Truth outweighing Error Or An ANSVVER TO A Treatise lately published by J. B. Entituled A Confession of his Faith AND A Reason of his Practice OR With who he can and with who he cannot hold Church-Fellowship or the Communion of Saints By John Denne a Servant of the Church He that is first in his own Cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Prov. 18.17 For it was not an Enemy that reproached me then I could have born it Psal 55.12 Sed nullum est Atrocius vulnus quam defectio amici Sophocles London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by F. Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royal-Exchange in Cornhil and at the same sign the first shop without Temple-Bar 1673. To the Church of God in God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ especially to my well beloved Brethren in the Counties of Huntington and Cambridge Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied unto you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in Truth and Love Dearly Beloved IT is once yea twice declared in the Book of Job That when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Satan came also amongst them surely not only to espy what miscarriage might give him advantage against them but also to endeavour their subversion by the crafty insinuations of himself and ministers stirred up to that end and no marvel for if he durst presume to practise the same against our blessed Saviour we may more assuredly expect his subtilty and puissance to be bent against us wherefore Diligence and Sobriety is required 1 Pet. 5.8 that by the one you may avoid giving him occasion against you and by the other discover his crafty devices although carried on by fair pretences like a Wolf in Sheeps-cloathing making use therefore of some of your own selves according to the words of the Apostle Paul Acts 20.29 which as heretofore is this day apparently verified and that amongst others particularly in that Book presented to the World by J. Bunyan entituled A Confession of his Faith and the reason of his practice touching Church-fellowship wherein amongst other things he endeavours the vilifying the ready way for the extirpation of the Ordinance of Water-Baptism and that under the specious pretences of Charity Church-edification c. that his Design might be so masked as to be received by many conscientious Christians who cannot through his crafty vail discover his intentions in reference to the aforesaid Ordinance which he would not have us at all respect in the matter of Church-Communion Which I no sooner saw but I was filled with displeasure apprehending my self obliged as once Phineas was in a matter whereunto this is not inferiour if the spiritual concern be respected to manifest an holy indignation against the same and according to my ability to vindicate the Truth therein degraded whereupon I resolved to send abroad the ensuing Treatise which I now commend to you what is well done expects your Approbation and what is amiss your gentle Correction withal entreating you to look to your selves that you may not be ensnared hold fast the form of sound words lest that otherwise you be unawares beguiled retain alwayes a reverent esteem of God's Ordinances Which if you do not you will suddenly be surprized by that Adversary who goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour keep close to the Holy Scriptures continue instant in Prayer and that for me also that Wisdom Boldness and Patience may be given me that I may not cease to speak the things I have believed Brethren farewel the God of Peace fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing Amen Your unworthy Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ John Denne The Epistle to the Reader READER IF Solomon had cause to say in his time Eccles 12.12 in making many Books there is no end what may be said in our dayes when the World is so replenished with Books and those pro contra even in matters of Christianity insomuch as the question propounded by Paul 1 Cor. 1.13 Is Christ divided may now seem justly to be answered on the affirmative or which is rather to be consented unto that the prediction of Christ Jesus Matth. 24.24 That there shall arise false Christs many coming in his Name saying Lo here and lo there is Christ is now accomplished for the discovery of whom and demonstration of the Truth that one Book viz. the Holy Scripture is only necessary which of it self is able to make a man wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus who therefore adviseth the Sons of Men to search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 because they are they which do testifie of him The consideration wherof hath hitherto obstructed my presenting any thing to publick view although divers times thereto incited as well by the perswasion of some Friends as the apprehension of the want of some assistance in the vindication of the Truth as it is in Jesus which as formerly hath required my hand at this time induceth me to step forth particularly