An Answer to Two Treatises of John Can, Chapter 1 · Section 3
SEC. III. CAN. Stay againſt Stray. Sect. 1. pag. 4, 5.
WHatſoever God hath bestowed upon his Church, as her priviledge, the ſame is to be found in his Word: But it is not mentioned there, that Beleivers (as their priviledge) ought to heare Antichristian Teachers.
The propoſition is unquestionably certaine by theſe Scriptures. Pſal. 19.7. 2 Tim. 3.15.16. Iſai. 8.20. Ioh. 15.17. Act. 20.27. Beſides, Contra Gentes.this is the unanimous conſent of learned writers. The Scriptures (ſaith Athanaſius) doe helpe us with the knowledge of every truth, &c.
The first part which is only controverſall is evident and cleere, Anno. in 1 Cor. 10. §. 21. in 1 Reg. cap 5. v. 19.by theſe Scriptures. Levit. 17.3.4. Deut. 12.5. Prov. 5.8. Hoſ. 4.15. Matth. 7.15. 2 Cor. 7.15, 16, 17. Rev. 18.4. Song. 1.6, 7. To this all ſorts of Writers aſſent, Zanch. on Phil. 3.2. The Authors of the Admonition. pag. 27, &c. Yea the Papists themſelves, Rhemists and Doway Tranſlators.
ANSWER.
THe ſinewes of this Argument are cut already in the firſt Section, if ever it had any, and therefore a few words may now ſuffice. In this reaſon you take for granted, that which is moſt falſe, little leſſe than blaſphemie; to wit, that all Miniſters in the Church of England be Antichriſtian. For they are in reſpect of the ſubſtance of their office, the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, ſet apart to preach the Goſpel, diſpenſe the Sacraments, and adminiſter the Diſcipline of the Lord Chriſt: and many of them the approved ſervants of Chriſt, furniſhed with gifts from above, ſent forth by authoritie to preach the Goſpel of God, and diſpenſe his Sacraments, which they faithfully execute, according to commiſſion received from their Lord and Maſter, the King of the Church, who worketh by them, and bleſſeth their labours, if ever ordinary Miniſters had cauſe to ſpeake of, and rejoyce in the bleſſing of God, to the praiſe of his name.
But to let that paſſe, Antichriſtian Teachers (if I muſt ſpeak in your owne language) be of divers ſorts:
1. Such as be not called in every point according to your platforme, or at leaſt whoſe calling is in any reſpect maymed or defective, though they be godly, learned, painfull, every way fit, ſet apart by authority, and approved by the Church. If Antichriſtian Teachers be taken in this ſenſe, true Beleevers living in ſocieties with them are bound to heare the Word, and partake in the Sacraments, becauſe they be the ordinances of the Lord Jeſus, who is preſent, knocking at the doore of the heart, and will come in and ſup with them that open unto him. So long as wee teach the ſame doctrine which the Apoſtles did, we have the ſame povver and authority to Preach, which they had. B…ſ. Chrill … part 3. p. …Look what reaſons ſoever can be alledged to prove that Chriſtians ought to joyne together in holy communion, the ſame will ſtrongly convince, that ordinarily, or occaſionally we muſt hold ſocietie with ſuch Miniſters in the ordinances of piety and godlineſſe. And if this Miniſterie be Antichriſtian, divers, if not moſt worthy Martyrs of Jeſus Chriſt, that have withſtood Antichriſt unto blood, have ſtood under ſome ordinances, in their firſt originall, Antichriſtian, or of men in ſome reſpects, which did not overthrow, though it might be ſome blemiſh unto their Miniſterie.
2. Such as be not rightly called by men, becauſe not rightly furniſhed with gifts, or faithfully executing their place, or teaching erroneous doctrines and traditions of men, but yet ſet apart to an office which is of God, and in communion of men profeſſing the true Faith, are called Antichriſtian Miniſters. And if it be taken in this ſenſe, the faithfull are bound in conſcience to heare ſuch, if they live in their ſocieties: becauſe they be the Miniſters of Chriſt in a ſort, though they be not approved of him, and doe his worke for the good of them that be heires of ſalvation. But in ſo doing, they doe not communicate with the Miniſters of Antichriſts apoſtaſie, but with the Lord Chriſt in his holy ordinance, by ſuch meanes as he hath appointed. Hieron. l. 1. Com in Eph. ad Galat. cap. 1.Hierome noteth, that there are foure ſorts, who are employed in the buſineſſes and affaires of Almighty God. The firſt, ſuch as are ſent neither of men, nor by men, but by Jeſus Chriſt. The ſecond, ſuch as are ſent of God, but by man. The third are ſuch as are ſent of man and not of God, who are they that are ordained by favour of Men, not rightly judging of the quality of them who are to ſerve in this calling. Who yet are not ſimply denyed to be ſent of God, as if they had not commiſſion from him, but therefore only, becauſe if the chooſers and ordainers had done their duties, they ſhould have made a better choice. For being ſent by men that have authoritie, though abuſing the ſame, wee cannot ſay they have no true or lawfull Miniſtery: for then were all miniſtration of the Sacraments, and other ſacred things void, performed by ſcandalous, ungodly Miniſters, and ſuch as by ſiniſter meanes get into theſe holy places. The fourth are of ſuch as are neither ſent of God, nor of men, nor by men, but runne of themſelves, and have no calling at all: who are neither Miniſters of Chriſt for themſelves, nor others. Thus farre Hierome.
