discipline that they might showe that they were readie and willing to be subiect to it Nay D. Cox a man at that time farre better I thinke then any that refuse subscription and his companie were not admitted to haue voices in the Church of Frankeford vntill they had subscribed to the discipline as others had done before them These holy conscionable refusers to assent to the ordinations that others make are violent exactors of subscription and obedience in a strange countrie at their betters hands to those pettie orders which are of their owne making When Maister Horne was made pastor of the Church at Frankeford he receiued all such persons as members of that Church which were contented to subscribe and to submit themselues to the orders of it A wise course not vnfit for a greater gouernment wherein all men ought to binde themselues some way or other vnto the obedience of those vnder whom they liue Nay if any minister appeale to the magistrate and be found to doe it without iust cause a fault surely lesse then their refusing to subscribe yet then he shall be directly deposed from his ministerie by them Neither was this the practise of those times and in that place but euen at home those men who had neither authoritie to make lawes nor to exact of others allowance of them haue required and had a generall subscription to that discipline which neither scripture wisedome law or themselues could approue vnto vs. So that all those inconsiderate and vnreuerend termes which most of them haue intemperately vttered against subscription are but the violent courses of men that desire to punish and not the charitie of such as should if they had authoritie correct Let them show their affection that they loue our Church and then we will allow them to vtter and aduise what they thinke good In the meane time those false coniecturall effects for which subscription was required as they thinke are but vncharitable deuises of their owne onely to make those in authoritie to be more odious that contempt of their persons breeding disobedience to their gouernment either a generall dissolution may bring a palsey into the Church or else we must onely be ruled by orders of their making Which because neither reason nor experience hath taught vs to be so safe we hold the exacting of subscription to be lawfull and necessarie in those that doe it and the refusall to be daungerous vnholy and vnwarranted in those that are disobedient They which haue labored in their zealous defences to make the world for to thinke otherwise they haue taken vpon them to iustifie themselues with to much loue and to censure our Church with to much rigor But it is like a better consideration will possesse them now when they shall haue small reason to feare either partiallitie or want of vnderstanding to make the chiefe in authoritie either not willing or not able to perceiue their weightie reasons alleaged against those things which they doe mislike But wise men surely haue cause to feare that nothing wil either much or long please them which is not some transformed monster of their owne making So that if any defect be in that statute as they vrge made by our late soueraigne of blessed memorie whereby the refusers may pretend a warrantable excuse for not yeelding by subscription an absolute obedience both to the doctrine gouernment and ceremonies of the Church we hope that now hauing tasted of the sower frutes of their disobedience and seeing without preuention that more daungerous inconueniences are like to follow it will not be thought vnfit either in his maiesties singular wisedome and great iudgement or in the honorable consideration of the whole Parliament is stricter lawes be now made to take securitie by subscribing of the tongues and the hands of these men which so often with so much libertie and boldnes they haue wilfully imployed to the hinderance of the Churches peace we demaund but in this what they thinke reasonable in their owne discipline not onely for men but for women to the auoyding of heresies and sects in the Church And if he that hath most learning and hath been most earnest for the alteration of our Church gouernment be able to make demonstration that their hands are required to giue consent to any one syllable either in our ceremonies our liturgy or our discipline which truth will not warrant and obedient humilitie exact from them I doubt not but the Bishops of our land are and will be readie either to giue them satisfaction why they ought to doe it or yeelde vnto their earnest demaunds that it may not be done But if any man thinke that the vrging of this wherein doubtlesse a remisnes in some hath done more hurt then rigor is either to confirme those things which without the allowance of these great refusers to subscribe might peraduenture be thought to want authoritie or that it is meerely a politike inuention besides law whereby the practises of the Bishops and others may be free from reproofe he doth vncharitably misconster a religious ordination for great vse and to the wrong of himselfe sinisterly suspect in both So that we thinke we may notwithstanding their great complaints of cruelâ—ie persecution and tyranny wherewith diuers of their books haue slaundered the most pure peaceable and reformed gouernment that euer this nation had since it was christian giuing occasion to the common aduersarie to write as they haue done of the English iustice safelie conclude that the exacting of subscription vsed by the Bishops in the Church of England is lawfull and neâ—essarie and the refusers are immodest disturbers of the vnitie and peace both of the Church and the Common-Wealth CHAP. VIII Of Discipline SEeing that no societie vpon earth can long without authoritie to correct retaine all her parts in due obedience and that the disorders of none are of more daunger then of that societie which we cal the Church it is of all ciuill considerations the greatest to thinke of that discipline which is best warranted most agreeable to the state of that kingdome where the Church is and in all reason likelyest to obtaine that end for which discipline is allowed vnto Gods house So that herein if either their skill had been so great or their moderation in that busines so much as peraduenture their desire was to doe good doubtles the Church ought in all reason to haue giuen great attention to these careful aduisers and to haue showed her selfe readie with thankfulnes to make vse of those vertuous indeuours religiously imployed for her good But now that they haue obtruded a discipline with that violence and such a one as must quiet ouerthrow both the practise of other Churches and of this in al other ages that haue been before vs nor this as the inuention of wise men not against the word but the expresse commaundemeÌ„t in euery particular of God himself accounting those to
and people and would deuide all liuings among their Elders Decons whom they appoint to be paymasters of their Pastors if either I charge them with vntruth or any indifferent vnderstanding can thinke this not danngerous to the Church and the Commonwealth let their petitions haue successe their complaints haue audience their cause finde fauor and in that one Act let Religion the Prince peace and all vtterly perish I omitt first fruites Tenthes subsides cōtributions of Ecclesiasticall persons all which are graunted by the lawes vnto the Prince of this Land all which by thē are accounted sacriledge and robberie and left wholy to the disposition of their polliticke Consistorie and where as as wee shall haue occasion to handle heareafter some special men in particular cases both in equitie and conscience are to be exemted by priuiledge from those lawes that doe binde all a power only reserued to the Prince himselfe These hould all dispensations vnlawfull and howsoeuer they fauour it in themselues no lesse than superstitious and Antichristian in others A thing doubtlesse of much vse and great necessitie in all kingdomes and of no daunger at all where the King is vertuous Whilst the true consequēts of their false opinions haue taught the world that these and such like derogations of the Kings authoritie haue beene maintained in that vnlearned Schoole they labour to make all men beleeue that Princes haue not more honest Religious and loyall Subiects than they are A thing surely by experience neuer to be found so longe as they haue entered vnder pretence of Religion to become abbaters and disposers of the Kings Reuenewes as if he that were gouernor of the Church and the Commonwealth were bound in dutie by power and reuenewe but to haue care of the Church only a Diminution of all greatnesse is affected by thē that by the disposition of that which they esteeme to be the superfluitie of all States necessarie defences and moderate Ornaments may all faile to make them rich CHAP. II. The Church visible of all other Societies is fittest to haue a Discipline but neuer the same that some men desire TO thinke that either the Church how putrified soeuer the Religion be be in so good a case for gouernment that nothing can either be added or taken away to make it better or that the same societie how much soeuer disordered be to be altered by priuate warrāt is very daungerously and apparantly to erre in both The first being the effect of too much flattery and self loue the latter the daungerous attempt of an insolent presumption both hazardous to that holy Societie whom either they thinke for gouernment to be absolute or absolutely to be gouerned by their owne fancies In these two Errors the difference is this that they first may easily erre in thinking that to be best which Experiēce hath taught them to be good in the latter there is lesse excuse because they mislike all whatsoeuer may not be esteemed to proceede from their owne deuice that there is a gouernment requisite for that Societie which we call the Church the wisdome of God hath made knowen vnto vs both by proportion of those naturall and Ciuill Societies to which the Church is compared and by the perfection of that fellowshippe which the Saints in all ages and places where the true worship of GOD hath preuailed haue had from the foundation of the worlde amongst themselues The first roote of humane Societie as being impossible to continue without order is distinguisht by God himselfe into seuerall degrees and prerogatiues of Husbands Parents Maisters aboue Wife Children and Seruants and yet all linked in the mutuall agreement of like dueties The greater Branches that rise out of these rootes Cities countries and kingdomes are neither destitute of lawes to prescribe nor Magistrats to execute for the common good all receiuing dignitie and strength from this fountaine that by the benefit of Good lawes they are well gouerned If men were of themselues either willing or constant in that which were good It were needles to haue a discipline for all where euery mans vertue were a lawe to himselfe but seeing our corruption is such that we are easily deceiued by our selues more easily seduced by others but most and