Creed that whichis commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and beleeved for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture Concerning this eighth Article vide 2 speeches pag. 13. ARTICLE 11. Of the Justification of MAN WE are accompted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ by faith and not for our own works or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Iustification Concerning this eleventh Article vide 5 speeches pag. 20. The two first clauses of the Covenant as they were offered to the Assembly licensed and entred into the Hall book according to Order September 4. 1643. and Printed at London for Philip Lane 1. THat we shall all and each one of us sincerely readily and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in onâ— severall places and callings the preservation of the true Reformed Protestant Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the reformation of Religion in the Church of England this Explication to be at the end of the Covenant as far as we doe or shall in our consciences conceive to be according to the Word of God according to the same holy Word the Example of the last Reformed Churches and as may bâ—ing the Church of God in both Nations to the neerest conjunction and Uniformity in Religion confession of Faith Forme of Churchâ— government directory for Worship and Catechizing that we and our Posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love 2. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the Extirpation of Popery Prelacie Superstition Heresie Schisme and Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse in both Nationâ— lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be endangered to receive of their plagues that the Lord may be one and his Name one in both Kingdoms To which first printed copie the Doctors speech delivered in the Assembly relateth pag. 48. The two clauses of the Covenant as they were altered and Printed by Order of the House of COMMONS 1. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government agaiâ—st our common Enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing that wee and our Posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us II. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Poperie Prelacie that is Church-Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on the Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms Errata Epist. to the reader l. 19. in r. to p. 12. l. 23. dazled r. so dazled p. 15. in marg. Vos de 36. r. Vos de tribus symbo p. 40. l. 1. 2. Cor. 1.30 r. 1. Cor. 1.30 p. 43. l. 13. speciei r. specie p. 52. l. 24. Acts. 3.1 r. 1.3 p. 61. adde in marg. Aug. de civit Dei l. 19. c. 19. l. ult. p. 66. l. 22. thought r. sought p. 69. l. 25. there r. then p. 87. l. 14. dele his owne Nation for Primate of Armagh r. Primate of Ireland SECTION I. The Character of Britanicus DIego writeth That Barcaeus meeting with the Devill sitting at his ease upon a Chaire bid him rise up and give place to his better The tale Britanicus is morallized in thee thou mayst very well chalenge the precedencie of Satan and thrust him out of his Chaire The seat of the scornfull wherein thou hast sate for these many moneths and out-railest all the Shimie's and Rabsekehs and out-Lyest all the Simmeasses and Pseudolusses that ever sate in that Chaire And although Tacitus whispers me in the eare Maledicta si irascaris agnita videntur spreta exolescunt Contumelious speeches if they put thee into a chafe seeme to argue guilt Yet because a wiser then he adviseth in some case to answer a foole according to his folliâ— lest he be wise in his owne conceit And because it is rather an argument of stupiditie then innocencie to be altogether unsensible when our integritie or the reputation of our friend is touched though it be but with the scratch of a goose quill I though fit potius vexatum castigaâ—um quam despectum dimittâ—re Vatinium rather to dismisse Vatinius well cudgelled then slighted I meane that scorne of all the learned and hate of all good men Britanicus or rather Brutanicus not from Brutus but Brutum For he is no better then one of Cerberus whelpes at which Hercules would not vouchsafe to give a Kick in his returne from Hell yet because since he hath lickt cleane the Expraetors trencher he never leaveth barking at all who adore not the cap of maintenance nor canonize the synagogue of orbicular independents I was desired to strike him baculo pastorali and teach him from henceforth sua potius lambere ulcera quam aliorum famam arrodere rather to use his tongue in licking his owne sores then his teeth in biting them upon whom heretofore he basely fawned The best is he to whose appologie I have consecrated my Pen is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} out of the danger of this haile shot above these nebulas nebulonum his reputation is safe both from the tongue of detraction and teeth of envie being treasured up in the hearts of all that sincerely love the truth Anthonie proscribed Cicero for the space onely that the Triumvirate in Rome lasted but Cicero proscribed Anthonie to all ages The more Camomile is trod upon the sweeter smell it gives and the black aspersions of malice serve but as a dark foyle to set off the lustre of eminent vertue For thee Britanicus seeing thou knowest not thy selfe I will send thee to S. Ierome for thy Character under the name of the Else Helvidius Loquacitatem facundiam existimat maledicere omnibus bonae conscientiae signum arbitratur he accounts
