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A12557
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Paralleles, censures, observations Aperteyning: to three several writinges, 1. A lettre written to Mr. Ric. Bernard, by Iohn Smyth. 2. A book intituled, the Seperatists schisme published by Mr. Bernard. 3. An answer made to that book called the Sep. Schisme by Mr. H. Ainsworth. Whereunto also are adioyned. 1. The said lettre written to Mr. Ric. Bernard divided into 19. sections. 2. Another lettre written to Mr. A.S. 3. A third letter written to certayne bretheren of the seperation. By Iohn Smyth.
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Smyth, John, d. 1612.
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1609
(1609)
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STC 22877; ESTC S103006
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171,681
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180
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PARALLELES CENSVRES OBSERVATIONS Aperteyning TO THREE SEVERAL WRITINGES 1. A Lettre written to Mr. Ric. Bernard by Iohn Smyth 2. A Book intituled The Seperatists Schisme published by Mr. Bernard 3. An Answer made to that book called the Sep. Schisme by Mr. H. Ainsworth WHEREVNTO ALSO ARE ADIOYNED 1. The said Lettre written to Mr. Ric. Bernard divided into 19. Sections 2. Another Lettre written to Mr. A. S. 3. A third Lettre written to certayne Brethren of the Seperation By Iohn Smyth Mat. 24.23 Then if any shall say vnto you Lo heer is Christ or there beleeve it not Vs 24. For there shall arise false Christs false Prophets shall shew great signes wonders so that if it were possible they should deceave the very elect Vs 25. Behould I have told you before Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps clothing but inwardly are Ravening wolves Vs 16. Yee shall know them by their Fruytes Ioh. 10.1 He that entreth not in by the dore into the Sheepfold but climeth vp another way he is a theef a robber Vs 10. The theef commeth not but for to steale to kil to destroy 2. Cor. 11.13 For such false Apostles are deceiptful workers transforme them selves into the Apostles of Christ Vs 14. And no marvayle for Sathan himself is transformed into an aungel of light Printed 1609. TO EVERY ONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER the truth in sinceâ—ity Salutations NOt every thing Gentle Reader which a man writeth privately sodaynly to his frend is fit to be published openly to the view of the world neyther did I think that this lettre written to Mr. Bernard in private vppon three dayes meditation should have been made publique in print to every mans eye censure which had I thought should have come to passe I would with better advyse leâ—sure so with more mature judgment have conceaved penned it But seing it is justly occasioned through Mr. Bernards importunity in his late published book intituled the Seperatists Schisme his slaunderous misconstructions misreports vp downe the country behind my back that this lettre of myne is strongly suspected of error bitternes rashnes vncharitablenes imputations of theÌ„ like nature by reason thereof my seâ— falleth vnder the hard vnknowne happily vndeserved censure of many well affected to the truth wheâ—eat I cannot but be much wounded both in myne owne soule inwardly in my good name outwardly which is alwayes better moâ—e to be esteemed then a good oyntment I thought it much more tolerable to adventure my self by exposing this vntymely byrth I meane this sodaynly conceaved penned lettre to the variable censures of the multitude theÌ„ by burying it in darknes silence like vnto one stil borne to superinduce a strong presumption of iustly imputed blame vppon my self by reason of this present lettre Therefore I doe earnestly intreat every one frend or other into whose handes this present writing may come to esteeme it as it is indeed even a sodayne private lettre of one freÌ„d vnto another not to respect it as it now falleth out to be a publique wriring proclaymed as it were vppon the house top I cannot nor may not with fidelity alter one sentence or word of it but as Mr. Bernard hath it copyed in his hands so have I published it word for word without any the least chandg to my knowledg least Mr. Bernard should say it is not the lettre he had from mee that his slaunderous collections aspersions cast vppon mee in respect of the lettre may be perceaved by them that read this lettre compare it with his book notes speeches And seing necessity enforceth the identity of this lettre without correction eyther of matter or wordes I beseech the Gentle Reader frendly favorably to construe all things interpret them