Brownish Turn Inside Outward, Insiders account 4 – Insiders account 34
4 And surely if their Church bee considered in her parts, it shall appeare most a abhominable, yea most b detestable, & euen to bee c abhorred of eueryevery true Christian to conceiue, much more to behold, what then to bee intangled with such a crooked generation? For behold! they are led by the spirit of d schisme, errour, and confusion: they are annoyed with the abuse of Gods law, and peruerting the rules of Christ most lamentably: with a most e frailfull, and vilanous Pastor, a most simple and piteous Teacher, most carelesse & f vnright Gouernors, most negligent and vntrusty g Deacons: there were no beleeuers while I liued among them, but a most h haughty, proud, disobedient, dissembling, and spitefull people: many of the stones seemed dead in religion, no tokens of Gods election on them, no i vertues apeared in their life, none bound to edifie other, but rather to dehort, disproue, and cast downe one another spitefully, as to their enemies; fraudfully, k as if God saw it not. a See testimony of T. White. (proph. schisme) pag. 27.c. Sect, 2. b See the prophane schisme of the Brownists. c See Paralels betweene Manssield and Studley, prophane Schisme, c.6. d See Cut. Huttons worke, Proph. Schis. c.9. e See his fathers Articles against him. Proph. Schism. c.11. f See Geo. Iohnsons discourse. g See the first part of the hunting of the Fox. h Witnesse Bowmans robbing the poore, for which hee was called Iudas the pursebearer. His theft is recorded in the Citie-rolles of Amsterdam: for there was it handled before the Magistrate. i See George Iohnsons discourse; hunting of the Fox: See proph. schism. c. 11. pag. 64. k See Generation of slanders, Proph. scism. c. 12. See George Iohnsons discourse.
Ergo. By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. Song. 6.4.9. &c.
5 No a Office there is ambitiously affected, no b law wrongfully wrested, or c wilfully neglected, no d truth hid or peruerted, e eueryevery one here hath freedome and power (not disturbing the peaceable order of the Church) to vtter his complaints and griefes, and freely to reproue the transgression & errors of any, without exception of persons. a 2. Cor. 2.17. 3. Ioh. 9. b 1 Tim 4.2.3. & 5.21. & 6.14. Gal. 12. c 1 Cor. 5. d Ier. 23.28. 1. Tim. 3.15. e 1. Cor. 6. & 14.30. Col. 4.17.
5 No Office is here attained by a lawfull meanes, no b law faithfully practised, or willingly executed, no truth rightly sought out, & discouered, no people in greater c bondage to their Officers, no Church more d disturbed frō peace. None dare vtter his complaints and griefes, nor freely to reproue the trāsgression and errours, for feare of the e partiality & exceptions of their Officers. a See H. Ainsworths answere to Mr Stone his Sermon, his abuse of scripture for this purpose. pag. 26. b See proph. schisme, ch. 1. sect. 1. p. 3. c See proph. schisme. chap. 13. d See hunting of the Fox, first part.
Therfore by these scriptures they are not the Church and people of God, 2. Cor. 2.17.
6 Here is no a intrusion or climbing vp another way into the sheep-fold then b by the holy and free election of the Lords holy & free people, and that according to the Lords ordinance, humbling themselues by fasting and prayer, before the Lord, crauing the direction of his holy spirit, for the triall and approuing of gifts, &c. a Ioh. 10.1. b Act 1.23. & 6.3. & 14.23.
6 Here all are intruders, and climbers vp another way into the sheep-fold, namely, by the election of scismatiques, and that cōtrary to the Lords a ordinance; not humbling thēselues by fasting and prayer before the Lord, in the communion of his Saints; not crauing the direction of his holy spirit, in the mouth of his Ministers of the reformed Churches, for the tryall and approuing of gifts, &c. b Their schisme both depriues thē of the offices of Christ, & also peruerts all his ordinances in the vse of them.
Therfore by these scriptures they are not the Church of God. Ioh. 10.1. &c.
7 Thus they orderly proceed to ordination, by fasting and prayer, in which a action the Apostles vsed laying on of hands. Thus hath eueryevery one of the people interest in the election and ordination of their Officers, as also in the administration of their Offices vponupon b transgression, offence, abuse, and hauing an especiall care vntounto the inviolable order of the Church, as is aforesaid. a 1. Tim. 4.14. & 5.22. b Luke 17.3. Rom. 10.17. Col. 4.17.
