More Work FOR THE DEAN In a Brief Answer to some Scandalous Reports Published by Dr. STILLINGFLEET in his Book Entituled An Impartial Account of the History Nature and Pleas of the present Separation from the Communion of the Church of England against some of the Lords faithful Servants namely Mr. Henry Barrow Mr. John Greenwood Mr. John Penry who by the Bishops means after long Imprisonment were put to death contrary to Queen Elizabeths mind in the year 1593 because they refused Communion with the Church of England by reason of the many Popish Corruptions in the Ministry and Worship retained therein And also for bearing their Testimony against the same which is still the Cause many Thousand Protestants refuse Communion with the Church of England at this day As likewise here is word for word the Petition of those persecuted Christians wherein is shewed the Barbarous Usage of the Bishops to them Together with the Refutation of the then Esteemed Bishop of Winchester's Blasphemous Doctrine by Mr. Henry Barrow with the Description of the true Church of God according to Christs Testament by the whole Church at London whom the Doctor calleth Brownists with the reason why they were so Nick-named by their Enemies Very needful for all true Protestants to know By Thomas Wall Prov. 31. 8. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such aâ— are appointed to destruction LONDON Printed for William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street 1681. To the most Noble and Sincere hearted Protestants Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied IT may seem a thing very strange in nature for a Lamb without fear to meet a Lyon in the open field As it was in Little David when by faith he Encountered with great Goliah the Champion of the Pblistines even so it may seem strange to some that so mean an instrument shall without fear meet Dr. Stillingfleet fo great a Champion in the open field But seeing he hath with Goliah despised or desied that little flock of Christ's faithful Servants the heavenly Armies of the living God therefore I cannot keep silent having with David the Lord on my side his Truth for my Sword and Buckler therefore for the Honour of the Lord Jesus Christ and love I bear to all his Servants I shall herein defend the Rights and Prerogatives of my Lord and Saviour That he is the only Archbishop Lord Spiritual and Lawgiver to his Church in all things appertaining to the worship of his Father And shall stand by the same testimony which any of the Lords Servants have born against the Doctor and all the Canons of his Church to the contrary Secondly Among all the Enemies of Gods people the most wicked'st are those that under the Visage of Christianity would be reckoned among the Lords Protestant people in word declaring they are on Christs side but in their Works and Writings manifest their hatred against him and all his faithful Servants for no other cause but by manifesting their love to Christ in keeping his Commandment in Gods Worship and bearing their testimony against all mens inventions to the contrary such an enemy hath the Doctor manifested himself to be to the Christians herein mentioned in the false Reports published against them to the Defamation of their persons their Writings and the Truth they professed and maintained as is hereafter plainly discovered concerning their Faith in the Description of the true Church of God with all her Officers and in what order Christ hath commanded in his Testament for them to walk therein with Church State Ministry together with its holy Order I desire the Doctor to compare with his Church and Ministry and then declare to the world which he believeth in his conscience is the true Church of God If God be pleased to open his eyes and carry him above all earthly Wisdom by his Spirit unto an exceeding high Mountain the height Rev. 21. 10. of Israel to behold the City filled with the glory of God and unless God doth be his Ezek. 17. 22 23. 40. 2. Rev. 21. 11. Eccl. 10. 15. help he with the Apostate Israelites will still weary himself and not know how to find the way to the City in which City by the Canon or holy Rules thereof Christ hath appointed for her Officers Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons Ephes 4. But the 7th Canon of the Doctors Church saith Whosoever shall affirm that the Government of that Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons and the rest that do bear office is Antichristian or repugnant to the word of God let him be excommunicated ipso facto and so continue until he repent and publickly revoke his wicked Errors Christ Jesus hath appointed the whole form of Gospel-worship to be learned out of his Testament and that it be agreeable to the Isa 8. 20. Act. 20. 27. same upon pain of all the Curses in Gods Book to him that addeth or diminisheth to Rev. 22. 18. Prov. 30. 6. or from But the 4th Canon of the Doctors Church saith Whosoever shall affirm that the form of Gods worship established by Law and contained in the book of Common-prayer is a corrupt and superstitious or unlawful worship of God or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures let him be excommunicated ipso facto and such like wherein is preferred the Traditions and Orders of men to be equal to the inspired Rules in Christs Testament Now let me ask the Doctor whether he believeth in his conscience that when he cometh to appear before the Lord Jesus the chief Judg that he shall be judged for the breach of his Church Canons or for the breach of Christs Canons in his Testament seeing the word of God telleth us that whatsoever man that hath engaged himself to be a worshipper of God and shall break the holy Rules in Worship he hath promised to keep and after Gods order by brethren used for his recovery Matth. 