Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 15 – Section 18
The first person in whome he instanceth is one Boulton, touching whō he wryteth thus: that he being the first broacher of this way Mr B.came to as fearefull an end as Iudas did: adding therevpon, that God suffereth not his speciall instruments called forth otherwise then after a common course to come to such ends.
To this I do first answer, that neither this man was nor any otherAnsw. of vsus is called forth by the Lord otherwise then after a cōmon course: even that which is common to all Gods people, which is to come out of Babylon, and to bring theyr best gifts to Syon for the buylding of the Lords temple there.
It is true that Boulton was (though not the first in this way) an Elder of a separated Church in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths dayes, and falling away from his holy profession recanted the same at Pauls Crosse, & afterwards hung himself as Iudas did▪ And what marvayl if he which had betrayed Christ in his truth, as Iudas did in his person, came to the same fearefull end which Iudas did?
Nay rather the patience and long suffering of God is to be mervayled at that others also, who eyther have embraced this truth and after faln from it, or refused to submit vntounto it when they have both seen and approved it, have not been pursued by the same revengefull hand of God. And for the promise of Gods presence with his, Gen. 12. 3. Math. 28. 20. Ios. 1. 9. it must ever be taken conditionally, viz. whylest they are with him and do his work faythfully as they ought, and no further.
Now touching Browne it is true which Mr B. affirmeth that as he forsook the Lord so the Lord forsook him in his way: and so he did his owne people Israel many a tyme. And if the Lord had not forsaken him he had never so returned back into Egypt as he did to live of the spoyles of it, as is sayd he speaketh.
And for the wicked things (which Mr B. affirmeth) he did in this way, it may well be as he sayth▪ and the more wicked things he committed in this course, the …esse like he was to continue long in it, and the more like to returne againe to his proper centre the Church of England where he should be sure to find companions ynough in any wickednes, as it came to passe.
Lastly to let passe the vniversall Apostasy of all the Bishops, Ministers, students in the Vniversityes, yea and of the whole Church of England in Queen Maryes tyme (a handfull onelyonly excepted in comparison) which the Papists might more colourably vrg against Mr B. thē he some few instāces against vsus) the fall of †Mat. 26. 14. 19. & 47. 48. 49. & 27. 3. 4. 5.Iudas an Apostle, of *Act. 6. 5. with Rev. … 15.Nicholas one of the first 7 Deacōs, of †2 Tim. 4. 10.Demas one of Pauls speciall companions in the Ministery, do sufficiently teach vsus that there is no cause so holy, nor calling so excellent, which is not subject to the invasion of paynted, and deceiptfull hyppocrites, whose service the Lord notwithstanding may vse for a tyme till theyr whyting be worne of, & then leave them to their own deceavable …usts, which will work theyr most wofull downfall: thereby warning his people not to repose too much vponupon any mortall man in whome there is no stedfastnes, but to cast theyr eyes vponupon him a…one and vponupon his truth which chaungeth not.
Of Mr Barrow and Mr Greenwoods spirit of rayling (as this man rayleth against them) in another place. OnelyOnly let the indifferent reader iudge whither Mr B. in blazing abroad the personal infirmityes of his adversaries without any occasion, neyther sparing the living nor the dead, have not come to the very highest pitch of the most natural rayling that may be. A practise which all sober mynded men do abhor from.
The next that comes in Mr B. way are the two brethren Mr Francis & Mr George Iohnson, whose contentions he exagge…ateth what he can to make both their persons and cause odious. True it is that George Iohnson together with his father taking his part, were excommunicated by the Church for contention arising …t the first vponupon no great occasion, wherevpon many bitter and …eprochful termes were vttered both in word and writing, George …ecōming (as Mr B. chargeth him) a disgracefull libeller.
It is to vsus iust cause of humiliation all the dayes of our lives, …hat we have given and do give by our differences such advantages …o them which seek occasion agaynst vsus to blaspheme the truth: …hough this may be a iust iudgment of God vponupon others which …ek offences, that seeking they may find them to the hardening of …heyr hearts in evill. But let men turne theyr eyes which way soever …hey will, and they shall see the same scandalls. Look to the first …nd best Churches planted by the Apostles themselves, and be…old †Rom. 16. 17. 1 Cor. 1. 11. & 3. 3. G…l. 5. 1….dissentions, scandall, strise, byting one of another.
About two hundred yeares after Christ, what a styrr was there about moone-shyne in water (as we speak) betwixt the East and West Churches, when Victor Bishop of Rome excōmunicated the Churches in Asia for not keeping the Iewish feast of Easter at the same time with the Church of Rome? And to come nearer our own tymes, how bitter was Luther agaynst Swinglius & Calvin in the matter of the Sacrament? & how implacable is the hatred at this day of them whom they call Lutherans against the followers of the other partyes?
