of al men by that word if men eyther will not trie nor giue sentence at all or doe judge amisse we are not bound to wayt vpon them but must liue by our own faith The reformed churches haue been wrâ—â—ten to by vs for we know and acknowledge them to be true churcheâ— and our brethren in the Lord they giue vs no Answer Shall wee coÌ„tinew still â—n boÌ„dage to Antichrâ—st til they bid vs com out What scripture teacheth vs so If they or any convince vs of error or evill and we yeeld not leâ— vs be esteemed accordingly otherwise if we walke in the truth and they will not approue it be it vpon them as they shal answer befâ—re the Lord. Mr. Iunius whom you mention to reply so sharply neyther approueth your Church nor condemneth our practice no not though he were instantly vrged the writings between him and us are extant to the world let the reader judge what both sides haue sayd Your censure of Mr Barrow or scoffing rather at him neyther hurteth him or vs nor helpeth you His playn dealing in reprouing the corruptions of these times you call rayling it is marvel you say not also the prophets rayled on the people of Israel when they vsed sharp rebukes for I suppose you can hardly shew any hard speech that Mr. Barrow ther writeth which the Prophets and Apostles haue not vsed before But if he were overcaried with some seuere speeches in a good cause‘ neyther we not himselfe euer iustified that infirmitie we know that we are frayl men let the sharpnesse therefore be his but the trueth which he sharply teacheth Gods And why carp you at the manner of his writing and meddle not with the matter That book with others haue discouered the idolatries of your church which neyther by you nor any haue euer yet been answered refuted by the scriptures For your self let the reader iudge what you â—aue sayd The 7 Consideration 7. THe great and grosse disorder and partiallity in administring of your disciplinâ— which George Iohnson sheweth cheerly besides the wants of sunctimony and common duties of godlynes which he sayth are to be found in farr greater measure in the câ—mmâ—n professâ—rs of the church of England and saith further that the Dutch churches take you for a most vnquiet conâ—entious and disorderly people Answer THis article you obiect vnto vs vpon one mans report that was for lying and slandering false accusation and contention himselfe cast out of our Church By what rule or word of God can you admit of the testimony of an excommunicate against a whole congregation Reason also might teach you that no man standing against a church to excommunication will ever speake wel of that church in the cause wherein he standeth But grant that this all were true which he reporteth what would you vrge vpon it that therefore Christianitie which we professe is evill so perhaps a Turk or Iew would doe with as much reason as you can conclude that our separation from you is euill Was there ever any truth think you that men did walke in it as they ought or any Church in the world wherein the discipline as you call it was administred as it should Iulian the Apostata that wrote so much against Christ reading the testimonies of Moses the Prophets and Apostles Deut. 9.7.22.24 Isa. 59 3 4 5 c. Mic. 3.9.11 1. Cor. 5.1.2 11.21.22 c. 3 Iohn 9.10 had as good ground to blame the Israelites and Christians for their manners discipline and consequently to disswade them from their faith as you do vs yea he might allege faithfull and vndeniable witnesses whereas you rely vpon a slanderer Finally what ayme you at in all this but to draw vs back vnto your church and there it is like we shall find discipline without disorder or partiallity to weet in your Bishops courts for there the discipline of your church is to be seen Of which we need say nothing the voyce almost of al the land crieth out of their abominations Onely we obserue how pregnant your perswasions are to make vs beleeu that because there ar sinns in Sion there be none in Babylon The 8 Consideration 8. GOD neuer witnessed for you nor gaue testimony of his approuing your separation whether we consider your ministerie or people For hardly can you shew any one person conuerted by your ministery from papistry or atheisme or other open wickednes as by Gods blessing multitudes haue been by ours but onely haue you seduced and wrought vpon the tender consciences of such as by our ministery were first begotten vnto Christ But which is specially to be obserued from your distracted and devided congregations multitudes haue fallen away to euery kind of impiety herisie reigning in the world Answer IF God approue our seperation and our ministerie by his word as we are surâ— he dooth it is yenoâ—gh though our ministery haue not conuerted any Your