ae comfortlesse discourse about the flockes we once had which now alas are got into other pastures Invite strangers to fight for our Churches while our owne Congregations are instituted to forget the holinesse in the separation of such places the sacred distance of the meanest from worke-or ware-houses and the fairest from Piatz'as of pleasure or Exchanges for their bargaines If what I speake My Lord be truth I shall not hearken to them that may tell me it is misse placed my conscience suggesting that the climate season hath too often been heretofore neglected If false I have a spunge as readie as ever I had a pinne to wipe out all but my shame which shall be set forth at your Lordships pleasure in an English sheet though it never will be brought unto the Scotish stoole to do its penance In attendance on which sentence if neither your Lordships approbation nor pardon must be expected I stoup downe to acknowledge my selfe aswell in submission to your censure as execution of your commands MY LORD Your Lordships Most humblie devoted servant RI WATSON D. Hieron Praefat. in Lib. Esdr. Legant qui volunt qâ—…i nolunt abjiciant Horat. quae nivali pascitur Algidâ—… Devota quercus inter ilices Aut crescit Albanis in herbis Victima Pontificum secures Cervice tinget Dr. Creighton ' s Letter My dear Friend Brother and Fellow-sufferer Mr. Watson I Thank you for the confidence you reposed in my integrity and affection to your self and your cause that you would permit me to read your Treatise in â—…heets before it went to the press which I found so well digested in method so full of ingenuity 〈◊〉 variety of Learning so perspicuous acute and elegant that I should seem to derogate from your worth if I added ought to the commendations of your writing I may boldly say you have laid your Adversary flat on his back you have drest him to the purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Greek proverb runs in Suidas When they have caught the Polypus they ply him with bastinadoes cudgel his dissembling coat lustily to make him taâ—…e feed and grow fat Yet I am afraid your Noble Instructions will produce no great effect upon that man Parce labori Nicopompe non ignorant se errare nec moniti emendationem promittunt saith Antenorius to the Author of Argenis in that Book You might have spared your pains good Mr. Watson they know they are wrong as well as you can tell them but all the earth shall never make them confess an errour or amend it And you 'le pardon me that I quote Argenis in so weighty a cause Similes labra lactucas they are more fabulous and greater liars then Argenis and some sleight prating finical Nicopompus I hold a far more proper Antagonist to deal with these men then you or any learned grave Divine For they will say what they please and maintain what they say not by strength of reason but by wilfulness hate malice revenge and blood Crede aut jugâ—…lum dabis is their motto Believe or I 'le cut thy throat And were those holy aud primitive Saints now alive and did read the practises of those men compared with the innocent passages of Argenis that draw no bloud they would infinitely far prefer that airy well-penn'd Fancy before the Acts of their Assemblies nay even in point of truth And perhaps posterity after a while may be brought to the same degree of understanding and judgement They are a perverse generation and you have took a Wolf by the ears which you must make account to hold till dooms-day you must never hope to be free from Bailey's replies and janglings They are like the Indian Dogs in Strabo presented to Alexander the Great so fierce and pertinacious that when they once catch hold Archimedes's Instrument will hardly pull them off 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they will stick and tear till their eyes turn round in their eye-holes or sockets and drop out of their heads And I never yet knew any man go beyond your Adversary Bailey in stiâ—…ness pride and arrogance It is much about a dozen years since he first published his Canterburian self-conviction The man had seen some Visions in Trophonius's Den raptures and embryo's of his own addled brain and out he comes to vent them like Aesop's Ass jetting in purple He was now high set in pursuit of same and like a valiant Combatant he enters the field brandishes his sword and looks about whom he may dare to take up the bucklers against him and scorning to cope with a Pigmee he challenges no less men then my Lord's Grace of Canterbury and all the Learned Divines of England and much grieved he was in mind that my Lord's Grace himself would not vouchsafe him the honour to confute him as if a skie-towring Eagle or Gyre-falcon should have stoopt to a Kite or Carrion I dare say the least line of that incomparable profound Conference with Fisher written by that peerless glorious Martyr for the Church of England is of more weight and worth then all that ever Bailey did or shall compose to the worlds end could he live Methusalem's age over and over and spew out yearly whole Vaticans of Books And you may see Sir to your comfort he is no changeling He is Crimson died in grain Hyaena follicat non mutat pellem the Hyaena will double and falter this way and that yet still continue an Hyaena He had done with my Lord's Grace of Canterbury long ago and it was time when he and his complices had brought him to a scaffold But no sooner had my Lord of London-Derry appeared in publick though with some short avisoes to beware their villanies but Bailey will have at him Who but Baily the great Kill-cow of the North that unappall'd Champion that Goliath of brass that confounder of Bishops in England Scotland and Ireland He startles and stares about at the very name of a Bishop reels frets and fumes it is more odious to him then a Turkish Mufti it rides him like an Incubus or Night-mare he cannot rest or sleep for it I could not choose but smile though with much indignation to mark his saucy impertinent haughtiness In the very Frontispice of his Book how unreverently he calls my Lord Bishop Dr. Bramble Late Bishop as if his Lordship were not now what before he was as if his Order could be cancelled by popular suffrages â—…s the waspish Puritan thinks fit to rise in Arms and teach their mis-led rabble to cry No Bishops no Bishops as if they could be pulled down and set up at mens pleasure as in King Iames's minority like a Weather-cock in the wind to wave on the loose hinges of State-Interests to rise and fall with ebbs and tides of popular insurrections Dr. Bramble late Bishop How late Bailey What hath the Bramble scratcht you by the face that you so wilfully mistake his name You impudence And who made you Priest
most approved example of the primitive Fathers as may be seen by their sermons and homilies that are exâ—…tant And it should seem Presbyterie aswell as Episcopacie hath found some inconvenience in Sermons that were longer which produced the 34. Canon in the 〈◊〉 Synod at 〈◊〉 1574. 〈…〉 since extraordinarie superinfusions were rare have been 〈◊〉 attributed to such discourses principallie wherein the Canon of Scripture hath been interpreted by no private enthusiasme â—…o partial addiction to one mans opinion how eminent soever for his gifts or good life but by the Catholike tradition of the Church that it the consent of most holie men in it throughout all ages and places as much danger having been from the Iewes may be now from Iudaizing Scots by bad glosses as from haeretical Christians by Rhetorical discourses on Scripture ... Hâ—…ide â—… 〈…〉 graphâ—…on â—…apei 〈…〉 .... 〈◊〉 de pâ—…ides diâ—… tes 〈◊〉 cai 〈◊〉 But what spirit oâ—… life hath been found in â—…at lectures consisting of noncohaerencies haesitancieâ—… â—…autologies c notwithstanding all the gapings and groanes or other arâ—…tifices used to put them off for divine 〈◊〉 and raptures let them speake that were aedified which I was not I assure you by What I heard from you and the brethren that brought the Scotish Euangel to us in this Countrey 7. Though the Canon beâ—…trict the practice was not so much as at Court for bidding prayer before for after Sermon that for Christs holie Catholike Church and the Collects appointed are not such if you remember some it may be knowing his Majesties minde which now is published That he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against a 〈◊〉 â—…odest 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 use of Ministers gifts even in publike .... the betâ—…r to fit and 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the prâ—…sent 〈◊〉 Those 〈◊〉 tâ—…ke themselves obliged to keep to the leter of the rule were satisfied as well in the reason as law fullnesse of the command Being therefore well assured that the Lords prayer iâ—… as the Fathers call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a complete prayer comprehending the summe of what petitions soever were 〈◊〉 to be praesented to the Father which none knew beter then the Sonne That the people might be inform'd what at such a time they are to aâ—…ke and what asking in fayth they might hope to receive the Minister commands them in the name of that particular Church â—…o which they are to submit in all publike duties or so renounce her 〈◊〉 to pray for her after 〈◊〉 Catholike Church for the King and his Royal families His Councel all inferiour