Arrow Against the Separationists, Discourse · Chapter 12 · Section 3
Section. 3.
Hen. Ainſ.AGainſt the example of the brazen ſerpent deſtroyed, 2. King. 18.4 You ſay, it was of no neceſſary vſe, and therfore might well be deſtroyed. I anſwer, there was as neceſsary vſe of it ſtil, as there had been before: and therfore in that reſpect, no more cauſe to deſtroy it now, then in former times. Yea it being a moniment of Gods ancient merciemercy to his Church, and a figure aIoh. 3.14.of future grace: they might have pretended a much more neceſsary and profitable vſe to reſerve it, then you can for reſerving the idolies of the Pope. But the ſcripture it ſelf ſheweth an other cauſe then you allege, namely for that the Iſraelits b2. King. 18.4.did burne incenſe vntounto it, and not for that there was no neceſsary vſe therof. And the ſame cauſe (beſides other) lyeth against your idol temples: for to this day, many people burne incenſe vntounto them, eſteming and uſing them as ſanctified places for the incenſe of their prayers, and other religious works. If you require a proof, you may ſee it in this citie, if not at other times, at least on Sacraments day, ſo called: when above other dayes, the papiſts viſit their anciēt Temple ſolemnly, ſome of them barefooted: & if the dores be ſhut that they cannot goe in, yet they doe their devotion in proceſsion about the idolie. And wherfore may we think, have the Nunnes a key of your chappel (as is reported) but for to doe honour to their Dianaes ſhrine: it is for no devotion to your worſhip therin, you may be ſure, but rather that they may continue Temple keepers (or worſhipers) of their former gods, as the Epheſians cAct. 19.35were of their Diana. If you plead, that theſe burne not incenſe to the Temples, but to God in them: the ſame I anſwer for the Iſraelits, that they alſo burnt incenſe to God, before the braſen ſerpent, for they were not ſo ſottiſh as to worſhip a peece of Braſſe. But the ſcripture vſeth to call the worſhiping of God, by or before an idol, the worſhiping of the idol it ſelf: as in Act. 7.41. they are ſayd to offer ſacrifice vntounto the idol, wheras in Exod. 32. it appeareth they ſacrificed to the Lord, the God that had brought them out of Egypt. So they that worſhiped in the idolatrous groves, are ſayd to d2. Chron. 24.18.ſerve the groves: and ſundry the like.
Anſwer.
Ioh. Pag.VNtoUnto my anſvver touching the brazen ſerpent, your reply is: there was as neceſsary vſe of it ſtill, as there had bene before, &c. I anſvver; And therfore I graunt alſo, if in former times it had bene abuſed vntounto Idolatry, in the time of the Iudges or of former Kings, there had bene cauſe to have aboliſhed the ſame, vvhile there vvas no neceſſary vſe thereof: And vvhat doth this help you?
Secondly, vvhereas you proceed and adde that it being a moniment of Gods ancient mercy and figure of future grace, they might have pretended a much more neceſsary vſe, &c. I anſwer further, though it had bene a holy ſigne and type as Ioh. 3.14. yet this proves not ſo proffitable a vſe thereof as we have of our temples: The gExo. 12.22.bunch of Hyſſop where with they ſprinckled their houſes at the paſſeover, was a monimēt of Gods ancient mercy and a type hPſ. 51.7. 1. Pet. 1.2.of future grace, yet after the ſacred action of ſprinkling ceaſſed, there was no ſuch neceſſary vſe either of it or of the brazen ſerpent, being now no neceſſary circumſtances in the ſervice of God, as a place or houſe to meet in ſtill is, and the poore not able to receyve any ſuch benefit by reteyning the hyſſop or the ſerpent, as now they may by reteyning of theſe temples. As the holy mount after the law was delivered, and the ſound of the Trumpet ended became iExod. 19.12.13.lawfull for common vſe againe and the religious obſervation thereof ceaſſed: ſo was it vvith the brazen ſerpent, and the bunch of hyſſop as touching the holynes thereof: but as for the civil help and benefit we have by theſe temples, the continuance thereof is apparant and manifeſt vntounto all.
