Inquiry and Answer of Thomas Whites Discovery of Brownism, Part 1 · Subpart 4
Of the fourth head of Th: White his Treatise.
THe fourth and last is, that he saith we have drawen the curse of God on our selves by rash vniust & wicked excōmunication. Where first in generall observe these things. 1. That we have the power and vse of excommunication: without which no Church can walk aright in obedience of the faith of Christ▪ nor long continue without manifold errors and corruptions prevayling among them. 2. That even by this appeareth we hold that evill men may creep into and arise in the Church. 3. And that when they are once knowen and will not be reclaymed from their evill, we approue them not, but cast them out from among vsus. And so this fourth poynt being well observed, overthroweth the whole tenour and intendement of all his writing against vsus. Now to come to the particulars.
1. About thirteen yeares synce, this Church through persecutiō in England, was driven to come into these countreyes. A while after they were come hither, divers of them fell into the heresies of the Anabaptists (which are too common in these countreys) and so persisting were excommunicated by the rest. Then a while after that againe, many others (of whom specially I think he speaketh he…) some elder some younger, even too many, though not the ha… (as I vnderstand) fell into a schisme from the rest, and so many of them as continewed therein were cast out: divers other of them repenting and returning before excomunication, & divers of them after. As for him in particular of whom he speaketh that he was distracted in mynd, 1. He was not then so knowen to be, neyther so reputed of his fellowes, but onelyonly that he had some trouble of conscience which disquieted him. 2. Yet sithens it hath bene pleaded by some that he was dist…acted, wherevpon to himself it hath ben offred by the Church, that if he would come & affirme as much publikly in the Church as he and others had said more privately to some of vsus thereabout, and that the contrary could not by any be shewed against him, then the Church would acknowledg that they offended in casting him out, and he should be received agayne. But this he would never yet do: although it have bene signifyed to him againe and agayne by my self and others, that thus the Church had agreed concerning him. And thus standeth his case.
For the excōmunication in generall, it was in deed recalled: wheervpon C.S. one of the schismed here mentioned by him, wrote vntounto me thereabout. (And here the Reader is to know that my self with some others of vsus, both of the officers and other brethren, were then prisoners at London, while these things fell out in the Church being in the Low countreyes.) Now in his letter he wrote, that the brethren had revoked it as rash and vniust, denying also that he and the rest with him had made the separation &c. With this letter I acquainted the other also then in prison: & we thought it best (considering the case as we had before ben informed and tooke it to be) to send his letter to the brethren aforesaid, that they might see how he had written thereof, & we might know the truth of things how they stood. Wherevpon the matter being againe and further examined both by them & by vsus (as in such estate and distance of place we could do) it was in the end agreed vponupon by the Church, that the excommunication was iust and not to be recalled, notwithstanding the errors in the maner of proceeding thereabout: which the Church then did and alway is ready to acknowledg, and wherevpon they had before revoked it … vniust, onelyonly in respect of that cir…umstance, but not at all clearing the schismed of their transgression they stood in▪ which at that time the schismed themselues agre…d vntounto, confessing the cause they stood for, to be evill.
And now both for their good whom this matter more specially concerneth, as also for the satisfying of others, and that Th. White his abusing of vsus may better appeare, I will here briefly note downe the grounds whervpon the excommunication was esteemed iust & not to be recalled: as I find in some writings reserved about this matter: Which was thus. 1. The excommunicated were found to be abettours of an evill cause, and therevpon to have made the schisme at the first: and so were guilty of the sinne for which they were proceeded against. And this was then agreed on all hands, as we were let to vnderstand. 2. They also were afterward divers tymes and wayes reproved & admonished thereof; They had sight of the witnesses testimonies about the matter then in question; they heard the reasons gathered by one of the brethren for their conviction; the Church sent vntounto them of the best able of the brethren to deale with them, besides that we wrote from London concerning this matter, exhorting them to peace &c. And all this before the last message of the Church vntounto them, which was that they should …me to the Church, & there they should be convicted, or if they came not they should be cast out. 3. They yet remayned impenitent and despised the Churches voyce and authority. Which appeared by their answer to the Churches message aforesaid, being to this effect, That as by cōmaundemēt or as vntounto the Church they would not come at any time: And, that whereas some of them were to go out of the towne on the morrow, and all of them were at that time vnprovided to maynteyne their cause, if they might have a hand with them in appointing another day, they would come to conferre with them and mainteyne that they did. In which answer be divers things shewing their impenitency and despising the Churches authority. 1. Their answering resolutely, that by comaundement or as vntounto the Church they would not come at any time. 2. That they would have an hand in appointing the day when they would come. Which might have greatly infringed the libertie & power of the Church, to yeeld vntounto schismaticks an equall authority in such cases. 3. That their comming should be to conferre and mainteyne their cause, not to shew repentance. Besides that some of them also dispitefully asked the brethren, when they would draw out their woodden dagger, &c. Now whereas it hath bene objected, that they refused not simply to come, that charity would have taken things in the best part, that the Church might have appointed them another day &c. it was also graunted that these and all such things should have bene duly weighed afore the censure had bene executed, and that whatsoever errour was committed therin is alway to be acknowledged: yet for the reasons before alledged, the censure was deemed to be just and not to be recalled.
