Disobedience to any one Command of God For St. James assures us that the keeping of the whole Law will not countervail the wilful breach of one Point but that whoever does so is guilty of all and he adds the Reason Jam. 2.10 11. For he that said Do not commit Adultery said also Do not Kill And he that said do not Kill said also Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers Now to infer with him If thou commit no Adultery If thou do not Kill yet if thou art not subject to the Higher Powers thou art become a Trangressor of the Law a Sinner before God For sin is the transgression of Gods Law and therefore as St. John tells us 1 Joh. 3.15 No Murderer has Eternal life abiding in him So neither has any who does not submit to the Higher POWERS any Eternal Life abiding in him because they are both Transgressors of the Holy Law and Commandment of God THUS far I think all Men Good and Bad will go along with me but the pinch of the Question is How far this Obedience is due and what are the Limits of the Authority of Superiors Whether the Civil or Ecclesiastical Magistrate ought to be Obeyed in all their Commands which concern Religion or the Worship of God To this I Answer by distinguishing according to the Old and True Maxim of Logicians Qui bené distinguit bené docet The commands therefore of Superiors are either concerning Faith and Manners or Government and Order As to matters of Faith neither the onenor the other havethe least power to alter abrogate impose or diminish the least Tittle or Iota of it For Faith being of Divine Revelation and the Law by which God Almighty will have us guided in what concerns himself is like him Immutable and Unchangeable and is only subject to his Authority who is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith Now the true Faith is what is contained in Scripture either in direct Words or plain Consequence This all Christian Kings Princes and Governors are bound to maintain and ought to be its Defenders but not to Invade or Usurp a Dominion over it And should they make any Law to the prejudice of this Faith no man ought to obey them for here the Rule holds good That we are to obey God rather than Men but neither will this Authorize any Persons who are Subjects to those Powers to Rebel against them or Oppose them more than by endeavouring with Meekness and Charity to maintain that Faith Nay should they impose Penalties upon such as were disobedient to their Laws in matters of Faith 't is the Glory of Christian Religion to teach men to suffer patiently but not to seek Revenge or to endeavour to free themselves or the Faith from danger by flying to unlawful Arms which would be like Vzzah's Folly for which he was Smitten to lay our hands upon the Ark when the Oxen stumble and shake it and to suppose that God either would not or could not take any care to defend that Faith which he himself had planted in the World THIS was the Case of the Apostles Act. 4..3 The Chief Priest and Counsel commanded them not to speak at all in the Name of Jesus had they been so minded they might have raised a Tumult for the Captain and Officers who went to apprehend them brought them without Violence because they went without resisting fearing as much as their Guards lest the inraged People should rescue them by stoning the Officers And when the High Priest charges them with Disobedience to his Commands St. Peter tells them it was a matter of Faith what they had seen and heard and were commanded by the Son of God to Preach whom they ought to obey rather than Men. This was the Case of the Primitive Christians under the Heathen and persecuting Emperors Did the Emperor command them to his Wars they went willingly Fought gallantly sometimes purchast Victories with their Prayers as well as Sword Did he exact Tribute from them they paid it freely Command to renounce Christ or to Blaspheme him or to offer but a single grain of Incence to the Idols or Emperors Statue though to save their Lives they refused presently Did he take away their Estates for their Disobedience to his Edicts they suffer'd patiently Did he expose them to Racks Tortures Wild beasts and Flames they went to them joyfully indured them miraculously and so obtain'd the Glorious Crown of Martyrdom All this while not a hand lift up against the Lords Anointed their Soveraign unless to Heaven to pray to God for his Pardon and Conversion not a Tongue moves against his Government to call it Tyrannical Unlawful or Antichristian though in reality it was such Not a Pen is sharpned against him or his Ministers of State no invectives or Exhortations to Rebellion to depose or Murder him and indeed nothing farther than to Apologize for their Innocence and to manifest that they were his most obedient Subjects and free from all the Calumnies of being Seditious Disturbers of the Government or Peace of the Empire THE same may be said of Good Manners as of Faith for Justice Temperance Innocence and Purity being Commands of God no Earthly power can either dispence with them or lawfully command the contrary Vices or if they do they may nay ought to be disobey'd BUT Secondly The Commands of our Superiors may concern Order and Government and herein they ought Universally to be obey'd as well in Ecclesiastical as Civil Laws and Commands provided they do not herein manifestly or by consequence Oppose Faith or Good Manners and that for these Reasons FIRST Because Order is absolutely Necessary as well in the Church as in the State and is Positively commanded by God Let every thing be done Decently and in Order 1 Cor. 14.40 and that for a most solid and weighty Reason For God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace Vers 33. as in all the Churches of the Saints Confusion is absolutely unlawful God disowns it Peace is absolutely Necessary in all Churches of Saints without Order there can be no Peace nor indeed any thing but Confusion without Governors to appoint and determine Differences arising about Modes and Matters of Decency there can be no Peace because Differences must be endless and without Submission to these Governors and their final Determinations both in Church and State they are no longer Rulers and Governours but the Order which God has appointed in the World to procure Peace and Happiness is utterly Subverted and Overthrown For Government and Obedience do mutually suppose each other and as Logicians say Pater est filii Pater a Father is therefore a Father because he has a Child so a Governor a King a Magistrate in Church or State is therefore such because he has People subject and obedient to him and as all the Power of Governors is limited to those things which are left undetermined by Gods Positive
