Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 01.djvu/206

Ainsworth church and the true meaning of Matt. xviii. 17. Ainsworth's view was that the power of excommunication belonged to the congregation as a whole, and was not to be used by the elders or officers alone. After many efforts at reconciliation on the part of Ainsworth, he and his friends finally withdrew in December 1610, and the scoffers were soon able to point to the two congregations, whom they styled respectively Franciscan Brownists and Ainsworthian Brownists. Subsequently there was a lawsuit for the possession of the original building. This was brought, not by Ainsworth or by his company collectively, but by some individuals. The decision is unknown; but it appears to have gone against Johnson, who with his friends removed to Emden.

Ainsworth was now minister for twelve years. This was a busy time; for, in addition to the work of the pastoral office, he wrote a lengthy series of controversial and exegetical works. Many of these are now rare, and in the following list those to be found in the British Museum are indicated by the addition of B. M.: 1. ‘A True Confession of the Faith and humble acknowledgment of the Alegeance which her Majestie's subjects, falsely called Brownists, do hould,’ &c., 1596, 1602. 2. ‘Apology or Defence of such Christians as are commonly but unjustly called Brownists,’ Amst. 1604. This is a joint work with F. Johnson. There were Dutch translations in 1612 and 1670. 3. ‘Certayne questions concerning (i.) silk or wool in the High Priest's Ephod; (ii.) Idol Temples, commonly called Churches; (iii.) the forme of prayer commonly called the Lord's Prayer; (iv.) Excommunication, &c., handled between H. Broughton and Henry Ainsworth,’ London, 1605. (B.M.) 4. ‘Answer to Mr. Stone's Sermon,’ 1605. This has disappeared, but is mentioned in Lawne's ‘Brownisme turned the Inside Outward,’ London, 1613. (B.M.) 5. The ‘Communion of Saincts; a treatise of the Fellowship that the Faithful have with God and his Angels, and one with another, in the present life. Gathered out of the Holy Scriptures by H. A.’ Reprinted in the year 1615 (B.M.), 1628; Nova Belgia, 1640 (B.M.), 1641; Aberdeen, 1844. Dexter thinks this was first issued in 1607. 6. ‘An Arrow against Idolatrie by H. A.,’ 1611 (B.M.), 1617, 1624, 1640 (B.M.) 7. ‘Counter-poyson: Considerations touching the points in difference between the godly ministers of the Church of England, and the seduced Brethren of the Separation; Arguments that the best Assemblies of the present Church of England are true Visible Churches; that the Preachers in the best Assemblies of England are true Ministers of Christ; Mr. Bernard's book, entitled the “Separatists' Schism”; Mr. Crawshaw's questions propounded in his Sermons preached at the Cross. Examined and answered by H. A.,’ 1608 (B.M.), 1612, 1642 (B.M.) 8. ‘An Epistle sent unto two Daughters of Warwick from H. N. [Henry Nicholas], the oldest father of the Familie of Love. With A Refutation of the Errors that are therein by H. A.,’ Amsterdam, 1608. (B.M.) 9. ‘A Defence of the Holy Scriptures, Worship, and Ministry used in the Christian Churches seperated from Anti-christ, against the challenges, cavils, and contradictions of M. Smyth, in his book entitled “The Differences of the Churches of the Separation.” Hereunto are annexed a few animadversions upon some of M. Smyth's censures, in his answer made to M. Bernard, by Henry Ainsworth, teacher of the English exiled Church at Amsterdam. Imprinted at Amsterdam by Giles Thorp,’ 1609. (B.M.) 10. ‘The Booke of Psalmes, englished both in Prose and Metre; with Annotations opening the words and sentences by conference with other Scriptures, by Henry Ainsworth, Ept. v. 18, 19. Amsterdam, printed,’ &c. 1612 (B.M.), 1617 (B.M.), 1626, 1639, 1644 (B.M.) 11. ‘An Animadversion to Mr. Richard Clifton's Advertisement, who, under pretence of answering Chr. Laune's book, hath published another man's private Letter, with Mr. Francis Johnson's Answer thereto. Which letter is here justified, the answer thereto refuted, and the true causes of the lamentable breach that hath lately fallen out in the English exiled Church at Amsterdam manifested. Imprinted at Amsterdam by Giles Thorp,’ 1613. (B.M.) 12. ‘Annotations upon the first book of Moses called Genesis,’ 1616, 1621. 13. ‘Annotations upon the second book of Moses called Exodus,’ 1617, 1626. 14. ‘Annotations upon the third book of Moses called Leviticus,’ 1618, 1626. 15. ‘Annotations upon the fourth book of Moses called Numbers,’ 1619. (B.M) 16. ‘Annotations upon the fifth book of Moses called Deuteronomie,’ 1619. (B.M.) 17. ‘Annotations upon the five books of Moses,’ 1619, 1621, 1626, 1627 (B.M.), 1639 (B.M.) 18. ‘Annotations upon the five books of Moses, the Psalms, and the Song of Songs,’ London, 1627, 1639. A Dutch translation 1690, German translation 1692. 19. ‘The Trying out of the Truth, begun and prosequuted in certain letters and passages between John Aynsworth and Henry Aynsworth: the one pleading for, the other against, the present religion of the Church of Rome. The chief things here handled