Arrow Against the Separationists, Title page – To the reader
AN ARROVV Againſt the Separation OF THE Browniſts. Alſo an ADMONITION TOVCHING Talmudique & Rabbinical allegations.
By IOHN PAGET.
Printed at Amſterdam,
By GEORGE VESELER, dwelling by the South-Church, at the ſigne of the HOPE. ANNO M.DC.XVIII.
To the Chriſtian Reader.
OF thoſe that ſeparate from the Church of God, there are many ſorts: Though the Browniſts aſſume vntounto themſelves the title of Separation, and call themſelves the aIoh. Smyth, Differences, Title. Hen. Ainſvv. Defence againſt Mr. Sm. p. 1.Churches of the Separation, yet is not this title ſufficient to diſtinguiſh them; Separation being common to ſo many.
Of the Browniſts alſo there are ſundry ſects: Some bChriſtian plea, pa. 216. 217.ſeparate from the Church of England for corruptions; and yet confeſſe both it & Roome alſo to be a true Church, as the followers of Mr. Iohnſon: Some cIuſtific. p. 339. 340. 247.renounce the Church of England as a falſe Church; and yet allow dRelig. com. p. 1, etc.private communion with the godly therein, as Mr. Robinſon and his followers: Some eCounterpoy. pag. 197.renounce all Religious communion both publique and private with any member of that Church whoſoever, as Mr. Ainſworth and ſuch as hearken vntounto him, being deepeſt and ſtiffeſt in their Schiſme. The evil of this ſeparation is great: Firſt, the mindes of many are troubled and diſtracted hereby; even of ſuch as do not ſeparate, but have ſome liking thereof; eſpecially if it be true which Mr. Robinſon writes of them, to wit; that they fRelig. comm. prefac. *iij.ſeing it not to be for their purpoſes, that the world ſhould ſo eſteem of them, do vndoubtedly ſtreyn and wring the neck of their conſciences and courſes, to look the contrary way, &c. VVhat can be more miſerable then to have the neckes of conſciences thus broken by the doctrine of ſeparation? Secondly, for thoſe that ſeparate but do not yet joyne vntounto thē, or being joyned do withhold from actual communion, living alone and hearing the word of God in no Church, as ſome do; how great is their miſerie alſo? Mr. Robinſon himſelf gIbid. pag. 36.—39.ſhewes it at large, noting them to be Idol-members, ſuch as break the commandement of Chriſt, looſe the fruit of his aſcenſion, and fayl their own edification and ſalvation many wayes, &c. Thirdly, for thoſe that being joyned vntounto them do alſo live with them, ſeing they have in effect excommunicate themſelves from all other Churches of Chriſt, and conſequently from the fellowſhip of Chriſt Ieſus himſelf and from the participation of his grace and glory ſo far as he reveales the ſame by dwelling in thoſe Churches: It is therfore no wonder to heare Mr. Iohnſon hTreat. on Mat. 18. prefac. A. 2.complayning of the evilles among them, as Emulation, debate and other ſins which dayly ariſe & ſpread themſelves to the great diſhonour of God, &c. Fourthly, for further and greater evilles into which they are given up; it is apparāt that three or four hundred of the Browniſts have brought forth more Apoſtate Anabaptiſts and Arians ſometimes in one yeare then ten thouſand members of the Reformed Dutch Church in this citie, have done in ten yeares or more, though tempted and compaſſed about with ſeducers as much as any other. And this I may juſtly witneſſe for the time of my abode in this %Amſterdā.place, where I have ordinarily bene preſent in the Claſſical aſſemblies, and ſeene the number of ſuch as have fallen away, ſo far as is knowne vntounto the miniſters hereof. And many other are the ſcandalles of this ſchiſme, both towards them without & againſt the Reformed Churches whoſe communion they diſclayme. My purpoſe at this time is to defend the lawfull communiō of that particular congregation, whereof I am a miniſter: Reaſon and Religion i1. Theſ. 4.11 Act. 20.28. 2 Pet. 5.2.require that we ſhould firſt look vntounto our owne eſtate, and to the flock that dependeth vponupon vsus. This controverſie being firſt diſcuſſed, I doubt not but the lawfulnes of communion with the Church of England, will in great meaſure be manifeſted hereby, and a way prepared for them that are yet in errour to diſcerne the ſame. Mr. Ainſworth in his writings againſt me doth very often appeale vntounto and call for the Iudgement of the Reader; herein I agree with him and do therfore alſo publiſh & preſent theſe things vntounto the view of Chriſtian Readers: and have devided his laſt writing into Sections, not leaving out (to my knowledge) any one of his words; for their help that would compare things together, and ſo judge the more perfectly. The God of all grace bleſſe theſe weak endevours to the praiſe of his holy name and comfort of his people. Amen.
J. P.