Confutation of the Errors of the Brownists, Preface
THE PREFACE of the AUTHORS of the Treatiſe, enſuing to the READER.
THE holy Apoſtle Saint Paul writing unto the Galathians theſe words, Brethren, If any man be fallen by occaſion into any fault, you which are ſpirituall, restore ſuch a one with the ſpirit of meekneſſe, conſidering thy ſelfe, leſt thou alſo be tempted: both ſheweth the danger of falling, whereunto they are ſubject, who ſtand in the Church of God, and preſcribeth the dutie of recovering thoſe that are fallen unto ſuch as are ſpirituall, That is to ſay, as are furniſhed with gifts thereunto, with the manner how all that ought to be performed: two neceſſary points in our judgements to be conſidered, and much tending to the preſervation of the good and happy eſtate of the Church of God: for how cometh it to paſſe, that Sathan ſo farre prevaileth againſt it; but for that weake men conſider not the danger of falling, untill they be downe, and almoſt paſt recovering; thoſe that are fallen, either not at all, or not untill they be well neere without remedy. It is therefore one eſpeciall part of holy wiſedome, for men who think they ſtand, to take heed leſt they fall, and therefore to ſeeke to kneow the depth of Sathans pollicies and ſubtilties, and then the effectuall means for the preventing of them, Into which if they carefully enquire they ſhall finde, that though hee ſeeke to draw even thoſe that have ſhined as ſtarres in the Church, from heaven unto the earth; yet that he much more earneſtly laboureth to make them wandring ſtarres, forſaking the place wherein they ſeemed to be fixed, to give ſhine and direction to others, that is, though hee laboureth and endeavoureth to bring men from their firſt love and zeale, unto a lukewarmneſſe, or key coldneſſe in the Church, yet he rather deſireth to lead them into a fierie ſpirit, and indiſcreet zeale from the Church and ſocietie of Saints, which no doubt he doth, as for many other cauſes; ſo for theſe two. 1. That he might by their departure, who have ſeemed zealous and godly profeſſors, ſhake the faith of others, and cauſe them to doubt, that they are not in the true Church; where they may finde directions toward the kingdome of heaven: and at laſt to flie from it, as from Babylon. And 2. that he might deprive thoſe men themſelves of the happy meanes of the recovery which they might have had eaſily applyed, had they beene in the Church, and remained in the fellowſhip thereof: Hence it is, that in the Church of God, thoſe who breaking the holy bands of love and faith, have like unkinde children forſaken her their naturall mother, and oft pleaded with her as a ſtrumpet, which never was done in more convenient manner then of late, by certain of our brethren, who having been brought forth of the wombe, and brought up in the boſome of the Church of England, have not onelyonly renounced, as a ſtepmother: but condemned her, as one of the daughters, yea the eldeſt daughter of the very whore of Babylon, railing on her, as if ſhe living in continuall ſpirituall fornications, brought forth ſonnes and daughters, not unto Chriſt; but unto Antichriſt his adverſary: By which their faults and fallings, as they have deprived themſelves of thoſe gracious bleſſings which they did long, and might have ſtill enjoyed amongſt us to their ſoules health, and made the meanes of their recovery more hard and difficult; ſo have they troubled and diſquieted many remaining in the body of our Church, and of ſtrong men in the truth, brought them to be children again in underſtanding, eaſie to bee carried about with every blaſt of diverſe and ſtrange doctrines, how contrary ſoever to the truth according unto godlineſſe, either taught or received by them. The caſe thus ſtanding, we take it to be our duties, being members and Miniſters of this Church, having by Gods grace received ſome, though a ſmall meaſure of gifts fit thereunto, as to maintaine the credit of the Church, wherein we live. And to juſtifie the practiſe of our miniſterie therein, ſo farre forth as truth will permit; ſo chiefely to ſeeke, and endeavour both the recoverie of thoſe that are ſtrayed from the ſheepfold of Chriſt amongſt us, and alſo the ſtay of thoſe that are ready to runne after them, together with the better grounding, and confirming of them who remaine in the flocke, with comfort under their ſhepheards, which duty we have endeavoured to performe heretofore by publike preaching, and private conferences as occaſions hath beene offered, and now have beſtowed our labours in writing this treatiſe following, to the ſame end wherein after wee have proved by certaine reaſons, that our Aſſemblies, are the true Church of God, we take upon us to ſhew.
