sunt imo bonis multo plures vt in eorum comparatione pauci sint cum per seipsos considerati in gentem numerum faciant August de vnitate Ecclesiae cap. 12. AVGVSTINE In the Church there be also euill men yea many more then good that the good compared with the euill are but a few though considered in themselues they make a very great number And b Greg. in Euang hom 38. Sancta Ecclesia bonos malos indiserete nunc suscipit c. Idem in expos motal lib. 13. cap. 4. Ecclesia intra sinum c. another thus The Church comprehendeth both good and bad and more bad oftentimes then good more goats then sheepe great store of cockle Reprobates without number And heere obserue we the difference betwixt the inuisible and visible Church The Inuisible is considered from the first elect vntill the last bringing all the Chosen of all ages into one body or society The Visible according to certaine places and times for as much as she is not visible vniuersally and all at once but according to times and in her parts The Inuisible containeth none but the good the c Matth. 3.12 and 13.25 Visible containeth both the good and the bad that only the elect this as well Reprobates as elect Chaffe as well as Corne Tares as well as Wheate yea more Reprobates then elect for Many are called but few are chosen The Inuisible Militant hath in it only the faithfull the Visible all that professe faith in Christ though many of them haue no better a faith then the Diuell In the Inuisible there bee many sheepe which are neuer gathered into the visible especially assembly or particular Congregation In the Visible a great many Goats and Wolues which shall neuer be receiued into the Inuisible Matth. 10.16 Behold I send you as sheepe in the middest of Wolues This is spoken of the visible Church which then did swarme with Wolues Matth. 3.7 and 23.33 Goats Serpents Vipers fat Bulls of Basan and other such like beasts This is carefully to be obserued against them of the Seperation By that which hath beene said it is manifest that a true visible Church consisteth of both kinds of Christians aforesaid of Christians true and false of Christians indeed and of Christians in name only no better indeed then rebels against God and blasphemers of him after whom they be called and is a confused and mixt company of Elect and Reprobates good and bad holy and prophane nay many times it is so ouerspread with wicked that the righteous can hardly bee discerned no more then the wheate that lieth all hid vnder the chaffe So that there is sometime a Church without any shew of it So was it in Eliah his time who though a Prophet 1. King 19.10.14.18 and therefore such as to whom the godly should haue beene knowne yet knew he not so much as one And this was then when the state of the Church was such that God could not be visibly serued any where but among his people Israel But of this we shall haue iust occasion to speake more hereafter These things being so what meane those men who sometime were of vs to condemne our Churches and publike assemblies for false Churches because of this mixture and for this cause chiefely to withdraw themselues from vs and our Assemblies It will not helpe them at all to say as they doe that many of our Congregations be knowne wicked as shall hereafter appeare CHAP. V. Of Religion what it is and how distinguished FVrthermore we are to remember that in our description of a true visible Church I doe not say that it is a company of people professing the pure Religion of God but a company professing true Religion For the better vnderstanding whereof and so what a true visible Church is we must know what Religion is and how it is distinguished Religion is the way or manner of worshipping God which men doe vse whether it be of the true God or a false god As it hath beene in all ages past euen so it is now Some Nations worship the true and liuing God which made heauen and earth who is blessed for euer and onely to be worshipped The people of other Nations worship false and fained gods some people worship after this another after that manner some one way some another way The Pagans and those we call Infidels haue their forme of worship such as the Diuell whom indeed they worship and the wit of man hath forged 1. Cor. 10.19.20 The Turkes worshippe God according to their fashion and way The Papists worship God Father Sonne and holy Ghost after their fashion And we called Protestants worship one and the same God in Trinitie after another manner This is that we call Religion and it is eyther true or false False Religion is when eyther a false or fained god is worshipped which in time past the Gentiles did and Infidels doe at this day or the true God is worshipped falsely not in some matters of circumstance only which may fall into them which worship God truly and be of the true Religion but in the very substance and body of worship Of a false Religion and false worshippers are not onely the Turkes which none but themselues deny but the Papists likewise which some men gain-say because their worship is not onely in matter of circumstance but in the substance false and not commanded in the Word True Religion is that Religion which teacheth the true way manner of worshipping God so as whosoeuer walketh in that way worshippeth God after that maner may be saued And it is eyther pure or corrupted Iames 1.27 Pure vndefiled Religion is when the externall worship of God is in all things such as the Word requireth both in the matter and maner of worship as wel in euery circūstance as in the substance Or that is pure Religion when God is worshipped in all things as hee hath appointed without adding any thing therto or taking any thing from it This is the Religion men should be of and this is the worshippe wee should giue to God But alas partly through the blindnes that is in man partly through his corruption otherwise it commeth seldom or neuer to passe that men attaine to this sincerity in Religion and worship After this purity notwithstanding we must striue at the height perfectiō of Religion worship if we cannot attaine vnto it let vs yet draw as neere it as may be knowing that by how much the nearer we approach thereunto by so much the better is our Religion and worship and by how much the further off we be remoued from it by so much it is the worse True Religion is then corrupted when the body and substance of Diuine worship remaining sound some thing or things notwithstanding be eyther wanting therein which God hath commanded or vsed which he hath not appointed or when both these
are to be found in diuine worship Such was the Religion and worship of the Iewes when Christ was vpon the earth at which time contrary to Gods appointment they had two high Priests Annas and Caiphas And where the high Priests office was to continue during his life they now held it but for a yeere To say nothing of their exceeding great corruption in doctrine and manners yet was the Religion and worshippe of the Iewes at that time the onely true Religion and worshippe but not a pure Religion and worshippe The same is true of the Church of Corinthus of the Churches of Galatia and of the seuen Churches in Asia And such is the Religion we professe in England and the worshippe we giue to God a true but not a pure Religion and worship And of this kind also wee may assure our selues is the Religion of the Churches in Scotland in France in the Low-countries yea euen of all the reformed Churches in Christendome though not all corrupted in the same degree True Religion is corrupted lesse or more And that is according as in diuine worship is omitted more or lesse of those things which God hath appointed or added and mixed therewith more or lesse which God hath not commanded or both As when any thing in Diuine worship is wanting which God hath ordained it is not pure Religion and worship but corrupted though it may be a true Religion and worship so when with Diuine worship are mixed Quaere de circumstantiis loci temporis habitus gestus c. or thereunto added some ceremonies more or lesse and ordinances of mans deuising which we call humane inuentions Religion then and worship are thereby corrupted and cannot be said to be pure and vndefiled The reason whereof is because God hath not left it to the liberty and will of man to serue and worship him as hee pleaseth and thinketh good but as he alone will be worshipped so in that manner as he not man hath appointed and no otherwise Nothing is left heere to the wit and will of man he may neyther adde nor omit any thing a Deut. 12.32 and 4.2 Prou. 30.6 Whatsoeuer I command you take heed you doe it thou shalt not adde vnto it nor diminish from it Hence it came to passe that b Leuit. 10.1 a fire came out from the Lord and deuoured Nadab and Abihu euen for offering strange fire before the Lord which he had not commanded them And that the Lord did slay c 2. Sam. 6.16 Vzzah holding vp the Arke of God when it was shaken and in danger to fall Hereby the Lord did shew how highly he is offended with this corrupting and defiling of his worship To teach the sonnes of men to beware thereof Thus you see the difference betweene pure Religion and the pure worship of God and true religion and worship corrupted Also that a people may be of a true Religion and haue the true worship of God and so be a true Church and yet not of that Religion which is pure and vndefiled nor haue the sincere worship As one beleeuing in Christ is a true Christian though he hath many infirmities So a company professing true Religion is a true Church though it hath in it many corruptions and bee a pure Church As a man beleeuing in Christ though he ought to be free from all impurity of soule and body and abound in all grace as much as is possible is a true Christian notwithstanding he attaine not to this perfection but haue many infirmities so a Church or company of men professing true Religion though in the worship of God it should be free from all humane inuentions and haue all the ordinances of God as much as is possible notwithstanding it attaine not to this height of purity or perfection but haue therein many corruptions is neuerthelesse a true Church CHAP. VI. That the profession of true Religion maketh one a member of the visible Church HAuing now prepared and made a way to the Readers better vnderstanding I returne to my former description willing thee againe to remember that I doe not say that a visible Church is a company of people professing the pure Religion of God but a company professing true Religion Adde thereunto if you will and enioying a true worship of God though not a pure worship And heere fitly I may frame another description of the visible Church That it is a company of men enioying and submitting themselues to the true worship of God Let there be an assembly ioyned together in prayer in hearing the Word and in receiuing