faithfull word according to doctrinâ— that he may also be able to exhort rebuke improve with whoâ—some doctrine to convince them that say against it He must be a man that loveth goodnes he must be wise righteous holy temperate he must be of life vnâ—eproveable as Gods Steward he must be generally well reported of and one that ruleth his owne houshold vnder obedience with all honestie he must be modest humble meek gentle loving he must be a man of great pacience compassion labour and diligence he must alway be careful and watchfull over the flock whereof the Lord hath made him overseer with all willingnes and chearfulnes not holding his office in respect of persons but doing his duty to every soule as he will answer before the chief Shepheard c. And afterward pag. 4. The Pastours office is to feed the sheep of Christ in green and wholsome pastures of his word and lead them to the still waters even to the pure fountaine and river of life He must guide and keep those sheep by that heavenly sheephook and pastorall staffe of the vvord thereby drawing them to him thereby looking into their soules even into their most secret thoughts Thereby discerning their diseases and thereby curing them applying to every disease a fit and convenient medicine according to the qualitie and danger of the disease give warning to the Church that they may orderly proceed to excommunication Further he must by this his sheephook watch over and defend his flock from ravenâ—us beasts and the Wolfe and take the little foxes c. Thus far that description Now among these qualities and duties he excepteth onely about two the one concerning pacience the other love and compassion Which also are such as it is fitter for the Church people with whom I have lived to speak therein then my self Neither will I set to excuse my self knowing how subiect I am to fall into infiâ—mity and to fayle in duty otherwise then I ought or would 1. Therefore towching the former which is of impaciency I will not stand to speak what I could about the persons whom he nameth in particular the dealing then vsed the Discourse now written the other witnesses vnmentioned and the like Neyther to alledg how deserved reproof and severity is oftentimes accounted too much sharpnes and impaciencie and that anger sometymes is both needfull and lawfull c. But omitting these things I will for my self answer this that I am a man subject to like passions as others be And if Moses that man of God and meekest of all men on the earth yet had this spirit so vexed as he spake vnadvisedly with his lippes what am I that I should not much more so think and acknowledg of my self who am so privie to my owne weaknes as I am 2. And for the second thing which is concerâ—ing love and compassion why should I think otherwise but that I may sometimes fayl therein Yet this man for it of all other might haue laid his hand on his mouth to whom when at fiâ—st he came a straunger poore into these countreyes I gave meat and drink and lodging about nine or ten weekes together till he returned againe into England Towching my Father of whom he speaketh in particular I do and will alway acknowledg that I was so bound to him both by nature and for his care and charge of my bringing vp as I never did or could do ynough to shew my self sufficiently thankful And what then should I do speaking of any thing I haue done by any meanes that way And in particular for the tyme wheÌ„ he was here what I did offered him to do at his coÌ„ming hither remayning here and going from hence with other particulars that might be noted I will not here speak neyther what my self could if it were anothers case or what divers others know and could testify if it were needfull Neither wil I stand to shew what I could towching the pretence which he maketh about his being here in necessity Of M. Sl. his abuse of me and maner of dealing at the time here intended I will forbeare also to speak what he knoweth I might If he at that tyme spake hereof as here is affirmed why might I not passe by it with silence as I did at the same tyme a multitude of his raylings contumelies as White himself the many witnesses then present did see and can testifie if they will When Shemei rayled on David and Rabshakeh on Israel David held his peace and Hezekiahs people answered not a word 2 Sam 16.5 13. 2 King 18.36 Yet now I thought good to speak and write thus much considering there is a tyme to speak as there is a tyme to keep silence Eccles. 3.7 Pro. 26.4 5. But to leave these men that which I will here speake further is this only that it is needfull for all in all things carefully to observe and follow the rules prescribed by Christ not declining to the right hand or to the left not preferring one to another not yeelding to our owne affections desires but submitting them alway to the will and loue of God As we read that Levi was commended of Moses and blessed of God for not respecting father mother brethren or children but preferring before them the keeping of the word and covenant of the Lord Deu. 33.8.9 And it is noted in the description aforesaid among the Pastors duties there mentioned that he hold not his office in respect of persons but do his duty to every soule as he will answer before the chief Shepheard In the performance whereof also the Pastor and other Elders and governouâ—s of the Church are to be accounted and regarded as Fathers But I will no further insist herevpon neyther speak I these things to excuse my self in any thing I have done or omitted otherwise then I should I acknowledg my sinnes are many and my infirmities great and my strength and salvation is onely in the Lord Iesus For whose sake I have through his mercie suffred much rebuke and I trust shall patiently beare it to the end Next he cometh to speak of the Teacher whose qualities and duties are thus set downe in the description aforesaid Pag. 3. Their Doctor or Teacher must be a man apt to teach able to divide the word of God aright and to deliver sound and wholsome doctrine from the same still building vpon that sound groundwork he must be mighty in the Scriptures able to convince the gainsayers and carefull to deliver his doctrine pure sound and plaine not with curiositie or affectation but so that he may edifie the most simple approving it to every mans conscience he must be of life vnreproveable one that can governe his owne houshold he must be of maners sober temperate modest gentle and loving c. And afterward Pag. 5. His speciall care must be to build vpon that only true ground-work golde silver and pretious stones
that his work may endure the triall of the fyer and by the light of the same fire reveale the Tymber Hay Stubble of false Teachers He must take diligent heed to keep the Church from errours And further he must deliver his doctrine so plainly simplie purely that the Church may increase with the increasing of God and grow vp vnto him which is the head Christ Iesus Hitherto is that description wherein the qualities and duties set downe be many and great 1. Yet cannot this Adversarie satisfy himself with them all as he would and therefore coming to make exceptions against the Teacher he fetcheth his first out of the generall description of the Church spoken of before objecting that the Teacher is sleyned with hypocrisie and to proue it he alledgeth his dealing concerning G. I. M. Sl. Yet sheweth it not so much as in any one particular thinking belike that some are so simple in themselues or so set against vs as they will take his word for proof sufficient who â—eyther knoweth that dealing himself in the things which he knoweth can ly so notoriously as if he had the art of lying and would be a teacher thereof vnto others 2. The second thing he objecteth is apostasie because that many yeares since having received this cause he did sometimes yeeld to heare the Ministery of the Church of England But synce that tyme hath so approved himself among vs both in the witnesse of the trueth in the service of the Church as hath ben for the great help and comfort of vs all and my self in particular bound to testify concerning him as Paul did of Marcus Barnabas sisters sonne that that he hath ben my workfellow vnto the kingdome of God which hath ben to my consolation Col. 4.10.11 For the question it self and our account of Apostasie I shall write more particularly hereafter 3. The third thing is that he saith he hath ben a meanes to bring in and defend false doctrines But what be they First The latter of those two before mentioned Now that latter was about apostasie in the matter aforesaid So as then himself accounteth them to be apostates that having held our cause do afterward yeeld to heare the Ministery of the Church of England and that it is a false doctrine that any such may afterward beare office in the Church And what then is this Whites own case who being a Minister of the Church of England left both that Church and Ministery and received our cause and witnessed the trueth against them and yet now hath yeelded not onely to heare but even to execute himself the Ministerie of that Church againe But he will say that among the Errata at the end of his book he noted this for one that for the word latter we should here read former I have obserued it and well in deed might he note it amoÌ„g his Errata who even while he would blame others of errour doth so straungely erre himself as to put latter for former one contrarie for another But this might be an oversight as often falleth out in printing which therefore I would not haue noted but that I think there is a worse thing in it namely that at first he both wrote and meant it of the latter which is about apostasie vntill he had himself apostate from the tâ—ueth and executed agayne his Ministery received from the Prelates in England and therevpon now would alter it measuring the doctrines of religion not by the word of God but as may best