of Trumpets dedicated to the King by Canterburie As for the Churches lawes which wee call Canons or rules made to restrain or redresse abuses they have alwayes been made at Church assemblies and in her owne Councels not elsewhere Heylens antidot pag. 29. I trow you are not ignorant that the kirk makes canons it is the work of Cleargie men in their Convocations having his Majesties leave for their conveening and approbation of their doings His Majestie in the declaration before the articles hath resolved it so and the late practice in King Iames raigne what time the Book of Canons was composed in the Convocation hath declared it soo to 3. They avow that all their injunctions though so many and so new yet they are so holy and so just that the whole kingdome in conscience must embrace them all as the commands of God (e) VVhites examination pag. 20. telleth us as it were from Eusebius Quicqued in Sanctis Episcoporum conciliis decernitur id universum Divina voluntati debet attribus And from Bernard Sive Deus sive homo vicarius Dei mandatum quodcunque tradiderit pari profectó obsequendum est cura pari reverentia suscipiendum ubi tamen Deo contraria non praecepit homo That whoever will be so peart as to affirm in any one of them the least contrarietie to the Word of God he must have no lesse censure then the great excommunication from which he must never be relaxed but by the Bishops own mouth after his publick repentance and revocation of so vile an errour (f) Book of Canons pag. 8. VVhosoever shall hereafter affirme that the forme of worship contained in the booke of Commoun Prayer that the rites and ceremonies of the church that the government of y Church by archbishops bishops and others that the forme of consecrating archbishops bishops presbyters and deacons as they are now established under his Maiesties authoritie doe containe in them any thing repugnant to the Scriptures or are corrupt superstitious or unlawfull in the service and worship of God let him be excommunicate and not restored but by the bishop of the place or archbishop of the province after his repentance and publick revocation of such his wicked errours That his bodily and pecuniall penaltie shall be at the free will and discretion of the Bishop (g) Book of Canons pag. 37. In all this book of Canons whersoever there is no penaltie expressely set downe it is to be understood that so the crime or offence bee proved the punishment shall be arbitrarie as the ordinarie shall think fittest That the worthiest men of any liberall profession get savour to losse but their eares to have their noses slit and cheeks burnt for contradicting their innovations (h) Canterburies Star chamber speach in his epistle to the King I shall rather magnifie your clemencie that proceeded with those offenders Burtoun Bastmijck Prinne in a Court of Mercie as well as Iustice since as the reverend Iudges then declared yee might have justly called the offenders into another Court and put them to it in a way that might have exacted their lives That the furthest banishments for tearme of life is a priviledge which their indulgence may grant but to few (i) The world knowes that numbers who have beene flying from episcopall tyrannie out of England to the very new found lands never to return have beene by violence keeped back and cast in their prisons and wee see dayly that numbers not onely of men but even of sillie women are drawn back in Ireland from their flight out of the kingdom to close prisons That the vilest dungeons yrons whippings bread and water chaining to posts without all company day or night in the coldest and longest winters is but a part of their opposers deserving (k) Huntly in his Breviat reports as a known case among many other this one also that M. Iohn Hayden a poore Devonshire Minister for preaching at Norwich a Sermon wherein he let fall some passages against setting up of images and bowing at the name of Iesus was apprehended like a traitour with the Constables bills and halberts by D. Harsnet then Bishop and brought manacled to him like a fellon and committed to the common Iayle close prisoner above thirteene weekes where hee was like to sterve the Bishop having taken from him his horse papers and all thereafter he was sent by a pursevant to London and keeped two full tearms At last by the high Commission he was deprived of his orders thereafter the high Commissionars imprisoned him in the Gate house common dungeon and Canterburie sent him to be whipped in Bredwall and there keeped him all the long extreame cold winter in a dark cold dungeon without fire or candle light chained to a post in the mids of the room with heavy yrons on his hands and feet allowing him only bread and water with a pad of straw to ly on And since on his reliefe hath caused him to take an oath and give band to preach no more and to depart the Kingdome within three weeks without returning and all this for preaching after his first uniust deprivation though no exception was taken against his doctrine That the greatest Nobles of the Land ought in Law to for-fault their Life and Estate if they be so bold as to put their hand to a supplication unto their gratious Prince against their practices (l) Sundrie of our prime Earles and Lords did present a supplication to our King after his Coronation wherein the matter of their greatest complaint was so far as ever wee heard their challenging of the Bishops for what they had done and were likely to doe The copie of this privie supplication being privily convoyed by an unfriend some two or three years thereafter out of my Lord Balmerinochs chamber was a dittay for which hee was condemned to die for an example to all other Noble Men to beware of the like rashnesse especially his Fellow-supplicants who are all declared to have deserved by that fault the same sentence of death Large Declaration pag. 14. Nor could they have found the least blemish in our justice if wee should have given warrant both for his sentence and execution whose life was now legally devolved into our hands Ibid. pag. 13. VVee were graciously pleased that the feare and example might reach to all but the punishment onely to one of them to passe by many who undoubtedly had beene concluded and involved by our Lawes in the same sentence if wee had proceeded against them That all this is but just severitie and the very expedient meane to advance their cause which they glory have well neere already close undone their opposites (m) Studley about the end of his wicked storie avowes that since by severe punishment the number of the unconformists have decayed that their cause can not bee from God and which they boast shall still bee used (n) Canterburie in his epistle to the
