truth which yet I must avow The Cheshire Remonstrance improperly called A Petition Secondly abused by an absolute untruth the spurious issue of some brain-sick Anabaptist injuriously fathered upon that County and stiled The answer to that Petition therein disavowing me yet I must give him more thanks that printed the latter then the first That exposed me to censure This invites me to justifie my self to vindicate my Countrey The first starting out naked without the papers to which it relates appears like a shadow without a substance or a Comment without a Text yeelds every man discourse few men satisfaction To explain this Riddle I have inserted that Petition those posititions which were annext and were the occasion of our Remonstrance Thou that art doubtfull or hast censured Ex parte take in evidence the whole truth then give thy verdict The latter hath nothing in it worth my answer nor thy note but that it is meerly fictitious false In toto in qualibet parte Never any such Petition seen in Cheshire never presented to the house noe such persons ever signed it For thy better satisfaction know we have but five Noblemen in Cheshire four of which signed the first Petition of Knights Baronets Knights and Esquires I know not above two in the whole County that do desire the abolition of the Episcopall order we have not in all so many Divines as are said to have underwrit and fourscore and ten of those have signed the Remonstrance most of the rest were never asked And for the Gentry and inhabitants I do confidently beleeve not one of either but will protest against that Libell not one of a hundred but that question being singlely stated whether they desire the continuance of Bishops or to submit to a Presbytery will with their hands witnesse their hearts affections to the preservation of that order established by our Laws the observation of which Laws must preserve the continuation of our liberties But thou wilt lesse admire his boldnesse to traduce a Countrey when thou shalt finde him so impudent as to belie the Gospel To delude the ignorant or negligent Reader he stuffs his Margin full of Texts of which thou shalt not finde one for his purpose He takes upon him to prove that the Apostles alwayes ordained sundry Bishops in every particular Congregation and those of equall power and authority for proofe whereof he quotes Act 11.30 Acts 11. verse 27 28 29 30. C. a lapide Acts 11.31 but take the precedent verses with it and see what thou canst conclude thence a. And in those days came Prophets from Hierusalem to Antioch and there stood up one of them named Agabus and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth thorowout all the world which came to passe in the dayes of Claudius Caesar Then the Disciples every man aecording to his ability determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Iudea which also they did and sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul By which it is very probable as is the opinion of C. a Lapide and others was chiefly meant the Deacons (b) Nec alia tunc fuit Diaconorum ratio quam sub Apostolis oblationes enim fidelium quotidianas et anuos Ecclesiae proventus recipiebant ut conferent in veros usus id est partim Ministris partim pauperibus alendis distribuerent Episcopi tamen arbitrio cui oeconomiae suae rationes quotidianas reddebant Calvin Institut lib 4. cap. 4. sect 5. whose office was to collect and treasure up the benevolences for the reliefe of the Presbyters and of the poor as is agreed by all Writers Now he would apply the word Elders which is in the Latine Presbyteri onely to the Bishops whereas that word did usually imply all the Ministers of the Church As it is explained by that vast learned Lyra and the harmony of all the Fathers upon that place of Acts 14. (c) Lyra cap. 14. Acts Tom. 6. fol. 1144. Et cum instituissent illis per singulas Ecclesias Presbyteros c. dicit nomine presbyterorum intelliguntur etiam alii Ecclesiae Ministri ut Episcopi Diaconi huiusmodi Vid. Chrysostome upon the Epist to Titus fol. 1700. And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church c. He sayes by the name of Elders is also to be understood all other Ministers of the Church as Bishops and Deacons and such like All the rest of his quotations are but meere citing of Texts out of a Concordance where ever he findes the word Elder quoting it for a Bishop never observing whether it be for him or against him As to prove them of equall authority he cites 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour 't is a strange conclusion ergo equall in authority (d) Chrysost 1. cap. ad Titum Paulus Tito multorum Episcopor iudicium commisit Likewise to prove that one Bishop is not set over many Churches he quotes Titus who as it appears by the subscription of that Epistle was ordained the first Bishop of the Cretians Saint Chrysostome upon that Chapter sayes Paul committed to Titus the judgement of many Bishops And Lyra (e) Lyra paulus instituit Titum Archi Episcopum Cretensium upon the same Chapter that Paul instituted Titus Archbishop of the Cretians with whom agree our late Writers amongst which Erasmus more fully in his Argument on the Epistle to Titus observes (f) Erasmus tom 6. fol. 354. Titum discipulum suum ob eximias dotes Insulae nobilissimoe Cretae praefecerat Apostolus illic abiens Archiepiscopum consecrarat monet autem quod ipse apud Cretenses per singulas civitates episcopos instituat quos presbyteros vocat idoneum episcopi formam praescribens c. that Paul set Titus his Disciple for his excellent gifts over the Cretians and departing thence consecrated him Archbishop admonishing him to institute Bishops which he also calls Presbyters in every Citty prescribing him the fit endowments of a Bishop With like liberty doth he abuse History unworthily assuming the name of that reverend Patriot Archbishop Vsher Vsher de britannieâ— ecclesiae primord to patronize his fictions who onely historically recites the severall opinions of Authors concerning the first induceing of the Christian faith into England whether by Iames the son of Zebedec Simon Zelotes Simon Peter or Ioseph of Arimathea ann 63. after Christ (g) Vsher ibid. fol 7. si quidem Metaphrastae credimus apud quem legimus petrum in britann longo tempore fuisse moratum c. ecclesias constituisset episcopos presbyteros diaconos ordinasset 12. Caesaris Neronis rursus Romam reversum esse or others which if all admitted for truths conclude nothing to the governing of the land withou Bishops for some hundred yeers from the first plantation of the Gospel but rather the cleer contrary I shal give thee Reader that
of an imaginary good they many times covet their owne ruine These sugred baits of parity and libertie infus'd into vulgar apprehensions under the pretext of pietie and reformation are such popular poysons as will soon o're spread the body of the Common-wealth and corrupt or dissolve the Nerves Ligaments of Government conformity to Lawes if not early prevented by those precious Antidotes against Confusion Loyalty and Constancy SECT 5. A Discussion whether they seek to pull downe or advance the Clergie LEt us then ere wee imbrace the thoughts of such a totall subversion of the Fabrick of a Church and State examine whether such Reformers aime at our liberty or their owne advancement whether such bitternesse of Spirit proceed from zeale to truth or emulation of the order c What a Monopoly is this to take away the title wherein the office of all true Pastors is comprehended and to transferre it to one alone among many Christs Throne fol 43. Is it to clip the wings of the Clergie that they soare not too high that these men crie out against Episcopall jurisdiction or rather is it not to Imp out their broken Feathers that they may mount above the reach of all Lawes Is it to regulate any exorbitant power in them or rather is it not to make their power as indefinite This Monopoly is a mysterie of mischiefes view Prelat Church fol. 3. as their numbers are infinite Is it not really to pull downe 26. Bishops and set up 9324. potentiall Popes when in effect the Pastor of every parish Church must be such The consequences these men promise to themselves in their petition seconded by the writing of their fellow-laborers promise no lesse which are First to quit themselves from the circumscription of any Ecclesiasticall Authoritie either in discipline or doctrine d Their petition note 16. View of the Prelaticall Church fol. 16. They pray that the revealed will of God contained in the books of the old and new Testament may be the rule that wee should follow As if certainly this whole State and Church had all this while followed a wrong Guide e Their petition note 17. d That the morall doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles may bee old Englands Canons of which themselves must be Expositors as if all Canonicall obedience were a meere intrusion upon Gods word and had no foundation in Scripture Doe wee not know that Timothy and Titus were by Saint Paul set over the Churches of Ephesus and Crete and in the stile of both the Epistles by the interpretation of the Fathers appeare to have beene Bishops and to have Canonicall power committed to them f 1 Timoth. 1.3 To suppresse false doctrines g 2 Chap. 1.8 To direct time and place for prayer and supplications h 9. To prescribe formes of apparrell i 11. To impose silence upon women k 1 Timoth. 3.2 12. To institute Bishops and Deacons l 1 Timoth. 5.19 To receive accusations and to punish Elders m Ibid. 22. To ordaine Ministers n Titus 3.10 To admonish and reject obstinate Heretiques * 1 Timoth. 1.20 To excommunicate such as blaspheme And these things not transmitted to them as doctrines but as part of their jurisdiction o 1 Timoth. 4 11. These things command and teach and rebuke with all authoritie * Titus 2.15 And let no man despise thee So that here wee may see a foundation of Ecclesiasticall Government laid even by the Apostles themselves and to us enjoyned obedience And though in the infancie of the Gospell when q Matth. 8.20 Luke 9.58 The Son of man had not where to lay his head when his Disciples all past thorow the fire of Martyrdome and no free State scarce any whole Village had received the Gospell even Rome it selfe was for many ages after the seat of the Heathen Emperours r Fox his Martyrs fol. 39. under whose terrible persecutions the Church was scattered into corners and deserts where they could best hide themselves It could not then I say be expected that so exact a platforme of Discipline should be laid down to governe handfuls as was after necessarie to be extended to sway the converted Christian world Yet then did Paul see the necessity both of instituting rules of government putting the execution into the hands of some supreme power To which purpose as Erasmus observes Å¿ Eras tom 6. fol. 343. Timotheum Paulus in ministerium adoptarat probae indolis juvenem sacris literis eruditum Quoniam autem huic Ecclesiarum curam delegarat sicut Tito instituit eum in sunctione Episcopali Hee elected Timothy a hopefull young man and learned in holy writ into the ministerie and that hee might commit to him the care of the Churches instituted him as also Titus in the office of a Bishop And Saint Hierome t Hieronymus Dialogo adversus Luciferianos Ecclesiae satus in summi Sacerdâ—tiâ— dignitate pendet cuisâ—â—on exors quaedam ob omnibus eâ—â—inens detur potest as tot in Ecclesiis efficientur Schismata quot Sacerdotes gives the reason of the necessitie of such superintendencie in the Church for sayes he The safetie of the Church depends upon the dignitie of the chiefe Priest to whom if some extraordinarie power above the rest bee not given there would bee as many schismes in the Church as there are Pastors If then the Institution of Ecclesiasticall Government were Apostolicall the administration committed by Saint Paul himselfe to prime Presbyters or as all ancient Fathers agree to Bishops Let us next see whether such Ecclesiasticall Lawes have beene deduced downe to our fore-fathers in a continued current from the fountaine head the Apostles or are but as these charitable men stile them The Reliques of Romish Tyranny SECT 6. The Ecclesiasticall Lawes agreeable to Gods word I Have in the Epistle formerly set forth the first plantation of the Gospell in England in the time of Lucius u Fox his Martyrs fol. 34. Archbishop Vsher De primord Eccles fol. 54 59. about the yeare 169. when as Elutherius then Bishop of Rome shewes from what principles wee derive our Ecclesiasticall Lawes In his lettet to Lucius King of Britaine he writes thus Fox Martyrs fol. 108. Vsher De Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Primordiis fol 102. Yee require the Roman Lawes and the Emperors to be sent over to you The Roman Lawes and Emperours we may ever reprove but the Law of God we may not w Esutherii rescriptum ad Lucium Britanniae Regem Petistis a nobis Leges Romanas Caesaris vobis transmitti quibus in Regno Britanniae uti voluistis c. Habetis penes vos in regno utramque paginam ex illis Dei gratia per Consilium regni vestri sume legem per illam Dei patientia vestrum rege Britanniae regnum Yee have received of late through Gods mercie in the Realme of Britaine the
