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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	bishop_n	jurisdiction_n	ordination_n	4,138	5	10.4414	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00289	A very lively portrayture, of the most reverend arch-bishops, the right reverend bs. of the Church of England set forth in XX. irrefragable positions, concerning their authority, power, and practise, as they onely are our diocesan lord bishops, so grounded upon Scripture, reason, and experience, by evident demonstrative practises, as their troublesome opposites, may cleerely see, how greatly they are deceived in all these. A labour undertaken for the peace of all Gods people, and for a just condemnation of al those, that cause division, and offences, contrary to the doctrine and discipline of Christs Church.		1640 (1640)	STC 10406; ESTC R212270	37,262	65

Go●… and founded upon the onely politique 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Lastly 〈◊〉 Doctor 〈◊〉 is hold to 〈◊〉 that our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Bish●… do●… d●…ive their 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and from the Pope of 〈◊〉 and therefore must Bis●…s bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over other Ministers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may know if he will that Peter was 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 proved to his h●…d and 〈◊〉 inferiour to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And as for the Pope he is proved to be 〈◊〉 by many learned Divines and is judged to b●… the man of 〈◊〉 in 2. Th●…ss 2. and the 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking like the Dragon Rev. 13. and 〈◊〉 Bish●… p●…ceeding from him 〈◊〉 needs 〈◊〉 such jure divi●… because his 〈◊〉 is from the 〈◊〉 POSITION 2. They are Di●…cesan Bishop●…by divi●… right 1 BEcause they know 〈◊〉 hold that a Di●…san Bishop is one over many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 it written that the holy Ghost set many Bishops and Elders ov●… 〈◊〉 flocke and Church at 〈◊〉 one Church Act 12. 47. and 15. 2●… and therein m●…y Eld●…s Acts 15. 6. 2●… 23. at 〈◊〉 one Church Eph 1. 1. R●…v 2. 5. but many Elders Act●… 20. 17. or 〈◊〉 verse 28. At Philippi many Bishops yet but on●… Church Phil. 1. 1. and Saint 〈◊〉 when he had planted Churches appointed T●… to ordaine Eld●… Bishops in every City more than one Tit. 1. 5. ●… as the Apostle himselfe did in every Church Elders Acts 14. 23. who kept one way and co●…rse al●…ke in all ●…nd ev●…ry Church 1 Cor. 4. 17. and 7. 17. Now so many in one Church could not be Di●…san Bishops 2. Because neither Christ nor his Apostles ever ordained any ordinary Ecclesia●… function to bee ever continued in any Church which he that was appointed thereunto could not in his owne person performe without substitut●… But a Discos●… Bishop takes more upon him then he can by himselfe discharge but must have his substitutes by reason of the largenesse of his ju●…isdiction over hundred●… of congregations 3. Bec●…e 〈◊〉 Postscripts to Saint Pauls Epistles the one to Timoth●… and the other to Titus are the words of men ●…humane testimo●…ies and false too as is proved fully by the learned and therefore cannot confirme a Dis●… Bishop to b●…of divine authority and of divine right 4. Because they ●…nne upon meere suppositions taking for granted what yet they have not proved nor can prove to uphold their Di●… dignity such bee these 1. That Timothy and Ti●… were not E●…angelists substituted onely for a time at Ephesus and in Creet to doe what the Apostle would have done had he been there contrarie to 2. Tim. 4. 5. in that Epistle in the Postscript whereof he is called a Bishop 2. That these two were Bishops differing from Elders when no where their consecration is mentioned and were they Bishops Di●…san because the Postscripts say they were Bishops●… but when so consecrated or how there is no mention And is it any way likely that S●… 〈◊〉 making else where A●… 20. 17. 18. 28. Elders and Bishops all one yea and that in his Epistl●… to Titus chapter 〈◊〉 5. 7. that by the false Postscript naming them Bishops we should take the name of Bishops to bee of another sor●… 〈◊〉 Saint Paul meant and had made 3. That Saint Paul 〈◊〉 to them ●…is Epistles as to di●…san Bishops and how to behave themselves in their Episcopall authority as a p●…terne in them to bee followed of such like succeeding Bishops If Paul wrote to Timothy his first Epistle from whence they fetch all their authority for ●…piscopacy why is not the Postscript put at the end of this Epistle to make him a Bishop while he was at Eph●… but at the end of the other Epistle out of which they doe make little ●…se for this their standing If he was then Bishop at Eph●… when the first Epistle was written then its cleare that Saint Paul wrote not the Epistle to him as a Bishop but as his substitute for the time in his absence 1. Tim. 3. 14. 