Theodulia, or, A just defence of hearing the sermons and other teaching of the present ministers of England against a book unjustly entituled (in Greek) A Christian testimony against them that serve the image of the beast, (in English) A Christian and sober testimony against sinful complyance, wherein the unlawfulness of hearing the present ministers of England is pretended to be clearly demonstrated by an author termed by himself Christophilus Antichristomachus / by John Tombes.

Sect. 5. No approved practice of the Saints, afore the Law, Counte∣nanceth separation from the present preachers in England.

Yet, saith this Author, inasmuch as some Beams of Light may be

communicated unto the present Enquiry, by a retrospection into the state of things in the time of the Old Law, it shall not be grievous to us (nor will it be altogether unprofitable to the Reader) briefly to remark, so far as may concern the matter in hand, the state and ma∣nagement of affairs under that Oeconomy and Dispensation: Not to mention the Administration of Holy things in the time of the Antedi∣luvian Fathers; nor the General Apostacy from the pure wayes of God, in the dayes of Seth; (when according to their duty, the faith∣ful remnant (the sons of God) separated from the Wicked (or the daughters of men) and solemnly joyned themselves together to worship God according to his holy appointments, Gen. 4.26.) Let us take a brief view of things, with relation unto the People of God, after the giving of Moses Law, when a Standard was set up for them to repair unto, and they became (being gathered into one) as a City on an Hall, conspicuous unto all.

Answ. How some beams of light may be communicated unto the present enquiry, by a retrospection into the state of things in the time of the Old Law, will not be easie to discern, if the whole thereof be divolved on the Scriptures of the New Testament. Yet it will not be grievous to me to examine what I find produced for his purpose. I grant that Dr. Owen hath in his Book in Latine, of the nature, rise, progress, and study of true Theologie, shewed divers Corrupti∣ons in the Ages before and after the Flood of Noah in Theologie; and the pure Worship of God, unto Moses his time; and that the restitution of true Theologie was sometimes by a separation from the Wicked, when there was a general Apostacy from the true wayes of God, unto a prophaning of the Name of God, (as some conceive Gen. 4.26. is meant) either by blaspheming, or by setting up of Idol-worship; as it was before Abrahams separation, Josh. 24.15. But neither by him, nor I think, by any other is it shewed, that a separation was approved from Preachers, that teach no worse Doctrine than is held forth by the Articles, Homilies, and other avowed Books of the Church of England; or from a Society or Church that was no more polluted by Idolatry or other Corrupti∣ons in Worship, than are chargeable on the publick enjoyned Worship of the Church of England. If Gen. 4.26. be meant of a Reformation, by setting up separate Congregations (as Dr Owen conceives in that Book, l 2. c. 3.) it was, that therein they might call on the Name of the Lord; which shews it was from them that did not call upon the Name of the Lord, not from them that did as in the Worship of the Church of England is done. And if Noah did reform by separation, it was from Wicked men, who had filled

the earth with violence, Gen. 6.13. which doth indeed make a ne∣cessary separation, (though it appear not but that Noah continued to preach to them, and live among them, 1 Pet. 3.20. 2 Pet. 2.5.) But is not the cause of the separation avowed by this Author from the Ministers and Church of England. And though it be true, that by the Law at Mount Sinai, and other acts of Gods providence, Israel became (being gathered into one) as a City on a Hill, conspi∣cuous unto all, yet how then a Standard was set up for the people to repair unto, needs some explication, sith such as Job, and such like holy persons (if he or any other lived at that time) seem not to have repaired to them, nor were bound to repair to them, unless they would be made Proselytes, which the avoiding Idolatry, of the Gentiles might require of them; not such Corruptions onely as are in the Church of England. But let us see what beams of light may be communicated unto the present enquiry, by retrospection into the state of things in the time of the Old Law.