he hath a knowne accuser and perfect understanding of the cause or crime objected and therewithall is permitted to haue a copye of the bill of complaint or information and allowed more over both time convenient and councell learned well to consider advise of his oth answer and if his adversaryes complaint be either in sufficient in forme or such as the Court hath no jurisdiction to determine the defendant upon demurrer without othe is dismissed and that with costs And admtit the accusation be such as is every way aunswerable yet if the interrogatoryes ministred be impertinent to the matter of complaint the defendant without offence to the Court may refuse to make answer to the same Therefore no similitude or likenes between this oth used in these Honorable courts of Iustice that constreyned oath ex mero officio Iudicis 1 Since the former sort be orderly taken in courts of justice the other without all course of judgement 2 The one where the plantiff and matter of complaint are manifest the other where neither accuser nor matter of accusation doeth appeare unlesse the bare suspicion of the Iudge fame unproved or private insinuation may be allowed for competent persons in judgement against whom the party defendāt is deprived of all legall exceptiōs is often after great trouble dismissed and though innocent yet dampnified and slaundered and without recompence there being no complanant found but the Iudge himselfe 3 The one made upon certaine knowledge and good advisment the other soddenly without all discretion uppon uncertaine demaunds 4 The one wisely restreined to certaine limits boūds the other foolishly wandring at the doubtfull will of a sly and subtill opposer 5 Upon the one the deponent aunswereth to the accusation of his adversarye by the other he is compelled to be his owne accuser and condemner 6 The one requyreth an answer to matter in fact done either to the injury of some private person or hurt of the publicke state the other constreineth revealing of words deeds and thoughts though never offensiue to any That which is objected that the saide proceeding is warranted by the Canon law or Civill law is answered many wayes but breifely by the positiue law it selfe that banisheth all Canon Civill or other law or preheminence or power whatsoever which is contrary or repugnant to the common law of the land But this proceeding by the partyes owne othe ex officio mero is contrary and repugnant to the common law of the land Ergo Thus we see that this proceeding by oth ex officio was a meere straunger in England Conclusion and how it arrived heerein Anno 2. H 4. but yet as a masker disguised marching in the rowte of Cannonicall sanctions obscured from the veiw of the State under that name but after being discovered as an adder in the grass was damned and expelled by the Statute of 25. H. 8. as a traytor to the King and his lawes and hath no lawfull or warrantable interteynment by the statute of primo Elizab For that there by no jurisdiction excercised by the Bishop of Rome in this kingdome is annexed to the crowne but that which was then lawfully vsed and excercised within this kingdome Then for any Ordinary or Iudge Ecclesiasticall to enterteine it and use it in their courts proceedings is a high misprision against the King his Crowne and dignity and punishable by the Statute of the 16. yeere of K. R. 2. Now to passe from the oth ex officio to the Canons of the Canōs and yet not to deale with those that are of indifferent sorte but with those onely that are either contrary to Gods word or repugnant to the lawes of the land neither also to say all of these in this place that might be sayd but only for brevities sake to giue a tast and to poynt at some may it please the Christian reader yea the answerer himselfe yea all our adversaries in this cause that are not too much blinded with mallice to consider that all such Canons generally as pronounce a man ipso facto excommunicate for saying thus or thus against the Canons themselues against the Ceremonies against the booke of Common prayer and the strict observation thereof etc cannot be justified in this behalfe by the word of God For as to prevent an objection that might be made from the commaundement for reading of them publikly in Churches albeit the sacreed scriptures be dayly publikely read and preached yet many things are both wittingly and unwillingly spoken and actually committed against the sayd sacreed scriptures for which notwithstanding such persons are not presently to be held ipso facto excommunicate so certeinly except the authoritie of the Church be greater then the authority of God and the Canons of this last Synod more authenticall then the holy scriptures given by inspiration from God it must be acknowledged of these Canons and all other constitutions of the Church whatsoever that every word spoken or act committed against thē especially unwittingly is not so heavily to be punished Agayne wheras the sayd Canons doe forbid any man by speech so offending without publike revocation of his sayd pretended wicked error to be restored sith the sayd offence may be committed as well privatly as publikely and sith the Canons speake generally whosoever shall affirme etc without any exception of private affirmations how can the sayd Canons in this respect be warranted by the word of God 1 Tim 5.1 If all offences against Gods word at least of man against man be not publikely to be reprehēded much lesse are all affirmations in disgrace of any Ecclesiasticall cōstitutions of men to be punished with publike pennance Furthermore whereas divers of the sayd Canons doe forbid many offenders by such affirmations to be restored by any other meanes then onely by the Archbishop sith the sayd offence may not onely be unwitting private but also by a poore ignorant man yea perhaps a lame impotent man dwelling also it may be an hundred myles or almost 200. myles from the Archbishop What equity is there that svch an offender should be debarred from all restoring by any other And so for want therof be deprived perhaps all his life from all publike communion with the Church and from all spirituall comfort for his soule therby Is this the mercy that is better then sacrifice And wherby we doe represent our heavenly Father The 13. Canon commaundeth the celebration of holy dayes as well as of the Lords day and that as equally agreyng to Gods holy will and pleasure I deny not but that as Gods word is to be preached at all tymes in season and out of season so it is also to be heard as oft as men haue opportunity but yet that the holy dayes now commaunded to be celebrated are as equally according to Gods holy will and pleasure as the Lords day especially so to be celebrated as they are injoyned with greater solemnities
teaching these thinges which haue been accounted and are in truth popish or Lutheran errors viz touching generall grace the death of Christ for every particular person against perticular election reprobation for images in Churches Exceter both for remembrance of history and also for devotion touching the māner of Christs presence in the supper of the Lord That the Pope is not the Antichrist which is the next step to say that he is Christs vicar wherby they hinder what they may the zeale of Christian Princes from executing that against him in generall and against his members in perticular which the word partly foretelleth and partely commaundeth to be done concernnyng also the necessity of Baptisme touching auricular confession for ignorance according to the popish saying that ignorance is the mother of devotion that it is not necessary for the people to haue much knowledge and that therefore not much preaching but that it is sufficiēt if they can say the Lords prayer the ten cōmaundements and the articles of faith which is directly contrary to the scriptures Ioh. 6.69 Ephe 4.13 Philip. 1.9 3.7.8 Colos 3.16 Ephes 5.17 2 Pet. 3.18 Who can lay any such poyntes to us or to any of vs This poynt is not lightly to be regarded yea it is of great moment For the Apostle describeth schismatikes not to be such as make division onely but he addeth contrary to the doctrine which they had learned Rom. 16.17 Yea in the very next verse he describeth them further saying They that are such serue not the Lord Iesus Christ but their owne bellyes and with faire speeches and flattering diceaue the hearts of the simple Doe we so Nay rather we labour onely for the ordinances which the Apostle hath taught vs. In this respect we serue not our owne bellyes but rather for those ordinances sake and to serue the Lord Iesus by them and according unto them we depriue our owne bellyes of that which otherwise they might haue neither doe we vse faire speeches and flattering but by playne dealing for those ordinances of Christ Iesus we procure the displeasure of all men against us As therefore this place maketh for vs and evidently sheweth vs to be no schismatikes so likewise it doth as plainely proue them to be schismatikes that make division for humane inventions either in doctrine or otherwise in practise in the worship of God contrary to those things which they haue learned from the Apostle who also therein serue not the Lord Iesus but their owne bellyes vsing faire wordes and flattering in that behalfe to deceiue not onely the simple but also if it be possible them that are wise Agayne haue we made any departure from the Church We are deprived of our Ministery and so thrust out of our lyvinges perforce against our wills as any man leaveth that which is violently taken away but though we be thus put from our ministery and lyvinges by our Prelats yet we do not forsake the cōmunion of the Church The cause also why we are put out is not for respect of our selues but for feare of sinnyng against God and of aggravating the burden of our owne conscience therby We disturb not the sincere profession of the gospell and worke of the ministery but in all humilitie and with the wordes of sobriety we condemne the corruptions of our