An advertisement concerning a book lately published by Christopher Lawne and others, against the English exiled Church at Amsterdam. By Richard Clyfton teacher of the same church.

A COPIE OF THE vvriting, touching the division made among us, vvhich vvas sent to a friend in England, By Mr. H. A.

BEcause you have heard of the sorrowes that have befallen us here, whereby your grief is the more augmented, and because the true report & estate of things perhaps is not so well knowen un∣to you, I will also briefly touch the smart where∣with God hath humbled us, & caused our breach to be as the sea, which can not be cured. Manie daies of comfort God gave us here together, whilest in singlenes of hart we sought him, in the mids of our pilgrimage with love & peace: But love of preheminence, which hath alwaies troubled the Church of Christ, hath also troubled us: whilest the Governours of the Church which should serve it with meeknes, would rule it with Lordship.

1 For whereas we had learned and professed, that Christ hath given the power to receive in or to cut off any member, to the vvhole bodie together of everie Congregation, & not to any one or moe members sequestred from the vvhole: Now we have been lately taught, that the Church which Christ sendeth to, for the redresse of sinnes, Mat. 18.17. is not to be understood of the whole bodie of the Congregation, but of the Church of Elders. And it being graunted of all, that with the Church is the power, the Elders being the Church, have the power, and so not the whole bodie of the congregation together.

2 We had learned, that everie true Church of Christ, hath this povver to cast out obstinate sinners from amongst thē, and this not onely vvhen it hath Officers, but also vvhen it vvanteth them: But wow we were taught, that a people with∣out Officers have not power to cast out obstinate sinners. Which doctrine, amongst other evils, overthroweth the constitution of the Church that so taught: for it was gathered and constituted

by Christians without Officers, receiving in the repentant, and casting out the disobedient: whereas by this opinion, they had power from Christ to doe neyther: for they that can not cast out, can not receive in: one power is for both.

3 We had learned that everie Christian Congregation hath povver and commandement to elect & ordeyne their ovvn ministerie, according to the rules of Gods vvord, and upon such default in life doctrine or administration, as by the rule of the vvord depriveth them of the ministerie, by due order to depose them from their ministerie they exercised, yea if the case so require, orderly to cut them off by excom∣munication: But now it is by some mainteyned, that the Con∣gregation can neither put into office nor put out of office, unlesse they have officers to doe both: and can neyther for heresie nor other vvickednes excommunicate or depose their Eldership.

4 We had learned that none may execute a ministerie, but such as are rightly called by the Church, vvhereof they stand ministers, unto such offices, and in such manner, as God hath prescribed in his vvord: But now those will exe∣cute a ministerie, which have not rightly been called by the Church, whereof they stand Ministers, according to their owne account and doctrine: which hold (as before) that a people with∣out Officers have no warrant from God to make or depose Mini∣sters.

5 We had learned that it vvas grosse error and notorious ab∣surditie, either to hold the popish Church to be a true Church, having a true ministerie, and true Sacraments, or els that men must admit of rebaptising: But now wee have heard, that the Baptisme of the Popish Church is true Baptisme (by which we are bound to communion) or els that men must be rebaptised: and that the Church of Rome is the Church of God, because Antichrist should sit in the Temple of God.

6 We had learned that all particular Congregations are by all meanes convenient to have the counsel and help one of

another, in all needfull affaires of the Church, as mēbers of one bodie in the cōmon faith: yet here when differences had arisen about our cōmon faith, and could not amongst our selves be cōposed, they would not desire nor consent to have desired the help of our sister Church at Leyden, althovgh it were instantly urged by many members, that their assistance should be had.

And when without their consent the help of that Church was obteyned, & they laboured our peace, & a waie of peace was agreed off between the Churches, this agrement and peace was not stood unto but reversed by them, contrarie to our wil, & to the wil and liking of the Church at Leyden, as the same Church can testifie for us.

Wherefore after long disputing these matters, when no waie of peace could by us be found to continue together in the truth & holynes. But lamentable Dissipation of the Church & members began to growe, to the dishonour of Gods name, & wounding of our harts, we followed the commandement of the Apostle which sayd, I beseech you brethren, marke them diligently which cause divisions & offences, contrarie to the doctrine which we have learned, and avoyde them. Rom. 16.17. And have sithens laboured to build up our selves in the holie faith, where∣unto God hath called us, in love & peace, mourning for the great scandall and reproch which Sathan hath wrought by this breach amongst us.

Thus have I shewed you the fountaine of our sorrowes, which God for our sinnes hath brought upon us. He look upō us in mer∣cie, & pittie the dispersion of Sion. And you as you have knowen the truth, which is sealed to your conscience, so abide therein faithfull unto the end, knowing it is the lot of Gods people thus to be exercised with troubles in it self, which if we beare with pati∣ence and constansie & doe overcome, our portion shall be in the tree of life, which is in the midest of the Paradise of God.

H. A.

Notes

• M. Ains. Letter.
• 1. Confes. artic. 24. Apol. pag 26.63.
• 2. Tre••••. of the Mini∣sterie of Eng. pag. 63. Apol. pag. 63.
• 3. Confes. art. 23. & 35. Apol. pag. 46.
• 4. Confes. art. 21.
• 5. Apol. p. 113. & 116 n. 112.
• 6. Conf. art. 38.