Super-indendents in Germanie Presidents in the reformed Synods in France and Masters Provosts and Heads of Colledges and Halls in our Universities who have a kind of prelacie and authoritie over the fellows and students whereof the major part are Divines and in holy orders Here I conceive it will be said that none of these are aimed at but only Diocesan Bishops alreadie banished out of Scotland and prelates indeed they are in a more eminent degree and if prelacie be restrained to them it is Episcopacie that is principally shot at to the extirpation whereof I dare not yeeld my vote or suffrage lest this new Oath intangle me in perjurie For both my self and all who have received orders in this Kingdom by the imposition of Episcopall hands have freely engaged our selves by oath to obey our Ordinarie and to submit to his godly judgement and in all things lawfull and honest to receive his commands if then we now swear to endeavour the abolishing of Epscopacy we swear to renounce our canonicall obedience that is as I apprehend we swear to forswear our selves It is true that the Dr was furnished with many other reasons for episcopacy besides these and of some he gave a hint in the assembly it self upon other occasions as namely SECT. VIII Sixteen reasons for episcopall government THat the name of episcopacy even as it signifieth a degree of eminency in the Church is a sacred and venerable title first in holy scripture ascribed to our blessed Redeemer who as he is dominus dominantium lord of lords so also episcopus episcoporum bishop of bishops the shepheard and bishop of all our souls next to the Apostles whose office in the Church is stiled by the holy Ghost Episcope a bishoprick let another take his bishoprick though it be translated let another take his office yet the originall signifies not an office at large but an episcopall function that office which Iudaâ— lost and Matthias was elected into which was the office and dignitie of an Apostle * lastly to those whom the Apostles set over the Churches as namely to Timothy and Titus who in the subscription of the Apostles letters divinely inspired are stiled Bishops in the restrained sense of the word 2 Tim. 4. written from Rome to Timothâ—us the first bishop elected of the church of Ephesus and to Titus the first elect Bishop of the church of the Cretians how ancient these subscriptions are it is not certain among the learned if they bear not the same date with the Epistles themselves the contrary wherof neither is nor can be demonstrated yet they are undoubtedly very ancient and of great authority and in them the word bishop cannot be taken at large for any minister or presbyter but for a singular person in place and dignitie above other pastors for there were many other presbyters in Ephesus both before and besides Timothy Acts 20.27.18 and in the Island of Creet or Candie there must of necessity be more then one pastor or minister Besides S. Paul investeth Timothy in episcopall power making him a judge of presbyters both to rebuke them 1 Tim. 5.1 and to prefer and reward them ver. 17. and to censure them ver. 19. Against an elder receive no accusation but under two or three witnesses and he giveth to Titus expressely both potestatem ordinis jurisdictionis of order and jurisdiction of order in those words c. 1.5 That thou shouldst ordain elders in every citie and of jurisdiction I left thee in Creet that thou shouldst continue {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to correct or redresse the things that remained or those things which the Apostle before intended to amend but had not redressed 2. The Angels of the seven churches Apoc. 10.20 were no other in the judgement of the best learned * commentators both ancient and later then the bishops of those sees for in those provinces or territories there cannot be conceived to be lesse then many hundred ordinary preachers and pastors yet there were but seven precisely answering to the seven golden candlesticks seven candlesticks seven lights burning in them these can be no other then seven prime pastors who had the oversight of the rest for the errors and abuses in all those churches are imputed to them and they reproved for not redressing them c. 2.14 Thou hast them that maintain the doctrine of Baalam and v. 20. Thou sufferest the * woman Iezebel to teach c. 3. It is confessed by Molinaeus and other learned patrons of presbyteriall government themselves that episcopacy is a plant either set in the church by the Apostles themselves or their immediate successors in the first and best ages of the Church and is it agreeable to piety to swear the extirpation of such a plant 4. It cannot be denyed that when the Church most flourished and was of far larger extent then now it is over the face of the christian world there was no * other government then episcopacy regulated by divine precepts and ecclesiasticall canons and