Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 93
That which you call your fifth reason hath no countenance ofMr B. a reason in it, but is meerly a conclusion inferred by you vponupon your 4 former reasons, to prove Rome, in respect of the tyme pr…ent, a true Church: and the sum of it is▪ that the Churches now coming out of Babylon, do not requyre any n…w plantation, but onelyonly a reformation, as did Iudith in the tyme of Hezechiah, after the apostacy of Idolatrous Ahaz, and of the people w…h him. But since the reasons wherwith you would vnderprop this your inference, are taken away, it must needs …ll to the ground. Neyther will your Babel stand any whit the stronglyer for the †Ezek. 13 10.daubing you make with this, and the like vntempered morter, that it hath not made a nullity of religion: that it hath not lost the Apostolical constitution totally: that it holds truthes sufficient to iudg men christian by, the corruptions being taken away.
For first, what matters it, though Rome have not made a nullity, if it have made a falsity of religion, by most grosse vntruthes, haeresyes, and Idolatryes, making voyd the commaundements of God by mens traditions: and teaching for doctrines, mens precepts? And secōdly what though the cōstitutiō be not totally lost? If an house, or material building be not totally demolished, but there stil remayn some few postes, or studdes not yet puld down, or some few stones of the foundation vndigged vp, is it therfore truely an house, and so to be called? Lastly doth it follow, that, because Papists might be iudged true christians for the truthes they hold, their corruptions being taken away, they are therefore such with their corruptions: so the vilest haeretique, Idolater, or other miscreant in the world, take away his haeresy, Idolatry, and mischeif, may be iudged a christian: yea the Divil himself, take but away his corruptions, is a glorious Angel of light.
Having thus answered the reasons brought by Mr B. to prove Rome a true Church, and the like, I will in the next place lay down such arguments from the scriptures, as manifest the contrary, and those also taken out of his own writings, for the further discovering of his vnsound, and deceitful dealing with men, in the Lords matters.
And first in his cathechism printed 1602. pag. 1…. he demaundsI. this question. … the Church of Rome a true Church of Christ? whervnto he answereth. No; but of Antichrist the Pope the cheif teacher of the doctrine of Divils. And in the same place to prove that religion a false religion, he brings 7. general reasons very weighty, all, and every one of them, as he that reads the place, shal finde.
Secondly, in his seperatists s…hism, he makes as Iewes, Turks, and II.Pagans, no matter, so Papists false matter of the Church, and contrary to true matter, in that they ioyn with Christ, their works in the cause of salvation. pag. 111. 112. 113, 116.
Thirdly, he affirms in his last book pag. 277. that the covenant III.betwixt God, and the people is the form of the Church; and proves, that this covenanting mutually doth give a being vntounto a people, to be Gods people Deut. 29. 12. 13. To this let that be added, which he wrytes pag. 281. of the same book, namely that the Papists have not the same word, and fundamental poynts of the covenant, with them in England. And in particular, that they make a covenant with Angels, and Saynts, and so hold not the person in the covenant: that they make another word even mens traditions, the declaration of the covenant, and so change the evidence: that they make moe s…craments, and so adde counterfeyt seals, turning the Lords supper into a Popish sacrifice, and so do tear off the Lords seal, and make it nothing worth: and pag. 280.these three, namely the person, the wryting, and the seals he makes the foundamental poyn…s of the covenant, as wherein the foundation therof doth stand. And who now seeth not, how this man is first constrayned to plead for Rome as a true Church, to defend the Church of England, and afterwards being ashamed of that plea, to condemn it as a false Church, corrupt, and counterfyet in the very foundation, and form, which gives the being, as he himself speaks.
