the Church hath powre which powre commeth after into act execution when her officers are chosen viz The powre of baptizing administring the Lords Supper yet it may also be questioned whither the Church may not as well administer the Seales of the covenant before they have Officers as Pray Prophesy Elect Officers and the rest seing that to put the Seales to the covenant is not a greater work then publishing the covenant or Election of officers or excommunication The third of your 9. reasons against popularity is that it is against Christs commission granted to the Apostles their Successors as Timothie Titus the cheef ministers of the Gospel that therfor the place 1. Cor. 5.4 must be expounded of the Elders as you say the Apostle sheweth 1. Cor. 2.6 Wel Mr. Bern. this is old rusty rotten popish stuffe even as auncient as the Church of Antichrist some of it viz that of succession which hath already receaved answer the contrary been proved at large in this Section whither I referre you But heer are certaine vntruths avouched by you which must be answered viz one is that Christs commission was granted only to the Apostles their Successors I have proved already in the former reasons that the commission was given to the body of the Church expounding those foure places which you quote viz Mat. 28.19 16.19 Iohn 20 21-23 Marc. 13.34 which also is further cleeâ—ed for that the twelve were not yet Apostles but only nominated to the office for they were indued with powre froÌ„ on high vppon the day of Pentecost Luk. 24.49 compared with Act. 2.4 Eph 4.8.11 as also for that Cleopas Mary Magdalene others besides the eleven were present when the commission was given vnto the Disciples finally bicause the Apostles were the Church representative yea every one of them having in them powre to performe al the offices of al officers members of the Church the Church only is the true Successor of the Apostles no one man oâ— Minister whatsoever seing no one person hath powre to performe al offices of all officers and members which notwithstanding the whole Church joyntly hath A second vntruth is this that you say the Apostles committed that commission given them by Christ not to the body of the Church but to Timothie Titus ther successors as appeareth 1. Tim. 6.13.14 as you say wherto I answer that the Apostles leave the powre which they receaved from Christ joyntly with the rest of the Disciples in the hands of the Church not of Timothie Titus only that chardg which Paul giveth to Timothie respecteth the whole Epistle and all the contents thereof which aperteyne to all sorts of persons in the Church aswell as to Timothie as may be seen in the whole second Chapter how prove you that Timothy an Evangelist Succeeded Paull an Apostle Or that the Elders of Ephesus succeded Timothie an Evangelist A third vntruth is this that you say the place 1. Cor. 5.4.13 must be vnderstood of Elders as you say may appeare 1. Cor. 2.6 wherto I answer that this is a prety trick but it wil not serve your turne to turne away the truth evidence to this place For first the Epistle is written to the whole body of the Church al the circumstances of the Chap. 5. teach that the whole body was leavened that their rejoycing was not good that they ought not to be mingled with the brethren that were fornicators that they ought not to eate the L. Supper with such persons that they have powre to judg them that are within that they must cast out from among them that incestuous person whereas you would needes by one phrase viz the rebuke of many 2. Cor. 2.6 expound this general as spoken of many Elders not many brethren I say herein you coyne a false exposition For doth it follow that bicause the rebuke was delivered by many either brethren or Elders who are to leade in al publique actions therfor the Apostle enjoyneth the Elders only to excommunicate or bicause some only pronounce the rebuke the sentence of excommunication therfor they only have powre to decree it I desire you would make these consequents hang or depend necessarily vppon ther antecedents or els you doe but wrest the Scriptures to your destruction besides that place 2. Cor. 2.6 doth not teach who either decreed or pronounced his excommunication but only who rebuked him for his sinne which were many Elders if you will For I take it the place is manifest that he was not excommunicate bicause he repented vppon the reproof which the Apostle saith is sufficient And sometyme in the Scripture many signifieth all all signifieth many as these places declare Matt. 3.5 Roman 5.18.19 Therefore this quirck off yours is but a meer Sophisticall cavill to put of the truth The fourth of your 9. reasons against popularity is that