in Christ Jesus leade thee by the hand into all truth and peace Thine T. W. The Reader may take a short view of some Particulars in W. R. his Narration As they are made to appeare in his Booke by the Page and Line as followeth Vnfound passages Vntrue Relations Falsified quotations Page Line Page Line Page Line 4 25 1 15 17 6 5 20 2 21 18 20 6 7. 24. 37 5 20 19 14. 24 7 5. 15 6 23 20 24 8 28 20 3. 32. vlt. 24 35 9 whole page 25 2 last 25 18. 23 18 26 39 10 25 23. 31. 40 24 39 37 whole pag. Â 26 5 29 17. 28 38 whole pag. Â 32 3 last 36 28 51 whole pag. Â 57 16 40 15 56 9 58 1. 2. 27 52 1. 9. 26 57 5. 10. vlt. 59 22 53 2. 11. 22 59 6. 33 60 23 c. 54 3. 10 60 11 61 38 58 33 62 11. 25. ad fin 62 11. 25. ad fin 61 21. 26 66 4 last 63 1. 9 64 1 9. 25 67 6. 12. 22 64 14 65 13 ad finem 68 4. 7. 12 67 25. 18 There are some things in W. R. his Narration that carry a face of contradiction I propound them to his review in his owne words sense and pages Thus they stand That Sacraments are to be Administred to the Members of the same Church only Narration p. 35. Art 5. vide p. 38. Art 4. The Churches do and may mutualiy partake each with other in the Sacraments p. 37. Art 31. p. 10. Art 7 That They conceive some to bee true Christians whether they be in Church estate or no. p. 33. Art 1. Whosoever becomes not a setled member of a Church they account him wicked prophane and a gracelesse person p. 29. Art 1. p. 12. Art 12. He saith concerning the judgements practises of the Churches generally in New-England That They may and doe constitute new Churches without the consent of the Christian State p. 20. last line p 49. Art 2. latter end of the Marg. Before they doe enter into Church estate notice is first given thereof to the Magistrate or the Christian State p. 21. Art 4. And by a law of the State none can enter without such knowledge given to the Magistrate p. 21. Art 2. That They may and doe set up new Churches in the midst of and against the mind of the Churches p. 49. Art 2. and latter end of Margent Notice is given thereof to the neighbouring Churches that such as please may be present p. 21. Art 4. That The Church-Covenant is that whereby all the Members of the Society are united to Christ p. 12. Art 1. Many are within the Church-covenant that are not within the Covenant of Grace and so not united to Christ p. 14. Art 3. That The Churches of New-England are of one and the same way in Discipline without any materiall difference p. 1. Art 1. They are not of the same way but sometimes of 2. contrary waies sometimes of 3. severall waies at once and that in very materiall points p. 10. Art 8. p. 16. Art 8. p. 13. Art 3. and 4. p. 27. Art 11. Objection 1 But we in New-England goe different waies so the contradictions come from our selves not from him Answ No for We are all of the same way and differ not in any materiall point as himselfe plainely saith chap. 1. Art 1. 2 His Narration speakes what the Churches in New-England doe generally as Title p. 1. Now it is impossible that they can generally goe two wayes at once Objection 2 But our writers say so and hee speakes according to them Answ Then let him make this appeare and that will bee hard to doe for his quoted Authors speake the selfe same thing An Answer to VV. R. his Narration of the Opinions and Practises of the Churches lately erected in New-England An Answer to the PREFACE IT would grieve a tender heart to heare this man call God and his Conscience to witnesse how highly he honours and loves those that are in Church waies and by and by to assault with horrible untruths and bitter invectives the Churches of New-England whom God hath beene pleased to honour in the hearts of thousands of his pretious Saints which one would thinke hardly credible that any that goeth under the notion of honesty much lesse of godlinesse should venture to doe He blames the Brethren of the Independent way as he stiles them that were and are in London for breaking a solemne agreement to produce a narrative of their Doctrine and practise and yet did not yea would not performâ— it 1. Some of us professe solemnely we never so much as heard of any promise therefore were farre enough from breaking it Answ why then doth W. R. lay it upon the Independent Brethren in London without exception 2. What was done by any of them herein was freely from themselves as I am informed by them that by some manifestation of their Judgements and practises they might cleare themselves from misapprehensions and mistakes so that if they did it not themselves were like to suffer most 3. This they made performance of in their late Apologie so farre as might satisfie in a rationall way but if hee expected more where lies the fault 4. If they did not this so soone as hee would have had them let him know the extreame distractions of these times and the publique service of some of these brethren who were