and Popery be set up with a bloody Inquisition Section XI And verily if there were a design to reconcile England to Rome let all means be used totally to quash the Puritanes or Presbyterians but if England will keep her self pure from Romish Abominations let her be a kinde Mother to these her Children For this Interest is one chief strength of the true Reformed Protestant Religion Let those well known Principles that strike to the heart of Popery be brought forth for evidence to wit the perfection of holy Scriptures in opposition to unwritten Traditions the Authority of Canonical Books in opposition to the encroachments of the Apocrypha the distinct knowledge of the Doctrine of Salvation according to every mans capacity in opposition to implicite Faith the reasonable serving of God according to the Word in opposition to blind devotion Spiritual Gospel Worship in opposition to a pompous train of Ceremonies the efficacious edifying use of religious exercises in opposition to the Popish Opus operatum or work done lastly the power of godliness in opposition to splendid Formality Whether the Prelatical or Presbyterian party be the more rooted and grounded in these Principles let knowing persons consider and give judgement It hath been observ'd not by vulgar ones but by States-men in former times that the Puritans stood between the Papists and the swaying part of the later Prelatists as a partition wall which was therefore to be broken down as was reported to make way for an attempted reconciliation In those times a Venetian Agent in England being intimately acquainted with the Popes Nuncio here resident had fathomed the depth of his Religious Negotiation touching this grand affair and in his account given to the State that sent him and since published to the world hath these notable observations That in the Realm of England are three Faction the Catholicks the Protestants and the Puritans Now saith he these three Factions in Religion though they all oppose one another yet the hatred of Protestants against Puritans is greater then against Catholicks and that of Catholicks is greater against Puritans then against Protestants and that of Puritans is greater against Catholicks then Protestants and thus both Catholicks and Protestants do easily combine together for the ruine and rooting out of Puritans What these Protestants are he thus declares they did not so engage themselves to those particular opinions meaning of the Reformation but they have since set themselves to reform the abuse of Religion by reducing themselves again to the old practise of their Forefathers The Puritans he describes in these words that being seasoned and initiated with the Doctrine of Calvin they judge the English Reformation imperfect and so refused submission to that form of Policy Such is the account of this Statesman both a Forreigner and a Papist and not to be supposed partial in favour of Puritans Now by Protestants he understands only those that adhered to the English Prelacy And so indeed that party have impropriated the name to themselves excluding the Presbyterians who in the mean while complain of palpable injury and give evident proof that they of right have as much Interest in that venerable name As touching the passages here quoted let them rest on the Relators credit and their own evidence whatever it be What our great Clergie intended I determine nothing but in equity leave it questionable How far they actually advanced this way be it collected out of their own Writings and other manifest Expressions It is no novelty for Papists to impose the name of Puritans on such as retain the old Protestant spirit of Antipathy to Rome which is a good argument to prove that in the party more peculiarly so called lies the heart and strength of aversness and enmity to the Heresies and Idolatries of the Roman Church Wherefore Those Bishops in the Church of England who were heartily averse from Popish Innovations were more benigne and favorable to Puritans and themselves accounted Puritan by the adverse party and upon the same account the Gentry of this Kingdom were so esteemed And let it be well observed that the more primitive times of Protestantism were more leaning to that which Romanizing spirits have called Puritanism Pardon the frequent use of this terme for I glory not in it but am constrained to use it for distinctions sake in bringing former things to remembrance Should not King Nobles and Commons remember their Darling Protestiantism and not abandon that sort of persons which contribute so much to the upholding of it It is confessed there have been some scandals given yet more taken But in this case let the saying of our blessed Lord be minded Not only woe to the man by whom the offence cometh but woe to the world because of offences It will not be well with England while we give way to passion and prejudices from offences taken and so run from one extream to another Where is the wise Counsellour Can we come to no temper Is there no healing for us Shall we sleep securely whilest the Seedsmen of the Envious One the Jesui's and other Romish Agents sow the Tares of Division in our Field not only to weaken and hinder but to choak and eat out our common Faith Yea blessed be God for our gracious Soveraign who makes it his care and study to allay distempers and compose differences by his just and gracious concessions already published concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs Section XII The Presbyterians are loaded with many calumnies as that they are against the Interest of Civil Magistracy especially of Monarchy that they are giddy factious schismatical domineering and what not Let not prejudice but reason sway mens minds in matters of such importance As concerning the Interest of Civil Magistracy that Presbyterians pluck from it the power in Causes Ecclesiastical that they erect Imperium in Imperio is a groundless and gross mistake Take the declared Judgment of the highest in that way according to their own words To the Political Magistrate is allowed a diatactick ordering regulating power about Ecclesiastical Matters in a Political way So that he warrantably reforms the Church when corrupted in Divine Worship Discipline or Government He convenes and convocates Synods and Councils made up of Ecclesiastical persons to advise and conclude determinatively according to the Word of God how the Church is to be reformed and refined from corruption and how to be guided and governed when reformed He ratifies and establishes within his Dominions the just and necessary Decrees of the Church in Synods and Councils by his Civil Sanction He judgeth and determineth definitively with a consequent political judgement or judgement of discretion concerning things judged and determined antecedently by the Church in reference to his own act He takes care politically that even Matters and Ordinances meerly and formally Ecclesiastical be duely managed by Ecclesiastical persons orderly called thereunto He hath a compulsive punitive or corrective power formally political in matters of Religion
