The world that now is; and the world that is to comeThe vvorld that now is; and the vvorld that is to come

§ 4.

The Ministers and Members of the Churches of God ought to imitate Christ in this matter, and to follow his steps. Our LORD Jesus Christ did see many things amiss in some of the Churches in Asia, viz. unsound Doctrines, and corrupt Manners; to wit, ⟨p. 98⟩the Doctrine and Deeds of the Nicolaitans, which Christ hated, &c. But notwithstanding Christ did not presently forsake those Churches, nor did he command any of the Ministers, or Members thereof to separate themselves from them; neither did Christ blame any Believers that were sound in their Judgments, and holy in their Conversations for holding Communion with those Churches. But Jesus Christ did, first, bear his Testimony against those Errors in Doctrine, and Corruptions in Conversation. Secondly, Christ called upon the Church and Angel to Repent, and Reform what was amiss. And Thirdly, Christ gave them space to Repent, and waited for their Amendment, before he did forsake them. Read the second and third chapters of the Revelation: And therefore I conclude, That none of the Ministers nor Members of any true Church of God ought to separate themselves from the Church; nor ought they to forsake the Assembling of themselves with the Church, nor absent themselves from any part of the true Worship of God, nor turn ⟨p. 99⟩their back of any Gospel-Ordinance of Christ in the Church, because of Offence against any Member or Minister in the Church: But they ought to bear, and have patience, and to wait upon Christ and his Church, until such Offenders be orderly proceeded against, and those offences be reformed or removed by the Laws of God's House: Or else until the Candlestick be removed out of its place, for suffering those Errors in Doctrine, or Corruptions in Manners and Conversation; and for adding impenitency unto such impiety & iniquity suffered and indulged in the Church by the Ministers therein, and by the Members thereof, to the dishonour of God, the scandal of the Gospel, and the great offence and grief of the godly, who have walked orderly, and have not defiled their Garments, but have watched and kept themselves unspotted of the world, and uncorrupted with those Evils in the Church; which would not be healed, and therefore ought to be forsaken and separated from, by the faithful Ministers of Christ, and all the holy People of God.