A Remonstrance AGAINST PRESBITERY Exhibited by divers of the NOBILITIE GENTRIE MINISTERS and INHABITANTS of the County PALATINE OF CHESTER with the Motives of that REMONSTRANCE TOGETHER WITH A SHORT SURvey of the Presbyterian Discipline Shewing the inconveniences of it and the inconsistency thereof with the constitution of this State being in its Principles destructive to the Laws and Liberties of the People With a briefe Review of the Institution Succession Iurisdiction of the ancient and venerable Order of Bishops Found to bee instituted by the Apostles continued ever since grounded on the Lawes of God and most agreeable to the Law of the Land By Sir THOMAS ASTON Baronet Horace lib. 1. Epist 2. Vt iugulent homines surgunt de nocte latrones Vt teipsum serves non expergisceris Because my people hath forgotten me they have burnt incens to vanity and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths to walk in paths in a way not cast up Ieremiah 18.15 Printed for Iohn Aston 1641. TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE Most dread Soveraigne FArr bee it from my ambition to presume your sacred Maiestie should mispend your more precious minutes upon the perusall of this weake essay of my loyall affections to my Parents My King the Father of his people (a) Bonus Rex nihi a bono patre diffetâ— patria dicitur a patre quia haber communem patrem qui est pater patriae to whom by the Law of nature I owe Faith and Allegeance (b) Ligeance or faith of the subiects is due to the King by the law of Nature Cokes Post nat My Mother the Church in whose bosome I have been fostered with the pure food of life the Word of Truth Yet Sir since your Maiestie was pleased so graciously to approve of the meer Text or Abstrast of this Treatise The Remonstrance of many of your humble loyall Subiects of that your devoted County of Chester it is a dutie in me humbly to begge your Maiesties leave that it may under your Princely patronage walke abroad with this Comment it hauing by misprision or malice beene pursued with some vniust clamours And the pure intents of the subscribers have been expoz'd to a sinister interpretation whoe I am certain had no other end but to expresse their loyall desires to prevent a growing danger I confesse my owne insufficiency to performe so great a taske I foresee the calumny that inevitably attends every good intention since Traducers barke at those Elephants whose strength of learning might support a Church against all the batteries of wit or reason How must I looke to have these Bats flutter about me who in namelesse pamphlets fill the ayre and the eares of every one with nothing but shrikes and outcrie against all Government Invectives against all Governours of the Church But I have read of one borne dumbe who seeing his Father in danger affection supplied the defects both of art and nature and in an iâ—stant lent him organs and language to forewarne his Fathers perill This excites me to proceed since God hath given me sence to speake plaine English and I thanke him spirit to speake truth it were an argument of affectation to my selfe if out of distrust of my owne abilities to write Placentia to winne popular applause I should silence my apprehension of the danger imminent over King and Church which more leisure or perhaps more curiositie hath given me that occasion to looke into may bee many better able have omitted Visible it is to every eye what assaults are made by such inveighours against the long established Government of the Church under that reverend Order of Bishops but it is not so easily discernable how much this may concerne your Maiestie yet Experience will tell us if we looke abroad that all those Monarchies haue Suffered an EClipse where the rights of the Churh have beene deserted And no marvell if it be well look'd into Crowns carry a charme with them at the consecrtion of Kings Exellently learned and satisfactory I must confesse are the Treatises of many great Divines in defence of this Order But Ars non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem and some of these have erred in writing above the capacity of their opposers Artists iudge best of a Diamond without a foile know it by it's owne Rayes but the inexpert only by comparison with other stones I have plac'd Episcopacâ— and Presbytery in paralèll such as my selfe doubtlâ—sse will better distinguish them in plaine prospect than in meer speculation The Bishops are suspect as parties all that is writ by them as partiall To all but the preiudicate sure I stánd unsuspest being as free borne as independant as any man I have no interest but the love of truth and libertie save that of loyaltie which when I consider to how gracious a Prince I owe that dutie I confesse it appeares a great tye hee that shall read those publicke prosessions of grace to both your houses and t is pitty but they should be read and registred in the hearts of all your people I shall willingly concur with you to reforme all Innovations in Church and Common-wealth The Kings speech to both Houses 23. Ianuar. 1640. to regulate all Courts of Iustice according to Law and that what ever part of my revenue shall be found illegall or grievous to the publicke I will willingly lay downe relying entirely upon the affections of my people And shall bee privie to that pledge of free grace given under your Maiesties hand and seale to that your County upon the humble representation of their loyall affections to the peace of Church and State in those words which I assure my selfe we shall ever keep as royall Records We being desirous with the advice and assistance of Parliament to redresse all iust grievances The Kings letter to the Lords and Gentry of the County Palatine of Chester and resolv'd by Gods grace to preserve the puritie of Religion and governe according to Law He I say that shall but read these sure needs no oath of Allegeance but will bend all his endevours to support all his prayers to perpetuate that Crowne to all posterÃtie under whose Royall shade wee have such happy assurances to receive îustice to enioy our Religion Libertie and Lawes These Considerations have encouraged me to represent the Government of a Presbitery as it yet appeares by their owne Writers Incompatible with your Maiesties Soveraigntie destructive to your peoples liberties wherein your Maiestie pardoning the presumption and casting a favourable eye upon the good intention such as maligne truth or your Maiesties prosperitie can vent their venome against no man lesse values it then Your Maiesties most loyall Subiect and humble Servant THO. ASTON To the Reader Reader I Did never expect to salute thee from the Presse yet I am now forced to it finding my name upon every Stationers stall first assumed without my privity to countenance an imperfect
Fathers own words whereby judge what truth is to be expected from sueh jugglerâ— First he cites Metaphrastes in whom saith he we read that Peter was a long time in Brittannie and drew many Countreys to the Christian faith but at last when he had illuminated many with the light of the word and had constituted Churches hee ordained Bishops Presbyters Deacons returning to Rome the 12. yâ—er of Nero Cesar here were the severall degrees of dignities Again he recites Aristobulus (h) Aristobulum quoque cuius ipse in epistola ad Romanos meminit britannorum episcopum a paulo ordinatum in Menaeis Graecorum Vsher fol. 9. whom Paul mentions in his Epistle to the Romanes and was one of his seventy Disciples him Paul ordained Bbishop of the Brittains This was a large Parish Next he relates many diversities of opinions concerning Ioseph of Arimathea his being in England (i) Vsher fol. 24. licet hoc fuisse verum quod tamen non fuit non sequitur ergo quod totum solium illud suscepit fidem and concludes that although it were true which it was not yet it follows not that therefore all the land had received the faith for it might be disperst amongst private persons but was never received by the whole kingdome nor came they to have Christian Churches till Lucius time as is confest by that reverend Bishop (k) Publice vero primum sub Lucio Elutherio receptum hic fuisse Evangelium consentiens nostrorum historicorum est sententia Vsher ibid. fol. 52. That the Gospel was first publiquely received here under Lucius and Elutherius with which accords Master Fox in his Martyrs That from Peter Anno 65. after Christ Elutherius was the twelfâ—h successive Bishop of Rome (l) Acts and Monuments fol. 34. Hieron lib. de viris illustr Iraeneus lib. 3. cap. 3. Acts and Monumets fol. 107. Vsher Brit. eccles primord fol. 54. 59. who about Anno 161. sent Fugacius or Fuganus and Dimianus or Damianus which converted first the King and people of Brittain and baptized them with the Baptisme and Sacrament of Christs faith The Temples of Idolatry and all other Monuments of Gentility they subverted converting the people from their divers and many Gods to serue one living God There were in Brittain 28. head Priests which they called Flamines and three Archpriests which they called Archflamines having the oversight of manners and as Iudges Those 28. Flamines they turned to 28. Bishops and the three Archflamynes to three Archbishops having their seats in three principall Cities which being Master Fox his own words according with the Bishop (m) Vsher ibid. â—o 59. you may observe how a lyar confounds himself for he first says The Church of England was governed some hundred yeers without Bishops from the first plantation and in the next line he disproves himself That in the instant of the conversion of the Church and supplantation of idolatry were planted Bishops from whence he concludes an excellent Argument Because they were instituted by Elutherius the twelfth successive Bishop of Rome from the Apostle Peter Non interrupta serie Converted the people to the true God subverted idolatry and supplanted the heathen Priests Ergo They are of Ethnicall or Diabolicall not Apostolicall institution Truly Reader I have spent too much time on him but it is to admonish the vulgar with the Apostle Paul to stop their ears against such Libellers and (n) 1 Tim. vers 45.6 Not to give heed to fables The end of the Commandement is Charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of faith unfained from which some have swerved unto vain jangling desiring to be teaehers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirmed I do it to perswade some able Divine not to mispend time to answer the matter of their Pamphlets but that it will be time well spent to discover the falshood of such saucie-untaught-teachers as here the Apostle speaks of to display their misquotations and distortions of Scripture It is the best and quickest plea to take away the testimony of a false witnesse to prove him formerly perjur'd And in this point the works of such persons thorowly traced they will best be rendred despicable to the world For though the Prophesie of Saint Paul (o) 2 m. 4. 3 That the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap up to themselves teachers having itching eares and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto falbes is in these dayes most evidently manifested of many yet charity forbids us to censure all to seek untruth for it s own sake many no doubt are deluded with that species of truth which the pretended though abus'd quotations of Scripture they stuffe their books withall carries with it which I dare promise any man that will take pains to examine will scarce finde patience to read any more of them Reader I have wandered too long from thee but now return not to beg thy approbation I Court no mans but to advise thee for thine own sake That being falshood is so bold to offer to outface truth in pirnt to let all whispered detractions from which no Good work is free be rejected by thee and receive and weigh these following truths of the manner of procuring the subscriptions and the reasons of presenting that Remonstrance the carriage whereof is testified the contents avowed by thy friend if thou art either a freeman or a Protestant THO. ASTON THE REMONSTRANCE REPRESENTED TO THE HOVSE OF Peers by Sir THOMAS ASTON Baronet from divers Noblemen and Gentlemen of the County-Palatine of CHESTER against PRESBYTERIAN Government To the High and Honourable Court of Parliament The Nobility Knights Gentry Ministers Freehoulders and Inhabitants of the Countie-Palatine of Chester whose names are subscribed in the severall Schedules hervnto annexed Humbly Shew THat whereas divers Petitions have lately been carried about this Country against the present form of Church-Government and the hands of many persons of ordinary quality solicited to the same with pretence to be presented to this honourable Assembly which we conceiving not so much to ayme at reformation as absolute Innovation of Government and such as must give a great advantage to the adversaries of our Religion we held it our duty to disavow them all And humbly pray that we incurre no miscensure if any such clamours have without our privitie assumed the name of the County We as others are sensible of the Common grievances of the Kingdome and have just cause to rejoyce at and acknowledge with thankfulnesse the pious care which is already taken for the suppressing of the growth of Popery the better supply of able Ministers and the removing of all Innovation and we doubt not but in your great wisdomes (a) Wee conceived it not proper for us by way of prayer to intermeddle but by way of
