The vnreasonablenesse of the separation Made apparant, by an examination of Mr. Iohnsons pretended reasons, published an. 1608. Wherby hee laboureth to iustifie his schisme from the church assemblies of England.

THE FIFT REASON TAKEN OVT OF THE offer of Conference. EXAMINED.

Fr. Iohn.

• ...IF the Propositions propounded to bee maintained in the of∣fer of Conference bee true, then is it not lawfull to heare or haue any speciall Communion with the present Mini∣stery of the Church Assemblies of Englande.
• ...But those Propositions are true.

Ergo,

It is not lawfull to haue any Speciall Communion with the same.

Answere.

The Consequent is fals; & doth not follow from the said Propositions.

1. Though it should be graunted, That all matters mee∣rely Ecclesiasticall, lawfully imposed vpon any Church are such as may bee concluded necessarily from the written word of God.

Yet in a true constituted Church some matters meerely Ecclesiasticall may bee imposed through humaine frail∣ty, that cannot so bee concluded.

2. Though, all humaine ordinances vsed onely or specially in Gods worship, whervnto they are not necessary of themselues were simply vnlawfull. Yet is not every such humaine or∣dinance of that nature, that it maketh the Church and Ministery wher it is vsed, to bee a fals Church, and Mi∣nistery, much lesse those Churches, and that Ministery, wherin it is not vsed, but injoined onely.

3. Though it were generally graunted of all, That eve∣ry true visible Church of Christ is such a Spirituall body politick as is specially instituted by Christ, or his Apostles in the new Testament. Yet it will not thence follow, That those Churches, and Ministeries are not to bee communica∣ted withall, that haue any thing in or appertaining to the constitution therof not instituted by Christ; or that such Churches are not true visible Churches.

4. Though, every true visible Church of Christ or ordinary Assemblie of the faithfull, hath by Christs ordinance power in it selfe immedialy vnder Christ, to elect and ordaine, deprive and depose, their Ministers, and to execute all other Ecclesiasticall Censures. Yet will it not follow from thence, That all they are fals Churches, and not to bee communicated with all. That doe not or by the lawes of man are not suffred to vse that power, Nether is it sure the meaning of them who offer the Conference, To maintaine, That they are no true visible Churches of Christ that cannot vse that power; but are therein subject to others; for one may by Christs ordinance haue a power to doe that which yet in regard of man he hath noe power to doe.

5. Though, the Pastor of a perticuler congregation should be yealded to bee the highest ordinary Ecclesiasticall officer in any true constituted visible Church of Christ. Yet cā it not hence bee concluded, That those Pastors are fals Pastors, who are outwardly by mans lawes, subjected to a Superior Ecclesiastical officer. The Father ordinary is the highest officer in the family; yet if the Magistrate subject the fa∣ther in some matters appertaining to the family to ano∣ther, Though therin it may bee hee may doe the father some wrong, yet doth not the father therby become a fals father, or the family a fals family. Admitte then that this prerogatiue due to Pastors, to haue noe Spiri∣tuall officers superior vnto them, yet is it not so essential vnto him, that without the Actuall vse and possession of it, hee cannot bee a true Pastor; And yet take a true visi∣ble Church in that sence, which the officers of the con∣ference doe viz. for a perticuler ordinary Assembly or Congregation, And then in our owne Churches, The Pastor is the higest, ther being noe Ecclesiasticall Offi∣cer in any such Churches, a boue him.

6. Graunt this, That it is the office of every true. Pastor to teach and Governe Spiritually one Congregation immediately vnder Christ. Can it from hence bee concluded, That they are noe true Pastors, which governe more congre∣gations then one, or which are subject in some outward things to some others besids Christ.

7. Admit, That the offices of Provinciall and diocesan Bi∣shops were contrary to the word of God; must it needs ther v∣pon follow, That those Ministers, and Churches which are vnder them by the lawes of man, are fals: such espe∣cially who obey them onely in things which they judge

honest, and lawfull, and who vnder this subjection doe no more then they would doe, if they were not subject at all vnto the Bishops.

A man must therfore bring a better head, & wit with him, then M. Iohnsons, That by the Propositions of the offer of Conference (how harsh soeuer they may seeme to bee) can conclude it vnlawfull to joine and communi∣cate with our Church Assemblies.

For the profe of this consequent he bringeth nothing out of our owne writings, but onely to giue his reader therby a vomit, some of his owne Coleworts, not twise, but twise twenty times sodden; To which wee giue him leaue to looke an Answer, from some as idle headded as himselfe.

Notes

• To avoid te∣diousnes, I forbeare to set them downe as M Iohnson hath done, but thou shalt discern what they are after∣ward in the Answer.