A Necessity of Separation from the Church of England, Chapter 4

A Necessity of Separation from the Church of England · Chapter 4

p. 164CHAP. IV.

THat the ministerie, worſhip, and church government of England, is not lawfullie to be joyned with, we have evidentlie allreadie proved by their owne Principles: In this Chapter we will ſpeake of their Church, obſerving ſtill the former order, that is: 1. I will ſhewe their Tenets, touching a true viſible Church. 2. How farre their Engliſh Church by their owne teſtimonie differs from, and is contrary to it. 3. I will lay downe our inferences and concluſions. 4. Anſwer to ſuch Objections, as may ſeeme to carie moſt weight againſt them.

To let paſſe the ſtrict ſignificatiō of the word (church) and alſo the ſundry acceptations of it; concerning true viſible churches, the Nonconformiſts ſay, that there are none, but particular ordinarie congregations, ††Offer for Confer. pag. 2. Dioceſ. Tri. p. 12. Neceſ. of Ref. p. 64, 65. Firſt part of repl. in anſw. to D. Down. Defen. l. 1. par. 2. p. 44, &c. & ſecond repl. l. 3. chap. 1, p. 177, &c.ſuch Churches, and ſuch onlie, they affirme God erected, but as for Nationall, Provinciall, Dioceſan, they are now of human inſtitution, & altogether unjuſtifiable by the ſcriptures. The author, inſtitutor, and framer of every true viſible Church,aaM. Clev. upon pro. ch. 9, ver. 1. p. 3. is only Chriſt: for he alone hath the diſpoſing of the word, vouchſafing it to ſome, and p. 165denying it to others; and it is his ſpirit, which converteth mens ſoules, and begetteth them to everlaſting life, and ſo they become ſtones for this building.

For the perſons whereof the ſame are conſtituted, they ought to be a Faithfull People, called bbM. Iaco. inſtitut. of true viſ. chur. pa. 7. M. Bradſh unreaſon. of ſepar. p. 107. Fall of B. p. 50. 1 T…. 3, 15. Eſa. 2, 2. Zach. 8, 3. Eſa. 5, 1. Song. 4, 12 Ephe. 4, 16 Son. 4, 10, 7 1 Pet. 2. 9. Pſa. 48, 3. Proteſt. frō Scotl. p. 22. T. C. l. 1. p. 50. Neceſ. diſc. p. 7. M. Bradſh unreaſ. of ſep. p. 107. Mr. H. upon Pſa. 110, ver. 3. fol. 396. T. C. l. 1. p. 51. M. Iacob… inſtitut. of true viſ. ch. p. 2.Isa 2:2Zech 8:3Isa 5:1Song 4:12Eph 4:161 Pet 2:9Ps 48:3Ps 110:3and ſeparated from the world, and the falſe worſhip, and the wayes thereof. Such I ſay as keepe the Commaundements of God, and the faith of Ieſus; for how elſe ſhould the Church be, the Houſe, Mountaine, and Temple of the eternal God, his Vinyard, Kingdom, Heritage, and encloſed Garden, the body of Chriſt, his ſpcuſe, love, ſiſter, Queene; a choſen generation, a holy nation, a peculiar people, and the joy of the whole Earth. Howſoever therefore there may be Hypocrites, which beare the face of godlie men in the church, whoſe wickedneſſe is onelie knowne to God, and ſo cannot be diſcovered by men, yet in the churches of Chriſt, there ought to be admitted no drunkard, no whoremonger, &c. at leaſt, which are knowne, becauſe the temple of God muſt be kept as neere as it is poſſible, free, and clean from all pollutions, and prophanations whatſoever.

The meanes whereby men are made fitte for this Church of God, is by the word, when they have well proffited by hearing the ſame, they are then freely, and of their owne accord, to preſent themſelves to the Lord, that is, either to joyne themſelves to ſome true Church already conſtituted, or by voluntary profeſſion of faith, and obedience of Chriſt, to knit themſelues together in a ſpirituall outward ſocietie or p. 166Mr. Bate p. 26. Offer for confer. p. 2 Ephe. 2, 12 R…. 9, 4, 5. 1 Cor. 5, 4 Luk. 1. 71. Zach. 2. 10 11. Mat. 28, ult. Proteſt. from Scot. p. 22. Dr. Ames de conſc. l. 4, c. 24. p. 211 212 Rev. 1, 13Eph 2:121 Cor 5:4Luke 1:71Zech 2:10Matt 28Rev 1:13body politick; Now everie true particular congregation aſſembled lawfully in the name of Chriſt, is an independent body, and hath by Chriſts ordinaunce power to performe all publick worſhip, for unto it appertaineth the covenant, the worſhip, the ſacraments, and all eccleſiasticall diſcipline, having alſo the promiſes of peace, love, glory, and ſalvation, and of the preſence of God, and his continuall protection, and for this cauſe, it is the dutie of everie faithfull chriſtian, to make himſelfe actually a member thereof. 1, In reſpect of Gods inſtitution, Matth. 18. 17. in which not onelyonly the precept is contained: but a certaine neceſſitie of the meanes. 2. In reſpect of the preſence of God, & of Chriſt. For if we wil com to God, we ought then to com to that place where his preſence is in a ſpeciall manner, & where he is to be found, of all ſuch as ſecke him with the whole heart. 3. In reſpect of Gods glorie, the which by this meanes is publikely propagated,Pſal. 65, 5, and 133, 3Ps 65:5Ps 133:3 and advanced; For as the name of God in the old Teſtament was placed in Ieruſalem, ſo now it is in the Churches of the Saints, although not in this or that1 Cor. 5. 12.1 Cor 5:12 place. 4. In reſpect of Gods covenant and promiſe, for thoſe which are in the Church, are directlie (as it were) joyned to his bleſsings, the which are there powred forth abundantlie upon them. 5. In reſpect of our profeſſion, for otherwiſe it cannot be, but thoſe evidencesHeb. 10, 24, 25. 1 Cor. 11. 17, and 12, 25, 27. Rom. 1, 12Heb 10:24Heb 10:251 Cor 11:171 Cor 12:251 Cor 12:27Rom 1:12 will be darkened, whereby the faithfull are diſcerned from unbeleevers. 6. In reſpect of mutuall edification, which neceſſarily followes, upon our joyning together in the fellowſhip of the Goſpell.

p. 167Touching the manner and order of this joyning unto true viſible Churches, the Nonconformiſts doeFall of B. pa. 30. Curr. Chu. pow. p. 54 deſcribe it thus: He which is to be received, firſt is to goe to the Elders of the Church, to be well informed and inſtructed by them, and to have his cauſe by them propounded to the congregation, afterwards he is to come himſelfe into the publike aſſemblie, all men looking upon him with love and joy, as upon one that commeth to be maryed, and there he is to make a profeſſion of Faith, and to be aſked ſundrie needfull queſtions, to which he having well anſwered, and beeing found worthie, by the conſent of the whole Church, is joyfullie to be taken into their communion; and this they ſay, was the practiſe of the primitive Churches: ForLib. 6. Euſebius reporteth in his Eccleſiſticall Hiſtorie, that a Romane Emperour, named Philip (who firſt became aNeceſ. diſ. p. 172. printed at Geneva. Chriſtian of all the Emperours, and firſt ſubmitted the Romane Empire unto Chriſt deſireing to communicate with the reſt of the Church, was not admitted, before he had openlie made profeſſion of true religion.

When a people are thus eſtabliſhed, in the faith and order of the Goſpell, their care then muſt be to walk unreproovablie. and as in the naturall body, everie ſeveral member is (as it were) the member of every other, in ſerving to their good, as the eie doth ſee, theCartwr. Cate. of Chriſt. Rel. p. 303 304. hand doth take, the tongue doth ſpeak, for the good of anie other member: ſo muſt it be in the church of God, everie perſon according to his place and calling ought to be as profitable unto the reſt as he can, andNeceſ. diſ. p. 171. 172 ſpecially their godly watchfulneſſe muſt bee, to keepe p. 168their communion clean and pure; and therefore no unholy perſon may partake with them in the holie ſacraments, but ſuch onelie (as farre as men can judge by their outward profeſſion) that doe belong truely unto Chriſt; When any one among them falls into ſinne,T. C. l 1. p. 50. he muſt be lovinglie admoniſhed thereof, and brought to repentance, or elſe to be cutt of by excommunication, if he continue obſtinate in his ſinnes. How thisSee p. 130 138. dutie of brotherly admonition is to be performed, we have already ſhewed, this onelyonly is to be added, viz. that it ought neceſſarily to be practiſed, & may not be omitted, for certainly the tolleration of known iniquitie, is a greivous ſin of the church, & in its own natureRev. 2, 20. 1 Cor. 5, 6 Curr. chu. pow. p. 20. D. Ames de conſc. l. 4, p. 212. 213.Rev 2:201 Cor 5:6 tendeth to the corruption thereof, yea it defiles the communion Hag. 2. 13. and everie one makes himſelf guilty of the pollution, which doth not indeavour as much as in him lyeth, to remoove ſuch offences: In a word, this mixture which ariſeth by tolleration, much hinders the comforte and edification of the godly.

As in all the reſt, ſo in this point the Nonconformists and we, are of judgments alike, and it is our greate greife, that they will not joyne with us in practiſe alſo, and make themſelves members of ſuch true viſible churches, as here they have well deſcribed, for ſo ſhould Gods name be glorifyed, the Goſpell propagated, Satans, and Antichriſts Kingdome much weakened, and themſelves obtaine merciemercy in the great day of the Lord. They pray, let thy Kingdome come, but how doe they thinke, that ever they ſhall behold the beauty and p. 169glorie therof, ſeeing they reſolve not to ſet their hands unto the rayſing of it up, but doe leave the work wholy to the Magiſtrate: ſo that if the arme of fleſh will not build a ſpirituall temple for the Lord, he is likelie for their part, to have none at all: but whether ſuch courſes will not prove ill at laſt, I leave it to themſelves to thinke of.

SECT. II.