reason is as if a Câ—inite should haâ—e sayd vnto Nâ—ah God neuer witneâ—sed for thee nor gaue testimony of his approuing thy building of the Ark for hardly canst thou shew any one person converted by thy precahing or Ark building these 120. yeares Our ministery belongeth to our church the assemblies whereof Papists Athâ—ists such like wicked ones vse not to frequent and how is it poâ—sible â—ur ministery should conuert such as come not to heare it If we wâ—â—ld obiect vnto you that few Turks and Saracens haue been converred by yâ—ur mâ—â—isterie what would you answer Yet where you say â—e can harâ—ly shâ—w my c. we can if need wer shew you many that wer sometime profâ—in irreligious whiles they were of your church but coÌ„mâ—ng and heâ—râ—ng by Gods providence the doctrine of our church haue been reclâ—ymed from their lewd life doe walk holily in the faith with vs. It is true in â—eed that our cause hath wrought most vpoÌ„ such as being somtimes vnâ—er yoâ—r ministery had tender consciences pliable to the truth others of more corrupt consciences haue set against blasphemed it Tâ—e â—â—â—â—ideratioâ— of this in any wise mans iudgment wil rather lead vnto â—hen â—rom our cause when the better sort by your own confession do come vnto vs the worser and refuse remayn stil with you Your last poynt which you would haue specially to be obserued that multitudes haâ—e fallen from vs to every kind of heresie and impietie is indeed worthy to be obserued For first the scripture is fulfilled which sayth mâ—ny shâ—ll â—leaue vnto them faynedly Dan. 11.34 Secondly being fallen if they had com to a more holy faith better walking wheÌ„ they were gone out from vs it might haue importeâ— ours to be evil but now that they haue fallen to grosse heresie impietie it argueth Gods hand so be heavy vp on them because they continued not in the truth with vs. And this the scripture confirmeth saying of such as receiue not the loue of the truth
force If your people were truelâ—e regenerate they would not sinne mâ—stike me not I know the remainders of sinne dwell in the best men and draw them to that they neyther would not ought but as thâ— Apostle sayth He that is borne of God sinneth not And seing so many and great sinns reign in your best assemblies how can you say you are regenerate for I haue before manifested that ordinarilie people are kept and continued among you in an vnholy communion with the wicked and irreligious and nourished with sâ—perstition and idolatrâ— these and the like things are no tokens of true regeneration Mr Iohnsons confession is before treated of and will not import that which you would infer The causes and meanes ordeyned by God to beget faith are not by Esa 55 11 Râ—m 10.17 proued to be among you For there is spoken of the word going out of the Lords mouth but your minâ—sters are not the Lords mouth because they haâ—e not from him their calling sending and authoritie to preach bâ—t haue it from his enemie Antichrist and as the Apostle saith how shal thâ—y preach except they be sent Neither are they as the Lords mouth because they separate not the precious from the vile Ier. 15 19. Neyther are the infallible effects of faith c. proued by Gâ—l 5 6 â—2 to be in the true members of yâ—ur best assemblies For seing faith is there sayd to work by loue and there is no loue of Christ vnlesse men keep his commandements and his commandâ—ments are not kept in your idolatrouâ— assemblies it cannot be affirmed that you loue the Lord if so you contineâ— continew in sinne or that you haue true faith But rather seing the contrary works of the flesh which the Apostle there mentioneth adultery fornication c idolatrie witchcraft hatred c. contentions seditions heresies c. are found in the true members of your church for all among you are baptised and all baptised are true members you are more rightly to be reputed vnregenerate and vnsanctâ—fied in that your sinnfull and confused estate Neyther haue you Christs power in your best assemblies to cast out the wicked from among you but they are fostered fâ—d and blessed with your word prayers sacraments c. and such as absteyn from your idolatrie and from communion with the wicked you hate reproach excommunicate and persecute that your church is indeed a mother to the profane But a stepmother to the faithfull The 6 argument THose Churches for whome the Churches of God reiâ—yce are true Churcheâ— 2. Thes. 1.4 But our best assemblies are such for whome the churches of God reioyce Ergo. The reason of the proposition is because the churches of God haue the spirit of discerning a true church and ministery from a false as Ioh 10.27 5. Maâ— 24 24 1 Cor. 14 32. and 10 15· 1 Ioh. 4 1· The assumption is true because all the