Take yet one instance more and in it a view of the very height of humayne fraylty this way. The exiled Church at Frankford in Queen Maryes dayes bred and nourished within it self such contentious, as that one accused another to the Magistrate of treason, wherevpon Mr Knox was compelled to fly for feare of trouble.
I could also alledge to the present purpose the state of the reformed Churches amongst which we live, whose violent oppositions, & fiery cōtentiōs do far exceed all ours: but I take no delight in writing these things, neyther do I think the needles dissentions which have bene amongst vsus the lesse evill because they are so common to vsus with others, but these things I have layd downe to make it appeare, that Mr B. here vseth none other weapon agaynst vsus then Iewes, and Pagans might have done against Christians, and Papists against such as held the truth against them, yea and then Atheists and men of no religion might take vp against all the professions and religions in the world.
And (to go no further) the irrecōciliable emnity betwixt the Prelates & reformists about cap, surplice, crosse and the like, (which the patrons of them acknowledg trifles) might well have stopped Mr B. mouth from vpbrayding any with fyery contentions vponupon small occasions.
And touching the heavy sentence of excommunication, by which the father and brother were dilivered vp to the Divill, as Mr B. speaketh, I desyre the reader to consider, that, if excommunication be (as indeed it is) so heavy a sentence and that by it the party sentenced be delivered over to the Divill, the Church of England is in heavy case which playes with excommunications as children do with rattles. And to allude to the word Mr B. vseth, in what a divelish case are eyther▪ the Prelates and convocation house which have†Can. 4. 6. 7. 8. ipso facto excōmunicated all that speak or deale against theyr State, Ceremonyes & servise book, since the curse caus…es falls vponupon the head of him from whom it comes, or the reformists, (wherof M. B. would be one by fits) & such as seek for and interprise reformation? And for the particular in hand, howsoever it may seeme an odious thing vntounto the naturall man, which savors not the things of God, nor the vnpartiall ordinances of the Lord Iesus, and would be a matter of wonder that a man should censure, or consent to the censuring of his father or brother, in the Church of England, where a good word of a freind or a small bribe may stay the excommunication of the grossest offender, yet if there be iust cause (though with extraordinarie sorrow for the occasion) †'Math. 10 37.Christ in his ordinance must be preferred before father and brother, yea & mother & sister also. Yea & it shal be the seal of his ministerie upon that sonne which in the observance of the word of the Lord, and in the keepingDeut. 33 8. 9. of his covenant sayth vntounto his father, mother, brother, yea & own children, I know you not.
The next Mr. B. obiecteth is Mr Burnet, who, died of the plague in prison, whether he was committed by the Archprelate.
And so did Mr Holland and Mr Parker in the same City at the same tyme, as I remember: and so did Iunius and Trel…atius the two divinity professors at Leyden at an other tyme vponupon the same infection. And was the plague Gods fearfull correcting rod vponupon these men because their religion was false, or rather would any man knowing the scriptures and the Lords dispensations towards his Church argue as this man doth? *If iudgment thus begin at Gods house, what shall "1 Pet. 4. 17.the end of them be which obey not the gospell of God?
But if Mr B. will bring against vsus all the persons which the Bishops have killed in their prisons by this and the like meanes (as David did Vrijah by the sword of the Amonites) he may overthwelm vsus with witnesses: but his argument shalbe much what of the same nature with that of the Caian haeretiques, which affirme that Cain was a good man, and conceaved by a superiour power vntounto Abel, because he prevayled against him, and slew him.
Lastly for Mr Smyth, as his instability & wantonnes of wit is his syn, & our crosse, so let M. B. & all others take heed that it be not their hardning in evill.
Mr B. in proceeding to point out the hand of God writing heavy things against vsus, chargeth us (by Mr Whytes testimony) with such notable crimes, and detestable vncleannesses, as from which they in the Mr B.Church of England eyther truely fearing God, or but making an apparent sh…w thereof are so praeserved by God, as they cannot be taynted with such evils, as some of vsus oft times fall into.
As the witnes well …its the cause and person alledging him, who (according to the Proverb) may ask his fellow, &c. so have his slaunders been answered as Mr Bernard knowes, whereof it seems the party himself is ashamed, and so might Mr B. have been, had he not been shameles in accusing the brethren.
Now for the things objected, it is first to be noted how Mr B. affirmeth, that none with them eyther truely fearing God, o… making an apparent shew thereof, falls into such notable crimes, &c. wherein he acknowledgeth that a great part of the Church of Engl: neyther truly feares God, not makes apparent shew of it. How then are all of them saynts by calling, and where is that profession of faith for which they are to be held true members of the Church? And what detestable crimes the members of the Church of England fall into, (if there were none other testimony) the very gallowes, & gibbets in every country declare sufficiently, vponupon which for treason, witchcraft, incest, buggery, rape, murders and the like, the members of that Church (so living and dying) do receive condigne punishmēt: Where with vsus if any such enormities arise (as what temptations have befallen any we are subiect unto the same) those monsters (without their answerable repentance) are by the power of Christ cut of from the body, & do for the most part returne to their proper element the English synagogue.
