Concerning a Book by Christopher Lawne, Text 1

Concerning a Book by Christopher Lawne · Text 1

p. 5AN ADVERTISEMENT CONcerning a Book lately publiſhed by Chriſtopher Lavvne and others, againſt the Engliſh exiled Church at Amſterdam.

WHen it pleaſed the Lord Ieſus to reveale the vvord of his truth, unto the Gentiles, by the miniſterie of his ſervants the Apoſtles there aroſe up adverſaries to vvithſtand the ſame, and to abuſe his vvitneſſes thereof. VVhē Paul and Barnabas vvere ſent forth by the Lord to preach the Goſpel to the nations, they cōming to Paphus, the Deputie Sergius Paulus called them unto him, and deſired to heare the vvord of God; then Sathan ſtirred up his inſtrument, Elymas, a falſe Prophet and a ſorcerer, vvho vvithſtood them, & ſought to turne avvay the Deputie from the fayth. Act. 13.6-10. The like alſo did ſome of the Ievves at Antiochia, vvho ſeeing the vvord of God to prevayle amongſt the Gentiles (and them deſirous of further inſtructiō therein) vvere full of envie & ſpake againſt thoſe things, vvhichwhich vvere ſpoken of Paul, contradicting & blaſpheming. ver. 45. Like enemies did Paul again finde at Epheſus, of the Ievves. For he having ſpoken boldly in their Synagogue for the ſpace of three moonths, diſputing & perſvvading the things concerning the kingdome of God: then certaine of the Ievves having their harts hardened, not onelyonly diſobeyed and beleeved not the vvord, but ſpake evill of that vvaie before the multitude. Act. 19.8.9. And manie other the like exāples of men oppoſing againſt the vvord of truth, and of haters & perſecuters of the profeſſors thereof might be ſhevved, both out of the Scriptures and eccleſiaſticall hiſtories.

p. 6And as then it vvas, in the firſt opening of the light to the Gentiles, that Sathan by his Miniſters vvithſtood the preaching thereof: ſo novv ſince that the Lord in merciemercy hath diſcovered the man of ſinne, and cauſed his truth (obſcured by the darke miſtes of Poperie) againe to be revealed to us in theſe laſt tymes; ſending his firſt,Apoc. 14.6. &c.Rev 14:6 ſecond, and third Angels, to preach an everlaſting Goſpel to thē that dvvell on the earth, that vvere overſpread in Apoſtaſie vvith the errors & abhominations of the man of ſinne: and to teach us to vvalke in the vvaies of God; calling us from the vvorship of the beaſt, and receiving of his marke, to keepe the commandements of God, and the faith of Ieſus &c. even novv alſo, I ſay, have there riſen up enemies of all ſortes, to ſtoppe this vvaie of truth, & to reproch, vexe, and perſequute the vvitneſſes thereof. For to paſſe by all thoſe hard ſpeaches and ungodly deeds that have bene ſince & before the dayes of Luther againſt the Saincts and faith of Ieſus; I vvill come to our ovvne particular caſe and ſtate, vvhereof there be manie of us, that by experience can give teſtimonie, vvhat hard meaſure vve have ſuſteyned for the cauſe of Chriſt: and do ſtill undergoe reproches, ſclanders, railings againſt, and the like: as it cannot be unknovven (eſpecially to our countrimen) vvhat vve have borne at the handes of ſome of them, vvho have manie times & vvaies ſmitten us vvith their tongues:Ier. 18.18.Jer 18:18 beſides all the other troubles and perſecutions ſuſteyned by us, to impriſonment, baniſhment and death it ſelf.

