seeth best and preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdom The Anabaptists answer and conclusion I come now to your conclusion which followeth in these words SIR I might have added hereunto many Arguments from the Scripture to prove what I affirmed but I judge them needless supposing that what is here contained is sufficient to convince you or any rational man in the world of the Grounds and Reasons of our Separation from your Assemblies Vale. John Darker Tobias Watson Mr. Bourn's Reply Friends I see you are very forgetful of what you boasted of in the first page of your sheet of paper That your Foundation Principles for as I understand you it is the Principle of your own Church you speak of if you account your selves your company a Church of God That these your Foundation Principles have Scripture as clear to prove them as the Sun at noon-day withouâ— the help of Consequences or Illustration but now it appeareth it was but a vapour for let the Reader consider and judge whether you have brought any one Scripture proof of these Points in Difference between us that is as clear as the Sun at noon day without a consequence or Illustration I am sure not one neither for your first second nor third Ground of Separation First you speak magisterially against Infant-membership and accuse us as if our Church were builded only of these but you prove it not and your places of Scripture are all consequences Ergo c. and so for your Second your places of Scripture are all falsely applyed they may belong rather to your selves than to us And for your Third which consists of your Friend Haggars four legs which you call Sandy Pillars and Popish Foundations if any shew of proof could have been it must have been by consequences of which here you bring none and so have neither proof nor shew of proof so that I may justly tell you what you had writ in your Paper is not sufficient to convince me or any rational man in the world of the sufficiency of the Grounds and Reasons of your separation from our Assemblies Therefore I hope if God be pleased to open your eyes to see your Errors you will in Gods due time return to us again I do not mean to joyn with those Congregations or Assemblies which are neither Reformed nor Reforming who take no care to separate the pretious from the vile Jer. 15.19 but admit all ignorant and scandalous to communion with them whose Ministers neglect Catechizing that truly profitable and necessary work to prepare people for a ripe-year Church-membership and comfortable fellowship with the Saints and the Lord Jesus Christ 1 John 1.3 but to joyn with those Congregations which are Reformed and reforming whether they be Presbyterial Independant or any other godly Ministers and Reformed Congregations for if they be godly they are Brethren Gen. 41.24 and will not fall out by the way if they be of christian peaceable spirits and such as love and desire the peace and unity amongst the Churches of Christ which every faithful soul ought to pray daily for I leave the Reader to take notice of your VALE it seems you will take your leave in Latine though you find fault with our Humane Learning But I conclude with my humble and hearty Prayers to our good God in Jesus Christ that it will please him to open your hearts to attend not to the Doctrines of men or humane Tradition which they call New lights but upon true examination will be found old Eâ—toâ—s 2 Tim. 3.5 6 7. which by means of your secret Meetings seducing spirits have an easie way to draw you unto yea to wicked heresies Gal. 5.20 too frequent works of the flesh scattered by divers of you amongst poor simple souls but that you may keep close to the word of Truth the holy Scriptures not wrested 2 Pet. 3.17 and falsely applied as we see too many do to the great danger of their souls and the souls of others but according to the mind of the Holy Ghost speaking in the Scriptures and by plainer places giving light to understand those which are more difficult that being guided by that holy Spirit of Truth you may walk as becometh the Gospel of Christ not in enmity against but in peace and love with the godly faithful Ministers of Christ in England commonly so known and esteemed and in peace and love with the churches of Jesus Christ attending conscionably upon and at the publick preaching of the Gospel that you may receive strength from Christ in Grace and in the end if it be the will of God have communion with us and all the Saints of Christ in glory In the mean time let us pray with the Apostle Paul Rom. 15.6 7. Now the God of patience and consolation grant that we may be like-minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus that we may with one shoulder one mind and one mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which is the earnest desire and Prayer of him who subscribes himself one desirous to be found A Friend and Servant to all the Churches of God in Christ Jesus Immanuel Bourne Waltham in Com. Leicester June 10. 1659. To the High and Mighty PRINCE The Captain-General of SIONS ARMIES And the Lord of Lords and King of Kings the Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace the Great Lord Patron and Governour of his Church and Children the Lord Jesus Christ The most humble Supplication and Petition of one of his most unworthy Servants and daily Orator at the Throne of Grace MY truly gracious Lord the blessâ—d Father of thy poor divided John 19.23 24. distressed Church and Children thy coat was without seam woven from the top throughout O that thy Church and people were without Rents Schisms and Divisions but this is the grief of thy poor servants soul that thine and thy Churches enemies have sowed Tares among thy wheat Judg. 9.13 1 Cor. 1.12 yea that a spirit of Division is come into the midst of thy Congregations and separateth Saints from Saints so that one saith I am of Paul another I am of Apollo another I am of Cephas another I am of Christ far unlike those blessed christians in the Primitive times who were of one heart and of one soul in thy worship and service Acts 4.32 agreeing sweetly together in the Faith of thee their Lord and Saviour but alas alas how contrary are we to them by means whereof instead of that bond of love and peace Ephes 4.34 and that unity of the Spirit and truth which ought to be amongst thy Disciples behold a loosness for Divisions and a spirit of Error and Separation hath made thy Saints naked to their shame Exod. 32.25 Psal 2.1.2 3. Psal 83.2 3 4. Isai 26.8 9. Behold O Lord Satans Kingdom and the Kingdom of Antichrist can hold fast together and combine against thy Majesty and
