Certain Questions, Answer 4
Mr Ainſvv. his Anſvver.
Pſal. 57.4.
My ſowl is among lions, I lie among the children of men that ar ſet on fyre, whoſe teeth ar ſpears & arrowes, and their tongue a ſharp ſword.
2. Theſ. 3.1, 2.IF the Apoſtle Paul had occaſiō to deſire the prayers of the faithful for him that he might be delivered from vnreaſonable & evil men; much greater need hav we that witneſſe the goſpel in theſe laſt days, to deſire the ſame. For ſo great is Satans rage, becauſe his time is now ſhort, as he omitteth no opportunitie or means to beat down the faith & fortreſſe of the church, vvhichwhich maugre his ſpite, God wil vphold vntounto the end. How I hav been drawen into this conflict vvith Mr Broughton, (a man that bendeth his wit & learning againſt this poor afflicted church,) may appear by my former vvritings. In what maner I hav caried my ſelf towards him, though I knevv him to be ſo great an enemie, & how he againe intreateth me, I leav it for them to judge that ſhal vievv the things paſſed. And novv ſeing him to hav ſo intemperate a ſpirit; as he vvil neyther convince me with ſobrietie, nor admit of juſt reprehenſion for his ovvn overcariage; I purpoſe no more to direct my ſtile vntounto him, but turning to the diſcreet Reader, vvil ſhevv the vveaknes of his cauſe, & his bad dealing againſt me.
About the queſtion of ſilk he triumpheth as conqueror, & blames me that I thanck him not; but if he never get greater victorie in other battels, it vvilbe long yer he vvax rich vvith the ſpoiles. Let him that readeth conſider vvhat one ſcripture or reaſon he hath refuted me vvith, or vvhat anſvver he hath made to the ſcriptures & reaſons by me alleged. The foundation of his doctrine for the vncleannes of ſilk, & for linſey wolſey, is the Rabbines vvritings onelyonly. But he that blames a nation for corruption in religion, ſhould be ready to approve his blame by the vvritings of the Prophets & Apoſtles. Himſelf hath elſvvhere this ſentence, *Reply vpō Tho. wintō. pag. 5.He that wil do any thing without warrant of ſcripture ſhal anger God; that in this, & the other points folovving, vvherin he ſhevveth no title of ſcripture, men may ſee he condemneth himſelf. Neyther knovv I hovv vve may truſt his Rabbines: I ſpeak not of matters of faith onelyonly, but of this & ſuch like things: for Ioſephus †Antiq. lib. 3. …. 4.vvriteth that the ram… ſkins were died red & blew & purple &c. vvhen Moſes telleth vsus onelyonly of ❀Exo…. 25 …. & 26.14 & 36.19.red. And R. D. Kimchi ſayth ✚On Iud. 20.27.the names of Abraham Iſaak & Iacob vver alſo graven on the ſtones, vvhen Gods vvord mentioneth onelyonly the *Exod. 28.9.10.21. & 39.7.1412. ſonnes of Iſrael. And their ignorance in ſome things themſelves confeſſe, as vvhat the ‡R. Dav. in lib. radic.Vrim & Thummim vvere is not manifeſt among them. Men ſhould therfore take heed hovv they admit of al their ſayings for oracles. What through the grace of God I ſaw in the thing from the ſcriptures, I freely manifeſted, & would not concele it, though it ſhould make againſt me: for I never ſought any credit to my ſelf herein, but the truth. He blameth me for not reſiſting directly; but I wil firſt diſcuſſe the matter, & as I ſhal find proof, ſo wil I ſpeak. I was charged with falſe doctrine for folowing the tranſlation