the Sacraments a Touching the substance therof though not in euery circumstance and in that purity which ought to be according to Christs institution and it is a true visible Church If thou wilt soundly vnderstand Christian Reader what a true visible Church is and be preserued from that errour and Schisme into which many of late haue fallen thou must carefully obserue and remember these two things First The difference betweene pure Religion and true Religion corrupted betwixt pure worship and true worship corrupted whereof we haue spoken Secondly That to the making or being of a member of the visible Church a profession of true Religion and an outward submission to true worship sufficeth From whence these conclusions doe follow First That an Assembly may be a true visible Church though it professe not the Religion that is pure and vndefiled nor liue vnder a pure and sincere worship of God but such as is partly impure and corrupted Secondly That a man may be of the true visible Church though he be not religious and godly but indeed and in truth irreligious and prophane so that he professe the true Religion And that such may be and are of the visible Church who only outwardly submit themselues to the true worship of God though they be not true worshippers and doe not worship God in Spirit and truth This profession of the true Religion and submission I speake of is all in all in this case It is that which giueth life and being to euery member vnited to his body so as whosoeuer maketh this profession and vseth this submission being knit to this body and not cut off by excommunication is in and of the visible Church The matter of this Church is a company of men not one but a company lesse or more And yet not a company of Angels or Spirits but of men The forme is the profession of true Religion or submission to the true worship of God As therfore it is in all other cases that where the matter and forme of a thing is there is the thing it selfe euen so it is in this particular Ainsw to Master Stone pag. 18. Mark 1.24 Act. 16.16 In a Pamphlet set forth by Master Ainsworth as it is reported against Master Stone we haue to the premises this answere That this profession is not wanting in the Sinagogue of Satan For saith
euident in and by the prosecution of the following Argument where I proue that our Religion is true Religion If that forthwith following which is said of true Religion thou wilt Reader apply vnto and vnderstand of true worship then thou shalt plainely see that the same argument whereby we proue our Religion to be true Religion maketh as strongly to proue our worship to be true worship For if the Religion we professe be true then needs must the worship we giue to God be true seeing Religion is nothing else but the manner after which men worship God and that true Religion and true worship as false Religion and false worship cannot be seuered But the Religion which we in England professe is true as shall be proued Therefore the worship we giue to God is true worship I now proceed to a third Argument Whatsoeuer people all the Churches of God in the world doe acknowledge to be a true Church the same to bee a true Church and so to be accounted The people of England all the Churches of God in the world doe acknowledge to be a true Church Therefore the people of England are a true Church and so to be accounted The Proposition I thus make manifest we speake of a visible Church and so I meane by Church in this Argument Now if it cannot be discerned and knowne by others it is not visible If it can be discerned then by the visible Churches that are to the members whereof wee cannot but grant this gift and ability to discerne and know a true Church It is absurd to yeeld this gift to them that are without and therefore to bee granted to them that are within the Church vnlesse we will deny it to all men which is most absurd of all The Assumption I proue by this induction The Churches of Scotland France Heluetia Bohemia Saxonie and so of the rest doe acknowledge our Church for their Sister and giue vnto vs the right-hand of fellowshippe Therfore all the Churches in the world If any true Church doe iudge otherwise of vs doe you instance the same and proue it accordingly Vntill then we will hold the Assumption to be as true as the Proposition and the conclusion to bee no lesse true then they Thus much generally concerning the Church of England now I will proue our particular Congregations or Parish assemblies to be true visible Churches and first thus If the Mother all the people in England professing true Religion be a true Church then are her Daughters the particular Congregations consisting of such people likewise true Churches for as is the Mother so are her Daughters But the Church of England the Mother is a true Churche as hath beene proued Therefore the particular Congregations her Daughters Secondly thus If our particular Congregations haue the matter and forme of true visible Churches then are they true visible Churches But the first is true Therefore the second The Proposition is for this reason true because where the matter and forme of any thing is there is that thing The assumption I thus strengthen The matter of a true visible Church is a company of men and the forme of it is the profession of the true Religion But our particular Congregations are companies of men professiâ—g true Religion Therefore our particular Congregations haue the matter and forme of true visible Churches That the matter of a Church whether true or false is a company of men none I thinke of iudgement will deny or once doubt of sure I am he may as well and truely deny that water is moist Touching the latter part of the Proposition the forme Who can with any face or colour of truth deny That a Congregation ioyning together in the profession of true Religion is a true visible Church In the 14. of the Acts we reade thus And when they had ordained them Elders Vers 23. by election in euery Church and prayed and fasted they commended them to the Lord in whom they beleeued Certainly these Churches were diuers particular Congregations each of which did ioyne together in the profession of Christian Religion Now I would know what made these seuerall societies Churches euen by the testimony of the holy Ghost but their profession of Christian Religion whereby they were distinguished from all other societies as vsually things are by their formes At this time there was little or no Ecclesiasticall Gouernment in these Churches which some make the forme of the Church because there were no Elders by which the same should haue bin gouerned Not this then but their holy profession gaue the forme and being to these Churches Concerning the Assumption that our particular Congregations be companies of men professing true Religion the proofe thereof followeth forthwith Thirdly out of my former description of the visible Church which is demonstrated by the word of God to be a company of people professing true Religion I argue thus All particular Congregations which doe professe the true Religion are true visible Churches Our particular congregations doe professe the true Religion Therefore our particular Congregations are true visible Churches Likewise thus Whatsoeuer Assemblies professe the true way to saluation the same be true visible Churches The Assemblies in England doe professe the true way to saluation Therefore the Assemblies in England are true visible Churches The Proposition or first part of both these reasons is manifest by the former Doctrine and description of a visible Church the truth whereof hath beene made euident by sundry testimonies of holy Scripture The Assumption of the three last Arguments being the same in effect I thus confirme If men professing the same Religion and way to saluation that we doe haue liuing and dying in that profession beene saued then is the Religion and way to saluation that we professe the true Religion and the true way to saluation But men professing the same Religion and way to saluation with vs haue therein beene saued Therefore the Religion and way to saluation we professe is the true Religion and true way to saluation and consequently we are a true visible Church and our Congregations the Churches of Christ and not the Sinagogues of Satan as these men blasphemously say The Proposition is very manifest and needs no confirmation In the printed letters between M. Iacob and M. Iohnson passim the Assumption is true by your owne confession For you confesse that those who died for Religion in Queene Maries time were Martyrs and vsually you so call them and therefore are they saued and now in heauen and they professed the very same Religion and way to saluation with vs and therein liued and died yea died for that Religion wee at this day professe Men therefore professing the same Religion and way to saluation with vs haue therein beene saued by your owne acknowledgment All that you heere say for your selues or can say is this That the Martyrs saw no further I reply You herein acknowledge that so many among vs
the like case You answere thus M. Ainsworth Counterpoyson 229. The examples they alledge of reformation by the Kings of Iudah fit not their turnes for Iudah was a true Church though some corruptions had crept in as will easily doe into the best Abâ—jâ—h the Predecessor of Asa maintained Gods true Religion and worship against idolatrous Israel both by word and sword So Asa found not his Kingdome a false Church as King Edward and Queene Elizabeth found England Afterwards when abominations had ouerspread the Land Hezekiah laboured a godly reformation and opening the doores of the Lords house he brought in the Priests and Leuites not the Chemarims or Baals Priests as the Popish Clergie were brought in or rather retained still in this Church 2. Chron. 30.6 Hezekiah sent ouer all the Land to conuert the people from idolatrie who laughed the messengers to skorne and mocked them howbeit diuers submitted themselues and came to Ierusalem Finally Iosiah purged the Land of idols and false worship and reduced his people vnto the true seruice of God Obserue this mans euasion and what shift he makes to help himselfe in a strait They will seeme to answere when they do nothing lesse For the iustifying of this That Christian Princes may and ought to command their subiects being Idolaters to forsake their Idolatry and worship the Lord and consequently to ioyne themselues to the true Church Wee alleage the examples and practise of certaine Kings of Iudah and namely of Asa Hezekiah Manasseh and Iosiah who did the like For answere to the first of these examples you tell vs that howsoeuer the Religion and worship of God was corrupted in Abijah his time the predecessor of Asa yet was it true Religion and worship that was then maintained and a true Church which Asa found when he came to the Kingdome but such was not our estate and condition when King Edward and Queene Elizabeth entred vpon their Kingdomes The case therefore is not alike But we desire you to proue That in the dayes of Abijah Iudah was a true Church and that Abijah maintained Gods true Religion and worship I confesse that in Iudah God had a Church people in Abijah his raigne who were of the true Religion and worshipped him truely yea I adde that at this time in Israel vnder Ieroboam the Lord had his Church and people that were of the true Religion and worship as is plaine by 2. Chron. 