a lawful way not by popular tumults but by a Bill passed in Parliament and that to be tendered to his Majestie for his royall assent and how such a bill can be pressed upon his Majestie who hath taken an oath * at his Coronation to preserve Bishops in their legall rights I must learn from our great masters of the law For by the Gospel all inducements to sin are sin and solicitations to perjurie are tainted with that guilt neither is there any power upon earth to dispence with the breach of oaths lawfully taken 15. If we desire that this Church of England should flourish like the garden of Eden we must have an eye to the nurseries of good learning and religion the two Universâ—ties which will never be furnished with choice plants if there be no preferments and incouragements to the students there who for the farre greater part bend their studies to the Queen of all professions Divinitie which will make but a slow progresse if Bishopricks Deanries Archdeaconries and Prebendaries and all other Ecclesiasticall dignities which like silver spurs prick on the industrie of those who consecrate their labours and endeavours to the glorifying of God in imploying their talâ—nt in the ministerie of the Gospel be taken away What â—ayls are to a ship that are affections to the soul which if they be not filled with the hope of some rewards and deserved preferments as a prosperous gale of wind our sacred studies and endeavours will soon be calmed for * honos abit artos omnesquâ— incenduntur studio gloriae jacentquo ea semper quae apud quosquo improbantur honour nourisheth arts and all men are inflamed with the desire of glory and those professions fall and decay which are in no esteem with most men And if there are places both of great profit honour and power propounded to States-men and those that are learned in the law like rich prizes to those that prove masteries shall the professors of the divine law be had in lesse esteem then the students and practisers in the municipall And shall that profession onely be barred from â—ntring into the temple of honour which directeth all men to the temple of vertue and hath best right to honour by the promise of God honorantes nic honorabâ— those that honour me I will honour because they most honour God in every action of their function which immediately tendeth to his glory They will say that Episcopall government hath proved inconvenient and prejudiciall to the State and therefore the Hierarchie is to be cut down root and branch Of this argument we may say as Cicero doth of Cato his exceptions against * Murenae set aside the authoritie of the objectors the objection hath very little weight in it For it is liable to many and just exceptions and admitteth of divers replyes First it is said that Episcopall government is inconvenient and mischievous and prejudiciall to the State but it was never proved to be so Secondly admit some good proof could be brought of it yet if Episcopacie be of divine institution as hath been proved it must not be therefore rooted out but the luxurious stems of it pruned and those additions to the first institution from whence these inconveniences have grown ought to be retranched Thirdly if Episcopacie hath proved inconvenient and mischievous in this age which was most * beneficiall and profitable in all former ages the fault may be in the maladies of the patient not in the method of cure This age is to be reformed not Episcopacie abrogated that the libertie and loosenesse of these times will not brook the sacred bands of Episcopall discipline is rather a proof of the integritie thereof then a true argument of any maligrâ—tie in it to the state without which no effectuall * meanes or course can be taken either for the suppressing schismaticks or the continuation of a lawfull and undenyable succession in the Ministery 16. Lastly though some of late think they have brought gold and silver and precious stones to build the house of God by producing some stuff out of antiquitie to prove the ordination of presbyters by meer presbyters yet being put to the test it proves meer trash for there can be no instance brought out of Scripture of any ordination without imposition of Apostolicall or Episcopall hands neither hath prime antiquitie ever approved of meer presbyters laying hands one upon another but in orthodoxall Councels revoked cassated and disannulled all such ordinations as we may read in the Apologies of * Athanasius and elsewhere What shall I need to adde more save the testimonie of all Chistians of what denomination soever under the cope of heaven save only the mushrom sect of Brownists sprung up the other night all who have given their name to Christ and acknowledge and have some dependence on either the Patriarch of Constantinople in the East or of Rome in the West or of Muscovia in the North or of Alexandria in the South together with the Cophtiâ— Maroâ—ites Abissenes and Chineses not onely admit of Episcopall government and most willingly submit to it but never had or at this day have any other Neither is this or can it be denyed by our Aërians but they tell us that these are Christians at large who hold many errors and superstitions with the fundamentals of Christian doctrine their Churches are like oare not cleansed from earth like gold not purged from drosse like threshed wheat not fanned from the chaff like meale not sifted from the bran like wine not drawn off the lees we are say they upon a reformation and the new Covenant engageth us to endeavour the reformation of the Church of England in doctrine worship discipline and government according to the Word of God and according to the example of the best reformed Churches The best reformed which are they whether the remainders of the Waldenses and Albigenses in Piemont and the parts adjoyning or of the Taborites in Bohemia or of the Lutherans in Germanie or those that are called after the name of Calvin in France and elsewhere First for the Waldenses the fore-runners of Luther as he himself confesseth they had Bishops who ordained their Pastours a catalogue whereof we may see in the historie of the Waldenses first written in French and after translated into English by a learned Herald Secondly for the Lutheran Churches they have Prelates governing them under the titles of Arch-bishops and Bishops in Poland Denmark and Swethland but under the name of Superintendents and Intendents in Germanie and as for their judgement in the point it is expressely set down in the * apologie of the Augustaâ—e confession in these words we have often protested our earnest desires to conserve the discipline of degrees in the Church by Bishops Nay Luther himself who of all men most bitterly inveighed against the Antichristian Hierarchie yet puts water into his wine adding lâ—t no man
