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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	apostle_n	bishop_n	evangelist_n	4,208	5	10.0866	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A83496	Speeches and passages of this great and happy Parliament: from the third of November, 1640, to this instant June, 1641. Collected into one volume, and according to the most perfect originalls, exactly published.	England and Wales. Parliament.; Mervyn, Audley, Sir, d. 1675.; Pym, John, 1584-1643.; Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of, 1593-1641.	1641 (1641)	Wing E2309; Thomason E159_1; ESTC R212697	305,420	563

but of late and were first called so 16 Rich. 2. c. 1. in our Statutes By his spiritualties I mean those wherein he is more then a Presbyter and therein I consider his authority over Presbyters by the Oath of Canonicall Obedience by which he may command them to collect tenths granted in Convocation c. 20 Hen. 6.13 p. 25. Secondly his Office which is partly Judiciall and partly ministeriall Judiciall by which he is Judge in his Courts of all matters Ecclesiasticall and spirituall within his Diocesse Cok. Rep. 8. Trollops C. Secondly he is Judge of the fitnesse of such as are presented unto him to be instituted into Benefices Cok. rep 5. Specots cap. Ministeriall and thereby he is to Sacred places Dedicate to Divine Service 9. H. 6.17 pag. 8. Secondly he is to provide for the officiating of Cures in the avoydance of Churches on neglect of the Patrons presenting thereunto Thirdly he is to certifie loyall Matrimony generall bastardy and excommunication Fourthly to execute Judgements given in quare impedit upon the writ Ad admittendum Clericum and other c. Fiftly to attend upon tryals of life to report the sufficiency or insufficiency of such as demand Clergy Sixtly to ordaine Deacons and Presbyters All these I conceive to be Jure humano given to these Bishops and may upon cause be taken away from them Ob. Bishops have been in the Primitive Church and are Apostolicall and from the beginning Sol. To this I answer first that in the pure primitive times of the Church the History whereof is recorded in the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles in which the first and best patterns of Church government is expressed there is no mention of other Bishops then the Presbyters as appeares First the holy Scriptures declare the duties and office of Presbyters and Bishops to be one the same The Bishop is to teach and rule his Church or Congregation 1 Tim. 3.2.5 and the Presbyter is to teach and feed his flock and to oversee care for and rule them 1 Pet. 5.2.3 Secondly the Presbyters are in holy Scriptures said to be the Bishops of the holy Ghost Acts 20.28 Paul charges the Presbyters of Ephesus to take heed to the flock whereof the Holy Ghost had made them Bishops And other Bishops the Holy Ghost never made Thirdly Ephesians 4.11 God is said to have given to his Church for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery and for the edifying of the body of Christ Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers here is an expres enumeration of the officers God hath given whereof the first three are extraordinary and ceased and the last only remains and is to remain untill we all come to perfection as it is ver 13. and this perpetuall Officer is called Pastor in relation to his flock whom he is to govern in Spiritualibus and Teacher in respect of his duty to feed them with the word of truth and is the very same with the Presbyter as appeares above Argumentum à divisione est fortissimum The Bishop as he is any more then a Presbyter is none of these no Officer given by God and therefore ought not to be in the Church Christ the King of his Church was faithfull in his House not only as a servant as Moses was but as the Son in an excellency and eminency Heb. 3.5 and to his kingly Office it pertains to appoint the Officers he will use for the government of his Church in spiritualibus and it agrees not with his faithfulnesse to neglect or omit the appointment of them and leave his House his Church without such Officers He is only wise and therefore best knows what Officers are usefull for his Church and infinitly loving of his Church and therefore hath not left her without any Officer fit for her Ob. Titus in the end of Pauls Epistle unto him is said to be the first Bishop of Crete and Timothy in the end of the Epistles unto him to be the first Bishop of Ephesus Sol. Those additions are spurious and no part of the holy Scriptures Derk upon Gal. 6. infine For Tim. See 1 Cor. 4.17 16.10 Acts 17.13.15 19.22 20.4.5 1 Thes 3.1.6 Heb. 13.25 Colos 1.1 Phil. 1.1 2.19 For Titus See 2 Cor. 7.13 8.6.16.23 and 12.18 Gal 2.1 2 Tim. 4.10 Tim. 1.5 and ● 3.12 and as Beza observes are not in many greek ancient copies to be found and this is so evident as it is granted by most Divines 2. And as they be no part of the Scriptures of God so they be apparently contrary unto them for by them it appears that they namely Titus Timothy were Evangelists extraordinary officers associats and fellow-helpers of the Apostles in their generall and Universall function attendant upon them and sent by them as occasion required from one Church to another never keeping any fixed residence any where and if they had been Bishops of any place Paul would never have suffered much lesse forced them to be non-residents Saint John Revel 12.3 writing to the 7 Churches of Asia directs his speech to the Angel of each Church Ob. 2. and in each of those Churches there were then severall Congregations and Presbyters therefore the Angel was the Bishop over them To this I answer that as Angel is a name common to all Presbyters who are Christs Messengers and Ambassadors So it appears to be used here by the very context cap. 2. v. 10. Where speaking to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna the holy Ghost saith Feare none of the things thou shalt suffer the Devill shall cast some of