most daungerously peruerted through feare and desire the one to spurn vs that we goe not too flowe the other to bridle vs that we runne not too fast there is a line both to direct and to amend necessarily limited to all sorts and this in due season lest disorder indured bread confusion the fore-runner of all ruine Seeing then the Church of Christ is the house of God the Citty of the liuing God the kingdome of his beloued Sonne can wee thinke that he is careful for others and carelesse or negligent for his owne or that disorder is lesse daungerous or lesse to be feared in the Church than in the Common-wealth surely hee that in all places is the Author not of confusion but of peace will haue all thinges performed decently and in order for the Gouernment of his Church To this ende hee appointed Stewardes oouer his houshold Watchmen and leaders ouer his flocke laborers in his haruest Husbandmen in his Tyllage and being proportioned to a bodie maketh some to bee Eyes Eares Tongues Handes that is principall members for directing and assistance of the whole without which in all reason it must needes be vnable to prouide for the safetie and securitie of it selfe so that the Honour or happinesse had beene small to haue made it a Church vnlesse this likewise had beene added To haue made it a Church that is well Gouerned for the vnitie of of the Spirit is not kept but in the bande of peace This Regiment of the Church is as well Extelternall as Internall The latter is that gouernment which God hath by his holy Spirit and truth in the hearts of the faithfull which as it is neuer varied so it is not questioned amongest vs in the Church of Englande By this which is the Kingdome of his Sonne all men confesse that GOD inwardly and effectually worketh in his Saintes the Faith of his truth the feeling of his grace and other spirituall blessinges according to the purpose of his will for the praise of his owne Glorie in which no earthly creature is able to ioyne or to concurre with him sauing only in this that the Word and the Sacraments being left as externall meanes there must be fitte persons for both and a power in them to admitte and reiect lest happily holy thinges be defiled whilst Pearles are cast vnto Dogges and Swine From hence ariseth a necessitie of externall Gouernment in Gods Church which respecteth the appointing of meete men and the due approbation of such as are to be credited with the free dispensation of such inestimable Treasures committed to their Charge In this whilst all men agree that it ought and many that are religious are desirous that
A Modest and reasonable examination of some things in vse in the Church of England sundrie times heretofore misliked and now lately in a Booke called the Plea of the Innocent and an Assertion for true and Christian Church policy made for a full satisfaction to all those that are of iudgement and not possessed with a preiudice against this present Church Gouernment wherein the principall poynts are fully and peaceably aunswered which seeme to bee offensiue in the Ecclesiasticall State of this Kingdome The Contentes whereof are set downe in the Page following By William Couell Doctor of Diuinitie Eccles. Chap. 3.1 The children of wisedome are the Church of the righteous and their ofspring is obedience and loue AT LONDON Printed by Humfrey Lownes for Clement Knight and are to be solde at his shop at the Signe of the holy Lambe in Saint Paules Churchyard 1604. The Contents of this Booke Chap. 1 KIngs and Princes haue authoritie and ought to haue care for the Church gouernment page 1 2 The Church visible of all other Societies is fittest to haue a Discipline but neuer the same that some men desire page 13 3 The Censure of a booke called The Plea of the Innocent pa. 25 4 The proceeding of the Reformers wholly vnlawfull pag. 32 5 Of Contention pag. 46 6 Of Ceremonies pag. 55 7 Of Subscription pag. 75 8 Of Discipline pag. 94 9 Of Archbishops and Bishops pag. 103 10 Of Ministers their Office and learning pag. 124 11 Of the maintenance of Ministers and of Tithes pag. 142 12 Of Non Residencie Pluralities and Dispensations pag. 159 13 Of publike prayer and of the defectes supposed to be in the Liturgie of the Church of England pag. 174 14 Of Tolleration of diuers Religions and how farre dissenting opinions from the true Christian faith may and ought to bee permitted in one and the same Kingdome pag. 196 15 An humble conclusion to his sacred Maiestie and the Right Honorable Lords of his Highnesse priuie Councill together with the rest whom it may concerne to defend this Church page 206 Deo omnis Potestas Gloria To the Right Honourable and most Reuerend father in God c. my verie good Lord the Lord Bishop of LONDON ⸫ THe word Right honorable is in great trauell with much euill when she shall be deliuered he onely knoweth who measureth al times with his hand and before whose eye lieth open that bottomlesse aeternitie it selfe The faces of Kingdomes and States according to the prosperitie and aduersitie of the Church amongest them sometimes looke heauily and sometimes chearfully as refreshed with more good Man whose Reason and Religion serueth to number these things feeleth in himselfe a true diuinitie manifested by that pure ambition of being greater than hee yet can bee whilest notwithstanding in the sence and feare of these things hee stoopeth as to a burthen that is too heauâ—e Religious and mature wisedome the safest builders of true greatnesse assureth men in prouidence to preuent the worst things or at least by foresight growing familiar with theÌ„ teacheth how to beare them with much patience fewe Kingdomes there are which haue not eyther more scarres in the Church not fully cured or else greater signes of greater insuing euils than our owne I am loth to be thought to flatter a fault whereunto I am not vsually subiect and a thing needlesse being the greatest hatred from the greatest loue which euerie beareth to himselfe but I may say truly and I doubt not but what I say the world thinketh the greatest part of this good next our dread Souereigne is now without enuie bee it spoken your owne The consideration whereof hath made me out of that infinite loue and duty which I owe to his Grace being dead and your Honour yet aliue to dedicate these labours to you both in the defence of that Church which truth experience her aduersaries haue proued for gouernment the most absolute since the Apostles time That it is vndertaken by me is the greatest disaduantage to this cause that it is continued and daily receiueth strength from authority is amongst infinite blessings the greatest and most vnspeakable of this Church I haue dealt as your Honour well knoweth in this cause with a threefolde disaduantage one that it hath so fully beene handled by so many of great learning heretofore so that at this time a defence was rather requisite to tell those that hope for alteration that our Church is still of the same iudgement and spake not heretofore onely to please that State a second is that the things disliked are not differences of any great learning seeing wee deale with aduersaries whose chiefest hope dependeth vpon the allowance of vnlearned followers so that Demonstrations of reason are more requisite than proofes from authoritie Last of all they are a generation apt and skilfull to speake euill I haue carefully and according to my naturall disposition auoided all occasion that might prouoke them to it yet I looke for no other neither by the grace of God so that this paines may benefit the Church do I much care the strongest tyrant of things and men is fancy the truest gouernour Religion hallowed follies when they are vnmasked are but at the best the weake opinions of simple men of whom notwithstanding if they had learned humilitie and obedience this Church might haue much vse your Lordship is besides that particular duty and thankefulnesse which I owe vnto you executor of his Testament and Inheritour of his vertues that was the true owner and possessor of these labours which if it please your Honour to accept with their vnworthie Author into your more priuate and inward affection It shall bee my happinesse to be your seruant and their credit by your Lordships meanes to doe seruice to this Church Thus in the assurance of this hope crauing pardon for my boldnesse I humbly take my leaue desiring God to blesse you with all Graces fit for so high a place and with contentment and long life to my singular comfort and the especiall benefit of this Church May 27. 1604. Your Lordships in all dutie WILLIAM COVELL To the Christian Reader IF the immoderate desire of reformation in some men had not extended it selfe further than eyther Religion or reason would wel permit and especially at that time when thankfulnesse exacted from vs all something like a Sabbath for that blessed Rest continued to this Church by the meanes of our dread Souereigne this cause and some others not yet published had with their vnworthy authors slept in a long and a charitable silence and whereas the miraculous blessings bestowed and continued vpon this land could no otherwise rightly be vnderstood than the true effectes of that Church which was planted in it seeing as S. Ambrose saith That is Charitie to be expected that is Charitie greater than the Empire if that faith bee inuiolate which preserueth the Empire I thought it vnfit to let these men vnderstand that
