of the archangel Michael Boniface the 8. shewed like honour to the 4 Euangelists and many other memorable gests are recorded of the Fathers of the See of Rome whereof there is not a word in the Testament of Christ that he or his disciples did euer the like For they appoynted not priests apparall long gownes tippers 4. horned capps as did Pope Zacharie nor a white linen surplice at seruice time as did Pope Syluester 1. They hallowed no Temples or Churches as did P. Hyginus nor Churchyards as did P. Calistus 1 Neyther ordeyned ringing of bells to call the people to diuine seruice as did P. Sabinian They appointed no Rood-loft to part the Chancel from the church as did P. Bâ—niface 2 nor hallowed Font to Christen in or Godfathers and Godmothers at baptisme as did P Pius 1. and Hyginus They commanded not the people to goe procession as did Pope Agapetus 1. nor appoynted any Bishoping or Confirmation of children as did P Clement 1. with a great number more of like pranks vsed in the Romish seruice which Christs Apostles knew not as their writings shew But the church of Engl. as next heir of Romes constitutions reteyneth these reliques obserueth these rites and a many moe for which the Papists doe insult and say that from their treasure house the religion now established hath learned the forme of christening Marrying Churching of women Visiting the sick Burying and sundry other likâ— as the books translated out of theirs doe declare And now what sayth Gods law for all such things vnto his people I am sayth he the Lord your God After the doing of the land of Aegypt wherein ye dwel shall ye not doe and after the doing of the land of Canaan whether I will bring you shall ye not doe neyther walke in their ordinances My iudgments shall ye doe and my ordinances shall ye keep to walke in them I am the Lord your God Thus he forbad them not onely the worship of false Gods but euen the imitation of idolatrous worship rites and ordinances in his seruice wherfore he charged them againe that they should not so much as inquire or ask how the nations serued their Gods that they might doe so to the Lord their God But whatsoever he commanded them they should make heed to doe it putting nothing thereto nor taking ought therfrom Yet the Bishops and Priests of Engl. haue almost all things in their Leiâ—ourgie according to the doings of that spiritual Aegypt the Romish church wherein they dwelt and haue imitated her worships‘ orders ceremonies c. reteyned her ministery prelacy courts and canons thâ— Latine being turned into English and some grosse superfluities left ouâ— And in defense of this worship haue these godly ministers written Mr Bernard published their work wherein if the reader see not a soâ—nd proof of the things that Mr Barrow whose errors they pretend to confute reproued he must impute it to the badnes of their cause which wil scars admit of any colour from the booke of God For besides the abuse of holy scriptures alleged to iustify these popish stratagems how sound diuine or rather how fond and corrupt is the reasoning of these men from Gods example and authority vnto their own practise and power that because the Lord God gaue formes of blessing prayer and psalmes to his people as the scriptures which they cite doe shew therefore their Lords the Prelates may giue them also prescript words for blessing prayer and Psalmes c. as is to be seen in their seruice book Can we thinke that Ieroboam had so slender a reason for his goldeÌ„ calues Why doe not these men also plead that God gaue a law by Moses therefore ther may a law be giuen likewise by the Bishops or th' Apostles wrote a new Testament therefore the Conuocation house may also write a Testament or Gospel bring it into the church If the Prophets practise will bear them ovt in the one I see no cause why it may not vphold them in the other Wel seing neyther Mr Gifford heretofore nor these ministers now can bring better defense for the work of their own hands wherewith they worship or rather prouoke the Lords I leaue them to consider of those lawes that euery where cry ovt against and shew the punishment of idolatrie Neyther is it needfull to keep the Reader with longer answer seing Mr Barrow in the fornamed books and Mr Greenwood in a peculiar treatise against these stinted prayers and seâ— worship haue proued the vnlawfulnes of them by many reasons which neyther these ministers nor any other haue yet taken away And when they write agayn let them not bring proofs for things that we deney not as that Daunds Psalmes may be sung in the church and that in our prayers we may vse or apply the words that other holy men before vsed in their prayers vpon like occasions both these we grant and practise but let them proue if they be able and their right hand can help them that their own writetnn prayers psalmes c. may be read and sung in churches churchâ—â— as Gods true worship and then also they may command the clowdes to rayn no more and may cause to cease the bottels of heauen Like to their former plea and maintenance of their seruice booke is also their answer for Catechismes as for Homilies it seemes they leaue the the defense of them to the simple priests that read them but Catechismes are vsed euen by the learned preachers therefore somewhat they say for them as that the principles of religion were taught in the churches of old RoÌ„ 2.20 6 17.2 Tim 1 13 Heb. 5.12.13 14 and 6 1.2 But these ministers are eyther simple or very deceitfull so to turne away from the question For we neuer deneyed that the grounds and heads of Christian religion should be taught to the people far be it from vs but this we say the Prophets and Apostles are not found to prescribe set words for the minister to teach or the people to answer being examined And that therefore these Bishops and Priests are very presumptuous that wil take vpon them to doe that which Christs Apostles neuer did in the churches Agayn that if those men of God had to done yet seing the writings of Prophets and Apostles are canonicall scriptures and so are no mens writings now it will by no meanes follow that if they wrote catechismes to be vsed in the Church therefore men may writ some for like vse now Yea rather why are they not content with that which is already written in the scriptures but run to erroneous catechismes of humane writers such as is that authorized catechisme in the book of common prayer commanded to be vsed in the church of England Hauing heard what these godly ministers say for their people and seruice book I exspected somewhat also for defense of their own minister and the ecclesiasticall gouernment of
had appoynted to be King after him Was not Aja a godly King and good reformer of the church yet was he wroth with Hanani the Seer and put him into prison onely for speaking vnto him the word of the Lord. What weight is there then in thiâ— your cavil that our affliction are by Christian magistrates therefore out cause is evill Good princes may be ouer caried eyther by their own affections or by the suggestions and prouocations of other men And if you will not yet see your folly mind this for your selues that you which 〈◊〉 called Puritans are molested imprisoned persecuted and note not by hethen and Antichristian tyranns but by your own Christian magistrates and Bishops professing and maynteyning the gospel of Christ. Ergo eyther your cause or your argument is naught Your last poynt is partly false and partly friuolous for Mr. Harrison returned not vnto your church of England but died at Middleburgh in this faith that we professe Mr. Smith Crud and some others which never were officers much lesse pillars in our Church did indeed forsake their first faith and died soone after with what comfort themselues now know But what if many more had forsaken vs yet the truth of the gospell which we professe shall stand Christian religion was at a low ebb when so many went back that Iesus sayd to the twelue will you also gee away Yet Christianitie still flourisheth and shall so long as the moone endureth And we with comfort doe behold that though many bad ones haue gone away yet God bringeth better in their place dayly The 3. Consideration 3. NOte your dissentions between 1 Brown and Harrison 2 Brown 〈◊〉 Barron 3 Barroâ— and Francis Iohnson 4 Francis and George Iohnson 5 â—r Iohnson and Mr. Slade that great scholler 6 Chaphâ—n and others aâ—out Anahaptisme nay none of your great Rabâ—ines but haue grosly disagrâ—â—d disagreed among themselues It piâ—ieth vs to see your poor congregation how lamentably it hath been rent with mutuall dissentions bitings and deuouring of echâ—ethers whâ—ch doubtlesse is no 〈◊〉 â—f the spirit of God These are not lies but matters known and they are matters horrible and strange Answer IF you were an Atheist or Pagan as you professe to be a Christian you mought in this maâ—â—r reprâ—ch the church of God â—uer since the world began saying Note the dissentions â—etween Kain and Abel Cham and Noah Esaw and Iaacob Ioseph and the Patriarches Moses and the Isralites Moses and the Leuites Moses and his â—wn sister and brother Gedeen and the men of Ephraim of Succâ—th and of Pennel Abâ—melech and his brethren Iâ—phteh and his brethren Beniamin and the other triâ—es of Israel Saul and Dauid Dauid and Absalom the ten tribes and the two from Ieroboams times and after the Pharisees Sadducees in the Iewish Church the Apostles of Christ the dissâ—ntions in Corenth and the other Apostolike Churâ—hes These are not lies but matters knowne and râ—corded in the scriptures and they are matters horrible and sâ—rangem So then if your proposed Câ—nsideration be of weight to turne vs from our present faith because of the dissentions that haue been among vs the like consideration â—nought turne vs also which God forbid from all faith and religion make vs as very Atheâ—sts as a many of your church already are And indeed wher unto leadeth this manner reasoning which you vse bâ—t vnto Atheismâ— For if an Infidel â—hould mind religion mought he not be kept back by considâ—râ—ng the dissentions in faâ—th between Painims Iewes Mahometists and Chrâ—stians and a Iew or Turke be kept from Christianitie because of the disâ—entions between Protestants Papists Arians Anabaptists and other sects many Yea are not the Papists at this day hindred from true religeon by noting as you doe the dissentions between Luther Zwinglius Calvâ—n c But it seemeth all these were farr from your consâ—deration or if you minded them yet were they but motes in your ey they be our dissentions ours onely that trouble you It pittieth you to see our poor congregation how lamentably it hath been rent c. but you are hard-harted and take no pity belike on your own Church which you so highly commend vnto us though dissentions for discipline that I speake not of other matters haue been so great that you haâ—e not onelie preached printed on against an other now many a year and that in verie bitter and hostile manner but also persecuâ—ede imprisoned fought the blood on of an other Wel howsoeuer we haue indeed just cause to lament that by our dissentions you and others haue taken occasion to blaspheme the truth of God yet herin haue we comfort that such things must be amongst us as the Holy Ghost saith that they which are approuued may be known And you if by no meanes you will learne the estate of a Church here on earth where it is in continuall warr with the Serpent and his seed but stil you think these things horrible and strange take heed you stumble not at the stone Christ to your distruction haue your abiding in that house which the strongman armed keepeth and the things that he possesseth are in peace Luk 11.21 The 4. Consideration 4. YOur chiefest teachers cannot as yet determine what the discipline iâ— that they would haue as what the difference is between a Pastor a Doctour whether Apostates ought to be admitted to office in the church c. Answer 1 THere is no such dissention among vs touching these matters as you would here insinuate though if there wer yet our imperfection and difference in iudgment sheweth that we are weak men but no whit preâ—udâ—ceth the truth we professe 2 The heathen Philosophers in the Niâ—oean Synod obiected the like against Christians that they agreed not in opinion among themselus Sâ—zomen lib. 1 cap. 18. 3. Your selfe heathen-like may obiect against Paul and Barnabaâ— twoo of the chiefest teachers of Christian religion one of the two things wherewith you here doe reproach vs because they not onely could not determine whether Iohn Mark who had before departed froÌ„ them should accompanie them in the work of the Gospel but were so stirred that they departed asunder one from the other Act. 15.37.38.39.40 4. You might much better blame your owne Church and chiefest teachers that cannot as yet determine what the discipline is that they would haue witnesse your long continued controuersies in print wherein what adoe you make about discipline all the world knoweth If your selues would walke better in the truth peace and concord of the gospel you might wiâ—h more equitie find fault with us pul therefore the beam first out of your own eye The 5 Consideration 5 THE Lord hath also testified against you by giuing over very many people 1 to Atheisme 2 carnall life 3 Papisme 4 Anabaptisme 5 Ariâ—nijme 6 Familisme which are