uniting of all christians in the faith first given to the Saints and the doctrine of the primitive Church yet he could never enâ—ure those who went about to sodder the Roman and reformed religion and to bring Christ and Anti-christ to an enterview neither would he ever be brought to varie in his practice a nailes breadth from the canons of the Church of England and rubrick of the Common Prayer 4. After the scene was turned and many who before had layen in obscuritie were brought upon the stage who like the statues of Brutus and Cassius eò praefulgebant quod non visebantur did shine the brighter the more they were hid The Doctor among others was chosen by 390 votes to be a member of the Assemblie and among many other of eminent parts and worth was designed by the whole house of commons to answer a popish Priest which he did accordingly and was in so fair a way that if his conscience had been a Lesbian rule and would have bowed that way where preferments are now offered he might not only have held both his benefices but expected such farther priviledges as the chief of the Assemblie now enjoy But when a covenant was tendered wherein he must of necessitie proclaim his ingratitude to the world by swearing to endeavour the ruine of those upon whom under God he built his chief hopes and intangle his conscience in evident perjurie by swearing to break all his canonicall oaths necessitie constrained him to break off from the Assemblie and for this cause he is now in bonds and stript of all his ecclesiasticall preferments and temporall revenues nudus nudum Christum sequitur and followes his naked Saviour himself also stark naked But to leave off this sad and melancholie discourse and come to the beneficiall positions and sattin cassock thou talked of and game at gleek thou shouldest have said noddie a game at which thou playest at as well Sundays as working-days For beneficiall positions I know none held by the prelaticall clergie as your schismaticall laicks tearm them save this which the Apostle hath delivered that godlinesse is great gain and hath the promises of this life and the life to come but I can tell you of fruitfull doctrines and beneficiall uses raysed by your Enthusiasts as namely that usurie after it hath been with a barber chyrurgion and hath its teeth pluckt out is very lawfull and that those of your sect alone have a right to the creature and that the wicked have no right or title to any thing they possesse and that therefore when you plunder any Malignant you steal not but take your own from them and agreeable to your positions is your practise you make no bones to devoure widows houses under colour of long prayers like vultures you hover over dead corpses and thereout suck no small advantage if any rich man be going the way of all flesh some of your fraternitie must be sent for with all speed to pray his soul ex tempore into heaven and after you have perswaded him to set his house in order for he must dye and not live and he is going to draw his last will and testament you will be sure to have a â—inger in it or rather a claw or naile to scrape and scratch something for your selves under the title of pious legacies SECT. XIII Of ministeriall habits recreations on the Lords day and how the Brownists and sectaries prophane the Christian Sabbath HAst thou yet any better stuff in thy shop Britanicus besides the large mourning weed beg'd artificially at the last funerall of a saint Yes a sattin cassock surely a decent garment for a grave divine especially on high dayes what wouldst thou have the reverend clergy to weare wouldst thou have them go in cuerpo like your new England and Holland theologues or in a rocket liued through with plush or taffata as some of the Assembly men flaunt it or in a short jacket much like the riding coat of Davids Embassadors which was cut off at oâ— sacrum the huckle bone Here Brit. thou playst the base cynick â—alcas fastum Platonis thou tramplest upon Plato's pride but remember what Plato repli'd calcas fastum sed alio fastu thou tramplest upon the pride of some of the clergy in their apparell but thou dost it in a worse kind of pride As for card-playing I need not gleâ—k it with thee for we are at play already thy earnest is nothing but jests and those very scurrilous and ridiculous and therefore either to be scorned or retorted upon thee in sober sadnesse The Doctor is no player at cards or dice nor approveth at all any recreations on the Lords day but such as like Aarons golden plate in his miter have holinesse stamped on them As for those of thy precise sect they indeed will not for a world play a game at cards or tables on the Lords day after evening prayer but they do far worse they take away morning and evening prayer both and jear out the sacred liturgy of the church if thou art come to thy self Brit. and hast thy wits about thee prethee tell me is it not better playing a game at tables on the christian sabbath