18. if he stand obstinate then that which the Church by the Rules of Christ doth by excommunicating him on earth is confirmed in heaven but the curse for the breach of mans Canons in worship though pretended to God in worship is the curse causeless which shall not come Prov. 26. 2. But the curse turn'd into a blessing upon all that do Rev. 22. 11. to wit the Commandments of the Lord Jesus they only have right to the Tree of life and may enter in through the gates in the City So that it is not enough for the Doctor to think it is sufficient for him or his hearers to believe verbally that Christ is the Son of God come in the flesh as the only foundation of Religion but they that do expect salvation by Christs Merits must not only believe he is the Son of God but by their obedience confess the same that as a Son was he faithful in his house or Church as Moses the Prophet like unto Moses the only Law-giver for Gospel
worship as aforesaid which the Doctor doth not obediently believe so long as he retaineth the Popish Office of a Dean for one of Christs Gospel-Ministers as though Christ was not wise enough to give Titles fit for his Ministers But as we read of the Romish Church that woman which sitteth upon a sear let coloured beast full of the names of blasphemy this name Dean proceeding from thence may be reckoned among them Rev. 13. 1. 17. 3. And lastly as every true Christian must not only believe that Christ is the Son of God come in the flesh but also they must walk in him rooted and established following Christ by the example of the Primitive Churches commended in them As when Israel had gone from the pure keeping in worship to God his Ordinances and the Cove-Hant Mal. 2. 8. of Levi the call of the Lord to them to reform their ways by the prophet Malachi was to remember the Law of Moses and not Mal. 4. 4. the Tradition or Canons of men and until this was done they that feared the Lord had separated from them and spake often one to another and a book of remembrance was Isa 42. 4. written for them that thought on his Name even his Law and partook not in the evil of the transgressors Even so when after the long Mat. 12. 21. Apostacy of Christians the Lord called them to come out of Babylon and to reform their Rev. 18. 4. ways but not by the Canons of men but by the everlasting Gospel taught by the Servants of God in King Edward Queen Elizazabeth King James and in King Charles the 1st and 2d to this day and until this work be done all that fear the Lord do separate themselves and speak often one to another for which they are and were still persecuted reproached and defamed but by whom but by the Devil called the Dragon and Serpent Rev. 2. 10. in his servants out of whose mouths comes floods of teproaches to destroy the woman Rev. 12. 15. had not the earth then and still doth by more than an ordinary Providence help the woman in drinking up or rather hindering the work Verse 16. of persecution Thus hoping the Doctor will lay these things to heart and who knoweth seeing among Adams Sons some men for their malice and fury are compared to Lions 2 Tim. 4. 17. but God in his mercy may give him grace to the changing of his fierce nature If the Lord by the Arrows of his Truth prick his heart Psal 45. 5. Acts 2. 37. Heb. 4. 12. that so he may yield obedience to Christ Jesus and lie down with the Lambs in the Lords holy Mountain even Sion his true Church Isa 11. 7. Heb. 12. 22. where it is said the Lords people shall be all Righteous Isa 60. wise as Serpents harmless as Doves men in understanding children in malice 1 Cor. 14. for such only can have right to enter into the Kingdom of God Mat. 18. 3. that so he may for the time to come see himself in the glass of Gods word new born all his fleshly glory and honour fading away by the Spirit of God blowing on him so shall he beat his sword of bitter words into plough-sheares that by the word of God the fallow ground of his uncircumcised heart be broken up the seed of Gods truth sowed therein watred by the heavenly dew of his grace that he may bring forth the fruits of righteousness Jam. 3. 18. Heb. 12. 14. which is peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the face of God which is and shall be the prayers for the very enemies of him who is the Lords unworthy servant Tho. Wall More Work FOR THE DEAN Or A brief ANSWER To some Scandalous Reports published by Dr. Stillingfleet c. THerefore among the many sore Travels King Solomon beheld among the Sons of men this saith he is one That for every right work a man is envied of his neighbour Eccles 4. 4. Psal 106. 16. Numb 11. 29. Matt. 26. 7 8 9 10. Now if that were a right work in the Lords Servants of old in calling the Lords people out of the temporal Babylon to separate themselves from all the filthiness of those Heathens Ezra 6. 21. that they might enter into Covenant with the Lord to serve or worship him as he had given commandment by the hand of Mose's both in Ministry Ordinances and Order for which work they were envied of their Neighbours Nehem. 4 and 5 Chapters even so it was a-like right work in these latter days for the Lords Servants to call his elected ones out of the Romish Sodomy Egyptian and Spiritual Babylon Rev. 11. 8. and 18. 4. that they might separate themselves from their abominable filthiness in worship and nature that so with the Lord they might enter into the Covenant of the Gospel Acts 2. 47. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Isa 62. 5. Ezek. 16 8. to worship him as the Son of God Christ Jesus had appointed in his last Will and Testament both in Ministry Ordinances Time and Order and for this right work among others was Mr. Barrow Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Penry envied then to death by their Neighbours and now again after their death envied by Dr. Stillingfleet to the desamation of the memory Prov. 10. 