subordination between Bishops and Presbyters I do own it to be of Apostolical Institution that is as I understand it Jure Divino at least I think I am able to say as much for the Order of Bishops in the Church as any can for the Baptizing of Infants for the change of the Sabbath for Tithes or for any thing else which hath no particular Divine Precept but only Primitive practice and example to warrant it And therefore in conformity to this Principle of mine when the Bishops were sunk lowest not only for Pomp but likewise for Reputation and when no temptation either of profit or convenience but rather the contrary could work upon me I then chose to be Ordained by one of them which is sufficient Argument of my reality and stedfastness This my Lord was my Judgement then and bating the words Jure Divino which unless they be taken in a limited and restrained sense are more than the Cause will hear because there is no mention of Bishops as a distinct order in Scripture is my judgement still for though I know that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or an ambitious affectation of Primacy and all manner of Lordliness is to be avoided by Church-officers yet I could never see any reason why there might not as well be different places and degrees for the Rulers of the Church as it is eâ—ident there is difference of gifts and great disparity of endowments So that for the Order of Bishops as chosen by and â—uling with â—heir Presbyters and by consent acting in an eminent way of Power I acknowledge it to be a Primitive usage and accordingly I have been and am likely always to prove an Assâ—râ—er of them Having thus cleared my self from that which because of your Lordships great Devotion to the Church of England in its present Constitution was most likely to prejudice me in your Lordships thoughts c. ALl This is but Edward against Bagsâ—aw and Both against Episcopacy R. L'S The man is a Friend it seems to Bisâ—ops but an Enemy to Praelates Hee is against an Amâ—itious Affectation of Primacy he says and so are Wee but not against the Modest Exercise of it Hee is for a Bishop chosen by and ruling with his Presbyters But Wee are for a Bishop ruling his very Presbyters In short here 's the whole Difference Mr. Bagshaw is for a Titular Wee are for an Authoritative Hee for a Presbyterian Bishop and the Church of England for an Apostolical Yet has This Gentleman the Face to talk as if he had Clear'd himself to the Church of England in its present Constitution when yet in the same Page he has Declar'd himself point-blank against it Marque now his Preface to the Great Question c. and how he Shuffles in his Appeal to Himself He writes himself a strict Oâ—server of the Doctrine c. What 's This to Discipline or Things Indifferent which are the Subject Matter of his Discourse Nay for the Prime Branch of Discipline viz. Episcopacy which in Truth is rather the Root of it he does own a Subordination between Bishops and Presbyters to be Jure Divino c. But when he comes to Limit and Restreyn his Juâ— Divinum and bring down his Subordination to a Consocial Power What 's the Result of his Pretence but either a Presbyterian Episcopacy or an Episcopal Presbytery He pleads further for Himself that he was Ordeyn'd by a Bishop even when Bishops were at Lowest both for Pomp and Reputation and when no Temptation either of Profit or Convenience could work upon him First Mr. Bagshaw's Sayings are no Articles of Faith and from a man so exceedingly addicted to speak more then he can Prove This blank Affirmation is but a very slender Evidence that he was ever Ordeyn'd at all But suppose he was and by Bishop Brownrigge on Nov. 3. An. 1659. Were Bishops then at Lowest when the whole Nation was in a Flame for the Restoring of the Antient Government Oliver was now Dead Richard laid aside The Honourable my Lord BRADSHAW Mr. B's adored Patron newly Departed and the Duke of Albemarle then General Monck was already advanced into England with his Army to oppose the Faction Why does he not urge his Dedication to Bradshaw and his Dissertation De Monarchiâ Aâ—solutâ Both in 1659. too as Arguments also of his good Inclination to the Civil Government Upon the Matter if he was Ordeyn'd it was Manifestly his Interest and not any Affection to the Church that Led him to it as may appear from several Irreverent Expressions in the same Preface against both the Authority and Constitutions of it A greater Argument says he of my Reality