wilfull strifes and sutes and demurres in law with murthers whordomes dronkennes and all disorder Loe this is the commendations of the professant people of the Church of Engl whome Mr Bernard pleadeth for As for their constitution and vniting together into parishes dioceses proâ—inces and at last in to one nationall church with an Archbishop his high court ouer all it is before shewed to be a Râ—misâ—â—â—tâ—oâ— and antichristian nâ—t iustifiable by the law or testament of Christ. 4. Lastly the visiâ—le properties are he sayth not false â—ut true namely thâ—se 1 Conâ—inuance in heariâ—g of the dâ—ctâ—ine of Christ receiued and vsing of thâ— sacraments and prayer 2 The holâ—ing out of this truth an◠〈◊〉 sacraâ—ents as 〈◊〉 displâ—â—ed against the eneâ—y 3 A care for the welfare of all and euery one for 〈◊〉 and ech for oâ—her But all this buildâ—ng is on a sâ—ndy ground for their estaâ—e as before is mâ—nifâ—sted beâ—ng euill the longâ—r they continew in it the worse it is fâ—r them Contâ—nuance to read â—he seruice book and homilies to â—rostitute tâ—e Sacraâ—ents to the profane to administer them after a â—opish mâ—nnâ—r by a false mâ—nâ—sterâ— these are the banners and ensignes of Antichrist disâ—layed â—n al his aâ—â—emblies that poor sowles haue cause to complayn aâ— in the Psalm they haue sâ—t vp thâ—iâ— banners for signes As for the care of the welâ—are of all c. which Mr. Bâ—rn boasteth of let Mr. Nichols foresayd complaynt of the people on the one hand and the Bishops Preists open neglect contempt of the people on the other hand shew what care they haue one of another For how many sowles are miserably famished by dum negligent and non resident priests evill beasts and slow bellies How many preachers are put out for not subscribâ—ng and using the ceremonies c. These that I gâ—ue no other instances shew what care there is of mens sowless amâ—â—â— them which he that commendeth shewes himselfe carelesse what he speakes or writes OVr 9. error is that we say Al thâ—â—r ministâ—rs are false ministers Against this Mr Bernard allegeth for the truth of their ministery that they are sent of Christ according to his ordinance in his church as is manifested by thâ— thâ—t thâ—y are quallâ—fiâ—d with good gifts they are called by the church such also as dâ—e diligently and faithfully preach and so preach Christ as many thâ—reby doeth ar and belâ—eue euen confirming their calling by the blessed successe and effâ—ct of thâ—iâ— labâ—urs Rom. 10.14.15 1 Cor. 9.2 First if Mr Bernard would indeed haue refuted our error if such it be he shoulâ— haue answered the reasons which in many writings we haue brâ—ught aâ—â—inst theâ—r minâ—stery Bâ—t he found that all too heauie Theâ— for the reasons that â—â—msâ—lfe allegâ—th they are naked and without all coâ—firmâ—tiâ—n such as Paâ—istâ— Anabaptists or any other Antichristians might â—llege for theâ—selâ—es Fâ—r a Papist wil â—oast as wel as he that their Priests are quâ—lifiâ—â— wiâ—h goâ—d gifts called by the church doe deligently anâ— faithfully preâ—ch so as 〈…〉 hâ—â—r anâ— beleeue Bâ—t I will answer ech of â—is partâ—câ—lâ—râ— Their qâ—alificatioÌ„ is wiâ—h Good gâ—fts is no proffe of a lawful ministâ—ry seing â— many priuate men haâ—e as good gifts as they â—vsurpers and intrâ—derâ— may alâ—o haue as excellent gifts as lawfull officers â— Iesuites Sâ—mmâ—ries and ther instuments of Satan are knowen to be as learned and well furnished with gifts as Mr Bern. and his brethren 4 Moreouer I deny that the principall ministers of England are qualified or able to execute their office the Archbishops Bishops Arch deaâ—ons c. that haue whole Dioceses and Prouinces vnder their charge cannot possibly performe the duty of true ministers vnto them 5 And fiâ—â—lly a number of ignorant Sir Iohns can read their Leiturgie vnto their parisâ—es and haue no other good ministeriall quallity The second thing their calling by the church which afterward he explâ—yneth thâ—s beiâ—g examined found fiâ— and so are elect and ordeyned this 〈…〉 vpon the sands for the church of England not being a true châ—rch of Gâ—d as is before manifested hath no power from God to call and â—rdeyn miâ—isters But besiâ—es this I would fayn learne of Mr Bern. what Châ—â—ch it is that examined elected and ordeyned his Lords grace of Canterbâ—â—y for Arâ—hbâ—shopâ— then whether the same or some other châ—rch examined elected and ordeyned the Diocesan Bishops the Deans the Archdeacons and the rest of that Lordly priesthood then what church ordeyned the parish Priests and Deacons These things if he dare vndertake to deal in and bring to the triall will be found more agreable to the Canons of the Pope then to the testament of Christ. Their office it selfe Mr Bern. balketh quite and tels vs not what functions this pompous clergie haue to execute yet is it most needfull to be known for how els shall men discerne their administration To beginâ— therefore with his Arch Lord of Cant. the Angel of the church of Engl. what office â—ath â—e to execute of a Pastor or of a