and abstracting from the present circumstances since this would open a flood-gate for all manner of perjury As for that limitation presented with an especially as the main one anent the Oaths hindering the greater good to which we were preoblidged which this man foists in to make way for his nauseating repetition anent the Magistrats power it may be alledged that it is not consistent with it self for if we stood Preobliged to this greater good it renders the Oath ab initio null for the same cause on which it is loosed upon the prospect of that greater good The greater obligation as he sayes still overruling the lesser ane Oath in prejudice of a greater obligation and contradictorie therto can lay on no obligation for so we might be under contradictorie obligations according to his way of reasoning about the Magistrats power I will have mercie and not sacrifice is one of his illustrating instances So that the obligation of the Oath according to his reasoning in this matter was like unto this inverted rule viz. Sacrifice and not mercie and being such ab initio it could not bind I know as Dr Sand. saith that which is abstractedly and simplicer a greater good may hic nunc and in such a complex case become the lesser consideratis considerandis all circumstances taken in But this he admits not for he adds unto the known rule anent the greater and certain good in its time and circumstances that other limitation anent the vower his being preobliged unto it which can no otherwise be understood then in opposition to the obligation of the vow unless this his added limitation be redundant or non-sense But 2dly let us come to the assumption what is that greater good attainable in breaking this Oath and vow rather then in keeping it This he tells us is obedience to authority that 's the panacea curing allwounds the universall topick and primum mobile avoiding of Schisme Ministers serving God in the work of the ministry to which they are called these he sayes are greater and better goods then adhering to the Oath in a thing indifferent Then he adds that Ministers should consider whither is be better to lay aside their Oath then their Ministerie Especiallie ane Oath about a thing indifferent and incapacitat or do that which by consequence incapacitates them for the Ministerie that Ministers think that by their Oath they are obliged not to continue in their stations as matters now stand and yet divines hold that the lesser duty gives place to the greater as David did eat the shew bread rather then starve Paul and those with him did cast their goods into the sea c. In Answer to this we need not much enlarge it being nothing but what is upon the matter already objected and answered 1. If the Oath for its matter contain important duties falling under divine commands and unalterable obligations if Prelacie be contrary unto divine prescriptions in point of Government the disowning of it consequently be a standing necessarie duty which we do suppose and have proved and he cannot disprove then this man himself will grant that all this tatle about the greater good in breaking the Oath is to no purpose 2ly say prelacie were but indifferent yet upon the supposall of the greater expediencie of Presbyterian Government for this Church then Prelacie and upon the certain supposition of all the Rulers engadgement in this Oath and vow to God against it the first of which suppositions he hath not disproved and the 2d he cannot deny it is certain that both Rulers and Ruled their keeping the Oath is a far greater more certain good then their breaking it 3ly let Dr Sand. limitation here again come in viz. That the Oath is not precisely loosed because it seems to contradict a greater good unless Other circumstances do also occurr which either evince it to be unlawfull or not oblidging and that it s not true that in everie case we are bound to do what is best that is unless omnibus pensâ—…is and caeteris Paribus all circumstances duelie pondered it be found best and then the Question is whither it were best for Rulers or ruled to keep this Oath for these great ends which he mentions than to break it Whither it be a greater good to keep a Lawfull Oath though I suffer under authoritie levelling against it or break it to please men or whither I shall chuse the evill of suffering or sinning for he hath not yet proved that the interposing of the Rulers meer Law or authoritie will make this Oath unlawfull we have shewed that Casuists mantain the Contrary Whither peace with God be a greater good in keeping his Covenant then peace with men and with the world in breaking it This Question was soon resolved with Elias The children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant and I onlie am left c. 4ly This greater good he acknowledges must be such as is no Otherwise attâ—…inable then by breaking the Oath Hence the Question will be whither the Gospel might not have been preached schisme avoided and God served in the Ministerie of the word by keeping this Oath and Covenant with him This man will come to a great height of impudence if he deny this Nay if he deny that this good