Attestation of Many Learned Godly and Famous Divines, Chapter 9 – Addendum
CHAP. IX. A ſhort advertiſement to the vpright hearted and Christian Reader, touching this Writing & Cauſe.
YET firſt I deſire the Chriſtian Reader to be advertiſed of a few things pertayning to this Cauſe. Seavē things I intreat him to take notice of.
Firſt, how great a blame and ſhame it is to D. Downame, a principall Logician to treate ſo largely (as in his Sermon & defenc. he hath done) concerning the Nature, Forme, and Conſtitution of Chriſts true Viſible Church, and yet in all this not once to define the ſame. Which defect of D. Bilſon alſo is to be noted in his perpetuall governement of the Church. Surely this one matter, viz. a Definition of Chriſtes true Viſible Church vnderunder the Goſpell, well performed, would have ſaved a great deale of paines and trouble, & would have prevēted much error. And thus it is wiſelie taught by Cicero that“Cicer. Offic. 1. all purpoſes reaſonable ought to be begū with a Definitiō of the matter in band. For the avoyding therefore of this imputation, I have in†The Divine beginning & inſtitution of Chriſts Viſible Church. another Treatiſe defined the ſaid Viſible Church of Chriſt. Which I did, and reſted not on ſome others who have Defined the Church heertofor, becauſe I deſired to diſtinguiſh cleerly betweene the Iewiſh Church, and the Chriſtian; which verily differ not in Accidentes alone, but in kinde of governement and in eſſentiall conſtitution.The Iewiſh & Chriſtian Church governement differ ſubſtantially. Which difference I know not who hath touched heeretofore, and included in any Definition? In ſo much that from hence hath ariſen no ſmall occaſion of grievous errors. Howbeit yet for the preciſe name of Definition or Deſcription, I ſtrive not: let men call it what they will. Only I take mine to bee convertible with Chriſts true Viſib. Church vnderunder the Goſpell, and that ſufficeth me. Further, ſome thinke it long. For whoſe ſakes I will heere againe ſet downe in effect the ſame Definition, though in other words, & more ſhort. Thus it is.A Definitiō of Chriſts true Viſible Church. A Viſible Church of Christ vnderunder the Goſpell, is a Spirituall Body politike of no mo ordinarie Congregations then one; the people alſo having power of free cōſent in their ordinarie governement. This is ſhorter, & yet as full as the other.
Secondly, whereas Do. Downame in his booke of his Sermon and Defence picketh out mee in particular (beſides his proper antagoniſt) to traduce and calumniat, I held it neceſſarie to Anſwer him in the pointes that concerne me, and by the way ſome other adverſaries now and then, who oppugne this cauſe alſo which is the originall of all their il will againſt me. Profeſſing (for my part) that my purpoſe is heereafter to ceaſe this manner of dealing in this matter, vnles I might do it vpō more equall conditions, which I do not expect. The Lord (I doubt not) wil raiſe vp others, that ſhall more effectually beare witnes vntounto this truth in due time, Even vntill the Toleration heereof in England, which hath ben moſt Chriſtianly Supplicated for, ſhal finde grace and favor in his Maieſties eyes: for the which I ſhall not ceaſe to pray continually.
Thirdly, whereas the Writings and Diſputes about this cauſe have ben and are very many, intricat, and tedious; I have heere indeavoured to make the vnderſtāding thereof ſhort, eaſie, and perſpicuous. Namely by reducing the whole ſubſtance of this controverſie only to 2. Heads.The ſumn… and ſubſtance, of all our controverſie. viz. the Peoples free conſent in their ordinarie Church governement: and that the extent of Chriſtes true Viſible Church vnderunder the Goſpel containeth one, and not many ordinarie Congregations. Which 2. points being plainly and honeſtly handled, will bring an end of other differences alſo which are vſually conſidered in our generall controverſie. I hope therefore this my indeavour will bee profitable to ſuch as would vnderſtād this cauſe briefly and diſtinctly: at leaſt my intent was that it ſhould be, being my ſelfe very deſirous to draw our long contention (as much as I could) to a ſhort iſſue.
Fourthly, I deſire that this and all other my writings may be not ſiniſterly taken. Being with much vehemencie charged, that for no iuſt cauſe I have refuſed to conforme to the Church order in England, I could therefore do no leſſe but give out (yea vntounto poſteritie) the the true and moſt important Reaſons of my diſſenting heerein. Alſo I have ben conſtrayned by Do. Downame and ſuch other, to cleere and confirme the ſaid reaſons. And this is the only true cauſe (as the Lord knoweth) of all my writing. Which how iuſt it is, I deſire all fearing God vprightly to conſider.
Fiftly, I pray all good Chriſtians not to forget, nor neglect the due conſideration of this matter, but to waigh with them ſelves how important it is indeed. Which I have ſomwhat largely opened before in the“Cōſequent 5.6.7, 8. pag. 129. &c. 7. Chapter in divers and ſundry reſpectes. It preſerveth Chriſts Honor & Ordinance, and caſteth out Humane Tradition, it bringeth to our ſelves true aſſurance, and cutteth of from the Papiſtes (and others) all pretence which otherwiſe againſt vsus is not little.