without offence to giue you my opinion of the whole Booke it is a verball reiterating of the same things handled and discoursed by some of those with whom by some occasioÌ„ you haue much neernes I speak it not that I thinke you had their helpe for to this their needes none but to shew that the labour might well haue beene spared seeing others with farre better successe had trauelled in that same cause Contradictions there are diuers and all is vnsaid in the last Chapter which before you haue handled in the whole Booke speaches that sauour of slattery too plaine First of the Queene whose worthinesse farre exceeded whatsoeuer you could speake of her but surely you cannot possiblie commend her gouernment who as it seemes by your complaints was no more carefull to haue the Church reformed as you deale with the Queene so you deale with the Councill nay rather than faile you will flatter the Bishops also You reckon vpa true Catologue of their excellent vses in this Church yet notwithstanding if any harme should haue come to our late Queene you threaten a little after to lay it their charge Much like vnto the Author of the demonstration of discipline who saith that the Bishops by their gouernment giue leaue to a man to be any thing but a sound Christian nay your selfe feare not to say which certainly is not true they that were incensed against the Puritanes by the Papists meanes nay you spare not our first Bishops in our late Souereignes time which hauing fledd in Queene Maries dayes were not likely in reason to be fauourers of the Church of Râ—me herevnto I may ad your often repetitions of the same things besides is not this a strang phrase We cannot tell whether we might by the lawes and order of this Realme subscribe although it were otherwise lawfull by Gods word As if the Lawes of this Land could be a restraint for subscribing being warraÌ„ted in Gods word which they so earnestly impose only in this respect because it is so warranted I omitt false English which could not be the Printers fault The principall points which you seeme to handle we will answere God willing in the Chapters following and with this desire rather to finde out the truth than to confute you the one is a dutie but the other can be smale honor Neither are you to thinke me ouer arrogaÌ„t in this ceÌ„sure seeing I may much better doe it to you than you to his Grace whom you ought in all dutie not to haue named but with greater honor hauing shewed vnto you more fauour as yourselfe connot but confesse than many others of your qualitie deserts I will therefore conclude this point saying with that learned man whom I must euer reuerence as he spake of Maister Cartwrights second Reply Let me not liue if euer I sawe any thing writteÌ„ more loosely or almost most Childishly and after much to the same effect the conclusion is this he is alltogether vnworthie to bee confuted by any man of learning Surely there is nothing we doe tast worse thaÌ„ to haue a true censure of those things which oftentimes either out of ignorance or affection are much esteemed which serueth in the ende only to delude our selues and deceiue others but though the flatterie of Parasites doe seeme pleasant yet the wounds of a Louer are much better CHAP. IIII. The proceeding of the Reformers wholy vnlawfull IT falleth oftentimes out in the deliberations of men that where they haue iust reason to desire reformation of that which is faultie the meanes many times to attaine this are in themselues vnlawfull and lesse safe Their arc few Kingdoms which haue not found this to be true both in the Church and the Commonwealth For as in all States the lowest are aptest to reeciue harme and so euer to pretend that they receiue wrong and hauing least iudgment to moderate the sence of euill are most impatient to suffer euill so whilst they become vnskilfull Phisitions to a pub like sicknesse they make vsually the remedie worse than the disease it selfe that there is any kingdome gouerned with so much happinesse wherein the hand of authoritie is carried with that equal tenor that either rewards or punishmeÌ„ts are not or are not thought to bee bestowed by fauour as we scarcely read of any that haue beene before vs so neither can we hope for a better fortune to those that are present or shall succeed heereafter For where true causes of Complaint are wanting vnnecessarie discontentments are readie to make them to seeme true nay the Church it selfe a Societie that hath farre better lawes to gouerne it than any Kingdome seldome gaineth this opinion from all but that some violeÌ„t spirits dare vndertake by orders deriued out of their owne fancies to frame a gouernment that should be more holy and more excellent So that whilst they are earnest conceitours of this forme a forme peraduenture without warrant and therefore in the ende not likely to proue safe they fall a thing vsuall into so great an admiration of their owne creature that any other gouernment be it neuer so profitable and vertuous is despised and in the ende nothing is of power to hinder the building of this Babell but the confusion of tongues So that ReformatioÌ„ by a long continued disteÌ„per which ought to be the care and the conscionable desire of all commeth at the length to be the preposterous and violent misshapen disorder of some few all men hauing this defect by nature that where they haue power to discerne an euill they haue not the vnderstanding to finde out the meanes for to make it lesse the consideration of this as it ought to make those in Authoritie to haue more care and digligence so vndoubtedly it serueth to restraine the vncharitable constructions of priuat men who must not thinke all men to be Hypocrites that are in this case carried with lesse learning and more Zeale for doubtlesse in our Church a great number haue vnfeinedly though without discretion wasted their Zeale and their labour in that cause with much hurt which if they could haue beene so coÌ„tent might haue serued the Church to a better vse But seeing that cause how euill soeuer handled hath found so much fauour euen at their hands who in reason had least cause to allow disorder and that nothing is to be more suspected as euill to be don than that which we finde to be euill donne we will make a short but a true narration of this course which hath beene held from the beginning for the establishment of this gouernment Neither is it fit that the particular ouersigts of some fewe and peraduenture of such as either were or were thought least fit to be imployed in a matter of that momeÌ„t should be any iust exception to that proceeding if men of greater learning and cheefest in that action it had beene carried without violence with much grauitie moderation and Zeale but
the Church of England I would take it vpon my soule so farre as my iudgement serueth that it is much more Apostolicall then the gouernment of any Church that I reade of and if it were not for Prohibitions such peraduenture as good intentions found out and some few hinderances of the Common-law a gouernment without exception more holy and of greater peace For whilst euery man will aduenture to offer vnto the Church fancies of his owne making as H.N. and many others saying loe here is Christ and loe there is Christ we shall stand neede to be put in minde of that caueat goe not after them And whereas the two forciblest reasons to giue any thing allowance in the opinion of men is that it is warranted for the institution and profitable for the vse these politike maisters of the new discipline hauing proued neither yet doe offer both To thinke that if we had this gouernment which doubtles God in his mercie hath thus long kept from vs that then God would blesse our victuals and satisfie our poore with bread that he would cloth our priests with health and his Saints should shout for ioy that it is best and surest for our stare that it would cut of contentions and sutes of law that it would nourish learning that then there would be vnitie in the Church that it would bring strength and victorie and many other benefits like these which is experience of these that haue tried them could as well assure as these mens words doubtles the Church had great reason to thinke of it and yet these are benefits no greater then alreadie by Gods mercie our Church hath inioyed without this But they imitate â—aith a learned and graue man of their countrie those seditious Tribunes of Rome who by vertue of the Agrarian law bestowed the publike goods only to this end to enrich themselues that the Bishops being ouerthrowne they might succeede into their places And a little after it ought especially to be prouided that there be not any high authoritie giuen vnto this presbyterie whereof many things might be said but time will reueale what yet doth lie hid Wherefore saith Gualter writing to the Bishop of London at that time and touching some abuses as they are infinit of this new discipline we are carefully to be vigilant least new heads doe bud out of the wounds of the romish Hydra scarce yet subdued The same author in a letter to Bishop Sands after many troubles procured by this new discipline I hope saith he the frame of it will in short time fall of it selfe considering that many who before had it in admiration are now of themselues become wearie of it Another saith that by the meanes of this discipline the magistrates haue inuaded the Church goods the ministers haue little alowance there is no respect of the studie of diuinitie And another complaining of the disorderly frutes of this discipline saith If you did see the confused state of the Churches of these countries you would say that England and marke it for it is true how bad soeuer were a paradise in comparison to be thought but if these men could haue bin content only to haue praysed their owne without opposition defacing and slaundering the gouernment of our Church we would haue been willing to haue furthered their inioying of so much happines in their owne relmes if the peace and prosperitie of our owne had not been enuied by them whereas now we must tell them and when we haue done the Church shall haue some to performe this dutie to the worlds end that a discipline erected by fancie pollicie consisting vpon parts vnsound disagreeing daungerous in themselues chargeable to parishes without profit derogatorie to Princes banishing Apostolicall Bishops appointed by Christ in one word a discipline new full of crueltie ambition and pride cannot be safely admitted into that Church which is seated in a kingdome where a Prince hath authoritie both ouer the Church and the common-wealth There is no part of it vnanswered that I know our purpose in this is but only to let them see that a church being happely planted and gouerned as ours is they that are strangers are charitably to thinke of vs those amongst our selues ought all to be furtherances of our common peace That sinne out of our dissentions may not grow strong and whilest vnthankfully with Israel we reiect Samuel we haue not either a gouernment that is tyrannous or no Church at all For that prouidence which powreth downe mercies whilest meÌ„ are thankefull raineth downe iudgements for the peoples sinnes Let vs theÌ„ hereafter in sted of filling the world with our clamorous outcries for a new Church gouernment approach the throne of his mercie with praiers for our sinnes that they may be pardoned CHAP. IX Of Archbishops and Bishops IF in the generall dislike which diuers not well aduised haue had toward the ecclesiasticall state in this kingdome things of principall and chiefe vse might haue escaped the vnreasonable and intemperate reprehension of some mouthes neither should a thing of so great necessitie nor a condition and estate both by example and reason so much warranted stand in neede of any defence at this time But seeing amongst those ambitious humors which vnder pretence of an equalitie more then is fit aspire vnto a tyrannous authoritie more then is safe there is nothing lesse willingly indured then the title and authoritie of Bishops which by establishing an order doth frame all parts of the Church to a due obedience and by making seuerall dignities which for order are different do impose a vertuous and humble obedience euen amongst them whose ministerie and ordination is all one we cannot but thinke it a thing vnreasonable in those which demaund it at our hands and great folly in vs if we yeeld vnto it that an office of that vse of that lawfulnes and continuance should be remoued as tyrannous and antichristian in Gods Church onely because it pleaseth the wisedome and violence of some men so to haue it Now as to thinke that the state of the Church might either continew better or continew at all without these is but the strong fancies of some which ouerloue themselues so to maintaine after so long practise of the most auncient Churches that Archbishops and Bishops both for name title and authoritie are lawfull and to the well gouerning of the Church necessarie is but to confesse that order must as wel be a safegard to the church as the common-wealth and that subordination of men in authoritie can be well wanting in neither but if in either surely in that societie farre lesse where disorders in manners are not much fewer considering the number of persons and the errors in opinion are more vsuall and more daungerous and none of these possible with any conuenience to bee remedied but by this meanes In regard whereof being neither safe to trust all without