you into prison but be thou faithfull c. Angel being nomen multitudinis is taken in these chapters collectively for all the Presbyters some of whom the adversaries should imprison and not for any one above or before the rest The same appears in the like manner ver 13.23 Seeing then the Episcopacy may be taken away in all wherein it exceeds the Presbyters office and that the office of the Presbyter is cleerly jure divino I conceive we are first to restore the Presbyter to his due and to him it belongs to teach and feed his flock and to oversee care for and rule them in spiritualibus Act. 20.17 1 Tim. 3.2.5 1. Pet. 5.2.3 So saith the holy Scripture And so saith our Law also He is to minister the Doctrine and the Sacraments and the discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and as this Realme hath received the same according to the commandements of God See the book of Ordering of Priests in the 3. question And he is called in our Law Rector Ecclesiae and the words of his institution be Te●octorem Ecclesiae instituimus curamque regimen animarum parochianorum tibi●in Domino committimus The Bishops have taken by usurpation from the Presbyter divers rights first contrary to his Ordination and institution they will not suffer him to preach in his own Cure

without a license Secondly they restrain him from preaching some doctrines as of predestination and others that overthrow Arminian tenets when his faithfulnesse in his Office requires he should keep nothing back This is read to the Presbyter upon his Ordination and his charge then given him is remarkable See the booke of ordering Priests but to shew them all the counsell of God Acts 10.27 Thirdly they will not suffer him to intermeddle in the discipline These usurpations I conceive are to be taken away and the Presbyter to be left free from them Secondly for the Episcopacy I conceive that first their Baronies and the intermedling of the Clergy in Civill Councels affaires and imployments ought to be taken from them First I conceive such Bar● and intermedling is against the Law of God Christ refused to intermeddle in dividing inheritances though more able and fit for it then any Bishop Luke 12.13 and saith his Kingdome is not of the world John 18.36 and the Disciple is not above his Master Mat. 10.24 and Acts 6. The Apostles refuse to intermeddle in the Deacon or Churchwardens office though of all earthly imployments the neerest to the Church and the reason they give is remarkable for this purpose because they were to attend to Prayer and Administration of the word and therefore not meet for them to attend such secular matters and 2 Tim. 2.4 The Apostles laies down a rule in this case that nemo militans Deo se implicat negotiis hujus seculi and upon this ground even the Popes Canon-laws are against these things as inconsistent with the ministeriall function And the due execution of the commission Goe preach and baptize is of it selfe burthen and work enough for any man whatsoever his gifts and parts be and made Paul though of a more excellent and able spirit cry out under the sense of the waight of it Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 Secondly it is against the fundamentall Laws of this Land whereby they that are within holy Orders Non est consonum quod ille qui salubri statui animarum piis operibus continue deservit ad insistendum in secularibus neg●tiis compellatur vide the writ that they may the better attend upon and discharge their duties are not to be intangled with temporall businesse and therefore if any such be chosen to any temporall office the Law hath ordained a writ to discharge them thereof Reg. 187.6 The King may command the service of men in orders and then it is to be given him by naturall allegiance This rule admits two exceptions and both are in this case first except the service from that person be against the Law of God as here it is and then it is better obey God then man in praesentia majoris cessat potestas minoris Secondly if the service concern the Common-wealth and the person of whom it is required be not sufficient for it nor brought up unto it the command is against Law and the service not to be done if the King grant the Office of the Clarke of the Crown to one not brought up to it it is void and the service not to be intermedled withall by him 9 Ed. 4.56 Winters case Secondly that part of the Bishops spirituall office by which he claimeth superiority over Presbyters ought to be taken as I conceive from them as being against the will of God The Apostles questioning among themselves which should be the Superior are sharply reproved by our Saviour for it and he tels them plainly it shall not be so among them Mark 10.42 Luke 22.25 and Diotrophes 3 Job 9. is branded for it that he sought prehominence in the Church The mystery of iniquity in the Popish Hierarchy in the Presbyters exalting themselves began to work in the purest primitive times as we see in Diotrophes and Peters cavear 1 Pet. 5.3 and never left till it came to the Pope 2 Thes 2.4.7 the highest degree and top thereof By which it seems to me evident that to leave the pattern of Church government set down in the word of God to follow the examples of after ages upon a false cry of primitive times is to forsake the pure fountain and wallow in the muddy and corrupted streams of antichristian ambition Thirdly that part of the spirituall office of the Bishop whereby he is to instruct the people committed to his charge with the holy Scriptures as upon the 2 question put unto him at his Consecration he undertakes to doe ought as I conceive to be reduced to a possibility for him to performe it It is impossible for him to doe it to a whole Diocesse therefore he should be limited to some particular Congregation unto which he might perform this trust which requires sufficiency attendance and diligence Fourthly Ordination in the scriptures is ever expressed to be by them in the Church that had authority and were officers in the Church as