doing in regard of Gods requiring but one day in seaven for publick worship and permitting six for labour because of the popish and superstitious observance of these tymes still reteyned and other the like And what though in these things being matters of such nature and question we have differed in judgment Is it any other thing then the Christians in the Primitive Churches at this day in all ages haue ben may be in divers cases subject vnto For the second it is a notable deceitfull vntruth that we have our meetings for worship on their holy dayes For although their Easter and Whitsunday falling alwayes on the Lords day the feast of Ascension of the fift day on the week called Ascension Thursday we haue our publick meetings on those dayes yet it is not at all in respect of their holy dayes but because that weekly we have our meetings on those dayes all the yeare thorow Besides if we observed their holy dayes as much as they do we should have a religious regard of them have our publick metings for worship as they have on Christmasse day the morrow after also on the morrow after Easter and Whitsunday Which dayes together with the former he knoweth they observe and we not Yet shameth he not thus to write as he doth as if his Lords the Prelates had given him a dispensation to lye and calumniate no matter how and that now he is growen so wicked and shameles that he counteth it nothing so to do if thereby he may please his Lords or pleasure himself God thus justly punishing his former hyprocrisie and present apostasy so matching his writing with his walking as it should be an evident testimony in the sight of all how vndeniably his owne collections are true in himself as in his Lords too which so injuriously he would apply vnto vs and how far he is behind the very heathen even Medea her self which said Video meliora proboque Deteriora sequor I see better things approve them but I follow the worse wheras himself after the example of his Patrones though he see better things yet doth not so much as approve them but set himself to oppugne them what he can possibly and for the worse things doth not onely follow them but approve and applaud them most shamefully yea and therevnto bringeth pretended allegation of Scripture as if it were no sinne to take the Name of God in vayne and make the Scriptures serve his owne fancy yea his lyes calumnies For which certainly the Lord will not hold him guiltles And where he pretendeth against vs as if he could declare false and impertinent allegation of Scripture and yet passeth by it vndeclared the Reader observing his purpose and dealing may easily gather that if he thought himself able to do it he wanteth no will therevnto That which he referreth vnto in a book already published will not prove it so much as in part no though himself with all his ayders do joyne withall The point is about the Scriptures alledged by vs against the yearely chaunge of the Elders in this Dutch Church and not continewing in their office according to the doctrine of the Apostles and practise of the Primitive Churches Which Scriptures be these Rom. 12.4.5.6.7.8 1 Cor. 12.11.12 c. Act. 20.17.28 1 Pet. 5.1.2.3.4 and Numb 8.24 c. Where there be many reasons expressed and included plainely disproving the yearely chaunge and dismission aforesaid As namely the authority and work of the Lord making them Overseers of his Church and placing them as members in his body the duties of wayting on their office of feeding the flock coÌ„mitted vnto them of attendance care and watchfulnes therein the account to be given thereof vnto the Lord and the reward to be hoped for from him according to his promise at that day and other the like Neither can any example or reason of sound consequence be shewed froÌ„ the Scriptures for warrant of their practise But I need not speak further of this point vnles some would vndertake their defence against vs in the particulars wherein we have had to deale with them Which neyther themselves could performe nor any other would yet so much as attempt for them though some great learned men have had just occasion therevnto if they could have done it As for that he saith of the book aforesaid lying vnanswered we have divers reasons for so leaving it 1. It is but part of a book printed before the rest was finished And to see the whole might be of speciall vse if an answer should be given vnto it 2. Synce the writing thereof it pleased God to visite him with sicknes that he died And seing he is dead we do so leave him forbearing now to write what we could aâ— is well knowen to many 3. He did not like as this man leave or contrary our generall cause and testimony against the Church of England but held it so himself as of late going into England he was there taken and put in prison for this cause where he died vnder their hands These reasons among other we have of not answering it Being notwithstanding alway ready as there is just and needfull occasion to answer for our selves to defend the trueth and equity of our cause dealing or wherein we haue erred to acknowledg and amend it as we have often signifyed heretofore Now for that wherewith he coÌ„cludeth even false accusations of whole Churches would shew it by comparing the 7. accusation in our letters to Mr Iunius with the practise of the Dutch Churches it is to be observed that the particular corruptions there noted whereof we have advertised the Eldership of this Dutch Church be eleâ—eÌ„ in all so as this enemy graunteth