Israell and Iudah concerninge this matter of orderinge the Church and secondly takinge occasion therefrom to shevv vvherein or in vvhat needefull perticulers I in all humility crave your Royal Povverfull Assistance I. CHAP. OF David we reade 1. Chron 24 3 That he distributed Zadock of the sonnes of Eleazar and Ahimilech of the sonnes of Ithamar accordinge to their Offices in their Ministration Againe Of Hezekiah we reade 2. Chron 31 2 That he appointed the courses of the Preists and Levits by their turnes euery man accordinge to his office both Preists and Leuits for the burnts Offerings and peace Offerings to Minister and to give thancks to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord. Againe we reade of the same Kinge 2. Chron 24 25 That he appointed also the Levits in the house of the Lord with Cymbals with Viols and with Harps accordinge to the commandement of David and Gad the Kinges Secr and Nathan the Prophet for the commandement noteth this Scripture was by the Hande of the Lord and by the hande of his Prophets Hence vve have evidence that the Kinges Office streatcheth to order the Ecclesiastical Ministers Ministrations accordinge to the Ordinance or Commandement of God therefore Kinges are Gods Ministers to see that such Ecclesiasticall Officers Offices as God ordeyned in the Church be founde in the Church of God vvithin their seuerall Dominions But hovv cann Kinges vnder the Christianity doe this if they have not povver over those in vvhom is the povver of Ordeyninge Ecclesiastical Ministers constreyninge them if neede be to ordeine such Ministers as neede For Ministers must first be before they can be distributed to the seuerall Offices neither can our Kinges distribute Ministers to the seuerall Offices if they have not power over those by whoÌ„ ecclesiastical Ordination is conveyed Vnder the Lawe Ministers vvere propagated by Generatiö vnder the Ghospel they are propagated by Ordination therefore vvhere Ministers vvant to be distributed to due Offices the Kinge is Gods Minister to constreine if neede be the Minister vvho hath povver of Ordination to ordeine Ministers for needefull offices Such ecclesiasticall Ministers therefore as God by his vvoorde preserved in Scripture giues us light vvarrant for that they ought to be in the Church vve may petition your Majestie that they be ordeined and distributed to their appointed Offices if our Cleargy in vvhom is the povver of Ordination be herein negligent True it is that this Church hath bene very happy in its preservinge in the Reformation Arch-Bishops Bishops Preists and Deacons and vve of theise tymes are herein likevvise happy that such are continued in this Church vvith your Majesties gratious allovvance therefore I am not in this Chapter to petition for the ordeyninge of such Ministers That vvhich I petition your Majestie for in this Chapter is 1. That such ecclesiasticall Officers as are wantinge in our Church may be ordeyned in this Church 2. That Paâ—ishes Bishopdomes and Arch Bishopdomes may be conveniently bounded 3. That you continue to free this Church from all forreine and unlaw full ecclesiasticall usurpations Powers THose ecclesiasticall Officers which I accoumpt to wante unto our Church are Lay Elders or Governours in every Parrish Church who with though under the Cleargy in that Church should Governe the Church in that Parrish But because theise are not onely not as yet admitted in this Church but also are by our Cleargy comtemptuously written of and spoaken against therefore I humbly pray that I may first shew by the vvord of God in Scripture that God Orderned such in the Church and secondly that I may answere some questions which may be moved concerning such The Apostle S. Paule 1. Cor. 12 28 saith thus And God hath ordeined some in the Church as first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers then them that doe Miracles after that the guifts of healinge Helpers Governours diversitie of tongues From vvhich Scripture appeares that by Gods Ordinance there vvere in those time Governours in the Church which both were inferior to Teachers and also were not Teachers That they were to be inferior to Teachers appeares in that they are ranked in order farr under Teachers for as Teachers here rancked under Apostles in Order were doubtless inferior to Apostles so theise Governours thus rancked under Teachers in Order were inferior to Teachers And that they were not Teachers may appeare in that verse 29 the Apostle saith Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers for this manner interrogation of the Apostles proves that as all Teachers were not Apostles so those named after Teachers were not Teachers And indeede why saith the Apostle are all Teachers if it miply not that those which follow Teachers were not to be Teachers I conclude therefore from this Scripture that it was Gods owne Ordinance that there should be in the Church a sorte of Governours besides Teachers and which might not be Teachers To this wee may add yet a further evidence for this which we have by another portion of Scripture as 1. Tim. 5 17 where we thus reade The Elders that Rule well are worthie of double Honour specially they that labour in the vvorde and Doctrine Where the Apostle not proceedinge from Teachinge to labouringe in Teachinge but from Rulinge to labouringe in the vvorde this argues undeniably that some for Rulinge vvell onely were worthy of double Honor For when the Apostle saith The Elders that Rule well are vvorthie of double Honour who cann deny double honor to theise if they onely Ruled vvell and Taught not at all Therefore I cannot but conclude that in those times there vvere Governours in the Church who for Rulinge well onely though they laboured not in the vvorde were worthy of double Honor. And indeede if here we should take the construction which some make of this speach wher they say that here the Apostle meanes that all theise Elders are Teachers and that he specially commends some of them for labouringe or taking more paines in the vvorde then others tooke then it would followe first that not for Ruling well onely some were to have double Honor which thing is directly against this Scripture secondly that some Teachers were worthy of double honor for Rulinge well onely though they Taught not at all but this were an error not to be conceaved in the Apostle seing not to Teach but onely Rule is in a Teacher or Preacher of the Ghospell such a Neglect of a very speciall Duty as that such Teacher is worthy rather of Reproofe and Punishment then of double Honor Moreover if the Apostle would have us understande that some Teachers are worthy of double Honor for Rulinge well but specially such as labour more painefully in Teachinge then it had benefit he should have said Those Elders that teach and Rule well are worthy of double Honor specially they that labour in the vvord more then others for verily it is an unfit skippinge from Rulinge to a degree
to observe them Againe some may say What is their Office I answere seinge they are called Governours and Rulers and yet inferior to Teachers it implies that they with though under the Cleargy of a Parrish should Governe the people of the Parrish And seinge Goverment is lame where Power of Iudginge Punishinge is wantinge therefore as vve would not conceave the Lord to give a Lame Ordinance to his Church we are to Beleeve that theise Governours should assist the Cleargy in Iudginge and Punishinge with ecclesiasticall Punishments such in the Parrish as observe not the Ghospell in their life and conversation If here it be obiected that then I make them Ministers of the same Power in bindinge and loosinge as the Lord committed to the Cleargy onely I answere No for there is difference betwixt byndinge and loosinge the sinne its selfe and inflictinge or releasinge of Punishments there is difference betweene byndinge a Man in his sinne or loosinge him from it and punishinge a Man with ecclesiasticall Punishments for offences or releasinge him from the the same And indeede the worde is Iohn 20 23 Whosoevers sinnes ye remit whosoevers sinnes yee retayne not whatsoever Punishment you inflict or remit therefore in the first of theise the Cleargy onely have Power but in the second the mixt Elders of the Church aswell the Lay as Cleargy Elders have Power When the incestuous Corinthian was to be excommunicated the Apostle commits this to a plurality rather then to any one 1. Cor. 5 13 Put away ther fore from amonge your selvs that wicked Man And in the remission or Absolution he doth the like 2. Cor. 2 7 Ye ought rather to forgive him To conclude then Theise Lay Governours Office is to joyne with the Cleargy of the Parrish in observinge those of the Parrish whither they live and converse as beseemeth Saincts and where any are faulty there to judge of the