Thirdly, whereas you ſay that the ſcripture it ſelf alledgeth an other cauſe, namely for that the Iſraelites burned incenſe vntounto it, &c. You know well enough that I preſuppoſe that cauſe & grant the ſame, according to your allegation, from 2. King. 18.4. which I my ſelf before noted; and the ſtate of our controverſy whichis concerning things abuſed vntounto Idolatry, doth alſo manifeſte vntounto every one: yet that hinders not but we may alſo conſider this as a concurring cauſe to be ioyned with the former, and this ſo much the rather touching the deſtruction of the braſen ſerpent, becauſe the originall thereof was not for Idol ſervice. Otherwiſe, if without regard of neceſſary vſe ech temple abuſed vntounto Idolatry muſt be deſtroyed, as the braſen ſerpent was for the abuſe thereof; then not onelyonly the temples built & dedicated by heathens & papiſts but alſo the temples newly built by the proteſtants for the true and lawfull worſhip of God, ſuch as are the Zuyder-Kerck in this city and divers more in other places, (if the the papiſts ſhould get them but one monethmonth or week into their handes & ſing one maſſe therein) ſhould in like maner be raſed and demoliſhed. But you muſt yet ſtreyne your wit to draw more ſubtile conſequences before you can ſhew vsus ſuch temples in the belly of the braſen-ſerpent, which by your arguing you would make to be ſuch a devouring Dragō. In Iſrael beſide the temple were kAct. 15.21. Mat. 4.23. Pſ. 74.4.8.Synagogues built for the ſervice of God: And Hiſtorians record (as your ſelf alſo lAnnot. on pſ. 74.4.acknowledge) that in one city Ieruſalem there were above foure hundred Synagogues: Now by your reaſoning if an Idolatrous king had riſen vp over al Iſrael; & raigned but one monethmonth as did m2. Kin. 15 13.Shallum the ſonne of Iabeſh & during that time had converted all their Synagogues vntounto the ſervice of Idols, all thoſe Synagogues throughout Iſrael muſt never more have bene employed vntounto the ſervice of the true God, but every one of thē plucked downe & deſtroyed: and this ſo often (if others were built againe) as any new pollution ſhould come vponupon them, though but for a monethmonth, or even for one houres abuſing vntounto falſe worſhip. This havock your Hammer and argument makes among the houſes of God. As Nebuchadnezzar was once the nIer. 50.23Hammer of the world; ſo if there were ſtrength in your arme and authority according to your minde, we ſhould have you to be the Hāmer of Chriſtendome, not onelyonly to break the conſtitution of their ſpiritual ſocieties every where, but alſo to overturne & raſe theirmateriall buildings: No neceſſary vſe vvould ſerve for any plea or excuſe before ſuch a ſevere judge.
Fourthly, you ſay: the ſame cauſe lyeth againſt our Idol-temples: for to this day many people burne incenſe vntounto them: and for proofe hereof, you alledge that in this city if not at other times, at leaſt on Sacraments day, ſo called, we may ſee the papists viſit their ancient temple ſolemnely; ſome of them barefooted, &c. Hereunto I anſwer. 1. This action of the Papiſts whereof you ſpeak is not in any publique ſolemne meeting, as your words might make the reader to imagine, and ſo deceive him thereby: but a thing done by ſtealth of ſome ſuperſtitious perſons, who as I heare do now and then viſit that temple as a holy place: The Magiſtrate of this city doth puniſh the Papiſts even for their ſecret meetings in private houſes: and much leſs will they ſuffer publique and ſolemne aſſemblies for Idol-ſervice. If ſuch a viſitation of temples as this is be a juſt cauſe of deſtroying them, then what temple ſhall be free from deſtruction, if the Papiſts may have liberty at any time to come neere it and to pollute it with their devotions? It is affirmed by many, (and it is agreeable to the Romiſh profeſſion) that the Churchyard and Church newly built in this city, have in the night ſeaſon bene viſited by the Papiſts and conſecrated by their prieſt or Biſhop for the buriall of their dead, which are often buried there: And now by your reaſoning, becauſe the Papiſts have on this manner burned incenſe vntounto it, and hallowed it for their vſe, and eſteeme it a ſanctifyed place, it ſhould be deſtroyed as well as the braſen ſerpent was. 2, The ſuperſtitious devotions which by ſome ſtragling people are now and then performed at this temple whereof you ſpeak, were in like maner practiſed by them, (as thoſe that have ſeene do teſtify) even then when it was turned vntounto a civill vſe and made a pack houſe for wares: for vntounto ſuch vſe it was by the Magiſtrates appoyntment heretofore employed, vntill of later time, the city encreaſing, they found a neceſſary vſe of it for the people to meet in, vntounto the ſervice of God. And this being ſo, that the reteyning of this place for civill vſe hath given liberty vntounto Papiſts to burne incenſe vntounto it (as you ſpeak) as vvel as the religious vſe thereof: then are you as deep in this ſin as others whom you accuſe for nouriſhing ſuperſtition: for it hath bene and is the maner of your people to reteyne a civil vſe of theſe hallowed places for the buriall of the dead. Though you have not power to deſtroy them, yet ought you to forbeare the vſe of theſe hallowed places, if there be ſuch a ſinfull nouriſhing of ſuperſtition thereby. Yea if any difference be, it is the reteyning of theſe places for civill vſe that gives the Papiſt more liberty and occaſion to performe and continue their devotions ſtill, becauſe they think that our vſe of their temples in the ſervice of God doth more pollute them, and make them vnfit for their vſe then turning of them to pack houſes. 3, Suppoſe that there were offence given in reteyning this particular temple which you mention & which ſome Papiſts do more dote vponupon, then vponupon other places; in reſpect of ſome miraculous vertue and holynes which they have imagined and beleeved to be in it through their popiſh deluſions, yet this may not ſerve to condemne all other in like manner: And leaſt of all can it ſerve to condemne the place of our worſhip, about which in particular this our preſent controverſy is. The vvoman that occaſioned this diſpute & pretended ſcruple of joyning with our congregation in reſpect of our temple, need not to be offended at this place of ours, for the ſuperſtition that is practiſed in an other place.