himself ten of them to be true And for the other that one whereof he speaketh namely their yearly chaunge of Elders it also is so true as the Ministers themselves deputed among them to deale with vs knowing best their owne estate practise did never so much as once offer to deny it and their continuall practise if they have not left it of late avowcheth it against all gaynsayers Yet this flattâ—rer to speak somewhat for them shameth not to say that is false which is very true like as here before against vs he affirmed those things to be true which are very false A fit servant for his Lords the Prelates with whom it is coÌ„moÌ„ in all their dealing against vs to account give out of the truth that it is falsehood and againe of falsehood that it is trueth That in himself and his Masters may be seen verifyed that saying of Plautê° here alledged Iustum non iustum non iustum iustum quod vobis placet Let them therfore consider their wayes in their heart and lay their hands on their mouth Els let them know that out of their owne mouth they shal be judged according to those
testimony is nothing els but error and abhomination As also when he saith the errors and abhominations be dayly practised encreased And that not onely in some particular persons but even among the company of the separation and as he speaketh in his Preface in that congregation wherein he would give his instance of prophanenes and hypocrisie This congregation he nameth to be the English company of the separation remayning for the present at Amsterdam Where the Reader is to know that we who by some are termed Brownists of a mans name who heretofore witnessed this cause are by others called the company of the separatioÌ„ because we do separate froÌ„ the Prelacy Priâ—sthood worship Confusion of the Church of England as being Antichristian do also practise the ordinance of Christ which he hath given for the government ministery worship and order of his Church THis for the Title Like therevnto is his Treatise also Where for his generall accusations of debate malice adulteryes cousonages and other enormities c. this may serue in generall to be answered 1. If he meane of some particular persons among vs falling into such sinnes it hath ben and is the case of all the Churches of Christ vpon earth as may be seen in those of Corinth Galatia Ephesus c. And what need or vse els should there be of the rules power given by Christ to his Church for casting out obstinate sinners and receiving the repâ—ntant in againe But if he meane of the body of the Church as if we approved or reteyned such being coÌ„vinced vnrepentant himself knoweth it is a malicious sclander and his own objections afterward in his book of sundry persons whom for their sinnes and obstinacy therein we have cast out from among vs may shew it also to others so to be We are carefull he hath seen it himself that such be not reteyned or allowed among vs. And we find that even our carefulnes herein is abused against vs because when any of vs are knowen to haue fallen into sinne and are dealt with according as the case requireth whether they repent so remayne in the Church or whether they persist in their evill and so are cut of it is still objected against vs and we are published to abound with such sinnes enâ—rmities Thus might the best Churches that ever wâ—re in the world be traduced as hereafter there is further occasion to shew in some particulars 2. For our selues as I said before we confesse and professe it also that we are subiect to sinne and infirmity as other men looking for salvation not by our own righteousnes which is of the Law but onely by the righteousnes which is of God through the faith of Christ. Yet notwithstanding all the sinnes and vnworthynes of vs let this still be held firme at least till vve be soundly confuted that our cause is the truth of the Gospell of Christ witnessed against the errors of the defection of Antichrist 3. The accusations made against vs are to be considered with their proofs which will afterward come to be seen In the meane time let it be observed whether if some would set themselues to collect particular instaÌ„ces of debate malice adulteries cousonages such other like enormities daily coÌ„mitted by many in the Church wherevnto this man is now revolted though they wrote no vntrueths as he doth many but noted onely the truth of things as they are indeed neyther took the space of thirteen or fourteen yeares as he hath done but of any one yeare among them how might they fill I will not say a few sheeds of paper but even many volumes of books therewith And if T. White were asked according to his own words here whether he had not himself partaken with their abominatioÌ„s vnfruitfull works of darknes and whether he would give warning to others of their leaders evill dealing whereby their people are devoured would he not think you verify his own other sayings here shewing himself to be far from repentance seeking to cover hide cloake reproach and revile vsing falsehood shiftings contrarieties etc. All which are knowen to be so true and comon both in himself and the Church whereto he is returned as I need not write thereof at all their estate dealing proclayme it to all that hâ—ue eares to heare and hearts to regard it Our banishment poverty whereof he speaketh encreaseth his their sinne against vs yet much the more For are not they the persons that bring these afflictions vpon vs and is it not onely because we witnesse the truth of our Lord