a perfum'd breath and richness of Language as if they were made with the first Adam speak of the Dictates of the Patriarchs and Testimonies of the Prophets but in vain do any boast they are descended from Abraham since he is not a Jew who is one outward in the flesh bur inward in the Spirit as our Saviour told the Pharisees vaunting of Antiquity Joh. 8. except they did the works of Abraham and abide in the Truth Truth then is the Child of Time and as there is Antiquity of Time so also of Truth and Doctrine And so long as the Romish Church continued in the profession and practice of Apostolical purity i. e. of Faith and Doctrine which was once given to the Saints all other Christian Churches held Communion with her for the Church of Rome did not anciently in former Ages hold all these Doctrines which now she owns The ancient Church of Rome was but a Member of the Catholick Church of God of which Jesus Christ was Head But the now Roman Church does at this day what S. Augustine * De Vnit Eccles cap. 6. told to the Donatists inclose the Catholick Church within their own circuits and usurps it wholly to her self of which the Pope is Head And the Papacy will have their Pope by reason of the Kingdom of Christ to be the Head and King of the Church in ordine ad Spiritualia and consequently the Supreme Civil Power over the Monarchs of the Earth in ordine ad Temporalia to be the Head and King of the Church Such a Church was never in Rome for many hundred years after our Saviour no Bishop ‖ Gregory Bishop of Rome Ego fidenter dico quia quisquis se universalem Sacerdotem vocat vel vocari desiderat in elatione sâ—â Antichristum praecurrit Pope Pelagius distinct 99. Vniversalis autem nec etiam Romanus Pontifex appelletur Cyril Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did assume Christs Title to be the Head of the Church till Boniface the Third who not contenting himself with his Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical and fulness of Spiritual Power but his towring Ambition aspires yet higher and with much contention obtained of the Rebel Phocas about the year 604. who murder'd Maurice the Emperour the Title of Universal The Pope looking for Primacy on Earth is very unlike his heavenly Master whose Vicar he pretends to be Christ paid Tribute unto Caesar Luke 20.25 but the Pope that Prevaricator of the Apostolick See exacts it from them and Caesar pays unto him Our Saviour wash'd his Disciples feet but the Bishop of Rome in these days with imaginary Supremacy causes the greatest Princes and mightiest Emperors do him Homage and swear Allegiance * Clement the Fifth call'd a Council at Vienna An. 1311. in which it was ordained and decreed That the Emperour his Lord should give his Oath of Allegiance to the Pope for being not content with his Primacy abused Religion into Policy and casting off all moderation the Pope devoured the Emperour Thus the Head of the Church degenerated into a Monster and in reaching at Temporal Soveraignty he broke the Spiritual Unity contrary to the Divine Authority and Majesty of the Scripture Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers Rom. 13. and to the King as Supreme 1 Pet. 2.13 As Heathen Rome under the Emperours Domitian and others would be adored as Gods though never so impious so Rome Christian falls under the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Apostle Sitting in the Temple of God as God 2 Thess 2.4 and exalting himself above all that is called God * Zacharias Papa ex authoritate Sancti Petri Apostoli mandat populo Francorum ut Pepinus qui potestate Regiâ utebatur etiam nominis dignitate frueretur Ita Hildericus ultimus Merovingorum qui Francis imperabat depositus est in monasterio missus est Marian. Scot. Hist lib. 3. Lambertus Danaeus in his Response to Bellarmine the great Master of Controversie contending that Childerick was lawfully deposed by Pope Zacharias Can Zachary saith he have Authority in France being a Stranger Can he depose the publick Magistrate being but a private person though he were Bishop of Rome or transfer that Principality to Pepin that he hath no Right unto and commit so many Sacriledges and Impieties stealing from Childerick and giving to Pepin another mans Right Authorizing Subjects to violate their Oaths which they had sworn to their King Transposing Kingdoms from one man to another whereas it doth only belong to God to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms Thou mayest see Bellarmine how many outrages this thy Zachary hath committed Resp Danae ad Bellar. lib. 2. cap. 17. pag. 316. in a superlative Greatness and that not of order and precedency only as to Ecclesiastical Regency stretching his Diocese over all Bishops and Churches in the Christian World but of absolute Authority claiming universal Jurisdiction in a Monarchiâ—al Superintendency or Regality over all Christendom with a Power to depose Kings and dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms for the benefit of the Church is a Title only of Usurpation without any ground of Scripture or Antiquity First Christ was no Temporal Monarch but an Eternal King to rescue us from the thraldom of sin the sorcery of the flesh and the Curse of the Law Christ was no earthly King and left no Regal Power to S. Peter therefore the Pope can have no Civil Power or Temporal Dominion as the Vicegerent of Christ and consequently overturns and destroys the Doctrine of Supremacy