Inquiry and Answer of Thomas Whites Discovery of Brownism, Part 1 · Subpart 1
Of the first head of Th: White his Treatise.
THat which followeth in his Treatise, himself reduceth to fower heads. In which order I will also handle them. The first is, that he saith vve hauehave betrayed our ovvn cause in vvriting. And to prove it, he alledgeth that I erre in the description of a true visible Church, and thereby overthrovv the mayn drift of my vvritings. I answer: 1. His reason followes not. For may not I or any other of vsus erre in some thing▪ & yet our generall cause not be betrayed? Agayne, did not Nathan the Prophet erre about the building of the Temple, and Peter the Apostle about the Gentiles calling and comunion? Could now an Edomite or Pharisee have iustly gathered, that they had therefore betrayed the cause of Israel or of the Christians witnessed by them against the adversaries? To come nearer to our owne times, it is well knowen that Mr. Calvine, Luther, Beza, Fulk, Powell, Sutcliff, &c. writing against the Papists Anabaptists and the like, hauehave in sundrie things erred, even concerning the very pointes of the difference between them: Shall vve say therefore that they have betrayed the cause handled betvveen them and their aduersaries? and overthrovven the mayne drift of their ovvn vvritings? Not to speak of the Martyrs put to death by the Papists, how both many of them, and in many things, have erred, even concerning the causes controverted in their tymes. Should we therefore conclude that they betrayed their own cause? Or that they did not witnesse the truth notwithstanding faithfully even vntounto death?
2. Our cause towching the Church of England, is, that the estate thereof is such in their Prelacy, Priesthood, worship, confusion, &c. as it is not lawfull by the word of God for any to ioyne or continue with them in such estate: And moreover, that it is the duty of all Christians, to receive and keep the faith and ordinances of Christ, vvherein the Primitive Churches vvere planted by the Apostles. To discusse and make these things more playne, I reduced our whole cause to seaven questions, and so propounded them: viz,
1. Whether the Lord Iesus Christ have by his last testament given vntounto and set in his Church sufficient ordinary Offices, with their Callings, Workes, & Maintenance, for the administration of his holy things, and for the sufficient ordinary instruction, guidance, and service of his Church to the end of the world, or no?
2. Whether the Offices of Pastors, Teachers, Elders,, Deacons, and Helpers, be those Offices appointed by Christ in his Testament, as aforesaid. Or whether the present ecclesiasticall Offices of Archbishops, Lordbishops, Suffragans, Deanes, Prebendaries, Canons, Petticanons, Priests, Deacons, Archdeacons, Doctors of divinitie, Bachelers of divinity, Chapleins or housepriests, Commissaries, Officialls, Proctors, Apparitors, Parsons, Vicars, Curates, Vagrant or Mercenary preachers, Church-wardens, Sidemen, Clerkes, Sextins, and the rest now had in the Cathedrall and Parishionall assemblies, be those Offices appointed by Christ in his Testament as is aforesaid, or no?
3. Whether the Calling and entrance into these Ecclesiasticall offices aforesaid, their Administration, and Maintenāce now had and reteyned in England, be the manner of calling administration & maintenance which Christ hath appointed for the offices of his Church above named, or no?
4. Whether every true visible Church of Christ be not a company of people called and separated out from the world & the false worship and wayes thereof by the word of God, & ioyned togeather in fellowship of the Gospell, by voluntary professiō of the faith and obedience of Christ? And whether the Ecclesiasticall Assemblies of the Land be such, or no?
5 Whether the Sacraments (being seales of righteousnes which is by faith) may be administred to any other but to the faithfull and their seed, or in any other ministery & manner then is appointed by Iesus Christ the Apostle and high Priest of our profession? And whether they be not otherwise administred in the Cathedrall & parishionall Assemblies of England at this day?
6. Whether the Book of Common prayer with the Feasts, Fasts, Holy dayes, stinted prayers, and Leiturgy prescribed therein, and vsed in these Assemblies, be the true worship of God commaunded in his word, or the devise and invention of man, for Gods worship and service.
7. Whether all people and Churches (without exceptiō) be not bound in Religion, only to receive & submit vntounto that Ministery, worship, and order, which Christ as Lord and King hath given and appointed to his Church? Or whether any may receive or ioyne vntounto another devised by man, for the service of God? And consequently, whether they which ioine to the present ecclesiasticall Ministery, worship, and order of the Cathedrall and parishionall Assemblies, can be assured by the word of God that they ioyne to the former ordeined by Christ, and not to the latter devised by man, even the man of sinne, for the worship and service of God?