And for those he speaketh of that withstood their receiving in againe, even this sheweth that there were then among themselves which thought the excommunication was not to be revoked. Yet were not they therefore excommunicated, as he saith: but were earnestly exhorted to rest in their difference of judgement, and notwithstanding it peaceably to continew with the Church, if it were but till they could vse the advise and help of others for the better clearing of this conttroversy which had so long & much troubled thē. Yet they would not, but left of all communion with the Church: and so persisting, were for this cause excommunicated: Who also afterward vponupon acknowledgement of their e…rour therein were received agayne.
Finally for the reversing agayn of the censure aforesaid, who k…oweth not that even the best and wisest men have their second & … thoughts: and that in some cases this befell the Prophets & Apostles themselves: howsoever here he terme it a dallying: esteeming others belike by himself who hath so chaunged and rechaunged his faith and profession as if he thought he might dally with religion at his pleasure. But the Lord is not mocked: As he hath sowed to the flesh, so let him look of the flesh to reap corruption. For as every man soweth, so shall he reap. Gal. 6.7.8.
2. Of the second instance, which is about such as have heard the word preached in the Dutch Church, I have spoken before. If he had named the divers he speaketh of, it might have bene shewed that they were cast out for divers causes. As M. Sl. whom onelyonly he nameth in particular was, for receiving and maynteyning these errors, 1. The baptising of the seed of such as are no mēbers of any visible Church of Christ, neyther can be themselves received to the Lords supper in any such Church. 2. Read prayer, or a set forme of prayers prescribed by men for th… worship of God: As also, mainteyning that that onelyonly is not to be vsus…d in the worship of God, which God himself hath commaunded. These are other things then onelyonly hearing the word preached, as this Proctor for excommunicates objecteth agayne and agayne in his Libell. And both the Teacher and my self told him aforehand what would follow, if he ioyned with the Dutch in these corruptions aforesaid. Which M. Sl. himself knoweth to be true. As he doth also that the other matter here intimated, was about their Temples (whither he was to bring the schollers to the publick worship): concerning which there being then some diversity of judgement, and himself affirming that he had alwayes held it lawfull to heare in those places, & so had ‡In these countreyes, being from the Church vponupon occasion.before practised, after he was come to this cause, I said (as I remember) that it should not trouble my self, & for others I would therein perswade them the best I could: †But afterward I did speak more to him here about, as he may remē ber.But whereas we heard that the Dutch baptized all that were brought vntounto them, & vsed also read prayer in their worship, I told him also that if these things being so he should partake with thē therein, that thē his case would prove such as we could not keep cōmunion together. Yet he went on, & persisted, and so for his receiving and mainteyning of these corruptions among them, about baptisme and read prayer, he was cast out of the Church. By which also, this mans dealing and depraving a…ter his maner, may here be observed.
And for the generall, of excommunicating such as being of vsus have declined to the corruptiōs of these Churches, the Law of God requireth that all sinne and sinners be censured without respect of persons. And who ever would have blamed ‡Smyrn… Philadelphia &c.such of the Primitive Churches as were free from the errors found in †Corinth. Galat. Pergamu… &c.others of them at the same tyme, about the resurrection from the dead, fornication spirituall and bodily, iustification by workes of the Law &c. if any of their members declining therevnto they should have excommunicated them for this cause. If the particulars noted in this Dutch Church be not errors & corruptions, why is not that poynt vndertaken to be cleared? If they be such, why should we not for them accordingly censure our members declining therevnto?
