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A10838
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A manumission to a manuduction, or Answer to a letter inferring publique communion in the parrish assemblies upon private with godly persons there. By Iohn Robinson; Unreasonablenesse of the separation
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Robinson, John, 1575?-1625.
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1615
(1615)
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STC 21111; ESTC S106681
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22,876
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24
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for the outward guidance ordering of the Church in her publique affayrs by the Byshops or Elders And thus and in this regarde all in the parrish assemblyes if not vnder the Prelates spirituall iurisdiction as many would make themselves and others beleev are lawlesse persons inordinate walkers neyther is this myne assertion eyther lavish or lawlesse but a just necessary testimony agaynst theyr transgression of which I wish them from the Lord more conscience for that purpose better counsayl then in this manuduction they finde Lastly to make way to a touch of wit vnto which he cannot get by my wordes meaning truely related he takes liberty to change the one other for his advantage I do p 30 propound sundry defences made by such both ministers people as dislike the prelaâ—y and the first of the people to wit that they are not subiect to the prelates government And that I intend this of the people is evident by my reply in the same place the words whereof I have formerly noted down in the 2 d consideration of his answer This by me spoken and intended of the people he misapplyeth to the ministers putting as my wordes These ministers are vnder no spirituall government and so would in wantonnesse of wit fasten the same reproof vpon my self as haveing been formerly with none now with one Elder without government also and so an inordinate walker The truth then is that the people professing themselves though most vntruely to be from vnder the Prelates Spirituall government do therein professe themselves to be from vnder all christian church government that both ministers and people professing themselves to be from vnder the prelates spirituall power do therein professe themselves to be from vnder all power of Christ for the censures in those respects and considerations of which onely I speak though he streach my words further then he should eyther in charity or equity to be lawlesse persons inordinate walkers without the yoak of Christ one speciall means of theyr salvation And thus much for the confirmation of my testimony agaynst communion with the parochiall assemblyes in the particulars though far froÌ„ all in my former book as myne opposite pretendeth wherin he hath endeavoured to weaken it where I also desyre the Reader well to note that whatsoever eyther he pretendeth or others conceav of publique coÌ„munion following vppon private yet the issue unto which things come between him me is in these two questions 1. whether the Bishops jurisdiction in theyr provinces diocesses be lawfull or no 2. whether the parochial ministers being ordeyned instituted licensed by the Bishops do preach by theyr authority or no The other two stumbling blockes as he calls them viz. that all are vrged to communion by poenall lawes that a set form of prayer iâ— appointed he neyther purposeth nor thinks it needfull to deal about seing 1. there are many excercises of religion where none are present by constraynt nor the service book so much as appeareth for which he instanceth in Mr. Parkins his excercise And wherefore doth he still after his but an evill custome chaunge the state of the question which is not about mens being presonâ— by constreynt at the excercises of religion but about Churches gathered by constreynt of all the profane parrishioners with the other handfull as vvas that parrish church whereof Mr Perkins was a member where he taught that by authority from vnder the prelates My being once at his successours sermon since I professed separation is neyther pertinently nor truely obiected by him I was there as in many other places since I made question of it disputed for it but had not otherwise professed it And vppoÌ„ this occasion I think good to note down the work of Gods providence towards me in this matter Comeing to Cambridge as to other places where I hoped most to fynde satisfaction to my troubled heart I went the fore-noon to Mr Cha his excercise who vppon the relation which Mary made to the disciples of the resurrection of Christ delivered in effect this doctrine that the things which concerned the whâ—le church were to be declared publiquely to the whole Church not to some parte onely bâ—inging for instance proofe the wordes of Christ Mat 1817. Tell it to the Church confirming therein one mayn ground of our difference from the Ch of Engl which is that Christ hath given his power for excommunication to the whole church gathered together in his name as 1 Cor 5 the officers as the governers the people as the governed in the vse thereof vnto which Church his servants are comaunded to bring theyr necessary complaynts And I would desyre myne opposite eyther to shew me how where this Church is haveing this power in the partish assemblyes or els by what warrant of Gods word I knowing what Christ the Lord coÌ„maunded herein may with good conscience remayn a member of a Ch without this power much lesse where the contrary is advanced so go on in the known