Now reducing our cause to these heads, if it were so that I erred in one of them, is therefore our cause betrayed? Or should my particular error, be imputed to the whole Church, or reputed the betraying of our generall cause? Is there not difference to be put between erring through ignorance (if this were an errour) and betraying with knowledge? Or if this maner of reasoning which he vseth might be admitted, who can deny but the Protestants of England, and of all sorts, have an hundred and an hundred tymes betrayed their own cause, and overthrovven the very drift of their owne writings? And if they think it not of weight against them for their multitude of knowen errours, with what face can it be vrged against vsus for one supposed errour?
3. For the description it self which was given of a visible Church, I still hold it to be good. It was thus, A true visible Church of Christ is a company of faithfull people, by the word of God called out from the vvorld and the false vvayes thereof, gathered together in fellovvship of the Gospell, by a voluntary profession of the faith and obedience of Christ. This is the description: which he would proue to be false, partly by gathering my meaning thereof in other places of that & other books, partly and particularly by my judgment concerning the Israelites in Egypt, spoken of in the Ans. to M… Ia. pag. 47. Where before I answer him, let me advertise the Reader that if there be any weight in this exception, it was found out, not by Th. White (as by his book might be supposed) but by some of the Ministers in VViltshire, specially by one Mr Io. Ie. and other his fellowes there, who have bestowed much labour in reading our writings, vvhether for love to the truth, or that they might finde somewhat thereby the more to cavill against it, let their walking and dealing shew. VVhose disciple novv this White is become, having heretofore stood as opposite against them, as white is to black. Now therfore to answer them all vnderunder one, I will write somewhat touching this matter: referring the further handling of it (if there be need) till some other adversaries, with whom we ha… to deale concerning it and the other heads of our cause, give further occasion.
Two things (as I said) about this description are specially noted and vrged: the first about the meaning; the other about my vvriting of the Israelites in Egypt. For the first, the meaning is plaine by the words themselues, and by the drift of that and all other of our boo…s, as may appeare not onelyonly by the places here cited by him, but by many other compared together, and particularly by an expresse declaration annexed vntounto it in our Apologie against the Oxf: Doct. pag. 36.44.45. Yet now againe to explane and proue the truth of that description, I will here treat a litle more thereof.
To esteem and describe aright a true visible Church, we must look especially to two things, 1. the calling of Christ; 2. the covenant and cōmunion of the Church: To Christ his calling, like as the Apostles every where describe the Churches according to it: As namely, the Churches of Ephesus, Corinth, Rome &c. For which see these Scriptures, Rom. 1.5.6.7. 1 Cor. 1.2.9.24. Gal. 1.6. & 5.8.13. Ephe. 1.1. with 4.1.4. Col. 3.15. 1 Thes. 2.12. & 5.24. 2 Thes. 1.11. & 2.14. Heb. 3.1. 1 Pet. 1.15. & 2.9.21. 2 Pet. 1.1.3. Iude, ver. 1. Now it cā not be denyed but Christs calling of his Churches & people, is vntounto the whole faith of the Gospell & willing obedience thereof, & f…ō all evill & iniquity that is any way repugnant therevnto, & therefore frō the false worship & wayes of the vvorld whatsoever they be or wheresoever. And herevpon did the Apostles reproue the Churches still when they fell into any sinne eyther against the first or second Table, as not walking worthy the holy calling whervnto they were called in Christ; and required of them also obedience to all the cōmaundements & ordinances of Christ f…ō tyme to tyme. Therefore should White and his teachers have better observed that clause of the description aforesaid, by the vvord of God called out etc. So might they have perceived (if they had love to the truth) both that the description is good; and that the abberrations of true Chu…ches are so far from proving it any way false, as they do in deed approue the truth of it: in asmuch as the verie being of a Church by the calling of Christ requireth of them to walk otherwise.
Another thing that we are to look vntounto, yet also depending vponupon the former, is the Churches covenant and cōmunion. This covenant is to be considered, as made by them vntounto the Lord, and one with another, to walk together in the truth of the Gospell, in all the cōmaundements and ordinances of the Lord: And therefore to forsake and avoid whatsoever is there against. As may appeare by these Scriptures, Exod. 19.3—8. 2 King. 23.2.3. Esa. 2.2.3. & 14.1. and 44.5. Ier. 50.4.5. Act. 2.41.42.47. and 11.21.24. Rom. 12.5. 2 Cor. 9.13. Ephes. 4.4.5.6. Phil. 1.1.5. Therefore also, the description aforesaid is good. And so might the adversaries hauehave perceived, if they had well observed that other clause therein, of being gathered and ioyned together in fellowship of the Gospell &c.