7 Thus they a vnorderly proceed to ordination, abusing the ordinance of God, and b assuming that vntounto their confused multitude, which onelyonly belongs to the Ministers of Christ, making them Ministers by the imposition of hands of common people: And be theyonce in office, liue they neuer so c wickedly, they are still retained, and also preferred to d higher place in office; such confused order is in their Church. a Witnesse Mr. Halies Intrusion. b See H. Ainsworths answere to M. Stone, pag. 26. c See prophane Schisme, pag. 16. d Bowman being a chiefe Deacon, is now made an Elder.
Ergo. By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. 1. Tim. 4.14. &c.
8 Likewise, in this Church they hauehave holy a Lawes, as limits and bounds, which it is lawfull at no hand to transgresse. They hauehave lawes to direct them in the choyce of eueryevery Officer, what kinde of men the Lord will hauehave. Their Pastour must bee apt to b teach, no yong Scholler, b able to diuide the word aright, d holding fast that faithfull word, according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort, rebuke, improue, with wholesome doctrine, and to conuince them that say against it. He must bee c a Man that loueth goodnesse; he must bee wise, righteous, holy, temperate; he must bee of life vnreproueable, as Gods Steward; he must be generally well reported of, and one that ruleth his owne houshold vnderunder obedience, with all honesty: he must be modest, humble, meeke, gentle, and louing; hee must alwaies be carefull and watchfull ouer the flocke, wherof the Lord hath made him Ouerseer, with all willingnes, and cheerefulnesse, not holding his office in respect of persons, but doing his duty to eueryevery soule, as he will answere before the chiefe sheepheard, &c. a Math. 5.19. 1 Tim. 1.18. b Deut. 33.10 Mal. 2.7. 1 Tim. 3.1. &c. c 2 Tim. 2.15. d Tit. 1.9. 2 Tim. 4.2. e Tit. 1.7.8. f Numb. 12.3.7. Esay 50.4.5.6. Ier. 3.15. Ezech. 34.18. Acts 20. 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3.4. 1 Tim. 5.21.
8 Likewise, in this Church they hauehave a vngadly Lawes, as limits and bounds, which at no hand is lawfull (for their people) to transgresse. They hauehave lawes to direct them in the choyce of eueryevery Officer, what kinde of men the Lord forbiddeth. Their pastour being so apt to teach error, that in forsaking one, b he runs into two or three, forsaking that faithful word, according to doctrine, whereby he doth dehort from the truth, and lahbour to disproue and conuince the same: Hee is a man that loueth c vice: he is d foolish, vnrighteous, vnholy, e intemperate: he is of life reproueable, as all the Churches of God do testifie; and so generally euill reported of: one that ruleth his owne house f dishonestly; he is immodest, g haughty, proud, cruell, and h vnnaturall: hee is alwaies carelesse and negligent ouer the flocke, whereof hee pretends to be Ouerseer, with all vnwillingnesse, i grudging for maintenance, holding his office in respect of lucre, but doing his duty to neuer a soule, for which he must answere before the chiefe sheep heard, if he preuent it not by repentance. k It is Apostacy for any of their people to heare a Sermon in any of the reformed Churches; yea, and they shall be more diligently brought to repentance for it, then for whoredome, theft, bribery, or the like a See his exposition of Mat. 18. b Geo. Iohnsons discourse (vpholding his wiues pride, wickednesse, and folly) c See proh. schis. c. 11. d See prop. schis. c. 1. e See Geo. Iohnsons discourse. f See Proph. schism. cap. 11. g See Ioh. Iohnsons 14. Article, Prop. schis. cap. 11. h See Geo. Iohnsons discourse.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. Math. 5.19.
9 Their Doctor or Teacher must be a man apt to teach, able to diuide the word of God aright, and to deliuer sound and wholesome doctrine from the same, still building vponupon that sound ground-worke: He must bee mighty in the Scriptures, able to conuince the gainesayers, and carefull to deliuer his doctrine pure, sound, and plaine; not with curiosity or affectation; but so, that it may edifie the most simple, approuing it to eueryevery mans conscience: he must be of life vnreproueable, one that can gouerne his owne houshold: he must be of maners sober, temperate, modest, gentle, louing. &c. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. chap. 2 Tim. 2 15. 1 Cor. 1 17. & 2.4.