shall we swear to extirpate that government under the which the church most thrived and flourished Shall we swear against our prayers viz. for the rooting out of that upon which we are enjoyned to pray God to pour down the dew of his blessing surely the dew of heaven burns not the root of any plant upon earth but waters it and makes it grow 5. They were bishops who had the chiefest hand first in the plantation of christian religion in the dayes of Lucius king of Britain and after in the â—estitution in the days of Etheldred King of Kent and in the reformation of it in the reign of Edward the 〈◊〉 and Queen Elizabeth and is it a religiouâ— act to eâ—adicate thaâ— government and power which both planted and prâ—ned religion it 〈◊〉 6. Christ died not intestate he made his last Will and Testament and by it bequeathed many legacies â—o his Church and among them not onely catholike doctrine but diâ—cipline also thiâ— discipline if it be not Episcopall government moderated by Evangelicall and Apostolicall rules the whole Church is guiltie of the losse of a sacred and precious jewell for certain it is out of records of all ages of the Church that no other waâ— ever retained or can be found save thiâ— before the religious reformer and magistrates of Geneva having banished their Popish Bishops were after a sort necessitated to draw a new plat-forme of Ecclesiasticall discipline by Lay-Elders Christ as the Apostle teacheth us was faithfull in the house of God as Moses and if Moses after his fortie dayes speech with God on the mount received a pattern from God and delivered it to the Iewes not only of doctrine but of discipline also which continued till Christs comming in the flesh it cannot be conceived but that Christ lest a pattern of government to his Church to continue till the end of the world and doubtlesse his Apostles with whom he conversed forty
in the defence of the justice of the Committee or Parliament if thou sayest that it contained any just matter of offence or scandall and in that regard ought not to have been published to the disgrace of the Assembly or Parliament Why did not those of the close Committee when it was in their hands suppresse it Why did they send the originall Letter to Oxford wherby it is now made publique and exposed to the view of all men Certainly if the bare sending of that Letter to Oxford make a man a Spie and Intelligencer and guiltie of I know not what capitall Crime as S. Austine argued against the Devills ambiguous oracles Sors ipsa referenda est ad sortem so I may truely say and make it good by the Recorders logick and the Parliaments Censâ—re that those of the close Committee who after they had perused the Letter and taken a Copie delivered it to the Messenger to conveigh it with all speed to Oxford deserve to be close committed and sent by the Serjeant at Arms Petri ad vincula O utinam nec enim lex justior ulla est quam necis artifices arte perire suâ SECT. VI Aulicus truely relates the Doctors reasons alleadged against the New Covenant in the open Assemblie HE tells us of Doctor Featley's exception against our Oath he framed some wished reasons and arguments and pinned them on the Doctors sleeve and would make them his but they are not satisfactorie enough I pray thee Britanicus shew us the long Pinne wherewith he pinned those reasons to the Doctors sleeve reaching from Christ-Church or All-Souls in Oxford to Peter-house in London and because thy brow is made of the same Metall with that Pinne go boldly to the house of Peers and enquire of the Lord Say and Wharton and after into the house of Commons and demand of M. Rouse and White and lastly into the Assemblie and ask of M. Case and Calamie whether the Doctor did not openly propound those reasons in the Assemblie a fortnight before that so often produced and much traduced Letter was sent to the Primate of Armagh out of which Aulicus transcribed those reasons verbatim Yea but these reasons are not sufficient enough they were sufficient enough to convince them who took the Oath and to confound thee Britanicus if they were insufficient why all this while hast not thou or some of them discovered the weaknesse and insufficiencie of them The Doctor could have alleadged many other reasons both against the Covenant in generall and that clause in particular which may be in due time produced after the former reasons have been any way impeached or infringed by any colourable answer till then thy silence and theirs whom it so deeply concerns to dissolve them as that they may dis-ingage themselves from perjurie argues plainly they are to you unanswerable SECT. VII Divers remarkable passages in the Assemblie of Divines related in the Letter to the Primate of Armagh BEcause this Letter or rather unsealed advertisement sent to an eminent Member of the Assemblie hath beene made as a Match anoynted with the Brimstone of the Adversaries malice to kindle a fire