those Ceremonies altogether that himselfe had once instituted and did o) What Not any No Sacraments nor other ceremonies not ordaine any in their place then consider I beseech you in your godly wisdomes how much more it behooueth all those Ceremonies ordinances which we e onely in vented by man to be p) They wold bring Cyclopicall ataxie into the church vtterly removed having especially q) False They are as it were the bondes of societie besides other vses for edification no necessarie vse but being rather bones of contention betwixt brethren and children of the same Father Mother and coheyres of the same inheritance as also people of the same Nation and subiects of the same King and Soveraigne Yea consider I beseech you againe the more seriously how necessary it will be thus to make r) If the Suppliants request were granted in the Ceremonies yet would the Refractary Ministers be restles still vntil they had altogether brought in their New Discipline peraduēture more restles then also then euer they were before peace not onely because this peace will be exceedingly beneficiall as hath beene shewed to King and kingdome especially the common aduersaries so now combining themselues against vs but also because it will be a worke most acceptable to God For Blessed are the s Sound and solide Peace will neuer be wrought but by recalling the Refractary Ministers frō Schisme and faction vnto perfect obedience peace makers for they shall be called the children of God Math. 5.9 Resolution of the 16. Argument The matters in question viz. Subscriptiō Ceremonies the strict Obseruation of the Booke and other Conformitie are not of any necessarie vse but are causes of diuision and bones of contention amongst vs. Ergo. They both conveniently may and ought to be taken away ANSWER I. To the Antecedent 1. IF the matters in question betweene vs be but Subscription Ceremonies c. as here the Suppliants ingenuously confesse wherfore then haue they hitherto mainely cried out that their contention was about the Cause of God his Word whole Christ and his Gospell the Ministery thereof and Saluation of the people 2. Albeit we also do not hold Subscription Ceremonies c. to be absolutely necessary to saluation nor to be imposed vpon euery Church for why should not other Churches vse their owne liberty yea and our Church hath power to alter these particulars yet we know that some Ordinances and Ceremonies are euen necessary for the gathering of assemblies establishing of a Church and be as it were the bonds and linkes of society 3. Yea euen these particulars Subscription Ceremonies c. being imposed by the Church and commanded by the Magistrate are necessary to be obserued vnder payne of sinne seeing he that resisteth auctority resisteth the ordinance of God Rom. 13. 4. And that they are things indifferent in themselues and may be vsed without sinne wee haue proued at large in a peculiar booke writtē of that Argument Lib. de Adiaphoris 5. Now that they are become the bones of contētion causes of diuision among vs is very much to be lamēted seeing the free course of the Gospell is somewhat troubled and the common Enimie aduātaged therby But the faulte tests on thē who of meere superstition and grosse ignorance cannot finde in their consciences to embrace the holsome Ordinances and Constitutions of the Church not any way preiudiciall vnto the Gospell nor repugnant vnto the word of God but most agreeable and consonant vnto the same 16. The Errour is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Crimen falsi II. To the Consequence 1. The Antecedent being declared to be false the Consequence cannot be true 2. The Errour is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 XVII ARGVMENT IN the next place that I may heape vp many things together and contriue many arguments into one I do offer to your wise godly considerations the works of God amongst vs his workes of Iustice his works of mercy together with the a) They mistake the Ends as those Gentiles did who offirmed they were plagued because of the Christians contempt of their Gods ends for the which he hath wrought them before vs and the vses which he would haue vs to make of them First therefore be yee pleased to call to minde the late mightie and fearefull pestilence wherby in all places almost of the land but chiefly here in London the Lord made heapes vpon heapes Doth the Lord chastise particular persons that he may teach them in his lawe Psal 94 12. drawe them neerer vnto him and make them more plentifully partakers of his holinesse Heb. 12.10 Yea that they may be more zealous amend Reuel 3.19 And are not these as well the ends why he chastiseth whole States Churches and kingdomes as the b) It is true the Lord correcteth vs for our sinnes the Refractary Ministers schisme is no meane cause of our punishment sinnes of whole States Churches and kingdoms are the causes that first moue him so to chastise them Yea is not this the more to be considered because this rod of God doth still remaine and linger as here in Londō so also in divers other places of the land for doth not the Lord hereby intimate vnto vs that yet that is not performed by vs which he looked for frō vs Againe is it altogether to be neglected that he hath so mittigated this his severity toward vs as he hath And that he hath in part commanded his Angell to put vp his sword and not to smite so many as before he had done And doth not the Lord by smiting vs in such sort threaten that if for all this we shew no better fruites of amendment he will plague vs yet seaven times worse Levit. 