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

The first person in whome he instanceth is one Boulton, tou∣ching whō he wryteth thus: that he being the first broacher of this way* 1.1 came to as fearefull an end as Iudas did: adding therevpon, that God suffereth not his speciall instruments called forth otherwise then after a com∣mon course to come to such ends.

To this I do first answer, that neither this man was nor any other* 1.2 of vs is called forth by the Lord otherwise then after a cōmon course: even that which is common to all Gods people, which is to come out of Babylon, and to bring theyr best gifts to Syon for the buylding of the Lords temple there.

It is true that Boulton was (though not the first in this way) an Elder of a separated Church in the beginning of Queen Eliza∣beths dayes, and falling away from his holy profession recanted the same at Pauls Crosse, & afterwards hung himself as Iudas did▪ And what marvayl if he which had betrayed Christ in his truth, as Iudas did in his person, came to the same fearefull end which Iudas did?

Nay rather the patience and long suffering of God is to be mervayled at that others also, who eyther have embraced this truth and after faln from it, or refused to submit vnto it when they have both seen and approved it, have not been pursued by the same re∣vengefull hand of God. And for the promise of Gods presence with his, Gen. 12. 3. Math. 28. 20. Ios. 1. 9. it must ever be taken conditio∣nally, viz. whylest they are with him and do his work faythfully as they ought, and no further.

Now touching Browne it is true which Mr B. affirmeth that as he forsook the Lord so the Lord forsook him in his way: and so he did his owne people Israel many a tyme. And if the Lord had not forsaken him he had never so returned back into Egypt as he did to live of the spoyles of it, as is sayd he speaketh.

And for the wicked things (which Mr B. affirmeth) he did in this way, it may well be as he sayth▪ and the more wicked things he committed in this course, the ••esse like he was to continue long in it, and the more like to returne againe to his proper centre the Church of England where he should be sure to find companions ynough in any wickednes, as it came to passe.

Lastly to let passe the vniversall Apostasy of all the Bishops, Mi∣nisters, students in the Vniversityes, yea and of the whole Church of England in Queen Maryes tyme (a handfull onely excepted in comparison) which the Papists might more colourably vrg against Mr B. thē he some few instāces against vs) the fall of † 1.3 Iudas an Apo∣stle,

of * 1.4 Nicholas one of the first 7 Deacōs, of † 1.5 Demas one of Pauls speciall companions in the Ministery, do sufficiently teach vs that there is no cause so holy, nor calling so excellent, which is not sub∣ject to the invasion of paynted, and deceiptfull hyppocrites, whose service the Lord notwithstanding may vse for a tyme till theyr whyting be worne of, & then leave them to their own deceavable ••usts, which will work theyr most wofull downfall: thereby war∣ning his people not to repose too much vpon any mortall man in whome there is no stedfastnes, but to cast theyr eyes vpon him a∣••one and vpon his truth which chaungeth not.

Of Mr Barrow and Mr Greenwoods spirit of rayling (as this man rayleth against them) in another place. Onely let the indiffe∣rent reader iudge whither Mr B. in blazing abroad the personal in∣firmityes of his adversaries without any occasion, neyther sparing the living nor the dead, have not come to the very highest pitch of the most natural rayling that may be. A practise which all sober mynded men do abhor from.

The next that comes in Mr B. way are the two brethren Mr Francis & Mr George Iohnson, whose contentions he exagge∣••ateth what he can to make both their persons and cause odious. True it is that George Iohnson together with his father taking his part, were excommunicated by the Church for contention arising ••t the first vpon no great occasion, wherevpon many bitter and ••eprochful termes were vttered both in word and writing, George ••ecōming (as Mr B. chargeth him) a disgracefull libeller.

It is to vs iust cause of humiliation all the dayes of our lives, ••hat we have given and do give by our differences such advantages ••o them which seek occasion agaynst vs to blaspheme the truth: ••hough this may be a iust iudgment of God vpon others which ••••ek offences, that seeking they may find them to the hardening of ••heyr hearts in evill. But let men turne theyr eyes which way soever ••hey will, and they shall see the same scandalls. Look to the first ••nd best Churches planted by the Apostles themselves, and be∣••old † 1.6 dissentions, scandall, strise, byting one of another.

About two hundred yeares after Christ, what a styrr was there about moone-shyne in water (as we speak) betwixt the East and West Churches, when Victor Bishop of Rome excōmunicated the Churches in Asia for not keeping the Iewish feast of Easter at the same time with the Church of Rome? And to come nearer our own tymes, how bitter was Luther agaynst Swinglius & Calvin in the matter of the Sacrament? & how implacable is the hatred at this day of them whom they call Lutherans against the followers of the other partyes?