And what els is it that giveth the being to a true visible Church, but the calling of Christ, & the Churches covenant according thervnto? Wherevpon in a true Church may and ought these things following alway to be observed:
1. That it hath Christ alone for the Mediatour, that is, for the Prophet, Priest, and King thereof.
2. That it is to be accounted the spouse and body of Christ, the househould citie and kingdome of God, the ground and pillar o truth, a Church of Saints, &c.
3. That the promises and pledges of Gods covenant presence & blessing do appertayne vntounto them in that estate.
4. That it apperteyneth to Christ, to remove his Candlestick & take away his kingdome from a Church when and as he pleaseth.
5. That every true visible Church hath authority and power frō Christ to receive in members willingly professing the same faith with them, & to cast out obstinate offenders from among them.
6. That the want or transgression of Christs ordinances doth not simply or presently disanull them from being a true Church. For example, When a people are so called and covenanted as aforesaid, though yet they have none in office amōg thē (eyther Pastors, Teachers, Elders etc.) they are notwithstanding a true visible Church. And by their calling and covenant they have power in Christ, as he giveth them fit men and meanes, to chuse and enjoy these, as any other of his ordinances. Likewise also, when any of the Church yea or the whole do transgresse, eyther in some thing which yet they have not seen, or whereinto now they are fallen, they are notwithstanding a true visible Church. And by their calling and covenant they have power in Christ to redresse them. Which when vponupon knowledg they shall refuse, and …o continue, then are they to be esteemed according as their case shall require.
So then, to judge rightly of a true Church, we must look (as the Apostles did) at their calling and cōmunion in the Gospell. Which being observed, it wilbe easy to put difference between the errours, and the constitution of true Churches: as Christ and his Apostles did, in the Churches of Asia, Achaia, Galatia, &c. to reprove them for the one, and yet to approue them as true Churches for the other. And this also vntill Christ himself remove his candlestick and take away his kingdome from among them: which is to be left vntounto him, to do when & as it pleaseth him.
And this also might serue for answer to the exception drawen from my writing, concerning the Israelites in Egypt: who sinned with Idols, and yet were Gods people. But it being so vrged by divers as it is, I will note a few things more concerning it in particular. The objection is made thus, If they cōmitted Idolatry vvith the Idols of Egypt, hovv were they then a company of faithfull people separated from all false vvayes? I answer, By the Lords former calling of them to the obedience of himself, who was by covenant the Lord their God, and they his people. Gen. 12. & 17. & 46. vvith Exod. 2.23.24.25. & 3.7 8.15.16. Numb. 20.16. Deut. 26.7. Which also is laid as the ground of the admonition, for calling of them from that Idolatry spoken of, Ezech. 20.7. And may not a people so separated as aforesaid, fall into this sinne of Idolatry, aswell as into other sinnes? See the case of Israel afterward againe, Exod. 32. Where Moses in his prayer to God, calleth Israell the Lords people, even then when they had cōmitted such Idolatry, as the Lord would presently have consumed thē for it. Exod. 32.1.10.11. And of Israell againe, see what is recorded, Iudg. 2. &c. And likewise of the Church of Rome, which at first was a true Church separated from all false wayes, yet fell into this sinne, and cōtinueth therein. Rom. 1.6.7.8. & 16.19. vvith Rev. …. & 13. and 14. & 17. chap.
But this was the generall estate of the Israelites at that tyme. What then? So may it fall out with a true Church: as now hath ben shewed: and so we are taught, Lev. 4.13.14. Yet here also might be demaunded, whether he meane it to be so generall, as including all of Israel therein, specially considering what is written of some in those tymes, Ex. 1. & 2. & 6.20-27. Numb. 1. vvith Heb. 11.23. &c. And, whether this Idolatry were publike, or private, like as that spoken of, Ezech. 8, 12. Zeph. 1.1.4.5.