The Lawgiver himself even Ipse Ille that bare rule in Heaven the incarnate and crucified Messias Joh. 12.36 saith My Kingdom is not of this World Whereas that Sect of Politicians the Romanists turns the Kingdom of Christ into outward Pomp and Bravery and they to have the Managery and Government of it as if the now See of Rome should be known to be the most Christian Bishop not in having with Christ no Temporalties but an absolute Soveraignty to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms which is nothing less than a strange Usurpation for the Son of God did never impose such a hard duty and condition to Kings that were to become Christians as to forsake their Imperial Crowns and Diadems except in their hearts and affections and in comparison of the Kingdom of God O Eternal Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light of Truth inspire the Universal Church with the Spirit of Truth Unity and Concord and grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the Truth of thy holy Word and live in unity and godly love Secondly View it in relation to the Apostles who were the Patriarchs of the Church And the Evangelists make special mention of their Names as those to whom we owe great honour and veneration being conversant with Christ and daily instructed by him who continued with him unto his Passion and Crucifixion and after his Resurrection
our charity and unity but can't discern those greater lines of Duty Subjection and Loyalty And as the Scribes and Pharisees of old cry'd up every where The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord so we have many such now a-days who are seemingly great Champions for the Church and take great care of the Duties of the first Table and yet can freely indulge themselves in the violation of the second proving annoyances to the State by seditious Insurrections though the Christian Religion doth firmly oblige men to peace obedience and due submission unto Secular Governours there are many persons that owne that Name and yet entertain Positions wholly inconsistent with the Precepts of that Religion and the safety of Princes and their Kingdoms swallowing REBELLION * There was a time which is a precaution to posterity when men pretended a Call from God to do the work of the Devil viz. rebelling and then murdering the best of Kings erecting him a Scaffold for a Throne and for a Diadem of Gold gave him a Crown of Thorns and instead of a glorious Prince made him a glorious Martyr without regret which opens the floud-gates of impiety and lets in upon us a Chaos of Anarchy Libertinism and popular Confusion bringing a kind of present damnation on the World They that are Authors or Abetters of Sedition saith S. Chrysostome can neither avoid shame on Earth nor escape eternal Damnation Though God the great Judge do sometimes permit Rebels in his Justice to prevail against Kings for the contempt of the Law of the highest and neglect of their own duty the reward of Rebellion shall be no better than the recompence of Satan who is the Instrument of the Lords wrath for the punishment of all disobedience The Kings Power is from God and for any private person or any Club of Subjects to wrest it out is a double Usurpation First They invade Gods Soveraignty Rom. 12.19 who saith Vengeance is mine Secondly The Princes Prerogative whose Office is to protect and punish to defend the innocent and correct the Spirit of Contumacy and Rebellion relieve the oppressed and support the vertuous rewards to Merit as well as punishment to Sin and Vice are dispensed A terrour to evil doers 1 Pet. 2.14 saith the Text and praise to them that do well Therefore honour the King Secondly As the goodness of Heaven shines in the preservation of our Royal Soveraign from the Usurpation of cruel Enemies at home so likewise Divine Providence hath guarded him from Foreign Attempts of unreasonable men abroad and made the Plots and Conspiracies of these worse than Heathens of none effect and deliver'd our King and our Princes our Nobles and the Heads of our Tribes the Governours of our Church and Judges of our Land nay the whole Commons of this Realm from a fearful destruction that would have swallowed them up For when the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree to cut off Soveraignty and destroy the Lord 's Anointed the rest of the people who are the Branches must expect lopping The restless Emissaries of the Church of Rome whether Priests Jesuits or Colledge of Cardinals give daily proof of their inveterate malice against the King the Government and Protestant Religion thinking that new Massacres are the most effectual course to stop the cry of the old and that the readiest way to silence their Adversaries is to make them instances of the Truth of the Accusation If the great God of Heaven who refrains the Spirits of men that delight in Blood had not been gracious to our King and Kingdom you had not this Day been Auditors nor I Speaker of this Theme but all of us miserable Spectators of the contrary And the Pope's Triple Crown would have been set with many red Roses of great Triumphs in a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing less than utter extirpation of us and Memorial from under Heaven The Rivers of Rome may seem to run smooth their Sea is Blood the extracted Spirits of things work more forcibly than concrete Bodies take heed of an Elixir an Extraction of Malice sublimated