Magistrates c. And because after the Litanie and so many several prayers relating differentlie to those particulars he mentions it is neither necessarie nor convenient at all to doubte the time in repeting or 〈◊〉 the â—…ormes â—… he calls upon them to joine with him in that 〈◊〉 prayer which very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all can be asked saying 〈◊〉 Father c. But as touching the Church limitation of us to the Pater noster before her approving the Gloria patri c after the sermon I see no more in it then in the 33. Canon of that Councel of Dort which I even now mentioned Praying for the welfare of souleâ—… departed a controversie yet depending between Protestants and Papists hath ever impudentlie and falselie been attributed to that Canon on purpose to delude poor people so rashlie opinionated of their Presbyters that told them so as they thought it derogatorie to their credit to search the truth Or so grosselie ignorant as unable to distinguish between praying God for the welfare of and praâ—…sing him for the exemplarie lives of and the heavenlie reward conferr'd on the soules of the Saints departed Wherein nothing need be argued when those of a seeptical conscience will not be convinc'd and those that are praejudic'd will not be reform'd to such no more is to be sayd but si decipi volunt decipiantur For private prayer if personal the Praelates never hitherto praescribed any forme leaving people to themselves who are private to their owne wants and to the direction not injunction of their Priest But if congregational though but in Parlour or Closet no colour can be brought why an house should confute a Cathedral or extemporarie non sense take place of the ancient and well advised prayers of Holie Church You can not be more loth to confesse then I am hard to beleeve that you ever were guiltie of more conformitie to ancient Christians in your publike worship then opinions Yet when I consider what establishment our Religion received in Queen Elizabeths reigne what advancement your schisme unhapilie had by her misse placed assistance I can not satisfie my selfe how in policie or conscience a Princesse so fam'd for devotion and wisdome could professe and prosecute such seeming contradictions and without some humane assurance of your conjunction with her so liberallie contribute toward your praetended reformation to the utter demolition of her owne Therefore upon good enquirie I am faine to lay my diffidence aside and have where withall to confirme the Warner in his beleefe discovering first your negative Remonstrances and renâ—…nciations of Rome coincident with though more violent and particular then ours Your superintendents aequivalent to our Bishops And which as all in all upon Buchanans record your subscription to a communitie with us aswell in Ecclesiastike as Civile affaires This your Maintainer of the Sanctuarie tells us was done in the yeare 1560. in the infancie or before it rather in the first conception of your Discipline Yea two yeares before that not long after your Lords and Barons professing Christ Iesus had subscribed your first Covenant in Scotland they convene in Counsel conclude on several heads whereof this is the first It is thought expedient advised and ordained That in all parishes of this Realme the Common prayer be read wecklie on Sunday and other Festival dayes publikelie in the parish Churches c. In the first oration petition of the Protestants of Scotland to their Queen Regent this was the first demand .... That they might meet publikelie or privatelie to their Common prayers in their vulgar tongue And that this may not be set to the account of your Temporal Lords or some imperfect Members of your Clergie because I. Knox your Holie head was at this time disjointed from that sanctified bodie the same care is afterward taken for Kirkes in your booke of Discipline it selfe without any intimation of your purpose to tolerate it onelie for helpe and direction being a forme praescribed as liable to the peoples superstition as ours otherwise then as you approved the omission of it on publike sermon dayes And your Maintainer sayth without doubt it was the very booke of England Your Church having none of her owne a long time I would not have you mistaken no more then you would have the Bishop whom you so carefullie informe I feare against your
good Nehemiah Had you imposition of hands Episcopal benediction And when I pray began his Lordship to be no Bishop from the General Assembly at Glasgow Novemb. 38 Indeed from Christ to the holy Vigils of that Assembly the whole Christian world held it a sacred Order the next day after that Assembly they proclaimed it Antichristian and annull'd it And who gave you or them that Authority Mercy God! in one night to blast that Order and turn it Antichristian which over all the world had stood Christian 1600 years before O nox quam longaes It is madness to imagine it I am persuaded in my Conscience and will live and die in that Faith let all the Puritans in Christendome prate and preach and scribble what they please to the contrary That all the Kings and Princes and Parliaments and Assemblies in the world have no jusâ—… power to abrogate that Order Bishops are the Apostles immediate Successors have a Divine Right in Christ's Church from Christ's Apostles as great as Christ's Apostles could give them or Christ give his Apostles or God the Father give Christ Sicut me miâ—…it Pater sic ego mitto vos And where had Priests been all this while how had they appeared how been distinguished how known from Hereticks and Schismaticks down through so many ages if they had wanted Bishops in a clear Succession still to regulate and ordain them But things are turned topsie-turvie in these barbarous tumults and combustions the Son hath supplanted the Father who begat him the Priest unthroned the Bishop who made him and mounting his saddle like a proud Usurper furiously spurs on to make good that Proverb Set a Beggar on Horseback and he 'l ride to the Devil What blood and murder what treasons and rebellions have overflowed the World since these tenets were first broached Instit. 4. cap. 2. 5. 2. No succession from the Apostles No succession of Bishops Instit. 4. cap. 3. 5. 4. Onely 5 Orders in the Church Prophets Apostles Evangelists Pastours and Doctours whereof the three first moment any and for their own times Instit. 4. ch 3. 5. 8. Bishops Priests and Pastours all one Instit. 4. cap. 4. 5. 2. Bishops chosen by the Priests themselves upon humane consent and for occasion Instit. 4. cap. 4. 5. 15. Bishops gave no Ordination onely because they sat first among the Priests Ordination was falsly understood to be the Bishops Instit. 4. cap. 11. 5. 1. That the power of the Keys and Spiritual Iurisdiction rests in a mixt Company of Lay-Elders and Priests Instit. 4. ch 10. 5. 3. That no external Law made by the Magistrate can bind the Conscience Instit. 4. ch 20. 5. 31. That the Inferiour Magistrate ought by vertue of his place to call the Supreme Magistrate to account and punish him severely cut his head off if the inferiour â—…onnive or spare him he must be held as a perfidious traytour for betraying the Peoples Rights and Liberties These these Sir have been the bane of Christianity and ruine of the Church of England And though to our great grief these have took fire in our times and produced more sad an desperate effects then heretofore because the Prince of the Air is more powerfull and vigilant to increase his Kingdome now toward the near approaching consummation of the World yet formerly extravagancies have been maintained as pernicious as these Iohn Wickliff was a far more dangerous and sturdy Traytour then he Many have raised paradoxes of diâ—…efull consequence but never did any attempt by an universal defection to dissolve all bond of Loyalty and Obedience to God and Man as Wickliff did That God was bound to obey the Devil That Churches adorned were Synagogues for Satan That Bishops Deans and Doctours were the Hierarchy of Antichrist That there was no Sacriledge That Kings were bound on pain of damnation to take away all means of livelihood from a Clergy that mis-spent it That any Tyrant might be slain lawfully and meritoriously by any man or any Subject notwithstanding any former Oath and uncondemned of any Iudge That God could give no Hereditary Succession to any King for Him and his Heirs A King was no King that committed mortal sin nor any sinner a just possessour of any thing These Assertions Wickliff boldly preached not in close Conventicles but publickly and printed them in Edward the Third's declining dotage I may say upheld by the greatness of Iohn of Gant and Piercy Earl Marshall of England against the Prelates and Clergy of those times whom the Duke infinitely hated And for these Wickliffs bones were burned 30 years after his death by a General Council held at Constance 245 years ago And would God his Doctrines had burned with him and been buried in utter darkness for then we had not now wandered like forlorn Pilgrims upon the desolation of the most glorious Church that ever shone in Christendome we had not seen what the Sun yet never saw our Kings scaffolded the Crown of England trampled under foot the Royal Race undone and scattered our Reverend Bishops and Learned Men abused and