that they might be saued that therefore God wil send them strong delusion that they shall beleeâ— lies and of such as depart from the faith that they shall giue heed vnto spirits of errors and doctrines of Diuils It is also to be obserued that al such impious hereticall persons as haue departed from vs are interteyned with you in your communion vnlesse themselues refuse to communâ—cate with you your church is the receptacle of al sâ—ch Apostataes there they are suffred in herisie impietie so as they wâ—l frâ—qâ—eÌ„t your assemblies Better reasons therfore more weithty câ—nsidâ—rations haâ—e you need to allege before you can perswade vs to returâ—e vnto your church for these hitherto propounded examined are found too too lâ—ght But it may be better follow ARGVMENTS That the best assemblies of the present church of ENGLAND are true visible CHVRCHES 1. IN what churches soeuer are found in publick practise the things that essentially constitute a true visible church they are true visible churches of Christ. But in the best of our assemblies are found in publick practise the things that essentially constitute a true visible church Therefore the best of our assemblies are true visible Churches Proof of the assumption A visible church is the house of God 1 Tim. 3.15 Now the meanes or things that constitute it are 1 Foundation Iesus Christ to build vpon 1 Cor 3.11 Mat 16.18 2 Builders that is such preaching ministers of the word as doe build in godlynes convert and confirme 1 Cor 3 10. 3 Instrument of building the word of God Eph. 2.20 4 Matter to be built people ioyned togither in the profesion of the Gospel 1 Cor 3.9 Eph. 2 20. But all these are found in publick practise in the best of our assemblies Therfore in the best of our assemblies are found in publick practise the things that constitute a true visible church Answer THE title of your arguments conteyneth 1 an error or absurditie 2 argueth some check in your own consciences for defence of your Church 1 The error is that you divide the church of England into many Churches making the first as I conjecture a national Church the other parishionall This is an error because it is an humane inuention and differeth from the scripture which sheweth many churches to be in a nation or country as in Iudea Asia Galatia c Gal 1 2 21. Reu. 1.4 but sheweth not any natioÌ„al church Now that yours is a national church not onely the name and title but also the constitution sheweth for it hath a Pastor over it the Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan your most reverend father in God who maketh and consecrateth the Diocesan Bishops wherevpon there are Diocesan churches or Sees and they agayn make the Parish Priests To him and to his successors the inferior Bishops haue sworn so help them god through Iesus Christ. all due reverence and obedience If the mould of this Church were not fetched from Rome shew where you learned it 2. The check which the title argueth to be in your conscience appâ—areth apâ—eareth it that you plead but for the best assemblies of the present church of England for doe you not hereby intimate that there is a worser sort which you will not plead for yet both bâ—st and worst are all one body one church and communion If your Church of England be Christs why maynteyn you not the whole is not every â—art and parcell of Christs church to be defended Thinke you that the priests and people of Israell would haue mainteyned the Most holy place of their Temple onely haue suffred the rest of the howse to be ruinate and troden vnder foot or if they did thus should they haue done well How persidiously then doe you deal with your church if it be the true church of Christ that you seek to vphold your Sanctum sanctâ—rum your best assemblies and neglect the rest Or if you would make one peece of your church Christ and another peece Antichrists where both be in brotherhood and vnitie togither it is as absurd as if you would make one part of your bodie humane an other bestiall one peece Gods another Diuils It is contrarie also to the playn scriptures which say what communion hath light with darknese â—hat concerd hath Christ with belial meaning none at all Eyther therefore you must iustify your whol Church or you must with vs make a separation How long will you halt between two opinions To your Argument I answer the proofs of your assumption fayl you A visible church you say is the house of God True but your Bethell will be found Bethaâ—en the houâ—e of Idolatrie You make the things constituting your howse to be fowr 1 Foundation 2 Builders 3 Instruments 4 Matter But the forme or fashion of the building you leaue quite out perhaps you saw that it would not endure the trial when it should be compared with the patterne that God shewed in the Mount The Prophet Haggai reproued the Iewes for that Gods house was not builded amoÌ„g them If you had beeÌ„ ther. you would have disproued the Prophet by this sophistrie We