in the better pâ—rt promising that if any eyther error in matter or tartnes of speech be manifested vnto mee as my sinne I shal willingly confesse repent it before the world And so vppon hope of a favorable construction I desire to advertise further that Mr. Bernard had in his hands this lettre of myne six or seven monthes before he published this his book intituled the Seperatists Schisme which book as may be perceaved by this letter compared therwith is principally directed in opposition reprehension thereof but how litle cause Mr. Bernard had so to doe may now appeare For he should have answered before he had opposed but that which he doth oppose is indeed answered already in the lettre by prevention anticipatioÌ„ that I shal not need to make answere a fresh to Mr. Bernard he being now twise answered once before his book was published now againe since by Mr. Henry Ainsworth Only I desire the reader to be advertised that ther are some particulars wherein Mr. Ainsworth hath lest mee the truth in the open playne field to shift for our selves In regard whereof as also bicause of Mr. Bernards misaledging misconstruing divers parts of my letter written vnto him I have thought meet not barely to publish this lettre but parallele-wise to compare Mr. Bernards book Mr. Ainsworths answer this my lettre together as also to annexe a few animadversioÌ„â— observations aperteyning therevnto that by this meanes the agrement difference being discovered the truth may appeare where it is Now although it be a greevous thing vnto me to raise vp adversaries against me without cause especially brethren of true Churches yet seeing I am necessarely interessed to defend the truth manifested in myne owne writings which I cannot possibly doe but by way of opposition theâ—for it commeth to passe that will I will I I must needes answer the opponent left I betray the truth which by due order I am particularly called singled out to defend Wherfor for more evidence sake I have caused this lettre written to Mr. Bern. to be divided into 19. Sections in every Section wher need required I have made parallels animadversions observations for severall purposes as the reader shal perceave in perusing theÌ„ Finally vppon perswasion of frends for further cleering of the truth I have annexed two other lettres the one written to Mr. A.S. a Minister of the Church of England conteyning certayne principall mayne groundes of our cause which I desire may diligently be considered of every one that is willing to see the truth the other written to ce tayne brethren of the Seperation for the confirming establishing of them in the truth against the assaults of Sathan transforming himself into an aungel of light therby the better to deceave the simple howsoever it be needlesse to publish any thing further for the cleering of the truth of our cause out of those mysts foggs which subtil disputers pleaders for corâ—uption have like jannes jambres those Egiptian jugleâ—s cast before mens eyes that they cannot readely
care chardg being cast vppon the Elders from the brethren they may wholly neglect the matter the Church grow corrupt through the Elders partiality negligence or other sinister respect for confusion it is not intended as you grossely imagine that al should speake but that al should consent For as in prayer one speaketh al the Church consent So in publique admonition excommunication one speaketh at once the rest consent if any man have any thing to say he may speake the first hold his peace as in Prophecy so in admonition by proportion 1. Cor. 14.30 yet the Lords oâ—der not be violated if pride therevppon contentions do arise it is through the corruption of men not through the ordinance of God may ther not much more pride grow in the Elders think you when they are absolute Lords as it were over the people wil not that breed much more contention And to contend for the truth is good and warrantable yea contentions must be in the true church but woe be to those by whome they come Secondly you say the whole Church cannot speake joyntly nor severally one by one except weomen children speak I deny it the whole Church may speake joyntly as in prayer prophesying 1. Cor. 11.4 So also in admonition excommunication by some persons deputed therto either Elders if ther be any or other if ther be no Elders for the speaking of weomen in the Church I say it needeth not for they so al the brethren may speake by silence or if any dissent they may speak either woman or youth yet the rule of the Apostle not violated who forbiddeth weomen to lead the action of worship in prayer or prophesy or praising God or any action of Government in the presence of men but he doth not forbid a woman to speake