Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	doctrine_n	teach_v	6,712	5	6.4919	4	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19031	An advertisement concerning a book lately published by Christopher Lawne and others, against the English exiled Church at Amsterdam. By Richard Clyfton teacher of the same church	Johnson, Francis, 1562-1618.	1612 (1612)	STC 5449; ESTC S118626	88,142	134

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 caÌ„not 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 CoÌ„mentarie 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

AN ADVERTISEMENT CONCERNING A BOOK LATELY PVblished by Christopher Lawne and others against the English exiled Church at Amsterdam By Richard Clyfton Teacher of the same Church Psal 57.4 My soule is among Lyons I lye among them that are set on fyre even the sonnes of men vvhose teeth are speares and arrovves and their tongue a sharp svvord Esa 50.6 I gave my back vnto the smyters my cheeks to them that plucked off the hayre I hid not my face from shame and spitting Mat. 10.24.25 The disciple is not above his master nor the servant above his Lord. It is ynough for the disciple that he be as his master is and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub hovv much more them of his houshold PRINTED In the yeare of our Lord 1612. The Preface to the Reader CHristian Reader it is not unknowen that when Thomas White published his Book called A Discoverie of Brownisme as now againe of late Christopher Lawne others with him have done theirs that there was an Inquirie Answer thereof written by the Pastour of this Church wherein he followed the particulars from point to point In which regarde it may be thought lesse needefull to write any thing about this latter Book being of like matter and argument with the other Yet in some respects we have thought it not amisse now to give thee this short advertisement and the few observations following about the contents of this latter Book also especially about that poynt of the division made lately among us and the articles given out thereabout Concerning which there was not such occasion before eyther in that Answer to Thomas VVhite or in any other of our writings to publish somewhat thereabout as there was about the other matters coÌ„teyned in this Book of theirs And therefore for thy better stay and information is the advertisement following now given thee about these things where they are more at large though yet but briefly spoken of Which thou shalâ— do well to consider of indifferently and be not caried from the truth or against it by any sinister meanes used to that purpose but remember what hath ben the lot of the truth and servants of God in all ages And as thy love is to the Lord Iesus Christ so let it appeare in the imbracing of his truth revealed and iâ— giving witnesse unto the same And the Lord our God increase in thyne hart the riches of the full assurance of understanding to knowe the mysterie of God Col. 2.2 even the father and of Christ and to rejoyce in the faith and order prescribed in his word And he give thee to discerne thereof aright that the entiseing words of mans wisdome deceive thee not but goe to the lavv and to the testimonie if they speak not according to this vvord it is because there is no light in them Esa 8.20 So mayest thou soundly judge of things that differ And the Lord give thee understanding in all all things 2 Tim. 2.7 AN ADVERTISEMENT CONcerning a Book lately published by Christopher Lavvne and others against the English exiled Church at Amsterdam WHen it pleased the Lord Iesus to reveale the vvord of his truth unto the Gentiles by the ministerie of his servants the Apostles there arose up adversaries to vvithstand the same and to abuse his vvitnesses thereof VVheÌ„ Paul and Barnabas vvere sent forth by the Lord to preach the Gospel to the nations they coÌ„ming to Paphus the Deputie Sergius Paulus called them unto him and desired to heare the vvord of God then Sathan stirred up his instrument Elymas a false Prophet and a sorcerer vvho vvithstood them sought to turne avvay the Deputie from the fayth Act. 13 6-10 The like also did some of the Ievves at Antiochia vvho seeing the vvord of God to prevayle amongst the Gentiles and them desirous of further instructioÌ„ therein vvere full of envie spake against those things vvhich vvere spoken of Paul contradicting blaspheming ver 45. Like enemies did Paul again finde at Ephesus of the Ievves For he having spoken boldly in their Synagogue for the space of three moonths disputing persvvading the things concerning the kingdome of God then certaine of the Ievves having their harts hardened not onely disobeyed and beleeved not the vvord but spake evill of that vvaie before the multitude Act. 19.8.9 And manie other the like exaÌ„ples of men opposing against the vvord of truth and of haters persecuters of the professors thereof might be shevved both out of the Scriptures and ecclesiasticall histories And as then it vvas in the first opening of the light to the Gentiles that Sathan by his Ministers vvithstood the preaching thereof so novv since that the Lord in mercie hath discovered the man of sinne and caused his truth obscured by the darke mistes of Poperie againe to be revealed to us in these last tymes sending his first Apoc. 14.6 c. second and third Angels to preach an everlasting Gospel to theÌ„ that dvvell on the earth that vvere overspread in Apostasie vvith the errors abhominations of the man of sinne and to teach us to vvalke in the vvaies of God calling us from the vvorship of the beast and receiving of his marke to keepe the commandements of God and the faith of Iesus c. even novv also I say have there risen up enemies of all sortes to stoppe this vvaie of truth to reproch vexe and persequute the vvitnesses thereof For to passe by all those hard speaches and ungodly deeds that have bene since before the dayes of Luther against the Saincts and faith of Iesus I vvill come to our ovvne particular case and state vvhereof there be manie of us that by experience can give testimonie vvhat hard measure vve have susteyned for the cause of Christ and do still undergoe reproches sclanders railings against and the like as it cannot be unknovven especially to our countrimen vvhat vve have borne at the handes of some of them vvho have manie times vvaies smitten us vvith their tongues Ier. 18.18 besides all the other troubles and persecutions susteyned by us to imprisonment banishment and death it self And vvhat is it for but because according to the measure of grace given us from above vve have separated our selves froÌ„ such corruptions of Antichrist vvherein vve formerly stood and doe vvalke in the vvaie of the Lord revealed uuto us out of his vvord vvitnessing against all false vvaies and devises of men brought into the Church for the vvorship service of God our desire and indevour being to stand and plead for that old and good vvaie of God vvherein all are bound to vvalke Ier. 6.16 For if the opposition against us vvere onely and simply for sinne and through an hatred that such men have against sinne then vvould they first begin vvith them selves both to look to their ovvne sinnes and iniquities and to take the like course against the sinnes and

transgressions of those Churches and members thereof vvhere novv they are or vvhere ever they should be But thus hath it pleased God to make us like in bearing reproches and calumniations to his Saincts and people of old vvho feeling the burden therof to be heavie and grievous complained unto the Lord saying How long shall the adversarie reproch shall the enemie blaspheme thy name for ever Psal 74.10 And againe they utter forth their complaint saying Wee are a reproch to our neighbours a scorne and derision to them that are round about us Psal 79.4 And even this is our case vvho also are made a reproch to our neighbours a jest and a laughing stock to them that are round about us having our soules also as they had theirs filled too full of the mocking of the vvealthie and dispitefulnes of the proud Psal 44.13 and 123.4 So that in respect hereof vve may complain vvith David vvho said I was a reproch among all myne enemies but specially among my neighbours and a feare to myne acquaintance who seeing mee in the streets fled from me And againe I am become a straunger unto my Brother even an aliant unto my mothers sonnes I became a proverbe unto them and they that sitte in the gatespake against me and the drunckards song of me Psal 31.11 and 69.7.8.11.12 And although our loving Father do thus humble chastise us justly for our sinnes yet doth he also in mercie cover them and gives us novv to beare these sclanderous reports of Schismatikes and the like for the testimonie of his truth In vvhich respect the Lord indeed honoureth us For our Churches estate and our consciences do vvitnesse vvith us and for us to God and men that vve have not vvillingly left any truth or any ordinance of God that vve had formerly received vvith others in our apostate standing but are carefull to reteyne them all vvhat in us is purged from the corruptions that vvere mixed vvith theÌ„ in our former corrupt receiving of theÌ„ Neyther have vve made division and offences contrarie to the doctrine vvhich vve have learned from the Apostles but do vvalke in the auncient vvaie of the primitive Churches keeping the ordinances vvorship and order of government prescribed by the Apostles vvithout the mixture of AntichristiaÌ„ or other humane additions And therefore unjustly are vve termed Schismatikes If it can be shevved othervvise in any thing let the vvitnesses the vvritings of the Apostles and Prophets be brought forth against us and vve trust vve shall through the grace of God yeeld thereunto as vve have ben carefull hitherto to shevv it forth in the redressing of such things as have ben observed among us to svvarve any vvaie froÌ„ the word of God Great are our tryals by men on all hands vvhich vve suffer for our vvitnesse bearing of Iesus vvhiles besides our exile other afflictions some are speaking bitter and sclanderous vvords against us yea and our ovvne neighbours spare us not and others also sharpen their pennes to reproch us and to that ende vvrite reprochful books against us that vve may say vvith Israel If the Lord had not bene on our side when men rose up against us they had swallowed us up quick Psal 124. 1-3 Yet if these reproches hard dealings touched our selves onely and did not vvith all reach to the truth vvhich vve vvitnesse vve could and vvould rest patiently vvayting untill the Lord avenge our cause vvould not once open our mouthes or set our pennes to paper to vvrite in defence of our porsonall injuries But seeing thus together vvith detracting of us the truth of God comes to be reproched and despised in this respect if vve should passe over these things altogether vvith silence and not stand in defence of the Lords cause vve might be arraigned justly as guyltie of betraying his truth as men ashamed of Christ before men VVe dare not therefore herein be vvanting to beare vvitnesse to the vvord of truth vvhen men thus labour the darkning thereof and for the maintenance of their ovvne corruptions do set them selves to speake and vvrite against the same Of late there is come forth a pamphlet and sclanderous book full of reproches published by one Christopher Lawne and other his companions In vvhich there are conteyned sundrie things of divers sorts Some touching our generall cause about the Church of England some concerning the singing of Psalmes used among us some about personall matters concerning divers of us others some touching a divisio made lately by divers amoÌ„g us c. Concerning our generall cause although we have written often and manie treatises thereabout vvhich remaine yet unansvvered yet seeing vve are here againe thus abused about it and that not onely by the persons aforesaid vvhich vve might better passe by but by one M. Robert Parker vvhose testimonie is here inserted vve purpose therefore Godvvilling to vvrite in particular about his testimonie c so againe by this occasion to publish somevvhat more about that our generall cause aforesaid although for the present vve have both some occasions to deale in other things and some reasons to staye us yet a vvhile froÌ„ publishing of that vvhich by the grace of God vve purpose to doe In the meane time let this be noted concerning M. Parker and his testimonie hovv he hath heretofore in a large booke pleaded against the Church of England that by reason of the crosse in Baptisme other Ceremonies reteyned among them they become guiltie of the breach of all the tenne commandements as also of coÌ„munioÌ„ vvith Antichrist slaverie under him c. Novv vve purpose to trie hovv he can on the other hand approve the state of the same Church as novv it standeth and as it is vvitnessed against by us hovv he can vvarrant us communion vvith the same in that their estate or vvhether it may please God by this meanes to give him others better to observe and regarde their halting betvveen tvvo opinions then hitherto they have done VVe finde that for the former plea handled in his book he hath alledged the Scriptures pleÌ„tifully as throughout the book may be seen but vvhether he can so doe for this latter spokeÌ„ of in his testimonie against us time and further occasion vvill manifest Yet in the meane time all may see that there is not the like done against our cause eyther in his testimonie published or in the vvhole book vvherevvith his testimonie is joyned vvhich is as barren of vvarrant from the Scripture for the estate of the Church of EnglaÌ„d called into questioÌ„ as M. Parkers former book against it is fruitfull therein VVhich let the Reader vvell observe Touching the singing of Psalmes used amongst us vvhereof the persons aforesaid speak also their pleasure in their book vve are purposed ere long if God vvillto publish them vvhatsoever those men saye or vvould insinuate to the contrarie or in anie other respect thereabout And so vve shall leave it to the

