gifts and â—â—ces II. They haue an outward calling of 〈…〉 Church being examined found fit and so are elect and ordained III. They preach the true doctrine of Christ administer his Sacraments performe their office faithfullie and liue conscionablie and Christ doth assist such gratiouslie in coÌ„uerting soules and the people doe approoue of them They are not ordained by the Church Obiection but by Bishops and so haue a false enterance I. As if there were any Ministers recorded Answere in the Scriptures to haue been ordained by any other but by Ecclesiasticall persons Apostles Euangelists and Bishops which are called Elders II. Suppose a false entrance which can neuer be prooued doth that make false Ministers Marriage is Gods ordinance the holy entrance thereunto is appointed Yet if the parties enter not after a lawfull manner in some respect yet being married they are lawfull man and wife Then as a faultie entrance to marriage disanulleth not two conioyned to be lawful man and wife no more doth a faultie entrance into the Ministerie disanull a Minister so entring for being a lawfull Pastor for why cannot one faulty entrance disanull one ordinance of God as well as another and if the one stand why may not also the other The place in Ioh. 10. which they alleage The places in Ioh. 10. answered so commonlie against vs maketh much for vs. The properties of a true shepheard there set downe do agree well with Ministers in the Church of England I. He entreth in by the dore Ioh. 10. 2. so doe they which the former words touching the sending of such Ministers by Christ doe prooue II. To him the porter that is Gods Spirit openeth the hearts of the hearers so doth he to them for many are conuerted by them III. He calleth his owne sheepe by their names verse 3. So doe these who abide by their flocke and do both know them are also wel known vnto them IV. He leadeth them out vers 3. so doe these instruct them and leade them forward in sound doctrine V. He goeth before them vers 4. so doe these in godlie life and conuersation Therefore for them to call those Ministers theeues robbers as they do haue to answere for it and must giue an account vnto God therfore These haue not the properties of theeues nor robbers for theeues verse 10. come to steale kill and to destroy but these doe not so it is manifest both before God and man They seeke the flock not the fleece They make aliue through the Spirit working by their Ministerie and doe not kill They saue many and doe not worke the destruction of any But whilest they condemne our Ministers Their Leaders are no lawfull Ministers for false Ministers they forget to iustifie the lawfulnes of their owne Ministers who are made Ministers by such as are no Ministers contrarie to the coÌ„stant practise of the Church of God from the daies of Adam hitherto I. God almightie was the first preacher Gen. 2. 3. Hee ordained Adam and till the law did God raise vp extraordinarie Teachers II. Vnder the law Moses a Teacher made Aaron and the Priests consecrated Priests euer after yea if man did meddle to stirre vp a Prophet it was by a Prophet as Elias did Elisha Apostles were made by Christ Iesus the chiefe Pastor and without these were none made Act. 14. 23. Neither can we reade that euer the people had such a libertie giuen but this was committed to other officers Tit. 1. 6. Neither euer can it be sound in all the new Testament that the people attempted any such thing but waited till the Apostles came to ordaine Ministers for them Act. 14. 23. This custome did continue in the times following in all the Churches of Christendome as Ecclesiasticall writers doe make mention and so thorow pure and impure Churches yea God in vsing instruments some what extraordinarilie in the last reformation of his Church would not breake this order but hee chose men who were Bishops ordained euen in the Popish Church I speake of the Church of England whereof the controuersie is so that they might ordaine fit persons afterwards This order our Church still keepeth How is it then that these dare breake the order of God continued fiue thousand and sixe hundreth yeeres and yet they must be true Ministers and we false When wee are made by Ecclesiasticall persons who are Ministers a constant practise of the Church and they make Ministers by men that are no Ministers a new deuice X. Our worship saie they is a false X. Error worship That which is added vnto the end of Answere this treatise doth make answere to this assertion Yet somewhat I wil say against this also I. We worship no false God II. Wee doe worship the true God with no false worship for the word preached is the true word the Sacracraments are true Sacraments the prayers we doe pray whether conceiued or set stinted are such as may be warranted by the word agreeable to the prescript forme of prayer taught by our Sauiour Christ if any thing else be prescribed besides the word read preached besides the Sacraments and prayer the same is not imposed as seruice vnto God neither doe any of vs by them worship God neither teach men so to doe but onely in spirit and in truth And therefore that place of Matth. 15. 9. and other Scriptures to that purpose are falsely alleaged against vs. But grant there were some corruptions added which men should put merit and holinesse in to worship God by which yet can neuer bee prooued being vtterlie false is therefore all the worship false Is good meate mixt with ill meate false meate or good corrupted This false distinction of true and false against vs will not stand Now for that in the positions annexed to the end hereof there is a defence of set prayer I will only set downe the practise See Morneus on the Masse of the Church of God before vs in the law and shew you the order of their set seruice The order was this Sette and stinted seruice amongst the Iewes I. A generall confession which was an accustomed practise as is manifest Esra 9. 5. 6. and 10. 1. Leuit. 16. 5. 16. and this the Iewes writings do witnes and it was called the confession of the mouth or a confession of words II. After this generall confession other prayers were vsed III. Certaine Psalmes and thanksgiuing did follow which were â—ung cleane thorow as their prescript forme amongst them ascribed to Ezra doth shew IV. Then were the Scriptures read the law diuided into one and fiftie sections called sedarim or Parisiioth and the Prophets into as many called Haphtaroth that is lessons or openings of the booke that the Scripture might be read thorow euery yeere Deut. 31. 9. 14. Nehe. 8. 1. and 13. 1. Luk. 4. 16. 18. Act. 13. 15. and 15. 21. V. With this reading were there also expositions