more facilitating of their purposes they advance the secular power of Princes and of all soveraigne Estates above all that themselves either crave or desire alone for this end that their clerks may ride upon the shoulders of Soveraignitie to tread under the feet of their domination first the Subjects and then the Soveraignes themselves The tyrannous usurpation of the Canterburians are as many and heavie as these of the Romist Clergie How much our men are behinde the greatest tyrants that ever were in Rome let any pronounce when they have considered these their following maximes They tell us first that the making of all Ecclesiastick constitutions doth belong alone to the Bishop of the Diocesse no lesse out of Synod then in Synod That some of the inferior clergie may bee called if the Bishops please to give their advice and deliberative voice That the Prince may lend his power for confirming and executing of the constitutions made but for the work of their making it is the Bishops priviledge belonging to them alone by Divine right (a) Samuel Hoards sermons pag. 7. By the Chruch I meane the Churches Pilots who sit at the sterne Heads members divide all bodies Ecclesiasticall and civill what ever is to bee done in matters of direction and government hath alwayes beene and must be the sole prerogative of the heads of these bodies unlesse wee will have all common-wealths and churches broken in picees Ibid. pag. 8. The key of jurisdiction which is a power of binding and lousing men in foro exteriori in the coutts of justice and of making lawes and orders for the government of Gods house is peculiar to the heads and bishops of the church Ibid. p. 31. what was Ignatius and Ambrose if we look at their authoritie more than other bishops of the church That libertie therfore which they had to make new orders when they saw cause have all other prelats in their churches Edward Boughanes serm Pag. 17. Submit your selves to those that are put in authoritie by kings so then to Bishops because they are put in authoritie by Kings if they had no other clame But blessed bee God they hold not only by this but by a higher tenor since all powers are of God from him they have their spirituall jurisdiction what ever it be S. Paul therfore you see assumes this power unto himselfe of setting things in order in the kirk before any Prince become Christian 1 Cor. 11.34 The like power hee acknowledgeth to be in Titus 1.5 and in all bishops Heb. 15.17 Ibid. pag. 18. Kings make lawes and bishops make canons This indeed it was of necessitie in the beginning of Christianitie Kings made lawes for the State and bishops for the kirk because then there was no Christian Kings either to authorize them to make such lawes or who would countenance them when they were made But after that Kings became nourishing fathers to the Church in these pious and regular times bishops made no Canons without the assent and confirmation of Christian Kings and such are our Canons so made so confirmed Chounei collect pag. 53. Reges membra quidem filios Eccesiae se esse habitos reiecisse contempsisse nonnunquam audivimus obediunt simulque regnant Iura quibus gubernari se permittunt sua sunt vitalitatem nativam ex praepositis Ecclesiae tanquam ex corde recipiunt vivacitatem ex ipsis tanquam ex capitibus derivant Samuel Hoards pag. 9. Nor did they exercise this power when they were in Counsell only but when they were asunder also Speaking of apostles as they are paterns to all bishops 2. That in a whole Kingdome the Bishops alone without the privitie of any of the clergie of any of the laitie may abolish all the Ecclesiastick judicatories which the standing and unrepealled lawes which the constant customes ever since the reformation had setled and put in their rowme new forraigne courts which the kingdome had never known scarce so much as by their name (b) Our Chrurch Sessions our weekly presbyteries our yearly generall Assemblies whereof by our standing lawes wee have beene in possession are closse put downe by our book of Canons and in their rowme Church-wardens officiall courts synods for Episcopall visitation and generall Assemblies to bee called when they will to be constitute of what members they please to name are put in their place That at one stroke they may annull all the Acts of three or fourscore National Afsemblies and set up in their roome a Book of Canons of their own devysing (c) So is their book entituled Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiasticall gathered and put in forme for the governement of the Church of Scotland and ordained to bee observed by the clergie and all others whom they concerne That they may abolish all the formes used in the worship of God without any question for threescore yeares and above both in the publicke prayers in the administration of the Sacraments in singing of Psalmes in preaching the Word in celebrating of Marriage in visiting the sicke and in ordination of Ministers Neither this alone but that it is in their hand to impose in place of these accustomed formes foure new Bookes of their owne of Service of Psalmes of Ordination of Homilies All this our Bishops in Scotland have done and to this day not any of them to