body of Christ and Antichrist the members of the one body and of the other be made one Brasse Iron Silver Gold cannot possibly be mingled with clay or earth No more can the members of the true Church and the members of the false Church but in al the parts of Spirituall communion as prayer prophecy praysing God the Sacraments the persons that partake in them are commingled make one body 1. Cor. 5.9.11.2 Thes 3.14 1. Cor. 10.15.17 2. Cor. 6 14-18 Therfor whosoever shal mingle with false ministers or members of false Churches therin offer as shameful indignity to Christ as it is to take the members of Christ make them the members of an harlot 1. Cor. 6.15 And heer Mr. Bern. pag. 153-156 indevoureth to prove it 1. Lawfull to heare their Ministers 2. to be vnlawfull to heare vs 3. to be lawfull to pray with them that are Faithful among them For the first you say who ever heard that to heare the word should be a sinne yes I have heard it in these places of Scripture Deut. 13.3 Math. 7.15 1. Timoth. 6 3-5 2 3.5-6 againe you say you have converted by the word go you may bee heard I deny that ever you converted men visibly to the Faith of the New Testament I regard not what you doe invisibly for I cannot see it nor know it what say you to them that convert in popery shal they be heard or doe you think they convert none invisibly Visibly I am assured they convert not the like I say of you Further you plead that the Scripture commaundeth to heare the word pronounceth them blessed that heare it and maketh it a marke of Gods Child so to doe I grant it if it be preached in the Lords true ordinance els men are forbidden to heare it pronounced accursed that heare it and are marked for the Servants of Antichrist for so doeing Revellat 14 9-11 Moreover you say Christ forbiddeth not to heare the Scribes and Pharisees true for they were members of the true Church of the Old Testament and their communion Typical was not polluted by Typicall vncleannes for ought that is mentioned to my knowledg but you say Paull rejoyced that Christ was preached though of contention with a purpose to encrease his afflictions Well Paull rejoyced not that false Ministers in false Churches preached Christ or that Christians heard them so doe neyther doth Paull speak of visible sinnes but of invisible affections which he by the Spiritt discerned to bee in the Teachers even as Peter discerned Ananias and Sapphyras dissembling And what is this to your purpose who are both false Ministers in false Churches Antichristian convinced Heretiques except you can and doe make answer which when you have done then c. For the Second you say wee are not to bee heard bicause as Brownists wee speake our owne fantasies visions of our owne harts and are obstinate Wel Mr. Bern. I say no more for this point but this that every Godly mynded man give sentence whither you or wee have the truth the tyme wil come when secret things will come to light your selves doe approve al that wee professe in substance except the Seperation the Lord judg betwixt you vs you say againe that wee convert none but are our selves converted by you I say al that come from you to vs are by vs converted to the truth from your errors false wayes you doe not convert one man visibly to the faith Besides I demaund when you Seperated from Rome who converted you from Rome Finally wee condemne no man among you only wee declare what you are visibly in the account of the Scriptures by reason of your false Church standing they that see the truth to be the truth yeeld not to it woe be vnto them take heed you be not of them who have seen it to be the truth have confessed it so to be yet write your bookes against it if it be so woe be vnto you from the Lord I say from the Lord except you repent you shal grow worse and worse as for them that sinne through ignorance their is a Sacrifice for their sinnes Lett willfull scorners looke to them selves For the third you say that if wee hold you the children of God wee may pray with you For so Christ hath taught vs to say our Father Well I deny not but those among you that apertayne to the Lords Election have God for their Father but I say they are in visible vnknowne to vs certainly particularly therefore wee cannot have visible communion with them For whatsoever is not of faith is sinne I may have visible communion with one that is a reprobate in the Lords account as Peter had with Iudas I may not have visible communion with one that is Elect in the Lords invisible Electiō bicause he is not visibly faithful to me as namely with thousands of you in the assemblies bicause I cannot possibly know them certainly particularly The twelfth Section The next particular of yours is the thirteenth in nomber viz. 13. That a company truly fearing God if any open wicked joyne with them are not capable to choose them a minister over them which is a truth though you hold it error I manifest it in this manner First you cannot approve to vs certainly that you truly feare God Secondly