power and office of that Ministry which Christ and the Apostles had setled in the Church and to which they pretended to have a zeal Fourthly at the worst what ever they were or did regularly or irregularly as to the point of Preaching Christ crucified the Apostle so far rejoyced not as they were passionate or peevish envious disorderly c. but so far as God restrained them in any moderate bounds of truth-speaking It was some joy to see a less degree of mischief and scandal arise from their perversness and spite That they did not blaspheme that Name and preach another Gospell or corrupt this in points of doctrine with Jewish or Hereticall leaven no less than they did with those tinctutes of passions envy and defects of Charity A good Christian may rejoyce at any preparation of men to receive the Gospell In omni malo est aliqua boni mixtura Simpliciter enim absolute malum esse non potest Neque enim est malum pura negatio sed debiti boni privatio neque est cognoscibile nisi per bonum Tho. Aq. 1. q. 14. Non humane est imbecilitatis plena indagine conoscere quâ ratione Deuâ— mala fieri patiatur quae non incuriâ sed consilio permittuntur Salv. l. 1. Gub. Mirandum non est quod mala exurgant sed vigilandum est ne noceant nec permitteret Deus ex surgere nisi sanctos per hujusmodi tentationes erudiri expediret Aust Ep. 141. as in the Indies tho they be first taught it in much weakness and superstition It is so far happy in the worst of times and things that there is no simple or sincere evill which hath not some mixture of good in it which it abuseth else it could not be at all and some extraction of good may be from it by the omnipotent wisdome of God causing all things to work together for the good of his Church Gods permissions not to be urged against his Precepts and Institutions But what sober Christian will urge Gods permissions against his Precepts and Institutions The rule in the Word is still right constant and divine though in the water of events providence may seem crooked and irregular Gods toleration of evill of disorders or heresies in the Church doth not justifie them in the least kind against his Word which forbids them The Apostle was glad and so may we be in evill times that things were no worse but he allows them not to be so bad Quae permittit Deus non approbat in permisso praviter agente quamvis apprâ—bet permissionem suam profundissimè potentissimè sapientia quae bona ex malo ducenda novit Vid. Aust Ep. 120. Ep. 159. In abdito est consâ—lium Dei quo malis bene utitur mirificans bonitatis suae omnipotentiam Rom. 3.8 Multa sunt in intentione operantis â—ala quae in eventu operis bona sunt Aquin. Praescientia praepotentia sua non rescindit Deus libertatem creaturae quam instituerat Tertul. lib. 2. cont Marcâ—on vid. Synes ep 57. nor would he approve the doing of evill or the envy and spightfulness in preaching that good might come thereby He only considered it in the event as to Gods disposing not in the agent or fact as to mans perverting A sober and wise man may make a good use of others madness and folly as God doth of mans and devills malice One may rejoyce that there are some poysonous creatures by which to make Theriacas and Antidotes Many venomous beasts have the cure in them against their own stings and poâ—sons The same Apostle might rejoyce in the supposed not decreed and absolute Necessity of Heresies There must be heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 that as in these times the constancy of judicious and sincere Christians may be made manifest It is some ease that Impostumes break Plus est jucunditatis in sapientia Dei quae bona è maâ—is extrahit quà m in malis molestiae Lact. l. de Ira. Respondet Epicuri quaest cur Deus permisit mala cum potens sit bonus Permisit malum ut eâ—icaret bonum Id. Acts 27. whereby corrupt humors are let out and spent possibly the Apostle might in some sense or notion have rejoyced in the storm he suffred and the shipwrack so far as it discovered Gods extraordinary protection to him and for his sake to those with him And so may all his faithfull Servants the Ministers have cause at last to rejoyce when the Lord hath brought them and this Church to the fair haven after this foul weather which seeks to overwhelm them But Christ is in the ship and they have a good Pilot God whose Spirit with their own bids them be of good chear The Lord can and will save his that be godly from so great a death But such joyes are the serious and sincere raptures of very godly and wise men far enough sequestred from the flashes of the world which hardly ever discern in Events what is of God from what is of man Good events in which Gods over-powring is seen are oft consequentiall not intentionall Severa res est gaudium Sen. Cl. Alex. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as to the second agents and flow not from their will or vertue but follow their work through Gods soveraign over-ruling who as St. Austin sayes would not permit any evill of sin to have been in and from the creatures pravity of free will and infirmity of power if his infinite both power and goodness had not known how to extract the good of his glory out of the greatest evill And truly this good we hope through the mercy of God The good which may come from this evill to true Ministers Phil. 1.16 both all true Ministers and all true Christians in this Church of England will reap by this envy contention spitefull unsincere and uncivill dealing of these Anti-ministeriall Adversaries who cry up their new preaching and prophesying wayes thereby thinking to adde affliction to those bonds and distresses which are upon Ministers in these dangerous and difficult times That this will make all true Ministers more study to be able for to walk worthy of and alwayes to adorn that holy profession and divine Ministration which they have upon them that so they may stop the mouths of gainsayers Tit. 1.9 Saluberrimus est malorum inimicorum usus quo illorum quadam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meliores vigilantiores reddamur Erasm 1 Cor. 3.1 who lye in wait for their halting and reâ—oyce at their fallings Also it will breed in all others that are serious sound and good Christians a greater abhorrency of these insolent and disorderly wayes in the Church the root and fruits of which are carnall not spirituall pride faction strife bitterness confusion scom of religion corruption of all true doctrine and holy manners neglect and disuse of holy duties prophaness and disposition to all
dashing against their Bibles and some Almanack-makers casting a generall and publique scorn upon their Ministers and Ministry imputing both unjustly and indignly the folly and ridiculous impotency of some Ministers passions and actions which may be but too true to the whole function venerable order and learned fraternity without limitation or distinction of the wise from the foolish But the badnesse of the times or madn sse rather of any men in them makes this cause never the worse Indeed it is so great and so good having in it so much of Gods glory and mans welfare that it merits what it can hardly finde in secular greatnesse a proportionate patron who had need to be one of the best men and the boldest of Christians And therefore is the addresse so generall that besides our great Master the Lord Jesus Christ the founder and protector of our order and function this work might finde some pious and excellent Patrons in every corner whither so great a Truth hath of late been driven to hide it selfe by the boldnesse and cruelty of some the cowardise and inconstancy of others This book requires not the cold and customary formality of patron-like accepting it and laying it aside but the reality of serious reading generous asserting and conscientious vindicating Who ever dares to countenance this Apology in its main Subject The true and ancient Ministery of the Church of England must expect to adopt many enemies and it may be some great ones Whom he must consider at once as enemies to his Baptism his Faith his Graces and Sacramentall seals to his spirituall comforts his hopes of heaven to his very being being a Christian or true member of this or any other sound part of the Catholick Church Enemies also to his friends and posterities eternall happinesse The means of which will never be truly found in any Church or enjoyed by any Christians under any Ministry if it were not in that which hath been enjoyed and prospered in England not onely ever since the reformation but even from the first Apostolicall plantation of Christian Religion in this Island Of which blessed priviledge ancient honour and true happinesse no good Christian or honest English man can with patience or indifferency suffer himself his Countrey and posterity to be either cunningly cheated or violently plundered Certainly there is no one point of Religion merits more the constancy of Martyrs and will more bear the honour of Martyrdome than this of the divine Institution authority and succession of the true Ministry of the Church which is the onely ordinary means appointed by Jesus Christ to hold forth the Scriptures and their true meaning to the world and with them all saving necessary truths duties means and Ministrations wherein not onely the foundation but the whole fabrick of Christian Religion is contained which in all ages hath been as a pillar of heavenly fire and as a shield of invincible strength to plant and preserve to shine and to protect to propagate and defend the faith name and worship of the true God and his Son our Lord Jesus Christ This makes the Authour not despaire to meet with some Patrons and Protectors of this Defence in Senates Councels Armies and on the house top no lesse than in closets and private houses To whom it cannot be unacceptable to see those many plausible pretensions and potent oppositions made by some men against the Divine authority and sacred Office and peculiar calling of the Ministry so discovered as they shall appeare to be not more specious and subtill than dangerous and destructive to the temporall and eternall welfare of all true Protestants sober Christians and honest hearted English men who certainly next the pleasing of God and the saving of their souls have nothing of so great concernment to themselves and their posterity as this The preserving and encouraging of a true and authoritative Ministry which is the great hinge on which all learning and civility all piety and charity all gracious hopes and comforts all true Religion and Christianity it self depends as much as the light beauty regular motion and safety of the body doth upon its having eyes to see But if this freer and plainer Defence should neither merit nor obtaine such ample measure of favour and publique acceptance in the sight of judicious Readers as it is ambitious of and at least may stand in need of yet hath the Author the comfort of endeavouring with all uprightnesse of heart to doe his duty though he be but as an unprofitable servant And possibly this great and noble Subject the necessity dignity and divine authority of the Ministry of the Church of England so far carried on by this Essay which sets forth 1. The Scripture grounds established by the authority of Christ and his Apostles 2. The Catholick consent and practise of the Church in all ages and places 3. The consonancy to reason and order observed by all Nations in their Religion and specially to the Institutes of God among the Jewish Church 4. The Churches constant want of it in its plantation propagation and perfection 5. The benefit of it to all mankinde who without an authoritative Minâ—stry would never know whom to hear with credit and respect or what to beleive with comfort 6. The great blessings flowing from this holy function to this Church and Nation in all kindes These and the like grand considerations and fair aspects which this subject affords to learned judicious and godly men may yet provoke some nobler pen and abler person to undertake it with more gratefull and successefull endeavours whose charitable eyes finding the sometime famous and flourishing Ministry of this Church thus exposed in a weeping floating and forlorn condition to the mercy of Nilus and its Monsters the threatning if not overflowing streames of modern violent errors may take pity on it and from this Ark of Bulrushes which is here suddenly framed may bring it up to far greater strength and publique honour than the parent of this Moses could expect from his obscurer gifts and fortunes To which although he is very conscious as being of himself altogether unsufficient for so great a work and so good a word yet the confidence of the greatnesse and goodnesse of the cause the experience of Gods and generally all good Christians attestation to it in all former ages of the Church The hopes also of Gods gracious assistance in a work designed with all humility and gratitude wholly to his glory and his Churches service These made him not wholly refractary or obstinate against the intreaties of some persons whose eminent merit in all learning piety and virtue might incourage by their command so great insufficiencies to so great an unâ—ertaking Which is not to fire a Beacon of faction or contention but to establish a pillar of Truth and certainty Also to hold forth a Shield of defence and safety such as may direct and protect stay and secure the mindes of good Christians in the midst
For which necessity a relief was long ago hoped for and expected if not promised from the piety and nobleness of the Parliaments of England who could not but see that in many if not most parts either the Ministers abilities and pains exceeded the Benefice or the starving tenuity of the Benefice like an hungry and barren soyl Innovercante solo satae arbores quamvis generosiores feraces cito sterilescunt Varro Tenuitatem beneficiorum necessariâ— sequitur ignorantia sacerdotum Bishop Jewel eat up and consumed the Ministers gifts and parts which at first were florid and very hopeful and so would have thrived had they not been planted in a soyl that was rather a dry nurse than a kinde mother Nor was there then or is there now any way to avoid the mischief of admitting such minute offerers of their selves to the Ministry in places of so minute maintenance unless the entertainment were enlarged as is requisite in many Livings where the whole salary is not so much as the interest of the money bestowed in breeding of a Scholar would amount to which an able Minister cannot live upon so as to do his duty yet this fault of ordaining and instituting weak Ministers which arose from the hardness of Laymens hearts was better committed than omitted by the Ordainers for it was better that such small timber if as strait and sound as can be had be put in the wall than the house in that place lie quite open and decayed Better the poor people be taught in some measure the Mysteries and Truth of Religion than left wholly wilde and ignorant I know that as in a building it is not necessary that all pieces should be great and massie timber less will serve in their place and proportion yet the principal parts ought to be so substantial that they might relieve the weaker studs and rafters of the burden so that no danger might be to the whole Fabrick from their feebleness so assisted The state of the Church ought indeed to be so ordered that there should be a competency for all and a competency in all Ministers but in some there ought to be an eminency as in employment so in entertainment upon whom the greatest recumbency of Churches may be laid whose learning courage gravity tongue and pen may be able to sustain the weight of Religion in all controversies and oppositions which assertings and vindications require not onely good will and courage but great strength and dexterity The ablest Minister if he well ponders what he hath to do hath no cause to be very forward nor should the meanest that is honest and congruous have cause to despond or be discouraged in his good endeavors Great care ought to be had for Ordination of able Ministers and for augmentation of their Means to competency To restore the Reformed Christian Ministry in this Church to its true honor there should be greatest care had in the matter of ordination before which antiently the Church had solemn Fasting Prayer and Humiliation But in vain as to many places which all need able Ministers will this care be unless there be also some necessary augmentation of Ministers maintenance As the ablest men should be invited to the work so none unable should be admitted and none once admitted should have cause by the incompetency of their condition to be ashamed and by their poverty contract inabilities as Trees grow mossie and unfruitful in barren soyls Nor would this pious munificence be thought much by any Christian Nation to which God hath been so liberal in his earthly bounty if they did indeed value his heavenly dispensations and the necessity work or worth either of true Ministers or of poor mens souls whom itinerant Preachers cannot feed sufficiently with a bit and a way but they require constant and resident Ministers to make them thrifty and well-liking I conclude this Paragraph touching the great work of the Ministry with that Character of an able Minister which St. Bernard hath admirably set forth to Eugenius the then Bishop of Rome by which we may see what sense was in those days Four hundred and fifty years ago of the duty of Ministers and what kinde of ones holy men then required in the Church from whom our succession without any disparagement from mens personal faults is derived Such saith Saint Bernard are to be chosen Tales eligendi sunt Ministri qui sunt compositi ad mores probati ad sanctimoniam para â— ad obedientiam subjecti ad diciplinam rigid ad censuram Catholici ad fidem fideles ad dispensationem concordes ad pacem conformes ad unitatem Qui regibus Johannem exhibeant Egyptsis Mosen fornicatibus Phineam Heliam idolatris Helisaum avâ—â—is Petrum mentientibus Pauluâ— blasphemantibus Christum negoâ—tantibus Qui vulgus non spernant sed doceâ—nt non gravent sed foveant Minas principum non paveant sed contemnant qui marsupia non exhauriant sed corda reficiant De omni re orationi plus fidant quà m industriae sua O si videam in vita mea Ecclesiam tatibus niâ—aâ—â— columnis O si Domini sponsam cernerem tantae commissaâ—â— fidei tanta creditam puritati quid nec â—â—aâ—iâ—s quidve securius Bern. l. 1. ad Eugenium and ordained for Ministers of the Church who are composed for their maners approved for their sanctimony ready to obey their Superiors subject to Discipline strict in their Censures Catholike for their Faith faithful in their Preaching conform to the peace and unity of the Church Who to Kings may be as John Baptist to Egyptians as Moses to Fornicators as Phineas to Idolaters as Elias to Covetous as Elisha to Lyars as Peter to Blasphemers as Paul to Symonaical and Sacrilegious Trafickers in the Church as Christ to the Buyers and Sellers in the Temple Such as may not burthen or despise the poor but nourish and instruct them not flatter and fawn on the rich but rather rouze and affright their proud security not terrified by threats of Princes but living and acting above them not exhausting mens purses but comforting their consciences and filling their hungry souls with good things who in every duty may trust more to their Prayers than their Studies to Gods grace than their own gifts and industry O saith he that I might in my days see the Church of Christ set and built on such Pillars O that I might see the pure Spouse of Christ committed to the eare of such pure and faithful Guardians Nothing would make me so securely happy Thus this devout and holy man in his times to whose pious and earnest desire I could heartily say Amen if I did but hope that ever the request might be heard and granted in my time but though all men be liers yet we have a true God to trust in As for that Liberty which some Christians plead 16. Private Liberty of gifts and publick Ministry not inconsistent not upon a Socinian or fanatick
