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myself with others in the worship and obedience of God, as in his word; for in this is my chief enjoyment upon earth: and I have travelled far, and spent a good part of my life in quest of such an assembly as I might join with, without disjoining with that word of God by which I am soon to be judged; and, for the want of Christian fellowship, I have been among others in the world as a dove without its mate. [1]
I am not a despiser of God's public worship, but one much grieved at public assemblies; so far from worshipping God in spirit and truth, according to his word, they are open contemners of those who would; and though ministers in general have what they call a liberal education, enabling them to read, hear, and understand, the things of the spirit of a man, above those who have not, which I allow to
- ↑ OBJECTION.— In this the author contends for a church, as the word of God, perfect, which we never can expect in time, where even the godly do see but in part, and know but in part. I answer, All that I allow; and such a perfection as the Scriptures I expect in no person nor church. But are we, from that consideration, like Tabernaelites, and New Lights, to make of non-effect the express revelation of God's word, allowing every man a right to neglect and pervert the express precepts of God's word, as his blind misguided conscience shall direct. Rom. xiv. 1. "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." Whatever conceit these people have of themselves, in stating their objections to creeds or confessions, it is evident from their weakness of faith, in making every thing doubtful in God's word, and depend on men's conscience, they make themselves unfit to be received into any Christian society where the above Scripture is observed: 1 Cor. v. ii. is not doubtful who are to be avoided, and not eat with, as friends of Christ. Neither is it at all doubtful, 2 Cor. vi. 15, 16, 17, whom Christian brethren are to separate themselves from. I allow human infirmities call us to be very tender in separating from the communion of brethren, and that it should be for no matter that is doubtful in its signification, such as the eating of flesh, and keeping of one day more sacred than another, besides the Lord's day, as instanced to the Church of Corinth. But are we on that account to look on all God's word as doubtful, and adhere to corrupt assemblies rather than the word of God? God forbid!
