bored reply to this Answer, in 1610; but Robinson did not deem it deserving a rejoinder: "First," as he tells us, "because it is a large and learned volume so full-farced [stuffed with various matters] by him, as it seems, that he might prevent further answer. Secondly, his treatise is as much (and more immediately) against the Reformists [the Puritans] and their cause in the main, as against us and ours. Thirdly, the truth requireth not that persons but things be answered; and things in it know I none not answered in my Defence against Mr. Bernard. ["A Justification of Separation," etc.] Lastly, I do put as great a difference between him and Mr. Yates [to whom Robinson was then replying] as between a word-wise orator, both laboring more and being better able to feed his reader with the leaves of words and flowers of rhetoric, than with the fruits of knowledge, as also striving rather to oppress the person of his adversary with false and proud reproaches, than to convince his tenet by sound arguments; and between a man sincerely zealous for the truth, and by his simple and solid dealing by the Scriptures, as Mr. Yates doth, giving testimony of his unfeigned love thereof. Which truth, my prayer to God is, that he with myself, and all others so seeking it, may find, and therein accord in all things."

* Preface to "An Answer laid down by Mr. John Yates, preached in Norwich," etc. "Answers by John Robinson." Works, 111. 286. Mr. Yates was fellow of Emanuel College, Cambridge, and subsequently minister of St. Andrews, Norwich. "He

Near the close of 1610 Mr. Robinson published a voluminous, able, and exhaustive work, entitled, "A Justification of Separation from the Church of England, against Mr. Richard Bernard his Invective intituled The Separatists Schisme.'" Bernard was a conforming puritan, vicar of Worksop, a market-town and parish in Nottinghamshire, near Scrooby. He was at one time a zealous reformist; and repeatedly avowed his intention of leaving the Establishment. Once he actually resigned his living. But, impulsive and unreliable, he repented, and subscribed anew, and ultimately became a bitter enemy of the Separatists. Robinson doubtless had him in mind when he wrote: "There are many men to be found which are violent in all things, but constant in none. And though all things be with them as the figs in Jeremiah's two baskets (Jer. xxiv. 1-3), the good very good, and the evil very evil, yet are they ever shifting hands out of the one basket into the other." * And in another place he says: "I doubt not but Mr. Bernard and a thousand more ministers in the land, were they secure of the magistrate's sword, and might they go on with his good license, would wholly shake off their canonical obedience to their ordinaries, and neglect their citations and censures,

was a puritan, distinguished for his piety and abilities, for whom Mr. Robinson entertained great respect." He wrote a treatise against "persons prophesying out of office," or lay preaching. — Robinson's Works, 111. 283.

* Works, 11. 3.

#

and refuse to sue in their courts; for all the peace of the church,' which they commend to us for so sacred a thing. And yet, the approbation of men and angels makes the ways of God and works of religion never a whit the more lawful, but only the more free from bodily danger." And Smyth, as zealous, impulsive and changeable as Bernard, though with a hundredfold more moral courage, describes him as "changeable as the moon, mutable as Porteus, and variable as a chamelion.” † This man, says Ainsworth, came forth "to fight against the truth, which but a while since he would needs seem to favor: but things not succeeding according to his expectation, he hath changed his love into hatred."

Bernard's attack on his old friends called forth three replies: one, entitled "Counterpoyson," 1608, republished in 1642, by Henry Ainsworth; another, "Parallels, Censures, and Observations," by John Smyth, 1609; and a third, and much the fullest and most thorough, by Mr. Robinson, in 1610. In spirit, this work is very much like the answer to Hall; though in a style more free and diffusive, being designed for a popular defence and justification of Separation. Still, it is close and logical in its reasoning, adroit and sharp in its retorts, comprehensive and convincing in its general character.

* Works, 11. 13, 24.

+ Smyth's Parrallels, p. 5, in Robinson's Works. Editorial Notice.

"

It proves Robinson to have been, not only a scholar and divine, but a most accomplished controversialist. The work is a perfect storehouse of facts and arguments touching the questions at issue between the Churchmen and the Separatists, which richly deserves the careful attention of every person who would fully understand the merits of this controversy. In nothing is it more noteworthy, than the perfect familiarity of its author with the inspired Scriptures. The learned Dr. Campbell, in his analysis of this work, says: "They who want logic, will find it here. The writer enters, at great length, into the kingdom of Christ in most of its aspects, viewing it in relation to baptism, to communion, to polity, and to the kingdoms of this present world. It does admirable execution, both against the church of England and the church of Rome. The ample resources of the author are made strikingly manifest. There are few points affecting the great subject which are not more or less discussed or referred to."

In his address to "the Christian Reader," alluding to the fact that two answers had already been made to Mr. Bernard's book, Mr. Robinson says: "I thought it meet to add a third, not as able to speak more than they, but intending something further; namely, an examination of the particulars, one by one, that so in all points the salve might be answerable unto the sore; applying myself therein

Robinson's Works, 11. Editorial Notice.

to such a familiar and popular kind of defence as Mr. B. hath chosen for his accusations." * Then, after remarking on Mr. Bernard's changeable, inconsistent course towards the Separatists, declaring on one occasion as he did, that he "had much ado to keep a good conscience in dealing against this cause"; and on another, that he "would never deal against this cause nor withhold any from it" - Mr. Robinson passes on to a consideration of every considerable point made by his adversary. We cannot, of course, follow him through five hundred compact pages; but we may cull here and there an important sentiment, or an illustrative passage, appropriate to the purposes of this work.

Of the church of England he says: "We do acknowledge in it many excellent truths of doctrine, which we also teach without commixture of error; many Christian ordinances, which we also practise, being purged from the pollution of Antichrist; and for the godly persons in it, could we possibly separate them from the profane, we would gladly embrace them with both arins." †

In reply to the insinuation that the Separatists

*Robinson's Works, vol. 11., Preface. Mr. Ainsworth says of this book of Bernard's, that it "hath rather show than weight of reason, as the judicious reader may perceive; and seemeth to be penned by him rather for disgrace of others, than defence of themselves." To the Christian Reader."

Counterpoyson

† Works, ut sup., p. 15. So Ainsworth says, in his reply to Bernard: "Now we deal against your church, in regard of the constitution thereof, not doubting but God hath many elect heirs of salvation among you." — Counterpoyson, p. 34.