submission to leave these to the Iudgement of the Parliament you will regulate the rigour of Ecclesiasticall Courts to suit with the temper of our Laws and the nature of freemen Yet when we consider that Bishops were instituted in the time of the Apostles (b) philip 1.1 1 Tim. 3.1 That they were the great Lights of the Church in all the first generall Councells (c) Anno. Bishops 330. at Nice 318 380. at Constant 150 430. at Ephesus 200 451. at Chalcedon 430 553. at Constant 165 681. at Constant 289 781. at Nice 350 870. at Constant 383 That so many of them sowed the seeds of Religion in their bloods and rescued Christianity from utter extirpation in the Primitive heathen persecutions (d) Vid. Eusebius Fox his Martyrs That to them we owe the redemption of the purity of the Gospel we now professe from Romish corruption (e) Vid. booke of Martyrs Cranmer Tutor to Ed. 6. That many of them for the propagation of that truth became such glorious Martyrs (f) A Cranmer B. Latimer â— Ridley B. Hooper B. Park A Parker A. B Gri. B. Whitegift c. vid. booke of martyrs That divers of them lately and yet living with us have been so great assertors of our Religion against its common enemy of Rome (g) Bishop Iewel Bishop Andrewes bishop White Archbishop Vsher Bishop Moreton Bishop Davenant and our English Seneca Bishop Hall And that their government hath been so long approved so oft established by the Common and Statut Laws of this Kingdome (h) Bracton lib. 3. fol. 106. Flet. a lib. 7.24 Coo. Little fol. 97. 134. stat 14. E. 3. 25. E. 3. 16. R. 2. H. 8.20.1.8.9 Eli. And as yet nothing in their doctrine generally taught dissonant from the word of God or the Articles established by Law i) Partiucular men errours cannot be aken for the Tenets of the Church In this case to cal their Gouernment a perpetuall vassalage an intolerable bondage And prima facie inaudita altera parte to pray the present removall of them or as in some of their petitions to seek the utter dissolution anâ— ruine of their offices as Antichristian (l) The petition annexed note 6. we cannot conceive to rellish of Justice or Charity nor can we joyn with them But on the contrary when we consider the tenour of such writings as in the name of petitions are spread amongst the common people the tenents preached publiquely in Pulpits (m) The positions annexed and the contents of many printed Pamphlets swarming amongst us all of them dangerously exciting a disobedience to the established forme of gouernment and their severall intimatious of the desire of the power of the keyes (n) Petition anexed note 4. And that their congregations may execute Ecclesiasticall Censures within themselves (o) Petition annexed note 19. We cannot but expresse our just fears that their desire is to introduce an absolute Innovation of Presbyteriall Government whereby we who are now governed by the Canon and Civill Laws dispensed by twenty fix Ordinaries easily responsall to Parliaments for any deviation from the rule of Law conceive we should become exposed to the meer Arbitrary Goverment of a numerous Presbytery who together with their ruling Elders wil arise to neere forty thousand Church Governours and with their adherents must needs bear so great a sway in the Common-wealth that if future inconvenience shall be found in that government we humbly offer to consideration h w these shall be reducible by Parliaments how consistent with a Monarchie and how dangerously conducible to an Anarchie which we have iust cause to pray against as fearing the consequences would proue the utter losse of Learning and Laws which must necessarily produce an extermination of Nobility Gentry and Order if not of Religion With what vehemencie of spirit these things are prosecuted and how plausibly such popular infusions spread as incline to a parity we held it our duty to represent to this honourable Assemâ—ly And humbly pray that some such present course be taken as in your wisdoms shall be thought fit to suppresse the future dispersing of such dangerous discontents amongst the common people we having great cause to fear that of all the distempers that at present threaten the wellfare of this state there is none more worthy the mature and grave consideration of this honourable Assembly then to stop the torrent of such spirits beâ—ore they swell beyond the bounds of Government Then we doubt not but his Majestie persevering in his gracious inclination to heare the complaints and relieve the grievances of his Subjects in frequent Parliaments it will so unite the head and the body so indissolubly cement the affections of his people to our Royall Soveraigne that without any other change of Government he can never want Revenue nor wee Justice We have presumed to annex a Copie of a Petition or Libell dispersed and certain positions preach'd in this County which vve conceive imply matter of dangerous consequence to the peace both of Church and State All vvhich vve humbly submit to your great Judgements praying they may be read And shall ever pray c Directed to the house of Peeres And subscribed by the Lieutenant of the County Three other Noblemen Knights Baronets Knights and Esquires fourscore and odde Divines fourscore and ten Gentlemen tvvo hundred threescore and odde Freeholders and other inhabitants above six thousand None of them Popish Recusants And all of the same County The Petition which was spread abroad in the Countrie amongst the Common people by some private Persons to procure hands but was concealed from the Gentrie A Copy wherâ—of was annexed to the Remonstrance and was complained of having injuriously assumed the Name of the Humble Petition of the Free-holders and the rest of the Inhabitants within the Countie of Chester which might seeme to involve the whole Countie Sheweth THat whereas the manifold unsupportable burdens wherewithal our Consciences and estates have beene long oppressed with a continuall increase thereof have at last so tyred and infeebled our strength that we find our selves unable to subsist any longer under the weight thereof wee dare not now neglect to take the present opportunitie of serving the Lords providence in the use of this meanes which we hope is of his owne appoynting for our reliefe But as we have in some measure implored God who is the blessed Author so wee thought our selves bound humbly to Petition this honourable and renowned Assembly convened in Parliament for redresse of our miseries being the likelyest instrument so farre as we apprehend not limiting the Holy one of Israel for that end and purpose which we humbly pray may be duly considered as we make bold to tender them in these few Lines following Our miseries are such as are either Ecclesiastical or Civill first Ecclesiasticall and that in regard of the usurping Prelates their lawlesse dependent officers and their irregular manner of worshipping
God prescribed unto and cruelly imposed upon us by them for as touching the Prelates themselves we conceive them to be the Popes Substitutes per accidens at the least if not by solemne covenanted allegiance as it may appeare by their Lording it over Gods heritage both Pastors and People and assuming the power of the Keyes onely to themselves contrary to Gods sacred word Therefore we humbly Petition you this honourable Assembly as you tender the glorie of God the Kings Prerogative the Subjects libertie the purity of Gods sacred Ordinances and the welfare of Posteritie or wish the downfall of Antichrist and his adherents to stirre up the zeale and strength wherewith the Lord hath endued you and couragâ—ously proceed unto your immortall praise against these his mightie enemies and secret undermâ—nâ—rs of the good estate of our Church and Common-wealth and utterly dissolve their Offices which give lâ—fe to the most superstitious practises in or about the worship of God And so together with the ruine of their Antichristian Offiâ—es and Government we also humbly pray may fall to the ground their impious Courts with all their dependant Officers even from the Chancellors to the Parators their corrupt Canons booke of Articles the English refined Masse-booke of Common Prayer with all their popish significant Ceremonies therein contained the strict imposing whereof hath driven out of this our English Nation many of our most godly and able Ministers and other his Majesties loyall Subjects able both for person and estate to have done good service to God our King and Countrie Secondly our Civill miseries are chiefely these First That the tenths of all our goods should bee taken from us by Parsons Impropriators and in some places by Recusants under a pretence of maintaining the Ministerie and yet notwithstanding wee forced in divers places to maintaine a Ministerie out of the rest of our estates if we will have any and to repaire our Churches which have beene of late very excessive and superstitious Secondly That Sutes in Law are so long unnecessarily detained in Civil Courts before judgement be had wherby divers persons have their estates utterly ruined and others much decayed Thirdly That the Oath in Courts Leet and Baron is usually administred without limitation and before the charge be given so that the Jurors cannot sweare in judgement as the Lord requires they should Fourthly That the Countie Court is kept upon the Munday and thereby we are put unto excessive charges in travelling thereto unlesse wee should labour upon the Lords day next before Fiftly that our Countrie is verie destitute of sufficient Schoolemasters for the educating of our Children and fitting them for the service of God our King and Common-weale Sixtly that there are such excessive fines by some Gentlemen imposed upon their Tenants as that thereby they are both disabled to maintaine their families whence ariseth so many poore people and to doe his Majestie service and pay him lawfull tribute Therefore that these our grievances both Ecclesiasticall and Civill may be redressed and that the contrarie privileges which Christ hath purchased and commanded us to stand unto may be obtained and established WEe most humbly beg that the revealed will of God contained in the Books of the Old and New Testaments and recorded for our practise in the dayes of the gospell may be that Rule which your Honors would be pleased to follow O what glory would it be unto our God our King and Nation what beauty unto our Church what honor unto this Noble Parliament and what confusion to the enemies of his Majesty and loyall Subjects if wee might see the morall Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles made old Englands Canons then might our Ministers have liberty to preach Gods world and administer the Sacraments according to the mind of Christ and our Congregation power to execute Ecclesiasticall Censures within themselves Then might his Majesties Subjects meete together and pray for the King and Queene and their Posterity without punishment and false Calumniation O this would make our peace with God and good men this would gaine our friends and scatter our enemies This would make our Land impregnable and our Souldiers courageable This would unite our Kingdome in peace and cause us and our little ones to sleepe in safety This would cal backe the banished and release the Lords imprisoned this would advance our Mordâ—cais and hang our wicked Hamans This would replant our conscionable Ministers and supplant our Lordly Prâ—lacy This would take away illegall exactions and bring our people to due subjection this would take away extorted Herriots excessive Fines and unlimited Boones for it would learn land-Lords more compassion and Tenants due submission yea this would make a sweete Harmony betwixt Rule and Obedience in all Relations Which that it may now happily be effected we earnestly implore the Lord of Heaven to bend your noble spirits to this great work of God which so sweetly ushereth al other comforts And so we shall ever pray c. The Positions annexed also to the Remonstrance Certaine Positions preached at St. Iohns Church in Chester by Mr. Samuel Eaton a Minister lately returned from new England upon Sunday being the third day of Ianuary 1640. in the afternoone FIrst That the names of Parsons and Vicars are Antichristian 2. The Pastors and Teachers of particular Congregations must be chosen by the people or else their entrance is not lawfull 3. That all things which are of Humane invention in the worship of God under which he seemed chiefly to comprehend the book of Common prayer and the rites and Ceremonies therein prescribed are unsavory and loathsome unto God 4. That Ecclesiasticall censures of admonition and Excommunication ought to be exercised by particular congregations within themselves 5. That the people should not suffer this power to bee wrested out of their hands and usurped by the Bishops 6. That the supreame power in Church matters next under Christ is in the Church meaning as he clearly explained himselfe particular Congregations for he denied all Nationall Provinciall and Diocesan Churches as well as Bishops and so expounded that text Math. 18. Go tell the Church c of particular Congregations or as we call them parochiall Churches 7. That all good people should pray earnestly unto God and not cease to petition the Parliament for the razing of the old foundation meaning as he plainly discovered himselfe the abolishing of Episcopall Government and the establishing of their new Presbyterian Discipline as also for the purging all filth and Ceremonies out of the house of God 8. That they that put not to their hand to helpe forward this worke may justly feare that curse pronounced against Meroz Iudges 5. Curse you Meroz because they come not to helpe the Lord against his mighty enemies there he expresly called the Bishops the mighty enemies of God and his Church Certayn other Positions preached by the same man at Knuttesford a great market Towne in the same County 9
