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

2 Suppose there were and are sundry abuses in the Church, yet that is no safe ground of separation, Ezek. 5.11. Ezek. 9.4. so when the Sons of Eli corrupted the Sacrifices of God, their Sin was great, yet it was a sin for the people to separate and abhor, 1 Sam. 2.17.

2 Suppose there were and are sundry abuses in the Church, yet that is no safe ground of seperation, Ezek. 5.11. Ezek. 9.4. so when the Sons of Eli corrupted the Sacrifices of God, their Sin was great, yet it was a sin for the people to seperate and abhor, 1 Sam. 2.17.

2 They say our Government is Antichristian, we say it is that Government that expelled Antichrist sometimes, and sundry have witnessed it with their blood; and I say further, there is no such corruption in our State as was in Jerusalem, when Christ and his Apostles kept Fellowship with them, as two High Priests, &c.

2 They say our Government is Antichristian, we say it is that Government that expeld Antichrist somtimes, and sundry have witnessed it with their blood; and I say further, there is no such corruption in our State as was in Jerusalem, when Christ and his Apostles kept Fellowship with them, as two High Priests, &c.

3 They say our Ministry and Calling is Antichristian, we say we do not profess our selves enemies to Christ, and for our Callings, many of us are elected by the peoples approbation, or by such as are set up by the King and State, and if God bless our Ministry to convert thousands to God by that means, it is an evident sign God approves our Calling, for, if it were Antichristian, they would not convert souls to God.

3 They say our Ministry and Calling is Antichristian, we say we doe not profess our selves enemies to Christ, and for our Callings, many of us are elected by the peoples approbation, or by such as are set up by the King and State, and if God blesse our Ministry to convert thousands to God by that means, it is an evident sign God approves our Calling, for, if it were Antichristian, they would not convert souls to God.

We cannot deny but there are very many corrupt and scandalous persons in our Church, but private Christians have no authority to root them out.

We cannot deny but there are very many corrupt and scandalous persons in our Church, but private Christians have no authority to roote them out.

1 For Ministers, if they see that it would turn to the dissipation and destruction of the F•ock, it were better to forbear, 1 Cor. 5. Mat. 13.29, 30. Ezra 4.20. they ceased from building the Temple, when there came a command against it; therefore they had better forbear, when it cannot be redressed without greater prejudice to the Church.

2 The corruption of such do not corrupt the Church, or the Ordinances of God, He that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks damnation to himself, not to the whole Congregation, and you shall find many Churches as corrupt as the Church of Corinth, yet the Apostle would not have them renounce it.

2 The corruption of such doe not corrupt the Church, or the Ordinances of God, He that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks damnation to himself, not to the whole Congregation, and you shall finde many Churches as corrupt as the Church of Corinth, yet the Apostle would not have them renounce it.

Lastly, they say we were never truly constituted, our Church had no true constitution.

A. That constitution which they themselves require hath not been wanting in ours.

1 They say there must be entering into a Covenant, that was done in King Edward and Queen Elizabeths days; and whereas they say our Church is but a Parliament constitution, that doth not weaken, but establish our Church.

1 They say there must be entring into a Covenant, that was done in King Edward and Queen Elizabeths dayes; and whereas they say our Church is but a Parliament constitution, that doth not weaken, but establish our Church.

2 But they say that our Church consists of a mixed multitude, so was that 2 Chron. 20.13. when Jehoshaphat assembled all Judah before the Lord, Num. 11.4 there was a mixed multitude, and they did it out of fear, and yet it was a true Church, and so is ours, though there be a mixed multitude. And yet this falling off, because it is not from the main Doctrine, but from the skirts, and some circumstantials, therefore they do not fall utterly from Christ, but yet it is not possible but they weaken their faith.

2 But they say that our Church consists of a mixt multitude, so was that 2 Chron. 20.13. when Jehosaephat assembled all Judah before the Lord, Num. 11.4 there was a mixt multitude, and they did it out of fear, and yet it was a true Church, and so is ours, though there be a mixt multitude. And yet this falling off, because it is not from the main Doctrine, but from the skirts, and some circumstantials, therefore they doe not fall utterly from Christ, but yet it is not possible but they weaken their faith.

3 This refutes the Anabaptists, that fall off from our Church, because we baptize Infants before they come to knowledge.

1 We say, though there were no Baptism, it were no cause to make it no church as Israel in Egypt without Circumcision.

2 We say our children have as much right to Baptism, as Isaac to circumcision, but they were circumcised the eight day, and if the Covenant belong to them, then the Seals of the Covenant, Act. 2.39. Mark 10.

2 We say our children have as much right to Baptisme, as Isaack to circumcision, but they were circumcised the eight day, and if the Covenant belong to them, then the Seals of the Covenant, Act. 2.39. Mark 10.

Use 4. Lastly it may teach us all, if it be a sign of Antichristianism to withdraw from the church, then it is a mark of true Christianity to stick close to the fellowship of the Saints; in love, in Christian duties, in admonishing one another, in counselling, in comforting, in reproving one another; therefore take heed you forsake not this fellowship, for so you loose your grace and strength, if you sit loose from them, They that follow lying vanities, forsake their own mercies, all that ointment that was poured on Christs head, descends to the lowest skirt of his garment, Psal. 133. to the meanest Christian, therefore if you sit loose from Christ and his members, how can you look for any drops of his oil, the valleys receive the showers from the Mountains, there God hath commanded a blessing, and it comes with power and authority; a man that gets a blessing any where else, gets it but precario, and as it were by stealth, but in public communion, God hath commanded a blessing.

Ʋse 4. Lastly it may teach us all, if it be a sign of Antichristianisme to withdraw from the church, then it is a mark of true Christianity to stick close to the fellowship of the Saints; in love, in Christian duties, in admonishiog one another, in counselling, in comforting, in reproving one another; therefore take heed you forsake not this fellowship, for so you loose your grace and strength, if you sit loose from them, They that follow lying vanities, forsake their own mercies, all that oyntment that was powred on Christs head, descends to the lowest skirt of his garment, Psal. 133. to the meanest Christian, therefore if you sit loose from Christ and his members, how can you look for any drops of his oyle, the vallies receive the showrs from the Mountains, there God hath commanded a blessing, and it comes with power and authority; a man that gets a blessing any where else, gets it but precario, and as it were by stealth, but in publick communion, God hath commanded a blessing.

Now we come to the last point, the end of the departing of these men out of the church, they went out, that it might appear they were not all of us.