reâ—roched the Protestants as labouring to bring all things vnder the rule of the rash vnconstant people and vnlearned multitude and to make the church democraticall and popular because every one of the people by his priuate spirit is supreme iudge and head in matters of religion Our different judgement and practise from the church of Engl. wher all â—y men as they call them are forbidden all speaking or expounding of the word in the publik assemblies and where a Bishop Chancellor or Commissary hath power to excommunicate by a Latin writ c. Our difference also and dislike of the Presbyteries practise whereby people are excluded and depriued of a great part of their Christian liberty and benefit thereby is in other books largely treated of with scriptures reasons many which M Bern. neyther orderly handleth nor soundly confuteth as the wise reader may see but ignorantly and confusedly shuffleth them ouer running into by matters and vniust calumniations I will end therefore with the words of one of his fellow ministers who touching this poynt of Church gouernment writeth much more soundly then by Mr. Bern. in his blindenes hath done Mr Iacob I mean which sayth It is childish and without all wit to cry out aganst vs â—us our adueâ—saries doe Popularity Anarchie c. for our so wel grounded and so approued an assertion That the sinne of one man publâ—ckly and obstinately stood in bâ—ing not reformed nor the offender cast out â—oth sâ— pâ—llute the whole congregation that none may commuâ—â—cate with hâ— same in any of the holy â—hings of God though it be a church râ—ghtly conâ—â—ituted till the party be excommunâ—cated I deney agayn this to be eyther our iudgement or practise Mr. Bern. sayth the formâ—r position is the ground of this and so it seemeth he câ—lumniating vs in the forâ—er thouâ—ht he might doe likeweise in this We professe and haue long since publâ—shed that none is to separate for fâ—â—lts corruâ—tioÌ„s which may so long as the Church coÌ„sistâ—th of mâ—rtall men will fall out and arisâ— among them but by due order to sâ—â—k râ—dresse thâ—reof Now that euery Chrâ—stian not onely may bâ— tought to rebuke his neighbour for sinne we haâ—e playn lawes both â—n the old Testament and the new Leuit. 19.17 Luk. 17.3 That sinners not repenting are after the second admonition to be signified vnto the church is also Christs ordinance Mat. 18 15.17 But what â—f â—he church will not cast him out I answer Synns are eyther conâ—rouertible or manifest If controuertible and dâ—ubtfâ—ll men ought to bear one with anothers different judgement if they doe not but any for this make a breach or separation they syn But if the sinne be manifest as for example a man is conuict of adultery blasphemy theft or the like and the church will not rebuke him nor cast him out but suffer him obstinate and impenitent in his wickednes and plead for him agaâ—nst such us call vpon them for iudgemâ—nt then are all such abettors of the wicked sinners themselues and that in a high degree as th' Apostle noteth Rom. 1 31 the whole lump is leuened 1 Cor. 5 1 6. c. and now not that one mans sinne but the sinne of them all is that which polluteth them for they fauour and iustify a wicked man more then God therefore woe is vnto them and Solomon sayth He that sayth to the wicked thou art righteous him shall the people curse and the multitude shall abhorr him Prou 24 24 If M Bern think the sinne is the lesse because a church maynteyns it he is much deceiued evill the more common it is the worse â—t is because God is more dishonoured and mens sowles more endangered If he think men should regard and reuerence the church in this case the law teacheth every man not to follow the many or the mighty to doe euill nor agree in a controuersie to decline after many and ouerthrow the right The â—round of all this is playn in Gods law if any one of the people sinned against any of the commandements of the Lord and one shewed him his sinne which he had committed he was to bring his sacrifice a testification of his repentance If a ruler sinned or the high priest himselfe they were to doe likewise If the whole Congregation sinned the like law was for them God respected no persons but if they that sinned were greater or moe in number they were so farr from being sauoured as they had the greater sacrifice inioyned them a priuate man offred a shee-goat a ruler a hee-goat the high Priest and the Congregation a yong bâ—llock These lawes were giuen to all sorts of persons for all manner sinns‘ and the law was agayn repeated and stablished from that day forward throughout their generations Num. 15.22.23 c. But if any man despised this law and sinned with a high hand the same blasphemed the Lord and was to be cut off from among his peoâ—le Num. 15.30.31 Now further that the whol congregation taking Part with wicked men in syn after due admonition are all defiled and subiect to like iudgement we haue a playn example in the whole Tribe of Beniamin where in Gibeâ—h one of their towns filthines was committed the Tribe was called vpon to deliuer thâ—se wicked men to death that evill might be put away from Israel â—â—t when they would not deliuer them all the other tribes warred against that trâ—be and almost rooted out every man of the same Likeweise the trâ—bes of Israel in an other case sayd to some of their brethren seeing ye rebel to day against the Lord euen tomorrow he wil be wroth with all the Congregation of Israel Did not Achan sinne c. and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel and this man alone perished not in his wickednes What Mr Bern. seeth or how he readeth the scriptures I cannot tel but if he knew the contagion of sinne or guilt of the same he would neuer haue writien as he hath done Now where he pleadeth that men should not for the offender refreyn the holy things of God abhâ—rr the sacrifices c. We grant it The holy things are alwayes to be reuerenced Gods house and sacrifices frequented when we may without sinne But we deny such an assembly to be Gods church as with a high hand sinneth and blasphemeth the Lord. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination And it cannot be said that any holy thing is lawfully administred in such a society where all agree together to mayntein open iniquity and doe despise the word of the Lord calling them to repentance If they doe not thus we hold it not lawfull to separate from them nor in any weise at any time till all holy and orderly meanes be vsed for their reclayming That euery of their assemblies are false churches This we hold indeed being
Vniuersall consent agreement and applause of Churches in al nations of Synodes and Councels of Fathers and learned men haue been the continuall boast of Papists in all their books against the Protestants now they in Enâ—l to beare out their estate vrge agayn and agayn the like against vs that when Gods word will not vphold them yet mans word at least may honour them before the people See after in this treatise pag 9. 22. 44 5. 89 91.92.128 4. Whereas the truth hath brought for her defense the evident scriptures papists haue been wont to carp at the allegations and interpretations of them and chalenge their aduersaries for corrupting them the formall protestants in Engl. haue done the like against the Reformists and they now use the like colour against vs but how truely let the particulars shew after in this book pag. 90.91.97 5. To reuile and calumniate such as forsooke them hath been the coÌ„mon practise of Papists calling them heretiks schismatikes Lutherens Calumists c. and matching them with wicked heretiks heretofore now liuing The same way doe our aduersaries now walke in proclayming vs to be Schismatiks Seduced Brownists Donatists c. and to make vs the more odious vnto the people they enroll vs sometime with the most vile blasphemers that they can mention For he was esteemed a forward â—reacher amâ—ng them who to grace his own cause by disgracing the truth would needs ioyn vs with the blasphemer Hacket sometimes a brother of the reformists and hot mainteyner of their cause to make his malice the more remarkable he puts in the margine of his book The brownest and Hacket of an euill spirit and that which he writeth besides is so fraudulently set down that the simple reader who knowâ—th not our cause may thinke that this Hacket was one of vs. This abuse we suâ—fer because forsooth we were thought to hinder their couÌ„terfeyt reformation which Hacket would haue set vp by force for which they beare their reproch at his hands that wrote English Scottizing for discipline but this man most iniuriously would turn it vpon vs. These and the like arguments doe euill men continually vse against the truth which presseth them and which they seek to suppresse but all in uayne for it will preuayl mangre their opposition and that which they thinke to hinder the Gospell bâ— God will turne to the furtherance of the same and confusion of his aduersaries Against these and all other like colours wherewith false churches aâ— adorned two meanes haue been vsed for to discouer the falshood thâ— one manifesting the fact or estate of a person or people the other the lawfulnesse of the same The commandement of God is a lantern and the law a light to declare what is good or euill and evidences there are of euery publick estate and action For in al ages God hath moued some to obserue and speake against the abuses reigning and some haue recorded things for their glory which turne vnto their shame â—y this meanâ— the skirts of the whore of Rome haue been discouered whiles some that loued and othersome that loathed her haue painted out her filthinesse which being compared with the chastitie of Christs spowse set forth in holy writ hath caused righteous men as was foretold to iudge her children after the manner of harlots and of murtherers and the very hornes of that beast to hate the whore and burne her with fire And we at this day that witnesse the truth against