baffled by every insolent stinking peasant For though at that time those hollow-hearted Lollards and their abettours fell short of their aim and expectation by the matchless sword of Henry the 5th England's undanted Mars and the learned Pen of Thomas of Walden his Confessour into whose bosome that mirrour of valiant Monarchs breath'd out his innocent soul yet now they have hit us home to the quick A torrent stopt will make way through hidden channels buâ—…st out at another time in another place unlooked for We feel it now Bohemia felt it then by means of some Gentlemen of that Countrey Students in Oxford who conveyed Wickliffs Books home with them to Prague which Iohn Huss published in High Dutch another jovial John of the same stamp and race burned alive for Wickliffs Doctrine the next year after Wickliffs bones by the same Council And what Wars that caused what inundations of blood by Zisca and his Taborites through the whole Reigns of Wencesâ—…aus and the renowned Sigismund no age shall ever forget or parallel but ours whose impiety will transcend as far the belief of posterity as now it surmounts all by-past Examples God keep my soul from these muckle mawn Iohns and their ways these Iohns of all Iohns I protest I never read their Books or think of their devices and stratagems without horrour and amazement Obnubilo animam as that African spake sto ut fulguritus aut sacrum bidental And therefore Mr. Watson I pity you above all men who since you have undertook this business against Bailey have been forced to lay aside your Noble Studies the Holy Fathers and History of the Church to rake in mud and dunghils to plunge in quagmires full of croaking Toads and hissing Setpents Covenants Oaths Perjuries Assemblies Reformations by blood Knox and Buchanan Consarcinations of trayterous plots masses of untruths and lies But you have play'd
their way as to set the marke of that beast in their forhead which destroyes root branch of Religion Lawes of Regall Apostolical government yea of the libertie of the people that all well affected to any of these or themselves might have seasonable warning to get out of their way or gather strength to hunt this wild monster out of the world Which accurate Remonstrance of the Bishops carying with it the highest authoritie of their Assemblie acts provincial general of the concurrent sense in the writings of many their deified Divines prevail'd with all impartial advertend persons to bring this glittering Godesse of the Scotsh discipline to the touch to discover all the dirt drosse whereof every limbe of her is made reduc'd many her before incautious worshipers to a better practice of their dutie opinion of the Catholike truth So that the shrine trade being very likelie to goe downe the craftsmen's gaine to faile this Demetrius as it hapens at a distance from the great companie of his brethren adviseth onelie with one of his tribe 3. or 4. the idolaâ—…rous worshipers of his imaginations cries aloud in print Magna est Diana Great is Diana of the Scots yea so great he makes her in the very first page of his booke as if she were Queen of heaven earth no other divine providence but hers able to recover as he speakes the wofullie confounded affaires of the King 〈◊〉 other nations hands upon the earth but the Antiprelatical be the instruments to effect it Whereas they are at this time the most inconsiderable faction in His Majesties Dominions being kept at a bay by the present tyrannie in England having such distractions divisions among themselves so intermingled with a Royal Independent partie that let them talke or write what they will they can make no muster roll of their owne strength durst they speake out their desires or could their guilt permit them an assurance of securitie protection they would with all their hearts take sanctuarie in the person aswell as hitherto they have done an abused authoritie from the name of their King cast themselves with their covenant their claimes to all former concessions even touching their discipline at his foot But desperatione ultimâ—… in furorem animus convertitur instead of that they turne despaire into madnesse hoping onelie for some miracle to be wrought by the hand of God that they may have companie in their ruyne Naturali quodam deploratae mentis affectu morientibus gratissimum est commori But we are told the hopes of such hypocrites shall perish That they shall be cut of their trust be but a spiders web Having done his crie he begins to chop logike with the Bishop complaines of his method though most apposite to the purpose calls for Scripture Fathers Reason as if disciplinarian practical instances required the strength of any of the three unlesse the vertuous precedents of Father Iohn of Leyden or Kniperdolin should come in as they may in judgement against the Scots He admits of the Bishops proofes I am very glad he doth butias by 〈◊〉 belonging litle or nothing to the main question Whereas if The overthrowing the rights of Magistrates to convocate Synods c. Chapt. 2. Subjecting the supreme to their censures chap. 5. Cheating him of his civile power in order to religion ch 7. be but by tenets Their challenging this exorbitant power by divine right ch 8. That the exercise of it is hurtfull to all orders of men chap. 12. Belong litle or nothing to the maine questions about the discipline it should seem we must climbe heaven for the height of the controversie see whether it will suffer God any more then the King to sit sure in his throne have the supreme government of the world The heape of calumniâ—…s he mentions is a faythfull collection of historicall narrations which requires not the credulitie of the simple but the search of sedulous people if distrusted who may take the other bookes in their way satisfie themselves about what passages he pretends to be detorted If any of the Bishops allegations are coincident with them in Lysimachus Nicanor Isachars burden they have two witnesses at least to quit them at the barre need not stand to the mercie of Iudge Baylie for their pardon Whatsoever were the sufferings of the authours Mr. Corbet Mr. Maxwell the Reverend Arch-Bishop of Towmond truth integritie ought not to be danted The hand of heaven is not allwayes guided by the mouth nor Gods judgements discernd by the eye of the Disciplinarian brethren though most commonlie we heare of no lesse then the murder of the best men when they make themselves dispensers of his punishments I am crediblie informed that Mr. Corbet was murderd by the Irish the Arch-Bishop stript naked left desperatelie wounded but by Gods mercie recover'd since died a natural death What spirit it is that hath coâ—…ind Mr. Baylie into this uncharitable beliefe of Gods strange punishments in their ends or rather fram'd contrarie to his conscience this rash judgement in his mouth I leave to the Christian reader to conjecture Had the like befallen any couple of his brethren he would have writ with their bloud some red letters in the Calendar made them currentlie passe for two Martyrs of the discipline If what the Bishop they have jointlie published be fullie aswered by Mr. Baylie in his booke printed at London Edenburgh Amsterdam because the weight of the presse addes every time more strength to his arguments for I know not else to what purpose he mentions the severall impressions he might have sav'd this labour of Reviewing publish'd a fourth editon of it at Delfe After so much praejudice the Bishop is beholding to you for his hearing since you have tasted the sweetnesse of his spirit soberneâ—… of his language in his first page you doe well to spit out the bitternesse of your owne in a mad epistle before your booke If any regard had been wanting in his Lordship to the passages of Scripture whereupon you build your Antiepiscopal tenets the quotations would have been some what more numerous in your Review That no reverence should be required to the harmonie of the Reformed he takes care in the third paragraph of his booke where he sayth he hopes there is nothing whereof he convicteth you but will be disavowed ...... by all the Protestant Churches in the world which it should seem they may doe yet agree with you in the maine of your discipline for you calld all those but by-tenets ev'n now That they doe so beyond a non admission to a rejection of our Episcopacie as Antichristian between which as I take it there is some difference I desire you to tell us where What respect the Bishop beares to the Civile Magistrate
