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A01099 A shield of defence against the arrovves of schisme shot abroad by Iean de L'escluse in his advertisment against Mr. Brightman Here vnto is prefixed a declaration touching a booke intituled, The profane schisme of the Brovvnists. By Iohn Fovvler. Clement Saunders. Robert Bulvvarde. Fowler, John, Brownist.; Saunders, Clement. aut; Bulwarde, Robert. aut 1612 (1612) STC 11212; ESTC S102487 39,669 46

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the clearing of himself by writing against the booke if it were a sin to have a hand in the printing thereof thē how foolish is he to think he could by an after testification cleare himself from that sinne which he did first willingly commit If this were a watrrantable course why might he not still follow his old trade of cardmaking then afterwardes cleare himself by witnessing writing against them why might he not also make idoles or images afterwardes cleare himself frō partaking with the sinne of Idolatours by testifying against them Behold here the extreme absurdity of the Brownistes who condemne our communiō where we duely testify against the evilles cōmitted by others whiles they think to iustify themselves by testifying against those evilles in the committing whereof they them selves have a hand 2. In a due testification against evill the testimony ought to be as large as the evill the plaister ought to be as large as the soare but Delescluse is vncertayne whether his writing which he countes a plaister for the errours and sores in Mr. Br. his booke shall ever spread so far as Mr. Br. his booke therfore it must needes be folly and sin in him that shall voluntarily and wilfully publish such thinges which he accountes as stumbling blockes layd before the blinde while he is ignorant whether his labour shall ever come so far as to help the removall thereof in many places 12. IN the subscription of his Epistle he vnder writes thus Thine as thou art the Lordes Iean Delescluse that is to say Thine as thou art a Brewnist and a separatist for al the promises of God and of salvation they do oft appropriate vnto those that separate Those onely they declare to be the lords as touching their visible estate Therfore howsoever he wold seeme to professe friendship it is but hypocrisy beware of such f●endes 13. LEt vs now come from his Epistle to the book it self where in he takes vpon him to shew how corruptly Mr. Brightman hath taught that the church of England is not to be separated from not withstanding all the sinnes and abhominations that are in the same This poynt he sets downe both in the title of his booke and in his Epistle againe as the butte or white at which he meanes to shoote against this make he bendes his bow and prepares his arrowes vpon the stinge And for the proofe of this poynt he sets downe ten speciall speeches which Mr. Brightman hath vttred touching the corruptions of the church of England The first speech he alledgeth are these wordes of Mr. Brightman I could not but mourne from the bottome of my heart when I beheld in her Christe loathing vs and very greatly provoked against vs. Here vpon Iean Deslescluse inferreth thus I desire the reader to observe the word which he vseth of Christe lothing them which word of loathing seemeth to be taken from the 95. Psal vers 10. Where the Prophet speaking in the person of the Lord him self sayth that fourty yeares long he had loathed that generation saying that they are a people ●rring in their heart and not knowing his wayes wherfore he sware in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest So that by Mr. Brightmans owne grant this church of England is in no better estate then were these rebelles in the wildernes all which were consumed and entred not into his rest as he had sworne First this inference of Delescluse is vtterly false for though Mr. B. should grant the same phrase to be vsed both of England Israel yet doth it not follow by this grant that England is in no better estate then those rebelles in the wildernes for the holy ghost often vseth ore the same generall worde or phrase touching divers sinners which yet not with standing may not therfore be all alike so condemned but that some of them may be in better estate then others for example it is sayd that the Lord was angry with Israel in the dayes of Iehoahaz 2. kin 13. 3. It is also sayd in the like phrase of speech that the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel in the dayes of David 2. Sam. 24. 1. Doth it now follow that Israel in the dayes of David was in no better estate then in the dayes of Iehoahaz The contrary is most evident plaine Israel being at one time a true church at th' other a false church by the confession of the Brownistes themselves It is sayd in one generall phrase I hate all false wayes Ps 119. 128. Now it is one false way to be hated or loathed that the high places were reteyned in the dayes of Iehoash others 2. kin 12. 3. 14. 