Iesus Christ against the falsehood of Antichrist yet remayning among them in the ministery worship order government of their Church But let them know that he which judgeth iustly the sonnes of men will remember his banished and execute justice and judgment to all that are oppressed For the poore shall not alway be forgotten nor the hope of the afflicted perish for ever And in the meane tyme even in the middest of all our afflictions are we comforted in the Lord for whose sake we endure them great benefit do we further reap by them not only for our own good many other wayes but in this in particular that these our troubles are a speciall meanes to keep discover and remove from among vs a number of hypocrites such as this T. White who if it were not for our poverty and banishment would flock faster vnto vs and lurk longer among vs vnder a painted colour of holynes making show as if they would depart from iniquity call vpon the Name of the Lord and who more then they when in deed their harts be fraight full of the leaven of hypocrisy contention maliciousnes and all maner of iniquity which in such case and estate of things doth oftentimes both sooner and more appeare then otherwise it may be ever would The calumniation of condemning all other Churches and men we haue often answered and cleared heretofore this also knowen to himself Yet thus he writeth that in this as in the rest of his dealing all might see how it is himself that runneth into fearfull extremities and reproacheth with a virulâ—nt and venemous tounge For our selves besides our reverend estimation of other Churches and good perswasion of other men so often published to the world we haue also shewed it in our walking towards them and namely in our dealing with the Dutch â—nd French Churches of this citie as with true Churches Which had we not so esteemed of them we neither could nor would so haue done and dealt with them as we haue THe letter he speaketh of I haue still with me His falsehood and other bad dealing therein I will here omit save onely about the doctrines by him layd vpon vs. 1. The first is that we held it lawfull for a man to live with her that is not his wife rather then to reveale himself This he saith but how
also when any of the Church yea or the whole do transgresse eyther in some thing which yet they have not seen or whereinto now they are fallen they are notwithstanding a true visible Church And by their calling and covenant they have power in Christ to redresse them Which when vpon knowledg they shall refuse and â—o continue then are they to be esteemed according as their case shall require So then to judge rightly of a true Church we must look as the Apostles did at their calling and coÌ„munion in the Gospell Which being observed it wil be easy to put difference between the errours and the constitution of true Churches as Christ and his Apostles did in the Churches of Asia Achaia Galatia c. to reprove them for the one and yet to approue them as true Churches for the other And this also vntill Christ himself remove his candlestick and take away his kingdome from among them which is to be left vnto him to do when as it pleaseth him And this also might serue for answer to the exception drawen from my writing concerning the Israelites in Egypt who sinned with Idols and yet were Gods people But it being so vrged by divers as it is I will note a few things more concerning it in particular The objection is made thus If they coÌ„mitted Idolatry vvith the Idols of Egypt hovv were they then a company of faithfull people separated from all false vvayes I answer By the Lords former calling of them to the obedience of himself who was by covenant the Lord their God and they his people Gen. 12. 17. 46. vvith Exod. 2.23.24.25 3.7 8.15.16 Numb 20.16 Deut. 26.7 Which also is laid as the ground of the admonition for calling of them from that Idolatry spoken of Ezech. 20.7 And may not a people so separated as aforesaid fall into this sinne of Idolatry aswell as into other sinnes See the case of Israel afterward againe Exod. 32. Where Moses in his prayer to God calleth Israell the Lords people even then when they had coÌ„mitted such Idolatry as the Lord would presently have consumed theÌ„ for it Exod. 32.1.10.11 And of Israell againe see what is recorded Iudg. 2. c. And likewise of the Church of Rome which at first was a true Church separated from all false wayes yet fell into this sinne and coÌ„tinueth therein Rom. 1.6.7.8 16.19 vvith Rev. â— 13. and 14. 17. chap. But this was the generall estate of the Israelites at that tyme. What then So may it fall out with a true Church as now hath ben shewed and so we are taught Lev. 4.13.14 Yet here also might be demaunded whether he meane it to be so generall as including all of Israel therein specially considering what is written of some in those tymes Ex. 1. 2. 6 20-27 Numb 1. vvith Heb. 11.23 c. And whether this Idolatry were publike or private like as that spoken of Ezech. 8 12. Zeph. 1.1.4.5 But howsoever their sinne vvas also of obstinacy for they vvere admonished from the Lord yet they rebelled against him as the Scripture sheweth Ezech. 