the remainders of that whores cup are driuen to breake silence to plead for Christ in publik because the aduersaries so importune vs by continuall preaching and writing against vs and seeking to bear out all with the cloke â—f the gospel and to hide the iniquities vnder a vaile of professing truthes fundamentall they will hardly be a known of the manifold euils and grosse corruptions that preuayl in their assemblies Therefore also are we forced to produce their own writers for to witnes with vs who both heretofore and to this day complayn of the sinns that reign among them And worthy it is to be obserued how the ministers of England are come to contradict and depart from their own grounds for to mainteyn their corrupt estate For now they vtterly deney the visible church to be a company of faithfull people that truely worship Christ and readily obey him coâ—traâ—y both to all the scriptures and to their own Articles d of religioâ— Aâ—d Mr Bernarde in the name of all the diuines in their church yea if we â—ay beleâ—ue him of all the reformed Churches in Christendome telleth vs with a marginall note also to haue it wel obserued that the true word of God preached and true sacraments of Christ administred are infallible tokeâ—s of a true church I say not saith he the word truely preachâ—d nor the sacrâ—mâ—nts rightly administred but thus the true word preached the true sacrâ—mâ—nâ—â— administred Now lay these things together and see what a holy communion they will make the church of God to be namely if not a roâ—t of miscreants yet at least a mesceline multitude of beleeuers and infidelâ— holy and profane Among whome it the true word be preached though neuer so curruptly falsly peruersly by any Popeling Baalist or Balaamite if the true sacraments be administred though neuer so superstitiausly profanely and disorderly to the open wicked c. yet there must needs be a true church Such heauenly doctrine or rather such hellish error is now taught by the transformed ministers for to make meÌ„ keep communion with Belial Against these and other like impostures haue I endeauoured to bring out the truth though naked and destitute of all wordly ornaments and by it to manifest the present aberations of my country from the primitiue faith of Christ I haue also produced their own testimonies a-against them that the Saincts on eart may say their rock is not as our Rock euen our enemies being iudges And if they will yet resist the world may see they are condemned by themselues But my harts desire and prayer for my brethren is that they may be saued turning from darknes to light and from the power of Satan vnto God that they may receiue forgiuenes of sinns and inheretance among them which are sanctified by faith in Christ. Hâ—nâ—y Ainsworth A Direction to some principall things conteyned in this book Administration of the Ministers of Engl scanned with the effects pag 14. c. 58. c. 60. c. 62. c. 109. c. 110. c. Antichrists kingdome not ouerthrowne by the ministers of Engl. pag. 61. c. Begetting of faith how it is pag. 5 6 It is no essentiall note of a true church p 6. It should be before the planting of a church p. 40 41 146. Building of the church and how it is performed in England p. 33 34 c Christ not the head Mediator Prophet Priest or
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
you further bring aginst vs forreyn churches and speciall persons the chiefest lights of this age first mind whither this be not â—lso â— ground of Popery so to presse humane authority and whether the Papists cannot for many of theâ—r heresies allege the ancient fathers the chiefests lights of their ages whome your selues I suppose will not deny but to be spirituall seing their testâ—monies are often alleged by your church in pulpits and in print Secondly this your dealing is such as both the better sort of the late Fathers as Augustine for example who was of mâ—nde that counsels Bishops c. ought not to be obiected for triall of controuersies but the holy scriptures onely and the very superstitious Popelings themselues haue condemned saying that we are rather to beleeu â—ne priuatâ— faithfull man then a whol Councel and the Pope himselfe if a man haue better aâ—thorety reason on his side Thirdly your obiection and pleading against vs is much like as if the Iewes should haue obiected against Christianity thus It is not needfull to saluation to beleeu that Iesus who was crucâ—fied is the Christ for then it would be cleerly set down in scripture to the vnderstanding of the spirituall Dan 12 10 Prou 8 9 but that it is not for the thousands of priests and people of Israel Gods own people among whom are the chiefest lights of this age the Rabbines expounders of the law c. which are vndoubtedly spirituâ—ll are of contrary judgment to you his disciples Iob 7 47 48 49.52 Fourthly as I haue before answered forreyn churches and the lights in them haue cleerly seen the things we stand for and doe asseâ—t with vs touching separation from Antichristianisme gathering into and walking in a holy communion of Saincts and other poynts of greatest moment between you and vs. as their Harmony of Confessions besides other particular books many doe testify If you obiect their particular judgment of your churches estate I answer that is not needfull to saluation therefore they may misse in it and yet be spirituall for if men iâ— their own churches profesâ—e and walke in the truth so farr as God giues them to see and thinke better of other churches then they doe deserue such errors even the most spirituall are subiect vnto It was cleerly revealed in scriptures that the Gentiles should be called vnder the Gospell Deut 32.43 Gen. 12 3 Psal. 67. 117 Isa. 11.10 Chrâ—st â—imself plainly confirmed and commanded it Mat 28.19 Iohn 10 16 Act 1 8. Yet the Apostle Peter himselfe and many other spirituall men perceiued it not till in more speciall and particular weise it was to them reuealed Act. 10.14 28 34 3â— 11 2 â— 18. As Peter and many other godly then fayled in esteeming worse of the Gentiles then they should so learned and godly men now may fayl in esteeming better of your estâ—tâ— then it doth deseruâ— The 5. Argument WHatsoeuer church is the mother of the faithfull is a true visible church but the best of our assemblies are c. Ergo true visible churches The preposition is true because that regeneration and new birth is onely ordirarily wrought by the word preached Rom 10.8.17 Iam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1 23. which is onely and ordinarily found in the visible Church Gal 5 26. 1 Iohn â— 5. The assumption is true because many are ordinarily new borne in our best assemblies by the ordinance of preaching in publick vse and force as appeareth by Mr Iohnsons foresayd confession as also by the meanes of the causes and meanes ordeyned by God to beget faith in the hearers and efficacie thereof Esa. 55 11 Rom. 10.17 and lastly â—y the infallible effects of faith and fruits of the spirit appearing in the true members of our best assemblies Gal. 5 6 22. Answer HEre you seem to bring a new argument though it be but the old in a new coat for take away this mantel wherewith your Major is clothed The mother of the faithfull and all the rest wil be but regeneration and new birth wrought as you say by the preaching in your best assemblies Which things we heard in your third argument and there refuted As you here vrge them agayn I further answer first to your proposition Whatsoever church say you is the mother of the faithfull is a true visible church But Israel say I in her idolatrous estate was the mother of the faithfull yet was she not in that estate a true visible church therfore your proposition is not true That Israel then was the mother of the faithfull appeareth by the words of the Lord Plead with your mother Hos 2 2 That they which were willed thus to plead were the faithfull appereth by theâ—r names Ammi Ruhamah that is My people and she that hath obteyned mercy That yet notwithstanding this mother was not a true visible church appeareth by the Plea to be made against her She is not my wife neyther am I her husbaÌ„d her estate being as elsewhere is sayd without the true God and her children that continewed in her idolatrie should obteyn no mercy Thus you see a church may be sayd to be the mother of the faithfull and yet not be a true Church of God You would confirme the proposition to be true because regeneration and new birth is ordinarily wrought by the word preached which is one lie and ordinarily found in the visible church I answer the word preached is to be found also in the false church as among Papists Anabaptists Anabaptists c. as ordinarie if not more ordinarie then â—n many of youâ— assemblies and although there be not such or so many truthes â—aught among them as are among you yet the word that is taught hath effect for sanctâ—fication of life in as great measure as ordinarâ—ly appeareth in your Church of Engl. where so much profannes reigneth as all men see and know The church of Rome is as your selues prâ—feâ—â—e a falâ—e church yet doubt I not neyther doe I thinke you doubt but sundrie children haue been borne vnto God by that harlot The church of Enâ—land it as we professe a false church your Ministery also falâ—e yet God which brought light out of darknesse hath brought forth I doâ—bt not and saued many of his dear châ—ldren among you But let not thiâ— embolden the rest to continew with you in your false estâ—te least they finde no mercy with the Lord because they be children of fornications To your assumption then I answer as you first set it down I graunt it yet will not your conclusion follow for it may be a mother of the faithfull and yet no true visible church for the reason foreshewed But as you afterward explain your selfe saying the assumption is true because many aâ—e ordinarily new borne c. I deny it thus to be true because neyther is a new birth ordinarily to be had among you neither haue you Gods ordinance of preaching in publick vse and
