Confutation of the Errors of the Brownists, Title page – To the reader
A Moſt Grave, and Modeſt Confutation of the Errors of the Sect, commonly Called BROWNISTS, OR: SEPERATISTS.
Agreed upon long ſince by the joynt conſent of ſundry, godly, and Learned Miniſters of this Kingdome, then ſtanding out and ſuffering in the cauſe of inconformity; and now publiſhed in a time of need, for the good of Gods Church, and the better ſetling of mens unſtable mindes in the truth againſt, the ſubtile inſinuations, and plauſible pretences of that pernicious evill.
Publiſhed by W. Rathband, Miniſter of the GOSPELL.
LONDON, Printed for Edward Brewster, and George Badger, and are to be ſold at the Bible, on Fleet-Bridge, and in Saint Dunſtanes Church-Yard. 1644.
The Publisher to the READER.
CHristian Reader, touching this inſuing treatiſe, bee pleaſed to underſtand that it was compiled, (ſo as now thou hast it, without any adition, or alteration) many yeares ſince by ſundry Reverend and Godly Miniſters of this Kingdome, who in their times ſtood out and ſuffered in the cauſe of Inconformitie to the Ceremonies, and laboured the Reformation of things then, and ſtill in part remaining amiſſe in our Church: therein both for opinion, and practiſe, endeavouring to keepe cloſe to the Rules of Scripture, and what in them lay to eſchew all errors and exorbitances, both of ſeparation on the right hand, and of ſuperſtition on the left.
Who the men were by name, is neither now neceſſary to be publiſhed, nor, in reſpect of them all, certainely known. But what ſort of men they were that made it, and of what piety, charitie, modestie, and abilitie for this controverſie they were, the treatiſe it ſelfe by its owne light will ſufficiently diſcover to the unpartiall, and unprejudicate Reader.
It is now preſented to publike view (after ſo long deteinment) the rather becauſe;
Firſt, The Preſſe is now more free and open (then in former times) to books of this nature, which doe ſo oppoſe the Schiſme of the Browniſts, as not at all to allow of the tyrannie and corruptions of the Biſhops.
Secondly, It ſeemeth now more needfull then formerly, through the late lamentable increaſe of opinions and practiſes of ſeparation, and the dangerous rents alreadie made, and likely to bee made thereby, even to the utter ruine of this Church, if by the merciemercy of our God, and the wiſdome of our King, and Parliament, ſome timely, and effectuall remedy be not provided.
Thirdly, Hereby (good Reader) thou maiſt ſee that the opinions, and practiſes of thoſe that way addicted, now ſo much extolled, wondred at, and greedily embraced by many, under the notion of new truths, and a new and further light (as if ſome new created Star bad now appeared to the world, never ſeene before) are indeed no other, for ſubſtance, but the old errors and dotages of Barrow, and Greenwood, long ſince by them publiſhed, and by the godlie, ſober, and judicious in thoſe times oppoſed, and exploded. Save that now, like ruſtie weapons, they are newly furbiſhed, and being but the ſame mettalls, and materialls, are only cast into a new mould, with addition of ſome things more, of the ſame ſort, then they expreſly held; mitigation of others, by them more ſharplie and rigorouſly delivered; and interlaſing of others, more pleaſing and plauſible to make the reſt relliſh and vent the better.
Fourthly, Hereby alſo thou maiſt perceive, and take up the true judgment of the true ancient and preſent Non-conformists of this Kingdome, in theſe points, as from their own mouth, and pen. Whereof (by the help of God) thou maiſt make theſe, and the like uſes.
Firſt, Thou maiſt cleare them in thy thoughts from the miſrepreſentations, and imputations both of the Epiſcopall, and Schiſmaticall partie. Both of which would make the world believe that the Non-conformiſts have laid the foundation of Browniſme, by their principles of Inconformity, and that if this bee lawfull, the other must needs bee neceſſary: The former ſort thus ſuggeſting, to lay the greater hatred upon them and the cauſe of Reformation, which they promoted; The latter ſort to procure the greater credit to their owne irregular, and unwarrantable courſes thereby. (And would to God that ſome other brethren (though of a farre better ſort, and ſuch as have long groaned under their Conformitie, had not beene, or yet were not too credulous to ſuch unlikely, and unreaſonable ſuggeſtions againſt their brethren.)