Apostles Evangelists and after by the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 And a shadow of this remains in our Law Acts 14.23 Titus 1.5 6 7. for the Bishop only is not to lay hands upon the party to be ordained but the Presbyters there attending are to joyn with the Bishop therein Books of orde ring Priests This I conceive is not fit to be in the hands of any one ordinary officer in the Church the discerning of the gifts abilities and faithfulnesse of persons to be ordained Presbyters requiring great judgement care and circumspection Plus vident oculi quam oculus The like I say of deprivation Fiftly Excommunication by the Scriptures ought to be only in case of enormous offences and obstinacy in them and onely in the Congregation whereof the party to be Excommunicate is a member 1 Cor. 5.4 Tell the Church cannot be meant of one man Mat. 18.17 Diotrophes is branded for taking upon him alone to cast any out of the Church This also abused as well as usurped by the Bishop is to be reformed Sixtly Institution and induction are usurped by the Bishops upon the fundamentall Laws of this Kingdome by which the Patron after his Clerk was ordained did without any more invest him into the Church See Selden of tithes 86. And a relick of this we retain still in Churches that be donatives Seventhly The jurisdiction of tithes causes matrimoniall and causes testamentary in the times of the increasing power of the Pope when the Bishops thereby grew more formidable were taken from the Civill Magistrate to whom originally they belonged upon pretence that the tithes were Jure divino the Churches patrimony and Mariage a Sacrament and that the disposing the goods of the dead most properly belonged to him for the good of the soule in Purgatory to redeem it thence to whom the cure of the Soule appertained in his life time vide 2 R. 3. Testaments 4.11 H. 7.12 B. Plowden 279. B. Foxes c. Cok. rep 9.37 B. Heustoes case Dames rep 97. B.

and there might bee good reason for it I have heard that there was brought a Petition to some privie Counsellours with a thousand hands to it and being brought onely with sixe men they were answered that they sixe might write those thousand hands if there were a thousand that joyned in the Petition why did they not come too And we heard it objected but the other day in this house against the Ministers Petition that there were indeed seven or eight hundred names to it but two hands onely Therefore it was not without cause that a considerable number should come with a Petition signed by so many but for any disorder in their carriage I saw none for upon an intimation in one word from this house they forthwith retired to their dwellings As for the subject matter of the Petition three exceptions are taken against it First that divers things are contemptible in it as that about Ovid de Amore set forth in English and other such things Secondly that in many things their discourse was altogether irrationall for that they argue from personall faults of Bishops against the office it selfe of Bishops and in other things argue from effects that proceed from it by accident as if they did flie out of it And in the last place that their prayer and conclusion is bold and presumptuous desiring so boldly an abolition of standing Lawes To the first I answer that some things may seeme contemptible in themselves which are not so in their causes nor in their effects as the suffering of such lascivious pamphlets to be printed and published when other profitable writings are suppressed doth discover a principle that loosenesse and prophanesse which will helpe to bring in superstition is more sutable to their hierarchy than the contrary which makes them connive at such things as are apt to produce loosenesse and lewdnesse and this is no contemptible effect nor doth it proceed from a contemptible cause In the next place for that which seemes irrationall in the way of their discovery divers things may seeme to bee personall faults which indeed are derived unto the persons from the office or from the circumstances thereof I meane their revenues and dignities on the one side and the ceremonies on the other side For most of the things complained of as silencing and thrusting out of godly and painfull Preachers bringing in Innovations in Doctrine and worship and the like although they may seeme personall and accidentall faults yet if wee follow them to their last resort wee shall find that their worldly wealth and dignities stirre them up to doe this that their sole and arbitrary power over the Clergy and in matter Ecclesiasticall enable them to effect it and the ceremonies both new and old serve as instruments and meanes whereby they effect it In the last place that their Prayer in the conclusion of their Petition is bold or presumptuous I doe not see there is any reason so to esteeme of it for if they had taken upon them to have altered any thing upon their owne authority or had imperiously required the Parliament to doe it then it might deserve such a stile but when they come as humble suppliants by way of Petition desiring the altering of Lawes that have been found burdensome unto them and that of the Parliament where and wherein onely old lawes may bee repealed and new Lawes may be made they come in the right manner to their right and proper place and therefore have done nothing boldly or presumptuously but orderly and regularly and therefore ought not to receive any check or discouragement in the way that they have taken Now Sir concerning the government of the Church by Arch-Bishops Bishops c. which also hath beene spoken unto whereas it is desired that the evills and inconveniences should be shewed which arise not from the persons but from the office it selfe of Bishops I shall apply my discourse particularly to that poynt But first I shall crave leave to say a word or two in answer to what hath beene alledged for the credit of the Government by Bishops First that it is as ancient as