A TRIALL OF OVR CHVRCH-FORSAKERS OR A MEDITATION TENDING TO STILL THE passions of unquiet Brownists upon Heb. 10.25 Wherein is Iustified against them that the blessed Church of England 1 Is a true Church 2 Hath a true Ministry 3 Hath a true Worship By ROBERT ABBOT Vicar of Cranbrooke in Kent Mat. 11.19 Wisedome is Justified of her Children Hosea 2.1 Say to your brethren Ammi and to your sisters Ruhamah LONDON Printed by Thomas Payne for Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith and are to be sould at their shoppe at the signe of the Golden Lyon in Saint Pauls Church-yard 1639. REverendo in Christo Patri ac Domino Domino Gualtero Episcopo Wintoniensi serenissimae Majestati ab Eleemosynis Aureae Periscelidis Praesuli Clarissimo Domino suo intimè observando Robertus Abbott librum hunc quo Celebritas Anglicanae Ecclesiae ministerij cultus asseritur qui Ecclesiae matri ut pacifici amoris pignus dicatur ad perpetuam observantiae Justae memoriam ut magno in eadem Ecclesia Patri ejusdemque causae Patrono humiliter dat consecrat TO MY DEARE MOTHER THE MVCH HONORED HOLY AND BLESSED CHVRCH of ENGLAND DEare and blessed Mother thou hast been long pestered with undutifull yea unnaturall sons Sometimes they have beene superstitious sometimes prophane and for some yeares some that have professed themselves best to God have beene undutifull to thee It is an ill signe if children acknowledge a father and deny a mother that all hath not beene well Doest thou live in perpetuall adulteries and rebellions that thy children renounce thee Surely thy love is to thy husband alone Though when thy husband knowes of it and hee doth not mislike it nay gives thee generall allowance thou takest some ornaments and Iewels from blessed and good men yet is thy heart to Christ continually yea and all thy carriages are according to his will Many of thy worthy sonnes have vindicated this truth both against Rhemes and Amsterdame They could not indure that their mother should be called whore much lesse prooved so Amongst the rest I thy unworthy sonne have appeared in thy cause renouncing all the bloud in my heart that riseth against Christ and thee his spouse If I appeare of too mild a temper thou hast not begotten me of murthering mettle but of that word which makes us turne speares and swords into mattocks and sythes How soever I look I am sure I am thy child And if I have done thee any honour in this poore service I am glad if not yet I have done the best that I thought fit for these opposers and so with my humble prayers for the flourishing and increase of thy peace and truth I kisse thy hand and rest Thy obedient sonne to his utmost power ROBERT ABBOT TO THE COVRTEOVS AND CHRISTIAN READERS ESPECIALLY TO HIS OWNE Parishioners grace and truth and peace with the Churches of God in CHRIST DEarely beloved I have lived now by Gods gratious dispensation above fifty yeares and in the place of my allotment two and twenty full How unprofitably so ever in the dayes of my vanity when the world the flesh and the Devill bore sway yet through undeserved grace painefully ever since the weight of a peoples care was noticed to my conscience I have had great labours some watchings many strifes and contentions with my selfe and others about truth and godlinesse And though I have earnestly contended that the mouth of the oxe might not be muzled that treadeth out the corne but that J and others of Gods labourers â—ight live honorable of the gospell and at the Altar at which we serve as Christ hath ordained yet with a good conscience I can say as the Apostle I have coveted no mans gold or silver or apparrell I have loved and desired to spend and to be spent though the more I love the lesse I am loved of some few I know that J must lay downe this tabernacle and the time of my dissolution is not farre off Therefore doe I more seriously beginne to thinke of my state and doe set upon it to examine how I am like to be presented before the tribunall seate of God WheÌ„ I thinke of my sinnes and manifold infirmities I feare quake through the sight of the maiesty purity and iustice of God but when I think of Christ the mediator of the new testament and of the infinite value of his bloud offered in the dearenesse of Gods love and applyed rested on by faith which the holy Ghost in a saving measure hath given me I approach with confidence and the lifting up of my head But till that time come I lie under the expectation of flouds of sorrowes streames of temptations and other humane infirmities I pray that J may doe nothing that may dishonour Christ my master and that I may suffer nothing that may drive me from him and his service J know that the wasters of grace are strong and many and that no goodnesse is entayled to us without great care and vigilancy I know that sinnes and afflictions are the two great enemies of perseverance And though sinne be the most powerfull which yet through grace I have learned to trample upon with the constant acts of piety and charity according to my measure yet afflictions are my next care which if they bee slighted will make secret inrodes to hindâ—r peace with God My afflictions have not beene so weighty as millions of Gods deare saints have felt In this Gods grace hath beene marvellous because hee knowes my weakenesse to beare and my unworthinesse to bee a souldier in that warfare yet have they not beene so little as that they have not made me work enough It is grievous to bee