4. It was an other false way that the goldē calves Baal were worshipped by the kinges of Israel doth it now follow that these people were one of them in no better estate then the other because the phrase of hating or loathing might be vsed against both of them Nothing lesse To come neerer vnto them Mr. Robinson accounting it a false way a violation of Gods ordinance in Mr. Ainsworthes company that they have no separation of their aimes among them it followes herevpon that in his account also the word of loathing or hating may be vsed against them seing every false way reteyned is to be loathed And further Mr. Robinson holdes it a false way order of government that is practised in Mr. Iohnsons church which is therfore also to be loathed by them Doth it now follow from hence that by this graunt Mr. Ainsworthes company is in no better estate then Mr. Iohnsons because of the same word of loathing attributed vnto both of them Nothing lesse The matter being thus made plaine vnto them the simplest among them may see what a corrupt blinde maner of reasoning is here vsed by their elder Delescluse Secondly suppose it were granted that the church of Tsrael were in no better estate then Israel in the wildernes yet what is this to the scope and purpose of his booke Doth this prove that the church of England is therfore to be separated from Nay the contrary appeareth hence seing it is vndeniably true that even Israel in the wildernes notwithstanding all their abhominations which the Lord loathed were yet a true church and communion with them was lawfull as appeares in the example of Moses Ioshua Aaron and other faithfull servants of God remayning among them And therfore so might it be with England also though being in no better estate And thus the same arrow that he shootes at vs returnes vpon himself and pearceth the side of his owne separation 14. IN the next place he procedes labours to perswade his reader that the Lord hath more iust cause to wath the church of England then that of the Israelites in the wildernes VVel suppose now that this also were granted vnto him would this prove that we should
then separate from England In no sort for the Lord had more cause to loath the church of Israel in the dayes of Christe then in the wildernes And yet even then also there was a lawfull communion with that church when the measure of their iniquity was greater and when there was a greater then Moses to convince them of that wickednes And thus we see how that still he comes short of the mark he shootes at seing greater abhominations then those of Israel in the desert are yet no sufficient ground of separation 15. FOr the further declaration of this matter let vs a litle examine his particular instances here alledged by him first sayth he that church had a true ministery and true offices and officers and so hath not the church of England by Mr. Brightmans owne graunt First let it be considered how vnworthy a thing it is that this man which is himself an vsurper and a false officer should thus take vpon him to dispute about the ministery and the offices in the churches of God for first when he was yet with Mr. Iohnson he was then a false officer that whole company being in schisme therfore a false church yeelding no lawfull officers 2ly suppose Mr. Iohnsons company had bene a true church and he a true officer in it yet seing he hath now schismed from that company and was also deposed from his office by Mr. Iohnson and his assistants how can he in this schisme be reputed a true minister 3ly when he was yet a member of the french chuch and did there earnestly seek an office after tryall of his giftes he was repelled and iudged insufficient and vnmeete to be a minister Now then shall he that was both Kept out from entring into an office as vnworthy and againe thrust out of an office as vnworthy after he had entred and this both by a true reformed church and by the Brownistes themselves shall this vnworthy person come now and in the middes of his vnworthines pronounce sentence touching the truth or falshood of offices ministeries in the church Secondly let it be considred how he abuseth wrongeth Mr. Brightman in saying that the church of England hath not a true ministery offices officers that by Mr. Brightmans owne graunt for though Mr. Br. do iustly complaine that the church of England wanteth some offices which it should have againe that it hath some officers which it should not have yet doth he not affirme a true ministery to be altogather wanting he doth not deny but that there are some true offices officers therein Thirdly though there be that defect in the ministery of the church of Engl. which Mr. Brighman noteth how doth Delescluse prove from thence that separation must reedes follow for this he bringes not so much as any shew of proofe from the scriptures to iustify such a consequence 16. THat second particular exception which he bringeth touching persecution by the officers in the church of England is againe repeated by him in his tenth speech of Mr. Brightmans which he alledgeth is there answered for which see the 38. section following 17. THe third particular differēce which he affirmeth to have bene betwixt Israel Eng. is that their