Proposition.
All such as voluntarily forsake the grounds & true beginings of Christ & therewithall the fellowship spiritual they haue with the people of god therein, all such do syn that fearfull & horrible syn against the holy Ghost, which is spoken of in the Epistle to the Hebrues, Chap. 6. & 10.
FOr the manifestation hereof let vs heare the scriptures speak. In Heb. 6. tis thus: Leauing the doctrine of the begining of Christ, let vs be lead on to perfection, not laying againe the Foundation of Repentance from dead works & of faith towards God, of the doctrine of Washings & Imposition of hands, & of the Resurrection from the dead & of Eternall Iudgement—For it is impossible that they which were once lightned & haue tasted of the heauenly guifte, & were made partakers of the ho. gh. and haue tasted of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to com, If they fall away shold be renued againe by Because vvith Esa [...] they may vvith tears seek repētance but not fynd it: Heb 12. 17. Repentance: seing they crucify agai [...]o themselues the Son of God & make a Mock of him: Falling away from the former light, they for that are said to crucifie againe Christ and to deride him after a sort with those which bidde him saue himself if he will saue others. And indeed what do such Apostate schismaticall spirits lesse, when they put Christ to begin theyr new-birth againe as of yore, and that from the very foundation. In the 10. chap. the substance of this doctrine is called Faith (vers 22.) because the whole lump is seasoned by the first fruites Faith: and (in ver. 23.) called Hope, because it ministred Hope of salvation. And herein (ver. 24. 25.) they had Fellowship with the faithfull. In which terme Fellowship is plainly implied Charity sāctified in the body mysticall of Iesus: for as that Bodie is the 2 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Pet 2. 4. 5. Temple of the ho. gh. so in the same fellowship is Loue and all actions of Loue only sanctified to saluation. This causeth Luke to say, Act. 2. 47. The Lord added vnto the Church (▪he speaks onlie of the visible church) frō day to day such as should be saued. And hereto accordeth the types Cyprian [...] large proueth this in h [...]s B. of Prelates [...] plicity. Noahs [...], the Howse wherein the Paschal lamb was slaine, Rahabs howse, out of which places whosoever were found when the LOrd came to iudgment, loe, without all mercie they perished as straungers to the common wealth of Israel. And this is it the Spirit teacheth in those words: Not for saking the fellowship that we haue among our selues (as the maner of som is) but let vs exhort [...] one another & that somuch the more, because we [Page] se the day draweth nere: for if we syn voluntarily (vnderstanding the former doble syn spoken of) after we haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaineth No Intercession, as anone. no more Sacrifice for synnes, but a fearfull expectation of iudgment & violent fyre which shall devoure the aduersarie. The collection of the whole is this: Those that once haue bene illuminate and tasted of God his good word so far, as they haue bene interessed with the ground and principles of the Gospell, therewithall enioying fellowship with Noah and his few sowles in the Arke (notwithstāding som vncleane creatures within) if now they voluntarily reiect the word of Noah they once beleiued, and so willinglie leap out of the churches bosom, it is impossible to vs ward but they drowne, vnable to be recouered by our prayers or theyr vnseasonable repentance. Yea only we can expect the convayance of such soules to be 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. pent till last iudgment, in the prison infernall where now the sowles are who mocked Christ his spirit preaching of old in Noah for 120. y. togither.
Blessed 1 Ioh. [...]. Iohn hauinge taught that Christ Iesus is our sole reconciliation: that the same death effecteth in vs loue towards God and our brother, anone he teacheth that we haue assurāce of synnes remissiō in our sowles and in our brethren, by being stirred vp by his spirit to pray in faith (called Ch. 5. 14. parrhesia) a trust leaning on a promise: but therewithall he intimates a certaine kynd of syn, for the which a brother hath no promise to pray: Ver. 16. There is a syn to death, I say not that he shold ask (forgivenes) for that. And what is this but what is taught to the Hebrues, There remaineth no sacrifice for such. 1 Tim. 2. 1. &c. Prayers, supplications, intercessions we are commaunded to offer vp for all sorts of people (for that Ps. 51. 17. Dauid foresawe to be ghospels sacrifice: and thus saith A glorious auntient of the Ghospell: Iustin Martyr vvith Tryphō the Iuc. supplications & thanksgiuings are the sole perfect sacrifices pleasing God & that Christian hearts haue learned only to offer them) but for those that syn this syn to death, I say not (saith Iohn) thow art to pray for that.* greek is, teleiaj mo [...]aj. Som haue taught this syn to be finall desperatiō: thē Iohns speach might implie prayer for a penitent person dead, but no prayer for him we se to dy impenitent: and this Rome liketh well. Others graunt the syn seable in this life (and so both the former scriptures imply) and hereof two iudgments: the better sort adde vnto all is said vnto the Hebrues, a willing malitious persecuting the knovven truth, because it is the truth. This I can hardlie beleiue to be in anie but the deuell himself. [Page] But if it can be I say it doth not simplie cause this syn to be but more to be: for such a syn we shall not be able to proue in manie ages, whereas the holy writ affirmeth that in the latter days (begon in thapostles tyme) Math. 24. 24. 1 Tim. 4 1. &c. 2 Ep. 3. 1. &c. Iude 4. &c. Reuel. 8. 10. 11. & 9 1. &c. manie shold depart from the faith, hauing seared consciences, teaching doctrines of deuels with Iannes and Iambres, ordeyned of old to destruction etc. and therefore this syn no such Rar'auis black swā as manie haue made it thorough too much pitie, which hath brought with it much detriment vnto the lords city. The worser sort (the Brownists: though I knoe not that he was euer so stupid) hath babled, that euerie syn which brought the body vnder Death by Moses his lawe, that is this syn Iohn speaketh of. A collection of bloody crueltie, rather beseming Bull the hang-man, then anie that wold be demed disciples to Iesus. But such was the old condemned heresie of Nouarianus. Our sauiours practise with the Ioh. 8. woman taken in the act of adulterie, it argued another spirit: and so did the censure of excommunication practised by Corinth against the incestuous fornicator: which being for humbling the flesh (therefore before not humbled) and recouering the spirit yet steeping vnder the ashes of senslesnes must needs (togither with the pronunciation) admit prayer for him, as for a brother not vtterlie but almost gone in a spirituall trance. But because they wold scorne to be thought to learne anie thing of Clapham (though secretlie somtimes the greatest of them are forced to leane towards me) let them learne of S. Paul two excommunications: the first (whereof 1 Cor. 5) existing for a season viz, Till the flesh be humbled: the second enduring to death, chap. 16. 