to the Church of Israel vvas by them used and to be performed according to order and not any vvay to vveaken but to stablish the Elders auctoritie And vve must not be straungers from the policie of Israel Eph. 2.12 c. Yea this verie instruction in Mat. 18.17 is such as it accordeth vvith and hath reference unto the grounds and ordinances of God taught of old by Moses the Prophets as is shevved in particular in the Treatise aforesaid and in the Churches agreement published there about So as their opposition against us therein is indeed against Israel against Moses against the Prophets And vvhether thē it be not also consequently against the Lord and his ordinances prescribed in his vvord let all indifferent men judge Such is their error and so great is their transgression and iniquitie And hitherto of the first Objection vvhich in the printed copie is the second VVhere furthermore observe hovv vvhen they doe here quote the Scriptures alledged for proof of the 24 Article of the Confession they doe it thus Mat. 18.17 c. vvhereas in the Confession it is thus Psal 122.3 c. VVhich is to be noted in divers respects First because it sheweth that at the setting downe of the Confessiō the Scriptures of the old testament were observed for the confirmation of it asvvell as of the newe Secondly that Mat. 18.17 is so to be understood as may agree vvith the other Scriptures namely vvith Psal 122.3 Lev. 20.4.5 and 24.14 Numb 5.2.3 Deut. 13 9. vvhich Scriptures are in this article also alledged and joyned vvith that of Mat. 18.17 Thirdly that it must be understood vvith agreement and proportion to the order and manner of Israel vvhereof these scriptures doe directly speak Fourthly that therefore our understanding of it novv as vve doe is in the truth of the point it self according to our auncient sayth and not theirs vvho vvould make us straungers from Israel and vvould persvvade us that Christs doctrine in Mat. 18.17 is a nevve rule for the Churches novv vvhich Israel had not And that these people therefore have in deed left the ancient faith which thing they object unto others Moreover by the Scriptures asoresayd joyned together and compared vvith the estate of Israel it doth appeare reason it self doth teach it that we must distinguish betweē the sentence of excommunication and betvveen the execution thereof as betvveen the sentence of death of leprosie or the like and betvveen the execution follovving thereupon Novv in Israel the Elders in causes of death the Priests in case of Leprosie had a rightfull povver to give out the sentence of death and of leprosie and the like according to the lavv of God vvithout asking the peoples consent yea and though it should have been vvithout and against the consent of the people vvhom they call here the bodie of the Congregation Deu. 1.16 and 17 8-12 and 24.8 with 2 Chron. 26 16-20 Levit. 13. c. And vvhen the Elders and Priests had so pronounced the sentence according to the vvord of God and dutie of their office then vvas it for the people to performe the execution accordingly as may be seen in the Scriptures aforesaid many other the like Thus also the Elders may now by vertue dutie of their Office give out the sentence of excomunicatiō according to the lavv of God and the people should accordingly put it in execution by avoyding the excōmmunicated persons till they repent c. Or if any of the people can except against the Elders proceeding therein they are to be heard as in the foresaid Treatise upon Mat. 18 17. I have vvrittē heretofore VVhere note further hovv in that Treatise it is often mentioned particularly in our agreement about the understāding of this Scripture of Mat. 18.17 that we should alway understand and observe these things according as in Israel in the due proportion perpetuall equitie thereof and therefore not to abridge the brethren of their assent or any right that doth apperteyne unto them by the word of God but to doe all things accōrding to the rules prescribed therein c. And here let me then aske of this people thus divided hereabout first vvhether in Israel the Lord abridged the people of their right libertie any way in that by his word the Elders and Priests might admonish sinners give sentence of death and leprosie and the like things vvithout asking or taking the peoples consent thereunto Secondly vvhether the people have any more right and authoritie in the Churches government novv then the people of Israel had in those dayes Thirdly vvhether the people of Israel vvere not kings priests even a kingdome of priests and a holie nation asvvel as the Christian people are now Exod. 19 5 6. Psal 149.1 c. with 1 Pet. 2.9.10 Rev. 1.6 Fourthly vvhether the Churches power vvhich the Lord hath given unto it be not a ministeriall povver onely Fiftly vvhether the Elders povver be not ministeriall under the Lord in and for the Church so as it is the Lords primarily the Churches secondarily and the Officers ministerially or instrumentally for the Lord the Church vvhose Officers they are and that therefore there is no vveight in their Objections about the Elders povver as if it vvere not the Churches and that vvhich perteyneth to the bodie of the Congregation but that in deed it is the Churches so to be ministred by the Officers vvhom the Lord hath set in his Church to minister in his name for the Churches use