It was with this Ingine that the mistaken Jews gave the first shock to Christian Religion in the Person of our Saviour and though they in reality confirm'd it by fulfilling the Prophecies concerning him in his Araignment Tryal Sufferings and Death yet was that an Effect of the Wise and over-ruling Providence and no part of their Intention their Design was their own Interest the preservation of their Power and the Safety of their State and Nation for when he had done as great a Miracle as it was possible Joh. 1.8.47 in raising Lazarus after he had been dead four days and that Martha told him Lord by this time he stinketh Nay after they themselves did acknowledge not only this but many Miracles to have been done by him yet Powerful Interest not only closed their Eyes against the bright beams of Divinity which broke forth through the Clouds of his Flesh and contemptible Condition against those Gracious Words which proceeded out of that mouth which spoak as never man spoak but hurried them on obstinately blindly and in all appearance maliciously to contrive compass and procure his ignominious Death for then gathered the Chief Priests and the Pharisees a Councel and said What do we for this Man doth many Miracles if we let him thus alone all Men will believe on him and the Romans shall come and take away both our Place and Nation Upon which followed the Politick and beyond his sense Prophetick Determination of Caiaphas Te know nothing at all nor consider that it is Expedient for us it is our great Interest that one man should die and that the whole Nation perish not and from that Day forth they took Counsel together to put him to death And this Resolution grounded upon Interest they pursued with that Animosity and Violence that neither the Innocence nor Miracles of his Life the Justification of Pilate who openly pronounced him innocent and that he found in him no fault at all could prevail for his Release but that rather a Tumult was made and they cried out Away with him Away with him Crucifie him Crucifie him preferring a Thief and a Murderer to the Priviledge of their Custom of having one released at the Feast Nay even Pilate himself perhaps terrified with the dream of his Wife to have nothing to do with that Just man yet contrary to his avowed Judgment as appears in that 't is said he sought to release him yet was hurried down the swift torrent of Tumult and Interest to condemn the Innocent for no sooner had the Jews cried out If thou let this man go thou art no Friend to Caesar for whoso maketh himself a King speaketh against Caesar though he knew the Kingdom of Christ was not of this World and therefore stood not in Competition with Caesar for the Empire Yet when Pilate heard that saying he brought Jesus forth and sate down in the Judgment seat and though not without a scossing Reluctancy What shall I Crucifie your King he gave Sentence upon the Innocent and delivered him unto them to be Crucified in that Action shewing how much he was not a Friend to Caesar's Power but a slave to his own Interest in the Esteem of Caesar by whose favour he possessed the Government of Jary and and that he could rather violate the Laws of Equity and Justice disoblige his dearest Relations and slight the Importunities of his own Conscience than not worship this Idol of his own Interest A most notable Instance of the Power of Interest we have in that giddy Commotion which happen'd at Ephesus upon the account of the Gospel where though the crafty Silversmith made the people believe that all was Gold that glister'd and cunningly insinuated that he was the great Patron of their Ancient Religion which was in Danger to be lost and therefore laid that powerful Motive uppermost upon his Tongue yet Interest was at the bottom both of his Heart and Design For a certain man named Demetrius a Silversmith Acts. 19.24 which made silver shrines Medals bearing the stamp of Diana's Temple for Diana brought no small gain unto the Craftsmen whom he called together with the workmen of like Occupation and said unto them Ye know that by this Craft we have our Wealth This was the main Ground of the Quarrel that of Religion comes in only to give the better Colour to the Mutiny with a colateral Moreover Moreover you see that not alone at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath perswaded and turned away much People saying that they be no Gods which are made with hands so that not only this our Craft is in danger to be set at nought there it was the shoe pinch't this was the principal Motive of his Discontent and his main argument against Christianity but also that the Temple of the great Goddess Diana should be dispised and her Magnificence should be destroyed whom Asia and all the World worshippeth And of the same stamp where those of whom St. Paul speaks 1 Tim. 6.5 who supposed Gain was Godliness Interest true Religion from whom he commands therefore to withdraw 'T is this Interest which seems to be the great obstacle to the Conversion of the Mahumetans and Pagans to the Faith of Christ and the Truth of the Gospel For though the Vulgar amongst them are by reason of their stupid Ignorance and Custom wrapt up in clouds of darkness and have not a Capacity of Understanding much elevated above that of Brutes yet doubtless those of better Condition even by their conversations with the Christians cannot but have better conceptions of things and however they may varnish over this Obstinacy to their ridiculous Faith and sordid Principles with the pretence of Zeal for the Law of their Great Prophet yet doubtless finding the security of their Absolute and Arbitrary Dominion and Tyranny over their Subjects receives an Establishment from this blind Obedience and powerful Ignorance that Consideration sways them against all the Reason and Arguments in the World NOR will the Reman Religion Escape the danger of this overpoise of Interest 'T is this which has hitherto been the Obstacle to all the Indeavours which have been used or proposed to reform both those grosser Errors which they have introduced into Faith and good Manners and those lesser profitable Follies which have crept into their Church by the back-stairs of Advantage Riches and Esteem For by laying it down as a certain Foundation of Faith and Divine Verity that the Pope is Supreme Head of the Church above the Scriptures above Councels the Infallible Rule and sole Judge of all Controversies they necessarily Captivate all the Laity with the chains of blind Obedience and implicite Faith and that necessary and even Meritorious Ignorance especially of the Scriptures which they commend and incourage together with the easie Exercise of Religion which is made Satisfactory Meritorious and Supererrogating without the Intention or even Understanding of the Mind the Mercinary way of