of envie against the Doctor which hath consumed his whole estate and dazled the eyes of many of his Friends in the Assemblie that they could not look upon him any more as a faithfull Fellow-builder but rather as a deceitfull Work-man· I will here truly acquaint thee Reader with all those passages in that Letter that any way reflect on the Assemblie After an Encomium of the Prolocutor for his speciall gift of praying not so much ex tempore as de tempore rather to fish out the learned Archbishops judgement in those controverted poynts then to satisfie his curiositie the Doctor related three great disputes which held the Assemblie many days The first concerning the eighth Article of Religion the second concerning the eleventh the third concerning the second clause in the New Covenant The first whether those words in the Article The three Creeds ought throughly to be received and beleeved might stand The second whether in the definition of justification the imputation of Christs active obedience as well as his passive ought to be mentioned The third whether those words in the New Covenant I will endeavour the extirpation of Poperie and Prelacie that is government by Archbishops Bishops c shall passe without any qualification or addition of the words papall or tyrannicall or independent The Assemblie voted affirmatively in all three the Doctor in the two former concurred with them but dissented in the latter upon what grounds he concurred in the former and dissented in the latter the ensuing Speeches made in the Assemblie will declare The first Speech concerning the eighth Article before the Assemblie of DIVINES M. Prolocutor THat we may not Penelopes telaâ— texere retexere doe and undoe and that it may not be said of our votes as Charles the fifth spake sometimes of the decrees at their Diets that they were like Vipers the latter always destroying the former What I shall humblie offer to this Assemblie shall be in confirmation of our last vote concerning the three Creeds read in our Church The exception of some of our learned Brethren are taken either at the titles or the Creeds themselves Against the titles that the Nicâ—ne Creed is in truth the Constantinopolitane that the Creed which goeth under the name of Athanasius was either made by Anastasius as some affirm or Eusebius Vercellensis as our incomparable Iewell relates Certainly Meletius the Patriarch of Constantinople in his Epistle to Iohn Doâ—sa resolves negatively Athanasio falso ascriptum symbolum cum appendice illo Romanorum Pontificum adulteratum luce lucidius contestamur we contest that it is cleâ—rer than day light that this Creed is falsely father'd upon Athanasius and is adulterated by the adding of a clause inserted by the Roman Bishop and for that which is called the Apostles Creed the father who so christened it is unknown Hereunto I answer that though the entire Creed which is read in our Churches under the name of the Nicen be found totidem verbis in the Constantinopolitane yet it may be truely called the Nicen because the greatest part of it is taken out of that of Nice And howsoever some doubt whether Athanasius were the author of that Creed which beares his name yet the greater number of the learned of latter ages intitle him to it and though peradventure he framed it not himself yet it is most agreeable to his doctrine and seemeth to be drawn out of his works and in that regard may be rightly tearmed his Creed And for the third Creed although I beleeve not that either the Apostles joyntly or severally dictated it yet I subscribe to Calvins judgement who saith that it was a summarie of the Christian Faith extant in the Apostles dayes and approved of by them Howsoever according to the rule of Aristotle Loquendum cum vulgo
third Figure and also of a Prison Ovid Mâ—tam l. 1. terras Astraea reliquit See the gentle Lash p. 5. Brit. pag. 67. Ans. Apol. Eccl. Ang. p. 2. c. 1. divis 1. Vid. Vossium de 36 Symbolis The second Speech to the eighth Article Act 14 Trin In ep. ad Polon Iohn 5.26 Hom. de temp. 88. The definition of justification The second Speech to the eleventh Article Calvin praefat. Institut Cypri de ceâ—t Dom. Piscator and Tilenus Obj. Sol 1 Obj. Sol. 2. Sol. 3. Sol. 4. Sol. 5. The third Speech to the eleventh Article The fourth speech to the eleventh Article Obj. 1. Obj. 2. Obj. 3. Sol. Obj. 4. Sol. Obj. 5. Sol. The fifth speech to the eleventh Article Arg. 1. Resp. Replic. Arg. 2. Advers. Resp. Replicatio Arg. 3. Resp. Advers. Replic. In Rom. 5. assumpt. But the â—â—ghteousnesse of Christ as he was a sacrifice for sin was to be unspotted wholly and without sin Hebr. Ergo as he was a sacrifice for sin his holinesse was imputed unto us Arg. 4. Advers. Sol. Replicatio The VOTE Eccl. 7.29 1 Pet. 2.25 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Act. 1.20 * Ambros com in Ephes. c. 4. v. 10. Apostoli sunt Episcopi Ierom. ad Marcel apud nos