Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 36
They hold our constitution a reall Idol, and so vsus Idolaters.
If the constitution of your Church be false and forged, (likeAnsw. *1 King. 12. 33.the monethmonth which Ieroboam forged in his owne heart) as hath been formerly proved in part, and shalbe more fully in the traversing of the 8. errour, then it is an Idoll, if an Idoll, a reall Idol, for it is not meerly mentall, or notionall, but that which hath being and existence without the mind or vnderstanding.
And where Mr B. affirms this to be contrary to the course of holy scriptures never taking Idol in this sense, because neyther he nor Marlorat finds the word Idol so vsed, he must know it is as impossible for eyther him, or Marl. or any other man to enumerate or reckon vp all the Idols wherof the scriptures speak, though not in expresse terms yet by iust cōsequence & proportiō) as to number all the creatures in heaven and in earth, yea all the workes of mens hands, yea all the thoughts of their harts, for all these may and do in some abuse become Idols.
And that we may better discern whether there be a like truth and boldnes in this assertion that the scriptures never take idol in this sense, let vsus consider and compare together a few places.
The Lord commaunded Moses, Exod. 25. & 26. & 27. to make the tabernacle and sanctuary of the Lord for the place of his dwelling and worship, and to this end did appoint both the matter▪ and form of the whol work even to the least pin: & if Moses had framed it, eyther of other matter, or of the same matter after an other fashion, had not this forgery and devise for the worship of God been a reall, sensible, and palpable Idoll, a sinn against the second Commaundement which forbids nothing but Idolatry? It cannot be denyed. Hence it followeth that the constitution or frame of the tabernacle or temple of the new testament, which is the visible Church 2 Cor. 6. 16. if it be other eyther in matter or form (as yours is in both) is a reall and substantiall Idoll. Secondly Antichristianism is Idolatry, and is in that respect called †Rev. 118. and 14. 8.Babylon, Sodom, and Egypt spiritually, so Antichristians are sayd *Ch. 14. 9.to worship the beast: now a devised constitution, frame and fabrick of the Church is a part of antichristianism, & of the apostasy of Antichrist & therefore a reall Idol: and as Mr Smyth truely affirmeth a greater Idoll then eyther the Antichristian ministery or worship. As “Mat. 23. 17. 1….the temple which sanctifyeth the gold is greater then the gould, & the altar which sanctifyeth the offering greater then the offering, so the temple of the new testament, the Church or people of God by whose faith all the ordinances of the Church are sanctifyed, is greater then the ministery, worship or any other ordinance: and so on the contrary being Idolatrous, a greater Idoll then they. And lastly the Church being the end of the ordinances, Mar. 2. 27. 28. is more excellent then they being true, and being false a more detestable Idoll then any of them.
Lastly neyther your bolstring out of a false constitution as a new sin shal excuse you for not submitting vntounto a true, nor your prophane scoffing at a true constitution as at the Diana of the Ephesians discourage vsus from reioycing in our portion.
It is with you in this case as it was sometimes with Rechum & Shimshay who making a shew as though they would have built the temple Zerubbabel (but not being the men to whom this work appertayned) laboured afterwards to hinder & discourage him, & the Iewes with him whom it did concerne. Ezra. 4. 1, 2, 3. 8. 9.
Once you know Mr B. you did separate from the rest an hundred voluntary professors into covenant with the Lord, sealed vp with the Lords supper, to forsake all knowne sinn, to hear no wicked or dumb Ministers, and the like, which covenant long since you have dissolved, not shaming to affirme you did it onelyonly in policy to keepe your people from Mr Smyth. Well Mr B. be not deceived God is not mocked, neither wil he hold them guiltlesse that so take his name in vayn, but as you have sowen so shall you reap.
To conclude, you would have no man blame you for your contumelyes against the †Isa. 5. 7.planting of the Lords vineyard, the *1 Tim. 3. 15.building of Gods house, the “Eph. 2. 23composition of Christs body, the constitution of his Church. And wherefore? because Mr Robinson held as much before into separation. And if it were so, should myne iniquities excuse yours? But it is most vntrue you affirme. There never entred into my hart a thought, nor passed a word out of my mouth so contumelious against the true & orderly constitution of Christs Church: though I have (and that worthily) disliked, (as I stil doe) that hard & rash censure passed by some vpō the persons of such as of whō the Lord by the evidēt work of his spirit gives a better testimony.
And for the poynt in hand, I am perswaded and so professe before all men that I see not by the revealed will of God in his word how to iudge otherwise of any ordinance of the Church, or exercise of communion out of a true constituted Church then of the sacrifices out of the tabernacle or temple, within whose circle they were concluded by the word of God.
The third errour is thus set down.