third exception then was in the former I might proceed to that which followeth in his letter save that a few things which he hath here inserted by the way seem needfull first to be to wched As first where speaking of vs he termeth a Church sett in the order of Christ to be private members Towching which this I thought to note that a company of faithfull people though considered apart by themselves they be private men yet being gathered together in the Name of Christ and joyned together in fellowship of his Gospell they are a publik body a Church a citty a kingdome and that of Iesus Christ who is present among them to guyde blesse and confirme what they do on earth in his Name and by his power So that like as in a Citty the citizens considered apart are commonly private members yet ioyntly together are the corporation and publik body of that town so is it also in the Church of Christ whether it consist of mo or of fewer yea though they be but two or three so as they be joyned together in communion of the Gospell and gathered together in the Name of Iesus Christ as before is said Secondly where he accounteth themselves a true Church having many famous assemblyes and to be proceeded against by the rule of Christ Mat. 18. I have already aunswered and showed that first he must prove theyr assemblyes to be sett in the way of Christ afore these sayings can be verifyed of them or applyed to them Many there are in deed amoÌ„g them famous for theyr gifts learning wisdome sobriery etc. but they also stand subject to the same Antichristian disorder and confusion that the rest do Neyther doubt I but in the most popish assemblyes there be also many famous for theyr gifts and otherwise which yet can no way justify theyr Antichristian estate The Lord in mercy graunt that such as belong to him may bring themselves and theyr gifts vnto Zion for the help and beauty thereof and no more employ them as they have done to the adorning of Babel that whoore and strumpett appoynted to destruction with all her ordinances and constitutions wheresoever Thirdly where he saith there be many of the Ministers in England that are not yet in theyr judgment perswaded of the discipline I aske whether he think not also there be many of the Ministers in Rome Spayne and els where that likewise are not in theyr judgmeÌ„t perswaded of sundry other most excellent doctrines of the Gospell And whether therefore all other that see them must stay from acknowledging and observing them vntill such also be perswaded of them If Iohn wickleff William Swinderby Walter Brute Iohn Claydon Martin Luther Iohn Hus Ierome of Prage William Tyndall Iohn Frith Robert Barnes Iohn Rogers Hugh Latymer Iohn Bradford Rowland Taylour Iohn Philpott and other the faithfull servants and Martyrs of Iesus Christ should in theyr severall ages have stayed from obeying the Gospell so far as God revealed vnto them out of his word vpon this and such like pretences of the ignorance and error of others I would know whether in so doing they had ben faithfull to God as they ought But besides these I would also aske whether it might not with as great colour if not greater in some respect have ben said to the Apostles and Primitive Churches that the Priests and Levites of the Iewes were not perswaded in iudgment that Iesus was the Christ To conclude is it not straunge that in so great alight they should still labour with such figge tree leaves to cover the nakednes of theyr filthy abominations The next exception he taketh when he saith that other of theyr ministers do yeeld vnto the discipline in iudgment and desier hartely the establishment of it and the removall of all corruptions yet cannot see how they may with a good conscience forsake the callings and roomes they occupy for the want of the discipline This exception I say which also might be alledged for the papists is of like nature with the former or rather much worse inasmuch as he graunteth they yeeld to the truth in iudgment and deny it in practise They know by his graunt that Christ hath appoynted an order of Ministery and government to his Church for the administration of his holy things and for keping his people in the obedience of faith with commaundment to observe it to the end of the world for this they do and must vnderstand by the discipline Yet in theyr practise they yeeld not vnto it for himself saith here they want it And not that onely but they submitt also to another ministery worship and government here called theyr corruptions Which seing it caÌ„ not be Christs which they want whose can it be but the Romish Antichrists with whose cup of abominations this land as the other nations of the earth hath ben made drunck God give them in tyme to make conscience of retayning such Antichristian callings and roomes that they may cast of theyr rough garments and false offices wherein they have so long tyme deceyved the people and may throughly see and consider in theyr hearts how wittingly they stand in disobedience against Christ whiles he graunteth they vvant that holy order of ministery and government here called the discipline which Christ hath straitly charged to be kept inviolable vntill his appearing and whilest they think there shalbe taken from Babel a stone for a corner or for a foundation in Zion Whether this now be a sinne of ignorance in them let themselves examine Yet if it were they must remember that even that servant that knoweth not his masters will and yet committeth things worthy of stripes shalbe beat though in deed with fewer â—â—â—pes then he which knoweth it and prepareth not himself neyther doth according therevnto Let them therefore look to it and take heed they neyther refuse knowledge nor forgett with knowledg to ioyne obedience least in the end they feel that which is written that God will render vengeaunce both to them that knovv him not and to such as obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ. Fourthly where he excepteth that they havve not ben censured by other Churches and therefore are not thus to be refused besides that which hath ben aunswered before towching their Antichristian estate in respect whereof they are to be departed from without any other censuring Besides this I say I would know by what Churches the assemblyes in Rome Germany Fraunce and England were censured when Arnoldus de villa nova Ierome of Prage Martin Luther Iohn Calvin William Tyndall the Baldenses and the Bohemians with many other the servants of God in former ages left and forsook them Or whether they should still have remayned in Babylon till by some Churches she had ben censured Yea and how there could ever be a true visible Church agayne vpon the earth after the generall apostasy wherein all nations were made drunken
by the Apostles 1 Cor. 4. 17. with 1 Tim. 5. 17. and 1 Cor. 14. 33. The severall functions and Ministeryes aforesaid hath CHRIST appoynted and set in the Church as Lord and King thereof Vnto them he giveth by his SPIRIT sufficient diversity of gifts aÌ„d ablility for the ordinary works of teaching exhorting governing distributing etc And being GOD he worketh by and in them all to the prayse of his Name and salvation of his elect 1 Cor 12. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 18. 28. and 14. 37. Rom. 12. 7. 8. Mat 18. 17-20 and 28. 18. 19. 20. Ephes. 4. 8. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. and in the other Scriptures noted before Let like evidence and warrant from the Scriptures be showed for the severall offices and functions now had and exercised in the Church of England Otherwise all men may know they are not from heaven but of men A few positions briefly conteyning the summe of the cause and treatise following 1 THat Iesus Christ is King and Lord of his Church and that all which look for salvation by him are bound to yeeld obedience to him as in all other things which he hath commaunded so also in his ordinance of Ministery Worship and Government prescribed in his Testament and no other Mat. 28. 19. 20 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. 15 16. vvith Heb. 5. 9. and 12. 28. 19. 29. Ioh. 3. 36. Gal. 1. 8. 9. and 3. 15. 1 Cor. 12. 5. and 14. 37. 38. Act. 3. 22. 23. and 5. 31. Esa. 60. 12. Rev. 22. 18. 19. 2. That Christ as head and â—ord of his Church hath given vnto it for the instruction guydance and service thereof the offices of Pastors Teachers Elders â—eacons and Helpers together with rules for theyr entrance administration and maintenance Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 15. 16. Rom. 12. 7. 8. 1. Cor. 9. 14. and 12. 28. Act. 6. 2 6 and 14. 23. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. The epistles to Timothy and Titus 3. That the Primitiue Churches were by the Apostles planted in this way and order as being the onely true way and order appoynted by Christ and to be observed to the end of the world Rom. 12. 7. 8 1 Cor. 12. 28. and 14. 37. Act. 6. 2. 6. and 11. 30. and 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. Phil. 1. 1. Col. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. Iam. 5. 14. Tit. 1. 5. c. 1 Tim. 3. and. 5. and 6. 13. 14. vvith Rev. 22. 18. 19. Mat. 28. 20. 4. That synce the tyme of the Primitive Churches thus planted Antichrist that man of sinne as was foretold hath made departure from this way and order of Christ not onely in other poynts of doctrine but also in the Ministery â—orship and Government of the Church Wherevpon is come to passe that in stead of the former offices appoynted by Christ haue crept in the Locusts of Antichrist Archbishops Lordbishops ArchdeaeoÌ„s Chauncelors Commissaryes Parsons Vicars Priests and the rest of that â—ort together with theyr new and straunge entrance administration and maintenance 2 Thes. 2. 3. 4. 7 12. Rev. 9. 1 11. and 13. 11 18. and 14. 9. 10. 11. and 18. cap. 1. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. compared vvith the Scriptures alledged in the former positions 5. That the Nations of the earth and this among the rest have ben made drunk with this cup of Babels fornications Whereof whosoever drunketh God hath threatned they shall also drink of the cup of his wrath Rev. 17. 