to contest with Princes and Nobles and all ranks and degrees about their Immunities Priviledges Pre-eminencies to multiply Constitutions and Ceremonies for props to their own Greatness but not to promote the Spiritual Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in the hearts of people according to the life and power of Christianity The above-named Venetian Gentleman in his Narrative of the Popes Nuncio delivers this Maxime That the Court of Rome in perpetual pursuance of its old pretences is more sollicitous and laborious to reverse and destroy the Oath of Allegiance because it seems contrary to its temporall grandeur then to extirpate such Heresies as the Realm of England is infected with Even so such an Hierarchy will be more industrious and careful to establish and enlarge their own Power Dignity then to maintain and propagate Christs true Religion What are the weapons of the Warfare by which this Mystical State prevails Not such as are mighty through God working upon the conscience but pecuniary Mulcts and greater temporal penalties not to the wounding of the spirit but to the breaking of the outward estate By what wayes and methods must it be advanced The constant and practical preaching of the Word must be discountenanced Snares must be laid for the most zealous Ministers Sports and pastimes on the Sabbath dayes must be held forth with allowance and approbation Men of strict lives and serious in Religion must be reproached for Fanaticks By these means a people being first enthralled to ignorance superstition and profaness will be disposed unto blinde obedience and perfect spiritual bondage For in very deed the State here described will never stand safely among a people that are free serious searching and discerning in matters of Religion For this cause an Hierarchy of this nature hath a strong bias towards Popery Nay it must for its own safety approach as near it as the Nation can well bear The Reformed Religion doth not glory in the vast riches outward pomp and splendour of Ecclesiastical persons Wherefore when the grandeur of Prelates and pomp of Ceremonies is affected and admired the Church of Rome is sure to finde favour in the eyes of the Clergy The said Venetian reports That the Universities Bishops and Divines of this Realm dayly imbrace Catholick Opinions though they profess them not with open mouth for fear of the Puritans In this matter let them stand or fall by the evidence of their own writings Let it be well observed that the designes of suppressing Puritans and complying with Papists in this Nation had their beginning both at once and proceeded in equal paces And it hath appeared that the moderate Cassandrian Grotian Popery was no abomination to many Prelatists The Conciliators of our age have judged Papists and moderate Protestants as they call them very reconcileable but have cast the Calvinists or Puritans without the limits of the pacification Wherefore we cannot conceive that the excessive height of Prelacy I say not this of regulated Episcopacy to be the strongest Bulwark against Popery unless by Popery is meant no more then what the Trent Fathers except the Italians generally opposed to wit the stupendious exorbitant power of the Pope who pretends to be not only Supream but in effect sole Bishop of the Universe as reputing all other Bishops his meer subjects and delegates We confess Popery in this new and strict notion might be controlled by the height of Prelacy But according to a vulgar sence we take Popery in the height thereof for the Heresies and Idolatries and in the lower degree thereof for the gross errors and superstitions of the Church of Rome Section XXXII Moreover pure necessity in that state will constrain the Hierarchy to negotiate with Rome if they subvert and ruine the Presbyterians If in such a case they intend to uphold a Protestant State they understand not their own concernment The Bishops must either retreat to a moderate compliance with Presbyteriaus or advance to a reconciliation with Papists If they had a design to extirpate the Presbyterians and could accomplish it are they able afterwards alone and by themselves to bear up against the main force and to withstand all the wiles and methods of the popish Faction at home and abroad They mistake themselves if they think their unalterable adherents are so numerous and powerful In case they dissipate that other party which hath been always found most active vigorous and vigilant against Romish Encroachments what remains besides themselves and their zealots but a common dronish multitude that will do little for any religion or men of loose principles that would easily embrace Popery as a flesh-pleasing Religion When the common people are left to ignorance and prophaness for servile ends and purposes they are thoroughly prepared for Popery which is a gross sensual formal pompous way agreeable to the multitude whereas Fanaticism the other extreme takes but with a few in comparison because it hath something of pretended illuminations spiritual notions and raptures to which the common multitude is not propense If you ask how hath Prelacy held it out hitherto against Popery even from the first Reformation take notice that the Episcopal Clergy did not go about to exterminate the Puritans before their latter times and then he that had half an eye could discern the notable advance and the confident expectations of the Popish faction Section XXXIII Do any persons conceive a Reconciliation with Rome hopeful or possible upon moderate tearms as they suppose namely the permission of the marriage of Priests the Popes Dispensation for the Oaths of Allegiance and Supermacy so far as it concerns the Kings temporal power the administring of the Communion in both kinds and the Liturgy officiated in the English Tongue Let them observe that Panzani the Popes Nuncio in England declared privately to his intimate friend that the Pope would never admit any man to govern here as Bishop meaning over the Catholicks that should favour the Oath of Allegiance And the reason hereof is evident because it is a thing contrary to the maxims of Rome Moreover in that little History of the said Nuncio there is a passage which being well considered doth evince that the Courts of England and Rome are irreconcileable unless England become intirely papal That Author saith That this Realm is so perversly addicted to maintain its own resolute opinion of excluding the Popes authority that this hath been the cause why the Catholicks who for the first twelve years conformed themselves unto the Politie introduced into the Church of England have since separated from it and to testifie their uniting to the Pope have refused to frequent the Protestant Churches and have therby framed one party in that State Let a fair accord in the general be supposed yet the sole point of the Popes Supremacy shal dash the whole agreement We know that Jesuitism is the predominant humour in the Papacy and nothing can be done without their influence and therefore we cannot
THE INTEREST OF ENGLAND In the Matter of Religion The First and Second Parts Unfolded in the SOLVTION Of Three QVESTIONS The Second Impression Written by John Corbet LONDON Printed for George Thomason and are to be sold at the Rose and Crown in St Pauls Church-yard 1661. The Preface THe Indeavours of Pacification between the Subjects of the Prince of Peace and the Children of the God of Peace may be well taken from one who hath obtained mercy to be an Embassadour of Peace in the Ministry of Reconciliation Likewise it may well become any sincere Protestant Loyal Subject and true Lover of dear England to study and bring forth whatsoever hath a tendency to Reconcile those Parties in whom both the King and the Kingdom and the Protestant Cause are so highly concerned I am therefore encouraged upon this confidence That the offer of a willing mind in this service is acceptable to God and good men The Peace here propounded is the Friend and Sister of Truth It offers not to inthrall or burden Consciences of either Perswasion By allowing some diversity of Opinion it takes away the difference of Parties and permits the Points of Difference to be matters of Speculation but not of Practice As to give an instance Some of the Episcopal way hold that a Bishop differs from a Presbyter in regard of Order that he is ordained ad speciale Ministerium Others of the same way do hold That they differ not in Order but Degree The Presbyterians believe they are the