A iustification of separation from the Church of England Against Mr Richard Bernard his invective, intituled; The separatists schisme. By Iohn Robinson.

But were it, as wee would haue it, that not onely the works, but even the workers of wickednes were to be avoyded for their works sake▪ yet doth Mr B. take a double exception against our interpretation of this scripture. The former is, that it serves not our* 1.1 turn, except we prove them all to live in darknes, in vnrighteousnes, to be in league with the Divel. &c.

I do answer, that if light and darknes, beleevers and vnbeleevers,* 1.2

Christ and Beliall, must haue no fellowship together, then must the belee∣vers, and they that are in Christ forbeare fellowship with all vnbe∣leevers, & men of Beliall, so continuing incorrigible: & if any be∣leevers, or Christians will notwithstanding still combyne with vn∣beleevers, and godles men, it is their sinne thus to confound the order which God hath set in separating from the faithfull, with whom he hath joyned them, by joyning with the vnbeleevers, & vnfaithfull, from whom he hath † 1.3 separated them; yea I adde, in do∣viding Christ from himself, and vniting him with Beliall, & the Divill, in his members, what in them lyeth. To conclude, what reason hath Mr B. thus to obiect, that all which are amongst them, live not in darknes, and that all are not in league with the Divel, consi∣dring, that by his own exposition of this place, the very societies of Papists are to be left as no people of God, and yet all Papists live not in darknes, as here he vnderstands it, nor are in league with the di∣vell: neyther in deed had they need, considering what league of spirituall cōmunion he professeth els where he will have with ma∣ny of them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr B.
• * 1.2

  Answ.
• † 1.3

  1 Cor. 4. 7.