this Dan. Studley is let them aske Samuel Fuller a Deacon of master Robinsons Church and desire to see a copie of the letter which Daniell Studley sent vnto him or let them aske master Thorpe a deacon of master Ainsworths Church and desire to see a booke intituled The first part of the hunting of the Fox and there he shall see Dan. Studley traced vp and downe He had a trembling Palsie in his filthy fist when he subscribed the copie of this vniust excommunication Had S. Francis neuer a cleaner fist to strike vs withall than this hand of Daniel Studley Could he haue done vs a greater comfort than to declare our condemnation by that hand which by the best among themselues is condemned aswell as by vs As for this Edward Benet he is to be considered as a horne of the beast that lends his power wealth and authoritie to the maintenance of the beast according to that in the Reuelation 17.13 so that it is not vnfittely spoken by some of master Ainsworths company viz. As the King of Spaine is vnto the Pope so is Master Benet vnto Master Iohnson CHAP. III. A Copie of Iohn Fowler his excommunication with an answere thereto IOhn Fowler was proceeded against by the Church the 28. of the 8. moneth of August 1611. for persisting in these sinnes following 1 For leauing the Church 2 For ioyning with those whome wee haue excommunicated as Christopher Lawne c. 3 For contentious carriage in refusing to speake to the Elders when he came vnto them otherwise than by writing which he brought and would haue them also to answer him in writing againe 4 He despised the voice of the Church refusing to come in publique at their sending for him 5 And while he stood a member of vs he refused to partake in the Lords Supper Daniel Studley Edward Benet Hauing answered vnto the Copie of Chr. Lawne his excommunication we desire it may be considered that therein also we haue giuen answer touching the rest of the men and women that were excommunicate at the same time there being no particular sinne named and obiected vnto anie of them in the copies of their Excommunications which was not contained in Christopher Lawnes and therein answered also And for those that were a month after excommunicate with Iohn Fowler for giuing testimonie vnto our cause in answering this copie of his excommunication we do herein also giue answer for them there being nothing further pretended against any of them than is here obiected vnto him To come then vnto the answer hereof Obiection 1. First they condemne him for leauing the Church Answere It is no sinne to leaue that Church that leaueth all other Churches Obiection 2. And ioyning with those whom we haue excommunicate as Chr. Lawne c. Answere answer 1 Had Iohn Iohnson the Father beene aliue at this time and had testified as Chr. La. Cl. Sa. against their schisme adding this vnto the rest of his supposed iniquities we would not haue feared to ioyne with that Excommunicate while hee in like manner would haue embraced the Communion of a true Church answer 2 These Franciscanes themselues are one Bodie with an Excommunicate of Master Ainsworths companie whatsoeuer they can iustly answere for themselues in ioyning with such an Excommunicate the same may we also and much more answer 3 Againe others of the Brownists themselues doe see the vanitie of the Excommunications executed by Fra. Iohnson Dan. Stud. Ed. Benet c. and doe receiue their Excommunicates as appeares in the practise of M. Ainsworth and his companie Are they ridiculous among themselues and shall they be regarded of others Obiection 3. For contentious carriage in refusing to speake vnto the Elders c. Answere answer 1 If they had beene Gouernours of a true Church and not of a Schismaticall Societie then might they haue had some reason to haue required his answere as they here complaine for want thereof answer 2 Their manner to peruert mens speeches and to catch at wordes makes that it is not a safe thing for any priuate man alone to speake with their Elders M. Iohnson that sought to * See the letter of Iohn Iohnson art 3. ensnare his own Father and to peruert his words whom will he spare Now writing might haue preuented this danger Obiection 4. He despised the voice of the Church c. Answere answer 1 He saw so much despight and iniurie shewed vnto others in the middest of that Church that he had iust cause to auoid the same answer 2 The voice of that Church is not the voice of Christ but the voice of Schisme Contention Confusion Falsehood and Error and therefore is not to bee hearkened vnto Obiection 5. And while he stood a member of vs he refused to partake in the Lords Supper Answere Let the Reader know that this refusall of participating in the Lords Supper with them was vpon the point of leauing them when he called their Schisme into question and began to doubt of his estate among them In this case he could not of Faith come to the Table of the Lord with them SECT 2. CHAP. I. Containing a true relation of the Schisme Dissensions Blasphemies Heresies and horrible Crimes practised by the Brownists or Separators CErtaine Articles against Dan. Studley