And vvhat is it for, but becauſe (according to the meaſure of grace, given us from above) vve have ſeparated our ſelves frō ſuch corruptions of Antichriſt, vvherein vve formerly ſtood: and doe vvalke in the p. 7vvaie of the Lord revealed uuto us out of his vvord, vvitneſsing againſt all falſe vvaies and deviſes of men brought into the Church for the vvorſhip & ſervice of God, our deſire and indevour being to ſtand and plead for that old and good vvaie of God, vvherein all are bound to vvalke. Ier. 6.16. For if the oppoſition againſt us vvere onelyonly and ſimply for ſinne, and through an hatred that ſuch men have againſt ſinne, then vvould they firſt begin vvith them ſelves, both to look to their ovvne ſinnes and iniquities, and to take the like courſe againſt the ſinnes and tranſgreſſions of thoſe Churches and members thereof, vvhere novv they are, or vvhere ever they ſhould be.

But thus hath it pleaſed God to make us like in bearing reproches and calumniations to his Saincts and people of old, vvho feeling the burden therof to be heavie and grievous, complained unto the Lord, ſaying: How long ſhall the adverſarie reproch, ſhall the enemie blaſpheme thy name for ever? Pſal. 74.10. And againe, they utter forth their complaint, ſaying: Wee are a reproch to our neighbours, a ſcorne and deriſion to them that are round about us. Pſal. 79.4. And even this is our caſe, vvho alſo are made a reproch to our neighbours, a jeſt and a laughing ſtock to them that are round about us: having our ſoules alſo (as they had theirs) filled too full of the mocking of the vvealthie, and diſpitefulnes of the proud. Pſal. 44.13. and 123.4, So that in reſpect hereof vve may complain vvith David, vvho ſaid, I was a reproch among all myne enemies, but ſpecially among my neighbours; and a feare to myne acquaintance, who ſeeing mee in the ſtreets fled from me. And againe, I am become a straunger unto my Brother, even an aliant unto my mothers ſonnes. I became a proverbe unto them, and they that ſitte in the gateſpake p. 8against me, and the drunckards ſong of me. Pſal. 31.11. and 69.7.8.11.12.

And although our loving Father do thus humble & chaſtiſe us juſtly for our ſinnes, yet doth he alſo in merciemercy cover them: and gives us novv to beare theſe ſclanderous reports, of Schiſmatikes and the like, for the teſtimonie of his truth: In vvhichwhich reſpect the Lord indeed honoureth us. For our Churches eſtate, and our conſciences do vvitneſſe vvith us and for us to God and men, that vve have not vvillingly left any truth, or any ordinance of God, that vve had formerly received vvith others in our apoſtate ſtanding, but are carefull to reteyne them all (vvhat in us is) purged from the corruptions that vvere mixed vvith thē, in our former corrupt receiving of thē. Neyther have vve made diviſion and offences contrarie to the doctrine, vvhichwhich vve have learned from the Apoſtles; but do vvalke in the auncient vvaie of the primitive Churches, keeping the ordinances, vvorſhip, and order of government, preſcribed by the Apoſtles, vvithout the mixture of Antichriſtiā or other humane additions: And therefore unjuſtly are vve termed Schiſmatikes. If it can be ſhevved othervviſe in any thing, let the vvitneſſes, the vvritings of the Apoſtles and Prophets be brought forth againſt us: and vve truſt vve ſhall through the grace of God yeeld thereunto: as vve have ben carefull hitherto to ſhevv it forth in the redreſſing of ſuch things as have ben obſerved among us to ſvvarve any vvaie frō the word of God. Great are our tryals by men on all hands, vvhichwhich vve ſuffer for our vvitneſſe bearing of Ieſus, vvhiles beſides our exile & other afflictions, ſome are ſpeaking bitter and ſclanderous vvords againſt us, yea and our ovvne neighbours ſpare us not, and others alſo ſharpen p. 9their pennes to reproch us, and to that ende vvrite reprochful books againſt us: that vve may ſay vvith Iſrael, If the Lord had not bene on our ſide, when men roſe up against us, they had ſwallowed us up quick. Pſal. 124. 1-3.

