know how to use them unless it be to break their heads with them whom Christ hath set as stewards in his houshold These rustick and rash undertakers to reform and controul all are onely probable to shipwrack themselves and many others and the whole Ship of this Church by driving the skilful Pilots the true Bishops and Ministers from the Helm and putting in their places every bold Boatswain and simple Swobber Yet are the populacy flattered by some to this dangerous insolency and error who putting fire to this thatch instead of the Chimney do but provoke the poor people to their own hurt to forsake their own mercies and to injure both their own and others souls Mean time sober and wise Christians cannot but smile with shame sorrow and indignation to see how some Plebeian Preachers who are new risen as from the slime of the earth in whom no Prometheus hath breathed any spark of heavenly fire of spiritual divine and truly ministerial power to see I say how these Teachers have brought themselves by a voluntary humility to depend on peoples suffrages and charity not onely for maintenance but for their very Ministry being now sunk so low as to flatter their good Masters with this paradox or strange principle That they as the people or body be they never so few and mean have a reciprocal power to beget those who are to be their Spiritual Fathers that by a more than Pythagorean Metemphycosis the Power Spirit and Authority of Jesus Christ who was sent by his Father John 20.21 and so sent his Apostles and they others in the same Spirit to be Fathers Pastors Rulers Stewards c. That at length this Spirit and Authority should transmigrate we know not how nor when into the very mass and bulk of common people if they be but Christians of the lowest form animating them in the whole and in every part or parcel of them with such plenitude of Church power as enables them to be all Kings and Priests Pastors and Teachers Prophets and Apostles if need be and if they list and if they have leisure or if not to act so in their own persons having more profitable employments yet they have virtually and eminently in them as much power as Christ had and used or left to any men whereby to consecrate and ordain true Ministers to try and teach those that are to teach them to rule their Rulers to discipline their Shepherds to govern their Governors to turn not onely Religion out of doors but even all Reason Order and Civility upside down rather than not exercise this imaginary power especially if it serve to secular advantages And all this because they are told they are the Church and so may erect all Church power as in them and from them This fancy is able to make a plain Country-Christian stand on his Tiptoes and to bring all his family to see him and his other-like members making up this glorious Body which he calls his Church that they may be witnesses with how much folly and simplicity and clamor and confidence he with his Neighbors examines approves or reproves refuseth or chooseth and ordains all officers and some new fashioned Minister or Pastor Who poor-man must neither Preach nor Pray not eat nor look otherways than pleaseth these sad and silly yet very supercilious pieces of popular pride and itching arrogancy nor can such an hungry and timorous Pastor ever be setled or safe in this Pastoral Authority 26. Common people not fit to manage Church power in chief unless he have the trick of Faction which is still to ingratiate with the major part of this his flock who will otherways as easily push and beat him out of this fold or break all to pieces as ever they admitted him by a profane easiness and popular insolency But I must with less flattery and more honesty tell this Generation of perverse Usurpers this truth which is not unwelcome to sober spirited Christians That the weight of Christianity doth not at all hang on this popular pin which is no where to be found but in their light heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. Or. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Al. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. and heavy hands neither Reason nor Religion since men were redeemed from the barbarity of Acorns Nakedness and Dens ever thought the plebs or common people ought to be all in all if any thing at all either in conferring or managing either Civil or Church power but least of all that part of Church power which is proper for the making of a Minister in the way of due Ordination of which I shall after give a fuller account For this is that to which they generally have least proportion either of knowledge learning holiness or discretion Besides it would thence follow that so soon as any Sect or Faction of people can get but numbers and courage they may do what they list in this plenitude of power without the leave