26.18 By healing vs also in part doth he not admonish vs that if we do not yet repent but continue still to sinne against him a worse thing shall come vnto vs Ioh. 5.14 O c) This Apostrophe shold haue bin more fitly applyed vnto the Refractary Ministers yee that doe now represent the body of this land consider of this matter What shall I heere speake of our late great danger by the late most bloudie horrible vnnaturall and monstrous conspiracie of the Papists as against all in generall so specially against you that are now essembled in this high Court of Parliament Would the Lord haue every person to prouoke his owne soule to praise the Lord for redeeming his soule from the graue Psa 103.4 And would he not have the whole land specially you that are now assebled in high court of Parliament representing the whole land and in speciall maner delivered to enter into serious consultatiō deliberatiō with your selues what to render vnto the Lord for al his benefits towards you Ps 116.12 Though d) I will not descant on the Suppliants meaning in alleadging this example The wise may consider it Hezekiah hauing recouered health wēt first into the
A Consideration of the Depriued and Silenced Ministers Arguments for their Restitution to the vse and libertie of their Ministerie Exhibited in their late Supplication vnto the Honorable States assembled in this present Parliament By Gabriel Powel Genes 13.8 Let there be no strife I pray thee betweene thee and me for we are Bretheren AT LONDON Printed by G. Eld for Thomas Adams 1606. To the Right Honorable the Lords Spirituall and Temporall the Knights Cittizens and Burgesses of the high Court of Parliament WHereas the Solon or rather the Salomon of this age and Monarchie our most gracious and peerelesse Soueraigne hath according vnto his singular wisdome and sinceritie of heart by all good means laboured the Reformation as of all his Subiects in generall which refuse to serue GOD with vs in such holy exercises of Religion as are already established amongst vs so especially of such our Brethren in the Ministerie as emulating forraine Noveltie refuse to conforme themselues vnto the ancient approued discipline and ceremonies of our Church whom therefore his Highnesse sought the more earnestlie to reclaime as he loued them dearliest by some correction of their obstinacie by Silence and Deprivation according to the laudable custome and sanctions of the Ecclesiasticall Courts in this behalfe Now Right Reuerend and Honorable there are which greatly complaine of this moderate Severitie and both vnfitly and vndutifully terme it by the most hatefull and odious names of Oppression and Crueltie which they do as well in their private talke in their publike Sermons and writings as also in a late Supplicatorie Pamphlet directed vnto your graue Wisdomes wherin the Auctor is not affraide to perswade and prouoke your Honourable Court these are his owne words to intercede with his Maiestie that he would compell the Reverend Prelates of this Church to surcease their rigorous and cruell dealing who haue soberly and temperately carried themselues in the execution of such Decrees and Sentences vpon them as their obstinate Superstition had worthily made them subiect vnto By which boldnesse he taketh occasion so to complaine and crie out as if the Gospell of CHRIST IESVS were banished out of this Kingdome GODS worship prophanely adulterated and our whole Ministerie strangely corrupted to the eternall perdition and destruction of many thousand Soules Which grieuous complainte seeing it cannot be vnknowne to any that liue within these Dominions to be vtterly vniust vntrue I can but wonder with what face he could once dare to present it to the most Reuerend Senate of your most Honorable and iudicious Court. For howsoeuer hee might perswade himselfe that some preiudicate persons would affect his cause and embrace his accusations yet could he never have the least hope so to abuse your Wisdomes who of your owne knowledge are able to convince him of malepert Sycophancie and manifest vntruth Notwithstanding all which this Auctor fearing no rebuke or shame for his vnconscionable dealing as speaking from Cimmerian darkenesse by concealing his name is enboldened to offer it even vnto your Honors to prouoke you to become suppliants and Suâ—ters vnto his excellent Maiesty in behalfe of their cause or else at leÌ„gth to Determine of it your selues before you dissolue your meeting This Discourse such as it is I was commanded by some in auctoritie to peruse briefly to refute which I confesse at