Pope If he be Pastor of this â—â—â—rch what be the inferior Bishops pety Pastors or Pety popes what offices 〈◊〉 the Suffragans Chancellâ—rs deanes Archdeacons Commissâ—â—â—s â—ffiâ—ials Dâ—ctors Proctors and the residew of that army what offices haue the Prebâ—ndaries Canons Pâ—tiâ—anons Chanters Subchanters and other like bâ—rds of the cloister what offices haue the Bishops bay lifts the Priests the half priests or Deacons the Parsons and Vicars the Churchwardens Clerks Sextius Mr Bern. affirmeth that the Lord onely ordeyneth offiâ—â—s in his church 1 Cor. 12. and that the church it selfe cannot doe this but Iesus Christ both Lord and King Now seing he hath ouerskipped in this book al the stately offices that are in his church let him in his next shew if he can the offices that Christ in his testament hath appoynted this troup of horsemen and charrets vnto Now for their administration he telleth vs they preach the true doctrine or Christ administer the sacraments performe their office faithfully and liue câ—nsâ—iâ—nably and Christ doth assist such graciously in conuerting soules and â—hâ— peâ—ple doe approue of them Fayr words and such as it seemeth Mr Bern. useth to feeed his flock with but if one deny that thus it is he must tary for proof till an other treatise come forth it was yenough in this to affirme it so to be and for his Lords grace to confirme it Wel to let passe the multitude of complâ—ints and testimonies to the contrary in their own books let him shew how it is possible for the Archbishop of the church of Engl. or the inferior Bishops to preach and performe their office faithfully vnto so many hundreds of parishes thowsands of people as are vnder their charge Let the infinite number of soules that are famished vnder them speake how often their Chief-shepheard of Cant haue fed them with the word and sacraments
of which churches being joyned togither in the profession and practise of the Gospel of Christ haue his power and presence with them and is to conuene or come togither in one for the worshâ—p of God and performance of publick duties 29. Whatsoeuer promise or blessing of God is bestowed on the church on earth generally considered the same may be apprehended injoyed by every particular church though not in like measure by all as the promises generall and examples particular of the church in Corinth and others mentioned in the scrâ—pture doe confirme 30. The Testament of Christ sheweth vs no Prouintiall Nationall Emâ—erial or other lâ—ke Church hauing seuerall meetings or aâ—â—emblies and special Pastors ouer the same neither since thâ— Apostles Prophets â—vangelists were taken from this world are there any other lawful Bishops or Church-gouernours then the Bishops or Overseers of the particular churches neyther euer was ther other lawful Head Lord or Lords spirituall of the Church then Iesus Chrâ—st alone 31 Vnto the châ—rch are to be admitted all vnto whome the couenant and promise of God doth apperteyn and they are so many as the Lord our God shall call and all those are called in the iudgment of man which hauing heard the word of God doe professe repentance from dead works and faith in God by Iesus Christ the alone Sauiour of â—he world and promise obedience to the word through the holy Ghost the sanctifier of the elect Such of all sorts and estates of people in the world are with their seed to be receiued into and nourished â—n the church their ignorance being holpen by instruction their weaknes borne by lenity their faults corrected i with loue and meeknes and their feeble consciences comforted with the promises of God 3â— Out of the Châ—rch are all sâ—ch to be kept as are profane worldly and wicked vntill they be called of God vnto repentance faith in his promise and out of it are to be cast all such as sinne against the law of Goâ— by errour or corruption in doctrine or conuersation and will not by prâ—uate or publick admonistion be reclaymed and amended 33 Every particular church or congregation throughout the world hauâ—ng equall interest in Christ and in his word or couenant consequently haâ—e equall power and ought to haue a lâ—ke care to practise all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord standing fast in the lâ—berty where with Christ hath made them free 34 Every one that would be saued ought to joyne himself vnto some particular church where Gods name is seâ— and knowen and called vpon that in and with the same he may grow vp in the faâ—th and loue of Christ vnto saluation 35. Although the church consisteth onely of sâ—ch as are called yet these are of two sorts some outwardly onely and for a tyme which though they be in the church yet are they not indeed of the Church othersome called also inwardly effectually and for ever So that the churches on earth haue many hypocrites and reprobates for members of them whose secret sinns defile themselues alone Howbeit the Lord knoweth them that are his a true Christian may by the word 〈◊〉 spirit of the Lord and fruites of his faith haue assurance that