11.13 14 16. But I deny that Iudah was then a true Church and that Abijah maintained Gods true Religion and worship and affirme that Iudah was now Idolatrous as well as Israel whom your selfe calls and that truely idolatrous Israel though both these Kingdoms were not idolatrous in like degree That this is so it is plaine by the holy Story of these Kings and times For marke what Asa Abijah his sonne and successor is said to doe vpon his entrance into the Kingdome He tooke away the altars of the strange gods 2. Chron. 14.3 4 5. and the high places and brake downe the Images and cut downe the groues Heere is mention of the altars of strange gods of Images to wit of false gods of the high places where they offered to these gods and of the groues which were dedicated vnto them which Asa succeeding Abijah forthwith destroyed Doe not these things euidently declare that in the raigne of Abijah Idolatry was set vp and maintained in Iudah and therefore ABIIAH maintained not Gods true Religion and worship If you obiect that these Altars Images and High places were not erected and set vp by Abijah but by Rehoboam his father only through want of zeale he let them alone and did not abolish them and that this only was his sinne and the sinne of Iudah I answere the contrary is manifest 1. King 15.12 where thus we reade And Asa tooke away the Sodomites out of the Land and put away all the Idols that his Fathers had made By Fathers here must needs be vnderstood Rehoboam and Abijah If further you obiect that howsoeuer Abijah was an Idolater yet the Kingdome was not fallen to idolatry but the people generally worshipped God truly I answere this cannot possibly be true for euermore it went thus with the Iewes like Prince like People If the King were religious then the People and State embraced and professed true Religion and worship and if the King was an Idolater and false worshipper then generally the people were such Besides this obiection is answered and conuinced 2. Chron. 12.1 And heere I reason thus with you That King and people which set vp and maintaine the worship of a false god or gods is a false Church But Abijah and his people set vp and maintained the worship of false gods Therefore Abijah and his people were a false Church The Proposition none will gain-say and the Assumption is proued by the aforesaid testimonie of Scripture Againe that ABIIAH did not maintaine Gods true Religion and worship and consequently Iudah in his dayes was not a true Church it is confirmed by the fourth verse of the former Scripture 2. Chron. 14 3 4. And Asa tooke away the altars of the strange gods c as is aforesaid and commanded Iudah to seeke the Lord God of their Fathers and to doe according to the Law and the Commandement In that Iudah is heere commanded by Asa to worship the Lord according to the Law and Commandement of God giuen in that behalfe for this is the meaning of the words thereby is insinuated that before and in Abijah his time they did not worship God after his Law and Commandement but otherwise euen after their owne inuentions which is idolatrie and false worship Lastly I reason against you thus Iudah was an idolatrous and false Church in Rehoboams time Therefore in Abijah his daies The Antecedent I proue by 1. King 14.22 23 24. compared with 2. Chron. 14.3 4. and 1. King 15.3 also by 2. Chron. 12.1 And when Rehoboam had established the Kingdome and made it strong he forsooke the Law of the Lord that is to worship the Lord according to his Law which is true worship and all Israel meaning all Iudah with him The consequence is corfirmed 1. King 15.3 And Abijah walked in all the sinnes of his Father which hee had done before him but his Father set vp and maintained a false Religion and false worship Therefore the sonne You tell vs that ABIIAH maintained Gods true Religion and worship against idolatrous Israel both by word and sword How can this possibly be true seeing Abijah maintained in Iudah a false Religion and worship as well as Ieroboam in Israel and was an Idolater as Ieroboam was Suppose there were now warre betweene the King of Spaine and the Pope about some Ciuill matter some Territories or other commoditie that each of them make claime to If because of this I should affirme that the King of Spaine maintaineth Gods true Religion and worship against idolatrous Rome
he as the Diuell himselfe professed some true and sound doctrine so doe his Instruments as witnesse the writings of Papists Anabaptists and other Antichristians wherein they also make profession of these things But we haue learned of the Apostle Tituâ— 1.16 That there are some who professe they know God but by workes deny him and are abominable and disobedient and vnto euery good worke reprobate Seeing then a company of Reprobates may professe all doctrine needfull to saluation yet practise such things as will bring them to damnation We cannot be perswaded though all your three markes were granted to be in your Parishes that therefore they are true Churches of Christ for we know they doe the workes of Antichrist I reply Neyther Papists nor Anabaptists nor any false Church or Sinagogue of Satan professe true Religion They professe indeed some true and sound doctrine yea the Diuell himselfe did so but it is another thing to professe true Religion and enioy and submit our selues to true worship But say you A company of Reprobates may professe not only some but euen all doctrine needfull to saluation and yet practise such things as will bring them to damnation we cannot therefore be perswaded that a company professing Christian Religion make the Church of Christ You speake you know not what for hereby you imply and secretly teach that A true visible Church is a company of people professing and practising such things as will bring them to saluation Whereupon it followes that there is no Hypocrite in the visible Church for whose practise is answerable to his holy profession he is no Hypocrite Hereupon also ensueth that in the visible Church there is no Reprobate or any that shall be damned and that it is a company of Elect onâ—y and such as shall be saued For all that practise such things as will bring them to saluation shall be saued But this practise of holines ouer and besides an holy profession doe you require in all the members of the true visible Church condemning them as no members that want it and which making this profession doe practise those things which lead to damnation Therefore by your Doctrine all of the visible Church shall be saued and none therein damned And thus vnawares you confound the visible and the inuisible Church but that is vsuall with you In effect you affirme that those mentioned Titus 1.16 were without But that is more then you or any man can proue It is more probable that they were in the Church for they were professors They professe saith the Apostle that they know God Vnder the knowledge of God comprehending also their professing to feare God to loue him and to beleeue in him and to obey him And I am very sure that notwithstanding their extreame wickednes they might be of the visible Church which onely maketh you thinke they were not of it Whether those Professors were in the Church or without it mattereth not I am sure that if not these yet infinite others as abominable as these haue beene in and of the visible Church as hereafter shall bee made manifest Seeing then in many members of the visible Church as Cain Ismael Esau Saul Absalom the Scribes and Pharisies with innumerable more there was no practise at all of godlines but only a profession thereof being no better then Atheists denying God in their workes abominable disobedient and to euery good worke Reprobate why doe you necessarily require practise in al the members of the visible Church so as without it one cannnot be a member of the Church and for want of practise condemne our Parishes for false visible Churches Behold heere men deliuered vp to a reprobate sence that were of the visible Church Are any in our Parishes worse and more vile then these Were these because of their outward profession of the true visible Church notwithstanding their prophane liues And may not they in our Parishes making the same profession bee likewise members of the true visible Church albeit their liues be prophane so long as by excommunication they be not cast out of the Church Your Parishes say you we cannot be perswaded are the true Churches of Christ because they doe the workes of Antichrist Be it that we are guiltie of this trespasse that we doe some workes of Antichrist that is that some such things wee doe or yeeld vnto as Antichrist hath brought into the Church Doth it thereupon follow that our Parish assemblies are not the Churches of Christ Answ to Master Stone about the 2. pag. Verily no Except euery abomination of Antichrist make a Church to become false and Antichristian whereunto your selues answeres negatiuely and renders thereof a good reason in these words For the best Churches are subiect to errour and some abominations of Antichrist were crept into Christian Churches while the Apostles liued By this reason of yours and your owne confession the Primitiue Churches were not true Churches In the eight chapter of Iohn Iesus saith to certaine Iewes Vers 41.44 Yee doe the works of your father And againe Yee are of your Father the Diuell and the lusts of your father yee will doe If these notwithstanding they did the workes of the Diuel were of the true visible Church as the truth is then sure may we be of the true visible Church notwithstanding we doe some works of Antichrist except Antichrist and the doing of his workes be worse then the Diuell and the doing of his workes But the Answere to Master Stone proceedeth If you teach your people that profession without practise is sufficient to saluation you are but a deceiuer of their soules Who amongst vs teacheth such diabolicall doctrine The Lord knoweth and his people know that wee teach the direct contrary that it will not suffice to say Lord Lord but we must doe the will of our heauenly Father if we will enter into the Kingdome of heauen yea yee your selues know this What meane you then to vse these words whereby you would eyther intimate to the Reader that we vse this cursed doctrine and so slander vs or at least that you doubt thereof whereas you certainly know the contrary Take heed your selues proue not the deceiuers of soules Nay as sure as the Lord liueth you are such But let vs come to Master Ainsworths last answere concerning this point of profession Againe Counterp 21. I deny that your Parishes doe truely and rightly professe these things and would heare your proofe we know that your Parishes professe not aright neyther Law nor Gospell neither repentance from dead workes nor faith in God but lye dead in trespasses and sinnes idolatries and many other hainous abominations I reply We know that among vs some few doe rightly professe being the same in deed which they professe and make shew to be and that is as much as is to be looked for in the visible Church Seeing all in the visible Church a few excepted are Hypocrites and that no Hypocrite
