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

Our first supposed sin is that wofull entrance before named, for which I refer the reader to that which hath been before answered.

But they in England (sayth Mr B.) enter by baptisme renouncing* 1.1 the Divill and sin. So do the Papists as loud as they, and with as ma∣ny godfathers and godmothers, crossing and blessing themselves against the Divill, and all his works as much as they do. And for the renunciation of Gods mercy and all good men, and good things in them in the Church of England: because we refuse communion there, it is a foule charge layd vpon vs, but to which we are no more lyable, then were the Levites when they forsook Ieroboams Church and repayred to Ierusalem † 1.2 the place which the Lord had chosen. For in Israell which they forsook were to be found both good persons and things. 1 King. 14. 13. and 19. 18.

Now where in the last place Mr B. chargeth vs not to make vnclean what God hath cleansed Act. 10. 1••. we on the contrary advise him not to account that clean, which sinn and Antichrist doth defyle.

Let him or any other man on earth shew vnto vs by the word of God that a Church gathered and consisting of persons for the most part defyled with all manner of impiety, is clensed by God,

or that the dayly sacrifice the service book is as a lamb without spot, or that the spirituall courts so miscalled, are sanctified of God for the government of his kingdome on earth, or that the Court keepers the Archflamins and Flamins the Provinciall and Dio∣cesan Bishops with theyr Chauncelers Commissaryes Archdea∣cons and other officers are his holy ones vpon whome he hath put his Vrim and Thummim, and then let vs beare our rebuke if we do not returne to the Church of England and humble ourselves vnder her hand, as Hagar did her selfe vnder the hand of her mis∣tresse, Gen. 16. 9.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ans.
• † 1.2

  2 Ca. ••1. 13. 14.