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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85184	The league illegal. Wherein the late Solemn League and Covenant is seriously examined, scholastically and solidly confuted: for the right informing of weak and tender consciences, and the undeceiving of the erroneous. Written long since in prison, by Daniel Featley D.D. and never until now made known to the world. Published by John Faireclough, vulgò Featley, chaplain to the Kings most Excellent Majesty.	Featley, Daniel, 1582-1645.; Featley, John, 1605?-1666.; England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I)	1660 (1660)	Wing F591; Thomason E1040_8; ESTC R199	47,903	77

sorts in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland by the Providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of the Kings Majesty and His Posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every one private condition is included and calling to mind the treacherous and bloudy Plots Conspiracies Attempts and practises of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Charch and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies We have now at last after other means of supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruin and destruction according to the commendable practise of these Kingdoms in former times and the Example of Gods People in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and solemn League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most High God do swear I. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against 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 endevour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing That we 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 Popery Prelacy that is Church-Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Profaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godliness 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 III. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdoms and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just power and greatness IV. We shall also with all faithfulness endevour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments by hindring the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdoms from another or making any faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publick triall and receive condign punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supream Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happiness of a blessed Peace betweene these Kingdoms denied in former times to our progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavor that they may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and Union to all posterity And that Justice may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof in mannr expressed in the precedent Articles VI We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdoms assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terror to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Union and Conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdoms and the honor of the King but shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all lets and impediments whatsoever and what we are not able our selves to suppress or overcome we shall reveal and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Son Jesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe and declare before God and the world our unfained desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example of a reall Reformation that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the

yoke of Antichristian tyranny to joyn in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the peace and tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Common-wealths 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 our several 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 do 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 bring the Church of God in both Nations to the neerest conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-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 Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schisme and Profaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godliness in both Nations 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 copy 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 several places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against 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 Kingdoms to the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing that we 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 2. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on the Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Profaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godliness 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 THE League Illegall Quest WHether is this Covenant so grounded upon holy Scriptures and so conformable to the Laws of the Land yet in force and so consonant to former Oathes and Protestations that a religious Christian and Loyall Subject may without scruple of Conscience and danger of ensnaring his soul enter into it I answer Negatively Answ And although I had more then once made a Covenant with my self Rebus sic stantibus or rather jacentibus never to question this Covenant which the authority of both Houses and Piety and Learning of the Assembly of Divines hath commended as the Soveraign Remedy of all the Maladies of the times yet because my conscience tels me that it hath not approbation from the Three that bear record in heaven I dare not conceal those Reasons which at the first made me doubt of the lawfulness of it and in the end put it out of doubt The reasons propounding the naked truth without any clothing of art or ornament of Rhetorick are these Audi non phalerata sed fortia Not to take advantage of preposterous order in setting down the parts of this Covenant wherein he that runneth may read a double Solecism For in it the Church of Scotland precedeth the Church of England and the Liberties of the Subject are set before the Royal Prerogative and Imperial Dignity of the Prince Surely such a sacred and venerable Evidence of fidelity is a publick Covenant made by two Nations and signed by the Name of the great Jehovah that in it both matter and method phrase and order ought to be maturely advised on and not only every period and line but every word and syllable therein to be exactly scan'd before the conscience of millions of men be charged with it If we cannot brook