well as Apostatical from its right Guide and Rule as hath been shewed And the Elder and the Healthy hath some pretence to Govern the Younger but the Younger and Sickly no manner of colour to Govern his Sound and Elder Brother which brings me to the Third and Last Point to prove That the Church of Rome hath no Superiority or Mother-hood over our British Church in respect of its Extraction or first Plantation of the Gospel SECTION IV. Rome no mother Church to Brittain in respect of Extraction or Plantation of the Christian Faith but much Junior to it WHich it never had from Rome nor by its means but without it altogether and for a good space of time before it had any Chair to boast of Our Brittish Islands by remarkable Providence being exempt and distinct from all the world as to subjection though not to Communion (a) Ms. Bernesii Doctoris Pontificii apud Spelman Concil p. 28. not only in respect of its seperate scituation and the Supremacy of its Crown but the Antiquity and Independancy of its Sees But rather than to be dumb and confess and yield the cause the Romish Advocates will stand up and pretend some out of Simeon Metaphrastes that St. Peter himself made a long abode in Brittain and converted many and ordained Bishops Priests and Deacons amongst us and at the founding of Westminster his apparition and Ghost appeared to direct the Builders which Legend is not worth an answer not only for its suspected Author but for its ill conduct against its own Interest and forgetting its cause making Brittain no more Inferiour but equall and co-ordinate to Rome and Sisters from the same Spirituall Father St. Peter But others with more colour will object did not Augustine the Monk sent from Rome about the year 600 convert this land and especially the English to the Christian Faith Had they not quiet possession of their plantation for about a thousand years till they were wrongfully justled out by King Henry the Eighth in a Rebellious manner Is not the Chair of Canterbury which derives its descent from Rome and Austine Superiour by publick allowance to all the Chairs of Brittain besides to ascend higher to stop the mouths of the Ancient Brittains that plead more Antiquity in this Island than the English or Saxon can or do whose first landing here was not till about the year 449 Did not the Pope Eleutherius through Faganus and Dwywanus he sent hither with others Christen their King Lucius about the year 170 and convert and Baptize the rest of the Nation and settle Bishops and Arch-Bishops amongst them where Flamins and Arch Flamins were before as appears by their own Histories And is not this a sufficient Title that is 1500 years standing to prove the Church of Rome the fountain and Mother Church to Brittain and if a Mother where is the honour and Obedience that is due unto her But if it shall more fairly and truly appear 1 That the Church of Brittain was planted by the Immediate followers of our Saviour either Apostles or Apostolical men shortly after his Resurrection and before St. Peters Arrival at Rome whether that tradition be true or false and the same seed though sometimes in some parts of the Nation mixt with tars in other parts more purified from them continued among us without failer especially in the Northern and Western Parts of this Island from that day to this 2 If the whole passage by consequence between Eleutherius and King Lucius cannot be allowed for true which Savours of the latter Arts of Rome to compass Sveraignty contrary to the express words and tenor of Eleutherius his Epistle and answer to the King and the subsequent Practice of the Bishops of Rome for some hundreds of years after him while they continued good 3 If Augustine the Monks arrival here was a manifest Intrusion upon anothers Province without Invitation or consent of the Christians of the place to Invade and subjugate and destroy the Brittish Church by the help and means of Pagan Enemies then making War upon them as Jackcals and Vulturs follow Camps for Prey whereby he and all his Clergy stood depos'd and degraded of their Orders and all his party of Christian communion by the concurrent suffrages and Canons of all the Generall Counsels of the whole Catholick Church that went before him 4 If the Controversie between the Church of Brittain and Rome in those Early times was the same that is now maintained against it by the Protestant Church of England at this day touching its Superstitions and Arrogated Supemacy with this difference that there was no roome nor place then for those Sophismes now us'd where was your Church before Luther or Henry the Eighth but both still agreeing in their manner and temper of Proceeding now as then and then as it is now on the one side great learning and Truth and piety on the other as great Ignorance and Arrogance with lying wonders and Massacres 5 If the Gospel was Providentially planted amongst the English or Saxons by Brittish Ministry and not by Romish and the Church of Rome by its bewitching Power and Grandeur in degenerare times over all this part of the world did but invade and disturb both the English and Brittish Church and ravish their Sees and disorder their Consecrations and successions and Vnchurch it self thereby and attempt to enslave our Crown as well as Mitre 6 if Henry the Eights relief of both Crown and Church was just and Providentiall and also Brittish and not the unsettling of a Right Possessor but the lawful ejection of an old Intruder And the peace and Interest and Glory of this Nation is fairly pointed out by Providence to consist in pursuing this design 7 If the Primacy of the See of Canterbury be from the Grace and pleasure of our Kings and Laws who can alter it as they think fit and not from any Ecclesiastical Right of the Pope according to the Laws and Canons of the Universal Church but rather in contrariety unto them And Christian Subjects ought to submit to the supreme Magistrates Right and pleasure in ordering such external matters about the Church as clash not with Salvation If these seven points shall appear as clear from proof and evidence as they are in the model and supposition will it not inevitably follow that no English much less Brittish Christian subject of what perswasion soever can with any conscience or thankfulness to God renounce his Mother of Brittain to own a Forraign Church for his Mother or desert his Colours to list himself under the Conduct and Supremacy of Rome to Act against his own Church and Country without being apparently convict before God and the world as well as his conscience of being a Renegade to his Church and false unnatural to his Country and as our wise Laws upon good grounds declare and define a Perfidious Traitor against his Soveraign First then it may be affirmed what cannot and is not
with there Prydydhion Or at least that some worthy Wellwisher to the Brittish Nation would oblige thousands of grateful hearts and God himself by so good a work in commiserating the Spiritual condition of men and Maid-servants resorting hither from Wales for service who for several years while they are to learn the English tongue and to be able to keep pace with the volubility of Pulpits which learners of other Languages find to be too quick for the ear in the most stayed delivery are for that time in the condition of the Deaf Born without they had a Church built and assign'd as other Nations have for a morning Family service and Instruction which others that well understand the English would however resort with gladness to out of imbred delight and satisfaction to speak to their God in their own tongue and both might easily be effected with little or no charge to the friend of the Brittains but the procuring by his interest or Authority publick rule and countenance for the same And on the other hand we find the English not wanting or tardy even in times of former Hostilities to unite and incorporate the Brittains with themselves by all manner of Civility consistent with their ends of dominion For in the North beyond Humber where the Saxons did most settle and overflow g Hist Brit. l. 6. c. 13. perswading King Vortigerne it was for his better defence and safeguard against his Northern enemies the Lords and Gentry that did resist as having most to lose fared the worst by it but the rest or the Brittish Communalty had fair and alluring conditions given them as before and intermarried altogether g Hist Britt l. 6. c. 13. But in the South or West Saxon Kingdom where they were the Major part for Poll no doubt they lived in a far milder Aire and kinder usage as appears by that West Saxon h Spelm. Con. 129. Leges R. Edward Confess apud Lambard p. 148. Constitution in Sir H. Spelman attributed to King Ina about the Intermarriadges between the English and the Brittains who used the like policy towards the Danes i Not. in Faedus Aluredi Guthruni apud Lambardum though their enemies Vniversi Angli qui tunc temporis extiterunt uxores suas ceperunt de Britonum genere Britones uxores suas de illustri sanguine genere Anglorum hoc est de genere Saxonum hoc enim factum fuit per commune concilium assensum omnium Episcoporum Principum procerum comitum omnium sapientum seniorum populorum totius Regni per praeceptum Regis Inae praedicti Ita fuerunt tunc temporis per universum Regnum Brittanniae duo in carne una gens una populus unus miseratione divinâ All the English universally in those dayes married their Wives out of Brittish Families and the Brittains in like manner their Wives out of the Noble Bloud of the English or Saxons For this was done by the Common Council and the assent of all the Bishops and Princes Peers Earles and all the Wisemen and Elders and people of the whole Kingdom and by the Commandment of King Ina aforesaid so then over all the Kingdom of Brittain they were two in one flesh one Nation and one people by Gods mercy But the authentickness and truth of this Constitution is doubted by that Learned Knight not that it could be supposed that either the Brittains or Mr. Lambard were the Inventors of it but that it supposes King Ina to have married King Cadwaladr's Daughter and Heire of Brittain whom Malmesbury mentions to have had but one Wife and with her and by her perswasions to have ended his dayes at Rome in the Armes of the Apostles as then they were imposed upon yet confesses that Humphrey Lhuyd that great Antiquary and Herald averrs Ina to be Cadwaladr's Son others his Granchild and the Brittish names of the Kings immediatly succeeding Ina Cedwalla Centwin Escivin Cenwalch is some argument of affinity in use between them but this Western Constitution seems rather to refer to the time of k G. Malmsb de Gestis Angl. lib. 2. c. 1. Egbert who was Regis Inae de Fratre Inigildo abnepos King Ina's great Nephew by his Brother Ingild who first reduc'd by his Armes the rest of the Saxon Heptarchyes under himself as one Monarch over all for then saith the Constitution which proves it to have been made when as one Kingdom it was to have but one name deinde universi vocaverunt Regnum Anglorum quod antea vocatum fuit Regnum Brittaniae then all agreed it should be thenceforth called England which before was called Brittain as being his own right now not so much by Conquest wherein his numerous intermingled Brittains were not the least serviceable to him as by descent and title from the Brittish Kings the former Rightful Proprietors So naturally all right Titles usurped and invaded for a time long to return to their Right owners as a stone to its Center when the force that held it in the Aire is nigh expir'd And so this decree for Inter-marriadges was in further acknowledgment and corroboration of the right title to extinguish enmity and distance and to unite the people in one Brittish bloud Or if there was never any such decree or Law then the least that can be imagin'd is that it was some prophecy far exceeding Merlin's for event and perspicuity that got into their Rolls and Registers For what is there more plain and manifest than that the three parts of Great Brittain the Alban-Brittains or the Scots and Loegrian or Locrine-Brittains or the English and the Cambro-Brittains or the Welsh who alone ever surviv'd visibly distinct are all soderd and united into one and the same Nation by Marriadges and Bloud and name and Government And that therefore in all probability considering the Attributes of God his Justice and mercy and that prophetical Aphorisme of our Saviour All they that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword Mat. 26.52 Rev. 13.10 and the Brittish Tradition Twylh y cyllilh hirion a dhial ar y Saeson Treachery and long Knives apace will bring down vengeance on the Saxon race and the shortness of the Lives and Lines of Conquerors and bloudy men Psal 55.24 and how ready God is to have done correcting and to burn the Rod when the Child amends If all mens Cards and Pedigree throughout this Isle were known or confess'd that there would be found over all the Nation more than an hundred to one that were of Brittish extraction to any that were pure Norman or Dane or Saxon or Roman or descended either from their Martial Leaders or or Females of their Camp And further touching the Brittains of Wales apart which no doubt were the chief Gentry and Nobility and the military part of the Loegrian Brittains driven out of their Seats and Lands by the Saxons as the †Buchanan Rege 86. p. 211. H Luyd
Brittish Rights and Priviledges as the Catholick Goths and Vandalls to succeed St. Peter The Conquerors and Conquered being the same persons in fiction but as much against the will of the one as with the desire and lust of the other like Jonas in the belly of the Whale But the English and Brittains are further one and the same people by Adoption of Laws more than by the power of the Sword and by Contracts and Treaties and Surrenders and Trust as Wives are the same persons with their Husbands The English therefore are bound to maintain the Rights and Immunities of the Brittish Church in point of Honour and Trust as well as for their own Concern and Interest When the a Liv. Decad. 1. l. 7 Campans could not prevail with the Romans to take their part against the Samnites who were too strong for them they surrendred their City and Country to the Romans and pleaded by their Embassadour Quandoquidem nostra tueri adversus vim c. vestra certè defendetis If you cannot be prevail'd upon to defend Our Interests against our Enemies we leave it upon you to defend your Own Tum jam fides agi visa deditos non prodi Then they conceived themselves bound by Faith to defend their charge and Prostrate allyes which was a greater tye upon their noble spirits than the preservation of their Empire and there is no spirit so mean nor a Hen upon any dunghill to be found without the like sence and concern and courage to power towards her young ones in like dependance And as a greater part of the Loegrian-Brittains came under the power of the Saxons by guift and alliance and by craft r Dolo non fero W. Malemsb lib 3. de gestis pontific Londin Dr. Heylin Help to History p. 37. more than by the Sword so when the Brittains of Wales agreed with Edward the first to accept a Prince of his nomination that were born in Wales Å¿ Dr Powel History of Wales and understood no English which proved to be his own eldest Son born about that time in Carnarvon Castle and ever afterwards the eldest Sons of every successive King of England this his Heading the body of that Nation with his own Son on the one hand whom they believed to be their own flesh and bloud on the other was a manifest Incorporation of Wales by the Intention of both in the person of the Prince several †Statul Ann. 12 Edw. 1.27 H. 8. c. 26. Acts of Parliament giving confirmation afterwards thereunto But which is the fullest completion of Union Both Nations are one not only by Law but by Bloud not in the Prince of Wales alone but in the King himself which is all in all He being bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh For our English Kings and Princes are now more Brittains than any of our Cambro-Brittains being Royal-Alban-Loegrian-Cambro-Brittains all in one and the same person and therefore more bound by Nature and Honour as well as Soveraignty to be zealous to assert the Ancient Liberties of the Brittish Church against Rome's Enchroachments and usurpations than any other Brittains whatsoever Now no persons can be imagin'd to be made one and the same by stronger tye than by such triple Union by bloud and by their wills and consent and by necessity whether they will or no And though generous natures are apt to be free and liberal yet what wiseman ever parted with his Birth-right or what person of spirit or honour ever relinquish'd or betrayed his trust and charge over the Rights of others out of liberality I shall conclude these Previous Observations against vulgar mistakes and comprize my subsequent Proofs in a passage of an Anonymons Author published in the late times reported to be Mr. Selden and very right in this Their courage at last revived and by divers Victories by the space of 200 years God stopped the hasty conquest of the Saxons the result whereof by Truces Leagues Commerce conversation and Marriages between both Nations declared plainly that it was too late for the Saxons to get all their bounds being predetermined by God and thus declared to the world In all which God taming the Britton's pride by the Saxon's power and discovering the Saxons darkness by the Britton's light made himself Lord over both people in the conclusion These Suppositions premised I come to Positive proofs for the Conversion of the English that it was by Brittish Ministry and not by Roman For some of our Incomparably Learned Writers give it almost for graunted though they sufficiently fortifie against the inconvenience that our English Christians stand not so secure from the danger of this Romish pretention as the Brittish do For the Brittish Bishops sayes the great and good Dr. Hammond u Dr. Hammond of Schism p. 113. still holding out against this pretention and that with all reason on their side if the title of conversion which the Romanist pleads for our subjection may be of any validity with him it must needs follow that the Whole Island cannot upon this score of Augustine's conversion be now deemed schismatical it being certain that the whole Island and particularly the Dominion of Wales was not thus converted by Augustine nor formerly by any sent from Rome or that observed the Roman Order as appears by the observation of Easter contrary ro the usage receiv'd at Rome but either by Joseph of Arimathea or Simon Zelotes as our Annals tell us most probably And this in the first place must needs be yielded by those that expect to receive any advantage by this argument But which is more if the Whole Island as well as the Dominion of Wales and the English as well as Brittish Sees may be equally proved to have had their conversion from Other hands and not from Rome it may seem worth while to shew this because it will fully stop the mouth of Rome as to this brag and quite remove all imputation and colour of Schism out of doors And the positive proofs for this may be rank'd under two heads 1 For a pure Conversion 2. a Mixt. By the first I mean a Conversion of the English Nation by men men of Brittish Extraction and Descent as well as Doctrine and Dissent to the Supremacy of Rome and its other errours that is by Brittains only without the assistance of any other Nation in this work By the second I mean a Conversion wrought by men of Brittish Principles Ordination Mission and equally opposite to the Roman way and order but of Different Extraction partly Brittish and partly of other Nations yea and of their own Touching the pure Brittish conversion of the English by the Ancient Brittains alone x Antiquitates Eccles Permultos Reges Anglo Saxonas conversos ante Augustinum nisi nostris externis fidem detrabamus p. 8. before the arrival of Monk Augustine little occurs in Bede but what he is forc'd now and then to drop and halâ—