1 5. and 18. 3. 4. 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. 12. Rev. 14. 9. 10. 11. 6. That this nation hath to the prayse of God and honour of her Maiesty ben purged from many of the abominations and false doctrines of Babylon aforesaid but not from the Prelacy and other Ministery worship and government of the Church by Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons Commissaryes Priests Parsons Deanes Prebendaryes Canons etc. 〈◊〉 is evident by theyr present estate and by these reasons follovving First if all the false ministery worship and tyranny of Antichrist wers in all other places of the world abolished yet so long as this Prelacy and other Clergy and worship aforesaid remayneth in this land Antichrist that sonne of perdition were not vtterly consumed As the Scripture testifyeth he shalbe by the light of the Gospell before Christs comming at the great day 2 Thes. 2. 3. 8. vvith Rev. 14. 6. 7. 8. and 18. 19. and Ierem. 50. and 51. cap. Secondly the Churches of Antichrist cannot be compleet in all the Canonicall functions Prelacy and Ministery of Antichrist if they have not the functions Prelacy and Ministery of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons Priests and the rest now had and retayned in the Land This is proved by the Popes Canons and Pontificall and by theyr Church constitution Thirdly the Churches of Christ may be compleet in the whole ministery worship and government appoynted by Christ to his Church and yet be alway and altogether without the present ministery worship and goverment by Archbshops Lordbishops Archdeacons Priests etc. now had and retayned in this Land This is proved by the constitution of the Primitiue Churches planted by the Apostles Which the Scripture showeth were compleet in the former and yet never had nor knew these latter Rom. 12. 7. 8. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. Act. 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. 1. Cor. 12. 28. Col. 2. 5. Phil. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 5 9. 1 Tim. 3. and 5. cap. and 6. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 12. Fourthly if that which is had in this Land were the true Ministery worship and government ordeyned by Christ in his Church then ought all the Churches of Christ vpon earth to vse the same Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 4. 17. and 12. 5. and 14. 37. Iude. ver 3. Rev. 22. 16. 17. 18. 19. But even the Prelates themselves and theyr Proctors confesse it is and may be otherwise VVhitg in the preface of his last book against T. C. Also the Aunsvver to the Abstâ—act pag. 58. Finally if that which is had in this Land were the true Ministery worship and government appoynted by Christ to his Church then might it be found in the word of God But that can it not If any be otherwise mynded let them show the severall offices entrance administration and maintenance of the Prelacy and other Ministery of these assemblyes out of the Scriptures and Testament of Christ. If they speak not according to this vvord it is because there is no light in them Esa. 8. 20. The treatise following conteyned in two letters is divided into ten Sections The first section beginneth pag. 1. The second pag. 5. The third pag. 17. The fourth pag. 44. The fift pag. 59. The sixt pag. 79. The seventh pag. 86. The eight pag. 94. The ninth pag. 106. The tenth pag. 116. ¶ ERRATA Pag. 4. lin 7. for dare read deare Pag. 28. lin 30. for the he is read that he is Pag. 111. lin 43. for what the people read what know
his high court of prerogative or grave fatherly faculties these together or the worst of them as some of them be to bad may not be broken or offended against but with more daunger then to offend against the Bible To these subscribing and subscribing again and the third subscribing are required for these preachers and others are indited are fined are prisoned are excommunicated are banished and haue worse things threatned them And the Bible that must haue no further scope then by these it is assigned Is this to professe Gods word Is this a reformation He that could not abide straunge fyer in the old law but burnt them that used it what vvill he do to us in the nevv lavv that erect a nevv and straunge course or vvord to rule his Church by What did the Pope but so He did suffer Gods vvord to haue a course as far as it pleased him so that he might haue the vvhole authority aboue it So did the popish Church But vve say the vvord is aboue the Church Then suerly it is about the English Church and aboue all these books afore rehearsed If it be so vvhy are not they ouer-ruled by it and not it by them These are theyr own words and that in an admonition to the high court of parliament So as we holding our peace you may by this perceiue in what estate they stand by the lawes and present constitution of theyr Church But Mr. H. addeth moreover that they all professe Christ to be the onely lavv giver vnto the conscience Is this so in deed How is it then that Mathew Sutcliffe Deane of Exceâ—er a chief officer in theyr Church is not afrayd nor ashamed to publish in print that it soundeth harsh in Christian eaâ—es to call Christ a Lavvgiuer But to let him alone with his blasphemous contradiction to the Scriptures and Spirit of God let us consider a litle the profâ—ssion they make herein And first I aske what if the Papists professe as much Will such profession in word help any thing when in deed by theyr works they deny it Secondly let Mr H. remember that some of themselues affirme vvhiles they professe Christ to be a king and per submitt not to the lavves he hath prescribed in his vvord they make him an Idoll and putt a scepter of reed in his hand Thirdly do not they fynd fault with the Papists aÌ„d prove them to bend true Church though they professe in word that Christ is the king of his Church becouse in deed they obey not his lawes but have invented and use theyr own canons and constitutions for government of the Church Mark well theyr own words in a treatise lately published wherein they prove the Church of â—ome not to be the true Church by this reason following The Papists in vvord vvill not deny but Christ is a king vvhich hath all povver in heaven and in earth But in deed it appeareth they do exile and banish him out of his kingdome or at least leav him but a small portion or rather none at all For in respect that he is a spirituall king and the king of his Church he is also as Iames speaketh the onely lavvgiâ—er thereunto and therefore by his lavves onely the Church is to be governed Which they cannot abide For they adde their popish Canous constitutions and customes vvhereby they vvill haue the Church governed Yea they vvill haue these take place though they utterly displace the vvord of God for the maintenance of them These are theyr own words in that treatise Thus they reason against the Papists And is not this reason I pray you as strong against themselues and against theyr own Church Prelates and Clergy Yea are not theyr ecclesiasticall assemblyes daughters of the Church of â—ome in this behalf Or have theâ— more priviledge by theyr verball profession to be exâ—mpt from the obedience of Christ and his lawes then the Papists havâ— Lastly seing Mr H. saith they professe Christ to be the onely lawgiver to the conscience Let him in syncerity of heart as before God aunswer vs these few questions 1 Whether then obedience be not to be given to the Lord Iesus in whatsoever he hath commaunded and all his lawes and ordinances to be observed though all the Princes on earth should forbid it 2 Why then they abstayne from the observation of those Lawes and ordinances which themselves have taught and written to be appoynted by Iesus Christ to be kept vnblameable and without spott vntill his appearing yea though it be with the losse of wealth honour liberty and life it self 3 Whether the Lord Iesus the lawgiver of his Church have not set in his Church to continew to the end of the world the offices of Pastours Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers together with theyr entrance works and maintenance for the administration of his holy things 4 Whether the Offices of Archbishops Lord bisshops priests deacons vicars and the rest now had in England theyr maner of entrance into them theyr administration of them by theyr popish canons and book of common prayer theyr maintenance in them by tithes Lordships Chrismes offrings aÌ„d such like be appoynted by Christ that onely Lawgiver to his Church and in what places of his Testament 5 Whether being not prescribed by Christ but derived from and belonging to Antichrist any can eyther administer or joyne vnto them in that estate and yet in truth acknowledg Christ to be the onely lawgiver to the conscience 6 Fynally whether they which abyde one with the world and false Church not separating themselves from them according to the commaundement of Christ which administer or receyv the word or Sacraments in or from a false ministery which how down vnto traditions and false worship devised and imposed by man which stand subiect to be silenced and excommunicated by the Prelates theyr Chauncelours and Archdeacons whether these I say can be said in truth to hold Christ to be the onely lawgiver to the conscience Or whether they receyv not the mark of the Beast and as yet stand subjects of his kingdome submitting to his Antichristian lawes and constitutions In the last place Mr. H. addeth that nothing among them is vrged to be done vpon payne of damnation but onely the word and law of God To which I aunswer first that if this were true yet it is not to the purpose seing many things among them contrary to the word of God are vrged to be done vpon payne of imprisonment confiscation of Goods and lands banishment death and such like Secondly I aunswer that they do require men to be subiect to theyr excommunication vpon payne of damnation as theyr own words in theyr writs of excommunication do show Now it is evident and confessed by the best of themselves that they have not Christs power to excommunicate but execute it contrary to the word of God by an Archdeacon or Lordly Prelate according to theyr