haue the 1 Foundation laid Hag. 2.9 2 Builders we haue many both priests and people 3 Instruments also for to hew and square the timber and stone as axes c. 4 and matter wherewith to build as wood from the mountain and stone from the qarrie Therefore though the stones be neither laid nor squared nor the timber hewen fitted or framed because with vs are found the things that essentially constitute a visible house we haue the true house of God But if your own material houses were no otherwise builded then your church is by this your argument you would haue but an vncouth dwelling If you read Gen. 11. you shall find the towr of Babel to be as wel builded as your church for there was the 1 Foundation laid 2 Builders many 3 instruments also 4 matter both brick and slime Now let vs examine the things which you say you haue and doe buâ— barelie say for you proue it not 1. The Foundation is Iesus Christ to build vpon 1 Cor. 3.11 Mat. 16.18 But this Foundation is not yet rightlie laid in your assemblies you haue it onelie in name and shew Christ is neer in your mouthes but farr from your actions If you had shewed by the scriptures how Christ is laid for the foundation of the church it would soon haue bene seen that your house is set vpon the sands For you haue not him for the mediator prophet priest or king of your church as it is now established Many truthes I acknowledge are taught among you but many vntruthes are also mixed with them and the power of godlines is denied for the truthes that are taught cannot be practised Your church hath also other spirituall Lords and lawes then Christ and his testament as your Prelates with their cannons
guilty of the body and blood of Chrâ—st as were the wretcheâ— that crucified hâ—m Also Baptisme which should be an ingraffing into Christ his death buriall and resurrection and a sâ—gne of washing away mens sinns in his blood is giuen to the seed of the vngodly blasphemers and enemies of Christ vnto whom by no right it doth apperteyn Which sacrilegious prophanation of the holy misteries sheweth a manifest contempt of Christ represented in them who as he communicateth not himselfe with such wicked persons so neyther the signes and seales of himselfe and the redemption that he wrought for his elect For by his suffring he consecrated them onely that are sanctified that by faith doe eat his flesh and drinke his â—lood the wicked which haue no portion in his death and oblation when they participate in these seales of grace doe but eat and drink iudgment to themselues the ministers which so prostitute Christ vnto the teeth of his enemies and tread vnder foot the sonne of God if they repent not shall not escape his hand whâ—ch sayd Vengeance is myne I will repay the people which by an imaginary separation are or seem to be sundred from those profane and yet communicate together in such things doe even by that action shew that they are one body with them for so it is written we that are many are one bread and one body because we all are partakers of one bread 1 Cor 10 17. This bringing of Satans seed into the church unto the alter of God may further be minded as a high degree of violating the second commandement whereby all images idols and simillitudes whatsoeuer of the Diuils or mens inuention or forming are seuerely forbidden to bee brought into Gods howse or vsed in his worship Now such images or Idols are these wicked persons For as children are the images of their parents and all faâ—thfull people called the children of God are Gods liuely images in Christ whose image and simillitude they carry himselfe being truely and properly the sole image of the invisible God his Father and they all being borne a new of him are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord being renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created them so Satans children as wicked worldlings be called in scripture are his liuely images hauing lost the first image of God wherein they were created and into the image of the Serpent are changed dayly by his spirit that ruleth in them and him they represent in his malycious nature and actions As it is sinne and so esteemed to haue images and representations of beasts of fowles of fishes c. brought into the church and worship of God so would and wel might it be esteemed more horrible if in any Christian congregation there should be brought in pictures of the Diuill or other like helish representations Yet men will not see the horror of this sinne that the liuing images and pictures of the Serpent even wicked and profane people his seed and children should be brought into the Church and worship of God to haue part and interest in Christ and his couenant whether he will or not to be offred vnto God layd vpon his alter for spiriritual sacrifices though they be much more abominable then vnclean beasts were vnder the law as the substance or figured thing is more then the figure and shadow But doubtlesse