as in these things see no further are in the same estate with the Martyrs saued I meane as well as they if they walke according to their profession and that light is reuealed vnto them as they did Which being so the Assumption remaineth firme and sound That many of the Martyrs did in these things see as farre as many thousands of priuate men doe at this day nay a great deale further we cannot deny or doubt of if we compare the knowledge of priuate Christians for the greatest part in these things with the said Martyrs knowledge shining in sundry speeches of theirs recorded partly in the Acts of Monuments and partly in some of their owne bookes And yet did they not seperate from the publike assemblies being as corrupt as ours vntill Popery came in whereby the substance of diuine worship was corrupted and abominable idolatry erected And therefore men seeing and knowing many corruptions in our worship and Ministery and yet not seperating from that worship because of them may notwithstanding bee saued walking according to the rules of our Religion and in that way to saluation we professe Otherwise I am sure these men were not saued which I hope you will not affirme nay in effect you all teach the contrary in that you acknowledge them to be Martyrs and especially Master Francis Iohnson who almost euery where in the printed letters betweene Master Iacob and him calleth them Martyrs and pag. 75. and 77 holy Martyrs who could neither be Martyrs nor Saints if they were not saued and now in heauen Much more then may they among vs bee saued who walking in this way are ignorant of these corruptions though they doe not seperate and therefore men professing the same Religion and way to saluation with vs may be saued And whereas they acknowledging them that died in Queene Maries time to be Martyrs deny vs to be Christians so many as stand members of our Parish assemblies which generally we doe all and granting to them saluation deny it in a certaine respect to vs that these cannot stand together it shall appeare Master Iohnson in the defence of his second Exception against Master Iacob page 16. hath these words Defence of the Churches and Ministery of England 16. These men and assemblies thus holding professing and practising cannot in this estate be deemed true Christians and Churches Against this I argue thus If the late English Martyrs professed and practised the very same Religion wee now professe and yet were in that estate true Christians and so saued then men at this day professing and practising our Religion are true Christians and in the estate of saluation But the late English Martyrs professed and practised the very same Religion we now professe and in that estate were true Christians and so saued Therefore they who at this day professe and practise our Religion are true Christians and in state of saluation The Proposition must needs be true except wee will make God mutable or an accepter of persons The Assumption consisting of two parts is likewise true for all the Christian world knoweth that they professed the very same Religion that we now doe and that they liued and died in our Religion and for it and therefore to deny this is extreame impudencie The latter part of the Assumption themselues confesse to be true in calling and acknowledging them for Martyrs as is aforesaid If heere they roule ouer againe the same stone and hauing nothing else to say obiect the second time the ignorance of those times that the Martyrs knew not the corruptions that then were and still remaine in the worship Ministery and Church gouernment as all we either doe or may know I returne for answere that howsoeuer this is true of some of the Martyrs yet it is not true of them all And what say they to them were they Martyrs and saued or no Master Hooper Latimer Bradford with sundry others had more knowledge and a deeper insight into the present corruptions then many priuate Christians haue at this day nay it is not to be hoped that many among vs illiterate simple ones of slender capacity bad memories as olde men and women c. haue that knowledge of Church corruptions as these and some other Martyrs had who were learned men Ministers and such as spent their whole time and daies at their studies Shall we now deny Christianity and saluation to all these simple ones and grant the same to the former notwithstanding the ignorance of these persons in the corruptions and that not wilfull ignorance is greater then of the others Were the former saued not seperating from the corruptions in the worship of God and Ministery though they knew them very well to be corruptions and must all these notwithstanding their faith in Christ needs bee damned hauing lesse knowledge in the same corruptions because they doe not seperate Verily thus to iudge of this latter sort liuing and dying in this estate argueth not only want of charity but besides great impiety But tell me I pray you are none of these capable of true faith in Christ because of their ignorance in the corruptions Or if they be thereof capable is it by their ignorance herein extinguished Nay I would know of you why they that haue knowledge and good vnderstanding in the corruptions and condemning them doe not seperate may not as well be saued as Master Latimer Hooper and Bradford answere me this one Argument and so I end If Master Hooper M. Bradford with others knowing the corruptions then in worship and Ministery being thesame also with ours now were notwithstanding this knowledge and not seperating saued then men at this day notwithstanding their knowledge of the corruptions and not seperating because of them may likewise be saued But the first is true Therefore the second The Proposition must needs be true considering that God is immutable also no accepter of persons And the Assumption is true as may be shewed by the parts thereof He that shall reade the Acts of Monuments may easily see that sundry of the Martyrs in Queene Maries dayes had good knowledge and insight into the corruptions wee speake of That the corruptions then in worship Ministery and discipline were the same with ours now as many and great their publike worship also the very same wee performe to God now and that notwithstanding those corruptions and their knowledge of them they did not seperat and withdraw themselues from the publike assemblies vntill such time the Masse that abominable Idoll and grosse Idolatry crept into Gods worship so as the body and substance of worship was defiled That these things I say are true no man can deny but with shame enough That they also were saued you in effect acknowledge in calling them Martyrs and holy Martyrs as before we haue heard and your bookes euery where declare Now that we haue been informed in the doctrine of the Church and applied the same seeing there are diuers gone out
God in vaine Matth. 15.9 not one of them worshipped God aright in spirit and truth neyther did they liue after the lawes of God and Christ but after the lawes and customes and fashion of this world whereof they were When men spake to them of peace they were bent to warre and in stead of loue vnfained they did beare a perfect hatred to the Saints These men then were not such as be heere described yea none of them had any one of these properties which you necessarily require in euery member of the visible Church much lesse all of them And therefore by this description none of them were of the visible Church and yet by the Scripture it is plaine that they were all of the visible Church Thus we see your description accordeth not with the holy Scriptures neither hath warrant from thence but by them is easily conuinced notwithstanding you alledge for confirmation thereof sixe and thirty testimonies of holy Scripture But a thousand more so peruerted will not make good your description nor any other of your errors And because I know you will hardly leaue this hold and for that if this be battered downe and made euen with the ground you must needs betake your selues some other way I will therefore againe assault you by the force of another Argument If the visible Church be a company of faithfull and holy people that worship Christ aright are peaceably and quietly gouerned by his officers and lawes keepe the vnitie of faith in the bond of peace and loue vnfained Then none haue been at any time of the visible Church but such as haue beene faithfull and holy did worship Christ aright c as followeth in your description But some haue beene of the visible Church who were not such as be heere described as Cain Ismael Esau Saul Doeg Ioab Absalom the Scribes and Pharisies with infinite others Therefore the visible Church is not a company of faithfull people worshipping Christ aright c. The Consequence of the Proposition I doe illustrate and confirme by the like If the visible Church be a company of people professing the true Religion then none haue beene of the visible Church but such as haue professed the true Religion If the inuisible Church be the company of the elect then none haue beene or are of the inuisible Church but such as were and are elect and their names written in the booke of life The assumption your selues will grant Againe I reason with you on this manner If this be a true description then no reprobates euer haue bin are or shall be of the visible Church but only the elect for none haue beene are or can bee such as are heere described but the elect But many reprobates haue beene are and shall be of the visible Church Therefore this description of the visible Church is false The Proposition must needs be true except Christ Iesus be the King Priest and Prophet of Reprobates and that Reprobates worship Christ aright in Spirit and truth be gouerned by his lawes as their only King keepe the vnitie of faith in the bond of peace and doe vnfainedly loue the brethren Matth. 