The Nonconformists hold discipline necessary to the wellbeing of a Church, the safety of Religion, the preservation of ⟨p. 33⟩Gods ordinances from contempt. They compare it to the uwall of a City, hedge of a Vineyard, fence of a Garden, and bounds of an Orchard: but never said it to be of absolute wnecessity, that there could be no City, Vineyard, Garden, or Orchard without it. But this in your judgement is broken-stuff, not worthy any answer. For where do they read, say xyou, in Scripture, that this power which Christ hath given to his Church, is compared to a wall, or hedge, &c. But rather it may be likened to the power of the body, which receiveth food, and thereby excrements are purged, and avoided, the want whereof were in nature prodigious, neither could the body possibly subsist and live. In the same page you take up Dr Laiton roundly after your manner, for saying, that the ywant of an integral part of the whole is no sufficient ground of Separation. He speaks, you say, as a man most ignorant of the nature of Church-power; for were he able truly to define it, he should see that it is of such necessity as a people cannot constitute themselves in the right order of the Gospel without it, as we have before expressed. Expressed it may be, but not proved by Scripture or reason, drawn from Scripture. How palpably you abuse Dr Ames testimony is showed before, and it makes as plainly against your reason as a thing can be spoken. But that is broken-stuff which pleaseth you not, and he is ignorant that applauds not your dictates. To be taunted and reviled, is answer sufficient to be given to us simple poor ignorants, who know not truly to define what Church-power is. But whether this stuff be broken, or the Nonconformists ignorant what Church-power is or no: this is evident, your inferences in this point are not correspondent to their Principles, nor can be deduced from them, as in the beginning you promised: And then upon what bottom doth this reason stand, or by what prop is it underset, but your own bare affirmation, which is much too weak to bear so great a weight. Whosoever means ( zyou say) to settle well the conscience, especially in a main point of faith and Religion, ought necessarily to bring good proofs from Scripture, for ⟨p. 34⟩the things whereof he speaketh.
The Nonconformists hold discipline necessary to the wellbeing of a Church, the safety of Religion, the preservation of ⟨p. 33⟩Gods ordinances from contempt. They compare it to the uwall of a Citie, hedge of a Vineyard, fence of a Garden, and bounds of an Orchard: but never said it to be of absolute wnecessitie, that there could be no Citie, Vineyard, Garden, or Orchard without it. But this in your judgement is broken-stuffe, not worthy any answer. For where doe they read, say xyou, in Scripture, that this power which Christ hath given to his Church, is compared to a wall, or hedge, &c. But rather it may be likened to the power of the body, which receiveth food, and thereby excrements are purged, and avoided, the want whereof were in nature prodigious, neither could the body possibly subsist and live. In the same page you take up Dr Laiton roundly after your manner, for saying, that the ywant of an integrall part of the whole is no sufficient ground of Separation. He speakes, you say, as a man most ignorant of the nature of Church-power; for were he able truly to define it, he should see that it is of such necessitie as a people cannot constitute themselves in the right order of the Gospell without it, as we have before expressed. Expressed it may be, but not proved by Scripture or reason, drawne from Scripture. How palpably you abuse Dr Ames testimony is shewed before, and it makes as plainly against your reason as a thing can be spoken. But that is broken-stuffe which pleaseth you not, and he is ignorant that applauds not your dictates. To be taunted and reviled, is answer sufficient to be given to us simple poore ignorants, who know not truely to define what Church-power is. But whether this stuffe be broken, or the Nonconformists ignorant what Church-power is or no: this is evident, your inferences in this point are not correspondent to their Principles, nor can be deduced from them, as in the beginning you promised: And then upon what bottome doth this reason stand, or by what prop is it underset, but your own bare affirmation, which is much too weake to beare so great a weight. Whosoever meanes ( zyou say) to settle well the conscience, especially in a maine point of faith and Religion, ought necessarily to bring good proofes from Scripture, for ⟨p. 34⟩
- uBilson. perpet. ch. gov. ca. 1. Since the Church of Christ is the house of God, the City of the living GOD, and the kingdom of his welbeloved Sonne: Shall we think that God is careful for others, & careless for his own? or that confusion ought to be less doubted and feared in heavenly than in earthly things.Bilson. perpet. ch. gov. ca. 1. Since the Church of Christ is the house of God, the Citie of the living GOD, and the kingdome of his welbeloved Sonne: Shall we thinke that God is carefull for others, & carelesse for his own? or that confusion ought to be lesse doubted and feared in heavenly than in earthly things.
- wJewel. Serm. on Josh. 6.1, 2, 3. Discipline is so needful, that neither without it shall ye be able thoroughly to discomfort those that seek to build up Jericho, &c.Jewel. Serm. on Iosh. 6.1, 2, 3. Discipline is so needfull, that neither without it shall ye be able thoroughly to discomfort those that seeke to build up Jericho, &c.
- xCan. Nieces. of Separate. pag. 151.Can. Neces. of Separat. pag. 151.
- yCypr. lib. 1. ep. 10. Concil. Carthag. 3. ca. 35. Gratian. decr. p. 3. dist. 2. cap. 95, 96. Bills. Christ. subject. part. 2. pa. 335. I do not mislike that malefactors of all kinds, not only drunkards, railers, perjurers, adulterers, usurers, and such like, but also thieves, robbers, ravishers, murderers, plagiaries, incendiaries, traitors and all other heinous offenders, when their lives be spared by Princes, should be driven to earnest and open repentance before they be received into the Church, or admitted to the divine mysteries: yea, rather I think it very needful in a Christian Common-wealth, that God be pleased, and the Church preserved from all communion with these monstrous impieties, &c.Cypr. lib. 1. ep. 10. Concil. Carthag. 3. ca. 35. Gratian. decr. p. 3. dist. 2. cap. 95, 96. Bils. Christ. subject. part. 2. pa. 335. I do not mislike that malefactors of all kinds, not only drūkards, railers, perjurers, adulterers, usurers, and such like, but also theeves, robbers, ravishers, murderers, plagiaries, incendiaries, traytors and all other hainous offenders, when their lives be spared by Princes, should be driven to earnest and open repentance before they be received into the Church, or admitted to the divine mysteries: yea, rather I thinke it very needfull in a Christian Common-wealth, that God be pleased, and the Church preserved from all communion with these monstrous impieties, &c.