giuen to M. Iohnson in their publike Congregation before their Elders to desire his deposition from his office of being an Elder article 1 First for his filthinesse vsed towards his wiues daughter with that most vngodly allegation of Scripture for the defence thereof This particular is of old knowne vnto their Eldership and modestie forbids vs to set downe the manner of it it is so impudent article 2 Secondly for writing a most vngodly letter containing in it many vile and vngodly speeches not meet to proceed out of any Christians mouth much lesse to be written by an Elder of the Church of Christ in as much as writing is more aduised deliberate than speech also this letter being so long that it is supposed it cost him more than a moneths worke to copie and recopie the same being aboue 300 long lines close ruled some of this letter being in most abhominable verses article 3 Thirdly for teaching many wicked and vngodly songs and rimes vnto children when he kept schoole in stead of catechising them and learning them to know God hee taught them vaine idle and wicked songs article 4 Fourthly for disclosing the counsaile of the Eldership to Marie May in some particulars as wee can plainely proue in due time and place This was a principall thing alledged to depose M. de Cluse article 5 Fifthly for his many lasciuious attempts to a young maid now of late with his beastly behauior to entice her to satisfie his owne lust vnmeet to be named To the second and to the fift Edward Tolwine Iohn Clifton Ellen Vpton Henrie Homline subscribed article 6 Sixtly there were brought sixteene articles against him to proue the tenor and course
Gibeonites runneth still on foot euen to this houre Hanniball said once there was not so much as one in all the enemies Campe that was called Gisco so may it truly bee said now not so much as one of the godly Ministers that suffer in England about the discipline that may deseruedly be called a Brownist The harder is my hap that I should be reputed one of them who am ioyned against them with that Orthodox Church here which like a beautifull armie and terrible as vnder tents and lyeth in the field and that with happie and good successe against that Schisme I thinke no other but that manie of them loue the Lord and feare his name howbeit their error being enemy to that breast of Charity wherewith Cyprian couered his Qui ab Ecclesia nunquam recessit as Augustine speaketh They can not stand before his Tribunall but by the intercession of our blessed Sauiour Father forgiue them they know not what they doe Thinke not these wordes are applied to theyr sect amisse for in effect what doeth it lesse than euen persecute the Lord Christ Iesus in his hoste which it reuileth in his ordinaunces which it dishonoureth and in his seruants last of all whose graces it blasphemeth whose foote steppes it slaundereth and whose persons it dispiseth and that well neare with the pride of Acesius to whome Constantine once Scalas sume Acesi solus in Coelum ascende This is found in speciall manner in Maister Iohnson and his company aboue the rest whose spirites are bitter aboue measure and hearts puffed vp with the Leauen of Pride and whose walking is so crooked and built on such grounds of colourable deceipt and guile that out of Salomon it may not vnfitly be resembled to the way of a Serpent vppon a stone He himselfe defameth mee without cause without colour without ceasing hee arraigneth my Booke in open Consistory and there sitting magistrate-like hee demaundeth of mee though absent wherefore he may not alleadge Hosea chap. 14. ver 92.2 Corint chap. 6. ver 16. Iohn chap. 5. ver 21. against the Church of England as well as I haue done in the beginning of my booke As if these Scriptures were not pregnant against communion with Antichrist in the vse of his Idolles which are by him vniustly wrested against communion with a true and a Christian Church in the holy things of God He that wringeth the nose saith Solon causeth blood to come forth and he that charneth milke bringeth forth whey A fit resemblance of Brownists arguments whose forced allegations of the Scripture charne and wring it for the bringing forth of bloody contentions rents and schismes I say bloody in the sense of Isay and Hosea and turneth the wholesome milke thereof ordained for the growth of the Saints in peace and in comfort and in the ioy of the holy Ghost into a bitter and sowre humor as distastefull to the Lord as it is disgracefull to his Church and seruants Howbeit I purpose not to dispute the case onely thus much good Reader I thought needfull to make knowne to thee for the clearing of these imputations wherewith I am vniustly burthened Farewell ROBERT PARKER CHAP. XIII Concerning their mutuall reproches dissensions and curses against one another diuided into three parts PART 1. HAuing seene the reproach which this generation of slanderers layeth vpon others which condemne their separation let vs consider how they whet their teeth against one another mutually To begin with master Iohnson and to let him haue the first place in reproching and the preheminence in biting he telleth master Ainsworth and his companie that they are Schismatikes and that therefore they are no true Church And thus he sets them in a worse estate then he places Rome in which he now acknowledgeth a true Church Reuelat. 