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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A38090	Antapologia, or, A full answer to the Apologeticall narration of Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Nye, Mr. Sympson, Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Bridge, members of the Assembly of Divines wherein is handled many of the controversies of these times, viz. ... : humbly also submitted to the honourable Houses of Parliament / by Thomas Edwards ...	Edwards, Thomas, 1599-1647.	1644 (1644)	Wing E223; ESTC R1672	272,405	322

are sufficiently knowne And however all these things of no other interest but a subsistance in our own land and of enjoying the ordinances of Christ and not knowing where else with safety health and livelihood to set our feet on earth be held forth as specious pretences to the Parliament and Reader to perswade and to allure them yet the bottome of all this desire of a toleration in England though concealed is that there is no other place on earth where you are like to propagate your way to gaine so great a party to enjoy such full and rich Congregations and to have that respect and applause in your way as in England and in England as London and the adjacent parts or where you can have those faire hopes and probabilities of drawing so great a part of a Kingdome to your Church-way as here and where if you goe on to act as diligently and politickly as you have done in these three yeares last past and the Ministers be as generally silent and the common people of the Kingdome come a little more to understand your principles and have time to digest and consider of the great liberty and power they have thereby the rest of the Kingdome may in time come to be beholding to you for a toleration of Presbyterie if it be established which you will as soone grant if you come to have power in your hands as you will Episcopacy and Popery many of your Church-way ordinarily affirming they had rather have Episcopacie then Presbyterie and it hath been affirmed to me by a Minister of note that a Minister of the Church-way preferred Popery in this Kingdome before Presbyterie for if Popery should come in it would be but short lived but Presbyterie was like to be long lived The Arminians in the Netherlands at first desired but a toleration no more but to be permitted to enjoy in some Churches of their own their consciences with peaceablene●… but afterwards that by the connivance and favour of the Magistrates they were in some Cities and places as Amsterdam c. grown to a great number and had a great power then they would not suffer no●… tolerate the orthodox Ministers but persecuted them and some were forced to flie as in the stories of the Netherlands is at large recorded And if ever the Independents by connivance or a toleration should come to have a power and strength considerable if they serve not us so I am much deceived All Sectaries and erro●…eous spirits who are but tolerated and not owned will watch all advantages to set up their own way as chiefe and when they have a power will be impetuous and violent to effect it as the Anabaptists in Germanie were the Arminians in Holland and the Antinomians and Familists in New-England As women out of their weakenesse and feare when they have power over any are most cruell so Sectaries out of their feare least a State may one time or other cast them out and not tolerate them will upon an advantage suppresse and destroy the orthodox and stablish their own 2. As for the matter it selfe contained in the close of your booke a Toleration of Independent Churches and government the scope and last end of this Apologie whereunto tends all the artifice and fallacies in the composure of it I shall lay downe some Reasons and grounds against it I cannot stand to handle the question at large about tolerations of different Religions or of divers Sects and opinions in one and the same Kingdome this answer being already a great deale longer then I intended it I cannot now open the tearmes and premise the distinctions as distinguishing concerning the nature and kind of errors concerning the persons erring concerning the kinds and degrees of toleration and coaction c. I shall reserve the full handling of this point whether toleration be lawfull to a particular Tractate I intend upon that subject In the meane time upon occasion of what you present here to the Parliament I shall humbly submit to their considerations these following particulars 1. A Toleration of Independent Churches and government with their opinions and practise is against the Magistrates duty laid downe in Scripture but for Magistrates by good lawes to command and require obedience to the government and Reformation upon good grounds judged to be according to the word of God and so established is lawfull and their duties For the clearing of which I premise two things which I suppose must needs be granted 1. That the Magistrate is custos ac vinde●… utriusque Tabula as is confessed by all orthodox Divines that the care of Religion belongs to him and that he is to looke to it that the Church of God and the Government of it be constituted and setled according to the Word and that the people may lead a peaceable and quiet life in all godlinesse and honestie for which end Princes and Magistrates are to make Lawes for the observing of the Worship and Government of Christs Church forbidding and punishing with religious severitie those things which are practised against the Word of God but commanding what is according to it this is one of the great services they yeeld to Christ as they are Magistrates and I find Augustine and other Divines giving that sense of Psal. 2. 