Firſt, The foure chiefeſt exceptions, they take againſt our Church for warranting Schiſme, and ſeparation from us are vaine and frivelous.
Secondly, That the maine grounds they ſtand upon for the erecting their new Church, are weake and ſlender.
Thirdly, that the beſt arguments that they uſe for condemning us, and juſtifying themſelves, are looſe and unſufficient: which points as we have gathered out of their printed books and written papers (where they were before ſcattered) and brought into one forme and body, ſo have we more plainely, and nakedly, both propoſed, and dealt in, paſſing by all impertinent, and offenſive matters; And their flouting declamations, petitions, exclamations, and bitter reviling ſpeeches againſt our Churches, Miniſters, and people, all their reprochfull ſlanderous profane ſcornings, fearefull blaſphemies againſt the Word preached, and Sacraments adminiſtred, prayers, and holy exerciſes of Religion, uſed in our Aſſemblies, wherewith their writings, and printings ſwell to ſome bignes, as Bladders puffed up with winde. All theſe (though wee have given the Reader ſome taſte of their ſpirit in them) yet have wee not in our Treatiſe ſtood upon them, for that wee judge them not worthy the anſwer.
This worke of ours, we commend, firſt unto our brethren departed from us, deſiring them to read it, without partialitie, ſelfe love, prejudice or other ſiniſter affections, and with meekeneſſe, indifferencie, and love of the Truth, deſire to be informed, and readineſſe to be reformed, where they erre and goe aſtray: It may be that God will give a bleſſing to it, nay ſure wee are, that he is faithfull that hath promiſed, to give unto thoſe that aske, to open to thoſe that knocke, and to cauſe them to find that ſeeke, the truth in ſincerity of their hearts, eſpecially if to the reading thereof, they adjoyne: Firſt, a review of the books which have beene written by the Ring-leaders of their ſeparations. Secondly, a view of the perſons of whom their Aſſemblies conſiſt. And Thirdly, a conſideration of the eſtate wherein their Church now ſtandeth. In the review of the bookes which have been written, we exhort them with ſingle hearts, to examine the ſpirits where with the authors of them were led in their writing, and they ſhall finde it not to be the good ſpirit of God, which filleth mens hearts with meekeneſſe, humilitie compaſſion, ſoftneſſe, holineſſe, and other ſanctified affections, but that evill ſpirit of Satan, which under colour of zeale of Gods glory, hatred of ſinne, deſire of ſerving God in ſincerity, thruſteth men whom it hath deceived into pride, ſelfe love, raſhneſſe, unnaturall affections, uncharitable ſurmiſes, and moſt unchriſtian judgment of their brethren.
Secondly, to weigh wiſely what end they propoſed to themſelves in their writings, which will evidently appeare to be not ſo much the cleering of themſelves, from the crime of Schiſme, as the drawing of others to joyne with them, and the defacing of our Church, which they compare with the moſt Idolatrous, and heatheniſh Nations, that ever were, yea with Sodom and Babylon it ſelfe, and the disgracing the Miniſters thereof, eſpecially thoſe whom heretofore they have moſt reverenced, whom they ſort with moſt wretched Miſcreants, Iudas, Cain, Balaam, and many other, upon whom the ſpirit of God hath ſet a fearefull brand of eternall condemnation.