11.8 According to his account a Romist a Papist is in a better estate for the constitution of their Church then is the Ainsworthian Rome is spiritually Egypt and Sodome as master Iohnson tells vs that master Ainsworths company is not so true a Church as Rome is and therefore in a worse estate then Sodome or Egypt and consequētly are to look for greater plagues then the plagues of Egypt and sorer condemnation then the fire brimstone which was rained from heauen vpon the Sodomites Master Iohnson tells them that vnlesse Rome were a true Church their Baptisme could not be true Baptisme Hence it followes that master Ainsworths Church being no true Church there can bee no true Baptisme but such as are there baptised by master Ainsworth are to be re-baptised Though the Infants baptised in Englād or in Rome are not to be re-baptised yet the Ainsworthians must The practise of this is to be expected when any Infants come with the reuolting parents from the Ainsworthians vnto the Franciscans who vnto them must become Anabaptists Againe master Iohnsons ordinarie speech occasioned by the Schisme and departure of master Ainsworths people from him is this viz. That God stands with his fanne in his hand and that God would purge his floore and take the chaffe from the wheat Thus he noteth master Ainsworths company to be but Drosse and as Chaffe for the fire the reason why he thus sets his teeth vpon them is because they forsooke him in that he hath changed his gouernment And since that time he hath spoken of them as of the vncircumcised Philistims comparing them to Gath and Askalon vpon this occasion of reprouing some of vs for keeping company with some of master Ainsworths people saying we had declared the wickednesse of Studley in Gath and Ashkalon vpon this occasion they may put him in mind of his * Answ to master Whites preface to the Reader p. 1.2 words concerning master White they may tell him of the two sorts of aduersaries which the Church hath The one of such as be without the other of such as arise from within the Church it selfe Both heauie enemies but the latter farre more grieuous many wayes They may further proceed and say vnto him in his owne words which he vseth against M. White Of late hath risen vp one Francis Iohnson despitefully reuiling vs and wickedly blaspheming the name and Tabernacle of the Lord. A man that was himselfe heretofore not onely a ioyned member but also a Minister among vs and hath often in our publike meeting before vs all with his owne mouth testified his consent with vs in the faith which we still professe from which he is now reuolted and of which he is become a notable aduersarie setting himselfe tooth and naile what he can against vs and our cause and that both priuately and publikely as now himselfe hath manifested to the world So as himselfe c. Master Iohnson also did so reason against M. Ainsworth about their gouernment that master Ainsworth hath oft told him he did ouerthrow the constitution of their Church and master Robinson hath so written vnto him that with his new grounds hee would
THE PROPHANE SCHISME OF THE BROWNISTS OR SEPARATISTS WITH THE JMPIETIE DISSENSIONS LEVVD AND ABHOMINABLE Vices of that impure Sect. Discouered by CHRISTOPHER LAVVNE IOHN FOVVLER CLEMENT SANDERS ROBERT BVLVVARD Lately returned from the Companie of M. IOHNSON that wicked Brother into the bosome of the Church of ENGLAND their true Mother PSAL. 83.16 Fill their faces with shame that they may seeke thy name O Lord. ROM 16.17 Now I beseech yee brethren marke them diligently which cause diuision and offences contrarie to the doctrine which ye haue learned and auoid them M. D.C.XII THE PREFACE VNTO THE CHRISTIAN READER TOVCHING THE causes and the maner of our publishing this Treatise HE that hideth his sins shall not prosper but hee that confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercie Prou. 28.13 Our sin of separation whereby we haue reiected the communion of all true Churches being now made manifest vnto vs vpon such occasion as is hereafter declared in this Treatise and we desiring to receiue mercie from the Father of mercies haue therefore resolued and thought in our selues according to the counsell of the holy Ghost that we will not hide our iniquitie but confesse against our selues our wickednes vnto the Lord that the punishmeÌ„t of our sin may be forgiuen vs. Our owne ignorance and the deceit fulnes of others had drawne vs into the depth of this error and in the middest of this deepe Schisme when the Lord might iustly haue iudged and rebuked vs in wrath euen then were wee bold to iudge and condemne others that were better than our selues and farre excelling vs in all the gifts and graces of Gods Spirit wee condemned them and slandered our whole nation as a false Church false Christians a Synagogue of Satan