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england_n	church_n	rome_n	separation_n	2,835	5	10.7415	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43313	An essay for the discovery and discouraging of the new sprung schism raised and maintained by Mr Simon Henden of Bennenden in Kent. Exhibited in some passages of writing which have gone between Mr John Elmeston of Cranebroke, and the same M. Henden. Published according to order.	Elmeston, John.; Henden, Simon, attributed name.	1652 (1652)	Wing H1429B; ESTC R216858	34,427	52

to seek our Sion and to joyn with her in society for the worship of God which Sion if it were not then extant or to be enjoyed the command were vain and their endeavour would be to no purpose Thirdly This conceit and course doth cast a foul blot of gross ignorance or rash presumption upon all reformed Churches which upon their breaking off from Rome have not contented themselves with a bare separation but did also set up evangelical Churches opposite to the Roman for Doctrine Worship and Discipline some lesse and some more pure and perfect So hath all Reformation been practised in Germany France Netherland Scotland Old and New England of late And what man is he or who be they unlesse they can prove themselves new Apostles or Prophets or have the pregnant word of God for it and build not only upon their own conjectural interpretation of prophetical mysteries about which other godly learned are at a stand who will presume to tax and blemish so many famous Churches and so many godly and learned Divines which were their guides and leaders Surely it is not piety to condemn the generation of the righteous Psalm 73. 15. nor humility to slight the consent of so many Churches of God 1 Cor. 11. 16. Fourthly It is well worth the while to scan the time when this call for separation Revel. 18. 4. was given And if all circumstances be well weighed this call was not proclaimed untill God had put it into the heart of some Kings and States to joyn to invade and destroy Rome itself which preparation is intimated before Chap. 17. 16. and was surely about the pouring out of the last or some of the last vials And now being ready to give the on-set on Rome by this voice they are called on to plague her thorowly Revel. 18. 6. At which time this call is directed to such of Gods people as might then be hidden in that idolatrous City or the adjoining Territories by a personal flight to forsake her and those places of danger and provide for their safety Which things considered it is not clear that the time of this call is yet come since we see small preparation made as yet or intended by Christian States or Princes against Rome the Throne of the Beast or Italy his Nest and Fortresse And how long it will be ere this be effected onely the Lord knows I am sure that most accounts that learned men have hitherto made of these things have missed and they are in a mist about the three or four last vials not being able certainly to unfold them So that if you have no other ground for your separation then that call as you produce none other you are in danger to prevent the due time of separation and to do all you do in it meerly upon your own will without Gods call As for the spiritual separation made by Protestant Princes and Churches from Rome in Doctrine and Worship as they had a warrant for it from this call the reasons whereof being such as belong to all times and persons not to partake in Romes sins do sufficiently enforce it so had they pregnant grounds for it also from other general commands to flee Idolatry and set up Gods Worship I may last ask Why you and your company go farther in your practice then bare separation For if by separation Revel. 18. 4. you understand a separation meerly negative to be meant as you needs must to make it serve your turn by what warrant do you on the Lords-day celebrate holy Assemblies and exercise the main parts of Gods Worship by your selves and in opposition to our publick Assemblies which you account bestial For this kinde of separation allows no such practice but confines it self to an abstaining from all communion in the publick Worship if corrupt and so farre as it is corrupt But if it be a positive separation that the godly are called to as your practice doth interpret it then nothing lets but others also may set up Churches for the enjoying of all Ordinances as well as you for some And surely when the Apostle did urge such a call for separation unto the Corinthians 1 Cor. 6. 17. out of Isa. 52. 11. he did conceive that the Christians of Corinth were not onely called barely to separate from Paganish Idolatry but also to join together in the true worship of God Fifthly Here follow some things which I apprehend to be some reasons of this your Assertion touching this point of separation 1. We are yet you say but in our journey to Sion visibly separated and not arrived thither and so may not take on us to set up Sion-like Churches Answ. But why are we but on our journey unto Sion visibly separated when as the Apostle describeth this to be the estate of all imbracing the Gospel that they are come to Mount Sion and the celestial Jerusalem and the same not meerly invisible but visibly separated from the impious world Heb. 12. 