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

The 2. allegation made by Mr B. against vvhich I except, is, that the Ministers vvith them have all things in substance required by the word* 1.1 of God for their making, as presentation, election, examination, ordinatiō, with imposition of hands; and that the exceptions wee take are but about circum∣stances onely, and same manner of doing: which do not make a nullity, or

falsity of the deed done.

As we do except against the very office it self, and against the* 1.2 mayn, and most principall works of it, by law required, as works of will-worship, and † 1.3 voluntary religion, so do our exceptions against the very calling, and enterance of your Ministers evince them sufficiently not to be the true Ministers of Christ. “ 1.4 No man takes this honour vnto himself, but he that is called of God, as Aaron. No, Christ himself took not this honour to be made the high Pr••••st, but he that sayd vnto him, thou art my sonne, this day begate I thee, gave it him. And if Christ the Lord of his Church did not take vpon him the solemn administration of his office, till by the Father he was cal∣led thereunto from heaven, it is great presumption for any man (and he a bold vsurper, that so practiseth) to take vpon him any office in the Church, not being chosen and called thereunto by them, which under the Lord, haue received this Charter, thus to call Ministers, which are onely his Church, and people. And by this doctrine of Mr Bern: that faylings in circumstances, and manner of doing, make not a nullity, or falsity of the deed, it should follow, that if a company of Papists, Arians, Anabaptists, or of any other Hae∣retiques, or idolaters should chose, and call a minister, though it were a child, an idiote, yea a woman, & that after the most pro∣phane, and superstitious manner that could be, yet this made no nullity, or falsity of the action, for all were but errours in circum∣stances, and manners of doing. Yea by this trifling, murther, a∣dultery, and all the mischeifs in the world might be defended. If a private person should take upon him without lawfull authori∣ty to be a judge, and should condemn the inocent, and justify the guilty person, all the evill were but in the circumstances of persons judging, and judged. If a man gaue his body to the wife of ano∣ther man, the evill were but circumstantiall, he might haue done it to another person, namely his own or proper wife. What cō∣fusion would these excuses of circumstances onely, & manner of doing things, bring over all estates, if they were admitted of? Of this mis∣cheif I haue spoken, pag. 21. 22. 23. 37.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr B.
• * 1.2

  Answ.
• † 1.3

  Col. 2. 23.
• “ 1.4

  Heb. 5. 4. 5.