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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10834	A iust and necessarie apologie of certain Christians, no lesse contumeliously then commonly called Brownists or Barrowists. By Mr. Iohn Robinson, pastor of the English Church at Leyden, first published in Latin in his and the churches name over which he was set, after translated into English by himself, and now republished for the speciall and common good of our own countrimen; Apologia justa et necessaria quorundum Christianorum, aeque contumeliose ac communiter, dictorum Brownistarum sive Barrowistarum. English	Robinson, John, 1575?-1625.	1625 (1625)	STC 21108; ESTC S102955	59,722	74

expounded by our adversaries themselvs do willingly condiscend that by it alone judgment be given in this matter Our Saviour Christ doth plainly teach that this feild was sown with good seed alone that after whilst men slept the enemie the divel came sowed ●ares amongst the wheat But on the contrarie in the sowing the English f●●ld whether we respect the nat●onall or parochiall churches together with the wheat the tares that exceeding the other infinitely were at first yet are sown that of purpose under most severe penalt●●s And hence is the first princ●pall pr●judice to our English harvest frō which I conceav all the rest to come For unto this Ch. thus clapped clouted together of all persons of all sorts spirits without difference no man equally prudently weighing things can denie but that the pompous imperious Hierarchicall government together with all its accessories doth right well accorde To the things objected from the parable of the mariage Luke 14. Mat. 22. I onely answer that those servants were the Prophets and Apostles the son Christ himself the compulsion to be made no otherwise then by the preaching of the word by which as Calvin hath it God doth importunately sollicit our slo●thfulnes not onely pricking us with exhortations but cōpelling us with threatnings to come unto him which word of God as it is by some wholly contemned so doth it extort from others onely an externall hypocritical obedience but by manie is receaved through the blessing of God with al holy devout affection Now unto these pa●ables of Christ manie are wont and that very busily to annex one of their own A heap say they of wheat although it have much chaf mixed with it the 〈◊〉 more in quantitie then the wheat is 〈◊〉 notwithstanding truly is rightly termed a heap of wheat according to the Phylo●ophers rule The den●mination to not of the greater but better part I answer first that this axiom is not simply true for if in the church or any other convention popular or in which things passe by voyces the greater part hap to exceed the better the denominat on of that passage or decree and so the whole processe of the matter is according to the greater though the worser part 2. The chaf in that wheat is either of the same wheat or of other brought from els where if of that same then it makes nothing to the present purpose since wicked men appe●●ein not to the persons of the godly no● are their chaf if of other from els where it may easily be added in that quantitie proportion as that neither it may deserv the name of an heap of wheat but of chaf nor he that sels it for wheat of an honest merchant but of a deceiptfull impostour 4. The things objected from the Apostolicall Churches are altogether personall accidentall from which that the churches gathered of men and by men governed should be exempted is ●aither to be desired then hoped for But for us the things which most afflict us in the Ch. of England presse us in the respect fore-mentioned to a secession from the same do concern the verie materiall formall constitution of the ministeriall church together with the essentiall administration of the Church-policie And how different these things are who seeth not Lastly it is objected that in the Ch. of England lively faith true pietie are both begotten and nourished in the hearts of many by the preaching of the gospell there God forbid that we should not acknowledg that withall that infinite thanks for the same are due to Gods great power goodnes both in respect of our selvs and others Who notwithstanding the great confusion both of persons and things there to be found vouchsafeth to his elect so plentifull grace covering under the vayl of his superaboundant goodnes mercy by their ●●ncere fayth in Christ Iesus their sins aberrations whether of ignorance or infirmitie What then must be done should we continue in sin that grace might abound or shall we against knowledg go on to walk inordinately because in our ignorance God hath vouchsafed us of his grace in that disordered state of things without the ministerial church of which we speak the preaching of the gospell both may useth to be had by it sayth to be ingenerated except christian churches be to be gathered of infidels unbeleevers Besides what Minos or Rha●amant will deny that even in the bosom of the Romish church some fa●thfull persons may be found how much more in that of England in which the main truths of the gospell the most greatest errours of poperie being banished are