the place of Ephes 4.11.12 is against it for ther the Apostle declareth say you that gifts for the ministerie are given to the Ministers for the Church not to the Church for the Ministers and that therefore the powre of Christ is not given to the body of the Church but only to the Elders this you shew by a similie from the parts of the body which do not receave their qualityes facultyes or gifts from the body but from God To this reason I answer that you declare your self to be either blind or willfully to shut your eyes against the truth evidence of this place For it is as cleer as the shining of the Sunne in the Firmament of heaven against your exposition objection For I pray you in good sooth doth this argument follow viz Christ giveth gifts vnto meÌ„ not by the mediation of the body of the Church therfor Christ giveth his ministerial powre to the officers not to the body yet this is the force of your argument which may for more evidence be framed thus If Christ give gifts to the officers of the Church not by the Church but immediately by from himself Then Christ giveth powre of binding losing to the officers of the Church not by the meanes of the church but by such meanes as God hath appointed that is as I gesse by Succession But you say the Antecedent is true by the place of the Eph 4. And I say the consequent or conclusion followeth not vppon the antecedent but it is meerly asyllogiston But I will declare the inconsequence more fully The Lord he giveth gifts to men either ordinarily or extraordinarily Extraordinarily he gave gifts to men in the primitive Churches Ordinarily he giveth gifts to men by study paynes by nature so he gave the gifts of Tongs and Prophesy extraordinarily to the primittive Churches be giveth the same gifts now ordinarily by meanes of Study and the help of naturall witt How will it follow that bicause the Lord gave gifts therefore he gave
Ergo the ministers of England are Apostles as Paul or thus He that converteth Soules is sent of God Rom. 10.14.15 The Ministers of England convert Soules Ergo the ministers of England are sent of God If I should yeeld your first argument theÌ„ it would follow that you al the ministers that convert soules in England are Ap. but you intend not to prove your selves Apst but ordinary Pastors of visible churches therfore your argument if it were yeelded proveth not your purpose I know you do not challendg to be an Apostle as Paul was Againe to answer to your second argumeÌ„t we yeeld you that no maÌ„ caÌ„ coÌ„vert to the true saith of Chr. new TestameÌ„t which is visible except he be sent of God but seing you pervert men froÌ„ the new testament of Chr. as I have proved how can you herby prove your selves to be sent of God nay I say you are the instruments of Sathan sent by the L. in his wrath to keep the people in bondage froÌ„ the obedience of the faith taught in the new testament I do not determine what you are invisibly secreatly known to the L. neither doth the Scripture teach vs so to judg of faith For how can the Scripture teach vs visiblie to judg an invisible thing which is not appearing in visible Fruites Further wher as you say that the 1. Cor. 9.1 2. Cor. 3 1-3 doth not intend the constitution of the Church of the Corinths other Churches but their conversion from idolatry to embrace the doctryne of the gospel by faith I answer that these two things which you distinguish are al one they are no other in distinction then Arons beard the beard of Aaron as you speake for to convert men to the Faith of the gospel is to convert men to the true constituted Church of Christ For they are not converted to the true faith til they be converted established into the true Church if it may be sound So that this objection of yours is very insufficient if not altogether ridiculous for the force of the Apostles argument in these two places of the Corinths I say it is mistaken by you vtterly so wrested from the Holy Ghosts purpose misapplyed by you to prove your intention For the seale of Pauls Apostles hip was the Church of the Corinths converted to the saith established into the true constitution of the new Testament 1. Cor. 9.2 so Paul expoundeth himself in the other place 2. Cor. 3.10 saying that he was made an able Minister of the new Testament even as Moses was of the old For the vnderstanding of which place the whole matter you must remember what Moses did to the Church of the Iewes what Paul did to the Church of the Corinths Moses did constitute the Church of the Iewes according to the paterne shewed him in the mount that most faithfully Heb. 8.5 Paul being the Apostle of the Gentils sent by Chr. Iesus for that purpose hath established the Church of the Corinths