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cause_n	great_a	king_n	kingdom_n	4,596	5	5.5955	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91309	Truth triumphing over falshood, antiquity over novelty. Or, The first part of a just and seasonable vindication of the undoubted ecclesiasticall iurisdiction, right, legislative, coercive power of Christian emperors, kings, magistrates, parliaments, in all matters of religion, church-government, discipline, ceremonies, manners: summoning of, presiding, moderating in councells, synods; and ratifying their canons, determinations, decrees: as likewise of lay-mens right both to sit and vote in councells; ... In refutation of Mr. Iohn Goodwins Innocencies Triumph: my deare brother Burtons Vindication of churches, commonly called Independent: and of all anti-monarchicall, anti-Parliamentall, anti-synodicall, and anarchicall paradoxes of papists, prelates, Anabaptists, Arminians, Socinians, Brownists, or Independents: whose old and new objections to the contrary, are here fully answered. / By William Prynne, of Lincolnes Inne, Esquire.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1645 (1645)	Wing P4115; Thomason E259_1; ESTC R212479	202,789	171

Henry the first summoned another Councell about Easter ad Curiam suam apud Londoniam cunctis Majoribus Regni having assembled to his Court at London not only his Archbishops and Bishops but all the great men of his Kingdome to suppresse the Marriages of Priests contrary to the Canons of the Councell of London Anno 1102. For the extirpation of which evill the King Regali authoritate atque potentia fultos roboravit by his royall Authority and power ratified those Canons and thereupon Anselmo Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas elect Archbishop of Yorke and all the Bishops of England Decreed in the presence of the said Glorious King Henry Assensu omnium Baronum suorum with the assent of all his Barons that Priests and Deacons should live chastly and keepe no Women in their Houses but those who were of their neare kindred as the Councell of Nice had defined this Canon being ratified both by the King and Peeres in Parliament to make it obligatory In these three Councells under Archbishop Anselme a great stickler for the Popes and Clergies Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction we see the King and great men of the Realme were present and ratified the Decrees and Canons therein concluded to make them valid and binding Anno 1114 King Henry the first commanded all the Bishops and Nobles of the Kingdome to meete together at his Court whereupon a rumour was spred over all the Land that the Archbishop of Canterbury was about to celebrate a generall Councell in presence of the Popes Legate and that he would promulge some new things worthy so great a Councell for the reformation of Christian Religion in every order On the sixteenth of October they all met together in the Kings Pallace at Westminster where the multitude which assembled together at last perceived that the tumour of celebrating a Councell and of the reformation of Christianity was nothing so There Anselme in the behalfe of the Pope brought a letter directed from him to the King and Bishops wherein hee taxeth the King for conferring Bishopricks claiming that right as belonging to Peters See for determining Ecclesiasticall matters and the affaires of Bishops without his or his Legats privity which belong only to the Apostolike Sea for stopping appeales to Rome as also for calling and keeping Synodall Councells without his privity when as it was unanimously ratified in the great councell of Nice consisting of 318 Bishops that no Councells ought to be summoned or kept without the privity of the Bishop of Rome and for translating Bishops without his consent Which letters much offending the Kings mind he sent his Nuntioes by common consent to Rome to give the Pope an answer and justifie his proceedings herein as warranted by his Royall Prerogative The same yeare upon the thirteenth of Aprill there was an Assembly held at Salisbury of the Bishops Abbots and great men of all England the Kings Writ compelling them to appeare there where the King appointed William his sonne lawfully begotten to be heire to the Crowne to which all the Nobles condescended and presently tooke an oath of Allegeance to him to be his men But the Bishops and Abbotts swore only and gave their faith that if he survived his Father they would forthwith conferre both the Kingdome and Crowne of the Kingdome on him without any controversie or exception In August following one Anselm the Archbish of Canterburyes kinsman came from Rome to King Henry being then in Normandie bringing the Popes Letters which authorized him to exercise the Office of the Popes Legate here in England which in a short time being knowne in the Kingdome of England the Bishops Abbots and Nobles admiring at it assembled together at London about it and certaine other things the Queen being present to discusse the matter Communi Concilio in a common Councell whereupon they all accorded to send the Archbishop of Canterbury whom it most concerned to the King to acquaint him with the ancient custome of the Kingdome and the liberty thereof and if he thought fit that he should goe likewise to Rome to annihilate This Novelty Who