indifferent judgment of all hovv these men have dealt vvith us in this behalf And sooner also might vve publish both these and other things then vve doe vvere it not for the troubles that these men and others have procured us and still doe As for the personall matters published in the book aforesaid although vve leave the matters concerning others to them selves doe for this Church acknovvledge that indeed vve have had our transgressions and infirmities like as in the Churches of Corinth Galatia and others in all ages and at this day may be seen for vvhich vve are much grieved yet is it good needfull for the Reader here alvvaies to remeÌ„ber that saying Quis erit innocens si accusare sufficiat If to accuse be sufficient who can be innocent For ther vvill be accusers alvvaies as M. Parker upon the same saying inferreth in his book as long as the Maxime liveth M. Park scholast disc against symbolizing vvith Antichrist in ceremonies c. 2 book pag. 118. vvhich one gave once in Alexanders court Fortiter calumniare nam etsi vulnus curetur cicatrix tamen remanebit Give out calumniations mightily for though the wound be healed yet will the scarre remaine But the godly will better consider of things remeÌ„bring the common frailtie even of the best and not forgetting the commandement of God vvhereof M. Parker in his testimonie seasonably putteth the reader in minde Thou shalt not receive a false tale agoinst thy neighbour as also knovving that all lying reprochfull dealing should not by right live longer then the lye of the Gibeonites And hovv ever vve be dealt vvithall in this sort yet must vve comfort our selves in the assurances of Gods mercies and in the common and continuall lotte of Gods servants vvalcking through good and through euill report before us Novv touching these men and their dealings I purpose not in particular to shevve hovv ungodly unjustly they have dealt against us not onely contrarie to all pietie but against all modestie in laying opeÌ„ the infirmities transgressions of some vvhose repentance is knovvn even to these reprochers theÌ„ selves as it was to the whole Church also in shamelesse publishing of some things never heard of in our Church nor so much as knovven to the parties vvhoÌ„ they mention besides their uttering of some things also verie false and untrue And that so as the vvriting it self in the cares and judgment of the vvise doth sufficiently convince the Authors of aboundance of malice argues in them vvant of grace of the feare of God a just judgment of God upon theÌ„ that have vvalked haltingly before God in his Church and have vvilfully refused to heare the voice of Christ Iesus in the same that have so spitefully sclanderously vvritten against this Church against the Pastor and other Officers members thereof have thus vvith their bitter venemous toungues smitten them whoÌ„ the Lord doth accept and to vvhom I trust he vvill requite good for this their cursing as David in a like case did comfort himself 2 Sam. 16 7-12 And touching our forbearing novv to ansvvere their vvriting being such as it is it may suffice that vve have shevved heretofore concerning the like vvriting of Thomas Whites that vve can have ansvvered such shamelesse vvritings least such fooles should be wise in their owne conceits Prov. 26 5. and so might doe by this book for the reproches and sclaunders therin conteyned as vve did by that other but it seemes partly not so needefull seeing the same things and the like are novv published by these that vvere then also by Thomas White vvherunto ansvver vvas given partly not meete or good to follovv these vvicked men in their ungodly courses but to observe that other proverbe of Salomons vvhich saith Answer not a foole according to his follie least thou also be like him Prov. 26.4 as also to leave them and their dealings to the judgement of the Lord to the censure of all godly indifferent men to judge vvhether they vvould justifie any amongst them that should so carrie theÌ„ selves as to publish to the vvorld the slippes and sinnes of the particular persons of their societies For if men should take this course as these have done vvhat volumes might not be vvritteÌ„ of the faults sinnes of particular Churches Is there any societie or companie to be found on earth that if any vvould make a diarie of their lives yea even of them that are religious and godly but there vvould be found manie things amisse amog theÌ„ and yet no grace to any of such a companie especially in such a spitefull manner to commit such personall sinnes to print Let these men take a like survaie of such societies or Churches that they are vvithall and see if they can not finde as manie yea if they vvould not be partiall a great manie moe vices and other manner transgressions then vvith al their sclanders they are able to charge this Church vvithall And vvill not any then judge these men in this their doing to have shevved great malice and partialitie and that not the spirit of God but Satan that enemie to Michael his Angels hath set them on vvorke to reproch the truth it self by this their vile dealing Or vvould them selves take it in good part if vve should laye open their ovvne personall sinnes vvhich vve knovve by them both manie and great VVhat have they then done to us or hovv have they kept herein that rule of Christ vvhich saith Whatsoever ye would that men should doe unto you even so doe ye unto them Mat. 7.12 But being sorie to see theÌ„ thus adde more sinne to their former sinnes for vvhich they vvere excommunicate I vvill leave theÌ„ for the Lords censure to vvorke upon them if so it please God for the saving of their soules in the daie of the Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 5.4.5 And here by this occasion vve vvill speak a litle concerning Gods vvorke about tvvo others vvho haue hertofore vvritten against this poor Church and against the Pastour and members thereof as novv these have done The one vvas George Iobnson the Pastours brother vvho dyed at Durham the manner of vvhose sicknes and death vvas signified hither to his brother by vvriting froÌ„ thence by a friend of his that vvas often vvith him both before in the time of his sicknes VVho vvrote hither that he being in prison bestovved the most of his time in finishing the book which before he had begunne and whereof some sheets are printed vvhich vvhen he had done it pleased God to visite him vvith sicknes unto death At vvhich time on his death bedde he gave out as he vvrote is vvell knovvn verie heavie great exclamations about his sinnes by the Lord layd to his charge calling unto God for mercie And in this sort sayth the Gentleman that vvrit the letter vvas present there he coÌ„tinued by the space of an houre that

