534 . Wbal: le"l.irarion the Church of E.ntfAnd """""""- Bit7 p:!.l. -V"i~ · F.f .bf agamft M .H. All. & d{lllf_, p.zjjim. Tn:ubl. &excom pa. 19I· M.Spr-/'lz.l· Fr.]Imo!ib. dt BcdJ.f. Ratih.dlitio rtrrahi,&c. Sub(tqut.'IIU11:- {tn{II6 Jacobjin i...l.JJII/tcit cps Cllljllf,ttd. '9· q.J.S.f~dobj,.. t itur BIIYI ITWa• gainft GJ/f. q"• .A11{rvDrt/!. Countl!rp.pag. 170· An Apologie again.ft Browni.fts. SECTION VU. YOur chargeis no le!feinjuri~us; that theChurch ofEngland bath madeno leparation: ConcerningwhiCh you have learned·ofyourManyr, and overfeers foro fpeake, as ifbefore her latedifclamationofpopery, in Qgcen Eilzabeths time, fh<had not been. Hermonuments could have taught you better, and have lead you to her ancient Pedigree not much bclow the Apoltolikc dayes, <nd in many defcentshave fhewed you not a few worthy witneffes and patronsof Truth . all which·, wich their holy andconfrantolf-fpring, it mighchavepleafed you rohavefeparaced from this imputation ofnot feparating: Will you know therefore how che Churchof England hath feparaced? In her lirfr converfion fhdepamed her felfe from Pagans : in her continuance lbe feparated her felfe from groffe heretiques, and fealed herfeparation with bloud: in her reformation fhe feparated B her felfe from wilful! Pap1frs, by her publikeprofeffion ofTruth, and proclaimed hatred oferror? and lbe dailydoth feparate the notorioully evil!, by fulpenfiom, by excomwunications, though notfo many as yours; Befides theparticular feparations ofmany from theacknowledged corruptions, in judgement, profeffion, pra· llice. All thefe will be a. owed in fpight ofall contradiction : wich what forehead thencan you fJy; the whole Church of England bath nor at all feparattd? Afrer all your !hifrsand idle tales ofconfrirmion, you have !eparated from this Church againfl the Lord; not with the Lord, from it: lftherebe Chrifl with us,if theSpirit ofGod in us, ifAOernblies, ifcallingby theword: wharfoever i•, oris nor elfe in rhe Con£Hmtion, there iswhactoever isrequired eothe e!TenceofaChurch. No corruption eirher in gatheringor continuance can defrroy the truthofbeing, C bur the graceofbeingwell: IfChrifl have taken awayhis Word and Spirit youhave jufllyfubduced; elfe you have gone from him in us. And when you have alldone,the Separacifls ldoll;vifibleConfrirution,will prove but an •ppendance ofan external! forme, no part ofche e!fence ofa true Church: and therefore your feparation no lefle vaine than the ground, than theAuthors. Lafrly, ifour bounty lbould(which ic cannoc)gram, that our collellion wasat firlt deeply faulty: cannorthe Katih•btll<m ( asrhe Lawyers fpeake) bedrawn back? may not anafter-allowance retlific and confirme ic? In ooncralls (your own fimilirude) • followingconfenr juflifiesan all done befure confent: and why nor inthe concrall betwixtGod and his vifible Church? Loe, be bathconfirmed it byhisgratious benediltions, and as much asmay be in filc:nce given us abundant proofes of D hisacceptation : That afcer-all,which makes your Baptifmelawful!,whycan it not make our Church? SECTI ON VIII. BUr for asmuchasConfritution is the very frare ofBrownifme, Lee us(Ibefeech you) inquire a lirde into the complexionofyour Conflirucion: Whether Phyhck, or Law, orArchiteCture have lent you it: fore I am,it is in this ufe, Apocryphal! : Never man ufed it thusfcrupulouOy till your times: Though,wh2c need you 1hehelpeofFathers orSchoolcs : newwords mull expretfe new I' •rdlioxu. le is no ttc.•fon tocoine rermes: What then is Conflituion ? YourDollar can befr tell us: As the Confricucion ofaCommon-wealth, or ofa Ciry, isa gachetingor 1mitingofa people together into acivill Policie : So Cfaithhe) the Confrirucionof E rheCommon-wealthoflfrael, and oftheCityofGod, rhe newJerufalem, is •gathering and unitingofpeople into adivine Polity. The forme ofwhichPolicy, is Order: which order is requifite in all all ions, and Adminflr.rions ofcheChurch, as the .~ poO:Je !hewerh, and fpecially in theConfiirucion thereof: fo that nexc unco faith in God, it is to be eOeemed moflnece!Tary for all holy focietie,, Hence Pawl rejoyced in the Coloffi•ns Order and faith: To this Confrirmion therefore,belong a people as thematter; fecondly, a calling, or gathering together, as the furm, whereoftheChurch confiflerh. The Conflitution of the ChurchofEngland is falfe inboth: Whyfo? Have we nota people? Areoonhofepeoplecalledtoge· cher? To prevent chis, you fay our Conflicution is falfe, not none:Why falfe? Bec•ufe
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=