For in all societies authoritie which cannot be where all are equall must procure vnitie and obedience if vertue will not Now seeing that all men may easily erre that no errors are so daungerous as those which concerne religion the Church should be in a far worse case then the meanest common-wealth nay almost then a den of thieues if it were left destitute of meanes either to conuince heresies or to suppresse them yea though there were neither helpe nor assistance of the christian magistrate without which it were not possible for truth equitie any long time to harbour amongst the sons of men The remedie which in these cases the primitiue Church had when occasion was offered vsed against heresie and iniurie she deriued as well from the promise made by Christs owne words as from the Apostles example in the like case Christ willing them that were grieued by their brethren after the first and second admonition to tell it to the Church And addeth for direction and confirmation of all religious assemblies and conferences where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them and whatsoever you shall binde on earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen Now whatsoeuer is ment here by the name of Church in the reasonable exposition of any to me it is all one to prooue this order that from priuate admonitiō they went to witnesses and from them to assemblies and seeing there must be an end of controuersies amongst men vnlesse we will plucke vp by the rootes all charitie and right when neither priuate perswasion not frendly mediation can appease parties that violently contend what other order could be prescribed but a iudicial hearing and determining of things in question Now because Christ did not set the sword to be the generall and perpetuall rule to gouerne his Church for then without a Prince there could be no Church so consequently there was none either in the Apostles time or three hundred yeeres after though where they beleeue the defence and maintenance of the Church is committed to their charge it must of necessitie follow that either there is no iudge which were the vtter subuersion of all peace when the christian magistrate is wanting or els the pastors and stewards of Christs Church to whom this care is committed must assemble together and with mutuall conference performe those duties to the Church in generall which otherwise they are bound to do to each particular place and person By Gods law what obedieuce and reuerence the father may expect from his owne childe the same or greater must all beleeuers yeeld to the fathers of their faith the one begetteth vs to this life the other to a life that is much better Those then whom Christ hath placed to be watchmen and leaders the light and salt of his Church must not onely warne and guide but also lighten and season in their measure that whole body for when all other failes this onely is left to clense the house of God from vessels of dishonour yea when there were no beleeuing Magistrates to assist the Church this onely was left as the best meanes and after when christian Princes began to protect the truth they neuer had nor can haue safer direction amongst men then by the Synods of wise and godly Bishops Thus a Synod at Antioch about threescore yeeres before the councell of Nice condemned and deposed Paulus Samosatenus for heresie and when he would not yet yeeld to the Church but keepe it by violence vpon complaint to Aurelianus the Emperor though he were a heathen Samosatenus was with extreame shame driuen from the Church by the worldly Prince All countries in all ages haue had the benefit of this not as a thing arbitrarie and left free to those that peraduenture were careles of the Churches welfare but prescribed by sundrie councels as Nice Antioch Constantinople Chalcedon and commaunded by the imperiall lawes in this manner That all the Ecclesiasticall state and sacred rules may with more diligence be obserued we require saith the Emperor euery Archbishop Patriarch and Metropolitan to call vnto him once or twise euery yeere the Bishops that are vnder him in the same prouince and throughly to examine all the causes which Bishops Clarkes or Monkes haue amongst themselues and to determine them so as whatsoeuer is trespassed by any person against the Canons may be reformed So that wee must either cleane reiect Synods a thing doubtles of no small daunger as the times may fall out and make the presbyters in euery parish supreme iudges or else admit some which be no other but the Bishops both to call and to moderate these meetings for in all those Synods which continued in the Church euen when she mas most sharpely pursued by the sworde from the death of the Apostles to the raigne of Constantine they were assembled and gouerned by the Bishops of the chiefe and mother Churches and Cities in euery prouince who by the auncient councels were called Metropolitanes And after when Princes came to imbrace the faith the best meanes they could deuise to procure peace and aduance religion was by their lawes to referre Ecclesiasticall causes to Ecclesiasticall Iudges And least they should be long in strife they charged the Metropolitane to assemble the Bishops of his prouince twise euery yeere there to examine and order what matters of doubt should arise which happely might disturbe the Churches peace Thus the Synode of Rome called by Cornelius against Nouatus consisted of threescore Bishops and many others of the clergie In the councels of Rome vnder Hilarius and Gregorie where foure and thirtie presbyters subscribed after two and twentie Bishops infinit are the examples in this kind which teach vs that neither the Church at any time was or in deed◠can safely be without tempests if Synods want nor Synods can be tightly ordered if the Metropolitans and Bishops should be wanting in them Seeing then they haue this vse if this were all to make that societie able with order to suppresse heresies and redresse wrongs without which doubtles the Church of all assemblies were worst gouerned it ought not to seeme vnreasonable to any that a thing so necessarie and auncient should with honour and reuerence be retained amongst vs. But least the name of Bishops should be offensiue to any as some haue thought it onely the ambitious title of a tyrannous gouernment these that would seeme moderate aduisers to equalitie and humilitie in this case must giue vs leaue to tell them that the name is auncient the office needefull and both so warrantable that they must needes be thought at the least malicious enuiers of the peace and prosperitie of Gods Church who are desirous or can be content that order obserued in the Apostles time and those Churches which were purest and next vnto them should be banished
Euangelist Saint Marke sixe yeeres before Peter and Paul were martyred sixe and thirtie before the death of Saint Iohn in the which there is nothing that can or ought to be misliked This as it is true so it is warranted with much reason for vnlesse we suppose a thing surely not likely if possible all in a presbytery to be men without fault a power to doe harme vnto Christs Church must by this curcular reuolution fall into their hands whom wisedome of election would hardly haue called to that place Besides what men shall worthily suffer whilest they are inferiors there is some likelyhoode they will offer the like when they doe commaund Neither is this to quench ambition as they thinke but to kindle a farre greater in the whole clergie For what we giue vnto one experienced of yeeres tried in gouernment freed for the most part from the passions of young men these without difference propound to all And thus they cure this feuer of ambition by infecting many as if diseases were therefore lesse because moe were sicke For what cannot be inioyed without pride is not easily expected without sinne fruition and expectation of one and the same thing are so neere that neither can be vertuâ—â—s where both are not Neither doe we giue vnto Archbisâ—ops or bishops power or honor by Gods law but what their people must needes yeeld vnto their pastors and presbyters if they will haue any We are not to limit Princes whom they shall vse in councell or to whom they shall commit the execution of their lawes especially such as are made for the Churches good seeing we finde that God hath blest those Princes and kingdomes most where vertuous Bishops haue been admitted to the Princes Councell wherein surely they haue brought a farre greater benefit to the peace and prosperitie of the Church then in reason they could by any other imployment besides Neither was it a meanes for to be idle either in Caluin or Beza both of them fit men for that place that they were both admitted as councellors of that state It cannot chuse but bee great intemperancie in them who haue so dishonorably laboured to deface that dignitie so auncient and of such vse in the Church of God as also to wound euen the best and the worthyest in that place with tearmes farre vnbeseeming as if their vngouerned humors had fully resolued to belch out poyson against all that were thought excellent It pleaseth one of them to censure them all thus Archbishops and Bishops are vnlawfull vnnaturall false and basterdly gouernors of the Church and the ordinances of the diuell Another saith they are in respect of their places enemies to God Much hath the vnwise and immodest dealings of sundrie in our Church labored to dishonor so honorable and so great an office experience hath taught vs the good of them and to these we onely make this answere that wee are sorrie to see them so skilfull and so willing to speake euill But doubtles it is loue to our present state which hath made them so zealous in this cause for saith one If we be sworne to her maiesties most lawfull supremacie ouer all persons and espie in our Church a lordly prelacie a thing brought into the Church by humane inuention by meanes weereof it is apparant that the Pope of Rome hath climed about all states both Ecclesiasticall and ciuill if now our desire extend it selfe that our lordly dignities and power of our Bishops might be examined by holy scripture and brought backe a degree or twaine neerer to the apostolike practise and Christs institution that so all