although a false constitution be a sinne yet it is not Idolatry you must manifest it to me to be a sin of another commaundemeÌ„t if you plead that otherwise I stil hold it to be a sinne of the Second commaundement viz to worship God in a constitution of an humane invention even as it was in the Church of Ieroboams in vention as it is in a popish parish assembly as it is in the English assemblies now further to prove vnto you that a false constitution of a Church is an Idol I use these places 2. Cor. 6.16 VVhat agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols The faithful who have made a covenant with God are heer cailed the temple of God thervnto are Idols opposed signifying that an assembly of men who are vnfaithfull though some faithful meÌ„ be among them who are commaunded to come out to be Seperated endevoring to worship God after ther fashion are an Idol therfor if the temple of Ierusalem now stood the Iewes assembled to worship God ther after the fashioÌ„ of the Old Testament that assemblie was an Idol So are the assemblies of Turkes Idols So are the assemblies of Papists Idols as Abbayes Monasteries c. Such are al churches framed of a false matter or having a false covenant 1. Ioh. 5.21 Babes keep your selves from jmages Zach. 11.17 The Apostle who wrote the Revelation forseing through the Spirit of prophecy the abhominable Idolatryes of Antichrist which would grow vp in the Church giveth the Churches a caution especially to take heed of those Antichristian Idolatryes now the Idolatryes of Antichrist are not heathenish paganish but of another nature viz not false Gods but meanes invented by men to worship the true God in or by Hence I gather thus VVhatsoever meanes is devised out of a mans brayne vsed as a meanes to honour God in or by is an Idol A devised constitution of a Church is of that nature Ergo an Idol For further amplification whereof consider that as a false minister wherof afterward is an Idol minister Zach. 11.17 So a Church of a false constitution is a false Church that is an Idol Chuch as it was vnlawful yea flat Idolatry for a Priest of Ieroboams devising to offer Sacrifice to the L. So is it also Idolatry to offer vp service to God in a Church of a false constitution Col. 2.23 Mat. 15.9 Wil-worship vayne-worship is forbidden in these two places namely such worship as is offered to God after the wil precept of man whose wisdome is enmity to God But a false constitution of a Church is after the will precept of man even invented devised go it is forbidden but wil worship vayne worship is a transgression of the second commaundement go it is idolatry so that false Church wherin or wherby it is offered vp to God an Idol These things are manifest to him that wil not blindfold himself I pray you consider of the particulars by mee alledged if you find a truth in them embrace the truth lead on your people with you to the truth if not let vs heer from you an answer that we may see our errors wee wil can reforme so cannot you so long as you stand as you doe ther is no way to reforme but to Seperate as we have done already Paralleles Censures Observations aperteyning to the third Section I published a litle Methode not long since intituled Principles inferences concerning the visible Church in the tenth page of the book I write thus visible Churches constituted according to the devise of men are Real Idols Mr. Bern. in the beginning of his third Section chargeth vs to hold That an erroneous constitution of a Church is a real Idol in his book intituled the Seperatists Schisme pag. 79 hath these wordes They hould our constitution a real Idol so vs idolaters pag. 152. of the same book he writeth thus that our Church viz the Church of England standeth in an adultrous estate accounting this as an error that wee defend Mr. Ainsw in the answer to Mr. Bern. pag. 172. faith that a false constitution of a church set vp in stead of a true what is it better then a very Idol Heer let vs consider the difference agrement betwixt Mr. Ains me he saith a very Idol I say a real Idol I cal a false constitution a real Idol For that in existence being it is an Idol Mr. Ainsw calleth a falsely constituted Church a very Idol bicause it is indeed truly an Idol heer is litle difference except it be in wordes but for the further cleering of my position viz that a falsely constituted Church is a real Idol two things must be discovered 1. what an Idol is 2. what Real is For the first vnderstand that most properly an Idol is contrary to an ordinance apoinred by God in matter of Religion So the Apostle willeth the brethren to keep themselves from jmages or Idols 1. Ioh. 5.21 the Lord himself in the Second Commaundement forbiddeth vnder the phrases of making worshipping jmages al inventions of men in matter of Religion Exod. 20.4.5 Now matter of religion