Christian Religion and that it hath continued ever since the time of Christ and his Apostles as for this I doe not pretend to have so much knowledge in antiquity as to confute this out of the Fathers and Ecclesiasticall Histories although there are that undertake that onely one sentence I have often heard cited out of Saint Ierome that in the Primitive times Omnia communi Clericorum Concilio regebantur and truely so farre as the Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament goeth which was the ancientest and most primitive time of Christianity I could never find there any distinction betweene a Bishop and a Presbyter but that they were one and the very same thing In the next place that which is alledged for the credit of Episcopacy is that our Reformers and Martyrs were many of them Bishops and practised many of those things now complai●ed of and that in other Reformed Churches wh●re Bishops are not they are desired For the Martyrs and Reformers of the Church that were Bishops I doe not understand that that was any part of their Reformation nor of their Martyrdome I have read that whereas Ridley and Hooper had some difference betweene them in their life time about these things when they came both to their martyrdome he that had formerly beene the Patron of this Hierarchy and Ceremonies told his brother that therein his foolishnesse had contended with his wisedome As for that which is said that other Reformed Churches where they have not Bishops yet they are desired I will not deny but some among them may desire Bishopricks I meane the Dignities and Revenues of Bishops but that they desire Bishops as thinking it the fittest and best Government of the Church I cannot beleeve for if they would have Bishops why doe they not make themselves Bishops I know not what hindreth why they might not have Bishops when they would In the last place for that which is alledged in relation to the government of this Kingdome that Bishops are so necessary as that the King cannot well let them goe with the safety of Monarchy and that if Bishops bee taken away Assemblies or something must come in the roome thereof And if Kings should bee subject thereunto and should happen to be excommunicated thereby that after they would bee little esteemed or obeyed as Kings for this if it shall be cleared as it is affirmed or if any thing therein doe strike at Monarchy I shall never give my vote nor consent thereunto as long as I live But to cleare that this is not so I offer to your consideration that by the Law of this Land not onely all Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction but also all superiority and preheminence over the Ecclesiasticall state is annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme and may bee granted by Commission under the great seale to such persons

pleased to undertake and goe adventure with them And it was ordered by the Company that if that Farmer or adventurer should decease that then that partyes adventure should bee transferred to some other free Vintner and to none other and not to descend either to the Executors or Administrators of such Vintners so deceasing the said ten Farmers being nominated by the Company and adventured in the same farme of forty shillings per Tunne on Wine and Farme of Wine Licences which they likewise took by direction of the Company on the second of January 1640. Humbly Petitioned his Majesty to accept of the said Farmes they accounting to his Majesty for all moneys received from the beginning they having allowance for what they disbursed and stand engaged for for his Majesties service with interest and necessary charges without any profit to themselves And Master Alderman Abell and divers others the Contractors never dealt in grosse nor benefitted themselves by the Advance upon Retayle of wine so that he in all this hath bin but a person intreated into this businesse for the Company and no whit for himselfe nor hath otherwise or in any other manner as for other cause acted any thing at all in or concerning this busines To the High and Honourable Court of PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of the Vniversity of OXFORD Sheweth THAT whereas the Vniversitie hath been informed of severall Petitions concerning the present Government of this Church and maintenance of the Clergie which have of late been exhibited to this Honourable Assembly We could not but think our Selves bound in duty to God and this whole Nation in charity to our Selves and Successors who have and are like to have more then ordinary interest in any resolution that shall be taken concerning Church-affaires in all humility to desire the continuance of that form of Government which is now established here and hath been preserved in some of the Eastern and Western Churches in a continued Succession of Bishops downe from the very Apostles to this present time the like whereof cannot be affirmed of any other form of Government in any Church Upon which consideration and such other motives as have been already represented to this Honourable Parliament from other Persons and places with whom we concurr in behalf of Episcopacy We earnestly desire that you would protect that ancient and Apostolicall Order from ruine or diminution And become farther Suiters for the continuance of those pious Foundations of Cathedrall Churches with their Lands and Revenues As dedicate to the Service and Honour of God soon after the plantation of Christianity in the English Nation As thought fit and usefull to be preserved for that end when the Nurseries of Superstition were demolished and so continued in the last and best times since the blessed Reformation under King Edw. 6. Q Elizabeth K. James Princes renowned through the world for their piety and wisdome As approved and confirmed by the Laws of this land ancient and modern As the principall outward motive and encouragement of all Students especially in Divinity and the fittest reward of some deep and eminent Scholars As