same in regard of Order yet that a difference in Degree may be admitted and so they accept of a President-Bishop Nevertheless all the Episcopal Divines do judg it ordinarily necessary that a Presbyter be ordained by a Bishop in conjunction with Presbyters and none of them as far as I understand do judge it unlawful that Acts of Church-Discipline and Government be administred by a Bishop in the like conjunction And consequently the persons of these several Perswasions need not divide but may easily be made one in practice by the regular consociation of Episcopacy and Presbytery The Peace here pursued was earnestly expected and promised in the late great Revolution Christian Charity common Honesty yea Necessity pleads for this Peace They who now contemn it if there be any such may come to know the want of it as well as others Let them who have gotten the advantage rejoyce with trembling for who knows what he is doing and where is the end of his working whose judgments are unsearchable and whose ways are past finding out The most subtile Politician whose Writings are not held to savour much of Religion hath this Religious Observation If we consider the course of humane Affairs we shall many times see things come to pass and chances happen for the preventing of which the heavens altogether would not that any order should be taken Mach. And for example he alleadgeth the great miscarriages of the Roman Common-wealth in the War with the French insomuch that they did nothing like to themselves nor worthy of the Roman Discipline either for equity or industry or courage or foresight even until they were brought to the brink of utter ruine Certainly if the voice of Peace cannot be heard in this remarkable time when it calls and cries unto us by so manifold pressing engagements it is of the Lord who hath not given an ear to hear nor an heart to consider I am far from presuming upon the force of my own reasoning in this matter it is the subject it self that is my confidence and my heart is in it Let the God of Heaven inspire and prosper the King in His Gracious Inclinations to the work of Peace that all who fear Gods Name may see that in Him the Sun of Righteousness is risen upon them with healing in his wings Let the Interest of the Protestant Religion and the Kingdom of England prevail with a Protestant English Parliament Let all Ecclesiastical persons being the servants of Christ by special Office cease from seeking their own things and let them seek the things which are Jesus Christs Be it far from any of them to smite their fellow-servants whilest they are doing their Masters work If there be any consolation in Christ any comfort of Love any fellowship of the Spirit any bowels and mercies let all good Christians in their several places promote the Peace of Christs Kingdom and Family by all the ways of equal and reasonable Condescention and Forbearance Lastly Let the Candid Reader accept this Labour of Love and not undervalue the weight and worth of the Cause for the defects of these Discourses J. C. I. Q. Whether the Presbyterian Party should in Justice or Reason of State be Rejected and Depressed or Protected and Incouraged II. Q. Whether the Presbyterian Party may be Protected and Incouraged and the Episcopal not Deserted nor Disobliged III. Q. Whether the Vpholding of both Parties by a just and equal Accommodation be not in it self more desirable and more agreeable to the State of England than the absolute Exalting of the one Party and the total Subversion of the other The Interest of England in the Matter of Religion unfolded in the Solution of three Questions Section I. THe Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland legally united in one King but by violence subjected to one Usurped Power of different Forms successively were for divers late years reeling to and fro like a drunken man and driven hither and thither like a Ship in a troubled Sea The ancient Fundamental Constitution being overturned those who took to themselves the Government had gotten a plenary possession of all the strength by Sea and Land detected all Conspiracies quashed all Insurrections and by Policy Industry and wonderfull Success became formidable at home and abroad The people sorely bruised by a tedious civil War were glad of some present ease and generally desired nothing more then to lie down in rest and peace Likewise the more considerate part of men though little satisfied in the present state yet fearing other extreams were nothing forward to endeavour a totall change but thought it most adviseable to take things as they were and to bring them if it were possible to some reasonable temper and consistence Notwithstanding these advantages the Powers then in Being could never settle in a fixed stable posture and those who took the first Turn namely that Fragment of the Commons House could by no means advance or get ground in any degree towards it For besides the general hatred of their Usurpation and Selfish Practices their Republican Form and their Designs touching Religion were wholly aliene from the disposition of these Nations He who put them down from their Seats and exalted himself in their room reducing the Government to a single Person and a Parliament set up an Image of the ancient Form unto which the greater number were not unwilling to bow down not out of good will to the Person but for the Forms sake
in reference to all sorts of persons and things under his Jurisdiction He may politically compel the outward man of all persons Church-Officers or others under his Dominions unto external performance of their respective Duties and Offices in matters of Religion punishing them if either they neglect to do their Duty at all or do it corruptly Thus they yield unto the Supream Magistrate a supream political power in all spiritual matters but they do not yield that he is the Fountain of spiritual power there being a spiritual power belonging to the Church if there were no Christian Magistrate in the world They assert only a spiritual power over the Conscience as intrinsecally belonging to the Church and acknowledge that no Decree or Canon of the Church can be a binding Law to the Subjects of any Kingdom under temporal penalties till it be ratified by the Legislative power of that Kingdome And they do not claim for the Convocation or any other Ecclesiastical Convention an Independency on Parliaments if they did surely the Parliament of England would resent such a Claim Section XIII There goes a voice that the Presbyterians are Antimonarchical But are their Principles inconsistent with Monarchy or any impeachment to the same These are contained in the character above-written let any of them be called into question and let Sentence be past upon them if they be found guilty but if no particular be herewith charged the reproach must pass for calumniation not accusation Peradventure the exact Presbytery that is the parity of degree and authority in all Ministers is that against which this charge is directed although this parity is not insisted upon or urged to the breach of peace neither is it essential to Presbytery yet what reason can be rendred why this may not comport with Kingly Government Or would this sort of men have no King to reign over them Doth a Re-publique better please them Did the English or Scottish Presbyters ever go about to dissolve Monarchy and to erect some other kind of Government In no wise for in the Solemn League and Covenant they bound themselves to endeavour the preservation of the Kings person and Authority and declared they had no intent to diminish his Majesties just power and greatness After the violent change of Government they came slowest and entred latest into those new Engagements imposed by the usurp'd Powers and some utterly