crime to proceede against them as the cause requireth If theise Governours offend in their Goverment whither by Negligence or by untymely Severity or disorderly proceedings they have over them the Bishop Arch-Bishop who are to call them to Accoumpt and to punish them also for any evell administration of their office therefore also so much the rather such Governours may be admitted in every Church and Kingedome and not opposed as in theise tymes as for a dangerous rabble of rude and turbulent Busy-Bodies Neither indeede may any be suffered to Rule contrary to the Ghospell who have their office by the Ghospell therefore if Pastors and Bishops must be 2. Tim. 2 24 gentle towards all Men sufferinge the evell Men patiently provinge if God at any time will give them repentance that they may come to amendment how much more should theise inferior Governours be like minded For if Goverment and Iustice be not hindred by this lenity in Pastors and Bishops why should this preiudice the same if theise Governours doe likewise And if Timothie must not receave an Accusation against an Elder but under two or three witnesses I. Tim. 5 19 much less must theise inferior Governours hand over head trouble Men upon every reporte they heare or suspition they have And if the Elders of the Church be so to be respected are not the Elders of the Kingedome even Princes and Magistrates to be likewise so respected As God tendereth the Elders of the Church that every reporte or every little evidence of evell shall not be presently taken hold of to their disgrace so we may well thinke that even such his will is also concerning the Civill Magistrats of the Kingdome therefore the Governours of the Church ought to be slowe in medling with such S. Peter also 1. Pet 5 3 chargeth the Elders Church that not as though they were Lords over Gods heretage they should Governe the same Whilst this bridle therefore is put into the mouthes of theise Governours and this also by the Ordinance of God theise Governours neede not so to be opposed as some would have it under pretence that they woulde prove in the Kingdome a sorte of ignorant Men puffed up by this Power and Authority and troublers of men upon every the least occasion True it is that we must understande that as the Kingedome so the Church may not so pervert Iustice as not to lay hold on them that sinne openly therefore where there is an open sinninge theise may not be timerous vnder coulour of sufferinge the evell men patiently Yea I say more vvhen it is hearde certainely abroade as was that 1. Cor. 5 1. that such or such a Man is a Drunkarde a whore maister fornicator Adulterer extortioner Railer filthy speaker or the like such fame or report must not be neglected but rather must occasion a watchinge over such and when dut Accusation shall seconde the Reporte then may they no neglect to proceede against such To this I may add as a parte of their care and Goverment that they see the Church decently kept and the Congregation ordered in fit manner aswell for order in sittinge as for perfourmance of such Ceremonies as serue to express Reverence at Divine Service In a vvorde they are to see that Men live and converse as the ordinance of the Ghospell together with the Churches Canons not dissonant from the Ghospells ordinances require Surely the Benefit of such Lay Governours in every Congregation woulde be greate for by their Elderly Gravity of yeares and Authority which such kinde of Eldershipp onely carries with it by the plurality of their Number and their dwellinge in severall parts of the Parrish not onely an Awe of them would fall upon them of that Congregation but also a certainety of crimes would the sooner be attayned so that men could hardly live longe disorderly but they would be knowen so to doe to some or other of theise Governours Moreover by such Governours our people would be bettered and the Churches State and Maiesty would be increased for our people seinge that the Antient amonge them have Authority even by Gods Ordinance to observe Governe Iudge punish them they wil be the more carefull to live converse as beseemeth Christians And the church havinge the Antient of the Laiety in every Congregatiö joyned with the Cleargy in the Goverment of the churche servinge as Governours inferior to the Cleargy the State Authority of the church would greately be augmented To conclude then if God sent out the Ghospell accompanied with this kinde of goveruours also which thing I have before proved from the Scriptures cann we expect any other then detriment yea punishmēt if we deny to admit such governours Shall not our Land and Kingedome suffer visitations for the Neglect and Opposinge of so holy and necessary an Ordinance of God Shall the Ghospell be admitted and its Goverment kept out or cann we expect proffit by the Ghospell if thus vve doe For doubless Iudgements accompany the Ghospell where the Government ordeyned to
accompany it will not be admitted For the avoidinge of Gods judgements therefore and for the betteringe of our people yea for the augmentation of the State and Majesty of our Church of Englande let theise Lay Elders be admitted into the Ecclesiasticall Rule and Goverment To this I may add that as common experience shews the puttinge Offices of Power and goverment into Mens hands maketh them growe in kuowledge of the Lawes and carefull of their Manners so surely the puttinge this Ecclesiasticall Power and goverment into the Elders of the Laiety would both occasion their search more diligently into the worde of God thereby to increase their knowledge of the Divine will and also their carefull taking heede unto their Manners that they give not offence to them whom they are to governe Yea the yonger Men also in every Parrish seinge the Credit honor of such place of government would study the Scriptures and take care of their Manners that so they may attaine a fame or good reporte for their honesty and Piety so to be the fitter to be imploied in such Office of goverment as their turnes may come Lastly some may say Must theise beinge once imployed in this Office ever remaine in this Office and not be imploied in other Offices of the Kingedome I answere first that there is greate difference betweene the Ministration of the worde and the Ministration of government onely the first is not to be left off the second may without offence For the vvorde of God hath laide no such bond on this as on that Secondly seinge it would be an insufferable mischeife unto Kingedomes if many of the Elders thereof in every Parrish should be wholy exempted from its imployment in Offices needefull thereunto therefore we may not conceave that the Lord would send such a Goverment ecclesiasticall into them as which should bringe with it such an inconvenience and mischeife I conclude therefore that theise Lay Governours are not bounde by the Lord to continue ever in their Office but now may serve in the goverment of the Church and another tyme not Thus have I Dread Soveraigne bene the more prolixe in my wrytinge of theise because this our Church of England doth hitherto rather oppose then admit of such but now havinge showen from the vvorde of God that of Gods Ordinance such a kynde of Governours or Rulers are to be in the Church I humbly petition your Majestie that you commande our Cleargy in whom is the Power to confert ecclesiasticall Powers and Offices that they exercise their Power herein ordeyninge some of the antient and godly of the Laiety to this Power and Authority in every of our Parrish Churches So shall you surely doe a vvorke acceptable to God beneficiall to the Church and worthy of that great Name which you have raised to your selfe in the Churches of God Suffer therefore patiently I humbly pray you this my petition for the admission of theise kynde of Ecclesiasticall Governours that so the Officers ecclesiasticall ordeyned by God may be wholy found in this our Church of Englande I grante that many other Offices may be ordeyned in the Church as the Change of tymes increase of Magnificence of Gods Divine Service and other like things may occasion but theise before written of are such as may not be omitted because they have evidence from the vvorde of God to by the Ordinance of God Apostolically delivered therefore also the Cleargy in whom is the power of Ordination are of duty bounde to renewe this Ordinance of the Lords in the Church But havinge written thus of theise ecclesiasticall governours I proceede to write of extentions also of ecclesiasticall jurisdictions 2. PETITION That Parishes Bishopdomes and Arch-Bishopdomes may be conveniently bounded SOme of our Parishes are so small and withall conteyne in them so few people that neither the Congregation beareth a State befittinge a Church nor yet cann a convenient Meanes or Revenewe be raised therefrom for a Pastor