inconsistent with Monarchie 11 Presbytery inconsistent with Civill Magistracie 12 Presbytery inconsistent with laws 13 The inordinate violence of the Presbytery 14 That this Discipline brings not liberty to the vulgar but introduces a meere Arbitrary Government 15 That the Presbyterian discipline is confessed a yoake 16 The vain excuse that Lay-elders shall moderate refuted 17 No Reformed Church gives any president paralell with us 18 Conclusion That to introduce a new form is dangerous The Table to the Review of Episcopacie Sectio prima That there were Bishops in the Apostles times 2 That the seven Angels of the seven Churches were Bishops 3 That there hath bin a continued succession of Bishops 4 That they were Diocesan Bishops 5 That the Clergie ought to be superiour to one another 6 That they assume no power or jurisdiction their predecessors had not 7 That Bishops had the same power of Ordination in former times 8 Ecclesiasticall censures anciently in Bishops 9 Titles of Honour anciently given to Bishops 10 That there were Archbishops in the primitive times 11 That late great Writers approved Bishops 12 That Bishops were approved in the Reformed Churches 13 Episcopacie approved by the ancient customary laws 14 That abolition of Episcopacie will occasion great distraction in the Common Laws 15 That it will destroy great part of the Statute Laws 16 Whether it may be done by the Kings Legall Prerogative 17 The Conclusion REader the Authors absence hath occasion'd many omissions having not opportunity to peruse the Presse especially in the quotations The best helpe is thy friendly patience to passe by the literall faults amend these few following and beare with the rest Some of them vary the fence therefore it is desired thou wilt amend them ere thou readest Errata IN the Survey of Presbytery Praef. B 2 p. 2. line 7 all men line 11. for instructed r intrusted Sect. 2. l. 19. for them r. their Sect. 2 pag. 2. marg l. 41 read Prelate Church Sect. 3 not 1 marg r. pertulisti ibidem for eddisti r eddidisti not k for ne nec C 2 p 2. maâ—g not o for 40. r 21 Sect 7 l 12 blot out they say Sect 7 D 8 l 17 add as Calvin cals them fanatici homines c. El 9 for Deo r duo marg for Tomes r Tom. 7 E 2 p 2. l 17 r Censurers E 3 p 2 l 29 adde such unlimited Sect. 9 l 9 for every r Envy claâ—our F fol. l 13 a full point at possession fol F 2 p 2 l 4 put out it F 3 l 23 for and r c. ibid marg l 11 r frenabit fol G 2 p 2 l 25 r observable G 3 p 2 marg l 2 r Dominio G 4 marg l 2 r 59 H 3 p 2 l 19 adde man not to rest fol. I l 17 r. Presbytery fol l 2 l 1â— after repent adde The Praesbyterians affirme l 3 p 2 l. 6 r these new Standerbearers K 8 l 2 blot out that L 2 p 1 l 7 for those r these L 3 l 7 r Classicall In the Review of Episcopacie Fol 9 marg l 11 r Heraclam fol 10 marg l 25 r Episcopatum fol 11 marg l 12 for ad id r adversus fol 13 l 2 r Fencelesse fol 24 l 8 r other fol 26 marg l 25 r hoc fol 27 l 12 for many r may fol 38 l 5 for cause r course fol. 39 l 4 for received r. retained fol 43 l 2 for absolute r obsolete fol 57 l 20 for which his r with his fol 65 l 3 for if r that the Prelates l 28. put out cure fol 77 l 19 for both r but. The Preface T IS a time of Censures nor actions nor persons scape if perhaps the power yet not the tongues of men certainly the Goose-Quill did never more licentiously lesse civilly bedabble both times and persons No action of so pure intention hath beene more bespatter'd than the deliverie of this Remonstrance No man with more confidence lesse cause hath beene more mistaken misse-censured than my selfe Yet some I presume that have now seene those Motives which before they did not are satisfied there was just cause for us to complaine none for them to judge We alas are none of those that live in Goshen a Exod 8.22 sever'd from the sorrowes of our brethren wee have had our b The common Grievances swarme of flies to destroy our fruits we have felt the storme of a distempered state as well as they c Exod. 9 26. But we had rather with prayer and patience wait and hope for the reunion of our distracted peace than rend the breaches wider by pulling on our heads a greater plague than wee have yet felt or then the Egyptians suffered till their d Exod 14.25 And the Lord troubled the Egyptians and took off their Chariot wheels that they drave heavily 28 And the waters returned and covered the Chariots and the horsemen and all the Hoast of Pharaoh Chariots were taken off their wheeles or then we hope we can till our Lawes the Hinges of the State be dis-joynted the reines of Gouernment let loose Then alas how soone with them should we be overwhelmed with disorder and confusion how easily become a prey to the first invader Yet I feare we undergoe more censure who pray the preservation than those that seek the abolition of those Lawes that give us Life and safetie by preserving Order which is the Soule of Government Ordo est anima Legis Wee meet with severall sorts of Censurers some seem to robbe the Gentrie of the right of their owne free thoughts as if they were but properties to serve the ends of others act the designes of the Bishop and his Clergy who I doe absolutely affirme never knew of it till it was done yet I doe confidently assume if he required it might have as many free testimonies of qualitie of his moderation as any man of that reverend Order Others of the same stampe seeke to impeach the credit of the Subscribers as if a great part were papists All may see our instructions were not to admit such I resolutely affirme no one Gentleman of quality there is such and I confidently believe not one at all of the whole number Some that certainly never saw it Censure for company that wee onely swimme against the streame and contrary to the Torrent of other Countries have put in a justification of a plea for Bishops such I said before sure never saw it when they doe they will finde that we have the same sence of disorder in Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction as others have That to us e The Remonstrance the suppressing of Poperie the increase of able Pastors the removing of Innovations will be equally acceptable as to other Subjects onely we conceived our modest submission to the judgement of that great Counsell Remonstrance to regulate the rigour of Ecclesiasticall Courts to suit with the temper of our Lawes
and the nature of Free-men would to so grave a Senate administer as much matter of serious consideration implie as much need of Reformation as a large invective full of bitter reviling which might more convince us of want of Charitie than the Bishops of Moderation being virulence of Spirit never argued either Civility or Christianitie never tended to piety or unity nor advanced either Religion or good Order g Hoc reperiemus nimiam mor ofitatem ex superbia magis fastu falsa que sanctitatis opinione quam ex vera sanctitate veroqueejus studio nasci Itaque qui ad faciendum ab Ecclesiâ defectiones sunt aliis audaciores quasi Antesignani ij ut plurimum nihil aliud causae habent nisi ut omnium contemptu ostentent se aliis esse meliores Calvin Institut lib. 4. Cap. 1. sect 13. Calvin observes that too much bitternesse or obstinacy springs rather from pride and disdaine and a false opinion of holinesse then from true sanctity or the desire thereof And that such as are forwards and the leaders of others in their defection from the Church have for the most part no other cause but their owne selfe conceipt thinking themselves better than all men else But if either processe of time or discontinuance of Parliaments have admitted any superstructures of exorbitant power doubtlesse the wisedome of the House instructed with the steerage of the State would reduce such without our clamours For such complaints as are against the temporall power of the Bishops wee know of no such thing inherent to the Order h Si quam habent Episcopi potestatem gladii hanc non habent ut Episcopi ex mandato Evangelit sed jure humano do natam â Regibus Imperatoribus ad administrationem civilem suorum honorum Haec interim alia functio est quam ministerium Evangelii Melancthon Articul fidei 37. In his speech the 23. of Ianuarie Melancthon tells us if they have any power of the sword it is of humane institution given them by Kings and Emperours if so certainly ejus est revocare cujus est dare And where a gracious Prince ex mero motu and I may say ex puro amore out of a tender affection to the peace and welfare of his people hath freely offered a retraction of such temporall authority i If upon serious debate you shall shew that Bishops have some temporall authority not so necessarie for the government of the Church and upholding of Episcopall iurisdiction I shall not bee unwilling to desire them to lay it downe as is not necessary for the government of the Church it is more proper for the debate of his great Councell to decide the poynt than befitting the importunity of us his much satisfied subjects especially with such violence as relishes rather a sentence than a supplication Quia non consensum quaerit sed dissidium auget qui quod fact is praestatur verbis exigit But for the Office and Order it selfe 't is confessed we were so farre from joyning with them either in their prayer of abolition or the â—nâ—ecency of their Language that 't was thought it became us to vindicate the Countrey consisting of Civill Gentrie from the imputation of such incivilitie as that petition if it had past as the Act of our Countie might perhaps fixe upon us And more then in our owne excuse of not joyning with them we presumed not to move any thing for or against the Bishops but being wee intimated our feare that these practises and tenets tended to introduce a Presbyterie 't was necessarie to shew we had no hand in that Petition which would have no Bishops lest we might seem to desire neither These prejudices of opinion thus removed I hope men will with more cleare eyes see the Integritie of our intentions and will with us in time take heed of Wolves especially when they appear in sheeps cloathing As we are a Gentrie who for Antiquity shall subscribe to none so I hope shall we ever testifie our zeale as great our resolutions as firme to preserve our ancient liberties as any Countrie whatsoever And I believe if any had our provocation they would have made our complaint A Survey of Presbytery SECT 1. The Designe of some Presbyterians T IS an ill presage of worse events to begin with the subversion of Gods house the Church It is not Reformation but totall Innovation many men look for 'T was a signe of no good intent when such a petition must bee smother'd up from the knowledge and Counsells of the Gentrie And though it were supprest after it had beene spread abroad as perhaps finding the times not ripe for a full discovery of their occult designes yet to those that will see it gives light enough that under pretext of Reforming the Church the true aime of such spirits is to shake off the yoke of all obedience either to Ecclesiasticall Civill Common Statute or the Customarie Lawes of the Kingdome and to introduce a meere Arbitrary Government But it may perhaps be said this is but the fancy of some distempered Zelots in that part onely and that I doe but raise a shadow and fight with it let such compare well the harmonie of other licentious raylers whose pamphlets garnish every stall and the concurrence of those of the same straine in the times of Queen Elizabeth and King James with the present positions and petition complained of and I dare promise they shall finde them all of a peece all champions for the Presbyterie which they then cal'd The great cause the Holy cause which as they then declared k Rogers his Preface to the Articles they will never leave suing for though there should be a thousand Parliaments untill either they obtaine it And lately preach'd by Eaton in Chester in the pulpit to the like effect or bring the Lord in vengeance and bloud upon the State and the whole land for repelling the same With what Method Iustice and Moderation they goe about it is worth the observation SECT 2. The Method of their proceedings IN this Chart of their petition we may find our selves plac'd among the Antipodes to all order rather than in a State govern'd by Lawes It hath been the Method of former times that the Parliament the Primates the Nobiles with the minores Nobiles the Gentrie consult and dispence the rules of government the Plebeians submit to and obey them But in their Petition ordine converso petitioners Plebeians assume to give judgement the Parliament must execute the Nobility and Gentrie suffer by it They make not any one proof or complaint against any one Bishop or their order yet clearely sentence them all l Their Petition note 2. Martin Marprelate f. 11. 12. Engl. Compl. to Jesus Christ That the Hierarchie is that beast to which the Dragon gave his power fol. 11. All Prelaticall government is papal ib. The Bishops the limbes of the great beast of no