and a people according to their publike profession in a damnable estate we exempted none neither the learnedest and godliest Ministers nor zealousest people but condemned all and auoided all in the seruice of God And therefore to publish our repentance for this scandalous Separation we hold it in the first place a iust and necessarie cause for the publishing of this Treatise He that is first in his owne cause is iust then commeth his neighbour and maketh enquirie of him Prou. 18.17 Master Iohnson and his confederates being parties accused by vs and being iudges also in their owne cause haue first condemned vs with their censure when we complained of their sinne they could find no way to cleare themselues but by accusing vs so that when wee renounced their Schisme they denounced their curse against vs and thus declared vs to be their enemies when wee told them the truth In this case the holy Ghost alloweth vs to make apologie for our selues in enquiring into and refuting those slanders which they lay vpon vs and make the ground of their sentence against vs. They haue condemned vs first in their owne Church Wee do now in the second place by a publike appeale bring the matter before the Churches of Christ to iudge thereof This is also another cause of our writing at this time When thou art conuerted strengthen thy brethren Luke 22.32 Being our selues deliuered from this snare of the Separation our desire is to stretch out a hand of helpe and comfort vnto those that yet lie in that ditch and wee are not without hope of some fruit of our endeuours this way but especially our hope is to stay and strengthen some weake Christians that are inclining and looking that way whom we admonish and desire them in the Lord that they would bee warned by our harmes and by our going astray to walke the more circumspectly in the middest of all offences and scandals wherewith they shall meete As for those that are alreadie separate and caught in the briars of that Schisme although we do assure our selues vpon good ground that sundrie of them do wish they had neuer met with the Separation and would also much reioyce if they were well quit and freed from the same yea and haue wished some of them that there might be a dissolution of their schismaticall bodie that so they might escape without excommunication yet are they in the meane time kept vnder in such bondage by the terror tyrannie subtiltie of their guides which they shew both in their doctrine and in their gouernment that they dare not easily whisper or muffe against the separatioÌ„ As for those whose feet are almost gone their steps wel neere slipt we desire theÌ„ to pause a while it is not so easie a matter to come out of that snare when they are fallen therein as it is to keepe out at first for the stay of such we haue thought it needfull to publish this Treatise for their further information touching the estate of Brownisme as also to warne all such as haue bin the occasion of those Heresies and Schismes to conforme themselues to the Church of God that these Caterpillers may no more rise out of them And although we be vnlearned men which haue composed this booke yet we hope it will not be disked therefore seeing we speake of nothing but which our owne knowledge and experience hath taught vs and the admonition may take better place because that the most which are taken in the net of Brownisme are men of our condition ¶ A Table of the principall matters contained in this Treatise The first Section Chapter 1. A Declaration of our procedings with Master Iohnson and the Elders in publique in their Meeting-house Folio 1 Chap. 2. A copie of Christopher Lawnes excommunication with an answer thereunto fol. 6 Chap. 3. A copie of Iohn Foâ—…er his excommunication with an answer thereunto fol. 12 The second Section Chapter 1. A True relation of the Schisme Dissensions Blasphemies Heresies and horrible crimes practised by the Brownists or Separators fol. 15 Chap. 2. The testimony of father Tolwine against theyr iniustice schisme and slaunder fol. 18 Chap. 3. The copie of Robert Bulwards suspension and excommunication with an answer thereunto fol. 20 Chap. 4. A relation of Studley his wickednesse translated out of the Dutch fol. 22 Chap. 5. A discouerie of some of the abhominations of the Brownists in Amsterdam fol. 26 Chap. 6. A comparison betweene two notable Separatists Daniel Sâ—…dley and Richard Mansfield fol. 32 Chap 7. The testimony of William Gilgate one of Maister Ainsâ—orth his company and one that had beene Minister in England fol. 41 Chap. 8. Letters that passed betwixt Maister Ames and Maister Robinson touching the bitternesse of the Separation fol. 47 Chap. 9. A relation of the heresie of Thomas Lemar fol. 55 Chap. 10. The testimonie of William Simpson against the Prophets in Maister Amsworth his Church fol. 58 Chap. 11. Of the dissension betweene Iohn Iohnson the father and Francis the sonne and betwixt the brothers George and Francis fol. 59 Chap. 12. A taste of their detestable slaunders and reproches concerning the Church of England fol. 66 Chap. 13. Concerning their mutuall reproches dissensions
