The Works of John Robinson, Vol. 3 [1851]
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Online Library of Liberty A Project Of Liberty Fund, Inc. John Robinson, The Works of John Robinson, vol. 3 [1851] The Online Library Of Liberty This E-Book (PDF format) is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a private, non-profit, educational foundation established in 1960 to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. 2010 was the 50th anniversary year of the founding of Liberty Fund. It is part of the Online Library of Liberty web site http://oll.libertyfund.org, which was established in 2004 in order to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. To find out more about the author or title, to use the site's powerful search engine, to see other titles in other formats (HTML, facsimile PDF), or to make use of the hundreds of essays, educational aids, and study guides, please visit the OLL web site. This title is also part of the Portable Library of Liberty DVD which contains over 1,000 books and quotes about liberty and power, and is available free of charge upon request. The cuneiform inscription that appears in the logo and serves as a design element in all Liberty Fund books and web sites is the earliest-known written appearance of the word “freedom” (amagi), or “liberty.” It is taken from a clay document written about 2300 B.C. in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash, in present day Iraq. To find out more about Liberty Fund, Inc., or the Online Library of Liberty Project, please contact the Director at [email protected]. LIBERTY FUND, INC. 8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-1684 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 3 Edition Used: The Works of John Robinson, Pastor of the Pilgrim Fathers, with a Memoir and Annotations by Robert Ashton, 3 vols (London: John Snow, 1851). Vol. 3. Author: John Robinson Editor: Robert Ashton About This Title: Vol. 3 of a 3 volume collection of this influential English Puritan minister’s writings, including his A Justification of Separation from the Church of England. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 2 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/857 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 3 About Liberty Fund: Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. Copyright Information: The text is in the public domain. Fair Use Statement: This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 3 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/857 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 3 Table Of Contents A Just and Necessary Apology. Chapter I.: Of the Largeness of Churches. Chapter II.: Of the Administration of Baptism. Chapter III.: Of Written Liturgies. Chapter IV.: Of the Ecclesiastical Presbytery. Chapter V.: Of Holy Days. Chapter VI.: Of the Celebration of Marriage By the Pastors of the Church. Chapter VII.: Of the Sanctification of the Lord's Day. Chapter VIII.: Of the Exercise of Prophecy. Chapter IX.: Of Temples. Chapter X.: Of Things Indifferent. Chapter XI.: Of Civil Magistrates. Chapter XII.: Of the Church of England, Notice Respecting the Two Letters. On Religious Communion The Preface. Chapter I.: Of Private Communion. Chapter II.: Of Public Communion. Chapter III.: Of Flight In Persecution. Chapter IV.: The Outward Baptism Received In England Is Lawfully Retained. Chapter V.: Of the Baptism of Infants. Chapter VI.: A Survey of the Confession of Faith Published In Certain Conclusions By the Remainders of Mr. Smyth's Company After His Death. * The People’s Plea For the Exercise of Prophecy Preface. An Answer to the Arguments Laid Down By Mr. John Yates, Preacher In Norwich , to Prove Ordinary Prophecy In Public, Out of Office, Unlawful; Answered By John Robinson. A Treatise On the Lawfulness of Hearing Ministers In the Church of England On the Lawfulness of Hearing the Ministers of the Church of England. By John Robinson. A Letter to the Congregational Church In London An Appeal On Truth's Behalf. To Our Beloved, the Elders and Church At Amsterdam , Grace and Peace From God the Giver Thereof, and In Him Our Salutations . An Answer to a Censorius People Letter By Rev. Joseph Hall, B.d., Rector of Halstead, Called By Mr. Robinson “a Censorious Epistle.” An Answer to “a Censorious Epistle.” A Catechism An Appendix to Mr. Perkins’ Six Principles of Christian Religion. Appendix No I.: The Church In Southwark. No. II.: The Exiles and Their Churches In Holland. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 4 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/857 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 3 Chronological Index of Mr. Robinson's Works. Index of Subjects. Index of Authors Referred to Or Quoted, With Occasional Brief Notices of Their Works and Lives. Index of Important Texts of Scripture Illustrated Or Quoted. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 5 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/857 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 3 [Back to Table of Contents] A JUST AND NECESSARY APOLOGY. “the crime of heresy none ought patiently to endure,” said Jerome of old* ; and that not without cause, for whereas in other accusations, either a man's goods, or good name, or bodily life, at the most, is endangered; in this, the life of the soul, which faith is, cometh in question. But well it is for the servants of Jesus Christ, that they have him, their gracious Lord and Saviour, for their Judge, by whose alone judgment, notwithstanding all men's prejudices, they shall stand or fall for ever. And, if any others anywhere, surely I, and they with me, have need to get this divine comfort deeply printed in our hearts; whose profession gives occasion to many, as doth our condition liberty unto all, to spare no severity of censure upon us. Four sorts of heavy friends we have found and felt, in sorrowful experience, wheresoever we have become. The first whereof is the unhallowed multitude, who living without God in the world; and walking themselves perversely, and in the works of darkness, John iii. 19, cannot but hate, as the light itself, so all those, who have received grace of God, to walk therein with good conscience. And as the apostles, in their days, were everywhere most vexed with the hatred of the unbelieving Jews, their own countrymen; so are we by the like of ours like-minded. Of whom whilst the most do want their country for causes so unlike unto ours, no marvel though there be no better concurrence of either affection or action between us. The second is of them, who are enamoured on that Romish hierarchy, as on a stately and potent lady. Against which, and for the holy presbyterial government, as Christ's institution by his apostles, whilst we do in word and deed, give a free and full testimony; alas! with how many, and how great waves of affliction, are we overwhelmed by their hatred and power! Demetrius of Ephesus, with his silversmiths, was of. all other men, to the apostle Paul, opposing himself to the majesty of Diana, and their profit withal, the most infestuous.* And who will marvel, if we nothing obsequious to the hierarchical Diana, in herself, magnificent enough, and enough advantageable unto hers, be abominable unto this kind of people, above all others, even atheists, papists and most flagitious persons not excepted, whom they have devout enough and Over, unto that goddess. A third kind is of those, who so servilely inbondage themselves, and their consciences, either to the edicts of princes, or to the determinations of certain doctors, or to both these jointly; as that they think nothing well done in case of religion, which either these teach not, or they command not: and on the other side, almost anything - warrantable, which is commended by the one of them, or commanded by the other. And as of these some are so- transported with, waspish zeal, as they can scarcely - without a fit of an ague, either speak to, or think of him, who a little steps out of their PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 6 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/857 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 3 troad† so others of them are so cunning, and wot so will how to make their market, that though they be indeed almost like-minded with us in all things, yet do they vehemently affect unchristian enmity with us: not because they themselves judge us so deserving; but others, whom therein they think it a point of their -wisdom to gratify. The fourth, and last sort are they, who, through credulity and lightness of belief, have their ears open to the false aud feigned suggestions of slanderous tongues. These men whilst they are over good and easy towards the evil and injurious unto Whom they give credence, become injurious themselves to the good and innocent: though, in truth, it be hard to say, unto which of three they do the greatest; wrong: whether to their brethren, of whom they causelessly conceive amiss, whilst either they greedily devour, or easily receive such false reports, and vituperies, as venomous tongues spit out against them: or to their own souls, which they thereby make accessory to others’ malice: or to the calumniators themselves, whom they put in heart to go boldly on in reproaching the innocent, whilst they know, where to find receivers for their slanders, as do thieves for their stolen goods.