Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT III. Of the separation warranted by the Gospel, and that it is more perfect then that of the Jewish Church, or those that were before them.

* 1.1 When therefore the fulness of time was come, God sent his own Son, who is the head of the Womans seed, to regulate the affairs of his Kingdom, whose Fan being now in his hand, he will more throughly purge his Floor, then in the Generations past; gathering in a more spi∣ritual manner, a Church to serve the Lord in Spirit and Truth, not regarding the fleshly posterity of Abraham more then others, save that he tenders the Grace of the Gospel first to them, Act. 3. ult. But causeth his holy Doctrine to be published throughout all Nations in∣differently, to the intent that whosoever should thereupon fear God and work Righteousness should be accepted of him, Act. 10. 35. Not now by the Gospel designing to separate or seggregate his people af∣ter a National way, as in time past, but divides the self-same families for the Gospel sake, three against two, and two against three, Luk. 12. yea the dearest relations in nature, must now be separated, even man and wife; not as man and wife, no in no wise, 1 Cor. 7. 10. &c, Let not the husband put away his wife, neither let the wife depart from her hus∣band; Also the Father and Child, the Master and Servant, &c. must all for the Gospel sake be divided, not as Parent and Child, not as Ma∣ster and Servant, but as the one is a Christian and the other none; nor is this separation in Domestical concerns, but only in the matters of God, 1 Cor. 7. 14. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he is called, walking with God.

* 1.2 Gospel separation is two fold; first, from the world, or those that are professed enemies to the Gospel of Christ. 2. From such as per∣vert the Gospel by wicked Doctrine, or walk disorderly. Of the first there is no great Controversie; the command of Christ being so ex∣press

as delivered by the Apostle, 2 Cor. 6. 17. Come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. And our Saviour plainly declareth that his followers are not of the world, but he hath chosen them out of the world, John 15. 19. And therefore doth the world hate those that follow Christ. And it is beyond doubt that our Saviour made this separation in the same Nation, City, and Family, choosing only such as adhered to his Sacred Doctrine; for his Disciples were generally of the Jewish Nation, whose Parents and Kinsfolk he foreshewed would hate and betray them. And according to this pattern so clearly set by our Saviour, his Apostles made their proceedings in segregating or gathering to∣gether the Gospel Churches in all Nations, even among the Jews themselves, Act. 2. 39. Save your selves from this untoward generation, (saith S. Peter) which the Learned Diodate thus expounds. Quickly joyn your selves to the Church, withdrawing your selves from the corrupt society of the Jews, that you may not participate of their sins. And in Rev. 18. 4. the command is express, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Mistery Ba∣bylon, out of whom Gods people are called, whether we consider her in her pagan estate, or as that title may be referr'd to all Apostates or false Worshippers, being spread far and wide, including within her Dominion many Nations, Kindreds, Tongues and People; This call from thence cannot so well import a fleeing out of one Nation or place into another, (as Dr. Hammond) * 1.3 but a separation from the errors and abominations of all Nations. Christs Church being to have her Plantation in all Nations, and there to bear a living Te∣stimony to the Truth of God, before the crooked and perverse ge∣nerations of men, in these Nations respectively.

This separation between the Church and the World, grounded up∣on the Authority of Christ requiring it, and illustrated by the Apo∣stle, by very apt similitudes, 2 Cor. 6. as first, like as we see the light separated from darkness, even so the Chureh of Christ being all Chil∣dren of the light and of the day, can in no wise Communicate with the World who are said to lie in darkness, for as in nature light and darkness can have no Communion together, even so neither can the Children of the Light, obscure themselves, in the society of those that are the Children of Darkness. The second Consideration is this, that there is an absolute impossibility of concord, between Christ and Be∣lial, and sith these two, can by no means be United, the Church and the World, viz. The subjects of these two Princes respectively, can∣not be Cemented in the same Community, as they are such. The third is taken from the non-agreement of the Temple of God with Idol Temples; which were so contradistinct, that the one could not be a Receptacle for both, or the same Deities, 1 Sam. 5. 4. Dagon must down and be broken to pieces if the Ark of God come near him; Fourthly, as nothing is more irreconcilable then righteousness, and unrighteousness, so is the Church and the World; And like as the part or portion of him that believeth is not mixed with the portion of

the unbeliever, but are in that severed far asunder, even so neither can they Communicate each with other, because the ways wherein they walk, are diversifyed according to the portions provided for them; the one being the broad way which leads to destruction, the other the strait gate which leads to Life; There is therefore no possibi∣lity of unity between the Church, the Kingdom of Christ: and the World, the Kingdom of Satan. For no man can serve two Masters, Mat. 6. 24. There is no halting between two Opinions, but if God be God, let us serve him; if Baal, * 1.4 then serve him: to this the people of Israel could not answer a word; nor shall any other be able to de∣fend the absurdity of too many in these days, who would fain unite truth and falshood together.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gospel separa∣tion more per∣fect in religious cases in the Go∣spel then in the Law.
• * 1.2

  Gospel separa∣tion two-fold, viz. from the World, and from them that walk disorderly under the Christian name.
• * 1.3

  Dr. Hammand takes the separa∣tion, Rev. 18. 4. to be first from the sin, and se∣condly from the place.
• * 1.4

  1 Kin. 18. 25.