according to that paterne which Christ the Mediator revealed vnto him which none could doe but an Apostle sent by Christ So that the force of Pauls Argument to prove himself an Apostle must thus be propounded conceaved He that hath the seale of an Apostelship is an Apostle Paul hath the seale of an Apostelship viz an infallible direction from Christ Iesus by the Spirit to convert establish the Church of the Corinths into the true constitution of the new Testament Ergo Paul is an Apostle of Iesus Christ Now Mr. Bern. I would require you to answer directly plainly whither this be not the true Scope intent of these two places of Scripture if yea then are you a most ignorant shameles perverter false interpreter of the Scriptures wherof I require your repentance before the Lord the world for your sinne is publique if nay then discover the contrary if you can justifie your self or els I doe professe vnto you to all the ministers of England that you doe abuse the honest harted people of the Land misleading them meerly by the pretence of this argument of converting soules For they feeling in their consciences secreatly the Lords work of inward conversion by the ministery of the Land especially the sincerest most forward puritans thereby are brought to reverence their ministery vnder the vizaâ—d of this inward work in their consciences pretending conversion to the visible faith of Christs new Testament doe hereby resolutely persist vnder that ministery whereby say they they were converted assuring themselves that it cannot be a false ministery that converteth men to the Lord inwardly and secreatly then you the ministers of the Land deceaving others being deceaved your selves by the misconstruction of these the like places of Scripture stand vp stoutly to defend your ministery after this manner are wee not true ministers of Iesus Christ have wee not converted Soules are not you the Seale of our ministerie the forward professors of the Land wee appeale vnto your consciences if you in our ministery have not felt the powre of the word to your inward conversion If this be so how can you forsake your Fathers that begat you how can you go to the Seperation that never coÌ„verted you c. I answer what you doe inwardly in conversion I dispute not the Scripture regardeth not what you doe outwardly that I plead the Scripture discovereth you convert not a man to the true faith of Christ which is visible in the visible communion of the true Church of the Apostle Pauls constitution such as was the Church of the Corinths and therfor you cannot by your inward invisible conversion which you plead for prove your ministery For except you can produce such an effect as Paul did in the Corinths you cannot prove your selves to be the true ministers that are sent of God For Paul saith yee Corinths are our Epistle vnderstood read of al men So that Pauls Seale of his ministery was an outward visible legible faith viz The faith of the true Church of the new Testament whereinto the Apostle had established them which al men did see behold read manifestly wherefore if you the Ministers of England wil prove your selves to be the true ministers of the new Tesament then shew mee such a seale of your ministery as the Apostle heere speaketh of convert men establish them in the true Apostolical Church of the primitive institution I for my part wil yeeld vnto you that as paul was sent extraordinarily so are you ordinarily by the Lord you are the true ministers of Iesus Christ truly sent Rom. 10. but seing you doe what you can to hinder al your disciples from the true Corinthian Church established by paull according to the paterne of Christs new Testament not bringing the people that depend vppon you so far as you know acknowledg but stil counsel them
wil I adventure further to prove before any witnesses vppon the hazard of my life if I may have audience do not you now as you have once done in your Letter to Mr. H. take it granted that nether he nor his leaders as you speak can answere your arguments you see it is otherwise I pray you doe not oppose against this truth in your pulpits till you have throughly scanned all thinges til you have had further passages with mee about it I did thinke that I ought to doe many things against this way but it pleased the Lord at the length to reveale his truth vnto me for the which I blesse my God for ever I know if you once interest your selfe in opposition against the cause publiquely it will be very hard for you afterwards to deny your doinges to pul downe that which you have built Therefore be advised raise vp your hart to enter into the cause be not afrayd of it deny al even wife children life also els you are not capable