A NECESSITIE OF SEPARATION From the Church of England prooved by the Nonconformists Principles Specially opposed vnto Dr. AMES his Fresh Suit against humane ceremonies in the point of Separation only Also Dr. LAITON Mr. DAYREL and Mr. BRADSHAW are here answered wherein they have written against us With a Table in the later end of the principal occurrents in this Treatise By IOHN CANNE Pastor of the ancient English church in Amsterdam Prov. 31. 8. 9. Open thy mouth for the dumbe in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction And plead the cause of the poore and needie Ioh. 13 17. If ye know these things happie are ye if ye doe them Printed in the yeare 1634. To every one that seeketh after the truth in sincerity Salutations THere are extant allready so many bookes in the defence of our cause which never yet received any answer that it hath been in my thoughts a long time not to enter publickly the lists of contention about it with any man but to imploy that smal portion which I have in the knowledg of holy things more peaceably otherwise Not with standing perceiving of late the general fame which was given forth of Dr. Ames his booke and namely in his answer to the point betweene the Nonconformists and us as that it was so learnedly and absolutely done that it gave all men satisfaction the Separatists only excepted and that no man would ever be able to make any sound reply therein vnto it I thought it requisite to take a thorow view thereof which when I had so don and saw the sleightnesse of it to say no worse I conceived with my selfe that this common bruit must need arise either from some ignorant people who cannot judge of things which differ or from such as have mens persons in admiration and so like the shadow will follow them where ever they goe be it right or wrong It is knowne to those which know the controversies betweene the formal Protestants in England and the Reformists that the Principles of the later by the former are said to be the direct and plaine grounds of Separation sundry arguments and reasons they allege for it as the reader may see in their several treatises This thing by the other is not only denyed but withall they proclame themselves the main refuters of the Separatists and doe affirme that they never saw any Prelate to confute their opinions any otherwise then by rayling words But how wel they have confuted us it will appeare in the following dispute unto which I referre the reader Only I thinke good in breefe to give him here a sight of most of their weapons which they draw out vsually against vs and whereby they indeavour to conquer and quel us quite 1. Vile calumniations and bitter scoffes proclaming us to the world to be Schismaticks Brownists Donatists c. and matching us many times with the most notorious Hereticks and blasphemers that they can thinke vpon of purpose to make our persons and profession odious to all men 2. Raysing up many manifest lies untruths gathering together the faylings of some particular persons which had walked with us casting the same as dung in our faces 3. Braggs and boasts of victorie a notable instance for this we have in a certaine preface made to Mr. Hildersh booke on Ioh. 4. the author of it tels his reader there that Mr. Hild. had the best in the controversie betweene him and Mr. Iohnson notwithstanding it is well knowne he never made any reply to that which the other had published against him although he was by divers earnestly desired to doe it and this I write from the report of honest and faithful witnesses who are yet alive and will not I am perswaded willingly relate any thing but the truth 4. Grosse contradictions in seeking to justifie against us the very things which by sound arguments and reasons in their writings against the Hierarchy they prove to be evil and vnlawfull and this we have manifested in the answ to Mr. Bradsh book 5. And in a word falsisications of our positions cōtinual begging of questiōs larg proofs for what was never doubted of but no proving of the main point in questiō either by scriptures reasons or any ancient sound writers These and such like arguments have they used hitherto against vs And it is no marvel that they are such for what better should we exspect from them who seeke to put out that light againe which hath beene by themselves cheifly revealed vnto many I know what I say and have good experiēce of this thing for there is not ten of an hundred which separate from the Church of England but are moved first thereto I speake of outward meanes by the Doctrines of the Nonconformists either in word or writing taught to the people And indeed vpon their grounds how can any one doe lesse then separate if his heart be tender against every sinne seeing they confidently affirme that their ministery worship and discipline is from Antichrist and in their Church are swarmes of Atheists Papists Erroneous Hereticall Sectaries Witches Charmers Murtherers Theeves Adulterers Lyars c. Moreover All Popery say they is poyson the roote stalke and branches and we cannot be said sincerely to have repented of the Idolatry or superstition whereby we or our forefathers have provoked the Lord unlesse we be ashamed of and cast away with detestation all the instruments and monuments of it Againe whosoever partakes in the sinnes of Rome are also under the same curse So that we cannot in any sort communicate with them in their errours unlesse we will beare them company in their destruction also These are their owne testimonies and we know they are true and therefore in obedience to God and care of our pretious soules we have left our vnsanctified standings in their Assemblies and through the Lords mercy to vs doe walke in the holy order of his Gospell although dayly sufferers for it of manifould afflictions Notwithstanding all these things offend us not for we know whom we serve and are most certaine if we watch and doe Christs worke still in his owne way We shall have a sure reward for it at the resurrection of the just And to speake now a word or two vnto such as are commonly stiled Professours of the Gospell whether vnconformable or not The thing truely which I most wish vnto them is tender consciences and that the Lords house and his ordinances may be deare to their soules and that they may be able to deny the profitts and pleasures of this life for if these things be in them and abound my hope is that by their judicious reading-over of this treatise there will follow much reformation When some men take a little Phisick they have their health by it soone restored but if the same and a great deal more be ministred to others of an other
power is of absolute necessity for the Churches of Christ an essentiall property therof and serves not onely for their well beeing but the beeing it selfe for without this there can be no coupling of the parts and members together And so much D. Ames testifyeth Now the assemblies of England were not gathered by any such power but in their first constitution wanted the same and had this false power which is exercised at this day as the Nonconformists doe aknowledge Our Arguments which we have used in this point have been to this effect Every true visible Church hath a power immediately vnder Christ to execute Church Government But the publike congregations of England have not any such power vnder Christ to execute Church Government Therefore they are not true visible churches What they will say to this I know not but hitherto they have either beene silent or answered to no purpose in the world For it is usually their manner to tell us how the Churches in Corinth Pergamus Thyatira c. neglected to execute discipline as though there were no difference betweene omitting to administer the ordinance and the want wholy of it yea and to have an Antichristian Divelish in the roome of it Indeed herein they well resemble children which being not able to read the lesson given them doe skip over and take another easie one So these leave altogether the point in hand which is to prove by Gods word that a true Church may want in it selfe immediate power under Christ to execute Ecclesiasticall Government and may be subject to that which was brought-in by the Romish Beast and talke of a matter which I thinke no man ever denyed It is true some have assayed to prove it but after many thoughts spent about it we have had nothing but wind from them namely of a city wiihout a wall of a vinyard garden Orchard c. Wanting a hedge fence bounds c. And such broken stuffe not worthy of any answere For where doe they read in Scripture that this power which Christ hath given to his Church is compared to a wall hedge c. But rather may be better likened to the power of the body which receives food and whereby excrements are purged and avoyded the want whereof were prodigious in nature neither could the body possiblie subsist and live And here by the way I thinke it convenient to answere breifly vnto some reprochfull passages writen by D. Laiâ—en against the Separatists he accuseth them of strange and vnsound conclusions but names nothing onely from M. Park Polit. Eccles he Englisheth a sillogisme in this manner If Discipline be so necessary and also vnchangable it is lawfull to separate from such Churches as doe not vse it say the Prelats but Discipline is vnchangablie necessary say the Separatist Ergo it is lawfull to separate from such Churches as doe not vse it The minor he grants to be true but denies the Major and to prove it false he gives this reason For want of an integrall part of the whole or of some essentiall part in it selfe though not of the whole is no sufficient ground for separation He might with more credit and good conscience have granted the Major also then sought to refute it by frothy empty and impertinent words for first he speakes as a man most ignorant of the nature of Church power for were he able truely to define it he should see that it is of such necessity as a people cannot constitute themselves in the right order of the Gospell without it as we have before expressed 2. If the Bishops Major as he termes it be wel vnderstood it caries this meaning discipline is so necessary that where it is not there can be no Church ordinances rightly administred no true ministery worship Sacraments Censures c. And it is certainly so and if M. D. have any thing to object against it let him speake out he knowes his liberty 3. If M. D. will but hold vp his words against the light he shall see they have not the face of an answere for let his words be graunted what is this to the necessity of discipline vnlesse he could prove that the same is not so essentiall but a true Church may wholy want it The which thing neither he nor any man is able to prove and therefore he only beggs baselie