15. To him Saint Paul wrote as also to Titus not to make them Bishops of which not one word in the Epistles written to them but what they should doe according to the present condition of the Churches and by those rules and precepts which he wrote how the Churches of Christ should be ordered for the tyme to come and not by these pre●…pts and rules to erect new Officers in Christs Church which he never ordained there is not a word in the Epistles to prove this to be the s●…ope But they having ●…ped this di●…san dignity and presumptuously practising what they doe they take to themselves what they ●…n find in the Epistles to beare them up contrary to the intention of the Apostles writing 4. That the power of ordination and jurisdiction was then 〈◊〉 Bishops and not in the Elders when in the Eldership was the power of ordination and imposition of hands 1. Tim. 4. 14. Act. 13. 3. and jurisdiction and rule in them to ●…t the Elders they which preached and laboured in word and Doctrine which fed the 〈◊〉 these were they t●…t ruled Heb. 13. 7. 1 Th. 5. 12. 1 P●… 5. ●… ●… 1. Tim. 5. 17. you such rule the Elders had as Saint Peter warneth them not to lord it over Go●… h●…tage which had beene n●…dlesse if the authority ha●… be●… in the hands of others 1 Pet. 5. 3. These be their false suppo●…tions and 〈◊〉 imaginations on which th●…y ●…ave built their rottering dig●…es 5. Bec●… thi●… setting up of one in dignity over many is an homane invention long after the Apostles dayes which was devised to prevent Schi●… say they But this invention was no●… of the spirit of Gen. First for that in the Apostles dayes there were schi●…es 1 Cor 3. 3. and 1●… 1●… and 〈◊〉 R●… 1●… 17. yet the holy Ghost did not direct the Apostle to ordaine any di●… Bishop to prevent Schis●… neither there where he mentions those schi●…es and divi●… as 〈◊〉 nor any such rem●…y in his Epistles●…to Ti●…hy and T●… 2. Be●…se as Doctor Whit●… hath written the 〈◊〉 devised hath proved worse than the disease which doth never happen to that remedie whereof the h●…ly Ghos●… is the Author 3. Because the holy Spirit which could foresee what evill would en●…r upon this devise would not ordaine that for a remedie to prevent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and diss●… which was never ●…erto found an effectuall remedy for it but 〈◊〉 her begate pride 〈◊〉 and other evills in the Church even to this day 4. For that this devise was from the spirit of Antichrist Satan taking advantage upon this gro●…d to raise up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all and so a 〈◊〉 government for the reason is alike for Arch-Bishops over Bishops Pat●…ks ov●…r Arch-Bishops P●… over Patriarks as Bishops over 〈◊〉 except men would va●…ly imagine that schis●… would onely arise among Pas●…rs and not among Bishops Arch. Bishops 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 too contrary to experience and

concerning right betweene party and party There it is about causes Ecclesiasticall and criminall matters and not ever betweene party and party in a matter of 〈◊〉 justice 4. Here the oath is administred in a case not otherwise to be tryed and decided for if it could say the Hebrew Doctors the Oath was not to be administred There it s administred whether it can or cannot bee otherwise proved 5. Here the Judges proceed in the behalfe of the party complaynant to end the 〈◊〉 betweene them In the other the Judges proceed with relation to themselves secretly becomming parties not to end a 〈◊〉 betweene others but to begin it betweene the party and themselves too often 6. Here the Oath is administred not ex Officio upon the Judges pleasure and their owne authority but upon the just complaint of another In the other ex Officio is a proceeding upon their owne authority and the framing of a bill upon their owne imagination against the party called before them letting the wicked accuser lurke in a corner or else to be gone till they can ripen the 〈◊〉 7. Here is an Oath given to make an end of the controversie to cleare the party and the 〈◊〉 to rest satisfied In the other the Oath ex Officio is to begin a controversie not to cleare the party but 〈◊〉 breed him more and greater trouble for they will not be satisfied though they have no just matter against him but if they let him depart it s by making him enter into a bond of appearance againe whensoever they 〈◊〉 call him Lastly 〈◊〉 the Oath is administred onely touching the particular cause in hand That is administred upon many captious interrogatories that by all or some of them the party may be catched and brought into danger Wee see from all this that hence is no 〈◊〉 for their wickednesse but is rather against them Touching the other Scripture though in a criminall cause of adultery Numb. 5. 