confess to prop his other Arguments and Interest to which he was more addicted nor left remaing in Brittish Histories as can yet be found It being justly believed that they were carefully suppressed or adulterated by the Romish Power while it here prevailed as Instance was made before in Geoffrey of Monmouth's History and Gualter who were both impos'd upon or else consumed y H. Lhuid fragm Brit. p 58. with their Libraries in Pagan Conflagrations of the Roman-Catholick Contrivance But in the Scottish Histories which better escap'd and can be less suspected of partiality nothing is more plainly delivered and repeated than that all the English Nation or a very great part in all probability were brought over to the Christian Faith before the arrival of Augustine or Mellitus Hector Boethius saith in one place there was a very great part of the English as yet unconverted before their landing z H. Boethius lib 8. p. 171. Augustinus Mellitus missi ut Anglorum gentem ad eam usque diem majori ex parte pietatem aversatam Christi dogmate ritè Instituerent But then gives the reason of this obstruction and defect a Ibid p. 150. Aspernabantur ut plurimum Saxones Brittonum sacerdotum tum Gualiam incolentium doctrinam tametsi veram proficerentur invisae magis Gentis quam discplinae de quà multa atque praeclara frequentiùs audverant odio permoti The Saxons for the most part slighted the Doctrine of the Brittish Clergy that Inhabited Wales although it was true and Orthodox being moved thereunto more out of hatred to that Nation than to the Institution of which they had frequently received many excellent characters and reports they were ashamed it seems to be converted by them whom they had Conquered right or wrong for their Converters were not yet driven to Wales as this Historian supposes but lived in Lhoegr amongst them as before and were in great part their flesh and bloud but God in great mercy to both removed this obstruction by the Victorious Arms of some of our subsequent Brittish Kings turning this their carnal Height and Pride into necessity and Interest to embrace the Faith For when they were reduced by King Aurelius Ambrosius whom Gildas calls vir modestus whose Tomb Polydor Virgil conceives Stonehenge to be the terms given them by the Conquerour were b Ibid p. 171. Migrant Ambrosii edicto Cuncti Saxonum generis ad bellum idonei c. All of English or Saxon Race that were fit for War were ordered to depart the Land and the rest made Tributary and suffered to remain behind in Albion or Lhoegr on condition of their embracing the Gospel so all that stayed behind became Christians in Truth or at least in Shew And when their Recruited Forces were afterwards Conquered by King Arthur c Hect. Boethius l. 9. p. 161. Saxones viribus fracti cum spem nullam haberent c. The Saxons when they were so quite defeated that they had no hopes of ralling any Forces together to make head any more came bare-foot and bare-head before King Arthur to beg his mercy and pardon supplicibus Regis clementia pepercit ea lege ut sacro ad moti lavacro Christiani fierent aut-si id minus placeret fortunis ac armis exuti Insula excederent The King Graciously pardoned them only with this proviso that they would become Christians and be Baptized or if this pleased them not that they should quit the Realm leaving all their Arms and Bag and Baggage behind them Whereupon all being to profess some did it in sincerity and Truth but many only dissembled their Religion to reserve themselves for better times Which last clause perhaps may have more of uncharitable conjecture though d Buchanan l. 5. Reg. 45. p. 148. Buchanan concur therein with Boethius than of Historical Truth for charity and kindness here where all was forfeited out weighed the force And nothing more agrees with the heart than Christian Religion managed by Right and Able masters of Assemblies such as our Brittish Clergy approved themselves to be towards others not long before who had been equally their Enemies towards the Irish in St. Patrick and the Scots and Picts and Caledonians in Ninius Kentigerne Constantine c. as before But after the three Christian Nations here of Brittains Scots and Picts ruined one another in e Hector Boethius lib 9. p. 165. Civil Wars between Arthur and Mordred who laid title to the Crown f Ibid. p. 160 The English came to prevail again and drove the Military Brittains in like manner as themselves were served into Wales and other places yet the rest were permitted to stay behind under Tribute and Subjection and their Clergy amongst others till Augustine's coming for about 100 years and here that obstruction of Force which is so contrary to Religion being removed the Saxons were again coped with with the meer power of the naked Gospel and the Sword of the Spirit only in the weak hands of their captives and were more reduced than ever as it fared before with the other parts of the Heathen-Roman-World whom the Gospel overcame with its arms tyed behind it Their work of Conversion in the Capital Kingdom of Kent arrived to a publick toleration by g Ibid p. 166. the Prince himself as was instanced before Father to Augustine's Ethelbert which argued himself was not far of from the Kingdom of Heaven if Pride or an equitable restitution of his Kingdom on Earth upon his own conversion to the right owners had not stood in the way so difficult is it according to the Gospel for the Rich and Great to enter there And also the great Kingdom of Mercia with King Penda himself as some conceived and Bede acknowledges h Bed l. 3 c. 21. Math. Westm Anno 640. thus much that he well liked those Christians that walked answerable to their Religion received Christ's yoak from those that were now under its own and so did the Other Heptarchs saving Ethelfred King of the North the sole Furious Patron of Heathenism and Resolved Enemy of Christianity †Hector Boethius l. 9. p. 169. Homo in Britanicum genus odio Infensissimo An implacable enemy of the Brittains upon that score who made War upon his own English for turning Christians k Ibidem p. 172. Mercios Saxonas quod Christi Religionem fuerant amplexi dispendio ingenti afflixerat Did greatly michief the Mercian Saxons for no other cause but their yeilding to be Christians so he served or threatned the other Kings Minatus ad hibito juramento Australibus threatning the Southern English that is with this Historian the rest of the Heptarchies in the South set against his own in the North For Redwald King of the East-Angles next unto him was feign to confederate with other Christian Heptarchyes for his preservation against him which supposes the like Conversion by his like danger and necessity of Allyance l H.
Boethius l. 9. p. 171. That because they deserted the Religion of their Fathers and violated the Worship of their Gods perinde atque Brittannis atque Scotis se hostem futurum that he would be their enemy no less than to the Brittains and the Scots And lost his life at last in his Holy War against the East-Angles having lost an eye before in Scotland and a great Army at Bangor where he was also wounded breathing out his impious Soul like Julian only better for his constancy but not inferiour for his Heathenish Cruelty Deorum Religionis Protector Christiani Nominis Hostis ut vixi morior m Ibid. p. 172. I dye as I lived the Protector of the Religion of the Gods and the enemy of Christ and all his Christians who therefore was a very fit and useful Instrument for Monk Augustine to comply with for the destruction of the true Christian Religion here in Brittain that opposed the Roman and to plant his Popery instead and accordingly made use off If therefore the English were not all converted in their Hearts under Arthur and Aurelius because of the force It may well be presumed from the contrary reason that the Heart it self did not hold out against the Divine power of the same Ministry acting in its external weakness and exinanition God by his great Providence having us'd all means both harsh and easie to soften and chafe the hard and stubborn hearts of the English to receive his Gospel and shap'd and cast the Brittish Nation for their use and the use of all Germany through them into the mould as it were of Christs first and second coming to work and make impression upon them if it were possible either of the two wayes With this difference that here Humility came after Power to to win by Intreaty what it could not compass by command and force as there Power will come after Humility to bruise with irresistable destruction what it could not prevail upon by Grace and love And when all would not do delivered them over to Popery as it were to Satan or Antichrist to be chain'd in spiritual slavery and darkness with many other Nations for about a thousand years And then visited them again in mercy with the comfortable light and Glorious Liberty of the Reformation handed also to them by their Kings when they came to be of Brittish race to try their love to truth once more before his last stroke and Eternal destruction of the Impenitent and Incorrigible But nothing of the former passages though the truth thereof hath left sufficient markes and effects behind it in Saxon Laws and Homilies extant quite dissonant to Popery in several principles as shall hereafter be mention'd how remarkable soever occurrs in Bede's Popish History not a word of n Munster Cosm p. 552. Offa the Son of Ethelfred preaching the Gospel to the Germans beyond the Rhine Anno 603. and building Offenburg and Schuttern as Munster Notes nor o Ibid. p. 580. St. Columbanus our Irish Monk of whom the same Munster saith Certò Constat We have certain knowledge of his propagating the Gospel far and wide through Germany the passages being within the time and business of his History and for the Honour of this Land only tending too much to discover that the Gospel was preached by the Brittains to the Saxons in the houses of their Fiercest Kings which Right to that Nation was against Bede's Theme and humour to acknowledge But Ethelfred and Oswald being both Princes of his Countrey and Climate he is Civil to them and endeavours to do Right to both respectively in Magnifying the Vertues of King Oswald which are undenyable to Superstition And Palliating and lessening the wickedness of Ethelfred which was as notorious to Indignity seldom doing the least Right to the Brittains the enemies of his Nation and of his Catholick Faith as he openly stiles them lib. 5. c. ult Saving sometimes out of unavoidable necessity and for other ends and Interests as where he is to commend the way and Religion of the Scots and Irish for whom he had greater kindness The Brittish Faith whence the other deriv'd and stifly kept to is inevitably extoll'd by consequence Or when he mention'd the good work of Augustine in repairing Canterbury Church whither Queen Bertha resorted he had like to have betrayed and discovered to a sagacious smell how all then stood How much the Christian Brittish Religion was received and flourished in Kent before the coming of Augustine So the West Saxon Kingdom shall be all in darkness p Bede lib. 3. c. 7. Paganissimi when Birinus comes to convert it but when Aldhelmus is to do exploits in bringing them over to the Roman Easter it shall be very q Idem lib. 5. c. 19. full again of Brittish Christians whom he is to reduce and such is his Conversion of all Mercia by Diuma and but two or three more and the like of the other Heptarchies yet no Ecclesiastical Writer is now more Classic and Authentick than Bede nor any passage of Church Antiquity to be well credited without his attestation so beneficial was his Partiality to the Roman-church to his Reputation and Authority in the World Therefore the other mixt Conversion of the English and full completion or confirmation of the former by Brittish Ministy and Doctrine but not all Brittish persons shall be clear'd out of Bede their own Author against our Romanists and irrefragably evinc'd by cross examination of his History whereby it will appear that the English under God owe their Conversion to the Brittains and others and not to Rome And that Augustine came hither to no better end than to destroy the true Religion like a messenger of Antichrist or at least miserably to corrupt it with adulterate mixtures and Superstitions And the positive proofs out of Bede of the Gospel being preached and planted among the English upon mixt account and especially Northward where the English did most abound and the Brittains were least intermixt amongst them are not so much Proofs and undenyable Instances as Divine Miracles and over-ruling Providences and the manifest Finger of God calling not only for Assent but Astonishment and Admiration That not only Augustin's plantation at York and Kent should be totally extirpated as it were by Divine Retaliation by the same means and method himself contrived and set on foot to destroy our Brittish Church But the Sons of Edelfred swho was Augustine's Executioner to Massacre the Brittish Clergy are made by Gods controlling power the chief Patrons and Propagators of the Brittish Faith over most part of England and Oswald the best of them who for his own virtues was no doubt rewarded with rest and Glory permitted by Gods severity and hatred of his Fathers Murders at Bangor to be slain and mangled and quarter'd by his enemies in view well nigh and sight of that very place And the Brittains by excess of wrong and cruelties from their enemies
attended but with one Clerk or two at the most and after a little refection he hastened presently away to read to his Disciples or to his private prayers after whose pattern and example in that time all devout men and women every where made it a Custom to fast every Wednesday and Friday throughout the year till three a clock afternoon except the 50 dayes between Easter and Whitsontide He never spared for fear or honour to reprove the Rich when ever they did amiss but corrected them especially with great severity He never us'd to give away Money or presents to the Rich and Great in this World but only a kind entertainment when ever they came to visit him but what ever such bestowed upon him he soon imployed it either for relief of the Poor or redemtion of Captives admitting them his Scholars and Disciples whom he so redeemed and fitting them by his pains and Instructions for the Priestly dignity Not a word of Vests and Ornaments or Palls or Crucifixes or Holy Water or Indulgencies or toyes or lyes or Prophetick Murders for they were no Roman-Catholicks but only good Brittish Christians The Right Pictures of Gildas who loved best and truest when they were most troublesom to offenders being lively Instances to guess at this distance at the spirit and efficacy of St. Patrick's Ministry upon the Ancient Irish and Scotch by the Apostolical stamp of such self-denial and contempt of this present World in their hearts and affections out of love to Christ and that to come This worthy Bishop Aidan as his name imports in the Brittish and Holy King Oswald were the Chief Authors and Instruments under God of the Conversion of the English to the Christian Faith over all the Land not only in Northumberland where they Reigned and resided but over the rest of the English Heptarchies by their Influence and good example for Oswald did not only the part of a King in the first Invitation and continual encouragement maintenance Protection of those men of God but bore a great share with them in their Ministry for as Aidan delivered Gods mind in his Doctrine and Preaching so h Bede l. 3. c. 3. 6. l. 3. c. 5. Oswald out of great zeal and humility to the better edification of his Subjects vouchsafed in his Royal Apparel to be his Clerk or Deacon interpreting Aidan's mind to the People wherein he was defective or unready for want of more skill in the tongue and which gave the greatest life of all to his endeavours exemplifying all his precepts by a leading conversation and holiness of life and largeness of Alms and charity hardly to be parallel'd parting with his meat out of his mouth with his dinner set before him to his poor Christian Subjects without that Aidan once wishing this unwearied Arm and liberal hand of his might never fail but be ever supplied by God with heart and substance for it gave occasion to Monkish Historians of the superstitious Letter wherein Bede himself was no mean proficient i Bede lib 3. c. 6. to fain and believe that his arm never rotted or decayed in the Grave forgetting or taking in the better to frame the Legend those Posts or Town Gates whereon King Penda hanged it For as by the Grace of God he exceeded all other Kings in Religion and vertue so in Gods just and unsearchable judgements he no less out went them in the disaster of his end being conquered in Battel by Penda King of Mercia his Enemy who quartered and hang'd up his head and arms for scorn and terrour to all about of which direful end of so good a Christian no conjecture can be made out of Bede of the cause but from the place of the Fathers murders and the Sons sufferings for Bede saith he was kill'd at a place call'd by the English k Math. Westm Marels-feild Bede lib 3. c. 12. Hen. Huntingdon Mesa-feild Locus conterminus Walliae Armonicae 7 millibus a civitate Schrowsbury versus Walliam Monastic Anglic. pars 1. p. 38. Maser-feild not expressing where it lay but Heaven-feild the place he Conquered and killed Cadwalhan about 46 years before Cadwalhan dyed by rearing the Cross he assigns to be about the Picts wall in the North But most probably the place of his Cross and Death was one and the same As Cambden more rightly guesses by several Circumstances to which I have particular reason to add one for at Oswestree where Oswald was kill'd by Penda thence called Oswaldsstree and in the Brittish Croâ—s Oswalht or Oswalds-Cross is to be found Cae-Nef as it is called to this day or Heaven-feild in the English which I have often gone over adjoyning near to the feilds where the ruins of Oswald's Chapel remain by a Well l Ibid. called Ffynnon-Capel-Oswalht where the late Noble Lord Capel drawing his Forces in a body was answered touching the place in my hearing that it was called Cae-Capel or Capel-feild by that famous and strong Warriour Mark Trevor Viscount Dungannon bred and born there and there abouts whom Cromwel had ever a great honour for being the only man that wounded and worsted him in the face of his Brigades which never had been known because concealed by his Armour but by Cromwel's own Ingenious Confession and kindness towards him for his Valour after the Loyal party was reduc'd as I have heard his Royal Highness relate the Story in publick Within 8 or 9 Miles of this place stands Bangor-îs-y coed whose Religious Monkes were so barbarously Murthered by his Father Ethelfred in such numbers as before By the Ministry of Aidan the m Bede lib. 3. c. 3. 6. M. Westmin A. 635. Nullus incredulus tempore Oswaldi in Northumbriâ Idem A. 634. whole Province of York this side Scotland and its English Inhabitants was restor'd to the Brittish Church that is the two Provinces of Bernicia and Deira as that Metropolitan See was divided into were entirely converted such as needed n Usher p. 1004. Bernicia containing in it Eastward the whole County of Northumberland and part of Durham On the West the North-Cumbrian Kingdom erected by the Brittains between the Rivers Derwen and the Friths upon the ruines of the Northumbrian n Usher p. 1004. And Deira the other part comprehending the Counties of York and Westmerland and Lancashire and the South part of Cumberland below Derwen Cheshire about this time being in great part within the Principality of Powys and Brochwael Scythrawg its Prince residing at West-chester as other times at Shrewsbury and there assaulted by King Ethelfred Bede lib. 2. A goodly part of the English Nation especially if we add thereunto the large Kingdom of Mercia where all the English according to Bede lib. 3. were Converted and brought up in the Faith by Finan a who was Discipulus Nennii Bannachorensis Cestriâ Elapsi Nennius his Disciple who escap'd from Chester saith Pitzeus but according to Bede both he and Diuma the other