more than is needfull for their place and the Churches edification or safety and preservation And much I think is needfull to give a right sense of Scripture from the originall proprieties or emphasis of words 10. Wherein learning is necessary to Ministers Si ad humara perdiscenda â—ta hominis vita brevis est quid temporis sufficere potest ad intelligentiam divinum Chrysol To open the many allusions referring to Judaick rites and Ethnick customes in severall ages To clear and unfold the Scriptures by short paraphrases or larger Commentaries To analyse severall passages so as to reduce them to their proper place and order of reasoning wherein their force consists as the parts and joints of the body set in their due posture For the method of the reasoning and the strength of the argument or main scope in Scripture is oft very different from the series and order of the words in the Text Many times the ambiguity of the words the variety of stops the incoherence and independence of the sense as to the letter makes the method more obscure and the meaning very intricate yea the very text of Scriptures were in many copies of Bibles anciently as in St. Jeromes time Jeronymus in libris Jobi Danielis aliis and before him in Origens much altered by addition to or detraction from the pure and authentick Scripture untill those and other learned men the Bishops and Ministers of the Church with more accurate diligence reduced the Bible to its purity and integrity as much as is attainable by humane industry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basan hâ—m 24. de Leg. Ethn. or necessary to mans salvation In these and the like cases I suppose these objectors who are very simple but not with a dove-like simplicity must needs confesse unlesse they wholly trust to the reed of their Enthusiasms which they have very little cause to doe that there is a great need of learned Criticks of good Linguists of methodicall Analysts judicious Commentators accurate distinguishers and harmonious reconcilers that the truth purity and unity of the sacred Oracles may be preserved and vindicated against Jews Heathens Atheists Hereticks and capricious Enthusiasts who are ready to strike with contempt and passion any part of Scripture as uselesse or corrupted if it slow not as the rock with an easie sense and obvious interpretation to their weak and sudden capacities They are instantly prone with an high disdain and choler to prefer their most impertinent imaginations sudden fancies and addle raptures Or if they be ashamed of those being too weak grosse and impudent to be vended at noon day and in so faithfull a light as yet shines in this Church then they are crying up the book of the creatures and God in them or they applaud some easier morall heathens And I should think nothing should fit their fancies so well as the Turkish Alcoran or Jewish Talmuds and Cabals for these if any thing can have already out done them in toyes and incredible fables which may save them the labour of further inventions Swine will prefer the filthiest puddle before the fairest springs so will wanton proud and vain men take any light exception against the Scripture which they hate the more perfectly by how much they see it is a most perfect rule and fully contrary to their proud 2 Tim. 3.16 unjust and unruly passions And however the shell of those holy and unparelleld writings the blessed Scriptures be in many places rugged and hard so that every one cannot handle or break it yet blessed be God others can nor is the kernell of saving Truth lesse sweet and smooth because it is not easily explained but by the help of other mens better gifts whom the Lord raiseth up and fitteth for this very end with variety of gifts even in humane learning Who for the most part have been of the order of the Clergy although in these later times especially divers others both Nobility Gentry and Commoners have been as excellent pioners who have by their private studies very chearfully and industriously assisted and helped the Churches chiefest Champions and Leaders the Ministers who have not indeed every one those sharp tools of steel which can work at the hardest places of this rock and holy Mine the Scriptures yet have they generally such skill and leisure beyond the Vulgar as enables them to try the Ore to gather and refine the grains to cast them into fit wedges or ingots of Gold Truths reduced to some body method or common place of Divinity Thus assisted by their own and other studies method and industry they are well able to make plain yet learned and judicious Sermons with pathetick homilies fitted to the common peoples capacity memory and disposition whom neither leisure nor necessities of life and the hard labours under the Sun nor abilities of minde would suffer or serve one of a thousand to attain to any competent measure of religious knowledge if holy and learned men Ministers of the Church were not enabled by God approved by the Church and ordained by both to that constant service of the Ministry for the good of the plainer Christians who enjoy in every point of true doctrine or solid Divinity which is as a weighty piece of gold stamped with the clear testimony of the Scripture as people doe in every piece of current money the extract of the labour and the result of the art of many mens heads and hands who have thus fitted it for their ordinary use Besides this when common people are once well stored and inriched in their honest plainnesse with competent and sound knowledge in Religion by the care and faithfulnesse of their able and honest Ministers yet how easily would the cheats of Religion delude and impose on these poore Souls these plain and single hearted Christians abasing or changing counterfeit with truths cropt opinions and round-headed tenets for full weight of Christian doctrines Still cogging with religious * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 4.14 dice and cheating with plausible fallacies seemingly brought out of the Scripture untill those poore beleevers like the * Gal. 3.1 bewitched Galatians had lost all or their most part of their sound Religion yea some of these Impostors doe not leave poore Christians whom they have consened with fair shews of the Spirits revelations and new Gospels so much faith as to beleive the main Articles of the Christian Faith or the Scriptures to be the Word of God or that there is any true Church or any order and authority of true Ministry And whither would not this cousenage and deceit of these hucksters proceed 2 Cor. 2.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even to overthrow whole houses Parishes and Churches if there were not some learned and able Ministers in the Church who are as Gods and the Churches publique Officers to detect these jugglers to discover these deceitfull workers 2 Cor. 2.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to set
men I must needs offend as to their distemper I did designe it I ever shall offend them if I will defend this Truth It is my duty and charity by displeasing them to doe them good Apoplectick diseases are incurable till sense be restored some men are benummed and past feeling I cannot live or dye in peace if I should hold my peace when I ought to rebuke and with all authority Ephes 4.19 because with Truth and good conscience in the name of Christ and of all my brethren the intolerable vanity ignorance pride arrogancy and cruelty of those who have set up themselves above and against all those that are the ordained reformed and faithfull Ministers of this or any other Christian Church In whom they list to finde nothing but faults and insufficiencies while they boast of their own rare accomplishments which are no where to be found but in their proud swelling words by which they lie in wait to deceive the simple and unstable soules I could no longer bear their insolent Pamphlets 2 Pet. 2.18 their intolerable practises their uncharitable projects against the glory of Christ and the happinesse of this reformed Church and Nation It grieved me to see so may Shipwrackt soules so many tossed to and fro who are floating to the Romish coast so many overthrown faiths so many willing and affected Atheists so many cavilling Sophisters so many wasted comforts so many scurrilous and ridiculous Saints so many withered graces so many seared consciences so many sacrilegious Christians so many causelesse triumphings of mean persons over learned grave and godly Ministers I was troubled to behold so many fears yet so much silence so many sighes and sorrows yet so much dejection and oppression of spirits such over-awings in those men whom it becomes in a spirituall warfare to encounter with beasts and unreasonable men as being sure to overcome at last Therefore among others I desire this apology may be a monument of my perfect abhorrency and publique protestation against all evil counsels and violent designes used against this reformed Church its Religion and Ministry when posterity shall see the sad effects of some mens agitations I expect no acceptance from any men further than I may doe them good Such as refuse to be healed by this application probably their smart will provoke them to petulant replyes which as I cannot expect from any sober and serious Christian so to the wantonnesse of others who are wofull wasters of paper and inke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato in Crito I shall never have leisure to attend I have better imployment whereto I humbly devote the short remnant of my pretious moment even to the service of Christ of this Church and of all those excellent Christians in it to whose favour this sudden Apologetick defence is humbly dedicated in the behalf of the Ministry of this Church of England by their humblest servant in the Lord I. G. FINIS A Table of the chief heads handled in this Defense of the Ministery of the Church of ENGLAND THE Addresse pag. 1. The Cause undertaken p. 2 and recommended to excellent Christians p. 3 The honor of suffering in a good cause p. 4 Humble monition to those in power p. 6 Of ingenuous Parrhesie p. 7 Of Apologetick writings p. 8 The Authors integroty and sympathy p. 9 Of Ministers Lapse p. 10 Of their former Conformity p. 11 An account of Mr. Chibalds two books touching Lay Elders p. 13 Weak conjectures at the causes of Ministers Lapse p. 14 Of true Honor. p. 17 The main cause of Ministers lapse or diminution p. 20 Of Ministers as Politicians Pragmaticks Polemicks p. 24 What carriage best becomes Ministers in civill dissensions p. 25 Of Ministers indiscretions and inconstancies p. 28 The way of Ministers recovery p. 29 Vulgar insolencie against Ministers p. 30 Antiministeriall malice and practises p. 34 Ambitious and Atheisticall policies against them p. 35 The joy and triumph of the enemies of the reformed Religion p. 39 The Ministers of the Church of England neither Vsurpers nor Impostors p. 40 The sympathy of good Christians with their afflicted Ministers p. 42 Their plea for them against Novel and unordained Intruders p. 44 The right succession and authority of Ministers a matter of high concernment to true Christians p. 48 Who are the greatest enemies against the Ministry of this Church p. 49 Matters of Religion most considerable to Statesm n. p. 50 The just cause godly Ministers have to fear aâ—d complain p. 52 Ministers case unheard not to be condemned p. 55 The character of a good Minister such as is here pleaded for p. 58 Ministers excellencies are some mens greatest offence p. 61 Ministers infirmities viciate but not vacate their Authority p. 62 I. The first Objection or Quarrell of the Antiministeriall faction against the Ministers of England as being in no true or right Church way p. 65 Answ Vindicating the Church of England p. 66 1. As to Religion internall Ibid. It s power on the heart p. 67 Iâ—s ground and rule as to holinesse p. 68 Of fanatick fancies in Religion p. 69 The Souls true search after God and discoveries of him p. 71 Of the Souls Immortality p 73 Mans improvement to the divine image p. 74 True Religion as internall estates in Christ and in the true Church p. 76 II. Of true Religion as externall or professionall in Church society p. 77 Of the Church as visible and Catholick p. 78 Of a Nationall Church p. 80 The order and charity which befits Christians in all sociall relations p. 82 Papall and popular extreams touching the Church p. 84 The Romane arrogating too much p. 85 Of Infallibility in the Churches Ministry p. 88 Of Churches reduced only to single Congregations or Independent bodies 91 The primitive way of Churches and Christian communion p. 92 The National communion or polity of the Church of Eng. justified p. 95 The mincing or crumbling of the Churches pernicious p. 96 Of Religion as established and protected by Civill power p. 99 Of the subject matter or members of a Church p. 101 Of Parochiall congregations p. 102 Of Communicants p. 103 Of Ministers duty to Communicants p. 104 Ministers in each Parish not absolute Judges but Monitors and Directors Ibid. Good Discipline in the Church most desirable Ibid. Of Jurisdiction and Judicatories Ecclesiasticall p. 105 Of the common peoples power in admitting Communicants p. 106 Of a Church Covenant its Novelty Infirmity Superfluity p. 110 The essentials and prudentials of a true Church in England p. 112 Of being above all Ordinances Ministry and Church society p. 113 Peoples incapacity of gubernative power Civill or Ecclesiasticall p. 115 Of Magistrates and Ministers p. 117 Of the Plebs or peoples judgment in matters of doctrine or scandall p. 119 Tell it to the Church in whom is power of Church discipline and censures p. 121 Of Synods and Councels p. 126 Of prudentiall Liberty and latitudes in Church polity p. 127
of straying backsliding and Apostatizing times wherein many seek to weary God his Ministers and all men but themselves with their variating wickednesse The weight and worth of this great Subject the Ministry of this and so of all true Churches in which as in Noahs Ark all that we call Religion all that is sacred Christian and reformed is deposited and embarqued would have indeed required a more proportionate assertor who might out of the good treasure of his heart have given more strength and ornament to so divine and necessary an Institution But who sees not the methods and choices of Gods wisedome and power who oft-times makes his light and glory to shine clearest through the darkest Lanternes He appears in a bush when he purposed the great redemption of his Church out of Egypt The skilfull hand of God can write as well with a Goose quill as with a Swans or Eagles The self-demonstrating beams of sacred Truths need no borrowed reflexions By soft and easie breathings the Lord hath oft dispelled the grossest fogs and blindest mists which rose in his Church His fair and most orient pearles are frequently found in rough and unpolished shels The excellency of his heavenly Treasure and power doth best appeare in earthen vessels The plain and main Truths of Christian Religion among which this of an holy ordained Ministry is one like soverain and victorious Beauties lose nothing by the meannesse of their dresse or unaccuratenesse of their habit it is enough if they can but freely appeare like themselves This fashion of writing by way of Apology which requires a diffused and pathetick stile was indeed judged the best and fittest as for the Subject and the times so also for this Author considering the little leisure the short time the great variety of other businesse and distractions upon him besides the terror and precipitancy of the ruine daily threatning the Ministry and Ministers if God by the justice wisdome and piety of some men did not defend them and divert that mischief For the preventing of which some others have wrote in vindication of the Ministry after a more succinct and Syllogistick way of argumentation But the Antiministeriall disease having seised not so much the heads as the hearts of men and depraved affections having swerved many from the judgements it was thought necessary to apply some remedy at once to both setting Christians in the Truth and exciting them to such a love of it and zeal to it as may best encounter the heady boldnesse of those which oppose it If the Authour have in this larger way done any thing worthy so excellent a Subject it must be first imputed to Gods gracious assistance and the blessing of prayers more than of studies wherein it may be the charitable flames of many worthy Christians have greatly helped his infirmities Next it must be ascribed to the sacrednesse dignity and amplenesse of the matter or Subject handled which as Orators of old observed like rich soile and good ground raiseth to generous productions the weaker spirits of any thing sown or planted in them It is true the Authors ambition is in nothing more than to excell in the discharge of his duty as a Minister of this Church that he might finish his course with joy and also to have equalled with height of abilities and industry the excellency of this Cause which is of so high concernment to the glory of God to the honour of his Saviour to the salvation of so many soules to the happinesse of this Church to the blessing of this Nation to the preservation of so many worthy men his Fathers and Brethren of the Ministry who make conscience not onely to discharge their duty but also to preserve the divine authority and holy succession of their heavenly calling as Christian Ministers whom the blessing of God hath as much honored and confirrmed in this Church of England as in any other under heaven having made them in every place where they were planted as the trees of knowledge and of life bringing the desolate and barren wildernesses to become as the garden of God by their good husbandry their learned and godly industry which meriteth all incouragement and protection of all good men to whose vindication and assistance if this Author hath come in either too late or too weak it will be his great grief And if he have not been able to adde any strength or honor to this cause which some others before him have either fairly touched or somewhat fully handled yet he may adde to the number of the witnesses who have or shall give testimony to this great Truth holy Order and happy Institution of Jesus Christ who must not cease to prophecy though they be clothed in sack cloth Revel 11.3 To conclude Nothing seemed in honor and conscience to him more vile and uncomely than to see this Reformed Church of England which hath brought up so many learned and valiant sons which lately was so much praised and extolled by them in her prosperity to be now so much deserted by many of her children both Ministers and others in this day of her great agony and calamity wherein ignorant mechanick and meritlesse spirits think it not enough to endeavour to strip her of her ornaments to rob her of her garments to deprive her of her dowry to divorce her from her best friends and faithfullest servants but they must also cast dirt in her face spitefully scratching her wanonly rending her cruelly wounding her and most scornfully destroying her as if she were an impure prostitute a most abhorred Adulteresse when indeed shee was and is a fair Daughter of heaven and the fruitfull Mother of us all Iustly esteemed by all learned sober and godly men both at home and abroad as wise grave chast and venerable a Matron as any in all the Christian or reformed world Nor doth shee cease to be comely though she be now black and scorched There appeares beauty amidst her ashes and lovelinesse amidst her scratches the Spirit of glory shines through her Sackcloth still meriting and therefore not despairing of the love favour pity and protection of all worthy persons who are considerable either for counsel or in power and commendable either for honesty or Religion Suffering indignities and dayly fearing more from none but those that are enemies as to all learning order and religion so to all honesty modesty and humanity Her sad deplorable fate and by such men threatned if this Author cannot hinder or help to recover yet he shall with Jeremie heartily pity deeply lament and most passionately pray for her and her children so long as he lives as thou wilt O Christian and compassionate Reader if thou beest of his minde who bids thee Farewell HIERASPISTES OR A DEFENCE BY WAY OF APOLOGY FOR THE Ministry and Ministers OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND Humbly Presented To the Consciences of all those that excel in Virtue I Am neither afraid 1. The Address Dan. 6.3 nor