the matter but proves nothing and therfore for the warme cloathes whereof he speaketh he may even keepe them himself to cover the nakednesse of his Argument I will not here speake of his irreligious phrase comparing the holie way of God to hatching neither of his untruth to say that separatisme was not before B. Whitgift wrote for Ceremonies I think the man knowes better to wit that from false ministers worship c. the Saints have separated before Whit. either wrote or was borne If our practise be otherwise even by the testimonies of the Nonconf let it be manifested If this will not serve the turne let him then take knowledge of what D. Ames saith In the beginning of Queene Elizabeths Reigne there was a Company of honest men that for the Ceremonies refused to joyne with the Parish assemblies at London as appeareth in the examination of Iohn Smith W. Nixson extant in a booke called part of a Register We could prove if there were need in King Edwards Reigne that there were some good Christians which would not communicate with the Parish Assemblies but there is no use hereof seeing we have the word of God to justifie our practise There is one thing more which Mr. Dr. much talkes of and makes it even the burden of his song i. e. that the Bb. are the authors of the Separatists Scisme their practise butteth full vpon the others vnreasonable and vnsound reasoning But what if it appeare that Mr. Dr. Arguments doe lead rather to separation and that he speakes one thing and practiseth another Would not this be a strange sight especially to himselfe Now whether this be so we will here trie by some reasons in his owne mood and figure If the booke of Common-prayer vsed in the assemblies of England be an insectious Leiturgie Romish stuffe a devised service and raked out of 3 Romish Channells it is lawfull to separate from such churches as doe vse it say the Learned but the Booke of Common-prayer vsed in the Assemblies of England is an in sections Leiturgie Romish stuffe a devised service and raked out of 3 Romish Channells saith Mr. Dr. Ergo it is â—awfull to separate from such chuâ—â—hâ—â—â—s doe vse it specially when they continue obstinate and incorrigible in the practise thereof after due dealing and conviction as I suppose Mr. Dr. will freely confesse they have done even after due meanes used both by manie godly Learned from time to time now at last by himself If the ministerie of the church of England be vnlawfull and Antichristian it is lawfull to separate from it
constitution there followes not the like effect It is even so in the cause of the soule such as vnfeynedly desire to know the truth and have a conscionable resolution towalke in it doe receive much profitt by the fruitfull counsell which is given them either by word or writing But on the contrary Those which seeke the truth with no better affection than Pilate did neither purpose to obey the same more then did the dissembling Hypocrites in Ieremie Certainly good advise given to them is but as Pearles cast before swine and dogs therefore my desire is that the former sort may be viewers only of these lines and to them I say in the words of the Apostle consider what I say and the Lord give understanding in all things The following Principles touching a true Church Ministery Worship and Government as also hew quite contrary hereto the English is are not taken out of our writings but from the Nonconformists yea even from the cheifest of them which for learning Zeale judgement holinesse of life c. have ever held that cause Moreover they are not barely affirmed but sufficiently confirmed and therefore it standeth every one vpon to take them the more to heart for else not one but many of themselves even Prophets of their owne will condemne them I know the devill vseth many meanes to keepe people in cursed ignorance and among other one specially is by disswading them from hearing such persons and reading such books which might shew vnto them their evil sin and this he doth vnder a pretence of doeing good vnto them Oh! saith he you must beware of false Prophets and not hearken to that counsel which causeth to erre avoyd the companie of all deceivers and not once looke into their books c. Now by such Syren songs the crafty Serpent keepes them fast asleepe till he have brought the poore soule into the pitt of endlesse perdition We would thinke that man to be sencelesse who taking his enimies counsel would shutt all his doores windowes in hope to get the more light into his house thereby The devil dayly makes many thousand worse fooles in the world in causing them to shutt close their eyes against the saving light of the Gospell in exspectation that their soules by this meanes shal be filled with the more wisedom and spiritual vnderstanding It is not my meaning that any one should beleeve things suddenly rashly but I would have him as Salomons counsell is to looke wel to his going and as we take gould by weight Corne Cloth c. by measure so to receive the doctrines of every man by due examination And this is onely the thing which I doe request of thee good reader whosoever thou art be thou but pleased to put the Principles inferences here written vpon their proof to hold that only fast which after good triall by the scriptures thou findest to be good and it is sufficient and I have my desire of thee to the full One thing more I desire others to take notice of namely That I judge not my self bound so much to justifie their Principles as our Inferences from them Jf therefore any shall deny them to be true my purpose is to give place to such whome it more nearly concerneth to write in the defence thereof But if any shall oppose vs in the Conclusions I would have them leaving all by matters to follow the truth in love without gall and bitternesse that so things may come to a happy and speedy issue It is wel said of a Heathen man the oftner truth commeth to hand the more the l ght therof appeareth I hope this wil be verified in the point now in controversie for howsoever I doubt not but we have said here enough to justifie the matter undertaken notwithstanding much more I could have alleged from their writings concerning these things but for the present I content my self herewith till there be a further just and necessarie occasion given thereof I. CANNE A MANVDVCTION To the following TREATISE HOwbeit not any religion should be judged the lesse true because few embrace it neither the sooner to be followed for the generall good liking and approbation which it hath among men notwithstanding having now so just and necessarie an occasion to vrge men to practise what they professe I shall indeavour by the grace of God clearely to prove that this our Waye is of the Apostolique primitive institution even frō their Tenets which walk contrary to it Among other crimes charged upon Nonconformists as they are called by the Prelates and their Favorites one chiefely is that their Principles layd downe against the churches of England doe lead vnto separation and therefore if they were true to their owne grounds they should not communicate in the church assemblyes of England Many of the Bishops parasites heretofore have thus accused them and of late one Doct. Burgesse most confidently maintaines the same against them The which by Doct. Ames is vtterly denyed Now which of these two Doctors in this thing have the truth J hope it shall evidently be declared in this treatise following CHAPT 1. DOctor Burgesse having read and sereouslie as it seemes examined the nature true consequence of the many particular arguments published to the world by the Nonconformists against the great abuses in the ministerie worship and Church government of England Affirmed in his Rejoinder to D. Morton that the same are the maine grounds of separation and for his part if he beleeved them to be true he would in all good conscience he protesteth proclaime separation from idolatrous worship and worshippers before he slept and not halt as these men by their owne positions doe betwixt idolatrie and religion Doctor Ames in his new booke intituled a fresh suit against Ceremonies denyeth that any such thing can be necessarilie concluded from their principles but I will here shew by evident and sound reasons that the former assertion is true and certaine and all the arguments brought by the other to the contrary are of no weight or force to make good his deniall thereof And because I much desire that the reader may well understand our points in dispute I shall therefore if God will write in order of them And first I will begin with their ministerie and touching it will lay downe 4 things 1. How the Nonconformists doe describe a true ministery 2. How far that of England by their owne confession differs from and is contrary to it 3. I will shew what inferences and conclusions doe necessarily follow upon it 4. Answer the reasons brought by Doct. Ames in defence of their ministerie NOt to speake of Apostles Prophets and Evangelists which were extraordinary ministeries and therfore as themselves say are now wholy ceased The ordinarie Offices perpetually belonging to all true churches are onely these five 1. a Pastor or Bishop which is the highest ordinarie Ecolesiasticall Officer in