imployed by the State for a good space together might justly hinder greater things then this Now see what little cause the Narratour had to cast such a blot on the names of his Honored Brethren as he calles them Hee saith Many wâ—re drawne aside their Churches and Ministry slighted neglected deserted yea contumeliously and scornefully reproached as Antichristian Babylonish false and Null c. Answ 1. Such contemptuous speeches reproachfull carriages cast upon our Brethren of the Churches here neither are or ever were allowed by us yea our owne examples practisings writings doe and we hope ever shall beare witnesse against such loose and lavish spirits and practises And can any man then justly impute them unto us Psal 11.3 May we not say with the Psalmist If the foundations be cast downe what hath the innocent done 2. They are not alone in these reproches our selves also are fellow-sufferers with them herein from divers Sectaries now in London whose usuall tones dialects these words he mentions are not the voyce of Independents That some of our way contrary to our promise and Pactions have impetously both in Pulpit and Presse laboured to promote the popular governement to make all men disrelish and abominate the Presbyterian way Answ 1 A sad complaint if true But to shew how farre from this spirit and practise we have beene consider first how loath wee were to appeare in the case who though we had bookes of this subject ready for the presse yet by joynt consent suppressed them
Art 10. â—sw Consider first 1 The Gifts Graces and abilitie of discerning that were in the Apostles above any Minister now living who as they were able to preach with lesse time of studie so to dispatch and turne over weighty businesse with more speede and dexterity then we are 2 The extraordinary wonderfull and visible stroke of God upon the spirits and hearts of men that heard Peter at that time the meeting the language their understanding of it Gods assistance of Peter and blessing on the word all extraordinary Such a day such a Sermon such effects as never were before nor like to be to the end of the world so the power of God was remarkable in their conversion so also in their expression and demonstration of it So that there needed little triall when God spake himselfe from Heaven Answer to CHAP. VI. HE reports to recite such things onely as most neede Answer and let the rest passe Art 1. 2. That we hold that Christ hath invested with all power any that are in Church-fellowship that though they be all illiterate yet they may make examine all their Officers unmake depose them when they see cause so to doe and preach expound and apply the word with all Authority yea and doe it without any refâ—rence at all to their Officers as Officers when they have them â—nsw If I did delight in retorting I could say of these words as hee of Holland Ministers Apologie They are a meere Gull for almost so many words so many mistakes The Narratour should have done well first to have proved all the Churches and Ministers in New-England men out of their wits and voide of common sense and then hee might more easily have made the world beleeve they hold and practise such a congeries of absurdities and impossibilities For else many of them there being well known to bee learned godly and sober men no wise men will beleeve him that they can hold that 1. Illiterate men can examine Pastors fitnesse 2. Depose them at pleasure 3. Preach expound and apply the word with all authority 4. And that without any reference to their Officers at all 5. And which is mâ—st strange that Christ himselfe hath invested these illiterate ones with all power to doe all these things For 1. It is a received practise amongst us that when any combine into a Church there is one at least of them indued with able parts of humane and divine learning that either hath been a Minister in our native countrey or is fit to be one amongst them who usually and frequently preacheth to them after they are united So that al of them are not men illiterate ☜ and W. R. himselfe knowes this to be true for the Answer to the 32. quest 42. which is very page hee here quotes directly saith this in so many words 2. That those illiterate men do examine their Ministers abilities and that we hold they ought is another great mistake for so wee should put men upon a worke beyond their reach which were idle whereas the truth is that if the sufficiâ—ncy of such men as they intend to call into office bee not well knowne to them they use to call in the helpe and assistance of Elders in other Churches to surveigh their abilities and to informe them therein that thereby as well as by their owne experience of them and discerning of their gifts they may be able to give in their suffrage for election when the time comes 3. For their unmaking and deposing them againe when they see cause Wee hold and professe it a