of them as if they contained humane and diuine learning like that which Augustine hath vttered in his two and twentie Bookes de Ciuitate Dei or if for Eloquence you esteeme them like the workes of some new Cicero or else for vndoubted Rules of Church-gouernement that are in them you meane to make them vp as the bodie of some new Canon Law whereunto in reasoning you will remit men as vnto Rules and Decrees or at least will haue other men take paines to make glosses and Notes vpon them then I pray you Mr. Dauid seeke some Aldus Manutius or Ludouicus Viues or some new Gratianus you will get of these right good on that side of the water but Mr. Dauid for me I thinke them not worthie of that paynes neyther haue I any time to spare vpon them the paines I haue taken are for your satisfaction if reason may doe it to pleasure you I haue lost much good time which I intended to bestow another way At the midst of September I receiued your Admonitorie as your Letter will shew though many saw it before you sent it to mee In the end of October I absolued this answere to it what time hath ouerpast since hath beene spent in writing it ouer and ouer againe for the Presse for you will haue it publicke and it is best so for others and me also to ease me of much paines of priuate writing wherein I cannot giue euery man contentment If my paines profit not you I haue great losse beside my instant labour being forced all this time to intermit mine ordinarie exercise of teaching at Euening Prayer wherein I know you haue done more euill to this people then I thinke you haue done good to any Congregation in the Land but if eyther my paines or their losse for this time may serue to gaine you the one I will thinke pleasure the other I thinke they will esteeme vantage if not yet I hope it shall doe good vnto others And now in the end albeit M. Dauid doe shunne the Question it selfe yet seeing hee desireth I should communicate to him such light as I haue I will not refuse to doe it partly for his satisfaction and partly also for satisfaction of others who are not contentious of purpose about this question There are some godly and learned men in the Church who maintaine Episcopall gouernment to be iuris diuini of diuine authoritie there are others worthy Light of the Church also who albeit they thinke it not to be iuris diuini but humani or Ecclesiastici and sees not that it is a diuine ordinance but humane or Ecclesiastique yet they reuerence it as a good and a lawfull and a profitable policie for the Church If Mr. Dauid will not adioyne himselfe to the first I wish at least hee would betake himselfe to the modest iudgement of the second and consider what a grieuous sinne it is to nourish a Schisme in the Church for such a matter and how far the famous Lights of our time mislike them who spare not to diuide the Church for their opinion in the contrary The Arguments vsed by the first sort the Reader will finde at length in the learned Treatises of D. Whytgift Bilson Douname The reasons mouing mee to incline to Episcopall gouernment and by which I found greatest light and contentment to mine owne minde occurred to mee in the handling of the Epistles to Timothie I haue shortly subioyned them and submit them to the censure of the Church A view of Church-gouernment best warranted by the Word proponed in these few POSITIONS 1 AS other Bookes of holy Scripture are written chiefely for the institution of a Christian to teach him what he must beleeue and doe that he may be saued so the Epistles to Timothy and Titus are especially written for the institution of Ecclesiastique Office-bearers teaching them how to behaue themselues in the gouernement of Gods house 1 Tim. 3. 15. So that as the Tabernacle was build according to the patterne shewed to Moses in the Mount so the right plat-forme of Discipline must be learned from the patterne prescribed by God in his Word and most clearely in these Epistles 2 And as no man can be so farre miscarryed as to thinke that the Epistles directed to the Romanes Corinthians c. containing rules of Faith and Manners belonged to them onely but to all Christians till the worlds end So is there no reason why a man should thinke that the Epistles written to them containing rules of Discipline and Church-gouernment were for them onely but for their successors also 3 So that the power giuen to Timothie and Titus was not personall to endure onely during their dayes or to dye in the Church when they by death were taken from the Church but it is perpetuall to continue in the Church to the worlds end for why the precepts are giuen for gouernment of Gods house and wee know his house is not for one age but for all ages till the worlds end And againe Timothie is commanded to keepe this rule to the second appearance of Christ 1 Tim. 6. 