Yet fuppofing it to be as is intimated) we ask, 1. Do you look upon your going to hear as your duty, or meerly as your liberty? if the firft, let it be proved from any pofitive precept of Chrift, and we are fatisfied: If the fecond, you are bound by many folemn injunctions (which are at least reduceable to the Moral Law) not to use your li berty to Scandalize your Brethren.

Secondly, Let both parties be weighed in an upright Ballance, fuch as you judge to be offended with you for not hearing, and fuch as are offended thereat. I am bold to fay, That the laft mentioned, for Number, Holiness, Spirituallity and Tenderness, do far furmount the former, who will really be Scandalized at your forbea

rance.

Thirdly, Let alfo the grounds of the offence on both fides, be weighed; the one are offended at you,That you build not up in practise, in a day of trouble; and cause thereby the Enemies of the Lord to tiyumph and blafpheme, what in a day of liberty, you did in your preaching and practife, pull down and deftroy: The other, because of your disobedience to what they are fatisfied; and you your felves once were, God is calling you to (viz, to have nothing to do with, Separate from, this generation of men.) But

Fourthly, That 'tis your duty (efpecially if in a Church-Relation) to meet together as a People called, and picked by the Lord out of the Nations of the World, in a way of diftinction from them, cannot be denied: the neglect of which, is charged by the Lord, as the first step to Apoftacy, Heb. 10.25. Be you in the practife of this duty, and fee, what Spiritual Saint will be offended at you; if any fhould, you might have peace therein; you doing your duty, no juft caufe of Scandal is given. Yet further,

Fifthly, Confider on which fide the Crofs Hes; which the Flesh, and fleshly intereft is moft oppofite to, whether in going, or forbearing to go to hear thefe men, and let that be chofen: ufually, that is the way of God that hath most of the Crofs in it, and the flesh is most Arugling and contefting againft. But thus much of the feventh Argument.

Argument. 8.

That which Saints cannot do without being guilty of partaking with athers in their fin, is utterly unlawful for them to do. But the Saints cannot attend upon the Miniftry of England, without being guilty of

partaking

partaking with them in their fin. Therefore

The Major Propofition is clearly bottomed upon Scripture, Pfal. 50. 18. Ephef. 5.7. 1 Tim. 5. 22. 2 John 11. Rev. 18. 4. which might be abundantly demonftrated were it needful: Sure that God who commands me to abftain from all appearance of evil, 1 Thef. 5.22. never enjoyned, expects not that I fhould be found in the practice of what, without fin, cannot be performed by me.

The Minor Propofition, viz. That the Saints cannot attend upon the prefent Miniftry of England, without being partakers with them in their fin, will admit of a speedy difpatch. Two things are briefly to be enquired into.

1. What that, or those fins are we fuppofe the Minifters of England to be guilty of.

2. How it will appear that any perfon's attending upon their Miniftry, renders him guilty of partaking with them therein. Of the former we have already treated, and proved (beyond what any are able to say to the contrary) That they are guilty of the fins of worfhipping God in a way that is not of his appointment, of acting in the Holy things of God, by vertue of an Antichriftian Power, Of fice or Calling; of oppofing really the Prophetical and Kingly Of fice of Chrift ; of ufing and conforming to Modes and Rites in Worship, not appointed by the Lord, that have been abused to Idolatry, &c. Nor is it denied by our Conforming-Brethren, but with fome of these things the prefent Ministers of England may be juftly charged: That they worshipGod after the way of the Common-PrayerBook, with Modes and Rites ufed in the Papacy, cannot be denied: Nor can their undue administration of that great Ordinance of our Lord Jefus, of breaking Bread to all, according to the form therein prefcribed: That they are Ordained, and fome of them Re-ordained by the Epifcopacy is also known. I ask, are these things the fin and evil of these men, or are they not? If they are not, why did not our preaching-Brethren receive theOrdination from the Bishops these received? Yea, why do not our half-conforming-Brethren attend upon the reading of the Service ufed, joyn with them in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as adminiftred by them? Doth not their abfenting themselves herefrom, abundantly demonftrate, that they in their consciences are perfwaded, that 'tis the fin and evil of the prefent Priefts of England thus to act, and from fuch a Miffion in K 2

the

the Worship of the Lord? As for the fecond, That the hearing of the prefent Minifters of England, is that which renders a man guilty, of being partaker with them in their fin; the confideration of the feveral wayes perfons may juftly be charged with being guilty of pantaking with others in their fin, will abundantly demonftrate the truth thereof. To inftance in a few particulars; Then may perfons juftly be charged as guilty hereof,

1. When they are found any way confenting with them in their fin, Pfal. 50. 18. When thou faweft a Theif, then thou consentedft with him, and haft been partaker with Adulterers. 'Tis not the doing of the act that was done by thefe wicked perfons, that is here called partaking with them, but a fecret confenting with them therein.

2. When they do that which hath a real tendency to encourage perfons in their fin, 2 John 11. Receive them not into your houses, bid them not Godspeed; for he that biddeth them. God speed is partaker of their evil deeds.

3. When they neglect the doing of thofe duties which the Lord requires at their hands, for the reclaiming of them from their fin; fuch are Watching over, Rebuking, Admonishing, first privately, then by two, and in cafe of obftinacy and perfeverance therein, telling it to the Church: which are duties eminently comprized in the enfuing Scriptures, 1 Thef. 5.14. Heb.3. 12,13. and 10.24,25. Lev. 19.17. Mar. 18,15,16,17.