thing most injurious to Jesus Christ himselfe in heaven to his Ministers on earth and such a thing as not only Christ will summon Churches at the great day to answer unto but our Churches there will also expect satisfaction from them for it if they should thus depose Ministers as he saith when they see cause unlesse Christ himselfe shall see good cause to allow their fact to be done according to the rules of his owne word Wee are so farre from holding this that wee protest against such practises And to shew how wary wee are in this point no Church dares trust her owne judgement but our manner is as his quoted Authour speakes Answer to 34. q. of p. 41. Our practise is in removall of Ministers to have counsell and assistance from sister Churches 4. Whereas he saith also That we hold that men illiterate should preach with all authority which is a worke and a taske for the ablest Ministers to performe is as farre from us as any of the other For though wee deny not but in some case some able judicious experienced Christians may humbly soberly when necessity requires as in the want of Ministers being invited thereunto dispence now and then a word of exhortation to their brethren This is farre enough from Preaching in an ordinary way with all Authority which are words of his owne put in without any ground 5. But for him to adde that we hold they may thus preach when they have Officers and that without any reference at all to them is extreamly contrary to our practise and furthest from the truth For this would directly crosse Christ his institution of calling Officers in his Church and make meere cyphers of them whose Office it is not onely to preach but to rule and governe the Assembly to open the doore of speech to any in the congregation and to shut it up by silence so that none may so much as speak without his allowance ☞ And this expression of his is contrary to his owne Narration in Art 8. where he saith That some of the Acts we ascribe to our Ministers in Office are to declare unto their people the minde of God and to moderate in Church-meetings yet here he speakes cleane contrary to himselfe and the truth also ☞ 6. For him to adde That wee hold that Christ hath invested these illiterate men with all power to doe all these things so farre beyond their power and all ordinary possibility contrary to all rule and to his owne institution is to put upon us one of the grossest absurdities that ever was heard of even to make Christ crosse himselfe and to be a patron of confusion in his owne house by investing them with all power to oppose his owne rules of Order Now let us see what grounds our Nartatour hath to lay all these charges against us You will thinke sure his proofes are strong or hee would never have ventured to blemish so many thousands of Gods faithfull I servants in such sore accusations as these True hee quotes many and that I might see his bottom I have surveied all the printed Authors in every page quoted ☞ and I solemnly professe it that none of these particulars rehearsed as hee hath laid them downe much lesse in them all will any of them beare him out and I desire the Reader to try whether
Verball declarations of the worke of Grace for if they be Object 3 subtile Hypocrites they will deceive you with golden words as Marg. Art 5. 1. It may and doth satisfie our owne consciences Answ if we do use all meanes we can to finde out by the rules of the word whether grace be in them or no it they yet deceive us it s their sin not ours 2. God who often takes the wise in their owne craft 1 Cor. 1.19 laies open such hypocrites while they seeke to deceive others as frequent experience hath shewen us in the very act of their triall 3. Those that are sound doe manifest the sweet smell of their graces by such declarations Therefore it is not bootlesse Object It seemes a thing impossible to such good soules as know not the time manner of their conversion or have forgotten it to give account thereof satisfyingly to a multitude seeing also their manner of inquirie is strict and the matter inquired into the spirituall soule points Answ 1. We wonder we confesse to see a Christian a Minister of God thus to speake If it seemes so impossible for some Christians to give an account of the worke of Grace in them Pet. 3.15 what meant Peter to direct all beleevers to bee alwaies ready to give an answer to every man of the hope that is in them If they must give this answer to all even to persecutors themselves as the Text intends of the grounds of their hope is it impossible that these good soules should render account to their godly brethren who in a loving way demande it and for their owne good too 2. What if they know not the time order manner of their conversion yet if they can give any evidence of Christ now in them by the workings of his Spirit for present though they know not how Christ came at first into