exhortations dehortations reprehensions godly examples such like not to proue corruption or wants when good things imposed are not done and euill forbidden are not auoided but to prooue a falsitie which cannot be As for example the fift Commandement biddeth a childe to be obeâ—ieÌ„t to his parents and Christs example of obedience to his parents shewes that â—t so ought to be but shall we therfore conclude that hee which is not answeâ—able to the commandement and exâ—mple of Christ is a false childe or raâ—her that he is a disobedient and not a good childe and yet if you doe marke â—heir Scriptures they doe alleage much against vs and our Churches to this purpose which is an vtter abuse of theÌ„ III. In alleaging Scripture not to proue the thing for which to the simple â—t seemeth to bee alleaged but for that which they take for granted and is the matter in controuersie and often hardly fit for that As for example one of them saith that al the truth is not taught in our Church and to prooue this he citeth Act. 20. 21. where the Apostle saith hee kept nothing backe but shewed all the whole couÌ„sell of God Ergo the Church of England doth not teach all the truth of God which is the matter in question and vnreproued this should rather haue been gathered that therefore euery Minister ought to hold nothing backe bâ— should teach the whole will of God and not because the Apostle did so therfore we do not so In their writing may be sound such quotations IV. By bringing in places setting See their book of the description of a visible Church and obserue the quoted places answered by Doctor Allison foorth the inuisible Church the excellencie and graces thereof and holinesse of the members to set foorth the visible Church by as being proper thereto as 1. Pet. 2. 9. 10. and such places * which is as much as to make the proper qualities of a mans soule to bee the qualitieâ— of the bodie properly And thus they deale with the Scripture to vphold their cause Another way and manner of defending Another deceiueable way which they entangle their followers by their course is by inferences as If that be true this must follow and therfore obiect to them their positions out of their own conceiued order they cannot confirme them by themselues with euident Scriptures but must first set euery one in their ranke and place and so deduce one thing out of another and by inferences and references a deceiueable practise the simple are intangled who cannot consider of antecedent and â—ecessarie consequence nor compare â—â—ings together * Note this And a crooked way hath many winâ—â—ngs but necessarie truthes of God to â—â—luation as they hold their opinions to â—ee though one depend vpon another â—et may euidence of truth bee brought â—r euery one of them seuerally without â—â—ch inferences and references ouerâ—helming the wits of the simple and oâ—er In what thing first to be informed to iudge rightly in this controuersie of better vnderstanding not being â—orowly acquainted with the cause â—nd with other grounds of the true doâ—â—rine of the Church to discerne thereâ—y the deceiueablenesse thereof and without which none shall euer be able 〈…〉 disallow or allow of our course or â—â—eirs but generally and in confusion â—s most do It is therefore maruellous with me to â—onsider so many simple people to bee 〈…〉 peremptorie in the cause professing 〈…〉 soone to see the truth so euidently â—nd can so peartly champer against all â—f vs and condemne vs all for false Chriâ—â—ians false Churches and so forth but would to God they yet were lesse conâ—eited and more humble for their own good and the welfare of Israel the people of God IV. Likelihood is that they haue not the IV. Likelihood See M. Junius three godly and learned letters to theÌ„ of Amsterdam and a petition made to the Gâ—â—ours by the other English Church See more for this in the end of the booke approbation of any of the reformed Churches for their course They haue written to some learned beyond the seas and haue published their confession but without allowance and yet do all reformed Churches giue vs the right haÌ„d of fellowship as a true Church of God whom these condemne as Antichristian and false now it is an especiall property of the true visible Church to be able to discerne of true visible members thereto belonging else who are they of mankind to whom God hath reuealed this necessarie truth The spirituall man discerneth all things 1. Cor. 2. 