Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 27
The last and highest degree of our vncharitablenes he reckons this that we are sorry and envious that the good things of God do prosper with them, & that the more religious men be in their way the more are we greived, and to this end he pretends Mr Barrowes abusing and scoffing at the graces of God, and holy exercises in such persons.Ans.
As we hold our selves bound to acknowledge all good things in all men and to honour them accordingly, 1 Pet. 2. 17. So must I here demaund of Mr B. as another hath done before me, what those good things are which so prosper; OnelyOnly the Prelates prosper in the kingdome who with theyr ceremonious hornes & canons beat & batter down all that stands in their way. Of their prosperity against the truth we are sory, but not envious, being taught not to envy the works of iniquity, considering what suddayn, and certayne desolation shall fall vponupon them. Psal. 37. 9. 10.
And (by the way) where Mr B. takes it for graunted, that the reformists are the most religious in the way of the Church of England it is cleane otherwise. The most absolute Formalists, & most strict vrgers of conformity are the most religious in the way of the Church of England: And as for the reformists theyr zeale (to speak as the truth is, and as shall hereafter more fully be manifested) is not in, nor for the way of the Church of England but a by path from it, which the Church of England (considered in the formall constitution of it) accounteth schism, and rebellion: but rather the same way in effect which we walk, if they were true to theyr own grounds, and durst practise what they have professed in theyr supplications, and admonitions to the Prince, and Parliament, & other their vnderunder hand passages, wherein they do playnly condemn the Prelacy for Antichristian, the service book as superstitious, the mixture of all sortes of people as confused, and so of the rest. And this Mr B. iustifyeth the obiections which you would so gladly prevent pag. 57. made by your brethrē in the faith (for so are the worst of them) the prophane and secure worldlings, and Athiests, that men paynfull and conscionable in their Ministery and lives, do breed and further (as you speak) Brownistes and Brownisme. For proof hereof I will here insert a few things written & published both in former and latter tymes by such men, as I dare say Mr B. reckens amongst the painefull & conscionable Ministers.
Their words are these.
We have an Antichristian & Popish ordering of Ministers, strange frō the word of God never heard of in the primitive Church but taken out of the Popes shop to the destruction of Gods kingdome. 2. Adm. to the Parl.
The names and offices of Archbishops, Archdeacons Lordbishops &c. are together with their goverment drawen out of the Popes shop Antichristian, divelish, and contrary to the scriptures. Parsons, Uicars Parish Preists, Stipendaryes &c. be byrds of the same fether. 2. Admo. to the Parliament.
The callings of Archbishops, Bishops, with all such be ra…er members and parts of the whore and strumpet of Rome, then of the pure Uirgin and spouse of the immaculate Lamb. Mr Ch. Serm. vponupon Rom. 12.
The calling of Bishops and Archbishops do onelyonly belong vntounto the Kingdome of Antichrist. Discovery of D. Ban. slaunders. pag. …0.
Our Diocesan and Provinciall Churches vsing Diocesan and Provinciall goverment and officers are contrary to Gods word and simply vnlawfull. Mr Iakob for reformation: Ass: 1.
There is no true visible Church of Christ but a particular congregation onelyonly. Christian Offer. Prop. 4.
Every true visible Church of Christ or ordinary assembly of the faithfull hath by Christs ordinance power in it selfe imediately vnderunder Christ to elect, to ordayne, deprive, and depose theyr Ministers and to exequute all other Ecclesiasticall Censures. Ibid: Prop: 5.
The visible Church of Christ wheresoever it be hath the power of bynding and loosing annexed vntounto it as our saviour Christ teacheth Math. 18. Discovery of D. Ban. slaunders. Preface.
We must needs say as followeth, that this book (viz the Communion book) is an vnperfect book culled and picked out of that Popish dunghill the masse book full of al abhominations. Adm: to Parl. Treat: 2.
Amongst vsus the holy sacraments are communicated with the Papists, the holy misteryes of God prophaned, the Gentiles enter into the temple of God, the holy things are indifferently communicated with the clean and vncleane, circumcised and vncircumcised. A plaine declaration of ecclesiasticall discipline. pag. 172.
Now let the indifferent reader iudge whether these sayings with many moe of the like kinde do not most necessarily conclude, yea & naturally beget a separation frō the goverment, Ministery, worship and communion of the Church of England: and whether these men in thus wryting have not opened the dore vntounto vsus, by which themselves enter not.