or keep our hands from tearing a List Catalogue or Register wherein they who are many degrees below us are yet ranked above us and named before us can his Majesty take it well at our hands that we should accept of a Covenant hand over head wherein the members are set above the head and his Soveraign Majesty sleighted and that not only by misplacing his person but limiting and restraining the preservation of his Person and Authority to the defence of the true Religion and maintenance of the Liberties of the Kingdoms What is this but to indent with our Soveraign and capitulate with our head as Ochan sometimes did with the Emperor Frederick Defende me gladio ego defendam te argumentis Defend me with thy Sword and I will defend thee with my Pen If his Majesty will defend our Faith we will bear faith to him if he will keep safe our Pendants we will safeguard his Crown Which limitation I except at not that I doubt but that there is and ought to be a mutual tie between King and Subject and that if he either desert the true Faith or infringe the Laws and just liberties of his Subjects for which he pawned his Faith at his Coronation God will call him to an account for it but this doth not discharge us of our Allegiance to him Though he keep not touch with us yet we may not break with him for he is as Tertullian gives him his true dimensions according to the golden reed of the Sanctuary Solo Deo minor caeteris omnibus major and consequently questionable for his breach of faith before none but God Alas what a fickle estate and lamentable condition were princes in if upon pretence that they defend not that Religion which the people believe to be true or maintain not those Liberties which they challenge as their birthright their royall Crownes may be exposed to rapine and their sacred persons to violence Not to dive into the depths of

keep his Oath sincerely and intirely But in this Covenant and Oath there are many Ambiguities For what is meant in the first clause by common enemies Either the world the flesh and the Divel which indeed are as it were sworn enemies to all true Religion or Papists or Independents who are both enemies to the Discipline and Government of the Scotch Church In the second clause what is meant by Church government by Archbishops Bishops c either all government by Bishops or the present Government only with the late Innovations and abuses thereof If all government by Bishops then in taking this Oath we condemn not only the perpetual Government of the Church from the Apostles time till the reformation of Religion in the dayes of Hen. 8. but also the reformed Churches in England Ireland Denmark Swethland Poland Saxonie and other parts of Germany where either they have Archbishops and Bishops or tantmount Intendents and Superintendents If the present government only with innovations and abuses let them explain what are the innovations and abuses we swear against else we cannot swear in judgement What is meant by Hierarchy the word signifieth holy Government being derived from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} holy and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} rule or government And is it fit crudely without any glosse to forswear all holy Government In the third clause what is meant by defending the Kings person in the defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms Is it a limitation or not If it be no limitation what doth it there There ought to be no idle and if I may so speak hang-by words in an Oath for the Wiseman teacheth us when we speak to God our words must be few If it be a limitation how doth this Covenant agree with the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance by which we are absolutely bound to defend the Kings person royal Dignities and Prerogatives of the Crown without any if or of restriction or qualification In the fourth clause what is meant by Malignants or evill instruments a word never used till of late in any Statute Law or Ordinance and never so much abused as at this day In the sixth clause how far extend these words I will assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and persuance thereof Doth it reach to giving battle to the King Sequestring Estates plundering houses and trampling all Laws under foot and to the justifying all the outrages committed in the maintaining and pursuing this League If not why is it not circumscribed with that limitation in the first Protestation By all good and lawful means or so far as lawfully I may There being so many Amphibologies Ambiguities and riddles in this Oath we must have some Oedipus of the Synod to read and clearly expound them before we can safely engage our conscience by Oath to perform them No Covenant may be made or Oath taken which implyeth in it contradictions for in such an Oath or Covenant we play fast and loose say and unsay and overthrow the nature of an Oath and take Gods name in vain The Schools and ancient Doctors constantly maintain that it exceedeth even Divine Omnipotency to reconcile Contradictions which are amongst those many things St. Augustine speaketh of which God therefore cannot do because he is Omnipotent But there are apparent contradictions in this Covenant and Gordian knots which cannot be untied For First It is said in the Preface that the Noblemen Barons c. enter into this Covenant according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and yet Mr. Nye in his Speech published by special order of the House upon the very day the Covenant was read and sworn unto and subscribed by the Honorable House of Commons and Reverend Assembly of Divines Sept. 25. saith p. 12. That such an Oath for matter persons and other circumstances hath not been in any age or oath we read of in sacred or humane stories And Mr. Coleman in his Sermon commanded to be printed by the Commons of the House of Parliament Sept. ult. 1643. p. 18. Ask your Fathers consult with the aged of our times whether ever such a thing were done in their dayes or in the dayes of their Fathers before them And in his Epistle Dedicatory An Oath if vain makes the Land to mourn an Oath if weighty makes it rejoyce This is a new thing and not done in our Land before and I hope will have a new effect not seen by our people before We are to swear in the first branch That we will really and constantly endeavour the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and yet in the same branch we swear to endeavour to bring the Churches of God in these three Kingdoms of which Scotland is one to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in form of Church Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches But this cannot be done if Scotland be preserved in her present Directory for Worship Discipline and Government for the Government in the Church of England Ireland Denmark Swethland Poland Saxony and in all the Churches of the East not subject to the Pope is Episcopal and that is proved to be most conformable to the Word of God by the writings of Bilson Downham Armagh never yet answered by any We swear in the same branch That we will endeavour to reform the Doctrine of the Church of England according to Gods Word and yet preserve the reformed Religion in Scotland in Doctrine whereas the Doctrine of the Church of England and Scotland is all one as appears by the Confession of the one and Articles of the other All the difference between the Church of England and Scotland is concerning Discipline and Liturgie not Doctrine as it is distinguished from them We swear in the second branch That we will endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy and Schisms whereas Prelacy hath been ever and is the special if not only means to extirpate Schisme If Prelacy be taken away saith St. Jerome ad Luc. and the preeminencie of one Presbyter above another tot Schismata erunt quot Sacerdotes That is to extirpate Church-government by Archbishops Bishops c. and yet in the third branch we swear to preserve the rights and priviledges of the Parliament and liberties of the Kingdoms among which liberties of the Kingdom of England and priviledges of the Parliament are the contents of Magna Charta and Petition of Right in which the Government of Archbishops and Bishops and the rights and priviledges of the Church are comprised In the third branch we swear to preserve and defend his Majesties Person and Authority without any diminution of his just power and greatness and yet in the sixth Article we swear to assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in

charitutes patria complectitur But this Covenant is many wayes derogatory to the honour of England For the Church of Scotland is not only set before the Church of England in it but is also propounded as a pattern of a Church intirely reformed not only in Doctrine but in Discipline also and Worship and therefore to be preserved in all three But the Church of England as an imperfect draught of a Church defective in all and consequently to be reformed in all according to Gods Word and the pattern of other reformed Churches whereas in truth the Church of England as it was reformed before the Church of Scotland so it was more exactly and perfectly Reformed priùs tempore dic honore And no marvel sith the Church of England was reformed by the authority of the Prince and the wisdom of the State but the Church of Scotland by the zeal of private men The Church of England was reformed not only in D●ctrine but also in Discipline and Liturgy conformably to the ancient and best Churches whereas the Church of Stotland though it imbraced Apostolical doctrine yet it had not the exercise of Apostolical discipline since the Reformation till King James of blessed memory restored Episcopal Government there where they before writing after the copie set by Calvin they had set up the Presbytery or government by Lay Elders unknown to any Elder age of the Church But howsoever the glory of the English Church of late hath been eclipsed in the eyes of many yet by the testimonies of the best Reformed Churches beyond the Seas in the Reign of Qu Elizabeth and King James it may appear that she shined among all the Golden Candlesticks set in the Western and Northern parts of Christendom velut inter●ignes Luna minores She supported all other Reformed Churches and the Church of Scotland by name as their own Chronicles relate And howsoever some thing hath been questioned in the Discipline and Liturgie of the Church of England by the Scholars of Aerius the Heretick opposing all Ecclesiastical Hierarchy and Liturgie yet the doctrine of the Church of England hath been alwayes kept sarta tecta and held sound and Orthodox by all that carryed the name of Protestants and the Articles of Religion together with the Apology of Bishop Jewell wherein the whole Doctrine of the Church of England is comprised are inserted into the harmony of Protestant Confessions and approved by the suffrage of all Orthodox Churches To swear therefore to endeavour the reforming of the Church of England in Doctrine according to the Word of God is either to swear actum agere to do that which is done already and so to swear vainly or to swear to pervert it it being straight already which is to swear impiously No solemn Covenant especially confirmed by millions of Oaths between two Kingdomes ought to be made without necessary and urgent occasion for otherwise in such a solemn and publick manner to call God as it were from heaven to attest with us would be a taking of his Name in vain Such Covenanting is like the casting the holy anchor among the Athenians and the creating a Dictator among the Romans never to be acted or attempted but in some great exigent of state to preserve it from imminent ruine and destruction But there is no such necessity at this time of engaging both Kingdoms and locking them fast in such a League for the Popish party is at a lower ebb now in England then it hath been heretofore and his Majesty hath bound himself by many Oaths even signed with the blood of his Redeemer at the holy Communion to maintain the Protestant Religion and not only to enliven the Acts formerly made against Seminary Priests Jesuits and Popish Recusants but also to give his royall Assent to any such further Acts as the wisdom of the Parliament and State should offer unto him for the advancement of the Protestant and suppressing of the Romish Religion And as for the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of the Subject there needs no entring into this New League for their ratification and confirmation For they are sufficiently established by former Acts of Parliament unrepealed and by the late Protestation generally made by all the Subjects of this Kingdom May 5. 