of this truth I pray you commend mee to Mr. B. and to your selfe most kindly The Lord of his mercy vouchsafe to enlighten you with the evident brightnes of his truth and the Lord open your hart to entertayne it in love and the Lord guide your feete into the way of peace so in all kindnes I take leave of you bidding you most hartely farewell FINIS A Lettre written to certaine brethren in S. By Iohn Smyth Mercie and peace be multiplied vnto you RethteÌ„ I am excedingly rejoyced in my soule hearing of the grace of God bestowed B vppon you althongh you are but few in nomber yet considering that the Kingdome of heaven is as a graine of mustard seed smal in the beginning I do not doubt but you may in tyme grow vp to a muâ—titude and be as it weere a great tâ—ee full of Fruitful branches which I vnfeignedlie desire brethren in your behalf at the Lords handes I have receaved your lettre long since I had seÌ„t you answer ere this if I had had a coÌ„venient messenger but now having fit opportunity offered I doe willingly of duty to you my brethren to the L. Iesus his truth make answer to your motion whereas Mr. K. is a man famous in the Churches of England for learning sincerity being now growen aged in them both it might therfor be thought boldnes in mee to deale with him yet being provoked therevnto by you by himself by my place which I susteyne in the Church of Christ I durst not refuse but choose rather to incure the vndeserved suspitioÌ„ of arrogaÌ„cie if any man dare so deem it by manifesting the truth then the deserved reproach of the denyal of the truth which is committed when the tâ—uth is not defended vppon due calling thervnto First therfor I doe professe before al men that the truth wee professe is maniâ—ested already sufficiently to all that wil but open there eyes in the writings of those worthy witnesses of Iesus Christ who have gone before vs in the Testimonie of this truth wee hold out to the world therfor I shal by this my writing only doe that which is already done therfor this my labor might wâ—l have been spared Secondly neverthelesse bicause things may be further explaned manifested by several gifts I thought it not amisse to shew myne opinion also The rather being called thervnto by your selves as also by Mr. K. breefly therefore to come to the matter the two points to be proved are these First that such matters as aâ—e excepted against in the Church of England are contrary to the word of God Seâ—ondly That they are in such sort opposite therevnto as thereby it is become no Church meet for any good Christian to Remaine in and to communicate with These two points shal be manifestly proved by these Scriptures following 1. First your Church is not of the Apostolique constitution but framed according to the invention of man which is proved thus Deut. 14.2 compared with 1. Pet. 2.9 Roman 1.7 1. The Churches of the Apostolique constitution consisted of Saints only The Churches of England consist not of Saints only Therfor the Churches of England are not of the Apostolique constitution therfor are framed according to the invention of man The major is proved by the former Scriptures for Moses calleth the Iewes an Holy people ceremonially typing that the people of the new Testament should be truely holy as Peter doth expound it and Paull exemplifie it to the Romanes and in all his Epistles The minor is manifest for all sorts of persons Atheists Papists adulterers theeves c. who not are compelled to be are members of the English Churches Ergo. 2. Againe from that Church which is not of the Apostolique constitution but of mans invention al the faithful must make Seperation 2 Chron. 13 5.-13 30 5-12 compared with Revel 14.9.10 18.4.5 The Churches of England are not of the Apostolique constitution but of mans invention Therfor the faithful must make Seperation from the Churches of England The major is proved thus as Ezechiah perswadeth the Israelites to Seperate from the Church of Ieroboams invention to joyne to the true Church of Iudah which was of Moses constitution so Iohn by vision is commaunded to pronounce a woe to them that give homage to Antichrists ordinances and to perswade all the faithfull to Seperate from Babylon which is by interpretation a confusion Now all mens inventions are Antichristian seing that as Christ Antichrist are opposite so are Christian Antichristians if ther for the constitution of the Churches of England be not of Christs that is of the Apostolique primitive frame it is of man of Antichrist so woe be to them that doe not Seperate from it 2. Secondly your ministerie is not of the Apostolique primitive institution but framed according to mans invention which is proved thus Heb. 5.4.5 Levit. 