spiritualized into a Religion The cruel Massacres of Primitive Christians * If we reflect on ancient times and look back to the course of the World in general in the first Monarchy we find a fiery Furnace in the second a Den of Lions in the third the madness and fury of Antiochus when to believe in one God was to be put on the Rack and to abhor Idolatry involved the Votary in cruel Tortures In the fourth Monarchy the ten Persecutions more bloody and grievous than all that went before for not to sacrifice to Idols and to offer Incense to Heathen Gods was cause enough to be torn in pieces by wild Beasts and be exposed to all manner of terrible Torments when bloody Tumults affrighted Christ's Members and chased them from their Devotions when the Priest became the Sacrifice and his Books in disdain were made a Burnt-offering will teach us the price of our own happiness and the slaughter of our Forefathers may upbraid our unthankfulness with the benefits of our peace 'T were good that we their surviving Off-spring would learn to make use of their happy Martyrdom In their crimson steps we may trace the way to our Saviour's Cross and read in the living memory of their Torments the sad Tragedy of his Sufferings The World at this day is well mended with us we know not the meaning of Rack or Faggot of Sword and Gridiron the Instruments of Romish Cruelty Let three Kingdoms therefore bow themselves as the heart of one man and praise God for his mercy unto his Servants under the Protection of our gracious and religious King Charles Heaven hath preserved our Church from ruine and confusion from the spreadings and prevailings of Errours Heresies and Schisms Superstition and Idolatry which strive to oppress us and to eclipse the truth and purity of Doctrine which is our Churche's Glory and so much offends the Eyes of Rome and makes them clip wash and new-coyn the Gold of the Sanctuary Lastly As Divine Providence and Goodness did this Day bring into the World our gracious Soveraign and hath hitherto preserv'd him from all Enemies Domestick and Foreign So the same special grace and favour of God did this Day bring home and restore to us our King a Prince of so much Clemency and Mercy that he is inferiour to none that sways a Scepter or sits upon a Throne His Restauration was wonderful without any Effusion of Blood The Voice of War is changed into Proclamations of Peace the Clattering of Swords and Spears is turned into the sweet Melody of Harps and the harsh Tones of Death into a Psalm of Thanksgiving O Lord thou art become gracious unto thy Land and hast turn'd away the Captivity of Jacob Praise therefore waits on thee in Zion and unto thee shall the Vow be perform'd in Jerusalem We celebrate the Memory of this thy Mercy in restoring our King and with him the free Profession of true Religion and Worship What doth God require now both from Prince and People but the acknowledgment of his favour He that will not glorifie God as the Father of Mercies in the rigour of Justice God may glorifie himself in his eternal ruine If we prove not the Heralds of his Glory Examples shall we be of his just indignation All tasting Mercy all should be thankful and though all have not Frankincense yet every one mâ—y have Praise Let us praise God for his miraculous preservation of our King and Kingdom Church and People and let it sound so â—oud this day as it may reach Heavens gates and meet with Hallelujahs which the bright Morning-Stars in their Orbs pay to their Creator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angels Liturgy is singing of Hymns of Glory And shall not the Militant Church say We praise thee O God our Souls do magnifie the Lord The Stork pays Tribute of her young the Trees of their fruits the Earth of her flowers and shall we be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without natural affection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without God in the world not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 return blessing and praise to the Divine Majesty for his infinite Blessing unto us We praise God in his Sanctuary and in the Firmament of his Power for his mighty Acts and according to his excellent Greatness Praise him with the Sound of the Trumpet with Psaltery and Harp with stringed Instruments and Organs shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Let us now direct our Prayers and Supplications to the Glorious and Eternal Trinity that all Blessings Divine and Humane Spiritual and Temporal like the precious Oyntment of Aaron's may be pour'd out on the Head of ouâ— Royal Soveraign length of days on hiâ— right hand on his left Riches and Honour that his Reign may be glorious and his Regal Vertues after this Life crowned with immortal Glory And we with the residue of God's holy Church may rise to that incomprehensible endless Felicity where the Blessings of the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity will gloriously shine upon our Souls for evermore Which God of his infinite Mercy vouchsafe unto us for the Mercies of his Eternal Son our blessed Saviour To whom with the Father and Holy Ghost three Persons one God be ascribed as most due is all Honour Glory Power Praise Might Majesty and Dominion the residue of our lives and for ever Amen FINIS ERRATA Pag. 56. line 13. for then read there p. 62. l. 10. fo Reershaba r. Beersheba p. 74. l. 16. for fair this read this fair