WE heard before what a true viſible Church is, now it followes, that we ſhew how everie way contrarie to the former patterne, the Engliſh aſſemblies are ſaid to be by the Nonconformiſts. Firſt, they acknowledge, that their reformation at firſt after Poperie, wasFall of B. p. 30, 31 not rightly founded, becauſe neither then, nor ever ſince, was there any profeſſion of Faith publickly made by the perſons, which entred into Church estate, but indeed it was then held, and ſo it is at this preſent, a ſufficientCurt. chu. pow. p. 54 thing to be members of their churches, if men come to their ſervice and Sacraments, take the oath of allegeance, and be conformable to their wicked Ceremonies, whoſoever doth this, paſſeth for a Proteſtant; howſoever in practiſe he be a Papiſt, Arminian, &c. yet is he more regarded then the moſt ſincere Chriſtians, whome they call Puritants. And by this meanes it is, that in the boſom of their church are ſwarmes of Atheiſts, Idolaters, Papiſts, erronious, and hereticall Sectaries, witches, Charmers, Sorcerers, murderers, theeves, adulterers, p. 170D. Chater. Serm. on Rom. 12, pag. 65, 66 Neceſ. diſ. p. 33. Mr. Perk. on Mat. 6. ver. 9. p. 126, vol. 3.Rom 12Matt 6:9lyars, blaſphemers, oppreſſors, voluptuous perſons, whoſe God is their bellie.

Moreover, ſuch is the great ignorance of God, and his truth among them, that the greateſt multitude by many parts, doe not underſtand the Lords prayer, or the articles of Faith, or the doctrine and vſe of the Sacraments, there are not five, among five ſkore, which doe underſtand the neceſſarie grounds and principles of Religion,Dialog. concern. ſtrif. of the Chur. pa. 99, 100 but many thouſands, which are men & women growne, if a man aſke them how they ſhallbe ſaved, they cannot tell.

Mr. Nichols eſteemed a forward preacher amongſt Mr. Giffar. count. div pa. 48.them ſaith. We finde by great experience (and I have now five and twenty yeeares obſerved it) that in thoſe places where there is not preaching, and private conferring of thePlea of the innocent. p. 218 minister and the people; the most part have as litle knowledge of God and of Chriſt as Turks and Pagans, and to prove this, he gives an example in his own flock, for I have beene in a pariſh (ſaith he) of foure hundreth communicants, and marvelling that my preaching was ſo litle regarded, I tooke upon me to conferre with every man and woman, before they receaved the communion; and I aſked them of Chriſt, what he was in his perſon? his office? how ſinne came into the world? what puniſhment for ſinne? what becomes of our bodies, beeing rotten in the graves? and lastly whether it were poſſible for a man to live ſo vprightlie, that by well doeing he might win heaven? In all the former queſtions, I ſcarſe found ten in the hundred to have any knowledge, but in the laſt question ſcarſe one, but did affirme, that a mau migh be ſaved by his owne wel doing, p. 171that he truſteth he did ſo live, that by Gods grace, he ſhould obtaine everlaſting life, by ſerving of God and good prayers.

And it is no wonder, that the condition of the people is generallie thus, ſeeing they thinke that all the ſervice of God, to lie in churching, croſsing, kneeling, Queſt. cō cer. chur. of wom. pag. 63.and beeing houſeled, (as they call it) at Eaſter; and as for preaching, they hould it a ſuperfluous and needleſſe ceremonie; and therefore when their ſervice is done, they take it, they may Lawfullie goe out of the Church, though the miniſter be ready to goe into the pulpitt.

Mr. Hern. on Pſa. 51, pag. 309. Cathol. confer. pag. 164. M. Giffard Dialog. between a Pap. and Prot. p. 38 Preface to his Counterp.Ps 51Moreover, they ſay, that the greateſt number of their people, are ſo wicked and vile, that were it not to ſave their purſes, and for the Lawes of the Kingdome, which doe conſtraine and compel them, to make ſome outward profeſſion, they would make none all. For as Mr. Fenner ſaith: Every man followeth the pride, covetuouſneſse, whor…d…me, drunkenneſſe of his own heart, and no man remembreth Ioſeph; the barres are filled with pleadings, and the ſtreets are full of the cryes of the poore, fullneſſe of meat, and contempt is among us, and who conſidereth? yet if this our ſinne were onelyonly againſt men, and not againſt God, there might be ſome hope. But when the mouth of the blaſphemous ſwearer is not tyed vp, and the hands of the idolatrous generation of Atheiſts and prophane perſons, be not chained, when the moſt holie and precious word of God, is manifestly contemned, the joyfull and heavenly tydings of ſalvation, ſo negligently and vngratefully troden vnderunder foot, the true and faithfull meſſengers purſued, arraigned, p. 172and divers wayes afflicted: then if the old world for malitious imaginations; Sodom and Gomorra for pride, fullneſſe of meat, and vnmercifullneſſe; If Ieruſalem for abuſing Gods Prophets, & wilſu…nes were d…stroyd, what may we poor careleſſe people loke for, if we doe not repent, but (as it is allmoſt vniverſallie feared) ſpeedy ruine, and vtter deſolation.

Another ſaith: What Chriſtian heart is ſo stony, that doth not mourne? what eye ſo dry, that doth not ſhed teares? yea rather guſh out with teares, to conſider and behold, the miſerie of our ſuppoſed glor…us Church, by the ſpirituall nakedneſſe, blindneſſe, and povertie thereof? I meane the great ignorance, the ſuperficiall worſhip of God, the fearefull blaſphemies, and ſwearings in houſes, and ſtreets, ſo alſo the direfull curſings, the open contempt of the word and Sacraments, the wicked prophanations of the Lords dayes, the diſhonour of ſuperiours, the pride, the crueltie, the fornications, the covetuouſneſſe,Defen. of certain argum. ag. G. Powel pag. 61. the vſus…ries, and other the like abominations, allmoſt as greivous, as either heretofore in the time, or now in the places of poperie, when and where there was no preaching at all of the Goſpell.

Neceſ. diſ. p. 9….It is alſo further teſtifyed, that the holy thinges among them, are proſtituted, and ſett open to adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, and all kind of vicious and ſinful livers; They ſett no porters at their church dores, to keepe out the polluted, but every uncleane perſon isPlaine declar. of Eccl. diſc. p. 172. Curt. chu. pow. p. 40. permitted to enter freely. I ſay, all may come boldlie to the Lords ſupper; they looke after nothing but this, that they kneele, which if they doe but obſerve, be their life and religion then, what it will, it matters not. Thus are the miſteries of God prophaned, in that, they p. 173communicate with Papiſts, & other unclean people.

To draw unto a concluſion, not onlie are their congregatiōs, ſaid to be vnrightly conſtituted, & to be impure & vnholy lumps, but (which is the depth of miſery) theyNeceſ. diſ. p. 174. have no meanes (as they ſtand) of reformation; for the wholeſome remedies, appointed by the Lord, to keep out unworthie perſons, to preſerve pure and cleane Gods ordinances, and to take away offences, is not among them; and here the reader may ſee what the reaſon is, that they ſay, the walls of Syon ly even with the Supplicat. pag. 67. 1 Admon.ground, and they have not ſcarſe the face of a Church. For if it be as theſe men report, it is Babel, no Bethel, which they have erected. I could name others of them, which write the ſame things, but we have enough, to rayſe our concluſion; the which I will lay downe thus:

All true viſible churches, gathered, and planted, according to Gods word, conſiſted in their conſtitution of Saints onelie: But the Churches of England, after Poperie, were not ſo constituted, but on the conirarie for the greateſt number, of prophane people, even mockers and contemners of religion, as Atheists, Idolaters, Sorcerers, Blaſphemers, and all ſorts of miſcreants, and wicked livers. Therefore the Churches of England are not true viſible churches, gathered, and planted, according to Gods Word.

There is never a part of this argument, that they can denye, unleſſe they will let fall their owne Principles. For the aſſumtion, I make no queſtion, but it will paſſe without exception, and none of them will have the face to oppoſe it, conſidering how generally the thing hath been affirmd, & ſtil is upon all occaſiōs, p. 174both in word and writing. Now that the Propoſition may appeare as true alſo. I will prove the ſame, 1. by Scriptures, 2. by reaſons, 3. by the teſtimonie of the Learned: Of all which in the next Section.

SECT. III.

IF we take a ſtrict view, of all the Churches which the Lord hath conſtituted ſince the beginning of the world, it will appeare that at the orderly gathering and planting, the members of them were all holie and good. I here intend of viſible & external holineſſe, and ſo farre as men may judge, and not of that which is within, and and hid from us: For I doubt not, but in Gods ſight the pureſt congregation on earth might conſiſt at firſt of good and bad, and yet of men, every perſon to be judged truely faithfull, and ſanctified, untill any one byD. Feild of the ch. p. 3, 4, &c. 2 Pet. 2, 4. Iude 6. Eccl. 7, 29.2 Pet 2:4Jude 1:6Eccl 7:29 his iniquitie, outwardly committed, appeared otherwiſe. Not to ſpeake of the Church of Angells, which God created in heaven, and which were all holy and good, till ſome by tranſgreſſion fell away. Neither of it in Paradiſe, conſiſting of two perſons, & both true beleevers. After the fall, the conſtitutiō of the… church, in the covenant of grace, was of good matter, & ſuch was the Lords care, to have the practiſe of it ſtill preſerved,Gen. 12, 1, and 17. Rom. 4, 11 Ioh. 15, 19 2 Pet. 1▪ 4.Gen 12:1Gen 12:17Rom 4:11John 15:192 Pet 1:4 that he thruſted out Kain from the ſame, for the great wickedneſſe, which he fell into.

The Lord ſealed not up with Abraham, the ſeale of the righteouſneſſe of faith, untill he left his Fathers houſe. p. 175and that idolatrous place, wherein he had lived; whichPſa. 45, 11 Rev. 18. 4, 2 Cor. 6.Ps 45:11Rev 18:42 Cor 6 ſignifieth to us, that all men muſt neceſſarily come out of the world, and from worldlie corruptions, or elſe they are uncapable to have a Church covenant in Chriſt, confirmed unto them of God.