of Magistrates or Ministers in Church or State These are pestilent principles which are not onely pernicious to the Church but to any civil Societies threatning not our faith onely but our purses and throats Nor did ever any wise men what ever is pretended at any time to amuse the people and to serve an occasion intend or suffer the community or vulgar people with their massie bodies and numerous hands really to attain use or enjoy any such supreme power in civil administrations If once soverain power be gotten though by the means of such credulous assistants yet whatever the populacy may flatter themselves with it never is nor can wisely and happily be managed by them but rather without them above them and many times against them Power precarious that is such as depends upon a popular principle or plebeian account such as sometime was among the Grecian State and Romans is for the most part but an Empire of beggery or flattery or falsity Where at best wise and valiant men may oft be forced to prostrate themse ves to the arbitrement of the vulgar who are injurious esteemers and ungrateful requiters even of the most publick merits But oftentimes the peoples pretended power and interest is made use of in specious terms and cunning agitations onely to serve the turn of turbulent ambitious and factious spirits in Church and State whose envy or ambition easily teacheth the credulous community to esteem the over-meriting of the best men and Magistrate◠to be their greatest oppression and most deserving Ostracism banishment or disgrace Per paucorum hominum virtute crevit Imperium Salust Rom. 13.4 The Life of Government and Soul of Dominion is that real power and resolution which is in the hand of one or more wise and potent men who are always intent to deserve well of the people yet always able to curb and repress their insolency and inconstancy Without this
hath brought forth If the honour and order of the highest branch the Episcopall eminency had been preserved with it Not so as to over-drop and oppress all other boughs and branches which are of the same root but so as to adorn them all and to be most eminent in Christian graces and Ministeriall gifts no less than in priority of place superiority of power and amplitude of honour and estate As many Excellent Bishops both antient and modern were against whose incomparable worth while some young and petty Presbyters do scornfully declame and disgracefully insult they appear like so many Jackdaws perking on the top of Pauls steeple or like living Dogs snarling at and trampling upon dead Lions Petulantissima est insaniae paucorum malorum odio in bonos omnes dehacâ—hari Nor do indeed such impotent tongues and miserable partialities of some men tuned to the most vulgar ears and humours against all even good Bishops and against a right or regulated Episcopacy such as was for the main and substance here in England they do not in any sort become men that pretend to any true piety learning gravity or civility I neither approve nor excuse the personall faults of any particular Bishops as to the exercise of their power and authority which ought not in weighty matters to be managed without the presence counsell and suffrages of Presbyters such as are fit for that assistance The neglect of this St. Ambrose and St. Jerom and all sober men justly reprove as unsafe for the Bishops the Presbyters and the whole Church For in multitude of counsell is safety and honour too Rom. 11.14 I am sure much good they might all have done as many of them did whom these touchy times were not worthy of No wonder if the very best of them displeased some mens humours who were impatient to be kept any longer in order but like waters Hieron Communi concilio Praesbyterorum Ecclesiae regebantur Concilio Carthag 4. c. 3. Nil faciat Episcopus c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not other Concil Ancyran assisted the Bishop in government long pent up they sweld to such discontents as disdaining to pass the allowed bounds and floudgates of publick Lawes they resolved to blow up and bear away the whole head and sluce of Government Bishops had three Enemies to contend with some Presbyters ambition some Laymens covetousness and their own Infirmities And it may be Bishops faults had been less in some mens eyes if their estates and honours had not been so great I write not thus to reproach any of my Fathers or Brethren the Ministers who begin many of them no doubt to be of my mind for moderate Episcopacy if they have not alwayes been so finding that the fruit of the Summer doth not alwayes answer the blossoms of the Spring cruell frosts may nip and blast those pregnant hopes of bettering which men are prone secretly to nourish whereby to excuse or justifie their desires of change and novely In which truly I never