upon the perusal of a Treatise subscribed by J.B. entituled A Confession of his Faith and the reason of his Practice touching Church-Fellowship Which although sometime published came lately to my view wherein an apparent wrong and publick abuse being offered to God and his Son Christ Jesus in his endeavouring the explosion of the Holy Ordinance of Baptism it took such impression within me that I could not now forbear the presenting the ensuing Treatise to the view of the World in answer thereunto whereof it may perhaps be said as Paul of himself 1 Cor. 15.8 It is born out of due time but if so I presume wise Persons will allow that an Abortive birth wherein there is life must not be rejected wherefore although peradventure there may be others which I know not of that may precede this upon the same account whereto the priority must be granted Touching this let me say as Abigail to David Accept it as a Servant to the Servants of the Servants of our God whereby perhaps some although mean Service may be rendred which may be advantagious in the discovery of Truth from the disguised face of Error Wherefore in the Name of our Lord Jesus let me entreat thee to read impartially and try diligently by the Scriptures of Truth what thou findest in this following Treatise declared and the Lord give thee therein the Spirit of discerning which shall be the earnest Prayer of Thine in the Lord Jesus Christ John Denne Truth outweighing Error c. WHen the Woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet Rev. 12.1 and upon her Head a Crown of twelve Stars was with Child and cried travelling in birth and pained to be delivered then there appeared vers 3. a great Wonder in Heaven viz. a great red Dragon having seven Heads and ten Horns and seven Crowns upon his Heads who with his
5.11 They shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my Name 's sake Which to effect he is bold to affirm That Christians have been the cause of all the Judgments we have felt and do groan under It is no new thing the Heathens of old were of the same mind and thereby raised the Primitive persecutions and we see the Devil playeth the same Game now whereto I shall only say in the words of Michael Jud. 9. The Lord rebuke thee I come now to his 10th and last Reason pag. 128. Which is grounded partly upon the thoughts of the World and partly upon a supposed Condescention so far as to commit our Souls to the Ministry of unbaptized persons Whereto I shall answer As to the first We ought to obey God rather than to please men Act. 4.19 And as to the second I say whâ—â— we commit our Souls to such persons we 〈◊〉 then have Communion with them But at present I shall offer John Bunyan's own words pag. 133. It must be the prudence of every Community to preserve its own unity in peace and truth and not to suffer such confounded Doctrines as eat out the bowels of a Church Wherefore John Bunyan and his Doctrine ought to be exploded as a detected Gangrene encreasing unto more ungodliness 2 Tim. 2.18 For which purpose let us observe the Apostles advice 1 Thess 5.21 Try all things and hold fast that which is good The God of Heaven teach us by his Holy Spirit to try those things that differ and to approve what is most excellent Amen FINIS ERRATA Page 12. line 1. for the read that line 10 11. f. Author saith r. Author's faith P. 16. l. 4. r. of Christ P. 19. in the 2 last lines from pass to ought all to be left out until thou comest to line 18 of pag. 20. the Articles about Justification c. P. 20. l. 19. r. concerning P. 27. l. 24. f. obstinay r. obstinacy P. 43. l. 5. f therein I readily c. r. wherein I c. P. 44. the quotations p. 122 123. in l. 17. are to be applied to l. 13 14. P. 56. l. 13. r. instructiâ—â— l. ult f. 1. Luke P. 63. l. 3. r. cannot but wonder Books Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royal Exchange in Cornhil A New and Useful Concordance to the Bible with the chief Acceptations and various Significations contained therein Also marks to distinguish the Commands Promises and Threatnings with a Collection of those Scripture-Prophesies which relate to the Call of the Jews and the Glory that shall be in the latter dayes To which is now added near Nine Thousand Scriptures omitted in the former Edition with the Addition also of the Scripture-Similies and Synonimous Phrases Alphabetically digested With the Collection of the Names and Titles given to Jesus Christ and the Appellation given to the Church of God in the Scriptures Recommended to the studious Christian by Dr. Owen A Treatise of Baptism wherein that of Believers and that of Infants is examined by the Scriptures with the History of both out of Antiquity making it appear That Infants-baptism was not practised for 300 years nor enjoyned as necessary by the Popes Canons 400 years after Christ with the fabulous Traditions and Erroneous Grounds upon which it with Gossips Chrisoms Exorcisms Consignations Baptizing of Churches Bells and other Popish Rites are founded and that the famous Waldensian