2. Thou maiſt ſee that the cauſe of ſeparation may be confuted without relinquiſhing in one part, the grounds of Inconformitie, or leaning at all unto Epiſcopacie. As the cauſe of Inconformitie, may bee fully maintained without fetching weapons from or betaking our ſelves unto the Campe of Separation, which thing I could wiſh with all my heart, bad beene well obſerved by ſome (otherwiſe godly and judicious brethren) in theſe dayes, who no ſooner begin to diſtaſt and caſt off, their old burden of ſuperſtitious conformitie, (of late augmented, and made utterly unprofitable by ſundry other innovations) but withall they begin to diſlike all ſet formes of prayer eſpecially, in our Lyturgie, as unlawfull, to queſtion their owne preſent ſtanding in the miniſterie as Antichriſtian, and to abſtaine from our worſhip, eſpecially our Sacraments, as Idolatrous, with other like unreaſonable opinions, and practiſes. As if it were not poſsible for men to leape out of the Surplice, unleſſe alſo they leapt out of the Church, and as if there were no middle betweene ſeparation from the Church and true worſhip thereof, and ſubſcription unto or practiſe or approbation of all the corruptions in the ſame. An error, in ſome ſort, formerly excuſable when oppreſsion (as Salomon ſaith, Eccleſ. 7.7.) and perſecution made even wiſe men themſelves madde, and ſometimes in hast, betweene feare, griefe and anger, in avoyding one extreame, to fall upon another. But now, ſince that by the miraculous merciemercy of God) the ſtings of thoſe great Bees, are pulled out, and their hornes ſawed off, whereby they have ſo long afflicted, and willingly deſtroyed this poore Church, I ſay now, mee thinkes wiſe men ſhould looke before they leape, and ſo warily eſchew one errour as that they doe not unwarily run into another, perhaps a worſe.
Lastly thou mayeſt be ſomewhat ſtayed, from haſtie adhering, or inclining to their courſes of ſeparation, not onelyonly by the Treatiſe it ſelfe, but alſo by the conſideration of the Treatiſers. For though no mans perſon whatſoever can be a ſufficient bottome whereon to ſettle any opinion or practiſe in Religion, but the Word of God, and right reaſon alone, yet is not theſe mens example, or teſtimonie to be altogether ſlighted, eſpecially in this controverſie, wherein wee are ſometimes almoſt deaffed with the praiſes of ſome of the ſeperators eminent learning, pietie, ſinceritie, zeale, &c. In which caſe I hope it need not bee offenſive to any, perhaps it may be profitable to ſome (according to the Apoſtles example in a caſe not altogether unlike, 2 Cor. 11.22. to oppoſe theſe mens learning, pietie, ſinceritie, zeale, &c. againſt the others; Who as in all other things they were examples of holineſſe, ſo in this, that they have ever, not only for borne but ſtedfaſtly oppoſed to their great reproach, dammage, and danger many wayes, the corruptions in our Church-government, worſhip and Leiturgie, and have beene lights and leaders to theſe latter times therein, yet alwayes in a peaceable and regular way, as not on the one ſide to ſubject themſelves to ſuſpitious inventions, ſo on the other, not ſinfully to ſeparate from the Communion and true worſhip of Churches; accounting it more agreeable to all rules of pietie, charitie, and Chriſtian prudence to tolerate for the time, what they could not mend, rather than to rent and teare all in peeces, to an utter ruine.
To conclude, though perhaps ſome few particulars in this treatiſe may ſeeme more queſtionable, yet for the maine I doubt not but the Authors have held cloſe to the truth, both in their owne poſitions, and in oppoſing their adverſaries. By which therefore (good Reader) thou maieſt reape much benefit, for thy better ſettling in theſe unſettled times, if thou be capable thereof, and if the Lord ſhall pleaſe to adde his bleſsing thereunto. Which hee ſhall never ceaſe to pray for, who is, (all that he is) truly thine in Him,
W R.