his owne hand As to the nature of their particular priviledge in holding of Assemblies they have in this their last praetended Assemblie broken the limitations of that priviledge that is clearlie set downe in the first Acte of the Parliament in the 92 yeare which is the latest clearest warrant for their Assemblie For there it is speciallie provided That as We give them license for holding of their Assemblies once in the yeare or oftner as occâ—…sion shall require which proves that all their power onelie proceeds from us so must it not be convened without our owne praesence or then of our Commissioner nor no day nor place set downe for the next Assemblie but by Our or our Commissioners appointment except we be not pleased neither to goe in our owne person neither to send any for assisting the sayd Assemblie And how these limitations have beene observed by them at this time let the world judge first in not onelie refusing the praesence of our Commissioner but most contemptuouslie injuriouslie barring the doore upon him next in setting downe the dyet of the next Assemblie without either his privitie or consent The letter which His Majesties Commissioner Sr. Alex Strayton of Lowrenston offered you know was a missive from the Lords of the Councel not addressed to them as to an Assemblie therefore no such capacitie requir'd to their receiving it His Majesties letter to the Commissioners of the general Assemblie signifying his pleasure to have the appointment of this meeting deferred no new indiction to be made without his consent having been long before delivered the substance of it by them communicated to the several Presbyteries of the Kingdome In contempt whereof these persons assembled at Aberdene where the day before they sate downe was a publication at the mercate Crosse of a charge to the contrarie from the Lords of the Councel Beside they had not His Majestie tells them any warrant to hold a new Assemblie without the praesence either of the Moderatour of the last or of the ordinarie Clerke of the Assemblie As for their dutifull demeanour afterward That they rise immediatelie after the reading of the Missive Mr. Baylie knowes to be absolutelie false Howsoever the naming a diet for the next meeting was against an expresse clause in His Majesties letter which by the Councel is calld a Rebellious traiterous misbehaviour For the trouble that followed hereupon if by the counsel of Arch-Bishop Bancroft that could not be pernicious because the proceeding against them was legal They were calld before the Lords of His Majesties Councel had libertie given them to entertaine lawyers make their defense which prov'd a Declinatour disclaiming all subjection to His Majestie His Councel This Declinatour was repell'd they were found to have unlawfullie conven'd His Majestie commanded that the ordinarie course of justice should proceed Whereupon Sixe of them were presented upon panel at Lynlithgow before His Highnesse Justice being the ordinarie Judge who had joyned to him a great number of Noblemen c. Their inditement grounded upon the first statute in May 1584. Two of their Procuratours Counsellers at law not being able to perswade them to a course of humilitie did upon their obstinacie refuse to plead for them Indeed Sixe or seven of them touched with the open discoverie made by the Kings Declaratour upon humble submission were dismissed sent home to their charge See more particularlie of all these in the Declarations of K. James his Councel 1606. The next instance of the Bishops Viz. Their abolishing the chiefe festivals of the Church the Reviewer can not justifie to any purpose either from the authoritie or the time For first this great Councel of Scotland were but a parsel of the rebell Nobilitie that had of late deposed persecuted the poore Queen Dowager to the death And now having the yong King Queen at as great a distance as France at the same rate order the affaires of the Church as they had the policie of the State The charge they gave the Assemblie brethren dated the 29. day of April 1590. the summe whereof is so formallie placed in the front of the Discipline was upon procurement by themselves It being ordinairie with them when they had any new device on foot to extort some pretended authoritie by their letters Therefore it is but a mocke obedience by service not onelie offered but obtruded Nor was it so pleasing to them whom they here owne for their masters but that after many dayes perusal it was with dislike scorne rejected by diverse Those that sign'd it had no power to ratifie it no more then just before the Confession of fayth which they were faine to send over into France And how their Act or promisse in secret Councell dated the 27. of Ianuarie was illuded from time to time Knox relates very much laments in his storie For the time there was no such Parliament intervall as required the diligence of the Councel of State for what they call'd a Parliament though none was but newlie dissolv'd when presentlie consultation was had how the Church might be established in a good Godlie policie The reason of which haste was lest the yong Queen should come over interpose her Royal authoritie in this great Councel of State as she did afterward rejected the Discipline for all the Act of State that had passed on it demanding How many of those that had subscribed would be subject unto it her Secretarie telling them That many subscribed in side parentum as children are baptized Those dayes which Mr. Baylie calls here fond feasts out of the booke of Discipline that farther abominations were not thought such by the Primitive Christians who were strict in the solemnitie of such times And if the writings of the ancient Fathers the Godlie approved lawes of Iustinian the Emperour might be admitted as once they were offered to decide the controversie betvixt us we know what Would become of this part of the Discipline The authoritie of the Church warranted by the holie Scriptures is sufficient to justifie them us in this observance Nor were the Scots so fallen out with these abominations but that they let them stand in the Calendar before their Liturgie c. And there were a people in Scotland which in the Bishops dayes did celebrate those feasts Therefore ever since they have not shewed such readie obedience to that direction of the Discipline See the Bishop of Brechen's defense of the Perth Articles Your farre-fetecht comparison accidentallie improves the Bishops knowledge by a seasonable experiment Who findes the Disciplinarian barbarismes in Scotland as monstrous as any he ever read of in Iapan your nullities in religion as many as Vtopia hath in policie or nature If your thoughts had not been rambling so farre for recruits to your malice you might have been furnish'd with truth nearer home which
out of his way to let you know That Bishops have been perpetual in your Church Nor doe you out of yours but keep the same path of truth you began in in acquainting us with the antiquitie of Presbyters who it should seem are terrae filii that sprung up in Scotland like so many mushromes the next night after Christianitie came in Though he that is read in your opinions actions will take it for granted that you must pay the acknowledgement of your Presbyterie to the Sanhedrin your sects conversion to the Iewes If you will impudentlie crowd it into the companie of the first Christians that came into Scotland you can not denie but that for some part of the Centuries you speake of it was confin'd to the monkes colls never came to clamour at the Court the poore Culdiis with a great deale more humilitie pietie then the Covenanters caried it in their cowles Rev. .......... after the reformation there was no Bishop in that land Ans. The reformation you meane began the day before or after the Greeke Calends if you will helpe me to an account of the one I shall know how to order the aera of the other Many yeares confusion there was of Poperie Presbyterie Superintendencie The reform'd Episcopacie could never get ground till King James set it forward then it went not far before it met with your violent encounter by Sword Covenant which never suffered the crowne nor Miter to stand long unshaken till both were held up by the Armes of England the Kings person secure at a distance to command you That ever such a thing as reformed Presbyterie according to the Canon in your Discipline had the free positive consent of King Parliament without which it can not legallie passe for the Religion of your Kingdome I denie to be visible any where in your storie Rev. ...... till the yeare 1610. Ans. That yeare did indeed complete the Episcopal power which King James had by degrees piouslie industriouslie promoted many yeares before Rev. ........ When Bancroft did consecrate three Scots Ministers c. Ans. A brother of yours tells us they were consecrated by Bishop Abbot As evil as their report was the men were not so bad as their names need be in charitie conceled They were Iohn Spotswood Andrew Lamb Gawin Hamilton Bishops of Glasgow Brechen Galloway Who enjoy now their reward in heaven for the reviling they had on earth it being for Gods sake his Church according to our Saviours promise St. Matth. 5. 