20.7.8 And even the same Scripture sheweth also that for this cause they deserved themselves God thought to haue powred out his indignation vpon them but stayed it in respect of his ovvn Name which is called vpoÌ„*his Churches people not because of their estate as now it was Ezec. 20.7.8.9 And how doth this then overthrow not rather coÌ„firme the desâ—ription aforesaid Or must we not alway desribe esteem a Church by the conditioÌ„ thereof according to the revealed word of God yet leave vnto the Lord to esteem deale therewith notwithstanding as in any respect seemeth good vnto himself Or when God saith he is the Lord their God and calleth them his sonne and first borne whom he might in respect of their own estate cast of can we not so esteem of them but we must therevpon conclude that in the description of a true visible Church Idolatrie and all false wayes are not to be excluded or to speak of the questions controverted at this day that Rome in all her Idolatries is notwithstanding still to be reputed the spouse of Christ and not to be rejected as an harlot and so likewise all the Churches that be her daughters in that estate Againe what if it were as some think that Israell first rebelling and so provoking God to wrath as is aforesaid did afterward through the affliction which by Pharaoh was encreased vpon them turne into their own hart and crie vnto the Lord God of their fathers as we read Exod. 2. and 3. Numb 20.16 Deut. 26.7 should we not then put difference between obstinacy still persisted in that which is afterward repented of amended Not to speak of the Israelites estate in Egypt how in their kindred and families the Church consisted and was governed and how then they had not the word written â—eyther of their estate afterward in the wildernes how God did never so punish theÌ„ for any of their transgressions though of the same nature before his Law given vnto them as he did after as may be observed in the history So teaching all ages succeeding to take speciall heed to his written word according to it to esteem walk in all things Wherefore to end this point thus I think that for Israel all other people and Churches we are bound alwayes so to esteem and walk as by the word of God we have direction and vvarrant from him and neyther to judge nor vvalk othervvise And as Christ giveth to all true Churches their being so to leave vnto him to take it away when and as he pleaseth And for this case of Israel in particular let me further aske whether such of the Israelites as should now have left that Idolatry spoken of ought not also to have left coÌ„munion therein with the rest so transgressing and yet to have left them to the Lord to esteem and deale with them as in any respect should seem good vnto himself For that which he objecteth next out of the Preface to the last answ to Mr Ia. sect 6. it is concerning Churches wilfully persisting in errour and disobedience of the trueth and voice of Christ and shewed by the example of the Churches of the Iewes 〈…〉 â—â—â—son objected about them by D.B. For which I refer the Reader to that Preface sectioÌ„ together with that which is said in the answer to the 4. section of the same Preface and more particularly to that which I haue written about this poynt in the booke it self pag. 161.195.196 in the answer to Mr A.H. pag. 61.62 Where the Reader shall fynd what I haue written and what my judgment is concerning this matter namely that all good and lawfull meanes being first vsed towards true Churches fallen into sinne if they amend not but wilfully persist therein the Lord hath threatned to remove the candlestick
sentence my self if the Church should so appoint By which compared with his writing may appeare how still he keepeth on his woonted course against vs hath himself drawen fourth this vnfolding of his evill dealing and his wives too For the others of whom he speaketh viz Mrs Sl. Goodw. Ch. R. M. they were excommunicated for other causes then he hath noted downe And it is not our maner to cast out any for differeÌ„ce of iudgement in such cases if they be content notwithstanding to walk peaceably with the Church and to cary themselves towards the excommunicates as they should by the word â—f God But if they joyne with them in their evill as some of these more specially did with his wife then are they also for so doing justly subiect to the â—ame censure with them as in this case likewise came to passe That which he speaketh of the Magistrate is false he did not forbid but perswaded vs not to do it Though if he had or should forbid vs any thing which God requireth at our hands we have learned to obey God rather then man As we did then answer him that what we did we would alwayes be ready to approue by the word of God And now by that which hath bene said let the Reader judge whether this fellowes hard forehead verify not the Oratours saying He that 〈◊〉 passeth the bounds of modestie becommeth impâ—dent out of measure Excommunication we vse as the holy ordinaunce of God to recover the parties that have sinned if so it be his will and to keep the Church from the leaven of their wickednes If we did it not we should dishonour God and be accessary to their evill But observing it we vse the remedie which Christ hath given vs for their good and if it work not so in them then is their destruction the more iust vpon their heads and we are cleare Neyther doth the long suffring spirit of meeknes hinder but that due execution of the Lords judgement vpon obstinate sinners be inflicted And being so done neyther will this mans cursing vs for good hurt vs not his blessing of himself others in evill help them Therefore to his many curses denounced against vs I will give no other answer but say with Salomon The curse causeles shall not come but fly away as a birde and returne vpon him that allegation out