might have been thus beter obtain'd He alledges we have now a great Schisme by Presbyterian Ministers departing from their party and he will not deny that many excellent preachers are Laid aside the Magistraâ—… is displeas'd and disobeyed all filled with confusion and disorder poperie like to creep in c. Now had not all this been eshewed by keeping our Covenant with God The gospel had been preached by Presbyterian Ministâ—…rs and he will not deny that all his party of Conformists too had keeped their ownstations this schisme had been avoided and the Magistrat obeyed while commanding for God So that this rule everie way makes against him And in stead of obtaining a greater good by breach of Covenant we have lost the greatest good the gospel and peace with God and incurred much sin and miserie I know he will say that he speaks upon the suposal of the Rulers disowning the Oath and Establishing prelacie But then I urge him thus 1. Since he cannot but grant that the keeping of the Oath or holding fast Presbyterian government would have had the forementioned advantages following upon it shall the meer pleasure of the Rulers cast the ballance and disprove its native tendencie sua natura towards the formentioned effects the matter of the Oath is still of it self or of its own nature more productive of these good effects Consequently the keeping is to be preferd to breaking of it which is attended with evils counterballancing these apparent good effects which he imagins to attend this breach 2ly if the Oath cannot be commuted or changed but for a greater good and all these good effects mentioned might have been better more
and fire going out of it self to devour its own fruit This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation Fiftly Thou mayest in the perusal of this reply discover somthing also of light arising in darknesse the strength and solidity of our principles demonstrate in the plain and easy repulse of these assalliants The indigested chattered congeries of their new notions do appear but meer vanity a deceitfull nothing when levelled against these great truths which wee contend for notwithstanding of all their clamorous boasting as the threatning billowes having made a waterish battery upon the rock fall off again in empty froath so that we may see it accompliâ—… of our cause and principles which 〈◊〉 Jobs hope as to the issue of his troubles â—…en they are tryed they come forth as â—…ld And our adversaries light empty â—…akets cannot by thousands of degrees counterpoise them when both are laid together in the even Scripture Ballances Truth under all stroakes Virescit Vulnere the bruising of it by dispures diffuses it scent and makes it as the breaking of that Alabaster box did the oyntment the more fragrant Thus our holy wise God brings meat out of the eater it s the Priviledge of Truth in relation to perverse disputes against it which was promised to Zion when enemies were gathered together that it doth arise thresh them The Horns of this honourable cause are found horns of Iron and its hooves brasse it can thresh as it hath done before even the mountains For what are they before Zerubbabel and sift and fann themas dust This is a signal token for good in the dark and cloudy day that these great truths which are now become the Shibboleth the speciall object of our Testimony and adherence thereunto the charaâ—… stick of the Lambs followers are coâ—… firmed and shining in a heart engadâ—… ing beauty if we hold fast this Testimoâ—… wee are sure to come off victorious to gâ—… the white stone the new name If wee quit and cast off this fortifying girdle of Truth we will succumb and be written in the dust not among the living in Jerusalem For the manner and Method of this reply it will I suppose be found very suitable to the scope The language is plain and accommodat to polemicks which do reject all extravagant ornaments of speech The Informers Arguments are proposed vivida vegeta ad amissim oft times verbatim and nothing of seeming strength or nerves in his reasoning declined but fully weighed and examined The Presbyterian Arguments which he hath disguised are presented and offered in their genuine strength and fully improven against him Wherin this trifler is called to the orders and his tergiversation check't and made appear The state of every one of these questions is likewayes proposed and Arguments drawen â—…th thereupon which do abundantly â—…tify the Presbyterian cause and Princiâ—…s and in a great measure obviat all his Exceptions and this in the beginning of every Dialogue before any formall encounter with him So that if any shall endeavour again to underprop this tottering wall and to draw this saw back again they must be tyed to the same Methode weighing all that is offered in the sound ballances of Scripture and reason and not in such a faint superficiall dispute-deserting Methode as the Answer to the Dialogues betwixt the Conformist and Non-conformists hath been plyed with whose replyer doth but like the dogs at Nilus leape here there superficially thus measuring out the dimensions of the whole book with litle or