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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	call_v	scripture_n	word_n	1,394	5	4.1742	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13299	A Christian reprofe against contention Wherin is declared and manifested a just defence of the Church against such slanderes and reproches which Sabine Staresmore hath layd vpon vs in his two bookes, the first being 16 questions, called a louing tender. The second is his preface and postscript befor and behind Mr. Answorths last sermon, and making a pretence by that to sett it out as a loue token, hee breetheth out his malice against vs: and lastly her is an answer to a letter written by Mr. Robinson, and sent to vs with the consent of his Church, which now Mr. Staresmore hath published to the world. To these things an answer is giuen by A.T.	A. T., fl. 1631.; Thatcher, Anthony, attributed name.	1631 (1631)	STC 23605; ESTC S103240	40,101	48

writings by the which hee slandereth his neighbours and not only once but the second time as for example his 16. Questions set out the yeare 1623. would not any man that readeth them thinke that they are our grounds that hee hath sett out by the way of question whereas in deed they are his owne framing as they may fite his owne turne beste yea some altogether false as question the 5. and others the like may not one of them are so sett downe as that wee will approue of it therfore as Mr. S. hath done euill in making such questions so hath the answerer or made his answer according as his mind was declined and as Mr. S. hath done vs Injurie in them so hath hee now as I shall shewe if wee had thus done vnto him then hee might have complained of outcryes But hee is like a quarrelling man which layeth hard strokes vpon his neighbours with all crieth out that hee hath the injury if hee be so bold as to sett out in print such vntruethes against vs what may wee thinke hee hath done in secret with his tong and pene wher wee cannot come to know it a few words is convenient more to be spoken concerning his 16. Questions hee saith in his Epistle that hee was much prouoked latly to further it by some amongst vs I am doubtfull of it although hee saith that diuers can witnesse it because I know how vnresty hee is and how smale an occasion hee will take to be provoked vnto his end lesse strife nay was it not rather that hee toke an occasion both then now to sett his Printery a worke for in deed if hee goeth one as hee doth begin hee may make great vollomes to idle contention but I hope a Christian answer may satisfie a descret reader to keepe to the mayne things that are different betweene vs but if any did provoke Mr. S. I hope they did not provoke him to sett downe 〈◊〉 nor yet to pervert our reasons by his owne formings Hee saith these questions answers were severall times tendered to our sight which wee would not vouchsafe to regard to the which I answer neither doe wee regard them now but doe retourne them to the former of them to whome they are due desire him as reason requireth that hee will giue his leaue to frame our owne groundes as wee haue just occasions and for our not receiving in to publique these questions answers by the answer allredye geven wherin is shewed how vntrue they are are sufficiente not to receive them also wee had experiance of his troublesomnes before and should such things be read to the congregation moreouer it was signified that if they came with repentance wee were redy to hear it and to receiue them with gladnes but to read his forged writings in the Church wee have no warrant in the word of God nor any example nor costome And whereas hee saith In these to our vnderstanding are comprehended the marrowe substance of the things in difference betweene vs arising both from that letter writ to London the cause of our misery and other actions and dealinges occasioned from the same To the which I answer first hee himselfe granteth Them to be collected and composed questions in that hee saith in these to our vnderstanding are comprehended which as hee saith did arise both from the letter and other actions and dealinges occasioned Answer But doth not our opposites knowne that the 〈◊〉 placeing of words or the lacking of a word or the adding of a word may change the sence too whome made hee these questiōs was is not to one that was corrupted with the same errour that he held euen as dipt as himselfe and should wee not expect a good resolution neither will the marrowe and substance of the differences betweene vs appeare by such questions and answers for som questions which hee gathereth are amisshapen and wanteth that that should be with it and some are false and it is no marveile for hee saith they arise from actiōs and dealings occasioned and who knoweth not that by such compositions wee may be very much wronged and so wee are in deed But wher hee calleth our letter the cause of our misery To the which I answer his errour and his vnrestynes in his errour is the cause of our misery in all these troubles in questions and for the letter although it is infearme as it is by man composed yet is it a worke of God by his people against errour sinne being the manifesting of our Iudgment confermed by the word of God against that Samaritanest Couenant being there vnto called and haue not wee the Scriptures plantyfull for our warrant having the Prophetes and Apostels for our example it being appart of our spirituall warfare against since and seed of the serp●…nte to witnesse against such counterfait Couenant as the Prophet saith Osea 10. 