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

52.53.54 testifyeth that all such as haue received any of those false Offices of Lordbishops Priests c. are to give over and leaue them and so hath it been practised heer before by all such Priests as came to our fayth Church now one is Minister over them ordeyned Priest by the Prelates as is before said 6. The 33 article which our Apologie also confirmeth page 45. professeth that people being come forth of the AntichristiaÌ„ estate c. are vvillngly to joyne together in Christian communion and orderly covenant to unite themselues into peculiar and visible congregations c. These haue pleaded that all are bound to communion by vertue of their baptisme received in the Church of Rome or other AntichristiaÌ„ assemblies 7. The 35 article confirmed also in our Apologie page 46.47.48 professeth that a people so joyned together may proceede to choise ordination of Officers c. Now these pleade that the people may not proceede to ordination of Officers except they haue Officers before to doe it 8. In our Apologie page 113 it vvas maynteyned to be grosse errour and notorious absurditie eyther to hold the Popish Church to be a true Church having a true Ministerie and true Sacraments or els that men are unbaptised must admit of the Anabaptists rebaptisation These haue themselues much objected to us that eyther the Church and Baptisme of Rome is true or else we must be rebaptised Both which we still deny 9. The 38 article of our Confession professeth that Congregations are by all meanes convenient to haue the counsel help one of another in all needfull affaires c. The practise of this was was denyed when in our greatest need trouble they would not consent to haue the couÌ„sel help of the English Church at Leyden which professeth the same fayth with us 1. Before our parting vve offered that notvvithstanding our differences of judgment that vve vvould continue together if our former practise might be reteyned but this vvas refused 2. We desired that then we might haue a peaceable parting and to be tvvo distinct Congregations each practising as they vvere persvvaded yet nourishing brotherly loue and unitie This also they vvould not agree to unlesse vvee vvould leaue this citie 3. We procured though vvithout their consent the help of the English Church at Leyden vvho laboured our peace a waie of peace by these themselues propounded by the Church of Leyden us agreed to these after reversed stood not unto unlesse vve vvould goe dvvell out of this Citie And although in the treatie of the Agreement it vvas testifyed by the Elders of that Church that unlesse it vvere to the apparant undoing of us and of our families vve should not be dismissed againe to dwell here yet because vve would not absolutely promise to leaue this Citie they vvould not stand to the agreement vvhich themselues had madâ— THese are the Articles Objections that are in the printed copie aforesayd VVhich therefore vve had not thought to haue printed againe But vvhen vve had finished this book vve received out of England from another friend another of M. A. his letters sent thither vvherein these also are set dovvne in this maner order and in the same vvords vvith very litle alteration thereof VVe considered also that in the Ansvver here follovving there is often reference made to the printed copie of these Articles and Exceptions and that therefore it vvould be good for the Reader to haue theÌ„ here readie at hand VVhereupon vve thought it not amisse to print theÌ„ again and to advertise those that haue the books to insert them betvveen C. D. if it be not alreadie done to their hands Novv follovveth the Ansvver vvhich vvas first made to the former letter according to the sixe particulars thereof but is since inlarged by reason of this printed copie aforesaid Concerning vvhich also vve could note ansvver more and other things then novv vve haue done in this shortnes of time As about some speciall respects uses in some cases to be had of the Fathers of families or of the chiefest fittest of them as upon occasion some of us spake in the reasoning had among us Also that vvheras they vvould seem in their letters exceptions as if they had desired peace and accord vvith us yet besides all the things noted hereafter about their dealing Pag. 74.75 c. this also is remembred that vvhen vve vvere treating of some vvaie of accord some of them publikly sayd they vvould never yeeld thereunto unles vve vvould revoke our agreement about the understanding of Mat. 18.17 and that also as an errour VVhich vve could not yeelde unto as may be perceived by the agreement it self vvhich is hereafter set dovvne page 95.96 c. But omitting novv to speak any further of these or other things that might also be noted about their objections and dealing vve vvill for the present onely desire the Reader about the particulars still to remeÌ„ber that vvhich sometimes vve haue mentioned here Pag. 44. 45. c that extraordinarie cases must haue their vvarrant accordingly that the things concerning a people vvithout officers vvere left to further consideratioÌ„ among us needed not by us novv be stood upon seeing our estate question vvas of the ordinarie government of a Church established vvith Officers For vvhich also see the Treatise on Mat. 18.17 tovvard the end thereof And novv read the ansvver of the foresayd letters and objections as here it follovveth AN ANSVVER TO the writing and exceptions aforesaid sent to the same partie by Mr. Fr. Io. VVhereunto he hath also added some things more upon occasion of the other copie lately printed TOwching them that haue divided them selues from us and M. A. vvriting unto you therabout there are divers things of weight which you should do well carefully to observe And first how they having left us upon two particular matters concerning the Churches government and the exposition of Mat. 18.17 they doe not directly keep unto them as they ought neyther answere the things printed thereabout so long since VVhereunto both vve and all that loue the truth and desire their conversion must be carefull to keep hold theÌ„ And even by this their dealing it may appeare how needfull that our publication of the matter was both for manifestation of the truth held by us for meeting with their clamours and all their disorderly and unapproveable courses so much affected by them Secondly it must be remembred that our profession alwaie hath been and must be to have the word of God for our direction in all things by it to trie all things to keep that vvhich is good and to refuse and redresse whatsoever is evill or any way erring therefrom For which see the Praeface of our Confession at the end of it And in the Apologie pag. 13. 41 as also the Answer to Thomas White pag. 36. So as there is

Scriptures thus alledged by them The other is a thing vvhich M. Ainsvv hath vvel observed about Idolatrie that it is a sinne which cleaveth fast to all flesh Arrowe against Idol ch 2 p. 23. c. so as the best in the world doe easily fall into it doe take pleasure in it and are hardly drawen from it An example vvhereof may be seen in the people aforesaid vvho being caryed vvith the love of their errour about the matter spoken of vvould chuse bondage afore libertie yea and a bondage accompanyed vvith many other evils ensuing upon men vvomen and children rather then they vvould be dravven from the errour and Idol set up in their heart But I hope their children if not themselves vvill in time grovv vviser hovv ever in other things it be too common that the children remember their fathers altars and Idols as the Prophet Ieremiah said of the people in his dayes Ier. 17.2 Let me also about the matters themselves concerning the greater part of the people the vvhole Congregation or bodie thereof the men vvomen and children of yeares pleaded to be the Church spoken of Mat. 18 17. desire to knovv by vvhat Scriptures they vvill novv manifest and confirme it to such as are othervvise mynded If they speak of 1 Cor. 5 chap. as some doe that is purposely handled in the treatise on Mat. 18.17 as also if the vvomen and children should in a controversie be the greater part whether then they be the Church there spoken of have the Churches power and authoritie to excommunicate the men and vvhether these persons divided not them selves from the Church vvhen they left us seeing vve vvere the greater number both of the Elders and people vvhom they departed from Also vvhether the Elders be of the bodie of the Congregation vvhereof they speak or not for here they seeme to make an opposition betvveen the bodie of the Congregation and the Eldership And if they be vvhat place they have in the bodie vvhether a superiour or inferiour place And vvhether in the Congregation and presence of them the vvomen and children have authoritie by vertue of that rule Mat. 18.17 to examine rebuke and admonish their husbands parents masters being there dealt vvithall for sinne seeing the Church is told and the vvomen and children are of the Church and they that are of the Church there spoken of may examine admonish are to be heard obeyed c. Neyther let them thinke much that I propound such questipns or that I speak thus about vvomen and children c. For they knovv that such assertions and pleading vve have had from them and that such opinions are among them And vve knovv that if they ansvver directly to the things here and before propounded the truth vvill better appear and the controversie be sooner ended between us And what they hold mainteyn concerning these things is needefull for us still to insist upon seeing that about the understanding of this Scripture of Mat. 18.17 they have so dealt and left us as they have done Other things I vvill omit that might here also have their place and use noting this onely that it is a straunge extraordinarie case wheÌ„ a controversie should so stand as all the Elders should be one vvay all the people another way And in extraordinarie cases the course and warrant from the vvord of God must accordingly be had But vvhat is this to the ordinarie maner of government in the Church vvhereof the question vvas among us vvhereabout it vvas particularly mentioned at the beginning that our reasoning should be Lastly vvhat vveight is there in this exception of theirs against our understanding of Mat. 18.17 more then might be against Israel of old vvho could understand such speaches of the Congregation of Elders vvithout impeaching any libertie of the people or falling into any errour against the truth But I have spoken hereof before and of this matter more largely then I purposed though yet not so largely as I might considering the point it self and hovv they have caryed themselves thereabout Novv I vvill come to the next Objection For the second vvhich concerneth excommunication by a people without officers I have in the foresaid Treatise vvritten particularly thereabout Treat on Mat. 18.17 vvhere also I have treated purposely and largely of the place of the Apologie vvhich they have here alledged so as that should first have ben ansvvered afore they had thus dealt as they have done especially seeing that there I desired ansvver confirmation of that opinion vvriting in this sort about it Where finde we in the Scriptures that God hath thus laid upon the people without Officers to excommunicate Where is the precept for it Which be the examples of it Or what are the grounds requiring and bearing it out In the same place also I noted that in the Scriptures we may observe not onely sundry exaÌ„ples shewing how it hath ben done by the Lord himself and by his ministers and Officers but also divers ordinances grounds directing and warranting us to doe likewise The particulars vvhereof see in that Treatise vvith divers other considerations and reasons thereabout VVhich might have caused them eyther to ansvver us or at least as there is noted to consider vvith themselves how the Churches excommunication can be administred by any but such as are the Lords and the Churches Officers and Overseers and how people without Officers can chalendge to themselves the ministration of this any more then of the Sacraments c. And besides you may perceÌ„ive both by our churches estate and by particular note set dovvn in the said Treatise that our controversie vvas about a Church established with Officers and that it vvas before our parting agreed among us to leave the things concerning people without Officers to further consideration To vvhich also I do still referre it Onely where he sayth here that our doctrine overthrowes the constitution of our Church which was gathered and constituted by Christians without Officers receiving in the repentant and casting out the disobedient c. I vvill hereupon note a fevve things briefly to shevve the errour and vveaknes of their exception herein And first omitting vvhat is sayd before it vvere vvorth the knovving by vvhom or by vvhat Church the first man or first tvvo men of this Church whereof they speak vvere received in and by what povver Secondly it is knovven and not to be forgotten Eph. 4.4.5 1 Cor. 10.1 2. and 12 13. Act. 2.41.42 that by our baptisme as also by accord in the truth vve are bound to communion in any thing lavvfull as God giveth occasion opportunitie thereunto vvhich thing vvas heretofore shewed unto them though yet they have not learned it as they should Thirdly it is also playne and uudenyable that to chuse or give voyces in election is not a part of governement or a dutie peculiar to the governours of the Church but an interest

