A dissuasive from the errours of the time wherein the tenets of the principall sects, especially of the Independents, are drawn together in one map, for the most part in the words of their own authours, and their maine principles are examined by the touch-stone of the Holy Scriptures / by Robert Baylie ...

The Testimonies.

(A) Anatomy of Independency, pag. 24. That Independent Church at Roterdam, was formerly under Presbyterial Government, and conformable to the Dutch Churches, and had onely begun to de∣cline in Master Peters his time.

(B) Antap. p. 17. Master Bridge and Master Burrows were men judged conformable, till the yeer of Bishop Wrens visitation, and the sending down of his Injunctions to Norwich.

(C) Ibid. Master Bridge fell suddenly into the Church-way, as the short space between his Suspension at Norwich and his being re∣ceived into a Church at Roterdam, and thereupon, his first Letter to some of his old friends in Norwich will fully shew.

(D) Anatom. pag. 23. They, all renounced their Ordination in England, and ordained one another in Holland; first Master Bridges ordained Master Ward, and then immediately Master Ward or∣dained Master Bridges.

(E) Antap. pag. 142. Master Simpson after some time of be∣holding the order and way of the Church at Roterdam, desired to be admitted a Member, and was upon his Confession received in.

(F) Ibid. Master Simpson stood for the Ordinance of prophe∣cying, and that the people on the Lords day should have liberty after the Sermon to put doubts and questions to the Ministers. Mr. Bridge opposed: Yet he yeelded so far, that the Church should meet on a week day, and then they should have that liberty; but this would not satisfie Master Simpson; whereupon the difference increased, and Master Simpson would abide no longer, but quitted that Church: and with the help of a woman, whom Master Bridge called the Foundresse of Master Simpsons Church, set up a Church against a Church.

(G) Mistresse Bridge laid these bitter differences and reports so to heart, that they were a great means of her death.

(H) Ibid. Whether Master Bridges weaknesse and distempers were not occasioned by the divisions and wicked scandals raised upon him, as well as by the Air of Roterdam, himself knows best.

Ibid. p. 143. Ʋpon Master Simpsons renting from the Church, and setting up a Church against a Church, under Mr. Bridges nose; and upon wicked reports raised about Master Bridges, there grew that bitternesse, evil speakings, and deep censurings, deadly feuds amongst these Ministers and their Churches, as never was more betwixt the Jews and the Samaritans. Master Bridge confessed to me, there were not such sharp tongues, nor bitter divisions as these.

Anatom. p. 6. Of these reproachings Master Bridges hath found notable experience at Roterdam, to the tyring out of his spirit amongst them there, in so much as he hath been often heard to affirm, That if he had known at first what he met with afterward, he would never have come amongst them, nor being amongst them, have given them such liberty as he had.

(I) Antap. p. 35. Master Ward, Master Bridges colleague and old friend at Norwich, was deposed from his Ministery, and Of∣fice by Master Bridges Church, for frivolous matters.

(K) Antap. p. 184. I much wonder how you can call the meet∣ing of Master Goodwin and Master Nye, with two Gentlemen more, calling Master Bridge with the rest of that Church supposed to be De∣linquents, such a solemn Assembly.

(L) Apol. Naration, p. 20. The Ministers of the Church of∣fended, with other two Gentlemen of much worth, Members thereof,

were sent as Messengers from that Church, and at the introduction, and entrance of that solemn Assembly; the solemnity of which, hath left as deep an impression upon our hearts of Christs dreadful presence, as ever any we have been present at.

(M) Antap. p. 141. I desire to know whether Master Ward after he was restored, did, as formerly, officiate in that Church, and how long; and whether Master Bridge and he continued as fellow••Mini∣sters; and whether between them two, and between the Church and Master Ward, there was that mutual carriage that ought to be be∣tween fellow-Ministers, and Ministers and People.

(N) Anatom. pag. 49. The way of Ʋnion of th••se Churches could never be found till the Magistrates Authority and Command found it.