and benefit and that they vvhich oppugne the Officers herein doe not onely oppose against them but even against the Lord the Church for which they vvould seem so much to plead And finally vvhether the Opposites in the Churches government as the Anabaptists in the Sacraments vvould not make us aliens from the common vvealth of Israel that so there should not be one bodie of them and us one Lord over them and us one sayth of theirs and ours c as the Apostle hath taught us Ephes 2 12-22 and 3 6. and 4.4 c. VVhich how absurd and ungodly it vvere to hold vve vvish they may in time vvel consider with them selves afore moe errors and further evils grovve upon them then yet are Furthermore let me also aske vvhy they doe not here speak of themselves asvvell as of us vvhat they pleaded to be the Church spoken of Mat. 18.17 as namely hovv some of thē taught publikly that it is the whole Church Congregation alledging to that end Num. 15.33 27.2 and 35.12 as also that Christ in this place speaketh of the kingdome of heaven Mat. 18.1 c. and that therfore we are to understand it of the whole Church How some also pleaded that it must be understood of men women children that can sorrovve rejoyce vvith others pressing to this purpose that vvhich Paul speaks of the bodie and parts thereof sorrovving and
both vvhen occasionally some of us haue been vvith them there and also among them selues as vve hear vve haue therefore for these and other the like reasons thought it good not to keepe these things any longer private by us but for the better satisfying of all touching the things vve hold and the clearing of our selves from the imputations layed upon us hereabout and removing the scandall vvhich some have taken are like yet more to take upon the publishing of this vvriting of theirs novv therefore to print also the said Ansvver to their exceptions that men may see and be able the better to judge beÌ„tvveen us them vvhen they shall haue heard both of us speak shall have asvvell our ansvvers as their objections to read and consider of by the vvord of God And though it haue thus fallen out betvveen us and our brethren they grovven to that height that they vvould not be persvvaded to continevv vvith us in coÌ„munion vvise men vvill consider it is but an auncient practise of Sathan thus to disquiet and trouble the Church of God In the Church at Corinth vvere contentions and dissensions raised up amongst the brethren so that some held of one Teacher some of an other 1 Cor. 1 10-12 And aftervvard vvhat contention grevve betvveene the eastern and vvestern Churches about the time of keeping the feast of Easter none can be ignorant that hath read thereabout the auncient histories Also vvhat fell out betvveene our ovvne countrimen at Franckfurt in the daies of Q. Marie they beeing then in exile for the truth as novv vve are their troubles and contentions are extant in print thereabout Yea our Saviour himself sayth it must needs be that offences come Mat. 18.7 And the Apostle sayth there must be schismes and heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 11.18.19 Novv seeing the like troubles divisions and disagreements have fallen out in former times in the Churches of God and that men have their infirmities though othervvise being religious and fearing God they vvhich are of a spirituall discerning vvill not upon everie occasion that ariseth amongst the professors of Christ by reason of their vveaknesses and personall sinnes and infirmities open their mouthes to speake evil of the vvaie of God though some take pleasure therein vvho shall finde one daie the avenging hand of God upon them if they repent not And touching these persons aforesaid that have so separated from us and thus offensively vvritten I persvvade my self that manie of them are persvvaded though deceived by the subtiltie of Sathan that they have the truth and that they did runne at the first into these extremities being carried as the Anabaptists and others also haue been vvith a zeale for the truth glorie of God against that Antichristian Apostasie governmeÌ„t vvhich formerly the Prelates ministers of that usurped authoritie oppressed theÌ„ vvithall And for myne ovvne part I hope that so manie of them as are the Lords elect he vvill in time by the meanes used for their good give them to see both their errours they stand in their grievous sinne in so rashly and unjustly breaking off them selves from the Church vvhereof they stood members that others by their example vvill take heed of the like hereafter These things I thus vvrite not to excuse evil in any but to take avvay occasion froÌ„ them that seek occasion to rayse up sclander against the cause of God by reason of these things thus falling out amongst us and that men should knovve that the vvaie of God hangeth not upon the lives of men but is to be regarded in respect of the Lord the author thereof Verie evill therefore doe they that take occasion upoÌ„ such dissensions to blaspheme the truth it self The erroneous vvalking of any professors shall not excuse others that imbolden themselues thereby to stand in Apostasie and seeke not after the truth and vvaie of God that Christ hath commanded all to vvalke in Thus having good Reader praefixed this short advertisement for thy better informatioÌ„ about the things aforesaid as also about this my purpose in