opportunity to warmehis fingers at an English fire which is likely to come to passe if these malapart Officers be not quickly supprest Nor can their wisdomes blame the Christians who for defence of their just freedomes and liberty of conscience without any sinister ends shall cause new stirs and in defence of their liberties and Religion endeavour to chase this new tyrany forth of the Kingdome And I am assured would their wisdomes but duely examine their businesse heere they would plainely find it is for no other end And withall would their grave judgements but seriously poize the validity of their passe to come and settle here they would finde it altogether insufficient and no warrant either by Gods Law or the Law of Nations for such people by people of other Nations directed hither to settle and make a constant abode heer And I am confident their Honours upon due consideration hereof would either send them from Constable to Constable backe into Scotland or else whip them quite home to Geneva which that they may doe The Lord who is Ruler of all mens hearts dictate this to his servants in the Parliament that they may put their helping hands to this worke and then the Lord prosper the worke of their hands Oh prosper thou ô Lord their handy worke I will but adde one reason more why the Lay-Elders are not to meddle in the spirituall consistory and that is because they were never included within the power of the keyes given to the Apostles and their Successors which power hath from them devolved into our Church Some affirme the Gospel to have been preached heere by Paul the Apostle but I cannot learne any certainety of that But the Apostles being under the persecution of Nero I finde that Philip and divers of the godly fled into France who severed themselves asunder the better to propogate the Gospel about the 64 yeere after Christ he sent over into Brittaine one Josephus together with one Simon Zelotes to preach unto the Britaines and administer the Sacraments according to the Rites of the Church of Greece which Josephus saith William Malmesbury in his booke de Antiquitate Glasconici Monasterii was buryed at Glassenbury and John Bale following the Authority of Gyldas and other English Writers saith that it was Joseph of Arimathea and about this time did divers of this Nation receive the Christian faith and were baptized Not long after all Authors agree that Lucius King of this Isle sent to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome Anno Christi 177 not promising any subjection to his See that not being desired only obtruded upon King Henry the second in Beckets businesse but to say with such as were pricked in minde Acts 2.37 Men and Brethren what shall wee doe to be saved Eleutherius understanding the desires of King Lucius to be baptized and to professe and maintaine the Christian Religion and withall perceiving the able parts and sufficiency of those two Britaines Lucius had for this purpose sent over to him did consecrate them Bishops and sent them backe into Britaine And withall he taking into consideration that the converting of some and establishing of all of this Isle in the Christian Faith was a taske too great for two to undergoe Though he had knowledge of their faire progresse herein yet for their ease helpe and incouragement in so great a worke he sent over more labourers after them into this Harvest who for the better propogating of the faith and winning of soules unto Christ and that all might be instructed they divided the Kingdome into Circuits amongst them There being by Lucius and his Nobles appointed three superintendents or Arch-bishops instead of three Arch-Flamins which ruled before in time of Paganisme placed over the rest one at London another at Yorke another at Carleon in Monmouth-shire This Bishopricke of Carleon was after removed thence to St. Davids in Wales thence into Normandy Yorke continues Metropolitan still London was translated to Canterbury by Austine the Monke Lambert in his perambulation of Kent fol. 63. And although the English Saxons had not received the Gospel till Ethelberts time in whose Raigne Gregory the Pope upon occasion of seeing sweet faced boyes to be sould in the Market and inquiring of them of what Nation and Countrey they were he was told they were Angli and of the Province of Deira their Kings name being Alla to which Gregory replied well may they be called Angli à Dei ira liberandi to sing Hallelujah unto the Lord whereupon Austin the Monke was sent over and preached in Ethelbert his Kingdome to the English Saxons at Canterbury Anno Christi 596. Yet reverend Bede and divers others testifie that the Britons who by the impetuous fury of the Saxons were beaten hence into Wales embraced the Christian faith many hundred yeeres before Austins time Lambert Perambulation of Kent 19. Holinshead History of England 51 and had their Church government by convocations assemblies of the most learned and best Divines which in some course and order continued amongst us till this new fashioned Presbyters started up but never had any Lay-men to joyne with them in that action it being conceived not to be warranted by Gods word Some perhaps will wonder at me that I should digresse so far from my purpose for vindication of Bishops affirming them to be by Lucius our first Christian King established in this Land I might say they were ordained by the Apostles themselves Act. 20.28 but this is no part of my purpose only laid in the way to prove our Church by the Apostâ—â—s planted heere some say by Paul but certaine by Philip and by the Church of Rome in after times which then was a true Church much pâ—â—â—â—â—â—ted I say it is not my purpose