occasions might be cut off hereafter that this climing vsurpation might neuer take holde vpon England any more are we troublers of the state Doubtles we are If it were not a thing possible to make a difference betwixt the clyming vsurpation of the Church of Rome and the lawfull prelacie how lordly so euer established in our Church I doubt not but all our Bishops would cast themselues at his Maiesties feete and intreate his highnes to vnburthen them of all that honour which hetherto they haue held iniurious to his supremacie and contrarie to the scriptures and the Apostles practise To men of vnderstanding things could not bee thus odiously compared that are moste vnlike The Pope challengeth authoritie ouer all christendome so doe not our Archbishops the Pope exalteth himselfe aboue Kings and Princes but our Archbishops with reuerence and humilitie acknowledg their subiection and more dutifully I doubt not then those who thus carefully are fearefull of their clyming The Pope saith that to bee subiect vnto him is of necessitie to saluation our Archbishops acknowledge no such thing and as their limits of gouernment are farre vnlike so the manner of their gonernment is farre more lawfull the one being an vsurpation which ambition sought out superstition and pollicie haue holden vp the other a necessarie authoritie which schismes and dissentions in the Church inuented the Apostles vsed all antiquitie followed and the peace of the Church did impose vpon them So that one of the most modest and most learned that seemeth to fauour the cause of discipline maketh it a principall point of the Ecclesiasticall gouernment that the inferior clergie in things honest bee obedient to the Bishop and the Bishop to the Metropolitan expressing the vse of that which others vehemently mislike and acknowledging the names and subordination of both But as it is an imputation in their opinion to the Archbishops that their place and authoritie is like the Popes so it is a blemish to our Bishops in the iudgement of these men that for learning and vertue they are not like vnto those holy fathers of the Church that haue gone before them We dare not take vpon vs to thinke that our times are better and more fruitefull in vertue then other were or that the Bishops of our land a thing to be wished are all of them without fault but seeing it pleaseth some to compare them thus I hope it shall neither be dishonour to the vertuous memories of those that are dead nor bee thought a flattery towards those that doe liue if we say considering we may say it with much truth that for soundnesse of doctrine honestie of life and the moderate vse of externall things they are not inferiour to the most reuerend of those Bishops that haue been before them For doctrine wee are loth to rippe vp the errors that the anncient Bishops were infected with Papias Bishop of Ierusalem who liued in Ignatius and Policarpus time held the error of a thousand yeere after the resurection wherein the kingdome of Christ should here remaine vpon earth Most of the auncient fathers were infected with this opinion Saint Cyprian that same clere fountaine as Saint Hierom calles him failed in the opinion of rebaptisation diuers both of the Greeke and Latin Church were spotted with the errors about freewill merits inuocation of
who are alreadie aduaunced in our Church conspiring with so learned and so wise a King shall fill his landfull of good subiects his Vniuersities full of good schollers all Churches in time with excellent Deuines and in one word our whole land with men of singuler worthinesse in all professions CHAP. XII Of Non Residencie Pluralities and Dispensations WEE cannot but commend the religious disposition of those men if their intentions be as good as their care doubtlesse seemeth to bee great who awaking that Idle Ministerie which in their opinion sleepeth in our church cal all men to a necessarie consideration of those duties which beelong vnto them which either ease or other imployments might paraduenture cause them to forget Negligence which in other cases runneth not either into that hazard or can be likelie to bee the originall of so great daungers being in the calling of the Clergie ouer that flock wherof the holy ghost hath made them ouerseers the verie downefall so far as mans reason is able to discerne into an euerlasting woe both vnto themselues vnto those soules which are committed to their care So that the same spirit which in other cases and at other times vttereth those comfortable promises of the greatest loue beegetting in man by his blessed working an assured hope of an endlesse mercie heapeth vpon him in this kinde and for this sinne euen vpon those who aboue others he hath honored with these titles to bee watchmen Shepheards and the leaders of Christs flock the names of blinde watchmen dumb doggs which can neuer haue enough Idle Shepheards that leaue their flocks the sword shal be vpon his right arme and vpon his right eye woe vnto the shepheards which feed themselues should not the shepheard feede the flock they bee the blinde leaders of the blinde imposing this dutie vpon all to take heede vnto themselues and to all the flock whereof the holie Ghost hath made them ouerseers to feed the Church of God which hee hath purchased with his owne blood so that Teachers being those Shephards whose flocks cannot at any time be without daunger those Watchmen whom the most malicious enemie doth alway beseege those labourers in that Haruest which neither can haue end or Intermission in this life those liuing Oracles of God to whom men must resort in all doubts those Spirituall fathers which must bee alwaies readie in priuate conference to admonish to reproue to Exhort to Instruct to Comfort as well as to teach in publike it cannot bee but an intollerable inexcusable fault in those men whose care is onely to be rich by the multitude of Cures whose absence and negligence is all one with ignorance and want of abilitie to teach sauing that the sinne is greater in them who are able with learning if they were diligent greatlie to benefit Gods Church And doubtlesse it is to bee feared vnlesse their Consciences bee without feeling that this secure negligence in them is but like a heauie Lethargy which commends them as it were by certaine steps to a dangerous and eternall sleepe so that as all the fathers of former ages haue filled their writings with eloquent inuectiues against these men and all the Councels almost haue sharplie decreed against them the Canonists likewise and Scholemen haue concluded their offences to bee great sinnes and their drousie negligence without excuse couetously rather heaping vp the liuings of manie then conscionably performing the dutie of any one wee can with as much patience and thanks bee content to heare the loud declamations against non Residents and Pluralities by some in our Church onelie if it please them to remember their owne vsuall absence lesse warranted and to looke with what sinceritie of Conscience and Zeale vnto Christs flock they haue vndertaken the Vehement continuall loud and intemperate reprehension of these faults as if they onelie in our Church had a tender care of the peoples instruction and none else and that all besides them some few conscionable Ministers who can bee content with one flock were nothing but a number of proud ambitious and idle Prelates like that vnprofitable fig-tree seruing to little vse sauing onelie to bee cut downe or that these were that euill and slothfull seruant which must be cast into vtter darknesse where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth And further which ought least of all to bee indured by any well affected to the credit and estimation of this Church which doubtlesse for Reformation is shall be famous through all parts of the christian world that our state did vnresonablie vnconscionably by their owne lawes graunt Dispensations both for pluralities and absence onelie to further the corrupt desires of some few to the infinit wrong of the whole Clergie besides the hazard of many thousand soules the intollerable dishonor of Gods truth and the exceeding disaduantage of Christs Church Doubtlesse we cannot but confesse that learning is of little vse in the Ministerie vnlesse they bee faithfull to discharge that dutie and that abilitie to teach bringeth small profit where care and indeuour are both wanting to further that good which our place exacteth wee neither doe nor can stop our eares against the whole booke of God which requireth labour at our hands and diligence in our Ministerie neither doe we think that all places alike may challenge our paines seeing it is in this as in all other things besides which are through priuate interest dearer then that which concerneth either others wholie or vs but in part at our owne pleasure or if in dutie onely according to the rate of a Generall regard Yet I hope these men will giue vs leaue to tel them without offence that the noâ— Residencie Pulralities warranted by the positiue lawes of this land are neither of them so cleerely conuicted as incurring the penaltie of so high displeasure but that indifferent minds may finde peraduenture good reason as yet to defend them both which if neither wee much attempt nor bee thought sufficiently performed by vs we are preuented as they know by the most learned and reuerend indeauours of other men and are not greatly willing that either Idlenesse or Ambition should couer it selfe vnder that shadow in a great number which is in a true intention a Priuiledge and Dispensation the lawfull and vertuous merit of some few But because it seemeth that the originall of this errour is from the not iustlie considering either what Benefices are or the first limitation of them wherof whilst some are ignorant they rigorously conclude all duties required in a Minister necessarily to be performed in one particuler parish we must put them in minde that either Euaristus Bishop in the sea of Rome or as some others say Dionisius first assigned the Precincts to euery parish and appointed to each Presbiter a certaine compasse whereof himselfe should take charge alone in this kingdome one Honorius somtime Archbishop of Canterburie did first deuide them