of ſilk: It lieth on Mr Br. to prove his charge, which yet he hath not done, except reviling proveth it. He would hav me ſay, whither the white were linen or ſilk. I hav told him, (if he would take it) that I thinck it to be neyther of both properly as theſe things ar with vsus; yet that it may be caled eyther of both. That it may be caled linen, himſelf granteth; that it may be caled ſilk through cuſtome of our tongue, I hav proved, & he anſwereth me not. Let him with the former, mind Straboos ”Geogr. lib. 15.teſtimonie, that ſheweth *foreign.ſilk to be made of byſſe, the ſtuff that himſelf graunteth to be in the Sanctuarie; that we need not make ſcruple of the name in Engliſh, which before vsus was given in Greek. And for wool, himſelf that would hav vsus to receiv it from him, wil not yet ſpeak plainly vvhat he meaneth, vvhither that of the ſheeps fleece, as Engliſhmen vvould vnderſtand him; or other wool that groweth on trees▪ for then it wil appear, the ſtrife is meerly about words; & ſuch I never denyed it to be, but hav proved that of ſuch wool, linen (as we cal it) is made, by Plinie & others. Theophraſtus †foreign.is playn, ſpeaking of trees in Arabia & India, that yeild (foreign) wool, as in an apple, which when it is ripe, openeth, & the wool is taken out, ”foreign.of which they weav ſindons (that is, fine linen clothes) ſome cheap, others very coſtly. Strabo ‡Geogr. lib. 15.hath the like words, of trees, on which grow ❀foreign.wool, wherof fine-woven ſindons wer made; of which ſindon or fine linen we read in the goſpel, Mar. 14.51. & 15.46. Now conſidering this varietie of names in writers, why ſhould a wiſe man ſtand vponupon termes, when it ſkilleth not what it be caled; except ther vver ſuch an vncleannes in ſilk as he hath ſpoken, but not yet confirmed. If he thinck that he can help himſelf vvith that which I hav ſhewed from the Epiſtle to the Ebrewes touching wool, let him vrge it, & ſpeak plainly vvhat wool he meaneth; & hovv he vvil conclude, that becauſe the ſprinckle vvas wool, therfore the High prieſts garments vver linen & woollen, as vvith vsus theſe things are taken. If he deceiveth the world with ambiguous words, & intendeth that fine ſtuff of trees vvhichwhich by vvriters may be caled wool, or linen, or ſilk, though properly it be none of theſe, but a fine ſilken cotton, & ſuch as by Tre…ellius was the onelyonly matter wherof the garments vvere made: let vviſe men iudge of his dealing, & how great a conqueſt he hath wonne; & let him joy in his proweſſe, I wil not envy his glorie, nor make any further ſtrife.
Having ended the ceremonie, next foloweth more weightie matters of religion. Three points from amongſt al other Mr Br. choſe out to reprove vsus for. 1. Our condemning of the idol Temples, which he caleth Holy buildings; 2. Our maner of praying, without ſaying over the form of words caled the Lords prayer; 3. and our excōmunication of ſome for declining to the corruptiōs in the Dutch church; by him reported, for baptiſing in the ſame. Of theſe things I wrote breefly for the cleering of our ſelves, & exſpected ſome great matter to follow, eſpecially from ſuch a man ſo renoumed for his learning: & the rather, for that theſe points ſeem much more juſtifiable againſt vsus, then other evils that we reprove.
