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
to a multiplication of tyranny and that whereas formerly they had but one Bishop which did something extort upon them they now had a company of ignorant Presbyters which did much outvie the Bishop in domineering power over them they then began to champe upon the bit they had taken into their mouthes and began to mutiny against Mr. Calvin who together with his two associats the perswaders of the people to embrace and the contrivers of this kind of government were in the heate of these discontents banished the Towne Mr. Calvin was now put to his shifts to appease this tumult and when he had cast upon all assaies he concluded none so probable to take effect as to admit some of the Citizens to joyne in government with the Presbyters and so they might perhaps admit him with his new device of Presbyterian Ministry into the City againe which fell out accordingly for a few yeeres after the Citizens of Geneva had banished Calvin saith juditious Hooker in his preface to his booke intituled Ecclesiasticall policy such was the levity and inconstancy of those people some places being in the interim fallen voide and in want of a Minister that they were not so willing to be rid of Calvin before as they were now importunate to have him backe againe and with severall letters and ingagements did court him to returne unto them Calvin considered with himselfe that now was the time to make knowne unto them he would be no more tennant at will under them but if they would have him to be their Teacher againe they must be content to admit a compleate forme of Discipline which both they and their Pastors should be sworne to observe for ever after of which Discipline the maine and principall parts were these a standing Ecclesiasticall Court to be established perpetuall Judges in that Court to be their Ministers others of the people anually chosen twice so many as they to be Judges together with them in the same Court And these two sorts to have power over mens manners to determine all kinde of Ecclesiasticall causes and to punish as far as with excommunication all sorts of people This proposition of his did some what trouble them for they considered that this government was little better then Popish Tyranny presented to them under a new forme for though for every Minister there were two Lay-men to fit and give voice in the Ecclesiasticall consistory yet they feared that the filling up of those seates was but to please the minde of the people to thinke their owne sway something when as things were to come to tryall their Pastors learning would over perswade simple people who knowing the time of their Presidentship to be but short would alwaies stand in feare of their Ministers perpetuall authority but notwithstanding these considerations such were the straits the Citizens had brought themselves into through their owne giddinesse that now they must of necessity imbrace Calvin upon these or any other conditions unlesse to their endlesse disgrace they would with ridiculous lightnesse dismisse him whom they had with all earnestnesse and after an importunate and most urgent manner desired to returne unto them wherefore having driven themselves upon these exigents they admit of Mr. Calvin and his compound consistory Anno Domini 1541. And here was the beginning amongst Christians of Lay-Elders in their Church Government which you may perceive Reader through necessity by a inconstant people in a troubled State was accepted of Now good morrow to your Infant worship good Mr. Lay-Elder or rather your spurious brat of a Geneva brable I must tell you you may be a handsome fellow but you looke ill favouredly in an English habit but may you say unto me your Taylor or High Priest was too blame for no strange thing now a dayes for Taylor and Priest to meet in one person to put you into the English mode Let me tell you in your owne Country Phrase you beseeme your Office as a Sowe beseemes a saddle you looke as strangely amongst us as an Owle at noone day you must not thinke to make us daire under you wee le rather like a flocke of little birds fright and chase you backe againe to your Arabian Desart when wee come to Geneva wee le be governed by you in the meane time wee do not desire you should governe us nor indeede because you are so rightly entertained in Geneva and Holland are you fit guests for us For Geneva was a free City governed by Elders and Towne Burgers before ever Mr. Calvin came there who admitted some of those Aldermen yearely into his Classis there were some little more collour for that government amongst us if our Judges Justices Aldermen might be admitted into your respective Classes but there is no such matter in our new Eldership but the most silly fellowes generally are pitched upon to make Lay-Elders of and truely this is the greatest peece of pollicy I have observed from our Presbyter or High Priests in our Country for by this meanes they themselves will rule the roast the Lay-Elders being meere Jacks to be wound up and downe at pleasure and the better to compasse this their ends and designe some of them have wronged and abused the Parliament in nominating unto them tryars for the sufficiency of the Elders to be chosen in their respective Classes so insufficient and ignorant that cannot write their owne names the best knowledge they have being to misreade a little English and this I am informed was done by the present Incombent at Standishe and some others nay more then so when the Ordinance came downe and that such men were by the Parliament appointed tryars to be Lay-Elders themselves which the people not mindfull to thwart any thing the Parliament by the mouth of their Minister desired voted it so and so they were Judges themselves and the parties to be judged of themselves Like as if a Justice were made a Jaylor or a Marshall should commit a Souldier To commit a man to himselfe which is against the rules of Law and reason but no more of this I conceive that this government being set up at Geneva is no president imitable for England only I thinke it were not amisse to follow their fashion a little before intangling of our selves in this That seing our fundamentall Lawes in Church subverted and our liberties betrayed into the hands of Lay-Elders for whose government there is no warrant in Scripture I meane their governing Ecclesiasticall affaires Wee should rowse up a godly spirit in our selves and doe as the then free Citizens did by the domineering Presbyters in Geneva banishing them thence I say wee should kicke these Caterpillars out of our Kingdome and sweeping this rubbish from the doores of our Temples and whipping these money changers thence beate the fellowes into their old trades and handicrafts againe It might I am confident procure some more warrantable and moderate government then this which I refer to the serious