nothing of a formall encounter with the Answerer his Arguments and reasons Some things there are that do require a litle touch of Apology if any quarrel the prolixity 't is easily granted that a sufficient answer might have been contracted into far lesse bounds yet as every writers head or hand is not so skilful as to put ane Iliad into a nut so every reaâ—… hath not the tooth to crack that nut maâ—… row is nauseating rather then nourishing to many stomaks And as the stronger coâ—… densed light of the Sun whither in its direct or refracted beams hurts weaker eyes so all eyes are not for the small print of the Laconick stile nor can every judgement readily digest too much epitomized arguings especially in such subjects wherein the spissitude and variety of the matter requires a more dilated stile and method The fair stating of these great points now the axletree about which our religious differences are turn'd the giving of light unto them by solid Arguments may well bear the charge of some little paines in reading in order to satisfaction therein and the man is a wretched miser who would bâ—… scant as to the affording of time and diligence in this endeavour If any desiderat a more particular Examen of the Testimonies of the Fathers and some other Authors cited by the Informer there are several grounds which may take off this exception First since upon both sides it is professedly agreed at the scripture is the only judge in this â—…bate and since both parties now conâ—…nding as also the fathers themselves and all sound Christians have professed to subscribe ane absolute appeal to this judge in matters of religion whatever deviations from this rule and profession this man and his fellowes are guilty of in their arguings and pleadings especially in this point matters I say standing thus in this debate among professed Protestants who are disputing from scripture certainly a critical scanning of or litigiouscon test about the sense ofevery humanewriter they must in their principles acknowledge to be but a digladiation de lana capâ—…ina a spending of money for that which is not bread When any disputant hath with much critical travel among the fathers brought home their suffrage to his cause or by the same diligence taken it out of an adversaryes hand as it were with his sword and this bow what is all the victory a humane testimony brought to fortify a divine truth which was before strong and impregnable in its own light and authority and a testimony apt to a wiredâ—… by a subtiler Critick to a different or contrary sense Next the scriptures decision in this debat being as it is hoped convincingly made appear and the chief testimonies of fathers for our cause vindicated against this adversary no rational or ingenuous reader will judge it expedient after the scripture decision is made appear and the testimonies of eminent fathers also and the adversaryes contrary humane testimonyes as to the main dispelled to pursue every stragling citation Thirdly 't is evinced that as upon the one hand all his testimonyes upon the point of Prelacy though admitted do but amount to demonstrat the factum which is not the question and not all the Ius which only is so upon the other hand they are as far short of reaching any patrociny to the present Diocesian Erastian Prelat as the Pigmees arme is to fetch down Ulysses helmet Now what superfluous wast of time
his approbation and have the cloud of his glorious presence created upon it The golden preface giving a lustre beauty unto the prophets message was thus saith the lord but these mens ordinary Anthem is thus saith the Law presenting their dishes under that leaden cover Our new Ashodits have lost the language of Canaan or at best do but like those mungrels mentioned by Nehemia speak half the Jewes language half of ashdod debasing thus the golden rule by a heterogenens mixtur of human testimonies principles O How is our wine mixt with Water the beauty of the virgin Daughter of Zion defaced That Gebal Ammon Amalek such like do inâ—…est take crafty councel against Gods Church is nothing so amazing or dangerous as when there is a conspiracy of her prophets within her walls 'T is a great question whither these mens malice in wounding our Church and taking away her vail while pretending to act the guardians and watchmen or their treachery in superficial flight healing of her wound will be found the deepest challenge when the great shepherd comes to plead with them But sure both the one and the other will make make up a dreadfull impeacement Who ever saw this house of God in our married land in its pristine glory integrity can but mourn over the present desolation These gates once called praise have now desolation set upon their threshold These walls once called salvation are laid in dust rubbish The joyfull sound and voice of the turtle echoed with the singing of birds and vigorus heart motions towards the glorious bridgroom are turned into the harsh sound of enemies roarings and direfull threats crying raze it raze it to the foundation To see Bethel turned Bethaven and men yea pretended builders lifting up axes not