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A67324 More work for the dean in a brief answer to some scandalous reports published by Dr. Stillingfleet in his book entituled, \"An impartial account of the history, nature and pleas of the present separation from the communion of the Church of England\" against some of the Lords faithful servants, namely, Mr. Henry Barrow, Mr. John Greenwood, Mr. John Penry, who by the bishops means, after long imprisonment, were put to death, contrary to Queen Elizabeths mind; in the year 1593 ... : as likewise here is word for word the petition of those persecuted Christians, wherein is shewed the barbarous usage of the bishops to them : together with the refutation of the then esteemed Bishop of Winchester's blasphemous doctrine, by Mr. Henry Barrow, with the description of the true Church of God, according to Christs Testament, by the whole Church at London, whom the doctor calleth Brownists; with the reason why they were so nick-named by their enemies : very needful for all true Protestants to know / by Thomas Wall. Wall, Thomas. 1681 (1681) Wing W485; ESTC R20458 32,462 49

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to persons worship God and speak his truth as it is in Jesus But God be thanked their power hath been for many years abated and we have seen the days of peace to worship God which they whom the world was not worthy of longed to see and many of them obtained it not but were taken away to a better inheritance 1 Pet. 1. 4. These things duly weighed the Christian Reader may see what a persecuting spirit these Lordly Prelates are of and whether the Doctor is not of the same by all the symptoms of his Book as an Herald sounding before his Brethren and Reverend Fathers what he hath longed to be at were the Carpenter removed out of the way that hath frayed short Zach. 1. the Horns of their power that as yet they cannot use like cruelty in that measure their predecessours have done as hath been seen Now why the Doctor hath incouraged himself in this evil work to smite with the tongue Jer. 18. 18. or fist of wickedness Isa 58. 4. his dissenting Brethren as he calls them in this his Dragon-like War by casting out of his mouth Rev. 12. 16. with Psal 69. 14 15. floods of reproaches against Gods faithful Servants because they kept the Commandments of God John 15. 14. and have the testimony of Jesus Rev. 12. 17. unles Deog like he hopeth Psal 52. 4 7. to obtain more favour or with Baalam to gain some greater promotion Numb 22. 37. than yet he hath or rewards for his pains And is this the work of one that accounteth himself a Minister of the Gospel Surely it no whit agreeth to the word Gospel which signifieth glad tidings of peace as is the work of all true Gospel Ministers saith Christ in his first Sermon Blessed is the peace maker yea also between man and man even among brethren how good it is Psal 133. Thus ought no Christian to hate the person of his very enemy much less whom Christ calleth his friends for doing his Commandments John 15. 14. And that these Christians whom the Doctor reproachfully calleth Brownists were such is evident by their Faith and Practice in their description of the true visible Church of Christ which the suffering Christians published to the year 1589. as followeth word for word taken out of their Printed Copy A true description out of the Word of God of the visible Church AS there is but a one God and Father of all one Lord over all and one Spirit so is there but b one Truth one Faith one Salvation one Church called in one Hope joyned in one Profession guided by one c Rule even the Word of the most high a Genes 1. 1. Exod. 20. 3. b 1 Tim. 2. 4. Phil. 1. 27. Ephes 2. 18. John 8. 41. c Deut. 6. 25. Rom. 10. 8. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Joh. 8. 51. 1 Joh. 2. 3 4 c. This Church as it is universally understood containeth in it all the elect of God that have been are or shall be But being considered more particularly as it is seen in this present world it consisteth of a company and fellowship of a faithful and holy people b gathered in the name of Christ Jesus their only c King d Priest and e Prophet f worshipping him aright being g peaceably and quietly governed by his Officers and Laws h keeping the unity of faith in the bond of peace and i love unfained a Gen. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Rev. 7. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 3. Joh. 17. 10 20. b Psal 111. 1. and 149. 1. Isa 62. 12. Ephes 1. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Deut. 14. 