setting forth of this Ansvver to the Objections aforsaid receiue novv the Ansvver it self as it vvas penned by the vvriter thereof vvith some additions thereunto by the same author upon occasion of inlargeing and publishing of the said Exceptions novv printed This ansvver I pray thee Christian Reader vievv and consider vvell that if it be the vvil of God thou mayest be satisfyed of the truth vve hold about these things And if in any thing we fayle hereabout through ignorance and want of understanding we shall willingly receiue and that with thanks thy brotherly advertisement thereof And because among other things we are much abused about a particular concerning the Church of Rome wee haue therefore hereunto annexed somewhat out of the writings of M. Iunius against Bellarmine about that matter not that we relie upon the judgment of men in causes of Religion but because we knowe that manie who are caried with a praejudice against us will yet more staye them when they see what M. Iunius hath written of that argument In whose writing although there be some schoole termes hard to be englished well in our tounge for the understanding of all as we desire yet we have so done it into english as we hope the meaning thereof will by all be conceived and attayned unto And thus leaving these â—hings with the event thereof unto the Lord his good blessing of his mercie in Christ I humbly beseech the most vvise God to cause the light of his heavenly word to shine forth more and more for the discovering of all errour and false opinions courses hindering the successe of the auncient truth and so to establish the Churches of God in that old and good vvaie prescribed by the Lord and his Apostles and Prophets Amen A COPIE OF THE vvriting touching the division made among us vvhich vvas sent to a friend in England By Mr. H. A. BEcause you have heard of the sorrowes that have befallen us here M. Ains Letter whereby your grief is the more augmented and because the true report estate of things perhaps is not so well knowen unto you I will also briefly touch the smart wherewith God hath humbled us caused our breach to be as the sea which can not be cured Manie daies of comfort God gave us here together whilest in singlenes of hart we sought him in the mids of our pilgrimage with love peace But love of preheminence which hath alwaies troubled the Church of Christ hath also troubled us whilest the Governours of the Church which should serve it with meeknes would rule it with Lordship 1. Confes artic 24. Apol. pag 26.63 1 For whereas we had learned and professed that Christ hath given the power to receive in or to cut off any member to the vvhole bodie together of everie Congregation
not to any one or moe members sequestred from the vvhole Now we have been lately taught that the Church which Christ sendeth to for the redresse of sinnes Mat. 18.17 is not to be understood of the whole bodie of the Congregation but of the Church of Elders And it being graunted of all that with the Church is the power the Elders being the Church have the power and so not the whole bodie of the congregation together 2 We had learned 2. Treâ—â— of the Ministerie of Eng. pag. 63. Apol. pag. 63. that everie true Church of Christ hath this povver to cast out obstinate sinners from amongst theÌ„ and this not onely vvhen it hath Officers but also vvhen it vvanteth them But wow we were taught that a people without Officers have not power to cast out obstinate sinners Which doctrine amongst other evils overthroweth the constitution of the Church that so taught for it was gathered and constituted by Christians without Officers receiving in the repentant and casting out the disobedient whereas by this opinion they had power from Christ to doe neyther for they that can not cast out can not receive in one power is for both 3 We had learned that everie Christian Congregation hath povver and commandement to elect ordeyne their ovvn ministerie according to the rules of Gods vvord 3. Confes art 23. 35. Apol. pag. 46. and upon such default in life doctrine or administration as by the rule of the vvord depriveth them of the ministerie by due order to depose them from their ministerie they exercised yea if the case so require orderly to cut them off by excommunication But now it is by some mainteyned that the Congregation can neither put into office nor put out of office unlesse they have officers to doe both and can neyther for heresie nor other vvickednes excommunicate or depose their Eldership 4 We had learned that none may execute a ministerie 4. Confes art 21. but such as are rightly called by the Church vvhereof they stand ministers unto such offices and in such manner as God hath prescribed in his vvord But now those will execute a ministerie which have not rightly been called by the Church whereof they stand Ministers according to their owne account and doctrine which hold as before that a people without Officers have no warrant from God to make or depose Ministers 5 We had learned that it vvas grosse error and notorious absurditie 5. Apol. p. 113. 