But howsoever, their sinne vvas also of obstinacy: for they vvere admonished from the Lord, & yet they rebelled against him, as the Scripture sheweth, Ezech. 20.7.8. And even the same Scripture sheweth also, that for this cause they deserved themselves & God thought to hauehave powred out his indignation vponupon them: but stayed it, in respect of his ovvn Name (which is called vpō*his Churches & people), & not because of their estate, as now it was, Ezec. 20.7.8.9. And how doth this then overthrow, & not rather cōfirme, the des…ription aforesaid? Or must we not alway desribe & esteem a Church by the conditiō thereof according to the revealed word of God: & yet leave vntounto the Lord to esteem & deale therewith notwithstanding as in any respect seemeth good vntounto himself? Or when God saith, he is the Lord their God, and calleth them his sonne and first borne, whom he might in respect of their own estate cast of, can we not so esteem of them, but we must therevpon conclude, that in the description of a true visible Church, Idolatrie and all false wayes are not to be excluded? or (to speak of the questions controverted at this day) that Rome, in all her Idolatries, is notwithstanding still to be reputed the spouse of Christ, and not to be rejected as an harlot? and so likewise all the Churches that be her daughters in that estate? Againe, what if it were (as *Tremell. and Iun. on Exod. 2.23some think) that Israell first rebelling, and so provoking God to wrath, as is aforesaid, did afterward through the affliction which by Pharaoh was encreased vponupon them, turne into their own hart, and crie vntounto the Lord God of their fathers (as we read, Exod. 2. and 3. Numb. 20.16. Deut. 26.7.)? should we not then put difference between obstinacy still persisted in, & that which is afterward repented of & amended? Not to speak of the Israelites estate in Egypt, how in their kindred and families the Church consisted and was governed, and how then they had not the word written; …eyther of their estate afterward in the wildernes, how God did never so punish thē for any of their transgressions (though of the same nature) before his Law given vntounto them, as he did after: as may be observed in the history: So teaching all ages succeeding, to take speciall heed to his written word, & according to it to esteem & walk in all things.
Wherefore to end this point, thus I think, that for Israel & all other people and Churches, we are bound alwayes so to esteem and walk, as by the word of God we have direction and vvarrant from him, and neyther to judge nor, vvalk othervvise: And as Christ giveth to all true Churches their being, so to leave vntounto him to take it away when and as he pleaseth. And for this case of Israel in particular, let me further aske, whether such of the Israelites as should now have left that Idolatry spoken of, ought not also to have left cōmunion therein with the rest so transgressing: and yet to have left them to the Lord to esteem and deale with them as in any respect should seem good vntounto himself?
For that which he objecteth next out of the Preface to the last answ. to Mr Ia. sect. 6. it is concerning Churches wilfully persisting in errour and disobedience of the trueth and voice of Christ; and shewed by the example of the Churches of the Iewes … …son objected about them by D.B. For which I refer the Reader to that Preface & sectiō, together with that which is said in the answer to the 4. section of the same Preface: and more particularly, to that which I hauehave written about this poynt in the booke it self, pag. 161.195.196. & in the answer to Mr A.H. pag. 61.62. Where the Reader shall fynd what I hauehave written, and what my judgment is, concerning this matter: namely, that all good and lawfull meanes being first vsed towards true Churches fallen into sinne, if they amend not▪ but wilfully persist therein the Lord hath threatned to remove the candlestick out of his place, and to take his kingdome frō amōg the: requiring also of such as are willing to obey the truth & voice of Christ, now to save themselves from such a froward generation, & to walk in obedience of his faith & commaundements. Rev. 2.5. Mat. 21.42.43. Esa. 8.12—16. Act. 2.40.41.42. & 13.46.51. & 18.5.6. & 19.8.9. And according to this would I be vnderstood, wheresoever I speak concerning this argument.
For the Iewes in Egypt rebelling after admonition, besides the difference to be put between obstinacy persisted in, and that which is repented of (which is thought to hauehave bene their estate) I have here before shewed how we are to discerne, between their estate in respect of their owne desert, and the Lords mercy vntounto them for his Name… sake notwithstanding. Which diversity of respect being now revealed vntounto vsus in the word of God concerning them, we are therin to rest, and so to speak and esteem of their estate as the Scriptures teach vsus. Ezech. 20.7.8.9. with Exod. 4.22. and 3.10.18. & 8, 22. and 12. chap and 15.16. Hos. 11.1.