by his high disloyalty though not by his resolution and many other great parts if rightly used And what makes our Frustrations to be Panegyricks in many mouthes of his Attainments but that having the same men and courage and preparations and more we take not the same method to prosper in a good cause as he did in a bad And to borrow light from vanity what can the skill of the best Player avail if the Dice be altogether against him For some will say that Interest and reason of State all may see that the temper of the whole Nation and the wise may observe that Heaven and fate forbid the banes and realliance of this Land with Popery For who are more miserably rent and divided then we now of this Nation are though restor'd Our people distrusting their Princes and our Princes their people whereby our strength and glory by mutual subductions is brought to nothing like a Merchant that hath 10000 l. Stock and is 20000 l. in Debt and all this only by striving against fate And making Popery and our selves the weaker by favouring it against Profession Interest Duty Oaths Trusts halting between God and Belial between Christ and the Pope between Protestant and Papist being as they say neither good fish nor flesh but deservedly weak and improsperous and contemptible and acting all in the dark like men under fear or guilt or self condemnation yet a sincere Resolution to be firm and true to God and Protestant truth without further doubling Cures the whole Nation in an Instant clears all Debts dissolves all jealousies and fears strengthens all Interests opens all hands and hearts and purses and makes us Brittains again happy and united within our selves and serviceable to our friends and formidable to our enemies and acceptable to God All our Divisions in this Nation for these 1600 years and upwards were ever rais'd and fomented by harbouring Rome within our bowels either with or against our wills The Picts from the North and the Scots or Irish from the West were enemies heretofore to the Brittains though much their flesh and bloud solely upon the score of Rome upon the like inducement as Roman-Catholicks at this day are enemies to our peace and Nation the one gnawing our bowells as the other did Infest our borders upon the same score of Rome For the Roman power ruling here while Picts and Scots were unreduc'd forc'd the Brittains to serve and fight against them whether they would or not and them to fight against us by consequence and Provocation The Roman cheat since prevailing upon many through their want of love to the truth makes men enemies and Spies and Traitors to their own Countrey not through force but by their own choice and zeal to serve and promote the ambitious ends of Forreigners which less intoxicate than mens own personal lusts and passions and renders them therefore more inexcusable and despicable than any other Traitors or Malefactors whatsoever that set up for themselves An hearty embraceing of the Ancient Apostolick Brittish Faith which the Scotch and Irish defended with us heretofore against Monk Augustine and planted amongst the English before he and his Successors sowed their Tares amongst them which our Roman-Catholicks are so fond of would unite these three Nations as one man in mutual love and peace and truth and prosperity and renown and strength and Gods blessing which was the whole aime and designe of this discourse and an effectual care taken against Roman seducers on the one hand and compassion towards the seduced on the other and the exemplification of our own right faith by an answerable good life would under God easily effect this reduction They are unnaturally unkind to their own Countrey that take part with Rome against it which was ever a bad neighbour to our Brittain returning us evil for good It destroyed our Empire through the ambition of Maximus our Church through Monk Augustine whereas we ever did but Cures upon it Planting the first Gospel amongst them before the arrival of St. Peter or St. Paul Ridding their Roman World of the remainders of their old Pagan Idolatry which there was in great power and value by the zeal of our Great Constantine and healing their new Christian Idolatry in good part wherewith it was as much enamour'd by our Henry the 8th his President Let them beware of the Repentance of another Generous Prince descending together from the same Royal Brittish stock and of no less a spirit who being once fully undeceived shall see great wrongs to the Innocent to be repair'd great indignities to his own Interest and honour to be reveng'd and chastiz'd as King Henry did his Incest great oppression to patient Protestancy both at home and in Neighouring Kingdoms yea and great abuse to all Christendom in general by Holy frauds and Impostures and abominable Idolatries to be reliev'd and redress'd to whom Cromwel their Terrour was but a Blazing-warning Meteor who shall unite to himself both the heart of God and of the three Nations by his zeal for his cause and glory against such Hypocrites and everlasting troâ—â—â—â—ers of Kingdoms and Churches and judge it a design commensurate to his Princely Grandeur and Renown to go along with Fate and Providence to put a period to their Kingdom of Lyes and Forgeries and Profanations and begin the overthrow of Turkish by suppressing Christian Antichrist the great enemy of Souls and Truth which gave the other its chief rise and growth and was the first president in Christian Kingdoms of Rebellion against lawful Soveraigns upon the pretence of Religion the only obstacle of the Union of all Christian Churches by his Pride and usurpations And the most dangerous enemies to all humane Society and Government and to all Faith and Truth among men and Christians which support them by Dispens'd Perjuries Licensed Dissimulations Equivocations Mental Reservations Canoniz'd Tteasons c. The like practices being never known or heard of in the World before amongst sober Heathens nor the most wild and barbarous much less amongst the Primitive Christians and Martyrs but only the Gnostick Disciples of Simon Magus If it be the Fate of Brittain to give Rome another Cure and Castigation without which neither England nor Christendom are like be at rest And none are easier and sooner reduc'd than such whose principles and practices have long warr'd against Heaven and the Brittish Proverb saith Drwg y Ceidw Diawl ei wâas The Devil ill brings off his Servant It were to be wish'd and prayed it might please the Almighty to effect it mildly by the Authority and power of a generous and lawful Prince like as Constantine was from hence and not for our neglect raise a Tyrannical Cromwel for the scourge and ruine of their Degenerate Church as he did Ruffinus heretofore for the overthrow of their Degenerate Empire who is a Balaus Cent. 1.42 reported to be a Brittain born and his name greatly proves his Original were he born elsewhere
men as well lay as Clergy are bound to know upon their duty and Allegiance to God and their Country and Justice and Civility to their Neighbours least they be betrayed by willful Ignorance to aid an Usurper against the Right Heir wherein no more learning or Logick is required to master and understand the point but so much temper and Judgement as serves to hear an evidence and discern between soul and body or God and Creature or Christianity and Heathenism or Loyalty and Treason and to lay hand upon heart and to follow either the Laws of God and man whereby all men are Rul'd or fate and Providence whereby they are Over-ruled But whether in Gods mercy or Judgement we are to be freed or continued under our fears and anxieties to the fixed and resolved in faith it signifies no more than putting on a Winter or a Summer habit either the militant Garb of Patience to our great reward and comfort and your great account which alone can abate it or the Triumphant of thanksgiving to the mutual solace and bliss of both But as for the weaker flock whereof Paternal Princely bowels and pastoral charge are ever the most tender with what security and content will they lye down beside the still waters in green Pastures when they shall have such a Shepheard to be their guard and back and a terrour much less a harbour to the Roman Wolves that would devoure them How will the Mountains skip like Rams and our little Hills like Lambs Great and unparallel'd was our joy for your R. Brothers Restoration and your own together to your Ancient Rights and Dignities over us that the whole Nation seem'd like unto men that dream'd but so great is the sence and fear of Spiritual Slavery upon them and their children more insupportable than any Temporal which it also may draw along with it that the joy of that day is like to be but a dream indeed compared to those exultations and full content and streins of hearty Triumphs if heart-strings can hold that shall break out in every street and corner of the whole Nation with Bon-fires and Feasts and praises reaching up to Heaven and thence to earth again in the responses of Angels to our Anthems at the day of your return from the danger of errour to our Church and our blessing and the truth That your R.H. will be more glorious in the end than in the beginning after your Victories over temptations and deceitful guides like the Sun after an Eclipse which is the present trust or shall ever be as it ought the daily prayer and study and Patience of Your Royal Highness most humble most dutyful and faithful Servant T. JONES TO THE READER THe first part of this discourse being deliver'd before a worâ—… City Company and for reasons conceived just to be published comes forth with the addition of what was omitted out of regard to the limits of the time and the order of their feast and with a large corroboration of the chief exhortation therein against Popery Which Controversie is here reduced to one point whereon all the rest depend The Soveraign Authority arrogated by the Bishop of Rome and yielded to by many either more grossly over men's hearts and Judgments whereby many Surrender their reasons to him or to that Church by implicit Faith to Act many things out of Roman-Catholick obedience which the Laws of God and man and Truth and Honour and Conscience and natural affection directly forbid where therefore the dispute will lye between Christ and his high pretended Vicar which of them is God and the chief Sovereign and Legislator of the heart and the measure of good and evil and Judge of quick and dead an Argument of our Romanists being under a manifest curse and blindness to doubt or deny his Soveraignty either by word or deed whom all Christians in their Creeds do and are to recognize for their Lord upon the Peril of Eternal Damnation Or more plausibly claim'd upon some colourable pretences in reference to this Island where the Controversie then must lye between the Forreign claim and yoak of the Triple Crown who had nothing to do here Originally more than any other Bishop and the native rights and Immunities of our Brittish Crown and Mitre which all Inferiours are bound to defend and maintain not out of Conscience or Allegiance only but for fear or upon the Peril of Damnation Temporal and our Superiours also upon their honour and trust and account to God being no less a tye and their own self-preservation likewise it being their essential Prerogative to have none here before them which no chief Superiour can quit without a contradiction and dangerous diminution of his Soveraignty And the first of these pretences is Antiquity whereby some Illiterate amongst our Ancient Brittains are led to believe and stile the Modern Roman Religion the old Faith as if Ancienter than their own true which is 600 years Senior to Apostatical Rome which prevailâ—d here for 700 or 800 years and not a few years elder to Rome Orthodox and Apostolical if not its first Mother and planter before the real Arrival of St. Paul or the doubtful of St Peter amongst them The second is a belief or inconsideration of some few of our Learned English that the English Nation receiv'd their first Faith from Rome by Augustine the Monk and others intruding here whereby Rome can be conceiv'd by such no less than a Mother-Church to England by consequence the third a consequent stumbling block hereupon that our Reformation was Schismatical or the Daughter Correcting of her Mother which were inconvenient for Generous Princes to countenance least they give an example thereby of like disobedience and Insurrection against their own Authority All which pretences being false and groundless in themselves are herein revers'd and pluck'd up by the roots And the true Original Arch-Schismatick and sire of the brood and example is fully detected and unkennell'd the peculiar game and Sport of our Brittish Princes of most Renown and spirit and success Cadwalhan ap Cadvan Henry 8th Q. Elizabeth And not only the Right and Title of our Brittish Church in each respect asserted but the truth of Christian and natural Religion in General is also resolv'd into first and proper Principles of fact or Faith or Reason a Method well agreeing with the Soul and understanding which in all men are stamp'd with the same Divine broad Seal and natural Allegiance to God and Truth The chief principles made use of if heeded being two the difference between the Soul and Body and between God and Creature or between Creatures themselves in their several parts and Characters personating the Rule of the one or the subjection of the other which are ingredients that pervade all duties as 24 Letters all Words and Syllables or 7 Notes all variety of Musick or Black and White all Colours and are themselves resolv'd into their first Authour and Founder in whom alone we live
move and have our being The first and last part of the Discourse are Unison and both practical and of more general use the midle Historical and Polemical and of no less use to several in these unsetled times to have the evidences of their Faith and Church as their Writings for their Lands to lye by them and their Children against any question that shall arise about the title Where known passages of History were necessarily to be rehears'd all possible conciseness is us'd which makes that part of the stile more obscure without a deliberate reading which yet is remedied by the Citations in the bottome of the Page referring to the Authors themselves And sometimes indignation against inclination rais'd the stile where the adverse objections or practice seem'd highly unreasonable or greatly pernicious having no enmity or disrespect to any person or party high or low but to their sin or ill example for their Recollection to prevent God's wrath and out of fidelity to the common Lord and judge of both The word Protestant is us'd as now it notes the Scriptural Apostolical Faith in opposition to Rome's corrupt Innovations and humane Inventions and in the sense explain'd page 488. Else it were very improper to stile our Brittish Faith Protestant which flourished here 1500 years before Luther was born The great and memorable Archbishop Vsâ—er whose memory ought ever to be especially dear to Brittains is often cited in His Book de Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Primordiis which after once naming is not repeated Which he writ at the command of King James as a Collection on purpose for such an use with great pains and judgment and truth and helpes several wayes and partilarly from the late chief Antiquary of Wales Mr. Rob. Vaughan of Hâ—â—-gwâ—â— with whom he corresponded It is not to be said that all is new or old either which is here deliver'd and intended for a compact systeme of satisfactions on this point under one view which before lay more dispers'd and undiscern'd and as some account also of innocence and patience in their defence which have not escap'd the censure of Improvidence and harder speeches and passages there being a Scaffold Priviledge ever due to Sufferers but this may be safely said that though the Notes were old and standing and ought so to be yet the Tune and management is wholly new and sincerely endeavour'd and design'd for the peace and concord of our Church and the stength and glory of our Nation and in all humility submitted to the candid eare and judgment of all Right Fathers and Sons of our Brittish Church of England Farewel A General Table of the Contents PART I. A Sermon touching Christs immediate Soveraignty over the heart and the usefulness of the Christian Doctrine to Societies being the occasion and foundation of the ensuing Argument SECT I. p. 43. The Controversie reduc'd to one single point in General of obedience to the right Soveraign of the heart and Protestancy found Loyal and Popery the contrary in its Principles and Practice SECT II. p. 68. Of the true Mother-Church to all Christians in respest of their In-side and of Rome'sVsurpations SECT III. p. 78. Of the true Mother Church to every Christian in respect of the Out-side and Rome'sVsurpations SECT IV. p. 123 Rome no Mother-Church to Brittain in respect of extraction or first Plantation of the Christian Faith but much Junior to it and more probably its Daughter SECT V. p. 134. The faith never fail'd in Brittain from the Resurrection to this present SECT VI. p. 143. Brittain had not the faith from Pope Eleutherius SECT VII p. 151. The description of the Old Brittish Church in its Doctrine and Discipline and Government and Traditions when Augustine the Monk made his Impression here SECT VIII p. 194. The face of the Roman Church about the same time and of Augustine's qualification and method for his pretended Propagation of the Gospel amongst the English And that the Nation are under no obligation to Rome for his work here but bound by their Christianity to abhor and detest it SECT IX p. 231. That the Gospel was planted among the English throughout their Counties by Brittish Ministry And that Augustine's Roman Plantation here came to nothing and no Bishop left in all this Land of Rome's Ordination but one and he a Simonaick and that the body of the Nation are old Brittains and our Princes especially and therefore by honour and nature bound to maintain the Rights of our Brittish Church against Forreign Enchroachments SECT X. p. 295. That all or most of the Kingdoms and Churches in this part of Europe received their first faith from Brittain yet Brittain pretends to no Supremacy over them upon that account and the Romanists â—loes de se in that kind of Plea SECT XI p. 346. Of the indirect methods of Rome in subjugating this and other Churches under it SECT XII p. 363. The change in Henry 8th rather a Restoration than Reformation and how commencing in Henry 7th and of the Inauspiciousntss of Popery to the Brittish Crown and the success and blessing of Protestant Counsels to this Nation SECT XIII p. 392. That the Primacy of the See of Canterbury as it is settled by our own Kings and Laws is Canonicall and Regular SECT XIV p. 436. That the Primacy of Canterbury as by the Pope and Monk Augustine is Schismatical and against the Canons of the Vniversal Church And of the several Nullities of the Church of Rome in England And how all their Clergy intruding â—here stand depriv'd of their Orders by the Canons of all the Ancient General Councils and their Laity that abet them of their Christian Communion by the same Authority SECT XV. p. 475. A short disquisition into the Cause and Character of the Roman Apostacy in its Leaders and Followers from History and Prophecy and Practice SECT XVI p 503. What the Roman Catholicks truly mean by the term Heretick they so liberally bestow on others and that none are greater Hereticks in Truth and reality than themselves and of their title Roman-Catholick which they so well like And old Rome and Brittain both Heathen and Christians compar'd with the Modern and that the yoak of Rome is not better to us than our present condition SECT XVII p. 562. Where the place of the undoubted true Church is out of whose Pale there is no Salvation And how to be of the Church in Heaven while we are on Earth Page 23. l. 24. read outside p. 177. l. 18 dele as p. 184. ult r. source of p. 204. l. 18. â— the p. 21 â—… l. 29. r. out of p. 237. l. 18. r. after aâ—lin 1â— d. a p. 29â— l. 10. r. of his p. â—08 l. 5. d. say p. 315. l. 18. r. at p. 319 l. 30 r. of Bede p. 358. l. 13. r. of a God p. 379 l. 21. r. soon began p. 392 l. â— r. like to p. 420. l. 10. r. and from p. 468. l. 2. r. where p. 482.