might well stile himself with Tamerlan Flagellum Dei the Scourge and Wrath of God to accomplish his wicked Designs Which may be a Sea-mark to the Unwary to take Care of the Rock and not to Credit the charming Voice of the Syren hereafter who therefore shews her beautiful Face and sings her bewitching Airs that she may more easily Effect the desired Shipwrack HE was a Person who in the first sallies of his Youth was Debauched even to the Terror of all the Villages of the Neighbourhood who were used to give the Allarm when they saw him at a distance with Look to your selves here comes Mad Cromwel his great Frolique was the Destruction of Glass Windows which he persisted in to his last beginning with those of Cottages and not sparing at last those of Churches when his Debauchery only changed the Name but not the Nature and one was the Effect of Wine the other of his Drunken Zeal Having run the small Barque of his Fortune aground by his profusion he begun to think how to get her off again and finding that impossible he imbarqued himself into the Acquaintance and Friendship of one Tims of Cambridge an Eminently disaffected person to the King and Government and being naturally of a quick and sagacious Spirit he easily found the soft place in the head of Tims who was the head of the Faction thereabouts and believing that if he could but act a Convert to the Life he might thereby get a Livelyhood and by swimming down their stream buoy up his sinking Fortune by fishing in the Waters which they troubled he therefore joyned himself to their Congregation and because his Reformation was Miraculous he did not doubt but for the Credit he did their powerful Göspel they would pay him for a Miracle of so great use and advantage for their intended Reformation which being then a brewing he might be lookt upon as a necessary Instrument strument and skilful in the Trade of boiling up Jealousies and Fears to the highest strength of Intexication however he could not doubt but by his Credit amongst them and the Credit of the Party he might retrieve his past Losses and prop up his desperate Fortune by more desperate Principles and Practices Upon these considerations he forsook his wild and loose Companions and with an Ego non sum Ego reproves them wherever he met them he composes his Habit his Looks and Words to the Tune of the greatest Sobriety Repentance and Sanctity he frequents the Meetings and Exercises of the Godly and there by the strength of his Natural parts and that Learning which the Vniversity had unluckily bestowed upon such a Crocodile he like an apt Scholar quickly learn't from the then Nonconformists not only the Talents of making Publique and Private Harangues against the Bishops and particularly against Dr. Wren then Bishop of Ely against the Abuses of the Government the Designs of the great Ministers of State and the Prelates to introduce Arbitrary Government and swallow up Priviledg and Liberty by Prerogative to whisper the great Jealousies and Fears of the Danger of Popery but he became miraculous in the Gift of Extempore Prayer in which by the volubility of his Tongue and his great Industry and Constant Practice he arrived to that perfection as to out-do his Masters and so diligent was he in obtaining and exercising this necessary Qualifiation to recommend him to the disaffected Vulgar that being then a Farmer at Ely he was used to send for his Plough-men out of the Field to go to Duty with them and to keep them sometimes so long at it till other people having done their Mornings work were ready to come out of the Fields by which good Husbandry whatever returns he had of his Prayers he had a very slender return of his Seed which he sowed in Tears but could not reap with Joy or say it came a hundred fold into his Bosom or his Barns so that in a short time he threw the Plough in the hedge as the Husbandmen say and by the unfortunate breaking out of those Misunderstandings between the King and his Parliament he being by Tims's Party got into the House of Commons as Burgess for Cambridge and a great Promoter of those Rebellious Hostilities he betook himself to reap with his Sword in the Field of Disloyalty that Harvest of Treason which he and his Confederates of the Association had been so long sowing in the minds of a Discontented Populace He became presently one of the Heads of that Combination and by his own Gifts and those of Ireton and Peters formerly expelled from the Vniversity for a Rakehell but now converted by his voyage to New-England and returning to ruine the Old and by destroying the Hierarchy of the Church to make himself Oliver's Muphti so soon as he should come to be Englands Grand Signior by these assistances and the Art of Wheedling with fair words and long Prayers all Parties how different so ever in Persuasion he advanced himself into their Esteem and by that into the Affections and Command of the Rebel Army Whereby a Series of strange successes he appear'd the Favourite of Heaven and the Darling both of Fortune and his Party and having ruin'd the King and Loyal Party outwitted the Presbyterians and their great Patrons Essex and Fairfax men of better hands than Heads gently laid them aside as Eclipfing his Glory and Designs he then had the Game wholly in his own hand and arrived at length by the strength of Dissimulation Protestations Prayers and Arms to the highest degree of Supreme Arbitrary and absolute tyranny and wanted but little of prophaning the Imperial Diadem with his Traiterous Temples BUT what is observable of him after he had pray'd the Kings Crown off his head and his head from his Body and the power and Revenues of the Crown into his own hands then the Spirit began to fail him and he left that necessary Gift which was beneath him who was now got above all ordinances even of the House of Commons to the management of Peters Sterry and other his Domestick Chaplains By which it appears that he made use of extempore only pro tempore as a Strastagem to serve his own Designs and the Sword of the Spirit was with him always taught the good breeding to give the Wall to the spirit of the Sword Nor was he wont to go to prayer with his Legions so as to obstruct the Duty of the Day or to miss the favourable opportunity of an advantageous ingagement in the observation of which he was a Great Master and owed most of his Successes rather to his cunning than his valour and therefore he never went to wrastle with God for victory when a fair occasion offerd to wrastle with the arm of flesh IN short he made the same use of this curious Network of his pregnant Invention which'tis said a certain Cardinal did of that Net which he always used to spread upon his Table alledging for his humour