church because a great part of his word and scriptures and of the graces of his spirit are here neuer spoken nor heard nor suffred to be vttered and contrariweise much of mans word and writing is brought in as Aprocrypha books made of old the Seruice and homily books made of late in which also there be manifest errourâ— lâ—es contradictions to the holy scriptures idolatrous and and superstâ—tious doctrines rites ceremonses c. taught vnto and obserued by th' priests people an idle soul-murthering ministry maynteyned Chrâ—sts spirituall graces giuen for teaching and building vp his church quenched with other like evils The proof of this may be seen in their communioÌ„ book whose Kalender alotteth what is to be read dayly and yerely in all their Assemblies where many chapters of the Bible are wholly and perpetually excluded many Apocrypha chapters read as holy scriptures And by the written homilies the graces and vtterance of Gods spirit are extinguished that mans erroneus writing may come in place Besides this all preaching Ministers so limitted and restreyned in their doctrine that they may not preach against any sinn by publick authority establâ—shed and if they doe they are silenced excommunicated c. this indignity and dishonour Christ will not suffer at mans hands to haue his word and mans word matched together his spirit spirit truth restreyned he wil be Prophet aloÌ„e or not at al. as they that with the trâ—e God and his true worship had other Gods also other worships are sayd in scripture to forsake the true God and to bâ— without him so they that with the true Prophet and doctor Christ and his doctrine haue other also may rightly be sayd to haue forsaken him and to be wâ—thout him For when men set their thresholds by the Lords and their posts by his they defile his holy name with their abominations and in vayne they worship him that teach such doctrines as be precepts of men Moreover thiâ— Church wanteth part and communion with Christ in that propheticall office which he hath imparted to his peoâ—le namely power and freedom to witnes professe practise and hold forth the word of life and all that Christ hath commanded to admonish reproue one another for sinne and transgression and eyther if they repent to forgiue them or if they repent not to follow them further vnto the church and even to excommunication for their obstinate violating Gods law That they haue not power or freedome to professe and practise the truth of the Gospel in these things appeareth by their seruile subiection to the hierarchie lawes and canons which are amongst them whereby they are restreyned from professing and practising any further truth then is by law establâ—shed among them but must obey follow all that their spirituall Lords the Bishops doe inioyne them and may not speake against or reproue any of the abominatioÌ„s that ar in their church worship Ministery ceremonies c. neyther haue power to deal according to that rule of Christ Mat. 18 15. c for any sinne be it never so horrible and manifest but must leaue it to the censure of the Prelate or hiâ— Commissarie who at his pleasure buyeth and selleth the sins and soules of men This bondage the people should not be in if they had and inioyned the word of God which is the truth for that truth would make them free that they should not in this sort be seruants of men But now not haâ—ing power to professe much lesse to practise the truth nor to reproue the euils that reign among them not hauing the free vse of Gods word in priuate nor the right and lawfull Ministery or vse therof in publick they cannot be sayd to haue Christ for their Prophet and Therefore the Church of England is not the true Church of God EVery true Church of God hath Christ for the Priest and Sacrificer of the sâ—me for he onely is the high Priest of our profession and to him it was sworne thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedek Heb 3 1 5.5 6 10 9 11. c. But the Church of England hath not Christ for the Priest or sacrificer of the sâ—me Because the gifts and sacrifices which it offreth vnto God are not presented and offred vnto him by Christ neyther is this church reconciled reconciled vnto God by him And first the worship and seruice which they performe vnto God their prayers prayses and confeâ—sions which now are Christâ—an mens sacrifices are not offred and sanctified by Christ because they are false and idâ—lâ—trous wherewith Christ hath no communion For â—nstead of true spirâ—tuall prayer and prayses the fruits of Gods spirit in his â—eoâ—le they read a written leiturgie translated out of the Masse book and accordâ—ng as they are stinted in the same they speak obserâ—ing also the many Popish ordinances râ—tes and ceremonies commanded in the same as their holy and festivall dayes holy eues and fasting dâ—yes absolutioÌ„ of sinns by their priests confirmatioÌ„ of Baptisme by theâ—r Prelates profanation of the Sacraments by priâ—ate administration and howsling with them by gossips by idolatrous signes and gestures of croâ—â—e kneeling c. also marying by the Priest with signe of the ring churching of womeÌ„ burial of the dead readâ—ng curses or comminations in stead of discipline besides the sundry errours and vntruthes in that book vayn repetâ—tions in their prayers and the like All which being commanded and vsed dayly by law of their church without ground from Gods word which approueth none of these idolatries but condemneth them are not sanctified by Christ nor presented vnto God hiâ— Father For he will not offer the idol sacrifices neyther will God accept such things as by his law he teacheth all men to abhorr Secondly whereas the bodyes and sowles of men are also spiritual and liâ—ing sacrifices and the persons offred in the Church by the Ministeâ—y of the Gospel should be as the holy flâ—ck as the flock of Ierusalem in their solemne feasts that so the oblation of them might be acceptable being sanctified by the holy Ghost the people offred in this church are a confuse vnsanctified mâ—ltitude not separated from the world as before in the first argument is shewed and many of them so wicked even by the confeâ—sion of their own ministers and in every honest mans conscience as they neyther deseru to be layd on Gods alter nor to be touched of any true Israelite in such respect Yet ar they by the Priests of this church offred dayly vnto God in their administration and blessed in his name Yea the precious sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ remembred and reâ—resented by bread and wine at his supper is prostitutâ—â— as if it were an vnholy thing to the prophane and wicked in this church which being vnworthy receiuers are
the church is builded contrary to the â—layn and manifest doctrine of the scriptures Leu. 20.24 1 Kin 8 53. Act. 2.40 and 19.8 â— Iohn 17.16 2 Cor. 6.14 â—7 18. The form and order of their vâ—iting is alsâ— strange for these profane people euen all persons in a famâ—ly anâ— all families in a parish are vnited into one parish church as it is called not voluntarily â—as ought to be in the true châ—rch but by constreynt not by any due profeâ—sion of repentance from â—ead workâ— and faith in God but by the priests readinâ— a Confession absolution and such like popish stâ—ff as is to be seen in their seruice book not vnder the guidance of Chrâ—sts officers but of a Parson Vicar Curate or other like creature of the Bishops who in many places can but read English vnto them And this with the other Parâ—shes of the Dioceâ—â—e so gathered also are vnited into one See or Dâ—ocesâ—â—â— church vnder a Lord Bishop and his Coâ—rtiers and all the Dioces into two Proâ—inciall churches the Prouinciall into one nationall church called the Church of England ouer all which there is a most reuerend Father and spirituall Lord Archbushop Primate and Metropolitan vnder whome al Bishops and Priests of the land are subiect and all people and parishes in the land bound to obey the dead canons and decrees which he the Ach Lord with his brethren of the gouerning clergie agree of in their repreâ—atiue church in the Conuocation howse if once the Ciuill Magistrate giue life vnto them This forme and order of a church is not to be found in Chrâ—sts Testament but receiued it is from the church of Rome by heritage or succession as the Papists boast of to the dishonour of Protestants when they say A religion c. that distinguished the multitude into pâ—rishes â—roportioÌ„ed â—he tithes annâ—xed thâ— Glebeland fonÌ„ded the Bishopricks â—mitted the Dioceses c So as the mother is the daughter is false in her câ—stitutioÌ„ though in the doctrin which she profeseth she is far better purer theÌ„ that whoremother of Rome The discussing of thes things as Mr Bern. refereth to other places books so also do I seing in thiâ— place â—e hath brought nothing of weight to proue his coÌ„stitutioÌ„ For the scriptâ—re that he alegeth the 3. things that he colecteth from theÌ„ do make against his purâ—ose The word is not by Christs mâ—nistery riâ—htly reached applyed to the people but vnsufferabley abused to the maintenance or the confusion and idolatries that are among them the sacraments are highly profaâ—ed and prostituted to the most vngodly and thir seed and popishly administred and the externall profession which the people make is by constreynt and therefore nought worth besides it is corrupt and idolatrous being a mixed profession partly of the truth of God partly of their own inuentions as appeareth by their Communion book Canons and the like Our second error should be that we hold their Constitution a real idol and so them idolaters To confute this Mr Ber. sayth that he hâ—th perused in any scriptures and can see none that take an idol or idolaters in any such sâ—nse agaâ—n that Marlorat mentioneth 47. idols and not one of them in â—he sâ—nse Whether this article be of Mr Bernards own forginâ— or where he hath had it I cannot tell his reader must take