and old Brittish Churches and Christians witnessed against it with the Examination of the stories of Thomas Munster and John of Leyden Symptoms of Growth and Decay in Godliness in 80 signs of a Living and Dying Christian with the Causes of Decay and Remedies for Recovery The Schollar's Companion Or a little Library containing all the Interpretations of Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible both in Latine and English in great variety by means whereof the unlearned may easily attain unto the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures in their Original Tongues a Work very useful for every useful Christian Truth 's Champion wherein are made plain these particulars First That Christ died for all Of his Power given out to all Of Election Of Predestination Of Baptism c. The Copy of which Book was found hid in an old Wall near Colchester in Essex Scripture-Redemption freed from Men's Restriction being the substance of several Conferences about the Death of our Dear Redeemer and the Controversies which are the Constant Concomitants of it The Mystery of Astronomy made plain to the meanest Capacity by an Arithmetical Description of the Coelestial and Terrestrial Globes by way of Questions and Answers The Wonderful Works of God from the Earth his Footstool to the Throne of Heaven with Divine Observations on every part The Popish Labyrinth wherein is made manifest that the Papists are intangled in the Fundamental Articles of their Faith that the Church cannot Err Written in Dutch by that Holy and Learned man Dr. Simon Episcopius To which is added The Life and Death of the Author
Tayl drew the third part of the Stars from Heaven and cast them to the Earth This Dragon stood before the Woman to devour the Child as soon as it should be brought forth but his purposes therein being frustrated he endeavoured by divers assaults and stratagems not only the destruction of the Child but also the Mother thereof seeking so craftily the pursuance of his enterprize that he was fitly termed that old Serpent the Devil and Satan vers 9. who by his subtilty deceived Eve 2 Cor. 11.3 perswading her That God was not so much their Friend as they imagined for saith he God doth know that in the day you cat of that tree which he hath forbidden your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as Gods c. Gen. 3. thereby endeavouring to bring them into a dis-esteem of the Laws of their Creator that so he might induce them to consent to his wicked device which craft as then began is daily practised for the corrupting the minds of Saints from the simplicity that is in Christ of which devices Paul was not ignorant 2 Cor. 2.11 but understood the working of Satan to get in his time an advantage of Christians sometimes for that purpose transforming himself into an Angel of Light the easier to deceive mankind and thereby to accomplish his own designs for the effecting whereof he also sendeth forth Ministers transformed into the Apostles of Christ and Ministers of Righteousness 2 Cor. 11.15 of whom our Saviour doth admonish us to take heed Matth. 7.15 as of false Prophets which come in Sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening Wolves thereby intimating that it ought to be the continual care of Saints in all Ages to avoid such lest that with feigned words and fair speeches their Souls should be ensnared in that crafty snare of Satan wherein men become captivated at his will to their utter ruine and destruction And as this we are admonished of so by continued experience the necessity thereof is demonstrated Time would fail me to relate how tâ—â—t evil one hath and doth endeavour by subtilty to accomplish what by force he cannot That as of old his Tail did more harm than his Horns so now by the crafty insinuations of his Ministers he endeavoureth the violation of God's righteous Laws in procuring first a disesteem thereof in the hearts of Christians that so they may with the greater content be negligent in the performance of the same he well knowing what the event thereof will be for through idleness of the hands the house falleth down and thereby may he craftily accomplish his wicked design An Instance whereof is apparent in that little Treatise lately published by J. B. entituled A Confession of his Faith and a reason of his Practice with who and who not he can have Church-fellowship or Communion of Saints Wherein the Reader may as well discern the Spirit of the Author clearly demonstrated as his Person by the letters of his Name subscribed who amongst other things endeavoureth to vilifie the Holy Ordinance of Water-Baptism that thereby he might bring it into such dis-esteem with others as it is notwithstanding his specious pretences with himself who knoweth that if he could perswade Christians to think that the doing it is never the better and the not doing it never the worse it would then soon fall to the ground J.B. pag. 104. For the prevention of which design I shall presume through the assistance of God to weigh what