Parallels Censures, Letter 1 · Section 5
The fiſth Section.
In the next place followeth your eighth poſition which you account error, viz.
That ſuch as are not in your way are to be accounted whithout after the Apoſtles meaning, 1. Cor. 5.12.
I take it to be moſt evidently true vppon the former groundes, that ſeing the true viſible Church is Chriſts sheepfold, his Kingdome, his howſe, his houſehold or family, his Temple or Tabernacle, his body: That therfor al thoſe that are not within this sheepfold this Kingdome, howſe, family, Temple, body, are without: For they are either within or without, but they are not within: go: they are without: Now for the Apoſtles meaning in that place of the 1. Cor. 5.12. I do alſo take it to be manifeſt that he aymeth not only at the groſſe Idolaters in paganiſme, but at al manner of vnbeleevers, that is both Iewes & Gentils that did not embrace the ſaith: now theſe perſons were of 4. ſorts, 1. perſecuting pagans, 2. civil pagans, 3. perſecuting Iewes, 4. the Iewes that were Zealous & vnreprovable in the law of Moſes, (as was Paul) & yet refuſed Chriſt: Such as the Apopſtle ſpeaketh of Rom. 10. 1.2.3. VVho have the Zeale of God, but not according to knowledg who ſought to eſtablish their owne righteouſnes & did not ſubmit to the righteouſnes of God: al theſe 4. ſorts of perſons were then without the true viſible Church of the Apoſtolique inſtitution, which is called the Kingdome of God: Now whereas you ſay wee doe account al without that are not of our way, I anſwer two things. Firſt, that all the members of every true Church in the world wee doe account within. Secondly, that al the members of falſe Churches wee doe indeed account without: & therefore we doe account your particular Church at workſop to be without: For it is not the true conſtituted Church of Chriſt, & therfor it is a falſe Church, & therfor without according as the holy Ghoſt teſtifieth, the court that is without the Temple caſt out: Apoc. 11.2. Now you know that in the old Teſtament al ſorts of people good & bad came into the vtter court: but now in the new Teſtament, Iohn by viſion was commaunded to caſt that vtter court out & not to meaſure it, bicauſe it is given to the Gentils who shal tread the Holy Cittie vnderunder foot: & now only the true viſible Church, which is the Temple of God: 2. Cor. 6.16. conſiſteth of a holy people which muſt come out from the vnrighteous & vnbeleevers that are Belial even without the yoke of the L. ordinances: & muſt be a Seperated people: And muſt have no followship nor agreement with vnrighteouſnes, not touch any vncleane thing: & ſuch a people the L. promiſeth to receave to be his owne people & no other: I avouch therfor that ſeing you parish Church wherof you are parish preiſt conſiſteth of a confuſed rowt even ſuch a people as came into the vtter court in the old Teſtament, that therfor by the commaundement of the Lord your parish church muſt be caſt out & not meaſured. & therfor it is without & ſo are all ſuch aſſemblies as yours is: what ſay you Mr. Bern. now? either juſtifie your Church or forſake it: Let vsus heer what anſwer you make to this matter: for I geſſe it toucheth your freehold very neerly: but I proceed.
Paralleles, Cenſures, Obſervations, aperteyning to the fifth Section.
In the beginning of this Section Mr. Bern. imputeth to vsus to hold that ſuch as are not of our way are to be accounted without after the Apoſtles meaning, 1. Cor. 5.12.
In the book called the Sep. Schiſme, pag. 12. Mr. Bern. ſaith, This is one … ror of ours, that all not in our way are without. And that wee do apply againſt them. 1. Cor. 5.12. Eph. 2.12.
Mr. Ainſw. confutatio… of Mr. Bern. pag. 173. ſaith: we hold that al not in the way of Chriſt, are without.
In the midſt of this fifth Section I expounding what wee hold, ſaying thus: All the members of true Churches wee account within: & all the members of falſe Churches without: & al that are of Chriſts viſible Church, which is his Sheepfold, Kingdom, Family, Temple, Body, are within, & al that are not within this true viſible Church, are without.
Hereby it appeareth that in this particular ther is no difference betwixt Mr. Ainſw. & me indeed & truth.