other spirit than Atheisticall Prelacy is misery fol. 4. Scare budges set up by the Devil The horned beasts of the Popedome A Bishop or no Bishop fol. 1. for the Popes substitutes per accidens at least if not by solemne covenanted allegeance They condemne them m Their Petition note 4. They are cruell Harpies against Religion Protest 27. Febr. 1639. f. 6. They are the make-bates the Achans of Israel L. Bishops no Bish fo 71. Prelacy is an open rebellion against Christ and his Kingdome fo 13. They steal Gods word from the people fo 20. for the mighty enemies and secret underminers of the Church and Common-wealth They judge them offices and n Their petition note 6. An Enemy to salvation and Antichristian We vow to forsake the Bishops in Baptisme because wee vow to forsake the devill and all his workes Engl. Compl. to Christ fol. 11. They are the seed of Antichrist Bishops no Bishops fol. 1. Bistwicks good Angell What is spoke of Antichrist is spoke of all Prelates Bishop no Bishop fol. 53. In worshiping the Name Jesus they are notorious Antichrists ib. fol. 64. Sions plea fo 11.281 government Antichristian leaving the Parliament onely to execute their doome upon them no more nor no more adoe but o Their petition note 5. To protest against the Hierarchy as Antichristian Good Counsell for the Church fol. 86. Prelacie to be wholly taken away Ans to Lond. petition 33. To be removed View of the prelaticall Church 38. utterly to dissolve their Offices together with ruine of their Antichristian offices and government their impious Courts p Their petition note 7. From their corrupt Courts Walkers Letany The Bishops impious government Chreda Angliae fol. 3. their dependent Officers even from the Chancellor to the Paritor q Some of the Articles agrâ—e not with Scripture Englands Compl. fol. 21. They except against the 20. Article Against Ordination of Bishops fol. 49. Against the third Article Christ on his Throne fol. 49. The booke of Articles r Their petition note 7. Liturgy framed out of the Breviarie Portuys and Masse-booke prelate Church fol. 27. A Masse of Errors Superstition and Idolatrie Remonst 27. Febr. 1639. fol. 15. Syons plea. 29. The Service-book raked out of 3. Romish Channells The English refined Masse-booke of Common Prayer with all the Popish significant Ceremonies therein contained Here is neither men nor discipline spared Å¿ Lord Bishops no Bishops Fol. 28. A treatise that the Church is Antichristian Church Ministeâ—y and worship in England all Antichristian 8 Propositions in print others tel us Prelates Discipline and Church of England are all concluded Antichristian therefore good Christians should separate themselves from such a Church And is this the language of our Country of our times only If so 't were some argument to convince our present Prelates to have stained the honour of their Coats as degenerate from their pious predecessors But O Tempora O mores is no new exclamation all ages all people condemn the present and still applaud the times past With what reverence do we call to mind those pretious days we yet stile the purity of Q. Elizabeths reign as if then the Church were all innocence had no spot in her infant whitenes but if we shall aswell look back and consider the spirit of the fathers of these Disciples in those days we shal then find 't is not the Churches purity 't is not the Pastors piety can stop the foule mouths of such traducers 't is envy and ambition barks thus in emulation of their Order not in zeale against their Doctrine or Discipline SECT 3. The Presbyterians censure of the Clergy in Queen Elizabeths time WEre the Clergy then more meeke and humble will you beleeve the Brethren of that time speaking of the Clergy in Generall They are wolves t Brethrent Supplie p. 4 â— Intollerable oppugners of Gods glory u Ibidem page 53. A crue of monstrous and ungodly wretches w Martins Epistle an Antichristian Swinish Rabble Were the Bishops then of purer lives or Doctrine The charitable Brethren stil'd them The most pestilent enemies of our State x Hay any p. 13. 14. Supplicat fol. 53. Vdals Dialogue The Ordinances of the Divell y Ibidem page 21. petty Popes petty Antichrists Jncarnate Divels cogging cozening Knaves Were they lesse rigid in their Censures They tell you z Hay any page 28. Martins protestat 27. page 12. 21. Arch bishop Grindall bâ—nisht in Qu. Maricâ— time They are Butchers and Horse-leeches these Dragons tyranny and blood-thirsty proceedings are inexcusable Is it onely our present Arch-bishop hath op'd the gap of Calumny They say Their then Arch-bishop of Canterbury was more ambitious then Wolsey a Dialogue from Throgmorton D 3. ibid G. 4. prouder then Stephen Gardner more bloody then Bonner Belzebub of Canterbury b Martin sen C 4. a monstrous Antichristian Pope c Epistle out of Scotland a most vile and cursed Tyrant Was the State more favourable to them they complaine d No enemy A. 3. The Magistracy and Ministery have walked hand in hand in the contempt of true Religion and unto both the word of the Lord is made a reproach Did the Parliament yet please them better e Admonition to the Parliament p. 3. All good consciences say they shall condemne that Court It shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement then for such a Court There shall not be a man of their Seed that shall prosper be a Parliament man or beare rule in England any more Nay the Queene her selfe scapes not their censure f Hay any pa. 5. Supplication to the Parliament p. 43. Do you thinke our Church governement to be good and lawfull because her Majesty and the State allow the same why * Ibidem p. 13. 15 23. the Lord doth not allow and approove of it her Majesty and the State doe maime and deforme the body of Christ Motion out of Scotland to the Lords p. 41. and so do bid God to battle and either her Majesty knoweth not what they desire or else shee is negligent of her Duty and unthankefull to God Who that reades these would envy our Ancestors or pray for the restoring of their dayes againe Had those times or persons no better testimony given of them certainly a stranger that should have come amongst these to seeke a Religion would enquire as the Moore did of the Spaniard what Religion they were of not out of desire to learne that but that he might choose the contrary as concluding the opposite to so extream bad must needs be good for doubtles no man would lay the foundation of his Faith where he neither findes in practise the principles of Christian Charity nor naturall Civility But let us examine better witnesses of those times whether were more guilty the accused or the accusers Beza a strict Reformer in his Epistle to some
Law and faith of Christ yee have within your Realme both the parts of the Scriptures out of them by Gods grace with the Counsell of your Realme take you a Law and by that Law rule your Kingdome of Britaine for you be Gods Vicar in your Kingdome A King hath his name of ruling and not of having a Realme you shall bee a King while you rule well but if you doe otherwise the name of a King shall not remaine with you and you shall lose it which God forbid Sure none will so much honour Popery to say these were Popish infusions they will not grant them a plea for such antiquitie which is more than by some hundreds of yeares they can justly lay claime to Calvin does some right to the antiquitie of these Lawes in his Treatise concerning the state of the ancient Church and the manner of government thereof before the Papacie x Calvins Institut lib. 4. cap. 4. sect 1. Which sayes hee will represent unto our eyes a certaine image of the divine Institution for although the Bishops of those times made many Canons whereby they might seeme to expresse more than was expressed in the holy Scriptures yet with so good caution they framed their whole administration according to that onely rule of Gods word y Vt facile videas nihil ferè hac parte habuisse à verbo Dei alienum that you may easily perceive that they had almost nothing in this behalfe dissonant from the word of God Nay further sayes hee If wee looke into the forme of government it selfe Sect. 4. Sirem intuemur reperiemus veteres Episcopos non aliam regendae Ecclesiae formam voluisse fingere ab ea quam Deus verbo suo praescripsit wee shall find that the ancient Bishops would not devise another forme of Church regiment differing from that which God hath prescribed in his Word And there is none I am sure can say this was Kingly flatterie Happie were it that every King laid this counsell to heart had it engraven in characters of gold for his Memento vivere It is so consonant too that it is incorporated with our Common Law t Bract. lib. 3. fol. 107. Nil aliud potest Rex in terris cum sit Dei Minister Vicarius quam quod de sure potest Dicitur enim Rex à benè regendo non à regnando quia Rex est dum bene regit Tyrannus dum populum sibi creditum violenta opprimae dominatione If then this Ecclesiastique Discipline were deduced from the Apostles built upon the Basis of the Old and New Testament continued ever since and is now so confined within the limits of of our Lawes u Stat. 25. H. 8. c 19. That the Clergie can enact no Canons or Constitutions without the Kings Royall assent and that none formerly made shall be in force but such as by Commissioners of both Houses shall be adjudged worthy to be kept And that it is provided that no Canons Constitutions or Ordinances shall be made or put in execution within the Realme which shall be contrariant or repugnant to the Kings Prerogative Royall or the Customes Lawes or Statutes of the Realme Then this Ecclesiasticall Law becomes a meere regulated Law by the judgement and consent of the Civill State If so That the continuation of this Discipline in the dispensation of such Ministers whose deviations are punishable as misdemeanours should bee inconsistent with the government of this State I confesse I understand not SECT 7. They must not be prescribed in Doctrine BVT is this all No They must be free in Doctrine as well as Discipline prescribed by no Ecclesiasticall Authoritie w Their Petition Note 18. They must preach the word of God and administer the Sacraments according to the mind of Christ And God forbid they should not but we must beleeve them more familiar with Christs mind than all the Fathers of the Primitive times or the Church ever since or admit them an infallibilitie of spirit as that they are unerring Why so belike they say they are Some of them tell us their x Sions Plea Presbyterian Discipline is the Scepter of Christ swaying his owne house according to his hearts desire And another of them y And the Epistle before the Supplicat Anno 2. El. This Discipline is the Scepter alone whereby alone Christ Iesus ruleth among men T. C. lib. 1. pag. 220. Suckliffe 16 3. They that reject this Discipline refuse to have Christ reigne over them and deny him in effect That it is the eternall counsell of God They are as well privie to his doctrine as his will If you aske them Saint Pauls question z Rom. 10.16 How shall they heare without a preacher and how shall they preach except they bee sent They will tell you a H. N. Euangel c. 13. sect 6. The Word is not taught by the Sermons of Ministers but by the Revelation of the Spirit And though the Prophet makes a great complaint b Hosea 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou hast rejected knowledge I will also reject thee that thou shalt bee no Priest to me And as the Apostle sayes c Christ on his throne 67. The prime and proper conferring this Order is by Christ inwardly gifting a man for the worke Some things are hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their owne destruction Yet these men will tell you learning is not necessary when the Spirit inclines them to the worke of the Ministerie they must not doubt of gifts For saith Cartwright * T. C. lib. 1. pag. 180. When men are called to a publique calling God doth poure his gifts on that person which is called so plentifully that hee is as it were suddenly made a new man which presumption they derive high God say they rebuked Moses for excusing himselfe to be a man of imperfect lips And though the Apostle saies d 1 Tim. 2.7 I am ordained a Preacher which implyes the necessity of a lawfull Calling whereupon is grounded an Article of our Religion e 23 Article That no man ought to Preach or minister the Sacraments before he be lawfully called or sent with which accord the Confessions of all the Reformed Churches f Helvet Con 2 Ca 18. Moulin Frem Con. art 31. Bohem an Cap 6. Belgique art 14. Wittemberg art 20. Suevian art 13. And St. Paul seemes to rebuke all intruders into the Ministery asking Are all Teachers g 1 Cor. 12.28 Yet they contrary to the example of the Apostle in absolute opposition to the Article of our Religion will answer St. Paul in the Affirmative yes h R. A. Conf. of Brow p. 113. Lay men may teach to get Faith i Corda Angliae prop. 16. may preach to Congregations to exercise their abilities Nay k Barow Disc p. 36.