Apostolorum locum tenent Episcopi Cyp. ep. l. 3. Apostolos id est Episcopos praepositos Dominus elegit August in Ps. 45. loco patrum erunt filii â—d est Apostolorum Episcopi Et ibid. dilatatum est Evangelium in omnibus finibus mundi in quibus principes ecclesia id est Episcopi sunt constituti * Aug. ep. 162 comment in Apoc. hom 2. Ambrose 1 1 Cor. 11.16 â—â—cumeniuâ— Arethâ—s Marlorat Pareus in Apoc. c 1.2 Policarp Episcopus Smyrnae Onesimus Ephesi Antipaâ— Pergami c. * Ediâ— Teclae it is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} thy wife which demonstrateth that the Aâ—gell there signifieth one singular man of authority in the Church and not the whole clergy of that place Ep ad Episc. Winton * Concil. Nice can. 5. conc. Antioch can 6. Conc. Sard. can. 14. conc Chal. act 15. c. 29. â—gnatius in ep. ad Philad. Irenaeus l. â— c. 3. Tertul. l. de baptismo Euse. l. â— c. 40. Ierom ep ad Nepâ—t Optatus l. 1. cont. Parmen. Amb. in Eph. cap. 4. Basil. Eph. 70. Epiphanius haeres 75. p. 295. Aug ad quod vult Dâ—uâ— Aâ—riam ab AErio quodam sunt nominati qui cum esseâ— presbyter doluâ—sse fertur quod Episcopâ—â— non potuit ordinari diâ—â—bat presbyterum ab Epâ—scopo nulla â—isâ—râ—ntia debere disceâ—nâ— Hieron. in Tit. Con. 1. art 15. c. 29 Episcopum in presbyteri gradum reducere est sacrilegium Anatolius constant Episcop dixit iâ—qui dicuntuâ— ab Episcopalâ— dignitatâ— ad presbyteri ordinem descendiâ—â—e si 〈…〉 causis condemnanturnec presbyteri honore digni sunt See Art 36. â— de consecrat It is evident to all men reading holy Scriptures ancient authors that from the Apostles time there have bin these three orders in the Church of Christ and that a Bishop ought to correct and punish such as are unquiet â—riminous and disobedient within his diocesse according to such authoritie as he hath by the word of God * Vide record in Exchequer I wil preserve and maintain to you the Churches coÌ„mitted to your charges all Canonicall priviledges and I will be your protector and defender to my power by the assistance of God as every good King in his kingdome in right ought to defend the Bishops and Churches under their government c. Then laying his hand on the book on the communion table he sayth the things which I have before promised I shall perform and keep so help me God and by the contents of this book * Cic. Tusc. quaest. * Pro Mur. tolle noâ—en Catonis * Statut. Ed. 3. ann. 25. The Church of England was founded in the state of prelacie c. for we owe to it our best laws made in the Saxon times and Charta magna it self The union of the two Roses Yoâ—k and Lancaster the marriage with Scotland and above all the plantation reformation of true religion See Vindication of Episcopacie page 23 24. See also the statute book of 16. Rich. 2. where the Commons â—hew that the Prelates were much profitable and necessarie to their Soveraign Lord the K. and the realm c. * Ierome advers. Luc. c. 4. Ecclesiae saluâ— Ã summi sacerdotâ— dignitate pendet cui si non â—xors quaedam ab omnibus emâ—nens detur protestas tot in ecclesia efficientur schismata quot sacerdotes Cypr. ep. 3. non aliunde haereses abortae sunt aut nata schismata quam inde quod sacerdoti Dei non obtemperatur nec unus in ecclesia ad tempus sacerdos ad tempus judexâ— vice Christi cogitatur * Athanas. apol. 2. Colithus quidam presbyter in ecclesia Alexandrina alios presbyteros ordinare praesumpserat sed rescissa fuit ejus ordinatio omnes ab eo constituti presbyteri in laicâ—rum ordinem redacti See Epiph. haer. 75. The order of Bishops begets Fathers in the Church but the order of Presbyters sonnes in baptisme but no Fathers or Doctors See also â— Abbot in his 〈◊〉 of the visibilitie of the Church and in his answer to Hill * Apol. confess Augustan c. de numero usu sacrament â—os saepe proâ—estati sumus summa cum voluntate conservare pâ—litiam ecclâ—siasticam gâ—adus in ecclesia factos etiam summa authoritate scimus enim utili consilio ecclesiacticam disciplina hanc modo quo vetâ—res eam dâ—scribunt constitutam Luther tom. 2. p. 320. Nemo contra statuÌ„ episcoporum veros episcopos vel bonos pastores dictum putet quicquid contra hos tyrannos dicitur * Gerard de ministerio eccles. Nemo nostrum dicit nihil interesse inter episcopum presbyterum sed agnoscimus distinctionem graduum propter {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ecclesiae ut concordia conservetur * Calv. de necess reform ecclesiae Talem nobis hierarchiam sâ— exbibeant in qua sic eminâ—aâ—t episcopi ut Châ—isto subeste non recusent ut ab illo tanquam unico capite pendeant ad ipsum referantur in qua sic inter se fraternam societaâ—em colant ut non alio modo quam ejus veritate siâ—t colligati tum vero nullo non anathemate dignos fateoâ— si qui erunt qui non â—am â—everenter summaque obedientia observent * Beza de grad. minist. evang. c. 18. Sess. 3. Quod si nunc ecclesiae instauâ—atae Anglicanae suorum Episcoporum