he applied himself especially to them to enable them for the high Mysteries of the Gospel and service of the Church by the reception of the Holy Ghost Joh. 20.22 23. Mat. 18.18 and a power of binding and loosing sins And Christ having founded his Church he left it in the hands of his Apostles therefore let us look into this pure stream of Antiquity and primitive Age of the Church In the first Synod there is no prelation of one or subordination of another but all the Apostles have equal vote and choice in the Substitution or Election of Matthias Acts 1. In that other about Circumcision all decree send and judge alike Acts 15. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us By which it is evident there is no Preeminence or Superiority but an Unity and Identity of Power according to that excellent Saying of S. Cyprian * Hoc erant utique caeteri Apostoli quod fuit Petrus pari consortio praediti honoris potestatis sed exordium ab unitate proficiâ—citur Lib. de Unit. Eccles The other Apostles are the same that S. Peter was to let us know that they and their Successors are pari authoritate pari consortio endowed with an equal fellowship of honour and power The Apostles now considered in their Apostolical dignity order of Priesthood and Authority of Preaching the light will display it self and chase away the darkness from us 1. In Apostolick Dignity then is no Principality by the Law of Christ for as they were all sent together Mat. 10. Acts 2. so they were all inspired at once the cloven Tongues like as of fire sate on each of them and they were all filled with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and gifts of the Holy Ghost which argues equality and that they are all Fellow-equals in Apostleship Rev. 12.14 The wall of the City saith S. John had twelve foundaâ—ions and in them the Names of the Lamb's twelve Apostles therefore no Primacy or preeminence of dignity being all Foundations of Evangelical Doctrine upon which the height of the Ecclesiastical Edifice is raised and Militant Church is built They are all Foundations and Rocks after Christ because they were all chosen to preach the Gospel and plant the Faith in every part of the World They were all immediately instructed by Christ they had all most ample and universal Jurisdiction throughout the whole Empire of the Church all endowed with an equal Authority as S. Cyprian expresseth it of honour and power which beats down the Rampire of defence and shews the Fortress of folly of the Romanists in their new erected Fort in challenging a Scepter of Supremacy and condemns the arrogant Usurpation of the See of Rome who will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Bishop in another mans Diocese and in appropriating that to himself which is common to him saith a Reverend Prelate with all the Bishops of Christendom 2. As to the Order of Priesthood there is no Supremacy of power to one above another in the Colledge of the Apostles because they could all equally consecrate the Body and Blood of Christ And the greatest favours to lapsed Mankind are the Sacraments where the visible corporeal Elements are the means by Faith to convey unto us spiritual Graces nay the whole Treasure of Christs Merits acquired on the Cross are made truly ours by a due reception of the blessed Eucharist for the holy Sacraments are the pledge of Glory and earnest of Immortality and the consecrated Symbols are the seeds of an eternal Duration springing up in us to Life eternal nourishing our spirits with Grace which is but the Prologue of Glory In the Divine Mysteries there is no Superiority as to Consecration it being not personal but publick not proper to S. Peter only but common to all the Apostles and consequently speaks an equal fellowship of honour and power as to order of Priesthood 3. As to the Authority of Preaching the Commission is equal Joh. 17.18 As my Father sent me so send I you which may extend not only to Jurisdiction and Ordination but Apostolical preaching Our Lord and Saviour being to ascend into Heaven commanded his Apostles saying Go ye teach all Nations Mat. 28.19 baptizing them in the Name of the Sacred Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost This commandment they put in execution and it was fulfilled Rom. 10.18 Their sound went into all the Earth and their words into the ends of the World S. Peter to the Jews S. Paul to the Gentiles no division or limitation of Jurisdiction but a distribution to all Provinces for the more commodious preaching of the Gospel Those ancient Worthies that first propagated Christianity had neither Diocese nor Parish but the wide World before them then all planting the same Doctrine every man had a care of all the Churches they went forth and preached every where * Mark 16.20 Eusebius and other Ecclesiastical Historians give us the recital and specification of the Nations and Countries S. Peter preach'd in Judea Antioch Galatia Cappadocia Pontus in Asia Bithynia and Rome S. Andrew in Scythia Europaea in Epirus Thracia and Achaia S. James the Son of Zebedee in Judea and Spain S. John in Judea and Asia the less S. James the Brother of our Lord in Jerusalem S. Philip in Scythia and Phrygia S. Bartholomew in the farther India and Armenia the great S. Matthew in Ethiopia S. Thomas to the Parthians Medes Persians Brachmans Hyrcanians Bactrians and Indians S. Simon in Mesopotamia S. Matthias in the higher Aethiopia And S. Paul and Barnabas in many Countries