comming accordingly to the King found Anselme there expecting his passage into England to exercise his Legatine office there But King Henry the first not suffering any prejudice to happen to the ancient Customes of England kept him from entring into England that not without presidents For in the first yeare of this Kings Raigne Guido Archbishop of Vienna came into England having as he said the power Legatine of all England by the precept and authoritie of the Apostolicall See which being heard of throughout England was admired by all men all knowing that it was a thing unheard of in Britaine that any man except the Archbishop of Canterbury should take upon him to supply the Popes Apostolicall turnes Wherefore as he came so he returned being received as a Legate by no man nor exercising the Office of a Legate in any thing After this one Peter having obtained from the Pope a power Legatine over England Ireland France and the Iland of the Orcades at the same hereof all England was astonished the King sent the Bishop of Saint Davids and another Clergie man beyond Sea to conduct him to him enjoyning them that after his entrance into England they should not suffer him to enter into any Churches or Monasteries to lodge or eate Being brought to the King and honourably received by him having declared the cause of his comming the King answered him that hee had now no leasure to minde so great a businesse and that his Legatine power could not be established and ratified but by the connivance and assent of the Bishops Abbots Nobles and the Assembly of the whole Kingdome in Parliament moreover hee affirmed that he could not by any meanes willingly loose any of the Customes of his Country granted him by the Apostolicall See so long 〈…〉 lived whereof this was one of the chiefest and greatest that hee made the kingdome of England free from all Legatine power Whereunto Peter affented and promised to doe his endeavour to have this priviledge preserved and augmented And so being gratified with rich presents Ille qui Legati officio fungi in toto Britania venerat nimirum ab omni officio tali cum ingenti Pompa v●a qua venerat extra Angliam a Rege missus est writes Eadmerus of him by way of derision So little jurisdiction had the Popes Legates here in England in those dayes who became an intollerable vexation oppression to it in succeeding Ages in the Reignes of King John Henry the third and others In the Councell of Westminster under Iohn de Crema the Popes lecherous Legate Ann. 1125. there were 17. Canons made ab omnibus confirmata and confirmed by all there present to wit by 20. Bishops 40. Abbots Cuminumera Cleri Populi multitudine with an innumerable multitude of the Clergie and people who were present at it as the Continuer

of Canterbury in their and every of their distinct Courts and in the order and manner of their and every of their proceedings and by all other persons within this Realme as far as lawfully being members of the Church it may concerne them And further to conferre debate treat consider consult and agree of and upon such other points matters causes and things as we from time to time shall deliver or cause to be delivered unto the sayd Lord Archbishop of Canterbury President of the sayd Convocation in writing under Our Signe Manuell or privie Signet to be debated concluded consulted and concluded upon the sayd Statute or any other Statute Act of Parliament Proclamation Provision or restraint heretofore had made provided or set forth or any other cause matter or thing whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding And we do also by these Presents give and grant unto the sayd Lord Archbishop of Canterbury President of the sayd Convocation and to the rest of the Bishops of the said Province of Canterbury and to all Deanes of Cathedrall Churches Archdeacons Chapter and Colledges and the whole Clergy of every severall Diocesse within the said Province full free and lawfull liberty licence power and authority That they the sayd Lord Archbishop of Canterbury President of the sayd Convocation and the rest of the sayd Bishops and other the Clergie of the same Province or the greater number of them whereof the sayd President of the sayd Convocation to be one all and every the sayd Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions matters Causes and things so by them from time to time conferred treated debated considered concluded and agreed upon shall and may set down in writing in such forme as heretofore hath been accustomed and the same so set down in writing to exhibite and deliver or cause to be exhibited and delivered unto Us to the end that we upon mature consideration by us to be taken thereupon may allow approve confirme and ratifie or otherwise disallow annihilate and make voyd such and so many of the sayd Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions matters causes and things so to be by force of these Presents considered consulted and agreed upon as wee shall thinke fit requisite and convenient Provided alwayes that the sayd Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions matters and things or any of them so to be considered consulted or agreed upon as aforesaid be not contrary or repugnant to the Liturgy established or the Rubrick in it or the nine and thirty Articles or the Doctrine Orders and