slighted of them whom a man dearely loves and to have contempt powred upon that which comes in fulnesse of strength and tendernesse of affection to doe good Jt is hard not once scarce to be thanked for constant travels to edifie and save soules It is something to see respects fly abroad in full measure to strangers when nearer relations are forgotten But to bee persecuted by the tongues of those a man deserves well of and to be privily smitten of those from whom best incouragements are due will wound the heart of a David though he be after Gods owne heart J have of long suffered words of diminution and disparagement They have beene my meate drinke and cloathing Though when I have beene downe the wind of weakenes feeblenesse of spirit haâ—â— given advantage for a deepe impression yet blessed be God as strength hath appeared I have kicked at them with chearefulnesse though pride and folly hath sometimes misinterpreted this also I have often looked into the cause Lord what have I done Have I not lived like thy servant though with much sensible weakenesse have I not laboured in thy vineyard with all my strength have J not taught thy truth by taking heede to reading and doctrine yes surely saith my conscience I have
lashed who would rashly father it to such a breach yea and they tell us that they will have their name from scriptures not from men and will be called they of the separation In this I am yet glad that they love the scriptures more then men and I humbly pray that all that would be accounted good men would not tell us what this good man and that held and said but what Jesus Christ hath left to be held in the sure word of God that their faith may not stand in the wisedome of men But yet before we believe them we must know in what scripture their name of separation stands We reade indeed that God saith to Israel I am the Lord thy God which separate you from other people which Salomon thus expounds thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth But are not all christians separated thus as well as they from Iewes Turkes Heathens Israel was not separate from raigning sinne and sinners but for profession and service of the true God For even then God said of them yee have tempted me these tenne times and have not harkened unto my voyce this evill congregation are gathered together against mee thou art a stiffenecked people thou hast provoked me to wrath and I was angry with thee to destroy thee and I hope all christians are of no worse separation then this We reade againe that Paul at Ephesus departed from the wicked and separated the disciples It is well it was an Apostle who had an universall Jurisdiction by immediate Call and not private persons who may not doe as hee It was well it was Paul who went to Jewish synagogues to have spirituall communion and preached none other thing but that which Moses and the Prophets did say should come to passe and not his owne dreames But for his separating the disciples we reade he separated them from divers not from all and that from those that were hardened and believed not and spake evill of faith in Christ before the multitude as the text saith What is this to our church wherein they cannot find one member that believes not in Christ at least doctrinally nor one that speakes evill of the way of believing in Christ though thousands justly speak evill of their way which is the thing in question Wee reade also againe that renowned place come out from among them and be yee separate and touch no uncleane thing and I will receive you saith the Lord. For what fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what agreement hath light with darknesse But this will not affoord them the name of separatists neither Looke to the persons that must be separated from They are heathenish Infidels unbelievers Idolaters in utter darkenesse and so not acknowledging the true God And are wee in the church of England such Doe wee not prâ—fesse saving truth Doe we not look from the first to the last to bee saved onely by Christ If any professe they know God and by workes deny him yet shall not all things be pure to them that are pure Looke next to the persons that are charged to separate They are the christian Corinthians to whom the Apostle gives sweete words The church of God called to be saints a gracious people by Iesus Christ called to the fellowship of Gods son in Christ Christs owne begotten in Christ Iesus thorough the Gospell the seale of mine Apostleship in the Lord whom I praise because yee keepe the ordinances and who are full of godly sorrow with the signes of it yet will these Corinthians justifie the church of England by their wicked vices both in publicke and in their private meetings as I shall if God please shâ—w hereafter Consider now that this christian church which was commanded to separate from heathens in their Idol-feasts and abominable atheisme was yet in something worse then the heathens themselves yet doth hee not teach them to separate one from another in christian duties of piety and charity but to redresse each other as they could and onely to separate from the heathens that they may be all knowne to be professed and not dissembled christians Looke lastly to the matter the Apostle treateth of It is to warne christians from having fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darkenesse and to reprove them in their places in word judgement affection and conversation That with which they