9 Their Doctor, or teacher is a man vnapt to teach (and vnable to diuide) the word of God aright; and he deliuers vnsound and vnwholsome doctrine (of schisme) from the same; he is weake in the Scriptures, vnable to a conuince his gainsaiers, & carelesse to deliuer his doctrine pure, sound, and plaine, but with curiosity, or affectation; not so, that it may edifie the most simple, or aprouing it to eueryevery mans conscience: therefore of life reproueable: one that cannot gouerne his owne houshold out of schisme, vn-christianly rending from the cōmunion of Saints, to the b great griefe of many good Christians. a Those that hauehave left their schisme; to wit, C.L. & R.B. hauehave sundry times gone vntounto him, desiring conference, but neuer could obtaine it of him. b Many good Christians do lamēt his fall in the place where he liued in Englād, commending his innocent life, praying for his enlargement from his miserable schisme, which God grant, if it be his will.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. 1 Tim. 3. &c.
10 Their Elders must bee of wisedome and iudgment, endued with the Spirit of God, able to discerne betweene cause & cause, betweene plea and plea, & accordingly to preuent and redresse euils; alwayes vigilant, and intending to see the statutes, ordinances, & lawes of God kept in the Church, and that not onelyonly by the people in obedience, but to see the officers doe their duties. These men must be of life likewise vnreproueable, gouerning their owne families orderly. They must be also of maners sober, gentle, modest, louing, temperate, &c. Num. 11.24.25. 2. Chron. 19.8. Acts 15. chap. 1. Tim. 3. & 5. chap.
10 Their Elders are void of wisdome & iudgment, endued with the spirit of error, vnable to discerne betweene cause and cause, betweene plea and plea, without a partiality: which accordingly nourish euils; alwayes vigilant in contending to see their statutes and Canons kept in the Church. And thus they do b keepe not only the people in bondage, but see the Officers sinnes and c wickednesse cloked & hid. These men are also of life reproueable, gouerning their owne families d vnorderly; also of maners rude, cruel, e lasciuious, spightfull, intemperate, &c. a See hunting of the Fox, the first part, b see G. Iohnsons discourse. c Witnesse Studleyes vncleannesse, and de Cluse his drunkennesse, so long smothered vp among them. d See M. Hintons testimony giuen in Dutch, proph. schis. c. 4. e See Saund. Artic. proph. schism. c. 1. Sect. 2. p. 15.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. Num. 11.24.25. &c.
11 Their Deacons must be men of honest report, hauing the mystery of faith in a pure cōscience, endued with the holy Gost. They must bee graue, temperate, not giuen to excesse, nor filthy lucre. Act. 6.3. 1. Tim. 3.8.9.
11 Their Deacons also be men of a scandalous life, hauing the mystery of iniquity in a putrified cōscience, being endued with the spirit of b schisme: some vaine and intemperate, some giuen to c excesse and filthy lucre. a See disc. of T. White. b witnesse M. Halies protestation to get into office. c Iudas the purs-bearer was one.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not, &c. Act. 6.3.
12 Their Relieuers, or Widowes must be women of 50 yeares of age at the least, for auoiding of inconueniences: they must bee well reported of for good works: such as hauehave nourished their children, such as hauehave bin harborous to strangers, diligent and seruiceable to Saints, compassionate and helpefull to them in aduersity, giuen to eueryevery good worke, continuing in supplications and prayers night & day. 1. Tim. 5.9.10.
12 As for their Relieuers or Widowes, there neuer was any in the Separation, till now, since their diuisions. And now a one part of them hath chosen two widows, against whō I can say nothing but this; that they are simply led by the rest into schisme, and there kept in such bōdage, as themselues doe greatly b complaine of, lamenting and bewailing the abuses of that Church in supplications and praiers night and day. a The Franciscan side. b They hauehave often bewailed the bitter reiection of good people, vntounto some, whom they durst make their mindes known vntounto; yet for feare of their leaders, they dare not shew themselues familiar to their louing friends, fearing to be rebuked for the same.
Ergo, By these Scriptures they are not, &c. 1. Tim. 5
13 These officers must first bee duely proued; then if they bee found blamelesse, administer. 1. Tim. 3.10.
13 These their Officers, some of them were a suddenly admitted, and not duly proued; others, that bee found blameable, administer, &c. a Braithwait was not in electiō for his Deacons office two houres before hee was installed in the same.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. 1 Tim. 3.10.
14 Now as the persons, gifts, conditions, maners, life and proofe of these Officers is set downe by the holy Ghost; so are thir offices limited, seuered, and diuerse. 1 Cor. 12.12.18.28.