of Europe and Asia the Lord working with them What mean now these domineering Nimrods of Rome absolutely out of the plenitude of their Power to lord it over their Brethren as if they were â—specially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods portion and inheritance and all Christian Churches were in a state of subordination unto them whereas they are only Fellow-labourers and Workers together with us in the Vineyard of Christ Are ye Ministers of Christ so are we The Clergy are Branches of an Apostolical and holy Stock therefore let all Aaron's Sons who ascend the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and are devoted to the Altar as Gods Priests consecrate themselves to God and Religion that we and they may do the work of an Evangelist and with alacrity and chearfulness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 give our selves to prayer and the ministration of the Word shewing the Divinity of our Function not in great swelling words of vanity in an affected Predominancy Rule and Superiority over the Christian World so much contended for by the Souldiers of the Camp of Rome This in the words of Nazianzen * Nazian Orat. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to commend a goodly Statue from the shadow it casts and to pass by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those perfections which deserve our chief commendations i. e. sanctity and holiness of life which extol Gods praises and then
oppose shall be interpreted a Command from Heaven to do it Judg. 5.23 Curse ye Meroz was the Text Rapine and Plunder the Comment and the Use Wars sounded as loud from the Pulpit as the Drum as if it had been the task of the Heavens to kill and slay and for its Arms hung in the Zodiack Man's Anatomy to shew they were born with those that arose oâ— the Dragon's Teeth in the Poet Mutuis perire gladiis to bleed to death on one another's Swords And here I may lead your thoughts to the unnatural Civil War in our British Isle when Tribe did rise against Tribe Brother against Brother Marte cadunt subito per mutua vulnera fratres Ovid. And the sight of one Aceldama one field of Blood will raise mens careless thoughts to a due valuation and grateful apprehension of the comforts we enjoy under our most Gracious Soveraign He that has escaped with him in Job to bring news of rapine and violence can best tell us what it is to see a flourishing Land become a Sea of Blood because War playes Pliny's Cockatrice annoying whatsoever it doth touch He can tell us what it is to see the Horse in equal state with its Rider both of them weltering in their own gore He can shew us what it is to see the obedient Son run over his slain Father to escape the hands of his own Executioner He can shew us what it is to see the burning of Cities and the woful Inhabitants martyr'd in the flames Is not every Siege the Funeral of a City * Quot obsidia tot urbium funera quot pugnae tot hominum lanienae quot agmina tot ruris supplicia quot turmae catervae cohortes acies tot suriae ad exitium agrorum hominum armatae Putean in stat bell pacis lit every pitched Battle a Massacre If a Samuel 1 Sam. 15.33 hew Agag in pieces a David in the heat of War falls a cutting Ammonites 1 Chron. 20.3 Sin Satan and War have all one Name Evil is the best of them The best of Sin is deformity the best of Satan enmity the best of War misery * The Turkish History makes mention of the Scythian Tamâ—rlane when he walked amongst the slain aâ—ter a bloody Victory against the Muscovites He accounted those Princes unhappy which by the destruction of their own kind sought to advance their own honour protesting himself grieved even from his heart to see such sorrowful tokens of his Victory It is no wonder now to complain as the Orator to the Athenians whatsoever they gain in their thrifty Peace they are deprived of by those consuming Tumults for what Paradise is there under Heaven which a lasting War will not easily turn into a Wilderness Many in this Nâ—tion have witnessed the truth of it with their eyes and its horrour with their tears by these inconveniences we may judge of the benefits of Peace and may see what gracious opportunities it doth yield for the practice of Religion and Godliness We may behold with joy and thankfulness that the Ark the Testimony of Gods presence which was long held captive among the Philistins is now returned and happily setled among us and that his Worship is duly performed in his Word and Sacraments Let his lungs waste in his breast let his spirits decay let his tongue languish to a perpetual silence that will not beseech God to establish this blessing as firm as the days of Heaven and wish its continuance O then pray for the Peace * Pulchriùs vomer quà m ensis splendet bidens quà m hasta meliùs ferro vervacta agrorum quà m agmina agricolarum proscinduntur saith Puteanus of our Jerusalem that love her and consequently for the life and prosperity of the Monarch of Great Britain King Charles II. our dread Soveraign the light of our eyes and the breath of our nostrils Lam. 4.20 who causes malignant vapours to vanish and dispels those clouds of mischief by his Princely power that would turn Religion into Rebellion and Faith into Faction cry up Priviledge to invade Regal Prerogative and under the notion of the Preservers of our Peace and Defenders of our Liberties reach out their hand to turn the stream of Royalty and subvert an excellent