Reasons for the Separation of Anabaptists, Letter 2
¶ Mr. KIFFENS REPLY.
SIR,
I Have received your Note, wherein (contrary to my expectation, in stead of an Answer to those Queries I sent you; I find others propounded by you, under this consideration (as you say) that truth may triumph, and error may vanish, and that you and yours may receive satisfaction; I shall not need to speak, for I hope my actions shall at all times manifest the earnest desire of my soule, and willingnesse of Spirit, to give satisfaction (so farre as God hath given me Light) to every just demand, both for the vindicating of that truth wee desire to walke in, as also to satisfie (if possibly by the Word of God I may) every mans Conscience, that shall any wayes scruple or oppose it: And so not willing to descant further upon Circumstances in your writing, or too narrowly to prey into such Expressions therein, as too much manifest a spirit lifted up in his owne conceit, and much inveterated against us and our Practise, knowing it is the common portion of such that will live godly in CHRIST JESƲS; I passe them by, and so come to answer your demands.
QUERIE I. By what warrant of the Word of God, doe you seperate from our Congregations, where the Word and Sacraments are purely dispensed?
Ans. This Querie seems to import thus much; that from such Congregations, where the Word and Sacraments are purely dispensed, men ought not to seperate, but that men are and ought to seperate from such, where the Word and Sacraments are not purely dispensed, your Querie seems to grant, but how ever, though it should be denied, these Scriptures plainly prove it, Rev. 14.8, 9, 10. more fully manifested in Revel. 18.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Esai. 52.2. and more at large spoken of, 2 Cor. 6.14. to the end; as also practised by the Apostle Paul himself, in Acts 19.8, 9, 10. But now, Sin, here lies the question; If your Congregations be such, as where the Word and Sacraments are purely dispenced, then we sinne, and you justly charge us with Schisme, for separating from you, but if it be not so, that your Congregations are such, but on the contrary, even such as doe not dispense the Word and Sacraments purely, then we doe well, and you sinne in charging us with Schisme, in doing what the Word commands, and the Saints practised, and therefore wee having nothing to prove that the Word, and Sacraments are purely dispensed amongst you, but your bare affirmation, it cannot satisfie our Consciences; and I marvell how it satisfieth yours: Doth not the Word of God, like a two-edged Sword fight against you? May not that Scripture justly be applyed to you Jere. 7.8, 9, 10. Behold, ye trust in lying words that cannot profit: Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn Incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before mee, &c. For doe you not daily admit and suffer to be amongst you such as doe according to Gods Word, Leaven the whole lumpe, 1 Cor. 5.6. and doe not purely dispence the Word upon them for their healing; the Spirit of Christ saith, such glorying is not good, and the feast of the Lord ought not to be kept with them: and I pray you shew me what Gospel Institution have you for the Baptizing of Children, which is one of your great Sacraments amongst you; what can you finde for your practise therein, more then the durty puddle of mens Inventions doth afford; and therefore when your Sacraments are purely Administred according to the pure Institutions of the Lord Jesus, and when you have dispensed the Word and Power of Christ, for the cutting off all Drunkards, Fornicators, Covetous, Swearers, Lyars, and all abominable and filthy persons, and stand together in the faith, a pure lumpe of Beleevers, gathered and united according to the Institution of Christ, wee (I hope,) shall joyne with you in the same Congregation and Fellowship, and nothing shall seperate us but death, but till then we shall by the grace of God, continue our seperation from you, according to the light wee have received, desiring your perusall of these Scriptures, as an addition to those formerly quoted, wherein we have sufficient testimony, comparing them with your practise, that the Word and Sacraments are not purely dispenced amongst you 2 Thess. 3.6. Ephes. 5.3, 4, 5.11. Gal. 5.9.12. 2 Cor. 6.14. 1 Cor. 5.4, 5, 6. Act. 2.40.
QUERIE II. By what Scripture warrant doe you take upon you to erect now framed Congregations, seperated to the disturbance of the great Worke of Reformation now in hand?