14 Now as the persons, gifts, conditions, maners, life and proofe of these officers is set downe, & turned the In-side a outward, so shall their offices, how they are limited seuered, and diuerse, &c. a Faire without, & foule within.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. 1 Cor. 12. &c.
15 The Pastors office is to feed the sheepe of Christ in greene and wholesome pastures of his word, and lead them to the still waters, euen to the pure fountaine & riuer of life: he must guide and keepe those sheepe by that heauenly sheep-hooke, and pastorall staffe of the word; thereby drawing them to him; thereby looking into their soules, euen into their most secret thoughts; thereby discerning their desceases, & thereby curing them, applying to eueryevery disease a fit and conuenient medicine; & according to the quality and danger of the disease, giuegive warning to the Church that they may orderly proceed to excommunication. Further, hee must by this his sheepe-hooke, watch ouer, and defend his flocke from rauenous beasts, and the wolfe, and take the little Foxes, &c. Psal. 23. Leu. 10.10.11. Numb. 18.1. Ezech. 44.23. & 33. & 34. Ioh. 12.15. Acts 20.28. 1. Peter. 5.4. Zach. 11.7. Reu. 22.2. Luk. 12.2. 2 Cor. 10.4.5. Heb. 4.12. Iohn. 10.11.12. Song. 2.15.
15 Their Pastors office is to a fetter the sheepe of Christ in the miery & vnwholesome pin-fold of Separation, and lead them to the waters of b strife, euen to the filthy fountaine of Pharisaicall folly he must guide and keepe those sheepe by that hatefull hooke, and pestilent c staffe of schisme; thereby drawing them vntounto him; thereby tyrannizing ouer their soules, prying into their most secret thoughts, therby discerning if any do begin to mind and consider their schisme, & desire or go about to reconcile himselfe vntounto the Curches of Christ; thereby (if he cannot perswade them from so doing) strait d cursing them; applying to eueryevery such penitent sinner, a falce and vniust censure, quite contrary to the quality and condition of the estate; and giuegive warning to the Church, that they may vnorderly proceed to Excommunication. Further, hee must by this his sheepe-hooke, watch ouer, and defend his flock from c those that labour to draw them out of their errours and schisme, seeking to ensnare, reproach, and scandalize those faithfull seruants of God. a Many lye shackled in this pinfold, beeing vnable to clamber ouer those vntempered walles of Separation, which St. Francis, with his associates hauehave so aduanced with their Sophistry. b See generation of slanders, Proph. schisme, c. 12. c See Geo. Iohnsons discourse, (pleading for authority) d Witnesse their many excommunications of those that forsooke the schisme. e See. Proph. Schisme, chap. 1.2.3. Sect. 1.
Ergo, By these scriptures the Brownists are not the Church of God. Psal. 23. Leu. 10.10.11. &c.
16. The Doctors office is already set down in his description: his speciall care must be to build vponupon the onelyonly true ground-worke, Gold, Siluer, and Pretious stones, that his worke may endure the tryall of the fire, and by the light of the same fire reueale the Timber, Hay, and Stubble of falce Teachers: he must take diligent heede to keepe the Church from errours. And further, he must deliuer his doctrine so plainely, simply, and purely, that the Church may increase with the increasing of God, and grow vp vntounto him which is the Head, Christ Iesus. 1. Cor. 3.11.12. Leu. 10.10. Ezec. 33.1.2. & 44.24. Mal. 2.6. 1 Cor. 3.11. 1 Cor. 1.17. 1 Tim. 4.10. & 6.20. Eph 2.20. Heb. 6.1. 1 Pet. 2.2.
16 The Doctors office is already set downe in his description: his speciall care must be to build with vntempered mortar vponupon their schismaticall groūdworke, a bee it timber, hay, stubble, and polluted stones, that his worke may endure the tryall of their fire, and by the light of that same fire, reueale the Gold, Siluer, and Pretious stones, such as discerne the false-hood of false teachers: he must take diligent heede to keepe the Church from communion with the Churches of Christ: Further, hee must deliuer his doctrine so sophistically, and peeuishly, that the Church may increase in cōtention, shifts, and cauils, to maintaine their errour, and so grow vp in schisme from all the Churches of Christ Iesus. a whosoeuer will come & acknowledge that England is a falce and Antichristian Church, they doe receiue them, wherby they hauehave many, not onelyonly ignorant of religion, but of lewd disposition. See the testimony of M. White, Proph. schisme, c. 5. pag. 27.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. 1 Cor. 3.11.12. &c.