refused even to the forfeiture of their preferments and the hazard of their livelihoods when the Nation in general submitted to the yoke and many of those who thus object against them did in temporizing run with the foremost The truth is the generality of Conscientious Presbyterians never ran with the current of those times Some more eminent among them Ministers and others hazarded their lives and others lost their lives in combining to bring our Soveraign that now is to the rightful possession of this His Kingdom And those in Scotland adventured no more then all to uphold him and when He lost the day they lost their Liberty and when He fell it was said by the Adversary Presbytery was fallen I have known when keeping company with the chief Presbyterian Ministers hath been objected by the Republican Council of State for a crime causing Imprisonment Lastly the Presbyterians by their influence first divided and then dissipated the Sectarian party and so made way for his Majesties Return in peace And it is acknowledged by some eminent on the Episcopal side that the sence of the Covenant hath lately quickned many mens Consciences in their Allegiance to the King so as to bring him with David home in infinite joy and triumph All which do shew plainly that they are not averse from Regal Government or the Royal Family but they desire to dwell under the shadow of our dread Soveraign hoping to renive as the Corn and to grow as the Vine under his gracious influence Peradventure it is said they would enervate Monarchy and render it too impotent Surely I cannot finde the rise of this Objection unless from hence that they were not willing to come under any yoke but that of the Laws of the Realm or to pay arbitrary Taxes levied without consent of Parliament I confess there are none that more reverence their Liberties and value the native happiness of the free born Subjects of England And verily their true knowledge and sense of the nature of Christian Religion makes a due freedom exceeding precious For this Religion is not variable according to the will of man but grounded upon an unchangeable and eternall truth and doth indispensibly binde every Soul high and low to one divine law and rule perpetual and unalterable And therefore it doth strongly plead the expedience of a due civil liberty on the behalf of its Professors yet such a liberty as will not infeeble Monarchy nor the legal power of the Kings of England And without controversie a King ruling a free people hath a power much more noble and more free then he that ruleth over perfect Vassals that hath no Propriety The power is more noble because it hath a more noble subject of Government it is more honourable to rule men then beasts and Free men then Slaves Likewise the power is more free For whatsoever Prince hath not his power limited by his peoples legal freedom he will be bound up some other way either by the potency of subordinate Princes and great Lords within the Realm or by a veterane Army as the Turkish Emperour by his Janizaries and the Roman Caesars by the Pretorian Bands and the Legions Upon which account to be a powerful Monarch over a free people is the freedom and glory of our Soveraign Lord above all the Potentates on earth Section XIV But Rebellion and Disobedience is the loud out-cry of some against this party And this were a crying sin indeed But let not sober minds be hurried into prejudice by such exclamations and out-cries It were to be wished for common peace and amity that the late public discords were eternally forgotten But seeing some in these times of expected Reconciliation will not cease to implead and condemn the honest minded and render them odious to the higher Powers a necessity is laid upon us to speak something Apologetical at least to mitigate the business and remove prejudice The Presbyterian party in England never engaged under a less Authority than that of both Houses of Parliament I have read that the Parliament of England hath several capacities and among the rest these two First that it represents the people as Subjects and so it can do nothing but manifest their grievances and petition for relief Secondly that by the constitution it hath part in the Soveraignty and so it hath part in the legislative power and in the final judgment Now when as a part of the Legislative Power resides in the two Houses as also a power to redress grievances and to call into question all Ministers of State and Justice and all
Subjects of whatsoever degree in case of Delinquency it might be thought that a part of the supream power doth reside in them though they have not the honorary Title And this part of the supream power is indeed capable of doing wrong yet how it might be guilty of Rebellion is more difficult to conceive In this high and tender point it belongs not to me to determine And as touching the much debated point of resisting the higher powers without passing any judgement in the great Case of England I shall only make rehearsal of the words of Grotius a man of Renown and known to be neither Anti-monarchical nor Anti-prelatical which are found in his Book de jure belli pacis by himself dedicated to the French King Si Rex partem habeat summi Imperii partem alteram populus aut Senatus Regiin partem non suam involanti vis just a opponi poterit quia eatenus imperium non habet Quod locum habere censeo etiamsi dictum sit belli potestatem penes Regem fore Id enim de bellâ— externo intelligendum est cum alioqui quisquis imperii summi partem habeat non possit non jus habere eam partem tuendi lib. 1. c. 4. s. 13. With reverence to Soveraign Majesty I crave leave to speak this word of truth and soberness In a knowing age flattery doth not really exalt or secure the Royal Prerogative the Authority of Parliaments being depressed and undervalued is the more searched into and urged Concerning the utmost bounds and limits of Royal Prerogative and Parliamentary Power the Law in deep wisedom chuseth to keep silence for it always supposeth union not division between King and Parliament Wherefore the overstraining on either hand let all men forbear His Majesties wisedom and goodness and his peoples obedience and loyalty in all ways of mutual satisfaction will best secure His Prerogative and their Liberty Moreover as to the point of Loyalty now in question the subversion of the Fundamental Government of this Kingdome could not be effected till those Members of Parliament that were Presbyterian were many of them imprisoned others forcibly secluded by the violence of the Army and the rest thereupon withdrew from the House of Commons For they had voted the Kings Concessions a ground sufficient for the Houses to proceeed to settle the Nation and were willing to cast whatsoever they contended for upon a legal security In those times the Presbyterian Ministers of London in their publick vindication thus declare themselves We profess before God Angels and Men that we verily believe that that which is so much feared to be now in agitation the taking away of the life of the King in this present way of Tryal is not only not agreeable to the Word of God the Principles of the Protestant Religion never yet stained with the least drop of the blood of a King or the Fundamental Constitution and Government of this Kingdom but contrary to them as also to the Oath of Allegiance the Protestation of May 5. 