7. of those whom God had blessed and are now at rest in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. 2dly The evil way this Doctor hath taken to vent his envy against these Servants of God is first in calling their Books seditious and therefore because he could not prove it he is driven to make use of the false reports of their Enemies such as never disclaimed against the succession of their Ministry received from the Bishops nor yet their vain School Titles of Batchelor in Divinity a Title not found in Christs Testament set in the front of that Book called the Bloody Tenet out of which Book the Doctor tells us that Mr. Cotton said Mr. Dod told him that when Mr. Barrow was under the Gibbet he lift up his eyes and said If I be deceived thou hast deceived me To which I answer If Mr. Barrow did say those words it might be draw̄n from him upon the same occasion the like words were drawn from the Prophet Jeremiah when the Priests and false Prophets seeing his constancy and faithfulness in the Lords message against their evil doings Jer. 20. 8 10. derided him which occasioned him to say O Lord thou hast deceived me and I was deceived thou art stronger than I and hast prevailed I am in derision dayly every one mocketh me Even so some of the Clergy being present when Mr. Barrow suffered death seeing his constant testimony against their evil doings might deride him and so might occasion those words from him Surely if the Doctor had had any thing worth noting against this man a few Pages in his Book should not have contained it Thus all may see it is
more of malice than of any just matter he had against him And why at this time Because the memory of Mr. Barrow Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Penry was lately revived in a Christian Warning-piece presented to the Kings Majesty last April so that if Mr. Barrows Books therein mentioned should be again sought after which doth so lively discover the abomination of that Ministry of which the Doctor is one therefore he hath endeavoured to disgrace their persons that their labours might not be regarded and therefore it will not be amiss by the way to note what Mr. Barrow hath written in one of his Books called the Discovery which the Doctor called seditious for comparing the true Ministry of Christ and the Ministry of Antichrist together that as light maketh manifest so in laying down Christs true Ministry the abomination of all other by it may be discovered of which subject in particular Mr. Barrows words are these in his Discovery page 46. The Ministry appointed by Christ unto the Government of Church be of two sorts Elders and Deacons Phil. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. 5. Rom. 12. Acts 20. 28. 1 Tim. 5. 17. 1 Cor. 12. 7 8. Acts 6. The Elders some of them to give attendance unto the publick Ministry of the Word and Sacraments as the Pastor and Teacher the other Elders together with them to give attendance to the publick Government of the Church The Deacons office to attend to the gathering and distributing the Contribution of the Church for the maintenance of the Ministry and Poor 1 Cor. 16. Now saith Mr. Barrow to come to the Ministry of the Church of England which is so manifold and divers as I know not how to begin to describe it but let it first be divided in these three sorts 1. Reigning or governing 2. Serving and 3 Collegiate 1. Of the reigning and governing Ministers are Arch bishops Lord Bishops Arch Deacons Chancellors Commissaries all of the High Commission as likewise such Civil Doctors Proctors Registers Scribes Pursevants Sumners as attend upon their Courts of Faculties Prerogative Archees Delegates 2. Of the serving sort are Parsons Vicars Curates Hireling Lecturies Vagrant and Mercenary Preachers House priests Chaplains half priests or Catechisers Churchwardens Side men Quest-men Parish-Clarks 3. Of the ministry Collegiate are Lord Bishops Deans Sub deans Prebendaries Canons Petit Canons Gospellers Epistlers Singing-men Singing boys Vergers Sextons This division I suppose will well near suffice for their Officers But now how to divide or distinguish their Offices I know not I am so unlearned and ignorant of such great secrets and high mysteries neither yet have I skill to marshal them in their degrees of honour which I have heard say they have both in the Commonwealth and in their Schools as their Primate their Metropolitan Graces their Palatine Lord Bishops and their Barony Lordships all which I wene be Peers of the Realm and Estates of the Land Now there are also certain Doctors of Divinity and Batchellors of Divinity which have many great priviledges and prerogatives of the Cap the Scarlet Gown the Hood the Habit the Tippet the Ring the Chair the one of them being a Knights fellow the other an Esquires in any ground in England also how capable these are by Statute of how many Benefices I cannot tell Now surely this discovery doth not a little torment the Doctor to cause him to be so malicious against Mr. Barrow to disgrace him now he is dead Papist like who burnt the bones of such as they call Hereticks many years after they have murder'd them when as they did as Mr. Barrow hath done that is bear their testimony against the Rabble of Antichrists ministry as is noted out of the Book of Martyrs in the foresaid Christian Warning-piece to the King p. 23. for what comfort can those have which call themselves ministers and cannot prove their Ordination to be according to Gospel-order when at the last day they will say Lord Lord we have prophesied in thy name and cast out devils in thy name and have done many wonderous works when Christ shall say to them I know you not depart from me ye workers of iniquity For is it not iniquity for any to take upon them the name of a Dean instead of a Pastor and to be a persecutor rather than a preserver and so contrary to Gods plain Law to be a tale-bearer as it written Levit. 