wherin a wooden man is taken up without any losse or hurt or at chesse in which there is an image of men set in battail array there to cast the bloody die of war on that day to kill to pillage to plunder of the two I had rather see latrunculos on that day then latrones chesse-men then pressed-men notwithstanding to chuse you rifle houses and sequester malignants on that day your city magistrates and Officers will not suffer a poor waterman to rowe on the Thames yet they permit the souldiers in all the courts of guard and forts and ships to drink and swell all the day a physitian may not passe over the river to save the life of the body not a divine to save the life of the soul yet they account it a sanctifying of the sabbath to beat up drums and presse souldiers to kill men on that day O precise hypocrisie or rather hypocriticall precisenesse A devout father sharply reprooving the evill conversation of some christians in his time told them to their faces gentes agitis sub nomine Christi you act the parts of Gentiles in the habit of Christians but I may truly say of you Iudaeos agitis sub nomine Christi you act the parts of Iewes in the habit of Christians Iewes I say in the rigid observation of the Sabbath of Iewes in venting your spleen and malice against Christ by excluding his prayer out of your liturgie by defacing his name Iesus wheresoever you see it written in golden characters or wrought in cloth of gold or tissue or stampt in holy vessels calling it the Iesuits trim or gaâ—b by inveighing against keeping the feast of the nativity resurrection and ascension and terrifying those that in a religious compassion fast
dayes after his resurrection speaking of those things which appertain to the kingdom of God Acts 3.1 delivered that to the Church which they received from their Master What government or discipline was that There can be conceived but three formes of government Episcopall most conformable to Monarchie Presbyteriall to Aâ—istocâ—acie and Independent as they tearm it to Democracie Presbyteriall or Independent it could not be for Presbyteriall is no elder then the reformation in Geneva and the Independent no elder then New-England whereas Episcopall government hath been time out of mind noâ— in one buâ— in all Churches and sith it was not first constituted by any sanction of a generall Councell it followes necessarily according to S. Augustins observation that it must needs be an Apostolicall institution for what not one Church but all Churches not in one age but all ages hath uniformly observed and practised and no man can define who after the Apostles were the beginners of it must needs be supposed to be done by order or tradition from them 7. This forme of government was not only generally received and embraced by Catholikes but even by heretikes and 〈◊〉 who though they severed from the communion of the Church in doctrine yet not in discipline for the Novatians and Donatists had Bishops of their own from whom they took their names only AErius who stood for a Bishoprick and missed it out of discontent broached that new doctrine wherewith the heads of our schismatiks are so much intoxicated viz. that there ought to be no distinction in the Church between a Bishop and a Presbyter and for this confounding those sacred orders was himselfe ranked among heretiks and stands upon record in the Bedâ—olls of them made by Epiphanius Augustin and Philastrius It is true he had other brands on him but this was the proper mark put upon him by those ancient fatheâ—s who mention this tenet of his as erroneous and hereticall I grant some of the ancient Doctors affirm that in the beginning till the prevention of schism made this distinction between Bishops and Presbyters they were all one in name as now they are in those essentiall parts of their function viz. preaching of the Word and administration of the Sacraments But AErius was the first who professedly oppugned the ecclesiasticall hierarchie maintaining that there ought to be no difference and distinction between Bishops and Elders 8. This assertion of AErius as in the doctrine thereof it was defâ—ned by the Doctors of the Church to be heresie so in the practise thereof it is condemned by the great councell of Chalcedon to be sacriledge to confound say they the ranks of Bishops and Elders and to bring down a Bishop to the inferior degree of an Elder is no lâ—sse then sacriledge Now I would fain know how that comes to be truth now which was condemned for heresie and to be pietie now which was branded for sacriledge above 1200 years agoe 9. Neither were the Fathers of the councell of Chalcedon only zealous in this cause which so much concerned the honour of the Church but the other three also whose authoritie S. Gregorie held to be the next to the four Evangelists and the doctrine thereof is after a sort incorporated into our Acts of Parliament Eliz. 1. In these councells which all consisted of Bishops Episcopacie it self is almost in everie canon and sanction either asserted or regulated 10. Next to the primitive Church we owe a reverend respect to the reformed Churches beyond the seas who either have bishops as in Poland Transilvania Denmark and Swethland or the same function is in nature though not in name to wit intendents and super-intendents or they would have them if they could as I understood from manie Ministers in France or at least approve of them as appeareth by the testimonie of Beza Sadiel Scultetus and others 11. What should I speak of the Articles of religion ratified by a sequence of religious Princes succeeding one the other and confirmed by act of Parliament to which all beneficed men are required under pain of losse of their livings within a moneth to professe their assent and consent in