22. 2. St John saw many thousands Revel. 14. 1. walking with the Lamb on Mount Sion and the same visible as seen by John during the time of the great Apostasie and before the time of this more publick departure and Reformation And why may not our late reformed Christians be ranged among those thousands and admitted to the same Mount Sion with them since in their Reformation they have endeavoured to conform unto them 1. In bearing their Fathers name in their forehead by an open profession of Religion 2 In restoring an orderly performance of Gods Worship by the Ministery and Church-assemblies as they praised God before the four Beasts and the Elders 3. In ascribing their redemption only to God and praising him for it which is meant by the new Song those hundred fourty four thousand did sing 4. By cleansing themselves from Popish Idolatry as those kept themselves virgins and undefiled 5. By holding forth the practice of holinesse as in the mouths of the other there was no guile 3. Admit that we be but in our way to this Sion what lets but that we may set up and use all Gods Ordinances as well as some in this our journey The Israelites whenas they were but in their way to Canaan had all Gods Ordinances set up amongst them and made use of them more or lesse as their unsetled estate and sudden occasions of removing would give leave What you seem elswhere to conclude to this purpose from the Jews bringing along the Temple-vessels with them from Babylon but not officiating with them in their way shall in its place be considered About these matters you referre me to Revel. 15. 8. where we read that the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God c. that none could enter into it untill the seven plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled From whence it seems you would conclude that we are not yet come to Sion Answ. I wish you had made the argument your self opened the

place in your sense and applied it to the purpose For my part I finde a Temple even under the Apostasie measured out and an Altar and some worshipping in it Revel. 11. 1. Yea I finde Angels i. e. Magistrates Ministers and other persons of note whom the Lord would use to execute his judgements upon the Antichristian world Revel. 14. 15 17 18. conversant in it and the four Beasts abiding in it Revel. 15. 7. The Temple then which was before the seven last plagues fulfilled was not so shut but some did enter into it and served God therein Yea that John during this time saw it opened in heaven Revel. 11. 19. and 15. 6. And if Sion and the Temple in your opinion be one and the same thing and both note the state of a true visible Church as you seem to think it is plain that before and under the vials there are acknowledged in the Apocalyps visible Churches and the same true and right unto which Christians had accesse and in which they were conversant You must pardon me then if herein I do not concurre with you that none could enter into the Temple or arrive at Sion i. e. that no visible Church could be found into which men might have entrance and admission untill all the vials were poured out I do rather agree with other godly Interpreters who do understand it of those people who yet for their whole body are clean out of the Church viz. the Jews and Pagans but chiefly the Jews of which it seems no full harvest sufficient to make up a Church or Churches shall or can come in untill the vials be fully poured out to Romes utter destruction It doth not exclude those who were already admitted and entered into the Temple as were the reformed Churches of the western world The second thing which you adde is That we have not yet wholly put off our Babylonish Garments Touching which I shall not say much because you expresse not what you mean by these Babylonish Garments nor wherein they are not put off Only two things I do reply 1. That the retaining of some rags of the Babylonish Garments though it be a deformity to a Church can no more keep a Christian company or person out of Sion then sacrificing unto God in high places somewhat after an Heathenish manner could or did put the Church of the Jews out of Sion or Polygamy not warranted by the Lords first Institution of Marriage put Abraham Jacob or other holy men out of the Catalogue of the ancient and godly Patriarchs or the remainder of some sinfull infirmity in a man regenerate barre him of Communion with Christ 2. Those seven Angels which had the last seven Plagues as they came out of the Temple so also they were cloathed with white and pure linen and were girded about the brests with golden girdles Revel. 