19. 16 17. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale bearer among thy people yea to reproach the deceased Saints of the Lord calling their Books seditious not only for pleading that the ministry appointed by Christ might by Protestants be embraced but also for reproving the blasphemous Doctrine of T. C. the then esteemed Bishop of Winchester in his Book against Martin Marprelate namely this that the Orders and Ordinances which Christ hath in his Testament left unto his Church were but temporary whilst the Church was under Heathen Tyrants and that where the Gospel is embraced by a Christian Prince they are not only not necessary but inconvenient yet intollerable as bringing the utter subversion of the Land raising up rumults and uproars and withdrawing the people from obedience unto their Magistrates Unto which Mr. Barrow replieth that there ought throughout all ages and estates of the world in all places to be one and the same form of outward Government in all true Churches of Christ unto the worlds end scil that Apostolical primitive pattern left unto us in Christs Testament and none other which undoubted truth Mr. Barrow against the Bishops confirms both from the Law and Gospel in these words The Lord when he erected his Tabâ—rnacle among the Israelites gave them a perfect pattern in all things even to the least instrument hook or tape therein as also the whole composition of every thing belonging thereunto with all the Ordinances thereof and left nothing to the will and discretion of Moses whose commendation was that he was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of these things that were to be spoken after Exod. 25. Heb. 8. 5. Heb. 3. also we read of David in the distribution of the order and functions of the Priests and Levites and likewise of Solomon and Zerubbabel in building the material Temple how perfectly the Lord set down the matter form number size place order and use of every thing belonging thereunto 1 Chron. 28. 11. as also what perfect Laws was given by God for every thing to be done and likewise how jealous the Lord was over his Sanctuary and what severe judgments was upon all them that transgressed the least of his Ordinances as is seen in Nadab Abihu Lev. 10. Corah and his company Numb 16. on Eli and his sons 1 Sam. 4. and sundry the like Now may we suppose God is less jealous careful provident over his glorious Temple of lively stones which consisteth of the bodies and souls of his Saints for the structure instruments
the sincerity of the Gospel let us remember that great is our reward in heaven if we endure unto the end I testifie unto you for mine own part as I shall answer before Jesus Christ and his elect Angels that I never saw any truth more clear and undoubted than this witness wherein we stand first against false Offices 2. Callings 3. Works 4 Maintenance left and retained in the Land and I thank my God I am not only ready to be bound and banished but even to dye in this cause by his strength Yea my brethren I greatly long in regard of my self to be dissolved and to live in the blessed kingdom of heaven Thus having from my heart with tears performed it may be my last duty towards you all in this life and remember to stand fat and faithful in Jesus Christ as you have received him unto your immortality and confirm and establish you to the end for the praise of his glory Amen The 24th of the 4th month April 1593. He suffer'd death May 24. next after Now if these be not with his former testimonies sufficient to clear Mr. Penry from the Doctors calumniations all written we see a little before his death I shall add a third testimony which as Solomon saith a threesold cord is not easily broken even the last words to his Wife when close prisoner looking every day to be carried to the place of Execution all in print presently after his death and yet to be seen at this day in these words To my beloved Wife Hellen or Penry partaker with me in this life of the sufferings of the Gospel in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ and resting with me in undoubted hope of the glory that shall be revealed all strength comfort with all other spiritual blessings be multiplied through Jesus Christ our Lord I see my beloved my blood is layed for so my days and testimony is drawing to an end for ought I know and therefore you so dear a sister and so loving a wife in the Lord as you have been unto me first then I beseech you stand fast in the truth which you and I profess at this present in much outward discomfort and danger let your soul and your body be far from those Assemblies which yield either known or secret submission unto the ordinance of the beast that is to receive his marks either in the right hand or in the forehead as the spirit of God saith Rev 13. 16. for this are you forbidden to do under the pain of Gods eternal wrath Rev. 14. 9 10 11. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. Rev. 22 18 19. Deut. 12. 30 31 32. Again my beloved continue a member of the holy society whereof you and I are where the Lord in his Ordinances reigneth for here and in all such Assemblies the Lord dwelleth by his presence and power of his spirit Mat. 18. 2. â—â—and 28. 20. and 29. 45 Lev. 26. 11 12 here he is a mighty protector and defonce ready at hand Isa 26. 1. and 4. 6. and his Ordinances you know hath he greatly commanded to be kept and observed Psal 119. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 1. 1 Tim. 6. 