taught by so manie godly learned men with such zeal and earnestnes Now what of these things Is it therefore lawfull for a Christian eyther to content himself with himself without joyning to any christian congregation or to continue still in the bosom of the church of Rome as a member under the Pope th● head I therefore conclude out of M. Brightman whose words I had raither use then mine own speaking of the government ministerie of the Church of England The fruit to wit of the word preached doth no more exempt from blame our corruptions then a true child doth adulterie And here thou hast Christian Reader the whole order of our conversation in the work of Christian religion set down both as breifly and plainly as I could If in anie thing we●er advertise us brotherly with desire of our information not as our countrimens manner for the most part is with a minde of reproaching us or grat fying of others and whom thou findest in errour thou shalt not leave in obstinacie nor as having a minde prone to schism E●re we may alasse too easily but heretiques by the grace of God we will not be But if the things which we do seem ●ight in thine eyes as to us certainly they do I do earnestly by the Lord Iesus admonish and exhort thy godly minde that thou wilst neither withould thy due obedience frō his truth no● just succour from thy distressed brethren Neither do thou indure that either the smalnes of the number or meannes of the ●ondition of those that professe it should prejudice with thee the pro●ssion of the truth but have in minde that of Te●tullian Do we measure mens faith by their persons or their persons by their faith as also that of Austin Let matter weigh with matter and cause with cause and rea●●● with reason but especially that of the Apostle My brethren have 〈◊〉 the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ in respect of persons But now it so come to passe which God forbid that the most being eyther forestalled by prejudice or by prosperitie made secure there be few found especially men of learning who will so far vouchsafe to stoop as to look upon so despised

A IVST AND NECESSARIE APOLOGIE OF CERTAIN CHRISTIANS no lesse contumeliously then commonly called Brownists or Barrowists By Mr. IOHN ROBINSON Pastor of the English Church at Leyden first published in Latin in his and the Churches name over which he was set after translated into English by himself and now republished for the speciall and common good of our own Countrimen Psal. 41. 2. O Blessed is he that prudently attendeth to the poore-weakling Printed in the yeere of our Lord M.DC.XXV A Iust and Necessarie APOLOGIE THE cryme of Heresy none ought patiently to indure sayd Ierom of ould and that not without cause For whereas in other accusations eyther a mans goods or good name or bodily life at the most is indaungered in this the life of the soul which fayth is commeth in question But well it is for the servants of Iesus Christ that they have him their gratious Lord and Saviour for their Iudg by whose alone judgment notwithstanding all mens prejudices they shall stand or fall for ever And if any others any where surely I and they with me have need to get this divine comfort deeplie printed in our hearts whose profession giues occasion to many as doth our condition liberty unto all to spare no severitie of censure upon us Four sorts of heavie freinds we have found and felt in sorrowfull experience wheresoever we have become The first whereof is the unhallowed multitude who living without God in the world and walking themselvs perversly and in the workes of darknes cannot but hate as the light it self so all those who haue receaved grace of God to walke therein with good conscience And as the Apostles in their dayes were everie where most vexed with the hatred of the unbeleeving Iewes their own countrymen so are we by the like of ours like mynded Of whom whilst the most do want their countrie for causes so unlike unto ours no marvayl though there be no better concurrance of eyther affection or action between us The second is of them who are enamoured on that Romish Hierarchie as on a stately and potent Ladie Against which and for the holy presbyteriall government as Christs institution by his Apostles whilst we doe in word and deed give a free full testimonie alasse with how many and how great waves of affliction are we overwhelmed by their ●atred and power Dem●trius of Ephesus with his Silver-smiths was of all other men to the Apostle Paul opposing himself to the Majestie of Diana and the●● profit withall the most infestuous And who will marvayl if we nothing obsequio●s to the Hierarchicall Diana in her self magnificent enough enough advantageable unto hers be abhominable unto this kinde of people aboue all others even Atheists Papists and most flagitious persons not excepted whom they haue devout enough and over unto that Goddesse A third kinde is of those who so servily inbondage themselues and their consciences either to the edicts of Princes or to the determinations of certaine doctors or to both these jointly as that they think nothing well done in case of R●ligion which eyther these teach not or they commaund not and on the other