UNITIE TRVTH and REASON Presented in all Humility Petition-wise to the Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses for the Commons House of PARLIAMENT By some moderate â—nd Peace-desiring Ministers for the mo 〈…〉 and certaine reconciling of the Câ—â—â—ch d 〈…〉 s. LONDON Printed for Thomas Vnderhill in the yeare 1641. To the READER IT was not at first intended that this following Discourse presented Petition-wise should fly so pub likely but such modesty and truth withall are both so evenly expressed that the eyes of envie malice and uncharitablenesse which usually are most quicke upon actions of this nature cannot take just advantage as farre as we can apprehend We therfore on the behalfe of our selves and others doe humbly crave that what is here presented with a dexterous intention may not have a sinister acception TO THE HONOVRABLE the Knights Citizens and Burgesses for the Commons House of Parliament Humbly representeth THAT Episcopacie is a frame anciently raised out of the Pastorall place built up with Chancellors Deanes Arch-Deacons Commissaries Surrogates Officialls Apparitors c. And further finished with their Consistories High-Commission Oath Ex Officio Books of Canons old and new Books of Recreation and Liberty Ceremonies and manifold Innovations enlarged especially in latter times by violent and intemperate Spirits which have pursued many of the best lived of the Ministry and People with too much heate insomuch that many choice Men have bin wormed out the most scandalous cherished Doctrine adulterated the fire of zeale quenched Tyrannie exercised especially over the Consciences of their Brethren Primitive Discipline defaced the judgements of many engaged for Episcopacie Jure divino Civil Warres incouraged the most dangerous and hazardous undertaking of a State In the mean time the Prelates not sufficiently sencible of the dishonour of our gracious Soveraigne and securitie of these happy and Illustrious Kingdomes Nay besides all this many of the late Church-Governours have also complyed too much with the Popish Faction and drawn quantum in illis the odium of the late disturbances upon his Majestie let them pretend what they please and dishonour upon the Protestant Religion in the eyes of the Romish party and the whole world by their tongues pennes and indeavours May it therfore please this Honourable House to take Episcopall Government into your grave and serious Consideration And if it may stand with the wayes and customes of this Honourable House That our Petition may be presented to the House of the Lords and finally to his most excellent Majestie 1. First that a speedy survey may be taken of this old-ruinous and decayed building by a Commission ad inquirendum concerning the truth of the numerous Complaints from all parts of this Kingdome When God visited Sodom in Judgement he first sent his Angels to inquire of the truth of the crimes thereof 2. If upon just and exact triall the whole building from the foundation to the highest part of the superstructure prove sound God forbid any moderate spirit should desire the alteration of a Government so long established but if in toto composito there be an universall dissolution and weaknesse of all parts that then the old decayed frame may be taken down and such a new modell propounded as may most nearely agree with the Word the Apostles and Primitive times with the Assistance of a select Company of grave pious-learned and Orthodox Divines in nature of a Nationall Synod which may be chosen by your singular care and wisdome gathered out of all parts of the Kingdome and authorised for that purpose And in case it may stand with the pleasure of his Majesty and this High and Honourable Court of Parliament that some Scots and Irish Divines may be also admitted to such Assembly which may happily tend not only to mutuall information of themselves but to a more firme obligation of all members in these Churches in Civill or Ecclesiasticall affaires under our most gracious Soveraigne as Supreme Governor unto a more firm union and obedience Notwithstanding all this it is not the desire of your Petitioners with the Sonnes of Zebedee that fire should come down from heaven and destroy this frame of Government neither any illegall or precipitant violence should demolish it such reverence doe we owe to the memory of those industrious-pious-learned Bishops which have somtimes sealed the testimony of the Gospel with their blood And to our happie Princes whose Names are ever blessed with us who have yielded all Princely indulgence unto Episcopall dignities Only thus farre do your Petitioners humbly sue for asmuch as there is such a considerable number of grievances and complainants through the whole Kingdome as may appeare by the numerous Petitions and Remonstrances to this Honourable House That in the meane time whilest a Commission issues out for a more full discovery of Corruptions in Ecclesiasticall Government and Ministers notoriously scandalous the above-named Ecclesiasticall Assembly be called and Episcopall Governours allow'd a faire and legall tryall by Ministers men of their own Order as Lords are tryed by their Peers but impartiall and not ingaged by the dignities and preferments of the times And if it may not savor of sawcines or too high presumption May it please this Honourable House to require the Episcopall party to assigne some of their own choice to answer in such a well constituted Assembly and to give liberty to the Presbyteriall Disciplinaries as in Scotland or them of the Pastorall and more Independent way as in New England to come in and oppose only give leave we beseech you that the Word may be the moderator in this Nationall Synod And if we may not be thought to presume upon this intelligent and Religious House we humbly sue First that in such a well dispos'd Assembly the Doctrine of the Church may be cleared and explaine Secondly the Discipline questioned