you cannot convince that they who suffer wicked men in communiō with them truly doe feare God bicause they live in confusion with the wicked from whome they ought to be Seperated that therfor in that confusion estate they have no title to choose them a minister Thirdly let it be graunted for disputation sake that some fearing God doe consent with open wicked in chosing a minister I say that Minister so chosen by the good bad is no true Minister For that mixt people are not the true Church Seing the holy Ghost testifyeth 2. Cor. 6.17 that God wil receave only those that are seperated to be his people that seing those supposed faithful have the Spirit of God the open wicked have the Spirit of Satan they cannot possible combine together except you wil say that the holy Spiritt and sathan can combine seing then those contrary persons cannot conjoyne how can they in common choose them a minister or if they doe how is he a true Minister seing they that choose him are not a true Church I pray you Mr. Ber. in your answer dissolve vs this knot if you can that we way receave instruction Paralleles Censures Observations aperteyning to the twelfth Section Mr. Ber. Sep. Schisme pag. 151. Saith that this is one of our errors to hold That our congregations as they stand are all every of them vncapable before God to chuse thē Ministers though they desire the meanes of Salvation In the beginning of this Section I say that a company truly fearing God if any open wicked joyne with
beast that is are by the Authority of the Romane Empyre established Revel 16.15 out of the mouth of the false Prophet that is are by Authority of the Pope of Rome established out of the mouth of the Dragon that is are by the Authority of Sathan himself established For ther is not a minister in England Elected by that faithful people wher he administreth but is chosen by a profane mixt people if he be chosen law doth not allow such election he is approved ordeyned by Antichrist himself comming but of the mouth of the false Prophets the Prelates of the Land 2. Againe from that ministerie which is not of the Apostolique institution but of mans invention must all the good Christians make Seperation Deut. 13.3 Math. 7.15 â— Timoth. 3.5 Revel 14.9.2 Corinth 11 13-15 Rever 2.2 The Ministerie of England is not of the Apostolique institution but of mans invention Therefore all good Christians must make Seperation from the Ministerie of England The Major is proved thus as in the old Testament Moses commaundeth not to harkeÌ„ to false Prophets Ezechiah endevoreth to draw the people from Ieroboams Preist So in the new Testament Christ willeth to take heed of false Prophets Paull willeth to turne away from such a woe is threatned by Iohn to al that receave the beasts mark from his Ministers Thirdly you worship is not of the Apostolique primitive institution but is invented by man so is Antichristian as may be proved thus Act. 2.4.11.42 10.46 19.6 Rom. 8.26 1. Cor. 12.7 14.15.26 1. The true worship of the Apostolique institution proceeded meerly from the Spirit having no outward help of devised formes of prayers exhortations psalmes Ceremonies The worship of the English assemblies proceedeth out of the Servicebook in devised formes of prayers exhortations psalmes other Ceremonies Therfor the wors his of the English assemblies is not the true worship of the Apostolâ—que institution but is invented by man The major is manifest by the places alledged For vppon the day of Pentecost the Apostles had the holy Ghost given them in the shape of fiery cloven tonges thervppon they spake as the holy Ghost gave them vtterance manifesting the Spirit to the hearets so was it with the Gentils afterward when the holy Ghost came vppon them since that tyme all the churches of the Apostolique institutioÌ„ worshipped afther the same manner for al Churches worshipped after one manner 1. Cor. 16.1 14.36.37 11.2 16. wher note that if devised formes of prayers psalmes exhortations were Gods ordinaÌ„ces the Apostles would have delivered them to the Churches they should have receaved vppon the day of Pentecost fiery bookes as wel as fiery tongs The minor is evident needeth no proof Ergo. 2. Againe From that worship which is invented by man not of the Apostolique institution mustal the good Christians Seperate Col. 2 20-23 Mat. 15.9 Levit. 10.1.2 compared with Act. 2.3 The worship of the English assemblies is invented by man not of the Apostolique institution Therfor from the worship of the English assemblies ought al good Christians to Seperate The major is proved thus For seing the worship of the asseÌ„blies is wil worship vaine-worship devised by man not kindled with the true living fire which came downe from heaven vppon the primitive Church but with such a straunge fire as Nadab and Abihu offered withal therfor it is idolatry so to be Seperated from 4. Fourthly the Government of the assemblies is Antichristian by the confessioÌ„ of theÌ„selves therin can no good Christian joyne except it be lawful for a good Christian which is or ought to be a subject of Christs Kingdom which is visible Church to submit to the vtter enemie of Chr. to his authority which what is it els but to bee a traytor against the L. Iesus yet for further proof I reason thus from these places Act. 14.23 20.28 Phillip 1.1 1. Pet. 5 1.