A Reply to a Pretended Christians Plea for the Church of Rome, Title page – Preface
A REPLY TO A PRETENDED CHRISTIAN PLEA FOR THE ANTICHISTIAN CHVRCH OF ROME: published by Mr. Francis Iohnson ao. 1617.
Wherin the weakness of the sayd Plea is manifested, and arguments alleaged for the Church of Rome, and Baptisme therein, are refuted; By Henry Ainsworth. Anno 1618.
We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us goe every one into his owne countrie: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies;
Ier. 51. 9.
Printed in the yere 1620.
The Preface.
TWo things (good Reader) have been heretofore controverted between Mr. Iohnson and mee, the one concerning the Power of the Christian church, which he would have installed in the Ministerie thereof: the other concerning the Antichristian church of Rome, with the ministerie and baptisme thereof, which he hath pleaded to be true, though corrupted; I have proved to be false and deceytfull. These things have passed publikly (through mine Opposites occasion) in Mr Richard Cliftons Advertisement, and my Animadversion therto. The former of these two points, Mr. Iohnson hath left vnanswered; so the prudent may judge of the strife, by that which we both have sayd: the latter, he hath sought to mainteyne by a colourable Plea for the Romane church, cheifly underpropped by two reasons, 1. because Antichrist should sit in the Temple of God; 2. and because Apostate Israel (the figure of this Antichristian church,) was the church of God; as he pretendeth. These, with his other like reasons, I have laboured to refell, in this treatise folowing. His order of handling them, I have altered; beginning with the Church of Rome; then with the Baptisme of that church: for so I judge the trueth of the controversie wil soonest appeare. His often longsome repetitions, I seek to abridge; as being fruitlesse, & wearisome to the Readers: his bold and bitter taunts, I passe over; being not willing to answer any man (and least of all the dead,) to such things. As also his marching us among the Anabaptists, for our more disgrace: his dissembling of his own former judgment and accord with us, in the things now controverted; imputing them to us and others, when himself hath formerly spoken and written for the things which he now would pull down; but hath not taken away his owne grounds. OnelyOnly wheras in his preface he intimateth sundry manifest untruthes published in the Animadversion, but nameth none: I signifie in a good conscience, that to my knowledge … published not any one untrueth, but rather spared him, then pressed things in extremitie. That which I suppose he aimeth at, I set downe from the report of honest faithfull witnesses, (of whome some are now at rest in the Lord,) who would not (as I am perswaded) willingly have related any thing but the trueth. Finally, as in all other my labours, so in these controversies following, I indevour to find out & manifest the way and wil of God, by the light of his word; to the glorie of his name, and comfort of those that love the trueth in sinceritie.
A REPLY TO A PRETENDED Christian Plea, for the Antichristian Church of Rome.
WEe are taught of God, that *Prov. 28. …they which forsake the Law, praise the wicked; but such as keep the Law will contend with them. Wherfore, though my desire hath been to leave off contention with all men, & to labour to build up Sion in peace: yet being provoked by name, & my writings against the †2 Thes. 2. 3▪Man of syn, that Son of perdition being publickly traduced; I held it my dutie to mainteyne the warre which I began to wage against the Beast, whom “v. ….The Lord will consume with the spirit of his mouth, and will abolish with the brightnes of his coming.
The state of this controversie is; whether notwithstanding the infinite idolatries and other abominations now of a long time with strong hand practised by the church of Rome; it be to be reputed the true church of Christ; and the Sacraments (especially Baptisme) to be esteemed the true signes and seals of the covenant of grace, from God to them, in their present estate. I deny it: mine opposite hath colourably pleaded for it, & inveighed much against me, in his last book called A Christian Plea; ao. 1617. Wherin, though in many things he deserved sharp blame; yet having ended his life with his work, and not being now to answer for himself, or make use of that which is written: I will omitt the just reproofs, which might through Gods merciemercy have been *Psal. 141.a benefit unto him: and will address my self, to remove the stumbling blocks out of others way, and to cleare the trueth which is darkned with the cloud of error. The Lord which hath taken this counsel against Babylon, that †Ier. 50. 4… ▪the least of the flock shal draw them out; and that he will surely make their habitation desolate with them: inable me with his grace to …ight the good fight of …aith, and to declare in Sion †v. 28.the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his Temple.