ashamed to present to your view and patrociny in whom is a more Excellent Spirit this Apology For which as I have no encouragement so I expect no acceptance or thanks from any men who carry on other designs than those of Glory to God Peace to their own Consciences welfare to this Nation and Love to this and other Reformed Churches of Christ I know That Secular Projects and Ambitious Policies have for the most part such jealousies partialities and unevennesses in their Counsels and Motions as can hardly allow or bear that * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Generous Integrity and Freedom which is most necessary as well as most comely for the Cause of Christ which I in my Conscience take to be this of his Faithful and true Ministers of this Church and of the Reformed Religion Of which in no case and at no time any true Christian least of all a Minister of that sacred Name and Mystery may without sin be * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 H. Steph. Mark 8.38 ashamed or afraid to own before men in the place where God hath set him and after that maner which becomes Heavenly Wisdom when she is justified by any of her Children It is your Honor and happiness to Excel not onely in that Wisdom which can discern but also in that Candor which cheerfully accepts in that courage which dares publikely own what shall appear to be the Cause of God the Institution of Christ and his Churches Concernments amidst the Contempts Calumnies and Depressions which they meet with from the Ignorance Errors Passions Prejudices Lusts Interests and Jealousies of the World 1 Cor. 4.5 The excellency of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ which you have attained by the blessing of God upon his and for Christs sake your servants the able faithful and true Ministers of the Gospel in this Church of England hath taught you to esteem all things in comparison Phil. 3.8 Tutiora sunt Christi pericula quà m mundisecuritates Jer. but as loss and dung to chuse to be with Christ in his storms if the will of God be so rather than enjoy the worlds calms There was never I think any time or cause since the Name of Christ had place upon Earth wherein your real and commendable excellencies had more opportunities to shew or greater occasions to exercise themselves than now This being the first adventure of some mens impudent Impiety attempting at once to annul and abrogate the whole Function and Office the Institution and uninterrupted Succession of the Evangelical Ministry Which prodigious attempt no antient Hereticks no Schismaticks none that ever owned the name of Christians were so guilty of as some now seem to be So that now if ever you are expected both by God and good men to appear worthy of your selves and your holy Profession either in Piety to God and Zeal to the Name of your Saviour Jesus Christ or in justice and gratitude to those your true Ministers who have Preached to you the true way of eternal life or in Pity and Charity not so much to them as to your selves indeed and your posterity the means of whose Salvation is disputed and endangered or in any other Christian Affections 2. True Saints Characters and heroick Motions such as are comely for those that are filled with holy Humanity being therefore the best of men because they have in them the most of Saints Saints I say Not because great but good men not as applauded by men but approved of God not as Arbitrators of outward but enjoyers of inward Peace not because Conquerors of others by the arm of flesh but more than * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plat. de â—ig Dial. 1. Rom. 8. Conquerors of themselves by the Graces of Gods Spirit not as violent Rulers of others but voluntary subduers of themselves not because prospered and encreased in Houses Lands Honors and Vain Glories by the ruine of others but by being mortified in Desires crucified in Enjoyments cautions in Liberties modest in Successes impatient of Flatteries Acts 12.23 which turn proud Herods into noysom Worms full of Self-denyings where they most excel coveting nothing so much as to be nothing in their own eyes to enjoy Christ in and above all things to abound in every good word and work to be humble in heights poor in plenty just in prevalencies moderate in felicities compassionate to others in calamity Ever most jealous of themselves lest prosperity be their snare lest they grow blackest under the hottest Sun-shine lest they should have their portion and reward in this world lest they should not turn secular advantages to Spiritual Improvements to holy Examples Secundae res acrioribus stimulis animum explicant Tacit. hist 1. to the ornament of Religion to the good of others to the peace and welfare of the Church of Christ Such living and true Saints I may humbly and earnestly supplicate without any Superstition who affect least but merit most that title upon Earth who are Gods visible Jewels Mal. 3.17 the Darlings of Jesus Christ the Lights and Beauties of the World the regenerate Honor of degenerate Humane Nature the rivals and competitors with Angels yet their care and charge the candidates of Eternal Glory Heb. 1.14 and Heirs of an Heavenly Kingdom Phil. 4.1 the crown and rejoycing of every true Minister the Blessed Fruit of their Labors and happy Harvest of their Souls The high Esteemers the hearty Lovers the liberal Relievers the unfeigned Pitiers the faithful Advocates and the earnest Intercessors for the distressed Ministers the so much despighted and by many despised Ministry of this Church You Rom. 8.11 in whom is the Spirit of the most Holy God shining on your mindes with the setled wisdom of sound Knowledge and saving Truths captivating all wandring fancies and pulling down all high imaginations 2 Cor. 10.5 which exalt themselves beyond the written Rule of Christ and the Analogy of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints Rom. 12.6 in the holy Oracles of the Scriptures and continued to this day Jude 3. by the Ministry and Fidelity of the Church which is the pillar and ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3.16 both propounding and establishing it against all unbelief and opposition You whose wills are redeemed from the servitude of sinful lusts slavish fears secular factions whose Consciences and Conversations are bound by the silver Cord of the Love of God and Christ to all Sacred Verity real Piety unfeigned Charity sincere Purity exact Equity comely Order holy Policy and Christian Unity 2 Tim. 2.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from all prophane novelties seditious Extravagancies licentious Liberties fanatick Enthusiasms pragmatick Factions and hellish Confusions You that are strengthned with all holy and humble Resolutions which become the sober courage and calm magnanimity of true Christians either to speak and do what honestly you may for
Christ and his Church for his and your true Ministers Heb. 11.25 or else to chuse with Moses rather to suffer with them than to be any way assistant to rejoycing in or compliant with the ruine of them that so in all things you may adorn the doctrine of Christ Tit. 2 10. and honor the true Reformed Christian Religion established and professed in this Church of England To your judicious Zeal sincere Piety unbyassed Charity holy Discretion which have no leaven of sinister ends or unworthy policies being got above the vain hopes fears diffidences and designs of meer men I do in all Christian Charity and Humility present this Apology in the behalf of those Pearls the true Ministers of this Church of England whose worth is not abated though their lustre be obscured Matth. 7.11 nor are they less precious when trampled by Swine under their feet Rev. 2.11 nor less Stars in Christs right hand and fixed in the Firmament of the true Church when they are clouded by these Fogs and Vapors Rev. 9.2 which ascend from the Earth or from the bottomless pit from the malice and rage of men or devils Godly Ministers sufferings are their Glory Heb. 5.9 2.10 Luke 22. Nothing more adorned and perfected Christs divine Person and meritorious Patience than his being blinded buffetted scourged mocked reviled stripped crowned with Thorns and Crucified * Inglerii desormes esse non possumus quocunque modo ad Christi imaginem conformamur cujus nunquam magis enituit gloria quam quae sputo sanguine vibicibus operiebatur Chrys Isai 53. 2 Pet. 2.6 1 Cor. 4.13 Matth. 5.11 Phil. 1.29 Col. 1.24 1 Pet. 4.14 Psal 4. Acts 6.15 Jude 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor was he less a King and Saviour when his Purple Robe was taken off and his own Garments divided among the soldiers He was not less the Messias the sent and anointed of God the Great Preacher and fulfiller of Righteousness when he was the scorn and outcast of men nor a less precious Foundation and corner Stone when refused by foolish builders who dashed themselves against him instead of building and resting by Faith upon him In like sort the true Ministers of this Church whom the pride and wantonness of some men glories to account as the filth and off-scouring of all things to speak and do all maner of evil against them falsly and injuriously if they may be so far blest of God and honored as to suffer after Christs example and to make up to their measure the remainder of the sufferings of Christ in his Body the Church there is no doubt but the Spirit of Glory will more rest upon them the power of Christ be more perfected in them and the light of Gods countenance be more shining on them than when their Corn and Wine and Oylincreased their faces will then appear most as Angels of God when with Saint Stephen they are beset with showres of stones overwhelmed with all maner of hard speeches and rude indignities Thus it becomes the proud and petulant world to act and thus it becomes learned able and humble Ministers to suffer Who have then least cause to be ashamed when they are most opposed and oppressed for Christs sake For troden in the wine-press of mans displeasure they may then yield the noblest juyce and most generous expressions of their Zeal Courage and Constancy Wherefore I have adventured although the weakest and unworthiest among many of my Fathers and Brethren the Ministers of this Church of England so far to satisfie the worlds curiosity as to give them some prospect and view of the Ministers of England in their present distresses feare and afflictions that men may see with how stedfast countenances they can look upon their adversaries Acts 6.15 while they stop their ears against them gnash their teeth at them and threaten utterly to destroy them that their causeless and implacable enemies may behold with what divine comfort and assurance they can walk both cheerfully and uprightly amidst their fiery furnaces Dan. 4. into which they are therefore cast because they will not fall down and worship * As Idols so are false Teachers Dolores Vanitates Labores Stultitiae Abominationes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mordii Res vana nihili Mark 3.14 And Jesus ordained twelve that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to Preach Acts 25.11 Toto caelo distant benè operari desperare Sibi conscia virtus Dat animos those Idol-shepherds those False-prophets Zach. 11.17 those Meer-images of Ministers which have set up themselves as gods in the Church of God such as neither they nor their Fore-fathers nor any Church of Christ for One thousand six hundred yeers ever knew or heard of who were ever blessed and thankfully contented in all times either of persecution or peace with those true Ministers who in a right way of due Ordination descended from and succeeded in the place and ordinary power of the Apostles and the other Disciples which were first sent and ordained by Christ Which the true Ministers of the Church of England being conscious to themselves as I shall after prove that they have rightly received they have this confidence still That they are neither so forsaken of God nor destitute of good Consciences nor despised by good men nor do they despair but that they may have leave be able and permitted with just freedom and modest courage to plead their cause before any Tribunal of men not doubting but they may have so fair an hearing as St. Paul their Great Predecessor both in Preaching and Sufferings hoped from Felix Festus Agrippa or Caesar Of whose piety the Apostle having no great perswasion yet he charitably presumed to finde so much equity and common humanity in them as not to be condemned by them being unheard or to be acquitted as to any crimes falsly laid to his charge if he had but the favor of a fair Trial and impartial Hearing So hard it is for a good man ever to despair in a good cause And however my confidence be just and wel-grounded 3. Reason of this Address as to the merit of that Cause which I have by Gods help undertaken yet when I consider my strength which is small my infirmities which are many my defects which are manifest my interest with men of place and power which is very little and the prejudice against whatever I or any other Minister can do in this kinde which may be great and many I have as feeble Creatures Quod deest viribus habent cautelâ conscious to their weakness are wont to do fled to the refuge and assistance first of Gods grace which is sufficient for me and which in the midst of threatnings Acts 27. storms and shipwrack bids me be of good chear Next to that of your mediation O excellent Souls who are every where dispersed in this Nation
edification and well-governing of the Church 1 Cor. 14.40 Wherein it had as all particular National Churches have an allowance from God both in Scripture and in Reason 27. Things of Religion ought first and most to be considered by Christian Rulers But as if nothing had been reformed and setled with any wisdom judgement piety or conscience in this Church nor hitherto so carried on by any of the true and ordained Ministers of it infinite calumnies injuries and indignities are daily cast upon the whole Church and the best Ministers of it The cry whereof no doubt as it hath filled the Land so it hath reached up to Heaven and is come up to the ears of the most high God And therefore I hope it will not seem rude unseasonable or importune to any excellent persons of what piety or power soever if it now presseth into their presence who ought to remember that they are but as Bees in the same Hive as Ants on the same Mole-hill and as Worms in the same clods of Earth with other poor inferior Christians whom they have far surmounted in civil and secular respects The swarms and crowds of worldly counsels and designs we hope have not as they ought not overlaid or smothered all thoughts care and conscience of preserving restoring and establishing truth good order and peace in matters of Religion Which are never by those publick persons who pretend to any thing of true Christianity to be so far despised and neglected that those above all other matters of publick concernment should be left like scattered sheaves to the wastings and tramplings upon by the feet of the Beasts of the people Meritò à Deo negliguntur quires Dei secularibus post ponunt negotiis Cypr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Primum quod sanctum Plat. Matth. 6.31 Hag. 1.4 Is it time for you to dwell in your ceiled houses and this house lie waste V. 5. Now therefore saith the Lord of hosts consider your ways 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arat. Phainom ungathered and unbound by any civil sanction and power agreeable to holy order divine method Christian charity and prudence Possibly it had fared better with all estates in this Church and State if they had learned and followed that divine direction and grand principle in Christian politicks First seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness thereof and all these things shall be added to you The neglect of Gods house the Church and its beauty holy order and ministry hath been a great cause of overthrowing so many seiled houses which were covered with Cedar and decked with Vermilion and Gold Certainly no men employed in publick power or counsel have any business of so great concernment or of so urging and crying necessity as this The preservation of the true Evangelical Ministry in its due power and authority Upon which without any dispute among sober and truly-wise men the very life being weight honor and succession of our Religion doth depend both as Christian and as reformed For it is not to be expected that the ignorant prating and confident boasting of any other voluntiers will ever soberly adorn or solidly maintain our Religion which hath so many very eloquent learned and subtile enemies besides the rude and profaner rabble besieging it both learned and unlearned oppose true Religion as the right and left-hand of the Devil the one out of ignorance the other out of crookedness the one as dark the other as depraved the one cannot endure its light nor the other its straitness Against neither of them can these afford help Anserum clangere crepituque alarum excitus Manlius capitolium propugnat Gallos deturbat c. Livi. Dec. 1. l. 5. any more than the confused cackling of a company of Geese could have defended the Roman Capitol Which noise is indeed but an alarm to sober and good Protestants intimating the approach or assault of enemies and should excite the vigilancy and valor of all worthy Magistrates conscientious Soldiers and wise Christians of this Reformed Church to resist the invading danger as by other fit means so chiefly by establishing and incouraging a succession of learned godly and faithful Ministers Nor in any reason of State or of Conscience should those who exercise Magistratick power in this Church and State so far neglect him who is Higher then the highest * Eccles 5.8 He that is higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they John 19.11 Thou couldst have no power except it were given thee from above Christ to Pilat 1 Cor. 12.1 1 Pet. 4.10 Stewards of the manifold grace of God Luke 1.16 by whom all power is dispenced or so far gratifie the irreligious rudeness the boisterous ignorance and violent profaneness of any who are but Gods executioners the instruments of his wrath and ministers of his vengeance as for their sakes and at their importunity to despise and oppress those who are by Christ and his Church appointed to be Ministers of Gods grace and conveyers of his mercy to men The meanest of whom that do indeed come in his name the proudest mortal may not safely injure or despise because not without sin and reproach to Christ and God himself For he that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and him that sent me is signally and distinctly spoken in favor to true Ministers and for terror to those that are prone to offer insolency to their worldly weakness and meanness Such as despise and oppose the Ministers of Christ are more rebellious than the devils were for of these the seventy returning testifie Luke 10.17 Lord even the devils are subject to us in thy Name If then we have immortal souls which some mockers now question sure they are infinitely to be preferred before our carkases and the instruments which God hath appointed 1 Cor. 1.21 It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe as means to save them are proportionably to be esteemed beyond any that are oft the destroyers at best but the preservers of mens bodies and outward estates Who can dissemble or deny That the banks of equity piety modesty and charity yea of common humanity are already by some men much demolished through the pride presumption insolence scurrility and profaneness of some spirits who are set against the Reformed Religion the Ministers and Ministry of this Church Who sees with honest and impartial eyes and deplores not to behold how the deluge of Ignorance Atheism Profaneness and Sottishness also of damnable Errors devilish Doctrines and Popish Superstitions together with Schismatical fury and turbulent Factions are much prevailed of later years both in Cities and Countreys here in England And this Gaudet in malis nostris diabolus latatur in miseriis dilatatur augustiis delectatur angoribus triumphat ruinis Bern. since men of Antiministerial tempers have studied to act the Devils Comedy and this Churches Tragedy endeavoring to render not onely
