A Manumission to a Manuduction, Title page – To the reader
A MANVMISSI| ON TO A MANVDVCTION,
OR ANSWER TO A LETTER INFERRING PUBlique communion in the parrish assemblies upon private with godly persons there.
Stand fast in the liberty wherwith Christ hath made you free. Gal. 5. 1.
Be not partaker of other mens sinns: keep thy self pure. 1. Tim. 5. 22.
By Iohn Robinson.
Anno Domini. 1615.
To the godly reader.
ALbeit I be justly sorry for all oppositions against the truth, yet not so for this occasion of further manifesting that my formerly professed perswasion, that publique communion with the parrish assemblies cannot be inferred vppon private with godly persons though members there: the constitution and estate of the same assemblies rearing up a partitiō wall, neyther so transparent as may be seen thorough, m…h lesse so open as may be passed, no not in the best charity, as this manuducent supposeth: but on the contrary, so grosse, & entyre in evill, as that no engine of wit, or art can so batter it, as to make a safe passage through it for a good conscience.
Needfull it were in a matter of this nature, and weight, that the manuducent, or hand leader should guide men by the playn, and open way of the s…riptures, as is the way of the Lord in them layd down, open, & playn, as the King▪ high way: and beaten by the feet of the Apostolicall churches: & not by subtile Quaerees, and doubtfull Suppositions, and such under hand conveyances, as may lead the vnwary into a maze, and there loose him, but cannot clear the way for an vpright cōscience. Of the way of Christ it was prophesied of ould:*Isa: 35. 8. An high way shalbe there, and a way, and it shalbe called the way of holines: the vnclean shall not pase over it, for he shalbe with these: the wayfareing man, though fooles, shall not erre therein. But so many and doubtfull are the wyndeings of this mans way, as that he who findes it, had need be no wayfareing man, but a town-dweller, and well acquainted with all the secret turnings thereof: nor a fool, as the Prophet speaketh, but one haveing wit indeed more then a good deal. But let them psalm 84. 6, 8.in whose hearts are the highwayes of the Lord, that they may goe frō strength to strength, till they appear vntounto God in Sion, let them, I say, not suffer themselves to be led by the turnings of mans devise whatsoever, but byPro: 8. 8. …. the wordes of the wisdom of God, which are all in righteousnes; & in which there is nothing wreathed, or perverse: but they are all playne to him that will understand, and straight to him that would fynde knowledge.
Now for my persvasion about publique, and private communion, it is the same which I have manifested in my other book: and that, wherein (so far as by the weak light, which God hath given to shine in my heart, I can discern) I neyther wrong the good in that Church; (person, or thing), nor partake in the evill of eyther. My trust is, that God who hath given me my part (though in great infirmity) in the Prophets comfort,†Ps. 119. …. with all my heart have I sought thee; will also fulfill his request uppon me, let me not wander from thy commandements,