AN INQVIRIE AND ANSVVER Of Thomas VVhite his Discoverie of Brovvnisme By Francis Iohnson Pastor of the exiled English Church at Amsterdam in Holland Psal. 55.12.13.14 Suerly myne enemy did not defame me for I could haue 〈◊〉 it neither did mine adversarie exalt himself against me for I would have hid me frō him But it was thou O man even my companiō my guide my 〈…〉 Which delighted in consulting together and went into the house 〈…〉 companions 1606. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER grace and peace from Christ our Lord Saviour TWo sorts of adversaries the Church still hath among men The one of such as be without the other of such as arise from within the Church it self Both heavie enemies but the latter far the more grievous many wayes By both of them haue we as others before vs ben exercised a long time and in straunge maner Yet in and against them all hath the Lord by his power and of his mercy hitherto preserved vs and I trust will so do vnto the end Of late hath risen vp one Thomas White despitefully reviling vs and wickedly blaspheming the Name and tabernacle of the Lord. A man that was himself heretofore separated from the Church of England holding the Prelacy Ministery worship and confusion thereof to be antichristian VVho also was a joyned member of a Church in the VVest parts of England professing the same faith with vs And afterward coming over to Amsterdam and desiring to be partaker of the Lords supper with vs did in our publick meeting before vs all with his owne mouth testify his consent with vs in the same faith we professe From which he is now revolted and of which he is become a notable adversarie setting himself tooth and nayle what he can against vs and our cause and that both privately publickly as now himself hath manifested to the world So as in himself though it may seem straunge are found both the extremities whereof he speaketh in his Preface which bring no small annoyance to the Church of God hypocrisie and prophanenes His hypocrisie now layd open in the particulars aforesaid and many other knowen vnto vs concerning him His prophanenes plainly appearing both in forsaking the truth of Christ as Esau sold his birthright for a messe of pottage and in oppugning it in this maner which sheweth in him a despising if not a despiting also of the trueth as Esau contemned the birthright when he had sold it And thus the instance which he would falsely give in others may fitly be observed in himself for both the extremities aforesaid As also that howsoever they seem to differ the one from the other yet indeed they strengthen harden each other with a mutuall reciprocation and proceed also the one from the other howsoever for a while envy do cloak it self vnder the name of zeale c. VVhich that it may yet the better appeare both in and from himself I will here set down a letter of his written while he held our cause to a Minister of the Church of England And to vse his owne wordes as Christ alleadged against the Pharisees the example of their owne children that they might be their iudges so will I against himself his own writing dealing that they as his children may be his judges The letter is this which followeth taken from his own originall copie A letter written by Thomas VVhite to Mr I. A. Minister at M. in VViltshire Ps. 7.9.59.2.140.5 Oh let the malice of the wicked come to an end but guide thou the just Deliver me from the wicked doers and save me from the bloudy men The proud have laid a snare for me and spred a net with cords in my pathway and set grennes for me Selah Sir the pillars of the kingdome of darknes haue ben especially three ignorance falsehood and violence How far your self have waded with others in these in your late dealing against vs by sermons conference letters let the sequele shew 1. For the first you in conference at W.VV. would vndertake to prove the reading Ministery to be a true Ministery though you refused to iustify your owne and that by this argument Whosoever preaches the Gospell is a true Minister but the reading Minister preach the Gospell Therefore a true Minister For answer to your argumēt I denyed the first propositiō especially in that sence as you took preaching for any publishing of the Gospel which you presently left without defence But if the reading Ministery be a true Ministery then is it the ordinance of God and if it be the ordinance of God then may not the Magistrate remove such a Ministery vnder any pretence without sinne An ignorant Proctor for an ignorant Ministery an vnfit tyme for such a doctrine of desolation to keep darknes still in the Land when the Lord hath shaken his sword against it 2. Your ignorance further appeares in the expounding of the parable you entreated on Math. 13.24.1 In expounding field for the Church whē as though there by kingdome of heaven be meant the Church yet by field must be meant the world for the kingdome of heavē is in the field except the Church should be in the Church or our Saviours exposition were vntrue verse 38. where field is expounded to be the world 2. In that you would vndertake to expoūd a dark parable not by playne places of Scripture but contrary to the tenour of the Scriptures and ordinance of God both in Church common wealth for if by tares be meant open offenders which may not be plucked vp then may not open offenders be cast out in the Church nor put to death by the Magistrate 3. You said in conference that all that preached the Gospel Act. 8.4 had extraordinary gifts which you went about thus to prove Philip. Act. 8.5 had extraordinary gifts therefore all the rest had Which argument you could not then nor ever will be able to prove the very recitall of it is sufficient answer vnto it 4. And your insufficiency was even confessed by one of your owne fellowes as I heard who when he heard that you were to preach on that parable said that he marvelled that you would vndertake it being so vnfit he would some more sufficient man would vndertake it with many such words tending to the like effect Thus have you shewed your self not alone ignorāt so acknowledged after a sort by some of your selves but also are become an vpholder and pleader for darknes in others But if your dealing had ben alone of ignorance your fault had not ben so great but you have added falsehood deceit therevnto as may appeare 1. In that you were not ashamed openly in the pulpit which you made the chaire of falsehood to teach that excōmunicatiō had no ground from the 18. of Math. contrary to the coherence drift circumstances consequence of that scripture by cōference also with other Scriptures as shal be shewed if you