when she is called therto in matter of Government neither doth the Apostle intend to forbid weomen to pray or prophesy in the presence of weomen only as somtyme the occasion may be ministred if the church consist only of weomen that this is so you shal perceave by comparing these places 1. Cor. 14.34 1. Tim. 2.12 considering the reasons of the Apostles prohibition but let vs see the force of your argument If tel it to the Church be tel it to the body of the Church then every member of the Church must speake in rebuking the partie But every member must not speak in rebuking the partie that is promoted to the Church for sinne Therfor tel it to the Church is not tel it to the body of the Church so it must needes be tel it to the Elders I deny your consequent for al may heare take notice give consent speake if they se just cause orderly yet it followeth not that al are bound to speake vocaly one by one For silence is a sufficient testification of consent Further I say your minor is weake For every one is bound to speak that seeth just cause or els he shall ther by strangle his conscience and quench the Spirit and suffer sinne which he cannot do without sinne Lastly Christ crosseth not himself in giving powre to two or thre For he may give powre to two or three if ther be no more yet to twenty an hundreth a thousand if ther be so many but you Mr. Bern raise vp false expositions wrack the text to support heresies therby making the Scriptures a leaden rule to frame to your crooked conceipts a nose of waxe to be wrung which way your perverse apprehensions incline Your sixth reason that tel the Church is tel the Governors is this that els the Corinthians offended who were al commaunded to deale with the incestuous Corinth yet some only did so Paul should sinne who vppon the advertisement of Cloes howse did not wayt for the churches consent but himself alone determined the matter wils them to exente his senteÌ„cein the open congregation I answer al the Corinths did deale with the incestuous person though many spake the rest giving consent to their speeches therfor ther can no more sinne lye vppon theÌ„ for not rebuking by voice then ther lyeth sinne vppon the whole Church for not lifting vp their voice to speake in prayer prophesy being al commaunded so to do besides all might speake for many somtyme signifieth al as I have already shewed but this is but idle stuffe which you object Furthermore Paul was an Apostle having powre infalibility to plant direct reforme Churches wil you froÌ„ hence fetch a rule for the perpetual government of the Church it followeth not Paul did thus go one Prelate may do thus nay by your owne exposition ther must nedes be two or thre Prelates but what did Paul did he performe the whole decree of excommunication I deny it vtterly but the Apostles meaning is that he for his part gave his voice advise commaundemeÌ„t as having receâ—ved grace to be faithful that the incestuous person should be excommunicate note it wel Mr. Ber. Paul doth bid the Elders as you say excommunicate him caÌ„ these things agre I beleeve your wit was wandering when you wrote these things for you avouched out of the 2. Cor. 2.6 that many Elders did excoÌ„municate the incestuous person now you say that Paul at the information of Cloes Family like a Lord Bb. decrees the sentence of excommunication in his court coÌ„maundeth them to pronounce it you gave this powre of late to the Elders now you take it froÌ„ the Elders give it to Paul make the Elders only his deputyes but I wil shew you the reason of this your oversight contradiction you had by you in your study when you penned your book the writings of the Reformists the writings of the Prelates being in wrath choler enraged against vs of the SeperatioÌ„ you thought to make Herod Pilate frends against Christ have gathered both the Prelates Reformists objections against vs put theÌ„ downe in your book without judgment so through the weaknes of your vnderstanding not discerning the reasons of the Reformists Prelates to contradict bicause they fitted you against vs you not regarding the truth but the victory have fallen into this grosse contradiction which your learning can never salve only your repentance confession can cure it Your last reason that tel the Church is tel the Elders is this for that al reformed churches judg so wel yet you said even now that tel the Church is tel the Apostle Paul the Lord Bb. by consequent his successors are you in your right mynd Mr. Ber. that stumble thus but you see what it is to resist the truth But what if al the reformed Churches say so is it so if the Scripture say contrary it is not so the Churches must be reformed yet further according to the Scriptures