as for the Praise of this Man of God He was as free as Water that runs from a public Conduit to lay open his Knowledge to all that would listen to his Discourse If I must give Precedency to this Charity to any before him it shall be only to that Glorious Servant of God the Marrow of Learned Communication the Lord Primate of Armach But to our present Matter thus he would say as my self and many others have heard it come often from him That his Contemporaries in Cambridge delivered to him by Tradition which was given to them in the name of Dr. Whitaker's Resolved Rule By Proviso first of all sift the Chaff from the Wheat mark whom Valla Erasmus and others have bored in the Ear for Counterfeit Pieces and for the rest acquaint your selves with the choicest and least corrupted Editions The Protestants to their great Commendation had given no cause to suspect them in either kind They that had notoriously more than all others vented false Wares were Italian Huckiters for beâ—de those good Authors Coins Medals Monumental Inseriptions in Stone and Brass nay nothing of Archaique Value had escaped their false Fingers Having separated the Viâ—e from the Precious expect that all the Leaven of the Fathers is hid as the Gospel speaks in three Measures of Meal They are very witty and exuberant in Allegories which are the Windows of the House they serve well for Light but not a jot for Strength Another share of their Works is taken up in maintaining Ecclesiastical Decrees grounded upon Canons and prudent Orders for Decency and Discipline And a good Moiety of their Writings presseth only such Matters as are settled by no more then Canonical or Humane Authority No wonder if now adays we hold such Obligations but in a slip Knot Variableness of Customs alternation of Manners sundry new Products in new Ages gives power to dispense so we abuse not our Liberty to a scornful Licence But it is approveable in Musick to set new Tunes if we keep the old Gammut The 34th Article of the Church of England decides it gravely That every particular or National Church hath Authority to Ordain Change and Abolish Ceremonies and Rites of the Church Ordained only by Man's Authority so that all Things be done to Edifying Now these Canonical and Human Decretals are Butteresses to the House of God they are raised up without the Walls but all that is within is the stronger for their Supportance The third Part of the Heavenly Extraction of the Fathers the Pearl growing between the two Shells premised is Dogmatical their Doctrine of Faith and Works necessary to Selvation In any of which when many of them consent we may well presume that the Spirit of Christ breathed in them For the Martyrdom of soms the Humility Self-denial and Sanctity of them all will attest that they intended the Truth and one Point of Success that those who gainsaid them never took Root or prosper'd will perswade you that they found the Truth Neither is there any Reverence towards them diminish'd by this distinction that what they sowed in the Field of God saving here a little and there a little was sound Wheat but all that they mowed down were Weeds or Heresies without exception Thus far He or rather Dr. Whitaker whose Antagonist Duraeus would seem to ascribe more to the Fathers indeed it is but a seeming Says he We assent to all the Doctrine of the Holy Fathers to all of it without exception A mighty Concession but his Hand slacks immediately Nâ—que patres censentur cum suum aliquid quod ab Ecclesiâ non accepâ—â—â— vel seribunt vel docent For if they write or teach any thing which they have not received of the Church they are not to be esteemed Fathers As like to Plato's Sophister as one drop of Water to another who would prove that no Shoe-maker did ever make a bad Shoe for he that made a bad Shoe was not Master of his Crast he was not a Shoe-maker 22. I will invite the Reader but to the notice of one Thing more upon this Title This Man was the least Distasted so far as I have known Men among all of his Profession with a Scholar that was divers from him in a Theological Debate And this he said he learn'd from the moderation of the Fathers who were zealous Upholders of the Glory of the Blessed Trinity of Christ and of his Mâ—diatorship and of the Covenant of Grace for the Redemption of Penitent â—ners but for differences of Questions which were not so prime and substantial they caused no angry Contract about them much less a Separation of Churches St. Cyprian is praised for this Candor by St. Austin De Bap. con Donat. lib. 3. c. 3. in this wise Cyprian was not to be removed from a darling Opinion of his own too much his own about Re-baptizing of those that had been Baptized by Heretics yet so as Nominem judicantes nee à jure communioâ—s aliquem si diversum senserâ— amovâ—ntes I like this Concordance says Austin with two Explanations 1. In iis quaestionibus quae nondum eliquatissimâ perspectione discussae sunt 2. Exceptis iis quae jam sunt dâ—sinita in totâ Ecclesiâ First Not to think the worse of any much less to make a Rupture for maintaining Opinions which were not discuss'd so far to be convincing and conspicuous Secondly To be the bolder with them if they were the Tenets of some Men only and not the Definitions of the Church Univeral O that many living Stones now scattered from one another were cemented together with this Mortar O that such as are rigidly addicted to their own Fancies would desine less and leave more charitable Allowance to their weak or at least dissenting Brethren O that there were less Inclosure and more common Pasturage in the Church for poor Cottagers And I wish again that it were wisely considered that a good Conscience may continue in our Brother though he be not so found in some lesser Truths Then you would not deny him your Love because he submits not his Wit and Reason to all your Perswasions Many hot Opiniators of our Age are little better then the Sâ—maritans as describ'd by Epiphanius Haeres 61. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They thought it piaculous to touch a Man that did not Dogmatize as they did Therefore how many Slanders must they put up quietly who were of Mr. Williams his Equanimity sociable with them that are at point blank contradiction in some Quarrels of Polemical Divinity nâ—y as ready to prefer the one side as the other how sure is this to be called by our Fâ—riâ—sâ—'s lukewarm and undigested Christianity I have seen the Life 〈◊〉 Renowned Frier Padre Pâ—â—lo of Venice written in Italian by his 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 tersely and faithfully into English by that Gentleman 〈◊〉 great and elegant Parts Mr. 〈…〉 Secretary to this Heâ—oical Prelate of whom I write when he was Lord-keepeâ— Out of that Piece I
their Followers Dr. Richardson the King's Professor in Divinity to manage the chief Place in the Chair Dr. Davenant to moderate in the Theological Disputation and Mr. Collins to answer upon three Questions The next Care was for Opponents And Mr. Williams was so high in the Opinion of all the Learned Doctors that he was thought upon in his absence as a most Select Antagonist for this Conflict and Letters of Entreaty were directed to him to come and fulfil that part which upon Assurance of his Sufficiency was imposed on him There was no leisure for a Demur the straitness of Time said either do it or deny it But he submitted yet humbly protesting against himself from one point of Incapacity that though he had compleat time from the Midsummer elapsed for the Degree of Batchelor of Divinity yet he had not taken it And without that Title it was not usual or decent to shew himself in the luster of such an Auditory Well says Dr. Richardson you speak Reason yet we will not want you at this needful time for I will teach you how to fill up that empty Circumstance It will be a fortnight yet before our Royal Guests the Princes will come to us Prefer your two Questions Pro Gradu this night or to morrow to me I know your readiness that you need take no more time In five days after I will meet you in the Schools Incontinently your Degree shall be confer'd upon you Pro More or by special Grace He obey'd And the Theses which upon allowance of such short time he maintain'd were these 1. Peccata semel remissa 〈◊〉 redeunt 2. Qui