the corruptioÌ„ of their harts Thirdly that our ministery is antichristian a matter handled pag. 125. the scurrilitie in calling them hirelings mercenary preachers c. deserueth no answer the names of parson vicar c. doth not make a difference in the ministery but in their maintenance Fourthly we are subiect to the popish courtes as high commission c. wherunto I answer that al these courts haue their authority from her maiesty though some of theÌ„ more directly then the other In consideration wherof to call the lest antichristian is arrogant but to ioine theÌ„ all in one sentence to disswade her maiesties subiects froÌ„ yeelding obedience vnto any of theÌ„ it will be found an act of no good subiect yet for mine owne parte I purpose not to giue iudgement in the matter I leaue it to such as are acquainted with the law onely I will propound the case which is this The high court of Parlement hath agreed that the queene her hignes successors kings queenes of this realme shall haue full power by letters pattents vnder the great seale to name and authorise when as often and for so long time as her highnes her heires or successors shall thinke meete such person or persons as she or they shal thinke meet to execute vnder her c. all manner iurisdictions priuileges and preheminences in any wise concerning any spirituall iurisdiction within England and Ireland c. 1. Eliz. 1. Now her maiestie by the authoritie aforesaid hath graunted her letters pattentes vnder the great seale for the two courts of high commission and delegates And by the said authority first from the Parlement and then from her maiestie these two courtes doe stande and not by any other right or authoritie whatsoeuer yet these two courts of high commission and of delegates are here tearmed popishe and antichristian courts and the people are condemned to be antichristian which yeelde obedience vnto them This therefore is the case Whether it toucheth her maiesty or not that libels railing vpon and calling her highnes authority which is warranted by her broad seale popish antichristian c. Brownist These assemblies are not ruled by the old and new testament but by the canons iniunctions and decrees of those antichristian and popish courts therefore c. Ansvvere The Argument is this The true church is ruled by the old and new testament but the church of Englande is not c. Therefore c. If Christ hath in his last will set down a perfect gouernment for his church as they say he hath there is little vse of the olde Testament for direction of discipline vnder the Gospell But this Argument being in effect the same with the former needeth no other answere then it had Brownist These people stand not in for their Christian libertie but all of them remaine in bondage to these Aegyptian and Babylonishe yoakes yeelding obedience vnto these courts and their canons Therefore c. Ansvvere The Argument is this All and euerie of the true Church stand in and for their christian libertie to practise whatsoeuer God hath commanded them c. But in the church of England they stande not for their christian libertie Therefore c. Ansvvere We haue seene pag. 49. 50. that the priuate man doth passe the bondes of his calling in presuming to deale with publike reformation Againe it was sayde pag. 45. that in the visible church it doth not alwaies fall out that euerie member hath that freedom which is requisite in the performance of their christian dueties of his calling The proposition therefore is false As for the assumption in differing nothing from the three former it doth commend the greate facilitie of the author who in resoning in so smal varietie of matter is able to frame so greate a change of argumentes which yet being considered of doe appeare all one in effect Brownist These assemblies haue not the povver vvhich Christ hath giuen vnto his church vnto the vvorlds end al the povvers of earth and hell cannot take from them viz. to binde and loose and to reforme things that are amisse but are driuen to the Commissarie courtes Therefore c. Ansvvere The Argument is this The true church hath power to execute the censures of the church but the church of Englande hath not Therefore c. The proposition faileth for the true church is sometimes without outward gouernement whereof read pag. 25. and so consequently without the power which this man speaketh off for I know he will not restraine this power of binding and loosing though he might vnto the ministerie of the word whereof notwithstanding Christ speaketh Ioh. 20. 