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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	contrary_a	effect_n	great_a	225	4	2.1340	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48309	A discovrse concerning Puritans tending to a vindication of those, who unjustly suffer by the mistake, abuse, and misapplication of that name.	Parker, Henry, 1604-1652.; Ley, John, 1583-1662.	1641 (1641)	Wing L1876; ESTC R212712	47,271	67

the love and reverence due by the people to draw it to themselves To bring these things to passe they have newly invented a doctrine that talks of nothing but Ecclesiasticall greatnesse liberty immunity and jurisdiction This doctrine was unheard of till about the year 1300 then it began to be written scatteringly in some books but till 1400 there were not written above two Bookes which treated of nothing else after this such Writers increased a little but after 1560 there were scarce any Bookes printed in Italy but in diminution of Secular authority and exaltation of the Ecclesiasticall And now the people have scarce any other Bookes to read nor have the Confessors any other doctrine or need any other learning Hence comes this perverse opinion that Magistracy is a humane invention and to be obeyed for policy onely not for conscience but that every intimation of Ecclesiasticall persons is equivolent to a divine precept there want not in Italy pious learned men which hold the contrary but they are not suffered to write or print Neither are forraine Books permitted or ancient Authours left ungelded of all which serves for Temporall authority as appears by a book printed 1607 called Index Expurgatorius and Clement the Eighth in 1595 published a rule in his Index that all Catholike Writers Bookes since 1515 might be corrected not only by expunging but also by interlining and this hath beene practised though not publikely above seventy yeares Thus we finde the Court of Romes but not the Authors meaning and finally wee are sure to have no book true I have hitherto cited this egregious Politician for these purposes First That we may see how easie it is for Clergie-men to wrest all authority out of the Temporalties hands if Princes will be so easie to be hood-winkt and deluded by them and to resigne their judgements to them in such cases as concern their profit and advancement Secondly That we may take notice how far the learnedst of Papists themselves doe discover and detect the errours and tyranny of the Court of Rome and that mysticall way of deceiving whereby all hope of remedy is cut off I observe this also the rather because our Prelates in England at this day assume to themselves almost as vast and unquestionable a power of stifling and repressing all adverse disputes and of authorizing and publishing all arguments whatsoever favouring their cause as the Court of Rome does Thirdly that I might produce the same Author against himselfe in those points wherein he taxes Protestants Wee will yeeld that for the space of nine hundred yeeres the See of Rome did not usurpe over other Sees but did acknowledge equall subjection to the Canons and that the division and separation of the Easterne Churches happened when Rome arrogated above Canons but withall we must have it yeelded to us that those Canons had been composed only by Clergy-men and that in too much favour of Clergy-men and too much abridgement of Temporall Rights and Priviledges and that they did concerne matters more then meerely spirituall and speculative and things known by meere revelation So that though one Prelate did not usurpe over another yet all Prelates had usurped over the Laity from the times of Constantine almost It is true the Church had Bishops before in its times of persecution but of what power or pompe It is said of Calvin that in regard of his sway in Geneva he wanted nothing but the Name of Bishop and it may be as truly said of the Bishops before Constantine that they wanted all but the Name The power of Bishops before the installment of Christian Princes was rather like that of Arbitrators then of Judges and that held in all cases alike Civill and Spirituall but in case of disobedience they did not intrench so farre upon the Lay power as to inflict any pecuniary or corporall punishment but they did deny the Sacrament and eject delinquents out of the Congregation and this was then an abscission from Christ being done Clave non errante that is whilst God did inspire according to his promise a miraculous power of binding and loosing infallibly The Priestly function was then an Office not a jurisdiction of sacred dignity not power but the Function of a Prince was ever sacred both for honour and power for dignity and command Constantine the Great was the first Prince which tooke upon him the care and protection of the Church after that it had suffered contempt and poverty for 300 yeares and now did even that authority and protection cease and devolve into his hands which the poore persecuted Bishops had but feebly managed before but such was the extraordinary indulgence of this pious Emperour as well to religious persons as to Religion it selfe that taking little notice what the Church had gain'd by him as its Head and Governour He heaped up greater Titles and Honors upon Bishops Archbishops Patriarchs and Popes as if some other