weak in the Faith receive but not to doubtful Disputations Besides there are several Disputations in print already enough to satisfie Yet if you John Darker would write your Arguments drawn out of the holy Scriptures to prove what you affirmed yesterday as I apprehended you That the godly preaching Ministers in England are all Antichristian and our Reformed and Reforming Churches Babylon and to be departed from and our preaching not to be heard with your hand and the hand of your cheif Teacher I should God willing give you my Answer And to this I subscribed my name Immanuel Bâ—urne For your wresting and misrepresenting my words and opprobrious terms you give me and false consequences you put upon me I have learned not to give reviling speeches for reviling But I may tell you That you raise a false position like a man of straw and then you will father it on me and fight against me for it when it is a Bastard of your own begetting I pardon this also The Anabaptists Answer Then you proceed in a magesterial way and with a high vapour But Sir say you we must let you understand that those foundation-Principles of the Church of God which we suppose you well know would have been the matter of our discourse hath Scripture as clear to prove them as the Sun at noon day without the help of your consequences or illustrations and you set down divers of your grounds or foundation-principles as that God made the Heaven and the earth Gen. 1.1 That all men are sinners Rom. 3.23 That God made men upright Eccles 7.29 That God sent his Son to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 The Resurrection from the dead Joh. 5.29 Mr. Bourns Reply For Reply These are plain Truths and full proof without consequence But these Truths are not in controversie between us But now you come to shuffle in matters of controversie amongst the rest like a man that mingles corrupt wares among good the more easily to sell them and deceive the people As it follows in your Answer The Anabaptists Answer If I would dispute say you that the subjects of baptism are men and women and Repentance and Faith go before to fit them for it it is clear without dubiousness Act. 8.12.37 and 2.38 And you further tell me The Ana ∣ baptists Grounds of Separa ∣ tion That to satisfie my desire to know the grounds of your Separation and why you look upon us as none of the Church of Christ or Ministers of the Gospel for which in the whole you give three Reasons First Reason 1 Because as you conceive we frame not our Church of right materials that is as you explain your self not of men and women of riper years converted but of Infant children who can make no profession of Faith or Repentance Secondly Reason 2 A second ground is Because as you dream we walk in parallel with those the Scripture speaketh of who make merchandise of the word of God for which you name divers places of Scripture Micah 3.11 Ezek. 22 26 c. Jer. 5.30 31. and 23.14 15. Phil. 3.18 All which you wrest and most falsly apply to the godly faithful Ministers of Christ in England which most truly may be applied to your selves as I have proved at full and made ready to have sent you though now I shall not trouble the Press with it being nothing but your fals Quaking scandal and the like to be retorted upon you which I conceive is unchristian like Reason 3 Your third Reason or Ground of Separation is Because as your opinion is our Church standeth upon these four sandy Pillars or Popish foundations Four sandy Pillars 1. Humane Learning 2. Say you Baptizing as you call it but Rantizing or rather cousening of Babes in their cradles take away that say you and you would have no Church 3. Your Tythes or forced Maintenance the wages of unrighteousness say you after which you all run astray take away that and preach who will 4. The Magistrates sword which the Priests have run to in many Generations take away that say you which hath ever been the fundamental of your livelihood and then you would be in danger of starving amongst them whom you call Christians Mr. Bourâ—â— Reply Now I see friends you have changed your method for before your first ground was admission of Infants to be members by baptism of our Churches And in your four sandy pillars you put Humane Learning before Infant Baptism I shall in like manner take liberty to change your method and for my Reply begin first with that which is your third sandy Pillar or popish Foundation as you may please to term it and this is our Tythes or forced maintenance which you call the wages of unrighteousness Because it is so much opposed and spoken against by too many in these times who are not onely adversaries to Ministers Maintenance by Tythes but to the Ministery it self First let us look into the Book of God even from the Creation read Genes ch 1. 2. and you shall find That howsoever the Lord the Creator of heaven and earth the chief Lord of all the world did and hath entrusted Adam and Eve and their sons and daughters with the keeping and possession of inferior creatures and dominion over them and with the fruits of the earth and the increase thereof yet the Lord hath reserved a twofold right yet in the creature First general over all the world and the kingdoms of the earth and goods therein to dispose of them when and where and to whom he pleaseth This the Scripture witnesseth at full He gave the land of Canaan to the seed of Abraham Gen. 15.18 And Hanna tells us that the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich he bringeth low and lifteth up 1 Sam. 27.8 And the Psalmist tels us The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Psal 24.1 So the Psalmist again bringeth in God himself speaking All the beasts of the forrest are mine and so are the cattel upon a thousand hills and if I were hungry I would not tell thee for the world is mine and the fulness thereof as is expressed Psal 50.10 12. And the word of the Lord to Jeremiah from the Lord Thus shall ye say I have made the heaven and the earth the man and the beast that are upon the ground by my great power and by my outstretched arm and have given it to whomsoever it seemed meet unto me And now I have given all these lands into the hands of the king of Babylon my servant as you may find recorded Jer. 27.5 6. This Daniel declares in the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the high tree in the midst of the earth which was decreed to be cut down The decree was for bringing down Nebuchadnezzar himself till he did know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will Witness Daniel ch 4.25 Thus hath God a general right over all the world and