23. saying Whose sinnes soeuer ye remit they are remitted and whose sinnes ye retaine they are retained As for the assumption it is most vntrue for we haue not onely the power of Gods word which he hath giuen vnto his ministerie to bind and to loose therby but also the censures of the church in respect of outward gouernement I grant that euerie seuerall congregation hath not this power and I dare affirme that in no age it can be proued that euery seuerall congregation had this authoritie but euen in those churches which had an Eldership the same was not in euery assemblie but diuerse congregations were ordered by one senyorie therefore to say that because euerie priuate congregation hath not this power therefore it is not at all in the church is a childish kind of reasoning Brownist These assemblies cast out sathan by the power of sathan namely by these Imps of Antichrist the Bishops commissaries and priests Therfore they are not and for all their reasons seuerall and ioyned cannot be held in any Christian iudgement the true church of Christ. Answere In this last Argument is granted vnto vs that which before was denied viz. that our church hath power of casting out but it faileth in the manner for if they say true this power is not from Christ but from the imps of Antichrist c. vnto which accusation I answere the end wherefore men are cast out from amongst vs by the doctrine of our church should be that the offender by being depriued of the seales of the couenant might be brought vnto repentance Now for the ordering hereof the people are not in the weightie matters of the church to haue their voice pag. 47. c. And a presbyterie in euery congregation cannot be had pag. â—8 therfore neither election ordination excommunication nor other censures of the Church are to be committed to euerie particular congregation As for this vnchristian dealing in condemning for Antichristian whatsoeuer is not according to their humour it hath bene often answered Some defectes there are in our gouernment we challenge no perfection some corruption there is oftentimes in such as haue the ordering of it I defend not all But in this I would be resolued if wee by the power of Satan cast out Satan by what power do they cast out
faction crie out that the true church is without spot or wrinkle or grosse pollution take libertie to slaunder those that are in authoritie so to free themselues from all submission affirme that the Sacraments are no Sacraments Whervpon though the renuer of this schisme Browne I meane did not in plaine wordes require a baptising againe yet their succossors in their established Church attempted it haue taught that they being the Lordes free people the magistrate is not to deale in causes ecclesiasticall holde that men are not to be compelled to good duties binde one another with a vow to persist in this faction boast of suffrings c. yet detest the name of Donatisme though Donatus was the first deuiser of Brownisme though Brown was the only restorer of these fansies The forerunners it should seeme were grosse when their Disciples are ashamed to be accounted their schollers yet if anie grossenesse as yet vnnamed either in matters of faith or manner of dealing be found in them it will appeare in these also for it is no new fansie but an ancient heresie neither is there hope that they will be restrained but by an olde remedie For as the Donanists when councels were called conference was had and they were conuicted yet gaue it out with great glorie that they had put to silence all the learned and remained wilfull vntill that by the sharp laws of Honorius they were restrained yea and many of them by that meanes were brought againe to the Church so with our men all gentle meanes haue bene vsed in conference hard speeches haue onelie helped them yet remaine they obstinate and brag of victorie if the lawes of our christian Honorius doe them no good they are incurable No doubt the Phisition is irke some to a frantique person and a father to an vnrulie child the one in binding the other in striking and both in louing The dutie of a phisition and the nature of a father must appeare in the magistrate not in satisfieng the desires of the froward to cōtent them but in restraining their phrensie to profite them It may bee to the discontentment of some that anie punishment should be inflicted vpon them for their disordered stubburnnes I would not be mistaken I wish it not howsoeuer m. Greenwood affirmeth that the magistrate ought to compell vnto the hearing of the word Only this I saie that the lesse these matters are cōsidered of the better may the men be conceiued of but view their writings examine their doctrine and marke their dealings and they will appeare the open enemies of Gods truth for in pretending to establish a church they ouerthrowe the church and vnder the colour of setting vp the discipline of Christ they seeke to plague themselues and others with their owne dreams which in this their treatise of discipline and in their two other treatises of certaine conferences lately by them published shall bee made manifest to the indifferent reader In answering of them al onelie the calumniations in the conferences excepted which concerne some particular persons whose cause I leaue to themselues who best know how farre they are abused and in regorde thereof can best answere the same I haue followed the authors method leauing the man and seeing into the matter not regarding who wrote it but what is the doctrine