freely preached in all other things and no Minister hindred in them but now it is come to another evill the bondage and limitations are more increased For the Clergy and especially the Bishops have not onely temporised with the Duke and other hispaniolized and popish agents and practisers but even for their favour let in Arminianisme neither opposing it themselves nor suffering others that would but because light remedies alwayes cherish an evil they got the King to prohibite disputes on both sides not to hinder Arminianisme for the bookes of Doctor Iackson and others were suffered to come out after that but others from confuting it in their disputations books and sermons and in stead of the Scriptures to make the Articles the Rule and them the interpreters of them who have not onely protected the Appealer Doctor Iackson Doctor Cousens and some others that savour of Arminianisme and Popery hindred the Parliament and others from convincing them of errour and so emboldned others to broach worse errours in flattery of mighty favourites helped to get Parliaments dissolved wherein men had some hope of remedy but have themselves preached some passages savouring of Romish and Trent corruption seeming to approve the vulgar edition that the Sacraments confer grace ex opere operato and to tye the understanding of the Scriptures to the interpretation of the Fathers to make the best of moderne Divines little regarded In these and the like they being powerfull in Court cannot want followers and flatterers and therefore men of understanding say they are not so well read in the Rules of piety as in those of policy used against the desired reformation in the time of Luther which being set forth in the history of the Councell of Trent though it anger the Papists in regard it discovereth a world of their various dissimulations cunning shifts and devices yet it pleaseth them in this that they serve to teach the Bishops and Arminians how to frustrate and delude all the fairest proofes and attempts of their adversaries And because some have written to discover the errours practices and dangers they have not onely put all they could catch in the high Commission but lest such should get out and themselves be any way hindred or discovered in such proceedings they have obtained authority that if any writer Printer or Book-seller come with a prohibition he shall be presently censured Some will say this is but reason I anwser true if their hierarchie and practices were according to Gods word and they seditious and hereticall that they trouble but being as it is and this power seldome or never extended against any but such as stand for Gods truth against Arminians popish practisers and defenders of the hierarchy they abuse the King and Councell in getting them to be their protectors and are themselves blinde and Antichristian tyrants Such as in stead of following the rules of the Gospell seeme rather to encline to that of Paul 4. who set on foot the Inquisition Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 405. 409. which he said was the principall secret and mystery of the Papacy the true Ramme to beat down heresie and defend the Apostolike sea by advancing another which like it shall prevaile by power and terrour in stead of good reason namely the high Commission Court The Councellors of the Parliament of Paris seeing the Articles of reformation published in the Councell of Trent opposed saying the Ecclesiasticall authority was enlarged beyond its bounds with the wrong and diminution of the temporall by giving power to Bishops to proceed to pecuniary mulcts and imprisonment against the laity whereas no authority was given by Christ to his Ministers but meere and pure spirituall that when the Clergy was made a member of the policy the Princes did by favour allow the Bishops to punish inferiour Clergy men with temporall punishments that discipline might be observed amongst them but to use such kinde of punishment against the laickes they had neither from the law of God nor of man but by usurpation onely All which sheweth that diocessan Bishops are great impostors though the Pope bee indeed the grand impostor And let men be sure that as they and their hierarchy are more and more defended so will their power encrease and grow more popish blinde erroneous and Antichristian as that of the Church of Rome did their feare towards God being in these things taught by the precepts of men the wisedome of them and their supporters must needs decay and perish to the extreame danger of the Church and Commonwealth By all which may bee seene that the kingdome of God in the true free and full power of the word preached is incompatible with the hierarchy they cannot stand together but the maintenance of the one is the breaking of the bands of the other and of the true peace and happinesse of the Church and State and that therefore there is necessity of a reformation in the Church and restoring the ordinances of God to that forme which not any humane but his divine wisdome ordained Some have pretended that it is good policy to uphold the Hierarchy for say they no Bishop no King there must be order in the Church and Bishops are they that preserve it This is that bulwark which they used to beat off all just complaints and save themselves their cause their friends and followers such as the Duke the Appealer and Cousens from the parliamentary power Crushed and dissolved it must be rather then such a one or his trechery be brought to triall though they thereby make such the more bold to attempt the like or worse evills overthrow the power and use of Parliaments that confirmed their hierarchy a requitall not so strange in them as just with God and so alienate the heart of the King from his subjects and the subjects from the King though they know a kingdome divided in it felfe cannot stand that having their hearts hee is strong and a King indeed that otherwise hee cannot well subsist as a King should nor be supplied with money and men but must bee forced to make peace with the enemies of religion on the harder conditions and home-bred Papists and Arminians would thereby grow the bolder to encrease their religions and parties the Palatinate could not well be recovered but the enemy must needs be made the more absolute and resolute to root out our religion and brethren in forraigne parts and at last seeing division in England to venture thither to endanger the Church and Commonweale the Kingdome and all Wherein what have the Prelates shewed lesse then that they had rather all these should be shaken and endangered then their hierarchy or then one proud Appealer one popish Cousens should be questioned in disparagement thereof For these evils could not have beene effected against so many endeavours of Parliaments without the helpe of their religious pretences nor passed without the cloake of their Episcopall gravity And lest things should bee