Mr. Bern. I do wonderfully mervayl at your boldneſſe, that you dare ſo contrary to all truth, & contrary to my expreſſe wordes in this Section thus impute vntounto vsus: I ſay, and ſo al of vsus ſay: That the members of the true Churches whatſoever, are within: & therefor not only our particular Churches that Seperate from the English aſſemblies, but all other true Churches that ſeperate from the falſe wayes of Antichriſt, & walk in the true faith of Chriſt, are within: al falſe Churches & the members of them, are without: Ther is one only faith & truth, Eph. 4.5. as in the Old Teſtament ſo in the New the true church miniſterie, worship, & government is but of one kind: al the Churches or aſſemblies of the Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, Ishmaelites, Iſraelites, Samaritanes, & the reſt were falſe churches, hada falſe miniſtery, falſe worship, & falſe government, & only the Iewes had the true Church, Miniſterie, VVorship, & Government with them: So in the New Teſtament al Churches or aſſemblies of men whatſoever profeſſing Chriſt (as Abbayes, Monaſteries, Nunries, Colleges, Cathedrals, Seminaries, Rectories, Parishes, &c.) & not Seperated from the Antichriſtians & worldlings, are falſe Churches, & ſo without: only the Seperated Churches are the true Churches, & are within: you should have anſwered this Section of my lettre Mr. Bern. before you had printed your book, if you had dealt ingeniouſly & plainly but ſeing you cānot anſwer (for I take it ſo bicauſe you doe not anſwer, for your book declared that ther is no wil wanting) let vsus ſee what you object, your objections are three.
Firſt, the two places of Scripture, 1. Cor. 5.12. Eph. 2.12. you ſay are ment of ſuch as never made ſo much as an outward profeſſion of Chriſt Ieſus at al: your argument is this: No Scriptures directed againſt pagans, can truly be applyed againſt Antichriſtians.
Theſe places are directed againſt pagans: vic: Eph. 2.12. 1. Cor. 5.12.
Ergo theſe places cannot be truly applyed againſt Antichriſtians.
I deny your Major Mr. Bern. & you have not proved it at al: Let the reader judg whither your ſpeeches be oracles that they muſt be believed, bicauſe you vtter them: but herin your fraud and evil conſcience or palpable ignorance appeareth, that you leave out your Major, which you should have confirmed, & propound only your minor: For that theſe places are vnderſtood of Pagans I deny not, but that they are only to be vnderſtood of pag…, & that they …nnot be vnderſtood of Antichriſtians I deny …: & I prove the …ntrary evidently to your conſcience, & the conſcience of al men after this manner.
That which the L. hath taught vsus to doe, we may lawfully doe. But the Lord hath taught vsus to apply againſt Antichriſtians places of Scripture directed againſt pagans,
Ergo: places of Scripture directed againſt pagās may by vsus be applyed againſt Antichriſtians.
The Major is evident. The minor is proved by the conſideration of theſe Scriptures, …evel. 11.…. & 18.2.7.21. where the holy ghoſt applyeth againſt the Antichriſtians, matters & Scriptures ſpoken literally of Sodom, Egipt, & Babylon, which were all pagans.
Ag…, If Antichriſtians be in condition eyther equal to or worſe then pagans, thē by proportion, Scriptures directed againſt pagans, may be applyed againſt Antichriſtians.
But Antichriſtians in the Lords account are in a condition equall, you worſe then pagans:
For ſo Chriſt ſaith, Mat. 11.22, that it shalbe eaſier for Tyrus & Sidon, & the Sodomites then for Chorazin, Bethſaida & Capernaum, & Ezech. 16.44-52. Iudah, Sodom, & Samaria are ſiſters in ſinne & punishment, & Iudah hath juſtified Sodom.
Therfor, Scriptures directed againſt pagans may be applyed by proportion eyther of equality or ſuperiority againſt Antichriſtians.