15. euen the Word and the true Teachers of the Word how much more the Church visible by the Word V. The condemnation of this way by V. Likelihood our owne Diuines both liuing and dead against whom either for godlinesse of life or truth of doctrine otherwise then for being their opposites they can take no exception vnlesse they will be Barrow-like in euery point Doctor Whitaker the Regius Professor Docter Whitakers lib. de Eccles in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge calleth them new Schismatikes and he spake not as a man rash fierie or ignorant but iudiciously as learned and in the spirit of sobriety and meeknesse being a man farre from violence of passion M. Perkins on the Creede Master Perkins a famous man saith they are excommunicators of themselues Bredwell against Browne calleth their Bredwel course a by-path Touching their reasons maintaining their assertions Doctor Willet saith they Doctor Willet are ridiculous more worthie to bee laughed at then answered And Master Perkins calleth them paper shotte The spirit wherewith Barrow and Greenwood were led is iudged by many Diuines setting downe ioyntly their iudgement thereof to bee the spirit of lying railing scoffing and as another saith of pride and insolencie How true they speake of the forenamed men shall appeare by that which followes and how farre the succeeding sort are from the same let such as by experieÌ„ce know speake If they amend herein it shall be taken notice of and the sinnes of other yet partaked in not bee laid to their charge It seemeth Master Perkins iudged In a Treatise 〈…〉 applie the Word to the conscieÌ„ce as hee found in some of them who calleth them an indiscreete and Schismaticall company full of pride in perswasion of knowledge euill speakers of the blessed seruants of God affirming that the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lippes Touching the causes of their out-breake one a godly man in the Epistle before his booke called the true watch doth propound two questions to them and withall shewes how it commeth to passe that they so leaue vs. A conceit None of these guides of the latter sort did fall to this course before they were in trouble and could not enioy their libertie as they desired VI. Likelihood saith hee of their owne perfection discontentment withall and vncharitablenesse hath caused this grieuous rend What M. Doctor Allison M.
grace as any in that way and not onely Reader weigh these things with Christs compassion with the Apostles commiseration with the ancient Fathers toleration with thy own hart bearing with thy own selfe and Gods mercie towards all and thou wilt neuer do so wickedly 〈…〉 but thou must euer after iudge theÌ„ false Christians and Idolaters hauing a false faith false repentance and false baptisme and so separate from all spirituall communion with them as wicked men Thus must parents and children husband and wife brother and sister iudge one of another though all professe one Lord Iesus Christ all bee baptised after one manner all renouncing Antichrist all such haue tokens of Gods grace O accursed beginning so vncharitable so vnnaturall and so vngodly hee that begins so ill can neuer speed well That we should forsake father and mother and all for Christ and the Gospell is not denied but hauing Iesus Christ and the Gospell to forsake father and mother and all our Christian brethren and sisters with a false condemnation for mens deuices intituled with Christ and his Gospell that we do denie for here amongst vs is cause of reioycing in Christ Rom. 15. 17. 18. I haue therefore whereof I may reioyce in Christ Iesus in those things which pertaine to God For I dare not speake of any thing which Christ hath not wrought by mee 〈…〉 make the Gentiles obedient in word aâ— deede And Act. 10. 34. 35. Of a truth perceiue that God is no accepter of personâ— but in euery nation he that feareth him anâ— worketh righteousnesse is accepted witâ— him And Rom. 14. 17. 18. For the kingdome of God is not meate nor drinke bâ— righteousnes and peace and ioy in the holâ— Ghost For whosoeuer in these things serueth Christ is acceptable c. II. With such a renunciation of truth They which enter that way must approoue of many vntruths must bee intertained much vntruth thâ— deceiueablenesse of that way as shal appeare afterwards as first thou must beleeue their way to be the truth of God though it be but the error of their own minde then condemne our Church as false Church when in the end of thâ— confession of their faith they haue published vnder their owne hand that thâ— differences betweene vs and them aâ— onely such corruptions as are by theâ—â— set downe * In their little booke of the confession of their faith Now corruptions doe noâ— make a false Church but a corrupâ— Church make the worst of it that caâ— be as corruptions in a man maketh bâ—â— a corrupt man and not a false man By thus entring a man must cease to walke this way ending towards vs in vncharitablenes and begin a new way with them and enter with lies Such a â—ate is the entrie to death and not that â—â—raite way which they insult of leading to life I know no corruptions here so ill which men are tied to entertaine as the entrance into that way with these conditions Discerne Reader wisely and iudge the course rightly and God giue mee vnderstanding in all things II. Reason is grounded vpon one of The second reason not to ioyne with them their own chiefe principles and a great point of their practise that is that wee are not to conioyne our selues with open wicked obstinatly maintaining their corruptions whether the same be in ill life or doctrine for vpon this ground doe they forsake vs and keepe off from all reformed Churches Now then from their owne ground â—trong enough to keepe men back exâ—â—pt any will goe by receiued principles â—his owne way to professe condemnaâ—â—on against himselfe they may not bee ioyned with because who doth so must partake of their very great and grieuouâ— sinnes wherewith they be polluted and doe not reforme themselues The sinneâ— are these I. Is that wofull entrance before named 1 The grieuous sinnes of the Separators wherewithall they that go that way are polluted We enter by baptisme renouncing the diuell and sinne but they withaâ— in part doe here renounce Gods mercies and all good men with euery good thing in them as stained and polluted so as no holy communion can bee haâ—â— with it but what God hath clensed leâ— not them make vncleane Act. 10. 