ? None denies thzx.C(mformi[ls fin in preach¬ ing, bur themfelves. But, tho’ it be unlawful in them to preach, may it not be lawful for us to I hear them, who are not guilty of the fame Things which make them fin in preaching. For clearing of this fufiiciently, I will, in the Lord’s Strength, en¬ quire into this Queftion, viz. Suppofing the adlive Adminiftrators fin in difpenfing Ordinances, whe¬ ther, and when doth it infer Guilt in the Hearers ? For clearing of this, take thefe Ajfertions. AJfer. I. The Difpenfers of the Ordinances may fingrievoufly in the Lord’s Sight, fo as to render the Sacrifice Iniquity unto themfelves, when tbofe that 8 be with them may be free and fpotlefs j which comes « to pafs when that which defiles the Worfhip is un- i known unto the Joiners: In which Cafe being pure, I all Things nre pure to them. Tit. i. 15. To receive I the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper at the Hands of I a gracelefs Minifter, with a Company of Hypocrites, I when neither the Hypocrify of the one or other is ven- ie ted, but .covered with a Cloke of outward Profefli- B| on, I fay, defiles the Ordinance to themfelves, but «i not to the Joiners. Hence, if it be granted that^w^-^^ i did eat the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper* it was I polluted to him, butnottothereftoftheDifciples. I AJJer. 2. To join with Hypocrites and unregene- I rate Men, in fuch Adts of Worfhip as all are bound to S do as Men and Creatures, tho’ known and fufpedted i not to be regenerate, tho’ their Sacrifice be unaccep- ted in the Sight of God, whether Praife or Prayer j ^ I fay, To join with them, in fuch a Cafe, is not Sin. w Saul’s Duties were not acceptable in God’s Sight, j; yet it was no Sin in Samuel to join with him, i Sam. XV. 31. I Cor. xiv. 23. When an Unbeliever comes K into 74 Lawfulnefs oj Separation Chap, tl,' into a Chriftian Church, the whole Church is not for this to leave the Exercife j and the Ground is, becaule they are bound to fuch Creatures, and we are to help them to their Duty. And the Sinfulnefs of their Duty is but accidental, and the Duty is a Mean to bring them out of the Pit. And the Lord is better pleafed with this, than with the omitting of it 3 and when the Evidence of their Unregeneracy is not fo clearly made out, we may affift them. Thefe Corruptions are merely perfonal, not official. AJJer. 5. Yetitismorefafewebe paffiveinjoining, than adive j and it is more fafe we be joined with by them, than that we adively join with them, even tho’ they come in to pray and fing, z Thejf. iii. 15. Yet when they ffiall ufurp the Chair, it isfinful, Jer, XV. 19. Let them return unto thee, hut return not thou unto them. In this Cafe they rather join with thee than thou with them, MaL ii. 7. Regenerate Men are the Lord’s Mouth and Meflengers, at whom others are to enquire concerfi'mg the Law. Hence^ if Chriftians be in the Ad of receiving the Lord’s Supper, if a known fcandalous Perfon come in a- mongft them, and fit down, let them not care for it i for altho’ he comes to thee, yet not thou to • him. AJJer. 4. All perfonal Prefence of an unlawful Ad is not finful > tho’ Mary was prefent when Chriji was fuffering, yet it doth not follow that fhe did countenance that Ad. To be prefent at the Martyr¬ dom of a Saint, isnorfinful, when neither done with Delight, nor as Affilfant in it j but to hear a Word of Exhortation from him, and to attend his Body, and to learn by his Example to receive the Crofs of Chriff. The Apoftles countenanced ihe'jfemjh Feafts,but did nor join with them j but becaufe fuch Occafionsdid draw a Multitude together, to whom, as Servants of Chriff, they might declare their Commiffion. To be prefent at a Court, will not make me a Member 0 Sed. jr. from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. 75 of that Court. Elijah'% Prefence at the Sacrifice of Baal was no Ski. And therefore, if without Scan¬ dal it might be done, to hear Conformijis occafionally, on Week-Days, were no Sin. Ajfer. $. Perfonal Guilt in the Difpenfer contrads Guilt in the joiners, in thefe Cafes, (i.) When the Worftiip, in its Subftance, is unlawful. As when Men preach Error and Blafphemies, and when the Ordinances are polluted with the Inventions of Men^ then are all guilty; and the Lord will take Vengeance on fuch Inventions, Pfal. xcix. 8. Hence, to hear 3 toothlefs Service-Book, to kneel at receiving the Sacrament, to baptize Children with the Sign of the Crofs, is linful. Hence they go up 10 Bethaven or Giigal, Hof. iv. 15. Hence, in Jerohoam's Time, the Levites fled unto Jerufalem^ when the Worlhip was corrupted, iCbron. xi. 13, 14. (2.) To bear a fcandalous Minifter preach, when others may be heard, is no doubt finful: For the beft is ft.ill to be chofen. (3.) When the Scandals arc fuch as reft not on the fcandalous Man’s Perfon, but have Influence^ upon his Office, by which he doth thefe Ads, then joining with them is finful: Becaufe, if the Authority ■be finfiil. Ads proceeding from that Authority muft be likeways finful and defedive. Hence, if a Man, out of his own Head, not ordained, fhall take upon him to preach authoritatively, or if ordained nor by a lawful Authority, his Preaching is finful 5 and thofe who bear him fin likeways. (4.) When the Faults are of fuch a Nature, as they either make the Pifpenfer’s Service more abominable than his omit¬ ting, or when Circumftances are fo, that it becomes Duty to let it alone j in which Refped, tho’ the Duty, in its fpecifick Nature, be good, yet, in its individual Exiftence, is finful: In that Cafe it is unlawful to join. And, whenever it is unlawful for him to preach, and known to be fo, it is likeways unlawful in us to join: For they are Relatives, and his Preaching, as being noiy 7<5 The Lavifulnefs of Separation Chap. IIJ now circumftantiate, being Sin, we ftiould not, by our Prefence, countenance it, more than any other fin- fu! fpecifick Adt. And whatever the Lord hates, we fhould not countenance. (5.) When the Paffage is foul, then it is our Duty to forbear, and not to join: This is to countenance Mocking. Or, when we can¬ not join, requiring fome linful Tyeof us, or, by join¬ ing, declaring ourfelves materially involved with them, with whom welhould not join: For it is, in that Cafe, the Reward of our Iniquity, the Price 0/ fin Whore. We are not to do Evil that Good may come of it. (6.) When the Evils flowing naturally from it, and per fe, are of greater Confequence than the Adt of Worfhipitfclf j in that Cafe the Duty, in its fpccifick Nature, is individually unlawful h'tc nunc} as if the Hearing of a godly Minifter be Duty, yer, if I knew that there were Men in the Church lying in wait to kill me, it were not my Duty then to hear. And fo, if the Evils that naturally arife from Hear¬ ing be very great, viz. their hardning and ftrength- ning of the Government, grieving and condemning the Godly: In that Cafe it is unlawful to join with them. OhjcB. But thefePo//?/r/o»j, wherewith the mijls are defiled, are Scandals accidental to the Duty, , and not intrinfical, and therefore cannot be a Ground I for Separation 5 no more than the Faultsof a Mafter 1 of a Family can be a Ground for you to withdraw ' from him in his Family-Exercife and Worrtiip. 1 I anfwer, by denying the Conjorniips Defedls to be 1 merely perfonal, but do refledl on the Duty itfelf, and i are intrinfick to it: For publick Adminiftring in i the Lord’s Name is a Duty in itfelf unfeafonable, dur- | ing the Perfon’s Uncieannefs that doth minifter 5 noc | fothe Duty of Prayer, which is a Well wherein to j wafti Filth away, and a Mean for that End j and \ hence the one is feafonable, not the other j which •' doth prefuppofe, ere the Duty be accepted, that the is Perfon ' Se6t. 6. from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. 77 Perfon be clean, and is never laid upon unclean Per- fons, as Prayer isj for Siwow is commanded 10 pray. And yet, in Prayer icfelf, if the Perfon that is to pray, be known to come with an Intention to utter his Wickednefs thereby, or for other unlawful Ends, I think it is not lawful to join with him, no more than in a finful Adion: For his Duty and Pray¬ er, in this Cafe, is turned to be Sin to him, not by , any Filthinefs accidentally following, but antecedent¬ ly going before, and polluting the Duty, affoon as ever it comes out, being foreftalled. And hence, if he get any Good, as it fometimes comes to pafs, as in Ai^s ii. yet this is but accidental. Sect. VI. Whether may we withdraw from any in a private Con- verfation, and yet cannot withdraw from them while in the Exercife of their Offices ? WHEN Teftimonies of Scripture for a lawful Separation are fought, we are ordinarily twitted with this Diftindion of a perfonal Gonverfation, and an official Gonverfation. And hence they fay. We , may withdraw from Minifters in a perfonal Conver- fation, if they befcandalous, and yet join with them in the Exercife of their Office. Others fay. We may ' feparate from their Faults, but not from tbeirPerfons. ' Bu,t this laft isfo falfc, that it needs no Refutation: For thus are we to do from the leaft Sins in the Godly; and then in Gonverfation we ffiall make no Difference. I And, for the firft, I affirm that this Diftindion is ' groundlefs, and that it is never lawful to feparate in : a perfonal Gonverfation from any Perfon, but when : it is Duty to feparate from him likeways while in the Exercife of his Office. P’or the Clearing of this, two Things would be o- pened. (i.) That the Law of God, neither explicitly f nor implicitly, by Precept or Example, doth allow : this Diftindion. (2,) That there is no Ground in the 78 T^he Lavifulnefs of Separation Chap. II,' the Law of Separation that may infer the one by the other. And, for the firft, 1 fee neither Law nor Example warranting it j apd, when pur Adverlaries (hall (hew it, we fhall yield. And, for the fecond, I find that all the Scripture-Grounds and Realons of Separations ftrike equally againft both. Let us then humbly enquire from the Scripture, whether the Reafons inforcing a perfonal Separation be not alike cogent for inforcing an official Separation, feeing the Reafon of the Law is the Life of the Law. Or, let us enquire, whether there may not be fome Rea¬ fon moving us to countenance fuch, while in the Exr ercife of their Office, that doth not inforce a per¬ fonal Separation. The firji Reafon that is given for Separation,is that in z Cor. vi- 14 viz. That the Lord cannot fo a- bundantly manifcft himfelf, till thefe Strangers be removed i and therefore it is promifed. He will be their God, and their Father, if they touch not the un¬ clean Thing. And hence we find the Lord Jefus did never fo kindly communicate himfelf to his Difci- ples, iswhen ^udas was away, fohn xiii. 31. And, I pray, is not the Lord’s Frefenceas like to be cloud¬ ed, when a fcandalous Man preaches, as when be converfeth in private. There are now fad Confufi- onsand Clouds on the Spirits of the Lord’s People: And I know nothing hath greater Influence on ir, than our being in the Tents ofKedar. And I am per- fwaded, if Profeffors would turn from all that want the Power and Life of Godlinefs, but only wbenad- menifliing, rebuking and teftifying againft them, the Lord would ftiortly manifeft that he is our Father. Ye go mourning for Want of the Lord’s Prefence, but, depend on it, it is not 'mBahylon that he will he found. Reafon id. that is given for Separation, is, becaufe it is inconfiftent that Chrifi fhould have Fellowfhip with Belial, And thus I argue. If Chriji cannot have Fel- Ss6t. 6. from corrupt Miniflers vindicated. 7^ Fellowfliip with Belial and Darknefe, How can ye join in a fpiritual Bond and Relation with wicked Men ? Lift yourfelves as Sheep, and be convinced that Hearing makes a vifible Son of Belidl your Shepherd ?' And, I am perfwaded, this Ground maketh more a- gainft an official Converfation, than a perfonal j for a perfonal Converfation may be without any Bond or Union? the Scripture forbids fuch a Joining as im¬ ports a Yoke j for Chrift was perfdnally prefent and did converfe with Hypocrites and open Enemies, yet had no yoked Fellowftiip with them. Likeas there¬ fore Chrift had no Fellowftiip with Belial, which is the Ground and Reafon of the Law, it doth not ex¬ clude a perfond Converfation mainly, but an official, which cannot be fo conveniently conceived without a Yoking ? fo, on this Ground, is an official Conver¬ fation rather to be Ihunned than the other. Reafon id. That fuch as we ftiun to converfe with may be ajhamed, 2 Theflf. iii. 14. And doth any Man know, that our forbearing to hear them, renders them as much Objeds of Scorn, and makes them- izXs^sajhamed, more than withdrawing in a perfonal Converfation, and is more noticed and difeerned by i them ? And truly it is probable, that, if all the 1 Lord’s People ftiould leave the Conformifis, fo as none 1 ftiould haunt them, bucthe merely civil, ignorant, or ' profane, this would occafion a ftrange Alteration. But alas I ye that frequent them in Ordinances, are ' the Stumbling-Block of their Iniquities ? ye are they I which fecreteiy keep them in the Snare of the Devil. I And it fecretly hardens them, that the Fearers of God receive the Law and Inftrudlion at their Mouth, 5 and does not let them apprehend their Condition to be fuch as indeed it is. Ah! chink, for Compaffion’s Sake, what ye are doing j ye fill their Mouths with Arguments, and their Hearts with more Malice a- gainft the Fearers of God, who dare not join with them, feeing they are not only condemned by the C«- irates. bur by the Practice of the Godly, and their own Friends. Reafon So *The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. If. Reckon 4thy that is given in Scripture for Separati¬ on, is, Lejl they leaven the whole Lumpy i Cor. v. 6. And do not they thus when they preach ? Oh ! to fee what Contempt they fubjed the Ordinances of Chrift uiito; and how meanly Perfons are tempted to think of them, while handed out by fuch Difpcnfers s and how Men fctinner and ugg at their Meat, being con¬ veyed to them thro’ and in fuch Veflels, i Sam. ii. 17. Better for many hundred poor Souls to hear no Ser¬ mon at all, than hear fuch Wretches, dawhing with untempered Mortar; crying Peace, Peace, when there isno Peace; fo that nothing damns more than fewing Pillows under their Arm-pits. I know and believe the Curates Preaching hath had more Influence on the Damnation of poor Souls, than on the Con¬ verting of them, fince the Prelates came in. Would it not grieve any tender Heart, to fee a Multitude un¬ der God’s Wrath and Curfe, ready every Moment to drop into Hell, and perhaps their own Confeien- ces telling them this much, and fo in fome Meafure awakned, gathered, and lulled afleep again by thefe Idol-Shepherds ? So that what the King of faid, when he was to fight with the Moahites, may be faid with a heavy Heart, That God had called the Multi¬ tude together to be dejiroyed. If the Devil had been ftudying a Way to turn the World Atheijls, this it it j and he could not have fallen on a better. Take a car¬ nal Man, whofe Conveffation fhould refute his Doc¬ trine, and fet him in a Pulpit, to cry up Holinefs, What would the poor People think, but that Re¬ ligion is a Stage-Play, in whicli the Adlors feem to be ferious ? I forbear to mention the ridiculous Doc¬ trines they now and then raife their impertinent Ap¬ plications upon,and theirWipes,Taunts and Blafphc- mies againft the Covenant and Work of Reformation. Reaf. ^th. Left partaking of Men’s Sins, bv Onion with them, iho’ not doing the fame Ads, they par¬ take of their Puniftimenr, Rev. xviii. 4. And hereby do they partake of their Sin. John faith, [lEpiftle lOi Sed. 6 . from corrupt Minifters 'vindicated. 8 1 10, II. by rfceiving them to our Houfe, we bid xhfiva God-Speed. But truly, by hearing of them, we lay an Obligation on ourfelves to bid them God^ Speedy and do more than receiving them to our own Houfe, even to maintain them : for, ifvoe receive of bis fpiritualThings, (as the Apoftle faith) Jhou/dtve not nimjier to him in our carnal Things ? And is not our Hearing a greater Countenancing than faying God^ Speed ? We are Partakers with them in their Sms, when weareadlually imbodied with them in one U- nion. And therefore, I fay. Come out of Babylon, Icff, ftaying there, ye partake of their Sins, being Mem¬ bers of the whole Body,and fo partake of their Punifh- mcnr. And, it we fhould feparate from Babylon, left we ftiould be deftroyed in their Calamity, Why noc from Prelacy ? The Apoftle [i Tim. v. 2a.) forbids fudden laying Hands on any, left they be Partakers of their Sins by their Union with them j from which a Communication of Actions (tho* not phyfically, yet morally) doth proceed. Shall notour Hearing of them, and by that eftabliftiing them, and ratify¬ ing their Miniftry, unite us to them, and render us guilty and legally liable to the Piinifhment due to them, as all IJrael was punilhed for Achan*s Fault ? And the Fault of one is imputed to all Ifrael; for, (faith the Lord) IJrael hath famed. Renounce them, then, as ye would be free of their Puniftiment. So that, thefe Things duly confidered, I fee no Reafon brought againft a perfonal Converfation with them, that ftands not againft Hearing of them. Objedi. I. Preaching is an Ordinance of God, and therefore to be countenanced, tho’ Hophni and Vbi~ nehas ftiould be Difpenfersof it. I anfwer, and fois private Meeting and Speaking to one another, Heb. X, aij. Mai. iii. i6/ And a Minifter is bound to con- verfe privately with his Flock, as well as publickly to preach to and teach them. And what Ground toftiun him while in the Exercifs of one Duty belong'- L irg Si 'Tife Lctwfulnefs of Separation Chap. II. ing to his Office, and not in another ? If in the greater ye refpedt him, why not in the lefler ? He that is ca¬ pable to preach publickly, is, by the fame Autho¬ rity, capable to fpeak privately : And he that com¬ manded the one, commanded the other. Ohje^. 2. I am not to entertain needlefs Conver- fation with any Man, fo neither with him. I an- fwer, No more are ye with Saints. And, if ye fay, ye mean of a ftridt Familiarity i true, but very uncon- fonant to your Principles: For with whom fbouid I Jbemore intimate, than with my fpiritual Guide, Fa¬ ther and Shepherd ? I hear him, and get Light and Comfort from him in publick, Why iliould I not get the fame from him in private ? And why may not I unbofom all my Soul to him ? And then I doubt not but ye ftiould hear excellent Senfe from many of them. And truly, tho’ye withdraw from him, as to an inward intimate Communion, this will .never make him ajhamed. Therefore I conclude, feeing fcandalous Sins feparateperfonally, they dofo officially. I cannot fee how a Man, being a Church- Member, can countenance a Brother in Office, and yet not keep Communion with him. Ye will fay, I judge him no Chriftian, and therefore forbear Fel- Jowffiip. Alas ! alas! and is he a Minifter and yet not a Chriftian ? Likeas therefore Ordination (ac¬ cording to you) gives any Perfon a Right to preach, and fo to you to hear, fo likeways his Baptifm and Profeffion, by which he is admitted a Church-Mem¬ ber, give him a Right to enjoy Church-Fellowfhip and Chriftian Communion. As therefore the Cu¬ rate’s continued Paftorftiip and Miniftry doth ly you to hear, fo his continued Brotherhood gives you a Warrant to converfe with him. If therefore, on the other hand, his continued Memberftiip will not be able to procure him the Benefitof ChriftianCon- verfe, no more will his continued Miniftry give Power to hear him. Ohjedi. Sed. 6 . from corrupt Miniflers vindicated. 83 ObjeB. 3. But they edify in publick, and do not fo in private, but fpend the Time in frothy unprofitable Talk. I anfwer, and truly fometimes they edify very little in publick. But what do ye know that they will not edify in private, when ye run from them ? Ye fliould try them. But (2.) this is not the firft Ground of Separation, but a Confequent accidentally hap¬ pening, and which may ground a Separation from others that have not fo backflidden. For, if thofe who prefently difown the 'Prelate, and profefs for ithe Work of Reformation, fpend the Time in idle fro¬ thy Talk, and cannot be got to talk of edifying Sub¬ jects, (as, alasl alas! there is too much of it, and ip which I think ProfefTorsaremoft defective of any Duty I know.) if thofe, I fay, be not profitable in Difcourfe, they were to be let alone as to private Fel- lowlhip, feeing they but fpend Time. Obje&. 