17 The Office of the Antients is expressed in their Description: their especiall care must bee to see the ordinances of God truly taught and practised, as well by the Officers, doing their duty vprightly, as to see that the people obey willingly and readily. It is their duty to see the Congregation holily and quietly ordered, and no way disturbed, by the contentious, and disobedient, froward, and obstinate; not taking away the liberty of the least, but vpholding the right of all, wisely iudging of times and circumstances. They must be ready assistants to the Pastour and Teachers, helping to beare their burden, and not intruding into their Office. Numb. 11.16. Deut. 1.13. & 16.18. 2 Chron. 19.8. Exod. 39.42. 1. Tim. 3.15. 2. Tim. 1.13. 1 Cor. 11.16. & 14.33. Gal. 2.4.5.14. Col. 4.16.17. Acts 20. 1. Pet. 5.1. Rom. 12.8.
17 The Office of the Antients is expressed in their Description: their especiall care must bee to see the Canons of their schisme trimly taught and practised, as well by their Officers, doing their endeauours vnrightly, as to see the people kept in bondage, though vnwillingly. It is their a doings, that the Congregation is wholly disquietly ordered, and many wayes disturbed by the contentious, disobedient, froward, and obstinate, not taking away the iniuries of the weake, but vpholding their b fauourites against all, wickedly iudging of times and circumstances. They must be ready assistants to their Pastour and Teachers, helping them to defend their errours, and schismaticall standing a The Leaders of the people cause them to erre. b See Studleys letter against Sam. Fuller.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. Numb. 11.16. &c.
18 The Deacons Office is faithfully to gather & colect, by the ordinance of the Church, the goods and beneuolence of the faithfull; & by the same direction, diligently and trustily to distribute them according to the necessity of the Saints. Further, they must enquire, and consider of the proportion of the wants, both of the Officers, and other poore, and accordingly relate vntounto the Church, that prouision may bee made, Acts 6. Rom. 12.8.
18 The Deacons office is a fraudfully to gather and collect, by the ordinance of their Church, the goods & beneuolence of their fraile folke; and by the same indirect course, negligently & vntrustily to distribute them, according to the necessity of their Saints. Further, they must require & complaine to the people for more contribution, extorting it euen from poore mens labours, that prouision may be made for some drones among them. a It is fraud to colect mens goods to maintaine schisme. Those that are somewhat remisse in their separatiō, do oft endure great misery, yet not relieued by them; but those that are most peruerse in the reiecting of others, be they neuer such drones, yet they must be fed.
Ergo, by these Scriptures they are not the Church of God, Act. 6. Rom. 12.8.
19 The Relieuers & widowes office is to minister to the sicke, lame, weary, & diseased, such helpfull cōforts as they need, by watching, tending and helping them: further, they must shew good example to the yonger women, in sober modest, and godly conuersation, auoiding Idlenesse, vaine talke, and light behauiour, Rom. 12 8. 1 Tim. 5.9. &c.
19 The Relieuers & widowes office is to minister to the sicke, lame, &c. which they impose vponupon the a aged & helplesse women, which greatly increase their misery; not hauing maintenance of the Church, according to Gods ordinance, 1 Tim. 5.16. but increasing their griefe like Pharaohs Taske-maisters. a These women (one in speciall) hauehave liued very hardly & very laboriously, long with them vnrelieued; and now hauehave they increased her labour, but not added to her meanes as yet.
Ergo, by these scriptures they are not the Church of God. Rom. 12.8. &c.
20 These Officers, though they bee diuers & seuerall, yet are they not seuered, lest there should be a diuision in the body; hauing the same care, one of another, iointly doing their duties to the seruice of the Saints, and to the edificatiō of the body of Christ, till we all meete together in the perfect measure of the fulnesse of Christ; by whom all the body beeing thus coupled and knit together by eueryevery ioynt, for the furniture therof, according to the effectual power which is in the measure of eueryevery part, receiueth increase of the body vntounto the edifying of it selfe in louelove: neither can any of these offices be wāting, without grieuous lamenesse, and apparant deformity of the body; yea violent iniury to the head Christ Iesus. Luk. 9.46.47.48. Ioh. 13.12.17. 1 Cor. 12.12.25.28. Eph. 4.11.12.13.16.