serue his own turne And I am perswaded the rather thus to think for these reasons 1 because when he began to set himself to be an enemie of this Church and could not prevaile as he desired he then began to make question about apostasie whether any such might beare office in the Church 2. If we vnderstand it here of the former as his Errata now would haue it read it is nothing to the purpose at all seing there is in it no speach of any points of doctrine but of hypocrisie and seing an hypocrite may notwithstanding teach true doctrine For els it would follow that neither Iudas nor White himself did heretofore teach true doctrine when they preached because Iudas was and he is an hypocrite both of them through hypocrisie betraying Christ into the hands of his enemies His other proof of false doctrines which he pretendeth is set down after his woonted manner others that may be alledged yet not naming any which no doubt he would have done if he could or if he durst adventure the triall of them with the Teacher of our Church whom he thus envieth and abuseth who notwithstanding for his learning wisdome and godlynes as also for his faithfull teaching of the Church and vpright walking toward all is so well knowen approued as neither he nor we need regard any adversaries malice opposition against him After this he commeth from the teaching to the ruling Elders whose properties and duties are thus noted in the description abovesaid Pag. 4. Their Elders must be of wisedome and iudgment endued with the Spirit of God able to discerne between cause and cause between plea and plea and accordingly to prevent and redresse evils alwayes vigilant intending to see the statutes ordinances and lawes of God kept in the Church and that not onely by the people in obedience but to see the Officers do their duties These men must be of life likewise vnreproveable governing their own families orderly they must be also of maners sober gentle modest loving temperate c. And afterward againe pag. 5. Their especiall care must be to see the ordinaunces of God truely taught practised aswell by the Officers in doing their dutie vprightly as to see that the people obey willingly and readily It is their dutie to see the Congregation holily and quietly ordered and no way disturbed by the contentioâ—s and disobedient froward and obstinate not taking away the libertie of the least but vpholding the right of all wiselie iudging of times and circumstances They must be ready assistaunts to the Pastour and Teachers helping to beare their burden but not intruding into their office Thus is the description Now towching our Elders he taketh here his exception against two of them The first is Mr Da. St. against whom it may be he is the more eagerly caryed because he discerned so quickly into him being a notable white hypocrite and dealt so plainly roundly with him as he did And therefore also excâ—pteth not a word against him for his ability to discerne into persons and causes and to deale with them accordingly nor for sundrie other of the properties and duties here required though they be many and waighty Yet some things he speaketh of which he had twise before besides that which he hath also hereafter so as I need not repeat and speak of them as he doth againe and againe Yet somewhat more I will note here touching the particulars
faith Howsoever therefore we haue erred or may erre in judgment or practise as we and all men in this life are alway subiect to do yet doth it not therefore follow eyther that the description aforesaid is not good or that we are not a true Church notwithstanding Further towching our selues we acknowledge professe before all men that divers things heretofore obserued amoÌ„g vs at the first we have since altered and do from tyme to time alter and amend as God giveth vs by his word to discerne better therein Yea and herevnto are we bound and haue power in Christ even by the constitution of our Church So free from all false wayes is the constitution it self and yet we that are in it subiect to erre notwithstanding many wayes So far are we also from the straunge opinion and impietie of them that having in this latter age of the world disclaymed the Popâ—s person and recâ—ivâ—d some truthes of the Gospell yet reteyning many abhominations of Antichrist withall would now stand still and admit of no further proceeding or alteration among them As if they had at first seen received the whole truth and all the ordinances of Christ. Or as if Antichrist should not now by degrees be discovered and consumed as heretofore he rose vp and was exalted 2 Thes. 2. Rev. 14. and 17. and 18. and 19. chap. with Ier. 51.25.26.45.46 And now by that which hath bene said let the Reader obserue whether this fellow haue not entrapped himself and his mother Church while he thought to haue ensnared vs. Neyther let any be so simple as to give credit in the cause of religion to any further or otherwise but as warrant and confirmation is brought out of the word of God which is the ground and rule of all trueth nor to refuse that which is approved by it for the aberration opposition or calumniation of any whosoever they be His abuse both here and other where in his book of that which we haue published in print I leave also to the Reader to observe and for himself to answer to him that knoweth his heart As for I. N. whom he nameth in particular more then others whom he would insinuate for borrowing and making no conscience to pay againe he hath called him before the Magistrates here as others before mentioned affirming offring to shew how in the very particular alledged by White when he was here demaunded his proof for thus divulging him he hath offred his creditour goods sufficient for his debt with overplus and having had to deale with him for much hath satisfyed all to a little yet remayning having also had hindrance by the sicknes and otherwise And for the generall we acknowledg that men ought to be carefull both how they borrow and how they pay againe and should measure these as all other affaires with judgment and conscience according to godlynes Psal. 37.21 and 112.5 Rom. 13.8 And we know also that yet notwithstanding it is the case sometime of men fearing God not onely to be but even to dy in debt As we read of one of the sonnes of the Prophets 2 King 4.1 But all this which hitherto he hath said being not ynough eyther for the vent of his owne rancour and malice against vs or to please our adversaries whose favour he would purchase by traducing of vs he now further pretendeth to frame an opposition between our practise the Treatise entituled A true description out of the vvord of God of the visible Church thus setting himself to seek and abuse against vs whatsoever he can out of any of our writings To shew his wicked dealing herein as it is would require to insist vpon the particulars of that description and to compare therewith the estate and walking of our Church that would aske a long treatise which here I purpose not It shall suffice that the Reader especially such as haue knowledg of our Church which he blameth and of the Church of England to which he is returned do compare them both with that description and accordingly esteem of both as he shall fynd the estate of them to be in deed and in truth Thereby also will plainely appeare how this adversarie neither writeth nor walketh in the feare of God to whom notwithstanding he must giue account of al these things And for the particulars he mentioneth that the equitie of our cause and iniquitie of his dealing may better appeare I will in the treating of them first set down the words of that description from whence he would draw his opposition and then speak of the particulars themselues And first for the body of the Church considered in her parts as here he would seem to except against vs from one to another through the severall parts of this body thus it is set downe in that description of a true Church Pag. 2. Suerly if this Church be considered in her parts it shall appeare most beautifull yea most wonderfull and even ravishing the senses to conceive much more to behold what then to enioy so blessed a communion For behold her King and Lord is the King of peace and Lord himself of all glorie She enioyeth most holy and heavenly lawes most faithfull vigilant Pastours most sincere pure Teachers most carefull and vpright Governours most diligent and trustie Deacons most loving and sober Relievers and a most humble meek obedient faithfull loving people every stone living elect and precious every stone hath his beautie his burden and his order All bound to edify one another exhort reproue comfort one another lovingly as to their owne members faithfully as in the eyes of God Thus it standeth in that description Towching which now I would aske 1. Whether he hold this description herein to be true and agreable to the word of God 2. Whether he dare deny Iesus Christ to be the King and Lord of our Church 3. Whether he acknowledg him onely to be the King Lord of every true visible Church vpon the earth 4. Whether these be the Offices and functions which he as Lord and King hath appointed to his Church namely Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Relievers 5. Whether these be had in the Church of England to which he is now gone and in whom they are there to be found 6. Whether the Church Officers there be so qualified as here is set downe 7. Finally whether if any would compare the estate of that Church in the body officers members lawes and walking thereof with the description of a true visible Church out of the word of God he might not make another maner treatise and other maner of obiections against them then this Priest of theirs doth against vs. But to proceed for the Pastor with which office he beginneth first thus are his qualities and duties set down in that descriptioÌ„ of a true Church Pag. 3. Their Pastour must be apt to teach no yong Schâ—ler able to divide the word aright holding fast that