Archiepiscâ—porum authoritate suffultae perstant quemadmodum hoc illis nostra memoria contigit ut ejuâ— ordinis homines non â—antum insignes Dei Martyres sed etiam praestantissimos Doctores Pastores habuerit c. Brit. p. 67. Ans. M. Nye Brit. p. 68. Ans. See the testimonies of Dr. Moulin and other forraign divines in the Corollâ—â—ie The handmaid to devotioâ— The Author of the book intituled A safeguard from Ship wrak Aâ—â—s forbiddeth not all usurie but biting usurie in his Cases of Consciences Plutarch Apoplâ— Brit. p. 68. Answ. Turtul praescript * Cook at the Bridge foot Cic. pro Sylla Isocr ad Daemâ—nicum Hesiod l. 1 â—p dies Adag. Homerica nube tectus Veâ—itas tempoâ—is filia A Book so intituled Ans. Mat. 5. â— See the statuâ— 16. Rich. 2. and the 25 of Edw. 3. See Sphyniâ— Philosophica Psâ—l 69 2â— Basil. â—p 62. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Guillaume Herbert in the Epistle dedicatorie prefixed to his translation of Doct. Featley's Handmaid of devotion into French Wolsgangus Meyer in his Epistle dedicatorie before his Dutch translation The Grand Sacriledge printed Lond. 1630. In the Vote Sept. 29. against the Dr. all the other articles are waved see the record supr. Cic. pro Clâ—â—as
ipsis agitata Apage ergo Deinde si utraque pars litigantium vel ab ipsis doctâ—ssimorum theologorum sententiis ab utrisque allaâ—is stare vel in ecclesiarum judiciis quae ab ipsis utrinque afferuntur acquiescere vellet non alio opus esset arbitro cum ipsi ut ex eorum scriptis apparet jam inter se consenserint ultro faelicissimum quaestioni finem imposuerint· Proinde hortamur ac amicè monemus ne deinceps sinaâ—t hasce controversias latiùs serpere prae omâ—ibus praelo ut abstineant scriptis hinc iâ—de polâ—micis huic siti fomenta ne ministrent denique ut fidele sit utrinque silemium cum edificationi non serviant nec alâ—â— tendaâ—t quaâ— ad dissociandos hominum animos in reliquis fidei capitibus consentâ—entium quibus omnibus si unquam alias tum hisce praesertim temporibuâ— summa pax concordia est summè necessaria Sint igitur mâ—mores plus semper tribuendum esse charitatis studio quam scientiâ—e victoriae secundum illud Apostoli solliciti servare unitatem spiritus in vinculo pacis publico ecclesiae commodo privatam non anteferre gloriam JACOBUS Rex The advice of the most Gracious Prince James King of great Britain for the quieting and composing the ensuing Controversie GOd made man upright saith Solomon but he found out many inventions the truth whereof hence appeares that there dayly grow such infinite controversies which seem to tend to no other end then to disturb the peace of the Church Among which this late question sprung up within these fortie years which the Church of God knew not of for 1460 years and sustained thereby no detriment but now hath been eagerly argued between two most learned men may be ranked whether the passive obedience of Christ whereby he layd down his life for his sheep by the speciall command of his Father be only imputed to us for righteousnesse or together with the passive the active also whereby he render'd himself obedient to the law This question and those that necessarily arise from it a glimpse whereof we may see in the propositions of Molinaeus and the oppositions of Tilenus we have no mind either in generall to discusse or in particular to scaâ— But out of those things which we have read our selves or heard from others in our presence we will give such advice as we think will not mis-beseem the Defender of the faith And that is this to wit that this question be altogether buried with those that depend upon it and be left in the grave with the napkin and the linnen cloths wherein the body of Christ was wrapt especially by them who professe themselves to be risen with Christ that all impediments being removed we may all grow unto a perfect man in Christ Jesus lest peradventure by too much wrangling we seem to cut in two the living child which the tender-hearted mother would not endure or divide the seamlesse coat of Christ which the cruell souldier would not suffer This is the substance of what we shall advise the reason whereof is because it is a question altogether new and not necessarie unheard of in former ages not determined in any Councell not handled by the fathers not disputed in the schools Away with it therefore Moreover if both parties now contesting would either stand to the judgements of most learned Divines alleadged by both sides or would test satisfied in the determinations of the churches urged by both there needed no other Arbitrator seeing they themselves as appears by their writings agree of their own accord and have alreadie brought it to an happie issue Therefore we exhort and friendly advise you that you suffer not these controversies to spread any further above all that you keep from the presse and adde not fuell to this fire by polemicall tractates Lastly that there