Preface to the Great Question and Stedfastness in Judgement then most of Those who now signalize themselves by distinctive Habits can pretend to since such may reasonably be presumed to wear them either because they are the Fasâ—ion or else the way to Preferment And a little Lower Ceremonies are so very Trifles Ibid. that they would vanish of Themselves but that sâ—me men's Pride Others want of Merit make them so sollicitous to continue them Mr. B. must be understood here either of the Imposers of These Distinctive Habits and Ceremonies or of the Conformers to Those Impositions If of the Former he Derides the Authority if of the Latter he reproaches their Obedience Decl. Eccles. Aff. pag. 15. The King Himself is pleas'd to own a high Esteem and Reverence for Ceremonies Nay and Expressly to Enjoyne the use of the Surplice in his Chappel-Royal Cathedral or Collegiate Churches and in the Colleges of either University I hope This is not Pride or want of Merit in his Majesty But Mr. Bagshaw tells us That none can Impose what our Saviour in his Infinite Wisdom did not think Necessary Pref. to the Great Question and therefore left Free That is the King in This Injunction has done more then he can Justifie Now see his Kindness to the Civill Government [C] E. B. Pag. 3. I Shall next give an Account of my inclination to the Civil Government and though I can make it appear that during our late Confusions I passed my Life with so much innocence and so little compliance to the then usurping Powers that not one Publick Action I did but is capable of a fair and Equitable Plea yet since an Act of Indempnity and Oblivion is already passed I think it my Duty so far to comply with his Majestiâ—s intention in granting that Act as not to mention any thing how defensible soever which he hath commanded should be utterly forgotten R. L'S SInce Mr. B. is so Frank as to proclaim the Equity of his Past Actions wee 'll take a Freedom to Examine some of them and this may be done without any Violence to the Act of Oblivion So far as they are warrantable there 's no danger in the Enquiry and where they are Other his Justifying Now what he did Then is a New Crime
The King of England no Monarch I. THe real Sovereignty here amongst us was in King Lords and Commons Pag. 72. The King has the Militia if the People please II. The Law that saith the King shall have the Militia supposeth it to be against Enemies and not against the Common-wealth nor them that have part of the Sovereignty with him To resist him here is not to resist Power but Usurpation and private will in such a case the Parliament is no more to be resisted then He. Thes. 363. III. If the King raise Warr against such a Parliament upon their Declaration of the Dangers of the Common-wealth The People judges of the King the People are to take it as raised against the Common-wealth Thes. 358. And may depose or resist him at pleasure IV. And in that Case saith he the King may not only be resisted but ceaseth to be a King and entreth into a State of Warr with the People Thes. 368. Of These Blasphemous and Seditious Maxims though Charg'd upon Mr. Baxter by the Bishop of Worcester the Libeller takes no notice otherwise then by a Tacit Allowance of them his Agreement with Mr. Baxter in These Particulars being sufficiently intimated in his express Acknowledgment wherein he dissents Nor in Summe are they any other then the pure result of his own Opinions only Digested into a more Popular and Intelligible Methode What Judgements may not That Nation expect from Divine vengeance where This Spirit of Treachery and Impâ—sture reigns in the Pulpit Or if This be Lâ—yalty what is it which the Law calls Treason If Mr. Bagsâ—aw had been very wise he would have forborn the Justification of so great a Guilt as under his own Hand appears against him and indeed his fate is hard that his Testimony which goes for nothing against any mâ—n else should yet stand good against himseâ—f He had been wiser yet if he had totally declined the Controversie and spent Those Hours in Gratitude and Repentance which he has rather chosen to Employ in Oâ—stinacy and further Disobedience But to cast himself at once out of all Terms both of Christianity and Humanity neither to Regard his Duty to God his Neighâ—our or Himself To lash out beyond all bounds of Piety Loyalty Modesty Truth and Prudence even to the forfeiture of his own safety This is a Prodigious heap of Miscarriages and yet no more then the Just Measure of his Confidence Fâ—lly and Wickedness To dip into the Immoralities of his Life were to stir a Puddle and in Truth rather to Gratifie my Revenge then my Duty so that I shall rather adhaere to my Purpose of Discovering a Publique Enemy then exercise the Sting of a Private Passion Those Pamphlets of his which in this Discourse I have made use of against him are Thus Dated De Mon. Aâ—s 1659. The Great Question 1660. After the Act of Indempnity Pars 2 a. of the Great Quest. Sept. 10. 