116 n. 112. either to hold the popish Church to be a true Church having a true ministerie and true Sacraments or els that men must admit of rebaptising But now wee have heard that the Baptisme of the Popish Church is true Baptisme by which we are bound to communion or els that men must be rebaptised and that the Church of Rome is the Church of God because Antichrist should sit in the Temple of God 6 We had learned that all particular Congregations are by all meanes convenient to have the counsel and help one of 6. Conf. art 38. another in all needfull affaires of the Church as meÌ„bers of one bodie in the coÌ„mon faith yet here when differences had arisen about our coÌ„mon faith and could not amongst our selves be coÌ„posed they would not desire nor consent to have desired the help of our sister Church at Leyden althovgh it were instantly urged by many members that their assistance should be had And when without their consent the help of that Church was obteyned they laboured our peace a waie of peace was agreed off between the Churches this agrement and peace was not stood unto but reversed by them contrarie to our wil to the wil and liking of the Church at Leyden as the same Church can testifie for us Wherefore after long disputing these matters when no waie of peace could by us be found to continue together in the truth holynes But lamentable Dissipation of the Church members began to growe to the dishonour of Gods name wounding of our harts we followed the commandement of the Apostle which sayd I beseech you brethren marke them diligently which cause divisions offences contrarie to the doctrine which we have learned and avoyde them Rom. 16.17 And have sithens laboured to build up our selves in the holie faith whereunto God hath called us in love peace mourning for the great scandall and reproch which Sathan hath wrought by this breach amongst us Thus have I shewed you the fountaine of our sorrowes which God for our sinnes hath brought upon us He look upoÌ„ us in mercie pittie the dispersion of Sion And you as you have knowen the truth which is sealed to your conscience so abide therein faithfull unto the end knowing it is the lot of Gods people thus to be exercised with troubles in it self which if we beare with patience and constansie doe overcome our portion shall be in the tree of life which is in the midest of the Paradise of God H. A. THE ARTICLES AND OBIECTIONS About the division vvhich are published in Lawnes discoverie of schisme page 79. c. THe 23 article of the Confession of our faith whereto also our Apologie agreeth page 46.47 professeth that everie Christian congregation hath povver to elect ordeyne their ovvne ministerie c. upon desert againe to depose yea excommunicate them These have defended that a Congregation without Ministers can not ordeyne officers And that if the Eldership fall into heresie or wickednesse the whole Congregation cannot depose nor excoÌ„municate them And that a Congregation without an Eldership cannot excommunicate any wicked person whatsoever 2. The 24 article confirmed in our Apologie page 60.62.63 professeth that the povver to receiue in or to cut off any member is given to the vvhole bodie together of everie Christian Congregation Mat. 18.17 c. These have pleaded for the Eldership to be the Church Mat. 18. to have both rightfull power and able power to excommunicate though without against the consent of the bodie of the Congregation 3. The 29 article as also our Apologie page 51.52 professeth that the Hierarchie of Archbishops Lordbishoppes Priests c. are a straunge and Antichristian Ministerie Officers not instituted by Christs Testament nor placed in or over his Church These have placed over them one that was made Priest by a Lordbishops ordination so as because of it they did not ordeyne or impose hands on him when at the same time they ordeyned and imposed hands on others whom together with him they set over the Church 4. The 31 article and also our Apologie page 109. professeth that such ecclesiasticall assemblies as remaine so in coÌ„fusion bondage under that Antichristian Ministerie Courts Canons c. caÌ„not be esteemed true visible Churches c. These now pleade not onely for them but for Rome it self to be the true Church of God 5. The 32 article whereto our Apologie agreeth page
and actions divine from humane good ones from evill true ones from false and the degrees of these also amongst themselues For as of things actions so also of persons some are corrupting through ignorance infirmitie or malice vvholly or in part others are corrupted euen in the simplicitie of their hearts as the Scripture speaketh and of these there are a great number of vvhom it vvere ungodly to esteeme that they vvere not of the church of God Of such as doe corrupt we must take heed Mat. 7. of the corrupted vvho yet are still corrupted vve must haue compassion But the Church verely is not to be judged of the maner of either of these for Christ saith not ye shall not knovve the Church but by their fruits of doctrine and life ye shall knowe them Mat. 7.20 And vvithout doubt they doe very unvvisely who judge of the truth of a church by the particular life or doctrine of any men vvho ever they be especially of private men for the calling of God maketh the church not the assenting ansvver of the men that are in it as on the other side the church ceaseth not to be a church for the refusal or denial of men vvheresoever the calling of God is Novv let us come to the second demaund VVhat is the dutie of those vvilt thou say that are in the Popish Church and see the grievous corruptions of it