Plain Evidences the Church of England is Apostolical, Part · Response · Part 10
The tenth Errour of the Browniſts.
OƲr Worſhip (ſay they) is falſe Worſhip.
What I hauehave written againſt this in my former book, Page 146. 151. I wiſh thee Reader to conſider, for that among other things, thou maiſt ſee the order of Seruice vnderunder the Law, and the Seruice vſed in the Primitiue Church, gathered from the Scriptures, which theſe Aduerſaries nayther do, nor are able to gaineſay. And for further manifeſtation of our Worſhip againſt this their Errour; I thus reaſon:
The firſt Argument.
THe Worſhip onelyonly of the true God according to his word, The firſt argument that our worſhip is true.is true worſhip: But ſuch is the Worſhip of the Church of England eſtabliſhed by Law. Therefore the worſhip of the Church of England is true Worſhip.
Reaſons. The Maior is not denyable; the Minor I doe proue: Wee worſhip onelyonly the true God and none other, Trinitie in Vnitie, & Vnitie in Trinitie; if they deny this, let vsus know what God wee doe worſhip, which they doe not, or the true Church neuer did. Wee doe worſhip him after his Word: His word requireth in true Worſhip, a true God; ſo hauehave we:Deut. 6. a true Rule, which is it ſelfe, to direct vsus in that worſhip, which we hauehave, euen the holy Scriptures: it requireth preaching and opening of the Scriptures, Mat. 28. Acts. 15. 21. which alſo we hauehave: it requireth knowledge of that we doe; Prou. 19. 2. and ſo verily many hauehave: it requireth true Sacraments, Mat. 28. 1 Cor. 11. to be adminiſtred; and thoſe hauehave we: it requireth true Prayer, Pſal. 50. which is a requeſt made for things lawfull, vntounto God, in the Name of Ieſus Chriſt; and ſuch are our prayers: it requireth in theſe the heart; Ioſh. 22. but that being vnknowne to man, and Charitie teacheth to think the beſt, we muſt alſo be thought ſo to worſhip him; vnleſſe they will condemne vsus all for Hypocrites; which let them ſhew how they eyther can or dare doe, by the word, if they doe: laſtly, that it be done in the true Church, and ſo is ours. Pſal. 99. Theſe things I doe aſſume, let vsus ſee what they can deny, for yet I know not.
The ſecond Argument.
THe Worſhip not forbidden in Scripture, is no falſe Worſhip, The ſecond argument that our Worſhip is true.but true: The Worſhip of the Church of England is not forbidden by Scripture: Ergo, it is not falſe Worſhip, but true.
The Maior is euident; the Minor I thus make manifeſt by all the parts of falſe Worſhip, mentioned in the Scripture, and condemned, whereof wee be free. Firſt, it forbids We are not guiltie of the falſe Worſhip condemned in Scripture.falſe Gods; Exod. 23. theſe wee abhorre. Secondly, the worſhipping of Images and Idols, Exod. 20. the Sunne, Moone and Starres, forbidden, Deut. 17. 2 King. 17. and 21. and Angels. Col. 2. Reuel. 22. All which wee all condemne, and doe not at all worſhip. Thirdly, it forbids all voluntarie wil-worſhip, to ſerue God after the minds of men. Eſa. 29. 13 Mat. 15. 9. Now this alſo doe wee preach againſt, reproue, and often doe puniſh the offenders in ſuch a caſe: neyther teach wee the precepts of men for doctrines of Scripture, nor doe wee any thing appointed by man, and not warrantable by the Word, which any of knowledge doe take as holy things of God, or as any part of hiw Worſhip, in and by which God is ſaid to be honoured: this our Law and Church Conſtitutions are againſt: we hauehave free libertie to preach againſt any abuſe of any thing which is vſed in the time of our Worſhip, and may rebuke ſuch as put holineſſe in any thing, but what is agreeable with the word of God: none can deny this, which knoweth our Lawes, and heareth our teaching, and obſerueth the practiſe of ſuch as worſhip with vnderſtanding. And therefore wee not being guiltie of any ſuch thing as the Scripture condemneth, our worſhip is not falſe, being ſo conſidered truly, as I hauehave ſaid.
The third Argument.
THat Worſhip which is after the manner of the Worſhip of The third argument that our Worſhip is true.the true Churches of God, ſet downe in the word: that Worſhip is true and not falſe: But ſuch is the worſhip of the Church of England. Ergo, it is true and not falſe
The Maior is true, it being vnderſtood of the ChurchesOur worſhip is after the worſhip of the true Churches of God. manner of Worſhip, which the word commendeth vntounto vsus, elſe a true Church may erre in Gods Worſhip. The Minor I thus confirme, the order and particulars of our proceeding in Gods worſhip agreeable to the true Churches of Chriſt.