not let thee goe except thou blesse mee Yet let not our importunitie exclude humilitie but that still wee pray as if the smallest grashopper vpon earth a worme and no man were to speake with feare and reuerence before the maiestie of God himselfe Seeing then praier is that name which expresseth all that seruice that our religion can performe beeing the best meanes both to testifie our dutifull affection and most effectuall to obtaine what soeuer wee wanting can desire at Gods hands seeing it is the easiest and most comfortable almes which all men haue power to giue and no man to refuse seeing it is that office from performance whereof neither time nor place violent circumstances in other things are able to hinder vs seeing it is and ought to be the first dutie wherewith a religious soule beginneth his life and the last wherwith hee endeth it seeing it is the seruice of all Saints aswell those that Triumph in heauen as that are Militant on earth the one praising God for their glorie the other praying for their victorie and seeing amongst all praiers those are most powerfull and effectuall which hauing the feruour of manie and the promise of presence are rather powred out in the Temple then our priuate chambers for in a congregation a house of praiers there may bee amongst manie some Moses or Samuell which shall bee heard both for themselues and others one righteous in the middest of a froward and crooked generation let from henceforth all impietie stop her mouth which heeretofore hath blasphemed a holy ordination of so much vse thrusting it out of our Churches vnder pretence of preaching and that open prophanes by seueritie of lawes bee taught obedience which either in puritie or superstition haue refused in our Temples to offer vp their Praiers as the rest doe It is no small blessing to haue the libertie of the sonnes of God to enter into the house of the Lord the house of prayer the place where his Honour dwelleth for in his temple doth euery man speake of his honour yet we denie not but in the most desolate and solitariest place more voide of resort then the ransackt sanctuarie of Hierusalem in the vncomfortablest vault that euer was entred his eares shall bee open vnto our Praiers that goe not out of fained lippes but euen praier it selfe as one noteth when it hath not the comforts of many voices to strengthen it is not it selfe So that wheras secret neglect of our dutie in this kinde is but onely our owne hurt one mans contempt of the Common prayer of the Church of God may bee and often times is preiudiciall hurtfull vnto many thousands and doubtlesse in time of persecution when wee are in exile the principall griefe to any Christian soule must bee this euen the vncomfortable absence from the house of God that wee cannot praise God in the great Congregation that euen in this respect the Sparrow and the Swallow are in better case then wee are That all our Melodie is buried in this one euill for how should wee sing the Lords song in a strange land For if there be in the Lords Sanctuary in the Courts of the house of our God the holy Angels mixâ— amongst vs it ought surely to be our care euen for praier to refort thether with ioy aboue all other places whatsoeuer ther to powre out our praiers with that solemnitie deuotion as those vertuous humble requests which the Church appointeth the Saints vpon earth powre out the almightie sitteth to heare the Angels attend to further Now for the religious performance of this dutie no wise man can doubt but that solemnitie of place is a circumstance neither indifferent nor of small force the authoritie of their calling whome the Church imployeth to offer vp the praiers for the whole people is no small assurance of obtaining what is presented by their meanes in whom if zeale and feruencie of spirit concur with a vertuous lyfe they are no small aduantages to make the rest of the multitude to bee more holy and to teach all the people of God both what reuerence they owe vnto such whom God vouchsafeth to bee mediatours beetwixt him and them and with what deuotion and reuerence they are to esteeme and frequent those holy places for the performance of those duties which out of all circumstaÌ„ces rightly are termed by the Church holy and deuine Seruice Heerevnto if wee ad the strongest motiue vnto a minde sober and humble that these prayers are not the voluntarie suddaine extemporal supplications of one man who though zealous and honest yet may easily faile in asking what is behoueful for the whole Church for wee know not how to pray as wee ought but that they are those holy sacrifices of our lippes made and allowed by the considerate deliberation of men vertuous and duely proportioned with the sacred and solemne Lyturgies of the Church in all ages he must needs think the iniurie offered by some men to bee vnsufferable who esteeme all corners equall to the church for this vse all persons as conuenient as those who are elected and appointed to this end and sencelesse effusions of idle reiterated vnhallowed indigested prayers as auaileable in the eares of God as the best either places persons or order that the Church hath This beeing the dangerous pollicie of sathan to frustrate the Church of so great a benefit and beecause no man dâ—â—st bee so impious as absolutely to condemne publick prayer to stir vp those who should draw the people both by example and precept to a contempt of that forme which taken from the puritie of all times is worthely thought by the Church a Lyturgie most reformed whereby wee must serue God and doubtlesse not to lay vpon them a greater burden then the weight of this sinne doth necessarilie impose vpon the consciences of such who are and haue bene the authors of this contempt wee cannot easily be perswaded otherwise But what prophanes hath crept into our church what vnhallowing of the Sabboth what want of reuerence in diuine Seruice what loathing of praiers without Sermons in one word what Athisme or Hippocresie is in al states in this kingdome hath originally proceded froÌ„ this fountain the bould and vnhallowed despising of the Communion Booke whilst in the meane time they haue offred vnto the Parliament in the dayes of our late Soueraigne a Booke of the forme of Common prayers of which wee dare not as yet giue that testimonie which truth compelleth them to giue of ours That grose errors manifest impieties is taken from it But seeing all of vs agree in this that a Prescript forme of praier is conuenient and necessarie for the Church they onely permitting a greater libertie for vs then wee doe both because it bringeth much aduantage to haue the people familiar with those praiers which concerne all and that they may not say Amen to any thing that is vnsound a
such be seruants to the state in the executioÌ„ of these lawes as are furthest from partialitie and pittie yet least to be suspected for vnsatiable desiring of their own gaine But there is a greater defect in most kingdomes wherein this Church is an humble suter to your Highnesse that it would please your Grace a thing absolutely hoped for at your Maiesties hands as well to reward those that deserue well as to punish those that are dangerous to the Church or the commonwealth doubtlesse there is no politike consideration of greater vse in a kingdome that all parts of it may florish than the iust bestowing of these two reward and punishment seeing they are the spurre and the bridle absolutely requisit for the right commanding of a whole Realme And surely it is a great question whether to the happinesse of a state it be safer to want punishment for the euill or rewards for the vertuous But seeing all kingdomes haue greater feeling and can better iudge of what is euill than well done therefore punishments are by the lawe due to the one whereas the other is many times a matter of great suit fauour and sometimes of infinite corruption which the best and most worthy obseruing they are in al likelihood furthest from being preferred because least subiect to such corruption It was an Honorable farewell the last Deanry that was giuen by Queene Elizabeth Honorabâ—e to him that procured it freely as I heard of his owne motion Honorable to him that had it without al corruptioÌ„ neither in acquitting of him do I condeÌ„n al others and most Honorable to her who no sooner heard of a man worthy but was most willing to preferre him There are few things of a greater aduantage to the Church than to haue the eyes of the Prince if sometimes his occasions diuert him otherwise drawne to looke at men of very speciall and singular deserte who peraduenture are neither so corrupt so fortunate so seasonable so well frended nor indeed so any thing sauing only worthy that they can obtaine that which men of farre meaner deserts if not easily yet commonly doe And surely for vs of the Church there is not out of the Vniuersitie excepting the Kings Chappell a better stand for the nobilitie to take â—ew of such than the Sermons at Pauls Crosse this being sincerely lookt at vertue shall haue incouragment to take paines because vertuous paines shall be sure to haue recompence a thing where it wanteth that want must of necessitie fill all places with the worst and the worst disposed So shall men that are worthy and very excellent be preferred either slowly or not at all whilst euery ignorant vnhonest vnprofitable flatterer shall depart loaden with the best preferments the due recompence that belongs to vertue for redresse whereof I dare not take vpon me to aduise only I wish that they especially the Honorable and reuerend Bishops Fathers of the Church who haue any stroake in the disposition of such preferments as appertaine vnto learned men would be thinke themselues what it is to respect any thing either aboue or besides merit considering as one well noteth how hardly the world taketh it when to men of commendable note and qualitie there is so little respect had or so great vnto them whose deserts are very meane that nothing doth seeme more straunge than the one sort because they are not accounpted of and the other because they are It being euery mans hope and expectatioÌ„ that the only purchase of greater rewards should be alwaies greater deserts that nothing should euer be able to plaÌ„t a thorne where a vine ought to growe or to commit that to a Fox or an Asse which requireth the strength the toyle of the painful Ox the careful obseruatioÌ„ of this which the Church humbly intreateth at your Graces hands shal roote out all Idolatours from your lands banish all Heretikes from Christs fold which steale in like rauenous wolues discouer those Anabaptists who stirre vp contentions to hinder Religion labour to haue magistrates contemned inueying against the lawfull ordination of our Clergie accounting them to be but Scribes and Pharisies Idle haue too great liuings flatterers of the Ciuill Magistrate saying the reformation of the Church is not spirituall enough perfect and their vnhallowed priuate conuenticles are more holy making their pretence of all the puritie of the Gospell these pretend grauitie reprehend seueritie speake gloriously and all in Hypocrisie these dayly inuent newe opinions and run from error to error their wilfulnes they account constancie their deserued punishment persecution their mouthes are euer open to speake euill they giue neither reuerence nor titles to any in place aboue them in one word the Church cannot feare a more dangerous and fatall enemie to her peace and happines a greater cloud to the light of the Gospell a stronger hand to pull in Barbarisme and pouertie into all our Laâ—d a more furious monster to breed contempt and disobedience in all states a more fretting Cankar to the very marrowes and sinewes of this Church and kingdome than the Anabaptist who is proud without learning presumptuous without authoritie Zealous without knowledge holy without Religion in one word a