Fourthly, he graunts in these his *pag. 161.playn endeavours, that Rome isIIII. Babylon, and that the H. Ghost so calls it, and applyes rightly the places literally spoken of the type the heathe…ish Babylon; spiritually to the thing signifyed, the Antichristian Babylon, the Romish Synagogue. And the same thing, the wrytings of the godly learned, both at home, and abroad do confirm. No… what can be more playn? Is it possible that Rome should be both Babylon, & Ierusalem? both the Synagogue of Antichrist, and the Church of Christ? Can that Catholick visible body, the Church of Rome, (as it is called) vnderunder that visible head, Antichrist the Pope, be the true visible body of Christ, vnderunder him the head? The Apostle wryting vntounto the Galatians, calles the Church of the new …estamēt †Ch. 4. 26Ierusalem, which is above, & the mother of the …aythfull: and Iohn in the book of *ch. 14. 8▪ and 15. 2. with ch. 21. 2. 3.the Revel…tion, opposeth vntounto Babylon spiritual, the …w Ierusalem cōming down from God out of h…ven: and the tabe…n…le of God, where he dwelleth with men, making th…m his people, and himself…heir God. Now as the people of God in old tyme, were called out of “I…r. 50 8. 9. 10. &c. and 51. 6. 7 8. 9. Is…y. 21 9.Babylon civile, the place of their bodily bondage; and were to come †E…ra. 1. 2. 3. 5. &c.to Ierusalem, and there to build … new the Lords temple, or tabernacle, leaving Babylon to that destruction, which the Lord by his servants, the Prophets, had d…nounced against it: so are *R…v. 14. 8. and 18. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 1… 2. 3.the people of God, now to g…e out of Babylon spiri…, to Ierusalem, and to build vp themselves as lively stones into a s…, or temple for the Lord to d…vel in▪ leaving Babylon to that d…truction and desolation (…ea furthering the same) to which she is devoted by the Lord. B… if the people of God should receive Mr B. doctrine, they were not to come out of Babylon, nor to endeavour her destruction, but to tarry in her still, labouring for her reformation, and the reparation of her decayed places: neyther were they to build my new spiritual temple, or to constitute any new Church from Rome present, (for of such a new constitution we speak) but there to abyd…, reproving her corruptions, and endeavouring the reformation of them. It is therfore vntrue which you …y Mr B. “pag. 133.that▪ the Romish Church must be dealt with onelyonly, as the Church of God was in Iud…th: it must be dealt with as was Babylon, e…en abandoned and forsaken by the Lords people, vponupon p…ill of the curses, and plagues due vntounto it, and denounced against it, and against all that abyde in it.
To this which Mr B. in this place so greatly contends for, namely tha… Rome is the true Church of Christ though under corruptions, as Iob was a true man vnderunder his sores, let that be added which he wryteth els where in this book that †pag. 265corruptions are made matter of reproof, but no cause of separation from the Church: and further that *pag. 110. 111.they that separate from a true Church, the body, cut of themselves from Christ, the head: and to these two a third graunt, and profession he makes, as that their “pag. 114.profession, and lawes in England separate a protestant, from a Papist: that the Church of England is separated by profession▪ lawes, and publique m…etings from Papists: that †pag. 129.the very societyes of Papists are to be left as no people of God, and his writings will appeare to all men like a beggars cloak patched together of old, and new* pag. 142. peices, scraped vp here and there, scarce two of the same eyther colour, or thread. Let me a little stich his patches together, and set them in some order.
They that separate from the true Church, cut of themselves from Christ. Mr B. pag 110. 111.
But the Church of England in separating from Rome, is separated frō the true Ch: Mr B. pag. 114. 129. 14…. with 131. 132. 133.
Therefore by Mr B. both graunt and proof the Church of England is separated from Christ.
And is this your piety, and thankfulnes Mr B. towards your mother, for want of which you cast so many bitter curses vponupon the separatists? you are so far caryed in honouring your grandmother Rome, as a true Church, that you clean forgot your mother England, and condemn her for a schismatical Synagogue. Yea well were it, or at the least more tolerable in you, if you thus dealt onelyonly with your selfe, and your owne, but this vile iniury which you here offer, extends it selfe far, and nere, even to Luther, Zuinglius, and the other godly guides of separation, and to all the reformed Churches separated from the Church of Rome, yea to the martyrs in King Henryes, and Queen Maryes dayes, and to all other the like godly mynded, through the whole world, whom you condemn as wicked schismatiques and separated from Christ the head, in separating themselves from his body, your true Church of Rome.VI.