Ceremonies of the Church of England already established Provided also and our expresse will and commandement is That the sayd Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions matters and things or any of them so to be by force of these presents considered consulted or agreed upon shall not be of any force effect or validity in the Law but only such and so many of them and after such time as we by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of England shall allow approve and confirme the same any thing before in these presents contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding c. In witnesse whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witnesse Our selfe at Westminster the twelfth day of May in the sixteenth yeare of our Reigne Per Regem Ipsum Willys To which I shall adde the Kings further Warrant for making a particular Canon and Oath in the late Convocation Charles R. MOst reverend Father in God right trusty and right entirely beloved Councellour Right reverend Fathers in God right trust and well-beloved and trusty and well-beloved We great you well Whereas We out of our meere grace and favour and for the good and peace of the Church have granted to you our Arch-Bishop of Canterbury free leave and licence under our great Seale of England bearing date the twelfth of this instant May to propose treat and conclude upon all such necessary Articles and Canons which you shall finde fit to be ordered for the peace and government of this Church Provided that you shall thereby have no power to meddle with nor alter any thing ratified and confirmed by Act of Parliament And whereas we have further in that Licence which we have granted unto you reserved power to our selfe to command you to propose treat and determine of any such thing or things as we shall recommend unto you under our Signe Manuall or Signet These are therefore to will and require you to propose treat and conclude upon such a Canon as may secure us and all our loving subjects against all growth and encrease of Popery in this our Kingdom as also of any hereticall or schismaticall opinions to the prejudice of the doctrine or discipline of this Church of England established by Law And that in this case you agree upon some Oath to be taken by your selves and all the Clergie respectively and by all which shall hereafter take upon them holy Orders that they shall adhere constantly to the doctrine and discipline here established and never give way for so much as can any way concerne them to any innovation or alteration thereof And when you have made this Canon and inserted this Oath we require you to present it to us that we may advise upon it and if upon mature consultation we approve it we shall confirme it and then give you power under our great Seale both to take the said Oath your selves and to administer it to all such as the Canon appoints Given under our Signet at our Court at White-hall the seventeenth day of May in the sixteenth yeere of our Reigne To the most Reverend Father in God our right trusty and right entirely beloved Councellour the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of all England To the right Reverend Fathers in God our right trusty and well-beloved the Lords Bishops and to our trusty and well-beloved the rest of the Clergie now assembled in Convocation 3 ly by the Kings letters Patents for Confirmation of those Canons after they were made presented to be confirmed by him In the first canon whereof they thus truly resolve That a supream Power is given to this most excellent Order of Kings by God himself in the Scriptures which is That Kings should rule and command in their severall dominions all persons of what rank or estate soever whether Ecclesiasticall or Civill and that they should restrain and punish with the temporall sword all stubborn and wicked doers The care of Gods Church is so committed to Kings in the Scripture that they are commended when the Church keeps the right way and taxed when it runs amisse and therefore her government belongs in chief unto Kings For otherwise one man would be commended for anothers care and taxed but for anothers negligence which is not Gods way The power to call and dissolve Councels both nationall and provincial is the true right of all Christian Kings within their own Realms or Territories

Canterbury and Yorke to London to celebrate a Councell of all England there on the day appointed for the beginning of his Councell when all having taken their Robes and ensignes were about to go in Procession to it there fell out a vehement contention between the Archbishops themselves about the priority of place in the Councell For that rule of the Apostle in honour preferring one another was so abrogated by the Bishops of our time that neglecting their Pastorall diligence and care Bishops by how much the more stubbornly by so much also the more vainly contend about Praecedencie and almost all Episcopall Controversie is wholy conversant about the praerogative of their honours In conclusion Yorke comming soonest praeoccupied the first seate alleadging that the same belonged to him by the ancient decree of Saint Gregory by which it is known to bee enacted that of the Metropolitans of England he should be accounted the chiefe who was first ordained But Canterbury having made a solemne