Plain Evidences the Church of England is Apostolical, Part · Response · Part 6
The ſixt Likelihood.
THe Lords iudgement orderly following the Principals euer in that way, and Gods bleſſing vponupon vsus with ſpirituall fauours, whileſt as one ſaith, Gods Legible curſe hath beene vponupon the leaders that way, and in part vponupon others of them alſo.
How this is true, I hauehave in ſome ſort in my former BookeIn my former Booke. Pa. 33. ſhewed from Page 33. to 42. Firſt, how God hath beene with vsus in the Miniſterie of the word, in conuerting many from Popery, in drawing many to ſanctification of life, whereto I adde his beſtowing of many ſingular gifts of vtterance and courage for the truth, vponupon th…ſe which hee vſeth as inſtruments for the ſame: his adorning of our Church with the martyrdome of Reuerend men: in giuing vsus Kings and Queenes, nurſing Fathers and nurſing Mothers, for a defence of the Church: So alſo Paſtors, which feed the flocke with knowledge and vnderſtanding: his defending of vsus, and confounding the enemies which hauehave riſen vp againſt vsus at all times, and that with an out-ſtretched arme. All which are Gods mercyes promiſed to his people. Whence I now thus reaſon:
Ʋpon whom God beſtoweth ſuch great mercies as hee hath A great probabilitie that we be gods people.promiſed onelyonly to his people and Church, it is very likely that ſuch are his people and Church.
But God hath beſtowed vponupon vsus ſuch great mercies, as hee hath onelyonly promiſed to his people and Church.
The particulars hauehave I mentioned, which the Lord hath promiſed to his Church and people onelyonly, if he deny them to be promiſed of God to his Church onelyonly, let him ſhew the contrary if he can to theſe Scriptures, for the word and Miniſterie. Pſal. 147. 19. 20. Ier. 23. 22. and 3. 15. Mat. 28. 20. For Kings and Queenes, nurſes vntounto the Church. Eſay. 49. 23. and for protection with bleſſings of peace and proſperitie. Deut. 28. Eſay. 41. 10. 11. Pſal. 3. 8. Gen. 12. 3.
And therefore it is very likely that wee be his people and Church.
Secondly, I hauehave ſet downe the contrary of them: GodPage 34. bleſſeth not their Miniſtery, they worke vponupon other mens labours, their chiefe men hauehave fearefully miſcarryed, and that as they aroſe in order one after another. Firſt, Bolton hanged himſelfe: Browne renounced his way, to ſay no more: Barrow was poſſeſſed with a moſt fearefull ſpirit of railing, as neuer any ſcurrulous mate was euer more; the two Iohnſons were filled with a rage and furious fire of contention, one cutting off another, the Sonne excommunicating the Father and Brother, the Brother publiſhing in Print the ſhame of them all, and the Father direfully curſing theRead George Iohnſons Booke. Page 6. Sonne, that all plagues of a diſobedient Childe might light vponupon him: Bornet was taken away with the plague: Mr. Smith now an Anabaptiſt, and as they call him and iudge him, a condemned Heretike: Mr. Robinſon (one yet neereſt the the truth vntounto vsus, as I heare, and not ſo Schiſmaticall as the reſt) with Mr. Clifton hauehave been diuided, ſo is a kingdome at diſcord within itſelf. Diſcord may be in a true Church, but not to the diuiſion of body from body: that is, an aſſembly, from an aſſembly, ſo as there can be no ſpirituall Communion held among them. Of this is no example in the Scripture, nor in true Churches, but onelyonly amongſt Schiſmatickes and Aſſemblies of Sectaries. I hauehave ſhewedIn my former Booke. page 39 alſo how Gods hand falleth vponupon ſome of the members, if not vponupon all in that way, diuerſely, whence I doe thus reaſon:
Whom God hath and doth follow particularly with ſpirituall A reaſon framed to proue that the Separatiſts in their cenſorious way pleaſe not God.iudgements in order as they ariſe one after another, and generally all more or leſſe, in a way onelyonly which theſe ſo puniſhed hauehave taken vponupon them to walke in, it is very likely that neyther thoſe perſons ſo walking, nor the way wherein they walk is approued of God.