4. They have spoken words swearing falsly in making a Covenant and as Iohn saith Reu. 2. 10. I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Iewes and are not but are the Synagogue or Satan and have wee not also an example in a such like cause as this in the Church of Ephesus which was commanded by the Holy Ghost Reu. 2. 2. for examining of them which saith they was Apostells and are not and hast found them liares And should wee be blamed for examining of them as say they are visible Christians and haue made a true Covenant when in deed they are found to be liares and this man who is the chiefe cause of this our misery hath bin found falty in this respect long ago in London for hee went to Mr. Lee and his people and desired of them Communion signifying to them that hee vvas as they ware being in the same Covenant so got into theire Communion But vvhen they came to heare that Mr. S. had deceiued them ther vvas a meeting appointed betvvene Mr. Lee and his people Mr. Iacobe and his people at the vvhich Mr. Sta. himselfe vvas presente and three other men vvhich aftervvards 〈◊〉 members of our Church vvhich testified vnto vs hovv things vvas caried so being come together Mr. Iacobe their manifested as the truth vvas that they never intented separation from the Church of England appearing to Mr. S. I for vvitnesse saying their sittes Mr. S. 〈◊〉 him gainsay it if hee can to the vvhich speech hee had not one vvord to gainsay yet after this hee coming over to vs hee caried himselfe in the like manner tovvards vs and vvee being ignorante hovv things did stand and hee concealing the truth hee had almost dravvne our teacher to yeld to lett him communicate But vvhen these 3. Brethren had given in their testimony hovv things did stand then our teacher saith That them it vvas to be considered other vvayes no doubt if the Lord had continued his life hee vvould haue discouered that Couenant in question and

say to the Law and to the testimonies of the Lord if they can bee brought to ouersway our reasons I trust the Lord will giue vs hearts to submit therevnto and vvhere hee vvisheth that vvee did see our weaknes and saith then would you not procede vvith that confidence in a matter and manner before ynheard of in the Churches Answer How true this is it doth appeare by the answer to Mr. S. Preface before for their I haue layd downe the matter and approued our course by the word of God and haue the examples of the Churches of God in the like causes which by the vvord of the Lord is approued and for our weaknes wee knovv it and confesse it yet ought wee not willfully to cast away our obedience from the least of Gods preceptes or commandes which hee hath giuen vs to walke in vpon Mr. Rob suttle inticements yet wee are redy to hear what any man can informe vs by the word of the Lord and therefore that sentence hee might haue spared wher hee saith As if the word of God either came from you or vnto you alone and who can not abuse Scripture phrases to effect their willes Lastly hee endeth his Letter vvith vpbrading of vs which is as I suppose a principall cause that Mr. S. hath set it out to the vvorld because it agreeth vvith his manner of reproching of vs as followeth And for the Church here vvhich is nearliest vnited vnto you vvhat other vse haue you had of vs since the death of your vvise and modest gouernors in all your differances and troubles saue to helpe to bear part of the scandall opprobry wherwith specially in the publique cariage of matters you haue layden the ordinances of God and professors of the same in the eyes of all within and vvithout but in vaine vvee speake vnto you vvhose eares prejudice hath stopped Ansvver In deed nearlist in dwelling but fardist of in affection as it may appeare not only by this bitter Letter but also to strangers as occasionally they passe by their dwellings by vvhome it cometh to our eares hovv bitterly they inuay against vs and what is the cause because wee wil not receiue their new found vvayes of declining and because wee deslike that they looke not better to the Lords vvatch in suffering their members to apostat some declining to the Church of England their liuing other going a great compase to new England to communicat with the Church of England and some of them that are in this Land professe to hear in the assemblies as they haue occasion and I make no doubte but they haue don it many times and this their negligent watch hath effected so that from a great company they are allmost come to nothing or fewer then those vvhom they despies and haue sayd concerning vs that our contentions would break vs to peeces And further I say that our troubles haue by them bin increased in vnjust taking part vvith our opposites so that the prouerbe is in them fullfilled which saith Prou. 27. 