15. II. Is a hie degree of vnthankfulneâ— 2 They are very vnthankfull to God first to God that begat theÌ„ by his word either by denying their conuersion oâ— else accounting it a false conuersion â— if the Lord did but counterfeit with them when they haue felt good token of grace and outward fruit proceedinâ—â— from thence Is not this to haue a blaâ—phemous conceit of the blessed worâ— of God to dare to call it a false conueâ—sion where it appeareth to be true eueâ— experimentally in a mans selfe Secondly To the Church of God this vnthankfulnesse is also to the mother this Church of England thâ—â— bare them which they desire to make whore before Christ her husband so coÌ„demne her they forsake her before he refuse her and giue her a bill of diuorcement for till then they ought to stay But are not these children worthie to be accounted bastards that wil needs denie their father that begat them and also gladly would haue all to take their mother for a whore that bare them and would vnbowell her of all her deare children viperously Oh vnkinde and vnnatural childreÌ„ vnworthie to breathe in their fathers aire or to inhabite neere the skirts of their mother Some there be who are offended when any doth openly and sharply reprooue them but such I wish to coÌ„sider with what meeknes they can in naturall loue heare their mother an honest woman called a whore and their brethren made bastards if they cannot why loue we lesse our spirituall mother and brethren so much abused by these men III. Reason is the sinne of spirituall They are full of spirituall vncharitablenesse vncharitablenes the contrary whereunto is spiritull loue which the holy Apostle preferreth before any externall constitution before almes deedes before preaching yea before suffering persecution and mens giuing their bodies to bee burned saying all profit nothing without it 1. Cor. 13. 1. 2. 3. And in this spirituall vncharitablenes doe they exceedingly transgresse I. Towards vs who approue not or In audacious censuring will not go their way nor be inclinable to them whom they doe deeply censure and deadly condemne of which there be three sorts 1. Such as know it 1. The ignorant not and those they thus condemne as This can I shew vnder hand writing nothing heere spoken without booke or by vncertaine he are say 2. Such as know their way men blinded by the god of this world that is the diuell and so such to be lost for that their way which they call the Gospell is hidden say they to none but such as are lost 2. Such as see the way and doe not yeeld these they condemne as worldlings fearefull conuinced in
that the parables so interpreted is true if they consider well themselues what is before spoken truely of them and also the accusation of George Iohnson and M. White which hee saith hee hath prooued against them VI. That the power of Christ that is authoritie to preach to administer the Sacraments and to exercise the Censures of the Church belongeth to the whole Church yea to euery one of them and not the principall members thereof This opinion is indeede the first A. Answere B. C. of Brownisme whereupon they build al the rest of their vntrueths And â—â—pularitie â—â—e first prinâ—â—le of Browâ—â—me which â—â—ing laide â—â—ey build â—ereon their â—â—aration of this they inferre the audacious boldnesse for euerie meane person to take in hand to interpret the Scripture to censure the whole Church and to excommunicate it which they call lesse odiouslie but all one in substance if this bee marked separating from the same This is their owne iudgement in which miserable error poore soules are inwrapped for that it carrieth with it a great liberty to flesh and bloud and giueth great power to one man more theÌ„ our Church alloweth to anie Bishop in England Hence doe they conclude that by one If this sixth positioÌ„ be maintained what things necessarily will follow thereupon man all the assemblie is polluted for that euerie man hath authoritie to proceede against him which if it be not done euerie one partaketh with the offenders sinne and so is defiled Hence they gather also that it is not onely lawfull to separate from that assemblie where wicked men are but also ought so to doe vnlesse they can cast them out Hence also it is that two or three gathered together must bee a Church which hath the whole power of Christ and may presently make them Officers and vse the discipline of Christ for this their position containeth thus much that a company gathered as they say into the name of Christ by a couenant made to walke in all the waies of Christ knowne vnto them such a companie hath in it authoritie to ordaine Ministers and Officers to preach administer the Sacraments and vse the censures yea euery member of them hath this power with the rest but yet for order sake onely some are chosen by the whole thereunto but the power of this is in all and euery of them so as in want of speciall men any one the fittest chosen may performe that worke This is the ground of their out-breaking from al the Churches in the world which pleasant baite offered hee that doth greedily snatch at must of necessitie swallow the hooke with euery falsehood hanging thereupon his populariâ—â—e is But this their assertion is I. Contrary to the order which God 1 Contrarie to Gods order â—nder the law established before Christ both before the law and vnder the law before the power of gouerning was in the chiefe the first borne Gen. 4. 7. 25. 31. Num. 3. 12. till Leuites were chosen Vnder the law the Lord himselfe selected the Tribe of Leuie to take the charge of the congregation which power was theirs not receiued from the people but giuen them from God by Moses the people being commanded they onely approue the Lords appointment Num. 2. 