Anabaptists Answer This is Humane Learning Take away that say you which you hâ—d at Cambridge and Oxford and then you have no Ministers but Lay-men might preach as well as you Mr. Bourns Reply For Reply 1. Do not you make use of Humane Learning your selves Whence had you your words of Art Scholastical Logistical Sophistical Had you them by immediate revelation or were taught them by some Apostate Phygellus 2 Tim. 1.15 that went out from among us Or did you learn them from Books certain then this was humane Learning How came you to so many Ergo's ten or eleven one after another was not this by Humane Learning do not you make use of humane Learning How was the Bible translated into our English Tongue Was it not by men and do not you read and write as you were taught Now if you make use of Humane Learning your selves why are we no Ministers because we make use of Humane Learning Mat. 7.12 Do as you would be done by and let us have the same liberty you practise your selves this is fair dealing and Christian-like 2. Again do ye find so much fault with us because we have been at Oxford or Cambridge It seemeth I fear that Oxford and Cambridge are great beams in your eyes you cannot but stumble at the glorious University-Libraries and fair Colledges and envy that poor Scholars should by the charity and piety of so many Honourable and Honoured Founders and Benefactors receive maintenance to nourish them in the studies of Humane Learning as if Divine Learning were not by Gods blessing attained there as well as Humane I hope you are not like those wicked men against whom the Palmist prayeth so earnestly Psal 83.8 9 10 11. which said Let us take to our selves the houses of God in possession I would not have you nor any other to be of that mind least that dreadful curse fall upon you or them which is there mentioned lest God do unto you as unto the Midianites to Sisera and Jabin who perished at Endor and became as dung for the earth But I hope better things of some of you and such as accompany salvation as the Apostle did of those to whom he wrote Heb. 6.9 though errour for a time hath deceived you And let me tell you I deny that humane Learning is a Popish Foundation except you will make Popery to be as old as Moses who was brought up with humane learning for he was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians Acts 7.22 and that many hundreds I may say some thousand of years before there was any antichristian Pope in the world And blessed Paul the Apostle was no doubt endowed with Humane Learning as before we have shewed by his skill in the Greek Heathen Poets which he alledgeth and brought up at the feet of Gamaliel as himself confesseth Acts 22.3 And this Six hundred years before that great antichrist the Pope who first took upon him the proud Title of Universal Bishop did arise Pope Boniface Read the History of the Church and you may find it But why are you so angry at Humane Learning which as well as you can you make so much use of your selves as we have fully proved before Why do you charge us that our Church and Ministry are antichristian and to be separated from because we make some use of Humane Learning because we make use of some arguments and consequences from holy Scripture to confirm the Truths we maintain and the ancient Faith once delivered to the Saints we contend for and to overthrow your errours What! Is every Church and Ministry builded upon a sandy Pillar and Popish Foundation and to be separated from as antichristian which maketh use of Humane Learning Will not this argument prove against your selves pull away your sandy pillars and pull down your house and Castle of errours upon your own heads If it be lawfull for you to use Ergo's and consequences let me give you one Argum. Take it thus No Church or Teacher that stands upon or maketh use of the sandy pillar or popish foundation of humane learning to uphold their Doctrine and Church are a true Church of Chirst or true Teachers or members of any Church of Christ but of antichrist and to be separated from as from antichrist and Babylon it self But the Church of John Dâ—rker and Toby Watson or at least John and Toby yea many more of their Opinion as Learned Mr. John Tombes Mr. Benjamin Cox Henry Haggar and John Gosnold and divers others yea the thirty Congregations of your Society no doubt make use of Humane Learning as is evident in divers of their Books as I have declared already you do in your Paper sent to me witnesse your Terms of art Consequence and Ergo's Therefore the Church of John Darker and Toâ—yaâ—atson of Mr. Tombes Mr. Cox Henry Haggar John Gosnold and your Thirty Congregations are no true Churches of Christ nor John nor Toâ—y nor any of the rest true Teachers of Christ but antichristian and to be separated from as from antichrist and Babylon it self This is a consequence from your own premises The first Proposition is yours in substance in your Declaration sent to me of your grounds of separation The second is evident in your practise in your paper you sent me making use of consequences and Latine Ergo's to maintain the practise of your Church and to oppose ours And the conclusion necessarily followes far better than the consequences you bring to prove Infant-children of believing Parents no Disciples of Christ nor members of the Church For the Universities G. N. Orat 3. the Learned tell us that it was the plot of that wicked Apostate Emperour Julian by a publick Edict to put down the Schools where the children of Christians were to be educated that he might more easily have put down Christianity it self for which Gods just judgment overtook him and dying he cried out that Jesus of Galilee had got the victory as elsewhere we have noted Certain it is the design of the subtil Jesuite carried on by Quakers some Anabaptists and Familists to cry down Universities Humane Learning and Ministers that they might more easily bring us back to the bondage of Popery blind Superstition and antichristian Tyranny And too many weak souls without question are in this the servants of antichrist ignorantly Job 42.6 which if they understood what they did would bewail their ignorance and repent in dust and ashes But for Humane Learning we do not make that to be the foundation either of our Church or Ministry as you falsly accuse us but the Word of God and the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles Christ himself being the chief corner stone upon which the Church is builded Witnesse Christ himself Mat. 16.17 18. and the blessed Apostle Paul Eph. 2.20 Yet we may tell you it is lawful for us to make use of Humane Learning and it is necessary for us since by the confusion of