(O) Anato. p. 6. These two Churches being of late commanded by the Magistrates of Roterdam to unite again in one, and that Church whereof Master Simpson was Minister, being unwilling to joyn to the other, unlesse some Members thereof should be cut off first, especially one; and the Church whereof that party was a Member, be∣ing willing to gratifie the other in this, and yet professing and attesting as an act of the whole Church by writing, That all the time he had been a Member, his conversation had been without offence: Yet their Teacher was forced as himself confessed with grief of heart, having nothing to except against the person, to urge him to take his dismission from the Church.

(P) Ibid. Adde hereunto the defection of some of their Mem∣bers to Anabaptism▪ and how apt others of them are to be made a prey therein, more then the Members of other Reformed Churches, as late instance hath manifested, some having professed Master Simpsons principles have made them Anabaptists.

(Q) Anatom. p. 24. They cannot shew us such a fraternity be∣tween them and any Reformed Church, as I am (and I beleeve truely) informed, Master Simpsons Church (whether by him or after his time by Master ••imons, I have not enquired) entered into with th••se of the ••eparation at Amsterdam, by a mutual covenant and agreement to own each other. I beleeve it to be by vertue of that Covenant, that some of their Members, not Officers of the Church, do publikely Preach in Master Canns Pulpit at Amsterdam.

(R) Antap. p. 51. I can tell you how some of you who have not Churches here in London, go to separate Churches to partake of the Lords Supper.

Ibid. p. 56. Instance hath been given me particularly by a great friend of yours now in London; that when some of you have come to Amsterdam, you never would go to Master Herrings, a good old Non∣conformist, but you have gone to Master Cann the Separatist, and to his Church.

Ibid. For their going to the Brownists, and conversing with Master Cann more then us, that is undeniable.

(S) Apol. Narration, p. 5. Whose sincerity in their way hath been testified before the world, and will be unto Generations to come, by the greatest undertaking but that of our Father Abraham out of his own Countrey, and his Seed after him.

(T) Vide supra. L.

(V) Apol. Nar. p. 3. In this inquiry we looked upon the Word of Christ as impartially and unprejudicedly, as men made of flesh and blood are like to do in any juncture of time that may fall out.

(X) Ibid. p. 22. We lost some friends and companions, our fellow-Labourers in the Gospel, as precious men as this Earth bears any.

(Y) Apol. Nar. p. 22. When it pleased God to bring us his poor exiles back again. Ibid. p. 23. Which was as great an affliction to us as our former troubles and banishment. Ibid. p. 31. Consider us as these who for many yeers suffered even to exile.

(Z) Antapol. p. 26. How dare you affirm that for your con∣sciences you were deprived at once of what ever was deer to you? were not your Wives, Children, Estates, Friends, and Lives dear to you? had you not all these with you, and did you not in the Netherlands live in the best places, in much plenty, ease, and pomp? what great depri∣vation is this of what ever is dear, for men to take their own times, and to go in Summer, with Knights, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, with all necessaries, into Holland, and there to take choice of all the Land, and with Wives, Children, Friends, and Acquaintance, free from the fears and possibilities of vexation from the Spiritual Courts and Prisons, to enjoy all plenty and freedom as you did? many would have been glad, and still would be, to be so exiled into Holland, and to be able to spend there two or three hundred pounds per annum.

(AA) Cottons 6. Vial, pag. 9. I dare not take up such carnal imaginations, as that Christ shall come bodily, and reign here upon Earth.

(BB) Glimpse of Sions glory, p. 33. If God have such an intention to glorifie his Church, and that in this world, what manner of

persons ought yee to be, because ye are beginning this despised work, ga∣thering a Church together, which way God will honour? certainly, the Communion of Saints, and Independency of Congregations, God will honour.

(CC) Daniel 12.11. From the time that the daily Sacrifice shall be taken away, there shall be 1290. dayes; what is the meaning of this? A day is usually taken for a yeer. This abomination of desola∣tion was in Julians time in the 360. yeer; now reckon so many yeers according to the number of the dayes, it comes to 1650. and it is like to be it, as any that can be named. But it is said, Blessed is he that comes to the 1335. dayes, that is, fourty five yeers more added; it shall begin in the 1650. but it comes not to full head till fourty five yeers more.