and Deacon his assistant And on the contrary some other Parishes retayninge their very antient boundes conteyne now by Gods multiplyinge the people in that place so many People that al cannot at one time conveniently assemble in the church I therefore petition that the smaller be made larger and those which are too large may be divided that so neither Gods Ministers be discouraged by the smaleness of Revenewe or Meanes of life nor Gods people dishartened from comminge to Church through want of convenient place when they come there Some Parishes also abounde with strangers who are but lodgers for a time yet in such places provision were good to be made that such may have convenient place in the church least else it occasion in them either a wandringe from the Parrish or a Neglect to resorte to any Church at all It hath in all ages bene seene that Change of condition of things hath caused change of former orderinge of thinges for it is no disorder to change the antiēt disposure of things vvhen to reteyne the same brings with it great disorder and detriment Moreover though Changes carry with them diffently of perfourmance yet experience hath declared that when the Magistrates authority concurreth with the occasion all difficultyes have readily bene overcome by the peoples voluntary tendinge their owne Benefit and the Benefit of other Populous Congregations are surely most meete both because a convenient Meanes may be better be raised for a Teacher or Pastor and a Deacon his assistant and also a plurality of grave and godly Men may be chosen by turnes to serve in that Parrish for Governours accordinge to that which I have written aboue if therefore such a multitude be appointed as which beinge close seated together disposed in galleries the voyce of a Preacher may well be hearde of them then judge I the Congregation to be duly proportioned And indeede want of disposinge the roome of the church as best may fit to conteyne a greate multitude and this also within hearinge the voice of a Teacher causeth that farr fewer assemble convenlently then vvere meete for it is but vaine there to resorte where though the church have roome enough yet use cannot be made of it for hearinge the Preacher True it is that Mens voices are diverse neither cann all volces answere to the serled disposure but yet if respect be had to the ordinary voice of Man and the Roome fitted accordinge thereto fitter it is that the defect of voice be supplied by some helpe then that the disposure of place for audience be changed Such Pastors therefore as have lowe voices may doe well to supply that defect with oftner Preachinge that so at one time some at another time others of the Parrish may conveniently heare them Theise things I write of our Parrishes in populous Cityes vvhere the neereness of dwellinge and multitude of strangers lodged causeth a very great Congregation in a smale quantity of grounde but in the Country where in a very large circuite
ignorance And indeede we fyndinge in Scripture that Deacons remayninge Deacons were Preachers Acts 6 8 and 8 5 vve may vvell say that Deacons as Deacons have right to Preach But here vve fynde Governours who are not to be Teachers therefore theise cannot claime the Priviledge of Cleargy as may Deacons I conclvde therefore that seing Gods Cleargy is as his Lot to be maintayned at the Charge of his People and seing the Apostle claimes this for Preachinge the vvord therefore theise Governours not being to be Teachers have no right to be of the Cleargy but are to be Lay Elders Againe some may say But must such be in every Parrish Church I answer yes For Acts 14 23. we reade thus And when they had ordeyned them Elders by Election in every Church they commended them to the Lord in whom they Beleeved if then in every Church there were ordeyned a plurality of Elders safest it is to have many Elders in every Church Moreover seinge here it is said that Elders implyinge many were ordeyned in every Church and seing vve have before proved that in those tymes there were in the Church Elders who onely Ruled and taught not and seing it is not likely that the Apostle would so soone Charge every Church with many Cleargy therefore most likely it is that theise Elders vvere many being parte Cleargy for Rulinge and Teachinge parte Lay Elders serving so Rule onely And indeede seing the Apostle commended the Churches to the Lord it argues that he had furnished them with such Elders as in those tymes vvere ordeyned by God to be in the Church but I have before proved that God ordeyned Governours who were not Teachers aswell as Teachers who also Governed therefore we may not thinke that the Apostle left theise Churches defective in either of theise Furthermore seing every Congregation is necessarily to have a Teaching Elder for should a flock be without a Shephearde every Congregation is likewise to have such Ecclesiasticall Officers as are under Teachers for though every Congregation be not to have those Offices above Teachers and which are set over Teachers such as are Bishops and Arch-Bishops yet such Offices as are under Teachers every Congregation is necessarily to have To conclude seinge a Parrish Church cannot be denied to be a church therefore necessarily it ought to have in it as Elders to Teach so Elders to Rule onely for the defect in either of theise would surely produce a defect in the Governinge of the same For this cause we may not content our selvs with our Civill Lavvyers onely seinge they are not in every Church but onely in the whole church of a Bishopdome and in the Bishops courte onely Neither may we take our Church vvardens and Side Men for theise Governours seinge they have not Power of Iudgement and Punishment vvhereas Goverment is lame of one hand if it have not this Power Surely therefore accordinge to Gods Ordinance every church which hath any Elders in it is to have a Goverment by Elders but Governinge implies power of Iudginge and Punishinge therefore every church is to have this power in it as it vvill not be defective in its Goverment Verily if we looke upon our people in England observinge their life and conversation in every Parrish vve may well say that here vvants the Goverment in overy Parrish which here we see the Lord ordeined For our people for the most parte contentinge themselves to come to church onely and satisfye the Lawe by hearinge Divine Service and the vvorde Preached never make conscience of livinge also thereafter and this for vvant of feeling neere them the Power of this Parishionall Goverment For vvhilst at home in their Parrish they may use unchristian Liberty in their actions and Talks so long as they keepe themselvs from so offendinge as that the Lawe takes hold of them our people are mervailous careless of observinge in their speach the holy restreinte of the Ghospell But if they sawe neere them in their owne Parrish a Teacher and a Deacon for Cleargy and some of their Neighbours of the Laiety havinge Power to call the disorderly to Accoumptes and to Punish them who live not as the Ghospell requires then what with the neereness of the observinge eyes of these Governours and what with the sence of their power to Iudge Punish them if they observe not the Ghospell in their life and Conversation a holy Awe would fall upon Gods people in every Parrish causinge an abstayninge from unseemely Acts and Conversation And this much the rather because theise Governours dwellinge here and there among them they are neere in every quarter of the Parrish to have knowledge of such as make no conscience to live and converse as beseemeth Christians Therefore aswell for the utility to Gods people which vvould arise by the havinge in every Parrish diverse of the Antient godly and honest of the Laiety to Governe in the Parrish as for this evidence from Scripture that such vvere ordeined in every Church we should be moved to receave willingely the ordeyning of such in every Parrish Church If it be obiected that here every City not every Church is meant then I answere That in those tymes it is likely that some Cityes had but one Congregation and beinge so then to say of them every City or every Church is to one effect neither truly is it likely that so soone every City affoorded many Churches Moreover seinge it was Churches not Cityes that were to be thus ordered we are rather to understande every Church then every City for theise reasons I conclude that it is safest and most proffitable that every Parrish-Church have ordeyned in it Lay Elders to Governe onely aswell as Cleargy Elders who both are to Teach and Governe If it be said that every Parrish-Church havinge Cleargy Elders as a Teacher or Pastor and a Deacon then thus Scripture makes nothinge for Lay Elders then to this I answere That seinge there is evidence that in those tymes there were Elders which Ruled and Taught and Elders which Ruled onely and taught not therefore fittest it is that here we understande not a plurality of Cleargy Elders onely but rather parte Cleargy part Laiety Againe some may say How many must they be in Number I answere seinge we reade of Elders ordeyned without readinge also any set Number therefore the Church is not bounde to observe any set or certaine Number As the Parrish therefore is more or less in circuit of grounde or quantety of people so theise Governours may be more or sewer for where a Parrish is narrow of boundes though it conteyn much people yet three or fower of theise Governours may serve seinge they are neere in neighbourhood to every one of the Parrish whereas where the Parrishe is large of circuit there it is needefull that they be seven or eight to the end that their dwellinge may be here and there to be neere to those of the Parrish in every quarter