profession and of the ministery most duetifully and by all lawfull meanes and no other desiring both to be reformed according to Gods word So in like manner we desire to be eased of those cloggs which hinder both us in the worke of the ministery and also the people so that they neither doe neither can so edifie themselues in their most holy faith as otherwise they and we would doe On the contrary the Prelats stoutly mayntaine and support the sayd corruptions and in loue of them or rather of some other matter depending upon them they hate and molest us Agayne haue we loytred in the worke of the ministery Haue we heaped benefice upon benefice Haue we eatē and drunke and beaten our fellow servants Haue we sought our owne not that which is Iesus Christs Phil. 2.21 Haue we made our bellyes our God Haue we minded earthly things philip 3.19 I speake not these things boastingly as before we haue been charged but onely to purge our selues of those crimes which the former two notes did cast upon us and to proue that we haue not been disturbers but furtheres of the sincere profession of the gospell and worke of the Ministery Therfore let them that do so vntruely accuse us take heed that he whose checke no fleesh shall be able to indure doe not charge them rather to haue taken away the key of knowledge and to haue shut vp the Kingdome of heaven before men not goeyng in themselues neither suffering them that would enter to come in Mat. 23.13 whereas also the word Schisme in the Greeke language signifieth a renting and the word sedition in the latine tongue signifieth seorsim ire to goe aside or a going a side as we haue proved that in these significations we cannot be justly charged with them so let them that doe charge vs in this behalfe see and consider well whether themselues may not more truely be sayde to haue rent themselues and to haue gone a side first from the word the rule of all Churches in the poyntes of doctrine before mentioned and in some other as also in the observing maynteyning of humaine Ceremonyes in the worship of God 2 From other Churches of Christ Iesus both the auncient Apostolicall Churches and also the present Churches reformed in other Coūtryes nether of which either held or doe hold such poynts of doctrine as before I haue named or haue or doe obserue maintayne such humaine Ceremonyes in the worship of God as are here in question We beyng charged with heresye schisme by the Papists for renouncyng the doctrine and communion of the present Romish Synagogue doe truely returne the same charge upon the papists touching herisie and schisme because they haue fallen away from the doctrine and auncient simplicitie in the worship of God that at the beginnynge was in the Auncient Romane Church and in other true Churches planted by the Apostles In like mannner therefore let our accusers in the feare of God consider whither the blame of schisme doe not for the causes before expressed more aptly belonge unto them then to vs etc. Let me yet also though somewhat perhaps out of place ad one reason more to proue the Ministers pleaded for not to be Schismatikes All Schismatikes are abomination to the Lord The Ministers pleaded for are not abomination to the Lord but in grace and favour with him Ergo The Ministers pleaded for are no Schismatikes The proposition or first parte of the Argument is Salomons who among the sixe thinges which the Lord hateth and the seven which the soule of the Lord abhorreth he reckoneth him that rayseth up contention
the officers thereof increased When were the Preists of the law of greater outward authority and tooke more upon thē then when the church of the Iewes touching true beuty was in worst case Serch the scriptures for they beare witnes heerof Yea were there ever so many degrees of dignitie in the Church and doe we ever reade of so great state and pompe of the Preistes in the former tymes as there was of the Preists Scribes Pharises at the first commyng of Christ And were ever things in so bad case before as thē they were So also sinc that the more that truth of doctrine and puritie of Discipline decayed in the Church after the golden and most glorious age of the Apostles the more did the Church grow unto and swell in outward riches pomp and glory Experience also teacheth that the more glorious Prelats are in their outward state the lesse benefite the rest of the Church hath by them because they take the less paynes at the least such paynes as are most agreable to the true Episcopall and ministeriall calling described in holy scripture Wherein then is the true glory of the Church 1 in such ministers of the word and other officers as Christ hath commended 2 In the performance of such dutyes by them as he requyreth that is in preaching the word faithfully in administring the Sacraments sincerely in praying zealously and aptly according to the necessityes of the Church and in executyng Discipline wisely and justly 3 In the effects of the former two viz in true knowledge faith loue zeale humility patience temperance righteousnes peace etc. Touching these thinges the more we want som of those officers that Christ hath cōmended by his Apostles to the Church and the more negligent those that we haue are in their duties the more lamentable it is to see the carved pillers of the temple broken downe and the faithfull workmen in Gods house to be cast out by whose labors it had been before built brought to some good bewty Touching the last what christian heart is so stony that it doth not mourne What eye so drye that it doth not shead teares yea rather gush out with teares to consider and behold the mesery of our supposed glorious Church by the spirituall nakednes blindnes poverty therof I meane the great ignorance the superficiall worship of God the fearfull blasphemies and swaringes in houses and streates so also the direfull cursings the open contempt of the word Sacraments the wicked profanations of the Lords dayes the dishonor of superiours the pride the cruelty the fornications adultryes and other uncleannesses the dronkennes the covetousnes the usuryes and other the like abominations almost as grevous as either heertofore in the tyme or now in the places of Popery when and where there was no preaching at all of the gospell O M. Powel and yee my Reverend Fathers and brethren in the ministery even of the conformable sorte flatter not your selues in this behalfe but behold and pity the wofull and lamentable stat of our Church in these things But to returne heerin you erre not a litle in that you confound the state of the Church and of the common wealth of the Iewes The Common wealth was indeed at that time in much misery But was the Church also amongst them for such thinges as wheerin cheifely consisteth misery in as bad condition Had they not those officers that God had prescribed Were the Preists and Levits either so ignorant or so idle or so scandolous as many called Ministers amongst us Were the faithfull and paynfull Preists and Levites so urged to the observation of mens traditions and Ceremonyes in the worship of God and otherwise so molested as now many godly ministers are Were the people so blind so irreligious so unrighteous as now they are Were the godly forced to heare dumme dogges or corrupt teachers Or restrayned from hearing of those that preached wholsome doctrine or urged to communicate with the Preistes in humaine Ceremonyes to the greife of their soules and wounding of their consciences as many now are The Lord giue you all such consideration of these thinges that yee may not so much labour for outward pompe preferments honors dignityes etc. As for the true felicitie of our English Ierusalem and Sion that God may build up the walles therof and still loue and delight therin G. Powel As Nehemiah having by prayer and fasting found favour with an heathen King for the building of Ierusalem was resisted and hindred by Sanballat Tobiah Geshem etc. So worthy Nehemiah in the beginning of our religious Soveraignes reigne finding grace for the continuance of the prosperous estate of our Church begunne in the dayes of our blessed Queene so many Sanballats Tobiahs and Geshems as there be refractary ministers and Papists deryding and despisyng us labor to hinder our ministery etc. The ods that before he spake of Reply now he maketh likes Is this to dispute ad idem and to the purpose Touching his worthy Nehemiah whom he compareth to auncient good Nehemiah let this be observed that although he speake of the prayer and fasting of the auncient Nehemiah yet he speaketh not of any prayer and fasting of his newe Nehemiah What may be suspected or noted heerin I leaue to the consideration of the wise and judicious reader that remembreth what opposition many of the Prelats haue alwayes made to true fasting and that also knoweth what be the thinges which men may safely commēd in prayer unto God especially for which they may humble themselues extraordinary in fasting before God Touching the Tobiahs Sanballats and Geshems whom fayne he would haue to be those that he calles refractary ministers as well as the Papists let him not deceaue himselfe heerin For the wise Christian readers are able to discerne thē to be most worthy of these nāes that striue most for mens precepts that study more to please men then God that preach not themselues and hinder them that would whose cheefe worke is not to encrease God his kingdome but to uphold their owne fearing nothing more then the downefall therof which also feed not the Lords people with the bread of eternall life but their owne bodyes with the meate that perisheth and with all carnall delights who care not to enrich the Lords people with durable riches that shall not be taken away but plod day and night to enrich themselues in this world and to build great house for their posteritie Such are indeed the Sanballats Tobiahs and Geshems that doe most oppugne the spirituall building of the spirituall Ierusalem Now although this answerer other not much vnlike those before described for a tyme reproch and scorne vs by such odious names and comparisons yea plough upon our backes and make long furrowes yet the righteous Lord in the end shall plead our cause against them and bring forth our righteousnes even as the mornyng Sunne it may be in this world that even