producing or nourishing in all ages many godly and learned men who have most strongly asserted the truth of that Religion we professe against the many fierce oppositions of our Adversaries of Rome As affording a competent portion in an ingenuous way to many younger Brothers of good Parentage who devote themselves to the Ministery of the Gospell As the onely means of subsistence to a multitude of Officers and other Ministers who with their Families depend upon them and are wholly maintained by them As the main Authors or upholders of diverse Schools Hospitalls High-wayes Bridges and other publique and pious works As speciall causes of much profit and advantage to those Cities where they are scituate not only by relieving their poore and keeping convenient Hospitality but by occasioning a frequent resort of Strangers from other parts to the great 〈◊〉 of all Tradesmen and most Inhabitants in those places As the goodly Monuments of our Predecessors Piety and present Honour of this kingdome in the eye of forreine Nations As the chiefe support of many thousand Families of the Laity who enjoy faire estates from them in a free way As yeelding a constant and ample revenue to the Crown And as by which many of the learned Professours in our Vniversity are maintained The subversion or alienation whereof must as we conceive not only be attended with such consequences as will redound to the scandall of many well affected to our Religion but open the mouths of our Adversaries and of Posterity against us and is likely in time to draw after it harder conditions upon a considerable part of the Laity an universall cheapnesse and contempt upon the Clergie a lamentable drooping and defection of industry and knowledge in the Vniversities which is easie to foresee but will be hard to remedy May it therefore please this Honourable Assembly upon these and such other Considerations as your great wisdomes shall suggest to take such pious care for the continuance of these Religious Houses and their Revenews according to the best intentions of their Founders as may be to the most furtherance of Gods glory and service the Honor of this Church and Nation the advancement of Religion and Learning the encouragement of the modest hopes and honest endeavours of many hundred Students in the Universities Who doe and shall ever pray c. Dat. An. Dom. millesimo sexcent ' quad ' primo è Domo Convocationis in celebri Conventu Doctorum ac Magistrerum omnibus singulis assentientibus The Speech of Sergeant Glanvill in the upper House of Parliament for the Redresse of the present Grievances His Majesty being seated on his Throne Sergeant Glanvill was called to the Barre being represented by the House of Commons for their Speaker who spake as followeth May it please your Majesty THE Knights Citizens and Burgesses of your Commons House of Parliament in conformity to ancient and most constant usage the best guide in great solemnities according to their well known priviledges a sure warrant for their proceedings and in obedience to your Majesties most gratious commands a duty well becomming loyall Subjects have met together and chosen a speaker one to be the mouth indeed the servant of all the rest to steare watchfully and prudently in all their weighty consultations and debates to collect faithfully and readily the Votes and genuine sense of that numerous assembly to propound the same seasonably in apt questions for their finall resolution and to present them and their conclusions their declarations with truth and light with life and lustre and with full advantage to your most Excellent Majesty With what Judgement with what temper spirit and elocution he ought to be endued your Majesty in your great wisedome is best able to discern both as it may relate to your own peculiar and important affairs of State to the proper

Lalors c. Selden of tithes 415. Eighthly The matters which are meerly and only spirituall which are properly of Ecclesiasticall cognizance were anciently by the Lawyers of this Kingdome heard and determined in the County and hundred Courts by the Sheriffe and the Bishop and by William the Conquerour these matters were taken thence and appropriated to the Bishop alone 2 R. 2. Rotul Parliament num 12. Selden of tithes 412. Book of Martyrs 154. And by the Law of God as I conceive they ought to be heard determined by them that have rule in the particular congregations and Churches Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5. which if it were so among us would be a wonderfull ease and save great charges to the subject And where the difficulty of case or greatnesse of the persons whom it may concern or where the Governors in particular Congregations demean not themselves as they ought it ought to be referred to a Synod of Presbyters so many as shall be thought meet as Acts 15. a question of difficulty arising in the particular Church of Antioch and the dissention growing great about the same they sent to Hierusalem and there the Apostles and Presbyters convened debated concluded and decreed the matter and imposed the observation thereof upon Antioch and other Churches ver 1.2.6.28 The Apostles would not meddle in the question without the Presbyters and other Bishops there were none there nor in the Churches And faelicius expediuntur negotia commissa pluribus in the multitude of Counsellors there is safety Proverb 11.14 And the change of our Laws in case this House shall see cause for it will not be so great or difficult as is conceived by some For ordination admonition suspension and deprivation of Presbyters and the judgement of the fitnesse of persons to be invested into Benefices Ecclesiasticall and the care of providing for the serving of Cures during the vacancy and avoydance of Churches and taking of the subscription of Ministers to the Articles of Religion 13 Eliz. cap. 12.14 Eliz. cap. 5. and the visiting of Hospitals whose Founders have appointed no visitors which are now in the Bishop may be settled in a