governmēt in Israel was not a mixt governemēt partiy of the Egiptians partly of the Moabites and Edomites or Cananeans but simple and and pure according to the true patterne shewed to Moses in the mount but that of England is not so for Mr. Brightman affirmeth it to be partly Romish and partly reformed etc. First if it be true that Mr. Robinson writeth viz. that the church officers the priests levites in the Iewish church to whō the charge of the whole congregation for the service of the tabernackle did appertayne had no authority by the order of their office to inflict any censure spiritually vpon the people but onely to interpret the law ett Answ to Mr. Bern. pag. 198. then is all this idle which Delescluse doth here speak of their government If the ecclesiasticall officers did exercise no government at all then is it in vayne to dispute of the purity of a thing that was nothing Secondly if that excommunication or dissynagogueing noted Ioh. 9. 22. was but a Iewish devise and without warrant of the scriptures as both Mr. Robinson doth write and Mr. Smith also hath written before him then was the governmēt of the Iewes a devised governemēt an Impure ād mixt governemēt partly divine and partly humane and yet not with standing this mixt government we see there was then a lawfull communion that mixture of devised governemēt was no ground of separation as this Delescluse would vainely collect against Mr. Britghman and against the church of England Thirdly if a mixt governement be a ground of separation then is Mr. Ainsworthes company to be reiected seing it doth exercise a popular confused and mixt government consisting partly in the power of the officers but chiefely in the power of the people And thus the collection of Delescluse serves to overthrow his owne governement And the shame of this their mixed governemēt which Mr. Iohnson hath affirmed to be worse then the goverement of the church of England doth in this respect lye the more heavily on them in that Mr. Iohnson hath also in a printed booke condemned the same which booke the Ainswort hians have not yet answerd 18. THe fourth particular instance which he bringeth to prove the difference betwixt Israel England is this None of that church sayth he were admitted vnto any office but onely such as were lawfully called therevnto as Aaron was but so it is not in England etc. First it is onely the bare affirmati of Delescluse that sayth of the church of Israel that none were there admitted vnto any office but onely such as were lawfully called as Aaronwas where is his proofe from the scriptures where of he boasted in his Epistle Secondly it is a false affirmation of Delescluse for when Annas Caiaphas did enterchangeably execute the high priestes office as appeareth Luk. 3. 2. Ioh. 11. 51. it was not possible that both of them could be lawfully admitted vnto the execution of that office which was peculiar vnto one man during his life Thirdly seing Mr. Iohnson hath offred to prove vnto Mr. Ainsworth his company that in their popular governement they are like vnto Korah his company ambitiously vsurping an office wherevnto they are not lawfully called that vpon the Korites ground Numb 16. 3. it had bene much fitter that Mr. Ainsworth or Delescluse should have defended cleared themselves of the evill which they lay vpon others by writing against Mr. iohnson about these thinges while he is yet alive to auswer for himself rather then to wri●e against Mr. Bright man that is dead now resteth from his labours in the Lord especially seing Mr. iohnson hath so often entreated provoked
vrged Mr. Ainsworth therevnto that openly in their congregation before the rent was made Yea besides respect of the matter it self are they not specially bound for their old covenant sake to shew the Franciscanes their errour that by writing rather then to deale with strangers 19. FRom these instances above mentioned he drawes a terrible conclusion on this manner Therefore it doth necessarily follow that the estate of the church of England is worse then was the estate of those rebelles in the wildernes that there is nothing to be expected from Christe by any member thereof but a powring out of his eternal wrath vpon them In this peremptory sentence which he denounceth against the church of England he takes on him as if he would seeme to be one of those sevē angelles which having their breastes g●●ded with golden girdles do stand with the vialles of Gods wrath in their handes to powre ●ut ●is vengeance on the wicked but the truth is he is rather in this his doome like one of the angelles of Sathan that accuse the brethren condemning those whom God hath iusti●yed By this sentence he doth at once extinguish quench the whole light comfort of the gospell which teacheth that there is no condemnation to those that are in Christe beleeve in his name Rom 3. 28. and 8. 