them its sufficient Object If an account of their grace must be given were it not better to have a set and standing rule written and recorded without variation in all the Churches ibid. â—nswer Would he have us make a New-England Primer a set forme this were a way indeede to bring all to a formall course and to teach every one though no grace or experience at all of Christ in his heart to learne by rote this forme and then all were well W. R. was as we heard even now first for common praiers and then for Overtures and shewes and now you have him for standing formes You shall see him goe further anon are not your fingers singed enough yet with such formalities It s time to cease Obiect Through your strict examinations multitudes of our English in N. E. that were reputed godly are kept out of Church-Order and themselves and little ones little better then heathens Marg. on Art 6. â—â—sw Many for want of examination of themselves and tryall by others that went in common view for sound ones possibly and that not without good cause upon due triall may be found too light when weighed in Gods ballance and its better for such to be discovered here then hereafter to their eternall ruine 2. Many doe keepe out of Church-Order upon sundry other grounds above said and out of choyce and not through strait examination 3 But that the non-admitted are esteemed by us or doe live like Heathens is an untrue and unsavory imputation Where we see any breathings of Christ in any we esteeme them as Christians we love them dearely and carry our selves accordingly to them and theirs though not yet in Church fellowship with us God himselfe is our record against such calumnies where wee see no grace as yet wrought we labour in all meeknesse to bring them to Christ and in meane time take Christian care of them and their little ones as those that may bee heires of the same grace with our selves doe men all this to heathens But why are men of differing opinions and men of harsh and rugged dispositions Object 7 though otherwise Godly kept out from your Churches Marg to Art 9. 1. If mens opinions be such as destroy faith or the power of holinesse Answer as many in New-England lately were though now layed prostrate by the light and power of the word or such as doe directly crosse and eradicave the fundamentalls of our Church Governement and the persons that hold these til opinions are factious and turbulent It 's no wonder though we be slow in admitting such as wee know will destroy either the power of godlinesse or our Churches peace but if they dâ—ffer onely in some inferiour points as you speake and be of sober spirits it 's known we admit such and live in peace together with them 2. Wee never knew men of sowre and cynicall dispositions naturally meerely for that if otherwise they appeare godly and labour against such distempers to be kept out of Church-fellowship amongst us But if any man deny the Church Covenant or doubt of it your Church doores Object 8 are shut for ever against him p. 11. end We pray you goods W. R. speake not against common sense Answ How can wee possibly admit him into our Church Covenant that denies the Church-Covenant can wee make him doe that he denies to doe Since Gods people must be a willing people Psal 110.3 Or if he doubts of the lawfulnesse of it is it lawfull for him to enter into it doubtingly or for us to offer it seeing whatsoever is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14. last But to say our Church doores are for ever shut against him is a speech as untrue as harsh for as we waite on God to afford and on him to receive light so we are as glad when he is informed therein are ready to open our Church doores wide to receive him Some other things more slight I passe by in his Marginalls on this Chap. for brevity the substance of all which may bee referred to some or other of these heads Answer to CHAP. IIII. HE saith Art 1. 2. 6. 7. That we account a publike vocall and expresse Covenant to be the onely absolute necessary constituting forme of a true Church without which no true Church nor true members but all 〈…〉 concubineâ— â—sw He utterly mistakes the subject of the question for those Authors hee quotes declare not what it is that makes a TRVE Church but a â—Vâ—â— congregationall Church as it is refined according to the platforme of the Gospel And to such a Church say they is required an explicite Covenant And that they doe intend only such a Church is plaine 1. Because there are in the description of that Church they meane such particulars as himselfe layes it downe Art 6. as can belong only to a pure Church as 1 That they walke in all the holy ordinances of God 2 According to the will of God 3 In one Congregation All which wee know every Church though true doth not ergo 2. If wee hold that to every true Church
