vnderstanding but therein the L. hath shewed mercy vnto me which mercy I desire also for you but what is this to excuse your slaundering rayling scoffing inconstancy Apostacy conformity subscription blasphemy the rest which you have plentifully discovered to al the world Shew me how when after the acknowledgment of the truth I fell back as you have done many tymes that I ever yeelded to the Prelates conformity or Subscription after I once withstood it amōg the rest of your follyes ther is one vntruth that I did kneele downe praise God for Satisfaction after doubting Not so I remayned doubting alwayes till I saw the truth after I once doubted but during the tyme of my doubting which was 9. Months at the least I did many actions arguing doubting but that I ever sel back from any truth I saw I praise God I can with a good conscience deny it you are never able to prove that against me but the L. wil cut out the tong that speaketh lyes The second Section These oppositions of yours you have written in a lettre which came of late to my sight which are thus in your lettre Touching your oppinions in these things shall I never be perswaded that you doe well in 1 In Seperating from all the Reformed Churches 2. In holding that one sinne of one man publiquely obstinately stood in not reformed by a true constituded Church doth so pollute it that none may commicate with it in the holy things of God til the partie offending be by the Church put out after lawful conviction 3. In maintayning that it s not lawful to heare any ministers amongst vs whatsoever thy be nor to joyne in prayer with such as feare God among vs. 4. In holding that Princes have no more to doe in Ecclesiastical causes thē one of you in a particular congregation 5. That the powre of binding losing is given to the whole multitude not to the principal members therof 6. That the word truly preached Sacraments rightly administred are no infallible tokens of a true Church 7. That a minister may be made without Elders ordinarily I meane for extraordinary courses are not now to be vsed for ought I see 8. That such as are not in your way are to be accounted without after the Apostles meaning 1. Cor. 5.12 9. That those which are not of a true constituted Church are no subjects of Christs Kingdom 10. That an erroneous constitution of a Church is a real Idol 11. That only Saints as Mr. Smith defineth them by 4 proporties are the matter only of a visible Church 12. That every of our assemblies are false Churches al our ministers false ministers our worship a false worship 13. That a company truly fearing God if any open wicked joyne with them are not capable to chose them a minister over them 14. That baptisme is not administred among vs simply into the faith of Christ but into the faith of the Bbs. or Church of England 15. That ministers ought only to live of voluntary contribution not of stipends or any set mayntenance 16. That our Churches ought to be rased downe not to be imployed to the worship of God Al which I do verely beleeve to be crrors I see not which way men can joyne to you to swallow vp al these as truths into which you doe runne in avoyding our corruptions that with such deep condemnation of vs as is greatly in your behalf to be lamented but I am tedious c. _____ R. B. This is your writing word for word wherein you have taxed mee by name in one particular indeed in most of them it shal be my part therfor to cleer these matters for your information that if it be the wil of God you may see the truth walk in it which I vnfeynedly desire of the Lord or els that you may no longer seduce others from the truth your corrupt walking being once discovered vnto the simple my intent therfor is not to take these points in that order which you have placed them in but to assume thē in the natural order wherin things vsually among Schollers are discoursed Paralleles Censures Observations aperteyning to the Second Section I desire heer to advertise the reader that these 16. points which Mr. Bern. accounteth error are againe in his book intituled the Seperatifts Schisme rehearsed refined augmēted changed as it pleaseth the forger into another order shape nomber which it shal not be impertinent heer to propound for evidence sake that the Reader comparing these 16. points with those 22. For so they are in nomber may discerne the agreement difference so more fully be informed of the whole cause The particulars are these following as they are expressed in divers pages of his booke as pag. 78 the title of them is this The Errors of the Seperatists the matter of their Schisme 1. They hold that the constitution of our Church is a false constitution pag. 78. 2. They hold our constitution a real Idol so vs idolaters pag. 79. 3. That such as are not of a particular constituted Church to wit such a one as theirs is are no subjects of Ch. Kingdom pag. 80.81 4. That all not in their way are without do apply against vs 1. Cor. 5.12 Eph. 2.12 pag. 82. 