3. Of the third, which is about the question of Apostasie, (often spoken of by him who is so notable an Apostate himself) I have spoken somewhat before, Pag. 34. Now further the Reader is to know, that while my self with some other of vsus were prisoners in England, there fell out question about this matter among the brethren here in these countreyes. Whereof knowledge being given vntounto vsus from hence, we wrote a letter vntounto them, setting downe what our judgment then was about this point, & the reasons perswading vsus therevnto. And this is that wherof he speaketh here: which we wrote to the Church being absent from it. Whereabout some of the brethrē from hence wrote vntounto vsus a while after, how they were contrarie mynded, and their reasons thereof. Afterward it pleased God so to dispose as we were discharged out of prison, and came over hither. Being here, there was speach and question againe about this matter: And some of vsus did now consider further about it, more being observed out of the Scriptures about this point, then at the first had ben. And so began the alteration of our iudgment to be such as it is. Which was a good while before ever we heard any thing concerning Mr A. So very false it is which here he writeth thereabout.
And for those that were cast out, these things are to be observed: 1. Both the poynt in generall, and the case in particular was considered. For the generall, these questions were spoken of,And these were in deed the causes that made vsus think more and otherwise of this matter, thē we had done. Which we also shewed in the Church. whether the Priests being speciall types of Christ, the exception out of Ezech. 44. where they are spoken of, do yet include all persons, tymes, offices, and conditions, &c. Also, whether even in the tyme of the Law, the Levites (which were not of the Priests) falling to Idolatry, and afterward repenting, might not againe have and execute the same office & function as they had before: And in the New Testament, whether Iohn Mark at first refused by Paul for his apostasie, Act. 15.37.38. was not afterward received by the same Apostle and employed in the Ministerie of the Gospell notwithstanding, Col. 4.10.11. &c. For the particular, it was also considered, what the exceptiō was about (which is spokē of before, Pag. 42.) that thēselves could not deny but he was a man very fit for the office in all other respects; that he was already in office, and the thing before this tyme not knowen to the Church concerning him; (although if it had bene knowen, consideration were to be had of the nature of the thing done, of the condition of the person, of the estate of the Church, and other the like circumstances to be observed thereabout) that both before and after his being in office he had well approved himself to and with the Church, to the great help & comfort of vsus all, &c. 2. Yet notwithstanding they persisted and left of to participate with the Church in all his ministration therin. 3. We entreated them that they would not so walk, but to continew with vsus as before, at least till we might eyther among our selves or by others have further help and dealing about this matter: but they would not. Wherevpon they were for this leaving of communion with the Church, together with other causes which he noteth not, cast out: and some of them a good while synce vponupon their repentance received in againe.
For that which he saith of not answering the reasons in writing, note these things: 1. We were absent from the Church, when we wrote the reasons aforesaid in a letter sent hither: but now were here present with the Church to speak mouth to mouth with any that did or should make question thereabout. 2. We also signified, that if it were so that we were absent, having like occasion as before, we would then write as before we had done: but being now present to speak and reason together, we thought it best so to do. Not to speak any thing now of the persons and their dealing that would have it otherwise. 3. Yet when the matter was still vrged, we further advised & agreed about it, of some particular circūstances or cautions to be observed therin: Which were set down in writing, and given to the ruling Elders, for any that would come to read or reason thereabout: And vponupon occasion we gave the same also in writing to the Eldership of the Dutch Church here. These things T. White himself knoweth, and heretofore thought it sufficient to satisfy any that were reasonable: howsoever now he write thereof.
And where he saith we would not suffer the reasons to be read in our. meeting, being requested there vntounto: sometimes in deed we did not suffer it, wishing the parties that were contrary minded vntounto vsus to shew their reasons out of the word of God (whether they were those conteyned in that writing or any other) and so to reason from that ground, which is the onelyonly rule of our faith: sometimes also for the more satisfying of all, they were both read and reasoned of in our publik meeting.