your labours and blesse you for them as Moses blessed the builders of the tabernacle Exod. 39.43 Your first argument therefore is to weak to vphold your church or best assemblies and the assumption of your profyllogisme is denyed The 2 argument 2. THose Churches whose true members are onely espowsed to Christ a true visible Churches Ephe. 5.30.32 2. Cor. 11.2 But the true members of our best assemblies are espowsed onely to Christ. Therefore c. Proof of the assumption They are espowsed onely to Chrisi which are indued with true sauing faith Eph. 5 30.31.32 with Iohn 15.3 4.5.7 17 20.21 But the true members of our best assemblies are indued with a true sauing faith confessed by Mr. Iohnson in Iakob pag. 7· Look also in the confirmation of the 5. argument folowing here Therefore c. Answer HEre agayn you haue gott an other starting hole whiles you plead but for the true members of your best assemblies yet neither tel you vs which are your best assemblies nor who be the true members of them that how to follow or where to finde you we cannot tel As is the way of an eagle in the aire such is the way of an adultrous woman it is hid and cannot be known But I will see if I can discouer your falsehood though I cannot find your footing First I deny that the true members of your best assemblies are espowsed onely to Christ. for as the prophet sayd of Israel lift vp your eyes uÌ„to the high placs behold wher you haue not plaied the harlot Now whils a church doth play the harlot Christ willeth vs to plead with her that she is not his wife neyâ—her is he her husband Idolatrie is spirituall whordome as the Prophets testifie Psa. 106 39. Ier. 3.9 Deut. 31.16 but the true members of your best assemblies commit idolatrie in their daylie worship according to their Romish leiturgy or book of commoÌ„ prayer an idol of your own inuentioÌ„ How are they theÌ„ espowsed to Christ alone Yes they are say you because they ar indued with true sauing faith I answer Faith is in the hart as it is writen with the hart man beleeueth Rom. 10.10 The hart no man knoweth but God alone as agayn it is written thou Lord onely knowest the harts of all the children of men 1 King 8 39 So then I ask you how you know that your members haue true faith your answer must needs be vnlesse you wâ—ll make your selfe a God you know it not but by their words and works Wel theÌ„ let vs bring these to th' trial their confession and theâ—r practise leauing their faith to God that knowes it The confâ—ssion of theâ—r faith is set downe in their service book the 12. articles of the Creed But this Creed the Papists also confesse and read in their church and if it will proue your people to haue true faith it will proue theirs to haue likewise you say no more for England then for Rome Agayn the Apostle sayth there are some which professe that they know God but in works doe deny him and are abominable and disobedient and to euery good work reprobate So then words are not yenough to proue true faith But we must come to the Apostle Iames his triall shew me thy fayth out of thy works for faith without works is dead Now the works of your people are apparant to be evil they standing in communion or confusion rather with the vnclean profane and wicked whereby al Gods holy things are defiled as it is written Num. 19.22 Hag. 2.14 submitting their soules to Antichristian prelates and priests and hearing their voyce contrariâ— to Iohn 10 5. worshiping God in vayn after their own invented seruice book which is a high transgression of the second commandement Exo 20 And these things are general and publick the particular and more priuate inâ—qâ—ities will not easily be numbred Whereas therefore you would perswade vs your church is espowsed onely to Christ although her fornicatâ—ons are so manifest between her brests because she sayth she beleeveth only in Christ it is with no more colour then as if Bilhah wheÌ„ she was known to lie with Reuben should haue pleaded yet am I an honest woman and espowsed to Iaacob onely for my loue and harty affection is towards him alone But the wise man teacheth vs these be but the tricks of an adultrous woman she eateth and wipeth her mouth sayth I haue done no iniquity Pro 30 20. The scriptures which your selfe allege doe also make against your chvrch Eph 5 30. We are members of Christs body of his flesh and of his bones Fâ—rst your church can shew no covenant that was made between Christ and her at any time the gathering and planting of your church having been by the Magistrates authority not by the word of Christ winning mens soules unto his faith separating them from the vnbeleevers and taking them to communion with himselfe Secondly in saying his body the Apostle excludeth al other bodies as more plainlie appeareth in the other scripture 2 Cor. 11.2 where he prepared the church as a pure virgin for Christ which cannot be whiles she defileth her self with others as doth your church with the abominations of the Papists compaÌ„ying also in the bed of loue with the Prelates whom the better son of you haue confessed to be Antichristian and their inferâ—our priests who work vpon mens consciences by their jurisdiction ministery doctrines canons c. being as the bridegrooms of your church not the friends of the bridegroom which stand and heare and reioyce for the bridegrooms voyce for that Christ should speak and rule vnlesse it be according to their own canons they cannot endure The other places in Iohn 15. 17. will confirme also that the true members of your best assemblies are not espowsed onely to Christ For Christ sheweth that his Father is the husbandman who caleth and bringeth vnto and planteth in him the true vine all the branches that is the particular persons of the Church But the true members of your best assemblies are as yet the branches of that false Antichristian vine your confused church of England not separated from but liuing and growing in one stock body and communion with the idolatrous and profain So that you cannot say as did the Israel of God Thou hast brought a vine out of Aegypt thou hast cast out the heathens plaÌ„ted it Christ sheweth that his branches were purged of the Father by the word spoken vnto theÌ„ your members ar not yet purged or clensed by the word of Christ from their idolatries and profane communion with the ympes of Satan The word of life the word of separatioÌ„ from the serpeÌ„t his seed hath not yet sounded in the eares or at least not sunk into the harts of your people Christ branches bring forth much fruit through their abiding in him being able without him to doe nothing your
appoynted them These Elders called generally Bishops or Ouerseers had charge of their particular flocks and might not goe from them as did the Apostles but attend and feed them These now could not properly be sayd to beget their peoâ—le to the faith as the Apostle noteth to the Corinthians but to feed and instruct them and therefore are not called Fathers but Feeders or Pasters and Pedagogues Child-leaders or Instructeurs From which I gather that people must regenerate and borne again before they may be admitted into any particular church or haue officers ouer them and that ordinary ministers which feed their flocks cannot be sayd to beget them as is the common vawnt of you Ministers in England which me thinks even reason it selfe might shew you For you that are now over your parishes how found you your people at first a church or no church If you say a church then you begat them not but entred vpon other mens labours that were before you if you say they were not a church then you condemn the state of your parishes as they were planted before you were their Ministers Now then to come to your â—roposition In whatsâ—ever churches that is assemblies for so I vnderstand you to vse the werd generallie as the Scripture sometime vseth Ecclesia is such an ordinance of God in publick vse and force by which there is ordinarily made an vndoubted new birth c. they are true visible churches of Christ This I denie for in the assemblies of the heathens in the Apostles daies as before is proued there was such an ordinance of God sometimes in publick vse and force as by it ordinarilie there was made an vndoubted new birth as th' fruit of th' Apostles preaching sheweth· yet were not those assemblies of heathens true visible churches of Christ. but such onelie as were converted to God and separated from the rest that beleeved not and joyned in a holy communion togither were true visible churches Whereas you assume that in the best of your assemblies is such an ordinancâ— of God c this also I denie for your ministers are not Gods ordinance he hath not called or sent them they execute no lawfull office in your assemblies But your assumption you say is manifest because by that ordinance â—f preaching which is in publick vse and force there is ordinarily made an vndoubted new birth I answer first in verie many of your assemblies there is no such ordinance of preaching in publick use as you here bâ—ast of but bare reading onely yet those assemblies are by the Constitutions of your church to be reputed as true visible churches as the other SecoÌ„dly in those other other where preaching is I deny that there is ordinarily madâ— an vndoubed new birth Your proof is because thâ—re do ordinarily appear in many the undoubted fruites and testimonis of Gods spirit c. I answer first if this be so yet what will these many help the moâ—t and greatest â—umber in whom such fruits appear not When many of the hethens beleeued the Apostles word did their beleef bring the other that beleeued not into the church did not the Apostles separate the beleeuers from the rest and teach them to come from among them Yet you for the faith of some will vnite all the assemblie vnto Christ and his church contrary to the Apostles practise and to all the scriptures Secondly I deny that there doth ordinarily appear in many such vndoubted fruits of Gods spirit after your ordinary preaching as for which we may esteem them true visible churches Some fruites I knâ—w there doe appear so doe there among the Papists yea they take occasion for such things to reproch you that there follow not so many good works after your preaching as after their doctrine but among neyther of you are those fruits seen whâ—ch by the testimonie of scriptures will proue you true visible churches So we haue here but your bare affirmation to rest vpon and though I might thus end with as bare a deniall tâ—l you bring further proof yet for to help the reader I wil shew that ordinarily there appeareth not a new birth after your preaching Because of your publick idolatrous estate whereâ—n you stand subiect to Antichristian Prelatâ—s and canons whiles you haue your publick worship after the Romish idolatrous manner and are stil comming led in one bodie with the profane and serâ—ents seed with many other evils among you which plainly shew you want the new birth and are stil in your old mothers womb This the scriptures which you allege in your proposition will confirme for the Apostles shew Iam 1 18 1 Pet 1 23. that Christs church is a people begotten of God with the word of truth that is the Gospell but your church was first begotten gathered constituted ordered and is still continued by the Magistrates word and authority which if it did not inforce the people the estate wherein you now stand would soon be changed your church dissolved and eyther be better or Worse And where you learned so to inforce fâ—â—th and constrein men to be members of your church I can not tel vnlesse you follow Mahomets doctrine who taught that men should be compelled to the faith by warr and sword Againe the Apostle addeth this for a testimony and end of our new birth that we should be as the first fruitâ— of Gods creatures This men are not till they be as was Israel hallowed to the Lord Ier 2 3 which was by separation from the world Levit 20.26 and a willing covenant with the Lord Exod. 19.5 6.8 Dâ—ut 26 17 18 19 And that the like must be of vs Christians an other scrâ—pture confirmeth saying These are they wâ—iâ—h are not defilâ—d with women for thâ—y are virgins this implyeth a seâ—arâ—tâ—on from the world â—hâ—sâ— fâ—llow the Lamb whithâ—rsoeuer he goeth this argueth a couenant and communion with Chriâ—t and in the next words both poynts are repeted these are 1 bought from men being the first fruits 2 â—nto Gâ—d and to the Lamb after this followeth the fruit and in their mouth 〈◊〉 found no guile for they are without spot before the throne of God Whereas therefore you haue stood so long against vs for separation and would mainteyn a meer confusion of all sorts of people in a Câ—â—rch vpon an imaginary separation made in the clowdes of your own fansies whiles outwardly and indeed you are one body with the wicked you are vndoubtedly â—ot yet borne a new your Church hath not strength to bring forth your ministers are vnskilfull midwiues and the saying of the Prophet coÌ„cerning the people of Ephraim is verified also vâ—oÌ„ your people be is an vnwise son els would be not stand still such a time even in the breaking forth of the childâ—en Hos 13 13. The 4. Argument IN what churches soeuer all things needfull to saluation by publick authoryâ—y and gâ—nâ—rall approbation are ordinarily and