Rom. 1. 7. 1 cor. 1, 2, Gal. 3, 3, Epheſ. 1, 13 Phil. 1, 1, Coloſ. 1, 2, 1 Theſ. 1, 5, 9,Rom 1:7Rom 1:1Gal 3:3Eph 1:13Phil 1:1Col 1:21 Thess 1:51 Thess 1:9As for the viſible Churches, planted by the Apostles, it is evidēt, that in their collectiō, they conſiſted of, ſuch & none other, as were called by the Goſpell, confeſſed their ſinnes, beleeved, walked in the ſpirit, and ſeparated themſelves from the falſe ſtate, in which they ſtood members before. Such a beginning had the congregations in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Epheſus, Phillipp. Coloſſe, Theſſalonica, &c. & who dares affirm, that there was one man or woman admitted a member at the conſtitution of any of theſe Churches, which had beene known to be an il liver, and did not firſt manifeſt ſound repentance thereof.

The matereall Temple was a tipe of the viſible churches under the goſpel, now we read that it was built from the verie foundation of coſtly stones, of Cedars, 1 King, 6, 17, 18,Algum, Fi…e, and the like choice and ſpeciall trees, and thoſe all prepared aforehand, hewed and perfect 2 chro. 1, 8, 9.for the building, ſo that neither hammer nor axe, nor anie toole was to be heard in the houſe, in the building of it, no common or vile thing, was uſed towards it, neither might anie polluted perſon enter into it, and offer, untill he had repented, and embraced the faith, and been clenſed from his filthineſſe: by the gates of 2 chro. 23 19. Lev. 22, 19 and 27, 11.Lev 22:19Lev 27:11the houſe were Porters ſett, to keep the unworthy out. VponUpon the Altar there might be offered no uncleane p. 170duplicate page p. 171duplicate page p. 172duplicate page p. 173duplicate page p. 174duplicate page p. 175duplicate page p. 176beaſt, no nor that which was cleane, having a blemiſh upon it. What in all this was ſignifyed? Surely this: Such as will build a ſpirituall houſe for the Lord to dwell in, muſt be a holy people: for he is of that infinitePſa. 5, 4, 5, Hab. 1, 13.Ps 5:4Ps 5:5Hab 1:13 puritie, that he will not vouchſafe his ſpeciall preſence, unto profane companies, which joyne themſelves together; and therefore let it be farr from all men to prepare a place for him, with ſuch traſh, or to defile his holy things with ſuch uncleane perſons, or to offende his noſtrels with the ſtench of ſuch ſacrifices.

The reaſons upon which our propoſition is grounded, are theſe, 1. All wicked men are forbidden expreſſlie by the word of God, from meddling with his covenant or ordinances: Now if men to eſcape temporall puniſhment, are affraid to tranſgreſſe againſt the Lawes of worldly Princes. Much more fearefull ſhouldPſa. 50. 16. Eſa. 35, 8. Zach. 14, 21. Rev. 21, Vlt.Ps 50:16Isa 35:8Zech 14:21Rev 21 they be to breake his▪ who is the King of Kings, and will inflict for it, upon their ſoules and bodies torments eternallie. 2. That which deſtroyeth a Church…, and makes it, either to become a falſe Church, or no church at all, cannot be a true Church, or be true matter wherof it is made: but men viſiblie wicked, and prophane make the Church, a Synagoge of Satan, Babylon, Sodom, Aegypt; and ſo to be ſpued out, and removed. 3. It is againſt ſence and common reaſon, that a Church ſhould be conſtituted of vnholie People; For as in a materiall See Mat. 3, 2. Act. 2, 37. 41.Matt 3:2Acts 2:37Acts 2:41houſe, the wood and ſtones muſt be firſt prepared, and then la…d orderlie in the building; So in the ſpiritual▪ men and women muſt by the word of God neceſſarily p. 177be firſt reformed, before they are any way fitt, to have any place therin. 4. They which have no right to the holy things of God in the church, are not to be admitted into it, neither is that Church, which is gathethered of ſuch perſons, rightly conſtituted; But men of wicked converſation, have no right to the holy things of God in the Church, and therefore that Church,Mat. 7, 6.Matt 7:6 which is gathered of ſuch, is not rightly conſtituted.Epheſ. 2, 1Eph 2:1 5. They cannot performe the ſervices and duties of members, for they are ſpirituallie dead. If a maſterRom. 12, 1 1 Pet. 2, 5.Rom 12:11 Pet 2:5 will not covenant with one to be his ſervant, which hath in him no natural life: much leſſe, &c. 6. They have not Chriſt for their head, and therefore cannot be of his bodie; For as in the natural bodie, there muſt be firſt a natural union of the parts with the head, before there can be any action of natural communion, between the head and the members, or one member and another; So in this ſpiritual bodie, the membersIoh. 15, 2, 4 5. Rom. 8.John 15:2John 15:4Rom 8 muſt be firſt united with Chriſt the head, and become one with him, before they can any way partake in his benefits, or have communion one with another, as members of the ſame body under him the head. 7. They are altogether uncapable of this covenant; ForRom. 7, 2Rom 7:2 as a woman, which hath been once a wife, cannot mary againe with another man, untill her firſt huſband be deceaſed, or ſhe from him lawfullie divorſed. ſo neitherHoſ. 2, 19, 20.Hos 2:19Hos 2:20 can theſe be maried to the Lord, till they have mortifyed their corruptions, and put the world and Satan away, unto which before they were (as it were) maried 8. The Godlie and wicked are contraries, guided p. 178Gal 5, 18.Gal 5:18and led by different cauſes: Now two contraries are not capable of one, and the ſame forme.

Thirdly, for this we have the judgment of the learned alſo. There must be (ſaith Molierus a profeſsion of trueIn Pſal. 15Ps 15 religton, and obedience yealded thereto, at leaſt outwardly, to become a member of the viſible Church. Beza ſaith, Annot. in Act. 2, 40Acts 2:40He is rightly joyned to the church, which ſeparates himſelfe from the wicked. Paul calls the Romans Saincts (ſaith Aretius) to put a difference between their former estate whereinIn Rō. 1, 7 they lived, which was unholy and impure, and the condition to which they were now called. Piſcator affirmes, The matter of a particular church, to be a companie of beleevers. M^r. Iacob in his definition of Chriſts trueVolumen. Theſ. Theolog. p. 356 viſible Church, ſaith, that thoſe which joyne in a ſpiritual outward ſociety, or body Politick together, must be a faithfull people. M^r. Bradſhaw ſaith, they muſt be a people, called and ſeparated from the world, and the falſe worſhip, andExpoſi. on Numb. 23 v. 9, p. 158Num 23:9 wayes thereof, by the word. The ſame ſpeaketh M^r. Atterſoll, and alleageth theſe Scriptures for it, Gen. 4. 26, and 12. 1. Ioſh. 24. 2. 3, & 23. 7. 8. Num. 6. 2. Lev. 20. 24. 26. Ioh. 15. 19. Act. 2 40. 41.

I could name many others,††See Mr. Fenner Sacra. Theolog. l. 6, 0. 3, p. 90 which write the ſame thing, but there is no uſe thereof. Onelie it cannot be amiſſe to ſhew, how the Church of England makes this, an Article of her Faith, as the Prelates have publiſhed it in her behalfe.

Articl. of Relig. 19The viſible Church of Christ, is a congregation of Faithfull men, in the which the pure word of God is preached, and the Sacraments dulie be miniſtred, according to Chriſts Ordinance, in all thoſe things, that of neceſsitie are requiſite to the ſame.

p. 179Thus the Propoſition beeing proved, and the aſſumption acknowledged to be true, the concluſion muſt needs ſtand firme (viz.) that the Churches of England are not true viſible churches, rightly gathered, and planted, according to the Scripture; and therefore by neceſſarie conſequence lawfully to be ſeparated from.

Before I end this point, I will here lay downe ſome few Syllogiſmes, intyrelie made up, betweene the Inconformiſts, and Conformiſts, all concluding the forenamed poſition.

That Church which hath not a Lawfull miniſtery, is not a true viſible Church: But the Church of England hath not a Lawfull ministerie; Ergo the church of England is not a trueBabel, not Beth. pag. 108, Challeng. chap. 1, p. 33, 34, viſible church.

The propoſition is affirmed of the Conformists, as Burton, Sutcliffe, &c. The aſſumption is granted by the Nonconformiſts, as we have in the firſt chapter largelie ſhewed.

The true viſible church of Chriſt, is a ſociety of beleeving and Faithfull people, and a communion of Saints (ſo ſay the Conformiſts) but the church of England is not a ſociety ofSntcl. chaleng. p. 40, & anſw. to the excep. p. 65 beleeving and Faithfull people, a communion of Saints (thus write the Nonconform. ſee p. 169. &c.) Ergo, the church of Engl. is not a true viſible church.

The true church is the Kings daughter, deſcribed in Pſal. 45. But the church of England is not the Kings daughter, ſo deſcribed: Therefore the church of England is not the trueBurton in anſw. to H. cholm. p. 100 church of Chriſt.

The Propoſition is laid downe by the Conformiſts, wherby they prove Rome a falſe Church. The aſſumption p. 180is the Nonconformiſts: For if they ſay the truth, their members have not thoſe qualities, belonging to the Kings daughter; neither their Preiſts nor people. See pag. 15. 16. 39. 137. 169. 170.

The true church of Chriſt is the Flock of Chriſt, but the church of England is not the true Flock of Chriſt▪ Therefore the church of England is not the true church of Christ.

Burton in the ſame booke pag 99.The propoſition ſay the Conformiſts is undeniable, Son. 1. 6. 7. Act. 20. 28. Ioh. 10. 16. The aſſumption is proved by the Nonconformists Principles, compared with Ioh. 10. 3. 4. 27. Chriſts flock heare his voyce, and know it, & follow it, but the Church of England, ſubmitting to an vnlawfull ministerie, worſhip, and diſcipline, heare not Chriſts voyce, nor know, nor acknowledge, nor follow it, but the voyce of Antichriſt.

Sutcliffe chaleng. ch. 1, pag. 6, Arg. 9.The church of God doth keep the doctrine of the Apoſtles & Prophets, without addition, alteration, or corruption (thus the Conformiſts) But the Church of England keepes not the doctrine of the Apoſtles and Prophets, without addition, alteration▪ and corruption (ſay the Nonconformiſts, ſee pa. 108.) Ergo ſhe is not the church of God.