17. Yron sharpeneth yron so doth man sharpen the face of his friend for Mr. S. informeth Mr. Rob. and his people a mise and they againe sharpen his face and harden him in his euill and others that take his part and so increase our trouble and also the scandall and herin they fullfill this prouerbe Prou. 28. 4. They that forsake the law praise the vvicked and therfore lett it not bee though contention allthough wee faile in the manner of the doing of it if wee keepe and obserue the other part of the Prouerbe vvhich saith But they that keepe the lavv sett themselues against them And novv my brethren that are absent I speake to all that are faithfull if all the Churches of God Gala. 1. 7. Phili. 3. 18. 2. Peter 2. 1. or the most of them haue bin thus troubled as the Scriptur doeth plentyfully shovv vvhy should it seeme strang vnto you as if some strang thing had befallen vs or as if it vvere other vvayes vvith vs then it hath bin vvith the Churches of God euen in the dayes of the Apostells and in all ages yea and hath not the Apostells Act. 20. 30. foretold that such things must bee saying For their must bee heresies amongst you that they vvhich are approued may bee made manifest amongst you 1. Cor. 11. 19. If therfore vvee striue for the trueth and to abolish sinne vvee do herin the will of God Therefore our Lord teacheth vs to judge with consideration Iohn 7. 24. saying Iudge not according to the apparence but judge righteous judgment Neither let any stomble or bee offended at any weaknesses they see or espie in vs for wee are but vveake men compased about vvith the same infirmities euen as other yet desiring to bee helped by any let therfore such as haue a loue vnto the trueth rather sett their shoulder to the Lords vvorke and helpe to bear the burden Gala. 6. 2. which the Lord hath appointed and let all know that as it is euill to giue justly an offence for any to stomble so is it dangerous to bee offended in Christ as our Lord saith Matth. 11. 6. And blessed is hee that shall not bee offended in mee And vvher Mr. Rob. saith that our cares are stoped vvith prejudice Answer It hath bin time for him to say this if hee had conuinced vs of errour or sinne but to run on thus vpon an vnjust ground may rather bee judged prejudice in him And wheras hee saith that they will bewaile our state which is in deed to bee bevvailed to this I answer Allthough hee doth mise the right mark in this his bewayling of vs for hee bevvayleth vs because wee withstand his errour and declining yet for our selues I say vvee haue cause to bee sory or to bewayle our sinnes and vveakness●…s and also our troubles which our opposites hath made and the more sory vvee are that hee and his people hath vnjustly helped them as this Letter doeth manifest and vvhich I haue noted before yet more I say bevvayle or weepe not for vs only but for themselues in respect of those euills and declinings before showed and thus I end vvith the Letter of the Church of Leyden desiering all to consider of that vvhich is vvritten in the which their is no eloquence for I want learning and am but a bab in Christ yet I pray consider that when a child pleadeth reason it ought the more to bee regarded because it proceed from so simple an vnderstanding so looke vpon the cause to bee the more just and equale because I am but weake and haue not been hertofore so imployed And novv as Elihu saith Iobe 34. 3. The ear crieth words as the mouth casteth meats therefore try the reasons and Scriptures alledged and as Paule saith 2. Timo. 2. 7. Consider what I say and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things FIN COncerning the publique passages of things in the Church which ●…re in this booke I haue been carefull to keepe to the trueth of things yet it may bee in some vvord or vvordes vvhich is not materiall to change any sence may haue escaped therefore for the more certainty of the trueth thereof I did first reuise them with diuers brethren and then I read it in the publique first because all should take knowledge of the rightstanding of the cause indifferant secondly because I would not allvvayes striue about words and things which concerneth not the things indifferant and so to fill the vvorld full of needlesse contention vvhich is neither to Gods glory nor yet to the comfort of him that doeth it Fault escaped In page 2. line 8. seeing is wanting p. 4. l. 4. read vs for his p. 4. l. 21. a mise for inse pag. 5. l. 2. read sinne for sence p. 5. l. 9. read were for was p. 5. lin 23. read appealing for appearing p. 5. l. 30. read said for sayth p. 8. l. 37. read proued for proue p. 11. l. 2. read circumcision for circoncision p. 11. l. 23. read second for two p. 12. l. 11. read the for to p. 13. l. 6. read prouoke for prouoque p. 13. l. 12. read scerching for cerching p. 15. l. 17. our is vvanting p. 25. l. 33. read try for cry R. B. D. P. S. I. E. H. A. B. * Iustification of separ●…tion * Obserue this is the 〈◊〉 which Mr St. 〈◊〉 to haue * An a●…row against the sep●…ration of the B●…un pag ●…9 line 25.