I see in these men no shadow of true libertie by pretending legall government nor yet the false glosse of libertie by extinguishing all power but that it is evident by desiring to share the power of the keyes Paraeus Catechetica 5. praecepti and to execute Ecclesiasticall censures in their congregations within themselves Petition annexed note 3 They have no thought of the peoples libertie but to assume into their owne hands the same power they cry downe in the Bishops not to qualifie but to exalt it above all moderation The use thereof being fully explaned by Expositors of their owne straine to import no lesse than to trample under feet the sacred Crownes of Kings the power of Parliaments the seats of Justice the use of Magistrates the efficacie of Lawes and make themselves Chancellours over our lives and conversations our wives our children our servants our private families and our estates That any hands should help to hoyse up unlimited unbounded Tyranny I have nothing left me but acclamation O fortunati nimium bona si sua norint and shall conclude with that saying Quos Iupiter vult perdere hos prius dementat Yet shall I freely display some of those positions which divers that pretend reformation lesse blush to publish than I to recite as part of their new Christian doctrine which how consistent with the Monarchique Government of this State how far inclinable to an Anarchy and whether subversive of the Lawes or destructive to the Subjects libertie I shall not take upon mee to determine but perhaps the consideration may please some others though I professe I only write to please my selfe Liberare animam Yet I hope no man will be so far displeased with mee as to apply what I collect from some as meant by all that pretend a Presbyteriall Government I have charitie to thinke many men that way enclined have good intentions and desire reformation out of a pure heart But I am confident the more they acquaint themselves with such positions as these the lesse they will like the discipline SECT 9. Episcopacie most agreeable with a Monarchie HEre as in all distracted States may well be applyed the poets exclamation Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum Not that Religion it selfe which is the band of peace is cause of evils but that it is made the usuall cloake of all seditious disturbances either in Church or State All the shafts of malice every clamour obloquy shot at the order doctrine and persons of the Bishops how ever feathered wirh the pretext of pietie yet still light all in one center and may appeare to be levelled all at one mark The power of the keyes is the burthen of all their songs Sions plea fol. 82. All the fearfull evils of sin and iudgement from withholding the keyes of Christs Kingdome in which consisting the Ecclesiasti que Discipline not Doctrine of the Church it becomes rather a question in Policie than in Divinitie whether it should rest in the hands of a few intrusted by the Church or to be transmitted to the hands of a multitude or as our Preacher would have it k Politions annexed to the petition 10 to every particular member of the Church And where it is cleare in point of Divinitie where the Scripture hath not expressely set the rule as in this particular it is left doubtfull such Separatists interpreting that place of Matthew l Matth. 18.17 Sions plea 285. Titus 2.15 3.10 In his rebus de quibus nihil certi statuit divina Scriptura mos populi Dei instituta majoruÌ„ pro lege tenenda sunt sicut praevaricatores divinarum legum ita contemptores EcclesiasticaruÌ„ consuetudinuÌ„ coercendi sunt August ad Casulanum Goe tell the Church to bee the whole Congregation whereas others conceive it clearely restrained to such as are set in authoritie by the Church out of that of Titus who being entrusted by Saint Paul in the Churches of Crete hee directs him to rebuke with all authoritie And more particularly A man that is an heretique after the first and second admonition reject In this case we must examine the ancient continued practice and opinions of former times and Writers And such contemners of the customes of the Church sayes Saint Austin are to be compelled But truly this was so little questioned in antiquitie that it seemes it was never doubted by Calvin himselfe sayes he Calvin Epistol ad Gasperum Lizetum Nun quam utile putavi jus excommunicundi permitti singulis pastoribus Nam res odiosa est nec exemplum probabile facilis in Tyrannidem lapsus alium usum Apostoli tradiderunt I never thought it usefull to commit the power of excommunication to everie Pastour for it is an odious thing and not to be approved but would soone slip into tyranny and the Apostles left another custome And indeed what tyranny were not to be looked for from such aspirers if they were once invested in power who cannot smother their ambition till they get into possession what is the pride of the Prelates who admit the King the supreme head of the Church under Christ receive their designation from him hold the inferiour hath not power over the superiour compared with these spirits who tell us That Princes m T. C. Reply p. 144. Rogers Preface Huic disciplinae omnes orbis Principes Monarchas falce suas submittere pareâ—e necesse est Travers de Disciplina Ecclesiae fol 142. Baron Annals 1076. must be subject unto the Church and submit their Stepters and throw downe their Crownes before the Church and lick up the dust of the feet of the Church all which is applyed to their Presbyterie ascribing to every Presbyter what the Pope onely assumes to himselfe That all Kings ought to kisse his feet How this superintendencie is derived from Scripture how consonant to Antiquitie or consistent with the glorie of a King is considerible I conceived God himselfe had an high hand in the institution of Kings and Princes when hee leaves this principle in the Mosaick Law n Deuteron 17.15 Thou shalt set him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse And in that hee sayes o 1 Samuel 15.11 I have set up Saul to be King And of David he sayes p 1 Samuel 16.1 I have provided me a King And of Salomon sayes the prophet q Nehemiah 13.26 God made him King over all Israel Nor does he dispose Crownes at the direction or by the advice of others r Daniel 4.31 for the most high ruleth in the Kingdome of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will But it should appeare he challenges to himselfe the sole proprietie of this King-making Jurisdiction in that he rebukes the Israelites saying They have set up a King but not by mee Å¿ Hosea 8.4 They have made them Princes and I knew it not And as in institution so in succession will
unchangeable in all times ages and places by any the sons of men Which positions stand poynt blanck against the Articles of our Religion against the power of our Lawes By the twentieth Article we professe positively h Rogers fol 98. That the Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies fol. 211. By the 37. Article we declare That the Kings Majesty hath chief power in his Dominions that it is a prerogative given to all godly princes in holy Scriptures by God himselfe that is that they should rule all Estates and Degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall and restraine with the Civill sword the stubborne and evill doers Hereupon we lay the foundation of that Oath of supremacy ratified by our Lawes And such superiority i Statute Anno 1 Eliz. cap. 1. in the visitation of the Ecclesiasticall state reformation order and correction of the same and of all manner of errours heresies Schismes abuses offences contempts and enormities whatsoever is by the authority of Parliament united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of the Realme 25 Id. 8. And our Laws restrain the Clergie from making any Constitutions or Lawes without the Kings consent in opposition whereof saies one of them Admonition to the Parliament 2. No civil Magistrate hath such authoritie as that with out his consent it should not be lawfull for Ecclesiastical persons to make any Church order or Ceremony Which Rules if we shall make the touchstone of such new Doctrines we shall finde them upon nearer tearmes of reconciliation with the papist than the protestant The papist sayes Answ to the execut of Iustice d. 3. p. 56. The Emperor of the whole world if he take upon him to prescribe Lawes of Religion to the Bishops and Priests he shall be damned assuredly except he repent The making of Ecclesiastical Constitutions and Ceremonies belongeth unto the Ministers of the Church l T. C. Reply 1. p. 153. Admonition to the Parliament and Ecclesiasticall Governours unto the Elders who are to consult admonish correct and order all things pertaining to the Congregation Nor want they some false glosses of Scripture to varnish over this pretended Iurisdiction above Lawes but they plead obedience to the commands of disobedience which they inferre from that of St. Paul to the Galatians m Galatians 5.1 Standfast in the libertie wherewith Christ hath set you free Which though it bee plainly evident in the Text it selfe that by this freedome the Apostle intended freedome from the Law of Circumcision in the next verse saying I Paul say unto you n Galatians 5.2.3 4 5. that if you bee circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing for every man that is circumcised is a debtor to the whole Law and that Christ is become of no effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the Law yee are fallen from Grace For we through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousnesse by faith Yet hence doe they ground their strong plea for exemption from all Authority as if it were an evidence of their faith to shake off the yoke of all Law From such another place in the Revelations by leaving out part of the verse To you I say as many as have not this Doctrine o Revel 2.24 and which have not knowne the depths of Sathan and taking onely the latter part Verse 25. I will put upon you none other burthen but that which you have already hold fast till I come They doe extort a construction fit to bee delivered in no other words but their owne who say this is p Sions plo 283. A most pregnant place against subjecting of our selves to any power or religious practice how specious and spangled with depth of devillish learning soever it be Having thus pleaded priviledge over some crie out mainly against Law and authority sayes one of them Impietie is suffered to beare sway against the Majestie of God q Supplication p. 59. Ibid. pag. 24. and that by Law and Authoritie And that such Lawes are retained in force as justle and overthrow the Royall prerogative of the Sonne of God But perhaps this exclamation is onely against such Lawes as support the prelates the enemies of presbyterie No they must have no Lawes to limit them r Epistle before the Demonstration B. 4. Bancroft fol. 55. As great indignitie is offered unto Iesus Christ sayes one in committing his Church to the government of the Common Law as can be by meane hirelings unto a King in committing his beloved Spouse unto the direction of the Mistresse of the Stewes and enforcing her to live after the lawes of a Brothell-house SECT 13. The inordinate violence of the Presbyterians FRom these principles doe such lawlesse Disciplinarians prosecute their designe with such spirit that nor King Nobles Magistrates Lawes nor any thing must stand in their way Å¿ Sions plea fol. 340. Aut hoc aut nihil is their Ensigne They who hinder discipline say they bring the State at length to an extremely desperate point Fol. 244. None but enemies to Christ are enemies to this government And as against enemies they proceed indeed t Sions plea fol. 240. Strike neither at great nor small but at these troublers of Israel smite that Hazael in the fifth rib yea if father or mother stand in the way away with them downe with the colours of the Dragon Fol. 200. advance the standard of Christ Not the white flag of truce but the red flag of destruction whose embleme was never by any Father till now writ in such bloudy characters u The title page to Sions plea And Christ on his Throne Those mine enemies which would not that I should reigne over them bring hither and slay them before me This till advanced by the new Standard-bea-bearer was never writ in the banner of that Lamb of peace these were none of those trophies I read of in the glorious throne in the Revelation When w Revel 5.6 in the middest of the throne and of the foure Beasts and in the middest of the Elders stood a Lamb as it had beene slaine not like a destroyer To whom the foure Beasts Verse 8. and foure and twentie Elders fell downe before the Lamb Verse 9. And sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the seales thereof for thou wast slaine and hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud It was to this Sacrifice Verse 11. not Sacrificer That the many Angels about the Throne and the Beasts and the Elders to the number of ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands cryed with a lowd voyce Verse 12. Worthy is the Lamb that was slaine Nor were any of that scarlet liverie in his retinue x Revel 7.9 For loe a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kinreds and people and tongues stood