The ſame booke, p. 13, Arg. 19No ſociety can be termed Gods church, which retayneth not Gods true worſhip; (thus ſay the Conformiſts) But the church of England doth not retayn Gods true worſhip; (ſay the Nonconformiſts, ſee pag. 78. to 113.) Ergo ſhe cannot be termed Gods church.

Id. p. 27, Arg. 52.The true church conſiſteth not of feirce Lyons, Wolves, Tygers, and ſuch like wild and feirce beaſts, but of ſheepe and Lambes, which learne of Chriſt, and are meeke, humble, gentle, &c. (ſo ſay the Conformiſts) But the Engliſh p. 181church doth conſiſt of Lyons, Wolves, Tygers, and ſuch like wild, and feirce beaſts, and not of ſheepe and Lambes, which learne of Chriſt, and are m…eke, humble, gentle, &c. (thus affirme the Nonconformiſts, ſee pag. 31. &c. 145. 169. 170.) therefore it is not a true Church.

Here the reader ſeeth clearly, how the Conform: majors, and the Nonconform: minors, make up intyre Syllogiſmes of Separatiſme. And how they willbe able to unloſe theſe knots, I know not, except by revoking utterly their owne grounds; which if either of them doe, yet I doubt not, but we ſhall well enough be able to maintaine them againſt men.

SECT. IV.

NOw we come to take a view, of ſuch exceptions, as may ſeeme to cary moſt weight, againſt our former concluſion; And theſe are laid down cheifly by M^r. Dayrell, in his treatiſe of the Church: this man made a ſhift, to fill up there, with words, above thirty ſheets of paper; The which ſubject, if ſome men had tooke in hand, they would eaſily have compriſed all the matter of it, in 12. or 14. leaves. My purpoſe is not to follow him, in his idle repetitions, neither to ſpeake much of his contradictions, & abſurdities, but in ſhort to give a full anſwer to his tedious & tyreſome diſcourſes. Touching the deſcription, which he makes of a viſible church, he ſaith thus: All that be, and remaine vnderunder the pa. 29. & 41voyce, and call of God, that is, the miniſterie of the word, &c. be of the viſible church.

p. 182Anſw. This is a falſe and prophane errour; for firſt, then the vileſt Hereticks that ever have beene in the world, may be members thereof, as the Appellites, Cerdonians, Macedonians, Paternians, Patricians, &c. ſuch as held two contrarie beginnings, or Gods, the one good, the other evill; ſuch as held, that Chriſt is not ryſen from the dead; denyed the Holy Ghoſt to be God; affirmed the bodie to be created of the devill, &c. 2. Then may excommunicate perſons be of the church, before they acknowledge their ſinnes; yea Tu…es, Iews, and Infidles. 3. Whereto leadeth this Poſition, but indeed to make the Church a very stincking ditch, to receaveEze. 16, 28Ezek 16:28 all filthineſſe, and to be like the whoriſh woman, which openeth her knees to every paſſenger, contrarie to the patterne, given us of God, Rev. 21. ult. 4. If this were true, then ſhould no man for any offence be cenſured, ſo long as he remaines vnderunder the voyce and call of God; For that which is enough to state one in the Church, is enough to keepe him there ſtill, if he retaine it. 5. He ſpeakes contrary to the judgement of all Reformists and Conformiſts, that ever I have heard or read of, and contrarie to his owne writing in other places: for in pag. 22. 35, &c. he defines a Church to be a company called out from the rest of the world, and ſuch as doe ſubmit themſelves to the true worſhip of God. Now there is a great difference betweene this calling from the world, ſubmitting to the true worſhip of God, &c. and onelyonly to be under the miniſterie of the word. 6. I cannot tell from whom M^r. Dayr▪ receaved this ſtrange doctrine unleſſe it were the Heretick Eunomius, which taught, that ſo p. 183men were of his religion, it was no matter what theirAuguſt. de Haeret. converſation was, nor how many ſinnes they committed. He doth often affirme in his booke, that it is not …. 54,Faith and repentance, but the Profeſsion thereof, which isPag. 244, neceſſarie to the making of a member of the viſible Church. Marke how blaſphemouſly he ſpeakes; intimating, if men with their mouth ſpeake ſome few good wordes, they may be taken lawfullv into the Communion of the Saints, and partake with the reſt in the Sacraments and Prayer; All be it knowne to be notorious murderers, theeves, traitors, ſorcerers, witches, whoremoungers, &c. and ſo reſolved to live, and continue. It is very likely this M^r. Dayr. had a great Church, ſeeing he made the doore unto it, broad and wide, juſtMat. 7, 13,Matt 7:13 like the way to hell.

I could here lay down many groſſe abſurdities, which might be truly concluded from his words, viz. that a Church cannot caſt out ſome obſtinate ſinners, neither is ſhe▪ and the world, to be diſtinguiſhed, &c. but becauſe the vanitie, and evill of this ſpeach, is enough allready ſhewed, I purpoſely paſſe them over.

We have ſeene one of M^r. Dayr. definitions; now Pag. 35,followes another. Let there be an aſſembly, joyned together in prayer, hearing the word, and receaving the Sacraments, according to Chriſts inſtitution, and it is a true viſible Church.

Anſw. It is ſo indeed, and hence this argument againſt them may be framed: If in the Eccleſiaſtical Aſſemblies of England, there is neither prayer, preaching, nor ſacraments adminiſtred, according to Chriſts inſtitution, then p. 184are they all falſe Churches: But the firſt is true, therefore the ſecond.

The propoſition hath ſufficient confirmation, from their Principles, before named; the aſſumption is certaine, and manifeſt, by the doctrine and deſcription, which he here makes of a true viſible church; and there lyeth againſt it no exception.

Pag. 36.In the next page he delivers a Paradox (viz.) that men outwardly may ſubmitt to true worſhip, and yet be irreligious and prophane. Now this is either falſely or fooliſhly ſpoken. If he meane of viſible prophaneſſe, and irreligion, then it is a contradiction, and indeed plaine Nonſence; for to ſay, that a perſon, may outwardlie ſubmitt to God, and yet outwardlie be prophane and ungodly. If he intended of ſecret and inward irreligion of the heart; In this ſence it is true, but anſwereth nothing at all to the matter, for which he brings it.

Here alſo he layeth downe Mr. …inſw. wordes, as he ſaith; unto which he makes no direct reply, but runnes to another matter, whereof he had now no cauſe at all to ſpeake: He denyeth that either the Papiſts, or Anabaptiſts doe profeſſe true Religion, although they profeſſe, ſome true and ſound doctrine. What moved him thus to thinke, I know not, unleſſe it were becauſe theſe have many errours in their religion; Now if this reaſon will ſtand firme, and good againſt them, then it muſt needs follow, that the Church of England profeſſeth not true religion, though ſhe prof…ſſe ſome true and ſound doctrins, in regard ſhe maintaineth many lyes, and vile errours. Mr. Gilb…e, ††In the table after Sold▪ of Barw.a forward miniſter, reckoneth up, above ſeven p. 185ſcore groſſe points of poperie, remaining in their Church, and many others of them have don the like, as I have in this treatiſe manifeſted. And I think it would aske a better witt, and head, then ever Mr. Dayr. had, to proove, that there are halfe ſo many corruptions, in the religion profeſſed by the Eng. Anabaptiſts.

From pag 41. to 51. there are certaine reaſons (as he calls them) to prove the Church of Eng. and their Pariſh aſſemblies true viſible churches. As for the firſt of them, I deny both the Propoſition and Aſſumption; He ſaith: Whatſoever people or nation is within the dayly voice and call of God, &c. the ſame is a true viſible Church. This is untruelie affirmed, as I have proved before; and for his ſpeaking of it againe, it ſheweth the more his ignorance in the way of God; For will any wiſe man take Lyons, Wolves, Foxes, &c. into his ſheepſould? ſow tares, or darnel, in his garden, plant thistles, or thornes, in his Orchard? The Church is the Lords ſpeepcfowld, his garden, orchard, &c. and therefore if Mr. Dayr. had been ſo wiſe as he ſhould, he would not have ſpoken ſo corruptly, but have given rather counſell to keepe out vncleane perſons, conſidering what the Prophet ſaith: Holynes becommeth thy houſe o Iehovah, to length of dayes. Againe, we may perceive by his wordes, that he underſtood not the nature of a viſible Church; For as to the conſtitution of it, there belongs a holie people, as the matter, ſo alſo a uniting and coupling of them together, which is the forme, whereof it conſiſteth: As the conſtitution of a common wealth, or of a cittie, is a gathering and knitting of people together in a civill Policie; ſo the Conſtitution p. 186Eph. 2, 12Eph 2:12of the common wealth of Iſrael, (as the Church is called) and of the cittie of God the new Ieruſalem, is aforeign. Ariſtot 3, Polit. c. 1. gathering and uniting of people into a ſpiritual Policie; The forme of which Policie is order, as the Philoſoſophers acknowledged, calling Policie an order of a citty; which Order is requiſite in every adminiſtration of1 Cor. 14, 401 Cor 14:40 the Church, as the Apoſtle teacheth; and cheifly in the collection thereof; And therefore next unto Faith in God, it is to be eſteemed moſt neceſſarie, for all holie ſocieties. This was one thing, for which Paul rejoycedCol. 2, 5.Col 2:5 in the Church at Colloſſe, as for their ſteadfaſt Faith in Chriſt, ſo their Order alſo. But Mr. Dayr. will have his Church without Order▪ or Forme; and what is it then, but a meere, at…xie, or confuſe Chaos, a ſtate onlie fitt for the devills Goates to be in, which deſire liberty, and notHeb 12, 13.Heb 12:13 for Chriſt ſheepe, which are to make ſtreight pathes to their feet.

