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

Our sixt sin by retayl Mr B. makes our rayling and scoffing, and in* 1.1 particular H. Barrowes blasphemyes, &c. whose repentance he would have vs publish to the world

If I should answerably require of you the publication of the* 1.2 repentance of your Clergy not onely for the cruel speakings, but even for the wicked deeds, which vngodlily they have committed against Christ in his servants, and ordinances, it were an hard tax put vpon you. Yea to spare you for other men, do you but publish your owne repentance for the same ••innes (wherein you are deeply set) and without doubt your godly example shall provoke many to the like.

And for Mr Barrow, as I say with Mr Ainsworth, that I wil not iustify all the words of an other man no•• yet myne owne, so say I also with Mr Smyth, that because I know not by what particular motion of the spirit he was guided to write in those phr••ses, I dare not censure him as you do: es∣pecially considering with what fyery zeale the Lord hath furnished such his servants at all tymes, as he hath stirred vp for speciall re∣formation. Let the example of Luther alone suffice, whom into what termes his zeale carryed, his writings testify. And yet both in him, and in Mr Barrow there might be with true spirituall zeal ••leshly indignation mingled.

And though this in generall might be sufficient, yet for the stop∣ping of your mouth Mr B. and for the satisfying of others, I will discend a little to the very particulars, which you have c••lled out a∣gainst Mr Barrow as most odious.

First then you fault him that he calles your Bishops Antichristi∣an prowd Prelates, and the tayl of the beast, &c.

And what are they but Antichristian, if their office be against Christ, and his ordinances in the visible Church? And what els do all the reformed Churches abroad and reformists at home iudge, speak, & write of them? And what thought you Mr B. otherwise of them, when even since you dealt against this cause of separatiō, you affirmed before many witnesses that there was not a place in the new testamēt against Antichrist, but you could apply it against thē?

And because you are come to this height of boldnes & depth of dissembling, I will here insert brei••ly certayne reasons which I re∣ceaved from your self in wryting to prove the Bishops Antichristi∣an, and that word for word as I have reserved them by me to this day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr B.
• * 1.2

  Answ.