profit of the difference and laugh at the follies and credulity of the appellants The Supremacy of the King in all Causes and over all Persons as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal being that which hath been learnedly evinced by our Writers and is solemnly recogniz'd every day in Gods presence in Prayers and Oaths according to the settlement of our Laws by the Wisdom of the Nation But though this inside of the Church be properly Secular and Temporal because visible yet the Secular Causes which belong to the determinations of Christian Secular Authorities are well and orderly distinguishable into Ecclesiastical and Christian or Temporal and Civill as the whole Commonwealth may be considered either as a Society of men or a Society of Christian men or Church In the first respect as men all are Subject to their own Kings and Laws in matters of life limb and property whether they be Christian or Holy or Heathen and Antichristian as they were before Christ came into into the World and must be to the Worlds end For Magistracy is Gods Ordinance whom all men therefore are to be subject to from the heart which alwayes attends what God appoints though manag'd by a Claudius who was weak and infamously credulous or Nero who for his cruelty was believed by many to be Antichrist for to such the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul command obedience and subjection not only for fear of wrath and power but for Conscience sake and the fear of God Rom. 13.5 1 Pet. 2.14 16. For they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13.2 Yet on this undoubted unforfeitable right of Earthly Kings and Governours according to their several Constitutions by the Laws of their Kingdoms the Pope like a fift Monarch hath ever and still doth affect and design new incroachments as before upon the King of Heaven and spiritual pretences of Superiority Not only by exempting his Subjects and Clergy from secular subjection assuming to be the mother of the Child that 's not her own but also through his Emissaries and influence in the time of his Reign and Power in bringing the Lives of Subjects to the Stake and their States into Forfeiture from their Posterity for Opinions and the Heads and Crowns of Kings themselves to the like danger for the like insufficient cause Absolving Subjects of their Allegiance which Christ binds on every Soul and leading them into perjury and Rebellion which God forbids and damns being not only Traytors against Heaven and Earth therein but which is infinitly worse Traitor-makers as Satan is worse than a sinner and as many Traitor-makers by their Doctrine and what lyes in them as there are Subjects or Polls in any Kingdom they would absolve and seduce Which made the Nation joyn unanimously against their methods not only by Acts of Treason since the Reformation but of premunire long before A very Apostolical and comely deportment in a chief Professor of Christian Holiness and vertue that he and his Missionaries should deserve to be thrust and shoulder'd out like Pests by a wise and a Religious people and their Friends and the door made fast against them with the strongest Barricadoes that could be thought of Hanging and Drawing and Quartering Yea many of his own Confessors and Martyrs our Native Roman-Catholicks to this day who sincerely adhere to all his other Doctrines though Flead Alive with penalties and inconveniences for it yet disclaim and desert his infallible guidance in this particular and would be ready to venter Lives and Fortunes for their Laws and Countrey against any Invasion of the Land though countenanc'd or authoriz'd by the Pope for though such Loyalty be looked upon at Rome with an evil eye as hath lately appeared in the Irish Excommunications for the like principle and profession of Allegiance yet they are resolved to be true to their King let who will call them Hereticks for being honest Subjects And this their Resolution must be grounded either upon Policy or vain glory to avoid the danger as well as the Infamy of Rebellious principles or upon Conscience to God which only is true honour I am apt if I do no wrong to believe the last and to acknowledge and own all such by Consequence as true English Protestants as any in our own Church for preferring Conscience before the Pope which as I have proved is the chief point in difference between Papists and Protestants And the rather if they deal alike with the rest of their opinions which set us at distance from one another by the same rule which if it be good and right must hold in the rest as well as this dismissing all other Tenets that are excepted against and have no support from God or Conscience or the Scripture but the bare Authority of the Pontifical Chair For being so dangerously and perfidiously deceived while trusting to its judgement and of right interpreting in a case so evident and plain and Important as Neck and Estate and Salvation can amount to If they will suffer themselves again to be over-rul'd to differ from their Brethren upon no reason of Conscience but this bare Authority alone whereof they have had tryal of its fidelity and the old sophisme of believing as that Church believes This cannot be counted worthy and filial piety and well weighed Religion in them but a negligent unadvisedness equivalent to plain fault and folly especially there being present suffering and future hazard in the Case according to the known Proverb The Friend that deceives me once it is his fault twice it is my own All differences in our Religion being thus easily compos'd between us if they stand constant to their good principle throughout its consequences as reason binds them to and there will be no reason else to believe or trust their Loyalty what a day of bliss would it be to them and us to go hand in hand together like Christian as well as English brethren to their Churches and ours what peace to themselves in their concerns both within and without what tears of joy would it cause in their Protestant Tenants and dependants who would willingly resigne their lives to see that blessed day what acclamation and bone-fire throughout the Nation for the restoration of its strength and Union what Ecchoes and Halelujahs amongst the Angels of Heaven that delight in mens Salvation and return from Errour But should they offer to make themselves and us and the Nation happy with such a Festival How must they expect to be well lash'd for this by their Old Friends for Hereticks and Schismaticks and Apostates from the Holy See besides the ignobleness of changing and being unconstant to which I shall not now reply But those of them that through Gods Grace assisting them nowithstanding such discouragements and obstacles that will be leaders and examples to their brethren in such paths of Peace and Life and count it Glory and magnanimity to adhere to truth through shame and calumny and but an Heathenish
Regions are parted from neighbouring Kingdoms by impervious Mountains and wild and inhospitable deserts or whether it were that the Ink then in use was Bloud and their best evidences and Records flames and Martyrdom Nevertheless the acknowledged increase of Religion over all the Land in King Lucius his time will attest the zeal and fidelity of this Age to their Principles when it shall appear from the Epistle of Eleutherius that Christian Religion is pre-supposed therein to be settled in this Land before and the King pre-instructed in it And the c Usher p. 141. great Vsher Marshalls about 20 or 30 Authors both Foreign and Domestick to confute and stop the mouths of some ignorant suggestions as if Religion had fail'd or expir'd in this Land between the time of its first planting and Dioclesians persecution For the third Age Origen and Tertullian early Fathers mention Religion to flourish here the one writing about the year 201. Brittannorum in accessa Romanis loca Christo vero subdita That Christ was received as Lord here where the Romans had much ado to enter the other that they were united to Christ in Brittain though divided from the rest by situation And Dioclesians persecution in the beginning of the fourth Age about the Year 303. largely proves the existence of the Christian Faith in this Land which it so fiercely endeavour'd totally to suppress but to little effect Yea to the more corroborating of Christianity here by the exemplary constancy of Martyrs St. Alban and Amphibalus and Julius and Aaron c. establishing it the more by their sufferings and d Bed lib. c. 7. Converting their Executioners with their invincible meekness and patience And occasioning its larger extent and the full Conversion of the Scots dwelling then in the Northwest of Scotland beyond Dunbritton Frith by the Brittish Culdees e Buchanan Rerum Scoticarum Regit ◠p. 122. Spotswood Hist lib. 1. retiring to those parts as Archbishop Spotswood and Buchanan acknowledge the Providential benefit from whose Cells the Ancient Scots denominated their Churches Who in after Ages were extruded saith the same Author e Buchanan Rerum Scoticarum Regit ◠p. 122. Spotswood Hist lib. 1. by a new sort of Popish Monks Tanto Doctrinâ pictate illis inferiores so much coming short of the other for Learning and Piety as they exceeded them in Riches and Ceremonies wherewith they affect mens Senses and infatuate their minds In the Year 313. when peace was restor'd by Constantine they begin saith Gildas f Gildas Epist to Re-build their Churches demolished to the ground and her exil'd Children dissipated into Corners gather themselves together into the bosom of the Church to Celebrate their Festivals and Triumphs over their Enemies to give God the Glory and to attend his Sacraments with pure heart and mind In the following year the Church being in good order we find the three Archbishops of Brittain taking their places and subscribing in the great Councel of Arles in France Eborius Ivor Arch-Bishop of York Restitutus Edrud Archbishop of London and Adelfius Brawdol Archbishop of Caerleon upon Vsk a Roman Colony where a Legion in the Brittish Leon kept their Garrison corruptly set down in the Council with several other places h Concil Arelat Edit Reg Paris Civitate Colonia Londinensium where an uniform Celebration of Easter was agreed upon and thereupon Constantine i Constantini Epist apud Spelm. Conc. p. 4. with good reason assures all the Orthodox Bishops that were not present at the Council of Nice which was held eleven Years before that of Arles that the Church of Brittain with others did agree with the rest of the World in the Orthodox observation of Easter In 347. in a Councel of about 400 Western Bishops we find the Bishops of Brittain to joyn in the Condemnation of the Arrian Heresie and the clearing of k Apol. 2. Athanasius as himself doth testifie About the Year 390. l Usher 787 St. Chrysostom likewise magnifies the Divine power of Christ from the Holy Faith and Life the Churches and Altars in Brittain as it were in another World In the latter end of this Age m Gildas Epist Maximus in this Island making for the Roman Empire exhausted the Nation of all its Fighting men and Arms and Treasure wherewith he Coped with two Emperours Gratian and Valentinian driving the one out of Rome the other out of his Life and leaving the Nation weak and open to the Incursion of its Enemies round about but made far more weak by Gods desertion upon the follies and ill life of Vortigern inviting the Saxons into his pay against the Scots and Picts and prefering the Beauty of Hengist's Daughter before his Faith and Countrey and his Christian Subjects after his example inter-marrying with the Saxon Infidells which was one o Ubbo Emmius Rerum Frisic Hist lib. 3. of the reasons brought over St. German and Lupus to disswade them from such wickedness but all in vain till God gave them and their Countrey over to be barbarously and mercilessly destroyed by their perfidious mercenaries Confederating with their enemies against them who were before too strong for them in their weakness yet God in his mercy rais'd them pious and Couragious Princes Aurelius Ambrosius and Vter Pendragon and the Renowned Arthur who by the strength of a Christian p Ubbo Emmius Rerum Frisic Hist lib. 3. League enter'd into with Picts and Scots made great slaughter upon the Infidels and subdued and chas'd them out of the Land And what further proves not only the continuation but the true temper and life of the Christian Faith amongst them our Brittains were zealous and successful to preach and plant the Gospel amongst their Enemies and Invaders As the most Reverend and Holy Bishop Ninian as Beda stiles him lib. 3. c. 4. about the year 412. Converted by his Preaching the Southern Picts dwelling then between the Frith of Edenburgh and the Hills having his See amongst his own Countreymen at Whitern or Candida Casa translated afterwards to Glasgow that Territory r Usher p. 663. from Dunbritton Firth down to Cumberland remaining then in the possession of the Ancient Brittains and the names of Rivers and Towns and Mountains are as Brittish as in the heart of Wales In the Year 432. the great St. Patrick a Brittain born whether about St. Davids in ſ Humph. Lhuid Frag. Britt p. 63. Wales as some say or at Kirpatrick t Usher p. 819 near Dunbritton as others will have it it matters not much the people and Language in the one place and in the other being then of the same Brittains whence he was stollen with about an hundred more by Irish Pirates and sold for a Slave whereby he had time to learn their Language and was enabled by God to Captivate the whole Nation to Christ both Princes and people and the Isle of ſ Hist Ch. Scot. lib. 1. Spotswood ascribes the
had the name and imputation of being Missionaries of Rome for the Conversion of Ireland and Scotland say their Legends for Politicians love ever to have holy and good men for their tooles and instruments and pretences for so St. Peter and St. Paul their 's name are as often us'd and applyed in the Courts of Rome to countenance their carnal policies and designes as John Doe and Richard Roe in ours to vouch suites and though they make the cross of Christ their Antipodes and re-exalt the World with its pomp into its old zenith and meridian yet no where is the material cross adored and worship'd with that excess of Reverence as by these enemies of the Spiritual What gain'd our Saxon and Norman Kings by their generous respects towards them bearing then the name of a Church in chief but the exhausting of their Subjects and the clipping of their own Prerogatives and Supremacies and to be made their Engineers and Executioners to suppress and destroy the Ancâ—â—â—â— Church of Brittain its Metropolitan Sees of York and London by the means of the first and St. David of the last Neither will it suffice to plead the whole English Brittish Church was once under the yoak and Jurisdiction of Rome for a long space of a time and that it was Schisme therefore and rebellious disobedience in them to shake off their Government For this yoak and imposition was early protested against by the Brittains as unchristian and unjust and kept off with their utmost power as long as they could and the Nation made often entries in so many Statutes of provisors and premunire's against it and the endeavours of Wickleff and Lollards who could expect no other than ill names for it and they were fully evicted out of it at last in Henry 8. of Brittish descent by wonderful providence Was it a Schism against the Cromwellian party who pretended to as much holiness as Rome it self and more for our Soveveraign to return to his own Throne from whence he and his Father were so wrongfully kept out and so long If they know not Gods usual method to give his own people over into the hands of their enemies for their sins and to redeem them from them upon their repentance by miraculous deliverance they erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 nor the power and Discipline of God nor the patience and priviledges of his servants Their own Church of Rome lay in captivity under the Exarchs or the Constantinopolitan Emperours Vice-Royes residing at Ravenna from the year 568. to 743. and some of their Popes for their refractoriness have been coursely us'd by them in the Streets of Constantinople yet they held it no Schism to recover their Ancient liberty though by very ill means by dividing the Empire and hazarding Christendom and strengthning the Turk as the poor Greeks to this day complain And may not we without Schism enjoy our Ancient rights and freedom recovered by lawful means and in Gods time without wrong to any and with and not against the rights and wills of our Soveraigns as they by the contrary in all respects yet it was more excusable in them to gratifie the Turk and subvert Christendom to preserve their own Chair then joyn with Pagans to invade the Chaires of other Churches as a thief that steals for his necessity is more to be pardoned than an Adulterer that wrongs his neighbour for his lust but the Romish Popes shewed themselves devoid of all conscience and honour and fear of God in that they combin'd to deprive us of our liberty then about 596. when themselves lay groaning for the loss of their own being worse than robbers under the Gallowes or the thief that reviled our Saviour being himself under the same condemnation which together with the violation of the Canons is the reason the Brittains in Bede esteemed these Roman-catholicks and their Disciples no better than Pagans usque hodie moris est Britonum fidem Anglorum pro nihilo habere nec in aliquo communicare quam cum Paganis lib. 2. c. 20. Yea they were more reconcilable to the Pagan Saxons that rob'd them of their Countrey as appears by their leagues and friendships and intermarriages reproved as afore by Lupus and Germanus than with Inhuman Christians that us'd Pagan assistance to rob them of their Faith and tread down their Church for they valued Truth above their Territory And they would not admit any of the Romish into their Brittish communion Å¿ Usher Rell of the Ancient Irish c. 10. under 40 dayes pennance as the Romanists to serve their designes denyed the validity of the Brittish Ordinations as they do still that of our English so that the Church of England now as the old Brittish Church heretofore stand upon the same points of difference from Rome those of Mission and Superstition and Supremacy upon which three most of the rest depend which leads to give a more particular character and description of Augustine and his Roman Faith as it then stood in opposition that the state of the Controversy and the merit of both Churches and Causes may the more fully appear SECTION VIII The face of the Roman Church about the same time and of Augustin's Qualification and method for his pretended propagation of the Gospel amongst the English and that the Nation are under no Obligation to Rome for his work here but bound by their Christianity to abhorre and detest it TO this end I shall only briefly recount some passages out of Bede 1. Touching his qualification for the pretended Conversion of the Saxons 2. His method of propagating his Roman Faith amongst them That several of the English Nation as well Learned as Unlearned and Romanists as well as Protestants may review and consider how this Augustine can be ever own'd for an Apostle of the English without wrong and disparagement to Gods Church and the Truth and themselves 1. Touching his Qualification in respect of Learning and principles And his elocution and means of conveyance of the other to his Disciples It appears he was no great Clerk wherein yet he may far better be born with because of the rude Age he lived in not only by his insisting upon the Alexandrine Calender as afore not above an hundred years standing before his time as a Tradition of St. Peter so necessary to the right being of a Church that by Divine Revelation he prognosticated the destruction of the Brittish Doctors by hostile Arms for their dissent therein and the other two points about Baptism and preaching to the Saxons but also from his Questions and Scruples sent to his Pope Gregory much about the same size for parts though above for dignity Whose common character is that he was the worst that went before him and the best Pope of all that came after him His a Bede lib. 1. c. 28. eight interrogation and scruple is si praegnans mulier debet baptizari If a woman being with child might lawfully be baptized