churches of God reioyce in our best assemblies and haue giuen vs the right hand of fellowship and testimony of a truâ—â—hurch hauing ioyned our publick confession with their Harmony Answer THIS argument is one and the same with the third of your first Constlerations saue that it hath gotten the fashion of a syllogisme The in sâ—fficiencie of this reason I haue there shewed and thether doe referr the reader Further here I answer that you turne the testimony of the reformed churches to your best advantage yet neyther with equitie nor good successe For they joy not for your best assemblies more then for your worst but for your Church in generall and the confeâ—sion of the same They rejoyce for every Bishop Priest and Deacon and for every Parish that maketh such confession as Bishop Iewel in his Apologie hath set down Part of which Apologie they haue vnited with their Harmâ—nie And why bring you them as approuing your best assemblies onely Your Lords the Prelates may truely say you doe them wrong to apply vnto your selues the applause which other churches giue to their Apologie They wil tel you in your own words the churches of God haue the spirit of discerning a true church and Ministery from a false But the reformed â—hurches haue discerned the nationall church of England whereof the Archbâ—shop of Cant· is Pastorâ— to be a true church they haue discerned the Diâ—cesan Bishâ—ps in England as well as the Parish Priests to be true Ministers and reioyce as well for their Sees as for yoâ—r Parishes hauing joyned these all alike in their Harmony And what will you that suffâ—r sâ— many things for sepâ—rating in yâ—ur châ—rch as yoâ— sâ—yd answer to your right reverend Fathers against whome like vnnaturall children yoâ— hauâ— striven so long and would have them with their jâ—risdâ—ctâ—on â—ut out of your church thâ—t the Pâ—râ—sh priest or Deacon mâ—ght Lord it alone More particularly I answer yoâ—r first propostion is vnsound cannot be proâ—ed from the scripture you allege 2 Thâ—s 1.4 from which text yoâ— must conclude on this faâ—hâ—on Pâ—ul and Siluanus and Timotheuâ— reioyced of the Thesalonians in other churches of Gâ—d because of their pacience and faith in all persecutions c. Therefore the reformed churcheâ— reioycing for the church of England it must needs be a true church The conseqâ—ence is denied True churches may err in their judgment of an other church especialy if theâ— be not rightly informed of the statâ— thereof as the reformed churches are not by that your Apologie Moreover he that mindeth the things recorded of that church 1 Thes. 1 3 6 7 9 c. and the different estate to be seen in your church may soon perceiâ—e their is no lâ—ke cause of joy for you â—s for them that if there be a lâ—ke effeâ—t it is in error The reason of the proposition is no better confirmed by the scriptures you allege For when Chrâ—â—t sayth Iohn 10 27 5. Mâ— sheep hâ—ar my voyce and they will not follow a stranger doeth he send his sheep to other flocks to try their shepheards by or if I see my shepheard to be a thâ—ef a hireling a wolf mâ—st I commit my sowl vnto hâ—m because other shepherds wâ—ll giue him the right hand oâ— fellowship In the other scriptures say nâ—t the Apostles to the particular churches and persons iudge ye what I saâ— try ye thâ— spâ—rit and beleeue not euery spirit But you would not haue our selues to iudâ—e or try but to send over sea and hear what other churches iudge if they apâ—roue we must not disalow You may as wel bid vs. put out our own eyes that other men may lead vs and as soon will we follâ—w you in that as in this your popish counsell We have learned to liue by our own faith and know that every man shall beare hâ—s own bâ—rden and answer for himself to God But you will tell vs if we can iudge and discerne the true church others can doe it also and better I
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
himself and the Conformists of farr greater esteem in this church then the Reformists Whether this be not a playne schisme and Mr Bern a factious person thus to carry hâ—mselfe in a church let himselfe say as also whether he be not fâ—r this ipso â—acto excommâ—nicated by force of theâ—r own Canon which sayth Whosoeuer shall hereafter separate themselues from the Communion of Saincts as it is approued by the Apostles rules in the Church of England and combine themselues together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christiâ—ns who are conformable to the doctrine gouernments rites and ceremonies of the church of England to be profane and vnmeet for them to ioyne with in Christian profession let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publick reuocation of such their wicked errors Into like