have layd their hands upon them and therefore they are ministers To this the Nonconformists doe answere that when the Bishop hath laid his hands on them that then they are no more ministers then they were before But there is no need to spend much time to prove these mens ministerie false and vnlawfull seeing none will replie for thē that have any spark of pietie to God or pittie towards his people onely some non-residents that keepe poore vnderlings or greedie Patrons that would have the light of the gospell die or poore ignorant people that would live at their owne wils in all licentiousnesse these happilie would vndertake the plea against Christ but it were better their tongue should cleave to the roofe of their mouth then that they should once dare goe about the overthrow of Christs ministerie And is not this a ground of separation yes verely and if the Nonconformists will stand to it I will hence prove a necessity to separate from all spirituall communion with the greatest number of their parish assemblies and thus I reason A dumb ministerie beeing vnlawfull and false is to be seperated from their ministers for the greatest part are dumb ministers therefore it is lawfull to seperate from the greatest part of their ministers The proposition is manifest and cleare and I dare say they will not deny it For besides the reasons already given it is confidently by them affirmed that a reading ministery cannot deliver the Lords holy seales vnto the people without great sacrilege nor the people receive at the hands of such without dreadfull sinnes and whosoever listeth to read the place he shall see many effectuall arguments laid downe by the author to prove it and this is not the judgment of one alone but others of them affirme it to be an vnlawfull thing to joyne with reading ministers in any ministeriall duty either in praying or administring the sacraments and he gives 10 worthy reasons for it The assumption I prove also by their owne testimony For they say that generally throughout the Land there are six reading Preists to one preacher Yea others of them doe affirme that where the Bb. ordaine one minister that can preach they make twenty that can not so that there are many thousand churches in England without preachers Defenc. Pet. for refor 130. and in some shyres people must goe 14 or 20 miles to heare a Sermon defenc Against Bridg. p. 49. Now I wish them to consider well of thes things to labour what they can for their brethrens deliverance out of these spirituall robbers and murderers hands He that should come to a deepe pitt or wel wherein doe lye many people almost perished if he should see there some of them com forth from the rest would we not judge him an unmercifull and cruell man if he should rather seeke to cast them in againe then to help out the other behind in miserie Such as live under a dumbe ministerie by the Nonconformists confession are in a farre worse case Therefore I hope hereafter they will give no more carnall counsell to perswade those which are escaped to com back into that pitt againe but rather will seeke to draw out the rest as their duty is to doe Secondly for the work which these idle readers doe we shall have a fit place herafter to speak of it Only by the way I thinke good to sett downe heere one of their passages which is that bare reading of the word and single service saying it is bare feeding and rather an English Poperie than a true Christian ministerie yea it is as evill as playing vpon a stage and worse too For players learn their parts without booke but these at least many of them can scarse read within booke how is their service saying as bad as stage playing What and worse too truely then it is bad enough and farre be it from the Lords people to heare it For if they should doe so they would sacrifice vnto the Lord a corrupt thing and so be lyable justly to that curse in Malachi Thus much for their dumb ministerie It followes next that we speak of their parsons vicars parish preists stipendaries and chaplines If you will know say the Nonconformists whence all these came we can easily answere you that they came from the Pope as out of the Trojan horses belly to the destruction of Gods Kingdom It is certaine that their names and office is wholy from that Roman Antichrist never instituted either by Christ or his Apostles For the church of God never knew them neither doth any reformed church in the world know them These are clouds without raine trees without fruit painted sepulchres full of dead bones fatted in all abundance of iniquity Such as seeke not the Lord Iesus but their owne bellies Mr. Bale in his exposition upon the Revelation speakes the same that these are the very names of Blasphemie written upon the Beasts head against the Lord and his Christ Their offices are not appointed by the holy Ghost nor yet mentioned in the scriptures Here is enough spoken for the condemnation of their calling and for the justification of seperation from all communion therewith From hence I might frame this argument Whosoever he be that dealeth with the holy thinges of God and worketh vpon the consciences of men by vertue of an Antichristian power office and calling him the people of God ought not to receive or joyne themselves vnto But all the parsons vicars Parish Preists stipendaries c. that stand over the church assemblies in England deale with the holy things of God and worke upon mens consciences by vertue of an Antichristian power office and calling Therefoee the people of God ought not to receive them or to joyne themselves vnto them The first part of this reason the Nonconformists do yeeld willingly unto as it is to be seen in a Treatise betweene Mr. Fr. Io. and Mr. Hild about the ministerie of England As for the other part I hope they will not now deny it seeing they have published it openly and often to the world yea and many of them suffered greevous persecutions at the hands of the Prelates for affirming it and other truths of this nature But to keepe them to their owne grounds in the assumption I will here lay downe another argument If their parsons vicars parish Preists stipendaries c. Be neither in election nor ordination made ministers agreeablie to Gods word thē is their ministerie false vnlawfull Antichristian and so consequently they deale with the holy things of God c. As is before sayd But neither in their election nor ordination are they made ministers according to Gods word Therefore is their ministery false vnlawful Antichristian c. Both these propositions I will prove true by their owne writings of the first thus they say A due examination of learning and life going before the free consent of the Church whome it
Nonconformists say is contained in their communion booke and hence the same is called divine service as for preaching it is held to be no part thereof we will follow here the same method And first I will shew what a true divine worship is according to their owne discription of it 2 How farre that in the Church of England by their owne confession differs from and is contrarie to it 3 Lay downe arguments to prove our separation lawfull by the former grounds 4 Answer D. Ames reasons alleaged to the contrary It is certaine that the Lord hath given a perfect platforme and absolute rule how he will be worshipped in the time of the new Testament an excellent direction for vs how we may acceptablie performe the same vnto him is laid downe in Iohn 4. 23. 24. Two things are there mentioned spirit and truth first it must be a true matter of worship grounded on the word it must be no devised worship For nothing may goe vnder the name of the worship of God which he hath not ordained in his owne word and commaunded to vs as his owne worship All the parts and meanes thereof must be don according to his revealed will Even as the service which is given to an earthly prince by his attendants at court must be onely according to that Kings commaundement so the outward solemne worship to be performed vnto the King of Kings ought to be that onely which he alone is the author and institutor of As for rules given by men not grounded on the Scripture in case of Religion matters of faith c. They are not of any moment neither are we bound to the observation of them For the truth is whosoever vseth those wayes and inventions in worshipping God which are not commaunded of God in his word but be devices of men Christ saith that they worship him in vaine c. If it have no further begining then mans braine God will give no blessing to it but sends a curse vpon it for cursed is he that addes any thing to the word of God God will ad so much to his plagues and the reason is because he makes himselfe wiser or better then God For if God be perfectly wise then he knew best what worship would please himselfe and if he be perfectly good then he would reveale vnto vs what ever he knew fit for vs to practice A gaine it is a great injurie offered to God when we will let his deadly enimies have the ordering and appointing of his service rather then himselfe A King would thinke it a great indignitie that his servaints should not yeeld to his direction but some base person that were a professed enemie should set downe what service he must have and in what manner he must be obeyed who shall be his attendants and what his provision But much more absurd and injurious it is that we will let the wit and will of the flesh bear sway in Gods worship for these two doe joyne with the devil and are enmity to God And if we will have this preheminence in our houses that our servants must doe as we bid them not what they themselves thinke good for he is a good servant that doth his masters will not his own then why should not we thinke it right that God must be Lord in his house and we must doe his service after his appointment and not our own And not onely doe they teach these wholesome and good doctrines but also doe lay downe sundry effectuall reasons to prove that men may not worship God otherwise then he hath appointed and revealed in his word 1. Because we can have no true comfort in our devotions so long as they be but limmes of that which Paul termes voluntary Religion so long as they are onely taken vp by vs and not prescribed to vs make we never so great a shew of zeale in the performance of them yet it is nothing 2. All worship devised by man is abhorred by the Lord for he likes nothing but what he appointeth himselfe 3. It is against his expresse commaundemeÌ„t that men should bring any of their owne devising neare his ordinances because he will have no more don in his worship then he teacheth and commaundeth in his word Therefore whatsoever is added that we are to esteeme to be an Image which he detesteth and abhorreth 4. Because whatsoever God would have vs either to know or doe he hath fully revealed it by Christ 5. It is the property of superstitious andâ—dolatrous things to infect the places and persons where they are 6. It argues certainly that men doe not love the Lord and his commaundements but hate rather both when they worship God otherwise then he commaundeth for although every wil worshipper will say that he loveth God yet God witnesseth in the second commaundement that he is a liar and that he hateth God in that he hateth the worship which he commaundeth in the love whereof God will have experience of his love 7. The Lord will blesse the true worshippers of him vnto many generations both in themselves their children and posterity and in whatsoever belongs vnto theÌ„ 8. We must learne to proportion our worship to Gods nature which is simple in that which is simple there is no composition or diuision therfore in our worship there must be no composition it must be vayd of mixture a linsey woolfey patch worship sauced spiccd sophisticated with humane inventions doth nothing sort with the spirituall simplicity of the divine essence 9. God promiseth his presence onely in his owne worship and therefore neither accepteth nor blesseth a worship that is not directed by his owne word For conclusion worthily speaketh M. Perkins The second way of erecting an Idoll is when God is worshipped otherwise and by other meanes then he hath revealed in the word For when men sett vp a devised worship they sett vp also a devised God Augustine saith of the Gentiles that they refused to worship the God of the Hebrewes because if their pleasures were to worship him in another sort then he had appointed they should not indeed worship him but that which they had faigned The Samaritans worshipped the God of Abraham Isaac Iacob and they waited for the coming of the Messias yet Christ saith of them Ye worship ye know not what because they worshipped the true God by a worship devised of old set vp by men The Lord saith to the Israelites ye shall call me no more Baali whereby he signifieth that because the Iewes did somtime worship God in the same manner with the same images rites and names whereby the Heathen worshipped the false God Baali therefore they made him indeed to be even as the Idol Baal c. Againe Iohn saith in his first Epistle chapt 2. vers 24. If that which ye have heard from the beginning remaine in you ye shall continue