22.14 The Assumption will not be denied and it is manifest by that short speech of Iesus Many are called but few chosen This description being heretofore found fault with by some and Master Ainsworth iustifying the same it shall not be amisse to heare what hee saith in answere to them and in defence thereof Câ—unterpoys 208. They cauill at our description of a Church when we say that it is a company of faithfull people that truely worship Christ and readily obey him this say these Ministers is vtterly vntrue if it be vnderstood of the visible Church This is strange What would they haue vs describe the Church to be A company of Infidels or a company of faithfull and of infidels together when Paul teacheth that there is no communion betweene such 2. Cor. 6.14 15. or should wee say a people that falsely worshippe Christ Indeed if so we held we might well returne to their Church of England for there is false worship more then enough The Apostle writing to the visible Church of Ephesas calleth them Saints and the faithfull in Christ Iesus Will they say that this also was vtterly vntrue Their owne articles of Religion in England * Aâ—no 1562. Aâ—t 19. say thus The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithfull people c. And is this also vntrue I answere you hauing respect to your owne words A visible Church is a coÌ„pany professing true faith or a company professing the true worship of God some whereof haue faith in Christ I meane true and iustifying faith and worshâ—p God indeed euen in spirit and truth the rest being the greatest part are hypocriticall worshippers void of true faith hauing only eyther the temporall or historicall faith or no faith at all but very Atheists Yet professe they the true worship of God and faith in Christ Iesus and in this respect may be called faithfull in Christ Iesus and Saints because whatsoeuer they be their profession is holy and he holy in whom they would seeme to belieue and whom they seeme to worship truly And in this sence our Church saith A visible Church is a Congregation of faithfull people that is of such as professe faith in Christ Iesus Of this sort of Infidels and counterfeit Professors were Cain and for a time Ismael Esau also Saul Absalom Iudas Simon Magus with infinite more Vnderstanding Infidels thus as they may well be called Infidels or vnbeleeuers who haue not true faith Then I say the Church is a company of saithfull and of Infidels 2. Cor. 6.14 But if by Infidels you meane the same the Scripture vsually vnderstandeth by this word such as worship a false god and doe not so much as professe the worship of the only true God or faith in him then it is true that a visible Church is not a company of faithfull and Infidels together And the hauing communion with such Infidels as these in their false worship is that which the Apostle condemneth He doth not forbid to partake in diuine worship with such Infidels as formerly I haue spokeÌ„ of wicked vngodly men void of true faith as euery where very fondly you tel vs nor yet to communicate with these Infidels he speaketh of in true diuine worship but this he condemneth and argueth against That the children of God may not haue communion with Infidels and Heathens in their false and Idolatrous worship as some of the Saints at Corinth as it might seeme did repairing to the Idols Temples and ioyning therewith their neighbours that were Idolaters in their idolatrous worship This they thought they might lawfully doe so long as in their hearts and inward affections they condemned it and kept them pure as may be gathered from 2. Cor. 7.1 And this is it that Paul reproueth and nothing lesse then
that which you doe from hence vsually collect and vrge against vs. CHAP. II. A confutation of another description of the true visible Church giuen by the Brownists Where much is said concerning the first gathering of a Church and commixture of good and bad in the Church BVt omitting this description of H. Barrowes wee will proceed to another of theirs laid downe in their Apologie Apologie 44. It is say they a company of people called and seperated from the world by the word of God and ioyned together by voluntary profession of the faith of Christ in the fellowship of the Gospell If this be a true description then whosoeuer is not called and seperated from the world by the word of God c. is not a member of the visible Church for of such a company so called and qualified it doth consist as you affirme But some not called and seperated from the world c. haue bin are and shall be of the vâ—sible Church as is euident by that which followeth this therfore is not a true description of the visible Church It is a company of people say you called by the word of God whereby you meane that by the power and force of the Word only in the Ministery and preaching therof men are brought to be of this societie that is of the visible Church and not by the call perswasion or commandement of the Magistrate or any mortall man And this you put downe in your description that thereby you might proue our Parish assemblies to bee no true but false visible Churches because in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raigne the people then liuing were not called by the Word and gathered by the preaching thereof but all brought in at once by her commandement and proclamation Hereupon it is that in the former description of the visible Church they say It is a company gathered in the name of Christ Iesus And Master Iohnson applying this to vs saith We were neuer rightly gathered together according to Gods ordinance Defence of the Churches and Minist of Eng. 86. that is as heere he speaketh not called by the word of God meaning the preaching thereof as appeareth by his quotations of Scripture in the margent We answere If we speake of a Church when it is first planted I meane of a Nation when first it commeth to embrace and professe the Gospell and true Religion the people of such a Nation for a great part there of are called by the word of God before they come to be a visible Church By the power and truth of the Word and diuine maiestie shining euery where therein the children of men be brought to forsake their false Religion and worship and to ioyne together in the profession of true Religion whereby they become a visible Church And this is confirmed throughout the whole story of the Acts of the Apostles both in the conuersion of the Iewes or gathering visible Churches of them set downe in the nine first Chapters and likewise of the gentiles continuing from the beginning of the tenth Chapter to the latter end of that booke In the second of the Acts where mention is made of a great increase or addition to the visible Church that before that time was among the Iewes of about three thousand soules and in the fourth of the Acts of a further increase to about fiue thousand Act. 2.14 and 4.4 in both these places the meanes is specified whereby this was brought to passe and that is said to be the hearing and and receiuing of the word of God preached by Peter and other of the Apostles In the eight chapter of the Actes wee reade of a Church gathered in the Citie of Samaria by Philip his preaching Christ vnto them and in the eleuenth Chapter of the Acts of a great Church gathered by the preaching of certaine Prophets and Euangelists in Antiochia in Syria In a word where in the Acts we reade of the conuersion of a people to God as in Antiochia a Citie of Pisidia in Iconium Listra Derbe Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinthus and Rome in the same places we heare that they were called and the said visible Churches gathered by the preaching of the word But mark all these Churches were now first planted and these people newly conuerted from Iudaisme or Gentilisme that is eyther from the Iewish Religion or false Religion of the Gentiles to the Christian Religion In such a case to the gathering and beâ—ng of a Church the preaching of the Word is absolutely necessary so as without it a company of people cannot bee brought to be a Church But if we speake of a Church established or of a Country where for some time true Religion hath beene professed and God truly worshipped though sometimes interrupted broken off and discontinued which is our case then this holdeth not As vnder the Law both Iewes and Gentiles professing the Iewish religion by Circumcision so by Baptisme Christians vnder the Gospell are incorporated into the visible Church and made members thereof Are not the children of the faithfull by Baptisme receiued into the visible Church and thereby made members thereof And not by the call of the word the sound whereof many of them do not heare and if they doe they cannot vnderstand it And what letteth why some of these when they bee growen men may not thorough hypocrisie continue in the Church though in the hardnes of their hearts they neuer were affected and touched with the word many such hypocrites and hard-hearted men dead in their sinnes and trespasses and that haue consciences seared with a hot Iron haue euer beene are and shall be in the Church who neuer by the call of the word and power thereof would haue become members of the Church nor haue felt any touch that way but onely because they were borne and brought vp in the Church and not cast out either through the want of due execution of discipline or else through their deepe dissimulation and hypocrisie they being like painted tombes which appeare beautifull outward but are within full of dead mens bones and all filthinesse Surely it is not to be thought that Cain Ismael Esau with others that many of the fatte Bulls of Basan that many of those who in Israel killed the Prophets and stoned them which were sent vnto them that many of the Scribes and Pharisies were affected with the Word or so much as tasted of the power and sweetnes thereof and yet were they all of the visible Church How were these then called by the word of God Againe that without this call by the word men may come to be of the visible Church it is yet more euident by the scripture In the twelfth chapter of Exodus where mention is made of the departure of the Children of Israel out of Egypt it is said That a great multitude of sundry sorts of all people went out with them Verse 38. now all or most of these we may assure