and curses against one an other fol. 70. This Booke is diuided into two Sections THE first containeth such matters as passed betweene these foure persons Christopher Lawne c. and the Sect of Maister Iohnson The second Section containeth a true relation of the Schisme Dissensions Blasphemies Heresie and horrible Crimes practised by these Brownists or Separatists ¶ THE PROPHANE SCHISME OF THE BROWNISTS OR SEPARATISTS The first Section CHAP. I. A declaration of our proceedings with master Iohnson and the Elders in publike in their meeting-house HAuing formerly refused to come vnto their Consistorie in master Iohnsons house in respect of the manifold abuse scorne and other iniury which there they offered vnto vs at length they consented to send for vs vnto their publike Assemblie although they had long denyed the same vnto vs who many times had sought it of them that there we might make a publike renunciation of our vnchristian separation which we with them had vndertaken from all the Churches of Christ to trie also whether it might please the Lord to touch the hearts of some others and to giue them repentance likewise by our example And thus the ninth of Iuly 1611. being accompanied with diuers strangers and members of the English Church vnto which wee haue now ioyned our selues wee came vnto them in their meeting-house after their euening exercise was ended Being come vnto them and standing in the middest of them the notorious Daniell Studley master Iohnsons chiefe Standard bearer beeing for that day the Proloquutâ—r of their Company beganne first to make a Speech to the people and to relate vnto them How we had charged them to be Schismatikes in the separation from England and to be a profane people and that we had nominated one woman to be profane and that we refused to prooue the same that we had refused to come vnto their Eldership that wee had giuen diuers Articles against them which we refused to proue c. And that now therefore they required answer for these things Daniel Studley hauing ended his Speech we in the next place desired leaue to speake some things vnto the people before wee gaue answere in particular vnto the Speech of Daniell Studley eyther for iustifying of those things that were truely spoken or for the reproofe of those things that were false And so in the first place wee acknowledged our sinne in the separation which we had made from the Churches of Christ wee acknowledged the great mercy of the Lord that had so graciously giuen vnto vs to see our errors into which we had bin led by the false doctrines of M. Iohnson and others wee acknowledged the mercy of God that had giuen vs hearts carefull in some measure to manifest and shew forth the fruits of our repentance both to the Lord to his people and that both by word and writing as occasion should be offered We signified vnto them that as wee had done it more priuatly before their Elders so now in the presence of them all with whome together we had beene so deepely plunged into the gulfe of schisme wee did openly renounce our couenant and profession of separation which at our first entrance among them we had made with them we renounced it as being a most abhominable and profane thing against which the Lord had manifested his anger from heauen as agenst a Babilonious tower which the Lord would haue to bee brought to naught as appeared by the manifold confusions and dissipations among them we professed further vnto them that as we had bin instruments for the strengthening and vpholding of that Tower of Separation so we did purpose by Gods assistance to vse our best indeuours to bring downe the same into the dust And lastly we testified vnto them that we came not vnto them at this time by virtue of power or authority that they had to command vs but in the bowels of mercie tender compassion towards them hoping God would be gracious vnto some of them at the least to plucke theÌ„ forth as firebrands out of this fire as the Lord had therein dealt mercifully with vs. In the next place touching that which was obiected by Da. Studley we answered That he had not rightly repeated our charge Our charge was that they were schismatiks that they were profane in their schisme that it led them to the breach of all Gods commaundements And that thus they had it in writing vnder our hands And that these things being proued their separation from England would hereupon appeare to be vnlawfull Againe as for that particular woman nominated by vs for a profane person we refuse not to proue the same yet desire we that first of al this foule leprosie of profane schisme imputed vnto you all may be cleered by you if you can According to the counsell you gaue others we require you first to plucke this great beame out of your eies then shal you the better see to help this poore woman Vnto this answer made by vs Dan. Studley replied not but then flew in vpon vs M. Francis Iohnson himselfe The first word he spake was a reproch the second railing also the third was a lie the fourth was a word of tyranny The first