Inquiry and Answer of Thomas Whites Discovery of Brownism, Part 2
A note of the particulars (spoken of before, pag. 62.) wherein we differ from the Dutch and French Churches of this city, & wherabout we have had dealing with such of their Ministers as by the rest of their Eldership were deputed therevnto.
1. THat the estate of the Dutch Church of Amst. is such, as being one, yet it meeteth in three severall places: whereby it commeth to passe that the whole Church cannot come together in one: the Ministers cannot together with the flock sanctify the Lords day: the presence of the members of the Church cannot certainly be knowen: and finally, no publick action, whether excommunication or any other, can rightly be performed. Which is contrary to these Scriptures, 1 Cor. 12.27. & 11.20, 23. Math. 18, 17. with 1 Cor. 5, 4. Act. 6.2, 5. Numb. 8.9. Act. 20.28.
2. They baptize the seed of them who are no members of any visible Church: of whom moreover they hauehave not care as of mēbers, neyther admit their parēts to the Lords Supper. Gen. 17.7, 9, 10, 11. 1 Cor. 7.14. Exod. 12.48. with 2 Chron. 30.6. &c. Numb. 9.13. Hos. 2.2.4. with Rev. 17.1. Ezech. 16.59. &c.
3. In the publick worship of God, they have devised & vse an other forme of prayer, besides that which Christ our Lord hath prescribed Mat. 6. reading out of a book certaine prayers invented and imposed by man. Exod. 20.4.5. and 30.9. with Psal. 141.2. and Rev. 8.3. Lev. 10.1. Esa. 29.13. with Math. 15.9. Rom. 8.26. Eph. 4.8. 1 Pet. 2.5.
4. That rule and commaundement of Christ, Mat. 18.15.16.17. they neither obserue nor suffer rightly to be observed among them.
5. They worship God in the Idol-temples of Antichrist. Exod. 20.4. with Deut. 12.2.3. 2 King. 10.26.27.28. and 18.4. Act. 17.23. Rev. 18.11.12. &c.
6 The Ministers have their set maintenance after an other maner then Christ hath ordeined, 1 Cor. 9.14. And that also such, as by which any Ministery at all, whether popish or other whatsoever, might be mainteyned.
7. Their Elders chaunge yearely, and do not continew in their office according to the doctrine of the Apostles and practise of the primitive Churches. Rom. 12.4.5.6.7.8. 1 Cor. 12.11.12. &c. Act 20.17.28. 1 Pet. 5.1.2.3.4. See also Numb. 8.24. &c.
8. They celebrate Mariage in the Church, as if it were a part of the Ecclesiasticall administration, whereas it is in the nature of it meerly civill. Ruth. 4. chap. Heb. 13.4. 1 Cor. 7.2.
9. They vse a new censure of Suspensiō, which Christ hath not appointed. Math. 28.20. Gal. 3.15. 2 Tim. 3.16.17.
10. They observe dayes and tymes, consecrating certyan dayes in the yeare, to the Nativity, Resurrection, Ascension of Christ, &c. Exod. 20. Commaundement, 2. & 4. Rev. 1.10. 1 Cor. 10.1.…. Act. 20.7. Col. 2.16.17. Esa. 66.23. Gal. 4.10.11.
11. They receive vnrepentant excommunicates, to be members of their Church: which by this meanes becommeth one body with such as be delivered vntounto Sathan. 1 Cor. 5.5. 1 Tim. 1.20.
About this matter we had dealing with them divers tymes heretofore. And we desired that knowledg thereof might by themselves be givē to the whole body of their Church, or that they would take order that it might be done by vsus. But they refused both. Whereabout we had afterward some further dealing with them. In which time, divers messages and answers passed between vsus. Which we had thought here to have inserted: but now think good for the present to forbeare them: Wishing rather that they might be buried amōg themselves by amendement hereafter, then that we should be constreyned eyther by themselves or others (as we are already too much provoked) to publish them to the world, for the further manifestation and clearing of our cause and maner of dealing with them.