Counterpoison Considerations, Treatise 2 · Section 1
Of his PROBABILITIES,
THE first meanes whereby Mr BERNARD would disswade from the truth, which he calleth Brownisme, are Probabilities or lik…lihoods that the way is not good: and they are in number (as himselfe hath cast them,) seuen.
1. The Novelty of it.
2. The agreement thereof with ancient schismatiks.
3. The ill meanes by which it is mayteyned, namely, by abuse of scripture & deceauable reasonning.
4. The want of approbation of the reformed Churches.
5. The conde…nation thereof by all their Diuines, (vidz of the church of England.)
6. Gods iudgment against it
7. The …ll success… it hath had.
Such l…kelihoods as these, the Papists heretofore with as much colour and truth, hauehave alleged against the church of England; heathens and enemies hauehave in former ages obiected the l…ke things to the church of Christ, and Mr Ber. speaketh but that which hath been spoken before him, fulfill…ng the meas…re of his forefathers. But to the particulars.
The Nov…lty he maketh to be in differing from all the best reformed churches in Christendome But if a Papist had to deal with him,1 Liklihood aSee Kelli sons Survey of the new r…ligi…n 1 b…ok chap, 1 5, & 2, book c. 2.he would bring those reformed churches also within the c…mpasse of Novel…y: and then Mr Bern. would flee, (as his brethren before him hauehave done) to the scriptures for antiquity: as he would answer a Papist, so w…ll I answer him; let the scriptures speak for the differences between other churches and vsus. But here Mr Bern. is mute; and medleth not with th…s controversie he thought belike the very name of Noveltie and of the reformed churches would fray the simple
If it be Nouelty to differ from the reformed churches, then may he blame his own church …f Engl. more then vsus, seing it differeth from those churches in m…e and weightier poynts then we doe: yea it hateth persecuteth silēceth & excommunicateth those ministers & people, that stand vp & plead for such things as the reformed churches hauehave and practise. Agayn these churches hauehave reiected and writen against many of the Antichr…stian enormities that are now in England. So if it be likely, we are not in the truth because we d…ffer from the churches in few things; it is more likely Mr Bern. and his brethren, are not in the truth, because they differ from them in many Wherefore let him first pull the beam out of his own eye. Agayn where he standeth vponupon the hard words which some of vsus hauehave vttered of the Presbytery &c. if he had not an evill and partial eye he mought hauehave seen many moe hard & reproachful words vsed by his right reverend Fathers, and fellow priests against the Presbytery and discipline which the reformed churches hauehave, and the reforming ministers of Engl. would hauehave. That still his weapon entreth into his own bowels.
His 2 likelihood he maketh to be our agreement with ancient schismatiks: yet any poynts wherein we agree with them in evill,Likeliehood. he nameth not much le…e proueth; but referreth us to Mr Giffords paynes herein, who had long since his answer by Mr Greenwood to every particular of that his pretended consimillitude between the Donatists and vsus; to which answer I r…ferr the reader. Agayn, this obiection is such as the Papists make against the church of England for so bThe three cōu…rsiōs of Engl. par… 2 c. 12 s. 19 &c.N. D. compareth Protes…nts with Donatists; and let vsus see what answer the Priests of England can make for themselues that will not as well, if not better, clear vsus And to come a little neare to this o…r aduersary, we could p…t Mr Ber. in mind of his own wayes, wherein he might see himselfe more like a schismatik then any of vsus: for we openly professe our departure fr…m the ch…rch of England, as from a false church, so proued by evident gro…nds out of G…ds word; whereas Mr Bernard holding it to be a true ch…rch & ab…ding in it, yet he and a hundred with him, made not long since a pretended co…enant tog…ther; whereby they separated from the vnpreaching ministers, and all that hate to be reformed Yet are those rea…ing priests of as …ood authority by the Lawes and Canons of that Church as himself, and the Conformists of farr greater esteem in this church, then the Reformists. Whether this be not a playne schisme, and Mr Bern a factious person thus to carry h…mselfe in a church, let himselfe say: as also whether he be not f…r this, ipso …acto excomm…nicated, by force of the…r own Canon which sayth,
Constit, & Can. eccles. 1603. Can 9.Whosoeuer shall hereafter separate themselues from the Communion of Saincts as it is approued by the Apostles rules in the Church of England, and combine themselues together in a new brotherhood, accounting the Christi…ns who are conformable to the doctrine, gouernments, rites and ceremonies of the church of England to be profane and vnmeet for them to ioyne with in Christian profession: let them be excommunicated ipso facto, and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publick reuocation of such their wicked errors. Into like danger doth he come by Canon. 11, and 12.