First by what tenure Episcopacie holds whether Jure Divino vel Ecclesiastico If Divino it must necessarily stand for ever Secondly if Ecclesiastico whether it be not alterable according to Corruptions attending it or the varying Constitutions of particular Churches or the like considerable Circumstances 3. If alterable whether this Government may safely be altered in this Church of England 4. If it may be altered what Government can be propounded more nearely agreeing to the Word and more fit for these times 5. Whether Christ left any certaine and necessary Discipline to be observed in his Church for ever 6. Whether Examples which have not grounds on expresse Rules or necessary Consequences out of those Commands doe bind the Conscience to subjection as to an Ordinance of Christs 7. Whether it be not fit for Christians rather to follow the Examples of Christ his Apostles or the purer times for Presidents then the more degenerate and corrupt times of the world When these or the like Questions are well discussed and decided The confirmation of such Acts of Assembly as shall be then determined we submit unto the wisdome
of this Honourable House In the meane time most noble Patriots suffer not the glory of our Church to set under a cloud We have betrusted you with our selves and all ours faile us not in the maine viz in the matters of Religion neither Doctrine not Discipline Begin we beseech you where your forefathers left in the dayes of King Edward the 6th Let the noble bloud of your Ancestors which runs in your veynes induce you to perfect the glorious beginnings of your renowned Predecessors Never think the Common-wealth can be well healed unlesse the Church be also Cured Did not our sufferings in the Church lead the way to yours in the Civill State If you conceive your worke is fully ended when the Common-wealths grievances are removed God himselfe will not take it well at your hands to leave Sion weeping and none comforting her You have come on nobly and like religious Patriots in giving faire hopes of easing the distressed part of the Church Go on like your selves and the God of Heaven prosper you Let not golden Balls turn you out of the way Neither Syrenian musicke nor Crocodile teares of the degenerate part of the Tribe of Levi captivate your judgements You have the whole Nation ingaged to be Servants unto the King for ever in a stricter bond if you his great Councell of State according to his trust in you see Religion freed from the complaints and grievances of it It is true Episcopal Governors with their nearest friends think it scorn to come to tryall of their title We are not ignorant of many of their choysest Arguments but if you please with patience to survey them you shall find they have studied fallacies more then demonstrations It is true they pretend 1. the Word 2. Antiquity 3. Reference to our Laws 4. Order 5. Suppression of Errors Schismes and Heresies 6. Incouragement to Learning 7. Conformity of Episcopall Government unto Monarchie All specious pretences we confesse like the Grapes and fruits of Sodom but if you touch them they fall to Ashes First the Word no better plea in the world nor stronger Argument if the pontificiall side would shew but one expresse Command or necessary inference for Episcopacie over the Clergie it is our meaning to be a constant and standing office in the Church we should think our selves deserved to lose our Eares liberty life and all for speaking against a Law of Gods own making But whilst the great Clerks of the Kingdome in this multa dicunt nihil probant We must desire this Government but in an Ecclesiasticall assembly may goe to the question Secondly Antiquity a plea which would well have served in the dayes of Hezekiah and Josiah for keeping up the High Places because they had continued from the dayes of Solomon or afore If this Argument were sufficient the Reformers in the dayes of Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth of famous memory should have staid their hands from taking away such ancient Ceremonies as had continued many hundred years Upon this ground an old ruinous House which is rotten from the foundation to the highest part of the superstructure should not be pulled down upon the like ground old Vines where the humidum radicale is quite gone and fruit ceases should not be plucked up nor others planted in their room The brazen Serpent was at the first erected upon better warrant then ever Episcopacie yet when it grew worm-eaten with corruption of Antiquity Hezekiah made bold to take it down and the fact is fronted with the name of Zeale unto Immortality Thirdly Reference to our Laws It is true Episcopacie is too truly and too much Inter-woven with the Statutes of this Kingdome Not that Episcopacie strengthens the Laws but the Laws Episcopacie So that it seems no necessary Argument for this dignity standing Statu quo nunc but rather serves for a good caution that in the taking down of this old frame the Statutes of the Land suffer no violence which we doubt not but by the wisdome of this Honourable House may be well contrived Fourthly Order a great deale of reason for it if Order doe not violate that eternall and indispensible Rule of charity unto which the Episcopall Government hath done much violence by their Pride and Tyranny over the Consciences of their Brethren In such case we desire the Word Christian Liberty and Charity may be preferred afore any pretended Order in the the world Fiftly Suppressing of Schismes Errors and Heresies we deny not but when Episcopacie was first raysed and instituted in the Church there was such a politicke intention but Where is the Successe Have not Corruptions Schismes Errors if not Heresies more grown under the shadow of Episcopacie then under any other Reformed Protestant Church in the world Let the Remonstrance of the Ministers speak unto this together with the Numerous Complaints from all parts of the Kingdome