Natural Prince but to the prejudice of my Countrey and my own because I owe them no Obedience in point of Jurisdiction as I do my own King So I may for the same Reason refuse the Jurisdiction of a Forrein Church but cannot of my own which has a lawful Power over me and to which I owe Obedience because I am a Member of her Polity For every person and all Persons who live in the World must own a Subjection to the Government where they live and because that affords them Protection therefore they are to pay their Obedience both as a Duty of Gratitude the Foundation of Society and the Interest they have to maintain that Government and Power which does protect secure and defend their Lives Liberties and Estates and in effect all the Happiness of Humane Life Now since the Light of Nature Reason and Interest does oblige all men to own this as a necessary Truth and those who have opposed it have ever been esteemed the common Enemies of all Mankind Traitors not only to the Government they have opposed but to the Foundation and Principles of all Society and to the happiness of Mankind in general Therefore it is absolutely necessary in any distinct Society of Men that the Circumstances of Religion for the Substance of Faith is not in the power of any Mortal man to Alter or Establish should be adapted to the attainment of this Common Design of all Government both Civil and Religious the Happiness of the Society But this is impossible to be effected where there are many distinct Churches in the same Society For either the Supreme Authority has Power over them all or over none at all if none at all the Society is ruin'd and he is no longer King nor they own themselves his Subjects who deny his Authority and that they owe him obedience if he has Power over them it must be in Circumstantials of Government Order and the manner of Divine Worship Now either he can command them to perform these all one way and then they are no longer distinct Churches but the same or he cannot lawfully command them nor are they bound to Obey and so he is no longer their King nor they his Subjects then he obliges them by parting with his Soveraignty and they please upon that Condition that he permits them to do what they please to afford him their Subjection So that in effect distinct Churches and Independent upon the Soveraign in the same Nation which is one intire Body Politick are so many Spiritual Electors of Germany who own an Emperor in Name but are absolute in Reality and Soveraigns within their own Territories and Dominions BESIDES there is so near a Connection between all Temporal and Religious Laws the Laws of Men having their Foundation and Stability from the Original Laws of God and being only Lawful so far as they are agreeable to them that it is impossible for the most Nice Curiosity to distinguish the Limits of these two Powers the Temporal and the Spiritual Now if we suppose several distinct Independent Churches in one Nation we must suppose them to have distinct Forms of Government and it will be impossible for the Prince to make any Temporal Law which some of them may not pretend is against their Jurisdiction Let it be to raise Men or Money for the common Defence of all by War it may be an easy Scruple whether the War be Lawful whether that be his Intention whether it be for the Common Benefit and according as these distinct Churches judg it Lawful or Religious Safe or Dangerous so shall he receive their assistance So far and no farther goes their Obedience A too visible Effect of which it is to be seared we have at present when these Churches and their Jurisdiction is not by Law permitted and what might we expect if this Power which they challenge were either Tolerated or by Law Established So that if Obedience be a necessary Duty both Civil and Religious in order to the Happiness of any Society or Nation one Church owning that Subjection and Obedience in point of Government not of Faith is necessarily to be Established in that Society and Nation But I shall discourse more fully upon this Particular hereafter and therefore refer the Reader thither only I desire it may be taken notice of that the Design and Quarrel of all Dissenting Parties however they may pretend only purely Spirituals Conscience and Religion yet ends in the pretence to Soveraignty and Dominion and though it talks only of the Altar yet is level'd at the Throne and that therefore the Church of England which makes not the least pretentions to the prejudice of the Princes Right but by her Doctrine and her Practices teaches Humility Obedience and Submission to the Prince renders her true Sons the best of Subjects as well as the best of Christians and that nothing but Vnity in Government can teach men rightly to Honour the King as Vnity in Faith teaches them truly to fear God and be true Members of the Holy Catholique Church BUT secondly It will be Objected That by this Position of the Necessity of Vnity in Government and Uniformity of Worship in Rites and Ceremonies in a National Church Men will be obliged to submit to those things which are against their Consciences FOR answer to this at large I refer them to a small Treatise Intitled The true Liberty and Dominion of Conscience where they may see how they impose upon themselves and others by obtruding upon them Private Opinion or perswasion for Conscience for unless they be certain by Divine Revelation of clear Scripture or consequence of Scripture which will not admit of a Doubt that the things imposed are Unlawful Conscience is not concerned in them and it is only their Opinion which ought to submit to Publique Peace and Government which are clear and evident Commands of God If the things commanded are Unlawful shew us the Prohibition If they be not Unlawful they may be imposed for any man may by Authority be lawfully commanded to do what is Lawful for the obtaining Peace and Happiness to himself and all others of the same Society Nay he is bound in Conscience to do it BUT for a further satisfaction and a short Answer I desire it may be considered that every submission to the Judgment and practice of another who is of a different Opinion is not an Error if the thing be indifferent about which we disagree and that I may without offending my Conscience do what I am commanded though in my private Judgment I do not approve of it if by doing of it I promote Peace and shew my Obedience For where the Question is whether by not doing this I shall obey my own Judgment which doubts whether I may do it Lawfully or disobey that Power which commands me to do it which I cannot deny but has a Lawful power to command me The Resolution is easy for I am not by my