not but that the King and whole kingdome yea our greatest adversaryes doe dayly fare the better by them And this I feare would too soone appeare if they should or could suspend us from praying as they haue doone from preaching The 13 Argument We must pray the Lord of the harvest Math 9 23 38 to thrust forth laborers into the harvest God will not haue men onely to pray but also to use other meanes Ergo The High Court of Parliament must be the more carefull to provide what they may that godly and paynfull Ministers whose labours God hath already blessed may not by head and sholders be thrust out of the Church as they are There is but one marginall note upon this Argument which hath been often answered So also hath all his other answer to the said Argument touching the sowyng of the tares of sedition schisme faction and disturbing of the peace All which doe rather be long to them that teach that a true justifiyng faith may be lost that there is no certeinty of Salvation that plead for ignorance and an ignorant Ministery the mother of rebellion and treason and all other sinnes against God man and other such like things THE 14. ARGVMENT Luc 9 26 In the time of persecution men ought not to be ashamed of the word of Christ but to confesse and speake for the same Ergo. They ought much more so to doe in the tyme of peace in a kingdome and to a King and State professing the gospell Marginall notes G. Powel a As if that Disciplinarian giddines were Gods word Reply Though you take your pleasure of us yet take heed take heed you blaspheme not the ordinances of Christ Such certainly are litle better thē mad men who impute giddines to the Discipline of Christ commaunded to be kept without spot and unrebukeable untill his appearing 1 Tim 6 13 It is no newe thing for them that stands for Gods truth to be accounted mad men 2 King 9 11 Acts 26.24 Luc 15 17 or besides themselues and in these dayes Protestants scared out of their wits But let them that now offend this way and especially that account Gods ordinances to be giddines let them I say repent and come to themselues lest the Lord strike them with a farre worse spirit of giddines then yet they haue which will not be cast out by any meanes no not by prayer and fasting G. Powel b Here againe the Supplicants confesse that we professe Christ and his word Why doe they exclame then If you so call it we do exclame as we doe Reply that we may professe Christ and his word more sincerely without any traditions of men in Gods worship The Churches of Ephesus Pergamus and Thyatira professed Christ and his word and had many excellent things in them yet our Saviour himselfe exclameth and calleth them to reformation of the few thinges amisse with them So did Paule to the Churches of Corinth and Galatia G. Powel c Feare and weaknes forsooth because they will not partake with Schismatikes Let scoffers and mockers take heede Reply Psal 2.4 prov 1 26 that he that dwelleth in the heaven laugh not yea that the Lord haue them not in derision yea least he laugh at their destruction and mocke when their feare commeth etc. Further answer to the 14. Argument G. Powel The argument followeth not for refractary Ministers are neither Christ nor his word as hath been declared before It hath indeed been sayd before but by whom when Reply or where hath it been declared and proved Which of us hath ever sayde that we are Christ or his word As the Church is called Christ 1. Cor. 12.12 so both the Ministers all true beleevers are the Ministers of Christ Lastly they that striue against humane Ceremonyes in Gods worship and for the ordinances onely of Christ Iesus doe striue also for Christ and his word THE 15. ARGVMENT As the Parliament hath had a godly care of severity for the better converting of the Papists so likewise there ought to be the like godly care for their good instruction by such able Ministers as against whom they may haue no iust exception Ergo. In this respect the Parliament ought to doe the more for the liberty of the Ministers suspended etc. I defferr the reply to all the marginall notes to the further answer following G. Powel As if there were not able Ministers inough in both Vniversities in other partes of the kingdome if competent mayntenance might be procured for them for every Congregation without the small hand full of schismaticall Ministers Reply Part of this hath been answered before yet to help the answerers memory if it be weake I tell him agayne that if we had tentymes as many more as there are either in the universities or else where there would be use of them all The Lords harvest is great the day is farr spent the laborers that are are some so weake some such loyterers and some so unskilfull that they make no cleane worke but leaue as much behind them as they gather and carry before them Besides is it a small matter for the Minister to be acquainted with the people and the people with the Minister As likewise for the Minister to affect the people and the people the Minister Agayne are all fit to teach to governe the people that are learned and good schollers in the Vniversity It hath been justly blamed by learned wryters of our side that some Papists haue blasphemously called the scriptures a nose of waxe a shipmans hose But now would God it were not so made in open pulpit by some great schollers that are accounted great divines Yea it is lamētable that in some great places if not in the greatest men preach of the scriptures and yet never interpret the scripture wherof they preach yea that indeed so hammer the scripture as though it were a peece of mettall the which they might worke or cast into what forme themselues best liked who also make the Pulpite a place rather to sheew their owne witt wherby to win credit and prayse to themselues perhaps also to get a Bishopprike in the end then faithfully to deliver the message of God wherby to glorifie God and either to winne soules unto him or to confirme and further in godlines those that are already wonne Lastly who rather playe with the scripture as if it were some gue gawe then wisely handle the same As for competent maintenance I remember what one that hath now turned his coate and every where almost chafeth at vs like a Cooke I remember I say what he once answered a Bishop being asked where he would haue sufficient maintenance for preachers in every Congregation A good thong quoth he might be cut out of your hyde As also what Iohn Baptist sayd unto the people Luc 3 11 He that hath two coates let him part with him that hath
none So say I that for the better mayntenance of the gospell where there were neede there might be many a good share had out of the surperfluity of those that maintayne their wiues in sattin and dammaske gownes velvet kirtles cheynes etc that bring up their children like the children of Noble men that fat themselues and theirs and starue the Lords people and who after their great abundance Preach not so much in 4 yeares as they did before in one G. Powel Suppose there were not able Ministers inough for this purpose Haue not the refractary Ministers then greater reason to joyne with their brethren in preaching the gospell confuting the Papists etc then superstitiously to quarrell about cross and surplice and to forsake their necessary vocation Nay Reply Haue not the Prelats the more reason to suffer us still in the worke of the Ministery with them We are all willing so farre to joyne with any in preaching the Gospell as we may doe nothing against the Gospell to craze the peace of our owne conscience The answerer often charging us with superstition cōvinceth them that say that we doe not that which we doe of conscience For if we be superstitious in not yeelding to crosse surplice etc then are they to us meere matters of cōscience For superstition is not in words but hath her seate in the conscience THE 16. ARGVMENT Ephes 2 14 15 As Christ Iesus to make peace betwixt Iewes and Gentils tooke away the Ceremonyes ordayned by God himselfe because they had been a partition wall betwixt the sayd Iewes Gentils and instituted no other in their places so the Ceremonyes other thinges now in question having been the meanes of much debate amongst us wherby the buildyng of the Church hath been greatly hindred and the enimyes thereof strenghtned they ought in this respect to be removed Ergo. The Ministers now molested for the sayd thinges inquestion ought to be spoken for and releeved and that by the Parliament because none may doe it better The Marginall Notes G. Powel a Hence appeareth what things they be that the refractaryes are offended with why then doe they pretend the gospell of Christ reconciliation with God etc Ad populum phaleras Reply These things being repugnant to the purity and sincerity of ihe gospell under which God will not be worshipped in any such Ceremoniall sorte Iohn 4 23 but in spirit and truth Being also such as for which the Ministery of the gospell is restrayned upon the liberty wherof dependeth the salvation of the people and their reconciliation with God There is no cause why such scoffing and frumping outcryes should be made against us as here else where are made Yea though the ministery of the gospell were not for these thinges restrayned yet being urged in the worship of God they are unlawfull and men standing against them and in all humility desiryng them to be removed by lawfull authority may well be sayd to stand in Gods cause and to plead for God G. Powel c O Martin was an modest man Thanks be to God Reply that you haue no other then Martin to upbrayd vs with who was unknowne what he was and whose writing was never approved by us and who also though he jested at some manners of your side yet never wrote so bitterly as many of