which both the power and consecration of bishops and ministers is expressely asserted and their distinction from presbyters or of the Statute of Carlile the 15 of Edw. 2. and the first of Qu. Eliz. with very many other unrepealed Acts in which episcopall government is either related unto or regulated or confirmed in such sort that quite to abolish and extirpate it would bring a confusion and make a stop as well in secular as ecclesiasticall courts And therefore our zealous reformers if they think themselves not too good to be advised by the great councellor ought to take heed how they rashly and unadvisedly pluck up the tares as they esteem them of holy canons and ecclesiasticall laws ne simul â—radicent triticum lest together with those tares as they count them they pluck up by the roots the good wheat of many profitable and wholesome laws of the common wealth and Acts of Parliament 12. But if the authoritie of both houses could soon cure theâ—e sores in precedent Acts of Parliament yet how will they make up the breaches in the consciences of all those who in the late Protestation and this new Covenant have taken a solemn oath to maintain the priviledges of the members of Parliament and the liberties of the subject The most authenticall evidence whereof are Charta magna and the Petition of right in both which the rights of the Church and priviledges of episcopall sees are set down in the fore-front in capitall letters 13. To strain this string a little higher the power of granting congedeliers together with the investiture of Arch-bishops Bishops and collation of Deanries and Prebends with a setled revenue from the first fruits and tenths thereof is one of the fairest flowers in the Kings crown and to rob the imperiall diadem of it considering the King is a Person most sacred is sacriledge in a high degree and not sacriledge only but perjurie also in all those who attempt it For all Graduates in the Universitie and men of rank and qualitie in the Common-wealth who are admitted to any place of emminent authoritie or trust take the oath of Supremacie whereby they are bound to defend and propugne all preemminences authorities and prerogatives annexed to the imperiall crown whereof this is known to be one inherent in the King as he is supream head of the Church within his realms and defender of the faith 14. Yet for all this admit that reason of state should inforce the extirpation of episcopacie thus rooted as it hath been said both in the royall prerogative and priviledge of the subject and in the laws of of the land it is a golden maxime of law possumus quod jure possumut we can doe no more then lawfully we may If episcopall government must be overthrown it must be done in
Super-indendents in Germanie Presidents in the reformed Synods in France and Masters Provosts and Heads of Colledges and Halls in our Universities who have a kind of prelacie and authoritie over the fellows and students whereof the major part are Divines and in holy orders Here I conceive it will be said that none of these are aimed at but only Diocesan Bishops alreadie banished out of Scotland and prelates indeed they are in a more eminent degree and if prelacie be restrained to them it is Episcopacie that is principally shot at to the extirpation whereof I dare not yeeld my vote or suffrage lest this new Oath intangle me in perjurie For both my self and all who have received orders in this Kingdom by the imposition of Episcopall hands have freely engaged our selves by oath to obey our Ordinarie and to submit to his godly judgement and in all things lawfull and honest to receive his commands if then we now swear to endeavour the abolishing of Epscopacy we swear to renounce our canonicall obedience that is as I apprehend we swear to forswear our selves It is true that the Dr was furnished with many other reasons for episcopacy besides these and of some he gave a hint in the assembly it self upon other occasions as namely SECT. VIII Sixteen reasons for episcopall government THat the name of episcopacy even as it signifieth a degree of eminency in the Church is a sacred and venerable title first in holy scripture ascribed to our blessed Redeemer who as he is dominus dominantium lord of lords so also episcopus episcoporum bishop of bishops the shepheard and bishop of all our souls next to the Apostles whose office in the Church is stiled by the holy Ghost Episcope a bishoprick let another take his bishoprick though it be translated let another take his office yet the originall signifies not an office at large but an episcopall function that office which Iudaâ— lost and Matthias was elected into which was the office and dignitie of an Apostle * lastly to those whom the Apostles set over the Churches as namely to Timothy and Titus who in the subscription of the Apostles letters divinely inspired are stiled Bishops in the restrained sense of the word 2 Tim. 4. written from Rome to Timothâ—us the first bishop elected of the church of Ephesus and to Titus the first elect Bishop of the church of the Cretians how ancient these subscriptions are it is not certain among the learned if they bear not the same date with the Epistles themselves the contrary wherof neither is nor can be demonstrated yet they are undoubtedly very ancient and of great authority and in them the word bishop cannot be taken at large for any minister or presbyter but for a singular person in place and dignitie above other pastors for there were many other presbyters in Ephesus both before and besides Timothy Acts 20.27.18 and in the Island of Creet or Candie there must of necessity be more then one pastor or minister Besides S. Paul investeth Timothy in episcopall power making him a judge of presbyters both to rebuke them 1 