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
it is either evill because prohibited or prohibited because evill in it self It is not evill because prohibited because the law of God no where sets out the limits of parishes nor confineth the pains of a pastor within such narrow limits all that the divine law requires is that every pastor carefully by himself and by his fellow-labourers which the holy Scripture expressely mentioneth feed that flock whereof the holy Ghost hath made him over-seer and from whence he is to receive comfortable maintenance whether this flock be comprised within the limits of one parish or no For parishes were first distinguished not by Gods law but by the Popes and with such disproportion that some parishes are too much for any one to supplie them and others make not a convenient flock for a man of meanest parts to feed and attend on Neither is Pluralitie prohibited by any law quia malum in se because it is evill in it self for none of the precisest make scruple of conscience to hold any one benefice of never so great value which notwithstanding hath divers chappells of ease annexed unto it in which it is impossible for a man to be resident and officiate the cure in person at once If they will say he may discharge both by himself and his curate so may he also do who hath two benefices and let the parishioners both of Lambeth and Acton testifie whether those benefices were not better supplyed by the Doctor himself and his two learned and able curates then now they are by those two who enjoy the sequestration of his benefices who have been perpetually non-resident from both and neither by themselves nor substitutes so much as once administred the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unto them though the best of the parishioners have most earnestly desired it SECT. XI That the abjuration of Episcopacie especially in the Clergie of England involveth them in perjurie and sacriledge THe Doctor excepted against the extirpation of prelacie Deanes Prebends because he thought it not of Apostolical institution no there is another reason of more force with the Doctor and the prelaticall partie they must have another kind of divinitie and more beneficiall positions they love not these naked truths which are not able to maintain their sattin cassocks nor those rigid opinions which will not allow a game at gleek after evening prayer Canis festinans caecos parit catulos thou or the Printer Britanicus making more haste then good speed hast stumbled at pons asinorum and thou stammerest out perfect non-sense thou sayest the Doctor excepted against the extirpation of prelacie because he thought it not of Apostolicall institution thou should'st have said because he thought it to be of Apostolicall institution for so indeed he thinketh and will maintain his tenet against all the disciples of AErius the heretick the first patron of paritie in the clergy whether they be plant-animals I mean lay-presbyters or atomes that is Independents whose arguments are like themselves all together independent and inconsequent But why dost thou deliver the Doctors mind by halfs He did not only except against that clause in the new covenant wherein Episcopacie is abjured and the extirpation vowed of that plant which the Apostles themselves planted and we in our publique liturgie established by law pray to God to pour upon them the continuall dew of his blessing because he held such an oath to be repugnant to an Apostolicall institution but also because he conceived that horrible sacriledge was couched under it For upon the taking away of Episcopacie root and branch will undoubtedly follow the confiscation of the lands of Bishops and cathedrall Churches or at least alienation from those holy uses to the maintenance whereof they were dedicated and is it a small matter thinkest thou Britanicus to violate the sacred testaments and last wills of many hundred religious christians and to draw the guilt of sacriledge in the highest degree upon the land which alreadie groaneth under the heavie burden of too many haynous sins and bewayleth them in all parts of this Realm with tears of blood SECT. XII Of profitable doctrines and beneficiall positions held by