11. The first was a man for zeale to the Church fidelitie to the King prudence in Government constancie under affliction singular inimitable indeed for his excellent gifts onelie hatefull to the Disciplinarians though especiallie because he through long experience was of all Scotish men best acquainted with ablest to detect their crosse wayes to the King all Soveraigne Magistracie He died piouslie peaceablie at Westminster in the second yeare of this rebellion was buried in the Abbey Church The second was a great affiduous preacher even when he was blinde through extreme age He also died in peace with the good report of all except these calumniatores who hold that no Bishop can be an honest man whose invention is so rich of nothing as reproaches against better men then themselves The third was a reverend Praelate of great parts singular learning a most constant preacher who lived in peace died in his bed Rev. ...... that violent Commissioner the Earle of Dunbar Ans. His violence did not carie him beyond his Commission because he executed that upon the rebellious Aberdene Assemblers would not take off some of his kindred or acquaintance who were in the jurie that deliberatelie cast them in their verdict nor intercede for their stay in Scotland being desir'd you here meet with him at the Synod of Glasgow Which being at large prov'd legitimate in every circumstance required by law is in vaine condem'd as null by your faction Nor was it corrupt in any more then three members of about 140. who being rotten drop of from the close union harmonious suffrage of the rest Rev ........... got authorized in some part of the Bishops office Ans. I hope you will not denie that Bishops were authorized to ordaine in this Synod And into how many particulars their power of jurisdiction was branched your brother very pittifullie complaines ......... jurisdictio in omnibus offendiculis sive in doctrina sive in moribus .......... Armantur ..... potestate exauctorandi ministros suspensionis censuram irâ—…ogandi excommunicationem decerâ—…endi c. you may reade the rest then tell us what part of their office was left out Rev. Superintendents are no where the same with Bishops much lesse in Scotland Ans. That they are aequivalent to Bishops is evident by the conformitie in their offices power The particulars whereof His Lordship recites out of the fourth sixt heads of your 1. Book Discipl To which upon my Review I could adde some more if those were not enough Their ambulatorie commission was no other then our Bishops ambulatorie visitation If your onelie in the time before have any influence here exempt them from all duties in their visitation buâ—… preaching the word c. you cut of three parts of their injunction in the Discipline If they were onelie as you say for a time it concernes you to tell us where they ceas'd denie there were any since or ever shall be more but upon some future new plantation in your Churches Being pressed about obtruding your Discipline you tell us For the Eâ—…clesiastike enjoyning of a general Assemblies decrees a particular ratification of Parliament is unnecessarie Which holds not where the particular decrees of your Assemblie transgresse the general intent of that Act whereby you are authoriz'd to meet That relates to the times and matters to be treated of In the former you are limited to custome or praescription In the later to the doctrine discipline receiv'd Which are therefore ratified in such Acts together with your Assemblies Presbyterie Sessions that obedience might be render'd upon the visible conformitie of your decrees injunctions to that rule But to make any Act of Parliament so general as to ratifie at adventure all possible arbitrarie commands of your Assemblie to the altering of the doctrine or discipline established were to praecontract affinitie with all sects haeresies to enter into an implicite league or Covenant with the Devil about his worship so it may be de futuro ad placitum Synodi generalis Let me put this case suppose a general Assemblie should by an Ecclesiastical decree enjoyne the canons of that Antichristian government against which you praetend your discipline is framed Whether or nâ—… is that injunction authentike upon the general A of Parliament for their Assembling
without a particular ratification thereof I might adde how ridiculous it is for you to make the power of your Assemblies so absolute yet trouble King Parliament so often with your importunate petitions to passe what is fullie ratified before that by their owne General Acts including that very particular for which you supplicate The debates about the second booke of Discipline I beleeve But that in the Assemblie 1590. the Kings consent to it was obtaind I can sooner admit upon undeniable authoritie then your Logike you pretend not to the perpetuitie of His Majesties personal praesence which was but some times it should seem not at that time of general consent Nor is your Act for subscription so cleare in the assurance you give us that His Majesties Commissioner was there you onelie take it for granted he was among the herd Nor so explicite in his positive consent you onelie collect it from a clowdie universal to serve your turne honour him with a primacie in suffrage Wherein you are a litle redundant in courtesie there having been a time when if His Majestie or His Commissioner siting in Assemblie should denie his voyce to any thing which appear'd unjust repugnant to his lawes yet iâ—… that were concluded by most voyces you would tell him he was bound jure divino to inforce obedience to your Act. The case for ought I know stood no otherwise here in this Assemblie Where to discountenance the testimonie you bring you have been told long before now That the superintendents of Angus Lothian Fiâ—…e c. George Hayes Commissioner from the North. Arbuthmoth of Aberdene others were dissenters from this Act about the discipline whereby His Majesties or His Commissioners consent becomes somewhat improbable to the authoritie whereof such men as they had in prudence submitted if not in dutie by their silence That States-men in Parliament oppos'd it is evident That the King ever endeavourd to get it passe is your single assertion Neque usquam fictum neque pictum neque scriptum If your Church did it was for want of worke for you told us even now To this a particular ratification of Parliament was unnecessarie What the Bishops opinion is about the pâ—…trimonie of the Chuch how farre by whom what part of it may be lawfullie alienated when just occasion is given I praesume His Lordship freelie faythfullie will declare In the meane time his chalenge against the Scotish Presbyterians is without hypocrise injustice Himselfe many other good Prelates having ever aesteem'd it a fault to call the annexing some part of the Church revenues unto the crowne a detestable sacriledge before God Nor can Mr. Baylie instance in any indefinite disputes including all that hath been or shall be given to the Church that have hapened since the first reformation between the Kings of England their Bishops Who had they found their Princes rapacious sequestratours would not have failed in their dutie modestlie to admonish them of the danger yet had it may be abstained from calling them theeves murderers peculiar termes characteristical of the Discipline-To which I thinke I shall doe no injustice if I assert that the revenues of Bishops Deanes Arch-deacons of Chapellries Friaries of all orders together with the sisters of the seenes abstracting from the favour of Princes no more belong to the Scotish Presbyters then they doe to the Mufties of the Turke The intention of the doners having never been that such strange catell should feed in their pastures Nor can M. Baylie shew me any law that makes him heir to Antichrist or a just inheriter of his lands Beside methinkes the weake stomack'd brethren should take checke at the meate offered unto idols any silken sould Presbyter be too nice to array himselfe in the raggeâ—… of Rome or be cloth'd at that cost that belong'd to the idolatrous Priesthood of Baal But it may be in the heate of Reformation they went to worke with the coyning irons which they more then once got into their possession with them altered thâ—… impresâ—…ion of the beast And the mattokes 〈◊〉 Which other armes being wanting they very often tooke in their hands were possiblie onelie to turne up the Church land whereever crop had been reap't by Antichrist that abominable glebe went downe to the center of the earth What he talkes about the Praelatical jus divinum their taking possessions by commands from Court without a processe requires his instance then he shall have his answer In the interim he playes the hypocrite in a question What if then the Disciplinarians had gone to advance that right to all jusdivinum when the Assemblie at Edenburgh did so April 24. 1576. But he sayth all the Scots can be challeng'd for is a mere declaration of their judgement simple right in a supplication to the Regents Grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These Scots judgement was not allwayes in righteousnesse and their simplicitie in supplicates had many times more of the Lion then the Lambe Witnesse that to the Queen Regent 1559. where they declare their judgements freelie as true faithfull subjects they tell her yet this is the style of that declaration ......... Except this crueltie be stayed by your wisdome We shall be compelled to take the sword of just defense c. ...... If ye give â—…are to their pestilent counsel ...... neither ye neither yet your posteritie shall at any time after this finde that obedience faythfull service within this Realme which at all times ye have found in us In the assemblies supplications to the Lords of secret Councel May 28. 1561. the second article annexed to which was for the maintenance of the ministerie this Before ever these tyrants dumbe dogs Empire above us ....... we ..... are fullie determin'd to hazard life whatsoever we have recived of God in temporall things ........ And let these enemies of God assure themselves That if your Honours put not order unto them That we shall shortlie take such order That they shall neither be able to doe what they list neither yet to live upon the sweat of the browe December 25. 1566. They order requiring instead of Supplicating Churh censures to the disobedient Their sixt head of Church rents in the first booke of Discipline runnes very imperiouslie upon the must The Gentlemen Barons c. must be content to live upon their just rents suffer the Kirke to be restored to her libertie And Jul. 21. 1567. They tell them they shall doe it shall passe nothing in Parliament untill it be done That ever any assemblie in Scotland did make any other addresse to the Parliament for stipends then by way of such humble supplication I grant â—…is a great untruth Nor were onelie the thirds thus petition'd for but time after time all tithes rents whatsoever could be comprized under the patrimonie of the