Christ and the Petitions delivered to many Parliaments by that Generation of men poor deceived souls confirm this to the full But the Lord hath yet put it into the heart of the Parliament not to destroy but to defend the Faithful and Godly Ministers of the Gospel and their just Maintenance established both by the Laws of God and the Land for which let us praise God and pray to the Lord still to be so present with them as to guide and rule their hearts that our wise Senatours may rather establish and increase the maintenance of the Godly and Faithful Ministers of Christ in the Nation than take away or diminish any part of it for this will be not only for the honour of the Parliament but for the Glory of God and good of the Nation whatsoever seduced Spirits would perswade to the contrary for whom let us pray as Christ did for his Persecutors Father forgive them they know not what they do And my beloved Brethren let us who are the Lords remembrancers give God no rest nor day nor night till he establish his Gospel and Faithful Ministers and their just maintenance and by enabling us by the assistance of his blessed Spirit to perform constantly our duties in our several places that his and our Jerusalem may be made a praise in the earth But if our adversaries the adversaries of the Gospel should prevail against us all should be taken away though they cannot take Christ away nor Heaven away Let us labour to live by Faith and depend upon God who hath provided for many of us when we had lost all preserved our lives when we were in eminent dangers and will preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdom In the mean time Honoured and Reverend Brethren let us labour by wisdom and power from Christ to fulfil our Ministry which we have received from the Lord to preach the Word in season and out of season to Catechise and instruct our people in the first Principles of the Oracles of God and this both publickly and from house to house often to confer with them and to build them up and confirm them in the knowledge of Christ that if it please God they may know the Lord as the truth is in Jesus that they may walke as becometh the Gospel of Christ and manifest the truth of their Faith by fruitfulnesse in all good works that they and we may by our holy and righteous lives put to silence the malevolent spirits of all our adversaries and bring forth abundantly like trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that God may be glorified And for our selves especially let us by the Grace of God endeavour the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and although our light be not equal in all respects yet let it be far from us by our divisions to rent in pieces the seamlesse coat of our Lord and Saviour but rather in love enlighten and by our frequent communion strengthen one another that though they speak evil of us as the wicked and deceived souls have done of the Prophets and Apostles yea of Christ himself yet seeing our holy lives faithful performance and discharge of our duties in our Ministerial Office they may be convinced and glorifie God in the day of visitation knowing that if we fight the good fight of Faith and keep the Faith and be faithful to the death there is laid up for us the Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give us at that day and not to us only but to all them that love the Lord Jesus and wait for his appearing Which that we may persevere to do and enjoy is the most humble hearty and daily prayer of London June 18 1659. Your most unworthy Brother and Fellow-Labourer in the work of Christ Immanuel Bourne A Defence Justification OF Ministers Maintenance by Tythes Humane Learning Infant Baptism and The Sword of the Magistrate In a Reply to the Answer of some Anabaptists or Antipedobaptists Declaring their Grounds of Separation For John Darker and Tobias Watson and the Thirty Congregations of Antipedobaptists The blessing of Truth with freedom from Errors and false foundations if it be the will of God in Christ Jesus FRIENDS FOr so I desire you may be in and for Christ hoping better things of some of you and such as accompany salvation although for the present too many of you appear to be Adversaries if not Enemies to the Truth of the Gospel and to the Godly faithful Ministers of Christ in England and in other parts of the Christian world Unto the Paper I sent Novemb. 11. 1658. unto one of you living within the limits of the Town and amongst the People to whom God in his Providence hath called me to preach the Gospel I received your Answer in writing Decemb. 8. in one sheet of paper with a Confession of thirty Congregations and I conceive you have consulted with your Church as you esteem it and other Congregations of your opinions to give answer unto my Demands and it was my desire you should so do that I might know your strongest Arguments or Grounds of your Separation from our Reformed and Reforming Congregations that if it be the will of God I might convince you by the help of the Spirit of Truth of the weakness and error of your Grounds and your eyes might be enlightned to see you have been deceived and now be perâ—waded to return and joyn with our Reformed and Reforming Congregations for your edification in the Truth of the Gospel and good of your Souls which I pray for And friends I have read your Answer and am sorrowful to see such pride of spirit self-conceit and vain boasting That your foundation-principles of the Church of God as you esteem your selves have Scripture proof as clear as the Sun at noon day without the help of Consequences or Illustrations with such rash censurings and uncharitable unchristian expressions telling me I alledge Scripture out of ignorance or weakness and that I am like the Tempter who brought Scripture against Christ and that the old Romish principle groweth still in the hearts of many of us to make Reason to be our Rule and cast away the Scriptures And your comparing me to Popish D. Story in his plea against Philpot the Martyr But whether your vain boasting be a truth or falshood Thil. 1.27 and whether your rash censurings and unchristian charge be as becometh the Gospel of Christ I leave to God and your own better enlightned consciences to judge and the Christian Reader to consider Anabaptists Answ First you say You have received some lines of my writing which I sent you upon the Eleventh of Novemb. and having weighed them in the ballance of the Sanctuary you find them very light Mr. Bourâ—â— Reply To which I reply Certainly you were mistaken it was not the Ballance of the Sanctuary in which you weighed my lines for God requireth his people should have