2. c Deut. 12. 5. Joh. 6. 37. and 3. 14. and 12. 32. Luk. 17. 37. d Gen. 44. 10. Psal 45. 6. Zach 9. 9. Heb. 1. 8. e Rom. 8. 34. Joh. 17. Heb. 5. 9. and 8. 1. and 4. 14. f Deut. 18. 15. Matt. 17. 5. Heb. 1. 2. Gen. 14. 18. g Exod. 20. 4 5 6 7 8. Lev. 10. 5. Joh. 4. 23. h Matt. 11. 29. 1 Cor. 11. 16. Mark 13. 34. Rev. 22. 9. i Ephes 4. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 13. Mark 9. 50 John 13. 34. 1 Cor. 13. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 22. 1 John 3. 18. Most a joyful excellent and glorious things are every where in the Scriptures spoken of this Church It is called the b City c House d Temple and e Mountain of the Eternal God the f Chosen Generation the Holy Nation the peculiar Peopls the g Vineyard the h Garden enclosed the Spring shut up the sealed Fountain the Orchard of Pomgranates with sweet fruits the i heritage the k Kingdom of Christ yea his l Sister his Love his Spouse his m Queen and his n Body the joy of the whole Earth To this society is the o Covenant and all the Promises made of p Peace of Love and of q Salvation of the r Presence of God of his Graces of his Power and of his s Protection a Psal 87. 3. b Ibid. c 1 Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 3. 6. d 1 Cor. 3. 17. e Isa 2. 2. Micah 4. 1. Zach. 8. 3. f 1 Pet. 2. 9. g Isa 5. 1. and 27. 2 h Song 4. 12. Isa 51. 3. i Isa 19. 25. k Micha 5. 2. Matt. 3. 2. Joh. 3. 5. l Song 5. 2. m Psal 45. 9. n 1 Cor. 22. 27 Ephes 1. 23. o Gal. 4. 28. Rom. 9. 24. p Psal 147. 14. 2 Thes 3. 16. q Isa 46. 13. Zach. 14. 17. r Isa 60. Ezech. 47. Zach. 4. 12. s Ezech. 48. 35 Matt. 28. 20. Isa 62. And surely if this Church be considered in her parts it shall appear most beautiful yea most wonderful and even a ravishing the senses to conceive much more to behold what then to enjoy so blessed a Communion For behold her b King and Lord is the King of Peace and Lord himself of all Glory She enjoyeth most holy and heavenly c Laws most faithful and vigilant d Pastors most sincere and pure e Teachers most careful and upright f Governors most diligent and trusty g Deacons most loving and sober h Relievers and a most i humble meek obedient faithful and loving people every k stone living elect and precious every stone hath his beauty his l burden and his m order All bound to n edifie one another exhort reprove and comfort one another o lovingly as to their own members p faithful as in the eyes of God a Song 6. 4 9. b Isa 62. 11. Joh. 12. 15. Heb. 2. 7 8. c Matt. 11. 30. 1 John 5. 3 d Ephes 4. 11. Acts 20. e Rom. 12. 7. f 1 Cor. 12. 21. Rom 12. 8. g Acts 6. h Rom 12. 8. i Matt. 15. 5 Ezek. 36. 38. Isa 60. 8. Deut. 18. 9 13. k 1 Pet. 2. 5. 1 King 7. 9. Zach. 14. 21. l Gal. 6 2. m 1 Cor. 12. Rom. 12. 3 c. n Heb. 10. 24. o Lev. 19. 17. 1 Thes 4. 9. p Col. 3. 23. 1 John 3. 20. No a Office here is ambitiously affected no b Law wrong fully wrested or c wilfully neglected no d Truth hid or
More Work FOR THE DEAN In a Brief Answer to some Scandalous Reports Published by Dr. STILLINGFLEET in his Book Entituled An Impartial Account of the History Nature and Pleas of the present Separation from the Communion of the Church of England against some of the Lords faithful Servants namely Mr. Henry Barrow Mr. John Greenwood Mr. John Penry who by the Bishops means after long Imprisonment were put to death contrary to Queen Elizabeths mind in the year 1593 because they refused Communion with the Church of England by reason of the many Popish Corruptions in the Ministry and Worship retained therein And also for bearing their Testimony against the same which is still the Cause many Thousand Protestants refuse Communion with the Church of England at this day As likewise here is word for word the Petition of those persecuted Christians wherein is shewed the Barbarous Usage of the Bishops to them Together with the Refutation of the then Esteemed Bishop of Winchester's Blasphemous Doctrine by Mr. Henry Barrow with the Description of the true Church of God according to Christs Testament by the whole Church at London whom the Doctor calleth Brownists with the reason why they were so Nick-named by their Enemies Very needful for all true Protestants to know By Thomas Wall Prov. 31. 8. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such a● are appointed to destruction LONDON Printed for William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street 1681. To the most Noble and Sincere hearted Protestants Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied IT may seem a thing very strange in nature for a Lamb without fear to meet a Lyon in the open field As it was in Little David when by faith he Encountered with great Goliah the Champion of the Pblistines even so it may seem strange to some that so mean an instrument shall without fear meet Dr. Stillingfleet fo great a Champion in the open field But seeing he hath with Goliah despised or desied that little flock of Christ's faithful Servants the heavenly Armies of the living God therefore I cannot keep silent having with David the Lord on my side his Truth for my Sword and Buckler therefore for the Honour of the Lord Jesus Christ and love I bear to all his Servants I shall herein defend the Rights and Prerogatives of my Lord and Saviour That he is the only Archbishop Lord Spiritual and Lawgiver to his Church in all things appertaining to the worship of his Father And shall stand by the same testimony which any of the Lords Servants have born against the Doctor and all the Canons of his Church to the contrary Secondly Among all the Enemies of Gods people the most wicked'st are those that under the Visage of Christianity would be reckoned among the Lords Protestant people in word declaring they are on Christs side but in their Works and Writings manifest their hatred against him and all his faithful Servants for no other cause but by manifesting their love to Christ in keeping his Commandment in Gods Worship and bearing their testimony against all mens inventions to the contrary such an enemy hath the Doctor manifested himself to be to the Christians herein mentioned in the false Reports published against them to the Defamation of their persons their Writings and the Truth they professed and maintained as is hereafter plainly discovered concerning their Faith in the Description of the true Church of God with all her Officers and in what order Christ hath commanded in his Testament for them to walk therein with Church State Ministry together with its holy Order I desire the Doctor to compare with his Church and Ministry and then declare to the world which he believeth in his conscience is the true Church of God If God be pleased to open his eyes and carry him above all earthly Wisdom by his Spirit unto an exceeding high Mountain the height Rev. 21. 10. of Israel to behold the City filled with the glory of God and unless God doth be his Ezek. 17. 22 23. 40. 2. Rev. 21. 11. Eccl. 10. 15. help he with the Apostate Israelites will still weary himself and not know how to find the way to the City in which City by the Canon or holy Rules thereof Christ hath appointed for her Officers Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons Ephes 4. But the 7th Canon of the Doctors Church saith Whosoever shall affirm that the Government of that Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons and the rest that do bear office is Antichristian or repugnant to the word of God let him be excommunicated ipso facto and so continue until he repent and publickly revoke his wicked Errors Christ Jesus hath appointed the whole form of Gospel-worship to be learned out of his Testament and that it be agreeable to the Isa 8. 20. Act. 20. 27. same upon pain of all the Curses in Gods Book to him that addeth or diminisheth to Rev. 22. 18. Prov. 30. 6. or from But the 4th Canon of the Doctors Church saith Whosoever shall affirm that the form of Gods worship established by Law and contained in the book of Common-prayer is a corrupt and superstitious or unlawful worship of God or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures let him be excommunicated ipso facto and such like wherein is preferred the Traditions and Orders of men to be equal to the inspired Rules in Christs Testament Now let me ask the Doctor whether he believeth in his conscience that when he cometh to appear before the Lord Jesus the chief Judg that he shall be judged for the breach of his Church Canons or for the breach of Christs Canons in his Testament seeing the word of God telleth us that whatsoever man that hath engaged himself to be a worshipper of God and shall break the holy Rules in Worship he hath promised to keep and after Gods order by brethren used for his recovery Matth. 18. if he stand obstinate then that which the Church by the Rules of Christ doth by excommunicating him on earth is confirmed in heaven but the curse for the breach of mans Canons in worship though pretended to God in worship is the curse causeless which shall not come Prov. 26. 2. But the curse turn'd into a blessing upon all that do Rev. 22. 11. to wit the Commandments of the Lord Jesus they only have right to the Tree of life and may enter in through the gates in the City So that it is not enough for the Doctor to think it is sufficient for him or his hearers to believe verbally that Christ is the Son of God come in the flesh as the only foundation of Religion but they that do expect salvation by Christs Merits must not only believe he is the Son of God but by their obedience confess the same that as a Son was he faithful in his house or Church as Moses the Prophet like unto Moses the only Law-giver for Gospel