flourishing Churches Whether I say these should continue in their place and power wherein God hath set them and out pious Predecessors have maintained them in this Church and Nation or these yesterday-novelties the politick whimseys and Jesuitick inventions of some heady but heartless-men should usurp and prevail in this Church after sixteen hundred years prescription against them and which are already found to have in them besides their novelty such emptiness flatness vanity disorder deformity and unproportionableness to the great end of right ordering Christian societies of saving of souls by edifying them in truth and love Eph. 4.10 11 12 13. that they have been already productive of such dreadful effects both in opinions and practises Mirabutur ingemuit â—â—hâ— se tam citò fieri Arianum Jeròn cont Lucif John 14.16 The Comforter even the Spirit of Truth he shall abâ—de with you for ever that they make the Protestant and Reformed Churches stand amased to see any of their kinde bring forth such Monsters of Religion as seem rather the fruit of some Incubus some soul and filthy spirits deluding and oppressing this Reformed Church than of that blessed and promised Spirit whose power whose rule whose servants have always been the most exactly and constantly holy â—ust and pure For any true Christians then to allow and foster such prodigies of Protestant Religion as some are bringing forth seems no less preposterous than if men should resolve to put out their eyes and to walk both blindfold and backwards or to renverse the body by setting the feet above the head Indeed it is putting the Reformed Religion to the Strapado and crucifying Christ again as they did Saint Peter after a new posture with his head downwards As if in kindness to any men they should take away their souls and make them move like Puppets by some little springs wyars and gimmers or by the Sorcery of some Demoniack possession For want of the favor of such a publick tryal and vindication of the Ministry 31. Therefore this Apology endeavors the Ministers defence Gen. 41.14 Zach. 3.4 I have adventured to present to the view of all Excellent Christians in this Church this Apology By which I have endeavored to take off from the Josephs and Josedecks of this Church those prisons and filthy garments wherewith some men have sought to deform them and to wash off from their grave countenances and angelike aspects the chiefest of those scandals and aspersions under which for want of solid reasons or just imputations against their persons and calling by some mens unwashen hands and foul mouths whose restless spirits cast out nothing but dirt and mire against them they are now so much disfigured to the world Isai 57. The wicked is as a troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt Tertul. Apolog. 2 Cor. 10.10 His bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible so the false apostles the ministers of Satan 2 Cor. 11.13 The deceitful workers reproached St. Paul behinde his back That so odious disguises as of old to the Christians may render them less regarded and more abhorred by vulgar people This art of evil tongues and pens serving to colour excuse or justifie the injustice cruelty barbarity unthankfulness and irreligion of those who seek first to bait them in the Theatre by all publick disgracings and then to dispatch them Veri criminis defectus falsis supplet calumniis factis innocentes verbis deturpat matitia Sulpit. Docratistarum antesignanti B. Augustinum seductorem ani marum deceptorem clamitabant ut lupum occidendum tale facinus perpetraâ—i remistionem peccatorum obventurum Possid vit August For against these Beasts as Saint Paul sometime at Ephesus whom no reason learning gravity merit parts graces or age doth tame or mitigate the true Ministers of the Gospel even in this Reformed Church of England have now to contend for their Calling Liberties and Livelihood yea for their lives too if the Lord by the favor and justice of those that have wisdom courage and piety answerable to their places and power do not rescue and protect them 32. What Ministers I plead for 2 Cor. 2.17 Not as many which corrupt the Word of God 2 Cor. 11.13 Tit. 3.10 Nihil deformius est sacerdote claudicante qui non aequis rectis pedibus incedit in viis Domini Greg. Plus destruit sâ—nistra pravae viâ—ae quà m astruit dextra sanae doctrinae Bern. Non confundant opera tua sermonem tuum Proditores suâ— non praedicatores Christi quibus factis deficientibus viâ—a crubescit Jeron ad Nepot Nisi praeâ—â—es quod praedicas mendacium non Evangelium videbitur Lact. Inst lib. 3. cap. 16. Exemplum operis est sermo vivus efficatissimus Bern. Uâ— sumenti cibum non digerenti perniciosum est ita docenti non facienti peccatum est Id. Animata virtus est quae factis honestatur Cadaverosa qua verbis tantum macrescit Leo. Mysterium Theologiae non ut olim Philosophiae barba tuntum pallio celebratur Sed doctrinae sanitate vitae sanctitate Lact. If in any thing as weak and sinful men any of the true Ministers of this Church are indeed liable to just reproaches either of ignorance or idleness factiousness sedition any immorality or scandalous living and what Church of Christ can hope to be absolutely clear when even in Christs family and the Apostles times there was dross and chaff in the floor by Judas and Demas Simon Magus false Apostles deceitful workers Ministers of Satan c I am so far from excusing or pleading for them as to their personal errors and disorders that I should be a most severe advocate against them if after two or three admonitions they should be found incorrigible And this upon the same ground on which now I write this Apology namely in behalf of the honor of the Gospel the dignity of the true Ministry and the glory of the most sacred name of the Christians God and Saviour which idle evil unable and unfaithful Bishops and Ministers beyond all men cause to be blasphemed when they pull down more with the left hand of profaneness than they build with the right hand of their preaching betraying Christ with their kisses and smiting the Christian Reformed Religion under the fift rib when they seem with great respect to salute and embrace it Confuting what they say by what they do and hardning mens hearts to an unbelief of that doctrine which they contradict by the Solecism of their lives and maners either rowling great stones upon the mouth of the Fountain or poysoning the emanations of living waters or perforating the mindes and consciences of their hearers to such liberties and hypocrisies that they retain no more of true Religion and serious holiness than sieves can do of water As Salvian lib. 4. Facta verba sivi occinant Ambr. de Bo. m. Verba
sed improba virtutis invidia feruntur qui virtutem aspiciunt intabescuntque relicta Casaub For one century of scandalous Ministers which I fear was not so made up by exact sifting the pretioâ—â— from the vile but that it hudled up and kneaded some finer flowre with some bran How many hundreds were there then and are still of unblamable of commendable of excellent and most imitable Ministers in this Church As weighty as fair and as fit every way yea far beyond what any new stamp is likely to be for all holy admistrations But I finde it is not any new Truth or Gospel or Sacraments or Gifts or Graces or Virtues or Morals or Rationals or Reals which these new Ministers require or can with any forehead pretend All is but an affectation for the most part to have the same things in a new and worse way which because it is of their own invention they so eagerly quarrel at the former order maner of our Church and Ministry Many would have the same meat else they must starve Multi novitatis amore in veritatis odium praejudicium feruntur Quum illud pulcherrimum quòd verissimum id verissimum quòd antiquissimum Tert. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. Hel. or feed upon the wind onely it must be new dressed and dished up to the mode of Familistick hashes and Socinians Quelques choses Keckshoes by more plain and popular hands than those of the learned Ministers They would have a generation of Teachers rise up unsown out of the dust whose father should be corruption and whose sister confusion More vulgar submiss precarious facile dependent Preachers who should more consider an act or ordinance of man than a command of Scripture or dictate and stroke of Conscience be more steered by the events and various successes of Providence than by the constant precepts and oracles of Gods written Word Whose common places of divinity must fit any Eutopian Common-wealth what ever any power and policy shall form to their new fancies and interests whose Preaching and Praying shall make Christ and the Scriptures and the Sacraments all holy things and the Ministry it self of the Church meanly servile and compliant to any State design and secular projects Just as the sorry Almanack-makers do who command the Sun and Moon and Stars and the whole host of Heaven to assist any party whom they list to flatter or hope to feed upon Such planetary Preachers all true Ministers abhor to be and such their enemies deserve to have or to be who observing the winds of worldly and State variations Eccles 11.4 shall never sow the good seed of true Religion nor ever serve the Lord while they slavishly and sinfully serve the times Not but that all good Ministers know as wise and humble men how to be content in what Staâ—â— soever they are and to be subject to civil powers in all honest things Phil. 4.11 Rom. 13.5 with gratitude and due respect yet not so as to prostrate God to level Christ to subject Conscience to debase the glorious Gospel its due Reformation and its true Ministry and divinâ— Authority to the boundless lusts and endless designs of violent and rest less mindes Against all which and chiefly against those plots and practises which aim to overthrow the Reformed Christian Religion of this Church and its Ministry I desire this Apology may be as a Pillar and Monument to posterity of my perfect abhorrency That when I am dead â—f it hath any spark in it of an immortal spirit or living genius it may testifie for me and my Brethren the Ministers of my minde Luke 23.50 in after ages that as Joseph of Arimathea we neither gave counsel nor consent to those wilde or wicked projects which the ages will afterward see attended with most sad and deplorable effects either of Atheism Profaneness Ignorance and Barbarity or of Popish superstitions Heretical oppressions and Schismatical confusions which will follow the alteration and rejection of the antient true and Catholike Ministry of this Reformed Church which cannot but be attended with the subversion of many souls as to all stability or soundness in true Religion with the unsatisfaction of many and with the unspeakable grief and scandal of all those good Christians who love and wish the prosperity of this Church which I shall now endeavor to prove to be of a most Christian and Evangelical constitution chiefly by answering what is alleged by those who look upon both Church and Ministry as reprobate and would fain have power to damn them both without redemption And this they endeavor with as much justice and truth as Satan accused Job Job 1. and would have provoked God to destroy him without a cause OBJECTION I. That we have no true Ministry because no true Church-way in England I Finde there are many and great things objected by the Antiministerial party through ignorance weakness mistake or malice not onely against the Ministers and the peculiar office of the Ministry but also against the whole frame of our Religion especially as to the extern social maner of our holy Administrations Some of them deny us to be any true Ministers because not in any way of a true Church not having any true Religion owned or established and exercised among us in any right Church-way as they call it So that it is not onely the main pillars of Christianity the learned and godly Ministry which they would change But the whole model of our Church and frame of our Religion is that which these men would remove either pulling it down by force or undermining by fraud Therefore I have thought it necessary in the first place to countermine against these Moles and to establish against these Shakers and Subverters of the very foundations of our Church and Religion Here I must crave leave of you Answ 1. to whose favor I have dedicated this work whose highest excellency is your Christian Reformed Religion who esteem it your greatest glory with the Emperor Theodosius That you are Members of this Reformed Church and in this of the true Catholike Church to give these fanatick and cavilling disputers against our Ministry some account of that Religion which we profess and of that so much disputed and by some despised Church-way wherein we take our selves to be as upon surer grounds of divine truth so with much more order and decency as to antient patern and prudence than themselves That so as good Christians may be comforted and confirmed in their holy Profession so the world may see That we are neither ignorant our selves nor willingly deceivers of others in so great a matter as Religion is Of true Religion Vera est religio quae uni vero Deo animas nostras religat Aug. de Relig. Micah 6.8 James 1.27 which we publickly have professed and preached in this Church both with science and conscience with judgement and integrity First then We esteem True Religion to be the right
so poor and feeble an engine as this of private compacts and covenantings by which they threaten with severe pens and tongues and brows to batter and demolish the great and goodly Fabrick and Communion of this and all other National Churches which are cemented together by excellent Laws and publick Constitutions so as to hold an honorable union with themselves and the whole Catholike Church That we rather wonder at the weakness and simplicity of those inventers and abetters who in common reason cannot be ignorant that as in civil respects and polity so in Ecclesiastical no private fraternities in families nor Corporations as in Towns and Cities can vacate those more publick and general relations or those tyes of duty and service which each Member ows to the Publick whereof it is but a part and it may be so inconsiderable an one that for its sake the greater good of the publick ought not in Reason or Religion to be prejudiced or any way neglected No more ought it to be in the Churches larger concernments for Peace Order and Government Nay we dare appeal to the Consciences of any of those Bodying Christians whom charity may presume to be godly and judicious Whether they finde in Scripture or have cause to think That the blessed Apostles ever constituted such small Bodies of Covenanting Churches when there were great numbers and many Congregations of Christians in any City Province or Country so as each one should be thought absolute Independent and no way subordinate to another Whether ever the Apostles required of those lesser handfuls of Christians which might and did convene in one place any such explicite Forms or Covenants besides those holy bonds which by believing and professing of the Faith by Baptism and Eucharistical communion were upon them Or Whether the blessed Apostles would have questioned or denied those to be true Christians and in a true Church or have separated from them or cast them off as not ingrafted in Christ or growing up in him who without any such bodying in small parcels had professed the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the due use of Word Sacraments and Ministry who endeavored to lead a holy and orderly life themselves and sought by all means which charity order or authority allowed them to repress the contrary in others No doubt the Apostles wisdom and charity was far enough from the wantonness and uncharitableness of some of these mens spirits who do not onely mock our Church and its Ministers 2 Kings 2.23 as the children did Elisha the Prophet but they seek to destroy them as the she-bears did the children Sure enough the Apostles instead of such severe censures peevish disputes and rigorous separations would have joyned with and rejoyced in the Faith Order and Vnity of such Churches such Christians and such Ministers where-ever they had met with them in all the World without any such scruple or scandal for their not being first broken into Independent Bodies and then bound up by private covenantings which are indeed no other than the racking distorting and dislocations of parts to the weakning and deforming of the whole VVe covet not a better or truer constituted Church than such as we are most confident Col. 2.5 Joying and beholding the order and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ the wisdom and charity of the Apostles would have approved in the main however in some lesser things they might gently reprove and reform them as they did divers famous and flourishing Churches And such a Church we have enjoyed in England by Gods mercy before ever we knew those mens unhappy novelties or cruelties who seek now to divide and utterly destroy us unless we conform to their deforming principles and practises And however we have not been wholly without the spots of humane infirmities yet we have professed Jesus Christ in that truth order purity and sincerity which gives us comfort and courage to claim the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 privilege of being true Christians and a true Church that is a very considerable famous and flourishing part branch or Member of that Catholike Church which professeth visibly or believes savingly in the Name of Jesus Christ the Head of the whole Body and of every part to whom we are united by the same common Faith and by Charity to one another Certainly the best Churches and Christians were antiently like the goodly bunches of Grapes Numb 13.24 which the Spies brought between them as an emblem of Christ crucified hanging on a staff so fair so full so great and united clusters From which no small slips did ever willingly divide or rend to Schism but presently they became not as the fruit of Canaan but as sowr Grapes fit onely to set mens teeth on edge wheting them to bite and devour one another For the maner of each particular holy Administration in our Church to answer all the small cavils which men list to make 23. The great shield of the Church of England is to encourage too much their petulancy and to make them too much masters of sober mens time and leisure Onely this great and faithful shield * See those Reverend and Learned Writers Bishop Bilson Bishop Cowper Doctor Field Master Richard Hooker Master Mason and others Learned men heretofore have and we do still hold forth to repel all their darts and arrows That both in the Ordination of our Ministers and in their celebration of holy things and in its Government Order and Harmony the Church of England hath followed the clearest rules in Scripture and the best paterns of the antient Churches onely enjoying those Christian liberties of prudence order and decency which we see the gracious wisdom of Christ hath allowed his Church and which particular Churches have always used and enjoyed in their extern rites and customs with variety yet without blemish as to the Institutions of Christ or to the soundness in the Faith or to any breach of Charity or any prejudice and scandal to each others liberties in those things So that those busie flies upon the Wheels of this Chariot the Reformed Church of England in which the Gospel of Jesus Christ hath hitherto been carried among us for many years with great triumph and success have stirred up very little dust so as might blinde any eyes that are not full of motes and beams or blood-shotten from seeing clearly and evidently a true Christian Church a true Ministry and truly religious Administrations among us Blessed be God though these sowr Momusses finde or make some faults and flaws in lesser matters the mending of which they most oppose and hinder yet their strength cannot shake the foundations of our Jerusalem which are of pretious pearls and solid stones nor can their malice overthrow our grand and goodly pillars the true and able Ministers and their holy Ministrations of Word and Sacraments among Professors of the Faith who do as unquestionably constitute a true Church as a reasonable
be now so great when indeed we have now not onely down-right ignorance and blunter rusticity or heathenish simplicity or barbarous unbelief to contend with but also schismatical curiosities fanatical novelties heretical subtilties superstitious vanities cruel hypocrisies political profanenesses spiritual wickednesses to encounter We are to deal as Ministers even here in England not with raw Novices and callow Christians or meer strangers to Religious Mysteries but with such as by much handling matters of Religion are grown callous men of brawny hands gross humors Periculosissimus animo morbus est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritualis inappetentia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illa â—auseâ—bunda quae satietatâ— in sacâ—is laborat Cameron Numb 11.5 of tough hearts such as think themselves fat and so full fed with Religious Notions that they are grown pursey almost surfeted and past their appetite longing like glutted and pampered Jews for any novelties though it be for Garlick and Leeks and Onyons amidst their superfluities of Quails and Manna Nothing pleaseth their clogged stomacks that is old though never so true nothing comes amiss if it be but dressed up with novelty old Christianity set on the new block of faction O how welcome to many is a new Church way a new fashioned Ministry new ordered Sacraments new interpreted Scriptures With these wanton proud idle lazy coy and scornful tempers have we Ministers now to contest with such Sophisters as are ignorant yet proud of their knowledge need teaching yet affect to be teachers such as cast off all true Ministry and Church Orders and Government when they most want them as Feaverish men do clothes to make them sweat when they kick them off It is harder to deal with such mens arrogant Difficulties in the Work of the Ministry extravagant humors with their various subtil and sublime fancies in Religion which are like the running Gout every where painful no where permanent very offensive though very unfixed than with those plainer simplicities and that down-right profaneness which are in Heathens and meer ignorant ones who never took any tincture of Christian Religion whose ruder and open persecutions were not more pestilent to the true Christian Ministry and Religion than these craftier underminings are Nor do the Ministers of England so flatter themselves that secular powers are so propitious to them as not to finde more than ordinary cause to keep up the dignity and authority of their Calling by all internal sufficiencies and external industry rather than trust to the favors and benignities of men either great or small few or many Basil Mag. lib. de Spir. S. c. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Niss 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gregory Thaumaturgus when he was a Bishop of Neocesarea in Pontus blesseth God That when he came first to his charge he found not above seventeen Christians and when he departed from them he left not in all his Diocess so many unbaptized or unbelievers But the sad task of many excellent Ministers now is after many years labors to work upon the most rugged and ingrateful Christians in many places that ever were Many grave men after many years pains having merited and expecting from their people that Christian usage for love and respect which becomes both sides the more they preach and the better they live and the more they love their people the more peevish and froward they finde them Like hot irons they flie in the face of those that have heated them and are daily forging them both to solidity and beauty in Religion these like cross-grained pieces run with splinters into the hands and eyes of those that seek to polish them they affect a petulant piety and are taught by some That much of their Religion consists in despising and separating from those Ministers who have baptized and instructed them and to whom the care of their souls is orderly committed Nor is it onely hence that the dignity of the Ministry is wounded and the difficulties of the work encreased but even from our selves also who profess to be Ministers here in England The Lord of the harvest pardon our over hasty intrusions our importune forwardness our unfitness for the work our idleness in it our vaporings of it our sinister aims our crooked motions our improving both our selves and others more to private Factions than to the Catholike Faith or Publick Peace to popularity rather than to piety to pleasing rather than profiting of people by which ways it must be confessed many of us Ministers have miserably prostrated the honor of this sacred Fuâ—ction increased the difficulties of our work laid blocks and bars in our ways helped to level the dignity of the Function to vulgar insolencies either contemning or invading it As in aâ—l times so especially in these Ministers of the Gospel had need to be more than men above the pitch of mortals little lower than the Angels who are to counter work deep and deceitful workers to undermine and uncase false Ministers to bear up and recover Christian and Reformed Religion with it main pillar and support the true Ministry against those that seek to overthrow it In the most serene and favorable times to the Church and the Ministry a wise and gracious man should fear and tremble though never so able and by others recommended to undertake this work so sacred so divine so justly to be avoided If men looked not at high holy and eternal designs yea I should even think the best men might well refuse the charge and calling till God called thrice as he did to Samuel till he even chid or threatned them to the work 1 Sam. 3.8 Exod. 4.14 as he did Moses For if in any undertaking in the world a Christian might be disobedient or would be deliberating and demurring and ask oft of God and man Shall I shall I run it ought to be in this Let him that findes not care and work enough to look to his own soul cover rashly to take charge of other mens how sad is it to see loose and indifferent livers forward and earnest to be Preachers and undertake a Pastoral Charge The Lord forgive what hath been thus hastily hudled and inconsiderately entred upon by any of us Ministers and grant us that after grace which may recompence and as much as may be expiate the rashness of the admission and adventure by the seriousness diligence and conscienciousness of the performance Men if they were well advised and in good earnest should rather need spurs and goads to be driven by others than bridles or pikes to keep them off from rushing into the Ministry Nothing hath more debased this holy calling 15. Discouragements from the tenuity of maintenance and discouraged able men from it than the necessity here in England in many places to admit some mens tenuity and meanness into the Ministry and Livings who had no other motive but to obtain a morsel of bread and scarce found that for their pains
their pretended gifts Vasa quo inaâ—iora eo sonuntiora Vulgus hominum quae non inâ—elligunt impensius nio antur Jeron Males amorum Christianorum ut phreneticorum hominum delirantium illud proprium est Sibi semper adblandiri de se suisque magna polliceri jactabundi de Thesauris suis divitiis cum sint pauperimi se reges somniant ostentant cum vincti caess laceri sint vel uno hoc miserrimi quod sui ipsorum non miscreantur Erasmus Quartâ Lunâ nati plerunque moriones Lunatici Cardan shewing they are very full of themselves puffed up with their own leven applauded also by some others and blown up by people of their own size who are as prone to flatter confident talkers and undertakers as Children are to fill empty bladders with wind Pint-pots wi l cry up one anothers capacity and fulness till they are set neer or compared and emptyed into quart or gallon vessels 'T will then appear though they were soon full and ran over yet they held but little and are soon exhausted These Behemetick Preachers Spagyrick-Illuminates Familistick Prophets and Seraphick Teachers who pretend to such strange Prerogatives of gifts and new Lights above all other Christians yea and beyond the ablest Ministers like frantick men alwaies bosting of their riches strength treasure beauty c. amidst their sordid necessities If a wise man come neer them he shall find that as to any true light of good learning or sound Religion they are as dark and dusky as if they had been begotten in the Eclips of the Sun and born in the last quarter of the Moon In good earnest I wish I could find any just cause by their speech or Pamphlets to set my hand to those ample testimonials which these gifted men every where give of themselves and their party I have no envy at their parts nor ill will against any of their persons nor have I suffered or at least am not sensible of any particular injury from any of them So that I can without any passion or partiality profess that I never yet perceived any such sparks of eminent gifts either in reason or Religion as renders them either envyable or any way considerable in comparison of those Ministers whom they list to cry down 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isoc Magno conatu nugas nihil agunt Portentiloquia fanaticorum Iraen Et sana sanantia verba 2 Tim. 4.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and disparage Poor men they are indeed admirable but not Imitable for a kind of chimicall Divinity which after much pains and puffing vapours into smoke They are rare for odd expressions and phantastick phrases instead of the antient Scripture forms of wholesome words Nothing is more wonderfull as monsters are than their affected raptures wild speculations and strange expressions imagining that none sees their folly because they shut their own eyes and soar above the common mans capacity in specious nonsense and calling those glorious Truths which are sottish vanities or shamefull lyes What honest hearted Christian can bear the filthy and unsavory expressions of some of these Anti-ministeriall Ranters Shakers and Seekers their metaphysicall mincings of Blasphemy their ridlings of Religion their scurrilous confounding of the Incomprehensible excellencies of God of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the Blessed Spirit with the nature of any creature never so mean and sordid that to them it s no wonder if the Egyptian found so many Gods in his Garden as he had Leeks and Onyons or Frogs and Toads Thus amusing their poor and silly auditors with high blasphemies Felices gentes quibus haec nascantur in hortis Numina Juv. Non credentium sed credulorum non sanctorum sed insanorum non illuminatorum sed delirantium Theologia Iraen and most obscure extravagancies Such of old were the rare speculations inventions and expressions of the Valentinians Their Buthi Aeones Syzugiai Pseudevangelia Pleromata conceptio spiritualis umbra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And a thousand such blasphemous whimsyes which Irenaeus tels of in his times So that their Dungeon-like Divinity and Mid-night Doctrines instead of fair explications of Truth by Scripture reasonings and the demonstration of the Spirit therein are rather like Hedge-hogs when they are handled they wrap themselves up into such prickly intricacies as makes them not only useless ugly and untractable but hurtfull and scandalous to sober Christians and all true Religion which these fellows dress up with their foul fingers as Black-Smiths would do fine Ladys fullying all they touch while they would seem to adorn Certainly If spirituall gifts and prophecying of old had been such ordinary stuff such raw and rude conceptions such short thrums and broken ends of Divinity such ridiculous and incoherent dreams such senseless and sorry confusions as some of these Familisticall fancies usually bring forth either extempore or premeditated I do not believe the wisdom of the Apostle would have bid Christians either covet it 1 Cor. 14.1 39. 1 Thes 5.20 or not despise it Both which precepts import that such prophecyings as were of old and are only fit to be used in the Church Merito contemnendi sunt isti nugivenduli Prophetae qui-Ministerii Evangelici contemptores fastuosissimi nihil tamen ipsi profâ—runt praeter nugas nugacissimas mera delmia Zanch. had and ought to have such tokens of excellency and worth in it for the edifying of Christians as may induce wise and good Christians both to esteem it and desire it of which sort I think these presumptuous Propheciers find but a few either to follow them or desire them which is not the least cause of their great envy and indignation against those excellent Ministers who so much stand in their light as far out-shining them in all reall abilities gifts and graces they still retain the best and wisest of the people in some fair degree of order and discretion which forbids them to choose the figs of these new Enthuâ—asts which are very bad before those of their antient Ministers which are very good between whom indeed nothing but extreme ignorance or ranting prophaness can make any comparison Nor will their lowd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bostings of rare discoveries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Profanas vocum novitates affectant qui antiquas doctrinarum veritates deserunt Aust In aliquibus splendor est de putredine Verulam 2 Tim. 3.7 admirable inventions and singular manifestations salve their credit or long serve their turn For what are their rarities and novelties but either old Truths in new tearms purposely translated by such brokers of religion out of the old forms of sound words or else some putrid errors long ago buried which these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 searchers of the graves of old heretiques newly light upon and take for some rare hidden treasures Their splendid fancies like chips of rotten wood may shine for a while and
horrid and abominable liquors whose venom hath so stupified their consciences that they are past all feeling and sense of either sin shame or sorrow Nor is there ever any of these new Rabbies who can content himself with either the orders of this Church or the Articles of Sound doctrines or Catechisticall foundations and principles which it hath embraced and propounded upon very grave and good advise as most safe and necessary for Christians They must ever have some new fangle either of opinion or practise to make them remarkable 7. Gifts alone make not a Minister nor furnish him with true Ministerial power and authority But if I should yield which I cannot do with truth or only suppose some of these men to have even ordinary Apostolicall gifts as they vainly and falsly pretend yet even these would not make them beyond or better than fals Apostles unless they had the call mission and authority which true Apostles had immediatly from Christ and which false Apostles untruly pretended to who though they taught the truth yet with falsity pretended they had seen the Lord Jesus and were sent as other Apostles by him Nor will those common gifts make them ordinary Prophets or Ministers in the Church unless they have the ordinary call and mission which Christ hath setled in the Church A Serpent of gold would not have brought those healing effects which the brasen did at Gods appointement Gifts of knowledge and utterance alone are not qualifications sufficient for men to challenge the right of Ordination to publick Ministry for the moralls and practiques of men as well as their intellectuals are much to be considered the Priest might be able and the Levite lusty for service when they were unclean and so unfit for the Temple The levity haughtiness rudeness boastings and inconstancies observable in some mens looks gesture habit and carriage as St. Ambrose guessed at the mine and garb of two Presbyters who afterward proved stark naught makes them less fit to be ordained Ministers in the Church than many who have weaker gifts but discover more prudence gravity meekness humility and diligence Autoritas Charismata praesupopanit at Charismata autoritatem non ponunt Gerard. de Minist Qualis ordinatio talis successus Luth. 1 Cor. 3.3 A stock and gifts and parts either naturall or acquired though never so thrifty and spreading is of it self but as a crabstock and can of it self bear no other than sour fruits of Factions Schisms Emulations and carnall confusions in the Church till it is grafted with holy ordination by that due ministeriall power which is in the Church As there are formally or truly no true Sacraments where the same Elements and words materiâ—lly are used unless there be also a right Minister of holy things who acts and consecrates not in any naturall or civill capacity as from his own mind or other mens will but by delegation and appointment from Christ nor can there be a right Minister In actionibus tam sacris quaÌ„ civilibus id validum quod legitimum Reg. Ju. or Officer from Christ as I formerly proved where there is not a right patent divine power and commission given in his Name by due ordâ—nation as it is but treason and rebellion for the abâ—est States-man or Lawyer to undertake and act the part of an Embassadour or Judge untill he be made such by those in reference to whose will and work such power and employment only can be conferred That cannot be done in anothers name which is not done by his consent Quo meliores eo deteâ—iores Verulam de Jesuitis and according to his declared will Men of the greatest gifts if they are disorderly in the Church are but as Wens in the hodâ— the greater the worser the more they swell beyond the modell and true proportion of the bodies features the more deformity and inconvenience they bring to the whole body nor hath any man any cause to boast of them for it is not the greatness but fitness of parts which makes them handsome or useful to the whole who knows not that great wits and parts are oft-times great temptations as was said of Origen Magnum ingenium magna tentatio Vinc. Lyrin de Origine Tertul Gen. 3. whose frequent Preaching in the Church of Alexandria before he was Ordeined Presbyter gave great offence to grave and godly men imputing his after errors and fall to his too great forwardness and presumption The Serpent which was subtiller than other beastâ— is chosen by the Devill as a fit organe for to convey his temptations Proud and presumptuous gifts in men are no better than those inordinate excrescencies which exceed mens noses or blind their eyes or somtimes swell bigger than their heads nor will their fate be better at last than that of the Giants was who presuming of his vast limbs 1 Chron. 20.6 and the extraordinary number of his fingers and toes which were twenty four in all yet there wanted not of Davids worthies who slew him when he defied the Church of God 2 Cor. 10.12 If men be left to measure themselves only by thems lves as most of these overwise-men do which of them but is prone to think very highly of himself and like the Apes in the fable fancy they can build as brave Houses and Cities and Churches as the ablest man but when they come to the Wood thâ—y have not so much as Sawes or Axes or any tools to begin the work withall But these over-forward men usually reply with great sadness and severity against Ministers Monopolising of the duty and office of Preaching the Gospell That Paul rejoyced if any preached Christ Phil. 1.18 8. Of St. Pauls rejoycing that any way Christ was preached Phil. 2.21 Acts 17.11 though of envy and evill will though not Ordeined c. I answer first It doth not appear but those men might have due Ministeriall power to preach the Gospell and yet through passion or faction they abused this power seeking their own things and not the things of Christ Or secondly It may be their preaching was but privat domestique and charitative Instruction or confirming of others repeating as the Bereans what they had learned of St. Paul or other Apostles which is not denyed to any sober Christians but only required to be kept within those bounds of Order and humility so as it neither becomes rivall to or opposer of nor yet a despiser and at last an abolisher of the office of the publique Ministry which is the design of the presumptuous and pretenders against the Ministers Thirdly If those whom the Apostle speaks of were not Preâ—â—â—ers by office but only by their own little motives of applause or profit or Envy and the like they were moved to preach the Gospell of Christ yet they did not like ouâ— modern Intrudâ—rs and Usurpers boâ—st of Extraordinary gâ—fts and call nor did they deny or seek to overthrow in others the ordinary
either listed himself or received his Commission Order is that wholsomest ayr in which Religion lives best There is no less necessity both in Piety and Policy to preserve the Laws of holy order and discipline in the Church of Christ on Earth which have the warrant and seal of his authority upon them and are for the preservation of truth peace and honour in the Church Since we find by all experience of times and most in our own That the pride and presumption of mens gifts and private spirits are no less want only active in matters of Religion than in Civill and Military affairs Now why any men of piety or in power professing the reformed Religion should incline either to connive at or to countenance any courses which evidently tend to the shame contempt confusion and extirpation of all true Religion as it stood in the profession of the Church of England opposite to the gross errors superstitions and prophaness of any that are known and declared enemies to it I can see no cause unless it be a supine negligence in some who as they grow greater Acts 18.17 so they are like Gallioes more careless in matters of Religion wholly intent to State interests as if States-men had no souls to save or no God to judge them and were to give no account of that power and advantage they have as well as that charge and care which lyes upon them to do all good they can to mens souls under their power or else there is some other interest secretly contrived and cunningly carried on here as by open hostility in other parts amidst the dusk of our civill Commotions and troubles by those sons of Edom Psa 137.7 and daughters of Babylon who have evill will at our Sion and say of our Jerusalem Down with it down with it raze it even to the foundations Jude 9. As it was for no good will that the Devil contended with Michael the Archangell about the body of Moses minding rather to have it Idolized than Embalmed No more is it from any honest zeal or pious principle that some men now so earnestly stickle about and indeed against the setled office and peculiar function of the Ministry either to have it in common or none at all with any divine authority and commission whose first Anti-ministeriall batteries which seemed to carry some shew of Scripture-strength I have hitherto resisted and repelled not dashing or opposing Scripture against Scripture but clearing its obscurer meaning in some few places by that most evident and concurrent Sense which is manifestly held forth in many plain passages and hath been constantly followed in the Churches of Christ from the first setling of Christianity in the world to this day Sensus Scripturae expetit ceâ—â—a interpretationis gubernaculum Tertul de Pres Non verba tantum defendantur sed ratio verbarum constituatur Id. As the Spirit of God in the Word cannot contradict it self in the main scope and design so where any variation or difference in the letter may seem to be It must be wisely reconciled by discerning the different occasion reason or ground of things sure we are the pretended gifts or dictates of privat spirits may in no sort be set up any way to contradict those testimonies and demonstrations of the Spirit which are so evidently shining from the Scripture as they are in none more than this of a peculiar function and holy ordination of the Evangelicall Ministry And here I might forbear to add trouble to you O Excellent Christians or any readers by any further enlarging of this Apology 18. Conclusion and Transition whereby to vindicate the honour of the divinely Instituted and Ecclesiastically derived Ministry of this Church Since the holy Scripture is as I have shewed so wholly fully and punctually for its peculiar Institution and its constant succession to the end of the world whereto it is not denyed but private gifts may come in with such assistance as is humble orderly and edifying but not as proud invasive and abolishing as Hagar they may do service in Christs family but they must not grow insolent and malipert against Sarah What ever can be produced in a matter of so high and religious a nature as the Ministeriall office and authority is beyond what the Scriptures the only infallible rule and the Churches constant practise the most credible witness do assure us is for the most part but as childish skirmishings with Reeds and Bulrushes after combating with Pikes and Guns And I find indeed that all after Cavills of the Anti-ministeriall faction arise not much beyond womanish janglings presumptuous boastings and uncomly bickerings for the most part where not religious reasonings but peevish Cavils and pertinacious Calumnies like black and ragged regiments impatient to see themselves so routed by the Scriptures potent convictions and the Churches constant custome do but rally themselves as in a case Perdue to see what can be done by volleys of rayling Rhetorick and virulent Calumniatings against the Ministers of the Gospell in this Church whole greatest fault is that which the devil finds with the best of men that they are as Job upright Job 1. Culpâ—â—â— in 〈◊〉 to Jobâ— non invenicus Satanae malicia ipsam inâ—â—centiam in crimen integritatem in calumnium insidiosè vertit Greg. Lingua maledicasanctos carpere sâ—let in solatium delinquentium Ieron ad Eust not that there is any just fault to be found with their holy Calling which hath nothing in it irreligious or unreasonable nothing immorall or imprudent nothing but what is fully agreeing to all order policy decency as following the best and holyest Examples uses and customs of the Church together with the rules of Divine Institution and the ends of all true Religion the glory of God and the good of Mankind both for souls and bodies for temporall and eternall welfare for internall peace of conscience and externall tranquillity in Civill and Church Societies both as men and Christians All which the Ministeriall calling regards and carries on as its holy design and work which no other Calling doth Not Magistrates or Lawyers or Physicians or Tradesmen or Souldiers who do not think themselves to stand charged in Christs Name with the care of mens souls so as to make it their business to instruct direct and watch over them in the wayes of salvation And for Ministers persons such as are truly worthy to be counted such their failings will not be found beyond what is incident to common infirmities and daily incursions of frailties inseparable from the best of men in this mortall pilgrimage All which the charity of humble Christians easily conceals and willingly excuses or pardons when they consider how free and full a pardon of all sins is from God by the Ministry offered to every penitent and believing sinner The grief and impotent despite which the prophane politick and pragmatick enemies of the Ministry of this and all reformed Churches