4. It is not a jpmtual Communion with Saints, or others, we mean, when we fay we fliould fepararein a private Converfe and .Communion, but of a civil Converfe and Communion, and therefore not to eat or drink with them. I anfwer, with Re¬ verence to thefe learned Men that think fo, I think this makes the Matter ftill worfe: For I deny that a Fault can be a Ground of Separation in a civil Con- . verfe, when our Calling and Bufinefs lead us to have ado with them: And, if we have no Call, either civil or fpiricual, to lead us, then we fliould not join with any Society. Civil Fellowfliip is founded on civil Calls: And to fpend Time merely with any Perfon whatever, is unlawful. Ohjeii. A civil Judge may be a wicked Man, and yet the Law be difpenfed by him ■, and fo we may fift and plead before him, tho’ we cannot have a par- ■ ticular Fellowfliip with him. Therefore we may ackfiOwledge a Perfon in his Office, when we are to difown him in hisConverfation. I anfwer. It doth not follow i becaufe a legal moral underftanding Map 84 ‘The Lawfukefs of Separation Chap. IL is the Subject capable of the civil Office; and, if Fiety be required, ic is to the better Being of the Thing, not to the fimple Being ot it. But Piety, at leaft the I'obsr and feriousProteffion of it, is eflentially requir¬ ed in a Minifter, as that without which he cannot of¬ ficiate to any Purpofe in his Office; there is required Knowledge, elfe the Blind fhould lead the Blind i Ac¬ quaintance with God, that what he hath received of the Lord he may give to others; there is a holy Life and Converfation, elfe how fhall he go in and out before the Flock ? elfe he would deftroy what he builds by his Dodlrine. Minifters arc the Salt of the Earth ; and, if they lofe their Savour, what Jerve they for? Matth. v. I3. But (z,) Idiftinguifh the Con- firquenc: Therefore we may acknowledge a Perfon in his Office, and difown him in his particular Con- verfe, when thefe two arc fpecifically diftin< 5 t, and are founded on different Relations and Grounds. Ic is true, and I grant it. But that we may feparate from a Perfon in private Converfe, and yec acknov/- ledge him in the publick Exercifeof his Office, when both his publick Exercife and private Communion do flow and proceed from one Ground, I deny. Now, in this Cafe, the Ground is not the fames for it is a civil Relation that ties to bear the civil Judge, and to plead before him as a Member of the Kingdom, which Relation not calling me in pri¬ vate, I therefore forbear: And, if it Ihould, as in the Cafe of foliciting, I might go, upon the fame Grounds, to him privately likeways. But, as to fpi- ritual Officers, it is one Relation that founds my Converfation, both publick and private, and there¬ fore cannot feparate from them in one, and not in ano¬ ther. (3.) This (hews the VVeaknefs of their Argu¬ ment : For, tho’ a Judge were excommunicate, and no Church Member at all, yet might we plead the Law before him : And yet we could not hear an excom¬ municate Miniffer preach. And therefore that which doth d.iiude the one, doth not denude the other: There- Seft. 6 . jrom corrupt Minifiers •vindicated. 85 Therefore, likeas the Cenfures of the Church do DOC diveftacivil Perlbnof his Office civil, alcho’ it doth of fpiricual Offices j fo neither can the Want of any Qualifications needful for a fpiritual Office, in¬ ter any Incapacity to ait as a civil judge. Object. 6th and laft. I may feparate perfonally and privately from one, when I cannot do it pub- hckly, becaufe I am Mafler of my private Aitings, and they fall under a private Cognizance: But, in Matters of publick Concernment, fuch as, when a Man isexercifing his Office, I am not Mafter: And therefore \ may feparate privately, when, without tbeConfent of others interefled, 1 cannot do it pub- lickly. I anfwer. In every Place and Station a Man hath a judgment of Difcretion : For the fpiritual Man juageth all Things ; And therefore, tho’ the Argument prove, I cannot do ought unto others, and caufe them go alongft with me, without their mutual Confent j yet I may order myfelf as to my perfonal Carriage, even in publick Ailings. For, tho’ I be in a publick Station, yet I may give my private Advice, and ail perfonally. And (2.) this holds well in a troubled State of the Church, when there is no Judicatory we can own ; and when chofe, with whom we joined, have abandoned and deferred us, and left us to ffiifc for ourfelves; In this Cafe we may refufe to do any publick Thing which is wrong, if they corrupt the Judicatories, and found them contrary to the Word of God, or corrupt the Worffiip, or officiate by another Authority : In this Cafe, when I cannot have the Conveniency ofan- other Miniller, I may, tho’ the Worffiip be publick, and the Judicatories publick, perfonally withdraw from it. And this is a perfonal Ait reaching unto and terminated on myfelf alone, (tho’ it hath a tran- fcendental Relation to others) and not a publick Acl. For, if this Divinity ffiould hold, 1 were bound, being a Member of a Corporation, to fie with 86 The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. II. with them, and to join in all their wicked Adis, feeing I cannot withdraw without the Conftnc of others. (3.} And the Argument will yet alikeftrike againft a perfonal Converfation, as againft an official Converfaiion: For perfonal Converfation and Communion is a relative Duty, in which all the Members of the Society are mutually in- teielled to one'another to perform, and therefore cannot be difpenfed with, (if that Reafon bold) without the Confent of the Perfons with and be¬ twixt, whom the Relation or Tye is, no more than the other > and might be cenfured or rebuked for withdrawing pofitively, and fhunning private Com¬ munion with Members of Chrift, by the publick Ju¬ dicatories j yea, as in the Sentences of Excommu¬ nication, it appears that private Fellowffiip is a Matter within the Cognizance of the publick Judi¬ catory, feeing they difebarge it to be ufed with the Excommunicate ; And therefore we are not fo whol¬ ly Mafter of our private Adlings, as they come within the Reach of the publick Authority likeways, as the Obje^iion pleads. CHAP. IIL Containing Arguments again/i hearing the Conformifts. Sect. I. Wberem the firjl Argument^ Jrom 2 Cor. vi. 14, &c. is bandied. H Aving opened an Entrance to the C^eftion, and clearing of it by Refolution of the former Queftions, I come next to lay down fome formal and dircdl Arguments for proving that it is unlaw¬ ful to hear Conformijls. The fir ft whereof is drawn from 2 Cor. vi, 14. Be ye mt wie/]ucilly yoked together with Unkslievers^ See. Which, bicaule of the many Sed. 6 . from corrupt Minivers 'vindicated. 87 Cavils of Adverfaries, fighting to efchev what is a- gainft chem, and the large Stretching of Separatifts, 1 will endeavour, in the Lord’s Strength, to explain, as to its Meaning and Scope, I (hall not now infifi: upon the various Expofitions of Interpreters j fotne applying it to Marriage only; fome to ordinary Converie; fome to profcffed Pagatis ; and fome only to a withdrawing from finful Adts, tho* not from Perfons. Now, for clearing of the Truth, and what is meant by unequal Yoking^ and what by Unbelievers, take the following Ajfertions. AJJer.i. All Kind of Fellowfhip with gracelefs Per¬ fons is not here forbidden. For (i.) there is a natural Fellowlhip that Perfons muft have one with an¬ other, or elfe go out of the Worlds 1 Cor. v. lo. e. g. Elijah's witncifing againft Baal's Propuers did not clafti with this, (a.) Fellowfhip with unregenerare Men in Ads of Worfhip, fuitable to their State and Condition, is nor finful: Hence we may pray and hear with them, efpecially when they are paflive. We are all, as Creatures, under God’s Law united under this Tye of ferving God, and our Communi¬ on may flow from this. And ’tis a hard Thing to call a Man a Child of Btlialy that is going to pray, who, by a fuitable Converfation, doth witnefs the Reality of his Intentions, altho’ fecretly he may be a Hypocrite. (3.) To join or keep Company with unre¬ generate Men, when our Callings lead us to it, is not finful. Hence Chrift, being a fpiritual Phyfician, juftified his fpiiitual Converfe with fick Polrlicans and Sinners, feeing he was, by his Office, called there¬ unto, Matth.\yi.ix. And fo many Minifters, and other Chriltians, do that charitable Office of inftruc- ting, warning and exhorting the moft vile. So , Phyficiansmay adminifter Pbyfick to the moft fcan- dalous Perfons j fo like ways this may take Place in civil Callings. (4.) Nor is he forbidden tbcfe Du¬ ties of Refped, Service and Commerce, that may flow 88 T’he Lawfiilnefs oj Separation Chap. III.’ flow from Relations natural and civil, as thefe of Man and Wife, Mafter and Servant, King and Subjedl, Parent and Children. AJfer. 2. All unequal Yoking is not here forbidden, when the Inequality doth ternainate upon the Per- fons, as in themfelves abfolucclv confidered, rather than as related in their refpedtive Ties. Such a Commerce as doth import a Yoking, is here forbid¬ den i but all Commerce, importing an unequal Yok¬ ing, is not here forbidden. For I fuppofe none will qu; (lion but } may fettle in a civil Society and Corpo¬ ration with a wicked Man, if he have Qualifications fitting him for his Otfice, for the Management of which I join with him, fo long as his Want of Ho- linefs is not a Hindrance to the common Endsprofe- cuted by us. I may live in one Common-Wealth with a wicked Man. I think a godly Citizen in a Council is not to leave his Office, tho’ a wicked Citizen be fet in with him in Council. I may live in an Univerfity, and fubmit to the Laws thereof, tho’ I have lewd Condifciples and Mafters. P/7«/ did not renounce his Burgefliip in TarJ'us, and the Privilege of a Homnn^ tho’ the People were Hea~ thens. Servants cannot always quit their Mafters, tho’ unregenerate j a poor Man a rich Woman, contra. Thofe that have little and thofe that have much Grace may marry together 5 and yet here there is no unequal Yoking. AlJer. 3. Some unequal Yoking with Unbelie¬ vers is here forbidden. Qineritur, What Fellow- fhip and Yoking is here forbidden ? I anjiver, (i.) All Fellowfhip with Sin, or the vnfrukftd Works of Darknefs, Eph. v. II. (2.) Separation from wicked Perfons, as well as their Sins and Evils, is here forbidden. And hence, Be not unequally yoked to¬ gether with Unbelievers; not only with their Unbe¬ lief, but with their very Perfons: And hence, Cowe out from among them, elfe they will never be a(ham~ Sed. I. from corrupt Minifiers vindicated. 89 ; othervays ye put no Difference betwixt the Godly and them, from wbofcSins of Infirmities ye muft feparate. (3.) By Unbelievers is not meant only open Heathens, and proteffcd Fagans, Arians, Fapifts and Turks, but alio it comprehends titular Chriftians and Proteffants j for the Command is general, Chrtjl and Belial, Light and Darknefs: Wic¬ ked gracelefs Profeffors may have Darknefs as much as Heathens. Darknefs and Belial are as in¬ capable of Concord in a Frotefiant as in a Fapift; and the fame Prejudices attend both. God careih not for Names and Shadows. There may be fome profefling Chriff, who may be Worfe than Infidels, and, by their Works, deny the Faith. ’Xjsof fuch Unbelievers as are known really to have Belial in them, that this is meant. Mocking of God by a fruitlefs Profeflion will not (fill the Devil, nor a- gree thefe two. (4.) There is here forbidden a feen and difcovered unequal Yoking. Hence Sufpicions will not do it, nor, in fine, all Sins, but fuch as import Satan reigning, and cannot be fuppofed to confift with Sincerity, (s.) We are not only, by this, forbidden to enter into Yoke, but alfo to con¬ tinue in Yoking. Hence is that Word, Came out of her. Not only is Union at firft forbidden, but alfo Communion flowing from that Union. Com¬ munion with Belial is as unfeemly as Union with Be¬ lial. Only let it be known that it is Belial. Hence there may be Communion with Hypocrites, be- caufe they are not known to be the Children of Be¬ lial. (6.) All fuch unequal Yoking in Fellowfhip with Perfons, when they are not capable to at¬ tain the Ends of it, is in vain, and confequently unlawful; Becaufe the Ends of a fpiriiual Combi¬ nation are fpiritual and holy j and therefore an ob- ftinate gracelefs Wretch can never j,ointly profecute them. This Principle is fo engraven in Nature, that 1 ihink ’lis necdbfs to prove it, Luke xiv. M aS—33. 90 *Ihe Laivfulnefs of Separation Chap. IIL’ 28—33. If we build, we mud fee if we be able to attain the End of Building: So here, (7.) all unequal Yoking in fuch Bonds of Fellowlliip with Perlons, in which there can be no Peace or Concord expedfed, is unlawful: For this is contrary to the very Nature of Union. Hence this is made an Ar¬ gument, What Concord hath Light with Darkmfs ? For, if there be no Agreement, there cannot be a joint Profecution of the Ends of their Society and Combination. For, however Saints and wicked Perfons, in other Combinations, agree, fuch as lead to the Confervation of civil Societies, yet they can¬ not be cxpedled to agree rationally in a fpiritual Tye, in refpedf, in that very Thing and Tye in which they are bound, they are adted by contrary Principles, feeking to overthrow one another j the one feeking to advance the Intereft of Chrift, and the other feeking to deftroy it j and hence cannot be united in a Combination tending to that Pur- pofe ; And hence the Work of God, by continual and multiplied Divifions in Synods, Presbyteries and Seflions, was always hindred. The Mylfery is, Chrtjl and Belial were yoked : And I look upon this as one great Caufe of all the Evil that we have feen; and therefore, when this is evidently feen, and no Hopes left to help, we fhould have fepa- rated. Will ever Satan help againft Satan? They are contrary Extremes in this, viz. in Holinefs, tho’ in other Tilings they may agree i and they oppofe one another, as Heat and Cold doth. (8.) When there is an Unfuitablenefs in the Extremes to the Relation j as when unholy vifible Members of Satan are taken into a holy Union j it is un- fuitable there fhould be Correfpondence in thefc Things. The Relation of Saints fhould not be hete¬ rogeneous : ’Tis God’s great Promife, / will give one Heart. A holy and fpiritual Eellowfhip and Work, and unholy Maiibers, are unfuicable. Holhicjs he- covtetb Se and confequently Hearings being a Means to lead unto Errors and to leaven the whole Lump, is I forbidden. TheReafonis, If the Blind lead the Blmd, loth jhall fall into the Ditch ; and, A little Leaven leavencth the whole Lump, But, (2.) This is faid without Ground. For where is it faid that aural i Hearing is allowed, when praBical Hearing is forbid- [ den ? Ceafe, my Son, to hear the InJlruBio 7 i that caufetb I to err from the Words of Knowledge, P rov. xix. 27. (3.) I Becaufe that the Hearing that is here forbidden, is I I'uch Hearing as is contradiftinguifhed from the Hear- I ing of chttrue Shepherds, and by which the true ( ^Shepherds are known; And therefore, as the true j Shepherds are heard aurally, fo thtfalfe Shepherds, in oppofition to them, are not to be heard aurally. (4.) This puts not a Difference betwixt the true 2nd falje Shepherd (if the Flock may, at any Time, hear the falfe Shepherd) by the Carriage of the Flock to them; which is Chrift’s Drift and Scope. For,'^ if /;-«c Shepherds preach fome Errors not fundamental, as they may, we fhould not hear them either: And, j when Hirelings, e contra, preach true Dodlrine, as I fometimes they may and do, this Mark, then, from 1 the Sheep’s Behaviour towards them,would be ufelefs, for the Sheep fliould then follow him; and fo none ; fhould be Hirelings but Hercticks. But yet the De¬ vil’s End is ftill carried on. And here wicked Men, driving on a Courfe of Defection and Atheifm, arc found in their Principles, (vias. their Sheep’s Clothing) they do thereby kill the Heart. Hereiicks that kill the Head are mortified ; and this is their Sheep’s Clothing. All ferve the Bifhop, to vote with him, and to arm the Vulgar with Hatred againft the Lord’s People, who dare not fay, A Confederacy with them. And the Rcfulc of this ortkodoec Pleaching is, Mini- no 7he Lawjulnefs of Separation Chap. Ill, fters that will not join with the are m^^down pfeci/e3ths.iio\- zQrcuwJiafice of Government leave ofl-'eo preach j and it is well that they are depofed. Is not then another Chriji preached ? And hence they get many to join with them upon this Account. And this is it with which they batter others, and with which they draw in Why? They are Pro- teftants. (5.) Becaufe it is a Hearing denoting fuch a. Carriage as the Sheep have to a Thief, and ftands not wirh aural Hearing, nor with fuch a Fellowfliip as is pleaded for. Sect. III. {{herein a third Argument is handled, dravon from the Con^ormifts Want of a Cominijjion, as it w Je.. xxiii. , 21. John xiii. 20. Rom. x. 15. Keb. v. 4. THE Argument mns thus. Such as are known to want a CommiJJion from God, are not to be heard. But the Conformifts are known to want a Commiffion from God; and therefore are not to be heard. In profecuting this Argument^ I lhall prove thefe three Things, i. That a Commiffion from God is ab- folutely necejfarj, and that without it none may be heard lawfully. 2. That it may be known W’hether Pallors have zCommiffion from God. 3. That the Conformijls are to be conceived as fuch who want a Commiffion. I. For thefirft I give th^kGrounds following. ’'I. If theycannot preach without a Commiffion, then we cannot hear them : For they are Relatives j and the fame Mouth that faid. How can they preach ex¬ cept they he fent ? faid. How crat they hear without a Preacher ? as is dear from Rom. 'X.. 15. For by Freach- ing-is there meant lawful Preaching j for, in a pbyfical Senfe, they may and do preach ■, and the parmra! Of¬ fice mull proceed Irom God, Heb. v. 4. No Man taketb this HojHiur unto himje/f, five be that is colled of Cod, as was Aaron, who, tho’ he w as minifleriaHy and Seft. 3. from corrupt Minifiers 'vindkatM. 