canons Wherevpon also to note it by the way it followeth that they are not a true Church of Christ. For Christs Church hath alwayes Christs power to excommunicate Whereas these assenblyes have no other power to excommunicate but by the Archdeacon or Lordbischop whose offices be Antichristian And herevpon it is that the more religious any is among them the more he contemneth theyr excommunication Which were a fearefull sinne if theyr Church were a true Church whose bynding on earth were such as bound also in heaven Thirdly I aunswer if theyr ministery and worship of God were according to the word aÌ„d law of God then ought all vpon payne of damnation to submit aÌ„d ioyne vnto it Now if they do not so vrge it themselves do thereby acknowledg that it is not of God If they do so â—rgeit then they vrge vpon payne of damnation that which is contrary to the word and law of God as hath ben and shall more be showed hereafter Now it followeth in his letter thus Mr. H. his letter Section 3. TO vvhich purpose also I besech you to consider that althoug there is not the least part of Christs ordinances that can be neglected vvithout grievous sinne yet the vvant or neglect of some of these ordinances of Christ vvhich concerne the discipline of his Church and the outvvard calling of the ministers is no such sinne as can make eyther the ministers and governours of our Church Antichrists or our Church an Antichristian and false Church And although divers corruptions remayne in our Church vvhich vvere derived to vs from the Papiâ—es the least vvhereof I vvill not take vpon me to defendt yet are they not of that nature that can make vs an Antichristian Church For first no one place of Scripture can be found vvherein he is called aâ— Antichrist or Antichristian vvho holding the truth of doctrine and professing those articles of religion that are fundameÌ„tall as you knovv vve do doth 〈◊〉 eyther in iudgment or practise from that rule that Christ hath given for the Discipline of his Church In the prophecy of Daniel Antichrist is described by his Doctrine Dan. 7. 8. 25. So is he in the epistle to the Thessalonians 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. And in the epistle to Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. And in the Epistles of Iohn 1 Ioh. 2. 22. and 4. 3. and 2 Ioh. 7. And in the book of Revelation chap 13. 5. 6. Neyther can you fynd any Antichrist mentioned in the Scripture vvhose doctrine vvas sound Our Saviour Christ calleth him a true Pastour and no hiâ—â—ling vvho leadeth the sheep in at the doore Ioh. 10. 2. that is vvho teacheth no other meanes of salvation but Christ onely vvho is the doore of the sheep Ioh. 10. 7. 9. He affirmeth also that vvhosoever beleveth in his heart and confesseth vvith his mouth that he is that Christ and Messiah promised is a true member of his Church and built vpon a rock against vvhich the gates of hell shall not prevaile If then the doctrine of our Church be sound vvhat vvarrant have you to callâ—s Antichrists If our pastours offer to lead you vnto salvation through no other doore then Christ hovy dare you that say you are Christs refuse to be guyded by them If our asseâ—blyes be built vpon that rock hovâ— can you deny them to be true Churches Aunswer to Section 3. IT is to be noted here first that Mr. H. denyeth not but they stand in grievous sinne by neglecting Christs ordinaÌ„ces secondly that he graunteth they retayne divers corruptions in theyr Church which were derived to them from the Papists How theyr case standing thus by his own confession how can he peswade you or any other to partake with them in such sinnes vnles he would have you also to receiv of theyr plagnes Agayn it is to be observed that â—r H. faith here he will not take vpon him to defend the least of theyr popish corruptions And yet doth cleane otherwise throughout this letter chiefly in his aunswer to the second part of the reason But to omitt this I would desier to have noted down in particular the corruptions remayning in theyr Church which he confesseth were derived to them from the Papists And then let it be iudged whether they be Antichristian Here also it is to be mynded that the ministery and constitution of theyr Church is not charged to be Antichristian because of this that they want or neglect some of Christs ordinances as here he may seem to insinuate but because they have and submitt vnto Antichrists as will appeare in the discussing of them In the meane tyme to omitt many other let him consider first that theyr forcing and confounding in the body of their Church all maner people though never so wicked to stand members thereof is meerly Antichristian and directly contrary to the order of Iesus Christ who hath commanded his people to separate willingly from the world and all false wayes Secondly that the offices of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons and theyr Officials in whom resteth the chief ecclesiasticall power among them are also Antichristian and were never sett by Christ in his Church Thirdly that the offices of the Priests Deacons Dicars sâ—ipendaryes and the rest of the inferiour ministery among them theyr entrance also into theyr offices theyr administration of them and maintenance in them are not found in the Testament of Christ nor in the Primitive Churches planted by the Apostles but derived from and belonging to the apostaâ—y of Antichrist and found in his popish pontifiâ—all and assemblyes even vnto this day Next towching theyr profession he speaketh of I aunswer first that the verball profession of the articles of religion that are fundamentall will no more help them then it doth the Papists who do also verbally and daily repeat and professe in generall the articles of faith called the Apostles treed and the Creed of Athanasius of Nice and Calcedon wherein are briefly and generally conteyned the fudamentall poynts of Christian religion But what avayleth this eyther the one or the other when otherwise in particular all of them in practise and some in judgment deny Christ to be that eternall Prophet Priest and king of his Church howsoeuer in word and generall they both do professe it Secondly I aunswer that the very strength of delusion aÌ„d depth of the subtilty of Antichrist by which he deceyveth staÌ„deth in this that he pretendeth to be for aÌ„d with Christ aÌ„d teacheth many exceleÌ„t truths otherwise he would soone be espyed and forsaken whereas now it is a mystery as the Scripture saith hardly discerned and hardlyer avoyded Hereupon it is that among the Papists so many of them are deluded whiâ—â—â— the Pope professeth he is not against Christ but for him even his vicaâ— and Peters successor that his Church is the Catholik Church out of which there is no salvation and such like And among these in England likewise whiles theyr
ministers pretend to be the ministers of Christ and professe to bring his Gospell with them when as in deed they revile and persecute the true and syâ—cexe practise of it even vnto death Thirdly I aske whether the ministery worship and government appoynted by Christ for his Church vnder the gospell be not asmuch of the foundation as the ministery worship and government appoynted by Moses for the tyme of the law And if they be whether they are not as faithfully sett down by Christ as the other were by Moses and as carefully to be observed by vs as the other were by the Iewes or rather much more in asmuch as Christ the Sonne is worâ—â—â—y of more glory and honour then Moses the servant Fourthly I aske what fundamentall articles of religion Moses and Aar on with the rest of the Iewes ioyning with them held that Corah Dathan Abiramâ— and theyr company held not differing onely from them concerning the office of Priesthood and Ministery thereof a matter of the Discipline as these menâ—call it Yet were they with all that departed not from theyr tents destroyed by the iust iudgment of God The like may be seen in other poynts of the Discipline of the Church in the examples of Nadab and Abihu of â—zziah the priest and of â—zziah the king Which examples of all sorts are written for our learning that people of all estates might know and remember that to obey the temmaundements of God in whatsoever thing he hath enioyned is better then sacrifice and to hearâ—en better then the faâ—â— of rammes whereas disobedience and rebellion against the commaundements of God is as the sinne of witchcraft vnder what pretence soever it be and transgression is wickednes and Idolatry how lightly soever men account thereof Fifthly whereas Mr H. saith there is no Antichrist whose Doctrine is sound I willingly graunt it and have already showed their case to be such Yet with all I wish Mr H. to marke that even Antichrist that man of â—inne professeth many notable truths and foundamentall articles of religion as that there is a God one in essence three in persons the Father Sonne and holy Ghost that Christ is God and Man Prophet Priest and king of his Church that the holy Ghost is present with the Church of Christ to the end of the world that there shall be a resurectioÌ„ of iust and vniust etc. And yet notwithstanding standeth he with all his followers in defection from the truth and obedience of Christ even to destruction By all which is manifest that the verball profession helpeth litle when men in practise and particulars deny that which inword in generall they 〈◊〉 to hold and thereby deâ—â—ive the world as if they held the truth when indeed they fight against it Finally therefore on the one hand vnderstanding by the Discipline of the Church as we ought the auncyent and holy order and ordinances which Christ Iesus by his last Testament hath given to his Church for the administration of his holy things and for the keeping of his people in the obedience of faith and considering on the other hand that Antichrist hath perverted that holy order and made apostasy from those holy lawes advauncing himself and his own constitutions above them and that also in the ministery worship and government of the Church aswell as in other parts thereof it doth and must needs follow herevpon that whosoever do not onely not keep that holy order and appointement of Christ but also bow down to the confusion and false Ministery of Antichrist they stand in Antichrian estate notwithstanding any truths they teach professe or mainteyne So as then the Ministery of the Church of England being never ordeyned by Christ but derived from Antichrist that man of 〈◊〉 it helps them not in this behalf that they teach and receiv much truth therein as we see it helpeth not the papists that theyr priests teach there is a God a Christ an holy Spirit Church a resurrection and many other fundamentall 〈◊〉 of Christian religion as before hath ben said But now let vs come to examine whether in the Scriptures here alledged by Mr H. Antichrist be not described to be against Iesus Christ even in that which they call the discipline of the Church as in other things also agreing to them in theyr estate The first Scripture he alledgeth is out of the prophecy of Daniel The words are these I considered the hornes and behold another home a litle one came vp among them and three of the first hornes were pluckt away before it And loe eyes like the eyes of a man were in that home and a mouth speaking presumptuous things Dan. 7. 