all of his credâ— for he lets not down his author As for his confutation hereof it is very slender that becaâ—se he seeth it not or Maâ—lorat nameth it not therefore it is no idol For it is no sure position that Mr Bernard seeth all that â—he scriptures teach and both he and Marlorat may as soon number the hayres of their heads aâ— all the idols that are in the world Wel therefore yet may â—t be a real idol for oâ—ght that this man hath sayd to saue it And if it be a false constitâ—tion as before is proâ—ed set vp in stead of a true what is it better then a very idol In the end he tâ—rneth and renteth vs for making oâ—r own constitution as he sayth an idol or goddesse and feighneth that we may say Great is the Goddesse Constitution great is Diana of the Bâ—â—â—nists Bâ—t seing this is but a reâ—roch of a scorner and the reproch reacheth vnto Christ himselfe who hath appoynted the frame order and constitution of hâ—s own châ—rch which we haue laboured for I leaue him for this calumniation vnto his rebuke who will teach him one day no more to blaspheme And whether may we think tendeth the inuectiue of this vayn man who thus skoffeth at the Constitution of Christs church but to bring in a mere ataxie or confâ—sion worse then was at Babels tower-building for take away the orderly framing and constituting of a church and there will be but a Tohu as the scripture speaketh a rude indigest heap or confute Chaos more beseeming the wild beasts of the wood then any humane much lesâ—e diuine polâ—ty That such as are not of a particular constituted church to weet such a one as ours is are no subiects of Christs kingdome Neyther is this position set downe in our words to my knowledge neyther doth Mr Bâ—rnard take away but confirme rather the thing that we hold for he granteth that they offend God which may and doe not ordinarily hauing 〈◊〉 canes offred liue in a church rightly constituted and we grant that many of Christs subiects for want of meanes doe not liue in a true constituted church If therefore he were not a caviller he would not haue reckned this among our errors That all nor in our way are without and we apply against them in Engl. 1 Cor. 5 12 Eph. 2 12. The first part of this position you must impuâ—e to Mr Bernards charity who wâ—ll needs frame our assertions for vs because he thinkes we cannot speake for our selues we might leaue it vnto him to frame an answer also But if he would let vs tel what we hold it is that all not in the way â—f Châ—ist are without and if this be an error let him make the most of it The applying of those scriptures against them he must be content to bear til he or his brethren can proue theÌ„selues a true church for though there bâ— great differences of peoples professing religion some with more truth â—ome with lesse yet all not wâ—thin Christs church are without as thâ— Aâ—ostle speaketh Mr Bernards exception that those places are meant of sâ—ch as neuer professed Christ at all is childish why doth he not except aâ—aâ—nâ—t the holy Ghost himselfe who apâ—lieth against the false Christâ—ans of the Râ—mish Church words and sâ—eaches meant first of heathen Babylon that profeâ—â—ed not God or Christ at all His boasting of the word sacraments effects and deliuerances are before in this traatise taken away And Mr Bernards proofs are but a begging of the question which he blameth in otherâ— as
no Bishops then doth it follow most euidently that all the English Bishops be no Bishops at al as hauing no other coÌ„secratioÌ„ then from them And if our English Prelates be no true Bishops then surely nâ—yther be they Priâ—sts or Minisâ—ers or Deacons that be ordeyned by them and so consequently the congregation of Eâ—gâ— by Mr Sutcliffs argumeÌ„t not thâ— tru church of Christ. This is the Catholiâ—s argument and plea which how Mr Bern. or his brethren will wel answer and stand also to that which they haue written against vs I cannot tel Finally against that often boasting of the work and effect of the ministery of Engl I will oppose a testimony of one of their chief miâ—isters yet our professed aduersary that it cannot be thought he was partial for vs at all Mr Gifford is the man that thus hath written Somâ— dâ—e wonder how it should come to passe that among vs there should be so many which being borne since the gospell was restored in this land are so zealously addicted unto Popery which thâ—y neuer did know and so utter enemies to the Gospel which they hear But if they weigh the causes of this deadly mischeef they will cease wondring at that and rather wonder that there be no more For how can it bâ— so long as there be so many abuses in the ministery but that many shall stumble and loath the Gospell For from thence as it is manifest the cheife cause of this euill doth spring True it is that our ministery doth fight against them but yet in such sort that it doth greatly increase them Seeming and pretending to tread vpon those cockatrise eggs for to breake them and so â—o destroy utterly thâ— viperous generation when as indeed they sit vpon them and so hatch the broâ—ds of this euill kinde and bring them forth in great plenty For behold a number cry out against popery and proclaym vtter defiance in speach but their doings are such that for euery one which they conuert to the gâ—spel they cause an hundred to reuolt to be hardned in their errors or to fall into flat Atheisme While many coÌ„trary to the professioÌ„ wâ—ich they made when they entred setting aside the care of sowles not esteeming nor regarding what become of them studie most how to clime high and to satisfy their ambitious desire of honour taking togither liuings couetously and greedily not caring who feed the flock so they may â—â—me by the fleese Moreouer the door hath been opened also â—o let into the church 〈…〉 and swarme of such as are more like the priests of Ieroboam then ministerâ— of the gospell not onely unlearned idols which haue mouthes and speake nâ—t which being weary of their occupations and couet to liue easily and to that end are entred but also riotous dicers gamesters quaffers quarrellers adulterers and such like If the matter were secret I should doe amisse to make it manifest but when it is open in the sight and view of all men who can complayn iustlie when it is spoken of Let this record of Mr Gâ—ffords for the effect of their administration and their good quallities besides togither with Mr Bernards former doctrine for their first calling and ordination by the popish prelates shew whether it be not like that this ministery will ere long make accord with the mother church of Rome that hatched it and for whom it againe hatcheth cockatrices eggs The tenth error that we should hold is that their worship in Engl. is a false worship To proue this to be an error Mr Bern. bringeth these reasons 1. That they worship no false God I answer Neyther did Ieroboam the son of Nebaâ— who made Israel to syn yet vsed he a false worship 1 King 12. 2. That they worship the true God with no false worship for they haue the true word preached the true sacraments and their prayers are such as maâ— be warranted by the word c. I answer this is but taking for granted that which he should proue for he knowes well that we deney thâ—se things and by many reasons in sundry bookes none of which Mr Bern. answereth haue disproued their preaching ministring of Sacraments booke prayer c. Seing he will answer nothing before written by vs let him in his next booke prooue that the Apocrypha scriptures and homily bookes which they read in Gods worship are his true word that the sacraments which the vnpreaching priests minister to their profane parishioners by their popish leitourgie are true sacraments let him approue by Gods word the obseruation of all their holy dayes fasting dayes with their prescript peculiar seruice briefly let him shew warrant for his seruice book the making and vse thereof with all the popish contents therein These are strange incense new forgeries of their own neuer appoynted by Christ or his Apostles wherefore we doubt not to affirme their worship to be false euen an humane inuention With these things Mr Bern. medleâ—h not but bringeth proof for other matters which we neuer denyed and referreth vs to an after treatise which now next followeth to be answered Yet ere he leaueth us he will utter all his hart and from his inner store powreth out against vs 12. errors moe whâ—ch he will not spend time he saith in conâ—utâ—tion of they are so absurd and false being also as he thinketh conâ—ured by the former Though nothing need be answered where no shew of proof is made yet to satisfy the reader and shew him the vanity of this aduersary I will briefly touch them all and they be these 1 That their congregations as they stand are all and euery of them vncapable before God to chuse them ministers though they desire the meanes of saluation Al such as desire the means of saluation in what congregations soeuer haue ower and liberty from God to separate from all euill and ioyne togither in good and so to enioy Gods blessings in his ministery or any other part of the Gosâ—el But we hold that no false church hath power from God to chuse ministers which he hath ordeyned onely for true churches 1 Cor. 12.28 Eâ—h 4 12 Râ—m 12.4 5 c. we wonder with what face any Christian can say otherweise If Mr Bern. make the error to be in holding them false churches then is it the same with the 8. error before answered and is here bâ—t idly of him repeated 2. That God in their best assembliâ—s is worshipped after a false manner An other idle repetition of that which before he made our Tenth error which there was answered 3. That baptisme is not administred into the fayth of Christ simply but into the fayth of Bishops and Church of Engl. This I think is Mr Bernards vncharitable collection not our Position Though we hold baptisme among them to be administred neyther by a true minister nor after a lawfull manner but according to their own prescript Leitourgie and to the seed of