place but they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his Words and misused his Prophets until the Wrath of God arose against them and there was no remedy Then did the overflowing scourges come rolling upon them Fire and Sword and Captivity Desolation and utter Subversion God of his infinite Mercy have compassion upon his People and his dwelling Place and turn the hearts of the Despisers and disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just that we may not despise our selves and Nation into such a Dismal and inevitable Ruin CHAP. IX THUS have I shewn the Necessity that there is in every National Church of Unity in point of Government as well as Faith upon a Religious account Let us now come to Examine what Necessity there is upon a Politique account as we are united together into one Community of Men as well as a Society of Christians WE must consider therefore that Religion was designed to improve even our Interest in this World to the best advantage of Living and that to put on Christianity we are not to put off Humanity or by learning Obedience to God to forget what we owe to our Neighbour or our King The Eternal Prince of Peace as well as Truth came to Preach Peace unto All not to Embroyl the World or unsettle the Thrones of Princes but to Establish them for the Throne is Established by Righteousness Pro. 16.12 That glorious Heir of all things rejected the offer of all the Kingdoms of the Earth and positively affirms That his Kingdom is not of this World and therefore when he took upon him Humane Nature he own'd himself a Subject of the Roman Empire and not only paid the Tribute for himself and Saint Peter but Commands all men to do the same and the great Design of the Gospel which he came to Preach was to make all men better in their feveral Estates and Capacities of Life better men and therefore better Subjects to Princes This was the particular Care of the Church to inspire the Converts to Christianity with these Principles of Duty and Obedience so necessary to the Peace and Happiness of the World So St. Paul commands Ro. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers Thus St. Peter Teaches and Commands 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of Evil doers and for the praise of them that do well for this is the Will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men This being then one main Design of Christian Religion let us see of what Necessity Vnity in point of Government in the Church is in order to it and what influence it has upon the Political Government of a Christian State THE Root of all our Miseries Divisions and Disorders is That men take this for a Principle That they may be Disobedient to Lawful Authority without danger of Damnation and so far has the mischief of this fretting Gangrene spread it self that many People esteem it a part of their Religion to disobey the Civil Power and think it is impossible for them to be saved should they be obedient to its Commands which they think are inconsistent with the Commands of God This Error must proceed either from Malice or Mistake I will be so charitable as to suppose not from the first and therefore looking upon it as the Child of Ignorance I will endeavour to state the Case truly that so the Understanding of Men being informed by Truth they may either be reformed or left without Excuse THE great Design of the infinitely glorious good and Wise Creator being the Happiness of Mankind he therefore proportioned a Method for the obtaining of it and Man being Created with a double Capacity of Injoying Happiness both here and hereafter therefore did that Excellent Wisdom appoint Religion as the Way and Means for attaining both and for the accomplishment of those Noble and Excellent Ends it is furnished with Rules and Precepts which bear a double Respect to this double Capacity one part Conducts us to God and future Happiness in the External fruition of his grorious Presence in Heaven and the other Leads us to the Happiness of this Mortal State by the Politicl Rules of Living Well with a mutual respect not only to our own but the happiness of one another by the lawful and moderate Use and Enjoyment of the inferior Creation which God therefore made that he might shew his Glory his Wisdom his Power and his Goodness to the Sons of Men. So that the sum of all Religion in order to obtain this Happiness both here and hereafter is to believe aright and to Live Well and both these are so Essentially necessary to Salvation that the one will not obtain it without the other for the Devils believe Jam. 2.19 though it makes them tremble To believe aright we must refer our selves to those Divine Truths which God has from Heaven revealed to us concerning himself and our Duty the short sums of which Faith the Church has collected out of the Sacred Writings in the three Famous Creeds of the Apostles St. Athanasius and the Councel of Nice To Live well it is required that a man submits to all those practical Precepts and Rules of Life which God has commanded in his Will revealed in his holy Word by Justice Temperance Prudence Chastity Obedience c. and for the attainment of Happiness by these Rules in this present Life God has not left Men in a wild parity like Brutes but has by the Wisdom of his Providence divided the World into superior and inferior Degrees of Men Subjects and Soveraigns intrusting one to Rule and Govern and commanding the other to Obey and for this he has left many Positive Commands too well known and too numerous to be here repeated THESE Powers thus Ordained of God and armed with his Sword to execute Vengeance on them that do evil are vested with Authority to make such Decrees Laws and Sanctions as in their Wisdom they shall Judg conducive to the Happiness of the People committed to their Charge that so they may be a Terror to evil Works and encouragers of them that are Good And to them prosecuting this great and good Design and to those Laws which do promote it all men are bound to submit not only for wrath Rom. 13.5 but for Conscience sake And it is impossible any man should be saved who lives in a wilful Disobedience and that Power and those Commands and the Reason is because all such Disobedience is a sin against God himself against his Positive Will and Command and I think there is no person who will be so hardy as to maintain in Words however they may do it in Actions that Salvation is to be had or hoped for by such as live in manifest