so loth so see any thing against them For gifts blind the eyes of the wise and their ignorance in points of nonresidencie the hierarchie and traditions is a punishment on them for their frowardnes wilfull blindnes ambition and covetousnes at least for making tradition sufficient authoritie in such cases For indeed few men such is the weaknes of corrupt nature can be willing to see that which would hinder them from subscribing having a good living or make them sorrie they had subscribed or to be adverse to that against which they may not be suffered to speake much lesse to preach or write and least of all to reforme or amend as also because if they stir never so little in these cases they are sure to loose their liveings to bee by the Bishops and their champious silenced with scoffes power and terror in stead of good arguments and so to be in more danger then popish Preists and Iesuits Some therefore will have no knowledge at all in such points least it bring them to miserie others thinke it best to keepe their knowledge to themselves leave the amendement to God and in the meane doe the best good they can by their ministerie in other matters but the most know little of this argument Math. 13.11 because it is not given them of God to know it They therefore thinke all these things to bee lawfull necessary and the obedience an acceptable service to God because commanded by authoritie and in some sort ordained and used by the ancient Church This is as if they sayd Kings and Synods may command what they lift in the Church which is as good a warrant as they had of old that made a calfe in Horeb frequented the high places or Ieroboams Calves established by authoritie It is nothing that many of these men are learned and of great knowledge and good conscience in other matters For God saith For as much as this people Isa 29.15 draw nigh to me with their mouth and with their lips doe honour me but have removed their hart far from me and their feare towards me is taught by the precepts of men therefore behold I will proceede to doe a marveilous worke among this people even a marveilous worke and a wonder for the wisdom of their Wisemen shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Wisdom should decay in some and others should not dare to shew it God that is ever just must much rather doe it now to our learned and Wisemen seing he hath blotted out the handwriting of ordinances which was contrarie to us Col. 2.14 and tooke it out of the way nayling it to his crosse For hath he taken them away that himself ordained that men may loade us with others doth Christ say Rev. 2.24 I will put upon you none other burden but which ye have already hold fast till I come And shall men bee perswaded that they may impose such as he never ordained and as make the word of none effect The hierarchie is not only in it self a humane ordinance but the Bishops seeme to looke to nothing else but to uphold it and such canons traditions ceremonies and service as it hath invented or received from men Sometime hereticks as Anabaptists Arrians or the like and sometimes persons stained with notorious adulterie or Simonie are by them and their officials questioned and cast out as in the Church of Rome But these things to rare both may be and are much better performed by Elders in the congregations where such delinquents live as also against all notorious drunckards blasphemers swearers mockers and other profane persons of whom Bishops nor theire officials neither doe nor well can heare any thing and if they doe it is not amended and therefore Diocessan Bishops serve not to looke to them nor to nonresidents nor to hinder the growth of Arminianisme poperie c. they can see them increase and never stir against them yea religion to be corrupted more and never move to helpe it but hinder them that would If some others be better affected and would stir if they durst this is Gods mercie to his people who knowes that if all Bishops were as corrupt many would be ready to thinke sure they hold the popish or Arminian religion will serve to salvation and they are wiser then wee God therefore provides that some Bishops and conformists should a little distast their Romish practises though they doe little or no good against them but in the meane they can not bate a little of their hierarchie traditions and ceremonies ordained and commanded by men though they be proved to bee most injurious and repugnant to Gods Kingdome and the true peace of Christian Churches states and common-wealth making the word of God wherein their wel-beeing consists of none effect this is the order they preserve No proofes of holy Scripture can be heard against them either by the Bishops by the privie councell or by our Princes and Parliaments but their feare toward God is in these things taught by the commandements of men what marvaile then if not only in theire wisest councellors but even in their most learned Clergie wisdome bee hid and perished in divers points and they become the scorne of all nations and religions for upholding religion in ceremonie only letting it in the substance thereof fall dayly at home and abroade those of the papists and Arminians increase If they had not such a hierarchie such ceremonies and service to defend and serve them for an entire Religion or a cloake of one they could not for shame but defend the faith and religion it self and their brethren that professe it which seeing they do not what wonder if God plague them not only with pestilence famine and shamefull foiles in war but even with spirituall plagues that their governers both spirituall and Ecclesiasticall should not see the things that belong to their peace but have them hid from their eyes and turne religion into pollicie such poore policie as serves to cousen the land of her religion and her friends of true helpe when they have most need of it and most trust to her and to provoke the most high to bee their enemie while they seeke to please his enemies For the Spaniards and French have gotten aide of men munition and shipping against those of the reformed Religion The Protestants in other countries that thinke they may speake boldy because they have smarted for trusting to the English Say that all this shewes them to bee of a mixed or middle Religion part of the Romish in service and ceremonies which are most defended part of the Reformed in points of faith lesse regarded and part of the Arminians lately received or tollerated that as middle Counsailes and courses doe usually displease both parties and give satisfaction to neither so hath it beene in the Counsailes and courses of the English touching Religion and the defence thereof For though they somewhat