10 11. of Kings and Iudges serving the Lord with feare and of Deut. 17. 19. of God commanding the King to read the booke of the Law that he may learn to observe the things which are written in it not onely as private men practising these and ordering their lives according to the Word but as Kings they should order their Office by the Word not onely by living holily for so they serve God as men but as Kings and Magistrates by making Lawes for the Worship of God and prohibiting the contrary 2. That the Reformation in Worship Government c. which shall be setled and established by the Parliament is judged and taken for granted by them to be according to the minde of Christ else why have they called so many able godly and learned Divines to consult with for that purpose and stood so much for a Reformation according to the Word and why else will they establish it if there be any other more agreeable to the Word so that whatsoever other Government after all debates and Reasonings is rejected and refused must be thought not to have such a ground in the Word for if it had why was it not established and owned but comes to seeke for a Toleration and Connivance Now then by vertue of many Scriptures both in the old and new Testament the Examples of the Kings of Judah in commanding and requiring all the people to yeeld to the Reformations made by them and in particular the Spirit of God commending Iosiah for making all Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to the Covenant which he had made with God the fourth Commandement requiring of the Father of the Family that he see

HAving diligently perused this Antapologia I find it so full and just and necessary an examination and discovery of the Apologeticall Narration both in matters of fact and of opinion that because I dare not as too many have the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons I approve it to be imprinted and commend it Reader to thy most serious consideration Ia. Cranford ANTAPOLOGIA Or A Full Answer to the Apologeticall Narration OF Mr Goodwin Mr Nye Mr Sympson Mr Burroughs Mr Bridge Members of the Assembly of Divines Wherein is handled many of the Controversies of these Times viz. 1. Of a particular visible Church 2. Of Classes and Synods 3. Of the Scriptures how farre a Rule for Church Government 4. Of Formes of Prayer 5. Of the Qualifications of Church members 6. Of Submissiō Non-Cōmuniō 7. Of Excommunication 8. Of the Power of the Civill Magistrate in Ecclesiasticals 9. Of Separation and Schisme 10. Of Tolerations and particularly of the Toleration of Independencie 11. Of Suspension from the Lords Supper 12. Of Ordination of Ministers by the people 13. Of Church Covenant 14. Of Non-residencie of Church-members Humbly also submitted to the Honourable Houses of Parliament By THOMAS EDWARDS Minister of the Gospel Ephes. 4. 14. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sl●…ight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in wait to deceive Vers. 〈◊〉 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ. Matth. 24. 26. Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desart go not forth Behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not Augustinus Vincentio epist. 48. Non enim propter malos boni deserendi sed propter bonos mali tolerandi ●…ti sicut toleraverunt prophetae contra quos 〈◊〉 dicebant 〈◊〉 communionem sacramentorum illius populi relinquebant Bezae epist. prima D'Andreae Duditio lactabimusne libertatem conscientiis permittendam esse Minime ut haec quidem liberta intelligitur id est ut quo quisque modo volet Deum colat Est enim hoc mere diabolicum dogma Sinendum esse unumquemque ut si volet pereat Et illa est diabolica libertas quae Poloniam Transylvaniam hodiè tot pestibus implevit quas nullae alioqui sub sole regiones toleratent London Printed by G. M. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Cornhill neer the Royall Exchange 1644. To the tender Consciensed scrupulous doubting Christian. DEare and beloved Christians for your sal●…es in speciall who are apt to be troubled with many doubts and feares about the Constitution and Government of the visible Church and the way of Worship and Communion in it have I drawn up this present Answer as to undeceive you in the Apologists the Apologie and their Church-way so to satisfie you in your scruples and doubts about Presbyterie It was my love care and respect to tender consciences that more especially moved me at first now some seven yeares agoe to fall upon the more thorough studying and searching into the controversies of the Church c. And the grounds which now of late have afresh revived my thoughts