but continued to stop their Ears and chose rather to be poison'd from abroad than heal'd by them at home and invited forreign Quacks to abuse their Souls as well as to combat and destroy their Brittish Church and Clergy it was time for charity it self to wax faint and weary Act. 13.46 and to resolve to put up its Pearls as conscience grows mute after long dis-regard But to hear our Augustine or any of the Romish Principle to tax them for it Vltra Sauromatas fugere hinc libet c. the detestable Hypocrisy is enough to make one burst with indignation that they should accuse whose frequent practice upon the least pretended violation of their usurp'd authorities was to suspend Cities interdict whole Kingdoms for a good part of an Age whose entire Religion and policy is to deprive Christian Souls of the Gospel and Bible and Religion and Knowledge and to stick a feather of an Ave Mary or Pater Noster to colour the stealing of the substance But it is alleadged it is not Augustin's charge alone but the crime of the Brittains urg'd by Bede out of their own Gildas i Bed lib. c. 22. Brittonas hoc facinus addere superioribus ut nunquam fidem Saxonibus praedicarent For an answer this is strongly to be suspected to be a Monkish forgery or an addition to the Text of Gildas because where better could such a calumnie with more probable success be inserted than to a Book which rip'd up all their Crimes and frailties Which perhaps is the reason that that Ancient Book alone was suffered to survive because the Clause is absolutely and notoriously false in fact And Gildas would never have been guilty to belye strangers much less his own Nation Or it is justly to be fear'd Bede took Gildas by the wrong handle k Gens non ex concione aestimanda H. Lhuyd Fragm p. 76. like such as would accuse and traduce a searching Preacher for a false accuser or defamer of most of his Parish making no distinction between Charge and Enditement or righteousness in the sight of God before whom none are just and righteousness before men where many are and ought to be unblameable which is the disingenuity of Milton likewise towards them like those that would measure the morality of the English Nation towards their neighbours from their humble and publick confession before God that they have no truth in them Gildas his reproofs are in the General and of none in Particular but their Princes out of his Christian zeal and courage and Paternal bowells to set them and their Countrey at Rights with God And though through the faults of the English or their own through prejudices and Hostilities in the one and passion or frailty or Cainish neglect of extending the Grace they had received to others round about in the other some might be too far guilty of Gildas his charge of Christian unnaturalness which is to be feard hath made far more Reprobates in the World than ever Gods Decrees did yet the whole Brittish Church could not be justly charg'd therewith though some should have peevishly denyed it to such as were willing to receive it whereof there is no instance for it was never any publick Resolution or agreement between them nor the particular perverse judgment of any that were chief in Authority for Learning and wisdom amongst them which bears some equivalence to publick Allowance as it was not of Gildas his own liking who mentions this possible default in some with very severe and bitter reproof which Bede had not the Nostril to distinguish perhaps from Approbation nor of those of the Brittish Clergy that concurr'd with Gildas in the like detestation of such a sin by whose prayers and examples he confesses he was much supported in evil times and declares he would not have his reproofs to be understood to reach them in the least For we shall find the contrary to what Bede affirms to be true all along of whom a great lover and an able and Impartial Judge of Truth for several such particulars gives this character l Usher c. 8. p. 192. p. 1112. Ex Anglo Saxonum gente fuisse considerandum qui Brittanicarum Antiquitatum inscii a Rebus Brittonum ornandis animo fuerunt alienissimo For to reserve the proof of the Gospel being planted amongst the English by the Ministry of the Brittains to its proper place The practice of St. Patrick and his followers preaching to the Irish his enemies who enslaved him likewise that of m Bed lib. 3.4 Nynias to the Picts who were Thornes in the sides of the Brittains while under the Romans and n Usher p. 686. St. Kentigern to the English under Octa and Ebyssa as before largely proves the contrary Neither was o De reb gestis Alfredi p. 13. Asserius Menevensis backward when desir'd to contribute his assistance to King Alfred to the erecting of the University of Oxford as a Nursery for the better propagating of the Christian Faith but left Illa tam sancta loca in quibus nutritus doctus fuit that holy place wherein he was bred up and taught under his Archbishop of St. Davids as he there stiles him to repair to be a Professor in that Univesity Where yet the story saith there was an old Academy continued by the Brittains time of out mind from the dayes of Gildas and Melkin and Ninnius first Teachers there about 200 or 300 years before But Kent it self had been as great an instance as any that our Augustin's charge was groundless to his own knowledge if Bede had added some more particulars touching the Church p Bed l. 2.27 Augustine found at Canterbury upon his first arrival built in the time of the Romans therefore not under 200 years but might be well 400 or 500 years before to which p Bed l. 2.27 Bertha Ethelbert's Queen of French descent and a Christian with her Chaplain Luidhardus did use to resort for Worship which Augustine repair'd and changed its name from St. Martins unto Chist-Church making it his Cathedral Seat and the Metropolis of England and wherein King Ethelbert was Baptiz'd If he had likewise inserted who first built repaired and assembled in it all along at and before the arrival of Queen Bertha or Augustine what was the state of the Countrey and the Civil Rights and Priviledges of the Kentish Inhabitants which they retained after the change of their Governours who came not over them by storm but by guift and Articles and what was also the state and Government Ecclesiastical of those parts before Augustin's arrival for it appears by our Historians that the Archbishop of London under whom was Kent was not beaten and driven to quit his See and flee into Wales till the year 597. according to Vsher q Usher Index Chron. A. 597. being the next year with him after Monk Augustin's entrance or 586. according to r Math. Westm
nor to expunge and alter all that made against them as this p Spelman Conc. p. 110. 111. Wheloc Annot. in Bede l. 2. c. 8. passage of Augustine against all circumstances and the opinions of the most Candid Antiquaries doing their works of darkness in the light or according to the Brittish saying ymgudhio ar gefn y gist hiding themselves upon the back of chest Not contented with so small a slaughter of Innocents they march on triumphantly to destroy the rest with their famous Monastery of Bangor not above 10 Miles off where they were overtaken by by the Princes of North and South-wales and Cornwall c Hist Britt lib. 11. c. 13. who kill'd ten thousand sixty and six upon upon the place Edelfred himself wounded and beaten by Cadvan Prince of Northwales chosen for their Monarch as far as Humber Not to mention the cruel Wars that followed between Cadwalhan or according to Bede Cedwalla the Son of Cadvan and Edwin King of Northumberland upon whose overthrow England was shortly after cleared of all the Remainder of our Augustin's plantation in the North and in Kent also as was said Providence making room by the bloud of Martyrs for the plantation of the Gospel amongst the English in our Brittain upon a Brittish score and not a Roman It being more for the English Honour and Vnion and Innocence to have received the Faith from Gods Apostles through Brittish hands than from Rome and Augustine who during the short reign of him and his Italian successors were able by their principles and endowments to sow nothing here but Ignorance and Superstition and Schisme and Rapine and Sacriledge and Murders and Massacres all fathered upon God by Miracles and Revelations as is the usual method with Hypocrites For no Idol set up in any heart instead of Christ as is the World with the chief Governours and the Pope by the governed in the Church of Rome by their Doctrines and practice and every lust or sordid private end in any mans heart whatsoever in Christs throne by negligence and sensuality which is Spiritual servitude and Idolatry but this new Lord of the heart will have new Laws new Religion and and Customes and this new fundamental rule and precept that there must be no other Gods before it But out of zeal to it every thing though of God that shall stand in its way to cross and hinder must down and veile whether it be the voice of Conscience or the lives of the Innocent or the Rights of men and Churches and Nations and Kings or the honour and glory of Almighty God himself For as Christ in the heart mortifies all sin and vice therein so any Idol in the heart mortifies and extirpates all honesty and good Conscience and Christ himself in and out of it This being the great distemper and dangerous captivity of the Souls of men which God in all habitudes and Incarnations is so careful to prevent and preserve as a Hen her young ones from the Invasions of the Aire by careful Parents and sober Governours by Conscience within by the faithful advice of Friends without as a second Conscience by the examples and different ends of men good and evil by Scripture by his Son by his holy Spirit by Pulpits by Tribunals and Executions by Judgments and Plagues Famine Sword Fire and Captivity and Hell fire at last forever to consume it when his care and patience is too much abus'd and his soveraignity despis'd and disown'd and all other means have fail'd Their natural descent and extraction which is not in mens power were it in the modern English from the old Saxons and not from the Brittains in more than â—00 to one than from the other as is far more probable is no disgrace or imputation upon posterity all others having sometimes been equal to them herein in their Heathenish Original at least from Adam who by departure from God began all Idolatry and Heathenism which is the Scripture phrase for Atheisme throughout the World but to derive the Original of their Faith which is more in their choice and election from Hypocrites and Lyars and Murderers such whose present Communion ought to be abhorr'd and detested by all good Christians and by consequence any ancient and past Society or derivation from them the Eternal Soul being unconfined from space and time in its Election and Refusals No English Learned or Unlearned can or ought to involve themselves in such a guilt and participation of Crimes and Errours upon the colour of the first Conversion of their Ancestours by this ignorant and ungodly Monk from Rome because the colour and pretence it self is remov'd out of the way by good Providence and Gods regard to innocent bloud for it shall be made further to appear that this pretended Plantation of our Augustine whatever it was was totally rooted out and extinguish'd here and himself to be no better than a Schismatic or a Pagan for his Intrusion in the account of the Canons of the universal Church as well as of our Injur'd Brittains and the Saxons or English to have had the Gospel rightly preached amongst them in every County by an Orthodox Brittish Ministry of different Principles from the Degenerate Church of Rome which is our fourth point to be cleared in order SECTION IX That the Gospel was planted among the English throughout their Counties by Brittish Ministry And that Augustin's Roman plantation here came to nothing and no Bishop lest in all this land of Rome's Ordination but one and he a Simonaick and that the body of the Nation are Old Brittains and our Princes especially and therefore by honour and nature bound to maintain the Rights of our Brittish Church against Forreign encroachments THat the Gospel by good Providence was planted amongst the Saxons or English throughout the Counties they had reduc'd by Brittish Preachers and Doctors and not by Roman for in the rest of Brittain the old Original Apostolical Faith continued which shall be largely proved by particular Instances of fact after two previous suppositions sent before to prevent and remove the Rubbish of vulgar errours and mistakes 1. And first it is to be remember'd and repeated that the Gospel from its first planting by the Apostles was never extinguish'd or eradicated from among the Brittains as it soon far'd with our Augustin's adventures upon the English but that they persevere to praise God to this day in the same Religion and Language with their forefathers these 1600 years and upwards as they trust to continue till Christ's second coming Being the same Religion that was alike preserv'd amongst the Cornish and several West-Saxons Counties and in the a Usher p. 1005. Cambrian or Cumbrian Kingdom of the Brittains in the North reaching from a Edenburgh Britt Dîn-eden id est Castrum Alatum Aden Britt Ala Din Castrum dinas Civitas Unskieth Insula Angusta ynis Britt Insula Caeth Arcta Lieth i. e. Lhaith Madida Pen-Vael caput valli
Theon out of York and London Congersbury or Wells being a member of the Brittish Arch-Bishoprick of London and barring thereby the title of Occupancy which was Augustine's beatifical aim and giving edge to the Canons of General Councels against him for this forcible entrance neither is it at all improbable that the Brittains should affect here to mingle Rights and Protections by Intermarriages with the Saxons after they became Christian who were so culpably forward to be unequally yok'd before and be inclin'd to relinquish all notes of destinction apace the old style of Easter and their Brittish names and dialect and change Lhoid into Grey and Winn into White c. which signifie the same and though some sturdily retain'd their Brittish names of Dunne and d ee and Gough and Moyle and Trever yet others chang'd perhaps Trewen Trevechan Trene widh c. into Whittington Littleton Newton c. of the same signification for their convenience as upon like imitation now in Wales Powell Prichard Progers Jones c. are become standing Sirnames of Families which before with the old Brittains were but the Christian names of the Fathers ap Howel ap Risiart Roger Joan c. yea perhaps to disown all alliance with the Brittains in Wales standing out in War partly for security to themselves as the heard forsake a Deer that is pursued or Courtiers a fallen favorite partly out of modable conformity to the prevailing party as in a great part of Devonshire or Duffneint and Cornwall which are old Brittish Territories where it is freshly known the same Ancient people remain but their Language much worne out and giving place to another like as in little Bittain the whole entire Countrey are old Brittains whether some old Legions of Maximus settled there under c Several Dukes of Brittain were afterward so called Conâ—n Merriadoc d Hist Brit. Galsr as saith the Brittish Histories or new exiles forc'd thither as elsewhere by the Saxons e Usher 421. 422. as the Learned Primate guesses because he meets no mention in Authors of them abiding there till the Invasion of Gallia by the French which is near Cotemporary to that of Lhoegr by the Saxons though it is hard to imagine how they should win their Country from others who failed to defend their own But though they be undoubted Brittains in their origen yet now there is little or no difference between them and the meer French in appearance especially on that side of the Country towards France or High Brittain where the Brittish Language is wholy forgot and extinguished as amongst the Brittains of Lhoegr So in Gallia or France it self though the old Inhabitants the Gaules or Galli seem quite consumed every Mothers Son since the modern French or Franci out of Germany invaded their Land chang'd and suppressed their Language Names and Laws yet nothing is more evident by Historical character than that the Nation is still the same though the name and dress be alter'd and what by the nature of the Air and what by Inter-marriages with one another and what by Divine mercy relieving right owners at last on the one hand and vengeance on the other cutting off the lives and lines of men of bloud and violence the French are still the same Old Gauls of whom f M. Florus lib 2 c. 4. Florus his character about 2000 years ago is found true to this day primus impetus major quam virorum sequens minor quam faeminarum above men at first assault below women at rally Neither have our modern French the zeal and humour of the old Franci after liberty from whence they had that name In like manner in several Counties of Wales especially amongst several of the Gentry all is alter'd since the time of Henry the seventh who broke the middle wall of Partition and united in himself both Nations into one and the Councel settled in the marches not only in taking new and single Sirnames after the English manner instead of their Ancient and Brittish stile compounded of Progenitours as the modern Christian names of Europe's Grandees are with friends and Patrons which us'd to puzzle the English Judges of that Court in their Circuits and occasion a mistake of one man for 3 or 4 but in the total disuse of the Brittish tongue and using the English instead in several of their Families whether to follow the English as many of the English do the French or to avoid the burden and Inconvenience of being singular and distinct in so small a number against so great a body as is now the English Nation or because of their Intermarriages with the English in civility to their consorts which example of theirs were stronger than any Law to abolish and destroy the Brittish tongue forever but that it is mainly preserv'd upon the score of Religion in Pulpits between the Clergy and communalty who have a great and dear esteem of the Gospel Preached and are they that chiefly support the tongue and retain the Customs and Traditions and Principles and proverbs of their Ancestors and some novel Popish rites besides which have crept in amongst them as their praying at cross ways before their Corps which are tolerated by their guides least they should be unsettled and scandalized in their more Ancient and Catholick observations by abrupt disuse till by knowledge they come to leave them off of their own accord Neither are the Gentry of Wales the less Brittains as neither the old Brittains in Lhoegr for conforming daily to the English manner nor the French less Gauls for the loss of their Gallic tongue as the Brittish Language is in like danger to be wholly worn out also as was said unless the Chiefs of the Nation our Princes or Senate out of Generous filial honour to Antiquity and Truth think it fit and expedient and for the glory of the Nation which is ambitious of recovering as by some secret instinct the old Name of Great Brittain to give some support and life to the Language of Great Brittain likewise not yet incurable or exstinct A Language so Ancient and venerable in the first professing the true Religion immediately and all along from the Resurrection and in the first opposing of false Religion and Popish abuses above a 1000 years ago the mother-tongue of Lucius and Constantine the Great the first Princes of the Christian Church so useful to the Antiquities not only of our Btittish Isles but the greatest part of Europe that Forreigners have Printed our Dictionaries as the Origen of Gallic Antiquities under other names out of learned ambition Oriental in its Grammar copious as the Greek for compositions as elegant the more old as is the English the more new it is For the Rule and structure of its Poesies and the Awen or inspiration of its Poets hardly to be parallel'd in any Nation whatsoever that Augustus could not be more divertis'd with Horace c. than our Princes and Gentry were in ample manner