complaint of the preoccupying of his place as if he suffered prejudice refused the second seate Whereupon his subjects or Clerkes of his Province contending more fiercely for him presently the simple contention of words grew into a brauling Yorke the adverse party being stronger was thrust with ignominy from the place he had so early taken who exhibited his torne Myter to the Legate as a signe of the injury offered to him and cited Canterbury to the Apostolicall See The Metropolitans therefore thus contending and things thus disturbed the Councell was not celebrated but dissipated and they who had assembled as called forth to a Councell returned to their own homes Matthew Parker in his Antiquitates Ecclesiae Britannicae out of Gervasins and Radulphus de Duceto relates the story in these words A Legate called Flugonius came into England from the Pope at King Henry the seconds request that hee might both separate Queene Eleaner from him by a Divorce and comprimise the Controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke touching the precedency which had continued for many successions of Bishops and been oft times determined but never finally ended till the Statute of 31 Hen. 8. cap. 10. such was the pride and ambition of these Arch-Prelates whose more than civill contentions for superiority our Historians have at large recorded to their infamy This Legate assembled a Councell at Westminster in the Church of the infirme Monkes whither the Clergie of both Provinces plentifully assembled and when the day of beginning the Councell was come the Legate sitting on an high Throne gave the right hand to the Archbishop of Canterbury But Yorke hoping that the King would bee more propitious to him than to Canterbury refused the left hand and striving most impudently with his breech to sit between the Legate and Canterbury at last sate downe in the lap of his Primate He had scarcee touched Canterbury with his breech with which he strove to get the second place but he was shamefully reprehended both by many Bishops and also by many Clerkes and Laymen The Archbishop of Canterburies servants provoked with the indignity of this wicked fact and the vehemencie of the just reproofe pulling York out of their Lords bosome and throwing him down on the ground trampled him under their feet and his Archiepiscopall Robes being most shamefully pulled off and torne they buffeted him with their fists But Canterbury when as he could not call away nor hold off his servants enraged with so great anger departed out of the Councell that at least hee might draw them away with him by his departure The servants following their Master left Yorke lying prostrate on the ground environed with his torne Garments At last Yorke fetching many deep and frequent sighes ariseth halfe dead and goeth all bloody to the King who with his son was present in the Councell the thing for which I principally relate the storie and makes his complaint against Canterbury The King having received Yorks relation only was at first in censed against Canterbury but afterwards the truth of his owne rashnesse and impudency being manifested he dismissed Yorke who departed from the King with disgrace the most reviling him with clamors go go said they thou betrayer of Saint Thomas thy hands doe yet stinke with blood But he poore wretch did now welter in his owne not Thomas his blood Hugocius among these tumults perplexed with feare having pronounced a blessing sodainly dissolved so unluckie a Councell and appealled Canterbury to the Pope as guilty of this battery Yorke also did the like At last Canterbury least he should be overwhelmed with appeales on both sides submitted himselfe and his servants to the Popes protection by appealing both the Legate and Yorke to Rome so all equally appealed But the next day Canterbury who knew the manner of the Pontificians pacified the Legate with gifts and they thus reconciled remitted their Appeales on both sides Afterwards the Archbishop of Cant. and Geoffry of Ely were againe accused by the Bishop of York before the King that in the Councell of Westminster they had laid violent hands on him which when they had denyed and purged themselves upon Oath they were reconciled by the Kings command and by him a truce for five yeares was made between Canterbury and Yorke who promised betweene themselves upon Oath that they would firmely stand to the Arbiterment of the Bishops of Normandy and France as well concerning this battery as all other controversies depending between them And so this fray and Councell ended wherein you see the King Prince and Laymen were present it being in truth a Parliament accompanied with a Convocation Anno 1226. there was a Synod held at London under Otho the Popes Legate where the King with the Clergy Magnatibus Regni and the great men of the Kingdome assembled with many Bishops Priests La●corum Turbis and Troops of Laymen when they were all assembled Otho read the Popes letters to them before them all in which the Pope alleaged that it was a most ancient scandall and reproach to the Church of Rome that she was branded for coveteousnesse the roote of all evill and in this especially that no men could expedite any businesse in the Court of Rome unlesse by disbursing great summes of money and giving store of gifts but because the poverty of the Church of Rome was the cause of this scandall and infamy her naturall sons ought to relieve the want of their Mother for unlesse we should receive gifts from you and other good and honest men we should want necessaries to supply our lives which would be altogether incongruous to the Roman dignity Therefore utterly to roote out this scandall by the Councell of our Brethren the Cardinalls of the holy Church of Rome we have provided a certaine forme to which if you will consent you may free your Mother from scandall and obtaine Justice in the Court of Rome without giving any bribes Now the forme provided is this First of