Lastly the Apostle Paul wryting to the Church of Rome in her first, and best estate, praemonisheth her to stand fast in the fayth received, least he, which had *Rom. 11. …7. 20. …1.not spared the natural branches, the Iewish Church, but broken them of for vnbel…if, should not spare the wild branches. whereof she consisted. How then Mr B. can you deny, that Rome is, and hath been long, broken of, which so long hath …yned works in the cause of salvation, which you your selfe affirm to be against the true nature of fayth, in the …o… of God, and that which destroyeth …?
And that all may take knowledge, how the Lord dealeth with his Churches vnderunder the new testament, and may learn both to fear in themselves, and how to iudge of the present state of Rome, let it be observed, what Christ Iesus by his servant Iohn wryteth vntounto the Churches in Asia, especially †Rev. …. …. v. 4.to the Church of Ep…esu…: which he having blamed for leaving her first love, exhorts to repentance and to the doing of her first workes, threatning withall, that otherwise he will come against her shortly, and remove her candlestick out of the place, exceptv. 5. she amend. The same thing in effect he denounceth againstv. 12. 16. the Churches of Perga…us, and Thya…yra, and so against the rest, vponupon the like occasions. And if the Lord dealt so severely with thev. 18. 2…. 2…. Church of Ephesus, notwithstanding the many excellent things, which were found in her, and so acknowledged by the Lord himselfe, v. 2. 3. as to remove her candlestick. 1. to dis-church her, as ch. 1. 20. for leaving her first love, and that speedily, except she repented, how can it be that the golden candlestick should stil stand in Rome, and shee remayn the Church of Christ, which so many hundred yeares since, hath left not onelyonly her first love, but her first fayth also? chaunging her fayth into haere…y, and Idolatry, and her love into most bloody, & cruel persequutions against all that have endeavoured her repentance, and so hath continued a long space, and doth continue at this day. None but professed Romanists will plead, any Charter for Rome above other Churches. These things thus opened, and these two capital errours confuted, the former Iewish, namely, that England now is, as Iudah was: and that as then, all the Iewes in that nation, so now all the English men in the Kings dominions should constitute a national Church: the latter Popish, viz. that the Romish Church is the true visible body, or Church of Christ; it is evident, both that the Evangelical Churches must be new planted, or constituted, by profession of fayth, as the temple, was new built, after the captivitie of Babylon; as also that not Iosiahs sword, that is the coactive lawes of men, but Pauls word, even the preaching or publishing of the gospel, is the proper means, which the Lord hath sanctifyed for that purpose, though, I doubt not, but there both hath been, and is, great vse of the Magist… authority for the furtherance of the gospel that way.
When the Lord Iesus purposed to advance the scepter of his king …me, he sent out his Apostles, not furnished with sword, and …p…, no… yet backed with humayn lawes, or authority, but with ch…ge, and commission, to publish, and declare his holy comm…nd…ments, and the things which he had taught them, and th…reby to … Disciples, or gayn subiects vntounto his kingdom▪ Math. 2…. 19. 2…. which they also practised, admitting, and initia…ing m…n into … Church vponupon their voluntary submission vntounto, and … of the …ayth of Christ.