dangerous and malicious Hypocrite Sundrie of these mâ—nifest and violent disturbers of the peace of this Church and the Common-wealth were banished from amongst vs in the dayes of out late Souereigne we heare they are returnd they make petitions they hope for fauour Consided great and mightie Prince right Honorable Lords and all yee whom it may concerne to defend this state that now is the time to make and execute lawes against them for these are more daungerous than other Heretikes because they are transformed into the shapes of some amongst vs The Church of England which lyeth prostrate at your Graces feet desireth not to be fauoured in her errors not to haue her corruptions warranted by authoritie to haue staines not washed because shee hath had them long to haue idolatrie and superstition harbored in her bosome to be loadeÌ„ in her ReligioÌ„ with the inuentions of man and vnhalowed Ceremonies to be supported with a prophane Hierarchie an vsurping dominion to bee poysoned with humane learning to be murdered with Idle and vnpreaching Ministers but she humbly intreats showing her wounds with teares in her eyes sights in her hart humilitie in her whole behauiour that she may be defended protected and armed in that truth which Christ and his Apostles haue taught her which Queene Elizabeth hath Cherished maintained in her which the earth hath wondered at heauens haue blessed that her beautie may not be defaced vnder pretence of washing that she may not be left naked of her comely decent and Religious ceremonies that the gouernment of her Bishops auncient warrantable and safe may not be taken from her that her schooles may florish with all sacred and Heathen learning that her Ministers may be painefull and liberally maintained and last
of all that the Liturgie so vertuous so holy for which so many Martyrs of hers haue dyed restored in the dayes of King Edward continued in the gratious and happie dayes of Queene Elizabeth may by your Princely authoritie seeing all the learned of your kingdome are readie in the defence of it be strongly and vnresistably maintained against her enemies so shall we account it a second birth day to our countrie a day of grace and saluation wherein God hath sworne by his holinesse that hee will not faile you and therefore to this ende hath preuented you with the blessings of goodnesse and set a crowne of pure gold vpon your head a day wherein the Nations that are round about vs shall say as Hyram when hee heard the words of Salomon blessed be the Lord this day which hath giuen vnto Dauid a wise Sonne ouer this mightie people Vnto Queene Elizabeth an Heire of her owne house and linage full of Religion wisedome and vnderstanding so that we may truely say as they did doubtlesse we haue seene straung things this day straunge to our countrie to ourselues to our enemies to haue neighbours to our prosteritie for which our harts burne within vs and shall for euer with feruencie of deuotion for your highnesse safetie our mouthes are filled with laughter and our tongues with ioy and we must needes confesse with the Prophet Dauid The Lord hath done great things for vs alreadie whereof we reioyce for which we intreate the heauens to reioyce with vs the earth to be glad and the Sea to make a noyse and all that therein is the compasse of the round World and they that dwell therein for by this means innumerable benefits are common vnto them to the Heauen a multitude of Saints to the earth peace to the Sea Treasure to the fields plentie for God hath broken the rod of the wicked and the whole land is at rest and surely if euer NatioÌ„ of the world had cause either to hope for happines to this Church and Commonwealth or to giue thankes vnto the Lord and to that ende to fall low vpon our knees before his footestoole it is we to haue a King but which is greater happinesse of the same blood nay more than that of the same Religion but most of all without bloodshed and especially Then when all the politikes of the world had set our period rung our passing Bell euen theÌ„ by your Highnesse meanes the Lord himselfe for we must al acknowledge that it was his worke deliuered our soule from death our eyes from teares and our feet from falling our soule from bodily and spirituall death our eyes from teares arising from our daunger nay from our holy teares for our late Souereigne our feete from falling into troubles which then were present into sinne which then was likely into blindnesse which then we feared into shame which we all deserued into misery which many hoped but we say againe the Lord hath done great things for vs alreadie and greater and far greater shall doe if we be not vnthankefull and therefore howsoeuer thou art either Iesuite or Preest Anabaptist Protestant or Atheist which sayst in thy heart let vs make hauocke of them altogether thou shalt so dianly consume and perish and come to a fearefull ende and the Church shall continually intreate at the hands of the Lord of heauen and humbly before the Throne of your gratious Maiestie for protection against her and all your aduersaries saying O deliuer not the soule of the Turtle Doue vnto the multitude of the enemies and forget not the congregation of the poore for euer looke vpon the couenant for al the earth is full of darkenesse and cruell habitations O let not the simple goe away ashamed but let the poore and needy giue praise vnto thy name A rise O God maintaine thy own cause remeÌ„ber how the foolish man blasphemeth thee dayly forget not the voyce of thy enemie the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth euer more and more Amen FINIS This Epistle following is here annexed and thought fit to be Printed because the Dedication of this booke was first intended vnto the late right Honorable and right Reuerend Father the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie his Grace To the most Reuerend Father in God my very good Lord the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie his Grace Primate and Metropolitan of all England WHat benefit Right Reuerend this Church hath receiued by your Graces meanes God bessing your Counsell vnder the gouernment of two great Princes as this age present doth sensiblie perceiue so the memorie thereof shal be honorable in the time to come For when the vertuons Gouernment of our late Souereigne had banished from all parts of her Kingdome the Tyrannie and superstitioÌ„ of the Church of Rome some men fit instruments to disturbe the peacefull happinesse of this Land fearefull as it seemed of the dangers that might follow and impatient of that forme of gouernment which mercy and wisedome had planted for the Churches safetie laboured by meanes ouer violent and vnholy to bring in perhaps from the partiall loue to the orders of those Churches which comfortably refresht them in the time of banishment a presbiteriall Discipline both of them notwithstanding following a diuers shape of the Ecclesiasticall state in diuers times the one in peace the other in persecution neither of them both doubtlesse circumstances being weighed either warranted by truth or answerable to these times The one labouring to ouerload vs with an intollerable burden of humane traditions polliticke inuentions to make an outward greatnesse whilst inwardly Religion must needs â—aile the other to strippe her as naked as the day wherein shee was first borne discouraging her teachers by robbing them of honour and maintenaunce traducing that learning wherein many of our Reuerend Fathers were equall to any in any part of the world besides and in steade of these making the Church to doe Pennance for her wontonnesse in the dayes of superstition being left vnpitied desolate ignorant and without honour all their purposes tending to this end to make vs had in dirision of all those that were rounde about vs Thus these two enemies in our owne bosome looking both of them with enuie at your happinesse and with Ielosie at that fauour which we might be suspected to beare towards either of them their discentions were not so violent to each other as they both were cruell and daungerous to our peace as if Ephraim and Manasses had made a truce and both of them concluded to deuour Iuda At this time your Lordship for lawes and authoritie had restrayned the one vndertooke the defence of this Church Gouernment against the other wherein doubtlesse if your great wisedome and moderation had not like another Athanasius indured the furie and rage of this vnbridled multitude Wee might â—â—stly haue feared that disorder and barbarisme would haue tyrannously possest long since the worthiest and most beautifull
as much as may bee to mitigate the euils that when the best things are not possible the best may bee made of those that are Wisedome will rather tollerate some euill in A forme of gouernment that is tryed Than in a Gouernment vntryed to stand to the hazard of a farre greater It is the honour of all Kings that which is the Title of the Princes of this Land to bee as they are called Defendours of the Faith and this not onely in regard of Enemies abroad but in respect of those also which desire alteration at home oftentimes A hope of ease giueth men that iustly suffer occasion to complaine whose discontentments how lamentably soeuer diplayed are not alwaies the euidences of true griefe nor euer the argumentes of a iust wrong For doubtlesse let a Church bee as well gouerned as euer was any eyther in or before the Apostles time Let Moses and Aaron both labour to make it Excellent Let Dauid and all his Counsellours aduise for the good of it yet she shal neuer want those within the bosome of her who eyther wearie with that which is auncient or in loue with some newe deuise of their owne are readie to depraue that Gouernment which they ought for to reuerence as being the Orders of that Societie wherevnto in all dutie they doo owe obedience There will euer bee some Corah Dathan and Abiram to tell Moses and Aaron that they take too much vpon them Such is the frailtie of humane nature and so great our vnwillingnesse to liue in subiection to the gouernment of other men That wee will rather hazard an opposition to God himselfe than haue our Zeale to bee guided by the limits of any Lawes doubtlesse those that are thus proud may iustly suspect that GOD hath not placed them as workmen in the reformation of the External gouernment of that Kingdome whose foundation was first laid with so much humilitie This if the first authors of these troubles had well considered they would not in a matter of so great Consequent haue allotted the power and authoritie of alteration vnto the violent and vnlimited passions of the rude multitude a thing in it selfe as without warrant so incredible almost to haue proceeded from men that were furnished but with common sence Could any thing sound more pleasing to the lowest and worst parts of a Kingdome Could any thing moue sooner to rebellion than to tell them that Reformation of Religion belongeth to the Communaltie that the Communaltie may lawfully require of their King to haue true Preachers