fable from whom you know that unlesse you trouble the water it is in vaine for you to cast in your net if you catch nothing for the Discipline you must sterve The whole paragraph is naught but a malicious seditious inference of your owne whereby you affixe an odious sense to the dutifull attributes of Royal prerogative your owne guilt causing a trembling in your joyuts at the thought of a scepter you buselie creep under the protection of the club The name of Parliament you make but a pandar to countenance the wanton license of your Assemblies the great seale you would have set to nothing but an indenture of the Crownes perpetuall servitude to your Synods The Prelares Cabin divinitie which sea language you 're in love with since your voyage into Holland came often above deeka with very innocent loyal intentions long before these times of confusion which your Consistorian divinitie hath wrought And though you take your selfe to appeare as ominous as Caster without his brother in the shrowdâ—… it feares no shipwracke by any storme you can raise nor lookes through your cleare prediction upon its ruine You have not hitherto found such a fate in your words as to produce a consequential necessitie of the banishment of Marquisses Bishops from Court though divine justice may hereafter inspire our Soveraigne to returne this judgement upon your heads who are ever breathing murder exile into his eares For while such popular Sicophants as you are suffered to live in any Monarchs dominions neither can the People be secure of their peace nor Princes of their lives K. Iames spake it plainlie when he sayd A Scotsh Presbyterie as well agreeth with Monarchie as God the Devil Such Reviewers who looke but halfe way home into the original of crownes are cleare everters of the first foundation of Kingdomes which made Kings some what more then fiduciaries of the people whose solid peace consisted in an humble active submission to their just commands a Christian quiet passive obedience if tyrannicallie imperious This to be sure would keep the best part if not the best partie from ruine till the high hand of heaven over ballance their temporall sufferings with an aeternitie of reward where no malecontentment can be to come To the second challenged principle your answer is very slight impertinent And would I undertake a farre more unpleasing imployment then Phocion had in chiping Demosthenes for which he was call'd kópiâ—… ton lógon I should make a slender instrument of your review there being beside the extravagancie of your railing language your malicious enlargements in false commentaries diverting your Reader from the genuine orthodoxe meaning of the text drawing him into an intricable labyrinth of jealousies feares the chimaerical brats of your owne braine which you would faine lay at other mens doores scare sixe pages in your booke that are a direct answer to the Bishop which I can not impute to your ignorance but your cunning who feeling your selfe held closse by the necke in the letter of your lawes Assemblie Acts would very faine winde your selfe out of the controversie or run away with it into any Church or Countrey but your owne In this paragraph the Bishops citations prove what he intends nor dare you I see denie what you are too conscious you maintaine It having never been your practice but when you could not doe otherwise to wait the Kings or Queens call for your Synods In the yeare 1561. Knox writes expresselie That gladlie would the Queen her secret Counsel have had all the Assemblies of the Godlie that is the Rebellious Disciplinarian discharged They notwithstanding make a convention the businesse comes to dispute Mr. Secretarie Leshington makes a doubt whether the Queen allowed it or no to whom was this answer returned If the libertie of the Church should stand upon the Queens allowance they were assured not onelie to lacke Assemblies but also to lacke the publike preaching of the Euangel In the beginning of your late commotions the Historian that so officioussie styles himselfe the Parliaments Secretarie mentions a writing publish'd by you wherein you affirme That the power of calling a Synod in case the Prince be an enemie to the truth or negligent in promoting the Churchs good is in the Church it selfe And that the state of the Church of Scotland at that time was necessitated to such a course Nor doth your Disciplinarian doctrine make the Christian Magistrate any more then your Bayliffe to take up your rents or the Captaine of your guard to defend you Vedelius renders it â—…n more harsh language .......... faciunt ex iis Magistratibus mancipia imò lictores curnifices Episcoporum seu Ministrorum Ecclesiae To advance the Kingdome of Iesus Christ. ..... To defend it against all that would procure its hurt ........ To â—…ssist fortifie the Godlie proceedings of the Kirke in all behalfes ......... To see that the Kirke be not invaded ........ To hold hand as well to the saving of the Ministers persons from injurie open violence as to their rents possessions Finallie not a word is there in all that chapter or booke that asscribes to him à syllable of this power So that the King may call a Synod when whersoever he thinke fit if the toy take you in the head to anticipate or procrastinate his time you will assemble when wheresoever you please for you tell him he ought to heare obey your voyce And your friend Didoclave averres this to be a businesse that hath no absolute dependance upon him Non absolute simpliciter pendere a Christiano Magistratu If when you have a minde to meet he prohibites that must make no demurre non cunctandum est non cessandum ab officio ...... For this you pretend an intrinsecal power touching which I demand what it is when where how farre to be exerciz'd What old or late dutifull Christians did use it when any Christian King did forbid it Who of the Praelatical partie they be that maintaine it in their writings or practice for I know none that in either extend it to a like latitude with you And how manysoever you have of the Papists all the Popes are not of your side Leo confessing that he had not power to call a Counsel but the Emperour noâ—… durst Liberius call one against Constantius pleasure The necessitie you frame of meeting for the execution of the Discipline even in times of persecution may have reference to an heathen Magistrate or Christian. If to the former you doe it either in confidence of your power to resist him in that rebellion wherein how are you justified Or else you runne desperatelie upon your ruine which is selfe murder no martyrdome for Quis requisivit by what praecept or counsel is it required at your hands If to the later there may be at least a fallibilitie in your judgements if
Discipline c. And were it not that you would clamour in your next pamphlet you were unanswer'd this advertisement might passe with any rational reader for a refutation of at least halfe your booke If I should prosecute you with the many appeales that have been made before the Bishops declinatour of the Assemblie at Glasgow I know you would runne to your cover of complaints pag. 20. of your booke What others have been since will be brought to your remembrance in such a flying roule as the Prophet Zâ—…charie mentions unlesse a gracious pardon be given you upon your knees when His Majestie shall by Gods assistance have power to chastise your rebelling cursing covenanting excommunicating imprisoning murdering decreeing the confusion of his Royal familie three flourishing Kingdomes in your Assemblies CHAPTER IV. Seditious Rebellious Ministers in Scotland seldome or never censur'd by the Assemblie HEre Mr. Baylie layes faster hold upon the title then the Bishops evidences in the Chapter because sedition rebellion are charg'd home to the conscience of the Presbyters their usual indemnitie imputed to the Discipline he would faine step over these publike enormities to personal vices against which by his leave the Ecclesiastike rigour is not such but it can admit of very frequent indulgences many times convert the guilt or shame of such haynous transgressions to the glorie of their Gospel a more certaine signe of the sinners election by grace according to John Knox's divinitie after proofe made against Paul Meffane The treason of Iudas the adulterie of David abnegation of Peter did derogate nothing from the glorie of Christs Evangel nor yet the doctrine which before they had taught but declared the one to be a reprobate the other to be an instrument in whom mercie must surmount judgement Nay if they find