God who abhorreth all idols and religious images of humane devise and Christ who would not offer the bloody sacrifices of idolaters abhorreth this confusion of Satans images within his church neyther will the high-priest after the order of Melchisedek offer such to his Father or be priest vnto them Otherwise he should not be so faithfull in the house of God as wâ—s Aaron nor the sacrifice of the Gospel be so holy as the shadowes of the law which were vnblemished Finally all that haue Christ for their Prâ—est are by him to bring their sacrifices for their sinns vnto God that so attoÌ„emeÌ„t may be made through his intercession For every high Prâ—est is ordeyned for men in things perteyning to God that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sinnes and every man is appoynted of God to present his sacrifice by the Priest who is to make attonement for him concerning his sinne that it may be forgiuen him But the church of England in asmuch as it persisteth in sinne and will not repent of the many transgressions dayly committed in their publick worship and aâ—ministration of holy things refuseth reconciliation by him who is the high Prâ—est of good things to come and able perfectly to saue them that come vnto God by him This their impenitency appeareth not onely by their perseverance in evill doinâ— notwithstanding all the aâ—monitions and reproofs that haue sounded in theyr eares these many yeares but aboue al by their vngodly Canons constitutions made by the whole representatiue chuch of Engl and submitted vnto by the rest of the people Whereby they publish vnto all the world how they are hardned in their evils that excommunicate pâ—nish and persecute all that sâ—eak against or refuse to communicate with their people prelacie priesthood worship ceremonies c. wherein are so many sinns and idolatries For asmuch then as the publick seruice and sacrifice of this church is idolatrous the holy mysteries of Christ profaned the people vnsanctified and their sinns vnrepented of there is no word or promise in scripture that Christ is the Priest or sacrificer of such worship or worshippers Therefore the Church of England is not the true Church of God EVery true church of God hath Christ for the King thereof For of him the Father sayth I haue set my King vpon Zion my holy mountayn and he must râ—ign till he hath put all his enemies vnder his feet and shall sit vpoÌ„ the throne of Dauid vpon his kingdome to order it and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever Isa. 9.7 But the church of England hath not Christ for the King thereof first because it hath not these officers which he hath appoynted to gouerne his church vnder him namely Pastors Teachers and Elders but in stead of them it hath the hierarchie or Prelacye of Antichrist Archbishops Lord Bishops Chaneâ—llors Archdeacons Commissaries c. who reign or tyrannize ouer the sowles of men by their vnlawfull jurisdiction ruling ouer many Churches making them constitutions and canons prescribing them words both for prayer and doctrine summoning censuring censuring excommunicating absoluing both priests and people making and deposing ministers giuing the holy Ghost excercising also civill offices in the common wealth and carying the titles both of Christ and of the Gods the Magistrates into whose places they intrude‘ hauing no warrant for their spirituall Lordships in the
Eph 4.11.12 14.15 16. 1 Cor. 12 27 28. See also Ioh 10.1 4.5 Act 20 28. Ioh. 21 15 16. But all the ministers of the church of England haue and execute the ministery of a fals church for so by the former argumeÌ„ts that church is proued Therefore they are not the true ministers of Christ and consequently not to be heard or obeyed as shepheards of our soules For the further descrying of the false ministery of this church I referr the good reader to a treatise lately published intituled Reasons and Arguments prouing that it is not lawfull to hear the Ministerie of Engl. And to an other heretofore published called A treatise of the Ministerie of the Church of England I will put enimitie between thee ô Serpent and the woman and between thy seed and her seed He shall crush thy head and thou shalt crush his heel Gen. 3.15 Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also Christ himselfe likewâ—ise took part of the same that through death he might abolish him that had the power of death that is the Diuil and that he might deliuer them all which foâ— fear of death all their life time were subiect to bondage Heb. 2.14 15. And there was warr in heauen Michael and his Angels warred against the Dragon the Dragon also warred his Angels but preuailed not neither was their place found any more in heauen And cast was the great Dragon that old Serpent called Diuill and Satan that deceaueth the whole world cast was he into the earth and his Angels were cast with him Reu 12.7.8 9. A BRIEF ANSWER TO Mr BERNARDS BOOK INTIâ—VLED The Separatiâ—ts