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

Thus much of the 4. Argument. The 5. followeth, the summe whereof is, that, bycause the Ministers of the English assemblies, teach true, and sound doctrine in the root, and fundamentall points of religion, they* 1.1 are therefore the true Ministers of Christ. And that sound doctrine is the triall of a true Minister, Mr B. would prove from these scriptures,* 1.2 1 Tim. 4. 6. Ier. 23. 22.

Of the vnsound doctrine of your Church, and that more speci∣ally in the fundamentall points of religion, “ 1.3 others have spoken at large formerly, and something is by me hereafter to be spoken: for the present therefore this shall serve, that, since † 1.4 Christ Iesus not onely as Preist, and Prophet, but as King, is the foundation of his Church: and that the visible Church is * 1.5 the kingdome of Christ; the doctrines towching the subiects, government, officers, & lawes of the Church, can be no lesse then fundamentall doctrines of the same Church, or Kingdome. Which how vnsound they are with you, appears in your Canons ecclesiasticall composed for that pur∣pose. Which if your ministers preach, they preach vnsound doc∣trine, and strike at a mayn pillar of religion, viz: the visible † 1.6 Church of God, which is the pillar, and ground of truth, as the Apostle speaketh:

if not, then are they schismatiques in, and frō your Church, whose solemn doctrines they refuse to publish.

Now bycause Mr Bern. every where beares himself big vpon the sound doctrines taught by the ministers in England, and in this place brings in two scriptures to warrāt their Ministery vpō this groūd, let vs a litle consider of the scriptures, and of the intent of them, and what verdict they give in on his side. In the one place, the Prophet * 1.7 Ieremy reproves the Preists and Prophets, for not dea∣ling faithfully with the people, in laying before them their abho∣minations, and Gods judgements due unto the same, that so they might haue turned from their evil wayes, and from the wickednes of their* 1.8 inventions; but for flattering them on the contrary, in their iniqui∣ties, and for preaching peace vnto them, for the strengthening of their* 1.9 hands in evil. Now if the Ministers in England be measured by these mens line, they will appear to ly levell with thē in a great measure.

For first, the greatest part of them by far, declare not the Lords word at all vnto the people, but are tonguetyed that way, some through ignorance, some through idlenes, & many through pride. And of them which preach how many are there mere men-plea∣sers, flattering the mighty with vayn, and plausibly words, and strengthening the hands of the wicked; and with prophane, and malicious spirits, reviling, and disgracing all sincerity in all men: adding vnto these evils a wicked conversation, by which they fur∣ther the destruction of many, but the conversion of none. And lastly, for those few of more sound doctrine, and vnblameable cō∣versation, let these things be considered.

First, they are reputed schismatiques in the Church of Engl: & * 1.10 are generally excōmunicated ipso facto, & so wil appear to be to any that compares their practise with the ecclesiasticall lawes of that Church.

2. They do with these sound doctrines mingle many errours:* 1.11 yea the same things which in the generall they teach, and professe, they do in the particulars, but specially in their practise, gainsay, & deny.

3. As they declare the Lords will vnto the people but by halves, and* 1.12 keep back a great part of his counsel, which they know is profitable for them, & wherin they would walk with them, were it not for fear of persecution,

so are they ready to de silenced, & to smother the whole counsel of the L., & not to speak one word more in his name vnto the peo∣ple vpon ••h••ir Lord Bishops inhibition: which (were they perswa∣ded in their consciences they were sent of God) I suppose they durst not do. Of which more in the seventh Argument.

Now for that in Tim. 1. Epist. 4. ch. ver. 6. if the doctrine of the Ministers agree with the doctrine, and practise of the Ch: they will appear liker to them, of whom Paul speaks, ver. 3. then to Timothy, ver: 6. If it be sayd, that the Church of England, for∣bid▪ not mariage, & vse of meates absolutely, but in certayn respects; I answer, no more doth the Church of Rome, but to certeyn persons, and at certeyn times: against whō notwithstanding all Protestants do apply this scripture: and so doth the Church of England forbid them; though more sparingly (as good reason the daughter come something behind the mother) as mariage to fel∣lowes in Colledges, and to Apprentices, and to all at certeyne tymes, especially at Lent: during which holy time, the eating of flesh is also forbidden, and abstinence commaunded, and that in incitation of * 1.13 Christs f••••ting for our sakes fourty dayes, and fourty nightes; and that for a religious vse, namely the subd••ing of the flesh vnto the spirit, for the better obedience of godly motto••s in righteousnes, & true holynes, as the Collect for the first sunday in Lent witnesseth.

But admit the Ministers of Engl: taught foundly in all the mayn points of religion, as I acknowledge some doe in the most, yet did this no way prove them true Ministers of Christ, that is, lawfully called to true offices in the Church.

In what mayn point of religion (as you valew points) could Co∣rah be chalenged? and yet he was no true Preist of the Lord, but* 1.14 an vsurper of that office▪ v. 10. 11. as on the contrary, they were* 1.15 true Preists, in respect of their office, who deceived the people here, and every where, as the scriptures manifest. So that both he, which is no true minister of Christ, may teach the ma••n truthes of reli∣gion: and he also that is a true Minister, may erre greatly, & yet not presently cease to bear both the place, and name of a true mi∣nister of Christ. Otherwise all Ministers are Popes, that cannot err.

To end this Argument, Mr B. in both his books vvould have probation, and tryall to be made of a mans gifts, and graces before he be

admitted into the ministery. And not onely he, but Paul himself a∣mongst, & above the rest, requires, * 1.16 aptnes to teach and † 1.17 ability to ex∣hort with wholesome doctrine: and as this gift must be in him, so must it be known to be in him, before he can be lawfully called into the ministery▪ and this Mr B. affirms expresly, and that by the exercise of this gift, his knowledge, zeal and vtterance, is to be manifested. Where∣vpon I conclude that, if tryall by sound doctrine must be made of them, which are no ministers at all (as indeed it must in the exer∣cise of prophesying) then cannot sound doctrine be any sufficient tryall, that is proof, or Argument, of a true minister.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr. B.
• * 1.2

  Answ.
• “ 1.3

  Mr Ioh. Answ. to Mr Iacob. pag. 46. 47. 48. &c. 157▪ 158. &c.
• † 1.4

  1 Cor. 3. 11
• * 1.5

  Mat. 13. 11. 19. 24. 31. 33. & 21. 5. 43. Act. 1 3.
• † 1.6

  1 Tim. 3. 14.
• * 1.7

  Ch. 23. 22. ver. 11
• * 1.8

  v. 22.
• * 1.9

  v. 14. 17.
• * 1.10

  I.
• * 1.11

  II.
• * 1.12

  III.
• * 1.13

  Book of Cōmon pr.
• * 1.14

  Num. 16.
• * 1.15

  Ier. 23. 11.
• * 1.16

  1. Tim. 3. 2.
• † 1.17

  Tit. 1. ••