supreme Ruler more sacred and competent then himselfe were necessary Neverthelesse it is thought that this was as poyson poured into the Church and not Balme for from that very time Clergy-men began to be more glorious but lesse gracious more rich outwardly but more poore and vile inwardly Within a little space after Constantine there was just cause of complaint that excessive Honours had corrupted the Church and that Religion had prospered better in former times when it had wooden Chalices and golden Priests then now when it had golden Chalices but wooden Priests It is remarkable also that soon after Constantine the temporall power being too much restrained and abased and the spirituall as much inlarged and exalted the whole face of Christendome began to be imbroyled with wars and poysoned with heresies so that the Historians of those times have almost nothing else to write of but the forcible investing and devesting by armes of such Bishops and Patriarchs and of the oppositions of such and such Councels and Synods and of the Appeals Iars Schismes Excommunications and Commotions of such and such Priests and Monks Nay such were the ill effects of those ages which were certainly more zealous then politike that they cannot yet be wholly rectified and purged in these our latter times which are growne too too contrary being more politike then zealous Thus did the Church fare for 900. yeares till the Romane Bishops began to Empire above all and then did the greatest part of the Clergie themselves especially East from Italy make their departure and separation Neither did the Romish Vice-god after this great rent and division in the world hang his head for shame or seeke any re-union by letting fall his pompous painted plumes but audaciates himselfe rather to mount higher yet and to detrude the Western Emperour quite out of the bounds of Italy And in this his industry failes him not for after much bloud-shed in many cruell conflicts Hee gaines in Italy a Temporall and in all Europe besides a spirituall Monarchy making a triple

repute and Calumnies to get footing hath beene the encrease of manslaughter and the continuance of enmity in all ages Many beleeve that nothing which is done would be knowne if this meanes of dispersing privie calumnious speeches were not used whereas little is knowne because it is used for falshood constantly affirmed for truth sometimes deceives and when it does not but is knowne to be falshood yet it forces to some suspension of judgement and makes us yeeld some way even to that which we beleeve not This is most apparant at this day in this Kingdome in the Case of Puritans for did accusation and legall processe take place few crimes would be proved against Puritans and did not malicious calumny prevaile as few men would be proved Puritans whereas now nothing is so monstrous which is not branded upon Puritans and no man is so innocent as to escape that brand So great also is the audacity of those which lacerate the fames of Puritans and with so much confidence doe they vent their obloquies that they which know the falsity thereof and easily perceive that the same aspersions are more truely due to the Autors and raisers of them yet they are dazeled and driven to some doubtfull admittance thereof Neither could this audacity be so prevalent amongst the vulgar but that Scholars and the greatest of the Clergy are now become the most injurious detesters and depravers of Puritans having taken up in Pulpits and presses almost as vile and scurrilous a licence of fiction and detraction as is usuall in Play houses Taverns and Bordelloes Some men divide generally all Protestants into Puritans and Antipuritans but I shall admit of subdivisions in both for all men are not alike which either affect or disaffect either Puritans or Antipuritans Antipuritans I shall thus divide Some Antipuritans are so tearmed because they are no Puritans but such I dislike not for I my self am neither the one nor other I neither merit the name of Puritan neither doe I hate them so as to professe my self an Antipuritan Others are accounted Antipuritans because they are of the Romish Religion and so professe themselves but their enmity is but a due antipathy and as a necessary consequence of their Religion and such I take no notice of I think Puritans expect no other from them Others again there are which are very averse from some Puritanicall Tenets and hold Puritans in very many things erroneous but yet they mean well themselves and bear no hatred to the persons of Puritans they allow Puritans sound in the most and weightiest matters of faith they hold dissent in disputable things no ground of malice and they attribute no infallibility to themselves in those things wherein they dissent from these men I am but little removed The worst sort of Antipuritans and they which ought only to be so called are they which bitterly hate and persecute many good men under the name of Puritans and many goods things in those which are Puritans whose antipathy is to mens persons as well as opinions in opinions those which are sound as well as those which are erroneous These are the Antipuritans which I shall now strive to detect whom I now hold to be of great number and power in the State at this day whom we may account the chiefest causers and procurers of all those