Scâ—isme WHen the former treatise was almost finished among other aduersaries Mr Bernard commeth forth to fight against the truth which but a while since he would needs seem to fauour but things not succeeding to his exspeâ—tation he hath changed his loue into hatred And in the bitternes of his zele he haâ—h sent out a treatise conteyning Disswasions from the practise of the Gospel which he pleaseth to call The separatists schisme or Brownisme Though in his book ther be little weight of reason or truth to be seen nor any thing which may grealy trouble a discreet reader who is but meanely acquainted without cause yet both for the stopping of the mans mouth if it may be who maketh huy and crie after some of vs as in his Prooeme to the reader he proclaymeth and for help of the simple who may be offended at the truth not discerning his frawd I thought it needful to obserue and answer briefly the principall things by him obiected many of which are before in this treatise and in other books more largely refuted and all of â—hem may if need require hereafter by some other be particularly refelled Herein now the Lord giue me wisdom to discouer this adversaries falsehood and thee good reader vnderstanding to discerne it Of his PROBABILITIES THE first meanes whereby Mr BERNARD would disswade from the truth which he calleth Brownisme are Probabilities or likâ—lihoods that the way is not good and they are in number as himselfe hath cast them seuen 1. The Novelty of it 2. The agreement thereof with ancient schismatiks 3. The ill meanes by which it is mayteyned namely by abuse of scripture deceauable reasonning 4. The want of approbation of the reformed Churches 5. The condeâ—nation thereof by all their Diuines vidz of the church of England 6. Gods iudgment against it 7. The â—ll successâ— it hath had Such lâ—kelihoods as these the Papists heretofore with as much colour and truth haue alleged against the church of England heathens and enemies haue in former ages obiected the lâ—ke things to the church of Christ and Mr Ber. speaketh but that which hath been spoken before him fulfillâ—ng the measâ—re of his forefathers But to the particulars The Novâ—lty he maketh to be in differing from all the best reformed churches in Christendome But if a Papist had to deal with him he would bring those reformed churches also within the câ—mpasse of Novelâ—y and then Mr Bern. would flee as his brethren before him haue done to the scriptures for antiquity as he would answer a Papist so wâ—ll I answer him let the scriptures speak for the differences between other churches and vs. But here Mr Bern. is mute and medleth not with thâ—s controversie he thought belike the very name of Noveltie and of the reformed churches would fray the simple If it be Nouelty to differ from the reformed churches then may he blame his own church â—f Engl. more then vs seing it differeth from those churches in mâ—e and weightier poynts then we doe yea it hateth persecuteth sileÌ„ceth excommunicateth those ministers people that stand vp plead for such things as the reformed churches haue and practise Agayn these churches haue reiected and writen against many of the Antichrâ—stian enormities that are now in England So if it be likely we are not in the truth because we dâ—ffer from the churches in few things it is more likely Mr Bern. and his brethren are not in the truth because they differ from them in many Wherefore let him first pull the beam out of his own eye Agayn where he standeth vpon the hard words which some of vs haue vttered of the Presbytery c. if he had not an evill and partial eye he mought haue seen many moe hard reproachful words vsed by his right reverend Fathers and fellow priests against the Presbytery and discipline which the reformed churches haue and the reforming ministers of Engl. would haue That still his weapon entreth into his own bowels His 2 likelihood he maketh to be our agreement with ancient schismatiks yet any poynts wherein we agree with them in evill he nameth not much leâ—â—e proueth but referreth us to Mr Giffords paynes herein who had long since his answer by Mr Greenwood to every particular of that his pretended consimillitude between the Donatists and vs to which answer I râ—ferr the reader Agayn this obiection is such as the Papists make against the church of England for so N. D. compareth Protesâ—â—nts with Donatists and let vs see what answer the Priests of England can make for themselues that will not as well if not better clear vs And to come a little neare to this oâ—r aduersary we could pâ—t Mr Ber. in mind of his own wayes wherein he might see himselfe more like a schismatik then any of vs for we openly professe our departure frâ—m the châ—rch of England as from a false church so proued by evident groâ—nds out of Gâ—ds word whereas Mr Bernard holding it to be a true châ—rch abâ—ding in it yet he and a hundred with him made not long since a pretended coâ—enant togâ—ther whereby they separated from the vnpreaching ministers and all that hate to be reformed Yet are those reaâ—ing priests of as â—ood authority by the Lawes and Canons of that Church as
