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A10844
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A treatise of the lavvfulnes of hearing of the ministers in the church of England: penned by that late learned and reverent deuine, Mr. Iohn Robinsz. late pastor to the new English church of God in Leyden. Printed according to the copie that was found in his studie after his decase [sic]: and now published for the common good. Together with a letter written by the same authore: and approued by his church: vvhich followeth after this treatise
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Robinson, John, 1575?-1625.
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1634
(1634)
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STC 21116; ESTC S112268
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28,560
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99
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A TREATISE OF THE LAWFVLNES OF HEARING OF THE Ministers in the church of England penned by that learned and Reverent deuine M r. Iohn Robinsz late Pastor to the English church of God in Leyden Printed according to the Copie that was found in his studie after his decase and now published for the common good TOGETHER WITH A LETTER written by the same Authore and approued by his church vvhich followeth after this Treatise IOHN 7. 24. Iudge not according to pearance but Iudge righteous Iudgment Printed Anno 1634. THE PRINTERS TO the Christian Reader CHristian Reader How euer the verie naming of the Author of this following Treatise vvere sufficient reason for vs to publish this same vnto the vvorld in regard of those large abilities aboue many others vvhich the Lord had bestowed vpon him and in regard he being now at rest with the Lord and so hauing finished long since his course in this his pilgrimage vve cannot expect to haue any more vse of his helpe this waye and although it were great pittie that such a vvorke as this should be concealed for so long time considering the worke vvas perfected and vvritted by his owne hand and so found after his death which is nine yeares since in his studie yet haue we thought it good all this while to conceale it in respect of that desire vve had to the peace of that church whereof the Author of this Treatise vvas for so many yeares a Pastor In regard vve did perceiue that some though not manie vvere contrariâ— minded to the Authors judgement expressed in this Trtatise And this vve judge to be a sufficient reason of our so long delaying of publishing this Treatise to the world Yet to our griefe vve haue now just cause to put this same on foote For as vvhen a citie is in danger of enemies to be surprized it is then high time to take vp all those vvarrlike Munitions vvhich happily before that time vvere cast aside and not regarded that so they may the better maintaine their citie and the priuiledges of it against their enemies so vve judge it as necessarie if not more vvhen vve see the enemies of Gods church to incroach vpon the priuiledges of the same especiallie vvhen they ayme at the vtter ruinating of it that then it is high time for vs to defende the cause of Christ and it vvas the vvisdome of Iehojada the High Priest perceiuing the malice of Athalia seeking to destroy the vvhole seed of Iehosaphat to hide Ioash the right heyre of the Kingdome and vvhen he sawe a fit opportunitie then to reueale him and make him knowne so vve vvho haue obserued Athalias spirit in part to be in some vvho haue laboured to assume the power to themselues vvhich is proper to the church and so Diotrephes like vvould cast out vvhom they please and retayne vvhom they thought good and rather then they vvill be hindred in this their attempt they vvill labour to rent that church in pieces in vvhich they haue liued for manie yeares together and that vve may not seeme to accuse them of any thing vvithout just reason vve desire the Christian Reader and themselues to consider this that followes First their schisme or as they call it their leauing of the church doth arise vpon this occasion to wit that 2. which vvere members of the same church with them hauing vpon some occasion heard some of the Ministers in England preach and it coming to the knowledge of some of these vvho haue now made this rent the church they vvould presently haue these persons dealt vvithall as for sinne and if they did not repent after dealing they vvould haue the church to proceed to excomunicate them ipso facto vvhich the church not willing to consent vnto these men could not be satisfied but they vvould haue their owne vvilles done or els they vvould rent from the church vvhich proceeding of theirs if it vvere approued of and followed no church could long continue together in peace for vvhat these foure or fiue men haue done that may any other man doe so that if any man do conceiue any of his brethren to vvalke in any such sinne vvhich he judges doth deserue excomunication if the church will not thereto consent he may rent himselfe from the same Although the Author of this Treatise haue taught them otherwise to vvit that if the church see not that to be sinne vvhich I see to be a sinne I hauing informed the church thereof according to my place I haue disscharged my dutie and the sinnes lyes vpon the church if it be a sinne and not vpon me but it seemes these men do looke for that in the church on earth vvhich is onely to be found in heauen for themselues haue affirmed and that before diuers witnesses that there is no sinne small or great that is to borne vvithall and that the verie speaking of a vvord through fraylty about worldly businesses vpon the Sabbaoth day should haue as seuere a sentence as he that shall openly prophanely transgresse against the 4. Commandement the verie naming of with their opinion is sufficient to discouer their weaknes that we may yet further discouer these mens folly to the world more fully we will shew you how contrary they are to themselues in this their iudgment for as they say and do affirme that there is no sinne vvhich is to be borne withall in the church yet themselues or at least the chief of them do practise the contrarie as for example one in stead of manie may serue the turne The chiefe of Author of this trouble doth hold and so hath for manie yeares together to vvit that it is vnlawfull for the members of one church to haue communion with another church and yet not vvithstanding this his judgement he can beare vvith one vvho hath contrary to this his judgement practised and so professeth still to do vpon occasion and yet not vvithstanding his so practizing and so professing he is receiued among them and is their chiefe if not their onely Teacher which they haue So that vve may here easily perceiue that though this man doth vse Iehu's peace against the sinnes of others with whom he desires to be alienated yet he can beare vvith as great sinnes in others in his judgement vvith vvhom he desires to vvalke we could shew manie more reasons to proue his partialitie but then vve should exceed the bonds of an Epistle onely vve desire to giue the Reader to take notice of those two things First that this practize of hearing the Ministers of the church of England is not against any Article of faith vvhich is by this church professed vvhereof the Author of this Treatise vvas a Pastor it being no Act of Church Communion for if hearing simplie vvere an Act of Communion then euerie hâ—â—â—tique or Atheist or whatsoeuer he were that should come into the church of God should haue Communion vvith them vvhich if it vvere true as this
