look for a Church triumphant here below What scandalous and irreligious Libels of factious Brains have been exposed to the publick view of all Athenian Gazers What indiscreet and Satyrical Pamphlets have been dispersed by a malevolent Party to incite a dislike and hatred of the Government in Church and State For Sions sake then I cannot hold my peace but deplore the decay of Religion by the want of Union and Loyalty and the defect of the practice of this ancient and heavenly Duty of Unanimity amongst us Our Saviour left to his Church the Legacy of Peace Joh. 14.27 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Farewel gift or as S. Basil calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a largess dropt from a higher World worth the keeping therefore let us in our several stations endeavour the unity of the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the bond of peace beating down all animosities study of Parties and obstinacy in Opinions which breeds disaffection and this humor grows impetuous * Animi inflammati ebulliunt ad certamen marching like Jehu the Son of Nimshi furiously till it flames into open contention giving to the restless Emissaries * Whatever the pretensions of Rome are to love and concord among themselves yet their want of unity appears in their different Opinions Schisms cruel Wars and in the contests between their Popes and Acts of their Councils contradicting one another Bishop Hall in his Tract of Rome sets down 300 differences of Opinions maintained in the Popish Church recited by Bellarmine himself the Arch-pillar of the Roman Synagogue The many Schisms in the Church of Rome may be easily conjectured when there were several Popes at the same time one fought against another and the greatest Conquerour wore the Triple Crown The people were wofully divided and many thousands of Christians were slain in those bloody Battels between Pope Vrban and Pope Clement This Schism continued almost fifty years one resident at Rome another at Avignon The want of concord and unity in the See of Rome is also demonstrable in their cruel Wars between the Popes and Emperours called Bellum Pontificum whereby all Europe at one time or another has been divided by Feuds and Factions And the Popes not only thundred out their Excommunications against the Emperours but also perswading their own Subjects to levy War against them as if Christ had ordained his Sacraments not to be Seals of Grace and helps of our Faith but hooks to catch Kingdoms and rods to scourge such Potentates as would not or could not procure the Popes favour and consequently has embroiled the Christian World in discord and dissention in great and cruel Wars It is a thankless work in the sight of God to improve his Worship by the dint of the Sword and to found his Church as Romulus did Rome in blood No such Sacrifices no such Ambages of cruelty can be acceptable to the God of mercy and Prince of peace and pity The bitter contention and envy of one Pope to another speaks their privation or want of unity one disannulling all the Acts of another as Pope Stephen VI. abrogated all the Decrees of his Predecessor Formosus and so of many others The like appears in their Councils contradicting one another the Council of Basil decreed for the Council against the Pope and the Council of Lateran under Leo X. decreed for the Pope against the Council The Council of Toledo did prohibit the Worship of Images the second Council of Nice commands it And so our Adversaries of Rome who boast of intire Unity may see their own vanity of the Church of Rome and growing Sectaries great advantage and to Satan no small occasion to laugh and triumph It were well for us if we would see or suspect the policy of the Devil or his Agents who envy our happiness and take advantage either of our judgments depraved or Natures corrupted to make us their instruments to break our blessed unity in Church or State And so while we are contending for shadows we may be deprived of the substance and be brought into irrecoverable confusion therefore let brotherly love and unity be maintained in the World standing fast in one Spirit with one mind for the Faith of the Gospel * It is one evidence of the Truth of the Christian Religion that Christ hath carried it on by means contemptible against all oppositions imaginable Who could have thought that a few illiterate Fishermen that had neither skill in Grammar or knowledge in Rhetorick should carry on the Truth in a Majestick simplicity The Princes of the Earth being not only non-assistants but all the great Monarchs of the World opposing Christianity in the infancy thereof whilst it was in the cradle Acts 4.26 27. King Herod's enraged jealousie burned so fiercely that it sucked up the blood of all the male-infants within the Coasts of Bethlehem And had not an heavenly inspiration diverted the Eastern 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the intended way of their return their blood also should have run among the ingredients and made up the dose to allay the fury of an angry Prince Add unto this those fierce persecutions continuing in their height and heat with a rage reaching up to Heaven for the