to vindicate Episcopacy I am too weake a prop to uphold such a tottering and reeling Fabricke Yet armed inwardly with truth outwardly with argument I will boldly tell you Reader I care not who wonder at me let them be wondring still and in their wonder snarle at me I would rather be subject to moderate Episcopacy then our Classicall Presbytery such Episcopacy as should not Lord it over Gods Heritage for wee know our Saviour rebuked James and John Mar. 10.42 Luke 22.25 When the one desired to sit to his right hand the other on his left in his Kingdome saying The Kings of the Gentiles beare rule over them and their great ones exercise Authority upon them but it shall not be so amongst you Such Episcopacy as should have no temporall honour or office to withdraw them from their spirituall function there being appointed in every County one Superintendent or Bishop who with his Assembly of Divines of that County should governe the Church and decree Ecclesiasticall Causes I say such Episcopacy I would rather embrace and submit unto it then a company of ignorant Elders for better it were to be governed with prudence and knowledge then with pride and ignorance two things incident to our
instruct the yonger Levites in the manner of Bishops but they were from the first to be instated in holy Orders and then capable to be Overseers or Bishops as they laboured to get a good degree Now I presume none will be so silly as to follow our new Presbyterian Doctrine which perswade that our government in Church by Lay-Elders is no more but this which our highly beneficed Brethren cry aloud in their Pulpits For know Reader there is no Analogy betwixt the Levites and Lay-Elders For first God appointed the one to serve at his Altar but the other hath no calling thereunto and whereas God appointed Moses to assemble 70 Elaers to beare part of the Government with him that was only in temporall affaires not in Church matters Moses was overburthened with being both King and Priest of which I have shewed you before Secondly these which had any calling or Office to serve in the Temple were instated in holy Orders being consecrated by the imposition of hands of the first borne or sons of Israel the representative Church But these Lay-Elders are not admitted into holy Orders nor are their hands filled with any thing save underhand bribes which the people to prevent their utter ruine are forced to give them to purchase their favour and friendship in this age of persecuting tyrannicall Presbyterian Government so that it is evident to any indifferent judgement that the new created Elders of our dayes have nothing to doe in our Church as spirituall Elders I allowe that there may be in severall States both civill and spirituall Elders but the civill Elders are not to meddle and joyne with spirituall in Church affaires which is the next thing in order I am to treate of There were in Israel saith Mr. Godwine in his Jewish Antiquities fol. 197. two Consistories or Courts of justice the one chiefely for Church businesse the other for the affaires of the Common-wealth The spirituall Consistory termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Synagogue the secular consistory termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Counsell and this civill Court consisted of 71 the odde one being to supply the roome of Moses over the first 70. Mr. Purchas in his Pilgrimage 112 and Galatinus conjectures that in the Counsell that condemned Christ there were the whole number of 71. And as these two Courts were severall in their places remote each from other so were the matters discussable before them of severall and distinct natures and quallities as wee may reade in the 2 of Chron. chapter 19. to the spirituall Court belonged matters spirituall or ceremoniall to the secular Consistory matters civill or criminall so Jehoshaphat reforming many abuses in Church and Commonwealth first appointed throughout all the fenced Cityes of Judah secular Judges to determine criminall causes and at Jerusalem he appointed a spirituall Court consisting of Levites Priests and the chiefe Fathers of Israel Amazia the high Priest being chiefe in causes spirituall for the Lord and Zobediah in causes criminall for the King and this spirituall Court was saith Mr. Godwin the representative Church and had the power of excommunication hence is that saying in Mathew 18.16 dic Ecclesiae This forme of distinct government in matters temporall and spirituall is in most States of Christendome and was till of late the Presbyterian party contrived to bring all into a Chaos imitated by us in England wee having spirituall and temporall Courts The one not being to meddle in any matter which properly laied in the conusance of the other for if they did from the temporall Court was a writ of prohibition issueable to stay the proceedings of the spirituall And if it appeared the matter belonged to the spirituall Court a writ of consultation was directed forth to the spirituall Court to proceede in the businesse so that it is manifest they were not to joyne together in judicature for although before in this treatise I have shewed you that the high Priest did amongst the Jewes sit in the Sanhedrin of Elders it was because he was a man excellently learned in the Talmud for if wee le beleeve Mr. Godwine he tells us that the high Priest sate there necessarily is an errour for he was not elected into that company unlesse he was a man of extraordinary wisdome for he was Judge in the Synagogue and was not ex officio to meddle in the Sanhedrin and for my part I cannot find that ever these consistories sate together in one Assembly unlesse Math. 26.3 when they assembled to