Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 127 – Section 129
Thus much of the 4. Argument. The 5. followeth, the summe whereof is, that, bycause the Ministers of the English assemblies, teach true, and sound doctrine in the root, and fundamentall points of religion, they Mr. B.are therefore the true Ministers of Christ. And that sound doctrine is the triall of a true Minister, Mr B. would prove from these scriptures,Answ. 1 Tim. 4. 6. Ier. 23. 22.
Of the vnsound doctrine of your Church, and that more specially in the fundamentall points of religion, “Mr Ioh. Answ. to Mr Iacob. pag. 46. 47. 48. &c. 157▪ 158. &c.others have spoken at large formerly, and something is by me hereafter to be spoken: for the present therefore this shall serve, that, since †1 Cor. 3. 11Christ Iesus not onelyonly as Preist, and Prophet, but as King, is the foundation of his Church: and that the visible Church is *Mat. 13. 11. 19. 24. 31. 33. & 21. 5. 43. Act. 1 3.the kingdome of Christ; the doctrines towching the subiects, government, officers, & lawes of the Church, can be no lesse then fundamentall doctrines of the same Church, or Kingdome. Which how vnsound they are with you, appears in your Canons ecclesiasticall composed for that purpose. Which if your ministers preach, they preach vnsound doctrine, and strike at a mayn pillar of religion, viz: the visible †1 Tim. 3. 14.Church of God, which is the pillar, and ground of truth, as the Apostle speaketh: if not, then are they schismatiques in, and frō your Church, whose solemn doctrines they refuse to publish.
Now bycause Mr Bern. every where beares himself big vponupon the sound doctrines taught by the ministers in England, and in this place brings in two scriptures to warrāt their Ministery vpō this groūd, let vsus a litle consider of the scriptures, and of the intent of them, and what verdict they give in on his side. In the one place, the Prophet *Ch. 23. 22. ver. 11Ieremy reproves the Preists and Prophets, for not dealing faithfully with the people, in laying before them their abhominations, and Gods judgements due unto the same, that so they might hauehave turned from their evil wayes, and from the wickednes of their v. 22.inventions; but for flattering them on the contrary, in their iniquities, and for preaching peace vntounto them, for the strengthening of their v. 14. 17.hands in evil. Now if the Ministers in England be measured by these mens line, they will appear to ly levell with thē in a great measure.
For first, the greatest part of them by far, declare not the Lords word at all vntounto the people, but are tonguetyed that way, some through ignorance, some through idlenes, & many through pride. And of them which preach how many are there mere men-pleasers, flattering the mighty with vayn, and plausibly words, and strengthening the hands of the wicked; and with prophane, and malicious spirits, reviling, and disgracing all sincerity in all men: adding vntounto these evils a wicked conversation, by which they further the destruction of many, but the conversion of none. And lastly, for those few of more sound doctrine, and vnblameable cō versation, let these things be considered.
First, they are reputed schismatiques in the Church of Engl: & I.are generally excōmunicated ipso facto, & so wil appear to be to any that compares their practise with the ecclesiasticall lawes of that Church.
2. They do with these sound doctrines mingle many errours:II. yea the same things which in the generall they teach, and professe, they do in the particulars, but specially in their practise, gainsay, & deny.
3. As they declare the Lords will vntounto the people but by halves, andIII. keep back a great part of his counsel, which they know is profitable for them, & wherin they would walk with them, were it not for fear of persecution, so are they ready to de silenced, & to smother the whole counsel of the L., & not to speak one word more in his name vntounto the people vponupon …h…ir Lord Bishops inhibition: which (were they perswaded in their consciences they were sent of God) I suppose they durst not do. Of which more in the seventh Argument.
Now for that in Tim. 1. Epist. 4. ch. ver. 6. if the doctrine of the Ministers agree with the doctrine, and practise of the Ch: they will appear liker to them, of whom Paul speaks, ver. 3. then to Timothy, ver: 6. If it be sayd, that the Church of England, forbid▪ not mariage, & vse of meates absolutely, but in certayn respects; I answer, no more doth the Church of Rome, but to certeyn persons, and at certeyn times: against whō notwithstanding all Protestants do apply this scripture: and so doth the Church of England forbid them; though more sparingly (as good reason the daughter come something behind the mother) as mariage to fellowes in Colledges, and to Apprentices, and to all at certeyne tymes, especially at Lent: during which holy time, the eating of flesh is also forbidden, and abstinence commaunded, and that in incitation of *Book of Cōmon pr.Christs f…ting for our sakes fourty dayes, and fourty nightes; and that for a religious vse, namely the subd…ing of the flesh vntounto the spirit, for the better obedience of godly motto…s in righteousnes, & true holynes, as the Collect for the first sunday in Lent witnesseth.
But admit the Ministers of Engl: taught foundly in all the mayn points of religion, as I acknowledge some doe in the most, yet did this no way prove them true Ministers of Christ, that is, lawfully called to true offices in the Church.