of grounde are but few inhabitants the proffit of the people rather then State of a Congregation is to be tendered leastby too long leangth and difficulty of way people be dishartned from resortinge to Church Surely the former disposure of theise things in this Lande was very good accordinge to the times and we in theise tymes neede the less alteration save where the Parrish is too smale to yeild a convenient Revenewe or else too great to assemble within hearinge of a Preacher Thus havinge written of our Parrish-boundes I pray that I may write also of the bouudes of our Bishoppricks and Arch bishoppricks If Arch-Bishhopps succeede in the Office of Timothy Titus meete it is that they execute in the Church that Office therefore the bounds of their Charge should be such as wherein conveniently that weighty Charge may be executed by them And indeede it is fitter to respect rather the Proffit of the due execution of the Charge then the Pontificality of the Bishop though both are to be tendered yet the former rather then the latter Now that Arch-Bishopps propperly rather then Bishops succeede in the Office of Timothy and Titus I gather from this evidence First because Titus had intrusted unto him by the Apostle the Charge and Care of diverse Cityes and their Churches Titus 1.5 Secondly because the Scripture shews by many perticulers that the Office of Titus and the Office of Timothy was one and the same but the Office beinge the same the extention of the Charge over diverse Cityes may also be the same Thirdly because the antient Fathers with one voice did ever accoumpt of the Offices of Timothy and Titus to be a like Lastly because the antient Christian Church allowed of the Charge of one over diverse Cityes and their Churches and Officers as an Ordinance Apostolically delivered to the church and in antient tyme such were called Arch-Bishopps which also was a Name very antiently given even to the Bishop of Rome himselfe Theise thiugs considered I conclude that in asmuch as now and in the most antient tymes Arch-Bishops have and had the Charge of the Churches in diverse Cityes therefore they propperly succeede in the Office of Timothy and Titus For surely City-Bishops never had the Charge of diverse cityes but onely of one city and some circuit of ground there about at most This therefore I now petition your sacred Maiestie for that in Englande the Office or Charge of Timothy and Titus be required of our Arch-Bishops to be executed by them in this Church and that the bounds of their Iurisdiction be so limited that conveniently they may execute that Charge And for the Charge I rather have an eye to that which I fynde in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus then to the Canons of the Church in after tyme for the first I am sure are necessarye dutyes for which the Officer is answereable to God whereas the latter are not of like Nature save onely that they may be wholesome Ordinances so farr fourth as they are accordant to the evidence of sacred Scripture The charge which we fynde given to Timothy and Titus is a Charge to see all of all sorts to live accordinge to the Ghospell and observe the Ordinances of God given to the Church by the Apostles therefore his Charge streatcheth to private Christians to see that they live as the Ghospell requires and also to all Officers of the Church to see that they be chosen such as are appointed perfourme their Offices righty in the Church Which great Charge that it may the better be effected the Apostle intrusted him with Power to commande things that are right and to receave Accusations against them that doe evell and to silence Teachers of evell things and reiect heretiques 1. Tim 4 12. 1 Tim 5 14. Titus 1 11. Titus 3 12. Many perticulars are set downe in those two Epistles which I wil obbreviate as I may in this manner in the first Epistle to Timothy The place of aboade is assigned Chap. 1 3 He hath the Charge of other Teachers that they teach none other Doctryne then they ought Chap. 1 4 That heede be not given to thinges that breede questions and brawlinges rather then godly edifyinge Chap. 1 4 That there be an Order of Divine-worship or Service chap 2 1 That women be silent in the Church Chap. 2 12 That Bishops be such and such and doe so and so chap. 3 1 That Deacons likewise be such and such and doe so and so chap. 3 8 That he put all in remembrance of Apostolicall Doctrynes chap. 4 6 That the Church be not unnecessarily burthened with Charge chap. 5 16 That he rebuke them openly that sinne chap. 5 20 That he have care of layinge on of hands chap 5 22 That Elders who Rule well be honoured chap 5 17 That the Elders who not onely Rule but Teach also be both honoured and maintayned chap. 5 18 In the second Epistle He is warned against those who havinge-itchinge eares will get them Teachers after their owne lusts chap. 4 3 That he must doe the worke of an Euangelist chap. 4 5. In the Epistle to Titus That be redress things Chap. 1 5 That he ordeyne Elders chap. 1 3 That he silence Teachers of evell thinges chap 1 10 That obedience be yeilded to Principalities and Powers chap. 3 1 That foolish questions contentions and brawlinges be staied chap. 3 4 That Hereticks be rejected chap. 3 10. Many other are the perticulers of this Officers Charge as to see that Servants behave themselvs as they ought towards their Masters Titus 2 9 That Elder Men and Women be so and so and the yonger Men and Women likewise and other like besides his owne private Ministration of the Ghospell Now therefore if the perticulers whereto this Officers Office streatcheth be duly considered let any judge if our Arch-Bishopps bounds in England be convenient for the due executiō For to what end hath a mā charge of theise perticulers if both he be not conveniently neere to visit places and see to the observation of theise things and also that Accusations against disobedience be not conveniently to be made unto him If one Arch-Bishop should be set over all England were it sufficient coulde he conveniently execute this Charge in the church neither truly cann two therefore Arch-Bishops should be multiplied that so the Lande may have so many as well may serve for the due execution of this high Charge True it is that Crete is an yle of greate circuit of grounde and conteyned in old tyme many moe cityes then in theise tymes it doth but respect is tobe had unto the tymes for difference is to be put betweene tymes when but few in a Lande are converted to the Christian faith and when all the people of a Lande are converted When few are converted the Congregations or churches are the fewer and consequently the Charge is the less and the better to be executed but when all are converted