conspire the death of Christ verse 5. they consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him and this was decreed by Gods owne will before he having prophesied of his suffrings before them Math. 16.21 That he should goe to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and Chiefe Priests and Scribes In Imitation whereof sure this new set up motley medley consistory of ours counter-company of Clergy and Laiety are joyned in one to contrive a way to crucifie Christs Spouse For never were the Saints of God Christs representative Church when assembled together so scattered broken and persecuted as they are now and like to be worse should this sencelesse tirany continue under the hands of cruell ignorant Elders Things purposely called out of the meanest of the people not capable of any shame or sensible of any unworthy act and so the fitter to put in execution the unjust directions of their imperious Pastor and for the undoing of whom he please must vote to excommunication any one the Parson privately grudges Oh rare Rogues Reader pardon my expression I beleeve I doe not erre in calling them so for they are wandring Jewes and Vagabonds they pretend they had a passe from Geneva to Scotland and so for England with private directions to come by Scotland first not because they should not curse the old Proverb Omne malum ab Aquilone But because comming from Scotland they would finde the better entertainment in England It being at this day peopled with a Scottish generation which like so many larks dare under the Scotch Hobbies in a cowardly feare shroud their carcases in rush-hilles and there lie suffering the Hobby to ruffe them of all their feathers such as those would for feare give them the better entertainement Others for a foolish doting upon their Brethren for they know not what unlesse for betraying their Leidge Lord and Soveraigne having promised him Ayde which they declined for the tempting pieces of 400000. l. for in such a case though he was given up into the hands of his friends yet it was treachery in them will give them the more hearty welcome because they came from so good a people Now would our grave wise and honourable Parliament take seriously into their sage consideration the danger of these people remaining amongst us who are meer enemies to and inconsistent Rulers in our State pure Scotch incendiaries to kindlenew flames amongsts us that the frozen Scot may have another
Lay-Elders and this were agreeable to the word of God the power of the keyes or of Ecclesiasticall Authority being given to the Apostles and their Successors Apostles and Ministers not Lay-Elders I say the power of the keyes being given to all the Apostles in generall not to Peter only as is affirmed by Cajetan in his book de primatu Romanae Ecclesiae cap. 5. and by Jerome in his first booke against Jovinianus quod sine dubio emnes Apostoli a Christo non a Petro susceperunt claves And the Holy Ghost is plaine in it whatsoever yee shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven Math. 18.18 and the 1 of the Corinth 5.4 In the name of our Lord Jseus Christ when yee are gathered together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such an one unto Satan c. And Joh. 20.23 Christ came and stood in the midst of his Disciples after his resurrection and said peace be unto you receive yee the Holy Ghost whose soever sinnes yee remit they are remitted unto them c. All which places of Scripture plainely shew that the keyes were given to all the Apostles in generall though in the 16 of Mathew they were given to Peter alone that is to be understood saith one that Peter was to have power over the rest of the Disciples but as to others their power was all alike And Christ in the 28 of Math. 19. dielegating this power unto the Apostles in generall bid them goe and teach all Nations and verse the 20. Loe I am with you even unto the end of the world he promising his spirit to be with them that is in their succession to the worlds end their Successors though ordained by men having the same power of jurisdiction the Apostles had as Augustine in his first booke de Doctrina Christiana cap 18. plainely affirmes Potestas data Apostolis successoribus non data suit propter meos sed propter Ecclesiaem qua propter perseverante Ecclesia potestas data Apostolis aebet perseverare I have been a little too tedious in this particular but Reader your pardon it was only to shew who have Ecclesiasticall power and are to medle in the Church and it is plaine they are the Apostles and their Successors men lawfully ordained and having a lawfull calling thereunto 1 Tim. 3.7.4.14 by the laying on of hands of the presbytery of the first borne of Israel the representative Church Acts 6.6 Hebrewes 12.23 not rashly 1 Tim. 5.22 but consultly instating such in holy Orders as are blamelesse apt to teach not covetous not a Novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devill 1 Tim. 3. he must upon examination likewise be found to be one which may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers Titus 1.9 and such as these being admitted into holy Orders to teach and instruct others have Apostolicall power in their Assemblies to binde and loose upon earth and so dic Ecclesiae expressed in the 18 of Mathew the 16. is to be understood of men in holy Orders assembled together to binde and loose upon earth 1 Cor. 5.4 as I have already shewed you It doth not follow that every Presbyter in his Parish with his Classe of Elders hath this power it were absurde to alledge it I have shewen you that this power was given to the Apostles in generall and their Successors and the spirituall Consistory must consist of such 