all that is therein 2. Again God hath a special right in the creature or part of the creatures and the increase of them which he reserved for his own proper use and service And this special right he hath never given away but hath his special right still which he did and hath reserved in all ages of the world for the outward maintenance of his worship and service and for encouragement and livelihood of his laborers and servants whom he calleth and imployeth in his own work for his own glory and the good of his Church and children First the Scripture tells us that although the Lord gave to our first parents the creatures upon the earth with every herb bearing seed and the fruit of the tree yielding fruit for meat yet he reserved some part for himself for his own service according to his own will and pleasure Gâ—â— 12.16 20. Of every tree of the garden thou mayest eat freely saith God to Adam but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die And wherefore did God forbid Adam upon pain of death to eat of that tree of knowledge of good and evil Learned and holy Augustine brings in Adam reasoning with God in this manner If the tree be good why may I not touch it Si bona est quare non tango si mala quare in paradiso â— Ideo in paradiso est quia bona est sed nolo tangas quia obedien em te volo and if it it be evil why is it in Paradiseâ— And he answers the question as in Gods stead It is therefore in Paradise because it is good but I will not have thee to touch it because I would have thee obedient The Lord would have Adam know that he had reserved the Royalty to himself and that although he gave Adam an inheritance in the rest of the earth and the fruits thereof to hold to him and to his posterity upon their good behaviour yet he should hold it of him as chief Lord and to touch any part of what God had reserved for his own service was no less a sin then Sacrilege it self and to be punished with death This was the penalty for the breach of that Divine law as Adam and all his posterity since have found by sad experience Again this forbidden tree in Paradise was not all the part of the world which God reserved for himself and his service For if you read Gen. Gen 4.15 c. 4. you shall find that not only that tree of Knowledge of good and evil planted in Paradise was Gods reserved part or rather a part of it but part of the increase of Corn and of Sheep also This is witnessed in those sacrifices and divine services of Cain and Abel Cain brought of the fruit of the ground and Abel of the firstlings of his flock and the fat of them And without controversie Col. 2.23 this was not a will-worship of their own invention odious to God but that which was of Divine institution and so of Divine authority As to acknowledge their homage to God the Soveraign Lord of all so to typifie forth the sacrifice of Christ that seed of the woman Gen. 2.15 Joh. 1.29 which God had promised them should break the Serpents head That Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world Thus a part of Cain's Corn fruit of the ground by tillage and of Abel's increase of his Sheep was the Lords portion reserved and due to the Lord by Divine right for the maintenance of that Divine service which God had appointed our first parents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In fine dierum in the end of days Gen. 41.1 A year of days and those their postetity And this in process of time or at the end of days as the Hebrew word may well be rendred that is at the end of the year when they had gathered in the fruits of the earth 3. The same custom or duty we find continued in after-ages as well as in that first age of the world Read Gen. 8. Gen. 8.20 and you shall see that Noah after the Flood when the waters were abated from off the earth and Noah and his family with the rest of the creatures went forth of the Ark he remembers God had a part due to him who had in mercy saved all Therefore he taketh of every clean beast and of every clean sowl and offered up a burnt-offering to the Lord and the Lord smelled a sweet savor that is the Lord accepted of Noah's sacrifice which he would not have done if it had been a Will-worship and not been his own institution his own Divine Law and appointment as a service due to him by Divine right who is Lord of all for Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and he will be served in spirit and truth according to his own will not the will of men Fourthly The Sons of Noah Shem Ham and Japhet and their posterities by whom the whole earth was peopled they had so much light even of nature or of that Law of God given to our first Parents and to their posterity before and continued after their fall as to know that God the great Creator had a part of the Creature and their increase due to him as a yearly chief Rent to he disposed at his own pleasure for his Worship and Service which even the Gentiles of the Sons of Noah did pay at every years end It was a custom among the Gentiles that the antient Sacrifices and Assemblies to that end were after the gathering in of the Fruits at the years end witness our learned Country-man Ainsworth in Gen. 4. ex Arist Ethic. lib. 8. Cum multis aliis c. as some antient Writers do record But you will say Objection Though some part might by the Sacrifices of Adams sons and of Noah's sons seem to be God's yet what is this to the Tenth or Tythe which the Ministers of England do seek after every one from his Parish where he liveth and preacheth to the people I answer Answer First for the posterity of Noah Shem and his off-spring we find that long before the Levitical Priesthood or that Levie was born that what was the special part or the Lords portion was declared by that great Patriark and excellent Christian Joh. 8.56 faithful Abraham called by the Apostle the Father of the faithful Rom. 4.11 Gen. 14.18 19 20 21. or of all them that believe Rom. 4 and this is that memorable action of his recorded Gen. 14.18 When Abraham came from smiting Chedor-Laomar and the Kings that were with him Melchisedec 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Omnibus dedecimaâ— The Tenth of all Heb. 7.12 who was a Priest of the most high God met him and brought him bread and wine and blessed him c. and he gave him the Tenth of all the same is repeated