such wretches or any way admitting them vnto his body or the communion of hâ—s Church And for his arch-enemy the Romane Antichrist and his adherents the Lord Iesus Faithfull and true that iudgeth and warreth righteously he with his heauenly warriours after him fighteth with that Beast and with the kings of the earth that make battel against him and is so farr from peace with them as he giueth vnto all the fowles of heauen for to eat the flesh of the Kings hie captayns the flesh of mighty men and of horses and those that sit on them the flesh of all freemen and bondmen of small and great and casteth the beast into the lake of fyre By this may appear that Christ is no head of such Antichristians nor of any other profane wicked worldlings seing his spirith giues them not life and motion but they are caried by the spirit of Satan that possesseth them and warred against with the sword that commeth out of Christs mouth neyther can they be knit vnto him by ioynts or bands as al his body and members thereof ar consequently that the Popish and profane multitude of the Realme of England which at Q. Maries death were made and esteemed a Church and they and their seed euer since without separation so continewing and at this day al the notorious wicked stâ—ll commingled with the rest that this Church cannot be sayd to haue Christ for the head neyther is it his body Therefore the Church of England is not the true Church of God EVery true Church of God hath Christ for the mediator and Aduocate of the same For it is written there is one God on mediator between God man which is the man Christ Iesus and if any man sinne we haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust Neyther is there saluation in any other for among men there is giuen no other name vnder heaven whereby we must be saued Act. 4.12 But the Church of England hath not Christ for the mediator and Advocate of the same Because Christ is not Mediator of any other couenant or testament then that which God promised by his prophits to make with the house of Israel nor of any other people then of such as are vnder that couenant promised which was g that he would put his law in their inward parts or mind and write it in their harts and be would be their God and they should be his people and that he would forgiue their iniquity and remember their sinns no more Of this new testament or couenant established vpon better promises then was the old is Christ the Mediator as the Apostle teacheth and not of any other humane or profane couenant made by or among the sonns of Adam Now that the Church of England as it is publickly and generally constituted is not as yet come vnder this covenant may appear by the â—articular conditions of the same First let the exceeding profanenes and irreligion irreligion that is among them the open contempt of God blaspheming of hâ—s name despising of his word and innumerable wicked acts without fear or shame committed besides the idolatrous false worship performed by all in their publick assemblies according to their stinted popish leitoargie learned and receiued from the Romane Antichrist let these I say and the like speake to euery christian conscience whither Gods law be written in the mind or inward parts of such which is one part of the coâ—enant whereof Christ is Mediator and which grace he promised by his Prophets to bestow vpon his Church and people when he shoâ—ld be their God and when the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men did appear it taught so much Secondly that thâ—s church of England hath no promise that their sins and iniqâ—ities are forgiuen which is an other part of the couenant appeareth by their impenitency in this euill estate For the profane scoff at repentance and scorne all admonition they despise wisdomes counsel and such as reproue they turne agayne and rent them And for the idolatries and false worship of the whole the great iniquities in the hierarchie ministery orders rites ceremonies c they are farr from repentaÌ„ce whâ—ch wil here no reproof nor suffer any to speak against their corruptions but haue generally agreed and decreed such to be excommunicated as shall affirme any of these things to be wicked or idâ—latrous and they that would call them to repentance for their sinns or refuse to communicate with them in these euils are persecuted imprisoned banished and haue long suffred at their hands many calamities And all people are forced by fayr and colourable pretenses or by threatning and punishments to walk still in these sinns Thus want they the foundation of repentance from dead works and consequently of faith towards God for without repentance there is no promise of pardon without promise ther can be no faith and without faith no couenant or testâ—ment confirmeâ— with them or their seed as all the scriptures shew if no Couenanâ— then also no Mediator Thirdly that the summe of the Couenant namely I will be their God and thâ—y shall be my people is wantinâ— also vnto these may be seen by theâ—r estate compared with th' Apostles doctrine who vpon this promâ—se â—resently inferreth a commâ—ng out and separation of themselues from the world if they would haue the Lord to receiue them Which separation from the vngodly as it was not at the first constituting of this Church obserued so vnto this day it is resisted and pleaded against and the holy scriptures vnsufferable abused to mayteyn a confuse mixed multitude of all sorts of people to be a true church But Christ is no Mediator for such a mixture as himself sayd to his Father I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast giuen me for thâ—y are thinâ— and they are not of the world as I am not of the world Fourthly the Church of England is not vnder this coâ—enanâ— because every euery couenant is made vpon conditions wllingly agreed and assented vnto on both parties as was in that couenant made between God and the Israelâ—tes of old For God being a sâ—irit must be couenanted wâ—th worshipped in spirit he requireth the hart and minde which if it be not freely giuen him all relâ—gion is in vayn But this harty and willing submission foretold to be and seen in Gods people heretofore was not seen in this Church which was by law of man compelled not by loue of Christ constreyned to enter into this communion and religion at the beginning of Q Elis reign as in the former argument is shewed Such complusion vnto religion where God perswadeth not the hart maketh men hypocrites not true christians which not onely Gods word but even lâ—ght of reason teacheth as Themistius a Philosoâ—her acknowledged when he sayd
Eph 4.11.12 14.15 16. 1 Cor. 12 27 28. See also Ioh 10.1 4.5 Act 20 28. Ioh. 21 15 16. But all the ministers of the church of England haue and execute the ministery of a fals church for so by the former argumeÌ„ts that church is proued Therefore they are not the true ministers of Christ and consequently not to be heard or obeyed as shepheards of our soules For the further descrying of the false ministery of this church I referr the good reader to a treatise lately published intituled Reasons and Arguments prouing that it is not lawfull to hear the Ministerie of Engl. And to an other heretofore published called A treatise of the Ministerie of the Church of England I will put enimitie between thee ô Serpent and the woman and between thy seed and her seed He shall crush thy head and thou shalt crush his heel Gen. 3.15 Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also Christ himselfe likewâ—ise took part of the same that through death he might abolish him that had the power of death that is the Diuil and that he might deliuer them all which foâ— fear of death all their life time were subiect to bondage Heb. 2.14 15. And there was warr in heauen Michael and his Angels warred against the Dragon the Dragon also warred his Angels but preuailed not neither was their place found any more in heauen And cast was the great Dragon that old Serpent called Diuill and Satan that deceaueth the whole world cast was he into the earth and his Angels were cast with him Reu 12.7.8 9. A BRIEF ANSWER TO Mr BERNARDS BOOK INTIâ—VLED The Separatiâ—ts Scâ—isme WHen the former treatise was almost finished among other aduersaries Mr Bernard commeth forth to fight against the truth which but a while since he would needs seem to fauour but things not succeeding to his exspeâ—tation he hath changed his loue into hatred And in the bitternes of his zele he haâ—h sent out a treatise conteyning Disswasions from the practise of the Gospel which he pleaseth to call The separatists schisme or Brownisme Though in his book ther be little weight of reason or truth to be seen nor any thing which may grealy trouble a discreet reader who is but meanely acquainted without cause yet both for the stopping of the mans mouth if it may be who maketh huy and crie after some of vs as in his Prooeme to the reader he proclaymeth and for help of the simple who may be offended at the truth not discerning his frawd I thought it needful to obserue and answer briefly the principall things by him obiected many of which are before in this treatise and in other books more largely refuted and all of â—hem may if need require hereafter by some other be particularly refelled Herein now the Lord giue me wisdom to discouer this adversaries falsehood and thee good reader vnderstanding to discerne it Of his PROBABILITIES THE first meanes whereby Mr BERNARD would disswade from the truth which he calleth Brownisme are Probabilities or likâ—lihoods that the way is not good and they are in number as himselfe hath cast them seuen 1. The Novelty of it 2. The agreement thereof with ancient schismatiks 3. The ill meanes by which it is mayteyned namely by abuse of scripture deceauable reasonning 4. The want of approbation of the reformed Churches 5. The condeâ—nation thereof by all their Diuines vidz of the church of England 6. Gods iudgment against it 7. The â—ll successâ— it hath had Such lâ—kelihoods as these the Papists heretofore with as much colour and truth haue alleged against the church of England heathens and enemies haue in former ages obiected the lâ—ke things to the church of Christ and Mr Ber. speaketh but that which hath been spoken before him fulfillâ—ng the measâ—re of his forefathers But to the particulars The Novâ—lty he maketh to be in differing from all the best reformed churches in Christendome But if a Papist had to deal with him he would bring those reformed churches also within the câ—mpasse of Novelâ—y and then Mr Bern. would flee as his brethren before him haue done to the scriptures for antiquity as he would answer a Papist so wâ—ll I answer him let the scriptures speak for the differences between other churches and vs. But here Mr Bern. is mute and medleth not with thâ—s controversie he thought belike the very name of Noveltie and of the reformed churches would fray the simple If it be Nouelty to differ from the reformed churches then may he blame his own church