especially subsisteth in Religious worship or religious government For the Saynts are made Kings Preists vnto God as Kings they excercise a regiment as Preists they performe their Sacrifices Revel 1.6 1. Co. 6 1-9.1 Pet. 2.5 therein they performe homage to the Lord submit their consciences to be wrought vppon seing the conscience must bow only to the Lord not to man otherwise then in the Lord therfor in matter of Religion the conscience is not to yeeld to any thing devised by man but must alwayes have the Lord for the leader Governor therein hence then it foloweth that whosoever substituteth any devise of man any thing taught by the precept of man Mat. 15.9 Esay 29.13 any will worship or any ordinance of the world in matter of Religion setteth vp that which is contrary to the Lords ordinance contrary to the Lords wil contrary to the Lords wisdome I would fayne learne whither this be not an Idol or jmage So that Idols are of two sorts 1. A false God 2 A false meanes to honor or submit or doe homage to the true God in or by as a false or devised tyme place person instrumeÌ„t action if theâ—be any thing of the like consideration therfor a false or devised tyme may be caled an Idol day as 1 King 12.33 the month which Ieroboam appointed for the worship of his Calves is called the month which he had forged of his owne hart that is an Idol moneth so by consequent the 15 days of that moneth an Idol day So in the old Testament the place where God was to be worshipped was the Tabernacle or Temple Deut. 12 5-8 therfor the high places in iudah also DaÌ„ Bethel in Israel were Idol places bicause
I desire may be embraced if not I require an answer of them to whom it is specially directed to conclude this first point Mr. Bern. seing your VVorship for the most part is book-worship I conclude it to bee Iewish and so false VVorship Now I come to answer your cavils which are conteyned pag. 146-151 First you referre vs to the treatise in the end of your book I referre you for answer partly to Mr. Ains partly to the book intituled the differences of the Churches of the Seperation For I doe acknowledg that in the Old Testament Psalmes Prayers Prophecies were read out of a book yet further I answer three things 1. that it will not follow that seing it was so in the old Testament therfor it must be so in the new nay contrary it was so in the old Testament therefore it must not be so in the new This is the true manner of reasoning or thus In the Old Testament they had Psalmes Prophecyes Prayers read out of a book which was the Type the manifestation of the Lettre Therefore in the new Testament wee must have Psalmes Prophecyes Prayers brought out of the hart which is the Spiritual book of the New Testament wherein the Lord doth write his Lawes Heb. 8.10 which is the truth the manifestation of the Spirit 2. it will not follow that if it were granted that reading the Prayers Prophecyes Psalmes of Scripture out of the Originall tongs the Hebrue and Greek were lawfull that therefore the reading of the Apocrypha translations which are the workes of men is Lawful For theone is interpretation of a Language or Tong that is the vttering of matter from the knowledg of the Tongs and the gift of interpreting the other is reading wordes out of a book which a child of eight yeeres old may doe 3. neither will it follow that if it were found lawfull to read the English translation of the Scriptures therefore it shal be lawful to read your English Masse-book your book of Homilies and Articles your book of Canons For then why may you not read also Mr. Perkins vppon the Creed Henry Smyths Sermons or any other good Catechisme Commentary or Sermon book Secondly you prove your worship true by two reasons 1. Say you you worship no False God 2. you worship the true God with no False worship For you preach the true word admister the true Sacraments pray such prayers as are agreeable to the Scripture the forme of prayer taught by Christ if any things els be prescribed it is not imposed as worship Or if it were prescribed as a part of worship it doth not therefore follow that all the worship is False well I answer That Israell in Ietoboams tyme and after and when Aaron made the Calfe did not worship worship a false God yet their worship was false So may your worship be false though you worship the true God that hath revealed himself in the old Testament but their worship is not true by your owne confession therfor your consequent is not good that seing you worship the true God your worship must needes be true if the meanes wherby you worship be a false meanes devised by the wit of a man not taught in the word of God I say your worship is false so that place of Mat. 15.1 importeth that whosoever worshippeth God by any invented meanes taught by mans precept worshippeth God invayne Such is an