Thirdly, to try carefully the allegations of Scripture, wherewith they have fully painted the Margents, and with the multitude, whereof they have aſtoniſhed the ſimple, or credulous Readers, perſwading them, that their cauſe ſtandeth upon the ſame ground of Gods holy Word, and they ſhall plainely perceive, that the places by them alleadged, do for the moſt part prove that, which we denie not: And if they be brought to confirme the matter in controverſie, they are either unconſcionably, or ignorantly wreſted againſt, or beſides the meaning of the Holy Ghoſt. A ſecond thing which we intreat them to do is, to view the perſons of whom their Aſſemblies conſiſt, and let them tell us how many of them there bee, whom they have brought from groſſe ignorance, unto true knowledge, from infidelitie, to holy Faith, from profaneſſe of life, to a conſcionable walking with God; if there bee ſcarce any amongſt them, which have not bin of ſome note in our Churches, for holy and ſincere profeſſion; and if they had no good thing in them, which they have not received by the miniſterie of thoſe men, and in the boſome of thoſe Churches, which now they condemne, and flie from, why then take they the Seale of our miniſterie, and Church, and ſet it unto their blanke? Thirdly we exhort all of them to a ſurvey of their eſtate, wherein they ſtand, which is (if that be true, which by ſome of their own hath been reported) full of diſorder and confuſion; And indeed how can it otherwiſe bee, whereas they teach that every member of their Church may, and ought to ſtand up againſt their Miniſters and Elders, to gaineſay them in delivering of doctrine, and withſtand the other in execution of diſcipline; If he be perſwaded, the one erreth from the truth, and the other faileth in juſtice, is not this to make every member an eye, an eare, an head? And muſt not men be of Angelicall perfection to preſerve unitie, where ſuch large libertie is granted unto them?
A ſecond ſort to whom we commend this labour of ours, be our brethren alſo who by the writings, doings, and ſufferings of theſe deceived men, are in danger likewiſe to bee deceived, being brought to halt betweene two opinions. Theſe alſo we pray to read it with an holy purpoſe, to be fully reſolved, and ſetled in the truth. We hope their labour ſhall not be in vaine, if they will accept from us theſe few advertiſments.
Firſt, That they make not the example of any man ſeem he never ſo godly, religious, and zealous, but the Word of God only, the rule of their beliefe, and life; Paul himſelfe muſt be followed no further, when the holy precepts of the Word, and the examples of the godly joyn together, we have the one to teach us, the other to incite us to doe our duties.
Secondly, That they carry an humble and lowly conceit of themſelves, and their gifts.
That they remember,1 Cor. 8.2. Galath. 6.3. that if any man thinke hee knoweth any thing, hee knoweth nothing as he ought to know; And that if any man ſeeme to himſelfe, that he is ſomewhat, when he is nothing, he deceaveth himſelfe in his imaginations.
That to this purpoſe, they occupie themſelves in conſideration of their owne wants, and ſinnes, which cleave ſo faſt unto them, rather than in the marking the blemiſhes, & noteing the faults that are in others, following the counſell of the Apoſtle.Galath. 6.4. Let every one prove his owne worke, and then ſhall he have rejoycing in himſelfe only, and not in another.
Thirdly, that they have a reverend opinion of thoſe men by whoſe miniſterie they have beene begotten unto God, or nouriſhed in the truth, by whoſe labours they have beene inſtructed, confirmed and comforted, in whoſe mouthes the Word of God hath beene unto them, as a two edged ſword, entring through them unto the deviding a ſunder the ſoule and ſpirit, the joynts and the marrow, that they ſuffer not a ſinfull thought to enter into their heads, of their vnlawfull vocations, who have their hearts and ſoules, as Seales of their miniſtery, and may ſay to them as Paul to the Corinthians, 1. Cor. 9.1….are yee not my worke in the Lord, if I be not an Apoſtle unto others, yet doubtleſſe I am unto you, for you are the Seale of mine Apoſtleſhip in the Lord; whereof they ſhould therefore be the more carefull, for that it hath bin an ancient and ordinary policie of Satan, that hee might cauſe men to refuſe the word brought unto them in the mouthes of the Prophets, Apoſtles and other men of God, yea of Chriſt Himſelfe to perſwade them that they had no warrant of their vocarions, and calling from God.