must have no fellowship Paul termeth unrighteousnesse darknesse Belial Idols The way whereby they may have fellowship with them he termes yoaking concord partaking and agreement And it plainely appeares that it is as murh as if he had said yee that are christians must not be with the unrighteous men of darkenesse sonnes of Belial and Idolaters as if ye were yoaked in their society living at one partaking and agreeing with them in their wicked course How I pray can they raise a name of separation to themselves from hence except they can prove that all of us live in unrighteousnesse and darknesse in league with Satan and in idolatrie and that we as paires and couples are linked together and partake of these evils or how can we justly give them that name of Separatists except wee will grant our selves to bee such let them bee from their first father Brownists and because they will be of the number and manner of those some that forsake the assembling of our selves together therefore let us with a good conscience and as quiet a spirit as their cause will permit examine their grounds by the word of God SECT 6. Of the Brownists opinions upon which they forsake our church 1. Because we are not a true church These grounds of Brownisme they referre to three heads to wit our church our ministery and our worship 1 They deny us to have a true church 2 They deny us to have a true ministery 3 They deny us to have a true worship If this charge were true surely they might say as David to Eliab Is there not a cause But whether it bee not most false let a good conscience guided by the word of God Judge First they deny that wee have a true church And though wee being in possession and they labouring to cast us out we might put them to the proofe yet shall I by Gods helpe tender them this one reason among many to prove that we have a true church Where there is the true matter and form of a true church there is a true church For this cannot be denied that the matter and forme of a true man make a true man that is the body and soule united so must it be in the church But our church hath the true matter and forme of a true church and therefore is a true church It is denied by the Brownists that wee have such matter and forme and it is proved thus first for the matter The true matter of a true church is such as professe saving
truth taught in the Scriptures and is proved thus That which makes a man a true member of a true churh that doth make a true church for members doe constitute the whole but profession of saving truth makes a true member of a true church for Symon Magus upon his profession was admitted a member till he fell away and the Eunuch upon the same profession was admitted too by baptisme and for ought wee know continued for ever Now that we in the church of England do professe saving truth according to the scriptures cannot be denied If the Brownists say that wee overthrow all by thousands of wicked lives in persons in and of our church I am sure that the church of Corinth was worse then ours can be in some things it was too bad with envyings carnall men uncharitable wretches that went to law before infidels scandalizing the weake partaking with Idols heresies abuse of the Lords supper by drunkennesse and contempt of the poore and with detestable incest yet when Paul writes unto them even before the incestuous person was cast out he salutes them all as those that are the church of God Saints by calling and sanctified in Christ Iesus at least by a sanctification of consecration in baptisme and their profession But say the Brownists doth profession make a church of the body of Christ will nothing but the body of Christ serve for a true church Then let them know that Christs body may be taken two wayes for a body of all those that shall be saved and this is the catholicke church which are in communion of saints for life and for a body of those that are in the way of salvation if they be not enemies to themselves as every branch in Christ that beareth not fruit Thus the whole church of Corinth was Christ as well as any other part of the church and in Christ Iesus though too many members of it professed without power For profession brings a church into outward fellowship with Christs body as bad servants with a good master and so into the way of being savingly of the body of Christ if they resist not grieve not quench not or despise not the spirit of grace Secondly for the forme of a true church that is Christ united unto the persons professing his saving truth For as the forme of a man is his soule united to his body so the forme of a church which is the body of Christ is Christ united unto it Now that Christ is united unto our church is proved thus because hee gives the law of union to us as to the body and makes it effectuall for conviction or conversion to serve the living and true God As a king is united to his subjects by his lawes and executions of them for rewards and punishments so is Jesus Christ to our church As the head united gives lawes to the body for safety so doth Christ give lawes to us for our salvation in his word He hath not dealt so with every nation yet blessed bee his name he hath so dealt with us to the joy of our soules True say the Brownists wee have his lawes but doe not answer them in our lives This doth not cut us off being but true in part till Christ hath sued out his bill of divorce no more then the disobedience of a wife makes her no wife