Is it probable that God will follow continually a people with his hand, one after another, onelyonly in one way, and yet approue them in that their way? did God ſo euer with any? doth not he promiſe the contrary to his?
But the chiefe of the Separatiſts God hath and doth follow particularly with ſpirituall iudgements in order as they ariſe, one after another, and generally all the members more or leſſe, in the way of their Separation, which they hauehave taken vponupon them to walke in.
Thus hauehave I ſhewed, and alſo Mr. Sprint in his Conſiderations; which neyther Mr. Ainſworth nor Mr. Smith do denie: the iudgements they acknowledge, but the argument they would make for all that nothing worth, but how good a probabilitie it is againſt them, now appeareth.
And therefore it is very likely, that neyther theſe Separatours, Ring-leaders, nor Separatiſts their Schollers ſo walking, nor the way wherein they walke is approued of God.
Reply vntounto Mr. Ainſworths Anſwer toPage 159. this ſixt Likelihood.
Reply. THis Likelihood, which I hauehave propounded and confirmed in my former Booke, from Page 32. to 42. and hauehave preuented many obiections, alledged ſome teſtimonies of it, and eſpecially George Iohnſons Booke, he wholly (in a manner) paſſeth ouer with ſilence, onelyonly vnderunder pretence of his Anſwere made alreadie vntounto Mr. Sprint, vrging more prudently, as he ſaith, this ſame Likelihood; to which he putteth ouer his Reader, who muſt goe ſeeke an Anſwere to what I ſay, and as I doe affirme it, where it is not to be found: a prettie euaſion if he could ſo eſcape.
The truth is my Likihood, and Reaſons, are not ſo ſetMr. Ainſworth paſſeth by the inſtances giuen of Gods iudgement againſt them, for that he can not anſwere them. downe in Mr. Sprints Conſiderations, as I here vrge it. So although Mr. Ainſworth anſwere him, which is queſtionable, yet he hath not made anſwere to what I ſay. But he is wiſe to paſſe that by, which he wel knew (being ſo laid open, as it is in my Booke) he could neuer make particular anſwer vntounto, but with great and publike ſhame in the particulars.
I deſire the Reader to peruſe my former Booke, and conſider, whether it be not very likely, that God hath been offended greatly with their courſe: and with the chiefe of them from the very beginning of the firſt knowne man, to the laſt principall Ring-leader of the lateſt out-road of ſuch Separatours.
Obiection. If he ſhould ſay vntounto me, as hee doth vntounto another in Page of his Booke 38. that we doe bring in mens perſons againſt the Cauſe of Chriſt, Anſwer. I would anſwere him, that I bring not man againſt Chriſt, but Gods fearefull hand, that is, euen God himſelfe againſt men running in a By-path, which by his iudgements he diſclaimeth to be his: Gods puniſhments are not mans work or word, but Gods witneſſe and teſtimonie againſt them.