excepted out of the description 1. The first is of being indued with the Spirit of God Of which we haue seen many and great testimonies in Mr St. from tyme to tyme. He hath bene an auncient disciple of Christ in the faith of the Gospell this many yeares He hath given vp his life for the name of the Lord being adjudged to death so remayning many yeares vnder the sentence and dayly expectation thereof till he was banished He now liveth still an exile for the same truth of Christ And in the governement of the Church hath had to deale with so many causes persons and dispositions yea oppositions also of sundry people as if he had not bene indued with the spirit of God that in great measure he had never bene able so to have endured waded through them all as he hath done Which also may both streÌ„gtheÌ„ himself still in the Lord stop the mouth of all his adversaries And for this Th. White himself let it here be considered 1. Whether he be fit to beare any office at all yea or to be so much as a member in the Church of God if he be tried but by this one particular of being indued with the Spirit of God 2 With what spirit he hath written this book of his 3. Whether he haue not therein many times and sundry wayes blasphemed the holy spirit of God For which he shall answer to the Lord. 2. The second thing is that he saith he would defend the transgressing of the lawes of God in himself and others Note that he saith not he hath done it but that he would do it And how shewes he this Not so much as by pretence of any one particular for proof thereof Yet this is the man that would perswade his Reader he could make due proof of any thing he layeth to our charge 3. The third thing is about the governing of his house for which he referreth to that he hath els where cited and so do I to that which is there said Yet let himself take this withall that if the things be true which are reported and observed concerning his own family he might have found work ynough at home and cause ynough to cast a beame out of his owne eye But I will not follow his course in this maner howsoever it might be iust to deale with him as he doth with others 4. The fourth is of crueltie and tyranny for proof whereof he allegeth that some of our owne members have complayned that if they had a matter as cleare as the sunne against him yet durst they not deale with him for it But who be these some he speaketh of why doth he not name them at all Or would he haue vs to think that they be some such as hate the light knowing that their works are evill and whome he therfore concealeth that he might shew himself with his fellowes Mr Pâ— and the rest to be fit receivers for such reporters Or why did he not obserue that the Elders must be men of wisdome and judgement able to discerne between cause and cause plea plea that it is their duty to repress the contentious disobedient froward and obstinate Which by whomsoever it be done who can otherwise think but such will be as ready to open theyr mouthes against them as they are to please themselves in their own eyes But howsoever they may for a while lurk walk in the dark yet God in his time will bring them to light discover them as he hath done this White himself sundry other the like heretofore 5. The other of the Elders he speaketh of is Mr St. Mer. against whom he excepteth for Apostasie The matter was thus About thirteen yeares synce a litle while after he was come to this cause which we professe being in the countrey with his friends he was there perswaded that he would heare some of the Ministers of the Church of England preach Which he did once And straightway after being affected therewith did it no more Which also he made knowen himself whereas otherwise it was vnknowen to vs. Now after that time living with the Church and being wel approved among vs he was about five yeares since chosen to be one of the Elders Thus is the case wherein now mark this hypocrites dealing The qualities and duties required in the Elders being so manie and great as in the description are noted was there nothing whereat he could except but this onely And was his malice such as rather then he would say nothing he would except eveÌ„ for that which himself accounteth to be good and lawfull Let such dealing then returne into his owne bosome and be a comfort to such as be thus abused by him From the Elders he cometh to the Deacons whose qualities office is set down in the aforesaid description of a true Church pag. 4. Their Deacons must be men of honest report having the mysterie of the faith in a pure conscience endued with the holy Ghost they must be graue temperate not given to excesse nor to filthy lucre And afterward againe Pag. 5. The Deacons office is faithfully to gather collect by the ordinance of the Church the goods and benevolence of the faithfull and by the same direction diligently and trustâ—lie to distribute them according to the necessitie of the Saincts Further they must enquire and consider of the proportion of the wants both of the Officers and other poore and accordinglie relate vnto the Church that provision may be made Here he excepteth onely against one of our Deacons Mr C. Bow To whom about eleven yeares synce the Magistrates of Narden did once and not weekly as this man intimateth send a litle money to be given to the poore of the Church which he together with one of the Elders Mr. G. Kniston did accordingly bestow vpoÌ„ such as they iudged to stand most in need Whereof because goodwife Colg the woman of whom he speaketh had not a part therevpoÌ„ by her meanes it seemeth was this report raised of Mr. Bow which now this fellow hath published and for which with his many such like instances he is by Mr B. called before the Magistrates as a sclanderer And touching the woman no marvel if shee so abused him who hath synce in other things caryed her self so vngodlily as she is cast out of the Church and so remaineth And for Mr. Bow how wel he hath approved himself in his office I shal not need to relate neither need he regard any sclanderous tong or pen knowing his owne integrity and having the Churches testimony to which he hath with good approbation ministred in that office now about fourteen yeares After this dealing with sondry of our officers in particular the adversarie commeth to speak of the Elders ioyntly Against whom he obiecteth that we called R.W. that is Rose White his wife before vs in the first place for a private thing But it was for that her child
other of our enemies think their case the better because of our sinnes or troubles or weak walking in the faith whereoÌ„ they do so much insist Concerning which my answer shall be with the words of the Prophet Reioyce not against me ô myne enemie though I fall I shall arise wheÌ„ I sit in darknes the Lord shall be a light vnto me I will beare the wrath of the Lord because I have sinned against him vntill he plead my plea execute iudgement for me he will bring me forth to the light I shall see his righteousnes And he will look vpon myne enemie and cover her with shame which said vnto me Where is the Lord thy God Myne eyes shall looke vpon her now shall she be troden downe as the myre in the streetes And in this will we rest and wayt vpon the Lord the God of our salvation trusting in him that notwithstanding our vnworthines and his chastising which we have deserved yet he will look vpon vs in mercy and make all things worke for good vnto vs in Christ And that thus the vttermost opposition of all our enemies howsoever they set them selves against vs whether against our cause or against our persons against our faith or our walking in it shall turne to our good to the furtherance of the truth witnessed by vs which we have much found that adversaries of all sorts have a long time and many wayes oppugned as they yet daily do and cease not though all in vaine For great is the truth and will prevaile and greater is he that is with vs then they all that are against vs. To him be praise and glorie for ever and ever Amen Esay 54 15.16.17 Behold he shall gather together but without me whosoever shall gather himself in thee against thee shall fall Behold I have created the smith that bloweth the coales in the fire and him that bringeth forth an instrument for his work and I haue created the stroyer to destroy But all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in iudgement thou shalt condemne This is the heritage of the Lords sâ—rvants and their righteousnes is of mâ— saith the Lord. AN INQVIRIE AND ANSVVER Of Thomas VVhite his Discovery of Brownisme or as he calleth it also his declaration of some of the errors and abhominations daily practised encreased among the English company of the separation remayning for the present at Amsterdam in Holland TO any that are exercised in the word of God or know the nature and power of sinne in themselues or the doctrine pledges of remissioÌ„ of sinnes by Châ—ist in his Church or the power vse of excoÌ„munication for impenitent sinners or the Churches duty vpon their repentance to receive them againe etc. To any such I say it cannot seem strange that in true Churches and Christians sinnes enormities sundry and great should fall out be found The condition of the Church of the Iewes before Christ of the Primitive Churches after Christ yea of the whole Church and people of God from the beginning of the world to this day shew it plainly and certainly so to haue ben Which work of God so disposing and case of his Churches and the members therof so being howsoever many haue stumbled thereat abused it to their own destruction deceiving of others yet thus would God preach vnto the world and have his own people learne and lay to hart other better things thereby As namely how sinfull miserable we are in our selves how subtilly and continually Sathan seeketh to