Their dutie is such as of those children vvhich dvvell together vvith their adulterous mother for God used this similitude in Esaie and Ieremie as vve haue seene before A vvise sonne vvill even from his heart abhorre the sinne of his mother he vvill vvith speach and signe call back his mother from evil and he vvill absteyne himself from it and in all things he vvill cleaue to his father he vvill stand to his judgement he vvill obey his vvil and vvhile he can by reason of his mother he vvill cleaue unto her next after his father but vvhiles by reason of her he can not doe it vvith good conscience for the spirituall and bodily injurie of her Closet or Inner roome he vvill betake himself into the chamber of his father vvhere also the church is the mother of us all Gal. 4.26 For this is not a good consequent if one depart from this or that church therefore he doth altogether departe from the church He but trifles vvho doth so from a particular conclude universally A part of the flesh if it be divided or cut asunder from another part by a vvound received is not straight vvay to be thought to be separate or cut off from the vvhole bodie for it is cutte asunder and the mouth of the vvound openeth but neyther part is therfore disjoyned from the bodie A godly sonne therefore ought to cleaue to his father and mother joyntly so long as vvith good conscience he can but because he cānot vvith sound fayth and conscience haue fellovvship with the unfrutefull vvorks of darkenes Eph. 5 11. he rather leaving his mother cleaveth to God his father our Lord Iesus Christ then that he vvill defile himself vvith those foule deedes of his mother And this did our auncestors religiously vvhom the popish tyrannie for some ages hath exercised The godly vvhich vvere at Rome and other vvhere in the church vvhich they call the Romane church abusiuely first learned to abhorre even from their soule the sinnes of their mother vvhen once they began to haue right understanding by vvords and signes they modestly called her back from her naughtie deeds vvhiles she vvould beare them they carefully absteyned themselues from all communication of evill yet in all things cleaving to their father from vvhom in vvhom by vvhom for whom are all things standing to his judgment and obeying his vvill finally they did so long cleaue to their mother next after their father vvhilst by her they could so doe vvith intire fayth and conscience and their ovvne salvation But vvhen they could not longer vvith good fayth and conscience so doe by reason of the violent tyrannie and the spirituall corporall injurie of their furious mother then being ashamed with her shamefulnes resting silent they betooke themselues into their fathers bosome and his inner roome albeit that she pursued them outragiously least they being ashamed of her should be sayd to shame her as strumpets are usually vvoont to doe For which causes I doe humbly beseech God the Father of our Lord Iesus that he would both by his saving calling informe direct and care for his church and vvhatsoever belongeth to his church that he would also teach everie one that is in it his truth and the truth of his church and that he vvould so vvorke as they vvisely absteyning from all evils especially from those vvhich the sonne of perdition and author of the apostasie hath brought in and taking heed of the spirit of lyes the efficacie of his errour they may religiously cleaue unto the Father and his good things in everie of them and to their mother next after the father or so farre as she accordeth vvith the Father that increasing in his truth pietie fayth loue they may bestovve and employe all their studies to the edification of the church the salvation of all and the glorie of that our heavenly Father c. God the Father and the Lord Iesus Christ by that eternall spirit of his eternall truth bring to passe that the wiles of Sathan being driven avvay vve may all grovve dayly in Christ in the church and in the truth of Christ and the Church and that vve may more and more confirme one another in loue unfayned to his glorie and the common salvation of us all Amen HItherto Mr. Iunius VVith whom agreeth Amandus Polanus noting some errours of Bellarmines about Antichrist in his Cōmentarie upon Ezech. 39. at the ende thereof pag. 733. VVhere he sayth thus The Messias of the Iewes is not Antichrist but a false Christ whereas the great Antichrist of whom the Scriptures foretell shall professe himself to be a Christian and under the name of Christ fight against Christ because he must sitte in the Temple of God 2 Thes 2.4 in the Temple I say not Iewish or at Ierusalem but Christian that is in the Christian Church as Chrysostome teacheth and Theophylact Ambrose Hilarius Hierome Theodoret Oecumenius Augustine and Thomas Aquinas also See the testimonies sayth he in our Catholick Symphonie chap. 23. Thes 3. And Bartholomeus Keckermannus speaking in a treatise of his of the properties of the church inferreth thus thereupon and sayth Now if we examine the Popish church according to these proprieties it will appeare that it is not a pure Church but verie corrupt like as a rotten apple is in deed an apple but corrupt as a man corrupted with the plague is a man but not a sound man Keckerman Praeparat ad sacram synaxin pag. 83. And divers other the like sayings out of these and other