For the Iewes in Christs time and after his death, what I think and my reasons thereof, the Reader may find also in the Treatise aforesaid: both in the Preface, sect. 4. & 5. and in the book it self, pag. 161.195. For that he objecteth here, about their estate after admonition, two things are to be obserued: the one concerning that people; the other concerning their admonition. For the first, touching the people, God had chosen that nation out of all the nations of the earth to be his; he had done great & wonderous things for them; he had given them his word and statutes; he had promised that of them and to them he would send the Messiah; him they expected; for refusall of him they were to be cut of, and the Gentiles to be graffed in▪ many were the cities and Synagogues of them; to to Ierusalem the males came but thrice a yeare, &c. And for the second, towching admonition, God would hauehave them fully taught admonished and convinced that the Messiah was now come, & that Iesus was he: therefore was Iohn Baptist appointed to shew him vntounto them, and to baptise in his name; therefore did Christ send his disciples into their cities to preach & testifie it vntounto them▪ therfore also did Christ himself every where among them teach & confirme it by his doctrine and miracles: and being the true Passeover shadowed out by all their types, was put to death at their feast of Passeover, & rose againe the third day acco…ing …o the sc…iptu…es; to accomplish the promises made vntounto the Fathers, and to leave …he Iewes without all colour o… … …lief and obstinacy they should be cut off. These things and the like noted of them in the Scripture, are to be observed of vsus, that we may aright esteem of their estate, and of the Lords account of them and dealing with them. Yea the Scriptures here cited by himself shew this very thing, how the Lord did not at first cut of that people, but after he had vsed sundry meanes vntounto them, and that also many tymes. Luk. 7.30.31, &c. Mat. 23.37.38. And the same is playnely declared, Mar. 21.33—43. and throughout the history of the Evangelists and Actes of the Apostles.
Besides for admonition also obserue, how God requireth that a particular man for a private …nne be admonished in the … secōd and third place, before he be cast out, Mat. 18.15.16.17. And in rejecting an heretick, that it be done after the first and second admonition, Tit. 3.10. Also in the Lord his owne dealing with the particular Churches of the Gentiles, that he gave them space to repēt, after the admonitions given vntounto them, before he would remoue the candlestick out of his place, Rev. 2.4.5.16.21. & 3.3.16.18.20.22. And what then should let, that we should not likewise obeserve Gods dealing with the Iewes at that tyme, and accordingly esteem of their estate? Concerning whom, note also, when now they had despised all the former meanes and crucified Iesus, then the Apostles testifying vntounto them that he was the Christ, did first at Ierusalem & after wheresoever they came and found the disobedient, teach all to separate and save themselves from such a froward generation. Act. 2.14—40. & 13.14—51. & 18.5.6. & 19.8.9. & 28.25.26.27.
Thus hauehave I touching this point shewed my mynd: wherein if I erre, let it be shewed by the word of God. And though in some things I differ in judgment from Mr H Barrow (that faithfull Martyr of Christ) yet doth it not prejudice the truth testified by both of vsus, against the Antichristian estate of the Church of England. This themselues may ob…erue in thei… owne writers against the Papists: in whom it were endles to recount the differences found amōg thē, & frivolous to pretend thereby approbatiō of the Romish Church in their estate. We all here know but in part:1 Cor. 1…. and who is he that erreth in nothing? If then in this I were mistaken, hauehave I therfore betrayed our cause, or overthrowen the mayne drift of my writings? Nay if this be all the errour in my writings that with all his searching he cā fynd, I shall rather think our cause to be so approved and my drift atteyned therein, for the truth of Christ against the present estate of their Church, as they are not able eyther to defend themselues or convince vsus by the word of God, and therefore now set themselues to search snatch and cavill at something for objection against vsus. Which also if they fynd, and it be graunte… them, albeit our defence therein were the weaker, yet were theyr cause therefore never a whit the better.
To conclude this poynt, besides personall abuse of divers (of which … where he hath it agayne) he objecteth against me, that I condemne the Dutch and French Churches, for despising our admonition &c. But in what writing of …nne hath he found this, or in what words hauehave I spoken it to any, or in what dealing towards them hauehave I shewed it? Where is the due proof of his charges, which ere while he told vsus of? How reverendly we think of these Churches, we hauehave often shewed and published heretofore; which I need not here repeat. And what dealing hath passed between vsus and the Elders of the Dutch and French Churches of this City, I shall hauehave occasion hereafter to shew more particularly: To which place I … it▪ Now onelyonly let the Reader here consider how truely and fitly his shutting vp of this point may be applyed to himself: who heretofore hath held and witnessed the same testimony with vsus against the Church of England, and corruptions of these Churches here: but now wavereth or rather in deed is revolted in both, as the world seeth, and his walking sheweth: He that wavereth in his owne testimony, …ow shall his witnes …e received? But thus is that verifyed in him which the wise man speaketh,Pro. 12.13. The …vill man is snared by the wickednes of his own lippes.