N… … vntounto … be added a second consideration, namely, where, and, to … a the Apostles were first to preach and to … th… … commission received from Christ, it wil both g…ve ligh… to the …o…nt in hand and discover the vanity of a distinct…n in Mr B. … book, to which he trusteth much, and therefore …th o…t, …r the gathering, and establishing of Churches after the P…, by fy…, and sword, without any further respect, then the magistrates authority▪ the summe whereof, as also of that he infe…reth upon it, is, that to pag. 14…. 14…. 16….a Church in the f…t …, that i…, as … e…pound… himselfe, gathered of in…i…els, and of such a people … …re no Church, …, there is required preaching, and … going b…fore with the word, and profession of the name of Christ: but for a people that are not infidels, but Christians (h… corrupt soever) a… a Church, … su…h preachi… on the one side, n… … of …yth, on the other, is r…q…ired: … compel with the feare of the sw…, the Magistrate, authority is sufficient in such a case▪ Let the Reader behold this bold mans grosse ignorance, and contradi…tions, and if he wil not open his eyes to see them▪ he m…y feel them with his hand, so palpable are they. I wil lay them down in these particulars. …st he affirmeth, pag. 176▪ that, the Lord ta…s a pe…ple to be … and that comm… dements, are for his people to … …m, and n…t to make them … ma…s comma…ndeme…t mak…s not a servent, but decl…es such a one to be …is …vant already: and so he gives God not more power to commaund the wicked, and vnbeleevers, then a man hath to commaund another mans servant: and yet here he tells vsus, that before a people can become a Church, Paul must goe with the word: and expresly, pag. 277. that the Lord, to make m…n his people, gives t…em his word, and quo…es, Math. 28. 19. to prove it. Secondly by this his distinction, and his inferences vponupon it, he makes all the Iewes, to whom Iohn Baptist, Christ, and the Apostles preached, and which were baptised by them, or any of them, to have been Infidels before, and n… Church, no Christian…. And … he affirms directly, pag. 262. (though I suppose he consider…t not) where, in answer to a proposition of Mr Aynsworthes, that the Churches of Christ were established of saynts onelyonly, & men visibly …, confirmed amongst other scriptures, by Math. 3. 6. he p…emptorily avouches, and so builds vponupon it, that that, p…oposition, & scripture, amongst the rest, is to be vnderstood of a people, A…. 1. 39. and 3 25. 1 …. 1…. …. 4. Eph. 3. 6which is no Church & no Christians: & so the Church of the Iewes at that tyme, must be no Church, and they no Christians with this man, (for of them that scripture speaks) whatsoever Peter and Paul say to the contrary. Thirdly, since the Apostles being sent by Christ to teach, and make Disciples, were to begin their ministration amongst the Iewes in *I…d 24. 4…. A…. 2. 1. 2. 5 6.—14. …. … 3. …. 14.Ierusalem, Iudea, and else where; (which is the consideration, I formerly mentioned) and so by the publishing of the gospel of fayth, on their part, and by the profession of fayth, and confession of sinns on the peoples part, to gather, and establish particular A…. …. …. Gal. 1. 21.Churches: and that the Church of the Iewes was at that tyme the Church of God, in respect of which, the establishing of these particular Churches was no new plantation, but a continuation of their former ingra…ing in the same root, wherein they formerly were planted, not differing from it essentially, but being onelyonly reformed, perfited, and otherwise ordered then before: it appeareth most vntrue, which Mr B. affirm…th, that the preaching of the gospel is onelyonly necessarily required for the planting of Churches of such people, as were formerly infidels and no people of God. Fourthly, and lastly, even that which he most freely graunts in one 146pag. namely, that at the first, the word must be preached, and by that means men brought to a voluntary … without compulsion, that he vtterly reverses, and denyes in the very next *14. 7.pag where pleading the proclamation of Hezechiah, and compulsion of Iosiah, he annexeth to the same purpose as cunningly, as his wit wil serve, an insinuation, that Mordecai (for feare of whom, he sayth, many of the heathen (for such the people were) became Iewes) procured of the King proclamations, and other statutes, for the compelling of his subiects to the Iewish religion: wherein he both perver…sEst. …. 4. the words, as the reader may see, and the meaning also of th… scripture▪ which is, that the heathen observing the myghty and mervelous hand of God for his people, and against his and their enemyes, many of them became Iewes, and †Ezra. 6. 21.separated themselves vntounto them, from the … of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel: as also in alleadging to the same purpose, Luke 14. 23. as he doth in another place: borrowing (as it seems) the corrupt exposition of that scripture from the Ministers whom …e drawes in with him, in his *pag. 1…5.former book: of which more in due place.