danger doth he come by Canon 11 and 12. The il meanes by which our cause is mainteyned he makeâ—h to be strange expositiâ—n of scripture c. First Mr Bern. here walketh still in the Papists steps who obiect the like vnto the Protestants Let an indifferent reader say they peruse the learnedst book of these reformers and he shall see in them false allegations of Fathers corruptions of scriptures fathers and councels c. Secâ—â—dly I answer our expositions may seeme strange to such as are themselues strangers from God but the Godly wise can discerne to whom if they haue read our books I leane the iudging of this probability Now thâ—s old calumniatioÌ„ which SataÌ„ layd vpoÌ„ the Sainct how truly Mr Bâ—rn hath layd vpon vs let his proofs shew which are in these two particulars First that one of us sayth All the truth is not taught in the Church of Eâ—gland and to proue this Act. 20 21. is cited Which one of vs thus citeth Act. 20 and where Mr Bern. nameth not Good cause we haue to suspect his faithfulnes for in his book he chargeth vs with some errors which we hold not as after shall appear And he that would so iniury the whole what may we think he wâ—ll doe for a part I suppose therefore the party cited that scripture to proue the whole truth ought to be taught which because it may be questioned whether it be needfull at all times therefore the Apostles example is brought As for the Priests of England 〈◊〉 they preach not the whole truth is proued by their dayly practise who balk many truthes touching the church ministery worship governmenâ— c. as all that obserue their doctrines know very well It is proued â—lso by the lawes and canons of their church which excommunicate â—ll such as shall by the truth reproue the falsehoods and abominations that are among them as before in this treatise is shewed And Mr Bern. is very silly if he exspect any scriptures to proue what is now taught in his church Furthermore if it be granted him that Act. 20. were by some one of vs alleged for the purpose he pretendâ—th yet it is no more lâ—kelihood that our cause is evill then that his brethrens cause and plea against vs is evill for they without all doubt doe allege scriptures for to proue things done in Engl which it is not posible by the scripturs for to shew See before in this book pag. 43. c 44. But what speak I of others Mr Bern himsefe is fayn to vse such colours els would the glory of his church soon fade for in the 48 page of his book he allegeth God for witnes that they are his people 1 by giuing them his word Psa 147.19 20. 2 by his effectuall working thereby Ier 22 22 therefore there is the voyce of the sonne of God Ioh. 5.25 c. If these be found and sufficient proofs that England hath Gods word because Israel had it and so in the rest then why may not men allege like Scriptures and proofs against them saying They are stayned with their own works and goe a whoring with their own inuentions Psal. 106 39. from the Prophets of Ierusalem is hyprocrisie gone forth into all the Land Ier. 23.15 I haue not sent these Prophets sayth the Lord yet they ran c. Ier. 23.21 and the like So then Mr Bern. must eyther bring better reasons for himselfe or els he may blush to blame others for that wherein himself is more faulty then they if they be faulty at all The other particular which he specifieth is that places setting forth the inuisible church c. we bring to set forth the visible church by as namely 1. Pet. 2.9 10. But Mr Bern. shewes his reader no reason at all why that Scripture must be vnderstood of the inuisible church as he Sayth and it is an easie matter for him to find faults without reasoÌ„ in any maÌ„s writing That place of Peter as the wise reader may perceiue Speaketh of and to the visible or Sensible church for th' Apostle wrote to the visible christians the strangers that then dwelt in Pontus Galatia c. and this which he speaketh to them in Chap· 2 9.10 is as Moses of old spake to the visible church of Israel Exod. 19 6. Againe he mentioneth the end of their calling to this dignity vidz to shew forth the vertues of him that had called them out of darknes into his maruelous light which whether it appertaynes not to the visible church I leaue it for euery true member thereof to iudge And such as these are the exceptions that D. Allison to whome he referreth us tooke heretofore which because they are vnworthy a Dr. of Diuinity we haue though best to passe by as vnworthy of reply till further occasion The 4. likelihood is that we haue not the approbation of any reformed churches Churches for our cause This is much like his first probability before answered and seemeth to be a mayn propp to vphold the church of England which loue to make flesh their arme The