sacres ordines susecperunt samulari possunt magnatious ut fructus Ecclestasticos percipiant Dr. Richardion who received from him these Tâ—â—ses as it were the Chartel of Challenge met him in the Schools He was a profound Divine as famous in the Pulpit as in the Chair which is not usual a great Linguist noted for a kind of Omnisciency in Church Antiquities of pure Language yet used not his Pen to Compose his Lectures but brought his Memory with him and dictated his Mind with great Authority We that frequented at his Polemical Exercises observ'd That if the Respondent that stood before him were not a lusty Game-Cock but of a Craven kind he would shake him a little but never cast him on his back But if he were one of the right Brood that would strike Spur for Spur he would be sure to make him feel the weight of a Professor's Learning before they parted Therefore he did not dally with Mr. Williams at this time but laid at him with all his Puissance Nothing could be more delightful for two long hours and better to us that were the Lookers on In ventilating the first Question we judged that the Doctor of the Chair had twice duck'd the Respondent under Water but he quickly appeared again at the top Once was upon the Objection That Original Sin is remuted in Baptism and yet some Baptized become Reprobates and are for ever Tormented Even so says the Answerer for their Actual Rebellions but not upon the score of Original which was wiped out The second Shock was upon that Scripture Matth. 18.32 where the Lord tells the Unmerciful Servant that He had forgiven to him the Debt which he desired but since he had no compassion of his Fellow he should be kept in Prison till he had paid all which was due Though I might decline the Instance says the Respondent because it is Parabolical yet to encounter the Text more directly I say that the Debt was not cancell'd to that rigid and hard Servant for if he had his Apâ—cha or Quietance to speak after the manner of Men he were free from all insequent Demands But I forgave thee in that Verse is as much as I forbear thee I did not pross thee or exact upon thee Though the Tally was not struck yet no Suit was commenc'd and a Temporary Forbearance is a kind of Forgiveness The Professor was satisfied and drove his Wedge no further into that Knot Upon the second Question I remember the grave Doctor gave the Onset somewhat frowningly But the Pith of his Obligation was That the Vocation to Sacred Orders Ministerium est non mercatura Piscatores sumus hominum non venatores munerum that is Our holy Profession is a Ministry not a Merchandise that we are made Fishers of Men and not of Livings The Retorsion to this had Strength and Sweetness like Iron that is gilded Alius est finis artis alius artificis The end of Theology is to gain Souls the end of the Theologue subordinate to the first and Architectonical end is for an honest Maintenance and Sustentation As the end of Art Medicinal is to cure a Sick Man but the end of the Physician is to live well upon his Profession This agrees with the mind of Seneca lib. 3. De Benef. That the end of Phidias his Art was to carve a Statue with likeness concinnity and due proportion Finis artificis fecisse cum sructu The Artificer's end was to take Money for his Work A Distinction that cuts by an even Thread which with all that was deliver'd beside received great Congratulation from the Professor and Auditors 33. From henceforth he was a Licemiate as the Transmarines call it as we a Batchelor in Divinity A Relation to beautifie his Profession or rather a mere Scabbard to put in the sharp-edg'd Weapon of his Learning out of which he drew it forth upon a fair Quarrel which was decided before a glorious Auditory Mar. 3. 1612. That was the day wherein the Princes with the Attendance of mighty Peers and one Bishop Dr. James Montagu Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells vouchsafed to give a most Gracious Hearing to a public Disputation held between some of our chief Divines The Place was filled with the most Judicious of this whole Island and some of the Attendants of the Palsgrave so Learned that One might stand for many Plato alone for Ten Thousand One Abraham Scultetus a Worthy greatly look'd upon was able to awake the Diligence of them that had been Drowsie But they that were set forth for this Encounter had Metal enough and needed no Provocation but their own Virtue Dr. Richardson Agmen agens Lausus magnique ipse agminis instar began first with his grave Nestorean Eloquence and having saluted Prince Charles the great expectation of our future Happiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as G. Nyssen calls Isaac the Branch of Succession and having blessed his Serenity the Prince Elector the Bridegroom with Solemn Votes and Wishes to be added to his Hymeneal Joys then he called forth the Son of his right hand Mr. Samuel Collins created Doctor at this Commencement to stand in the gap and to maintain the Truth in three Theses against all Assailants He was a firm Bank of Earth able to receive the Shot of the greatest Artillery His Works in print against
than the Lecturer of St. Martins in the Fields a great Opiniator who was committed to the Gate-House and having scarce kiss'd the Jayl was restored to go abroad and to Preach again at the Lord Keeper's humble Suit Who gave him grave Advice to take some other Theme to treat of before his Auditors than the King's Counsels and Intentions And what doth your Lordship prescribe me to Preach upon says this Frampul Man What else and that you know your self says he But Jesus Christ and him Crucified The next Sunday the Lecturer restor'd to his Place takes for his Text 1 Cor. 2. V. 2. I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucified And withal told the People That a Bishop and a great Statesman had restrain'd him to Preach of that only and no other Scripture Of which Indignity when Sir George Calvert the Principal Secretary had brought him News he laugh'd heartily and said no more But let him alone Sir George he hath vented his Crotchet His Notes will not let him continue long on that Subject He delights in Quarrels but he shall never be question'd for my sake if he will not trouble the King So he dealt with him as Leo says he us'd Anatasius Ep. 57. Benigniores circa ipsum quam justiores esse volumus A Magistrate is in a great strait that deals with such a Head-strong Piece Whether he be summon'd to answer before Authority or pass'd over in Connivence his Heart is as fat as Brawn and hath no feeling of the Publick Peace Dicere si tentes aliquid tacitus ve recedas Tantundem est feriunt pariter Juven Sat. 3. Yet perhaps when they are left to themselves they will be soonest weary of themselves And every Dunghil smells ill but worst when it is stirr'd 100. A few things more subjunctive to the former were thought meet to be Castigated in Preachers at that time It jarr'd in the Ears of the Discreet to hear some that exercis'd in the Church battle out they knew not what about Regal Authority and limit which were the Enclosures of Subjection and which were not To Be subject to the Higher Powers is a constant and a general Rule and Reason can discern that the Supreme Majesty which unquestionably is in our King is inviolable For omnis motus est super quietem That all Penalties against them that offend may move orderly there must be a Power Quiescent and exempted from that Motion not subject to Penalty by Man He that maintains not this Principle leaps wilfully into Confusion and will never get out of it But for Active Obedience to Laws and Edicts 't is local and therefore various Every Nation know their own way best to what they are tied as we know ours He is a Busie-body that trasheth this in a Pulpit A Minister is pur-blind of that side and cannot tell how far the Eagle may fly For it comes not under the Divine's Cap but under the Judges Coif A Scholar of Broad-Gates in Oxford Mr. Knight that had newly taken Orders broke a Sermon against this Rock in April 1022. out of Paraeus his Aphorisms on the 13th Chap. ad Rom. how far forth he understood him I contend not he deliver'd that which derogated much from the safety of Regal Majesty Dr. Pierce the Vicechancellor a Learned Governor found the Crime too great for the