But that I may not be caryed too far in this my digression, I do first deny, that the reformation by Queen Elizabeth (though great in it selfe and she for it, of blessed memory) did in any measure equalize the reformation made by Hezechiah, Iosiah, and N…he…yah, in whom you most insist Mr Bernard. For whereas all reformation respects eyther persons or things, that which was wrought by these godly Kings, and governours, receives testimony from the H. Ghost himselfe, to have been most full, and intyre, both wayes. And to let passe, for brevityes sake, the things themselves, with referring the reader to these and the like “2 King. 1…. 3. 4. 5. 6 2 Chr. 29. 2. 3. 5. 19. 20. 21. &c. and 30. 1. 2 &c. and 31. 1. &c.scriptures, which handle that part, I wil insist a litle vponupon the persons, about whom the question here is, between Mr B. and me, in whom the other parte of reformation is to be considered; which wil better appear, if we compare together officers with officers, and people… King. …. …. and 23. 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7 8. -24. 25. with people. And first it is evident in the scriptures, that those Kings, & Princes of Iudah, did not apoint any other Preists, eyther for the purging of the temple, or for any other Preistly work, whither of reformation, or administration, then the Levi…es, whom the Lord 2 Chr. 3…. …. 3. 4. 5. … …3.had chosen to stand before him, to serve him, and to be his Mini…ers, and to … …ncense, 2 Chr. 29. 4. 5. 11. And therfore when some that pretended they were Levites, could not †Ezra. … 61.by searching▪ find the writing of their genealogy, they wer… put from the Preisthood: & for the Preists of the high places which had gone astray after Idoles in the tyme of Apostacy, & served thē, & caused the people to fal into iniquity, if they were not Levites, and called of God, but of Ieroboams institution, they themselves were *2 King. 23. 20.sacri…iced vponupon the altars, with which they had so provoked the Lord: and though they were Levites, and the anoynted of the Lord, and so had their lives spared vponupon their repentance, yet were they deposed from their holy ministration, and “vers. 8. 9came not near vntounto the Lord any more, …er vntounto any of his holy things in the most holy place, but Ezech. 4▪ 10. 13.were to bear t…r shame, and their abhomm…tions, which they had wrought. But what answerable vntounto this can be brought forth in the reformation of the English Iudah? wherein the Preists of as ill an institution, or worse, then Ieroboams, even the institution of Antichrist, were continued in the most solemn administrations: yea both those which had been ordeyned, and made in Queen Maryes dayes, for their breaden God, and those which had fal… back from that profession of the truth they made in King Edwards dayes, and caused the people to fal into iniquitie: (which makes the mischeif much the greater) both they of the one kynde & of the other, being for the most part, ignorant, prophane, and popishly affected: as though eyther the sacrifice of the masse had been no Idol, or that the Lord had layd no shame, or other burthen vponupon such Idolatrous Apostates, and seducers.
Now for the people (entreating the reader to bear in mynd what I have formerly manifested, as that neyther the whole English nation ever was the Lords true visible Church, as the Iewish nation was, nor if it were at the first could so remayn in the deep Apostacy of Antichrist) I do adde, that no man can by the word of God affirme the same things in any measure of the people of England in the beginning eyther of King Edwards or Queen Elizabeths reign, which the scriptures d… of the people of the Iewes in the tyme of Hezechiah, Iosiah, Nehemiah, and other the like godly instruments of reformation.