himself is the Lords of others he is for their outward good profession and conversation which he seeth to hope and judge as of himself leauinâ— the finall doom and iudgment vntill the Lord come who will lâ—â—hten things that are hid in darknes and make the counsels of the harts manifest and will reward every man according as his works shal be 36 The best churches on eart are alwayes subiect to haue open greeuous sinas of all sorts break out in them all which â—niquitieâ— mâ—st speedily be redressed and euery church purged by repentance or casting out of the impenitent least wrath doe come on all the congregation 37. For churches by sinning and impenitencie therein may forfeyt their couenant and be forsaken of God and for their adulteries by dâ—uorced from Christ and so left of his people the candlestick being remoued out of the place 38 By this which hath been sayd may appear that euery people called of God into couenant and communion with Christ and one with another and so walking though with much weaknes ignorance and dayly syn is to be esteemed a true church of God but they that are not so called and come into couenant with the Lord howsoeuer they may professe many excellent truthes yet want they the mayne essentiall thing which makes a true church 39 A church thus hauing the essence or being by refâ—rence vnto or coniunction with Christ which is a secret and spirituall thing cannot now as it is a church properly be seen with carnall eye Whereas then the church is sayd to be visible it is figuratiuely spoken and after a sort to weet so farr as by a peoples profession and conuersation seen or heard men may discerne and iudge by the rules of Gods word 40. As Christ the head and sauiour of his body cannot be found or knowen by the wit or wisdom of man but by the revelation of God so the Church which is his body kingdome and spowse caâ—â—ot be discerned by naturall or humane skill but by the manifestation of God alone through his word and spirit 41 Hence it is that the true churches of God are both contemned and condemned of the world as heretiks schismatiks sedetious c. when the false antichrâ—stian assemblies are highly honoured and regarded For they whâ—ch vnderstand not the word of God whâ—ch natural men doe not nor haue the spirit of God which naturall men haue not how should they rightly judge of or discerne the Church of God 42. And Satan to deceiue the simple doth deck his synagogues with many ornaments of the church of Christ as the preaching of the word prayers sacraments discipline he procureth them also honour amplitude and prosperity when from the true church oftimes he taketh not onely outward peace and glory but bereaueth the same of Christs publicke ministery of the word and sacraments by persecuting imprisoning banishing and killing the officers of the Church and scatteting the members 43. Yet is not Satans synagogue for all the pomp thereof a church of God because it inioyeth and useth not his word and holy things aright according to his heauenly ordinance Neyther can the true churches be spoiled or depriued of the word of God which is graffed in them and able to saue their sowles is seed immortall and endureth for ever but in the mids of their many afflictions they both hold forth that word of life as lights vnto the world and by the same doe edify and
vnlesse perhaps he hath blessed some of their youthes with the Sacrament of Confirmation how many of their soules he hath conuerted yea let them say whether euer he saw their faceâ— As for the Bishops Deputies the parisâ—h priests many of them are dumb by nature and cannot preach many are made dumb by their spirituall Lords power and silenced for disobedâ—ence so preaching wexeth geazon and people perish for want of Instruction In the mean tyme this painful Clergie feedeth the Lay weekly with their mattings Euensong and Homilies and sometimes in a year with sermon and reading the Bishops canons They discipline their notorious sinners with reading curses and Comminations out of the pulpit till the Lent penance which is much to be wished be restored agayn they solemnize the holy dayes of Angels and of Saincts they giue ech man the sacrament at Easter deuoutly vpon his knees they baptise with water and a signe of the crosse in the aâ—er they wed their parishioners with a ring teach the man to worship his wife in the name of the Father and of the Son of the holy Ghost they church the women after childbirth they visiâ— the sick and absolue him from all his sinns and howsel him with a Communion and last of all they bury the dead in sure and certayn hope of resurrection to eternall life And this is yenough for priests to doe in the country parishes but in the Cathedrall churches where Bishops Deanes and other great Doctors do reside there the Queristeâ—s and Organ-pipes make sweeter melody Mr. Bern. confesseth that the Lord onely prescribes the duties to be done in euery distinct â—ffice now he that knowes not these dutiess to belong to Christs ministers or these works to be a faythfull