Tim. 5.1 and to prefer and reward them ver. 17. and to censure them ver. 19. Against an elder receive no accusation but under two or three witnesses and he giveth to Titus expressely both potestatem ordinis jurisdictionis of order and jurisdiction of order in those words c. 1.5 That thou shouldst ordain elders in every citie and of jurisdiction I left thee in Creet that thou shouldst continue {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to correct or redresse the things that remained or those things which the Apostle before intended to amend but had not redressed 2. The Angels of the seven churches Apoc. 10.20 were no other in the judgement of the best learned * commentators both ancient and later then the bishops of those sees for in those provinces or territories there cannot be conceived to be lesse then many hundred ordinary preachers and pastors yet there were but seven precisely answering to the seven golden candlesticks seven candlesticks seven lights burning in them these can be no other then seven prime pastors who had the oversight of the rest for the errors and abuses in all those churches are imputed to them and they reproved for not redressing them c. 2.14 Thou hast them that maintain the doctrine of Baalam and v. 20. Thou sufferest the * woman Iezebel to teach c. 3. It is confessed by Molinaeus and other learned patrons of presbyteriall government themselves that episcopacy is a plant either set in the church by the Apostles themselves or their immediate successors in the first and best ages of the Church and is it agreeable to piety to swear the extirpation of such a plant 4. It cannot be denyed that when the Church most flourished and was of far larger extent then now it is over the face of the christian world there was no * other government then episcopacy regulated by divine precepts and ecclesiasticall canons and shall we swear to extirpate that government under the which the church most thrived and flourished Shall we swear against our prayers viz. for the rooting out of that upon which we are enjoyned to pray God to pour down the dew of his blessing surely the dew of heaven burns not the root of any plant upon earth but waters it and makes it grow 5. They were bishops who had the chiefest hand first in the plantation of christian religion in the dayes of Lucius king of Britain and after in the â—estitution in the days of Etheldred King of Kent and in the reformation of it in the reign of Edward the 〈◊〉 and Queen Elizabeth and is it a religiouâ— act to eâ—adicate thaâ— government and power which both planted and prâ—ned religion it 〈◊〉 6. Christ died not intestate he made his last Will and Testament and by it bequeathed many legacies â—o his Church and among them not onely catholike doctrine but diâ—cipline also thiâ— discipline if it be not Episcopall government moderated by Evangelicall and Apostolicall rules the whole Church is guiltie of the losse of a sacred and precious jewell for certain it is out of records of all ages of the Church that no other waâ— ever retained or can be found save thiâ— before the religious reformer and magistrates of Geneva having banished their Popish Bishops were after a sort necessitated to draw a new plat-forme of Ecclesiasticall discipline by Lay-Elders Christ as the Apostle teacheth us was faithfull in the house of God as Moses and if Moses after his fortie dayes speech with God on the mount received a pattern from God and delivered it to the Iewes not only of doctrine but of discipline also which continued till Christs comming in the flesh it cannot be conceived but that Christ lest a pattern of government to his Church to continue till the end of the world and doubtlesse his Apostles with whom he conversed forty
hereby conceive that I speak any thing against the state of Bishops but onely against Româ—sh wolves and tyrantâ— Neither are the Lutherans of another mind at this day witnesse their every-way accomplished * Gerard none of us saith he affirmeth that there is no difference between a Bishop or Presbyter or Priest but we acknowledge a difference of degrees for good order sâ—ke and to preserve concord in the Church Here me thinks I see the Smecâ—yâ—nians bend their brows and answer with some indignation what have we to doe with Lutheraâ—s who have Images in their Churches and auricular confession and maintain consubsâ—antiation and ubiquitie and intercision of grace and many other errors We are of Calvin and hold with the doctrine and discipline of Geneva which hath no allay at all of error and superstition but is like the pure angell-gold Here though I might as many have done crave leave to put in a legall exception against the authoritie of Calvin and Beza in matter of discipline because they had a hand in thrusting out the Bishop of Geneva and the Lay Presbyterian government was the issue of their brain and we know it is naturall for parents to dote upon their own children and accompt them farre fairer and more beautifull then indeed they are yet such was the ingenuitie of those worthie reformers and such is the evidence and strength of truth that in this point concerning the abolition of Episcopacie in the Church of England I dare chuse them as Umpires First let * Calvin speak in his exquisite Treatise concerning the necessitie of reforming the Church the most proper place if anywhere clearly to deliver his judgement in this controversie where having ript up the abuses of the Romish Hierarchie in the end thus he resolves let them shew us such an Hierarchie in which the Bishops may have such prehemineâ—cie that yet they refuse nâ—t themselves to be subject to Christ that they depend upon him as the onely Head and refâ—rre all to him and so embrace brotherly societie that they are knit