15 6. Now what are those Angels but types of those instruments which the Lord would use in executing those seven last Plagues And what is the meaning of their coming out of the Temple but that they were persons belonging to some of the Protestant reformed Churches Now surely as the habit of the members was such was the habit of the Churches to which they did belong For how could they come so purely cloathed out of Churches utterly impure These Churches therefore which are our reformed Churches of these dayes had cast off their Babylonish Garments and were clad with fine linen which is the righteousnesse of the Saints The third thing you say is That the time for visible marriage is not yet come untill all enemies be brought down and God only reign and that therefore all visible Church-marriage since the Apostasic taken up before the time being onely founded on the will name and power of man without Gods call must needs be bestial Answ. Concerning this I say first That it is much the Jews excuse Hag. 1. 2. saying That the time was not yet come that the house of the Lord should be built Whenas the time for building it was seasonable enough and nothing letted but their greater care to build their own houses then the Lords house So say you The time is not yet come that visible Churches should be gathered and married unto Christ in visible manner whe●as the time is seasonable enough but that many have more minde to disturb the work by venting fancies of their own then to contribute their endeavours towards the work Secondly This is to make Christ to have been a Widower as it were or a Bridegroom without a known or visible Bride an Head without a visible Body a King without a visible Kingdom for more then these thousand years and how long he is like so to continue none can determine For what is Christs visible Spouse Body Kingdom but a visible Church and none such hath been according to your opinion right and true all this time of the Apostasie nor yet is or shall be untill all the vials be poured out Thirdly This is to make all the reformed Churches which since their breaking off from Rome have been erected or are now in Germany France Netherland Scotland Old and New England to be Antichristian and bestial which in all moderate and understanding mens judgement will be thought a rash uncharitable and audacious Assertion Fourthly It may as well be said by you That there is no visible Marriage between Christ and particular Christians before the time as that there is none between Churches and Christ For no particular Christian can be a meet Bride for Christ who is not cloathed with pure fine and shining linen viz. The righteousnesse of the Saints And if no Churches shall be found before that time fitly thus arrayed for their Marriage with Christ what sound reason can be yielded why any single Christians can be so cloathed when as commonly they receive their spiritual birth being cloathing and all in visible Churches where they live Now nihil dat quod non hab●t None can give that which they have not And if no visible Churches can be found thus arrayed it is not easie to imagine how single Christians should obtain it If private Christians may be so cloathed before that time and so fitted for visible marriage with Christ so also may whole Churches whenas Churches are made up of particular Christians and particular Christians are thus cloathed among other ends that they may be fitted for members of visible Churches But to make this good you referre us to Revel. 19. 7. which how that is understood not of reformed Churches in general but of the Church of the Jews when that Nation shall be converted to the Faith by the most learned Interpreters of the Apocalyps I know you well know And for my part though I will not say as he did Malo cum Platone errare quam cum aliis vera sentire yet I cannot but say That it is farre safer to follow so many godly learned and judicious Divines who have

AN ESSAY FOR The Discovery and Discouraging of the new sprung Schism raised and maintained by Mr SIMON HENDEN of Bennenden in Kent Exhibited in some Passages of Writing which have gone between Mr JOHN ELMESTON of Cranebroke and the same M. Henden Love the Truth and Peace Zech. 8. 19. Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine that ye have learned and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Haereses inimicus invenit Schismata quibus subverteret fidem veritatem corrumperet scinderet unitatem Cyprian de Unitate Ecclesiae The enemy the devil hath invented Heresies and Schisms by which he might subvert the Faith corrupt the Truth and rend Unity asunder An esse sibi cum Christo videtur qui adversus Christi sacerdotes facit Qui se à cleri ejus e●plebis societate secernit Idem ibid. Doth he seem to himself to be with Christ who sets himself against the Ministers of Christ Who doth separate himself from the society of the Ministery and people of Christ Published according to Order London Printed for C. Meredith at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1652. TO THE READER Gentle Reader IT is like thou hast heard the Story of the Trojan-Horse which the Grecians built by the councel of Pallas and by subtle Sinons perswasion procured to be received into Troy but to the ruine of that ancient and famous City For in the next night issued out of it a warlike troop of the most valiant Greekish Captains couched secretly therein which invaded the City and laid it waste with fire and sword Much like unto this Trojan-horse