5. That only Saynts that is a people forsaking al knowne sinne of which they may be convinced doing al the knowne wil of God in creasing abiding ever therein are the only matter of a visible Church pag 83. 6. That the powre of Christ that is authority to preach to administer the Sacramēts to exercise the censures of the Church belongeth to the whole Church yea to every one of them not to the principal members thereof pag. 48. 7. That the sinne of one man publiquely obstinately stood in being not reformed not the offender cast out doth so pollute the whole congregation that none may cōmunicate with the same in any of the holy things of God though it be a Church rightly constituted til the partie be excommunicated pag. 102.103 8. That every of our assemblies are false Churches pag. 109. 9. Al our Ministers say they are false Ministers pag. 128. 10. Our worship say they is a false worship pag. 146. Divers other opinions they hold which I will also set downe they be these pag. 150.151 1. That our congregations as they stand are all every of them vncapable before God to chose them Ministers though they desire the meanes of salvtion pag. 151. 2. That God in our best assemblies is worshipped after a false manner pag. 151. 3. That baptisme is not administred into the faith of Ch. simply but into the sayth of Bishops or Church of England pag. 152. 4. That our saith repentance is a false faith false repentance pag. 152. 5. That our Ministers converting men to God heere do it not as Pastors but as Teachers pag
to the covenant Christ the promises as a freholder hath to his lands possessions Esa 9.6 Vnto vs a sonne is given the chruch is the spouse of Christ so hath powre to Christ the covenant promises the Church is the body of Christ the body hath a real possession title powre to the head all the helps therof For the faithful are flesh bones of Christ Eph. 5.30 these things are manifest to them that wil vnderstand if any man be ignorant let him be ignorant But it may be Mr. Bern. you wil say that powre to bind lose are no properties of the Church but only priviledges For shame say not so Surely this plea argueth that either you got litle Logick in the vniversity or that you have forgot it or if you remeÌ„ber it you either carelesly neglect it or wilfully pervert the vse of it to seduce your followers I pray you tel me in good sooth what difference is there betwixt a priviledg a propertie Is not a priviledge according to the notation of the word privata lex a private law wherin one person or state is interessed The King hath certaine previledges or prerogatives as to pardon condemned persons to dispence with his law a negative voice in parliament c. I would faigne know of you whither these be not properties such as the Kings Queenes of the nation only have title to no other but consider wel with your self what relation ther is betwixt a priviledg the person that is interressed in the priviledg Is it not the relation of the subject the adjunct A priviledg therfor is an adjunct to the priviledged person Now al adjuncts are either proper or common adjuncts but a priviledge is not a common adjunct as I am sure you wil confesse or els you want reason therfor it is a proper adjunct It it be a proper adjunct it is a propertie so your distinction is senselesse vnscholler like you may aswel say that pepper is hot in working cold in operation as to say that the true Church may be without her priviledges but not without her properties Therfor I doe heer before the L. attach you as a deceaver of the people in teaching thus contrary to al learning true vse of reason that the powre of the Lord Iesus Christ given to the church one part whereof consisteth in binding losing is only a priviledg not a propertie of the true Church that the true Church may want it It is as impossible for the true Church to want Christs powre as for a man to want reason Mr. Ber. answer now or els yeeld to the truth you cannot for shame denie the one of them Paralleles Censures Observations aperteyning to the seaventh Section In this Section I write prove that the powre of binding losing is given to the whole multitude not to the principal members therof Mr. Bern. in his book intituled the Sep. Schisme pa. 88. calleth it the A.B.C. of Brownisme to hold That the powre of Christ that is authority to Preach to administer the Sacraments to exercise the censures of the Church belongeth to the whole Church yea to every one of them not the principal members therof Mr. Ains answering Mr. Ber pa. 174. Saith that Mr. Ber. may put this opinion if he please in the Criss-crosse-rew of Bernardisme he himself being the first that ever he heard to vtter such a position afterward pa. 175. 176. 177. 