6. 12. Leuit. 8. 2. 36. This gouernment continued all the old Testament time of this I hope there is not doubt II. It is without warrant of Scripture 2 Without warrant in the Apostles time during all the Apostles daies for this is general euery where that the bodie of the congregation attempted nothing of themselues but alwaies Church matters were begun gouerned composed by the Apostles Act. 1. 15. 23. 24. 25. 6. 3. 6. 14. 19. 20. 23. 1. Cor. 5. 3. 5. neither can any one instance be giuen to the contrarie in all the new Testament only they were made acquainted with that which concerned them all Act. 1. 15. a libertie was granted theÌ„ by the Apostles then to chuse officers onely to present them to the Apostles but they neuer made any themselues Act. 6. 3. 6. 14. 23. III. It is flatly against Christs commission 3 Against the commission of Christ granted to his Apostles and other succeeding them granted to the Apostles and those which succeeded them Matth. 28. 19. 16. 19. Ioh. 20. 21. 22. 23. Mark 13. 34. which as before is shewed they did practise and in their absence committed the same not to the body of the people but to the chiefe Ministers of the Gospell as to Timothie 1. Tim. 1. 3. 3. 14. 15. 5. 21. 22. And to Titus Tit. 1. 5. And this was to continue in the persons succeeding them for euer as is euident by the charge imposed on Timothie to continue euer which could not bee in his person but in other following in his place 1. Tim. 6. 13. 14. Therefore that place of 1. Cor. 5. 4. 13. though spoken generally must bee vnderstood of the Elders or chiefe Officers of the Church as may appeare 1. Cor. 2. 6. And all that can bee gathered from that place for the bodie of the Church is but this that it be done with their knowledge publikely when they meete together in the open assemblie as the fifth verse meaneth IV. It is most apparent Ephes 4. 4 â—he place of â—â—e Ephesians against it 11. 12. that Christ ascending vp gaue gifts for preaching administration of Sacraments and gouernment vnto some sorts of men who are set out there and plainely distinguished from the other Saints the bodie of the Church The Church is compared to a bodie Ephes 4. 12. Colos 1. 18. for euen as a boodie speciall members giuen it of God and endued with speciall vertues in theÌ„selues which the body doth not bestow vpon them as the eies to see the tongue to speake the hands and feet haue their proper offices all for the good of the bodie yet haue not these speciall properties from the bodie but from God so is it with the Church which hath speciall Officers receiuing their power from Christ by such meanes as God hath appointed not from the Church And therefore both here in the Ephes 4. 11. 12. the principall members with their gifts are plainely distinguished from the bodie as receiuing their gifts from Christ for the Church and not from the Church that is the bodie of the Congregation To which he neuer said go preach nor euer committed his power of gouernment vnto the same as is manifested in the former reason And is as plaine as is the shining of the Sunne in the firmament of heauen to such as either are not blind or wilfully shut not their eyes from seeing V. It is neuer to bee found in all the old TestameÌ„t that the people but Princes and Ecclesiasticall Gouernours men 5 〈…〉 Word â— not lay gouernâ—â—t vpon people â—â—her reproâ—â—h them for 〈…〉 reforming â—â—gs amisle â—â—t the chiefe â—â—uernours whom it â—â—s to reâ—â—rme â—â—ow
as we call them Sermons and interpretatiōs of the Scriptures that the people might vnderstand what was read vnto them and this was also as vsuall as reading in euery Synagogue vpon euerie Sabbath day Act. 15. 21. Nehem. 8. 8. Luk. 24. 17. 21. 22. 31. Act. 13. 15. 16. VI. In the end they had a generall prayer for the Church and State and a blessing pronounced vpon them when they departed Num. 6. 23. 27. This was done in euery of their Synagogues which were as our parish Churches whereunto the people resorted and out of which they were for offences excommunicated Ioh. 9. 34. and 12. 42. As the cities were more or lesse populous so was the number of these In Ierusalem there were 500. as the Rabbines do reckon and they were called Bethi Medrashoth houses for congregations Sermons and expositions And thus we see the order of their seruice Now let vs see how the Apostles and The holy seruice and worship of God in the open assemblie in the Apostles time holy men of God did practise as the times would serue for though the order of ordinarie seruice be not set downe in the new Testament euidently together yet there bee places to confirme the establishing of such things And as for the order it should be as may best serue to edification as the Apostle saith Let al things be done decently and in order 1. Cor. 14. 40. Of these things wee doe reade that they all met together in one place 1. Cor. 11. 17. and 14. 23. And that vpon the first day of the weeke Acts 20. 7. 1. Cor. 16. 1. That they vsed prayer more speciall and more generall Act. 20. 36. 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. That they had the word read Col. 4. 16. That it was preached Act. 20. 7. 1. Cor. 14. 23. 31. And men commanded not to despise it 1. Thes 5. 20. They receiued also the Sacrament Act. 20. 7. and 1. Cor. 11. 18. 20. Sung Psalmes Matth. 26. 30. Ephes 5. 18. 19. Col. 3. and made collections and gaue alines to the poore 1. Cor. 16. 2. Act. 2. 42. The well ordering whereof was established by the holy Apostles 1. Cor. 11. 34. and the keeping of order herein is that which the Apostle so much reioyceth in to see and behold it in the Philippians Phil. 1. 2. 