reproached the primitive Christians were by the Priests and Pharisees called a Sect of Nazarens Acts 24. 5. every where spoken against Acts the 28. 22. as at this day Protestants are by the Papists called Calvinists Zuinglians Heugonots 2dly Mr. Brown from whom this by-word was taken is Minister of Mr. Jacob's Church and so of Mr. Hildershams all Ministers of the Church of England and not of ours yet holding as we hear in his Judgment the truth we profess but for his practice in Worship rem●ineth still in Apostacy wherein they are So then not we but Mr. Jacob and Mr. Hildersham may if any be called Brownists See Francis Johnson's Answer to Mr. Jacob Intituled A Treatise of the Church of England page 2. And A Treatise of the Ministry of England in Answer to Mr. Hildersham page 94. Moreover because Doctor Stilling fleet durst not in his Conscience fight against the Cause of God these Servants of Christ maintained after the way of plain dealing therefore fighteth covertly under the Banner of other men yet of the same mind with himself and among the many Mr. Gifford another Minister of the Bishops making whom he maketh one of his chief Armor-bearers in this railing fight Dragon like with floods of reproaches against Gods Servants which keeps the Commandments of God and have in their Writings the Testimony of Jesus Rev. 12. 16. And it was not so bitter then but it would be as bad now if the earth did not by more than by an ordinary providence help the Church the Woman Rev. 12. 15. Moreover this man the Doctor as I remember maketh no less than Eight times mention of Mr. Gifford in Twelve Leaves of his Book against the forenamed Christians Now if he would have the world believe that what Mr. Gifford hath wrote against them to be as Oracles undeniable truths surely I may by the same Rule desire all men likewise to believe that to be a truth what Mr. Gifford hath wrote against the Doctors Church and Ministry and the rather to believe in the latter because who can tell better the evil of their ways than he who was a Bird in the same Cage of confusion with them Rev. 18. 2. Mr. Giffords words are these Through want and absence of a sincere Ministry there is a flood of ignorance and darkness overflowing the Land for the most part the fear of God is banished from the greatest part The wonderful heaps and piles of sin which should be washed away by the Word do undoubtedly cry aloud in the ears of the Lord for vengeance upon the whole Realm The Devil saith he is content those Preachers should ride upon his back because he is sure they will spur-gaul him but a little they be very gentle Riders Do you not think if they should set forth Gods word as they ought and spread the Light that all wicked men of which their Parishes be full would storm and fret against them The Devil himself would fisk about if they spur gaul him but a little but they can tell a smooth tail in the Pulpit garnished with some merry Story for to make the people merry or else some old rotten Allegory or some far-set matter out of some great Writer that their people might be at their wits end to admire them A man would think to see the people come out of the Church blowing that they were fed as full as ticks when they go home with empty Bellies This I dare warrant you if it be not so let me lose both my ears go through the Parishes of these Learned Divines and except such as fetch their Victuals otherwhere ye shall not find Five among Five-score able to understand the necessary grounds and principles of Religion y●a the people will say they be excellent deep men but I love not those Wells that a man can draw no Water out of them See Mr. Giffords Book Intituled Country Divinity noted by Henry Ainsworth in his Counterpoyson page 101. Thus it is to be hoped if the Doctor cannot refute this Testimony he will never hereafter speak against the forenamed Christians Testimony which in this particular said no other thing in effect concerning the Doctors Church and Ministry than Mr. Gifford did Moreover the Doctor is not satisfied to shoot his Arrows of bitter words against the Ancient Seperation