first I was very vnwilling to take vpon me notwithstanding I saw the great aduantage I should haue of my BrethereÌ„ in the defence and maintenance of a most iust and holy Quarell For besides that I was exceeding loath to intermedle in these domesticall Controuersies and indeed as Abram said vnto Lot Gen. 13.8 Why should there be strife betweene them and vs for we are Brethren I saw many excellent witts sit quietly at their studies being better furnished and more able to deale in these cases then my selfe who come so farre behinde them in all sufficiencie for this purposse And specially waighing my owne weaknesse I iustly feared to practise this kinde of pleading in so high a Court and before such Iudges whose wisedomes can so easily discerne any which come before them But on the other side when I had throughly weighed the equitie of the Cause the quality of my Vocation the necessitie of the Church and the dutie of obeying the Auctoritie whereby I haue beene enioyned this taske I presently resolued with my selfe to stand in the gap and breach betweene our Bretheren and vs and according to my poore abilitie abilitie to performe a seruice so iust holy dutifull and necessarie albeit I knew my Brethrens affections to be somewhat vnkinde and their pens foule and shamelesse But seeing it lieth not in our power to make them modest and peaceable and that we are called to serue God and his Church which we are bound to do in good and euill report in honour and dishonour in wealth wo in life and death I willingly forgiue them any iniurie that may be done vnto me for this cause and pray our Heauenly Father that of his infinite mercie and loue in Iesus Christ he will not impute it vnto them So being satisfied of all scruples concerning this matter and knowing no sufficient cause to the contrary or other impediment to stay my course I haue not withdrawne my selfe no not for the estimation and reuerence I must needs haue of the grave iudgement of your Honours which I saw I could not escape but haue deemed this Defence to be my most bounden dutie to almighty God to his excellent Maiestie to your honourable Court and to this whole Church State Wherefore I haue presumed by your Honourable leaue and fauour to maintaine against this Plaintiffe to my small power the glory of God in the iust defence of his Church and the honour of the reuerend Prelates in their most lawfull proceedings against such as by their schisme and faction disturbe the quietnesse both of our Church and common-weale Thus having in all submission and humilitie rendred some reason of this my doing vnto your high and Honorable Court I come now to ioine issue with my Antagonist not doubting but that your Honors according vnto your rare Wisedome and speciall loue vnto Iustice as you do in all other Causes depending among brethren so in this will giue equall hearing vnto both parties and without partiality and preiudicate affection will iudge righteous Iudgment that is simplie absolutely according vnto the trueth The Title of the Supplication ⧠Certaine Arguments to perswade and prouoke the most honorable and high court of Parliament now assembled and also all other in any high authority or in any grace and credit with them that are in high authority to promote and aduance the sincere Ministery of the Gospell as also Zealously to speake for the Ministers thereof now Degraded Deprived Silenced or Admonished or afterward like to be called into question for Subscription Ceremonies strict observation of the booke of common prayer or for other
what gratious successe she had notwithstanding the power and might of their chiefe aduersary and his great grace and fauour with the king Did these persons so aduenture themselues to speake before such Kings and did the GOD of heauen giue such gracious successe in their attempts And shall Christian Noblemen and Gentlemen nowe assembled in high Court of Parliament where they may speake and other in other places of authority and grace and fauour with christian Princes feare to speake for the b) Afoule begging of the Question as if the Schisme of a few were-so iust and important a matter as the deliuety of the whole church of God from intended certaine destruction people of God to a christian King whose education from the Cradle in all piety former raigne and gouernement and religious profession hitherto do giue better incouragement God forbid And far be al such feare cowardlinesse from all that professe and know the Cospell of Iesus Christ Yea if there be any so fearefull and cowardly let them seriously consider the second words and message of Mordecai to Ester Thinke not that thou shalt escape in the Kings house more then all the Iewes For if thou holdest thy peace at this time comfort and deliuerance shall appeare to the Iewes out of another place but thou and thy fathers house shall perish Who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdome for such a time Ester 4.13 Let them I say wisely and in the feare of God consider this message to prouoke themselues to the more zeale and christian