111 iHftrummtally confecrated by Mojes^ yet was principally called of God, Exod. xxviii. i. For it being God’s Meflage to God’s People to whom he mulf fpeak, hence he muft have fomc Commiffion from him, or by his Mouth ; and hence [Mai. ii. 7,) he is called tbe Melfenger of the Lord of Hofis: And therefore, unlefs he be called of God, he cannot be heard as his Mef- finger. z. Becaufe their Conimifion from God is all the Ground upon which Obedience is preffed upon the People: And therefore, if they want this Commiffion, there is no Foundation of Submiffion. For, if the for- , mal Reafon be wanting, whatever is bottomed upon that formal Reafon muft tall to the Ground. And s hence no Commiffion, no Submiffion. I prove the Afi \ famption, viz. That God's Commiffion is the formal I Ground of Hearing, or Submiffion, John xiii. 20. Chrift encouraged People to hear, from this. He that receiveth whonfoever I find, receiveth me. And {Luke X. 16.) when Chrift bimfelf would be acknowledged, he tells them, Hethat defpifethme, defpifith him that \fint me. And the Ground is, Minifters zreChriJEs Ambaffadors, z Cor. v. 20. fo that what they do Chrift doth It, Eph. ii. 17. Chrift is faid to co\^ne and preach to the Ephefians, becaufe Vattl, his Ambajfador, did it: And therefore it is for their Mafter’s fake they are to be owned. And hence, having «o Commiffion, , from God, which is the Ground of Acknowledgment, they are not to be achwtpledged at all. 3. We are either to hear them as the Meffeugers . of Men, or as the Mejfcngers of God: Not as the { Meffengers of Goa, becaufe i: is fuppofed they have 1. ! no Commiffion from him j.n'or are wetohear them as the Meffengers of Men, becaufe it is not their Meflage they declare. Let but any Man lay his iHand upon his Breaft, and fee Irow it beats, when he faith, I hear not fuch a Perfon as the MefTen- ger of God, iho’he comes to fpeak in God’s Name. Doth I* 112 "the Lawfnlnefs of Separation Chap. III. Doth it not found harflily, to fay we bear them as ibe MelTengers ot Men ? ‘And therefore, in receiving them, we receive not CJjrift. And to hear Men merely as gifted, is, according to our Principles, unlawful: And befides, they preach as fuch who are inverted with a Commiflion, and pretend Au^ thority from God. 4. The Lord (fey.xxm. i6 ,zi.) forbids to hear them, becaufe be bath not fent them i and therefore they jhall not profit this People, And therefore to hear, in fuch a Cafe, is Rebellion againft God, and utterly unlawful. and that the Church hath erred in or¬ daining him, and fo. thereby hath gone beyond her CommiflTion. And yet, 13. Laflly, I will grant Submiflion to art unjuft Sentence, in fome Cafes, when the Ills neceffanly refuhing from Non-Submiffion, are greater than a- ny Good could be expedled by my Difobedience to the Sentence. And this my Submiflion would not be becaufe of any Authority in the Sentence, (feeing the Church or State hath no Authority to pronounce or execute evil Sentences) and fo confequently, I judging this to be fuch, fhould not fubmit to it, as tho’ I conceived it to ferve Authority, but only ad evitandum majus malum, or to efchew a greater E- vil. In which Cafe I would fubmit paffively to an Vfiirper. And now, what is in all this Dodlrine that leads to Confufion ? The Sum of which is, that, in all our Adis, we (bould be fquared by the Scriptures; which is acknowledged intelligible to thofe whofe Minds the God of this World bath not blinded; and that Church and State adfing contrary to the Word of God, adl without the Sphere of their Autho* rity i and that no Obedience, either adtive or paffive, is due but unto God and agreeably to his WilU 120 T^he Lavijulnefs of Separation Chap. III. Nov, till this be digefted, never (hall the Subjedl hat walk in blind Obedience. Nor is this Enthiife- fijttiy either, to father all on the Spirit j for the En- thujiafls make the Spirit’s Teaching within, to be the objective formal Ground of Believing, and not his i written Word, which we take lor the objedive j Ground of Faith. And therefore, to the Cafe in Hand, feeing the Lord, in his Word, tells us truly whom tie fends, it is no Prefumpiion in me to think fuch are not fent, when I fee them; nor to ac¬ knowledge them fo fent, tho’ an oecumenical Coun¬ cil Hiould likewife ordain them. Ohje^. 3. But it doth not,concern private Perfons to judge ol qualified Perfons. Anf. \ gxzniprimarily and mainly it doth nor. But it is unwarrantably faid. It concerneth not God’s People to know who are qualified Perfons j feeing they of all others are moft interelted in them to know it belt. They lln by re¬ ceiving fuch, as others have done by admitting them j and left they get one, whom, becaufe the Lord bath not fent, lhall therefore not profit them., Sect. IV. IVbirein a fourth Argument is handled, fpewwg, That i we cannot hear the Conformifts in Taitb, Jer. xxiii. 32. Matth. xv. 9. The Argument runs thus, ihofe whom we can¬ not go to hear, in Faith of a Blelling upon’the Ordi- , nances difpej^fed by them, we cannot hear: But we cannot hear iheConformiJls in Faith. I prove the firfi Propofition thus. The Lord hath not jaid to the Houfe 0/Jacob, Seek my Face in vain; I but promifeth, that in doing this they ^all live. And if fo, then be hath not commanded us to go to any ( Ordinance, where no Profit is to be expected ; for } thcfe are contradictory. l"or, if he command on- Sed. 4. from corrupt Miniflers ’vindicated. 121 ly to go where we may get Advantage, then he never commands us to go where no Profit can be expedled. (2.) No Mean is chofen, which is not able to at¬ tain its End, Ifa. Iv. Z. Wherefore do ye fpend your Labour for that which fatisfieth not < Therefore we are not to go to a Place where we have no Ground to believe a Blefling will accrue to us. (3.) If the un¬ profitable Ufing of Means be a great Curfe, then we are not to frequent Means to which no Blefling is promifed. But the firfl is true, Matth. xv. 9. i In vain do ye Worpip vie. This was the Curfe ; but [ to worfhip God in Ordinances, to which no Blefling is promifed, is to worfhip God in vain. God bath appointed the Ordinances for converting and buil¬ ding up j and, when this cannot be expeded, it is in vain to go. To go to divine Ordinances for Fear of the civil Magiflrate, is no lawful End. I prove the fecondVropofition, viz. That we can¬ not exped a Blefling on the Preaching, thus, it That which is nowhere in the Word commanded, to [ that we cannot exped a Blefling, Matth. xv. 9. The Reafon why they worship the Lord in vain, is, be- caufe they teach not the Dodlrine of God. Now, we are nowhere commanded in Scripture to hear \ Hirelings. If there be fuch a Command, let us fee [ it, and we will beinftruded. And, if there be not, '■ How can we go in Faith, or in Hope of a Blefling ? t For the Ground of Faith is the revealed Will of God ; I where there is therefore no Ground for this in the If revealed Will of God, there is no Ground of Faith. (2.) Becaufe there is no Promife of a Blefling, in t Scripture, to our hearing of fuch as the Conformifts : Therefore we cannot in Faith hear j for the Promi- fes are the Ground of Faith. Paul may plant, and ■ Apollosip/rrer, hutGodgiveththe Increaje. TheC«- rates, fome of them, may have Gifts and Parts, but jthey want Fower, in which the Kingdom of God conftfs. L Where is there a Promife in Scripture for this ? ( 3 *) ’Tis 122 7 he Lawfuhiefs of Separation Chap. III. ’Tis ill vain to come in Hopes of a Bleffing tofuch whom God doth afliire us lhall not profit ns. But the Lord doth aflure us, that fuch as ConformiJIs (hall not profit, becaufe not fent; as, in my proceeding Argument, I have proved the Curates not to he fenty xxiii. 32. (4.) God will never blefs that which is an Abomination to himfelf, and which is difeover- ed to be Co to ihofe who frequent it. But our Cu¬ rates Preaching is a known Abomination to the Lord, as I (hall prove in my next Argument. The Major is clear from the Light of Nature, and from Scripture, Mai. i. S. If ye offer the Blind for Sacri¬ fice ; is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame andfick ; is it not evil ? Will the Lord accept it ? And there¬ fore ye are acctirfed with the Curje. Will the Lord’s Fire come down upon the Sacrifice which his Soul rthhorreth ? And (5.) becaufe the Lord’s Word doth allure us, that fuch as break the Covenant jhall not profpet-y Ezek. xvii. 15. Ecclef. v. 4, 6. Vay that which thou haft vowed - Wherefore fhould God be angry at thy Voice, and dejlroy the Work of thine Hands ? But have not the Curates broken the Covenant, and faid unto the Angel, It was an Error, and after Vows have made Enquiry ? And (hall we then expcdl they (hould profper, or hope God (hould profper the Work of their Hands. I know this wanton and truckling Generation may eafily cavil at Scripture, and wreft it to promote their wicked D-figns and Pradices. But to attend an Ordinance doomed to a Curfe, is to expedl Water from a Stone. If God will curfe a Medicine, no Phvfician were wife to preferibe it to his Patient. ’Tis vain, wanton and childilh, I had almoft faid, profane, to argue from Metaphors and Ailufions; as to fay. The Ra¬ vens are unclean Birds, and yet did feed Elijah: And therefore fo may the unclean Curates feed me. Go, tnourn and be humbled ;for the Levity of your Spirits, that thus play and (port with the Lord’s Word. Seft. y. from corrupt Minifiers vindicated. 123 Word. Ravens are pronounced unclean Birds: And if this wanton Divinity, proceeding from an enthufi- alUcal adulterous were good, then would it prove, that Minifters excommunicated, and by that declared unclean, (tor fo were the Ravens) Ihould be heard. I might better argue, If any that is tm~ clean touch hallowed Flefh, foall he not be unclean ? Hag. ii. 13. And fo, tho’ the Word be hallowed Flefh, as it were, yet the unclean Pried, touching it, makes it unclean. That which is filthy in the Lord’s Eyes, can never be pure to a Saint, when they fee it fo. Sect. V. IVljcrein a fifth Argument is handled, from Ifaiah i. I II- 1<). & Ixvi. 3, 4. Ezek. xx. 39. becaufe of the Stnfulnefs of the Curates i THE Argument runs thus. That which isin- trinfically and neceffarily finful in the Lord’s Sight, that is not to be done or countenanced by hearing. I But fo is the Curates Preaching. Ergo, &c. In order to the proving of this, I (hall clear thefe three Things, i. That we are not to countenance fuch Adis as are finful in the Lord’s Sight. 2. That the Curates Vreaching is finful in the Lord’s Sight. 3. That Hearing is a Countenancing. And, for the better‘Underdanding of all this, I Iwill refume what I have fpoken before to three iThings. (i.) Thatan Adlioninitfelfgood, may be ifo polluted by Reafon of Circumdances, that it may be very finful in the Sight of God i yea, fo finfuJ, that it may be a Duty to omit it j and that the Commidi- on of fuch a Duty may be a greater Sin than the O- miffion thereof. See Chap. 1. Setfl. 4. (2.) Tbatic jis not accidental Pollutions, to fpeak of fuch as thefe Dcfeds that do attend the Prayers of unregenerate Men i which, tho’ abominable to God, yet not in re- Ifpedlof the Duty, butinrefpedi: of the finful Con- I comitams,, 124 T/je Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap, III. comitants, not neceflarily, but accidentally attend¬ ing them, who may be joined with, and whofe Sins in Praying are not yet fo finful as in omitting them: Nor are thefe Duties fo finful, as that thereby they are difengaged to pray. But(3.) I mean not of fuch a Sinfulnefs attending the Ad'tion gcnerically good, but as contradted or individual to I'uch a Time and Perfon, and intrinfick Manner of Performance, moft finful, fo as to be omitted, rather than done. I. The firft Vropojition, in the Senfe given, viz. That it is not lawfal to countenance Jinful Anions, is fo univcrfally received and acknowledged, that the Proof might feem needlefs, Prov. i. 15. Obad. 12. Tfalm l.iS. Butconfider thefe Reafons. (i.) Be- caufe the God and Father of our Lord JefusChrift doth difcountenance Sin i and we fhould be holy as he is holy, iPet. i. 15. Lev. xi. 44. & xix. 2. & XX. 7. It was a ftrong Argument that the Prophet Hanani ufed againft 'fehojhaphat the King of Judah for going up with wicked iSSngAhab xoRamoth-gi- lead, Shouldjl thou help the Ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? ^ Chron. xix. 2. So I fay, Should ye love thofe Duties which the Lord hates ? And the Saints, being changed into the fame Image, fhould and do love what he loveth, and hate what Ikc hatetb. (2.) Becaufe our countenancing them in their Sin, or of their Sin, is a Strengthening of them in it 5 and that is unlawful. Now, Fellowfhip with them llrengthens and hardens them, in refpeifl Separation weakens them, makes them ajhamed, or takes Heart from them, 2 Thejf. iii. 14. Fellowfhip therefore ! with them doth take away the Mean of their Conver- fion. (3.) Becaufe the,Law of God doth interpret the countenancing of Sin, a Sinning, l Sam. n. 29. Eli is charged with the Fa6l himfelf, when he doth not reftrain it in his Sons, Rev. xiv. 4. Come out of her. tny People, that ye he not Partakers of her Sins, and that ye receive not of her Plagues, II. [ Seft. from corrupt Miniflers ’vindicated. 125 IL My next Task is to prove the Curates Preacb- hig finfuly and that intrinftcally and neceffarily. (i.) Becaule their Preaching is cofitraryto the Law of I God, not only as to the Mamerorw-Ayoi doing it, but likeways in the A(fi itjelj\ fo as, rebus fie Jlanti- husy or. Things To {landing, the very A6l is prohi¬ bited. For, tho’ they (hould preach never fo zeal- oufly, finccrely, afFeftionately, and foundly, yet, in refpedl they are, for the prefent, ina publick Scan¬ dal, and have their Office and Authority from the PrelatCy their Preaching would be nccefTariiy finful, Pjalm\. 18, 21. I have elfewhere proven, that the Conformifls Ihould not preach, but ffiould leave off, \ as the reft have done: And therelore (2.) their ; Preaching muft be {inful: For one Thing cannot be |i affirmed ot two Contraries. See Chap. 2. Sed. 4. (3.) In refpedl the Omiffion ot it is let's iinful than their Preaching; and therefore their Preaching muft beex- I ceedingly {inful, Ezek. xx. 39. Becaufe the Confor- viijis continue in Sin, Jfa.i. 12. Pjalw\x\i. iS. their Hands are full of Blood in their Unc/eannefs. (5.) Be- i: caufe the Lord calls the merely hypocritical Perform- I ance ot his vifible Church, during the Continuance in Sin, ftnful Iniquity itfelf, and accounts it ra¬ ther offering of Swine’s Fleshy and difeharges it as Murder, IJa. Ixvi. 3,4. And, if tne Lord be weari¬ ed withy and call thefe Services Iniquityy Who (hall or can call iht-m D«ry ? And therelore, as, by our prefence, wefhould not countenance the killing of a Man, or cutting off a Dog’s Neck; fo neither Ordi- ( nances /b polluted, whicn they are foin the Lord’s I Sight. And the fame Reafon that made the fewijh [ Sacrifice abominable in the Lord’s Sight, the fame ; makes Conformijls Preaching odiousy viz. Perjury, '■ Driinkennejs, Hands full cf Blood; of which the C»- ‘ rates are guilty as well xh^Prelates. Alas! alas! I {hall we, by our Preftnee, countenance fuch Ads as . arc. 126 T^he Lawfuhefs of Separation Chap, III. are, by the Lord’s own Relation, a Burden to him ? Shall we fee the Lord, as it were, tormented} III. The thxrd Thing I am to prove, is. That Hearing of the Conforroilts is a Countenancing of them. Now, in regard that every perfonal Prefence, at an unlawful Adion, is not a Countenancing of it, I Kings xviii. I will prove that Hearing ol the Con- formijis is a countenancing of them, by thefe Grounds. (I.) Our lalf End in hearing of them is Edification by them: For, as your Heart efteems any Thing, that hath an edifying Virtue, hence coming to it ye likeways counrenance it. When we makfi.the Lord our laft End, th;n we honour him 5 fo, when we come to thefe Ordinances fot fpiritual Strength, then we honour them. Every Ufing of the Means is a Countenancing of them: And herein ye are adive. And tho’that Elijah and were perfonally prcfent at unlawful Adions, 2 Kings xviii. Matth. xxvii. 56. yet it was not thefe Adions, mo¬ rally confidered, they were attending, but quite ano¬ ther Thing, namely, attending a Duty, which, by a Concatenation of Providences, was infeparable from that Adion. (2.) Becaufeye go on the Sab¬ bath-Day: For by this ye declare that the Work ye go about is holy in your Judgment, otherwavs ye durft not take it up as the Objed of your Exercife on that Day, no more than plowing the Ground. (3.) Becaufe ye go in Obedience to a Command enjoining the frequenting of fuch Ordinances as a Du¬ ty, and Teftimony of your Approbation. For, in that Senfe, the Law commands the Obeyers, Oheyy whatever their Intentions be. Tak6 this Similitude for clearing it. There are feme commanded to be in Arms at the Execution of a Saint, to keep him from the People’s Refeue. Now, alcho’tbe Intenti¬ on of many who come, be to free themfelves from the Penalty,- and to preferve their Places, yet they fin, and arc, in foroDdy Muidcreis. Nay, tho’they fhould Se'?- latical Power, even as the Subject’s Submiflion doth eftablifh Se(^. 6 . from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. 133 eftablilh the Power of the Ufurper. And there is no more required for your Parts, who are private Chrirtians, than peaceable Hearing of them. This is all that, according to your Capacities, ye can do. And ’tis evident, that nothing hath given a greater Blot to Prelates^ than this withdrawing of fome, infomuch that they never think themfelves fecure till all hear; And, while there is a Party who refufe this, the Interefts of the Lord Jefus are preferved, this being a (landing and ever-living Pro- tellation. And hence the Rage and Malice of the Devil and Prelates, the Tutor and Pupils, are mod fet againft fuch who don’t hear, and of whom they are mod afraid. ’Tis true, Minifters do tvitnefs, when they are depofed for Non-Suhm\fJion: But do ye not herein deftroy what ye built ? Ye fubmit to them j ye do not ferve them as Officers^ yet as com¬ mon Soldiers ye do. S' Ye do hereby waken the Confciences of Pre^ lates and Curates; for not hearingy is, and will be a continual Sting to them: And, when ye hear, ye keep them from conceiving of themfelves to be fuch Monjlers as they are. Therefore turn away, that they may be ajhamed. But, by Fellowlhip with them, ye let their Souls perifh, and fo are cruel to them. Withdrawing now is the only Means left that can do them good: ’Tis the Lord’s own Mean, however little it promife, 2 TheJ]'. ii. 14. If any Man walk difirderlyy note that Many and have no Com- pany with hiniy that he may be ajhamed. Chrid, in Com pa (lion to their Souls, which are of the fame Make with your’s, commands you to withdraw from them, that you may not let them die thro’ a cruel Guiltinefs. He that fpareth the Rod hatetb the Childy Frov. xiii. 24. We may applv Medicines to a Hand or Foot, when there’s any Hope of Healing j bur, if there’s none, mmedicahile vnlnus enje reddendum ; ^ that J34 Lawjuhefs of Separation Chap. IH. that is, An htcurahle Wound niujl he cut off hy the Surgeon's Inflrument. 9, ^fjoinwg with the Curates, ye are kept frorn {hewing your Loyalty to your King and Mafier^, the ‘JLiOrd JefusChrilt. How fhail ye, that are private Perfons, otherxv^ys (hew your Diflike of their Way and. Rebellion againft the Lord ? Where is your Teftimony and (landing Proceftation againft all the fcandalous Enormities and Afthfes ye fee ? Oh! there¬ fore, for the Lord’s Sake, withdraw. IQ. Do ye not, by this Means, fadden the Hearts of the Righteous, who dare not join with them at all? And, by your Example, ye furnifh the:Prelates with Weapons and Courage to attack the Fearers of God, when they fee us divided amongft ourfelves: And your Example (hall be as the firft Dart thrown at us, and as a Warrant to their Confcience to think us wrong, feeing we are difowned by our own Party, who are known godly Men j and therefore, thinking our Pradlice wrong, will be bold to inflidt Piinilhment upon us. Ye likeways fadden the Hearts of the Righteous j and tho’ by this Means ye keep yourjelves fecure, and make the Curates rejoice, yet ye caufe others mourn in private betore the Lord. Come, therefore, out of Babel, 0 Soldiers of the AU 'ptigkty, left the Lord burn you up voith them. Con- ftd-t but thefe Things. Is it a fmall Matter to be related to them ? Do ye pray againft them, and their Ways, and yet in Pradfice join with them ? Is it a fmall Matter to involve yourfelves in their Plagues? Is it a fmall Matter to grieve the Hearts of the Godly ? To harden Curates? To ftrengthen them in their evil Ways To get a Snare to your own Souls ? Oh 1 think ferioufly on this. OhjeiJ. Confequences cannot be a Ground of with¬ drawing. We cannot quit a Duty (or what may coays of it, clfe we (hall never do any Thing: For there Sect. 6. from corrupt Mini (lev t •vindicated. 135 there is nothing we can do but Evil may come of it. I aftfwer^ By diftinguiftiing of Confequences, fome follow accidentally upon a Thing, as hard- ning of Heart doth Preaching, Ifa. vi. 9,10. and fome natural in their own Tendency, ponfequences that follow by Accident, do not warrant us to quit Duty. And hence we are to profefs Chrift in Times of Perfecution, tho’ it expofe us to Suffer¬ ing, as in Daniel's praying to God, Dan. vi. lo. compared with 16. Becaufe Suffering doth follow by Accident, and is not by that Adi of Profeflion caufed at all. But, if in Daniel's Chamber there were fet a Guard to murder him fecretly, and he got Notice of it, no doubt he were not to pray. No more were a Minifter bound to preach, when he knew a Snare to be laid for his Life : For bis com¬ ing to that Place, did, as Things flood, in its own Nature expofe him to Death. But if a Perfecutor ftiould difebarge him and all the Minifters to preach Chrift, out of a known Defign to root out all Reli¬ gion, I dare not fay, notwithftandingofwhatispre- fently pradlifed, he were bound to leave off: For better obey God than Man. Accidental Confequences are no Ground for fufpending a pofitive Duty: But fuchCon- fequences as flow from the Nature of the Thing itfelf, do warrant us to fufpend the Duty. And the fore- named Confequences do not flow merely by Accident from hearing of the Curate. But Hearing is an Adt of Worftiip, and is, as the foimer Sign of our Sub- jedlion to Presbytery, now made the Law to thofe in thir Nations. The Badge doth, in its own Nature, and per fc, lead to it in its own Nature; it unites us to them in its own Nature j it hardens the Cu¬ rates in their Way in its own Nature; grieves the Godly in its own Nature 5 it turns the Hearers luke- warnn, and leavens them, tho* they know not how nor why. But it is obfervable, that many, formerly zealous for the Lord’s VV'’ork and People, are, by hearing 135 *The %nwfulneJs oj Separation Chap. III.’ hearing of the Curates, turned very cold and rennifs, and engaged in Aff dion fome Way to them. But ye may injlance. That then we could not, iho’ in New-England, join with the Minilters there, they being hidependents, and we Vreshyterians, be- caufe Hearing is a Mean to harden them m their Error. 