was commaunded to the 7 Churches to be practised vnder persecuting Magistrates opposing that we must not omitt though the Magistrate doth not tollerate it The practise of Church Government was commaunded to the 7 Churches Revelation 2 and 3. Therefore we must not omitt the practise of Church Government though the Magistrate doth not tollerate it 8. If the Church Government may be omitted wheresoever and whensoever the Magistrate doth not allow it then it doth depend wholy for the practise of it on the will of man But it doth not depend neither ought it to depend wholy vpon the will of man Therefore the Church Government may not be omitted when and wheresoever the Magistrate doth not allow it 9. If the Magistrate may forbid mee the practise of the ordinances of God then he may forbid me to be so good a subject as I can be or may be But the Magistrate may not forbid me to be so good a subject to Christ as I can be or may be Therefore the Magistrate may not forbid me the practise of the ordinances of God The Nonconformists are not alone in this thing for all the reformed Churches affirme the same viz. that it is the part and dutie of all the faithfull to submitt to the Doctrine and discipline appointed by Christ yea though the contrarie edicts of Princes and Magistrates doe forbid them vpon paine of death And so have their practises beene many ages together and there is good reason for it For the Regiment and Government of the Church dependeth not as the Nonconformists well teach upon the authoritie of Princes but upon the ordinance of God who hath most mercifullie and wiselie so established the same that as with the comfortable ayde of Christian Magistrates it may singularly flourish and prosper so without it it may continue and against the adversaries thereof prevail For the Church eraveth helpe and defence of Christian Princes to continue and goe foreward more peaceably and profitably to the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ but all authoritie she receiveth is immediately of God Before we proceed to another point we may here frame this argument If the professours of the Gospell in England have not among them a true church Government but are vnder that which came from the great Antichrist then are they bound to set vp that ordinance of God and to to practise it not withstanding the Magistrate doe forbid the said practise But the professours of the Gospell in England have not among them a true church Government but are vnder c. Therfore are they bound to set vp that ordinance of God and to practise it notwithstanding the Magistrate doth forbid the said practise These are both their owne positions and so soundlie proved that no man liveing is able to confute them But some will say this is hard to doe I answer difficulties must not hinder duties where we have an expresse commaundement laid upon us there al disputation must cease of hardnesse daungers losses c. Excellently for his purpose speaketh Calvine There is no travell or labour so great which we must not endure to the end we may enjoy the face of God how perilous soever the passage be be it as they say betwixt fyre and water yet let men goe foreward to have libertie to serve and worship God purâ—lie Is a man in going pinched with famin or thrist yet let him not faint but scrape the earth rather with his nailes for food and maintenance then be turned or driven back from comming to the Temple of God Many use to say they wish all were well and pray for reformation To this I answer it is not enough that we desire to have all things well except we endeavour to make them so He that wants and hungers for bodilie food deserves to starve except with all he use diligence and sore labour also as he is able to get it Againe prayers I confesse are good but without practise they profitt not The heart which setts the hand at worke and is full of zeale obedience sincerity c. shall doe well and prosper When Moyses stood crying at the red sea what saith God unto him speake unto the children of Israel that they goe forward I am perswaded the Nonconformists pray dayly for their deliverance from the Bb. government but here is their fault they goe not forward but are like him in the Prov which lyes in the ditch and cries God help but doth not seeke to help himselfe though he can and is able Others think because mens laws are against Christ that they shall therfore be excused in omitting their service unto him but they will finde it otherwise and as for this shift it denotes a most unsound heart for as we would repute that servant verie naught who being commanded by his maister to do divers things doth onely that which serves for his own credit profit pleasure c. but the rest not being so though more weighty and necessarie he purposly omitteth so certainly they carry the broad Characters of notable hipochrites even in their foreheads which walk onely in such waies of Christ as ly open for them by the authority of man where they may go with good leave safely and free from all bodily daunger but where the commandements of God are hedged up with thornes by mens prohibitions there they fowllye step aside and walke corruptly when the Apostles were sent forth to plant Churches if they should have left the Lords worke because they were forbidden to preach in the name of Iesus they had surely sinned and would have beene greatly punished for it are not the ordinances of the Gospell as strictly to be kept now as heretofore yes surely Mr. Hierom saith that such outward observances in matters of religion as are of divine institution not the least of them are to be neglected dispised or difused vntill he that ordained them shall be pleased in expresse termes to disanul them If not the least must be omitted then not Church government because it is a cheife ordinance and without the which as I said before no publick worshipp can be rightlie administred There are some which out of tendernesse of conscience refuse to kneel in the act of receaving and doe take the Sacrament sitting Moreover doe meet in private families to Fast and Pray together and are persuaded that herein they doe well though their practise be forbidden by the Magistrate Now I desire these seriouslie to consider if they may lawfullie performe some religious duties against Human Lawes why not others and specially if they be such duties as serve more for Gods glory the furtherance of the Gospell the edification of the Church and salvation of their owne soules I doe not finde any thing written by Dr. Ames about this point although he well knew that one maine ground of our separation from their Parish Assemblies is because as the Nonconformists affirme they want the power of Christ and
stand under that which was taken wholy from the Pope yet it may be he thought that he had said enough hereof in the Addition of his first booke pag. 26. where he repeates certaine words which had beene before printed in his reply to D. Morton If Gaius saith he had made a separation from the Church wherein Diotrephes lived whether the Apostle Iohn had been the cause of that scandall because he condemned his abuse of excommunication This speach saith D. Burgesse is the weakest pretence that could be devised and truly so it is and therefore I marvaile seeing he was tould so much that he had not either said somethinge for his owne defence or blotted it out that so the weakenesse and impertinēcy of it might never have been seen Could not D. Ames perceive any difference betweene the abuses there noted by Iohn in Diotrephes and those which are mentioned by the Nonconformists against the Church of England we doe not read that Diotrephes is said to be an vnlawfull and Antichristian minister that he had brought into the Church a devised worship had sett up a false Government yet such are the faults which the Nonconformists have found out in the Church of England I wonder therefore that the Doctor should so much overshoot himself For though we doe not thinke that it was lawfull either for Gaius or any other member of that Church to separate because Diotrephes playd the Diocesan but they were to stay and seeke his reformation notwithstanding we thinke yea and doe know of a certainty that from a church where the ministerie worship and government is vnlawfull and Antichristian we may warrantablie depart and such is our Separation by the Nonconformists Principles Thus Reader thou hast heard the most and all which Dr. Ames hath said to maintaine the reputation of their grounds charged with Separatisme now if thou considerest how effectually he hath refuted the Rejoinder in the matter of Ceremonies but contrary wise about this point of Separation how he speaks either nothing or nothing to any purpose thou mayst well perceive that in the former he had the truth with him but not in the other although it seemes he was unwilling in plaine termes to give the case away CHAP. IV. THat the ministerie worship and church government of England is not lawfullie to be joyned with we have evidentlie allreadie proved by their owne Principles In this Chapter we will speake of their Church observing still the former order that is 1. I will shewe their Tenets touching a true visible Church 2. How farre their English Church by their owne testimonie differs from and is contrary to it 3. I will lay downe our inferences and conclusions 4. Answer to such Objections as may seeme to carie most weight against them To let passe the strict significatiō of the word church and also the sundry acceptations of it concerning true visible churches the Nonconformists say that there are none but particular ordinarie congregations such Churches and such onlie they affirme God erected but as for Nationall Provinciall Diocesan they are now of human institution altogether unjustifiable by the scriptures The author institutor and framer of every true visible Church is only Christ for he alone hath the disposing of the