Firſt, we are appointed and doe meet together at ſet times:Publike meetings. ſo the Iewes in the olde Teſtament were commanded by the Lord, Deut. 31. and ſo did Act. 15. 21. So in the new, 1 Cor. 11. 17. and 14. 23. and that on the firſt day in the weeke. Act. 20. 7. 1 Cor 16. 1. and ſo all ſorts eueryevery where, Iuſtin Mart. Apo. 2. Tertul. in Apol…orat.
Secondly, we begin our Seruice with Confeſſion and ſolempneConfeſſion & Prayers. Prayers to God: ſo did Gods people in the eſtabliſhed Church of the Iewes. Eſdr. 9. 5. 6. and 10. 1. and theſeMorneus againſt the Maſſe. Page 18. our prayers and this Confeſſion made in Faith, taking hold of Chriſt, is our ſpirituall ſacrifice, which is auailable for vsus, and accepted with God as the outward ſacrifice made vnderunder the Law. Leu. 16. 15. 16. And thus prayers were vſed in theMorn. pa. 23. 24. Primatiue Church, both generall and ſpeciall. Act. 20. 36. 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. Acts. 2. 42.
Obiection. If they ſay that in the Primatiue Church, there was no ſet forme of Prayer.
Anſwere. I anſwere, firſt, there was ſet formes in the old Teſtament, as is proued in my other Booke, Page. 191. Secondly, theſe be no where diſallowed in the new Teſtament, neyther by plaine words, nor by vndeniable Conſequences: their conceit of ſaying, it quencheth the ſpirit, is againſt knowne experience, and is the ground-work of M. Smiths caſting off reading the Scriptures in the Aſſemblie. Thirdly, ſaith Morneus, ſaint Auguſtine expoundeth Saint Paul, Page 20.1 Tim. 2. to meane ſolempne Prayers; and this worthy Morneus doth ſay, that we hauehave both precept and preſcript forme of Prayers, and for this citeth Mat. 6. 9. 10. Fourthly, the Grecian Churches, as hath beene tolde mee by one of thatConſtantine Achilles. Nation, a Grecian borne, that they hauehave had, and ſtill hauehave ſet forme of Prayer: which Churches were planted by the Apoſtles, and neuer yeelded ſubiection to the Romiſh Synagogue, yea, it is a practiſe in all reformed Churches, who hauehave renounced Antichriſt: how then can theſe men hold it Antichriſtian?
Thirdly, wee read Pſalmes and portions of holy Scriptures:Scriptures read. ſo did the Iewiſh Church. Deut. 31. 9. 14. Nehe. 8. 1.Morn. Page 19. and 13. 1. Luke. 4. 16. 18. Act. 13. 15. and 15. 21. and ſo were charged to do by the Apoſtle: Col. 4. 16. and a bleſſing is pronounced vponupon that exerciſe. Reu. 1. 3. And the ſame continued in the Churches of God; for ſaith Morneus, the Seruice of the Chriſtians, for order, was deriued from the Iewes, Morn. page. 25.which the Apoſtles, it ſeemeth to mee, did countenance in the Synagogues, ſitting ſilently at the ſame, till they had leaue to ſpeake, Act. 13. 15. To this purpoſe was ſome appointed to be Readers.
Fourthly, wee hauehave ſinging of Pſalmes: ſo had the IewiſhPſalmes ſung. Iuſt Mart. in Apol. 2. Cypr. lib. 2. Ep. 81 Church, as all Dauids Pſalmes do manifeſt, and Chriſt himſelfe did vſe the ſame, Mat. 26. 30. ſo approued by the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 5. 18. 19. Col. 3. and practiſed in the following ages.Preaching.
Fiftly, wee hauehave preaching in many places, and ſo had they in eueryevery Sinagogue, eueryevery Lords day, Act. 15. 21.Morn. page 3. Pliu. Epiſt. Tert. de anima. Euſeb. lib. 4. S. Hillarie on pſal. 65. Neh. 8. 8. Luke 4. 16. 22. Act. 13. 15. 16. So alſo in the primitiue Church, Act. 20. 7. 1 Cor. 14. 23. 31. The ſame not to be deſpiſed, 1 Theſ. 5. 20. And this moſt neceſſarie dutie continued in the pureſt ages following, as Authors doe make mention.