1661. Pars 3 a. Of Heresies Jan. 10. 1661. Brief Treatise c. Feb. 15. 1661. Two Liâ—els against the Bishop of Worcester Jan. 21. Feb. 26. 1661 2 Signs of the Times Jan. 28. 1661 â— Letter to The Lord Chancellour May 10. 1662. Only the First of These can in the very poynt of Time pretend to any favour from the Act of Pardon but That will not much avail Mr. Bagshaw who by Justifying Now what he Did Then does it over again and stands accomptable for the same Fault upon another Score But methinks the Case is not here whether This Pamphâ—et but whether or no the very Authour of it be Pardon'd and This Question if any there be arises from the very Letter both of his Majesties Declaration from Breda and of the Act it self Decl. from Breda His Majesty in his Declaration from Breda Grants a Free and General Pardon to all that shall lay hold upon that Grace and Favour and by any Publique Act Declare their doing so and Return to the Loyalty and Obedience of Good Subiects Exceptis Excipiendis Which Loyalty is to be Manifested by not Persevering in Guilt for the Future and by not Opposâ—ng the quiet and happiness of their Country in the Restoration both of King Peers and People to their Just Antient and Fundamental Rights Here 's the Promise and Condition of the Pardon Persuant to which Promise and Correspondent to which Condition the following Pardon is said expresly to be Enacted i. e. In Performance of his Royal and Gracious Word signified by His Letters to the several Houses of Parliament now Assembled Act of Pardon and His Declarations in that behalf Published Now the Qâ—estion is first Whether Those that Persevere in their Guilt and oppose the Restoration of the King to any of his Just Antient and Fundamental Rights are not by This Limiting Condition excepted from Pardon And the next Question is Whether His Majesties Supreme Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical be not One of His Just Antient and Fundamental Rights If so Whoever Persists to oppose the Prerogative Royal in This Particular has no Right or Title to the Intent or Benefit of the Act of Indempnity The Extent of his Majesties Power as to the matter in Question may be seen in King James his Ratification of The Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical in 1603. Annexed to the Book of Canons We do not only by our Prerogative Royal and Supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiastical ratifie confirm and establish by These our Letters Patents the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and all and every thing in Them contained as aforesaid but do likewise propound Publish and straightly enjoyn and Command by our Authority and by These our Letters Patents the same to be diligently observed executed and equally kept by all our loving Subjects of This our Kingdom c. Straightly Charging and Commanding all Arch-Bishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within This Realm every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lieth all and every of the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to be in all Poynts duly observed not sparing to execute the Penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or wilfully break or neglect to observe the same as they Tender the Honour of God the Peace of the Church Tranquillity of the Kingdom and their Duties and Services to Us their KING and Soveraign If the King's Authority in Church-Matters reaches Thus far And if His such Authority be a Just Antient and Fundamental Right And finally if a perseverance in Guilt and the Opposal of the Restoration of His Majesty to His Just Antient and Fundamental Rights be a Delinquency which is in Terminis Excepted And that the express Condition be a Return to the Loyalty and Obedience of Good Subjects In what a Case is Mr. Bagshaw who has Constantly and Openly defi'd the very Letter Intent and Equity of that Gratious and Incomparable Act of Mercy As is already