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
I pray you not to spend an houre and half in confuting vs in proving that we never denyed as you did before not to contradict your self as Mr Ies. did disproving his owne doctrine the same tyme that he repeated it The doctrine was that whosoever was reputed to be a Minister taught the doctrine in the foundation sound he was a true Minister and yet in the same place at the same time he said that a non Resident was a thief and a robber Now I hope he will confesse that a non resident is reputed by them to be a Minister and may teach the doctrine in the foundation sound therefore a thief and a robber may be a true Pastor or els he disproved his own doctrine which cannot be With grief of heart I assure you I write these things having bene sometimes perswaded that you had more conscience and true knowledg of God then can be perceived in this dealing Thus haue I given you a tast of your evill dealing the Lord give you true remorse at the sight of your sinn or els remeÌ„ber that which Mr Fox hath written of the terrible end of persecuters If you haue any thing to say in answer do not snatch here and there as your maner is but directly and orderly iustify these doctrines which are laid to your charge as false Thus as before so still committing our cause to the iust iudge I take my leave this present the 25. of Mon. 2. 1603. He that desireth your good from his heart Tho. VVhite This letter he wrote as is aforesaid Since which time being here discovered and disappointed of his expectation he hath with Demas embraced this present world and left the trueth of Christ is become a sworne enemy thereof himself and a pleader for like fruits of darknes in others Will he now therfore behold himself in his owne glasse and not forget what maner a one he is but apply to himself his owne speaches of the pillars of darkeneâ— of making the pulpit the chaire of falsehood of abusing the Scripture of black drops falling from his lips of miserable shifting against the light of his consâ—ience of confusion of language and building vp Babel of bombasted boastings of doctrines of desolation of false Prophets blind guides of wayting on lying vanities forsaking his own mercy of seeking to vphold the Beasts ruinated kingdome of being an Edomite of having a mouth like a Dragon of the gift of dissembling of enioying Achans wedge of base thinking speaking of the Prelates heretofore of being now neare a kinne to Cain Ismael Antichrist of the terrible end of persecutors of committing our cause to the iust Iudge c. And how would he reply againe if Mr A. to whoÌ„ he wrote this letter should now answer him by the words of his owne mouth out of his Libell against vs aske him Are these things evill in others good in him Or as the Poet speakes Iustum non iustum non iustuÌ„ iustuÌ„ quod vobis libet Or will he say as Medea in Ovid Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor But rather will he heare the Apostle 2.1.3 What art thou that coÌ„deÌ„nest another doest the same Or the Prophet Psal. 50.16 Why takest thou my word in thy mouth and hatest to be reformed Or Christ himself Hypocrite first cast the beame out of thine owne ey c. Mat. 7.5 Or if he will heare none of these yet let him remember take to himself his owne allegation of Tullies words Testimonium tuum quod in aliena re leve est hoc contra te grave c. Thine owne testimony which in another case is of small weight this against thy self is of great moment Now of his hatred malice against vs the truth since he left it what should I need to speak Himself hath proclaymed it to the world And howsoever he would cloak cover it with pretence of discharging his duty to God his Churches of care for others of omitting many the vilest things of offending chast eares of sparing vs c. yet doth he therein but the more verify that saying of Salomon Hatred may be covered by deceit but the malice thereof shall be discovered in the congregation Shemei himself yea and Rabshakeh could besides other things pretend even the name of God when they rayled cursed most bitterly Wherein also what other thing hath he done in his invective against vs but as the Iesuites and other Papists have often done against Luther Calvine Beza c. of whom they shame not to forge and publish notorious lyes sclanders and all to obscure the truth professed by them VVhose steps how this enemie of ours hath followed let others iudge And let himself remember his owne saying heretofore if he will regard no others that a man who hath run away from his Maister wil seldome give him a good report But thus is he the fitter servant for his Maisters the Prelates by whose authority he pleaded here before the Magistrates that his book was printed and vnder them belike hopeth to be sheltered in England whither he hath now betaken himself for what cause he knoweth best But wheresoever and howsoever he bestow himself let him know God will find him out from whom he cannot fly nor escape his judgement For as Enoch the seventh from Adam prophecyed so is it in all ages to be remembred Behold the Lord coÌ„meth with his thousands of Saints to do iudgement against all men to rebuke all the vngodly of them of all the workes of vngodâ—ynes which they have vngodly committed and of all the hard things which vngodly sinners have spoken against him Iude ver 14.15 For which cuase we could for our owne parts so have left him born in our bosome all his reproach without giving any answer had we not considered that by him not onely our selves but even the faith of Christ which we professe is traduced and oppugned and many that are weak might thus be kept or turned away from the truth and Salomon saith He that is first in his owne cause is iust till his neighbour come and make inquiry of him Therefore thought we it best at this time to make the answer ensuing VVherein as now we have followed the counsell rule of wisdome which saith Answer a foole according to his foolishnes least he be wise in his owne eyes so for hereafter vnles there be great speciall occasion to the contrarie we may the better follow the other counsell and rule which Wisdome in the same place teacheth saying Answer not a foole according to his foolishnes least thou also be like him And specially for this man who hath not delite in vnderstanding but that his heart may be discovered whom God hath already made a spectacle to others of heady contentious and hostile opposition against the faith and witnesses of Iesus Neither let him or any