that is maintained by him As for the treatise of the visible Church it will appeare not tollerable inasmuch as it is impious abusing the Scripture iniurious to the Church in describing a false gouernment and daungerous to the simple who are readie to bee deceiued with euerie blast of vaine doctrine The other discourses are not onely like vnto it but haue in them many bitter speeches vngodlie slanders both of Church Magistracie Ministerie and all wherby it seemeth that the author hath not learned to rule his pen. In this mine attempt I haue small hope to satisfie those that are wedded to their will when Gaudentius was answered sufficientlie to his follies hee would notwithstanding returne his aunswere though he did the same nulla ratione respondens sed magis se nec respondere nec tacere potuisse declarans If our author wil replie let him labour to be vnlike to Gaudentius and his companie who with words and bitter speeches sought to vphold their cause if he vse the Scriptures let him applie them faithfully and then if he preuaile the controuersie will be at end In the meane while if these poore labours of mine might satisfie these discontented persons or failing hereof might staie the ignorant from beeing seduced or else might prouoke them that are better able to deale more substantially in these matters I shal be glad Finally I am to intreate the reader both to accept in good part that which in desire of his good is deliuered And also before hee beginne to reade this treatise to amend such faultes as by default in the printing were committed R. A. Faultes escaped in the printing The 2. pag. line 21. This read Thus. pag. 5. li. 5. read the sentence pag. 9. line 24. reade preaching pag. 13. in the margent Iudg. 4 reade Iude. 4. pag. 23. line 12. read Veliphnei Iehouah ijshpok c. pag. 30. line 14. dutie reade vnitie pag. 40. in the margent reade Bale in Apoc. 2. Iraeneus c. pag. 65. line 25. reade were not in the primitiue c. pag. 99. Tit. 3. is to bee placed line 11. and line 19. should be Deut. 13. pag. 108. line 28. reade for instruction onely c. pag. 110. line 23. reade Inst. lib. 4. c. pag. 117. line 2. reade ignorantiam A PLAINE CONFVTATION OF A TREATISE OF Brownisme published by one of that Faction the Title whereof is this A true Description out of the word of God of the visible Church The Answere to the Title THE departure out of the Church is rightly called the badge of an heretike to whom in his going out the Goates do flie for succour when the sheepe of Christ do seeke their foode in the Church of Christ. But because it is a lesser burthen to beare the marke then to haue the name of an heretike it falleth out that men in all ages when they forsake the fellowshippe of the saintes of GOD they doe professe a betaking themselues vnto the true Church of God Heerevppon it commeth that such as haue beene nourished with the milke of discontentment strengthened with the spirite of vnquietnesse and cloathed with the profession of a godlie conscience do now trouble and molest vs refuse to continue with vs and make a nullitie of our Church Their eyes they say are now opened who liued vntill nowe in blindnesse they haue found out the true Church whereof they labour to be members in seeking our good they publish and set sorth vnto vs a true description thereof and this shall bee confirmed out of the word of God This their knowledge their loue and their faithfull dealings are warranted vnto vs
although in one of their writings which they haue dispersed they haue made this protestatiō We purpose not to medle with the reformation of the state otherwise then by our prayers vnto God yet as forgetting them selues immediately after in the same discourse they affirme that Christ hath left but one forme of gouernement in his last will and Testament vnto his church which he hath sealed with his bloud and therefore not left it arbitrable at the plesures of princes or policies of times to be done or vndone but made it by a double right inuiolable both by his vvord and his Testamēt so that the church of God can neither be gouerned by any other lawes or gouernement neither ought it to be without this for God holdeth them all in the state of enemies which haue not his sonne to raigne ouer them Now then the faithfull are cōmāded to gather togither in Christs name with promise of directiō protection authoritie not only to establish his lawes ordinances amōg thē but faithfully to gouern his church therby for the kingdom of God cōsisteth not in word but in power Now this assembly of the faithfull before they be planted established in this order cōsisteth hitherto but of priuate persons none as yet being called vnto office function Therefore we may well conclude that God cōmādeth his faithful seruants being as yet priuat men togither to build his church according to the true patterne of Christs Testament thus farre they But here is no word of God to proue any of these assertions we read of Asa Iehosaphat Iehoiada the priest Hezekia Iosia others