Fourthly, That if notwithſtanding, all that is ſaid for their inſtruction, and reformation in this behalfe, they keepe a liking of that draught of a Church, which our deceived Brethren have framed and commended in their writings, and deſire to joyne themſelves unto their ſocietie.
They yet remember it is a part of wiſdome, to ſtay the full eſtabliſhing of their Church, and practiſe of the Ordinances thereof, for a time that they may ſee what bleſſings of God bee upon it, for the ratifying and approving of their doings: for if it bee of God, it will ſtand as an houſe founded upon a a ſure Rocke, if it bee of men, it will come to naught.
A third ſort to whom we commend this worke of ours are our ſtronger brethren which continue with comfort in the ſocietie of their Church, them wee intreat that if they finde any confirmation or ſtrengthening unto their conſciences by the purſuing hereof, any increaſe of knowledge and ability to maintaine the truth of our Church, Sacraments and word, to defend the lawfulneſſe of our miniſterie, and practiſe of Gods externall worſhip amongſt us.
That firſt they praiſe God whoſe gift it is, that any thing is ſpoken, or written for their edification, inſtruction and conſolation, and then beſtow the ſame as occaſion ſhall be offered, to the reclaiming of thoſe that are ſtraied, and holding them that are ready to wander.
Wee laſtly commend this ſimple travell of ours to the Church of God, whereof we are unworthy Miniſters, beſeeching her to accept our poore endeavours, the rather, for that wee are not ignorant that the labours which we have taken in this cauſe, will be diverſly judged of, according to the manner and affection of thoſe men to whom this worke ſhall come.
Some, as namely, our deceived Brethren againſt whom we deale, will hold it damnable and execrable, as being beſtowed againſt the Church of Chriſt, againſt the Saints and children of God, againſt the holy Truth taught in the Teſtament of Chriſt; yea, and that contrary to the light of our own conſciences, and knowledge of our owne hearts.
To the firſt part of this their charge and accuſation, we anſwer; That whether they or wee be the true Church of God: whether they or wee have the Truth taught in the Teſtament of Chriſt, is the matter in controverſie betwixt us. If wee be the Church of God and have the Truth of Chriſt, as we hope ſhall appeare by this Treatiſe, then have they written and ſpoken againſt the Church of God, and that in moſt ſhamefull and fearefull manner. If they be the true Church of God, and have his Truth (which we aſſure our ſelves they ſhall be never able to prove) then have wee ſpent our labours againſt the Church of God: But have we done it wittingly and willingly againſt the light of our hearts; This is indeed the ſecond part of their charge: but who made them the ſearchers of our hearts, and judges of our conſciences, that they ſhould accuſe us, to Im other and quench the light of Truth, which hath ſhined into our ſoules, eſpecially when they heare our proteſtations to the contrary, where is that Charitie that thinketh none evill, which hopeth all things; we ſay therefore unto the ſecond part of their accuſation with the Apoſtle, We ſay the Truth in Chriſt, our conſciences bearing us witneſſes in the holy Ghoſt, that we can ſay nothing againſt the Truth; but for the Truth, wittingly and willingly. And in the Teſtamonie thereof we pray God that our tongues may cleave to the roofe of our mouthes when we endeavour to ſpeake, and that our pennes may ſticke to the ends of our fingers, when wee attempt to write any thing againſt the Church, Children, or Truth of God.
Some others, Fathers, and Brethren, Miniſters, and Members with us of this Church, finding by our manner of writeing of what judgemeut wee are, will hold our paines requiſite and neceſſarie, to ſtay the courſe of theſe waters which wee have given paſſage unto, and to make up the breaches wee have opened, by ſpeaking againſt the government eſtabliſhed in this Church, the Ceremonies uſed therein; and other our unadviſed dealings in the execution of our Miniſtrie.
