Covnterpoyson considerations touching the poynts in difference between the godly ministers and people of the Church of England, and the seduced brethren of the separation : argvments that the best assemblies of the present church of England are true visible churches : that the preachers in the best assemblies of Engl. are true ministers of Christ : Mr. Bernards book intituled The Separatists Schisme : Mr Crashawes questions propounded in his sermon preached at the crosse / examined and answered by Henry Ainsworth.

Anwser.

THe assumption or 2, part of your argument that such are the Minis∣ters of your best assembli••s, is denyed; for these reasons.

1 In Ephes 4. it is sayd, He, (that is Christ,) gaue but your mi∣nisters are giuen by the Bishops: and for disobed••ence to them, are ta∣ken away agayn from your parishes: Christ never gaue such hirelings

2. The ministers mentioned in Eph. 4, are Apostl••s Propets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers. Your min••sters are none of these, but Priests, Parsons Vicars, &c. whose very names, besides their offices, calling &c.) shew them to be from Antichr••st.

3. Your ministers gather not the Saints, but persecute and scatter them as we know by experiēce: they gather (or keep being gathered) a cōfused idolatrous multitude, svch as is in their parishes: the right way of gathe∣ring a church by separation from the world, they know not, or will not acknowledge.

4. They doe not the work of Christs ministery, which is aright to dis∣pense the word, seales, censures &c according to the scriptures: but the work of Antichrists ministery, in reading the service book, marying, burying, churching of women, & the like; as in your Leiturgie & other church books are set down.

5. They edify not the body of Christ, but build and fortify the tower of Babel their confused assemblies; which were constituted of ignorant idolatrous papists, and other profane, the very body of Antichrist: but the way of truth and such as walke therein, are evill spoken of by your Ministers, as their books, sermons, conferences &c, dayly shew. For all which reasons, the right conclusion of your argument should be this, that the ministers of your best assemblies. are the ministers of Antichrist.

To proue, your assumption, you giue vs your bare word, saying they do gather the Saints from the reprobats; making a manifest separatiō &c. This is to proue the same by the same: they doe so because they do so; wheras all the world may

may see, they doe not so. For the church of Eng., and parish assemblies thereof, from which we haue departed, consist of all sorts of persons; the ministers stand priests by law to the whole parishes, whereof all are par∣takers of the holy things of God, every one baptized &c. and can you say, they are not then builded in and with your church? And for se∣paration, we know your priests, nor the whole parish, cannot excom∣municate any, be they never so blasphemous, wicked or licentious: that power is in the Bishops courts And how few are excommunicated for their heresies, blasphemies, atheisme or wicked life, who knoweth not: but for wel doing, you haue excommunicated many. And further, if a¦ny of your ministers should goe about to make a separation or gather any other churches or assemblies, then are already by the lawes of the land established and allowed they are ipso facto excommunicated, by force of the Canons of your church; made in Anno 1603. Can. 9, 11, 1••. So still the open wicked remayn edified with the rest in your church, & there is no such separation, as you against all mens knowledge doe pre∣tend. Your argument therefore is no better, then as if Ieroboams priests should thus haue pleaded. Those priests that teach Iacob. Gods iudge∣ments, and Israel his law, that put incense before the face of God, and and b••rnt offrings vpon his alter, are the true priests of God: Deut, 33.10 But these things doe we: therefore we are true priests. If you say their assum••tion is false; the like is sayd of yours; and your works plainly proue your assumption most vntrue.