our selues were Proselites of the Iewes Religion so of the visible Church and yet vndoubtedly they came not to be such by the call of the word or by the power and operation therof but by beholding the great and wonderfull workes which the Lord wrought by the hand of Moses and Aaron and the freedom of the Iewes from those plagues which fell vpon the Egyptians When Haman was hanged and Mordecai exalted and comfortable letters sent to the Iewes that they should be readie on such a day and auenge themselues on their enemies so as vnto the Iewes was come light and ioy and gladnesse and honor it is recorded in that story Ester 8.17 that many of the people of that Land became Iewes that is turned to and professed the Iewes Religion and so were ioyned to the Church and then immediatly is shewed how that came to passe not by the call power and operation of the Word but because the feare of the Iewes fell vpon them This is manifest likewise in the Gospell where many are said to beleeue in Christ that is to professe faith in Christ and so were of the visible Church of whom it is plaine they were not drawne thereunto by the word but some by the report they heard of Christ as Ioh. 4.39 some for their belly sake to be fed by him as Ioh. 6.26 and some by his miracles as Ioh. 2.27 Seeing then this is not necessarie and generally true of all the members of the Church that they are called by the word of God very vnfitly was it placed in the description of a visible Church which if it were good would be true and each part of it of euery member thereof If it bee true that a visible Church is a company of men then thus is it also true whosoeuer is not a man is not nor can be of the visible Church and therefore no Angels no spirits or soules of men can be of this Church euen so it is in this case If this be true that a visible Church is a company called by the word of God then this is true also that whosoeuer is not called by the word and hath not felt the force and power of this mighty word is no member of the visible Church Moreouer suppose that one of the visible Church haue children and seruants that be Papists and that he after other perswasions commands and threats shall say vnto them except yee forsake your idolatry and worship God according to his word and not after the traditions and deuises of men yee shall be no children nor seruants vnto mee And that thereupon they frequent the Church assemblies and in processe of time doe in policie outwardly seeme to be religious renouncing Popery and p ofessing the true Religion when in the meane season they continue Popish still And not those to be accounted of the visible Church Yes verily for what though they haue a heart and a heart that is nothing to man we must leaue that to God Yet these children and seruants came not to bee of the Church by the call of the Word And herein this Father and Master did nothing but what in duety to God Gen. 18.19 and loue to men he ought to doe For I know him saith the Lord that he will command his sonnes and his houshold after him that they keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse and iudgement that the Lord may bring vpon Abraham that he hath spoken vnto him May and ought the Master and Father of a family doe this and may not or ought not the Father of the Country according to that authority which God hath giuen him likewise do the like by his family If he may why doe you condemne as it should seeme the proclamation and commandement giuen in this behalfe by Queene Elizabeth not long after shee came to the Crowne whereby the gathering of our Churches was hastened You ought rather to haue commended her for it When Iudah was fallen to Idolatry whereby it became a false Church the Lord raised vp certaine Kings of Iudah to restore and purge the Religion and worship of God then greatly corrupted whereby it became againe a true Church And this that they might the better effect they a 2. King 23.21 2. Chron. 14.4 and 33.16 commanded the people to serue the Lord in that manner that he had appointed them and not after the fashion and appointment of men as they had done Of Iosiah it is said That b 2. Chron. 34 33. hee compelled all that were found in Israel to serue the Lord their God Yea some of them to this end c 2. Chro. 30.5.6.10 made proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba euen to Dan and accordingly sent forth the postes with the said proclamations or letters and that which is more d 2. Chro. 15.12.13 calling a Parliament made this statute or law That whosoeuer would not seeke the Lord God of Israel that is serue him according to his word as it is expounded 2. Chron. 14.4 should be slaine Concerning this also they caused the people to take an oath Then it followeth in the text And the Lord gaue them rest round about Whereby is intimated that God approued of this compulsion to serue him and therewith was well pleased Yee now that so greatly condemne the gathering of our Churches and teach that all who are of the visible Church are called by the word of God and thereby onely made members of that society That God heere must perswade the heart of man Counterpoyson 72. 170. That Christs Church to wit visible is a people begotten of God with the word of truth that Gods people meaning the visible Church are a voluntary people And thereupon condemne all force and compulsion vsed herein by the Magistrate Tell me I pray you whether all the Idolaters in the daies of Asa Hezekiah Manasseh and Iosiah that reformed themselues touching their outward profession were by the force and power of the word of God then preached brought to professe the true Religion and to ioyne with others in the true worship of God and so to be of the visible Church If you answere affirmatiuely he is a foole that beleeues you and such a one sure that if you say the crow is white will likewise beleeue you If negatiuely we need no more to conuince you For it some haue come to be of the visible Church who before were not and not by the call of the word which in giuing this negatiue answere you affirme then is not the visible Church a company of people câ—lled by the word of God as you define it Secondly I demand of you why commandements proclamations threates force and compulsion being vsed by the Kings or Queenes of England in the restoring or purging of the Religion and worshâ—p of God should not as well now bâ—e lawfull and pleasing to the Lord as the like proceedings vsed by the Kings of Iudah were in
Let the Christian Reader iudge of this kind of dealing But let vs heare more of your answere These examples we acknowledge all Christian Princes should follow hauing equall power with these Kings of Iudah Counterpois 230. to abolish all idolatrie within their dominions yea and to punish obstinate idolaters and not suffer any superstitious worship among their subiects but to procure their conuersion by the word yet not to compell them to be members of the Church because they cannot giue them Faith and Repentance which is the onely doore into Christ Kingdome and cannot be opened to any but by God alone And a little after Your people should haue yeelded their owne willing consent which they neuer did but were and still are compelled by law and penaltie to bee of the Church and Religion established Replie If Christian Princes haue equall power within their dominions with that the Kings of Iudah had in theirs then are they not onely to abolish all idolatry within their dominions which you confesse but also to command and by law and penaltie to compell their people to be of the true Religion and to worship God according to his word that is to professe true Religion and worship for further then the outward profession man cannot goe which maketh a member of the visible Church But the former of these is true by your owne confession therfore the latter The consequence of the proposition is grounded vpon this that the Kings of Iudah proceeded thus farre when they reformed the Church as appeareth by the premises and namely by the 2. of the Chro. 34.2 which Scripture is singular to this purpose And Iosiah did that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God 3. For he tooke away the altars of the strange gods and the high places c. 4. And commanded Iudah to seeke the Lord God of their Fathers and to doe according to the Law and the Commandement 5. Therefore the Kingdome was quiet before him Here we see that Iosiah did not only abolish idolatry and all false worship but besides commanded his people to worship the true God called here the God of their Fathers according as he had commanded which is that wee call true worship And it is euident that therein he did well First because this is rendred for a proofe or instance of that which is generally said of him in the second verse And Asa did that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord for he tooke away the altars c. And commanded Iudah to seeke the Lord c. that is to serue the Lord in that manner he had commanded Secondly because for this very act of his God blessed him with outward peace as vers 5. Therefore the Kingdome was quiet before him Are Christian Princes only to abolish idolatry within their dominions and to punish obstinate idolaters and not to compell their subiects any further Then belike they may let their people be of no Religion euen Atheists and not punish them so long as they be not idolaters But why may not Kings compell their subiects to professe true Religion and to submit themselues to the true worship of God which maketh them members of the visible Church Because they cannot giue them faith and repentance which is the only dore into the Church and cannot be opened to any but by God alone It is true indeed that Princes though their power is great yet are too weake hereunto But we must know that profession of faith and repentance sufficeth to the making of a member of the visible Church and thereunto the Magistrate can compell That which you say of the visible Church is true of Heauen faith and repentance is the only dore into it and God in Christ only can and doth open it But is very vntruely said of the visible church especially considering your quoted Scriptures for confirmation thereof require faith and repentance indeed and speake of true repentance and sauing faith It greeueth me to see how many places of Scripture are heere peruerted by you as namely Ioh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him vp at the last day And againe vers 65. No man can come vnto me Note heere their abuse of holy Scripture except it be giuen vnto him of my Father That which is heere spoken of the members of the inuisible Church when they are inwardly and effectually called and indued with faith in Christ Iesus That it is God and he alone who giueth them to beleeue meant hereby by comming vnto Christ you ignorantly vnderstand of and apply to all of the visible Church whereof the most haue only the externall calling and will by these Scriptures proue that no man can be of the visible Church except God call him and draw him and by his Spirit perswade him Counterpoys 134. Cant. 1.3 For which purpose also as I remember you alleage elswhere that speech of the faithfull Draw me and we will runne after thee He that seeth not this your abuse of Scripture it is because he wanteth some of that eye-salue mentioned Reu. 3.18 to anoint his eyes with The rest of your quotations for breuity I passe by together with this your doctrine the falshood whereof shall hereafter be made euident in a more conuenient place You tell vs that Christian Princes are to punish obstinate idolaters yet not to compell men to be of the Church First Because in such a case they must yeeld their owne willing consent Secondly Because they cannot giue them faith and repentance which is the only doore into the Church and cannot be opened to any but by God alone Suppose I. N. an idolater by the Kings authority be for his idolatry punished with imprisonment or losse of goods or some such like punishment and that he remaining still an idolater in the loue to his liberty or goods pretendeth great hatred to idolatrie and loue to the true worship of God whereupon after profession of his faith and repentance made he is receiued into the Church Yee cannot deny but that this man is a member of the visible Church for against such a one you cannot shut the doores of the Church and all in the Church are members thereof Tell me now First whether this man became not a member of the Church by compulsion and whether by punishment men are not after a sort compelled to doe the contrary to that for which they are punished and whether this is not intended and aymed at in punishments And so heere that I. N. being punished for his idolatry should forsake that and worship God according to his Word which makes one a member of the visible Church Secondly whether this hypocrite and deepe dissembler doe this of his owne willing consent or rather against his heart and will compelled thereunto by law and penalty Thirdly I demand whether this man hath faith and repentance and hath passed