1641. and the Solemn League and Covenant from all which or any of which Engagements we know not any Power on earth able to absolve us or others And in conclusion they warn and exhort men to pray for the King that God would restrain the violence of men that they may not dare to draw upon themselves and the Kingdome the blood of their Soveraign Let prudent men weigh things in the ballance of Reason Is there any thing in the nature of Prelacy that frames the mind to obedience and loyalty or is there any thing in the nature of Presbytery that inclines to rebellion and disobedience If Loyalty be the innate disposition of Prelacy how comes it to pass that in ancient times and for a series of many ages the Kings of England have had such tedious conflicts with Prelates in their Dominions If Presbytery and Rebellion be connatural how comes it to pass that those States or Kingdomes where it hath been established or tolerated have for any time been free from broyls and commotions or that Presbyterians have never disclaimed or abandoned their lawful Prince that they have never ceased to sollicite and supplicate his regards and favour even when their power hath been at the highest and his sunk lowest yea that they have suffered themselves rather to be trodden under foot then to comply with men of violence in changing the Government Let us further examine are the persons that adhere to Prelacy more conscientious in duty to God and man then those that affect Presbytery Are the former only sober just and godly and the latter vicious unrighteous prophane Certainly if it hath been the lot of the one for a time to comply more with Kings then the other hath done it ariseth not from any peculiar innate disposition of the one or the other but somthing extrinsecal and accidental and what that may be let prudent men make their own observations Section XV. Their principles whose cause is now pleaded if faithfully received and kept will make good men and good Christians and therefore cannot but make good subjects When men have learned to fear God they will honour the King indeed and none are more observant of righteous Laws then they that are most a law to themselves yea their pattern and practice will be a law to many others and consequently a main help to civil Government in a Christian Nation Whosoever they be that teach blind obedience Presbyterians teach faith and holiness as also obedience active in all lawful things and passive in things unlawful injoyned by the higher power In the late distracted times the publick State was out of frame always ready to fall asunder the minds of people were unquiet and unsetled those that held the power could never gain half that awful regard and reverence which was given to Kings Nobles and men of Authority in former times Nevertheless prophaness intemperance revellings out-rages and filthy lewdness were not at any time in the memory of the present age held under more restraint Surely some special reason may be rendred why in such want of publick Order there should not be a greater disorder in mens lives and manners then at other times which I conceive is manifest to wit that by means of a practical Ministery more thick set throughout the Nation knowledge and restraining grace did more abound and the orderly walking of religious persons did keep others more within compass and withal strictness of life was not openly derided under the name of Puritanism Those places where Presbyterian Ministers had the greatest influence were evidently the most reformed and civiliz'd for which cause they were so much hated by men of loose principles and dissolute lives Whereupon we affirm boldly That those for whom we plead must needs be good Subjects to a Christian King and good members of a Christian Common-wealth Section XVI Neither are they wandring Stars a people given to change fit to overturn
and pull down but not to build up They do not hang in the air bur build upon a firm ground they have setled principles consistent with the rules of stable policy Contrariwise Fanaticks truly and not abusively so called do build castles in the air and are fit instruments to disturb and destroy and root out but never to compose and plant and settle for which cause their Kingdom could never hold long in any time or place of the world Upon this ground Presbytery not sectarian Anarchy hath been assaulted with greatest violence by the more observing Prelatists against this they have raised their main batteries this appeared formidable for it is stable and uniform and like to hold if once setled in good earnest This party do not run so fast but they know where to stop they are a number of men so fixed and constant as none more and a Prince or State shall know where to find them They do not strain so high but they consider withal what the Kingdoms of the world will bear and are willing to bring things to the capacity of political Government They can have no pleasure in commotions and alterations for order and regular unity is their way and therefore stability of Government and publick tranquility is their interest It is most unreasonable to object that the late wilde postures extravagancies and incongruities in Government were the work of Presbytery or Presbyterians The Nation had never proof of Presbytery for it was never setled but rather decryed and exposed to prejudice by those that were in sway and that in the more early times of the late Wars The truth of this matter is cleared by a passage of our late Soveraign in a Letter to his Majesty that now is All the lesser Factions were at first officious Servants to Presbytery their great Master till time and Military Success discovering to each their particular advantages invited them to part stakes and leaving the joynt stock of uniform Religion pretended each to drive for their party the trade of profits and preferments to the breaking and undoing not only of the Church and State but of Presbytery it self Thus the joynt stock of uniform Religion was left and Presbytery neglected before the first War was ended Yea and those that stedsastly adhered to it were maligned and reviled by the exorbitant party for opposing their new models or agreements of the people Section XVII Neither can Sects or Schisms with any truth or justice be reckoned the Off-spring of Presbytery Consider the French Dutch Helvetian Churches how intire they keep themselves in Orthodox Vnity from the Gangreen of Sects and Schisms A wide Breach was once made in the Netherlands by Arminius and his Followers but after some years conflict it was healed by the Synod of Dort The Church of Scotland is inferiour to none in the unity of Doctrine and Church-Communion and their form of Ecclesiastical Policy and method of Discipline is very effectual to prevent the broaching of Errour King James in discourse with an English Bishop is reported to have rendred this account why so few Heresies and Errours of Doctrine are united and prosecuted to the publick disturbance of that Church Every Parish hath their Pastor ever present with them and watching over them and he with his Elders and Deacons hath a weekly meeting for censure of manners by which he perfectly knows his Flock and every abberation of them in doctrine practise and lest any heresie might seize upon the Pastor they have their Presbyters which meet together once also every week in the next chief Town or City and there they have their exercise of prophesying after which the Moderator asks the judgement of all the Pastors concerning the doctrine then delivered or of any other doubtful point then propounded and if the Presbytery be divided in their opinions the question is under an injoyned silence put over 〈◊〉 the next Synod which is held twice a 〈…〉 which the Pastors of that quarter or province do duly resort accompanied with their Elders and any question of doubt is either decided by that Assembly or with charge of silence reserved to a national Synod which they hold every year once whither come not the Pastors onely but the King himself or his Commissioners and some of all orders and degrees sufficiently authorized for determining of any controversie that shall arise among them Could the Bishops in former times