19. yet it helpes them nothing thus to tyrannize over Ministers and others 1. It was a Law all the circumstances and meanes used peculiar to the Iewes because of the mans jealousie against his wife to satisfie him to prevent further mischiefe but with us no such meanes is allowed to satisfie the jealousie of the Husband against his wife 2. This was to take an Oath against her selfe which our Law alloweth not 3. Here the Oath was not a bare Oath but 〈◊〉 Oath of cursing to which he was to say Amen Amen such a kinde of Oath we use not to 〈◊〉 4. Besides the Oath with a curse other meanes were used by which the truth should bee made undoubtedly to appeare as the Text doth shew so as the taking of an Oath in a matter of such 〈◊〉 served not the turne to take away the Husbands jealousie 5. In this case the woman found guilty 〈◊〉 plagued of God but if she were 〈◊〉 shee received a blessing from God verse 28. Lastly yet this was not allowed to be done by the Lord but when there was no witnesse against her or shee 〈◊〉 taken in the fact verse 13. These holy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to make God speake for them who as I have proved is 〈◊〉 them The Conclusion IT cannot be sufficiently admired in these 〈◊〉 distracted dayes that Bishops the Reverend Fathers in our Church should be from time to time so opposed as they have beene First they have beene prayed against Second preached against Thirdly written against Fourthly witnessed against by suffering persecution suspension excommunication deprivation degradation also whipping pillory the cropping off of the eares the slitting of Noses fining deepely and imprisonment unto death Fiftly I hope lastly resisted with the sword as if men desired and intended wholy the rooting out of those so eminent persons from the Churches of Christ as if Enemies to peace to preaching to the power of godlines all goodnes and as if they were lyms of that Romish Antichrist Lovers of that 〈◊〉 of Rome secret nourishers of Superstition Lawles Innovators in matters of religion Such as makd way for 〈◊〉 to the Sea of Rome the very chiefe troublers of Church and State minding onely how to uphold their Hierarchie and Prelaticall Church though with the ruine of the King and his Kingdomes But for better discoverie of the truth here is laid before every judicious Reader their way and walking that all may see that will see and not mistake but bee inforced to acknowledge them to be such as they are before the face of God and all good men who can truly judge aright betweene them and all those which so condemne them It cannot be denyed that they prove themselves to be Bishops Superiours to Elders in dignity from Ti●…hy and Titus whom the 〈◊〉 Postscripts to the Epistles of Saint Paul make to 〈◊〉 Bishops This is their divine ground on which they build their worthy standing and well may they For they follow all the rules and exhortations given to these two Bishops by Saint Paul very exactly and punctually to every thing being strongly fenced with Saint Pauls authority in all their doings 1. They conceive Bishops to be superiours in office and dignity to Elders For they read that Saint Paul maketh Bishops and Elders all one Tit. 1. 5. 7. 1 Tim. 3. 1. as the fo●…mer treatise doth declare and if Elders Pastours and Ministers be not one and the same the Apostle hath not in directing 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 told what a one a Minister of Christ should be 2. They clayme Jurisdiction over Ministers and others For Ti●…hy and Titus were extraordinary men who were substituted for a time in Sain●…Pauls absence to doe what he was to doe had hee beene in person there But they 〈◊〉 not nor 〈◊〉 any 〈◊〉 made of any power of iurisdiction invested in those which the Apostle doth call 〈◊〉 in his describing of a Bishop in 1 Tim 3. 1. and in Tit. 1. 7 8. 9. no one word is there of iurisdiction 3. They challenge ordination to themselves imposition of hands and making of Ministers For they find it written that imposition of hands was in the 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4. 14. and that more then one laid on hands Acts 13. 3. and ordained Ministers Acts 14. 23. and 〈◊〉 Acts 6 6. and they also read that Saint Paul said to 〈◊〉 lay hands sodainly on no man he saith not lay thy hands as if hee alone were to doe it but lay hand to wit with other on no man when they would ordaine any which expositio●… the words following doe confirme neither b●… partak●…rs of other 〈◊〉 sinnes that is if they would sinne in misor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on such with them and be guilty of sinne with them So is the place in Titus of his ordaining Elders to be understood Tit. 1. 5. for its not probable that Saint Paul would give authority to either Timothie or Titus which he never 〈◊〉 to himselfe alone but