particular matter concerning one of our Ministers about imposition of hands that is a point also left to further consideratioÌ„ among us beside that it fell out since their departing from us and therefore perteynes not to the plea about their division vvhich vvas made before Yet notvvithstanding the ansvver vvhich follovves here to their fift and next exception will both give some light to the poynt it self and shew good reason of the needfull discussing thereof which you shall doe well therefore to consider of as follovveth But first by occasion of that which is printed I will here annexe a litle more For now they doe in particular expresse this matter concerning one that was minister in the Church of England and is since chosen Teacher of this Church and received among us vvithout any nevve imposition of hands So novv refer hither to this Objection the third and fift in the copie that is printed Touching which let me first signify that our testimonie against the Antichristian hierarchie of the man of sinne treated of in the Confession is not by us reversed or vveakned any way but novv is rather more sound and stronger also then it vvas hitherto inasmuch as it is more firmely grounded not onely against the apostasie of Antichrist but also against the errours confusion of the Anabaptists whereabout we have ben encumbred not a litle For the Anabaptists holding that Antichrist had utterly destroyed all Gods ordinances so that there vvas not so much as true Baptisme râ—â—eyned and had among them thereupon they began to baptise theÌ„ selves againe VVhose errours vvhiles vve confuted as by our books published thereabout may appeare and vvhiles some of them objected that vve should no more reteyne the Baptisme then the ministerie there received vve had thereuppon just occasion given us to consider thereof And so vveighing vvith our selves that one mayne and speciall reason against rebaptization is because Baptisme is an ordinance of God vvhich vvas had in the Church of Rome before she fell into apostasie and hath been there continewed ever since the Apostles tymes hovvever it be commingled among them vvith many corruptions inventions of their own vve began to consider vvhether the like might not be observed and sayd concerning Imposition of hands that it vvas had from the Apostles in the Church of Rome before her apostasie is there continued to this daye though mixed vvith many pollutions and devises of their ovvne And entring into consideration thereof vve observed these things among other about it 1. That Imposition of hands is of God and not an invention of man not a post or threshold first brought by Antichrist into the Temple of God but had therein afore Antichrist sate there 2. That baptisme and imposition of hands are joyned together among the principles of the foundation spokeÌ„ of Heb. 6 2. which vve thought therefore should in this behalf be vvell regarded 3. That imposition of hands is in the Church of Rome still given to the Office of ministerie in the name of the Lord as they doe also still administer baptisme 4. That vve found not eyther precept example or ground in the Scripture binding us to the repetition thereof 5. That the Priests Levites in Israel becoming uncleane vvhen aftervvard they vvere cleansed reteyned still their places of being Priests and Levites And that the children of the Priests and Levites succeding after them did minister vvithout a nevv anoynting or nevv impositioÌ„ of hands Yea that in the case of Idolatrie the Levites repenting kept their function the Priests also being onely debarred from the altar but still remayning Priests both doing such duties and enjoying such benefits thereof as the other Israelites might not no nor the Levites but in cases of necessitie Levit. 22 1-9 and Ezech. 44 10-14 2 King 23.9 with Lev. 21. and 24 9. Mat. 12 4.6 That in the Scriptures vvefinde how some Officers vvere admitted vvith it some vvithout it As about the Levites may be observed and about the Apostles also that Paul and Barnabas had imposition of hands vvhich we read not that the other Apostles had Act. 13 1 2 3.7 That some Churches hold it not of necessitie to be had That the Church of Scotland as we heare doth not use it at all but in stead thereof give the right hand of fellovvship That the first ministers and officers of the Dutch and French reformed Churches had no imposition of hands because at their first comming into order they had no Elders to impose hands That the ruling Elders and Deacons at this daye have no imposition of hands among them as vve understand That neyther the apostate nor the reformed Churches repeat it to the ministers vvhen they goe froÌ„ one Congregation to another among them 8. And it may also be observed that thus vve shevv the keeping of communion vvith all other Christians Churches what in us is as vve doe also by reteyning our baptisme and any other truths ordinances of God had among theÌ„ which still vve keep purging them onely from the corruptions wherewith they are defiled among them Novv vvhen upon our occasions divers things hereabout vvere observed among us vve thought it best to stay and consider further thereof knovving that if vve finde it to be such as ought to be done vve can doe it at any tyme or if it be othervvise that then this course vvhich vve took is the best Other reasons vve considered also on the other hand vvhich I need not here mention But seeing vve found that it was even froÌ„ the Apostles times in the church of Rome long before she became apostate as baptisme vvas and that the repeating of it among us and not regarding the having of it there is a meanes to strengtheÌ„ the Anabaptists in their errours and observing vvithall such coÌ„siderations about it as are here before related we stayed our selves and rested in this that the Church did chuse him into office and that vve did by prayer commend him unto God for his grace and assistance in the ministration thereof VVhich vve did vvithout imposition of hands at that tyme as both our selves had before done at our first growing into order and as the French and Dutch Churches also did when they first began reformation among them VVhereabout if any sounder and better course be shewed hereafter at any tyme we can then proceed further as there shal be cause In the meane tyme let it here be observed hovv these that thus object and their partakers can all of them hold that the people having no office may excommunicate and some of theÌ„ that they may also minister the Sacraments and yet can except against such as are in office if they doe but make questioÌ„ of a ceremonie or any thing thereabout And lastly let themselves consider hovv the Anabaptists object against us that vve receive such for members of our Church as were baptized by the Prelates and Priests in apostate Churches so as