Gregorie's Epistles extant plainly shew he verily was an Apostle of Roman rites and ceremonies not of the Christian Faith or the word of God to the English Nation he taught them how to be Romans and Papists more than to be Christians or Believers And by the points in such hot and bloudy contest between him and the Brittains where there was little or nothing insisted on touching soundness of Doctrine or purity of life but all touching the domination and power of Rome and Romish rites and tonsures it plainly appears he was but a meer man of straw and f Ceremoniosus non relligiosus ceremony more than of God and Religion Where to stop the mouths of Ignorant Romanists that make a brag as if the English had received their faith from Rome he likewise shewes at large that Pope Gregory himself was no better than his Apostle Augustine for that he was not so good a man for life and pen as the Papists would pretend And g Antiquitates Ecclesiasticae p. 36. g Ibdem p. 36. again valde dolendum Anglorum conversionem in ista tempora incidisse in quibus collapsa Ecclesiae Doctrine atque disciplina c. It was a great misfortune that the English conversion fell out to be at such a time wherein the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church was quite fallen to the ground and wholly degenerated from its primitive purity and sobriety into vanity of errour and superstition and the matter it self proclaims too loud let Bede say what he please to the contrary that Augustine's chief work and business here was to instill some Roman Ceremonies amongst our Ancestors and not the Christian Faith yea Rome it self about that time and by the particular influence and endeavours of Pope Gregory was the spring and fountain of all such superstitions not only among us in England but in the rest of the World beside of which he makes a large proof with Instances Irrefragable of their superstition and ambition their Holy Water and Dreams and Legends and Divine lyes and Golden Vessells and a wooden Priesthood not that decent ceremonies that take not the heart from God are in themselves unlawful in Gods service as Christ himself hath shewed in the Institution of visible Sacraments as also of their pride and Antichristian design to enslave Kings and Churches and Nations under them and when all was done and they mounted themselves as high as they would or could the effect and product of all was no more but that ambition outed all good rule and Government Luxury good living Dreams and legends the Preaching of the word lamentable superstition Catholick Religion And that their first adventure and attempt to erect their Roman supremacy over souls and Churches was here in England and Augustine the Monk their forlorn hope that their ungodly success and Victory was about its height about the time of Charlemain about 140 years after lasting about 800 years to the the time of our Henry the eight h Antiq. Eccles p. 37. Et sane illa prima de Romanis ritibus per Augustinum excitata contentio quae non nisi clade sanguine Innocentium Britannorum poterat sedari ad nostra recentiora tempora cum simili pernicie eladeque Christanorum pervenit And verily that first and early contention and strife for rites and ceremonies begun here by Augustine which could not be exstinguished or abated but with the bloud and desolation of the Innocent Brittains is evidently carried down to our own times with fresh and daily tydings at our doors of the like destruction and Massacre of Christians for the like cause Thus that Eloquent and Judicious prelate an i Norwich Antiq. Eccl. p. 39. East-Angel by birth and a chief Father of our Church by place and merit And it is additionally remarkable that several of those Saxons Laws and Homilies bore date before the arrival of Augustine to this Land there being k M. Westm Anno 596. about 147 or 150 years from the Saxon invasion to his coming as before was said which is an invincible Argument that the Brittains as they had any opportunity Preach'd the Gospel in those dayes to the Saxons though their bloudy and perfidious Enemies to which those alliances and Intermarriages with them in their infidelity for which they stand blamed in story might by the ordering of Providence be Instrumental yet are taxed by Gildas if the passage be Authentick for neglect that they were not more vigorous and diligent in Communicating the Gospel to them whereby may be conjectured how great the Christian zeal of Gildas was and the Brittish Ministers of his stamp and Inclination as he confesses there were several who were so thirsty for the Salvation of the souls of their Enemies who thirsted for nothing more than their Lands and bloud SECTION X. That all or most of the Kingdoms and Churches in this part of Europe and Rome it self received their first Faith from Brittain yet Brittain pretends to no Supremacy over them upon that account and the Romanists Feloes de se in that kind of Plea IF the Church of Rome hath no better evidence for her propagation of the Faith and Supremacy thereby over other Churches of the world than is produc'd for Brittain it is plain and easy to discern its title is not founded in any reality or merit but a disease of the fancy only and that high-mindedness whereof she was early forwarn'd by her rejected Apostle Rom. 12.3 or a malady like that of the Athenian Merchant who imagin'd all the Ships that arrived at Harbour to be his own whose cure from this distemper had been their imaginary beggery and undoing The French Church at the Savoy or the Lutheran amongst us might far better pretend to a Primacy over York and Canterbury being more Orthodox and Learned and better understood by several that resort to them and acting with the leave of our Province and its Lawful Governours and not siding Barbarously with Pagan Enemies against Christian Brethren to destroy or adulterate the true Faith as did Monk Augustine who at least could be but Rector of Christ-Church Canterbury under his mighty Patron Ethelbert in defiance of his rightful Metropolitan Theonus which yet he could not supply himself for want of the tongue nor by any other by reason of the Schism and Irregularity Or to suppose more than can be asked or expected that Ethelbert who was King of Kent only was King also of Mercia and the East and the South and West-Saxons and compleate Lord over the whole Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury or London which then reached from Humber to Severn and Cornwall and now further over Wales and that he in such a right had lawfully nominated and elected our Augustine for his Arch-Bishop who thereupon had been regularly Consecrated and Install'd by the Clergy of the Province according to the Canons of the Church and by the consent and voluntary Cession of Theonus his predecessor without the help of Heathen
its destructive contrary which they rightly understood The toleration and mixture whereof within it would be confusion without a Metaphor The Christian Church whose life and being consists in Holiness can never be more destroyed and stifled than when Scandalous and Licentious lives are consistent with its Profession Nor the Roman whose summum bonum is dominion over their Brethren and Kingdoms and Churches but where Kings and Consciences and Scriptures would have their wills against the Pope And happy were it if Christians were as zealous and skilful Druids to excommunicate all vice and sin as the Papists who are firm to their Idol to excommunicate all Heretical Truths and private judgments and secular Supremacies inconsistent with their pride Whereby the Brittains by this Divine principle in the general were better fitted and prepar'd for Christianity than many others and accordingly received it before all other Nations in these parts as soon as Christ had dislodg'd their Idols they were perfect and regular Christians the former Rules and practices of their Druids serv'd presently as Church Canons to them to walk by which probably is the reason they held our intruding Romanists so close to the other express Canons of the Christian Church as to adjudge and conclude them justly to be no better than Pagans in Christian shape for their manifest violations of them as shall hereafter appear This last as well as the other instances clearly argue a great and near correspondence they had and Traditional participation of Oriental Patriarchal Mysteries and customes and the Hierogliphical meaning of the first dayes work of the Creation wherein light was separated from darkness whence Christian Communion and Excommunication had its exemplar and Idea as the Apostle intimates 2 Cor. 6 14. in which two words and parts the work and whole History of the Primitive Christian Church was compriz'd as is well known to the learned but not to digress Much less could our English Apostles receive their learning from Theodore's successors being entred a good while before upon their work and Province and the course that Rome hereafter takes that the English should be no more instructed or corrupted in their sence by their Neighbouring Brittains but by Rome alone least their Roman Replantation should be again worn out and baffled as it far'd with their first clearly proves that they conceived the Brittains to have been that way too busie I shall set down a Record out of Math. Westm. worthy the consideration of all Generous sober English men as well Roman Catholicks as Protestants that have a love for God or their Countrey whether they consider the design or the event that followed z M Westm Anno 727. Erant Doctrina Scholae Anglorum per Romanos Pontifices interdictae c. There was an interdict upon the learning and Schooles of the English by the Popes of Rome from the time of Augustine by reason of the daily Heresies which sprung up in Brittain from the first arrival of the English whilst Pagans mingled with Christians which defaced the beauty of the holy Conversation of Christianity a Ibid. Vnde Ina consensu voluntate Gregorii Papae c. which discovers near about what time this conscientious Interdict began whereupon Ina by the will and consent of Pope Gregory built an Edifice in the City of Rome which they call the School of the English to which the Kings of England and the Royal Bloud and Bishops and Priests and Clerks should repair to be Instructed in the Catholick Faith and Doctrine lest any thing should be taught awry in the Church of England or contrary to the Catholick Faith that thereby being well settled in the stable Faith they might return afterwards to their people And it was also ordained that Rome-scot or Peter Pence should thence forward be annually paid to St. Peter and the Roman Church that the English there abiding might have wherewithall to subsist A neat device to make England Tributary and that for a gross abuse and blindness brought upon the whole Nation to the end they might the easier be Governed by the Ignorance of Rome according to that Brittish Proverb Brenhin iw un-lhygeidiawg ymyfg deilliaid One eye is a King amongst the stark blind for so it proved in the event not long after as we shall have anon an account of this Paternal Roman care from King Alfred about 100 years after for Ina built this School in 727 Alfred flourished in 860 Willibrord c. Preached to the Germans in 690 in whose time there was scarce an English Clergy-man left in all the land that could understand his Latine Breviary b Spelman Concil 167. That if Pipin or Charlemain had sent hither for Wilfrids and Winfrids and Alguins to teach their Countrey such as were of Romes pure bringing up they might have been as well furnished with Apostles from among the Heathen Boors of Boetia as then from England which was not long after this Roman Reformation of our English education In so much that K. Alfred was fain to send to the Brittains for their helping hand which they and the Irish who were more Neutral were always ready to do †Bede l. 3. ◠27. for nothing though they paid dear to Rome for their Ignorance under the colour and fascination of being Orthodoxly taught which Tribute and Cittadel of shameful Ignorance and slavery the English Nation was by Catholick Arts cajoled to pay and maintain at their own proper charge for about 700 years till Henry the Eight a Brittish Prince discharged and blew it up and whipt the cheats into their own Country for which Providential Relief and Honour to our Church and Nation some drowsie stupid and Enchanted Roman-Catholicks are hardly thankful or contented to this day So it manifestly appears á priori and à posteriori that neither before or after Augustine or Theodore either the English had their learning from Rome but only from our Brittish Church But it is again objected that it is clear and evident from History that the English as also the Irish at this time of the German Propagation and before had come over from the Church of Brittain to the Church of Rome who therefore hath chief right and Title to this Plantation which was effected under its Supremacy and Government I answer It is then as clear that they were of the Church of Brittain before they went over to Rome and we in these days shall confess unto them where our Church was the worst 800 years before Luther if they will confess unto us where there Roman Church was in Brittain or Ireland the best 600 years before Augustine the Monk or Theodore For Titius taken by the Turk at 20 and kept a slave for 30 years among them and recovering his liberty in 50 is the same free man now as at first being always the same man not bound to return to slavery because it hath more years to shew then his freedom of birth hath for it
only is an acknowledg'd duty and an indelible behaviour and Instinct in the Souls and Consciences of Heathens as they may be satisfied at large by Seneca without fear of any Heretical Pravity But seeing it is made evident they did not receive their Religion from the Romanists but from the Brittains or Irish and Scotch of Brittish Institution and extraction and what they did receive was not Corn but Tares not sound food of the Soul but poison rather That they nevertheless against truth and modesty and Breeding are ever minding and upbraiding our English Nation with this no Courtesie of theirs or their Progenitors and calling for everlasting Tribute and perpetual obedience and subjection from us for their endless molestations and corruptions This use however may at lest be made of this their disingenuity and impatience That as on the one hand they through folly and impertinence Cancel their own supposed merits by their minding and dunning and that with such frequency and loudness enough to make men deaf with such depredations and reprisals and plagiums or Soul-stealing and other revengeful attempts and distresses upon us for want of their supposed due Rent enough to make the meekest their enemies out of Indignation being guilty thereby of an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Self-felony against themselves and their Interest overthrowing their title of Supremacy by their own Act through unskilful management so on the other it is matter of much content and gladness and ease of heart unto us that our Ancestors some descents agoe have return'd back unto them all the Errours and Superstitions we ever here received or had them thrust upon us to silence the cause if not the impudence and conscience if not the cry And if I rightly guess at the minds of our Superiours by their designes and the profession of some of our late chiefest a Dr. Hammond of Shism p. 160. Pillars we will give them leave to search every Corner of our Church and where they find any one Doctrine or Rite or Article that hath not a Brittish Apostolical stamp and mark upon it but bears the mark or Armes of the Goods and Chattels of Monk Augustine on them or any of his intruding Successors we are content for quietness sake for who can endure everlasting dunning and upbraiding and that without any cause or colour that they seise and take them to themselves with all our hearts and we shall not think our selves poorer or further from Salvation by it but pray God that they may be nearer Neither is it very advisable in them to keep such a din with the little or noe merits of their Ancestors lest they become thereby responsible in all equity for their great wrongs and mischiefs for reparations of injuries may be demanded where returnes for Courtesies cannot as it is more consonant to nature for Creatures to complain than for God to upbraid or for weak Children to cry upon the least cause than for Parents to complain for the greatest and for their monstrous pride and hypocrisie and scandalls and murthers and Schismatical usurpations and the utter destruction what in them lay which ill became Christians and Catholicks of the Ancient Orthodox Apostolical Faith among the Brittains and of the same afresh after replanted among the English or Saxons by Brittish Ministry and the Corruption of our Rites Customes Ordinations Manners with their Roman-Catholick mixtures and Superstitions The Invasion of our Brittish Sees Dignities Monasteries and Ancient Ecclesiastical endowments b Apud Usher p. 125. by our Brittish Kings though the preheminence and influence of their New See of Canterbury settled and continued here by force and Schism as to them against all Laws and Canons and Civilities and Christian same to the extinction or suppression of our Ancient Archiepiscopal Brittish Sees of London and York and St. Davids at last which kind of attempt upon their Ancient Chaire of Rome would they have brooked with patience And not rather attempted the removal or prevention by any means though indirect and Rebellious and Hellish to the endangering of all Christendom rather then fail as is too well known by experience And which further aggravates their Diabolical Impudence and unconscionable Antichristian encroachments is their pretending at last their unjust usurpations which every day and year they continued were multiplied into new wrongs by time and Age to have changed their Nature and to be become a righteous title Bonae Fidei of unquestionable Supremacy which for the oppress'd to shake off by lawful means and the miraculous assistance of Divine Providence respecting in his own time the groans and cryes of harrass'd Innocence is no less than the great Crime of Schisme and Ecclesiastical Rebellion and Pollution of our Land in departing from the Catholick Faith And that a Thief by smothering his light and holding fast his Stollen Goods against his Conscience becomes an Honest-man at last and the Honest-man a Villain for challenging or recovering his own by just and lawful means That Mahomet by so many years prescription by his Sword and Imposture hath now good right and title to his Domination and Tyranny over the Eastern Churches and that it were an ungodly Schisme in the poor Graecians to accept of any deliverance from their long and miserable slavery either from Cod or man For we do not and cannot deny Romes Intrusion and inroads upon our Brittish Church and the consequent corruption of several of our Traditions and Ancient Rites in publick at lest and for a time when they swayed our Chairs and soil'd and disturb'd our Ordinations and Successions with their Roman mixture for well it was if our Ancestors were able within door then and in their hearts to retain their Ancient Rites and principles by Orall Tradition as they term it from devout Parents to their Sons yet our Ordinations received from them in such times were as good and as valid as any they had or now have amongst themselves but we have reason to count them our ill fate and grievance for otherwise our own had continued pure and regular and Brittish from the Resurrection to this present And yet their violent Imposition of hands in those dayes in the place and right of our Brittish Bishops was their guilt not ours who resisted it while we were able and greatly rejoyce at our deliverance from it and by no means if it be Gods will would return under it any more And God measures all by the heart especially in matters of Church and Religion according to my Text it s the sincerity and untaintedness of the heart makes the best Catholick 1 Tim. 1.5 And what was done unjustly stands undone and what by force and necessity was yielded to against the heart and will was not yielded to in reason For id sit quod jure fit is a Law Maxime and Tyrants are but great Lords of Nullities by the exemption of the will and Soul from and the frown of Heaven upon all bruitish unjustice and
