the holy and sacred Scriptures which if I may be so bold to use the phrase like faithfull suffraganes or surrogates are supporters and helpers to the Bishops flock For instance sake when any wounded conscience is terribly skared with the affright of sin then speak Christs suffraganes even the holy Scriptures viz. that we have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for all our sins Rom 8.1 If again death and damnation tell us wee are damn'd then speake Christs suffraganes even the blessed Scriptures namely that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus In a word when Sathan sets upon any within the jurisdiction of our Bishops See telling them they are but lost sheep and under the shaddow of death then speake Christs suffraganes even the supporters of his poore flocke that they are delivered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of Gods deare Son Col. 1.13 Thirdly The third agent of comfort which our Bishoâ— useth in his Diocesse for to comfort his people withall is his register book or the third agent of comfort that our Bishop hath for to support aid and comfort his little flock the Church is Regestum his Register booke wherein heavens records are most purely kept and preserved and this Register book I hope without any offence either to the Bishop of our soules or else to any of his beloved sheepe of his blessed Pasture may be adjudged of us to be liber vitae the book of life Which Register book of our blessed Bishop that I may speak all in a word is extraordinarily helpfull and comfortable to the whole Diocesse I meane to all Christs Saints that are members of the same and that for these three reasons following 1. Because all Christs Lambs all his deare Saints all the sheepe of his Pasture yea all that love him and are labourers in his sacred Gospell have their names there recorded Phil 4.3 2. Because their names being once there entred they shal never be cancelled out they shall never be obliâ—erated but Christ will confesse them before his Father The fourth agent of comfort which Christ hath in his Dâ—ocesse are his powerfull proctors vâ—z His sufferings and temptations which sollicits his Churches cause and before his Angels Rev. 3.5 3. Lastly because they shal be adjudged and because they shall have sentence past upon them by their soule-saving Bishop according to the records that are found therein Rev. 20.12 Fourthly or the fourth sort of comfortable agents that our Bishop hath for to speake for his Church and flock are procuratores are his powerfull Proctouâ—s which my brethren under him he being the grand Advocate of heaven and earth doe continually in the presence of his Father sollicite his Churches cause and these procuratores these powerfull Proctors are generally two viz. 1. Sanguis passiones his bloud and sufferings 2. Temptationes his Temptations which hee endured when he was on earth First I say againe the first Proctour that the Bishop of our soules the grand Advocate of heaven and earth The first proctour to sollicite Christs Churches cause is his sufferings hath for to sollicite his Churches cause in the presence of the eternall Father is sanguis passiones is his bloud and sufferings Oh his death and Passion my brethren is a powerfull pleader in the eares of the great Iudge yea their pleadings and sollicitations are so full of power and truth that they prevaile with the eternall Father to commiserate his oppressed Church and thereupon saith the blessed Spirit speaking of the efficacy of our Saviours bloud namely Heb. 12.24 that his bloud speaketh better things for us then that of Abel Yea and againe Heb. 9.13 14. If the bloud of Bulls and Goates and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the uncleane sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh ô how much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge your consciences from dead workes to serve the living God The second proctour to sollicite Châ—ists Churches cause is his temptations Secondly or the second Proctour that the Bishop of our soules hath for to sollicite his Churches cause in the presence of the eternall Iudge is temptationes is his temptations that he endured for us when hee was on earth Oh my brethren as his wounds plead for us that we may be made whole as his stripes plead for us that wee may not bee beaten as his shame pleades for us that we may enjoy honour so his temptations plead for us that wee may not bee tempted above our strength but that we may have through his merits an happie issue out of all according to the saying of the sacred Spirit namely In that he himselfe hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2.18 Lastly or the last agents that our Bishop useth for the good of his Church and flocke The last agents of comfort for Christs diocesse are the Apparitours hee useth are Apparitores are his Apparitours whose office it is to summon all his flock to appeare before him either in the Court of conscience here where hee sits as chiefe or in the great Court of Heaven hereafter where he sits as Iudge And these Apparitors in the generall we finde to be three The three Apparitours which our Bishop useth for to summon al his Diocesse to appeare before him 1. Reprehensio Sanctorum the due reproofe of his Saints 2. Castigatio filiorum the chastisements he sends his sons 3. Vox tubae ultimae the