on those pillars of our State that prop up the regulated Fabrick of this glorious Monarchy and by cracking them wilfully burie themselves and us in the rubbish of that Chaos which they so pull upon their owne heads seeking to turne our freedome into fetters by cancelling our ancient Lawes the Charters of true liberty and exposing us eternall Apprentices to the Arbitrarie Jurisdiction of a new Corporation of Apron Elders Mechanick Artizans as if they had forgot the old Rule Haec natura multitudinis est aut humiliter servit aut superbè dominatur When we know the principle of the Religion of some of these is That every man should be equall for calling and that there should bee no difference of Persons amongst Christians o Sleidan Com. l. 5. And the Maxime of policy is that to erect a paritie where there are many Gentry they must first dispatch them out of the way p Machiavell SECT 14. Presbyteriall Discipline brings not libertie to the vulgar but introduces a meere Arbitrarie Government BUt perhaps to all this the common people lend a ready eare This still tends to the inlarging of their lov'd liberty 'T is true indeed here is a large designe of libertie The Presbyters must as I have shewed have power over Princes Nobles Magistrates bee subordinate to no Lawes concluded by no Parliament but bee an independent bodie of themselves and the common people must be their factors for this freedome And when they have done all what share shall these deluded people have of this dreame of libertie Is it any other than such as a poore prisoner for debt finds when he is released from the bonds of the Law by a Turkish pirate hee tugs hard at an Oare to waft his Rescuers from the reach of his just Creditors but when hee hath brought them to their wished haven he there sees himselfe seven fold more slave than he was in prison chained to his Gally without hopes of Redemption rest or possibilitie of avoyding stripes though all his life besides bee but one continued drudgerie 'T is plaine indeed we shall set the Presbyterie free from the government of men or reach of Lawes but let us examine if the whole constitution of their Discipline bee not to us a bondage Their first Maxime is to place themselves above the reach of man what they deny as a Treasonable challenge in the Bishops against the prerogative of Princes they boldly assume to themselves to the little Bishop absolute Pope of every parish that their office is jure Divino q 8. Propositions printed 1641. Eatons Positions 6. 9. Every visible Church being an independent body of it selfe having power from Christ her head to binde and loose to receive in and cast out by the Keyes of the Kingdome whereby neither to their office nor authoritie doth either King or potentate man or Law contribute any thing not so much as in ordination of particular Ministers for they tell us r Christ on his throne fol. 67. Some Protestants are of opinion that Ordination cannot be performed but by a Prelate or at least by Ministers onely without whose imposition of hands it were no Ordination as is if it did conferre such an order Whereas say they the prime and proper conferring of this Order is by Christ himselfe inwardly calling and gifting a man for the worke of the Ministerie And though the Evangelist saies in the eighth to the Acts ſ Acts 8.18 That through laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given And St. Paul explaines it fully to be interpreted of Election into the Ministery charging Timothy t 1 Tim. 4.14 Not to neglect the gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie which they confesse was frequent in the Apostles times u Christ on his throne 68. Yet afterwards say they in successive ages there was no such gift annexed to the laying on of hands w Christ on his throne Prelacy misery fol. 7. Eatons Positions 2. but that the election of Ministers was by every Congregation respectively With this false pretence of power That to the people belonged the laying on of their hands as a token of their approbation and confirmation of him that is chosen working upon the vulgar who are ready to snatch at every shadow of liberty to advance their Hierarchy Though they must know as soone as they have done that they have raised a spirit they have not power to lay again for then they tell them the worke of their owne hands These new created x Chorda Angliae fol. 8. Proposition the 9. If any be so hardy as but to speak evill of any Minister or mis-name them he is to bee imprisoned Lawes of Geneva fol. 71. Pastors must be reverently respected and that the people bee not suffered in any wise to scandalize them nor have power to depose them or put them out whom before they have made choyce of But their position is A man once made a Minister is not to be kept back from preaching by the Inhibition of any creature y Martin Junior Thesis 106. No sooner advanc'd but straight the Scene is changed they write up actum est it is finished their worke is done and then the people that have all this while beene taught to value themselves z Buchani de jure regni fol 73. Populum á quo reges nostri habent quicquid juris sibi vendicant regibus esse potentiorem jusque idem in eos habere multitudinem quod illi in singulosé multitudine habent above the power of Kings who challenge all their right from them and that the multitude hath the same power over Kings that Kings have over every one of the multitude that it was their Office to pull downe Prelates and reforme Religion a Knox to the Communalty fol. 49. must now learne another lesson and know their distance That Oves non possunt judicare Pastores The Presbyter is no sooner in his chaire but he is presently a Iudge And if any heresie prophanenesse or Idolatrie creep into the Church he may root it out b Prelacy is miserie fol. 7. And not onely judge of Schismes or Heresies in poynts of Doctrine or faith but he with his Elders become absolute Chancellors over our Lives Families and Estates If we examine the latitude of their Commission wee shall finde it extend to no lesse one tells us the Minister and Elders are weekly to meet for censuring delinquents in swearing cursing prophanation of the Lords Day drinking Fornication adulterie and for debating of Heresies and superstitions c. c A report of the form of Church government by a Presbyterie And if any be suspected or if there be any scandall in the bounds proceeding with the censures of the Kirk against them that all transgressors may be brought to repentance or separated from the people of God Some
us see how they deale with one of their owne one Bluet being excommunicated writes to the Brethren that he might be restored to the Church from which hee had beene long kept out m Bishop Bancroft fol. 117. Woe is me saith hee that J am cast out of your presence this day And if this woe and shame did but touch the body it were tollerable for then at the day of death I should end my miserie and no more heare the words of reproach But woe is me that there is a partition wall between heaven and my Conscience If my offence may not be passed by without further confession even before God and his Church in London will I lye downe and lick the dust at your feet See here you eager advocates for the advancing of this holy Discipline the pretious fruits you are like to reape by it Such as these will teach you perfect humility They have learnt of Rehoboams Counsellors n 2 Chron. 10.10 To make their little finger thicker than the Bishops loynes Their punishments perhaps wrung the purse but those will grate the soule And if wee should well examine upon what easie occasions this fearefull sentence flyes out we should much more feare it Suckliffe 132. At Geneva two Ministers were deposed and banish'd for speaking against usurie Iohn Morelli for saying the words Tell the Church were not alone appropriate to the Consistorie and is frequently used upon everie private Grudge Whereas no man ought to bee excommunicate but where the Law saith hee should be condemned If Law bee King and will a Tyrant sure all that will preserve Law and will love libertie unwillingly submit their necks to the Tyrannicall yoak of such Discipline SECT 15. The forme of Discipline they prescribe is confessed to be a yoak YEt oh say many here is so excellent a forme of Government the Parochiall Presbyter can runne into no extravagance but hee is accomptable to the Presbyterie or Classitall meeting which consists of particular Kirks in such a Circuit o Report of Church Government And what 's the businesse there Not to suppresse but to exercise the power of Iurisdiction By the Ordinances of Geneva they first imprison after banish him that will not stand to the Ordinances of the Consistories Order Art 91. Ordination suspension Deprivation but principally all persons of whatsoever quality disobedient to their Ministers and Elders are with great Authoritie censured So here we must learne obedience to the wills of men not of Lawes Yet these Classes againe are responsall to the Provinciall Synods And they perhaps may regulate the rigour of the Presbyters But doe not the Pastors of New England tell us A modest Advertisement of Church Government fol. 10. That no Pastors by Gods word have authoritie over others for that every Minister hath his power both of Order and Iurisdiction immediately from Christ Iesus and therefore to him onely is responsible for the Doctrine hee teaches the Discipline hee exercises and the Censures that hee inflicts Therfore say they for any number of Ministers in a Synod to take to themselves Authoritie over others who are equall in Dignitie is to set up a Humane Authoritie that Christ never instituted and to exercise a Tyrannie and Poperie of the Presbyterie as bad nay worse than Bishops Yet there is a higher appeale to the Nationall Assembly and there the Records of Synods are perused Acts and Constitutions for all Kirkes are agreed upon with common consent And will they obey these Constitutions Some confesse that in the Assembly of the Apostles certaine observances were imposed on the Churches p Acts 15.28 But this Act of the Apostles say they is no president or patterne for succeeding ages for the Apostles were inspired with the Holy Ghost and when any Assembly can infallibly assure them they are inspired with the Holy Ghost then they will obey q Christ on his throne fol. 57. But though they will admit no Law or Superiour over themselves yet here perhaps the Laitie may receive reliefe against the rigor of their Censures for one tels us r Report of the Government of the Church by a Presbytery All Appellations Petitions Grievances and Complaints are examined and determined by this supream highest Kirk Iudicatorie what redresse we may expect hence we are informed immediately before they are responsible onely to Iesus Christ And the same reporter plainly tells us The perpetuall Kirks are not governed by the intrinsecall power of any one or many set over them as in the Monarchicall Government of Prelates but they are ruled and judged by themselves If so wee had need have a strong faith in their Integrities for if we admit a possibility of doing wrong in them we leave very little probabilitie of receiving right for first they are accomptable onely to Christ Next they are both judges and parties Those that give false judgement in the Classes are judges in the Synods in the Nationall assemblies and from them is no appeale to any Prince in the world for they sit in Christs Throne And this is utterly destructive to the peoples libertie Now in this whole Gradation of Church government by Presbyteries Classes Synods and Nationall Assemblies What 's become of our old superintendent power of Parliaments wee have all this while beene perswaded That Episcopacy is inconsistent with this State as exercising some power not warranted by our Lawes we are strongly excited by some Disciplinarians to root them out for attempting to put in execution some Constitutions not ratified by Parliament Yet now we must learne That the Parliament cannot hinder these Disciplinarians to make Lawes Ecclesiasticall seeing Ecclesiasticall Government is independant That generall Assemblies may recall Acts ratified in Parliament which being annulled In their Synods they disannull all Lawes they conceive repugnant to their Discipline Suckliffe fol. 131. the Civill ratification falls ex Consequenti And though our Lawes make voyd all Canons or Constitutions repugnant to the Kings prerogative or the Lawes and Customes of the Kingdome which preserve our liberties yet we must now know that no power nor libertie ought to be permitted to any State Degree or Authority whatsoever they be to live without the yoake of Discipline Å¿ Knox his exhortation pag. 91. 92. Et tali jugo libertatem induimus And is all our long labour'd liberty become a yoke A yoke unavoydable a yoke unsupportable Truely if this be so we may truely write Sic vos non vobis sertis Aratra Boves We have spun a faire thread That Kings the nursing Fathers and Queens the nursing Mothers of Syon t Isaiah 49.23 the supreame Governours of the Church Princes the heads of their Fathers houses u Numb 7.2 Princes of the Tribes whose office is to rule in judgement Nobles that conferre blessing upon that land where their sonnes inherite the Crowne w Isaiah 32.1 Gentrie the flowers of this garden of Europe fenc'd