convention of Presbyters to be appointed for every hundred from whom appeale may be had upon every gravamen to a greater Assembly of them and those Presbyters or any one of them may be inabled to give the Oathes of Supremacy and alleageance where the Bishop is authorised to give the same And Excommunication may be ordered to be certified by the Parson 3 Eliz. c. 1.7 Jac. cap. 6. Vicar or Stipendary of that Church where the party is excommunicate And all Churches presentative may be filled by investure of the Patrons and all questions concerning them be determined by the same rules of law as Donatives are And loyall Matrimony be tryed by a Jury where the woman is party to the suit as now it is where she is not party so E. 3.15 P. 5.11 H. 4.4 B. 30. and as it is now where the issue is Nient sa femme 12. E. 3. Briefe 481.50 E. 3.15 B. 7. H. 6.12 June 35. H. 6.9 P. 10. Coke 8. E. 4.12 a Laton And Bastardy generall Bastardy beyond Sea within the Stature 25 E. 3. De natis ultra mare may be made tryable by Jury as now speciall Bastardy is 11 Ass 20.38 ass 24.39 E. 3.31.6 7. Ed. 6. Dier 79. P. 52. So tithes may be reduced to the Common Law and be sued for there as it was ever in the case of the King or his Debtor 38. ass 20. Cok. r. 5.16 a Cawdreis case and as it is by the Statute of 2 and 3 E. 6. cap. 13. And for the Bishops attendance on tryals of life it is needlesse he being no Judge in it but the Court who may appoint any other or doe it themselves And for Sacring of Churches and other dead things it is fit to be neglected and left off being a Popish vaine superstition and without colour of countenance from the word of God the Leviticall consecrations being typicall and shadows of the good things we enjoy under the Gospel Heb. 9.19 c. The Bishop being thus reformed and reduced to a condition and state agreeable to the word of God the only right rule of reformation The Deans Chapters Vicars Generall Chancellors 25 Exod. 9 40. 1 Chron. 28.11.19 Ezek. 4.10 2 Cor. 4 6. and the rest of his Traine qua tales being tellaris inutile pondus are to be removed and taken away also as superfluous and uselesse We have intrusted the Episcopacy these fourescore and two years with the cure of Soules a trust of the highest concernment if we consider the price of Souls Our Saviour is at a stand in it What shall a man give in recompence for his Soule Mat. 16.26 the price of it is best seen in the price given for it God and man must become a curse to redeem it How have they discharged this trust Survay the Churches throughout the Kingdome and you shall finde neer eight parts of tenne of them filled with Idoll idle or scandalous Ministers whom the Bishops might have by law refused if discovered unto them before-hand and ought to have removed being discovered unto them afterwards And it hath aboundantly appeared this Parliament upon examinations taken in this House of Commons and the Committees thereof that when Ministers extreamly scandalous have been discovered to the Bishops and their Officers and in the High-commission Court they have received no further censure then admonition or to be put to purgation and so sent home to destroy more Soules as if they had not done sufficiently in that way before But if any godly learned and painfull Preacher hath been discovered by them they have sought out all occasions against such to thrust them out of the Church and lay their Congregations waste and desolate and every trifle though indifferent in their own account hath been made use of and sufficed them for this yea they have made occasions and traps to overthrow such worthies without Law and against Law And herein they have inherited the vertues of Diotrephes their first Predecessor who would not receive the brethren and forbad them that would and cast both out of the Church 3 John 10. And though some of the Bishops have been and are good men yet look into their Diocesse and the Churches in their gift and judge whether they be good Bishops or no you shall sinde them as faulty concerning this great trust as any of the rest And whether it be not from hence evident or at least greatly to be suspected that some curse cleaves to the very Office of Bishops when good men cannot manage it to any better purpose then the bad let any man judge This Spirituall Monarchy hath two incidents inseparable unto it first that it is alwayes incroaching and usurping upon other powers and swallowing them up as the series of all ages aboundantly manifests Secondly that it is ever

is just as reasonable in this as to root up a good tree because there is a Canker in the branches For the bold part of this Petition Sir what can there be of greater presumption than for petitioners not onely to prescribe to a Parliament what and how it shall doe but for a multitude to teach a Parliament what and what is not the government according to Gods word Besides what is the Petition against is it not against the government of the Church of England established by Acts of Parliament Is it not against the Liturgy against severall formes of Divine service ratified by the same Authority 'T is true Mr. Speaker the Parliament may mend may alter may repeale Lawes may make new and I hope in due season wee shall doe so in poynt of Church-government but in the meane time let me tell you Sir I cannot but esteeme it an irreverence an high presumption in any to petition point blank against a Law or Government in force Representment of Inconvenience may bee made as the Ministers have done such as may endure the wisedome of a Parliament to advise Lawes to rectifie to repeale them but it imports the very essence of Parliaments to keepe up the honour of its former Acts and not to suffer them to bee further blasted from abroad Beleeve me Mr. Speaker all the reverence and authority which we expect from future times to our owne Acts hereafter depends upon our upholding the dignity of what former Parliaments have done even in those things which in their due time we may desire and