First for Hezechiahs tyme, it appeareth that after †2 Chr. …9 5. 12. …1. … ▪the Levites …ad sanctifyed themselves, and the house of the Lord, they offred after al solemn manner▪ …s…n offering for the kingdome, and for the sanctuary, and …e…. 4.for Iudah: the King▪ and the congregation laying their hands vponupon the sacrific…s, thereby confessing that they were guilty of death, and deriving their guilt vponupon the goats in figure, but vponupon Christ in truth,… ▪ 31▪ 35 36 whom they figured: and afterwards when the congregation was to …g sacrifices, and every one that was willing in hart, burnt offerings, it is sayd the burnt offerings …re many, yea so many, as the Preists were not able to s… them all: and that all the people reioyced, that God had made the people …. Adde vntounto this that which is written chap. 30. v. 11. 12. that d…rs of Ash…. M…nasseth, and Z…bulun did submit themselves vntounto the counsel of Hezechiah, and that willingly, (for he had no authority over them at all) and came to Ierusalem, of whom the Lord also testifieth that they †….prepared their whole heart to seek the Lord God, &c. and for Iudah▪ that the hand of God was with them, … that he gave them one hart to do the commaundment of the King, and of the rulers, according to the word of the Lord: and lastly that the whole assembly kept the passeover with ioy, and that *…all the congregation both straungers, and those that dwelt in Iudah reioyced with the Preists and Levites, who also blessing them, had their voyce heard in heaven, and their prayer in the Lords holy habitation. And for Iosiahs tyme, it is written, that, … Chr 34▪ 30 31. 32he, the Preists and all the people from the greatest to the s…lest went vp into the house of the Lord, & that he read in their eares all the words of the book of the covenant, and that he stood by his piller, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commaundments and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart &c. & caused, or appoynted (for the word signifieth no more) all that were found in Ierusalem and Beniamin to stand vntounto it: and that the inhabitants of Ierusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. Thirdly for the estate of the people in Nehemiahs tyme, with whom also I ioyn Ezra in the work of reformation, first, it appeareth,…. 2… that none were constrayned to return to Ierusalem for the building of the Lords house; but †….such amongst the people, as would, and with ….whom their God was▪ were by the proclamation of Cyrus to return: and secondly that * Ezra and such as went with him did, before their jorney, humble themselues by fasting before the Lord, for direction: and that, when they were come to Ierusalem, there was much weeping and wayling by him for the sinns of the people (especially for that great trespasse they had committed, in taking strange wives of the people of the land) together with great manifestation, and practise of repentance, by all the congregation: and afterwards in the book of †… 2. 3. 4. 5. … 7. …. 9. 1…. …7.Nehemiah, when all the people were assembled together in the …ry street, the same Ezra, and the Levites with him, read, and expounded the law … to them, to the great humbling of all the people at the first, and afterwards to the great reioycing of them all, when they vnderstood the words, which were taught them: and thus they practised every day, even from the … 18.first day vntounto the last, all the seven dayes, whylst the f…st …: and in the last place, and for the shutting up of all, confessing their sin…s, chap. …. 1 2 ch. 1…. 1. 2… 29.and the iniquities of their fathers, with fasting, sackcloath, and earth vponupon them, they made a sure covenant, and w…e it, sealed it, and swore vntounto it, the Princes, Levites, Preists, and people all that were separated from the people of the …d▪ vntounto the law of God, their wives, sonnes, and daughters, all that could vnderstand, the cheaf for the rest, that they would walkin Gods law which was given by Moses the servant of God, to observe and d…e all the commaundements of God, and his iudgments, and statutes. VntoUnto these former scriptures I wil annex one other of the same nature with them, and respecting the case of reformation. It is recorded therefore of *2 Chr. 14 2. …. 4.Alia a godly King of Iudah having in the beginning of his reign, abolished idolatry, … the monuments of it, and commaunded Iudah to se…k the Lord God of their fathers, &c. that afterwards vpō the"ch. 1…. 8. 9. 12. 13. 