Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 131 – Section 135
But here two exceptions made by Mr Bernard, in his secondpag. 308. book must be satisfied. The former is, that, the Pastour is to feed such litle ones, as are borne in the Church: the other, that he is to Mr B.reclaym such vntounto sanctification, as fall to wickednes.
To the former exception I do answer. First, that Paul in the place in hand, rayseth no argument at all from any work vponupon the …l… ones born in the Church of Corinth, but vponupon the men of riper years, whom he turned from idolatry to the true God. 2. Even …l… ones born in the Church, may in their order, and after their manner, be sayd to be converted, or turned vntounto the Lord, or born agayne, which are all one: otherwise being *Eph. 2. 3.by nature children of wrath, “Psal. 51. 5born in iniquity, and conceived in sin, how could they be reputed *1 Cor. 7. 14.holy? yea how could they possibly be saved, or enter into Gods kingdō? Ioh. 3. 5. And since you graunt Mr B. that the Pastor is to feed those litle ones, do you not therein acknowledge they are converted, or borne a new? In the preface of your book you would hauehave men begotten after they were born: and here you will hauehave them fed before they be borne. Now for those little ones, as wee are to repute them holy in regard of the Lordes covenaunt, and do therefore set his seale vponupon them, so are their parents even from their cradle to *Eph. 6. 4.bring them vp in instruction, & information of the Lord: and so to prepare them for the publique ministery: vntounto which if they in their riper yeares give obedience in any measure, they are so to be continued in the Church: if otherotherwise, they are in due time, as vnprofitable branches to be lopped of, and so cease to be of the Pastours charge.
Secondly for men falling into wickednes in the Church; if they continue obstinate, and irreclamable, then are they in order to be consured, and so the Pastour is discharged of them: if on the contrary, God vouchsafe them repentance, this cannot be called a conversion of them to sanctification, but a “Gal. 6. 1.restoring, or recovering of them out of some particular evill, or evils, into vvhichwhich, through infirmity, they are falln. So that the doctrine stands sound, for any thing that Mr Bernard hath sayd, or that eyther he, or any other man can say, that the Pastours office stands in feeding, not in converting: as also that Pauls scale, and work, was not the bare conversion of the Corinthians, but their conversion from heathenism, plantation into a Church, and these with the signes of an Apostle, even signes, and wonders, and great works, 2 Cor. 12. 12.
Lastly, that the simple be not deceived, and eyther give honour where it is not due; or give it not, where it is due, let them consider, that the conversion of a man is no way to be ascribed to the order or office eyther of Apostles, or Pastours, but onelyonly to the word of God, which by the inward work of the spirit is †Rom. 1. 16the power of God to salvation, to them that beleeve: it is *…Psal. 19. 7.the law of the Lord, that converts the soule. The *‘Mat. 13. 19. 23.word of the kingdome is that good seed, which being sown in good ground prospereth to the bringing forth of fruit to life, whether he that sow it be in a true office, or in a false office, or in no office at all. And though it be true, which Mr B. saith in his “pag. 130.former book, that the Ministers in England do preach as publik Officers of that Church, yet doth their Office confer, or help nothing at all to the conversion of men. It is the blessing of God vponupon the mayn truthes they teach, not vponupon their office of Preisthood, which converts: which truthes if they taught without their office, eyther before they were called to it, or being deprived of it, would without doubt be as effectuall, as they are, yea, & much more, by the blessing of God; as appears in this, that such amōgst them, as make least account of their office formally received from the Prelates, are the most profitable instruments amongst the people: where on the contrary, the professed formalists cleaving vntounto their office, and order canonically, are generally vnprofitable eyther for the conversion, or confirmation of any to, or in holines.
To conclude then, the turning of men vntounto holynes of life, is no iustification of your office of ministery, or calling vntounto it, but of such truthes, as are taught amongst you: which all men are bound to hold, and honour, as we also do: though we disclaym the order, and power, in and by which they are ministred.
The seventh, and last argument Mr B. takes from certayn properties of true sheepheards, layd down, Ioh. 10. which he also affirmeth,Mr B. the Ministers of the Church of England have: the first whereof is, that they go in by the dore, Iesus Christ, that is, by his call, and the Churches, which (as he sayth) he hath proved at large.