22. called in Syriak phrase Mareethan is interposd for sound sake. Maran-atha: in English The Lord commeth, And this is of like value with the Hebrues Cherem or creature accursed, Iosh. 7. 11. 13. And this is the syn the Author to the hebrues teacheth, as also Iohn, terming it a syn to death (because excommunicate to the narall death) for whome he will not say, pray: for whome (to the hebrues) the church cannot sacrifice: for whome S. Paul appointeeth the denunciation, The Lord commeth: whereto S. Iude (borowinge Iude. 1 [...]. Henorhs prophetie) addeth, Behold the Lord commeth to iudgment: because such synners are euer to heare of Iudgment, no more of the Ghospell which they willinglie haue torne vp by the rootes, and despitefullie reiected. And so (and no otherwise I thinke.) those scriptures can of vs be reconciled.
When thapostle speaketh of an Heretike gone from the truth [Page] (For of an Heretike neuer possessed therewith he cānot speake) he cōmaundeth vs to Tit. 3. 10. 11. Reiect him after ōce or tvvise admonition, adding a reason. Knovving that he that is such is [...]xestraptaj: [...] it i [...] his mynd [...]. turned ouer, & sinneth (on autokatakritos) being damned of him self. Will an Heretike tell vs he damnes himself? Noe: how thē do we knoe he is damned of himself? no otherwise but because he is obstinate in som principle cōtrarie to that of the Gospell he once beleiued. So in this generall willinge apostacie from the rudiments of Christ, such will not (vpon our dealing with them) acknowledge they syn against Conscience (nor do I thinke theyr Conscience in the present state doth euer condemne them) but comparinge it with the former waking estate, this present state is accompted, condemned: yea for euer to be dispared of: nor maruell we that such as from heart and mouth voluntarily vomited vp faith and fellowship, they shold be vnto vs a people dispaired of, more then an arme or legge of the bodie droppinge downe rotten rype of itself, is depriued of all physik as Ministringe no hope of recouerie. And therefor this syn not committed of Peter, The story vvritten by Gribal du [...] y. 1548. published by Hen. Pantaleon. nor yet of Frances Spiera Lawyer of Citadella. For howsoever with the mouth (thorough feare of man) they denyed Christ and true faith, yet the heart neuer gaue consent fully to the mouth: much lesse did they voluntarily shake of both faith and fellowship Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man beleiueth vnto Righteousnes & vvith the mouth man confesseth vnto saluation. After the heart hath once retained the sauing foundation of faith, and the mouth hath once by confession thereof brought the bodie vnder Isa. 49. 22. the standerd of the Church, marching there in equipage with yon ge and olde of the saued of the Gentiles, what one reason have we to expect Re-repentance of such, Re-regeneration of such after once they voluntarilie haue cast and cashierd themselues from the faith and fellowship of Iesus? A man may liue lacking an arme, or legge, or hande: but let him loose his head or heart, lyfe is gone, and no more so good as a mayined man. Iude therefore denominates such Trees tvvise dead (once before theyr spirituall birth: then now by a willinge break-neck downefall twofold, from faith and fellowship wherein they had bene planted) yea, he calls them trees pulled vp by the M [...]th. 15. 13 rootes (accordinge to that of our sauiour, Euery plant my heauenly father hath not planted it shalbe pulled vp by the rootes as if thereby we shold thinke (at least feare) that they are not destinate to a lyfe-plot in the vyne Iesus: but so shred of from head ād body Ioh. 15. 6. Heb 6. 8. [...]. 4. 2. they are to expect in the next place to be burned [Page] [...]n fyre, hauing the ernest thereof before hand, seated [...]. And such was Alexander the Coppersmith his syn (it semeth it was he) who by Paul reiected in the first ep. to Timothi, against him in the second ep. he thus imprecates: The Lord revvard him according to his vvorks. After which sort Ieremie imprecateth ch. 18. 21. and so doth Dauid diuerse tymes. Vnder the Maran-atha the heretick Cerinthus it semeth lay, [...] in his Eccles. [...]ist. book. 4. ch. 14. an therefore S. Iohn comming into the Bath where he found him, he retired saying: Let vs avvay least the Bath tumble dovvne. So it is said he retired also vnbathed, Epiphanius in ker. 30. fyndinge Hebion in the Bath. In like state it semeth Marcion stood, who metinge Polycarpus the Angel of [...], and sayinge, Acknovvledg thovv vs: vnto him the holy Pastor replies, I acknovvledg I knoe the for the first begotten of Satan. But what need more testimonie that such are to be imprecated against, rather then precated for, when we see Peter Act. [...]. vpon euidence of Simon Magus his euell imprecate thus: Thy mony perish vvith the: which in english valueth, Thovv & thy mony goe togither into destruction. Obiection. He saw him eternally reprobate. Ansvver. Tis false: for he willeth Simon to pray (for himself wold not) if so it vvere possible that the thought of his heart might be forgiuen. But Simon desiringe the Apostles to pray for him, the ho. Gh. shutteth vp the hystorie without one tittle sounding they did so. Yea the ecclesiasticall histories do mention that vpon Simons persistance in euell, attempting afterwards in [...] to flie from the Capitol, Peter shold fall downe and imprecate against the seducer, vntill he fell downe and broke his neck. What shold I say, doth not our sauiour say of such, that not the old v [...]rleane spirit alone, but Math. 12. 45. accompanied with 7. worse. he reenters such, and therefore vtterly vnlike to be againe dispossessed? I conclude therefore, that Such as giue theyr fre-vvill to Satan for being torne vp from the foundation of Christian faith & fellovvship therein, they commit that fearfull & horible syn against the ho Gh. Heb. 6. and 10. Hearken to the rest.