of the Prophet As he loved cursing so shall it come vnto him and as he loved not blessing so shall it â—e farre from him and as he clothed himself with cursing like a garment so shall it come into his bowels like water like oyle into his bones And for his blessing of himself and others in evill I will referre him to that denuntiation of Moses against every such one as when he heareth the wordes of the curse yet blesseth himself in his heart saying I shall have peace although I walk according to the stubburnes of mine owne heart 〈◊〉 adding drunkennes to thirst The Lord will not be mercifull vnto him but then the wrath of the Lord and his ielousy shall smoke against that man every curse that is written in the book of the Law shall light vpon him and the Lord shall put out his name from vnder heaven and the Lord shall separate him vnto evill out of all the tribes of Israell according vnto all the curseâ— of the covenaunt that 〈◊〉 written in the book of the Law Deut. 29. â—9 20.21 For that which he speakâ—th of our Tents it is to be noted that this man himself desiring heretofore to partake with vs in the Lords supper did in our publick meeting compare our and all true Churches to the Tents of Shem the assemblies of the Church of England whither now he is returned to the Tents of Corah Dathan Abiram What remayneth therefore but that according to the words of his owne mouth and course of his own walking he be left to the Lord the iealous God that judged Corah his coÌ„pany Who also is the God of Shem will performe to the soÌ„nes of Iapheth whoÌ„ he perswadeth to dwell in Shems tents according to his promise made of old to Abraham sonne of Shem Father of the faithfull of all nations saying I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse them that curse thee Gen. 12.3 For that which he annexeth about fatherles children himself knoweth we approve no such dealing And some of the persons to whom they were comitted are departed this life The living belike could not serve his turne but he will digge into the graves of the dead who cannot answer for themselves Or if he meane of any that are alive why gave he not after his maner some knowledg who they be Would he not that the matter should have ben considered and answer made accordingly Or would he that we should speake what we heare concerning a fatherles child who was long since with that woman who is now this Whites wife and ran away from her who knoweth best her self how she vsed her For our selues we mislike all hard and evill vsage of any much more savage and cruell dealing to fatherles children who ought most of all to be pityed and holpen If any such have more specially felt their part of our common troubles and poverty why will he not consider his Lords the Prelates their savage and cruell dealing with vs who have made many poore orphanes and widowes among vs besides many other great calamities brought vpon vs by their meanes Of which to begin to speak were to enter into an Ocean sea so many and great they are and not vnknowen to this White himself howsoever he can like now to sayle in that sea where putting away a good conscience he hath concerning the faith made shipwrack For that which he saith of W.C. the man himself affirmeth that be spake not these words at all which he hath printed of him and that he told this Whites wife before the book was published and spake it synce to his owne face that it is a lye Some words he confesseth he spake which were evill but those also spoken by him about a yeare before he ioyned to the Church as himself testifyeth Yet White obiecteth his speach as the confession of our own members affirming also what he hath printed to be spoken before many witnesses Which if it were yet till we should know it after knowledg dealing with him find him obstinate in such evill how could we but have him still a member among vs But if such speaches yea or publick writings of the members of the Church of England would content men as White will with this content himself how easy were it for his one to to produce a thousand and none of them perverted neyther The conclusion of his Libell is like the rest The censures of Christ in his Church he blasphemously calleth our fond excommunications which before in like manner he
termed our Buls of excoÌ„munications Suerly God that will not hold him guiltles that taketh his Name in vaine will never suffer such prophanation of his Name and ordinance to go in vaine Such deâ—iding and despising of the Lord and his ordinances is fearfull And a fearfull thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God All his Lords the Prelates authority and authorizing of his book to be published as himself alledged here before the Magistrates will not help him before the Lord who is a consuming fier From whom what can he or any so persisting look for els but to be cast out from his presence and to have their portion among the cursed to heare that fearfull sentence Go ye cursed into everlasting fier which is prepared for the Divell and his Angels Mat. 25.41 And thus hath this Esau shewed himself to be one of those prophane of whom he speaketh here hardened in his sinne and prophanenes and of which also he spake in the Preface at the beginning of his book That in him might be seen the truth of that which SalomoÌ„ saith The lippes of a foole devoure himself The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnes and the latter end of his mouth is wicked madnes that thus also it might