Yet if theſe reproches & hard dealings touched our ſelves onelyonly, and did not vvith all reach to the truth vvhichwhich vve vvitneſſe; vve could and vvould reſt patiently, vvayting untill the Lord avenge our cauſe; & vvould not once open our mouthes or ſet our pennes to paper, to vvrite in defence of our porſonall injuries: But ſeeing thus together vvith detracting of us, the truth of God comes to be reproched, and deſpiſed in this reſpect; if vve ſhould paſſe over theſe things altogether vvith ſilence, and not ſtand in defence of the Lords cauſe, vve might be arraigned juſtly as guyltie of betraying his truth, & as men aſhamed of Chriſt before men: VVe dare not therefore herein be vvanting to beare vvitneſſe to the vvord of truth, vvhen men thus labour the darkning thereof, and for the maintenance of their ovvne corruptions, do ſet them ſelves to ſpeake and vvrite againſt the ſame.

Of late there is come forth a pamphlet and ſclanderous book full of reproches, publiſhed by one Christopher Lawne and other his companions. In vvhichwhich there are conteyned ſundrie things of divers ſorts. Some touching our generall cauſe, about the Church of England: ſome concerning the ſinging of Pſalmes uſed among us: ſome about perſonall matters, concerning divers of us & others: ſome touching a diviſio made lately by divers amōg us, &c.

Concerning our generall cauſe, although we have written often, and manie treatiſes thereabout, vvhichwhich remaine yet unanſvvered: yet ſeeing vve are here againe thus abuſed about it; and that not onelyonly by the perſons aforeſaid, (vvhichwhich vve might better paſſe by) but by one M. Robert Parker, vvhoſe teſtimonie is here inſerted: vve purpoſe p. 10therefore (Godvvilling) to vvrite in particular about his teſtimonie; &c ſo againe by this occaſion to publiſh ſomevvhat more about that our generall cauſe aforeſaid: although for the preſent vve have both ſome occaſions to deale in other things, and ſome reaſons to ſtaye us yet a vvhile frō publiſhing of that, vvhichwhich by the grace of God, vve purpoſe to doe. In the meane time, let this be noted concerning M. Parker and his teſtimonie: hovv he hath heretofore in a large booke pleaded againſt the Church of England, that by reaſon of the croſſe in Baptiſme, & other Ceremonies reteyned among them, they become guiltie of the breach of all the tenne commandements, as alſo of cō muniō vvith Antichriſt, & ſlaverie under him, &c. Novv vve purpoſe to trie, hovv he can on the other hand approve the ſtate of the ſame Church, as novv it ſtandeth, and as it is vvitneſſed againſt by us: & hovv he can vvarrant us communion vvith the ſame in that their eſtate: or vvhether it may pleaſe God by this meanes to give him & others, better to obſerve and regarde their halting betvveen tvvo opinions, then hitherto they have done. VVe finde that for the former plea, handled in his book, he hath alledged the Scriptures plētifully, as throughout the book may be ſeen: but vvhether he can ſo doe for this latter, ſpokē of in his teſtimonie againſt us, time and further occaſion vvill manifeſt. Yet in the meane time all may ſee, that there is not the like done againſt our cauſe, eyther in his teſtimonie publiſhed, or in the vvhole book, vvherevvith his teſtimonie is joyned: vvhichwhich is as barren of vvarrant from the Scripture, for the eſtate of the Church of Englād called into queſtiō, as M. Parkers former book againſt it is fruitfull therein. VVhichWhich let the Reader vvell obſerve.

Touching the ſinging of Pſalmes uſed amongſt us (vvhereof the perſons aforeſaid ſpeak alſo their pleaſure in their book) vve are purpoſed ere long, if God vvillto p. 11publiſh them: vvhatſoever thoſe men ſaye or vvould inſinuate to the contrarie, or in anie other reſpect thereabout. And ſo vve ſhall leave it to the indifferent judgment of all, hovv theſe men have dealt vvith us in this behalf. And ſooner alſo might vve publiſh both theſe and other things, then vve doe, vvere it not for the troubles, that theſe men and others have procured us, and ſtill doe.

