on their backs or must they be our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lustration or expiation for those curses which are due unto us all Can they make and impose Laws Were the Liturgy Canons and other decrees established by their Authority alone Do not we own the King Supream upon earth Have not the Laws the superscription and stamp of his Royal Assent Are they not the product not as your Covenant of a part but the whole Parliament King Lords and Commons And yet by a wilful kind of Sophistry you are still casting all the Odium as you intend it upon the Bishops who are but the Trustees Heb 3.2 to see the execution of those Laws Therefore as Moses was faithfull to him that appointed him in all things concerning the Lord's House so these Aarons must be men of fidelity in discharging that trust which is reposed in them by the supream Authority of this Kingdome concerning the affairs of the Church according to the pattern which they have received in the Mount I mean from the Legislative power of the Land Indeed should they coyn Articles of Faith like that Romish Dictator and impose them upon the Church then there were just cause of complaint But whilst like Ahasuerus they only inquire what they may do according to law to those that break the Commands of the King take heed lest whilst you level your darts at them you hit the Throne But why do you impute the Plague unto the Bishops Esth 1.55 Doth this savour of a Christian spirit I had thought that in general calamities every man should have laid his hands upon his own heart and suspect himself to be that Achan that troubles the Camp that Jonah which occaons the storm and say with the Apostles though innocent Master is it I And not like Solomons Harlot wipe our mouths or with guilty Ahab lay the fault of troubling Israel on good Elijah Will you still be the worser sort of Conformists resembling the murmuring Israelites if any thing went amiss with them If they wanted water or meat for their lusts then Moses was in all the fault in bringing them from the flesh-pots of Egypt Will you needs conformyour selves to those idolaters that Jer 44.18 looked upon them that reclaim'd them from offering incense to the Queen of Heaven to be the cause of the Sword and Famine or those Heathens that sent the Christians to the Lyons if Nilus did not swell high enough to make their fields fruitful or if their Legions miscarried in the Field So unhappy are our Fathers if their teeth must be set on edge as oft as the people eat sour Grapes This will make their backs crack though made of steel if every mans burthen must be laid on their shoulders they are objects of pity rather then envy if our faults must be whipt on them and they must be piacular oblations for us Good Sirs learn more candour morality justice and charity hereafter and see that ye speak every man the truth to his neighbour Some of you have so blackened these reverend Fathers and put them into such a strange and monstruous dress by calling them the Members of the great Whore of the Beast of Babylon Idolaters Haters of God and Godliness the verymystery of iniquity and those principalities and powers which Christ came to cast down or as this Scribe does more then insinuate page 53. Esteeming Ceremonies above Souls That I dare boldly aver that some of the seduced Herd who are ignorant of their Integrity eare of the Churches bounty publick spirits Piety and Loyalty do scarce believe them to be men or if so yet that they are some terrible Cannibals that came out of some strange Land I was not long since desir'd to Preach to a Congregation that had been instructed by one of your selves A Gentleman told a Country-man there after Sermon that his Son was an hopeful youth and might in time be a Bishop The man startled presently with fear or indignation I know not whether saying God-forbid that ever my Child should be a Bishop Sure this man thought his Child should be transformed into some strange shape have been converted into an Egyptian Mammaluke or paid as a tribute-Child to the Grand Signiâ—r and so have been brought up in the Mahumetan Religion and made a Janizary to that Emperour Thus the spies to the intent they might disgrace the Land of Canaan said The Land did eat up the Inhabitants thereof Numb 13.33 And in our remembrance even at the beginning of these late times some malicious Poers told the World that the Royalists eat up Children and train'd their Horses under ground c. Can such weapons prosper as are sharpned at the Forges of the Philistines Can such Champions hope for success that go dewn into Egypt for help Cutting and lancing with lyes as with sharp Razors Is there no way to undermine the sacred order of Bishops but by digging as low as Hell in slandering the footsteps and traducing the Persons and Government of those servants of the Lord of whom this treacherous World is not worthy Gal. 5.20 If this be your zeal it never came down from Heaven Calvin Episâ— 3. but it is