In what mayn point of religion (as you valew points) could Corah be chalenged? and yet he was no true Preist of the Lord, butNum. 16. an vsurper of that office▪ v. 10. 11. as on the contrary, they wereIer. 23. 11. true Preists, in respect of their office, who deceived the people here, and every where, as the scriptures manifest. So that both he, which is no true minister of Christ, may teach the ma…n truthes of religion: and he also that is a true Minister, may erre greatly, & yet not presently cease to bear both the place, and name of a true minister of Christ. Otherwise all Ministers are Popes, that cannot err.
To end this Argument, Mr B. in both his books vvould have probation, and tryall to be made of a mans gifts, and graces before he be admitted into the ministery. And not onelyonly he, but Paul himself amongst, & above the rest, requires, *1. Tim. 3. 2.aptnes to teach and †Tit. 1. …ability to exhort with wholesome doctrine: and as this gift must be in him, so must it be known to be in him, before he can be lawfully called into the ministery▪ and this Mr B. affirms expresly, and that by the exercise of this gift, his knowledge, zeal and vtterance, is to be manifested. Wherevpon I conclude that, if tryall by sound doctrine must be made of them, which are no ministers at all (as indeed it must in the exercise of prophesying) then cannot sound doctrine be any sufficient tryall, that is proof, or Argument, of a true minister.
The sixth Argument for the justification of the ministers in Engl.Mr B. is, Gods ordinary, and dayly assistance of them in theyr ministery, for the working mens conversion vntounto the Lord.
God forbid I should eyther deny, or make doubt of the effectuallAnsw. conversion of men vntounto salvation in Engl. neyther doth Mr Ainsworth say (as you charge him in your 2. book) that none are converted Pag. 298.by you: but he shewes, first, how you cōtradict your selves in saying that you convert men to God, and yet affirm, that the same persons before their conversion, were true Christians: and 2. that considering the swarmes of graceles persons, wherewith all your parrishes are filled, you have more cause of blushing, then of boasting this way. But this I deny, that the conversion of men vntounto God is a sufficient Argument to prove a true minister of Christ: that is, to prove a lawfull calling into a true office of ministery, according to Christs testament. It is most evident, that whosoever converteth a man vntounto God, that person doth in truth, and in deed minister the word of God, & the spirit by the word: & so may be sayd to be sent of God; but that every one, whom God so honoreth, (though never so ordinarily) should therefore be a true Church officer lawfully called to publique administration (which is the quaestion betwixt Mr B. and me) is most vntrue & cōtrary both to many *Lev. 4. 22 23 27. 28. & 19. 17. mat. 18. 15. Ioh. 4. 39. Act. 8. 4. with 11. 1… 20. 21. 1. Cor 14. 24. 25. Iam. …. 19. 20.scriptures, which shew that men in no office, may, and to much experience, which shewes they do convert, and save sinners. And if onelyonly officers may convert vntounto the Lord, to what purpose should private persons exhort, instruct, and reprove any vponupon any occasion whatsoever?
But here I am driven to take vponupon me the defence of them, whom Mr B. pag. 299. of his 2. book challengeth for cavellers, upon the same ground▪ he chalengeth Mr Ainsworth for deceip…ful dealing, pag. 304. of the same book.
Mr Ainsworth denyes that qualification with good gifts is a proof of a lawful Minister. Herein sayth Mr B. he severs deceiptfully thingsMr B. to be conioyned, for this reason with the rest in my book, shewes, who is a true Minister. In like maner, we except against his 6. Argument, & affirm that others, besides Ministers, do cōvert men to God; & that therfore conversiō argues not a true minister. This is cavelling, sayth Mr B. for both these, and others may conv…rt: and agayn this is but one Reason, but there be m…re besides, which are sufficient to prove our ministery.
And is it cavelling in vsus, or ignorance in you thus to speak?Answ. you do acknovvledge pag. 304. that qualification with good gifts is a Reason amongst the rest to shew a true Minister: and pag. 298 you make the conversiō of men, a distinct argument to prove the same thing. And know you not, that every sound Reason, or Argument must prove, or argue, of it self, the thing, for vvhichwhich it is brought? Many Reasons indeed, or Arguments may be produced to prove one, and the same thinge: and so for further confirmation, may follovv one vponupon another: but so as every one of them severally be of force to prove the thing in quaestion, othervvise it is not vvorthy the name of a Reason, or Argument, but is a meer sophistication. Eyther therefore Mr Bernard bring such Arguments, as vvil of themselves evince that they are brought for; and then reckon them vp by sevens as you do here; or by tvventies if you vvill, as els vvhere you doe: or els cease to abuse the Reader vvith a multitude of maymed proofs as your custome is.
Novv bycause the conversion of men to God is much vrged by the Ministers, and much stood at by many vvell minded people (as indeed both in equity, and good conscience, men are to respect the instruments of Gods mercy tovvards them) I vvill enlarge my self, in this point, further, then othervvise I vvould.