As for the perſonall matters publiſhed in the book aforeſaid, although vve leave the matters concerning others to them ſelves; & doe for this Church acknovvledge that indeed vve have had our tranſgreſſions and infirmities like as in the Churches of Corinth, Galatia, and others in all ages, and at this day may be ſeen: for vvhichwhich vve are much grieved: yet is it good & needfull for the Reader here, & alvvaies to remēber that ſaying, Quis erit innocens, ſi accuſare ſufficiat? If to accuſe be ſufficient, who can be innocent? For ther vvill be accuſers alvvaies (as M. Parker upon the ſame ſaying inferreth in his book) as long as the Maxime liveth,M. Park. ſcholaſt. diſc, againſt ſymbolizing vvith Antichriſt in ceremonies, &c. 2 book. pag. 118. vvhichwhich one gave once in Alexanders court: Fortiter calumniare, nam etſi vulnus curetur, cicatrix tamen remanebit. Give out calumniations mightily, for though the wound be healed, yet will the ſcarre remaine. But the godly will better conſider of things, remēbring the common frailtie even of the beſt, and not forgetting the commandement of God, vvhereof M. Parker in his teſtimonie ſeaſonably putteth the reader in minde, Thou ſhalt not receive a falſe tale agoinst thy neighbour: as alſo knovving that all lying & reprochfull dealing ſhould not by right live longer then the lye of the Gibeonites. And hovv ever vve be dealt vvithall in this ſort, yet muſt vve comfort our ſelves, in the aſſurances of Gods mercies, and in the common and continuall lotte of Gods ſervants, vvalcking through good and through euill report before us.

p. 12Novv touching theſe men and their dealings I purpoſe not in particular to ſhevve hovv ungodly, & unjuſtly they have dealt againſt us: not onelyonly contrarie to all pietie, but againſt all modeſtie, in laying opē the infirmities & tranſgreſſions of ſome (vvhoſe repentance is knovvn even to theſe reprochers thē ſelves, as it was to the whole Church) alſo in ſhameleſſe publiſhing of ſome things never heard of in our Church, nor ſo much as knovven to the parties vvhō they mention; beſides their uttering of ſome things alſo verie falſe and untrue. And that ſo, as the vvriting it ſelf in the cares and judgment of the vviſe doth ſufficiently convince the Authors of aboundance of malice, & argues in them vvant of grace, & of the feare of God, (a juſt judgment of God upon thē that have vvalked haltingly before God in his Church, and have vvilfully refuſed to heare the voice of Chriſt Ieſus in the ſame) that have ſo ſpitefully & ſclanderouſly vvritten againſt this Church, againſt the Paſtor and other Officers & members thereof, & have thus vvith their bitter venemous toungues ſmitten them, whō the Lord doth accept, and to vvhom (I truſt) he vvill requite good for this their curſing: as David in a like caſe did comfort himſelf. 2 Sam. 16.7-12.

And touching our forbearing novv to anſvvere their vvriting being ſuch as it is, it may ſuffice that vve have ſhevved heretofore, concerning the like vvriting of Thomas Whites, that vve can & have anſvvered ſuch ſhameleſſe vvritings, least ſuch fooles ſhould be wiſe in their owne conceits: Prov. 26, 5. and ſo might doe by this book, for the reproches and ſclaunders therin conteyned, as vve did by that other: but it ſeemes partly not ſo needefull, ſeeing the ſame things and the like are novv publiſhed by theſe, that vvere then alſo by Thomas White (vvherunto anſvver vvas given) partly not meete or good to follovv theſe vvicked men in their ungodly courſes: but to obſerve that other p. 13proverbe of Salomons, vvhichwhich ſaith, Anſwer not a foole according to his follie, least thou alſo be like him: Prov. 26.4. as alſo to leave them and their dealings to the judgement of the Lord, & to the cenſure of all godly & indifferent men, to judge vvhether they vvould juſtifie any amongſt them, that ſhould ſo carrie thē ſelves, as to publiſh to the vvorld, the ſlippes and ſinnes of the particular perſons of their ſocieties.