Ans. This querie hath in it these two parts, 1. That wee erect new framed Seperate Congregations. 2. Wee doe by this disturbe the great Worke of Reformation now in hand.
To the first, it is well knowne to many, especially to our selves; that our Congregations were erected and framed as now they are, according to the Rule of Christ, before wee heard of any Reformation, even at that time when Episcopacie was in the height of its vanishing glory (and wee are confident, will remain in the despight of all cruelty) even when they were plotting and threatning the ruine of all those which opposed it, and wee hope you will not say, wee sinned in seperating from them, whose errors you now condemne, and yet, if you shall still continue to brand us with the names of Anabaptists, Schismaticks, Hereticks, &c. for saving our selves from such a Generation, Acts 2.40. as you your selves have cut-off, and from such a superstitious Worship, as you say shall be reformed; wee conceive it is your ignorance, or worse, and though you condemne us, Christ will justifie us, even by that Word of his, which he hath given us, and wee desire to practise, and have already commended to you in that conclusion of our Answer to the first querie.
And for the second part of your querie, That wee disturbe the great Worke of Reformation now in hand; I know not what you meane by this charge, unlesse it be to discover your prejudice against us, in Reforming our selves before you, for as yet we have not in our understanding seen, neither can wee conceive any thing of that we shal see reformed by you according to Truth, but that through MercieMercy, wee enjoy the practise of the same already; 'tis strange this should be a disturbance; to the ingenious faithfull Reformer; it should be, (one would think) a furtherance rather then a disturbance: and whereas you tell us of the worke of Reformation now in hand, no reasonable men will force us to desist from the practise of that which we are perswaded is according to Truth, and waite for that, which we know not what it will be; and in the meane time, practise that which you your selves say must be reformed: but whereas you tell us of a great Worke of Reformation, wee should intreat you to shew us wherein the greatnesse of it doth consist, for as yet wee see no greatnesse, unlesse it be in the vast expence of Money and Time: for what great thing is it to change Episcopacie into Presbytery, and a Book of Common Prayer into a Directory, and to exalt men from Livings of 100 l. a yeere, to places of 400 l. per Annum: for I pray you consider, is there not the same power, the same Priests, the same People, the same Worship, and in the same manner still continued, but when wee shall see your great worke of Reformation to appeare, that you have framed your Congregations according to that true & unchangeable Pattern, 1 Cor. 3.9, 10, 11. according to the command of our Saviour, Mat. 28.19, 20. and the Apostles practise, Act. 2.41. and chap. 5.13, 14. and made all things suitable to the Pattern, as Moses did, Exod. 25.40. Heb. 8.5. you will see, I hope, that wee shall be so farre from disturbing that Worke, as that wee shall be one with it.
QUERIE. III. What warrant have you either to be a member, much lesse a minister of any such Congregations?
An. This querie, as I conceive, is added more for number then for weight, if we can prove our Congregations true, our membership must needs be true, and so not to be questioned; I would not speake any more to this querie, but that I see you pinch so hard upon our Separation in foure of your queries, to which I shall give a more full answer to prove our Seperation true from your Assemblies; and first it cannot be denied, but JESƲS CHRIST is of the Father anointed to be the head of the Church, which is his body. Ephes. 1.20, 22, 23. Col. 1.18. and that we are commanded onelyonly to heare him, Deut. 18.15. Act. 3.22. and 7.37. Matth. 17.5. 2 Pet. 1.17. and that whosoever will not heare and obey him, the Lord will require it at his hands, Deut. 18.19. Act. 3.27. Mat. 7.26, 27. and hereby wee know wee love God, and hee loves us, when we keep his Commandements. 1 John. 2.3. and 5.2, 3. Now then, if wee cannot keep faith and a good Conscience, in obeying all the Commands of Christ, so long as we assemble our selves with you, then are wee necessitated to seperate our selves from you, but that wee cannot keep faith and a good Conscience so with you, these Scriptures proves, compared with your practise, 2 Thess. 3.6. 1 Cor. 5.11. 2 Tim. 2.21. and 3.5. Ephe. 5.1. to the 14. with many other Scriptures, but in the mouth of two or three witnesses every truth shall stand; now then, so long as you denie to follow the rule of Jesus Christ, and are not obedient to his commands, but reject the Word of God, which is given by Christ for the purging of the wicked from the godly, and the seperating the precious from the vile, as Matth. 18.15, 16, 17. 1 Cor. 5.4.5.11.13. wee are bound in obedience to JESƲS CHRIST, to leave you, whilst you remaine obstinate to him, and joyne together, and continue faithfull in the order of the Gospel.