1 in Things to this, (i.) To raife a Divilion in New-England, by withdrawing, is, I Tuppofe, a greater Evil than any Strengthning of my Hearing of their Miniflers might contribute to them, or to their Government. ’Tis not fo with Vrelates, who have kindled the Fire already, and with whom, in Defence of what we were in FolTeffion, we are already engaged in a Contro- verfy. (2.) I deny that my Forbearing to hear, or my Hearing, would any Whit weaken or efta- blilb Independency in New- England, feeing ’tis al¬ ready tftablilhed. And my Hearing of them would rot be interpreted a Strengthr.ing of the Goverment 5 for it, being tftabhfhed, (lands not in Need of, nor feeks that, but would be the Sign of my K fped to the Ordinance of Chrift. I confefs if Indepen¬ dency were in to fieri, or to be eftablilhed, and wanted nothing but the univerfal Hearing of the Peo¬ ple, the Cafe were otherways. But Erelacy, how¬ ever e(labli(hed by Law, and by the SubmuTion of Officers, and by the pradical Submiflion of the mod Part of the Body of- the Land, yet is not perfedly univerfally eftabliflied, until all (landing out againft it fubmic by hearing the Officers. {3.) ’Tis not alike in Independency aixl Vrelacy -, the one is wrong as to the Manner o\ Government, and fome Circunijianccs only, but is not fiuhflantially violat¬ ed: For there are no unlawful Officers in that Go¬ vernment, tho’ it be defediive in Point of Synodical 'Jurifidi&ion, In Vrelacy the Government h jhbfian- tially violated, and there are in ic unlawful Offi¬ cers i and from thefe uvlawfiul Ads, is it that all the Scft. 7. from corrupt Miniflers vindicated. 137 the Adis of Office in the Church do fpring. And hence there is no fuch Ground for not hearing, in New-Evglandy Independent (whole Au¬ thority, by the powerful Influences of his Spine let out on Hearers, both in converting and confirming, God hath fealed) as there is lor not hearing Erclaies and Curates here. Sect. VII. Wherein a feventh Argument is handled., dr axon from fame providential Confiderations. WHEN Cbrift was in the World, there were great Controverfies about Religion, as there are now ; the Pharifees faying one Thing, and Chrift faying another. And therefore, to put the Queftion out of Debate, they defire a Sign out of Heaven from him. Chrift is willing to give them a Sign^ but would not humour them in adulterous Conceits, but ftiews;thac the Times afforded Signs and Works, to which they looking might thereby prognojlicate what was Truth or Duty; at leaft, might be helped and confirmed j which yet their Hardnefs could not fee, tho’ they knew the Signs of the Sky. Oh ! that we vpould, while kdk\ngClearnefs in this, ohferve but the Signs of this Time, and fee what God, by his 'providence, doth ovon. And, for this Caufe, I lhall propound fome providential Confiderations, whereby a Man may fee what is Duty, as it were, revealed from Heaven. Oh! conftder then, and rejeB not the Operations of the Lord, Flalm xxviii. 5. Conftder. 1. Not hearing is the Ground of the Suffer¬ ings oi the Lord’s People. It is becaufe they dare roc hear, they are opprelled, impoveriftied, quarter¬ ed upon, and imprifoned 5 and is likeways the Caufe and Occafion of the Spilling of their Blood : And therefore to hear draws deeper than at firft View it would feem to do, even to a Condemnation of the Righ¬ teous ; yea, it is a proclaiming thena to be Self Murder- S ers. 138 The Lawjulnefs of Separation Chap. III. ers. Ye fay, ye do noc condemn them j but verily ye do ; for, in Hearing, ye hold, that the Cow/or- mijh Preaching; is an Ordinance God x And whac were they then but a Company of poor deluded PeO-* pie, thro’ the Wrath of God, that were fo far lelt of God, as to lofe Fortuncsand Lives, and all tofeal a Lie ? Ye furnilh Arguments to their Accujers to con- demn them, and minifter ftrengthning Cordials to their Adverfarics Confcience to go on boldly ngainfl them. And is this the Kindncfs, Refped: and Love Ye have to your Brethren, and the Friends of our Lord Jefus ? What do ye know but their Bloodmzy bt required at your Hands ? We fhould Hop to offend, much lefs condemn the Generation of God’s Children. Confidcr. 1 . It is confiderable that our Church now is in a hackfliding Condition: The Godly are mfdrO pojfejforio, notin petitorio. The Church is not as (he was in Edward Ws Time, and in Queen Elifabeth’Sy getting out and recovering from the Vopijh Daiknefs, nor are, we may fay, ftolen to Corruption by De¬ grees, as it was in Chrift’s Time. Bur. while our Eyes were waking, living under the VineofVreshytery^ as we thought ejlahlipyed by all Securities imaginable^ on a fudden the Vrelates, with a violent Motion, are come in upon us, and, being backed with the of the Kingdom, have extended ihdr Power over us, and are driving, with their utmoftMight, to make a compleat Conqueft, and to wreft all our Privileges from us} to whom all have fubmictedin fome Meafure; only fome few who rcfolve to do no Deed to the Hurting and P?Y«(^ifreof Chrilf’s Caufej which is what occah- ons their Eftablifhment not to be compleat. And therefore,this beitig the- Condition and Cafe, in which, by the Lord’s Providence, we are caff, we are cal¬ led to (land to our Liberties, and to keep the Ground we have gained, and noc to turn back at all, i^or give Back. We were in Volfefjlon, and are as yet in Vart. It is our Duty to bold fafl wbatwt have. This Diftindti- on Sc 6 t. 7. from corrupt Mimfiers vindicated. 139 on is very evident from Scripture. While Pafdw3i& fpeaking to the ‘fews, and luch as had not received the Chrijiian Citjioms, he became all Things to all Men^ and did ivink at many of their Ce7rmonies, as is abun¬ dantly clear j but, in Places where thefe were cafi ojfy he would not part with an Hoof. Therefore (land fajl to your Liberties^ wherewith Chrifl hath made you free. Wears Defenders, let us kssp Yojfefjion. If the Cafe were otherways, many Thin-s might be winked at and tolerated. To fibmit now 10 ihs Prelates, is A~ pofiajy and Backfiding. And hence Chrift himfelf tolerated (I fay not allowed) many Things, or rather did hear many Things in the ‘Jewijh Church, which had crept in while the Servants were (leepine; ; buz fill kept whit was gained, anhdxd hold faf, and give 7J0 Ground. It is one of the Chrillian’s Motto’s and Maxims, to hold faf what he hath, and to he going on to Peifediion, Gal. v. I. Rev. iii. 3. Htb. vi. I. Conftder. 3. It isobfervable, that our Engagements, both by Oath and Pradlice, and otherways, are great' n-ag-iinft this Government than againft any other lawfiH Government; and in thsje Nations, efpecially SCOTLAND, above any other Nation, and at this Txms abovs any other Time. No other Nation than ourfelves, at any Time before, were ever fo exprefy bound and engaged againft it, as we are now. Never was the Evil of it fofadly felt or clearly feen by as by us. Never more Pains, Blood and Eftate, fpenc by any Nation, than by us in thefe Nations. It was Chi ilt’s only open Encray fince zhsReformation. And, ; if out Entertaimmnt ox this/^«ry<^'//i.V/lhouldberf/- verfe from, or more rough, when now it hath appeared, I than the Behaviour ol other Nations to it, or of 1 out ownPredecejfors, \i wsxs no Wonder. And ftiall ^ we, alter all this, again join with the People of thefe 1 Abominations, Ezra ix. 9, lo. II, iz, 13, 14. Tor I ive were Bond-Men. yet our God hath not forfaken us in \ our Bondage, but bath extended Mercy unto us in the 140 The La-wfulnefs of Separation Chap. III.' Sight of the Kings o/’Perfia, to give us a Reviving, to fet up the Houje of our God, and to repair the Dejolati^ oils thereof, and to give us a Wall in J udah, and in Jeru- lalcm. And now, O our God. What Ihallveefay after this I for ive have forjaken thy Commandments, which thou haft commanded by thy Servants the prophets, fay ~ ing. The Land unto which ye go topoffefs it, is an unclean Land with the Eilthinefs of the Reople of the Lands, with their Abominations, which have filled it from one End to another, with their Uncleannefs. Now therefore give not your Daughters unto their Sons, neither take their Daughters unto your Sons, nor Jeek their Reace, or their Wealth for ever: That ye may be firong, and eat the Good of the Land, and leave it for an Inheritance to your Children for ever. And, after all that is come upon us for our evil Deeds, and for our great Trefpafs, feeing that thou our God haji punijhed us lefs than our Iniquities deferve, andhaJlgiven us ftich Deliverance as this. Should we again break thy Commandments, and join in Afift- nity with the People of thefe Abominations ? Wouldft thou not be angry with us, till thou hadji confumed as, fo that there jhouldbe no Remnant nor EJtaping ? Confider. 4. Ir is very remarkable,we have ado with mcontroverted Enemies to Chrift and Godlinefs j Per- fonsnot To much as pretending Holinefs ■, not with godly Crdnmer, Ridley, Elooper, Atiftin, and other de- vout Bipyops ; nor with pious Shepherd, Cotton or Hook¬ er, who were Independents, but with open Enemies, yj/hok Sins were written beforehand, iTim. v. 24. We have no Mask oi Holinefs to reverence, Jove, 01 be tender of. But we have ado with fuch as declare their Sin as Sodom, and, Gomorrah like, hide it not; whofe Behaviour and Works do evidently declare whofe they are; fo that there is the lefs Hazard, and great¬ er Encouragement to the Lord’s People to withdraw. Sure we feparate neither from Saints, nor from vifible Saints, if we can know a Thorn-Tree from a Vine : And there is no Motive or Encoiiragment to Commu¬ nion 5 Seft. 7‘ corrupt Mintflers vindicated. 141 nion j and alirthefe Evils are not mere Infirmities, but are aggravated by the Difpenjhtion of Light, in which they have committed their Lewdnefs. It is fad, when we cannot compaflionaie them as Jgfwrants, un- lefs it be as fuch who are vpilfully fo, nay, art obfti- vate in it. There hath been much pleading with them; and the Lord’s Vr evidences And Pawj might have by this Time convinced them, but they will not be re¬ claimed. And therefore, fince there’s no Hope of prevailing, X&tmjeparate, Adts. xix. 9. But when di- verfe were hardned, and believed not, but Jpake Evil of that Way before the Multitude, he departedfrom them, andfeparatedthe Difciples, difputing daily in the School c/'one Tyrannus. And, in Token of this, they have ejlablilhed their fniquity by a Law, and have made the Bars of their Prifon fo ftrong, in that they have made it Treafon to fpeak againfl the Government. Defpair therefore faith, Separate. Ephraim is joined to Idols ; let him alone, Hof. iv. 17. Matth. xv. 14. Let them alone, they be blind Leaders of the Blind. Confider. 5. It is obfervable, that the Lord, by the inward Feeling of his Prefence, in comforting, ftrengthning and fandtifying, doth approve thofe who have gone prom them; in fo much that many have found,that the Day in which they have refolved not to \ hear the Curates, has been a Day of ‘Jubilee, like the acceptable Year; and that their Bands have been loof- ed from that Day forward ; and might juftly fay, j Eben-ezer, Hitherto hath God helped us. And fhall I we Ihut our Eyes againft this Light ? And I have : known and been informed of many, that, while they I heard, have been under donrinual Gonf ufions, Diftein- } pers and Clouds, who, breaking off fince that, have i been looked upon gracioufly. And, if this be not I the Seal of God's Spirit, Eph. i. 13. What will ye I then make it to be? It is true, I deny not but godly Men may hear them, and many do. But let them I confider ifiheybenoc difcountenanced of Godintha Matter. iij-i T^be Lawfukiefs of Separation Chap. HI. Matter, And truly many who hear, tho’ godly, dnd to be fo reputed in Charit)-, yet, by the lad Frame ol their Spirit, which ihty expitfs, and fome unhappy Things breaking out in their Converfations, in relerentetothe-Times, dovihbly fhew, that they e^rtnot(ipprove7t ot God in what they//o, and preach- etli aloud that- none be Jlumhkdhy them, or led thto* their Example, (txing all tlcjh is Grafs j and therefore Ibould look to the Lord, and his T<.ftimony. And wliat all this fhoiild fignity were wouh while toen- quire into, and ponder ladly. When God doth not an- fwer, asat other Tnres, it is a Token there is a Con- troverjy, Micah in. 6 . 'Iherefore Night jhall he unto you, ' that ye fkatl not have a Vifon; and it fall he darktmo youi that ye fall not divine; and the Sun jhall go down over t'jeVtdpl.ets, and the Day jhall he dark over them. Lonfider. 6. And it is no iels obfervable, that the viojlJiriidi^ tender znAgodly (and no born Idiots either) both among!! Mmilters and Frbftflors, are againfl Hearing. 1 defire to make no Comparifons j only what the Lord fpeaks, and would have declared, we cannot but fpeak. What may be among Perfons and in Places where I am not fo well acquainted, 1 cannot fpeakj but among mine own Acquaintance it is fo. If a Part in Scotlandhe mOre religious than another, there are generally mor^ Non-Hearers, and gi'cazsr Dijeonformity, than in other Places. And is it a credible Thing that the Lord would fuffer the inofi godly and zealous to err in this, and reveal his TWrW to them who are/r /5 zealous ? vii. ly If any ManwUl dohislViU, he fall know of the Dodlrivey j whether it be of God, or whether I fpeak of myfelf. ■JVlattb. xiii. 12 Whofeever hath, to him jhall he given, -j and he jhall have more Abundance. '{ Confider. 7. And, to confirm this, let us confider, that the Vrelates and Curates Tollution horderetb and >■ hzxh hif lienee, not only on their Pc;yo»r, but on their ' Offee. Authority, by which they preach. Sed. 7. from corrupt Minifiers 'vindicated. 145 \s vitiated mlavaful^ and by usyn7or« againft. So that the is n it, Whether perjonal Corrupti¬ ons be a Ground oi S;.'pararion,as it was with theDo;;^- tijls Brownijls, and Separatijis; but this is it, Whether an ungodly Perfon exercifing Ads of Authority in ho¬ ly ThingSs and that by an Authority, is to be acknowledged ? Now, - nquireat theC«rfl^er, By what Autbeuty do ye thefe Things ? They muft and cannot but anfwer thus, We do it by Authority of the Vrelate. Conjider. S. And it is obfervable, that, as thofa that are in a private Station can give no other fignifi- cant Teftimony for the Lord ; fo the Prelates, C«- rates, and their Abettors, are more curious that we fttould hear, than for any Thing elfe. And hence, iho’ ye be not examined by them, communicate not with them, fit not in Seflions with them, yet ye are tolerated; but Hearing they cannot ; nay, will nor, by any Means, difpenfe with. Hear them, and they feck no more {ox ejiahlijhing of their Atitho- i rity. Hear them, and teftify for Z/o«’s King,againft I this Encroachment, if ye can. The Devil, that j Spirit that rulutb in the Children of Difohedience, hath 1 ever been fo wife in his Inftruments, 'as to batter and diferedit what hath been the moll dellrudive En¬ gine to his Incereft and Kingdom ; and hence, in all Ages, hath oppofed that, and fought to bear it down. And hence, in the primitive'Twwts, the openVreach- ing of Chrill was I'ought to be trampled under toot. And now mark the great Burt the Children of Difobe- dience flioot at, viz. not Hearing and Conventicling. Conftder. 9, That the Yarlument, by their Laws and Ads, have declaredto be a SrVwoftbe Subjeds approving of th- Government; fo that Hear¬ ing is (.as it were) the Bridal Favour, the Sign of Compliance, the Tmulipioif and to Kp/i'oiu?'.ov of ihofe that fuhjcd themfelves. And the Parliament I were no Fools in judging that approving, which in- 144 Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. Ilf. deed is notj Hearing bt\x\^ all that private Chrifti- ans, as fuch, did tormtrly, and now can do, in order to Submiffion and acknowledging of the Government. And therefore did ihoVarltament require tbisofthem, as the molt proper Sign of their Approbation of the Go- vermnent. Confider. lo. It is obfervable likeways, that thofe that hear not Ao thereby expofe ihemfelves to Suffering ; and there is no Hazard of Suffering to thofe that beat'y or in hearing. And it is to be pre¬ fumed, that that which Perjecutors are for, and which is feconded by the Relation of Prejudice and Lofsy ufes not to be the Truthy and any Light to be gotten by fuch Confiderations is to be jhjpedied. It hath been feldotn heard, that Preferments are conferred for Adherence xoxbtTriithy Gal. v. II. And f Brethren, if I yet preach Circumciftou, why do I yet ffferPer- fecution ? Then is the Offence of the Crofs ceafed. As if Paul bad faid, “To preach Circumetfion cannot be “ right, feeing, by this Means, the Offence of the Crofs (hall ceafe, and I lhall fufferrw Per fecution : But it is abfurd to imagine, that the Offence fall ceafe.” Sodolfay, Why do the Godly yet Perfecution, if it be lawful to hear ? And then, in thir Times of Perfecution, the Crofs fhall ceafe. For hear, and ye fhall get Leave to live at Eaje, and in Peace, and fhall not be troubled. For my own Experience, if I were defirous, or could think that any Weight might be laid thereon, I could fay much more than now I am refolved to fay. But, for Exoneration of myfelf at the Hands of others, T only now let the Reader know, that, at firft, I was for hearing, and accordingly heard Pre¬ lates and Curates of all Sorts j till at laft I was made to fufpedt my Pradlice, and to fpend foine Thoughts in examining the Matter. And, at firft, 1 faw the Grounds for Hearing to be but very weak : And the more I fearched, the more confufed 1 was, and doubt¬ ed Seft. 7. from corrupt Minifiers •vindicated. 145 ihe more of my Pradlice. And, when 1 went in any Frame to the Church, I returned diftempered 5 and, what 1 took for ftrengchning, 1 found to poifon and weaken me, and daily decayed, knowing, after the ftri£teft Search, no other Caufe imaginable. Wea¬ ried thus, and uncertain what to do, yet fufpeiling the Matter, as I was going on the Lord’s Day to hear a Curate, I was much prefled to flay at Home, and, in a Word, I could not get Liberty to go: I .hereupon looked up to the Lord, defiring him he would (hew me his Will in this, and that, if it was his Command I (hould forbear, he would Ihew fome Teftimorty of Approbation thereof in private this Day, if he, in his Wifdom, thought good i and fo 1 ftaid at home. And what ftiall I fay ? That which in many Days I could not get, that Day I found and felt the Lord’s PrefenCe moft fenfibly, and ever fince in fame Meafure j from the Time I left off Hearing, fill 1 faW farther, and examined the Cafe more narrowly j which then I was not in fuch a Capacity, nor at fuch Leifure to do: Nor hath the Lord been wanting to me fince, and when others were at Sermon. I have ufed all means for Infor¬ mation herein ; and, after my moft impartial Searebj after my moft fincere and zealous Prayers, and Faff¬ ing of purpofe too, for the Revelation of Truth; after Conference with others j after Meditation and Confideration; after reading the Scriptures j after, I fay, the Ufeofallthefe Means, I have rather been confirmed in it, and the more clear I was not to hear. And 1 remember, being to die, and caft up my Ac¬ counts, the Remembrance of my PraCfice herein, and that thertby I did teftify for the Lord, was that in which, in my Confcience, I had moft Teftimony and Approbation of God, of anyAftion orCourfe 1 ever did or followed in all my Life-Time. 1 have been Witnefs to the Confeflion of thofe who heary plainly declaring to me. That they have no great 14^5 T'he Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap.' IIIJ Clearnefs in this their Pradlice. I have been an Ear and Eye-Wicnefs to the fad Exercife oi Spirit and Soul-Trouble, which fomeof themoft eminent Ser¬ vants of Jefus Chrift I ever knew, were put to for their Hearing ; and of their bkfTed Outgate upon their Relblucion to withdraw, and the Lord’s after gracious Dealing with them. So that if I fhould | doubt any farther, I fhould fhut my Eyes, as it ; were, againft the Sun ! i More Confiderations to this Purpofe might be gi- i ven, but I hold ihefe fufficient at prefent. I know j Providences are not our Bible, nor do I advance the ; above-mentioned Ones to make them the Ground of ’ any Man’s Faith. Bleffed be God, who bath given j us a more fure Ground, than a Voice from Heaven, 'i rebuild on. I look upon thefe as Confirmations of , | other Grounds which I have given, and fhall give, i But, Oh that thefe at leaf!: may have Influence on you all, fo as to engage you to fearch for God’s Will, and ^ In regard fame People have been prepoffejfed with a groimdlefs Conceit, that this excellent Treat ife was ’’^ot writ by the worthy Gentleman whofe Name it hears, it is thought proper to acquaint the Reader, I that, if he will be at the Pains to compare this Account | of the Author's withdrawing from hearing the Cu- j rates, with what he has advanced, upon the fame Stibfd}, in the Memoirs of his Life, written by himfelf, printed j. at Edinburgh, Anno 173S. Chap. 6 . Sed. 4. Pag. 152, 153, I<54. he cannot entertain the leaji Doubt or Scruple theGtrmnzntkif this Perfor- 1 viance. And it appears, from his Memoirs, that be j withdrew from hearing the Curates in the Year i 6 < 53 . ! Nay farther, ifiChap. 