William Perkins on True and False Churches

William Perkins on True and False Churches (from his commentary on Galatians):

 

"Now follow the churches to which the epistle is sent: "to the churches of Galatia." At this time the Galatians had made a revolt, and were fallen from justification by the obedience of Christ; so as Paul "was afraid of them" (ch. 4), and yet he called them churches still, using great meekness and moderation. His example must we follow in giving judgment of churches of our time. And that we may the better do this, and the better relieve our consciences, mark three rules. The first is that we must rightly consider of the faults of the churches. Some are faults in manners; some in doctrine. If the faults of the church be in manners, and these faults appear both in the lives of ministers and people, so long as true religion is taught, it is a church and so to be esteemed, and the ministers must be heard (Matt. 23:1). Yet may we separate from the private company of bad men in the church (1 Cor. 5:11), and, if it be in our liberty and choice, join to churches better ordered. If the error be in doctrine, we must first consider whether the whole church err, or some few therein. If the error be in some, and not in all, it remains a church still, as Corinth did, where some denied the resurrection— because a church is named of the better part. Secondly, we must consider whether the church errs in the foundation or no. If the error or errors be beside the foundation of religion, Paul has given the sentence that they which build upon the foundation hay and stubble of erroneous opinion may be saved (1 Cor. 3:15). Thirdly, inquiry must be made whether the church err of human frailty, or of obstinacy. If it err of frailty, though the error be in the foundation, yet it is still a church, as appears by the example of the Galatians. Yet if a church shall err in the foundation openly and obstinately, it separates from Christ, and ceases to be a church, and we may separate from it and may give judgment that it is no church. When the Jews resisted the preaching of Paul, and had nothing to say but to rail, Paul then separated the church of Ephesus and Rome from them (Acts 19:9; 28:28). It may here be demanded, why Paul writes to the Galatians as brethren, and calls them churches, seeing they have erred in the foundation, and are as he says, "removed to another gospel" (verse 6). I answer, he could do no otherwise. If a private man shall err, he must first be admonished, and then the church must be told of it. If he hear not the church, then judgment may be given that he is as a publican, and not before. Much more then, if the church shall err, there must first be an examination of the error, and then sufficient conviction; and after conviction, follows the censure upon the church, and judgment then may be given, and not before. And Paul had now only begun in this epistle to admonish the church of Galatia. Great therefore is the rashness, and want of moderation in many, that have been of us that condemn our church for no church, without sufficient conviction going before. If they say that we have been admonished by books published, I say again, there be grosser faults in some of those books, than any of the faults they reprove in the Church of England. And therefore the books are not fit to convince, specially a church. And though Paul call the Galatians churches of God, yet may we not hence gather, that the Church of Rome is a church of God. The name it may have; but it does in truth openly and obstinately oppugn the manifest principles of Christian religion."