our knowledge can be moved to confesse in that deed any faile against the rules either of equitie or justice what ever slips of imprudence there may bee therein And all this they have done at my lord of Canterburies direction as wee shall make good by his owne hand if ever we shall be so happy as to be permitted to produce his owne authentick autographs before the Parliament of England or any other Judicatorie that his Majestie will command to cognosce upon this our alleadgance Readily Rome it self can not be able in any one age to paralell this worke which our faction did bring foorth in one yeare It is a bundel of so many so various and so heavie acts of tyrannie Certainly England was never acquaint with the like wee see what great trouble it hath cost his Grace to get thorow there one poore ceremonie of setting the Communion table altar-wayes for there themselves dar not deny that it is repugnant to the established Lawes of their church and state for any Bishop yea for all the Bishops being joined to make the poorest Canon without the voices of their convocation-house or Nationall Assemblie yea without the Parliaments good pleasure (d) VVhites examination of the dialogue pag 22. By the lawes of our kingdome and Canons of our Church many learned persons are appointed to be assistants unto bishops and in our nationall Synods in which all weightie matters concerning religion are determined nothing is or may be concluded but by the common vote and counsell of the major part of the convocation which consisteth of many other learned Divines besides Bishops Andrews sermons
LADENSIVM ἈΥΤΟΚΑΤΑΚΡΙΣΙS THE CANTERBVRIANS SELF-CONVICTION OR An evident demonstration of the avowed Arminianisme Poperie and tyrannie of that Faction by their owne confessions With a Post-script to the Personate Jesuite Lysimachus Nicanor a prime Canterburian Written in March and printed in April 1640 COR VNVM VIA VNA Summa Capitum THE Preface showeth the unreasonablenesse of this new warre That we have committed nothing against the late pacification That compassion hope and all reason call now for peace at home that at last we may get some order of our enemies abroad That the Canterburian faction deserveâ— not so well of England that armes in their favour ought to be taken against Scotland VVe offer to instruct their insupportable crimes by their owne writs If armes be needlesly taken in so evill a cause they cannot but end in an untimous repentance In this nicke of time very poore wits without presumption may venture to speake even to Parliaments The obstinate silence of the English Divines is prodigious CHAP. I. The delineation of the vvhole subsequent Treatise OUR Adversaries decline to answer our first and chiefe challenge The scope of this writt All our plea is but one cleare syllogisme the Major whereof is the sentence of our Iudge the Minor the confession of our partie the conclusion a cleare and necessary consequence from these two premisses CHAP. II. The Canterburians avovved Arminianisme ARminianisme is a great dangerous innovation of our Religion King Iames his judgment thereof The great increase of Arminianisme in Scotland by Canterburies meanes King Charles his name stolne by Canterburie to the defence of Arminianisme The Irish Church infected with Arminianisme by Canterburie The Canterburians in England teach the first second article of Arminius Why King James stiled Arminians Atheists They teach the third fourth article also the fifth The Arminians in England advanced Their opposites disgraced and persecuted Canterburie and his fellowes contrary to the Kings Proclamation goe on boldly to print let be to preach Arminian tenets A demonstration of Canterburies Arminianisme in the highest degree They make Arminianisme consonant to the articles of England and so not contrary to the Proclamation CHAP. III. The Canterburians professed affection towards the Pope Poperie in grosse ONce they were suspected of Lutheranisme but at last Poperie was found their marke To make way for their designes they cry down the Popes Antichristianisme they are content to have the Popes authoritie set up againe in England Their minde to the Cardinalat They affect much to be joyned with the Church of Rome as shee stands CHAP. IV. The Canterburians Ioyne vvith Rome in her grossest Idolatrie IN the middes of their denyalls yet they avow their giving of religious adoration to the very stock or stone of the altar As much adoration of the Elements they grant as the Papists require In the matter of Images their full agreement with Rome About relicts they agree with Papists They come neere to the invocation of Saints CHAP. V. The Canterburians avovv their embracing of the Popish heresies and grossest errours THey joyne with Rome in setting up traditions in prejudice of Scripture In the doctrine of faith Justification fulfilling of the Law merit they are fully Popish In the doctrine of the Sacraments behold their Poperie They are for the reerection of Monasteries and placing of Monkes and Nunnes therein as of old How neere they approach to Purgatory and prayer for the dead CHAP. VI. Anent their Superstitions FEW of all Romes superstitions are against their stomack They embrace the grossest not onely of their privat but also of their publick superstitions CHAP. II. The Canterburians embrace the Masse it selfe THey cry down so farre as they can all preaching They approve the Masse both for word matter The Scotish Leiturgie is much worse then English Many alterations into the Scotish specially about the offertorie the consecration the sacrifice the Communion CHAP. ULT. The Canterburians maximes of tyranny THE tyrannous usurpation of the Canterburians are as many and heavie as these of the Romish Clergie King Charles hates all tyrannie The Canterburians flatter him in much more power then ever he will take They enable the Prince without advice of the church to doe in all Eccelesiasticall affaires what he thinks meet