For if men ſhould take this courſe, as theſe have done, vvhat volumes might not be vvrittē of the faults & ſinnes of particular Churches? Is there any ſocietie or companie to be found on earth, that if any vvould make a diarie of their lives (yea even of them that are religious and godly) but there vvould be found manie things amiſſe amog thē? and yet no grace to any of ſuch a companie, (eſpecially in ſuch a ſpitefull manner) to commit ſuch perſonall ſinnes to print? Let theſe men take a like ſurvaie of ſuch ſocieties or Churches, that they are vvithall, and ſee if they can not finde as manie, yea (if they vvould not be partiall) a great manie moe vices and other manner tranſgreſſions, then vvith al their ſclanders they are able to charge this Church vvithall. And vvill not any then, judge theſe men in this their doing, to have ſhevved great malice and partialitie: and that not the ſpirit of God, but Satan (that enemie to Michael & his Angels) hath ſet them on vvorke to reproch the truth it ſelf, by this their vile dealing? Or vvould them ſelves take it in good part, if vve ſhould laye open their ovvne perſonall ſinnes, vvhichwhich vve knovve by them, both manie and great? VVhat have they then done to us, or hovv have they kept herein that rule of Chriſt, vvhichwhich ſaith, Whatſoever ye would that men ſhould doe unto you, even ſo doe ye unto them. Mat. 7.12. But being ſorie to ſee thē thus adde more ſinne to their former ſinnes, for vvhichwhich they vvere excommunicate, I vvill leave thē for the Lords p. 14cenſure to vvorke upon them, if ſo it pleaſe God, for the ſaving of their ſoules in the daie of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. 1 Cor. 5.4.5.

And here by this occaſion, vve vvill ſpeak a litle concerning Gods vvorke, about tvvo others, vvho hauehave hertofore vvritten againſt this poor Church, and againſt the Paſtour and members thereof, as novv theſe have done. The one vvas George Iobnſon the Paſtours brother, vvho dyed at Durham: the manner of vvhoſe ſicknes and death vvas ſignified hither to his brother by vvriting frō thence, by a friend of his that vvas often vvith him, both before & in the time of his ſicknes: VVho vvrote hither, that he being in priſon, beſtovved the moſt of his time, in finiſhing the book which before he had begunne, and whereof ſome ſheets are printed; vvhichwhich vvhen he had done, it pleaſed God to viſite him vvith ſicknes unto death. At vvhichwhich time on his death bedde, he gave out (as he vvrote, & is vvell knovvn) verie heavie & great exclamations about his ſinnes by the Lord layd to his charge, calling unto God for merciemercy. And in this ſort (ſayth the Gentleman that vvrit the letter, & vvas preſent there) he cōtinued by the ſpace of an houre that I was with him, ſhewing great trouble in minde, yet not without comfort in the Lord, whoſe ſervant I doubt not but he dyed. The vvords uttered by him, and other circumſtances mentioned in the Letter aforeſaid, vve ſpare yet to ſet dovvne: as vve vvould alſo ſtill have done the thing it ſelf, but that vve are thus continually provoked hereunto, and that vve hope it vvill be for the good of others, to ſtay them from ſuch courſes: and above all to the glorie of God, vvhichwhich is to be obſerved and acknovvledged in all his vvorks.

