An Answer to Two Treatises of John Can, Introduction
THE ANSWERS TO THE EPISTLES.
BLeſſed be the Lord, 2 Theſ. 2.8.We ſee now in good meaſure; that accompliſhed which the Apoſtle foretold, touching the revelation of the man of ſinne, and heartily beg the full conſuming of him by the brightneſſe of Chriſts comming. But the diſcoverie of that myſterie of iniquitie, and conſuming of that monster of abominations, ſtandeth not in ſeparation from Chriſtian ſocieties, intirely profeſsing the true faith, worſhipping the Lord with that pure worſhip, which he hath appointed, and holding communion in thoſe ordinances, which God hath bleſſed to the comfort of thouſands and ten thouſands; even their ſoules, who with moſt bitterneſſe oppoſe thoſe congregations, if ever they felt ſound comfort indeed. Separation from the true Churches of Chriſt; his Miniſtery and worſhip (of which ſort I ſhall prove that to be by the Word of God, for which I plead) tendeth not to the overthrow of Antichriſt, but to the renting of the Church, the diſgrace of Religion, the advancement of pride, ſchiſme, contention, the offence of the weak, the griefe of the godly, who be better ſetled, the hardening of the wicked and the recoverie or riſing againe of Antichriſtianiſme.
They that condemne our Aſſemblies, Miniſterie, and Worſhip, and voluntarily ſeparate from the preaching of the Word, Prayers, and Sacraments as Antichriſtian, if in words they doe not maintaine Antichrist, really they doe him more credit than his chiefe upholders. For of neceſsitie they muſt confeſſe, that in Antichriſtian Churches the intire faith may be purely profeſſed, the doctrine of ſalvation plentifully preached, Ambr. in Luc. l. 6. c. 9. tom. 5. Petra tua Christus est, fundamentum Eccleſia fides eſt. Si in Petra fueris, in Eccleſtaeris. P…ra eſt Ch iſtus. Hieron. in Pſa. 133. Eccleſia ibi eſt, …bi fides vera eſt. Eccleſia autem vera illic erat vbi fides vera eral, cum haeretici omnes bas eccleſias poſsidebant, Aug in ep…ſt. Ich. tract. 3. Eſtautem mater eccleſia, & uberaejus …uo Teſtamenta divinarum S…r. hinc ſugatur lac omnium Sacrameatorum pro aeterna ſalute nostra gestorum. E…n Pſalm. 21. Vbicunque timetur Deus & laudatur ibi eſt eccleſia. Parker. Ep. publiſhed in the prophane Schiſme of the Browniſts. CAN A ſtay againſt ſtraying, anſw. §.. 1. p. 44. Mediam tenn…e beati. The true and pure worſhip of God is called groſſe idolatry. CAN ſtay. §. 4. p. 32. Filthy ſuperſtition. Id. ſect. 1. p. 49. Our aſſemblies the harlots houſe. Id. ſect. 4. p. 61. The beſt Preachers are the worſt. Id. ſect;. 5. p. 76. In Scriptures are ſaid to be Robbers and Thievs, yea ſpirituall ſorcerie is charged upon them. Id. ſe. 8. p. 87.the ſeales of the covenant for ſubſtance rightly adminiſtred, and by the bleſsing of God upon his owne meanes Chriſtian ſoules ordinarily converted and nouriſhed unto life eternall, which is much more than all the factors for Antichriſt ſhall ever bee able to make good; and if true, nothing could be … to the praiſe of Antichriſtianiſme. In effect, … they leſse, than even perſecute the Lord Ieſus in his hadſt, which they revile in his ordinances, which they diſhonour, and in his ſervants whoſe footſteps they ſlander, whoſe … they deſolſe, whoſe office they trample upon with … Which if the forward abettors and promoters of this ſeparation did adviſedly conſider, and take the Lord before them, they would not furiouſly brand and abandone that worſhip and miniſterie, which hath the approbation, and carrieth the ſeale of God. As it is unlawfull to approve that thing which ought to be condemned, ſo to condemne, what is to bee juſtified, much more to caſt off and reject thoſe godly aſſemblies, which Chriſt hath and doth grace with the preſence of his grace, as falſe; and that worſhip which is tendered to God alone, in the mediation of Ieſus Chriſt according to his will, as idolatry; and that Miniſterie which God hath, and daily doth bleſſe, to the gaining and edifying of ſoules, unto life everlaſting, as Antichristian.