calling him a-away he leaves Titus a Bishop there to set in order what was wanting that was upon their good demeanour to advance them into the Power of Bishops which was wanting at St. Pauls departure and the following words make it plain that this was the thing wanting and which he appointed Titus to do By the Direction he gives about them Vers 10 11. For a Bishop must be blameless as the Steward of God a high Office and a large Jurisdiction for there are many unruly there was the Necessity of Bishops to Rule whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole Houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy Lucres sake So that Titus was to make Bishops in that Populous Island that so they might have Authority which as Presbyters they had not to stop the mouths of the Seducers And how were these unruly Subverters to be Treated and Governed even by rebuking them sharply Vers 13. and stopping their Mouths 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by silencing them And how could that be done but by the Authority of the Bishop who was to let them and the People know that if they persisted in their disobedience Vers 16. They were abominable and Reprobates and therefore to be cast out of the Church For though they profess to know God yet in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good Work Reprobate Therefore abominable because disobedient Silencing then of Subverters of Houses unruly vain Talkers Deceivers is no new thing in the Church nor Bishops Persecutors for so doing Nor is there any way of stopping their Mouths in the Church but by this Authority of Excommunication and if they submit not to this all their Pretences to Godliness will not excuse them from denying him and being Reprobates because Disobedient What must we then think of those who will not have their Mouths stopped either by the Power of the Church or Civil Magistrate but in the highest degree of Unruly and Mutinous Disorder are Disobedience to both Indeavouring to draw Disciples after them that they may first take away from the Bishop the defence of the Magistrates Sword and then with Ease Extirpate Episcopacy Root and Branch Office and Name Power and Authority THUS you see that the Holy Ghost appointed Bishops in the Primitive Church you see their Office and Authority and that Presbyters were their Lawful Inferiors that they had Power to Ordain to Rebuke to acquit or Condemn to stop the Mouths of the Unruly So that here is both the Name and the Thing the Title and the Office confirmed by clear and evident Testimony of Scripture Now let us see what Obedience is due to them We intreat you Brethren saith St. Paul 1 Thess 5.12 13. and his Modest Intreaty â—â—â—y I hope without offence pass for a Command to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you And to esteem them very highly in Love for their Works-sake and be at Peace among your selves How know these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these Rulers For they could not be ignorant of their Persons or Names but know their Office know their Power that so by submission you may maintain Peace BUT the Author to the Hebrews is plain and Positive Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Rule over you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word will carry more than some Envious People will well like of in Bishops and will not only intitle them to Rule but their Honour too as will appear to any who is not a stranger to the Greek Language For it signifies not only a bare Ruler or a Guide but a Captain and a Prince and warrants a Bishops being so in the New Testament as well as a Priest under the Old But to avoid Offence I know there are none of those Reverend Fathers of the Church but will be pleased to derive their Titles from another Fountain of Honour I speak this to shew that God Almighty by his Spirit in Scripture is pleased to Honour them with the high Character of Princes and Governors and that therefore they are not to be Vilified and Despised as sonâ—n Wanton and other Virulent Tongues and Pens too frequently do But to proceed He continues to shew what kind of Obedience this must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 submit your selves without resisting be in Subjection And he adds the Reason For they watch for your Souls as they that must give an Account that they may do it with Joy and not with Grief Does God expect an account of Souls from these spiritual Guides and Rulers Then certainly he cannot in Justice leave them Destitute of Power and Authority to Rule and Guide as means to enable them to give a good Account of their Charge And to suppose the contrary were to suppose an End without a Way And since they have such a Charge all those who are within their respective Jurisdictions are bound to yield Obedience to them as they will answer before the Bar of Divine Justice for the Guilt not only of Destroying their own Souls but those of others whom they teach to Refuse to Obey those who have the Rule over them and are appointed Bishops by the Holy Ghost AND whereas St. Peter calls himself a Presbyter and by ranking himself among them seems to intimate they are all one this does not at all prove that he was not a Bishop too 1 Pet. 1.1 For he calls himself Peter an Apostle of Jesus Christ and his Humility in calling himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chap. 5.1 their fellow Presbyter does no more prove that a Bishop and Presbyter are the same than that a Presbyter and Apostle are for though they were his fellow Presbyters yet they were not his fellow Apostles and further it appears that these Presbyters of which he calls himself a Sym-Presbyter were Bishops as well as Priests for Writing to the several Churches scattered through Pontus Galatia Cappadocia and Bithynia and calling the Governors of those Churches Fellow Presbyters argues as much but the second Verse puts it out of doubt for he says they must Episcopize 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 feed the Flock of Christ as Bishops and therefore this place will never prove that the Authority of a bare Presbyter is equal to that of a Bishop or one who was a Fellow Presbyter of Saint Peter LET us see now what the next Age thought of it I will not run through the whole Church-History but content my self with the Testimony of Ignatius who was the Scholar of Saint John the beloved Apostle and Disciple of our Lord who leaned on Jesus's Bosom and one may well suppose therefore knew his Breast and what Government his Lord appointed in the Church and had Episcopacy been Antichristian would not have failed to tell us so and when he tells us there are many Antichrists he would have told us that this was one if he had believed it to be so and
