Gods arrovve against atheists. By Henrie Smith

Against Schisme and Schismaticall Synagogues, CHAP. VI. (Book 6)

MAny there bée who of a godly and zea∣lous minde, do in good sort séeke for Re∣formation and for that Church gouer∣ment, which Christ himselfe hath insti∣tuted in his Church, whome I neither dare, nor do remoue: others there bée, that séeke Re∣formation amisse, with venemous and 〈…〉〈…〉 tongues, railing, and reuiling against those which with stand it, which thinges doe neither grace them∣selues, nor yet the cause which they would preferre,

other some there bée, who to make the cause of refor∣mation odious, do say that it abolisheth hir Maiesties supreme gouerment & authoritie in causes ecclesiasti∣call: I would wish all men to speake the truth, and to séeke the preferment of Gods truth in a dutifull, peac∣able, & charitable sort, let the cause be made no worse than it is, for my part I desire no more, then euery Christian ought, namely that the truth of God should carrie the preheminence (whatsoeuer it bee.

And I would to God that all malice and contenti∣on) all of all parts would grow more charitablye af∣fected both in their words and in their writings, one towardes another: for so would this controuersie sooner come to an end, and the more speedily bée deci∣ded. Others there bée (who for that in so long time they cannot sée their desired discipline and Church go∣uerment to bée established, runne from our Church, and make a schisme and seperation from vs, erecting Disciplne by their owne authoritie, condemning our Church to bée no Church, that they may make their detestable Scisme the more allowable: these are the Brownists and Barrowists, who will not staye the chiefe Magistrates pleasure for the establishing thereof, nor yet allow vnto vs any Church in Eng∣land, but themselues, But they (for against them I deale) you must vnderstand that a Church may bée, yea a true Church may bée and is, though it haue neither Elders, nor Deacons, nor Disciplines in it. For wée reade in Act. 2. ver. 41.42.43.47. of an ass••mblie of people of Ierusalem, that receaued the word of God and beléeued, and which are expres∣ly called a Church, (and who can or dare deny them to be the true Church of God, sith the Holy Ghost doth so testefie of them? & yet at that time no Dea∣cons

were chosen, nor consistories of Elders erected. For they were not erected till afterward. And there∣fore a true Church of God may bee: though as yet it haue not these, for this desired Discipline is not an essentiall part of the Church, for it doth but resem∣ble the wall of a Citie, or an hedg or ditch about a vineyeard, and it is a Citie though the wall be wan∣ting, and it is a vineyeard though the hedg or ditch be wanting: though so much the lesse fortified I grant. In asmuch therefore as wee haue the preaching of Gode holy word, and the right administration of the Sacraments (which bee the essentiall markes of the true Church.) None ought to forsake our Church for any other defect, corruption, or imperfection. For there may bée corruptions both in Doctrine and Discipline some, and yet the Church where they be, the true Church of God. Admit (if they will) that Ministers in the Church of England bee not rightly created and brought into the Church, will they there∣fore count they be no Ministers? By as good an ar∣gument they may say•• that hee that is brought and borne into the world not according to the right course or order of nature, but otherwise (as by ripping of his Mothers belly) is no man, for the one commeth as vnorderly into the world as the other doth into the Church, I am sure the corrupt ordination of a Mini∣ster doth not proue him to bée no Minster: Neither doth any other corruption in our Church take away the life and béeing of a Church: for if a man bee dis∣eased and full of corruptions, Will any man there∣fore say he is no man? They say wée doe not onely want the right Discipline; but wee haue also put a wrong Discipline in the place thereof. But what of thi••: The error then I confesse is great, but yet not

such as doth make a Nullitie of our Church, so long as it holdeth Christ Iesus, the life and soule of his Church, and is ready to reforme hir errour, when∣soeuer by good proofe it shall bee manifested vnto hir. In the meane time their argument is nothing worth, for if a man loose a legge or arme; yet none will deny him to bée a man, for all this blemish or defect, yea though hee put a wodden legge instéede of his legge which hée wanteth, yet he remaineth a man still, be∣cause his principall parts remaine. So though wée want that Discipline, yet wée haue the principall parts of the Church, namely the right preaching of the word of God and administration of Sacraments & therefore a true Church of God vndoubtedly. And if we haue a true Church, though not a perfect church let the Brownists & Barrowists consider from whence they are fallen, for if the Church of Christ bée the bo∣dy of Christ, as Saint Paull affirmeth: ▪ what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they els but by their schisme and seperation sent thē∣selues from the body of Christ? and then let them re∣member whose members they be vntil they be ••••••ni∣sed. Let them no longer for sh••••••e charge ou•• Church with Idolatry, except they were better able to prooue it, which neither they nor all the wor•• shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉. To say (as they say) that a set forme of prayer vsed in the Church and exhibited vnto God, the prayer being framed according to the rule of Gods word is Idolat∣ry: is detestable. For by as good reason they may condemne al prayer made vnto God by the Preacher or Pastor of the Congregation, which they wil not doe: And besides all the reformed Churche•• in Chri∣stendome haue a set forme of publike praiers for pub∣like meetings and Congregations.

They say that we obserue Saints daies, and de∣dicate

Churches vnto them, but they should shewe that wée doe these thinges in Honour of the Saints, else haue they no reason to that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Church with Idolatrye (as wickedly they doe:) for the Statute it selfe doth expresse, that our Church doth call them Holy-daies, not for the Saints sake, but for the Holy exercises vsed vpon them in the publike assemblies. Againe: True it is, that diuers Churches amongst vs are called by the name of those Saintes they are dedicated vn∣to: But to say therefore wee doe Dedicate Chur∣ches vnto them, is very ridiculous. For when wee call Saint Peters Church, or Saint Paules Church: It is but to Distinguish them from o∣ther Churches by their names.

In Athens there was a place which bare the name of Mars, and Saint Luke in Act. 17. calleth it Mars ••••xeete, so any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••e••••re so foolish, or so fond, as to say therefore bee commit∣teth Idolatry, or that therefore bee Dedicated that place to that heathen God of battaile. Done I thinke will bee so wicked or absurde.

Moreouer it is true that we obserue Fasting daies: But therein we obserue no Romish fasts, nor place therein the worshippe of God, nor the Remissi∣on of our Sinnes, nor the merits of Eternall life (as the Papistes doe). That the Politike lawes of this land which ••••••out that men shall not eate flesh vpon certaine daies, doe it in respect of the Common-wealth, as to maintaine Nauigation so much the better, and for the spare of the breed of young cattell, appointing moreouer a pennaltie for such as shall take the dayes to bee obserued as meri∣torious Romish fasts.

I therefore wish them to cease their slander against this Church, & to cease their damnable schisme, & to bée reconciled to that Church of ours, from whence they haue foolishly departed, for howe imperfecte a Church soeuer it bée (whose imperfections God cure in his good time, yet shall they neuer bée able to shew otherwise but that the Church of England, is the true Church of God, from which it is vtterly vnlaw∣full to make a seperation, God for giue vs al, and re∣concile vs vnto him. Amen.

FINIS.