cause here you see is 1 faction 2 partiality 3 both those appearing 4 obstinacy 5 continuing in obstinacy after meanes used according to rule all these before the censure of admonition passed but you in your relation leave out all these words of your Authors and put in such of your owne as will not so much enforce a censure as these and then taxe us at your pleasure and make bitter invectives against us in your Margent If I should have retorted and said This dealing of yours is harsh uncharitable foolish destructive c. it would have troubled you yet you are but a single person those whom you reproach are whole Churches many Churches of Saints but wee have learned what the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 2.23 and to forbeare This Article being thus laid prostrate there is nothing at all in his Marginal extraction worth answer He blames us Art 12. That we deny unto the Church all power to make any particular rules or lawes in things indifferent conducing to the better Governement of her selfe and more orderly and edifying performance of Gods worship accordâ—ng to the generall rules of Scripture c. 1. He hath falsified his printed Authors alledged for this Art Ans Answ to 32. q. 66. Col. Cap. 7. where is not a syllable of things indifferent for whereas they indeede denie Churches power to make lawes about Church Governement c. their words meaning are expressed it is only in such matters where the Scripture hath made lawes already and therefore they say The Churches have no power to make lawes but to observe those lawes which Christ hath given and commanded and doe alleadge Mat. 28.20 Deut. 33.3 Iohn 20.27 None I hope can thinke this a thing indifferent for us to add lawes to Christ his owne lawes and this is all they say 2. If you meane by making of lawes inferring of plaine and necessary conclusions from their proper grounds in Scripture wee grant a power in a Church so to doe yet so as they shall not be binding unlesse the evidence of the consequence be made appeare as Rom. 14.5.22.23 But iâ— by making of lawes you meane a drawing of conclusions from râ—mote Principles such as the Bishops were wont to doe All things must bee decently done and in order therefore a Surplice a Crosse in Baptisme a bowing at the Altar c. we deny it as an inlet of all humane inventions Many of the Marginalls of this 6 Chap. are already answered some few remaine as Who would not long to be churched seeing they are indued with such a vast power this is a sweet morsell no marvell peoples teeth so water after it c. p. 23. I can tell you who longs not for Churching it is W. R. himselfe who with heart â—sw hand and pen thus opposeth it but why doe not his teeth also water after it It is I suppose because the people have a voyce in Church matters and Ministers cannot carrie all 2 Why doe you thinke W. R. that peoples teeth should so much water after this way seeing they are under many watchfull eyes a strict Covenant disgraces in the world sharpe censures and overharsh too if all you say be true therefore why should they so much desire these waies thinke you they being so crosse to corruption that would have elbowroom unlesse they did see and feele our beauty and warmth of Christ in them This is the true and reall cause The word saith h and the Sacraments should be both setled on the Ministry Goe preach and baptize c. Why doe wee separate them pag. 23. To Preâ—ch by Office which is the preaching that Christ there gives in commission to his Disciples being called to be Apostles is proper only to Ministers â—swer who are to waite upon teaching Rom. 12.7 and this preaching and the administration of the Sacraments are ever joyned together in the same person But there is a preaching in a large sense i. e sometimes to apply a word of instruction exhortation consolation if necessity shall require according to their talent being invited thereunto and this may be common to other godly and able Christians though not called into Office as Art 8. 1. 4. where the whole Church except the Apostles were scattered by persecution and they that were so scattered without distinction of Ministers or people went to and fro preaching therefore others besides Ministers in some case may preach the word if you take preach in a larger sense 3. For the two instances hee brings p. 24. of Peoples unabilitie of iudging electing voting c. from Holland and Boston c. 1. The best people on earth may have their houre of temptation and personall failings doe not hinder the goodnesse or truth of the rule â—nsw 2. What Church in the world hath not possibly first or last given or else may give strange instances of humane frailty but still you count their way good 3. Even those Churches you mention were able at other times both before and since to act as becomes prudent and godly men though possibly at that time they might shew themselves to be but men 4. These persons recovered out of their error and lay