mentioneth shew little or none at all wise men will esteem them accordingly But if such a Diuine as Bredwel doe but call our curse a by-path this sentence is authentik yenough for Mr Bern to put in his book The 6. is the Lords iudgement giuing sentence with them of England against vs. These things as they are before more prudently urged both for the good successe of the English ministers and bad ysâ—ue of many of vs so I leaue the reader vnto the answers before made pag 13. c 23. c. Onely I would advise Mr Bern. to look better to his words when he next write and not to set down such positions as may tend to Atheisme or Iudaisme as wherein his brother Boltons case that hanged himself he Sayth which end the Lord letteth not his speciall instruments to come vnto c. A Iew vpon this graunt would trouble Mr Bernard to defend Christianity seeing Iudas hanged himself who was a farr more speciall instrument of the Lord being an Apostle then Bolton that was but a ruling Elder and not the first brocher of this way as Mr Bern. very vntruely vpon Mr Giffords report if he so reported doth allege Besides that Iudas after a sort repented and acknowledged his sinne and was not that we know of excommunicate yet came to that woefull end wheras Bolton for revolting from his faith at Paules crosse was dealt with excommunicated and so died for ought that is knowen without repentance a member of Mr Bernards church See before pag. 23. The 7. is the ill successe it hath had these very many yeares being no more increased The naturall man perceiueth not the things of God but iudging by the outward appearance giues vnrighteous iudgement If M. Bernard had liued in Noahs dayes and seen his 120. yeares labours and preaching spent in vayn how would he haue stumbled at the work of God that gaue his word no other effect in the world And loe it is written as it was in the dayes of Noe so shall it be in the Dayes of the Son of man But had Mr Bern. bene in the dayes following when Israel very few in number walked from nation to nation from one kingdome to an other people and notwithstanding the promise of multiplication yet in 200. yeares and moâ— had increased but vnto 70. sowles and as many moe yeares were in Aegyptian bondage and had he in the mean while seen the Princes of Israel and Dukes of Esau with the Kings that raigned in his land before any King in Israel how would this man may we think haue gathered likelihoods or rather haue concluded out of doubt against the poor afflicted church of God But it is no new thing to hear this pleading from such carnall gospellers Wel not totell him of Gods gracious work in bringing many to this truth and causing moe to listen after it dayly let Mr Bern. look to himselfe and his fellow Reformists and if his right eye be not blent let him acknowledge Gods hand aâ—ainst themselâ—es who heretofore had so many fautors and that not of the meanest in the land yet now are repressed as troublers of the church and their counterfeyt reformation further from all likelihood of effecting then was at the first And this much of his vnlikely likelihoods Of his REASONS HIS reasons now follow of more force as he pretends then his bare probabilities These are three fold taken 1 from the evill of the entraÌ„ce in to this way 2 from our persons so greueously sinning in this way 3 from our opinions which are altogether erroneous and false The first sort of reasons haue this foundation The entrance is very sinful and cursed Because of these 2 great evils 1 That we doe not onely condemn corruptions and the notorius wicked but also forsake all former Christian profession amongst them A man must cast off that word there with them which made them aliue also the faithfull messengers of God the Fathers which begat him yea he must renounce all fellowship of the godly there c. But we may with the Prophet truely complayn of this man that his mouth is full of cursing and deceit and frawd for how often haue we in our publick writings protested our consent in all the holy doctrines that themselues professe onely because we cannot enioy them without Antichristian abominations which the Prelates impose and the Priests and people practise we haue separated from those assemblies where idolatry is publickly set vp and maynteined from those blinde guides that would seem to make concord between light and darknes Christ and Beliall and vnder shew of many truthes seduce mens sowles vnto destruction Did the church of England forsake all former christian profession among the Papists when they left the Pope and some of his Prelates Masse images c. If not then neyther doe we that haue left but the remnants of Popery yet reteyned and doe walke in the truth to our knowledge and utmost power as God inableth vs not casting off any