6. Sedf. 7. Pag. J99. he tells that he wrote a Treatife againft hearing the Curares j j wldch he appears to have done in the Year l 6 < 5 S or ' l 6 ( 5 p. Se6t. 7. from corrupt Minifters vindicated. 147 and that ye may ferioufly confider what may be the Language of God in all this [ And, Iciftly, for Confir- mat'mi to all, who have the Tabernack::*of thefe wicked Men. Oh! that all of you would look upon the Cafe rightly. Oh ! take a right View of Things in the Glafs of God’s Word, comparing'lit W'ith his providential Adminiftrations. And, to conclude this Argument, know, that as the old red Dragon hath been ever, by this unhappy Engine Prelacy, as moft accommodated to his Parpofi^ feeking to overturn the Intercfl of Chrifl in this Land; So now again, being ofiimes Joiled before, he hath taken the Held once more, with his Followers, againft the Lamb, and hath denounced open War, upon ac¬ count of the old Caufe. The Prelates are the Devil’s Gcneral-Ofleers, the Curates are his Under-Oficers and Cojnmanders. Prelacy is the Banner under which all Evils have mulfered fince the Reformation: Open Profanity and grofs Evils durft not openly de¬ nounce War; only Prelacy hath openly dared him ; and other Evils Ihelrer under it, and, like Chickens, are hatched, and grow up under P/vtow Wings, till they be able to fend for thcmfelves (as we fay.) And, tho’ it hath been many Times worfted and overcome, yet now its Abettors are refolved to hazard all; and therefore are come, like Gog and Magog, a- gainff the Lord’s Inheritance, and fallen, like a b lood bia ing all before them, upon the San^itiary, ihtcar- ved Work of Reformation, and the Saints and Peo¬ ple of Grxl; and all this is come about, ere we were well awaked to fee what the Matter is. But now, all }e that love our Lord Jefus Chrift, Oh! lay this to Id arr. Lift up, ye Watchmen upon Jenfa- lem's W alls, your Voice like a Trumpet, and found the Alarm of liar. Ye private Chrijiians and Soldiers of 2 .•w;’s Head and King, get to your General’s Camp, and take your Arms. What have you -ado to mttfler under the Banner of Prelacy, Behold, the Lord ^ faith 14S *The Lavfulnefs of Separation Chap. III. faith unto you, WJjofoever is for the Lord JefuSi let him turn in hither; remove from the Lents of thefi wicked Men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, leji ye be confamed in their Ruin. Carry, therefore, unto them, as unto Perfons who are fignally and a- v^wedly engaged in Rebellion againft the Lord ; And, by feparating from them, f}jew whoje you are^ and xchom you jerve: And thus give open Evidence, that ye are of another Party3 Canfe and Way. Sect. VIII. Wherein other Arguments, before hinted at3 are briefy laid down and confirmed. Arg. VIII. THOSE who are not Miniders, ought neither to preach nor be heard. But the Cu¬ rates are not Miniflers j and therefore are not to be heard, (i.) I’he firfi Propofition is clear from/^ow. X. 14, - LJotip pnall they hear without a Preach¬ er? And how fall they preach except they be fent ? (i*) Where there is no Relation, there can be ho A it of Office flowing from that Relation j and therefore nowhich is a relative Ait. (3.) Hearing, in this Cafe, would be a Countenancing a moft horrid Impiety and Prefumption, viz. fucb as preach as fent Miniflers, and yet, in the mean Time, are none. For the Afiumption, I have proven it in Chap. 1. Seff. g, to which I refer the Reader. Arg. IX. The Conformifts fhould not preach; therefore we fhould not hear. I have proven the An¬ tecedent in Chap. i. SeS. 4. to which the Reader is referred. I prove the Confequent, viz. That we jhould not hear the Conformifts. (i.) Becaufe their Preaching in that Cafe is ftnfuh not only as to the Manner, but as to the A?As, therefore, we fhould not countenance Siw, fo no more fhould we countenance the Preaching of the Curates, which is from an unlawful Authority, (z.) Relations mutu- Sed from mrupt Miniflers vindicated. 149 ally conftituce and deftroy themfclves. Relata fi mutuo ponimt^tollmt. And therefore their higi as to the Ad-, htxngjtnful in itfelf, Hearings which is its correlate Adt, is likeways Jinful. And, as they ftiould not preach, fo neither Ihould we hear. (3.) Hearing in this Cafe ftrengthens them in their i>m. Arg. X. ’Tis Duty to feparate from the Prelates and the Curates in a perjpnal Cpnverfatiouy as is granted by all tender Chriftians, and by others gene- raHy> except a few j who, to warrant their own fa¬ miliar Eating, Drinking, and Converfe with them, do therefore maintain all Fellowfhip lawful. To which I may fpeak fomething ere I conclude. And therefore perfonal Converfation being unlawfuf fo is oficialy or Fellowlhip with the Curates while they are cxercijing their Office y zs in Preaching. Seethe Proof of the Connexion of the firft Propolition in Chap. ,2. Seil. 6. Aig. Xf» Th&Curates themfelves are fiandalousy and preach by an unlawful ufurped Authority} and therefore are not to be heard. And I leave it to be confidered, whether a Traitor, really engaged in open Rebellion againft his Prince, officiating by an unlaw¬ ful Power from the Ufurper, ftiould be acknowledged by tbeSubjedts, which Ufurper they are under a fo- lemn Vow to extirpate. The Proof of my fir(l Propojitian ye may in Part know by your own Senfe j and by what I have faid in Chap. 2. Se^i. 2. Arg.'KH. It is unlawful to goto Synods, as is ac¬ knowledged ; and therefore it is unlawful to Itear. For the Bijhop hath Power of Ordination as well as Jurifdidlion, and theC«r/7r 25 3. is refuted. I Begin wuh ebis, becauie it is the great Argument which is pled for Hearing. The Words are, Ihen Jpake Jefus to the Multitude^ and his DiJcipleSy Jayiig. Ihe'ScnoQ^andthe Hhanfees fit in lAoks Seat: All therefore whatj 'oever they bid you ohjervcy that oh- fh-ve and do; But do not ye after their fVorks ; for they fay, and do not. And hence they argue, ii Scribes and Pharifees, who were fo abfurd and gtofs, were 10 be heard, then ought we to hear Curates. But they were to be heard j ergo, &c. The Minor is proven from that Command, f^^atfoever they bid you obferve^ that obfirue and do. The Connexion of the firft Propolition would feem undeniable. In anfwering this Argument, and its Proof, I ffuliconfider four Things, (i.) I lhall fpeak fome- sbing to the Place cited in thegrofs, or in general. ^ 2 .) I Hull confidcr the Comtexion of the firfi Propo~ pxti&n. (3.) i fhall confider the Affumption. (4.) I fljill confid^r the Proof of it. I. For the ftrft, with Reverence to the judgment of others, I think it isahogecher mifapplud s for I do not think that Chi iff fpeaksinthar Place of the Scribes and fharifecSy as they were Church Men, or ecckfi- Sed. I. fro?n corrupt Minifters vindicated, 167 ecckfiaflick Perfons, but as they were Judges and In¬ terpreters of the civil Law; fo as the Senfe were thus,The Scribes and Yharifees fit m Mojes’s Seat, that is, judge in civil Atfairs and Matters,^ fucceeding MoJ'es in that, who was likeways a Judge andA’i^g- in Jejhurun, and from whom they had their judicial Lawsj and therefore, being conftirure Judges, are to be obeved becaufe of their Authority. But do fiat ye after their Works: For they fay and do not; thai is, as the after Words explain it, bind heavy BurdenSf as Taxes, Oppreffions, and rigorous Sentences of Law, which, as civil Judges, were rnoff properfer them to do; but are not helpful to others to bear * them through, that is, do not move with the little Finger; an ordinary Fault in oppreffing Rulers, And if this betheSenfe, as the following Confide- rations lead me to believe, then is all the Strength of this Argument broken. And that this is to be inter¬ preted of l\\Q Scribes zndVharifees, as ading in & ci~ vil Capacity^ I am induced to believe. I. Li regard Chrift having faid little or nothing concerning that Obedience that is due to the civil Judges, It was moft fit that he ftiould fpeak fome- thing to it here: And therefore faith, that Subjedit- ori IS due to them, notwithffanding of all their Wic~ kednefs, which he afterwards mentions; which, if the Lord had not guarded againft, might have been a Temptation to them to fcruple Obedience, i Pet. ii. 13,14, iS. Submit yourjehes to every Ordinance of Man, for the Lord's fake; whether it be to the King^ CIS Supreme; or unto Governors, as unto them that are fent by him for thePunijhment of Evil-Doers, and for the Praife of them that do well - Servants, be Jub- jcdl to your Majiers with all Fear, not only to the Good and Gentle, but ulfo to the Froward. 1. Becaufe comparing this Place with Luke xi. 46. it would feem the Scribes and Vbarifees, who did bind heavy BurdenSiVisis dijimdi, as to their Ojfice, from ihofe 168 The Lawfuluefs of Separation Chap. IV. thofe Vhar'ifecSi who made fuch a ProfeJJion of Ho- Imefs, that made Profelytes, and thar loved the tipper- niojl Seats in the Syttagogues: For, after Chrilt had taxed thefe lor their Hypocrify, a Lawyer ftarted up, and finding thefe Faults taxed to be in their Order loo, faid unto him. Thou not only reproachejl Scribes and Pharifees, but, it would fetm who are Lawyers too. Upon which Chrilf did tell them their Faults; and faid that they were hypocritical, made Proleffion otjiiftice, and yet did but load Men with theirSentences and Burdens, made theLaw aTyranny, and did contribute nothing to the Eafe of the People. 'Vo unto you Lawyers alfo. And it feems this Lawyer propofed it as a Doubt, hoping poffibly Chnft would not pafs fuch a Sentence againltihem, as againft other Scribes and Pharifees, And therelore ihh Lord anfweis, as tho’ ne had not fpoken fo clearly of the Lawyers, and faith, IVo to you alfo. 3. Becaufeof the Inference that is brought. What- fever they bid you obferve, that obferve and do. For, it this Argument held good, then wefhould give an implicit Obedience unto all their Commands, and that becaufe th .y are in Authority. There is a ftron- ger Ground for preffing religious Obedience than the Authority of Men, even the Will of God: And it is inconceivable to think, that Chrilt Ihould have preflTed univerjal TeaAunrejlriBed Obedience, in moral Duties, to fuch as the Scribes and Pharifees, who were {ogrofy heterodox and erroneoushoxh in their Do^lrine and Manners. This were indeed to Lad the People into a Snare. And therefore I remember the Papijis build their unlimited tiVid implicit Obedience to the Au¬ thority of the Church, upon this very Place, which truly, to me, taking the Place in the Senfe commonly given, would feem plainly to fpeak as much, and which could not be well conrradidted, without ma- nifelt Wrefting. And I think ye (ball hardly get a Parallel in all Scripture, where univerfal Obedience 10 Sed. I. /rom cohupt Minifiers vindicated. i6^ to whatfoever they bid you do to Jpirhual Officers^ is commanded, merely upon the Account ot their adtual Inftalment in their Amhority. But now ic will follow very well, reftridling the Words to ihefe Scribes and Fharifees in their civil Capacity j for it is moft found to fay, In every Thing that is purely cu vil obey your Superiorsj becaufe of their Authority 5 for, as their Laws are civil, they have their Autho¬ rity mainly from the Authority that enadts them, and upon that Account, principally^ are they to be obeyed, becaufe it is one Authority that enadts and executes 5 not fo in Spirituals, which have their Authority from God, and are not to be obeyed becaufe of any under Authority. And the Senfe thus given is moft con- fonant to that Place, iVet. ii. I3. Submit to every Ordinance of Man. 4. Becaufe their binding of heavy Burdens, which thofethat did fit in Mi^r’s Chair werefaidto do, is moft applicable to civil Officers becaufe thefc Words cannot be faid of tht Scribes znd^Vharifees in their ecclefiajlick Capacity: For, by thefe heavy Bur^ dens ye muft mean the ceremonial Law, which, A&s XV. 10. is called, a Yoke which could not be horn. Buc then it is falfe to fay, that they did not move in bear¬ ing them with their little Finger 5 for they were moft zealous, in not only preffing, but in performing them, being exceedingly fuperjiitmis, as is clear from Matth.xv. 1 —> — 9. or, by thefe Burdens ye muft mean theirand ftridl Preffing of the moral Law, in the Performance of which they were defedlive. I grant indeed they were defedtive in the Performance of that. But then it is hard to fay, that the Com¬ mands of God’s moral Law were a heavy Burden, and grievous to be born, feeing his Commandments are not grievous, Mattb. xi. 29. i johnv. 3. and which wer^ a Delight to the Saints in old Times, Pfalm xl. 8^ And becaufe it might be replied, that it was griev¬ ous in the Way and Senfe they impofed uponir, anfd Y that < 170 T^he Lawfulnejs of Separation Chap. IV. yhat the Law, without the Gofpel, was indeed to Flelli and Blood grievous j but then confider, that as the Scribes and Pharifees did expound the Law, ap¬ plying all to the outward Letter, it was no griev¬ ous Burden to be born, but a Thing which might ea- fily be got done. They made the Law (as is clear from Matth. v. per totum) a very flight and eafy JVlatter, and the Obedience due thereunto but little J 3 iirden. And therefore it feems this could not be faid of them, as they did expound either the moral or ceremonial Lawi but as they did expound and exe¬ cute the to whofe Commands, in re- fpedt they were the Difpenfers of it tor the Time, Obedience was to be given, and moftly upon the Account of their Authority j as Obedience to moral Commands and divine Ordinances is moftly to be givj^n for the Lord’s Sake, not Mens, who are on¬ ly but Declarers and Executors of that Law. 5. It is faid to ht Mofesh Seat, and not Aaron's, Aaron was the only ecclejiapick Officer, and nor a civil Officer, and thofe who were only Church-Offi^ cers^ ftiould rather be judged to fucceed him, than Mo- fes. But, 6 . And which moft weighs with me, I fliall prove, that it was utterly unlawful to hear the Scribes and Pharifeesy as they were Church-Men. Which is the Conclulion that is alledged to be inferred from this Text and PropOfltion, their fitting mMofes's Chair. I fhall loofe ihefe Ohjedions afterwards I come '^As the Words of our Lord, in Mattb. xxiii. 1,2, 5. have been formerly by the Prelates, and People of the Epifcopalian Se^, and of late by Mr. Currie, and 0- fhers, impi oven for countenancing corrupt Churches and Alinijlers, tho' guilty of grojs Uackfltdings, and per- JiJiing objlinately and wilfully in a Coarfe of Defedlion Seft, f. from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. 171 I come now to confider the Connexion of the firft Propoficion, If Scribes nudPharifeesihocAdhthearclf therefore fliould theCarates; anJ much more feeing they are nor erroneous in their Do^irine, and feeing they fit in Mojes's Seat, as well as they. To this I anfwer, by denying the Connexion, and that for ihefe Grounds following. 1. Becaufe Obedience is only given them, not as to ecclcftajitck Matters, but as to eiw 7 Matters, and as they were civil Judges of Law. And therefore Cu¬ rates not being c/v;/judges in the Law, they are not to be obeyed; For, to argue from Obedience to civil Perfons, to pretended ecclefiaftick Peifons, is no ftrong Confequence. But, 2. Tno’ this v/ere not, and tho’ it (hould be g^ranted, that Chrift fpeaks to them as they were Church-Oliicers, yet the Confequence will not hold > becaufe it is clear from Scripture, efpecially John i. 19, from the Cauje and Tejlimony of Jufus, notwithftanding proper Means of reclaiming have been ufed ; fo oar Au¬ thor has folidly and judicioiijly detected the fallacy and Weaknejs of the Argumefit deduced therefrom ; and pro¬ ven that the Scribes Pharifees are thereto hecon- fideredas civil Officers fl«^/Rulers, who explained the judicial Law., and to whoje lawful Commands Obedience was due ; and not as ecclefialtical Officers. Andy to phew that he was not (ingular in his Opiniony in applying the Words of our civil Rulers, it is thought proper to add here what the late reperefid and wort Joy Mr. J a mes Hog, Minijler of the Gojpel at Carnock, has faid there¬ upon in his Letters anent Separation, Pag. 35, ^6. printed anno 1717. I doubt not, fays he, but that “ the Scribes and Pbarifees were Teachers, and, as fuch, I firmly believe they not to be heard, *f cauj'e they were Heretkks, and for other weighty “ Rea- 172 The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV. i. 19, 24. that fome of the Pharifees were Perfons in a lawful Office, inftitutcd by the Lord himfelf for teaching of the People : Fork is faid there, they were Levkes i which Office was appointed of God to teach the People: But not (ox\\Qprelatc, who is an unlavpful Officer j and therefore there’s more Ground for not hearing Prelates and Curates, who are in Subordination to that Antichrijlian Hierar¬ chy, which is an unlawful, ttjurped and fworn againff Authority, than for not hearing Scribes and Pharifees, who preached or officiated by a lawful Authority. 3. The Confequence \%noi good j becaufe the Go¬ vernment of the Church, and corrupted Paftors or Officers, Reafons before ■wentionf!d. The Comniflvd is very exprefs, Prov. xix. 27. Ceafe, my Son, to hear the Inftruilion that caufes to err from the Words “ of Knowledge. Notwithjlanding thefe Scribes and Pharifees were aljo Rulers, and Members of the “ great Jewifh Council, and, in this Senfe, were con- “ fidered in a legiflative Capacity. Ihis is that Ca- pacify wherein I think they are faid [by our Lord Je- " fus) to fit in Mofes’r Seat; for whatever other Dig- “ nities IVlofes was invejled with, mainly coffi- dered and held forth in Scripture as a Lawgiver, fohn i. 17. The Law was given by Mofesj and on this Account it is, I would judge, and do render it, with all due Refpeci to great Divines otherways “ minded, - that the fittrng tn Mofes’r Seat appeareth ‘‘ to imply Aiitboritv and Power, at leafi executive of thefe LiZWS which the Lord gave by Mofes. This Expofition, tho* not ordinary, yet feems native, plain find eafy, and taketh off all Grounds of Exception / know f feeing we have no Caufe to doubt but that " Obedience was at thatTime due to the jewifh San- bed rim, in fo far as they enjoined nothmg bat that •ff which the Lord had before commande, by Mofes.’’ Seft. I. from corrupt Miniflers vindicated. 