together by no other means then his truth and I will confesse they deserve any cuâ—se if there be any who will not observe such an Hierarchie with reverence and greatest obedience After him let us hear * Beza in that very booke which he wrote against Saravia a Prebend of Canterbury concerning different degrees in the Clergie but saith he if the reformed Churches of England remain still supported with the authoritie of their Arch-bishops and Bishops as it hath come to passe in our memorie that they have had men of that rank not only famous Martyrs but most excellent Doctors and Pastours which happinesse I for my part wish that they may continually enjoy c. Surely he that so highly extolled our Bishops and wished that that order might like the tree in the Poet continually bring forth such golden boughs and fruit would not readily swear to endeavour the utter extirpation thereof With these and other shafts the Doctors quiver was full though he drew out but one only considering the time and the auditorie which he took from the oath at the ordination of the Divines in that Assembly which as he conceived tied up their hands fast enough from subscribing to the second Clause in the Covenant for all persons so ordained who swear for the extirpation of Episcopacie forswear their Canonicall obedience and question the validitie of their Orders given them upon condition of performing such obedience and submission as that oath enjoyneth SECT. IX Britanicus his scurrilous jests at spirituall Courts retorted and extemporarie prayers and sermons deservedly censured HE sayes the Doctor excepted against the Scotch covenant as not agreeable to Gods Word this is not all For the Doctor would not like it a jot worse for that but there are not so many reverend conveniences you cannot have libertie of conscience and pluralities at once you cannot keep an orthodoxall coach and four horses you cannot mind your businesse of State and ease for the ceremonie of constant preaching you shall want the good companie of Chancellours and Commissaries and the gainfull equitie of the canon law and the goodly tyrannie of the high Commission Courts and the comfortable use of the keyes over a pottle of Sack in the Chancellours chamber If thou hadst any vermilion tincture of modestie Britanicus thou wouldst blush to charge the Doctor with negligence in preaching or coaching it with four horses or gleeking it on the Lords day for it is well known to all that know him that he never kept coach with four horses nor playd at gleek in his life much lesse on the Lords day And for his constant diligence in preaching for 35 years and more if I should hold my peace the prime and chief pulpits in the Universitie and London would say enough to stop thy mouth and open all ingenuous mens to yield a testimonie to a known truth But thou art possessed with Martin Marprelates devill which Urbanus will shortly conjure out of thee The power of the keyes is a great eye-sore to thee for those of thy sect like not to stand in white sheets though if the world belye you not none better deserve it for Papists and Brownists like Sampsons foxes though they are severed in the heads they are joyned in the tails And doubtlesse when thou wert summoned by an Apparitor for committing follie with an elect Sister waitedst in the Chancellors chamber it was then that thou heldst thy nose so long over a pottle of Sack till thy brains crowed For what Chimera's Tragelaphusses and Hippocentaurs dost thou talk of reverend conveniences orthodoxall coaches and businesse of State and ease the ceremonie of constant preaching and goodly tyrannie of the high commission Court as if that court now stood What thy intoxicated brain conceiveth or thy loose tongue would have understood by reverend conveniences and orthodoxall coaches I understand not unlesse thou alludest to that noble mans conveniencie who had a reverend coachman for his preacher whose doctrine very agreeable to his profession was that a stable was every way as holy aâ— a Church and for my part I wish those of his strain may have no other Church or thou hadst a sâ—ing at the Doctors successour in Acton who rideth every Lords day in triumph in a coach drawn with four horses to exercise there What thou talkest of businesse of state and ease thou understandest not thy self if there be businesse in state surely there is little â—ase busâ—nesse of state and ease are a kind of asystata non bene conveniunt nec in una sâ—de morantur if there were ever such a calmâ— in the state that the steerâ—men might take their ease yet certainly never since your Boreas blew in the Church If that character might truly be given of any it may of your sect turba gravis paci placidaequâ— immica quieti you are the naturall sons of Ismael your hands are
upon record Lastly why was no cause expressed in the Warrant for committing him to Prison If the latter i. e. if the letter be so far from containing in it any matter subject to exception that it rather deserved approbation as expressing much loyaltie to his Majestie zeal of the true orthodox religion and a reverend regard and respect to the Assemblie of Divines with a desire to continue still among them with his Majesties leave 1. Why then is this letter made the only ground of all the proceedings against the Doctor 2. Why for writing this letter unsealed not to a stranger but to a member of the Assemblie was he voted out of both his Benefices all his estate both personall and reall sequestred his â—ooks in which lay his chiefest treasure taken from him his familie turned out of house and home his servants and friends examined upon oath concerning any plate money rents or arrerages bills or bonds belonging to him and all that could be found seized upon 3. Why