Assumption.
Conclusion.
But all such of our English people as once vvere in teressed vvith the substance of faith receiued in England, & synce that haue forsooke that ground of Beleif togither vvith all spirituall fellovvship therein, Euen all such haue forsaken the true beginnings of Christ & fellovvship they had vvith the people of God therein:
Therefore all such haue synned that fearfull & horrible syn against the Ho. Gh. heb. 6. & 10.
IF the Assumption be true, no question is to be made of the Conclusion, it growing naturallie from the Antecedent: but the Assumption is true in the iudgmēt of all learned Protestants (English, Scottish, Dutch, French etc.) therefore vnto all such the Conclusion must be true: for they all do teach and professe the learned in England to deliuer a true foundation of faith: and therefore by the voyce of such, all such our English Apostates and Sthismatikes haue synned that fearfull and horible syn. That the foraigne churches haue departed from Englād (som in the maner of gathering the Church and all of them in the forme of disciplines exercise vttered in Math. 18. 15. 16. 17. etc.) yet they all profes one and the same foundation and substance of the Ghospell: charitablie hopinge (as they ought, say malicious Donatist what he can) that notwithstanding men in ignorance and infirmitie (but woe to him that sinnes against light reuealed) do build stubble, strawe, [...] Cor. 3. 11. 12. &c. This scripture held fast, it ouerturne [...] all o [...] [...] [...]ons And this founda tion I can proue euer [...]o haue prevailed against Helgates, & so consequently the Churh [...]uervisible. tymber: yet kepinge the foundation in a moritified estate, such shalbe saued in theyr owne persons (with the losse of theyr tras [...] labour) saued as priuate poore Christians, obtayning no glorie for such ministerie: yet as by the fyre, hardly saued though saued. And towching this sence, I haue Ambrose manie in Theodorets tyme: as also Caluin, Seb. Munster, Hemingius, Beza and others: nor can the scripture (comparing it with that goes before) be vnderstood of anie thinge but diuersities of doctrine, good and bad.
The beginnings of faith wherein the Hebrues had bene catechised, are syx: Repentance, Faith, Baptismes, Imposition of hands, Resurrection, Eternall iudgment. Under Repentā ce is contained mortification and Uiuification, according to that: fly euel do good: called Repentance from dead works. Under Faith is comprehended not only a generall consent vnto the history of god his word and works, but also Coloss. 2. 2 [...] Tim. 1. 15. Rom. 5. 1. a particular plerophorie or full assurance of our reconcilation with God, who through Christ Iesus God and Man (and therefore fit to interceed betwene God and Man) is pacified towards vs for syn: as also through the vaile of his flesh (Gen. 3. 15. Galat. 4. 4. Heb. 2. 16. & [...]0. [...]0. the seede of woman: our first fruites without which our lump could not be sanctified) he hath made a new and liuing way into the Holy of holyes, the hiest heauens, sitting there at the [Page] right hand of Maiesty, till all his enemies be made his foote stoole. Under Baptismes is intimate purifications vnder the lawe, and water-washing sacramentally vnder the Ghospell: sealing vnto old and yong so baptised, the purification of theyr sowles from syn, Heb. 9. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. Reu. 7. 14. only by the price of Iesus his blood, wherein the garments of the saints are made white: Nomb. 8. 10. compared vvith Nehem. 10. 29 & so in al generall actions, the Elders of the Tribes are alone vsed, much more in this Se our Conclusion 6. through which blood we alone conquer and triumph ouer all hellish powres. Under Imposition of hands is insinuate‡ Reu. 12. 11. the laying propheticall and sacramentall hands on the heads of men before the Law (so did Iaakob with Ephraim and Manasseh) on Animals and men vnder the lawe (so did Moses with Ioshua: and the▪ Elders of the trybes on the Leuits: and the Leuits on Animals sacrificed) on the heads of diuerse vnder the Ghospell: as our sauiour blessing infants (like mough before baptised) brought by beleiuers vnto him: his imposing hands (as did also the Apostles) in giuing the visible guiftes of the spirit: vsed of Presbyters in creating ad enstalling persons into ministeriall functions: somtymes to the Gatheringe Ministerie, but euer on Ministrie tyed to som certaine congregation: signifyinge and sealing hereby vnto such sowles beleiuinge, Szegedi [...] ▪ Fenner &c. no lesse thē the presence of God with them in such theyr Christian callinge. This Mr Caluin consideringe, he therefore truly calls it Institut b. 4. c. 19. sect. 28. such a sacrament as hath a faithfull siigne of spirituall grace. And for a sacrament in no larger sence, Against Parmenian the Donatist q. 2. ch. 12. Augustine (hauing spoke of Baptisme) saith thus: Either of them is a sacramēt & by sure consecratiō both of them is giuē to mā: that, vvhē he is baptised: this whē he is ordained: therefore in the Catholicall church it is held vnlaufull to reiterate thē. Yet neither of thē nomber it elswhere with the few ād easie sacraments of the new testament, because (as before) it hath bene common vnto all the ages of the Church: yet this must be no reason why not to teach and repute it for a glorious sacrament: wherewithall a blessing from the Heb. 7. 