Pastor no sooner becommeth a Prelate but he beginneth to howle with the Wolves although he looke like a Shepheard he turneth his backe upon his Pastorall charge or looketh downe upon it and his fellow Brethren as below him and setteth his face toward the world hoping by time to be loosed of his bands and to become one of the greatest Officers of estate and blowing the bellowes of division betwixt the King and his Nobles and betwixt the King and the Church that his serviceablenesse may appeare the more and hee may bee warmed by the fire which hee hath kindled himselfe They will now accept of Limitation and it may be some of them call for it But did any of them speak of late against the exorbitancy of their Brethren or will they heare of moderation afterward If we will lay aside prejudices we may clearly perceive that the Church perfect in Officers may be governed without Prelates with more honour to God with more love and respect to Authority at home and abroad with greater riches and glory to the Crowne with more contentment to the people greater peace amongst our selves and greater terror to all our enemies The different use of the names of Pastor and Prelate dangerous Although we doe not contend about words yet the appropriation and Monopoly of names in matters of this nature hath in it more realty then at first We do observe there is no inequality nor difference of Office power or degree betwext a Pastor and a Bishop It is against reason to call on Pastor by the name of a Presbyter or Minister and another by the name of a Bishop the differences of the names doth beget conceptions of different degrees and Offices doth procure worldly respect and in processe of time anthority to one Presbyter above another and so maketh way to Episcopall Monarchie is alreadily mistaken through ignorance or inadvertency as implying a relation not to a particular flocke but to other Pastors and a whole Diocesse and hath been in the Church of Scotland dangerously misapplyed by many conceiving the name of Bishop which onely designed the benefice to be the name of the Office and thereby presuming that the Office of a Bishop still remained there which was also our errour concerning the government of that Church till we were better informed of late against this no better remedy then that the thing being abolished the name be no more appropriated When the time of perswasion cometh a few arguments are sufficient Neither doe we intend nor can any man expect nor doe the weighty affaires of those whom this matter most concerneth suffer any large debate about it volumnes are stuffed with arguments on both sides conscience of dutie in this Article of time observation of providence courage for the cause of God and contempt of the world will helpe our resolution against the subtilties sophistications and wranglings of humane wit which will no more receive satisfaction in this question of the regall office of Chirst nor the Papists will suffer themselves to be silenced in other controversies about this or his other offices When the appointed time cometh of the ending of long lasting debates it is not unlike unto the rising of the Sunne after a long Winter night and the eyes to see are more usefull then arguments to perswade the wayes of god are made knowne and darknesse can no more prevaile against the light in no Theme have colours and praetexts beene more multiplyed then in this of Prelacie the ambition and avarice of the heart of man quickning his spirits and giving life to his braines for his owne miserable ends but to an indifferent eye and a minde unpartially disposed and not interessed they suddenly disappeare and evanish nothing is more pretended then antiquity although they can say with Cyprian consuetudinem veritate majorem non esse although disputing for their dignitie they put the purple robe of authority upon the Fathers yet when the Papists dispute against them by this authoritie they quickly put it off againe and although they boast of the Fathers and will prove the superioritie of Bishops from severall forcible arguments out of antiquity yet finde they disappointment and emptinesse where they desire most to abound for nothing in all this cause is more pressed by the strongest amongst them then that the Angels of the Churches of Asia were Bishops like unto themselves and yet not want of will in them and diligence in reading of the Fathers but the Fathers whom they would have to pronounce not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O childe but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O sonne of lupiter writing on the place are mute and doe faile them turning their glosses another way but this and all other their pretences are answered and the whole matter of true Church governement treated at large many yeeres agoe without a word of reply from the Bishops or their Clergie who yet try all Authors if they can finde so much as one sentence even in dedicatorie Epistles which use to be more encomiastick then dogmaticall to speak for them It hath beene the greatest praise of civill powers that they have exceeded