some of them pulling downe the abominations of Iuda others setting vp the priests Leuits in their places in the house of God disposing thē as in the feere of God semed good in their eies but in the whole book of God is not to be found either precept or exāple to warrant a priuat man in purging much lesse in erecting the church of God Who then required these things at the hands of these men will they tell vs of extraordinary procedings in matters of extremity Let them shew herein some extraordinary testimony from God to warrant vs in regarding them otherwise here is in trusion For howsoeuer Zerubbabel Iehosuah Ezra Nehemia did daily pray for the restoring of the people out of captiuity were most willing ready to go before thē to bring them to Ierusalem yet vntill they had authority cōmitted to thē so to do by the kings of Persia Cirus Darius others they neuer durst attēpt the matter and yet we may truly say that these were no common persons Iehosua being the high priest Zerubbabel a chief mā of the people Ezra a scribe of the law Nehemia a great man yea in the court of Artashast but they al knew ful wel that Moses Aaron the prince and the priest must ioine together in all such actions Likewise in this church they haue holie lavves as limites and boundes vvhich it is lavvfull at no hand to transgresse they haue lavves to direct them in the choise of euerie officer vvhat kiude of them the Lord vvill haue Brownist This tautologie of the holy lawes of the church it is not so vnwisely iterated repeated but it is as foolishly also and fondly proued For Christ Matth. 5. 17. saying that he came not to destroy the lavve and the prophets but to fulfill them and Paul 1. Tim. 1. 18. giuing a commandement to Timothie which commandement is expressed what it is in the third fourth and fift verses of the same chapter doe not once speke of the churches lawes for outward direction as may appeare euidently to euery one that hath but a meane iudgement in the scriptures Ansvver Their pastor must be apt to teach no yong scholler able to diuide the word aright holding fast the faithfull word according to doctrine that he may be able also to exhort rebuke improue with wholesome doctrine and to conuince them that say against it he must be a man that loueth goodnes he must be wise righteoue holy temperate he must be of life vnreproueable as Gods steward he must be generally wel reported of and one that ruleth his owne householde vnder obedience with all honestie he must be modest humble meeke gentle and louing he must be a man of great patience compassion labour and diligence he must alwaies be carefull and watchfull ouer the flocke wherof the Lord hath made him ouerseer with all willingnes and cheerefulnes not holding his office in respect of persons but doing his duetie to euerie soule as he will answere before the chiefe shepheard c. Ansvvere In this descriptiō of the pastors office as the author hath set down some things therein required so hath he lefte other matters pertaining by his own doctrine thereunto altogether vntouched for whereas he telleth vs of an Eldershippe wherein the pastor is the chiefe here is nothing mentioned of this matter as if the ecclesiasticall censure remained as peculiar vnto the Elders Againe forasmuch as he requireth in a pastor that hee exhort rebuke and conuince the gayne-sayers of wholesome doctrine hee doth confirme herein that which hath ben said concerning the Doctor for either this functiō is not in the publik place of Gods worship or else it doeth intrude into the pastorall charge so these offices would not be seuered and diuerse Thirdly seeing modestie humilitie meeknes c. are necessarie in a Pastor Doctor Elder aud all we seee howe vnfitte these men are to beare anie office in the Church of God considering how farre they are from modestie meeknes or ciuill honestie when they call the ministerie of England traitors to Christ the Popes bastardes wicked guides Antichrists c. VVhen the booke of common praier is tearmed a peece of swines flesh and the people of Englande generally are accounted persecutors of the church of God no Christians Lastly we may obserue that some of these testimonies of Scripture in the margent are not so fit as might bee to proue the office of a pastor For Nu. 12. 3. doth speake of the meeknes of Moses but his was not a pastorall charge Esa. 50. 4. setteth foorth the Prophets diligence Zach. 7. 11. complaineth of the peoples obstinacie but what are these to proue the office of a pastor The place that is quoted 1. Tim. 2. 20. because it is somewhat after the end of the chapter it shall be answered when that verse is found Brownist Their Doctor or teacher must bee a man apt to teach able to diuide the word of God aright and to deliuer sound and wholsome doctrine frō the same still bulding vpon the same grounde worke he must be mightie in the Scriptures able to conuince the gainsaiers and carefully to deliuer his doctrine pure sound and plaine not vvith curiositie or affection but so that it may