14. which by himselfe is impossible to doe but in his successors 4 Now this power giuen to Timothie and his successors is the power of a Bishop not onely in respect of preaching for in this generall sense all Pastors are Bishops hauing the ouer-sight of their flockes but also in regard of their speciall gouernment and power ouer other Pastors committed to their inspection in which sense the name of a Bishop is proper to some Preachers of the word not common vnto all as is euident out of the points of power by diuine authoritie giuen them 5 As first a power to commaund Pastors that they teach no otherwise then according to the rule of the word 1 Tim. 1. 3. Secondly a power to depose and stop the mouthes of them who teach otherwise 2 Tim. 2. 16. Tit. 1. 11. Thirdly a power to lay hands vpon Pastors to ordaine and admit them to their Callings 1 Tim. 5. 23. Lastly a power to iudge Pastors and to receiue or repell accusatious giuen in against them 1 Tim. 5. 19. So that his power is not onely ouer his flocke but ouer other preaching Pastors also according to this rule 6 This power afore-said wee finde by diuine authoritie established in the person of one let any man contrary minded shew as cleere a warrant to proue that this power is taken from one and giuen vnto many 7 And as here we haue this power giuen to one for gouernement of Gods house in the precept so is this same power established in the person of one by the practise of the Son of God for in his seauen Epistles to the Churches of Asia he writes vnto one as bearing the burden of all both Pastors and people in those Cities And Beza confesseth that when S. Iohn directed his Epistle to the Angell of the Church vnder that name he directed it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
therefore when first his Maiestie perceiued an intended nouation in Church-gouernement his Highnesse discharged it and protested against it by his letter registred in the Bookes of generall assembly An. 1579. â—ul 7. What can you finde out of all this why Episcopall authoritie should not be restored againe or rather see you not many reasons that should moue vs to receiue it 7 As for your alleadged oath whereby you make the simpler sort beleeue that our Church hath abiured Episcopall gouernement the strength of your cause is in it but it shall be knowne to be as weake as the rest of your defences For first of all an Oath should be defended by the lawfulnesse of the thing that is sworne and it is no good ground in Diuinitie to defend the thing that is sworne by pretence of the sacred authoritie of an Oath This order you keepe not Secondly since the most part of Preachers in our Church gaue no Oath for Discipline at all for mine owne part it was neuer required of mee and I know there 〈◊〉 many others in the same estate What reason is it that the Oath of some albeit they had made it as you say which will not be found should binde others that made it not Thirdly when it was appointed by act of Parliament An. 1572. Ianuar. 26. that the confession of faith which therein at length is exprest should be sworne and subscribed by all Church-men the gouernement which then was in our Church was Episcopall for the Oath and subscription is ordained to be made in presence of the Archbishop Superintendent or Commissioner of the Diocie as the words of the Act plainly imports so that this Oath makes no renunciation of Episcopall authoritie but rather ratefies and approues it Fourthly concerning the latter Negatiue confession whereof it is most likely you meane what will you finde there against Episcopall gouernement Nothing at all it is a good confession many Pastors professours of our Church haue sworne it subscribed it Othere say you an Oath is conceiued against Hierarchie Mr. Dauid speake as the truth is Now Rahel takes the Idols and hides them in Cammels litter Now Rachel blushes for shame Now Mr. Dauid steales away the chiefe words of the confession and hides them for feare they should tell the truth and shame him will you say M. Dauid Hath our Church renounced Hierarchie simply all sacred authoritie all order all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 say it not for shame there are the words looke what we haue renounced these are the verie words of the Oath We detest and refuse the vsurped authoritie of that Romane Antichrist his worldly Monarchie and wicked Hierarchie Therefore saith Master Dauid we detest all Hierarchie Why mutilate you the words and why falsifie you the words which you bring by a corrupt sense of your owne which I will proue was not the Subscribers minde Will you condemne Episcopall gouernement vnder the name of Papall vsurped worldly wicked Hierarchie Is it ignorance hath moued you who would thinke you were so ignorant or if you know better what malice is this to beare downe a good thing vnder an euill name Were not Bishops in the Church before a Pope vvas in Rome at least before Antichrist was hatched in it Haue any sort of men in the Church done more suffered more to destroy Antichrists Kingdome then Bishops yet you will haue all Bishops Antichristian Let vs first see the iudgement of the Fathers of our owne Church plat contrarie to M. Dauids it may be he will reuerence them and thinke shame of his owne folly when M. Iohn Knox got license