… Likeliehood.The il meanes, by which our cause is mainteyned, he make…h to be strange expositi…n of scripture, &c.
First Mr Bern. here walketh still in the Papists steps, who obiect the like vntounto the Protestants. Let an indifferent reader (aKellis, Suruey, 1. book chap, 5 say they) peruse the learnedst book of these reformers, and he shall see in them false allegations of Fathers, corruptions of scriptures, fathers, and councels &c. Sec…dly I answer our expositions may seeme strange to such as are themselues strangers from God: but the Godly wise can discerne, to whom (if they hauehave read our books,) I leane the iudging of this probability. Now th…s old calumniatiō which Satā layd vpō the Sainct, how truly Mr B…rn. hath layd vponupon vsus, let his proofs shew, which are in these two particulars. First, that one of us sayth, All the truth is not taught in the Church of E…gland, and to proue this, Act. 20 21. is cited. Which one of vsus thus citeth Act. 20 and where; Mr Bern. nameth not. Good cause we hauehave to suspect his faithfulnes; for in his book he chargeth vsus with some errors, which we hold not, as after shall appear. And he that would so iniury the whole, what may we think he w…ll doe for a part. I suppose therefore the party cited that scripture to proue the whole truth ought to be taught which because it may be questioned whether it be needfull at all times, therefore the Apostles example is brought. As for the Priests of England, … they preach not the whole truth, is proued by their dayly practise, who balk many truthes, touching the church, ministery worship, governmen… &c. as all that obserue their doctrines know very well. It is proued …lso by the lawes and canons of their church, which excommunicate …ll such as shall by the truth reproue the falsehoods and abominations that are among them, as before in apag, 55.this treatise is shewed. And Mr Bern. is very silly, if he exspect any scriptures to proue what is now taught in his church. Furthermore if it be granted him, that Act. 20. were by some one of vsus alleged for the purpose he pretend…th: yet it is no more l…kelihood that our cause is evill, then that his brethrens cause and plea against vsus is evill, for they without all doubt doe allege scriptures for to proue things done in Engl: which it is not posible by the scripturs for to shew, See before in this book pag. 43. &c 44. But what speak I of others Mr Bern, himsefe is fayn to vse such colours, els would the glory of his church soon fade: for in the 48, page of his book he allegeth God for witnes that they are his people, 1 by giuing them his word, Psa, 147.19 20. 2 by his effectuall working thereby, Ier, 22, 22, therefore there is the voyce of the sonne of God, Ioh. 5.25, &c. If these be found and sufficient proofs, that England hath Gods word, because Israel had it, and so in the rest; then why may not men allege like Scriptures and proofs against them, saying, They are stayned with their own works, and goe a whoring with their own inuentions; Psal. 106, 39. from the Prophets of Ierusalem, is hyprocrisie gone forth into all the Land, Ier. 23.15, I hauehave not sent these Prophets sayth the Lord: yet they ran &c. Ier. 23.21. and the like. So then Mr Bern. must eyther bring better reasons for himselfe, or els he may blush to blame others for that wherein himself is more faulty then they; if they be faulty at all.
The other particular which he specifieth is, that places setting forth the inuisible church &c. we bring to set forth the visible church by; as namely; 1. Pet. 2.9, 10. But Mr Bern. shewes his reader no reason at all, why that Scripture must be vnderstood of the inuisible church, as he Sayth; and it is an easie matter for him to find faults without reasō, in any mās writing. That place of Peter, (as the wise reader may perceiue,) Speaketh of and to the visible or Sensible church: for th' Apostle wrote to the visible christians, the b1 Pet, 1.1strangers that then dwelt in Pontus Galatia, &c. and this which he speaketh to them in Chap· 2, 9.10. is as Moses of old spake to the visible church of Israel, Exod. 19:6. Againe, he mentioneth the end of their calling to this dignity, vidz. to shew forth the vertues of him that had called them out of darknes into his maruelous light; which whether it appertaynes not to the visible church, I leaue it for eueryevery true member thereof to iudge. And such as these,4 Likelihod. are the exceptions that D. Allison (to whome he referreth us,) tooke heretofore: which because they are vnworthy a Dr. of Diuinity, we hauehave though best to passe by, as vnworthy of reply, till further occasion.
