A Trial of Church-Forsakers, Title page – Postscript
A TRIALL OF OVR CHVRCH-FORSAKERS.
OR A MEDITATION TENDING TO STILL THE paſsions of unquiet Browniſts, upon Heb. 10.25.
Wherein is Iuſtified, againſt them, that the bleſſed Church of England
1 Is a true Church.
2 Hath a true Miniſtry.
3 Hath a true Worſhip.
By ROBERT ABBOT, Vicar of Cranbrooke in Kent.
Mat. 11.19.
Wiſedome is Juſtified of her Children.
Hoſea 2.1.
Say to your brethren Ammi; and to your ſiſters, Ruhamah.
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Payne for Philemon Stephens and Chriſtopher Meredith, and are to be ſould at their ſhoppe at the ſigne of the Golden Lyon in Saint Pauls Church-yard. 1639.
REverendo in Chriſto Patri ac Domino, Domino Gualtero Epiſcopo Wintonienſi, ſereniſsimae Majeſtati ab Eleemoſynis, Aureae Periſcelidis Praeſuli Clariſsimo, Domino ſuo intimè obſervando,
Robertus Abbott librum hunc, quo Celebritas Anglicanae Eccleſiae, miniſterij, & cultus, aſſeritur, & qui Eccleſiae matri, ut pacifici amoris pignus dicatur, ad perpetuam obſervantiae Juſtae memoriam, ut magno in eadem Eccleſia Patri, ejuſdemque cauſae Patrono, humiliter dat, & conſecrat.
TO MY DEARE MOTHER THE MVCH HONORED, HOLY, AND BLESSED CHVRCH of ENGLAND.
DEare and bleſſed Mother) thou haſt been long peſtered with undutifull, yea unnaturall ſons. Sometimes they have beene ſuperſtitious, ſometimes prophane, and for ſome yeares, ſome that have profeſſed themſelves beſt to God, have beene undutifull to thee. It is an ill ſigne, if children acknowledge a father, and deny a mother, that all hath not beene well Doeſt thou live in perpetuall adulteries and rebellions that thy children renounce thee? Surely thy love is to thy husband alone. Though when thy husband knowes of it, and hee doth not miſlike it, nay, gives thee generall allowance, thou takeſt ſome ornaments and Iewels from bleſſed and good men▪ yet is thy heart to Chriſt continually, yea and all thy carriages are according to his will. Many of thy worthy ſonnes have vindicated this truth both againſt Rhemes, and Amſterdame. They could not indure that their mother ſhould be called whore, much leſſe prooved ſo. Amongſt the reſt, I thy unworthy ſonne have appeared in thy cauſe, renouncing all the bloud in my heart that riſeth againſt Chriſt, and thee his ſpouſe. If I appeare of too mild a temper, thou haſt not begotten me of murthering mettle, but of that word which makes us turne ſpeares, and ſwords into mattocks and ſythes. How ſoever I look, I am ſure I am thy child. And if I have done thee any honour in this poore ſervice, I am glad: if not, yet I have done the beſt that I thought fit for theſe oppoſers; and ſo with my humble prayers for the flouriſhing, and increaſe of thy peace and truth, I kiſſe thy hand, and reſt
Thy obedient ſonne to his utmoſt power, ROBERT ABBOT.
TO THE COVRTEOVS AND CHRISTIAN READERS, ESPECIALLY TO HIS OWNE Pariſhioners, grace, and truth, and peace, with the Churches of God in CHRIST.
DEarely beloved) I have lived now by Gods gratious diſpenſation, above fifty yeares; and in the place of my allotment two and twenty full. How unprofitably ſo ever in the dayes of my vanity, when the world, the fleſh, and the Devill, bore ſway; yet, through undeſerved grace, painefully, ever ſince the weight of a peoples care was noticed to my conſcience. I have had great labours, ſome watchings, many ſtrifes, and contentions, with my ſelfe, and others, about truth, and godlineſſe. And though I have earneſtly contended that the mouth of the oxe might not be muzled, that treadeth out the corne, but that J, and others of Gods labourers, …ight live honorable of the goſpell, and at the Altar, at which we ſerve, as Chriſt hath ordained: yet (with a good conſcience) I can ſay as the Apoſtle, I have coveted no mans gold, or ſilver, or apparrell: I have loved, and deſired to ſpend, and to be ſpent, though the more I love, the leſſe I am loved of ſome few
I know that J muſt lay downe this tabernacle, and the time of my diſsolution is not farre off. Therefore doe I more ſeriouſly beginne to thinke of my ſtate: and doe ſet upon it to examine how I am like to be preſented before the tribunall ſeate of God. Whē I thinke of my ſinnes, and manifold infirmities I feare & quake, through the ſight of the maieſty purity and iuſtice of God: but when I think of Chriſt the mediator of the new teſtament, and of the infinite value of his bloud offered in the deareneſſe of Gods love, and applyed & reſted on by faith, which the holy Ghoſt in a ſaving meaſure hath given me; I approach with confidence and the lifting up of my head.