173 Officers, were fettled in Chrifl’s Time, and the Lord Jefus was in foro petitorio. A backflidden Church, recovering and rifing out of their Puddle, is to be dillinguifhed from a Church backfliding and go¬ ing CO fall. Chrift met with Scribes zv\d Vharifees m the Chair, and the fevcral Abufes had quietly crepe m ere he came, and his Care was to help Things firft by the Miniftry of Ins Harbinger John, then by his " own j and all Things were to be tried gently, and many Things in Prudence to be born with and tolera¬ ted } and therefore not to be feparated from at firft, 2 7 ;/;;. ii. 24, 2<). Which was the laft Remedy, Chrift referving that till after bis Refurredion, A^s xix. p. But when divers veere hardned, and believednot^ hut Jpake Evil of that Way before the Multitude, he de¬ parted from them, andfeparated the Dfciples. But the Cafe is ocherways with us. We were in Pofleffiorj oiPresbytery, and Prelacy hath co‘t|ie in upon us, and they as yet but fettling and eftablifhing themfelves, to the Compleating of which they want nothing but the People’s univerfal Acknowledging as to Hear¬ ing 3 and therefore it behoves us to hold fall what we have, and to ftand to our Liberties, and keep, by all Means, Prelacy from eftablifhing. The Day of Pa¬ tience was not worn out with the Scribes and Phari- fees; for many of them afterwards repented; Not fo with the PreJates, who are an old Adverfary, and maintain an old Qiiarrel already debated: And there are no more hopeful Means left to recover them, they barring, bv a Law, all Endeavours of Compalfion to that Eff d: And therefore there is more Reafon for Separation now, than then. But, put the Cafe, that the Government of Scribes and Pharifees, and themfelves, had been annulled, and put out of the Church by Chrift, as it was after his Afeenfion, and that, by his Command, his Apoftles and Difciples had fucceeded, and eftablifhed another Form of Po¬ licy according to his Word i and that, at the Com¬ mand 174 Lawfuhefs of Separation Chap. IV. mand of Chrift, the Apoftles and all Chriftians had fworn utterly to extirpate the Government of Scribes and Vharifees: And luppofe, that, after all this, tbel'e abjured Pharijeesy being backed with Cejars Au¬ thority, and having their Offices from him, ffiould wokntly tkru/l out iheApoitles, and other Officers, who weretflabliffied by Cbrift, that would not fub- mic to them, and take their Places and preach. Should they be heard or countenancedy efpecially confidering the Abominablenejs of their Lives, and that their Courje and Government did tend to the utter Subverjion of Clirift’s-Kingdom ? Truly the Cafe is fo with us. And what wife Man looks not on the Ejlablipiment of Prelacy yZ^ ihz toundationo^ Babel amongft us, and the firjt Step to Popery ? 4. The Scribes and Pharifees were more innocent than the Prelates; for they fat not in Mojes’s Chair till he wzsdead. We find they put out none: But tiites (lay not till the Death of thofe who were in the Chair; but, putting them out, have fettled tbemfelves in their Places. It would have been hard to have commanded 10 hear Scribes znd PharifeeSy. '\hh^y had tbrufted out Mojesy and fat in bis Chair, if he had been alive. I fhall omit the Difproportion betwixt Scribes and Pharifees and the Curatesy in their outward vijible Converfations. There were no Drunkards a^nd Swearers amongft them j they had a Form of, and made Pretences unto Piety, and prayed frequent¬ ly, at leaft. But the Curates come behind, in that they profefs nothingi and their Hatred to the Saints is Jb great they fallen oitt with Chrifly Heaven and Holtnej's for their Sakes, like him who laid. That, if Puritans to Heavetiyhe would not go there. But the real Myftery is, they hate Chrift and the Fathers and therefore they love nor, but hate his Sainrs, as Chrift faith, John xv. 21. Allthefe Things will they do unto you for wy Name's Sake, hscaufe they know not hm Se£l. I. jr^m corrupt Miniflers vindicated. 175: that fent me. So that by this ye may conlider the Strength of the firjl Propofition. Bur, 111 . Lee us come to the Ajjamption, which isrhis. But Scribes and Pharijees were to be heard. 1 anjiver>, by denying it fimply >• and I fhall anfwer the Proof of it in us own Place. And 1 give thefe Grounds why they Ihould not be heard. I. Let it be ferioufly confidered^ that thefe fees did preach fundamental Errors^ and fuch as the Belief of them could not confiji with Salvation at that Tt me j and we ought not to hear fuch, Prov. xix, 27. (Jeafe, jny Son, to hear the Injiru&ion that caufethto err from the Words of Knowledge. Now, that they were moft impure in their Dodrine, yea, and taught fundamental Errors, is clear: For they taught Chrift was a Deceiver, a Contradidor of Mofes ; that he ha and hypocritical “ Pageantry; and add to this the Woes he pronouncetb againfi them, in the Courfeof his Do^Irine, almofi at “ every Turn, and the whole Clufiers which at once he “ beapeth on them, and, more to this Purpo/e, which “ the Gofpel-Hifiory reprefenteth, I cannot recon- “ die thefe fb firong and pathetical Diffaafives with an Allowance to countenance the Adminifirations f'^'^h of them who taught puhlickly, efpecially for " that we are exprefiy prohibited to hear the Inftrudti- “ on that caufeth to err from the Words of Know- ledge ; and the poifonous Plague of heretical Doc- “ trines and Teachers is (iill to be evited, chiefly “ when the whole Mafs is corrupt, arid fcarce any “ Thing left entire, in the prefent t'afe) and that it is both required of ChriJTs Sheep, and com- “ mended as a Property peculiar to them, from a “ fupernatural and faving Infiind, to put Differefice “ betwixt ChrifTs Voice, and the Voice of a Sp'an- “ ger; asalfo, not to follow, but to flee from (heje ‘‘ Strangers.'] Se6t. from corrupt Minifters vindicated, do. To which I atijwer. That here there is not one Word of Hearing: There is indeed Obedience to the Law of Mojes commanded, but no Hearing ; tho* many, never looking, and, I fear, never pondering the Place, have, in their Writings, fo given it to us. And fothe moft that this would prove, tho’granted that they were ecclefiaftick Perfons, and that in that Capacity they were fpoken of there, is, bccaufe the Pharijees did preach Mofes's Doftrine, tho’ them- felves were wicked j yet the Duties they taught, being grounded on Mofes's Law, did continne Itill to be Duty, notwithltanding they were prelTed by Autho¬ rity of fuch wicked Perfons j and left fome fhould think their Duties to be no longer Duties, becaufe commanded by them : Yet, faith the Lord, for all that I am to fay againft them, and all the Difguft this may give you of them, caft not off their Doc¬ trine in as far as it agrees with Mojes : So that the di- re6i End of this Command is not Hearing, but Obe¬ dience to their Dodlrine j and, feeing the Carafes com¬ mand Faith and Repentance out of the Gofpel, they are to be obeyed ; do what they bid you. And this Dodrine of the Pharifees might be known either by their Writings, Difcourfe or Sermons, which they heard, ere Chrift came and told them of their He- refics; Even as I know that fome of ihe Curates preach found Dodlrine, tho’ I don’t hear them: Bur, ftretch it to the utmoft, the moft, as the learned Voetius thinks, this will prove, is. That Chrift but fuppofeth the Multitude heard ; but doth neither commend or allow them in it ; only tells the Ufe they fhould make of what they hear, or of the Pha~ rifees Do6lrine out of the oi Mofes, what Way foever they came by the Knowledge'of it: For tbefe Church-Officers were heard, ere Chrift came, and difcovered their Erroneoufnefs, and then the Sheep did not hear them, John x. 8. And by what they beard then, they might know the Pharifees Dodrine. i So Tlje Lavjfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV.' Doflrine, The illative Particle [therefore'] doth not fo much denote a caufal Illation, as it doth a naked Comtefton: From fuch a Propolition, They fit in JVlofes’f Chair, and thus being fo, would Chrilt lay. Hear ye them ? Or, il it be a caufal Connexion, it is inferred rather from Mojes's Chair, as it imports his Do^iriite they preach, rather than their Authority, fbey fit in Mofes’r Chair, that is, preach Mofes's Podtrine : Therefore, and becaufe this Dodlrine is good, figmivi pro re ftgnata, it fhould be beard. But, fccondly, I diflinguifti the Propofition, Whatfo- ever they hid you objerve, that obferve and do, in all civil Things, true ; but, in ecckftafiick Things, I deny. And it only proves, that, in ecclefiaftick Alaiters, they ftiould not be obeyed, but in civil j which being indeed the Scope of the Place, and to which I adhere, doth infer nothing for Hearing of t\\t Curates; for ye might as well argue, we are fub- jedt to the King’s Laws, therefore hear Curates. Object. I. It may be faid. That this Expofition is not ordinary, but contradidfed by Interpreters. I fnfiper, I grant it j hut Interpreters do hut fuppofe it, but don’t prove it i and they are not infallible in their Interpretations. And I never diffenced, but i did iTiew my Reafons, and let them be confidered. Objedi. 2. The Tharifees were ecclefiaftick Perfons, and lo were Scribes, and they preached and made Profclytes; therefore they were not civil Officers, nor could they be. I anfivp-. Some of them were, I grant; but it follows not but they might be civil Men too j for I look upon them as a Kind of Erafiians; and it is clear from Scripture, their Judging, Sentencing, caufing Beating, and fending Officers and Guards, that they had a great Stroke in civil AJj'airs ; and Hi- ftorians, acquainted with fewiih Affairs, tell the fame. See fojtpbus de hello Judaico. And hence they paid Tubes (ft all they had, and boafted. Now the lacvites. paid only the Tithe of Tithes. As Seel:. 2. from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. i8i for the Fharifees, they were not Levites only, but a Sort of Sett to whom feme adhered Out of all Tribes, and they who followed their Way, were called Vbarifees, whether they were Levites or not. And.fo Vauh of the Tribe of Benjarnhy was zVha. rifee'; which Tribe was incapable to exercife in Church-Matters,as to authoritative ordinary publick Teaching ; this being given only to the Levites; and hence thefe might be civil Officers^ who ruled the People by their own Laws. Some of them, I think, were civil Officers only, fome of them had a Med¬ dling in both; and hence Chrift taxes their Faults in both in this Chapter ; as Ver. 1 ( 5 —24. he taxes their Poffrine, and again he taxes their Adminiftration of Juftice \nths 4th Verje, and in Verfe 23. And as for the Scribes, they might be and were civil Perfons too, at leaft fonae of them, Sect. II. Wherein the Argfanent, from i. 1*5;, 16, 17, 18. is examined and refuted. THE Words are. Some indeed preach Chrijl even of Envy and Strife, and fome alfb of good Will. 7 he one preach Chrijl of Contention, not (incerely, Juppo- fing to add Affii^ion to my Bonds: But the other of Love, knorving that / am fet for the Defeitce of the Gofpel. What then ? Notwithftmding every Way, whether in Pretence, or in Truth, Chrijl is preached; and / therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. And hence they argue, that, feeing thofe who preach¬ ed Chriffout of Envy might be heard, which they prove from P<7«rs Rejoicing, that therefore the C«- rates now may be heard likeways. In examining and enervating the Force of this Ar¬ gument, I (hall confider a double Confequence infer¬ red therefrom, (i.) One is from P/z»/’s Rejoicing that Chrift was preached, to, argue, that therefore fuch fhould he heard, who preached him out of En¬ vy. 18 a *The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV,’ vy, (2.) That becaufe thofe, mentioned there, were and rtiould be heard, that therefore the Curates ftould be heard. I. I begin with the Firft. Paul rejoiced thdrChriJi vpas preached, whether out of Envy or [ruth: There¬ fore thofe who preached Chrilt out of Envy might be beard. I deny this Confequence 5 for then this Ihould be a good Confequence, Paul rejoiced that Chrijl was preached, whether out of Lruth or Envy • Tnerefore we may preach out of Envy. The ond will follow as (Irongly as the other. The Difci les came home rejoicing rhat the Devils confeffed Chrift : Were therefore tht Devils to be heard? A Chriftian may rejoice that Chrilt is honoured, whether by De¬ vils or others. And the Ground is, becaufe it was not in that Adtion in itfelf that Paul rejoiced, but becaufe that Adlion, however in itfeff Matter of G.-'icf, (becaufe fuch as did go about it were unholy) yet did fignify a good Thing j which Thing fignified was Matter of Rejoicing, and which Tning was, that Chrift was acknowledged by good and bad, whereof the Devil’s Inftruments preaching him was a Token. Paul rejoiced in his Infirmities, z Cor. xii. 10. not thar the Infirmities were good in them- felves, or to be chofen, but becaufe of an accidental Good flowing therefrom, viz. that thereby the Power of Chrift Ihould reft upon him. Likeways, Paul re¬ joiced that the Romans were Servants of Sin ; Should we th retore countenance them in thefe Adfs of Sin ? vi. 17. ’Tisgreat joy that the Lord is yet out¬ wardly honoured by his Enemies j and I am in Part, and in fome Rcfpedf glad, rhat Prelates Curates do yield outward Obedience ro Chrift, tho’ I think' it unlawful ro hear them. When a Man fees Thi- ftfes grow out of his Land, he is glad of it j and fo, when Phyfick mak s him fick: Tho’ the growing of Tbiftles be not good in itfelf, yet it is a Token of good fat Land i and therefore, in refpedt of the Thing Sed. 2] from corrupt Miniflers vindicated. 183 Thing fignified, the Sign of it (tho* in itfelf evil) is Matter ol Joy. Vaul did not look here to the Adi- on itfelf, which in fome refpedl was Matter of Grief* viz. that fuch unclean Perfonsftiould carry the Name of the Lord, but at the Thing fignified, viz. Chrift univerfally honoured. But, 2. This Confet|uence is not good, becaufe, by the Rule of Contraries, if Paul rejoiced that Chrift was preached, whether in Truth or out of Envy, and* if this was a Ground of hearing them, then, becaufe Vaal might, and no queftion did mourn, that fuch Hypocrites did declare the Gofpel, who were Ene¬ mies to the Crofs, Philip, iii. 18. 1 fay, his Mourn¬ ing ftrould be a Ground of nor hearing them j for, if Hearing will follow from PauPs Rejoicing theft Chrifi was preached^ then I fee no Reafon but PauPs Sorrowj in that fame Cafe, which might, and no queftion did arife from the Ground forefaid, ftiould be a Ground of not hearing ; and fo we ftiould hear them and not hear them, which is a Contradidioif. For, if one Thing be denied from its Extreme* the contrary thereof will be deduced from its con¬ trary Extreme j for, if Laughter be a Sign of Joy* then Weeping, which is its contrary, ftiould be a Sign of Sorrow. And fo, if Hearing follow from Paul’s Joy, then Not-hearing will follow from hjs Sorrow, which did arife from another Confidera- tion of the fame Thing ; for, as the one builds, the other, byConfequence, deftroys. The Truth is, neither from Paul's "foy or Sorrow could Hear¬ ing or Not-hearing be gathered. We may rejoice in a Thing not good in itfelf, becaufe of fome acci¬ dental Good flowing therefrom ; in which we men¬ tally (abftrailing from that evil Thing) may re¬ joice, but we cannot counrenance it J feeing we can¬ not prefeind in our outward Countenancing, but ttiuft be interpreted to own the Thing. But, II. Sup- 184 The LaiufuJnefs of Separation Chap, IV.’ II. Suppofe thefe here mentioned, who preached Chrift out of Envy, were to be heard, and, I think, were heard, (tor they did not preach to the Walls) yet it will not follow that our Citrates fhould be beard j and that upon a double Account, (i.) They, were Officers officiating by a lawful Authority j not io ihQCurates ; which doth found a vaft Difference. (2.) Thefe mentioned here were not fcandalousy or did not break out in open Adfs of Vrofanetiefsy as Curates do. Vaul could not prove Perjury againft them, or Drunkeunefs; only they fomented a pri¬ vate Grudge, which Vaul by fecret Signs might know. And ’tis hard to prove them fcandalous: The Scripture only fpeaks of the End and Princi¬ ple of their Adlions, which are Strife, and Envy^ and Contention^ which are not vifibly difeerned ; and hence *tis faid they preach not finceerly, which is not open Sin: And, if they were-fcandalous, why doth notPW (hew fomucb, and warn the Vhtllppi- ms locaule cut them off ? And, if fuch were not fcan- dalous, *tis nothing to our Cafe 5 profane Men might have fought another Trade of Life, than profeffed, much lefs preached, Chrift in thefe Times, when it was a Crime to be a Chriftian s it would have been too hot for them j but they carried their Bufinefs. And therefore, tho’ thofe who preach Chrift out of Envy and Strife, who yet were not fcandalous (as many in our late Times did) tho’ thefe were to be heard, yet not thofe who preach him out of Envy, and are likeways fcandalous, as our Curates are. The Reaf«ns are obvious, and I have given them be¬ fore. And (3.) fince Paul meant not of any par¬ ticular Perfon, but grounding on a common Maxim, That of s!l Trades there are good and had, hence con¬ cluded, that fome preached not Chrift fincerely, bur, as in other Trades, fo among Preachers there were Knaves coo. So that this Argument proves nothing. Sect, Se< 5 t. 3. from corrupt Miniflers 'vindicated. iSj S E C T. III. the Argumenty taken from iSam. ii. 12, Zcci is conftdered and anfwered. THIS Argument runs thus: If the People of God did not feparate from Elds Sons, who were mof notorioufly tpicked, but Jacrificed hy them j then fhould not any IVickednefs in the Curates make us withdraw from the Ordinances of God, fuch as Preaching is. ' For Anfwer to this I would have thefe Things following confidered. 1. It was a Sin to Elds Sons to offer Sacrifice^ and were by theL^m incapacitated to do lb, becaule of their typical Uncleannefsy which they contra died by lying with the Women at the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregatiouy i Sam. ii* 22. and therefore, being in their Uncleannefs, ought to he feparate from the Sanditiary, Lev. xv. 16. If any Maids Seed of Cq^ pulatioH go out from hiniy then he jhall - he unclean i which (Lev. xxii. 4.) is applicable to the Priefls. And ye know, that an outward vifible Unclean¬ nefs, fuch as that was, did incapacitate to approach unto, or touch the holy Things of God, Ver. 2, 3* of the fame Chapter. 2. The People therefore were thus involved in Sin, in giving their Sacrifices to Elds Sons, for thefe Things were defiled by reafon of the typical Un¬ cleannefs of the Sons of Eli, Hag. ii. 12,13. there¬ fore, as the People fhould not pollute the OfF.Tings< fo they fhould not have given them to be polluted, but given them to other Priefls. 3. Whereas it is faid, that the People finned in abhorring the Offering of the Lord, it is not meant thaE they did not come to offer Sacrifice, for the contrary was true, Ver. 13. but ihis Abhorring was an inward Adt, in thinking meanly of, and defpifing the true Ordinances of God, as Ver. 17. fhews, compared A a wish 18(5 Ihe La'J^fulnejs oj Separation Chap. IV. with Mai. ii. 8. which was occafioned by the Sons of Eli thtir Loofenels. 4. The Confi-'querjce of this Argument is very bad, in refpeift £/i’s Sons were of the Tribe ofTer/, and of/lam/’s Sons, which did capacitate them im'tnly to minirter in the Pritft’s Office, and were Officers conftitute by a lawful Authority, and ferving by a lawful Warrant, and could not be part by for the Time nor could the Lord be ferved otherways than by them, and at that Time 5 it being unlawful to of¬ fer at any Altar but one, at which they did miniftcr. And therefore, to keep up the Face of Ordinances and Authority, they were to be tolerated, as fome think, until the Lord fhould remove them, which he did (horily thereafter. But it is not fo with our Curates; they are not only fcandalous, but are Officers cofi(lituteby an unlawful abjured Authority. IS or is there an abfoluie Necelliiy, iho’ they be deferted, that all Ordinances be given up ; for there are others, who may preach in any Place, whom we fhould hear. Sect. IV. Wherein the Argument, drawn from Matth., viii. 4. is examined. IT is argued, Tho’ in Chrift’s Time the Vriejls Office was corrupted, and the Vttfons godlefs Mtn, yet Chrifl bode the Leper go to fuch, and offer his Gift, and dtfiied him not to feparate at all: ThavdoK Church-Officers, tho’ neveiTo corrupt, are to be acknowledged. I look upon this Argument as the only Argu¬ ment that’s of any Moment, and therefore I (hall the more ferioully confider it. And therefore, for Anfwer, I fay, I. This Argument, if it prove anv Thing, it proves too much ; for then, tho’ the Prelates andC«- merlhould deny Chrifl, as iheHigh-Priefls at this Time did, according to our Antagonifts Principles, Seft. 4. jrm corrupt Mlniflers vindicated. 