A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

3 There is a departing from the Faith of the church▪ or sitting loose from them in Spirit, judgement, and affection, their Doctrine contrary, and hearts contrary, as Paul saith, In the latter days certain shall depart from the Faith, Heb. 10.25. to 29. so that such fall off not only in place, or fellowship, in ordinance, but in judgment, heart, and affection, that is a mark of an Antichristian spirit, Jude 4.5. 3 Epist. Joh. 8, 9, 10.

3 There is a departing from the Faith of the church▪ or sitting loose from them in Spirit, judgement, and affection, their Doctrin contrary, and hearts contrary, as Paul saith, In the latter dayes certain shall depart from the Faith, Heb. 10.25. to 29. so that such fall off not only in place, or fellowship, in ordinance, but in judgment, heart, and affection, that is a mark of an Antichristian spirit, Jude 4.5. 3 Epist. Joh. 8, 9, 10.

It is said of the new converts that were added to the church, that they continued in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship, Acts 2.42. therefore when they break from the fellowship of the church, they depart from the Apostles doctrine.

It is said of the new converts that were added to the church, that they continued in the Apostles Doctrin and fellowship, Acts 2.42. therefore when they break from the fellowship of the church, they depart from the Apostles doctrin.

Q. What be the grounds?

Use 1. Seems to inform our judgements what to think in case of separation, for this place is much abused; The Papists they build on this place that they that separate from their church are Antichrists. That company, say they that break off from the fellowship of the church is Antichristian▪ as it is plain here; now what were Calvin and Luther, but such as brake off from the fellowship of the church, therefore they were of Antichrists spirit, and fore-runners of him.

Ʋse 1. Seems to inform our judgements what to think in case of seperation, for this place is much abused; The Papists they build on this place that they that seperate from their church are Antichrists. That company, say they that breake off from the fellowship of the church is Antichristian▪ as it is plain here; now what were Calvin and Luther, but such as brake off from the fellowship of the church, therefore they were of Antichrists spirit, and fore-runners of him.

We must therefore know, it is not every separation from that which is called a church that is a note of an Antichristian spirit, but it must be known whether that were the true church; now this church St. John speaks of ⟨p. 156⟩was the true Church, for it was from such whose sins were forgiven; now if it be not a true Church that they break from, it is no sign of Antichrist, 2 Chro. 11.16. such as set their hearts to seek the Lord, separated themselves from those that followed Jeroboam, and came to Jerusalem; so the Apostles were fain to separate from the Church of the Jews which persecuted Christ, and them, and so constituted a Church by themselves, a Christian Church; so then it is not a separation from a false Church, but a true, that is a sign of an Antichristian spirit.

We must therefore know, it is not every seperation from that which is called a church that is a note of an Antichristian spirit, but it must be known whether that were the true church; now this church St. John speaks of ⟨p. 156⟩was the true Church, for it was from such whose sins were forgiven; now if it be not a true Church that they breake from, it is no sign of Antichrist, 2 Chro. 11.16. such as set their hearts to seek the Lord, seperated themselves from those that followed Jereboam, and came to Jerusalem; so the Apostles were faine to seperate from the Church of the Jewes which persecuted Christ, and them, and so constituted a Church by themselves, a Christian Church; so then it is not a seperation from a false Church, but a true, that is a sign of an Antichristian spirit.

Obj. But what pretence, or just ground had such Divines to fall from the Romish Church, or we in England? for we, only upon the falling out of Hen. 8. with the Pope fell from him?

A. True, that matter of Divorce did move him to fail off from the Pope, and indeed, that cause was enough to fall off from the Pope, who would bind a Prince to an unlawful Marriage.

A. True, that matter of Divorce did move him to fail off from the Pope, and indeed, that cause was enough to fall off from the Pope, who would binde a Prince to an unlawful Marriage.

But the whole body of Christendom had a Three-fold ground of separation which may be just, when a Church is heretical; that is, hold an error contrary to the foundation obstinately, yet that is not a sufficient ground; as the Church of Corinth denied the Resurrection from the Dead, yet he calls them Saints; so though the Pharisees had charged that none should profess Christ, which was an obstinate denying of Christ, and taught false Doctrine, yet Christ charges them to obey them because they sit in Moses Chair, and therefore fundamental erroneousness is not always a just cause.

But the whole body of Christendom had a Three-fold ground of seperation which may be just, when a Church is heretical; that is, hold an errour contrary to the foundation obstinately, yet that is not a sufficient ground; as the Church of Corinth denied the Resurrection from the Dead, yet he calls them Saints; so though the Pharisees had charged that none should profess Christ, which was an obstinate denying of Christ, and taught false Doctrine, yet Christ charges them to obey them because they sit in Moses Chair, and therefore fundamental erroneousnesse is not alwayes a just cause.

1 Therefore that is a just cause of separation, when a Church is infected with Blasphemy, and Contradiction, and Blaspheme the ways of God, Acts 19.19. Acts 13.45, 46.

1 Therefore that is a just cause of seperation, when a Church is infected with Blasphemy, and Contradiction, and Blaspheme the wayes of God, Acts 19.19. Acts 13.45, 46.

2 Idolatry is a just ground of separation, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18.

2 Idolatry is a just ground of seperation, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18.

3 Persecution is a just ground of separation, Mat. 10.23. Acts 8.1.

3 Persecution is a just ground of seperation, Mat. 10.23. Acts 8.1.

Now all these have met in the Church of Rome, they have blasphemed and condemned as Heretical, Justification by Faith, and other fundamental truths.

Now all these have met in the Church of Rome, they have blasphemed and condemned as Heretical, Justification by Faith, and other fundamentall truths.

2 They worship Images, as of the Virgin Mary, yea with Divine honour, as the Bread in the Sacrament, what greater Idolatry?

3 The World knows, and the blood of thousands of Martyrs can testify their horrible Persecutions, that as long as we were subordinate to them, we could not profess the true Religion without loss of Goods and life, therefore we have just cause to separate our selves from them.

3 The World knows, and the blood of thousands of Martyrs can testifie their horrible Persecutions, that as long as we were subordinate to them, we could not profess the true Religion without loss of Goods and life, therefore we have just cause to seperate our selves from them.

Use 2. It may teach us what to judge of the Separatists, or Brownists, are they of Antichrist?

Ʋse 2. It may teach us what to judge of the Seperatists, or Brownists, are they of Antichrist?