have instructed his Scholar to put down and not Exalt this Antichrist in the Church of God 1 Jo. 2.18 This Ignatius who was afterwards in the Eleventh year of Trajan Crowned with Martyrdom at Rome being torn in pieces by Wild Beasts as Eusebius gives us an account Euseb Eccl. His l. 3. c. 19. 35. he speaks as plain of the Difference between a Bishop and a Presbyter as Pen can write or Heart can wish In his Epistle to the Magnesians Ig. Ep. ad Magnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Bishop saith he is seated in the first place as in the place of God and the Presbyters as the Senate of the Apostles And in another place of the same Epistle They says he who Act without a Bishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to such Christ will say Why do ye call me Lord Lord and do not the works which I Command you Such Persons seem to me not to be of a good Conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but to be Hypocrites and Dissemblers And in his Epistle to the Trallians he Commands them in the Language of the Author to the Hebrews Ignat. Epist ad Trall To be subject unto this Bishop as unto the Lord for he Watches for your souls And in another place he tells them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is absolutely necessary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That you should do nothing without the Bishop Thus we see the Sons of the Church in the first Century of the Apostles of Christ being yet living thought of Bishops as we do And therefore it is both Undeniable and Undubitable that Episcopal Government was of Divine Institution and that a Bishop and a Presbyter are two different things in the Primitive Church both as to Power and as to Name I might bring a whole Cloud of Witnesses of less Antiquity but if these will not convince if the Testimony of Scripture and so Primitive a man and a Bishop as Ignatius be of no value I can have little hopes of convincing Gainsayers by multitude who have abandoned Reason THUS stood the Affairs of the Church for above 300 Years no man making the least Question or Dispute but that the Government by Episcopacy was of Gods appointment one Bishop still succeeding another as in the Ecclesiastical Historians my be seen in most of the Principal Cities of the World Epiphan l. 3. Tom. 1. Haeres 25. till Aerius being Educated with Eustathius and being his equal in Learning and Age took it as a great disparagement that Eustathius was preferred before him to a Bishoprick for which they were Competitors upon this discontent he not only fell foul upon Eustathius objecting as our Aerians do against him Pride and Covetousness but his Resentments for the Mortal displeasure broak out against the whole Function contemning the prescribed Fasts of the Church and teaching by the same Arguments with ours that a Bishop and a Priest were all one by the Scriptures of equal Power Authority and Jurisdiction which saith Epiphanius is an Assertion stultitiae plena full of Folly But this being but one discontented Priests Opinion was neither much regarded nor long lived the current belief of the Scripture and the constant Usage of the Church which knew no other Government run so strong that he was drowned in it nor did the Heresie ever float again till this last Age of which St. Clement who was contemporary to St. Paul and his fellow Labourer Phil. 4.3 as he calls him seems to prophecy in that Epistle of his to the Corinthians which I think was never suspected to be spurious where he tells us there would come a time when there should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Ep. ad Cor. a contention about the very name of a Bishop BY virtue of this Power it was that the Rulers of the Church ordered and appointed all things which were done which were of an indifferent Nature in Government as about the Observation of Holy Fasts and Festivals the manner of Celebrating the Service and Worship of God the Prayers and Alms of the Church the Postures Gestures and Habits which were to be made use of and all other Rites and Ceremonies following herein the Scripture as the Rule of Faith and Manners and the General Precepts therein contained as Rules of Government which were principally these FIRST That nothing imposed should be repugnant or contrary to any Article or Branch of Faith or a Holy Life or to any Customs of the Church recorded in Holy Writ SECONDLY That all their Commands might have a respect to Decency Order Reverence and Edification THIRDLY That All might have a tendency to Vnity Peace and Concord and that diversity of Customs and Opinions might not breed Schisms and Contentions and I shewed before how when in some of these things there was a difference in several Churches yet still they held Communion one with another maintaining inviolably the same Faith and Government in all THIS was the Condition of the Church both as to Faith and Polity till such time as the great Powers of the Earth the Roman Emperours and other Kings became Christians and took up the Cross of Christ as the Glory of their Crowns The first of which was Constantine the Great These Temporal Powers then took the Church into their Protection made Temporal Laws for the better Management of it and to preserve it from the Injuries of Heathen Idolaters without and Hereticks within and having the Sword in their hand undertook as it was their Duty to punish Evil doers who darst transgress the Laws of the Church with Temporal Punishments as well as those who broak the Laws of the Civil Magistrate and to incourage the Peaceable and Religious From the Bounty of these Princes and that of others of plentiful Fortunes and and by their Example the Church came to be Endowed with Temporalties and an Honourable Constant and Encouraging Maintainance was provided and settled upon those who were to serve at the Altar that so they might be inabled and furnished with all sorts of Learning well knowing that proportionate Rewards are the spurs to Learning and Virtue as the Wisdom of God for our Encouragement to Pursue and Obtain her tells us Prov. 8.18.3.4 Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness and that length of days are in her right hand and in her left hand Riches and Honour And that according to the Apostolical Command 1 Cor 9.11 14. They which sow Spiritual things should also reap Carnal for so hath the Lord commanded that they which Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel BY this it appears That now there was a double Obligation laid upon all Christians to be Obedient to the Commands of the Church both because they derive their Power from God and because the Temporal Power did now concur to strengthen the Duty by the Obligations of Humane Laws nor can any thing or any pretence of Conscience authorize