urged POSITION 8. They judge it necessary that whatsoever is amisse in the Church should be caref●…ly and speedily reformed and this is evident to all 1. BEcause they refuse to heare and receive any complaints against their Courts and devile which way to vex those that clearely informe against their unlawfull proc●…dings and illegall courses 2. Because they stop the way and passages of all reformation by withholding the meanes which should do it by making the supreamest in authority beleeve that there needs no reformation towards the better part except it be by innovations to draw back to the Mother Church of R●…me By reproaching such with hatefull names who labour for a reformation of abuses 3. Because they or their Chaplaines doe with all strength by their best learning either ●…cuse or defend every thing which is justly found in faul●… within their government in their manner of governing in their Ministry in their Ceremonies and 〈◊〉 service or what else so ever needeth any reformation And why they set themselves to be 〈◊〉 ready 〈◊〉 is for these ●…roved reasons 1. BEcause they hold it policie to ●…mend nothing least they should grant something to be 〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉 such as have a long 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desir●…d and endeavored by word by writing and by 〈◊〉 much to bring them to it and would heartily praise G●…D to s●…e all things in better order for the good of GODS Church and the praise of his Name and peace of his People 2. Because they know the Northern wind hath blown that way suddainely arising as a storme whilest they set saile toward the South-East in a calme weather fearing no such tempest 3 Because they read that albeit Christ found fault with the corruptions and superstitions in the Iewish Church yet the corrupted high Priests Chiefe Priests learned Doctors Hypocriticall Scribes and Pharises would run their owne way and amend nothing but plotted his death as the Evangelists shew And therefore why should these out Reverend Fathers amend any corruptions at the motions of Christs Servants 4. Because the unholy Pope and his heathen-like Prelats at Rome did never hold it fit to make any alteration in their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 further then they were enforced and when they seemed to go●…e about it they like cunning craftsman in their Trade did it with such caveats and cautions witnesse their Trent councel as all that which they did was as good or little better then nothing 5. Because it may be they hold that an Ecclesiastical State cannot decline nor be corrupted by the evils of times for that they read how our Saviour Christ had somewhat against the Bishops in the 〈◊〉 Chure●…s against the 〈◊〉 Bishop for losse of his first Lov̄e against the Bishop of 〈◊〉 for suffering the Doctrine of 〈◊〉 against the Bishop of Thyatira for permitting wicked I●…sabel a false Prophetesse her fornication and Idolatrie against the Bishop of Sardi●… for resting more upon a name or fame then upon the truth of Religion and the power thereof against the Laodicean Bishop that had such a high co●…it of hims●…e as might make him matchable with the most of our Reverend Prelates even the highest in the instep for his loathsome lukewarmenesse Lastly they are very indifferent which Religion tak●… place whe ther Protestancy or 〈◊〉 so they may injoy thei●… Lordly dignities and dash out the braines of Calvi●… and that G●…vian Doctrine that Presbyterian Raskal as our highest Reverend Father in his wisdomc and rayling zeale called him POSITION 9. They may very well rule by their sole power alone 1. BEcause they find it written that two is better than one the one to lift up the other if one happen to fall but woe to him that is alone Eccl. 4. 9. 10. 2. Because they forget not how King David in bringing up the Arke would have all the chosen men of Israel with him 1 Sam. 6. 2. 1 Chro. 15. 3. and how King Hezekiah would for keeping the passeover consult with his Princes and the congregation in Jerusalem 2. Chro. 30. 2. 3. Because our Saviour said tell the Church Mat. 18. 17. which Church consisteth of more then one at the least of two or three vers●… 20. 4. Because we read that at the ordination not any one of the Apostles would ordaine Deac●…s alone but said joyntly whom we may appoint over this buisinesse Acts 6. 3. Nor did the Ap●…stle Saint Paul ordaine Elders but with 〈◊〉 for it s said they ordained Elders Acts 14. 23. And the imposition of hands was by the 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4. 14. 2. In the act of excommunication casting out and receiving in Sa●…Paul would doe neither of himselfe but with others gathered together 1 Cor. 5. 4. 2. Cor. 2 6 8. 10. 3. In making decrees and Canons for the Church the Apostles would not doe it alone but with the Elders also Acts 15. 22. 23. 5. Because it s without all example in tempora●…l government in the handling of temporall matters which are not of so high a nature as spirituall as every one doth willingly acknowledge for Kings have their Counsels and wee shall find that no temporall court is there in this Kingdome of the higher sort where the authority doth re●…in one onely person but the principall person hath either Colleagues or Allessours The Chancelour of England hath an Assistans of twelve Maisters of the Ghancery The Master of the Wards hath a Councel of the Court The Kings ●…nch Common Pleas and the Exchequer are benches of a certaine number of Iudges So hath the Chancel●… of Duchie a Councell of Court The Exchequer Chamber hath the Lord Treasurer with him and with him joyned the Chancelour and Bar●…ns The Star Chamber is an Ass●…blie of the Kings privie Councell aspersed with with the Lords Spiri●…uall and Temporall The Lord Pr●…sidents in the Marches of Wales and in the North have their Councells Now if no one be fit to be alone in Civill Courts ●…xcept Bishops be neither faulty nor subiect to bee faultie the Bishops are not to be alone in their jurisdiction and Ecclesiasticall Courts POSITION 10. Their high authority so lawfull they all obtaine by very lawfull meanes 1. BEcause they preach to please for they find it written If I please men I should not be the servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. 