you now doe G. Powel d They will offend and yet will not be told of it You haue not proved us to offend Reply in those thinges wherein you impute most offence unto us If we doe offend we are more then told of it yea our punishment is greater then our offence because it is greater both then the law appoynteth and also then the punishment of other whose offences are greater G. Powel e Heat of contention may carry men further then were expedient But are the refractaryes mylder in this kind Witnes all their Pamphlets and libels written against us The first parte of this note is plentifully justified not onely by the booke Scotish Genevating Reply by the most scurrilous booke of The picture of a Puritan and by the answerers owne booke De Adiaphoris but also by this presēt answer injoyned and allowed by authority wherein for ought I know there are more rayling scoffing and untrue speeches then are in all the bookes here unjustly termed pamphlets and libells If any notwithstanding of us doe offēd in this kind they are not iustified by the rest yet this is not to be forgotten that they that be the loosers and goe away with the blowes may be the better borne withall in their words G. Powel f A disgracefull terme But doe they acknowledge themselues non conformitans and schismaticall Reply If the word conformitan be a disgracfull terme is ther not disgrace in Conformity and being conformed For are not these words Conformed conformity and conformitans coniugata Why then are we urged to conforme Eyther therfore you justifie vs in not conforming our selues for who would disgrace himselfe or else you doe ill to say we call you by a disgracefull name when we call you conformitans G. Powel g Suam scabiem affricant Reply It needeth no answer All men know and dayly heare how they galle us in every sermon and how litle we deale with them G. Powel h A malicious lye There are fewe or none in the Church of England so ignorant and so scandalous in the Ministery as here the suppliants insinuat and if any such be amongst us sure I am that upon complaint and intimation otherwise they are severely censured and punished for it Yet I must giue them to understand that scandalous Ministers for life are more tolerable in the Church then such as be factious Schismaticall or scandalous for doctrine and phanaticall conceits Plus enim nocent doctrinae scandala quam morum delictae Reply Neither malicious nor lye All men good bade doe too well knowe too many both ignorant and scandalous to be in the Ministery If it might please his most excellēt Majestie or his most Honorable Councell to send out Commissions into all Countryes and to appoynt indifferent Commissioners neither Bishops nor any other Prelaticall persons because such are partyes but religious Noble men and gentlemen to inquyre of this matter the truth would much better appeare to the everlasting reproch of all those that doe so justifie the present state of the Ministery For the rest of the former note who knoweth not that one lewd person how base and abject soever may and dayly doth procure worke more trouble to a good Minister and doth more easily prevaile to his ejection then twentie good men though of never so good credit yea then somtymes the whole Parish besids though never so great can doe for the good and peace of the best Minister That also for a man not to were a surplice or make a cross in the ayre or I cannot
16. Argument G. Powel 1 If the question be but subscription cross etc wherefore then haue they maynly cryed out that it was the cause of God etc All this is often answered Reply The least transgression of Gods word and the least obedience to Gods word is the cause of God as well as the greatest I wonder the answerer was not ashamed so often to repeate the same things G. Powel 2 VVe hold not Subscription Ceremonyes etc. absolutly necessary to salvation nor to be imposed upon every Church for why should not other Churches use their liberty Yea our Church hath power to alter these particulars yet we know some ordinances necessary for gathering assemblyes establishing of a Church and be as it were bonds and links of society How doth the first poynt of this answer agree with that that some of the great Prelats hold Reply that their authority is Apostolicall and the Ceremonyes matters of order and decency Are not thinges Apostolicall and decent common to all Churches Or may our Church alter that that is Apostolicall Or why should these ceremonyes be more necessary for our Church then for other Churches Or not decent for other Churches and yet decent for ours If also Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction be in vested into the crowne except the King and with him the officers of the crowne be only the Church our Church hath no power to alter them having no Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction resident in it selfe The latter part of this answer is needles our assemblyes beyng already gathered What a foolish gross absurditie also is it to insinuate that an invisible cross or a smockish surplice should be of any effecacy for gathering of assemblyes G. Powel 3 Yea these particulars Subscription Ceremonyes etc being jmposed by the Church and commaunded by the Magistrate are necessary to be observed under payne of sinne seeing he that resisteth authority resisteth the ordinance of God Reply What if they be commanded onely by the Christian Magistrate not jmposed by the Church Or jmposed by the Church onely the Magistrat beyng an infidell or a persecuter of the Church Can payne of sinne also be without payne of damnation Are not those things that are to be obyed contradictiō under payne of damnation necessary to salvation Hence also it followeth that things once commaūded by the Church or Magistrat especially by both are as holy as the jmmediate commandements of God The particular inconveniences and absurdities heerof are infinit What also is heere sayd that was not wont to be sayd by the Papists against the Martyrs G. Powel 4 That they are thinges indifferent etc. and may be used without sinne we haue proved in a booke De Adiaphoris Reply Alas M. Powell make not such account of your booke De Adiaphoris then which there never came more simple stuffe from any man reputed learned You had neede to recant your blasphemous poynt therein against the authority of Christ Iesus for making lawes in his Church Uerily you might as well haue denyed him to be a King and a redeemer To the 5 part of this answer unto this 16. Argument reply hath often been made That thes things are become bones of contention is onely the fault of the Prelats that striue with might and maine for them They acknowledge that they haue power to alter and remoue them and the see great reason so to doe neither can they giue any reasons but childish for continuance of them and yet to the great dishonor of God and to the greefe of thowsands of the godly they reteyne them For our parts if we were not troubled for them we would be so farre from contending about them that we would never aske after them neither would we care if we never saw them THE 17. ARGVMENT God hath lately visited us with a fearefull pestilence which yet is not ceassed and the end of all his chastisements is Psal 94 12 Heb. 12 19. Revel 3 19 Levi 26 18 Iohn 5 14 Psal 193 Psa 116 12 to make us all the better by them Yea to make us more Zealous which if we doe not he threateneth worse thinges unto us God hath also lately mightely delivered us from the greatest danger that ever any people were in to this end also that we might prayse him the more and that all Estates may more seriously consult and deliberate what to giue unto the Lord for all his benefites 2 Chron 32 25 And this is the more to be considered because the Lord tooke the unthankfulnes of Hezekia in a small matter for his health very unkindly This our former deliverance also was the greater because it was wrought without the meanes of our prayers Ergo The High Court of Parliament ought to be the more Zealous for the gospell etc the rather now because they know not at least many of them whither ever they shall haue the like opportunitie agayne or no. Yea that so also their thankfulnes may be as publik and renouned as our deliverance Yea their zeale must be the more against all Popery in respect of our danger by the Papist for the rooting out of every stump thereof that their soules may haue the more comfort especially in death and that their memory may be the more honorable with all posterity This is the generall substance of the 17. Argument though amplified by many perticular places examples of scripture Now let us see what is sayd against the same in the notes and in the Further answer Marginall notes G. Powel a The mistake the ends as those Gentiles did who affirmed they were plagued because of the Christians contempt of their Gods Reply Nay you haue forgotten your Logike in mistaking the end for the efficient cause The Gentils did not affirme themselues plagued to the end the Christians might contemne their Gods but because they thought they had contemned their Gods This error is in all the answer following For the author tooke not upon him to particularize the sinnes for which God had visited the land but onely to shew what the Lord looked for from us both by his works of Iustice and also by his workes of mercy and goodnes amongst us Therefore the notary and answerer in all that followeth sitteth besides the cushion Agayne what doth this note else import but a soothing up of thēselues and of all other in their sinnes that they may not enter into perticular examination and judging of themselues When as euery man and every state should perticularly censure and judge himselfe and his sinnes to haue had a stroke in provoking the wrath of God so against us And therefore happy had it been for the Prelats if they had smitten themselues upon the brests for their hard dealing with the Church in restraynyng the Lords servants that would haue given every one in the Lords houshould his portion in due season So happy also were it if every other state and person would doe the