devoure vs how fast we had need alway to hold faith in Christ and to fight the good fight thereof against all enemies of our salvation and obedience how needfull it is to live in the Church of Christ vnder his conduct and governmeÌ„t how carefull we had need be to make an end of our owne salvation with feare trembling also how exceeding great the mercy of God is vnto vs in Christ his SoÌ„ne by whom not only when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by his death but being also reconciled are saved by his life and finally how infinite his power wisedome is both in preserving his elect to salvation through the middest of so great corruption and in bringing the wayes of the wicked vpon their own heads to their iust destruction and all to the praise glory of his Name These and the like good vses may should we make of the foresaid condition of the Church here on earth Neyther did we ever think or professe otherwise of our selves but that we are sinfull prone to evill in our selues aswell as others obteyning salvation onely by Iesus Christ. Yet may not our or any weaknes of man praejudice the truth of God So that admitting it were with vs as this Adversarie Thomas White hath written against vs yet ought none therefore to be turned away from the truth professed by vs but to make other vse thereof for their own good as we our selues also ought But now if the things he obiecteth be many of them notorious lyes divers of them purposely perverted few of them truely related and all of them as all may see maliciously abused against vs how iustly shall that returne vpon his own head which he would in â—his manner bring vpon vs according as it is said He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein and he that roleth a stone it shall return vpon him His mischief shall returne vpon his owne head and his iniury shall descend vpon his owne pate Prov. 26.27 Psal. 7.15.16 TO come to the Libell it self he beginneth it with blasphemy in the very title thereof calling it A discovery of Brownisme What our cause and testimony is we haue long since published in the Confession of our faith which this man knoweth well hath in his book alledged the 17. Article thereof If then he take our cause for which we are reviled vnder the name of Brownists to be errour why did he not confute it If it be the truth why doth he thus blaspheme it But so to be reproached hath ben the case of the Apostles and Christians of old And at this day are the Protestants thus dealt with by the Papists who blaspheme the truth vnder the name of Zuinglianisme Lutheranisme Calvinisme c. And well it fitteth the Priests of England that as they partake with the Papists in so many other things they should also follow their steps in blaspheming the truth and witnesses thereof That which he annexeth calling his book also A declaration of some of the erros and abhominations among vs as it enlargeth the title of his Book so it increaseth the wickeâ—nes of his sinne For may not the Reader hereby gather that he would perswade eyther that we hold and haue many other errours abhominations besides them that here he imputeth vnto vs or that all our cause and
accounted true visible Churches of Christ. And hitherto of his false blasphâ—mous doctrines objected against vs in his letter Which in his Libell he saith I promised to ansvver performed it not Yet in the letter it self he writeth that I said I had spoken vnto him both privately publickly now would not further haue to do vvith him And concerning his letter my answer was to this effect as I remember sent him by I.L. one of his own company besides my speach vnto himself That the contents of his letter vvere partly private partly publick that for the private I required proof and for the publick I vvould not deale privaely Wishing also the said I.L. to deale with him for some reports ascribed to him in the letter concerning me which he denyed and to end it between themselves who were of one company together And as I should heare thereof so I should consider what to do for the rest This let him aske of I.L. his own companion and let himself now look vnto it who it is that falsifyeth For not ansvvering his letter by vvriting I had good reason as may appeare by that which before is alledged And Wisdome teacheth there be persons who are not to be answered according to their foolishnes and times also when to speak and when to be silent Pro. 26.4 Eccles. 3.7 vvith 2 King 18.36 The dumbe Ministers spoken of in the place here cited by him he hath now consorted himself withall being returned to his old vomit and become as dumbe as any of them for defending the truth against the aduersaries thereof yet opening his mouth above all his fellowes in blaspheming the truth and witnesses of it Wherein the case of the worst dumbe dog in England is ten thousand fold better then his And happy it had ben for him if his toung had cleaved to the roof of his mouth and his hand never vsed pen more then theirs whereas now his sin is vnspeakably greater his estate infinitely more miserable But leaving him to the iudgmeÌ„t of God I will proceed to the other particulars of his book desiring the Reader for all his pretence of due proof of his charges to remember that saying of Salomon He that is first in his ovvn cause is iust then cometh his neighbour and maketh inquirâ— of him Prov. 18.17 Of the first head of Th White his Treatise THat which followeth in his Treatise himself reduceth to fower heads In which order I will also handle them The first is that he saith vve haue betrayed our ovvn cause in vvriting And to prove it he alledgeth that I erre in the description of a true visible Church and thereby overthrovv the mayn drift of my vvritings I answer 1. His reason followes not For may not I or any other of vs erre in some thing yet our generall cause not be betrayed Agayne did not Nathan the Prophet erre about the building of the Temple and Peter the Apostle about the Gentiles calling and comunion Could now an Edomite or Pharisee have iustly gathered that they had therefore betrayed the cause of Israel or of the Christians witnessed by them against the adversaries To come nearer to our owne times it is well knowen that Mr. Calvine Luther Beza Fulk Powell Sutcliff c. writing against the Papists Anabaptists and the like haue in sundrie things erred even concerning the very pointes of the difference between them Shall vve say therefore that they have betrayed the cause handled betvveen them and their aduersaries and overthrovven the mayne drift of their ovvn vvritings Not to speak of the Martyrs put to death by the Papists how both many of them and in many things have erred even concerning the causes controverted in their tymes Should we therefore conclude that they betrayed their own cause Or that they did not witnesse the truth notwithstanding faithfully even vnto death 2. Our cause towching the Church of England is that the estate thereof is such in their Prelacy Priesthood worship confusion c. as it is not lawfull by the word of God for any to ioyne or continue with them in such estate And moreover that it is the duty of all Christians to receive and keep the faith and ordinances of Christ vvherein the Primitive Churches vvere planted by the Apostles To discusse and make these things more playne I reduced our whole cause to seaven questions and so propounded them viz 1. Whether the Lord Iesus Christ have by his last testament given vnto and set in his Church sufficient ordinary Offices with their Callings Workes Maintenance for the administration of his holy things and for the sufficient ordinary instruction guidance and service of his Church to the end of the world or no 2. Whether the Offices of Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers be those Offices appointed by Christ in his Testament as aforesaid Or whether the present ecclesiasticall Offices of Archbishops Lordbishops Suffragans Deanes Prebendaries Canons Petticanons Priests Deacons Archdeacons Doctors of divinitie Bachelers of divinity Chapleins or housepriests Commissaries Officialls Proctors Apparitors Parsons Vicars Curates Vagrant or Mercenary preachers Church-wardens Sidemen Clerkes Sextins and the rest now had in the Cathedrall and Parishionall assemblies be those Offices appointed by Christ in his Testament as is aforesaid or no 3. Whether the Calling and entrance into these Ecclesiasticall offices aforesaid their Administration and MaintenaÌ„ce now had and reteyned in England be the manner of calling administration maintenance which Christ hath appointed for the offices of his Church above named or no 4. Whether every true visible Church of Christ be not a company of people called and separated out from the world the false worship and wayes thereof by the word of God ioyned togeather in fellowship of the Gospell by voluntary professioÌ„ of the faith and obedience of Christ And whether the Ecclesiasticall Assemblies of the Land be such or no 5 Whether the Sacraments being seales of righteousnes which is by faith may be administred to any other but to the faithfull and their seed or in any other ministery manner then is appointed by Iesus Christ the Apostle and high Priest of our profession And whether they be not otherwise administred in the Cathedrall parishionall Assemblies of England at this day 6. Whether the Book of Common prayer with the Feasts Fasts Holy dayes stinted prayers and Leiturgy prescribed therein and vsed in these Assemblies be the true worship of God commaunded in his word or the devise and invention of man for Gods worship and service 7. Whether all people and Churches without exceptioÌ„ be not bound in Religion only to receive submit vnto that Ministery worship and order which Christ as Lord and King hath given and appointed to his Church Or whether any may receive or ioyne vnto another devised by man for the service of God And consequently whether they which ioine to the present ecclesiasticall Ministery worship and order of