5. and not discipline which cannot properly be called order but is a preseruatiue of order and appointed for the holy preseruation of order in these things and the religious vse of the same obserued in euery person orderlie To see the practise of the Church afterward herein reade Iustinus Martyr Apologie the second where all these things are fully set downe touching the publike seruice of God at that time Thus then wee see concerning the substantiall order of our seruice it hath approbation both before vnder the Law and after in the time also of the Apostles and Apostolicall men Diuers other opinions they hold Diuers other opinions of the Separatours which I will also set downe to acquaint you therwith that do desire to see more fully their way but not to spend time in confutation of them because that these former errors being confuted whereupon the other arise they also are confuted and also for that the absurditie and falsehood of them is euen sufficient to make them to bee reiected as soone as they bee read and they bee these I. That our congregations as they stand are all and euery of them vncapable before God to chuse them Ministers though they desire the meanes of saluation Thus say they against vs and yet if onely two or three of them bee gathered together they haue the whole power of Christ not only to giue their consent but euen to make a Minister This would they proue by long consequences and farre fetched conclusiōs from vnsound premises and farre from plaine euidence of the Scripture or any practise of the Church of God these thousands of yeeres II. That God in our best assemblies is worshipped after a false manner This can they not prooue and that which is added to the end hereof confuteth the same III. That Baptisme is not administred into the faith of Christ simply but into the faith of Bishops and Church of England All their diuinitie cannot maintain this and they herein doe exceedingly abuse the Church of God with vs. IV. That our faith and repentance is a false faith and a false repentance And yet Reader the properties of Saints set out by Master Amsworth their Doctor may be found amongst vs being in number twentie and that by visible tokens V. That our Ministers conuerting men to God here doe it not as Pastors but as Teachers A distinction without a distinction as betweene the beard of Aaron and Aarons beard VI. That our Church standeth in an adulterous estate A strange assertion what Idol worship we VII That they cannot say certainly M. Smith by any warrant of Gods word that any of vs hath either faith or feare of God These men herein haue lost the feeling of former grace and all true charitie VII That none of our Ministers may be heard And this they hold so great a sinne as they censure men for it and if they will needes heare they excommunicate such therefore But such a practise is farre from the warrant of the Word and where no law is there is no transgression Who euer heard that to heare the word of God should bee a sinne and to deserue censure and excommunication especially for hearing the word of Christ which hath made aliue the dead Ioh. 5. vers 25. and by which Christ Iesus hath wrought effectually to the conuersion of many yea euen their conuersion if yet they bee conuerted No word of God inhibiteth from hearing such as preach Christ Iesus and his trueth to which Christ giueth witnesse by his blessing In the Scripture it is set out as a marke of Gods child to heare the word Ioh. 10. 27. and not a marke of one deseruing excommunication and to bee deliuered vp to the diuell In the Word wee are exhorted to heare the word to seeke it Ioh. 6. 27. and men pronounced blessed that heare it Luk. 11. 28. Reue. 1. 3. yea no inhibiting by Christ for any to heare the Scribes and Pharisees who peruerted the Scripture Matth. 23. yea the Apostle reioiced that Christ that is the truth was preached though it was done of contention and with an intent to increase his afflictions Now if he reioyced at their preaching such as it was surely he held not the people worthie to be censured that heard such as so preached The Apostle warneth to auoid an obstinate Heretike therfore except we be Heretikes and obstinate Heretikes we must be heard If this their speech opinions and euils be obserued we may better maintaine that none of vs should We are not to heare them heare any of them as Iere. 23. 16. They speake as Brownists their owne fantasies and visions of
by Gods example by the practise of the Apostle and by the Christian rule of charitie more readily to marke the good in thē to commend it and approue them the◠to see things amisse only to condemn◠them and all the goodnesse in them Such as haue charitie without suspition and true vnfained loue with commiseration cannot deale so vnchristianly The miserie of these times but these graces are farre to seeke now therefore doe men on all hands iudge of euery thing peruersely this will they allow and that again will they not like humorously That which may be iustly well done without offence there at will other bee vniustly offended Things doubtfull men take sinisterly yea they dare censure what they neuer saw Condemne as ill what they knew not suspect where they haue no cause gainsay where there ought to bee no contradiction partiall to themselues and rigorous towards other Authoritie will rule thus and so subiects will obey with exceptions iudgement from the word is not so much a Guide as will and affection in too many are made Masters These be ill daies and contentious and times vnhappie in which men either will doe that they will doe of themselues and dreame of an ipse dixit or els fall to humour parties not simply receiuing a loue of the trueth for the trueths sake and so come to partakings which doth but increase contention till all come to confusion except the Lord in his great mercie preuent the same and that he doe turne vs all into a more