Cognizance of his Consistory But inform'd Bishop Laud of all Passages and the Bishop the King Presently the Floods lift up their Voice Ruine is thundred against Knight who had set such a Beacon on Fire in the Face of the University To the Gate-House he was committed a close Prisoner till a Charge were drawn up against him to Impeach him of Treasonable Doctrine All other Passages I pretermit And how the Charge came not in shall be told by and by But this weak Predicant that run blindfold into Error and Destruction lay in Limbo a great while macerated with fear and want and hard Lodging Dr. White he who purchas'd Sion-College for the Clergy of London and conferr'd other Beneficence on the place had like to have kept Knight Company He Preach'd a Sermon at St. Paul's Church London in his Residentiaries Course though very Aged and was better able to discharge it Forty Years before There were among those that heard him some that wrested his Words to a bad meaning as if he had prick'd the Court in the Basilick or Liver-Vein Though his Doctrine was harmless in good Construction yet a Tale was told to the King to the contrary for he was very Rich. That was the Carrion after which the Crows cawed Though he was Orthodox his Money was Heterodox and the Informers look'd to part it among them To avoid this Peril Dr. White fled to the Lord Keeper's Sweetness and Civility who assured him he would do him the best Office he could He thought upon the Doctor and forgot not Mr. Knight but rubb'd his Fore-head to find a Stratagem how to hunt two Hares at one Course The next time he came into the King's Presence he fell upon it how to amaze his Majesty with a Paradox Some Instructions were appointed to be drawn up by his Discretion and Stile for the Performance of useful and Orderly Preaching Which being under his Hand to dispatch he besought his Majesty that one Proviso might pass among the rest that none of Holy Calling might Preach before the Age of thirty years compleat nor after threescore On my Soul says the King the Devil or some Fit of Madness is in the Motion For I have many great Wits and of clear Distillation that have Preach'd before me at Royston and New-Market to my great Liking that are under Thirty And my Prelates and Chaplains that are far stricken in Age are the best Masters in that Faculty that Europe affords I agree to all this says the Lord Keeper and since Your Majesty will allow both Young and Old to go up into the Pulpit it is but Justice that you shew Indulgence to the Young Ones if they run into Errors before their Wits be settled for every Apprentice is allow'd to mar some Work before he be cunning in the Mystery of his Trade and Pity to the Old Ones if some of them fall into Dotage when their Brains grow dry Will Your Majesty conceive Displeasure and not lay it down if the former set your Teeth on edge sometimes before they are mellow-wise and if the Doctrine of the latter be touch'd with a Blemish when they begin to be rotten and to drop from the Tree This is not unfit for Consideration says the King But what do you drive at Sir says he First to beg your Pardon for mine own Boldness Then to remember you that Knight is a Beardless Boy from whom Exactness of Judgment could not be expected And that White is a decrepit spent Man who had not a Fee-Simple but a Lease of Reason and it is expir'd Both these that have been
unto him He complains further of want of Expedition in the Letters to be written by your Lordship to those principal Officers to whom it pertains for the Suspension of all Trouble and Molestation to the Roman Catholicks his Majesty's Subjects in matter of their Conscience His Majesty marvails not a little that the Pardon and Dispensation are so long delayed before they be delivered and the Letters so long before they are written His Majesty being troubled and offended that Cause should be taken upon these Delays by the Embassador to call into Jealousie his Majesty's Roundness and Integrity in Proceeding In all which Points his Majesty now prays you to give all possible Expedition that his Majesty may be no more soiled with the Jealousies and Suspitions of the Embassador nor importuned with their Requests for those things so entirely resolved on Albeit this Letter is so strict and mandatory the Lord Keeper presumed on the King's Goodness to write a Remonstrance to Mr. Secretary Conway flat against the Mandate with sundry Reasons to shew the high Expedience that the Instruments demanded should not yet be delivered To the which on the 9th of September Mr. Secretary sends back word Right Honorable I Have represented yours of the 18th to his Majesty who interprets your Intentions very well and cannot but think it good Counsel and a discreet Course had the State of the Business been now entire But as Promises have been past the Truth of a King must be preferred before all other Circumstances and within three Days you must not fail to deliver the Exemplification of the Pardon and Dispensation with the Coppy of the Letters c. Two Days after see the Hand of God September 21 a Post brought Intelligence that the Prince was departed with fair Correspondencies from the Court of Spain was certainly long before that time on Shipboard and would weigh Anchor as soon as Wind and Weather served him So in good Manners all Solicitations were hush'd and attended his Highness's Pleasure against he came into England These are the Performances of the Lord Keeper upon the Immunities which the Papists contended for to be derived to them by the Prince's Marriage with the Daughter of Spain Whither any States-man could have contrived them better I leave it to be considered by the Senators of the Colledge of Wisdom in my Lord Bacon's new Atlantis If it be possible for any to disprove these excellent Excogitations of Prudence with his Censure he will force me to say in this Lord's Behalf what Tully did for the Pontiss of old Rome Orat. pro resp Aurus Satis superque prudentes sunt qui illorum prudentiam non dicam assâ—qui sed quanta fuerit perspicere possint The Collection of all the precedent Passages were gathered by that Lord himself and stitched up into one Book every Leaf being signed with the Hands of Sir George Calvert and Sir Edward Conway principal Secretaries to his Majesty If it be asked to what end was that provided it was to shew he had a Brest-Plate as well as an Head-Piece It was to defend his Integrity against any Storm that dark Days might raise about the Spanish Matters It was a gathering thick when my Lord of Buckingham caused Mr. Packer his Secretary to write a Letter of Defiance to him Cab. P. 87. wherein every Penful of Ink is stronger than a Drop of Vicriol Take a Line of it That in the Spanish Negotiation he had been dangerous to his Country prejudicious to the Cause of Religion which he above all others should have laboured to uphold But rip up all his Actions turn the Linings outward shew any Stain-Spot in his Fidelity in his Innocency chiefly in his Maintainance of the Reformed Religion Therefore he met the Lord Duke couragiously Pag. 89. I do not in the least beg or desire from your Grace any Defence of me if it shall appear I betray'd my King or my Religion in Favour of the Papist or did them any real Respect at all beside ordinary Complement Therefore I appeal to all Posterity who shall read this Memorial how a Minister in his Office and intrusted with the whole weight of such a ticklish Negotiation could come off better with more Honour with lâ—ss Prejudice Photius in his Biblioth says of Saluslius the Cynick that he was a worthy Man but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He had listed himself into that Sect of Philosophy which was carved out or exposed to Reproach and Contumiâ—y So this noble Councellor was as Harmless as he was Wise as Honest as he was Active But the Business which he underwent for his great Master and the Prince was Planet-struck with an ill Opinion of many and could look for no Thanks but from a few that were the Wisest 167. Especially most circumspect and diligent Endeavours if superior Providence hath decreed to make them barren shall not be pitied as they deserve but be insulted upon because they cannot reach their End The best Angler that is we commonly think he fish'd ill if he