Animadversion to Cliftons Advertisement, Part 3
Of the Letter by M. Iohnson answered and published, and by H. Ainsworth now defended. Wherin the Articles of difference between both parties, are set down and discussed.
THree things are to be treated of. 1. The points wherin they are gone frō their former profession. 2. The points wherin they now charge us to differ from our former profession. 3. The conditions of peace, which they refused.
For an entrance into this controversie, M. Iohnson gives 5. observations. *Advertis. p. 25.First, that wee left them upon two particular matters, (concerning the Churches government▪ and the exposition of Mat. 18, 17.) & doo not directly keep to them as we ought, nor answer the things printed. I answer: this their beginning is ambiguous and fraudulent. The churches government, is somtime taken largely; sometime strictly: sometime it is spoken of Christ, upon whose shoulders the †Isa. 9.6.government is; and hereof ther was no controversie. Sometime it is spoken of the ministerial “1. Tim. 5.17. 1. Cor. 12.28.ruling and governing the church by Elders: neyther of this doe we make any question; but hold (as ‘†Confes. art. 19.heretofore) that Christ governeth his church outvvardly by their ministration. Sometime men use it generally for the whole outward politie, power, and (as many cal it) discipline of the Church: and about this in part our cōtroversie was. But I wil manifest the frawd. We in our published writings, distinguish the government, and the power: acknowledging *Confess. art. 17.19.26.government to be by the officers; but “Conf. art. 22.23.24. Apol. p 46.47.60.62.power in the whole body of the Church. And for this point of power, are 9. reasons set down, wherof one is drawn from Christs speech, Mat. 18.17. tel the Church. Apol. pag. 62.63.
Between these two is the matter so conveyed, as while we plead for the churches right and power, we are sayd to oppugn goverment: and when we yeild the Elders to govern, they therby would inclose the whole power in their hands; as in the furder handling of these things shal appear. But if a church have one minister onelyonly, he is to teach and govern them by the word of God: yet is not any one man a Church, neyther hath the power of a Church. Yea this distinction is in one particular, by themselves acknowledged, in the same book: †Advertis. p. 46.it is (they say) undenyable, that to give voices in election is not a part of government, or a duty peculiar to the governours of the church, but an interest, power, right and libertie, that the saincts and people out of office have. Very wel sayd; wherupon we inferr also, that to give voices in ‘†Act. 15.7.12.22.23.25 1. Cor. 5.1… 13.deciding of controversies, and judging of synners, is not a part of government, but a power and right that the saincts out of office have. The Elders are to teach direct and govern the church in election of officers; they are to doo the like in judging & excommunicating wicked persons, and in all other publik affairs. Of the exposition of Mat. 18.17. and why their Treatise was not particularly answered, I have spoken before: & the special things therin, are in this treatise repeted, and so shalbe here answered.
2. Their second observation I like wel, & yeild unto; that men may change and redress, according to Gods word, things that are amyss: but withal, I would have them, 1. plainly to acknowledge wherin they erred, and what they stablish for truth; and 2. to take away by Gods word, the reasons wherupon they builded before. Which wither these our opposers have doon as they ought; I leav it for the discreet reader to judge by their writings, compared with those which were published heretofore to the contrary.
3. The third, for the churches goverment by the officers, is that which we alwayes have and stil do yeild to, as even now I shewed. As for our former practise altered, and as he sayth, by me acknowledged: towching the order and manner of the practise in one particular, I grant it; but for the power of the Church, wherof we treat, I deny it. There never was such a practise in my dayes, as wherby the Elders should be esteemed the Church, and to have the povver of the same.
4. The 4. observation is that our exceptions are such as the Anabaptists would object in much like manner. Yet dooth he not shew this so to be: and I know, for their successive Ministerie, they are neerer the Anabaptists than wee: & both for it and other points, they build upon the very grounds of poperie, as after shalbe manifested. But what doe vve except? is it not from our former Articles, and Apologie confirmed by scriptures, from vvhichwhich these are departed: in penning also vvherof these that thus vvrite, had a principal hand? So they doo hereby not onelyonly joyn vvith our cōmon “D. Some. M. Giss. M. Bern.adversaries, vvho intvvite us vvith Anabaptistrie: but impute weaknes to their ovvn former vvritings and cause, vvherin more strength of truth hath appeared then ever they shalbe able to pul dovvn, hovvsoever they may assayl it.
The 5. observation is a mist cast before the readers eyes, a collection of 7. things vvherin they vvould make men beleev, vve are gone from that vve held heretofore. The errour vvherof I vvil shevv hereafter vvhen (as order requireth,) I have examined the ansvvers that they make for themselves, to these our Articles, vvhichwhich novv next folovv.