He ſaith, there lyeth no exception againſt the Aſſumption. And why ſo? becauſe their Paſtors and Teachers are true ministers. Me thinkes the man ſhould have beene aſhamed, to have begd ſo much at one time; But to let his foliſhneſſe paſſe, we do deny them to be lawfull Officer…, and have brought their owne hands againſt them for it. Secondly, he writes here, againſt his brethren, yea (and I thinke) againſt his owne conſcience: For the greateſt number of their Bb. Preists & Deacons, are dumb dogs, ignorant aſſes, &c. ſuch as eitherEze. 16 49Ezek 16:49 cannot, or through pride, ſullneſſe bread, and abundance of See before pag. 43.idleneſſe (Sodomes ſinnes) will not preach; and therefore it is untruely ſaid, that the people generally of England are p. 187within the dayly voyce and call of God. 3. The later part of his reaſon, is wholie againſt himſelfe; ſor whereas his wordes import, that the people generally of England are impenitent ſinners, and unbeleevers, it muſt follow neceſſarily, that they are alltogether uncapable of any Church estate, and ſo much we have formerly proved.Pag, 176▪ 177. Were it not a ridiculous thing, to ſet up a houſe with wood and ſtones, and afterward to take Axes, Sawes, Hammers, and other tooles, to cutt, ſaw, and fitt them for the building: yet ſuch an unskilfull builder Mr. Dayr. ſheweth himſelfe in his whole booke. For hee will have idolaters, adulterers, theeves, conjurers, murderers, and any villain in the Land, to be placed in the Lords ſpirituall houſe, and afterward will have meanes uſed to prepare them for the ſame.

Not to contend about the propoſition of his ſecond argument, howbeit it is verie faulty. I denie the aſſump. viz. that the people of England doe injoy, and outwardly ſubmit themſelves to the true worſhip of God: for the worſhip which they have, is affirmed of the NonconformiſtsSee pag. 78. &c. to be antichriſtian and unlawfull: but let us heare his reaſon.

If ſuch as both in their life, and at theire death ſerved God with the verie ſame worſhip we doe, have in that worſhip beene ſaved, then i… the worſhip wee now have, true divine worſhip. But the first is true, therefore the ſecond.

If Mr. Bradſhaw had found ſuch a reaſon in Mr. Iohnſons writing, he would ſurely have called him idle head, crackt braind, foole &c. but I leave ſuch terms to men of his intemperate ſpirit, and doe thus anſwer. p. 1882. A Papiſt, Arminian, or Anabaptiſt may ſay as much and upon as good ground, and who dares denie but manie of their religion, have found merciemercy with the Lord, muſt it therefore follow that their worſhip is good? indeed Mr. Dayr, logick ſo concludeth it. 2, MenRom. 9, 33.Rom 9:33 may ſerve God with an outward worſhip, not agreeable to his word, and yet be ſaved: for who knoweth how infinitely good hee is to his poore creature. 3. It is apparent this man had a very ill caſe in hand, that could not tell how to maintaine it, but by revealing the ſecret and hid conſell of the Lord: for I wonder how he came to know who in their worſhip have beene ſaved: if he ſhould ſay in the judgement of charitie he thinkes thus, then his argument muſt be of an another faſhion, namely, that he thinkes their worſhip is true: for otherwiſe it will want ſhape and proportion. 4. It hath beene the conſtant practice of the godly, to proove their poſitions by the ſcriptures, but it is likely he ſaw that there was no helpe for him there, and therefore onelyonly makes uſe of this reaſonleſſe reaſon.

His third argument is fooliſh and carnall; and both parts of it falſe. For firſt it is incident to the beſt and pureſt Churches upon earth to erre and to bee deceived, and therefore their ſentences and approbations muſt be examined by Gods word. 2. If the reformed Churches doe juſtifie the Engliſh, therein they condemne greately their owne practice: for in theire constitution, miniſtery, worſhip, and governement they are as oppoſite1. Admonition. as light and darkeneſſe one to the other: and ſo much the Nonconformiſts confeſſe. 3. Seeing the Prophets p. 189Christ and his Apostles condemne their Church, their caſe is never a whit the better, though all men in the world ſpeake well of it. 4. The ſtricteſt profeſſors, do hold the Church of England as it is Nationall, Provinciall, and Dioceſſan, falſe: howbeit they thinke ſome particular congregations in the Land to bee true. 5. With ſuch weapons as theſe doe the Papiſts fight: and where they can bring one, the others ten, to witneſſe for them, and their Romiſh ſuperſtitions. I meaneBellarm. de notis Eccleſ. antiquity, univerſality and ſuch like popular reaſons, whereby they ſeeke to uphold their curſed Kingdome. Laſtly, it is untruely affirmed, that all the Churches of God in the world doe acknowledge the people of England to be a true Church. For there are many which have both profeſſed and prooved the contrary.

Now for his laſt argument, I deny alſo both parts of it: and affirme that neither the mother nor daughters are true Churches▪ the reaſon which he layeth downe is, as the reſt, ſillie, and moſt impertinent to proove the thing for which he brings it. The ſumme and effect of that which hee hath written in five or ſixe pages is this, that their worſhip and religion is true, becauſe in Q. Maries dayes, divers Martyrs profeſſed the ſame, and died in it.

Anſw. 1. Here the thing in queſtion is brought for confirmation: the Martyrs allowed of their worſhip, be it ſo, what then, ſhould hee not yet have prooved the ſame to be lawfull? Yes doubtleſſe, if hee would have written either according to rule, reaſon, or religion. 2. If a Papiſt ſhould ſuffer death under Heathen or p. 190Turkes, becauſe he would not denie Chriſt …eſus, wee think he may in ſome reſpect be judged a martyr, and yet the Romiſh worſhip which he profeſſeth, remaine ſtill falſe, and idolatrous. 3. I deſire the Reader to marke how abſurdly he ſpeaketh: the thing which he undertakes to proove, is, that their aſſemblies are true, for this he alleageth the Martyrs, now to what purpoſe I can not tell in the world: unleſſe he meant that there was ſuch vertue and efficacy in their ſufferings, as the whole Nation thereby was ſanctified, and made Churches. Laſtly, this reaſon is one and the ſame, with that which he brought to confirme the ſecond Syllogiſme, ſave that for the more authority of it, hee addeth the name of the M…rtyrs, the inſufficiency whereof I have there ſhewed and thither doe referre the Reader.

In the concluſion he ſaith, Anſwer me this one argument and ſo I end. If Mr. Hooper Mr. Bradford with others knowing the corruptions then in the worſhip and miniſtery, being the ſame alſo with ours now, notwithſtanding this knowledge, and not ſeparating, were ſaved: then men at this day notwithstanding their knowledge of the corruptions and not ſeparating becauſe of them, may likewiſe be ſaved. But the firſt is true: therefore the ſecond.

Anſ. His former reaſons were not more falſe and fooliſh, than this is wicked and profane, for firſt, wherefore ſerves it, but in truth to teach men to caſt off all care in ſeeking Gods glorie, by an even walking, and to doe ſo much of his will as is ſufficient to bring them to heaven, and no more▪ thus he counſelleth people to be lovers of themſelves more than lovers of p. 191God: yea to love God for themſelves, and to ſerve him for a reward onelyonly; but let all perſons, in all places take heede, that they follow not this mans advice, for if they reſolve to doe no more, but what they think will ſerve their turne to be ſaved, they will ſurely miſſe of that, and for their ſelf love ſuffer wrath and vengeance eternally. 2 Howſoever Iwill not judge another mans ſervant, yet it is more then he or anie mortall man that can infalliblie tell, whether Mr. Bradford, Mr. Hooper and others were abſolutely ſaved, and therefore hee reaſoneth ſtill moſt childiſhly, to prove his matter by things ſecret, and known to God onelyonly. 3 When Luther, Calvin, and others left the Church of Rome, might not anie popiſh prieſt have ſaid as much to them. If Mr. W. Mr. C. with others knowing the corruptions then in worſhip &c. Now I perceive if Mr. Dayr. had been in their place, he would not have ſeparated from that Synagogue of Satan, and to ſpeake the verie truth, he could not do it lawfully upon his own groundes. 4. That theſe men knew ſome corruptions to be in their worſhip & miniſtrie, I grant it, but not in that kinde and degree, which the Nonconformists ſince have manifeſted, for if they had certainly known that theſe things were unlawfull and antichriſtian, and their Church government taken wholly from the Pope: I beleeve they would not have joyned in ſpirituall communion therewith, & therfore Mr. Dair. ſhamfully abuſeth the reader, to ſay the martyrs ſaw their corruptions, and they are the ſame which they have now: whereas he ſhould have proved, p. 192that they ſaw them according to the nature of them, and as his fellow brethren have ſince ſeene them, & affirmed them to be, for unleſſe this can be ſhewed, they differ herein aſmuch from the martyrs, as if one ſinned ignorantly, aud another againſt his knowledge and conſcience. 5. The ſaintes are taught of God, not to be ſervants of men, but to live by their owne faith, &Phil. 3.Phil 3 to preſſe forward toward the mark. and therefore hee ſheweth litle ſkill in the courſe of religion, to ſette downe this, or that mans practiſe for a rule to walke by, unleſſe he had profeſſed himſelfe to be a Familiſt or perfectist, and ſo would make the world beleeve, that none could erre which took ſuch for example whom he preſcribed to them. 6. I cannot tell for what end be propounded this argument, for imagin it ſhould be granted him, that the Martyrs knew the corruptions of their Church, &c. and yet were ſaved: and ſo are many now in England, which underſtand the ſame: what would hee from hence conclude? I thinke there is no man on earth that knowes; if there be, they might doe well, at the next impreſſion of his booke, to ſet it in the margin, for to cover what they can, the mans empty, naked, and abſurd writing.

Mr. Dayr. having ſhewed his beſt skill, wit and learning, to proove their pariſh aſſemblies, true Churches: in his ſecond booke (according to his diviſion) hee attempteth to confute the deſcription which Mr. Barrow, and the Browniſts (as he maliciouſly names Gods people) have laid downe of a true viſible Church: and about this point, hee writes more then an hundred and p. 193fifty pages, all the matter whereof (leaving out his Battalogies and impertinenr ſpeeches) might well have beene written in ſixe leaves of papier. But it ſeemes the man wanted no money, and therefore would make it up to his reader in Taile, what he could not doe in weight; forgetting in the meane time the proverbe, a little and good; and alſo what the learned uſe to ſay, The worth of a writing doth not conſiſt in bulke and belly: but in the ſinewes, veines, and arteries, which with good blood, and ſpirit, may be comprehended in a little body. But let us ſee how he confutes us.