8. compared with Esay 66.20.21 Act. â— 3 -6. Act. 14.23 1. The true ministerie of the Apostolique institution was by election approbation ordination of that particular holy people wherto they did administer The ministery of the assemblies of England is not so but after the invention of man Therfor the ministerie of the assemblies is not the true ministere of the Apostolique institution but devised by man The major is proved by the former scriptures for as that only was the true preisthood which Moses by the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of the L. apointed in the old testameÌ„t therfor that of Ieroboams was false 1. King 12.31 2. Chron. 13.9 So it the new Testament that is only the true ministerie which is of the Apostolique institution viz by election ordination approbation of that faithful holy people wherto they administer The minor is evident For the ministerie of England viz the Prelacie Preisthood Deaconry like thre vncleane Spirits proceed out of the month of the
of love to the brethren seing they neyther know nor have brethrē vppō whome they may exercise these dutyes Therfor this place of the Apostle is pregnant invincibly strong against you The third place is 1. Cor. 1.1 Now what wordes Mr. Bern intendeth in this place I can not conjecture except they be these viz. in the second verse with al those that cal vpon the name of the L. Iesus Christ in every place whence it may seem he would gather that ther were some subjects of Christs Kingdome not of a constituted Church I do verely think that seing these persons that were absent frō the Church of Corinthus did call Iesus Christ Lord they did therfor acknowledg him for their Lord King therefor did apertayne to his Kingdome which is his visible Church happily they might be some brethren which did not dwel in Corinth but in some villages about Corinth that this is so the place afordeth evidently For he wrote both to the Church that was in Corinth to the brethrē that were in other places which were no doubt of the church of Corinth El◠how did that Epistle in the contents of it concerne them For seing the Apostle writeth this Epistle to them they had to doe with the matters wherof he taxeth the church for he taxeth them al indifferently seing he writeth indifferently vnto them al Herevppon it followeth that eyther these persons that were in other places were mēbers of the Church of Corinth or els if they were no members off that church the Apostle in vayne doth direct his Epistle to them taxing them off the corruptions off that Church Except it be said that the Apostle doth hereby interest other churches to deale with the Church of Corinth for their corruptiōs then Mr. Bern. gayneth nothing by it neither seing therby he confesseth that these other brethren were members of other true constituted churches The third place therfor is nothing to the purpose The last place is 2. Thes 3.15 count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother To passe by what some think of this place I say vnto you Mr. Bern that it hath not so much as a shew for your purpose The Apostle speaketh in this verse negatively affirmatively For he teacheth that they ought not to recken of an excommunicate as they account of an enemy but they are to admonish an excommunicate as they doe admonish a brother Therby teaching vs that an excōmunicate is in a midle condition neyther an enemy nor a brother but one that is vnder the censure of the church as a meanes ordeyned by God for his reformation how wil this place prove that an excommunicate is a member of Christs invisible Kingdome or if it should prove that some excommunicate are members of Christs invisible Kingdome how can you prove that this or that excommunicate is so do you know the Lords Elect certaynly particularly that are out of the church Or what doth this assertion of yours this place of Scripture against my assertion who say that such as are not of a true constituted church are no subjects of Christs Kingdome viz Of the Kingdome which he shal give vp into the hands of his Father in the day of his final judgment In the third place Mr. Bern. asketh what may be said of wicklife Hus Luther Bucer Melanchthō the Martyrs Gods people in England of Lot Iob the people in captivity in Mordecay his tyme wherto I answer as I have already done That Iob was a member of a true constituted church so a subject of Christs Kingdome So was Lot so were the people of the Iewes in captivity though violently deteyned from the Holy land Cittie Temple therfor Mr. Bern. in these three demaundes gaineth nothing except the estimation of ignorance folly be gaine to that of the Martyrs Hus Luther Gods people in England I say two