2. Concerning those that are not Christians: we are bid come out from among them, and separate our selves, and touch ⟨p. 289⟩no unclean thing, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18 For what communion hath Light with darkness, and Christ with Belial, or a Believer with an Infidel? ver. 14. we have the estates of Infidels, Apostates and ungodly men described to us, and we must judge them to be as they undoubtedly appear to be, and use them accordingly. John bids a woman, that [If any come to them and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that bideth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.] Here is an Excommunication ipso Jure: for he doth not name the persons, but leave them to discern them, and execute according to evidence. And these seem to be persons much in the case as now we have to do with: such as professed themselves Christians in name, and yet denied the fundamentals, and lived wickedly: v. 7.8, 9. of Ep. 2. [Mary deceivers are entered into the World, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a very Deceiver, and Antichrist; whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God.] whether this was written to a Lady, or a Church, whether of the Gnostics or other Sect, it differs not much as to our case. Also God calls all his people, whom it did concern, to come out of Babylon, that they partake not of her sins, & receive not of her plagues, Rev. 18.4. But I need not prove, I hope, that we are not of the same body with known unbelievers; and that unbelieving expresseth as small, if not a smaller evil than ungodliness, and is comprehended in it, I have already manifested: And its known that we are to shun the company of a wicked man, that will take on him the name of a Christian Brother, more then of an unbeliever that pretendeth not to be one of us: For with the later we may eat, 1 Cor. 10 27. though we may not communicate with him in his false worship (ver. 16.17, 18, 20, 21.) but with the former we may not.
2. Concerning those that are not Christians: we are bid come out from among them, and separate our selves, and touch ⟨p. 289⟩no unclean thing, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18 For what communion hath Light with darkness, and Christ with Belial, or a Believer with an Infidel? ver. 14. we have the estates of Infidels, Apostates and ungodly men described to us, and we must judge them to be as they undoubtedly appear to be, and use them accordingly. John bids a woman, that [If any come to them and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that bideth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.] Here is an Excommunication ipso Jure: for he doth not name the persons, but leave them to discern them, and execute according to evidence. And these seem to be persons much in the case as now we have to do with: such as professed themselves Christians in name, and yet denied the fundamentals, and lived wickedly: v. 7.8, 9. of Ep. 2. [Mary deceivers are entered into the World, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a very Deceiver, and Antichrist; whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God.] whether this was written to a Lady, or a Church, whether of the Gnosticks or other Sect, it differs not much as to our case. Also God calls all his people, whom it did concern, to come out of Babylon, that they pertake not of her sins, & receive not of her plagues, Rev. 18.4. But I need not prove, I hope, that we are not of the same body with known unbelievers; and that unbelieving expresseth as small, if not a smaller evil than ungodliness, and is comprehended in it, I have already manifested: And its known that we are to shun the company of a wicked man, that will take on him the name of a Christian Brother, more then of an unbeliever that pretendeth not to be one of us: For with the later we may eat, 1 Cor. 10 27. though we may not communicate with him in his false worship (ver. 16.17, 18, 20, 21.) but with the former we may not.