saw any thing of right reason or religion produced for the extirpation of primitive Episcopacy The main things that pressed upon it were Forein power domestick pride the failings of some Bishops the envious angers of some Presbyters and the wonted inconstancy of the vulgar If any men Ministers or others are as loth to see and recant their excesses and errors as they were forward to run into them but still resolve to keep that partiall bias on their judgement which shall sway all their learning and other excellent Ministeriall gifts against their own true interests and this Church with all reformed Religion which consisted in due moderation and peace I shall yet with my pity of their wilfulness or weakness alwayes love and reverence what I see in them of Christ and only wish that temper and moderation from them which may most contribute in common to the vindication of the Order and Function of learned grave and peaceable ministers This they may at last easily see That every soft gratification of vulgar ignorance envy and inconstancy set forth with the forms of zeal and reformation is usually returned with vilifyings and diminutions of their betters who did vouchsafe to flatter them as if they indeed feared them I heartily wish a greater harmony a sweet moderation and Fraternal accord among all true and godly Ministers who dare to own and do still adorn their office and calling I should be glad to see the counsell and assistance of well setled Presbyters crowned with the order and lustre of Episcopall presidency which was antiently as the Jewel wel set in a ring of Gold or as a fair guard and handle to a good Sword adding to its compleatness comliness and usefulness Alas the ordinary Ministers seem now like younger brethren who sometimes lived handsomly under their Fathers or elder Brothers care and inspection so scattered and divided that they are extremely weakned and exposed to all injuries Pro. 16.18 Pride goes before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall yea many of them like Prodigall sons having riotously wasted their own and their Fathers portion begin to consider what husks of popular favour they may feed on So is Insolency the high way to indigence and arrogancy soon knocks at the dore of contempt Ministers must not wonder or repine at the measure they measured to others when offered to themselves Secundas habeat poenitentiae tabulas qui non habuit primas impeccantiae Amb. I am far from reproaching any mens defeats or Calamities wherein the Justice of divine vengeance is seen retaliating I am glad if the occasioners of our common shipwrack may have any fair planks or rafters to save themselves and the honour of their Ministry either by recanting the errors of their judgements or repenting the transports of their manners If they retein their Antiepiscopall opinion with modesty and charity yet I am not disposed to fly in any godly mans face because he is not exactly like me or to pull out his eyes Multa tolleramus quae non probamus Aust because they are not just of the colour of mine I pray to be of that Christian temper for moderation and charity which can allow many latitudes of Prudence in extern things of religion where no evident sins for their immoralities nor evident errors against the fundamentals of Christianity nor evident confusions against charity and order which is necessary for the Churches peace do appear I wish that while Ministers or other Christians differ in things of extern mode and order they may all find and walk in that holy way by which we may with one shoulder of truth and charity carry on that great work of saving Souls both our own and those that hear us that while we dispense saving truths to others we may not for want of humility and charity be cast-aways our selves More of those calming and moderating graces on all sides had no doubt preserved both Bishops and
assertion That no part of the Catholike Church of Christ in any age or place was ever setled or flourished without a constant peculiar Order and Ordination of Ministers who were consecrated to the receiving and exercise of that power in the Church as from Christ although by man which have continued to this day Theodoret. hist l. 1. c. 22. De Aedesio Frumentio apud Indos dâ—vina Ministeria â—bierunt Laicii cum erant Frumentius postea ab Athanasio ep factus Cap. 23. Captivamulier apud Iberos Evangelium praedicabet miracula edebat His Const M. Episcopos misit There are indeed three or four examples in cases extraordinary of some private unordained Christians in the Primitive times who occasionally trading to Heathens were means first to teach them the Mysteries of Christ so as they desired to be baptized which was after done by such Bishops and Ordained Ministers as were sent them upon their request from other Churches To