14. and the loving-kindness of the Eternal is for ever and ever towards them and their seed that remember to do them Psal 103. 17 18. whereas all those are accursed that err from his statutes and diminish from the obedience they owe unto his Majesty Psal 119. 2. Rev. 22. 9. Psal 119 118. I pray you work all these places with all such like in the word against those that make a slight matter either to walk in the ways of God or to be subject to small corruptions as they account them Be armed with the power of the word against all such lying delusions 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 2 Thes 2. 9. In conclusion my dear wife and sister look not at any earthly thing consecrate your self wholly both body and soul husband children and whatsoever you have unto the Lord your God let them not be dearer unto you than his worship and service know it know it to be an unspeakable preferment for you that he vouchsafed to take either your self or any of yours to suffer affliction with him and his Gospel here on earth Luke 8 29 30. Mat. 19. 29. I am perswaded that you have undergone the profession of the truth set down by our Saviour Luke 14. 26 27. that is to hate all in respect of his Gospel fear not want of outward things for the Lord careth for you and yours remember what is set down Heb. 11. 5. Luk. 12. 31. the Lord is my God and yours and the God of our seed Thus with many sweet and heavenly admonitions and advice he saith I got means this day to write thus much unto you whereof no creature knoweth therefore in great haste with many tears yet in great spiritual comfort of soul your husband now for a season and your beloved brother for evermore John Penry an unworthy soldier sure of the victory in the blood of the Lamb 1 Cor. 15. 57. Rev. 12. 11. salute the whole Church from me especially those in bonds meaning those 56. members of the Church in London taken on a Lords day as they were serving God Now of the barbarous usage they sustained by the bishops I shall after herein set down word for word as themselves have declared in a Petition they presented then to the Parliament In the mean time let me beseech the Christian Reader impartially to judg by this testimony of Mr. Penry left behind him yet to be seen though printed in the year he suffered whether that Report the Doctor hath published to defame a worthy servant of Christ for no other cause but because he as well as other of the Lords servants contended against the ministry of lordly Prelates not once named in Christs testament and that Protest ants should not perswade themselves they were true worshippers of God until they had expelled out from among them the many corruptions in ministry and ordinances the neglect of which good work still calleth for the judgments of God to come on the Nation as was in a second Warning piece a few months ago proved to be the chief cause still why God is bringing his severe judgments on these three Protestant Nations presented to the late Parliament And now to add to all the former causes of Gods judgments threatned to follow Mr. Hildersham's footsteps the Doctor is not content to satisfie himself with that false report but to imitate him in publishing that scandalous name Brownist on all those people unto which scandalous name to shew the Doctor his false or rather his malicious spirit in saying Mr. Brown was one of those people I shall here for the Readers satisfaction set down what Answer to this Mr. Johnson Pastor of the people returned to Mr. Hildersham and Mr. Jacob both the Bishops ministers As for the name Brownist by which we are
reproached the primitive Christians were by the Priests and Pharisees called a Sect of Nazarens Acts 24. 5. every where spoken against Acts the 28. 22. as at this day Protestants are by the Papists called Calvinists Zuinglians Heugonots 2dly Mr. Brown from whom this by-word was taken is Minister of Mr. Jacob's Church and so of Mr. Hildershams all Ministers of the Church of England and not of ours yet holding as we hear in his Judgment the truth we profess but for his practice in Worship remâ—ineth still in Apostacy wherein they are So then not we but Mr. Jacob and Mr. Hildersham may if any be called Brownists See Francis Johnson's Answer to Mr. Jacob Intituled A Treatise of the Church of England page 2. And A Treatise of the Ministry of England in Answer to Mr. Hildersham page 94. Moreover because Doctor Stilling fleet durst not in his Conscience fight against the Cause of God these Servants of Christ maintained after the way of plain dealing therefore fighteth covertly under the Banner of other men yet of the same mind with himself and among the many Mr. Gifford another Minister of the Bishops making whom he maketh one of his chief Armor-bearers in this railing fight Dragon like with floods of reproaches against Gods Servants which keeps the Commandments of God and have in their Writings the Testimony of Jesus Rev. 12. 16. And it was not so bitter then but it would be as bad now if the earth did not by more than by an ordinary providence help the Church the Woman Rev. 12. 15. Moreover this man the Doctor as I remember maketh no less than Eight times mention of Mr. Gifford in Twelve Leaves of his Book against the forenamed Christians Now if he would have the world believe that what Mr. Gifford hath wrote against them to be as Oracles undeniable truths surely I may by the same Rule desire all men likewise to believe that to be a truth what Mr. Gifford hath wrote against the Doctors Church and Ministry and the rather to believe in the latter because who can tell better the evil of their ways than he who was a Bird in the same Cage of confusion with them Rev. 18. 