word vouchsafing it to some and denying it to others and it is his spirit which converteth mens soules and begetteth them to everlasting life and so they become stones for this building For the persons whereof the same are constituted they ought to be a Faithfull People called and separated from the world and the false worship and the wayes thereof Such I say as keepe the Commaundements of God and the faith of Iesus for how else should the Church be the House Mountaine and Temple of the eternal God his Vinyard Kingdom Heritage and enclosed Garden the body of Christ his spcuse love sister Queene a chosen generation a holy nation a peculiar people and the joy of the whole Earth Howsoever therefore there may be Hypocrites which beare the face of godlie men in the church whose wickednesse is onelie knowne to God and so cannot be discovered by men yet in the churches of Christ there ought to be admitted no drunkard no whoremonger c. at least which are knowne because the temple of God must be kept as neere as it is possible free and clean from all pollutions and prophanations whatsoever The meanes whereby men are made fitte for this Church of God is by the word when they have well proffited by hearing the same they are then freely and of their owne accord to present themselves to the Lord that is either to joyne themselves to some true Church already constituted or by voluntary profession of faith and obedience of Christ to knit themselues together in a spirituall outward societie or body politick Now everie true particular congregation assembled lawfully in the name of Christ is an independent body and hath by Christs ordinaunce power to performe all publick worship for unto it appertaineth the covenant the worship the sacraments and all ecclesiasticall discipline having also the promises of peace love glory and salvation and of the presence of God and his continuall protection and for this cause it is the dutie of everie faithfull christian to make himselfe actually a member thereof 1 In respect of Gods institution Matth. 18. 17. in which not onely the precept is contained but a certaine necessitie of the meanes 2. In respect of the presence of God of Christ For if we wil com to God we ought then to com to that place where his presence is in a speciall manner where he is to be found of all such as secke him with the whole heart 3. In respect of Gods glorie the which by this meanes is publikely propagated and advanced For as the name of God in the old Testament was placed in Ierusalem so now it is in the Churches of the Saints although not in this or that place 4. In respect of Gods covenant and promise for those which are in the Church are directlie as it were joyned to his blessings the which are there powred forth abundantlie upon them 5. In respect of our profession for otherwise it cannot be but those evidences will be darkened whereby the faithfull are discerned from unbeleevers 6. In respect of mutuall edification which necessarily followes upon our joyning together in the fellowship of the Gospell Touching the manner and order of this joyning unto true visible Churches the Nonconformists doe describe it thus He which is to be received first is to goe to the Elders of the Church to be well informed and instructed by them and to have his cause by them propounded to the congregation afterwards he is to come himselfe into the publike assemblie all men looking upon him with love and joy as upon one that commeth to be maryed and there he is to make a profession of Faith and to be
the voyce of Antichrist The church of God doth keep the doctrine of the Apostles Prophets without addition alteration or corruption thus the Conformists But the Church of England keepes not the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets without addition alteration and corruption say the Nonconformists see pa. 108. Ergo she is not the church of God No society can be termed Gods church which retayneth not Gods true worship thus say the Conformists But the church of England doth not retayn Gods true worship say the Nonconformists see pag. 78. to 113. Ergo she cannot be termed Gods church The true church consisteth not of feirce Lyons Wolves Tygers and such like wild and feirce beasts but of sheepe and Lambes which learne of Christ and are meeke humble gentle c. so say the Conformists But the English church doth consist of Lyons Wolves Tygers and such like wild and feirce beasts and not of sheepe and Lambes which learne of Christ and are mâ—eke humble gentle c. thus affirme the Nonconformists see pag. 31. c. 145. 169. 170. therefore it is not a true Church Here the reader seeth clearly how the Conform majors and the Nonconform minors make up intyre Syllogismes of Separatisme And how they will be able to unlose these knots I know not except by revoking utterly their owne grounds which if either of them doe yet I doubt not but we shall well enough be able to maintaine them against men SECT IV. NOw we come to take a view of such exceptions as may seeme to cary most weight against our former conclusion And these are laid down cheifly by Mr. Dayrell in his treatise of the Church this man made a shift to fill up there with words above thirty sheets of paper The which subject if some men had tooke in hand they would easily have comprised all the matter of it in 12. or 14. leaves My purpose is not to follow him in his idle repetitions neither to speake much of his contradictions absurdities but in short to give a full answer to his tedious tyresome discourses Touching the description which he makes of a visible church he saith thus All that be and remaine vnder the voyce and call of God that is the ministerie of the word c. be of the visible church Answ This is a false and prophane errour for first then the vilest Hereticks that ever have beene in the world may be members thereof as the Appellites Cerdonians Macedonians Paternians Patricians c. such as held two contrarie beginnings or Gods the one good the other evill such as held that Christ is not rysen from the dead denyed the Holy Ghost to be God affirmed the bodie to be created of the devill c. 2. Then may excommunicate persons be of the church before they acknowledge their sinnes yea Tuâ—â—es Iews and Infidles 3. Whereto leadeth this Position but indeed to make the Church a very stincking ditch to receave all filthinesse and to be like the whorish woman which openeth her knees to every passenger contrarie to the patterne given us of God Rev. 21. ult 4. If this were true then should no man for any offence be censured so long as he remaines vnder the voyce and call of God For that which is enough to state one in the Church is enough to keepe him there still if he retaine it 5. He speakes contrary to the judgement of all Reformists and Conformists that ever I have heard or read of and contrarie to his owne writing in other places for in pag. 22. 35 c. he defines a Church to be a company called out from the rest of the world and such as doe submit themselves to the true worship of God Now there is a great difference betweene this calling from the world submitting to the true worship of God c. and onely to be under the ministerie of the word 6. I cannot tell from whom Mr. Dayr receaved this strange doctrine unlesse it were the Heretick Eunomius which taught that so men were of his religion it was no matter what their conversation was nor how many sinnes they committed He doth often affirme in his booke that it is not Faith and repentance but the Profession thereof which is necessarie to the making of a member of the visible Church Marke how blasphemously he speakes intimating if men with their mouth speake some few good wordes they may be taken lawfullv into the Communion of the Saints and partake with the rest in the Sacraments and Prayer All be it knowne to be notorious murderers theeves traitors sorcerers witches whoremoungers c. and so resolved to live and continue It is very likely this Mr. Dayr had a great Church seeing he made the doore unto it broad and wide just like the way to hell I could here lay down many grosse absurdities which might be truly concluded from his words viz. that a Church cannot cast out some obstinate sinners neither is she and the world to be distinguished c. but because the vanitie and evill of this speach is enough allready shewed I purposely passe them over We have seene one of Mr. Dayr definitions now followes another Let there be an assembly joyned together in prayer hearing the word and receaving the Sacraments according to Christs institution and it is a true visible Church Answ It is so indeed and hence this argument against them may be framed If in the Ecclesiastical Assemblies of England there is neither prayer preaching nor sacraments administred according to Christs institution then are they all false Churches But the first is true therefore the second The proposition hath sufficient confirmation from their Principles before named the assumption is certaine and manifest by the doctrine and description which he here makes of a true visible church and there lyeth against it no exception In the next page he delivers a Paradox viz. that men outwardly may submitt to true worship and yet be irreligious and prophane Now this is either falsely or foolishly spoken If he meane of visible prophanesse and irreligion then it is a contradiction and indeed plaine Nonsence for to say that a person may outwardlie submitt to God and yet outwardlie be prophane and ungodly If he intended of secret and inward irreligion of the heart In this sence it is true but answereth nothing at all to the matter for which he brings it Here also he layeth downe Mr. â—insw wordes as he saith unto which he makes no direct reply but runnes to another matter whereof he had now no cause at all to speake He denyeth that either the Papists or Anabaptists doe professe true Religion although they professe some true and sound doctrine What moved him thus to thinke I know not unlesse it were because these have many errours in their religion Now if this reason will stand firme and good against them then it must needs follow that the Church of England professeth