by the protection of the Lawes as with a partition Wall against the spoyle of vermine vulgar the Boares of the Forrest that would root up our plants wed and prun'd from inbred Weed and Canker by the skilfull hand of Parlaments should now be all cast into the lump laid common All become yoke-fellowes beare the bonds of such boundlesse Disciplinarians which hold themselves subordinate neither to Emperours Kings Princes Magistrates Lawes Parliaments Presbyteries Synods Assemblies nor any thing they ever meane to reckon with in this world but onely to Iesus Christ their Head Such as these rather appeare to bee of the followers of Jehu the sonne of Nimshi for they drive furiously x 2 Kings 9.20 who walk'd in the wayes of Ieroboam Then of those undefiled Virgins that follow the Lambe whithersoever hee goeth y Revelation 14 4. Wee know that the meek he will guid in judgement and the meeke will he teach his way z Psal 25.9 But such as have bitter envying and strife in their hearts This wisedome descendeth not from above bus is earthly sensuall devillish * Iames 3.17 SECT 16. The vaine excuse that Lay Elders shall moderate them refuted YEt some have a fine veile to blinde the eyes of the willing and certainly none see lesse than the wilfully blind that this is a mixt government we shall have Lay Elders amongst them to moderate the extravagancies of the pastors and we need not feare but they will looke to them Alas how vaine a shadow is this when wee looke upon it but with the light of reason Are we not taught these Elders must bee chosen by the voyce of the people and are not these people taught by the pastors subordinate to them the Elders being but temporary for halfe a yeare or a yâ—are is it probable they shall have that dependance upon one another they shall have that interest in the parish as hee that is perpetuus Dictator Chancellour Arbiter for life in his petty popedome Some men talke of dumbe Dogs and certainly he will be held such that cannot so bestir himselfe in his parish as to have all their votes follow his who hath such absolute power over every mans person family and estate a Hunting of the Fox c Ec. 2. a S. Snecanus de Disciplâ—na Ecclesiae pag. 456. If then by this rule every little parish Church should have seven such Elders at the least and every great Church thirteene and these people at the devotions of their pastor of their Chancellour wee have then instantly no lesse than a hundred thousand Church-governours besides their adherents which admitted wee are sure in danger never to recover a free Parliament againe and in stead of 26. Bishops whose deputation is from whose dependance is upon the King as supreame whose temporall power is wholly derived from limited by the Lawes whose persons are easily responsible to Parliaments for any deviation from the rules of Law wee should thus expose our selves to an irrecoverable subjection to a multitude whose Election is prescribed to Iure Divino immediately from Christ Iesus who are the carvers of their owne Government b View of the Prelaticall Church fol. 41. Their Nationall Assembly to be gathered once in three years to make Canons and to establish Ecclesiasticall Government This independant of Parliaments accomptable to none but Christ Jesus either for Doctrine or Discipline and if in time found to be extravagant from or destructive to all Lawes and Government yet the Parliament shall then have an Hoast to encounter and not a few Delinquents to punish May not their owne words be more properly inverted upon such than on the Bishops c Englands complaint to Iesus Christ against the Caâ—ons Such Presbyteriall Government and Jurisdiction it is meerly papall though not in the first degree the Pope usurping an universall power over all the Churches in the world yet in a second Everie pastor in his Diocesse his parish exercising a papall power and so doth cunningly undermine the Royall Office and overthrow Gods sacred Ordinance who hath given a power and charge to Kings to suppresse all such Ecclesiasticall Tyranny over the soules of his people Yet perhaps it may be sayd though their government bee thus wholly sever'd from the Parliaments and stands a part by it selfe our Lay Elders shall have vote among them in all their Synods and Assemblies who may have a care to ballance the scale 'twixt Church and State But are wee not told Some one Elder of each Parish appoynted by the particular Kirk Sessions and the whole Ministerie of those Churches meet c. Whereto if their Doctors and Teachers bee admitted they are double in number to the Lay-men if equall one Lay Elder inclining to their partie turnes the scale if not yet how incapable in respect of abilities how inactive in respect of Spirit these annuall temporary Officers must needs be in comparison of this powerfull preaching ministerie which hath such absolute authority over the soules of their parishioners every man may foresee with halfe an eye SECT 17. No reformed Church gives any president parallell with ours BUT many of us will not trust or trouble our owne judgement to rifle into the consequences of things but wee cry out how doe other Reformed Churches Gens humana novitatis avida and no Nation more unfortunately more improvidently prone to follow fashions than we And alas whence can we fetch a patterne that the freedome of our State considered would not render us miserable Can the French be any president to us who live under a Monarch of another Religion who will allow them no Sea no Diocesse no meanes for a Bishop whose Bishops will admit no sub-sub-Bishops of another faith under their jurisdiction Therefore what necessitie makes to them Law must we make our choyce Is it the position of their Church to exclude them Shall wee beleeve Moulin himselfe he saies d Moulins Buckler of the faith the 30. Article fol. 3. 45. Our adversaries unjustly accuse us to be enemies of the Episcopall Order for we must be altogether ignorant of Histories if we do not know that all antiquitie speakes honourably of that degree The Geneva Discipline many dote upon not knowing what it is nor how consistent with our State That which makes our common people so greedily embrace this desired change is the frequent preaching and possessing them of an interest in the power of the Keyes if they follow that president they 'le finde themselves deceived Beza tells us e De gradibus Ministerii cap. 11. In Geneva the Elders are chosen yearely not of the baser sort of people but of the order of 25. 60. or 200. men which bee the Counsels of that State Nor was that government of choyse as fittest but of necessity Their Bishop was also their Prince Franciscus Bonivardus sayes 1124. The Bishop fained of Emperour Frederick ut ille solus Genevae principatum obtineret Regali jure who
had such power as the Duke of Venice And having treated with the Duke of Savoy their enemy was forced to flye during whose life they could not make a new Bishop but submitted to a new forme of Government under Master Calvin who onely wanted the Title but was of much greater power than a Bishop nor was at that enmity with the Order as our Novelists are who professe it sinne to heare them or for their sakes any Ministers f 8 Propositions in Print preach in the Church of England For hee sayes Wee confesse that Bishops or Pastors must be reverently heard as farre as they teach the word of God according to their function g Calvin opusculum in Confes Eccles Gallic Fatemur ergo Episcopos five pastores reverenter audiendos quatenus pro suae functionis ratione verbum Dei docent But admit they being a private State a Cottage in respect of a Kingdome submit themselves to the Oeconomick Government of a Family theirs is no more in comparison to this glorious Monarchy shall we relinquish our Lawes can we reduce this populous Nation that peoples so many forraine Isles into the same mould that modells a handfull Some have already entertained so degenerate thoughts that they can mention Switzerland a faire patterne and so doe I with horror and indignation Others the Low Countrie Discipline pleases well a fit object for such they must indeed look downewards still that are so pleas'd and not upwards to the God of Order 1 Corinth 14. and not of Confusion who sees the distracted Sects and Schismes that abound in that State and does not pitty so neare so lov'd neighbours were not partakers of that blessing wee call miserie and out of love to Noveltie are growne wearie of uniformitie of Discipline Truth is wee are taken with the shadow of that which essentially is not there The Scepter of Discipline If we must change I would bee glad we might take president from their Metropolis Amsterdam where 't is true they were busie to advance this Throne of Christ to put this yoke upon the neck of that State but their troublesome and ambitious spirits once discovered they quickly nipt these soaring Birds i th' shell reduced the Pastors to the number of thirteene of those keeping for the most part three vacant which City being compared with this of London both for populousnesse and capacity it will easily appeare those ten who must supply the accidents of Festivalls Marriages and Funeralls doe not trouble their heads with many State affaires Yet to make them sure they allow them their Classicall meetings but provided one of the Magistrates of the Citie be present And if he say no all they consult stands for nothing This proposition made and assented to by all these zealous petitioners against this usurpation this Monopoly of the power of the Keyes in the hands of the Bishops That the prime Gentleman in every parish shall be perpetuall Elder and have a negative voyce I confesse in poynt of private policie I am convinc'd I may perhaps be in time an Elder and doubt not but the Gentrie will thus make a shift to keep the Clergy humble the vulgar low enough But if we must looke for new elections every year what must this produce but a little Civil war in every parish We have yet a nearer president and before we know what it is long for the Scottish Discipline I could be glad wee had so much patience to let them be our probationers therein for one seven yeares But we shall be told sic fuit ab antiquo it was so of old with them Now what effects both to King and Common-wealth the positions of some Disciplinarians of that Nation have in former times produc'd 't is better to be forgot than looked into All I shall say is That certainly our freer people have not such dependance upon are not indeed in such vassallage to the Nobility the Gentrie as the Common people of Scotland are in to their Lords their Nobility and Gentrie having absolute power over theit Tenants shall ever beare sway in the Church But it will not be so with us the inferiour sort of people once finding their power in popular election of Elders will rather exclude both Nobility and Gentry and then no doubt the Church will be well govern'd our Communalty depend upon Lawes not Lords 'T is Law which hath made us a free people That wee know by a certaine Law that our wives our Children our Servants our goods are our owne that we build we plough we sow we reap for our selves this is true libertie How little of this they enjoy from whom wee would take a patterne who are but Tenants at will to their Lords they that will sedato animo compare the Constitution of that State with this would with mee againe crie Oh fortunati nimium bona si sua nôrint Angligenae SECT 18. Conclusion to review Episcopacie IF then there be no president that exactly parallels ours without great alteration wee must certainly introduce aliquid de novo set up some new forme by our selves And what inconveniences that may bring to a setled State was well exprest by St. Austin Ipsa mutatio Consuetudinis etiam quae adjuvat utilitate novitate perturbat k Austin ad Ianuar. Ep 118. cap. 5. which is ingeniously exprest by that learned Verulam l Verulams Considerations concerning pacification of the Church fol. 9. Way given to mutation though in taking away abuses yet it may so acquaint men with sweetnesse of change as it will undermine the stabilitie even of that which is sound and good holding it against all good policie to innovate any thing in Church matters and whether warrantable in Divinitie or no to abolish so ancient a Constitution is questionable 'T was me thinks a Maxime of some weighr Qui mala introducit voluntatem Dei oppugnat revelatam in verbo Qui nova introducit voluntatem Dei oppugnat revelatam in rebus Hee that brings into the Church any bad custome opposes the will of God revealed by his word who introduces any new customes opposeth Gods will revealed by fact If then in the whole series of this new Predicament of Discipline wee should put our selves into wee finde the designe of such is to draw their necks out of the yoaks of all Ecclesiasticall and Civill Government neither to be prescribed in Doctrine nor Discipline their persons restrayned by no Law their Government inconsistent with Monarchy Magistracy Lawes destructive to Gentrie Their calling independent either on King or people Their power above Princes Potentates Nobles People Lawes Parliaments their errours accomptible to none but Christ alone no forraine State or Reformed Church giving any exact president absolutely parallell with ours and no so great mutation being without hazard to the State and perhaps not warranted by Gods Word In the name of God let us looke ere wee take this desperate leap from the inconveniences whereof can bee no recovery if they once get the upper hand but by a new Conquest Farre bee it from mee to presume to prescribe a remedy 't is the easier way to give cautions to descry inconveniences to discover Rocks than to assume to steere the ship of State in a safe course to give Counsell other than what is warranted by good authoritie In such distractions when wee finde the time now fully come m 2 Tim. 4.3.4 That men will not endure sound Doctrine but after their owne lusts heap up to themselves teachers having itching eares turning from the truth unto Fables And as St. Peter sayes n Peter 3.16 Being unlearned and unstable wresting the Scriptures to their owne destruction Then is the Prophets Counsell seasonable State super vias Antiquas o Ieremiah 6.16 Stand yee in the wayes and see and aske for the old paths where is the good way and walke therein and yee shall finde rest for your soules Let us looke back into Antiquitie and see before wee part with this reverend old order of Episcopacy for this new fangled Discipline whether it will bee made good to bee deduc'd from Christ himselfe to his Apostles to the Angels of the Churches to the Fathers of the Primitive times continued in the same jurisdiction and superiority over other degrees of the Clergie distributed into Diocesses honour'd with Titles and Attributes indued with power approved in other Reformed Churches and no way opposite to but consistent with our Lawes and then though there be many errours crept into the execution which prove not to bee in the Constitution I hope we shall have it reduc'd to its antient puritie and not cast away our Gold for a little rust In the disquisition whereof I would not have any man looke for any thing from me de novo or thinke I assume to adde any strength to their cause I doe but binde together a posie of the flowers of others planting onely having taken some paines to please and satisfie my selfe I shall be glad if any man else can reap any content out of my labours Et tu confirmatus confirma fratres was Christian Counsell and I confesse had I power to doe it I would draw all the world to my opinion that is to reverence their Calling preserve their Order yet with as free a resolution and as respectlesse of their persons submit to the exemplar punishment of such as staine the honour of their Coat entrench upon our Liberties negligently starve their flock covetously engrosse the meanes of faithfull Labourers or with their Novelties distract the Church as any man that lives FINIS Imprimatur Tho. Wykes May 28. 1641.