all who went before them in the reformation of religion Motives to a full reformation Asa tooke away Idolatrie but Iehosaphat removed the high places also Hezekiah did more he brake the brazen serpent but Iosiah destroyed the Idole Temples also who therefore hath this restimony to the end of the world that like unto him there was no King before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart with all his soule and with all his might neither is this a dispraise to Religious Princes going before who according to their measure of knowledge and as the times would suffer did reforme Religion nor a disgracing but rather a promoting and perfecting of the worke of Reformation begun by them The matters of the Kingdome of Christ the head and Monarch of his Church are in hand in which as in our own matters we have no power to dispense or to decline to the right hand or to the left and to rest in a lukewarmnesse or Samaritanisme which may make our condition afterward to be restlesse and provoke the Lord to make us a reproach The changes and revolutions which we heare of in other Kingdomes are documents that the divine Providence is about some great worke in which we are now called to act our part in the sight of men and Angels Non tantum praesentis sed vigilantis est occasioneus observare properantem Senec Epist 22 The opportunity of Reformation is rare and singular and cannot be parallel'd in any History and therefore to be used in all reverence with heavenly prudence and abstractnesse of spirit from earthly considerations We are zealous of our owne liberties let us be more zealous of the liberties of the Kingdome of Christ that both we our selves and the Posterity may have a well grounded and blessed Peace FINIS
THE VNLAWFVLNES AND DANGER OF LIMITED PRELACIE OR PERPETVALL PRECIDENCIE IN THE CHVRCH Briefly discovered 3 Iohn 9. Diotrephes who loveth to have the preeminence receiveth us not Ambitio non patitur quemquam in ea mensura honorum conquiescere quae quondam fuit ejus impudens votum Seneca de beneficiis Lib. 2. Ambition suffereth no man to rest in that measure of honours which sometimes was his impudent wish Printed in the yeare 1641. To the READER THE causes which to this day have hindred the determination of this unhappy controversie about Church government in the Reformed Churches are no other But first The Iudgement of God punishing the unthankfulnesse of this Age for the incomparable benefit of the Gospell and in great wisdome and loving kindnesse trying and exerciseing his Church that they who are approved may be made manifest And secondly The corruption of the heart of man loving preeminence and preferring himselfe to his Brethren which maketh him although but a Bramble in comparison of the Olive-tree the Figge-tree and the Vine to say and to make others to speake in the eares of men Whether is better for you either that all the Sons of Jerubbaal which are threescore and ten persons reigne over you or that one reigne over you and upon this followeth the blindnesse and error of the minde in depending more upon the prejudice of custome and constitutions of men then upon the judgement of Scripture to be beleeved for it selfe Yet hath the Lord his owne appointed time for ending of Controversies and if the period of this debate be now approaching as it appeareth to him who looketh with observation to the working of God the insolencie of the Prelates and the Prayers and desires of the people a few of the many considerations pressed in former times will by the blessing of God prove sufficient and effectuall for determination They who are acquainted with the Reformation here and in other Nations will not much mervell when the Winter is past and the spring time commeth That with the sweet breathings of Zephyrus at sometimes there be whirlewinds and contrary blasts and when the Flowers appeare upon the earth that the weeds also set up their heads But the diligent hand of the faithfull Labourers will purge the Vine-yard of these noysome Herbs which have taken rooting in the time of Prelacy That this Prelacy may be removed root and branch and the Ministery of Christ be established in purity and power is the purpose of this paper and the Prayer of the writer for the welfare of Sion THE VNLAVVFVLNESSE AND DANGER OF A LIMIted PRELACIE Or perpetuall presidencie in the Church briefely discovered IN the Church of Christ Offices in this Church which are of men supposed to be unlawfull It may and ought to be taken for a Supposition and as a principle undeniable that all the Offices and Vocations in the House of God must be of God and not of Men and that such as are of Men and not of God are unlawfull for this was presupposed by Christ himselfe in his dispute with the Pharisees the Baptisme of Iohn whence was it from heaven or of men Matth. 