intend to reverse Mr. Speaker you see in what plaine language I have set forth unto you the faults of this Petition notwithstanding as great as they are so they may not obtaine any seeming countenance from us I find my selfe willing to have them past by especially when I consider how naturally prone all mankinde is when it findes it selfe opprest beyond patience to flye unto extreames for ease And indeed I doe not think that any people hath beene evermore provoked then the generality of England of late yeares by the insolencies and exorbitances of the Prelates I protest sincerely Mr. Speaker I cannot cast mine eye upon this Peti●ion nor my thoughts on the practises of the Church-men that have governed it of late but they appear'd to me as a scourge imployed by God upon us for the sinnes of the Nation I cannot thinke of that passage in the Booke of Kings He that escapes the Sword of Hazael shal Jehu slay and he that escapes Iehu shall Elisha slay Mee thinkes the vengeance of the Prelates hath bin so laid as if 't were meant no generation no degree no complexion of mankinde should escape it Was there a man of a nice and tender Conscience him have they afflicted with scandall in Adiaphoris imposing on him those things as necessary which hee thinks unlawfull and they themselves knew to bee but indifferent Was there a man of a legall conscience that made the establishments by Law the measure of his religion him have they netled with Innovations with fresh Introductions to Popery Was there a man of a meek and humble spirit him have they trampled to dirt in their pride Was there a man of a proud and arrogant nature him have they bereft with indignation at their superlative insolence about him Was there a man peaceably affected studious of the quiet and tranquillity of his Countrey their incepdi●●riship hath plagued him Was there a man faithfully addicted to the right of the Crowne loyally affected to the Kings Supremacy how hath he beene galled by their new Oath a direct Covenant against it Was there a man tenacious of the liberty and propriety of the Subject have they not set forth Books or Sermons or Canons destructive to them all Was there a man of a pretty sturdy conscience that would not blanch for a little their pernicious Oath hath made him sensible and wounded or I feare prepared him for the Devill Was there a man that durst mutter against their Insolencies hee may inquire for his Lugges they have beene within the Bishops visitation as if they would not onely derive their Brandishment of the spirituall sword from St. Peter but of the materiall one too and the right to cut off Eares Mr. Speaker as dully as faintly as unlively as in Language these actions of the Prelates have been expressed unto you I am confident there is no man heares me but is brim-full of indignation For my part I professe I am so enflamed with the sence of them that I finde my selfe ready to cry out with the loudest of the 15000 downe with them downe with them even to the ground But M. Speaker when I cast mine eye round upon this great and wise Assembly and find my selfe a part too though the most unworthy and inconsiderable of that Senate from whose dispassionate and equall Constitutions present and future times must expect their happines or infelicity It obliges mee to the utmost of my power to divest my selfe and others of all those disturbances of Judgement which arise ever from great Provocations and to settle my thoughts in that temper which I thinke necessary to all those that would judge clearely of such things as have incenst them I beseech you Gentlemen let us not bee led on by passion to popular and vulgar Errors it is naturall as I told you before to the multitude to flie into extreames that seemes ever the best to them that is most opposite to the presentest object of their hate Wise Councells Mr. Speaker must square their Resolutions by another measure by that 's most just most honourable most convenient Beleeve mee Sir great alterations of Government are rarely accompanyed with any of these Mr. Speaker we all agree upon this that a Reformation of Church Government is most necessary and our happy unity of opinions herein should be one argument unto us to stay there but Sir to strike at the Roote to attempt a totall Alteration before ever I can give my vote unto that three things must be made manifest unto me First that the mischiefes which we have felt under Episcopall Government flow from the nature of the function not from the abuses of it onely that is that no Rules no Boundaries can be set to Bishops able to restraine them from such Exorbitances Secondly such a frame of Government must be laid before us as no time no Corruption can make lyable to proportionable inconveniences with that which we abolish And thirdly it must be made to appeare that this Vtopia is practicable For the first Sir that Episcopacy a function deduced through all ages of Christs Church from the Apostles times and continued by the most venerable and sacred Order Ecclesiastical and function dignified by the learning and Piety of so many Fathers of the Church glorified by so many Martyrdomes in the Primitive times and some since our owne blessed Reformation a government admired I speak it knowingly by