Firſt he layeth downe our definition of a true viſible Church, which is, a company of people, called, and ſeparatedApol. p. 44 from the world, by the word of God, and joyned together by voluntary profeſsion of the faith of Christ, in the fellow. ſhip of the Goſpel.

Before we …ome to examin the reaſons (if they may be ſo termed) which he alleageth againſt this definition, I deſire the reader to minde it well, that we herein do ſay no more, then what in effect is fully acknowledged, by the Nonconformists, aaFall of Bab. p. 50. Cart. hiſt. Chriſt. l. 2. page 359. Dudl. Fenner. Sacra Theolog. lib, 6▪ eap▪ 3. Pag, 90. Neceſ. diſc. pag. 7, Mr Iacob. defin. Chur. pag, 2.Conformiſts, bbMr Butt. agan. H. Col. p. 100. Sutcl. chal. pag. 6, 5. Mr. Atterſ. on Numb. 23, 9, pag 158▪ and 357.Num 23:9the Church of England, ccArticl. of Relig. pag. 13, Art 19.the learned generally,ddPet. Mart. in in loc. commun. pag. 741. Vrſin. catech. explicat, pars 2, pag. 343. Alſtedius Theolog. Polemic. pars 2, pag. 140, Piſcat. volum. Theſ. Theolog. pag. 356. and all the reformed ChurcheseeHarmony of confeſ Section 10, Belg i…k, Articl. 28, and Fren. Art. 26. upon earth, as is to be ſeene in their books here named. Yea Mr. Brad. ffVnreaſon of ſepation pag. 107.although no p. 194friend of the Separatists, yet confeſſeth the whole, as it is here laid downe to be true and good. Notwithſtanding, this man commeth boldly forth againſt us, as if he had been either aſleepe all his life time, or lived in ſome unknowne parts of the world, and ſo could not tell what any body had ſaid about this thing.

And now for his reaſons, in which he is as confuſed as is the ſubject for which he pleadeth: notwithſtanding ſuch as I finde here and there, diſorderly written of him, I will reduce into ſome particular heads. The maine and chiefe argument, wherewith he fighteth againſt us, for ſaying, a true viſible Church is a company of people called and ſeparated from the world. is, becauſe hypocrites and reprobates may beein the Church. And to proove this, he is very large and tedious: for I dare ſay, more then halfe of his booke is ſpent about it; in alleaging for it, Scriptures, Examples and Reaſons: But a few words will ſerve for anſwer to it; in regard he talkes of a thing, which neither helpes him, nor diſadvantageth us, for the queſtion betweene them and us, hath ever beene, about the true and naturall members, whereof Gods Church is orderly gathered, and planted: and not about the decayed and degenerate eſtate thereof. But of this he ſaith nothing: onelyonly reaſoneth much to this purpoſe. If a mans body may have ſores, boyles, broken limmes, &c. then is not the body whole and ſound in the definition. If in a garden, vineyard, or orchard, after the conſtitution, there grow weeds, thornes, and thiſtles: then cannot the ſame in the deſcription, be ſaid to bee planted at first of all good herbes, vines and trees. But p. 195the first is true: therefore the ſecond. Now if ſuch Philoſophie be to be laughed at, then truely much more is M^r. Dayr. Divinitie here to be pittyed: for he denieth our definition, to wit, that a true viſible Church in the firſt collection conſiſteth of a people called and ſeparated from the world: and why? becauſe forſooth afterwards ſome of them may fall into unlawfull and ſinfull courſes.

If all our writings ſhould bee read over, yet will it not be found, that ever we have denied; but many hypocrites may be in the true Church, yea open and vile tranſgreſſours: but here lyeth the poynt, if any ſhall affirme, that the ſame may be firſt gathered, of knowne lewd, and unconverted men, that indeed wee deny utterly, and can proove the contrary: or if they ſhall ſay, that obſtinate and incorrigible ſinners, may lawfullySee page 176. 177. be ſuffered therein, this alſo we affirme to be untrue, But if they ſay, that in a true viſible Church, there may be great evils committed, yea and a long time tolerated, wee aſſent unto it. Howbeit it is certaine (as D^r. Ames ſaith) this forbearance is a grieveus ſinne before God. If Mr. Dayr. therefore had well underſtood, what our negative and affirmative poſitions are, hee might have ſpared moſt of his writing. For throughout his booke, he hath moſt falſely reported of us, by inſinuating as if we held all of the viſible Church to be ſaved, and that no wickedneſſe therein can be committed: now our words tend onelyonly to ſhew, what a Church is, and how every member ought to walke: but if in ſome reſpects they bee not ſo, yet may the Congregation notwithſtanding be true and good.

p. 196Mr. Dayr tells us verie often of the ſinnes committed in the Iewiſh Church, ſo in Corinth, Pergamus, &c. If he were alive, I would aſke him whether they did well herein; If he ſhould ſay yea, then were he a blaſphemer; if nay, then he gave us the whole cauſe, and ſo might caſt his booke into the fyre. For the thinge which we affirm, is, that every member of the church ought to be holy, not that they are allwayes ſo, but ſhould be ſo, and it is their great fault, they are otherwiſe. And here the reader may obſerve how greatly he hath miſtaken the matter: For whereas Mr. Barrow, Mr. Ainſw. and others, doe ſhew from the ſcriptures, what a true Church is, whereof gathered, how every member ſhould walke, & how abuſes are to be reformed, &c. He (either through ignorance, or mallice, or both) ſtill inferreth from their writings: that they held perfection of Churches, that there can be no Hypocrite or reprobate in the Church, &c. Things groundleſly collected of him.

Of the ſame nature are the reports, which many of them publiſh dayly in their Sermons and Bookes; namely that the main cauſe of our Separation is, becauſe wicked men are ſuffered in their church. But this is untrue, for howſoever (as I ſaid before) ſuch a tolleration can not be juſtified; yet this is not properly the reaſon, but becauſe their Pariſhes were at firſt conſtituted, as now they ſtand, of the members of Antichrist, to wit, the idolatrous Papiſts, and of all other kind of moſt notorious ſinners, as whorems. witches, atheiſts, ſwearers, uſurers, curſers, ſcoffers at religion, &c. This prophane multitude, p. 197without any profeſſion of faith and repentance, were forced and compelled by human authority in the beginning of QElizabeths raigne, to be members of their Church, and ſo have continued, they and their ſeed ever ſince: contrary to the expreſſe word of God**Acts 2. 30. & 19. 9. Rom. 16. 7 & 20. 14. 15. 17. Io…. 17. 14. 10, Ez▪ k. 36. 38. Phil. 1. 5. Act. …. 41. 42. 47. & 11. 21. 24. & 17. 4. 34. Rom. 12. 5. 2. Cor. 9. 13. Pſal. 110. 3. Eſa. 14. 1. & 44. 5. & 6…. 8. Zach. 4 6. & 8. 21. 22. 23. 2. Cor. 6. 14. 15 16. Ioſh. 23. 7. 8. Pſal. 94. 20. Mar. 18. 15. 17. 1. Cor. 5. chap. & 6. 9. 10. 1…. Eph. 1, 1. 22. 23. & 2. 11. 12. 19. 20. 21, 22.Acts 2:30Acts 19:9Rom 16:7Rom 16:20Rom 16:14Rom 16:15Rom 16:17Phil 1:5Rom 12:52 Cor 9:13Ps 110:3Isa 14:1Isa 44:5Isa 6:8Zech 4:6Zech 8:21Zech 8:22Zech 8:232 Cor 6:142 Cor 6:15Josh 23:7Josh 23:8Ps 94:201 Cor 5Eph 1:1Eph 1:22Eph 1:23Eph 2:11Eph 2:12Eph 2:19Eph 2:20Eph 2:21Eph 2:22 and this is ſo evident and certaine, as the Nonconformiſts acknowledge it moſt true, beſide, we leave them in reſpect of their miniſtery, worſhip, and Church government, which is alſo prooved unlawfull, and Antichriſtian by their owne teſtimony.

Another exception which he taketh againſt our deſcription is, becauſe we ſay, a people called by the word of God, this he denies to be true, and affirmes that men may come to be members of the viſible Church, and not be called by the word, and therefore verie unfitly is it placed in the deſcription of a viſible Church▪ pag. 62. 63.