1 Cor. 5.4 Now Lay-Elders can no waies be said Successors to the Apostles they neither being instated in holy Orders nor within the rules prescribed by St. Paul to be admitted thereunto unlesse wee must in this topsiturvy time of ours send our grave wise Doctors to the Scoole againe to be taught by silly Lay-Elders which scarce know their A. B. C. not fit to exhort much lesse to convince such and so tread Antipodes to the practise of the Primitive Churches obtruding as Laiety no waies claming from Levi to be Rulers and Governours in our Church such a Laiety as I may justly say are meere Idols in our Church so that wee have wrought a priâ—y worke and brought about a fine Reformation instead of Pictures and Crucifixes in stones and windowes which with much zeale were demolished wee have placed in our Churches walking Images things that represent Elders and which the people worship as Elders but really and truely are none in the litterall sence they are not Elders grave wise and expert as I have shewed you and admit they were yet they are Lay-men not truely Church Officers as spirituall Elders and are not to joyne with spirituall Elders in any Church affaires so that for the people to worship them as Elders or to rise up before them is to commit Idolatry to prevent the occasion of which good King Hezekiah caused the brazen Serpent which was set up for a good end to heale the people that were bitten of Serpents Numbers 21. to be broken in peeces 2 of Kings 18.4 In imitation of which good Act as also in commiseration of the free borne people of England groaning under the Tyranny and slavery of this worse then high Commission Court I hope our happy Parliament who hitherto have shewen themselves ready and willing to redresse grievances will not in this time of necessity crying loude unto them for helpe forget their wonted practise of goodnesse to relieve distressed people and take off the heavy pressures of the Kingdome but will rid the people of this one and only grievance in the Kingdome neither warranted by Gods Law nor the Lawes of this Kingdome any further then it is their pleasures to continue it And they will ingage a multitude of prayers for their prosperous proceedings in all their undertakings the which that they may speedily doe the Almighty God of Heaven who art a present remedy in all distresses and a ready helpe at hand for them that are in misery the only wise God the great Counsellour and ruler of all mens hearts dictate this to his servants in the Parliament that wee may be freed from this intollerable slavery to Gods glory the Parliaments honour and our owne joy and comfort in the Lord Jesus Amen Thus have I briefely couched together some collections and short meditations of mine owne which to the indifferent and not forestalled judgement will give some satisfaction in the businesse I have treated of that these fine feathered Buzzards Lay-Elders deckt with Ecclesiasticall Plumes are meere counterfeits Semiramis Elephants which were but stuffed oxe hides which had a gallant undaunted Army in suspence counterfeit Diamonds not such as Christs Spouse lookt comely with Cant. 1 9. Bolton halfe crownes not lawfully stampt with Caesars Image Scotch twenty-pences the base coyne of a copper Nation not currant English but such as every one may lawfully deny and I am confident the wise and judicious Reader seriously considering this will not with the yong Dotterell Birds be inticed with chaffe to be caught in this net though never so privily laied but will beare off and keepe himselfe free till he see them fall in their owne mischiefes and themselves caught in the share which they have privily laid for others and if unadvisedly through ignorance he hath suffered himselfe to be drawen in to consent unto this government yet he will in time unintangle himselfe from the bondage thereof As for the perverse and obstinate Presbyter which hath wedded the government together with some fat Benefice and cannot divorce himselfe from the one without leaving the other having vowed perpetuall incumbency to himselfe I know his heart is hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin and I cannot diswade him from his Classicall beneficiall cure Let him that is uncleane be uncleane still spoken to obstinate and wilfull sinners for my part I doe not seeke to wash Blackmoores I 'le give him leave at his Sunday dinners and spirituall pig-feasts when none is by but his Lay-Elders to raile against me and would extreamely thanke the pontificall Parson would he but write any thing subscribed with his owne hand in contradiction to what I have here writ that I might have further occasion to anatomize the tyranny of him and his Elders In the meane time what I have heere writ shall suffice hoping shortly to heare that this Government will be abolished so that wee shall neither neede to wrestle any longer against it in words nor with Peter to draw the sword to cut off the High Priest servants care Malcus who had he lived till now would have beene Crop the leader in this teame of Lay-Elders but I say I hope to see these Hobby-Horses unyoked againe before they run to woode with the Church for they must needs goe whom the Devill drives And having loosed them out of their Ecclesiasticall Tresses wee will turne the Jades to their old Rustich drudgeries againe which will be the better for them the sooner it is because they will the more easily come to themselves againe and it cannot be worse for us to see them reclaimed from their wincing conditions and our selves freed from the evill thereof So that I conclude this worke with an earnest desire that this may speedily come to passe and Quo citius to Melius FINIS