178. Expoundeth what that auncient Church whereof of he is teacher holdeth concerning it Wel Let vs handle these things largely to ful satisfaction herein I professe befor the Lord befor the whole world that if I do not prove evidently my assertion that the powre of binding losing is given to the whole multitude not to the principall members therof I wil acknowledg the Churches of England yea the Churches of Rome yea the Greek Churches also to have a true ministery to be true churches of Christ For if the ministerie the holy things with the ministerie come by succession from the Apostles handes through the churches of Rome the Grecians that ther are no ministers but such as are made by theÌ„ froÌ„ theÌ„ successively our whole cause of Seperation lyeth in the dust we must disclaime our Schisme which we have made our heresies which we hold but if it be proved that the true ministerie commeth not by succession from the churches of Rome or the Grecians that the holy things are not given to the ministery by sucessioÌ„ but are giveÌ„ first to the body of the church the faithful yea though they be but two or three that both the ministerie and all the powre that the ministerie hath doth â—â—ow from the Fountayne Christ Iesus through the body of the Church 〈◊〉 the Presbytery then is your Church ministerie false so are the Churches of the East West much more then we those Churches only which raise vp their Ministerie from the Election aprobation ordination of a faithful people are the true Church of Christ having the true Ministerie of Christ you with the rest of Gods people in Babylon must seperate joyne together walk in the Lords ordinances as we other true Churches doe or els woe be vnto you from the Lord Therfor in this particular I would supplicate the Kings Majestie my Soveragne Lord on earth the Lords of the Parliament The Gentlemen that susteyne the person of the commons in the nether howse al the learned men of the Land to confider to search out this point For it being throughly cleered may breed peace infinite good to the whole nation whereas it being suppressed choked darkened neglected draweth with it al the contentions and controversies amongst them that professe Christ in the whole earth For my part Mr. Ber. I wil endevour according to my poore hability to discover what I have conceaved and doe vndoubtedly beleeve from the Scriptures and doe make the beginning of my inquisition after this manner which I desire the gentle reader to weigh consider of with his best attention Christs visible church which is his Kingdom hath in it a spiritual powre and jurisdiction by the confession of al that professe Iesus Christ which powre is of two sortes 1. The powre of Christ himself who is the Lord King of his Church Mat. 28.18 and he is the Fountaine of powre being the head of the Church which is his body Eph. 1.22.23 For as the head is the Fountaine of life sense motion powre to the whole body as the Mr. of the howse is the original of al oeconomical powre So is Christ the original of al spiritual life sense motion powre to the Church which is his body family This is evident in regard of this powre which is inherent in Christ the church which
Therfor Christs ministerial powre commeth not by succession to the Pope Bbs. or Presbytery primarily but is given to the body of the Church The sixth Argument If Christs ministerial powre commeth by succession to the Pope Bbs. or Presbytery Then the office of the Deacons widowes are lost sith succession in them is interrupted lost for as in the old testament a Preist came of a Preist a Levite of a Levite so an Elder maketh an Elder a Deacon ordeyneth a Deacon a widow must ordeyne a widow But the office of the Deacon widow is not lost for none of Gods ordinances are perisht but may be had or els Gods truth mercy to his Church fayleth who hath said that he wil be with his Church to the end of the world Therfor Christs ministerial powre commeth not by succession to the Pope Bbs. or Presbytery primarily but is given to the body of the Church The seaventh Argument That doctryne which destroyeth it self is false The doctryne of succession viz that Christs ministerial powre commeth by succession to the pope Bbs. or Presbytery destroyeth it self Therfor the doctryne of succession is a false doctryne The minor I manifest thus If the papists say truly that al ecclesiastical powre floweth from Christ to the Clergie though the pope then why doth the college of Cardinalls make a pope by Election why doth not one pope make another pope before his death Therfor Election overthroweth the succession of the popes office For the pope cannot both give Christs Ministerial powre to the Clergie of Rome take the same ministerial powre from the Cardinals by Election but when the pope is dead then is Christs ministerial powre dead also in the popes person thus doth successioÌ„ overthrow it self in the pope by consequent in the rest For Christs ministerial powre being once interrupted in the pope can never be recovred againe but is vtterly lost so the Church is abolished For if the presbytery be lost the Church is lost if the bbs be lost the presbytery is lost if the pope be lost