And vvhereas it is ſo often objected, by M. Bernard, M. Hall, M. White, Christopher Lawne and others, that the Paſtors brother vvas excommunicated among us, and p. 15his father alſo, it is to be noted, that yet never a one of them hath undertaken to ſhevve the cauſes to be unjuſt, or the thing unlavvfull. Nay vvhen Mr. VVhite made it one head of his book, to except vvhat he could about the excommunications that had paſſed in this Church, and vvrote of ſundrie perſons & their cauſes in particular: yet it may be obſerved, that he doth not ſo much as once offer to inſiſt upon theirs: vvhichwhich of all others no doubt he vvould moſt of all have done, if he had thought he could have made any plea thereabout. And vvho vvill not conſider, that ſuch as vvould thus blame the excommunicating of any perſons, ſhould firſt be able and carefull to ſhevv the cauſes thereof and the proceeding againſt them, to be unjuſt? For othervviſe, if they be juſt and lavvfull, ſo as none can except thereagainſt, it is the more godly, and commendable (though accompanied vvith greater tryall) vvhen neyther father nor mother, brother nor ſiſter, ſonne nor daughter are ſpared. As in the Scriptures vve read, hovv Moſes commended and God bleſſed Levi, for not knovving his ovvne father or mother, brethren or children, but obſerved the vvord of God, and did his vvill againſt them, though it vvere to the inflicting of death upon them: Deut. 33.8.9. with Exod. 32.26-29. Eyther therefore let men by the vvord of God diſprove the cauſes and proceeding in the excommunications they except againſt at any time: or els being not able ſo to doe, the more they vvrite againſt us, the more it maketh for us in deede; and ſo vvill be obſerved by them that are vviſe according to godlynes.

Beſides, ſeeing the parties here ſpokē of are novv departed this life, if M. Iohnſon ſhould vvrite any thing about thē, by vvhichwhich they ſhould novv be foūd blame vvorthy: p. 16vvho can not perceive, that this then alſo vvould be abuſed againſt him, and that men vvould not ſtick to ſaye, that novv he might ſpeak vvhat he vvould of them, vvhen they vvere not living to anſvver for themſelves; and that although they vvere novv dead, & ſo neare unto him as they vvere, yet he vvould vvrite thus and thus of them, &c. For they that ſpare not ſo to abuſe him as novv they do, even about things publikely heard and knovven, vvhereof there are ſo manie vvitneſſes yet living: hovv vvould they much more abuſe any thing that he ſhould novv ſay or vvrite concerning them, vvhen they are gone and departed this life? They that obſerve hovv he and the reſt of us are dealt vvithall, vvill conſider theſe things. And it ſhall be good for him and us all, to poſſeſſe our ſoules vvith pacience, & to vvaite on the Lord, truſting in his merciemercy, making our refuge in the ſhadovve of his vvings, till our calamities be overpaſt, and that it pleaſe the Lord to ſave us from the reproch of them that vvould ſvvallovve us up. For doubtles God vvill ſend forth his merciemercy and his truth: as he hath hitherto graciouſly delivered our ſoules from death, & our feet from falling: that vve may vvalke before him in the light of the living. Pſal. 57.

The other that vvrote in like ſorte, as theſe have done, vvas Thomas White ſpoken off before, vvho after his living here, and vvriting ſo ungodly as he did, returned and lived a Miniſter at London under the Prelates: vvhere vvhen he had after ſome vvhile gottē a benefice in ſuch ſort as he did, the Lord ſoon ended his daies. Theſe things I thought thus briefly to mention, being (it may be) of ſome not regarded as they ſhould. And hovv ever the Lord ſpare ſuch mē, & let thē goe on in their courſe a vvhile, yet in the end if they repent not, his hand vvill finde them out, and bring their vvaies upon their ovvn heads: as throughout the Scriptures vve may read. Pſal. 52. & 55.12.13.14.15-23.