and studies that way are 1. The recovering and reducing conscientious Christians who are not too far engaged 2. The setling some who are wavering and doubtfull 3. The keeping of others from falling Now the first borne of my latter thoughts and studies in this kind is this Antapologi●… which I here recommend to you for a true glasse to behold the faces of Presbyterie and Independencie in with the beauty order strength of the one and the deformity disorder and weaknesse of the other And good Reader I have some reason to beleeve and hope that if you will indeed reade and consider looke impartially and throughly into this glasse you may be either changed into the image of it or at least so stumbled at Independencie as to be kept from falling into it and willing in the meane time to waite upon God in that way of his an Assembly of so many learned and godly Divines to see what he will be pleased to speake by them I at first intended and accordingly provided materials for a large Epistle to this Book the more to make way for it in the hearts and consciences of the people as well knowing there are laid in before hand by many of the Independent party many prejudices both against my person and the Book to hinder if possible the fruit and benefit of it yea to keep people from so much as reading any part of it that so receiving and beleeving the Independent Grounds without hearing or examining the other side they may be still kept in ignorance and error I had many thoughts and purposes in my Epistle to have given the Reader an accompt of my especiall call to the making this Answer as also to have laid downe the Principles and Rules I more especially went by in the studying of these controversies and then to have Apologized for my selfe and Book by answering some objections and clearing aspersions cast abroad in this mistaking age and by representing to the Reader my many sufferings constant labours c. and so to have compared my grounds moving me to make this Antapologia with the Apologists grounds occasioning their Apologeticall Narration and my Principles with their three Principles expressed in their Apologie and my sufferings troubles patience and labours with their exile and patience c. and then left them to the Reader to judge in those matters between us but conceiving the danger of this way in comparing with the Apologists least I might become a foole in glorying and runne into the same fault I charge upon the Apologists and least it might be thought I sought to commend my Answer by such wayes rather then by the strength of the discourse it selfe I resolved to forbeare all those comparisons and vindications of my selfe and to refer all to God and that I may not hold the Reader too long in the portch I will only insist somewhat upon justifying and clearing the lawfulnesse of the way and manner of this Answer and the grounds I goe upon for matters of fact reported in it and this I must doe of necessitie for besides other grounds calling for it within these few dayes just before the Antapologie was comming forth a Pamphlet entituled The Anatomist Anatomized was printed rather to prepossesse the Reader against the Antapologie then to answer the Anatomie of Independencie as all may see and to be a shelter rather against this shower as the Anatomizer calls it ready to fall then to dry up the drops already fallen But 〈◊〉 shall by the helpe of God not only satisfie the Reader that this covering is too narrow and the stuffe too slight to keep out the shower from wetting but make an advantage of it even

it that they should ever dreame more of a Toleration or think it possible the Parliament should grant it the Covenant being so direct against a Toleration Many of the Church-way and Communion have and doe apprehend all this that taking the Covenant and a Toleration of Independencie cannot stand together and thereupon there are Ministers and people of that way had not taken it whatever they may of late I have been told from a good hand that some of the Apologists had much adoe to bring themselves to take it and that it was a bitter pill to get downe and one of some qualitie assured me that Mr Nye told him in Scotland that when the Covenant had passed there and was to be sent for England he writ with all earnestnesse and possible Conjurements to Mr Goodwin Mr Bridge c. not to oppose it or be against it as much fearing how it would goe downe To conclude this Reason For the Parliament to allow such a latitude as a Toleration it would be against the solemne Covenant For the Ministers to be silent and not to witnesse against such a Toleration desired would be in them a breach of the Covenant and therefore in respect to the Covenant I have taken I here witnesse against Tolerations of different sects and Churches The people by vertue of their Covenant are by all wayes and meanes in their places and callings engaged to oppose such a Toleration by their prayers to God against it c. Lastly our brethren of Scotland are ingaged with all their power and might in their places to oppose it Now the Apologists in petitioning for a Toleration have not only broken the Covenant themselves but they endeavour by all