It is not to be denyed but as these Weeds so much pretious Corne hath grown within the bounds of Episcopall Government not that we must thank the smiles and indulgence of the Pontificiall party but their frowns brow-beatings and manifold oppressions or rather God himselfe who multiplyed the Israelites under Pharaohs Tyranny and Cruelty Sixtly Encouragement to Learning Give loosers leave to speak let the inferiour Clergie of the Kingdome as they are usually called come in and speake what they usually feel in their own experience Doth not the burthen and heat of the day lye upon poore Parsons Vicars Lecturers and Curates What encouragement to Learning whilst a few Bishops Deanes Arch-Deacons c. swallow up the best and richesâ— part of Ecclesiasticall maintenance taking little or no paines in feeding the soules of the people studying only Law-suits how to rise higher in the world and to sowe dissention betwixt Kingdomes Princes and their Subjects when the inferiour Clergie in the meane time must sit below the salt gather up the Crums from under Episcopall Tables and account it favour enough to have a nod from a Bishop nay happily lesse then that an hollow-hearted leave or Licence to use a Pulpit in his Diocesse Seaventhly A Conformity of Episcopall Government unto Monarchie We confesse the Conformitie is too much and too neare For Kings send out Writs in their own Names as it is fit they should so doe Bishops Kings Rule and Command so doe Bishops yet this Conformity in Government unto Monarchie cannot induce our Charity to think they at least many of them can cordially affect Supreme Government whilst so many in latter times have complyed so much with the Pope in all Papall usages the great enemie to all Kingly Government How can we judge but if oppertunity served they would fall in with the Pope in matter of Supremacie as in other his Traditions Besides our Bishops in late dayes have cast the odium of all unacceptable Commands upon the King a point of Bishopcraft we confesse but never used by faithfull Statesmen to their Princes since the beginning of the
world till these our dayes Whereas we though the lowest of the Tribe of Levi dare protest unto this Honourable Assembly we could be contented to wipe off with our blood the least aspersion upon the honour of our most gracious Soveraigne whom we sincerely value above all Princes of the world But now most noble Senators mistake not we beseech you the candor and ingenuity of our intentions we doe account it an inexpiable fault to prescribe unto you that must prescribe Laws to us only we prostrate what we have propounded in all hvmility at your feet wherein we have both expressed our grievances and Petitions Notwithstanding all abovesaid we are not so faln out with Episcopall Government but if it seems good to his Majesty and this High and Honourable Court of Parliament to continue it we can as formerly sit down under the shadow of it if the Authority of it be sufficiently cleared by a well constituted Church Assembly whereunto we should willingly subject as a way of the Church anciently used in such difficulties only in case it be thought meet upon advise by your singular wisdomes to continue Episcopall Government in the Church be pleased that the sting therof be taken away we meane the High-Commission burthensome and superfluous Officers the unnecessary Ceremonies and subscriptions according to their Canons which they have only used as snares and nets to catch the Innocent and faithfull in the Land And the scandalous Ministers removed the spots and blemishes of the Ecclesiasticall State But in case such a Church Synod or Assembly doe finde a Presbyteriall or Pastorall and independent Jurisdiction to be more nearely agreeing unto the Word and more fit for the present Constitution of our Churches May it then please you to incourage that way which comes next to the mind and will of God and suits best with the present state of times So that finally the sum of all we sue for is that Justice may be eminently done unto all sides and truth with leave of his Majestie as Supreme may by the best Reason hew out its way in a Church Assembly or Synod unto peace and unity not that we any way suspect your Candor or Integritie with whom we have trusted both our selves and all ours But because the premised Considerations doe chiefly fall under Ecclesiasticall cognizance it would be most satisfactorie under correction of more sublime judgements to the minds of all men and no way derogatory to the honour of his Majestie or this High and Honourable Court of Parliament If such of the Ministery as have not violated their Consciences nor staind their garments but men of good temper Piety Learning and consulting heads should be authoriz'd to advise in the matters of the Church both Doctrine and Discipline Pardon we beseech you our rudenesse and brokennesse of our expressions Truth is never so amiable as when she goes in her playnest garb Honour us so farre as not to take us for the giddy Sons of Apollo who would set the whole world on fire We abhorre the intemperance of such spirits And doe humbly desire that all Pamphlets may be staid from the Presse which take upon them afore their time to propound modells and new formes of Government till a well Constituted Church Assembly have fully discussed the maine questions now in Controversie So shall you honour God Almighty bring out the Truth more fully which is now overclouded and obscured perform the Trust which his Majestie hath put in you happily unite more firmly these Churches of England Scotland and Ireland Make our State admired in the eyes of forraigne Churches pull down the proud and mighty from their Seats and exalt the humble and meek And by such happy satisfaction in all Ecclesiasticall wayes you shall ingage the Church to pray more fervently for the happinesse of our Illustrious King and this flourishing Common wealth Which God grant Amen FINIS