7. Greater is convaid vnto the Lesser. Under Resurrection is contained, Eph. 2. 1. 5. &. 5. 14. Rev. 20. 6. first our rising here from spirituall death vnto the life of Christ in his body the Church: secondlie our resurrection after the bodies naturall death, and that vnto eternall lyfe: for the resurrection of the wicked is but a rising to the second Death. The last is, eternall iudgment: first, to the eternall glorie of the faithfull (contrary to cursed They hold the glorie but for 1000 yeares. Chiliasts) secondly to the eternall confusion and never dyinge worme of the vnfaithfull: contrarie to the blynd pitifull colection of vvho hold all (Deuell & all) shalbe finally saued. Origenists. And those are the doctrines he calleth the (Themelion) [Page] foundation, as also begining of Christ. Which must be the rather obserued, because som put no difference betwene the foundation of faith (which here made the hebrues a true visible people of God, and other accidentall doctrines which tende but to the perfection of the same foundation: the contrarie vnto which foundation can onlie in proprietie of scripture he termed 2 Thess. 2 4. 1 Ioh. 2. 18. 19. Reu. 1 [...]. 11. Anti-keimenon, Anti-christian, opposit to foundation, opposit to Christ. The not retaining of which distinction hath caused too manie libells be dispersed, and railings against such as Gather truly (though weakly) with Christ: [...] and himself teacheth, that he who gathers with him, that works not against him.
But are euery of those seuerall heads the knowledge and beleif of them, of absolute necessitie vnto saluation? (For infants of the faithfull theyr Gen. 17. 10 11. Leuit. 2. 12. Rom. 11. 1 [...]. Act. 2. 39 & 16. 31. according to Gen. 17. 27. lump is to be considered in theyr first fruites) I answer: it is impossible for any sowle to com anie way to true lyfe, but by passing thorough him who is the Way Truth and Lyfe. Nor can one goe into the sheepfold but by the Dore and the Porter. Nor can this be don but by Repentance and Faith. Besides, faith is exercised in beleiuing the promise of Resurrection and eternall iudgment: and quiet it cānot be till the promises be sealed in Baptisme, the dore sacrament into the Church. Which caused the Eunuch vpon a litle information to cry, vvhat lets I may not be baptized? As also when Peters hearers cryed out, vvhat shall vve do to be saved? him to make this answer, amend your liues & be baptized: and no sooner they confessed faith in Iesus, but straight way they were baptised. Yet this I suffix: Faith apprehending the word of promise, it trulie iustifieth with God and his Church before the Seale com: seing the seale is not the Begetter but Rom. 4. 10. 11. Col. 2. 11. 12. Mark. 16. 16 Confirmer of that faith whereby we apprehend righteousnes in Christ Iesus: and so holy writ teacheth both of Circumcision and Baptisme. I conclude then, the two first and last of the 6. principles to be absolutely neccessary vnto salvation. As for Baptisme it is required vnto salvation conditionally, that is, if it may before death be had: nor ought it be deferred within the Church beyonde the 8. day (called the Lord his day, the day of Convention) and in conuerting without the Church, beleiuers for them and theyres ought presently to be baptised with the Eunuch, Paul, laylour, and Lydia. As for imposition it is also symply necessarie t [...] such as to whome it suiteth, for the end where to it serueth: that is, not to seale saluation, but to assure the sowle of GOD [Page] his helping hand in the work whereto the partie▪ is alotted. Not symplie necessarie in the This Ministry not held the Ro manist is but badly ansvvered. Gathering and propheticall ministery: and therefore we se before, and vnder and after the lawe (within and without the True visible church) diuerse stirred vp to call people vnto God and his Christ, who neuer had anie hand of man so put vpon them. But it is symply necessary to a ministerie designed to a particular Church: and therefore the Tabernacle ministerie (Priests and Leuits) and the new testaments ministrie (Presbyters and Deacons) they neuer were installed without it.