catch'd nothing Inde plaerumque eadâ—m sacta modò diligentiae modò vanitatis modò libertatis modò furor is nomen accipiunt Plin. lib. 6. Ep. Lucky Success makes a Fool seem wise and a wise man that is unfortunate shall be called a Fool. It is a hard Task to dig into the Mines of Poâ—icy when Event shall be the Measure both of Reward and Praise Yet all this must be endured after his Highness took his Leave of Spain the Donna Hâ—rmesa left behind the Stock of Love spent and in a while the Credit of it protested Our King was not ill disposed to the News that is Son made preparation to come Home The People began to be churlish that he staid so long And his Majesty look'd for no Good from that Part of the World while our Duke was in it He found that so long as he was so remote from his Tutorship he was heady a Novice in carrying Business and very offensive to the Crown of Spain The Prince was desirous to make haste from them that would make no better haste and could no longer endure the Pace of a dull Spanish Mule As a weary Traveiler's Inn seems still to go further from him so his Highness had attended long for a sweet Repose in Wedlock till it made him impatient and think that every Consuito cast him further back from the Fruition of his Joys The Junto of the Spanish States-men were very magisterial and would not bate an Inch but that every thing should be timed to a day as they designed it These were the Links of the Chain by which they pluck all Power to themselves First A Disposorios or Contract must go before the Marriage For that 's a Rule from which their Church doth never vary unless good Order be broken by clandestine Marriages To the Contract they could not go on in this Case till the Dispensation from the new Pope gave Authority for it That came to
it was not set off with much Ceremony to quicken Devotition yet it wanted neither a stamp of Reverence nor the metal of Godliness Yet he would be careful in Launching out so far in Curiosity to give no Scandal to Catholicks whose Jealousie might perhaps suspect him as if he thought it lawful to use both ours and the Church of Rome's Communion Therefore he made suit to be placed where none could perceive him and that an Interpreter of the Liturgy might assist him to turn the Book and to make right Answers to such Questions as fell by the way into his Animadversions None more forward then the Lord Keper to meet the Abbat in this Request Veritas oculatos testes non refermidat The Abbat kept his hour to come to Church upon that High Feast and a Place was well fancied aloft with a Latice and Curtains to conceal him Mr. William Beswell like Philip Riding with the Treasurer of Queen Candace in the same Chariot sate with him directing him in the Process of all the Sacred Offices perform'd and made clear Explanation to all his scruples The Church Work of that ever Blessed day fell to the Lord Keeper to perform it but in the place of the Dean of that Collegiate Church He sung the Service Preach'd the Sermon Consecrated the Lords Table and being assisted with some of the Prebendaries distributed the Elements of the Holy Communion to a great multitude meekly kneeling upon their knees Four hours and better were spent that morning before the Congregation was dismiss'd with the Episcopal Blessing The Abbat was entreated to be a Guest at the Dinner provided in the College-Hall where all the Members of that Incorporation Feasted together even to the Eleemosynaries call'd the Beads-men of the Foundation no distinction being made but high and low Eating their Meat with gladness together upon the occasion of our Saviours Nativity that it might not be forgotten that the poor Shepherds were admitted to Worship the Babe in the Manger as well as the Potentates of the East who brought Rich Presents to offer up at the shrine of his Cradle All having had their comfort both in Spiritual and Bodily Repast the Master of the Feast and the Abbat with some few beside retired into a Gallery The good Abbat presently shew'd that he was Bred up in the Franco-Gallican Liberty of Speech and without further Proem defies the English that were Roasted in the Abbies of France for lying Varlets above all others that ever he met We have none of their good word I am sure says the Keeper but what is it that doth empassion you for the present against them That I shall calmly tell your Lordship says the Abbat I have been long inquisitive what outward Face of God's Worship was retein'd in your Church of England What Decorums were kept in the external Communion of your Assemblies St. Paul did Rejoyce to behold good Order among the Colossians as well as to hear of the stedfastness of their Faith cap. 2.5 Therefore waving Polemical Points of Doctrine I demanded after those things that lay open to the view and pertain'd to the Exterior Visage of the House of God And that my Intelligence might not return by broken Merchants but through the best Hands I consulted with none but English in the Affairs of their own home and with none but such as had taken the Scapular or Habit of some Sacred Order upon them in Affairs of Religion But Jesu how they have deceiv'd me What an Idea of Deformity Limm'd in their own Brain have they hung up before me They told me of no composed Office of Prayer used in all these Churches by Authority as I have found it this day but of extemporary Bablings They traduc'd your Pulpits as if they were not possest by Men that be Ordein'd by imposition of Hands but that Shop-keepers and the Scum of the people Usurp that Place in course one after another as they presum'd themselves to be Gifted Above all they turn'd their Reproaches against your behaviour at the Sacrament describing it as a prodigious Monster of Profaneness That your Tables being furnish'd with Meats and Drinks you took the Scraps and Rellicks of your Bread and Cups and call upon one another to remember the Passion of our Lord Jesus All this I perceive is infernally false And though I deplore your Schism from the Catholick Church yet I should bear false Witness if I did not confess that your Decency which I discern'd at that Holy Duty was very allowable in the Consecrator and Receivers 218. My Brother Abbat says the Lord Keeper with a Smile I hope you will think the better of the Religion since on Christ's good Day your own Eyes have made this Observation among us The better of the Religion says the Abbat taking the Words to relate to the Reformed of France nay taking all together which I have seen among you and he brought it out with Acrimony of Voice and Gesture I will lose my Head if you and our Hugenots are of one Religion I protest Sir says the Keeper you divide us without Cause For the Harmony of Protestant Confessions divulg'd to all the World do manifest our Consonancy in Faith and Doctrine And for diversity in outward Administrations it is a Note as Old as Irenaeus which will justifie us from a Rupture that variety of Ceremonies in several Churches the Foundation being preserv'd doth commend the Unity of Faith I allow what Irenaeus writes says the Abbat for we our selves use not the same Offices and Breviares in all Places But why do not the Hugonots at Charenton and in other Districts follow your Example Because says the Lord Keeper no part of your Kingdom but is under the Jurisdiction of a Diocesan Bishop and I know you will not suffer them to set up another Bishop in the Precincts of that Territory where one is establish'd before that would savour of Schism in earnest And where they have no means to maintain Gods Worship with costly Charge and where they want the Authority of a Bishop among them the people will arrogate the greatest share in Government so that in many things you must excuse them because the Hand of constraint is upon them But what constreins them says the Abbat that they do not Solemnize the Anniversary Feast of Christ's Nativity as you do Nay as we do for it is for no better Reason then because they would be unlike to us in every thing Do you say this upon certainty says the Keeper or call me Poultron if I feign it says the other In good troth says the Keeper you tell me News I was ever as Tully writes of himself to Atticus in Curiositate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to search narrowly into Foreign Churches and I did never suspect that our Brethren that live with you were deficient in that Duty For the Churches of the Low-Countries of Heidelberg Helvetia Flassia Breme and others do observe a yearly Day to the
