duty of holinesse Y Neither here did they stand but went on to aver the death of the soul with the body Z That all the Saints upon earth have two bodies AA That Christ is not united to our fleshly body but they would have him to be united to our new body BB with the same union where with his humanity is united with his Godhead That Christs Manhood was not now in the heavens CC but that his body was his Church These abominable errours and many more of this kinde to the number of Fourscore and eleven DD the New-English Independency did produce to the world in a very short time For the second The number of the erring persons this is said to have been incredible not onely multitudes of men and women every where were infected EE but almost no Society no Family of that Land was free of that Pest BB Boston the best and most famous of their Churches was so far corrupted that few there were untainted GG Concerning the Hypocrisie of these Hereticks it was exceeding great None appeared so humble so holy so spiritual and full of Christ as they HH In their speech nought but self-denial II In their prayers ravishing affections and heavenly expressions KK All their singular opinions were for the advancing of Free-grace LL For the glorious light of the Gospel for the setting up of naked Christ on his Throne MM Their malice towards all that dissented from them was so extreme that they made the life of many the most religious of their Neighbours to be bitter and a wearisome burden to them NN For their Ministers some of them they adored Master Cotton and Master Wheelwright they set up as the onely true Preachers of the Covenant of Grace they extolled them to the skies avowing that since the Apostles dayes none had received so much Gospel-Light as they OO But the rest of the Preachers not onely all in Old England PP but also all in New-England except a very few and most of all the best the most zealous and Orthodox even the instruments of their own conversion were to them Baals Priests Legal Preachers Popish Factors Scribes and Pharisees Enemies to the Gospel voide of the Spirit of Grace QQ Their contempt of the Magistrates was as great as of the Ministers Their late Governour they professed was a true friend to Christ and Free-grace RR but Master Winthrop their present Governour and the most of the Magistrates they proclaimed enemies of Grace Persecutors Antichrists Ahabs Herods Pilates whom God would destroy SS Their Preacher Master Wheelwright would exhort the people in his Sermon to deal with the Magistrates as such remembring them how Moses had killed the Egyptian TT Their Heresies did bring on so dangerous seditions as in a short time did put their Common-wealth in a clear hazard of utter ruine VV for the Heretikes had drawn to their side not onely multitudes of the people but many of the ablest men for parts in all Trades especially the Souldiers XX They kept such intimate familiarity and open correspondence with the most eminent men of the Land Mistresse Hutchinson and the late Governour kept almost every day so private and long discourse with Master Cotton that made them conclude all was their own YY and forced the wise Governour Master Winthrop to prevent their designes to put the former Governour and all that followed him from their places in the general Court and to desire him and them to be gone which was counted a real though a civil banishment out of their Land ZZ Also to disarm the most of that faction expresly upon fear least the Tragedy of Munster should be acted over again in New-England AAA Master Williams told me that he was imployed to buy from the Savages for the late Governour and Master Cotton with their followers a proportion of Land without the English Plantation whither they might retire and live according to their own minde exempt from the Jurisdiction Civil and Ecclesiastick of all others Master Williams was in so great friendship with that late Governour when he told me so much That I beleeve he would have been loth to have spoken any untruth of him Their obstinacy in all these things was truely marvellous for after all the pains which their godly Pastors took upon them in Preaching in Conference in Publike Disputations After the Magistrate had executed the Law and inflicted civil punishments upon some of their prime Seducers yea when God visibly from the Heavens had declared his anger against some of their cheif Leaders punishing Mistresse Hutchinson with a monstruous birth of more then thirty mis-shapen Creatures at one time BBB and Mistresse Dyer her principal assistant with another monstrous birth CCC of one Creature mixed of a Beast of a Fish and a Foul Notwithstanding all these admonitions their obstinacy was so great that many of them continued pertinacious without any repentance DDD For some of them separating of their own accord others being banished by the Magistrate retired into those Lands which Master Williams had bought for them and in that their new Habitation they continued not long till beside all the named Errours they fell into many more both Errours and Schisms EEE And Mistresse Hutchinson did make a new Separation retiring to a new dwelling FFF where after her long contempt of divine and humane patience at last God did let loose his hand and destroyed her sending in upon her a company of the Savages who burnt her self her house and all that she had GGG Notwithstanding all that God and man at that time and since hath done to discover the evil spirit that raged in that way yet such is the stoutnesse of many especially of the late Governour whose hand in all that businesse was cheif that to this day if you will confer with them they will assure That Mistresse Hutchinson was much mistaken and wronged that she was a most pious woman and that her Tenents if well understood were all true at least very tolerable We have oft marvelled that the Eldership of Boston did never so much as call her before them to be rebuked for any of her Errours though their general Assembly had confuted and condemned them yet still she was permitted to go on till the zeal of the new Governour and the general Court did condemn her to perpetual banishment then and not till then so far as we can perceive by the story did the Church of Boston begin a processe against her and when the processe was brought to an end Master Cotton by no means would put it in execution that burden was laid on the back of Master Wilson his Colleague how ever not the fittest instrument being the person to whom Mistresse Hutchinson from the beginning had professed her greatest opposition and when the sentence was pronounced against her they tell us That the great cause of it was none of her Heresies or Errours but her other practises especially