not true religion though she profâ—sse some true and sound doctrins in regard she maintaineth many lyes and vile errours Mr. Gilbâ—e a forward minister reckoneth up above seven score grosse points of poperie remaining in their Church and many others of them have don the like as I have in this treatise manifested And I think it would aske a better witt and head then ever Mr. Dayr had to proove that there are halfe so many corruptions in the religion professed by the Eng. Anabaptists From pag 41. to 51. there are certaine reasons as he calls them to prove the Church of Eng. and their Parish assemblies true visible churches As for the first of them I deny both the Proposition and Assumption He saith Whatsoever people or nation is within the dayly voice and call of God c. the same is a true visible Church This is untruelie affirmed as I have proved before and for his speaking of it againe it sheweth the more his ignorance in the way of God For will any wise man take Lyons Wolves Foxes c. into his sheepsould sow tares or darnel in his garden plant thistles or thornes in his Orchard The Church is the Lords speepcfowld his garden orchard c. and therefore if Mr. Dayr had been so wise as he should he would not have spoken so corruptly but have given rather counsell to keepe out vncleane persons considering what the Prophet saith Holynes becommeth thy house o Iehovah to length of dayes Againe we may perceive by his wordes that he understood not the nature of a visible Church For as to the constitution of it there belongs a holie people as the matter so also a uniting and coupling of them together which is the forme whereof it consisteth As the constitution of a common wealth or of a cittie is a gathering and knitting of people together in a civill Policie so the Constitution of the common wealth of Israel as the Church is called and of the cittie of God the new Ierusalem is a gathering and uniting of people into a spiritual Policie The forme of which Policie is order as the Philososophers acknowledged calling Policie an order of a citty which Order is requisite in every administration of the Church as the Apostle teacheth and cheifly in the collection thereof And therefore next unto Faith in God it is to be esteemed most necessarie for all holie societies This was one thing for which Paul rejoyced in the Church at Collosse as for their steadfast Faith in Christ so their Order also But Mr. Dayr will have his Church without Order or Forme and what is it then but a meere atâ—xie or confuse Chaos a state onlie fitt for the devills Goates to be in which desire liberty and not for Christ sheepe which are to make streight pathes to their feet He saith there lyeth no exception against the Assumption And why so because their Pastors and Teachers are true ministers Me thinkes the man should have beene ashamed to have begd so much at one time But to let his folishnesse passe we do deny them to be lawfull Officerâ— and have brought their owne hands against them for it Secondly he writes here against his brethren yea and I thinke against his owne conscience For the greatest number of their Bb. Preists Deacons are dumb dogs ignorant asses c. such as either cannot or through pride sullnesse bread and abundance of idlenesse Sodomes sinnes will not preach and therefore it is untruely said that the people generally of England are within the dayly voyce and call of God 3. The later part of his reason is wholie against himselfe sor whereas his wordes import that the people generally of England are impenitent sinners and unbeleevers it must follow necessarily that they are alltogether uncapable of any Church estate and so much we have formerly proved Were it not a ridiculous thing to set up a house with wood and stones and afterward to take Axes Sawes Hammers and other tooles to cutt saw and fitt them for the building yet such an unskilfull builder Mr. Dayr sheweth himselfe in his whole booke For hee will have idolaters adulterers theeves conjurers murderers and any villain in the Land to be placed in the Lords spirituall house and afterward will have meanes used to prepare them for the same Not to contend about the proposition of his second argument howbeit it is verie faulty I denie the assump viz. that the people of England doe injoy and outwardly submit themselves to the true worship of God for the worship which they have is affirmed of the Nonconformists to be antichristian and unlawfull but let us heare his reason If such as both in their life and at theire death served God with the verie same worship we doe have in that worship beene saved then iâ— the worship wee now have true divine worship But the first is true therefore the second If Mr. Bradshaw had found such a reason in Mr. Iohnsons writing he would surely have called him idle head crackt braind foole c. but I leave such terms to men of his intemperate spirit and doe thus answer 2. A Papist Arminian or Anabaptist may say as much and upon as good ground and who dares denie but manie of their religion have found mercie with the Lord must it therefore follow that their worship is good indeed Mr. Dayr logick so concludeth it 2 Men may serve God with an outward worship not agreeable to his word and yet be saved for who knoweth how infinitely good hee is to his poore creature 3. It is apparent this man had a very ill case in hand that could not tell how to maintaine it but by revealing the secret and hid consell of the Lord for I wonder how he came to know who in their worship have beene saved if he should say in the judgement of charitie he thinkes thus then his argument must be of an another fashion namely that he thinkes their worship is true for otherwise it will want shape and proportion 4. It hath beene the constant practice of the godly to proove their positions by the scriptures but it is likely he saw that there was no helpe for him there and therefore onely makes use of this reasonlesse reason His third argument is foolish and carnall and both parts of it false For first it is incident to the best and purest Churches upon earth to erre and to bee deceived and therefore their sentences and approbations must be examined by Gods word 2. If the reformed Churches doe justifie the English therein they condemne greately their owne practice for in theire constitution ministery worship and governement they are as opposite as light and darkenesse one to the other and so much the Nonconformists confesse 3. Seeing the Prophets Christ and his Apostles condemne their Church their case is never a whit the better though all men in the world speake well of it 4. The
they write against the Hierarchie doe avouch boldly 4. If we consider the Preists and people of the Iewes it will appeare evidently that there is no agreemeÌ„t or liknesse in the coÌ„parison For these separated themselvs froÌ„ the filthines of the heathen of the land confessed their sinns humbled their soules by fasting and prayer before the Lord sanctifyed themselves prepared their whole heart to seeke God made a covenant with him frejoyced at the oath kept the passover with joy But the English at first in every particular were much unlike these people as appeares by the great rebellions which they made in many places because they thought that their idolatrous service should be put downe Yea so unwilling were they to leave their idolatrie as the Magistrate was saine to informe them by a proclamation how they did mistake his reformation It seemes to you saith he speaking of their Mattens and Evening song that you have a new Service now indeed it is no other but the olde the selfesame words in English which were in Latin saving a few things taken out so fond that it had been a shame to have heard them in English c. If therefore the Service in the Church was good in Latin it remaineth good in English for nothing is altered but to speake with knowledge that which was ignorantly before uttered To be short I would have them once to tell us where they have learned to inforce and constraine men to be members of their Churches I thinke they will not finde a president for it in the world unlesse they take it from Mahomets doctrine who taught that men should be compelled to the faith by warre and sword For all reformed Churches practice otherwise There are no swine and dogs driven in among the Godly but whosoever joynes comes freely and voluntarily to them sometimes Mr. Dayr and his brethren are all for these Churches but when they see that their owne standing must needes be naught and foule if the others be justifyed then they will call back their words againe and plead corruptly for themselves Mr. Dayr hath one string yet left to his bow the which if it should be broken too then all the shooting would be mard Be it granted saith he that all our parish assemblies were at first no true Churches c. yet notwithstanding now they may be and indeed are true seeing that ever since above fifty yeares we have beene partakers of the true word and Sacraments and many of us effectually called thereby and to drive this nayle into the readers head he layes downe a similitude thus There are many men in a house but gotten into it not through the doore whereby is the ordinary passage into it but by some back doore or through the window or haply at some breach violently made into the same house were it not extreame folly or rather madnesse because of this manner of entrance to deny the inbeing of the aforesaid men in the house Answ A man fallen into the water will rather catch at a mote theÌ„ willingly sinke it is just so with this Mr. Dayr being loth to fall under the controversie which inconsiderately he took up he talks of this thing and that the which if they should be judiciously weighed would be all fouÌ„â— as lâ—ight as vanity To reply breifly for it is not worth a long answer First if their Churches were false in the Constitution then are they so still because they stand in the very same state and have not repented of the evill thereof neither since have entered into any visible covenant with God by publick and voluntarie profession of faith If two persons should make an adulterous covenant who would deeme them to be Lawfully man and wife so long as they stood by vertue of that false agreement which they made at first together 2. Their having of the word and Sacraments proves no more their Churches to be true then doth a true mans purse in the hand of a theife prove him to be an honest man As the Lords Vessels were of old in temporall Babilon so are there sundry of his Ordinances now in spirituall Babiâ—â—n and therefore the Papists can say the like and all other Hereticks if any should reply but these have the word preached in an vnlawfull ministery and the Sacraments vnrightly administred I answere the same may be said of the English assemblies as the Nonconform have soundly proved 3. What their obedience is the reader may partly guesse by comparing their profession and practise together The former is shewed in this treatise and what the later is all may see it at home by their doings in England As the Prophet said of Israâ—l let them lift up their eyes to the high places and behold where they have not plaid the harlot I could give many instances to shew what small cause they have to boast of their order and manner of walking For first they are not a people separated and called from the world a dutie much