made appear from his own Writings Nor is it Mr. Bagshaw's Case alone but every mans who either by Word or Deed Publiquely and obstinately opposing the Ceremonies of the Church of England denyes his Majesties Just Antient and Fundamental Right of Imposing I speak This with Reverence and Submission to the better-Enform'd and to Correct Those Slanderous Tongues that have the Confidence to Tax his Just and Gratious Majesty for being less then his word when They Themselves by a Persevering and Incorrigible Contumacy and Disobedience Rejecting the Conditions of the Kings Pardon can lay no Claim to the Benefit of it Having Thus far unmasqu'd my Adversary I am now to Defend my self and to Prove that I am not that wretched Thing which I have prov'd him to be and so I proceed from his Defence to his Libel That being the Division of his Pamphlet [1.] BUt my Lord should I ever have so far stept out of the bounds of my â—allâ—nâ— E. B. Pag. 6. Memento Pag. 6. as to write a Publick Memento which in the very nâ—mâ— of it coâ—â—radicts the Act of Oâ—livion c. A Publique Memento though from a Private person R. L. ' S. is both Lawful Conscientiâ—us and requisite where the Honour and Safety of the King are the Qâ—estion And That I take to be the Case where his Majesties blessed Faâ—her is ill spoken of his Regal Authority question'd his Government Reproach'd and the Resolutions of this present Parliament Despis'd and Trampled upon This shall I prove to be the Common Subject of the Press and by the very Letter of the Oath of Allegiance I am ty'd to Discover it So that my Crime is but the keeping of my Oath and the Performance of my Duty in the Vindication of the King and his Government It was the Compleynt of King Charles the Martyr That the minds of many of our weak Subjects have been Exact Coll. Pag. 173. and still are poysoned by scandalous seditious Pamphlets and Printed Papers and that so general a terrour hath possessed the minds and hearts of all men that whiles the Presses swarm and every day produceth new Tracts against the Established Government of the Church and State most men want the Courage or the Conscience to write or the opportunity and encouragement to publish such composed sober Animadversions as might either preserve the minds of Our Good Subjects from such Infection or restore and recover them when they are so infected Here 's my Warrant and my Justification [2.] Should I have so much aspersed the present Government as to say That Defamers of the Government if Presbyterians E. B. Pag. 6. scape beâ—ter than their Accusers c. Observe here upon what Occasion This was spoken R. L'S Under the Head of The Tokens and Prognostiques of Seditions Memento Cap. 2. I quote Sir Francis Bacon who in his Essay of Seditions Memento pag. 5. and Troubles reckons Libels and Licentious Discourses against the Government when they are Frequent and Open amongst the Signes of Troubles In agreement with That Judicious Person and without any Particular Instance I take notice that Libels were not only the Forerunners Ibid. pag. 6. but in a high degree the Causes of our Late Confusions And a little Lower that the Press is now as Busie and as Bold Sermons as Factious Pamphlets as Seditious the Government Defam'd and the Defamers of it if Presbyterians scape better then their Accusers Is it now become an Aspersion upon the Government to lay open and complein of Those that Asperse it Or am I mistaken in believing him to be a Defamer of the Government that Charges This King with Usurpation his Father with Tyranny and that reports the Rites and Orders of the Church for the Institutions of the Devill If I Prove what I say and make appear that Defamers of the Government if Presbyterians do scape better then their Accusers I am clear of Edward Bagshaw's second Exception If I fail let the Infamy lie at my Dore. He Charges me Next for saying [3.] That Promoters and Justifiers of the murder of the late King are still continued publick Preachers E. B. Pag. 6. and can come off for Printing and publishing down-right Treason when I have much ado to escape for telling it Let the Reader take along with him the Connexion of my Discourse R. L'S whereupon he grounds This Cavil Memento pag. 8. Sir Francis Bacon sayes that when Discords and Quarrels and Factions are carryed openly and audaciously it is a sign the Reverence of Government is lost Ibid. And are not Factions carryed Openly and Audaciously now sayes L' Estrange when the Promoters and