p. 17But novv omitting to vvrite any thing more of them, that have thus dealt vvith us, & leaving them to the Lord: I vvill proceede to the next and laſt ſpeciall matter, vvhichwhich at this time I purpoſe to ſpeake of. And that is about the perſons (ſpoken of in this laſt book) vvho of late divided them ſelves from us, and have ſince that time given forth ſome exceptions and Articles of difference, both here at Amſterdam and othervvhere. Here they gave out ſome vvhichwhich vve heard of, but never had copie of them, untill novv that theſe men have printed them, being taken (as they ſay) from the originall copie. Othervviſe alſo they have given out the like, in letters ſent into England, as vve have heard, & by meanes of one there, to vvhom they ſent had certaine knovvledge thereof: vvho dealt more godly and indifferently thereabout, then any other of them, that have in ſuch ſorte ben poſſeſſed and praejudiced againſt us. And as that party dealt vvell vvith us, in acquainting us vvith thoſe things, vvhichwhich thus covertly vvere vvritten & given out againſt us: ſo did vve alſo for his better ſatiſfying vvrite unto him againe in particular thereabout. The vvhichwhich both Articles and Anſvveres thereunto, vve hauehave thought good to keep them by our ſelues hitherto. But ſeeing that other the like in effect, though increaſed in nū ber, are thus publiſhed to the vvorld, and that therein they have not as they ought, handled & juſtifyed the cauſes for vvhichwhich they ſeparated from us (vvhichwhich vvere annexed at the end of the treatiſe upon Mat. 18.17. and ſhall alſo be againe annexed here, but hauehave gone about alſo to poſſeſſe the vvorld vvith other matters, then thoſe for vvhichwhich they made their breach: and by theſe their courſes, doe impute blame unto our doctrine, as if vve mainteyned opinions contrarie to the truth, labouring thereby to ſette a more glorious ſhevv upon their popular government and pleadings: and that thereby vve perceive, the truth is much p. 18hindered, and vve injuried, and many by their meanes and opinions ſo deceived, that they deſpiſe the holy government of Chriſt, vvhichwhich he hath ſet in his Church to be adminiſtred by the Elders thereof, & refuſe to ſubmit thereunto: and that not onelyonly they vvho have thus vvritten & dealt here, but others alſo in our ovvn coūtrie, praejudiced vvith theſe matters, and ſiniſterly poſſeſſed vvith ſome of their vvritings, againſt us and our cauſe, are likevviſe corrupted, and ſo have shevved it, both vvhen occaſionally ſome of us hauehave been vvith them there, and alſo among them ſelues, as vve hear: vve hauehave therefore for theſe and other the like reaſons thought it good, not to keepe theſe things any longer private by us, but for the better ſatiſfying of all, touching the things vve hold, and the clearing of our ſelves from the imputations layed upon us hereabout, and removing the ſcandall vvhichwhich ſome have taken & are like yet more to take upon the publishing of this vvriting of theirs: novv therefore to print alſo the ſaid Anſvver to their exceptions, that men may ſee, and be able the better to judge bētvveen us & them, vvhen they shall hauehave heard both of us ſpeak, & shall have aſvvell our anſvvers as their objections to read and conſider of by the vvord of God.

And though it hauehave thus fallen out betvveen us and our brethren, & they grovven to that height, that they vvould not be perſvvaded to continevv vvith us in cōmunion; vviſe men vvill conſider, it is but an auncient practiſe of Sathan thus to diſquiet and trouble the Church of God. In the Church at Corinth vvere contentions and diſſenſions raiſed up amongſt the brethren, ſo that ſome held of one Teacher, ſome of an other 1 Cor. 1.10-12. And aftervvard vvhat contention grevve betvveene the eaſtern and vveſtern Churches about the time of keeping the feaſt of Eaſter, none can be ignorant that hath read thereabout the auncient hiſtories. Alſo vvhat fell out p. 19betvveene our ovvne countrimen at Franckfurt in the daies of Q. Marie, (they beeing then in exile for the truth, as novv vve are) their troubles and contentions are extant in print thereabout. Yea our Saviour himſelf ſayth, it muſt needs be that offences come, Mat. 18.7. And the Apoſtle ſayth, there muſt be ſchiſmes and hereſies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifeſt. 1 Cor. 11.18.19.