image as the second commaundement teacheth now the meanes of your worship are false as first your false Church which is an Idol 2. your stinted devised imposed literal service book which is an Idol 3. your false Christ which is not your King Preist Prophet which is one of our Idols For though you truly beleeve concerning his person yet your Faith is false your doctryne false concerning his offices mediation therfor these meanes of your worship being false meanes they must needes be false worship therfor seing your doctryne is much of it false your communiō false your worship stinted book worship it followeth that your word is not the true word your Sacraments the signes of your false Faith communion are not true your prayers are not true whereas you plead that other things besides the word Sacrament prayer are not imposed as worship I answer what doe they then in your worship wil you mingle that which is no worshis worship together either they are worship or els let them be cast out of your worship further whereas you alledg that though some parts of your worship he false yet al shal not be false I grant it if your Church were true your ministery true but seing your Church ministery be false therfor though you do preach the true word administer the true Sacraments pray true prayers yet they can not be true worship offered vp in a false Church by a false ministery for the falsehood of the Church ministery doth essentially corupt the worship if al that is set vppon the table be either poisō or poysoned meate I say such is your worship For death is in your worship as Coloquintida was in the pot So that you see the distinction of true false doth most properly aperteyne to your worship as it doth also to your ministery Church as hath been shewed In the next place you declare vnto vs out of Philip Mornaeus the order of the worship of the old Testament out of the Scripture the parts of the worship of the new Testament out of Iustinus Martyr the order of worship in his tymes which I wil not contradict yet I plead that seing your Church is false your ministery false your service book a false meanes of worship therfor though al that you alledg were true it doth not follow that your worship is true wheras you plead that reading Col. 4.16 is cōmaunded as a part of worship I wish you to read the book intituled the differences of the Churches of the Seperation you shall have your answer and thus much for this Section The eleventh Section The next position is your third which is this viz. 3. In maintaining that it is not lawful to heare any ministers amongst vs whatsoever they be no◠to joyne in prayer with such as feare God among vs I for my part hold both vnlawful bicause your ministers are false ministers your people of false Churches Now how can wee who are the Church and body of Christ have any Spirituall communion with you who are the ministers and subjects of Antichrist 2. corinth 6 14-16 But heer you would needes have vs beleeve that ther be many that feare God among you that they are particularly known vnto vs for my part I do beleeve generaly that God hath his people in Babylon even among you who are Babel that is confusion I do also beleeve that those who are miscalled by the name of
Resolution courage to the Resolution of those three The Prelates that vrged Subscription conformity to the accusers of the Iewes I would therfor know of Mr. Bernard whither his mynd be now altered from that he held when he Preached these Sermons vppon this text if yea then I demaund whither feare of affliction love of his living reputation with the world have not caused that in him whither a man should beleeve him rather now he is a formalist then before when he was a reformist The place of Naaman the Assirian is this 2 King 5.18 When I bow in the howse of Rimmon to worship the Lord be mercifull vnto thy Servant in this point By this place Mr. Bern. intended to sinne against his conscience for he did acknowledg this truth wee now professe divers tymes was vppon the point of Seperation with some of his people with him yet loving the world prefermēt as Naaman is thought to doe he chose rather to stay stil in his vicaridge against his conscience then to leese it to follow Christ with a good conscience do you not remember Mr. Bern. what you said to mee Mr. Rob. Southw comming together from w that speaking of the daunger of walking in this truth of Christ we now professe you said you could easely die vppon the tre for the truth but you could not withour great horror think of being burned as the Martyrs were in Q. Maryes dayes that all the jorney you were casting how to dispatch your estate to get away with safety I speake this to prove vnto you the world that you were as forward to the truth of Christ with vs then as you were before to the cause of the Reformists yet as