like touching their perticular sinnes The second note with b is nothing because the schisme is not yet proved against us Though we deny not but that for our sinnes the Lord hath visited this land as well as for the sinnes of other yet not for any schisme of ours The like I say for the like cause of the note with c And though it behoveth the Parliament especially to consider of the workes of God as representing the body of the land yet I wish all other likewise to consider of the same G. Powel a I will not descant of the Suppliants meanyng in alleaging this example The wise may consider it So the wise may consider how foolish malice is Reply for want of matter from words to wrangle with a mans meaning The example is good and holy The Bee will gather hony out of a stinkyng weede but the Spyder sucketh deadly poyson out of the fayrest and sweetest flower The flatterer careth not what he say against one so that he may please another G. Powel e To wit by setling the state thereof against hereticall Papists and schismaticall refractarves I grant this Reply it beyng understood of such schismaticall refractaryes as in part rent themselues both from the Apostolicall doctrine and also from the auncient Apostolicall Churches as likwise frō all other Churches throughly in doctrine reformed and so stand in medio betwixt such Churches and the Romish Synagogues Who also beyng admonished thereof in duetifull manner by their brethren yea by some speciall works of Gods loving severity doe persist in their sayd schisme in a most refractary manner G. Powel f As if no good could come unto the Church but the restitution of schismaticall Ministers which is indeed no good Reply Let the reader be pleased to see whereupon this note is gathered and he shall see that there is no ground therof The author onely asketh a question upon former promises whether such and such thinges considered the Parliament would dissolue their meeting without doeyng any further matter in that behalfe that is for the Ministers pleaded for then they had donne He doth not say without doyng any good but any further matter insinuating thereby that they had done something allready agayne he speaketh not of all causes but only sayth in that behalfe But this is the answerers sophistry Sophistry often detected Howsoever he say no good hath been done by Ministers whō he calleth refractary yet thowsands that feare God can testifie that the Church hath received more good by such Ministers then ever it hath or will by any Papall Prelats careles Non-residents trencher chaplins and idle bellyes that seeke their owne and not the thinges that are Iesus Christs and who are noted in all publike meetings for reformation of abuses more to hinder then to further all good motions against the Papists against swearing for the religious observation of the Saboths etc then common Christians at the least then those that they doe contemptuously call laye persons G. Powel g What godlines is there in wilfull and malicious confronting the Magistrat in repinyng at their brethren and superstitous for sakinge their callings flockes and all to the vndoyng of themselues their wiues children and frends Reply None at all But who doe more comfront the Magistrat in all kingdomes then Papall Prelats that hold their owne jurisdiction to be iure divino by Gods law and that therefore deny all Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction to be absolutly invested into the crowne of those kingdomes where they liue that take upon them to deale withovt law besides law and directly contrary to law and that many wayes oppresse the Magistrats subjects at their pleasure As for us I haue sayd before I say agayne and it is published to all the world in the booke intituled A protestation of the Kings Supremacy that we are so farr from confronting the Magistrat that we attribute much more unto him then all rhe Prelats doe Touching repinyng at brethren I know none guiltie heerof except wishing that Christ Iesus may haue his owne the Church her owne the Magistrate his owne the Ministers of Christ and the subjects of the Magistrat their owne yea every Byrd to haue her owne feathers I know none I say to repine except wishing of these things and that every mortall man would content himselfe with his owne be to repine The rest of this note hath been answered G. Powel h A calumnious censure What Reply To say that vnworthy persons are thrust out into some of their places that are deprived A man need not to ascend into an high mountaine or to ryde many myles out of London for proofe therof The next note with b after h and before a as though the Notary had forgotten his alphabet is often answered The next note also with a after b is not worthy of answer G. Powel l VVe must wisely distinguish between such things as are proper to the Papicy and what they haue by vsurpation but are proper to the true Church of God Are Coapes Surplices and Crosse etc Reply proper to the true Church of God If they be not why is this noted upon the authors petition in this Argument for removing of Popish ornaments If they be then either it is no Church or an imperfect Church that wanteth them G. Powel m Proper thereunto Are no appurtinances of Romish religion to be hated Reply but such as proper thereunto This is wonderfull For what appurtinances are there of Romish religion which agree not either with Iudaisme or Paganisme We are therfore to abhorre whatsoever appurtinance of Romish religion whereof there is no necessary use in the service of God and which were better abolished then reteyned Thus much to the marginall notes of this 17 Argument In the rest of the answer he dealeth deceitfully racking divers particular examples applyed by the author only for amplyficaton and illustration of this generall Argument or of some perticular branch thereof racking I say such perticular examples and applying them to the maine conclusion and petition as intended by the author for a severall Argument to confirme the same Wheras in like manner he might haue done the like with divers other perticulars in this generall Argument comprehended But let us see what he sayth Further answer to the 17. Argument G. Powel In this Argument the Suppliants doe certeynly very worthily christianly discourse as of sundry other things so especially concerning the Lords great mercyes etc. In these words let the contrariety of the answerer to almost in his whole answer written Reply be observed For he being a scholler his words must be schollerly interpreted Because therfore we are not to doubt but that the answerer remēbreth as well what he hath learned in the Ethicks as in the Elenchs of Aristotle may it please the reader to vnderstand or rather to remember that Aristotle in his sayd Ethnicks maketh
great difference betwixt bonum bene good and well iustum and iuste that which is iust and justly For he teacheth that good just things may be done by evill and ujust men which haue not the habit eyther generally of goodnes or perticularly of Iustice but he sayth that only good and just men which haue the habit of goodnes and justice Marc 6 20 can doe things well and iustly And this distinction is agreable to holy writ For Herod is saide to haue done many thinges viz. that were in themselues good the like may be sayd of Saule and divers other But certaine it is that evil men can doe any good or just thīg well and iustly This commeth onely from the spirit of regeneration and from a true faith wrought thereby without which it is impossible to please God For as much therfore Heb 11 6. as this answerer doth here testifie generally of the Supplicants that they doe discourse in this Argument not onely of many worthy and Christian poyntes but also worthily and Christianly yea very worthily and Christianly contraritie yea also for as much as he setteth this downe for a certeynty saying certeynly how doth this or can this agre with all the reproch full termes before given by him unto them of Schismatiks Refractaryes wilfull contenders with the Magistrate presumptuous censurers wilfull and malicious confronters of the Magistrat boasters lyars impudent blind and ignorant persons false Prophets fowers of sedition disturbers of the Church etc For can it be sayd of such men and that for a certeynty that they discourse very worthily and Christianly of sundry things Let it not be sayd that to discourse is but a matter of wordes For their is the same reason of words and works No man can say well and rightly that Iesus is the Lord 1 Cor 12 3. but by the Holy Ghost Though an evill man therfore may speake many good and Christian things yet onely good men speake good and Christian things well and christianly G. Powel Doth God plague us because of the proceedinges against the refractary Ministers And not rather for our horrible sinnes of security pride unthankfulnes etc This is certeyne and the rest unproved I haue told you Reply of your mistaking your Logike before The author disputeth not perticularly of the sinnes that moved the Lord to visite vs etc but of the generall end wherfore he did both correct us but also magnifie his mercy towards us The which he applied to the particular poynt of favor for the Ministers molested Notwithstanding to answer your question though it cannot be denyed that for other sinnes the Lord hath so heavily scourged us yet why should the suppressing of the Ministery of the gospell be concluded Was not to receiue and heare the Disciples of our Saviour which were sent out by two two but for a time to prepare men for the gospell so great a sinne that our Saviour pronounceth that it should be easier for Sodom and Gonorrha in the day of iudgement then for such a City Mat. 10 14. 