not in it you should have mentioned this as well as that If the Officers through scruple of conscience perhaps refuse to act according to their i. e. the peoples minde they will they hold they may call fourth any other member to do and enable him with power to doe all that their Officers should have done except Sacraments A most unjust and slanderous report and without any word of proofe Answ so now we must father it upon him and doe here require him to prove it for almost every word is an aggravation but I study brevity and mentioned this before Art 9. They complaine in print that their Ministers are slighted amongst them yea trampled upon by some And mentions for this Cot. on 2 vial p. 24. of whose words judge and you shall not finde one word to warrant him All his invectives against us on the 11. Article Marg. for extorting a consent from such as dissent from us is exceeding slaunderous and not a word true nor any tittle of proofe for none are ever admonished for dissenting but for faction and obstinacy as his Authors speake as was said before Let me heare tell the Reader there are sundry unsound and uncouth passages in this chap. as indeede through the whole booke which for brevity I am forced to passe by and indeede not worth my time I intreate thee to take all his sayings with a graine of salt knowing from what spirit they proceede Answer to CHAP. VII IN this 1. Art there are three things that will be found too light 1. He affirmes we say all men are bound to be setled members of a particular Church Yet in his Margent he affirmes Answ we allow some to bee admitted transient members for a time only Now to be setled and yet transient are
and writes in the Margent cold comfort to Christstian Parents and cold charity to their Infants â—nsw 1. It were cold comfort indeed if that he said were true but blessed be God it is not so For though such infants be not as yet Members of this or that particular Church there yet he knowes we account them and their Parents Members of the visible Churches of England witnessâ— our writings in print discourse of Covenant pag. 36. c. Therefore he much forgets himselfe to say we account them to be without the visible Church 2. To say we esteeme them as Children of Turkes and Heathens is a most uncharitable and groundlesse censure unworthy of his penne or our practise to which we answered before The Lord forgive him such hard speeches For his quotations Ans to 33. q. 20. 21. and Ans to 9. Pos 61. 62 if they will afford him the least word or show for either of these particulars I l'e take the blame for ever let any please to peruse them But he forgets the law in Israel of amercing and striping the man that brings an ill report upon a Virgin of Israel I must mind him of it Answer to CHAP. VIII This chapter is spent especially the Margent in invectives against the strictnesse of our Church Covenant that restrains men that they cannot have elbow roome and be at loose end when they please I will gather the strength of all he speakes in this chapter into some objections and very briefly answer them Object A member saith he cannot remove from a Church without our consents sought and obtained Art 1. â—ns It crosseth the nature of all Covenants in the world for to dissolve the Covenant without the consent of the other And shall this engagement so solemne so sacred so deliberate be loosed at pleasure by a mans removal wheÌ„ whither he pleaseth it may be also not without apparant sin without acquainting the Church withal getting approbation froÌ„ theÌ„ The Church may be partiall in their own cause may not some of other Churches Object 2 be consulted withall rather then this pag. 32. Marg. Shall a man infringe this Covenant Answ deprive the Church of her proper right and lay her under blame of partiality upon a meere supposall that the Church may be partiall Let this Church be first consulted withall rather then any other and good reason too for the Covenant is made with her and if it appeare she is indeed partiall then let the counsell of other Churches and Ministers be called in which was never yet denied any Member and I hope never will be But what need a man consult with the whole Church what if his reasons be secret Object 3 c. The Covenant being made with the whole Answ reason speakes the whole ought to untie the knot But if there be some case extraordinary where the grounds of removall may not safely be divulged to all as I confesse it 's possible so to happen let the partie but intimate so much to the Church and desire that some two ot three faithfull men be intrusted and what hinders If the Church covenant binds so fast then as the Disciples said of marriage Object 4 it is not good to touch this covenant pag. 32. 