then as necessarily the Churches are multiplied so also is tho Charge increased and consequently the dutyes of the Office are made the more disticult to be executed in all Neither is it probable nor is it likely that in the time of Titus all the people in that yle of Crete vvere converted to the faith but if they vvere not then to retayne in the Successors hands the same extent of grounde as had Titus were to commit to the less able Successor a greater charge of Churches then the Apostle intrusted to Titus vvhich thinge cannot be done without great preiudice to the Christian church As Parishes therefore are to be multiplled and one to be made tvvo or three after the people growe too many for one Congregation so antient Arch-Bishoppdomes boundes shoulde be lessned and one divided into three or fower when the People make too many Churches to be intrusted unto one Arch-Bishopp I most humbly pray your Majestie therefore that the perticulers of the Office be duly considered and then that the bounds of our Archiepiscopall lurisdictions may be fitted thereunto Doubtless if our Arch-Bishops tooke care as they ought of the perticulers of this Charge they woulde soone make a holy People in this Lande by reason of their neere eye to observe the severall Churches and their receavinge Accusations when neede requireth And truly the Arch-Bishops Courte should not be ordeyned so much for some perticulers tendinge to the Rule over other Bishopdomes as it should be for the correctinge of disobediences in all theise perticulers when neither in the Parishionall nor in the Episcopall Courte and Goverment order is taken in the same For the Archiepiscopall Charge is no less to see Evangelicall Ordinances observed in the Manners of every particuler Christian then to see that Pastors and Bishops other ecclesiasticall Officers execute their Ministrations rightly I grant that Parishionall and over them Episcopall Goverments greatly ease the Arch-Bishop and because of them his Charge may be very large comprisinge diverse Bishopdomes but yet with this caution that he may conveniently visit every parte and also from all parts Accusasations may conveniently be made unto him when there is any faile in the Parishional and Episcopall Goverment Neither truly ought Arch-Bishopdoms to be extended out as Kingedomes For Kingedomes are in larged or restreyned as their Power cann extend its selfe which also is ordered by God himself he letting loose and restreyninge the Powers as he will whereas Arch Bishopdoms ought to be fitted to the execution of the Charge of the Office Thus have I Dread Soveraigne bene the longer in my wrytinge of Arch-Bishopps because of the necessary consequence that if they be made less then Bishopdomes also should not bee too large because diverse of them are to be comprised in one Arch Bisho-dome For Bishopdomes therefore I in breife pray that in our England they may be more that so they not comprisinge over many Patishes the Bishop may conveniently visit the perticuler Parishes and Accusations conveniently be made out of all Parishes which faile in Goverment unto him The Bishop differeth from the Arch-Bishop cheisely in this that his Charge streatcheth not over other City Bishops but onely over Bishops or Pastors and other Cleargy of perticuler Congregations As for other differences which the Canons of the Church have put they are necessary as the tymes require onely For the Churches Ordinances have ever bene dispenced with in cases of Necessity when they could not be observed and when there is no more needefull use of the same but this difference which here I put seemes to be a Divine Ordinance in asmuch as Titus was set over diverse Cityes and the churches therein consequently over all ecclesiasticall Officers vvhich necessarily are in them But then if the Arch-Bishopps Charge streacheth to Man and Wife Parents and Children Masters and Servants seinge to it that they in their Manners one towarde another observe the commandements of the Ghospell should not the Bishops Office within his perticuler limits streatch to the same Therefore I humbly pray that our Bishops Office be not streigtned unto some few perticulers but that it be enlarged to see even to all theise things also as the most weighty perticulers of his Charge Which thinge duly considered I hope it will soone appeare that necessarily for the due seinge unto theise things and for the convenient makinge of Accusations of breach of them vvhere the Parishionall Goverment is remiss not takinge due Care of and order in such things our Bishops jurisdictions are to be made less then at this time they are in this our Church of Englande Doubtless theise Powers and Offices ecclesiasticall were cheifely ordeyned for Rulinge of the Manners of Christian people least they not observinge one towards another the Evangelicall Commandements bringe a scandall upon the Ghospell of Christe therfore into theise thinges should our Bishops watchfully looke and not content themselves with the observation of Ecclesiasticall Canons onely If any say that the description of this Office is in Scripture such as is rather to be wished then effected I answere that the Apostle would not so deepely Charge Timothy with theise perticulers as he doth 1. Tim 5 21 if he thought the execution of theise things to be rather to be wished then effected therefore I hope none shall be suffered to shrowde their Negligence under the mantle or coveringe of this devise If in after tymes many inventions are made to busy Atch-Bishopps Bishopps so with them that they cannot attend to theise other are theise which are the weightlest to be left for the lighter Shall honor and Glory attend rather those then theise were not this a notable corruption a snare of Satan and an insufferable divertion from the true Episcopall dutyes But now my most gratious Soveraigne in hope of your reproofe of such things and commandinge and honoringe theise the cheifest episcopall dutyes I pass from writinge of the boundings and Iurisdictions unto my Petition for your freeinge our Cleargy here from forreiue and unlawfull Ecclesiasticall Powers 3. PETITION That your Majestie continue to free this Church from all forreine and unlawfull Ecclesiasticall usurpations and Powers THe permission of inconvenient extents of Iurisdiction hath bene the cheife cause not onely of the disorders of Ecclesiasticall Politie and of the evell execution of true Episcopall Charges but also of the Antichrists Reigninge in the Church therefore high tyme it is that in the Churches Reformation this maine error be taken order for It is reported of that first great famous Councill of Nice that it confirmed to the Bishops of certaine cityes the huge extents which formerly their Charge had streatched its selfe unto but what followed hereupon surely there followed not onely the turbulency of such great Powers and the insatiable affectation of Glory but also the openinge or reveilinge of that Man of sinne For as the Apostle said 2. Thessal 2 6 And now ye knowe what
withholdeth that he might be reveiled in his tyme so indeede it fell out for the Emperors keepinge his Seate at Rome withheld the Bishopp of Romes Reveilinge but the Emperor removinge his Seate to Constantinople this Councill of Nice some few yeares after was assembled where theise huge extents of Iurisdiction beinge confirmed the Bishop of Rome beinge held as Cheife of them this caused his first measure of Reveilinge It is fit therefore that that Councils proceedings be examined whither in oughts God left it to dissent from his sacred Worde Papists usually alleadge that Councill as countenancinge the offeringe up of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Service of the Lords Supper but if this that Councill did then expressly erred it from the Scriptureis nstruction concerninge that Service And how neere it was to forbid Preists the copulation with their vvives vvhich Gods worde commandes 1. Cor 7 3 is well knowen to all that have read the Story of those tymes To this I may add the uncertainety of its Canons seinge they are with such uncertainety brought us by Tradition For all theise reasons I conclude that that Councill is not so to be maintayned in its Ordinances as that the instruction of sacred Scripture is not rather to be followed But who that looketh into the holy Scripture shall not see That Timothy and Titus such as were like them held the highest ordinary Offices in the Church next unto the Apostles themselvs for by the Epistles of Timothy and Titus it is evident that the Apostle set them in Office next himselfe over the Churches that were planted Churches were planted and they had their Officers and Governours but then the Apostle ordeyned theise over them againe and this is manifest in that Titus had Charge over diverse Cityes Whilst therefore there is this evidence for their Office and whilst there is that evidence before noted that our Arch-Bishops succeede them in that Office and vvhilst the Church ever held a cessation of Apostles and the Apostle 1. Cor. 4 9 saith I thinke that God hath set fourth us the last Apostles c We have good reason not to suffer other offices to usurpe Authority over Arch-Bishops or any Arch-Bishopps to be subiugated unto any other Ecclesiasticall Ministration But if we permit the continuance of those huge extents whereof we read then as necessarily many Arch-Bishopdomes yea Patriarchdomes must be comprised therein so the Bishop of that Seate must be advanced over and exercise a Ministration ovet Arch-Bishopps yea over Patriarchs which thinge what is it but both an evertion of the Politie ecclesiasticall which God by his Ordinance Apostles taken away sent the church withall under the Wings of Kinges and Princes and also a bringinge in Superiorityes Throanes and Powers never ordeyned by the Lord As therefore experience hath showen that when an Arch-Bishoprick hath necessarily bene divided then tvvo Arch-Bishops are placed therein without subiugating the one under the other so those antient extents of bounds ought