boldnesse with all humility and modesty Let them not thinke that they by their greatnesse shall procure c) These pure Angels of light forsooth think all the world in darknes besides themselues a better ministery of the Gospell to themselues and their houses then other haue If it bee restrayned from other as of late it d) An impudēt vntruth of a false Prophet They made themselues vncapable of any place in the Ministery hath beene they shall not long enioy more liberty thereof then other Yea if they at this time and in that place where there is such freedome of speech hold their peace and do not with al their gifts and graces of knowledge wisedome zeale compassion modesty and humilitie that may be put forth themselues in furtherance of the e) They meane their Presbitery c sincere ministerie of the Gospell and f) Note this These Suppliants would haue all the Bishops remoued depri priued remouing the lets and impediments thereof surely helpe may come in these things vnto the Church by some other meanes but let them take heede that the Lord of Hostes call them not to an accompt and other reckoning for this their fearefulnesse Further to adde one other example briefely If fearefull Ioseph of Arimathea went boldly to Pilate and asked the body of Iesus And if Nicodemus before as fearefull as the said Ioseph ioyned with him in the honourable buriall thereof when Christ was dead and the whole state beeing enemies vnto him had now preuailed and gotten that which long they had laboured for against him yea when all the Disciples had forsaken him and some of the chiefest Champions had denyed him oh how dishonourable with men and inexcusable and vnanswerable before God shall it bee that so many hauing learned more of Christ then eyther Ioseph and Nicodemus or all the Disciples themselues had then learned and hauing also before boldly professed and promised much for him and liuing in a Kingdome g) If we professe Christ maintaine his Gospell what do they plead for then And wherefore haue they denied it al this while pretending they labour for nothing but the Gospell ministery thereof professing Christ maintayning his Gospell vnder a most gracious religious King and beeing in place of freedome of speech and now also assembled chiefly and principally for that end for what are all statutes for the Common wealth without regard of the Church howe dishonourable I say with men and howe inexcusable and vnanswerable before God and his Sonne Iesus Christ when he shall come to iudgement shall it be that such persons in such a kingdome vnder such a King in such a place at such a time shall not dare to speake for h Lo now the Disciplinarian ataxie for which the Suppliants plead so much is whole Christ I sus Intollerable Blasphemie whole Christ Iesus risen againe from the dead ascended into the heauens there sitting in all power glory and maiesty Yea finally beeing ready to come to iudge both the quicke and the dead both men and Angells Oh therfore ye that lone this Lord Iesus Christ take heede of such fearefulnesse yea feare so to bee afraid of speaking for him for his Gospell for his seruants Resolution of the 5. Argument Many spake earnestly yea and some haue aduentured their liues in behalfe of the Church of God as Nehemiah Hester so also did Ioseph of Arimathea and Nichodemus for Christs body Ergo. So should the high Court of Parliament doe for the Refractary Ministers and for whole Christ ANSWER I. To the Antecedent The zeale and courage of such as haue beene earnest or aduentured their liues and estate in Gods cause for defence of his eternall trueth and Church is certainely much to be commended and imitated to their vtmost power of all such as desire to be called and be indeede members of the Church of God But it would bee wisely cosidered that it were rashnesse and foole-hardinesse for any to aduenture hazard or manifest danger by intermedling in a friuolous and vnnecessarie quarel and much more for such cause as can not be iustified by any probable reason Wherefore I answere II. To the Consequence 1. THis Consequence hath no coherence with the Antecedent For there are great ods betweene these examples proposed and the Refractarie Ministers case I. In the time of Nehemiah the Church of the Iewes having bin long captiuated was in great affliction and reproach and the walles of Ierusalem were broken downe Nehem. 1.3 which was not so in the dayes of their fathers But our Church having by the mercies of God now long continued in prosperous and flourishing estate is God be thanked glorious still yea more now then euer it was in the dayes of our fathers Furthermore Nehemiah after he had wept mourned fasted and prayed Nehem. 1.4 spake vnto King Artashaste an heathen and prophane man and finding grace in his eyes obtayned leaue to build vp Ierusalem Nehem. 2.6 But Sanballat Tobiah Geshem and others deriding and despising the Iewes laboured to hinder the worke but preuayled not Nehem. 2.19 and 4.7.15 Then Nehemiah prayed My God remember thou Tobiah and Sanballat according vnto these their workes Nehem. 6.14 So euen in the very beginning of our religious Soueraignes raigne many worthy Nehemiahs finding grace in his eyes haue moued his Maiestie for the continuance of the prosperous estate of our Church as
