FALSE UNITY & BIBLICAL SEPARATION by SAMUEL RUTHERFORD
In this age of boasted charity, but really
"detestable neutrality and indifferency," it is an irksome and
painful task, but a duty, thus to bear testimony against churches, in which are
to be found, no doubt, many precious sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty.
But personal piety never was, nor possibly can be, the condition of fellowship
in the visible church. To think so, and say so, is one of the most popular
delusions of the present day. It puts the supposed pious man, speaking his
experience, in the place of God, speaking his sovereign will in the Bible. This
is the height of impiety. Fidelity to Christ and our solemn covenant
engagements, as also charity to all parties, require that we both speak and act
as witnesses.
The first cry against the presbytery and its
members was,"schism, schismatics!" This charge was promptly and
publicly met and refuted, by showing from the Scriptures, that schism is,
"in the body," 1 Cor. 12:26; and from the approved writings of our
reformed covenanting fathers, that "sometimes, to avoid schism, we must separate."
Our worthy ancestors knew better than to adopt the vocabulary of papal Rome.
Besides, "the majority making the defection are the real
separatists." (Samuel
Rutherford).
Cited in the Act, Declaration, and Testimony
for the Whole of our Covenanted Reformation... by the Reformed Presbytery, 1876
edition (available from Still Waters Revival Books as a "rare bound
photocopy" for $7.00 post paid. Write SWRB at 4710-37A Ave., Edmonton, AB,
Canada, T6L 3T5).
Books at PuritanDownloads.com by Samuel Rutherford
(All the books below, by George
Gillespie are also on the Puritan Hard Drive)