â—f Engl. more then vs seing it differeth from those churches in mâ—e and weightier poynts then we doe yea it hateth persecuteth sileÌ„ceth excommunicateth those ministers people that stand vp plead for such things as the reformed churches haue and practise Agayn these churches haue reiected and writen against many of the Antichrâ—stian enormities that are now in England So if it be likely we are not in the truth because we dâ—ffer from the churches in few things it is more likely Mr Bern. and his brethren are not in the truth because they differ from them in many Wherefore let him first pull the beam out of his own eye Agayn where he standeth vpon the hard words which some of vs haue vttered of the Presbytery c. if he had not an evill and partial eye he mought haue seen many moe hard reproachful words vsed by his right reverend Fathers and fellow priests against the Presbytery and discipline which the reformed churches haue and the reforming ministers of Engl. would haue That still his weapon entreth into his own bowels His 2 likelihood he maketh to be our agreement with ancient schismatiks yet any poynts wherein we agree with them in evill he nameth not much leâ—â—e proueth but referreth us to Mr Giffords paynes herein who had long since his answer by Mr Greenwood to every particular of that his pretended consimillitude between the Donatists and vs to which answer I râ—ferr the reader Agayn this obiection is such as the Papists make against the church of England for so N. D. compareth Protesâ—â—nts with Donatists and let vs see what answer the Priests of England can make for themselues that will not as well if not better clear vs And to come a little neare to this oâ—r aduersary we could pâ—t Mr Ber. in mind of his own wayes wherein he might see himselfe more like a schismatik then any of vs for we openly professe our departure frâ—m the châ—rch of England as from a false church so proued by evident groâ—nds out of Gâ—ds word whereas Mr Bernard holding it to be a true châ—rch abâ—ding in it yet he and a hundred with him made not long since a pretended coâ—enant togâ—ther whereby they separated from the vnpreaching ministers and all that hate to be reformed Yet are those reaâ—ing priests of as â—ood authority by the Lawes and Canons of that Church as
you are not ashamed to say are thâ—y not Christians This Testâ—mony being trâ—e I hope your selues now wil be ashamed to plead that such a people ar Chritians to be communicated wâ—th or deny that we may separate from them in thâ—ngs concerning God An other weighty cause of our separation is that you haue a popish ministerie ouer this profane multitude touching which your selues also haue thus writen eyther we â—vst haue a right ministerie of God and a right gouerment of the Church according to the scriptures set vp both which we lack or els there can be no right religâ—â—n c. Now for the present ministery that is among you as Parsons Vicars parish priests Stipendaries with the rest you sayd that câ—me from the pope as out of the Troian horses belly to the destrâ—ction of Gods kingdome An other cause why we refuse communion with you is for that you serue God not as himselfe commandeth but after your own deuising or by imitation rather of the Romane Antichrist whâ—ch your selues haue proclaymed though we should hold our peace for of your seruice booke you say it was culled and picked out of the Popish dunhil the portuis and masse â—â—â—kfull of all abominations that in the order of your seruice ther iâ—â—o edification but confusion Now this seemeth vnto vs no small corruption that yov should offer vnto God that filth which you haue picked out of the Popes dunghil May we not say vnto you with the prophet Offâ—r such things vnto your Prince will he be content with you or except your person saith the Lord of hosts You know that Christ hath said their offrings of blood I will not offer and yet will you take your drinke offrings out of the great wheres cup which the holy Ghost saith is full of abominations and of the filthines of her fernication What morâ— loathsome thing could you haue fouâ—d vnder the sun Agayn we haue forsakeÌ„ your Church because the ecclesiastical gouernment and gouernours the Lords spirituall are not according to the ordinance of that Lord who is the Spirit but after the institution of his enemy Antichrist And that this is a fowle corruption we have also learned from your selues which say The gouerment now used by Archbishops and Rps. c is both Antichristian and diuilish That it is that which giueth leaue to a man to be any thing sauing a sound Christian. Item that that Vgly and ilfauoured hierarchie or Church princelines which instituted at the first by antichrists deuise did afterward villy serue the Pope of Rome to accomplish the â—isterie of iniquity and to destroy the Church of Christ and doth yet stil at this day serue him must be abolished that no remnaÌ„ts ne yet any shew therof remayn if so be we will have Christ to reigne over us Item that that profane jurisdiction of Lordly Lord Archbishobs Bps Archdeacons Chansellors Officialls c. as contrary to Gods gouerment and wholy vnderpropt by the canon Popish law and with all ioyned with hypocrisie vaynglorie lordlinesse and tyranny euen for these respects if there were no moe are to be vtterly rooted out of the Church except possibly we mean by reconciliation to make Christ and Antichrist frâ—inds Thus haue we been taught by your selues what corruptions there are in the Church euen so many and so great that you complayned thus as our lacks are there can be no right religeon and now you haue added vnto all the former to teach vs a separation from your corruptions and this not onely in 1 iudgment or 2 profession but also in 3 practise and that we should not onely reproue as you heretofore haue done euery part of sinne and error but abstaine also from aâ—l corruptions of life and doctrine And now we would pray you tell vs seeing corruption hath so seased vpon and possessed by your owne confeâ—sion both Preist and people both worship and ecclesiasticall gouerâ—ent that as your lacks are there can be no right religion and seeing from all corruption we musâ— separate What then remaâ—neth for vs to communâ—cate with you in For take away these corruptions out of your church and you shall seâ— an vtter dâ—ssolution and abolishing of the same Though now it spread it selfe like agreene bay tree yet will it pâ—â—se away and be gone and though one seekâ—â—t it cannot be found And is it not strange that when your selues haue taught vs how esteeme of your people ministerie divine service and church goverment how also to walke and cary our selues where such corruptâ—ons ar and we haue but departed from these corruptions for any truth that is among you we haue not forsaken that yet you will say we are seduced Are not you then the seducers We doe but practise that which you haue taught vs If you would haue vs to returne vnto you first iustify by the word of God that people ministerie and worship that you haue condemned refute your owne writings and build againe the things which you haue destroyed So when you haue made your selues trespassers if we be not able by Gods word to proue that the things we refreyn from are as bad as you haue writen we will by his grace come agayn vnto you Til then let the discreet reader mâ—nde whither you deal not with us as did the horsmen of Aegipt with the Israâ—liteâ— that after you hauâ— giuen us leav to depart you thus persue vs with your writings to bring vs back again to our aÌ„cient bondage Again whether you that pretend a separating in the church condemn our separating out of it though your Church be so throughly corruâ—t as before is shewed and now call vs seduced deserue not rather to be called your selues The seducing brethren of the separation But let vs hear what it is you now say for your selues On our part consider 1. THis separation that we make is grounded 1. On Gods commâ—ndements Matt. 15.14 Rom. 16.17 Eph. 5.7.11 2. Thes. 3. â— 14.15 Tim 6.5 Tit. 3.10 1. Pet 4.4 2. On the examples of all the prophets Apostles Christ himself who separated in the Church not out of th' Châ— albeit in most corrupt estat yet communicated in thâ—t which was good reprouing refusing suffring for abstâ—yning from euill Luk. 2 2â— 2 24 22.7.8.9 Mat. 22 3. 20 6 1 2 5.16 11.16.17 18.9.20 12 31.34 39. 23 totum And note those Churches were Antanosaicall as you say ours are Antichristian yet for as much 〈…〉 th◠〈◊〉 Christ as â—ur Church doth at least Luk 1 9 10 Iob. 1 2â—â—1 7 23.17 31 4â— 42. 10 24. Rom. 3 2.3 9.4 wâ—th Gen 49.10 A.t. 2 39. thâ—y separated not from them Answer IF by the Câ—mmâ—ndements of God by the examples of Christ his 〈◊〉 and Aâ—â—stles we may mâ—st separate from all corruptions mayn teâ—â—ed in a trâ—e Church then ought we much
more to separate from theâ— being maynteyned in a false vnleâ—se a false Church haue more privâ—lige tâ—en â— crâ—e And we consider that our separation is from the corrâ—â—ptioÌ„ of â— false Church 2. The scrâ—ptures also are playn that we must separate and forsake all false Churches as well as corruâ—tions in a true 2. Cor. 6 17. Come out from among them and separate your sâ—lues saith the Lord and touch no unclean thâ—ng and I will receiue you Reuelation 18 4 Goe out of her my people that ye receive not of her plagues Hosea 4.15 Come not ye vnto Gilgal neither give vp to Bethâ—ven and many the like How rightly then doe you allege scriptures as if they taught vs separation in a Church onely and not out of it also when it is false and Idolatroâ—s 3. Yoâ—r selues are a president to vs of like practise in separating not in but out of the Church of Rome as yoâ— haue dealt with the mother so doe we with the daughter because like mother like daughter according to the prouerb Eze. 16.44 4. You allege thâ— examples of all the prophâ—ts yet shew you not any that â—alâ—ed by your râ—le to seâ—arate in the Church and not out of it Wee are sure they called the people out of the Church of Israel when it was idolatrous aâ—d forbad them to come at their aâ—semblies Hos 2.2.3.4 4 15.17 Amos. 5.5 And how they coâ—ld themselues joyn with that Church from which they separated others is strange uÌ„to us especially coÌ„siâ—erinâ— that Israel in that estate is noted by the proâ—het Azariah to be withâ—ut the true God without Pâ—â—ist to teach â—nd wihtâ—ut law 1 Chro. 15.3 and may we thinke he separated not from that Church The Israelites thâ—n sacrâ—â—iced to Divils not to Gâ—â— Deut. 3â— 17. Chron. 11.15 and wil yoâ— sâ—y the prophets separated not from them 5. The like I Answer to the examples of Christ and his Apostles who as tâ—ey absteyned from corruptioâ—s in the Ieâ—ish Church so were they qâ—â—re sepâ—râ—teâ— from all false Churches as the Samâ—ritans and other like Mat 10 5. Ioh. 4.22 Act. 2.40 199 so theâ—r examples also doe approue our practise 6. Wâ—ere as you would haue noted that those Churches which Christ and hâ—s Apâ—stles coâ—â—unicated with were Antianosaicall as yours we â—ay ar◠〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 tâ—e comparâ—son For â— the Iewish Church consistâ—d it all 〈…〉 the same Leuit 20 21.16 of a people separated not onely from heathens but also from fâ—lse professors heretiks and idolaters and were children of the prophets aâ—d couenant of God Iohn 4.9 Act 3.25 But your Church câ—nsâ—steth â—f an vnseparated people children of Idolatrous Priests strangers from the couenant of God 2. The Iewes then had their sacrifices seruices and solemne feasts according to Moses Law Mat 8.4 Mar 14.12 Luk 9. â—O 2.21 24 and Chrâ—st himselfe jâ—stâ—fâ—ed theâ—r worship Ioh. 4.22 but your seruice worship and fâ—stivalâ— are after Antichrists law translated out of his masse-booke 3. Theâ—r Priests were according to Moses instâ—tution of Aarons line Luk 1 5. with 1 Chro. 2.1 10 their Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moses chaâ—re Mat 23.2 your Priests after the Popes institution your prelates fit in Antichrist chair So they wer not so much against Moses as you are agaâ—nst Christ and that your Church reteyneth not the foundation Christ shal through his grace anone be proued The 2. Consideration 2. OVR Church hath the essentiall notes of a true church able to beget a true sauing faith to worke the fruites of the spirit to make a man a true and perfect Christian and last of all to saue him To the which also Christ hath tied his gracious promise and blessing to the end of the world Rom 10 13 17 Mat 28 19.20 Act 20.32 2 Tim. 3.15.16 1. Tim. 4.16 Iam. 1.21 Isa 55 11. Answer THese notes which you propound 1 are not the essentiall notes of a true Church a neyther if they were are they ordinariely found in your Church 1. These are not essentiall notes because 1 One man may haue al this you speake of and no one man is or can be a Church for that consisteth of a multitude or nuÌ„ber of persons it is an assembly or convocation joyntly together it is a body and euery one severally is but a member 1. Cor 12 20.27 That one man may haue all your esâ—entiall notes may appear in Pavls exaâ—ple who was able to bâ—get a true sauing faith to worke the fruites of the spirit and so the rest 1. Cor. 4 â—5 Gal. 3 2 5. 