15 as should not so receyue and heare his Disciples and shall the silencyng and depriving of so many Ministers setled in perticular Congregations and all ready blessed in their labors be accounted no sinne Yea not onely the silencyng of them etc but also providyng that they shall haue no other meanes whereby to maynteyne themselues their wiues and children God open your eyes to see and moue your hearts so to cōsider hereof that yee may not flatter your selues but see your sinne herein Yea because your selfe speake of unthankfulnes as one speciall sinne provokyng Gods indignation what greater unthankfullnes can there be then so to intreate his servants whom he hath so graced and blessed Iudge your selues yee Reverend Fathers that are principall actors in this matter that yee may not be iudged of the Lord. 1 Cor 11.31 Take heed I humbly beseech you in the feare of God take heed I say in time least fire breake forth frō the Lord and there be none to quench the same In the destruction of Ierusalem by Nebuchadnetzer 2 Chron 36 16 and the carying of the people away captiue to Babell and in the last desolation of the same City by the Romans the like misusing of the Lords Prophets is set downe as one principall cause therof Mat 21.35 23 37 And who I beseech you in such misusage of the Lords messengers had alwayes a principall hand Had not the Priests of the Lord that should haue done the contrary Serch the scriptures and see if they bare not witnes in this behalfe If God once set things in order before you Psal 50.12 shall it be sufficient to pleade that the Ministers of his word against whom yee haue so proceeded were Schismatikes refractaryes etc. Alas alas this wil be but a weake plea. Yee haue herd before that the Prophets were so termed Lastly concernyng the particular sinnes by you mentioned and other the like from whence doe they more proceede then frō the restraint of the word by the Preaching wherof they would be eyther repressed or restrayned If the libertie and free passage of the gospell worke an holy feare humility and duetifull thankfulnes yea if the preaching of the word doe restrayne the most wicked and reprobate themselues that they bite in their lips hold their hands and refrayne from many sinnes which otherwise they would commit as it cannot be denyed doe not security pride unthankfulnes all other sinnes come from the restraint of the word The answer to the Second supposed Argument in this 17 conteyned hath in part been answered before because it hath been proved that we are no Schismaticall Ministers Touching the rest of the sayd answer we deny not but that there are other meanes wherby that Honorable Court may testifie their thankefulnes yet this hindreth not but that this may also be one yea if it be granted that there are other then by vertue of relation this also must be granted to be one Yea if mercy to the soule be more then mercy to the body as the soule is better then the body and the misery of the soule greater then of the body and cruelty to the soule worse then to the body then it followeth that this is a speciall principall meanes wherby to testifie their thankfulnes His answer to the third supposed argument in the 17 Argument hath also been answered The same I say of his answer to the 5 supposed argument Onely therin the answerers censure of the Parliament if they should restore us is to be observed viz. that they shall not onely attract guilt and remorse of Conscience but also preiudice their Honorable age and make their names reprochfull to all posterity This toucheth not only the Lords of the upper house and body of the Commons in the Netherhouse but also his most excellent Majestie without whose Princely authoritie nothing can be
might be the more suitable to the Arguments thēselues that the author of them might haue no cause justly to blame me for disgracing his work and the cause it selfe by a contrary course and that the mindes of the Prelats may rather be molified towards vs. then any thing more exasperated against us If it fall out otherwise and that our mildnes doe still increase their rigor God I hope shall giue us patience to indure whatsoever he shall suffer them to doe unto us together also with such comfort as all the world shall not be able to take away from us For we are so throughly perswaded from the evidence of Gods truth revealed in his word and sealed up in our hearts by his spirit the cause wherein we stand to be the cause of Christ Iesus that we say with Paule Acts 21.13 we are ready not to be bound onely neither onely to loose our livings but also herein to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus I speake not this seditiously and therfore let no man so wrest my words but I speake with that mind and in that manner that Paule spake the former words to signifie our readines for suffering any thing which the Prelats shall do unto us not for doyng any thing to resist them Some of thē harpe much vpon this string as appereth by wresting of our words in most malicious manner in the former answer against us yea they seeme also to thinke long for some law or other of this land to be wrested against us to make some of us examples unto other by sheading of our bloud but if they should so fare prevaile which I hope they shall never doe in the dayes of gracious and mercifull King Iames nor in the dayes of any of his most Royall bloud let them remember the words of Ieremy in the like case Ieremy 26 14 15 to the Priests and Prophets that sought his bloud As for me be hold I am in your hands doe with me as you thinke good and right But know you for certeyne that if ye put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent bloud upon your selues and upon this Citie and upon the inhabitants thereof etc. For of a truth the Lord hath sent me to speake all these wordes unto you Yea let them not onely remember those words but so also take admonition by them that in the presence of God they be not guiltie of high treason against our most Christian Soveraigne against his Royall issue and against the whole land by provoking the Lord to inflict such judgments upon all as the wordes before mentioned doe insinuat We are in their handes 2 Chron 24 22 ready without any resistance meekely to suffer any thing but he that judgeth righteous iudgment though he sit in the heavens will looke upon it and one day as Zechariah in the like case sayd will requyre it as indeed then he did Not withstanding I am so farre from Prophecying or wishyng any judgment to the whole land though I cannot but feare it that I doe and will earnestly pray Ioel 2.17 Gen 18 26 spare this thy people ô Lord and giue not this part of thyne heritage into reproch etc. Yea I doe the more hope of mercy in sparyng us yet a while longer because of the great multitude of the righteous in the land and because perticularly of many that haue been and yet are under Christ dressers of this the Lords vineyard that day and night whiles many Prelats eate and drinke and take their ease and pleasure doe pray the Lord of this his vineyard to let it yet alone Luk. 13 8 and to spare it a while longer But for all this whosoever shall procure the bloud of the meanest of us to be shead under whatsoever pretence let them know that such bloud shall cry louder in the eares of the Lord of Hosts for vengeance upon the procurers therof then ever we haue cryed in the eares either of our most gracious Soveraigne whom God long preserue in person and in vprightnes of heart or of the High Court of Parliament for Iustice If their shall be iudgment merciles to him that sheweth no mercy what shall the portion be of the cruell bloud thirsty Iames 2 13 Pro 21 13 Verely though they cry yet the Lord shall not heare them As also they that put the Martyrs to death missed of their purpose so shall all bloud thirsty and ambitious Papall Prelats Epist 243. Sanguis martirum semen Ecclesie The bloud of Martyrs is the seed of the Church and foecundi saith Calvin sunt martyrum cineres The very ashes of Martyrs are fruitfull The truth may be oppressed but it cannot be suppressed yea the more it is oppressed the more it shall bud forth spring If one of us in this cause should be put to death though perhaps under colour of some other offence by perverting of words wresting of law or otherwise yet for that on the Lord can rayse up ten yea there is nothing that hath made or doth make the cause of Papall Prelats more odious and the reformation desired more gracious and honorable even with some that before the consideration of that which I now say were of another minde then the unjust and especially the unmercifull proceedings of such Papall Prelats against the seekers of reformation Philip 1 28 Therfore in this case as the Apostle exhorteth the Philippians we doe in nothing feare our adversaries because as to be our adversaryes in such respects is to them a token of perdition if they repent not so also to be hated and persecuted by the Prelats is a like token to us of salvation and that of God But beyng so confident why doe we conceale our names to our writings Because as Christ Iesus notwithstanding all his heavenly fortitude without any defect did for all that oft tymes hide and with drawe himselfe from the furie and rage of the Priests Scribes and Pharises till his appoynted time was come so doe we by this meanes hyde our selues from the violence of some of our Prelats To your conclusion I will answer litle because it hath litle that hath not been answered before Wheras you say that wordes are to be numbred to so great states I answer that words are not onely to be numbred but also for the quality truth modesty sincerity and equity of them to be weighed and considered which if you had doone your whole labor had ben spared If you did greiue in your soule to heare us complayne of our povertie why doe you by bitter rayling false accusations and most unjust vnreasonable wresting of your antigonists words against all other Ministers of his sorte ad affliction to our affliction doe you not know that by this circumstance David amplyfied his cōplaynts and deprecations against his adversaryes Is this to iudge wisely of the poore Psal 69 and 109.16 Psal 41.1 Whereas you wish us to be a shamed of