them wee haue alwaies shewed it And this more particularly as we have had more special occasion in our dealing with the Dutch French Churches of this City When some of their members haue left them because of their corruptions and come to joyne themselues vnto vs we haue required such first to deale with them as with true Churches alway should be done namely to advertise the Elders first and then the whole body of the Church whereof they were if they might be suffered of the corruptions for which they thought to leaue them Which we require not of such as come vnto vs from any false Church Also when some of our Church have gone vnto them and declined from the truth which they professed with vs vnto their corruptions we haue had dealing thereabout with the Elders both of the Dutch and French Churches of this towne that were by the rest of their Elderships deputed therevnto before we would proceed with the parties for this their revolt and transgression And when the Dutch Church here received such to be members of them as our Church excommunicated for their sinnes we also admonished their Elders hereof desiring that by themselves or by vs knowledg of these things might be given to the whole body of their Church Which course of dealing we vse not with any false Church or the Ministers thereof But to insert here in particular the dealing that hath passed between vs them of this towne would be to long their corruptions whereabout we have dealt with them are already published By which and this that hath here bene said let the Reader judg whethâ—r we haue not cause to put differeÌ„ce between them the other Churches of these countries not so dealt withal For not hearing of them in other of their Congregations in these countreys this I answer That seeing by the mercy of God we haue seen and forsaken the corruptions yet remayning in the publick ministration and condition of these Churches if they be al like to them of this city we therefore cannot partake with them in such case without declining and apostasy from the truth which we haue our selues already received and professed This also I speak of the members of our Church so walking and witnessing as is aforesaid and not of the members of their owne Churches whose duty I think it is before they may leaue them for their corruptions first to signify them vnto them and by al good meanes to seek the redresse therof among them as being members of the same body with them Which I take also to be the duty of all such as haue knowledge of their corruptions and being not of them yet would coÌ„municate with them in their publick administration And this for true Churches But as for any false these are not the duties or rules prescribed for them but other of a far differing nature namely when once we see their abhominations to separate from them without delay and to witnesse against them even vnto death The further declaration whereof with confirmation from the Scriptures the Reader may have in divers of our Treatises already published about our cause As in the Refut of Mr. Giff. In the Answ. to Mr. A.H. pag. 61. c. But he provoketh me yet further and saith If he can let him name any one Church on the face of the earth now that holdeth not false waies yea even in their constitution in their account Although I might answer as before that the calling of Christ and the Churches covenant to walk in the faith of his Gospell excludeth al false wayes in all true Churches whether as yet seen or vnseen and therfore in the Reformed Churches so acknowledged by vs yet because he presseth me so earnestly to name but any one Church on the face of the earth I wil giue the instance of that Church in the west parts of England whereof himself was a joyned member when he separated from the Church of England and held the same faith with them and vs from which he is now apostate And let him now name any false way holden by them in their constitution in our account Of the distinction to be observed between faulty false worship I haue spoken here before As also of his blaspheming the Christians and their Churches despising neighbours and robbing Christ himself of his honour And now by that which hath ben said let the Reader obserue how true it is in himself that after al his earnest endevour not alone to wound but even to kill others if he could he hath turned the poynt of his weapon into his owne bowels Which will also yet further appeare in that which followeth in his particular objection against the Church whereof we are our selues which he saith is not agreable to our description aforesaid Against our selues the proof he bringeth is this that he saith vve are not separate from al open offenders and all false vvayes and to shew this he produceth many particular persons and matters I answer admitting al he saith against vs both the generall and particulars were true yet notwithstanding the description aforesaid should stand good and our Church also agreable therevnto For this yet should be the errour of our practise not of our covenant or calling in Christ According to which we are alway to esteem or Churches as we haue â—hewed before Otherwise to reason as this man doth against vs were to condemne those Churches of Asia Galatia Corinth and all that ever haue bene from the beginning to this day But to come to the particulars his first allegation is that he saith we reteyne among vs open offenders and for instance the first he nameth is one Cast. noted publikly in our meeting for cousonage c. A man that is of the Church of England and so was a good while before this book of Whites was published Sometyme in deed he lived among vs here but after a while began to be so noted and dealt with as fynding the Church to be no harbour for him but that he must walk better or be cast out from among vs he returned to England where he knew he might be reteyned in that Church and where Th. White his fellow will no doubt brook him well ynough But further he saith the Elders here defended that he ought not to be publiklie dealt withall for it because it was not orderly made publik Indeed we hold that private sins should privatly be dealt with if any bring in publick without private dealing going before according to the rule given by Christ Math 18.15.16 we suffer it not but rebuke them that so walk Wherevpon this White himself being by one of the brethren reproved for so dealing with the party aforesaid it seemeth still to stick on his stomack and the more because afterward vpon speach thereof my self with the rest of the Elders signifyed our dislike of such disorderly and evill walking Touching his repentance such as were then
is When ye pray say Our Father c. And so the Apostles and Christians in all ages haue sinned when they prayed and said it not Yea and these men themselues do aboue all other transgresse herein who pray many tymes without vsing of it and yet think it to be Christs expresse commaundement which is neyther against reason nor proportion of faith Yet also when they shall haue considered that it conteyneth all things whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the end thereof haue bene or can be asked aright by any it would be knowen with what reason or proportion of faith any particular person or Church can so vse it as they speak without speciall explication and application of the severall heads to them selues and their present occasions Secondly he saith our opinion is contrary to the tenour of the words having the forme of a prayer in all things as Our Father give vs and Amen annexed in the end vvhich shevves that they are petitions not positions or rules vvhich are set dovvn in an other forme Mat. 7.7 21.22 1 Ioh. 5.14 Ansvv. If it be intended by the tenour of the words having the forme of a prayer that it should be so vsed then besides the answers already made I ask VVhether we should vse it as it is set downe by Mathevv or by Luke For Luke doth not onely vary from Mathevv in divers words but also omitteth the whole Conclusion yea and the word Amen which is here alledged for a proof that it is so to be vsed as is aforesaid But in deed other vse may be made then these men do of the propounding it thus by way of petitions rather then of positions or rules as in other places is done Namely that Christ hereby would shew the right maner of praying vnto God that we may with confidence come and speak vnto him in our prayers propoūding our requests holily carefully reverendly without babling according to our severall occasions c. And so meeteth with the manifold errours that in the vse of prayer haue crept into the world as may be seen among the Papists Neutral-Protestants Anabaptists Adamians Euchetians and other hereticks Idolaters superstitious and ignorant people some thinking that we should not our selues come directly to God in prayer but vse the mediation of some Saints or Angels c. others that reading on a book is prayer to God though it be of other mens words prescribed vnto vs others that we should repeat the same things over againe and agayne others that we should vse sighs without words others that we should not pray vnto God at all seing he knoweth what we need and others that we should ever be praying giving no place eyther to other exercises of religion or to any labour of the hands c. All which and the like heresies and abuses of the heavenly and most comfortable vse of prayer Christ hath prevented and condemned by this his direction for prayer propounded after the forme and maner aforesaid 3. Thirdly he saith our opiniō is contrary to the vse of al Christians that we read of as before out of Tertullian and others may be alleadged Answ. Then is it contrary to the vse of the Apostles and Primitive Churches of whom we read in the Scriptures Which if any could shew that alone would end the question whereas the vse testimony of any other persons Churches or ages cannot do it As Tertullian himself sheweth when he saith That is truest which is first that is first which is from the beginning that is from the beginning which is from the Apostles But now admitting his proofs were good that the Lords prayer as it is called were to be vsed as a prayer yet were it then further needfull to be knowen whether it be Christs cōmaundement that we should vse it for our prayer alone by it self or that we should ioyne it with other prayers conceived by our selues withall If he say we should vse it alone his owne testimony out of Tertullian besides their own practise is against him who saith that it being premised as a foundation other petitions may be built there vpō And if he say we should ioyne it with the other prayers conceived by our selues the practise and testimony of the Apostles is against him For which see Mat. 8.25 Act. 1.24.25 and 4.24 30. Phil. 1.3.4.9.10.11 4.6 1 Thess. 