transgression of that his coÌ„maundement Tell the church In the afternoon I went to hear Mr B the successour of Mr. Perkins who from Eph 5. v 7. or 11. shewed the vnlawfulnes of familiar conversation between the servants of God the wicked vpon these grounds or the most of them 1. that the former are light the other darknes between which God hath separated 2. that the godly hereby are endaungered to be levened with the others wickednes 3. that the wickâ—d are hereby hardened in receaving such approbation from the godly 4 that others are thereby offended occasioned to think them all alike as birdes of a fâ—ther which so floâ—k together Whom afterwardes privately I desyred as I do also others to consider vvhether these very Reasons make not as effectually much more agayâ—â—â—th sâ—irituall communion of Gods people especially vvhere there vvants the means of reformatioÌ„ vvith the apparently vvicked to vvhom they are as light to dâ—rknes To that vvhich he alledgeth in the 2 d place of the reformed Churches generally vsâ—â—ng a stint form â—f prayer with whom yet I will not refuse all publique coÌ„munion I ansvver that for the very vse of a set form of prayer or other the like fayling I vvill not refuse communion vvith a true Church in things lavvfull but between the set form of prayer vsed in the reformed Churches in the vnreformed Ch of Engl I put great difference not onely in the matter sundry orders thereof but especially in the manner of imposeing it which in the reformed Ch is not by compulsioÌ„ nor in the first place as in the Ch of Engl where the reading of it is preferred before above the preaching of the gospell and where more ministers and those of the best sorte have been deprived of theyr ministery in a few monthes for the not reading and observeing
it in manner form then have been ever since the Pope was expelled not onely for not preaching for which no man is so censured but for all other wickednes of what kynde soever though abounding in the ministery there By which that theyr set service is advaunced above all that is called God made a very hatefull Idol to which both great small are compelled to bow down it to honour Which Idol-serviâ—e also vpholdeth an Idol-ministery which as it is truely so called would without it be vvell nigh as dumb as the Idols of the heathens which have mouthes speak not For conclusion he affirmeth that by the lawes of Geneva like strictnes to vvit vnto that in Engl is vsed towardes the inhabitants of that city though I vnadvisedly deny it in myne assertion of the Engl assemblyes difference therein from all â—mue Churches in the world pag 20. In that place of my book I observ tvvo mayn differences betvveen the Churches of Christ as the scriptures testify of them and the parrish asseÌ„blâ—es in their very constitution With these differences thus propounded he medleth not eyther by shewing how the assemblies agree therein with the Apostolicall Churches or how disagreeing from them in the one and other they can be true visible Churches rightly gathered constituted But where by the way for amplication I mention the reformed Churches as inâ—eressed in the same differences froÌ„ Engl he there stâ—ps in and takes me by the hand and leades me along to Geneva as bâ—like rayther hopeing to make the Church of Engl agree in some thing with the lawes of Geneva then with the lawes of Christs testament But was the Church of Geneva indeed gathered of all the apparently wicked and flâ—gitious persons in the citty amongst the rest scarse sensible in so vast a heap as were and are the English parrochiall assemblies If the state of Geneva did in a politique râ—spect expell out of the citie such the inhabitants as were not well affected towards the religion and that the Church were gathered of the rest being judged in charity capable of the holy things of God uppon their personall confessior how then standeth this agreement between the Genevean and Engl assemblies And if the Church of Gen had been gathered after popery as the Engl assemblies were and it was not of all the vnhallowed rowt in the citty vvithout separation I should confesse myne unadvisednes in my better judgement of it then it deserved And thus much for this letter which the Authour might more fitly have called â—n exercise of wit then â— Manuduction as he doth And for that it is in effect intended for the justification of the Ministerie it shall not be amisse for the better help of the Reader and furtherance of the truth breifly to set down such particulars as by the scriptures and good reason thereunto agreeable are of absolute necessitie for a true ordinary Church-officer and minister of Christ which for order sake I will reduce to four heads The first is that there be a true visible Church in which he is to be appoynted God haveing set in the Church Apostles Prophets Teachers etc mention being made every where of the makeing and ordeyning of Elders or Bishops in the Churches Whereupon 1. I desire to know how the ministers of the Church of England can be true Ministers not being made and ordeyned such in and to any particular Church 2. Since as is rightly acknowledged in the former part of the book Every true visible Church is a company of people called and separated out fâ—oÌ„ the world I would know how many and which of the parrish Churches consist of such a separated people and are not both at the â—est in their persons mixt of the people of God and the world and also mixt in one nationall provinciall and diocesan Church or body with all the godles multitude and part of the world in that land 3. I ad that since a separated people from the world is but