Monarchy into a Tyrannical Republick The Fallacy having been put on the Kingdom and Cheat acted once before it will not easily prevail with men of sober and rational judgments to renounce their Religion the best in the world or their Loyalty and obedience to the best of Kings whose Princely Goodness is not more tender of the Imperial Crown and Dignity than of the Peace and tranquillity of the Subject The one as it regards Royal honour the other the care of his People to cause Religion happily to flourish and Liberty Laws and Property to be safe and inviolable with the Blessings of Heaven notwithstanding the subtile insinuations and cunning stratagems of the old Enemies of Monarchy and the Church to throw us back into a relapse which reminds us of the late Rebellion when men in Buff durst proclaim themselves the only Legal Authority of the Nation and these like a mighty Torrent did drive all before them with an unruly violence brake down the banks of Ecclesiastical Discipline making no difference betwixt things Sacred and Common swallowed up Churches with their Revenues and laid desolate Sanctuaries of Piety and Religion Here we may wail out an Epicedium War and desolation poverty and paleness and garments roll'd in blood hearing the woful groans of dying men and bitter lamentations of Children for their Parents The Orphan blubbers his cheeks and sighs with Elisha O my Father my Father Now David breaths out an Elegy and O Absalom Absalom my Son my Son And Rachel likewise weeps and will not be comforted because they are not These were the miseries this Kingdom groan'd under after the Barbarous and horrid Murder of that Glorious Martyr King Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory And so it continued under the heavy yoke of an insolent Usurpation till his Majesty's happy Restauration actual Government and gracious Reign over us in peace and quietness security and freedom We owe the happiness of these temporal enjoyments under God to the prudent Conduct of Regal Majesty And here take this Thesis or Doctrine by way of affirmative Position If the Church be depriv'd of Kingly Majesty she is as apt to be infected with home-bred Errours as Foreign injuries for when there was no King in Israel Judg. 17.6 every man did what was right in his own eyes We see then the Office of a King is attended with as much burden as Jurisdiction He must encounter with Adversaries For has the holy Oyl been pour'd upon his Head and the Crown setled upon it by Divine Providence which over-rules Nature He that has given him the Crown gave the Sword also to secure and guard it and as it was Judah's Prerogative to
sway the Royal Scepter so also to yield Protection for the King is Custos utriusque Tabúlae Defender of the Faith and a Nursing Father to the Church And the Princely Power and Soveraign Authority with God's Blessing may still preserve the true and ancient Constitution both of Church and State from Anarchy and Disorder from Popish Superstition and Fanatical Faction For the King has his Authority over us from Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord sets up Kings saith the Father And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kings are from God says the Heathen Therefore I must be subject purely out of Conscience for the Lord's sake The Religion of the Church of Rome like the Laws of Draco are written in Blood and advanced by Policy and propagated by Violence their Vow of Poverty is such as to covet Kingdoms their Humility is such that they tread upon the necks of Emperours their Charity is such as to kill Kings making black TREASON a glorious Act and to merit the brightest Crown of Immortality and highest Seat in Heaven Whereas Christianity never used the Sword the Kingdom of Heaven is another kind of Warfare Christianity came attired into the World with the white of meekness 2 Cor. 10.4 humility and patience Christ the Prince of Peace never pull'd the Crown from any Prince's head but commands the payment of all Duties to Caesar and acknowledgeth Pilate's power to be from above Nay when our blessed Lord had power with his Ego sum to strike all his Adversaries to the ground or caused Legions of Angels to have stood in his just defence to revenge the injury of the People the violence of the Souldiers Mat. 26.53 Joh. 19.15 Mat. 27.27 28 29. Luke 23.11 Mark 15 15. the scorn of Herod the judgment of Pilate yet he yielded himself patiently to suffer to teach all his Disciples that resistance is an affront to Divine Authority This was the Spirit of the great Exemplar of our Religion this was the Genius of his Doctrine and his practice Nor did any of his Followers ever rebel against their Prince usurp the State or disturb the Government and though it was their unhappy Fate at first to be accused as Factious and Seditious yet none were better Subjects nor testified their Allegiance more to Authority S. Paul in the days of Heathen Persecution and Tyranny lays down this Hypothesis There is no Power but of God the Powers that be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are ordained of God If Religion be pretended an Heathen must not be resisted If Tyranny 't is damnation to oppose a Nero. They that resist shall receive Rom. 13.1 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wrath and judgment of God saith the Apostle This made the Primitive Christians those noble Spirits where they could not comply to suffer and