the disobedience of a sonne no sonne and the disobedience of a servant no servant Againe Christ is united to us because hee makes his law effectuall for the convincing of all and for the converting of many soules to cleave unto him faithfully VVe are baptized and so put on Christ and are graffed into the similitude of his death and resurrection But as we grow in age many grow in gracelesnesse and forget the covenant of their God Then comes the word of Christ convincing and calls many backe kills sinne quickens grace and converts the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisedome of the just This the Brownists will not deny They confesse that God hath many gracious people amongst us by the word and sacraments VVhence I pray doth this proceed but from the influence and power of Christ united to us I am sure that Christ is the way to heaven and one soule cannot bee converted from the kingdome of sinne to grace but it is by the power and influence of Christs three offices As he is a Prophet hee must be his wisedome to teach him repentance from dead works and faith in Christ As hee is a Priest he must make his attonement betwixt God and him for righteousnesse And as he is a King hee must over-master the gates of hell and maintaine him to himselfe in the way of salvation for sanctification and full redemption Conclude therefore that if wee have the matter and forme of a true church wee must bee a true church against all exception if good conscience judge by the word of God SECT 7. Brownists first exceptions against us about the nature of a visible Church BUt because the Brownists make a great noise in maintaining against us that ours is not a true church therefore take particular view of their pleas against it that wee may see the unjustnesse of their forsaking it I shall by Gods helpe referre them to five heads 1 What they meane by a true church 2 The entrance into a true church 3 The head of a true church 4 The members of a true church 5 The governement of a true church They meane by a true church a set congregation of more or fewer separated from all false waies and having sufficient authority within it selfe for governement in all causes ecclesiasticall and assembling at times convenient for exercise of governement and solemne worship This is the full summe of what I can conceive them to say of a true church in which they would make it up of these foure ingredients First it must be a set congregation which we call a parish and they mislike Every one of these they would have an absolute church depending upon none but Christ and so they deny kings over countries and Bishops over diocesses to bee members of the church except they can shew those particular congregations whereof they are but equall members to be ruled by the joint consent of the whole number or it may bee the greatest part Secondly it must bee separated from all false wayes not onely of Iewes Turkes and Pagans but from all grosse sinnes and sinners which doe pollute the worship of the sincerest service of God Yet surely they would have them better taught and made good that by the consent of the members they might be jointed in at last Thirdly it must have sufficient authority within it selfe for governement in all causes ecclesiasticall that is a plenary power by consent of members to ordaine ministers call or cast them out as the necessity
the church of Corinth is called the body of Christ and members in particular This church as any other particular church may be considered two wayes In it selfe and so it was a body with reference to other churches and so it was a member of the catholick church But consider it both or either of these wayes if it bee the body of Christ if a member of his body or if both Christ is the head of it hee is in the midst of the seven golden candlestickes Therefore also the church of Ephesus is called the house of God and as in an house there is an head the husband is the wifes head so but more transcendently is Christ the head of every particular house or church For God hath set his sonne over his own house and our high-priest is over the house of God This is tâ—ue But thirdly say the Brownists what is that to us Christ is not our head Yes Christ is the head of our church of England For doe but consider 1 Wherein Christs headship stands 2 How hee useth and exerciseth it Christs headship doth stand in providing fit meanes for the gathering and enlarging of his visible church or churches and making them effectuall There is a foundation to bee layd which properly is Christ and for and from him the Prophets and Apostles There are builders yea master builders as well as others to bee provided There are materials to be at hand saints by calling some of which grow up to be lively stones a spirituall house that they may be Gods building These faithfull ones must be laied and coupled together as by joints till they grow into an holy temple for the habitation of the Lord by the spirit Now that this may be done Christ is the principal agent he adds unto his church that they may come to the father by him And withall hee provides his word that they might believe and ministers by whom they may doe it and the sacraments that they may bee baptized into his death and have the communion of the bloud of Christ Hee rests not heere but to make them effectual in the use of these means hee comes amongst these citizens with the saints and grants to those that by grace receive the