20 These officers, though they be diuersly sinfull, yet are they not seuered, lest there should be a reformatiō in the body, hauing the same care one of another, ioyntly doing their endeuors to the seruice of their a schisme, & to the dissolutiō of the body of Christ, till they all meete in that peruerted maner of the rules of Christ, by which all their body being thus crooked, & tied together by eueryevery ioint, for the flourishing therof, according to the effectuall power of sathā, which is in the measure of eueryevery part, receueth decrease of the body vntounto the defying of it selfe, & hatefull b separating one part frō another, vntounto the gricuous lamenesse & apparant deformity of that schismaticall body which hath done such iniury to the head Christ Iesus. a They compasse sea and land to make one of their professiō, Mat. 23.15. b See the testimony of C. Hut. Proph.schism. c. 9. Ergo, by these scriptures they are not, &c. Luk. 9.46. &c.
21 Thus this holy Army of Saints is marshaled heere in earth by these officers, vnderunder the cōduct of their glorious Emperour Christ, that victorious Michaell. Thus it marcheth in this most heauenly order, & gracious array, against all enemies both bodily and ghostly; peaceable in it selfe, as Ierusalem, terrible to the enemy, as an army with banners; triumphing ouer their tyranny with patience, their cruelty with meeknesse, and ouer death it selfe with dying. Thus, through the bloud of that spotlesse lambe, and that word of their testimony, they are more thē Conquerours, bruising the head of the Serpent; yea through the power of his word they hauehave power to cast downe Sathan, like lightening; to tread vponupon Serpents, and Scorpions; to cast downe strong holds, & eueryevery thing that exalteth it selfe against God. The gates of hell, & all the Principalities and powers of the world shal not preuaile against it. Rom. 12. chap. 1 Cor. 12 Reuel. 14.1.2. Song. 6.3. Reuel. 12.11. Luk. 10.18.19. 2 Cor. 10.5. Math. 16 18. Rom. 8.38.39.
21 Thus this hateful army of schismatiques is marshaled here in Amsterdam by these officers, vnderunder the conduct of the clamorous enemies of the Church of Christ, the notorious Schismatiques. Thus it marcheth in this most hatefull disorder & grieuous aray, against a all the Churches of Christ vponupon earth; peeuish in it selfe, as Ierusalem against Christ; troubling the Church, as presumptuous enemies; triumphing ouer the Saints patience with tyranny, their meekenesse with cruelty, and ouer truth it selfe with lying. Thus do they shed againe the bloud of that spotlesse lamb, by the word of their testimony, in slandering both the life and communion of his Saints; yea through the power of the same, they cast out Gods b children from among them, erecting their strange holds of separation, that exalteth it selfe against God, as though the gates of hell, and all the Principalities & Powers of the world should preuaile against him. a See the testimony of the Frēch & Dutch Churches, Proph schis. c. 11. b Mat. 25.40. See Ioh. Iohnsons Artic. Proph. schis. c. 11.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church & people of God. Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. &c.
22 Further, he hath giuen them the keyes of the kingdome of heauen, that whatsoeuer they binde in earth, by his word, shal be bound in heauen; and whatsoeuen they loosen in earth shall bee loosed in heauen, Mat. 16.19. Ioh. 20.23. Mat. 18.18.
22 Further, they vniustly assume the keyes of the kingdome of heauen, to binde and a loose sins on earth; but they hauehave rather the keyes of hell, to broach errors & schismes. a And most lamentably doe they abuse Gods ordinance hereabout. Ergo, By these scriptures they are not, &c. Mat. 16.19. &c.
23 Now this power which Christ hath giuē to his Church, and to eueryevery member of his Church, to keep it in order, he hath not left it to their discretions and lusts, to be vsed or neglected as they will; but in his last will and testament he hath set downe both an order of proceeding, and an end to which it is vsed. Mat. 16 16.19. & 18.15.16.17.18. & 28.20. Deu. 12.31 32. Reu. 22.18.19.
23 Now this power which they assume to this Church, doth keepe it in such a disorder, and confusion: for the father of contention hath not left it to their discretions to be vsed, but so reignes & rules among thē, that manifold b ruines, rents and distractions doe daily breake forth, and increase among them. a See W. Simpson, and b C. Hut. their testimonies, Proph. schis. c. 10. &c. 9. Ergo, By these scriptures they are not, &c. Mat. 16.16. &c.