Brownists and Sectaries AS for that thou wouldst imply that the Doctor advanced Episcopacie to an Apostolicall institution as Cicero extolled eloquence to the skie that he might be liâ—ted up with her thou fouly mistakest the matter the Doctor is known to affect that Dutch Worthie his temper upon whose grave Iames Dowza strewed that flower among others honorâ—s quia merebatur contempsit quia contempsit magis merebatur because he deserved honours he contemned them and because he contemned them he much more deserved them The whole course of his life refutes that base calumnie thou castest upon him For 1. After he first shewed himself in publique preaching in his course at S. Maries in Oxford he was commended by the Vice-chancellor and Universitie to the Kings Majesties Embassador Lidget in France where Cardinall Perone homo famae potius magnae quam bonae by his agents thought to inveagle him to Popery by promise oâ— far greater preferments then ever he could expect in England but the Doctor esteemed no better of that motion then of the devills offer to our Saviour all thâ—se things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me for he was so far from turning out of his course to take up these golden apples that contrariewise he followed the harder after the price of his high calling and encountred all the Romish Priests Jesuits and Soâ—bon Doctors wheresoever he met them even to the hazard of his life and God gave such a blessing to his many combats for the faith there that he reclaimed divers from poperie and confirmed many that were wavering in the true reformed religion 2. After his return into England when the great favourite bore all the sway and the Doctor might have climbed to preferment by that ladder by reason of his ancient acquaintance with the Duke and the dedication of a book to his dearest consort which she very much desired yet understanding that the Duke for some politick ends sided with the Arminian faction he brake off all dependence upon that favouriâ—e and wrote a smart book against the Arminians called Pelagius redivivus and thereby dashed all hopes of his preferment then at court 3. After the Dukes death when those that sate at the helm of the Church and had great power also at court to procure the greater libertie to the Protestants in popish Countries and to draw her Majestie to a better liking of the reformed religion sought to reduce the Church of England to a nearer conformitie to the Roman at least in some scholasticall tenets and outward ceremonies and gestures with them and to smooth the more rugged posâ—tions of poperie was thought a readie means to facilitate the way to prefermet the Doctor declined this rode also though he desired nothing more then the
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
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
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
percrebuit de arcta domini Featlei custodiâ Siccine tractari insignem veritatis pugilem de religione reformata optimè meritum Idque ab iis qui reformandae ecclesiae palmam aliis praeripere omnibus satagunt Neutiquam tamen hoc mirum aut insolens discipulo videri debet cum sciat ipsius magistrum a gente sua magnis in Israele Rabbinis duriora passum Tuus ex animo Iohan. Stablesius generos Ger. From Harlew to his very loving friend Master Bull health and happinesse I Am sorry to hear of the close Imprisonment of that worthy Dr. Featley what He who is and ever hath been so stout a Champion for religion to be so used by the reformers thereof But let his own Nation not the disciple think it strange when his Master suffered so much crueltie from the great Rabbins of Israel Yours from my heart Ioh. Stables Gent. Aprill 11. 