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
articles and decrees imposed vpon you to be obserued on paine of excommunication and further penalties So Christ alone is not your foundation but his seruants also you ar to whom you obey 2. Your builders are your preaching ministers but I deny them to be Gods builders let them shew when God designed them as he did Bezaleel Aholia'â— to make his sanctuary let them shew by the word their office and calling as the Apostle Paul of whome mention is made in the place you allege 1 Cor 3 10. did â—n all his Epistles Otherwise not all that offer themselues to build may be admitted for you know how it is written It is not for you and for vs to build the howse vnto our God Ezra 4.3 In most of your parish assemblies you haue but one preaching minister and so but one builder and he will be a good while in building the house and if he be taken away as many are then your church wanteth one of the 4 essent all things In many parishes there be vnpreaching ministers your church maketh them builders also though you doe not and vnto such if we were among you should we be constreyned to submit our soules The Bishops are master builders in all your churches they command and control you their inferior Priests if you build not by their line they throw down quicklie all your building and thrust the builders out of dores These are like the hornes that Zacharie saw which scattered Iudah so that a man darst not lift vp his head but your preaching ministers are not like the carpenters that came to fray them away How great a jarr there is between your builders we all doe know and long it wil be ere they agree togither to build Gods house or the work be finished for Christ to dwel in when the master workmen work all awry and when as you complained to the Parliament the walls of Sion lie euen with the ground 3. The instrument of building is the word of God as you allege Eph. 2.20 deliuered by the Prophets and Apostles and Christ himselfe But your builders vse not this instrument aright in doctrine or practise they new not here with the rough stone and knotty timber they reform not the profain rebellious people neither haue they power in their armes to cut off any one wicked man for the axe of excommunication is in the Bishops hand alone and his commissaries he hath the keyes to open shut the dores of your Church the parish priest hath perhaps a weeding hook and may suspend from the sacrament a while by vertue of his service-book but the greatest wound that he can make herewith the Bishop or his substitute will quickly heal Again you haue besides the Bible Apocripha bookes commanded by law to be read in your church also that other instrument called the seruice book and with this tool your best minâ—sters build vp your church and the reading hereof doth now much edifie in al your parishes though the dayes hauee been when you could say that in all the order of your seruice there was no edification but confusion And who put this instrument into your ministers hands Christ in his testament appoynted none such Your church hath also Homily books to build withall and many edifying canons and ceremonies such tools the Prelâ—es haue allowed for your building even the instruments of the foolish sheâ—heard Za. 11 15.16 if you will not beleeu me beleeu your selus which heretofore haue complayned and written thus No preacher may without great danger of the law vtter all the truth comprised in the book of God It is so circumscribed and wrapt within the compasse of such statutes such penalties such iniunctions such advertisements such articles such canons such sober caueats and such manifold pamphlets that in manner it doth but peep out from behind the skreen The lawes of the land the book of common prayer the Queens iniunctions the Commissioners aduertisements the Bishops canons Linwoods provincials euery Bishops articles in his dioces my Lord of Canterburies sober â—aueats his licences to preachers and his high court of prerogatiue or graue fatherly faculties these to-gither or the worst of them as some of them be too bad may not be broken or offended against but with more danger then to offend against the bible To the subscribing subscribing agayn thâ— third subscribing are requâ—red for these preachers others are indited are fined ar prisoned are excommunicated are banished and haue worse things threatned them And the Bible that must haue no further scope then by these it is assigned Is this to professe Gods word Is this a reformation c. Thus haue we your own confessioÌ„ what manner of instruments your church is builded with and all men may see what small cause you haue to boast of the word of God amongst you The matter of the building is people ioyned togither in the profession of the Gospell And what manner of people are ioyned togither in your church are there not all sorts of profane wicked and irreligious persons as wel as religious and men of better life and where find you in the scriptures such matter for Gods howse The texts by you alleged teach farr otherweise for the Church of Corinth were saincts by calling even called of God unto the fellowship of his sonne Iesus Christ. 1 Cor 1 2 9 and the Apostle neuer sayd to any profane or confused people ye are Gods husbandry Gods building So for the other text if you had minded eyther that which is before or after it might haue stayed you from applying it to your church For the Apostle writing to the Saincts not to the profane which were at Ephesus sayth Now yâ— are no more strangers and forreners but citizens with the saincts and of the how should of God and after he sheweth how in Christ all the bulding coupled togither groweth vnto an holy temple in the Lord. But neyther are your people saints by calling neyther can you say of your church of England that all the bulding of all the parishes coupled togither groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord for your self here defend not all but the best onâ—ly And we know well that the mâ—ltitudes of profane wicked persons and miscreants meer strangers and forreners are of the matter of your church and are buâ—lded in and with the same if the word and sacraments doe buâ—ld among you even the vilest of theâ— when they goe to the gibbet as pleasantly as Agag did to his death Now mind with your selâ—es if God haue commanded to build his house with the fine Ceder and Sittim trees you take the thornes and briars of the wildernes or wild figtrees of the playn whether Christ who is faithfull to him that hath appoynted him even as Moses was in all his house when he shall take a view of all your work will allow of
Anwser THe assumption or 2 part of your argument that such are the Ministers of your best assembliâ—s is denyed for these reasons 1 In Ephes 4. it is sayd He that is Christ gaue but your ministers are giuen by the Bishops and for disobedâ—ence to them are taken away agayn from your parishes Christ never gaue such hirelings 2. The ministers mentioned in Eph. 4 are Apostlâ—s Propets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers Your minâ—sters are none of these but Priests Parsons Vicars c. whose very names besides their offices calling c. shew them to be from Antichrâ—st 3. Your ministers gather not the Saints but persecute and scatter them as we know by experieÌ„ce they gather or keep being gathered a coÌ„fused idolatrous multitude svch as is in their parishes the right way of gathering a church by separation from the world they know not or will not acknowledge 4. They doe not the work of Christs ministery which is aright to dispense the word seales censures c according to the scriptures but the work of Antichrists ministery in reading the service book marying burying churching of women the like as in your Leiturgie other church books are set down 5. They edify not the body of Christ but build and fortify the tower of Babel their confused assemblies which were constituted of ignorant idolatrous papists and other profane the very body of Antichrist but the way of truth and such as walke therein are evill spoken of by your Ministers as their books sermons conferences c dayly shew For all which reasons the right conclusion of your argument should be this that the ministers of your best assemblies are the ministers of Antichrist To proue your assumption you giue vs your bare word saying they do gather the Saints from the reprobats making a manifest separatioÌ„ c. This is to proue the same by the same they doe so because they do so wheras all the world may may see they doe not so For the church of Eng. and parish assemblies thereof from which we haue departed consist of all sorts of persons the ministers stand priests by law to the whole parishes whereof all are partakers of the holy things of God every one baptized c. and can you say they are not then builded in and with your church And for separation we know your priests nor the whole parish cannot excommunicate any be they never so blasphemous wicked or licentious that power is in the Bishops courts And how few are excommunicated for their heresies blasphemies atheisme or wicked life who knoweth not but for wel doing you haue excommunicated many And further if any of your ministers should goe about to make a separation or gather any other churches or assemblies then are already by the lawes of the land established and allowed they are ipso facto excommunicated by force of the Canons of your church made in Anno 1603. Can. 9 11 1â— So still the open wicked remayn edified with the rest in your church there is no such separation as you against all mens knowledge doe pretend Your argument therefore is no better then as if Ieroboams priests should thus haue pleaded Those priests that teach Iacob Gods iudgements and Israel his law that put incense before the face of God and and bâ—rnt offrings vpon his alter are the true priests of God Deut 33.10 But these things doe we therefore we are true priests If you say their assumâ—tion is false the like is sayd of yours and your works plainly proue your assumption most vntrue The 4. Argument THose ministers by whose ministery and preaching the overthrow of the kingdome of Antichrist is effected are the ministers of Christ. But such are the ministers of our best assemblies Ergo the true ministers of Christ The proposition is proued 2 Cor 10 4 5.2 Thes 2.8 Reu 14.6.7.8 18 12. 