jote of his word nor any faithfull messenger of his or other godly person as this adversary calumniateth His hart knowes better though it sendeth forth such bitter waters 2. Next this he sayth with such a renunciation of truth must be reteyned much vntruth the particulars are 1 that men must beleeu our way to be the truth of God 2 and then condemn their church as a false church Whether our way be not the truth of God let the Godly iudge by his word by it also let them try the estate of the church of England But Mr Bern. begging the question will haue things to be taken for untruthes before triall or due conviction To help himselfe he seekes advantage by that we haue published as he sayth vnder our hand that the differrences between vs and them are onely such corruptions as are by vs set downe Though the word onely be not ours but Mr Bern. own yet to let this passe as ordinary with him what gathers he from it Corruptions saith he doe not makâ— a false church but a corrupt church make the worst of it that can be as corruptions in a man maketh but a corrupt man and not a false man First let the reader obserue that he speaks not a word of those corruptions which we set down neyther indeed is he able with our corruption to plead for them Secondly it is very corrupt and grosse that he would perswade no corruptions can make a church to be false for then rebellious Israel though they corrupted al their works was a true chuch still but Moses foretold that for corrupting themselues they should be none of Gods children but a froward and crooked generation Now let Mr Bern make the best of it he can His simillitude of a man is not fit in this case A man is a substance but a church consisteth in relation
reâ—roched the Protestants as labouring to bring all things vnder the rule of the rash vnconstant people and vnlearned multitude and to make the church democraticall and popular because every one of the people by his priuate spirit is supreme iudge and head in matters of religion Our different judgement and practise from the church of Engl. wher all â—y men as they call them are forbidden all speaking or expounding of the word in the publik assemblies and where a Bishop Chancellor or Commissary hath power to excommunicate by a Latin writ c. Our difference also and dislike of the Presbyteries practise whereby people are excluded and depriued of a great part of their Christian liberty and benefit thereby is in other books largely treated of with scriptures reasons many which M Bern. neyther orderly handleth nor soundly confuteth as the wise reader may see but ignorantly and confusedly shuffleth them ouer running into by matters and vniust calumniations I will end therefore with the words of one of his fellow ministers who touching this poynt of Church gouernment writeth much more soundly then by Mr. Bern. in his blindenes hath done Mr Iacob I mean which sayth It is childish and without all wit to cry out aganst vs â—us our adueâ—saries doe Popularity Anarchie c. for our so wel grounded and so approued an assertion That the sinne of one man publâ—ckly and obstinately stood in bâ—ing not reformed nor the offender cast out â—oth sâ— pâ—llute the whole congregation that none may commuâ—â—cate with hâ— same in any of the holy â—hings of God though it be a church râ—ghtly conâ—â—ituted till the party be excommunâ—cated I deney agayn this to be eyther our iudgement or practise Mr. Bern. sayth the formâ—r position is the ground of this and so it seemeth he câ—lumniating vs in the forâ—er thouâ—ht he might doe likeweise in this We professe and haue long since publâ—shed that none is to separate for fâ—â—lts corruâ—tioÌ„s which may so long as the Church coÌ„sistâ—th of mâ—rtall men will fall out and arisâ— among them but by due order to sâ—â—k râ—dresse thâ—reof Now that euery Chrâ—stian not onely may bâ— tought to rebuke his neighbour for sinne we haâ—e playn lawes both â—n the old Testament and the new Leuit. 19.17 Luk. 17.3 That sinners not repenting are after the second admonition to be signified vnto the church is also Christs ordinance Mat. 18 15.17 But what â—f â—he church will not cast him out I answer Synns are eyther conâ—rouertible or manifest If controuertible and dâ—ubtfâ—ll men ought to bear one with anothers different judgement if they doe not but any for this make a breach or separation they syn But if the sinne be manifest as for example a man is conuict of adultery blasphemy theft or the like and the church will not rebuke him nor cast him out but suffer him obstinate and impenitent in his wickednes and plead for him agaâ—nst such us call vpon them for iudgemâ—nt then are all such abettors of the wicked sinners themselues and that in a high degree as th' Apostle noteth Rom. 1 31 the whole lump is leuened 1 Cor. 5 1 6. c. and now not that one mans sinne but the sinne of them all is that which polluteth them for they fauour and iustify a wicked man more then God therefore