moderate course and there keepe vs which I beseech him to grant for his Fatherlie mercie sake Amen Godly peace is a good possession and the way measured by the rule of the golden meane is the peaceable path euen that I doe wish which herein I aime at and desire all to seeke after Euen so and no more Wisedome with charitie patience with contentation honour with humilitie wil by Gods help bring vs all to vnitie FINIS CERTAIN POSITIONS HELD AND maintained by some godlie Mini sters of the Gospell against those of the Separation and namely against Barrow and Greenwood THat the Church of England is Our Congregations are true Churches for a true Church of Christ and such a one as frō which whosoeuer wittingly and continually separateth himself cutteth himselfe off from Christ wee doubt not but the indifferent Reader may be perswaded by these reasons following First we enioy and ioyne together in 1 We haue and ioyne together in the vse of the preaching of the Gospell and administration of the Sacraments the vse of those outward meanes which God in his word hath ordained for the gathering of an inuisible Church For proofe whereof wee alleadge that the meanes which wee vse and enioy haue been effectuall to the vnfained conuersion of many as may appeare both by the other fruites of faith that may bee found amongst vs and by the martyrdome which sundrie haue indured that were members of our Church and had no other meanes of conuersion then such as wee haue Yea euen these men who iudge so hardly of vs now are able to witnesse with vs in this case that if there bee any true faith and sanctification in them though it be much increased as they thinke since they left vs yet it was begun and bred in our assemblies Secondly if these places of the holie Scripture Mat. 28. 18. 20. Eph. 4. 11. 14. be well examined it will be found that the meanes which Christ ordained for the gathering of an inuisible Church are the very same which we inioy euen the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments That which Henry Barrow saith against vs in this point page 160. of his Discouerie viz. that there is not any one thing among vs either in order or administration according to Christs Testament shall be hereafter disproued when wee shall come to iustifie our ministerie of the Word and Sacraments against their arguments or obiections whatsoeuer Now that this is a good an infallible Which is an infallible note of a true Church argument of a true Church appeareth 1. Because there can no people be named that hauing these meanes may yet by the word be euicted not to haue been the true Church The Papists indeed brag of these meanes but without cause for the doctrine of faith is not preached amongst them but oppugned and consequently they cannot haue the true Sacraments which are seales of that righteousnesse which is by faith 2. The Scripture euery where speaketh of the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments as of priuiledges peculiar vnto the church of God a Rom. 3. 1. 2. 9. 1. Psal 147. 19. 20. So while the Iewes onelie were the Church these priuiledges were restrained to them and neuer made common to the Gentiles till the partition wall being broken downe they also were incorporated to the Church of God b Mat. 10. 5. 6. Act. 11. 19. 13. 46. 47. So the Prophet saith that this should bee the reason whereby the Gentiles were moued to ioyne thēselues vnto the true Church because there no where else the ministrie of the word was to be foūd c Esay 2. 2. 3. Secondly our whole Church maketh 2 We make profession of the true faith profession of the true faith The confession of our Church together with the Apologie thereof and those articles of religion which were agreed vpon in the Conuocation house in the yeere of our Lord 1562. whereunto also euery Minister in the land is by law bound to subscribe so farre foorth as they concerne the doctrine of faith and of the Sacraments doe proue this euidently for how shall wee better iudge of the faith which our Church professeth then by such euidences Many Papists and Atheists are in our land wee grant and many ignorant and wicked men besides who make not so cleere and holie a profession of the true faith as they should but that our Church accounteth any one for her childe or member who either denieth Christ or professeth any other way to saluation then faith which worketh by loue or who doth not professe this faith in some measure that doe we confidently denie Now this reason also hath force sufficient to proue vs the Which is enough to proue a true Church true Church For as true faith in Christ is that which giueth the life and being to such as are effectually called and so become members of the inuisible and elect Church so the profession of true faith is that which giueth life and being vnto a visible Church Vpon this profession we finde many haue been incorporated into the visible Church and admitted to the priuiledges thereof euen by the Apostles themselues Act. 8. 37. 38. 16. 31. 32. 8. 12. Yea euen Simon Magus though he neither had faith nor the spirit of God yet because he made profession of faith was iudged a member of the