is he suspended from the exercise of his Ecclesiasticall function 4. Why hath he been so long detained in prison and there put to a great charge without any allowance at all out of his sequestred estate worth above 400 pound per annum 5. Why is such a severe hand kept over him that in the space of eight moneths and more he can by no means obtain a most humble and conscionable petition to be rendered in his behalf to the house Thou whosoever readest these things and hast with Philip of Macedon reserved one eare for the defendant consider of all things impartially si quam opinionem animo conceperis si eam ratio convâ—llit si ratio labefactabit si veritaâ— extorquebit ne repugnes â—amque animo aut libenti aut aequo remittas Est eniâ—â— haec norma forma judiciorum aequorum ut culpa sine invidiâ plectatur invidia sine culpâ ponatur whatsoever prejudicate opinion thou mayst have taken of the Doctor if reason convince it if reason overthrow it if truth it self pluck it from thee give over thy hold for this is the rule and pattern of all righteous judgements that guilt be censured without envie or spleen and envie and spleen without guilt be abandoned Post-script to the Reader COurteous Reader I know thou expectest that here the Doctors whole letter should be added But for the avoyding of taâ—toligies because all the substantiall contents so far as in the Diurnallâ— and Mecurie they have been heretofore objected to the Doctor they are in in the Gentle Lash and in this Treatise related in severall sections and fully answered I shall intreat thee to be contented with the remainder thereof faithfully transcribed out of the originall sent to the Primate of Ireland Doctor Featley having written a letter to the Lord Arch-bishop of Armagh Mercurius Aulicus 41. week 1643. to give his Grace an account of his demeanour in the businesse of the Scottish Covenant was committed Prisoner to the Lord Peters house both his Livings given away to others and his Books bestowed upon that old instrument of sedition White of Dorchester But it was the Doctors reasons against their Covenant which raised all this stirre which the originall Letter being now in my hands I shall here impart and the pretended Houses who got a copie of it can testifie it to be true First the Doctor excepted against those words Wee will endeavour the true Reformed Protestants Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Discipline Worship and Government according to the Word of God These words said the Doctor imply that the Worship Discipline and Government of the Church of Scotland is according to the Word of God which said he is more then I dare subscribe much lesse confirme by an Oath For first I am not perswaded that any platforme of Government in each particular circumstance is jure divino 2. Admit some were yet I doubt whether the Scots Presbytery be that 3. Although somewhat may seeme to be urged out of Scripture for the Scots Government with some shew of probabilitie yet far from such evidence as may convince a mans conscience to sweare it is agreeable to Gods Word Next the Doctor excepted against that passage I shal endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy in the Church of England c. I saith he dare not 〈◊〉 that First in regard that I beleeve Episcopacie is an Apostolicall Institution 2. That the Church never so flourished as within 500 years after Christ when it was governed by Bishops 3. That our English Episcopacy is justified by the prime Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas 4. that our English Bishops now ever since the Reformation have disclaimed all Papall dependency 5. That the foure Generall Councels confirmed in England by Act of Parliament 1 Eliza. assert Episcopacy And 6. which all men had need consider the Ministers of the Church of England ordained according to a forme confirmed by Act of Parliament at their Ordination take an Oath that they will reverently obey their Ordinary and other chiefe Minister of the Church and them to whom the Government and charge is committed over them This Oath I and all Clergy-men have taken and if we shall sweare the extirpation of Prelacy we shall sweare to for sweare our selves Lastly he excepted against that passage I will defend the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament and defend His Majesties Person and Authority in defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome Here said he the Members are put before the Head the Parliaments Priviledges before the Kings Prerogative and the restraint of defending the King only in such such cases 〈◊〉 to imply something which I fear may be drawne to â—ll consequence FINIS Esay 51.19 Acts 28.4 11.36 Herman leomel Spong ex lit. urb 8. catenae martyâ—um sunt monilia religionis Humphredus in vita Iuelli nebula est transibâ—t Pâ—â—s sat 1. Eras. adag. Andabatarum ritu Liv. dec Foedior in orbe trucidatio cum turba foeminarum puerorum que in succensum ignem se Conjicerent rivique sanguinis flammam orientem restinguerent Diego Tornis edit. Venet. 1604. Barcaeus vester Diabolo venit obviam petiitque ut cathedram ejus occuparet quia erit dignior Psal. 1. Prov. 26.5 Alderm. P. Vell. Paters l. 2. Divin Instit. l. ult. Scalig. contra Lyid In locis nitidissimis olidum ponit * The one was hanged on a Gallowes fifty cubits high the other in a Cage on the highest Tower in Munster Civicus Scoticus Câ—elicus Merc. Brit. pag. 47. Annal. Tacit. lib. 12. Agrippina Statilium Taurum hortis ejus inhians pervertit Iustin. lib. 1. Persae festum celebrant ob necem Magorum dictum {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Armiger Warner 1643. (a) M Wâ—ite of Dorchest (b) M. Nye (c) M. Ben (d) M Cooke (e) Andrew Keâ—win Brit. p. 45. Ans. The name of a Mood in the