8. And he shall speak words against the most High and consume the Saints of the most High and think to alter the tymes and law and they shalbe given into his hand for a tyme and tymes and half a tyme Dan. 7. 25. Now although this Scripture seem first to be vnderstood of Antiochus Epâ—hanes and of his pride and tyranny against the truth and people of God yet may it also fiâ—ly be applyed further and compared with the description of the beast in the RevelatioÌ„ and so with the Antichristian prelacy and priâ—â—â—hood from tyme to tyme. For to omitt other things that might here be observed and to note onely such things as art most evident we see here that horne of the beast described to have eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking presumtuous things Even so the ministers of Antichrist who will needs be the eyes of the people and light of the world pretend to be the ministers of Christ and not that onely but haue also aswell as that horne a mouth speaking presumptuous things even against the most High See it in these particulars following and such like which are rise among them that the true ministery and syncere practise of the Gospell of Christ is schisme heresy fancy rebellion insurrection sedition subversion of the State and what not that Christ the Sonne hath ben lesse faithfull then Moses the servant in setting down any prescript ministery and order for the Church vnder the Gospell perpetually to be kept that Christ who hath all power iâ— heaven and in â—arth is not to be submitted vnto in that ministery order and discipline which he hath given to his Church if Princes on earth forbid or refuse to establish it that the ministery of Antichrist is to be receyved and ioyned vnto being appointed by Christian Princes for the service of God that it is lawfull for others to be Archbishops and Lordbishops over the Church and ministers of the Gospell besides Iesus Christ that a priesthood a stinted number of words and prayers tithes and such like are appointed for the ministery of the Gospell of Christ that Christ shall not reigne over them by his offices and ordinances prescribed in his word that Christ in his soule went down into hell
blasphemyes and power was given vnto him to do two and fourty moneths And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy against God to blaspheme his Name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven Rev. 13. 5. 6. This book of the Revelation whosoever readeth over with a single heart and compareth with it the event of things partly come to passe already partly morefully yet to be accomplished considering on the one hand that the whore of Babilon hath made all nations of the earth drunk with the cup of her fornications that she hath already begun to fall and daily more and more inclyneth to her full desolation and destruction which yet can never wholy be accomplished so long as the Babylonish offices of Archbisâ—hops Lordbishops Archdeacons and the rest with theyr courts canons worship and procedings do continew And on the other hand that the Lord Iesus will by the light aÌ„d power of his gospell condemne and abolish that Babiloâ—ish whore with all her false offices and constitutions and will also raigne in his Church by his own offices and lawes with his crown of glory vpon his head aÌ„d his scepter of righteousnes in his haÌ„d vntill he give vp the kingdome to God even the Father that God may be all in all Who so I say readeth this book and considereth these and such like prophecyes therein coÌ„teyned in part already fulfilled and yet morefully to be effected shall playnely see that this book of all other most playnely deciphâ—reth and condemneth the Babylonish Antichristian estate and constitution of these assemblyes as they now stand vnder this Prelaâ—y and other false ministery of the land Now in particular for the place of this book here alledged that it likewise is verisfyd of theyr ecclesiâ—sticall estate aÌ„d dealings at this day as heretofore it hath beÌ„ in the Romane Empire and Apostasy elswhere may sufficiently be seen by that which hath before ben said towching Daniels like prophetyes where you may perceyv by the spâ—rialtyes there expressed how these men in theyr estate at this day have a mouth that speaketh great things and blasphemyes against God to blaspheme his name in speaking yll of his truth and ordinances and his Tabernacle that is his Church which is the house of the living God aÌ„d Tabernacle wherein he dwelleth among the sonnes of men on earth and them that dvvell in heaven that is the Lords secret ones whose conversation is in heaven whiles they live here on earth keeping the â—â—mmaundements of God and having the testimony of Iesus Christ whom they look for from the heaveÌ„s for theyr full redemptioÌ„ But these things being before in the handling of Daniels prophery declared in many particulars it shall not be needfull here agayn to repeat them Onely in this place it shall be good to note this moreover that in this chapter and book Mr. H. might have sett down many other places describing the propertyes of Antichrist and that not onely in regard of his doctrine and deceit thereof but also in respect of his tolourable pretence to be of Christ and for him yet forcing all people to stand subiect to his own adulterate discipline ordinances and jurisdiction To which end it is to be observed that Antichrist is here described to have two hornes like the lambe pretending his ministery and authority to be of Christ â—nd for him but yet shall speak like the dragon in his false doctrines imposed traditions blaspheming the truth reviling the witnesses thereof and advauncing himself and his own inventions above God and his commaundemeÌ„ts Moreover that he shall make all both small and great rich and poore bond and free to take his mark in theyr forehead aÌ„d haÌ„d and so to submitt to his ministery leiturgy courts excommunitations and the rest of the actions of his vsurped authority Or els killeth banisheth aÌ„d imprisoneth all such as refuse so to do not suffring them eyther to enioy any liberty oâ—priviledg in the world or to performe any worship to God but according to his own in ventions aÌ„d apostasy Which hâ—w true they arâ— of the Prelacy and other Clergy of these assenblpes let theyr estate and daily actions be witnesses Hitherto also might be referred other scriptures of this book verifyed in them likewise for example that as the 〈◊〉 spoken of in the ninth of this book were like vnto horses prepared to battayle having on theyr heads crownes like vnto gold and faces like men and haire as womeÌ„ and teeth as lyons aÌ„d habergions of yron and tayles as scorpions with stings in them having power to hurt for a season so the Prelates aÌ„d other Clergy of Antichrist are fâ—erce as horses to fight against the truth and people of God having rule and dominion with Lordly titles and princely dignities in outward face aÌ„d show pretending to be the Ministers of Christ and his Church but in deed being deceitfull entising and lascivious as harlots and ravenous cruell poysonfull and singing as Lyons and scorpions having powr to hurt and deceyue for a season albeyt their 〈◊〉 aÌ„d malice be limited aÌ„d repressed by the providence and power of the most High Agayne that as those locusts with mens faces were all of them vnder AbaddoÌ„ their King the Angel of the bottomles pitt so the Prelates and other Clergy of Antichrist howsoever they pretend to be the Ministers of righteousnes are in deed the subjects of Sathan the Prince of darâ—nes who yet transformeth himself into an Angell of light Moreover that they as well as other people and nations of the earth haue committed fornication vvith that vvhore of Babylon spoken of in this book and haue receyued of her names of blasphemy such as be the names of Archbishops and Lord bisshops and Priests when it is ascribed to an office of Ministery of the Gospell and haue drunk of her golden cupfull of abominations whence haue proceeded theyr Ministery book of common prayer book of ordering Priests and consecrating Archbishops and Bishops excommunications by Archdeacons and Lordbishops theyr courts of facultyes Commissary courts and such like among them and finaâ—â— have ben made drunken vvith the blood of the Saints and vvith the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus So as these assemblyes in theyr ecclesiasticall constitutioÌ„ and procedings have showed themselves to be the naturall daughters of Babylon that mother of vvhoredomes and abominations of the earth howsoever as a Mystery it ly much hid and is not easily espyed vnleâ— Christ Iesus annoynt ovvreyes vvith ey salue that we may perceyv it and carry us forth as it vvere into the vvildernes in the Spirit to take a view of it by the light of his word aÌ„d not as it maketh show aÌ„d is esteemed among men in the world And thus much of this place aÌ„d book of the RevelatioÌ„ here alledgeâ— Now before Mr. H. cometh to any other Scriptures 〈◊〉 this conclusion of the former that