all we desire two Prebends to be given us by all Cathedrall Churches and out of Abbies where the Monkes and Abbots have divers portions of each one Monkes intire allowance one from the Covent another from the Abbott which demand Otho urged the Bishops and Prelates to grant on the foresaid grounds Who consulting together hereupon returned this their common Answere by Iohn Archdeacon of Bedford That those things he had propounded to them did specially concerne the King of England and generally all the Patrons of Churches Archbishops Suffragans and Prelates of England since therefore the King was then absent by reason of his infirmitie and some Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates were absent likewise that in their absence they neither could nor ought to give any Answer And upon these words uttered came Iohn Lord Marshall of England and other Messengers from the King strictly commanding all what held Baronies of the King in Capite that that they should not obliege their lay Fee to the Church of Rome whereby he might be deprived of the services due unto him And so all returned to their owne home The same yeare there was another Councell assembled at Westminster under Stephen Langhton Archbishop of Canterbury about the same matter To which the King conferring a part with some of the Nobles and Bishops gave this Answer that these things concern all Christendom because we are placed in the remotest parts of the world when we shall see what other Kingdomes will say to these exactions and shall have an example from them the Pope shall finde us more ready to obey him And so this Councell brake up By both which presidents it is evident that Councells in those dayes were no other but Parliaments the King Nobles and Commons being present in them and that the Clergy alone could treat or conclude of nothing but by their concurring assents Anno 1231. There was a great Synod of Abbotts Priors Archdeacons with almost the whole Nobility Masters and Clerks of the Realme assembled at Saint Albans by the Popes Command to celebrate a divorse betweene the Countesse of Essex and her Husband if there were cause This divorse was but an Ecclesiasticall matte● as the Canonists deemed it yet both King Nobles and Commons as well as Abbots and Clergy-men were present at it and called to it by the Popes command In the yeare of our Lord 1236. there was a Councell of all the great men Prelates and Clergie of the Realme summoned to meet at London by King Henry the third under Othe the Popes Legate which being assembled together at Paules the second day thereof the King sent John Earle of Lincolne Iohn the son of Jeffery and William de Reele a Canon of Paules to inhibit the Legate in the behalfe of the King and Kingdome that he should not there Attempt or decree any thing against his Royall Crowne and dignity William Reele remained there to see this inhibition observed the others departed The next day folowing the Legate supported with divine assistance astantis concilij Suffragits et consensu and by the suffrages and consent of the Councel there present to conserve and reforme the State Ecclesiasticall in the parts of England besides other Canonicall institutions promulged certaine Canons digested into Chapters and Articles which Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury with divers others who departed from the Councell with little joy resolved to nullifie and revoke as not confirmed by the King the Lords and Commons for ought appeares which Otho understanding writ to the Pope to ratifie them who accordingly did it by his decretall Epistle Anno 1288. John Peckam Archbishop of Canterbury held a Provinciall Councell at Redding in which he made five Constitutions purposing to draw the conusance of Patronages of Churches anciently belonging to the Kings Court to the Ecclesiasticall to rescinde all Royall Prohibitions in suites depending in the Ecclesiasticall Court for goods and Chattels and to inhibitu that Ecclesiasticall Judges should be thenceforth prohibited to proceed in them But the King hearing of this designe sent certain selected messengers both to the Archbishop and the whole Councell commanding them with threats to resist whence it came to passe that the Archbishop wholy receeded from his presumption and the Councell being dissolved all the Prelates returned frustrate of their hope 31. An. 1296. Robert Winchelsee Archbishop of Canterbury held a Provinciall Councell at London where the Clergy to disapoint the King of his Subsidies and Tenths decreed among other things Ne quid inconsulto Papa Regibus a Clero solveretur That nothing should be payed to Kings without the Popes privity and consent A right loyall Constitution