other hand the lawfulness of our Restoration and recovery of those Rights and Truths whereof we were in just possession heretofore but were kept out for some hundreds of years by force and fraud and its Un-christian confederations with Infidels against us It is as hopeless and ungrateful a labour as to them I say as to read Lectures of honesty and restitution to Thieves and Robbers Willful Schismaticks being as Averse to have their Idol errours crossed and dishonour'd as right Christians their God and their Truth blasphem'd Neither were it wisdom or Prudence or right thankfulness to God in our selves by such discourses to bring into doubt our manifest Rights and Duties and Gods mercy and deliverance being all as clear as the Sun Such a foolish undertaking this were as for the Royal party as before was instanc'd to make Apologies for his Majesties return and his right to reassume his Crown against those that kept him out for so many years Or for Jews to justify their return to Jerusalem upon King Cyrus his Proclamation after the prescription of 70 years Captivity against them or their Fathers the Israelites in Egypt their departure from under Pharaohs Government after 430 years subjection or the Heathen world to justify their shaking off Satans yoak to take Christs instead after they had layen under the other well nigh 4000 years for no errour or wrong of how long time soever it be can prescribe or compare with truth and right which are Eternal Neither can we find that our Romanists themselves could be easily perswaded or inclin'd to return under their Constantinopolitan Exarchs though their lawful Governours were they yet in being nor under the Turk their Masters successor by right of Conquest to whom themselves did contribute their scandalous assistance who yet hath far more right to their subjection and return than they to ours who never were our just and rightful Superiours If they would have us return under an unjust yoak they ought to give first an example by returning themselves under one more just Else how can they expect their Counsels or Challenges to be regarded whilest themselves count it ridiculous to do that right to others which they expect from us to be done to them to our own wrong Therefore instead of proving the legality I shall chuse rather to admire the wonderful Providence of our Brittish Restoration And how God hath blessed such our Princes with great success and Glory that have sincerely advanc'd the same spiritual freedom of their Church and Countrey and hath blasted and mulcted others with trouble and disaster and loss of strength and Territory and honour and publick love that have openly or clandestinely gone about to overthrow this great blessing of our Restoration whose beginning many ascribe to the time of Henry the 8th as its accomplishment and perfection in great part to that of Edward the 6th and Queen Elizabeth But if the Restoration of the Brittish Church and Nation be consider'd in his first root and cause as all certain Science is ever by the cause The day-break of our deliverance and reformation began in the miraculous and fatal entrance of our Great and Wise and Magnificent Prince King Henry the 7th For then properly was this Church restored when according to Ancient hopes and expectations the Ancient Brittains were in him restor'd to their Crown and Countrey Who no doubt were Gods Ancient Church and first new Israel within this Isle the seed and Reliques of the first Apostolick Plantation who amidst so many stormes and Invasions that have drown'd the names and memories of other Nations were kept up a distinct people by his Providence amidst prevalent enemies round about as it were by Antiperistasis till the arrival of Henry the 7th For ever since the distinction of that people in Names Language Tenure Manners Laws Customes vanish'd by degrees and the English and Brittains are dissolv'd into one and the same Nation and the charge and right of preserving and enjoying their liberty and Reformation devolv'd on both alike For it cannot be well unobserv'd how in the deep Counsels of Gods Providence true Religion and the Brittish Monarchy like twins have fallen and risen up together hand in hand being partners by a kind of Sympathy in the wounds and prosperity of one another For when Popery and Augustine the Monk first came in the Brittish Monarchy was declining And no sooner this was up again in King Henry's Person but Popery like a Bucket was to go down and vanish as it never could since Clandestinely attempt to get up without great Convulsions and hazards and weakning of this Monarchy So that this Nation had the honour and singular mercy to be the first of all Nations especially Western in receiving the first Life the first Wounds the first Cure in its Religion It being the first Province that welcom'd Christian Religion into its own Throne under its Kings the first that exalted it into the Throne of the Roman Empire when her Kings grew Emperors The first opposer of Antichrist to its wound and glory in the beginning of its dark Raign which lasted about 900 years and the first partaker and chief cause under God in the Reformation and deliverance from it Henry the 7th being the morning Star and tydings of this day-break not only to Brittain but to the rest of Europe For King Henry came in 1485. and Martyn Luther began to shine in Germany about thirty years after As there were Prophesies and Visions to King Cadwaladr 797 years before believed saith our c Edward Hall Union of York and Lancaster 1 Hen. 7. f. 2. English Historian to be verified in his exaltation For the d Hist Britt l. 12. c. 17. Brittish story mentions an Angelical Vision to King Cadwaladr to this effect populum Britonum merito suae fidei insulam adepturum c. That the Brittains for their Faiths sake should recover this Island and their Kingdom which they had lost but the Condition of bringing Cadwaladr's bones from Rome whither we proved he never went may well be look'd upon as a Fabulous Addition of the Monks This is said to agree with other Prophesies of e Piâ—seus p. 63. Aquila of Caer-septon or Shaftsbury and other Traditions they had in both Brittains Not of Merlin only which yet are commonly cited as authorities touching the change of the Sees from London to Canterbury by our English Historians W. Malmesbury Mat. Westminster c. delebitur Relligio Dignitas Londoniae adornabit Doroberniam spoken about 150 years before it took effect But other Brittish Authors without blemish as f Apud Usher 567. St. Kentigern to his Scholars on the day his Kinsman St. David departed about the year of our Lord 544. Tradet Dominus Brittanniam exteris Nationibus deum ignorantibus c. God will deliver Brittain over unto Foreign Nations that know not God The Law of Christian Religion shall be abolished therein for a prefix'd time but it
succeeded the Roman should be Antichrist yet none must be Catholicks and right Christians but they alone How far they may prevail on any of our Great ones with their tale and story I cannot tell yet the generality of the Nation God be praised are not so forsaken by him as to love to be so deluded but are as deaf as Vlysses against such charms what attempts soever have been used to prepare and mollifie them by debauchery for the Imposture and ready to answer these Impostors as did the Neighbour-hood in the fable the beggar at Towns-end with his counterfeit Lame legg Quaere Pergrinum vicinia tota reclamat go to Japan or Hispaniola to set up your Stage and boast your receipts In England mens eyes are open and the mystery too well known yea the Wisest and Stoutest and most Prosperous of our Kings and Princes in former Ages our Renown'd Edwards and Henries and Elizabeth have sufficiently unkennel'd these Foxes and hunted them and their craft and their stink and their fire-brands and their trouble far out of our Church and State But when ever by a Judgement upon a Nation they light upon any that are more tractable and credulous their first attempt will be immediately like that of a Crow setting upon a young Lamb for prey to play first at the eyes to peck them both out to sink and fix Implicit Faith and blind obedience like two hollow pits instead And then the rest of the design shall be finish'd with less disturbance and every blow and Inconvenience never seen till it light and then also Conscience and Honour and Publick Peace and Truth and the Allegiance of the soul to Christ must make no objections after the Judgement is once Idolatrously resign'd yea should they offer to draw back when they see their errour and danger for to err is human to recover is Angelical to persevere is Diabolical How will these false guides grinne and shake their heads if not brew worse things in them at their departure or their return from Forreign cheats to God and their Country and the Truth How will they rip up and wound his name and honour with the Imputations of Inconstancy Weakness Apostacy Perjury and what not as the unclean Spirit tore the man in the Gospel when he was to quit possession for doing no more but what themselves as they are men and Christians ought to do in point of duty and safety upon the Eternal Allegiance of their Souls to Christ and the Truth and count it high honour and glory in great ones to lead It being in reason a greater Arrival and perfection to be wise and holy against the deceitfulness of sin and Satan than to be couragious amidst dangers Scipio and Alexander being more admir'd in Story for their Continence than for their Conquest for their Victories over Beauty than over Enemies If our Romish Pretenders had any the least descent or resemblance in bloud or temper or Spirit with the Ancient Roman Worthyes or any drop of Camillus or Scipioes bloud in their Veines who valued the honour and Sanctity of their false Gods above their lives and Empire could their great and clear Spirits thus descend to pervert the Gospel into matter of Trade and Merchandize or truel and plaister their mean and unworthy ends with the bloud of the Son of God And make his Glorious Resurrection and Ascention a Varnish for their secular usurpations And his chief Apostles and Holy Catholick Church complices and Vouchers of all their Frauds and Tyrannies and Treasons Which is manifestly done when any wrong to men or Churches as the Case was made plain in our Brittish are palliated with their Sacred Names and Authorities as the practice is as plain and common in their Romish Church towards us and all Christendom besides If it be counted miserable Ignominious Harlotry corpore questum facere how much more abominable is it to make the like Trade and sinful gain of the Gospel and Christ and their own Souls as well as those of their Brethren It were far more fair and generous in them and the lesser of the two evils to renounce and deny Christ and his Religion outright than so to profess it and to spit in the face of their Redeemer than thus to kiss him and to abuse without ceasing his most Holy Name and Faith to â—oâ— and deal and cheat and disturb the World as it were a less indignity to a person of honour to be denyed Quarter than preserv'd alive to tread Morâ—eâ— or to gâ—ind in a Mill. Tolerabilior esâ— qâ—â— morâ— jubet quam qui turpiteâ— vivere Can any sort of Christians be more realâ—y Heathens saving such Ambidextrous Protestants who for their present advantage and Interest can promote Popery in their Countrey though they believe it to be a false and a dead Religion and betray their own which they possess and know to be most Orthodox and sound preferring madly a superlative Carnal self before both Religions and their own truth But though those of Rome are far from Old Romans either in Faith or Fame or Bloud yet so are not we in England from the Old Brittains in either of these respects But far ouâ—â—oing both in another good quality of containing our selves within the bounds of our Isle without great and just cause to sally out and not coveting turbulently other mens rights or their Kingdoms or Churches which is true past doubt of the Brittains in Wales and was prov'd before at large as to the English In the great and as it were second Deluge of Christendom for their Gygantick sins by Goths and Vandalls and Normans and Saxons for inundations of Nations in Mystical Scriptures are compar'd to those of Waters Rev. 17.15 wherein most other people were swept away and drown'd and their Languages and names obliterated and Scepters and Churches overturn'd our Brittains alone charg'd through and surviv'd the brunt of all Invasions and swame to Land through all those Billowes alive and safe with their Bibles in their hands and their Creed in their hearts and their own Language in their mouths living to see their Church restor'd to its old liberty and purity their Crown to their own Flesh and Bloud and the divided Island to great Brittain again Before their nunc Dimiâ—â—is and dissolution by Incorporation with the English Nation or rather Re-union with their Loeâ—â—â—a Brethren recovering themselves through Gods wonderful mercies and Resurrections to innocent and long sufferers and his blasts and periods upon Lines of Bloud and violence in 〈◊〉 Princes and Nobles and Generality into Oâ—a 〈…〉 again as was prov'd before diâ—â—câ—ing perhaps in names and Dialect but not in Nature and Humour and Succession to the like generous defence of their Faith and Glory being â—oth observâ—d in their Dispositions for the most part to be alike Fearless and Harmless and Warlike and Liberâ—l and Religious and subject to Indignation and neither the one nor the other our Modern or Middle or most
Inferiour either in Piety or Parts or Prowess And change their Truths for Lyes their Bibles for Legends and Christ for a Pope and the Creator for a Creature Can any of our Gracious Princes and Defenders in whose protection under God we trust suffer their people while not backward to assist them with their Prayers and Lives and Fortunes both them and their posterity to be thus enslav'd under a Forreign yoak which neither they nor their Fathers were able to bear and so long strugled against and in the end not without success And such an indignity and violence to be offer'd to the Ancient honour and rights of this our Brittish Church and Nation For manifest it is that the remnant in Wales are the undoubted Heires and Successors of the Ancient Brittains who since their Incorporation are in all reason and honour to be defended in their Priviledges and immunity by the whole English Nation for in a body the right or wrong of any part is within the sense and concern of the whole and the weaker it is the more and especially by our Princes and chief Nobles being of the same descent Yeâ— the Body and Major part of the English themselves were proved to be descendants from the Ancient Brittains and by right of Bloud and Faith as well as Armes to succeed into their places and possessions and priviledges and aire and humour and their Infirmities and divisions in some part as their vertues in most and bound therefore to repel these Roman encroachments from themselves by self-preservation which is a strong â—ye upon all mankind and from their Children by Paternal trust which is stronger as the same obligations upon our Princes in whom all rights and trusts of private men and Fathers concenter is strongest of all And this new Roman Catholick Faith or Fraud rather hath enlarg'd the Royal Office and duty to one part of Princely care and circumspection which Justinian never dream'd of For besides the defence of their people from Forreign Invasion and Captivity by their Armes and Puissance and from Domestic broiles and disorder by their Laws and wisdom in which two parts the Emperour compriz'd and circumscrib'd the Imperial charge There is a third Protection of their flock now incumbent upon them upon the same equity and reason their preservation from Forreign Imposture which contains both the other evils in its womb and draws home-bred confusion and hostile Subjugation and slavery along with at its heels and therefore in point of necessity fit for Princely encounter and prevention but in point of Honour much more it being a greater excellency to be wise than to be strong and couragious for the Souldier gives place to his General and our Sheriffs obey our Judges and of the two miseries it is more Ignominious and disgraceful to be over-seen than overcom as they are ever like to be who will be guided by any Mortals here-say against their knowledge and regulated Conscience And it may wonder'd what good is to be seen or gain'd by our return to Popery so destructive of Publick Peace and Eternal Salvation and so derogatory and disloyal towards Divine Soveraignty as well as human as hath been prov'd all along to whom Princes themselves ow an Original exemplarâ—y obedience and fidelity as Subjects ow to them a secondary by way of consequence and Copy There is much manifestly to be lost by the change of inestimable Knowledge and pretious Liberty and valuable Wealth and Treasure great will be the damage and detriment the Incongruity greater The Impossibility to sober men and Christians the greatest of all What though every man be Lord of his own Purse to give away what is his own how and to whom he pleases yet he cannot be thus Liberal in the encouragement of Vice and Imposture without a blot and censure upon his understanding Nor betray and necessitate his fellows for condition though not for folly to the like contribution and disbursement without great dishonesty and sacriledge if he be private person or if a Superiour in Publick trust without High and Blasphemous Perfidiousness for to explain these Epithites the wrong of private men upon others of the same condition is not an assault on their rights alone but on God whose they are and all their rights by consequence whom they mutually represent to one another 1 Cor. 8.12 as they undergo the correlative habitude and fashion of Creatures upon themselves by consequence like their faces Gods Images seen by one another but out of sight unto themselves But the wrongs and breach of trusts in Superiours towards their Subjects trusting under the shadow of their wings is like the case of God proving untrue to his Creatures whereof there can be no conception made without Blasphemy nor is there any manner of Instance or track to be found thereof throughout the whole regular Creation neither the weakest nor wildest Creatures being ever found false or unnatural to their own dependants only miscreant Tyrants and Parents and Governours without bowels are they alone who Blaspheme the Divine Character they bear by being as God in their persons but as Satan in their deportment Acting a Deity that hath neither Grace nor Goodness nor Truth which is the highest Abomination and stupendiously monstrous Blasphemy that can be conceiv'd or represented which God will rebuke But the Incongruity increases further for what were such a change but selling our Birth-right for a mess of Catholick poison and preferring Italian Hypocrisie before English and Brittish Truth a rotten Disease before sound Health a Painted Face before a natural Beauty or for chast and Noble Matrons to become Hand-maids to Courtezans or Grave Judges to be Secretaries to Theives or Gentry and great Nobles to be Pages to Mountebanks or Kings and Emperours a Life Guard to Rebels and High-way-men Xanthe retro propera versaeque recurrite limphae the World will be as orderly when Rivers flow back to the tops of Mountains and the Globe of the Earth enlightens the Sun and the Stars and the Beasts of the Field who are without heart or understanding are to Instruct mankind And the Impossibility to the sober is yet greatest of all such a change being very improbable in fate and most impossible in reason God who is Irresistible in his Judgements is as Omnipotent in his mercies towards his People His Church flourish'd here in Brittain more or less and without Romish defilement for 600 years that is from the Resurrection to Monk Augustine's entrance It was afterwards sorely visited and condemn'd to Popish darkness and Captivity for great sins for the space of 800 years and visited again in mercy at the Reformation God's departure upon displeasure Ebbs according to hundreds but his return in mercy flows according to thousands to those that love him or whom he loves though we are unworthy yet he is all mercy and Truth and it is not to be doubted but we have had our Abrahams Isacks and Jacobs in our Brittish Israel who