Sixtly, we hauehave the Sacraments adminiſtred: ſo had theSacraments. Iewiſh Church, which they were bound to receiue vponupon extreameMorn page 22. and 31. Iuſt. Mar. Apo. 2 Euſeb. li. 7. 6. 22. Tertul. in his Apol. Orat. penalties, Gen. 17. 14. Numb. 9. 13. Exod. 4. 24. and ſo did receiue them. Ioſ. 5. Exod. 12. 28. 2 Chron. 29. 15 and 35. 1. So in the Primatiue Church Mat. 28 18. Acts. 2. 41. and 8. 38. and 10. 48. Mat. 26. 26. 27. 28. 1 Cor. 11. 23. Act. 2. 42. And the ſame continued in the true Churches of God after. Iuſt. Mar. Apo. 2.Prayer and prayſes in the end.
Seauenthly, Wee ſhut vp our religious exerciſes with a Pſalme: ſo did our Sauiour, Mat. 26. 30. And with Prayer: ſo did the auncient Church of the Iewes, Numb. 6. 23. 2 Chron. 30. 27. As they began their Sermons with inuocation,Morn. page 23: as Neh. 8. So in the Apoſtles dayes, Act. 20. 36. And practiſed in the after Ages; to which prayer the people with one conſent ſaid, Amen, Neh. 8. Iuſt. Mar. Apo. 2.
Eightly, all in a knowne tongue, as the Apoſtle commandeth,In a knowne tongue. 1 Corinth. 14. and ſo practiſed, as their gifts of tongues giuen for that end declare.
And thus doe we ſee our worſhip in matter and manner to be the ſame with the true approued Churches of God. Now theſe things being thus, how can our worſhip by them be iudged falſe and idolatrous?
Reply to Mr. Ainſworth.
MAſter Ainſworths anſwere is, that they doubt not to Page 194. Obiection▪affirme our worſhip to be falſe, euen an humane inuention: and his reaſons are, becauſe Apocripha bookes are read; becauſe Sacraments are adminiſtred by vnpreaching Miniſters, by our ſeruice Booke; becauſe of our obſeruation of holy dayes, &c,
Anſwere. My reply hereunto is, firſt, that theſe be not all our worſhip, as is now fully ſhewed, to which hee hath yet made no anſwere: ſecondly, graunt his reaſons good to proue his aſſertion, which yet are very abſurd, yet then when the Apocripha is not read, as ſome daies it is not appointed, and alſo where preaching Miniſters are, and the worſhip performed on the Lords day, he cannot belike then proue our worſhip to be falſe and idolatrous, ſithen his reaſons hauehave then no force, as being at ſometime, in ſome places out of date.
But firſt, he bids mee proue Apocrypha to be the truePage. 194. word of God. This I leaue him to doe, if hee can; who among vsus doe hold it Canonicall? do not we in our writings witneſſe the contrary, and that we approue them not, farther then they doe agree with the Scriptures?
Secondly, hee willeth mee to proue the Sacraments adminiſtred by vnpreaching Miniſters to be true Sacraments. To which I ſay, if they be not true Sacraments,See for this Cal. Inſt. lib. 4. cap. 15. ſect. 16. then are they not Chriſts Sacraments, and being none of Chriſts, they be truely and indeede no Sacraments at all; and ſo Mr. Ainſworth, and many of his companie, baptiſed by ſuch, muſt needs runne with Mr. Smith, into Anabaptiſtrie. The circumciſion in Iſrael in Ieroboams time, was neuer reiected of God, nor condemned of the Church in Iudah, in Hezekias time, but ſuch were admitted to the Paſſeouer as truely circumciſed, els they ſhould not hauehave beene allowed to eate therof. There is, the water, ſprinckling of it, and the words of Inſtitution added therto, which are the external & eſſentiall parts of Baptiſme. Laſtly, it is vniuerſally held, that Baptiſme among the Papiſts, adminiſtred by popiſh Prieſts, is true Baptiſme, albeit therefore it doth not follow that Chriſtians wel inſtructed ſhould carry their children to them, if they may hauehave their children baptiſed by other: There is one who giueth many reaſons for this.Buca. cap. de bapt. loc. com. 47.
He tels mee, that I doe not meddle with their reaſons giuen out in many bookes, but he cyteth none, againſt many things which we vſe, and they deny, and what then? are therefore their reaſons good, and wee the worſe? ſo may then I ſay, that they doe not meddle with many mens reaſons printed in ſeuerall Bookes, to defend, what they oppoſe, and therefore their reaſons good, and M. Ainſworth in the Errour. And thus hauehave I made Reply to M. Ainſworths anſwere to the tenne Errours of their way: Hee hath made anſwere, as I doe charitably thinke, to hauehave vsus reforme our corruptions, as hee iudgeth them, and I hauehave made a Reply, to hauehave them forſake their Errours in condemning vsus for a falſe Church moſt vniuſtly. If they doe well, who enuieth them? wee wiſh that they may ſee our good, and ceaſe vniuſtly to be troubleſome both to vsus and themſelues.