1. A gracious sp irit counts it no bondage but freedome Answ to be constantly under the sweet yoake of Christ in Gospell duties and such and no other are the particulars of our Covenant ah Ex. 21.5.6 let none be weary of this but all be as the servant in the Law that might have gone out free yet loving his Master well chose rather to abide with him for ever 2. Yet it any man be desirous and stedfastly bent to depart the Church never holds him against his will though she sees little or no weight in his reasons and I hope it is not the case of marriage so easily to be dissolved But if the Church be not satisfied with his reasons he goes away tacitely accused Object 5 slandered yea virtually cast out and curst Sure I am this is accusing slanderous and curst language Ans Deut 22. â— 19. not fit for a sober grave man by that law in Israel W. R. would goe neere to be amercied and striped for this defamation What would he have them doe when they cannot be satisfied with the grounds of his departure must they needs act against light and conscience and say they are satisfied when they are not especially when they see a brother haply running into evill or danger by such a removall All they can doe is through indulgence to suspend their vote and leave him to his own liberty And yet they will neither accuse or slander him much lesse curse him or cast him out These are words fit for nothing but retraction and repentance If men be once â—â—tred into covenant he is so riveted into it that he can hardly Object 6 ever get out of it but must continue in it though perhaps against his conscience Ibid. Answ To my best remembrance I never heard of or knew any godly Church-member that repented of this Church-way desired upon that ground to make a retreate 2. If any should be convinced in his conscience as you say that there is sin in it and should after all meanes of information used solemnely profes and make it appeare ingenuously that he dareth not in conscience proceed on in those waies I know no Church that will detaine him Object 7 How shall this man thus dismissed without the Churches approbation and Letters of recommendation be received into any other Church â—nswer How many lines doth he spend to no purpose about untying this knot and when he cannot unloose it ☞ for that he knows not our practises there he falls out extreamely with us and our way as harsh and rigid I have read of Harpia a lame woman in Seneca who still complained of the roughnesse of the way that made her limpe but faw not her owne lamenesse to bee the cause I will not stand to make application but unloose his knot by telling him Though a Church cannot see cause enough to commend such a person as we speake of to another Church for his Departure from them as being not cleare in it themselves yet hee being a godly man and of a good conversation in the generall they may and doe use to commend him for his godlinesse c. and in prudence conceale any supposed error or infirmity in his departure from them And upon such a testimony he is received and so neede not bee left as an Heathen Answer to CHAP. IX THe first thing meets us is a contradiction for here he saith in plaine termes ☞ That wee in New-England conceive men may be true Christians whether they be in Church estate or no. But chap. 7. Art 1. he affirmed absolutely that whosoever is not a setled member of a particular Church is accounted by us prophane and wicked Answer
it may be so And yet when he comes to speake of the other part of the contradiction i. e. that we have no communion in the Sacraments as if he studied to crosse himself he is as full in his deniall of it vid. cap. 9. Art 4 5. 2. Note how thicke his sayings and unsayings fall in Cap. 9. Art 1. ☜ He affirmes we hold Communion with other Churches and Church members and then presently in 4 5. Art of the very same chap. he expresly denies that we hold any such communion Then againe in the very next chap. the 10. Art 1. he saith as full as can be that we hold communion mutually with other Churches and by in chap. 12. 8. as fully and expressely denies againe that we hold any such thing The man being an able and judicious man in other things it is more remarkable he should be thus extreamely left to confound himselfe while he sought to confound our poore innocent Churches Let any carefully observe in all these things mentioned whether I have not dealt candidly with him or no. Art 2. He reports 1 That one Church may give power to another over any of her members for excommunication 2 That the Minister of one Church may convey power to the Ministers of another for the administration of the Sacraments Answer Neither of both which doe wee hold or practise The onely Author cited that we can come at is Cot. Cat. p. 7. whose words are these The Supper is dispenced by the Minister to the faithfull of the same Church or to such as are cōmended to them by a like body See if here be one tittle to bear him out Yet from these assertions which he saith we hold he flings rebukes upon us in his comments