studia in religione fieret diceretur in populis ego sum Pauli ego Appollo ego autem Cephae communi Presbyterorum concilio ecclesiae gubernabantur Postquam vero vnusquisque eos quos baptizauerat suos putabat esse non Christi in toto orbe decretumest vt vnus de Praesbyteris electus supponeretur ceteris ad quem omnis Ecclesiae cura pertineret An Elder is the same that a Bishoppe is and before that through the instigation of the deuill affection bare swaie in matters of religion and that it was said amongst the people I am of Paul I am of Apollo I am of Cephas the churches were gouerned by the common councell of the elders but after that euerie one thought that those whome hee baptized were his owne and not Christes it was deereed throughout the world that one of the elders should be set in the place of the rest to whome might pertaine the whole state of the Church If there be any help it must be had from the 2. Chro. 19. 8. for there it is thus writen Moreouer in Ierusalem Iehosaphat did appoint of the Leuites of the priests and of the chiefe of the families of Israel for the iudgements of the Lord and for strifes when they returned to Ierusalem By the iudgementes of the Lord are vnderstood those holy causes the knowledge whereof was committed to the priests Leuites by strifes are noted ciuil contentions the ending whereof pertained to the chiefe of the families of Israell This selfe same matter is expressed also Deut. 17. 9. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in iudgement betweene blood and blood plea and plea betweene plague and plague in the matters of controuersie within thy gates thou shalt then arise and go vp vnto the place which Iehoua thy God shall choose and thou shalt come vnto the priestes of the Leuites or vnto the iudge that shall be in those daies c. So that this disiunctiue or doth expresse a plaine difference betweene the office of the priest and the matters belonging to the iudge For althogh ve al hashpat be red in some translations to the iudge yet the twelft verse of this chapter doth end this controuersie where the disiunctiue or is set downe by an other worde That man that wil do presumptuously not harkning vnto the priest that stādeth before the Lord thy God to minister there o al hashpat or to the iudge shall dye For it is euident that bloud-shed pertained to the iudge the descrying of plagues vnto the priest Likewise contentions being about diuerse matters those that concerned ciuil affaires pertained to the tēporall iudge other matters of faith were to be decided by the ecclesiasticall cēsure so that althogh we shuld grant thē a seignorie yet all causes are not to bee brought into their consistorie In the meane time we see that these men being at defiance with popery haue here shewed vs a reason of it because the both of them would iudge all and would be iudged by none both wold priuiledge their owne deedes and haue the handling of the causes of all others and therefore as in the Papist so in these we may see a sottish ignorance with an arrogant and presumptuous spirit Brownist Their Deacont must be men of honest report hauing the mysterie of the faith in a pure conscience endued with the holie Ghost they must be graue temperate not giuen to excesse nor to filthie lucre Answere VVhereas the office of a Deacon is here mentioned as distinct from the former it had beene requisite for the author more fully to haue expressed his minde for as touching Deacons it is generallie graunted of all writers that they were in the primitiue Church such as our author doth here speake of One saith that Presbyteri Episcopi Diaconi hoc est ministri Christi Elders Bishops and deacons that is to saie the ministers of Christ were names giuen generally to those that had to instruct the people And for proofe thereof he alleadgeth that of Paul to Timothie Ten diaconian sou plerophoreson Fulfilling thy ministerie yet he was the disposer of Gods mysteries at Ephesus Annother saith Primum omnes docebant omnes baptizabant quibuscunque diebus vel temporibus fuisset occasio nec enim Philippus tempus quaesiuit aut diem quo Eunuchum baptizaret At the first all taught and al baptized when wheresoeuer occasion was offered neither did Philip staie for a time nor a daie wherein to baptize the Eunuch Athanasius expoundeth that of Paul 1. Tim. 3. 