procure a greater unity in the Church of England Whence therefore should this charge arise peradventure some Presbyterians have turned Sectaries Surely it would be taken for a weak arguing to say That Prelacy is the way to Popery because some Prelatists have turned Papists The truth is Sectarianism grew up in a Mystery of Iniquity and State policy and it was not well discerned till it became almost triumphant by Military successes But after that its growth and strength did manifestly appear Presbytery began to struggle with it and so continued until by the power of the Army it was inforced to sit down but never to comply Whereupon the tongues and pens of Sectaries were imployed against none more then the Presbyterians And I should be glad to hear of such bitter Invectives of the Papists against the Prelatists not that I rejoyce in the sin of the one or the suffering of the other but that the Protestant friends of Prelacy might more incline to their Protestant Presbyterian Brethren Surely the way to prevent the growth of the two utmost extreams is for the two middle parties to draw up and close together But however the world goes the Presbyterians shall ever keep as good a distance from the Sectaries or Fanaticks as the Prelatists shall from Papists And verily there is no greater bar against Fanaticism then the right Presbyterian principles as not to sever but joyn the written word and spirit for direction the spirit and use of Ordinances for Edification to erect a stated Church-Order and Discipline to allow to the Church a directive and to every Christian a discretive judgment to insist only upon Divine Scripture Warrant and to wave humane authority in matters of Religion For such is the temperament of these Maximes that they commend and require a distinct knowledge and illumination in the mind and in the affections lively motions and stirrings against Formality and blind Devotion and so do satisfie the minds of those who conceive that in true Religion there is spiritual light and life and power and also they shew the necessity of the written Word of constant publick Ordinances and private Exercises of Religion and of the direction and discipline of the Church all which do serve to settle the mind against dilusive impulses and wild fancies and raptures Section XVIII But of all the prejudices and scandals taken against this way there is none greater then this that it is represented as tyrannical and domineering and that those who live under it must like Issachar crouch under the burdens In
be one with the Church of Rome unless we be subject to the Court of Rome and abandon all Protestantism Section XXXIV Whereupon all approaches and motions towards Rome are dangerous For popish Agents will easily over-act the Reconcilers peradventure lead them whither they would not If we walk on the brink we may soon fall into the pit Although it stands not with Christian Charity to disclaim agreement upon reasonable tearms with any that are named Christians yet it is not fit for a purer Church to incorporate with a Church defiled with such abominations Besides as to reason of State Enmity with Rome hath been reputed the Stability of England concerning which the Duke of Rhoan hath delivered this Maxime That besides the Interest which the King of England hath common with all Princes he hath yet one particular which is that he ought thoroughly to acquire the advancement of the Protestant Religion even with as much zeal as the King of Spain appears Protector of the Catholick Indeed that Scarlet-coloured Whore hath this bewitching ingredient in the cup of her Fornication that she disposeth Subjects to security and blind obedience and exalteth Princes unto absolute Dominion But against this poison a soveraign Antidote is given by a judicious Writer that this proves that subjects are more miserable not that Princes are more absolute among Papists forasmuch as where the Pope prevails there is a co-domination and rivalty in rule and this Protestant Princes are freed from and whereas Popery hath been ever infamous for excommunicating murthering deposing Princes the Protestant Religion aims at nothing but that the Kings Prerogative and popular Liberty may be even balanced If it be said that this is true of Protestantism but Puritanism leads to sedition rebelIion Anarchy let the world know that Puritanism which is no other than sound Protestantism doth abhor these crimes and defie the charge thereof The people that were called Puritans and now Presbyterians have had no fellowship with Polititians and Sectaries in those pernicious ways but their principle is for subjection to Princes though they were Hereticks or Infidels and if they differ herein from the Prelatical Protestants it is only that they plead for liberty setled by known Laws and fundamental Constitutions Section XXXV From the reasons aforegoing we conclude That Protestantism will best consist in the middle way by reducing Prelacy to the ancient synodical government or moderate Episcopacy And this is a blessed work worthy of a pacifick King w th respect to his honor service whose title is The Prince of Peace Herein his Majesty with Gods help may over-rule without difficulty or hazzard He need not say of those that are averse as David sometimes did of the sons of Zerviah That they are too hard for him Prelacy is not popular but moderate Episcopacy is and the more because it is a healing expedient for our broken times The Bishops depend intirely on the King but he hath no dependance on them no need of advantage from them What if some interessed persons be discontented The sober of the Nation both Episcopal and Presbyterian will have great contentment in the King's prudence and moderation His Majesty is a Prince by Nature He is our Native King and the delight of the English Nation and may govern as he please without fear or hazard by continuing to shew himself a common Father For there is none other upon whom the Inrest of England can bottom it self but our gracious dread Soveraign King Charles whose House and Kingdom let the most High establish throughout all generations He hath all hearts that are of sober principles earnestly waiting upon him longing and panting after his moderation and rejoycing in the begun expressions thereof and of which the Presbyterians have had so great expectation that they wished He were both King Lords and Commons as to the setling of this grand Affair Section XXXVI The excessive dominion of the Hierarchy with the rigorous imposition of humane Ceremonies was accounted much of the malady of former times which ended in those deadly Convulsions of Church and State Do we here reproach our Mother the Church of England In no wise This National Church consists of the Body of the Nation combined in the Unity of Faith and substance of Divine worship according to God's holy Word But if the Church be taken in a more restrained sence for the Clergy or Ministery yet so the Hierarchy is not the Church either formally or virtually When as according to Camdens report there are in England above nine thousand four hundred Ecclesiastical promotions how comes all the Interest and virtue of such a numerous Clergy to be gathered up in six and twenty Bishops with their respective Deans and Chapters and Archdeacons And can the self-same state and frame of Ecclesiasticks be now revived after so great and long continued alterations by which the anti-prelatical party is exceedingly encreased and strengthened Machiavel whose reason in things political may challenge regard gives these two directions to a Prince to be alike observed for securing his hereditary Dominions First that he doth not transgress the institutions of his Ancestors Secondly That he serve the time according to new occasions by which if a Prince be