their sins, and them. Thus we flatter: thus we deceive! If yet they will needs run to perdition; Perditio tua ex te, Israel.

Sep.-"The Romish Prelacy and Priesthood amongst you, with the appurtenances for their maintenance and ministrations, are Rome's advantage: which, therefore, she challengeth as her own, and by which she also still holds possession amongst you, under the hope of regaining her full inheritance at one time or other.”

OUR Clergy is so Romish as our Baptism:-If therefore Romish, because they came thence, we have disproved it: if therefore Romish, because they have been used there, we grant and justify it. That ancient Confession of their Faith, which was famous through the world, we receive with them. If they hold one God, one Baptism, one Heaven, one Christ, shall we renounce it? Why should we not cast off our Christendom and Humanity, because the Romans had both? How much Rome can either challenge or hope to gain in our Clergy and Ministration, is well witnessed by the blood of those Martyrs, eminent in the Prelacy, which, in the fresh memories of many, was shed for God, against that harlot; and by the excellent labours of others, both Bishops and Doctors, whose learned pens have pulled down more of the walls of Rome, than all the corner-creeping Brownists in the world shall ever be able to do, while Amsterdam standeth.

Sep.-"And, if the Papists take advantage at our condemnation of you and separation from you, it concerns you, well to see where the blame is, and there to lay it; lest, through light and inconsiderate judgment, you justify the wicked, and condemn the righteous."

It is you, that furnish these adversaries with advantages, through your wilful divisions. Take Scilurus's arrows, single out of the sheaf, the least finger breaks them; while the whole bundle fears no stress. We know well, where the blame is. Our deservings can be no protection to you: you went from us, not we from you. Plead not our constraint you should not have been compelled to forsake us, while Christ is with us. But who compels you not to call us brethren? to deny us Christians? Your zeal is so far from justifying the wicked, that it condemns the righteous.

SECT. 57.

The Brownists' scornful Opinion of our People.

Sep.-"And, for the suspicion of the rude multitude, you need not much fear it. They will suspect nothing, that comes under the King's broad seal: they are ignorant of this fault. Though it were the Mass, that came with authority of the magistrate, thy,

for the most part, would be without suspicion of it: so ignorant and profane are they, in the most places. It is the wise-hearted amongst you, that suspect your dealings; who will also suspect you yet more, as your unsound dealing shall be further discovered."

How scornfully do you turn over our poor rude multitude, as if they were beasts, not men; or, if men, not rude but savage! This contempt needed not. These sons of the earth may go, before you, to heaven.

Indeed, as it was of old said, That all Egyptians were physicians; so may it now of you, "All Brownists are Divines: no Separatist cannot prophesy: no sooner can they look at the skirts of this hill, but they are rapt from the ordinary pitch of men *."

Either this change is, perhaps, by some strange illumination, or else your learned paucity got their skill amongst our profane and rude multitude. We have still many in our rude multitude, whom we dare compare with your teachers: neither is there any so lewd and profane, that cannot pretend a scandal from your Separation. Even these souls must be regarded; though not by you. Such were some of you, but ye are washed, &c. 1 Cor. vi. 11.

The wise-hearted amongst us do, more than suspect, find out our weaknesses, and bewail them: yet do they not more discover our imperfections, than acknowledge our truth. If they be truly wise, we cannot suspect them, they cannot forsake us. Their charity will cover more than their wisdom can discover.

CONCLUSION:

From the fearful Answer of Separation.

Sep.-"Lastly, the terrible threat you utter against us, that 'even whoredoms and murders shall abide an easier answer than sepation,' would certainly fall heavy upon us, if this answer were to be made in your Consistory Courts, or before any of your Ecclesiastical Judges: but, because we know, that, not Antichrist, but Christ shall be our Judge, we are bold, upon the warrant of his Word and Testament, which being sealed with his blood may not be altered, to proclaim to all the world, Separation from whatsoever riseth up rebelliously against the Sceptre of his Kingdom, as we are undoubtedly persuaded, the Communion, Government, Ministry, and Worship of the Church of England do.”

My last threat, of the easier answers of whoredoms and adulteries, than Separation, you think to scoff out of countenance. your conscience will not always allow this mirth.

I fear

Our Consistories have spared you enough: let those, which have

* 1 Sam. x. 10.

tried, say whether your corrupt Eldership be more safe judges. If ours imprison justly, yours excommunicate unjustly. To be in custody, is less grievous, than out of the Church; at least if your censures were worth any thing, but contempt. As Jerome said of

the like, it is well that malice hath not so great power as will. You shall one day, I fear, find the Consistory of Heaven more rigorous, if you wash not this wrong with your tears †. That tribunal shall find your confidence, presumption; your zeal, fury.

You are bold, surely more than wise, to proclaim: we have no need of such cries: doubtless your head hath made proclamations long; now, your hand begins.

What proclaim you?"Separation from the Communion, Government, Ministry, and worship of the Church of England:"What needed it? Your act might have saved your voice: what should our eyes and ears be troubled with one bad object?

But why separate you from these? Because they "rise up rebelliously against the Sceptre of Christ:"-The Sceptre of Christ is his Word. He holds it out: we touch, and kiss it. What one sentence of it do we wilfully oppose? Away with these foolish impieties you thrust a reed into your Saviour's hand, and say, Hail, King of the Jews; and will needs persuade us, none but this is his

rod of iron.