But loe, he paſſeth over theſe things in ſilence, neyther bringing proof to convince vsus, nor making word of anſwer to the ſcriptures that I alleged for our defence. OnelyOnly one point, that it ſeemeth went neer his hart, wher the blame that he ſought to bring vponupon vsus, I returned vponupon his own head; to weet, his abuſe of Gods holy cenſure of excommunication: for this he would ſay ſomewhat, (which anone we wil examine,) but ere he had brought any one ſound reaſon, the fyre was kindled in his breſt, & he throvveth out an excommunication againſt me alſo: and then runneth into by matters, leaving the diſcuſſing of theſe things whereinto he was fallen, perhaps ere he was aware. Neyther was this ynough; but to find occaſion of new matter againſt me, whiles theſe writings wer vnderunder hand, he came vntounto *This his dealing, the party that told me, is ready to juſtify vntounto his face if he ſhal deny it.one amongſt vsus, & enquired of him what doctrine I had taught touching the ſtones on Aarons breſtplate, & would hav vrged him vponupon his oth to tel him; inſinuating that he knew I folowed the Geneva tranſlatiō, & conſequently muſt needs err. And though at this fiſhing he could find nothing againſt me; yet it ſeemeth the matter died not; for now ther flie abroad certain ❀Of theſe writings, ſee hereafter, Pag. 24 &cpapers, wherin I am blamed with infinite errors for following our common tranſlation of the ſtones names, & the Geneva notes for placing them. To theſe writings I anſwer, that they conteyn a meer forgerie: I neyther folowed the Engliſh tranſlation in al the ſtones names, nor their application vntounto the tribes according to the notes, as is knowen & wilbe teſtified by many that heard me, though it be now ſome yeres ſince I ſpake of that ſcripture. What vanitie then is this, to feighn firſt an accuſation, & then to frame a confutation of mens own fictions? How vnworthy is this dealing, I ſay not onelyonly of a Chriſtian or learned man, but even of a man of ciuil or humane cariage? Nor yet did this fyre blaze ynough, but againe the bellowes muſt be put to it, & other ❀Of theſe writings, ſee hereafter, Pag. 24 &cwritings wer ſent out againſt me, ſaying vponupon the report of ſome, that I had taught on Exod 12.40. that Iſrael was in Aegipt 430. yeres. VponUpon the credit of this teſtimonie, great things ar inferred againſt me, as overthrowing not onelyonly al Moſes, but withal the new Teſtam…. The falſhood of this charge is no leſſe notorious then the former, & is a meer ſlander of me, as is knovven vntounto God, & my own hart, & many vvitneſſes, who heard & can teſtifie how from Exod. 6. & other ſcriptures, I ſhevved the Iſraelites could not be dwellers in Aegipt, ſo many yeres any thing neer. Let Mr Br, therfore name mine accuſers that hav ſo belyed me, & clear himſelf, or receiv with them the due deſert of falſe calumniation. And let wiſe men mynd the dealing of theſe adverſaries, thus to ſeek receiv & publiſh abroad matter of accuſation againſt me. Neyther can I tel how many ſuch like lying papers they hav & wil ſpread concerning me: OnelyOnly this I know, that God wilbe judge & avenger of al ſuch wickednes; vntounto him I commit my cauſe. And though they ſhal proceed in this their malice, yet rather then I vvil continually trouble my ſelf or the reader with ſuch fruitleſſe matters, I wil folow his example vvho in like vſage was ”Pſal. 38.13.as a deaf man that heard not, & as a dum man that opened not his mouth; & wil truſt that the Lord wil †Pſal. 31.20.hide me in the ſecret of his preſence from the pride of men, & keep me ſecret in his tabernacle from the ſtrife of tongues.
But vvho vvould think that a man thus ſetting himſelf to ſeek out error amongſt vsus, and giving out papers vvith large confutations of forged matters, vvould be ſilent if he could except againſt our profeſſion in any point? yea that in the three things culled out by himſelf againſt our faith & practiſe he ſhould ſodainly be ſo mute? If he be not able to prove his cauſe againſt vsus, let him yeild vntounto the truth, & aſk merciemercy of God for the reproch vvherwith he vnjuſtly lodeth vsus. If he thinck he can prove it, why ſeeketh he to ſet on foot nevv matters & leav the old? vviſe men wil ſoon ſee this vveak cariage. And is it not a vvorthy argument that he mentioneth for vpholding his idol temples, that al Christian lawes would put me to death, & therfore ſobriety ſhould be more in me then to require one man to teach me. Could not the Turk himſelf vvith this bloody reaſon quickly confute al Chriſtendome? and did not his predeceſſors the Papiſts fight vvith theſe weapons againſt Gods former witneſſes in their ſeveral ages? I perceiv now if the magiſtrates ſword wil not mainteyn theſe holy buildings, we ſhal hav no defence for them from Mr Broughton. Wel then, let Baal plead for himſelf againſt them that ſhal ruinate his howſes & altars. And wheras he thincketh it wil be no joy for him a man to tread down, me that am a worm; let him goe on to rejoyce in his manhood; I wil reſt contented with my portion in my ſaviours lot, who was before me ‡Pſal. 22.6a worm & not a man, the ſhame of m…n, & contempt of the people.