thought it the greatest piece of devotion to be patient under all oppositions They were so far from conspiring into tumultuous Combinations that they freely offered themselves to the fury of their Enemies and quietly suffered all extremities of death and torment chusing rather to be crown'd Martyrs for Religion than be punished as Traitors for Rebellion It was not disability * Si hostes exertos agere â—â—llemus non deesset nobis vis â—â—merorum copiarum Vestra omnia implevimus urbes insulas castella municipia conciliabula castra ipsa tribus decurias palatium senatum sorum Cui bello idonei non promâ—ti suissemus etiam impares copiis qui tam libenter trucidamur Si non apud istam disciplinam magis occidiliceret quà m occidere Tertul. but duty not want of money or Martial prowess but a reverend regard to Imperial Majesty as commanded by God caused them not to avenge themselves The ancient Martyrs in saddest days as Tertullian tells us in his Apologetical Defence of Christians had courage to say to their greatest Adversaries Cruciate torquete damnate atterite probatio est innocentiae nostrae iniquitas vestra Rack us torture us do with us what you will or what you can your iniquity is but the proof of our innocency you think to weary out the Saints of the most High Dan. 7.25 by inventing of greater torments but the Sect ‖ Exquisitior quaeque crudelitas vestra illecebra est magis sectae nostrae plures efficimur quoties morimur Tertul. Apol. of Christians is the strangest Sect that you ever read of it is allured by those miseries whereby others are terrified S. Cyprian writing to Demetrianus the Governour of Africa and Christian Persecutor God saith he is the revenger of his Servants when they are annoyed therefore none of us resists nor avengeth * Nemo nostrûm quando apprehenditur nec se adversus injuriam vestram quamvis nimius copiosus sit noster populus ulciscitur Odisse non licet nobis sic Deo placemus dum nullam pro injuria vicem reddimus S. Cypr. ad Demetr himself of your unjust violence though our people are numerous and able to do it The innocent rest content with their undeserved punishments and tortures and thus we please God the more whilst we retaliate no injury ‖ Euseh Eccles Hist l. 8. c. 9. Eusebius tells us That in the Dioclesian Persecution in Thebais which was none of the greatest Countries of Africa were slain by various methods of cruel death so many that the Executioners were tired out In the time of Trajan also Tiberius the President of Palestine gives this relation in his Letter to the Emperor I am weary with punishing and destroying the Galilaeans who are called Christians according to your Majesties Command It was the inspired patience and courage of these great †The World admires the Lacedaemonians and Romans and they that had courage in any Age or place to dye for their Country they were so esteem'd by the Heathens that they had Statues erected Pictures ingraven Titles of Honour inscribed the World doing what it could to make their Names immortal how much better to suffer for Christ What Soul would not desire to have his Name inrolled in that Catalogue among the Cloud of Witnesses who wander'd up and down destitute afflicted tormented were stoned slain with the Sword sawn asunder yet not accepting deliverance on unworthy terms because they looked for a better resurrection Heb. 11.35 37. Heroes that blunted the very edge of Persecution to tire as the hands so the wits of their Tormentors to turn their pity at their suffering into envy at their patience to hug their Stakes as so many horns of the Altar letting fall * Magni animi est injurias despicere Sen. de Ira l. 2. c. 32. Absit itaque à servo Christi tale inquinamentum ut patientia majoribus tentationibus praeparata in frivolis excidat Tertul. de bon pat not so much as a tear lest it might quench some sparkle of that fire wherein they were with Elijah to ride to Heaven as in a Chariot ignis
igni remedium 't was this fire of holy Zeal and Christian Loyalty or Charity which out-burn'd that of Malice and Envy And in the midst of the fiercest flames that Barbarism and Cruelty could invent paid the Tribute of a peaceable subjection to their Murderers and made unforced acknowledgments of the Right they had to their obedience And the Church of England teaches no other Doctrine than what was taught by the Prophets and Apostles themselves i. e. Obedience and Submission to Kings and Governours In the Prophecy of Obadiah they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saviours or Deliverers In Ezekiel's language they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shepherds to feed and rule the People In S. Paul's they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God's Ministers nay Elohim Exod. 22.28 Gods by Office and Deputation to govern the affairs of men on Earth The Apostles also charged those whom they employ'd in setling of the Churches to put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers Tit. 3.1 and to obey Magistrates And S. Peter's Exhortation is Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 not only unto the King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as supreme but unto Governours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as being sent by him Rebellion then is as the sin of Witchcraft and Disobedience as the iniquity of Idolatry 1 Sam. 15.23 For whosoever disobeys the Viceroy affronts the Soveraign they