the bbs be lost if the pope be dead the pope is lost if the pope be lost Christs ministerial powre is lost for if it be said that the pope hath his powre by Election from the Cardinals theÌ„ succession is destroyed so you may see evidently that succession destroyeth it self seing Election must needes be interposed Therfor indeed ther is no true succession but that of the old Testament viz by descent genealogie this succession which is pleaded for by ordination of precedent presbytery bbs pope is mans invention destroyeth it self therfor is a meer Antichristian devise But heer certayne objections must be answered for the further manifestation of the matter of succession for sactisfaction therein The first Objection Alchough the Ministeriall powre of Christ be not given to the pope so perisheth not with him yet it is given to the bbs who are the Successors of the Apostles in that Ministeriall powre and in the dispensation of it to the Ministerie and Church Seing therefore that ther is a certayne and vndoubted Succession of bbs from the Apostles dayes hetherto one ordeyning another successively therefore though succession be interrupted in the Pope whose ministerial heads hip we renounce yet it is continued in the Bbs. who are the Apostles successors in dispensing this ministerial powâ—e to the ministerie Churches Answer to the first Objection This objection dependeth vppon an vncertanity viz That ther hath been a succession of Bbs. one ordeyning another successively froÌ„ Peter Paul Iames through the Church of Rome the Greekes therfor I answer that except they can shew the courte rowles that I may so speak of the vndoubted successive ordination from Peter Paul Iames c. I shal say vnto al the Bbs. of England as Nechemjah said to the Preists that could not shew ther succession from Aaron by Genealogie Nehem. 7 64.65 Bicause their successive ordination is not found they shal be put from their Bishopricks they shal not administer in the Bbs. office til their arise vp one as with Vrim Thummim to divine vnto vs the truth of this matter For we wil not beleeve the records of the Church of Rome who also are defective in this particular for though they have the succession of Popes yet not of other Bbs. Further the vanity of this objection appeareth in this that hereby they are vrged for the justifying of this Antichristian devise of succession by ordination to go to the throne of Antichrist the popedome to fetch their ministerie thence as if the true ministerie off Christ could be in the false Church of Antichrist hereby also they do acknowledg Rome to be the true Church their Sacrificing Preisthood a true Ministerie orders a true Sacrament the Eucharist a true propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick dead prayers for the dead a thousand such abhominations which are necessary dependances therevppon They must also acknowledg themselves Schismatiques from the Church of Rome are never able to answer the popish bookes the petitions of the Papists to the King who object these and the like things against them The Second Objection Although the pope Bbs have not Christs ministerial powre given to them by succession yet the presbytery may have that powre by delegation from Christ when their shal arise a company of true faithful teachers who standing out against the popedome prelacy al the abhominations therof also renouncing al the corruptions of their ordination refining both the doctryne of faith the true calling of ministers from the drosse of Antichristianisme doe yet notwithstanding retayne the truth which they in the seate of Antichrist had as in the faith so in the ministery For Antichrist had not â—â—â—erly abolished but only corrupted the Lords ordinances Answer to the second Objection This objection dependeth vppon the former grounds namely that the Church of Rome is a true Church though corrupt having a true ministerie though corrupt c. of the rest For otherwise how can they plead ther ministery to be true from the Bbs. except they do acknowledg also the Bbs Ministery to be true receaved froÌ„ the Popedome the popish ministerie to be true for otherwise they must maintaine that a true ministerie commeth from a false ministerie which is as impossible as to bring light out of darknes So that this Objection is also answered in the former already needeth no further answer yet neverthelesse I say vnto the point that al the refining of the world can not bring a true ministery out of a Sacrificing Preisthood Or a true presbytery out of a false Antichristian prelacy For as it was impossible for the preists of the Old Testament to ordeyne true Ministers of the New Testament So much more is it impossible for the false popish Sacrificing preisthood to ordeyne true ministers of Christs true Church For the Sacrificing