1644. These testimonies of forraign Divines I had thought to suppresse because the rehearsing them cannot but wound the modestie of the party may peradventure whet the venomous tooth of envie against him yet these comming to my hands and considering in what condition the partie now is I held it a dutie of Christian charitie and equitie to impart them to the indifferent reader for the vindicating his person and adding some light to his reputation now labouring in the eclipse SECT. XVIII The sum of D. F. his apologie reduced into two unanswerable Dilemma's BEfore I put forth the horns of the Dilemma's I will lay down certain Lemma's or assertions of undeniable veritie First after D. F. had delivered his mind concerning the Scottish Covenant which he thought he might doe safely in a free Assemblie and many days before he wrote any Letter to the Primate of Armagh it was spoken openly at Westminster that the Doctor should be voted out of the Assemblie as L.M. and M. H. disclosed to D. F. Secondly that D. F. sent not to A. Warner to conveigh a Letter of his to the Primate of Armagh but A. Warner was sent to the Doctor who by probable and plausible suggestions drew this Letter unsealed from the Doctor which he no sooner received but he shewed the close Committee Thirdly that when the Doctor wrote this Letter to Armagh the Bishop was an elect Member of the Assemblie by the house of Commons and both he and Doctor Prâ—dâ—aux and Doctor Ward and Doctor Brounerigg and Doctor Oldisworth and Doctor Harris and others well affected to the Discipline and Liturgie of the Church of England were daily expected at the Synod and some of them excused their necessarie absence for a time from the Assemblie by Letters to the Prolocuâ—or whereof one was presented by Doctor Featley himself and Doctor Gouge Fourthly that when the Doctor wrote his Letter to the Primate of Armagh there was no declaration or ordinance of either of the houses of Parliament forbidding correspondencie by Letters to Oxford without leave of the houses or warrant from the Lord Generall for the Doctors Letter was written about the middle of September 1643. and the ordinance prohibiting any under pain of Sequestration to hold intelligence with Oxford bears date Octob. 22. 1643. a full moneth after so that the writing of the fore-named Letter at that time was not so much as malum quia prohibitum neither could the Doctor be censured for it as a crime because as the Apostle teacheth us where there is no law there is no transgression 5. Fifthly that there was never any thing objected against the Doctor since the â—â—tting of the Parliament or the Assemblie save the seven Articles prefer'd against him by the Brownists of which he was cleared acquitted and discharged in a full house after a long debate Iuly 13. and his Letter to the Primate of Ireland which was written before the ordinance of Parliament made it criminall to write any letters to Oxford without speciall leave Now Civicus call to thee Britanicus and Scoticus and Coelicus together with Patriark W. and Independent N. and set all your wits upon the renters to render some colourable answer to these two insoluble dilemma's First either the vote of the house of Commons is an undoubted oracle of truth and justice and a concludent and definitive sentence in poynt of law or not If it be so then is D. F. cleare from all aspersions cast upon him For in a full house Iuly 12. he was acquitted of all the articles objected against him as appeareth in the record under the hand of H. Elsing exemplified in the vindication of D. F. p. 21. If it be not so but as some heretofore have conceived only as the inquest of the Grand Jurie and a preparatorie to the full information of the cause upon oath and finally sentencing it in the house of Peers then the vote passed against the Doctor in the house of Commons alone without any farther proceeding in the house of Lords is of no force or validitie in law and consequently D. F. is still Rector both of Lambeth and Acton and M. W. and M. N. are no better then intruders and usurpers of another mans â—ight and possession If the Allegations brought by the Brownists against the Doctor were true how came he to be acquitted Iuly 12 if they were false how came he to condemned by the vote of the same house Sept. 29 And why were those articles from which he was cleared commanded to be read in Lambeth Church and made the ground of the sentence of sequestration against him as if he had been guiltie of them Secondly either-the unsealed letter written to the Primate of Ireland contained in it some disclosing of secrets of state or imputations upon the Parliament or some other criminall matter liable to just censure or not If the former 1. Why was the