Anſ. We need not wonder when a man undertakes to juſtifie a bad cauſe that he uſeth ordinarily vile, and profane arguments for it. Firſt this which he affirmeth is directly againſt the Holy Scriptures of God. aaMat. 28. 19. 20. Pſal. 19. 7. …. Cor. 1. 21. Ier. 23. 29. 1. Pet. 23. 25. Iames …. 18. Iob. 33. 23. 24. Act. 16. 10. Rom. 10. 17.Matt 28:19Matt 28:20Ps 19:7Jer 23:29Job 33:23Job 33:24Acts 16:10Rom 10:172. Contrarie to all example in the old and new Teſtament.bb1. Cor. 3. 9. Gen. 12. 1. Acts 2. 40. and 10. 44. Col▪ 1. 5. 27. Epheſ. 1. 13. 1 Cor. 4. 15. 1. Theſ. 1. 3. 5 9.1 Cor 3:9Gen 12:1Acts 2:40Acts 10:44Col 1:5Col 1:27Eph 1:131 Cor 4:151 Thess 1:31 Thess 1:5 3. Wholy againſt the doctrine of his brethren and fellow Preiſts, and the learned everie where. c 4. The p. 198c Atterſ. on Phil. 10 pag. 205. T. C. I. 1. p. 51. Clev. on Prov. 9. 3. pag. 11. Barn. Sep. ſchiſm. pag. 118. By field on Col. 1. 6. pag. 49.Prov 9:3Col 1:6Scriptures which he names, are both untruly and unadviſedly applyed of him, for firſt touching that in Exod. 12. 38. Howſoever many Egyptians and other nations were mooved by Gods workes ſhewed in Egypt, to go out with the Iſraelites, notwithſtanding that they ſhould bee all taken into actuall communion with the Church, it is onelyonly his dreame: and no ſuch thing can be truely gathered from the place: but the contrary is moſt probable, as I could (if there were any uſe) give many reaſons for it: ſee Numb. 11. 4. And the liked Willet. on Rom. 10. obſ. 7. pag. 485. Elton on Col. 1. 7. pag. 41. Scharp. Curſus Theo. p. 6. Cent. Magdeb, I. 1. c. 4. pag. 171. Piſc. Aph. loc. 18. pag. 101.Rom 10Col 1:7 may be ſaid unto the place in Eſt. …. 17. and this alſo further added how he knew (if any were received into the fellowſhip of the Saints) that the word of God, was not preached unto them by ſome meanes, in one meaſure or other, before their admiſſion. As for the other texts, namely, Iohn 2. 23. and 4. 39. and 6. 26. His alleaging of them, plainely notes, that his knowledge was not much in theſe Scrip. Fort. Chriſt did not there cōſtitute any viſible Church. 2. The perſons there ſpoken of, were moſt of them members by birth of a true Church. 3. Howſoever the things which hee mentioneth, as miracles, reports, &c. were great meanes to confirme the Goſpel, and to draw people unto the hearing of the word, notwithſtanding the word alone was the inſtrument (Gods bleſſing going with it) whereby the people were brought unto faith and repentance, Ioh. 4. 42: 4. But wherefore doth he inſtance theſe examples, ſeeing they are extraordinary, and therefore if it ſhould be granted, as hee ignorantly underſtands the places: yet it will not follow, that there is any other outward p. 199ordinary meanes to call men out of the world, beſide the word: now of this ordinary meanes ſpeakes the definition onelyonly. 5. Obſerve how the exception which he makes here againſt us, ſerves nothing to helpe his caſe; for if all the perſons which he names, were received into the viſible Church, and ſay it was by ſome other meanes, beſide the word, that mooved their hearts to obey the Lord therein; yet how can he proove, that theſe were outwardly wicked, and irreligious, knowne to be Idolaters, drunkards, ſorcerers, mockers, lyers, blaſphemers, &c. For unleſſe he can manifeſt this, if all the reſt were granted, yet will it not ſtead him a whit, to juſtifie the ſtate of the Engliſh Church, which was erected after popery (as hee could not deny) of ſuch vile varlets and uncleane creatures. It is therefore worth the noting, what ill ſpeede Mr. Dayr. hath ſtill in all his teſtimonies, and witneſſes: for after he hath puld them in at the window, or backdoore by the haire of the head, yet this is his croſſe, either they ſtand up againſt him, or are quite dumb▪ and ſpeake not a word, touching the point for which he brings them▪

We heard what the reaſons are, why Mr. Dayrell diſliked our definition. Now before we come to the laſt part of his booke, there is ſomthing to be ſaid touching the manner which he layes downe, of making of Page 63. 64.Churches by the ſword, about this he begins with a tedious compariſon of one that hath children and ſervants which be papiſts, and by threats will have them worſhip God aright, thereupon they frequent the Church aſſemblies and ſeeme outwardly to be religious, and are to be accounted p. 200of the viſible church, and yet theſe came not to be of the Church by the call of the word &c. now may the maſter and father doe this, and may not the magiſtrate? &c.

Anſ. 1. Howſoever parents and maſters, are to uſe all good means, that thoſe which are under their government may be religious & holy, yet have they not anie more power to make them members of Gods Church (if they be not under the viſible covenant) then they have power to give them ſaving grace, & ſanctification. 2. Whereas he ſaith, theſe come not to be of the viſible Church, by the call of the word, that is untrue; For howſoever a perſon may come, to the place where a Church is; yet his comming ſimplie there, doth not immediately make him an actuall member of it, as he ſtill ignorantly intimates; For thoſe of his brethren, which were farre more judicious then himſelfe, doeT. c. l. 1, Pag. 51. teach otherwiſe: when men doe profitt in hearing, then are they to be joyned to the Church. But it ſeemes if Heathen & Turkes, would have but come to his ſervice and preaching, he would have acknowledged them to be part of his flock, albeit they manifeſted no repētance at all; If he ſhould ſay, no, then were he contrarie to his owne ſaying here. 3. This Similitude is againſt himſelfe; For firſt, the Magiſtrate did not commaund the Subjects, to goe unto Churches, formerly gathered, and there to be prepared by hearing. but forded them to be members; they beeing altogether and every way moſt unfitt. 2. The worſhip which they did, was not according to Gods word, but after the traditions and deviſes of men. 3. They neither outwardly ſeemed p. 201religious, nor renounced Poperie, nor profeſſed true religion, but in all this plainely ſhewed the contrarie, as we have before proved by their owne writings.

See Mr. Robinſōns Iuſtiſicacation of ſeparation 205. Mr. Ainſ. Counterp. 224, &c.After this he makes a long narration, to juſtify this compulſion by the practiſe of the …ings of I…dah: now this point by others hath beene ſo fullie anſwered, as one would thinke, that Mr. Dayr: ſhould never have had the forehead once, to have named it, except he had been more able to refute their arguments. For anſwere to it: I deny that there is any true proportion between this Example; and the thing unto which they doe apply it. 1. The Iewiſh Church was nationall, but ſuch are none now under the Goſpell▪ neither Provinciall, nor Dioceſan, as the Nonconformiſts doe ſay and prove. 2. Howſoever Iud..h fell fearfully into ſinne, yet by vertue of the Lords covenant with her forefathers, faithfully on his part, remembred and kept, remained ſtill the true Church of God, and was not (as Iſrael) quite broken-off, and therfore the Magiſtrate compelled not the people, to be members, but to perform the duties thereof, they beeing members truly before. Indeed if either Hezechiah, Ioſiah, Aſa, or Nehemiah, had forced the Fdomites, Aegyptians, Babylonians, &c. into the holy Temple, and there to have ſacrificed to the Lord, it had been ſomething like unto their practiſe; For the Engliſh nation, cō ſiſting of many ſheires, citties, townes, and villages, wasRom. 11, 16, 21,Rom 11:16Rom 11:21 never within the Lords covenant, & holy in the roote▪ as Iudah was; Howbeit, it may be, many hundred yeares paſt, there were ſome true churches planted in the Land, by the preaching of the Goſpell, and obedience p. 202of faith. 3. The miniſterie, worſhip, and church government, unto which Iudah ſubmitted, was the Lords, and the contrarie aboliſhed by her good Governours, as the reader may ſee by theſe ſcriptures.††2 King 18, 3. 4, 5, 6 2 Chro. 29 2. 3, 5 19, 20, 21, &c. and 30, 1, 2, &c. & 31, 1, &c. 2 King 22, 12, and 23, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 24, 25. 2 chro. 34 2, 3, 4, 5, 9▪ 33.2 Kgs 18:32 Kgs 18:42 Kgs 18:52 Kgs 18:62 Chr 29:22 Chr 29:32 Chr 29:52 Kgs 22:122 Kgs 23:12 Kgs 23:22 Kgs 23:42 Kgs 23:52 Kgs 23:62 Kgs 23:72 Kgs 23:82 Kgs 23:242 Kgs 23:25 But neither in the beginning of King Edwards, or Q. Elizabeths raigne, was there ſuch a courſe taken, but the ſelfe ſame falſe miniſterie, worſhip, and church government, left to ſtand, which the Romiſh beaſt, had before deviſed, and is at this day uſed in his curſed Kingdome, onelyonly ſome few faults put out: and this themſelves, when they write againſt the Hierarchie, doe avouch boldly. 4. If we conſider the Preiſts and people of the Iewes, it will appeare evidently, that there is no agreemēt or likneſſe in the cōpariſon: For theſe ſeparated themſelvs frō the filthines of the heathen of the land, aaEzra 6, 21, … and 8, 1, 2, 3, 4.Ezra 6:21Ezra 8:1Ezra 8:2Ezra 8:3Ezra 8:4confeſſed their ſinns, humbled their ſoules by faſting and prayer before the Lord, ccchap. 9. 1, 2,ſanctifyed themſelves, dd2 chro. 29, 5, 12, 21 2 chro. 14, 2, 3, 4, 2 chro. 29, 18, 19,prepared their whole heart to ſeeke God, ee2 Chro. 15 8, 9, 12,2 Chr 15:82 Chr 15:92 Chr 15:12made a covenant with him, frejoyced at the oath, gg2 chro. 15, 13,kept the paſſover with joy: hh2 chro. 29, 25, 27,But the Engliſh at firſt in every particular were much unlike theſe people, as appeares by the great rebellions, which they made in many places, becauſe they thought that their idolatrous ſervice ſhould be put downe. Yea ſo unwilling were they to leave their idolatrie, as the Magiſtrate was ſaine to informe them by a proclamation how they did miſtake his reformation.

It ſeemes to you (ſaith he, ſpeaking of their Mattens and Evening ſong) that you have a new Service, now indeed it is no other but the olde, the ſelfeſame words in Engliſh, which were in Latin,**This ſerves to proove what the Nonconformiſts have before ſaid, touching their worship in chap. 2, Sect. 2, and 4. Acts and Monum. 2, Volum. pag. 1497. & 1498. edition 5. ſaving a few things taken out, p. 203ſo fond, that it had been a ſhame to have heard them in Engliſh &c. If therefore the Service in the Church was good in Latin, it remaineth good in Engliſh, for nothing is altered, but to ſpeake with knowledge, that which was ignorantly before uttered.

To be ſhort, I would have them once to tell us, where they have learned to inforce and conſtraine men to be members of their Churches; I thinke they will not finde a preſident for it in the world, unleſſe they take it from Mahomets doctrine: **Alcorancap. 19. and 19.who taught that men ſhould be compelled to the faith by warre and ſword. For all reformed Churches practice otherwiſe. There are no ſwine and dogs driven in among the Godly, but whoſoever joynes; comes freely and voluntarily to them; ſometimes Mr. Dayr. and his brethren, are all for theſe Churches, but when they ſee that their owne ſtanding muſt needes be naught and foule, if the others be juſtifyed, then they will call back their words againe, and plead corruptly for themſelves.