from our generall assembly to goe into England they wrote a Letter with him of this tenour The Superintendents and Commissioners of the Church of Scotland to their brethren the Bishops and Pastors in England that haue renounced the Romish Antichrist and doe professe the Lord Iesus with them in sinceritie the perpetuall encrease of the holy Spirit See it registred in our assembly Bookes An. 1566. M. Dauid did our Fathers esteeme Episcopall gouernment Antichristian Hierarchie Do they not plainely disioyne them writing to Bishops that had renounced the Romish Antichrist O but it will be said Our Church was then in her infancie it may be you make them all Infants all the worthie learned and vnspotted Superintendents of our Church Iohn Willok Superintendent of the West Iohn Winram of Fyfe Iohn Spotswood of Lowthian Iohn Erskin of Din Superintendent of Angus Iohn Row Superintendent of Galloway make Infants also of M. Knox M. Craig M. Lyndsay M. Hay with many more I cannot name present at the writing of that Letter all these may well be Infants where a man of your experience comes out but beleeue me wee haue not seene many such olde men in our Church since Now as this sense which you make of the word Hierarchie is against the minde of our first Fathers so is it against the minde of the swearers and subscribers and are you not a foule abuser to inforce vpon them a sense whereof they thought neuer This is cleere as the light For why did not his Maiestie sweare and subscribe that confession of Faith This was his royall and most Christian oath offered to God in defence of his truth Did not his Highnesse there and at many other times professe openly a renunciation of that wicked Hierarchie Will you inferre vpon this that his Maiestie therefore abiured Episcopall gouernement I dare appeale to your owne knowledge hath not his Maiestie kept one constant iudgement concerning Church-gouernement euer from his young yeeres doth not the inhibition of nouation in Church-gouernement cleere this doth not the publike printed Declaration of his Highnesse intention proue it doth not all his Highnesse speeches and actions before the subscription since the subscription declare his Highnesse approbation of Episcopal gouernement and yet you would make it to be beleeued of the people that his Highnesse renounced Episcopall gouernement when his Maiestie renounced Hierarchie vsurped Papall wicked this or else a worse must be the drift of your language Truly you may thanke God you haue to doe with a clement and gratious king And that this same which is his Highnesse mind of that Article is also the minde of most part of the ancient teachers and other brethren learned godly vnspotted who haue well deserued of the Church present by fidelitie in their ministrie will bee cleared also I will not goe about in any inordinate manner to seeke subscriptions to this purpose but when it shall be required by order in the Church you will finde a cloud of witnesses standing against you to improue this calumnie of yours yea many times in my younger yeeres haue I heard famous and auncient Fathers of our Church who haue seene the first beginnings thereof affirme that our Church could not consist vnlesse Episcopall gouernement were restored againe this they spake when there was no appearance of it and when Episcopall
then of the exemption of Bishops from censure there is a Christian King there is a Councell of Bishops till necessitie require a Nationall Assembly and it is not denyed to any in the Church or Kingdome to complaine accuse delate Bishop or Archbishop that hee may be brought to his answere and tryed yea some that haue complained haue beene answered with Iustice to their satisfaction In a word let it be told you in name of all the Bishops of our Church our Calling is of God allowed by the generall Assemblie ratified by our most Christian King and States of the Kingdome Our care is to discharge it in the best sort wee can when wee haue done all that is possible for vs there are many of you ready so farre as you may to vndoe it out of an euill humor more narrowly looking to negligences then to obserue paines and good diligence wee are men and may fall as others but our faults should not be abused to condemne our function more then the faults of Ministers condemne their Ministrie We claime no liberty but are readie by Gods grace to answere all our Superiours and be censured by them as the meanest in the Church And we carrie this humble minde that if you or any other in loue and good affection will signifie to vs wherein wee offend wee will either satisfie you by reason or willingly amend it yet so that wee will maintaine the honour of our charge and calling and not leaue it free for euery man to raile against lawfull authorities whereof I pray you consider in time and be more sparing to spread such inuectiue Libels for it will be thought a contempt of them whom you are bound to honour and if you suffer punishment for it you will not suffer as a Martyr but as a malefactor which I wish may no befall