upon the thick trees to advance the building of the house but upon the carved work to destroy it may make ane impression of sorrow upon any heart but that of adamant Israel wept at the sad newes of Gods refusing to go with them unto the promised land but especialy when they were brought back from the very borders of Canaan for their disobedience and unbelief doomed to return and die in the wildernes spending the remainder of their dayes and yeares in vanity and trouble 'T is long since the glorious cloud is withdrawn to the threshold of our sanctuary and the darke not the auspicius light some side turned unto us yet who are following the glory who are found crying out a penitent Ichabod over its departing The building was so far advanced that we were exâ—…pecting to see the headston brought forth with shoutings and acclamations of grace grace to see the glorius accomplishment of a work of reformation in Britaine and Ireland but ah we are brought back from the borders of this great hope of a compleated reformation into this wilderness of the must dismall desolation that ever the work of God hath been exposed unto since the foundation thereof was laid What means the heat of this great anger and where will it issue Afire is kindled in his anger afire of angry Jealousie but shall it burn for ever is there none to make up the breach and stand in the gap Ezekiel saw the healing waters issuing from the temple and upon a desirable auspicius advanc first to the ankles then the knees then to the loins and at laâ—… 〈◊〉 great river But now the waters of ouâ—… Mara the Serpents flood of errour caâ—… out after the fleeing Woman and of prophanity flowing from our defiled sanctuary have been long flowing apace are become of a prodigious grouth Our Presbyterian Church-judicatories are not straitnedonly bytheinvasion of the ancient Prostasie or fixed moderator which cost K. James some pains to effectuat but their root must be plucked up either as Presbyterian or as Ecclesiastick courts all their decisive power contracted into a Prelats ipse dixit and all his pretended spiritual authority resolving into the sic volo of a civil papacy regulable by it self onely no superiour rule How deeply we have drunk of the whoors cup and what a deluge of monstruous wickedness hath overwelmd us since this idol of jealousiewas set up ought rather to be weept over then written Thenameof our Church is nomore Iehova Shamma the Lord is there nay that glorious motto is turned unto the dolefull inscription of Lo-ammi Lo-ruhama not any people not having obtained mercy And which is strange this monstruous Dagon of Erastian Prelacy like a Medusa hath charmd the generation into ane amazing stupidity yea the most unto an adoration of it though it hath oftner then once faln before Gods Ark and its head and hands have been cutt off upon the threshold of the sanctuary a convincing proof that it is not a God But that it might not want the dedication and adoration of its fellow set up in the plain of Dura it hath been attended with the menacing Heralds voice to you it is commanded and who Worships not c And the melodious Harmony of charming musitians The quills of our Prelatick pleaders and Pamphleters have struke up their best notes and measures to gain the designe But the Menaces and the Idols golden mettal have far ut done the musitians in persuading whose treeples of old of late have met with such baffling Contra's that the sagacius eare is not fond of ther shril sounds Which have long since krakt the strings of our sound Protestant principles For this late Pamphleter who hath drest up minc't-meat of soom old fragmens to please childish Pallats I suppose few or none who have pierc't into the bowels of our present controversies have judged him so considerable as to deserve a formal encounter there being nothing which he or any of our late Scriblers hath offered but what is already sufficiently answered So that these litle toying mean Dialogues were like to passe along as securely in their own want of worth as Bessus in the Comedy Yet in one point or two I cannot but commend him first that the substance of this book answers its inscription of the differences of the time these 3 points being indeed the chief cardines of our present differences in which had he satisfyed all the Presbyterian ar-arguments he had done much to cut the sinnews of their cause But how far are we at a losse in this Expectation when the book is lookt over not one of these great questions fairly stated scarce one Argument of Presbyterians so much as fairly proposed but enfeebled by silly disguises and the answers to them such poor and ridiculous evasions as if he had intended in this discovry of the weaknes of his cause to proselyt his Readers into Presbyterians if they were not such before in stead of weakning that party by this new assault the great point of Erastianism not so much as once toucht And so notwithstanding of all his defence of the Diocesian Bishop the Erastian Bishop Lying opene to
