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Author: Lamb, Thomas, d. 1686.
Title: A stop to the course of separation, or, The separation of the new separatists from the parish churches condemned by a sober answer to the chief pleas for this disordrely practise : wherein is discovered how contrary it is, 1. To the Holy Scriptures, 2. To the reason of the thing, 3. To the judgement of the old nonconformists, 4. To themselves heretofore.
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Print source: A stop to the course of separation, or, The separation of the new separatists from the parish churches condemned by a sober answer to the chief pleas for this disordrely practise : wherein is discovered how contrary it is, 1. To the Holy Scriptures, 2. To the reason of the thing, 3. To the judgement of the old nonconformists, 4. To themselves heretofore.
Lamb, Thomas, d. 1686.
London: Printed for Walter Kettilby, 1672.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A48457.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
TO THE READER.
ERRATA.
A Sober Answer TO THE MAIN ARGUMENTS Of the New Separatists from the Parish Churches, to stop the Course of their destructive Separation.
Argument I. Such Ministers as the Scriptures command us to Avoid, and have No company with, nor so much as Eat with, are not to be joyn'd with in Church Communion as our Pastors; But those that by subscription, and open declaration to the Church in their Ministry, do absolve all the persons in the Three Kingdoms from the ob∣ligation of Reformation, in case of very great Church∣corruptions, and justifie them all from the guilt of perjury, are such. Ergo.
Argument II. hold Communion with the Publick Ministers, we shall hold Communion with them in their publick Ministerial sins: It is therefore a duty to separate.
Argument III. If the Parish Churches be sill'd with Ʋsurpers, and the true Ministers thrust into Corners, then 'tis no sin to separate.
Argument IV. It is sin for Christians to be without Discipline, and a more profitable Ministry, when they may have it. The Parish Chur∣ches are without discipline, and have a less profitable Mini∣stry. It is therefore no sin to to separate.
Argument V. If there be in one City or Coun∣try some lawful Pastors, that meet in Houses with their Flocks, and some that meet in Temples, he is the Schismatick that meeteth not with the first in Houses, being of his Charge; and he is the Schismatick that meeteth not with the other in Temples, being of his Charge; therefore to say, all must come to the Temples, or all must not, are both Schismatical Asser∣tions.
Argument VI. Nature teacheth to hold Personal Communion with those Chur∣ches which have all Gods Or∣dinances, and the purest Com∣munion, and the most lively Ministry, not medling with o∣ther men.
Argument VII. As we condemn not all the Parish Churches beside when we are but in one of them, so we con∣demn none of them absolutely, when we are in none of them, else the Parish Churches sin∣fully condemn the French and Dutch.
Argument VIII. The Temples and publick Main∣tenance are in the Magistrates hand, and he may give them to whom he will: And if he dispossess the lawful Pastors of them, they are bound to o∣bey him: but they may not take themselves discharged of their Pastoral Office in rela∣tion to their Flocks. Magi∣strates ordain not Ministers, nor degrade them.
Argument IX. If Magistrates would appoint us unskilful Physicians for our bodies, when we can chuse bet∣ter for our selves, we love our live too well, to think we should obey them: But the Magistrate hath less power to deprive us of the choice of our own best Soul Physicians, than of our Body Physicians; for that the danger of death is less terrible, than the danger of damnation.
Agument X. The new Separatists do not sepa∣rate from the Parish Churches upon the same terms that some others do; viz. as being no true Churches of Christ, ha∣ving no true Ministry, nor true Worship, with which com∣munion may lawfully be held: But the Presbyterians sepa∣rate to enjoy a better Mini∣stry, Discipline, and a purer Communion, and will some∣times hold Communion with the Parish Churches, where they can have no better; so that their Separation is but like removing from one Pa∣rish rish Church to another: 'Tis not setting up Altar against Altar.
Argument XI. The Parish Churches now, are not as they were in the times when Presbyterians cryed out of gathering Churches out of them: Therefore their sayings to the Separatists then, ought not to be reflected on, and urged against their practise now; for these reasons,
Insinuation I. 'Tis insinuated, the Parish Churches in Presbyterian days, imposed no∣thing contrary to the Word of God, either upon Minister or people, but now they do.
Insinuation II. The Parish Churches in Presbyterian dayes were reformable in that wherin they needed Reformation; But now they have covenanted a∣gainst Reformation.
Insinuation III. The Pastors of the Parish Churches in the Presbyterian dayes had the Power of the Keys of Government: 'Tis not so now: They were true Churches, and did own themselves for such.
Insinuation 4. The Presbyterian Ministers are for∣bidden to preach, and the people to have the Sacraments, or their children to be baptized, unless they will say and do such things as they dare not do, for fear of displeasing God: But in the Prebsyterian days, the Parish Churches then drove none such away from Mini∣stry and Communion.
Argument XII. We must distinguish between tole∣rable and intolerable Mini∣sters. In some of the Parish Churches the Minister is in∣tolerable, and not fit to be a Minister; and for this cause 'tis lawful to gather Churches.
Argument XIII. Some Parish Churches about London are grown too nu∣merous, that all cannot come to the Parish Churches; there∣fore, &c.
Argument XIV. That the Conformists in the pub∣lick Temples are not enough to preach to the people, and defend them from Popery: Non-Conformists therefore ought to help, and 'tis their duty, though they gather Churches: And the Parish bounds are not of Divine In∣stitution.
Argument XVI. We are told of separating from the Church of England, but we do not know what the Church of England is, and why it should not be as well Schism for the Parish Church Members not to frequent the Private Churches, as for the private Separate Churches not to frequent them, we know not.
Argument XVII. To desert ones Ministry is not law∣ful; 'tis a piece of sacriledge. We cannot preach except we have hearers, we cannot have hearers, but Members of some Parish Churches: Therefore we must gather Churches.