8. where the Deacon is willed not to be double tongued as if the deacon were a teacher in the word and he himself in describing how he fled for̄ the Arrians sayth thus Monui Diaconum vt recitaret Psalmum populum item vt auscultaret c. I willed the Deacon to reade a Psalme and the people also to giue eare Therefore although master Caluine saieth that Diaconi sub Episcopo pauperum essent oeconumi Deacons shoulde vnder the Bishoppes be prouiders for the poore Yet seeing they dealte in other matters also and were called Diaconi because they were ministers of the worde also our author should haue shewed vs when it was that these Deacons ceased to deale in other matters then in prouision for the poore onely or else hee shoulde haue tolde vs that there are two sortes of Deacons Diaconoi tou logou minister of the vvord and ministers or disposers of the goods of the poore And these thinges hee must haue prooued by Gods worde and then in this pointe hee had perfourmed his promise made in the Title of his booke and shevved himselfe to be so good as his owne worde but nowe by what authoritie hee hath affirmed by the same authority may be denied such an office as is here spoken of to be that Deacon which is mētioned in the places cited Act. 6. For Philip who was one of the Deacons did both teach and baptize Act. 8. which matter although we should graunt that he did it not as a deacon but being an Euangelist as some with this distinction would shifte off the matter yet must it bee confessed that the Deacons mentioned in the Actes were not discharged from dealing in the word onely to take vpon them the care of the poore Neither doeth Paul 1. Tit. 3. 8. speake anie thing to gainesaie this Yet I grant that in the Church of God a care of the poore must bee had and that there be faithfull men appointed for the same of whom the Apostle speaketh Rom. 12. 8. which place cannot bee referred vnto the liberalitie of al Christians in general as some haue taught For this is handled in the thirtenth verse of the same chapter which shoulde haue beene done if there were not a difference betweene the matter required in the eight verse which speketh of the publike officer and the thirteenth verse which extendeth it selfe to all Christians for
then blotted out Cain Esau Corah yea and Israel it selfe Againe is it true that all those which are not vnder this gouernement are dogs c. I will not aske what shall become of these men themselues but what is become of Peter and the rest that remained with Christ and of all the churches of Ierusalem Ephesus Corinth and the rest which had not this gouernement and all these offices at any time among them for some wanted Deacons some widows some vnministring Elders some Doctors To draw to an end The scriptures that are alledged to proue these matters are either promises of that full redemption which is obtained and shall be perfited vnto the church in the day of Christs appearing as Esa. 52. 1. and 35. 8. and Reuelation 28. 27. or else are they types thereof as Eze. 44. and the ninth verse and Zacharie 14. 21. VVherefore they cannot proue the truth hereof in the visible church of God Also Reuel 22. 15. sheweth the estate of the vngodly which in the day of that generall search shall be thrust out of the presence of God VVhich matter Paul doth plainly shew Rom. 2. 9. for hee threatneth oppression and anguishe vnto euerie soule that doth euill whether Iew or Greeke that is whether of the visible Church or not In this one thing these men may be commended that seeing their assertions cannot bee warranted by the woorde of of God they will doe the best they can to make their sayings true in themselues For surely they coulde not possiblie giue ouer themselues vnto a doggish disposition as they do if they were not perswaded that in so dooing the conditions of men which haue cast off gouernement should in thē be made manifest vnto the world VVee are therefore to desire for them that discipline may be put in practise if happely they may bee brought to some good order Thus haue we seene how the Author of this Treatise hath failed in the perfourmance of his promise made in the title thereof A MANIFESTATION OF THE INCONSTANCIE of Brownisme grathered out of two Treatises lately dispersed throughout the land AThanasius speaking of the Eusebian hereticke saith that if once he tast the Arrian schisme he will neuer refraine his tongue from vngodlinesse He noteth it also as a common disease in all heretikes that they will be constant in a peeuish wilfulnesse least they should be condemned of those whom they haue seduced yet in all other things inconstant Nunc probantes quod dicunt mox vero vituperātes quod dixerunt ac rursum approbantes quod paulo ante calumniabantur It is no maruell therfore though the factioners of our age hauing auouched their owne dreames to be the truth of God do now cry out y t they are blasphemed abused slādered if the same be laid to their charge yet in discoursing vpon the self-same matters they wil not stick to iustifie their first conceipts al which may appeare to him that readeth the two pamphlets lately by them published the one intituled A collection of certaine slanderous Articles and the other A collection of certaine articles and conferences c. For in these bookes we shall finde the certaintie of doctrine what it is amongst conceited diuines And that the truth may be more euident I wil set downe first their Articles which sometimes they did hold and now are charged with Secondly the sore complaints that they make of being slandered with them by our Bishops Thirdly what small cause they haue to complaine considering that they are now resolute to