Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 61
The 4: is, for order sake and to prevent confusion, for that which is all Mr B.mens, is no m…ns: wherevpon aryseth great carelesnes in seing vntounto such things, as are all mens in publique: and by it pride, yea therevpon contention ensueth.
Wee do stand for the order of Christ against the confusion ofAns. Antichrist in Babylon, which is vncapable of all right order: as we also enjoy the right disposition of things, and persons in their places, which is order. And if you call it confusion in an assembly, wherein all have equall power, and voice in the determining of things, some one or few going before the rest in guiding, and directing them, you do (though you consider it not) strike through our sides, the highest and honourablest court or assembly in the whole land, and which is the rule and fountayn of all the rest, and that is, the court of Parliament, where all things passe by voices, all, or the most: the proloquutor being onelyonly chosen to propound, and moderate actions: which is also the order in generall councils, and (if I be not deceived) in your representative Church of Engl▪ your Convocation house. Which order also is observed for the mayn determinations to be made in the priveledged cities & corporations in the kingdom. And what greater confusion is there like to be in the determining of other Church affaires by voyces, then in the calling of ministers? the order of whose †…t▪ 14. 2…. and 6. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.election by the suffrages of the multitude, guided by the officers, was both established by the Apostles, & continued in the primitive Churches, many hundred yeares.
Now the inconveniency of carelesnes in all, where matters concerne all, is a strange allegation. Me thinks it should make all more carefull, the matters especially being of conscience, and the persons consionable, whom they concern. And I see not but you might as well say, it makes all men careles of the knowledge of God, and Christ, and of salvation, and of the scriptures, bycause these things concern all. And why do you not with the Papists deprive the multitude of the vse of the scriptures in the mother tongue, that you the carefull Clergy alone might look vntounto them? But what though this inconveniency do arise sometimes, through mans corruption, it should be otherwise: and wee must ever cō sider of the nature of Gods ordinances in their right vse, & when men are exercised in them as they should be, and not according to …rayle mans aberration, and abuse in, and of the same: and if men be sometimes careles of their duties, we must not therefore deprive them of their rights.
And in this plea, Mr Bernard, me thinks you very naturally resemble the mighty oppressours in the world, which vnderunder this very pretence, do inclose all the commons of their poore neighbours: for common things (say they) are commonly neglected: & they can make one aker of ground, thus inclosed, worth two in cōmon. But if the Lord denounce such heavy judgments against the inclosers of earthly things, Is. 5. 8. 9. what wilbe the end of those spirituall ingrossers and oppressours, if they repent not? And for pride and contention, as they and a thowsand worse evils could not but fall out in a Church gathered as yours is, of all the prophane rable in a kingdome, so when they do arise in a true Church, there is power to voyd them out, and the persons with them, in whom they reigne. But if the vnlawfulnes of a Church government might be proved by the pryde, contention, & the like evils arising in it, then surely M B. you that know so well how these and other mischeifs reign in your own, should lay your hand on your mouth for shame, and be affrayd to provoke any man to medle in that matt…. Besides it is apparent both in the scriptures, and ecclesiasticall writers, that not onelyonly pride, and contention, but herely, and almost all other evils hauehave sprung from the officers, & governours in the Church. And surely nothing hath more in former dayes advanced, nor doth at this day more vphold the throne of Antichrist, then the peoples discharging themselves of the care of publique affaires in the Church, on the one side: and the Preists, and Prelates a…rogating all to themselves on the other side.