5.17.18.19.23 2. The second thing is that he saith we hold it not lawfull for the innocent parties to reteyne the offender as the wife her husband or the husband his wife if eyther partie haue committed adultery no though the innocent party vpon the others repentance forgiving the others sinne be desirous still to live vvith the other party in the mariage covenant as before but haue excommunicated the parties innocent for so doing This in deed we haue held the most of vs heretofore and some of vs are so perswaded still And while we were generally so mynded we also held it our duty accordingly to walk taking the innocent partie that reteyned such offenders though vpon their repentance yet to be defiled and to liue in sinne with them as coupling themselues with an harlot But since vpon further consideration of this question discussing it among our selves when we could not fynde divorce in the Scriptures any where commaunded but permitted onely and that such offenders repenting thereof are not to be reputed in that case of harlots but to be washed from their sinne justifyed in Iesus Christ we have vpon these and other like reasons altered our former judgement and now haue thus observed and agreed thus concerning this matter That where the Magistrates inflict not death vpon such offenders as by the law of God they should it is in the liberty and power of the innocent party eyther for that crime to put away the offender or vpon their repentance to reteyne them But this with these cautions 1. So as themselues were no meanes or cause of the others so transgressing 2. That they be no nourishers of them in the like for tyme to come 3. That this remission and acceptance of the offender by the innocent party be done before sufficient winesses 4. That this also as the mariage at the first be alway in the Lord. And for the Churches the Ministers dutie therein that it is onely to teach and require of them repentance after the example of Christ Ioh. 8.10.11 or els to see them cast out of the Church according to the Apostles doctrine 1 Cor. 5.11.12.13 This is that which now the most of vs do think concerning this question being notwithstanding ready to heare if any can shew vs better frō the word of God which is the ground and rule of the constitution of our Church Touching the case and excommunication of H. C. and E. H. his wife of which he speaketh both here and afterward againe how will he prove the persons spoken of to be repentant
And this according to his owne prophecy though as Caiaphas speaking more trueth then himself intended when to the same Mr S. W. he wrote thus also Certainly if God doth not worke mightily for vs we shall come to desolation Balaam even then when he would have cursed Israel prophecied the truth though against his will 5. The fift is a meer calumniation like the rest In the place quoted we blame in the Dutch as we do also in the French Church of this towne that the rule and commaundement of Christ Mat. 18.15.16.17 they neyther observe nor suffer rightly to be observed among them If this man-pleaser could approue them herein why doth he not For our selves we do carefully observe it think all the Churches of Christ are bound so to do For deciding of matters which are of publick nature they are made knowen and decided among vs in by the whole body of the Church and not by the Elders alone Yet therein we have this order that all such matters be first signifyed to the Elders to whom the oversight of the Church and affaires thereof apperteyneth by whom likewise they are proprounded advised treated of also publickly as the cases do require Of which points we have spoken sufficient at least till we be answered in our Apologie against the Oxf. Doct. pag. 63.64 Notwithstanding if any come to the Elders eyther for our advise or to have some matters brought to the Church we shew them what we think to be best as we are perswaded our selves yet debar not any from proceeding further so as they will answer their doing to the Church as there the case shal be found to be And this to be our practise and maner of walking I think this man himself knoweth well For T. C. his matter the Elders did not decide it as he falsely saith but shewed him what we our selves thought to be best according to godlynes and required of him to do no otherwise in it then he could answer to God and to the Church Of the matter it self as also of W. H. is spoken here before pag. 33. And for that he saith here seeing W.H. his wife put him away who can constreine her or any other in like case to retein such if themselves be not willing For the bringing of matters in a third place to the Elders as they have obiected Mr P. himself the rest of them have ben answered that we do not so but that when in the third place a matter is to come vnto the Church by that rule of Mat. 18. this is the order we keep therein that first knowledg thereof be given to the Elders the overseers of the Church then that they seing the matter to be such and so dealt in as is to come to the Church it be by them publickly propounded and prosequuted as is meet whereas otherwise both the Church might be troubled and mens names and private matters be brought in publick without iust cause And this we do not adding to that rule of Christ as this man and his followers have still objected but having that care and keeping that order in the observation thereof as the Scriptures els where lead vs vnto For which see 1 Tim. 5.17.18.19.21.22 4.14 Heb. 13.17 Rom. 12.7.8.1 Thes. 5.12.13.14.27 Rev. 2.1.7.8.11.12.18.29 3.1.6.7.13.14.22 with Exod. 3.16 4.29.30.31 12.21 and with 1 Cor. 14.40 By which also may appeare how frivolous it is that he saith we alledge the same reasons for our practise which we approue noâ— in â—he Dutch As if we should put no difference between the Eldership alone hearing and deciding the publick matters of the Church between the Elders according to their office having knowledg advising and propounding of such matters to be heard and discussed by the body of the Church joâ—ntly together Or as if the reasons which warrant a lawfull thing should also beare out that which is vnlawfull or that we should not therefore disallow them when by any they are so applyed And for the abuse of that rule of Mat. 18. whether through evill affection in partiality and envie or to an evill end to cover filthynes withall if any do so as he saith measuring others it may be by the length of his owne foot they are to answer it to God who knoweth the heart and tryeth the reynes to give to every one according to their works Our duty is for that which man may see judge to have that rule as all other the ordinances of Christ carefully observed among vs Whereat let him consider if his heart grieve not more then it doth that the Church of England of which he is neyther doth nor can in their estate observe that nor many other the ordinances of Christ by reason whereof they cannot be esteemed a true Church of Christ in such constitution As I shewed before pag. 8. 6. For the sixt which is about the worshipping of God in the Idol TeÌ„ples of Antichrist can he not put difference between the ordinarie publick worship of the Church in such places and the occasionall receiving of aâ—mes therein by the poore Neither between the benevolence of a Church to the Ministers or Saints of Christ which is â—he sacrifice spoken of Phil. 4.18 the relief of a City given to the poore that dwell among them be they of any religion whatsoever one or other Which I speak not as discommending the care they have for the poore among them which is very great and much commendable but to shew the nature of this action how it is performed Nor will he discerne between the solemne appointed worship of God by the Church so assembled together and the private duties of thankfulnes of salutation or the like Or doth he think we hold it not lawfull to walk vp and downe in the Idol Temples as they vse in Powles at London or if we be walking there to lift vp our hearts to God as occasion may be or if we meet some there of whom we have received a benefit to give theÌ„ thankes Or if their Temples were made prisons as in Powles aforesaid there are divers and some of vs committed thither as heretofore sundry have bene by the Prelates that we would not pray there yea preach also as there might be occasion Or when we did so would he therevpon inferre as now he doth that we coÌ„demne others in those things which we would and do our selues A senseles conclusioÌ„ but wel beseming a Baals Priest that hath a good will if he had ability withall to plead for Baals altars and houses As for the poynt it self and the place of Deut. 12. we haue written already in other Treatises not yet aunswered Therefore need I not now write more about it here But let the Reader obserue here how this Idoll Priest himself yeeldeth these places to be Idoll Temples and the Temples of Antichrist Yet bringeth no warrant for the reserving and appoynting of them to spirituall vse