have a name to * Revel 3.1 live by the Spirit and covet to be called spirituall who are dead in their lusts and walk after the flesh * Prov. 30 12. They seem pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthinesse Yea there is a generation O how lofty are their eyes yet are their teeth swords and their jaw teeth as knives Nothing is more cruell than supercilious hypocrisie * Ioh. 18.28 They were forward to crucifie Christ who were shy of being defiled by entring into the Judgement Hall They are most zealous to destroy the true Ministers yea the very function and succession who seem most devoted to be Teachers Prophets and Preachers of a new Spirit and form Many seem rich in gifts and increased in spirituall endowments thinking they need nothing of Christs true Ministry Revel 3.17 when they know not that they are poore and naked and blind and miserable Ephes 6.12 There are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirituall wickednesses usurpant in the high places of mens soules as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more sordid and swinish spirits that dwell in the lower region of mens lusts It is expresly stigmatized on the foreheads of some pretenders to the Spirit Iude 19. which was the glory of those first and purest times that they are sensuall not having the Spirit Irenaeus l. 3. c. 1. of the Gnasticks andValentinians Gloriantur se â—mendatores esse Apostolorum perfectam cognitionmen non habuisse Apostolos cap. 2. Dicunt se non tantum Presbyteris sed Apostolis sapientiores sinceram invenisse veritatem So the Circumcelliones Quae non viderunt confingunt opiniones suâ—s habentes pro Deo honores quos non habuerunt se habuisse protestantur Isid Hisp de off Eccl. l. 3. c. 15. Vain and proud ignorance as we see in primitive times is not onely content to be without the true wise humble and orderly Spirit of God but they must also study to cover their follies disorders and hypocrisies with the shews of it as if it were not enough to sin against its manifest rules and examples in the Word which have alwayes been observed in the Church unlesse they impute also to it their simplicities fondnesses impudencies filthy dreams extravagancies and confusions Counting it no shame to ascribe those unreasonable and absurd motions speeches and actions to Gods most wise and holy Spirit which any man of right reason and sober sense or common ingenuity and modesty would be ashamed to owne Our humble prayer is that these new modellers and pretenders to the Spirit may learn not to blaspheme not to grieve resist and doe despite to the Spirit of God which hath been and still is evidently manifest in the true Ministers of this Church and our earnest study shall be that we may be truly endued with such gifts graces and fruits of the Spirit of Christ that we may both speak and doe and suffer as becomes good Christians and true Ministers after the example of holy men and of our great Master Bishop and Ordainer Jesus Christ That so the judicious Charity of those that excell in vertue wisdome faith and humility may have cause to say the Lord hath sent us in the power as well as in the order and office of the Ministry to which we were rightly ordained On the other side we fear that the great earthquakes in the Church and darknesse over the Reformed Religion which may follow the true Ministers being set at naught and crucified by the malice and wantonnesse of men may in after times give too much cause to those Mat. 27.54 that now neglect us or afflict us to say as the Centurion did of Christ Doubtlesse these were the messengers of the most high God the true Ministers of Jesus Christ and of his Gospell to this Church While we have any liberty and leave to live as Ministers it will become us not to be so discouraged by the impotent malice of any enemies as to desert this holy calling whereto the Lord by a right ordination in this Church hath duly called us Not to look back to the world having once put our hands to this plough to consider our persecutors no further than to pity them and pray for them notwithstanding all the injuries and blasphemies not against us so much as against God while they fear not to ascribe the great and good effects which the Lord hath vouchsafed to work by his Ministers upon the hearts of thousands in England to Beelzebub Mat. 12.24 to the spirit of Antichrist or to any thing rather than to own the Spirit of Christ among us which hee hath promised should ever be with his true and faithfull Ministers in an holy succession of authority and power to the end of the world Scandalous inconstancy of Professors Indeed the greatest grief to the Soules of all godly Ministers and which hath brought the greatest scandall and dehonestation on their Ministry next to some of their own grosse failings is this when the world sees so many of those who seemed to be baptized with water and with the Spirit to have been illuminated and sanctified by their teaching to have tasted of the heavenly gift Heb. 6.5 and the powers of the world to come that is of the authority and efficacy of the Evangelicall Ministry which was to come after the Leviticall and Aaronicall order Many who seemed to have rejoiced for many years in those burning and shining lights of this Churches Ministers to have by their Ministry been well instructed reformed washed and escaped from the pollutions of this world That I say some of these like Jesuruâ— should thus lift up the heel and thus kick against the Ministers and Ministry like Demasses thus to forsake them like Judasses thus to betray them whom lately they kissed and followed as Disciples like Swine that they should thus turn and revile those that cast pearl before them returning to the wallowing in the mire and dirt of unjust covetous ambitious erroneous seditious licentious perjurious malicious and sacrilegious courses No more now ashamed of their lusts then those unclean beasts are of their filthinesse in the midst of the fairest Sun-shine day and when they are neerest to the most pure and Crystall streams But the light which they will not see in this their day shining on them and discovering the frauds and evill of their wayes they may after see in that darknesse to which they are hastning and to which they seem even of God to bee condemned But to conclude my answer in this particular 15. Conclusion and resignation of our Ministry if c. wherein the Antiministeriall adversaries pretend to such spirituall gifts and speciall calling beyond the ordained and setled Ministry if any excellent Christians or any of those that have either wisdome to discern or power to dispose of things to the advantage of this Church and State if they doe in
honour and peace these must be to every good Christian the constant Law and severest discipline Teaching him to governe himself most strictly when others affect most a misgovernment or none at all in Religion to act nothing immorally rudely and exorbitantly to discharge all his relations and duties with the more exactnesse to bear with patience yet with sorrow the want of that publique good which he desires No way to hinder the restoring of due order and authority to the Church and honour to Religion to pray for counsell and assist the recovery of it according to the Scripture rules right reason and the custome of the best times And however the vain and mad world goes on wildly and giddily as an unâ—amed heifer enduring no yoke of Religion as to any publique order Government Discipline or Ministry yet must not a serious and well advised Christian delay to guide his feet in the ways of truth and holinesse nor neglect to work out his salvation in Gods way till publique distractions are composed or delay to be good till all turbulent and fanatick spirits returne to their wits or till ancient publique order and Government in the Church be so setled and Religion so fortified by civill sanctions as it ought to be for no man knowes how long the Apostle Paul may be in a storm or the Church tossed with schisms and factions and secular interests before it recover the haven of a happy setlednesse True Ministers and true piety most to be regarded in licentious times Therefore a Christian that makes it his work not to prate and dispute and to play a part or to gain by the name of Reformation and Religion but to beleive stedfastly and obey constantly that holy rule hath never more cause to prize and adhere to the true Ministry and Ministers of Christ than when he sees the greatest persecutions lying on the Church either by violence or toleration by open force or fraudulent liberty which are both the Tivels Engines to batter or undermine the Church of Christ Never should holy dispensations be more earnestly desired and diligently attended from the hands of those Ministers in whom only is the right power authority and succession than when nothing is lesse tolerated among various and violent men than a true Bishop and Minister or a right ordained Ministry which of all things is to the divell and evill men the most intolerable Satan well knowes Matth. 24 15. that if he destroy the Shepheards the sheep will be scattered When good Christians see the abomination of desolation set up profanely tolerating any thing for Religion allowing of any Mimicks for true Ministers vulgar adoring of a rotten Idol of licentiousnesse gilded over with the name of Liberty when silencing true Ministers and suppressâ—ng good learning and crying up illiterate impudence shall be thought a means to propagate the Gospell Then let then that are seriously and soberly godly fly to the Mounteines to the true Ministers of the Church from whom God hath appointed salvation to descend to the beleeving souls Nor are they to regard what every bold and ignorant upstart boasteth and feigneth of Inspirations liberties and blessed toleration obtruding himselfe out of the promptnesse and pride of his own heart upon the credulous and silly vulgar who love to be flattered to their ruine and deceived to their destruction but hate to be truly guided and faithfully governed to their safety For all these pretenses of Liberty Toleration Inspirations c. are manifest to be but as the divels silken halters by which he hopes to strangle the Christian and reformed Religion here and elsewhere it may be seemingly and with more gentlenesse but not with lesse malice and cruelty to mens soules than with those rougher hempen cords of open persecution Propè abest à crudelitate nimia indulgentia à persecutione enormis tolerantia in tantum periculosa quantum dissoluta Melan From which such sad toleration and rude Liberties are not very far being but new expressions of Anarchy and colours of portending confusion or utter dissolutions of all Church order peace and Government into a cruell licentiousnesse which is always tyrannous to true Religion Nothing is more burdensome than some mens levities nor more fulsome and deformed than their Reformations nothing more uncharitable and untractable than their liberties nor more a plague and death to Religion than what they call health and recovery when vulgar or fanatick violence binds so much the staffe of discipline till it breaks heady men surfeit the flock by over-driving it and Wolves in sheeps cloathing scatter and tear the sheep of Christ under pretence of letting them goe whither they list in stead of being true shepheards fetching them home and feeding them in due bounds with good pasture in which wholsome and safe bounds both Christian Magistrates Sic vigilet tolerantia ut non dormiat disciplina Aust l. 17. de verb. Ap. and true Ministers should seek to feed the flock of Christ not as bare spectators of their wanderings and errours but as enabled and intrusted by God with a coercive power from Christ for the Churches good and where the Magistrate is negligent there the Minister should be the more diligent in the place where Christ hath set him who is the great Shepheard of our souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucyd Libera me a malo hoc est a me ipso Ber. beyond whose holy bounds for any Christians to affect any Liberty is to wear the divels livery while they are in Christs service Few men complain of want of freedome but they whose freedome would be their own and other mens greatest bondage Nothing is lesse desirable to a good Christian than to be left to himselfe for men are then neerest to be undone when they may doe what they list and least in safety when they are their own keepers MY next Calumniating Adversary The 6 Cavill Against the maintenance of the Ministry as setled by Law against the Ministry of England which I have to deal with and detect is possessed with a thirsty and covetous Spirit which would fain have Liberty if not to speak and act what he list in Religion without any restraint of Magistrate or Minister yet at least to pay what he list to any Minister since he is free to hear whom and when he list or none at all he would not be tyed by any law to pay any thing to their support although it be due to them and a right which none else might challenge He likes not that setled maintenance which they challenge as due This subtill and frugall churl of a Christian is a Jesuitick terrien hath many wary fetches and windings against the Ministers of the Gospell in the reformed Churches but none beyond this plot that he hopes ere long to be too hard or too cunning for them here in England while under some specious and politick pretention he shall deprive them of all setled
businesse as that is which concernes the setled support of Ministers and in them of all learning and religion in this Nation makes me sometimes prone to think it almost a vain unseasonable and uncomely labour in me or any other Ministers who pretend to something of more ingenuous spirits thus to plead and that publiquely with any earnestnesse which seems to draw somewhat of the dregs of meannesse for their very bread which in the unequall distributions of humane affaires we see is not alwayes to men of worth and understanding Eccles 9 11. whom Christian principles and patterns teach to live above earthly things to minde things that are above Col. 3.1 to learn to want and to abound to be content in any condition Phil. 4.11 And truly in this the Ministers of England I think ought to have been prevented by some other advocates than men of their own coat As lately my worthy friend Mr. Edward Waterhouse hath done in his Apology for learning and learned men a work so honest and so seasonable as well became the candor piety and ingenuity of a Gentleman and a Christian who hath the honour to have made one of the first and bravest adventures in this kinde against these modern English Saracens And possibly many good men have a good minde so to doe even publiquely but they thinke it is conclamata res a forlorne and desperate cause as may bee offensive and unacceptable I almost think so too if some men may have their will and therefore the rather I have been excited to it if it be displeasing to some yea to many yet I doe not think it is so to the most or the greatest part of Christians I am sure it is not to the best of this Nation of what condition soever they be they cannot be so destitute of and unaffected with all reason Religion grounds of Conscience rules of Prudence considerations both of piety honour and honest policy In all which they are related by their own interests to the good and welfare of their true Ministers As Socrates when he was reproached for having no preferment in Athens answered It was enough for him to have fitted himselfe for preferment It was other mens work to bestow it on him So the studious learned modest and pious Ministers of England might well have thought it enough for them to have merited imployment and decent entertainment having with much paines and study and prayer furnished themselves for every good word and work within the bounds of their calling It seems hard thus to be put many of them after many yeares sore labour and travaile of their soules to plead for their wages or livelyhood yea and for their liberty but to worke while it is day in the Lords Vineyard of this Church wherein Christ hath set and ordained them Although there be a generation lately sprung up of degenerate Christians and ungenerous English who would make this whole Nation like themselves unworthy of the very bones of those excellent Ministers Ingrata patria ne ossa quidem mea habes Liv. an ur 566. which have lived here and merited so well of the publique as Scipio Africanus said of his bones when he died banished by his ungratefull countrey which he had so preserved yet we hope neither the most nor the best of men can be so stupid as not to consider how much they are concerned in the continuance and incouragement of such Ministers among them wherein no Nation or Church under heaven hath exceeded this However Ministers be earthen vessels and many have had both heretofore and lately great flawes and many faylings yet they ought in this Nation to be still highly regarded if not for their learning civility ingenuity and good society which is to be valued in any Nation that covets not to be barbarous yet for their work sake for that Gospell that God that Saviour that blessed Jesus his sake whom they truely teach for the holy Scriptures sake which they so frequently and so fully explain for those holy Sacraments which they duely administer both for the admission and augmentation birth and nourishment of Christians in the Church of Christ for the holy and good counsels and spirituall comforts which they oft give for the many wise stops and grave restraints to sin and error which they frequently put for the publique and good examples which most of them afford and all should by their place and calling These are cords of love enough to draw and binde all excellent Christians to them these are places of Oratory sufficient to make even any ordinary speaker an eloquent and potent Orator in their behalf And for my owne part having taken some serious view of the estate of this Church and the Ministers of it both in reference to the present and after times both as to that reall worth which hath been and still is in them the excellent use of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. or 52. and the miserable want which will be of them I cannot but at present be extremely sensible of and very much pity those sharp sad and unjust necessities which already have and must presse dayly more upon many worthy men of them and their families if some mens envyous and malicious designes take place onely I hope better things of those whose wisdome piety and publique influence hath hitherto under God restrained those Fountaines of the great deep from breaking in with all sacrilegious violence upon the whole Ministry whose wisdome power or counsell I doe not any way by this Apology seek to obstruct or prejudice as to any thing that may be better disposed of to the advantage of true Religion and the Church of England which are inseparable from a right and setled Ministry nor can that be had without such maintenance as is worthy of worthy men If no men will be with us but all forsake us 17. Good Ministers hopes in their desertions from men and some oppose us as Ministers yet we have one remedy besides the sympathy and charity of you O excellent Christians which is patience and prayer * Greg. Nis tels of St. Ephraem Though he was very poor yet he had a mine of rich prayers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. Nis in vita S. Ephraem He that allowes us to pray for our dayly bread and commands us to labour honestly for it even in this function of the Ministry he teacheth us to beleive that he will either give it or the grace to want it There may be some good * 1 King 18.4 Obadiahs who will feed the outed and impoverished Prophets of the Lord by fifties in their caves and obscure retirements as some have already done and it may be good Ministers shall then speak lowdest when their mouths are stopped and be as well liking in all true grace and comforts of Religion with * Dan. 1. their pulse as those that feed dayly on Kings provisions However if we must