fight against God and attempt to cross the Decrees of Heaven and frustrate the Counsel of the most High who says Prov. 8.15 By me Kings reign And it is the assertion of Plato That a Kingdom is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Divine Good which imprints on our minds a double instruction to Fear God and Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 First to adorn the Christian Religion with holiness and piety of life It is Religion that ennobles man erects his affections and estates him in a happiness above Nature alters his very being and puts him in opposition to what he was before Religion is the most effectual instrument to reform mens lives and bring them into an hatred of their vices which all Moralists especially the Pythagoreans after all their industry despaired of What Reports Diogenes Laertius and Valerius Maximus make of Polemus the Convert of Zeno are but mean and low things if compared with the Acts and glorious Success of Christianity whose virtue and influence upon mens Consciences inables them to subdue Self overcome their Vices check the impetuous force of their Passions and withstand their own carnal and sensual Inclinations the greatest and most noble Conquest As the Lustre of Christianity was thus bright and glorious in the Primitive Constitution so was the honour of its Professors that they were of such piety and integrity that their Adversaries confessed that their Religion was their only ruine Let us therefore be so stedfast in our Religion unshaken in our Faith so constant in our Devotion and holy and unspotted in our Lives that Wisdom may be justified not only of her Children but Enemies also which lays the greatest obligation on us to live the most holy and religious life towards God For were we more holy and righteous in our ways and did we walk in newness of life we should more convince the World of the Truth of our Religion Psal 93.5 Holiness saith the Psalmist becomes O Lord thine house for ever No garment becomes the Church so well as the garment of Holiness It is Sanctity that is the Churches Glory It is the Ephod of Purity that is the Churches Excellency Our first Creation set before us as Hieroglyphicks before the Egyptians whose very Shapes and Figures were Doctrinal and by a kind of Oratory preach'd the Spectators Duty What else means the Image of God in the Soul but that it might continually act and work according to the Pattern viz. Godliness after whose Likeness it was created according to Holiness and Perfection which it brought down from Heaven that reflecting still upon the same Image it might be holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 For a holy life and Christian works are the very way to the glorious Vision and Fruition of the great God in an everlasting blessed Life Therefore Fear God Rom. 6.22 and honour the King which is the best Christian practice and brings me to the next gradation in our Discourse viz. to crown our Zeal with Loyalty to the King for he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wears Gods Image and beautifies the World * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. ad Praefect indoct Dei enim imaginem habet Rex sicut Christi Episcopus S. Aug. Vet. Test quaest 35. with Order and Government whereby so many millions of men do breathe the life of peace and comfort For sooner might a heap of Ants be brought to an uniformity in motion and those little bodies that play up and down the Air in a careless posture to a regularity than the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or popular sort if they were not held in by the reins of Government whither would the fury of mens passions lead them if they were not bounded with Authority if the rapacity of these Orbs were not slack'd by the course of the higher Spheres and subdu'd to an awful subjection Religion would quickly feel a heavy Destiny and the World be drown'd in blood as it was once in water The Sword of Authority is put into the hand of the King by Almighty God To the like sense also is that of Nestor to Agamemnon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jove lent thee thy Scepter and Jurisdiction On this account speaks Themistius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God sent Regal Power from Heaven Holy Athanasius also confesseth the Power of Kings to be of God and their impiety not to be punish'd by man Ad Antioch quaest 55. Sicut in toto mundo Deus Rex est Imperator potestatem exercet in omnibus As God is King and Emperour over all the World and exerciseth his Power in all Creatures so the King and Prince is over all earthly men The Lord saith Athanasius Athanas apud Epiphan Haeres 68. to Constantine judge between thee and me since thou givest way to my false accusers against me Let us send our prayers and tears saith S. Cyprian * Mittamus precâ—s lachrymas cordis ad Deum legatos S. Cypr. lib. 4. Epist 4. to the persecuted Christians as Messengers and Ambassadours of our hearts unto God Lactantius speaking of Obedience to Princes says They are to be defended not by killing but by dying not by cruelty but by patience Gregory Nazianzen lived under five Emperours Constantius Julianus Valens Valentinianus and Theodosius in all which time he could find no remedy against the Tyranny Heresie and Apostasie of Princes besides prayers and tears speaking of Julian's * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nazian in Julian