Reply. But he would make my Likelihood nothing, for thatHis Anſwere. (ſaith he) page 38. A Canaanite, and a Philiſtim might hauehave ſo reaſoned againſt the Iſraelites; yea, ſaith he, with as much truth, and more colour then wee againſt them. A very wicked and irreligious compariſon, to hold that a curſed Canaanite and Philiſtim had more truth thus to reaſon againſt the true Church of God, then we Gods people hauehave to reaſon againſt Schiſmatickes. See his reaſon: they had Gods iudgements among them, ſaith he, Ergo, the Canaanites and Philiſtims might condemne their religion. The conſequence is vnſauorie ſalt, but worthy of ſuch a Doctor in Schiſme. If his Argument be naught, then perhaps, he will ſay, our reaſon is not good againſt them. This I deny;This reaſon is forcible againſt them, and his weake againſt vsus: the reaſons why. and marke Reader, wherein we differ: firſt, he bringeth in Canaanites, againſt Iſraelites, and we are a Chriſtian church againſt Schiſmaticks: ſecondly, he bringeth in a fit compariſon for them, notorious offenders puniſhed for perſonall tranſgreſſions in a holy way amongſt Gods people, and we bring in their chiefeſt and holieſt perſons, their Guides and Ring-leaders puniſhed, not for perſonall faults, which we doe not obiect to them, but for their way in which theyPage. 34. 42. doe walke from among Gods people, as my reaſons why, and how, in my former Booke manifeſteth: thirdly, hee bringeth in iudgements vponupon certaine members, as they fell to ſin now & then, but we doe alledge Gods diſpleaſure againſt their chiefe Leaders, with a continuing hand vponupon them, as they roſe vp one after an other to ſeduce people from vsus into that way: as we ſhew that Gods hand was on Bolton, then on Browne, then on Barrow, and Green-wood, then on the two Iohnſons, then on Bornet, then on Mr. Smith, who is become in their owne iudgement, and in ours too, a fearefull Heretique. So hee ſhould hauehave ſhewed the like by ſucceſſion vponupon Moſes and Aaron, then on Ioſua, then on Othniel, Ehud, &c, If he dare make the like compariſon betweene theſe & themſelues, for their perſons and for their cauſe; if not, he hath ſaid nothing to ouerthrow this Likelihood. His inſerting of Moſes and Aaron amongſt the wicked Rebels, as if Gods ſpeciall wrath did light vponupon them, is both fooliſhly and wickedly done. They died with honour and renowne; though it pleaſed God to call them away for ſome ſinne, before they entred into Canaan, they neither died by Peſtilence, nor were conſumed with the Sword, nor burnt with fire, nor deſtroyed of Serpents, nor were ſwallowed vp of the earth, as others were: that Mr. Ainſworth in his Canaanitiſh conceit, ſhould muſter them among the wicked, to march vnderunder Gods wrath to death and deſtruction. Againe, herein God would by them teach vsus an Euangelicall truth, that not Moſes nor Aaron, no Law, either Morall or Ceremoniall,Why Moſes and Aaron did die before they came into Canaan. but Ioſua, that is, Ieſus our Sauiour, ſhould bring the Iſraelites, that is, eueryevery true Beleeuer into Canaan, that is, the Kingdome of Heauen.
He aduiſeth me to beware of deliuering poſitions tending to Atheiſme and Iudaiſem; I accept of it: let him conſider that he teach no doctrines tending to Anabaptiſme,Browniſme the ground of Anabaptiſme, Familiſme, &c. Familiſme, and Arianiſme, the fruits of their Browniſme, vponupon the principles whereof others hauehave built theſe Hereſies. The Anabaptiſts cyte the ſame places for their holy walking from all the world by themſelues, which theſe Separatiſts doe againſt vsus. Read Lucas Oſiander, againſt Anabaptiſts, and ſee how this way of Browniſts helpeth the Anabaptiſts.
Laſtly hee maketh a compariſon betweene Bolton andHe falleth into that which he findes fault with in me. Iudas, and maketh in part Iudas caſe better then Boltons: idle and to no purpoſe, except to help a Iew to diſgrace our Religion, by Iudas miſerable end. But hee will ſay, that this ariſeth from my ſpeech, who ſaid, that ſuch an end the Lord letteth not his ſpeciall inſtruments come vntounto, which he denyeth, and bringeth in Iudas, one fore-ordained to that end, and fore-told off: of whom I my ſelfe did makePage 34. mention by way of preuention, deſcribing alſo what I meant by ſpeciall inſtruments, & gaue inſtances of the ſame, that I might not be miſtaken, to preuent wrangling: but who can reſtraine contentious ſpirits that louelove to be wrangling?
Reply to Mr. Smiths Anſwere to thisPage 128. ſixt Likelihood.