things eyther that in affection desire they aperteyned to the true visible church being seperated from the false church or that they were of the invisible church of the invisible Kingdome which is vnknowne to man the members therof vnknowne disprove you this if you can In the last place you demaund whither Christs Kingdom be not Spiritual invisible also Ioh. 18.33 10.16 The two places of Scripture quoted by you do not prove that Christ hath an invisible Kingdome so invisible subjects knowne to vs For Ioh. 18. Christ saith my Kingdom is not of this world that is to say it is not begunne continued perfected by worldly meanes So Christ expoundeth himself afterward saying my Kingdom is not from hēce my subjects would fight for mee vs 36. meaning that his Kingdom is neyther erected nor supported by worldly meanes as by sword speare or shield in respect whereof the Apostle saith Rom. 14.17 The Kingdome of God is not meate nor drinck 2. Cor. 10.3.4 Though we live in the flesh yet we do not warre after the flesh for the weapens of our warfare are not carnal The second place is Ioh. 10. VVher Christ saith not as you dreame very ignorantly childishly that he hath an invisible Kingdome but that he hath sheep of two sorts some of the visible Church of the Old Testament which is one fold some of the visible Church of the New Testament which is another sold o◠the Iewes Gentils both which sorts of people shal in Christ Iesus the partition wal being taken away be joyned made one that so ther may be one sheepfold one shepheard but what is al this Mr. Bern. to disprove the truth of my position Again to answer your demaund I say that Chr. Kingdome is Spiritual invisible aswel as outward visible For when we say that Christs Kingdome is visible sensible we do not deny that it is also invisible Spiritual neyther are these two contraryes to be oposed as excluding one another For as a man is not only the body which is visible sensible but cheefly principally the soule which is invisible as the true Sacraments are not only the outward Elements but the inward grace also that most especialy So the visible Church which consisteth of men is not only the outward communion but especially cheefly the inward Spiritual fellowship which the Saynts have with Christ one with another The Apostle therfor saith both that ther is one body one Spirit Eph. 4. that al that are baptized are baptized into one body al that communicate are caused to drinck into one Spirit 1. Cor. 12.13 And as the Saynts are members of Christs body of his flesh of his bones Eph. 5.30 So they that are joyned to the Lord are one Spiritt 1. Cor. 6.17 we grant you therfor Mr. Bern. that Christs Kingdome is Spiritual visible but we deny that Christs Kingdome is only invisible or only visible he that doth plead to me that
his Ministeriall powre extraordinarily from heaven VVhy you confesse that powre of binding and losing was given before Christs ascension but now you would prove by this place Ephes 4. that the powre of binding losing is given after Christs assension and that these gifts and this powre are given together is not this to contradict your self hereby you see the weakenes of your reason For you must distinguish betwixt the powre of binding and losing which the Disciples had committed vnto them before Christs ascension and betwixt the gifts of the day of Pentecost But what are those gifts mentioned in that place of Ephes 4.8.11.12 and vnto whome are those gifts given I will declare it vnto you and so your mouth shal be â—â—opt These gifts which are said to be given to men are those foure sorts of Officers which the Apostle mentioneth vs 11. Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers for the two last are one office These officers with their gifts are said to be given to men who are these men vnto whome these officers with their gifts are giveÌ„ are they not the Church is not the office of an Elder Pastor or Teacher the L. gift to the Church This place you see therefore is most pregnant against your opinion as may appeare thus That which is given by Christ to the Church is in the powre possession of the Church The officers offices of the Church are given to the Church Ergo the officers offices of the Church are in the powre possession of the Church Wherfor I say vnto you that the gifts of preaching administration of the Sacraments Governing are given vnto some meÌ„ but the office officers indued with these gifts are given vnto the Church who have powre to appoint them to their office who do receave both their office powre to administer in their office from the Church vnto whome the office powre of Christ is given primarily being the next Lord therof vnder Christ the