24 If the fault be priuate, holy & louing admonition and reproofe is to be vsed, with an inward desire, and earnest care to win their brother: But if hee will not heare, yet to take two or three other brethrē with him, whom hee knowes most meet for the purpose, that by the mouth of twoor three witnesses eueryevery word may be confirmed: and if he refuse to heare them, then to declare the matter to the Church, which ought seuerely & sharply to reprehend, grauely to admonish, & louingly to perswade the party offending; shewing him the heynousnesse of his offence, and the danger of his obstinacy, and the fearefull iudgement of the Lord, Leuit. 19.17.18. Math. 18.15. Deut. 19.15. Mat. 18.16.
24 If the fault bee priuate, priuy whispering, without reproofe, is often vsed: but if (happily) some two of the brethren do fal out, & bee angry one with another, then if either a party can call to minde any offence of the other, it is their manner to prosecute it with great diligence, though the faults weere done sundry yeares before. Then shall he soone passe the first places, & be brought to the Church, & then, if the Elders take against him, hee is like to hauehave the bowels of his offence ript vp, and corrosiued to the quicke: but contrariwise, if their Elders bee on the other side, oftentimes there is some fault found with the dealer in his proceeding, and so the reproofe returnes vponupon the head of the Innocent. a Witnesse Tho. Cooky, and Iac. Iohnson, their going to one & thirty for lyes: vponupon a falling out betweene them, one studies vp and calles to mind 15 lyes that he at seuerall times had heard from the other; whereupon he also falles to his study, & in short time brings in his register of 16 lyes against him. Se Proph. schis. pag. 83.
Ergo, By these Scriptures the Brownists are not the Church of God. Leuit. 19.17. &c.
25 All this notwithstanding, the Church is not to hold him as an enemy, but to admonish him, and pray for him as a brother, prouing if at any time the Lord will giuegive him repentāce. For this power is not giuen them to the destruction of any, but to the edificatiō of all. 2 Thes. 3.15. 2 Cor. 10.8. & 13.10.
25 All this notwithstanding, the Church doth not holding him as a brother, to a assist and comfort him against iniury & oppression, rather vsing this power to the destruction of any, then to the edification of all. a See Geo. Iohnsons discourse.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not, &c. 2 Thes. 3. &c.
26 If this preuaile not to draw him to repentance, then are they in the name of the Lord Iesus, with the whole congregation, reuerently in praier to proceed to excommunication; that is, vntounto the casting him out of their congregation, fellowship, couenāt and protection of the Lord, for his disobedience and obstinacy, and committing him to Sathan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saued in the day of the Lord Iesus, if such be his good will and pleasure, Math. 18.17. 1 Cor. 5.11.
26 If this preuaile not to make any acknowledge sin for a well-doing, then do they threaten him irreuerently to proceed to excommunication; that is, to the casting him out of their Schismaticall society for his faithfulnesse and constancy in a good cause, enrsing them whom b God blesseth, prophaning his c Name and Ordinances thereunto. a See Prophane schism. cap. 2. pag. 11. See Geo. Iohnsons discours. b Gen. 12.3. c Esay 66.5.
27 Further, they are to warne the whole cōgregation, & all other faithfull, to hold him as an Heathen and Publican, and to abstaine themselues from his society, as not to eate or drinke with him, &c. vnlesse it be such as of necessity must needs, as his wife, his children & family; yet these (if they be mēbers of the Church) are not to ioine to him in any Spirituall exercise. Mat. 18.17. 1 Cor. 5.11.
27 Further, they vse to warne the whole congregation, and all other of their schisme, to hold him as an Heathen and Publican, and to abstaine, &c. as not to eate & drinke with him, vnlesse it be such women, as some of their a Elders hauehave formerly found such kindnesse of, as still for their necessity do vse their cōpany; yet these are not to ioyne in any spirituall excercise, but carnall. a Witnesse Dan. Studleys society with mistres May and mistr. Smith. Ergo, by these scriptures they are not, &c. Mat. 18. 17. &c.
28 If the offence bee publique, the party is publiquely to be reproued, & admonished; If he then repent not, to proceed to excōmunication, as aforsaid. 1 Tim 5.20. Gal. 2.14. Iosu. 7.19. 2 Cor. 7.9.
28 If the offence be publique, yet such kinde a women must be priuatly dealt withall, and priuate acknowledgement may preuent an excommunicatiō. a Witnesse their bringing Mistr. Smith her offences (known to many Churches and reiected for them) againe to priuate admonition. Ergo, by these scriptures they are not, &c. 1 Tim. 5. &c.