but through their sides against all the Nonconformists in this day envying at their due birthrights and priviledges given them of God and man in freedom to serve the Lord as they are inlightened and if in any thing as doubtless none but cometh short in a perfect understanding in all things how they ought to walk with God the Doctors duty was then to have by the evidence of Gods written Word wherein they failed in the spirit of Love to have better informed their understandings and not as an enemy to his dissenting brethren as he calleth them to infinuate into the Magistrates minds by publishing to the world that Liberty of Concience hath occasioned the growth of Poperty in this Nation but how greatly hath the Doctors heart deceived him in this as in the former is not my judgment only that the occasion of the growth of Popery is by reason of so many corruptions retained in his Ministry and Worship in his Church as is noted in the Two Christian Warning pieces one to the King the other to the late Parliament but it is confirmed by his Right hand man and chief Armor bearer in this Battel against the Lords Servants Mr. Gifford in a Dialogue between a Papist and a Protestant in the Epistle Dedicatory word for word thus set down by Henry Ainsworth in his Counterpoyson page 19. Some do wonder how it should come to pass that among us there should be so many which being born since the Gospel was restored in this Land are so zealously addicted to Popery which they never did know and so utter enemies to the Gospel which they hear but if they weigh the cause of this deadly mischief they would cease wondering and rather wonder that there be no more For how can it be so long as there be so many abuses in the Ministry but that many shall stumble and loath the Gospel for from hence as it is manifest the chief cause of this evil doth spring True it is that our ministry doth fight against them but in such sort that it doth greatly encrease them seeming and pretending to tread upon these Cockatrice eggs for to break them and to destroy utterly the Viperous generation when as indeed they sit upon them and so hatch the brood of this evil kind and bring them forth in great plenty for behold a number cry out against Popery and proclaim utter defiance in speech but their doings are such that for every one they convert to the Gospel they cause an hundred to revolt to be hardned in their errors or to fall into flat Atheism while many contrary to the profession which they made when they entred
setting aside the care of souls not esteeming nor regarding what became of them study most how to climb high and to satisfie their ambitious desires of honour raking together Livings cove● ously and greedily not caring who feed the flock so they may come by the fleece Moreover the door hath been opened also to let into the Church a rout and swarm of such as are more like the priests of Jeroboam than ministers of the Gospel not only unlearned Idols which have mouths and speak not which being weary of their occupation and covet to live easily and to that end entred but also riotous dicers gamesters quaffers quarrellers adulterers and such like if the matter were secret I should do amiss to make it manifest but when it is open in the sight and view of all men who can complain justly Now let the Reader observe thus saith the Apostle If one of themselves even a prophet of their own saith it therefore this witness is true Tit. 1. 12 13. and indeed what have many of their ministers said less in the first and second admonition to the Parliament in the 13. year of Q. Elizabeth's reign 1530. p. 49. in these words What encouragement and favour have they shewed the Papists when the Papists have been complained upon how have they opened their ears meaning the Bishops to their complaints against the ministers and shut their ears when the Papists have been complained upon yea some have said that conformable Papists were more tollerable than these Precisians and godly men that seek for Reformation Who be their Chancellors but most suspected Papists And where have they their most countenance but of the Bishops I hear not of one of them but is a briber Who be their Sumners but very Varlets What are their Canonists but suspected Papists They wring their brethren if they be Gods children and let the papists go scot-free or be punished but lightly And what more is expresly forbidden in the Scriptures than those names and offices which Christ hath forbidden his ministers to be called gracious Lords Luke 21. 25. 