5. There are several sorts of separation, as these distinctions will manifest. Separation is either partial or total, negative or positive, universal or particular.
For the first distinction, there is a partial separation, when we with- draw from the communion of the church in some ordinances and not in others, as in the supper, but not in praying and hearing of the word.
The second distinction beareth thus : — There is a negative separa- tion, as when men do not hold communion with some church, but yet do not join elsewhere, but continue waiting for the amendment of that church. Positive separation is when they embody in another church way, setting up altar against altar, and threshold against threshold.
The third distinction is to be understood thus : — There is a par- ticular separation, whereby men renounce communion with the churches of such a kind and constitution, catholic or universal separation, by which men disclaim all churches extant in the world, as Seekers, and many loose and vagrant persons that are as yet to choose religion, or look for new messengers from heaven to resolve the questions that are now on foot.
Now the more unjust the ground is, the more aggravated is the sin by the degrees of it. If our separation be total and positive, and to deny all churches, of what constitution soever, argueth a high degree of pride and schism.
6. Faulty separation is that which is rash, sinful, and unjust ; rash, without any real cause, merely for our better accommodation, or when we require that of the church which the scripture doth not require ; unjust, without any sufficient cause, occasioning so many scandals and contentions for a trifle, and aggravating every discontent and dissatis- faction to the highest ; sinful I call it, when the grounds are as carnal as the practice, as revenge, personal discontent — as many in the primi- tive times went over to the sects in stomach and discontent : so Ter- tuUian is reported by some to do to the Montanists— or else corrupt
330 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 19.
aims to be in the head of a train or troop, Acts xx. 28. It is easy to abuse the innocent credulity of the people, and therefore some wicked spirits make it their work to ' draw disciples after them ; ' or it may be carnal fear of the severity of discipline or the censures of the church, or out of love of gain, 2 Tim. iv. 10, or affectation of novelty, or a higher way than ordinary Christians, or out of faction ; in Corinth, ' some of Paul, some of Apollos, some of Cephas/ 1 Cor. iii. 22.
7. The only lawful grounds of separation are three: — (1.) Intoler- able persecution ; (2.) Damnable heresy ; (3.) Gross idolatry,
(1.) Intolerable persecution.^ When we are thrust out, Christ biddeth us to flee into another city. (2.) Damnable heresy. We cannot bid them God-speed, lest we be partakers of their evil deeds, 2 John 11. (3.) Gross idolatry, when we cannot communicate in their worship without sin.
8. The scandals of professors are ground of mourning, but not ground of separation, 1 Cor. v. 2. Church guides must do their office, discern between the precious and the vile, that the hearts of the right- eous be not made sad ; yet if not, you have no ground to separate, be- cause God may own them for a church though they have many scandals among them ; as in Corinth there was incest, heresy, profane- ness, many that ' never had repented,' 2 Cor. xii. 21 ; yet ' to the saints at Corinth.' We may communicate with a church without sin when we have done our duty, that is, informed, warned, mourned. If the word and ordinances be kept pure for substance, though the per- sons be corrupt, you may communicate without sin. The Pharisees held the degree of doctors and expositors of the law, and so far were to be owned, though guilty of much personal w^ickedness. Mat. xxiii. 2, 3. The prophets lived in corrupt times, yet did they not separate from the assemblies of the church. Usually laziness is the ground of separation ; they are loath to discharge their duty, to take pains, to convince, exhort, and warn their fellow members, or to call upon their pastors to ' take heed to their ministry ;' and some pastors are loath to be at the labour to gain a rugged people to the obedience of the gospel, to use that frequent admonition and those serious ad- dresses which are necessary for such a purpose, and to expose themselves to encounter those exasperations which the discharge of their duty will necessarily draw upon them, and therefore run into separate assemblies, where all things may be carried on more easily.
9. Lawful separation must not be sudden, till all due courses be tried : 1 Cor. xiii. 7, ' Love beareth all things, endureth all things, hopeth all things.' Certainly we should do much, endure much, ere we go off from the communion of any church. It must be with grief. When jDhysicians cut off an arm or leg, they do not delight in it, but are driven to it of necessity. So when a j udge condemneth a malefactor, he delighteth not in the punishment ; in a civil war, though the cause be just, yet to delight in the executions that are done upon the enemy is not without sin : 1 Cor. xiii. 5, ' Charity rejoiceth not in evil,