3 Such are Antichriſtian Miniſters, as teach falſe doctrine, be ſet apart to an office meerely of men, contrary to the Word of God, and live in communion and ſocietie with men profeſſing reall idolatrie, as members of that ſocietie, though ſomewhat of God be joyned in this their profeſſion. Whereunto may be referred ſuch as being tried, are found to be falſe Prophets, cenſured and caſt out of the Church by them that have authority. Of which ſort are thoſe Hereticks, which are condemned of their own conſcience, and after once or twice admonition, are to be ſhunned.
4 Such are Antichriſtian, as be meerely from men, diſpenſe onelyonly the things of Antichriſt, and have nothing of God at all. If by Antichriſtian Teachers be meant falſe Prophets, Thom. Becon. his humble ſupplicat. unto God, &c. written in Queen Martes daies. Vol. 2. Purge our temples of all Popiſh abominations, of ceremonies, of Images, of Altars, of Copes, of Veſtments, of Pixes, of Croſſes, of Cenſers, of Holy Water buckets, of holy Bread Baskets, of Chiſmatories, &c. above all, Idolatrous Prieſts, and ungodly ignorant Curates. Chaloner. The Orig. and progr. of Haereſie. This change of their uſe, by occaſion of Altars, and other ceremomes which crept in, as alſo by reaſon of the figurative ſpeeches of the Ancients, &c. produced in the end, a doubt of the change of the ſubſtance, &c. The Pope firſt Breve.in this third and fourth acceptation, I grant the faithfull muſt hold no communion with them, becauſe God hath forbidden it, and theſe are falſe Prophets, who have no calling, teach their owne dreames, miniſter not the things of God, but of men, and either never were members of the true Church, profeſſing the intire faith, or upon their diſcoverie, are caſt forth as unſavorie ſalt. And this the paſſages of Scripture, quoted to prove the controverſall part, as you ſay, doe confirme, Whereunto anſwere hath been given already. And the authours of all ſorts alledged, doe conſent: for it is moſt manifeſt, they ſpeake of falſe Prophets, who have no calling, teach falſe doctrine, were never members of the Church, or ſpringing up, and continuing in the Church for a time, are cenſured and caſt out, that they might not moleſt, tare and devoure the Flock. But in this ſenſe, the Miniſters of the Church of England be not Antichriſtian: that which is ſpoken againſt falſe Prophets, cannot be applyed unto them.
And here conſider how plentifull you are in proving that which was never queſtioned; as that the Scripture is perfect, to make the man of God wiſe unto ſalvation, that falſe Prophets muſt not be heard or beleeved, that the Faithfull muſt come out of Babylon, &c. But that the Miniſterie of the Church of England is Antichriſtian, and the Teachers falſe Prophets, as the Scripture uſeth the word in the Texts alledged, this we muſt take upon your bare word, or moſt grievous miſapplication of the holy Text.
Paul the Fift (you ſay) in a certaine Bull, ſent to the Catholikes in England, chargeth them by all meanes not to goe to the Pariſh Churches, or heare their Sermons, leaſt they incurre the wrath of God If this teſtimony will ſtand in any ſteed, the Pope himſelfe doth not eſteeme our Pariſh aſſemblies Antichriſtian, for then his Catholikes ſhould not incurre the wrath of God by going unto them. And what you can gaine by this witneſſe, I know not, unleſſe it be to ſhew, that how contrary ſoever you ſeeme to be unto the Pope or Antichriſt, yet in this you conſent and agree with him, to condemne Chriſtian communi… in our Aſſemblies in the holy exerciſes of Religion.CAN. … p 6 … to it, … bring … himſelves und… greater curſe, by uſing their to agues, and pens to raiſe up againe one part of the Kingdome of the Beaſt, which the Lord before had conſumed with the breath of his mouth.
Nay, the ſentence of the Pope is milde in compariſon of that brand which you ſet upon communicating the ordinances of God in our aſſemblies, viz. That it tendeth to the putting down of our true King, Chriſt Jeſus, and to raiſe up Antichriſt againe, that bloody Tyrant; which bold ignorant cenſure muſt needs worke the ſoule of every ſober minded Chriſtian to ſuſpect, that in defence of this cauſe, you conſulted with furie, more than with truth, and hoped to winne more with ſwelling words of vanity, than weight of reaſon. But my purpoſe is to try your ſtrength, and for unadviſed cenſures, vaine ſcoffes, and miſ-application of common received Truths, I will leave you to the examination of your owne conſcience.