in the worship of God but saith playnly if the coÌ„mandement Deut. 12. be moral which he cannot deny if he hold it morall for the Images and altars that then no civill vse of them may be had at all much lesse spiritual And yet I suppose he will not deny but Iehu the King of Israel put the house of Baal to a lawfull vse 2 King 10.27 7. The seaventh is that whereas we shewed the Dutch here that they vse a new censure of Suspension which Christ hath not appoynted yet we ourselves suspended M. S. many moneths together before his excoÌ„munication But this he should have proved so to have ben The Dutch suspend their members from the Lords supper and yet admit them to participation of the word and prayer so did not we But the case was thus The said Mat. Sl. having declined from the truth which before he professed with vs to sundry errors of the Dutch here it required many dayes to deale with him and convince him in them all which we were carefull to do Now when some of them being handled he was admonished by the Church to repent and returne to the truth and he notwithstanding obstinately persisted against the voyce of Christ so speaking vnto him there were some of vs who thought it not lawfull to have any more spirituall coÌ„munion with him when he came to our publik metings Whereabout there bâ—ing some question and all the particulars being not yet finished it was agreed for the present when he did so come to deale with him about the residue of the poynts yet remaining Which being donne and divers dayes week after week being so imployed for the convincing of him in all the Church did then excoÌ„municate him as here is said and so he remaineth at this day a man overcome with the love of this world here called his preferment and never a whit too good when he was at the best to be of our fellowship which is in the Gospell of Iesus Christ. For which he that thinketh any too good is himself stark naught 8. For the eight about non residency howsoever he speak of Mr Br. his absence frâ—m the Church and this without any leave thereof yet himself knoweth that he with some others of vs was vpon speciall occasion sent by the Church into England and there imployed a long time about that busines Wherein also what good paynes he took with what great carefulnes even this White himself was often a present beholder witnes When he stayed there vpon other occasion he saith it was not so long as here is deceitfully pretended though longer then he or we would have had it and that he could not then possibly do otherwise as things fell out But I will not here insist to speake what may be done in cases of necessitie or speciall occasion or to put difference between factours servants and men agreing together on mutuall conditions nor vpon the difference that is between Ministers of the word and the Deacons and specially the difference between one man having two three or fower benefices as they call them by reason whereof though he be still with some of those Churches yet must he needs be a non resident all his life and between one Church having two three or mo Deacons by meanes whereof though some be absent vpon occasion yet there are other vsually present to performe the duties apperteyning to the office notwithstanding But of these things I will not stand For that which we desier and approve is that he which hath an office should waite on his office Rom. 12.7.8 9. Now followeth the last of his instances but not the least for the lyes and sclanders conteined therein The first particular here spoken of is about this that we blamed in the Dutch Church of this towne that they receive vnrepentant excommunicants to be members of their Church which by this meanes becommeth one body with such as be delivered vnto Sathan But this man had no list to set it downe in our owne words because he hath no love to speak of things as the truth is And if there were no other corruption but this onely in the Church aforesaid let such as are of judgment consider whether we have not just cause to put difference between it the other Churches of these countreyes that stand not in like transgression of which we spake before pag. 25. and whether we which know these things and have had dealing with them thereabout may suffer the members of our Church to joyne with them in this estate in any part of their worship and Ministration be it the preaching of the word or any other whatsoever Yet notwithstanding it is false that he saith we excommunicated our owne members onely for hearing the word preached amongst the Dutch or French for those whome yet we haue cast out hereabout it hath bene partly for their revolting froÌ„ the trueth which they have professed with vs to the corruptions of these Churches which declining as they may shew in hearing the word preached among them in such estate so are we accordingly to esteem thereof and partly for other sinnes withall whereinto they have fallen And a most shamelesly it is that he saith we are our selves one body with an excommunicate from the French Church The party whom he intendeth now one of the Elders of our Church was not excommunicated by them but did himself leave them for their corruptions after he had long much dealt with them in all good manner to the vttermost of his power thereabout they persisted therein notwithstanding The next particular here spoken of is about our dislike of them for that they observe daies and times consecrating certaine dayes in the yeare to the Nativitie Resurrection Ascension of Christ c. Which this adversarie himself knoweth we do not though his conscience be so seared as he careth not how he bely vs and abuse the Reader so he may seem to say something against vs. And straunge it is if he were not impudent out of measure that he is not ashamed to say that we observe their holy dayes as much as they do A thing which is false in both the instances which himself giveth hereabout the one being about the shutting of shops the other about our publick meetings for worship on those dayes For towching the first such of vs as shut their shops do it not in respect of religion or with observance of publick worship as they do but partly thinking it to be a thing civill which may be done at the Magistrats appointment seing no spirituall observation is vrged vpon vs withall partly chusing rather so to do then to pay the penalty whereto otherwise they are lyable it being far more then in compasse of the day they could by their labour obteyn Others of vs do on those dayes follow their ordinary labour some have bene called and have answered it before the Magistrates alledging divers reasons of their
doing in regard of Gods requiring but one day in seaven for publick worship and permitting six for labour because of the popish and superstitious observance of these tymes still reteyned and other the like And what though in these things being matters of such nature and question we have differed in judgment Is it any other thing then the Christians in the Primitive Churches at this day in all ages haue ben may be in divers cases subject vnto For the second it is a notable deceitfull vntruth that we have our meetings for worship on their holy dayes For although their Easter and Whitsunday falling alwayes on the Lords day the feast of Ascension of the fift day on the week called Ascension Thursday we haue our publick meetings on those dayes yet it is not at all in respect of their holy dayes but because that weekly we have our meetings on those dayes all the yeare thorow Besides if we observed their holy dayes as much as they do we should have a religious regard of them have our publick metings for worship as they have on Christmasse day the morrow after also on the morrow after Easter and Whitsunday Which dayes together with the former he knoweth they observe and we not Yet shameth he not thus to write as he doth as if his Lords the Prelates had given him a dispensation to lye and calumniate no matter how and that now he is growen so wicked and shameles that he counteth it nothing so to do if thereby he may please his Lords or pleasure himself God thus justly punishing his former hyprocrisie and present apostasy so matching his writing with his walking as it should be an evident testimony in the sight of all how vndeniably his owne collections are true in himself as in his Lords too which so injuriously he would apply vnto vs and how far he is behind the very heathen even Medea her self which said Video meliora proboque Deteriora sequor I see better things approve them but I follow the worse wheras himself after the example of his Patrones though he see better things yet doth not so much as approve them but set himself to oppugne them what he can possibly and for the worse things doth not onely follow them but approve and applaud them most shamefully yea and therevnto bringeth pretended allegation of Scripture as if it were no sinne to take the Name of God in vayne and make the Scriptures serve his owne fancy yea his lyes calumnies For which certainly the Lord will not hold him guiltles And where he pretendeth against vs as if he could declare false and impertinent allegation of Scripture and yet passeth by it vndeclared the Reader observing his purpose and dealing may easily gather that if he thought himself able to do it he wanteth no will therevnto That which he referreth vnto in a book already published will not prove it so much as in part no though himself with all his ayders do joyne withall The point is about the Scriptures alledged by vs against the yearely chaunge of the Elders in this Dutch Church and not continewing in their office according to the doctrine of the Apostles and practise of the Primitive Churches Which Scriptures be these Rom. 12.4.5.6.7.8 1 Cor. 12.11.12 c. Act. 20.17.28 1 Pet. 5.1.2.3.4 and Numb 8.24 c. Where there be many reasons