side almost any thing warrantable which is commended by the one of them or commaunded by the other And as of these some are so transported with wa●pish zeale as they can scarcely without a fit of an ague eyther speak to or think of him who a litle steps out of their troad so others of them are so cunning and wote so well how to make their market that though they be indeed almost like mynded with us in all things yet do they vehemently affect unchristian emnitie with us not because they themselues judge us so deserving but others whom therein they think it a poynt of their wisdom to gratify The fourth and last sorte are they who through credulitie and lightnes of beleif haue their ears open to the false and feigned suggestions of slaunderous tongues These men whilst they are over good and easie towards the evill and injurious unto whom they give credence become injurious themselus to the good and innocent though in truth it be hard to say unto which of three they doe the greatest wrong whether to their brethren of whom they causelesly conceaue amisse whilst either they greedily devour or easily receave such false reports vituperies as venemous tongues spit out against them or to their own souls which they thereby make accessorie to others mallice or to the calumniators themselus whom they put in heart to go bouldly on in reproaching the innocent whilst they know where to finde receavers for their slaunders as do theeues for their stoln goods Now alasse what sufficient bulwark of defence haue we poore people to oppose unto the violence of so many and mightie adversaries First and most as a brazen wall 〈◊〉 cons●●ence before God and men so farre as humain frailtie will permit pure and unsteyned Next thine equanimitie joyned with wisdom godly and christian Reader for whose cause we haue pe●●ed and published this our just and necessarie defence lest being circumvented by prejudice thou mayst happen to hate that whereof thou art ignorant then which nothing in Tertullians judgment is more uniust no not though the thing in it self iustly deserue hatred By this we do earnestly crave that as thou safely mayst so thou wilst ingenuously passe sentence upon us and our profession and not by the unsavourie reportes eyther in word or writing of our adversaries whomsoever who do most commonly take libertie to suggest against us underlings not what in truth conscience they should but what eyther fame reporteth or ignorance suspecteth or mallice inventeth or proud contempt deems suiteing with our meannes and simplicitie Two opprobries amongst others infinite haue beene of late by our adversaries cast upon us by which we are not onely occasioned but after a sorte necessitated to the publishing of this our Apologie lest by not resuting such criminations so great and greivous we should seeme to acknowledg a cryme as Cyprian speaketh The former by some of those who in our owne countrie are reputed the cheif Masters and Patrons both of Religion truth by whom there hath been not a flying bruit spread amongst the multitude but a solemn accusation to them in speciall authoritie framed against us First that we lewd Brownists do refuse and reject one of the Sacraments secondly that we haue amongst us no ecclesiasticall ministrie but doe giue libertie to everie mechanicall person to preach publiquely in the church Thirdly that we are in errour about the verie Trinitie Fourthly and lastly that being become so odious to the magistrates here as that we are by violence to be driven the countrie we are now constreyned to seek some other and farr parte of the world to settle in The other contumelie is in a Duch Rhime without name framed it may be and as commonly it comes to passe between the cup and the

publiquely in the Church or privately in the family we refuse not by the grace of God bestowed upon frayl creatures labouring of the same humain infirmities with other men the search and censure of our most bitter adversaries if not destitute of all both honestie and wisdom Touching the reformed Churches what more shall I say We account them the true Churches of Iesus Christ and both professe practise communion with them in the holy things of God what in us lyeth their sermons such of ours frequent as understand the Dutch tongue the sacraments we do administer unto their known members if by occasion any of them be present with us their distractions and other evils we do seriously bewayl and do desire from the Lord their holy and firm peace But happily it wil be objected that we are not like-mynded with them in all things nor do approve of sundry practises in use amongst them if not by publique institution which it seems they want yet by almost universall consent and uniform custome I graunt it neither doubt I but that there are many godly and prudent men in the same churches who also dislike in effect the things which we doe and amongst other things this mal●part and unbridled bouldnes of unskilfull men who make it a very May-game to passe most rash censure upon the fayth and so by consequence upon the eternall salvation of their brethren and to impeach their credit whom they neither do nor perhaps willingly would know lest that which