with the increase of the Convertion of people to have bene divided into many Arch-Bishopdomes and this without subiugatinge every of them to the Arch-Bishopp of some one city who by this meanes as he is to take a New Title so also he entereth into a new Ministration never ordeyned by the Lord. If any say hath not every Snccessor right to retayne the bownds of his predecessors jurisdiction I answere yes where there is no prejudice thereby to the Church and to the Ordinances of God but when retayninge the same he must necessarily Rule over them whom God by his Ordinance set next unto Apostles he then subverts the Ordinance of God so longe as he cannot make himselfe an Apostle Neither cann any ones succeedinge in the Seate of an Apostle conferr upon him an Apostles Dignity and Office for this were to make such a one an Apostle but we have good cause to aske of such a one the signes of his Apostleship 2. Cor. 12 12. I conclude therefore that those extents of Iurisdiction which carry with them a bringinge into the Church Powers and Ministrations above that of Arch-Bishops are unlawfull as bringinge into the Church strange Ministrations which have no manner warrant from Gods Worde in Scripture but rather are contrary to the Politie which there God manifesteth to his Church And indeede because of the huge extent of the Pope of Romes jurisdiction we fynde that above Arch Bishopps are Patriarchs as also Cardinalls as now Cardinalls are Popes Legats and a rabble of other who all serve rather as Ministers of this Corruption of Ecclesiastical Politie warranted by God then of the church of the Ghospell For how many are the Officers which the Pope of Rome needeth for to serve him only in the executiō of so large a jurisdictiō as now he exerciseth even so proportionably is it with every Patriarch yea with every Arch-Bisshop when he hath a Iurisdiction so farr extended fourth as that neither he can personally visit conveniently the parts of his Charge nor they of his Charge cann conveniently make Accusatiōs unto him if the Parishional or Episcopal Goverments faile in executiō of Iustice But now seinge God hath given so blessed Testimony to the Reforminge of things by his worde in Scripture why should not such Offices be cut off as superfluous and justly Offensive which exercise any Authority over the Arch-Bishops of the Christian church Should we not thinke that the Lord expects a Reformation even herein aswell as in Doctryne Should not his vvords direction be of power with us aswell in Reforminge errors of Iurisdictions or Powers Offices as in reforminge of Doctrynes Therefore if the Scripture shew that the Offices of Timothy Titus was the highest ordinary Office in the Church after Apostles ceased as beinge in the life tyme of the Apostles next to the Apostles and if there be good evidence that those had under them at the most but Bishopps of Cityes then why should not Arch-Bishopps be acknowledged as Succeeders into their Office and consequently to be the highest ecclesiasticall Officer which God sent the Church with amonge the Nations after his taking away of Apostles If it be said that those who succeeded into the Seates of Timothy or Titus and others like them are Patriarchs not Arch-Bishopps then I demande what Manner Bishops cann any prove that either Timothy or Titus or the next Successors ruled over whither were they Arch-Bishos or onely Bishopps of Cityes Surely the greatest evidence of purest and most antient Tradition is that those of those Seates were first accoumpted but Arch-Bishops and though they seemed to have Charge of a greate circuit of grownde yet where any Arch-Bishop was ordeyned I fynde not any good evidence that they exercised Authority over them also as now Patriarchs doe over them and the Pope over Patriarches As for the extendinge out of Care or seeminge-Charge of the Churches in greate extent we fynde in antient tyme not
Peoples free will Offeringes may be admitted untill each Parrish throughout the Land have a competent Meanes for the Cleargy of the same How bounrifull were our Predecessors in givinge of Lands for a certainety of Revenewe to frieries and Nunneries if then they were so bountifull where God imposed no bond so to doe and this upon them who proved unproffitable Members of the Church should not we much more give some parte of our Lands for a certainety of maintenance to the needefull Cleargy of our Parishes If therefore any Parishes be so smale or poore that it yeildeth not a competent Meanes for the Cleargy thereof it would be a blessed thinge if those that are able give some parte of their Lande to yeild to the same a certainety of Revenewe besides the Tithes and other Benefits which the Parrish its selfe yeildeth The needefull Cleargy of a Parrish I accoumpt a Pastor or Teacher and a Deacon for an assistant unto him for truly it is not meete that we put him to read Divine Service alwayes and alwayes to doe other Cleargicall Dutyes who should give himselfe diligently to Reading that he may Preach the Ghospell often unto us and soundly If therefore in Parishes already sufficiently provided for there be any so Christianly mynded as that of the aboundance of their possessions they will set by a parte towards the Maintenance of the Cleargy of another Parrish which hath neede I humbly petition your Majestie that you gratiously permit this To theise I may add the Maintayninge of such Officers also as are necessary for the perfourmance of a Solemne and Divine Service in our Cathedralls and also such as necessarily neede in our Schooles and Universities for if God so gratiously accepted 1. Chron. 17 1 of the augmentation of the State and Magnificence of his vvorshipp which vve fynde after the Buildinge of the Temple then may we under the Christianity also Beleeve that our Princes caringe to increase in a tyme of the Churches prosperity the State Magnificence of the vvorshipp of God is most acceptable to God and consequently the Officers necessary in such Service may though not all as Cleargy be maintayned of the Charte of Gods people And so likewise because the churches supply with learned able Ministers is sight needful therfore as our Schooles or Universities are needefull for the trayning up of some hereunto so the Governours of them are also needefull as doinge for Gods Church a very speciall Service therefore also such are to be Maintayned at the Charge of Gods people that so they may be incouraged in the Service of the Lord. But one thing here I wish and petition for that such be the large Revenewe of every severall Ecclesiasticall Officer of our Cleargy as that the Meanes of the livinge being sufficient no one of them be suffered to ingross any more spirituall livings into his hande for it is the villifyinge and decayinge also the Ministration of the Ghospell when one Man havinge divers Charges executes one himselfe and leaves the rest either unto too seldome visitation or else to some readinge and insufficient Minister Thus having written for the Maintenance of our Ministers I wil proceede to write also of the Repairing of our churches If the Lord so gratiously accepted of the disposition of Kinge David concerninge increasinge the Magnificense of the vvorshipp of God 1. Chron. 17 3 by changinge the Tabernacle into a glorious and magnificent Temple why should we not thinke that under the Christianity also the Lord most gratiously regardeth our beautifyinge of the very Temples where he is vvorshipped how ill befitting thē is it that in this lands but specially in our country Parishes Gods Temples are most basely provided for lyinge so ruined and so dusty as that it cannot but abate the devotion of Gods people My humble petition is therefore unto your Majestie that you provinge an english Iosiah zealous of the glory and splendour of Gods Temples permit the free will Offeringes of your people untill there be sufficient for the Repayringe and Adorninge of the Churches of God It is truly an error in some under the Reformation that they so as they but vvorshipp God in his Temple make no conscience of Beautifyinge and Enrichinge also the place of Assemblinge but now from the Example of the Church under the Lawe we see how acceptable to God the Care and Bounty of Gods Kinges and People is even in this matter of Beautifyinge the very Churches wherein we vvorshipp God As for the manner of Adorninge of Churches though some like Pictures of holy Stories yet I rather wish a pain tinge guildinge as the Arches and fashion of pillars wil best agree with and a wrytinge of Divine Stories here and there For truly I fynde the Lord no where to commend to his people any former things done to be represented by Pictures but rather he commends unto them a writinge of his vvorde about their howses and in memoriall of things passed to set up either Stones or other like