by the Apostle to the Hebrews chap. 7. This Melchisedec was King of Salem Priest of the most high God who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him to whom also Abraham gave the Tenth of all And why the Tenth part Question and not the Seventh or Eighth part or the Twentieth or Thirtieth part wherefore did Abraham give the Tenth part of all to Melchisedec Answer Vnde enim homo reâ—um juarum decimam potius quam nonam vel octavam vel aliam quamque partem offerendam esse scire potuisset nisi à Deo â—octus suisset From the beginning men were taught by God to pay Tythes as Hugo de Sancto victorie Erudii Theol. de Saer lib. 1. par 12. cap. 4. I answer Certainly Abraham did know God's will what was Gods part either by the Law of Nature or the positive Law of God taught him from his Ancestors from the Patriarks Noah or Shem or some other or they or their Father had received from Adam and Adam from God and therefore Abraham gave to Melchisedec the Priest of the most high God the Tenth part and neither more nor less this was acceptable to God and this was received of Melchisedec as the Lords portion no doubt and not a will worship of Abraham Again not onely Abraham but Jacob the Grandchild of Abraham and Father of Levi before Levi was born or that solemn gift of Tythes by the Lord to the Tribe of Levi he followeth the steps of his Grandfather Abraham and freely declares what was and is the Lords part or portion for maintenance of his Service and Servants in their Ministerial Office Gen. 28.12 13 14 c. This he doth upon that vision or apparition of Christ to Jacob in that Dream of the Ladder whose top did reach to Heaven and the Angels of God ascending and descending Gen. 28. and Jehovah promising blessings to Jacob upon which when he awaked he was taken with an awful reverence of the Maiesty of God and his presence there and maketh that solemn vow to God That the Lord should be his God that he would worship God in that place and if God should bless him c. and give him but bread to eat and rayment to put on of all that God should give him he should give the Tenth to God This certainly was no rash vow of Jacob no Wil-worship nothing but what hâ— did know to be his duty and that which God would accept therefore he voweth not the eight part nor the twelfth nor the twentieth but the Tenth And of all that thou shalt give me I will give the Tenth to thee Thus you have two witnesses from the sons of Noah in the posterity of Shem where the true Religion was chiefly preserved and the Church planted and these recorded in the written word of God the sacred Scriptures and this before the Levitical Law But this is not all for we finde the same witnessed in the posterity of other the sons of Noah of which though many of them lost the true knowledge of the true God and the right manner of giving all the Honor and Service to God yet they retained some parts of Worship due to God which they gave to their false Gods when they were ignorant of the true God amongst the rest that spark of light of the Law of Nature or of the positive Law of God which they had taught them by their great Grandfather Noah or some from him to pay as a due the Tenth or Tythe to God Thus we read Dydimus old Grammarian That it was a Greek custom to consecrate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Tythes of their abundance to the gods And Pisistratus that Tyrant of Athens writeth to Solon De Lacrâ—â— in vita Solonis that all the Athenians do separte the Tythe of their fruits not to be spent for our use saith he but for publick sacrifice Herodot in Clio. c. And King Cyrus his Soldiers by the advise of Craesus were staid from spoiling the Lydians City That the Tythes might first be paid to Jupiter And as among the Greeks Festus Decima quaeque veteres Diis sâ—is offerebant Macrâ—bius out of Varro Plutâ—â—ucul so among the Latines the Antients did use to offer all their â—ythes to the gods And another witnesseth that the Antients were wont to give the Tenth to Hercules And it was a common custom amongst the Romans It is reported of Lucullus That he grew rich because he observed the use of paying Tythes to Hercules Zenophâ—n witnesses that others used to pay Tythes to Apollo Yea this custom was not onely used amongst the Civil Nations of the Gentiles Plin. hist lib. 12. cap. 14.19 but even amongst the ruder also Plinie writing of the Sabaeans and Aethiopians saith That in the Spices of which those Countries yield abundance the Merchants may not meddle with any before the Priests have laid out the Tenth to their gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A.R. his view of all Religions I have read that in the old Arabians Religion the custom of the Nabathaeans was to pay Tythes of their Frankincense to their god Sabis and the Priests are not to take it by weight but by measure and they are tied by their Dicipline not to gather Cynamon till they first sacrifice then they divide it with a consecrated Spear and assign to that God they worship his portion and afterwards they take their own parts to themselves Plut in the life of Camillus And Plutarch relates of Camillus that Roman Dictator and valiant Souldier who by some was called the Sword of Rome when he went to War as Captain General of the Roman Army against the famous City of the Vejans which some take to be the Venetians before the Roman Emperors Dr Heylins Geograph and divers hundreds of years before the birth of Christ he vowed that if he won the City he would offer the tenth part of the Spoils unto the gods But after the Victory he did either forget his vow or was unwilling to trouble the City or suffered the Soldiers to take the Spoils without reserving the Tythes of all as he had vowed But after when upon some occasions the Romans thought the Divine Powers were offended though they did not know for what and that Camillus was discharged of his charge of being General He acqainted the Senators with his vow upon which they made an order That every man should upon oath present the tenth part of all his gains in that War that so it might be given to the gods But that being found difficult they agreed That a massie cup of gold should be made and sent to the Temple of Apollo at Delphos whom they esteemed a chief amongst the gods in lieu or exchange of the Tythes Yea and the Ladies and rich women were so zealous to promote this gift that they gave their gold and jewels to make it more rich and as they