But what if all were true which Mr B. avoucheth, what advantage hath he more against vsus then the heathen Corinthians had against the Church there, where *1 Cor. 5. 1.such fornication was found, as was not once named among the Gentiles?
Mr B. having thus handled (as you see) some particular, and principall persons, proceeds to set vponupon the whole body in general, as if with the accuser of the brethren he had obteyned liberty to strike the same from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot with the boyles and borches of reproch: & therefore writeth thatMr B. If men be but inclinable to this way, they iudge the Minister to have lost the power of his Ministery, wherein the fault is in the alteration of their owne affections, and if they be once entered into it, they are then so bewitched, as that where before they were humble and tractable, they then become proud and wilfull, where before they could with vnderstanding discern betwixt cause and cause, they then lick vp all that comes from themselves as Oracles though never so absurd, where before they could feel in themselves lively markes of the children of God, & so iudge of others, they then are perswaded against former fayth to think that neyther themselves had, nor others have any outward markes of the children of God.
Let the reader here observe in the first place that Mr B. accountsAns. all them inclinable to this way which dislike comformity & subscription in the Ministers; for them onelyonly D. Downame (whose Epistle before his second sermon he quotes in the margent) entendeth, & they only are the men which iudge the cōfirming Ministers to have lost the power of their Ministery. And that their iudgmēt is most sound generally of such Ministers as having formerly refused ceremonyes & subscription do afterward bow vntounto the same, all men of vnderstanding do discern.
To the chalenge of pryde and wilfulnes vponupon them in this way though before they were humble and tractable I do answer, that as true humility is ever commendable so is there also a sinful subiection and submission of mynd, by which spirituall tyrants according to theyr fleshly wisdom in volūtary religion would rule over the cōsciences of the simple, of which the Apostle warneth vsus, Col. 2. 18. which superstitious humility or humble superstition if the servants of God begin to shake of & to stand for that liberty so dearly bought by Christ, and so highly commended by the Apostles of Christ, then begin these imperious Maysters to rage, thinking by reproches to compell them againe under that subiection, in which by former delusions they could not conteyn them. Thus dealt the bloody Bishops with the servants of God in Queen Maries dayes, calling them proud, wilfull, conceyted, & what evill not? and very well do the like accusations become Mr B. mouth in the like case.
Whether our opinions (which we are charged by Mr B. to lick vp as Oracles) be absurd or no, will appeare in the discussing of them in the sequell of the book: in the mean whyle this is most true and vndeniable, that a great part of the splene vttered against vsus in this invective grew from this very cause, that sundry of his hea…ers would not lick vp whatsoever he powred out vntounto them though bitter as gall: as that Ministers were not brethren properly, that the Church had some power to excommunicate because the Minister (as the officials exequutioner) might read the sentence, that the Churchwardens were Elders, the midwyves widdowes, and many the like, which to reckon vp is to confute sufficiently.
Lastly it is a great wrong which Mr B. offereth vsus in affirming, that if we be once in this fraternity (as he scoffeth at our holy covenāt) we then dislike our former graces, and ar content to be perswaded against our Mr B.former fayth and feeling in our selves of the lively markes of the children of God, & all because we were as a dear without the compasse of our Park, as he speaketh.
We do with all thankfulnes to our God acknowledg, and withAnsw. much cōfort remember those lively feelings of Gods love, & former graces wrought in vsus, & that one special grace amōgst the rest by which we have been enabled to drawe ourselves into visible Covenant, and holy communion. Yea with such comfort and assurance do we call to mynde the Lords work of old this way in vsus, as we doubt not but our salvation was sealed vp vntounto our consciences by most infallible marks and testimonyes (which could not deceave) before we conceaved the least thought of separation; and so we hope it is with many others in the Church of Engl. yea and of Rome too.
And the more ample measure of grace, and fullnes of assurance that any man hath receaved of the Lord, the more carefully is he to endeavor in all good conscience the knowledge & obedience of all and every one of the holy commaundements of God, and not to satisfy himselfe in his present feelings, thinking his salvation sure enough, and so his obedience full enough (for this were to serve God for wages as hypocrytes do) but rather with the Apostle †Phi. 3. 13. 14.forgetting those things which are behynd, and forcing to those things which are before, let him follow hard to the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus. And whatsoever Mr B. iudgeth of a deer without the Parke pale wherein he should be, sure it is that he is none of Christs sheep (visibly or in respect of men) which is without Christs sheepfold. For *Ioh. 10. 1…there is one sheepsould, and one sheepheard.
The last coniecture gathered agaynst our cause is,7. Likelyhood.