1… exhortation of the Prophets Azariah, & Obed, he not onelyonly went on with that work, but * assēbled together all Iudah, & Beniamin & … which had … out of Israel, whē they saw the Lord his God was with him▪ & that they made a covenant to seek the L. God of their fathers, with all their hart & with all … & that whosoever would not seek the L. God of …, whether he were …al or great, man or woman: & the same covenāt with the Lord being cōfirmed by an oth, it is sayd, that all Iudah reioyced at the … & the reason is added, for they had sworn vntounto the Lord with … their …, and fought him with a whole desire, & he was found of them. The Lord▪ as he had chosen this whole kingdome to be his people, and raysed vp this▪ and the like notable instruments of reformation amongst them, so did he vponupon this and the like occasions work a most wonderful, and extraordinarie work vponupon them, bowing their harts vniversally to the love of his word, for the present, and to the receiving of the same with ioy, together with all readines vntounto the obedience of his commaundements: the like vntounto which never was, nor shalbe seen, to the end of the world in a whole kingdome except the Lord do again chuse one nation from all other nations to be his people, as then he did. And I am verily perswaded that Mr B. (how bold soever he be in his affirmations) will not say the like of all England, eyther in the beginning, or end of King Edwards, or Queen Elizabeths reign, which the scriptures themselves here, and els where, do testify, of all Iudah: whither we respect the disposition of the people whose hearts vniversally the Lord on his part did thus affect; or the solemn covenant, which they on theirs, did contract, or rather renue with him. And here I do further also infer, since all Iudah reioyced at the oath of the covenant, and swore vntounto the Lord with all their heart, and sought him with a whole desire: 2 Chr. 15. 13. and that the hand of God was in Iudah, so that he gave them one heart to do the commaundement of the King, and of the rulars according to the word of the Lord: Ch. 30. 12. and so at other tymes, that it is most vntruely affirmed by Mr B. how oft soever he repeat it, that the reformation of Iudah was not voluntary, but of compulsion, and of fear. True it is, that the Kings of Iudah made compulsive lawes for the reformation of the people, or rather for their continuance in that reformation, to which they had voluntarily submitted; but as Mr B. ignorance is intollerable in that his seditious errour, tending indeed to the disturbance and subversion of all states civil, and ecclesiastical, that † voluntarinesse is taken away by being vnderunder any government: thatPag. 212. to be subiect, and ruled is an estate far from fredome: and that Christians loose therby christian liberty: so should he here have observed a difference betwixt compulsion active, and passive, as they speak: or more playnly thus, that it is one thing for Kings, or men in authority, to require of their subiects the performance of necessary duties or the forbearance of the contrary, vponupon such, and such penaltyes, and another thing for their subiects to obey them herein, for fear, and involuntarily. Many of the Kings lawes do require loyalty of all his subiects towards his maiesty, and do forbid vponupon payn of death al treasons, & rebellions: now wil any man hereupō be so vnadvised, as to affirm, that therfore all the Kings subjects do forbear treasons and rebellions, through compulsion, and fear, and vnwillingly? That godly magistrates are by compulsion to represse publique, & notable idolatry, as also to provide that the truth of God in his ordinance, be taught, and published in their dominions, I make no doubt; it may be also, it is not vnlawfull for them by some penalty, or other, to provoke their subjects vniversally vntounto hearing for their instruction, and conversion; yea to graunt they may inflict the same vponupon them, if after due teaching, they offer not themselves vntounto the Church; but that any King now vponupon earth is by the word of God, to draw all the people of his nation into covenant with the Lord, (how much lesse before they be cōveniently taught) and to confirm the same by oath, and to inflict death vponupon all that refuse it, or remayn wicked▪ and vnrepentant, as the Kings of Iudah were to do by the people of that nation, can never be proved by Mr B. or any other man, how oft soever they bring in their practises for presidents. And if the Kings of Engl. should hold it their duty, as the Kings of Israel held it theirs, to “Ps. 101. 8destroy all the wicked of the land, and to *2 Chr. 15. 12. 13.slay all that would not seek the Lord God of Israel with all their hart, and with all their soule, whether great, or small, man or woman, & should practise accordingly, they would be left barer of subjects, then I hope they shalbe. To these considerations let this be added, that when David the most famous King of Israel had †2 Sam. 5. 1. 2. 3. 5.subdued the nations round about him, and made them tributaries, and reigned over them, he did not force them into the Church by compulsive lawes, nor take any such violēt courses, that we read of. Neyther can you shift of the matter, Mr B. by alleadging that these nations were heathens, and infidels, and such as made no profession of religion, nor were circumcised: for amongst the rest over whom David ruled, the *vr 14.Edomites are named, which were the posterity of holy Abraham, as well as the Israelites, comming of Esau, as they of Iaakob: who did also (besides many mayn truthes) reteyn circumcision, and that true also, as well as the Papists reteyn true baptism; and by which they might as truely be deemed the Lords people, though in apostasie, as the Papists by the other.