came and groned vnder the present superstitious and idolatrous worship sighing and crying vnto God day and night because of it they not a few And tell me I pray you had they not in King Edwards the word of God read in their mother tongue in euery Congregation throughout the land and preached also heere and there according to the number of Preachers then Besides they had the holy Bible in the English tongue in their houses wherein no doubt many did meditate day and night Also many godly Bookes specially against papistrie were in their hands whereof they were daily scattering and reading all the dayes of Queene Mary In her time also many in the land had their secrete meetings sometimes by day sometimes by night wherin they ioyned together in the word and prayer and administration of the Sacraments Tidings and letters went daily on euery side concerning the patience and alacritie of the Martyrs in their sufferings their constantie their graue and learned answeres and Apologies and of the rude and vnlearned replies the sauage and cruell dealing of the Prelates with them on the other side The blood of the Martyrs likewise shed before the eyes of all men preached aloud vnto them that saw and heard therof Adde hereunto the manifold conferences consultations disputaions vsed about Religion and the right way to saluation whether this or that were the way specially in the entrance of Q. Elizabeth to her throne that there was a From the 17. of Nouember vntill Midsommer more then halfe a yeare for the people to heare learne and consider before the Commaundement came and we cannot be so void of vnderstanding as to think that meere force coÌ„pulsion brought all to the holy profession vniuersally made nor of charitie as to conceiue that they all generally wanted all knowledge and all faith and were assemblies consisting only of ignorant persons and vnbeleeuers But suppose that onely the proclamation and royall commandement had brought in all And that none had had knowledge and faith in God but Q. Elizabeth who caused that proclamation and gaue that commandement and whose memoriall for that act is and shall be blessed in all ages succeeding Be it granted I say that all parish assemblies then in this land were Congregations of ignorant persons and vnbeleeuing no true Churches indeed at least in Gods account yet it doeth not followe thereupon that our assemblies be such now but this notwithstanding may be and indeede are the Churches of Christ seeing that euer since aboue 50. yeeres wee haue beene pertakers of the true word of God and Sacraments and submitted our selues thereunto and many of vs effectually called thereby as witnesseth our liues vnblameable euen our enemies being Iudges There are many men in a house but gotten into it not through the doore whereby is the ordinary passage into it but by some backe doore or through the window or happely at some breach violently made into the saide house Were it not extreame folly or rather madnesse because of this manner of entrance to deny the inbeing of the aforesaide men in the house Thus vnwise are the Brownists in denying our inbeing in the Church which is the house of God because the manner of our entrance or passage into it at the first was not such as it ought to haue beene as they affirme Apology 24 If you should finde saith Doctor Hall a company of true Christians in vtmost India would you stand vpon tearmes and enquire how they became so Whiles they haue that is necessary for that Heauenly profession what neede your curiositie trouble it selfe with the meanes Against the trueâ—h of our Church therefore to obiect as they do that it waâ— not at the first rightly gathered by the sound of the word but rather of the trumpet is nothing if it were true much more is it nothing and of no validitie that being false And heere befâ—re I ende this point let vs yet further marke how the first gathering of our Church as touching the time when it was they ascribe to the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raigne and as concerning the meanes whereby it was gathered to the proclaimation then made but both vntruly For the first conuersion of our land to the faith of Christ was long before and that by the preaching of the Gospell as is plaine by ecclesiastical stories and by the persecution and martyrdome of the Saints Act. and Monâ—m passim from time to time recorded therein At least who can deny that the Church of England was a true Church in King Edward his dayes during whose raigne many were by preaching so effectually called as the trueth which they then embraced and professed they after sealed with their blood And by the same meanes an infinite company more were then conuerted and brought to the faith that by God were deliuered and preserued from the rage and mallice of the aduersary Very vntrue and slaunderous therefore is this saying of Maister Ainsword Couâ—terp 64. The gathering and planting of your Church hath beene by the Magistrates authoritie not by the word of Christ Heere also as in a glasse wee may behold the falshood and vanitie of that speach of H. Barrow D sâ—ouery of the falsechurch 10. Iustificâ—tion 275. All the people were in one day by the blast of Queene Elizabeths Trumpet of ignorant Papists and grosse Idolaters made faithfull Christians and true professors With these men agreeth M. Robison If the body of the land in the beginning of the Queenes raigne were good and holy at all the Magistrates compulsion wrought it in men and made them of persecuting Idolaters true Christians for other meanes in tearming or comming betwixt their profession of the Masse and of the Gospell had they none sauing the Magistrates authoritie How truely is saide that all the people and inhabitants of this land were ignorant and without the know-of God Secondly Papists and grosse Idolaters Thirdly That no other meanes did intermine and come betwixt their profession of the Masse and the Gospell but the Magistrates authoritie doe thou reader iudge by the promises Obserue here thier slandering of the people of God which is a sinne a thousand fould more hainous then the slandering of one man also their vncharitablenes but chiefely their grosse ignorance who secretly heere emplies that a true visible Church is a company of faithfull and true Christians and true Professors agreeing with their description of the visible Church wherof before we haue heard This â—s taught in the parable of the sower Math. 13.2 c. matt 22.14 Whereas the holy Scriptures teach vs that the most in the visible Church are such as haue onely the name and outward profession of Christianitie being nothing lesse then that they professe and seeme to be Christians in name onely called Christians but no Christians indeede These men tels vs that all in the visible Church are faithfull and true Christians and true Professors and
can or doth rightly professe Law or Gospell faith or repentance And what though many among vs yea the most bee dead in trespasses and sinnes Doth that hinder vs from being a true Church Bee ashamed of your grosse ignorance Know yee not that the greatest part of the visible Church are Reprobates as is manifest by this speech of our Lord Many are called Matth. 22.14 but few chosen and consequently dead in trespasses and sinnes Are not all naturall men dead in trespasses and sinnes The Apostle saith they be but all Reprobates are naturall not spirituall therefore all Reprobates are dead in trespasses and sinnes Is there any Reprobate who being dead to sinne is aliue to God In the twelfth Psalme Dauid because of the iniquity of that time complaineth and cryeth out to God after this manner Vers 1. Helpe Lord for there is not a godly man left And Isaiah thus Ah sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity c. And a little after Isa 1. v. 2.3.4 and vers 10. Heare the word of the Lord yee Princes of Sodome hearken yee people of Gomorrha Tell mee now Master Ainsworth whether the people of the Iewes in the dayes of these Prophets were dead in trespasses and sins and many hainous abominations and whether they did rightly professe the things you speake of I hope it may be as truely said of them as of vs that they professed not aright neyther Law nor Gospell neither repentance from dead workes nor faith in God and yet were they at the same time a true visible Church We therefore may be and are a true visible Church notwithstanding our people generally faile in the practise of that holy Religion we doe professe And thus much of the visible Church yea generally concerning the Church visible and inuisible wherein godly Reader if thou wilt take the paines to informe thy selfe throughly thou shalt not need to feare those rocks wheron others haue fallen and made shipwracke CHAP. VII That the Church of England is a true Church and our Parish assemblies true visible Churches WEE will now come to apply the aforesaid Doctrine of the visible Church to the people of Enâ—land in particular and thereby we will proue the Church of England to be a true Church against all gain-sayers Papists Brownists c. but especially against Brownists who only haue caused this Treatise of the Church against whom chiefely it is intended And this is the first vse wee will make of the said Doctrine The Brownists euery where in their bookes with open mouth affirme that our Church is a false Church and our particular Congregations or Parish assemblies false visible Churches To take away this vile report and euill name which they haue brought vpon vs the people of God I will reason against them and proue the contrary first generally and then particularly Generally thus Whatsoeuer People or Nation is within the daily voice and call of God calling vpon them to repent and beleeue that so they may be saued the same is a true visible Church But the people generally of England are within the voice and call of God daily calling vpon them to repent and beleeue that they may be saued Therefoâ—e the people of England are a true visible Church The Proposition and first part of this Argument is proued by the speech of Christ Matth. 