But, till that time come I lie under the expectation of flouds of ſorrowes, ſtreames of temptations, and other humane infirmities. I pray that J may doe nothing that may diſhonour Chriſt my maſter, and that I may ſuffer nothing that may drive me from him and his ſervice. J know that the waſters of grace are ſtrong, and many, and that no goodneſſe is entayled to us without great care and vigilancy. I know that ſinnes and afflictions are the two great enemies of perſeverance. And though ſinne be the moſt powerfull, which yet (through grace) I have learned to trample upon with the conſtant acts of piety and charity, according to my meaſure, yet afflictions are my next care, which if they bee ſlighted, will make ſecret inrodes to hind…r peace with God
My afflictions have not beene ſo weighty as millions of Gods deare ſaints have felt. In this Gods grace hath beene marvellous, becauſe hee knowes my weakeneſſe to beare, and my unworthineſſe to bee a ſouldier in that warfare: yet have they not beene ſo little, as that they have not made me work enough. It is grievous to bee ſlighted of them whom a man dearely loves and to have contempt powred upon that which comes in fulneſſe of ſtrength, and tenderneſse of affection to doe good. Jt is hard not once ſcarce to be thanked, for conſtant travels to edifie and ſave ſoules. It is ſomething to ſee reſpects fly abroad in full meaſure to ſtrangers, when nearer relations are forgotten.
But to bee perſecuted by the tongues of thoſe a man deſerves well of, and to be privily ſmitten of thoſe from whom beſt incouragements are due, will wound the heart of a David though he be after Gods owne heart. J have of long ſuffered words of diminution and diſparagement. They have beene my meate, drinke, and cloathing. Though when I have beene downe the wind of weakenes, feebleneſſe of ſpirit ha… given advantage for a deepe impreſsion, yet (bleſſed be God) as ſtrength hath appeared I have kicked at them with chearefulneſſe, though pride and folly hath ſometimes miſinterpreted this alſo.
I have often looked into the cauſe. Lord, what have I done? Have I not lived like thy ſervant, though with much ſenſible weakeneſſe? have I not laboured in thy vineyard with all my ſtrength? have J not taught thy truth by taking heede to reading and doctrine? yes ſurely, ſaith my conſcience I have kept back none of thy counſell, I have not ſtrengthened the hands of wickedneſſe. I have loved the godly, as ſuch, though I have hated their indiſcretions, as well as my owne. J have been kinde and courteous to thoſe that have ill rewarded me. OnelyOnly, this is the truth, J have loved the Church of God amongſt us, and the whole governement eccleſiaſticall, and temporall If any thing have appeared harſh, I have excuſed it a… I was bound. I have not indured to heare publike ſcandalls to bee layed upon them. I have oppoſed gaineſayers with earneſtneſse of ſpirit, others will ſay, like a man, but J will ſay, and J am ſure, like a miniſter.
This hath fallen upon darke melancholick, high lookt, and ſowre natures, and ſo hath ſuffered a diſguſt. Some have beene ſowred, but ſweetned againe with the trade of the good word of God, and the practiſe of affability. Some have beene eſtranged till this contracted folly hath beene digeſted. Some have complayned of chiding, when my nature can chide nothing but ſinne and diſorder: and ſome have hardned themſelves in error, and ſchiſme. To croſſe me (I feare) and my tenets for the Church, they have revenged upon themſelves.
What theſe few will gaine in the iſſue I doe not know. This (I doubt) that they will repent, if greatneſſe of ſtomack will let them looke backe againe, when it is too late. But for you (my good people) in whoſe hearts God hath writ mee by the preaching of Chriſt, and his truth, ye have not ſo runne in vaine. Ye will not be deluded with their pretences and ſweet words. Yee have heard formerly from me all theſe grounds, and oppoſitions of Browniſme, which here J preſent unto you: and here have J thus addreſſed them for you, that they may keepe you from that ſnare of ſimple ones, and that they may ever lie by you, when J am dead, and with my Chriſt, to keepe you upright in the waies of our bleſſed Church.