originall Letter sent by order of the close Committee to Oxford If it gave any intelligence they who sent it were the intelligencers not the Doctor his letter intercepted at London could tell no â—ales at Oxford 2. Why was not the originall under the Doctors owne hand shewed him to convince him Or at least an authenticall copiâ— attested by the hand of a notarie or some sworn witnesse proving the accord thereof with the originall 3. Why were not the pretended offensive particulars put to the Doctor when he was convented before the Committee and his punctuall answer required thereunto 4. Why was not the messenger or some other witnesse produced to prove that the pretended offensive particulars were in the letter signed with the Doctors own hand 5. Why all this while is the letter suppressed and not published to this day to cleare the justice of the proceedings against the Doctor If it were a legall evidence against him as it is urged in the sentence why could the Doctor by no means gain a copie of it that he might interpret his own meaning and that his answer as well as the objections against him might be
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
third Figure and also of a Prison Ovid Mâ—tam l. 1. terras Astraea reliquit See the gentle Lash p. 5. Brit. pag. 67. Ans. Apol. Eccl. Ang. p. 2. c. 1. divis 1. Vid. Vossium de 36 Symbolis The second Speech to the eighth Article Act 14 Trin In ep. ad Polon Iohn 5.26 Hom. de temp. 88. The definition of justification The second Speech to the eleventh Article Calvin praefat. Institut Cypri de ceâ—t Dom. Piscator and Tilenus Obj. Sol 1 Obj. Sol. 2. Sol. 3. Sol. 4. Sol. 5. The third Speech to the eleventh Article The fourth speech to the eleventh Article Obj. 1. Obj. 2. Obj. 3. Sol. Obj. 4. Sol. Obj. 5. Sol. The fifth speech to the eleventh Article Arg. 1. Resp. Replic. Arg. 2. Advers. Resp. Replicatio Arg. 3. Resp. Advers. Replic. In Rom. 5. assumpt. But the â—â—ghteousnesse of Christ as he was a sacrifice for sin was to be unspotted wholly and without sin Hebr. Ergo as he was a sacrifice for sin his holinesse was imputed unto us Arg. 4. Advers. Sol. Replicatio The VOTE Eccl. 7.29 1 Pet. 2.25 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Act. 1.20 * Ambros com in Ephes. c. 4. v. 10. Apostoli sunt Episcopi Ierom. ad Marcel apud nos Apostolorum locum tenent Episcopi Cyp. ep. l. 3. Apostolos id est Episcopos praepositos Dominus elegit August in Ps. 45. loco patrum erunt filii â—d est Apostolorum Episcopi Et ibid. dilatatum est Evangelium in omnibus finibus mundi in quibus principes ecclesia id est Episcopi sunt constituti * Aug. ep. 162 comment in Apoc. hom 2. Ambrose 1 1 Cor. 11.16 â—â—cumeniuâ— Arethâ—s Marlorat Pareus in Apoc. c 1.2 Policarp Episcopus Smyrnae Onesimus Ephesi Antipaâ— Pergami c. * Ediâ— Teclae it is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} thy wife which demonstrateth that the Aâ—gell there signifieth one singular man of authority in the Church and not the whole clergy of that place Ep ad Episc. Winton * Concil. Nice can. 5. conc. Antioch can 6. Conc. Sard. can. 14. conc Chal. act 15. c. 29. â—gnatius in ep. ad Philad. Irenaeus l. â— c. 3. Tertul. l. de baptismo Euse. l. â— c. 40. Ierom ep ad Nepâ—t Optatus l. 1. cont. Parmen. Amb. in Eph. cap. 4. Basil. Eph. 70. Epiphanius haeres 75. p. 295. Aug ad quod vult Dâ—uâ— Aâ—riam ab AErio quodam sunt nominati qui cum esseâ— presbyter doluâ—sse fertur quod Episcopâ—â— non potuit ordinari diâ—â—bat presbyterum ab Epâ—scopo nulla â—isâ—râ—ntia debere disceâ—nâ— Hieron. in Tit. Con. 1. art 15. c. 29 Episcopum in presbyteri gradum reducere est sacrilegium Anatolius constant Episcop dixit iâ—qui dicuntuâ— ab Episcopalâ— dignitatâ— ad presbyteri ordinem descendiâ—â—e si 〈…〉 causis condemnanturnec presbyteri honore digni sunt See Art 36. â— de consecrat It is evident to all men reading holy Scriptures ancient authors that from the Apostles time there have bin these three orders in the Church of Christ and that a Bishop ought to correct and punish such as are unquiet â—riminous and disobedient within his diocesse according to such authoritie as he hath by the word of God * Vide record in Exchequer I wil preserve and maintain to you the