things which carry no resemblance of the thinge done This I take to be to the end that for matters of faith which vve must have faith of that once it vvas done he vvould not use us to any representation of the same to our eye And indeede what this Devise of picturinge Divine Stories in Churches came unto under Popery vve may mourningely perceave for the next to this was Images also and then Idolatry Men are too proane to delight to be put in mynde of things of faith by pictures of the same set before their eye but it is the next way to put faith out of the hearte and argues a falle in wardly of the sight of those things by faith of the vvorde reade and Preached For theise causes Dread Soveraigne I humbly petion that your people be not accoustomed againe as under Popery to Pictures of things of the Divine Story but rather that they may learne to have a sight through faith of the vvorde preached and reade so adorne the Churches rather with seemely paintinges and guildinges then with paintinge of Stories Moreover because in some places the Congregation is so greate and the Church either so scante or so ill provided of roome that the people cānot conveniently kneele at praier or sit the tyme of the Sermon meete it is that such Churches be either in larged or provided of Galleries and formes as neede requireth for it is no smale disorder when a Church is glorious by Adorninges and yet not fitted for the peoples worshipp Lastly whereas our Church in the ordinary Custome hath well ordered a settinge aparte one parte of the Church for Men another for Women so preventinge a dangerous intermixture of the Sexes in that place I humbly petition that the disorder hereof in some populous Congregations may be redressed If therefore at any populous Assembly it fall out that there be disorder herein meete it is that the Governours have power of the
or commended they acknowledge no Power in that read unto them out of a Homily Neither are Homilyes written to occasion in our Cleargy a Negligence of Study but rather for the help of those onely who cannot Preach soundly at all therefore fart be it from our Church to fetter a Congregation to a Homily reader onely if the tymes affoorde Ministers who cann divide the vvorde of the Ghospell aright Thus having vvritten of one sorte of Ministers I humbly pray that I may proceede to another Other Ministers there are who though they cann and doe Preach vvell yet they preach as seldome as Lawe will permit them Herewithall many of them are loose of life prophane in Conversation Yea they are common pot companions they serve as jesters at great Mens tables and make no conscience of their Speach so as they may gaine a Meales meate in such company of Credit In a vvorde neither commonly in their Conversation nor commonly in their dealings with Men they shew any Signes of a Religious disposition of mynde If you examine their family you shall fynde there as little exercise of religious Dutyes as in those familyes where there is neither faith nor feare of God In such Parishes the voice of the people is That they have a Parson that cann doe well if he would that he is a good fellowe and the like but they cannot commned him either for any painefull Preachinge or for any evidence of Piety And according to his evel disposition and example so you shall commonly fynde the Parishioners to take all liberty in vvickedness so farr fourth as they dare for the Law of your Kingedome Here what faith vvhat Sanctification vvhat feare of God vvhat talke of religious thinges here you may fynde some dusty Bibles in familyes but they serve not for any use all the yeate longe save onely to carry to Church on Sundaies Here scarce in any one family of the Parrrish you shall fynde or Morninge or Eveninge Prayer the whole yeare thorowe here no Repetition of Sermons no Catechising of the family at any tyme yea scarcely Grace before or after meate What evidence here then of the Kingedome of heaven vvhat childe of that Kingedome would not mourne to see here so smale fruicts of the Ghospell If it be obiected that Morninge and Eveninge Praier Readinge the Scriptures Repeatinge of Sermons and Catechisinge of the family are new taxes not laid upon Men by the Ghospell then I answere That theise dutyes are included either expressly or by consequence in the Commandements given us in the Ghospell Moreover because those commonly doe theise things in whom the Ghospell most prevayleth therefore the not doing them servs as a Signe that there the Ghospell prevailes not in people as it ought Lastly seinge every family is a Charge where Parents have Charge of Children and Masters of Servants therefore in every family there ought to be some Religious exercises by which faith and devotion may be furthered Another sorte of Ministers there is who both cann and doe Preach vvell yea and often as every Sabbaoth day once but though of the aboundance of their learninge they leave excellent Sermons with their Parishioners yet what comes of it they care not neither ever looke after its takinge any effect at all And for all their Preachinge yet observe them in their life and conversation and you shal never heare them speake of religious things longer then they are in the Pulpit for abroade all the weeke and yeare after their Parishioners fynde that their talke is wholy of worldly matters so that by true Signes the Parishioners discover them to be wholy worldly mynded Civilly courtious they are but Men may easely see that it springs but from Civility not from Religion Theise love their Parishioners but it is but because they reape Proffit by them not for that they fynde the Ghospell and the Grace of God to prevaile in them If you search into the familyes even of theise you may fynde commonly more store of Bibles and more use also made of them then in the Ministers howses of whom I have before vvritten but yet here you shall fynde the use to bee onely as for a vvearinge out of the tyme with readinge vvhich else they could not at present tell how to pass away Here you may fynde Graces before and after meate generally more civility in the family more showe of Religion also then in the former Ministers howses but yet for Morninge or Eveniuge Praier Repetition of Sermons or Catechisinge you shal hardly fynde theise things the whole yeare thorowe As for the People in such Parishes you shall commonly fynde them better disposed then in the Paris hes whereof before I have written they are commonly more Civill and respective of their life and conversation They resorte with more reverence to the Church and have more store of Bibles then in the Parishes before written of but as for family exercises at home such as are Morninge or Eveninge Praier Readinge the Scriptures at convenient tymes Repeatinge of Sermons or Catechisinge you shall not commonly fynde theise things used throughout the yeare If you search them more narrowly you may fynde indeed some good measure of knowledge of Divine Mysteries but as for faith or Sanctity through the Spirit as for any conversinge of things of faith as for any joy of things hoped for accordinge to the Ghospell of Christe you shall hardly fynde theise things in them no nor Signes of them Here we may thanke God for the evidence of the prevaylinge of the Kingdome of Heaven in this your Kingedome and this by the sight of a sounde Divine Service and Preaching and peoples resortinge to the Church but we cannot here rejoyce of that Kingedomes prevaylinge in the hearts lives and conversations of your people I grante indeede Dread Soveraigne that it is no smale matter that the Ghospell pressed vvith your Royall Lawes prevailes over Lords and inferior Governours of familyes so much as to bringe their familyes to the Church neither indeede is it a smale Power that hath brought even this to pass Moreover if Lords and other Governours of familyes usinge their familyes to the Church doe leave them therewithall to God hopinge that the vvorde preached and Gods Grace accompanyinge the same worketh in their family to make them inwardly good Christians not further using their family publickly to Morning or Evening Praier daily or to a reading of the Scripturs thorow every one his or hir part at convenient tymes or to Repeating of Sermons or to Catechisinge yet we may not doubt but that in every such family there is one or some in whom the worde of God worketh and faith in God groweth in them accordinge hereto and so herethorowe there is in that family a private prayinge and a private reading the Scriptures and private Meditations and selfe-Catechisinges therefore also vve may not condemne or reproach all such families as wherein publiquely the family gathered togeather