Monarch And for your similie of the parts receaving their properties from God not from the body it is perversly applyed For this is the true vse and application of the similie as the head communicateth all the powre facultie which any part hath from it self to that part by the body so the head Christ communicated his powre to the parts and officers of the Church by the body of the Church which is Christ mysticall I confesse some parts of the body have some special properties and qualities which they receave not from the head as the Stomach hath the quality Chilificandi the liver Sangnificandi c. not from the head but the powre and faculty to vse the property it hath from the head So some members of the Church have special gifts given them of God but the powre of vsing those gifts they have from the head Christ by the meanes of the body which is the pipe that from the Fountaine conveigheth all powre Ecclesiastical to every officer The Fifth of your 9. reasons against popularity is that the Scripture doth not lay the Government vppon the people nor reproveth them for sussering abuse of Holy things but vppon the governors civil Ecclesiastical Ezech. 22.26 1. Sam. 2 17. 1. King 13. Mat 23. Revel 2.1.8.12.18 3.17.14 I answer breefly from the Type to the truth concerning matters of the Old Testament Seing now the Saynts are all of them made Kings and Preists vnto God Revelat. 1.6 Or as the Apostle Peter saith Basileion hierateuma 1. Pet. 2.9 a Kingly Preisthood Therefore now in the New Testament the Saynts succeede in the place of the Kings and Preists of the Old Testament in Ecclesiasticall causses and as they were burdened with Government and reproof for profanation of holy things so are the Saynts the members of the visible Church now burdened with Government Ecclesiasticall and reproof for violating the Holy things committed to their custody fidelity therfor I reason from your owne confession against you thus If Kings Preists in the Old Testament were chardged with Government and blamed for violation of holy things Then in the New Testament the Saints who are Kings Preists are chardged with government blamed for violation of Holy things But Kings Preistts in the old Testament were chardged with government blamed for violation of Holy things Therfor the Saints in the new Testament are chardged with government ecclesiastical blamed for violation of Holy things And thus you see Mr. Ber. how your owne weapon entreth into your owne bowels concerning the places of the Revelation that the Aungels of the seaven Churches were chardged with government blamed for abuse of the Holy things not the body of the Church I say herein you vtter foule vntruths For Chap. 1. vs. 4-7 the Apostle witeth to the 7. Churches of Asia wisheth grace peace to the Churches all the members of the Churches Chap. 2.11 at the end of every Epistle the Apostle maketh application of every Epistle to al that have eares to the particular Churches wher for I wonder at your shamelesse ignorance that should thus falsely belye the Scriptures abuse the reader To turne the point of this reason of yours also vppon your self I say thus If Iohn chardgeth the whole Churches with gouernment abuse of holy things though the message be sent to the aungel to be published to the whole church then the whole churches are charged therwith viz with government violatioÌ„ of holy things But Iohn chardgeth the whole Churches with the government abuse of Holy things though the message be sent to the Aungel of every Church to be published to the whole Church Therfor the whole Churches are chardged with the government violation of the holy things Thus much breefly concerning your fifth reason heer you make a digression to prove vnto vs that Matt. 18.17 Tell the Church must be expounded Tel the Governors For confirmation whereof you bring vs seaven reasons which I will handle in order Your first reason to prove that Tel the Church is Tel the Governors is this for that otherwise Christ could not be vnderstood for if he had brought in a strange course not heard of before nor then practised no man could vnderstand his meaning Seing therfor before then after the practise was to tel to the Elders or governors therfor tel to the Church is tel to the Governors or Elders A las for you Mr. Bern. this is borrowed stuffe yet stark naught For it is but froth chaffe what is the chaffe to the wheat Do not you think that the whole Gospell is a mystery which was kept secreat from the beginning of the world is not the visible Church of the new Testament with all the ordinances thereof the cheef principal part of the Gospel therfor seing this ordinance of telling the Church is a part of the Gospel it was