conformity Them that honor me I will honor and they that despise me shall be despised 1. Sam. 2.30 He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth Math. 12. â—0 Therefore Watch yee stand fast in the faith quit you like men and be strong 1. Cor. 16.13 To the Christian a) What here is pretended to the Reader in generall is indeed specially intended and directed vnto the Parliament as appeareth towards the latter end of this first Paragraph Reader Honorable Worshipfull c. TOuching these arguments following my humble petition to the b) This pretence vnto the Christian Reader is because they wold not seeme to be petitioners vnto the Parliament Christian reader of whatsoeuer sort and condition is this that they may not be taken as proceeding from one suspecting any religious Noble man or Gentleman of the Parliament house but rather from one as with all thanks to God acknowledging the godly forwardnesse of many in both houses so also earnestly desiring to quicken the zeale of the best and to provoke all other to take the cause heere handled to heart not onely as the cause of poore distressed men but as the cause of God yea to accompt it also the c) The Suppliants make the profession of the Gospell all Religion to consist in refusing cap surplice crosse c Great crie little wooll maine cause of the whole land of your selues and all your posteritie and therefore to preferre the same according to the dayly most godly prayer of your selues in your house of Parliament before al other causes whatsoeuer either concerning any particular persons or the whole common wealth Whereas I haue perswaded them to whom I haue directed these reasons to vse all meanes they may for the doing of any good I desire that my wordes may not be vncharitablie construed of any other meanes then such as are sutable to the cause viz. of good honest lawfull peaceable and agreeable to euery mans calling The like charitable construction I craue of any other wordes which some perhaps may maliciously wrest against my selfe and the cause Whereas also some may seeme to pretend feare of his most excellent Maiesties d) As if his Maiesty wold be displeased if any promoted a religious or honest cause A malepert presumptuous if not disloyal Censure displeasure to hinder their zeale and courage such I intreat to consider how dishonourable if not disloyall it is in good causes to feare the displeasure of a Prince who besides his most Christian education from his infancy hath e) I know not whereto all his whole paragraph tenddeth if the Suppliants deeme not his Maiesty to haue forsaken his first loue and to haue reuolted from Religion at least in shevv for a time long time publikly giuen so many worthy testimonies of his piety and godlinesse Loue thinketh no evill of any much lesse of such a Christian Prince It beleeueth all and hopeth all of euery brother much more of a religious King It is the glory of a King not only to finde out the secrets of other but also sometime to conceale his own Therfore it is not meete by preseÌ„t words or deedes whereof sometime there may bee a deepe reason alwaies to iudge of the mind Iehu pretended one thing when he proclaimed a sacrifice for Baal but hee intended another Ioseph a long time dealt roughly both in word and deede with his brethren yet in the end he shewed himselfe most louing and kinde vnto them Our Sauiour for the triall of the woman of Canaan seemed a long time to repel her sute for her daughter first by silence 2. by a sharpe reprehension of his disciples petitioning in her behalfe and 3. by a more sharp answer to her selfe At the last notwithstanding he did most graciously open the treasures of his rich compassion towards her and sent her away with aboundant comfort Constantius the Father of Constantine the Great as Eusebius reporteth lib. 1. de vita Constantini cap. 11. at his first entrance into the Empire made solemne proclamation that all which f) A malicious vncharitable vnchristian allegation to be applied vnto the whole state that loyally obey his Maiesty especially his Nobles and Seruants See the Answer serued him in his court should either worship Devills after the manner of the Heathen or giue ouer their places of dignity and honour and so to be banished from his court But by this meanes when he had tryed them that were faithfull then to the farre greater honour of his Princely wisedome and piety than if he had plainely and simply at the first professed the Christian religion He disgraced those that had so reuolted from God and rebuked them with a most Princely and religious rebuke saying That they were Traytors to GOD and vnworthy the seruice of an Emperour For how quoth he can they keepe faith vnuiolate towards the Emperour which are manifestly conuinced to be vnfaithfull to the most excellent and mighty God On the contrarie those that for conscience had forsakeÌ„ their