sound of the last Trump The 2. first of these summon our Bishops flock to appeare before him in the Court of conscience here wherupon they make a conscience of their lives to come and the third which we may call Apparitor Apparitorum to wit the great and generall Apparitor of all namely vox tubae ultimae the sound of the last Trumpet summons them to appeare at the great Court of Heaven hereafter to heare then their judgment that shall last for ever First then againe I say the first Apparitor The first Apparitour that our Bishop useth to summon his flock that they may appeare before him in the Court of Conscience here where he sits as chiefe is reprehensio Sanctorum is the due reproofe of his Saints Witnesse that one example for all namely Acts 2.41 our Apostles three thousand soules who sometimes were ranke geerers of our Bishop and his Gospell too Oh my brethren for illustration hereof what I pray made those madde Cretians at the first to appeare such good Christians at the last what summoned them now to appeare in the Court of conscience and that before him whom they had contemn'd and scorn'd when before all their life time they made no conscience of what they did at all ver 12 13. What makes them to appeare now full
misery of an unregenerate Christian that runs astray Impij sine Custode Now their lamentable miserable and accursed condition appeareth sundry wayes especially in and by foure most grievous and most fearefull miseries First unregenerate men which are stragling from the fold of Christ that are not as yet reclaimed by Gods effectuall calling are in a most fearefull and cursed condition because neither God nor good men are for them God doth not protect them and good men doe not value them No shepheard doth tend or look unto those sheepe that are upon the straite for those that are within the fold those come within the compasse of his care and providence in like manner for application is it with all such as wander from Christs flock and that keepe not his severall they are not sub divino vexillo under the protection and banner of the Almighty but as they give over God so God giveth over them and that many times as we see to a reprobate mind to doe such things as are inconvenient yea during the time of their wandring they are so miserable that they have the very devils themselves to be their guides and governours Rom. 1.28 Eph. 6.12 which is a very fearefull misery indeed according to the words of the Holy Ghost in another place to this very purpose they are aliants from the Common-Wealth of Israel they are strangers from the covenant of grace Eph. 2.12 and of promise having no hope and without GOD and without Christ in the world Next good men doe not value them because they are like the linnen Girdle hidden at Euphrates and good for nothing Jer. 13.10 Isa 13.14 Nay like the chased Roe as the Prophet Isaiah saith and the sheepe that no man taketh up Whereas on the contrary we may boldly affirme thus much how that concerning Christs innocent Lambes that keepe the fold they are alwayes of Gods tending alwayes of Gods looking to And which comfortable point the Psalmist confirmes thus saying the eyes of the Lord are alwayes over them Psal 34.15 and his eares are alwayes open unto their cries yea and they are alwayes so tender and precious in his sight as that the Angels are not thought to be too good to bee their guardians and attendants Mat 18.10 nay and those that offend them are so threatned by the Spirit of God as that the Text saith of them and against them thus namely how that it were better for them that a milstone were hanged abâ—ut their neckes and that they were drowned in the depth of the Sea Mat. 18.6 a fearefull judgement GOD wot yea a most grievous penaltie Secondly The second mâ—sery of an unregenerate Christian that runnes astray the second misery that our unregenerate livers are exposed unto which like straying sheep straggle from the fold of Christ is a continuall affrightment or a continuall feare and a continuall astonishment for as the silly sheepe as long as he is astray hath never any perfect peace nor comfort even so for application fareth it with your unmortified bosomes who many times when they are in their chiefest jollities are notwithstanding so terribly skared and frighted as that with drunken Belshazzar their countenances are apt to change Dan. 5.6 and their knees to knock together according to that saying of the holy Prophet Jsaiah speaking of them thus also Isa 48.22 to wit they are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waves cast up mire and dirt for there is no peace saith my God to the wicked Isaiah 57 20 21. Thirdly the third misery that our straying sheepe The third misery of an unregenerate man which runs astray our unregenerate Christians undergoe is a want of the society of the faithfull a deprivation of the Communion of Saints For illustrations sake the sheepe that is astray hath not the compapany of the flocke no more for application hath your unmortified bosome the society and fellowship of the Saints for what fellowship saith Saint Paul 2 Cor. 6 14.15 16. hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what Communion hath light with darknesse or what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidell and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idolls meaning none at all as