drincking of wine performed by any persons after any manner or washing with water likewise true Sacraments I think you will not say it it is therefore necessary that there bee a concurrence of other matters viz That seing Sacraments are in relation and reference those references or relations must needes be annexed els they are not true Sacraments as a baptized person must baptize into the true Faith of Christ a person capable of baptisme A communion of men having title to the Lords Supper must break bread and drinck wine to remember Christ and shew forth his death till he come Therefore whereas you hold and teach that the whole bundel of the Antichristian constitution ministerie worship and Government of the assemblies are the Lords ordinances you teach a false word and whereas you being a false Church and Ministery doe baptize with water and break bread wine to remember a false Christ and a false Testament and a false Faith therein you declare plainly that you have not the true Sacraments and whereas in your Observe well you say Truly and Rightly respect grace in administring the VVord and Sacraments and therefore to preach the word Truly and Rightly to administer the Sacraments are no convertible signes of a true Church I answer That Truly and Rightly to administer doe also respect the outward manner of doing in the Essentiall relations spoken of before and not onely grace And so your Observe well is not worthy observation In your third essential propertie you wil needes have discipline no true convertible signe of a true Church Sir I confesse vnto you that the vse of the Censures of admonition excommunication which I suppose you cal discipline is not a convertible signe of a true Church but only powre title interest to vse them this title I deny you to have For how can you being in your constitution mighled with the world vnseperated poluted with so many Antichristian fornications as yet are extant in your assemblies have title to any of the Lords ordinances doth the Lord think you give his covenant new Testament purchased by the blood of Christ vnto such persons as trample vnder foot the whole Testament of Christ the ordinances therof hath the theef title to the true mans purse though he have the possession of it no more have you title to Chr. visibly though you vsurp him challendg him never so peremptorily wherefor to end this point of the properties of the true Church I say til you have Seperated your selves from al the wicked people Antichristian ordinances in your assemblies til you have vowed covenanted to embrace practise al the ordinances of Christs new Testament you can have no title or interest to the holy things of God vse them as long as you lift you abuse them Lastly to conclude this first part of the Section viz that your Churches are false churches I say to that which you object pag. 110. that many corruptions may be in a church yet it a true Church the constitution being true viz So long as they are not impenitent after conviction therfor Israel the Lords people so long as they retained their true cōstitution Ezech. 16.21.22 the men of Ephesus beleevers ignorant of the visible gifts of the Holy Ghost Act. 14.2 The Corinthians Saints though incest dronkennes fornication false doctryne contention much evil among them bicause they were not impenitent after twise admonition or conviction so forth of the rest but you wil confesse that the Prelates their faction are obstinate after conviction we avouch that the Puritanes are obstinate after conviction for they neither have answered nor can answer that we object against them therfor although you constitutiō had been true which was never yet your Church is become false being obstinate in sinne persecuting to death imprissonment losse of goods c. al that testify against her abhomin tions that this is a signe of a false Church read 2. King 17. Ierem. 3.8 Math. 23.37.38 Math. 21 33-43 Act. 19.9 The second point to be handled in this Section is that al your ministers are false ministers in handling whereof I wil proceed as in the former point of this Section viz First confirme the truth by arguments drawne from the Scriptures Secondly refute your fancyes wherby you would prove your ministery true Therefore in the first place to prove your ministers false Ministers I vse these Arguments The first Argument The true ministerie cannot be raised out of a false Church The Ecclesiastical assemblies of England are false Churches Therfor the ministers of those assemblies Ecclesiastical are false ministers The ground of this argument is propounded confirmed in the 7. Section where it hath been proved by divers vndeniable reasons that Christs ministerial powre whereof one part is the calling of Ministers is not given by succession to the Pope Bbs. or presbytery but to the body of the congregation if they be but two or three So that seing the true Church is in nature being before the ministery the ministerie is but one of the holy things given to the Church one part of Christs powre delegated to the Church one branch of that true title interest which the L. Iesus the