themselves into which wee hopâ—… will be aboundantly clear to the understanding peruser of what I have offered upon that head and the state of the question as It is exhibited how clear and full our confessions and principles are in asserting the due right of Magistracy as well as of a true Gospel Ministry and how harmoniously wee join to the confessions of all the Reformed Churches herein is sufficiently notour to the unbyassed and judicious and consequently that no precipitations or strayings from the scripture path upon these heads can be charged upon our cause and principles Great and manifold have been the assaults of Satan upon this poor Church and reproaches of that grand accuser of the brethren upon our Reformation and the faithful promoters thereof And the plowers have long plowed upon her back and enemyes of all sorts have many time afflicted her from her youth O that our provoked jealous God would shew us wherefore he contends and give both Ministers and People a heart-affecting sight and sense of the true grounds of this controversy and shew unto us our transgressions wherein wee have exceeded and provoked him thus to lengthen out our desolation that he would excite Ministers to make full proof of their ministry and open up to them an effectual door and engadge his people to a due and suitable subjection to their Ministry that this word might run swiftly and this sword of the Lord eut the cords of the wicked that wee were all excited to encompase his throne with strong crying and tears in order to the returning of the Ecclipsed departing glory that this great Shepherd Israel would shew himself the only wise of God and the only Potentate in dissappointing and crushing the crafty cruel stratagems and designes of Satan now acting both the roaring lyon and subtile old Serpent and of his grand Lieutenant Antichrist and his Artizans That this our Isle upon which the â—…ay-spring from on high did early shinâ—… and which did early wait for his Lawâ—… who is Zions great Lawgiver was recâ—… vered from Popish darknesse and froâ—… decayes after the times of Reformation may have a restoring healing visit and being made a maried land may be upon this ground a land of desires That Christs Tabernacle now fallen down may be rear'd up according to the pattern and planted among us untill his glotious appearance to accomplish his Churches warfare and to make up his jewells This is the Expectation of the prisoners of hope and in this expectation let us turn in to the strong hold even to his name which is a strong tower and go on in his strentgh keeping his good way which hath alwayes been strenth unto the upright Let us contend for the faith once delivered to the saints and be stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord since he comes quickly who is our head and judge and his reward is with him so that neither our labour nor suffering shall be in vain in the Lord. The Contents FIRST PART Chap. 1. page 2. THat the prelat now established in this Church is both Diocesian and Erastian cleared By the present standing acts hereanent page 2 3. A twofold state of the question proponed accordingly Arguments from Scripture against the Diocesian Prelat as a pretended Church officer such as 1. appropriating the term Episcopus common to all Pastors to a Prelat The absu diâ—…y of this discovered Calvines remarkeable Testimony on Titus 1 7. page 4. 2 making it relate to Pastors which hath the flock for its immediat object Cleared from 1 Pet. 5 3. Invading and nulling the Authority allowed to Presbyters The matter of fact cleared from the principles of Prelatists and the absurdity hereof from severall Scripture grounds page 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. 4. Impeaching Christs Kingly office as head of his Church and the perfection of his word in obtruding an officer on his Church of a different mould from those described and allowed by him cleared from the nature of the prelats office and some Scripture grounds page 13 14 15. Chap. 2. page 16. Some more Arguments against the Diocesian Prelat that his office debases the acts and exercise of the power of order cleared from the matter of fact and Severall Scripture grounds page 16 17 18. It maimes and diversifies the Pastorall office by Anti-Scripturall new invented degrees thereof cleared at large page 19 〈◊〉 His office many wayes contrare to thevery nature 〈◊〉 the gospell Church Government cleard also at largâ—… from the nature of the Prelats office and several Scripture grounds page 21 22 23 24. Cap. 3 page 25. The Diocesian Bishops office debases extraordinary offices in consounding them with ordinary cleared from the Scripture-account of these extraordinary offices and the nature of the Prelats office according to the principles and pleading of the Episcopall party Pag 25 26 27 28 29. 