produce particulâ—r testimonies out of each Author Father Council and Historian in every age to prove the constant succession the high veneration and the unfeigned love which was every where conferred upon the Bishops and Ministers of the Church also to shew forth that devout care and religious regard which the ordainers the faithful people and those to be ordained to the office had in their several relations and duties when Ministers were to be ordained and consecrated such allegations were easie being very many and obvious but I hold the pains needless considering that to learned men they are so well known and all ingenuous Christians will believe my solemn asseveration that as in the presence of God what I write is Truth As for those weak or wilful men who are in this my onely opposers I know they consider not any heaps of authorities which they account onely as humane which they cannot examine nor do they value them when convinced of the certainty and harmony of them were there never so sweet and many flowers gathered from the testimony of Antiquity and Authority of the Fathers these supercilious novellers will not vouchsafe to smell to them It is well if I can make them savor any thing well out of the Scriptures which favors the Function of the Ministry 4. Catholike custom confirmed by Scripture as to the Office of the Ministry 2. So then in the next place This Defence of the Churches clear constant and Catholike Testimony in this point of the peculiar Office of the Ministry as in any other becomes a brazen wall an impregnable bulwark able to break in pieces or to retort all engines and batteries made against it when it appears to be exactly drawn according to the scale line and measure set down in the holy Scripture which are therefore much sleighted by some who despise the Ministry because like well-planted Canons they defend the Church and its constant Ministry as on the other side the Churches fidelity and constancy are the ground-work and platforms on which the Scriptures are planted 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of Christ bearing up as the ground and holding forth as a pillar that divine Truth Power and Authority which from God they have in them of which the Church is the Herald or Publisher but not the Author or Inditer Conferring nothing to their internal Truth which is from their revealer and inspirer God but much to their external credit and historick reception which we have tendered to us daily not as immediately from God or Angels or inspired Prophets but by the veracity and fidelity of the Church chiefly in its publick Ministry which in this point of so necessary constant and universal practise for the good of all faithful people in all Ages and Churches cannot be thought in any reason either to have had no rule divinely appointed or that all Churches have been wholly ignorant of it or knowingly have so wholly swerved from it that never any Church either in its Teachers and Pastors or in its people and believers were followers of the Scripture-Precept and Patern till these last and worst days whereas the clear and pregnant light of the Scripture is in this point of a setled Ministry so agreeing with the use and practice of the Catholike Church that as no error can be suspected in the one so no obscurity can be pretended in the other by any Christians who will allow the divine Authority and infallible Truth of those Scriptures which we call the New Testament In all which nothing is more evident Christ sent of the Father as a Minister of Righteousness 1 Pet. 2.25 Heb. 12.2 Matth. 17.5 Jâ—hn 4.34 5.36 6.57 7.16 Heb. 5.4 No mantaketh this honor to himself but he that is called of God as Aaron V. 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest but c. Matth. 3.17 and self-demonstrating beyond any cavil or contradiction than That our Lord Jesus Christ the promised Messias the beloved Son of God the Angel of the new and better Covenant the Minister of Righteousness the great Apostle the chief Bishop and Father of our souls the Author and Finisher of our Faith the supreme Lord and King the eternal and compassionate High Priest the unerring Prophet of his Church whose voice we are onely to hear and obey in all things he commands us That I say this Lord Jesus Christ was sent by the Father to a personal accomplishment of all Prophecies fulfilling of all righteousness to a visible Ministration of holy things for the Churches good That he came not in his own Name as a man to be Mediator and Teacher nor did he as a man take this honor of Prophet Priest or King of his Church upon him but had his mission or appointment from his Father God who gave evident testimonies from Heaven of him not onely before and at his birth but afterward at his solemn and publick inauguration by Baptism into the Work of