her grosse lying HHH The prophanenesse also of these persons is considerable their profession of piety being so fair that they avow their standing aloof from all the Reformed Churches as unclean because of their mixture with the prophane multitude Beside all that is said of their Heresies Schisms Contentions Contempt of Magistrates and Ministers all which are the prophane works of the flesh We read of further pollution breaking out among them as both Master Cotton and Master Wells do testifie III Out of the Governour Master Winthrops Narration I remark one abomination which to me seems strange That the Midwives to their most zealous women should not onely have familiarity with the divel but also in that very service should commit divellish Malefices which so far as they tell us were not onely past over without punishment but never so much as inquired after KKK All this and more we read of the Independents in New-England in one short Narration of two or three yeers accidents among them what if we had their full History from any faithful hand it seems that many more mysteries would be brought to light which now are hid in darknesse It is not our intention to bring any man to a prejudice or the least distast of the Grace and Gifts which God hath bestowed on Master Cotton or any other in New-England would to God that all our Questions with them were come to that issue they should finde us here as willing as their greatest admirers to prize to embrace and as our weaknesse will permit to imitate what ever good did shine in any of them But we have made these Observations from what themselves have written to bring if it be possible their own hearts or if this be desperate yet the mindes of others to a suspition of that their new and singular way which the Lord hath so manifestly cursed with bader fruits and greater store of them then ever yet did appear upon the Tree of Brownism which they do so much disgrace as an unlucky Plant notwithstanding all the Gifts and Graces wherewith Ainsworth Robinson and some others of its Branches have been adorned by God in as rich a measure as have been seen in any who to this day have ingrafted themselves into their new and bitter root of Independency The Testimonies A Master Cottons Letter to Skelton p. 3. Your other Errour that our Congregations in England are none of them particular Reformed Churches requireth rather a Book then a Letter to answer it You went hence of another judgement and I am afraid your change hath sprung from New-Plymouth men whom though I much esteem as godly loving Christians yet their Grounds which for this Tenent they received from Master Robinson do not satisfie me though the man I reverence as godly and learned Rathbones Narration p. 1. The Church at New-Plymouth was as I am informed one of the first Churches that was settled in New-England having been a part of Master Robinsons Church in Holland that famous Brownist from whence they brought with their Church Opinions and Practises and which they there still hold without any alteration so far as ever I could learn Master W. an eminent man of the Church at Plimouth told W. R. that the rest of the Churches of New-England came at first to them at Plimouth to crave their direction in Church courses and made them their patern B Vide Purchase Pilgrims in his discourses of America in divers Letters from New-England C Cottons Letter to the Reader before Hildershams Commentary upon John 1632. That one Letter of his to a Gentlewoman against the Separation which without his consent a Separatist Printed and Refuted hath so strongly and cleerly convinced the Iniquity of that way that I could not but acknowledge in it both the wisedom of God and the weaknesse of the Separatists His wisedom in bringing to light such a beam of his Truth by the hand of an adversary against the minde of the Author and the weaknesse of the other to advance the hand of this Adversary to give himself and his cause such a deadly wound in open view as neither himself nor all his associates can be able to heal in which respect I conceive it was that the industrious Doctor Willet stileth this our Author Schismaticorum qui vulgo Brownistae vocantur Malleus The Hammer of Schismaticks whom they commonly call Brownists D Vide supra A. E Edwards Antapology p. 17. Knowing something of the story of Master Goodwins first coming to fall off from the Ceremonies having seen and perused the Arguments that past betwixt him and Master Cotton and some others Master Goodwin assured me some moneths after his going off that he had nothing to say but against the Ceremonies the Liturgy offended him not much lesse dreamed he of this Church-way he since fell into F Cottons Letter from New-England to his friends at Boston October 5. 1635. Some other things there be which were I again with you I durst not take that liberty which some times I have taken I durst not joyn in your Book-Prayers G Ibidem I durst not now partake in the Sacraments with you though the Ceremonies were removed I know not how you can be excused from Fellowship of their sins if you continue in your place While you and some of my other friends continue with them I fear the rest will settle upon their Lees with more security The wise-hearted that left their Stations in Israel I doubt not were some of them if not all useful and serviceable men in their places yet they did themselves and their Brethren more good service in going before their Brethren as the Goats before the Flocks Jere. 50.8 then if they had tarried with them to the corrupting of their own wayes 2 Chro. 11.14 16. Antap. p. 32. After his going into New-England and falling into the Church-way there and sending over Letters into England about the new way presently after these Letters began the falling off and questioning Communion in our Churches H Antap. p. 32. One of you to wit Master Goodwin was so ingaged in his thoughts of one of the Ministers of New-England to wit Master Cotton by whom I am sure he was first taken off that he hath said there was not such another man in the world again Ibidem p. 22. One of you told some friends that he had found out a Form of Church-Government as far beyond Master Cartwrights as his was beyond that of the Bishops Master Williams Examination of Master Cottons Letter p. 47. Some of the most eminent amongst them have affirmed that even the Apostles Churches were not so pure as the new English Churches I Vide supra F. K Antap. p. 40. He hath had his Errours and I refer you for proof to his discourse about cleering the Doctrine of Reprobation See the Preface of Doctor Twisse his Answer L The short Story in the Preface par 10. What men they saw Eminent in the Countrey and of most