to the purpose is said by the Author of the aforesaid Treatise in the ballance of the Sanctuary if peradventure it may be so far outweighed by the weight of Truth that the vanity thereof may appear Wherein I shall first take notice of the Confession of his Faith Secondly The reason of his Practice c. First In his Confession you have divers things declared in the beginning thereof as the Author saith which I suppose few men deny and thereto I shall yield my Concession saying to him in the words of the Apostle James Chap. 2.19 Thou sayest well the Devils also believe and tremble But when he proceeds further in the 15th Article of his Faith pag. 9. wherein he would be thought to be some body in giving a clear demonstration as is pretended how men come to obtain Righteousness Redemption and Salvation from the Curse of the Law He saith I believe therefore that the Righteousness and Redemption by which we that believe stand just before God as saved from the Curse of the Law is the Righteousness and Redemption that consists in the personal acts and performances of this Child Jesus this God-man the Lord Christ I say in his personal fulfilling the Law for us to the utmost requirements of the Justice of God by which means he became the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth so finishing transgression and making an end of sin and making reconciliation for iniquity Answ In this Article are two things to be considered viz. First what is believed Secondly wherefore it is believed First What is believed The Confessor tells us That the Righteousness Redemption and Salvation from the Curse of the Law obtained by Believers consists in the personal acts of Christ Art 15. pag. 9. But sure this is not consonant to the Scriptures of Truth which declare them to be wrought and accomplished by the Sufferings of Christ this Peter acknowledgeth 1 Pet. 3.11 For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins And if we come to particulars the truth thereof will appear For First How are we made Righteous doth not the Apostle declare 2 Cor. 5.21 He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that you might be made the Righteousness of God in him So that you see we obtain Righteousness by Christ's being made Sin and if you would know how he was made sin let the Prophet answer Isa 53.6 The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all as it is written He bare our sins upon his own body on the Tree 1 Pet. 2.24 and this was his Passion and not his Personal act Secondly the Redemption of Christians is wrought by the shedding the blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.19 And sure if that was a personal act it must be the personal act of the Souldier that pierced him and not of Christ himself Thirdly Salvation from the Curse of the Law the Apostle declares Gal. 3.13 consisted in his being made a Curse for us and how that was the Apostle testifieth by his hanging on the Tree viz. the Cross and that also was the suffering and not the act of Christ which as it ought to be distinguished by every Christian so much more he that pretends himself a Preacher who should shew himself in all things a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth 2 Tim. 2.15 ought to distinguish between doing and suffering and that more particularly in this matter for if Righteousness Redemption and Salvation had
I say he is conscious of the weakness and fallacy thereof otherwise he would never have spent so much time in vain as to alleage afterwards Ten other Reasons to confirm his Opinion and Practice when he had done it so invincibly before unless therewith as the Red Dragon with his ten horns he is minded so to push against the Truth that he might overthrow it root and branch For the prevention whereof although it need not much be feared from John Bunyan I shall adventure a further encounter to try the strength of his Weapons and the force of his Reasons The first is this Reas 1. Because the true visible Saint hath already subjected to that which is better even to the Righteousness of God which is by Faith in Jesus Christ c. He is therefore to be received not by thy light not for that in Circumstances he jumpeth with thy Opinion but according to his own Faith which he ought to keep to himself before God as Paul saith 1 Cor. 10.29 Conscience I say not of thy own but of the other c. pag. 94 95. Answ Here you have John Bunyan's first Reason wherein he tells you the true visible Saint hath subjected to that which is better But can a man be a true visible Saint that visibly opposeth Christ's Ordinances He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them saith Christ Joh. 14.21 he it is that loveth me he is my friend Joh. 15.14 And our Saviour renders the Reason thereof Chap. 14.23 If any man love me he will keep my words And again vers 24. He that keepeth not my sayings loveth me not surely without offence I may add Is no true visible Saint But John Bunyan not forgetting to oppose the Lord Christ will vindicate such disobedience