A iustification of separation from the Church of England Against Mr Richard Bernard his invective, intituled; The separatists schisme. By Iohn Robinson.

First, that our way is not the way of God; 2. that if is were, yet wee* 1.1 have not spoken to all your Church, & made it known to all, nor haue found all hard hearted: and 3. that the place teacheth separation from such obsti∣nate wicked, which will not bee wonne to the Church: and that▪ here is a de∣parting of some true members of the Church, from such as be not the Church, but not of members of the true Church, forsaking mēbers of the true Church.

That our way is the way of God, appeareth by this very scrip∣ture* 1.2 amongst many others: wherein also wee haue both the refor∣mists at home, and reformed Churches abroad giving testimony with vs for the substance of it. But put the case ours be not, yet if the way of the reformed Churches be the way of God, our separa∣tion is justified by this scripture. For first, your convocatiō house & Church representative is hardened against the way of the refor∣med

Churches, blaspheming, and persecuting it, and all them that eyther seek, or plead for it. And their act, being the cheif, is, by your own graunt, to be accounted the act of all, though the rest come not* 1.3 to consent: so that you are all, by your own words, to be acounted a disobedient, and hardened people, vpon the former praemises, namely, that the way of the reformed Churches, is the way of God. But howsoever it be eyther with vs, or them▪ yet if that “ 1.4 narrow way, whereof Christ speakes, that leads vnto life, be the way of God, then surely there are thowsands in your nationall Church, & many in every parish Ch: in the kingdom, which speak evill of the way of God, yea hate and persequute it to the vtmost of their power, and all them, that endeavour in any uprightnes to walk in it. Where∣of you your self also Mr B. in former dayes haue had experience: though for the opposing, reviling, and persequuting of vs, you▪ and they agreed well, & like Herod, & Pylate were made freinds. Now if wee separate from all them which thus disobey, and speak evill of the way of God, wee know too well, wee can have no cō∣munion with any assembly in the Land. Lastly, you are greatly o∣verseen in saying that Pauls separation was not from the Church, nor members of the true Church. It was from the Church of the Iewes, & the members of that Church with whom formerly he had held cō∣manion, as the true Church of God; which for this their disobe∣dience,* 1.5 and vnbeleif, were broken off, and so afterwards in deed to be reputed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr B.
• * 1.2

  Answ.
• * 1.3

  Pag. 145.
• “ 1.4

  Mat. 7.
• * 1.5

  Rom. 11.