in the wombe euery way hauing Prou. 29. 18. his measure of perfection wanting only time of birth to be brought foorth by the Church If the Church bring foorth vntimely fruit it is her sinne and a punishment of God for sinne vnto the Congregation Amos 8. 11. II. Is the rule according to which the Church must make a Minister and this is the Lords word from which she may not swerue for as earthly Kings doe make their lawes both for making officers and guiding them in office euen so Christ our King hath ordained rules which must bee kept Iam. 4. 12. Phil. 3. 16. 1. Cor. 4. 6. 17. III. The actions of the Church in â—he Church to do three â—â—ings in the â—aking of a Minister Ordination doe stand in three things also I. After some be presented Act. 1. 23. is in examination that is a trial of the parties whether called of God or no and this is very necessarie lest the Church admit of an vnworthy man and because it is the only meanes to find out a mans worthinesse and lastly because it is imposed vpon the Church none allowed to bee admitted before neither by Gods word 1. Tim. 3. 10. 5. 21. 22. nor yet by our law See the book of Ordination This examination stands in two things 1. In the examination of gifts for the place to which he is to be admitted 2. Of his graces His gifts must be examined according to those things which the place wherein hee must be requireth and God hath commanded Now the office or place of the Ministerie In what things the Ministerie doth consist consisteth principally in the preaching of the Word administration of the Sacraments and praier The first is to be preferred in the first place 1. Because it was the first imposed Matth. 10. 28. 19. 2. It is that which is most necessarie to beget a people Iam. 1. 18. 3. To preserue them coÌ„uerted without which they perish Prou. 29. 18. and therefore the Apostle vsed preaching to the conuerted Act. 20. 7. and it is for them 1. Cor. 14. 22. and not to be despised 1. Thess 5. 20. And the ancient Church of the Iewes had preaching daily in their Synagogues with the word read Act. 15. 21. 13. 15. 16. Nâ—hem 8. 8. 4. It is of the three only mentioned in setting forth a Minister 1. Tim. 3. Titus 1. 9. 2. Tim. 2. 24. 5. Because it is most vrged by the Apostle to be performed 2. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 6. For that the Scripture specially alloweth such and so qualified 2. Tim. 2. 2. 1. Tim. 3. 2. Titus 1. 9. 1. Tim. 5. 21. 22. And if Deacons must haue the mysteries of faith yea if al must be able to be Teachers in some measure Hebr. 5. 12. much more such as are Pastours His graces must be examined 1. His desire and inward motion by asking him of the perswasion hee hath to that place by Gods Spirit 2. His knowledge zeale vtterance by the exercise of his gifts 3. His honest conuersation from sufficient testimonies reporting well of him vpon their owne knowledge 1. Tim. 3. 7. II. In Election whereby one is of I. Electiâ—â— the Church I meane by the Guides and Gouernours thereof separated and chosen from amongst others being found fit Act. 13. 1. 2. and 14. 23. III. After examination and the partie That is requiâ—â—d in a holy â—â—mission chosen out and approoued then followeth admission 1. Tim. 3. 10. and herein are three things required 1. That it be done in the face of the Congregation after the Apostles practise Leuit. 8. 2. c. Act. 14. 23. and 1. 23. and 6. 2. That it bee done in a holy manner they calling vpon the name of the Lord Act. 13. 3. 3. That it be coÌ„summate with imposition of hands an Apostolicall perpetual practise Act. 6. 6. 1. Tim. 4. 14. The Minister thus admitted as a Pastor Wherein the Minister is to approue himselfe vnto the people ouer a flocke hee is to approoue himselfe to the Church in a holy manner and this stands in three things I. In preaching and holding the patterne Titus 2. 7. 8. of wholesome doctrine diuiding the word of truth aright 1. Tim. 2. 15. for sound and wholesome doctrine is a touchstone of a true Minister 1. Tim. 4. 6. Deut. 13. 1. Ierem. 23. 22. So Christ proueth Iohn Baptists Ministerie to bee of God by that which he taught Luk. 20. and so did Christ himselfe by the true word he taught as it is witnessed in Iohn the Euangelist II. In faithfulnesse 1. Corin. 4. 1. 2. which stands in two things 1. In reuealing the whole truth of God according to his measure of knowledge Act. 20. 26. in the manner also as it ought for wee are to speake the word as the word of God as Peter exhorteth 2. In diligent performance of his function Ierem. 48. 10. 2. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 1. Pet. 5. 2. III. In adorning his calling by an honest conuersation Tit. 2. 7. 8. Psalm 50. 16. 17. The Minister thus going on in his When God doth approue effectually of the Ministers made by the Church as his Ministers place the Lord commeth againe and assisteth this Teacher with his holy Spirit to perfect vp the worke making his word by him effectuall in the hearers by binding and loosing their consciences 1. Cor. 14. 24. 25. Act. 2. 37. 47. 13. 48. Ioh. 10. 3. By which he sealeth vp to the Minister his calling 2. Cor. 3. 1. 2. 4. Hee giueth testimonie that he approueth the Churches choice in ordaining him whoÌ„ he had chosen and called From this worke of the LORD follow two things I. That such an one may challenge the What the coÌ„munion is betweene the Pastour and the flocke people to be his flocke and claime his authoritie 1. Cor. 4. 15. Because God by working their conuersion hath shewed to them the seale of his office 1. Cor. 9. 1. 2. II. The people must acknowledge duties due vnto him as a Pastor which stand in sixe things 1. In acknowledging him their Pastor and God to bee with him Matth. 28. 20. and in him 1. Cor. 14. 24. 25. 2. In louing him singularlie for his workes sake 1. Thes 5. 13. 3. In reuerencing him 1. Tim. 5. 17. 4. In obeying him Heb. 13. 17. 5. In praying for him Deut. 33. 11. Rom. 15. 30. Collos 4. 2. 3. 2. Thes 3. 2. 6. In maintaining him sufficiently as shall be both necessarie and also befitting his place and charge 1. Cor. 9. 7. 14. Gal. 6. 6. Prou. 3. 9. And this is the mutuall communion 〈…〉 the Pastor and his flocke by which â—â—ey be tied one to another and thus orâ—â—ined and conioyned Now from all this ariseth the euident â—oofe of that which hath been said that â—â—e are true Ministers of Christ in the â—â—rch of England standing ouer the â—â—emblies first for that they bee called 〈…〉 Christ hauing both good