performance of ministeriall office let him read Mr Bernards book for there he hath quoted many scriptures the end of all which is to raise an euident proof of the truth of their ministery and administration as if one should cite the second commandement for to vphold idolatrie The effects of their administration in conuerting sowles is but a vayne boast as their idolatrous estate with the lamentable ignorance and profanenes of the people every where sheweth The reasons brought by others for Mr Bern bringeth none to perswade such effects are before in this treatise answered It maketh also against the estate of this church and ministery for if these preachers haue conuerted and wrought faith in some of their hearers then it followeth that before that conuersion they were infidels yet were they of the church and had this ministery set ouer them as all men know Which how it can stand with the râ—les of Gods word hath neuer yet bene shewed The example which Mr Bern. allegeth of th' Apostle 1 Cor 9.1.2 helpeth him nothing For Apostles were sent to conuert heathens but Pastors are set for to feed conuerted Christians And the Priests of England challenge to be Pastors I ween and not Apostles Agayn the work and seal of Pauls Apostleship was seen in Corinth by separating the beleeuers from infidels and gâ—therâ—ng the Saints onely into the communion of the church vnder the officers giâ—en of Christ but in England the vnbâ—leeuers and wicked were receiued and are reteyned in the church So that Mr. Bern. is but a â—alse Apostle as his work shewes if he be any at all But in the end he tels vs we forget to iustifie the lawfulnes of our own ministers who are made â—iâ—istâ—rs â—y sâ—ch as are no ministers contrary to the constant practise of the church of God from the dayes of Adam hitherto c. In which dispute Mr. Bern. teacheth playn apostasie from the Gospell unto Poperie from whâ—ch he deriueth the minâ—stery of his church of Engl. For seing all the examples that he allegeth from scriptures are of Diuine persons and approued ministers of the true church and comming to his church of England he fetcheth her ministery out of the Popish church and from the Prelates thereof it cannot be if his last words agree with his first but the poâ—ish church is a true church and their prelates true ministers Otherweise hâ—s reasoning is absurd to say God ordeyned Adam Moses odeyned Aaron Christ ordeyned the Apostles the Apostles ordeyned orther mâ—nisters in churches therefore Antichrist of Rome his synagoâ—ue of Satan hâ—s eldest sonâ—es the Prelates must or may ordeyn miniâ—ters in the church of Christ. If this be a good consequence let al men iudge if â—â—â—s it be not then Mr. Bern. holdeth the popish church and the â—opish ministers true ministers and so himselfe and his church of England must needs be schismatiks for leauing that church of Rome When he hath cleared himselfe of this his absurd doctrine then if he cannot see that the church of Christ hath power to ordeyn her own ministers it shal be shewed hâ—m by the scriptures Tâ—ll then what should we do folowing of a wauering reed whome we cannot tell by his writing whether he be Papist or Protestant And that the reader may see into what an intricate Labyrâ—nth the ministers of England haue brought themselues about this matter of their ministery by writing as they haue doâ— both of the Papists and of us I will set down a Papist argument against them from which how handsomely they can defend themselues I would fayn see There came out in anno 1602 a book called A detection of diuers notable vntruthes c. wherein the author hauing to deal wit Mr Sâ—â—cliff who as he sayth had reasoned thus The true church is a societie of faithfull people vnder lawfull Pastors c But the Church of Rome hath long wanted true Pastors and Bishops for the Romish Bishops haue no authority â—r missioÌ„ but froÌ„ the Pope to whome also they swear feally but he hath no authority to send them or ordeyn them â—eing himselfe no Bishop c. This argumeÌ„t of Mr Sutcliffs the Papist retorteth vâ—oÌ„ theÌ„ thus The true church of Christ hath alwayes true Pastors and Bishops but the English Congregation wanteth true Priests and Bishops Therefore the English congreagation 〈◊〉 not the true church of Christ. The fiâ—st proposition sayth the Papist he must not deny being of his own making c. The 2 proposition is apparant according to Mr Sutcliffs diuinity For most certaine it is that their first Bishops receiued their orders and consecration from our catholik Bishops as his brother Bel confesseth Suruey pag. 201. And the thing it selfe speaketh seing when Lâ—ther begun there was not any protestant Bishop or Priest c. And if Mr Sutâ—liffe dare deny that their Bishops were câ—nsâ—cratedlâ— ours then let him name who they were that did lay hands vpon Mr Parker the first of Cant. that deriued not their mission authority and consecration from the Bishop of Rome Certayn it is thâ—t â—yther none at all can be named or els none bâ—sides therefore if our Bishops be