Laws so all the Obedience of Subjects is confined to their Determinations in those particulars which God has left wholy in the Power of our Superiors and who ever resists or refuses to Obey shall therefore receive Damnation because he destroys the very Essence and End of Government and in saying We will not have this man Raign over us acts directly contrary to the Will of God who says he shall and that we must Obey him in order to the Peace and Happiness of the World the due Administration of Justice the Encouragement of Virtue and Practice of Religion by leading quiet Lives under our Superiors in all Godliness and Honesty by which Method we can only hope to arrive at Eternal Happiness in Heaven BUT Secondly Because all Ecclesiastical Laws which concern the Order and Government of the Church are of a mixt Nature Political as well as Religious and so are all Humane and Civil Laws too and therefore there is the same reason for Obedience to the one as to the other and they do both equally bind the Conscience to Obedience The same Power makes the one as makes the other the same Reason is the Foundation of the one as of the other they are addressed to the same End viz. the Peace Happiness and Prosperity of the People and therefore there is the same obligation to Obedience for the one as the other and all Men are bound in Conscience as Members of a Society to promote the Peace and welfare of that Society which is not to be obtained any other Way but by obeying the Command of God in being subject to the Government of that Society of which we are Members Observe the Command of God to the Captive Jews at Babylon Jer. 29.7 Seek the Peace of the City whither I have caused you to be carried away Captives and pray unto the Lord for it for in the Peace thereof ye shall have Peace So that if Peace and Happiness be the End of Society all Men are bound to Pray for it and promote it If the End be Commanded by God the Means to obtain that End must be Obeyed and God having intrusted the Governors of Church and State with the Means and Way of procuring this Happiness their Choice of some among all the variety of Expedients that may be offer'd must determine their Subjects and becomes the Rule of their Obedience as well in Ecclesiastical as Civil Affairs for if it were possible to separate these two then something might be said but the Peace of the State depending upon the Peace of the Church and vicê versa No man can truely be said to promote the one by destroying the other And therefore all men who are obliged to indeavour to advance one must do it by advancing both To make this clear I will give an Instance of the Power of the Civil Magistrate in the Church in matters of Order and Government David a man after Gods own Heart in the Worship of God which was left Undetermined he takes upon him to regulate the Church he Orders the Levites to appoint Singers on Instruments of Musick 1 Chron. 15.16 and Psalteries and Harps Cymbals and sounding by lifting up the Voice with joy They never stood to dispute with him because God had not commanded it that therefore it was Unlawful but because God had not any where Prohibited it and he was their King and might Command what was for decency and order in the Service of God therefore they ought to Obey and immediately they appoint Heman and Asaph and Ethan and several others for that Service David and after his Example others frame and compose Anthems Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving in set forms of Words to praise God Because he is gracious and his Mercy endureth for ever Do the Priests and Levites now quarrel because they are not permitted to shew their Parts Gifts and Abilities in making Extempore Hymns or Prayers No such matter but presently in Obedience to God and the King they make use of those prescribed which are contained in the Book of Psalms the Ancient Liturgy of the Jewish Church This order was after continued by Solomon and approved by God For it came to pass 2 Chron. 5.13 as the Trumpeters and Singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lift up their Voice with the Trumpets and Cymbals and Instruments of Musick and praised the Lord saying For he is good for his Mercy indureth for ever that the house was filled with a Cloud even the House of the Lord. So that the result of all is this That the Supreme Power of a Nation being of Gods appointment for the Ruling of the People in order to their Happiness and commanding nothing contrary to Faith or good Manners or any thing Prohibited by God himself ought to be obeyed by all their Subjects of what Degrees or Conditions soever in all their Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil in order to good Government Decency and Order both in Church and State and that since all these Commands of theirs are in Obedience to Gods Commands and in prosecution of the great Design of Happiness here and Eternally by promoting Peace Vnity and Concord therefore no Person can resist that Power by Disobedience but he resists the Ordinance of God and becomes a Transgressor to God as well as Man and runs the hazzard of Eternal Damnation due to all those who know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ LET Dissenters therefore either prove that the Supreme Powers are not Lawful that their Authority does not Extend to the Political part of Ecclesiastical Affairs that they have nothing to do to determine Differences that the things commanded are contrary to Faith and a holy Life are not conducive to Peace Vnity and the happiness of the Nation or that they are any where in direct Words or evident Consequence prohibited by God in Scripture or otherways they will never be able to prove that they are bound in Conscience to disobey Authority Let them not think to shelter themselves under the vain refuge that God is to be obeyed rather than Men. This is that which proves them Disobedient for they do not disobey Men but God in disobeying Lawful Authority when commanding nothing contrary to the Commands of God And whoever does so is managed not by the Principles of Religion but the Power of Interest Prejudice or Ambition IN short Is any Form of Government Lawful or Necessary in the Church that it is they affirm in desiring to Establish their own is Obedience necessary to Salvation they will tell you it is Let them therefore be their own Judges For if Obedience to their Laws and Government be necessary to Salvation it must be because their Authority is Lawful for that is the Rule of Conscience and if the present Authority be Lawful and theirs Vsurped then is their Disobedience Damnable and their Obstinacy