found in those Churches vnto vvhich the holy Ghost in the Scriptures hath given notable testimony 2. King 12. 23. and 14. 3. 4. 2 Chron. 20. 31. Matth. 15. 5. 6. Luk. 3. 2. and 2. 22. 27. Mat. 8. 4. and 23. 2. 3. 2 Cot. 11. 21. 22. and 15. 12. â—â—vel 2. 14. 15. 20. 21. ¶ Aunswer to section 4. WE aunswer they must first probe theyr assemblyes to be true Churches sett in the way of Iesus Christ afore these or any Scriptures which show true Churches subject to corruptions can any way help to defend theyr present Church estate Otherwise they do but still begge that which they should prove For what though the Churches established in the order of Christ have had and still shall have divers corruptions arising among them Doth this therefore give any warrant or allowance of such assemblyes whose constitution is Antichristian Was Israel in her defection a true Church because Iudah being the Church of God had some enormityes in her Or shall the assemblyes in Italy England and such like standing in apostasy he true Churches of God because in the Churches of Corinth Pergamus Thyatira established in the order of Christ there were found divers corrupâ—ions If this reason were strong might not Rome at this day iustify most of her abominations But what saith the Scripture Israel in her defection was no wife no true Church but an harlott and not to be joyned vnto notwithstanding that Iudah being a spouse and true Church had not yet the 〈◊〉 places taken away In like maner shall that vvhore of Babel staÌ„ding in apostasy together with all the assemblyes wheresoever made drunk with the cup of her formications be harlots and to be departed from notwithstanding that the Church of Christ being his spouse falleth daily into many sinnes and transgressions whiles it is militant here on earth For these two are of a far divers nature and consideration I meane on the one side a Church sett in the way and order of Christ but walking therein weakly and corruptly and on the other side a company of people standing in the defection aÌ„d disorder of Antichrist howsoever perhaps they may walk ther in with some show of piety and religion The former are true Churches notwithstanding the corruptions arising among them the redresse of which is duly to be sought The latter are false Churches and to be forsaken whatsoever show of holynes they do or can pretend Now theÌ„ forasmuch as neyther Mr H. nor any other of them hath proved theyr assemblyes to stand in any other Church-constitution but such as is Antichristian it is evident that the Scriptures here alledged which speak onely of Churches sett in Christs order and of corruptions in them cannot any way fitly belong to these assemblyes to give allowance of theyr Antichristian estate This being first sett down generally concerning all these Scriptures ioyntly together for the better vnderstanding of the controversy let vs now come to consider them more particularly and see whether as Mr H. hath vnder taken to prove so he have indeed performed that is have showed greater corruptions in those Churches vnto which the Scriptures give notable testimony then be in theyrs at this day The first three Scriptures here cited are of one sort These are the words Iehoash did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord all his dayes that Ieholadab the Priest taught him Notwithstanding the hy places were not taken away as yet the people offred and burnt incense in the hy places 2. King 12. 2. 3. And Amaziah did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord yet not as David his Father he did according to all that Ioash his Father had done Notwithstanding the hy places were not taken away as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense in the hy places 2. King 14. 3. 4. And Iehoschaphat reigned over Iudah and he walked in the way of Asa his Father and departed not there from doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Howbeit the hy places were not taken away for as yet the people had not prepared theyr heart vnto the God of theyr Fathers 2. Chron. 20. 31. 32. 33. All these Scriptures show vnto vs one thing which is that in the dayes of Iehoash Amaziah and Iehoschaphat kings of Iudah who did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord yet the hy places were not taken away but the people did sacrifice and burnt incense therein This in deed was a corruption among those people concerning which ynough is spoken before in that hath beÌ„ said towching these Scriptures generally Yet this I adde further first that in those tymes all the false ministeryes and kinds of worship before tyme vsed were abolished and this defect onely of worshipping God in the hy places as yet remayning Now what comparison then is there between this case and theyrs who have not abolished but still retayne aÌ„d ioyne vnto a false ministery and worship Who knoweth not that in those dayes they might not forme to themselves or receyv from others any other altar or fashion thereof for sacrifice then God had appoynted much lesse any new devised ministery Yea the sonnes of Aaron though in a true aÌ„d lawfull office might not offer with strauÌ„ge fyer much lesse might they have received or exercised a false uÌ„lawfull ministery Corah likewise though a Levite DathaÌ„ aÌ„d Abâ—ram though heads of the CoÌ„gregation Dzziah though a king might not offer vp the incense which God had appoynted to be offred being straungers from the priesthood much lesse might they have offred a false worship in a false ministery etc. Which is the case of these assemblyes These men therefore should compare like things with like aÌ„d not vnder colour of the hy places in Iudah seke to retayne and defend what Antichristian corruptions they please in theyr Church Otherwise why might they not also vnder the same colour still have kept the other popish abominations which already by the mercy of God are abolished out of the land Secondly I take it the fault of retayning the hy places in Iudah for the true service of GOD which at first were made for false worship and service of Idols was such as if now the false ministry worship and other abominations of Antichrist were abolished out of the land and yet these Idoll temples they call them Churches reserved and vsed for the true worship of God by a true ministery For these two may in divers respects seem to be like I meane those hy places and these Idoll temples Both which I take to be with in compasse of that morall commaundement of God which enioyneth the abolishing of the places aswell as of all the other monuments of Idolatry eyther by rasing them quite downor by defacing and converting them to civill vse and not to tourne them to be places for the publick worship of God though it were by
out of the RevelatioÌ„ Which because they are of one sort towching the question in hand therefore will I speak of them together The words be these first in the epistle to the Corinthians where the Apostle reproving theyr abuses about the Lords supper saith thus vnto them Every one when they should eat taketh his ovvn supper afore and one is hungry and another drunken Have ye not houses to eat and drink in despiâ—e ye the Church of God and shame them that have not What shall I say to you shall I prayse you in this I prayse not 1 Cor. 11. 21. 22. And agayne to the â—orinthians among whom some denyed the resurrection of the body thinking that the soule onely should live for ever in the world to come the Apostle writeth thus concerning that matter in the place alledged If Christ be preached that he is risen from the dead hovv say some among you that there is not a resurrection of the dead 1. Cor. 15. 12. And in the second of the Revelation first to the Angell of the Church of Pergainus Christ thus writeth I have against thee a fevv things because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam vvhich taught Balac to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel that they should eat of the things sacrificed to Idols and commit fornication So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans vvhich thing I hare Rev. 2. 14. 15. Then to the Angell of the Church of Thyatira thus he saith I have against thee a fevv things that thou suffrest the vvoman Iezabel vvhich calleth herself a Propheresse to teach and to deceyve my servants that they should committ fornication and eat of the things sacrificed to Idols And I gave her tyme that she should repent of her fornication but she repented not Rev. 2. 20. 