Novv ſeeing the like troubles, diviſions and diſagreements have fallen out in former times in the Churches of God, and that men have their infirmities (though othervviſe being religious and fearing God) they vvhichwhich are of a ſpirituall diſcerning, vvill not upon everie occaſion that ariſeth amongſt the profeſſors of Chriſt, by reaſon of their vveakneſſes, and perſonall ſinnes and infirmities, open their mouthes to ſpeake evil of the vvaie of God, though ſome take pleaſure therein, vvho shall finde one daie the avenging hand of God upon them, if they repent not.

And touching theſe perſons aforeſaid, that have ſo ſeparated from us, and thus offenſively vvritten, I perſvvade my ſelf, that manie of them, are perſvvaded (though deceived by the ſubtiltie of Sathan) that they have the truth, and that they did runne at the firſt into theſe extremities, being carried (as the Anabaptiſts and others alſo hauehave been) vvith a zeale for the truth & glorie of God againſt that Antichriſtian Apoſtaſie & governmēt, vvhichwhich formerly the Prelates & miniſters of that uſurped authoritie oppreſſed thē vvithall. And for myne ovvne part, I hope that ſo manie of them as are the Lords elect, he vvill in time (by the meanes uſed for their good) give them to ſee, both their errours they ſtand in, & their grievous ſinne, in ſo rashly and unjuſtly breaking off them ſelves from the Church vvhereof they ſtood members, & p. 20that others by their example vvill take heed of the like hereafter.

Theſe things I thus vvrite, not to excuſe evil in any, but to take avvay occaſion frō them that ſeek occaſion to rayſe up ſclander againſt the cauſe of God, by reaſon of theſe things thus falling out amongſt us: and that men ſhould knovve, that the vvaie of God hangeth not upon the lives of men; but is to be regarded in reſpect of the Lord the author thereof. Verie evill therefore doe they, that take occaſion upō ſuch diſſenſions, to blaſpheme the truth it ſelf. The erroneous vvalking of any profeſſors, ſhall not excuſe others, that imbolden themſelues thereby to ſtand in Apoſtaſie, and ſeeke not after the truth and vvaie of God, that Chriſt hath commanded all to vvalke in.

Thus having (good Reader) praefixed this ſhort advertiſement, for thy better informatiō about the things aforeſaid, as alſo about this my purpoſe in ſetting forth of this Anſvver to the Objections aforſaid: receiue novv the Anſvver it ſelf, as it vvas penned by the vvriter thereof, vvith ſome additions thereunto by the ſame author, upon occaſion of inlargeing and publiſhing of the ſaid Exceptions novv printed. This anſvver I pray thee (Chriſtian Reader) vievv and conſider vvell, that if it be the vvil of God, thou mayeſt be ſatiſfyed of the truth vve hold about theſe things. And if in any thing we fayle hereabout through ignorance, and want of underſtanding, we ſhall willingly receiue, and that with thanks, thy brotherly advertiſement thereof.

And becauſe among other things, we are much abuſed about a particular concerning the Church of Rome, wee hauehave therefore hereunto annexed ſomewhat out of the writings of M. Iunius against Bellarmine, about that matter; not that we relie upon the judgment of men in cauſes of Religion, but becauſe we knowe that manie, who are caried p. 21with a praejudice againſt us, will yet more ſtaye them, when they ſee what M. Iunius hath written of that argument. In whoſe writing although there be ſome ſchoole termes, hard to be englished well in our tounge, for the underſtanding of all, as we deſire, yet we have ſo done it into english, as we hope the meaning thereof will by all be conceived and attayned unto.

And thus leaving theſe …hings with the event thereof unto the Lord, & his good bleſſing of his merciemercy in Chriſt: I humbly beſeech the moſt vviſe God, to cauſe the light of his heavenly word to shine forth more and more, for the diſcovering of all errour and falſe opinions & courſes hindering the ſucceſſe of the auncient truth, and ſo to eſtablish the Churches of God, in that old and good vvaie, preſcribed by the Lord and his Apoſtles and Prophets. Amen.