Congregations as to Ministry and maintenance but it is such a way as is not yet so fit to be revealed Mr. Bourn's answer It is some mystery of Iniquity sure or depth of Sathans policy you are so fearful to discover it Rev. 2.24 but if it be for selling our Tythes and Gleab and putting out the godly learned Ministry and putting in Jeroboams Priests Coblers and Taylers and Tinkers and such like to be Preachers this way will please but a few people in the Nation I am confident for our gleab-lands I have shewed they had a higher Foundation than Pope or Popery by Humane testimony besides Divine they were given in divers places before Pope and Popery began as in the times of Arviragus whom you name in page 8. here in this Land as I have shewed at Glassenbury within a hundred years after Christ a fair Gleab-Land was given to the Church to maintain the Preaching of the Gospel there this witnessed by divers antient Writers some of which I have named in my Defencâ— before I say no more but desire all to consider whether if to devour that which was sanctified and set apart for a Divine use approved by God himself as the Gleab to the Levites was and after the Vow to make enquiry Prov. 20.25 may not prove a snare to the Nation The Lord keep us from making Snares for our selves we have Enemies enough whose daily designs are to make and lay snares for us but the Lord hath delivered us the Lord deliver us still as he hath done for many years since from the Powder-Treason 1605. and since that from many deep designs of Antichrist so that England may sing that Song of Praise which Israel did Psalm 124. If the Lord had not been on our side may England now say when men rose up against us they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us c. Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a pray to their teeth and the Lord continue the preservation of these Nations in truth and peace to his Glory and our Eternal comfort So prayeth he who wisheth no worse to Anthony Pierson nor to any that sincerely seek true Happiness in Christ Jesus but that when this Life is ended we may live together with Christ in Heaven for ever Immanuel Bourne June 25. 1659. THere are divers others who have writ against Tythes that they may overthrow the Ministers of England as well as Tythes that Pamphlet called The Tythe-Cart overthrown several Quakers and others in several Petitions to the Parliament all which may receive a full Answer in my Justification of Ministers Maintenance by Tythes if God be pleased to open their Eyes which I pray for I. B. A DEFENCE OF Infant-Baptism I Now proceed to your second Sandy foundation The Anabaptists Answer The Second sandy Pillar Infant-Baptism M Bour. Reply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aspergo I sprinkle of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fluo to flow Hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aspersus sprinkled Heb. 12.24 which indeed was your first you named in your Paper before 〈◊〉 joyn them together This is Infants membership by Baptizing or Rantizing of Infants as you call it and our accepting of them by Baptism as members of our Church Take away that say you and you would have no Church For Reply First to your terms not Baptizing but Rantizing of poor Infants I may demand of you that speak so much against humane Learning and call it a Popish foundation whence had you your term of Rantizing Can you speak Greek what and without humane Learning this were a kind of miracle or at least an extraordinary gift of that tongue which is now ceased For Rantizo in Greek signifieth to sprinkle in English And is this that you call cozening of poor Infants in their cradles Certainly that child that is sprinkled with the blood of sprinkling is not cozened and so Infants have been else they were not sanctified from their mothers womb as the Prophet Jeremy Jer. 1.5 Lu. 1.15 and John the Baptists and so Infants may be still for what you have proved to the contrary Nor can you or any of your separation bring any Scripture proof to the contrary as clear as the Sunne at noon day without a consequence or illustration as you vainly boasted If we examine your Scriptures alleadged against Infants to exclude them from being members of the Church of Christ it will be evident The Anabaptists Answer Your first place was John 13.34 35. from whence you argue That because Children cannot love or declare their love one to another as those Disciples might who were men of ripe years 〈◊〉 you conclude they are not they cannot be Disciples of Christ or Members of the Church Mr. Bourns Reply To which I reply First Where is your boast of Scripture proof as clear as the Sun at noon-day without a consequence or illustration Is not this a consequence What is ergo else but I leave the Reader to see your weaknes The Anabaptists Answer The rest of your places of Scripture you alledge are all of the same nature and all consequences I shall only name them and leave the judicious Reader to judge The Scriptures follow John 15.8 Mark 13.37 Lu. 21.36 Mat. 13.11 Lu. 14.33 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 11.28 29. â— Cor. 6.4 1 Th. 5.2 3 4 5. Heb. 6.11.12 1 Th. 2.11 Ep. 2.2 3. These are the Scriptures you alledge and to all or most of these you add an ergo a therefore because little children cannot do that which Christ requireth of men of ripe years therefore say you they are nor they cannot be Disciples of Christ nor members of Christ's Church Mr. Bourns Reply First For Reply These are all Consequences still and not Scripture-proof as clear as the Sun at noon day without a consequence or illustration Contrary to your vapour at the first And they are false consequences also for God doth not require as much of little children to make them Members of the Church as he doth of men and women of ripe years and yet they may be Members of the Church of Christ as no doubt Jeremiah and John the Baptist and Isaaâ— â—â—ere even in their Infancy yea and all the elect children of God to the end of the world yea members of the visible Church when they are admitted by Baptism as Isaac was when he was admitted by Circumcision A Light froÌ„ christ pr. 1646. But I have answered this long ago in my greater Light from Christ leading unto Christ noted before p. 284 290 291. I give a distinction of Church-members 1. Men and women of ripe years converted to the Faith of Christ and of these a declaration of faith and repentance is needful to a compleat membership in the Church and to practise those duties Christ requireth in those places of Scripture you have alledged 2. Children of believing Parents 〈◊〉 in the Church and