Now for your further inſtruction in this point Mr. Bern. conſider that in the new Teſtament the phraſes, ſpeeches titles, priviledges & benefites of the Church of the Iewes, conſidered as the true Church are ordinarily applyed to the viſible Church of Chriſt in the new Teſtament: & contrariwiſe the phraſes, ſpeeches, titles, priviledges, & judgments pronounced agaiſt the Gentils in the old Teſtament are cuſtomabley applyed againſt the falſe Churches & Antichriſtians in the new Teſtament: Hence it is that the true viſible Church of the new Teſtament is called the holy Cittie, Temple, Tabernacle, the new Ieruſalem & the like, & the falſe Church is called the Gentils, Egipt, Sodom, Babylon, &c. the reaſon whereof is bicauſe that the Church of the Iewes was a type of the Churches of the new Taſtament, ſo the aſſemblies of the Gentils were types of the falſe Churches of Antichriſt: as you may ſee through the whole book of the revelation in divers particulars: which point if you had eyther vnderſtood or attended, you could not thus frivolouſly have objected to vsus this one particular, that ſpeeches vnderſtood of pagans may not be applyed againſt Antichriſtians: I pray you what vſe do you make of the propheſies of the old Teſtament againſt Nineveh, Babylon, Elam, Madai, & the reſt? VVhat vſe can you make of the judgments threatned & inflicted vppon the Gētils if not this that Chriſt & the Apoſtles make, Mat. 11.22.24. & 12.41.42. 2. Pet. 2.5-7.15. Iude. 7.11. Heer I know you will ſay that you are not Antichriſtians, & ſo though theſe places may be applyed againſt Antichriſtians, yet not againſt you: that particular wee will ſee afterward in his proper place: in the meane tyme thus much we have gayned that places af Scripture directed againſt pagans may as wel be applyed againſt Antichriſtians, as places of Scriptrue ſpoken to the true Church of the Iewes may be applyed to the true Church of the new Teſtament.
Secondly you object that wee cannot prove, laying aſide the forge…s of our owne braynes, that this ſcripture phraſe without, may be applied vntounto you as to a people without. VVell wee wil lay aſide our owne devices: & ſo let vsus trye what wee can doe.
Arg. 1. Churches that are in condition equal or worſe then aſſemblies of pagans are without. Revel. 11.2.
Antichriſtian Churches are in condition equal or worſe then aſſemblies of pagans.
Ergo: Antichriſtian Churches are without.
Againe. 2. Falſe Churches are without.
Antichriſtian Churches are falſe Churches.
Ergo: Antichriſtian Churches are without.
Againe. 3. Dogs, Enchanters, VVhoremongers, Murtherers, Idolaters & they that love or make lyes are without. Revel. 22.15.
Antichriſtian Churches are aſſemblies of ſuch perſons,
Ergo: Antichriſtian Churches are without.
Againe. 4. The habitation of Devils, the hould of al foule Spirits, cages of every vncleane & hateful byrd, are without.
Antichriſtian Churches or Babylon are ſuch. Reuel. 18.2.
Ergo: Antichriſtian Churches are without.
Againe. 5. The vtter court which muſt not be meaſured by the goldē reed, but which is given to the Gentils that perſecute the Holy Cittie, is without.
Antichriſtian Churches are that vtter court, Revel. 11.1.2.
Ergo: Antichriſtian Churches are without.
Againe. 6. The Serpent & his ſeed or aungels are without, Revel. 12.9.10. Gen. 3.15.
Antichriſtian Churches are the Serpent, his ſeed, & aungels.
Ergo: Antichriſtian Churches are without.
Now Mr. Bern. I have proved by playne Scripture, that Antichriſtian aſſemblies are without: & I know you wil not denye it: but you wil plead that your Churches are not Antichriſtian aſſemblies, & therfor you account that one of our errors pag. 109. viz: our 8. error as you ſumme thē: that poſition therfor: viz: your Churches are falſe Churches shalbe proved vntounto you fully in the Paralleles, Cenſures, Obſervations aperteyning to the 10. ſection of this lettre, whither I referre the reader deſiring him for his information & ſatisfaction in that particular to read that Section before he proceed any further in reading, leſt it should be thought that I deceave & shift of thys mayne point, which is indeed the cheef & moſt principal of our cauſe & Seperation.
The third thing that you object is, that God Almightie hath witneſſed that you are his people: by giving you his word, & Sacraments, by effectual converſion, by his ſtrange & miraculous delivering you: theſe things Mr. Ainſworth hath anſwered moſt fully, & hath ſtopt your mouth for ever that you shal never be able to mutter any more in this matter: & therfor I wil ſpare my paynes.