reader may see this poynt thrise vrged before in this book and thrise answered I referr him also to our Letters vnto Mr Iunius whome Mr Bern. mentioneth finally to the Apologie of the church of England where themselues say vnto the like obiections of the Papists thâ— truth of the Gospel of Iesus Christ dependeth not upon councels add also nor vpon Churches nor as S. Paul sayth vpon the iudgements of mortall creatures The 5. is the condemnation of this way by the Diuines of England both liuing and dead c. But this is no other likelihood then it is like Mr Bern. if he had then liued would haue alleged against Christ himselfe when the learned Priests Rabbines and Diuines of Israel condemned his way and doctrine Ioh. 7.48.49 19 7. c. If these learned English Diâ—ines haue confuted vs let Mr Bern. or any shew the scriptures and reasons by which they haue done it if they were our aduersaries without reason as some of them he
or reference to Christ as a wife to her husband But if a mans wife play the whore neuer so often and openly she may be by Mr Bern. doctrine esteemed a corrupt but not a false wife Such distinctioÌ„ he may cary to the stewes Corruptions there may grow in churches and they yet be true churches as at Pergamus Thyatira c. corruptions also there may be that will make true churches false as in Israel and Rome where first wre assemblies of Saincts afterward they became whores and habitations of Diuils And there may be such corruptions in the constituting of a church that embraceth much truth as will make it from the first a false church as in Samaria 2. Kin. 1â— 27.28 c HIs second sort of reasons is from the greeuous sinns that are among vâ— by reason whereof from our own ground we may not sayth he be ioyned with The sinns he reckneth 6. First that woefull entrance before named I answer that Mr Bern. entred into this reason with vntruth and continued in it with begging the question as before is shewed So that this his obiection is very wofull aâ—d the man deserâ—eth rather to be pitied then answered in his iâ—le 〈◊〉 made without proof THe second is a hie degree of vnthankfulnes both to God that begat vsâ—ly â—is word and to our mother the church of Engl. that barâ— vs. I answer 〈◊〉 thank God for that knowledge of him whâ—ch we atteyned vnto in the Church of England and are thankfull also as is meet to all the instruments which God hath vsed to bring vs vnto knowledge but now when God hath shewed vs a further truth as what châ—lâ—e of his seeth not more dayly we should shew great vnthankfâ—lnes if we would not walk in it much more if we should blaspheme and persecute it as Mr. Bern. and many of his fellow Priests doe strugling against the light that shineth vpon them A papist may haue occasion of thankfulnes vnto Gâ—d aâ—d men for the knowledge of God and Christ which he hath get in thâ— Roâ—ish church farr aboâ—e that which he could haue had among Pagans yet if vpon sight of the errors in Popery he forsake that false church and ioyne to some other true no man can without vngodlynes condemne him of vnthankfulnes The Papists heretofore haue vsed such reasons as these agaâ—nst the Protestants now they for want of better apply them aâ—â—inst vs. Tâ—e third sinne imputed to vs is that we are full of spirituall vnchariblenes First toward thâ—m that will not goe our way nor be inclinable to vs whome he sayth we deeply censure and deadly condemn First this also is an old popish cauill vsed often against the Protestaâ—ts One telleth them they deserue the punishments of Parricides for scoffing taunting contemning and reviling their forefathers 2. Our vncharitablenes if such it be is this that we pray for and wish vnto all as to our own sowles even life and peace we seek to couer a multitude of sinns which then is done when sinners are converted from going astray And for this cause we speak that which we beleeue and know though the world therfore hate vs. 3 Câ—nsuâ—â— or condemn those that go not our way we doe not we know every man shall stand or fall to his own master It is the sinne onely which we condemn the sinner we seek to saue leauing him to the Lord who shall iudge both him and vs at the last day 4. But how charitable the ministers of England are vnto vs let theiâ— continuall reproches and vituperies in pulpit and in print shew and how they censure and condemn vs and all that will not goe their way let Mr. Bernards own book speake where by the sentence of his godly ministers every one is damned as cutting himselfe off from Christ whosoeuer wittingly and continually separateth from the church of EnglaÌ„d where yet so innumerable abominations and idolatries doe abound 2. Secondly our vncharitablenes as he sayth is a most vngodly desire as