For his curſe given out againſt his Lords grace of Cant. now that he is put to juſtifie the ſame by the word of God, he writeth very faintly; aſking How he did it otherwiſe then by citing him to Gods iudgement, and himſelf? and further aſking, May not any to any do ſo? But I would aſk againe, May not any heretick in the world ſay this much & more alſo for …is erroneous doctrines & actions? Do not the Papiſts plead much better for their Popes preeminence? And if he bring no better proof, I doubt he teaching that any may giv out the excommunication againſt any, vvil be judged both of Papiſts & Proteſtants, to hav …ed but falſe doctrine.
The commaundement of Chriſt doth plainly refute it, Mat. 18.15-17. where he willeth that our brethrēs ſin̄es ſhould firſt by our ſelves, next by witneſſes, thirdly by the church be convinced before excommunication. And Paul in a publick & moſt lothſome crime that was in Corinth, ”1. Cor. 5.willed the church when they wer gathered togither, to deliver the ſinner to Satan by the power of Chriſt. If one man may excommunicate an other, what vſe is ther of theſe lawes? yea what confuſion & vprore would it not breed amongſt men? And wher he aſketh how he did it otherwiſe then by citing the Biſhop & himſelf to Gods iudgement; ſhal we take him to mean that he excommunicated & curſed himſelf alſo at the ſame time: For againſt the Prelat thus he wrot & printed, ‡In his book intitled, To the aged Sir, Iohn of Cant.You know you have the Anathema maranatha given you, it returneth to the giver if you deſerved it not; if your deſert be doubtleſſe, you ar ſurely miſerable. Now the Anathema maranatha is the dreadful ſentence which the Apoſtle inioyneth againſt ſuch as love not the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, which in our Engliſh Bibles is expreſſed by Execration & Excommunication to death, 1. Cor. 16.22. Can any man of judgemēt think that the church of Corinth ſhould no otherwiſe proceed againſt ſuch an enemie of Chriſt, then by citing him & themſelves to Gods judgement? In doubtful matters, & wher no proof or witneſſe is, an oth may end the ſtrife, & the thing be left vntounto God, to judge & bring to light when pleaſeth him, as †Exod. 22.11. 1 king. 8.31.32. Heb. 6.16.the ſcriptures teach: but in caſes of excommunication the ſin muſt be manifeſt, & ſinner obſtinate, & then he by the church through the power of Chriſt, delivered to Satan, that he may be humbled & aſhamed for his ſin, (if ſuch be the wil of God) & ſo returne to Chriſt & the church & be ſaved. And this cenſure the church executeth with full aſſurance of Gods good liking & approbation, knowing that he in heaven judgeth & bindeth the ſinner with them, as ✚Mat. 18 18.he hath promiſed. If this certaintie muſt be of a mans wicked eſtate before excommunication, much more muſt it be, before the Maranatha. And as for Gods iudgement ſeat, we know that we muſt *2. Cor. 5.10.al there appear at that day, to receiv according to that we hav done: but excommunication is Gods judgement of ſinners in this life & world by his church; the power wherof is not left in any one mans hand, much leſſe in every mans, to excommunicat his neyghbour, & then to ſay, I have but cited him as my ſelf to Gods iudgement. But let vsus ſerch a litle further into this his cenſure. He gav it to the ArchB. and then eyther he or himſelf, by his own graunt, was accurſed & miſerable. If the man be accurſed, ſo ar al his actions which he doth in that eſtate. Neyther may any Chriſtian hav ſpiritual or civil fellowſhip with one ſo caſt out, but muſt avoyd him, leaſt he partake with his puniſhment. The ſin of Achan in medling with the anathematized or excommunicat thing, brought wrath vponupon the congregation of Iſrael: Ioſh. 7. The ArchB. was chief Paſtor of the church of England; he being accurſed, al his adminiſtration muſt needs