upon his owne Text. p. 37. whereas indeede wee might reprove his 1 misreporting 2 abusing his Author 3 reproving us without cause Without letters of recommendation from one Church and Minister to another it is unlawfull saith he Art 3. in any case to administer any Church ordinance to any Church member but their owne upon any pretence whatsoever 1. Here is neither truth nor proofe to be seene Answ 2. Letters of recommendation for publique participation are not sent from one Minister to another but from a Church to a Church 3. We hold it not unlawfull but doe often practise to receive other members to communion with us without letters especially if they bee knowne to any of our Church else such letters are desireable but hee saith We doe it not in any case upon any pretence whatsoever which is utterly false and without proofe He tells us That wee are so strait-laced that if a company of godly people should sit neere us where our power reacheth differing from us only in some points of Church-Government they should not onely not be owned as a sister Church but should be in danger of severe punishment by our Magistrate Ans 1 If you weigh well this accusation of us in all the particulars it is very harsh and sore and here is no proofe but H. W. who this should be I professe I cannot tell unlesse some malignant or back-friend amongst us there or whether such a thing were ever written in these words and sense I know not and if it be certainly so written and from a godly man yet it is but one single witnesse and I am forbidden and so are all others 1 Tim. 5.19 to receive an accusation against one Elder much more against all the Elders and Churches in New-England without two or three witnesses therefore we dare not beleeve it 2. To this very point in hand the Ans to 32. 9. p. 82 83. speakes fully and fairely which W. R. well knowing for it was written to himselfe amongst others deales not candidly to conceale that Answer of a printed booke from known Authors of credit in New-England because it is faire and loving for what other ground could hee have and bring in the Answer of H.W. a man we know not which is harsh and distastfull how can the concealing of that and relating of this seeme ingenuous or friendly to us or the truth Answer to CHAP. XI HE makes report of a groundlesse course as he calles it in the Church at Cambridge in New-England where saith he the people use to meet together privately each one to hold forth the work of grace in his or her soule from the first conversion to that day so that their Pastour might know their growth in grace And saith also that as some report the end of this meeting was to cast out by excommunication non-proficients Ans With what face can any godly man call such meetings of the Saints for such an holy end as to try their growth in grace a groundlesse meeting and so cast dirt upon it for he makes proofe of no other end besides that 2. Did these godly people ever cast any out of the Church there meerely for non-proficiency 3. He hath still forgotten that rule in 1 Tim. 3.19 that requires two or three witnesses to bee brought forth c. who yet proceeds upon I know not what relations to beleeve and report yea and print to the view of the world what in his opinion may detract from a Reverend Elder and a godly Church also No marvell he calls his Book a poore pamphlet truly it is so indeed if all things we have discovered in it be well weighed and it will appeare yet poorer before we have done to any candid reader It is our humble suit to heaven that God will discover to himselfe the weakenes and error of his dealings herein for the humbling of his spirit Answer to CHAP. XII A Short Answer might serve to this long Chapter for most of it as also of the two next is but a repetition of things spoken once or twice some of them thrice before and answered to already He said in the beginning of his preface he wanted not work◠but it seemes now towards the end of his booke he is more at leasure and so hee thinkes his reader is also else why he should so double treble the very same things totidem verbis I know not unlesse happily to make a deeper impression of his owne mistakes in his reader In Art 1. he tells us that after a Church is gathered it is often some yeares before she addresseth her selfe to the calling of Officers Whereas it is our usuall and constant course as hath beene said not to gather any Church untill they have one amongst themselves Ans fit for a Minister whom with all speede they call into Office and account themselves a lame and imperfect body till that be effected In his Marg. on that Art he saith hee is told to his comfort that many that were counted good Ministers in Old-England are there layed aside because they aime at men of speciall parts 1. We desire proofe for this aspersion unjustly cast on us Answ or else we shall still father it upon himselfe as