I know that ſome of you beare a deare and tender affection to theſe few ſeduced ones, though now they will not heare you. Ye have lived in the ſame Church together like friends: ye have delighted in the ſame word of God, prayer, and ſacraments: yee have ſweetly comforted one another in the private communion of Saints: and ye ſee that ſtill they ſeeme to live unblameable lives towards men, and that they pretend to delight ſtill in the word of Chriſt, which is the onelyonly rule of ſalvation. Theſe things will give great advantage to them to worke upon you, and to you to keepe intimate familiarity with them. But (in the feare of God I beſeech you) take heede: weigh well what in this diſcourſe J ſay, and God give you underſtanding in all things. Jt is no ſmall charge to unchurch a church, to unminiſter a miniſtery, and to unworſhip a worſhip. They muſt be ſure of their hands, that they can, and will anſwer it to Chriſt with confidence when they have done it. To doe it with a trembling heart, is to doe it againſt conſcience. To doe it with full aſſurance of underſtanding, is to doe it with ſure warrants, and precepts of Chriſt. If they have ſuch againſt our Church, I am ſure we ſhall finde them: if not let them goe, if they will, but follow not them in the breach.
To keepe you out of it, I have done as J doe: and to gaine them too, if they will not bee reſolved without grounds. J am ſure they ſhall have no iuſt cauſe to except againſt my dealing with them. They may except againſt me, as an Engliſh Prieſt, and Biſhops creature, as I heare, but ſhall never againſt my courſe with them. I have dealt with them with matter more then with words: and becauſe they pretend to two things, to the ſcriptures, and to conſcience, and I know a third thing in them, weakeneſſe. Therefore have J dealt with them accordingly. J have compared ſcripture with ſcripture, to finde out the truth, but cannot finde theirs. I have dealt conſcionably with them in fighting with that onelyonly weapon againſt them, of their owne chooſing, the word of Chriſt. And becauſe they are weake, I have not ſhewed my ſelfe a man in giving them any bitter language, or exaſperating termes. As the barking of one dogge begets the barking of another, though it bee againſt the Moone: ſo is it with high words, and therefore it were glorious, and above a man, if it were layed downe on all ſides, and partakings. But as the waves of the ſea, when they meete not with a rocke, but with the ſands, they returne backe-againe with a watery flaſh: ſo have J done by them, that all our matters may be done in love.
Indeede I have taken their affected name out of their mouthes, ſeparatiſts; and given their right one unto them, Browniſts; and this J have done out of conſcience. I finde by experience that the word, Separation, doth winne to their cauſe: For, when people of ſtrong affections, and weaker Iudgements, doe reade of the neceſsity of ſeparation in the ſcriptures; and can not diſcerne how we have made ſeparation from heatheniſme, and when we have beene thruſt out of Rome (becauſe wee were unwilling to bee ſo bad as ſhee) have maintayned our juſt ſtanding from her in a divided way; they have beene willing to hearken to a ſeparating plott. Therefore Browne being the leader amongſt us, to this breach, (if now time hath not made it worſe then he intended it) J can not nickname, but inconſcience call the childe after the fathers name. Jt was Chriſts courſe, ye are of your father the Devill, his children ye are, and ſo muſt I.
Jt is true alſo, that afterwards, yee may finde ſome opinions gone againſt, that are held by ſome that keepe Communion with our Church, as of a true Church. But I am ſure they are the Browniſts opinions alſo, to whom I ſpeake. All that I can ſay therefore for that, is this. Jt may bee, that ſome of you know, or have heard of that Noble Moralizers fable of Amphiolus, who when hee was in all his military accoutraments to give combate (as hee thought) to Argalus a Knight of the Sunne. This mans wife dreſſed her ſelfe in her husbands armour, and gave her husbands enemy meeting. Amphiolus encounters valiantly, gave a wound in the necke, cloſeth, overthrowes, and gives a mortall wound in the body. But when hee opened the armour, viewes his Conqueſt, and ſaw it was faire Parthenia, Argalus his wife, he could have no comfort of the day, it became not a man ſo to ruine a woman. Such is my caſe heere. J ſay as a father of old, I dare not write againſt a Biſhop of my communion; the love of brotherly peace is glorious in the Church, even among men that otherwiſe differ in opinion. But if they put on the armes of an enemy, (becauſe they will bee ſo) with whom I fight for truth, I cannot helpe it, if they meete with a blow, though I glory not in it, yea am ſorry that there ſhould be any ſuch cauſe.