and if he be negligent they iustly may themselues prouide them maintaine them defend them against all that persecute them and may detaine the profit of the Church-liuings from the other sorte If these strange opinions which must needes sound harshly in the eares of all Kinges had not dispersed themselues like a poyson into the veynes of this Kingdome the Authors might haue slept in silence and their hallowed treasons haue remained vntouched But seeing those who were sollicitours abroad are now so neere that they be daungerous perswaders at home it is a consideration not of small importance as well to looke at the Authors and the meanes with what pretences soeuer they are ouershadowed as at the thing it selfe neither much needfull nor verie safe And howsoeuer in humane reason we haue now lesse cause than euer to feare the daunger of this euill yet seeing no harme in a religious Kingdome with a vertuous Prince findeth as little resistance as that which is couered with the name of Zeale all men haue cause both to pray aduise and assist that the misteries of this euill the iust punishment for the contempt of his truth light not vpō vs in our dayes nor in the dayes of our Children that shall succeede after There is not any fancie grounded vpon so little truth that hath so speedely growne to that greatnes as the discipline of Geneua hath It is like in our Kingdome yet fit inough peraduenture for them vnto the Gourd that shadowed Ionas but of a small continuance and yet some great Prophets are content to rest vnder the shadowe of it wee shall easily forgett the Author of greater benefits vnlesse some Worme in mercie be sent for to eate it downe at the first in the Auncient Disputations against the Papists and Anabaptistes both in Fraunce and Geneua there could bee found but two essentiall notes of the Church The true preaching of the word and the right administration of the Sacraments but when some of ours were returned from Geneua they were not affraied to tell vs a strange opinion to be publisht by learned wise men That Maister Beza helde the Geneua Discipline the third note of the Church and of as much necessitie as the Sacramentes or the worde it selfe which thing if it were as soundly proued as it seemes it is constantly beleeued by them all men had reason to acknowledge them the Authors of much good and to aduenture themselues farre in the defence of it Out of this stronge opinion haue proceeded these vnreuerend speeches against our Land Englande with an Impudent forehead hath said I will not come neere the Holy one wee are neuer the better for her Maiesties reformation seeing the Walls of Sion lye euen with the Ground Rome is come into our gates Antichrist reigneth amongst vs Infinite are the speeches collected out of their owne writings by others in this kinde and yet for all this they would seeme both to flatter the Prince if so worthie a Prince could bee flattered and highly to commend her happie gouernment so many waies profitable both to the Church and the Common-wealth but whilst we charge them with Innouation a thing whereunto wise Gouernors must haue good regard One commeth forth with great boldnesse yet one of the weakest that hath laboured in this cause and saith wee craue no alteration in Religion but only that the things which are standing as they doe may be brought to the order of the Apostles vse and to the Canon of Gods holy word in those circumstāces which remain yet vnreformed Do you speake cōsideratly in this plea were all things that are desired by you and others vsed in the Apostles time Are they all warranted by the Canon of Gods word Doubtlesse if you had perused with any indifferency all the learned discourses of those that haue laboured in this you should easily haue found that most things demaunded and so much desired are new and that wee are not now absolutely tied to all these things that were in vse in the Apostles time It shall not be amisse howsoeuer it hath beene alreadie most learnedly performed by others to let them Vnderstand that the orders of the Church haue beene at times diuers Whereof some haue beene added some ceased and that wee are not absolutely tied to imitate the times that haue beene before in euerie particular the Church as it is Militant heere on earth liueth
not alwaies in the same state it laboureth sometimes seeming to decay vnder the Crosse sometimes it flourisheth in the aboundance of much peace sometimes it is gouerned by these who are Nurses of it and sometimes by such whose hands are readiest to pull it downe now where the affection of Princes that gouerne is not all one the condition and state of the Church must needes alter besides euen the chiefe officers erected by our Sauiour of the Apostles Prophets and Euangelistes in that kinde notwithstanding are all ceased for although Apostolicall Iurisdiction doo now continue in Bishops yet no man is ordayned to bee an Apostle that which is aunswered of ordinarie and extraordinarie ouerthroweth the cause for if these bee extraordinarie and all offices that are reckoned vp by the Apostle bee not ordinarie then the Gouernours of the Church ceasing no man can say with reason that forme of the Church gouernment is all one To holde that all that was diuers at diuers times was the same gouernment is to make things continuing and ceasing distinguisht and confounded to bee all one And if wee looke further to that which seemed to bee most solemne the Senedrin and great Councell at Ierusalem is no where extant And if they allow the forme at Geneua they are popular but surely though in this no man could looke for other than difference to arise where trueth hath not laid the foundation of what they holde yet this is most straunge that they are so firme for Doctors to bee distinguisht from Pastors for seuerall Consistories for euerie parish widowes and such like whereas Geneua hath but one Consistorie for diuers Parishes no Doctors distinct from Pastors no widowes and in Fraunce onely Pastors and Elders are thought necessarie yea besides this there were many things commendably in vse in the former times which as the Church hath power to remooue so likewise hath she authoritie to appoint new our Sauiour instituted a Ceremonie which hee inioyned his Disciples to obserue of washing of feete the same continued long in the Church as may appeare by a Treatise attributed to Saint Cyprian but now out of vse and vtterly ceased The Apostles decreed that all should abstaine from bloud and from things strangled the Apostle willeth the Romans to greete one another with a holy kisse yet both these discontinued amongst vs euery man praying or prophecying with his head couered dishonoreth his head a thing at this day not of that strict obseruance but that it may bee done without breach of humility or the Apostles precept That all the lawes and orders in the Church are not durable appeareth by ceasing of the Ceremoniall law and the Iewish pollicie so that the obseruation of the Morall and whatsoeuer hath dependance vpon that is the true rule of discipline for maners other things are but the violent fancies of some weak men who haue abused their Zeale to doe much hurt Neither neede wee stand to prooue much the alteration of this gouernment seeing themselues haue varied in the demanding of it In the yeare 1572. the first admonition which the late most Reuerend Lord Archbishop of Canterbury did after confute was offered to the Parliament as contayning a perfect platforme of the discipline they desired to be established in this Realme Within fewe yeares after they altered it againe In the yeare 1584. an other which seemed to haue receiued as much perfection as they could desire but presently after the Parliament this was found amongst them to haue some thing amisse and the correcting being referred to one who had trauersed the matter a new it came out more perfect in the yeare 1586 an other in the yeare 1588 and it is like as most of these were against Parliaments so some thing now is to bee performed for this if their cause can haue patrons or the patrons can finde hope but I hope by this time our Gouernours are more wise and hee who is able to discerne these plots hath found by experience their desires to bee too proud and in reason not likely to benefit this Church with a better peace so that wee may safely conclude this point That though the Church of all Societies bee fittest to bee Gouerned with an auncient and veriuous discipline yet that discipline is farre differing from the same that they doo require CHAP. III. The Censure of a Booke called the Plea of the Innocent WHere the persons of men haue so neere affinitie with the actions performed by them it will require great moderation and care so to censure the one as that we may not iustly bee suspected to disgrace the other the neglect of this a fault which is too common both in the times before vs and in our age hath turned the confutation of errors to personall reproofes and hath made the defendors weaknes or Indiscretion the greatest aduersary to a good cause and howsoeuer some partiall men are caried with as much loue to all they doo as they are to themselues that doo it and with like disposition are impatient to bee toucht in eyther yet no man of wisedom or vnderstanding can thinke it to bee all one to haue his action or his person censured some Actions I confesse there are of that nature which are the defectes of our ordinary weakenesse and therein though not Excusable yet carry some reason to challenge a fauourable compassion extending either to forgiuenes or to concealments which both doubtlesse are the effects of men that are truly vertuous where as some others as it were by couenant are performed to that end that they rest amongest all men and in all ages lyable to that censure which time shall giue them And they merit Of the first sort are our sinnes in which kinde our profession hath had some euill Confessours of the Latter are Bookes which as they are actes performed with the best of our iudgement voluntarie with deliberation and with a resolution by couenaunt eyther to aunswere or indure what Censures shall light vpon them it cannot bee any breach of Charity or modesty where the opinions misliked are defended to censure the Bookes which are made in defence of them And although euerie man in reason is tyed to bee cerefull of his good name yet seeing that both euerie harde Censure is not a proofe to continue errour nor euerie errour an imputation to a man that deserues well It is not all one to say such a Booke is euill written and to say such a one is not an honest man The first is allowed in the warrantable liberty of all learning but the latter Charitie and Humilitie do both forbid as being but the daungerous effect of too much pride Things that are euill in manners are euill in that they are done and are a iust imputation to the partie in that they are knowne but writings that are Censured carry not euer that sentence among them which some ignorant or partiall opposite shall impose vpon them nor euer doo men censure as