And as it is with a naturall bodie, which is greedy to receive in all, yet wants power to voide the excrements, must needs become a rotten, filthie and uncleane body, even so it is with all false spirituall states, who by Power and Authority given to them by the Civill Magistrate, are so hasty to command all, both rich and poor to subject to their Worship, whether their Conscience be brought over to see it a truth or no, or else they may not live amongst them, or use any traffique with them, Rev. 13.16, 17. and having so received them into the common Gorge of their Church, have not power to digest them into better conversation, nor to cast them out as durt and dung, though incorrigible; this Congregation or Society must needs become rotten, filthy and impure, the hould of all soule spirits, and a Cage for every uncleane Bird, Revel. 18.…. now I would but appeale to any reasonable religious men, whether England hath not at this time in her as hatefull birds as any nation whatsoever? and whether there be not at this day an authoritie to force in all to Worship; the daily experience of this may be seene by the practise of those which would be owned the most knowing learned men of our times, who will have men to Worship with them against their wills, and so makes them at the best but formall hypocrites, and therefore when these things doe so appeare, is it not high time to hearken to the voice of the Apostle, Act. 2.40. to save our selves from such a generation, and to come out from them, Rev. 18.4. now if these spoken of, with many other, which might be brought, as the quenching of the spirit, and despising Prophesie, so that no man may speake in your publike exercises, but one that hath the same Call and power, as those whom you now have cast off, contrary to these Scriptures. 1 Pet. 4.10. Heb. 10.25. Colloss. 3.16. Ephe. 4.15, 16. 1 Cor. 12.7, 8. and 14.24.26.31.39. as also all your superstitious Consecrations, to the great deluding of poor ignorant people, and ingaging them against those which worship any where save in your High Places, contrary to these expresse Texts of Scripture, Joh. 4.20.24. as also the continuing of Tythes and offerings of the people, as if Christ were not come in the flesh, as if the Clergie of that Kingdom were the tenth part of that Kingdome for number, when as they themselves will tell God in their Prayers, That the harvest in great, but the Labourers are but few, an act so unjust by them to be demanded, that reason would abhorre, that a few men in a Kingdome should have the tenth part of the riches of the Kingdome, and yet so eagerly persued by them, that though the paying of it, be to the undoing of men, they will have it, and therefore following men of Authority, at bed and board, in Pulpit and Private Chamber, to have power put into their hands to that end, as likewise their crueltie in refusing a place of buriall in their consecrated ground, except they have so much money, as perhaps the parties have not in all the world to give them, all which considered, with many more, I desire you to consider of, and if yet it be not a sufficient ground to you for the confirmation of our just seperation; yet know it is to us: and unlesse you can shew us that Christ Jesus is not to be hearkened unto as well in those Scriptures given for the establishment of the New Testament, as Moses was in the establishment of the Old, and under the penaltie of the same and greater judgemens then was inflicted upon the breaches of the same, as Heb. 2.1.5. and the Third chap. from the first verse to the ninth, and chap. 10.21. to 31. and chap. 11. from 22. to the end doe declare; and therefore wee cannot, nay we dare not but continue in this our practise, and witnesse the truth of it, even by sufferings, though others oppose it.
QUERIE. IV. What warrant have you to admit into your seperate Congregations silly seduced servants, children or people?
