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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A41901 The great grievance of Scotland, the mother and nurse of many evils to church and state. Together with a rational proposal, a suitable expedient, and the proper remedy. 1689 (1689) Wing G1705; ESTC R218497 12,778 27

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What is alledged concerning the suitableness of Prelacy to Monarchy rather than any other form of Civil Government is a suitable plea for such a cause For 1. Who can imagine what that Service can be which the Prelate can do to a Kingdom and not to a Common-wealth or what the Prince could require of him which the States could not 2. How clearly is this confuted by the Experiences of all the Reformed Churches living under Monarchical or Princely Government And to speak nothing of the State of the Church of Scotland after the Reformation from Popery the Christian Religion was for many years setled before his Lordship got Footing here which was not till the fifth Century when Pope Celestine sent hither Palladius to create that New Order and with what difficulty that Church was brought to submit to the Prelate Historians show so that first and last his Lordship hath met with a cold welcome there and hpapy that Church bad been if it had never Couched under that Burthen 3. The pretended Similitude and suitableness which is alledged for the Foundation of that Institution is Ridiculous since our Prelats Confess their Government to be Aristocratical and not Monarchical Condemning in their Disputes with Rome the Pope his Aspiring to Monarchy and the Papal Government as Anti-christian because Monarchical so that if suitableness with the State must be the Foundation of Church Government Prelacy according to their own Hypothesis must suit better with Aristocracy then Monarchy and better with Holland then Britain But you may ask what Course shall be taken for Discovering what is the Right Government of the Church and for its Establishment Answer The saying is not more Common then True Artifici in sua arte Credendum a Man is to be Trusted in his own Art if Rulers were deliberating how an Army should be Ordered how a Fleet Provided a House Builded c. would they not consult expert Souldiers Marriners Masons c. And should not the Pious Judicious and most Unbyassed Pastors of the Church be Consulted concerning its Government And where was it ever settled and how can it be supposed that it can be done aright without their Advice Accordingly the English Parliament Anno 1643. when so many Grievances tho' not so many as now may be against the Prelates were Presented to them Wisely called an Assembly of the most Judicious Divines assisted with some sent from Scotland that ever met in that Church and thus a Beautiful Assembly Consisting of Persons of divers Perswasions of Presbyterians Prelatical Doctors Independents c. That all might be heard and the Truth the more clearly Discovered and the right Government Established upon the most solid Foundation yet so that as to the Number a Difference was made between the Grieved and those who had done the Injury and given the Offence but O if such a free and full Debate were now allowed and such a Meeting Called by King and Parliament this Proposal is so Rational that King Charles II. being Convinced how acceptable it would be to the then Church of England shortly after his Restauration Anno 1660. Reflecting on his First Missive to the English Parliament from Breda wherein he promised to Call with their Advice an Assembly of Divines for Settling of the Affairs of the Church Protesteth That the then Establishment of Prelacy should be no prejudice to that promise he being then as resolute to perform it as when he made it But that after that they had gotten some Tryal of Episcopacy as lately they had of Presbytery he would Call an Assembly of Divines who might without prejudice and by Experience Judge what Government was best and most convenient for the Church and now the Lord having set on the Throne that Illustrious Prince who did so Sympathize with Sufferers and was so Touched with our Grievances as to undertake an Expedition accompanied with so much hazard by Sea and Land and which required such great Preparations and vast Expence as may be matter of Astonishment to us and of Praise to God who stirred him up for such a Noble Work and followed his Pious and Magnanimous Enterprize with such admirable Success When I pray and by whom could we expect such a Redress of Grievances such a Reformation of Religion and Manners and such Order both in Church and State as while his Majesty now Sways the Scepter And by whom could we look for the Performance of the Solemn promise made by King Charles II. if not now by his Royal Nephew Set on the Throne Object 1. The Meeting-Houses are but few in Comparison of the Churches to which the Multitude as well as the Great Ones Resort and thus there may be more dificulty in getting the right Government of the Church Established then some apprehend Answer It is well known that the English stand so much upon the Formalities of Law and Order what ever those Laws be or the pretended Order that great and small pay such a deference to those as is scarce Credible in such a Judicious and Excellent People but once take away those Constitutions and let but an equal Liberty by Law be Allowed to Dissenters and Conformists and then it will appear who do Cordially own and will stand for Prelacy and who not But Secondly If once Presbyterian Government were Established by Law and Prelacy sent a Packing as Anno 1643. and if there were such a Nomination of Worthy Persons for Overseeing the setting up of Synods Presbyteries Classical and Congregational together with the Constitution and way of Election of Members to a National Synod as was * See the Form of Church Government to be used in the Church of England and Ireland agreed upon by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament after Advice had with the Assembly of Divines Die Mart. 29. August 1648. Appointed by both Houses of Parliament Anno 1648. Then it would appear what Esteem the Conforming Clergy as such altho' otherwise there be not a few amongst those who for their Learning Piety and Zeal against Popery deserve to be had in Reverence would have in England and that the Church would not be troubled with their Meeting-Houses nor many concern themselves in providing a Maintenance for them Nay nay for when there was such Liberty for Petitions Remonstrances Complaints there was not so much as one Petion according to what I can learn offered in their behalf nor any Complaint made for Abolishing the Prelacy Service-Book and Rabble of Popish Ceremonies And then Secondly It would be considered what a disadvantage all this while the Presbyterians have been at because the Legal Stipends and Provision were settled on and secured to Conformists and that they were put to provide Meeting-Houses and Maintenance for Non-Conforming Ministers But Secondly Some may yet Object That the Sense of the Nation can hardly be known but by their Representatives in Parliament Answ 1. Thus not the Sense of the Nation but of those who had Vote in the