2. Mr. Giffords words are these Through want and absence of a sincere Ministry there is a flood of ignorance and darkness overflowing the Land for the most part the fear of God is banished from the greatest part The wonderful heaps and piles of sin which should be washed away by the Word do undoubtedly cry aloud in the ears of the Lord for vengeance upon the whole Realm The Devil saith he is content those Preachers should ride upon his back because he is sure they will spur-gaul him but a little they be very gentle Riders Do you not think if they should set forth Gods word as they ought and spread the Light that all wicked men of which their Parishes be full would storm and fret against them The Devil himself would fisk about if they spur gaul him but a little but they can tell a smooth tail in the Pulpit garnished with some merry Story for to make the people merry or else some old rotten Allegory or some far-set matter out of some great Writer that their people might be at their wits end to admire them A man would think to see the people come out of the Church blowing that they were fed as full as ticks when they go home with empty Bellies This I dare warrant you if it be not so let me lose both my ears go through the Parishes of these Learned Divines and except such as fetch their Victuals otherwhere ye shall not find Five among Five-score able to understand the necessary grounds and principles of Religion yâ—a the people will say they be excellent deep men but I love not those Wells that a man can draw no Water out of them See Mr. Giffords Book Intituled Country Divinity noted by Henry Ainsworth in his Counterpoyson page 101. Thus it is to be hoped if the Doctor cannot refute this Testimony he will never hereafter speak against the forenamed Christians Testimony which in this particular said no other thing in effect concerning the Doctors Church and Ministry than Mr. Gifford did Moreover the Doctor is not satisfied to shoot his Arrows of bitter words against the Ancient Seperation but through their sides against all the Nonconformists in this day envying at their due birthrights and priviledges given them of God and man in freedom to serve the Lord as they are inlightened and if in any thing as doubtless none but cometh short in a perfect understanding in all things how they ought to walk with God the Doctors duty was then to have by the evidence of Gods written Word wherein they failed in the spirit of Love to have better informed their understandings and not as an enemy to his dissenting brethren as he calleth them to infinuate into the Magistrates minds by publishing to the world that Liberty of Concience hath occasioned the growth of Poperty in this Nation but how greatly hath the Doctors heart deceived him in this as in the former is not my judgment only that the occasion of the growth of Popery is by reason of so many corruptions retained in his Ministry and Worship in his Church as is noted in the Two Christian Warning pieces one to the King the other to the late Parliament but it is confirmed by his Right hand man and chief Armor bearer in this Battel against the Lords Servants Mr. Gifford in a Dialogue between a Papist and a Protestant in the Epistle Dedicatory word for word thus set down by Henry Ainsworth in his Counterpoyson page 19. Some do wonder how it should come to pass that among us there should be so many which being born since the Gospel was restored in this Land are so zealously addicted to Popery which they never did know and so utter enemies to the Gospel which they hear but if they weigh the cause of this deadly mischief they would cease wondering and rather wonder that there be no more For how can it be so long as there be so many abuses in the Ministry but that many shall stumble and loath the Gospel for from hence as it is manifest the chief cause of this evil doth spring True it is that our ministry doth fight against them but in such sort that it doth greatly encrease them seeming and pretending to tread upon these Cockatrice eggs for to break them and to destroy utterly the Viperous generation when as indeed they sit upon them and so hatch the brood of this evil kind and bring them forth in great plenty for behold a number cry out against Popery and proclaim utter defiance in speech but their doings are such that for every one they convert to the Gospel they cause an hundred to revolt to be hardned in their errors or to fall into flat Atheism while many contrary to the profession which they made when they entred
to persons worship God and speak his truth as it is in Jesus But God be thanked their power hath been for many years abated and we have seen the days of peace to worship God which they whom the world was not worthy of longed to see and many of them obtained it not but were taken away to a better inheritance 1 Pet. 1. 4. These things duly weighed the Christian Reader may see what a persecuting spirit these Lordly Prelates are of and whether the Doctor is not of the same by all the symptoms of his Book as an Herald sounding before his Brethren and Reverend Fathers what he hath longed to be at were the Carpenter removed out of the way that hath frayed short Zach. 1. the Horns of their power that as yet they cannot use like cruelty in that measure their predecessours have done as hath been seen Now why the Doctor hath incouraged himself in this evil work to smite with the tongue Jer. 18. 18. or fist of wickedness Isa 58. 4. his dissenting Brethren as he calls them in this his Dragon-like War by casting out of his mouth Rev. 12. 16. with Psal 69. 14 15. floods of reproaches against Gods faithful Servants because they kept the Commandments of God John 15. 14. and have the testimony of Jesus Rev. 12. 17. unles Deog like he hopeth Psal 52. 4 7. to obtain more favour or with Baalam to gain some greater promotion Numb 22. 37. than yet he hath or rewards for his pains And is this the work of one that accounteth himself a Minister of the Gospel Surely it no whit agreeth to the word Gospel which signifieth glad tidings of peace as is the work of all true Gospel Ministers saith Christ in his first Sermon Blessed is the peace maker yea also between man and man even among brethren how good it is Psal 133. Thus ought no Christian to hate the person of his very enemy much less whom Christ calleth his friends for doing his Commandments John 15. 14. And that these Christians whom the Doctor reproachfully calleth Brownists were such is evident by their Faith and Practice in their description of the true visible Church of Christ which the suffering Christians published to the year 1589. as followeth word for word taken out of their Printed Copy A true description out of the Word of God of the visible Church AS there is but a one God and Father of all one Lord over all and one Spirit so is there but b one Truth one Faith one Salvation one Church called in one Hope joyned in one Profession guided by one c Rule even the Word of the most high a Genes 1. 1. Exod. 20. 3. b 1 Tim. 2. 4. Phil. 1. 27. Ephes 2. 18. John 8. 41. c Deut. 6. 25. Rom. 10. 8. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Joh. 8. 51. 1 Joh. 2. 3 4 c. This Church as it is universally understood containeth in it all the elect of God that have been are or shall be But being considered more particularly as it is seen in this present world it consisteth of a company and fellowship of a faithful and holy people b gathered in the name of Christ Jesus their only c King d Priest and e Prophet f worshipping him aright being g peaceably and quietly governed by his Officers and Laws h keeping the unity of faith in the bond of peace and i love unfained a Gen. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Rev. 7. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 3. Joh. 17. 10 20. b Psal 111. 1. and 149. 1. Isa 62. 12. Ephes 1. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Deut. 14. 2. c Deut. 12. 5. Joh. 6. 37. and 3. 14. and 12. 32. Luk. 17. 37. d Gen. 44. 10. Psal 45. 6. Zach 9. 9. Heb. 1. 8. e Rom. 8. 34. Joh. 17. Heb. 5. 9. and 8. 1. and 4. 14. f Deut. 18. 15. Matt. 17. 5. Heb. 1. 2. Gen. 14. 18. g Exod. 20. 4 5 6 7 8. Lev. 10. 5. Joh. 4. 23. h Matt. 11. 29. 1 Cor. 11. 16. Mark 13. 34. Rev. 22. 9. i Ephes 4. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 13. Mark 9. 50 John 13. 34. 1 Cor. 13. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 22. 1 John 3. 18. Most a joyful excellent and glorious things are every where in the Scriptures spoken of this Church It is called the b City c House d Temple and e Mountain of the Eternal God the f Chosen Generation the Holy Nation the peculiar Peopls the g Vineyard the h Garden enclosed the Spring shut up the sealed Fountain the Orchard of Pomgranates with sweet fruits the i heritage the k Kingdom of Christ yea his l Sister his Love his Spouse his m Queen and his n Body the joy of the whole Earth To this society is the o Covenant and all the Promises made of p Peace of Love and of q Salvation of the r Presence of God of his Graces of his Power and of his s Protection a Psal 87. 3. b Ibid. c 1 Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 3. 6. d 1 Cor. 3. 17. e Isa 2. 2. Micah 4. 1. Zach. 8. 3. f 1 Pet. 2. 9. g Isa 5. 1. and 27. 2 h Song 4. 12. Isa 51. 3. i Isa 19. 25. k Micha 5. 2. Matt. 3. 2. Joh. 3. 5. l Song 5. 2. m Psal 45. 9. n 1 Cor. 22. 27 Ephes 1. 23. o Gal. 4. 28. Rom. 9. 24. p Psal 147. 14. 2 Thes 3. 16. q Isa 46. 13. Zach. 14. 17. r Isa 60. Ezech. 47. Zach. 4. 12. s Ezech. 48. 35 Matt. 28. 20. Isa 62. And surely if this Church be considered in her parts it shall appear most beautiful yea most wonderful and even a ravishing the senses to conceive much more to behold what then to enjoy so blessed a Communion For behold her b King and Lord is the King of Peace and Lord himself of all Glory She enjoyeth most holy and heavenly c Laws most faithful and vigilant d Pastors most sincere and pure e Teachers most careful and upright f Governors most diligent and trusty g Deacons most loving and sober h Relievers and a most i humble meek obedient faithful and loving people every k stone living elect and precious every stone hath his beauty his l burden and his m order All bound to n edifie one another exhort reprove and comfort one another o lovingly as to their own members p faithful as in the eyes of God a Song 6. 4 9. b Isa 62. 11. Joh. 12. 15. Heb. 2. 7 8. c Matt. 11. 30. 1 John 5. 3 d Ephes 4. 11. Acts 20. e Rom. 12. 7. f 1 Cor. 12. 21. Rom 12. 8. g Acts 6. h Rom 12. 8. i Matt. 15. 5 Ezek. 36. 38. Isa 60. 8. Deut. 18. 9 13. k 1 Pet. 2. 5. 1 King 7. 9. Zach. 14. 21. l Gal. 6 2. m 1 Cor. 12. Rom. 12. 3 c. n Heb. 10. 24. o Lev. 19. 17. 1 Thes 4. 9. p Col. 3. 23. 1 John 3. 20. No a Office here is ambitiously affected no b Law wrong fully wrested or c wilfully neglected no d Truth hid or