if he should have said thus neither unrighteousnesse nor darknesse nor Beliall nor an infidell nor Idolls have any fellowship or ommunion or concord or parte or agreement with the blessed Shepheard CHRIST or with any that are of his blessed flocke The fourth and last misery of an unregenerate man running astray Ps 95 10 11 Heb 3.18 1 Cor. 6.10 Fourthly the fourth and last misery and plague that unregenerate sinners running from Christ and his fold are likely to undergoe is everlasting death they are in danger to provoke God to sweare that they shall never enter into his rest that they shall never have the joyes of heaven and that they shall never have the comfort of the flocke whereas on the contrary those that keepe the fold shall have heavens benedictions according to the language of our blessed Saviour saying Ne Timete c. feare not little flocke for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdome yea and according to the saying of the Prophet Isaiah Isa 65.13 in this paticular behold my servants shall eate but ye shall be hungry my servants shall drink but ye shall be thirstie behold my servants shall rejoyce but ye shal bee ashamed my servants shall sing for joy of heart but yee shall cry for sorrow of heart and shall howle for vexation of spirit Ob. But peradventure here some will demand and say if that the case and condition of our straying sheepe be so lamentable and full of woe why what should move then unregenerate bosomes I meane our unmortified and carnall Christians to persevere in this dismall state Sol. To which I make answer and say thus much that there are sundry provocations and inticing motives that bewitch men to goe on in sin and to runne every day more and more from the fold of Christ That therefore you may avoyd them and shunne them all I shall briefly lay them open to your Christian considerations Note that there are six provocations that even force men to run astray from Christ our Shepheard and Bishop The first provocation 〈◊〉 Satâ—an The deceiveable provocations that principally cause unregenerate men to goe astray from the sold of Christ are chiefely sixe The first provocation or provoking motive that makes a man to run astray from Christ to the great prejudice of himselfe and hazard of his poore soules salvation for ever is the accuser of mankind Satanas the Prince of the aire For illustrations sake t was he that first made our first Parents Adam and Eve to runne astray from God the father Gen. 3.13 and also now labours to deale so in like manner with all his posterity
also over distracted passions and unruly nature And thus for application also was our blessed Saviour a perfect Bishop Mar. 6.3 who when he was nick-nam'd with the flout of Carpenters son Mat. 9.34 when againe the Pharisees geer'd him and said that he did cast out devils through Beelzebub the Prince of the devils is not for all this moved one jot at all but remaines still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of an unmoveable and an unalterable moderate cariage and conversation thus namely teaching still in their Synagogues preaching still the Gospell of the kingdome ver 35. and healing still notwithstanding all their barbarous language every sicknesse and every disease amongst the people Fifthly he must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of good behaviour not giving offence in his deportment and demeanour of life but obeying the Lawes And in this way did the eternall Messias our blessed Saviour show himselfe to be a right Bishop also for being at Capernaum with Peter where tribute was demanded and paid and knowing too that as strangers were liable to the observation of the tax so on the other hand it was as true that the children were free yet that he might shew himselfe to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of good behaviour and without offence Mat. 17.27 hee wills Peter to goe to the Sea for the piece of money that was in the fishes mouth saying take it and give it them for me and thee Sixthly he must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 given to hospitality he must not have palmam contractam sed expansam a Nabal-like and a miserable and a niggardly nature and condition but a free and open hand to all the world and after this sort for application too was the eternall Sonne of God a perfect Bishop indeed for when he had but 5. barly loves and two small fishes as a man may say in all the world though we confesse as he was God so all the beasts of the Forrest were his and likewise the cattell upon a thousand hils and when too he was in a Mountaine a place of hunger and an argument sufficient rather to keep that which a man had for his owne lively-hood than to part with any especially to strangers that he never saw before yea and when too the people were so many to wit in number about five thousand which was enough to give cause to flesh and bloud to dread a famine and a want should they part with that they had Ioh. 6.10.11 the number too of the people being so great and the provision so small I say notwithstanding all these difficulties doth our blessed Bishop distribute with a mercifull and an open hand all the provision that he had for the present and most miraculously practiseth his hospitality upon the whole multitude Seventhly or the seventh qualification of a Bishop is hee