woe is vnto them and Solomon sayth He that sayth to the wicked thou art righteous him shall the people curse and the multitude shall abhorr him Prou 24 24 If M Bern think the sinne is the lesse because a church maynteyns it he is much deceiued evill the more common it is the worse â—t is because God is more dishonoured and mens sowles more endangered If he think men should regard and reuerence the church in this case the law teacheth every man not to follow the many or the mighty to doe euill nor agree in a controuersie to decline after many and ouerthrow the right The â—round of all this is playn in Gods law if any one of the people sinned against any of the commandements of the Lord and one shewed him his sinne which he had committed he was to bring his sacrifice a testification of his repentance If a ruler sinned or the high priest himselfe they were to doe likewise If the whole Congregation sinned the like law was for them God respected no persons but if they that sinned were greater or moe in number they were so farr from being sauoured as they had the greater sacrifice inioyned them a priuate man offred a shee-goat a ruler a hee-goat the high Priest and the Congregation a yong bâ—llock These lawes were giuen to all sorts of persons for all manner sinns‘ and the law was agayn repeated and stablished from that day forward throughout their generations Num. 15.22.23 c. But if any man despised this law and sinned with a high hand the same blasphemed the Lord and was to be cut off from among his peoâ—le Num. 15.30.31 Now further that the whol congregation taking Part with wicked men in syn after due admonition are all defiled and subiect to like iudgement we haue a playn example in the whole Tribe of Beniamin where in Gibeâ—h one of their towns filthines was committed the Tribe was called vpon to deliuer thâ—se wicked men to death that evill might be put away from Israel â—â—t when they would not deliuer them all the other tribes warred against that trâ—be and almost rooted out every man of the same Likeweise the trâ—bes of Israel in an other case sayd to some of their brethren seeing ye rebel to day against the Lord euen tomorrow he wil be wroth with all the Congregation of Israel Did not Achan sinne c. and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel and this man alone perished not in his wickednes What Mr Bern. seeth or how he readeth the scriptures I cannot tel but if he knew the contagion of sinne or guilt of the same he would neuer haue writien as he hath done Now where he pleadeth that men should not for the offender refreyn the holy things of God abhâ—rr the sacrifices c. We grant it The holy things are alwayes to be reuerenced Gods house and sacrifices frequented when we may without sinne But we deny such an assembly to be Gods church as with a high hand sinneth and blasphemeth the Lord. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination And it cannot be said that any holy thing is lawfully administred in such a society where all agree together to mayntein open iniquity and doe despise the word of the Lord calling them to repentance If they doe not thus we hold it not lawfull to separate from them nor in any weise at any time till all holy and orderly meanes be vsed for their reclayming That euery of their assemblies are false churches This we hold indeed being
vnderstood of the ordinary cathedrall parish assemblies of England which all are by one line For defense of these churches Mr Bern. refers the reader to an other treatise after and so doe I to the answer of the same following Yet least he should seem â—o say nothing Mr Ber excepteth 1 That they haue no false head for they hold Iesus Christ. I answer so might Ieroboam haue pleaded for himself his people that they had no false head but the true God which brought them out of the Land of Aegypt Yet were they a false church The Papists Papists and Anabaptists at this day hold and professe Iesus Christ yet such errors are among them as Christ in deed is deneyed the parishes of England professe him also but such is their estate otherweise that they haue him not truly for a head prophet priest or king vnto them as befor is proued But it is yenough for Mr Bernard to affirme without proofe and correction with him is a needfuller argument in this case tâ—eÌ„ iâ—struction For when the Priests liâ—s preserue not knowledge how should men be answered but by the gaole or gallowes 2. The matter sayth he is not false and to shew this he noteth a difference between No matter true matter and false matter No matter are thâ—y which make no profession of Christ at all as Iewes Turks and Pagans True visible matter are all such as openly professe this mayn truth that Iesus the sonne of Mary is the sonne of God Christ the Lord by whome onely alone they shal be saued And false matter is contrary to this true matter I answer this false matter is very rawly set down for being contrary to the former true