To theſe men wee ſay firſt, that as we have beene, and are perſwaded of the Truth of theſe things which we have delivered, touching the defects and wants, the blemiſhes and deformities of this Church. So have we in the ſincerity and uprightneſſe of our hearts, dealt for the redreſſe and Reformation thereof: Wherein, though we know nothing by our ſelves before men, more then Truth will permit, if they ſhould have taken occaſion by our doctrine (which we perſwade our ſelves to be the doctrine of the Truth) to make this Schiſme; Yet were this no reaſon to reprove us, unleſſe thoſe men which have ſet downe true poſitions be to be blamed, as Authors of the falſe Collections and Concluſions which are inferred and gathered thereupon.
Secondly wee anſwer, That our deceived Brethren do no leſſe condemne thoſe Churches of God, as the Synagogues of Sathan, where the doctrine which wee have taught touching the government of the Church, and matters of Ceremonies is maintained, and where all things which wee hold offenſive in our Church are aboliſhed, then they doe the Church of England, inſomuch that they have written of the Church of Geneva (which is holden to be the beſt pattern of a Reformed Church) that it became a miſerable preſident and pernicious example even unto all Europe: whereby it is evident that they have beene brought unto this Sciſme by ſome other inducements then the dealing of thoſe men in-the execution of their Miniſtrie, who are charged to be the occaſions, if not the Authors thereof.
Thirdly, there is ſuch difference and plaine contradiction betweene them and us in judgement, yea in the matter of diſcipline and Church government, beſides many other materiall points of doctrine, as we marvell any men ſhould eſteeme us cauſes of their defections from this Church, much more that any man ſhould write, That between the Browniſts and others (he meaneth them and us) there is no controverſie as touching the framing of a Church by the word of God.
A third ſort of our loving Brethren, approving our care of Gods Church, and deſire to reclaime poore deceived ſoules, will yet happily eſteeme our labour altogether needleſſe and ſuperfluous, as ſpent and beſtowed both againſt a cauſe that hath ſo little ſhew of truth and ſemblance of probabilitie; nay ſo evident appearance of falſhood and vanity, as it is rather to be deſpiſed then confuted, and alſo upon men, whoſe zeale and raſhneſſe ſo far prevailes over ſound judgement, and diſcretion, that we ſhall rather ſharpen and increaſe their humour, (by thinking them worthy anſwering) to a further contradiction, then either informe their underſtanding by ſound reaſon, or alter their affection by efficacie of any perſwaſion.
Theſe Brethren wee deſire to give us leave to diſſent from them, who judge far otherwiſe of this cauſe, wee handle and hope much better of the perſons againſt whom we deale: for the cauſe it ſelfe we ſay, that though it did appeare, as it is indeed full of falſhood and and vanitie unto theſe that have the gift to diſcerne betweene thoſe things that differ, and withall to temper their affections (which is the reaſon it prevaileth not with any ſuch to their ſeduction) yet unto men of weak judgements and ſtrong affections, or of more heat then knowledge, it ſeemeth far otherwiſe, who are not in our judgements to bee contemned and ſuffered to be ſo headlongly carried in ſo violent a courſe, but rather with compaſſion to be reclaimed, and with meekneſſe to be reſtored by ſuch as are ſpirituall; If it pleaſe the Lord to give a bleſſing to their labour ſo ſpent and imployed.
Secondly, ſeeing this Hereſie of theirs doth not only ſeeke to untile the Houſe of God built amongſt us, nor to breake downe the walls only, but even to overthrow the whole fram thereof, taking away the Pillars whereon it ſtandeth, the preaching of the Word and adminiſtration of the Sacraments: Yea digging up the very foundation thereof, and taking Chriſt from us whom (as they ſay) wee preach not, but denie in all his offices, were the falſe-hood and blaſphemie thereof never ſo apparant, yet were not the labour needleſſe, and ſuperfluous, that is ſpent in confuting thereof.