2. An Angel may haue all the notes you mention and no Angel is a Church For example the Angel Gabriel who was sent to giue Daniel knowledge and understanding and preached liuly of Christs death the benifits thereof Dan. 9.21.22 c 3. A wicked man may doe al that you speake of but no wicked man is a true church Iudas sent forth with the other Apostles to preach and work miracles might bring others to saluation by his doctrine though hâ—mselfe were a reâ—robate Mat. 10.5 6. c 4. A true Church is the spowse hous of Christ bringeth him forth a sâ—irituall seed But as God gaue the blessing of multiâ—lying childreÌ„ onely to lawfull maried estate yet often it commeth to passe through hâ—s almighty power and goodneâ—â—e that harlots also are partakers of this bleâ—sing and doe bring forth children so the blessing of spirituall propagation is peculiar to the true Church yet God which brought light out of darknes causeth some children to be borne and brought vp vnto him in false Churches For example the Church of Rome the mother of whordoms and abominations of the earth hath doubtles since she was wedded to Antichrist borne and brought vp by the generall true grounds of Chrstian relâ—geon taught in her many children of God and heyres of saluation This I sâ—ppose your selues will not deny neyther yet wâ—ll you say that Rome is Christ true Church Your reason then is as if Thamer should haue pleaded I am able to bear câ—ildren to nourse and brâ—ng them vp to mans estate c. therefore I am my Father Iudahâ— true and lawfull wife Gen. 38 15.18 c. 2. Now if these were essentâ—all notes which you haue set down yet helpe they you nothing for I deny that they ar ordinarily found in your Châ—rch For though I doubt not but the doctrine of your Church hath saued many yet that is Gods extraordinary blessing not the ordinarie effects of your Church This is the thinâ— you should haue proued by comparing yoâ—r Church and minâ—sterie with the Lawes and promises in Gods word which because you haue not done but onely quoted some scriptures generally which men of all religions may doe likeweise I will by one or two of the scriptâ—res that your selfe here ciâ—e shew how vnlike you are to a true Church and Ministery In Rom. 10.3.17 th' Apostle treateth of two things 1 of calling on
the name of the Lord and 2 of faith by hearing his word 1. Whosoeuer call th upon the name of the Lord shal be saued This we are to understand according to Dauids exposition whosoeuer calleth vpon him in truth Psa. 145 18. for God is a spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and trâ—th Ioh. 4.24 but the worship and calling vpon God which your Church vseth in reading the prayers letanie collects and other like things of your Leiturgie translated out of AntiChrâ—st masse-booke is carnall false Idolatrous for such a manner of diuine service you haue no commandement or warrant in the scriptures And this popish worship begetteth not but destroyeth faith and the true caling on Godâ— name and deceiueth mens sowles for in vayn they worship me sayth Christ teaching fâ—r doctrine the precepts of men Mat. 15.9 and they that wayt vpâ—n lyâ—ng vanâ—ties forsake their own mercy Ionah 1 8 2. For the other poynt Faâ—th is by bearing or by report saith the Apostle and proueth it by Isa. 53.1 Lord who hath beleeued our beâ—ring that is our report Now no man can truly and faithfully report â—nlesse God hath first spoken vnto â—â—m neâ—ther can aâ—y man fruâ—tfully hear other report or doctrine then the Lords and so hearing is by the word of God iâ— the mouthes of such as are sent as he sheweth in the 15 verse But youâ— Ministers are not truly and lawfully sent for they cannot shew eyther calling ordination or office according to Chrâ—sts Testament therefore they cannot truly and lawfully preach his word and consequently cannot beget ordinarily a true sauing faith The next scripture also Mat 28 19 20 playnly condemneth the state of your Church and ministerâ—e for 1. There is a lawfull calling authorizing and sending of ministerâ— from him that hath all power in heauen and in earth saying Goe therfore and teach but such a sending your ministers haue not for as your selues haue sayd they enter not in by Chrict but by a Popish and vnlawfull vâ—cation 2. There is a commandement to teach or make disciples before they be receiued into th' Church by baptisme for oâ— them that ar taught such onely as gladly receiue and beleeue the word are to be baptised and admitted into the Church as the practise of th' Apostle sheweth Act. â— 40 41. but your Church was not thuâ— gathered or plaÌ„ted by th' preaching of the Gospell but by the commandement of the Magistrate neither weâ— onely the willing beleevers receiued and others refused but the whole profane multitudes wer admitted or rather compelled into your church wher they and their seed are still retâ—yned 3. There Gods Ministers are willed to teach Chrâ—stians so baptised to obserue all things whatsoeuer Christ commanded his Apostles verse 20 so they haue his gracious promise and blessing to the end of the world but in your church many things are obserued which Christ neuer commaâ—ded Yea the Ministerie and goâ—erment appoynted in his TestameÌ„t are held and confirmed by practise among you not to be perpetual not necessary nor fitting for your state but an other pompous minâ—stery and Lordly ecclesiastical gouerment after the manner of the court of Rome And as for power and liberâ—y to obserue Christ commandements that is farr from your people which al are in bondage to the Bishops and their courts hauing not chrâ—stian freedom to censure sinne or sinners or practise the ordinances of the Gospel as the Apostles did vnlesse Princes and Parliaments will permit or command them The like may be sayd and returned vpon you from the other scriptures by you alleged all which doâ— concerne the true church and ministerie as your selues will not deny and so will helpe you nothing vntill you proue your church and ministerie such Boast not therefore of a true sauing faith and fruites of the spirit when such bitter fruites and works of the flesh doe reign among you for faith without works 〈◊〉 dâ—ad Iam. 2.26 Now then if you will giue us leaue to consider the state of your Church aright we would mind it thus your Church hath the essentiall notes of a false Church namly a confuse prophane worldly people with an Antichrâ—stian Prelacie and preisthood over them able to beget ordinarily but a vayne and dead faith through want of the true ministery of the word in Christs ordinance and by meanes of the false worship and false doctâ—nes that are in your Church to worke the fruits of the flesh as the idolatries and other sinful actions abounding in your Church doe shew to make a man a very Antichristian by resisting persecuting and blaspheming the true way of Christ and practise of his Gospel which alas too many doe and last of all to destroy him if he repent not of his sinneâ—â—nd find mercie with the Lord. which we desire you all may finde for the saluation of your soules The 3. Consideration OVr Church and ministerie are approved of and rejoyced for of all the pure reformed Churches in the world Our confession by them placed in the Harmonie of Confessions giâ—ing vs the right hand of fellowship as also by all the godly learned and most sound and excellent fathers lights of the churâ—h that euer liued in or meddle with our church Bucer Marâ—yr Fagius Alasio Knoxe who liued â—n our church Caluin Beza Bullinger Gualtâ—r â—ymlâ—r Zanchius Iunius Rolocus c. with others verie many who haue giuen their testimony and approbation to our church and ministerie Wherin if our errors were fundamentall damnable and Antichristian as you terme them these churches and persons had vndoubtedly the spirit of discerning and could not be deceiued all at once 1. Cor. 11 16. 14.33 â— 15 10.15 14.32 37 2. Thes. 1.4 Answer THough you come against vs with horsemen and charrets yet we will â—emember the name of the Lord our God by whose word alone all doctrines must be tried all persons must â—udge and be iudged It is incident to the best men and purest churches to erre and be deceiued wherefore their sentences and approbations must be examined by Gods word If you say otherweise you teach corrupt and popish doctrine With such weapons as these haue the Papists long foâ—ght against you and where you can bring one they can bring many to witnesse for them and their Romish superstitions Antiquity vniversality and sâ—ch lâ—ke popular reasons they seek to vphold their kingdome withall 2. The word of God condemning your church and ministerie as we haue often proued and our proofes ly vpon you yet unanswered though all churches in the world should aâ—proue of you your case wer â—o whit the better for all men are vanity 3. The Iewes obieâ—ted as weighty aâ— argâ—mâ—nâ— agaâ—â—â—t Câ—riâ—t him selfe wheâ— they sayd dâ—th any of the rulers or of the Phariseâ—s 〈◊〉 in him but this people which know not the Law are â—ursed Iâ—h 7 1â— 19 4. If the reformed Church's apâ—roue so well of youâ— Church and
you vs of this as a consideratioÌ„ to reduce us to your church when we because such Atheists wicked ar coÌ„trary to Gods wil suffred among you doe separate from your Church 3. Agayn who be those godly ministers and people you mean If such as are called Puritans they haue I suppose moe adversaries theâ— freinds in your church yea the publick state alwes and canons of your church are against them and all that know the truth of God and theâ—r estate aright haue just cause to blame them for theâ—r long halting and dissembling If the Prelates be those godly minâ—sters they haue in regard of their vnlawfull places and proceedings many good people for their aduersaries both within and without the land and your selues also which suffer for sâ—paration in your church By neither of these two contrary factions among you ar men ordinarily conuerted unto Christ both sorts setting your selues against the true way of Chrâ—st for gathering and gouernmenâ— of the Church and worship of God and so do hinder mens saluation and deserâ—e to be not approued but reproued in the name of the Lord. The 5. Consideration 5. GOD hath giuen witnâ—â— for the truth of our ministerie by the vndoubted tâ—stimony of his gracious presence and approbation of the same by his gifts of 1. sanctifiâ—ation 2 knowledge 3 spirit of discerning 4. of vtterance 5 of power and authority in teaching 6 effectuall and ordinarie â—alling and begetting to the faiâ—h of God and bringing them from darknâ—s to light from the old man to the nâ—w from the flâ—sh vnto the spirit which ministery of ours begat you â—lso if ever you were truâ—y bâ—gotten in the spirit by Gods mâ—rcie hath begotten me other hâ—s vnworthy seruants Answer 1. THe Papists will say as much as all this and more too if words will serâ—eâ— for the ministery of their church they boast of theâ—r Friers Iesuâ—ts holines knowledge utterance authority in teaching and their maruelous effects in conuerting to Christianity the Indians other â—eâ—thens all ouer the world Yea what religeon glorieth not in tâ—e sanctitie gifts and effects of their ministerie But Gods word must try all 2. The ministerie of â—our Church being Archbishops L. Bishops Deanes Archdeacons c Priests and Deacons as is to be seen in the books statutes and canons of your church you brâ—ng not here any one word of God or text of scriptures which are his testimonies to witnes for the truth of your ministery and this is indeed worthy to be considered of vs of al that shall read your Considerations 3. Your own brethren heretofore confessed and complayned to the Parliament that you lack in England a right ministery of God that the ministers are neithâ—r proued elected called nor ordeyned according to Gods word This testimonie being true how then doth