places and giuen ouer their honors he most highly graced as those that would be faithfull to the Emperour because they had beene so vnto God yea he pronounced them worthy to be reckoned among the chiefe and principall friends of the Emperour and to be worthily much more esteemed then Treasuryes full of great riches Therefore also he preferred some of them to speciall attendance vpon his owne person and other some hee aduanced to the chiefe gouernement of the Empire vnder himselfe I leaue the g) For if they had particularly applyed these things their malice had bin the more manifest application of these things Onely I wish such consideration of them that men may not bee rash vpon any supposed apparences to iudge Christian Princes especially who in former times haue many wayes testified their sincere religion yea I wish lesse censuring h) No bolder and securer censurers of al sorts and degrees of men vnder the cope of heauen then these singular and selfe conceipted Refractaries of them and more earnest praying for them in secret before him that seeeth in secret and hath promised to reward openly yea as Dauid blessed the Lord God of Israell and the counsell of Abigail and Abigail her selfe for keeping him from sheading innocent blood 1. Sam. 25.32 c. so to omit what i) How prodigall they are of the Kings thankes thankes you may haue from his excellent Maiesty who also knoweth how euen they that for the present do most resist the matters hereafter pleaded for will in the end blesse God and your counsell and your selues for staying them from their proceeding in their hard courses against k) An euident slander of the State as if notorious manifest Schisme were the Ministery of the Gospell the ministery of the Gospell and the saluation of the people depending thereupon Finally albeit I could haue added many other arguments
and singular Archbishops and Bishops and every of their Chancellours Commissaries Archdeacons and other Ordinaries having any peculiar Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall shall have full power and auctoritie by vertue of this Acte aswell to enquire which they may do ex Officio in their visitations Synods and elsewhere within their Iurisdiction at any other time or place to take accusations and informations of all and of every the things above mentioned touching the Booke of Common prayer c. done committed or perpetrated within the limits of their Iurisdictions and auctoritie and to punish the same by admonition excommunication sequestration or DEPRIVATION and other censures and processe in like forme as heretofore hath beene vsed in like cases by the Queenes Ecclesiasticall Lawes 7. Concerning the Oath ex Officio and many of the late Canons and other things if the Suppliants had obiected any thing against them they should haue beene considered Eadem enim facilitate reijcitur quod sine ratione affirmatur 8. The Errour is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IX ARGVMENT MAy it further please them to whom this present writing is directed to call to minde the promises made to them that shew any kindnesse to any of the Children of God and disciples of Christ especially to any Prophet in the name of a Prophet Mat. 10.41 As also to consider that God is not vnrighteous that he should forget such workes and labour of loue Heb. 6.10 but that he is faithful that hath promised Heb. 10.23 and that God is not as man that he should lie neither as the sonne of man that he should repent hath he said it shal not he do it and hath he spoken shall not he accomplish it Num. 23.19 He that made Saule though vnnatural to his own children 1. Sam. 14.49 and a cruell murderer of the Priests of the Lord. 1. Sam. 22.18 to shew mercy to the Kenits as it were the Rocke to yeeld water 1. Sam. 15.6 for the kindnesse of Iethro otherwise called Keni Iudg. 1.16 towards the Israelites in giuing onely good counsell to Moses for the better outward governmeÌ„t of the Israelites 400. yeares before Exod. 18.17 Shall he forget the kindnesse that shall bee shewed to the a) Ministers are to be rewarded as they be such and in their Office but not as they be schismatikes and disturbers of the peace of the Church Ministers of the Gospell and to the people committed vnto them and depending vpon them for the foode and saluation of their soules Was the kindnesse of the Shunamite towards one prophet Elisha plentifully recompenced 1. by the gift of a Sonne after long barrennes 2. by restoring her said sonne to life being dead 2. Kings 4.16.3 by forewarning her of a famine to come and admonishing her to provide for her selfe Chap. 8.1.4 by directing her by God his gratious providence to come with petition to the King for restitution of her lands that had beene seised in her absence to the kings vse at that very instant when Gehazi was telling the King the great acts of his M. Elisha and particularly how he had raised this womans son froÌ„ death to life by which her comming in such a season shee presently obtayned not only her lands but also al the meane profites that in time of her