The principles then that are of absolute necessitie vnto saluation, may therefore be deduced into two heads: the first knowledg of the true Christ: for otherwise our Math. 24▪ 23. 24. 28. Iob. 39. 30. 3. 32. 33. Galat. 3. 1. Sauiour telleth vs we shall haue manie kyndes of CHrists preached by pseudo-prophets, to whose factions we are not to goe forth: but only to repaire for our fedinge where his spirituall eyed Eagles do gather to his carcase or body slayne in word and sacraments: as Paul afterwards described him crucified vnto the Galatians. The second poynt is, the true apprehension of Christ whome knowledge propoundeth: and this is onlie by Rom. 10. 14. 15. Gal. 3. 2. Faith, a guifte of the spirit within, but wrought by externall ministerie of preaching, euen the preaching of faith (And so Rom. 8. 32. hauinge giuen vnto vs his Son, how shall he not with him giue vnto vs all things also?) Which apprehendinge faith is vnto others (liue the beleiuer no longer after, then the good theif on the crosse) manifested by the fruit of the lips: and in liuing longer it vtters it self conformable in som good measure to doe the commaundements of him who hath frelie saued him: otherwise, Iames termes it a Deuels faith, a dead faith a meere delusion. For the exellentie of true faith, it Synecdo [...]hicallie is put for the whole doctrine of the Ghospell (Iude. 3. Gal. 3. 2. 1 Tim. 4. 1. & alibj) nor maruell, because all obedience without it, is but a Crab-fish crallinge backward, and a Pharisaicall painted sepulcre: for without this faith it is impossible to please God. It is to all our actions Leuit. 2. [...] as salt vnder the lawe was to all sacrifices, the [...]erie sauourer and purifiez: and this Peter maketh the cause of no difference betwene Iue and Gentile, the purification of the heart by faith, Act. 15. 9: which faith not mingled with the word when the Israelites heard it, was cause of theyr downefall in the desert, Heb. 4. 1. 2. When therefore an Auntient considered that the Iust li [...]es by faith etc. He speaketh thus pathetically: Chrysostom in [...] homely offai [...] hope, [...] All [...]dged by Centueie Faith is the originall of righteousnes, the head of holynes, the begining of [Page] deuotion, the foundation of religion,—this excludeth doubts, holdeth sure things, sealeth vp the promises. He that holds this is happy: forsaking it he is miserable. Yea saith another before him: Cyprian [...]. 3. to Qui [...], ch. 4 [...]. To the beleiuer all things are possible. And how shall it be otherwise, when first it vniteth vs with Christ, and thē from him by the conduit of faith, all holines and diuyne giuings are (as out of a treasurie) deriued vnto vs. Where therefore the Law proclamd, Do and liue: the Ghospell before, in and synce the Lawe frely crieth: Beleiue and liue. Obiection. But we are vrged to works also in the newe church. Answer. But not to merit thereby (Iam. [...]. [...]. for he that shall keep the whole lawe and but faile in one poynt is guiltie of all) then what merit-monger can hold vp hand and cry, vuguilty my Lord? If he be iudged by God and the contrie he wilbe found guiltie) but such works are Certificates from the spirit of Christ vnto his Church, that so such a one may be acknowledged a member of the Catholicall bodie and communicate with the Church her spirituall treasure: and therefore to the faithfull no Cawse but a Signe or Index of iustificatiō: which causeth one to say: Fulgentius to Monimus b. 1 GOD crowneth the righteousnes in his Sayints which he gaue vnto them Gratis, kept Gratis perfected Gratis. Wherevnto a successor addeth: Anshelm, of the measute of the crosse. If a Man shold serue God a thowsand yeares & that most feruently, he shold not merit (ex condigno) of condignity to be half a day in the kingdom of heauen. And in another place thus: Galat. c. 2. Works are of grace, but not grace by works: because that (Grace) is first, whereby other things are valued. Therefore no one by any meanes can be iustified by works, but by faith which by grace goeth before. All which substance of faith, with manie golden and coloured sylk appendices of the Lo. his Tabernacles religion, thowsands in England do teach as truly and learnedly as euer was taught synce the first age after Christ. From ād by whose ministerie, diuerse of our people comming ouer hither, did seme verily and with much comfort to haue received the same grounds at least, couetinge with ernest affection to walk with such (and only with such) as were willing to build vpon the same foundation in the syncerity of IEsus (although with infirmity in faith and manners) for they had learned of none to fynd here Angelicall perfection. But synce all this, diuerse (if theyr owne lips have spoken trulie of theyr owne hearts) they have (Ekousios) frankly and voluntarily vnconstrayned outwardly, giuing vp themselves to the spirit of fundamentall Apostacie and Schisme, breaking the former [Page] bonds of obedience and casting the coards far away for Anti▪ christian: ioyning themselves frely, som with A [...]rius and Samosatenus, making theyr Christ a meare creature and bare man. Som ioyning to a Christ that tooke not the seed of woman (ouerturning the Ghospell preached first in Paradise) and this because they cannot and will not without a naturall reason beleiue that super-naturall worke: and so they are one with the hereticall body of Valentinus, Manes and Eutiches. Others with Apollinaris do make a mixt confounded Christ. All of them condemned generally of the Catholicall Church aboue a 1000 Y. agoe in sondrie councels. Herewith they beleiue frewill to holynes in the vnregenerate, addinge iustification before god by works: both poynts ordinarily moreAl those [...] aresies not only resisted by severall faithfull vvriters, but also Anathe matized in sondry provinciall & generall counsel [...]. grosse then som Papists dare be seene in: in a word flat Pelagians. Unto the former they adde rebaptisation with Donatus and cut Children of from Baptisme with bloody Herod. Makinge the Maiestrate (with Seruettus) a meere Scar-crowe without the church: with such a rable of inventions raked out of the donghill of all heresies, as if not 7. deuels, but 7. score deuels were entred into them: Therefore appearingly to vs ward they have synned that fearfull & horrible syn agaynst the ho: ghost.