and tell you the Saint he describeth hath subjected to that which is better Well be it so doth it therefore follow the less must be despised I hope John Bunyan will allow The life is more than meat and the Body than raiment yet the lesser must be received for the preservation of the greater Besides had not Paul the greater when he was Converted to the Faith Yet Ananias although he was informed that he was a chosen Vessel which was the better commands him to be baptized Acts 22.16 Had not Cornelius and his Companions the greater when their hearts were purified by Faith and also replenished with the Holy Spirit Acts 10.44 Chap. 11.15 17. yet Peter commands them to be baptized Yea had not Christ himself the greater to whom the Spirit was not given by measure Joh. 3.34 Yet when John peradventure upon the same account as John Bunyan pretends forbad his Baptism Matth. 3.14 Christ answers vers 15. Suffer it to be so for thus it behooveth us to fulfil all righteousness Baptism it seems is no indifferent thing although John Bunyan would have you believe it so alleaging as aforesaid the words of Paul 1 Cor. 10.29 which words only have respect to the eating of meats which were permitted although not enjoyned wherein therefore if a weak Brother should be offended they were advised not to eat for Conscience sake Conscience saith Paul not of thy own for it is lawful in it self but of the other who thinks it unlawful touching which J. Bunyan pretends that you might think him to make his way plain it may be objected that what the Apostles wrote they wrote to such as were baptized and therefore the Arguments in the Epistles about things Circumstantial respect not the case in hand To which he answers First that this is a mistake the first to the Corinthians the Epistle of James the first and second of Peter the first Epistle of John were expresly written to all the godly as well as to particular Churches pag. 86. Secondly That if Water-baptism as the Circumstances with which the Churches were pestered of old trouble their peace wound the Consciences of the Godly dismember and break their Fellowship it is although an Ordinance for the present to be prudently shunned for the Edification of the Churches is to be preferred before it Answ Touching this as is here said I must tell you first J. Bunyan is mistaken and sure he either mistakes or forgets himself for is not this the same J. Bunyan who in the same Treatise confessed pag. 91. That in the Apostles dayes Baptism went before Church-Communion Yea he further saith pag. 92. It was then generally practised by all Disciples and if so then sure the fore-mentioned Epistles although general were directed to baptized persons Secondly Those things which the Apostles treat of as indifferent were such only as were permitted either to be done or not done wherein many times there was no expedience in the performance thereof as Paul saith in the aforementioned 1 Cor. 10.23 All things are lawful but all things are not expedient Wherein he also saith All things edify not and therefore adviseth That no man should seek his own but every man his Brothers wealth but there is no such indifferency in Baptism which hath been proved a necessary Duty if that be a Circumstance it is a necessary Circumstance that must be performed Although J. Bunyan supposeth it may pester the Churches trouble their Peace wound their Consciences c. wherefore in his judgment although an Ordinance to be shunned How Do Christ's holy Ordinances ever pester the Churches trouble their Peace wound the Consciences of the Godly dismember and break their Fellowship I never heard it so to do but very efficacious on the contrary But if so let me tell you it is an evil sign even as when the stomach is offended with wholesome food A sign of an evil heart from whence undoubtedly the cause thereof proceeds But I 〈…〉 think it is but the delusion of John Bunyan to conceit it as once Ahab counted the holy Prophet Elijah the troubler of Israel 1 King 18.17 Wherefore herein let us not be perswaded to shun that which ought to be imbraced But rather as David said to Michael 2 Sam. 6.22 let us resolve that if it be accounted vile and evil to obey our God in his Holy Ordinances We will yet be more vile Thus much for the answer to his first Reason His second follows Reas 2. Observe secondly One Spirit one Hope one Lord one Faith one Baptism not of Water for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body one God and Father of all and through all and in you all is a sufficient Rule for us to hold Communion by also to endeavour the maintaining that Communion and to keep it in unity within the bond of peace against all attempts whatsoever p. 96. Answ What presumption is this in wresting the Holy Scripture which perswadeth to unity amongst other Reasons because there is one Baptism But John Bunyan would have fellowship with the unbaptized contrary to what is here intended by the Apostle and that as he saith because this one Baptism is not of Water Although the