Take yet one instance more and in it a view of the very height of humayne fraylty this way. The exiled Church at Frankford in Queen Maryes dayes bred and nourished within it self such con∣tentious, as that one accused another to the Magistrate of treason, wherevpon Mr Knox was compelled to fly for feare of trouble.

I could also alledge to the present purpose the state of the re∣formed Churches amongst which we live, whose violent oppositi∣ons, & fiery cōtentiōs do far exceed all ours: but I take no delight in writing these things, neyther do I think the needles dissenti∣ons which have bene amongst vs the lesse evill because they are so common to vs with others, but these things I have layd downe to make it appeare, that Mr B. here vseth none other weapon agaynst vs then Iewes, and Pagans might have done against Christians, and Papists against such as held the truth against them, yea and then Atheists and men of no religion might take vp against all the pro∣fessions and religions in the world.

And (to go no further) the irrecōciliable emnity betwixt the Pre∣lates & reformists about cap, surplice, crosse and the like, (which the patrons of them acknowledg trifles) might well have stopped Mr B. mouth from vpbrayding any with fyery contentions vpon small occasions.

And touching the heavy sentence of excommunication, by which the father and brother were dilivered vp to the Divill, as Mr B. speaketh, I desyre the reader to consider, that, if excommunication be (as indeed it is) so heavy a sentence and that by it the party sentenced be delivered over to the Divill, the Church of England is in heavy case which playes with excommunications as children do with

rattles. And to allude to the word Mr B. vseth, in what a divelish case are eyther▪ the Prelates and convocation house which have† 1.7 ipso facto excōmunicated all that speak or deale against theyr State, Ceremonyes & servise book, since the curse caus••es falls vpon the head of him from whom it comes, or the reformists, (wherof M. B. would be one by fits) & such as seek for and interprise reformati∣on? And for the particular in hand, howsoever it may seeme an odious thing vnto the naturall man, which savors not the things of God, nor the vnpartiall ordinances of the Lord Iesus, and would be a matter of wonder that a man should censure, or consent to the censuring of his father or brother, in the Church of England, where a good word of a freind or a small bribe may stay the ex∣communication of the grossest offender, yet if there be iust cause (though with extraordinarie sorrow for the occasion) † 1.8 Christ in his ordinance must be preferred before father and brother, yea & mother & sister also. Yea & it shal be the seal of his ministerie upon that sonne which in the observance of the word of the Lord, and in the keep∣ing* 1.9 of his covenant sayth vnto his father, mother, brother, yea & own children, I know you not.

The next Mr. B. obiecteth is Mr Burnet, who, died of the plague in prison, whether he was committed by the Archprelate.

And so did Mr Holland and Mr Parker in the same City at the same tyme, as I remember: and so did Iunius and Trel••atius the two divinity professors at Leyden at an other tyme vpon the same infection. And was the plague Gods fearfull correcting rod vpon these men because their religion was false, or rather would any man knowing the scriptures and the Lords dispensations towards his Church ar∣gue as this man doth? *If iudgment thus begin at Gods house, what shall* 1.10 the end of them be which obey not the gospell of God?

But if Mr B. will bring against vs all the persons which the Bishops have killed in their prisons by this and the like meanes (as David did Vrijah by the sword of the Amonites) he may over∣thwelm vs with witnesses: but his argument shalbe much what of the same nature with that of the Caian haeretiques, which affirme that Cain was a good man, and conceaved by a superiour power vnto Abel, because he prevayled against him, and slew him.

Lastly for Mr Smyth, as his instability & wantonnes of wit is his syn, & our crosse, so let M. B. & all others take heed that it be not their hardning in evill.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr B.
• * 1.2

  Answ.
• † 1.3

  Mat. 26. 14. 19. & 47. 48. 49. & 27. 3. 4. 5.
• * 1.4

  Act. 6. 5. with Rev. •• 15.
• † 1.5

  2 Tim. 4. 10.
• † 1.6

  Rom. 16. 17. 1 Cor. 1. 11. & 3. 3. G••l. 5. 1••.
• † 1.7

  Can. 4. 6. 7. 8.
• † 1.8

  'Math. 10 37.
• * 1.9

  Deut. 33 8. 9.
• * 1.10

  "1 Pet. 4. 17.