urged in the scriptures and practised allwayes by the saints 2. They are not free but stand most slavishly under strange Lords expresly against Gods commaundement 3. They worship the Lord not in the sincere order of the Gospell but after an Idolatrous and Popish manner which is a fearfull and crying iniquity 4. Add hereunto the knowledge which many of them have that these things are evill It is the saying of King Iames that the Puritans are the founders and fathers of the Brownists the later saith he only boldâ—y putting in practise what the former doc teach but dare not pâ—rforme For what end he wrote this I let it passe but the words in part are true Our separation from the Church of England is by their grounds certainly good and lawfull and therefore they say and doe not Now what the reason of it is I know not unlesse to enjoy libertie pleasure profiâ—t freinds credit and such wordly respects I doe omitt the fearefull apostasies which sundry of them have made from that obedience unto which they were come some for wives others for riches and many to avoyd persecution for the crosse of Christ Besides whome doe they take for greater enemies then the Separatists And why because as the King said these boldly put in practise what they doe teach but dare not performe And for this verie thinge many of us have receaved most greevous injuries both from their tongues and hands but the Lord forgive them for it 4. Be it granted that som of them are effectually called what then doe these make all the rest holie not in the least for as a handfull or bundle of corne shuffled into a feild of weeds though in it selfe it may retaine the same nature yet cannot make the feild a cornefeild so neither can a few good Christians sanctifie the whole lump of the idolatrous vile multitude in the Land and make them to
Archbb. and Bb. are Commissioners and visitors in causes Ecclesiasticall vnder the King Answ The Magistrate hath no authority from God to set up such Officers which shall take into their hands the rights and priviledges belonging to the whole Church and therefore whereas he attempteth both here and in pag. 35. 36. to justifie the Hierarchicall Government and by this reason viz. because they take it from the King I desire the reader to compare with this base stuffe their former principles and consider whether there be not probable reasons to think that he sinned herein fearefully against his knowledg and conscience But to the point in hand is not here witt to dispute by ifs thoughs Now I am not of Mr. Bradsh merry dispositiō to laugh at anothers fault But truly if a man were so disposed his sillie and childish wordes would give him often occasion enough For suppose a Papist should argue as he doth What if one should hold that our Archbb. and Bb. be Pastors or what c. would not every one that seeth it say there is in it neither ryme nor good reason If therefore he had not meant a meere gulling and mocking of the world he would not have taught men to hold this thing and that or what they would without any reason and ground but have shewed first by the word of God that the opinions were lawfull and good which he counselled them to embrace After this he tells us that some of their Preists and Deacons are Pastors som Teachers but I have proved the contrarie and therfore both now hereafter doe purpose to let his idle repetitions passe onely if I may without offence aske a question of them seeing Mr. Bradsh makes here this distinction and doth oftentimes justifie the whole Clergy by what names or titles soever they be called I would willingly therefore know of what kind their dumb ministery is whether these Sr. Iohns be Pastors or Teachers for if they be true ministers one of these they must be necessarily Mr. Bradsh haveing a great desire to justifie their Deaconrie howbeit he knew that his brethren had condemned it for a false office as they have it in their assemblies demaundeth of us whether Magistrates may not require some things of Teachers not required by the Apostles Answ Yes forsooth but if they require before a man shall be a Teacher that he enter into the ministery by an unsawfull and Popish vocation and shall execute afterwards the same in an idolatrous manner If he in all this doe obey them he must needs therupon become no true minister and such is their cause by their owne confession And therefore the question as he propoundeth it is deceitfull and impertinent Lastly he excuseth their Preists which obey the Bb. what obedience saith he doe they promise to Prelates but onely in things that they shall judge honest and Lawfull and not repugnant to the word of God If this manner of arguing be good what corruptions so abominable but may get contenance Vnder such pretences any Heretick may maintaine the grossest errours which he holds and practiseth But to let passe any further answer I desire the reader to take knowledge that none of the Nonconformists have more effectually condemned their Popish Ceremonies than this man for he hath by many arguments proved that the use of them is very sinfull notwithstanding behold his forehead how in his writing here against us he seeks by flattering speaches to justifie the very practise which he professeth in his writing against the Hierarchie to be unlawful idolatrous antichristian I may well use the words which they speake against the Conformists We abhorre this hypocrisie and leave such temporising vnto those which are content to make themselves the servants of men But it s true as one saith Extremitie drives men vnto hard shifts Here Mr. Bradsh bestirreth himself to prove their ministery good by the Scribes and Pharisees but this example will not helpe him in the least For first howsoever they had new names and in many things were very corrupt yet they sate in Moyses Chaire that is came rightly and Lawfully to the Leviticall and Preistly Offices which they executed in the church of God But their ministers as we have shewed it under their owne hands doe want this true calling and therefore the comparison holds not It is possible that two persons liveing in adultery may in sundry respects be no worse then some which are truely married Is their state therefore one not so and why because the former wanted a right comming together So in this cause in somethings I am perswaded their ministers are not worse thā the Pharisees as in pride covetuousnes hypocrysie persecution of the saints c. yet neverthelesse their standing in respect of the ministery is not as good as the Pharisees because as I said before they have not a true calling thereto which the others had 2. I cannot thinke that Mr. Bradsh should be so ignorant as in this place he makes shew of For his words import that the abilitie which the Pharisees had to expound the Law argued them true ministers But this is false for that and indeed that only which argued their office to be true was the Lords institution in setting the Tribe of Levi apart for the holy administratiōs of which Family were these so many as were imployed in and about the service of the sanctuary 3. If the preaching of the word and administration of the Sacraments be sufficient to argue a true ministery then are not onely many Papists Preists but other vile Heretickes and excommunicates Lawfull Pastors and Teachers for so much they can doe The truth is his arguing is no better then if Ieroboams Preists should thus have pleaded Those Preists that teach Iacob Gods judgements and Israel his Law that put incense before the face of God and burne incense upon his Altar are true Preists But these things doe we therfore we are true Preists If they shall say the assumption is untrue the like say we of their cause 4. Howsoever he often undertakes the defence of all their ministers yet here he leaves the blinde Preists in the ditch And indeed this is the manner usually of them they are so shifting up downe as a man knows not where there home is nor when to find them there for some time the whole Clergie is pleaded for when they are beaten thence then they fly to their best ministers when they cannot defend them any longer then we have an howers talke of their gifts and services Thus as a man that sitteth uneasie is ever stirring to fro till he be out of his place so doe they shift and shift till they be cleane out of their arguments matter If they thinke I speake beyond my compasse let them once pitch and insist upon any one of these grounds without starting joyne issue with us and come to the
comfort and pleasure of so heavenly blessed a husband Answ 1. Though it should be granted that in a true constituted Church some matters incerely Ecclesiastical may be imposed through humane srailty yet this helpeth their cause nothing at all in regard that a false worship an Antichristian Hierarchy or Church Government and unlawfull ministery therefrom derived is imposed upon and by the people slavishly submitted unto 2. Though every humane Ordinance be not of that nature as to make that Church and Ministery false where it is vsed yet some are or else there are no false Churches and Ministers in the world and such humane Ordinances there be many in their Parish Assemblies as from their owne Principles we have shewed 3. Though it were generally granted of all that thoses Churches and Ministeries are to be communicated with all that have some thing in or appertaining to the constitution thereof not instituted by Christ yet it will not thence follow that we may with such as in their constitution were wholy false but such are theirs 4. Grant this that all are not false Churches which doe not or by the Laws of man are not suffered to vse their power Notwithstanding such congregations as doe altogether want this power and stand under that which was taken every part from the Devill Antichrist are certainly false and so not to be communicated with all And this is their present state if they speake truely themselves 5. Admitt that those may be true Pastors who are outwardly by mans Lawes subjected to a superiour Ecclesiastical Officer Yet can it not hence be concluded that their ministers are true seeing neither their Offices calling administrations c. are agreable to the word of God 6. If the Offices of Provincial and Diocesan Bishops be contrarie to the Scripture then necessarily that ministery which is derived from it must be so also And this conclusion the Papists have drawne from the writings of the Conformists If our English Prelates be no true Bishops then surely neither be the Preists or Ministers or Deacons that be ordained by them and so consequently the congregation of England is not the true Church of Christ. Here we have againe much rude scoffing and such crowing to use his owne termes as if he were some cock of the game that hath picked out the