it may imply Iewes and Turks whome he made no matter and then it confoundeth his own distinction But if he mean that they which professe not Christ rightly and truely as he setteth downe are a false matter then say I â—t will euince the matter of their Churches to be false seing there is not aright and true profession of Chrâ—st made by their parishes But Mr Ber. leauing out this word rightly truly tels vs they all professe this fayth as is apparent 1 by the doctrine of their church vidz that in the Harmony of Confessions 2 by the same publickly preached 3 by the same mainteyned by their lawes writings and blood of holy martyrs I answer if all this were granted yet will it not proue Mr Bernards purpose for some may write and preach the truth the Magistrate may establish it by law and some may seal it with their blood and yet not al the nation be a true matter for Christs church except they also make lâ—ke profession Which that the parishes of England doe not the profanenes of the multitudes shew But least I be thought to speake of envy let vs hear the testimony of their own ministers and such as were no fauourers of vs at all as their malicious writings of vs sheweth Mr Nichols esteemed a forward preacher among them sayth We finde by great experience and I haue now fiue and twenty yeres obserued it that in those places where there is not preaching and priuate conferring of the Minister and the people the most part haue as litle knowledge of God and of Christ as Turks and Pagans To confirme this he giues vs an example in his own flock For I haue been in a parish sayth he of fowr hundred communicants and maruelling that my preaching was so little regarded I tooke vpon me to conferre with euery man and woman before they receiued the communion I asked them of Christ what he was in his person what his office how firme came into the world what punishment for sinne what becomes of our bodies being rotten in the graue and lastly whither it were possible for a man to liue so vprightly that by wel doing he might winn heauen In all the former questions I scarse found ten in the hundred to haue any knowledge but in the last question scarse one but did affirme that man might be saued by his own wel doing and that he trusâ—ed he did so liue that by Gods grace he should obtâ—yn euerlasting life by serâ—ing of God and god prayers c. Now then this being so tell me I prâ—y yâ—u sayth Mr Niâ—hols first for Athâ—isme whether these be any bettor then Aâ—hâ—isâ—s whiâ—h know not Christ And tell me I pray you Mr Bernard whether thâ—â—â— be a â—rue matter such as Christs church consisteth of But you would â—aâ—â— vs beleeue the Bishops and Priests of Engl. are wondrous men for iâ—â—hey write books or preach sermons to the people their whole Dioceses and Parishes must needs be estemed conuerts and profelytes Such effect grace was neuer heard of before since the world began More absurd it is to say that the good lawes of the Magistrate doe make a profane idolatrous multitude true professors but most of all that because some few were martyrs therefore they that killed the martyrs professe Christ truly If these be not pregnant reasons then M. Bernards book is little worth 3. But he proceedeth and sayth The visible form is not false which is the vniting of vs unto God and one to another uisibly This he would proue by 3 reasons 1 because the word is preached and offred to the people 2 Because of the peoples open profession of their fayth vnto the doctrine God working in them a will to receiue it 3 because the Lords supper is in vse among them Sundry scriptures are alleged to shew that thus the primitiue churches were planted and constituted all which we grant but when he comes to apply these to themselues he barely assumes that thus is their case neyther answering any reason of ours to the contrary nor shewing any reason of his own to confirme that which he sayth And what cause in the world what church is so bad but may thus be pleaded for He knowes wel that we except and the visible estate of that church their own monuments records complaints c. doe bear witnes with us that they were planted in this religion and profession by force of the Magistrates law that multitudes are profane that many thowsands want the preaching of the word that they ar al compelled to come to church be baptised receiue the communion and the like and what profession the poor ignorant people make is before manifested If he would heare more of their profession and subiection to the word and ministery Mr. Nichols shewes it thus How little haue they esteemed the godly and learned ministers How content they be with simple and ignorant men How hardly are they drawn to pay duties which law hath appoynted How many quarrels they pick against painfull ministers And how little reuerence they giue to any that are faithfull How they follow their couetousnes and pleasures How they fil al sorts of courts with brawles foolish and