of the Churches infancy they were Idolatry false doctrine open profanenesse were then most abominable and more terribly punished then now by the totall destruction of whole Cities and Countries wherein they were entertained also the duty of mutuall inspection and admonition the contempt whereof is made the grand cause of separation was most clearly enjoyned in the Old Testament What here is replyed that all separation from the Iewish Church was simply impossible because then there was no other Church in the whole earth to goe to We answer that the Replyers themselves will say that a separation must be where there is just cause and where a person cannot abide without pollution and sin although there be no other Church for him to go to for they make it better for men to live alone separate from all then to abide in any Church where they cannot live without the participation of their neighbours sinnes We answer further That it was easie for the godly under the Law to have joyned together in the service of God and to have excluded the wicked thence and whereas it is said that this could not bee done because the Censure of Excommunication was not then in being We answer the Gospel makes it cleare That casting out of the Synagogue which was reall Excommunication was frequent in the Old Testament as also the keeping off from the service with a great deale of circumspection all who were unfit by any legall pollution much more by any known morall uncleannesse Kings themselves when polluted were removed from the Altar and put out of the Sanctuary Again I reason thus That which moved not Christ and his Apostles to separate from the Church of their time is no cause to us of separation but want of satisfaction by convincing signes of the true grace of every member of the Church was to them no cause of separation from the Churches of their times Ergo. The major is cleare except we desire a better pattern for our practices then Christ and his Apostles what ever carrieth us beyond their line must be high presumption and deep hypocrisie The minor is cleare by many Scriptures the Scribes and Pharisees were a generation of vipers Ierusalem worse then Sodom and Gomorrah Corasin and Bethsaida was worse then Tyrus and Sidon and to be cast lower in Hell then these yet the Lord did not give over to preach to pray to go to the Temple with them Iudas when a declared Traytor did not scarre him nor any of his company from the Sacrament After he went from the Table when his wickednesse was revealed that a Devill was in him yet none of the Apostles offered to cast themselves out of the body because this wicked member was not cut off Many members of the Apostolick Churches were so farre from convincing signes of true grace that the works of the flesh were most evident in their life In the Corinthians fundamentall errours open Idolaty grievous scandall bitter contentions profanation of the Lords Table In the Galatians such errours as destroyed grace and made Christ of none effect In the Church of Ephesus of Laodicea and the other golden Candlesticks divers members were so evidently faulty that the Candlestick is threatned to be removed yet from none of these Churches did any of the Apostles ever separate nor gave they the least warrant to any of their Disciples to make a separation from any of them A third Argument The want of that which never was to bee found in any Church is no just cause of separation But satisfaction by convincing Arguments of the true grace of every member was never to be found in any Church The major is unquestionable for what is not cannot have any operation non entis nulla sunt accidentia The minor is demonstrable from the nature of a visible Church it is such a body whose members are never all gracious if we believe Scripture It is not like the Church invisible the Church of the Elect. It is an heterogeneous body the parts of it are very dissimilar some chaffe some corne some wheat some tares a net of fishes good and bad a house wherein are vessels of honour and dishonour a fold of sheep and goats a tree of green and withered branches a table of guests some with some without a wedding garment in a word every visible Church is a society wherein many are called few chosen except therefore we will alter the nature of all visible Churches whereof Scripture speaks we must grant that in every Church there are some members which have no true grace and if so how can they give convincing and satisfactory signes of that which is not to be found Hypocrites may make a shew without of that which is not within but shall we lay an obligation upon every hypocriticall member of a Church to be so eminently skilfull in the art of counterfeiting as to produce in the midst of his gracelesnesse so cleare so evident and satisfactory signes of his true grace as may convince the hearts of every one of the Church that the thing is within the mans breast which certainly is not there The fourth Argument The want of that which cannot reasonably be supposed of every member of a Congregation is no just cause of separation from any Church but satisfaction c. Ergo. The major is cleare for if the want of such satisfaction be a just cause of separation from the Church Then the presence of such a satisfaction is very requisite to be in every member as a necessary meane to keep it in union with that Church The minor that such a satisfaction may not justly be supposed in every member of a Congregation for this would import these foure things all which are unreasonable First that every member of a Congregation is to have power to try all its fellow-members to let them in or hold them out according as in this triall he is satisfied This is a large limb of the Brownistick Anarchy putting the key of Authority and Iurisdiction into the hand of every Church-member if all the Independents will defend this let them speak it out plainly Secondly it requires a great deale of more ability in every member of every Church then can be found in any mortall man for not to speak of the impossibility of a grounded and certaine perswasion of true grace in the heart of an Hypocrite who hath no grace at all how is it possible to attaine unto any grounded certainty of true grace in the heart of any other man for the hid man of the heart and the new name are not certainly known to any but to such as have them The grounds of a mans own certain perswasion the act of his faith either direct or reflex the witnesse of his conscience or the seale of the spirit cannot go without his own breast all the demonstrations which can be made to another are so oft found false that in understanding men they