inducd with ordinary diligence in action he will preserve himself in his principality His Majesty returns to the exercise of his Kingly power after a long interruption in Government and great alteration in the State Civil and Ecclesiastical And he hath this happy advantage presenting it self to his hand that he may give general satisfaction by retaining the ancient Episcopal Government with some necessary variation conformable to these times in abating the excess of former things and qualifying the same with some temperate ingredients Certainly it concerns an hereditary Prince as to maintain the ancient constitutions so to redress ancient grievances and to cure inveterate maladies The party dissatisfied in former things were not a company of precipitate Mutineers but a Parliament of judicious and consciencious persons and their adherents who for the major part never intended to dissolve the Government but have to their power endeavoured and contrived the setling of these Nations on their ancient basis Section XXXVII Moreover this dissatisfaction in the old frame of the Ecclesiastical Government is not a novelty of these times as appears by those prudent considerations touching the better pacification and edification of the Church presented to King James by that most learned Lord Verulam sometimes Lord Chancellour of England who was no Presbyterian nor enemy to Episcopacy in which are these passages There be two circumstances in the administration of Bishops wherein I confess I could never be satisfied The one the sole Exercise of their Authority the other the Deputation of their Authority For the first the Bishop giveth orders alone excommunicateth alone judgeth alone This seems to be a thing almost without example in Government and therefore not unlikely to have crept in in
the degenerate and corrupt times We see the greatest Kings and Monarchs have their Councels There is no Temporal Councel in England of the higher sort where the Authority doth rest in one person Again he saith Bishops have their infirmities and have no exception from that general malediction which is pronounced against all men living Vaesoli c. Nay we see the first warrant in spiritual causes is directed to a number Dic Ecclesiae which is not so in temporal matters Again we see that the Bishop of Rome fas est ab hoste doceri and no question in that Church the first Institutions are excellent performeth all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction as in Consistory and whereof consisteth this Consistory but of the Parish Priests of Rome which term themselves Cardinals à Cardinibus Mundi because the Bishop thereof pretendeth to be universal over the whole world Touching the second point the deputation of their Authority he saith the Bishop exerciseth his Jurisdiction by his Chancellor and Commissary official c. We see in all Laws in the world offices of confidence and skill cannot be put over nor exercised by Deputy except it be especially contained in the Original Grant and then it becomes dutiful There was never any Judge that made a Deputy The Bishop is a Judge and of an high nature whence cometh it that he should depute considering all trust and confidence is personal and inherent and cannot or ought not to be transposed Surely in this again ab initio non fuit ita But it is probable that Bishops when they gave themselves too much to the glory of the world and became Grandees in Kingdomes and great Councellors to Princes then did they deleague their proper Jurisdiction as things of too inferiour a nature for their greatness and then after the similitude of Kings and Count Palatines they would have their Chancellours and Judges This and much more hath that great Scholar Lawyer and States-man observed in that excellent discourse Yea our late Soveraign in his discourse touching the differences between himself and the two Houses in point of Church-Government declares in these words that he is not against the managing of the Episcopal presidency in one man by the joynt counsel and consent of many Presbyters but that he had offered to restore it as a fit means to avoid those errours and corruptions and partialities which are incident to any one man also to avoid Tyranny which becomes no Christians least of all Church-men besides it will be a means to take away that odium and burden of affairs which may lye too heavy on one mans shoulders as he thought it did formerly on the Bishops here Section XXXVIII By the desired reduction of Prelacy to the coalition of Episcopacy and Presbytery in a due temperament His Majesty will be so far from giving up or weakning that power and influence which in right and reason he ought to have over Church and State that he will thereby gain a surer and a larger interest Bishops lessened in power and encreased in number and resident in the Churches and duly dispencing the Word and Sacraments are not like to alienate the King from Parliaments nor Parliaments and people from the King but will become more popular and able to fix the hearts of the people to obedience and loyalty And this popularity of Bishops and Presbyters being alone without potency is no rational ground of distrust or jealousie to the King For their influence upon others will not be from greatness of power and command but from venerable esteem and reputation and that stands upon their prudent pious and peaceable behaviour Besides his Majesty can easily keep them in such dependence on himself as that he shall not hold this interest at their courtesie Do any suggest the Presbyterians may grow upon him Surely there are and will be enough to balance them Certainly they have seen so little good of changes that a reasonable condition with security will be acceptable to them Undoubtedly the union of both parties by an equal accommodation is the interest of Prince and people the strength and stability of King and Kingdom Let neither side lay hold on present mutable advantages to press them too far but let all consider what will stand with lasting tranquillity And above all let his Majesties wisdom who hath the high concernment of three Kingdoms for himself and his Heirs for ever lay a good and solid foundation for the time to come Section XXXIX Finally this accomodation is the interest of Jesus Christ the Redeemer and Head of the Church in as much as it takes in and secures thousands of godly able Orthodox Ministers thousands and ten thousands of godly peaceable Christians who otherwise might be rejected and oppressed And it may well be acceptable to the whole Christian world because it bears conformity to the whole State of Christendom to the forreign reformed Churches in Presbytery to the rest of the Churches in Episcopacy and to the ancient Church next to the Primitive times in the orderly conjunction of Episcopacy and Presbytery FINIS THE Second Part OF THE Interest of England In the Matter of Religion Unfolded in a Deliberative Discourse PROVING That it is not agreeable to sound Reason to prefer the Contracted and Dividing Interest of one Party before the general Interest of Protestantism and of the whole Kingdom of England in which the Episcopal and Presbyterian Parties may be happily United Written by J. Corbet Rector of Bramshot The second Impression Corrected and amended LONDON Printed for George Thomason and are to be sold at the Rose and Crown in St Pauls Church-yard 1661. I Intreat the Reader to take notice That in these Discourses I do not mention parties to maintain Division but to procure Vnion That necessity compels me to use those names of difference which I heartily wish might be no more remembred But whilst disagreeing Parties last names of difference cannot cease and to forbear their use is to little purpose My business is to take things as I find them and to state the Case between the Dissenters and to shew how far they agree and how little they differ for this end That Parties both Name and Thing might cease for ever Moreover as I use not the name of Presbyterian in the way of glorying so I use not the name of Prelate or Prelatist in way of reproach but meerly for distinction sake and I have warrant for it from the friends of Prelacy with whom it is not unusual to mention the name of Prelate in an honourable Sence The Second Part of the Interest of England in the Matter of Religion THe former Treatise of the Interest of England in the Matter of Religion makes known the way of peace in the reconciling of those two grand Parties the Episcopal and Presbyterian which if made one would take in and carry along the strength of almost the whole Nation The whole structure thereof rests upon these Positions as