his Ministry where a voice from Heaven was heard and a visible representation of the Holy Spirit was seen testifying him to be the beloved Son of God the anointed with the gifts of the Spirit above all as Head of the Church These after were followed with infallible signs and wonders while Jesus went about doing good teaching the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven instituting holy rites for the distinguishing of his Church from the world and for the comforting of the faithful in the world by those seals pledges and memorials of his love in dying for the Church and shedding both water and blood upon the Cross Christs sending his Apostles as Ministers Acts 1. Phil. 2.9 Christ having thus personally finished the suffering and meritorious part of his Ministry after his Resurrection being now no more to converse in a visible humane way of presence with his Church on Earth but ascending as was meet to that glory of the Father which as God he had ever with him as man he had
sincere amendment of them hence it brings to a quiescency and comfort in no way but such as is conform to the Word of Christ burning with an unfaigned charity toward all men most fervently to the Churches service and welfare with an * In humili spiritu pura mente spaciose habitat immensus Deus high esteem of the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ his Institutions and Ministry his Word and Spirit and Grace with a gratefull value and high respect of those * Phil. 3.7 1 Thes 15.12.12 13. Heb. 13.17 by whose Ministry they have been called baptized taught converted and are still guided in the paths light and breathings of the Spirit to the hopes of salvation the blessed expectation of which in Christs way raiseth them up many times to high yet holy resolutions to deny themselves and suffer any thing for Christs sake and the testimony of the Truth These and such like I conceive are the best fruits of Gods Spirit which are not the lesse excellent because they are common Gods children are not oft entertained with novelties and never pleased with such new toyes and ratles or hobbey horses in Religion which some men bragge of The wandering clouds which some mens fancies exhale of spirituall Motions and Manifestations beyond plain and ordinary Christians either for private comfort Iude 12. or for publique benefit are for the most part without water they darken but moisten not the Church or the soul they have so much of earthy or fiery exhalations in them that they have little of the dew of heaven with them Nor may they without great injury and high indignity be imputed to the Spirit of Christ Nor doe such sorry flowers which grow in every dunghill adorn the Garden of God the Soul or the Church not justly crown any with the most honourable name of holy or spirituall Which titles vain men much affect and boldly challenge sober and humble Christians do earnestly desire and seriously endeavour to merit Being an honour so farre above the naturall capacity of sinfull mortality that nothing but a Divine bounty and supernaturall power can conferre the Truth of that Beauty which is in holinesse and the right to that glory which is in every True Saint who are often hid as orient Pearles in rough shels in great plainnesse lowlinesse and simplicity which makes such as are truly Saints and spirituall as ashamed to challenge the name as they are afraid to come short of the grace Studying not applause and admiration from men but the approbation of a sincere and good conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 Iam. 1.17 Him they look upon as the father of every good and perfect gift the sender of the blessed Spirit by the due Ministry of the Word into mens hearts The searcher also of all hearts and tryer of the spirits of men far beyond what is set out in paints and outward appearances of extraordinary gifts of the Spirit under which mask and disguises Achitophel Heb. 4.13 and Jehu and Judas and Simon Magus and the sons of Sheva and Demas and the self-made Prophetesse Jezebel and Diotrephes all false Christs false Prophets and false Apostles all true Antichrists and true Ministers of Satan grievous Wolves studied to appear and did so for a while till the Lord stirred up the Spirit of discerning in his true Ministers and true Saints Which Spirit of Wisdome teacheth us to measure and judge of spirituall gifts and true holinesse 6. Reall power of the Spirit how discerned 2 Tim. 3 5. not by bare and barren forms but by the power and practise of godlinesse not by soft-expressions and gentle insinuations or melancholy sowrenesse and severer brows not by Ahabs sackcloth or Jehus triumphs or Pharisaick frownes Not by bold assertions lowd clamours confident calumnies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 teâ—ico aut tristi vulus vultuosi