erect their Congregation the successe was no better their Ship scarce well set out was quickly splitupon the Rocks was soone dissipate and vanished When Johnstoun Ainsworth would make the third assay and try if that tree which neither in England nor Zealand could take roote might thrive in Holland at Amsterdam where plants of all sorts are so cherished that few of the most maligne qualite doe miscarry yet so singular a malignity is innate in that seede of Independency that in that very ground where all weedes grow ranke it did wither within a few yeares new Schismes burst that small Church asunder Johnstoun with his halfe and Ainsworth with his made severall Congregations neither whereof did long continnue without further ruptures Behold who please with an observant Eye these Congregations which have embraced Independency they shall finde that never any Churches in so short a time have beene disgraced with so many so unreasonable and so irreconcileable Schismes Against these inconveniences they tell us of two remedies the duties of charity and the authority of the Magistrate but the one is unsufficient and the other improper The duties of charitie are but mocked by obstinate Hereticks and heady Schismaticks to what purpose are counsells rebukes intreaties imployed towards him who is blowne up with the certaine perswasion that all his errors are divine truthes that all who deale with him to the contrary are in a cleare error that all the advices given to him are but the words of Satan from the mouthes of men tempting him to sinne against God As for the Magistrate oft he is not a Christian oft though a Christian he is not Orthodoxe and though both a Christian and Orthodoxe yet oft either ignorant or carelesse of Ecclesiasticke affaires and however his helpe is never so proper and intrinsecall to the Church that absolutely and necessarily she must depend thereupon Now all our Question is about the ordinary the internall the necessary remedies which Scripture ascribes to the Church within it selfe as it is a Church even when the outward hand of the Magistrate is deficient or opposite Our sixth and last Argument That which everteth from the very foundation the most essentiall parts of discipline not only of all the reformed but of all the Churches knowne at any time in any part of the world till the birth of Anabaptisme it can not be very gracious But this doth Independency The Minor is cleare by induction That the Government of the Scottish Church by Synods Presbyteries and Sessions sworne and subscribed of old and late by that Nation in their solemne Covenant that the same discipline of the Churches of France Holland Swiiz Geneva as also the Politie of the High Dutch and English and all the rest who are called Reformed is turned upside downe by Independency no man doubts for this is our Adversaries gloriation that they will be tied by no Oathes Covenants Subscriptions they will be hindred by no authority of any man no reverence of any Churches on earth to seperate from all the reformed that so alone they may injoy their divine and beloved Independency If you speake of more ancient times either the purer which followed the Apostles at the backe or the posterior impurer ages that the Politie of these times in all Churches Greeke and Latine is trodden under foote by Independency all likewise doe grant and how well that new conceit agreeth with the discipline practised in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles or in the dayes of Moses and the Prophets the preceding arguments will shew I confesse such is the boldnesse of the men against whom we now dispute that although they glory in their contempt of the authoritie of all men dead and living yet they offer to overwhelme us with testimonies of a number as well ancient as late Divines But who desire to see all that dust blowne back in their own eyes who raised it and the detorted words against the knowne mind and constant practise of the Authors clearely vindicated and retorted let them be pleased to take a view of Mr. Pagets Posthume Apologie where they will finde abundant satisfaction in this kinde For the other side a great bundle of arguments are also brought we shall consider the principall First To whom Christ hath given the right of excommunication the greatest of all censures they in all other acts of Jurisdiction and in all acts of Ecclesiastick discipline are Independent But Christ hath given the right of excommunication to every Congregation and to these alone Ergo c. They prove the Minor Unto the Church Christ hath given the right of excommunication Mat. 18. Goe tell the Church if he heare not the Church let him be to thee as an Ethnicke But every Congregation and it onely is the Church because in the whole Scripture the word Church where ever it is not taken for the Church universall or invisible is ever understood of a single Congregation which in one place with one Pastor serveth God Answer Passing the Majors we deny the Minors and affirme that no where in Scripture the word Church may be expounded of their Independent Congregation and least of all in the alledged place If we will advise either with the old or late Interpreters or with the best and most learned of the Adversaryes themselves who affirme with us that by the Church Math. 18. no Congregation can be understood unlesse we would bring in among Christians most grosse anarchy except we would set down on the Judgment seates of the Church every member of the Congregation men women young old the meanest and weakest part of the people to decide by the number not the weight of their voyces the greatest causes of the Church to determine finally of the excommunication of Pastors of the nature of haeresie and all doctrine and that with a decree irrevocable from which there may be no appeal no not to an Oecumenicke Synod Wherfore beside the rest of the Interpreters a great part of the Adversaries by the Church in this place understand no whole Congregation nor the most part of any Congregation but a select number thereof the Senate or Officers who cognose and discerne according to the Scriptures This is enough for answer to the argument but if further it be inquired the Senate of which Church is pointed at in this place whether of a Parochiall Church or Presbyteriall or Nationall or Oecumenicke or of all these Ans It seemeth that the Senate of all the Churches must here be understood and especially of a Presbyteriall Church at least not of a Parochiall onely and independently as our Adversaries would have it By no meanes will we have the Session of a Parish prejudged and are well content that the authority of Parochiall Sessions to handle their own proper affaires should be grounded upon this place onely we deny that from this place a Church-Session hath any warrant to take the cognition of things common to it selfe
