Objection. THe Apostle telleth us, that it is impossible to separate from such a people, as to goe out of the world, 1 Cor. 5. 10. intimating, that so long as the world subsisteth, we cannot avoyd the company of such ••••••ple, so that of necessity it must be tollerated.
Ans. Is it not as possible now, as it was in* 1.1 the Apostles time? Again the Apostle, 1 Cor. 5. doth fully cleare himselfe, in what manner he would have the Church to be sepa∣rate from such men, ver. 19. where he saith, yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, &c. meaning, that we should not so shun their company, as to have no commerce, or dealings with them, as in bargaines, &c. or not to use a civill carriage or behaviour towards them; or that we should not admit of such persons to the publick ordinance of hearing the Word, for by so doing they would ever be kept in blinde ignorance, and never be converted to the faith; therefore to eschew them in such things, is as impossible, as to goe out of the world, in regard the world doth chiefly consist of such people, (to which the Church of Christ in all ages hath been as a little flock) as also in that Christ commanded his Apostles to teach all Nations, Matth. 28. 19. (that is, all the world, that thereby, they who are ordained to eternall life, may be discerned, and distinguished from the rest of unbeleevers, by joyning themselves in a League, and Covenant, to be obedient to the rule, and Government which Christ by his Apostles hath prescribed for them. And this wil more fully appeare to be the intent and meaning of the Apostle, by his expressions in the 11. ver. of that Chapter, where he saith, If any one be called a Bro∣ther, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an extortioner, with such