discovered or reproved besides their diligence in suppressing of bookes they have got the Court and Crosse supplied with Preachers for their owne turne yea caused some mens sermons to be perused beforehand according to the policy used in the third convocation of the Councell of Trent Histor of the Councell of Trent pag. 468. where the Bishop of Modena was appointed to peruse every sermon and whatsoever else was to be delivered in publike By all which he that will may see that as it was ever in the hierarchy so hath it beene is and will be in this the more Bishop and hierarchy the lesse King the lesse good order in Church and Commonwealth For they have beene in effect the Kings nothing must bee preferred or heard against them or such friends of theirs as the Duke and others but still they pretend that these complaints are not so much against them as against the Kings government and prerogative which is a meere trick and colour to engage the King in their cause and so to save them their friends and practices from comming to triall and so in conclusion it comes to be their prerogative that must not bee touched by the Parliament nor indeed by the word of God Is not this to bring all out of order And which makes the evill seeme the more incurable no man dares manifest so much so able are they to undoe him Which is a power the devill hath purchased them that they and others may boldly proceed to propagate other errours and doe what evill they list without controule like the Church of Rome and that to maintaine them their pontificall greatnesse their Pallaces and Coaches religion may abide in their power be made a leaden rule for them to turne which way they list the truest lovers of Truth oppressed the kingdome of God invaded and usurped and the whole Christian world disturbed and afflicted Are not men ashamed that living in the light of the Gospel the love of Christ constraines them not to be against these men but that they should neverthelesse suffer themselves to be made the friends and protectors of them and their hierarchy and to thinke that therein they either serve God or the King and State as they ought For first that their hierarchy is against the service of God if enough hath not beene said this may be added that while the office of Diocessan Bishops is falsly held to be ex jure divino as we have proved Gods ordinances and officers being rejected the Church is governed by their greatest adversaries who also having gotten the ruling and descissive voices in Councels which should rather belong to those true Bishops and Pastors the Presbyters make their owne opinions and errours of Bishops and traditions to bee received for matters of faith as in the Councel of Trent For though some hold that it is no matter of faith but rather indifferent and at the pleasure of Kings whether they or Elders should governe the Church yet it is of no lesse consequence because even in England they make their Articles to bee received and in a wrested or doubtfull sense to be a sure Rule and so matters of faith as themselves interpret them yea this to be granted that themselves and their adherents assembled in Convocation as the Church representative which if it make other Articles more unsound or savouring of Arminianisme or other errour will thinke they should bee received especially in matters of their authority for who can hinder it or dare say they have not power to decide what is the faith when indeed seeing the institution of Diocessan Bishops is of a positive law and not de jure divino men should rather consider the consequences which were very aptly set forth in the Councell of Trent Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 608. where the Papalins maintaining that the institution and jurisdiction of Bishops were not de jure divino but that Bishops had their jurisdiction from the Pope and that hee onely had received institution and jurisdiction from Christ in the person of Peter the Bishop of Segna replyed That if they have it not from Christ neither can the Councell have any from him which consisteth of Bishops that if Bishops are not instituted by Christ the authority of them is altogether humane and he that heareth it spoken that Bishops are not instituted by Christ must needs thinke that this Synod is a congregation of prophane men in which Christ doth not preside but a power received precarily from men and it would be a great illusion generally of all Christendome to propose it not onely as the best but as the onely and necessary meanes to decide controversies That hee would never have come to the Councell if he had not beleeved that Christ had beene in the midst of it that if any Bishop should beleeve and thinke his authority to bee humane it had beene great boldnesse in him to denounce in the former difficulties anathematismes and not rather refer all to him who had greater authority Now howsoever the opinion of the Papalins that the Pope is the onely Bishop jure divino and that others ought to have institution from him is most erroneous yet seeing it is certaine that the institution and jurisdiction of diocessan Bishops are not from Christ but of a positive law all those consequences alledged by the Bishop of Segna doe follow thereupon and those also which the Bishop of Paris added against the tenet of Laynez Generall of the Iesuites who exceeded in maintaining the cause against the Bishops Pag. 614. That in stead of a celestiall kingdome for so the Church is called it maketh it not a kingdome but a temporall tyranny that it taketh from the Church the title of the Spouse of Christ and maketh it a servant prostituted to man whence it followes that the English Hierarchy having no authority from Christ is a temporall tyranny and the Spouse of Christ is made a servant and subjected to it It is true that where two or three are gathered together in Christs name there is he in the midst but to bee truly gathered together in his name requireth that their office be de jure divino and they hare power from him to assemble and handle such matters this he never gave to diocessan Bishops for he never ordained them they are but intruders usurping that which by Gods institution belonged to Pastors that are Presbyters With the Trent Fathers they pretend right by that place Take heed to your selves and to all the flocke over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Bishops to feed the Church of God Act. 20.28 which is spoken to Presbyters and yet by usurping these letters patents of the Presbyters diocessan Bishops take the charge from them exclude the Presbyters to whom they were granted and what worse is reigne over them as over their subjects who must not preach any thing that dislikes them That election is of Gods free grace regeneration and