ten degrees backward upon their Dyal they knew it That Abner gave good Counsel to Asahel not to pursue a valianter man than himself and a Captain of the Host but lay hold on one of the young men and take his Armour 2 Sam. 2.21 they knew it Yet they had shuffled the Cards that they knew they should win somewhat by the Hand for if the Bishop gave no Answer to this Challenger he was baffled and posted upon every Gate about London for a Dastard If he return'd them their own again then pull him to the Stake and worry him in the Star-chamber where he was struggling for Life at this time in which fatal juncture the King must be told that he was an Enemy to the Piety of the Times and the Good Work in hand So that this Spaniel was to put up the Fowl that the Eagle might fall upon the Quarry But it was soon decided for rather than forsake a good Cause and a good Name Lincoln chose to use his Pen to maintain his innocent Letter though malicious Subtlety had made it manifest that nothing could fall so moderately from him in that cause which would not be subject to perverse exposition The Athenians had deserted their old Philosophy Cum imminente periculo major salutis quà m dignitatis cura fuit Justin lib. 5. Therefore a Mind that was not degenerous had rather provide for Dignity than Safety None writes better than Budaeus upon such a case de Asse lib. 1. fol. 10. Tanta fuit vis numinis ad stylum manum urgentis ut periclitari malis quà m rumpi degeneri patientiâ Some divine Spirit did so strongly stir him up to write that he had rather run any hazard than smother such an Injury with cowardly Patience 98. I have cleared the rise of the Controversie which follows That a Letter of the Bishop's was sent to some few persons nine years before to stop a Debate in a private Parish and to make Peace in the place This was published by Dr. Heylin with a Confutation and censur'd for Popular Affectation Disaffection to the Church Sedition and for no better than No Learning And the Plot was as Concurrencies will not let it be denied to pop out this Pamphlet when the Bishop's Cause in Star-chamber was now ripe for hearing And this was the Pack-needle to draw the Whip-cord of the Censure after it But what was this about Take the Substance or rather the Shadow that was contended for out of the Letter in an Abstract The Vicar of Grantham P. T. of his own Head and never consulting the Ordinary had removed the Communion-Table to that upper part of the Chancel which he called the Altar-place where he would officiate when there was a Communion and read that part of Service belonging to the Communion when there was none And when the People shewed much dislike at it because it was impossible as they alledg'd that the 24th part of the Parish should see or hear him if he officiated in that place he persisted in his way and told them he would build an Altar of Stone upon his own cost at the upper end of the Quire and set it with the ends North and South Altar-wise and six it there that it might not be removed upon any occasion A Complaint being made against this by the Alderman and a multitude of the Town the Bishop contented himself at first to send a Message to the Magistrate and the Vicar that they should not presume either the one or the other of them to move or remove that Table any more otherwise than by special direction of him and his Chancellor that in his Journey that way he would view the place and accommodate the matter according to the Rubrick and Canons There being no certain day set when the Bishop would come the Inhabitants of Grantham prevented him and came with open cry to Bugden against the Vicar who was among them at the Hearing Some Heat and sharp Impeachments against each other being over the Bishop did his best to make them Friends and supp'd them together in his great Hall while himself retired to his Study and bade them expect that he would frame somewhat in a thing so indifferent to him to give them content against the Morning So he bestowed that night in writing and made his Papers ready by day As the Panegyrist said to Constantine of such Celerity Quorum igneae immortales mentes mintâ—â—e sentiunt corporis moras p. 303. The Secretary gave a short Letter to the Alderman in which that which concerns the case in hand is this little That his Lordship conceived that the Communion-Table when it is not used should stand in the upper end of the Chancel not Altar-wise but Table-wise But when it is used either in or out of the time of Communion it should continue in the place it took up before or be carried to any other place of Church or Chancel where the Minister might be most audibly heard of the whole Congregation What can a Critick in Ceremonies carp at herein What else but that the end and not the side of the Table should stand toward the Minister when he perform'd his Liturgy Is this all And must a Controversie as big as a Camel be drawn through the Eye of this Needle But more of the same comes after in a larger Script which the Bishop at the same time willed to be delivered to the Divines of the Lecture of Grantham to be examined by them upon their next meeting-day that their Vicar being one of their company might read the Contents and take a Copy for his own use if he would but to divulge it no further Herein the Bishop derives his Conceptions from the Injunctions Articles and Orders of the Queen from the Homilies and Canons from Reports out of the Book of Acts and Monuments and from the Rubricks of the Liturgy and shews out of these that the Utensil on which the Holy Communion is celebrated ought not to be an Altar but a joyned Table that the Name of Table is retained by the Church of England and the other of Altar laid aside that the Table without some new Canon is not to stand Altar-wise in Parish-Churches and the Minister be at the North end thereof but Table-wise and he must officiate at the North side of the same that this Table when holy Duties are not in performing at it must be laid up in the Chancel but in the time of Service to be removed to such a place of Church or Chancel the over-sight of Authority appointing it wherein he that officiates may be most conveniently seen and heard of all They that would peruse the whole Letter are referred to it in Print but the sum of it is already laid before them And the Author was so little over-weening tho' in a frivolous case that he prays the Divines to whom he sent it that if they found mistakings in his Quotations or had met with any Canons
or Constitutions differing from the alledg'd or did vary in their Judgment that they would send their Reasons and they should be kindly and thankfully accepted How could a Prelate carry himself with more Moderation or a Scholar write with more Modesty or a Variance be more suddenly composed as it was with more Indifferency Did this Letter deserve to be ript up nine years after and torn into Raggs by an angry Censure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Odyss w. It will be a dishonour to the Times that Posterity should hear of it I see if the Dr. had been in the place of the Bishop he would have led the Parish of Grantham another Dance to their cost and vexation Many that are in low condition are best where they are As Livy says lib. 1. dec 5. Quidnam illi Consules Dictatoresve facturi erant qui proconsularem imaginem tam trucem saevÃmque fecerint If such had been the Consuls and Dictators of the Church what would they have done who flew so high when they had no Authority 99. Scan this now both for the Form and Matter before equal Judges in some Moral and Prudential Rules The Letter or private Monition as he calls it that drew it up Hol. Tab. p. 82. was written nine years before and in all that time had gained this Praise that it savour'd of Fatherly Sweetness to satisfie the Scrupulous by Learning in matter of Ceremony rather than to strike the case dead with Will and Command The Contents of it had been quoted in a Parliament with well done good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful in a little A Divinity-Professor in his Chair Dr. Pr. had spoken reverendly of it by the relation of many it was punctually read or opened fully to the King at the hearing of the Cause of St. Gregory's Church Ho. Tab. p. 58. and no Counsellor did inform that it was disparaged A Litter of blind Whelps will see by that time they are nine days old and was the Answerer blind that could not see the reputation this Paper had got by that time it was nine years old Let a Presbyter for me dispute the truth with him that is of the greatest Order in the Church yet what Canons will suffer him to taunt and revile a Bishop whose whole Book was but a Libel against a Diocesan p. 58. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Const lib. 2. c. 31. Which Canon will not allow a Clerk of a lower degree to raise an evil Murmur against a Bishop Much of the like is an Antiquity from Ignatius downward Their supereminent Order is not to be exposed to petulant Scoffings by their own Tribe Sed servanda est uniuscujusque Episcopi reverentia says Gregory Ep. 65. Ind. 2. since the Age grew learned and Knowledge puffed men up Ministers are more malapart among us and in every state with the Fathers of the Church but from the beginning it was not so If the like to this had been done upon the Person of another Bishop he would have been taught better Manners that had presum'd it The Example is the same wheresoever it lighted and might have taught them that where Reverence is forgotten to any of the chief Order that he that abuseth one doth threaten many It is a sad Presage to my Heart to apply that of Baronius to them that did not maintain the Honour of their Brother Quod Praesides ecclesiarum alter alterius vires infringebant Deus tranquilla tempora in persecutiones convertebat an 312. p. 6. These Annals prevent me not to forget that for a better colour to make licentious Invectives the Respondent takes no notice that a Bishop wrote the Letter For why not rather some Minorite among the Clergy Indeed it had not the Name but the Style tells him all the way that it could come from none but the Diocesan of Grantham Therefore I will give him his Match out of Baronius anno 520. p. 22. Maxentius contra epistolam Hormisdae scripsit sed ut liberam sibi dicendi compararet facultatem Hormisdae esse negavit sed ab adversariis ejus nomine scriptam esse affirmans This is a stale Trick to bait a Pope or a Prelate in the name of one that was much beneath them Sternitur infoelix alieno vulnere Aen. lib. 10. but he that wilfully makes these mistakes I take him for what he is I pass to the main Question What did this Letter prescribe that it should be torn with the Thorns of the Wilderness It pared away no Ceremony enjoyned O none further from it but it moderated a doubtful case upon the Mode and Practice of a Ceremony how the Communion-Board should stand and how the Vicar in that Church should pray and read at it for best edification of his Flock He must give me time to study upon it that would demand me to start him a Question belonging to God's Service of less moment Had the Gensdarmery of our great Writers no other Enemy to fight with Nothing to grind in their Brain-mill but Orts This the Colleges of Rome would have to see us warm in petty Wranglings and remiss in great Causes as Laertius says of one Xenophon of the Privy-Purse to Alexander the Great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 632 He would quiver for cold in the hot Sun and sweat in the Shade It was a Task most laudably perform'd by Whitgift Bridges Hooker Morton Burgess to maintain the use of innocent Ceremonies with whom Bishop Williams did ever jump and as Fulgentius says in P. Paulo's Life would defend and observe all Ordinances the least considerable and no whit essential But this was a great deal below it to litigate not about the continuance but about the placing of a Ceremony an evil beginning to distract Conformists who were at unity before and to make them sight like Cocks which are all of a Feather and yet never at peace with themselves Wo be to the Authors of such Cadmaean Wars Quibus semper praelia clade pari Propertius A most unnecessary Gap made in the Vine yard through which both the wild Boar our foreign Enemy and the little Foxes at home may enter in to spoil the Grapes Plutarch lib. de Is Osyr tells me of a Contention between the Oxyndrites and Cynopolites who went to War for the killing of a Fish which one of the Factions accounted to be a sacred Creature and when they were weaken'd with slaughter on both sides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in sine the Romans over-run them and made them their Slaves Let the Story be to them that hates us and the Interpretation fall upon our Enemies 100. Yet will some of the stiffer Faction say it was time to clip the Wings of this Letter or if it could be done to make it odious abroad for the Mctropolitan intending one common decency in all Churches of his Province about the Table of Christ's Holy Supper this Paper six years older than his translation to the See of Canterbury
same Building Where should we look for kindness but in the Rulers of the Church the noblest part of Christ's Family And kindness is nobleness says St. Chrysostom and mercy is a generous thing The Beraeans were more noble than the Thessalonians Acts 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says he It doth not signifie nobleness of blood but gentleness of pity Now for the Book the Stone of Scandal at which his Grace stumbled so much it was known unto him that some things got into practice in the Church under his Government and by his Authority were disrelisht by a considerable part in his Province and they of the best conformity whose averseness he thought would be the stiffer by the contents of that Book His remedy was to bring the Author into question and to crush all that sided with him in his Person as the State Maxim goes Compendium est victoriae devincendorum hostium duces sustulisse Paneg. to Constantine p. 339. But which way shall the Book be brought into Disgrace with bad Interpretations It will do no good Forced Earth in time will fall to its own level First then besides some Answers publisht to decry it he incensed his Majesty with a relation of it in whose Ecclesiastical Rights it was mainly written for what he had collected and offered in a Paper to his Majesty Lincoln got a sight of it by the Duke of Lennox and proved that all the Matters of Fact set down against him were false and not to be found in the Book but that it strongly maintain'd the contrary Positions which when his Majesty saw he seem'd to take it ill from the Informer So these flitting Clouds were blown over before they could pour down the Storm they were big with His Grace sent the Book to the Attorney Generâ— to thrust it into an Information who return'd it back that it would not bear it Here again was Tencer's luck in Homer Il. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He had a good will to hit Hector with an Arrow but he mist him Then in his Speech made against Burton Prin and Bastwick which he printed with a Dedication to the King he fell upon this Book reading out of his Notes that he that gave allowance to thrust it at that time into the Press did countenance thosethâ—ee Libellers and did as much as in him lay to fire the Church and State Now under colour to Censure others to fall upon a man that was neither Plaintiff Defendant nor Witness in their Cause would amount to a Libel in anothers mouth against whom Justice had been open But as Demosthenes says against Aristogiton 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sword is useless if it have not an edg to cut so this bitter flam was but a leaden Dagger and did not wound What remained next but take him Bull-begger fetch him into the High-Commission Court where his Grace was President Judge and might be Advocate Proctor Promotor or what he would And he was so hot upon it that three Letters were written by Secretary Windebank in his Majesties Name to hasten the Cause Whereas honest and learned Dr. Rive the King's Advocate knew not where to act his part upon it Lincoln is now in his Coup in the Tower whither four Bishops and three Doctors of the Civil Laws came to take his Answer to a Book of Articles of four and twenty