God giue witnes for the truth of your ministery 4. The witnesâ—es that you bring if they be examined wil say little ar nothing to this purpose For 1. The gift of santification is a common note of Christianity 1. Thes. 4.3 1 Pet. 2.9 and therefore no speciall note of a ministery This was Korahs argument when he would haue vsurped the Priesthood All the congregation is holy euery one of them why may they not therefore be Prâ—ests Num. 16.3.10 But what saith the scripture No man taketh thâ—â— honour to himselfe but he that is called of God as Aaron was Heb. 5.4 2.3 The second and third 2 knowledge 3 of the spirit of discerning are also generall for the whole church and not speciall for the ministerie Rom. 15.14 Phil. 1.10 Yea some in the flock may have a greater measure both of sanctification and of knowledge then the Pastor or teacher or any Officer It cannot be denied but Barsabas had knowledge as wel as Matthias yet was he not therefore an Apostle Act. 1.23.26 and they whose genealogies could not be found had knowledge as wel as the other Prâ—ests yet were they not therâ—fore kept in the Priesthood Ezra 2.62 Boast not you therefore of your knowledge but shew vs yoâ—r genealogies in the scriptâ—res There be a great many in your ministerie called dumb Priestâ— whâ—ch are but bare readers by whose meanes many people perish for want of knowledge these testimonâ—es will be dumb for them yet your â—â—urch proclaymeth them to be â—rue ministers Your best ministerâ— of whose knowledge you boast shew themseluâ—â— ignorant or worse in the 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 â—lanting of a church whâ—les they will haue it as their â—ractise proueth with commixâ—â—re of al form without separation whereaâ— they cannot shew any true church since the beginning of the world but was of a separaâ—ed people Gen. 61.2 12 1. Lâ—v 20.23.24 Ezr. 6 21. Act. 2 40.41 19 9. c. 4. 5. The fowrth and fift 4. vttâ—rance with 5 power authority in teaching are needfull in such as are ministers but no neceâ—sarie proof of a true ministerie For had not the false Apostles and Prophets utterance and power that preached wâ—th eloquence and wisdom of words dâ—sgracing the Apostles and Prophets of the Lord 2 Cor. 10.10 11.13.15 1. Kin. 22. â—4 Ier. 23.31 28.1.2.10 11. 2 Tim. 3.8 Your ministers many preach not at al many preach to mayntain the pompous prelacie laudable ceremonies of your Church and they that prâ—ach best shew little power or authority For how many yeers haue they been preaching for Discipline and against some corruptionâ— of your church yet nothing preuailed but are further now at last then they were at the first Who knoweth not that the prelates haue closed vp the mouthes of many Ministers that the prophesie of Esaias is verified vpon them Isa. 56.10 and yet you boast of theâ—r utterance auâ—hority in teaching But lamentable ministers are they â—ll and the best of them may be seen to be but briers and to haue betrayed the authority of Christ For when they took the Order of Priesthood as they call it they solemnly promised euen before the Lord and by his help that they would giue their faithfull diligence alwayes so to minister the doctrine and sacraments and the discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded as this realm hath receiued the same according to the commandements of God so that they mought teach the people committed to their care and charge wâ—th all diligence to keep obseruâ— the same They promised also reuerently to obey their ordinary other chief ministers is to whom the gouernmeÌ„t charg is commited ouâ—r them following with a glad mind and will their godly admoniâ—ion and submitting theÌ„seluâ—â— to their godly juâ—gement Yet your forward preachers as they are esteemed doe not minister the doctrine sacraments and discipline of Christ as thâ— Lord hath commanded but sue and wait for authority from the Magâ—strate to haue that whâ—ch they count the true discipline of Christ erected in theâ—r parishes which because the ciuill Magistrate doeth not they practise
not slanders but matters known to all that are acquainted with the course and state of your Church Answer ALl this being true it sheweth the badnes of some men not any badnes in the faith we professe An infidel might haue obiected vnto Israel as you doe here The Lord hath testified against you by giuing ouer ouer very many of your people to Carnall life Sedâ—mitrie Peorisme Bautisme many other idolatries with strange Gods The Papists may and doe obiect the like things to your selues at this day much more iustly then you do to vs. For when any such haue appeared among vs we presently cast them out if they repented not whereas with you such are stil reteyned in the bosome of your Church yea such hereticks and vicious persons as we haue excommunicate you doe entertayn as is knowen to all that ar acquainted with your estate Wherefore the Lord hath testified for vs not against vs whiles by the light of his word such hypocrites haue been discouered and avoyded but you are condemned by your own doctrine whiles such miscreants and flagitioius persons are kept in your communion The 6. Consideration 6. THE churches and godly learned persons that euer heard of your separation did not approue of it which was the quarrel that Fr Iohnson had with Mr Iunius and he sharply replyeth on him Nay Mr Barrow plainely rayseth at Caluin and the Geneua church and euen at al churches in Christendom in his Discouerie and counsels not with other reformed churches about their separation but Answers as Mr Iohnson doth the word is neer vs we need not go ouer the seas to seek it as if the Spirit of the Prophets were not subiect to the Prophets and himselfe as the Pope had infallible rule of inâ—erpretation of the scriptures in his brest Answer THE strength of this reason is quelled before in the answer to the third of your first Considerations thither I refer the reader Further I answer here that you teach such doctrine as standeth not with Christian freedom or truth whiles you would forbid vs the profession and practise of the Gospel til we haue consulted with and be approued of other persons and Churches For though I grant ther is a good use of aduising with other Churches if conueniently we can eyther when cases are difficult or when in any respect it doe concerne them yet that in all matters of religioÌ„ ChristiaÌ„s should be bouÌ„d thus to walke when the finne to them is euident which to other Churches not wel acquainted with their estate is not so perspicuous this were to abridge Christian liberty and to bring our consciences in bondage vnto men that though God forbid vs al communion with idolatrie yet we may not separate vnlesse they approue it It is contrary to the word of God which teacheth vs that Gods commandement is not hid from his people neyther is far off not alost in heauen nor beyond the sea but in our mouthes â—â—rts to doe it But you to deceiue your reader allege this as if it were Mr. Bâ—rrows or Mr Iohnsons reason and not the doctrine of Moses and of the Apostlâ— The colâ—â—r that you bring for your selfe is that saying of the Apostle the spirites of the prophâ—ts are sâ—biect to the prophâ—ts 1 Cor. 14.32 which scripture considered by the words and circumstances of it will in no weâ—se proue your purpose Fâ—r first it may be qâ—estioned whether the meaninâ— be that the spirits of the prophets are subiect to other prophets or to thâ—mselves For the Prophets among the gentiles such as the Corinthians naturally were were sâ—bject unto caried and ruled by their spirits and not their spirits subject to them so that they could not choose but sâ—eâ—ke as Sâ—bylla wâ—tneâ—seth of her selfe neither could they lin or cease speaking when they would themselues yea and in holy scripture we see how Balaam prophesied good to Israel and bleâ—sed when he would haue cursed thâ—m Saul also and his messengers prophesied as it were by constreynt being ouermastered by the spirit soo as he could not coâ—teyn himselfe buâ— stripping off his clothes propheâ—â—eâ— all that day and all that night when he had no purâ—ose thus to doe Now therfor where as the Apostle here had ordeyned that if any thing were reâ—eled to another that fare by the first prophet should hold his peace because almight prophesie one by one if any should allege that they could not hould their peace but must speak so long as their spirit moued theÌ„ he telleth them that the spirits of thâ— prophets are suâ—iâ—ct to the prophets so intimating that they may if they will giue others leâ—ue to speak shewing also a reason hereof because God is not the author q of confusion but of peace And if thus wee understand the Apostle his words make nothing for that you say Vnto this also may be added that he speaketh this affirmatâ—uely they are subject and not by way of ordinance let them be subject as els where he vseth and as other things in this place are spoken as Let the prophets speak Let the first hold his peace Let women be silent But be it granted which I will not deny that he meaneth their spirits wer subject to other Prophets because when they had spoken others were to iudge yet those oâ—her were the Prophets of â—he same church and there present not in other churches For Paul meant not that the spirits of the Prophets in Corinth were subiect to the prophets in Rome or Iudoea and so must send to them for approbation but appoynteth like order in this as was in all other the Churches of the Saincts And if they were bound as you would haue us to send and submit to other churches and others likeweise to them then no Church hath no power in iâ— selfe to aprâ—â—e of her prophets or Ministers or of their doctrine without the good likâ—ng of others Which how farr it is from the Apostles mind I leaue it for the dâ—screet reader to judge neither thinke I but your owne brethren will distaâ—t yâ—â—r so collecting from this place Howsoeâ—er they doe it is verie like if you had liued in Ahabs dayes and should haue heard 400 prophets at once prophesying good vnto the King and Micaiah onely prophesying evill you would with Zidkijah haue smitteÌ„ him on the cheek as now you do vs in reproch told him that his spirit must be subiect to the prophets especially they being so many and he but alone But if it were further granted vnto you that we must be subiect to the prophets of other churches yet I suppose you wil not deny but al prophets and churches must trie and iudge euery thing by the word of God according to which if any man speak not his iudgment is not to be regarded And we haue offred and doe still offer our doctrine and practise to the triall
their dutie Gods word teacheth uâ— tâ—at â—f a man walke in any one sinne though he doe not all he shal nâ—t liue but die the deâ—th Ezek. 18 11 13. Wâ—en Gibeah was giuen oveâ— to the Sinne of Sodom if the Priests and prophets should haue preached against idolatrie swearing breaking of the Sabbath and such like evils and not against that particular filthynes which the people followed should they haue preached repentance truly When Israel followed Iereboams calues at Dan and Bethel if the ministers then had preached against Sodoâ—ie whordome drunkennes and the like and not cried out aâ—ainst that present idol worship but pleaded rather for it shâ—uld they haue tâ—uâ—ht repenatnce truly Even thus it is with your best minâ—sterâ— they will thâ—â—deâ— out in their pulpits against Popery and idolâ—try in â—eâ—erâ—ll aâ—ainst theft whordome prâ—de coueteousnes and mâ—â—y oâ—her iâ—qâ—â—â—ieâ— but the sinne which cleaueth so fast to the bones of â—oâ—r Church tâ—e heynous enormities in Gods worship amongst you these they meddle not with neither vpon payn of excommunicatiâ—â— draw the people to repentance for them as after I will further shew Perhaps now and then they will glance at the Bps. or some other corruptions but bring the people from vnder these iniquities they doe not nay they plead for them rather and cry oâ—t vpon vs which haue forsaken so grosse abâ—minations Now there being no notice giuen by the ministers or taken by the people of the siâ—ns wherein they liue the other two parts of true reâ—entance doe also fail among you for farr you be from confessing your sins which though you offer the sacrifice of fools yet will you not know that you doe evill and most farr from amending them when with so high a hand you doe maintain them although the testimonie and sâ—ffrings of vs your disâ—ised and persecuted brethren against them haue sounded in your eares now manâ—e a