Attestation of Many Learned Godly and Famous Divines, Title page – Table of contents
An Atteſtation of many Learned, Godly, and famous Divines, Lightes of Religion, and pillars of the Goſpell, iuſtifying this doctrine, viz. That the Church-governement ought to bee alwayes with the peoples free conſent.
Alſo this, That a true Church vnderunder the Goſpell contayneth no more ordinary Congregations but one.
In the diſcourſe whereof, ſpecially Doctor Downames & alſo D. Bilſons chiefe matters in their writings againſt the ſame, are anſwered.
Calvin. Inſtit 4.3.2.
Hee laboureth the destruction and ruine of the Church, whoſoever either ſeeketh to aboliſh this order and this kinde of government whereof we treate, or maketh light of it as not ſo neceſſary.
ANNO DOM. 1613.
To my Chriſtian and beloved friends in London and elſwhere in England, Grace and peace be multiplied in IESVS CHRIST our Lord.
THe great and long afflictions which it hath pleaſed God to call me vntounto, onlie for testifying his heavenly truth against the grievous corruptions of the Church in our Land, are well knowen vntounto you all, my most deare and loving friends. In the middeſt of which my troubles what comfort J have receaved from you, though I publiſh not, yet both a most thankefull remembrance thereof remaineth in my heart, and with God a moſt precious recompence is laid vp for you at the last day. I confeſſe, I might …og ſince have ben diſcouraged through many things which I finde both within and without me. Beſides, I have not eſcaped the bytings of falſe brethren. Alſo I am not ignorant that divers (yea of thoſe that least ſhould) doe not only distast, but alſo ſpeake evill of my innocencie without all cauſe. In very deed they can not tell why: But God the righteous Iudge ſeeth it, who yet ſtil ſuſtayneth and ſtrengthenth my infirmitie, by whoſe grace J am that I am. Wherefore in his Name J do ſtill beare witneſſe to the truth denyed by many men; & do now take in hand to intreat heere concerning the Christian peoples power & right of†Alſo cō ſequētly, that a true Church vnderunder the Goſpell cō taineth no mo ordinary Congregations thē one: & is not Dioceſan properly. free conſent in their outward spirituall governement given thē by Christ Jeſus in the Gospell. And therefore to his gracious aſsistance heerein I alſo do truſt. In the which affaire I thinke it very behoofull for the better manifestation of my lawful and iust indeavour, and no leſſe needfull for Gods glory, to ſpeake to this matter propounded in this Treatiſe, not my ſelfe alone, but to ſhew openly vntounto all (who have but a ſparke of love to the truth) ſuch an Atteſtation of faithfull and worthy Witneſſes with mee in this matter being the maine foundation of our greatest controverſie touchinge Church governement, that I hope hereafter none will ſet against this my ſeeking both of mine owne and your ſoules good, nor cavill at it, but ſuch as are too worldly and too earthly minded. In my Diſcourſe vponupon this cauſe, as touching obiections,D Down Defenc Anno. 1611. chiefly I gather out of Doctor Downame ſuch as ſeeme to any purpoſe, & J anſwer them. Him beere J ſpecially deale with, becauſe of a friend he is not long ſince turned from vsus, and become our adverſarie, yea the latest (I thinkc) which openly ſheweth him ſelfe againſt vsus, and ſo is like to be (now) most in mens eyes: alſo hee hath heaped togeather the most thinges that the best of ſuch Defenders have heeretofore written. Beſides all this, the maner of his writings is with ſuch an“Defence. 1. pag. 16 17. 2. pag 122. inſolent conceit of him ſelfe, & with ſuch*Defence 2. pag 55. 15. contempt, indignation, and despite against vsus, as commonly is not ſeene in any but thoſe that ſlide backe from the truth which they had once tacted of. And withall, though in his Defence he deale with another, yet in many paſſages hee very ſharply provoketh me in particular, beſides other wrongs that he hath done me, well knowen. For theſe cauſes both I write this that I do, and I chieflie nominate him for our adverſarie; as in this treatiſe, ſo alſo†In the Declaration. elſwhere. My Christian and loving friends, for whoſe ſake most of all, I labour and have laboured to make our ſaid question which is long, intricat, & trouble ſome, to be ſhort and plaine, and to make the matter it ſelfe alſo appeare ſo waightie, as indeed it is: Now your partes are wiſely and religionſly to ponder in your heartes, and to make vſe of this ſame. As the Apostle spake to Timothie, ſo do I vntounto you: Conſider, Brethren, what I ſay: and the Lord give you vnderſtanding in all things. Amen. Iuly 18. Anno 1612.
Yours ever in the Lord HENRY IACOB.
The contents of this Booke, divided into Nine Chapters.
CHAP. I. The great importance of the matter heere handled; viz. That the people ought to have their free conſent in their owne Churche governement. And the cauſes of publiſhing this Atteſtation to it. Pag. 9.
CHAP. II. The Methode and order of this Treatiſe. Pag. 20.
CHAP. III. The Teſtimonies of many particular late Writers, of bleſſed memorie, making for vsus in this matter. Pag. 21.
CHAP. IIII. The publike conſent of many late, yet excellent Churches, heerein with vsus. Pag. 48.
CHAP. V. The Teſtimonies & practiſe of the beſt Antiquitie, after the New Teſtament, heerin likewiſe with vsus. Pag. 52
CHAP. VI. Our very Adverſaries ſometimes do acknowledge with vsus the truth of this doctrine in plaine termes, and ſometimes to the ſame full effect, ſpecially when they deale againſt the Papiſtes. Pag. 70.
CHAP. VII. Conſequences of exceeding great importance following vponupon the peoples free conſent in their Church-governement, & inconveniences intollerable following from the contrary. Pag. 84.
CHAP. VIII. An anſwer to divers chiefe Obiections of the Adverſaries of this cauſe; noting alſo briefly their immodeſt, & not Chriſtian like reproches againſt this Evangelicall doctrine. Pag. 199.
CHAP. IX. A ſhort Advertiſement to the vpright hearted and Chriſtian Reader, touching this Writing and Cauſe. Pag. 316.