2-5 and 15.4 c. For novv it vvill be ansvvered them that in Israels apostasie they kept circumcision which needed not to be repeated seeing it vvas true and sealed Gods covenant unto them but that these cannot so plead for the baptisme had in the apostasie of Rome because themselves say the baptisme of the church of Rome is not true baptisme and so not the seale of Gods covenant to them vvhich have no other but it VVhereunto vvhat they vvill ansvver let them bethinke themselves And let theÌ„ shevv us by vvhat Scriptures they can approve their standing novv vvho vvittingly vvillingly remayne without true baptisme to seale unto them the covenant of God in Iesus Christ Finally if the baptisme had in the Church of Rome be not true baptisme then as they also sayd it is an idol bearing the shevv and image of that vvhich it is not in truth and substance And so then apply hither that vvhich Mr. Ains hath observed in his Arrovve against idolatrie hovv God manifesteth the vanitie and filthynes of Idols by titles and names given unto them Pag. 13. 14. For Idols sayth he are called things of naught as it vvere filths doung or excrements loth some things or detestable and abhominations vanities lyes unprofitable false-vanities leasings and vayn-iniquitie Thus he vvriteth of Idols in that place so as by their opinion the Baptisme of the Church of Rome is a thing of naught and therefore to be esteemed as nothing in the world as it were filth or doung and therefore to be cast out a loth some thing and therefore to be detested an abhomination and therefore to be abhorred a vanitie a lye unprofitable false-vanitie leasing and vayn-iniquitie and therefore that all vvho have received it should renounce it cast it avvay as a menstruous cloth and say unto it Get thee hence as Esay teacheth vvhen he shevveth the vvay vvherein we should vvalk even thus to deale vvith the monuments and most precious ornaments of idolatrie therefore much more with the idols themselves Esa 30.21.22 VVhich till these men be carefull to doe with the idols reteyned among theÌ„ they must be contented by their ovvne opinion to be accounted among those many sorts of idolaters which defile themselves with idols of vvhom Mr. Ainsw speaketh in the same place of his book aforesayd A great sinne it vvas that they fell into if there had ben no other but it that vvithout just cause they brake avvay divided themselves from the Church vvhereof they vvere but seeing that therevvith they have also other very erroneous opinions and the sinfull usurpation of all the holy things of God used among theÌ„ vvhat an heavy estate doe they stand in and hovv greatly doth it import them to consider their vvaies in their heart and to turne their feet unto the testimonies of the Lord Othervvise let them remember that which the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians Doe we provoke the Lord to ielousie are we stronger then he 1 Cor. 10.22 And thus much I thought here by this occasion to vvrite about the baptisme of the Church of Rome novv I vvill come to speak of the Church it self As touching the Church of Rome there being also at that tyme speach about it to be the Church of God I did in deede alledge the saying of the Apostle that Antichrist should sit in the Temple of God as the Apostle expressely teacheth 2 Thes 2.4 And by the Temple of God understanding the Church of God it vvill follow that Antichrist should sit in the Church of God and is there to be sought and found and not among the Ievves Turks Pagans or the like as the Papists others vvould persvvade us neyther that Antichrist takes avvay wholy the Church of God and everie truth and ordinance of the Lord as Anabaptists and such as are herein Anabaptistically inclined would beare us in hand Observe also here agayne that vvhich is sayd Rev. 18 4. Goe out of her my people and partake not in her sinnes c. vvhere those vvords my people imply the covenant of God continued among them For thus is the covenant taught and set dovvne unto us in the Scripture I will be your God and you shall be my people And so is Israel often called the Lords people is thus spoken of in the time of their apostasie by the Prophets 2 King 9 6. 13.23 2 Chron. 30 6-9 Hos 4 6 12. and 5.4 and 14.2 Amos 7.15 and 8.2 c. And note here also hovv the other clause partake not in her sinnes shevveth vvhat vve are to leave and renounce namely their sinnes and iniquities vvherein they transgresse the lavv of God and not vvhatsoever is had or reteyned by them Furthermore it is undenyable and vve have heretofore urged it much against the Anabaptists that the Church of Rome vvas at first set in the vvaie of God was not onely one of the Churches of God Rom. 2.8 16.19 but for their fayth and obedience vvas also very famous over the world Since vvhich tyme shee is fallen into great apostasie and adulteries Esa 1.2 Ier. 2.21 Ezec. 16. 23. ch 1 Kin. 12 28-33 14.22.23.24 2 Chro. 13.5 c. as Israel did in former tymes In all vvhich her adulterate apostate estate she hath notvvithstanding still kept even to this day sundrie truths and ordinances of God mixed vvith them her ovvne inventions traditions as Israel also did VVhich being observed aright causeth a tvvofold consideration of her estate as of Israels one in respect of the truths and ordinances of God still reteyned among them another in respect of the mixture of their ovvne inventions and abhominations vvithall in regarde of the one to hold and acknowledge the truth Church of God there against the Anabaptists in regarde of the other to consider and observe their apostasie and Babylonish confusion against Antichrist and for this cause namely for this defection and mixture aforesayd to separate from them and vvitnes agaynst theÌ„ being alvvay carefull in our testimonie and practise to reteyne and maynteyne everie truth ordinance of God vvhich was in that Church before their apostasie and is yet continued therein to this day leaving onely and forsaking their corruptions and mixture of their ovvne inventions therevvith least othervvise vve should be brought our selves or be occasion to others to fall into Anabaptistrie and divers other errours and evils as by lamentable example of others vve have seen Note here also a double consideration about the covenant of God made vvith his people one in respect of the Lord himself on the one part the other in respect of the people taken into covenant by him on the other part Deut. 26.17.18.19 Iudg. 2.1 20. For it often cometh to passe that the people doe on their part transgresse break the covenant vvhen the Lord doth not so on his part but still remembring his covenant counts them his people calls them to

called the Ievves the seed of the vvicked the seed of the adulterer and a false seede in one respect vvhen in other respects they acknovvledge them to be the seed of Abraham Iacob and Israel and so a true seed and people of the Lord. Esa 1 4. and 57 3 4. with 41 8. and 45 19. and 58 1. Hos 2 1 2. and 4 13. Esa 63 16 17. and 64 9. Ier. 31 36 37. Hof 4 6 12. and 3 4. and 14 2 3 4. And endles it vvere to recount the many speaches and severall considerations of things thus spoken of in the Scriptures Christ is vvithout Father and vvithout mother Heb. 7 3. and yet he hath Father and mother Luke 2 48 49. Ioh. 1 18. and 2 3. Christ vvas put to death in the flesh but quickned in the spirit 1 Pet. 3 11. Abraham is unrighteous in himself but righteous by fayth Rom. 4 3 5. The apostle Paul and all the regenerate serve the lavv of God and the lavv of sinne the one vvith the minde the other vvith the flesh Rom. 7 25. Peter is a disciple an Apostle and yet in other respect is by Christ called Sathan Mat. 10 2 and 16 23. A leprous Ievv is a true man and an Israelite but a corrupt diseased man to be put and kept out of the host of Israel till he be cleane Lev. 13 and 14 with 2 Chron. 26 20 21. Num. 12 10-15 The Temple is the house of God yet is made a denne of theeves Mat. 21 13. The Emperours of Rome Babylon and the other nations are Kings and higher povvers ordeyned of God Rom. 13 1. with Rev. 17.10 and Dan. 7 17. yet are they also in other respect Beasts Lyons Beares Leopards c. Rev. 12.3 13 1 2 with Dan. 7 3-6 So likewise the beast vvas and is not yet is Rev. 17 8. And a number the like may be observed in other places of the Scriptures compared together Novv to conclude this poynt if these things the like about apostate Churches and the mixture of mans inventions vvith Gods ordinances in apostasie be distinctly and carefully regarded they may be through the mercie of God some good meanes to stay people from Anabaptistrie other ill courses by the consideration of the things that are to be observed on the one hand and to bring men more soundly to separation from the apostasie of Antichrist by the consideratioÌ„ of the things to be observed on the other hand Somevvhat as it pleased God to give me to discerne I observed vvrote tending this vvay long since as may be seene in the Ansvver to Mr. Iacob Where also I noted my wonted using of this caution thereabout in respect of this or that estate as also may be seen in the Apologie where I spake with the same cautioÌ„ p. 109. lin 31.32 pag. 7. vvhere I spake of a double consideration of Christians in one respect true and in an other false as also of salvation now had in the Church of Rome pag. 13 and 47. vvhich necessarily implyeth the people of God and his covenant to be there For vvhosoever are saved they are the people of God and under his covenant in Christ But so much and so particularly I observed not then as since it hath pleased God to manifest thereabout God openeth his vvil the mysteries of his vvord vvhen and as he pleaseth that vve may still perceive and acknovvledge vve knovve but in part and that we may be earnest in prayer by all meanes indevour to grovv in grace and in the knovvledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ And thus much I thought at this tyme by this occasion to write unto you hereabout By which you may perceive hovv they vvhich for these things speak of us as if we were going back to England might by this colour also say vve are going back to Rome And you may consider vvith your self vvhether the people that lived in the Prophets tymes and were set against them in those dayes might not vvith such pretences and collections have sayd that the Prophets had ben declining to the apostate Israelites when they called and esteemed them to be the people of God acknovvledged the circumcision had in the apostasie to be true circumcision c. But novv I vvill proceed to their next objection For the sixt and last exception of theirs vvhich is about having the counsel help of the English Church at Leyden to vvhich therefore may be referred the ninth and the other three particulars annexed unto it in the printed copie note here as in the other before that they mentioÌ„ not the ansvvers that vvere then given hereabout As namely that vve vvould permit it though for some reasons vve absteyned from desiring it and sending for them about the matters in hand or giving our coÌ„sent so to doe Of which poynt I shall vvrite more hereafter But first I would here knovv why they never speak of this that vve were constent to permit it Or vvas our permission of it a denying of the practise of it as novv they object in the printed copie Did Paul deny that vvhich he spake by permission though for some cause he did it not of commandement 1 Cor. 7 6. Or did Moses deny the practise of that vvhich he permitted though for good cause he vvould not enjoyne it Deut. 24 1. This thing then might have ben better observed and regarded of them then it hath ben specially seeing they knovve vve made question of the lavvfulnes of doing any more in this case then onely to permit it and shevved also then divers reasons thereabout some vvhereof I vvill novv mention As 1. that now the other Church and we were in peace together and if by this occasion the peace betvveene us should be broken they should not say of us that vve sent for them our care being vvhat in us layd to nourish peace betvveen us and to prevent cut off all occasions of division c. 2. That the Church of Leyden was in the same errour with those of our people who desired their help VVhereupon vve vvished it should be considered vvhether vve might approve of any to come in such case but such as vve knevv to hold and maynteyne the truth according to the vvord of God 3. That former experience vvith others might also justly cause us to be vvell advised and circumspect vvhat to doe in this behalf VVhich vvhen vve vvrote of to Leyden them selues acknovvledged that it vvas such as might justly make us cautelous but vvithall they vvrote hovv vve might esteeme better of them then of the other in divers respects as being more studious of our peace and more carefull of the cause of Christ and that whereas the other would have brought in new doctrines and fayths amongst us they if in any thing they opposed any of us Note here the terme of opposition thus used should doe it in defence of the common and