title he gaue was Hypocrite the second was railing Rabshakites the third he said our charge was for England in particular and fourthly he said he would hold vs to that charge And for the matter of profanenesse he would first haue that particular woman to be so proued If his power had bin so great as his impotent passion what would he not haue done to vs M. Iohnson would not yet in any sort meddle with the defence of his doctrine but instead thereof he turned aside entred into a long discourse touching the estate of diuerse Churches in seueral ages The summe of his speech was this Hauing shewed how all the world was drowned in Antichristianisme he then told them how it pleased God in the first place to raise vp Iohn Husse and such like to witnesse against the groffest euills in their times then hee tolde how Martin Luther came afterwards by whom a further reformation was obtained then in the next place he shewed how they of England had gone many degrees before eyther of the former Aboue all these hee shewed in the next place how M. Caluine had been an instrument of greater light and reformation in a higher degree than any of the forenamed though stil in many things corrupt but last of all and aboue all in the highest degree of perfection hee placed his owne company preferring the bright estate of his Church aboue al the golden Candle sticks that euer Christ walked amongst since the days of reformation He affirmed openly that they were by the mercie of God the purest Church and the freest from corruptions and set in a more excellent order than any Church that he knew this day in the world and therfore blamed vs for leauing them going into a
corrupter estate Thus did hee exalt himselfe and his disciples as though hee had been the brightest starre in the fimament aboue Husse Luther Caluine or the Martires of England and so to proceede as though Daniell Studley Edward Benet Canadine Mercer Christopher Bowman and Iacob Iohnson with the rest the wandering Starres of their schismaticall companie had likewise excelled Beza Morney Iunius Zanchius Brad ford Perkins Whitakers and such like burning lamps whose light hath so comfortably shined abroad whereas indeed M. Iohnson might with farre better reason haue more fitly compared himselfe and his fellowes vnto Menno Simons Derick Philips Hans-de Rees and such other Authors of Anabaptistrie who also haue gone before him in teaching all or the most of the verie same points wherein he professeth himselfe to differ from the reformed Churches as in the particulars may easily be shewed when time serueth After this master Iohnson tooke master Parkers booke written against the Crosse and by a large and impertinent discourse begin to shew how many corruptions and sins were committed and maintained in the Church of England And hereupon we signified vnto him how vainely and idly hee spent his time in labouring to draw vs from the maine matter of the charge which wee had laid vpon them touching their schismaticall and false doctrine taught by him and H. Barrow before him And to the examination of this doctrine we required him to come to the examination of that their false doctrine wherewith we had charged them but he still refused hauing been more then seuen times vrged thereunto as many witnesses can well testifie His desire was still to wrangle about their practise and to dispute of corruptions When master Iohnson could not this way fasten any blame vpon vs he then sought to reproue vs for going vnto master Padget and for talking with him And heere certainly it is needfull to obserue their pollice this way for holding of those in bondage whom they haue once seduced They cannot endure that their members should aske counsell of any learned man or confer with any other touching their doubts except it be with their owne guides and teachers or some among themselues And therefore when diuers of them knew that we went to confer with master Padget they were displeased with vs they reproued vs and for iustifying of their reproofe they abused as their manner is sundry points of Scripture alleaging vnto vs Matth. 1.7 That the Priests lips should preserue knowledge that they should seeke the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hostes. This they alleaged as though there had been no lippes of knowledge but only in their company as though master Iohnson and master Clifton had been the alone Angels of the Lord of Hostet as though the Law of God were to be sought for only at their mouth and the mouth of Daniel Studley Iacob Iohnson the Prophet Pecksall and such like It is a miserie vnspeakable to be separate from the worship of all true Churches and to be shut out from any other Teachers whatsoeuer besides their owne but yet is it a further bondage to be restrained from priuate conference with other learned men and so to be depriued from the fruit of their counsell For this cause there are iustly come vpon them all the iudgements that are heere threatened vnto the despisers of counsell We see they fall daily from the Truth from the Churches of Christ from themselues and