21. These Scriptures show errors and corruptions in such Churches as were planted in the faith and order of Christ. Which nothing helpeth to mainteyne the Antichristian â—state of these â—ssemblyes as is before declared at large in the generall aunswer concerning all these testimonyes We neuer doubted but the best Churches on earth have fallen and still are subiect to fall into corruptions and transgressions of the Law of God And how can it be otherwise when as they consist of sinfull and mortall men who both know but in part and in the knowledg we have walk with much weaknes aÌ„d imperfection But what is this to iustify Antichrists apostasy or to encourage any to partake in his sinnes We must alway remember that as it is one thing when a true Christian is overtaken with a sinne and another when such as pretend to be Christians live as the heathen and sell themselves to work wickednes so also towching a Church it is one thing wheÌ„ a people are setled in the order of Christ but through weaknes fall into divers enormityes and another when a people stand in the defection of Antichrist aÌ„d receyve the print of his ordinances in theyr hands and foreheads Eyther therefore must they prove the constitution of theyr Church to be of Christ and not Antichristian or els these examples in theyr estate will give them no succour at all For it will nothing avayle BabyloÌ„ or such as commâ—â— fornicatioÌ„ with her to show that Zion hath her breaches or her children theyr infirmityes SecoÌ„dly in these Scriptures is to be mynded that but some of the Corinthians and some of them of Pergamus and Thyatira were infected with the errors and corruptions here recorded and not the whole Churches generally And this is the lot and tryall of the Church of God in all ages that unto it do creep men of corrupt mynds who vnder a show of holynes often breed schismes and errors in the Church and in theyr lives turâ—â—e the grace of God into waÌ„tonnes through hypocrisy Thus it pleaseth God to try and exercise his Church from tyme to tyme that they which are approved might be knowen Henre it is that in the Church of Corinth spring vp schismes and heresyes that in the Church of Ephesus arise men speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them that in the Churches of Pergamus and Thyatira be found such as hold the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicoiaitans teaching the people to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to committ fornication And such also in these dayes have crept in among vs vnder pretence of godlynes who after a while vpon one occasion or other have manifested theyr vngodly contentious and fantasticall spirits and that commonly with great trouble of the Church being authors of grievous schismes and other impietyes for which the truth and Church have ben and still are evill spokeÌ„ of But these being but the personal sinnes of some particular men not the publik estate and constitution of the whole Churches what comparison is there between them and these assemblyes whose very constitution is Antichristian and out of which God hath absolutely commaunded all that will be saved to depart Whereas from the other separation may not be made but first redresse is duly to be sought that such old leaven being purged out they may still be a new lampe vnto the Lord. Thirdly here is to be observed that it is said these Churches suffred such amoÌ„g them Which as it manifesteth what was theyr sinne so it showeth also they had power aÌ„d should vse it for the reclayming or casting out of such from among them Whereas these assemblyes have not power to redresse any abominations or to excommunicate any persons though never so wicked but the whole ecclesiasticall power and iurisdiction among them is committed onely to the Ordinary that is to an Antichristian Prelate and to his Chauncelour and Archdeacon So as by this also appeareth there is no comparison between them Fynally it is to be remembred that even in these and the like Churches where they do not repent and amend but continew in corruption and iniquity Christ hath threatned to remove his caÌ„delstick aÌ„d to take his kingdome from among them And if God thus deale with his own Churches stablished in his faith and order when they come obstinately to persist in sinne aÌ„d impiety what shall be the end of the Synagognes of Antichrist which staÌ„d in emnity against Iesus Christ and in apostasy from his truth and will not be reclaymed If God will not spare but come against Corinth Pergamus aÌ„d Thyatira will he let Babylon that mother of whoredomes or any of her daughters escape If Ierusalem for her sinne be made to drink the cup of Gods wrath shall Edom Moaâ— or Ammon go free They shall not saith the Lord of hostes Iere. 25. 15. 18. 21. 29. And thus much to M r. H. his second exception Now followeth his third in these words M r. H. his letter Section 5. THirdly if it be a sinne for an vvhole Church to account any private
they belong in this behalf Finally for the whole worship of God the reformed Churches professe that the whole maner of worshipping God which God requireth at the hands of the faithfull is in the written word of God most exquisitly and at large set dovvn and that therefore it is not lawfull for any man or Angel to teach otherwise to adde or to detract therefrom it being perfit and absolute in all poynts and parcels thereof So as no other vvritings of men although never so holy no custome no multitude no maÌ„s vvisdome no antiquity no prescription of tyme no personall succession no counsels visions miracles and to conclude no decrees statutes or ordinances of men are to matched vvith or opposed vnto the holy Scriptures and bare truth of God but that all things ought to be examined and tryed by the rule and square thereof For all men are by nature lyâ—rs and more vayne then vanity it self Thus do the reformed Churches hold and professe Whereas on the contrary in England the maner of worship and administration is not according to the word of God but according to theyr book of common prayer taken out of the Papists Masse book together with other theyr Canons Articles and Constitutions which God hath neyther himself appoynted in his word nor therein given authority to any other so to prescribe And thus have I showed by the publik confessions and iudgment of the reformed Churches themselves that it is far otherwise then as these men would beare the world in hand and that in deed the Church-assemblyes in England in this constitution can not rightly be counted sisters of the reformed Churches abroad but rather daughters of Babylon that mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth Next where Mr H. showeth how a private Christian should carry himself towardan whole Church towching corruptioÌ„s I have before spokeÌ„ of that matter aÌ„d noted two maners of proceding to be appoynted by God one toward such Churches as be set in the order of Christ but walk in it corruptly another toward such as staÌ„d in the apostasy of Antichrist though with some show of holynes This therefore being before haÌ„dled shal not need to be repeated By it may appeare how vnsound a directioÌ„ he hath here prescribed besides that what he sayth may with like colour be alledged for abiding in any the most popish assemblyes wheresoever For might not such alledge for themselves that they mislike the corruptions in those Churches that they refuse to subscribe or yeeld consent vnto them that by prayer and all other good meanes they seek the reformation of them Yet that being private Christians or a fevv severall assemblyes they may not account the Churches that are in an vvhole nation to be as beathens or publicanes aÌ„d that therefore they will abide in them still If this be a sufficient rule then suerly the Martyrs were deceyved in former ages and the godly Christians at this day in Spayne Italy and such places which content not themselves with misliking and seeking redresse of the corruptions in theyr popish assemblyes but refuse altogether to have any spirituall fellowship with them and chuse rather to suffer affliction for bearing witnes agaynst them Secondly how can they be sayd to mislike the corruptions wherevnto many of them subscribe with theyr hands and all of them joyne in theyr practise Or how do they refuse to yeeld consent to the corruptions which by word and deed they receyv allow and vphold Thirdly where he insinuateth that by prayer and other good meanes they seek a reformation I would aske with what comfort they can come before God in prayer when they do not onely stand subject to Antichrist in respect whereof theyr sacrifices of prayer must needs be abominable but by their continuall practise seem to deale like those Iewes of whom we read in Ieremy the Prophet that by theyr requests they made show as if they would know the will of God to obey it and yet when they knew it would not observ it If by other good meanes he vnderstand theyr suits to the Parliament as it is an happy thing and greatly to be desired that the Magistrates would abolish this false ecclesiasticall Ministery worship and government so yet if they do it not we must notwithstaÌ„ding at the commaundement of God leave all false wicked and Antichristian wayes and peaceably yeeld obedieÌ„ce to Christ in his own ordinaÌ„ce though we be for this cause reviled imprisoned banished aÌ„d killed all day long being counted as sheep for the slaughter 1. For in this case must alway be remeÌ„bred that we must obey God rather then Man aÌ„d that the coÌ„maundement or permissioÌ„ of the Magistrate maketh not the way of God any whit more lawful but onely more free from trouble 2. Agayn if the lawes of men do once enact aÌ„d establish the true ministery aÌ„d ordinaÌ„ces of Christ then must all be forced to submit thereuÌ„to whether it were Christs or not So as to withold our obedience from Christ till the Law enact it is nothing els but to stay till we be forced by man to the obedience of God 3. Furthermore what if the Magistrates would never establish that ministery aÌ„d order which Christ hath appoynted to his Church should we therefore never observ and submitt vnto it To what end then hath Christ enioyned vs without any exceptioÌ„ of the Magistrates Law to keep whatsoever he hath coÌ„maunded to the end of the world And why hath the Apostle so straitly charged Timothy aÌ„d in him all others before God aÌ„d Iesus Christ to keep the coÌ„maundments which he hath giveÌ„ towching the Ministery order and governmeÌ„t of the Church without spot and vnblameable vntill the appearing of our Lord Iesus 4. To coÌ„clude this poynt if without the Magistrates allowaÌ„ce we might not observ whatsoever Christ hath coÌ„maunded what were this els but to have the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ in respect of persons Which Mr H. before in the beginning of his leter according to the Apostles counsell wisheth in any case to be avoyded And thus much by the way towching the obedience which all Christians are bound themselves to yeeld vnto Christ leaving the generall reformatioÌ„ of the LaÌ„d to the Magistrates to whom it beloÌ„geth Now to proceed where he expoundeth accounting as Publicanes to be ment accounting them such as with whom communion may not lawfully be had in the service of God he seemeth to mistake the meaning thereof For we read that the Publicane went into the Temple to pray aswell as the Phaâ—isee and that the speciall thing wherein the Iewes absteyned from company of the Publicanes was raiher in civill â—onversation then in spirituall worship As may be gatheâ—ed by this that the Pharisees blamed Christ for eating with Publicanes and yet both themselves admitted them â—nto the Temple and found not any fault with Iohn Baptist for
