Answer to Mr Jacobs Defense of the Churches and Ministry of England, To the reader · Floating text 2
D. B. The publiſher to the Reader. Section, 2.
Novv having vveighed and conſidered vvith my ſelfe, the great ignorance and errors, vvherevvith thoſe of the ſeparation aforeſaid, are and have bene lately carried avvaye: namely, to affirme. That all that ſtande members of the Churches of Englande, are no true Chriſtians, nor in ſtate of ſalvation, And ſuch like moſt vngodly ſentences, vvhichwhich vvould grieve any Chriſtian ſoule once to thinke on, much more to publiſh to the vievv of the vvorld: And vveighing likevviſe vvithall, the greate vveakenes of manie Chriſtians among vsus, vvho (through vvant of experience, or due conſideration of things as they are) may eaſelie by theyr deluſions be dravvne avvay into thoſe errors vvith them: I hauehave therefore: (Aſvvell in hope of reclaiming of the ſaid parties from their ſaid extremities, (vvhichwhich novv I iudge the moſt of them, for vvant of meanes ſee not:) As alſo for the ſtaying of others from running into the ſame grievous exceſſe vvith them) novv publiſhed this diſcourſe to the vievv of the vvorld, vvhichwhich hath line buryed in the hands of ſome fevv. Many being deſirous of it, vvho by reaſon of the largnes in vvriting out of the ſame could not obteyne it: VVhere vntounto I am ſo much the rather induced, For that the Reaſons herein by Maiſter Iacob alleadged, hauehave (by Gods bleſſing) reclaymed many from their former errors, and ſatisfied others, vvho have bene doubtfull, and ſubiect to fall into the ſame. In the examining of vvhichwhich Diſcourſe, I ſhall deſire the Reader to obſerve a fevv notes for his better proffiting in the ſame.
1. And Firſt, (among the reſt) to note this, as a token of the ſtrange and obſtinate dealing of Maiſter Iohnſon and others of them, viz. That heretofore, (vntill ſuch time as the Argument hereafter mentioned, was framed againſt them,) they neuer denyed, That the doctrine and profeſſion of the Churches of England, vvas ſufficient to make thoſe that bel…eued and obeyed them, to be true Chriſtians, and in ſtate of ſalvation: But alvvayes held, profeſſed and acknovvledged the contrarie: As by the publike confeſſions of themſelves, namely Maiſter Barrovv, Maiſter Penry, and Maiſter Iohnſon himſelfe, in this diſcourſe mentioned in Pag. 167. 168. appeareth: But novve, they ſeing: That if they ſhould acknovvledge the ſaid Doctrines and profeſſion, to be ſufficient to ſalvation: That then this concluſion vvould of neceſſitie follovv, that thoſe that hold and practiſe them, are a true *VVhichWhich yet Mr. Pen…y cōfeſſed, ſee Pag. 168.Church, And ſo theyr ovvn former iudgements ſhould be croſſed. Rather I ſay then they vvould be dravvne to that, They novve ſtick not to deny their ovvne confeſſions (vvhichwhich they thinke to be the faifeſt vvay for them,) and like vnnaturall children, ſo vehemently hate, contemne and diſpiſe theyr mother vvho bare them, nouriſhed, and brought them vp: from vvhoſe breſts they ſucked that ſvveere milke of the meanes of euerlaſting life and ſalvation, (if euer they had any taſt of it at all.) Beeing notvvithſtanding, not abaſhed novve in a deſperate manner, in the hardnes of theyr heart, to affirme:‡VVhichWhich appeareth, generally by denying the Aſſumption of Mr. Iacobs, & particularly in theſe Pages, 29. 139. 140 141. That none by the doctrine of the Churches of England can be a true Chriſtian, or ſaved: But that they all worſhip God in vayne, Are aboliſhed from Chriſt, Are Babilonians, Idolaters, departers from the faith, worſe then Infidels? And ſuch like moſt vnchriſtian ſentences, making them all one vvith the Church of Rome, &c. VVhichWhich impious affirmations, vvould cauſe any Chriſtian heart to lament and bleed for grief? VVhoſe vnchriſtian ſentences, and falſe and deceiptfull Reaſons, (the very naming vvhereof vvere ſufficient to refute them, are moſt plainly taken avvaye, and cleane ouerthrovvne, by theſe brief Replyes of Maiſter Iacob vntounto every of them, vntounto vvhichwhich I referre yovv. OnelyOnly this I adde vvith all, vvhichwhich I vvould deſire might be noted: That if they continevv in their former confeſſions, That the Doctrines and profeſſion of the Churches of England are ſufficient to ſalvation: (As they ought, it being the very truth) Then are they all in a moſt grievous ſchiſme, in ſo peremptorily condempning, and ſeparating, from ſuch true Chriſtians and Churches. And if they deny it: (as they have begonne to doe:) Then doe they runne headlong, into an intollerable ſinne and extremitie, vvithout all vvarrant of Gods vvord: And beſides give iuſt occaſion to be called fearfull*VVhichWhich name they vniuſtly give to thoſe, that iuſtly for this theyr extremity forſake their fellovvſhip. Apoſtates, in ſo vvholy falling (and that adviſedly, for advantage ſake, as it ſeemeth playnely to appeare) from ſo notable a truth vvhichwhich before they imbraced, and acknovvledged.