2. Because they follow the time as the readiest way to preferment observing what is acceptable to great ones and avoiding what may offend them because they find it written of some chiefe Rulers in the I●…ish Church who knew and beleeved more then they would manifest that they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God Iohn 12. 42. 3. Because when some have not beene able otherwise to prevaile they have offered monies because they find it written that Offers have beene made by one a Divell to Iesus Christ All this will I give thee Mat. 4. 9. and by another a servant of the Divell Symon Magus offering to the Apostles money to have the

gift of the holy Ghost Act. 8 18 19. 4. Because they greatly extoll the dignity of Lord Bishops by writing for it by preaching alowd for it in high places and cannot or will not otherwise beleeve but that they bee such 〈◊〉 Lords jur●… divin●… for they find it written how can 〈◊〉 beleeve which receive honour one from another and seeke not the honour which commeth from God alone Iohn 5. 44. Now all these so lawfull meanes they use because they would be knowne to come with no greedy desire to such honour And therefore before their consecration they hypocritically refuse it three times because they have either read or heard of as it hath bintold them that really and in earnest some ancient Bishops have had Bi●…p-ricks forced upon them against their wills as had Saint Augusti●… Ambrose Athanasius Gregorie 〈◊〉 Father and many moe some utterly have refused and by no perswa●…ons would take diverse great and wealthie Bishop-ricks as on●…Ephraim Syrus Ny●… and Saint Bernard who did refuse the Bishoprick of 〈◊〉 and Mill●… as also did Adrian the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with others moe but more fooles they for their 〈◊〉 shame none now or very few to seeke 〈◊〉 after Bishop-ricks and to use such blessed meanes as are afore mentioned to obtaine them For they find it written that in the last dayes men shall be lovers of their 〈◊〉 s●…lves 〈◊〉 and so forth 2 Tim. 3. 1. 2. POSITION 11. They may not forsake their so warra●…table Lordly Prelaticall standing 1. BEcause they read the complaint they ceased ●…ot from their 〈◊〉 doings nor from their stubborne way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Because Christ hath said 〈◊〉 plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be 〈◊〉 up M●… 15. 13. 3. Because they know the lo●…e to be great both of wealth honour and ple●…sure and they read that Chri●… Discipl●…●…sooke all to follow him Mat 19 27. And 〈◊〉 voluntarily left his honour and the pleasures of sinne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the reproach of Christ with the people of God Heb. 11. 25. 26. 4. Because they find it written thou 〈◊〉 not the things which be of God but these things which bee of men Mat 16. 23. 5. Because they are taught a good lesson by Saint 〈◊〉 saying love not the World nor the things that are in the World that is the lust of the eyes the lust of the eyes and the pride of life if any man love the world the love of God the Father is not in him 1 John 2 15. 6. Because they 〈◊〉 or may read of very many Bishops in former times who voluntarily renounced their places not onely Bishops in other Countries but ours here in our owne Nation as of foure Arch-Bishops of Canterbury foure of Yorke two of London two of Lincolne two of Coventry and Litchfield two of Worcoster three of Rochester and others to the number of 37. or 38. Bishops Putta a Bishop of Rochester left his place and turned a Schole Master all his daves Father Latimer gave over his Bishoprick of Worcester and blessed God that gave him that grace to resigne it and to make himselfe a quondam Bishop But when our Reverend Lordly Fathers thinke on thes●… they oppose Lordly 〈◊〉 a better example for them to follow for hee as they doe loved to have the preheminence 3 Iohn 9. and they looke upon hundreds of others more worthie imitation wiser men who learned the words of our Saviour Christ without booke The Children of this world are wiser in their generation then the Children of the light Luke 16. 8. 