-4 1. The Government of the primitive Apostolique institution was by a Colledge of pastors or presbytery The Government of the English assemblies is by an Antichristian prelate his Officers Therfor the Government of the English assemblies is not the primitive Apostolique Government The major is evident thus For the Apostles instituted Elders by the election of the Saints to oversee the Church feed the Flock of one particular visible Church only as is manifest among the Epheâ—ians Philippians Hebrues al Churches The minor is evident For the Prelates ther officers are not those Christian Bishops of the Apostolique institution elected by placed over one particular Church of the Saynt but are a devised â—yrannical Lordâ—hip â—uling hundreths of parishes by ther owne devised Canons Ergo. 2. Againe From the Government which is devised by man in the Church so is Antichristian which is not of the Apostolique institution must al good Christians Seperate Luk. 19.27 1. Cor. 7.23 Revel 14.9 The Government of the English assemblies is not of the Apostolique institution but is devised by man Antichristian Therfor from the Government of the English assemblies must al good Christians Seperate The major is manifest by the places alledged for seing Christ Iesus only must reigne in the harts of the faythful by his ownâ— officers lawes therfor good Christians must only submit to his officers if they submit to any new officers devised by man Christ saith he wil have theÌ„ slayne they are the Servants of men obeying the Antichristian beast have a woe threatned against them Thus brethren have I written vnto you according to your request Mr. K. his direction proofes of those two points which you expect that in 4. mayne transgressions in the English assemblies viz in the constitution ministerie worship Government of them I pray you brethren keep the copie I send you safe let Mr. K. have a transcript of it if it please him to answer I will be ready to explane matters more fully if ther be any ambiguity to confirme matters doubtful that especialy for your establishment in the truth which now blessed be the Lord is so evident that al the men vppon earth with ther learning can never be able to obscure it Brethren I beseech you grow in grace in the knowledg of our Lord Iesus Christ to whome bee praise in his Church throughout all generations Amen Your Brother in the Fayth Iohn Smyth The Printer to the Reader Though in this treatise ther be divers Lettes either wanting or superfluous or displaced or changed by reason whereof some words are corrupted yet bicause English men can easily help that fault I thought it needlesse to put them in these Errata Only these foure great oversights I desire may be corrected pag. 41. Lin. 1. for Church by the Presbytery read Church to the Presbytery pag 75. Lin. 44. after the last words read So in the New Testament pag. 128. Lin. 32. For Religion is c. read Religion is heresy if this argument be false then is yours false pag. 128. Lin. 34. For is so read become The lesser faults I desire the Reader to pardon
wel to follow the Holy Ghosts prophecy Revel 17.16 even to make the whore of Babylon desolate and naked to eate her Flesh and burne her with fire and not to suffer her wares that is her vessels of wood Ivory Brasse Iron marble to be bought any more which I am perswaded shal in due tyme be accomplished that as the goodly buildings of the Abbayes Monasteries Nunries are already destroyed made barnes stables swineslyes jakes so shal it be done with al the Idol Temples when the howre of their visitation shal come whereas you object for the justifying of the vse of the Idol Temples that seing Antichrist sitteth in the Church of God that therfor when the Idol Temples were built the Church took possession of them to keep possession for the Lord in his creatures therby concluding a lawful vse of them now for the Church restored I answer you your ground is faulty therfor your building tottereth the place of the Apostle 2. Thes 2.4 wher it is said that Antichrist sitteth in the Temple of God is falsely by you conceaved interpreted for it doth not import that as you would have it Antichrists Church the true Church of Christ are one the same that the same company of men can be and are both the true visible Church of Christ at that same tyme the Church of Antichrist this is impossible for the true Church is not the false Church But this is the meaning viz either that Antichrist shal sitt in the consciences of men which is properly the Temple of God Or that Antichrist shall arise vp out of that company of men which once were the Temple of God as Rome was or that the Church being true in the constitution Antichrist shal foyst into it by litle and litle his false ministery VVorship and Government as experience teacheth he hath done For a true Church may have Antichristian ordinances retayned raised vp in it this being the true meaning of the Apostle how can you hence conclude soundly that the true Church tooke possession of the Temples which the false Church of Antichrist built Seing the true Church is not the false Church seing that the temples were built in the palpable darknes of grosse popery some of them perhaps dedicated to heathen Idols some of them to Antichristian Idols as ther Hee shee Saints al of them to Devils For if Ieroboams Preists were appointed for Devils 2. Chron. 