mischiefs and plagues which now incumber both Church and Commonwealth and to be guilty of all those crimes which falsly they charge upon Puritans being therein like Caesars enemies which therefore onely hated him because they had deserved hatred from him By such Antipuritans is all love to goodnesse and zeal to the Protestant Religion and all hatred of vice and dislike of Popish Superstition brought into contempt For as they admit all true of Puritans which Papists object against Protestants so they account all Protestants almost besides their own faction Puritans By such is the Religion of the Scots made ridiculous by such is the amitie of the two Nations and therein the Honour and safety of the King his Crown and Progeny endangered By such is Calvin the Reformers of our Religion for hearkning therein to Calvin traduced and another reformation attempted by such is Antiquity preferred to obscure Scripture Uniformity in Ceremonies to the disadvantage of unity in hearts by such is the outside and walls of Religion trimmed and decored whilst the soule thereof is neglected and defaced by such is the Kings heart stolne from his Subjects and the Subjects estranged from the King by such is the Name of Royalty pretended whilst a Papall Hierarchy onely is intended by such is dissention nourished in the State that they may fish in troubled waters by such is truth in other men styled faction and faction in themselves styled truth by such are innovations preached and printed for necessary points whilst necessary doctrines in other men are prohibited In the power of such it now remaines to teach and publish all things consonant to their owne ends and to quash and silence all gainsayers and either to promote or detrude all Suiters for preferment at their discretion being absolutely possessed of Presses Pulpits and the eares of great men by such are many good men reviled and oppressed for their constancie to the true Religion whilst many factious semipopish Dunces are unduly preferred every where for neutrality in Religion or some worse innovation by such are Puritans made as Sinks and Sewers to unlode and discharge their own filth into whilst their black railing tongues expume nothing against Puritans but what is true of themselves These things if I am not deceived will appeare in this ensuing discourse In all ages true Religion hath been odious amongst Heathens and true devotion amongst Sensualists Judaisme appeared to Painims meer Superstition Christianity seemed to the Jewes grosse blasphemie and now amongst Christians Protestantisme is nothing else but Heresie and amongst Protestants Zeal is misnamed Puritanisme But in this word Puritanisme is a greater mystery of defamation then ever was before it may well be called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} it is a word of depravation fit onely for these times wherein the shine of the Gospel is at the brightest and the malice of Satan at the highest This word sprung up almost with the Reformation no sooner had the woman brought forth but the Serpent pursued her to devoure her issue and she being fled into the Wildernesse this streame of infamy was spued forth after her to overtake her The Bishop of Downe in Ireland in his Visitation speech 1638. endeavours to make it credited that Puritans have increased since the Reformation by degrees both in number and malice but the contrary is most apparently true Dissent in Ecclesiasticall Policie about Ceremonies and other smaller matters being not of the substance of Religion first gave occasion to raise this reprochfull word Puritan in the Church but since that time mens minds being better satisfied and peace being more firmly

Mitre shine as gloriously upon the seven-hilled City as the Diadem had done before During his warres with the Emperour of Germany He had other contestations also with England and some other Potentates at sometimes but all dismaid him not only once He was heard to say It was time for him to compound with the Dragon that he might crush the lesser Adders at his pleasure Yet after this even this Holy tyranny growes too insolent and insufferable and so conspires its owne dissolution so that many Countries in the North-west parts lying more remote from Rome quite revolt from her Allegeance and protest against her Amongst those other Countries also lesse distant which still in words confesse her Supremacy her Reigne is now but little more then precarious Venice regards not Buls and Anathemaes France disdaines a yonger brothers benediction and Spaine being honoured with the title of the Popes eldest Son confesses him a Father but imployes him as a Chaplain gives verball but reapes reall honours by him Augustus having cashiered an unworthy Commander gave him leave to say that hee had cashiered Augustus and so the Popes great sonnes shake off his yoke by degrees but conceale it and give him leave to doe the like It is now very good policy in the Pope not to pretend to Temporall things as they stand in ordine or have relation to spirituall things but rather to relinquish his right to spirituall things as they stand in order to Temporall it is eminent wisedome in him to forbeare threatning roaring cursing and sending his ridiculous Epigrams out of his owne Territories as he was wont to doe Nay his very last refuge of sending