defend the same Articles vnto the death And lastly the fondnesse of their assertions which for the auoiding of tediousnes shalbe done either by referring the Reader vnto those places where these matters are handled elsewhere or else by plaine and euident proofes The Articles which are so iniuriously imputed vnto them as they themselues haue published are these 1 THat it is not lavvfull to vse the Lords praier publikelie in the church for a set forme of praier 2 Secondlie that all set and stinted praiers are meere babling in the sight of the Lord not to be vsed in publike Christian assemblies 3 Thirdly that the publique praiers and vvorship of God in England as it is by lavv in the church of England established is false superstitious popish and not to be vsed in anie Christian congregation 4 That the Church of England as it is novv established is no entire member of the church of Christ. 5 That the gouernment of the church of England as it is novv established is no lavvfull gouernement nor christian but antichristian and popish 6 That the Sacraments of baptisme the Lords supper as they are administred in the church of England be not true sacraments 7 That infants ought not to be baptised according to the forme of baptisme ministred novv in the church of England but are rather to be kept vnbaptised 8 Manie of them make scruple to affirme that the Queenes maiestie hath supreame authoritie to gouerne the church of England in cases ecclesiasticall and to make lavves ecclesiasticall not contrarie to Christs lavves 9 That the lavves ecclesiasticall alreadie established by the authoritie of the queene realme be not lavvfull 10 That if the Prince or magistrate vnder her do refuse or defer to reforme such faults as are amisse in the church the people maie take the reforming of them into their ovvne hands before or vvithout her authoritie 11 That the presbiterie or eldership maie for some causes after admonition if there ensue not reformation excommunicate the Queene 12 That the Church of England as it novv standeth by lavv established professeth not a true Christ nor true religion that it hath no ministers in deed nor Sacraments in deed Now they complaine that they are much abused in being charged with these matters for the title of one of the Treatises is A collection of certaine slanderous articles giuen out by the bishops against such faithful Christians as they now vniustly detaine in their prisons c. The Epistle saith that there are spersed abroad throughout the land certaine articles of the bishops owne deuising against these men to bring them into hatred vvith the vvhole land The Author in answering the said Articles termeth them forged positions Again God forbid saith he that our Magistrates should be guiltie of our innocent blood by such slanderous reports To be short master Barrow as he himselfe reporteth complained to Doctor Androwes that he hath bene greeuouslie slandred blasphemed and accused by spearsed articles c. therefore a great fault there is in those which offer these persecuted Christians for so they terme themselues this great iniurie or else in them who if the Black-amore could change his hue would deny their owne opinions but if they giue the lie vnto vs without iust cause as it shall appeare that they do by that which followeth and maintaine these things which thus confidētly they haue denied
church only but all others also that are not framed according to their rule I will answere them therefore in that order which the author hath vsed in drawing these matters into arguments The first argument of theirs is this Brownist Their church consisteth not of a companie of faithfull people but of multitude of prophane people therefore they are not the true church Ansvvere Seeing the propositions both of this and the arguments following are set downe before it should seme that of purpose they are nowe omitted yet to make the matter plaine the argument is after this manner The true planted and right established church of Christ is a company of faithful people but the church of Englande is not a companie of faithfull people Therefore not a true planted and rightly established church Whereunto I answere that the assumption is with great insolency set downe as if magistrates ministers people were without exception of any a flocke of goates a companie of hell hounds Likewise the proposition sauoreth of Anabaptistry whiles it admitteth none to be members of the visible church but faithfull people onely But concerning the assumption I grant that some of Cain his brood of Cham his conditions and of Esau his qualities are in our church euen as there are amongst these persecuted Christians some of the schollers of Shimei some of Corah his company some Ismaels c. Herein is the difference betweene their church and ours that we account of such beastes as they are though wee labour by the worde and other meanes to bring them vnto repentance but if their Atheists can but say that discipline is good though they knowe not what