(DD) Ibid. In the Epistle, take this rule, That all Texts of Scripture are to be understood literally, except they make against other Scriptures, or except the very coherence of the Scripture shew it otherwise.

Ibid. p. 17. Indeed, if we be put upon allegorical senses, we may put off any Scripture; but if we take them literally, why should we not?

Ibid. p. 21. Christ is described in the 19. of the Revelation, with his Garments dyed in blood, when he doth appear to come and to take the Kingdom; when he appears with many Crowns upon his head, that notes his many victories.

Ibid. p. 17. The promise that is made Revel. 12. He shall rule them with a Rod of Iron, and as the Vessels of a Potter they shall be broken to shivers: What shall we make of this?

(EE) Ibid. p. 14, 15. The raigning with Christ 1000. yeers, is not meant of raigning with him in Heaven, but it must be meant of Jesus Christs coming and raigning here gloriously for 1000▪ yeers.

(FF) Ibid. p. 17. What shall we make of this, except there be a glorious raign of Christ with the Saints? Christ is said to make them Kings, so as to have power and dominion in the world.

(GG) Ibid. p. 13. There is no reason why that of the 26. of Matth. v.29. I will drink it new with you in my Fathers King∣dom, may not be taken litterally.

(HH) Archers personal raign, p. 5. I call this last state of his, Monarchical, because he will govern as earthly Monarchs have done, that is, universally over the world in these dayes, known, and

esteemed; and in a worldly, visible, earthly glory, not by tyranny, oppression, and sensually, but with honour, peace, riches, and what∣soever in and of the world, is not sinful, having all Nations and Kingdoms doing homage to him, as the great Monarchs of the World had.

(II) Burrows upon Hosea, p. 145. These are the new Hea∣vens and the new Earth that are to be created; and this is meant of the Church plainly: For the Text, Verse 12. speaks of building houses, and inhabiting them, and of planting Vineyards, and eating the fruit of them upon these new Heavens, and this new Earths Creation.

Ibid. p. 191. And literally we are to understand many Scriptures that tend this way concerning the fruitfulnesse of the Earth, and the outward external glory, that then shall be in the Creatures.

(KK) Archers comfort for beleevers, p. 41. God may as true∣ly and easily, have a will and hand in, and be the Author of sins, as of afflictions.

Ibid. We may safely say, that God is, and hath an hand in, and is the Author of the sinfulnesse of his people.

(LL) Ibid. p. 36. The fear of some of these inconveniences, hath made Divines not to acknowledge so much of God in sin, as is in sin: They have erred on the other hand, and made sin more of the Creature and it self and lesse from God then it is: They grant that God is willing sin should be, and that he permits it, and orders circum∣stances about its production, and hath an hand in, and is the Author of the Physical or Moral act, in, and with which sin is; but the essence of sin, that is, the Pravity and Ataxy, the Anomy and Irregularity of the act, which is the sinfulnesse of it, God hath no hand, neither is he any Author at all thereof. This opinion goes wrong another way, and gives not to God enough in sin. Let us imbrace and professe the truth, and not fear to say that of God, which he in his holy Book saith of himself, namely, That of him and from his hand, is not onely the thing that is sinful, but the pravity and sinfulnesse of it.

(MM) A short Declaration of the Assembly, by way of Detestation of the abominable and blasphemous opinion. The Order of the House of Lords runs thus, Complaint being this day made to the Lords in Parliament, by the Assembly of Divines, that a certain blasphemous and heretical Book, intituled, Comfort for Beleevers, is printed and published, being written by John Archer;

their Lordships much abhorring the said blasphemies, do award and ad∣judge, that the said Book shall be burnt by the hand of the common Hangman.

(NN) Doctor Stewarts Duply to M. S. second part, pag. 128. Not long since I heard one of the Ringleaders of the Indepen∣dents Sect deliver this doctrine in a Sermon at the Abbey of West∣minster. viz. That to a saving knowledge of God, it sufficeth not to know him in the Book of nature; or secondly, as revealed in the holy Scriptures; but that we must also know him as abstract from his mer∣cy and all his attributes.