appeare how far he is froÌ„ being of the Israel of God that follow peace and holynes without which no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14 TOwching his postscript about T. C. the man himself saith he is falsely traduced by him as he was likewise accused by some other here to Magistrates for the same thing who could not prove it against him when the matter came to be examined And see here still the bad dealing of this man who publisheth his name in this manner to the world onely vpon an hear-say not knowing whether the thing were true or false and then also when he heard withall that he had greatly bewayled his sinne and had not afterward given him any iust or needfull cause so to do For the casting of him out it was thought meet and good considering his former dealing the present case so to proceed yet not without differeÌ„ce of judgment in some of vs thereabout But he was shortly after received in againe being repentant for his sinne Now here let the Reader observe how this man which blameth others for not forgiving of penitent sinners hath not ceased throughout his book to publish and object the sinnes of such against the whole Church and the parties themselves besides the manifold falsehoods and blasphemies into which also he is â—un But his madnes is become manifest to men and his judgement sleepeth not with God who will remember and reward him according to his workes Nehem. 6.14 2 Tim. 4.14 A note of the particulars spoken of before pag. 62. wherein we differ from the Dutch and French Churches of this city wherabout we have had dealing with such of their Ministers as by the rest of their Eldership were deputed therevnto 1. THat the estate of the Dutch Church of Amst. is such as being one yet it meeteth in three severall places whereby it commeth to passe that the whole Church cannot come together in one the Ministers cannot together with the flock sanctify the Lords day the presence of the members of the Church cannot certainly be knowen and finally no publick action whether excommunication or any other can rightly be performed Which is contrary to these Scriptures 1 Cor. 12.27 11.20 23. Math. 18 17. with 1 Cor. 5 4. Act. 6.2 5. Numb 8.9 Act. 20.28 2. They baptize the seed of them who are no members of any visible Church of whom moreover they haue not care as of meÌ„bers neyther admit their pareÌ„ts to the Lords Supper Gen. 17.7 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 7.14 Exod. 12.48 with 2 Chron. 30.6 c. Numb 9.13 Hos. 2.2.4 with Rev. 17.1 Ezech. 16.59 c. 3. In the publick worship of God they have devised vse an other forme of prayer besides that which Christ our Lord hath prescribed Mat. 6. reading out of a book certaine prayers invented and imposed by man Exod. 20.4.5 and 30.9 with Psal. 141.2 and Rev. 8.3 Lev. 10.1 Esa. 29.13 with Math. 15.9 Rom. 8.26 Eph. 4.8 1 Pet. 2.5 4. That rule and commaundement of Christ 18.15.16.17 they neither obserue nor suffer rightly to be observed among them 5. They worship God in the Idol-temples of Antichrist Exod. 20.4 with Deut. 12.2.3 2 18.11.12 c. 6 The Ministers have their set maintenance after an other maner then Christ hath ordeined 1 Cor. 9.14 And that also such as by which any Ministery at all whether popish or other whatsoever might be mainteyned 7. Their Elders chaunge yearely and do not continew in their office according to the doctrine of the Apostles and practise of the primitive Churches Rom. 12.4.5.6.7.8 1 Cor. 12.11.12 c. Act 20.17.28 1 5.1.2 3.4 See also Numb 8.24 c. 8. They celebrate Mariage in the Church as if it were a part of the Ecclesiasticall administration whereas it is in the nature of it meerly civill Ruth 4. chap. Heb. 13.4 1 Cor. 7.2 9. They vse a new censure of SuspensioÌ„ which Christ hath not appointed Math. 28.20 Gal. 3.15 2 Tim. 3.16.17 10. They observe dayes and tymes consecrating certyan dayes in the yeare to the Nativity Resurrection Ascension of Christ c. Exod. 20. Commaundement 2. 4. Rev. 1.10 1 Cor. 10.1 â— Act. 20.7 Col. 2.16.17 Esa 66.23 Gal. 4.10.11 11. They receive vnrepentant excommunicates to be members of their Church which by this meanes becommeth one body with such as be delivered vnto Sathan 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Tim. 1.20 About this matter we had dealing with them divers tymes heretofore And we desired that knowledg thereof might by themselves be giveÌ„ to the whole body of their Church or that they would take order that it might be done by vs. But they refused both Whereabout we had afterward some further dealing with them In which time divers messages and answers passed between vs. Which we had thought here to have inserted but now think good for the present to forbeare them Wishing rather that they might be buried amoÌ„g themselves by amendement hereafter then that we should be constreyned eyther by themselves or others as we are already too much provoked to publish them to the world for the further manifestation and clearing of our cause and maner of dealing with them The cautions spoken of before pag. 34. 68. concerning the question following Question Whether such as sometimes have fallen from the truth may afterward by the Church be taken into office Answer We take it not to be meet without these and the like cautious viz. FIrst that there be due consideration had both of the nature of the thing and of the quality of the persons and also of the estate of the Church For the nature of the thing 1. Whether it be from the trueth to the