they lust to condemn unknown they should be constreyned to allow if they once knew it and withall to disallow that into which they themselvs haue been led formerly by common errour of the times Which maladie is also so frequent and ordinarie as that it may truely be said of many that they then think themselus most acceptable unto God when they can make their brethren differing from them in some smaller matters most odious unto men This rageing plague except the Lord God in mercie asswage and bend the mindes of godly and modest men the Ministers of his word to put to their helping hand that way it wi● without all doubt come to passe which God forbid that the multitude of Christians will come to judg of their estate with the Lo●● not so much by the christian vertues which themselvs indeed have as which they imagine others want But that it may appear unto thee Christian Reader wherein 〈◊〉 do dissent from the Dutch reformed Churches and upon wha● grounds and that none may take occasion of suspicion that the things are either greater or more absurd for which those hateful● Brownists are had by many in such detestation then indeed an● truth they are I will breifly as I can present unto thy christian vei● either all or the most our greatest differences with the ground● thereof CHAP. I. Of the largenes of Churches AND first it is evident that the most especially cittie-churches are so great and populous as that two or three dive● temples are not sufficient for one and the same Church to meet● at once We on the contrarie so judg that no particular churc● under the New Testament ought to consist of more members the● can meet together in one place because 1. The Holy Scriptures speaking definitely of the politicall or ministeriall commonly called visible church instituted by Christ and his Apostles by his power understand none other then on● congregation convening and comming together ordinarie at least in one place Math. 18 17 20. gathered together in my name wi●● 1 Corinth 5 4. when you are come together Act. 2 44. Al● that beleeved were together and chap. 5 12. They were all with one accord in Salomons porch Also chap. 6 2 5. and chap. 13 1 2. with ●4 27. and 14 23. with Tit. 1 5. Act. 15 4 22 25. and 21 22. So 1 Corinth 11 20. when yee therefore come together in one to wit place not minde as some conceipt for from that the Corinthians were to far and lastly chap. 14 23. If the whole church come together into some place 2. There is then had the most full and perfit communion of the body in the holy things of God which is the next and immediate end of the visible Church when all the members thereof do convene and assemble together in some one place And if nature as Philosophers teach ever intend that which is most persit much more grace Now that the church commonly called visible is then most truely visible indeed when it is assembled in one place and the communion thereof then most full and intire when all its members inspired as it were with the same presence of the holy ghost do from the same Pastor rec●av the same provocations of grace at the same time and in the same place when they all by the same voice banding as it were together do with one accord pour out their prayers unto God when they all participate of one and the same holy bread and lastly when they all together consent unanimously either in the choice of the same officer or censuring of the same offender no man admitting a due thought of things can make doubt of 3. We have the Apostle Paul giving it in charge to the Elders of everie particular Church as was that of Ephesus that they take heed unto al the flock whereof the holy ghost made them Bishops or overseers to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood But surely as that flock is verie inordinate if not monstrous which for the largenes thereof neither ever doth nor possibly can feed together so that sheepheard of the Lords flock seemeth not aright and as he ought to fulfill his charge which doth not at the least everie Lords day minister unto the same the wholesom food of Gods word Ad hereunto that in these huge and vast flocks the governers cannot take knowledg of the manners of the people private or publick no nor so much as of their presence at or absence from the church assemblies whereby what domage cometh unto true pietie any man may easily conjecture and miserable experience makes too too manifest in the reformed Churches I conclude therefore since as Iunius sayth it concerneth the Pastour throughly to know the church committed unto him the persons their works and courses without the knowledg of which things he shall profit them no more then a tincking cymball c. that it were a point of good provision both for the conscience of the officers and edification of the people that a division were made of the cittie-churches which by continuall accession of members are thus grown out of kinde into different and distinct congregations under their certain and distinct Pastours and Elders If any object that there is one visible and catholick Church comprehending as the parts thereof all the particular Churches and severall congregations of divers places as there is one Ocean