Bridegrome husband of the Church giveth to the Bride the Spowse of Christ the true Church The Ministerie therfor must needes follow the Church be after the Church be raised out of the church therefore the true Ministery of Christ is only where the true Church of Christ is so it cannot be in the astemblies Ecclesiastical of England being not the true Churches of Christ The second Argument The true ministerie hath a true office in execution wherof it is exercised Rom. 12.7 1. Cor. 12.5.28 Fph 4.11 The ministerie of the Ecclesiastical assemblies of England have not a true office in execution wherof it is exercised Ergo The ministerie of the Ecclesiastical assemblies of England is not the true ministerie The foundacion of this argument is this viz that seing the ministerie of the Church of England ariseth out of the ministerie of the Church of Rome as a branch out of the root of the tree therfor it must needes be of the same nature kind with the ministerie of the Church of Rome For as a man begetteth a man one light commeth of another one Preist begetteth another in the old Testament so in ordination by succession one Minister maketh another therfor as the branch is of the same nature with the root the Sonne with the Father one candle light with another one Aaronical Preist with another So must the minister ordeyned be of the same nature office with him that ordeyneth him Seing therfor the ministerie of the Church of Rome is a popish Sacrificing Preisthood that is a false ministerie having a false office it must needes follow that the ministerie of the Church of England proceeding from the ministerie
is Christs Kingdome may truly be termed a Monarchie Mat. 23 8-11 Ephes 4.5 Iam. 4.12 This powre which Christ hath in himself cannot passe from himself to any other For as his preisthood is eternal not passing frō him to another Heb. 7.24 so may it as truly be said of his other offices particularly of his Kingdome Monarchicall powre Neverthelesse 2. The Lord Iesus hath ordeyned appointed a certayne order to be observed in his absence in the true visible Church hath delegated a certaine powre authority to his Servants subjects for the preferving of that order for the execution of those ordinances This delegated powre authority is mentioned Marc. 13.34 1. Cor. 5.4 This delegated powre is avouched by the Papists to be in the Pope by the English Prelates to be in the Lord Bbs. Archdeacons By the Presbyterians to be in the Eldership by the brethren of the Seperation to be in the body of the Church primarily and fundamentally For if the Pope Prelates Presbytery or Body of the Church do say that the powre which is in Christ Iesus is in them they doe blaspheme most fear fully robbing Christ of his honour Regal powre make themselves even Christ him self The Pope therfor is not Antichrist for that he vsurpeth that regal powre which is proper to Christ neither are the Bbs. of England Antichrist for vsurping that proper kingly powre which is only in Christ nor the Presbytery Antichristian for challendging the powre Monarchical of Christ but they are al Antichristian for vsurping the delegated powre of Christ which he hath originally given to the body of his Church which is his mysticall body This delegated Ministerial powre which the Pope Bbs. Presbytery challendg they say commeth to them by succession from Christ The Pope he saith Christ hath given this ministerial powre to Peter only his successors the popes of Rome The Bbs. say Christ hath given this delegated powre to al the Apostles the Apostles have given it to the Bbs. their successors The presbyterians say that Christ hath given this ministerial powre to the presbytery or Eldership they conveigh it successively to the elders succeding to the worldes end in the Church Al these three opinions are equally Antichristian for they al of them establish succession which is Iewish so Antichristian For in the old Testament the preisthood was conveighed by successiuon Heer therfor I will prove vnto you by vndeniable arguments that the powre of Christ is not given eyther to the pope Bbs or presbytery but primarily it is given to the body of the Church First Argument If Christs ministerial powre be given by succession to the pope Bbs or presbytery primarily then the ministerie is before the Church Seing that ther must needes be a ministery before ther be any powre of Christ this consequent is infallible But the ministerie is not before the Church but after the Church For it ariseth out off the Church as a part off those Holy things which God hath given to his Church Therfor Christs ministerial powre is not given to the pope Bbs. or presbytery primarily but to the body of the Church They that affirme the ministery to be before the Church must needes hold that a minister is no relative to a Church but that a man may be a minister have no flock to attend on yea that ther may be is a ministery when where ther is no Church or that the chardges of