The Arraignment of the Present Schism(1), Title page – To the reader
THE ARAIGNMENT Of the Preſent SCHISM OF New Separation In OLD ENGLAND.
TOGETHER VVith a ſerious Recommendation of Church-Unity and Uniformity.
As it was lately preſented to the Church of GOD at great YARMOUTH, By John Brinſley.
Phil. 2. 1.
If there be therefore any conſolation in Chriſt, if any comfort of Love, if any fellowſhip of the Spirit, if any Bowels and Mercies;
Verſ. 2.
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the ſame Love, being of one accord, of one minde.
Jere. 32. 39.
I will give them one Heart, and one Way.
London, Printed by John Field for Ralph Smith, and are to be ſold at the Signe of the Bible, neer the Royal Exchange. 1646.
THe teſtimony of Chriſt was Truth, Peace his Legacy; he came into the World to bear witneſſe to the Truth, and at his departure bequeathed Peace to his Diſciples. This Author walking in his Maſters ſteps, hath contended for Truth againſt Hereſie in his former Labors, in theſe for Peace and unity againſt Schiſm: A bold undertaking in theſe diſtracted times, but yet neceſſary, and hopeful. Truth is ſtrong, and will prevail againſt Hereſies, and that Peace may be eſtabliſhed in the Churches is the ſcope of this TREATISE, and the Prayer of him who approves it to be Imprinted,
James Cranford.
TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
(Chriſtian)
SEeing Dedication of Books (which is not ſo much of Gods Truth as Mans Labors, and a thing from Saint Lukes time (who DedicatesaLuke 1. 3. Acts 1. 1. both his Treatiſes tobIn perſonâ Theophili fidelibus omnibus ſua ſcripta dedicavit Lucas: Aret. in Luc. Theophilus vir Senatorii Ordinis… ibid. Doctrinam omnium communem privatim ſuo Theophilo deſtinat. Calv. ibid. Neque enim ideò minus ad omnes pertinet Pauli doctrina…, quia …x ſuis Epiſtolis alias certis urbibus alias etiam hominibus dicavit. Idem. one Noble Perſonage, which he wrote for the uſe of all the Churches) till this preſent never queſtioned) is now in this Sceptical age bycNathan. Homes Animadverſions upon Mr. Tombs Exercitations: Preface to the Reader. ſome made a ſcruple; I ſhall for this once forbear it, though otherwiſe at ſometimes adHâc lege Evangelium ſuum Theophilo nuncupat Lucas, ut fidelem ejus cuſtodiam ſuſcipiat: Calv. ibidem. uſeful formality, and at all times an innocent Ceremony. OnelyOnly for thy ſatisfaction take this breif Epiſtolary Declaration.
Miſtake it not. It is not New England that I have here to deal with, nor yet properly New Englands way, commonly known by the name of Independency. Which though I cannot in all things ſubſcribe to as [the] way of Chriſt preciſely laid forth in the Word for all the Churches to walk in, yet, were I there, rather then make a Schiſm in the Body, I would quietly ſubmit to, bleſsing God that I might ſit down in it, and enjoy the comforts of it. It is Separation that my quarrel is againſt. And that not Separation in a Church, by purging of it; but Separation from a Church, by departing from it, and forſaking communion with it. For the former of theſe I plead, as the moſt hopeful means to heal our breaches. The latter I implead, and that by the name of Schiſm properly and formally ſo called. Whether this plea be juſt or no, let the ſequel ſpeak: Which as I was neceſsitated to Preach (meeting with ſo juſt a ground for it in the Text, which in my ordinary courſe (paſsing through the Epiſtle) I fell with, and but too juſt an occaſion for it in the place where I live), ſo am I now to publiſh; and that, as for other ends, ſo for the vindicating both the Truth of God and my Self from thoſe unjuſt and unchriſtian imputations, which have been charged upon both by ſome who have taken upon them to Cenſure what they would not vouchſafe to hear. I know the ſubject is ſuch as muſt look for little better entertainment abroad at many hands. Naturally all men are given to think well, and to deſire to hear nothing but well of their own opinions and wayes. What herein croſſeth them, goeth againſt the grain of nature, and ſo no wonder if it ſeem harſh and unpleaſing. But this, as it hath been no invitation to me to deal with it, ſo neither is it now any diſcouragement to me in the publication of it. The Work (I truſt) is Gods; not undertaken (I am ſure) without an eye to his glory, and his Churches good. And therefore I ſhall leave the ſucceſſe thereof unto him to whom I have conſecrated my Labors and my Self. Poſsibly ſomewhat of man may be found in the managing of it, (as in agitations of this nature it is hard not to mingle our own Spirits with Gods); If ſo, upon the diſcovery I ſhall freely acknowledge it. In the mean time my conſcience beareth me record that my aym hath been to inform, and not to irritate; to make up our breaches and not to widen them. May my poor endeavors contribute the leaſt to ſo a happy a Work, I ſhall acknowledge it an abundant recompence for whatever I am able to do, or am ſubject to ſuffer. In the deſire and hopes whereof I ſhall quietly waite, and reſt
Thine in the Service of Chriſt, JOHN BRINSLEY. Yarmouth, March 25. 1646.