As for playing Sathans part, let him apply it to himself, who hath heretofore both by word and writing out of the Scriptures approved our cause against the Antichristian estate of the Church of England, and having now left and oppugning it, yet hath not, (nor ever can) vse as good meanes to disprove it, and to approve the estate of that Church whither he is returned: With whom also it is so common throughout his book, to obiect against vsus things very false, & to conceale or deprave the things he knoweth to be good: and all this to calumniate the truth and vsus that wi…nesse it before the world.
For that which he annexeth of Mr Ad. such as were here present, do neyther remember it, nor think it to be true: howsoever he affirme it: And if it had so bene, yet who knoweth not that alteration of practise doth vsually follow alteration of judgement? And if in other cases, why not in this also?
Finally we do here know but in part: & are subiect to erre both in our judgment and in our walking: as I deny not but in these things thus much vrged vponupon vsus we may have done. Yet our desire hath bene and I trust shalbe alway to try all things by the word of God, and to keep that which is good.
4. The fourth instance is of W.A. cast out for recalling a former Schisme, spoken of a little before in his first instance. Whatsoever W.A. now say, the Church heard and see what then he spake & did. If he do still repent of that Schisme, standing to the acknowledgemēt he made, that matter is soone ended. To the writing of Th. White and others about this matter, this answer was given by the Elders (which the messengers can testify) that it being about excomunicatiō, it was a matter which cōcerned the whole body of the Church, and therefore if they had any thing to say thereabout, they should come to the Church at our publick meeting, and there they should have an answer. But thither came they not. So themselves kept back an answer from themselves. And still Th. VVhite keepeth on his course to write falselie. What the schisme here spoken of was & whereabout, see before, pag. 65.
As for appealing, seing it is from an inferior Iudge to a superiour, we hold it Antichristian to enterteyne or admit of such appeales from one Church to another, because Christ the Lord hath given like & equall power & authority to all his Churches on the earth. Yet notwithstanding may and ought one Church to help another, by any good meanes they can, as there is occasion. But what is this to the appealing and tryall whereof he speaketh, when such as be excōmunicated by this Church, would have their matters and the like submitted to the Dutch and French Churches here, or any other els where? For which themselves could not by the word of God shew any warrant: And against which we had & have these reasons following. 1. That the Iudge which God hath ordeyned in these cases, is to be submitted vntounto, and not to any other, Deut. 17.8.9.10.11.12. 2. That the highest Iudge ordeyned now of the Lord for all sinners by Ecclesiasticall censure, is the Church, even that particular Church whereof the sinner is a member, Mat. 18.17. with 1 Cor. 5.4.5.12.13. 3. That all Churches of Christ hauehave equall power, and are not one over another, but have Christ himself over all, and in middest of all, Rev. 1.13. & 2.1. And therefore in vrging our Church to submit to another Church, they sought to draw it into Antichristiā bondage, which we might by no meanes yeeld vntounto, Gal. 5.1. Rev. 14.9.12. 4. The sinne and sinner being bound in heaven▪ how may the cause be submitted to men on earth? Mat. 18.18. 5. If the censures of the Church, then also other doctrines of the Gospell & our faith in Christ, might aswell by the same ground be brought to like submission. 6. It is contrary also to the Confession of our faith published, Artic. 24.25. 7. And this way there would be no end of strife: for if the two Churches disagreed, a third & higher must be sought vntounto by like reason; and if yet they agreed not, an higher then that: and thus might the vsurped Supremacy of the Romish Church and Pope grow and be established. 8. Finally if we might & would assent, yet these Dutch & French Churches do not heare any such matters; but they are heard and handled onelyonly by the Eldership (by them erroneously put in place of the whol… Church) as we have had experience vponupon other occasions.
Now though we might not (for these and like reasons) submit as they required, yet we also signifyed that if these Churches or Ministers, or any els whosoever, could shew vsus by the word of God to have faulted in any thing, we were willing and ready to heare them. These are our reasons and this is our refusall and walking in such cases. Which this White knoweth full well, and therefore his sinne is the greater, to write and deale notwithstanding as he doth.