had gathered a separate Congregation and drawn up for the defence of his Way these Writings whence ever since the best Arguments for that Schism are drawn B they went over to enjoy their liberty to Middleburgh of Zeland But behold the wrath of God following them at the heels when there was no disturbance from without they fell to such jarring among themselves that soon they broke all to pieces the most turned Anabaptists Brown himself returned to England recanted his Brownism received a Parsonage at the hand of a Bishop The course of his life to his deep old age was so extremely scandalous that more then ordinary charity is needfull to perswade that ever he was led with a good spirit I have heard it from reverend Ministers that he was a common beater of his poor old wife and would not stick to defend publikely this his wicked practice also that he was an open profaner of the Sabbath and that his injustice in not paying the small pittance he was indebted to him whom lazinesse in his Calling made him to keep for the supply of the cure of his Parsonage did bring him to prison in the which for that very cause he continued till death When the wickednesse of this man is objected to Robinson his Scholar he is so far from denial that under his hand he testifieth it abundantly C The third Master of this Sect was Barrow the most bitter and clamorous Censurer of all the Reformed Churches of any that yet hath put Pen to Paper chuse whom you will of the most despiteful Jesuites let their Books which are most besprinkled with Gall be compared with Barrows Discovery this to my taste is nothing sweeter then the bitterest of them all And yet there is small reason why with so great arrogance he should have taken in his hand the Censors rod if all be true of him which his opposites object However before he could gather any formed Congregation his invectives against the Faith Baptism and Laws of England were so excessive that Queen Elizabeth impatient of his Contumelies by the evil advice of the cruel Prelates about her caused him in a morning to be hanged on the Tower-hill The fourth Leader of this Way was Master Johnson who affraid at Barrows execution got over with the Church he had gathered to Amsterdam and there for many yeers was Pastor to the first setled Congregation of Brownists we read of This man with Ainsworth his Doctor sent out to all the reformed Churches the Confession of their Faith in the yeer 1602. But long it was not till it appeared to the world that no better spirit did reign in that company then in the former Societies of this way For incontinent three shamefull Schisms one upon the neck of another broke out among them First many of them turned Anabaptists and were excommunicated Secondly Master Johnson fell to so great oddes first with his brother Master George for small matters and afterward with his father that he excommunicated them both and was cursed by both when he had rejected peremptorily the mediation of the Presbytery of Amsterdam for reconciliation Thirdly the remnant of the company a little after rent in two upon needlesle Questions Master Ainsworth the Doctor with his half did excommunicate Johnson and his half who were not long behinde for they also did quickly excommunicate Ainsworth and all his followers Hereupon the War betwixt these two handfuls of people became so sharp that Amsterdam could not keep them both for Johnson with his side of the house got away to Emden where after his death that little company as I suppose dissolved and vanished Ainsworths's company after his death remained long without all Officers very like to have dissolved yet at last after much strife they did chuse one Master Cann for their Pastor but could not agree til very lately upon any other Officer and even yet they live without an Eldership as they did before without a Pastor The most of these things are the confessions of the party D the rest are notorious and will not be denied The weight and evidence of Gods hand against Johnson and Ainsworth had so far disgraced that Sect that in the opinion of the most no man would ever more look after it Yet two other Divines of very good parts did set under their shoulders to support it for some longer time but so that in the end they did undermine and undo it though in a contrary way Master Smith a man as I have heard of right eminent parts falling to that side and writing against the use of the Lords Prayer was convinced in a publike meeting by Master Hildersham and others for the Unconformists alwayes had the one eye no lesse intent upon the Separatists then the other upon Episcopacy notwithstanding Master Smith for all his conviction and open profession upon his knees of his full satisfaction did relapse and by his perswasion moved a great company to follow him out of England to Ley in Holland There he persevered not long in concord with his Elder Brethren of the Separation but quickly accused them all of Idolatry in their worship for looking upon their Bibles in the time of Preaching and on their Psalters in the time of singing E and of Antichristianism in their Government because in their Presbytery they joyned to Pastors other two Officers Doctours and ruling Elders which to him were humane inventions Neither here did the spirit of errour permit him long to stand But as in the Preface of his Book of difference from the old Separatists he professeth a resolution of inconstancy F So accordingly he did practise falling from Brownism to Anabaptism And as ordinary Brownism when he was a Brownist did not please his taste without his own refinings so turning Anabaptist the common sorts of that way did not please him though of the Anabaptists there be more kindes then of any other Sect this day extant yet by none of them all would his conscience permit him to be Rebaptised but he needs must Rebaptise himself and so draw on the just infamy of a Sebaptist G For a recompence of this wantonnesse in erring behold how the just Lord permitted Satan to lead him yet one step further It is not onely a common report but I have heard it from the gravest and most approved Divines of the Kingdom That upon his death-bed he became a Preacher of his own perfect righteousnesse if not a professed Arrian An example full of horrour which God hath set forth if men will be so wise as to be disciplined in the persons of others to bridle the petulant wits of this age who make it if not their pastime yet their exercise and glory to impugn by their Sophisms the setled Tenents and practices of all Christians before them Master Smiths progresse and end ought to circumscribe their luxuriant spirits within the circle of some moderation lest all the glory of their new inventions be