Pharisai Simplicissima est spiritus sancti virtus sine suco sine fraude omnia agit nulli gravis piis suavis omnibus utilis Ber. Nil tamâ— metuit quam ne dubitare de aliqua re videretur de Vellcio Quomodo certissimi esse possunt quum nihil certius est quam certos illos non esse de salute Ber. Certi non sunt qui solliciti non sunt Cyp. Sola integra fides secura esse potest Tertul. de Ba. precipitant zeal audacious adventures successefull insolencies Not by heaps of Teachers popular Sermonings long Prayers wrested Scriptures crowds of Quotations high Notions Origenick Allegorizings Not by admired Novelties vulgar satisfactions splendid shews of Religion empty noises of Reformation Nor yet by arrogant boastings uncharitable despisings confident presumptions hasty assurances proud perswasions pretended Revelations fanatick confusions All these either in affected Liberties or Monastick rigors oft bear up mens fancie of the Spirit and sanctitie like bladders meerly by their emptinesse Nothing being more prone to dispose a vain mind to fancy strongly that it hath Gods Spirit than the not having it indeed * 2 Tim. 3.13 Deceiving and being deceived To make men presume they are Saints than the not serious considering what true holinesse is Splendore magis quam fervore delectantur hypocritae Ber. Dum fallunt maxime falluntur and the way of the Spirit of Christ is In its infallible rule the Scripture in its noblest pattern Jesus Christ in its foundation Humility in its beauty Order and Symmetry in its perfection Sincerity in its glory Love and Charity in its transcendent excellency the Divine Nature The Devils Piracles are made as much by the frauds and fallacies of hanging out Gods colours the flags of the Spirit Hypocritae sanctitatis tineae cui adhaerere videntur v stâ—m tu piter viciant remedia in morbos sanctitatem in crimen vertunt Chrysost and shews of holinesse as by the open defiances of persecution and batteries of profanenesse Delusions in Religion as Dalilahs charms on Samson are oft stronger than the Philistins force against the Church Else our blessed Saviour would not have so carefully fore-warned and fore-armed his little flock against those grand Impostors whose deceit is no lesse than this * Luk. 17.21 Loe here is Christ and there is Christ As if he were no where in England or in all the former Catholick Church but only in the corners and Conventicles of new Donatists Loe here is Christ a most potent and plausible pretention indeed able by its native force and mans credulous frailty to deceive even the very Elect Mark 13.22 whom would it not move and tempt strongly to hear of a new Christ in New lights and new Gospels new Church wayes new Manifestations new Ministry and new Ministers Yea to heare of a Christ without means above means beyond the Scriptures deadnesse the old Sacramentall forms the Ministeriall Keyes and Authority Christ in the Spirit risen from the grave of dead duties of expired Ordinances and from the Carkuses of ancient Churches A
maintenance and by so spoiling and distressing the Ministry he shall be sure to pillage and lay waste in a short time Answ 1. The vilenesse and sordidnesse of such spirits all the reformed Religion and face of any Church in England This thirsty and covetous Divell is the eldest son of Pluto Beelzebubs Steward a perfect hater of the true God a servant of Mammon the very ghost of Nabal a child of darknesse an enemy to all saving light so deformedly black that he is ashamed to shew his face but under the veil of religious and reforming pretences his envious eyes Matth. 26.8 like Judasses cannot endure to see any costly effusions which the devout and liberall piety of former times have powred upon the heads of Christ and his Ministers which some men would now make to be but an Omen vers 12. or presage that their death and buriall is not far off The envy and anger of these Antiministeriall adversaries is dayly and lowdly clamorous in speech and pamphlets To what purpose is this waste might not the Glebes and Tythes be sold and better imployed when there are so many frugall undertakers who are able and willing to preach the Gospell gratis who would be no burthen to the people Joh. 12.6 Non nulli pari dolere commoda aliena ac suas injurias metiuntur Tacit. hist 1. 