Ans. I see our seperated Congregations sticks very hard upon your stomack, therefore as I have laboured to help you to digest our seperation, so I hope I shall give you something from the Word of Truth, that may remove your imbitterednesse of Spirit against our Congregations: and first know this, that that infinite Love which hath redeemed a people to God out of all Nations, tongues, and kindred, hath also made them Kings and Priests unto God, to reigne with him in his spirituall Kingdome here on the earth, Rev. 5.9, 10. and that all those which are begotten by the immortall seed, 1 Pet. 1.23. even those new-borne babes that have tasted of the Lords bountie, and come to that living and precious Stone, the Lord JESƲS, being themselves living stones, are built up a spirituall house, being made a holy Priesthood, to offer up spirituall sacrifices, acceptable to God by JESƲS CHRIST, 1 Pet. 2.1. to the 11. vers. and being quickned by Christ, are raised with him, to sit together in heavenly places. Eph. 2.5, 6. being by one spirit Baptized into one body. 1 Cor. 12.13. The old man being buried with him, Rom. 6.4. and the New man put on. Gal. 3.27. Col. 3, 10. thus having an entranc to the Father, the building being thus coupled together, by the same spirit, groweth to an holy Temple, and so becomes a habitation to the Lord, Ephes. 2.18. to the 22. which assemblie wee are not to forsake, Heb. 10.25. but to exhort one another daily, Heb. 3.12, 13. having received gifts in some measure by the same spirit, we are accordingly to dispence them for edification, 1 Cor. 12.47. 1 Pet. 4.10. Rom. 12.3. to 9. to these Congregations, hath Christ promised his presence, Matth. 28.19, 20. and 18.19.20. Rev. 7.13, 14, 15. & 21.2, 3. and 22.13. Now then, if we can prove our selves to be such Congregations as are before spoken of, or at leastwise, such as sincerely and truly strive, according to the light we have, to be such; then I hope you will be so farre from dispising such gatherings of the Saints together, as that you will not denie them to receive in members, and to dispence such gifts for the edifying one of another, as the Lord hath given us, and this I shall labour to doe in the Answer to the next querie; and whereas you demand what warrant wee have to receive silly seduced Servants, &c. Wee answer, it is well knowne to you, wee receive in none as members with us, but such as have been Members of your Church at the least sixteen, twenty or thirty yeers, and if they be silly when they are received Members amongst us, surely they were marveilous silly when they were received members amongst you, and it should seem, they have received, by your own words, little Edification in their so long membership with you, and therefore it doth behove them, whom you say are so silly, to look out also where to be better instructed, who have received so little benefit in so long time by your Ministery, lest they perish in their owne ignorance and blindnesse, and therefore herein you would doe well to take our Saviours advice, Mat. 7.3, 4, 5. wee know it is no strange thing for those that desire to walke in the straight wayes of the Lord, to heare themselves despised and reproached with these and farre greater aspersions, but however, that such as are so esteemed of by you, have a right to be received into the fellowship of the Saints, these Scriptures prove, which I pray you examine. Prov. 9.1. to the 7. Isai. 14 32. and 18.7. 1 Cor. 1.26.27, 28. Rom. 14.5.
QUERIE V. How can you vindicate by the Word of God, your Anabaptisticall way, from the sinfull guile of notorious Schisme, and disection from all the Reformed Churches?
