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…

First, Public and violent persecutions, as have been many times in Gods Church, then they have not been suffered to have either public or private meetings. Heb. 12. The Apostle mentioneth such times, when he speaks of some, Of whom the world was not worthy of, yet were not allowed a place in the world, but were as so many beasts chased up and down, living in dens and holes of Rocks. Thus it was also once with David, when banished out of Judea, though this was a sad affliction, and he doth in several Psalms ⟨p. 92⟩bewail his exile from the Ordinances, more than any temporal mercy whatsoever; neither his country or outward accommodations do sit so upon his heart, as that I cannot enjoy God in his Ordinances, as I have done. So then, though they were not actually in any Church-communion, yet because of their desire and wish, they were to be as accounted of it.

First, Publick and violent persecutions, as have been many times in Gods Church, then they have not been suffered to have either publick or private meetings. Heb. 12. The Apostle mentioneth such times, when he speaks of some, Of whom the world was not worthy of, yet were not allowed a place in the world, but were as so many beasts chased up and down, living in dens and holes of Rocks. Thus it was also once with David, when banished out of Judea, though this was a sad affliction, and he doth in several Psalms ⟨p. 92⟩bewail his exile from the Ordinances, more than any temporal mercy whatsoever; neither his countrey or outward accommodations do sit so upon his heart, as that I cannot enjoy God in his Ordinances, as I have done. So then, though they were not actually in any Church-communion, yet because of their desire and wish, they were to be as accounted of it.

Secondly, It may so fall out, that there be such a malice and poison in the hearts of those that do govern and rule in the Church, that they will excommunicate and cast out those that are true believers from the Church, and will not let them have any Church-society. Now in such cases, if the godly cannot obtain any public Church-privilege, which yet they desire, this will lie on those that cast them out,