11 3 11. The assumption is manifest for that the ministers of our best assemblies haue weakned and thrown down and doe still fâ—ght and prevayl against the kingdom of Antichrist by the power of Christ 2. Thes 2 8 and Satan cannot cast out Satan Mark 3.23 Answer THere is no cause or person so bad but many haue store of such arguments as you bring for your ministers wherein you assume take for granted that which is most needful to be proued if we wil not beleeu your bold affirmation contrary to our knowledge and the truth of your estate your ministery hath nothing to justify or confirme it The assumption of this argument I deny for your ministers haue not throwen down Antichrists kingdoâ—e but sought rather to hold it vp Here in sted of due proof you tel vs it is manifest for that the ministers of your best assemblies haue weakned c the kingdome of Antichrist Thus again you prou the saâ—e by the sain say that is manifest which is most obscur vnknown uÌ„to vs to discouer your falsehood I wil briefly shew how the scriptures that you bring for your propositioÌ„ do disprou your assumptioÌ„ The weapons of our warfare sayth the Apostle 2 Cor 10 4 5. are not carnall but mighty through God to cast down holds casting down the imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God c. But the weapons of your ministers warfare haue been carnal not mightie through God For against the remaynders of Antichrists kingdome among you they haue sued to Parliaments that the arm of fleâ—h might throw down the prelates their courts and corruptions but when the state hath not hearkned to them what haue your ministers done but submitted themselues to their spirituall Lords or at least weise ceased their warfare against them and in their sermons and writings haue turned the edge of theâ—r sword against vs that haue departed from Babylon And what haue they throwen down by their preaching these half hundred yeares Is there any of their Romish abuses that they haue got reformed any one of the rabble of Antichristian officers courts canons c. cast out of the Church Nay themselues now are caâ—t out if they speak or write any more against them as they did in times past Doe not all their people stand still in subiection vnder that Leitourgie prelacie priesthood and popish ecclesiasticall gouernment which were set ouer them at the first They haue warred with the Antichristians as did Israel with the Canaanites when they were mixed among them and learned their works and serued their idols which were their ruine Therefore are these enemies become thornes to the sides and pricks to the eyes of your best ministers and people vexing them in the land wherin they dwel as God did threaten Num. 33 55. So when th' Apostle sayth 2 Thes 2.8 that the Lord shall consume Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and abolish him with the brightnes of his comming may we not hereby learne that Gods spirit is not in your ministers mouthes seing they
of state professors that follow the Emperours religions that they worship not God but the purple robe that is the authority and persons of Prâ—nces Moreouer the church of England hath not Christ for their Mediator because they cannot come vnto God by him nor haue assurance by faith that he maketh intercession for them for that they offer vnto God a worship or seruice which themselues haue made and taken by imâ—tation out of Antâ—christs Massebook which Leitâ—rgie or Diuine seruâ—ce hauing in it also many erroneous superstitious and idolatrous ordiâ—ances rites and ceremonies being not required of God nor warrantable by Christs testament they read out of their book dayly in theâ—r aâ—semblies and offer or obtrude â—t vpon God By meanes whereof they also extinguish the true way of calling vpon God by the help of his spâ—rit as the Apostle teacheth and bring in a fleshly and dead kind of seruice reading other mens words instead of their own praying and calling on the name of the Lord. Which humane devise is contrary to the second commandement that forbiddeth vs to make or submit vnto any similitude or likenes of any thing in heauen earth or vnder the earth in matters concerning the worshâ—p of God And it being against the old couenant or testament which Christ hath confirmed vnto euery â—od and 〈◊〉 against the new testament also which calleth vs vnto a worship of God in spirit and truth hath no promise to be sanctified by Christs Medâ—ation who sanctifieth no idols nor idol seruice or false worshiâ— but contrariweise hath testified their offrings of blood will I not offer nor by make mention of their names with my lipps For asmuch then as the people which worshippeth is not the called iustified sanctâ—fied peâ—ple of Gâ—d but an vnlawfull câ—mmixture 〈◊〉 fall sorts of â—ersâ—ns and forasmuch as the worship it self which they read with and before â—he holy bible and thrust vpon God whither he like it or not is a false dead and vayne inuented worship of their own not commanded of God not iustifiable by his word it cannot be by the doctrine of the scripture or a any promâ—ses therein that Christ should be Mediator for such worship or worshippâ—rs or put any odours vnto such prayers Therâ—fore the church of England is not the true church of God EVery true church of God hath Christ for the Prophet of the same For of 〈◊〉 it is written I will raise them vp a Prophet from among thâ—ir brethren c. and every person which shal not hear that Prophet shal be desered 〈◊〉 the people Dâ—ut 18.18 Act 3 23. But thâ—â—hurch of England hath not Christ for the Prophet of the same Because it hath neyther himself in his own person to teach them for he is now in heaâ—en and there must be vntill the time that all things be restored neyther hath it his appoynted ordinanâ—e of teaching by prophesie or office which if it had Christ were the Prophet of the same as himself sayd if I send any he that receiueth him receiueth me The church of England hâ—th not Christs ordinance of prophesie without office for it is vnknowen vnpractised and vnsufferable among them for priuate men to preach in their aâ—â—emblies they must be ministers allowed by the Ordinary els it is punishable by the law of their church though by the law of Christ all men may prophesie in his church which is to speake to edifying to exhortation and to comfort and all men are exhorted to couet this mâ—re then other spirituall gifts 1. Cor. 14 vers 31.3.1.39 Neyther hath the châ—rch of England Christs appoynted officers to teach which are set down in scripture to be these Apostles Prophets Euangelists Pastors and Teachers Ephe 4.11 Of which the first three serued for the first publishing of the gâ—spel throughout the world the latter two continue stâ—ll vnto the worlds end but in stead of these it hath the hierarchie and ministery of Antichrist to teach the same namely Metropolitan Archbishops Lord Bishâ—ps Deanes c. Priests and Deacons which is none of Christs Ministery eyther in name office calling administration or mayntenance but the very ministery of the man of sinne as he left it in the land and as is to be seen at this day in Rome and other his dominions and in the lawes and canons of the popish church wher ar all the offices that now be in England Thus hauing not the ministery giuen of Christ but a different ministery giuen of Antichrist it followeth also by proportion from Christs words saying he that receiueth him that I send receiueth me and he that receiueth me receiueth him that sent me that the church of England receiuing such as Antichrist the Pope did send hath receiued Antichrist himselfe and so hath intertayned him for their Prophet and not Christ. Now where it is obiected that there are many excellent truthes publikly taught in this church and by this ministery of England it is answered that is not yenough vnlesse it were taught in and according to the ordinance of God For false Prophets teach much truth as is to be seen among Papists Anabaptists Arians and other like heretiks And as the morall good works which heathens doe in honouring their parents and Magistrates giuing almose absteyning from and punishing murder adultery theft c. are not inded good works according to christian religion because they are not done in obedience to Gods word by persons that are called iustified and sanctified by that word and so not done in faith and consequently cannot please God even so the theologicall works which Antichristians doe in preaching the truth praying ministring the sacraments c. are not indeed works pleasing vnto God because they are not done by persons that please him for alwayes the man must be accepted before his work can be and such persons please him not as without his calling and sending presume to administer his holy things It is not therefore the work but the word of God that sanctifieth the work which we must look vnto for as by this the vertuous heroik and religious acts of the Patrâ—archs and other holy men differ from the like acts of Pagans and infidels so also by this the difference iâ— to be put between the works and administrations of trâ—e and false Christians And seing the ministers of England are not by Christ called and sent as the better sort of themselues heretofore haue confessed so haue not his word to warrant their administration whatsoeuer good doctrine they teach it proues them no more to be true ministers then the excellent doctrines and prophesies of the soothsayer Balaam will proue him to be a true minister of God or that the Moabites or Madianites hauing him to sacrifice prophesie and teach among them had an ordinance or prophet of God See Deut. 18 10.11.14.15 c. Agayn Christ is not the Prophet of this