2 Cor. 2.16 Maâ— 3.8 Not that Judas cared for the poore nor these for the people but because he was a thief c. What these envious objecters will be time will best shew at present their eyes are evill because other mens have been good and as by an ignorant confidence they contradict the Apostles question Who is sufficient for these things so by a sacrilegious ingratitude they hasten to answer the Prophets question or rather the Lords Will a man rob God Yes these projectors for Atheism Barbarity and profanenesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is Pel. l 3. Ep. 24. would fain perswade this whole Nation to join with their cruell and covetous design to rob so many honest men and able Ministers of that maintenance which their learning and labours merit which they have a right to as by law so by the possession of many hundred years that so they may at once rob this Church of the blessing of the true Christian reformed Religion and rob God also of that honor and holy service which both privately and publiquely is done to him by thousands of his servants the Ministers of this Church It is no wonder if those that grudge at the cost bestowed on Christ meditate to betray him and had rather make a benefit or save something by his death than see any thing bestowed on him while he lives though it be by others bounty For alas what these men grudge at as given to Ministers is little or nothing out of their own purses or estates Nor is it given by them to Ministers any more than the rent they justly pay to their Landlords Isai 52.5.6 But what can vile men meditate save onely vile things Sacriledge against the light of Nature Jer. 2.11 Plato calls Sacriledge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De leg c. 9. And indeed what can be more sordidly vile or should bee more strange and lesse named among those that are called Christians and reformed too than such degenerations from the very dictates of nature and the common sense of all Nations Hath any nation changed its gods And if they retained them as Gods did ever any Nation rob and spoil their gods which yet were not gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polyb. l. 6. Ask among the heathen and let them teach these unchristian spirits was it not always esteemed among men as an act of piety and honor and vertue to devote any thing to the service Facultates numini sacratas nulla lex nullas casus facit caducas Sym. m. V. and worship of their Gods as a thankfull acknowledgement of that homage they owed and that dependence they had on the divine bounty Was it not likewise counted in all times a most * Act. 19.37 impudent and flagitious villany to take take away any thing rightly dedicated to divine and holy uses So far the very light of nature taught men to abhor such execrable theeveries and rapines that it was by the * Sacrum sacrove commendarum qui dempserit rapseritve paricida esto Leg. 12. Tab. Soli cum Diis sacrilegi pugnant Curt. l. 7. Romanes esteemed as paricide or murther of parents worse then Treason a fighting against God It was esteemed an high ingratitude not to devote and and dedicate something how much more to alien or take away from Gods service who is the giver of all Now Puniuns sacrilegos Ethâ—ici cum ipsi de deorum potestate diffidunt Lact. Just l. 3. c. 4. why any Christians should take any such liberty against their God which the very heathens abominated and which the primitive Christians never practised but contrarily dedicated many great and rich things to the service of God in his Church which were called Patrimonium crucifixi Donaria fidei Anathemata Dominica Deposita pietatis the pledges of piety the bounty of beleevers Sacrilegio proâ—cimum est crimen laesa majestatis Justini Leg. Jul. Tert. Apol. the donatives of love deposited with Christ a faithful repayer no lesse than an ampler deserver of all things I can see no cause but onely that the divell and evill men have more spite at our Religion in England both as Christian and as reformed than at any other and therefore they envy any thing Irenauâ— l. 4. cap. 34. Origen in Nume cap. 18. hom 11. that may be any means to continue or incourage it And since he could not keep us in Idolatry he tempts us to Sacriledge which the * Rom. 2.22 Apostles question clearly implyes to be a sin equally or more abominable to God The one robbing him of his service by a false worship the other of the meanes dedicated to maintain his true service and worship Theodâ—ret l. 3. cap. 6. Which was one of the desperate projects of Julian against Christian Religion who tooke away the gifts and holy vessels which Constantine the Great had given to the Churches use and Ministers maintenance with this scoffe See in what goodly vessels the Nazaren is served But the great grievance which these men cry out of 2. Against maintenance of Ministers by Tithes and hope will be very taking with tender conscienced covetousnesse is this That the Ministers of the Gospell should have Tithes At these they are scandalized as much as a Jew would be at eating of Swines flesh They are so afraid of turning Jews by paying Tithes to Ministers that they had rather turn Turkes by taking quite away both Tithes and Ministers Matth. 23 2â— How well doth our blessed Saviours severity fit these mens hypocrisies while they strain at the gnat of Tithes and swallow