must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to teach Readie to instruct yea in-season and out of season must be divide the word Isa 25.10 11 dumb-dogs that neither can or will not barke are farre unworthy of so high a function Jsa 58 1. he must cry aloud and spare not that comes within the compasse of this sacred office and for application most condignly then for this cause certainely is our heavenly Advocate tearmed and stiled a Bishop by our Apostle for who was more ready to teach then our blessed Saviour who more willing to learne the ignorant then he and who more earnest to have men be his Disciples then he was look unto him upon the Sabboth dayes and you finde him teaching in the Synagogues look unto him upon the weeke dayes and you find him teaching still sometimes in Mountaines sometimes in desarts sometimes upon the Sea sometimes by the sea-side all wayes teaching never out of action Whereupon saith Salomon speaking of our blessed Saviour doth not wisdome cry Pro. 8.1 2 3 4 5. and understanding put forth her voyce ô she standeth in the top of high places by the way in the places of the paths yea she cryeth at the gates at the entry of the City at the comming in at the dores Eightly he must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not given to wine not like the Prophet Isaiahs greedy dogs Isa 56 11 12 which can never have enough saying one to the other I will fetch wine and wee will fill our selves with strong drinke and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant but he must be temperantiae filius carefully abstemious by all manner of meanes in this particular looking that whensoever he makes himselfe partaker of that creature of God that he doe not forget God the Creator but receive it according to the Gospells rule for his stomacks sake and often infirmities For application in this point Luk. 21.34 most truly may our blessed Saviour bee call'd a Bishop for this cause who all his life time practic'd temperance in the highest degree advising all in the feare of God to take heede of surfetting drunkennesse and the cares of this life least the day of judgment come upon them unawares Ninthly he must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no striker that is non ad horrida promptus arma not desperately forward to mannage ruffianlike broyles For Gods Ministers are peaces messengers and the stroakes and wounds which they are to lay on sinners are to be made gladio oris non ore gladij with the sword of the mouth not with the mouth of the sword For applications sake our blessed Redeemer blessed for evermore was an apparent Bishop in this kind of circumstance also for when that Iudas had betrayed him into the hands of sinners Luk. 22.49 and when that those which were about him ask't whether they should smite with the sword or no yea and when Peter had smote off Malchus his eare Mat. 26 52 our Saviours counsel straightway is given thus Put up thy sword into his place for they that take the sword shall perish with the sword But here perchance Ob. you will object and say that Christ was a striker because hee made a scourge of small Cords Joh. 2.15 and drave out the prophaners out of the Temple with their Sheepe and Oxen throwing downe also the tables of the money-changers and reproving others that sold Doves To which I answer and say first Sol. that we do not positively read of any blow or stroake which Christ gave though that hee made the scourge and drave them out and though without all question they deserved many too Next say wee that put the case he smote them yet is he not a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a striker as the Text condemnes for this he did authoritative by vertue of his rule and power and Magistracy which hee had over the house of God others now that offend against the Text for being strikers offend in this because they have no lawfull calling or warrant for the same to bee done by them
The True and Absolute BISHOP With the Converts returne unto Him Wherein is also shevved hovv CHRIST is our only SHEPHEARD As well as our truest BISHOP And also how lamentable and miserable the condition of those Men doth appeare to bee which are out of CHRISTS Fold Or out of CHRISTS DIOCESSE By NICOLAS DARTON Minister of GODS Word at KILLESBIE in NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE HEBR. 7. Ver. 26. For such an High Priest became us who is holy harmelesse undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the Heavens LONDON Printed by Tho. Badger for Humphrey Mosley and are to bee sold at his Shop at the PRINCES Armes in Saint PAULS CHVRCH-YARD 1641. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE and every way RELIGIOVS LORD WILLIAM Viscount SAY and SEALE Master of his Majesties Court of Wards and Liveries an especiall Member for God Glory and Great Britaines safety amongst the Right Honourable Lords in the High Court of Parliament now ass mbled And one of His Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell Much Honoured LORD LEt the blisfull streames of Gods eternall mercies run plentifully through all your Parliamentary designes and others else to make you as truly prosperous in your Acts of State as Religious in your intentions for Piety that 's my desire for you The next for my selfe is this that some drop of your Honours favour and Clemencie how little soever may through your Honourable acceptance of this my small tender fall on me to make me as truly happy in the enioyment of so great a Patronage as I am forward in the dedication of the same unto your Honour True it is you may wonder I beg thus bold for the latter especially being that I am so farre remote from your Honours knowledge but to speak iustly there 's no iust cause of marvaile for though I am a stranger to your Person I am not to your vertuous practises which make our Hemisphere of Great Brittaine with admiration to be acquainted with you The booke I confesse is not worthy your iudicious eye nor reading but the Bishop in it I am confident you love with all your heart straying sheep I have heard your desire is should returne to the fold imitating here our great Shepheard that makes welcome all the Flock that come VVhat you finde amisse in the handling of the propounded subject which is good let your love to goodnes pardon and what otherwise in the rash attempt of so bold an adventure as this upon your goodnesse is let your wounted mildnesse passe by Greatnesse in you I beleeve is as pardonfull as your goodnesse for O how sweetly in you may both Church and State see how they goe hand in hand together I dare not speake all I beleeve of your almost unparallell'd pietie t is enough for me to see it and to heare it abroad but for feare of suspition of unpleasing flattery to your selfe I dare not speake VVhat now is to bee spoken for the present on my behalfe hath an eye upon your mercy that you would vouchsafe the same though undeserved upon the worke and Author So shall I that am but even the smallest of Christs ministry be encouraged in the painefull worke of the Lord and endeavour daily if not more to bring Goates haire by no means lesse to the building of Gods Temple continually morne and evening as long as I have a day to live praying heartily to the eternal Trinity for you and yours that an encrease of true honours welfare may abound on your Honourable selfe Your truly vertuous and Religious Lady and hopefull Progenie here and that an immortall Crowne of endlesse glory with the communion of Saints through Iesus Christ may be your eternall inheritance hereafter Your Honours Servant in all Humlitie most devoted NICOLAS DARTON The Epistle to the Reader COurteous and Christian Reader if the Title Page do please thee as perchance it may I am confident then that the ensuing Treatise will not distaste at all because it tenders thee a salve for thy sores and a remedy for thy straying thoughts Should now the word Episcopacy draw a dislike upon thine affections or like a blacke cloud darken thine impartiall esteeme hereof it is to be feared then for the present that all is not well within thee for here thou hast the absolutest the truest and the most perfect Bishop that ever was in all the Christian world whose Diocesse also is from one end of the earth unto the other and from the Sea unto the worlds end This is the Metropolitan that governes Heavens Universe and whose See as it is without all contradiction Universall so in like manner is his EPISCOPACIE in all points uncontroleable This is hee that was called from the Wombe hereunto and from the bowels of his mother Isa 49.1 Zach. 3.8 Mal. 3.1 unto whom all the Yles must listen and eke the people from farre who is the branch of the Lord and the messenger of the Covenant who is like a refiners fire and like Fullers sope and will purifie the sons of LEVI meaning all the Ministers of his Word and Sacraments by what names or titles soever they be called and will purge them as Gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousnes I write not this now to barke at or to bite at any in the world for that Hostile and scurrilous humour both against Gods sacred house and Englands Kirk I leave to our brawling and rayling tongues wherewithall our times abound alasse and thrice alasse too too much in every street and corner nay I had almost said in every part and place so that should not the right honourable and blessed Parliament out of their heavenly dispositions forthwith silence the contumelious affronts with irrevocable censures of such black-mouthed Sanballats as without all question the plenitude â—f their gracious judgement and undoubted religious goodnesse will challenge the care hereof both Zion then and all her sonnes may sit downe in the dust and weepe But I write this scribendo proficere proficiendo scribere to satifie the ingenuous reader with some notions of a right and absolute Bishop and that upon his benefit and good liking I my selfe may receive some comfort As for the matter here debated before thine eyes though it doe not come unto thee in the beautifull and gracefull habit of excellent and learned rhetoricke yet mayest thou finde therein many an wholesome expression both for thy soules health and lifes amendment I desire thus much that as thou doest not receive it with the reverence of a Father so that thou wouldst not reject it as the raveries of a child for Apollo yeelded Oracles as well to poore men for their prayers as to Princes for their presents If thou hast bin a stragler from the flock and fold of Christ here are discoveries for to enforme thy conscience and such demonstrative Characters to certifie thee of thy soules state and condition in that particular as that thou canst not unlesse meerely blinded