21.25 Marke 11.17 Luke 20.1 By the Pharisees themselves in the same places By the Apostle Gallat 1.1 Not of men neither by men but by Iesus Christ and God the Father Againe Hebr. 5.5 No man taketh this honour unto himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron And by these who are our adversaries in this cause both while they disput against the universall Episcopacy of the Pope and use the words of Tertullian which may be throwne backe upon themselves Quiestis quomodo et unde venistis quid in meo agitis nomine and while they dispute against us for the Diocesan Bishop and will prove Episcopacy by divine right knowing that the assertion of the princiall Office and Calling in the Church meerly upon humane right were a challenge of the Scriptures that they are not perfect and an exalting of the wisdome of Men above the wisdome of Christ although Man can no more make the Office nor hee can give the Grace and from Christ both the Institution of the Office and the blessing of the Officers must come It is therefore supposed to be no lesse unlawfull to adde an Office to divine Institutions then it is unlawfull to take away an Office warranted by divine Institution the one making it maymed We are forbidden praecepto negativo to presume to governe the Church by humane wisdome Wee are commanded Praecepto affirmativo to follow the rule of divine wisdome And we are warranted praecepto comparativo rather to follow Christ them Antichrist for so must we speak because it cannot be denyed by any but such as deny the Pope to be Antichrist This then being for a principle presupposed if we will not shut our eyes against the light and involve our selves in subtilties which the wit of Man set on worke by his owne ambition and the love of preeminence hath invented against the plaine truth of Scripture obvious to every one who desireth to know The Office of a Bishop as he is conceived to be a Pastor above other Pastors whether in power or in degree and dignitie with be found in it selfe and not onely in respect of the abuse of his power or of his degree and dignity to be unlawfull The Office of a Prelate is not found in Scripture Because the Scripture intending to expresse the Offices and Officers of the Church and speaking so often of them and of their Gifts and Duties and that not upon occation but of set purpose as Rom. 12.2 Cor. 12. Eph. 4 doth neither expresse nor imply any such Bishop Shall we suffer our selves to thinke that the Apostles so well acquainted with the will of Christ (a) Acts 1.3 so fully taught of things pertaining to the Kingdome of God and so faithfull in the delivering his Commandements that the Officers may know how to behave themselves in the House of God and keep themselves pure (b) 1 Tim. 3.15 and in charging them in the sight of God to keepe his Commandements without spot (c) 1. Tim. 5.21 1 Tim. 6.13.14 would not in some one place or other distinctly and positively speake of the office gifts priority or power of such a Bishop Have they been so carefull in expressing the office gifts and duty of the meanest Officers (d) Act. 6. and did they speake nothing of the greatest would they have neglected the weightyer matters of the Law of Christ no surely these they would have done and not have left the other undone All the Officers of the New Testament both ordinary and extraordinary No difference in Scripture betweene a Pastor and a Bishop are designed and distinguished by their names or Compellations as Apostles Evangelists Presbyters Deacons The extraordinary and superiour have upon good reason the names of the ordinary and inferiour common unto them as the Apostles
perswaded others to consent unto it but did aftewards breake all these bonds and finding themselves unable to give account according to the Councell given to Perecles they procured that there should bee no free Generall Assemblies lest they should be called to account and when they were challenged of their perjury and perfidious dealing their Printed Apologie declared their perfidie to be double Refut libel de regim Eccles Scotae pag. 89. cum viderit breviz in quibus voluntatur incerta ancipitia repeter pedem nec vertet terga sed sensim recedit in tutum Senec. Epist 22. which wee will expresse in their owne words because they may bee usefull at thit time and teach us what may bee expected from their fellowes Conditiones aliae protempore mag is quo contentiosis rixandi ansa praeriperetur quà m animo in perpetuum observandi acceptae What then may be hoped for in this Land were people have beene inured to this yoke Prelates have beene in possession the Court is near to shire upon them and where there be no Nationall Assemblies but such Provinciall Assemblies where these new Bishops shal be Presidents or if National Assemblies shall be appointed shall they not either be fordidden to meet or shall they not be overruled by these Bishops that in a short time they shall not only recover their wonted power and pompe by the consent of the Assemblies and thus be come deeply rooted and with greater difficulty removable then before but shall also double their tyranny manet alta mente repostum and thus our last state shall be worse then the first This perpetuall president Prelacy not the cure but the cause of Shisme or moderate Prelate which was at first and is now pretended to be a remedy against Schisme hath not only proved a