the bond of peace The treasures of the privie Purse are but the supplies of Fancies warranted by a common Interest But the publick Tribute given by common assent supports Royall Dignity is sheltred under the wings of Prerogative and by that power covered from the eyes from the touch of deceivers In these wee render Caesar what is due to Caesar and tribute to whom tribute belongeth The proper inscription of the Crown is born here and censures those malignant spirits that dare whisper into the eares of sacred Majesty that our selves onely not your sacred person not your Royall posterity are the supreme objects of the givers The preservation of the publick union the supply of your Armies the distresses miserable distresses of the Northern parts the common calamities of the times begat the consideration of this Bill the remainder of the six entire Subsidies happily presented to your sacred Majesty by this unworthy hand the first vote advanced a credit to us to issue them for the use of your sacred Majesty The full perfection adds growth to that credit and enables us to returne to your sacred Majesty as to the Ocean the Tribute due to Justice and Soveraignty These are the vast earnests of our desires which take their rise from the due regard from the safety of your Throne of your posterity Your Royall assent stamps your image here and makes this yours and yours onely which I by the commands of the Commons humbly beseech of your sacred Majesty THE SPEECH OF Master Plydell ESQUIRE Master Speaker I Have heard since I had the honour to sit here many grievances presented and truly Sir my heart bleeds within mee when I thinke of them especially those that concerne Religion But what should I speake of grievances concerning Religion when Religion it selfe is become a grievance nay the very Nurse and Mother of all grievances all scandalls all reproaches Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum SIR Not to trouble you with any long discourse if I have any sight that Bark both of Church and State hath a long time floated betwixt Scylla and Charibdis Popery on the one side and I know not what to call it on the other in many respects both alike dangerous unlesse the Italian Proverb may alter the Case God defend me from my reputed friends and I will defend my selfe from my profest enemies Sir Wee are intrusted by God the King and the Countrey with the managing of this Bark fraught with the fortunes of three great Kingdomes Now should wee so decline the former Rock that wee dash on the other side I humbly offer it to this Honourable Assembly whether shee might not have just cause to say shee had changed her Pilot rather then her condition and onely shifted places to finde her ruine For Sir there is as much beyond Truth as on this side it and would wee steere a right course wee must be sure to keepe the channell lest wee fall from one extreme to another from the dotage of Superstition to the frenzie of Profanenesse from bowing to Idols to worship the Calves of our owne imaginations Sir I beseech you consider what libellous Pamphlets are now printed what Sermons are preached not building hay and stubble but utterly subverting the foundations of Truth what irreverence in Churches what profanation of Gods Service to the scandall of Christianity the reproach of Religion and the intolerable griefe of all good men of which I may take up the words of Petrus de Aliaco to the Councell of Constance Nisi celeriter fiat Reformatio audeo dicere quòd licèt magna sint quae videmus tamen in brevi incomparabilia majora videmus post ista tam horrenda majora alia audiemus Sir I take God to record I am no mans Advocate no mans enemy but a faithfull lover of truth and peace and a dutifull Son of our distressed Mother the Church of England in whose behalfe and our owne my motion shall bee shortly this That the Ministers Petition with so much of their Remonstrance as hath been read may be committed and the rest of it concerning matter of Doctrine may bee referred to some learned and approved Divines who have spent their time in that noble study For give me leave to tell you there is a vulgus among the Clergy as among the Laity Et in utroque nil modicum and for these and all things which strike at the roote and branch as they please to call it I shall humbly move that wee rather consider how to satisfie the Petitioners with some timely declaration from both Houses of the lawfulnesse and conveniency of Episcopall Government derived from the Apostles and so long established in this Kingdome rather then to venture upon any alteration the consequence whereof the wisest man cannot fore-see And in truth Sir should we once begin for my owne part I know not how or where wee should stay Neverthelesse if any one doubt the superiority of Bishops over Priests and Deacons in Ecclesiasticall government or in ordination I shall be ready whensoever this House shall command mee to make it good and I think by as pregnant testimonies as wee are able to prove the difference betwixt Canonicall and Apocryphall Scripture the necessity of Infants baptisme or that the Apostles were the Authors of their owne Creed But Sir I hope you will save your selfe and mee that labour and rather devise of some set way to bind up the Churches wounds which God knowes are too wide already that so the Clergy and Laity being made friends and all reduced to the modell of our Ancestors since the Reformation we may altogether preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and so his Majesty having gratiously and prudently exprest himselfe I am the more confident wee shall not onely put an end to all mis-intelligence betwixt Prince and People but also highly advance the Protestant cause and give a deadly blow to the See of Rome Sir I humbly crave the favour of the House for God is my witnesse Non potui aliter liberare animam meam Sir THOMAS ROVVES REPORTS To the COMMONS HOUSE of PARLIAMENT 1640. Master Speaker I Am to make a Report of what was delivered at the conference of a Committee of both Houses of Parliament upon Thursday last I hope Master Speaker so much upon the favour of this House that they will give mee leave to be a Reader and that they will not expect from my age and weaknesse a particular repetition of the same words a taske too great for my memory unpractised for many yeares in such exactnesse neither am I able to represent without diminution that life and grace that those relations received from so great abilities desiring their Lordships pardon and your acceptance of the substance and matter wherein I hope I shall omit nothing substantiall and if I could repeate every word yet would it want as much luster as copies of ordinary hands doe of the best originals