An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Thirdly, Though that Church be a true Church where we live, yet if many corruptions do abound therein, we must take heed, That we do not pollute our selves thereby, or become partakers of any sin indulged amongst them. As we may not sinfully separate upon this ground, because they are no Church, so neither may we continue so, as to pollute and defile our selves with any known sin. The Apostles exhortation to the Corinthians under these manifold pollutions, is, that every one in their proper place, should endeavour their new moulding. So that under Church-pollutions, thou art to consider, what God calls thee to do, to rebuke, exhort, admonish; and if this will not do, to complain to Church-Officers, who are to guide and watch over the flock; and if yet this will not do, then to be the more earnest with God in prayer, to bring about Reformation notwithstanding all the gainsayings of wicked men: To mourn and sigh unto God, as a Lot in Sodom, vexing thy righteous soul continually; as a lamenting Jeremiah among the apostatizing Israelites. And certainly God doth in a special manner take notice of such, who do mourn for those abominations, that they cannot remove or take away, Ezek. 9. 4. when thou canst appeal to God, saying, O Lord, these corruptions, these disorders, they grieve me to the very heart! I cry out daily, Woe be unto me, because I dwell with men of polluted lips. This will much engage God to thee. Likewise we read, Revel. 3. 4. in what a special ⟨p. 76⟩manner God takes notice of a few names in Sardis, which had not defiled their garments. To be therefore in the midst of a defiled Church, and yet to keep thy self unspotted, this is admirable; as they record of the river Alpheus, which though it run into the Sea, yet it keeps its own natural sweetness; though we have communion with the Church in those things, that are commanded by God, yet we are not to partake with them in any evil way: as those seven thousand in Elijah's time, though they did not depart from the Church of Israel, yet they would not bow their knee to Baul.

Thirdly, Though that Church be a true Church where we live, yet if many corruptions do abound therein, we must take heed, That we do not pollute our selves thereby, or become partakers of any sinne indulged amongst them. As we may not sinfully separate upon this ground, because they are no Church, so neither may we continue so, as to pollute and defile our selves with any known sin. The Apostles exhortation to the Corinthians under these manifold pollutions, is, that every one in their proper place, should endeavour their new moulding. So that under Church-pollutions, thou art to consider, what God cals thee to do, to rebuke, exhort, admonish; and if this will not do, to complain to Church-Officers, who are to guide and watch over the flock; and if yet this will not do, then to be the more earnest with God in prayer, to bring about Reformation notwithstanding all the gainsayings of wicked men: To mourn and sigh unto God, as a Lot in Sodom, vexing thy righteous soul continually; as a lamenting Jeremiah among the apostatizing Israelites. And certainly God doth in a special manner take notice of such, who do mourn for those abominations, that they cannot remove or take away,