But the Brounist This root of bitterne [...] must be puld vp or it [...]vill defi [...] many. teaching that neyther Clapham nor England teach the Ghospell of Iesus, it fodeth on ignorant sowles with more boldnes to reiect all such faith and fellowship for Antichristian. First I say to such Teachers, that it were better for them to have a milstone hoong▪on their neck, and they with Sherajahs scroule and stone violently throwen into the midst of Euphrates, then such speach scandalous shold be vttered, whereby silly-ones are turned out of the way. Secondly, Doctors of the ghospell yet they knoe the ghospell. what will they say is the substance of the ghospell (for in the adiuncts the wisest shall euer be to seeke in somthing)? I knoe they insinuate to the simple (and this theyr whole practise will witnes to theyr faces) that to teach the former principles without subiectiō to the outward Churchgovernment of Christ, it is no Ghospell. And wherein exists this? In the ministery of Pastors, Doctors, Elders, Deacons, Widowes with theyr forme of installments etc. I answer: the verie terme Outward (if they were not forgetfull of Logick, that is, of Reasons rule▪) it w [...]ld teach them: That which is outward, yea so outward, as somtymes seperable from his subject, that is not essentiall or of the Ghospells substance: but such is that outward government. This may appeare from [Page] S. Paul who sayth the Ghospell was preached vnto Abraham, Galat. 3. 8. as also the ghospell (ver. 17.) was preached to that Patriarch 430. Y. before the lawe, and yet no speach of outwarde church government. Iohn Baptist preached the Ghospell, yet ignorant (as also the Disciples in theyr first sermons) of this outward church government. Nay, our sauiour before tyme of Ascensiō (Act. 1. 2. 3.) cānot be thought to haue spoke a word of the Ecclesiasticall functions: so did Peter and others in theyr sermons after his ascension, when I [...]roe they preached Ghospell, and yet no word of those matters. If all the former preachings was the Ghospell (and Form [...] [...] esse. the forme giues being to a thinge) thē those fanaticall spirits of ignorance or mallice blaspheame the ghospell. Being driuen from that sconse, they will say: but thexternall church-order reuealed, euery such sowle as will not be adiudged Antichristian (that is, against Christ) must be only subiect to the outward Church-order prescribed by Christ. I answer: First, theyr concluding of euery sowle Antichristian which in anye thing is contrarie or against Christ, it is a grosse abuse of the word vsed in scripture: For so euery sowle shold be Antichristian. Apostle is in english, Messenger: Euangelist, a Good tydings-man: shall we therefore say, Euerie messenger is an Apostle, and euerie one that tels vs good newes is an Euangelist?The very vvord Antichristian) falsely applied, it hath kindled the fyre vvhich Satan vvill neuer suffer to be quenched. So [...]ers of that seed had need repent in sack & [...] In the large sence of the words, we may so say: but comming to examine these termes by the art of Theologie, we say the words are restrayned to such ād such: so also, bringing the word Antichristian to be examined by the Apostles, we shall fynd that such a sowle must be Anti-keimenos opposit in the foundatiō: and so, nothing so large as blynd Zeloist [...] do vrge it. Secondly, I answer: euerie sowle is bound to giue obediēce vnto euerie peece of god his will reuealed. Then they adde: But thexternall governmēt hath bene by som of their owne teachers as also by vs bene preached, therefore now none of theyr Parish people visible Christians: nor can the preachers be sayd to preach the ghospell. Answer to the first conclusion. First, if they can prove euerie sowle there to have sufficiently heard that doctrine, and yet to be Contumax (which no reasonable sowle can beleiue) then they say somthing. Secondly, the same word is exercised even now in England (when the Sun of Brownisme shines in Netherlande) shall we thinke it begets not faith in som now, aswell as of yore, and must those also be no visible Christians? Thirdly, the Author to the [...]ebrues fynding the people he writ vnto in a maner Dunces▪ [Page] who for the tyme might have bene Doctors, though he fo [...] res them with the irremissable syn which might steale vpon them through negligence, yet He wold not pronounce them cut of from God. The Apostle teacheth another Rule, Philip. [...] the second Conclusion. As for that they preach, if it contained not the substance of the Gospell, how haps anie sowle hath bene saued or bene brought into the state of saluation thereby▪ Death begets not lyfe: Mat. [...]. [...] Iam. [...]. [...] falshood begets not truth: and so no Brownist could euer by that preaching haue bene interessed with, iustifyinge faith. Faith is got by hearinge: or haue they heard som Angel from heauen: or did the first of them get theyr iustifying faith by readinge? obiection. But there is no promise made of good to such preaching, although God somtymes extraordinarily do blesse it to good. Answer. Tis false: for it hath bene the only ordinary way of begetting sowles to god for those 40. y, togither vnder the raigne of our soueraigne Queene: nor did euer other Doctrine in any age before beget true faith: and therefore a promise of blessinge i [...] lynked with that ground of faith, be the preacher thereof otherwise ād for other causes highly reproueable. Besides that euident effect, Gold is as verily gold in the snowte of a swyne as vpon the fynger of Zorobabel. Augustine teacheth this largely,Against [...] b. 7. ch 8. the like plētifully vnto Cres co the Grā maria [...]. tellinge the Donatists, that the 4. Riuers of Paradise (though appointed for watring it, yet) they verilie ron downe into Egipt: so equally mynded was he towards the schismatiks his sowle lothed. But all must be no Ghospell with those, which theyr aduersarie preacheth.