The Aunſwer. All that the publiſher hath publiſhed here is eyther ſome fooliſh conceits of his owne, or ſome frivolous cavils and malicious calumniations againſt the truth and vsus that profeſſe it. His conceits, of his ovvne knovvledge and our ignorance: of his ovvne ſtrength & others vveaknes: of reclayming and ſatiſfying many by publiſhing this diſcourſe: of the force and plainenes of Mr. Iacobs Replyes &c. I omit, according to the rule which ſaith,*Prov. 26.4. Aunſvver not a foole according to his fooliſhnes, leaſt thou alſo be like him. But his cavils and calumniations, againſt the truth and vvitneſſes thereof (being alſo objected by Mr Iacob in his Replyes) I have aunſwered in the Treatiſe following, according to the counſell of the ſame Wiſdome which ſaith,†Pro. 26.5. Aunſvver a foole according to his fooliſhnes, leaſt he be vviſe in his ovvne eyes. The Aunſwer therefore to that which here he obiecteth, of our aſſertions and ſentences, of our former and preſent acknovvledgement of the Church of England her profeſſion, doctrines, members, Aſſemblyes, &c. ſee it in the Treatiſe following, Pag. 7. 16. 20. 22. 33. 60. 63. 73. 82. 86. 94. 103. 106. 116. 120. 147. 158. 162. 170. 177. 188. 196. 200. &c.
And here note withall,
1. That in all theſe things we are ſtill of the ſame mynd, as heretofore Mr Barrovv, Mr Penry, my ſelf, and the reſt of vsus have ben. So far are we from croſſing, denying, or any way altering our former judgement and confeſſion: as he falſely pretendeth. For which ſee: Pag. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181.
2. That we do not hate, contemne, and deſpiſe theyr Church which he calleth the Mother that bare vsus &c. but inaſmuch as we have ben members thereof heretofore (in which reſpect ſhe was then in deed our Mother) but now do ſee her to ſtand in adulterous eſtate: we do therefore plead vvith her: that ſhe may take away her fornications out of her ſight and her adulteryes from between her breſts: And we go out of her: that we may not partake in her ſinnes: and that we receyve not of her plagues. Both which things we do: at the commaundement of God and by warrant of his word: wherein he hath ſtraitly charged all his people, thus for to walk. Hoſ. 2.2. Rev. 18, 4.
3. That even of the Church of Rome it may in ſome reſpect be ſaid: The doctrines and profeſſion of that Church are ſufficient to ſalvation: viz. if the truths they hold be conſidered alone and apart from theyr errors and corruptions / and theſe other alſo not imputed vntounto them. For confirmation whereof / ſee in the Treatiſe following / Pag. 47. But now then I aſke / Are they of England therefore in a grievous ſchiſme / in ſo peremptory condemning / and ſeparating from ſuch Chriſtians and Churches? Let him aunſwer in his next.
4. That this D. B. himſelf hath heretofore held and witneſſed, that the Church of England ſtandeth in Antichriſtian eſtate: vvorſhippeth God in vayne: putteth from her the truth and ordinance of Chriſt: is in her conſtitution a daughter of Babylon the Mother of vvhoredomes &c. and therefore if now he deny it (as he hath begun) is both runne headlong into an intolerable ſinne and extremity / without all warrant of Gods word / and beſides giveth juſt occaſion to be called a fearfull Apoſtate / in ſo wholy falling (and that adviſedly / for advantage ſake / as it ſeemeth playnely to appeare) from ſo notable a truth which before he embraced and acknowledged. Adviſedly (I ſay) as this Preface and his daily practiſe declareth. For advantage ſake / becauſe he hath done it in louelove of himſelf / ſeeking his owne things (not that which is Chriſts): that he might have prayſe of men and account in the world / that he might be releaſed from impriſonment (where ſomtymes he hath ben a witnes of Chriſt in bands) that he might enjoy the favour of his Frends: that he might without feare and diſturbance of the Prelates or theyr Officers†Rev. 13.1…. buy and ſell / that is, keep his ſhop / follow his trade / make profit and advantage thereby for himſelf, &c. This by his courſe of dealing appeareth to be his caſe. But both him and all others that eyther refuſe or forſake the truth / we leave vntounto God who tryeth the hearts and ſearcheth the reynes / and will give every man according to his works.
5. That the word of God being on our ſide / for our profeſſion and practiſe (as in the Diſcourſe following is ſhewed): we neyther do nor need regard this mans or any other theyr tales / clamours / abuſes / threats / reproches / ſclaunders &c. The miſchief of theyr tongues / God will bring vponupon theyr owne heads / if they repent not. To him we commit it.