be abominable, & they that joyned with or ſubmitted vntounto it, were defiled. Thus Mr Broughton being but one man, & an inferior miniſter, hath of his own authoritie, caſt out of communion from Chriſt & his church, (as himſelf eſtemeth it,) from King, Queen, Coūſel & the whol Realm, their Archpaſtor & metropolitan, without their conſent, & if any of them hav ſince that his curſed eſtate communicated with him in doctrine, prayer, ſacraments, or any other part of his eccleſiaſtical function, which extended over al the land, they communicated with an enemie of Chriſt & member of Satan: and if any Biſhop or other miniſter hav received eccleſiaſtical office from him, they received it from the Divil & not from Chriſt. This bleſſing & benefit hath Mr Br. brought vponupon his countrie. He ſaith, lawes kil me for diſturbance: but let this his preſumptuous dealing be looked into, that thus intermedleth without lawful caling, or any juſt maner of proceeding to excommunicat the Archpaſtor of al the realm; & let men of place mind, whither his diſturbāce paſt & preſent, deſerveth not rather the ſword which he ſo maliciouſly would bring vponupon his neighbour; & whither I had not juſt cauſe to ſay, that himſelf would be found to be the wicked excommunicator? If others ſhould beleev & practiſe this his doctrine, one man may curſe an other, & none ſhal know almoſt with whom he may live or walk in communion. For if any man anger his neighbour a litle, (as I have angred Mr Broughton) his neighbour may preſently excommunicat him, (as this man hath done me,) & a miniſter may curſe the greateſt man in the land. But now if the Archb. wer not juſtly & lawfully curſed, then Mr Br. ſayth it returneth to the giver; & then himſelf hath been ever ſince that day, & ſo ſhal continew til he get out by repentance, a curſed wight, & one that hath given himſelf over to Satan by wicked excommunication. Betwixt himſelf & his moſt reverend Father the curſe then doth lie; & between them let it reſt.
The effects folowing his excommunication ar next to be minded. He aſſured the readers, that they ſhould ſee the Archb. or himſelf pay the price. Would he hav men expect miracles by his hands, as if ſome great plague ſhould folow the man tht he curſeth, or els himſelf? The word of God teacheth vsus to look for no ſuch thing by the excommunication of a whole church, much leſſe of one man; but rather to hope for the ſinners converſion & ſalvation by means of this cenſure; or otherwiſe to leav him to Gods judgement, without looking for corporal puniſhment vponupon him in this life. For God often ſuffreth wicked here to flouriſh long, & go down in peace to the grave, when he layeth his rod & ſtrokes vponupon his own beloved children. And if he pleaſe to lay any judgement vponupon the wicked here on earth, yet he reſerveth ſuch things to his own ſecret counſel, & wil not hav them expected from the mouth of man. Let Mr Br. then look how he preſumeth thus to limit the Lords judgements betwixt his neighbour & himſelf, leaſt the evil light on his own head. It ſeemeth becauſe the Archb. is dead, this man thincketh he payed the price of his curſe; & if himſelf had firſt died, the reader muſt hav judged his curſe killed him ſelf. Wel let him beware he curſe not many, leaſt ſome of them do out live him, & he dynig without repentance giv the world occaſion to thinck he died accurſed, & ſurely miſerable ▪
Yet let th' effects folowing, be minded of the reader as he willed him. For the Archb. as he ſayth, confeſſed his error; I hope then Mr Br. was not ſo vnmerciful but to forgiv him, except he count his ſin to be againſt the Holy ghoſt,…at. 12. vnpardonable. If he forgaue him, & after it the Archb. died; a man may ſuppoſe he died rather vponupon Mr Broughtons bleſſing then his curſe; if any would think he killed him, as himſelf now often boaſteth.