Nevertheleſſe I advertiſe you of one thing that we do acknowledg that the Lord hath his pe…ple among you, whome he calleth to come out from among you & to be Seperated, & to touch none of your vncleames, 2. Cor. 6.17. Saying vntounto the faithfull that are among you. Goe out of Babylon my people, that ye be not partaker of her ſinnes, & that ye receave not of her plagues, Revel. 18.4. & that they may be the better perſwaded to come out from you & to be Seperated the Lord threatneth a woe, a fearfull woe to them that worship the beaſt or his jmage, or that receave his mark in their forehead or right hand. Revel. 14.9. & al this the Lord performeth by our teſtimony. Yet nevertheleſſe we ſay that your aſſemblies Eccleſiaſtical are falſe Churches that they are Babylon, Epipt, Sodom, where Lot & the Lords people are kept captives: & by reaſon of the preſence of Gods people with you, therfor it is that you have thoſe many deliverāces which you have, even as the Lord gave Paul the lives of al that Sayled with him in the Ship: Act. 27.24, & whereas you plead you have the word, Sacraments & converſion, I ſay it is but as the theef hath the true mans purſe, & as the falſe Church of Ieroboam had, & as the Samaritanes, the Edomitts, Moabites, Ammonites, & Ishmaelites had circumciſion & the Sacrifices by vſurpation: which by continuance of tyme were at the laſt worne out among them: even ſo you ſee Mr. Bern. that Gods people, the ſincereſt preaching by the forwardeſt among you, & the conſcionable practiſe of the truth by the beſt profeſſors, & the reformation which the reformiſts ſo long have ſought is almoſt expired & out of date in the Land: The Prelates, Subſcription, Conformity, Declining to Popery, & a Linſy wolſey Religion prevayleth in the Land: & you your ſelfe among the reſt have loſt or forſaken your ſincerity, & are become a Tymeſerver, a Newter, a Temporizer, & then what els but an Hypocrite? & except the Lord be mercifull vntounto his people among you, it is likely to come to paſſe among you as among the Samaritanes, Edomites; Moabites, Ammonites, Iſhmaelites, that the Holy things of God which by violence & vſurpation you have invaded wilbe eyther overwhelmed with Egiptian darknes, or vtterly banished out of the nation: & I would fayne know whither even at this preſent, ther be not a thouſand parishes in the Land, wher ther is no more true profeſſion of Chriſt then among the Antichriſtian Papiſts.
Finaly, to conclude this Parallele: whereas you object that wee like it that you call vsus brethren, but we wil not ſo account you nor admonish you as brethren: I anſwer that we like it to be counted brethren by you, nor for that wee are ſo vntounto you: but for that here by wee would judg you out of your owne mouths: that whereas you account vsus Browniſts, Schiſmaticks, Heretiques, Traytors, &c. you may hereby perceave your wicked ſlaunders, that thus intitle vsus, & yet account vsus your Brethren: For otherwiſe as we deteſt your Church, miniſtery, worship, & Government as Antichriſtian: So alſo wee have in abhomination your brotherhood, which is Antichriſtian: alſo wee abjure to be brethren to your Lords the Prelates, to your vice Lords the Archdeacons, Chancellors, Comiſtaries, Officials of their Courts, to the damned crew ſo termed in the Land, to your Church Papiſts, to the adulterers, Th…eves, Murtherers, VVitches, Conjurers, Vſurers, Atheiſts, Swaggerers, Dronkards, Blaſphemers, & infinite ſorts of ſinners impenitent in your Churches, yea & take the forwardeſt preach…rs & profeſſors of the nation wee vtterly diſlike their brotherhood viſiblie ſtanding members of the aſſemblies, viſiblie joyned in communion with the forenamed Antichriſtians & abhominable perſons in one & the ſame body: nay wee goe further we reject the fraternity of thoſe that deny themſelves to be ordinary members of your Churches, & ye… are ſo extraordinarily: that refuſe communion with you continually & yet reſerve liberty to heare & communicate occaſionally: For ſeing they hereby are made one with … …ntichriſtian body & wicked members ther duplicate page duplicate page of, being vnſeperated from them, we cannot acknowledg our ſelves th…r brethre…, l… we joyne light & dar…es, Chriſt & Belial, the Temple of God & Idols together: wherefore neither are we your brethren, nor you our brethren viſibly: neither do wee delight ſo to be called in theſe reſpects, but only as you have heard, that we may be wel reported of by them that are …ithout, & that we may heapē coales of fire vppon your head, whē you acknowledg vsus brethren, & yet ſlaunder vsus ſo shamefully & this shal ſuffice as conc…ing this Section.