But to make the Ground of Brounisme lesse colourable to the allegiants: theyr Suns light hath giuen afalse shyne, and thus it is: First they tell vs, that in raising vp this Church-ministerie lay-men may ordaine by Laying on hāds and consecrating the partie to such businesse. That this is but a dreame, I haue all 1 Tim. [...]. 22 Tit. 15. Act. 6. 6. [...] 14. 23. cheirote [...]è santes, signi fying ordination by hans: seing scripture neuer speaketh of Election by lifting vp hands. rules in scripture ād consent of all Auncients, and all Churches in this age against them. Are they not like to haue a sound platforme of externall church-order that begin in such disorder? Sec they tell vs of a Doctor exercised in the Church her peculiar exercises, and that in deliuering doctrin, vpō whome (in the secōd place) the Pastor must iump in with his exhortatiō (distinguishing Doctor ād Pastor only by Doctrine ād Exhortation which rather ought to be reconciled by 1 Cor. 14. 26.) hauing for this only a poore sermon [Page] written on Rom. 12. 3. &c. misapplyinge verse. 7. thertof as also the end of verse 8. for [...] cleon is the Male gender (he that is mercifull) & so they censure others for lack of Chr. ministry yer they knoe [...]is ministrie Men-widowes: here against I haue the concordance of scripture and the voice of all Churches: who acknowledge no Doctor, peculiarly, distinct) but him of the Schooles: much lesse did euer any dreame of menwidowes in one age or other. Thirdly (taking for graunted, (which is false to me who can proue a visible Church in all ages) that all our synagogues were builded by Anti-christ to Idolatrie and therfore symply vnlawfull for a christian therein to pray or teach. Besides the first may not be graunted, I iudge theyr doctrine Iuish: and after a sort to be a denyall of Christ com in the flesh, and opposit to those scriptures, Iohn 4. 21. 23. 1 Tim. 2. 8. & 4. 4. Coloss. 2. 20. &c. Isa. 23. 17. 18 Micah 4. 13. with others: and heare againste hath bene the practise of the Church euer synce such was builded. Fourthly, they teach a man after the first excommunication, he is to be held an enemie. And to this end, where Mr Barrowe had in his description of the Church placed that of the Apostle (2. Thess. 3. 15.) after excommunication, they in reprintinge it last yeare (but subtilly giuing it tholde date, as if he had bene of theyr mynd: although both he, Mr Penry, Mr Greenwood wold haue shamed to stand in this and others theyr cōdemnations) Against the 9. comma [...]ndement. they do place that Apostolicall Canon before [...]), because they wold quickly ridde their hand▪ of brotherly admonishments: as for all scripture and [...] the Catholike church it is euer against them. As thei begin theyr discipline so they finish it in Censures vn-ruly: neither beginning nor ending with anie harmonie of scripture or consent of anie church. To omit other inventions of theyrs if now Corah, Dathan and Abiram do seeke for offices by a lawe of theyr owne makinge: trobling the Chatholicall Church with theyr start-vp inventions, though they schismed not from the vniversall body (vvhich they haue) the vniuersall church of Israell is bound in payne of death vpon the insight of theyr insurrection to depart from theyr tēts, againste whome alredy a deuouring fire is gone out from Iehouahs presence. So far are they from beinge fitte to sit as Iudges on all others: or fitte to prescribe rules of direction to all Churches. But let them (if they can) afforde vs thinterpretation of any one Riddle in the Ghospell, which they did not synd out by psowing with Samson his heifer in England.
Hearing thus that the grounds of Brownisme will nothing sheilter the Reuolts that vse them, let vs heare what Daut [...] [Page] saith of such as are adverse to the Church: They that hate Zion Psal. 129. 5 [...] &c. (the place where god hath put his name There: called by Ezek. ch. vlt. Iehouah-there, because the eternall shold in habit there for euer) they shalbe ashamed & turned backward (ashamed to returne, they shall apostate) They shalbe as the grasse on the howse tops (despising fellowship with the lord his poore people in a lowe estate, it may be because of som weeds, they therefore cry: Isa. 65. 50▪ stand apart, com not nere to me, for I am holier them thow: and so they [...]ount vp alofte, swelling in the bladder of theyr pride, as grasse on the howse tops) which vvithereth before it com forth (these are saith Isaiah a smoke in the lords wrath: they shalbe sodainly destroyed, euen when the mockers, eat and drinke, saying peace vnto his owne sowle: as euery of those hatefull spirits braggeth they neuer had such rest in theyr sowles: but woe to those that are at rest in Zion, much more at rest out of Zion) whereof the Movver filleth not his band (the Man of god may hope to reape such for the Lord his barne, but god his iudgment ceazing on the proud Pharises, the ministers hope shalbe frustrate) neither shall the glainer fill his lappe (nor shall anie of the Church that hope good of them, be otherwise then disapointed) they that passe by (Christian pilgrims who here haue no biding city) neither shall say, The blessing of the LOrd v [...]on yovv, vve blesse yovv in the name of the Lord: like vnto [...]hat commaundement of Iohn, 2 Ioh. 10. Bid him not God speede [...], if he bringe another Ghospell (that is, another found [...]tion of faith) were he saith the Apostle Paul an Angel from heauen, let him be Gal. 1. 8. 9. A nathema, accursed: but those voluntarie Reuolts from the former faith and fellowship, do also teach another Ghospell, therefore to vs ward accursed. Nay som as large conscienced as others strait, do iustifie people of all religions (as did the heretike Eusebiu [...]. b. 5. c. 12. o [...] eccl. hist. Apelles) abusing (as the Deuell did with Iesus) the scripture thereto, saying: Euery spirit that confesseth Ies. Chr. to be com in the flesh, is of God: and so the Deuill which confessed him to be the Son of Dauid in a truer sence then the Anabaptist doth) he is also of god, and they may (as alredy they haue) enter into communion with him. Such doctrine plainli arguinge persōs, willinglie selling themselues to all prophanity and Atheisme: as hauing the eyes of Conscience bored out, and the senses made voyd of felinge, by the searing of an hot iron, the iust smoking vengeance of the inuisible Iehouah.