worthy Prelates The King having then called a Parliament to re-inburse his monyes spent in the Scottish Wars had a large Subsidie granted him by the Commons and Burgesses But the Clergy neither offered nor granted him any thing by reason of this their Constitution for confirmation whereof the Archbishop had gotten the Popes Bull The King being moved therewith proroged the Parliament to London commanding the Clergy to be there on the first day of Saint Hilary to give him a better answer The King in the mean time commanded all the Clergy mens Barnes which were full of corne to be sealed up with publike Seales which whiles his Officers were executing the Archbishop commanded the Popes decree to be published in Cathedrall Churches inhibiting under pain of Excommunication that no Tribute or ayd should be payd to the King or to any secular Prince out of Ecclesiasticall livings or revenues an high straine of Papall usurpation and presumption and when he and his Suffragans met in Pauls they resolved to stand to their former Constitution and to grant the King nothing Such dutifull good Subjects were these lordly Prelates Whereupon the King sending messengers to them to demand a supply from them they all returne him this answer It is sufficiently known that under God the Lord of all we have two Lords a spirituall the Pope our Lord and a temporall the King our Soveraigne and though we are bound to obey both yet we ought to obey our spirituall Lord more than our temporall And therefore we intend to send a Legate to the Pope that his leave first obtained wee may give the King what he desires of us The King receiving this answer tooke it very disdainfully that he should be thus mocked in his own Kingdome by the Pope and his Clergie and thereupon thrust the Clergie out of the Parliament and held a Councell with his Barons and Commons alone and presently put all the Clergie out of his protection that none of them should have power to sue any man in any of his Courts but might be sued there by any of his subjects upon which all the Clergie but the Archbishop were content to offer the King the fith part of their Ecclesiasticall goods and the Archbishop persisting in his obstinacy had all

out of which the Independent Brethren CONCEIVE AN IMPOSSIBILITY that a spirituall extraction should be made That a man may as well bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane in Iobs expression as make A SPIRITVALL EXTRACTION out of this SECVLAR ROOT who have NO Authority nor power from Christ to nominate or appoint who shall be the men that shall order the affaires of Christs Kingdom or institute the government of his Church That therefore there is AN IMPOSSIBILITY that a legitimate Ecclesiasticall power should according to the minde of Christ or any precept or prefident of Scripture be by them conferred VPON ANY MAN OR THAT THE PERSONS SO ELECTED SHOVLD HAVE A POWER by vertue of such nomination or election TO ENACT LAWES OR STATVTES IN MATTERS OF RELIGION and TO ORDER VNDER MVLCTS PAENATIES HOW MEN SHALL WORSHIP and SERVE GOD c. Are diametrally opposite to the ancient priviledges and undoubted Ecclesiagicall Authority of Parliaments which they pluck up by the very roots and altogether as bad as if not far worse than Bishop Laudes with whom he symbolizeth in this particular which I have elswhere answered fully resuted These Passages of his were first unseasonably vented by him in a Sermon in Colemanstreet 25 February 1643. to what other end unlesse to prepare his Auditors to slight or reject what ever forme of Church-government the Parliament should prescribe or settle I cannot discerne for which with other particulars being questioned before the Committee for plundered Ministers even pending the complaint there he presumed to justifie them againe very unseasonably in the Pulpit on a solemne Fast day and likewise in two printed Books to one wherof he prefixed his name in high affront of that Committee which suspended him and contempt of the Parliaments Authority not to be paralleld in any age by any person for ought I finde Which audaciousnesse of his who pretended so much respect and honour to the Parliament heretofore engaged me according to my Covenant and Protestation to give a publicke answer in print to these scandalous passages in vindication of the Parliaments indubitable Right and Priviledge to intermeddle in and make Lawes for all Church matters as I have manifested by a cloud of witnesses in all ages in the foregoing Section and so farre incensed the Committee against him that they sequestred him from his living in Colemanstreet for the very things I mentioned in my Full Reply c. and ordered the passages in his Sermon and Theomachia to be specially reported to the House with all expedition as an unsufferable affront and presumptnons under mining of their Priviledges which they could neither in honour nor justice connive at without exemplary punishment and censure And yet this Gentleman since this censure hath had the boldnesse in another Pamphlet of his to which hee hath prefixed his name Intituled INNOCENCIES TRIVMPH an unfitting Title for a sequestred Nocent to deny those very matters of fact which he voluntarily confessed in my hearing before the Committee for which he was sequestred and to justifie his forementioned scandalous passages