peregrination had beene taken by the Kings receiver was I say such little kindnesse of this woman to one prophet so plentifully recompensed and shall not the favour that is shewed to many Ministers of the Gospell the least wherof for b) Arcadian wisdom The place is to be vnderstood not in regard of the Office but in respect of the cleare knowledge that they should haue of Christ after his Resurrection office is greater then Iohn the Baptist who notwithstanding was greater then any prophet and then whom there was not a greater among the sonnes begotten of women Math. 11.9 shall not I say such kindnesse towards such Ministers as are in c) How great I pray you so great reckoning with God be remembred and rewarded Resolution of the 9. Argument God doth ever plentifully recompence any kindnesse shewed vnto his Children specially vnto the Ministers and Disciples of Christ Ergo The high Court of Parliament ought to shew kindnesse vnto the Refractarie Ministers ANSWER To the Consequence 1. OVr Sauiour saith He that receiueth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall receiue a Prophets reward Math. 10.41 So shall he also that doth any kindnesse vnto a Minister as he is a Minister But if a Minister do otherwise then he ought as these Refractaries do what kindnesse then ought such to haue done vnto them 2. Let the Refractarie Ministers dutifully serue GOD and his Church in their diligent and humble obedience in the worke of their vocation and then let them supplicate for kindnesse to be shewed vnto them 3. The Errour is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 X. ARGVMENT ON the contrary consider who hath said Touch not mine annointed and doe a) Well My Prophets not false or schismaticall Prophets my Prophets no harme Psal 105.15 As also what is threatned to theÌ„ that doe the least harme to the least of the childreÌ„ of God even in their outward states Yea what God commanded to be written against the Amalekites sware to performe onely for resisting his people in their iourney towards the earthly Canaan which was but a type of the heavenly Exod. 17.14.15 And what also afterward even 400. yeares after the premises he caused to be executed by Saule against them without any pity or compassion towards any man woman infant or suckling Oxe Sheep Cattell or Asse 1. Sam. 15.3 Was it so hainous before the Lord to hinder his people in their iourney towards the earthly Canaan and shall it be a light thing with men now not to b) They caÌ„not be said to farther the Elect that wilfully forsake the Ministery of the Gospel as the Refractaryes do further the elect in their meanes of and in their iourney vnto the heavenly Canaan typically prefigured by that earthly If the Lord did also sweare by the excellencie of Iacob that surely he would never forget the crueltie that was exercised by the rich men of Iudea against the poore of the land in their outward state yea that the very land should tremble and that every one should mourne that dwelled therin c. for the said sinne Amos 8.7 Will the same Lord then which is alwayes the same in Iustice as well as in mercy lightly passe by any c) They may be said to bee Cruel towards the soules of mâ—â— that for little or no cause leaue then diligent and honest calling in the Ministery of the Gospell cruelty towards the soules of his people Let not the states assembled in this High Court of Parliament or in any place of auctoritie grace and fauour where their word spoken in his place may be like vnto Apples of golde with pictures of silver
againe like to be of any other Parliament Ergo. They ought to do good now by restoring the Deprived and Silenced Ministers ANSWER 1. BVt it hath not beene yet proued that to restore the Refractarie Ministers is to doe Good and not rather to doe hurt and to sinne by being cause of nourishing faction and dissention in the Church 2. The Errours be 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IV. REASON The Refractarie Ministers would be very glad if they were comforted restored and let alone Ergo. They ought so to be ANSWER SO would all Schismatiques Heretiques Papists Atheists yea all malefactors murtherers theeues cut purses be very glad if they were comforted deliuered and let alone V. REASON The House of Parliament by their mercy shewed towards the Refractarie Ministers shall not onely treasure vp comfort vnto themselues against the day of their death but shall also make their olde Age the more honourable and their names memorable amongst all posteritie Ergo. They ought so to do ANSWER 1. IF by Mercy they meane their reclaiming from Schisme and faction I grant the whole 2. But if they meane their Restoring againe they continuing still the same men they are now then is the Antecedent a foule begging of the Question and the Argument inconsequent 3. For contrariwise it may be concluded The House of Parliament by restoring Schismaticall Ministers to disquiet the peace of the Church shall not onely attract guilt and remorse of conscience but also preiudice their honourable Age and make their names reproachfull