To end this argument of violence in religion, to which it is very vnnaturall; neyther Hezechiah, nor Iosiah, nor any other King, eyther of Iudah or England had, or hath power from God to compel an apparant prophane person (so remayning) eyther to joyn vntounto, or continue in the Church, and the Church so to receive, & continue him. The Kings of Iudah as I hauehave shewed, were to destroy, and put to death all such wicked ones, and so to weed them out of the Church, by the sword, according to the dispensation of those tymes, to what end then doth Mr B. bring in them, & their authority, eyther for the planting, or watering of such persons in the Church, for which purpose notwithstanding he produceth them. So for other Kings, though they be not to destroy all the wicked in their land, or nation, as not being to gather a nationall Church, so are they to vse their authority for the preserving pure of the Church, & to see that wicked & …lagitious persons be neither taken into, nor kept in the Ch: to the dishonour of God, & profanation of his ordinances. You speak much of the reformation of your Church after Popery. There was indeed a great reformation of things in your Church, but very little, of the Church, to speak truely, and properly. The people, as I hauehave sayd, are the Church: and to make a reformed Church, there must be first a reformed people: and so there should hauehave been with you by the preaching of repentance from dead works, and faith in Christ: that the people (as the Lord should hauehave vouchsafed grace) being first fitted for, & made capable of the sacraments, and other ordinances, might afterwards have communicated in the pure vse of them: for want of which, in stead of a pure vse, there hath been, and is at this day a most prophane abuse of them, to the great dishonour of Christ, and his gospell, and to the hardening of thowsands in their impenitencie. Others also indeavouring yet a further reformation, have sued, and do sue to Kings, and Queens, and Parliaments, for the rooting out of the Prelacy, and with it, of such other evill fruits as grow from that bitter root: and on the contrary to have the Ministery, government, and discipline of Christ set over the Parishes, as they stand: the first fruit of which reformation, (if it were obteyned,) would be the further profanation of the more of Gods ordinances vponupon such, as to whom they apperteyned not, and so the further provocation of his great Majesty vntounto anger, and indignation against all such, as so practised, or consented therevnto. Is it not strange that men in the reforming of a Church, should almost, or altogether forget the Church which is the people, or that they should labor to crown Christ a King over a people, whose Prophet he hath not first been? or to set him to rule by his law…s, & officers, over the professed subjects of Antichrist, & the Divel? or is it possible that ever they should submit to the discipline of Christ, which have not first been prepared, in some measure, by his holy doctrine, & taught with meek…es to stoop vntounto his yoke? Both you Mr B: & they of the other sort do tel vsus oft of the reformed Churches, and of your agreement with them. I wish to God from my very hart, that both you, and they, would compare your selves with them, in this principall point, vntounto which all other are but as accessaries. They after the abolition of Popery, were established at the first, whether by a new plantation (new wee mean in respect of the present estate of Rome) or by reformation onelyonly, as you will hauehave it: and are still continued, and increased by the free, voluntary, and personall profession of faith, and confession of sinnes of such men, and women, as are by the word of God, and the publishing of it, perswaded, and in some measure fore-fitted to joyn vntounto them, and walk with them: and all this without any compulsion with the fear of Iosiahs sword, or Hezechiahs proclamation, bypag. 246. 247. which you confesse your Church to have been, in the persons of King Edward & Queen Elizabeth, brought back from Antichrist to the reformation wherin now you stād: for which you peremptorily professe, there is not required any profession of the name of Christ. Let it then be considered of, and judged by all indifferent men, how it can possibly be that both the reformed Churches abroad, and the vnreformed Church of England, can be truely gathered, after the apostasie of Antichrist: the former being separated from Popety into covenant with the Lord, in the particular members, by voluntary profession of faith without compulsion; and the latter by compulsion, without profession of faith. Howsoever government, & freedom, or voluntarynes, be not contrary according to your most ignorant affirmation; yet compulsion, and voluntarines are; and contraries cannot stand together and be made true, no not by God himself. My hope was that (the argument of compulsion once ended,) I might, with good leave, have returned to the former book: but see, after so many provings, and professings of Rome a true Church, & still in covenant with God, & that the Churches now separating from her, were not to be gathered of such voluntaries, as in the first plantation, nor needed the preaching of the word to go before for their conversiō, but that the Magistrate might compel them by fear, and that so the reformation of the Church of England was wrought, Mr B. now tels vsus a cleane contrary tale, and that their reformation was voluntary, and not constreyned, and how thatpag. 145. came about.