be thus stripped and starved to gratifie the lusts of some men yet we hope for this mercy from God and favour from man that we shall not be forced to desert our calling or to contract a woe of not preaching the Gospell 1 Cor. 9.16 while we have abilities though we preach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though we have no publique incouragement For why should all our studies and time be made unprofitable It may be we shall by Gods help redeem our former defects by after diligence in the work of Christ we may happily work and war the better Verba vertas inopera nudam crucem nudus sequeres expeditior levior scandis scalam Jacobi Ieron Pauperesse non potest qui apud Deum dives est Lact. Inst l. 6. c. 12. when we are more expedite lighter armed and lesse incumbred with envy and worldly impediments We may I hope without presumption enjoy that liberty to preach the Gospel which others now take to prate against it and us and it may be people will hear and profit better when they see they have the Gospell at a cheaper rate and will be more in love with the reformed Religion when they shall see how much better penny-worth they have of that than of the Romish superstition which is more costly by farre yet lesse comfortable to a serious Christian Though we be made poore yet we may still make many rich though we have nothing yet we may enjoy all things though we are are troubled on every side 2 Cor. 6.10 yet we may not be distressed though perplexed yet not in despaire though persecuted by men yet not forsaken of God though cast down and cast out yet not destroyed through the grace of God which is sufficient for us Many worthy Ministers may justly plead for their liberties lives and livings as those did with Ishmael Ier. 41.8 Destroy us not for there are treasures of learning and saving knowledge with us But it is better for them to be Christs Lazarusses and beggars than the worlds rich gluttons and favorites Yet it must needs be so Revel 12 7. and so it will be unlesse some Michael and his Angels overcome this greedy Apollyon this sacrilegious Abaddon this penurious Divell and his Angels who prodigally offers Kingdomes to damne one soule but grudgeth one groat to redeem many thousands 18. Ministers just plea for their own neither covetous nor uncomely Nor will your noblenesse O excellent Christians interpret this which I have wrote in behalf of the maintenance of Ministers in this Church and Nation to be any pleading for Baal or clamouring like Demetrius and his complices in his panick feares for his silver shrines and his Diana where he considered more his gain than his Goddesse These are unjust and malicious glosses which the enemies both of the Ministry and of humanity * Act. 19.25 are prone to put upon any that plead nevâ—r so righteous a cause with words of the greatest truth justice sobernesse and moderation those having a stinking breath themselves think every mans unsavoury But by the leave of such latrant Orators and back-biters I must tell them what the wiser and more Christian world well knows that there is no cause why Ministers more than any other order of men should neglect in fair and just wayes to obtain for or preserve to themselves and their successours those worldly comforts and supports which the providence of God and the Christian munificence of this Nation hath in the most free way of gift and by Law granted to them in Gods name and for the service of Christ and the honour of Religion Other men are commended for their good husbandry and honest care to preserve their just estates which tend not so much to the publique good as the labours of Ministers doe who may not in prudence or conscience neglect those great and publique concernments of Christ and his Church with which they are intrusted Yea if they should have an eye to the reward to their own just right and particular interests which all other we see still have yet it were no more than Law and Reason all humanity and Christianity allow 1 Tim. 5 8. unlesse they would be worse than those Infidels that provide not for their own families or be as bad as those men who to provide for themselves and their families care not to rob and desolate even the Church and family of Christ Ministers may be wise yet innocent provident yet not sordid diligent in things honest yet not injurious to others Nor is it any whit uncomely for them to crave this justice or favour from any in power That they may quietly injoy those publique rewards of their learning and labours which are injurious to no man merited in the esteem of all honest men and therefore offensive to none but envious eyes and evill mindes Being the fruit of the publique bounty wisdome gratitude and devotion of this Christian Nation to God to Christ and his Ministers what they have a long time by law injoyed what they are rightly possessed of and what they have no way forfeited unlesse other mens calumnies and cavils their covetous projects and desires of novelty be the crime and fault of Ministers And lastly they doe intend with all peaceablenesse thankefulnesse and usefulnesse to use and enjoy if God and man permit so that no man shall have cause to repine at their enjoyments who knowes how to make use of their gifts and labours The shame of pleading this cause of Ministers maintenance lies at their dore who meditate speak and act so vile and dishonest things against them as force them thus to vindicate their just rights against unjust projects which seek by falshood and violence to take away not only the childrens but the fathers bread too and to give it to dogs who alwayes have sought to bring this reproach and scandall on this and other reformed Churches that they still carry on and serve some covetous and sacrilegious design with their reformations When God knowes it is not the design nor desire of any that are truly reformed Christians to robb the Church and Churchmen of one shoelatchet but rather to have added necessary augmentations to them if they had not alwayes been hindered by the covetousnesse and envy of some crosse faction who have longed to see the day when with Rabshakehs unclean spirit and foul language Isai 36.12 they might see all the reformed Clergy reduced to those sordid necessities which I have as much shame to write as these Antiministeriall sticklers have pleasure to wish it and glory to speak it Our comfort in the worst of times and things is 19. True Ministers comfort Multa quidem mala sed varia sclatia Sal. l. 9. That we know in whom we have trusted not in these Egyptian reeds which may faile us and pierce us but in the living God whom we have served though with many frailties yet with
pretend amendment before God Studiis in umbra educatis Sen. Want of experience in worldly affairs which is hardly gained within mens Study wals oftentimes prompts warm spirited men first easily to approve then passionately to desire afterwards weakly and unproportionably to agitate Consilia callida inhonesta prima fronte laeta tractatu dura eventu tristia Tacit. those precipitant counsels and specious designes which oft prove to the shame and ruine of themselves and their seduced party Indeed few Ministers of more pragmatick heads and popular parts but think themselves fit to be and take it ill if they be not Counsellours of State Members of Synods or moderators and determiners of all affaires both Ecclesiasticall and Civill hardly acquiescing in any thing as well setled either in Church or State wherein regard is not had to their judgement party and perswasion of which they are alwayes so very well perswaded that when they cry most down others as Churchmen from having any foot or hand in any civill businesses themselves can presently step in over head and ears so far implunged in State troubles and secular commotions that they hardly ever get out of them with honour and safety or with inward peace and comfort Nor can they easily lick off that bloud which may lye upon them when they have no weapon left them but their tongues The truth is no men are more violently and superstitiously devoted to their own fancies and opinions than some Ministers are none more unfeigned Idolaters of those little Idols which their owne or others imaginations have figured and which they would fain set up as Gods both in Church and State To these they preach it necessary that all Christians should bow down that without this mark of conformity to their way none should either buy or sell Rev. 13.17 And when they have once so far flattered themselves in their own well meaning projects that they proclaim God and Christ to be engaged on their side then they conclude that Hee can by no means be so wanting to his own glory as not to give all speedy and effectuall assistances to all their purposes and designes which are verbally as much to his honour as they would be really to their own advantages if they should prevail and succeed If they be defeated both God and all good Christians of a different minde from them are prone to fall under their hard censures and if they doe not charge him foolishly yet they doe blame their brethren and betters for want of zeal to Christ and to what they list to call his cause Such great counsails are oft agitated in the small conclaves of Clergy men And what they blame in Cardinals abroad or Bishops at home themselves are eager to practise even beyond Richelieu himself For they lay designes not for one Church or Nation but for the whole world Isa 55.8 Iob. 16.2 Forgetting that Gods thoughts are not as mans who may be never more mistaken than when they think they doe God very good service even by killing of others Nor are indeed the thoughts of the wisest and most learned Ministers or the humblest Christians such as those mens pragmatick projects are who by easie perswasions and popular presumptions do so much slight all ancient wayes and Catholick customes of the Churches of Christ which are the great seales of Religion both evidencing and confirming those holy orders and institutions which were appointed by Christ and his Apostles Pretending to follow some new Scripture rules and patterns in things of extern order and discipline which can never by any sound interpretation of the places alledged be supposed or proved to be either diverse from or contrary to the universall way and use of the primitive Churches who without doubt were as carefull to act in their outward order and government of the Church according to Apostolicall patterns and traditionall institutions which were first the rule of the Churches practise as they were faithfull to preserve the Canon of the Scriptures which were after written and to deliver them without variation or corruption to posterity But specious novelties in Religion or Church forms once formed in some mens heads are prone to move their hearts with very quick excitations and zealous resolutions Soon after like salt-rhewms they descend and fall upon their lungs provoking them to continuall coughs so that they cannot be silent or suppresse their desires of new things in Church and State Then they are violently carried on to the spreading of their opinion and way to others who are easily made drunk with any new wine At length they run giddily and rashly to some rude precipice where if they go on they are destroyed if they retreat it is not without shame from others and regret in themselves Together with after jealousies of State brought upon their whole function or that faction at least it being a case sufficiently known that most men are so much self-flatterers and self-lovers that they are impatient of any defeats ready to study and watch oportunities of revenge when they see the children of their brains which soon become the darlings of their devotion to prove meer abortions or to be violently dashed in pieces when indeed they never had the due formations of Scripture nor conceptions of Reason nor productions of Prudence Hence in Politicks many times sharp examples have chastened severely the preposterous machinations and motions even of Churchmen and Ministers when they forsake the ancient refuges of Christians and Ministers especially which were preaching 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. prayers and tears and betake themselves to swords and helmets to plots and conspiracies If those Ministers of hotter spirits doe not yet others do finde themselves sufficiently taught that wiser temper and modest behaviour which becomes Ecclesiasticks in all civill relations and affaires especially if they carry any face of change and novelty or have the least lineament of factious non-conformities to the established laws and customes in Church or State wise men have sufficiently seen those miseries obscurities and disgraces which as black shadowes have attended even Churchmen in that shame and those defeats by which God hath quenched the rash heats and over boylings of their fancies hopes and activities 3. 3. Some Ministers errors not imputable to all Therefore my answer to the main of this Calumny is by way of humble request to all excellent Christians that the jealousies which some Ministers weaknesse rashnesse or folly may have occasioned may not reflect upon the whole function of the Ministry nor the sins and errours of any mens persons be imputed to their profession as if it were among the principles of all Ministers never to rest quiet from civill combustions till they have their wils That Ministers may have many failings is not denyed if you would have them wholly without fault you must have none of humane race and kinde Not onely Gods exactnesse but sober
Idolaters commonly adored I well know that there needs not greater incitations to constancy in vertue or patience in afflictions especially if for no evill doing than those which innocency suggests to good consciences by which the grace of God hath no doubt enabled many of you to those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great agonies and victories of faith which you have as Job sustained in and obtained over the world by your meeknesse and to such as observe it admired patience Enduring at once even from those of whom you had deserved either as Brethren or Fathers better things so great contradictions and so many diminutions as not onely to have been despised yea and by some contumeliously used in your persons venerable for age learning piety and gravity but also to be quite dejected from that height and utterly ejected from the enjoyment of those ancient places to which both high honours and ample revenews were anciently annexed wherewith your selves were justly invested and which your predecessors peaceably injoyed many hundreds of years past in this Church and Nation Herein you have excelled most of the ancient Bishops who although great and commendable sufferers as Martyrs or Confessors yet seldome from those who were of the same faith and orrhodox profession Gregory Naz. indeed was stoned and reviled when he came to Constantinople and rejoyced to be so entertained because they were of the Arian faction enemies of Christs glory and godhead which is the Churches greatest glory and comfort Naz. orat Lat. In like sort divers godly and Orthodox Bishops were molested banished imprisoned and destroyed by prevalent Hereticks and Schismaticks who yet ever set up Bishops of their own leaven and faction For however men dared much against severall truths and fundamentall doctrines of Christianity yet never till of later times did they rise to the boldnesse of denying and destroying the evident Catholick custome of the Churches government by Bishops as chief among the Presbyters how ever single Tenets might be dark and disputable yet this was so clear by universall practise and consent that none ever gainsayed it that were of any repute for learning or piety among the ancients Your sufferings are the more strange and remarkable in this that they are from those who solemnly protested to maintain the Protestant reformed Religion as it was established in the Church of England in the extern order and policy of which you then were and had at all times been chief pillars and ornaments In this so strange and sudden alteration men soberly learned and peaceably pious and uncovetously Christian doe still with all respect and reverence to you and your Order consider not onely that great and undenyable justification which you have from the Lawes wisdome and piety of this Church and State ever since they were Christians as also from the Catholick and undoubted practise of all ancient Churches blest every where with the excellent lives learned labours and glorious sufferings of many your famous predecessors to whose care and fidelity the Church owes for the most part under God as the lawfull succession of Ministers so the preservation of the Scriptures of good learning and of all holy administrations But also they lay to heart that great humility moderation meeknesse candor and charity most worthy of you and most observable in you By which you have been as sheep before the Shearers not opening your mouths yea you were in order to publique peace content so far to gratifie your enemies and displease your friends as in many things to have been lessened in those rights and preheminences you had according to the Laws and ancient customes of this Church and State hereby hoping to have drawn others from their exorbitancies to such a peaceable temperament as might have been happy for us all Nor is it unobserved by wise men how great a justification the providence of God hath soon given even to your order and office which some Ministers were so impatient not to root out not onely by the preservation of it and by it a constant Ministry and holy order in his Church every where for 1600 years but also by that notable confutation and speedy defeat given to the vast hopes and violent projects of those for other mens counsels and results upon a secular account I neither examine nor censure Ministers who being of your own tribe were your sharpest rivals in a Presbyterian excesse who have now as little cause to rejoice in the so much endeavoured extirpation not of any Tyrannique and Papall but of all Presidentiall or Paternall Episcopacy that they have great cause to repent and be ashamed of those immoderate counsels and precipitant actions which knew not how to distinguish between the failings of persons and the benefit of order between the rectitude of a Canon or rule and the crookednesse of depraved manners which are incident to all sorts and degrees of men whatsoever and to Presbyters no lesse than to Bishops So that in such severities which ruined at a dear and dangerous rate what they might have repaired safely and easily they shewed themselves neither good Church-men nor wise States-men neither very pious nor greatly politick For by snuffing Episcopacy too close they have almost extinguished Presbytery and occasioned this ruine threatning the order honour maintenance and succession of the whole function and calling of the Evangelicall Ministry Their zeal not to leave an hoof in Egypt as some violent spirits pretended is probable to bring us back again to Egypt or so lose us in the wildernesse of Sin as few heads in after ages shall enter into Canaan No wonder if the branches wither when the root is wasted It is comely in your piety and gravity that you have not rejoiced in these so sudden defeats and speedy frustrations of their so bitter and implacable adversaries whose tongues it seems dividing their building ceased and soon decayed But rather you pitie these confusions incident to poor mortals who so oft bruise themselves very sorely by the fall and ruines which they maliciously or unadvisedly bring upon others as those violenter Presbyters have done even upon Presbytery it self who in its due place and decent subordination is also an ancient honorable and Catholick order of the Church of Christ by their hasty demolishing of all moderate Episcopacy where one Minister is preferred before another agreeable to the eminency of his gifts and graces the priority of his age the rules of all right reason and order which ownes any government in any society of men The gobdly height and orderly strength of which Prelacy was not onely as the root for right derivation and succession but also as the shelter stay and protection besides a great beauty and ornament to the whole Ministry of this and all Churches yea and to the reformed Religion here as established as not with lesse piety so without boasting with as much if not not more prudence and moderation as to the externe policy of it as in any