they must be carefully done with prayer going before they must be seasoned with truth gravity love and peace Mat. 18. 15. and 26. 8. Gal. 6. 1 2. 2 Tim. 2. 24. Mark 9. 50. Ephes 4. 29 James 5. 15 19 20. Moreover in this Church is an especial care had by every member thereof of offences the strong ought not to offend the weak nor the weak to judge the strong but all graces here are given to the service and edification of each other in love and long suffering Luke 17. 1. Prov. 10. 12. Rom. 14. 13 19. Gal. 6. 2. In this Church is the Truth purely taught and surely kept here is the Covenant the Sacraments and Promises the Graces the Glory the Presence the Worship of God c. Gen. 17. Lev. 26. 11 12. Isa 44. 3. Gal. 4. 28. and 6. 16. Isa 60. 15. Deut. 4. 12 13. Isa 56. 7. 1 Tim. 3. 15. Isa 12. 8. Into this Temple entreth no unclean thing neither whatsoever worketh abominations or lies but they which are written in the Lambs Book of life Isa 62. 1. Ezek. 44. 9. Isa 35. 8. Zach. 14. 21. Rev. 21. 27. But without this CHURCH shall be Dogs and Enchanters and Whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh lies Rom. 2. 9. Rev 22. 15. Now I leave the prudent to judge whether the Doctor be a friend or an enemy to Christs Truth and holy order of worship and also to his Servants by calling their Books or Writings seditious therefore it is high time for the Doctors followers to beware of such a guide for their souls Yea and whether such a man can be reputed a Christian that calleth the way of Gods Worship so agreable to Christ's last Will and Testament seditious Yea I say it is time as they tender their Souls eternal happiness to examine their present state in worship to God and measure the same by the golden seed of Gods Word Rev. 11. 1. to see if it agree to the description of the visible Church aforesaid collected out of the holy Scripture both in the Ministry Ordinances and Order as Christ Jesus hath appointed and for the better observation in every particular and fundamental grounds therein to note these four things 1st As every building must have a foundation so every true Church must have Christ for the foundation thereof 1 Cor. 3. 11. Mat. 16. 18. 2dly The instrument in this building must be the written Word of God to wit the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets 2. 20. 3dly The matter in this building must be visible Saints 1 Cor. 1. 2. 4thly The way to begin this building must be answerable to the figurative building of Tabernacle and Temple that were built of the choicest things and costly 1 Kings 5. 17. Even so answerable hereunto the spiritual Temple was built of elect precious living stones 1 Pet. 2. 5. as was foretold in the Prophets I will lay thy stones with fair colours and thy foundation with saphire and all thy borders with pleasant stones Isa 54. 11. 6. 17 21. 2. As the materials of the Temple and Tabernacle were all made fit before they were joyned together so that there may be neither Hammer 1 Kings 6. 7. nor any tool of Iron heard in the building Even so in the spiritual John first preached in the Wilderness fitting and squaring a people by the Ax of Gods Word so that the crookedness by nature in Gods Elect was made straight and the rough places plain Isa 40 3. Mat. 3. 3. by being made new creatures 2 Cor. 5. 17. born again so made fit for the Kingdom of God John 3. 5. And this was Gods way in Grace and Nature in all the Apostles the wise Master-builder first in the Wilderness of the wold by the Preaching the Word to convince and by it the Lord converting and then by voluntary profession not by might or power of man Zach 4. 6. but by the Spirit of God were they joyned together by the Covenant of Grace in Christ with him their Lord spiritual Head and Husband of the Body the Church For so it is written As a young man marrieth a virgin so shall thy sons marry thee Isa 62. 5. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Acts 2. 45. And thus saith the Scriptures Prepare thy work without make it fit for thy self in the field and after build thine house Prov. 24. 27. But how contrary to this heavenly pattern was the Doctors Church constituted in every part the examiner may see if it were not too long here to insert but I refer the Reader to Henry Ainsworth's Counterpoison page 205. 127. comparing therewith Mr. Fox's Acts and Monuments Edit 5. page 1187. 1190. 1184. and for noting these and such-like things of the Doctors Church and Ministry the Doctor bespattereth Mr. Ainsworth in his Book with Words so that like Ishmael his hand is against every good Christian Gen. 16. 12. Moreover though the beginning of this spiritual building aforesaid it is but small compared to a grain of Mustard-seed Mat. 13. 31. the day of small things Zech. 4. 10. yet not to be despised if but two or three are gathered together in Christs name which is his Law Isa 42. 4. Mat. 12. 21. in the holy order of his Gospel to worship God by Christs direction they have the promise of Gods presence to be with them Mat. 18. 20. so waiting on the Lord until he multiply them to be not a few Jer. 30. 19. even like the flock of his pasture Ezek. 34. 31. Acts 2. 47. So that then out of themselves the Lord hath given them direction to chuse some into the office of Pastor and Teacher with Elders and Deacons as aforeshewed in the description of the true Church unto which Assembly thus gathered together in holy order Christ Jesus is their Prophet represented in the offices of Pastor and Teacher together with the membral right of the men-members in Prophesie by the word taught among them that they may discern sin Rom. 7. 7. and righteousness Phil. 3. 9. 2dly Christ is a Priest unto them working upon the will and affections killing them a sacrifices Heb. 9. 11. Rom. 12. 1. that so a reasonable creature by the operation of true faith may be given up to God in his service Joh. 4. 23. 3dly Christ is a King to them Psal 2. 6. by his power Phil. 2. 5. that the word taught by prophecy and applied by priesthood may be walked in Col. 2. 6. by a holy life and conversation 1 Pet. 1. 1 5. and the whole Church preserved from all adverse power of Sin the World and the Devil and after this manner seeing Christs Kingdom is not of this world John 18. 36. must he reign in the Church until he hath put all his enemies under his feet Rev. 19. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 25. Now it is evident that the Communion in the Doctors Church is not in this way and order of God the men of his Clergy will answer him in