Sixtly, the verie Attestation of thoſe moſt worthie Divines and Churches, which heere I alleage, gathered out of their publike recordes, ſhall I hope abundantly acquit both my ſelfe and many other faithfull ſervantes of Chriſt in the iudgement of all honeſt and ſounde Chriſtians, from the moſt iniurious ſlanders given out by D. Downame and other adverſaries, to our reproach among the ignorant, as namely where they call vsus, Shiſmatikes, Innovators, Enemies of Vnitie, &c. When men ſhall perceave that we are indeed taught theſe aſſertions which wee holde (not to ſpeake of the Scripture) out of Zuinglius, Luther, Bucer, F. Martyr, Viret, Muſculus, Bullinger, Gualter, Chemnieius, Vrſinus, Iunius, Danaeus, Calvin, and Beza, with many other like rare men of God, all cōſenting togeather in the ſubſtance of theſe points, as before I have ſhewed more at large; then it will be a ſufficient ſatisfactiō to them on our behalfes. And our adverſaries ſhall finde it to be well with them, if they themſelves can ſtande cleere of the ſaid crimes of Schiſme, Noveltie, Enmitie to vnitie, peace, and truth of the Goſpell. Nay, verily they can not ſtande cleere of theſe crimes.
Laſt of all, theſe our worthy Attestators & Teachers ſhall (I hope likewiſe) yet have ſo much credit and honor yeelded to them in England, that their Diſciples ſhall not (for their doctrine only) bee afflicted, impriſoned, and more ſeverely puniſhed then thoſe that profeſſe to be the Diſciples of the Romiſh Enemie. An enemie indeed (not conceited) both to Chriſt, to our King, & the Realme. In which hope and full perſwaſion, I humbly commend all this that I have Lud to Gods holy providence & gracious bleſſing, & to all Chriſtians chatable & vpright iudgement. To God only wiſe, through Ieſus Chriſt, bee praiſe for ever and ever. AMEN.
An Addition.
THAT the abuſers of Mai. Beza and Mai. Calvin about Mat. 18.17 may ſee their ill doing, I thought good to ſet downe heere ſome more of their teſtimonies a part by themſelves. Which ſhew plainly, that howſoever they ſeeme ſometime to ſpeake not ſo warily as they might touching the word Eccleſia in this place, calling it the Church-Senat or Presbyterie: yet their true and right meaning indeed is that here Eccleſia ſignifyeth not the Church Senat only & meerely, as ſome obſtinatly charge thē to meane. They do heere in this word comprehend alſo the people, and their power of free cōſent in Excommunication, which is the matter ſpokē of by Chriſt in this place of Math. I ſay, here in this word they include the people alſo, & teach that they muſt be tolde, and that they muſt be hearkened vntounto, in a degree, & in a certain order, viz. mediatly & finally. They intend not, that Chriſt heere committeth this buſines to the Presbyterie only and abſolutly. Thus ſaith Beza vponupon this word;“Bez. Annotat. in Mat. 18.17. Doceo Aristocratiam non eſſe novum institutum, Dei verbo & Democratiae Eccleſiaſtica repugnans, ſicut nonnulls ex vnicâ voculâ temerè arreptâ ſunt arbitrati. And preſently before …e ſaith; Neque verò Oligarchiam velim in …ccleſiam Dei invehi, quae illam tantopere de…rmavit atque adeò penitùs transformavit. …lſo,†In Mat. 16.18. Vocabulo Eccleſiae ſignificari Civium …nventum, nemo est qui ignoret.
Calvin ſaith; In this place Mat. 18.17.“Calvin Inſtit. 4.11.1 Ius Iudaici Synedrij transfertur ad Chriſti …egem. And,†Instit. 4.12.7. Illa est legitima in Excōmu…cando homine progreſsio, ſi non ſoli Seniores …orſum id faciant, ſed conſciâ & approbante …ccleſiâ, &c. *4.1.15.Totius Eccleſia hac cognitio eſt. Clavium potestatem Dominus fidelium ſo…etati contulit. “4.1.22.And hee calleth Excommunication,†11.2. Fidelium judicium; & the …xcommunicat (ſaith he) is“Ibidem. & 12.4. Fidelium …uffragijs damnatus. Thus muſt theſe (& …ther) worthy men of God be vnderunder…tood, and not to contradict themſelves.
Beza alſo of the Calling of Miniſters, …aith,“Bez. Cō feſs. 7.1… Per quod ostium ſunt ingreſs? Quis …os vocavit? &c. Vbi electio Presbyterij? Vbi …opuli ſuffragia? By what dore entred they? Who called them? Where was the Election of …he Elders? Where was the peoples voice-giving? By this ſhewing that hee helde the peoples free conſent to be neceſſary alſo in the making of Miniſters.
FINIS.
Math. 6.10.
Thy will bee do….