you 4 So long as this Episcopall gouernement stood in vigour there was nothing but comely order in our Church Fathers honoured as Fathers Ministers agreeing in pleasant Vnitie without any Schiâ—me among them singular peace betweene the King his Maiestie and the Church tâ—ey going together like Moses and Aaron to doe the worke of God without grudging anger or diuision then the Gospell flourished and no professed Papist was in the land but with decay of the one ensewed a lamentable change of the other which cannot be mentioned without griefe and I wish for euer may be buried in silence Alway at this doore of vnhappie diuision Papistrie creeped in againe into our Church it was sowen then it tooke roote then it buddeth now and by a false kinde of reasoning A non causa pro causa it is imputed to Bishops now but as with the decrease of Episcopall gouernment it entred so I hope in God with the credit and authorâ—tie thereof it shall goe to the doore againe Onely the Lord cloath his seruants with his righteousnesse and saluation let his Vrim and Thummim be with his holy ones The Lord set our hearts rightly to seeke his glorie then shall his helping hand be with vs. There is no fault in the cause God graunt it be not found in our persons 5 Episcopall gouernement beganne first to be withstood An. 1575. This is the first time that Commissioners for eschewing of alleadged ambition are appointed to be changed yeerely The same time authoritie of Bishops is called in question some with it some against it the matter is referred to the aduisement of three for euerie opinion whose names are inserted in the act they resolue on these conclusions It is not thought expedient the question be answered at this time but if any Bishop be chosen who hath not such qualities as Gods word requires let him be tried by the generall assembly and so deposed 2. That the name of a Bishop is common to all Preachers whose chiefe function is to preach the Word minister the Sacraments and execute Discipline Yet of this number some may be chosen to ouer-see and visite other bounds beside his owne Flocke with power to ordaine and depose Ministers with aduise of the brethren of the bounds Perceiue here how loath wise men in our Church were to quit all grip of Episcopall gouernement 6 And againe the Office it selfe comming in contempt for the euill qualities of them that had it whereof some were professed enemies of Religion it was laid by and suspended An. 1580. But not simply abrogate as will appeare by this three-fold consideration First not the Office but corruption of the Office in Bishops is impugned so beareth act An. 1578. For as much as there is great corruption in the estate of Bishops as they are presently made in this Realme where-vnto the Church would prouide remedie in time comming therefore further admission of Bishops is discharged till the next assembly An argument by the way to Mr. Dauid that they were before in the Church and had their ordinarie admission of the Church Then in the next assembly holden that same yeere Iune 11. Sect. 3. It is concluded that the former act shall be extended for all time to come aye and while the corruption of the estate of Bishops be remoued and that all Bishops alreadie elected be enquired particularly to submit themselues to the generall assembly concerning the reformation of the corruption of that estate of Bishops Nothing here you see against the Office but against the corruptions Secondly albâ—it anno 1580. Episcopall gouernement was disallowed yet that it was not done with full consent or approbation of the Fathers of our Church will appeare by that act of reuocation which if a man will consider hee shall finde procured by the wisedome and fore-sight of some wise and honest men of the Ministrie who contenting to submit themselues to the present gouernement and loath to trouble the Church for that matter with Schismes and diuisions which you and yours cannot doe did notwithstanding leaue an open doore to their posteritie to bring in againe Episcopall gouernement when they should see it expedient for the Church See the act An. 1583. Sessâ— Concerning thâ— question moued to the assembly if the generall Church haue power to prouoke whatsoeuer things done by them or any particular member of the same to the hurt and preiudice of the Church or not The brethren after reasoning and disputing at length voted affirmatiue in the question that the Church had power to doe the same No exception here of any act made either for Bishops or against them Thirdly the abdication of Episcopall gouernement which was made was made without consent yea contrarie the will of them by whom it was concluded in the Church for Episcopall gouernement being practised in our Church from the beginning was established by act of assembly An. 1571. Whereat vvere present Commissioners from the Regents grace and Lords of secret Counsell in his Highnesse name being also required specially and to this same purpose by the Church there it was agreed to stand during the Kings minoritie and