Thirdly, Seeing this cauſe hath been thought to be of ſuch weight and regard, that it hath brought the High Court of Parliament to make a ſharp Law for the preventing of the miſchiefes thereof, ſhall it bee thought a matter unneceſſary and fruitleſſe for Miniſters to deale withall, eſpecially where Lawes politicke can but draw the outward man to conformitie which is but Hipocriſie unleſſe the Law of God be annexed thereunto for the converting of the ſoule, and bringing the inward man, to doe that inwardly, and ſincerely which outwardly it performeth.
Laſtly, Wee have the examples of diverſe Learned and godly brethren to warrant our doings, and to perſwade us of the neceſſitie of this labour, who either by commandement from authoritie, or of their own motions by occaſions offered unto them, have dealt not only by diſputation and conference, but alſo by writing and printing for the ſuppreſſion of this Schiſme and reclaiming theſe men. For the perſons againſt whom wee write, though we hold them all to be in a dangerous eſtate (wee are loath to ſay in a damnable eſtate) as long as they continue in this Schiſme, and have cauſe to feare that Sathans ſubtilties abuſing the gifts that are in them, and drawing them to pride, and conceit of themſelves hath hardened ſome of them ſo in their Schiſme, that they will hardly be reclaimed, yet hope we, that as many of them have been brought backe againe to the Church, who ſtraied away with them, ſo the reſt may in time be brought to a ſight of their owne error by good meanes effectuall thereunto, ſuch as God hath ſanctified to that end, and promiſed to accompany with the gracious aſſiſtance of his holy ſpirit: This labour therefore of ours, we truſt ſhall not be in vaine, but have that work in them for their recovery by the bleſſing of God.
If God vouchſafe us not this favour to be happy inſtruments of their good, yet doubt we not, but he that is witneſſe unto our Conſciences, how we long after their ſalvation, yea even from our hearts roots; will be our ſtrength, and our judgment and worke ſhall be with him; though they bee not gathered. But if it be remembred that our labours have beene beſtowed,Eſay 49.4, 5. not only to raiſe them that are fallen already; but alſo to ſtay them that ſtagger, and ſtrengthen them that ſtand upright: though it ſhould be utterly unprofitable unto the former ſort; yet being likely to prevaile with others, to their benefit, it cannot but be acceptable unto God, and comfortable unto our ſelves, and ſo neither ſuperfluous nor unneceſſary.
This now only remaineth (Chriſtian reader) that before we commend this treatiſe to Gods bleſſing, we advertiſe thee of two things needfull for thee to know: Firſt, whereas to many raſh and hot ſpirited men it may ſeeme, that wee have dealt in this cauſe too remiſly, ſo that wee have juſtified the corruptions of our Church, as hath beene objected againſt others heretofore; We anſwer, that our dealing may well indeed ſeem too remiſſe, whilſt the reader ſhall compare it with over bitter, untrue, yea, and ſlanderous biting and invectives of our Brethren: but being compared with it ſelfe, and with our Church, as in it ſelfe it ſtandeth, we hope it will appeare (ſure wee are that our knowledge) wee have not juſtified the leaſt thing therein worthy to be condemned.
Secondly, whereas the worke is ſomewhat long, and therefore ſomewhat weariſome to the Reader: Know that we deſired to be much more briefe therein then wee are, both for that, not the reading ſo much as the writing of it out by them, that after the reading of it may deſire it, muſt needs be tedious; as alſo; for that fewer words and reaſons might have as well ſatiſfied the learned ſort: but whereas our deſire is to ſatisfie the ſimple, as having more need; by framing divers anſwers unto the arguments and proofes which we confute, and to make them plaine to their capacity and underſtanding, wee could not vſe more brevitie without more obſcuritie. And thus we commend thee to God, and to his bleſſing upon the reading hereof, that it may be a meanes to teach thee to diſcerne the things that differ, and to keepe thee from thy being overmuch juſt, leſt thou become too wicked. Amen.