Reply to Mr. Smith.
Page 103.MAſter Smith, to proue our Churches worſhip to be a falſe worſhip, maketh Reaſons, ſuch as they be, which are theſe:
The firſt Argument.
THe true worſhip of the Lord cannot poſſibly be offered vp in a falſe Church. The Eccleſiaſticall Aſſemblies of England, are falſe Churches. Ergo, the worſhip offered vp vntounto the Lord in thoſe Aſſemblies is falſe worſhip. To paſſe by the maior not ſound, which he doth not proue, though he pretend onelyonly the proofe of it: for hee ſaith, true worſhip is *Then by his owne confeſſion it may be in it, els how can it defile the worſhip of God? ſo here he contradicts his owne propoſition.defiled by a falſe Church, and that God will not hauehave eueryevery Communion of men to ſerue him, and that it is not acceptable to him. This is the ſumme of his confirmation, which how it proueth the maior, I leaue to be iudged. The minor I deny, which he proueth not, as ſuppoſing it afore proued, which I hauehave diſproued: and ſo this Argument is eaſily anſwered.
The ſecond Argument.
THe worſhip which is offred vp vntounto the Lord, by a falſe Miniſterie is a falſe worſhip. The Worſhip of the Eccleſiaſticall aſſemblies of England is offered vp by a falſe Miniſtery: Ergo, a falſe Worſhip. The Maior is ſtill vnſound, neyther doth he proue it otherwiſe then the former; to wit, by Gods not accepting the worſhip by a falſe Miniſterie but ſuch a reaſon proueth not the Worſhip it ſelfe falſe. God doth not accept of any wicked mans worſhipping of God in a true Church, by true Miniſters rightly worſhipping, Eſa. 1. Doth it therefore follow from Gods not acceptance for the mans wickedneſſe, that therefore the worſhip it ſelfe is falſe Worſhip, and not of God? none can truely ſay ſo. The Minor is falſe as I hauehave proued before; and now not by him diſproued. So then the Maior being vnſound, and the Minor falſe, this reaſon alſo is not worth a ruſh.
The third Argument.
IEwiſh, that is, literall, ſtinted, impoſed Booke-worſhip is falſe Worſhip. The Worſhip of the Eccleſiaſticall Aſſemblies of England is Iewiſh, that is, literall, ſtinted, and impoſed Bookeworſhip. Ergo, falſe Worſhip.
The ground of this Argument hee maketh his proofes out of his Booke intituled, The differences of the Churches of the Separation, to which hee referreth his Reader: now this booke of his, is ſince confuted in moſt things very ſoundly, but chiefely this propoſition here auouched by Mr. Ainſworth, who it ſeemeth can in a good cauſe do worthily well, which I wiſh his imployment in euer, and ceaſe to defend vntruths againſt vsus, in which hee is very barraine and without iudgement. Therefore for the Propoſition I doe commend to the Reader his *A defence of the holy Scripture, Worſhip, and Miniſtery, againſt. Mr. Smith.Anſwere at large. The Minor I deny, which vponupon ſo falſe a propoſition he takes to be true, without further proofe: in which he denyeth all reading of Scripture; yea, ſo much as for a Preacher to looke vponupon his Text of Scripture in the publike Aſſemblie: and yet if this Sathanicall bewitchment of him were true, neuertheleſſe the Minor is in part falſe; for all our Worſhip is not literall, ſtinted, and impoſed vponupon a Booke; for many Sermons are made by meditation, and vttered by the help of memorie without any Booke: ſo many prayers are made freely, as occaſion of times be, and not read vponupon a Booke; ſo as herein he ſpeaketh vntruely of the Worſhip in all the Aſſemblies of the Church of England.
After theſe his Arguments, hee cauils with my reaſons in my former booke, firſt, preſſing his booke of differences,Page. 105. as if it were not confutable, but, as I hauehave ſaid, it is ſufficiently in this point confuted to his ſhame. Secondly, to that I ſay, we doe worſhip no falſe Gods, nor the true God with My former Book. Pa. 146.any falſe worſhip, and therefore our worſhip is not falſe: Hee anſweres, that Iſraell might ſo hauehave ſaid in Ieroboams Page 105.time, and when Aaron made the Calfe. But how vniuſtly they might ſo ſay, as wee may, and how falſely this man vttereth ſuch words, the holy Ghoſt himſelfe ſhall giuegive ſentence: for doth hee not ſay, that Iſrael had Prieſts for Diuels, 2 Chron. 11. 15.and for the Calues which Ieroboam had made? And is it not ſaid, that the Iſraelites did worſhip the Calfe, and thatExod. 32. 8. 23. they ſaid, they were the Gods which brought them out of Aegipt? So they worſhipped Diuels, and falſe Gods, yea a molten image for God, how can it be ſaid then, that they might ſay, as we truely can, that we worſhip no falſe Gods, nor the true God with falſe worſhip, as they did?