a meer work of the flesh it is such a zeal quo nunquam arsit Elias which never inflamed the hearts of Gods faithful servants There were just such zealots indeed in Jerusalem a little before its Conquest by the Romans And I wish you may not shew your selves to be their off-spring and so become as ominous to us in ringing the knell of our Native Country CHAP. IV. Subordination of Presbyters to Bishops and the Honorary Title of Lords given to the Bishops are no just impediments to Conformity YOu are not a little troubled that you must truckle under Bishops Nor will you own any such distinction betwixt you and them Whence this ariseth as to the sublimity of your spirits I have touched upon before I desire still to be serviceable unto you by removing and dispelling such clouds which interpose their gross bodies betwixt you and us It is not my business to dispute this Polemical Article at large which my betters have done so fully that there is nothing to be gleaned after them What can he do that comes after the King Their Arguments stand like a firm Mountain against the popping squibs of all Arrius's Disciples Only let me reason with you in a word or too according to my own observation and reading Was not Aaron above the Priests Levites Nethenims Were there not Archiflamines amongst the Romans by the very light of nature Were not the Disciples think ye inferiour to the Apostles Were not the Ministers in Ephesus and Creet subordinate to Timothy and Titus What think you of the superintendants in the Lutheran Churches of the leading Presbyters in Geneva and here at home Did they go so equally hand in hand with their Brethren without advanceing one step before them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
have many of them that are now at the Stern tugging at their Oares and laying their shoulders to the work of the ministry together with you So far would they have been from suffering their Swords to rust in their Scabbard and their Breasts to dry up that they might not afford nourishment to them that cry after knowledge and desire the sincere milk of the Word But now the waters blessed be God are sunk within their banks and our eyes behold our old Land-marks Yet except the ancient Hedges and Foundations may be pulled up except the Mountains may be levell'd and the Cedars rooted out of their places except the Land may be new measured with your Line and mounded according to your Plat-form you will not enter into the Vineyard but in a sullen fit quit all and so are wo rse then the Sea-Monsters For they draw forth their brests and give suck to their young ones Lam. 4.3 This is not to deal with us as we should have dealt with you Besides who I pray you or we have shewed the greatest love for Souls We that passed thorow the fire and water with them in the worst Or you that leave them in a calme in the best of times I read of Nazianzen Chrysostome and others that entred the ministerial calling with fear and trembling and much reluctancy These were drawn out of their Cells and haled with violence into the Sacred Mount Yet having once set their hands to the Plow no discouragement or persecutions could ever constrain them to look back But they passed thorow the flames thorow good and evil report they persevered Praying and Preaching as if they were ambitious of dying in the Pulpit Soar as high as you will in your Seraphick pretences Cry as loud as you please the Temple of the Lord Nullum seculum ferarius Religionum sterilius pietptis Lipsius Religion Religion Yet who will beleive but that your eyes are fixt upon some carrion or other Le ts look back into the Annals of our own time and turn over some few Leaves of that Tragical Hystory whereof you were not the smallest part Where shall we find the fattest gobbets and Benjamins Mess but upon your Tables Who were those that strutted and fluttered in their feathers who were fain to go naked themselves And as for that usurped power which some of you had grasped into your hands how magisterially and tyrannically was it imploy'd How lofty were some of your eyes and your eye-lids lifted up Neither do I wonder it should be so For those that are such ill proficients in the lesson of obedience can never be good Governours themselves Such as scorn to sit at the feet of careful and experienced Gamalils when they get the reins of power into their own hands will hurl all things into confusion Sirs study the point of self-denial better and strive to know of what manner of spirit you are of I wish from my heart that we might see such evidences of Christian meekness and loyal submission that we might say of a truth The Ethiopian hath changed his skin and the Leopard his spots Far be it from me to insult over any that 's inhumane and barbarous and to repay evil for evil that 's Antichristian But I desire in the Apostles sense to heap coals of fire upon your heads to melt you into more kindness towards your selves and others Saint Paul hath made my apology to