forth his poysoning and stabbing Ministers cannot remaine in season much longer But to returne to our learned Statesman as Hee justly taxes the Court of Rome so Hee unjustly taxes Protestants of the contrary extreme and this will appeare out of his owne words For He grants first that the Secular Magistrates have nothing diminished of their authority by Christs comming and it is cleare that Princes were absolute Governours of the Church before Christ both in Spirituall and Temporall Cases In the next place He yeelds that the power and knowledge of Clergy-men called the power of the Keyes is no other but such as Christ infuses in meere supernaturall things knowne onely by Faith and Revelation not by any physicall or Ethicall Principles but it is easily proved by us that such power can extend to no proper jurisdiction at all in humane affaires but is a meere speculative Notion and such we deny not Thirdly Hee yeelds that in Jurisdiction there bee three things distinct First matter of Law Secondly matter of fact Thirdly matter of execution whereby retribution is made to every fact according to Law The first of these and that in Spirituall Cases alone being tryable by Clergy-men only Admit this and nothing followes but that things meerely Spirituall are best knowne to Spirituall persons there is no power here concluded As for example In case of Heresie that I hold such an opinion must appeare by witnesses and proofes and herein all kindes of witnesses besides Clergy-men are competent Next that this opinion is hereticall requires the judgement of Ecclesiasticall persons but it does not follow if they be the fittest Judges herein that they must bee the supreme Judges herein and not as well Dependent and Subordinate as our Civill Judges are in common actions But in the last place that such an hereticall opinion so dangerous and pestilent to the Church and Common-wealth ought to bee corrected or eradicated by such coercive force and the raising of that force whereby it is to be punished is in the judgement and in the power of the Supreme Magistrate for two Magistrates cannot have a Supreme power of the same sword Either the Secular must command the Ecclesiasticall or the Ecclesiasticall must command the Secular as to coercive power or a worse confusion then either must needs follow So then it is the Execution of justice alone which is essentiall to the Supreme Governour Matter of Law requires a Counsellour Matter of fact a witnesse Matter of Execution alone intimates a Prince and that Principality cannot bee divided betwixt two persons of a severall nature From hence then it appeares plainely that no Catholike differing from the Court of Rome ascribes more to Clergy-men then this first poynt of adjudging according to the Law of God in things Divine and this implyes rather a dependent then an independent condition in the judge and in this Protestants joyne with full consent But all this while I finde my selfe in a digression my scope is not to proove that Protestants doe attribute sufficient to Priests it lies upon mee to prove that they attribute too much to them and herein I am to undertake not onely the Episcopall but the Presbyteriall side also not onely Protestant Prelates but even Master CALVIN that great Antiprelate also Divines have much trumped the World hitherto in not setting forth the true bounds and limits of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction but if I mistake not the first power which they claime as most essentiall they take to be the power of the Keyes though they define not certainly what that is whether a power or Office or to whom belonging or of what extent and continuance The second power which they insist upon as next issuing out of the power of the Keyes is in Excommunication Ordination of Ministers Exposition of Scriptures c. The third and more remote kinde of causes wherein they challenge an Ecclesiasticall power is of such as concerne Matrimonie Testaments Heresies Fasts Tythes and Immunities of Clergy-men c. And further doubtlesse they would proceed but that these savour so much of the Temporality and discover their trumpery but I have said if in all these cases Clergy-men are necessarily more knowing and impartiall then all men else there is necessity of their Counsell to declare matter of Law but not of their Consent in applying coercive and forcible remedies for the execution of Law I have said also that Clergie-men being as well Citizens of the Common-wealth as sonnes of the Church and these Cases importing as well perturbance of the State annoyance to the Church that there can be but one Head which ought to have command over both and in both It is manifest also that many Cases are partly temporall and partly spirituall and that scarce any is so temporall but that it relates in some order to spirituall things or any so spirituall but that it hath some relation to temporall things so that the true subject of Ecclesiasticall and civill justice cannot rightly be divided Further also it is as manifest that where any doubt strife or uncertainty may arise betweene one Jurisdiction and another neither acknowledging any supreme power of decision no assured peace can continue and by consequence no stability or permanent subsistence to either is to be expected It is naturall therefore to be inferred