ever was heard of to haue the wâ—rd vtterly extinguished among them Aegyptian darknes to come over them rather then that it should be preachedly such as doe not fauour our course c. Our desire is that the Aegyptian darknes which now couereth the land by meanes of the false Prophets that are therein were done away and that the true light of the Gosâ—ell were risen vnto them We are sory to see the prophets which haue night for a vision and darknes for a divination as was threatned of God â—o to deceiue the people by preaching lyes in the name of the Lord when he neuer sent them Christ hath no need of such falsers to help up hâ—s kâ—ngdome he hath wayes and meanes yenough by his own ordinaÌ„ce minâ—stery to build vp his â—hurch though Antichrists clergie be sent back to the bottomles pit from whence they came We know men gather not grapes of thornes nor figs of thistles Lamentable experience these many yeres sheweth what hurt and misery commeth by this false hierarchy and priesthood which vpholds idolatry profanenes and humane traditions pleads for sinne and against the truth to the destruction of mens sowles We wish people therfore to beware of false prophets though they come in sheeps clothing and to seek the Lord by his own ministery not by Ant christs for the theefe commeth not but to steal to kill and to dâ—stroy Let them see by the lamps of God in his own Sanctuary and Candlestick and walke in the light of Ierusalem his church which hath the glory of God arisen vpon it leauing Vr of the Chaldees and walking no longâ—r in the light of the fire and sparks that men haue kindled to themselues least they lie down in sorow 3. The last poynt of our vncharital lenes whâ—ch M. Bern. sayth is the highest degree of all is that we are sorry and enâ—ious that the good things of God doe prosper with them c. That the good things of God doe prosper with them and the truth preuail manger all opposition we haue cause to reioyce for and doe reioyce Yea and we doubt not but the enuious writings and dealings of Mr. Bern and his fellowes against the gospell God will turne to the furtherance of the same and the generation of the righteous shal be blessed which the wicked shal see and fret and gnash their teeth and pine away when their desire shall perish But what are the good things Mr. Bern. meaneth Not the truth of God indeed for that he blasphemeth and writeth against as Schisme and Brownisme Nor the reformists cause called Puritanisme for that prospereth not as all men see but decreaseth dayly The Prelates are the men that prevayl for a whâ—le their canons are confirmed their ceremonies flourish and their hornes are exalted Whether M Bern himselfe who wrote not lâ—ng since a book against
them to be the uery shrines of idols and lyable to the Curse Thus are we come to an end with M Bernard passing by his impertinent discourses which in his rouing he ran into leauing him also for his unchristian reproches and iniurious calumniations to the mercy or iudgment of the Lord who behold commeth with ten thowsâ—nds of his Saincts to giue iudgment against all men and to rebuke all the vngodly among them of all their wicked deeds which they haue wickedly committed and of all their cruâ—l speakings which wicked sinners haue spokeâ— against him THE MINISTERS POSITIONS SHAKEN THere is added to Mr Bernards book an other work intituled CERTAIN POSITIONS held and maynteined by some godly ministers of the gospel against those of the separation and namely against Barrow Greenwood The groundwork whereof is thus layd That the Church of England is a true Church of Christ and such a one as from which whosoeuer wittingly and continually separateth himselfe cutteth himselfe â—ff from Christ I will not stand vpon the consequences that may be made of this position whereby all that abhorrâ—ng the abominations in that church and so separating from it are quite cut off from Christ whatsoeuer truth they profeâ—â—e and walke in or whatsâ—euer other church they ioyne vnto but I will insist in a brieâ— answer to that which these Ministers bring to proue this their peremtory sentence and they be 4. reasons 1 For that they enioy and ioyne togither in the use of those outward meanes which God in his word hath ordâ—yned for the gathering of an inuisible Church that is preaching of the gospel and administration of the sacraments 2. For that their whole church maketh profession of the true faith 3. For that thâ—y hold and teach c. all truthes fundamental 4. For that all known churches in the world acknowledge that church for theâ—r sister and giue vnto her the right hand of fellowship These things haue been before handled in this treatise and the weakneâ—â—e of them discouered yet because it may