day Thus teach they not repentance aright As for faith it cannot be sound and true where it hath not ground oâ— the couenant and promise of God Gods couenant and â—romise of saluation you haue not without repentance as Christ sayd Except ye repent you shall all likewise pâ—rish for surely God will wound the hairie â—ate of him that walketh in his sinnes To preach faith therefore and aâ—ply iustification by faith to an vnrepentant people is to â—rofane that holy doctrine and turne the grace of God into licentâ—ousnes But to giue the seales of the righteousnes of faith baptisme and the Lords supper to the wicked blasphemers irreligious and to their seed it is a sinne of sinâ— for which your ministers shall giue an heauy account to Christ at his appearing as haue counted the â—recious blood of his testament an vnholiâ— thing and washed and fed therewith eâ—en doggs and swine as the scripture calleth such vngodly â—ersons And thus you haue not truly taught among you eyther repâ—ntance from dead works or faith towards God which are the doctrine of the beginning of Christ and the very foundation as the Apostle saith I will now also compare the practise of the Apostles in the placâ— which you cite with yours that the reader may see how your right eye is blinded to bring scripture so playn against your selues In Act. 2 37 c the manner of gathering and planting that church‘ is thus described There was first the word preached by the Apostles verse 14 c which being heard pricked the harts of the â—eople verse 37. there was repentance taught not for adultery theft worshiping of Idols oâ— the like whereof it may be that people was not knowen to be guilty but for their particular trespasse in refusing of Iesus Christ into whose name they must be baptised if they would be saued verse 38 then followed a playn separation from such as frowardly resisted the truth vers 40 and none were baptised or ioyned to the church but such as gladly receiued the word verse· 41. After this followed a contâ—newing notwithstanding the imminent peril of trouble and persecution for the truth sake in the Apostles doctrâ—ne and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayerâ— verse 42 If you had walked in this primitiue churches steps you should before the constituting of your Church haue preached vnto the poor ignorant and idolatrous Papists which was the generall face of the land at Q Maries death repentance for their sinns in all their idolatries wâ—ll worships and superstitions subiection to Antichrist his prelacie priesthood and gouernment c. To such as had their harts pricked with your doctrine you should haue shewed the true way of the Gospel faith and holy walking therein You should haue taughâ— them a separation from the profane and obstinate and haue gathered into the Church such onely as gladly receiued the word and with them you should haue walked in a holy communion and practise of Christs ordinances thâ—ugh Princes and Parlâ—aments thoâ—gh men and Angels should haue forbidden threatned you for it Thus had your church beeÌ„ the daughter of thâ—t mother church in Ierâ—salem whereas now by neglecting this patterne and reteyning the Popish confuse multitude and a great part of their ministery and worship you haue imitated Bâ—bylon â—e mother of fornications aâ—d â—re as vnlike Sion as you are like your selues The objection which you feared and therefore would prevent with answer is yet of more weight then will be eased by your syllogisme the aâ—sumption whereof I deny For the true constituting of a Church by the word perached callâ—ng men to a willing holy covenant with God sepâ—ratinâ— them from the wayes of Satan Antichrist his false idoatrâ—â—s worship priesthood and government vniting them togither in the comâ—union of the true faith and bond of loue and peace which ar the controuersies between you and vs these poynts are cleerly set down in scriptures to the vnderstandâ—ng of the spirituall as the history of all the Bible and the practâ—se of the Apostles and primitiue churhes already alleged doe plainely shew and I am sure you will not deny but they were spirituall Whereas you would â—roue they are not clearely set downe to the vnderstand of the spirituall because thowsands of ministers and people of the churâ—h of Englâ—nd are of contrary iudgment to vs first we haue many testimonies of your own minâ—sters for the things that we defend against you as in this and other books we haue manifested Secondly if we had no such testimony yet what doe you but make your selues iudges in your own cause that though we bring never so playn evidence against you from the word yet if you see it not or wil not see it must not be needful for saluation More vnsound and popish doctrine hath seldome been taught But I leaue vpoÌ„ you the saying of Christ vnto the Pharisees If you â—ere blinde ye should not haue sinne but now ye say WE SEE therefore your sin remayneth Iohn 9 11. And whereas
them to be the uery shrines of idols and lyable to the Curse Thus are we come to an end with M Bernard passing by his impertinent discourses which in his rouing he ran into leauing him also for his unchristian reproches and iniurious calumniations to the mercy or iudgment of the Lord who behold commeth with ten thowsâ—nds of his Saincts to giue iudgment against all men and to rebuke all the vngodly among them of all their wicked deeds which they haue wickedly committed and of all their cruâ—l speakings which wicked sinners haue spokeâ— against him THE MINISTERS POSITIONS SHAKEN THere is added to Mr Bernards book an other work intituled CERTAIN POSITIONS held and maynteined by some godly ministers of the gospel against those of the separation and namely against Barrow Greenwood The groundwork whereof is thus layd That the Church of England is a true Church of Christ and such a one as from which whosoeuer wittingly and continually separateth himselfe cutteth himselfe â—ff from Christ I will not stand vpon the consequences that may be made of this position whereby all that abhorrâ—ng the abominations in that church and so separating from it are quite cut off from Christ whatsoeuer truth they profeâ—â—e and walke in or whatsâ—euer other church they ioyne vnto but I will insist in a brieâ— answer to that which these Ministers bring to proue this their peremtory sentence and they be 4. reasons 1 For that they enioy and ioyne togither in the use of those outward meanes which God in his word hath ordâ—yned for the gathering of an inuisible Church that is preaching of the gospel and administration of the sacraments 2. For that their whole church maketh profession of the true faith 3. For that thâ—y hold and teach c. all truthes fundamental 4. For that all known churches in the world acknowledge that church for theâ—r sister and giue vnto her the right hand of fellowship These things haue been before handled in this treatise and the weakneâ—â—e of them discouered yet because it may be thought new men will make new arguments and many heads together bring forth deep counsels let us weigh what these godly ministers haue here sayd For proof of the first poynt they doe allege that the meanes which they vse and enioy haue been effectuall to the vnfained conuersion of many as may appear both by the other fruites of faith that may be found amongst them and by the martyrdome which sundry haue enduâ—ed c yea euen we our selues are able to witnes with them that if there be any true faith and sanctification in us it was begun and bred in thâ—ir assemblies Secondly that if Mat. â—8 18.20 Eph. 4 11.12.14 be well examined it wilâ—e found that the meanes which Christ ordeyned for the gathering of an inuisible church are the very same which they enioy euen the preaching of the word and administration of the sacraments I answer All this that they say will not proue their Position namely that the church of England which consisteth of the whole nation diuided in to many dioceses and parishes vnder one or two Archbishops c. is a true church of Christ. For the Papists boast of all these things as colourable and as truely as these ministers Their priests haue conuerted many from Pagenisme Iudaisme and profanenes of life their church hath had many martyrs Luther and others that first left them had their faith begun in their assemblies c. and whatsoeuer Ministery is in England from the Archprelate to the halfe priest the Papists haue amongst them yea Engl. had it from them And it is to be admired that these godly ministers can allege nothing for their church but such old popish stales How vainely they assume these things vnto themselues hath been shewed befoâ—e fruits of faith appear noâ— in their confuse assemblies whâ—re God is publâ—ckly dishonoured by false worship his enemies profane wicked people fostered and bleâ—sed with his most holy things and Antichristian prelates and Canons obeyed Were it as they say that many haue been conuerted is that â—enough to make all the church We haue testimonies from their own mouthes that there be swarmes and thowsands of profane irreligeous atheists blasphemers and open wicked liuers Mr Gifford a champion of their own hath confessed and printed it that through want and absence of â— sincere ministery there is a flood of ignorance and darknesse ouerflowing the most part of the land the fear of God is banished from the greatest part the wonderfull heaps and piles of sinne which should be washed and clensed away by the word doe undoubtedly with one voyce cry alowd in the eares of the Lord for veâ—geance vpon the whole realm c Shal now a few supposed conuerts makâ— all this rowt a Christian church It is impiety and an ouerthrow of the Gospell Gen. 3.15 2 Cor. 6.14 18 Mat 15.13 Reu. 21..2 3.27 and 28.15 What meane these Ministers to boast so much of their martyrs whose blood cries against them in the eares of the Lord of hosts For did not their church kill them Let one of themselues speake in this case least we be thought partiall Who knoweth not sayth Mr Nichols how much blood of Gods Saincts was spilt in former ages and how many howses were guilty of blood And when did this land serioâ—sly and sincerely humble it selfe by â—pen repentance make reconciliation for the same Nay rather how many thowsands repined at the happy reign of her maiesty for the casting out of the idolatrous and superstitious worship of God and for the establishing of his holy namâ— and the liberty in preaching of the Gâ—spell This testimony is known to bâ— true the greater is their sinne that now plead for such a people to be a true Church of God Shall the Cainites be honoured for Abels martyrdom or the Iewes for crucifying Christ then also may the bloody genâ—tion of Papists be canonized for Saincts and made members without râ—pentance of a christian church And for these ministers let them heart and make vse of Christs words to their predecessors Woe unto you for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets and your fathers killed them Truly yâ— bear witnes and allow the deeds of your fathers for they killed them and yâ— build their sepulchres Fulfil ye also the measure of your Fathers It is a slight and simple kinde of reasoning to tel us if those scriptureâ— Mat. 28. Eph. 4. be well examined it will be found that the meanes which Christ ordeyned for the gathering of an inuisible church ar the uery same which they inioy First what doting Friar will not say this much for his popish Synagogue Then why doe not these ministers bring the meanes they boast of to the examination by these scriptures is it yenough think they to the examination by these scriptures is it yenough thinke they to cite a text or two and then ran away The