His Bull of excommunication given out againſt my ſelf, I deſire alſo may be conſidered.
Firſt he ſayth no ſubject wil diſpute, one for al Chriſtians againſt me: yet he being but one, wil excommunicate me.
2. If I were to be excommunicat, it muſt be for ſin wilfully perſiſted in; ſuch he hath not proved to be in me; neyther wilbe brought to prove by Gods word any thing he ſayth.
3. Mr Br. being a member & miniſter of the church of England, I am none of his brethren, nor any fellow member with him of that bodie, which we witneſſe againſt not to be a true gathered & conſtituted church of Chriſt. What authoritie then hath he over me, except he be a Pope & claymeth power over all churches?
4. No falſe Prophet or antichriſtian miniſter, hath the power of the keyes, or right to adminiſter the word or cenſures of Chriſt. Such is Mr Br. having received a falſe miniſterie or preiſthood at the hands of his right reverend Fathers the Prelates: which miniſterie we hav diſproved in many writings publiſhed; & Mr Broughton himſelf wil not & cannot approve his own function.
5. We ar counted ſchiſmaticks & out of the church: & of me, he ſayth I have given my ſelf to Satan by wicked excommunication. If it be ſo, I am not within, but without the church already, & therfore cannot be caſt out of that communion in which I am not. Now the Apoſtle Paul & the whol church of Corinth had no authoritie to judge them that wer without, but onelyonly them that wer within; & God judgeth thoſe without, 1 Cor. 5.12.13. But Mr Br. in judging & excommunicating me, (if I be ſuch as he eſteemeth me,) hath taken vponupon him more power then the Apoſtle had, & preſumeth to do that vvhichwhich perteyneth to God.
6. That which he ſayth to the ArchB. if you deſerved it not, it returneth to the giver; let him apply to himſelf in this caſe. If I hav deſerved it, it is for ſin: al ſin muſt be diſcouered & judged by Gods law; & the ſinner wilfull. With me he refuſeth to debate the matter; how am I then convinced of ſin, or deſerv I this cenſure? What then ſhal I ſay; ſhal I wiſh it may turn to the giver? Shal I ſay, Pſal. 109.17.18.As he loved curſing ſo ſhal it come vntounto him, & as he loved not bleſſing, ſo ſhal it be far from him; as he clothed himſelf with curſing like a rayment, ſo ſhal it come into his bowels like water, & like oyl into his bones? I wil rather reward this man good for his evil towards me, & pray God he may find grace repentance & merciemercy, becauſe I hope he hath done this ignorantly; if otherwiſe, he ſhal receiv the more heavie judgement. For doubtleſſe God that wil not hold any man guiltleſſe that ſhal take his name in vayn; vvil not ſuffer this great profanation of his name & cenſure to go vnpuniſhed, except the ſinner purge himſelf by vnfeighned repentance.
As for me, I hav otherwiſe learned Chriſt, then to fear the curſe ❀Prov. 26.2.cauſleſſe, or to be affrayd of vain-man, vvhoſe breth is in his noſthrils. The Lord promiſed to ✚Gen. 12.3.Abram, (vvhoſe child through faith I am,) I wil bleſſe them that bleſſe thee, & wil curſe them that curſe thee. And though this envious man like Shimey revile & curſe me, yet I ſay with the prophet, ”2. Sam: 16.12.It may be the Lord wil do me good for his curſing this day. In him I truſt to be hid from the ‡Iob. 5.21.ſcourge of the tongue, and from the *Pſal. 12… 4.juniper coles wherwith this enemy would ſcorch, & into which he would ſend me. Yea though his mouth were (as ”Dan. 3.19.Nebuchadnezars fornace) ſeven times hotter then any mans, I wil repoſe in him that ſaved his ſervants from ❀Verſ. 27.that flame; & hath made this promiſe to every true Iſraelite, VVhen thow walkeſt through the fyre thow ſhalt not be burnt, neyther ſhal the flame kindle vponupon thee. Iſa. 43.2.
Henr: Ainſworth.