I have now done, and commend you all to the word of Gods grace which is able to ſave your ſoules, though no Bowniſt, nor Anabaptiſt had ever beene hatched. Live in peace, and the God of peace ſhall bee with you. Give not way to any opinion whereby the unity of ſpirit, and the bond of love may be broken. Play the men, be ſtrong and of a good courage. Have prepared hearts to dye for Chriſts cauſe: but, to bee ſticklers in ſuch poore quarrels, as can neither bring peace to the Church, nor comfort to you at laſt, abhorre. Wee muſt all appeare before the Iudgement ſeate of God, where colours ſhall doe us no good, becauſe we ſhall be iudged naked: where pretences ſhall doe us no good, becauſe the bookes ſhall bee opened: and where no authors or favourers of Sects, or Schiſmes ſhall ſhelter us, becauſe we muſt ſtand before the man Chriſt Ieſus: to whom I ever leave you, and in whoſe name ye ſhall have the prayers of
Yours to be uſed in the ſervice of the Goſpel ROBERT ABBOT.
The Contents of this Meditation is thus ſummed up. In
Section 1.
The state of Chriſtians and their care to keepe it.
Section 2.
The way to keepe a Chriſtian ſtate is publick communion in aſſemblies.
Section 3.
The vice of thoſe that forſake publick communion: and firſt of the prophane.
Section 4.
The forſakers of our aſſemblies that would be accounted holy; and firſt of their name of Iuſtice, Browniſts, which is due to them.
Section 5.
Of that name they would have, Separatiſts, and how unjuſtly it is expected and aſſumed by them.
Section 6.
Of the Browniſts opinions upon which they forſake our Church: and firſt whether we be a true Church.
Section 7.
Of their firſt exception againſt us, about the nature of a viſible Church.
Section 8.
Of their ſecond exception againſt us, about our enterance into a true Church, where of their covenant.
Section 9.
A queſtion by the way (becauſe ſome of them queſtion it) about baptizing of Baſtards of impenitent Chriſtians.
Section 10.
Of their third exception againſt us, about the head of our Church, Chriſt, and the King under him.
Section 11.
Of their fourth exception againſt us about the members of our Church; where is debated of wicked profeſsors comming to the Lords table.
Section 12.
Of their laſt exception against our Church about the government of it: and firſt of the power of Governement, whether in the whole aſſembly.
Section 13.
Of their exceptions againſt the perſons governing, Biſhops, and the exerciſe of their goverment, in ordination, excommunication, impoſing oathes.
Section 14.
Of their ſecond opinion upon which they ſeparate from us: becauſe wee have not a true miniſtery, where of ordeyners, titles, callings, infirmities, and maintenance.
Section 15.
Of their laſt opinion upon which they ſeparate from us; becauſe wee have not a true worſhip: where of Ceremonies of order, and ſignificant, and of ſtinted prayers.
Section 16.
Of their maine exception in their former argument, to witt, our common prayer booke: where of the order of divine ſervice, and their exceptions against kneeling, Croſſe, and reſponſes or anſwers in Baptiſme.
Section 17.
Of the uſe that is to bee made of all good aſſemblies: to learne conſideration, and exhortation, becauſe the day is approaching, which is applied to our foaſakers.
A Poſtſcript.
GOod Reader, there are two texts of ſcripture whereupon the Browniſts do build their frame, beſides many other in particular queſtions. Theſe thou ſhalt finde cleared (as I judge in conſcience) in moſt Sections, as thou goeſt along. Theſe are 1 Cor. 6.17. whereupon they ground their ſeparation; and Mat. 18.15, 16, 17, 18. 1 Cor. 5. whereupon they ground the new Pariſh diſcipline. Thou ſhalt finde theſe cleared Section 5. and 12. But before thou readeſt, I would intreate thee to correct the errours of the preſſe, printed at the latter end of the booke: and then learne with me, or learne me.
A TRIALL OF OVR CHVRCH FORSAKERS OR A meditation to ſtill the paſſions of unquiet Browniſts, upon Heb. 10.25.
Not forſaking the aſſembling of our ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is, but exhorting one another: and ſo much the more as yee ſee the day approaching.