Humble mindes are afraid of novelties: CAN ſtay. ſect;. 1. p. 48.But this is the greatest noveltie that ever was heard of in the Churches of the Saints. All that we ſpeak we ſhould affirm out of the holy Scriptures, ſoundly interpreted, and rightly applyed. But this judgement is not of God, is not taught in Scripture, CAN ſtay. ſect. 11 p. 112. In corde animáque credentium ponitur idolum, quando novū dogma conſtituitur. Hier. in Jer. 32. Omne dogma contrarium veritati adorat epera manuum ſuarū, & conſtituit idola in terrá ſuâ. Hier. in Iſa. 2. Ne ſit…s mul…e Magiſtri diſſenti…ntes a doctrinâ uni… Magiſtri Chriſti. Auguſt. l. 1. Retract. A Stay ſect;. 1. pag. 47. Quicquid pariter omnes uno eodemque conſenſu, &c. Vincent. Lyrinen. cont. proph haeret c 4. Field of the Ch. l. 3 … 43. p. 175.is not conſonant to the doctrine of Chriſt, our only Master, as in the examination of particulars ſhall be ſhewed? If it bee a great ſinne to be raſh and adventurous, upon opinions in matters of Religion, where men are not firſt well informed in judgement by true grounds of knowledge: What is it to condemne the Churches, Miniſtery, Worſhip and Servants of the Lord Ieſus, againſt the expreſse Sentence of our heavenly Maſter and Teacher? If an Idoll be ſet up in the Church, when a new Opinion is broached (as ſome cite it out of Hierom) they of the Separation upon tryall will be found the ſtrangeſt Idoll makers in the world, becauſe they have broached the ſtrangeſt noveltie that ever was maintained in the Church.
Such as lay downe rules (ſaith the author of the Stay) to find out the truth by, write thus; What the Fathers all with one conſent have held and written, is a neceſſarie token to know the truth by. And whatſoever hath been holden at all times and in all places by all Chriſtians, that have not beene noted for noveltie, ſingularitie and diviſion, is to bee received as the undoubted truth of God. If theſe aſſertions be true, then is this condemnatorie ſentence moſt unjuſt and untrue. For not only all old writers generally, but the most learned of later times; yea and all ſects and ſorts of people profeſsing Chriſtianitie (themſelves excepted) are againſt it.
Therefore did they conſider the terrour of the Lord, CAN ſtay, ſect. 1 p. 8.and that great day in which the Lord Ieſus ſhall appeare in the brightneſſe of his Father, to avenge the quarrell of his leaſt Commandement, and to judge the wrongs, Gregorie to John the Biſhop of Conſtantinople ſaith thus Tu q… Christo univerſali, eccleſic capiti, in extr…mi judicii d…cturus es examine; qui cuactacjus membra tibimet conarts univerſalis appellatione ſupponere. CAN ſtay againſt ſtraying, ſect 1. p. 8 Parker of the croſſe part 2. c. 9. ſect; 2. I may well compare ſome of unbridled ſpirits to the Flaccians, whoſe intemperate furie, made Erneſtus to deale the more hardly with the Proteſtants, out of a fear they were all of the ſame ſpirit, and would in the end procure like miſchiefe. Am. Polan. in Dan. c. 9.injuries and reproaches, which are caſt upon his Church and Saints, ordinances and worſhip, they would not ſpeake evill of what they know not, revile his heritage, deſpiſe his worſhip, condemn the righteous, vilifie the ordinances of grace, abuſe Scriptures, miſalledge Authors, cauſe diviſions and ſchiſmes, in the Churches of God, diſtract the minaes of ſome, obſtinate others, and expoſe religion it ſelfe to contempt. Let mee ſpeake to them as the great eſt zealot in that cauſe at this day, ſpeaketh to his oppoſite in a cauſe of leſſe importance. When God ariſeth up what will they anſwer him? what will they ſay, when hee ſhall not onelyonly charge them, that they have made a rent in the Church, brought an evill report upon his ordinances, ſpoken contemptuouſly of that which he approved, yea commanded, and perverted his word for that end and purpoſe: But alſo that they have laboured with might and maine to draw others into the ſame tranſgreſsion, by meanes whereof his name is blaſphemed, the weake ſcandalized, the godly made ſad, and that which was halting quite turned aſide?
If it be ſure, that a more grievous puniſhment is reſerved for them that cauſe others to offend, than for them which doe ſuch things themſelves, let the adviſer weigh ſeriouſly, whether it doth not concerne himſelfe, as much as any other, to tremble and ſtand in awe.