They give to the King power to doe in the State what ever be will without the advice of his Parliament In no imaginable case they will have the greatest tyrants resisted What they give to Kings is not for any respect they have to Majestie but for their own ambitious covetous ends The Chiefe vvitnesses vvhich in the follovving action are brought into depone WIlliam Laud Arch-bishop of Canterburie in his speech before the Starre-chamber in his relation of his Conference with Iesuite Fisher as it was the last yeare amplified and reprinted by the Kings direction In Andrewes opuscula posthuma set out by him and dedicated to the King B. VVhyte of Eli in his treatise upon the Sabbath and his answer to the lawlesse Dialogue B. Montagu of Chichester in his answer to the gagger in his appeale in his antidiatribae in his apparatus in his origenes B. Hall of Exeter in his ould Religion set out with his owne apologie and the apologies of his Friends M. Chomley and M. Butterfield In his remedie of profanesse Peter Heylen Chaplan in ordinary in his answer to Burton set out as he sayes by the command of authoritie as a full and onely Reply to bee expected against all â—he exceptions which commonly are taken at my Lord of Canterburie his actions in his antidotum Lincolinense subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane D. Pottar Chaplan in ordinary in his charitie mistaken as he prints at the command of authoritie D. Laurence Chaplan in ordinary in his Sermon preached before the King and printed at the command of authoritie D. Pocklingtoune in his Sunday no Sabbath in his Altare Christianum both subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane Christopher Dow in his answer to Burtoune subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane Couzine in his devotions the fourth Edition subscribed by the B. of London my Lord high Treasuror his owne hand Chounaeus in his Collectiones Theologicae dedicated to my Lord of Canterburie and subscribed by his Chaplane Shelfoord in his five pious Sermons printed at Cambridge by the direction of the Vice Chanceler D. Beel set out with a number of Epigrames Latine and English by diverse of the Vniversitie fellowes defended yet still by Heylene and Dow in their bookes which Canterbury hath approven Antonie Stafford in his female glory printed at London and notwithstanding of all the challenges made against it yet still defended by Heylene and Dow in their approven writs William Wats in his Sermon of apostolicall mortification Giles Widowes in his Schismaticall Puritan Edward Boughen in his sermon of order and decencie Mr. Sp. of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge in his sermon of Confession Samuel Hoards in his sermon at the metrapolecall visitation Mr.
invention are these privie articles which his Creature my Lord of Derry presents to diverse who take Orders from his holy hands We will passe these and such other effects which the remote rayes of his Graces countenance doe produce in so great a distance Onely behold How great an increase that unhappie plant hath made there in England where his eye is neerer to view and his hand to water it The Canterburians in England teach the first and second article of Arminianisme In the 25. yeare at the very instant of King James death D. Montagu with D. Whites approbation did put to the presse all the articles of Arminius in the same fearmes with the same arguments and most injurious calumniations of the Orthodox doctrine as Spalato and the Remonstrants had done a little before but with this difference that where those had dipped their pennes in inke D. Montagu doth write with venegar gall in every other line casting out the venome of his bitter Spirit on all that cometh in his way except they be fowles of his own feather for oft when he speakes of Iesuites Cardinals Popes hee annoynts his lips with the sweetest honey and perfumes his breath with the most cordiall tablets If any doe doubt of his full Arminianisme let them cast up his Appeale and see it clearly (k) Appeal p. 60. I professe my through sincere dissent from the faction of novellizing Puritans but in no point more theÌ„ in the doctrine of desperate predestination Ibid. p. 70. I see no reason why any of the divines of our Church present at the Synod of Dort should take any offence at my dissenting who had no authoritie that J know of to conclude me more then I doe at them for dâ—ffering from me in their judgment quisque abundet in suo sensu Ibid. pag. 71. I am sure the Church of England never so determined in her doctrine Ibid. pag. 72 at the conference of Hamptoun-court before his Majestie by D. Bancroft that doctrine of irrespective predestination was stiled against the articles of Lambeth then urged by the Purâ—tans a desperate doctrine without reproof or taxation of any Ibid. pag. 50 your absolute necessarie determined irresistible irrespective decree of God to call save and glorifie S. Peter for instance infalliblie without any consideration had off or regard unto his faith obedience repentance J say it truely it is the fancie of some particular men in the first and second Article of Election and Redemption he avoweth his aversnesse from the Doctrine of Lambeth and Dort which teacheth that God from eternitie did elect us to grace salvation not for any consideration of our faith workes or any thing in us as causes respects or conditions antecedent to that decree but onely of his meere mercy And that from this Election all our faith workes and perseverance doe flow as effects Hee calleth this the private fansie of the Divines of Dort opposite to the Doctrine of the Church of England For this assertion he slandereth the Synod of Lâ—mbeth as teachers of desperate doctrine and would father this foule imputation but very falsly on the Conference at Hamptoun Court (l) Ibid. pag. 61 64. I shall as I can briefly set downe what I conceive of this of Gods decree of predestination seâ—ting by all