Reply. AS before, ſo likewiſe here, he frameth for me my reaſons; but ſo as I ſhould affirme that they hauehave not the truth, that are iudged of the Lord, and that they hauehave the truth, who are proſpered by the Lord: when he hath faſhioned them himſelfe, for his owne aduantage, then he maketh naught of them, as if they were mine, and accuſeth me of falſe Doctrine. But as I reiect them, as none of mine, (which any one may well perceiue by that which is here before ſet downe) ſo what he inferreth there vponupon nothing at all toucheth me, but his labour is a fighting with his owne ſhadow. If what I hauehave ſaid will not ſerue, I thus againe reaſon:
It is more then likely, that ſuch as be iudged of the Lord, An Argument to proue that the Separatiſts hauehave not the truth.for the way wherein they walke ſingularly from all other, hauehave not the truth in that way.
But the Separatiſts are iudged of the Lord, for the way wherein they walke ſingularly from all other. Therefore it is more then likely, that the Separatiſts in their ſingular way hauehave not the truth.
My labour in my former Booke, from all the inſtances deliuered, is my proofe of the Minor. Now by the Lords iudging, I meane not onelyonly temporall afflictions, pouertie, baniſhment & ſuch like, as Mr. Smith would inſinuate to his Reader, that I doe as appeareth by his quoted Scriptures,What I do vnderſtand by Gods iudgements vponupon them. Eccles. 9. 1. 3. 1. Pet. 4. 17. for theſe may befall the beſt I acknowledge; but I vnderſtand the iudgement of God vponupon the ſoule, as almoſt the examples giuen doe clearely proue: and therefore miſtaking me, he hath not made any anſwer vntounto me, nor proued my Doctrine falſe. Hee frameth alſo another argument from all the inſtances, to ſhew the weakeneſſe of my reaſon, but as in the former, ſo here he doth me wrong ſtill; but for anſwere, I thus amend him, and let him anſwere what he can to the ſame.
If Mr. Bolton before had peace within him, and through An argument to proue that God is diſpleaſed with them.the way of the Separation came to hang himſelfe: If Mr. Hariſon and Browne before carryed himſelfe honeſtly, but in this new way by Mr. Hariſons teſtimony, behaued himſelfe very lewdly: If Barrow with Greenwood were before temperate, but in this way immeaſurably raging and rayling: If the two Iohnſons liued before like brethren in louelove to themſelues and to their Father, but in this way one hated another, one perſecuted another, one brother labouring to ſhame another to the open George Iohnſons booke witneſſeth this at large.world; one Sonne excommunicating the Father, and the Father bitterly curſing that Sonne: If Mr. Burnet before was of God mercifully preſerued, and in this new way, whileſt he was priſoner for the cauſe, was by the ſtroke of God cut off with one of his ſeuere iudgements: If Mr. Smith was before in good reputation with godly men, more ſtable and conſtant, but in the inclinanation to this new way, was giuen ouer to hold falſe and abſurd opinions, and verie vnſtable, ſometime liking, ſometime in praier thanking God for preuenting him, before allowed of vsus, but now diſallowed and condemned of the very Separatiſts for an Heretique: If ſome before did walke not diſhoneſtly, but in that way became filthy perſons, and of vncleane conuerſations: If all of them before were charitably diſpoſed, meeker ſpirits, more temperate, leſſe cenſorious, and not diſpiſers of the good in others, but in this way the contrary; then it is very likely that God is diſpleaſed with them for that very way, in which God ſo forſaketh them.
But all theſe things hauehave ſo fallen out to theſe foreſaid perſons in this their new way, as I particularly hauehave proued in my former booke. Therfore it is very likely that God is diſpleaſed with them for the ſame.
Hee ſaith hee is able to ſay as much of the Officers and Leaders in the Church of England. When hee is able ſo to produce inſtances ſucceſſiuely from the beginning, and in ſuch a manner, hee is better to be beleeued, but in the meane ſpace, his bare word getteth herein no credit, but with the fooliſhly credulous. As for his examples of Iudas, then of Chriſt, with others, and of the Apoſtles they be vnfitly matched, and are not as thoſe, which I hauehave brought out againſt them.
The laſt part of his anſwere, ſeeking therein to cleare himſelfe of particulars laid to his charge, is anſwered before ſufficiently in the Preface.