hovv to come to a good issue thereabout And thus themselues vvill not deny that the thing it self spoken of in the Confession vvas in this sort observed by us as is aforesayd But hovv did they observe it themselues vvhen they brake away and left us vvhiles vve vvere vvriting one to another the other Church and we concerning the matters propounded and fallen out betvveen us hereabout Of vvhich I shall haue occasion to speak more hereafter when first I haue noted a few things further about the former matter concerning our selues the Article spoken of For our selues besides the other things aforesayd vve signified also that vve vvould not refuse to conferre reason vvith the brethren of Leyden at any tyme about the matter in hand so as their comming vvere eyther of them selues or by the request of them here that desired it and vvithout our approbation for the reasons spoken of c. And accordingly vvhen they came hither Their Elders with consent of the rest vve performed it notwithstanding any thing that had passed before about these things For the Article it self obserue the clauses in it and the Scriptures cited for confirmation of it For the clauses in it note hovv it is sayd Conf. aâ—t 38. that every particular Congregation is as a compact and knitt citie in it self and therefore should use all good and lavvfull meanes that may further their compacting and knitting together in the truth and coÌ„mon fayth but not any such as may cause or at least colour the dividing of them asunder Also that the churches should all walk by one and the same rule and by all meanes convenient have the counsell and help one of another in all needfull affaires of the Church as members of the same bodie in the coÌ„mon fayth under Christ their onely head If this then be a rule for us it is so likevvise for all other Churches that vvhen there falleth out question about an errour among theÌ„ they should desire the counsel and help of such Churches thereabout as they knowe to be corrupted vvith the same errour and not purposed to leave it but to defend it supposing it to be the truth And vvhat conveniencie it vvere not to speak of the lavvfulnes of it or hovv needfull to call such as vve knovve to be in errour that so our people might eyther be the more corrupted or have the more colour for their errour evill dealing you may consider vvith your self Or if vve had sent for them or approved it might we not haue ben accessarie to the meanes by vvhich the truth might haue ben hindred and our people more confirmed in errour And vvhere then is the vvarrant for such vvalking For the Scriptures that are cited for confirmation of the Article aforesaid first observe about the point of difference betvveen us hovv the Scriptures of the old Testament are alledged asvvell as of the nevv and those also coÌ„cerning the estate of Israel applyed to our tymes and cases novv Secondly consider vvhether those Scriptures intend or vvill vvarrant a Church to send for such or to desire their counsel and help vvhom they knovv to be in errour about the poynts questioned and dealt in and by whoÌ„ the parties that trouble the church may be more strengthned in their errours and evils thereabout VVhich if they doe or if any other doe it that are not cited here then ought vve and all to yeeld thereunto Othervvise if the help and courses desired be not such as are approved in the vvord of God we might tempt God in atteÌ„pting of them and therefore must be carefull to follovv that onely which hath warrant from thence whereby the truth may be furthered the safetie and libertie of the Church preserved and occasion cut off from theÌ„ that desire occasion thereagainst And besides the things aforesaid vvhy did not themselues also desire to haue the counsel and help of the Dutch and French Churches that vvere here at hand round about us If they say because they thought they vvere in errour about the matter in question and so might haue hindred the truth and haue ben against them and for us then by it may be perceived vvhat their ovvne judgment is about this particular being simply considered in it self and in this behalf what the waight of this their exception is against us If they aunsvver any other thing it may accordingly be considered of as it shall be found to be And hitherto concerning the Article aforesaid and sundrie particulars that passed betvveen us by this occasion not spoken of by them Now touching the three particulars annexed to the ninth objection in the printed copie the first is that before their parting they offered that notwithstanding our differences of judgment they would continew together if our former practise might be reteyned VVhich is as if they should say they vvould haue continued vvith us if vve vvould haue continewed in errour and evil so found and acknovvledged by us suffring the ordinance of God touching the Eldership to be troden under foot the Elders to be despised abused by the people and the vvhole Church to be continually subject to contentions and scandals c. Besides vvhy doe they not also mention vvhat vve offered to theÌ„ vvhich seeing they speak not of vve will namely that before their parting vve offred to beare vvith them in their difference of judgment if they vvould be content to walke peaceably vvith the Church in that their difference but this vvas refused The next particular they speak of is that then they desired a peaceable parting to be two distinct Congregations each practising as they were perswaded yet nourishing love unitie A peaceable parting we graunt they desired in vvord but in deed stayed not vvith us but departed vvhiles vve vvere considering and advising vvhether it could lavvfully be effected or not And touching that particular of being two distinct Congregations of us in this citie c. we shewed them divers reasons vvhy vve could not in this case agree thereunto And of those reasons vve had speach vvith theÌ„ here and vvrote to the Church of Leyden signifying vvithall that if vve could otherwise better discerne vvhat vvere according to the vvill of God herein vve should God vvilling so receiue and vvalk VVhich letter vvith the reasons therein conteyned is hereafter noted dovvne Yet notvvithstanding they stayed not till we had an answer thereof from Leyden but soone after departed from us Besides that other meanes also vvas used by writing vvhich might at least haue perswaded them to stay and doe othervvise then they did Of vvhich I shall also speak more hereafter The third particular is about their procuring the help of the English Church at Leyden without our consent of vvhich I haue spoken here before about a waie of peace propounded by us agreed unto by the Church of Leyden our selues and yet afterward reversed by us c. Touching vvhich they doe here as before

doubt but if the thing which they purposed here had gone forvvard vvith our consent it would aftervvard haue ben much abused against us by others if not also by theÌ„selues specially as it appeared still more more to be in deed intended by them the thing being such as although it had never ben thought or spoken of among us yet it vvould in a matter of this waight haue ben found a great oversight But it being spoken of and manifested that they vvould but goe to the other Church to joyne unto them there then presently returne hither agayne to remayne and liue here in the same tovvne apart from us of vvhom they vvere vvhat vvould this haue proved in deed but scandal and collusion and haue ben turned upon us vvith the more reproch because vve consented unto it As for that other clause in their letter where they write that the agreement should be reversed with the mutuall consent of both Churches note that this vvas their propounding thereof unto us vvhich vve vvere to consider of vvhether vve vvould assent unto it or not And that in all such cases wherein it may fall out that eyther sinne may be coÌ„mitted or the truth hindred or the libertie of the Church impeached it behoveth all carefully to take heed vvhat they consent and yeeld unto yea that if any conditions or agreements are made vvhich can not vvithout sinne be performed it is better to breake then to keep them Lastly obserue here hovv the course about dealing in matters propounded in this letter and not yeelded unto by the others Exâ—ept some of them shevveth playne ynough hovv greatly these meÌ„ oppugned the ordinance of God touching the Elders hearing and judging of causes and persons and hovv highly they lift up the people therein specially vvhen the things noted before about this question are joyned and compared herevvith Novv it follovveth that vve set dovvne our next letter sent unto the other Church about the matter aforesaid vvhich also vvas the last that passed betvveen us afore the others parting from us And it vvas thus Your letter brethren we received and read publikly Corcerning which we haue occasion to signify some things unto you thereabout And first touching the agreement treated of between us that for such of us as will not come thither to remayne with you but purpose still to liue here in this citie apart from us albeit there be some that could be content notwithstanding so to dismisse them yet there are others of us that having more considered of it thinke it not lawfull to haue any hand in consenting thereunto and meane therefore to reverse our former agreement unto it besides that divers of us say they never consented hereunto And further some of us also beginne to thinke that it will be found unlawfull to keep spirituall coÌ„munion with them in such estate how ever we may still reteyne with them civill societie The reasons mynded why not so to dismisse them nor to haue spirituall fellowship with theÌ„ in such estate walking are these 1. Because we can not finde warrant for it in the word of God 2. Because they refuse disobey and speak evill of the truth and waie of God 3. Because they refuse to continew and keep coÌ„munion with us though they may be suffered to walke with us in peace with protestation in their difference of judgment 4. Because some of them professe they will not deale in causes as may fall out between us by way of protestation neyther when they are with us nor when they are from us 5. Because they goe not froÌ„ one Church and Pastour to another so to live and remayne but purpose when they haue come joyned unto you then presently to returne to live here in this towne apart from us 6. Because by such walking of theirs great reproach will come upon us all with much dishonour to God and hinderance to the truth what in them lyeth 7. Lastly because we thinke there should alway be somewhat in such cases used as whereby the Lord may worke upon their consciences to consider their estate and to repent and yeeld to the truth and waie of God which they haue hitherto refused and oppugned c. Thus we thought to acquaint you with these things and the reasons thereabout Which yet are so mynded of us as if eyther among our selues or by others we shall hereafter better discerne what is according to the will of God herein we shall Godwilling be ready so to receiue and walke As touching the the double practise misliked by you although in deed it may seeme somewhat straunge and difficult yet for the present some of us could like better of it then of a parting but the brethren differing from us will not admit of it Neyther will they yeeld to that middle course propounded in your letter Yet haue we left it with the former things to their further consideration And how soever it pleaseth the Lord to dispose of us our trust is that he will worke all in the end to the furtherance of his truth and peace of his Church in Iesus Christ To whose gracious protection and guydance we commend you c. Amsterdam Novemb. 19.1610 This letter being here publikly read vvas then sent to the Church at Leyden VVhereabout let these things also be observed here First that vve reversed not our agreement concerning such as vvould goe and liue vvith the Church at Leyden but onely about such as vvould not remayne and liue there but purposed to returne liue here apart from us in this citie Secondly that for this also we shewed divers reasons moving us so to doe and that both here by vvord of mouth and by vvriting to Leyden afore they vvent avvay from us Thirdly that vvhereas tvvo courses vvere propounded for the keeping of us together the one by us here the other by the Church at Leyden they vvould not admit of eyther of them neyther remayned vvith us till vve had from Leyden an ansvver of this letter and of the reasons conteyned therein but vvere so set upon parting from us as before vve heard from them they divided them selues from us and so haue continued to this day Yea notvvithstanding that before this their parting and besides all the other meanes formerly used vve offred also to try out in vvriting the matter betvveen us touching our difference about the Churches government and understanding of Mat. 18.17 vvhich likevvise they refused VVhereof I shall speak more particularly hereafter Fourthly that vvhen they left us they vvent not to Leyden there to joyne them selues to that Church according to the agreement before spoken of but vvent apart from us here forsaking the fellovvship vvhich they had with us and met together in another place of this tovvne VVhich is much to be observed not onely for the thing it self but because that thus them selues in their going away followed not the agreement betvveene the other Church and us vvhereof