The 4. likelihood is, that we hauehave not the approbation of any reformed churches Churches for our cause. This is much like his first probability, before answered, and seemeth to be a mayn propp to vphold the church of England, which louelove to make flesh their arme. The reader may see this poynt Pag. 9. & …7, &, 51. pag. 10 & 27, &c …7, &, 51. &cthrise vrged before in this book, and Apol part 6 …. 18. …. 1.thrise answered. I referr him also to our Letters vntounto Mr Iunius whome Mr Bern. mentioneth: & finally to the Apologie of the church of England, where themselues say, vntounto the like obiections of the Papists, …, Lik…lyhoodth… truth of the Gospel of Iesus Christ dependeth not upon councels, (add also, nor vponupon Churches;) nor as S. Paul sayth, vponupon the iudgements of mortall creatures.
The 5. is, the condemnation of this way by the Diuines (of England) both liuing and dead, &c. But this is no other likelihood then it is like Mr Bern. (if he had then liued) would hauehave alleged against Christ himselfe, when the learned Priests, Rabbines, and Diuines of Israel, condemned his way and doctrine Ioh. 7.48.49. & 19, 7. &c. If these learned English Di…ines hauehave confuted vsus, let Mr Bern. or any shew the scriptures and reasons by which they hauehave done it: if they were our aduersaries without reason, (as some of them he mentioneth, shew little or none at all,) wise men will esteem them accordingly But if such a Diuine as Bredwel doe but call our curse a by-path, this sentence is authentik yenough, for Mr Bern to put in d… 1. Likelie…ood.his book.
The 6. is, the Lords iudgement giuing sentence with them (of England) & against vsus. These things as they are before more prudently urged, both for the good successe of the English ministers, and bad ys…ue of many of vsus, so I leaue the reader vntounto the answers before made pag, 13. &c, 23. &c. OnelyOnly I would advise Mr Bern. to look better to his words, when he next write, and not to set down such positions, as may tend to Atheisme or Iudaisme; as wherein his brother Boltons case that hanged himself he pag. 34.Sayth, which end the Lord letteth not his speciall instruments to come vntounto, &c. A Iew vponupon this graunt, would trouble Mr Bernard to defend Christianity; seeing Act. 1.17, ….Iudas hanged himself, who was a farr more speciall instrument of the Lord, being an Apostle; then Bolton that was but a ruling Elder; and not the first brocher of this way, as Mr Bern. very vntruely (vponupon Mr Giffords report, if he so reported) doth allege. Besides that Iudas after a sort repented and acknowledged his sinne, and was not (that we know of) excommunicate, yet came to that woefull end; wheras Bolton for revolting from his faith at Paules crosse, was dealt with, excommunicated, and so died (for ought that is knowen) without repentance, a member of Mr Bernards church. See before, pag. 23.
… …ikelie…d.The 7. is, the ill successe it hath had, these very many yeares, being no more increased.
The naturall man perceiueth not the things of God; but iudging by the outward appearance, giues vnrighteous iudgement. If M. Bernard had liued in Noahs dayes, and seen his 120. yeares labours and preaching spent in vayn, how would he hauehave stumbled at the work of God, that gaue his word no other effect in the world? And loe it is written aLuk, 17.26.as it was in the dayes of Noe, so shall it be in the Dayes of the Son of man. But had Mr Bern. bene in the dayes following, when Israel very few in number bPsa, 105, 12.13.walked from nation to nation, from one kingdome to an other people, and notwithstanding the cGe…, 15.promise of multiplication, yet in 200. yeares and mo…, had increased but vntounto dDeut, 10.22.70. sowles, and as many moe yeares were in Aegyptian bondage: and had he in the mean while seen the eGen, 17.20.Princes of Israel, and fGen 36, 15. &c.Dukes of Esau with the gver 3 c 1 &Kings that raigned in his land, before any King in Israel. how would this man (may we think) hauehave gathered likelihoods, or rather hauehave concluded out of doubt against the poor afflicted church of God? But it is no new thing to hear this pleading from such carnall gospellers. Wel, not totell him of Gods gracious work in bringing many to this truth and causing moe to listen after it dayly, let Mr Bern. look to himselfe and his fellow Reformists, and if his right eye be not blent, let him acknowledge Gods hand a…ainst themsel…es, who heretofore had so many fautors, and that not of the meanest in the land: yet now are repressed as troublers of the church, and their counterfeyt reformation further from all likelihood of effecting then was at the first. And this much of his vnlikely likelihoods.