sheets of Paper on both sides The Defendant refuseth to take an Oath on the Bible claiming the Priviledge of a Peer but his Exception was not admitted He stood upon it that himself was a Commissioner that they had no power over him more than he had over them which did not suffice him Then they come to the Articles whose Proem in usual form was That he must acknowledge and submit to the power of that high Court which he did grant no otherwise than in such things and over such persons as were specified in their Commission The second Article contain'd That all Books licensed by his Grace's Chaplains are presumed to be Orthodox and agreeable to sound and true Religion which he denied and wondred at the Impudency that had put such an Article upon him The third That he had licensed a Book when none but the Archbishops and Bishop of London had such power Nay says Lincoln my self and all Bishops as learned as they have as much power as they not only by the Council of Lateran under Leo the Tenth and the Reformatio Cleri under Cardinal Pool but by Queen Elizabeth ' s Injunctions and a Decree in Star-Chamber The fourth That he named a Book called A Coal from the Altar a Pamphlet The fifth That he said all Flesh in England had corrupted their ways The sixth That in a jear he said he had heard of a Mother Church but never of a Mother Chappel The seventh That again in a scoff he derived the word Chappel from St. Martin 's Hood The eighth That he said the people were not to be lasht by every mans whip The ninth That he maintain'd the people were God's people and the King's people but not the Priest's People The tenth That be flouted at the prety of the Times and the good work in hand The rest of the Cluster were like these and these as sharp as any of the seven and twenty Articles and one and thirty Additionals This was the untemper'd Mortar that crumbled away or as the Vulgar Latin reads it Ezech. 13.10 Liniebant parietem luto absque paleis So here was dirt enough but not so much as a little straw or chaff to make it stick together But such as they were the Bishop had the favour to read them all over once before he was examined a favour indeed not shew'n to every body After the Examination past over he required a Copy of it which the three Civilians voted to be granted but his Grace and Sir J. Lamb would first have him re-examined again upon the same Interrogatories to try the steadiness of his memory and to catch him in a Snare if he did vary An Error that may easily be slipt into by the tediousness of the Matter and the intricate Forms of the Clerk's Pen wherein an aged or illiterate man will scarce avoid the danger of Perjury But the Bishop being of a prodigious memory had every word by heart which he had deposed before against two subsequent Examinations which laid this Cause asleep till God shall awaken it and hear it on both sides at the last day 124. No worse could be lookt for than that their frivolous Articles should go out as they did in a Cracker And less was expected from that which followed whose steam when it came abroad was laught at in good Company but it cost the unfortunate Bishop some thousands in good earnest for Cyphers for Riddles for Quibbles for Nothing It made a third Information in Star-Chamber for like Herulus in Virgil Aen. 8. Ter letho sternendus erat The driver on and the dealer in it was the
plausible and may run well with the close of Beza's Epigram in Parodie Quod tu fecisti sit licet ingens At quod non saceres hoâ— ego miror opus 134. But the Injuries done to private Man were Trifâ—les to the great Affairs that were in hand His Majesty's Affairs which were in great decadence took him up wholly and how could he be safe A good Subject cannot make any difference between the King's Fortunes and his own A full Declaration of the Storms that were rais'd concerns not this piece It was apparent that the Scotch were at one end of the Fray in the North and the Presbyterians about London at the other end in the South both confederate to root up cast down syndicate controul and do what they lust and let them have their own will it would scarce content them Our wise Church-man knew that he that fears the worst prevents it soonest Therefore he did not lose a minute to try all his Arts if he could quench the flame amongst the heady Scots whose common sort were like their Preachers Tumidi magis animi quà m magni as Casaubon notes it in the Atherians Lib. 1. Athen. cap. 20. rather of a swelling than a noble Spirit Their own polite Historian says more Dromond Jam. 5. p. 161. That Hepburn Prior of St. Andrews the Oracle of the Duke of Albany told him That he must remember that the People whom he did command for he was Regent were ever fierce mutinously proud and know not how to obey unless the Sword were drawn What hope then of their Submission when they had framed Covenants Articles gathered a Convention no less in Power no less in Name than a Parliament without their Prince's leave and became Assailants to maintain that and what they would have more with the Sword Let all Ages remember that this sprung from no other occasion but that the King invited them to prayer in publick in such a Form of Liturgy as himself used putting no greater burden upon their Conscience than upon his own The Peccatulum was that there wanted a little in mode and usual way to commend the Book unto them Perhaps the Error went a little further that King James his Promise was not observ'd as the Reverend Spotswood doth not conceal it p. 542. That the Lord Hamilton King James his Commissioner having ratified the Articles of Perth by Act of Parliament assured the People that his Majesly in his days should never press any more change and alteration in matters of that kind without their consent Admit this Promise calculated for the days of King James was obliging as far as the Meridian of King Charles yet nothing was presented to them against true Doctrine or Divine Worship for all the Learning of their Universities could never make the matter of the Liturgy odious And let it be disputed That the Book was not authoritative without the publick Vote and Consent of the Nation in some Representative Yet if a Prince so pious so admirable in his Ethicks did tread one inch awry in his Politicks must the Cannon be brought into the Field and be planted against him to subvert his Power at Home and to dishonour him abroad was it ever heard that upon so little a Storm Seamen would cut Cabble and Mast and throw their Cargo over-board when there was no fear to shipwrack any thing but Fidelity and Allegiance God was pleased to deprive us of Contentment and Peace for our own wickedness or Civil Discords that lasted near as long as the Peloponnesian War had never risen from so slender an occasion The merciful and soft-hearted King could have set his Horse-feet upon their Necks in his first Expedition which stopt at Barwick if he had not been more desirous of Quietness than Honour and Victory I guess whom Dromond means in the Character of Jam. 3. p. 118. That it is allowable in men that have not much to do to be taken with admiration of Watches Clocks Dials Automates Pictures Statues But the Art of Princes is to give Laws and govern their People with wisdom in Peace and glory in War to spare the humble and prostrate the proud Happy had it been if his Majesty had followed valiant Counsel to have made himself compleat Conquerour of those Malapert Rebels when they first saw his face in the North. But the Terms of Pacification which they got in one year served them to gather an Army and to come with Colours display'd into England the next year which was the periodical year of the King's Glory the Churches Prosperity the Common Laws Authority and the Subjects Liberty Threescore and eighteen years before when England and Scotland were never at better League Abr. Hartwell passeth this Vote in his Reginâ literatâ more like a Prophet than a Poet Nostráque non iterùm Saxo se vertat in arva Non Gallus sed nec prior utrôque Scotus 135. And what could Lesly have done then with a few untrain'd unarmed Jockeys if we had been true among our selves The Earl of Southampton spake heroically like a Peer of an ancient Honour That the Bishop of Durham with his Servants a few Millers and Plowmen