(OO) Ibid. If I know God abstracted from his mercy, I know him out of Christ, and out of the Gospel; for God in Christ and in the Gospel, is not abstract, but concrete with mercy. If God be con∣sidered as abstract from all his attributes, it is no more a knowledge of God, but some idol of the Independent brains.

(PP) Antap. p. 36. Master Good win did anoint a Gentle∣woman (whose name I conceal) when she was sick, and she recovered after it, say they.

(QQ) Ibid. Anointing the sick with Oyl, was held in that Church of Arnhem as a standing Ordinance for Church-Members, as laying on of hands was a standing Ordinance for Church-Officers.

(RR) Ibid. p. 60. I propound it to you, whether a little before your coming over into England, some Members of the Church of Arnhem, did not propone the Holy Kisse, or the Kisse of Love to be practised by Church-Members? Nay, Whether by some persons in that Church was it not begun to be practised?

(SS 1.) Ibid. p. 36. A Gentleman of note in that Church did propone in the Church, that singing of Hymns was an Ordinance; which is, that any person of the Congregation exercising their own gifts, should bring an Hymn and sing it to the Congregation, all the rest being silent, and giving audience.

(SS 2.) Antap. p. 262. Some of Arnhem hold strange con∣ceits: Daily the Independent Churches like Affrica, do breed and bring forth the Monsters of Anabaptism, Antinomianism, Familism, nay, That huge Monster and old fleeing Serpent of the Mortality of the soul of man.

(SS 3.) Ibid. p. 261. I have been told of some odde things preached by one of you five, both in England and Holland, and of some points Preached in the Church of Arnhem, never questioned there

and since Printed not very Orthodox; as for instance among others, That the souls of the Saints do not go to Heaven to be with Christ.

(SS 4.) Archers personal raign, p. 23. This Objection sup∣poses the souls of the dead Saints to be in the highest Heavens, which is not so: It is likely the souls of the dead Saints are not in the highest Heavens, but in a middle place, which is meant in the New Testament by paradise; into this paradise went Christs soul, and the theifs, which was not Heaven. Its most probable that Christs soul never went into the highest Heavens, till his Body went also. Ibid. None but Christ, and so none before Christ, ever entered the highest Heavens. The way to Heaven was never opened till Christ the high Priest enter∣ed Body and Soul into it. The highest Heavens never had but one man into them, namely Christ, nor shall have till the worlds end.

Ibid. p. 25. If you ask where this place of Paradise is: I an∣swer, It must be below the highest Heavens; therefore, surely it is in the Region or Element of fire, where the Sun and Stars are, or in the highest Region of the Ayr.

(SS 5.) Archers personal raign, p. 35. At the day of judgement the wicked shall be sent with the Devil unto Hell, which Hell shall not be that which is now called Hell, but another; for the Hell that now is, is but a prison, and not the place of execution: At the last day this Hell that now is, shall cease. This Hell which is at present, to be sure is in some of the places of the Air, or the Waters, and not in the Earth: But the Hell which shall be the everlasting torment of all the damned, shall be all this lower and visible World. All the places of the Earth, Water, Air, Sun, Moon, Stars, and the Fire, called the Heavens, and the Earth. The things which God immediately made out of nothing, shall never change: As the highest Heavens, and the Angels in them, and the souls of men, and this Chaos called the Earth; but all other things being made out of something, even out of this Earth or Chaos, they shall after a time change; and so all this World shall come to an Earth or Chaos again. God in time did make two places, Heaven and Earth, immediate∣ly out of nothing, to be eternal places, the one of Joy, the other of Torment. Thus you see when Hell was made but it was quickly covered, and shall not be uncovered; till Christ do it at the last day.

(TT) Antap. p. 36. The Gentleman censured, brings an accusation against Master Nye, charging him with Pride, want of Charity, &c. And this being brought before the Church, continued in debate about half a yeer, three or four days in a week, and sometimes more, before all the Congregation; divers of the Mem∣bers having callings to follow, they desired leave to be absent. Master Goodwin oft professed publikely upon these differences, If this were their Church-fellowship, he would lay down his Eldership; and nothing was more commonly spoke among the Members, then that certainly for matter of Discipline, they were not in the right way, for that there was no way to bring things to an end.

(VV) Vide supra. TT.