which for some causes not fit to be written being sometimes shorne make a great cry yeld litle wooll And though the answerer by this adage seeme to esteeme us no better then swyne as also in his other booke De adiaphoris it pleaseth him to compare us to Apes yet indeed may he well say that the most of us haue but litle wooll on our backes we haue been so long and often shorne shaven that we hage nothing left but our very skine Yet it may be that some of our adversaryes hope for wooll and fat from our livings G. Powel d As if his Majestie would be displeased if any promoted a religious or honest cause A malepart and presumptuous if not a disloyall censure Is this man in his right minde Answ that he maketh such collections The author perswadeth all men from all such un-christian and disloyall suspitions of his Majestie how then may this note be applyed unto him contradiction in the answerer In the last Argument or rather conclusion of all the arguments where the author speaketh of some that are alwayes accusing and disgracing the ministers pleaded for with Nobles and Princes the answerer maketh this marginall note An vniust calumny Whether it be so or no let all men iudge as by his whole answer so particularly by this note and them that follow yea by his whole answer to all the preface before the arguments But to returne sith sometymes some feare that even of Christian Princes which they nether need nor ought to feare what mallepartnes presumption or disloyaltie was there in the author to prevent such feare Doth not the Apostle often times Rom. 7.7 and 9.14 and Galt 3.21 and often else where prevent objections that might but needed not be made Shall he therfore be charged with malepert presumption against God and his trueth G. Powel e I knowe not wherto all his whole Paragraph tendeth if the Suppliants deeme not his Maiesty to haue forsaken his first loue and to haue revolted from religion at least in shew for a time f A malitious uncharitable and unchristian allegation to be applyed unto the whole State that loyally obey his Maiestie especially to his Nobles and servants Answer O uncharitable collections Let the reader by them judge whither this man doe not accuse vs and provoke what he can our gracious Prince his Nobles and all other against us Yea directly contrary to the words of the author who laboreth by the whole Paragraph spoken of by the answerer to perswade all men to conceaue well Honorably of his Majestie according to many former most worthy testimonies of his Princely piety and religion And albeit all in the sayd Paragraph be spoken onely to that purpose yet the answerer wresteth the same as intended also against the whole State especially against his Majestie Nobles and servants But he that iudgeth righteously to whom we commend the cause and our selues shall one day make our righteousnes knowne G. Powel g If they had perticularly applyed these things their mallice had been the more manifest Answer It greeveth this answerer most that we are not so maliticious as himselfe and that we giue no just occasion of further quarrell with us When they want matter of just accusation then they pretend that aliquid latet quod non patet some thing is hid that is not manifest But of this afterward G. Powel h No bolder securer censurers of all sorts degres of men under the cope of heaven then these singular selfe conceited refractaryes Answer Yes this notary is a more bold and secure censurer in as much as in his notes before he hath censured the author of the arguments and all other desiering that which he desireth of what sorte and degree soever for that that is not expressed neither intended nor any wayes to be justly gathered from his words When this censuring he speaketh of is proved by any of us let the partie against whom it is proved beare the blame thereof If any man censure a tree according to the fruites it bearerh he doth no more then he may G. Powel i How prodigall they are of the Kings thanks Answ This note sheweth the prodigalitie of this answerers mallice and words The k. is answered before G. Powel l Is a triobular pamphlet such an huge quantity or volume It may seeme the pen man of this supplication was the worthy author of the late two leaved libels Seeing words as this answerer saith in his conclusion ought to be numbred to so great States Answer why should respect of brevity be thus scornfully objected to the author Especially considering the other manifold waighty affayres of that Honorable assembly unto whom the sayd Arguments were directed If the Arguments were a triobular pamphlet what would the answere haue been without them especially without all his cavils reproches vnjust colections vayne repetitions and that false ground that alwayes he buildeth upon viz. his supposition that we are schismaticks The answerer his former booke also De adiaphoris what were it with a lesse margine without the great multiplicity of sections and if every bird had her owne feather The two leaved libells wherof he speaketh are perhaps the more offensiue vnto him because some of them doe attribute more authority to his Majestie then they would haue us to doe or then the prelats doe that the challenge so much to themselues G. Powel l Such presumptuous and selfe conceyted Elihues are these male content Ministers who take upon them to instruct such as be wiser then themselues Vide Gregorium in hunc locum Answer What a thing is this For want of matter against the author this answerer falleth out with the worthy Elihu as a presumptuous and selfe conceited man whose wisedome notwithstanding modestie and singular humilitie are evident in holy scripture by his silence till other more auncient then himselfe had spoken all they could as also by his pleading the cause of God himselfe when all the rest there present had geiven over the same in which respect also all in these dayes that plead for God against the oppositions of those that would be accounted the onely wise and learned men are likewise reproched as presumptuous and selfe conceited and lastly by the elegancy eloquence of his speeches and by the profound and divine matter therin conteyned Finally are humble petitioners that bow themselues to the ground before them to whom they doe petition are such petitioners I say before heaven and earth to be proclaimed presumptuous and selfe conceited instructers Is this the man that erst now blamed other as bold and secure censurers A REPLY TO THE FVRTHER ANSWER OF the preface to the Arguments G. Powel Some haue foolishly made a breach and division amongst us about crosse and surplice etc. Wisedome consisteth in understanding what the will of the Lord is Ephe. 5.17 And in a
conscience of keeping Gods commaundements and observing his word Answer Deut. 4.6 The which to reject is the greatest folly Ierem. 8.9 We haue made no breach or division at all But as Ioseph for telling his divine dreames was hated of his brethren and at the last sold a way to strangers by themselues and as the blinde man Iohn 9. for confessing Christ and stoutly standing in that confession was throwne out of the Iewish Synagogue by the Pharises so to use the words of this answerer we are violently and unjustly broken of and divided and thrust out of the ministery by other and yet charged that we haue made a folish breach and division G. Powel And therefore I cannot allow the opinion of such as giue out Answer Yet we doe all as hartily and faithfully loue and affect our Prince and King yea of whatsoever religion and are as ready and willing to defend his person honor against all adversaryes etc. that these our factious brethren are as dangerous enimyes vnto the state as the papists etc. Neither you nor any other haue ever yet had or ever I hope shall haue cause justly to speake write or thinke otherwise concernyng either our loue loyalty towards our Soveraigne or our duety to any of his governors yea though we should cunningly be solicited to some vndutifull practises as some not many yeares since were in the dayes of late Q. Elizab. of most Honorable memory who were so farr from enterteyning any such motions as that most dutifully they discovered the same to other in higher authority Though I say we should be cunningly solicited to any undutifull practises or to the approbation of any such practise yet I trust that never any of vs shall be found so to offend against his Majesties meanest and lowest officers G. Powel D. Elmer late B. of London gravely sayd If I were in the company but of one Papist I might justly feare the losse of my life but being amongst ten thousand Precisians well might I be afrayd of my Bishopricke but never of my throate the one would cut my coate and the other my throate The Precisians as it pleaseth B. Elmer to call them never desired the Bishopprickes of any of their adversaryes Answer but onely that they would giue glory to him that sitteth vpon the Throne and cast their miters at the feete of the Lambe acknowledging him worthy of all rule and Dominion contenting themselues with the places and Honors commended in the scriptures according to an other apothegmaticall exhortation of the sayd Bishop both made openly at Paules crosse and also printed before himselfe was so advanced in the world viz. that Bishops and other Prelats should come downe from their thowsands and content themselues with an hundred vntill which abasing of themselues and resignyng that which uniustly they hold reigning as Lords Kings over the Lords inheritance neither the Church of God in generall neither our Soveraigne in speciall shall haue so much service and good by their service neither themselues so much peace and comforte of conscience as otherwise would be G. Powel Though they be free from suspition of treason and rebellion yet it cannot be denyed but that presumptuously and willfully they contend with the Magistrat impugning his authority in things indifferēt Cannot that be denyed which never was neither ever can be proved against us Answer 1 We deny that it is the Magistrats