other men are his chardg or that the world is his chardge they must also maintayne that all grace floweth from the ministerie to the Church that the ministerie is a more excellent ordinance then the Church that the Church hath no powre to make ministers but that the ministers have powre to make both ministers churches that ministers are properly by their office Apostles over the whole world for the converting of men planting of Churches the like absurdityes Second Argument If Christs ministerial powre commeth by succession to the pope Bbs. presbytery then the ministery of Rome is a true ministerie and al they that are made ministers by the pope and his clergie are true ministers Then it is lawful to joyne with the true ministerie of Rome and then whosoever are ordeyned and not by a precedent ministery are falsely ordeyned and so are false ministers But the ministerie of Rome is no true ministery and they that are ordeyned by the pope and his clergie are no true but false ministers and it is vtterly vnlawful to joyne with the ministerie of Rome by the confession of al the Protestants and ministers may be ordeyned truly without ministers by the confession of the sincerest reformists Therefor Christs ministeriall powre commeth not by succession to the Pope Bbs. Presbytery primarily but to the body of the Church Third Argument If Christs ministerial powre commeth by succession to the pope Bbs. presbytery then the Lord hath absolutely bound men to sinne seing that wee must needes joyne to the sinnes off the Ministers otherwise men cannot possiblie have enjoy the holy things of God For it is the ordinance of God that wee should vse the holy things this assertion doth avouch that we must have thē from the ministery therfor let ther sinnes be what they wil we must have them from their hands so must joyne to them in al ther sinnes But the L. hath not bound vs necessarily to joyne to other mens sinnes seing he hath commanded vs to Seperate from them this were to lay our sinnes vppon the Lord most blasphemously Therfor Christs ministerial powre commeth not by succession to the pope Bbs. or presbytery primarily but to the body of the Church The fourth Argument If Christs ministerial powre commeth by succession to the pope Bbs. or presbytery then the Lord hath made the Ministers Lords over the Church so that the Church can not have or enjoy any of the holy things any of the L. ordinances except they wil agree or consent them vnto for ther Holy things are in ther powre But the L. hath not made the Ministers Lords over his Church which is his inheritance but they may have enjoy his owne ordinances even al the Holy things contrary to the wil of wicked ministers Therfor Christs ministerial powre commeth not by succession to the pope Bbs. or presbytery primarily but to the body of the Church The fifth Argument If Christs Ministerial powre commeth to the pope Bbs. or presbytery then the presbytery may excommunicate the whole Church Then the Bbs. may excommunicate ther whole dioceses or provinces then the pope may excommunicate the whole church vniversal on earth But the L. Bbs. of England say the Pope cannot excommunicate England The Reformists hold that the Prelates cannot excommunicate their diocesses by consequent just proportion the Presbytery cannot excommunicate that particular Church whereof they are Presbyters
152. 6. That our Church standoth in an adulterous estate pag. 152. 7. That they cannot say certaynly by any warrāt off Gods worde that any of vs hath eyther fayth or seare god pag. 152. 8. That none off our Ministers may be heard pag. 152. 9. That it is not lawful to joyne in prayer with any off vs pag. 155. 10. That Ministers may not celebrate marriage nor bury the dead pag. 156. 11. That Ministers should only live off voluntary contribution not eyther off sett stipends or tithes pag. 156. 12. That our Churches ought to be raced downe not to be imployed to the true worship of God pag. 156. And thus much off this al other their Brownistical opinions pag. 157. This is the Recapitulation of our Brownisticall opiniōs as Mr. Bern. of his blasphemous vncharitablenes giveth them their denomination Remember herein that every cōpany of men whome god raised vp in this latter age to testifie for the truth against the man of sinne hath been intitled with like names as Lutherans Calvinists Zwinglians c. As in the act Christiās are caled the Sect of the Nazarits whēce I for my part should rather gather encouragemeht in the truth we hold then any discouragemēt seing no other thing befalleth vs herein then befell al the witnesses of the L. truth in al ages but let Mr. Bern his conforts vnderstand that we chardg them with Antichristianis me which they can not deny but which the best most sincere professors of the truths which he calleth Brownistical we justifie frō the holy Scriptures wherein let Mr. Bern. consider whither he doe not wound the Holy Scriptures the Holy Apostles Christ Iesus himself the Holy Spirit the author off the Holy Scriptures that through our sides For if these opinious as wee hold them be the truth of God then is he a blasphemer in a very high degree I would know whither he that heretofore oft tymes confessed them for truths can nowwithout horrible impiety apostacy blasphemy proclayme them Brownistical opinions see also whither his conscience can be cleer in this Now Further I desire the reader to compare these 22. particulars with the 16. points which I in this lettre have answered therby he shal observe two things First that Mr. Bern her in chardgeth vs with no thing truly which is not already answered in this lettre therfor he needed not againe to have objected these things publiquely except he had first published the lettre answered the particulars therof but herin it seemeth he thought to bleare the eyes of the world to beare mē in hand that he had somthing to say which was vnanswerable which notwithstanding was already answered as may be perceaved Secondly that this book of Mr. Ber. is most properly directly aymed at my lettre wherin I am most especialy interessed to yeeld answer though it be once answered by another happily may receave a third answer yet I cannot overpasse it least I seme to betray the truth who am by name singled out to the cōbat finaly seing Mr. Bern. hath published against vs without answer to this lettre let vs also herin cōsider his fraud decept in perverting misconstruing adding detracting falsely chardging vs following therein the dealing off his Father the Devill with Christ our first parents For all these evil courses I wil discover evidently to the reader that Mr Bern. in the particular Sections of this lettre hath vsed with mee so let these be added to his former sinnes mentioned in the First Section it wil appeare that he is now manifested by the L. to be one that hath fulfilled the measure of his iniquity The third Section The first point therfor that I wil speak to is vour tenth viz 10. That an erroneous constitution of a Church is a real Idol Heer I would fayne knowe whence you had this position I confesse I have written some such thing but neither have I written neyther doe I hold it as you propound I say that a Religions society framed after the invention of a mā without the warrant of the word is a real Idol but I do not say that some errors in the cōstitution of a Church maketh that Church a reall Idol For as in generation every fault in the seed which is the matter as for example a seed inclined to the gont or consumption or stone doth not make a false man but the partie begotten may be a true man not withstanding the infirmity of the seed So in the constitution of a Church not every error as if the members wherof the Church is framed have ignorances errors or infirmities in them maketh the Church a real idol For so ther should never possibly be a true Church in the world seing it is impossible to find men free from error Therfor this is the ground that I hold that if either the matter of the Church be not such as the word teacheth but a devised matter or of the forme be not that which the word teacheth but a devised forme or if the Church have not the properties which Gods word teacheth which doe necessaryly proceed frō the forme induced vppon the matter then such a Church I avouch to be a real idol take a fimilitude to illustrate it The seed of an asse a horse mingled together in generation doe not produce eyther a true horse or a true asse but a third thing formally differing from both viz a mule even so wicked men joyned with Godly men in a Church doe not produce a true Church but a false Church viz a reall Idol the church of Antichrist For this point consider what the holy Ghost writeth Apoe 18.2 That Antichrists Church is ther Prophesyed to be a cage of every vncleane hateful byrd which might not be eaten or offered in Sacrifice by the Holy people Deut. 14 3.11 againe 2. Cor. 6.14 The Apostle willeth the Corinths not to yoke with vnbeleevers bicause as in the old Testament the Holy people were forbidden to yoke an oxe which was a cleane creature an affe which was vncleane to draw the plough together Deut 22.10 Even so the faithful may not now yoke themselves to draw the L. plough with vn belevers bicause they may have no communion concord agreement followiship or part the one with theother but the faithful who are righteousnes light of the body of Christ the Temple of God the Children of God must come out from the vnbeleevers who are vnrighteousnes darknes of Belial the habitation of Devils Apoc 18.2 yea must be seperated from them must touch none of there vncleannes For if they stil stand in confusion with the vnbeleevers consenting to al ther sines they in that constitution are not a true Church but the prayers they offer vp with the prayers of the wicked comming from that false constitution are taynted with the idolatry of that constitution but perhaps you wil say that