of these those duties are not required to be admitted Infant-members of the Church But when they grow up in the knowledge and faith of Christ then a declaration of their faith and repentance is necessary before they be admitted to the Lords Supper that great and distinguishing Ordinance of Christ in which there is a sweet communion of members with Christ their Head 1 Cor. 10 16 17. My Book pr. 1646. Mr. Marshall pr. 1646. M. Blake pr. 1653. Mr. Bâ—xter print 1656. and one with another I refer you further to my own Book recited before and to the labours of so many Learned and Godly men who have writ of this Subject to godly and learned Mr. Marsha his Sermon for proof of Infant-Baptism learned and laborious Mr. Blakâ—'s Treatise of Birth Priviledge and Covenant Holinesse of Believers in answer to Mr. Tombes Learned and laborious Mr. Bâ—xer's â—lain-Scripture-Proof for Infant-Baptism â—r Cook 's Font Uncovered And the Reformed Churches in their Harmony of Confessions and Profession of pure and holy Faith in all the Kingdoms Nations and Provinces of Europe Allowed by publick Authority and Imprinted by Tho. Thomas Printer to the University of Cambridge 1586 now about 72 years since The Anabaptists Doctrine denying Infant-Baptism is condemned and Infant-Baptism is approved as lawful in the Churches of Christ Thus the Churches of Helvetia we condemn say they the Anabaptists who deny that young Infants born of faithful Parents are to be baptized for according to the Gospel theirs is the Kingdom of God and they are written in the Covenant of God and why should not the sign be given to them Thus the Church Reformed in Bohemia confesseth they baptize their children And the Reformed Church in Belâ—ia Commending Baptism they conclude Therefore here we do detest the errour of the Anabaptists who are not content with one only Baptism and that once received but do also condemn the Baptism of Infants yea of those that be born of faithful Parents Thus the Reformed Churches in France The English Confession The Reformed Church in Saxony We baptize Infants because Christ saith Suffer little children to come to me for to such pertaineth the Kingdom of God And Origen writeth upon the sixth to the Romans that the Church received the custom of Baptizing Infants from the Apostles and say they Many things are written and published in our Churches by which the Anabaptists are refuted I let pass the Confession of the Reformed Churches of Wittenberge and others of the same Judgment By which it is evident that the Opinion of the Anabaptists then springing out was condemned in all the Reformed Churches now above threescore and ten years ago And these are but a spawn of that horrid sect which did work mischief in Germany and have been long since condemned by the Churches of Christ And whatsoever is written to the contrary either by your chief Teachers or by other your miserable ignorant and scribling later Pamphlets it is already answered or replyed unto by such Reverend Learned and Godly men before mentined and others of our Judgment and that with sufficient Scripture-proof and full evidences from the voice of the Spirit of God speaking in the holy Scriptures far better than your false and non following consequences you have brought against Infant Church-membership and Baptism although you find fault with us for consequences Read your best Teachers and see if you can find one proof or shew of proof against Infant-membership of Believers children or their Baptism without a Consequence or Illustration This is the proof of your writers against it by consequences Read Mr. Tombes Mr. Haggar Mr. Gosnold and the rest And if you use consequences against Infant-Baptism and consequences which will not follow why may not we use consequences to prove the lawfulnesse of Infant-Baptism Pr. by J. S. 1657. Read your late friend Mr Gosnold as honest and learned as any of you his discourse of the Baptism of water and of the Spirit read his first Chapter to prove a Truth That water-Baptism is to continue he proveth by a consequence That which was once commanded by Jesus Christ and never repealed by him is still in force and to continue but water Baptism was once commanded by Christ and never repealed by him therefore it is still in force and to continue Thus I may argue against you for Infant-Baptism That which was once commanded by Christ and never repealed by him is still in force and to continue But an outward sign and seal of the righteousness of Faith and priviledge of Church membership was once commanded by Christ and appointed for Believers and their infant-children Gen. 17.7 viz. circumcision to Abraham Isaac at eight daies old and never repealed by Christ Therefore a sign and seal of the righteousnesse of Faith and priviledge of Church-membership is still to continue to Believers and their children And if children must have the same sign with their Parents then what but Baptism but you cast off our consequences though you make bold with them your selves I urged this argument twelve years since therefore I leave it off Again read John Gosnold his second Chapter where he labours to prove the manner of Baptizing that it was by dipping the whole body in water his seeming proof is by consequence 1. From mens testimony And 2. From the nature of the word signifying to dip though the word doth not only signifie to dip and no Scripture saith that they did dip the whole body in water And if they had yet a circumstance in Baptism may as lawfully be changed as the time of celebration of the Lords Supper was changed which was a circumstance Read his third Chapter in which if he could he would prove the subjects of Baptism to be grown persons fitly qualified and not Infants His seeming proofs are by consequences and false consequences too like those it seems you borrowed of him requiring those qualifications for Baptism all which are only requisite in men and women of ripe years not of Infant-children of Believers to admit them to an Infant-membership in the Church And what are his arguments and answers in his Book but consequences not one place of Scripture as clear as the Sun at noon-day as you boasted in your answer And if both use consequences and agree in the use of these wherfore is there such bitterness of spirit because we cannot agree in Opinion Wherefore are you so violent to deny us to be Ministers of Christ to affirm us to be Ministers of Antichrist and our maintenance Antichristian as if you would destroy us and our Calling out of the Nation If you have such liberty to live â—uietly in the Land wherefore do you think us unworthy of it The Lord heal our breaches and unite our spirits in Christian love if it be his blessed will A DEFENCE OF Humane Learning I Come now to another sandy Pillar and Popish Foundation as you term it Third sandy pillar The