whether natural moral or spiritual which are done in faith But herein Master Smith is wiser then his fellows telling us That all Songs in the Church out of a Book whether in Verse or Prose are Idolatry MMMM yet he admits of singing such Psalms as the Spirit dictates to any person immediately without Book NNNN It seems the Brownists at Amsterdam have recanted their error in this point for all of them sing now in strange tunes the Psalms in meeter of Ainsworths exceeding harsh Paraphrase Preaching of the Word to them is no Pastoral act but is common not onely to all the Officers but to every gifted Brother of the Flock OOOO The word Sacrament to them is traditional corrupt and not to be used PPPP The Baptism of the English Church they make to be vain and nul the seal of no grace but onely of wrath and condemnation QQQQ yet they will not have it repeated They teach that the Lords Supper should be celebrated every Lords day RRRR So preparation-Sermons before and Sermons for Thanksgiving after the Lords Table to them are needlesse They will have all to sit at the Lords Table with their Hats on uncovering of the head in the act of receiving to them is Idolatry SSSS In this the present practice at Amsterdam contradicts their Doctrine for however they sit covered in time of all the reading and discourse yet when it comes to the participation of the elements every man during the time of his eating and drinking sits uncovered They count it lawful to joyn with the Lords Table Love-feasts TTTT They reject all Catechisms being set and so unlawful forms of instruction VVVV After a member is once received amongst them they enquire no more for his knowledge having once gotten satisfaction at his admission to Membership of his sufficient knowledge The Apostles Creed they detest as an old Patchery of evil stuff XXXX Christs descent into hell they count a blasphemous Article YYYY They reject all publike reading of the Word which is not backed with present Exposition ZZZZ They do not any way scruple the Office of Readers and Expounders for they give full liberty of publike and ordinary Preaching to any gifted man of the Flock though he have no Office When the exercise of Reading Expounding Singing of Psalms Praying and Preaching by the Pastor is ended they will have one two three or four to prophesie in order AAAAA and all to have a free liberty of continuing so long as they think meet After all this is done they have yet another exercise wherein by way of conference questioning and dispuâ—ation every one of the Congregation may propound publikely and presse their Scruples Doubts and Objections against any thing which that day they have heard BBBBB And as if all these Exercises were not enough to tire out a spirit of Iron the most of them being repeated again in the afternoon for a conclusion of all they bring in the laborious and long work of their Discipline for which the whole Flock must stay till they have heard debated and discerned every cause that concerns either the Officers or any of the people whether in Doctrine or Manners CCCCC Concerning the Magistrate Master Brown teacheth that he hath no right to meddle at all with any matter of Religion but to permit the liberty and free choice of Religion to the conscience of every one of his Subjects DDDDD The most of Browns followers do leave in this their Master making it a great part of the Christian Magistrates Office to suppresse within their own Bounds Idolatry and False doctrine EEEEE To compel all their Subjects if they will not be perswaded to hear the Word preached albeit no way to enter themselves members of any Church or to hinder any to enter in any Church they will or to erect new Churches of their own framing FFFFF Further if the Magistrate be a member of any Church they will have him were he the King himself to be so far subject to their Church-Censures that a little small Congregation shall have power upon his obstinacy in any sin or errour to excommunicate him and that without all delay without any respect to his Crown more then if he were the poorest servant of the whole Flock GGGGG and which is worst of all the Prince his Excommunication by the hands of so small weak a company must be without all possible relief for he hath no liberty of appeal to any upon earth HHHHH an oecumenike Councel may not assay to loose the knot of that Censure which the hand of the Congregation hath tied But their great Tenent about the Magistracie is this That no Prince nor State on the earth hath any Legislative power That neither King nor Parliament can make any Law in any thing that concerns either Church or State That God alone is the Law-giver That the greatest Magistrate hath no other power but to execute the Laws of God set down in Scripture IIIII That the Judicial Law of Moses bindes at this day all the Nations of the world as well as ever it did the Jews KKKKK They tell us that whatever God in Scripture hath left free it may not be bound by any humane Law whether Civil or Ecclesiastike and what God hath bound by any Law in Scripture they will not have it loosed by the hand of any man They lay it upon the Magistrate to punish by death without any dispensation every Adulterer every Blasphemer every Sabbath-breaker and above all every Idolater LLLLL. And here is the great danger that by Idolaters they will have understood not onely Pagans and Papists but the far greatest part of all Protestants all absolutely who are not of their way for the using of a set Prayer were it the Lords own Prayer to them is clear Idolatry MMMMM 1. For all this they will not permit any Magistrate to hang any thâ—ef at all MMMMM 2. Against the learning of the Times they make large Invectives the Universities and all the Colledges in them they will have razed to the ground they professe them to be worse then the Monasteries that justly were abolished NNNNN whatever Arts and Sciences are taught in the Christian Schools they count them idle and vain Grammar Rhetorick Logick Philosophy are all unlawful Arts OOOOO The Heathen Writers which are used in any Faculty such as Aristotle Plato Cicero and the like they would have them all burnt as the Authors of unlawful Arts. They reject all School-Degrees such as Batchelors Masters of Art Doctors of any faculty PPPPP They wil have no Students of Divinity QQQQQ They tell us that youths mis-spend their time and exceedingly abuse themselves by studying of those things which usually are recommended unto them as preparations for the Ministery whether Common places Commentaries upon Scripture or Protestant writers of Controversies all such Books they will have laid aside RRRRR yea it is their