eyes and broken the neckes of all that have beene set against him The proposition sayth he is false the Assumption is false the consequence is false But for proofe a man may finde assoon a needle in a bottle of hay as any for the things which he boldly denyeth Moreover the points in controversy which are of greatest weight moment he either puts quite off by a fine trick they need no answer or else answereth to them besides the matter For an instance to this purpose writeth Mr. Iohnson Every true visible Church of Christ or ordinary Assemblie of the faithfull hath by Christs ordinance power in it selfe immediately vnder Christ to elect and ordaine deprive and depose their ministers and to execute all other Ecclesiastical Censures But none of the Parish Assemblies of England have such power Therefore they are not true visible Churches of Christ. Both parts of this reason he proves from their owne writings now marke his reply to it All are not false Churches which doe not vse this power c. And is not this thinke ye wittily answered We say from their Principles that a true Church cannot be without power But their Churches are wholy without it For answere he tels us a true Church mâ—y want the vse of it We say so too But doth it follow because a man in a sound hath not the use for the time of that life which is in him therfore one may be quite without life yet not dead To this effect he reasoneth or else as Paul sayth of som he understood not what he said nor wherof he affirmed but spake evil of the things which he knew not Mr. Bradsh having used all the witt and skill he had to refute the former Reasons in these pag. in a mocking contradiction of Mr. Iohnson he undertakes to prove that the publick ministery of the Church Assemblies of England is true and lawfull I have neither time nor mind to follow him in his vagaries idle repetitions but will set downe in few wordes the summe of his long talke and give answer to it breifly First thus he sayth To have such gifts as Christ ascended to heaven for the worke of his ministery to be outwardly called to that worke by such a Church as professeth the fundamentall points of the Gospell to instruct the people committed to their charge in the Doctrine of the Law and Gospell to administer vnto them the holy Sacraments of Christ and to be their moâ—th in prayer vnto God are all the things essencial appertaining to the office of true Pastors and Teachers Such is the ministery of our assemblies Howsoever I will not contend much with him about the Proposition which is lame to the ground and a farre better might have beene framed breifly thus To have such an office as Christ in his Testament hath given to his Church a lawfull calling and enterance therevnto and a lawfull administration thereof according to the said Testament are all the essencial c. The Assumption is false 1. Their ministers have not the gifts whereof he speaketh and so we have manifested from their owne writings 2. I doe denie that their Bb. of whome they take their ministery are a Church in any sence saving the malignant and therefore if all the rest were granted yet hence would his whole argument like the unwise mans house fall to the ground 3. Though they instruct the people in some Doctrines of the Law and Gospell as doe Papists all other Hereticks notwithstanding the reading of the Servicebooke in forme and manner the celebrating of marriage Churching of women burying of the dead conformity and subscription are more essencial to their ministery more necessarily required by the Lawes of their Church then preaching either of the Law and Gospell is And so much Mr. Bradsh elsewhere affirmeth Those that yeeld to Ceremonies need not preach at all in their Churches except they will no nor doe any other part of divine service if they will maintaine a Curate that will keepe the Ceremonial Law and fairely read or singe the Kinges Service as they call it 4. For the Sacraments they are as they say wickedly mingled and prophaned and wickedly administred Besides if we will beleeve Mr. Bradsh when he speakes out against the Hierarchy they have divers Sacraments which are not of divine institution administred in their Churches viz. the Crosse Ring in marriage Surplesse c. 5. The prayers which they are to make unto God must of absolute necessitie without partiall dispensation or manifest violation of their oath to the Bishops
The great wickednesse of them p. 170. 171. 172. The ministery of England taken wholy from Antichrist p. 11. Proved to be false p. 219. 222. Their manner of making ministers p. 12. 13. 14 What they are for qualification p. 15. 16. and practises p. 21 Men may be unlawfull ministers though never ordained by the Bb. p. 68. 215 Vnlawful ministers not to be communicated with in any thing they doe p 26. Reasons for it p. 27 Conversion of men to God no note of a true ministerie p. 64 The Ministers of England of one constitution p. 56 True ordinary ministery tyed to a particular Assembly p. 10. A roving unsetled false p. 9 Musick in the Church unlawfull p. 111 N. The profession practise of Nonconformists how they differ p. 205. 206 Their Minors and the Conformists Majors lead to separation p. 179. 180 Not so true to their grounds as the Conformists p. 38. 241 O. Oath ex officio why unlawful pag. 140 No Obedience must be yeelded to the Bb. Government p. 148 Five kinds of ordinary Ecclesiastical Offices only belonging to every true Church p. 3. 4 Officers not simply necessary for the publicke administrations in the Church p. 135 The Church may depose her officers p. 130 Offences how to be suppressed in the Church p. 130. 131. and why p. 168 The Officers of the spiritual Courts in England described p. 137. Their places Antichristian p. 1â—8 Brethren out of Office may teach publickly in the Church p. 54 Order and forme required in the collection of all true Churches p. 186 P. Pastors are all equal by Gods institution p. 3 These are wanting in the English Assemblies p. 11 Parsons Vicars c. unlawfull officers p. 44. 45 Parents ought not to bring their children to be Crossed in Baptisme and reasons for it p. 96 Patrons places unlawful p. 242. To be present at Idolatrous worship unlawfull p. 119. 120. And namely where the Ceremonies are used p. 98. 99 Power given to every particular Church p. 257 An essencial property there of p. 149 Preaching of the Gospell no part or property of the ministery in Fngland but a thing casual p. 259 The manner of preaching there p. 248. 249 Neither preaching nor administring the Sacraments argue a true mininistery p. 232 Not enough to be Professours p. 251 Their Preists and Deacons take their ministery from the Prelates and no where else p. 241 They have not the essencial ministery of Pastors and Teachers pag. 214 Prelates why worse then the Papists p. 82 Of Pollution by other mens sinns p. 208. 209 Q. None must be chosen into any office but such as are wel qualifyed for it and reasons thereof pag. 9. 10 13. Questions propounded with request to be answered p. 262. 263 c. R. Reading Preists described p. 38. Their ministery unlawfull and reasons for it p. 40. 41. A sinne to communicate in their ministery p. 42. What service they doe p. 44. The greatest number of the English ministers are such p. 43 Every Officer must be Resident in his place and why p. 10 Rome and England how like in Church Ordinances p. 261 The judgement of the Reformed Churches no good argument to prove the Church of England true by p. 188. 189 S. Sacraments prophanely administered in the church of England p. 105. 172 More Sacraments then Christ ordained administered in their Churches p. 259 Sacraments administred in private houses unlawfull p. 105 Service booke a devised worship and reasons for it p. 80. 81. 82 The Scribes and Pharisees misapplyed to justifie the ministery of England p. 231 Sidemens office unlawfull p. 138 Our separation why p. 196. 207 Lords Supper how abused p. 103. 104 Surplices unlawfull reasons for it p. 94. 95 Scriptures how abused in the Church of England p. 108 T. Toleraticir of sinne in the Church hurtfull and why p. 168 V. Visitation of the sick as used in England Popish p. 112 Bb. Visitation described p. 142 143 W. Widdowes an office in the Church and reasons for it p. 6 God hath prescribed a perfect platform how he wil be worshipped p. 72 Reasons why he should be worshipped according to the same p. 74. 75 The worship of the church of England is contained in the booke of common prayer p. 78 Churching of Women unlawfull and reasons for it p. 99 The word of God the only meanes to fitt men for Church-estate Z. True Zeal will not endure any thing of Antichrists p. 107 FINIS ERRATA For Eder read Elder p. 9. lin 13. For honestly read honesty p. 14. lin 25. For as read at p. 28. lin 20. For thelr read their p. 103. l. 23. For nor read not p. 131. l. 2. For Hierom read Hieron p. 161. l. 29. For number 38. in marg read 61. after Arrow ag Br. p. 224. * Our Apologie Mr. Bar. refutation of Mr. Giffard A treatise of the minist of the Church of England Mr. Robinsons Iustification of Separ Mr. Penry of the ministery of England An answ to Mr. Stone ‡ I mean only in the point of Separation for in other things he bath answered D Burg. fully and laid him flatt on the grouÌ„d ‡ Hooker Eccles Pol. pref p. 34. Whitg 2. Treat c. 1. div 2. p. 81 Sutclif treat of Disc c. 15 p. 165. D. Bils perpetual Goverm ch 15. p. 339. Bancr Surv. of Disc c. 33 p. 430 431 432. Loe Quaerimon Ecclesiae p. 59 60. Answ to the Petition by the Vice Chanc. Heads of Oxf. p. 15. D. Morton D. Burg. ð„ Repl. to D. Mort. Sect. 14. p. 31. Defence of Petition to the K. p. 103. a Dayr Treat of the Ch. p. 41. b Mr. Nichols plea of the innocent p. 33 34 c The scurrulous Libels published under the names of Lawne Fowler Bullard c. ‡ Serm. on Rom. 12. p. 65 66. Sold. Bar. Abridgm p. 23. Cartw. Catechis p. 315. 316. Rev. 16. 15 Ioh. 17. Chap. 42. 43. ‡ he speaks thus by false ministers Prov. 14. 15 ‡ Yet we beleeve their principles to be true is there be no Nonc that will defend them we will ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ ð„ Magis veritas elucet quò saepius ad manuÌ„ venit Senec. lib. de ira Pag. 5. Pag. 232. Necessit discip 38 73 74. Offer coÌ„fer pag. 2. T. C. l. 1. p. 22. l. 2 pa. 3. p. 5. 15. Demonst discip 46 Mr. Bates 27. Informat froÌ„ Scott p. 28 29. Necessity discip 71. Defen ag Slaund of Bridg. 127. Forme ecclesias govern p. 123 124 125 c. Demonst discip 53 54. Inform. froÌ„ Scott pag. 30. Forme eccles Govern 128 129 c. Rom. 12 8 â— Cor. 12 28. 1 Tim. â— 17. Mr. Bate 89 c. Demons disc p. 56. Inform. from Scot. p. 13. Eccles gover p. â—â—9 M. Bates p. 117. Answ to Bancr ser p. 14. T. C. l. 1. 190. 2. Admo p. 61. T. C. l. 1. p 190. disc Eccles 119 Infor. Scott 31 demonst discip 61. 62. c.