the truth of God or his imperfectioÌ„ the perfection of God Farre be it off yea let God be true everie man a lyer sayth the Apostle in the same place VVe vvill make the matter playne by an example and similitude out of the vvords of Ieremie chap. 3. A vvife being filthie vvith adulteries if her husband vvill pardon her and consent to receiue her and to dvvell vvith her she abideth still the vvife of her husband not by her ovvne deede doone for she hath broken wedlock vvhat in her vvas but by the benefit or goodnes of her husband So a Church overflovving not onely vvith lighter infirmities but also vvith heavie adulteries on her part in deed should cease to be a vvife but she ceaseth not on her husbands part For touching the election as the Apostle sayth Rom. 11.28 she is beloved for the fathers sakes speaking of the church of the Iewes It is a church so long as God calling her proclaymeth that vvhich is in Ier. 3.13 Onely acknowledge thine iniquitie that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God and hast scattered thy waies to the straungers under everie green tree and ye haue not obeyed my voyce sayth the Lord. Turne Ã´ backslyding people sayth the Lord for I am maryed unto you I will take you c. It is so long a church as God protesting calleth upon it departing from him and being rebellious as it is in Esa 50 1. Where is the bil of your mothers divercement wherewith I put her away or who is there of my creditours to whom I sould you c. The church then at length ceaseth to be a church vvhen God ceaseth to call it back taketh avvay the evidence of that holie marriage that is the holie Scripture out of the hand of the adulteres and her that is stubburne testifying that the matrimonie is dissolved on his part and so receiveth the covenant of grace unto himself It is not for any man to deny that to be a church which God calleth a church Neyther is it for any man to call that a church vvhich God having giuen the bil of divorce and taken avvay the draught of the mariage contract denyeth so to be And after this maner doe vve esteeme of the Church in vvhich the papacie is God calleth her vvith his calling by his spirit and vvord and the publike records of that holie mariage vvhich vve call the holie Scripture and the ministerie and things and holy actions vvhich before vve haue briefly reckoned up These things doe remayne to that church most manifestly on Gods behalf But in that on the behalf of men all these things and holie actions together vvith the verie persons themselues abound and overflovve vvith most grievous deadly corruptions that is the sinne of men not the fault of God vvhose grace truth is perfected in infirmitie On Gods part she is yet called Hammi my people and Ruchama finding mercie which most truly on her part might be called Lo hammi not my people and Lo ruchama not obteyning mercie as vve read in Hosea the Prophet But vve rely upon the mercie of God and according to his grace revealed vve speake our minde or vve giue our sentence concerning a church erring and going astray But this Church hath everie thing in it corrupt I confesse it But in that it hath all the divine things in the Scritures it is of God in that it hath them all corrupt that is of it self in that it hath all the divine things it is a church in that it hath the same all corrupt it is a corrupt church The church is not taken avvay by corruption unles it be totall as they speak vvhich they call destruction A corruption that is in part doth not take avvay a Church but vveaken it The Church of Rome hath all things corrupt but not altogether this is not a destruction but is to be called a corruption of it in part For to prosecute these heads particularly vvhich vvee haue briefly noted in the consideration of the Church God by the alone presence of himself calling doth lay the foundation of the Church in Christ the head thereof The church of Rome addeth another foundation to this foundation and to this head another nevv head vvhereupon it is called papall or popish vvherein it may likevvise rest The calling is to God alone in the church of Rome there is calling to others vvith God and the calling upon them Here is calling by the spirit and Scripture alone vvhence it receiveth the ministerie delivereth nothing more theÌ„ that vvhich it hath received from the Lord there it receiveth a ministerie from the spirit of Christ of the Pope from the Scripture and the ragged traditions of men here finally the persons things and actions are caried according to the doctrine of the Spirit the Scripture onely there all things are taken and exercised out of the Popes changeable shoppe and at his beck as they say they stand and fall So all the marks on Gods behalf are in it but for it self on it ovvne part as they say there is no marke intire no marke that is not corrupt by the papall poysonfull sorcerie and the order of all things most miserably perverted For vvhich cause in Lyons in France a certayne Frier did merrily preach to the people vvhen he sayd the Hugonots for so they are called in France did consent vvith the church of Rome in all their articles of fayth but there was one shrevvd vvord the vvord Onely at the crack vvhereof vvarre vvas inkindled for they beleeue onely vvhat the rule of fayth hath out of the holie Scriptures but the church of Rome requireth more unto fayth then is eyther conteyned in the rule of fayth or in the holie Scriptures because such is the authoritie of the Church These things being vvell understood all men vvill easely perceiue hovv that church in respect of God or on Gods part is yet a church but of it self is most corrupt very nere to destruction But here doe arise tvvo doubts difficulties by vvhich the mindes of many are troubled The first doubt is vvhat vve are to judge of the members of that church The latter vvhat the dutie of them is vvho are in that church and see the great corruptions thereof To the first question we ansvver on this manner A threefold judgment had neede meet together in this cause the first of truth the second of charitie the third of prudence or vvisdome The judgment of truth is of the common condition of the church by vvhich vve judge froÌ„ the calling of God that as yet she is a church The judgement of charitie is of the severall meÌ„bers of the church by vvhich we presume they be members of the church whilst they are called vvith the calling of God and are in this way as David calleth it Psal 2. The judgement of prudence or vvisdome is that by vvhich vve discerne and distinguish persons things