Justifiers of the Murther of the late King are still continued publique Preachers without the least Pretence to a Retraction Dictating still by Gestures Shrugs and Signs That Treason to their Auditory which they dare not utter What are their Sermons but Declamations against Bisâ—ops Their Covenant-keeping Exhâ—rtations but the Contempt of an establish'd Law How it comes to passe Heaven knows but these Hâ—nest Fâ—llows can come off for Printing and Publishing down-right Treason when I have much ado to scape for Telling of it If I am now able to make it out that such Preachers â—here are and such Printers and Publisâ—ers as are here spoken of I do no more in Discovering them then I have sworn to do For the Printers and Publishers I have allotted Them a place by Themselves and concerning the Preachers I shall only Instance in Mr. George Cokayn of Pancras Soper Lane and Mr. William Jenkin of Christ-Church London The former whereof Promoted and pressed the Murther of the late King in a Sermon before the Commons Nâ—vâ—mb 29. 1648. and the Other Justified That Murther and applauded it in another Sermon before the Commons Sept. 24. 1656. as follows Think not to save your selves by an unrighteous saving of them who are the Lords and the Peoples known Enemies George Cokain Flesh expiring and the Spirit Inspiring pag. 26. 27. Printed for Giles Calvert You may not imagine to obtain the favour of those against whom you will not do Justice for certainly if ye act not like Gods in this particular against men truly obnoxious to Justice they will be like Devils against you Oâ—serve that place 1 King 22.31 compared with chap. 20. It is said in chap. 20. that the King of Syria came against Israel and by the mighty power of God he and his Army were overthrown and the King was taken Prisoner Now the mind of God was which he then discovered only by that present providence that Justice should have been executed upon him but it was not whereupon the Prophet comes with Aâ—hes upon his face and waited for the King of Israel in the way where he should return and as the King passed by he cryed unto him Vers. 42. of Chap. 20. Thus saith the Lord Because thou hast let go a man whom I appointed for
Bishop of Worcester from a Libell of Mr. Bagshaw's And This now under my Hand carries the Necessity of it along with it So that Thus far my Pen has only been Defensive either of the King the Church or in the last place of My own Honour My Memento it 's Truth is a Mixt Dâ—scourse and the Greater part of it Effectually rather a Paraphrase upon Sir Francis Bacon then my Proper Text. It is written with more Honesty then skill and it has the Common Fate of other Things Friends and Enemies He that understands it as I meant it shall do Mee no hurt and he that takes it otherwise is the more likely of the Two to miss my Meaning Such Venemous Natures there may be as to Blast All they Touch Draw Poyson from the Holy Writ and Turn the very Decalogue into a Libel If it Displeases Such the matter is not great for it was beside my Purpose to Oblige Them I shall now be as good as my word concerning Defamers of the Government c. Since the Burning of the Covenant was Publish'd a Book Entitul'd A PHAENIX or The Soleâ—n LEAGUE and COVENANT Pretended to be Printed at Edenburgh and Dated In the year of COVENANT-BREAKING The Drift of the Whole is to Justifie the last War to disaffect the People to his Majesty now in Being and to Enforce the Obligation of the Covenant out of an old Sermon of Mr. Edm. Calamie's call'd The Great Danger of COVENANT-REFUSING and COVENANT-BREAKING This Book being brought to my Hand I procur'd a Warrant to search for it and Retriv'd about 120 Copies which I seiz'd together with the Printer Disperser and One Stationer of the Three that were Partners in the Impression I Brought These People to His Majesties Principal Secretary Sir Edward Nicholaâ— by whose Order the Printer and Stationer were Committed and the Disperser being Poor to Extremity was upon certain Conditions left at Liberty Concerning the Printer it appear'd that he acted rather upon Necessity then Malice but for Two of the Three Stationers to wit Giles Calvert who was Apprehended and Livewell Chapman who was now fled No men whatever of their Profession have more Constantly and Malitiously prosecuted the Destruction of the Royal Family The Third Stationer's Name is Thomas Brewster who absented himself for a while and is since return'd Francis-Tyton was