other opinions wee have mentioned in the following Treatise I hope our Brethren will either disavow and passe from them or else be content to bury them in their owne breasts till time and better information make them die and vanish without more moyse Thirdly the intent of the Order is to bring up the dissenting Brethren â—o approve of the Government agreed upon in the Assembly and allowed by both Houses of Parliament or if that cannot be to see how in some practises they may be forborn This doth suppose that our Brethren shall not be permitted to print preach or publish any thing against the Goverment established by Parliament also that in the practice of this Government they shall be obliged to joyne so farre with their Brethren as their principles may suffer This being I doubt not but in many things they shaâ—l be much forborn for whatever be the unadvised rashnesse of some in their way yet if they may be pleased according to their frequent offers as I remember to be constant members of our Presbyteries and Synods and there to give were it but their consultative voyce I beleeve that few of them shall ever be pressed to much more for if they agree among themselves and governe well their owne Congregations no controversie that concerns them will ever come before any superiour Assembly and if any complaint of their male administration or any matter of ordination or excommunication should come from them to be cognosced in a Presbytery or Synod the result might ever be to them as a matter of advice to be executed in their owne Congregations by their owne Pastors if they did finde it right or if it appeared wrong the Generall Assembly or at least the Parliament would give them so much satisfaction as on earth can be expected Albeit I am in opinion that no case meerly Ecclesiasticall shall ever need to goe from a Generall Assembly to a Parliament these two bodies are so friendly and neare of kin that none who knowes their nature and constitution will ever feare their discord I dare say that all the jealousies which are presented to the Parliament of England of a Nationall Assembly are meere Bugbeares and childish frightments arising alone out of mis-information and unacquaintance for both reason and experience will demonstrate that the Parliament of England cannot have on earth so strong pillars and pregnant supporters of all their Priviledges as free Protestant Assemblies established by Law and kept in their full freedom from the lowest to the highest from the Congregationall Eldership to the Generall Synod of the Nation No such Barres as these are imaginable either against Tyranny or Anarchy they are the mightiest impediments both to the exorbitancy of Monarchs which has been and is our misery and to the extravagancy of the common multitude attempting to correct and subject all Parliaments to their owne foolish desires which is like to be the matter of our next exercise and trouble Protestant Assemblies examined to the bottom will be found reall and cordiall friends to all the Iust Legall and reasonable Prerogatives of a Monarch to all the equitable and profitable Liberties of the meanest subject but above all to every due priviledge of a Christian Parliament Sometimes we laugh sometimes we grieve to see men afraid out of meere ignorance with that which we know is their great good I am perswaded that after a little experience Congregationall Sessions Clâ—ssicall Presbyteries Provinciall Synods and Nationall Assemblies will be embraced and sluck to by the Parliament of England as the greatest and most usefull priviledges of their great Charter My fourth remarke upon the Order in hand is that it speakes alone of the questions of Government whereby the Assemblie was retarded but nothing of the constitution of Congregations which never came to any considerable debate much lesse did ever retard the Assemblies proceedings and albeit the words of the Order might be extended beyond the Government to the constitution yet wee may not thinke that the House doth intend to tolerate the gathering of separate Congregations in this point we hope that the desired accommodation shall satisfie our Brethren and all tolerations shall be needlesse Themselves are witnesses of our most earnest Desires of our very reall indeavours and we wish they had been much more our helperâ— and reall Assistants for purging of all Congregations so far as ever they have been in any time in any place for making them so void of ignorance and all scandalls as Scripture or any reason can require In these our earnest requests we trust the Parliament at last will shew us favour But when the Assembly and Parliament have done their uttermost to have the Churches purified so farre as is possible if notwithstanding of all that can be done our Brethren will yet separate and peremptorily refuse to communicate as Members in the best ruled Congregations either of England or of any other reformed Church wee confesse that by such a Declaration our Brethren would put us to a great deale of perplexity for such a separation as this were as we conceive the most palpable and unreasonable Schisme that ever yet was heard of in the Christian World much contrary to the word of God and evidently destructive of the necessary peace of all these Churches wherein it should bee tolerated beside its cleare contradiction in termes not onely to the Order of the House but to the solemn League and Covenant of the three Kingdomes Notwiihstanding wee trust that the grace and mercy of God shall be so richly powred out upon this revived Committee as shall enable them to expedit both us and our Brethren from these otherwise unextricable Labirynths Would to God that our Controversies with them were brought to a happy period that both they and we with all our power might concurre to reduce the rest of our poore Brethren who this day are pitifully intangled in manifold heresies and Errours that so all the childrâ—n of God being delivered from the snares and chaines of darknesse might make it their great taske and only contention who should honour most the name of their Father by the fragrancy of their godly charitable humble chaste and sober conversation Your Lordship is conscious to the first designes of the Noble Patriots of that your Nation it was never their mind to have trifled so much time in jangling with their Brethren of this Isle about new and needlesse questions but expecting a facility of setling truth and Peace within these Sâ—as their hearts were farther abroad their thoughts were large for the propagation not of ther owne but of Christs Kingdome and that not so much in the Light as in the heate and life thereof They have the more to answer who here and elsewhere have been the unhappy instruments not only to frustrate these great and gracious enterprises for the Weale-publick of Christendome but also to bring the undertakers to so low a condition that they be obliged this day to