Ans. They that run may reade what fire this pen and heart was inflamed withall in the writing and inditing this querie; but first of all, if by Reformed Churches, you mean those Churches planted by the Apostles in the Primative times, which are the platforme for all Churches in all ages to look unto, to be guided by these Apostolicall Rules left them; wee then shall vindicate by the Word of God our Anabaptisticall way, as you are pleased to call it, from that guile; and first, although wee confesse our selves ignorant of many things, which we ought to know and desire, to waight daily for the further discoveries of Light and truth, from him which is the only giver of it to his poor people, yet so far as we are come, we desire to walke by the same Rule they did, and first of all, wee Baptize none into Christ Jesus, but such as professe faith in Christ Jesus, Rom. 6.3. by which faith they are made sonnes of God, and so having put on Christ, are Baptized into Christ, Gal. 3.26, 27. and that Christ hath commanded this, and no other way of Baptisme, See Matth. 28.19. Mark. 1.4, 5. Luke 3.7, 8. and that this also was the Practise of the Apostles, See Acts 2.41. and 8.12.36, 37 and 10.47, 48. and that being thus baptized upon profession of Faith, they are then added to the Church, 2 Act. 41. and being added to the Church, wee conceive our selves bound to watch over one another, and in case of sinne, to deale faithfully one with another according to these Scriptures, Levit. 19.17, 18. Matth. 18.15. and if they remain obstinate, to cast them out, as those that are not fit to live in the Church, according to that Rule, 2 Cor. 5.4, 5. Matth. 18.19, 30. by all which, and many other parteculars I might name, it appears through Mercy, we can free our selves from that guile; and truely, if your eyes were opened to peruse your own practises and wayes, you would then see wee could better free our selves from that notorious guile of Schisme from those Reformed Churches, then you can free your selves from the notorious guile of Schismying from Rome; For 1. You hold their Baptisme true, their Ordination of Ministers true, their maintenance by Tythes and Offerings true, their people all fit matter for a Church, and so true, and yet you will seperate from them for some Corruptions; now for our parts, wee denie all and every one of these amongst you to be true, and therefore doe seperate from you; so then, when you have made satisfaction for your notorious Schisme, and returne as dutifull Sonnes to their Mother, or else have cast off all your filthty Rubbish of her abominations which are found amongst you, we will returne to you, or shew our just grounds to the contrary.
QUERIE VI. Whether you, and such like pretended Teachers as you are, be not the Persons Carractrised and condemned in these and such like Scriptures following, Matth. 7.15. Act. 20.29, 30. Rom. 16.17, 18. 2 Tim. 3.6, 7, 8, 9. 2 Pet. 2.1, 2, 3.17, 18, 19. Jude vers. 4.8.10.12, 13, 14.
Ans. Although (as far as I am acquainted with my own heart) neither I, nor such as I, am thirsty after revenge, yet we could desire that the LORD would be pleased to manifest the innocensie of our Spirits, and uprightnesse of our intentions in all such our actions against such false suppositions, or rather Calumnies cast upon us, I shall only Cite one of those Texts, and comment a little upon it, Matth. 7.15, 16. the words are these, Beware of false Prophets, that come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening Wolves; yee shall know them by their fruit; Christ Jesus himselfe makes the best description how these false Prophets may be knowne, which is by the observation of the fruit, Christ in these words compared implicitely, a true Prophet to a sheep, now it is the nature of sheep to be harmlesse, silent, and to feed in the Commons, where the shortest pasture usually is, so is it the propertie of a true Prophet of Christ, to be harmlesse in his conversation, silent under all his sufferings that hee meets withall from unreasonable men, and to be contented with the meanest enjoyments of this World, so hee may honour Jesus Christ in his condition, no way warring after great matters, in compelling men by a law to feed in the fattest pasture in the land, and as the Apostle Paul saith, 2 Cor. 10.3. though we are in the flesh, we doe not warre after the flesh.
But a Wolfe, even in Sheeps clothing, to which false Prophets are compared, even whilst they are thus clad, may be knowne by their fruit, which will appear in these two things. First by their ravenous disposition, and secondly, By their often snarling with their teeth; so you shall find false Prophets in sheeps cloathing, they are alwayes ravening after Honours, and therefore, like frogges, creep into Kings Houses, that they may be looked upon as fellowes with the best of the Kings houshold servants, and ravening after riches, to feed in the fairest pastures of a Kingdome, Crying, give, give, and therefore runne from Living to living, where they may have the greatest enjoyments of the World, and secondly, they will alwayes be snarling with their teeth, that is, ready to devoure and persecute all that shall by their practises in a way that is more holy then their owne, derogate from their honours and names, and fatt enjoyments in the World; I cease to apply this, but desire the Lord to give you discerning eyes, to see betwixt Light and darknesse; thus at present have I given you a briefe Answer to your Queries, leaving them to the triall of truth, and you in the perusall of them, to the direction of him that leads into all truth, ever resting,
Yours so farre as he shall know his duty, WILLIAM KIFFEN.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Kiffin, Reasons for the Separation of Anabaptists (1645)