be thought new men will make new arguments and many heads together bring forth deep counsels let us weigh what these godly ministers haue here sayd For proof of the first poynt they doe allege that the meanes which they vse and enioy haue been effectuall to the vnfained conuersion of many as may appear both by the other fruites of faith that may be found amongst them and by the martyrdome which sundry haue enduâ—ed c yea euen we our selues are able to witnes with them that if there be any true faith and sanctification in us it was begun and bred in thâ—ir assemblies Secondly that if Mat. â—8 18.20 Eph. 4 11.12.14 be well examined it wilâ—e found that the meanes which Christ ordeyned for the gathering of an inuisible church are the very same which they enioy euen the preaching of the word and administration of the sacraments I answer All this that they say will not proue their Position namely that the church of England which consisteth of the whole nation diuided in to many dioceses and parishes vnder one or two Archbishops c. is a true church of Christ. For the Papists boast of all these things as colourable and as truely as these ministers Their priests haue conuerted many from Pagenisme Iudaisme and profanenes of life their church hath had many martyrs Luther and others that first left them had their faith begun in their assemblies c. and whatsoeuer Ministery is in England from the Archprelate to the halfe priest the Papists haue amongst them yea Engl. had it from them And it is to be admired that these godly ministers can allege nothing for their church but such old popish stales How vainely they assume these things vnto themselues hath been shewed befoâ—e fruits of faith appear noâ— in their confuse assemblies whâ—re God is publâ—ckly dishonoured by false worship his enemies profane wicked people fostered and bleâ—sed with his most holy things and Antichristian prelates and Canons obeyed Were it as they say that many haue been conuerted is that â—enough to make all the church We haue testimonies from their own mouthes that there be swarmes and thowsands of profane irreligeous atheists blasphemers and open wicked liuers Mr Gifford a champion of their own hath confessed and printed it that through want and absence of â— sincere ministery there is a flood of ignorance and darknesse ouerflowing the most part of the land the fear of God is banished from the greatest part the wonderfull heaps and piles of sinne which should be washed and clensed away by the word doe undoubtedly with one voyce cry alowd in the eares of the Lord for veâ—geance vpon the whole realm c Shal now a few supposed conuerts makâ— all this rowt a Christian church It is impiety and an ouerthrow of the Gospell Gen. 3.15 2 Cor. 6.14 18 Mat 15.13 Reu. 21..2 3.27 and 28.15 What meane these Ministers to boast so much of their martyrs whose blood cries against them in the eares of the Lord of hosts For did not their church kill them Let one of themselues speake in this case least we be thought partiall Who knoweth not sayth Mr Nichols how much blood of Gods Saincts was spilt in former ages and how many howses were guilty of blood And when did this land serioâ—sly and sincerely humble it selfe by â—pen repentance make reconciliation for the same Nay rather how many thowsands repined at the happy reign of her maiesty for the casting out of the idolatrous and superstitious worship of God and for the establishing of his holy namâ— and the liberty in preaching of the Gâ—spell This testimony is known to bâ— true the greater is their sinne that now plead for such a people to be a true Church of God Shall the Cainites be honoured for Abels martyrdom or the Iewes for crucifying Christ then also may the bloody genâ—tion of Papists be canonized for Saincts and made members without râ—pentance of a christian church And for these ministers let them heart and make vse of Christs words to their predecessors Woe unto you for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets and your fathers killed them Truly yâ— bear witnes and allow the deeds of your fathers for they killed them and yâ— build their sepulchres Fulfil ye also the measure of your Fathers It is a slight and simple kinde of reasoning to tel us if those scriptureâ— Mat. 28. Eph. 4. be well examined it will be found that the meanes which Christ ordeyned for the gathering of an inuisible church ar the uery same which they inioy First what doting Friar will not say this much for his popish Synagogue Then why doe not these ministers bring the meanes they boast of to the examination by these scriptures is it yenough think they to the examination by these scriptures is it yenough thinke they to cite a text or two and then ran away The