my hand I write not these things to shame you 1 Cor. 4.14 but as my beloved Brethren to warn you Gen. 19.7 And as for the future let me beseech you in the words of Lot I prâ—y you Brethren do no more so wickedly That so all stones of scandal which have made up a partition wall between us being demolish'd and remov'd we may like living stones grow up together and concenter upon the Basis of Piety Vertue Obedience Loyalty and a joynt desire of doing good in our Generation which are the best ingredients of that soveraign Balsome whereby our luxated and shattered members may be setled and knit together which may make up such a bond of peace that will neither be fretted by the teeth of time nor be dissolved by men or Devils As 't is said of Melancthon and Camerarius two Luminaries in the Common-wealth of Learning that there was such a similitude of Studies Manners Wills confirmed with daily familiarity and converse between them that they arrived to the very perfection and quintessence of friendship If it were so with us how would this beautifie and embellish our conversations Allure some to silence dazel or confound others If we could once sayle together with all our faces towards Zion as if we aimed to put in at the same Port of Heaven this would sweeten our own lives in the passage and make us terrible as an Army with Banners when we shall meet with our enemies in the Gate How good and joyful a thing is it for Brethren to dwell together in unity Methinks I hear you giving your Assent and Consent to the truth of this conclusion 'T were well if there might be such an harmony between us Yet this is the mischeif we cannot agree upon the premises which may infer it nor find the right way leading thereunto All men naturally desire felicity Balaam himself would dye the death of the righteous yet what vertues or means are most necessarily conducing thereunto here there are no small odds in the manners and tempers of men Would you hearken to me I should advise you to obey those that have the rule over you even for Câ—nscience sake and to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake These were Canonical Scriptures some years since when they were vehemently pressed by some of your selves to support the power of those men who right or wrong had ravish'd it into their hands Your doctrine now is quite contrary directly tending to the keeping of our wounds raw and fresh Pull down say you that Government in the Church you would say as much concerning that in the State â—oo if you durst which is rooted in the Adamant of Scripture and the history of the Church ever since it was Christian You account the way to a lasting agreement to lye in removing those apples of contention those prohibentia which hinder union and amity And what are they disarm the Bishops of their Crosiers Take their Mitres from their heads Dismount their Canons Give us their Lands and burn your Common-Prayer Books But speak more plain English yet Is not this your sense If you desire our assistance and copartnership in the work of the ministry You must take us to be your guides for we cannot endure any Superiours Take the imposition of our hands as the current stamp of your callings use no prayers but what you shall be directed from our Conclave Read not the ancient Fathers of the Greek and Latin Church for they will poyson and possess you with an
Pelopidos He in Plutarch said he was ashamed that he should come into so much danger as that a dart should fall near him This was not cowardise but a couragious prudence Lysander did but disgrace himself and prejudice the Graecians by running his head against the walls of Aliarte Plutarch p. 523. So the impairing of the Bishops power and lessening their honour is nothing else but our loss If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing and if a numerous Army should consist altogether of Commanders or have none at all what a confused rout would it prove to be Like a multitude of ciphers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philo Juda. de opifiâ—to mundi without any Numerical letter before them Just so the Church would be but a rude mass if there were no overseers to put it into some comly shape and awful posture A paralytick body if without nerves to convey the spirits and keep the parts together I read of no creatures in the whole volumn of nature but they are headed with some imperial Leaders under whose conduct they are marshal'd and repay them with an obsequious admiration and a devout kind of trembling Prov. 30.27 except the Locusts And these indeed Solomon sayes have no King I presume you have read who those were that did much resemble them What have Christians to do said they with an impudent mouth with Kings et quid Episcopis cum palatio Why do Bishops live in ceiled houses and build their nests on high If any of you are ignorant who these were I 'le inform you They were the furious and factious disciples of Donatus And if you have perhaps some kinder