it advantageous to their discipline these declamers against adulterie bloud will make religious applications to any as they did to Murray their Regent-bastard murderer to say no more of him whom they made the greatest saint upon the earth the most eminent patron of their Church That your pulpits have been perduellionis plaustra the common stages for sedition treason I have made appeare upon an old item somewhere else And because you had not enough of them for the last old Comoedie you were to act how yow did mount it in halls schooles other profane places is deliver'd unto us upon Royal authoritie in his late Maejsties large Declaration 1639. Where is to be found such loyal doctrine as this One in Edenburgh upon his Majesties urging subscription to your owne Confession of fayth sayd It was an Italian a devellish device first to make them renounce God perjure themselves then afterward there was an intention to destroy their bodies so that this subscription imported no lesse then the destruction both of their bodies soules Rollocke did as much upon a scaffold in publishing a wicked rebellious protestation Another That though there were never so many Acts of Parliament against the Covenant yet it ought to be maintain'd against them all And Andrew Cant since charg'd His Majestie thus to his face Awake thow lumpe of day thow wast not sleeping when thow gavest out the bloudie commissione to Iames Graham Of all which I desire Mr. Baylie to name one that suffer'd any censured from a Synod what priviledge these or any other scandalous crimes had in England or Ireland the High Commission Civile censures can cleare But the Reviewers conscience can tell how many such tooke shelter under the wings of the Covenant who were threaâ—…ned processe if they subscrib'd not having done it passed for very zealous pious brethren in the cause Their names infirmities if Mr. Bayilie hath not I have charitie to conceale Or if I had not could their ordination be justified they accounted of our brotherhood I should thinke my selfe oblig'd to it under the penaltie of the 55. Canon of the Councel of Carthage Episcopus accusatores fratrum èxcommunicet si emendaverint vitium recipiat â—…s ad communionem non ad Clerum If he bear'd the like reverence to Antiquitie when he speakes so broadlie of the Bishop of Derrie he might bethinke himselfe of the 57. Canon Clericus maledicus maxime in sacerdotibus cogatur ad postuâ—…andum veniam si noluerit degradetur nec unquam ad officitsm absque satisfactione revocetur And to give His Lordship his due interest in the prudent provision of the Church I direct the reader to that in the Councel of Constantinople De accusatoribus Orthodoxorum Episâ—…oporum non admittendis which is to be found in the edition of Chr. Iustell where he shall see by how many clauses Mr. Baylie is excluded from being admitted to enter any accusation against him first by the Religion he professeth adjudg'd as bad as haeresie by the ancient Canons for decreeing in conventiâ—…les against the authoritie of Bishops antisynagontas tois kanoâ—…ikois â—…emin episcoposs .......... And whether upon the several grounds that follow an Oecumentical may not reject him hooâ—… kathybrisanta tous kanoâ—…as kai â—…n ecclesiastiken lymenamenon â—…axian as a reproachfull despiser of Canons a bane to the eutaxie of the Church let any of his aequitable compareâ—… consider Yet I thinke I shall breake no canon by retorting his quaestion his acts being so publike himselfe autocatacritâ—…s convinc'd under his hand in his booke Did the Reviewer never heare of a Presbyterian sibb to Mr. Baylie who to this day was never but may be in good time called to any account for flagrant scandals of such crimes even the same the Bishop mentions sedition treason which aswell in Scotland as in any other Kingdome are punishable by the Gallowes These crimes above any deserve civile cognizance from which as free as the Scotish Churchmen have been I dare undertake to prove out of their storie That there was hardlie ever Synod in Scotland Presbyterian I meane but was guiltie of Rebellion or bloud having ever made their covenants with death their agreement with hell having made lies their refuge under falshood hid themselves as they did Isai. 28. 15. So that Marianâ—… his disciples whether in Italic or Spaine or all the world over can not in aequitie have layd such devillish doctrines such publike murders of Princes Nobles to their charge Foedus umbraruâ—…s perit As constant a Covenanter as you are with the living I see the holiest league can not chaine up your furious malice against the dead Your naming Bishop Aderson For his sinne that blessed Martyr the L. of Canterburie for his patron speakes you a sonne of neither Christian charitie nor truth If Presbyterie had been as old as the Councel of Nice I perceive your sawcie fingars would have snatch'd the libells out of Constantines breast your zealous tongues that are made seven times
of gifts 3. Vn preaching Ministers are no idols having eares to heare what the Church praescribes and mouthes to utter as her prayers for so her wholesome doctrine unto the people But what I can not passe by since it meetes me in the way That efficacie of the Sacraments as well as power of the word which you call of exhortation should be limited to the abilities of the Minister And as the Papists directlie so we by inference be disabled in both I thinke will helpe you to a share in the Iesuits Sophisme whereof we latelie discoursed and set you upon the pinacle of arrogance and impudence who hereby unchurch the greatest part of Christians and contract this Soveraigne excellencie to your selves Your Latin disputations when they come by course among the ignorant or yonger frie of your Ministrie doe but multiplie haeresies make them now and then in their heate blaspheme God more learnedlie then in their weeklie exercizes and Sermons As occasion shall serve I may helpe you hereafter to more instances then one of the like practice among some of your brethren abroad where every boardlesse boy for with such your Presbyterie every where abounds hath libertie to talke for I can not call 't disputing upon the highest mysteries the Trinitie Praedestination c. As confidentlie to the shame of your religion as the gravest Doctour can determine in the chaire What of this may be tolerable among the learned super toâ—…am materiam â—…s litle beter then a forme and litle decencie in that which approves not much improves lesse the abilities of the longest liver among you all Our aequivalent to this let it be what it will in our Archdeacons Visitation your friend Didoclaves turnes off with a jeer making as if the abilities of our Ministrie were inquir'd into after they were constituted leaders of the flocke Primum creantur ductores gregis dâ—…inde fiunt discipuli where as it is principallie to discerne the advancement by studie of what abilities they had at their ordination whereby the election of rural Deanes may be regulated persons know'n that are enriched by gifts befitting them to be Bishops Your experience shall not draw me into an unnecessarie comparison between our English Clergie and the French or Dutch Divines whose ordination yoâ—… are not ignorant hath been impeached by their adversaries whether deservedlie or no they are to looke to and their abilities resolv'd just like yours into an effusive readinesse of words But I bid defiance to you and your Countreymen of the Discipline to shew me among you all a Law'd an Andrewes a Montague a White to whom the English you name must give the guerdon of learning which I beleeve Reynolds caried not at Hampton Court Conference unlesse Perkins had more in his Chaine of Praedestination or Parket in his silie Arraignment of the Crosse. But how solide and singular soever was their learning their defection from the doctrines and practical praecedents of so many yeares standing among Catholike Christians makes their fayth in many things and their good parts comparitivelie in all but as chaffe to be blow'n away with the winde and the memoire of them to be winowed by our breath that the truer graine may be visible in Gods Church Avâ—…lent quantum volent pallea levis fidei quocunque Affltu 〈◊〉 eopurioâ—… massâ—… frumenti in horrea Domini reponetur It 's well your conscience can be enlarged in some litle charitie towards any of our Bishops though we may be iustlie jealous of this kindnesse feare if we hear'd their names it may be placed upon persons inclined to your interest rather then commended to your good opinion by their merit But whose'er they be you meane we know you never prike any in the list of the learned but the best read men in Synopis's and systemâ—… in Common place bookes and Centurists orgenerallie in your select Reformed Fathers whom in a fallacie often times you perswade your Disciples to be the more proper men because standing you tell them upon the shoulders of the ancients when if set on even ground the longest arme they can make in true learning and eloquence will not reach halfe way up to their girdles But to proceed in some answer to your quaestion The Warner therefore speakes to you of ignorance because your Presbyterie parts with the greatest incentives and encouragements of studie Therefore of contempt because it quits those dignities which give praecedence to their persons and draw reverence to their function Therefore of beggerie because it diverts the Ecclestastical revenue and makes you but stipendiaries of the people Of this very conciselie yet fullie hath his late Majestie admonish'd you Chapt. 