5. The fift instance, which is about receiving the penitent offenders in cases of adultery, is spoken of before, pag. 32.33. To which I refer the Reader: & will now onelyonly aske of him, whether he would have any to reteyne vnrepentant adulterers and adulteresses, and so to partake in their sinne? It may be some of his Lords the Prelates can quickly take him out as bad lessons as this: specially he being so apt a scholler for such Maisters. Yet may not we reteyne such members in our Church. And if we should, what exclamations would he make against vsus, as in deed justly he might? Here therefore mark the wickednes of this Impe of Sathan, common to him with such enemies of the truth and Church. If any stand from and against the Church, be they never so lewd & wicked, he is ready to favour & partake with them. But if any continue with the Church, though they repent of their sinnes as David, he will not cease to maligne and abuse them, yea & to defame the whole Church therby, as if it were a company of adulterers &c. as before in his book hath appeared.
6. The sixt instance is of his owne wife, Rose White, excommunicated for two things, though he mention but one: 1. First for not bringing her childe to baptisme; 2. For falling from the truth which she had professed with vsus, to the corruptions of the Dutch Church here where she ioyned her self a member. And the man he speaketh of, her husband, is himself, matches one for another.
For the abuses which he speaketh of, to give an instance, was not one of them our observing of that rule Mat. 18.15.16.17. in such maner as we do? For which when he had reproved the Church, and was after a weeks respi…e called vponupon for his proof, he was glad openly in the Church to say he was vnprovided: and came no more to our meetings to prove it at any tyme afterward. Yet such is his face as he will boast of his reproving abuses amongst vsus.
Towching his wives alleadging of the example of Timothees mother that did not circumcise him, and no other cause mentioned but that his …ather vvas a Grecian, he saith she could get no answer; whereas the whole congregation then present knoweth how many things were answered about it, & sundry reasons vsed about this case of not bringing her child to Baptisme, vponupon her husbands forbidding: As,
That the covenant of grace made with the Church in Christ, was without respect of persons or sexe, there being in him neyther male nor female, Gal. 3.28. and therefore though the father should refuse or neglect, the mother hath right and ought to present.
That she might not deprive her seed of the sacrament of Baptisme vponupon her husbands will, any more then her self of the Lords supper if he should forbid her, because that by the believing womā the children are clean, as well as by the believing man. 1 Cor. 7.…4. & she now being of our church & her husband not, we were to call vponupon her for performance of her duty.
That baptisme was a signe of incorporating into Christ, and salvation by his death and resurrection, so as her neglect of baptising her child could not but be iniurious both to Christ and it.
When these & the like perswasions were vsed vntounto her, and she had nothing to answer but asked why then Timothees mother did not circumcise her child, our Teacher (as he remembreth) answered that the cause was not certainly knowen, for it was not expressed in the scripture: If she were living and present we would demaund of her self, but she is now dead and gone, wherefore it were hard for vsus to determine of the cause, but this Ro. White was living and present & must give account of her own wayes: That we must not walk by example but by law of God: for even the most righteous may offend, & Moses himself faulted in neglecting the circumcising of his sonne. Exod 4. And if Timothees mother being a Iewesse did mary with a Gentile an infidel, who therefore would not suffer her to circumcise her sonne, & she obeyed him; that such mariages were forbidden of God and vnlawfull: And then she sinning in marying with him, why might she not also sin in keeping her child vncircumcised for him, if that were the cause as now this woman pretended? Wherefore she was put in minde rather of the examples of other good women, as Abigail, 1 Sam. 25. the elect Lady. 2 Ioh. Epist. also of some spoken of in the Machabees (though that book be Apocrypha) which lost their liues for causing their children to be circum…ised. 1 Mach. 1.63. 2 Mach. 6.10. It was also demaunded by some of vsus, how it could be shewed otherwise but that Timothe…s mother might be ‡2 Tim. 1.5. and 3.14.15. and 1 Tim. 4.6.12. with Act. 16. & 17. & 18. & 19. & 20. chap.in the faith of the Gospell before he was born and he in that respect might be vncircumcised▪ Also, whether the women in Noahs tyme should have refused to enter into the Arke, or the women of Israell in Moses tyme to go themselves with their childen through the red sea, if their husbands had bene against it? Both which were types and resemblances of our baptisme, as the Scripture sheweth, 1 Cor. 10.1.2. 1 Pet. 3.20.21.