28. and many such things worth the observing by all those that have the Book by them Thus I hope it is sufficiently proved that it is not liberty of conscience that is the cause Popery hath increased in this land but the gross abuses in the Doctors Church and Ministry Moreover if the Lord of old was not against liberty of conscience in things spiritual who compelled not the Gibeonites Hittites Gergashistes or unclean Israelites that lived in the Lords Land to keep his Fast or Feast or to do any part of his worship by the Civil Sword no more it is the mind of God under the Gospel Josh 16. 10. Lev. 15. 44. 2 Cor. 7. 8. neither could the Doctor have been so ignorant of that or so plain a Gospel doctrine if his study were spent as much in the book of God as in History for as much as Christ Jesus Creator and Lord of the whole earth hath divided it freely to all Nations under the whole heavens to dwell therein and appointed the bounds of their habitations Gen. 10. 32. Acts 17. 26. and accordingly Christ hath expounded the parable that the field is the world Mat. 13. 38. wherein the good seed children of the kingdom and the tares children of the wicked one are allowed by Christ to grow together though not in the Church Mat. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. Prov. 25. 4 5. Gen. 4. 6. Gal. 4. 30. but in the field unless the Doctor thinks the whole world be the Church until the Harvest or end of the world for the Lord doth cause his Sun to shine on the evil and the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust how then dare mortal man by persecution debar his fellow creatures from the liberty given them of God so long as they do to all men as they would have others do to them but when they do otherwise contrary to the second table of Gods law the Magistrate beareth not the sword in vain Rom. 13. 4. For he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil surely then it may be said to such that seek to have their brethren persecuted they do therein as it were call for fire to come down from heaven to destroy them Luke 9. 54. unto such Christ saith they know not what spirit they are of for who is he O man that maketh thee to differ from another 1 Cor. 4. 7. or hast thou any good in thee since thy fall that thou hast not received therefore man ought to know that it is God only which perswadeth Japhet to dwell in the tents of Shem Gen. 9 27. so that to force men to be religious before God giveth them faith is to make a Church of hypocrites such as all persecuting spirits are and this spirit was ever seen in Lordly Prelates and their accomplices as by woful experience the fore-named Christians felt whom the Dr. hath reproached as it is to be seen in a Petition in Q. Elizabeths days they presented to the Parliament aforementioned seasonable in this day for all Protestants to be acquainted with concerning the Bishops cruelty to the Nonconformists then that would neither touch tast nor handle any popish tradition or corruption either in Ministry or Worship The Petition word for word as followeth The humble most earnest and lamentable Complaint and Supplication of the persecuted Church and Servants of Christ called Brownists THE most high God possessor of heaven and earth bringeth at this present before your Lordships and Wisdoms Right Honourable his own cause his own people and his own sworn and most treacherous enemies together with the most shameful usage of his truth and servants that ever hath been heard of in the days of Sions professed peace and tranquility His cause and people he offereth unto your consideration and defence in our profession and persons his enemies and their outrage against his truth and servants in the persons and bloody proceedings of the Prelates of the Land and their Complices We profess the same faith and truth of the Gospel which her Majesty and your Honours the whole Land and all the Reformed Churches under heaven this day do hold and maintain we go beyond them being our only fault even in the judgments of our tyrannical and most savage enemies in the detestation of all Popery that most fearful Antichristian Religion and draw nearer in some points by our practice unto Christs holy order and institution this is our faith this is our cause in our sinful hands and for the profession and maintenance of which faith the forenamed enemies of God detain in their hands within the prisons about London not to speak of other Gaols throughout the Land about threescore and twelve persons men and women young and old lying in cold in hunger in dungeons in irons of which number they have taken the Lords day last past being the