spirit which is of God repentance unto life and faith to purifie their hearts and so hee addeth to the church from day to day a great number that believe and turne unto the Lord. But for those that come in to the voyce of the word and supper of the gospel in word and sacraments and have Simon Magus Iudas Hymeneus Alexander and Demas his heart if the conviction of themselves and the conversion of others and their perseverance doe them no good he shewes sometimes what they deserve by fearefull judgements and the censures of the church but hee will shew it in full power when the great day of separation comes Now looke in the feare of God whether our ever blessed Iesus Christ bee not thus our head Have wee not thorough grace the word of God gifts ministery and sacraments from Christs rule Say the Brownists ye have not all Christs ordinances yee want his discipline To that I shall speake in due place in the meane time put case it were true yet were it a true visible church though not a perfect one That is an ordinance for the comely and well being not for the being of the church But it lies upon them to prove that what they say we want are Christs ordinances and branches or his kingdome This they never can doe by the undoubted word of Christ Besides hath not Christ our head in the use and exercise of these blessings manifested his effectuall power How many iniquities are subdued and sinnes cast into the depthes of the sea what place is there where we shall not find the serpents head broken Some have beene in their ordinary businesses as the woman of Samaria and have come off with the bells of the horses pots in Ierusalem and Iudah as well as pots in the Lords house engraved with holinesse unto the Lord. Some have been disciplined with the misery of the hâ—sks of swine and have beene translated out of the kingdome of darkenesse into the kingdome of Gods deare sonne Some have heard and read good things to scoffe and cavill at them but have been suddenly changed from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord. Some have breathed out the stinking breath of sinne as Saul and others have seene the heates of persecutions and they have returned home to call upon the name of the Lord Iesus both theirs and ours Yea and some have seene others fall away from the faith of Christ and by the preaching of Christ have met with graffing in the riches of the Gentiles reconciling and salvation And though with Christ they have had a sword sent yet bonds in Christ have beene famous and the brethren in the Lord have waxed confident and bold to speake the word without feare Thus hath it beene with our blessed church the kingdome of heaven hath suffered violence and the violent have taken it by force But the ministery of the Brownists hath had no such communion and influence with and from Christ our head one of a city two of a tribe heere a little and there a little doth not answer in a continuall course from Christ hither the power of Christs intercession for the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for his possession But say the Brownists wee have other heads besides Christ I say we have no other mysticall head beside Christ but onely politicall heads to keepe peace and to see that every person within their compasse doe his duty religiously Thus the husband is the wives head the honorable man the head Saul the head of the Tribes and Moses chose men of courage and made them heads over the people But say they our King is our head so as to rule in matters of religion This is true yet fourthly coâ—sider that this headship of the King doth not hinder â—ut helpe the advancement of Christs headship and that according to the word of Christ To cleare this follow mee in two particulars 1 That God hath given a power of governement to the Church for the well ordering of it selfe 2 That Christ hath made Kings prime officers to advance it in their places As a man cannot well be without cloathes good nourture so neither can the Church well be without the walles of government She must also bee able to hold up her head against her enemies that shall say by what authority dost thou these things and who made thee a man of authority Therefore hath Christ given the particular or generall rules of the word to give a commission to the Church to governe it selfe both in matters
they must separate from a Church corrupted for want of I governement Yes say they that they must when governement is naught practise is answerable and better of either cannot be had I wonder what they would have done if they had lived in the times of the Judges when every man did what hee listed or in our blessed Saviours time when so many schismaticks and sectaries had rule and governement or in the Apostles time when Diotrephes used such tyrannical pride and usurped such authority that hee would not receive the very Apostles would they have separated I am sure that neither Israel nor Christ nor his Apostles did so Iohn did onely write to the Church about it And are these wiser then they No say they wee doe it not out of an opinion of our owne wisedome but out of conscience and for the glory of God and for Sions sake But take they heed every one that pretends to make the word of Christ his rule hath not these ends before him as he ought Gentilis that impious blasphemer of the Trinity when he was called to answer said that hee was drawne to maintaine his cause from touch of conscience and when hee was to