Question. Those that vnto vs haue synned that voluntary [Page] twofolde syn, are thei not to be received againe into fellowship vpon externall humiliation? ansvver. If they but went bachward in the tyme of persecution, Nouatianus for euer refused them: yet seing the word Willingly hath lead vs to another collection, I answer: if such a one who once semed voluntarily so to haue synned, shall returne with apparant contrition, such cannot be denyed but received: not now as hauing oure verily committed the former twofold syn, but deming by such contrition that the sowle so fell and schismed, eyther before there was such solid assurance of the Ghospells foundation as semed, or because there was som outward coaction (hid vnto vs) which lackinge to the perfecting the syn, now the rather such a one is againe recouered. But all the yeares passed, not one person hath for such syn bene humbled, therefore vnto vs ward theyr recouertes the more to be dispaird of. Leuit. 14. 42. If by outward humiliation such scrape of the former leprosie, let them with new morter and stone be repaired: but if after reparation the plague arise againe, 44. 45. then it is a frettinge leprosy, they but scorners of repentance and no more to be received. Socrates eccles. hist. booke. 3. ch. 11. Ekebolius a Christian Sophist fallinge from the church vnder the bloody raigne of Apostate Iuliā, he after themperours death retorued into the synagogues porch at tyme of Conuention, and there lying prostrate he cries: Tread me vnder foote, for I am the vnsauoury salt. If he sawe himself no better for vnwillinge backsliding, what wil those spirits se ād acknowledge themselues to be if once they haue graunted the heart t [...] repent? meane tyme (as our sauiour saith) we knoe, If salt haue lost his sauionr (it appeareth not by anie reason) vvhere Math. 15. 13. vvith it self can (againe) be salted: but indeed, it is thensforth good for nothinge but to be cast out & to be conculcate of men.
Question. What course is to be taken for auoyding this syn, and by what meanes shold one be ouertaken therewith? Ansvver. This syn stealeth vpon a sowle two ways: either by too much remisnes and sluggishnes, which causeth the Lord to say, Luke. 21. 36. heb. 3. 12 13. 1 Pet. 4. 7 Watch, be sober, exhort one another: or else coms by aboundance of Gall, vntempered heat, ouerflowinge zeale, an ouerweenige of wit and holynes: and this causeth the spirit not only to tell vs before that such wilbe so badly qualifyed (2 Tim. 3: 2. 3. 4) though with face of men and weomens haire they will couer all till they sting, but also to will vs Prov. 26. 16 fynding hony to eat but sufficient, lest being ouerfull vve vomit it vp: as also to enioyne vs Rom. 1 [...]. [...]. not to presume to vnderstand aboue that is meet to vnderstand, but to vnderstand acording to [Page] sobriety. Which not obserued [...]eawseth a man eccl. 7. 18. to be wise & righteous ouermuch, that is, in his owne conceit: and so vnwares causeth him be desolated of the spirit Pro. 13. 9. and his candle put out. The He brues were in the way towards it through neglect of being led forward vnto perfection: and in that pad are swarmes of sowles in England, who after a whiles waking do sit downe as willinge there to stand till mosse groe on theyr heeles, and they as rotten at the Core, as the vulgar Queene Maryes protestant. Once zeale abounded: now Zechariah may againe say, Zech 1. 11 All the world sitteth still and is at rest: and if it wilbe no better, Let them Rest till they Rust: Reuel [...] 11. Let the filthy be more filthy, & the vnrighteous be vnrighterous stil. In the second tract were once all those spirits who vrged me to pen this tractate, although som of them synce, by ronning themselues out of breath, are now deadly cold as those who haue quenched theyr spirits. There is an errour on the right hand (as when a Bow bends till it breaks) and an errour on the left hād: as when with Salomon his sluggard one cryes. Prou. 24. 33. 34. A litle sleepe, a litle slumber, a litle folding the hands to sleep, so (spirituall) beggery as a truailer & armed man coms vpon him. Pro. 28. 14 Blessed therefore the man that always feareth: seing with feare and trembling he is to worke out his saluation. And yet not so, but he is to Psa. 2. 11. reioyce in his tremblinge.
If I haue well said, wisdom wilbe iustified of her children: if not let the righteous sinite me, it shabe a benefit. The loue of Christian faith and fellowship, oh my God thow knoes it vrged me to write this. Water it therefore O Lord to the sowles of the Readers. Let them consider what I haue said, and do thow giue them vnderstanding in all things.