expressed and included plainely disproving the yearely chaunge and dismission aforesaid As namely the authority and work of the Lord making them Overseers of his Church and placing them as members in his body the duties of wayting on their office of feeding the flock coÌ„mitted vnto them of attendance care and watchfulnes therein the account to be given thereof vnto the Lord and the reward to be hoped for from him according to his promise at that day and other the like Neither can any example or reason of sound consequence be shewed froÌ„ the Scriptures for warrant of their practise But I need not speak further of this point vnles some would vndertake their defence against vs in the particulars wherein we have had to deale with them Which neyther themselves could performe nor any other would yet so much as attempt for them though some great learned men have had just occasion therevnto if they could have done it As for that he saith of the book aforesaid lying vnanswered we have divers reasons for so leaving it 1. It is but part of a book printed before the rest was finished And to see the whole might be of speciall vse if an answer should be given vnto it 2. Synce the writing thereof it pleased God to visite him with sicknes that he died And seing he is dead we do so leave him forbearing now to write what we could aâ— is well knowen to many 3. He did not like as this man leave or contrary our generall cause and testimony against the Church of England but held it so himself as of late going into England he was there taken and put in prison for this cause where he died vnder their hands These reasons among other we have of not answering it Being notwithstanding alway ready as there is just and needfull occasion to answer for our selves to defend the trueth and equity of our cause dealing or wherein we haue erred to acknowledg and amend it as we have often signifyed heretofore Now for that wherewith he coÌ„cludeth even false accusations of whole Churches would shew it by comparing the 7. accusation in our letters to Mr Iunius with the practise of the Dutch Churches it is to be observed that the particular corruptions there noted whereof we have advertised the Eldership of this Dutch Church be eleâ—eÌ„ in all so as this enemy graunteth himself ten of them to be true And for the other that one whereof he speaketh namely their yearly chaunge of Elders it also is so true as the Ministers themselves deputed among them to deale with vs knowing best their owne estate practise did never so much as once offer to deny it and their continuall practise if they have not left it of late avowcheth it against all gaynsayers Yet this flattâ—rer to speak somewhat for them shameth not to say that is false which is very true like as here before against vs he affirmed those things to be true which are very false A fit servant for his Lords the Prelates with whom it is coÌ„moÌ„ in all their dealing against vs to account give out of the truth that it is falsehood and againe of falsehood that it is trueth That in himself and his Masters may be seen verifyed that saying of Plautê° here alledged Iustum non iustum non iustum iustum quod vobis placet Let them therfore consider their wayes in their heart and lay their hands on their mouth Els let them know that out of their owne mouth they shal be judged according to those
would assent yet these Dutch French Churches do not heare any such matters but they are heard and handled onely by the Eldership by them erroneously put in place of the wholâ— Church as we have had experience vpon other occasions Now though we might not for these and like reasons submit as they required yet we also signifyed that if these Churches or Ministers or any els whosoever could shew vs by the word of God to have faulted in any thing we were willing and ready to heare them These are our reasons and this is our refusall and walking in such cases Which this White knoweth full well and therefore his sinne is the greater to write and deale notwithstanding as he doth 5. The fift instance which is about receiving the penitent offenders in cases of adultery is spoken of before pag. 32.33 To which I refer the Reader will now onely aske of him whether he would have any to reteyne vnrepentant adulterers and adulteresses and so to partake in their sinne It may be some of his Lords the Prelates can quickly take him out as bad lessons as this specially he being so apt a scholler for such Maisters Yet may not we reteyne such members in our Church And if we should what exclamations would he make against vs as in deed justly he might Here therefore mark the wickednes of this Impe of Sathan common to him with such enemies of the truth and Church If any stand from and against the Church be they never so lewd wicked he is ready to favour partake with them But if any continue with the Church though they repent of their sinnes as David he will not cease to maligne and abuse them yea to defame the whole Church therby as if it were a company of adulterers c. as before in his book hath appeared 6. The sixt instance is of his owne wife Rose White excommunicated for two things though he mention but one 1. First for not bringing her childe to baptisme 2. For falling from the truth which she had professed with vs to the corruptions of the Dutch Church here where she ioyned her self a member And the man he speaketh of her husband is himself matches one for another For the abuses which he speaketh of to give an instance was not one of them our observing of that rule Mat. 18.15.16.17 in such maner as we do For which when he had reproved the Church and was after a weeks respiâ—e called vpon for his proof he was glad openly in the Church to say he was vnprovided and came no more to our meetings to prove it at any tyme afterward Yet such is his face as he will boast of his reproving abuses amongst vs. Towching his wives alleadging of the example of Timothees mother that did not circumcise him and no other cause mentioned but that his â—ather vvas a Grecian he saith she could get no answer whereas the whole congregation then present knoweth how many things were answered about it sundry reasons vsed about this case of not bringing her child to Baptisme vpon her husbands forbidding As That the covenant of grace made with the Church in Christ was without respect of persons or sexe there being in him neyther male nor female Gal. 3.28 and therefore though the father should refuse or neglect the mother hath right and ought to present That she might not deprive her seed of the sacrament of Baptisme vpon her husbands will any more then her self of the Lords supper if he should forbid her because that by the believing womaÌ„ the children are clean as well as by the believing man 1 Cor. 7. â—4 she now being of our church her husband not we were to call vpon her for performance of her duty That baptisme was a signe of incorporating into Christ and salvation by his death and resurrection so as her neglect of baptising her child could not but be iniurious both to Christ and it When these the like perswasions were vsed vnto her and she had nothing to answer but asked why then Timothees mother did not circumcise her child our Teacher as he remembreth answered that the cause was not certainly knowen for it was not expressed in the scripture If she were living and present we would demaund of her self but she is now dead and gone wherefore it were hard for vs to determine of the cause but this Ro. White was living and present must give account of her own wayes That we must not walk by example but by law of God for even the most righteous may offend Moses himself faulted in neglecting the circumcising of his sonne Exod 4. And if Timothees mother being a Iewesse did mary with a Gentile an infidel who therefore would not suffer her to circumcise her sonne she obeyed him that such mariages were forbidden of God and vnlawfull And then she sinning in marying with him why might she not also sin in keeping her child vncircumcised for him if that were the cause as now this woman pretended Wherefore she was put in minde rather of the examples of other good women as Abigail 1 Sam. 25. the elect Lady 2 Ioh. Epist. also of some spoken of in the Machabees though that book be Apocrypha which lost their liues for causing their children to be circumâ—ised 1 Mach. 1.63 2 Mach. 6.10 It was also demaunded by some of vs how it could be shewed otherwise but that Timotheâ—s mother might be in the faith of the Gospell before he was born and he in that respect might be vncircumcised Also whether the women in Noahs tyme should have refused to enter into the Arke or the women of Israell in Moses tyme to go themselves with their childen through the red sea if their husbands had bene against it Both which were types and resemblances of our baptisme as the Scripture sheweth 1 Cor. 10.1.2 1 Pet. 3.20.21 These and the like reasons being then shewed and spoken of and now vpon this occasion thus noted downe let the Reader here consider of this mans dealing and his wives and accordingly esteem thereof as now he findeth it to be His scoffing at the Teacher of our Church not onely for his words then vsed but even at the office it self which he executeth and therein at the ordinance of Christ hurteth not him nor vs but encreaseth this skorners sinne judgement vpon his owne head For that which he saith of myself I did in deed with hold my consent towching the first cause of her excommunication about the childes baptizing making some doubt about the case aforesaid partly in respect of the husbands authority over his family partly because of the objections arising about the case Scriptures alledged out of Act. 16.3 c. Yet notwithstanding I gave my coÌ„sent as touching the second cause thereof for her falling from the truth to their corruptions here And that so as I said also I was willing for it to pronounce the