God alone for any tollerable subsistence and their very being albeit we are hopefull the Lord is reserving good things for them who had so much Faith charity and Courage as to venture all for the cause of God and their Brethren the more unkind men have proved unto them The Lord who hath been witnesse to all their intentions actions and sufferings will in his owne time accordingly reward them and will not let them be ashamed of their first hopes and constant desires upon the which himselfe for a long time did shine so evidently from the Heaven as ever upon any enterprise on the Earth Though now that brightnesse be much ecclipsed and overclouded yet we are expecting with passionate desires and confident hopes the dissolution of these clouds and the dispelling of the present darkenesse by the strength of the Beames of his ancient and undeserved kindnesse towards that now suffering and much distressed Nation But insensibly my pen hath runne beyond the bounds of a short Epistle albeit my experience of your Lordships readinesse to dispence with your friends indiscretion makes me secure of my pardon I will detaine your Lordship no longer I lay downe my Booke at your Lordships feet to be given to the world by your Lordships hand If it be received with so much candor and charity by every Reader as I know it is offered it may possibly prove serviceable Thus wishing to your Lordship in these dayes of deepe and dangerous tryalls and too great defection of many constancy and daily increase of affection to all truth Piety Iustice and every Vertue I remaine Your Lordships in all Christian duty to be commanded R. Baylie London Novemb. 19. 1645. The Principall Authors whose Testimonies are cited in the case of the Brownists 1 THe Brownists confession of Faith printed by themselves 160â— 2 The Brownists Apoâ—ogy printed 1604 3 Robert Brownes Life and manners of true Christians printed 1582 4 Henry Barrow his briefe discovery of the false Church 1590 5 Henry Barrow his plaine refutation of Mr Gifford 1590. 6 Francis Iohnsons enquiry and answer to Thomas Whites Discovery of Brownism 1606 7 Francis Iohnsons Christian plea 1617. 8 Iohn Cann his guide to Sion 1638 9 Iohn Cann his necessity of Separation 1638. 10 Apologia Iusta quorundam Christianorum c. per Iohannem Robinsorum 1619 11 Robinsons justification against Bernard reprinted at London 1640 12 Syons royall prerogative 1641. 13 A Light for the Ignorant 1638. The Principall Authors whose Testimonies are cited in the case of the Independents 1. An Apologeticall Narration by Thomas Goodwin c. 1643 2 Iohn Cottons Keyes published by Thom Goodwin and Philip Nye 1644. 3 Iohn Cottons way of the Churches in New-England 1645. 4 Iohn Cottons Sermons upon the seven Vialls 1642. 5 Iohn Cottons Catechisme or the Doctrine of the Church 1644. 6 An Answer to thirty two Questions by the Elders of the Churches in New-England published by Mr. Peters 1643. 7 An Apology of the Churches in New-England for Church-Covenant or a discourse touching Church-Covenant 1643. 8 A glimpse of Syons glory in a Sermon at a generall Fast-day in Holland by T. G. printed at London 1641. 9 Ieremy Burrowes Sermons upon Hosea 1644. 10 The personall raigne of Christ by Io Archer Pastor of the Church at Arnheim 164â— 11 Io Archers comfort for Beleevers 1645. 12 Mr. Burtons vindication of the Independent Churches 1645. 13 Iohn Goodwins Theo-machia 1644. 14 A short story of the rise reigne and ruine c. published with Mr. Welds large Preface 1644. 15 Mr Welds answer to Rathbans narration 1644. 16 Mr Cottons Letter to Mr. Williams 1643. 17 The Anatomist anatomised by Mr Simson 1644. We cite also for some matters of fact to which no satisfactory Answer hath been made hitherto by the Parties 1 Mr Edwards Antapologie 1644. 2 Mr Williams examination of Cottons Letter 1644. 3 Mr Williams bloody Tenet 1644. 4 Plaine-dealing or Newes from New-England by Thomas Lechford 1642. 5 The Anatomy of Independency by a Learned Minister of Holland 1644. 6 Doctor Bastwicks Postscript 1645. 7 Mr. Prinns fresh discovery 1645. The CONTENTS of the following Treatise The Preface THe chiefe and first meane to extinguish the flames of our warre is the waters of our heart poured out in prayers to God pag. 1 Reformation after mourning is the second step to a solid peace p. 2 The corruption of the Church is the fountaine of our present misery ibid. The State cannot be setled till the Church be first reformed 3 Every man would help what hee can to recover the languishing Church from her desperate disease ibid. The offer of a strange and easie remedy of a Looking-glasse 4 The malignity of Errour ibid. The Authors intention is to set down in a Table for the cleare view of all the errours which trouble us ibid. And that with Iustice and Love toward all persons 5 The partition of the ensuing Treatise 6 Episcopacy was the mother of all our present Sects ibid. Presbytery will be their grave 7 The Presbyteriall way of proceeding ibid. What England rationally may expect from Presbyteries and Synods 8 Chap. 1. The originall and progresse of the Brownists Satan is the great enemy of the Churches Reformation 9 His chiefe instruments alwayes have been professed friends to Religion ibid. Reformation at the begining did run with one impetuous current ibid. What was its first stop 10 The fountaine of Protestant discord ibid. The unhappy principle of the Lutherans ibid. And the more unhappy principle of the Anabaptists 11 Somewhat of both these wayes was entertained in England ibid. The originall of the English Bishops and Ceremonies ibid. The originall of the Separatists 12 Brownism is a daughter of Anabaptism 13 Bolton the first known Separatist in England hanged himselfe ibid. Brown the second leader of that way recanted his schism and to his death was a very scandalous person ibid. The humour of Barrow the third master of this Sect 14 The strange carriage of Iohnson and Ainsworth the next two leaders of the Brownists ibid. The horrible wayes of Smith their sixth master 15 The fearfull end of Smith his wandrings 16 Robinson the last grave and learned Doctor of the Brownists did in the end undermine his party 17 Robinson the authour of Independency ibid. Chap. 2. The Doctrine of the Brownists They hold that all Churches in the world but their own are so polluted that they must be separate from 20 Their injurious slanders of the Church of England ibid. Yet sometimes they say that communion maybe kept with her both in preaching and prayer ibid. Their like dealing with all the other Reformed 21 Their flattering of forraign Churches is not to be regarded ibid. The matter of a Church they make to be reall Saints only 22 Their unreasonable strictnesse in this one point is the great cause of their Schism ibid. They place the forme of their Church in an expresse Covenant 23 Seven may make a perfect Church