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A FEW OBSERVATI∣ONS UPON SOME OF M. SMYTHES Censures, in his answer to M. Bernard.
Mr Smyth in his “ late book, caled Parallels, censures &c. seeks occasion to censure some things which I had written in an∣swer to Mr. Bern. but cheifly insisteth upon the question of ecclesi∣astical goverment, wherabout he chargeth me with antichristianisme. If it were not for others that may stumble at this reproch, I would bear it in silence; minding my adversarie so fickle and unconstant, as he holdeth almost to nothing that himself hath written; and I would restin Gods work, who as already he hath made this man † like unto a wheel, so, if he repent not, in due time will make him † like stubble before the wind. For from the faith which he defended in that his book he presently after, in great mesure fel away himself. The constitutiō of our Church, (in which estate himself then professed to be with us,) he writeth of it thus “ I am bould to pronounce &c. our true constitution to be the most honorable and bewtiful ornament of our Church; more glorious then our true Ministerie, worship, and goverment. Contrary to this, a few dayes after, he setts out The character of the Beast, wher∣in (having dissolved & forsaking his former true and glorious constitu∣tion,) he exclaimeth against us, (as before I haue shewed,) as having a false Church falsly constituted, and therfore no one ordinance of the Lord true among us. Thus † Wormwood fell from heaven.
Agayn in this answer to Mr. Bernard he acknowledgeth, “ the apostate Church of the 10. tribes in the old Testament to be a Church falsly constituted; and so the Churches of Antichrist in the N. Testament: con∣traryweise in his Character of the Beast, seking shifts for his anabaptis∣me, he sayth † Israels apostasie did not destroy the true constitution of the Church, but Antichrists doeth, &c. I leave these and other like flowers of contradiction, for others to gather that deal in that controversie. Onely because his answer to Mr. Bern. seemeth to be written in de∣fence of our cause, and so may be taken of posteritie: I would have the reader take notice, that the silver there is mixt with drosse and the wine, with the gal of aspes. As where Mr. Sm. sayth, that “ to the constitution of the typical Church, (meaning the church of Israel) there was not required true holynes but ceremonial cleannes. This is a false