its adequate Foundation That whilst the two forenamed Parties remain divided both the Protestant Religion and the Kingdom of England is divided against it self That the Presbyterians cannot be rooted out nor their Interest swallowed up whilest the State of England remaineth Protestant That their subversion if it be possible to be accomplished will be very pernicious to the Protestant Religion and the Kingdom of England That the Coalition of both Parties into one may be effected by an equal accommodation without repugnancy to their conscientious Principles on either side in so much that nothing justifiable by Religion or sound Reason can put a bar to this desirable Union Now for as much as political matters are involved in difficulties and perplexities by variety of complicated concernments all which should be thorowly seen and diligently examined and compared and because the minds of men are commonly pre-ingaged or at least much byassed in these matters and thereupon are not easily removed from their pre-conceived opinions I could not rest satisfied as having done my part in this healing Work unless besides a firm and clear proof of things in general I endeavour a deeper impression and more effectual perswasion by searching on e-every side by pressing up close to those closest concernments and most obstinate prejudices that oppose themselves and by opening the passages and making the way plain to this desired Pacification Section II. It is a grave and weighty saying of the Duke of Rohan Princes command the people and Interest commands the Princes The knowledge of this Interest is as much more raised above that of Princes Actions as they themselves are above the People A Prince may deceive himself the Councel may be corrupt but the Interest alone never faileth according as it is well or ill understood it maketh States to live or dye According to this saying it is matter of life and death political to the Kingdom of England as it doth well or ill understand its own Interest In this deliberation two Interests exceeding great and precious offer themselves unto us They are distinct yet not divided but they embrace each other and they both apparently belong to us and are undoubtedly to be owned by us The one is Religious the other Civil The former is that of the Protestant Religion and the latter is that of this Kingdom Wherefore in this Inquiry the main and fundamental point of knowledge lies in discerning the true state of both Now the true state of any Society lies in the Universality or the whole Body not in any contracting or sub-dividing part thereof And the Interest lies in the conversation and advancement of the Universality Section III. Hereupon this question ariseth which is the great Case and Question of the present times Whether we should assert the contracted and dividing Interest of one Party before the general Interest of Protestantism and of the whole Kingdom of England in which the Episcopal and Presbyterian Parties may be happily United Be it here observed That such is the joynt stock of both Parties in things of greatest moment that by declining extreams on both hands the Protestant Religion may be strengthened with Unity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline among all its professors and the Kingdom of England by an inviolable Union between these comprehensive Parties may flourish in peace and plenty for those discords that divide the members and distract the whole body will cease and those common concernments which tend to uphold and encrease the Universality will be acknowledged and pursued Section IV. To turn aside from this common Interest of the whole body to those inferiour partial ones is to set up the trade of Monopolizers which inevitably brings this mischief that a few grow rich by impoverishing the Common-wealth and this inconvenience also to them that follow the trade that they grow rich upon the sudden but are not secure because many are oppressed and more excluded from sharing in the benefit In the present case if the one Party be the only exalted Ones and the other trodden under foot the damage will redound to the Protestant cause and to the Church and Kingdom of England For whatsoever some men think this Church and Kingdom is concerned in the one as well as in the other Party In the same case though one side should rise suddenly to a great height yet their Estate would be more secure and lasting if they held the way open and secure to those of the other side seeing they are willing to close upon terms just and reasonable Section V. Moreover those Kingdoms and Common-wealths and Societies of all kinds which are of the largest Foundation are of the greatest potency Now a comprehensive Interest that takes in vast multitudes is indeed a large Foundation and a Society that builds upon it shall become great and mighty but a contracted Interest that draws all to a fewer number is a narrow Foundation and if it exclude many that should be taken in it is too narrow for the Fabrick that should rest upon it As a large house cannot be built upon a narrow foundation so a great Kingdom such as is the Kingdom of England and an ample Society such as is that of the Protestant Religion cannot be built upon a narrow Interest Let it be considered that the adverse Kingdom to wit the Papacy is ample and powerfull Should not the Protestant Religion and the Church of England aim at enlargement and lengthen their cords to take within their line all those that are intirely affected to them Then might they send forth much more numerous Forces of able Champions against the Armies of Antichrist So should this National Church become terrible as an Army with Banners Section VI. Besides those reasons for Unity which concern all Kingdoms and Nations in the like case there is one reason peculiar to this Kingdom or rather to this Island of Great Brittain which is a little world apart It is a notable saying which hath been taken up That England is a mighty Animal that cannot dye except it destroy it self God hath so seated and placed this Island that nothing but division within it self can hurt it If envie and faction do not make us to forget our dear Country and destroy our selves the hope of Forreign Enemies will be for ever cut off Wherefore it must needs be the wisdom of this State to smother all dividing Factions and to abolish all partial Interests that the common Interest of England may be alone exalted Section VII I am not ignorant that designs of Pacification between disagreeing Parties are liable to much suspition misconstruction and hard censure that the attempts of Reconcilers have commonly proved fruitless and sometimes matter of disreputation to themselves and no marvel that such cross effects should commonly follow such attempts for sometimes they are made to reconcile light and darkness the Temple of God and Idols This was the way of a Great One even a Prince in Learnings Empire who