187 we (hould not feparate, contrary to Rev. xviii. 4. Likeas therefore their Errors and Pradices were more compatible then than now, (o this might be the OcCdfion why there was no Separation then as well as now. 2. Ir will be hard to prove this High'Prieft to be a notorioufly (canJalons Perfon j for the Pnelb bad the Form ot Piety, they were apparently holy without: For what Man could fee whited Sepulchres like Graves, which none could fee, Luke xi. 44. tho' full ot Evils within, which none ever difcoverec until Chrift did rip them up, and (hew them in their proper Co¬ lours, when they had rejeded him, left their appear¬ ing Sandity fhould delude the People ? And Sins, tho* great, cannot be a Ground of Separation, until dif- covered and objiinately perfifted in, ^TheJf. iii. 14. 3. Be it fo they were manifeftly wicked, yet there are not fo llrid Commands for perfonnl Separation, for perfonal Faults, in the jpewijh Church, as now, and that forfeveralReafons, they being but an In-- Church, and therefore not fuch a great Mea- fure of -outward Holinefs required, as of us; God calling now every Man to repent; and winking in the Times of dark Difeoveries of Duties; as like- ways, becaufe all the publick Service of God was reftrided to one Place, and the Officers reftrided to one Family and Tribe; which, if corrupted, and Separation thereon following, the Lord would gee no publick Service at all. Therefore Prac- tiqttes^ conform to their Government, diffind from ours, cannot be a good Rule or Precedent to us. But, 4. And on which I build much, confider that was in the B ginning of Chrift’s Miniftry, at which Time Chrift found all Things in a Confufion ; and therefore was feeking by Degrees to redify Things: And thcre- fore it was not to be expeded, that, in one Day, all Abufes Ihould be helped i and fo not to be feparate , from j88 The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV.' from immediately. No, the Lord jfejtis had his Time of Patience to wait on People, and therefore tolerated and fuffered many Things, until, by his Apoftles, he fet lip and eredled the Chriftian Church, to which if, after patient Waiting, they did not hearken, they were to be ieparated from, Adis xix. 9. But when diverje were hardned, and believed not, but fpake Evil of that Way be¬ fore the Multitude, he departed from them, audjeparat- ed the Difciples. ’Tis clear our Cafe is not fo: The '^relates are an old Enemy, with whom the Lord’s Vaticnce and the Church's is long Jince expired: And we did once extirpate Vrelates and all Officers depending on them 5 and it is now fettling, and therefore Sub^ million in Hearing is the Yielding of the Caufe, and Settling of them, which it was not then, it being fet¬ tled belore. And Chrift was willing that the Go¬ vernment of xhzjewijh Church Ihould laft for a While, until bis Refurreftion, and therefore did nothing be¬ fore that Time which would bring it down j fo that our Cafe is not alike, lijewijh Abufes were come in upon the Chriftian Churches, after their Burial, and riling from the Dead as it were, I doubt very much if thofe who fhould bring them in were to be beard. Bur, 5. How can it be made out, that this was the High- Prieft ; and that this Prieft was a wicked Man, who, by reafon of yearly changing of the Office, might be thought to have had a Crack in it. It cannot be made out from the Text, which only fays, Shew thyfelf to the Erie/l. This might be an inferior Prieft, who might look unto the Leproly, Lev. xiii. 2. The le¬ prous Man IJyall kt brought unto Aaron theVrieJl, or unto one of his Sons the Ps ie/ls. And i am more con-r firmed in this, that,when Chrift healed the ten Lepers, bedtlired them to ffiew themfelvcs to the Priefts, not to one, but many: Which inferior Office was not corrupted. And why, amongft tbefe Orders, might jh-rsnoE be a lacharias, who was net grolly fcanda- ious ? Se6t. 5. from corrupt Miniflers ’vindicated. 189 lous ? So thac thefe Things confidered, the Weaknefs ' ot the Argument may fufHciently appear. Sect. V. Wherein another Argument, taken jrom the conftant Com¬ munion that was kept with r^ejewilh Church, not- withftandmg all her pollutions and Defedlions, is examined. MUCH is built on Argument; and it may be propounded thus. If God’s People and Prophets were never commanded to I'eparate, but to worlhip in Jerufalem, Deut.'ni. Ii, 12. & xv. 19, 20. And, it that Generation was a perverfe Generation, ftiff- necked, proud and Murmurers j then any Sinfuhiejs in Officers, or others, cannot be a Ground of Separati¬ on ; m the 'Jewijh Church we hear ot no Separation. Elijah, Afa, Jofiah, Hezekiah, &c. did eat the Paffi- over witn them, tho’ many ot them wtte unclean; and .Mojes entred into Covenant with them, tho’they facrificedtheir Sons to Devils. Therefore we thouldrrot now feparate, 7iotwith(landi77g of any Pollutions that yee hzvt appeared. Forto this, Ifay, I. In general. Thatdeduced from the jfewijh Church, to this, are not valid. Indeed the jnoral JLawsand judicial Laws, in as far as they partake oi Morality, are alike binding on us i becaufe the Policy of iheyi-tp/yi^Church was, in many Things, diffierentfrom the Po//Vy of o«r Church j whe.*-eof tevcral Grounds might be given. As, (i.) Confider them as an Church, in fuch a State and Condition, and, lor this Caufe, did require many Things that the Church of Chrilt, being come to the State of a full Man, dio not require. Babes mull be guided one VVay,and Men ano¬ ther. They were led by the Sleeves as Children, and hence nothing was concredited \.q their Diferetion, and hence were under Government. Hence it was that e- very Nail and Pin of the Tabernacle was ordained by the 4 m/himfelf i the Prielthood was confined to one Fa- ipo *The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV. mily, GaL iv. J. and hence being come of Aaron was a great Qualification, which did ipj'ofa^o qualify them, except in Cafe of outward Scandals and bodily Defedts. And hence the People were not left to chule. Hence, being of dull Conceptions.^ their Way of Worjhip was more carnal. Gal. iv. 3. Heb. ix. 10. The Lord de¬ termined tne rime of Circumcifion j and hence their Judgments and Promifes were more vifibleand out¬ ward j and therefore I gather that thofe Times were Times of Ignorance in refpcdl of thir Times. And hence there could not be lb much Piadtice expedled from them, fbe Night is for (pent, and the Day is at Hand: Let us therejorc-' - - p ut on the Armour oj Light, Rom. xiii. 12. The Patriarchs lived in Polyga¬ my, yet the Prophets did notj'eparate from them; But, amongft us, this would have a Sin of Prefnmpti- on, and fo- a Rea (on of cutting off. And hence being Children, more was born of them, than of us, -and lefs required of and intrufted to them. (2.) Let them be confidered as a civil Corporation, inclofed in fuch national Bounds s and hence many Things convenient to them cannot, upon that Ac¬ count, with the fame Expediency, be preffed upon us: Hence no publick Place of Woifliip but Jerufalem: And hence, this being the determinate Place of Wor- fliip, if It were polluted, the Worfhip could not be fet up in any o:her Place, Dent. xii. 5. 1 Kings viii. ip. yobn iv. 20. and therefore they could not fo conveni¬ ently feparate. (3.) Confider them as a /^/prVtr/Church, reprefenting the Church of xhe Gentiles, Pfalm Ixxiii. I. hence called the Ifrael of God; and I doubt not but ye (hall fee many Things enjoined them not law¬ ful to us. Mofes, as a Type of Chi ift, confecrated Aaron, being \o\ a Teflimony of fuch Things as jhould be fpoken after, Heb. iii. 4, S- Exod. xl. 13. Yet it will not follow, that the Magiftrare therefore may ordain Miniffers. Hence, tho* they bad an High- Prieji, it will not follow that, we mull have a Pope; be- Se^. 5. from corrupt Miniflers vindicated, ipi becaufe this High-Prieji was typical of Chrift. (4.) In the Manner of their WorJhip. Tho’ their Wo¬ men could not be circtuvcijed, yet it will nor follow that they (hould not be baptized. So the Vajfover^ being a Sign of the common Mercy of Deliverance out of Egypt, h-nce all might partake of it j but aB (hould r.oc partake o{ the Lord's Supper. Look unto the Covenant by which they had their fundamental external Right to Church Memberfiiip, and ye (hall fee a Difference. For this Covenant being made with Abraham, typical Father of the Faithful, re» prefenting Chrilt, there was no more required than to come ol Abraham, to give them Right to this typical Memberfhip; for likeas it is the rromije tbst gives Right unto the Privileges, Jfaac typifying the Vromije, as IS clear from Rom. ix. 7, S. fo likvways all the Children of Ifanc dad Right to thar otitwardCovenant, And, zs Abraham vzsi'CiQ Rather cf the Faithful, and Jfaac a lype o» the Promife, thro’ whorn their Seed did typically partake : Even fo Jefus Chrift, and all that art his Servants and Children, or the Children of his Servants, have Right through him CO the Vrivileges o[ the better Tejlamerzt, And by all this it appears, that there was not fo great Ground for Separation then, as now. Bur, X. I anfwer. This Argument proves too much, if it proves any Thing; tor then, fliould the Pre/aces and Curates turn Idolatess, preach falfe Doftrines, as the Scribes and Pharifees, Jacrifice to Devils, as the Ifi'aelites did, that yet we fhould notfeparate; and then in m Caf' were Separation lawful: And then we did ill in feparating from Rome upon the Accrxiniof mere Corruptions. 3. The Argument proves. That we fhould rory?- parate from them that are Curates, either in Synods, or in Ht-aring ; for we cannot fhew a Command, as is alledged, for Separation from Jewifh Sanhedrims in the Time oigreateji Impurity. And let ihofe who come 129: 1^2 The Lawfuliiejs of Separation Chap. IV. not to Synods anfwer thij. Nor did I ever hear a Reafon that did militate againft fitting in Synods, but would equally ftrike againlt Hearing, tho’ not fo openly. But oh ! there is not alike Hazard in the one, as in the other: And Prelates are indifferent, and will get Curates to fill up their Places as Officers. 4. This will follow, That we ought not to feparate totally and futidanmitally from them, and that the Scandals of a Church can never hi jo great, at to de~ ny all Relation, either to God or his People. Hence they are called his People,even when in open Rebellion a- gainfl him, JJ'a. i. 3. and hence they areftill his People^ Ezek. xxxvi>. I2> And the excommunicate Perfon, that is cut off, \saBrother, iJheJf.in. ! and by taking on new En-^ gagementSi 6. It will follow, that, whenever fuch do turn td the Lord, they are to ht jvined with. And I deny ir» And let any who can undertake to prove it,, that ever any of the Servants of God did allowedly joirii ■yich Apo/lates, while in a Courfe of Defedion, irt any publick Ordinance: And it is a mere Alledgance to fay otherways: But when Mofes, Elijah and Afd ert-^ tied into Covenant, or took the Paflbver, theyfirfl purged^ and the People profelTed the/{?;y«^w^ Way^ and ^\6fan6iify themfelvesj and guvejome Signs of their Repentance. And now, I fa-y, let Curates rS-* pent and mourn, and quit ihz Evil of their Wayi ahd renew their Covenant.^ and we will yet continue Witb them; we will not hold the Door out upon thehni for ever* And this is all that this Argument wiU prove. 7. Tho’ the Prophets did never command to Je~ parate from the viftble Church, yet did they com¬ mand to feparate from the falje Rrophets, that did of¬ ficiate without Authority from God, and to with* draw from them. fer. xxiii. id- they are commai1<5 ded ejtpreflywor to bear or hearken to thema \t\fet\ X. 21. the Flocks x.hc falfe Prophets are threarned to be fcattered. In ihc New-Tejla7ne?itiC\\t\i\i ’mfohii x*p. faith, that the Sheep did not hear the Thiybet and B b Uobkrt i 194 Lawfuliiejs of Separation Chap. IV. Robbers; yea, Mattb.xv. 14. that we fiiould Guides (fuch as the Rulers then were) alone : For if the Blind lead the Blind, bothlhall fall into the Ditch. And we only at prefenc feparate trom corrupt Church- Guides, becaufe authoriled by an unlawful Authori¬ ty, and to make them afmmed, becaufe they carry on a Courfe of Apoftafy: And therefore the Argument ftrikes not againft us, who keep up Communion and Fellowfhip with the Body of ProfefTors, and do not fet upourfelvesin a Corporation from them, but continue in our old Relation ; only we join not with our Officers fmcc they have left uSjand broken the Relation we were in, and entred into another. The Member is not the Body ; a Member may be cut off, and yet the Body remain. S. It is true we feparate from the Body of the Church, when they go to hear the Curates, and will not go with them. But this is not Separation that is total or pofitive, but a Withdrawing from them in fome Adfs. There may be an Union with the Body, tho’ there be not Concurrence with it in all Adts, e- fpecially when they are judged ftnful. Obedience to xhis Command, Hof. iv. 15. Come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven with the reft, wasnow;;- warrantable S-paration. There may be Union when there is not total Communion. We acknowledge our Union with the Body of Profeflors in thefe Lands, and do join and keep Fellowfhip with them in all other uncontroverted Duties. And hence we fepa¬ rate not finfully: Our Separation, in that Cafe, would be a Separation with Whores, and a Sacrificing with Harlots, Hof. iv. 14. Sect. VI. Wherein an Argument, drawn from the Vradlice of Chrtflian Churches, is examined. I T is argued, that, if the Churches of Corhithy Galatia, Epbefus, and other Churches of Afia, bad feveral Se6t. I. from corrupt Minifters vindicated. 195 feveral Corruptions in them, and Scandals both as to Dodtrine and Manners, and yet there never was a Command for Separation, but, on the contrary. Ordinances were ftill countenanced 5 then we ought not, in this prefenc Cafe, to feparate from the C«- rates. Many Things might be faidto this, and the Ap¬ plication of what hath been faid, in the Anfwerto the preceeding Argument, would cake much of the Strength of this Argument away: Only two Things I (hall now fay. i. The Argument proves that there fhould not be a fundamental Separation from the Church and Body thereof; This I grant j but fpeaks nothing againft Separation from corrupt Officers. But Prt«/ faith ex prefly of thefe, / would they were cut off that trouble you, Gal. v. 12. 2. As Sin is the only Caufe of moral Separation, fo it is not every Corruption or Scandal that gives Ground of Separation ; but grofs Scandals, and thefe wtljuUy and objlinately continued in, efpecially*^ if there be a deflgned ftated Courfe of Apoftafy and Rebellion profecuted and avowed, tho’ not under that Name, but pretending fomething elfe. Now, altho’ I grant, that there were Scandals in Dodtrineand Man¬ ners in the Churches of Corinth, Galatia, and Ephe^ fas, yet thefe Churches did not objlinately continue in them j the Apoftles behoved to warn and admo- ni(h, and to try gentle Means. 2 77?;/. ii. 18. ere they could ufe the lall Remedy, which was Separation. And, if this would not have done,P.w/tells he would come with a Rod; and thefe Ways proved fo effcdlu- al, that Abufes were helped. A^s xix. 9. Vaul wait¬ ed two Years on the fews ere he feparated. It is poflible, that, it tins had been the firft Time prelacy came in amongft us, we would have born longer with thzConfofViiJls ; but it being an oW Quarrel, already debated, and now entring in upon us, and the Curates therein objlinatct and avowing it, contrary to Ip^ Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV. to their great Oaths to God, and withal fettling it by a Latp, and authoritatively commanding all to for¬ bear to fpeak of ir, under Vain ofTreafon; this gives us Ground to think them incurable j and that our flaying with them will rather harden them, and ftrengthen the£u/ 7 , than any Means we can ufe will do them Good: And hence, they hdngpreJumpttionSf y/Q withdrawi zThefT. iii. 14, Sect. VIF. \yherein an Argument^ drawn from the Evil of Sepa¬ ration, the Vradiceof Separatifts and Brownifts, and the Dodrine of Proteftant found Writersy is ex~ amined. SEPARATION (it is argued) was always accounted a finful Thing j and our reformed Wri¬ ters have generally difowned the Browntjls. In anfwer to this Argument, 1 lhall confider three Things. (l.) Speak fomething of Separation itfelf, {%.)Sipt2ik.SL\\^x\to{ xhtSeparatiJis sv\d Brownifts. (3.) A Word to the Doiflrine ot Vrotejiant Writers. I. Now, for the firft. Separation, I fay, it hath been an old Device to affright People trom the Truth, by reprefenting found Tenets under odious Vizards and Masks. And hence it is, that the Way pf the godly poorOnes in Britain and h eland\% brand¬ ed by fome great Heads, but ill Hearts, with the Afperjton of Scinjm, Separation, and 1 know not what j only with big Words to terrify People from their Du¬ ty. And tno’ this bath been effayed, yet have the JLord’s People found Mercy to flick to their Duty, notwithftanding of all the Mifreprefentations of it: But, for Vindication of fuch and their Prad'tice, let thefe Tnings be confldered. I. That the phyfecal Ad of Separation is in itfilf indifferent that is, neither intrinflcally good nor e- yil, bur is capable of either, according to the Grounds ipd Caufes of it. And therefore fometimes it is Du- Sect. 7. from corrupt Minifters ’vindicated. 197 <7, Rev. xviii. 4* - Come out of her ^ my People, that ye be not Partakers of her Sins, and that ye receive not of her Plagues. And fometimes it is finful, Heb. X.. Z'). Not forfaking the Affembling of ourfehes toge¬ ther, as the Manner of fome is, but exhorting one another. And tberefore think not ail wno feparate do therefore necejfarily fin. There is an allowable Separation, and there is an unallowable Joining, Z Cor. vi. 14 * not unequally yoked toge¬ ther with Unbelievers : For what Fellowfhip hath Righ- teonjhefs with Unrighteoufjefs f And what Communion hath Light with Darknefs ? Hof. iv. 14 * / svill not punifh your Daughters when they commit Whoredom, nor your Spottjes when they commit Adultery: For ihemfelves are feparated with Whores, and they facri- fce with Harlots : Therefore the People that do not un- derjland fhall fall. z. As Sin or finfal Defers are the Groimds of Sepa¬ ration, as is clear from Scripturefo it is not every Sin or Fault that fhould give Ground of Separation; but they muft have thefe fo\iv S^califications. (I.) They muft be^r^ and vtfihly odious \niht\r: own Nature. It muft not be underftood of fuch Faults as David fpeaketh of, Pfal. \\ii.\z.Whocan un- derjlandhis Errors ? But it muft be underftood of more grofs Faults, fuch as thefe that are csdXzd the Pollu¬ tions oftheWorld, 2Pet.1i.20. Faults of fuchPerfons as DavidciWtxh wickedTranfgrejfors, Pfalm lix. %. Whofi Spots are not the Spots of God's Children, Deut. xxxii. 5. And therefore, tho’ Saints be not pcrfeift, yet we keep Fellowfhip with them. (2.) They muft be manifejled open Sins, known, not fecret Heart Sins, tho’ never fo viles for de oc- cultis non judicat Ecclefta; that is, hidden 'Things come not under the Cognizance of the Church. And hence mere Suppofitions will nor be enough. And hence Communion with Hypocrites, not Devils, fuch as Judas was, is lavyful, when his Devilry appears not. ip 8 T%e Lnwfulnejs of Separation Chap. IV. John vi. 70. And hence the foolijh Virgins, tho* they wanted Oil, yet continued with the Wije^ Mattb. XXV. Andtber<7m, by Difpenfation of Providence, get Leave to grow among the Wheat, Mattb. xiii. 29. (3.) They mult proceed from Wilfuhefs, and there mult be Prefamption in them, not Sins, tho’ grofs, as proceeding from Want of Light, as it did in the Patriarchs, or other Infirmities, which (hould be healed with the Spirit of Meeknefs, Gal. vi. I. Nuwb.xw. z8, 30. Prejiimptuous Sinners mufl he cut off. And therefore Conliderarion muft be regard¬ ed of Times, Perlons and Occafions: And that, at one Tim-, may be Sin of Infirmity, and in one Per- fon, which in another Perfon, at any other Time, may be judged Prefumption. Polygamy is now an¬ other Thing than it was before s and lb is Conformity toPrelacy, than it was fometime, or than it is yet to other Nations: God winks in Times of Ignorance, (4.) It mull be joined with Objlinacy. And hence, tho* the Corinthians were drunken, and that at fo- lemn Meetings: Tho’ Thomas misbelieved, and that a fundamental Articlci and tho’, for aTime, the Chur¬ ches of Corinth and Galatia were turned heterodox, as to the Articles of J unification and the Refurrefti- on, yet not to be feparated from, until Means of re¬ claiming were i Tim. ii. 18. which failing, declares he would co7}ie with a Rod, 1 Cor. iv. 21. and would not fparc, 2 Cor. xlii. 2. Matth. xviii. 