amongst all posteritie VI. REASON As Iael was blessed aboue other women dwelling in tents for driving a nayle into Siseraes head So should these Parliament Men be blessed aboue many former if they vtterly tooke away all the Whore of Romes ornaments yet remayning c. Ergo. They ought to do so ANSWER 1. THe instance is altogither different For Sisera was a speciall enemie of the Children of Israel and of the Church of God Iudg. 4.2 But the Ornaments the Suppliants speake of are the good Creatures of God hauing no hurt or ill in them 2. Neither were the Popish idolatrous Priestes ever decked with our Ornaments neither are they now 3. Neither were our Ornaments ever worshipped or abused to Idolatrie neither are they yet 4. Neither if they had beene is it absolutely necessarie to destroy the Substance of them togither with the abuse but the abuse is to be abolished and the true vse restored The reasons hereof and cautions to be vsed in this point I haue layde downe in another place Chap. 11. Lib. de Adiaph 5. The Errour is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 XVII ARGVMENT TO conclude therefore whilst ye haue time and whilest it is called to day feare that ye shal never hereafter haue the like time and oportunitie that now ye haue and therefore as Bathsheba said to her most princely sonne Lemuell Open thy mouth for the dumme and in the cause of all the children of destruction open thy mouth iudge righteously and iudge the afflicted and the poore Pro. 31.8.9 So say I to all them that by their place may any way do good to the Church of God and to any afflicted and poore members thereof Yea as the said Queene Bathsheba saith before giue yee strong drinke to him that is ready to perish and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart that he may drinke and forget his povertie and remember his miserie no more Pro. 31.6.7 So I doe wish all them that are of any authoritie or in any place of grace and favour especially this present high Court of Parliament to giue a plentiful boll of the strong drinke of their comfortable favour yea an whole flagon ful of the wine of their grace that they that are now poore and haue bin long heavy harted for the a) Beging of the Question Let the suppliants looke into themselues and bevvaile the corruptions they shall see there corruptiōs ruins of Syon that in the greif of their hearts are ready to perish may drink so deeply therof that they may forget their poverty and remēber their misery no more Iob said that he had not contēned the iudgmēt of his servāt neither of his maide when they contēded with him Iob. 31.13 How much lesse thē is the b) Impudent begging the Question iudgment of the ministers of the gospel yea of the mother 06 of vs al the Church of God yea of God himself of Christ Iesus of the holy Angels of our selues our posterity finally of king and kingdom as hath bin shewed to be neglected As Hamā said of the Iewes to Ahashuerosh that they were a people scattered dispersed among the people in al provinces of his kingdome having lawes divers from all people and not observing the Kings lawes and that therfore it was not for the Kings profite to suffer thē Ester 3.8 So I am not ignorant that these ministers of the Gospell of whom I haue now in these Arguments made so often mention are c And that iustly if you meane the state of the Church charged as enimies to the state perturbers of the Church seditious schismaticall c. But if it were lawfull and free for these men to expostulate with the state touching the former matters as David did with the Lords annoynted Saule they might not onely say with David Wherefore do ye giue eare to mens words that say behold David seeketh evill against you 1. Sam. 24.10 But they might also plead their innocency as David doth his verse 12. Vnderstand and see that there is neither evil nor wickednesse in vs neither haue wee sinned against you But in the meane time this they may boldly say that as the former hath bin an old accusation in all ages even against the best friends of the Church and state so it is answered by the D. King in his 42. lecture vpon Ionas pag. 171. out of Augustine that such accusations are rather by confiction then by conviction And therefore as our most gratious Queene of most happie memory Queene Elizabeth before she was Queene in her distresse in the dayes of Queene Mary wrot with her Diamond in a glasse window at Woodstocke Much suspected by me Nothing proved can be Even d Not so so may these men both speake and write the same of themselues As for such e An vniust calumnie accusers as are alwayes provoking all men especially Princes and Nobles against them I wish them to take heed of that fearefull cursse wherwith f As if Dauids case and the Schismaticall Ministers were the same David cursed those children of men before the Lord that had sturred vp Saule against him and that by that meanes had cast him out from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord saying go serue other Gods 1 Sam 26.19 For my part I pray that God may giue them a better minde that so