execution of purpose this farre we have gone and no word yet of predestination for how could it be in a paritie Tâ—ere must â—e first conceived a disproportion before there can be conceived an Election or dereliction God had compassion of men in the masse of perdition upon singulos generum genera singulorum and out of his love motu mero no oâ—herwise stretched out to them deliverance in a Mediator the Man Iesus Christ and drew them out that tooke hold of mercie leaveing them there that would none of him Againe he avoweth positively that faith goeth before Election and that to all the lost race of Adam alike Gods mercie in Christ is propounded till the parties free-will by beleeving or mis-beleeving make the disproportion antecedent to any divine either election or reprobation One of the reasons why King Iames stiled Arminius disciples Aâ—heists Why King Iames stiled them Atheists was because their first article of condiâ—ionall Election did draw them by an inevitable necessitie to the maintenance of Vorstian impiety For make me once Gods eternall decree posterior and dependant from faith repentance perseverance and such works which they make flow from the free-will of changeable men that decree of God will bee changeable it will be a separable accident in him God will be a composed substance of subject true accidents no more an absolute simple essence and so no more God Vorstius ingenuitie in professing this composition is not misliked by the most learned of the Belgick Arminians who use not as many of the English to deny the clear consequeÌ„ces of their doctrine if they be necessary though never so absurd However in this very place Montagu maintaines very Vorstian Atheisme as expresly as any can doe making the divine essence to be finite his omnipresence not to bee in substance but in providence (m) Appeale p. 49. the Stoicks among others held that paradox of old Deum ire per omne terras tractusmaris coelumque profundum They meant it substâ—ntially and so impiously Christians doe hold it too but disposively in his providence and so making God to be no Gâ—d This though long agoe by learned Featlie objected in print to Montagu lyes still upon him without any clearing Certainly our Arminians in Scotland were begun both in word and writt to undertake the dispute for all that Vorstius had printed I speake what I know and have felt oft to my great paines Arminianisme is a chaine any one linck wherof but specially the first will draw all the rest yet see the other also expressed by Montagu In the articles of grace and freewill They teach the third and fourth article not onelie he goes cleare with the Arminians teaching that mans will hath ever a facultie to resist and oftimes according to the Doctrine of the Church of England actually doth resist reject frustrate and overcoms the most powerfull acts of the spirit and grace of God even those which are employed about regeneration sanctification justification perseverance (n) Appeal p. 89. S. Steven in terminis hath the very word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you resist nay fall crosse with the holy Ghost not suffering him to worke grace in you If the Counsell meaned it de gratia excitante praeveniente operante I think no man will deny it de gratia adiuvante subsequente cooperante there is without question in the naturall will of a regenerate man so much carnal concupiscence as may make him resist and rebell against the Law of the Spirit And if a man justified may fall away from grace which is the doctrine of the Church of England then without question your selves being
judges he may resist the grace of God offered Not onely doeth he thus farre proceed but also he avowes that all the difference which is betwixt the Church of England Rome in this head of freewill to be in nothing materiall a reallie long agoe to be ended and agreed amongst the most judicious and sober of both the sides (o) Ibid. p. 95. Thus having with as great diligence as I could examined this question inter partes of free-will I doe ingenuously confesse that I can not finde any such materiall difference betweene the Pontificians at least of better temper and our Church For the fifth Also the fifth of perseverance he is as grosse as any other Remonstrant or Molinean Iesuite professing that no man in this life can have more assurance not to fall away both totally and finally from all the grace he gets then the divels (p) Antigag p. 161. Man is not likely in the State of grace to be of an higher alloy then angels were in the state of glory then Adam was in the state of innocencie Now if Adam in paradise and Lucifer in heaven did fall and losse their originall estate the one totally the other eternally what greater assuraÌ„ce hath any man in the state of proficiencie not of consumatioÌ„ had once in heaven and Adam once in paradise Behold the Arminian ensigne fairly now displayed in England by the the hands of Montagu and White under the conduct of D. Laud Bishop of S. Davids even then the President and chiefe of Ecclesiasticall affaires of the Duke of Buckinghames secret Counsel At the first sight of this black banner a number of brave Champions got to their armes pulpits over all England rang presses swat against the boldnesse of that but small hand full then of courtizing Divines Their craftie leader seeing the spight of opposition and finding it meet for a little to hold in and fold up his displayed colours did by the Duke his Patron perswade the expediency of that pollicie which the Iesuites had immediately before for that same very designe moved the Roman consistorie to practise He obtained a Proclamation commanding silence to both sides Silence by proclamation injoyned to both sides discharging all preaching all printing in these controversies a stricting to the cleare plaine and very grammaticall sense of the articles of England in these points without all further deductions By this means his intentioÌ„s were much promoved opeÌ„ avowers of Arminianisme were by publicke authority so exâ—emed from any censure a reall Libertie was thus proclaimed over all the Land for any who pleased to embrace Arminianisme without opposition Hereby in two or three yeares the infection spread so farre and broad that the Parliament was forced in the 28. to make the encrease of Arminianisme The Arminians in England advanced their chiefe grievance to his Majestie But at that time D. Laud was growne greater He had mounted up from the Bath to London and to make a shew there in Parliament of his power in the eye of all the complainers hee raised up Montagu to the Episcopall Chaire of his owne Diocesan D. Carletoun who had lately chastised him in print for his Arminian appeal D. White his other chiftane that all great spirits might be encouraged to run the wayes which D. Laud pointed out to them in despight of these Parliamentarie Remonstrants was advanced from Bishoprick to Bishoprick till death at the step of Elie did interrupt the course of his promotion that to Wren a third violent follower of his Arminian Tenets way might be made for to climb up the remaining steps of the Ladder of his Honours Now to the end that the world may know that my lord of Canterburie doth nothing blush at the advancement of such men heare what a publicke Testimony of huge worth and deserving hee caused his Herauld Peter Heylen to proclaime to that Triumvirat not onely at his owne directions for that moderate answer of Heylens is the Iusto volumine which his G. did promise to the World in his Starre Chamber-speach but also in name of Authoritie If Heylen lye not who sayes Hee writes that booke at the commandement of the state There after the cryasse of Canterburies owne extraordinarie praises (q) A moderate answer pag. 78. you will be troubled to finde Canterburies equall in our Church since K. Edwards reformation whether yee look to his publick or prâ—vate demeanours the renown of his three underleaders is loudly sounded as of plaine non-suches (r) Ibid. pag 84. White Montagu and Wren whom you so abuse are such who for their endeavours for this Churches honour fidelitie in their service to the King full abilities in learning have had no equals in this Church since the Reformation All these his Graces favours to his followers Their opposites disgraced and persecuted would have beene the more tolerable if hee would have permitted his orthodox opposites to have had some share in their Princes affection or at least have lived in peace in their owne places But behold all that crosses his way must downe were they the greatest Bishops in the Dominions For who else wrought the late Arch-bishop so farre out of the Kings grace that he remained some yeares before his death well near confined to his house at Lambeth Who hath caused to be caged up in the tower that great learned Bishop of Lincolne what ever else may bee in the man What fray makes that worthie Primate Vsher to foretell oft to his friends his expectation to bee sent over Sea to dye a pedant teaching boyes for his bread by the persecution of this faction whose wayes he avowes to many doth tend to manifest Arminianisme and Poperie This their resolution to persecute with all extremitie every one who shall mint to print or preach any thing against Arminianisme they avow it openly not onely by deeds for why else was poore Butter cast by Canterburie in the Fleet for printing of B. Davenants letter to B. Hall against some passage of Aâ—minianisme at the Authours direction as we see it set downe by Huntly in his Breviate but even in open print for when Burton complaines to the King that he was silenced by Canterburie for expounding of his ordinary text Rom. 8 Whom God had predestinate those he hath called and applying it to the present Pelagianisme and Poperie of the Arminians Christopher Dow (s) Chr. Dow. Answer to Burton Mr. Burton did preach on the highest point of predestination in a controverted way with disputes and clamarous invectives against those who dissented froÌ„ him in opinion his questioning suspending for this cause was nothing contrary to his Majesties declarations Ibid. pag. 40. Bee it so that the doctrine of election effectuall vocation assurance oâ— perseverance are by the Kings declaration suppressâ—d rather then the peace of the Church should be disturbed we might truely say of that time when his Majesties declaration was published that men
15. Reckons out among his traditions the crossing of themselves when they went out or when they came in when they went to bed or when they rose when they set down to meat or lighted candles or had any businesses of moment to doe Montag apeal page 286. What hinders but that I may signe my self with the signe of the crosse in any part of my boody at any time when I goe to bed in the morning when I rise at my going out at my returning home the ancient Church so used it and so may wee for ought I know without just scandall or superstition 2. They avow expresly the carrying of these holy trincats about their neck in caisses of silver or gold (b) Montag antid p. 17. Ego certe illas reliquias fasâ—iis involvam auro includam circumgestandas admovebo labiis ac collo suspensas manibus oculisque crebro usurpatas intuebor Ibid. p. 24. Imagines praesertim Christi crucifixi asservamus diligenter cum cura sunt apud nos per fenestras ambones vasa vestimenta 3 The saying of their prayers yea their Ave maries upon their beeds is to them an holy Arithmetick worthie of praise and imitation (c) Female glory pag. 148. Among the other praises of his holy Nuns this is one You who ply your sacred Arithmetick and have your thoughts cold and cleare as the crystall beeds yee pray by And in his proemials Omnis terra revibrat aeve 4. Wednesday fryday and Lent-fasts are to them not only lawdable practices of the ancient church but also traditions come from Christ and the Apostles which for religions cause all are oblidged to embrace (d) Montag antid p. 