Church under heaven The want of that great benefit and those many blessings which the Churches of Christ both in primitive and postern times have enjoyed by the learning wisdome authority care circumspection and good example of excellent Bishops whom no men will want more than the commonalty of Presbyters may in time according to the usuall methods of humane folly and passions late and costly repentings make men the more esteeme them and desire their just restauration Servil de Mirand The ancient Persians are reported when their King dyed to have allowed five dayes interregnum during which time every man might doe what seemed good in his own eyes That so by the experience of those five dayes rudenesse riot injuries and confusions wherein rich and poore suffered they might learn more to value the necessity and benefit of lawfull orderly and setled government Want doth oft reconcile men to those things Carendo magis quaem fruendo de bonis recte judicamus which long use hath made nauseous and so offensive to them when wanton novelty hath glutted and defiled it self with its pudled waters possibly it may grow so wise by an after wit as ashamed of it selfe to returne to the primitive springs and purer fountaines where was both farre more clearnesse and far wholesomer refreshings Your charity forgiving and pitying your enemies and your humility digesting your injuries and indignities offered you by any men will invest you in more than all you ever enjoyed or lost as to reall comfort and gracious contentment By how much you now have lesse to be envyed of secular splendor the more you will be now and in after ages admired for your meeknesse and contentednesse in every estate Primitive poverty of Bishops will but polish and give lustre to your Primitive piety Humane disgraces are oft the foils and whetstones of divine graces The highest honour as of all good Christians so chiefly of godly Bishops and Ministers is not onely to * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is Pel. l. 2. 133. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cl. At. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 preach and rule but to suffer also as becomes the eminency of their places and graces Christ is for the most part on the suffering side and oftner to be found not onely in the Temple but in the furnace and wildernesse than in Courts and Palaces I may not I hope I cannot flatter any of you so as to tempt you to boast of your Innocency to glory in your merits or your crosses before God His exactnesse findes drosse in the purest vessels and defects in the weightiest shekels of the Sanctuary shewing the most innocent and meritorious persons as to men so much of sinfull infirmity in themselves as may both justifie Gods inflictings and provoke the afflicted to true repentings either for any excesses to which they might be transported as men or defects whereto they might be subject as Bishops and chief Ministers in the Church of Christ whose holy industry and pious vigilancy before God ought to be proportioned to those eminencies which they enjoyed above others in the eye of the world All that I aim at in this Paragraph is by this touch of Christian sympathy to expresse a sense of duty gratitude honour and love which I owe to God and for his sake to your Paternity Also to deprecate any offence which I either really have or may seem to have given any of you To whose hands chiefly I owe what I count my greatest honour my being duely ordained to be a Minister of the glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ in this Church of England You are still your selves and not to be lessened by any mutations of men or times while you possesse your learned and gracious soules in patience Ad coelestia invitamur cum a seculo avellimur Tertul. l. 3. advers Marc. Your sufficiency hath lost nothing while you enjoy God and your Saviour in faith and love your friends in charity your enemies in pity your honours in knowing how to be * Phil. 4.12 abasâ—d and your Estates in knowing how to want as well as to abound You have by experience found the Episcopall throne and eminency to be as * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nis de Greg. Thaum Gregory Nazianzen and Nissen call it a sublimity fuller of envy and danger than of glory and dignity A dreadfull Precipice hard in the ascent laborious in the station hazardous in the descent of which Chrysostome expresseth so great an horrour that he thinkes few men fit for it and few saved under it the charge is so great the care so exact and the account so strict * Chrysost in Act. hom 3. Nor doth he think it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a preheminency so much as paines rather a burthen and oppression than any honour or exaltation And indeed to great and excellent mindes there was nothing in your former height and splendor truly worthy of your ambition or others emulation save onely the larger opportunities they afforded you not of being better in your selves but of doing more good to others Of which conveniencies being now deprived as you will have lesse to account for to God so the noblest revenge you can take of the present age is by patience under so profuse afflictions by your prayers for your most unjust and unplacable enemies by your constancy in studious industry and holy gravity to let the world see how impossible it is for true Christian Bishops not to be doing or desiring good while they live to all men and even to those from whom they have suffered much evill without a cause Your experienced piety knows better how to act than I can write as to true contentment in the world contempt of the world triumphing over the world and expectations above the world your storms and distresses though decumani great and vast cannot be long And to be sure will never be beyond your Pilots skill who looks on you as sufferers if not for the fundamentall saving Truths yet for the comely order and ancient government of his Church Many of you are already in prospect of that fair and happy haven of eternall tranquillity To which I beseech our God and Lord Jesus Christ the chief Bishop of his Church safely to conduct you by the wisdome and power of his Spirit As for your fatherly solicitude and Christian care of this Church and posterity God will relieve you by assuring you that he hath so vigilant and tender care as will cause all to work together for good Nor shall the insolency of enemies forain or domestick who are pleased with your disgraces and enriched with your spoiles alwayes triumph in the ruines of the Bishops Ministers and this Church of England Since then nothing is more apposite than the words of one of your own degree and order Gregory Nazianzen famous for his piety and learning zeal and patience I crave leave with all
noble and most Christian a work But they had need to be Herculesses men of most divine vertue and resolution that encounter the many headed hydras and various monsters which are at present set against the Ministry of this Church What ever censures any other actions of men may ly under which God will judge and of which they may have more cause at last to repent than to boast yet this the vindicating and establishing of the true Ministry and its authority they shall have of all things the least cause to repent of Nor I hope will any worthy men give me or any other Minister cause to repent that I have presumed to become an humble suites and a faithfull Monitor in a matter of so great and so religious concernment yea peradventure I may find favour which God can only give in the eyes of men as Abigail did in Davids 1 Sam. 25 33â— who blessed God for her seasonable diverting of him from that excesse of vengeance to which immoderate passion had tempted him It is not safe to treat those as enemies which are Gods friends and friends to mens soules It was an action onely fit for Saul whom God had forsaken to destroy the Priests of the Lord 1 Sam. 18. as enemies and traitors If any consecrated vessels of the Temple should have soil or decayes on them yet none but Nebuchadnezzars Belshazzars or Antiochusses would quite break them in pieces or melt them and prophane them No time can be too long no counsell too deliberate before Christians put so severe a purpose in execution or gratifie any party without hearing all sides Nor should they that dis-advise from it upon sober and good grounds be lesse acceptable to men in power than any of those that prompt and incite to so hardy and hazardous an adventure This gives me some hope if not of acceptance yet at least of pardon for either that prolixity for which none can doe greater penance than I have or for that plainnesse by which I may exercise any mans patience who vouchsafes to read this my Apologetick defense 17. The Authors excuse for the prolixity of this Apologetick defense wherein I have not forgot that as it is written in a busie and pragmatick age so possibly it may fall into the hands of some persons whose imployments admit of little leisure for such long discourses or tedious addresses But as others in reading may be prone too much to remember their momentaries so I in writing have chiefly considered my owne and others eternities I have weighed with my self how important a businesse God had laid in this upon my heart and my heart upon my hand The vehemency and just zeal for which hath still dictated to my pen both this spurre and excuse That in a Cause of so great consequence it were not onely a sin for me to say nothing but to say little lest shortnesse of speech should detract from the worth of the matter Weak shadowes would argue faint flames either a dimnesse in that light or a chilnesse in that heat which ought to attend a businesse which to my judgement seems of infinite importance to present and future times So pretious a Jewell as the true Ministry of the glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ was not to be set with an unhandsome foil or by a slight and perfunctory hand I know small fires and short puffes will not serve to make great irons malleable No Divell is harder to be unmufled and detected than that which conceals it self under Angelick masks which some weak and credulous soules think a sin to lift up or to suspect 2 Cor. 2.11 But we are not ignorant of Satans devises No drosse or masse of corruption is more untamable and unseparable from mans nature than that of sacrilegious enmity against Christ the Gospell and the Ministry while they have any thing to lose I am sure what ever we or our posterity of this Nation may want we cannot want Christ or the true light of the Gospell in its power and authority without being a most unhappy Nation To which if the preservation of a learned godly and authoritative Ministry in a due ordination and divine succession such as was of late and still is though much wasted and weakned in England be not thought necessary truly no more will the Scriptures nor the Sacraments nor the peace of Conscience nor the pardon of sin nor the saving of soules ere long be thought necessary No nor the excellency of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ whose Name and Worship will shortly be either shamefully abused scurrilously despised as now it is by many yea and cleane forgotten by the profane stupid sensuall and Atheisticall hearts of men unlesse there be some men whose speciall calling and commission from God and man shall both enable and ordain them to preach and administer holy things in Christs Name whose duty and conscience so commands them to serve God and his Church that they cannot be silent or negligent without sin 18. Mens pronenesse to Apostasie without a true Ministry To expect that arbitrary and occasionall Preachers will doe the work of Christ and the Church is as vain at to thinke that passengers or travellers will build and plant and sow and fight for men in their civill occasions The men of this world will finde many other imployments of greater honour credit and content than to preach the Gospell with the crosse of poverty and contempt upon them which is ever crucifying the world and must expect to be crucified by the world It 's rare to finde any generation of men that are truly favourers of Ministers or the Gospel therefore they are ever grudging at all cost laid out on Christs account as lost and going beside their Mill who had rather bee savers than saved by him Nor is the opinion which sober men generally retain of the excellency and necessity of Christian Religion in order to their salvation sufficient to keep it up to a constancy and succession without a true powerfull and authoritative Ministry For we see that although nothing concernâ— men more than to beleeve there is a God the supreme good of whose goodnesse bounty power and protection we have every moment need use and experience and upon whose mercy our sinfull mortality can onely with any reason depend both living and dying for our eternall welfare yet many yea most of men are ready to run out to Atheism To Atheism and to live without God in the world unlesse they have frequent and solemne remembrances besides their owne hearts to put them in minde in their dependance on and duty to God In like manner although nothing should be more welcome to mankinde because nothing more necessary than the news of a Saviour for sinners To Unbeleif yet the bitter root of unbeleif and many sensuall distractions which are in mens hearts and lives are prone to entertain nothing with lesse liking than the hearing and
serve in a better Militia It matters not what our secular burdens be so as we may make the Gospell any way lesse burthensome or more welcome to our hearears We urge not that common liberty which we have and our joint interest in the publique civill welfare as men while yet we are made uncapable and the onely men of any calling that are excluded from all publique votes counsels or influence when yet any trade may invade our calling and usurp our Ministry It is well if wee may be suffered to be of Gods Counsel and permitted to acquaint others with it in order to their salvation our ambition is so to live that the diminutions contempt and poverty cast upon the Ministeriall order as to all secular priviledges or interests may be no disparagement to our function any more than it was to Primitive Bishops and Presbyters who by their constant patience and humility gave greatest Testimony to the truth of the Gospell whom their preaching moved not their patience did Yet Quos praedicatio non potuit illos vicit praedicantium patientia quos documenta Evangelica non moverunt de istis bene toleratae injuriae tandem triumphaâ—unt Hom. de Eccl. prim persec it will be little to the honour of this Nation which as yet professeth the Christian Religion to treat the Ministers of Christ after the rate that Diocletian or Maximinus or Julian did or as those primitive persecutors either heathens or hereticks or as the Mahumetans at this day doe under whom it is a favour to tolerate any Christian Bishops or Preachers or Professors among whom even the remaining Embers of Christianity are almost raked up and buried under the oppressions poverty and barbarity used against them and their Ministers Nothing hath a deeper and sharper sense upon my soule than when I see not onely the great and heavy distresses which already have and will further fall on many and most of my betters and brethren who as learned godly and ingenuous men merit something at least of compassion but chiefly when by foresight of future times I consider not without grief and horrour the great decayes if not utter vastations of the reformed Religion and of that true piety which such hath heretofore so flourished in England through the want of true able and authoritative Ministers all those inundations of ignorance error superstition and confusion will certainly flow in which all good Christians would most deprecate both from God and man my own and other mens serious sense of all which I shall much grieve to finde either unacceptably * Fructus est laboris finis operis placere melioribus Sym. Ep. or unsuccessefully expressed in this Apologetick defence which is humbly presented to the Christian candor and submitted to the judgement of all those excellent Christians whom it most concerns and to whom it is directed the least of whom I would not willingly offend 20. Deprecation of offence Non laudes sed laudanda quaeâ—â— Beseeching them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to accept in the spirit of meeknesse and love what I have written I hope as becomes a Christian and a Minister of the Gospell in this reformed Church of England Also to cover with the vail of charity what ever infirmities may appeare as in a frail and sinfull man who knowing that I had chiefly to contest with some men that are wise in their own conceit Prov. 26.4 thought it a part of wisdome in its season to answer them according to their folly And when I considered that these Antiministeriall spirits if they fear God yet they seeme little to reverence men either in the hoary heads of pious antiquity declaring its judgement in the writings of the Fathers Canons of Councels and histories of the Church or in the learned judgement of those excellent Authours of later edition who are all against them It hath made me the more sparing in so clear and confessed a cause to cite their infinite Testimonies My intent being neither to make this Apology a flag of ostentation for great reading nor yet to crowd up and smother these men meerly with numbers of names and quotations which is very easie but rather to breath upon them with the breath of life and to convince them with Scripture and right reason which may serve to meet with any in the ordinary rodes of rigid Separatists Papists and Socinians as for Seekers Enthusiasts Seraphicks and Ranters they commonly fly like Night-ravens and Scrichowles so much in obscurities that I can hardly see them though I oft hear their ominous voices portending utter darknesse after their evening fulguratings and flashes when I meet with any of these I thought it my duty and honour not to give them way though indeed I know nothing probable to conquer such obstinate passions to confute such proud ignorance or to curb such wanton liberties as these unruly spirits pretend to but onely the hand of God in sicknesse poverty terrour and improsperity A little winter of affliction will easily kill all those vermine of opinions which are bred in a summers toleration through health plenty successes preferments and which seise at length the very heads and hearts of men If any Christian through meer simplicity and honest credulity have erred not daring to take the hundred part of that confidence to maintain Truth or to assert worthy Ministers and the right way of the reformed and Christian Religion which others doe to broach and abet their desperate errors and calumnies I hope I have as my purpose is offered to those well meaning Soules in all plainnesse and charity what may redeem them from those many false and erratick fires which seek to seduce them from their true Ministers whom the light of right reason and Scripture and experience will shew them are as much to be loved honoured and estâ—emed as ever any Ministers of the Gospel were to any Christians in any Church since the Apostles time If any rude and injurious detractors being over grown with proud and presumptuous flesh instead of healing rise to insolent humors and intolerable inflummations rayling defaming decrying and speaking all manner of evill falsely against worthy Ministers and their calling being resolved and having vowed Act. 23.14 as the forty men against Saint Paul quite to destroy them The corrasives or burnt alum here and there sprinkled on the plaister of this Apology is purposely to meet with and to eat out that proud and dead flesh which may be in their corrupted minds and benummed consciences The sober Christian must not think that every one that makes a sowre face or wry mouth or wincheth at this Apology or passeth a severe slight or scurrilous answer upon it or its author is presently hurt or injured by me or it further than he whose bones are broken is hurt by one that strives to set them or he that hath ulcerated sores is by him that seeks to search and heal them These