Lastly, upon what warrant? "Of his Will and Testament:"— You may wrong us; but how dare you fasten your lies upon your Redeemer and Judge? What clause of his hath bid you separate? We have the true copies: as we hope or desire to be saved, we can find no sentence, that soundeth toward the favour of this your act. Must God be accused of your wilfulness? Before that God and his blessed Angels and Saints, we fear not to protest, that we are undoubtedly persuaded, that whosoever wilfully forsakes the Communion, Government, Ministry, or Worship of the Church of England, are enemies to the Sceptre of Christ, and Rebels against his Church and Anointed neither doubt we to say, that the Mastership of the Hospital at Norwich, or a lease from that city (sued for with repulse), might have procured that this Separation from the Communion, Government, and Worship of the Church of England should not have been made, by John Robinson.

* Troub. and Excom. at Amst. G. Johns. professes he found better dealing in the Bishops' Consistories; and might have found better in the Inquisition.

† Cypr. de Simplic. Prælat. Ad pacis præmium venire non poterunt, qui pa cem Domini discordiæ furore ruperunt. Ibid. Inexpiabilis et gravis culpa dis cordia, nec passione purgatur.

John Robinson.

ΤΟ ΜΥ

REVEREND AND WORTHILY DEAR FRIEND,

MR. WILLIAM STRUTHERS;

ONE OF THE PREACHERS OF EDINBURGH.

THE haste of your Letters, my Reverend and Worthy Mr. Struthers, was not so great, as their welcome which they might well challenge, for your name; but more, for that love and confidence, which they imported. Thus must our friendship be fed, that it may neither feel death nor age.

The substance of your Letter was partly Relation, and partly Request.

For the first rumour had, in part, prevented you; and brought to my ears those stirs, which happened after my departure: and, namely, together with that impetuous Protestation, some rude deportment of ill-governed spirits towards his Majesty. Alas, my Dear Brother! this is not an usage for kings. They are the nurses of the Church. If the child shall fall to scratching and biting the breast, what can it expect, but stripes and hunger? Your Letter professes, that his Majesty sent you away in peace and joy and why would any of those rough-hewn zealots send him away in discontentment? But this was, I know, much against your heart; whose often protestations assured me of your wise moderation in these things. How earnestly have you professed to me, that, if you were in the Church of England, such was your indifferency in these indifferent matters, you would make no scruple of our ceremonies! Yea, how sharp hath your censure been of those refractaries amongst us, that would forego their stations, rather than yield to these harmless impositions! So much the more, therefore, do I marvel how any delator could get any ground from you, whereon to place an accusation in this kind!

But this, and the rest of those historical passages, being only concerning things past, have their end in my notice. Let me rather turn my pen to that part, which calleth for my Advice: which, for your sake, I could well wish, were worthy to be held such, as that yourself and your colleagues might find cause to rest in it: howsoever, it shall be honest and hearty, and no other than I would, in the presence of God, give to my own soul.

Matters, you think, will not stand long at this point; but will come on further, and press you to a resolution. What is to be done? Will you hear me counselling, as a friend, as a brother? Since you foresee this, meet them in the way, with a resolution to entertain them and persuade others.

There are Five Points in question: the Solemn Festivities: the Private Use of Either Sacrament: Geniculation at the Eucharist : Confirmation by Bishops.

For these, there may be a double plea insinuated, by way of comparison, in your Letters: Expedience, in the things themselves; Authority, in the commander. Some things are therefore to be done, because they are commanded: some others are therefore commanded, because they are to be done: obedience pleads for the one; justice, for the other.

If I shall leave these in the first rank, I shall satisfy; but, if in the second, I shall supererogate which if I do not, I shall fail of my hopes.

Let me profess to you seriously, I did never so busily and intentively study these ritual matters, as I have done since your Letters called me unto this task. Since which time, I speak boldly, I made no spare, either of hours or papers. Neque enim magna exiliter, nec seria perfunctoriè; as I have learned of our Nazianzen: and, besides, this, under one name, seemed a common cause; and therefore too worthy of my care.

These are not, you know, matters of a day old: neither is it his Majesty's desire, to trouble you with new coins; but to rub up the rusty and obliterate face of the ancient.

And, surely, the more my thoughts were bent upon them, the more it appeared to me, that his Majesty's intention is to deal with your Church, as he hath lately done with your Universities: from which, I know not what indiscreet and idle zeal had banished all higher degrees: the name of a School-Doctor was grown out of date only one graduate, that I heard of, at St. Andrews, out-lived that injury of times. Now comes his Majesty, as one born to the honour of learning, and restores the Schools to their former glories. This is no innovation, you will grant; but a renovation. No other is that, which his Majesty wisheth to your Church.

For, tell me, I beseech you, my Dear Mr. Struthers, do not you think, that those, which took upon them the Reformation of your Church, went somewhat too far; and, as it is in the fable, entrapped the stork together with the cranes? I know your ingenuity such, as you cannot deny it. This you will grant apparently in the Church-Patrimony (witness your own learned and zealous invective how miserably spoiled); in the exauthoration of Episcopal office and dignity; in the demolition of churches; and too many other of this stamp: so violent was that holy furor of piety: that hence it might well appear, what difference there is, betwixt the orderly proceedings of princely authority and popular tumult.

And why should you not yield me this, in the business questioned? Do but consider how far it is safe for a Particular Church to