one of the Puâ—lisâ—ers as Right as any of the Rest At the same Time I Seiz'd the first Two sheets of the Book of Prodigies then newly put to the Press and for the same Booksellers Giles Calvert did not only come off for This but during his Imprisonment which contâ—nued till the Adjournment of the Parliament his Wife went on with the Prodigies upon Proof whereof She was likewise Commâ—tted and is come off too See now the Temper and Design of These Pamphlets A King abusing his Power to the overthrow of Religion Phoenix Pag. 52. Laws and Liberties which are the very Fundamentals of this Contract and Covenant may â—e Controlled and Opposed and if he set himself to overthrow all These by Armes then they who have power as the Estates of a Land may and ought to resist by Arms Because he dâ—th â—y that opposition break the very â—onds and overthrow the essentials of this Contract and Covenant This may serve to justifie the proceedings of this Kingdom against the late King ☜ who in an Hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion Parliaments Laws and Liberties Among the Hâ—llish rout of Prophane and Ungodly men Praeface to the Prâ—digies let especiâ—lly the Oppressours and Persecutours of the True Church look to themselves when the hand of the Lord in the strange Signs and Wonders is lifted among them for then let them know assuredly that the day of their Calamity is at hand and the things that shall come upon them make haste Deut. 32.35 The retale and final overthrow of Pharaoh and the Egyptians those cruel Task-Masters and Oppressours of the Israelites did bear date not long after the Wonderful and the Prodigious Signs which the Lord had shewn in the midst of them ☞ Prodigies Pa. 1. Two Suns seen neâ—r Hertford c. The like in the Beginning of Queen Mary and about the Time of the Persecution in Germany It portends aâ—sâ— the Fall of Great men from their Power Ibid. Pag. 11. 12. Armies were seen in Sussex c. This happened a while before the King of Swede routed the Imperial Army and here in England in 1640. A Terrible Tempest and Raging Tides This in the Low-Countries Pag. 42. a little before they threw off the Yoak of the King of Spain A River dry'd up c. This portends a Revolt and Division of the People Ibid. Pag. 53. Let what I have said serve to satisfie Mr. Bagsâ—aâ— that Defamers of the Governmenâ— and the Publishers of Treâ—son may câ—me off and better too then their Accusers for I am expos'd to dayly Menaces Libels Violences only for Asserting the Kings Interest and Discovering his Enemies It 's time now to draw to a Conclusion and I cannot end better then with giving the World a Particular View of some few of Those Many Treasonous Seditious and Schismatical Pieces which have been Published Since his Sacred Majestie 's Return and with That I shall wind up my Justification Wherein I shall observe in Order how they Treat the Church and the King's Cause and his Authority Upon the Restoring of the King Mr. Manton Publishes Smectymnuus The Smectymâ—â—â—ns and in his Preface to the Reader I suppose sayes he the Reverend Authors were willing to lye hid under this ONOMASTICK partly that their work might not be recâ—ived with prejudice the Faction against which they dealt arrogaâ—ing to themselves a Monopoly of Learning and condemning all others as Ignorants and Novices not worthy to be heard c. Now see the Judgment of his Reverend Authours and what Stuffe Mr. Manton Publishes for the Reception of His Majesty he himself calling the Episcopal Party a Faction Do we not know the Drunkenness Profaneness Superstition Popishness of the English Clergy rings at Rome already Smectym Pag. 58. Yes undoubtedly and there is no way to vindicate the Honour of our Nation Ministry Parliaments Sovereign Religion God but by Causing the Punishment to ring as far as the sin hath done that our Aâ—versaries that have triumphâ—d in their sin may be confounded at their Punishment Note Do not your Honours know that the plastring or palliating of these rotten Members will be a greater dishonour to the Nation and Church then their cutting off and that the personal acts of these Sons of Belial being connived at become National sins Here 's Episcopacy Root and Branch with all Circumstances Suitable to a Presbyterian Modesty Publish'd by a Pardon'd Non-conformist for the Welcome of Hâ—s Sacred Majesty How comâ—s it to pass that in England there is such increase of Popery Superstition Arminianism Ibid. Pag. 66.