Mr. Dayr. hath one ſtring yet left to his bow, the which if it ſhould be broken too, then all the ſhooting would be mard. Be it granted (ſaith he) that all our pariſh aſſembliespage 81. were at firſt no true Churches, &c. yet notwithstanding now they may be, and indeed are true, ſeeing that ever ſince, above fifty yeares, we have beene partakers of the true word and Sacraments, and many of us effectually called thereby: and to drive this nayle into the readers head, he layes downe a ſimilitude thus. There are many men in a houſe, but gotten into it, not through the doore whereby is the ordinary paſſage into it, but by ſome back doore, or through the p. 204window, or haply at ſome breach violently made into the ſame houſe, were it not extreame folly, or rather madneſſe, becauſe of this manner of entrance, to deny the inbeing of the aforeſaid men in the houſe.

Anſw. A man fallen into the water, will rather catch at a mote, thē willingly ſinke: it is juſt ſo with this Mr. Dayr. being loth to fall under the controverſie, which inconſiderately he took up; he talks of this thing and that: the which if they ſhould be judiciouſly weighed, would be all foū … as l…ight as vanity. To reply breifly, for it is not worth a long anſwer. Firſt, if their Churches were falſe in the Conſtitution, then are they ſo ſtill, becauſe they ſtand in the very ſame ſtate, and have not repented of the evill thereof, neither ſince have entered into any viſible covenant with God, by publick, and voluntarie profeſſion of faith. If two perſons ſhould make an adulterous covenant, who would deeme them, to be Lawfully man and wife, ſo long as they ſtood by vertue of that falſe agreement, which they made at firſt together?

2. Their having of the word and Sacraments, proves no more their Churches to be true, then doth a true mans purſe, in the hand of a theife, prove him to be an2 chro. 36, 18 honeſt man. As the Lords Veſſels were of old in temporall Babilon, ſo are there ſundry of his Ordinances now in ſpirituall Babi…n; and therefore the Papiſts can ſay the like, and all other Hereticks; if any ſhould reply, but theſe have the word preached, in an vnlawfull ministery, and the Sacraments vnrightly adminiſtred: I anſwere, p. 205the ſame may be ſaid of the Engliſh aſſemblies, as the Nonconform. have ſoundly proved.

3. What their obedience is, the reader may partly gueſſe by comparing their profeſsion and practiſe together: The former is ſhewed in this treatiſe, and whatIer. 3, 2.Jer 3:2 the later is, all may ſee it at home, by their doings in England. As the Prophet ſaid of Iſra…l, let them lift up their eyes to the high places, and behold where they have not plaid the harlot. I could give many inſtances to ſhew what ſmall cauſe they have to boaſt of their order and manner of walking. For firſt, they are not a people ſeparated and called from the world; a dutie much urged in the ſcriptures,aaEſa. 52▪ 11, Rev. 18 4, Pſa. 45, 10, 11Isa 52:11Rev 18:4Ps 45:10Ps 45:11 and practiſed allwayes by the ſaints.bb1 King. 18, 3. 4, Act 2, 40, 41, Ezr. 6, 21, Lev. 26, 201 Kgs 18:31 Kgs 18:4Acts 2:40Acts 2:41Ezra 6:21Lev 26:20 2. They are not free, but ſtand moſt ſlaviſhly under strange Lords, expreſly againſt Gods commaundement.ccLev…. 25 42, 1 Co…. 7, 23, Gal. 5, 1.Gal 5:1 3. They worſhip the Lord not in the ſincere order of the Goſpell, but after an Idolatrous and Popiſh manner, which is a fearfull and crying iniquity.ddIoh. 4, 23 Rev. 14, 9 2 Chro. 11 15, Lev. 10 1, 2.John 4:23Rev 14:92 Chr 11:15Lev 10:1Lev 10:2 4. Add hereunto the knowledge, which many of them have, that theſe things are evill. It is the ſaying of King Iames, that the Puritans are the founders Meditatiō upon the Lords prayer, p. 15.and fathers▪ of the Brownists, the later (ſaith he) only bold…y putting in practiſe, what the former doc teach, but dare not p…rforme. For what end he wrote this, I let it paſſe, but the words in part are true: Our ſeparation from the Church of England, is by their grounds certainly good and lawfull, and therefore they ſay, and doe not. ††See Mat▪ 2…, 3,Matt 2:3Now what the reaſon of it is, I know not; unleſſe to enjoy libertie, pleaſure, profi…t, freinds, credit, and ſuch wordly reſpects.

p. 206I doe omitt the fearefull apoſtaſies, which ſundry of them have made, from that obedience, unto which they were come, ſome for wives, others for riches, and many to avoyd perſecution for the croſſe of Chriſt. Beſides, whome doe they take for greater enemies, then the Separatiſts? And why? becauſe (as the King ſaid) theſe boldly put in practiſe, what they doe teach, but dare not performe. And for this verie thinge, many of us have receaved moſt greevous injuries both from their tongues and hands, but the Lord forgive them for it.

4. Be it granted, that ſom of them are effectually called; what then. doe theſe make all the reſt holie? not in the leaſt: for as a handfull or bundle of corne, ſhuffled into a feild of weeds, though in it ſelfe, it may retaine the ſame nature, yet cannot make the feild a cornefeild, ſo neither can a few good Chriſtians, ſanctifie the whole lump of the idolatrous & vile multitude in the Land, and make them to be the true Churches and people of God.

5. Touching his compariſon, it is a begging fooliſhly of the queſtion; for firſt, let them prove themſelves, to be in the houſe, and then they ſhall heare what we we will ſay of the window and backdoore.

From Pag. 212. to 237. he attempteth to prove, that men may Lawfully joyne in divine worſhip with the wicked. Touching this thinge, although it concernes not much our matter in hand, yet I will write a few wordes, in anſwere to his long talke in this Chapter.

p. 207Firſt he ſayth, that the Apoſtles had religious communion with infidels. But this is a falſe doctrine, for a man may preach the word and yet not have ſpirituall communion with all which are preſent and heare the ſame, and this muſt neceſſariſy be ſo, becauſe otherwiſe it would follow, that every one when he teacheth, communicates with the devill, for in likelihood he is conſtantly there with the reſt: indeed M^r. Dayrels words import no leſſe, but I hope he hath not left any behind him, of ſo corrupt and vile a judgement.

2. He ſets downe a manifeſt untruth: for we doe not affirme that there can be no religious communion▪ but with Members of a viſible Church. our profeſſion and practice daily is otherwiſe; yet ſo, that they be ſuch perſons, howbeit not in a Church ſtate, yet to be judged to bee in the faith by their gracious and holy walking.

3. Whereas he affirmes, that we ſeparate from them, becauſe wicked and prophane people are ſuffered to come unto their worſhip: this alſo is untrue, for we leave them rather, becauſe the worſhip it ſelſe is wicked and prophane, as we have from their owne writings already ſhewed.

4. In page 220. he ſpeakes enough to juſtifie our practice. for thus he writes. We may not have religious communion, or partake in divine worſhip, with Idolaters, in their falſe and idolatrous worſhip, Heathen or Antichristian, but muſt ſeparate and come out from among them. And a little after he gives a reaſon. Idolaters and falſe worſhippers, in their worſhip, doe not worſhip God, but indeed the p. 208devill. not Christ, but Belial, &c. If this be true, in what a fearefull caſe then, are the people of the Land? who ſerve Chriſt by that idoll booke, conſidering the ſame is affirmed by the preciſeſt of them, to be an idolatrous and falſe worſhip: yea and I am perſwaded that this Mr. Dayr. would have ſaid as much too, if he had written of it, againſt the Prelates.

5. By his owne confeſſion, they are all levened, through the iniquity one of another. For thus he ſaith,Page 230. The open ſinne of a man, and impunity thereof, defileth them that have authority and power, to puniſh the delinquent, and doe it not, that is, maketh them alſo guilty of ſinne, or to partake in that ſinne. Now compare with this, their poſitions in page 134, &c. where it is acknowledged, that the authority and power to puniſh the delinquent, belongs wholly to the whole Church, and not to the Bh. Chancellours, Officials: Seeing therefore moſt horrible ſinnes are openly committed among them, and no meanes of reformation is uſed by thoſe which are thereto onelyonly called: It muſt needs follow, if Mr. Dayr. and his brethren ſpeak the truth, that all their pariſhes are defiled, and they are guilty of each others ſinnes, and doe conſtantly partake in the knowne tranſgreſſions one of another.

6. Whereas he would have us to proove that the place in Hag. 2. 13. 14. doth ſignifie ſpirituall pollution and that the Apoſtle in 1. Cor. 5. 6. by a little leven, &c. meaneth that the whole aſſembly may become guilty and defiled by open ſinne.

I anſwer, Theſe Scriptures are not onelyonly by us thus p. 209interpreted: but alſo by D. Ames and other learnedDe conſci. lib. 4. pag. 212. 213. Pare. in 1. Cor. 5. Hemin. in Eph. 5. 16, 17. Eraſ. paraph. in 1 Cor. 56. Beza ann. in 1 Cor. 56.1 Cor 5Eph 5:16Eph 5:17 men: and therefore herein, he hath them as much as us againſt him. The like might be ſaid of other Scriptures which he accuſeth us of perverting; if it were needfull, I could ſhew how expoſitors do apply them as we do, and ſo do the Nonconformiſts in all their writings againſt the Church of England, notwithſtanding this man caſteth out of his mouth ſtoods of reproaches after us. But this will appeare to be no new thing, if we take a view of their writings, which have ſtood for error and falſhood; for when the truth hath brought for her defence, the evident Scriptures, Papiſts††Greg. Martin. Campian. Kelliſon, &c. have beene wont to carpe at the allegations, and interpretations of them, and challenge their adverſaries for corrupting them; the formall Protestants **Whitg. defence of anſwer to Admonit. in the gen. Tab. ſ.in England have done the like againſt the Reformiſts, and they now uſe the like colour againſt us: but how truely, let him judge, whoſe heart deſires to know the truth in ſinceritie. OnelyOnly I would have it obſerved, how prettily he prooves the Separatiſts to pervert the Scriptures, to wit, becauſe he underſtandeth them otherwiſe then they doe.

Concerning other paſſages in his booke, I judge them not worth an anſwer. If there be any, I am willing that he ſhould take them for his advantage, which undertakes to make a reply unto the things which I have here written.