John Trapp on Proverbs 18:1

CHAP. XVIII. Verſ. 1. Through deſire a man having ſeparated himſelf, &c.]

HEre the reading that is in Margin (mee thinks) is the better. Hee that ſeparates himſelf (either from his friend, as the old interpreter makes the ſenſe, or from any thing elſe that hee hath formerly followed) ſeeketh according to his deſire (ſeeketh to ſatisfie his own hearts luſt, and to compaſs what hee coveteth) and intermedleth with every buſineſs (ſtirs very buſily in every thing that is done, and leaves no ſtone unrowled, no courſe unattempted, whereby hee may effect his deſign, and come off with his credit.) The practice hereof wee may obſerve in the Phariſees (thoſe old Separatiſts) who ſlandered all that our Saviour did; and in their pertinacious malice, never left till they had ſlain him, for a deceiver of the people. So the Donatiſts ſeparated, and affirmed, that there were no true Churches but theirs. They were alſo divided among themſelves in minutula fruſtula, into ſmall ſucking Congregations, as Auſtin ſaith, whoſe arguments not being able to confute, they reproached him for his former life, when hee was a Manichee. In like ſort dealt the Anabaptiſts with Luther, whom they held more peſtiferous than the Pope. Muncer wrote a book againſt him (dedicating it to the illuſtrious Prince Chriſt) and rails at him,Scultet. Annal. 238. as one that wanted the Spirit of Revelation, and ſavoured onely the things of the fleſh.Apologet. Narrat. p. 6. Our Separatiſts (the better ſort of them) have ſaid, that the differences are ſo ſmall between themſelves and us, that they can for a need, come to our Churches, partake in the Sacraments, and hold communion with us as the Churches of Chriſt, &c. But if ſo, how then dare they ſeparate, and intermeddle with every buſineſs, that they may have ſome ſpecious pretence for it? Turks wonder at Engliſh for cutting or pinking their cloaths, counting them little better than mad to make holes in whole cloath, which time of it ſelf would tear too ſoon. Men may do pro libitu (as ſome render through deſire in this Text) as they will with their own; but woe bee to thoſe that cut and rend the ſeamleſs coat of Chriſt with cauſeleſs ſeparations.