In so saying he speaks at large: let him prove, that the Bishop▪ Answ.or Patron, or eyther of them, is in Christs place set by him to chuse Ministers: or that they are the Church, to which he hath committed the power of calling and choosing them, and answer the Reasons brought to the contrary: otherwise his large proving will appeare but a large boasting: and he will give men occasion to remember the proverb, It is good beating a proud man.
The 2. property wherewith he investeth them, is, that the porter openeth vntounto them: by which porter Mr Smith means the Church, for which Mr B▪ reviles him out of measure; making the porter invisibly Mr B.Gods spirit, visibly the authority committed by the Church vntounto some for admitting men into the house, the Church of God, which sayth he, is a sensible exposition according to the custome with us, and in Iudaea.
As there are many true ministers (in respect of men) which enterAnsw. not in at all by the spirit of God, or any motion of it, as it was with Iudas, & is with all hypocrites, who for by-respects take that calling vppon them: so is Mr Smithes exposition making the Church the porter far more probable then yours, who make the porter, the authority, of the Church cōmitted to some for the admission of men. Is not the porter a person rather then a thing? And who that hath but common sense, will not rather by the porter vnderstand the person or persons having authority, then the authority, which he, or they have? And if you Mr B. had but remembred, what you write of the properties of the Church pag. 237. 138. making as here you do, the porter, or authority of the Church a property of a sheepheard, you would (I suppose) in modesty have forborn the charging of Mr Smith to have his braynes intoxi…ated by his new wayes, & to be madded by his own fantasies in religion, for wryting in this poynt, as he doth. And for the thing it self, it is evident, that Christ Iesus is properly the sheepheard of the sheep, here spoken of: and that therefore the authority…. …. 11. of the Church can be no porter for hi enterance, or admission. I do therefore rather think, that by the porter is meant God the father, whose care, and providence is ever over his flock, who therefore hath called, and appoynted his sonne Iesus Christ to be that good sheepheard, who gave his life for his sheep. And if you will apply this to ordinary Pastours, and their calling, then sure by the porter must be meant such, as have received this liberty, & power from Christ by the hands of his Apostles, for the chusing, and appoynting of ministers, which I am sure, of all others, are not the Romish▪ or English Bishops. Christ would never have the wolves to appoynt his sheep their sheepheards.
The 3. property of good sheepheards which you chalenge to yourMr B. selves, is, that they call their own sheep by name, that is, they take notice of their people▪ of their growth in religion …d do abyde with them, diligently watching over their flockes: as by true and faithfull promise made in the open congregation they be bound in their ordination.
It must here be observed, as before, that Christ speaks onelyonly ofAnsw. himself properly; for of him onelyonly, it can be sayd, that the sheep a… his own: the people are very improperly called the Ministers sheep: & Christ sayth not vntounto Peter †Ioh. 21. 15 16. 17.feed thy sheep, but my sheep.
2. To take your own exposition Mr B. how can your Praelates, whom in the 6. Argument you make sheepheards, call their sheep by name, or take notice of, & watch over their whole Diocesan, and Provinciall flocks? Yea if your self or any one amongst you, take notice of your people, as the flock of Christ, and of their growth in religion, they take notice of that which is not. I speak of the flock, though I doubt no… but there are some sheep straying from the right fould, in your heards. Of the abyding of your Ministers with their flockes, wee shall speak hereafter: onelyonly this in the mean while, that considering how many flocks you your self Mr B. have forsaken, me thinks you should hauehave forborn, in wisdome, to make this one property of a true sheepheard.
A 4. property of a good sheepheard, you say, you have, whichMr B. is, to lead forth your sheep, viz, from pasture to pasture, from milk to strong meat, &c.
There are many faire, and wholsome pastures in the feild ofAnsw. Gods word, into vvhichwhich you do not lead your sheep, no nor so much as point to them with the finger: neyther indeed dare you, because they are hedged in with humain authority, your statutes, & canons ecclesiastical. Nay all your care is to keep your people from the knowledg of them, least they should break through those thorny hedges, at which you stick.