be faithfull silence on both sides seeing they tend not to edification nor serve to any other purpose then to distract mâ—ns minds otherwise consenting in all chief poynts of faith To whom if ever especially in these dayes perfect concord is most necessarie Let them therefore remember that they ought rather to strive to preserve charitie then to gain victorie according to that of the Apostle endeavouring to keep the unitie of the spirit in the bond of peace and not to prefer their private glorie before the publique good of the Church D. F. his speech before the Assemblie of Divines concerning the new League and COVENANT M. Prolocutor OUr brethren of Scotâ—and desire a resolution from this Assemblie concerning the necessitie and lawfulnesse of entring into this new league and how can we resolve them if we be not resolved our selves as some of us are not I shall therefore humblie offer to your serious consideration whether it be not fit to qualifie the word Prelacie when it is ranked with poperie and superstition after this manner I will endeavour the extirpation of poperie and all antichristian tyrannicall or independent prelâ—cie for otherwise by abjuring prelacie absolutely some of us shall swear to forswear our selves For prelacie as also hierarchie in the former and better ages of the Church were taken in the better part hierarchie signifing nothing but a holy rule or government and prelacie the preeminencie of one in the Church above another Prelation is a relatio disquiparantiae and praelati are relati to those over whom they are set who may be either the flock or the pastors themselves if the flock in that sense all that have charge of souls may be truely câ—lled praelati viz. gregi for they are set over them to be their over-seers and spirituall rulers Act. 8 28. 1 Pet. 5 2. Heb. 13 17 24 1 Tim. 5.17 In this sense both S. Gregory and Bernard take the word praelati non quae sua sunt sed quae domini quaerant non pastores sed impostores non doctores sed seductores non praelati sed Pilati let prelates not seek their own but those things which are the Lords now adays we have not teachers but seducers not shepheards but deceivers not prelates but Pilatâ— in which sentence teachers pastors and prelates are ranked together as signifying the same persons in which elegant antanaclasis you hear that doctors pastors and prelates are a kind of synonoma's In this sense if we condemn prelates and vote their extirpation we shall with one breath blow all the Divines that have cure of souls not only out of this Assemblie but out of their Parsonages Vicaridges also But if praelati are here in this covenant taken in reference to pastors themselves and ministers of the Gospel and thereby such are meanâ— only who are praepositi clero set over Clergie-men themselves as having not only some precedencie to but authoritie over the rest neither in this sense may we piously swear the eradication of them For there are classes in the Netherlands Intendents and
dayes after his resurrection speaking of those things which appertain to the kingdom of God Acts 3.1 delivered that to the Church which they received from their Master What government or discipline was that There can be conceived but three formes of government Episcopall most conformable to Monarchie Presbyteriall to Aâ—istocâ—acie and Independent as they tearm it to Democracie Presbyteriall or Independent it could not be for Presbyteriall is no elder then the reformation in Geneva and the Independent no elder then New-England whereas Episcopall government hath been time out of mind noâ— in one buâ— in all Churches and sith it was not first constituted by any sanction of a generall Councell it followes necessarily according to S. Augustins observation that it must needs be an Apostolicall institution for what not one Church but all Churches not in one age but all ages hath uniformly observed and practised and no man can define who after the Apostles were the beginners of it must needs be supposed to be done by order or tradition from them 7. This forme of government was not only generally received and embraced by Catholikes but even by heretikes and 〈◊〉 who though they severed from the communion of the Church in doctrine yet not in discipline for the Novatians and Donatists had Bishops of their own from whom they took their names only AErius who stood for a Bishoprick and missed it out of discontent broached that new doctrine wherewith the heads of our schismatiks are so much intoxicated viz. that there ought to be no distinction in the Church between a Bishop and a Presbyter and for this confounding those sacred orders was himselfe ranked among heretiks and stands upon record in the Bedâ—olls of them made by Epiphanius Augustin and Philastrius It is true he had other brands on him but this was the proper mark put upon him by those ancient fatheâ—s who mention this tenet of his as erroneous