which themselves are to wear; the Beauty and Luftre that reflects from them all, redounds to themselves. So we are promifed, 1 Sam. 2. 30. Them that honour me, I will honour. And to fhut up all, confider that Place of the Apostle, Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this Rule, Peace be on them, and Mercy, and upon the Ifrael of Gad.

OF

OF

WITHDRAWING

From fuch as

Walk Disorderly.

2 THESSAL. III. 6.

Now we command you, Brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the Tradition which he received of us.

HESE Words are as authoritative

Tand preffing a Command, as any

we meet with in the whole Book of God. In them we may observe both the Matter, and the Form, of this Injunction: The Matter is, Separation from the Converfe of wicked and profane Chriftians,

who

313

who are here described to be fuch as walk diforderly: 'Aráns, that walk out of Line, and keep not their Ranks. A Word borrowed from Military Difcipline, which requires every Soldier to march in his File, and to keep that Order in which he was placed by his Leader.

But because there can be no Irregularity, but a Rule must first be presupposed; and no Disorder, where no Orders have been given: Therefore the Apostle farther explains whom he means, and whom he would characterize by this Note, of walking diforderly: And thofe he tells us, are they who walk not after the Tradition which they had received; i. e. according to that Doctrine which was taught and delivered to them by the Apostles and Minifters of Chrift. And therefore,

First, All that commit grofs and flagitious Wickedness, and that live in a Course of foul and notorious Impieties, are juftly branded as those who walk diforderly. Tho they make Profeffion of an Holy Faith, yet they contradict, and enervate it by an unholy Life: They take upon them the Name of Chriftians, but yet live as without God, and without Christ in the World. The Doctrine of the Gospel teacheth nothing but Holiness and Purity ş

It is a Doctrine according to Godliness, as the Apostle expreffeth it, 1 Tim. 3. 6. All its Precepts, Exhortations, Promifes and Threatnings, the whole Drift and Defign of it tends only to make us more holy, and to impress upon us fome Strictures of the Purity of God our heavenly Father. And therefore, certainly, they who live in the Commiffion of any fcandalous Crimes, must needs be guilty of moft wretched Diforder; they break their Ranks, fly out into open Rebellion; yea, while they march under the Banner of Chrift, fight against their own Captain, and are to be reputed not his Soldiers, but his Enemies. And not only these, but,

Secondly, All that are erroneous and heretical, are diforderly Perfons. Others tranfgrefs the Rule, but these destroy it: They pluck up the very Boundaries of the Faith, and deny not only their Obedience to the Truth, but the Truth it felf. And though they may varnish over their damnable Doctrines with fair Shews, and good Speeches; and feem to be very mortified, fpiritual, and heavenly Perfons, that thereby they may gain Profelytes, and a Veneration among them; yet are they far more pernicious and baneful to the Church of Chrift, than those that

are

are openly profane and fcandalous: For fince the Mind and Understanding is the leading Principle of Man, if that be perverted, it must needs have a maligne Influence upon all the inferiour Faculties. Our Notions are the Guide of our Actions; and confequently, an Error in Judgment ftops not there, nor refts only fwimming and floating in the Brain; but challengeth the fame Privilege the divinest Truth hath, to direct and govern our Lives; and fo by a wretched Improvement, becomes a Tranfgreffion in Practice too. He that hath denied the Faith, muft, if he will, be coherent to his own Principles, refuse that Obedience which is confequent upon it. As a Vertigo, and Dizziness in the Head, causeth a reeling and staggering Motion in the Feet; fo those who are vertiginous and giddy in their Opinions, muft of Neceffity be disorderly in their Conversations. They can never walk fteadily by a Rule, which they deny to be fo. And thus Error is not only Error, but an accumulative Mischief; it is Error, and Wickedness too.

Thirdly, And not only thefe, but all turbulent and factious Perfons are disorderly Walkers: Such who rend the Church with Schifms and Divifions; and despise Go

vernment