receyving them to his Baptisme though he bed them not leav theyr calling but deale faithfully in it How well this was done of the Iewes to absteyne from the Publicanes in theyr civill conversation whom they admitted to theyr publik worship I stand not here to enquyer Onely this would I show that whereas Christs speach when he saith Let him be to thee as an heathen and publicane is taken from the custome and practise of the Iewes who had no spirituall fellowship with the heathen nor civill with the Publicanâ—s therefore the meaning of these words Let him be to thee as a publicane is that with such as contemne the Churches voyce we should have no familiar civill converâ—ation Which the Apostle also teacheth when he requireth that with such as are cast out of the Church we should not eat or company together So as then Christs speach being taken from the costome of the Iewes which his disciples could not but know the meaning of his words when he said Let him be to thee as an heathen with whom the Iewes had no spirituall communion and as a publicane with whom they had no civill conversation must needs be this that they should neyther have spirituall nor civill fellowship with such as despising the voyce of the Church where Christ is present to ratify what is done according to his word were therefore iustly put away from amongst them This I thought good and needfull to note concerning the true meaning of Christs words in this place both because they are here by M r H. some what mistaken and others among them namely Bilson of Winchester to the eÌ„d thei might with ani colour hide the truth from the eyes of the simple have most absurdli aÌ„d in deed very wickedly interpreted them as I doubt not will appeare vnto any that fearing God shall compare together this explication of Christs words which I have here noted from the Scriptures and Bilsons sundry expositions of them mentioned in his book which are such as if Christ had eyther in that one speach had three or fower meanings or had sent his disciples at that tyme to the Romane Magistrates for help to reclaime one another from sinne aÌ„d had not giveÌ„ a perpetual rule to his Church for the casting out of obstinate sinners from among them neyther made a promise of his continuall presence with his Church to confirme in heaven that which they should do on earth in his Name But this by the way Next after this M r. H. affirmeth and byndeth himself to prove it that there is nothing practised amongst them so conâ—ary to the discipline as there is amongst vs. For proof whereof having belike good store he is content first to omit sundry of our practises which it may be if he had named he perceyveth they would have ben so many witnesses against himself and for us Secondly he is content likewise to omit the extreem confusion which he saith is to be seen in our best reformed assemblyes He saith it I say but proveth it not which in so greaâ— an accusation should not have ben omitted specially when he byndeth himself to make proof of that which he affirmeth It may be he perceyved also in this that if he had noted that down which he calleth extreem confusion it might have ben found to be that holy order which Christ hath sett in his Church and therefore chose rather to omit then to expresse it Yet that the truth in this behalf may better be knowen I will vpoÌ„ this occasion show the order of our assemblyes wherein we walk and then let the godly mynded judge whether it be an extreem confusion or not First according to the ordinance of Christ our assemblyes consist of i a company of faithfull people called out and separated from the world and all the false wayes of Antichrist k gathered and joyned together in an holy covenant and fellowship of the Gospell of Christ by l voluntary publik profession of our â—aith and purpose to live and walk together in the obedience of Christ according to his word to the prayse and glory of his name i 1 Cor. 1. 2. and 5. 12. and 2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 18. 4. Ioh. 15. 19. and 17. 6. Act. 2. 40. and 19. 9. k Esa. 60. 4. Phil. 1. 5. Act. 2. 41. and 17. 4. Neh. 8. 39. Col. 1. 2. l Psal. 110. 3. 2 Cor. 9. 13. Esa. 44. 5. Neh. 10. 28. 29. Act. 2. 41. Col. 2. 5. Rom 16. 26. Mat. 18. 17. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 31. Col. 3. 15. 16. 17. Secondly being thus ioyned together we do m according to the appoyntment of Christ by a free and voluntary election of the Church sett apart from amongst our selves some to the n offices of Pastors and Teachers for the work of the ministery some to be Elders for the oversight and guydance of the Church together with the Pastors and Teachers aforesaid and others to be Deacons for gathering and distributing the benevolence of the Church according to the ability and necessity of the Saints specially taking care that the poore sick and needy be relieved and holpen according to the Churches ability and theyr severall occasions and necessityes In respect whereof we purpose when God shall give vs such as for theyr yeares and otherwise are fitt to be Widovves and Helpers of the Church in this behalf to designe and employ them herevnto m Mat. 28. 20. Heb. 5. 4. Act. 6. 3. 5. and 14. 23. and 15. 22. 2 Cor. 8. 19. 1 Tim. 3. 10. 15. and 6. 13. 14. n Ephes. 4. 11. 12. Rom. 12. 7. 8. and 16. 1. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Phil. 1. 1. 1 Per. 5. 1. 2. 3. Act. 6. 5. and 15. 2. and 20. 17. 28. and 21. 18. 1 Tim. 3. Cap. and 4. 14. and 5. 9. 10. 17. Thirdly our prayers preaching of the word administring of the Sacraments exercise of prophecy vse of the Censures etc. is not according to the inventions book worship canons or constitutions of any men whatsoever but onely according to the Testament of Christ as he hath dealt to vs the measure of grace Ephes. 4. 7. 8. 11. 12. Iude ver 20. Rom 8. 26. 27. and 12 6. 7. 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. and 3. 15. 1 Cor. 4. 17. and 5. 4. and 11. 23. c. and 14. Chap. 1 Pet. 4. 10. 11. Mat. 18. 15. 16. 17. and 28. 18. 19. 20. Finally we o all of vs labour to build vp one another in our most holy faith and when p any of vs fall eyther into error in iudgment or offence in practise against any article of faith commaundement of God or publick good order of the Church or Common-wealth if the sinne be private the party is admonished thereof by such as are privy vnto 〈◊〉 whom if he heare not then taking one or two witnesses they admonish him agayn and seek to draw him from his sinne If he heare not them as also if the sinne be publick then is
it brought before the whole Church whose voyce if he despise he is cast out from among them least by q retayning of such a litle leaven should leaven the whole lumpeeven them that are within least also the name of God which is called vpon vs should be blasphemed among them that are without aÌ„d to the â—nd that the sinners themselves which are thus cast out of the Church should be ashamed aÌ„d repent Which â— if they do theÌ„ is the Church agayne ready to receyv them and to confirme theyr love to them as before in the Lord o 1 Thes 5. 11. Iude ver 20. 21. 22. 23. p Mat. 18. 15. 16. 17. Lev. 19. 17. 2 Cor. 13. 1 2. Gal. 5. 12. and 6. 1. 1 Cor. 5. 4. 5. q 1 Cor. 5. 5. 6. Rom. 2. 24. 2 Thes. 3. 14. 1 Tim. 1. 20. r 2 Cor 2. 7. 8. Mat. 18. 18. 19. And this is that order wherein by the mercy of God we have receyved to walk though we do it with much weaknes through owr own coruption that hangeth so fast vpon vs. Now if Mr H. or any other will needs account this to be confusion yet may not we therefore be likewise mynded any more then Shadrach Meshach and Abednegâ— were when then were charged with disorder because they kept the way of God and would not fall down before the Idoll of Nebuchadnezar but we must rather with the Apostle reioyce beholding such an order and stedfast faith in Christ. Yet do I not deny but there have ben and still may be among vs many hypocrites vngodly men creping in vnder pretence of religion This hath ben the lott and estate of the Church of God in all ages as vpon other occasion hath ben declared before And if it were not so what vse should there be of that power and of those rules which Christ hath giuen to his Church for the casting out of such from among them when they burst out into manifest vngodlynes Therefore are we not to look that the Church shall wholy be free from such whiles it is vpon earth Onely this howsoever with glosing words and showes such hide themselves from the knowledg of men yet God knoweth theyr hearts and wayes and in his day will cast them all out of his kingdome In the meane tyme Whensoever the impiety of any such is discoverâ—d and certainely knowen the Church hath power and is to vse it for the purging of such leaven from among them that they may be an holy people to the Lord. And this still is order not confusion in the Church Now here on the other side might I put Mr. H. in mynd of the extreem confusion which is to be seen in theyr assemblyes in theyr constrayning of all though never so wicked together with theyr seed to stand members of theyr Church in theyr false Antichristian ministery of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons Priests Parsons Uicars and the rest of that crew in theyr stinted popish Leyturgy according to which they offer vp theyr prayers administer theyr Sacraments viâ—it the sick bury the dead marry etc. in theyr ordering also and making of priests and deacons together with theyr degradations suspensions excommunications absolutions dispensations licences to marry without the parents consent and all these by the Prelates according to theyr popish canons and pontificall with infinite other such like confusions But it may be with the Papists out of whose cup these were drawen they take them to be an heaveÌ„ly order Yet the Scripture witnesseth they are no other but the abominations of Babel that is of confusion And so the Church of Geneva professeth that they detest the whole order of papistry called the Hierarchy as a divelish confusion These things whensoever Mr. H. shall duly consider and examine by the Scriptures he shall fynd true among themselves that which vntruly he obiecteth against vs that extream confusion is to be seen in theyr best reformed assemblyes His third and mayne proof whereby he would show that nothing is practised among them so contrary to the discipline as there is amongst vs he saith is that vvhich hath ben already mentioned and of this he saith also it may suffice thinking belike that it is a very sound proof Which whether it be so I leave to every indifferent reader to iudge by that which hath ben already aunswered to whatsoever he hath before mentioned And of Mr. H. himself I desier eyther yeelding to the truth or sounder proof of the accusations he chargeth vs withall After this he laboreth to prove that we should account them brethren and a true Church by the example of Peter vvho called those levves that had crucifyed Christ brethren Act. â— 29 and 3. 