it meaneth if they wil heaue at magistracy raile vpō the established gouernement they must be presently canonized registred in the booke of the faithfull whatsoeuer their conditions are otherwise In the proposition I see nothing which hath not beene answered pag. 12. c. only here are certaine scriptures cited in the margent so farre from proouing the matter in question that if they be vnderstoode of euery member of the visible church to prooue them faithfull we may with as good reason from the same places conclude that neither the publike ministerie nor priuat admonitions are to be vsed in the visible church for these are the wordes of Ieremie And they shall teach no more euerie man his neighbour and euerie man his brother saying knowe the Lorde for they shall all knowe me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I vvill forgiue their iniquitie c. Brownist They haue made no separation from the heathen of the lande but all are receaued and retained in the bosome of their churches therefore c. Ansvver This is the argument The true church is a company of people separated from the vnbeleeuers heathen of the lande but the church of Englande hath made no separatlon c. therefore c. The proposition is denied if such a separation be vnderstoode as is spoken of Matth. 25. 32. as hath bin proued pag. 11. 12. c. but if they take it as it is in the place by them selues alleaged Leuit. 20. 24. we do grant it for Israell is there said to be separated from that heathen yet was it not separated from all vnbeleeuers onely it was in respect of their outward profession The assumption in the former sence is granted but otherwise it is euident to be a meere slander for neither are any receaued into our church except they ioyne with vs in outward profession neither are their children baptized except the parents or some for the parents do promise to see thē brought vppe in the knowledge of God and faith in Christ Iesus But they proue this assumption after this sort They vvere all say they by the blovving of her maiesties trumpet at her coronation in one day receiued vvithout conuersion of life by faith and repentance and they and their seede euer since generallie receaued to your sacramentes without any separation from the world Before I make answere vnto this assertion I would learne if I might how these men would haue the people to come vnto an established church at the first For they tel vs 1. That there can be no true church vntill euerie member therof hath by faith and repentance separated himselfe from the vnbeleeuers But how shall they come vnto this faith for they tell vs also 2. That none can haue true faith and repentance but such as are called thereunto by the preaching of the gospel And how shall they haue this Gospel preached vnto them 3. There must be sheepe before there can be a flocke there must be a flocke before there can be a shepheard because the people must choose their Pastor so that they affirme that the people must be brought to the faith before they can haue a Pastor and yet they cannot haue faith vvithout preaching Which way then shall this preaching be had for the attaining vnto faith The Magistrate say they ought to compel the Infidels to heare the doctrine of the church and also vvith the approbation of the church to send forth meete men vvith gifts and graces to instruct the Infidels being yet no ministers or officers vnto them but in the time of Poperie they affirme that the people could not be the church therefore I would be resolued in these two points First where the magistrate in such a case shuld haue a church to giue consent vnto his sending forth of such teachers to instruct infidels And thus haue they led vs about haue brought vs to the same place where we were at the first And secondly what they are which thus are sent by the magistrate and the church if not ministers of the word vnto those infidels whom they teach and herein we require an answere by the word Now to our assertion concerning our turning from Poperie at the blowing of her maiesties trumpet I doubt not but this will be graunted that some of Q. Maries subiects beleeued and made a bold confession of their faith who to the ioye of all christian hearts in the lande remaine in our church vntill this daie Others there were like vnto Nichodemus in his comming to Christ by night and in his faint defending of the truth who if the Lord should for our vnthankfulnes send a scourge wold with Nichodemus make a bolde confession of their loue to Christ Iesus So that all were not Pagans that embraced the Gospell at the sounding of her maiesties trumpet beeing faithfull the seales of the couenant did pertaine vnto their seed But some it may be ioyned for feare in the outward profession who these were the searcher of mans heart doth know So did Ismael in Abrahams house Caine in Adams house and these vnfaithfull Israelites vnder Iosua when at his only commandement they were all circumcised There was therefore such a separation at her maiesties