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
himself and the Conformists of farr greater esteem in this church then the Reformists Whether this be not a playne schisme and Mr Bern a factious person thus to carry hâ—mselfe in a church let himselfe say as also whether he be not fâ—r this ipso â—acto excommâ—nicated by force of theâ—r own Canon which sayth Whosoeuer shall hereafter separate themselues from the Communion of Saincts as it is approued by the Apostles rules in the Church of England and combine themselues together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christiâ—ns who are conformable to the doctrine gouernments rites and ceremonies of the church of England to be profane and vnmeet for them to ioyne with in Christian profession let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publick reuocation of such their wicked errors Into like danger doth he come by Canon 11 and 12. The il meanes by which our cause is mainteyned he makeâ—h to be strange expositiâ—n of scripture c. First Mr Bern. here walketh still in the Papists steps who obiect the like vnto the Protestants Let an indifferent reader say they peruse the learnedst book of these reformers and he shall see in them false allegations of Fathers corruptions of scriptures fathers and councels c. Secâ—â—dly I answer our expositions may seeme strange to such as are themselues strangers from God but the Godly wise can discerne to whom if they haue read our books I leane the iudging of this probability Now thâ—s old calumniatioÌ„ which SataÌ„ layd vpoÌ„ the Sainct how truly Mr Bâ—rn hath layd vpon vs let his proofs shew which are in these two particulars First that one of us sayth All the truth is not taught in the Church of Eâ—gland and to proue this Act. 20 21. is cited Which one of vs thus citeth Act. 20 and where Mr Bern. nameth not Good cause we haue to suspect his faithfulnes for in his book he chargeth vs with some errors which we hold not as after shall appear And he that would so iniury the whole what may we think he wâ—ll doe for a part I suppose therefore the party cited that scripture to proue the whole truth ought to be taught which because it may be questioned whether it be needfull at all times therefore the Apostles example is brought As for the Priests of England 〈◊〉 they preach not the whole truth is proued by their dayly practise who balk many truthes touching the church ministery worship governmenâ— c. as all that obserue their doctrines know very well It is proued â—lso by the lawes and canons of their church which excommunicate â—ll such as shall by the truth reproue the falsehoods and abominations that are among them as before in this treatise is shewed And Mr Bern. is very silly if he exspect any scriptures to proue what is now taught in his church Furthermore if it be granted him that Act. 20. were by some one of vs alleged for the purpose he pretendâ—th yet it is no more lâ—kelihood that our cause is evill then that his brethrens cause and plea against vs is evill for they without all doubt doe allege scriptures for to proue things done in Engl which it is not posible by the scripturs for to shew See before in this book pag. 43. c 44. But what speak I of others Mr Bern himsefe is fayn to vse such colours els would the glory of his church soon fade for in the 48 page of his book he allegeth God for witnes that they are his people 1 by giuing them his word Psa 147.19 20. 2 by his effectuall working thereby Ier 22 22 therefore there is the voyce of the sonne of God Ioh. 5.25 c. If these be found and sufficient proofs that England hath Gods word because Israel had it and so in the rest then why may not men allege like Scriptures and proofs against them saying They are stayned with their own works and goe a whoring with their own inuentions Psal. 106 39. from the Prophets of Ierusalem is hyprocrisie gone forth into all the Land Ier. 23.15 I haue not sent these Prophets sayth the Lord yet they ran c. Ier. 23.21 and the like So then Mr Bern. must eyther bring better reasons for himselfe or els he may blush to blame others for that wherein himself is more faulty then they if they be faulty at all The other particular which he specifieth is that places setting forth the inuisible church c. we bring to set forth the visible church by as namely 1. Pet. 2.9 10. But Mr Bern. shewes his reader no reason at all why that Scripture must be vnderstood of the inuisible church as he Sayth and it is an easie matter for him to find faults without reasoÌ„ in any maÌ„s writing That place of Peter as the wise reader may perceiue Speaketh of and to the visible or Sensible church for th' Apostle wrote to the visible christians the strangers that then dwelt in Pontus Galatia c. and this which he speaketh to them in Chap· 2 9.10 is as Moses of old spake to the visible church of Israel Exod. 19 6. Againe he mentioneth the end of their calling to this dignity vidz to shew forth the vertues of him that had called them out of darknes into his maruelous light which whether it appertaynes not to the visible church I leaue it for euery true member thereof to iudge And such as these are the exceptions that D. Allison to whome he referreth us tooke heretofore which because they are vnworthy a Dr. of Diuinity we haue though best to passe by as vnworthy of reply till further occasion The 4. likelihood is that we haue not the approbation of any reformed churches Churches for our cause This is much like his first probability before answered and seemeth to be a mayn propp to vphold the church of England which loue to make flesh their arme The reader may see this poynt thrise vrged before in this book and thrise answered I referr him also to our Letters vnto Mr Iunius whome Mr Bern. mentioneth finally to the Apologie of the church of England where themselues say vnto the like obiections of the Papists thâ— truth of the Gospel of Iesus Christ dependeth not upon councels add also nor vpon Churches nor as S. Paul sayth vpon the iudgements of mortall creatures The 5. is the condemnation of this way by the Diuines of England both liuing and dead c. But this is no other likelihood then it is like Mr Bern. if he had then liued would haue alleged against Christ himselfe when the learned Priests Rabbines and Diuines of Israel condemned his way and doctrine Ioh. 7.48.49 19 7. c. If these learned English Diâ—ines haue confuted vs let Mr Bern. or any shew the scriptures and reasons by which they haue done it if they were our aduersaries without reason as some of them he
vnderstood of the ordinary cathedrall parish assemblies of England which all are by one line For defense of these churches Mr Bern. refers the reader to an other treatise after and so doe I to the answer of the same following Yet least he should seem â—o say nothing Mr Ber excepteth 1 That they haue no false head for they hold Iesus Christ. I answer so might Ieroboam haue pleaded for himself his people that they had no false head but the true God which brought them out of the Land of Aegypt Yet were they a false church The Papists Papists and Anabaptists at this day hold and professe Iesus Christ yet such errors are among them as Christ in deed is deneyed the parishes of England professe him also but such is their estate otherweise that they haue him not truly for a head prophet priest or king vnto them as befor is proued But it is yenough for Mr Bernard to affirme without proofe and correction with him is a needfuller argument in this case tâ—eÌ„ iâ—struction For when the Priests liâ—s preserue not knowledge how should men be answered but by the gaole or gallowes 2. The matter sayth he is not false and to shew this he noteth a difference between No matter true matter and false matter No matter are thâ—y which make no profession of Christ at all as Iewes Turks and Pagans True visible matter are all such as openly professe this mayn truth that Iesus the sonne of Mary is the sonne of God Christ the Lord by whome onely alone they shal be saued And false matter is contrary to this true matter I answer this false matter is very rawly set down for being contrary to the former true it may imply Iewes and Turks whome he made no matter and then it confoundeth his own distinction But if he mean that they which professe not Christ rightly and truely as he setteth downe are a false matter then say I â—t will euince the matter of their Churches to be false seing there is not aright and true profession of Chrâ—st made by their parishes But Mr Ber. leauing out this word rightly truly tels vs they all professe this fayth as is apparent 1 by the doctrine of their church vidz that in the Harmony of Confessions 2 by the same publickly preached 3 by the same mainteyned by their lawes writings and blood of holy martyrs I answer if all this were granted yet will it not proue Mr Bernards purpose for some may write and preach the truth the Magistrate may establish it by law and some may seal it with their blood and yet not al the nation be a true matter for Christs church except they also make lâ—ke profession Which that the parishes of England doe not the profanenes of the multitudes shew But least I be thought to speake of envy let vs hear the testimony of their own ministers and such as were no fauourers of vs at all as their malicious writings of vs sheweth Mr Nichols esteemed a forward preacher among them sayth We finde by great experience and I haue now fiue and twenty yeres obserued it that in those places where there is not preaching and priuate conferring of the Minister and the people the most part haue as litle knowledge of God and of Christ as Turks and Pagans To confirme this he giues vs an example in his own flock For I haue been in a parish sayth he of fowr hundred communicants and maruelling that my preaching was so little regarded I tooke vpon me to