in such a daring way as cannot bee paralleld For first he professeth p. 2. That he hath not denyed the least dram or scruple of that power belike he hath weighed it exactly in the scales which is truly Parliamentary and consistent with the Word of the great and glorious God of which misdemeanour he is not in the least measure conscious to himselfe as yet This manifestes him incorrigible impenitent after censure proclaims him that which this whole Pamphlet vainly endeavours to acquit him from One who hath presumptuously undermined the undoubted Priviledges of Parliaments and here trebles in his former offences Secondly he averreth that what he formerly preached and writ was out of a loving tender affectionate jealousie over the Parliament lest possibly they might dash their foot against that stone by which all Rule all Authority and power will one day be broken in pieces So that if his tongue or pen have in the least miscarried in this point it was Error Amoris not Amor erroris he being extreamly jealous over the Parliament lest they should touch with any Title or claime the most sacred and incommunicable Royalties and privilledges of Heaven and so count it no robbery to make themselves equall to God knowing most assuredly that this is a most high provocation to the eyes of the most High and IF CONTINUED IN will kindle a fire in the breast of him whose name is Iehovah which will consume and devoure c. But good Sir first can any rationall man thinke though you should protest it ten thousand times over that such Anti-Parliamentary passages as yours are should proceed from your love to Parliaments The blindest charity I feare will hardly credit it that a friend to Parliaments should thus successively Preach and Print against their jurisdiction more desperatly than the worst Malignant Royalist Cavalier or the Arch-Prelate himselfe as you have apparently done Secondly If this proceeded from such affectionate jealousie over the Parliament I pray what made you so strangely if not ma●gnantly jealous over them as to feare and presume they might dash their feet against that stone by which all power shall bee broken in peeces claime the most sacred and incommunicable priviledges and royalties of Heaven to themselves and count it no robbery to make themselves equall with God Did the Parliament ever give you the least colour or occasion of any such uncharitable unchristian that I say not detestable jealousie could you have harder or more jealous thoughts than these of the very Pope or Turke himselfe or of that great Antichrist who exalts himselfe above all that is called God Can such jealousies as these issued from any but a rancorous or disaffected heart against Parliaments or did ever such execrable jealousies as these proceed from the heart tongue much lesse the pen of any Oxford Aulicus or most venemous Malignant to our Parliament Doe their calling of an Assembly of most pious and conscientious Divines of all sorts to reforme our Church and conforme its Government Discipline in all things as neere as possible to the Word of God with all their religious proceedings in this kinde infuse any such jealousie into you If not then for shame retract these your groundlesse fanaticke jealousies of and uncharitable hard thoughts against the Parliament else the world will censure you an Arch-Malignant and the greatest Enemie to our Parliament that ever yet appeared openly in Presse or Pulpit within the lines of Communication if not without them to Thirdly had you had any just cause of such a jealousie yet it had bin your duty to have privately informed your friends in Parliament with it in a brotherly Christian way but to publish these your brain-sick jealousies and suspitions of them behind their backs in open Pulpit and then to the whole world in print of purpose to make your Auditors Readers jealous of

no collections when I come and the very words import Therefore it can be no president for an ordinary constant unalterable universall Church-government and discipline established in all Churches 5ly Which takes of all and turnes its edg against my Brother It is must be confessed that this is no binding precept nor president in point of collections themselves much lesse then in other things For 〈◊〉 demand of my Brother 1. Whether this text did simply bind all the Corinthians to a weekely preparatory contribution towards the poore Brethrens necessities that were in Jerusalem so as they might not deny or vary from it it being rather a bare advise then a peremptory precept a meere voluntary charitable action as is cleare by comparing it with Act. 13 28. 29. 30. Rom. 15. 25. 26. 2 Cor. 8. 9. 