17. of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that surveyes impartiallie the multitude of good Livings and other Clerical praeferments in England which might serve as a supplement to the bad will finde litle reason for any none at all for the greatest part of our Priests I meane those that had a title that were eidicoos cheirotonoumenoi as it is Can. 6. Concil Chalced to be begarlie contemptible for their want especiallie since those Pluralists you confesse were scarce one of twentie that lived in splendour at Court or were Nonrefidents in the Countrey Such as were apolelymenoos ordinat ordained at large without title to any benefice or cure the Bishop was charged with them till provided for And they that complained of their povertie had no cause there being as you tell us such plentie in his palace The ignorance of our Clergie which it may be was not incomparable if we bring yours into the light was never greater then when Calvin and Knox had some heires and successours that crept into the praelacie degenerating from the austeritie of their Fathers who because they lov'd not the office never mean'd to discharge it Yet could dispense in their conscience with the title lawne sleeves into the bargain that under them they might take the revenues of our Bishops But when and where we had Austins and Chrisostoms Lawds and Andrews's never cloud was dispelld with the rising sun so as ignorance at their asscent in the Episcopate of our Church And they that heard not of the great studie in thâ—…se Praelates to remedie the evils brought in by the other are such as Zecharie speakes of that imagine evil against their brother their heart refusing to hearken and pulling away the shoulder and stopping the eare that they should not heare and making their hearts as an adamant that they may not c. Those some that were most provident you meane I thinke most penurious in their families were those I told you of that made a trade of their 〈◊〉 and would dispense with any thing among the puritans but their Purses Such as those 〈◊〉 other that â—… named as they were aâ—…ter to râ—…ach so were they know'n to be of 〈◊〉 behaviour and 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the requisites of a Bishop â—…nd accomplishments of
protested to Marq. Hamilton His Majesties Commissioner 1638. when it was objected that their Covenant with their new explication was different from the sense of that 1580. because it portended the abolition of Episcopacie That is was not their meaning quite to abolish it but to limit it holding out in the most material point an identitie between them That they assured many who made the scruple and would not have come into their covenant unlesse they had so resolv'd them That they might sweare the same confessiâ—…n and et not abjure Episcopal government which the three Ministers in their first answer to the Divines of Aberdene positivelie affirmed That thus they abus'd many with an appeatance of identitie in the mater and similitude in the end And themselves frequentlie confessed that this Covenant was nothing but that general one applied to the particular occasions at that time It is as certaine that the Covenant of the Rebells in all the three Kingdomes 1643. was held out at least to them in Scotland that toke it to be the same with that they toke before otherwise then as it must be againe applied to a conjunction with their brethren of the other two Kingdomes Nor was there any other new emergent cause nor was that one for any new Covenant and you are not to multiplie solemne oathes and Covenants you sayd without necessitie Nor is there in this the sense of any one clause that is not in the other as it concern'd your owne Nation And the enemies with their practices against whom and which you fram'd it you professe to be the same though now increased in your praeface All which have elements enough beside an airie fancie to make up your grosse errour or affected falshood in denying so demonstrable a truth Yet that notwithstanding this imposture there is a real difference in the triplie respect which the Bishop speakes of was never hitherto denied as I know by any Episcopal writer which are many that occasionallie have mention'd it So that his Lordship 〈◊〉 not his owne vine but your fingars that will be medling with his worke for which he may expect and will have due thankes from his friends that rightlie understand him For howsoever indeed that short confession was at first not onelie draw'n up by the Kings command nor freelie subscribed with his hand but obtruded violentlie upon him being devised by a partie of seditious male-contented Noblemen and Courtiers made such by the Clergie that were worse against Esme Earle of Lenox who they hoped by this test would be discovered to be a Papist Yet the King made a very good vertue of necessitie and since he must impose it first upon his familie and afterward upon his subjects being supreme could and did it in his owne sense though it may be oppositie to theirs that made it the ambiguitie of the words tolerating both To which in that sense he praefixed his Royal authoritie whereas your later Covenant in yours was absolutelie against his sonnes That in his sense was for the lawes of the Realme the praeservation of Episcopacie This against them for its utter extirpation That to maintaine the religion established which he did to the uttermost of his power This to its destruction which it is in effecting though it spoiles in the casting that golden calfe you intended to set up So that the words themselves which doe not more flatlie contradict the Bishop then they are contradict by your workes are not so expresse for the Kings authoritie the law of the realme and religion established and wherein they are such an abstruse meaning have they as he that takes your league is ouoâ—… agâ—…n mysteria the dull creature that ignorantlie caries all the mysteries of your iniquitie on his backe In the next paragraph is nothing but a branch or two of your former wild discourse therein a nest of small birds chattering what we often heare to no purpose or never to lesse then here having no significancie at all in answer to the Bishops Memento which recognizeth Q. Elizabeths indulgence to whom your praedecessours scraped and whined for militarie assistance to say no worse undeservedlie had it without imposing the Discipline of England Whereas you to use the words of K. Ch. 1. are not to be hired at the ordinarie rate of auxiliaries much lesse borrowed or bestowed nothing will induce you to ingage till those that call you in have pawned their soules to you The Discipline Liturgie which you quarell with some times because different from the English was obtruded upon you by no other craft and force then a plaine legal injunction Deliberated on from the time of K. Iames's investiture in the crowne of England approved in a general Assemblie at Aberdene 1616. the Liturgie I meane the Discipline having been received long before read publikelie in the Kings chapell at Haly-rud-house ever since the yeare 1617. not onelie without dislike but with frequent assemblies of the Councel Nobilitie Bishops and other Clergie Iudges Gentrie Burgesses women of all rankes In several other places in the time of K Ch. 1. The alterations which were not of such moment as to be met with opposition were partlie made generallie approved by the Bishops and principal Clergie in Scotland who in the exercise of it were injoined to proceed with all moderation and dispense with such for the practice of some things conteined in the booke as they should finde either not well perswaded of them or willing to be informed concerning them or did hope that time and reason might gaine a beter beleefe of them How otherwise your Discipline was obtruded upon the English what free long and deliberate choyce they used beside the sighes and groanes of many pious soules hurried into prisons or disspersed in a miserable exile your owne Scots Cushi shall beare witnesse Who out of no ill meaning to your cause reveales the truth of your tyrannie from the beginning .... That upon your second coming in it was when some of our Nobles tooke occasion to supplicate for a Parliament which the King scarce durst denie for the Scotch armie nor the perpetuitie of it afterward for no other reason .... That when it came to armes the Scotes could not sit still in conscience honestie whereupon they sent a Commissioner from their Synod to the English Parliament 1642. to move them to cast out Bishops Then others to the King at Oxford to signe all propositions which because he would not doe they resolve to assist their brethren against him whom they call the common enemie The formalitie of an invitation was used to this purpose but their inclination and resolution had pass'd before And indeed your Assemblie 1642. confess'd an obligation lay upon them to encourage and assist so pious a worke but not as you doe here onelie out of brotherlie concernment but for securitie of yourselves because without it you could not hope for any long