God who took our nature of the Virgin Mary is our onely and alsufficient Sauiour For proof of this they first allege that thâ—y receiue this truth are the people of God and in the state of saluation they that receiue it not cannot possibly be saued Mat. 16.18 Mark 16.16 1 Iâ—h 4.2 Col 2.7 But first none of these scriptures doe say that this one article which these ministers haue set downe in this forme of words is the onely fundamentall truth in religion Neyther doth any other scripture that I know of so speake for though Christ onely is the foundation of the Christian church and though as they secondly allege no other point of religion is necessary otherwise then as it tendeth necessarily to teach or confirme this one truth yet foloweth it not but other points also are fundamental truthes the denyall of which will abolish from Christ. Secondly they haue altered added to and omitted some of the words of these scriptures for their own aduantage For fearing that we would as indeed we mean to doe presse them with the profession of the Anabaptists Papists and other heretiks they thinke to preuent vs. And first against the Anabaptists which deny that Christ took our flesh these men haue added who took our nature of the Virgin Mary Then against the papists which hold merit of works they adioyne these words our onely and alsufficient Sauiour And this because the church of England mainteyneth the truth in these points against those fore sayd heretiks On the other hand to help themselues in their corrupt Antichristian walking and false constitution they omit and mention not th' Apostles words Col. 2. wher he sayth As ye haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him rooted and built in him and stablished in the faith as ye haue been taught c The discreet reader may soon espy their purpose in this cunning cariage For let the position be set downe in the scripture termes and we shall see how weake their plea will be The onely fundamentall truth in religion is this That Iesus is the Christ the sonne of the liuing God comen in the flesh in whom we must beleeue and h walke being rooted and build in him and stablished in the faith as we are taught in the new testament If now these ministers will insist vpon the three first scriptures onely and generall terms that are in them it is apparant that the Papists Anabaptists and many other miscreants doe hold and professe them absolutely absolutely But if they joyne with them Colos. 2. and compare the walking rooting building and stablishing in the faith taught by th' Apostles with the Popish church or with their own it wil be found that neyther of them hold the foâ—ndation Christ aright Themselues wâ—ll grant it of the Papâ—sts and other heretiks and for their own church it is before in this treatise proued So then to come agayn vnto their reason that they hold â—eâ—ch and mainteyn euery part of Gods holy truth which is fundamâ—ntall whereby they woulâ— conclâ—de themselues to be a true chrâ—ch the arâ—ument is deneyed Fâ—r first if â—t were granted that thâ—y hâ—ld â—aught and maiâ—teynâ—d every part of fundâ—â—ental truth which yet with them is but one article onely as we haue heard it wâ—ll not follow necessaryly that therefore they are a true châ—rch or that they truely professe the Christ an faith There wanâ— two things 1 obedience to the truth professed withoâ—t which men shal be damned whatsoeuer they professe 2 and a right profession of the true faith onely without errâ—urs adioyned that ouerthrow the same faith and obedience thereto For if a people profeâ—sing that onely fundamentall truth which these ministers speake of should withall professe Mahomet the prophet of the Turks or H. N. the God of the Familists or any other like abomination were this misceline profession of Christ and Belial togither a true and sound profeâ—sion I trow not So then these ministers must alter their plea thus that they hold teach mainteyn and obey every part of the fundamentall truth and nothing els with it that ouerthrowes the same If now they say this they doe I haue before in this treatise disproued it and here agayn will briefly disproue it thus They professe to beleeu the Communion of Saincts and that the visible church is a congregation of faithfull people Yet contrariweise they hold teach and mainteyne that their own church is a true church of Christ though it consists as wel of vnholy as holy infidels as beleeuers and innumerable wicked persons openly seen and known That this they hold mainteyn is proâ—ed by their continual clamors and reprochful writings against vs that call vpon them for a separation of light from darknesse It is proued by Dr Wâ—itgifts plea before mentioned that the children of Papists heretiks and other wicked persons are and ought to be baptised amoÌ„g theâ— It is further proued by the visible estate of their church knowne vnto all among them and testâ—fied by her dearest freinds fauourers Mâ— Gifford speaking to his brethren â—f the Communion of Saincts in Engl. sayth Yee would euen powr out your stinâ—ing and râ—tâ—en pâ—yson like blaspemous and venemous beasts ye would speake after this manner you that are so full of the spirit you that are Saincts and suâ—h like What are you Diâ—ils are ye of the flesh No doâ—ut ye are vntill God convert ye But we may se how diuiâ—ishly men ar become wicked when a man cannot make any appearance to be godly and holy but it is reproched as though it were a shamefull thing to be lead by the spirit c. These and the like records with the continuance continuance in this confused estate plainely proue an ouerthrow of that article of the true church which is the body of Christ and the body being disanulled Christ the head cannot soundly be reteyned Agayn they professe in Engl. that the puâ—e word of God is to be preached the sacraments duely administred c. also that in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we haue expresly decleared vnto vs in the word of God Yet withall they professe and practise in that church to read the Apocrypha â—criptures in which are found vntruthes and errors when many parts of the authentik scripture are neuer read among them they haue also written homilies in sted of preaching a written Leâ—tourgâ—e Letany collects c. in sted of praying which Leitoargie with all the popish contents therein must be approued and vsed by all the Priests and people and God serued by it euery day They haue also an antichristian clergie caâ—led and ordeyned according to their pontifical or book of ordination which â—n their beleef hath not any thing that of it selfe is sâ—perstitious and vngodly c. Finally all the Romish reliques yet in England to be seen in the
hierarchâ—e worship ceremonies ordinances church constitution c. which things can neuer be approued by the word of God are yet held and vpheld taught and mainteyned in the church to the excommunicating and persecuting of all such as speake against them or refuse to communicate with them This sinfull mixture and maintenance of so much antâ—christian error with the christian truthes that they profeâ—â—e is no true Christian profession and practise of our obedience vnto the fundamentall truth of the gospell neyther can the ministers proue that these contraries will stand together when account shal be giuen before the iudgment seat of Christ. Secondly I answer as to their former reason that although some Bishops and Priests haue written Articles Catechismes c. yet are not these approuâ—d much lesse walked in by the church of Engl. neyther are the people rooted bâ—ilded and stablished in the faith according to Colos. 2. but are diâ—â—olute and profane in their conuersation rooted in uices and stablished in iniquitis as lameÌ„table experience teacheth all men as the testâ—monâ—es of their own ministers before alleged proue and many other we might allege and must if these men still continue to vrge that which is knowne to be farr otherweise For how well their people doe walke in the faith of the foundation Christ and approue of all fundamentall truthes in the scriptures let these testimonies of their own freinds shew The most part of your honest men saith Mr Gifford to and of his brethren now a dayes delight so much in the word of God and meditate so much in it that they care not a button though they neuer heare it they loue it and set as much by it as they doe by an old sâ—â—e Euery man sayth an other followeth the pride couetousnes whordome dronkennes of his owne hart and no man remembreth Ioseph The barrs are filled with pleadings the streets are full of cries of the poor fulnes of meat and contempt is among vs and who considereth Yet if this our sinne were onely against men and not against God there â—ight be some hope But when the mouth of the blâ—spemous swearer is not tiâ—d vp and the hands of the idolatrous generation of Atheists and profane persons be not chained when the most holy and precious word of God is manifestly contemned the ioyfull and heauenly tidings of saluation so negligently and vngratefully troden vnder foot the true and faithfull messengers pursued arraygnned and diuers wayes â—fflicted then if the old world for malicious imaginations Sodome and Gomora for pride fulnes of meat and vnmercifulnes if Ierusalem for abusing Gods Prophets and wilfulnesse were woefully destroyed what may we poor carelesse People look for it we doe not repent but as it is almost vniuersally feared spâ—edy ruine and vtter desolation The exceptions which these Godly ministers take against Mr Barrowes writings and yet professe not to answer them need not now to be stood vpon till the particulars whereby he hath discouered their errors and euill dealings be by them taken away They further taxe note it in him as a strange opinion and an error full grosse mainteyned in pag. 156.157 of his Discouery vidz that euery truth conteyned in the scripture is fundamentall But the grossnes or crossnes wil be found in themselus for that which Mr Barrow there inueigheth against was this that though transgressions and errors be obstinately continued in and openly taught after they be reproued and conuinced by the word of God yea and the parties dye in that estate without repentance of these transgressions or errors yet may they hold the foundation and be vadoubtedly saued Of this minde were and still continue sayth he fiue of the very principal and best esteemed ministers of Engl. both for learning and conscience although there were alleged against the same these expresse scriptures Num. 15.30 31. Exod. 23.21 1 Sam. 15.22.23 Ezek. 18.26 Mat. 5 18 19 Iam. 2 10. c. This was the thing that M Bar. there bet down shewing further that if the whole scripture was giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct to instruct in righteousnes if it be the groundwork and foundatioÌ„ of the church of our fayth if it be the law and rule of our life the light of our eyes c. If euery word of God be holy pure perpetuall then is this deep learning of theyrs diuilish and blasphemous that thus to colour and couer their wickedness make some part of gods word fundamentall substantiall necessary other accidentall superficiall needlesse especially where it sheweth reproueth and condemneth their doings c Now what say these ministers against this plea they plainly yeild in effect to th'truth which they could with no coulour gainsay we beleeu say they and teach that there is no Part of holy scripture which euery Christian is not necessarily bound to seek desire knowledge of so far sorth as in him lyeth Very wel sayd had they added also this word obeyed which I suppose they would be thought to intimate there would be no difference between M Barrow and them though thus they would traduce him But least they should seeme to condemne themselues they except yet dare we not cal euery truth fundamentall that is such as if it be not knowne and obeyed the whole religion and fayth of the church must needs fall to the ground and agayne we doubt not that some parts are of more vse and more necessary for men to know then othersome In these things excepting the word fundamentall which seemeth to be but strife about a word We agree with them neyther doth Mr Barrow that I can perceiue disagree for it is one thing not to know and obey euery truth as they speake and another thing to know as hauâ—ng reproofe and conuiction by the word of God and yet to disobey and rebel against the truth and continue obstinately in transgreâ—sion which was the poynt in hand And for the world fundamentall seing all Gods testimonies are true and Dauid sayth that the Lord hath founded them for euer I see no cause why we need be afraid to call euery trâ—th fundamentall that is such as is firme and stable and on which we shovld ground and builde our faith and actions vp on alwayes Yet seing now what these ministers vnderstand by the word I will not striue Also M Barrow himselfe in his Obseruations vpon Mr Giffâ—rds last reply telleth him that he denyeth not in vse of speech such distinction so much as withstand such eronius abuse of that distinction which M. Gifford and other deuines of these tymes would infer thereof And in deed the simple are much beguiled by this subtile distinction For when the sinns and idolatrâ—es of these Priests are blamed answer is made though they be sinns yet are they not fundamentall they cut vs not off from Christ we hold him the foundation and