their owne opinions from their owne followers CHAP. II. A Copie of Christopher Lawnes excommunication with an answere thereunto WHiles we continued constantly in the renunciation of their schisme and separation and their Elders on the other side as obstinately despising our reproofe of their sin they perceiued that sundrie of their members began more and more to be troubled and to doubt of their estate And therefore to withdraw their members from conuersing with vs and to make good their owne proceedings and hold on their course against vs they resolued together to excommunicate vs. Which being done and we often desiring copies of our excommunication at last they gaue them vnto vs in writing after this manner Christopher Lawne was proceeded against by the Church the eight and twentieth of the seuenth moneth Iuly 1611. for railing slandering abusing and despising the Gouernours and whole Church c. as he manifested by word and deed by writing and otherwise among which were these and the like particulars charge 1 That he charged vs to be schismatikes for our separation from the Church of England and hereupon also to be a prophane companie charge 2 Also he being a member of this Church which by the mercie of God hath forsaken the Apostasie of Antichrist and to our knowledge and power witnes against all the corruptions and abominations thereof labouring daily to proceed in that which is good for keeping the commandements of God and faith of Christ and to walke in the ancient way prescribed the Church by the Lord in his word yet did he leaue communion with vs and disclaimed our profession and accused vs to be schismatikes c. as is aforesaid charge 3 Moreouer in a letter sent into England hee wrote diuers slanders of the Elders and brethren as appeareth in the said letter answer 1 First where they write that Christopher Lawne was proceeded against by the Church let it be remembred that the Church hath so done it that diuers members of that same Church haue acknowledged that they did not consent vnto that his excommunication some being absent when it was done and some speaking against it and some disliking it some going away at that present because they would haue vs hold it though not daring to speake against it as they haue confessed since vnto vs and do therfore still professe as much loue and fellowship with vs as formerly they haue done answer 2 Secondly whereas they write thus in the seuenth moneth Iuly and againe a In the copie of Iohn Fowlers ezcommunication in the eight moneth August why might not they haue written Iuly or August alone without that superfluous and idle addition of the seuenth moneth and the eighth moneth as well as they wrote since b Narration pag. 1.2 the twentie ninth of May September the fourth the fiue and twentieth of August answer 3 Thirdly whereas they obiect vnto vs railing slandering abusing and despising for the ground of our excommunication As for their Gouernors their eldest Elder and the ancientest pillar of their separation ought now to be thrust our of his gouernment so that their owne former doctrine and their present endeuours cries so loud and opens so wide a mouth against their gouernment that all their Elders eares may tingle to eare the same And as for their whole Church whereof they speake when it was whole what is but a patcherie of a few Schismatickes that had forsaken the Church of God But now being diuided in the middest and halfe of
a true Christian than to a Turke Your reason which you giue of hauing communion with visible Churches because they haue externall communion with Christ in the order which hee hath set doeth not infringe but confirme my proofe for whence hath that order this force of drawing anie to communion because that is a signe of inward true communion Wheresoeuer then there is euident discerning of inward there outward is lawfull I am not ignorant of some circumstantiall expediences which tie those that liue in well ordered Assemblies more than other men but to omit that the question is generall not onely of such There is nothing simply vnlawfull to one in the nature of it at least to giue assent to that is lawfull for an other neyther can there bee any instance giuen of an action lawfull in one to performe which is vnlawfull for anie other to assent vnto That of excommunication I answered before Your first answere to the third Argument is besides the question which in your owne words is generall of any besides it is a very strange order that is broken by saying Amen to a godly mans prayer the Scripture knoweth no such I am sure In the second you mistake that reason from the will to the deed For howsoeuer before God in spirituall actions it so holdeth yet before men especially in priuiledges belonging to any outward societie it nothing auaileth to make profession of such a desire But if it doth as you say then doth it great wrong vnto all good Christians in denying them communion who professe they desire to ioyne in all the ordinances of God so farre as they can discerne them So whereas you say that such as intend a couenant are in