their wit and art in this Apologie to bring the Parliament and Kingdome into so great a guilt as the breach of this solemne Covenant 3. A Toleration is against the nature of Reformation a Reformation and a Toleration are diametrally opposite The commands of God given in his Word for Reformation with the Examples of Reforming Governours Civill and Ecclesiasticall doe not admit of a Toleration how many things might be produced out of some Sermons and Lectures of the Apologists concerning the nature of Reformation and of the Magistrates dutie in Reformation which crosse and thwart Tolerations and if the consciences of some men being unsatisfied must be a dispensation against removing such a thing or commanding such a thing there will never be no perfect nor thorough Reformation for what generall Reformation can there be but will be against many mens consciences the takin●… away of what men have long enjoyed and the bringing in of quite other things will trouble many consciences and if Magistrates or Ministers may not settle things contrary to the consciences of many but tolerate and allow them wherin they plead Conscience they shall never doe Gods work In King Edwards and Queen Elizabeths Reformations how was it against the Consciences of many taking away the Masse Confession to the Priest bringing in the Common Prayer Booke In this present Reformation how much is it against many mens Consciences the taking away the Government of the Church by Bishops the present Lyturgie and establishing another Government and Forme of publike Worship who if they might be allowed a Toleration would not admit a Reformation must not the Assembly and Parliament proceede therefore in the worke of Reformation because all mens consciences are not satisfied if this principle were once given way to that nothing might be removed nor nothing brought in which offends consciences but in such a case persons must have a libertie and Toleration men would still pretend conscience and so nothing to purpose should ever be reformed publiquely and all the Scripture speakes of Nationall and Generall Reformation by way of commanding and commending it should be just nothing depending meerely upon Tolerations that is there shall be a Reformation unlesse men desire a Toleration and the upshot of all will be this that so many of such a mind shall enjoy their way and so many of another mind their way c. and they who will yeeld to the Reformation by Nehemiah and Ezra may were there ever such Reformations read of in the Scriptures 4. A Toleration of men in their errours this pretended Libertie of conscience is against the judgement of the greatest lights in the Church both antient and moderne I might out of Ecclesiasticall Histories as Theodoret ●… relate the praises of those Emperours Theodosius Arcadius c. who would not suffer the meetings of the Heretioues but did by positive Lawes amerce and banish them as also the brands and blemishes cast upon those Emperours who suffered the Arrians and other Heretiques I might out of Augustine Ambrose Calvin Philip Melancth●…n Peter Marty Zanchius Musculus Bullinger bring many sentences agains●… Tolerations and leaving men to the libertie of their owne consciences and how by lawes and Discipline Magistrates may command obedience to the Worship of God established and to return into the Unitie of the Church But out of many I will give you the judgement of two Augustine and Beza Augustine in his Epistle to Vincentius writes to this purpose declaring to him though he was sometimes of that opinion that erroneous men should not be dealt with by force but only by the Word of God yet now by the arguments of others and by the visible examples of many being reduced from errours by that meanes he had changed his judgement and that therefore the Lawes of Princes might be lawfully made use of against errours And for this coactive power he brings many grounds in that Epistle and he speakes thus If we tolerate men in their errours and nothing be thought upon or done by us which may be likely to terrifie and recover them we shall truly render evill for evill If men be compelled and terrified but not instructed this is a tyrannizing over them but again if they be ●…aught and not feared they will move the slower to goe in the way of life not every one who spares is a Friend nor every one who chastiseth is an enemie And dost thou think no force is to be used to a man that he may be delivered from the per●…itiousnesse of his errour when as we know God himself doth so in many Examples and speaking on that point he saith it must not be so much considered that a man is compelled as what that is to which he is compelled In this Epistle the Father answers some objections brought against compelling men as that this does no good to ●…ome as that this is persecution as that these Heretiques would not doe so c. so he writes in his 50. Epistle to Boniface and in his 204. Epist. to Donatus upon the same subject And in his Retractations he retracts this errour which he sometimes held and had writ of 〈◊〉 it did not please him that schismatick●…s should be compelled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