A treatise of liturgies, power of the keys, and of matter of the visible…A treatise of liturgies, power of the keyes, and of matter of the visible…

That there should be no Separatists in the world, because none, it is said none, plead against the Book of Common-prayer as unlawful, because offered up in a false Church; is strange to us, that this learned Author should not read or observe the same, exceeding frequently in the Separatists writings; take but a taste in the first pages of Mr. Smith against Bernard in his parallels, censures, and observations, his words pag. 9. are these, He would prove that an erroneous constitution of a Church, is a real Idol; and the prayers they offer with the prayers of the wicked, coming from that false constitution, are tainted with the Idolatry of that constitution. And pag. 10. It is Idolatry to offer up service to God in a Church of a false constitution. And pag. 13. Tell me Mr. Bernard, can there be a true Ministry, true baptism, true faith, true prayer, true preaching and administering the supper, true excommunication, in a Church which is falsely constituted? Did the Lord accept the sacrifice of the Church constituted by Jeroboam? so page 14. A Church falsely constituted, is not accepted of God, neither are their actions ecclesiastical, as prayer, preaching, &c. acceptable in the sight of God. And again, a false Ministry, Worship, government, may be in a true Church, through ignorance, and the like: but a true Ministry, worship, government cannot possibly be in a false Church. We think it needless to recite more testimonies; Aliquando bonus dormitat Homerus, A good memory may sometimes fall asleep, and not see that, which is sometimes most obvious and visible. But what other arguments they have, are, or may be common to others studious of Reformation, as their arguments against ceremonies are common with Non-conformists, and therefore if some of our grounds be found in them, it doth not follow, they are shafts taken out of the same quiver, and peculiar to them, as you object.

That there should be no Separatists in the world, because none, it is said none, pl•ad against the Booke of Common-prayer as unlawfull, because offered up in a false Church; is strange to us, that this learned Author should not read or observe the same, exceeding frequently in the Separatists writings; take but a taste in the first pages of Mr. Smith against Bernard in his parallels, censures, and observations, his words pag. 9. are these, Hee would prove that an erroneous constitution of a Church, is a reall Idol; and the prayers they offer with the prayers of the wicked, comming from that false constitution, are tainted with the Idolatry of that constitution. And pag. 10. It is Idolatry to offer up service to God in a Church of a false constitution. And pag. 13. Tell mee Mr. Bernard, can there be a true Ministery, true baptisme, true faith, true prayer, true preaching and administring the supper, true excommunication, in a Church which is falsly constituted? Did the Lord accept the sacrifice of the Church constituted by Jeroboam? so page 14. A Church falsly constituted, is not accepted of God, neither are their actions ecclesiasticall, as prayer, preaching, &c. acceptable in the sight of God. And againe, a false Ministery, Worship, government, may bee in a true Church, through ignorance, and the like: but a true Ministery, worship, government cannot possibly bee in a false Church. We thinke it needlesse to recite more testimonies; Aliquando bonus dormitat Homerus, A good memory may sometimes fall asleep, and not see that, which is sometimes most obvious and visible. But what other arguments they have, are, or may bee common to others studious of Reformation, as their arguments against ceremonies are common with Non-conformists, and therefore if some of our grounds bee found in them, it doth not follow, they are shafts taken out of the same quiver, and peculiar to them, as you object.