22.14 Many are called but few chosen by the first part whereof Many are called is meant the visible Church and by the latter contained in these words but few are chosen those of the inuisible Church that are in the visible All that liue vnder the voice and call of God that is who submit themselues vnto the Ministery of the Word and doe heare it whereby God calleth vpon them by his seruants the Ministers that they would repent and beleeue and so be saued all these I say are the visible Church among which saith Chrâ—st few are of the Elect and Church inuisible This is the meaning of our Lord in these words As that people which hath not this externall calling by the Word is not a visible Church or so much as within the visible Church but without as Paul speaketh 1. Cor. 5.12 What haue I to doe to iudge them that are without So that people which hath the externall calling whom God vouchsafeth to call vpon to be saued and outwardly submit themselues therunto albeit few of them be effectually called and haue the internall calling is a visible Church Against the Assumption or second part of this Argument there lieth no exception it being true that our Pastors and Teachers are true Ministers euen the Ministers of Christ and disposers of the secrets of God which as some of the learned among vs of late haue proued to the stopping of your mouthes though neuer so wide so God himselfe by the calling and conuersion of many among vs 1. Cor. 9.1.2.3 doth confirme and thereto from heauen set a scale and therefore it mattereth not though a thousand foolâ—sh men on earth doe deny the same From the latter description of a visible Church That it is a company of people enioying and submitting themselues to the true worshippe of God I argue yet further for our Church Whatsoeuer people doe enioy and outwardly submit themselues to the true worshippe of God they are a true visible Church But the people of England doe enioy and outwardly submit themselues to the true worship of God Therefore the people of England are a true visible Church The Proposition hath sufficient confirmation from the aforesaid description of the visible Church and needeth not to be strengthened any further besides you will not I know deny it and therefore in vaine it were to vse many words about it The Assumption you will and must needes deny that our diuine worship is true worship For if our worshippe be true worship then is our Church a true Church This you know full well Hereupon you as confidently affirme that our worship is false as that our Church is a false Church Counterpoys 209. Should we say quoth Master Ainsworth that a visible Church is a people that falsely worship Christ Indeed if so we held we might well returne to their Church of England for there is false worship more then enough If we can proue now that our worship is true worship then and thereby it will be manifest that our Church is a true Church and so the foundation of your building will not only be shaken but vtterly ouerthrowne and fall to the ground consequently the whole building That the worship we enioy and giue vnto God is true worship I thus proue If such as both in their life time and at their death serued God with the very same worship as wee doe haue in that worship beene saued then is the worship wee now haue true diuine worship But the first is true Therefore the second Both the Proposition and Assumption of this Argument will be made
would not you and all men laugh at me for my folly and falsitie No lesse ridiculous and false is that you affirme of Abijah True it is that Abijah had warre with Ieroboam King of Israel but Religion was not the cause thereof but this Abijah being valiant would haue brought backe againe the Kingdome of Israel which Ieroboam had taken as Abijah said to the whole armie of Israel by rebellion from his father REHOBOAM a childe and tender hearted and one that could not resist him as Abijah saith of him Abijah his loue then and desire after the Kingdome of Israel was the cause of this warre as is plaine by 2. Chron. 13.5 6 7. and not his zeale for the true Religion and hatred of the false as your words pretend A man that readeth these words of yours would likewise imagine that Abijah was religious and worshipped God truly whereas in truth he was a notorious hypocrite and grosse idolater In the shutting vp of your answere touching Asa you say that ASA found not his Kingdome a false Church as King Edward and Queene Elizabeth found England This also is very vntrue Nay ASA found Iudah worse then they did England For Iudah in Abijah his raigne worshipped false gods whereas England in the daies of King Henry and Queene Mary worshipped the true God though after a false manner But suppose that Iudah in Abijah his time was not a false Church and that Asa found it a true that lets not but that in Iudah there might be idolaters at the same time worshipping either a false God or the true God after a false manner as the Papists at this day in England doe Nay wee cannot but acknowledge that such there were indeed considering this is said of Asa in the very entrance into his Kingdome 2. Chro. 14.3 That hee tooke away the altars of the strange gods and the high places and brake downe the Images and cut downe the groues Vers 4. And commanded Iudah to seeke the Lord God of their Fathers and to doe according to the Law and the Commandement Now these idolaters that in their high places offered to strange gods did ASA command to forsake their idolatrie and to worship the Lord God of their Fathers after the manner hee had commanded as is plaine First By the coherence and dependance of the two verses aforesaid Secondly ASA needed not to giue this commandement to them who did already worship God truely but to the idolaters that were in Iudah that eyther worshipped strange gods or the Lord after their owne inuentions and not as he had commanded Is it not then plaine in the example of Asa That Christian Princes may and ought to command their subiects being idolaters to forsake their idolatrie and to worship the Lord and consequently to ioyne themselues to the true Church say it were true that the Church of Iudah was then not a false but a true Church Yes verily euen al one as if the Church in Abijah his time had been a false Church as indeed it was Specially if hereunto we adde that which is set downe in the second verse That herein Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord. But grant we that the dissimilitude you speake of would helpe you against the example and practise of Asa yet is it no answere to the other two examples of Hezekiah and Iosiah seeing they found the Church of Iudah euery whit as false a Church as King Edward and Queene Elizabeth did the Church of England Yea false in a higher degree worshipping false Gods whereas England in King Henry the eight Nay England enioyed the true worship of God part of King Henry his raigne especially during the time of Queene Anne and before the sixe bloudie articles were vrged Act. and Mon. 999. and 1000. 2. Chron. 28.2 3 4. and 23. and 33.2 3 4 5 9. and Queene Maries dayes worshipped yet the true God though after a false manner By the Scripture it is manifest that in the daies of Ahaz and Amon Predecessors to the aforesaid godly Kings Iudah walked in the wayes of Israel made molten Images and set vp altars for Baalim sacrificed vnto the gods of Damascus and of Aram and worshipped all the Host of heauen and serued them nay it is said Iudah and the inhabitants of Ierusalem did worse then the Heathen whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel This you knew well enough and saw but would not see for then you had answered your selfe which you had no desire to doe And this appeareth by your owne words for you acknowledge that IOSIAH purged his Land of false worship 2. That he reduced his people vnto the true seruice of God therefore before Iosiah his raigne in Amon his daies they had the false seruice and worship of God established among them Marke also how Master Ainsworth vsing many words concerning HEZEKIAH his reformation passeth smoothly both by this that Iudah in his entrance to the Kingdome was a false Church and that hee in his said reformation vsed his regall commandement and authority sent forth his proclamation throughout all Israel and Iudah and that by postes for the more speedie dispatch thereof We haue not a word of these things that make as directly against you as can bee and for the iustifying of Queene Elizabeths proclamation in the beginning of her raigne which you spurne against so much But in stead thereof you say That he opened the dores of the Lords house brought in the Priests and Leuites and sent ouer all the Land to conuert the people from idolatry who laughed at the messengers mocked them It may seeme by these messengers you vnderstand or at least would haue your Reader vnderstand certaine Prophets Priests or Leuites That such were sent by the King throughout all Israel and Iudah to preach for the gathering calling and conuerting of this people to God But the Reader must know that these said Messengers were the Postes that carried the Kings proclamations or as it is said 2. Chro. 30.6 went with letters by the commission of the King and his Princes throughout all Israel and Iudah and with the commandement of the King the summe of which proclamations or letters is there set downe Who would euer imagine that they whom the King sent to conuert the people from idolatrie for these be your words were only certaine Postes that carried the proclamations of the King Thus by cunning you deceiue the simple In like manner you deale as touching Iosiah You tell vs that he purged the Land of Idols and false worship and reduced his people vnto the true seruice of God But in the meane season you omit how that to the end he might bring this to passe 2. Chro. 33.16 hee commanded Iudah to serue the Lord God of Israel This which maketh to the very point in hand you passe by and in stead thereof mention that which is nothing to the purpose