were wont to beat those Rovers over the Tweed again without raising an Army If the People had not imprudently chosen such into our Parliament as were fittest to gratifie the Scots day had soon cleared up and Northern Mists dispersed But our foolish heart was darkned and any Scourge was welcome that would chastise the present Government we thought we could not be worse when we could scarce be better We greedily took this Scotch Physick when we were not sick but knew not what it was to be in health An Ounce of common Sense might have warned us That a Kingdom may consist with private mens Calamities but private mens Fortunes cannot consist with the ruin of a Kingdom The Love of Money is the Root of all Evil. Many in England thought they sat at a hard Rent because of Ship-money and would fire the House wherein their own Wealth was laid up rather than pay their Landlord such a petty Tribute as was not mist in times of Plenty but in short time their Corn and Plate went away at one swoop when their stock was low The exacting of Ship-money all thought it not illegal but so many did as made it a number equivalent to all And a Camel will bear no more weight than was first laid upon him Nec plus instituto onere recipit Plin. lib. 8. cap. 18. This disorder'd the Beast and being backt with some thousands of Rebels march't on as far as Durham made him ready to cast his Rider The Royal part was at a stand and could go no further than this Question What shall we do As Livy says of the Romans catch't in an Ambush at Caudis Intuentes alii alios cum alterum quisque compotem magis mentis ac consilii ducerent In such a Perplexity every man asks his Fellow What 's best
be gracious with all As Curtius doth instance in Amyntas lib. 4. Semper 〈◊〉 ancipiti rerum mutatione pendens he would please the Macedonians and not displease the Persians and was distrusted by both And Livy gives us an Example in Servilius lib. 19. He was forward to plead for the Authority of the Senate and not backward to justifie the opposite Liberty of the People Ita medium se gerendo nec plebis odium vitavit nec apud patres iniit gratiam I would not have my L. Bacon ill interpreted in his Essay of Faction whose words appear more crafty than honest Let a man be true to himself with an end to make use of both Factions He speaks not of two Camps in the Field one headed by the King another by Cade or Watt Tyler but of two great parts in the Court that have Clients adhering to them and should'ring one-another out of Favour if they can for he expounds it thus upon that very Contrast Mean men in their risings must adhere to one side but great men that have Strength in themselves were better to maintain themselves neutral and indifferent But he that comes not to quench the Flame when the King's House is set on Fire watching what will be the Fate of the Incendiaries he deserves to undergo a Saxon Ordeal to pass through hot Plow-shares to reveal his Double-deasing Solon's Law in Plutarch hath escap'd no man I think that hath written Politicks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In a publick Seditum be that looks on and will be of no side till the Fray be done is to be branded with Infamy I will degree this noxious Neutrality one Peg higher when a cunning Fox that would save all curried Favour both with King and Rebels lent his Sword to him and his Pistols to them Dubiis Mars errat in armis Georg. 2. Like the god of War that fights on both sides What say you to two Kinsmen what say you to two Brothers shewing their Prowess one against another he for Caesar and he for the Republicans this a Gibelline and that a Guelph that upon the last Revolution of the Quarrel the faithful Brother may merit to compound for the Peace of the false or if God would have it so the false for the faithful This was the Mystery of Iniquity when the same Family had such a reciprocal Interest in our publick Miseries that their Cards were so well packt that they could not be Losers An Example which Sir Robert Dallington hath given for such juggling is worthy to be remembred Aphor. lib. 2. c. 2. The Duke of Ferrara would not enter into League with Charles the Third of France but suffer'd his Son Alsonso to sight under the Duke of Millain as his Lieutenant-General that the Son might make the Father's Peace if the Leagues prevailed and that he might free his Son if the French had the better What Reward should these have But as the Scripture speaks properly Let them be divided in twain and 〈◊〉 their portion with Hypocrites A Syren half Flesh and half Fish is painted with its Eyes always cast upon its Looking-glass because such amphibious and all-part-pleasing Creatures have their Eyes upon nothing but their own Preservation And Theophrastus in his Character of a glavering Sycophant pinns this Knave upon his Back 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He will please his Client and strike in with his Client's Adversary because he would be of that gender which is the common of two and so become unprofitable to both in proper construction I need not be long in this for an ingenuous Pagan how much more a Christian will easily learn this Lesson to be hot or cold the luke-warm Quality that partakes of both is fit to make a Vomit Salmasius writes upon Solinus That Tityrus was a Mungril Beast begotten between a Goat and an Ew But there is no Creature of that composition to be presented at the last day before the Judgment of God They that are at the right Hand must be pure Sheep harmless gentle without any Goatishness in them and surely those Tityri will be found among the worst of the Goats that are rejected to the left Hand 177. After Caterpillars the Locusts succeeded such as you may find Rev. c. 9. v. 2 7. The bottomless Pit that is the endless Parliament was opened and a smoak went out of the pit a Cloud of Ordinances to make War with the King And there came locusts out of the smoak no ordinary ones but such as had stings like scorpions who were like borses prepared to battail and they had as it were crowns like gold for they took the Soveraignty of Kingly Power upon them I do not interpret but allude unto the place They that commanded in the bottomless Pit had Wealth enough to maintain an Army all that London and the Land was worth But to maintain their Cause that is to sight against their Lawful King all their Money could not purchase them so much Scripture Law or Reason as would justifie them with one Argument Their Preachers over-stretch'd their Sinews to defend them and could not but left it to the Sword-men to hold it out at the Arms end Yet they abused so much Divinity as would serve to cover some of the deformity of the Sin with a few torn pieces of Jeroboam's Garment for I am perswaded of some of them that if they had look'd upon their Impious Act without a Disguise they would have run mad at the astonishment of their Guiltiness All this Mischief was their Pulpit-ranters Work The great Sedition rais'd against Moses and Aaron Numb 16. is called the Gainsaying of Core Wherefore should Core carry the Name since Dathan and Abiram great Princes had their Hands in it Because that mucinous 〈◊〉 did more harm by his prating than all the Factious in the Conspitacy beside The 〈◊〉 of this Design gave great Wages to their Chaplains but the Work which they perform'd was not worth the half of it between Knave and Knave The Crime was so black that they could not lay any white upon it to make it colour like Justice and Innocency They dodg'd St. Paul Rom. c. 13. and St. Peter's Text 1 Ep. c. 2. v. 11. with as many turnings as ever old Hare gave to a brace of Grey-hounds but they could find nothing out of the Scriptures to make them look like theirs nor any Quotation out of pure Antiquity in the best Ages of the Church to adjust their execrable Action And must not that Cause be very bad which could not put on a good outside either from the Authority of God or Man Only as they enforced accumulative Misdemeanors against the Earl of Strassord to indict him of Treason so they rak'd up accumulative Misgovernments in Charge against the King to allow themselves the committing of Treason All their Shifts and Shufflings shall be cursorily examin'd though their Persons are in a Sanctuary so are not their Opinions There is