1. to 15. especially v. 7. Every man according as he hath purposed in his heart so let him give not grudgingly as of necessity for God loveth a cheareful giver 2. Whether they were necessarily tied to make privat contributions only on the first day of the week no other or had they not a liberty notwithstanding this order to do it on any other week day as wel as on the first or every day or every fortnight or 10. dayes if they pleased as their particular occasions and conditions administred abillity or opportunity for such a charitable worke 3ly Whether this prescript forme of collection admitting it obligatory during this occasion did bind any Church but this of Corinth and those of Galatia only or whether it obliged all other Churches then or simply binds all Churches now to this forme of preparatory or privat contributions or not If you say no then you yeeld the cause since this president binds no Churches now to any punctuall imitation Therefore it is no proofe at all for any one divine universall unvariable forme of Church-government and discipline in all ages prescribed by Scripture If you say yea then all Christians Congregations in the world your Independent to offend against this the Apostles divine institution in not retaining this form of privat collections by segregating something for the use of the poore Sai●ts on every Lords day or weekly in suffering publique gatherings for the poore in Churches on Lecture dayes or week-day fasts whereas these were no such collections but only laying somthing up in private by way of preparatory Charity against the Apostles comming who would then receive every mans particular Charity by itselfe and not trouble them with any publike collections In one word No Churches nor Independent Congregations hold themselves strictly obliged to this forme of collection which was not publique but private every man by himselfe but all hould they may with safe conscience vary from it Therefore if this collection be a part of Church-government or Discipline under the Gospell as you make it this Government Disciplin is both mutable and arbitrable in this particular and so by consequence in others to as occasions and conditions of the Church do vary Your third Text of Acts 14. 23. When they had ordained them Elders in every Church proves nothing for what you alledge it For first it extends not to all Churches then planted in the World but onely to every Church in Derbie Lystra Iconium Antioch to which every Church relates as is cleare by comparing it with the three preceding and following verses whence the Argument from this Text can be but this The Apostles ordained Elders in every Church at Derbe Lystra Iconium and Antioch and so in every City in Creete Tit. 1. 5. Ergo in all Churches throughout the world Which is no infallible inference They might do it in all or most Cities where the Congregations were great yet not in Villages or lesser places where the number of Beleevers was but small Secondly This proues there were Elders ordained by the Apostles in many if not most Churches But yet it concludes not infallibly that there must of necessity bee Elders ordained by those who are no Apostles in all Churches There were such Elders then Ergo there must of necessity be such now in every Church unlesse there be a direct precept enjoyning them for perpetuity is no infallible Argument Thirdly Admit it generall and binding unto all yet this proves onely that there ought by Apostolicall president and institution to be Elders not one but more in all Churches what then becomes of some of your Independent Churches which have none as Master Simsons had none in Holland and as no new Independent Churches in or about London had when they were first gathered These certainly were no true Churches of Christ by this rule because they wanted Elders Fourthly This Text speakes onely in the generall that they ordained Elders in every Church But what sort of Elders they were Ruling or Preaching Elders onely or such who did both Rule and Preach or in what manner they were ordained whether by lifting up of hands onely to chuse them and no more or by laying hands upon them or by the Apostles owne imposition of hands only as Apostles or joyning with others as ordinary Ministers or in any other form is not expressed So that this Text onely informes us that there were Elders ordained in every Church but determines nothing of their office or in what manner or form they were ordained Therefore it concludes nothing for any exact compleat unalterable universall forme of Church-government in all particulars prescribed to all Churches ordaining of Elders being onely one part of Church-government not the whol no part of Discipline that left very indefinitely in respect of the manner and forme which the Scripture hath not by any direct precept or president reduced to an unalterable certainty but rather left Arbitrary and indefinite as will appeare by comparing Num. 8. 10. Acts 1 23. 24. 25. 26. c. 6. 5. 6. c. 14. 23. 1 Cor. 4. 14. c. 5. 17. 22. 2 Tim. 1. 6. 1 Tim. 4. 14. Tit. 1. 5. It being a great Controversie at this day whether imposition of hands be now simply necessary in the ordination of Presbyters Deacons or Lay-Elders or whether it be but an arbitrary ceremony which may be omitted without prejudice if there be cause whether it belonged to the Apostles onely as Apostles or as Presbyters whether it be appropriated to Preaching Elders onely as such or to ruling Elders as well as they or to the whol Church or Congregation and such as they shall appoint Or to Arch-bishops and Bishops only as such as many held of late though now that question is out of date So as neither of these Texts in severall nor any nor all three of them conjoyned prove any such conclusion or universall set forme of Church-government and Discipline for all Churches as is pretended My Brothers 4. Objection is The every particular Congregation is a compleate intire absolute spirituall Republike Corporation Body and City of God of it self