7. Because they know that this Lordlynesse and their secular employments hinder greatly the spirituall function and almost quite taketh them off from it as the Kings of Denmarke and Sweden found to be true and as wee find it if wee will judge aright and as the now most reverend Arch-Bishop of Canterbury acknowledgeth in his dedicatory Epistle before his late published booke that by such occasions he was made too much a stranger to his Bookes 8. Because they know what great good they may do to settle peace betweene his Majesty and his Subjects and prevent much evill which may fall out upon both Nations if they would freely and truely confesse these three things 1. That their Lordly standing is not jure divine but an hum 〈◊〉 invention as hath beene heretofore acknowledged by Bishops by holy Martyrs learned Doctours in this our Church 2. That true religion with the saving knowledge of Christ might be more propagated Gods holy worship more purely preserved without them then with them as the Church of Scotland hath found true by experience and doth testifie as much 3. That the Civill estate may bee most peaceably governed and Monarchicall government made to slourish in piety and plenty without their great Lordships If the Cathedrall great revenues might be employed to the training up of young Divines and thence Pastours chosen when places are void in Parishes If Bishops Palaces might be for Schooles of Learning and the Temporalities bestowed to the maintenance thereof and other pious uses as by the wisedome of the state in Parliament should be thought most fit among other godly acts to help to enlarge the maintenance of many poore Ministers who have livings of very small value of only ten pound or twelve pound per annum and some no more numeratis 〈◊〉 out of which they pay Tenths and Subsidies yea and some where at a new Bishops enterance they pay him a benevolence the tenth of their poore maintenance which their gracious good Lordships will not remit one penny off POSITION 12. No Bishops no King this is undeniable FOR they support the Throne of Kings this is an undoubted truth the reasons are very manifest 1. Because its 〈◊〉 in Revel. 17. 12. that the ten hornes are ten Kings which receive power as Kings at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Beast 2. Because they raigne as Kings without the King for 1. They keepe their Courts and Visitations without speciall patent under the broad Seale 2. They print Articles upon their owne authority and minister oathes upon them 3. They send out processes in their owne name and many other things they doe contrary to the Statutes of the 〈◊〉 as hath by some learned in the Law beene fully proved by which they doe rule over his Majesties good Subjects contrary to his Crowne and Dignity 3. Because Kings may very well and safely reigne without them for 1. The Roman Emperours did reigne a long time before there were any Lord Bishops 2. King 〈◊〉 here the first Christian King reigned without them and it was hee that made some Bishops some Arch-Bishops and not they him a King 3. 〈◊〉 and others States in reformed Churches doe subsist without them and cannot Kings be Kings without such Lord like Bishops they may if they have but eyes to see it 4. As spirituall Lords they have nothing to doe in Civill causes and as they be Barons by their ●…lities they be made

so great 〈◊〉 to live in super fluitie and why should they supply the place of Temporall Lords Is it not to the temporall Lords very disgracefull yea is it not very ominous to a Kingdome And this 〈◊〉 because against the holy order of Pastours and against Christs owne words it shall not bee 〈◊〉 with you they are lifted up to be Princes busying themselves as busie-bodies in great affaires which concernes them not becomming ill Counsellours where they be to the detriment of both Church and State for they are left of God to themselves because they leave their sacred calling as if it were too base for their high minds and deep reaches in State businesses 4. Because Christian the third King of Denmark our Kings great Grand-father by the Mother side rooted out all the Bishops of his Kingdome in one day as annoyance to the State and have beene kept out now hitherto fully an hundred yeares So as here is a King and no Bishop and in Sweden as I take it no Lord Bishops and yet there is 〈◊〉 authority 5. Because our King as King hath no dependency of Bishops but is over them and they his Subjects they depend upon him and if they usurpe not their power they have their Episcopall authority and jurisdiction from him at whose pleasure they fall if his Majesty please to 〈◊〉 their authority and to cast them out POSITION 13. They stand wholly for a learned grave paineful and godly ministery First For a Learned Ministery For they have greatly pestered the Church I. In making many bare reading Ministers to bee Curates and too many to bee in the roome of Pastours for they know well that a Pastour must bee apt to teach 1 Tim. 3. 2. as they say in his ordination and doe give him authority to teach they heare out of Gods word that they are blind and dumb dogs Esay 5. 6. II. In tollerating them to be so continually for they know where these be the people are as Sheep without a Shepherd Mat. 9. neither bee they ignorant of that which Solomon saith where there is no vision there the people perish Pro. 29. 