remedy worse then the disease by making way to the greatess Bishop the Antichrist but likewise doth foment and increase the disease it selfe of Schisme and Division for beside that it shall maintaine a shamefull Schisme against all the Reformed Churches especially against the neighbour Church of Scotland which will cause continuall jealousies and heart-burning betwixt the two Nations if we shall allow and establish Episcopacy which we did before but tolerate and they have found and judged upon good reasons to be intolerable It shall rent the bowels of the Church and Kingdome within it selfe the Parliament shal be divided some for it and others against it and of these who shall be for it there shal be subdivisions some for one limitation and some for another after the Parliaments Authority shal be for it the body of the Kingdome at least the godly and Religious shal be against it Whence shall arise almost in every Parish no small debate and contention and many sorrows and discontents instead of that universall joy which is expected through the whole kingdome The Ministers and whole Clergie shall be rent asunder is their Sermons Lectures and Polemick writings and Pamphlets some defending the old Episcopacie some the new and the sounder part oppugning both and still pressing a further Reformation some gaping for Prelacies and getting them others enraged for want of them a third sort still living in hope of preferment and the remnant opposing all this competion and emulation And although this Prelacie were appointed and received with generall consent of Parliament Pastors and People which no man will expect who is not a stranger in this Church and Kingdome yet who can hope that this Tree shall bring forth the fruits of truth and peace in this Land at this time which it never produced in any time or place since the beginning There can be no peace to the Body till the bad humour now stirred be purged out and when this Ionah is cast into the Sea then shall there be a calme The worke also shall be more easie and the labour much lesse in rooting up the Tree then in lopping the branches which will take a long time and much debate and deliberation In Christian Policie Prelacy against both Christian and common policy that Government of the Church is most usefull for Kings and Kingdomes which is best warranted by the Word of God by whom Kings reigne and Kingdomes are established Religion and Righteousnesse are the Pillars which God hath made for upholding his Majesties throne Prelacie and Ceremonies are invented and framed by the wisdome of Man for setting up and supporting the Popes Monarchie no Ceremony no Prelat no Prelat no Pope 2. Which serveth most to the preservation of pietic righteousnesse and sobriety against their contraries which where they reigne as they doe alwayes where Prelates have place and power are the certaine causes of many calamities and judgements and of the changes and periods of States Kingdomes and Families 3. Which maketh the face of the Church and Religion in a Kingdome most beautifull and glorious not with Prelaticall pompe and splendor like the Kings of the Nations but with sound faith a pure worship and holy life And 4. Which conduceth most for truth and peace against Heresie and Schisme for which effect Church Assemblies of Ministers equall in order and degree meeting in Presbyteries Provinciall and Nationall Assemblies are powerfull meanes as the experience of all the Reformed Churches hath taught us and against which Prelacie hath a naturall antipathie it being the nature thereof to love greatnesse and to grow bigge by the division of the Church and therefore the Prelacie will beare with all Religions provided they be not Anti-episcopall will not onely suffer Heresies and divisions to arise and grow but will foment them that the parties may depend upon him as their Judge Contzen polit Lib. ◠c. 19. and that the thoughts of others may be drawne from his Mitre to other matters Againe in common policie that Governement of the Prelates should be shunned because he is a superfluous and unprofitable member the Sonne of God having provided for all the necessities of the Church by Officers of his owne appointment Shall that be esteemed to be good policie in the Church which no wise man would judge to be good aeconomic in his owne house no Magistrate would admit in his owne charge shall Servants or subjects appoint one to rule over them at their owne pleasures or shall we thinke that a Minister hath abilities for all the parts of his function and shall not be able to preside in an Assembly or is there none in the assembly fit to be president but one 2. because the Prelate is an unprofitable burden requiring in his greatest moderation a revenue more then ordinary and serveth for no good use neither to Church King nor Countrey 3. Because the Prelate by his power with Prince and Peere and by his usurpation and tyranny over the People divideth betwixt the Rulers and the people and maketh the Civill government which without him would bee light and easie to be heavie and grievous to the people 4. Because a