1. For such beleeves there are many in the church of England holding that doctrine of faith iustification whereby the faithfull the saintes in al the reformed churches do hope to ente● into life everlasting that whereby the Brownistes themselves must be saved if ever they enter into glory Now to denounce the aeternall wrath of Christe to those that have true faith what is it els but to abolish the gospell to destroy faith to make it of no effect If an angell frō heaven should come preach vnto vs as Delescluse here hath done yet ought we not to receive him Gal. 1. 8. But here the Brownistes obiect that true fayth shewes it self by workes which they say are apparantly evill in the church of England First their faith sheweth it self by these fruites by their ioy in the Lord their cōtinuall study delight in the word of God their cōtinuall invocatiō of the name of God every day their delight in the Sabath their love of the godly for the truth sake their vnfeigned sorow for their sinnes their patiēce for the testimony of Christe sundry other such like fruites which are the vndoubted certaine to kens of true saith Ps 89. 15. Ps 1. 2. Ioel. 2. 32. Esa 56. 4. 5. 6. Mat. 10. 41. 42. Mat. 5. 4. 10. 11. Secondly suppose other of their workes be evill suppose also that their refusall of separation were a sin yet seing it cannot be thought other then a sinne of ignorance that God had not opened their eyes in this matter what an absurd wicked thing is it in this estate to pronounce of them all without exception that there is nothing to be expected from Christe by any member thereof but a powring out of his aeternall wrath vpon them for who can vnderstand his faults and who is it but that he sinnes of ignorance and why not in the mysterie of the separation as well as in others especially it being such a poynt as the members of all other true churches can not comprehend the same Not with standing such errours the members of the church of England may be vpright with the Lord and accepted of him and made partakers of eternall salvation Ps 19. 13. 1. Cor. 13. 9. with 1. Cor. 1. 30. Ps 32. 1. 2. But to salve or mitigate this their vnchristian and hard sentence they tell vs that in such maner of sentences and iudgements they speak respectively viz. that the faithfull in England cannot be accounted true Christians in respect of their ministery in respect of their constitution in respect of their estate being so considered etc. In this exception the Brownistes do shew their vanity in seeking out frivolous pretences to colour their rash iudgements for first when as true and ●ound iudgemēt is to be given touching the estate of a Christian and an heire of salvation he is then to be considred not by the halfes or by some such and such respects onely but wholly and entirely with all his respectes togather And so a faithfull man considered not apart from his errours and ignorances but considered togather with them and with his faith is yet to be iudged and that absolutely a true Christian an heire of salvation suppose there besome manifest errours and offences vpon him yet his faith shewing it self in other manifest fruites thereof is a visible cover for all his offences seing the Lord hath manifested in his word that faith alone doth iustify and lay hold on everlasting righteousnes Gal. 2. 16. and 3. 7. Eph. 2. 8. and therfore such a one in his outward estate and profession is still a visible Christian notwithstanding any other visible iniquities wherein he ignorantly continueth Secondly when Christe at his last comming shall pronounce iudgement he will not consider men apart frō their constitution ministery governement etc. he will not say in such respect I condemne thee and in such respect I do iustify thee and save thee but he doth absolutely pronounce sentence either of salvation or condemnation And this iudgement of the Lord is generally manifested in his word according to his word will he iudge at the last day Ioh. 12. 48. Mark 16. 16. and therfore according to this word of the Lord the estate of of mē is absolutely to be declared without such respective cōsiderations and exceptions If the questiō had bene onely about the reproofe of some particular sin in any persō or about the comparing of one person with an other thē might they have iudged herein respectively for the mā that is a true Christiā may in some respect be worthily reprehended may in some respect be vnlike vnto others but when the question is about the iudgement of a true Christian about his obteyning of salvation then are such partiall respective considerations idle of no vse A man is in such case either absolutely to be condemned or absolutely to be iustifyed acquit Thirdly according to that respective iudgement every church yea every person in the world should be condemned stand vnder the wrath of God because every church every person doth erre commit sin in that respect being considered apart from Christe is accursed And according to this respective iudment of the Brownistes Delesculse in respect of those eleven corruptions which they lay vpon the reformed churches supposing they were iustly imputed vnto them might in like manner accordingly have pronounced of them all that there is nothing to be expected from Christe by any member thereof but a powring out of his eternall wrath vpon them seing no