A Searious Warning FOR ALL Separated Churches AND CHURCH-MEMBERS, Against Backsliders. AND A Seasonable CAVEAT to all their FOLLOWERS.  JEREM. 15.19. 
If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them.  
LONDON. Printed for ROBERT IBBITSON dwelling in Smithfield, near Hosier Lane. 1653.   

A Searious Warning for all Separated Churches and Church-members, Against Backsliders.  

Six Warnings for Conversation.  
I. NOt to refuse that Christ you profess, nor any word of the Lord; Remember what the Apostle saith of them, Heb. 12.22. to 26. Ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels. To the general Assembly, and Church of the first borne, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things then that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh, for if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.  
II. Not to oppose and seek to throw down the Authority of the Pastors, Teachers or Elders that are set over you, by free election, nor fly above Ordinances, nor wilfully refuse to be taught; for the Apostle saith, Heb. 13.7.8. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  
III. Not to refuse to hear reproof for sin, nor upon pretence of a profession of God, heap up wickedness in your conversation; of such the Lord complains, Amos 2.11, 12, 13. I raised up of your sons for Prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites: Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel! But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink, and commanded the Prophets, saying, Prophesy not, behold I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.  
IU. Not to seem to be holy with the Saints, and comply with wicked-men in their ungodliness, when you are in their company. As it is said of Jehoash, whilst he was with Jehoiada, 2 King. 12.2. Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days, wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him. But afterwards when Jehoiada was dead, and he fell into other company; It is said 2 Chron. 24.17. to 23. Now after the death of Jehoiada, came the Princes of Judah and made obeisance to the King; then the King harkened unto them. And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served Groves and Idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. Yet he sent Prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord, and they testified against them; but they would not give ear. And the Spirit of God came upon Zecheriah the son of Jehoiada the Priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them; Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the Commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, & stoned him with stones, at the Commandment of the King in the Court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash the King remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son; and when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.  
V. Not to pin your faith and Religion upon the sense of Magistrates and Rulers, and rely more upon their choice than the Scriptures, as the Pharisees who when some of their Officers said of Christ, Joh. 7.46. Never man spoke like this man. It is said, verse 47. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?  
VI Not to forsake Christ and his ways to avoid crosses and sufferings contrary to what the Apostle Paul teacheth Philip. 1.28, 29. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition; but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.   

Six Warnings against Back-slidings.  
I. NOt to trouble those that fear God, by defiling many holy people, out of a bitterness of spirit, by raising false, and scandalous aspersions against them; of such the Apostle gives us warning to take heed of, Heb. 12.15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness, springing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.  
II. Not for profit, favour, or any worldly thing, or sinist errespect, to forsake your interest in the Saint's fellowship; Therefore the Apostle bids us also to look diligently, Heb. 12.16, 17. Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, etc.  
III. Not privately to seduce foolish women, of evil reviling spirits, to oppose Church-officers, and Church-order, and to back, and encourage them in evil practices which the Apostle warns of, saying, 2 Tim. 3.5. verse, to 10. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses; so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs also was.  
Yet when such Seducers are reproved for this evil they commonly wax worse and worse. ver. 13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.  
4 Not to revile your Teachers, and abuse them when they admonish you for your sins, 2 Tim. 4.14. to 19 Alexander the Coppersmith did me much evil, the Lord reward him according to his works. Of whom be thou ware also, for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God, that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Compared with 1 Tim. 1.19, 20. Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck. Of whom is Himeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.  
5 Not wilfully to forsake your assemblings with your fellow-members, where you have given up your names to walk in fellowship, concerning which the Apostle gives a notable warning, Heb. 10. from 25. to 30. Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgement, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace.  
6 Not to take part with wicked people in their pernicious ways, against God and his people, and if you have failed herein, not to persist, but to repent, Rev. 2.20, 21, 22. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repent not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, & them that commit adultery with her, into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  
2 Thess. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful who shall establish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patiented waiting for Christ. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which ye received of us.  
FINIS.