It is a vaine boaſt, that at this day there are few, CAN ſay. Epiſ… to the Reader. The judgment and practice of ſome men of ſpeciall account in the Church of God, have to this day held this impreſſion in me, that I eſteem the Captaines and Ancient-bearers of this ſchiſme, unworthy the honour of any ſet conflict and publike confutation. S. B. the raiſing of the foundation of Browne. Ep. to the Chriſtian Reader. CAN Neceſ. of ſepara. Epiſt. to the Reader. Galſchill to Martial Epiſt. Omnia invalida nihilo ſunt aequi… paranda.if any, except Formaliſts and Familiſts, and men of corrupt mindes, who ſuppoſe that gaine is Godlines, that will appeare in defence of our pariſh Churches Miniſterie and Worſhip. For the profeſsors (as he is pleaſed to ſtile them) are of the ſame judgement, touching thoſe things that formerly they have beene of, and ſtand ready by the Scriptures to prove their godly congregations, to be the true Churches of Ieſus Chriſt, and their worſhip to be of his holy inſtitution. If of later times they have beene ſilent in theſe matters, it is not becauſe they are better informed; or that they ſee and acknowledge their worſhip and Miniſtery to be fals and idolatrous: but they would not ſpend good houres in vaine, ſeeing what ſoever was written in this kinde had beene learnedly and ſufficiently anſwered, not with reproaches, taunts, and boaſtings as is ſuggeſted, but with ſolid proofe out of the booke of God. Chriſtian Religion teacheth men to occupie themſelves otherwiſe, than to miſpend their time in anſwering that, which in the eares of all indifferent men carryeth a ſufficient confutation with it, or is ſufficiently confuted already: ſpecially when experience had leſſoned them, that they muſt deale with ſuch as will overcome by peremptory cenſuring, when weight of reaſon is wanting to them.
Nevertheleſſe, If not, reply if they pleaſe and when they will. CAN ſtay. Epiſt. When the undertakers have finiſhed their anſwer, and …aſt. Dav. publiſhed his many things that he hath to ſay againſt it. Id, ſect. 4. p. 36.leaſt overmuch ſilence ſhould be interpreted conſent, or beget too great confidence in men, of the goodneſſe of their cauſe, and others ſhould ſtumble at their vaunts, as if none durſt, becauſe they doe not undertake their anſwer, I am purpoſed by the grace of God to examine the grounds and arguments, whereby they would perſwade the Neceſsitie of Separation from our Aſſemblies, and from the worſhip of God performed amongſt us.
Sundry things M. Canne requeſteth of him that ſhall undertake to read and anſwer his bookes, CAN ſtay. epiſtle to the Reader.1 That when he ſetteth himſelfe to read hee ſhould ſet himſelf as in Gods preſence, and look on with a ſingle and unpartiall eye. 2 That he live by his owne faith, and build not upon another mans fancie. 3. That he denie himſelf and be contented to be guided by God alone. 4. That for a particular faile hee doe not condemne the whole. 5. That hee change not the ſtate of the Queſtion. 6. That he may finde plaine dealing, Id. Stay. ſect. 1. p. 2.4.5. Sanctis Scripturis non loquentibus quis loquitur, Amb. de vocat. Gent. tom. 2. l. 2. c. 3. Omne quod loquimur debemus …ffi mare de Scripturis ſanctis, Hier. in Pſal 98. tom. 8. Nihil ultra quamſacris literis proditum eſt definiendum, Eraſm. in Hilar. Solum Dei verbum certum, caetera falſa ſi d…ſſentiant. Fer. ad Rom. c. 3. p. 303. CAN ſtay. ſect. 4. p. 32. & ſect. 1. p. 44.and what is brought againſt him, be read out of the Prophets or Pſalmes, the Law or Goſpell.
Whether theſe conditions be obſerved by the Author himſelfe in his writings, let the indifferent judge, as namely, whether paſſages of Scripture be truly alledged, Authors rightly quoted, arguments plainly propounded, concluſions ſoundly drawne, his adverſaries ingenuouſly dealt withall? Whether in writing he ſet himſelfe in the preſence of God, and weigh in the Ballance of the Sanctuarie what he commendeth unto his Reader? Whether he cenſure not before he make proofe by Scripture, and rather inſult over his adverſaries with inſolent and reproachfull tearmes, than confute their grounds with ſubstantiall reaſons? and whiles he commendeth plaine dealing, ſimplicitie and integritie, he doe not play the jugler, who pretends plainneſſe, that he might beguile and deceive the ſooner.
