A defence of the Holy Scriptures, worship, and ministerie, used in the Christian Churches separated from Antichrist Against the challenges, cavils and contradiction of M. Smyth: in his book intituled The differences of the Churches of the Separation. Hereunto are annexed a few observations upon some of M. Smythes censures; in his answer made to M. Bernard. By Henry Ainsworth, teacher of the English exiled Church in Amsterdam.

Replie.

Behemoth is so big that he “ trusteth to draw up Iarden into his mouth; but no beast (I trow) weeneth that he can drink up all the waters of the sea. Korah thought so wel of his † holynes and abilitie, that though he were but an ordinarie Levite, he could doe the Preists office also: but I never heard of man til now, that could perform al the actions that are to be doon in a church. The Apostles could not tend to two offices therein at once, but got others to doe one; & notwithstanding complayned of their inabilitie in that, saying “ who is sufficient for these things? And may one person now per∣form al actions? needs must the works become much more easie; or the person that dooth them, much more mightie, then any that lived in the Apostles time. How ever it may be in distresse and ex∣tremitie, that one man may do som things one after another, about al these actions, yet perform them he cannot. And who but one strik∣en † with madnes and blindnes and astonying of hart, (as Moses did pro∣phesie) to grope at noon day, as the blind gropeth in darknes, could read this scripture Rom. 12. and the other places cited, & gather such a doc∣trine from them? The Apostles purpose in Rom. 12. is to perswade unto vertue, among vertues specially to sobrietie or modestie, which bewtifieth al good actions. Hereunto he perswadeth by this, that e∣very man hath but his part and mesure from God, & one hath not al. This he confirmeth by the similitude of the “ body, whose mem∣bers have not al one office or action, but many: † so is it with the church; for God hath given divers gifts unto the many members or per∣sons of the same; some have simplie the gift of prophesie, which they

may use to the edifying of the church, some have an † office or mini∣sterie also whereunto they are appointed and must attend. Some are Teachers, some Exhorters, some Distributers, some Rulers, some shewers of mercy. Every one of these must look to the administration and dispensation of his gift, in sobrietie, according to the measure and vocation that he hath from God, for the good of the whole body of the church.

The like doctrine is taught again, 1 Cor. 12. 4. 5. 8—12. &c. Now let him that readeth consider, whither M. Sm, doctrine that one per∣son may perform al these, be not as directly opposite to the Apostles meaning and scope, as darknes to light? But he hath yet more to an∣swer.

Notes

• “

  Iob. 40. 10. 18.
• †

  Num, 16. 1. 3. 10.
• Act. 6. 2 3, 4.
• “

  2 Cor. 2. 16.
• †

  Deut. 28. 28. 29.
• ver. 3.
• “

  ver. 4.
• †

  ver. 5.
• ver. 6.
• †

  ver, 7.
• ver. 8.