hath been set on foot here in England an Universall Toleration for all wayes and consciences in Religion No doubt it was by Satans craft and by the insinuation of some cunning Sinons It is like to redound to the great prejudice if not ruine of our Troy I mean of the Church of God in this Land and the Gospel of Christ For out of it have come forth not some small Bands but numerous Armies of ungodly Blasphemies Heresies Errours Sects and Schisms some whereof oppose the Fundamental Truths of the Gospel some disturb the Peace and Unity of the Churches All this to the great Joy of Satan and Grief of the Godly exceedingly hinders the thriving and progresse of the Gospel Out of this Womb have broken forth that execrable crue of Ranters which speak horrid Blasphemies of God of Christ of the Scriptures of the Arians Secinians and Antiscripturists who by their cursed Doctrines break down some main Pillars of our Christian Faith Out of this Womb also are broken forth another sort of erroneous Persons not so pernicious as these former though very dangerous whose Doctrines are I doubt like unto those waters into which the Wormwood-star sell and are become so bitter that whoso drinks thereof is in danger to die And of this rank are our Arminians Antinomians Soul-Mort lists Anti-sabbatarians Seekers and such like Out of this Womb also are come forth another brood not so dangerous for their Errors though some be grosse and absurd as grievous for the Rents and Divisions which they make and delight to maintain Among which our Anabaptists are the ●●ading men After whom come up close all those other Separatists and Dissenters from us who have embraced such a Truth and Gospel as in their sense about it will admit of no Unity with us of the Presbyterian-way in Church nay scarce in Christian Communion and seem so strangely to be affected toward us as if they would not willingly allow us a place in Heaven with them nor they willingly be in the same Heaven with us It is an ancient and approved Axiom Quae conveniunt in eodem tertio ea quoque inter se conveniunt Whatsoever things agree in some one third thing they also agree between themselves What a sad thing is this then that Christians and Saints of God meeting in the one and onely corner Stone Jesus Christ upon whom they endeavour to build the whole frame of their Doctrine Worship and Discipline should so ill agree in their mutual Conversation each with other so farre disagree in the joint-Worship of the Lord that they seem to be possessed with as bitter a spirit of discord as the two Brethren the Poets fable of Eteocles and Polynices whose hatred was so unreconcilable that after Death the flame of the fire wherein their bodies were joyntly burnt would not close but did divide asunder And if that good man Linaker were now alive and should see this implacable division between the Professours of the same Gospel would he not and that justly break out with indignation against us into that his passionate Speech Surely either these men professe not the right Gospel of Christ or are not right Professours of his Gospel This is a Lamentation and this shall be for a Lamentation O God who art the Father of Peace O Christ who art the Prince of Peace O Holy Ghost who art the Spirit of Peace work it in the Hearts and Affections of thy Children Disciples and Saints that they may love and live in peace But to come to mine intended matter From hence also hath arisen this new forged Sect of M. Hendens of the which these following Papers will give thee a slight view and with the which I am at unawares more deeply engaged then at first I meant The brief Story whereof is this M. Henden hath been a man of good Note these many years for Profession of Religion no despiser of Learning but rather a lover of it By his private Industry he hath added to his Grammar-School-learning some Knowledge of the Original Tongues Studious also he hath been of the Scriptures unto which his retired life partly upon some bodily infirmity partly as some have thought upon some worldly Discontents gave him an opportunity and especially of the dark Prophecies of Ezekiel Daniel and the Apocalyps In the which his vein hath been to vary from the stream of other Interpreters and to produce some unusual notion of his own with no small confidence of its truth This man was heretofore a great Antagonist of the old Separatists called Brownists and with much zeal did against them maintain our Churches in England and our Ministery then as the true Churches and Ministery of Christ But now of late I know not how on the sudden it was noised abroad that he was changed in his Principles fallen from our Communion and had erected a new uncouth way by himself and much purer then any other And truly hereupon there was much flocking to him of unstable souls Much like as the Poet describes the flocking of people after Bacchus * his Orgia when they were first brought in at Thebes Turba ruit mistaeque vi●is matresque nurusque Et vulgus proceresque ignota ad sacra feruntur The rout rung headlong and all mixt together Mives husbands and their Daughters each with other