30. The derivation of the Prelats office from the Apostolical Authority and the power of Timothy and Titus loaded with absurdities ibid. Chap. 4. page 30. The Diocesian Prelats office takes away the peoples right to call their Pastor This right proved from Scripture and divine reason page 31 32 33. It excludes the office of the ruling elder proved from the practice of Prelatists as likewayes the preceeding charge the divine right of this office proved from several Scripture grounds especially 1 Tim. 5 17. And some chief exceptions of the prelatick party examined Page 34 35 36 37 38. Chap. 5. page 39. That the present Prelacy is grosse Erastianisme proved from the matter of fact some Arguments against it under that notion It excludes and denyes all Church Government in the hands of Church officers distinct from the civill contrary to the Churches priviledge both under the Old and New Testament which is demonstrat at large Page 41 42 43 44 Is in many points ane incroachment upon the liberties of the gospel Church and upon Christs mediatory Authority over the same which is cleared page 45 46. Chap. 6 page 47. Erastianisme denyes the compleat constitution of the Apostolick Church in point of Government Removes the Scripture land marks set to distinguish the civil and Ecclesiastick powers which is cleared in several points page 47 48 49 50. It is lyable to great absurdities ibid. Chap. 7. pag. 51. The Informers shifting and obscuring the true state of the question anent Episcopacy and flinching from the point debateable discovered several wayes page 52 53 He declines a direct pleading for the Prelats civill offices yet offers some arguments in defence thereof wherin his prevarication and contradiction to himself is made appear His pretended Scripture Arguments from the Instances of Eli and Samuel and the Priests concurrence in that Court 11 Numb to fortify the Prelats civil state offices ad examined page 54 55 56 57 58 59. He is contradicted by interpreters in this point Antiquity full and clear against him The grounds of the Assembly 1638 Sess. 25. Against the
and others owned as such a tradition lib 1. de pecc mer. Basil names four Apostolick traditions signeing with the cross praying to the east anointeing with oyle praying in the standing postur from Easter to whitsuntyd See the Appendix to jus divinum minise Evan prop. 2. The informer and his fellowes make a great bustle anent the condemneing of Aerius for holding that Bishops and presbyters are all one But Beza could have informed him de grad 346. that Epiphanius Haeres 75 imputs to him as great heresies these Tenets 1. That he held it unlawfull to offer and pray for the dead 2. That he held that Saincts departed were not to be invocat 3. That there were not fixed fast dayes to be keept 4. That the jewish pascal was not to be observed because ourpassover is already offered Now if our Informer condemne him for these also we weed care the lesse for his condemning him in the point of prelacy 3. It is certain that the account of the first times immediatly after the Apostles is as to mater of fact very dark uncertain consequently a very slippery rule Hegesi pus apud Euseb lib 3. Cap 28. tells us that immediatly after the Apostolick age was gone tunc impii erroris conspiratio per seductionem eorum qui alienam doctrinam trad ant initium caepit Then the conspiracy of wicked error but the seducings of those who delivered another doctrine took its begining Eusebius himself the prime writer from whom in a manner is the wholl of all that is delivered anent Church Government and Bishops and who presents these fragmens of writers out of which our episcopal men gaâ—…her up their proofes in the proem of his History acknowledges that he is in that worke entered into a dark desert therein he hath no footsteps of any goeing before him but only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some litle occasions or some pitty narations which every one in their own time hath left and delivered let any read haumer ane Inglish Bishop his translation of Eusebius wherein this will be found very clear Scalliger prolegom in Chron. Euseb. Saith Intervallum illud ab ultimo capite actorum c. the nterval from he last chotter of the Acts of the Apostles until the midst of the reigne of Trajan in which tract Quadratus and a Ignatius flourished let our informer observe this as to Ignatius may be truly called with varrâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or obscur wherin nothinthat is certan hath come to our hand concerning the affairs of Christians except some very few things which the enemies of godlines carches up by the way such as Suetonius Cornelius Tacitus Plenius Cecilianus which gap that Eusebius might fill up he drew some things without discretion and choise out of the upotiposes or exemples of I know not what Clement for he is not that learned Clement who wrote the Stromataâ—…â—…nd out of the fyve books of hegesippus a writer no better Tilen himself a great pleader for the Episcopal cause yet tells us Contr 3 l. 2 c. 2 Not. 39. and c. 3. Note 6 That the history of these first times hath great blacks and gapes which the Spurius Clements and other writers of the same stamp filled up with petty fables drawen from their own braine That from the end of the acts of the Apostles until Traian's times thereis almost nothing extant which is certain hence he saith occasion was taken by men of bad dispositions to make hold to faine anything whom even the Apostles times wanted not Not to insist upon