1641. The Reasons alleadged in the preface of the Covenant have scarce any colour of truth and not so much as a shadow of necessity Reas. 1 The first is That other means of Supplications Remonstrances Protestations c. have proved uneffectual and therefore no remedy for a desperate cure but this uniting of minds and swords with the strongest tie of a National Covenant Answ Whereunto I answer That to all those Supplications Remonstrances and Protestations his Majesty hath given gracious answers and hath often heretofore and of late offered honorable conditions of Peace which have been refused Reas. 2 The second is That for the preservation of themselves and their Religion from utter ruine and destruction they were constrained to make this League Answ Whereunto I answer That Religion and the Church are in danger of ruine and destruction as well by the Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries who take this Covenant and have grown most insolent upon this new League as by the Papists and that the greatest fear of utterly ruining and destroying this Kingdom is from the continuance of this Civill and unnatural War which is fomented by it Reas. 3 The third is The commendable practise of these Kingdoms in former times Answ In this reason they plead Obsignatis tabulis they avouch that which never hath been nor can be produced and the contrary hath been proved before Reas. 4 The last reason is The example of Gods people in other Nations Whom they mean by these other Nations is expressed in the exhortation to the taking of this Solemn League and Covenant p. 5. namely the Netherlands and Rochellers But as he in Plato's Dialogue said Exemplum ô holpes eget exemplo so we may say of these these are examples without example late practises in our age and memory without any Precedent in former ages and the best times of the Church Neither yet are they parallel to this For the King of Spain against whom the Netherlands and the French King against whom the Rochellers entred into a League Defensive and Offensive with us were persecuters of the true Protestant Religion and oppressors of their known Liberty whereas our gracious Soveraign is a Professor of the Gospell and a Defender of the Orthodox Protestant Faith and a maintainer of the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of Subjects as appeareth by his Royal Assent to the Petition of Right Every one that sweareth must have an eye to the conditions of a sacred Oath set down by the Prophet Jerem. 4. 2. He must swear in truth judgement and righteousness in truth not falsly in judgement not rashly in righteousness not wickedly But no man can take this Oath in righteousness for not

Possumus quod jure possumus we can do no more then lawfully we may If Episcopal Government must be overthrown it must be done in a lawful way not by Popular Tumults but by a Bill passed in Parliament and that to be tendered to his Majesty for his Royal Assent And how such a Bill can be pressed upon his Majesty who hath taken an Oath * at his Coronation to preserve Bishops in their Legal Rights I must learn from our great Masters of the Law For by the Gospel all inducements to sin are sin and solicitations to perjury 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 Universities which will never be furnished with choice plants if there be no Prefe●ments and Incouragements to the Students there who for the far greater part bend their studies to the Queen of all Professions Divinity which will make but a slow progresse if Bishopricks Deanries Archdeaconries and Prebendaries and all other Ecclesiastical dignities which like silver spurs prick on the industry of those who consecrate their Labours and endeavours to the glorifying of God in imploying their talent in the Ministery of the Gospel be taken away What sails 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 alit artes omnesque incenduntur studio gloriae jacentque ea semper quae apud quosque improbantur Honor nourisheth Arts and all men are inflamed with 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 Honor 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 Practicers in the Municipal And shall that Profession only be barred from entring into the Temple of honour which directeth all men to the Temple of Virtue and hath best right to honour by the Promise of God Honorantes me honorabo those that honor me I will honor because they most honour God in every action of their function which immediately tendeth to his glory They will say That Episcopal Government hath proved inconvenient and prejudicial to the State and therefore the Hierarchy is to be cut down root and branch Of this argument we may say as Cicero doth of Cato his exceptions against * Murena Set aside the Authority 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 Episcopal Government is inconvenient and mischievous and prejudicial to the State but it was never proved to be so Secondly Admit some good proof could be brought of it yet if Episcopacy 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 retrenched Thirdly If Episcopacy hath proved inconvenient and mischievous in this age which was most * beneficial 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 Episcopacy Abrogated that the Liberty and looseness of these times will not brook the Sacred bands of Episcopal Discipline is rather a proof of the integrity thereof then a true argument of any malignity in it to the State without which no effectual † means or course can be taken either for the suppressing Schismaticks or the continuation of a lawful 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 Antiquity 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 Apostolical or Episcopal hands neither hath prime Antiquity ever approved of meer Presbyters laying hands one upon another but in Orthodoxal Councels revoked cassated and disannulled all such Ordinations as we may read in the Apologies of * Athanasius and elsewhere What shall I need to add more save the testimony of all Christians 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 Cophtie Maronites Abissones and Chineses not only admit of Episcopal 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 Aerians but they tell us that these are Christians at large who hold many Errors and Superstitions with the Fundament●ls of Christian Doctrin their Churches are like oare not cleansed from earth like gold not purged from dross like threshed wheat not fanned from the chaffe like meal 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 Germany or those that are called after the name of Calvin in France and else where 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 History of the Waldenses first written in French and after translated into English by a learned Herald Secondly for the Luther an Churches they have Prelates governing them under the titles of Archbishops and Bishops in Poland Denmark and Sw●thland but under the name of Super intendents Intendents in Germany and as for their judgement in the point it is expresly fet down in the * Apology of the Augustane Confession in these words We have often protested our earnest desires to conserve the discipline of degrees in the Church by Bishops