resentments for these more innocent Hereticks Can you chuse but quake to see your own faces in the mirrour of those that durst expostulate with Moses and Aaron just as ye do Numb 16.3 Wherefore do ye lift up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord Take heed lest whilst you disdain to draw in the same yoke with us you be guilty of a worse Syncretism Natura tanto magis superba quanto magis dominio peccoti mortique subjecta fulgent p. 174. in being conformable to Core and his company is not this to act the part of cursed Cham over again Are not these malignant looks upon your Governours the relicks of Adams aspiring Ambition a spice of that lawless Law in your members and a tang of that scornfulness which fell from heaven with the lapsed Angels Of all men you have the least cause to draw up this black bill of indictment against the Bishops if you would call to mind with what condescention they have treated with you in order to the satisfaction of your scruples in what a fatherly and pathetical manner they have intreated you to continue in your places untill they have not only wept in secret but even in publick view their tears have started out of their eyes And do you thus requite them O ingrateful men and unwise 'T is reported of Sylla that whilst he was venturing his life in several Battels for the good of his Country Plutarchin the life of Sylla at that very time his Wife was driven out of Rome his Houses overthrown and his Friends slain Just so when these Worthies lay under an unlucky Ostracism they were contriving our good and disputing for our Religion And when God in a miraculous manner raised up these dead bones they were so far from vindictive passions that so long as there were any hopes of prevailing they ceased not to beseech and woe you to partake in the harvest of their indefatigable labours in a peaceable submission to the Ordinances of God As if they had forgot who they were that voted their proscription and with the Emperour could remember all things saving injuries And are these so lofty as you represent them Rub your own eyes perhaps the fault may be rather in the Organ then in the Object 'T is possible your apprehensions of them may arise from some predominant humour in your selves As Diogenes trampled on Plato's bed sed fastu majori And the old Romans denominated Tarquinius proud quia Regios ejus fastus aliâ superbiâ ferebant because they were so proud themselves Aust de Civit Dei Lib. 3â— Câ—p. 15. that they could not endure any Kingly state in their Monarch To hear you to cry out of other mens pride is all one as to hear the Gracchi complaining of sedition or to hear Catalin calling Cethegus Traitour I pray tell me why there are so many Heteroclites or Anamola in the Church and who are they walking without the compass of any rule who they are who have raised and fomented so many schims and divisions amongst us And I will tell you from the mouth of Saint Paul in the general from whence they arise that is from the flesh Whereas there is among you envying strife divisions 1 Co 3.3 p. 530.531 are ye not car nal Hooker goes a step further and tells you in particular that they arise from pride Naming pride sayes he we name the Mother that brought them forth and the nurse that feedeth them It is not enough as he goes on to make shew of a demure humility for a foul scar may be covered with a fair cloth And such as are as proud as Lucifer may be in outward appearance lowly Give me leave to give an instance of my own experience and that 's a very convincing Mistress I was once tempted to go to the Tryars then whom neyer was Juncto of men more high scornful overlooking and brow-beating their poor clients As if we had scarce been made out of the same mettal with themselves As if they had been the only Seraphick Numb 13.33 and Angelical Doctors but we a company of lumpish and phlegmatick pedants poor Grashoppers scarce worthy to come into their presence And if we did so which was not easie without long attendance what distances did we keep How were we fain to observe their eminencies And look what informers and confederates they had in the Country these were also blown up with the same elation of spirit so that 't is easie to guess what humble and meek spirited men we should have met withall had Gods anger still continued us under your yoke It was but time for such conceited Rabbies and strutting Mountebanks to disappear who by soaring too high had put out their own eyes and to leave their usurped charges to more sober and better poysed Raphaels And though some of them are naturally alive yet because I hope mine eyes shall never see them again in that capacity I shall write out the same Epitaph for them as the Hystorian set upon Nero Sua immanitas Tacitus Hist 1 sua superbia Cervicibus publicis depulere And since I would fain thaw your congealed hearts and melt them into a better opinion of these reverend Fathers which now sit at the stern Consider I beseech