For when he makes ſemblance of zeale for the puritie of religion, CAN ſtay. Epiſt: to the Reader. CAN Neceſ. of ſeparation. Epiſt. to the Reader.wiſheth tenderneſſe of conſcience to his Reader, ever and anon objecteth to his …ppoſites what abominations and vile corruptions they labour to juſtifie, which formerly they condemned, beareth in hand that the Scriptures ſpeak expreſly for him, and the learned of all ſorts ancient and moderne, who would not expect faire cariage and honeſt dealing? whereas, let the whole frame of his writings be looked into, with a ſingle heart and unpartiall eye, and it will be found wery corrupt, looſe, deceitfull for the matter, and ſtuffed with ſcorne, reproach, ſlander, inſolency, and falſifications for the manner. Herein whether I ſpeake the words of truth and ſoberneſſe, let the Reader ſearch, and then give ſentence.
But for mine owne part I deſire to anſwer in the feare of God, and not to ſtrive with him in the like meaſure of ſinning. A good cauſe needs no ſuch tricks of wit, but as it is of God, ſo it is able to maintaine and defend it ſelf, and the more ſincerely it is propounded, the more it will prevaile. In controverſies, if men will keepe a good conſcience, their zeale muſt be tempered with wiſedome, truth, and meekneſſe of ſpirit, they muſt ſpeake as in Gods preſence, give the right ſenſe of Scripture, and make fit application of it, ſeeke the truth in love, and that victorie alone which truth will carrie. According to the meaſure of grace received from God, I ſhall deſire to walke within theſe bounds and with this reſolution I come to compare cauſe with cauſe, and reaſon with reaſon. Let the Scriptures be the only judge betweene us, upon which all aAug. Epiſt. 48. Audi quid dicit Dominus, non quid dicit Donatus, &c. Et de Paſtor. ca. 4. Ego vocem Paſtoris requir…, lege de Pſalmo &c. Hieron. in Mat. 23. Quod ex Scriptura non habet authoritatem, &c. Baſil. de vera fide, Nos omnem a Dominica doctrina alienam & vocem, & ſententiam fugiamus. Chr. in 2 Cor. hom. 13. Obſecro & oro omnes vos, ut relinquatis quid huic vel illi videatur, & de his ſcripturis haec omnia inquirite. Ambr. tom. 3. lib. 5. epiſt. 31. Caeli myſterium doceat me Deus ipſe, non homo qui ſeipſum ignoravit. Petrus de Aliaco praec. Gerſon. Nullum principis edictum, aut eccleſiae decretum est justum, niſi ſit Divinae legi conſonum. Novum Teſtamentum eſt malleus, qui univerſas haereſes interimit, est velut lucerna lumen exhibens, recurrendum eſt ad folas Scripturas ut aete…nam ſalutem adipiſcamur.concluſions in Divinitie, if ſound, are grounded, whereby all diſtinctions, if true, are warranted. After the voice of God in Scripture, the determinations and practices of our Guides, who are no bMat. 11.8. Luc. 7.14. 1 Reg. 14.15. ſc. calamus arundincus, non aromaticus ſ… menſorius. CAN ſtay. anſw. ſect. 1. p. 47. Howſoever we muſt live by our owne faith, notwithſtanding, wee are not lightly to eſteeme of the determinations and practices of our Guides, ſpecially when we know they are no reedes, but men ſtable and unchangeable in the truth. Bilſon Chriſtian ſubject part 2. pag. 351. Many Biſhops have taught lyes, and and ſeduced Princes in the Church of God: and therfore not their dignitie but their doctrine is it that princes muſt regard: for neither prince nor people ſtand bound to the perſons of men, but unto the truth of God, and unto their teachers, ſo long as they ſwerve not from the truth. Id. Abſolute judge of truth, neither prince nor prieſt may challenge to be, for God is truth; and of God I truſt no man may bee judge. The ſonne of God ſaith of himſelfe, I am truth, &c. Anguſt. de nuptiis, ad Valentin. l. 2. cap. 33. Optat. lib. 5. ad Parmenian. And, page 351. Only God is to limit and appoint by his word, what ſhalt ſtand for truth and what for errour &c. And as Biſhops ought to diſcerne which is the truth before they teach, ſo muſt the people diſcerne who teacheth right, before they believe. Idem page. 355. As the paſtors have authoritie from Chriſt to preach the truth, and woe be to them that reſiſt the preachers of truth, ſo have all hearers both libertie to diſcerne, and a charge to beware of ſeducers, given them by the ſame Lord, and woe be to them that doe it not.reeds, but men ſtable in the truth ſhall be produced, for they are not lightly to be eſteemed, though their conſent cannot bee the ground of Divine faith and aſſurance.
The Lord in merciemercy give us to know the things which concerne our peace, comfort and ſalvation, and make us wiſe to walke in all pleaſing before him.