verie short and brief out of which he could take no advantage for then I should soone haue heard from him neyther is he able as I am perswaded without disadvantage to himself to giue a playne direct answer to it therefore he is content to burie it in silence And touching those verses vvhich so maliciously they speak of and vvhich vvere but a fewe I haue for the evil in them layd unto my charge made my acknovvledgment for the same and that in publike But as these men haue set them dovvne with as much odiousnes as their corrupt affections could afforde and as others may gather thereby I can not so acknovvledge vvithout great vvronging of my self for some haue ben vvith me vvho also in the like generall termes as is used by these adversaries haue spokeÌ„ verie hardly of those verses VVhereupon I asked them if they had seen or heard them they sayd no but by the report of others I prayed them tell me vvhat particular evil they thought to be in them they shooke the head with sighing sayd they thought they vvere filthy vile verses I asked agayne if they thought them vile and filthie in cursing blaspheming and such like they sayd no but in ribaldrie and unchast speaches hereupon I did repeat them and then asked vvhat novv they thought of them they demaunded of me if they vvere no other then as I had related I told them that so they vvere no other At which they pausing a vvhile vvith admiration sayd undoubtedly then are you exceedingly abused VVherefore it lyes me upoÌ„ to be vvarie vvhat ansvver I giue upon generall termes knowing it is no new thing by wringing the nose to force out blood nor to use and loue so to use all words that may destroy vvherein these my four adversaries vvith their contrivers and composers of that their malicious rayling book haue shevved themselues Sathan like skilfull VVilling I am alwayes to acknowledge my sinne as it is indeed and othervvise to doe is neyther pleasing to God nor coÌ„fort to my ovvne soul And this I knovve that the subject and ground vvhereupon my letters vvith these verses vvere vvritten and vvhereof some of themselues at Leyden haue thus vvritten also as is to be seen under their their ovvne hands viz. that the matters between N and Ms. N are verie waightie and apparant it is that eyther he or she are in grieveous iniquitie therefore I knovve as before I haue said vvhen these matters betweene N. and Ms. N. are tryed out which are the grouÌ„d of all my letters to him my vvritings vvill be eyther vvorse censured if so it vvere possible then novv they be or more favorably construed by unpartiall judges then yet they are My desire then is there vvere an end hereof vvhich till there be litle flies knats may hang fast in the spiders vvebbe vvhilst great flies and vvaspes breake through and get avvay but when there is an issue of these things the apparant grievous iniquitie aboue mentioned vvhich yet lyes smothered and hid vvill follovve after to be found on some as my sinnes about the handling of these matters haue gone before and ben urged on me VVherefore if no other vvill take in hand to finde out in vvhoÌ„ that grievous iniquitie is which lyes but betvveen two persons vvhat if my self doe assaye once agayne to doe it alvvayes provided through the grace of God to take more heed to my vvords and speaches then heretofore I haue done VVhat I say if thus I doe vvill any be offended vvith me seeing the truth or falshood of the reproach that about these matters lyes upon me can not be rightly knowen till these things be ended And besides the vvoman her self when she departed from Amsterdam to returne to England did require of me as before the Lord not to let these matters rest till the truth were found out also seeing I can shevve under writing both of his and hers touching these affaires more I am perswaded then any others also I see not vvhy any should mislike of my purpose to haue yet further dealing in these things If any can shewe me sufficient reasons vvhy I should not I am vvilling to forbeare otherwise I purpose God assisting me to goe on as I haue sayd having those reasons for my ground vvhich above I haue all edged For teaching many wicked and ungodly songes and rimes unto children Artic. 3. when he kept schoole in stead of catechising theÌ„ c. VVhen I kept a schoole of some few small children Ansvv I speak the truth I coÌ„monly taught them day by daye their ordinarie lessons eight tymes over besides instructing and catechising them in principles of religion also making them learne some sentences from the Scripture vvithout book and not many no nor yet any wicked ungodly songs rimes as here is falsely alledged And one of these men themselues repeating one and I suppose the vvorst he could which he sayd some of the childreÌ„ affirmed I taught them I told him as the truth is I never heard it till it came out of his mouth the partie vvas Robert Bulvvard For disclosing the counsel of the Eldership to Marie Maye in some prrticulars Artic. 4. as we can playnly proue in time and place c. This being false Ansvv as it is they vvill never finde time and place to proue it For his many lascivious attempts to a young mayd now of late Artic. 5. with his beastly behaviour to intice her to satisfie his owne lust unmeet to be named c. For my evill cariage to that mayde about tvvo yeeres since I confesse to my owne shame Ansvv that I haue done foolishly once yea tvvise but I trust through Gods grace I shall never doe so againe yet as these enimies both here and elsewhere in their book haue set it dovvne it is a false calumniation for speaking of it with sorrovve and grief of heart and unfaynedly repenting for it I doe acknowledge that though my behaviour to her vvas bad unseeÌ„ly yet not vvith any intention of the act as these men intimate neyther spake I so much as one unchast vvord to her at any time That vvhich I did and onely intended to doe vvas clapping her onely Therefore as I haue often spoken and here novv set it under my hand as the truth is by any thing that ever I did unto her I knovve not vvhether she be male or female And concerning the act it self this I say further vvhich all the world could not compell me to speak neyther vvould I haue it a president that any should be pressed to doe the like no not any of these my four adversaries least some of them who knovve vvhat I say should fall into a greater sinne then the act it self for that vvhich here I utter it is of my ovvne accord vvhich I need not to doe yet I doe it and this it is That in all my life to this present daye I haue not knovven

bodie is compounded of them both There is both the bodie and putrefaction in the putrified bodie So is a bodie that is svvolne vvith the vvater causing the dropsie Both are together and yet so together as eyther one of the two or both together must needs perish If the nature of the bodie be stronger the corruption and dropsie vvater decayeth but if the corruption or dropsie prevayle there is most certaine destruction of theÌ„ both So is the church of God for in it self it is the bodie of Iesus Christ If a deadly disease grovve upon it both are then together the bodie and the disease in the bodie If the purging medicine of the grace of God for nothing is here naturall be of the more efficacie the disease then is vanquished and decayeth but if the disease prevayle then both of them the bodie and the disease must needs come to an end For such is the condition of the disease it both feedeth it self on the dodie decaying and destroyeth it self together vvith the bodie After this maner therfore doe we esteeme of the church of Rome vvhich they call the papall or popish Church There is the Church there is the papacie and there is the papall Church As there is the Church it is the subject of God as there is the papacie there is the disease of man as it is the papall church there is a fight betvveen the church and the papacie that will destroy eyther one of them apart or both together If God shall giue it the purging medicine of his grace by meanes vvhereof the papacie the accidentarie evill decaye and perish it is vvell but if the papacie that most faultie and corrupt order and deadly accident prevayle it vvill bring destruction to both of them both to the church and to it self by the judgment of God And this novv in the memorie of our fathers and our ovvne vve see to haue befallen many churches vvhich claue fast unto that Romane church For when it seemed good unto God more clearely to inkindle the torch of the gospel and to scatter the papall smokes by his spirit there remayned churches returning by his grace to a better constitution and stronger health that vvhich is of the pope departeth vanishing avvay through his ovvne corruption but when as God sent not that purging medicine of his divine grace into the bodie of any church then the popish corrupt blood got strength more and more which vvill be to that church deadly destruction unles God of his mercie provide a remedie In the remembrance and conscience of this benefit doe our churches fitly sing vvith the Prophet Blessed be the Lord which hath not giuen us for a praye unto their teeth Our soule is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the foulers the snare is broken and we are delivered Our help is in the name of the Lord c. Psal 124. VVherefore in my judgment they speak preposterously vvho aske vvhether the church be in the papacie because on the contrarie it should be asked vvhether the papacie be in the church For the subject is not in the accident but the accident in the subject vvhose being is an in being or to be in a thing as men commonly speake And that the papacie is in the church as the order or estate of apostasie in the house and citie of God is as certaine as that of the Apostle is certaine 2 Thes 2. that the man of sinne the sonne of perdition sitteth in the temple of God vvith his vvhole order or ranke of apostates and not on the other side that the temple of God consisteth in that order and number of apostates vvhich is a thing most straunge furthest off But the terme of the papacie taken doubly and aequivocally deceiveth them in such fort as here before vve shevved concerning the Romane popish Church For under the name of the papacie vvhich is a foule corrupt order they comprehend the subject it self which is annoyed vvith that corruptioÌ„ not distinguishing aright between these things As therfore if any should deny that to be a bodie which lyeth in a deadly sort svvollen vvith the vvater of the dropsie or should affirme that vvater which choketh the bodie to be the bodie it self should in both these be deceived in his judgment so also are both deceived as vvell they vvhich deny it to be the church because the papacie is in it as they vvhich avouch the papacie to be the church it self vvhich we haue before disproved The papacie is a poyson in the church vvhich poyson must needs be vomited out if it vvill be preserved or els the church vvill be extinguished by it if it suffer that poyson to prevayle and possesse all the veynes of the bodie But how can she be the church will some say in which the papacie is To witte as there is the bodie in which a disease vvorketh But because the papacie is a deadly corruption the more that the papacie getteth strength the more the church is vveakned the increase of the one is the decrease of the other And hence it coÌ„meth to passe that in the churches vvhich are called popish some are more healthie some more unhealthie then others the more healthie are those which haue lesse of the papacie more of the church and those are the more unhealthie which haue more of the papacie lesse of the church and of this kinde I doubt not that church to be vvhich at this day is at Rome For it had long agoe giuen up the ghost if God by the imposition of his grace and long suffring had not nourished and kept it vvarme Notvvithstanding that vve may giue content unto their mindes vvhich doe not yet reach unto these things or thinke that they are more subtily then truly spoken of the church vvhich they call the papall or popish church let us ansvver this question in fevv vvords from the regard of all particular churches as they are among men or in consideration of things humane Everie church vvhich in deed is a Church is considered tvvo vvayes on Gods behalf as they speake and on our behalf On Gods behalf it is altogether a church vvheresoever there is found a companie called of God vvith his calling by the spirit and the holie Scripture and the ministerie of persons ordeyned for holie things and divine actions On our behalf there is no Church at all although it be so of God as vve haue sayd to vvhich there doth not cleaue corruption concerning the persons things actions and finally the vvhole ministerie of man ordeyned by God And that vvhich is on Gods part is not taken away by our default so long as it seemeth good unto the Lord to acknovvledge it for his Church call it with his calling by the spirit holie Scripture the ministerie For shall the unbelees of meÌ„ saith the Apostle Ro. 3.3 make the sayth of God without effect shal the vveaknes of maÌ„ make voyde

Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Text snippets containing the quad