worde you shall fynde a comforteable shewe of Godliness Here a true evidence of Christian life and conversation Here therefore is indeede an evidence of the inseazoninge and habitation of the Spirit of God both in Pastor and People Here a plaine evidence both of the Kingedome of Heaven in Power and also of the weakeninge if not castinge out of the contrary Kingedome even the Kingedome of Satan Of theise Ministers and Parishes therefore I rejoice and for your gratious favour towards them for their better incouragement in well doing I humbly petition your sacred Majestie in this writing But some and too many of theise are in the number of those whose Ministers are silenced and whose people are reproached with the nick name of Puritanes My Lord and Kinge I petition not that their errors be suffered but this I petition that the Ministers leaving their errors and the people also forsakinge them both Ministers and People may fynde you gratious towards them by restoringe the Ministers to their former Ministration and by acceptinge the people as the Lights of our Lande for Religion There is no Garden where vveedes will not growe neither doe men destroy the Garden for the vveedes sake but rather vveede out the vveedes and preserve the Garden still We may not conceave that none that are true Christians and have the Spirit fal into any errors for Peter had his error Galat. 2 11 and the Churches of Corinth Galatia had their strayinges from the truth vvhen yet neither Peter was silenced but onely the error he fell into withstoode nor those Churches forsaken but onely the vveedes weeded out And it is truly a harde thinge that Mens Ministeryes are wholy suppressed for an error or two in Iudgement whereas rather first they should be but staied from Preachinge such errors and afterwardes upon obstinate persistinge silenced But seinge many of our learned and painefull Divines whose Ministry hath bene very proffitable in this Church of Englande are wholy for some few errors silenced I am now a petitioner that their Ministery may be restored so as they forsake those things which truly are errors in them And for the people I humbly pray that leaving to speake against Lawfull Powers and Offices in the Church and against our Divine Service leaving to condemne Gods people in lawfull things they may be relieved from those scandales which vvicked Men cast upon them Surely Dread Soveraigne theise Congregations vvhere silenced Ministers have bene doe manifestly declare themselvs to be Gods Saincts in your Kingdome yea I have observed that vvhere a Minister conformable to the Ordinances of our Church hath succeeded in the place of a silenced Minister Godliness hath more and more decayed in your People I vvill not say it is the fault of their Conformity God forbid but this I say it is the fault of their not exercisinge like Pastorall dutyes as the silenced Ministers exercised and it is the fault of our Bishops not pressinge them to exercise such but rather leavinge them to a prejudiciall Liberty in Life and Conversation Thus have I my most gratious Soveraigne adventured to set before your viewe the diverse dispositions of your People according to the diversely disposed Ministers set over them I neede not now doubt of your Majesties quick apprehention and discerninge where in your Kingedome the Kingedome of Heaven most prevaileth neither yet where are the best evidencyes of the Spirit of God You have given such Signes of your excellent judgement in theise things that I rather rejoice thereof then infourme you oughts at all True it is that it is not rigour of Punishment no nor Lawes that vvill bring people on to theise holy exercises in their familyes and to this blessed restreinte from ungodly conversation so well as the vvorde of God frequently preached wisely directed by a skilfull Minister Neither is there any expectation that a vvhole People should at an instant be brought to this measure of conformity to the Ghospell of Christe Yet if Parishionall Goverment might accompany Parishionall ministration of the vvorde the people would doubtless the sooner be brought hereunto Not that there should be any violent disgracinge or proceedinge against all that presently are not conformable for this were to provoake untymely the people before the Lords tyme for their conversion be come but that by little and little with Meekeness and Gentleness the Parishionall Governours drawe them on to conforme themselvs to the Rules of the Ghospell But where any family is too obstinate refusinge for longe tyme to exercise therein any religious dutyes there I humbly pray that your Majestie incourage the Parishional Governours to proceede on orderly against such for surely a family that within its self doth wholy neglect all pions exercises is neere unto Atheisme yea though they observe customarily their comminge to Church This if your Majestie vouchsafe to doe you shall surely make your Memoriall blessed for ever even as is the memory of theise good Kinges blessed of whom before I have vvritten If it be obiected that Tradition shews us no evidence that ever at all the Church had such a Goverment by Lay Elders also as which I now press for this is the difficultest Change I petition for then I answere If we receave the Office of Bishops Arch-Bishops because Tradition brings them to us when yet we have not any great vvarrant from Scripture both for Bishops and Arch-Bishopps though indeede for one set over Teachers and Churches we have great evidence shall we not much more receave a Goverment by Lay Elders vvhich hath evidence as I have before showen in Scriptures yea though corrupted Tradition affoorde us no Light for such The Lord hath not given such evidence to a Reformation which hath aymed at the purest Tradition onely as to that which hath aymed to Reforme things by his vvorde in Scripture therefore to Conforme the Offices and Goverment Ecclesiasticall to that vvhich the Scripture gives us Light for is surely most acceptable to God and shall receave the greatest blessinges Therefore I vvill conclude this my vvrytinge first vvith a petition to your Majestie for the admittinge of such a Parishionall Goverment having an eye rather at the Ordinance of God as we fynde it in holy Scripture then at corrupted Tradition and its testimony and authority and secondly with my Praier to God That he give you a hearte to execute his will and establish your Throane in the Church continuinge your flourishinge Kingedomes to your selfe and your posterity for ever For truly our Church prayeth well where it saith Almighty God whose Kingedome is everlastinge and power infinite have mercy upon the whole Congregation and so rule the hearte of thy chosen Servante Iames our Kinge and Governour that he knowinge whose Minister he is may above all things seeke thy honour and glory And that we his Subiects duly consideringe vvhose authority he hath may faithfully serve honour humbly obey him in thee and for thee according to thy blessed vvorde and ordinance through IESUS CHRISTE our Lord. Your Majesties Loyall Subiect THOMAS PROCTOR Faults escaped in the Printinge IN the Tytle of the Booke for consormably reade conformably In the Petition to the Lords of the Parliament page 3. line 1 for Ma â—tie reade Matie And lyne 4â— for off reade of And line 12. for off reade of In the Petition to the Kiuge page 6 line 32 for ordeninge reade orderinge Page 7 line 9 for your Royall Povverfull reade your Royall and Povverfull Page 7. line 15 for burnts Offeringes reade burnte Offeringee Page 8 line 5 for ovet reade over Page 8 line 11 At conveyed conceave that a full point should be Page 9 line 7 for not reade not Line 31 for miply reade imply Page 10 line 7 for rhus reade thus Page 11 line 6 for frow reade from Line 8 at labour conceave a vvantinge Page 12 line 28 for I vvrite reade I vvrite of Page 14. line 3 for Preachers of the Ghospell are may c reade Preachers of the Ghospell may c Page 14 line 6 for vvho preach the Ghospell exempted reade Preach the Ghospell are exempted Page 16 line 35 for Talks reade Talke Page 17 line 29 at City conceave a full pointe vvantinge and in the same line for for reade For. Page 20 line 17 for the Elders Church reade the Elders of the Church Page 34 line 1 for Scripturies reade scriptures for nstruction reade instruction Page 36 line 14 for as superfluous reade as are superfluous Page 38 line 21 for Officet reade Oflicer Page 39 line 28 for Iudas reade Iudah Page 46 line 18 for Lands reade Lande Page 47 line 20 for petion reade petition Page 49 line 18 for of reade off Page 52 line 3 for and made reade have made Page 55 line 2 for but reade both and line 5 for uuto reade unto Page 5 line 17 for also and reade and also Page 60 line 2. for Offeringes reade Offeringe Page 63 line 3. for Childreu reade Children Page 67 line 7 for iu reade in Page 68. line 12 at idle conceave a full pointe vvantinge Page 69 line 3. for Kingedomes reade Kingedome Page 72 line 13 for commned reade commend