Laſtly, hee taketh for graunted our worſhip to be the inuention of man, and ſo concludeth in a verball ſound of words without any proofe, as the Reader may ſee, that ourPage 106. Church is a falſe Church, and ſo an Idoll our Seruice booke an Idoll: that wee hauehave a falſe Chriſt, and ſo an Idoll; and ſo hee ſaith that our faith is falſe; our doctrine falſe; the word not the true word; neither the Sacraments, nor our Communion true: all which if hee could as eaſily proue, as affirme, hee had needed no farther to hauehave troubled himſelfe with other diſcourſes, theſe had beene inough to hauehave remoued vsus out of our way, or elſe to hauehave periſhed in our ſtanding: but ſithen hee, nor any ſchiſmaticall Heretike is euer able to iuſtifie this againſt vsus, the contrary herefully being made plaine againſt him, hee is to be iudged, as ſuch wicked ſpeeches deſerue, ſo vttered againſt the true Church of God, and his mother, if hee be not eueryevery way a Baſtard, vnworthie to be acknowledged a naturall and true Sonne. And thus alſo hauehave I ended with M. Smith, whoſe reformation I wiſh, and not to preſume aboue that which is meet to vnderſtand, but to vnderſtand according to ſobrietie, andRom. 12. 3. 16. not to be wiſe in himſelfe, as the Apoſtle admoniſheth all.
There remaineth ſome-what to be replyed vntounto vponupon their anſweres vntounto ſome particular opinions of theirs, ſet downe in my other Booke; but for that at the firſt I hauehavePage 151. mentioned them briefly, as to let the world iudge of the vanitie thereof, and conſidering they be of no moment from that which is already handled, which being throughly vnderſtood, ſufficiently may furniſh the meaneſt Reader of vnderſtanding with better and more reaſons to anſwere them, then they hauehave ſaid to defend them; and laſtly, this my Reply being growne into ſo great a quantitie, I paſſe them by, and leaue them, as not fearing any indifferent Reader to be ſeduced by them in ſuch things.
For a Concluſion, I wiſh them to conſider the truths ofThe Concluſion. God, to acknowledge vsus the true Church of God, as we be indeed; let them not by a falſe condemnation of vsus, in what wee are not to be condemned; maintaine therein their Schiſme from vsus, and by vntruths ſeeke eyther to draw more, or hold whom they hauehave ſo gotten from vsus, through errour of their mindes. If M. Ainſworth can proue ſubſtantially, that wee be no Church of Chriſt, this one matter is ſufficient to inſiſt vponupon, to remoue any honeſt heart fearing God, to fly from eueryevery thing which may iuſtly be diſliked in any Aſſembly; but if not, let Gods feare appeare in them; let ſincere louelove of true ſpeaking declare it ſelfe in them, by acknowledging vsus to be what wee are by the warrant of the Word; and ceaſe to call vsus falſe Churches, Antichriſtian Churches, ſo ſhall they be leſſe condemned, and the truth on both ſides appearing, peace will follow, and with truth holineſſe, without which none ſhall ſee God.
Thou ſeeſt, Reader, the cauſes ſufficient to holde theeA briefe repetition of reaſons againſt them. backe from the Separatiſts Schiſme: We are a Church truely conſtituted; by lawfull meanes reformed; Saints by calling; that their is no example or warrant for any to ſeparate from ſuch a church as ours is, as they doe, with condemnation. It is oppoſed by the godly Learned: no Church giueth them the right hand of fellowſhip: The Lord hath by his fearefull hand reproued the Ring-leaders. It is like old Schiſmaticks: it is occaſioned through diſcontentment; violence of paſſion enforceth it: ignorance with a good meaning in many vpholds it: if euer they had grace, here in England they found it: here wee feele the power of the word: here are ſuch as truely feare God: the beſt churches hold vsus a true Church; God hath adorned it with worthy men of God, and with the crowne of Martyrdome. The Godly here remaining, are more charitable then the Separation: wee carry a pitty to them, and yet they doe reiect all communion with vsus: yea, behold how Sathan confounds them by diuiſions, and how deadly they condemne one another.