Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Title page – To the reader
A IVSTIFICATION OF SEPARATION from the Church of England.
Against Mr Richard Bernard his invective, INTITVLED; The Separatists schisme.
By▪ Iohn Robinson.
And God saw that the light was good, and God separated between the light, and between the darknes. Gen. 1. 4.
What communion hath light with darknes? 2 Cor. 6. 14.
Anno D. 1610.
To the Christian reader.
TWo severall treatises (good reader) have been formerly published by several men in answer to Mr Bernards book, yet have I thought it meet to adde a third, not as able to speak more then they, but intending something further: namely, an examination of the particulars one by one, that so in all points the salve might be answerable vntounto the soare; applying my self therein to such a familiar and popular kinde of defence, as Mr B. hath chosen for his accusations, where the former answers onelyonly intended a summary discovery of the insufficiency of his probabilities to disswade from, & reasons to disprove the things he opposeth.
The zeal Mr. B. manifesteth here and every where both in word and writing is exceeding great, as all men know. And surely fervent zeale in Gods cause is a temper wel befitting Gods servants: neyther is there any more bastardly disposition to be found in a Christian, then indifferency in religion. It makes no matter of what religion the man is that is indifferent in it: for Christ vvill spue out of his mouth (as loathsome) the lukevvarm, Rev. 3. 16.whether wine, or water.
Yet as the case of religion is most weighty, so is the affection of zeale in it most dangerous, if it be eyther pretended onelyonly, & not in truth; or preposterous and not according to knowledge.
And therefore as there is singular vse of this fyery zeal for these frozen times of ours, so are we to take great heed that our fyre be kindled at the †Levit. 9. 24. 1 King. 18. 38.fyre of the altar vvhichwhich came from heavē. For as Luke. Act. 2. 23. speakes of fyery tongues vvhichwhich came from heaven, so doth Iames, 3. 6. speak of a tongue vvhichwhich is set on fyre of hell.
And this we are the more carefully to mynd, not onelyonly because almost all men have taught theyr tongues in the generall to speak goodly words, and that zealously also for advantage, but more specially and with respect to the busines in hand, for that many of the weaker sort have theyr tender harts rather affrighted from the truth of the Lord by the deep protestations and obtestations of their guids, then any way stablished in those perplexed pathes (wherein they walk) with them, by sound reasons.
Now as the Lord is to be intreated for those people, that he would vouchsafe them wise and stable harts, that they may †… Thes. 5. …1.try all things and hold that vvhichwhich is good, and neyther suffer themselves to be withheld nor withdrawn from the truth by any such semblances of zeale, or other passion, though never so solemn and seeming never so sincere, so for theyr better direction herein I have thought it not amisse to commend vntounto their godly harts two or three considerations, by way of caution, in this case.
First therefore it must be considered that there are someI. of that hoysterous and tempestuous disposition that they can doo nothing calmly or a litle, theyr vnruly affections which should follow after leysurely do force on so violently theyr vnderstanding will, and whol man, as there is no stay with them, but in all their motions they are like vntounto those beasts, which for the vnequall length of theyr hinder leggs cannot possibly goe but by leapes. Such a stormy nature, with a very litle zeal amongst, may make a great stir in the world, but is iustly to be suspected. And that especially (which is the 2. caution) in such men, as are suddaynlyII. caryed, and as it were transformed from one contrary to another without eyther competent tyme or means. A suspitious course; for all thing ordinarily whither in grace, or nature, are wrought by degrees, and the passage from one extreme to another without due means, as it can hardly be sound, so can it not possibly be vnsuspected. Now ther are many men to be found which are violent in all things but constant in none. And though all things be with thē as the figs in Ieremyes *Ier. 24. …. 2. 3. two basketstvvo baskets, the good very good and the evill very evill, yet are they ever shifting hands out of the one basket into the other. Today they will lift vp and advance a cause and person to heaven, and to morrow they will throw downe both it and him to the lowest hell. It is good to have such men in a godly iealousy, and there zeale with them. And that chiefly (which I desyre may be observed in the thirdIII. place) when this theyr zeale rises and falls as the tymes serve. Almost all men will at tymes manifest zeal, but the most have this gift withall, that they wilbe sure to take the strongest syde, or that part at least, which hath some hope of prevayling. And so whylst there remaynes hope of bearing things over at the breast, they are very forward and fervent in there courses; but when that hope shaketh, theyr edg is of, and they turne theyr backs shamefully vponupon the truth, yea and oft tymes theyr faces agaynst it.
And herevpon it comes to passe that many (formerly great advauncers of the cause of reformation) have of late tymes not onelyonly fouly forsaken, but violently opposed the same both in us and them also amongst themselves, which doe in any measure desyer it, publishing theyr books vntounto the world so filled with empty words and swelling vanityes, as they not onelyonly bewray the weaknes of theyr cause, but the evill and corrupt disposition of theyr hearts, as rather striving to manifest theyr servil… affections for insinuations into the favours of the myghty; then to bring any thing of weight for the conviction of the adversary. The application of this I leave to the godly and wise reader, as he shall see iust cause.
And so leaving those things which are more generall, I desyre in particular, and for the present purpose that the christian reader take knowledg of this one thing, that as the pretence of zeale in the forward Ministers against all corruptions is as a thick mist, holding the eyes of many wel mynded from seing the truth; so the person with whom I now particularly deal, trusts to this insinuation above all others, conveyghing himself vnderunder this colour into the harts of the simple, and hereby making way most effectually, not onelyonly for his sage-seeming counsels & advertisements, for the quenching of their affections towards the truth: but also for his idle guesses and likelyhoods, with such personall comparisons, and imputations, as wherewith his book is stored, to alienate mens harts from it.
But the godly reader is to consider that †Prov. 24. 23.to accept the person in judgement is not good, especially in the cause of the Lord, and that *…m. 2. 1.the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus is not to be held in respect of persons: but that the naked and simple truth is to be inquired after, with an vnpartiall affection. And then the Lord which gives a single heart to seek after it, will give a wise hart to find it out. Math. 7. 7. OnelyOnly let men take heed they be not as Pilate, asking Ioh. 18. 38vvhat is truth? and turning their backs vponupon it when they have done: nor having found it as Orpah did to Naomi, forsaking her weeping.Ruth 1. 14.
And for my self as I could much rather have desired to have built vp my self and that poore stock over which the holy Ghost hath set me in holy peace, (as becōmeth the house of God, wherein †1 King. 6. 7no sound of axe or hammer or other toole of iron is to be heard,) then thus to enter the lists of contention, so being iustly called to contend for the defence of that truth vponupon which this man amongst others layes violent hands, I will endeavour in all good conscience (as before God) so to free the same, as I wilbe nothing-lesse then contentious in contention, but wil count it a victorie to be overcome in odious provocations, and reproches both by him and others.
And so desiring as earnestly the Christian reader into whose hands this my defence shal come, to manifest vntounto me such errours in the same (if by the word of God they may so be found) as to receive from me such truthes, as are therin cōt…yned, I leave the due trial to that alone touchstone, & cōmit the blessing to the Lord who alone giveth wisdom, & is able to make wise to salvatiō.