the matter of the Church and that for a true Church a true form is also required it must also be shewed how that can be found there This form cannot be any particular act which is transeunt and passeth away but something constant and permanent without which resydeing actually in the whole and all the partes thereof the Church cannot consist one moment neyther yet can it be any personall thing eyther disposition or other relation whatsover nor other as I conceav then a publique orderly covenant and union of a particular assembly by which it hath in it self entyre right to Christ and to all the meanes of enjoying him which I rayther wiâ—h could be theÌ„ beleefe can be for the present found in any parrish Church in the land Lastly if the Provinciall and Diocesan Churches be not true visible Churches which I suppose is this Authours judgment I would know how the parrish assemblies being partes of the other and so partes of false Churches can any more be reputed true Churches then could a particular Iewish Synagogue be reputed a true Church which should have made it self an entyre and independent body in respect of the nationall Church and Temple But now if any of the parrish assemblyes be thus separated in theyr personall church estate and formed accordeingly though with defects wants we desire to take knowledg of them and which they be that we may rejoyce for the grace of God towards them and perform vnto them the dutyes of Christian fellowship as is meet The 2 d necessary for a true ministery is a fit person in whom apâ—nes to teach vnreproveablenes in conversation is found even reason teaching that whomsoever God calleth to any estate he fitteth coÌ„peâ—ently for the mayn works thereof In whom also for his own comfort with God is required an inward calling which with Calvin I conceav to be an holy disposition desire to administer the gospell of Christ to the glory of God and furtherance of mans salvation Which inward calling as a true minister before men may want as did Indas so for that they in Engl much pretend it wheÌ„ they caÌ„noâ— justify their outward I demaund whether a man thus inwardly called of God forefitted accordingly being withall perswaded in his heart that a lawfull outward calling without sin in the enterance continuance cannot he had in the Ch of Engl whether I say such a maÌ„ be not bound in conscience to seek out or procure an other Church then the Church of Engl in the present state thereof by vnto which he may laâ—fully enter administer how otherwise he doth not eyther carelesly neglect or sinfully profane the Lordes inward calling in his heart The 3 d thing necessary is a true lawfull office or function of ministery there being as the Apostle teacheth diversityes of administrations but by the same Lord even the L Iesus who when he â—scended on high gave gifts vnto men some Apostles some Prophts some EvaÌ„gelists some Pastours Teachers Now this office order not being a matter of dignity as the order of knighthood or the like but of work service this worke standing summarily in feeding the flock Act. 20. 28. and this feeding in teaching ruleing as the two mayn partes thereof I demaund how that can possibly be the true lawfull function or office of a Byshop or Pastour vnto vvhich preaching to the flock is not necessarily required not ruleing so much as permitted as vve all knovv the case standeth vvith the English ministery Lastly there is required a true lavvfull outvvard calling of the ministers by those in vvhom the Lord hath left that right povver vvhich if the scriptures may bear svvay are the particular congregations in and vnto vvhich they are to administer And of such force is this true lawful outvvard calling as that by it none othervvise this fiâ— and lavvfull person becomes properly immediately a true pastour And hovv then can he be a true pastour vvhose calling vnto his function or office of preisthood in the Ch of Eng is merely by the prelate of the province or Diocesse by vvhose licence or institution he is also aftervvards designed to his more particular charge These 4 conditions every of them are necessarily requyred to the constitution of a true pastour are none of them to my knovvledg save the 2 d to be found in the parochiall ministery Let myne opposite eyther disprove the former or manifest the latter hovv vvhere such a ministery is to be found but let him do it in that godly simplycity vvhich becommeth the gospel and the things thereof pâ—escribeing to himself vvith due reverence of God in vvhose vvorke he dealeth the sacred bounds of the Apostle saying we can do nothing agaynst the truth but for the truth In into vvhich the God thereof guide both him and my selfe and all his alvvayes Amen * Isa 35. 8. psalm 84. 6 8. Pro 8. 8. ◠†Ps. 119. â—â— * 1 Sam 17. 51. 1. Quaere Answer Act. 1. 13. c. 10. 30 47. 〈◊〉 7. 2. Quaere Anâ—w 3 Qu Ans. 14â—5 Mr. Fox Rev. 13. 15. 16. 17. 14 9. 10. Act 9. Rev. 18. 4. 4 Qu Ans. 5 Qu Ans Act. 20. 17. 20 1 Thes 5. 1â— 1 Tim 5. 17. â— Cor. 4. 2. Rom 15. 31 Heb 13 17 * Gen 17. †1 Cor 5. 12. â— Qu Ans Ioh 10. 7 Qu Ans 1 Tim 5 Numb 16. Act. 6 14 * Book of ordering of Preists Mat. 10 40 1 Cor 16. 10. Quae 1 2. Heb. 6. â— Quare impedit Pag 10. Ans to the 3 obiect * 1 Cor 10. Iohn 16. 39. †De excoÌ„municato capiâ—nâ—o Coâ—secration of Byshops 1 Tim. 5. 17 Heb 13 17. Mat. â—8 20. Deut. 4. 2. 6. 1. 2. Psal 119. 8. 1. Cor. 5. â— â— 1 Cor. 5. 4. â— Math. 28. Mark 16. Psal. 115. * 1. Cor. 12. 28. Act. 14. 23 20. 17. 28 1 Tim. 3 1. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Tim 3. 1 Cor 12. 5 Eph 4. 8. 11. 12 13. 1 Tim 3. 1. 1 Tim. 5. 17 Heb 5. 4. 5 Act. 1 c 14. 1. Tim 3.