General Council regulates the Controversie about Easter for Peace and Unity against great traditions p. 16â— The Brittains left their Eastern observation of Easter in submission to the Council of Arles and Nice p. 164. 166. The difference between Rome and Brittain about Easter at Augustine's entrance was Astronomical not Doctrinal like our stiâ—o novo veteri saving that the Monk and his party pretended the Golden Number to have been a tradition of St. Peter p. 167. The like Ignorance Parallel'd in a modern Enthusiaâ—â— p. 168. Rome justifies the old Church of Brittain to have been Orthodox throughout because it had no more to except against it in Doctrine but this Easter difference p. 169. The Brittish Church took the 7 Churches of Asia for her Pattern in the first division of her Sees according to some of the Heathen Flamins and Archflamins according to others not so probable p. 170 All holy and good Bishops were Successors of St. Peter and all Carnal and corrupt Successors of Judas in the Brittish estimation p. 171. An account of several Ancient Customes and Traditions of the Brittish Church differing from the Roman and agreeing with the Catholick Church And Rome condemned in her Clergy and Laity in General Councils for not observing some of them 172. Of Wednesday and Friday in the Holy Week and their Brittish names and Grawys or Leâ—t ibid. Of their Plygains or solemn Carolls on Christs Nativity befor break of day still continued p. 173. What honour they had for the Cross how they Prayed for the dead their great beliefs of the Immortality of the Soul and detestation of lying ibid. Of their Eremites and Nunneries Their Monks followed the Rule of Aegypt and the East p. 173 174. Their Clergy might marry p. 174. Their Bishops were chosen by Clergy and people their Archbishops by their Kings and Synods and Parliaments p. 169 And never sought to Rome for Palls or Ordinations p. 175 They differed from Rome in their Tonsuâ—es if they had any at all p. 174. Their singular esteem of Episcopal blessing or Confirmation p. 174. 175. Their resort to the East and Jerusalem whithâ—r St. Helena went and Pelagius and St. David and Teâ—law and Paternus and the three last ordained Bishops by that Patriarch p. 176 177. The Antient Greek Fathers are Records of our Brittish Ecclesiastical Antiquities why p. 177 178. The Homilitical customes of the Brittish Church p. 178. Their respect and Loyalty to their Princes whom yet they reprov'd for their scandals and of the Brittish Valour for their Countrey and from what Principle and a Passage from K. Henry 2d to the Emperour of Constantinople concerning them p. 178 179 180. The respect of Brittish Princes and Gentry towards their Clergy p. 181 182. Of the Brittish Charity in Commerce with one another with an account of Syberw q. d. ys berw valdâ— Scaturiens Effluens and ansyberw wherein they plac'd all practical Religion and irreligion to this day and of their Cymortha's prohibited by King Henry 4th what they were with application to some of our Brittish Gentry p. 182 â—83 seqq The present Church of England profesies the same with the Ancient Brittish the people are more the same Nation than Italians are Old Romans p. 186. The Romanists have no colour to impute Schism to the Brittish Church nor to ask where was our Religion before Luther p. 187. The character of the false Apostles agrees with Modern Rome p. 189 190 198. Communion with the Church of Rome when best unsuccessful to Brittain p. 190 191. The Romanists shook off the Greek Exarchs their lawful Governours by unlawful means and blame us for doing the same to unlawful Governours by lawful means 192 193. The Brittains more offended with the Romanists their fellow Christians for Robbing them of their Sees than with the Pagan Saxons who rob'd them of their Countrey p. 193 194. SECT VIII Monk Augustine's Learning and Principles and Elocution for his Work and his Cases of Conscience sent to Rome whether a woman being with Child might be Baptiz'd c. p 195. seq Of his direction to purifie Idol Temples with Holy Water and the consequences of this errour p 197. His Elocution p. 201 His method of Propagation combination with Heathens against Christians false Miracles Massacres p 203 219. seq London averse to him and his followers why p. 205 206. His Miracles and his Companions p. 207 209. His exceptions against the Brittains 209 210. The Calumny rais'd against the Brittains of denying the Gospel to the Saxons confuted p. 210. seq And how the snare was laid p. 225. Of Gavel kind or Gavel Kent the Tenure of Kent p. 217. Of Christ-Church Canterbury an Old Church of the Brittains and Bede's partiality in concealing the Conversion of Kentish Saxons by Brittish Clergy p. 218. Who were permitted after the first storm was over to continue in England till Augustine's Arrival p. 215. Romanists Schismatics here unavoidably p. 220 221. An account of the reason of Augustine's unnatural Combination with Heathens against Christians in a Brittish Proverb p. 221 222. There was no need of Augustine's coming hither p. 223. What had been his duty p. 224. Empire and profit was Rome's design here not Religion p. 225 223. The Monks of Bangor murder'd by Augustine's procurement p. 226. seq The Brittish Princes reveng'd their deaths p. 228. The effects of an Idol set up in the heart in Christ's stead p. 229. The English cannot take Augustine for their Apostle why p 230 203. SECT IX The Gospel from its first planting never failâ—d in Wales Cornwall Cumberland Scotland p. 232 423. Conquerours destroy the Nobles and Gentry not the Communalty p. 233 The Trunk and body of the Nation was alwayes Brittish under Roman Saxon and Norman Conquerours Ibid. The Montâ—ossian Family of Brittish descent p. 234 How several parts were yielded to the Saxons upon terms p. 235. 236. 237. A Brittish Church in England under the Saxons p. 238. 239 c The Brittish tongue preserved amongst the Communalty in Wales upon the score of the Gospel p. 240 243. A Proposal of charity â—or Brittish Servants in London p. 243 244. The Saxons forward to Unite with the Brittains by Intermarriages p. 244. seqq Why more of Brittish extraction in England than of any other p. 247. more discernible in the nobility and Royal bloud p. 248 249. Invasions compared to inundations and feavers how p. 249. 250 English can succeed in Brittish rights and exemptions as well as Goths and Vandals in St. Peter's Roman Chair p. 251 252. How the English are bound in Honour as well as interest to defend the old Brittish rights p. 252. and especially our Princes p. 253. The precedent discourse summed in the words of an Anonymous writer p. 254. Some Learned men conceived not the English so safe from the pretences of Rome about their faith as the Brittains in Wales but without ground p. 254. 255 A great or most part of the English Nation converted to
481. How they have been hammering for a fit title to their Supremacy p. 486. What would mildly cure Christendom of the Nusance of Popery p. 487. Protestancy no name of Schism but of Eternal duty p. 488. The first Adam the example of Credulous Papists the second Adam of wary Protestants ibid. The description of this Apostacy in Prophecy p. 491. The Roman Heathen Empire a greater blessing to the World than the Christian Papal how signified by the number of Hornes ibid. Rome's character in Modern blazonry ibid. Why the Roman may be said to be a Religion and no Religion p. 492. Of the Moral annihilation of the Soul by Romish Principles p. 49â— And how equivalent in its effects to a real ibid. Whereby all their gross Errours in Doctrine and practice are demonstrated to be necessary and unavoidable while they continue their Principles p. 493 494 495 497. The Characteristical difference between Protestant and Papist wherein lyes it p. 498. The Pope a God without Divine Attributes 498. How fit to be a Judge of Controversy for Integrity p. 499. The followers of Popery as inexcusable as the Leaders p. 499 500. Of what sort and tempers and how misled p. 500. The misery of Spiritual slavery exceeding Temporal and Hell it self p. 501. Who must do good upon them ibid. Divine and National Prophesies of an impending alteration upon Rome p. 502. SECT XVI The right râ—le of Heresie 504. The Roman-Catholick rule thereof ibid. Illustrated by a passage of a Portugues General p. 503 504. None are greater Hereticks than our Roman-Catholicks why p. 505. seqq 333. The pregnancy of their Heresie in excluding the heart 507. Papists honour Christ upon the score of the Pope why p. 508. Form of Godliness no where more than where the life is wanting p. 508. Being as the Maggots of a dead Corps p. 509. Several Antichristian effects of the exclusion of the heart in that Church 1. Lying and Legending and forging p. 509 510. Popish Legends Alcharon dreams Talmud dotages how near a kin 2. Unchristian Cruelty God and Christ and all mankind in the heart p. 511. seq Our different beings in respect of Souls or Bodies ibid. How Protestants put on Christ and Papists the Pope and their different tempers thereby p. 513 514. Where Christ is out of the heart Dissenters find no Mediator p. 515. How the Turk was to rage by the Sword Rome by Fire according to Prophecy p. 515 516 517. 3. Carnal Impurities not much reckon'd for sins at Rome p. 518. 4. Accusers of Brethren p. 519. Catholick and Orthodox belong better to Protestants than Papists p. 520 521 522. Abraham the first Catholick p. 522. The Old Church of Rome differ'd from the Moderne as we Protestants in Doctrine p. 523. It s a Gothic Church or Gregorian p. 525 529. Old Romans more in Venice c. p. 525. Rome made up of the dregs of mankind after the ruine of the old according to Platina p. 483 484. What is to be thought of the Christian Articles there still profess'd p. 525 526. Their Worship and Masse alterd from the Old Worship and by whose means remarkably 526 527 528. Our Common Prayer far nearer to the Liturgy of Old Rome p 528. The beginning and first start of Popery when and with what omens p. 526. Pope Gregory and Mahomet equally pretended to Divine Inspirations by a Pigeon at their Eare p. 530. Popery compar'd to a long night and in what hour of that night Purgatory and Transubstantiation c. began to possess mens fancies p. 530. 531. Europe owes its Knowledge and Learning to Protestancy and Ignorance and Barbarism to Popery p. 533. Rome Heathen and the Modern Christian compar'd p. 534. seqq The Roman Art to secure their Converts p 538. The Old Romans respected their Heathenism more than the Modern their Christianity p. 539. Modern and Middle and Ancient Brittains compar'd with the Romans for Armes and Arts and Altars p. 540. seqq Invasions of Nations a mystical deluge and how the Brittains alone like Noah surviv'd and communicated the Old World to the New ibid. p. 541 542. How the English and the Old Brittains agree in humour and defence of their Faith p. 541. The German had their first Chymistry from the Brittains and Poetry and Rhetoric how inseparable from the Brittish Nation and Language p. 543. Julius Caesar repuls'd by Gaswalhan p. 544. Unpeaceable Divisions the blind-side of Ancient and Modern Brittains p. 545. Of the Female Brittish Valour p. 546 Of the Reduction of Caractacus his Teritory and Fame p. 547. seq A bold Speech and strange Faith of an Aged Brittain before K. Henry 2d The Fame of our Brittish Legions in the Roman Wars and Musters p. 551. How unworthy it were to subject this Church to Rome p. 409 474 553. An addition to the Princely Charge since the time of Justinian p. 554. It is more disgraceful to be overseen than overcome p. 555. The loss and detriment by Popery and guilt therewith p. 555 556. The Incongruity by it p 556 557. The impossibility how probably in fate 557 558. How manifestly in reason without a curse p. 558. The reason why Popery and Atheism must have Debauchery to precede p 560 All in the end must acknowledge or feel Christs Soveraignty p 561. The connexion of the end of this Discourse with its beginning or reduction of the Controversie to one point ibid. SECT XVII How a man may be of the Church of Rome or England and not of the Church of Christ contra p. 564 How we are justified c. p 565. Of being in or out of Christ p. 564 595 Of Immanent and transitive self p. 566 seq St. Pauls Conversion and the greatness of his love to the Church p. 570 571. What ensures Salvation to every man p. 57â— A new self-preservation belonging to the new Creature p. 573. Christians to be mutually loved above our selves p. 575. Three Questions resolv'd 1. Whether Grace be free and absolute or Conditional p. 576. 2. Whether Philosophy may be used in the Chruch p. 579. What sets the Soul within the Church of Heaven strictly and largely p. 585. Selfish persons are not salvable Christians p. 588. The Worthyes of the Church of Heaven p. 550 591 seqq Easier to bear poverty than riches p. 598. The man is where his heart is 599. The conclusion of this Section in a similitude 600. The Conclusion of the whole 600 601. Some lesser Litteral Escapes Page 9. line 31. read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 22. l. 31. r. Apostle p. 24. l. ult r. Apostolical p. 31. l. 20. r. Salus p. 34. l. 27. r. Rom p. 81. l. 26. r. form p. 155. l. 3. r. Catholick l. 28. r. Conscience p. 165. l. â— r. despised p. 203. l. 17. r. counterfeit p. â—94 l. 3. r. cladéque p. 318. l. 3. r. through p. 336 l. 33. r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 378. l. 4. r. too p. 34â— 3. l. 3. r. Plantation p. 401. l. 31. r. Missae p. 445. l. 7. r. to p. 475. l. 22. r. Disciples p. 505. l. 12. r. p. 569. l. 27d p. 521. l. 34. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 552 l. 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A lesser yet in these words here set down right and Alphabetically Archiepiscopal Beneficence Concatenation degenerate deliqiums fashion General Grimaces herding indispensable Metropolitical mimical Nunneries perceptible permanency persevere practices preceded Toleration ungodly ansyberwyd brodordhun cylhelh dyffneint fegir fymhenyd gogledh Mae i chwi pylgains o'r o fwystfiledh Syberwyd ynys yw yw'r
Episc Lond. l. 2. p. 134. c. Confession of all our Historians that this Wini became a Simonaick and therefore no Bishop in Law by their own Principles A remarkable vindication of the Innocent Bloud of our Bangor Martyrs through Gods wonderful Providence who is wont to give a Victory and a new Resurrection to his Church after mortal wounds and to confound its enemies For Augustine and his Italian Successors as they never had Right so neither had they any long continuance here notwithstanding all their craft and cruelty Honorius Å¿ Idem lib. 3. c. 7. was the fift and the last of their race and number from Augustine who died Anno 653. Then the Chair began to receive most an end †Mat. Westmin A. 666. English Successors such was Deusdedit a West-Saxon d G Malmesb. de Episc Lond. l. 2. p. 134. c. whose English name was Fridona whose Ordination was void by the Canons of the Church as well as his Chair For he was not Consecrated by any Archbishop in in due manner Paulinus being dead and gone but by one single Bishop †Bede l. 3. c. 20. Ithamar Bishop of Rochester who had no more power to make an Archbishop than hath a single Presbyter to Ordain and Consecrate his Superiour Bishop Therefore all his Acts and his whole sitting for 9 years were Void and Null And Will of Malmesburie's reason e Guil. Malmesbury de Gestis Roffens for their not calling the Northern Oswaldian Bishops to their assistance is very disingenious in one that had read their Principles in Bede to be so averse against Communion with the Romish See of Canterbury Cavebant Romanorum apud Cantiam Reliquiae Ordinationes erroneorumsequi The Reliques of the Roman Church in Kent saith he were shy to admit them that err'd about Easter to have an hand in their Ordinations whereas the shyness was on the other side shunning all Communion with them as Schismaticks and Intruders upon the Brittish Church So that there was no Archbishop at all in Canterbury from the time of Honorius 653. the See continuing actually Vacant for a year and a half to Deusdedit and also Deusdedit's nine years sitting being null in Law and a while after to the time of Theodorus of Tarsus in Cilicia his coming to the Chair in 668. Of which contrivance of Rome to begin a second Usurpation over the English Brittish Church as well as their first over the Brittains more shall be observed in proper place Therefore the Church of Canterbury was manifestly extinct for those 15 years between Honorius the last Italian and Theodorus the first and last Graecian Archbishop there And we have heard before of the extinction of the See of Rochester under Putta and Willelm besides the Archbishops that succeeded Theodore seem Brittish by their Countrey and Institution Birthwaldus his next successor Anno 692. was Brothers Son to Ethelfred King of Mercia x Antiquitates Eccles p. 55. where their Faith was right Brittish Tatwin after him in 731. was likewise of y Usher p. â—055 Ex Will. Malmesbury Mercia And three of his Bishops that ordain'd him Ingwald of London Aldwin of Lichfield Daniel of Winton were not of Roman but of Brittish Sees And the last ordain'd by Birthwald z Antiquit. Eccles p. 58. Nothelmus after Tatwin 736. had been Bishop of London where he was born Cuthbert after Nothelm came from the Chair of Hereford an Ancient Brittish See belonging to the Archbishoprick of Caerleon in Wales And not to mention Bregwin a Nobleman of Saxony who succeeded Cuthbert Lambert the thirteenth Archbishop was wholly depriv'd of his Primacy by the means of Offa King of Mercia who withdrew all his Revenues and Churches in Mercia from him and got the Pope to assent thereto misit nuntios donativis conferendis praemunitos b Spelman p. 302 303. Noverat enim Rex Offa desideria Romanorum for he had treated him according to his humour with great guifts And so Aldulphus Bishop of Lichfield was made Archbishop during the Reign of Offa. The Pope notwithstanding through the great darkness that was to be for several Ages in the Church restor'd the See and maintain'd his usurpation at Canterbury to the time of Henry 8. a Brittish King who putting a full end and period to all Popish powers and pretences continued here against the Laws of the Land and the Canons of the universal Church And judging fit to continue the Primacy of Canterbury upon a new and better Authority his own pleasure and the strength of the Law the Superiority of that See became lawful ever afterwards to be submitted to in Brittain according to Church Canons Which from the suppression of the old Archbishoprick of London was all along before a manifestly uncanonical and Schismatical usurpation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Photii Nomocanon Tit. 1. c. 20. infamous to boot in the sense of the Ancient Canons Usurpation and force and Conquest right or wrong being more comely in the field than in the Church and better to be legitimated by descent and time And this Argument of the English or Saxons receiving their first Faith from Brittain and not from Rome is further corroborated by that notable observation of the Reverend and Eloquent Archbishop Parker sometime Queen Elizabeths Latine Tutor as I am informed upon several Old d W. L'isle divers Ancient Monuments Antiquitates Ecclesiasticae p. 35 -to 47. Saxon Laws and Homilies containing several points and Articles and Suppositions in them quite contrary to those Doctrines that Augustine and his Romish successors endeavoured to sow and propagate as the Faith of Rome in England 1. Against Transubstantiation 2. For Communion under both kinds 3. And the Translations of Scripture into the Vulgar Tongue and Instances thereof before the time of Wicleff 4. Laymen to study and read the Scriptures and to learn Creed and Decalogue and Lords Prayer in the Vulgar Tongue 5. Against Invocation of Saints e Wheeloc not in c. 9. lib. 4. Bedae Antiquae Homiliae Saxonum nunquam sanctos invocant c. Worshiping of Images 6. Marriadges to be free 7. Kings to be Gods Vicars in their Kingdom 8. The Legislative Power to be in King and people Quae quidem veteris Ecclesiae Brittannicae dogmata c. Which verily saith he being the Tenets and Doctrines of the Old Brittish Church and long retain'd amongst the Ancient Saxons notwithstanding the influence and successions of their Roman Guides and Teachers to the contrary how agreeable they are both to to the word of God and our Modern Laws and Constitutions and how diametrically contrary in all respects to their way at Rome any one may with ease discern that will For as the same learned prelate again what Author did ever in his works report that Augustine did ever Preach to the English that they might come to believe by hearing that he was not capable to do it his own Pope