164. Quadragesimale jejunium libenter ego concesserim ab Apostolis constitutum apud vetissimos Ecclesia proceres usurpatum Ibid. p. 9. Doceatur esse aliquid ab ipsis Apostolis institutum utpote jejunium quadragesimale Causam non dicamquin haereseos accuser si non ut ab Apostolicae authoritate sancitum propugnavero William Wats sermon page 50. Most precise and severe observers were they of Lent-fast which the whole primitive Church did believe to bee of Apostolicall institution so that they had their Saviours and his Apostles example for that strictnesse I passe their observation of Wednesdayes and Frydayes fast weckly which Epiphanius among many others assureth to bee of Apostolicall institution Couzins devotion It had also beene an ancient and religions custome to fast all the Frydayes in the yeare except those which fall within the twelve dayes of Christmasse The Lent which now is and ever hath beene reputed an apostolical constitution and wee adde out of Chrysologus that it is not an humane invention as they call it but it comes from Divine authoritie that wee fast our fouritie dayes in Lent p. 221. They embrace the grossest not onely of their private but also of their publick superstitions The popish publick superstitions are very many but of these which that whole Church doth allow very few comes to my minde which stand much against the stomack of our men Those that come first to my thoughts are all pleasently digested Protestants wont to deride the popish conceat of their holy ground of their consecrat walls and the sanctuary of their Chancels their turnings towards the East their manifold toies in baptisme and the Lords supper joyned with the sacramentall elements their hallowing above the Sabboth a multitude of Festivals their pilgrâ—mages their processions and many such their practises In this behold the minde of our men they tell us first that Kirk-yards by prayers and conspersion of holy water must be made holy ground that before these episeopall consecrations no Christian buriall may be made therein but after that the bishop hath used the pontificall ceremonies therupon no Heretick no Schismatick no Excommunicat person may be brought there no worldly no common action there performed without the profanatioÌ„ of the holy place (e) Laurence sermon p. 9. Christians distinguished their oratories into an aetriuÌ„ a Church yard a sanctuÌ„ a Church a sanctum sanctorum a Chancell they did conceive a greater degree of sanctitie in one of them than in an other and in one place of them than another churchyards they thought profained by sports the whole circuit both before and after Christ was priviledged for refuge none out of the communion of the Kirke permitted to lie there any consecrate ground preferred for interment before that which was not consecrat and that in an higher esteem which was in a higher degree of consecration and that in an higher which was neerest the altar Halls sermon at the consecration of a buriall place p. 38. Out of the consideration of the holy designation of these peculiare places came both the tittle and practice of consecration of cemiteries which they say is no lesse ancient than the the dayes of Calixtus the first who dedicated the first Cemmiteries albeit it was decreed by the counsel of Arles that if any Church were coÌ„secrated the Church yard of it should require no other hallowing but by simple conspersion p. 40. It is meer and necessary that those places should be set aside to this holy use by a due and religious dedication by prayers and holy actions tending thereunto if the Iews used these dedications how much more we Ib. in the preface an act worthy both of this common celebration and of that episcopall service of mine Again they shew us that the church by the bishops anointing some stones thereof with oyl and sprinkling others with water and using from the Roman pontificall some mo prayers some mo ceremonies upon it becomes a ground more holy That before these consecrations though the people of God for many years have meet into a Church for divine service yet it is no more holy then a barn a tavern a tolbooth but after these consecrations there is such holinesse in the walls that even when there is no divine service men at their comming in and going out must adore and all the time of their presence stand discovered and never so much as sit down were the service never so long except upon great infirmity (f) Tedders sermon p. 8. It is the consecration that makes them holy and makes God esteeme them so which though they be not capable of grace yet receive by their consecration a spirituall power whereby they are made fit for divine service and being consecrate there is no danger in ascribing holinesse unto them if we beleeve S. Bernard quis parietes istos sanctos dicere vereatur quos manus sacratae Pontificum tantis sactificavere mysteriis When we come to Church sayes the holy Fathers of the devotion of those primitive times corpora humi sternimus they that shewed the least devotion did bow all the time that they were there none presumed so much as to sit as being too bold and lazie a posture in Gods house but only for infirmitie or some other
