Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 130
And first for the tvvo scriptures quoted in both your books.Mr B. 2. book p. 308 Rom. 10. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 9. 2. from the former of vvhichwhich you cō clude, that bycause you so preach, as people thereby do heare, beleeve, & call vponupon God, you are therefore sent of God.
Let the Reader here observe, that the Apostle in both these placesAnsw. speaks of the conversion of Heathens, and Infidels to the fayth of Christ, as were the Romayns, and Corinthians before the preaching of the Gospel vntounto them: and so let him demaund of Mr B. whether the Ministers in England hauehave had the same effect in their preaching vntounto the people there, with them, that preached vntounto the Romayns, and Corinthians, and brought them by preaching from infidelity to beleeve in God? If they hauehave, then vvere the people Infidels before, and vvithout faith, and so are the rest not thus effectually converted by their preaching: if not, how then stands the comparison, or proportiō between the effect of their Ministery then, and theirs in England now? or what Argument can be taken from these effects compared together? In the generall, I confesse, there is a proportion, and so in that generall, and large sense, wherein Mr B. pag. 313. expounds the word sent, or Apostle, I do acknowledge many Ministers in Engl: sent of God▪ that is, that it comes not to passe without the speciall providence, and ordination of God, that such, and such men should rise vp, and preach such, and such truthes for the furtherance of the salvation of Gods elect in the places, where they come. They which †Phil. 1. 15 16.preached Christ of envy, and strif…, to ad more afflictions to the Apostles bonds, were in this respect sent of God, and therefore it was, that the Apostle toyed a… ver. 18.their preaching. How much more they that preach of a sincere mind, though through ignorance, or infirmity▪ both their place, & enterance into it be most vnwarrantable? *Gen. 37. 4 8. 11. 28. Act. 7. 9.Iosephs brethren▪ the Pa…r… arks, did of h…red and envy sell him into Aegypt: and yet the s…riptur…s testifie, that ‘*Gen. 45. 1. 7. 8.God sent him thither. And the same God which could vse their malice (by which he vvas sold into Aegypt) for the bodyly good of his people there; even he can vse the power of A…tichrist, (by which the Ministers in the Church of England hauehave their calling)Psal. 10…. 17. for the spirituall good of his people there. And yet neyther the secondary meanes of Iosephs sending, nor of the Ministers eyther entry, or standing, any thing at all the more warrantable.
The other scripture is 1 Cor. 9. 2. of which I hauehave spoken something formerly, & others much more: & in which for the avoiding of ambiguity, I consider these two things. First, what the Apostle purposeth to prove: and 2. the medium, or Argument by which he proves his purpose.
Touching the former, it is evident, his purpose is to prove himself an Apostle, in the most strict, and propper sense, (hovvsoever *pag. 321.Mr B. tri…les) contrary to the false insinuations of his adversaries, which bare the Churches in hand against him, that he was onelyonly an ordinary Minister, or at least, inferiour to the Apostles, and had his calling, and other ministrations from, and vnderunder them: as appeareth. 1 Cor. 9. 1. 2 Cor. 10. 16. and 12. 12. Gal. 1. 1. 17. 18. 19. & 2. 6. 7. 8. 9.
The Argument to prove this, which he also calles the seal of his Apostl…ship, and his work, Mr B. …akes, the Lords effectuall working by 1. Book. p. 120.his Ministery, in the conversion of s…ules vntounto God.
Touching which his affirmation, I desire first to know whether2. Book. p. 321. this conversion of the Corinthians by Paul were to sanctification of life, yea, or no? If he say no, he gainsayes the Apostle, and his testimony of them: who, writing vntounto the Church at Corinthus, confesseth them there “1 Cor. 1. 1to be sanctified in Christ Iesus, and Saints by calling: and again advertising them, that †Ch. 6. 9. 1…. 11.neyther fornica…ours, nor theeves, nor covetous, nor drunckards, nor raylers, nor extortioners should inherit the kingdō of heaven, he testifieth of thē, that such were som of thē, but sayth he, ye ar washed, but ye ar sanctified, but ye are iustified in the name of the L. Iesus, and by the spirit of our God. Besides, if Pauls work were not the work of sanctification vponupon the Corinthians, how will M. B. rayse his Argument for the Ministers in England, from their work of sanctification vponupon the people there? If on the other side he say, that the conversion by Pauls ministery was vntounto sanctification, he contradicts himself in his own distinction of double conversion, pag. 307: of his 2. book, where he allowes vntounto the Romayns, Corinthians, and Eph…sians, onelyonly the primary conversion, which is to the profession of Christ, but not the secondary, which is to sanctification of life. In which his distinctiō, as he idly imagins a true cōversiō without sanctification, so doth he highly detract from the APOSTLE PAVL, as if he had not converted men to sanctification; or had gathered Churches of persons unsanctified outwardly, and in the judgement of charity.
2. How can the simple conversion of men prove both Mr Ber. an ordinary Minister, which he would be, and Paul no ordinary Minister, but an extraordinary Apostle, which he would be?
3. If conversing be a sign of a true Minister, then are both the Bishops in Engl: and the Ministers in the reformed Churches, true Ministers: for without doubt, some of both hauehave bene instrumēts vnderunder God of mens conversiō: but that is impossible, considering how the Ministery of the one, wheresoever it comes, eats vp, & destroyes the other. Yea then should both the Ministers of Engl: and we here of the separation (who hauehave as M. B: truely answers Mr Smyth, renounced our Ministery received from the Bishops, and do exercise an other by the peoples choise) be true Ministers of Christ: for as they there avouch this work of conversion, so have wee also here bene made partakers of the same grace of God: & found hi… blessing even that way vponupon our Ministery also.
4. As it was the most proper work of an Apostle to convert Heathens to the Lord, and †1 Cor. 4. 15. & 3. 6. ….in Christ Iesus to beget them through the Gospel, and so to plan… Churches, not reioycing in the things already prepared by others, but to preach the gospel, even where Christ had not been named: so is it on the other side the Pastors work to feed thē that areCor. 10. 16. already begotten, converted, & praepared: and therefore the ApostleRom. 15. 20 Paul comprehends the whole Pastours, and Elders duty vnderunder the “Act. 20. 17. 28.fee…ing of the flock, all and every part whereof he avoucheth in the iudgement, and evidence of charity, to be purchased with the blood of Christ. And what is a Pastour, but a sheepheard? and over what flock is a sheepheard set, but over a flock of sheep? and who are sheep, but they which hauehave layd asyde their goatish, and swynish nature? which till men hauehave learnt to do, they are rather swyne, and goats, then sheep, and so are they, which keep them, rather swyneheards, and goteheards, then sheepheards.