and hereticall I grant some of the ancient Doctors affirm that in the beginning till the prevention of schism made this distinction between Bishops and Presbyters they were all one in name as now they are in those essentiall parts of their function viz. preaching of the Word and administration of the Sacraments But AErius was the first who professedly oppugned the ecclesiasticall hierarchie maintaining that there ought to be no difference and distinction between Bishops and Elders 8. This assertion of AErius as in the doctrine thereof it was defâ—ned by the Doctors of the Church to be heresie so in the practise thereof it is condemned by the great councell of Chalcedon to be sacriledge to confound say they the ranks of Bishops and Elders and to bring down a Bishop to the inferior degree of an Elder is no lâ—sse then sacriledge Now I would fain know how that comes to be truth now which was condemned for heresie and to be pietie now which was branded for sacriledge above 1200 years agoe 9. Neither were the Fathers of the councell of Chalcedon only zealous in this cause which so much concerned the honour of the Church but the other three also whose authoritie S. Gregorie held to be the next to the four Evangelists and the doctrine thereof is after a sort incorporated into our Acts of Parliament Eliz. 1. In these councells which all consisted of Bishops Episcopacie it self is almost in everie canon and sanction either asserted or regulated 10. Next to the primitive Church we owe a reverend respect to the reformed Churches beyond the seas who either have bishops as in Poland Transilvania Denmark and Swethland or the same function is in nature though not in name to wit intendents and super-intendents or they would have them if they could as I understood from manie Ministers in France or at least approve of them as appeareth by the testimonie of Beza Sadiel Scultetus and others 11. What should I speak of the Articles of religion ratified by a sequence of religious Princes succeeding one the other and confirmed by act of Parliament to which all beneficed men are required under pain of losse of their livings within a moneth to professe their assent and consent in which both the power and consecration of bishops and ministers is expressely asserted and their distinction from presbyters or of the Statute of Carlile the 15 of Edw. 2. and the first of Qu. Eliz. with very many other unrepealed Acts in which episcopall government is either related unto or regulated or confirmed in such sort that quite to abolish and extirpate it would bring a confusion and make a stop as well in secular as ecclesiasticall courts And therefore our zealous reformers if they think themselves not too good to be advised by the great councellor ought to take heed how they rashly and unadvisedly pluck up the tares as they esteem them of holy canons and ecclesiasticall laws ne simul â—radicent triticum lest together with those tares as they count them they pluck up by the roots the good wheat of many profitable and wholesome laws of the common wealth and Acts of Parliament 12. But if the authoritie of both houses could soon cure theâ—e sores in precedent Acts of Parliament yet how will they make up the breaches in the consciences of all those who in the late Protestation and this new Covenant have taken a solemn oath to maintain the priviledges of the members of Parliament and the liberties of the subject The most authenticall evidence whereof are Charta magna and the Petition of right in both which the rights of the Church and priviledges of episcopall sees are set down in the fore-front in capitall letters 13. To strain this string a little higher the power of granting congedeliers together with the investiture of Arch-bishops Bishops and collation of Deanries and Prebends with a setled revenue from the first fruits and tenths thereof is one of the fairest flowers in the Kings crown and to rob the imperiall diadem of it considering the King is a Person most sacred is sacriledge in a high degree and not sacriledge only but perjurie also in all those who attempt it For all Graduates in the Universitie and men of rank and qualitie in the Common-wealth who are admitted to any place of emminent authoritie or trust take the oath of Supremacie whereby they are bound to defend and propugne all preemminences authorities and prerogatives annexed to the imperiall crown whereof this is known to be one inherent in the King as he is supream head of the Church within his realms and defender of the faith 14. Yet for all this admit that reason of state should inforce the extirpation of episcopacie thus rooted as it hath been said both in the royall prerogative and priviledge of the subject and in the laws of of the land it is a golden maxime of law possumus quod jure possumut we can doe no more then lawfully we may If episcopall government must be overthrown it must be done in