conferre with euery man and woman before they receiued the communion I asked them of Christ what he was in his person what his office how firme came into the world what punishment for sinne what becomes of our bodies being rotten in the graue and lastly whither it were possible for a man to liue so vprightly that by wel doing he might winn heauen In all the former questions I scarse found ten in the hundred to haue any knowledge but in the last question scarse one but did affirme that man might be saued by his own wel doing and that he trusâ—ed he did so liue that by Gods grace he should obtâ—yn euerlasting life by serâ—ing of God and god prayers c. Now then this being so tell me I prâ—y yâ—u sayth Mr Niâ—hols first for Athâ—isme whether these be any bettor then Aâ—hâ—isâ—s whiâ—h know not Christ And tell me I pray you Mr Bernard whether thâ—â—â— be a â—rue matter such as Christs church consisteth of But you would â—aâ—â— vs beleeue the Bishops and Priests of Engl. are wondrous men for iâ—â—hey write books or preach sermons to the people their whole Dioceses and Parishes must needs be estemed conuerts and profelytes Such effect grace was neuer heard of before since the world began More absurd it is to say that the good lawes of the Magistrate doe make a profane idolatrous multitude true professors but most of all that because some few were martyrs therefore they that killed the martyrs professe Christ truly If these be not pregnant reasons then M. Bernards book is little worth 3. But he proceedeth and sayth The visible form is not false which is the vniting of vs unto God and one to another uisibly This he would proue by 3 reasons 1 because the word is preached and offred to the people 2 Because of the peoples open profession of their fayth vnto the doctrine God working in them a will to receiue it 3 because the Lords supper is in vse among them Sundry scriptures are alleged to shew that thus the primitiue churches were planted and constituted all which we grant but when he comes to apply these to themselues he barely assumes that thus is their case neyther answering any reason of ours to the contrary nor shewing any reason of his own to confirme that which he sayth And what cause in the world what church is so bad but may thus be pleaded for He knowes wel that we except and the visible estate of that church their own monuments records complaints c. doe bear witnes with us that they were planted in this religion and profession by force of the Magistrates law that multitudes are profane that many thowsands want the preaching of the word that they ar al compelled to come to church be baptised receiue the communion and the like and what profession the poor ignorant people make is before manifested If he would heare more of their profession and subiection to the word and ministery Mr. Nichols shewes it thus How little haue they esteemed the godly and learned ministers How content they be with simple and ignorant men How hardly are they drawn to pay duties which law hath appoynted How many quarrels they pick against painfull ministers And how little reuerence they giue to any that are faithfull How they follow their couetousnes and pleasures How they fil al sorts of courts with brawles foolish and
and dissolute quallity onely moued thereto in a lazy speculation layd wicked sacrilegious hands on the Lords ark taken his vndefiled testimonies in their defiled mouthes disgraced defaced and defamed the glory and Maiesty of diâ—ine rites and mysteries c. they run like hungry companions with an eye onely to the flesh pots so sel both themselues and their people for morsel of bread and messe of pottage to the Diuill He mentioneth also accursed and simonical patrons who haue sodered simoned the walls of their houses with the very blood of sowlâ—s some others among you speaking of that a miserable vulgus that woâ—fulâ— crew that racked regiment of dunsticall and vnlettered Sir Iohns which haue euen couered the land like the froggs of Aegypt leading many thow sands with themselues into the ditch and â—he same not still graced countenanced by the Prelatâ—s as being their creatures And others complayn that whol swarms of idle scandalous popish non-resident Ministers are tolerated euery where amongst you Your selfe Mr Crashawe in this very sermon tel in of little petty Babylons namely incurable sinns among you 1. That great sacrilege and church robbing as you call it committed by Impropriations in which case you affirme at this day almost halfe of the kingdome is wherby it comes to passe that an ignorant and vnpreaching ministery is set ouer a great part of your people which is the sourse and fountayn of all other euils in your church 2. The vngodly players enterludes so rise in the nations which you call a bellish deuise the Diuils own recreation to mock at holy things by him deliuered to the heathen from them to the Papists and from them to you And these you say bring religion and holy things vpon the stage And hypocrisie a child of hel must bear the names of two churches of God Nicholas S. Antlings Simon S. Maryâ—veries which churches by these miscreanâ—s are thus dishonoured you say not on the stage onely but euen in print To this you add â—heir continuall profannesse on their phrases and sometime Atheisme and blasphemy their continuall profanening of the Sabbath which generally in the country is their play day and oftentimes Gods diuine seruice hindred or cut shorter to make room and giue time for the Diuils seruice Many other like testimonies might I allege froÌ„ your own mouthes of exceeding impiety openly practised not by the people onely but by the Priests and Clergie and how doth your discipline heal these corruptions when by your own grant such caitiffs are graced and countenanced by the prelates when your law punisheth the conscionable ministers more then such as your selfe say of your petty Babilon of Impropriations this deep wound was once curable yenough c. but now alas how incurable it is he obserues but little that sees not And vnlesse the K. Maiesty vouchsafe to take the matter into his hands otherweise it is incurable Agayn you say of that horible abuse of the Sabbath c. that est is hath been complayned of and some haue endeuoured to heal it but it is 〈◊〉 of Babylon that will not be healed but rather it creps 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 though the whole state from the foot to the head and if you would yet haue more add herevnto Mr Iacobs testimony who hath so manfully stood for your church The right and true discipline ecclesiasticall sayth he in â—ch proper visible church is one mayn part of the ordinary meanes of saluation appoynted by God for euery sowl and this we in England vtterly want Now let the reader iudge whether there be not deadly corruption in your discipline which euen in a true church would soon eat out if it wer not healed the hart and life and being of a church according to your demaund But you proceed and ask vs. Q. What book of Canonicall scripture receiue we not what hold we for Canonicall that is not A. What book of Canonicall scripture receiued not the idolatrous Isâ—elites what held they for Canonicall that was not The like I ask for the Arians Anabaptists and sundry other heretikes of these times and shall these or any of them be therfore true churches Agayn in your own church there is read for holy scripture erroneous books and lying stories as Tobie Iudith and other Apocrypha Your Homilies citing thâ—Ì„ call them holy scripture and say the holy Ghost speaketh so in the scriptures the chiefest ministers of your church sometimes preach and take texts out of them If this be not to hold them canonicall I know not what you count canonicall Q. What sacrament that Christ ordeyned doe we want and what haue we more then Christ ordeyned A. What sacrament wanted Ieroboam the son of Nebat what had he more then God ordeyned Or the Anabaptists at this day Yet if one would stand with you he might by your Communion book proue Confirmation to be a sacrament but who ordeyned it I cannot tel vnlesse Pope Clement Agayn Mr Bradshaw a man of your own church and profession hath proued against you in print that your Crosse in baptisme ring in mariage surplice c. are sacraments in your church and not of diuine institution Q. What article of faith deny we or what hold we for an article of faith this is not A. Suppose that the Papists should ask you such a question what would you answer For all the Creeds that are in your communion book are they not with euery article neyther more nor lesse in the masse book and other popish pamphlets The Papists and you both confesse Christ in words both deny him in practise Q. What fundamentall heresie doth our doctrine maintayn A. The vnlawfull commixture of the children of God and children of the Diuell in one church and communion is a fundamentall heresie being stifly mainteyned All the scritures condemne it all wel reformed churches avoyd it nature it selfe teacheth to abhorr it yet in such profane communion your church abiderh and you wil not endure to bâ—â—r of a separation Q. What haue we in our church that ouerthrowes the being of a church A. A popish Clergie and Laitie Q. What is necessarily required to make a church that wee doe want A. You want both matter and forme of a true church namely a people called of God separated from the world and vnited with Christ and one with another according to the rules of his eternall Testament Q. I will end as I began wherein are we deadly and incurably wounded A. The sinns before mentioned are deadly wounds of Satan the onely cure is by repentance and faith in Christ Iesus â—ut as yet you be farr from cure for loe you make questions of your diseases and will not beleeue that you are sick Herevpon you refusâ— all salues and medicines and will neither haue physician nor chirurgian to meddle with your sores If any Leech come with a curing tongâ—e and words that be leaues of the tree of