15, 16, 17, If thy Bi-other Poall trefpafs againfi thee, go and tell him bis Fault between thee and him alone : If he fhall hear thee, than hall gained thy Brother. But, if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the Mouth of two or three Witnejfes every Word may he efiahlijhed. And, if he fhall negleil to hear them, tell it unto t he Church ; but, if he negleB to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man, Publican. And hence we feparate r\Qt fox eve¬ ry Fault. And, if the Conformifis Faults have not SeSt. 7. from corrupt Miniflers vindicated. 19^ all this in them, then we (hall not defire to feparate. Their Sins are grofsj becaufe perjured; they are open, and cannot be accounted Sins of Infirmity, ex¬ cept they proceed from wilful Ignorance. And do ' they not ohftinately, nay, avowedly continue in their Sin, faying they fin not, pacifying all by a Law ? 3. The thirdlihxng confiderable is this. That there may be Separation lawfully, and that from Churches or Perfons, tho’ there be no Sentence of Excommu¬ nication, 2 7 »w. iii. 5. Having a Form of Godlinefs, hut denying the Power thereof, from fuch turn away: 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with Unbelievers. Thefe Commands, it I miftake not, were not diredled to Church-Guides, but to particu¬ lar Perfons as fuch. The Jewif} Church was never excommunicated, and yet there was a Separation from it. Ads xix. 9. But when divers were hardned, and fpake evil of that Way before the Multitude, he departed from them, andfeparated the Difciples. Nor was the Popijh C^nxch excommunicated 10 and yet there is a Separation from her, and a Separati¬ on too. Say not they are unclean until they be pro¬ nounced unclean. 4. Let it be confidered that there xszpaffive Sepa¬ ration, and an a&ivc Separation, exprefifed both of them diftindly in Scripture ; the one exprefifed by' the Term cafting out, i Cor. v. 2, 7. Tit. iii. 10. Numb. XV. 30. the other, viz. xhftpaj/ive, exprefied by the Term of coming out from. Rev. xviii. 4. 2 Cor. VI. 14. This pajfive Separation is, when the found Parc of the Church is the weaker and lefler Party,and fo could not execute conveniently, nor pof- fibly legally, the Cenfures of the Church againlf a ftrong Party, carrving on a Courfe of D fedion, either in Herefy, Malignancy, Worlhip, or Pradice. As we did when we feparated from Rome. Conceive it thus: If there were an Infedion in the Kingdom, while fome few Perfons only were infeded, then were the Orders of the Kingdom anent them to be executed 200 The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV* executed, and they to be ftiut up: But, if the Whole or Body oi the Kingdom were infedled, and a few only whole, thele few could not execute the publick Law againit the Multitude, by confining them to Chambers, or cutting them off, which is Se¬ paration ; but they were to remove themfelves, which IS pajjlve Separation. 5. There is, and may be real Umon) where there is no Communion; or there may be a Right to Church- Memberlhip, when there is no Ground to the adfual enjoining of them 5 and Minifters may have Right to their Office, yet not to the Exercife thereof. There is jus ad rem, and inrc. Some Divines fay, Thatj by the imputed Righteoufnefs of Chrift, there is a fundamental Right to Jullffication ere they believe 5 but their Right is perfonal and actual when they be¬ lieve. And others fay. Faith gives Right to Hea¬ ven, but Sanftification gives immediate Right to pof- fefs it j grounded on Rev. xxii. 14. Tho’ Parents run mad, they do not forfeit theRefpcdf their Chil¬ dren owe them. A Vyiefl, by an accidental Unclean-* nefs, did lofe his Right to exercife his Office, tho* not the Right to his Office : So do fufpended Mini- ftersi they have to their Office, but not Right to exercife it. The Lord may acknowledge a Peo¬ ple to be his Church, tho’, by reafon of adfual Cor¬ ruptions, he hide his Face, and keep not Fellowffiip with them. There may be a Separation from fome Members thereof, and yet real Union with the Church continued. And, 6 . There may be Felloivjhip with the Church in /ome A( 5 ts of Worffiip,and negative Separation in other which are pure, Hof. iv. 14* and yet Union with the Church. Tho’ we dare not join with the Body of Profeflbrs in fome Aids of puhlick Woifip, for Rea- fons already given, yet we feparate not totally or po- fttively from them j yet in others we join with them, and do look upon them as Church-Members Sed. 7. from corrupt %Iinlfiers vindicated. 201 in one Relation and Tye with us, that they were for¬ merly in, which we are willing to continue. The Prophets exhorted, admonilhed, and reproved the backllidden Church of i/>W, tho’ yet they kept not Communion with them in other Ads. 7. According to the Meafure of Guilt, fo muft the Separation be. Some mult be withdrawn from, fome delivered to Satan, fome to be Anathema Maranatba. And hence there muft be greater Withdrawing and Separation from Curates than others, becaufe they are eguilty, and are wwcincrinfically Members of the Army that is againjl the Lamb- Jude, Ver. 22, 25* And of fome have Companion, making a Difference: And others fave with Fear, pulling them out of the Fire; bating even the Garment fpotted by the Flef^. Ezek. xxxiv. 17. And as for you, 0 my flock, thus faith the Lord God, Behold, 1 judge between Cattle and Cattle, between the Rams and the Fle~goats. 8- Whatever incapacitates particular Members to be joined with in Fellowfhip, incapacitates z greater Body made up of fich Members t For whatever is neccftarily predicated of an Individual of any Kindj or of all Individuals, is predicated likeways of many Individuals, which is the Kind, otTotmn, or Whole, This is clear in itfelf. 9. What gives Ground therefore to aBive Separa¬ tion xnzeonflitute Church, gives Ground o^pafjive Se¬ paration \nz troubled, decayed, corrupted Church. 10. As therefore grofs fcandalousSins, obftmately continued in, are a Ground of adive Separation in a con[litnte Church, the Members tainted herewith are incapable of Communion ; fo in a backf idden, cor¬ rupted, troubled Church, fcandalous and obflinate Sins give Ground of paffve Separation. tVJjofoever loves not the Lordfefus, let him be Anathema Mara¬ natba. I contefs it is not every Degree of Haired that brings under this Curfe. II, Thers 202 7he Lawjulnejs oj Separation Chap. IV. II. There may be a Separation from Curates and Church-Ojficers, iho* there be not a Separation from the Church itjelf\ as I have proven in Anfwer to the preceaiing Argument. And therefore, tho’ we fe- parate from Curates^ yet it will not follow that we feparate from the Church. And now, who is it that can deny any one of thefe Piopofitions ? We acknowledge a Separationy but not a Separation : We acknowledge a pclration from Curatesy but not ffom the Church; we feparate paffvely from the Church in fame Adis of Worlliip, which we ']\idge po/liiteel, yet do not feparate from the Church totally and poftively; our Union with them continues flill s we ered not our- felves into a diflind Church from them, but join and are united in old relative Tyes that we were engaged in before i and in other Ads of Worfhip join with the Body of PiofefTors 5 yea, we. mourn for them before the Lord, becaufe of their finful Compliances with the Curates. II. As to Separates and Browtiijlsy ^tis hard to fpeakofthem, being a Stranger to their Pradtice, and not altogether acquainted with their Principles: But, I think, our Cafe is not altogether like theirs. For, 1. We had got Prelacy purged outy and it is now cntnng in upon us: They are the Aggrejfors, and we now jland to our Liberties. The Brownifis did fo j Corruptions got in upon them, and Prelates were in the Chair. And therefore, 2. They Ihould have born with more Patiefice, and not been ha{ly, untilW/ Means had been tried. The Corruptions of thefe Times, tho’ the fame in Mat¬ ter with ours, yet not the fame in Manner and Cir- cumjlances. And the Circumftances arguing and concomitating our Defedtions are ladder, and do render xhz guilty Perfons more odious than they did then. And theief ore,, tho’we now Ihould exceed in our Separation^ it is no Wonder, feeing their Guilty Sed. 7. from corrupt Minifiers 'vindicated. 203 by reafon of aggravating Circumftances, doth ex¬ ceed theirs. But, 3. And that which, moft of all, doth found a Difference, They did not only break off Fel/orvjhip in fame Ads, but in all Ads; they not only biake up Commmiony but Unions and did loofe themfelves from the relative Tye they were in formerly^ and did enter into a new Combination, not only fuljec- tively different from the old, but formally; and ac¬ counted none Church-Members but fuch as would join with them, and did unchurch all others. We do not fo j our Separation is negative, not paffve. And I think that Prelates and Curates, and other Profeflbrs, that have quit their old Station and Frien.is in it, and entred into a new Relation, are rather to be accounted Separatijis than we. III. Hence it follows, what we are to think of the Dodrine of reformedProtejlants. I fay, (i.) It is not an infallible A-'^gument, nor are the Dodrines zndi Judgment qF Men zn infallible KsxXq. (2.) Their Cafe now is different from what it was then; and not being guilty of Schifm, or of pofitive Separation^ as the/iron?;;; 7 ?r were, we think that Wri¬ ters do not condemn us, when they condemn them, (3.) It is true, at firft View, many Things in their Writings would feem to contradid us and our Prin¬ ciples. But, as one well obferves, “ Godly Men do fometimes over-reach themfelves, and, endea- vouring to ftrike at Error, which is before them, '' with the drawing back of their Hand, to give “ it the more found Stroke, they feem to wound " Truth a little, with their back Blow.” Prote^ flant Writers went poflibly with the neareft in re¬ futing Urowni/is. Lutlser, in refuting Papifts and JuJlification by Works, through Violence, gave the Antinomians Ground to think he favoured them. Paul, writing againfl the Legalifs, is to be diftin- guilhed ixom James writing againfl: the loof Gofpel- 204 "The Laiofulnefs of Separation Chap. IV. Icrs; and the one feems to fpeak one Thing, and the other another, yet really contradidl not one ano¬ ther. So ProteJiarjtSj fpeaking againft pofitive Sepa~ rattjls dividing from the Church, muft fpeak another Way than we, who write againft, and have ado with Vfelntcs. And I queftion not but in our Cafe they would fpeak otherways. The ContradiV/o/Government in the Houfe of God, and Presbytery to be forgotten for ever j and the Controverfy with Amakky which the Lord will have kept up for alt Getie- ratio 7 Ts, boin down in Silence. But, if every one would henceforth, in the Name of the Lord, with one Mind and Heart, fee to their Hand to the Work, the Lord himfelf would be with us, and we ftiouldyce Satan Jhortly falling like Lightning from Heaven, and the Prelates curfed Kingdom to cotter and fhake, tho* neither by Power nor Might, yet by the Spirit of the Lord It fhould be; the greatejl Difficulty in all which is iVant of Will. Conclusion. T O conclude, then, let me in Love exhort all that love our Lord Jefus, to come out from amongfl the Antichriflian Crew, to touch nothing that belongs to this wicked People, left ye be confumed. It is to be feared we have not right Uptakings of Conformifts and their Way, and chat Conformity is not looked upon with all its aggravating Circumftances. The civil Laws of Nations have this as a fundamental univerfal Rule, That no infamous Perfon be incrufted with any Of¬ fice, not fo much as to be a Witnefs. But ah. Lord! How have we degenerated, when the vileft Perfons on the Earth, when the Perjured, Profane, and Per- fscutors are intrufted with the greateft Concernments of the Lord Jefus. Oh ! to what a low Ebb are we come ? If the Conforwijls Sin had been fimply an A6l of Lying, Drunkennefs, or Swearing, or any ocher cranfienc Sin, the Matter had been thelefs 5 they might have had many Neighbours in the Chriftian World ; then they might have come at leall to their Pulpits in their clean Holidays Cloches, (as we 2.14 *The Lawfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV.’ fay) then there might be Hopes ot Convidlion and Amendment. But oh, to be guilty of the dreadful Sin of Perjury, and yet defend it both by Law and Profeffion, doth cut down our Hopes of their A- mendmenc! The Cotforniijls, like Eli's Sons, come' from the very Adi unto their Pulpit j and, after their Engagement in the Dragon's Quarrel againjl the Lambt and ftriking Hands to overthrow the In- tereft and Kingdom of the Lord Jefus, they go ini' mediately to preach him. But this is not all ^ in the very Pulpit they appear in their Sins and the Spots of their Uncleannefs j for (ince they have fubmitted unto the Prelate,zn& are thereby ingraffed in him, eve¬ ry Day and Hour they live, without breaking of this Bond, they perjure themfelves, and their Conformifj is a ji-e^j continued Adt of Ferjury, and lb is not of the Nature of other Sins j but every Moment they live they fin} and their is an everlafting, ever- running, uninterrupted of True in¬ deed the /ft*? of their Submilfion is tranfient^ but the Relation is permanent; fo that every Time the Confer- miji preaches, being a frelh drawing out of the Foun¬ tain he fware againfl, is a Renevemg of his Perjury ; and, when ye come to hear him preach., ye come to hear him perjure bimfelf. And now, who can reftrain hirnfelf ? TheCo/^rw;^’sRuling,Preaching and Bap¬ tizing, is his perjured Living and Breathing in theFre- late; and therefore are a'll polluted. And now,who can approach ? Is it a Wonder we (land at a Diflancc from fuch filthy Creatures ? Have they crucified the Lord Jefus, which is no complementalhyperbolick Speecb,and Ihail fuch as love theLord join with them? The Apoftle faith, that fuch as care not for their Fa¬ milies, are vporfe than an Infidel, and have denied the Faith. How deep muft Conformijis Sin reach ? Ob, all ye that profefs the Lord jefus, think ferioufly of this ! Remember our Lord faith, He that receiveth you, receiveth him that fent me, Xzreceive the Conjor- inijh ScB.. 11. from corrupt Mini (levs 'vindicated.ii'^ luijls by bearhig them, and therefore receive the Pre» late that fent them j and whoever receiveth the Pr^- late that fent them, receiveth the Devil that fent him. Ye that ever tafted that the Lord is gracious, and chofen him above all. How Ihall ye (hew your Love to him now ? Will ye mujier under the Standard of his Enemies ? Is this the Kindnefs ye jhetp to your Friend? Have Prelates and Curates broken down the Interejlsoi Chrilt, perfecuted h\s People, betrayed the Lord Jefus, fet up Sin and Profanity, and opened the barred Doors to Antichrijiy and will ye yet join with them } Will ye eat, drink and converfe with them ? Oh, the great Wrath of the dreadful God againft this ungrateful, treacherous, and mocking Genera¬ tion ! Verily, if there were fuch Love as there Ihould be, the Sight of a Prelate and a Curate would be as the Meeting with and Seeing of a Bafilisk. Is it poflible to keep at too great a Diftance from them ? Profefs what ye will, this general Compliance argues a luke¬ warm Temper, and a deep Sleep. But oh, ye might fave the Lord a Labour! Now is the Lord trying his Friends their Love, Refpedl and Zeal, and how far they will go for him. Ye fliall not e- very Day have Occafion thus to manifeff your Love, and give Proof of your Refpedfs to the Lord Jefus, and poflibly he will nevermore trouble you. Hear the CurateSy and give a Tejlmony for the Lordy if ye can. Be not rafh in condemning fuch as have fuf- I fered on this Account, as guilty of Self-Murder; Fear left their Blood teftif^y againft you. Oh! think ye I have done too much already i recoil at laft; Remem- ! ber this is the laft Point they want; they have got I eftablifhed by Law i the Officers have either I yielded, come unto them, or elfe left their Charges, i and others are got in thdr Rooms; and now the only Thing they lack is Hearing ; and hence they ply all 1 their Batteries to this, for they know it concerns them. 1 tell you, the Standing or tailing of Prelacy ^ Iks 2i6 *l 1 )e Lavjfulnefs of Separation Chap. IV'; lies on this. Ye Watchmen of the Lord that have, by your leaving your Charges, given your Teftimony againft this Way, beware of eftablifhing what ye have deftroyed, by fervvig as common Soldiers, in that Aym'j in which ye have refufed to ferve as Officers; but be doing; think not ye are tree of your Employment, becaufe the Prelates have difeharged you j get up and be doing, elfe the Lord with a foolijh People ivillpro^ vokeyontojealoiify. Ye chat protefsthe Lord, and have ihdeed found the Arm of the Lord revealed to you, ohl know the Times, .and be ye doing. I tell you your Compliance with Curates and Prelatesgoei^ near the Lord’s Heart, and will make fad W ork of it one Day. Ye great Ones, what may be expected of you to do now for the Lord ? Tell me not of a Dif¬ ference of Perfons, as tho’ ye heard not all, but fome only, feeing all are engaged in the Caufe, and it is the Quarrel xoe look to. Tell me not of godly Men who hear j fo there are that hear not. God is now calling to ceafe from Men, and to look up to our Maker, elfe G(xi will break them. Tell me not of Ordination, and that yet they are not depofed i Contempt of Ordinances, which are Scare-Crow? of Words to affright fimple Children. Idolizing of For ms hath been an old Evil: There’s no worlhip- ping of God, but in the Spirit i God will not be mo^ed. As, therefore, ye would (hew your Love and Regard to the Lord JefuSi as ye woivld not grieve the Hearts of the Godly; as ye would not ftrengihen or harden Curates, and eftablifh Pre¬ lacy ; or, as ye would have Peace when dying s as ye would wifh the Lord to return, oh! feparate from the Tents of ih°fc wicked Men, and fall to and (esk to build the Houfe of the Lord j elfe know that the Lord will fhorcly be amongft us, and your Carcafes (hall fail in this Wildernefs, or elfe mourn and pine away, when others (ball rejoice who have born a Part of the Burden. Sed. 11, from corrupt Minifers vindicated. 21 f But oh! what tender Heart cannot but mourn and lament, not only for the Profanity of Curates (for few expedt better ot them) but for the Lukewarmnefs, Ingratitude, Frotbinsfs, Fruitlefnefs, Mocking and Compliance of tbofe who are Sons and Daughters, at lead, by Profeffion. 1 ftiall only fay this j Oh ! fearch and try your Ways, and amend ye every one his Doings, and look from whence ye have fallen, and do.your firft Works j or elfe know, that the Wrath of a jealous God will break out fuddenly upon you, and that without Remedy i and Trees only bearing a few fair F'lourinies, and that cum¬ ber the Ground, fhall be rooted out and call over the Hedge. For Things will not always continue thus j the abufed long-fuffering Patience of God will have an End. And then I doubt not but many that carry their Heads high will be found light. As IJaac fa id to '^acob. Come hither, my Son, let me feel thee, if thou he my firflhornor not; fo, 1 aflureyou, Cbrilt will feel the belt of you, and try what you are. Oh ! then, prepare yourfelvcs in Time. Now, may the Lord himfelf vifit his poor afBidled Remnant, and < give them Grace, Wifdom, Boldnefs and Patience, until the evil Days pafs away. To him be Glory for ever. Amen. Glory to Godin the Highejl, and on Earth Feac mid Good-will towards Men. finis. Ee