Churches coÌ„mitted to your charges all Canonicall priviledges and I will be your protector and defender to my power by the assistance of God as every good King in his kingdome in right ought to defend the Bishops and Churches under their government c. Then laying his hand on the book on the communion table he sayth the things which I have before promised I shall perform and keep so help me God and by the contents of this book * Cic. Tusc. quaest. * Pro Mur. tolle noâ—en Catonis * Statut. Ed. 3. ann. 25. The Church of England was founded in the state of prelacie c. for we owe to it our best laws made in the Saxon times and Charta magna it self The union of the two Roses Yoâ—k and Lancaster the marriage with Scotland and above all the plantation reformation of true religion See Vindication of Episcopacie page 23 24. See also the statute book of 16. Rich. 2. where the Commons â—hew that the Prelates were much profitable and necessarie to their Soveraign Lord the K. and the realm c. * Ierome advers. Luc. c. 4. Ecclesiae saluâ— Ã summi sacerdotâ— dignitate pendet cui si non â—xors quaedam ab omnibus emâ—nens detur protestas tot in ecclesia efficientur schismata quot sacerdotes Cypr. ep. 3. non aliunde haereses abortae sunt aut nata schismata quam inde quod sacerdoti Dei non obtemperatur nec unus in ecclesia ad tempus sacerdos ad tempus judexâ— vice Christi cogitatur * Athanas. apol. 2. Colithus quidam presbyter in ecclesia Alexandrina alios presbyteros ordinare praesumpserat sed rescissa fuit ejus ordinatio omnes ab eo constituti presbyteri in laicâ—rum ordinem redacti See Epiph. haer. 75. The order of Bishops begets Fathers in the Church but the order of Presbyters sonnes in baptisme but no Fathers or Doctors See also â— Abbot in his 〈◊〉 of the visibilitie of the Church and in his answer to Hill * Apol. confess Augustan c. de numero usu sacrament â—os saepe proâ—estati sumus summa cum voluntate conservare pâ—litiam ecclâ—siasticam gâ—adus in ecclesia factos etiam summa authoritate scimus enim utili consilio ecclesiacticam disciplina hanc modo quo vetâ—res eam dâ—scribunt constitutam Luther tom. 2. p. 320. Nemo contra statuÌ„ episcoporum veros episcopos vel bonos pastores dictum putet quicquid contra hos tyrannos dicitur * Gerard de ministerio eccles. Nemo nostrum dicit nihil interesse inter episcopum presbyterum sed agnoscimus distinctionem graduum propter {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ecclesiae ut concordia conservetur * Calv. de necess reform ecclesiae Talem nobis hierarchiam sâ— exbibeant in qua sic eminâ—aâ—t episcopi ut Châ—isto subeste non recusent ut ab illo tanquam unico capite pendeant ad ipsum referantur in qua sic inter se fraternam societaâ—em colant ut non alio modo quam ejus veritate siâ—t colligati tum vero nullo non anathemate dignos fateoâ— si qui erunt qui non â—am â—everenter summaque obedientia observent * Beza de grad. minist. evang. c. 18. Sess. 3. Quod si nunc ecclesiae instauâ—atae Anglicanae suorum Episcoporum Archiepiscâ—porum authoritate suffultae perstant quemadmodum hoc illis nostra memoria contigit ut ejuâ— ordinis homines non â—antum insignes Dei Martyres sed etiam praestantissimos Doctores Pastores habuerit c. Brit. p. 67. Ans. M. Nye Brit. p. 68. Ans. See the testimonies of Dr. Moulin and other forraign divines in the Corollâ—â—ie The handmaid to devotioâ— The Author of the book intituled A safeguard from Ship wrak Aâ—â—s forbiddeth not all usurie but biting usurie in his Cases of Consciences Plutarch Apoplâ— Brit. p. 68. Answ. Turtul praescript * Cook at the Bridge foot Cic. pro Sylla Isocr ad Daemâ—nicum Hesiod l. 1 â—p dies Adag. Homerica nube tectus Veâ—itas tempoâ—is filia A Book so intituled Ans. Mat. 5. â— See the statuâ— 16. Rich. 2. and the 25 of Edw. 3. See Sphyniâ— Philosophica Psâ—l 69 2â— Basil. â—p 62. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Guillaume Herbert in the Epistle dedicatorie prefixed to his translation of Doct. Featley's Handmaid of devotion into French Wolsgangus Meyer in his Epistle dedicatorie before his Dutch translation The Grand Sacriledge printed Lond. 1630. In the Vote Sept. 29. against the Dr. all the other articles are waved see the record supr. Cic. pro Clâ—â—as