the many things written and observed of Eusebius which may invalidat the credit of his history and his many gross errors therein and in other poynts observed by Scalliger and others How fabulous is that history of Christes Epistle to Agbarus rejected even by pope Gelasius in a Councel of Seventy Bishops at room That which Philo the jew wrote of the Essae Ans a Sect among the jewes Eusebius affirms that he wrot it of Christian mmks which Scalliger shewes to be false out of Philo himself in elencho tribaeresii He proves peters crucifixion at Rome by a tomb proofe In the computation of times Scalliger observes his gross errors Nay which is more considerable he discovers gross ignorance of Scripture in saying that the Cephas reprehended by Paul was not the Apostle peter but another of the number of the Seventy disciples Besyds many things in his personall cariage and qualities which may weaken the Credit of his History as his presideing in the councel of Tyre against Athanasius and standing upon the Arrians side Scalliger in his Thesaurus temporum Animad p 268 Setts down the testimonies of the Ancients concerning his errors Arrianisme wherein some affirme that he died When he wrote the history he was ane Arian Moreover Admitt his Testimony were abeve all exception yet that his history hath been corrupted by some ignorant impostor is demonstrated from this by Didocl cap. 4. p. 119 that he maks mention of Sozomen who was born ane hundred years therafter Lastly As to the Catalogues of Bishopes which our Informer and his masters befor him exhibit to us from the Apostolick times he might have found them aboundantly invalidat by many of the learned whose judgement and Testimonys are collected by Didocl cap 4 p. 121 122 123 124 c. Which we may well challeng this man to answer Therefore we shall dismiss it with these observes 1. That Tertullian Irenaeus and others who make use of this Argument of Succession against hereticks designe only to shew a derivation of true doctrine from the Apostles against them and that the Church had the Traduoes Apostolici Seminis a derivation of the Apostles Doctrine but never meaned it of a Succession of men of the same office every way Tertullian saith Arise o truth and expone they Scriptures c. Irenâ—…us in his time speaking of this Succession from the Apostles pressing adherence to the truth which they delivered makes mention of Presbyters opportet adhaerere iis c We must adhere to them who keeps the Apostles doctrine and with the order of presbitery mentain the word And again therefore we must obey these presbiters who are in the Church who have their Succession from the Apostles as we have showen Then he adds qui cum Episcopatus Successione charisma veritatis certum Secundum placitum patris acceperunt That is who with the Succession of Episcopacy have receaved from the father the sure gift of truth thus he l. 4. c. 44. And because this Informer singes their old song who before him will still Shuffle in Bishops when the Ancients speak of Presbyters Let him remarke what he sayes lib 3. cap. 2. Speaking of the contumacy of the adversaries of truth quum autem ad eam iterim traditionem quae est ab Apostolis quae per Successiones presbyterorum in Ecclesiis custoditur provocamus eos c But when wee apeall them again to that
anent alterable circumstances of order and decency about which the Churches exercise of Christian prudence is convérsant so that he must understand what he pleads for to be of that nature but we have shewed upon the first Dialogue how far its contrary to Scripture reason to include a diocesian Bishop or Arch bishop within the compass of decencie and order there commanded since decencie and order points only at circumstances of actions already commanded and circumstances commun to civil and sacred things And this according to the generall rules of the word so that none can think Blondell so sottish as to take in among these the Diocesian or Erastian Bishop and Arch-Bishop 3. Since the profest scope of Blondells learned Appology is to plead for sententia Hieronomi which is that in Apostolick times communi concilio presbyterorum Ecelesiae gubernabantur surely whatever Blondell may admitt as to the Churches libertie in relation to a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet the admission of the diocesian prelate with sole power of ordination and Jurisdiction which this man pleads for and much more the Erastian prelate would evert both his hypothesis and scope Again he dare not deny that with Blondell the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Ministeriall scripturall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Presbyterat so that what he calls the modus rei cannot in its self and consequently in Blondells meaning be supposed such a modus rei as destroyes the thing it self the subject which it affects as certainly by the Diocesian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much more the Erastian doth the very substantialls of Presbyters divine power which this learned author is in that piece pleading for And in a word I dare pose this Informer whither Blondell