the doore I hope all conuerted Christians are at the least in the doore of the true Church or if you make the doore so narrow I nothing doubt but ye may goe into the Porch and Court of the Lords house to take a godly man by the hand These things considered I am halfe perswaded that you will confesse your selfe to haue sinned in separating those whome God hath ioyned together in communion That is all visible Saints which God of his mercie graunt Your true friend William Ames CHAP. IX To the right Reuerend master Francis Iohnson our Pastor with the other Elders his Assistants Our ouerseers grace and peace be multiplied SEeing beloued that we are fallen into perillous daies some faining vnto themselues one religion and some another and because the right way is a strait way euery one whose way is strait doth thinke that they haue that right way And considering the many sorts of the separation at this day cursing or reiecting one another others thinking but basely one of another as to begin with our selues whom master Ainsworth and his followers hath left and reiected as false Christians master Robinson holding but key-cold brother-hood with vs and master Ainsworth and he and we iarring about ruling Elders those in Suffolke holding it vnlawfull to eat blood and to flie as we haue heard Iohn Wilkinson and his disciples will haue Apostles Thomas Leamar will haue no Churches with other his wicked differences The heresie of one Thomas Lemar described by master Padget with this title The Monster of Lemarisme THis Monster was set forth with seuen heads 1 Mahometisme in that Lemar denied the holy Trinitie and the eternall God-head of Christ 2 Iudaisme in affirming that Christ should come shortly in his owne person to raigne heere vpon earth 3 Papisme in holding that a meere creature is to bee worshipped 4 Lutheranisme in maintaining the doctrine of Consubstantiation 5 Anabaptisme in affirming that Christ tooke not his flesh of the virgin Marie 6 Libertinisme in holding that there is no visible Church now on earth 7 Brownisme in holding the doctrine of their separation Master Smith an Anabaptist of one sort and master Helwise of another and master Busher of another Iohn Hancock wil haue a separation by himselfe The ground of master Neuils errors was also separation though now hee bee further runne backward then euer he was forward to speake nothing of Pedder Henrie Martin with the rest of those Anabaptists These are motiues forwarding our meditations this way together with our mortalitie and the iustice of God punishing sin so that we dare not deferre to make knowne our repentance vnto you for the space of an houre longer we might note the hand of God against vs in our estates a iust punishment for sin by the law of God The thing then is this whereas some yeares since our minds were much affected and troubled with the horride estate of the Churches of our natiue countrey and whilest wee were thus musing many wayes and reading such bookes as came to our hands amongst other we light vpon some booke of this cause laying open more corruptions in all estates and that with more simplicitie and plainenesse as we thought so still the way was prepared vnto Separation and we pricked forward as with spurres and goads But then insisting further that the Church of England was a false Church and that knowne sin not purged out doth defile the whole Church as leauen doth the lumpe and we perceiuing so much sowre dowe we needed no eloquent Rhetoritian to perswade vs vnto separatiō For had those two things been true and a iealous eye and heart making them his obiect it would not make them go but run to separation and to be as the Hee-goats before the flocke so haue wee done vntill of late and perswaded as many to follow vs as we could if they looke or hope for saluation the Lord pardon vs for it But seeing that the discouerie of the Churches of England to bee false Churches is now by our selues discouered to be but a fiction we cannot perceiue but that our Separation in that behalfe is at an end for the cause being remoued the effects must needs vanish and so in those two respects it repenteth vs that we haue separated And sithence that repentance cannot be knowne to be sincere except it be shewed forth by action or speech or both therefore by this writing we do make it knowne by voice by our actions we shall make it knowne as God shall minister iust occasion Thus Reuerend and well beloued in treathing you to reade this vnto the Church or to deliuer the whole substance of it by speech that they may take knowledge of it lest we be blamed of many hereafter that we did not make our minds knowne vnto them we cease praying the Lord to shew vs all mercie to go with a steedie foot in the truth Amen The eighth of Iuly 1611. new stile By two of your feeble flocke fearefull any longer to go astray MAT. SAVNDERS CVTH HVTTEN CHAP. X. The testimonie of W. Simson against the Prophets in master Ainsworths Church BEloued and reuerend in the Lord the consideration of our estate doth so disquiet my conscience and trouble my mind that indeed