17. and of Paul vvho accounted the Galatians a true Church vvhen the errors they vvere fallen into vvere in matters fundamentall Gal. 1. 2. and 5. 2. But Mr. H. should have considered for the first that Peter might call the levves his brethren as Paul doth for that they were his kinsmen according to the flesh Rom. 9. 3. and children of the generation of Abraham Act. 13. 26. Secondly because the Iewes were the Church and people of God vnto whom the covenaÌ„ts and promises belonged who also were sett in that order of ministery worship and ministration which God prescribed In respect whereof Peter was to account them as brethren till they had wilfully reiected the Gospell of Christ whom through ignorance they put to death But what is this to prove that Christians should account such for brethreÌ„ as staÌ„d in apostasy from the way of Iesus Christ and in respect thereof be children of the fornications of Babylon Or whâ— should not Iohn Wickleff Martin Luther and the rest in former ages by this reason have accounted the Papists as brethren till they had ben convinced and reiected by the iudgment of the Church For the second that is Pauls accounting of the Galatians to be a true Church notvvithstanding some of them erred in matters that vvere fundamentall Mr H. should also have remembred first that it was but some of them that did so erre and not the whole Church secondly that they were a Church established in the order of Christ howsoever walking therein some of them declyned and fell into heynous errors So as now in regard of the ordinance of Christ wherein they stood they were to be accounted a true Church and first to be admonished and convinced before they could be reiected as already hath ben showed at large But how doth this prove the assemblyes which stand in Antichristian defection should likewise be accounted true Churches and admonished and ceÌ„sured by others afore any may forsake them Is there not a divers account to be made and a divers maner of cariage and proceding to be vsed toward the Churches of Christ falling into corruptions aÌ„d toward the assemblyes of Antichrist standing in defection from the way of Christ Because the Churches of
capable of this povver and authority to ordeyn Ministers vvhich is committed vnto them by Act of Parliament Yet notwithstanding here he saith that in regard of the Lavv and Christian Magistrate he may more boldly come to the Prelates for it As if the authority of Man could make that lawfull which God hath made vnlawfull What els is this but to advaunce Mans Law above Gods and to exalt flesh and blood above the Lord himself who is God over al blessed for ever Amen Straunge doubtles is that Ministery and fearfull is that standing which cannot otherwise be vpholden then by making God by whom Princes raigne to stoupe vnto Man whose breath is in his nostrils The Prophets Apostles and Christ himself have taught vs otherwise that all flesh even Kings and Princes as well as others ought to feare and tremble before the great God of heave and earth that all they are cursed which do erre from his â—ommaundements and that the nation and Kingdome which will not serve him shall perish and be vtterly destroyed Therefore should Mr H. eyther have showed this Law and ordinance of the Magistrates to be agreable to the Law and commaundement of God which he doth not or finding it otherwise as himself confesseth it to be he should with the Apostles have said and showed in his practise that vve ought rather to obey God then men Otherwise if we were to receyve whatsoever religion or whatsoever thing in religion is ordeyned by the Law and Magistrate what were this els but to make thery State and kingdome such an Idoll as was Nebuchadnezars golden image aÌ„d to exalt earthly princes above the heavenly King and to annihilate the TestameÌ„t of Iesus Christ confirmed in that this precious blood If he except and 〈◊〉 to help himself by this that he speaheth here of Christian Magistrates onely and not of Magistrates in generall he is deceyved For the povver and nature of Magistracy in whomsoever it be whether Christian or Heathen is one and the same even the ordinance of God appoynted for the punishing of them that do evill and for the defence and comfort of them that do well So that although a Christian do and cannot but differ from an HeatheÌ„ as towthing the faith and religion they professe yet as towching the nature and authority of Magistracy they differ not Neyther hath the one of them any more power then the other in religion to erect any other faith Ministery worship or constitution of a Church then God himself who is King of Kings hath ordeyned Or if they do we are not bound to obey eyther of them thereyn but alwayes to remember that we must yeeld obedience to Magistrates whether Christian or Heathen onely in the Lord. and never against the LOrd Constantine the Emperour had no greater nor other power and authority of Magistracy when he became a Christian then he had before when he was an Heathen Neyther might he now any more theÌ„ before adde to diminish or alter the Lawes and ordinances of IEsus Christ. The same may be said of all others likewise For the receyving and profession of the faith of Christ giveth not to Princes and Rulers any power to refuse chaunge or break his Lawes and ordinances which he as Lord and head of his Church hath commaunded to be receyved therein but it rather byndeth them so much the more both themselves in theyr own persons to obey and by theyr authority to commaund and draw theyr subiects also to yeeld obedience to the Lord Iesus in his own ordinance and no other Read the historyes of the Kings of Iudah professing the faith of God and see if theyr authority of Magistracy gave them power any way to chaunge the religion and worship of God appoynted by him for his Church at that tyme And whether both they and theyr people were not bound to submit vnto it and no other Insomuch as when any of them attempted or did otherwise they were sharply reproved and grievously punished from the Lord. And contrarily when they obeyed the voyce of the Lord and followed his Lawes and commaundements given by Moses then did they and theyr kingdomes prosper through the blessing of God The same is to be brought and said of Christian Princes and Magistrates at this day Yea rather more of these then of the other inasmuch as Christ IEsus the Apostle and high Priest of our profession hath ben faithfull to him that appoynted him even as was Moses in all his house and being the Sonne is covnted worthy of more honour the Moses the servant Neyther is it or can be any disparagement hindrance or dishonour to Princes and Potentates for themselves and theyr people to be subiect to the Sonne of God and his ordinances who is King of kings and Lord of Lords set at the right haÌ„d of God the Father having all power given him in heaveÌ„ and in earth But it is and will be theyr greatest honour and benefit both in this life and in that which is to come even as theyr disobedience is and will be the coÌ„trary as it is writteÌ„ And now ô Kings be vvise receyv instruction ye Iudges of the earth Serve the Lord in feare and reioyce in trembling Kisse the Sonne least he be angry and ye perish in the vvay vvhen his vvrath shall burne but a litle Blessed are all that trust in him Thus have we seen the weaknes likewise of this last reason alledged by Mr H. for defence of his seeking and taking ordination at the Prelates haÌ„ds By discussing whereof appeareth also that who so wil minister in the Church the holy things of GOD must be carefull to have such entrance and calling thereto as he hath appoynted in his word And that otherwise to do though it were vpon the commaundement and appoyntment of all the Princes of the earth cannot but be sinne against the Lord who hath said Whatsoever I commaund you take heed you do it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom And contrary to that strait charge of the Apostle to Timothy and all Ministers of the Gospell towthing the Lawes aÌ„d ordinaÌ„ces given by Christ to his Church saying I charge thee in the sight of God vvho quickneth all things and before Iesus Christ vvhich vnder Pontius Pilate vvitnessed a good confession that thou keep this commaundement vvithout spot and vnblameable vntill the appearing of our Lord IEsus Christ Which in due tyme he vvill shovv that is blessed and Prince onely the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And here now would we end this writing but that it is needfull in a word to poynt at some other particulars mentioned by Mr H. in this last reason 1 One is that speaking of the ordination he took from the Prelates he saith here he looked not so much vnto the Man as to the Lavv And yet in his second reason before would have vs beleev he looked to the Man