11.15 if the Antichristian preists are the Spirit of Devils Revel 16.14 the worship of Antichristians the worship of Devils Revel 9.20 the Antichristian Churches the habitation of Devils Revel 18.2 then the Temples are dedicated to Devils not that they intended so to dedicate them but for that they are so indeed the Lord accounting that to be done to the Devil which is not done to him as he hath commaunded the Devill substituting himself in Gods place when men go a whoring after ther owne inventions Therefor the Apostle saith plainly that the Gentils Sacrifice to Devils 1. Cor. 10.20 to conclude this point therfor so to leave you to meditate vppon these things Seing the Gentils Sacrifice to Devils seing the Antichristians worship Devils seing Ieroboams preists were appointed for Devils yet al these intended to worship God even the true God then it followeth that though the Antichristians did intend to dedicate their Temples to the true God which yet is not granted neverthelesse they were dedicated to Devils therfor are to be raced downe converted to the habitation of Iim Zijm Satyres Shrich â—â—yles Raveas as the Prophet speaketh Esay 34 8-15 The eighteenth Section Your first point now commeth in the last place to be considered viz. 1. In seperating from al the reformed Churches you say we do il Let vs consider what we hold Surely we say the Churches are of two sorts false Churches such as yours of worksop is al others of like fashion 2. true Churches those also of two sorts pure wherin no open knowne sinne is suffered corrupt wherin some one or more knowne sinne is tolerated to the true Churches which are pure wee may wil joyne to the true Churches which are corrupt we cary our selves thus First we labor to discover their faults vnto them admonishing them to reforme which wee are bound to doe bicause they are our brethren Secondly if they wil not reforme after we have convinced their errors vnto them we depart from them lest wee should partake with their sinnes this is our judgment practise if you can reprove it let vs heer from you wee pray you Paralleles Censures Observations aperteyning to the eighteenth Section Heer I desire the Gentle Reader not to be offended that wee endevouring to walk in the liberty of the gospel do not tie our selves to any Church or Churches whatsoever but only to the rules of Gods word therfor howsoever it may seem odious that wee Seperate from al churches yet the causses being indifferently considered the matter wil seme reasonable for we Seperate from al Churches vppon several reasons 1. From some such as are the English Churches we Seperate for the Falsehood of them that is a just cause in any indifferent mans judgment 2. from other such as are the Reformed Churches wee Seperate not for that they are false but for that being true they are corrupt herein our Seperation is not total but for a tyme til we have performed our dutyes vnto them wheÌ„ we have therfor admonished them of their corruptions they repent then we joyne in communion with them if they repent not wee leave them to the Lord we must needes keep our selves vnspotted take heed that we partake not with other mens sinnes The nintenth Section And now Mr. Bern. suffer me a litle to deale with you as with one of whome I have thought so wel as I have done it greeveth my Soule for you to see you so straungely seduced by Sathan so violently carryed in your boysterous robustious disposition against the truth the professors therof it hath greeved me heretofore to see you arrogant proud ambitious cariage preferring your self in place before men both more auncient holy learned then your self in the judgment of al that know you them it hath greeved mee to hear such calumnies as you have in the bitternes of your wrath vttered against divers of vs which I could relate to your eternal infamy but I spare you it hath greeved me to heare your formality that you are become an absolute conformitaÌ„t in judgment that you would be so in practise if some persons hindered you not it greeveth me exceedingly to see some Letters of yours wherein you your Disciples lying at the advantage take all things in the evil part pervert misconstrue mens writings manifesting therein much perversnes of Spirit it greeveth mee above all that you should support the