thereof and vniting in the order and ordinances instituted by Christ the onely King and Lord of his Church and by all his disciples to be obserued and lastly that I cannot communicate with or submit vnto the said Church-order and ordinances there established either in state or act without being condemned of mine owne heart and therein prouoking God who is greater then my heart to condemne me much more And for my failings which may easily be too many one way or other of ignorance hearin and so for all my other sinnes I most humbly craue pardon first and most at the hands of God And so of all men whom therein I offend or haue offended any manner of way euen as they desire and look that God should pardon their offences FINIS HEER FOLLOWETH A true Copie of a Letter sent to London written by the Author of the former Treatise and read in publique and by the whole consent of the Church was sent to London in answere to a letter sent by the Church of London to the Church of Amstelredam and Leyden Which we haue thought good to Printe onely to let the World see what the Churchs opinion was of hearing in England the contents wherof followeth TO OVR BELOVE IN THE Lord the Church of Christ in London Grace and Peace from God the giuer thereof and in him our louing salutations IT may seeme strange vnto you brethren and that not vvithout cause that vve should haue deferred thus long our answere vnto your letter and as vnseasonable that after so long delay vve should now frame an answere Our defence in the former case is partly the other churchs keeping the same so long in their hands before they sent it vnto vs and partly their contentions arising about it of vvhich vve both desired to see some issue and hoped vvithall that by occasion thereof vve might come to communicate our counseills together as vve conceiue by your joint letter your desire to haue been But both in vain For the letter then partly fearing lest vve should seeme to neglect you and partly hoping that some vse might be made thereof for after times and occasions we thought it better late them neuer to addresse this our answere yet so as you are in the first place to be intreated by the Pastor of the church heare to take knowledge that he vvas not verie vvilling to read publiquelie that your letter for two reasons The one a loathnes that either strangers or brethren should take knowledge of that in ordinate and lawlesse course held by such there as both in regard of their yeares and learning and especiallie of their place in the church should haue being an example to the rest in vvisedome sobrietie and Christian forbearance speciallie in a case threating diuision and dissipation following therein Christ our great high Priest who being touched with the feeling of our infirmities can haue compassion of the ignorant Heb. 4. and 5. The true naturall mother vvould not consent to haue the liuing childe derided but the counterfeit vvas easily mooued therevnto how earnest soeuer she seemed to haue it accounted hers Secondlie For that he conceaues it not orderly that the bodies of churchs should be sent to for counseil but some choise persons Power and vnauthoritie is in the body for elections censures but counseil for direction in all affaires in some few In vvhich regard euerie perticuler church is appointed its Elderships for ordinarie counseillers to direct it and the members thereof in all difficulties vvith vvhom others are also to aduise vpon occasion speciallie ordinarie The Priests lips should preserue knowledge they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts Mal 2. These things premised our generall answere to the questions propounded by you followeth You demaind 1. Whether you haue done well in reâ—eining her to vvit the maid about vvhom the difference vvas she leauing practise according to her promise Answere We iudge that therein you did vvell yea though she had continued her practise vpon occasion and without neglect of the church wherof she vvas a member how much more leauing it as she did Considering the action it selfe the hearing of the word of God the great prouocations she had therevnto the state of the other church about vvhich your next question is moued and vvith all these that excommunication is the heauiest censure vvhich the church can inflict for the most heynous offence most obstinatly stood in we deem it against that brotherlie forbearance vvhich the stronger owes to the vveaker so seuerelie to censure a failing so supposed of that kinde To their assertion that she vvas an Idolator hauing broken the 2. Commandement for that Mr. Iakobs people vvere iudged Idolators in their going to the assemblies and therefore from 1. Cor. 5. If any called a brother be an Idolator c. We answere that heare are diuers consequences collections made vvithout rule of charitie or ground of trueth To graunt as the trueth is that manie things in the assemblies are against the second Commaundements vvhich forbids nothing but Idolatry expresly and by consequence vvhatsoeuer tends therevnto and vvithall that Mr. Iakobs people did partake vvith diuerse of these euills yet wee deny it to agree either vvith christianitie or ciuillitie in common course of speech to calenge euerie such practise as the committing of of Idolatrie or such person as Idolators The Lord Iesus teacheth Math. 5. 21. 22. that all vnaduised anger is against the sixth commaundement Thou shalt do no murder Is therefore euerie man that manifests vpon occasion any the least vnaduised anger to be chalenged as a committer of murther or murthererâ— so by proportion euerie lesse modest word gesture or fashion of apparrell is against the seuenth commandemsnt Thou shalt not commit adulterie Euerie vvronging of another by negligence vnprouidence or partiall affections vvhich euerie one lesse or more beares to him selfe though but in a half penny against the eight commaundement Thou shalt not steale are all therefore so doing to be pronouncied and prosecuted as theefes and adulterers {reversed} By these vain collections and bold chalenges searse any so good and godly but might be branded as Idolators â—heefes murderers adulterers and vvhat not For whoe can vnderstand his errours and secret faults {reversed} vvords are vnto things as cloathes vnto the body And as it were a vain course to put vpon a childe a mans coat though neuer so costly to make him seeme a man so is not onely vain but also injurious to put vpon the things vvhich vve dislike odious phrases though taken out of the verie seriptures to make them seeme vvorse then in trueth then are Indeed he that is vnder the Law iudgement therof doing the least euill against the 1. or 2. commandement is an Idolator and against the 6. 4 murtherer and so for the rest in regard of God and the rigour of justice whom yet for men so to call