Fiftly, you aſk wherfore the Nunnes have a key of our Chappel (as is reported) but for to do honour to their Dianaes ſhrine, &c. I anſwer: 1. The report which you repeat is a falſe report and vntrue: The Baguines or vvomen (whom you call Nunnes) have no key vvhereby they may come into our Chappell: neither have had theſe many yeares; And therfore directly contrary vntounto that which the tovvne cleark of Epheſus ſayd boaſting, & vvhichwhich you oAct. 19.35.alledge for them; they may take vp a lamentation and ſay; vvho knovveth not, that vve are no longer temple-keepers nor vvorſhipers in the Chapell, vvhichwhich is taken from vsus: vve have loſt poſſeſſion and have no keyes of entrance, &c. Regard not ſuch ſleight reports: if you were vviſe you vvould not mention them, vntil you had more vvarrant & aſſurance of the truth thereof. 2, your ſelf are rather a Sexton or templ-keeper of an Idol-tēple, having obteyned to keep for your vſe a key of the library in that temple which you reſort vntounto & yet would have it to be deſtroyed and raſed: No Nunnes have any ſuch dore in our temple to be opened by them at their pleaſure as you have there: But I pray you tell vsus, ſince you would not have theſe temples once abuſed by Antichriſt to be exempted from ruine and deſtruction more then the reſt: would you be content thus to have kept a key of ſome cel in Appollos Oracle at Delphos, or of Baal-zebubs tēple in Ekron where you might dayly have heard the divel ſpeaking alowd in his owne perſon? If ſo, ſurely you do thē leſſe hate Idol-tēples & devilles houſes, then many of thoſe vvhom you do ſo much accuſe thereof.
Sixtly, as for the diſtinction which you vvould preoccupate viz. of burning incenſe not to the temples but to God in them: though I condemne thoſe that ſhall make ſuch diſtinctions to defend their ſuperſtition withall: yet whereas you ſay further, that you anſwer the ſame thing for the Iſraelites, that they alſo burnt incenſe to God, before the brazen ſerpent, for they were not ſo ſottiſh as to worſhip a peece of braſſe: this your ſaying is vnwarrantable: for the folly & ſottiſhnes of Idolaters leads thē to as great abſurdities as the worſhiping of a peece of braſſe: pRom. 1.22.23.25. Ezec. 8.10.11.14.they being ſo infatuate as to worſhip the baſeſt creatures: they become not onelyonly qIer. 10.14brutiſh as the beaſts, but even rPſ. 115.8blockiſh like the ſenſeleſſe ſtones which they ſerve: And thē what warrāt have you to limit their folly, as though they could not proceed thus far to worſhip a peece of braſſe: eſpecially conſidering the ſ2. Kin. 16 3.rage of Idolatry that was about this time of Ahaz whom Hezekias ſucceeded and then deſtroyed the braſen ſerpent? you are in this poynt more erroneous then the Idolatrous Ieſuite himſelf tBellarm. de imagin. lib. 2 c. 11 & 13.who confeſſeth this ſottiſhnes of Idolaters, which you deny in the Iſraelites. And what though ſometimes the ſcripture call the worſhiping of God duplicate page duplicate page by an Idol, the worſhiping of the Idol itſelf, as you ſhew from Exo. 32 with Act. 7.41? muſt it needes do ſo therfore at all times? or muſt it therfore do ſo at this place concerning the braſen ſerpent? The ſottiſhnes of Idolaters in worſhiping very wood & ſtone for their Gods is ſhewed at large by uIoan. Rainol. cēſur. Apocr. tom. 2. praelec. 223.our writers who do therfore alſo juſtly reprove the ſlanders of Bellarmine who becauſe Calvine collected from Exo. 32. that there and in ſuch places the true God was worſhiped by an Idol after a falſe maner, did therfore ſlander him as though he had ſayd the Iewes did worſhip the true God in all their Idols. But your allegation & application of that place Exo. 32. vntounto the queſtion in hand, is as vaine as that which was ſlanderouſly imputed vntounto Calvine. Beſides this, there is great difference betwixt worſhipping God by or before an Idoll, and the worſhipping in or at an Idol-temple; Theſe two are not to be matched togather: As you alledge that men are ſayd to ſerve the groves, 2. Chron. 24.18. So by the like figurative ſpeech men are ſayd to ſerve the tabernacle or to do vvNum. 18 4.6 1. Chro. 9 13. & 28.13.21.the ſervice of the tabernacle & of the houſe of God, becauſe of their attendance vponupon the ſame in their ſeverall charges: yet this is not all one with kneeling downe before a braſen bowle, a fleſhook, or an embroydered Cherub in a curtaine of the tabernacle and worſhipping God thereby, as Idolaters vſe to do in the Idols: ſuch ſerving of the tabernacle I think you vvill not allow: And ſo on the contrary the ſervice of the groves, being a large and generall ſpeech is to be conſidered of more diſtinctly, then you have yet propounded the ſame vntounto vsus.