would not have thought a national Churches liberty in this point of Custome or alterable circumstances of decencie and order even tho we should grant that he puts Episcopacy among these is tyed up and restrained by sacred solemn Oaths and vowes universally taken on against the same so that his cause is never a whit bettered by these blind Testimonies which as is said he he durst not translate as he professeth to doe in the rest of his citations for the advantage of the unlearned The assertion after subjovned by him viz. that the unlawfulness of Episcopacie was questioned by none of the ancients except Aerius and rarely by any of the modern except some of our British divines that antient and modern divines think that prelacie was the primitive Government left by the Apostles we have proved to be a manifest untruth Specially when applyed to the prelacy existant with us and that it is the consentient judgment of the far greatest part both of ancient and modern that there is no difference jure divino betwixt a Bishop and Presbyter And that our Prelats now in Scotland are as far different from the antient Bishops as east from West so that no patrocinie can be drawen from the one to the other That Blondell professes to vindicat Jerom from that which he calls Aerianism who will believe taking Aerius opinion to be for the premised Identitie of Bishop and Presbyter since we have made it appear by Testimonies of the learned that both Greek and Latine Fathers held this same opinion with Aerius How he hath proved Episcopacie to be the Government which hath best warrand in the word and hath continued without interruption for many years we refer it to the reader to judge by what is above replyed wherein we have made it appear that as his pretended Scripture proofs for prelacy and his answers to our Arguments against it are most frivolous so none of his pretended Testimonies from antiquitie doe reach his conclusion nor any shadow of a patrocinie for our present Prelat now established whom we have fully disproved from Scripture both in his diocesian and Erastian mould What poor shaddowes for proofs doth this man grasp at Blondell thought the Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lawful and its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to belong to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and good order Ergo he pleaded for the Diocesian Bishop with sole power of ordination and Jurisdiction and a Bishop deriving all his power from the civil Magistrat as immediatly subject unto him which is a very antilogical proof and a meer rop of sand Lastly he mainly commends to his reader this Dialogue anent separation wherein he sayes all the reasons brought for it are propounded and answered without passion which doth but alienat the minds Ans. How poorly this man hath answered the true grounds of disowning conformists or rather past them over and how pityfully he all along begs the question in supposing what he hath to prove we hope is made sufficiently appear to the Judicious and impartiall As for passion its true there is less of this in his Pamphlet then in some other of this stamp which his fellowes have flung out among the people yet he hath his signal flashes of it in Iustifying Dr Burnets parallel of nonconformists with Scribes and Pharisees and in calling them as great and causeless Schismaticks as ever the Church had in any age nay in his grosse malitious reflecting upon the sufferings of poor Innocents in this land telling us under the covert of Cyprians words that their in expiable sin of discord is not purged by their sufferings that forsaking Christs Church they cannot be martyres nor reign with him which with what a tincture of malice it presents its self let any judge His conferences he sayes do bring water to quenchour flames but they bring rather fewel to the fire and wood and hay to uphold Babell The Rabbies whom he pleads for have kindled our flames and the best way to quench them Is to put these incendiaries to the door Next he cites the preface of the Syntag. Confess edit Genev. wherin the Church of Scotland is commended for her unity as well as purity of Doctrine and then he cryes out O how have we lost our good name and the staff of bonds is broken in the midst of us but he should have been so ingenuous as to have told us that we are in the preface of that Syntagma commended for our reformed Presbyterian discipline as the great bond and cement of our unity and the guard of our pure doctrine and who have broken this bond and sacred hedge I need not tell him and what hath been the distress confusion and desolation of our Church since it was broken every one now sees so that he might lament the loss of our good name upon this ground and especially of our Integrity where he a true son and watchmen of this Church The consequences of our sad divisions through the violence and Schismatick intrusion of abjured perjured Prelats and their underlings have indeed hazarded the standing of Christs Kingdome among us according to that of Mark 3. 24. And the biting devouring wolves the Prelats for whom he pleads have hazarded