These and the like reasons being then shewed and spoken of, and now vponupon this occasion thus noted downe, let the Reader here consider of this mans dealing and his wives, and accordingly esteem thereof as now he findeth it to be. His scoffing at the Teacher of our Church, not onelyonly for his words then vsed, but even at the office it self which he executeth (and therein at the †Ephe. 4.11. Rom. 12.7.ordinance of Christ) hurteth not him nor vsus, but encreaseth this skorners sinne & judgement vponupon his owne head.
For that which he saith of myself, I did in deed with hold my consent towching the first cause of her excommunication about the childes baptizing: making some doubt about the case aforesaid, partly in respect of the husbands authority over his family, partly because of the objections arising about the case & Scriptures alledged out of Act. 16.3. &c. Yet notwithstanding I gave my cōsent as touching the second cause thereof, for her falling from the truth to their corruptions here: And that so, as I said also I was willing for it to pronounce the sentence my self, if the Church should so appoint. By which compared with his writing may appeare, how still he keepeth on his woonted course against vsus, & hath himself drawen fourth this vnfolding of his evill dealing and his wives too.
For the others of whom he speaketh (viz, Mrs Sl. Goodw. Ch. & R. M.) they were excommunicated for other causes then he hath noted downe. And it is not our maner to cast out any for differēce of iudgement in such cases, if they be content notwithstanding to walk peaceably with the Church, and to cary themselves towards the excommunicates as they should by the word …f God. But if they joyne with them in their evill, as some of these more specially did with his wife, then are they also for so doing justly subiect to the …ame censure with them, as in this case likewise came to passe.
That which he speaketh of the Magistrate is false: he did not forbid, but perswaded vsus not to do it. Though if he had or should forbid vsus any thing which God requireth at our hands, we have learned to obey God rather then man:A…t. 5.29. As we did then answer him, that what we did, we would alwayes be ready to approue by the word of God. And now by that which hath bene said, let the Reader judge whether this fellowes hard forehead verify not the Oratours saying, He that … passeth the bounds of modestie, becommeth imp… dent out of measure.
Excommunication we vse as the holy ordinaunce of God, to recover the parties that have sinned (if so it be his will) and to keep the Church from the leaven of their wickednes. If we did it not, we should dishonour God, and be accessary to their evill. But observing it, we vse the remedie which Christ hath given vsus, for their good: and if it work not so in them, then is their destruction the more iust vponupon their heads, and we are cleare. Neyther doth the long suffring spirit of meeknes hinder but that due execution of the Lords judgement vponupon obstinate sinners be inflicted. And being so done, neyther will this mans cursing vsus for good hurt vsus, not his blessing of himself & others in evill help them. Therefore to his many curses denounced against vsus, I will give no other answer, but say with Salomon,Prov. 26.2 The curse causeles shall not come, but fly away as a birde: and returne vponupon him that allegation out of the Prophet, As he loved cursing, Psal. 109.17.18.so shall it come vntounto him, and as he loved not blessing, so shall it …e farre from him: and as he clothed himself with cursing like a garment, so shall it come into his bowels like water, & like oyle into his bones. And for his blessing of himself and others in evill, I will referre him to that denuntiation of Moses against every such one, as when he heareth the wordes of the curse, yet blesseth himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, although I walk according to the stubburnes of mine owne heart, … adding drunkennes to thirst: The Lord will not be mercifull vntounto him, but then the wrath of the Lord and his ielousy shall smoke against that man, & every curse that is written in the book of the Law shall light vponupon him, and the Lord shall put out his name from vnderunder heaven, and the Lord shall separate him vntounto evill out of all the tribes of Israell, according vntounto all the curse… of the covenaunt, that … written in the book of the Law. Deut. 29.…9.20.21.
For that which he speak…th of our Tents, it is to be noted that this man himself desiring heretofore to partake with vsus in the Lords supper, did in our publick meeting compare our and all true Churches to the Tents of Shem, & the assemblies of the Church of England (whither now he is returned) to the Tents of Corah, Dathan, & Abiram. What remayneth therefore but that according to the words of his owne mouth and course of his own walking he be left to the Lord the iealous God that judged Corah & his cōpany?Numb. 16. Who also is the God of Shem, & will performe to the sōnes of Iapheth whō he perswadeth to dwell in Shems tents, according to his promise made of old to Abraham sonne of Shem,Gen. 9.29.27. & Father of the faithfull of all nations, saying, I will blesse them that blesse thee, and curse them that curse thee. Gen. 12.3.