dye that hee did suffer for the glory of the most high God And Paul when he was yet a Pharisee lived in all good conscience when naturall wisedome was his interpreter of Gods word Even so may it be with them O no they are sure of their hand they are taught of God and they must separate from such a wicked governmēt as ours is for conscience sake Why what is the matter let us in the feare of God heare the worst that wee may mend or bee obstinate I never heard but three things pleaded against our governement by them 1 The power of true government 2 The persons of our governours 3 And their exercise of our government We wil heare them in all to the last word and our good God give us understanding in all things for peace and salvation The power of true Church government say the Brownists is in the whole Church and in every particular member in body and not onely in the prime members onely In this they doe not onely fight against us but against al the Presbyteries in the world and so they pull more adversaries upon them then they will be able to withstand In this they beate downe at one blow that which hath exercised the wits of thousands without satisfaction to millions of consciences Yea in this they joyne hands with Corah Dathan and Abiram who loved not the governement of the best because all the congregation is holy every one of them But against whomsoever they fight and with whomsoever they joyne surely say they true Church government is in the whole congregation It is true that if wee consider the Church as a compleat body under Christ the head then the power of Church government is in the whole Church As the animal body is said to see to goe to worke to speake originally though subjectively and formally it is the eye sees the foot goes the hand works and the tongue speaks But that the whole body of Christ the Church catholike or particular for her part should have this power so as to have power to exercise it formally cannot bee made good from the word of Christ Before the Law Church government lay upon Adam Noah Abraham and the rest of the Patriarchs Vnder the Law it lay upon Moses and Aaron though to Moses was added by Iethroes advise seventy Elders not by Gods immediate direction though after they were approved by him Vnder the Gospel the gifts of power and government was bestowed upon some not upon all and the people never attempted any thing without the Apostles leave assistance and direction The Apostles ordained Elders and not the people without them The Apostles called for the Elders and conferred with them without the people The Elders did consult with Iames and Paul without asking the votes of the people and did a matter of weight for the peace of the Church from their owne judgements Yea and when the whole Church was with the Apostles and Elders in counsell these are preferred before them as their superiours who had their consent of love and charity but not of authority Therefore the people were not reproved for the disorders of the Church and Common-wealth but the Princes and the Priests according to which generall course we must understand those few particulars wherein blame seemes to bee layed upon the body of the people also For the people are still commanded subjection and submission to governours ecclesiasticall and temporall and are still called by the names of sheepe brethren saints houshold spouse children and the like whereas their governours are called Bishops Overseers Elders Presbyters Angels Fathers as termes of superiority It is true they are also called a royall Priesthood and Kings but not in regard of externall power of government in the Church but of internall power of saving grace to rule over their own corruptions that sin may not raigne in their mortall bodies which if they would exercise as they ought these quarrels might soone cease Noe say the Brownists these quarrels must not cease so long as we find in Scriptures the peoples power of government in the Church maintained For they instance in two high parts of government excommunication and absolution and they find the peoples power in both For Christ saith If thy brother trespasse against thee and he will not heare thee or more with thee Goe tell the church that is say they the whole congregation and as hee doth heare or neglect that let him be to thee either bound or loosed by excommunication or absolution Hence they argue thus Church is taken for every particular congregation where Christians live before this in body the delinquent that is obstinate must bee convented bee it lesse or greater and it hath a power in governement even in these things of highest nature therefore the power of government is in the people as well as deeply as in others Heere is their impregnable hold as they thinke and therefore they come upon us thus roundly Christ hath charged his Apostles and their true successours that they should teach all nations to observe all things whatsoever hee hath commanded them but you that are the ministers of the Church of England doe not teach us to observe all things for Christ hath commanded a forme of governement wherein all members should have publicke cognizance of offences for the advancement of the kingdome of Christ and you suffer him to be dishonoured and us to bee robbed of our rights and therfore ye are not the ministers of Christ neither is your Church a true Church of Christ Thus so farre as I can gather from them and conceive I have given them