meere pleasure that we should conforme otherwise then by mis information of our adversaryes against us as David upon the like mis information of Ziba against Mephibosheth gaue all to Ziba that had been Mephibosheths 2 Sam. 16.2 Yea they doe not only giue all the mis informations them-selues against us which they can jmagine or wherwith they are informed by other but also they labour what they can to keep the Magistrats from all right information in our behalfe by any other yea they indeavour their vtmost to keep both Parliament and all other from mediation for us 2 Though we yeeld not in all thinges required of us yet it is not presumptuously and wilfully but in all humility modesty we contend not by the sword nor any violence but onely by word yea pleading the word of God for our cause Our contentiō also is in a patient suffering with a duetifull cleering of our innocency against the false imputations wherewith we are burdened The things in question haue been said but never substantially proved to be indifferent in such sorte and to such vses as now they are urged Our adversaries haue so long strivē to maintayne the things which they call indifferent for such uses as to which they are not indifferent that they haue made religion it selfe an in different thing to many men In things truely indifferent it is already justified and shal be further justified if neede requyer that we attribute no lesse to the magistrat then our adversaryes doe Let them name in what sense and degree the Papists deny the Soveraignty of Princes in any thinge and I doubt not but that it may be proved that themselues holding their owne principles doe deny the same in the same sense and degree G. Powel All of them make a faction and schisme in the Church for carnall respects some because they know not otherwise how to be mainteyned some to gratifie their benefactors and Patrons and to please their frends some for discontentment and want of preferment some for giddines of innovation etc. What all M. Powell How doe you forget your selfe Answer You should haue left this generall judgment of all to the generall judge of all There is none of these of whom you speake but for the world and outward things they might liue better conformyng then not cōforming themselues What benefit haue any by gratifying their Patrons Will their Patrons giue them better mayntenance otherwise Nay some Patrons are their adversaryes and are gratified by them that put such Ministers out that so they may present againe etc. Some so displease their frends heerby that by their displeasure they loose more in one day then they get all their life by any Ecclesiasticall living Some also by displeasing their frends doe not only lose temporall benefits for them and theirs but doe also hinder themselues of as great Ecclesiasticall promotion as many or the most of the conformable sort doe ateyne unto Some by their troubles for this cause having had good patrimonyes haue consumed wasted them so that in their age when they need most comfort they liue in penury and want and at their death leaue not so much to their wiues many children as was left to themselues alone Some by want for this cause are forced to take their children of very great hope and forwardnes for learnyng frō the schoole and to make them apprentises to their owne great greife and in time to the detriment of the Church Agayne this imputation of
sometimes then the Lords day it selfe this is contrary both to the 4 commaundement and also to many other Scriptures Gal 4.10 Coloss 2. 16 which condemne such observation of dayes and tymes The holy dayes also now commaunded to be kept may be abrogated by the Magistrate as wel as other that were wont to be observed But I hope that although some are bold to say as much of the Lords day yet our Prelats will not publikly allow of any such rash impious opinion The 14. Canon commaunding all divine service prescribed in the booke of common prayer to be read upon the dayes appoynted without any diminishyng in regard of preaching or in any other respect is agaynst charity and consequently agaynst the word For the weaknes of some mens body at all tymes is such that they are not able to reade all and to preach At sometime also the strongest man may haue such an infirmity that he may not be able to endure the performāce of both In winter many times the extremity of cold will not permit the whole auditory to continue so long at Church Then will some say let preaching by such persons as are so weake or at such times be omitted This indeed is that which many would haue But this is to performe bare reading before preaching ignorance before knowledge and the ordinances of man before the commaundements of God The 18 Canon for bowing at the mention of the name of Iesus is absurd in that respect because the place whereon it seemeth to be grounded philip 2.10 is not literally so to be understood First for that it speaketh of things not only in earth but also in heaven and under the earth in which places ther are no knees 2. It speaketh not onely of men but also of all other creatures For it saith of all things By the literall interpretation therefore all creatures at the mention of the name of Iesus should bend their knees 3. By this interpretation no man must sit whilst any thing is read that hath that name or else the must rise at the mention thereof to bowe their knee 4. It is superstition to giue more reverence to the name Iesus then to the name Christ God Iehovah or the Holy Ghost 5. If the knee be so to be bowed at the name of Iesus why not also at the name Saviour For what doeth Iesus signifie but Saviour 6. The place speaketh not of that which is due to the name but of that which is due to the person of Iesus So the Canonists are deceaved with that fallacy which is a rebus ad voces 7. It speaketh of that which is due to him as well in private as in publike places in our houses at our tables in our beds as we sit as we walke as we ly If then we sit at table or ly in our beds etc we must not speake of Iesus but we must arise to make a legge Lastly this name Iesus is no more then Ioshua who therfore is called Iesus Act. 7.45 It is also the name of Iozadak Zech. 3.1 compared with Ecclesiasticus 49.12 and Ezra 3.2 and of the Sonne of Syrach and of one Iustus Coloss 4.11 The common people therefore for want of preaching and by their owne negligence being so ignorant that they cannot well discerne the name Iesus our Saviour from the same name of other they may mistake themselues and bowe the knee as well at the mētion of other so named as of Iesus our Lord and Saviour and so ignorantly they should commit blasphemy That which is said for defence heerof by some that we should the rather bowe at this name to testifie our hatred against Arrianisme is more dotage thē divinity and therfore not worthy any answer The Deitie of Christ is more manifest by other names especially by the name Emmanuell then by the name Iesus Touching the Canons for Coapes Surplices Crosse and other Conformitie as also touching the present Hierarchie and manner of ordaynyng Archbishops Bishops Preists Deacons etc and for Subscription it is too long in this place to set downe perticular reasons against them Therfore I referr the reader to perticular treatises of those things both hertofore and also lately written The 49. Canon for no Minister to preach or expound any Scripture or matter of doctrine without a speciall licence in that behalfe is a most lamentable contrariety to the word which commaundeth every Minister both to be apt to teach and to teach indeede And I would gladly know of such Canon-makers whither those that they call by the name of Ministers be Ministers of the word or no If they be Ministers of the word shall they not haue power to expound and preach the word by vertue of the said Ministery Yea doe not they themselues when they ordayne them Ministers bid them take power to preach the word It is yet more lamentable in the sayde Canon that they commaund all Ministers not specially licensed to preach or expound in their owne chardges onely to study to read plainely and aptly without glozing or adding the Homilies already set forth or heerafter to be published etc. For doe not these words plainely import that some Ministers are not able to read without studiyng for it even after they be made Ministers Yea doe not the words onely to study to read plainely and aptly the Homilies etc. implye a precept against studiyng to read the scriptures which are harder then Homileis especially against studiyng to preach heerafter O miserable condition then of such people as haue such Ministers as must goe to schoole to learne to read the Homilies not the scriptures yea and which must not study at all ever to Preach The 53. Canon against confuting of any publike doctrine how hereticall or dangerous so ever before the Bishop be made acquainted with the said doctrine is most prejudiciall to the salvation of the hearers of such erroneous teaching For the soules of men beyng by nature as capable of any errors as their bodyes are of any infectious disease and the Bishop of the same Diocesse sometime perhaps dwelling or beynge an hundred myles from the Church wherein such errors were delivered and the life of man being most uncertaine and Bishops themselues being sometime erroneous and therefore not very hastie to haue errors confuted may not many a soule be infected with such error yea and dye in them before any remedy can be had against them This shall suffice for a tast of the contrariety of divers Canons to Gods word If I should perticularly runne over other that haue like cōtrariety this volume would much exceed both my owne purpose and also the likyng of all readers Before I proceed to the Canons repugnant to the lawes of the land let me here interlace one reason in a word generally to proue both the Canons and also the booke of Common prayer now imposed upon Ministers not yet to be established by law and so consequently all the proceedings of the