For that which he annexeth about fatherles children, himself knoweth we approve no such dealing. And some of the persons to whom they were comitted are departed this life. The living belike could not serve his turne: but he will digge into the graves of the dead. who cannot answer for themselves. Or if he meane of any that are alive, why gave he not (after his maner) some knowledg who they be? Would he not that the matter should have ben considered and answer made accordingly? Or would he that we should speake what we heare concerning a fatherles child. who was long since with that woman who is now this Whites wife, and ran away from her: who knoweth best her self how she vsed her?
For our selues we mislike all hard and evill vsage of any, much more savage and cruell dealing to fatherles children, who ought most of all to be pityed and holpen. If any such have more specially felt their part of our common troubles and poverty, why will he not consider his Lords the Prelates their savage and cruell dealing with vsus, who have made many poore orphanes and widowes among vsus, besides many other great calamities brought vponupon vsus by their meanes? Of which to begin to speak were to enter into an Ocean sea: so many and great they are▪ and not vnknowen to this White himself: howsoever he can like now to sayle in that sea, where putting away a good conscience, he hath concerning the faith made shipwrack.
For that which he saith of W.C. the man himself affirmeth that be spake not these words at all which he hath printed of him: and that he told this Whites wife before the book was published, and spake it synce to his owne face, that it is a lye. Some words he confesseth he spake which were evill: but those also spoken by him about a yeare before he ioyned to the Church, as himself testifyeth. Yet White obiecteth his speach as the confession of our own members, affirming also what he hath printed to be spoken before many witnesses. Which if it were, yet till we should know it, & after knowledg & dealing with him find him obstinate in such evill, how could we but have him still a member among vsus? But if such speaches, yea or publick writings, of the members of the Church of England would content men, as White will with this content himself, how easy were it for his one to to produce a thousand, and none of them perverted neyther?
The conclusion of his Libell, is like the rest. The censures of Christ in his Church, he blasphemously calleth our fond excommunications. which †Whites Discov. p. 24.before in like manner he termed our Buls of excōmunications. Suerly God that will not hold him guiltles that taketh his Name in vaine, will never suffer such prophanation of his Name and ordinance to go in vaine. Such de…iding and despising of the Lord and his ordinances is fearfull. And a fearfull thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God. All his Lords the Prelates authority and authorizing of his book to be published (as himself alledged here before the Magistrates) will not help him before the Lord,Prov. 11.21. who is a consuming fier. From whom what can he or any so persisting look for els, but to be cast out from his presence, and to have their portion among the cursed to heare that fearfull sentence, Go ye cursed into everlasting fier, which is prepared for the Divell and his Angels. Mat. 25.41.
And thus hath this Esau shewed himself to be one of those prophane, of whom he speaketh here, hardened in his sinne and prophanenes, and of which also he spake in the Preface at the beginning of his book: That in him might be seen the truth of that which Salomō saith,Eccles. 10.12.13. The lippes of a foole devoure himself: The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnes, and the latter end of his mouth is wicked madnes: & that thus also it might appeare, how far he is frō being of the Israel of God, that follow peace and holynes, without which no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14.
TOwching his postscript about T. C. the man himself saith he is falsely traduced by him, as he was likewise accused by some other here to Magistrates for the same thing, who could not prove it against him, when the matter came to be examined. And see here still the bad dealing of this man, who publisheth his name in this manner to the world, onelyonly vponupon an hear-say, not knowing whether the thing were true or false, and then also when he heard withall that he had greatly bewayled his sinne, and had not afterward given him any iust or needfull cause so to do. For the casting of him out, it was thought meet and good, considering his former dealing & the present case, so to proceed: yet not without differēce of judgment in some of vsus thereabout. But he was shortly after received in againe, being repentant for his sinne. Now here let the Reader observe, how this man which blameth others for not forgiving of penitent sinners, hath not ceased throughout his book to publish and object the sinnes of such against the whole Church and the parties themselves: besides the manifold falsehoods and blasphemies into which also he is …un. But his madnes is become manifest to men, and his judgement sleepeth not with God: who will remember and reward him according to his workes. Nehem. 6.14. 2 Tim. 4.14.