4. When they (notwitstanding all that they have done, or can do, being under an utter incapacity of proceeding further therein) perceive them to perfevere in their fin, fhall ftill continue to hold communion with them, and not feparate from them. Rev. 18.4. Come out of her my People; left being partakers of her fins, ye receive of ber plagues: The abiding with obftinate perfevering Offenders (as it is against pofitive injunctions of the Moft High, Rom. 16. 17.2 Cor. 6. 14,15,16,17. 1 Tim.6.5. Ephef. 5.8, 1. Rev. 18.4. So is it in the last place inftacn'd in) affigned by the Spirit to be one way of partaking with others in their fins. Not to multiply more particulars, let us in a few words make Application of thefe remarked. To the bufinefs in hand.

Is there any thing in the world that carries a greater brightness and evidence with it, than this, That the hearing the prefent Minifters of England, is to be partakers with them in their fin? is not our fo

doing, a fecret confenting with them, and encouraging of them in their evil deeds? Is this to difcharge thofe duties incumbent upon us (if we indeed look upon them as Brethren) for their reclaiming? yea, is this to come out of, and feparate from them? what less? So then, except it can be proved, that the particulars inftanc'd in, are. not fome of those wayes, whereby perfons do become guilty of partaking with other mens fins; or that to attend upon the prefent Minifters of England, is not what doth fymbolize with fome one, more, or all of them (which can never be done) it evidently follows, that 'tis not lawful for Saints to hear the prefent Minifters of England, the doing whereof, is apparantly a partaking with them in their evil deeds.

Ar

CHAP. IX.

A ninth Argument against hearing the prefent Minifters. That it cafts contempt upon the Wayes and Inftitutions of Chrift, hardens perfons in a falfe way of Worship and Rebellion against God, proved. A tenth rgument produced, That 'tis not lawful to go into the Affemblies of falfe Worshippers, proved. An eleventh Argument, that there is no promife of a Bleffing upon the bearing these men, proved. A twelfth Argument, proving, that fo to do, is the first step to Apoftacy. Several Queries propofed.

Argument 9.

That the dog whe one or more of of our and Hat the doing whereof doth caft contempt upon the Wayes and Inftitutions (fome one or more of them) of our Lord Jefus, and hardens perfons in a falfe way of Worship and Rebellion against him, is utterly unlawful for the Saints to do: But the hearing of the pre-fent Minifters of England is that, the doing whereof doth caft contempt upon the VVayes and Inftitutions (fome one or more of them) of our Lord Jefus, and hardens perfons in a falle way of VVorship and Rebellion against him. Therefore.

The major Propofition is laid down in fuch full, clear, and evident expreffions, bottom'd upon Scripture and right Reafon, as carry a brightness with them, that none but fuch as are defperately and judicially blinded, will or can gainfay.

The minor (or fecond Propofition) viz. That the hearing of the prefent Minifters of England, is the doing of that which doth caft contempt upon the VVayes and Inftitutions of our Lord Jefus, and

hardens,

hardens perfons in a falfe way of VVorship and Rebellion against him, is by our diffenting-Brethren gainsayed. Three things are therein afferted.

1. That our hearing these perfons is that which cafts contempt upon the VVayes and Inftitutions of Chrift. 2dly. That it hardens perfons in a falfe way of VVorfhip. 3dly. That it hardens and encourages fouls in their Rebellion against the Lord. As for the firft, a brief Obfervation of fome of the Inftitutions of Chrift, clearly bottom'd upon the Scripture, will abundantly evince its original to be from God.

First then, That feparation from the world and men of the world, from all wayes of falfe VVorship, and the Inventions of men thereabout, until the Saints of the Moft-High be apparently a People dwelling alone, and not reckoned amongst the Nations (however it be decryed, and found harth in the ears of carnal men) is one grand Inftitution, a man may run and reade in the following Scriptures; Numb. 23.9. Joh.15. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15, 17, 19." Eph.5.8, 11. 2 Tim.3.5. Hof.4.15. Rev. 18.4. Prov. 14.7. (nor is it denied by fome of our Conforming-Brethren.)

Secondly, That Saints feparate from the world, fhould frequently meet together as a diftinct body therefrom, for the edification and building up of each other in the VVay and VVill of God, according to the gifts bestowed upon them, is fo evidently afferted, as the Inftitution of our alone King and Lawgiver in the Scripture, that it cannot be gainfayed; Mal.3.16. 1 Theff.5.11. Heb. 3. 12. Jude 20. Heb.10.24,25. 1 Cor.12.9. Acts 12.12, & 18.23. Ephef.5. 19. Fam.5.16. 1 Theff.5.14.

Thirdly, That particular Congregations, or Affemblies of Believers, gathered into one body, for the Celebration of the Worship of God (in oppofition to any National Church or Churches whatfoever) is of the Appointment of Chrift, is alike evident as the former. Alt. 8. 1, 3. & 12. 1. & 13. 14. & 15. 22. & 18.22. & 20, 14, 28. 1 Cor.1.2. & 6.4. Acts 9.1. 1 Cor.16.19. Rom.16.4. 2 Cor.8.1 ̧ Gal.1.2. Alts 16.4,5. & 14.23. 1 Cor.11,12, & 14. 4,5,12,19. ·2 Cor.1.1. Rev.1.2,3,11.

Fourthly, That Chrift hath appointed Officers of his own, to act in the Holy-things of God, in and over thefe Affemblies, whom he furnitheth with Gifts every way fuiting their Imployment, to whom,

without