then so now you have wholly I feare finally apostated from it the L. be merciful vnto you in these your sinnes wherevppon this followeth that if ever you come to the truth of Christ wee professe you can not be admitted into the office of Elder in the Church but therein you must beare your iniquity bicause you have apostated fearfully from the truths you did acknouwledg therein giving Suspition of your constancy faythfulnes for the tyme to come whither you be a worthy Minister of your owne Church lett the Reformists judg who have betrayed their cause into the Prelates handes so shamefully as you have done wherfor be it knowne vnto you first that wee reject you Seconbly that the Reformists have just cause to reject you whither then wil you goe but to your LI. the Prelates to whome you have sworne your Can. obediēce vnto whome you have now at the last fuly returned as it were a dog to the vomit a swine to wallow in the myre But your covenant Mr. Bern. is beyond all the endevors of al the reformists of the land that you should cull out an hundreth persons of so many paris hes so far distant to enter covenant together not to heare the dumb Ministers to watch one over another to admonish one another c. And therevppon to receave the Lords Supper What was not the covenant the Church of England large enough but you must enlarge it thus Did not your conscience tel you then that the dumb ministery was vnlawful that you sinned in not admonishing your brethren therfor went to seek out an hundreth brethren where your proctor or agent could find them That al your parish were not your brethrē being not of your covenant though of the covenant of the Church of Englād or that you had two sorts of brethren one of a general nature viz all the people of the parish another of a Spiritual nature viz Those hundreth persons of your covenant yet that you admitted both those sorts of your brethren to all the holy things among you excepting the particular covenant I pray you with your logick or divinity justifie vnto vs these things But now all this is forgotten the Prelate of york hath so bewitched you with his flatterie eloquence aungels that your covenant is profaned cast in the dust men of your covenant must shift for themselves you have deceaved them like the staffe of reed you justifie your wonted speeches you love the world ease with all your hart therfor I say vnto you with the Apostle The love of the Father is not in you I do therfor Proclame you vnto the whole land to be one of the most fearful Apostates of the whole nation that excepting VVhyte Claphā you have no Superior nor equal that I know or remember who have thus often confessed witnessed much truth now not only have fallē from it but have so childishly yet most slaunderously written against the cause of the Lord to blaspheme the name of the Lord his Tabernacle them that dwell in Heaven as if bicause your sinnes werē not known Sufficiently to the world your would with inck paper publish them to al men ages to come that they might remain in record agaist you vppon the file at the day when the Lord shal recompense every man according to his worke But Mr Bernard ther is yet one other thing that I must discover to the world namely that you have written a book against the Prelates wherein you have proved by divers arguments that their authority is Antichristian this book some of your Frends have seē read though you durst not print it your self yet you would have been content a Frend should have caused it to be published vnder the vizard of an vnknowne Author is not this so Mr. Bern then tel mee with what face or conscience you can Subscribe to the Prelacy you can plead for the Prelacy is not this to build that which you have destroyed Surely all these things compared together do plainly convince your deep Hypocrisy yet in your pulpit among the simple sort you would seem a brother to the Sonnes of Thunder but I desire the Lord to open the eyes of his people that they be no longer deceaved by such Pharisaical Hypocrits as your deedes manifest you to be even in the indifferent censure of those that love you best Now therfor to conclude this Parallele of your Famous or rather infamous acts compare your resolurion against Subscription conformity with your Subscription to the Prelate of york your acknowledgment of the truth with Naamans presumptiō to sinne your covenant with your confirmity your book against the Prelates your book against the Seperation therevppon it will follow that you are as chandgable as the Moone as mutable as Proteus as variable as the Chamaeleon And whereas you object aganst me pag. 37. 73. that before I came to the truth I wrote against it was distracted to fro before I saw it cleered to my judgmēt conscience I must needes acknowledg it so to be which was my greater sinne the weaknes of my