18. nor of Christs speech if the blind lead the blind both fall into the ditch Mat. 15. 14. in no reformed Church in Christendome are such but here and in the Antichristian 〈◊〉 of Sathan 3. In not consulting about meanes and using the same to remove this so great a plague to the people and to prevent it for the time to come 4. In never rebuking their slothfolnesse no not in the younger men nor stirring them up to get knowledge for to instruct the people 5. In putting downe such divine exercises as have beene used heretofore when Ministers met and handled 〈◊〉 and the same piece of Scripture the youngest beginning and so successively to the Eldest some grave Ministers being chosen as chiefe for the time all this done publikely and then in private if any thing were needfull to be advised upon or any mistake to deliver their judgements upon it and so appoint another day for the like meeting once in a fourthnight or once a moneth which exercise did much good to many and continued in some market Townes heretofore very many yeares 6. In comforting these blind Guides by preferring prayer before preaching and common service to be such as people should rest therewith satisfied especially if they have their quarterly Sermons 2. For a Grave Ministery Because they admit many too young men into the Ministery if of any degree in Schooles if they can answer some few questions in Latine and can speake upon some text it may be an houre before them having penned it after their best hability though they bevery ignorāt in the Scriptures and little acquainted with the studie of Divinity for in admitting of these they know what Saint Pauls Canon is hee must not be a Novice least hee bee puffed up in pride and so fall into the condemnation of the Divell 1 Tim. 3. 6. and they also know that youth is subject to be despised 1 Tim. 4. 12. that many of these are vaine 〈◊〉 getting in to be some idle Curats and giving themselves to liberty till they enter into the bond of marriage and the next bond following 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 then of children a great disgrace to the Ministery 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For that they are content that many teach negligently but now and then 〈◊〉 not once a year some once a yeare some quarterly some monethly and some once in a fortnight because they read that amongst the 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sabbath day was preaching 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was Christs custome to preach every Sabbath Luke 4. 16 and the Apostles in the Jewish 〈◊〉 ancient Fathers used 〈◊〉 to doe every Sabbath Christ 〈…〉 〈◊〉 ●… 〈◊〉 yet 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 them not because they find it written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are destroyed for want of knowledge because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will also reject thee that thou shalt 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forget thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. 6. 2. They themselves the most of them are evill examples for they lay aside preaching for the most part as if it were either no part or the least part of their dutie 3. Though in 〈◊〉 Ministers they charge upon them this dutie and have made a 〈◊〉 for a licensed Preacher to preach every Lords day yet is there no enquirie after Ministers negligence herein no calling them to their Courts no 〈◊〉 no suspension 〈◊〉 any other censure upon them 〈◊〉 the same Because they read that 〈◊〉 did not neglect to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stir up the gift in him and to study hard and to preach diligently 1 〈◊〉 4. 13. 16. 2 Tim. 4. 1. 2. and the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Elders of 〈◊〉 to looke to their flock over which the holy Ghost had made them Over●… Act 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 willed the 〈◊〉 to charge 〈◊〉 to take 〈◊〉 the Ministery which he had received of the Lord to fulfill it Col. 4. 14. 4. But unto 〈◊〉 Ministers they have a speciall eye especially if they find the least 〈◊〉 in conformity or not wholy conforming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 innovations though in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they preach nothing 〈◊〉 may any way 〈◊〉 the peace of the Church either for 〈◊〉 or discipline but rebuke the 〈◊〉 of the times condemned by Gods Law and the 〈◊〉 of the Land and the very Canons of 〈◊〉 For 1. They find it written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Prophet because he rebuked their flattering of the King and the rest of his companions telling the King the truth as the King found it 〈◊〉 King 〈◊〉 2. They also find it written how the high Priest of 3. They are not ignorant of the troubles of the faithfull Prophet 〈◊〉 how the wicked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 26. 11. he was informed against to the 〈◊〉 Priest and was called by a false 〈◊〉 a mad man 〈◊〉 29. 26. whereupon he was 〈◊〉 imprisoned and