become intolerable but the Prince setled in the full strength of his authoritie which for a time the cloud of these grassehoppers did eclipse in the hearts of his people The third point wherein ye joyne us with the Iesuites is our denying to the King the government of the Church In this ye doe us wrong as in all the rest for we reiect the Popish doctrine here They make Princes meer sheep they command them to follow the Pope their pastor where ever he leads were it to the bottome of Hell without asking so much as Domine quid facis but we esteeme it to be a chiefe part of the Magistrates office to command all Church-men to doe their dutie and when they will not be perswaded with cleare reasons to compell them by force to reforms the corruptions in the worship of God But ye skift out here much further to an extravagance wherein ye have no approved divine to be your patron Yee teach that all Soveraignes are the true heads of the Churches in their Dominions Such styles the Bishops of England since the beginning of Queene EliZabeths reigne have ever denyed to their Princes with their owne contentment Ye will have not only the Magistrate to command that which is right in the service of God as Austine and wee doe gladly grant but also ye make it his right were he a professed heretick or Pagan to give what lawes he will to the Church without her consent or so much as advice Ye give to the Prince much more then the Iesuites will grant to the Pope to doe in the Church even without a Counsell what he thinkes meetest and if it be his pleasure to call a Counsell ye make it his only right to call either of the laitie or the Cleargie whom he will to be members thereof and when these members are conveened ye give to the Prince alone the power of judging and deciding and to all others but of meere advice Except so farre as the Prince is pleased to communicate to so many of them as he thinkes meete his owne decisive voice In such a Counsell or without it ye make it the Princes right to destroy at his pleasure all Church-Canons Church-judicatories and formes of divine worship which by Lawes and long customes have been established and to impose new Confessions of Faith new Ecclesiasticke judicatories new Bookes of Canons Leiturgie Ordination Homilies Psalmes by meere authoritie All this by your perswasion yee moved our Prince to assay but upon better information his royall justice is now pleased to reiect all such your designes for his Majestie hath given to us assurance not only at his Campe but by his Commissioner in our last Assemblie and we hope also that at once this assurance shall be confirmed in Parliament that no ecclesiastick novation shal over be required by his Maj but that wherto a free generall Assemblie shall give their full assent In this point therefore betwixt us and our Prince there is no discrepance neither here had wee ever any difference with any reformed Divine 4. Paralell About convocation of Synods we have no questioÌ„ with the king Your fourth challenge that we deny to the King power to convocate Assemblies yet know the contrarie that we give to all Christian Soveraignes so much interesse in the affaires of the Church as to convocate Assemblies where and whensoever they please But we grant that we are no wayes of your minde in this point that the Church may never lawfully meere in any case though Heresie and Schisme were eating up her life and drinking her heart bloud without the call of the Magistrate that no Church meeting at all is lawfull no not for prayer or Sacraments without the Magistrates permission That all Churches must lye under an interdict and no publick meeting in them must bee till the Magistrates licence bee first obtained Is all opposition to you in these things Iesuitisme what ever difference we have here with you yet with our Prince in this point we are fully agreed Your gratious Brethren and Fathers when we had beene in possession continually after the reformation for common of two generall Assemblies yearlie by their wicked dealing spoiled us of all that Libertie so that for 38 Yeares space wee had no generall Assemblie to count of but two both which were thrust upon us against our heart for the advancement alone of their evill purposes Yet now thankes be to God our Prince being wel informed of the mischivous wrong your partie did to us in this matter hath granted our reasonable desires if so be the like of you make not this grant fruitlesse unto us as ye truely intend The old act of Parliament for yearlie generall Assemblies and ofter pro re nata is acknowledged by the Kings Commissioner to be very reasonable and with his consent hath past the articles of our late Parliament so that our Prince now is very well content that from the generall Assemblie the highest Ecclesiastick Court being so frequently to bee keept should come no appeale at all to him Your fift and sixt parallell are cast together The 5. 6. Paralell We have no question with our Prince about his presidencie and supremacie in counsels the Kings Presidencie in generall Assemblies Supremacie in Ecclesiastick affaires yee handle these so confusedlie with so many wicked scoffings and scurrilous abusing of scripture that your meaning can scarce be understood Wee are so faâ—re from denying to the Prince the place of royall presidencie and moderation in our Assemblies as Constantine used it at Nâ—oâ— and King Iames oft in Scotland that it is one of the things our hearts mâ—st desire to see King Charles possessing in his owne person that priviledge His royall Sâ—premacie we willingly yeel◠〈◊〉 so farre as the fundamentall Lawes of our Câ—urch and Kingdome extend it yea we make no question that in that sense Bilson and the old Bishops of England understood it But your late Commentarie of the Kâ—ngs Supremacie whereby ye ascrive to every Soveraigne much more then any Iesuite ever gave to the Pope wee doe reject it with the Kings good leave as before was said Your repeated cavills at our Elders Sessions Presbyteries and Assemblies is not worth the answering The frame of our Discipline established by the Lawes of our Church and State in Holland France practized peaceably in the happiest times of our Church and in daily use since the first reformation without any quarrell is now ratified by our Prince 7. Paralel We are much for ther then our opposites from the doctrine of the churches infallibilitie So your mouth should bee stopped and your tongue silent what ever boyling be in your breast In your seventh parallell ye lay upon the Iesuites and our back that which is your owne burden ye might have knowne that the Iesuites ascrive to no Counsell any infallibilitie without many distinctions And as for us none is ignorant that we beleeve all meetings of men since