29 The repentance of the party must be proportionable to the offence, viz. if the offence be publique, publique; if priuate, priuate: humbled, submissiue, sorrowfull, vnfeigned, giuing glory to the Lord. Leuit. 19.17.18. Pro. 10.12. Rom 12.19 & 13.10. & 14.1.
29 Their repentance is so preposterous, viz. if the Elders take part with the offēder, then a bare recital of these words; Wel, I am sorry for it, what wil you hauehave more? a must serue, though it be spighfully & proudly spoken against the admonisher, not giuing glory to the Lord. a If the admonisher bee not therewith satisfied, they will deale with him for cōtention; and if he repent not (of wel-doing) cast him out also.
Ergo, by these scriptures they are not the Church of God. Leuit. 19. &c.
30 There must great care be had of admonitions, that they be not captious or curious, finding fault where none is, neither yet in bitternesse or reproach: for that were to destroy, & not to saue our brother. But they must be carefully done, with prayer going before: they must be seasoned with truth, grauity, louelove, and peace. Math. 18.15. & 26.8. Gal. 6.1.2. 2. Tim. 2.24. Marke 9.50. Ephes. 4.29. Iames 5.15.19.20.
30 In their admonitions they be so captious or curious, a finding fault where none is, in bitternesse or reproach, rather to destroy then saue their brother: so malitiously taken in hand, neither seasoned with truth, grauity, louelove, nor peace. a Witnesse their vngodly dealing with some for hearing the word of God preached both in the English and Dutch Churches: see Prophan schis. cap. 3. Sect. 2.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church & people of God. Mat. 18.15. &c.
31 Moreouer, in this Church is an especiall care had, by eueryevery member thereof, of offences; The strong ought not to offend the weake, nor the weake to iudge the strong; but all graces are here giuen to the seruice and edification of each other, in louelove, and long-suffering. Luk. 17.1. Pro. 10.12. Rom. 14.13.19. Gal. 6.2.
31 Moreouer, in this Church is a a partiall care had by the Officers in defence of their fauourites; that the strong offend the weake, and the weake therfore iudge the strong, but b feare to reproue thē, knowing their partiality, violence, and iniury to those that reproue their impieties; and to their fauourites, louelove, and longsuffering. a See first part of hunting the Fox. b See Geo. Iohnsons discourse (brethrens feare to assist him.) Ergo, by these scriptures they are not, &c. Luk. 17.1. &c.
32 In this Church is the truth purely taught, and surely kept: here is the Couenant, the Sacraments, the Promises, the Graces, the Glory, the Prefence, the Worship of God, &c. Gen. 17 chap. Leuit 26.11.12. Esay 44.3. Gal. 4.28. & 6.16. Esay 60.15. Deut. 4.12.13. Esay 56.7. 1 Tim. 3.15. Esay 52.8.
32 In this Church is the truth neither a purely taught, nor surely kept: here is the Couenant, the Sacraments and Promises of God abused; the Graces, the Glory, the Presence, the Worship of God prophaned. a For all their doc̄trine tends to the maintenance of their schisme, no application of Gods iudgement against their impieties. See Proph. schis. c. 1. Ergo by these scriptures they are not, &c. Gen. 17. &c.
33 Into this Temple entreth no vncleane thing, neither whatsoeuer worketh abhominations, or lyes; but they which are written in the Lambes booke of life, Esay 52.1. Ezec. 44.9. Esay 35.8. Zach. 14.21. Reu. 21.27.
33 Into this Temple enters no a cleane thing, but many that worke abhominations, or lyes, such are they which are written in the Church-booke of their schisme. a All are polluted with schisme: for all must professe to reiect other Churches, before they enter.
Ergo, By these scriptures they are not the Church of God. Esay. 52. 1.&c.
34 But without this Church shal be dogges and inchanters, whoremongers, murderers & Idolaters, and whosoeuer loueth and maketh lyes. Romans. 2.9. Reuel. 22.15.
34 But without this Church are innumerable a seruāts of Iesus Christ: vntounto whose holy Communion againe, the Lord in his good time call those wandring schismatiques, so many as belong vntounto him. Amen. a whose lines and conuersation they slander most abhomi…ably. See the Prophane Schis. Generation of slanderers, cap. 12.
FINIS.
End of the text · Christopher Lawne, Brownish Turn Inside Outward (1613)