yet for all this did this man continue in his vntrue speaking a long time after this saying that they vvere the most part separated and vvhen hee vvas asked vvhy hee did not then excepte against Mr. Iacobe vvhen hee appealled to him for vvitnesse and being observed that your silence vvas a consent as in such causes it is offtentimes to the vvhich hee ansvvered that it did not follovv that because hee ansvvered not that therfore it vvas so and yet behold besides M. Iacobes testimony vvee sence haue other vvitnesse of 〈◊〉 men vvhich vvas at the Couenant making that none of them 〈◊〉 separated and this is vnder ther ovvne hands ratified and in one o●… their testimonies vvhich vvas don by their eldere hee is blamed 〈◊〉 as follovveth vvhosoeuer shall say that they vvere separated may vvel take shame vnto themselues yea though it should bee M. S. himselfe and vnto this vvriting is the hands of Three more vvhich testifye that all of them vvent to hearing in the Church of England after the Couenant making to ther knovvledge and novv seing that these things are so in the vvhich this man hath gone beyond himselfe in the speciall ground from vvhence all these our troubles did arise hovv should hee feare himselfe even in his errour and to take heed hovv hee goeth one in his procedings least the Lord leaue him vnto hardnes of harte and to blindnes of eyes as a just recompence for striuen against the truth or to lay a snar in Mizpach to insnare the soules of men or to doe as Balaam did which taught Balac to put a stumbling blocke before the Children of Israell which this man hath done and doth in the maintaining of that Samaritanesh Couenant as through the helpe of the Lord I shall proue in due time And none to retourne to Mr. S. Preface againe hee calleth vs vnmercyfull spirits vvho vnder pretence of godly zeale and hatred against sinne vngodly massacre the true and living members of Christ body First I answer that if I should follow him in all his clamours and insinuations also his taking vp of mens weaknesse let fall in reasoning and dispute which hee vseth to hide his ovvne faultes and transgressions then I say vvee might haue vvorke enough to doe and increase vnprofitable writtings But let him knovv that all men of vvisdome vvill thinke it apo●…re shifte to helpe himselfe with mens sinnes or infirmityes to couer his ovvne sinnes so to auoide the maine matter in difference therfore fit it is seing hee would not rest in his errour in peace that novv hee should Both justifie his errour and his vnrestynes in his errour which vvas the cause of his casting out or else to fall vnder it and to retourne with repentance but seing hee hath vvritten vntru●… ths I shall make a briefe ansvver vnto them But first vvher hee saith vvee are furious vnmercifull vvith other reprochfull termes before named hee should haue stayed himselfe in these things vntill such time as hee had made good his cause in question for vvho is not just in ther ovvne cause in their conceite which be in contention as hee is and therfore the euill of his reproches and all the hinderances vnto the truth which hee speaketh of must lye vpon himselfe except hee could make his errour truth and his vnrestynes with seeking to se●… to be good and lavvful which I knovv is more then hee is abell to doe And for his quoting of Scriptures hovv largly and fitly might they all be applyed vpon himselfe as 1. Thess. 4. 1. might be applyed to him to show his busines before hee came to vs and vvhill hee vvas vvith vs and since hee vvas cast out being a raiser vp of contention so breaking those Scriptures Galat. ●… 15. and 1. Cor. 11. 16. also for Rom. 16. 17. Hovv euidently doth that Scripture reproue his factious action for the vvhich hee vvas cast out But I leaue the manifesting of it vnto his propre place And for the other whom hee saith are thrust out of the Church vvhich vvitnesse for them I hope all men of vnderstanding may consider that men that haue euill causes for the most part they lack not some partaker to assist them And for them vvere they not as forvvard as any to cast out these tvvo opposites yea more forvvard then many and I am suer more forward then my selfe and vvhat hath chāged theire mindes they say the meeting of the brethren aftervvards to be spoken of vvhich I may say is lese then affige leaue to couer there shame and therefore may it not bee well feared that respects haue stollen awaye ther affectiō seing theire reason of change is of so little vvaight and for this I can show reasons but at this time I spare because that some although justly touched yet vvould bee to much moued and although I could say more yet I stay here knovving that such things doth but tend to vaine ●…anglinge But this man hath administred the cause to speake this And wheras hee saith vvee reject the vvord of God all vvholsome counsell for our amendement countrary to the very letter of the 38. article and why did hee not shevv vvherin also was it not because hee might doubt of the truth of his affirmation and suer if it be layd vpon him for an vntruth I see 〈◊〉 hovv hee can shifte it for our article speaketh of the communion that all Churches haue for counsell and helpe in all needfull things in the common faith and this did wee practise in that our letter to the Church at London in the vvhich this man did so much oppose vs and hath made all this troubell and also vvee practise that article as wee haue just occasion But doth hee meane wee breake this article because wee doe not at his pleasure his will or the willes of such as h●… stoureth vp to bring other Churches to bee judges whether hee bee rightly cast out or not if all that are cast out should haue that righte as I know not why hee should haue more right then others then t●… Churchs should haue worke enough to doe to looke to others businesses to neglect their owne But wee must learne to put a differance betweene that which concearneth the common faith and the proper power that euery seuerall Church hath in it selfe as for example in Reu. 2. and 3. chap. euery particular Church hath theire commandation or reprofe as they deserved and as the Church of Pergamus was reproued for suffering of such as taught the Doctrine of Balaam so needed they not to aske another church whether they should restraine them that so taught or vvhether they should cast them out if they vvould not be restrained or vvhen they had cast out anie to call for other Churches to knovv vvhether they had done vvel or not in so doing especially to such Churches as vvere corrupted vvith the same errour and hear obserue that vvhen vvee did