space of three hundred years no storms could blow out the light of this Sun clouds might cover it but never extinguish it because the Gospel is from God the World cannot overthrow it Acts 5.39 whereas all those Religions which the Romans Greeks and all the Gentiles went a gadding after before the advent of our Saviour are all come to nothing and the rest risen since shall shortly be destroyed with the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 therefore stand fast in an united conformity striving together for the Faith of the Gospel as Members of one Body under one Head Jesus Christ Which leads me to the second general as the alliance of humane Nature so the bands of a spiritual Consanguinity engages us to holy concord Gal. 3.28 We are all one in Christ Jesus Christ taught all alike to call God Father in the Lords Prayer All have the same filial Prerogatives Gal. 4.26 Jerusalem above is the Mother of us all All as one mans children have the same food provided them like Aristotle's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are brought up with the same milk 1 Pet. 2.2 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as S. Peter calls it of the Word For all Christians are Children of the same heavenly Father Mal 2.10 regenerated to the same lively hope Rom. 8.17 coheirs of the same heavenly Inheritance redeemed by a Saviour that breathed out nothing but Love Isa 63 9. Joh. 15 13. sanctified and sealed by a Spirit of Unity It is a Truth in the fourth of the Acts there were many bodies and but one Soul I wish unanimity may so combine * The language of Constantine to his Synod of Bishops has been
Purple Robe they bow their knees and cry Hail King of the Jews Joh. 19.2 3. They cut down branches and spread them in the way singing Hosanna to the Son of David when they part his garments and for his vesture cast Lots And whatever dress they put on display them to be a spurious brood within the pale but no true Sons of the Church were they so their looks would not speak smiles whilst storms did surge in their breasts who about the froth of their own brains dare rent the peace and tranquillity of it and war for the aery projections of their giddied heads as if Heaven and Earth were little enough to be mingled in the quarrel tearing the seamless Coat of the holy Jesus in pieces causing Divisions and Schisms that our holy Mother the Church is forced to utter her unwelcome voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Caesar said to Brutus What thou my Son But we are of a strange disposition we use not to regard the Sun or Moon till we see them in Eclipse Lunâ non aspicimus nisi laborante saith Seneca And that course of Aristotle with his Auditors best suits with our Natures before we are enamour'd with this holy concord we must be acquainted with its opposite vices * It is a Rule in Logick Contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt And a little knowledge in Judicial Astrology will serve the turn to predict the ill effects of the Serpents teeth division An easie Observation can foresee and foretel the sad Events of excentrick Motions and intestine Wars Peace and Unity like light and fruitful showres descend from above from Heaven from God but strifes and dissentions like tempestuous Vapours and fiery Exhalations come from the Earth from the devillish hearts designs and practices of men The Orator said well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Any rash hand or furious head may inflict a wound or kindle a fire but it is God alone who can heal up the breaches of a Church or State Private grudges and contentions like several Cards in a Map whose Lines are drawn infinitely crossing cut and thwart each other must needs shew us the way to publick calamity When humane Societies become Cannibals to one another the bands of love which hold Mankind together must necessarily be dissolv'd and we can't but behold a very sad Landskip of horrour and confusion because animosities and divisions feed on envy and malice so long till they break forth into a consuming fire in ruine and desolation by an open Hostility The Earth grows wild and becomes a great Forest of savage and cruel Monsters and Mankind turns Beasts of prey one towards another When our united Force should encounter Babylon the common Enemy * Cumque superba foret Babylon spolianda trophaeis Lucan we weaken our selves like those ancient Romans by mutual dissentions and perish by our own oppositions If Christians would but take the Moralists counsel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to spend and derive their malice some other way for many had rather employ their time in picking and feeding quarrels in the Church at home than advance the unity of the Faith abroad and how can any expect security from their enemies while they are at variance thus with themselves Do any hope to escape the fury of Aliens while they are ready to sheath their Swords in each others bowels Eph. 4.3 S. Paul that great Patriot of Religion and glorious Angel upon Earth perswades all to keep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace And if he hath but reason enough to make him a man and so much Religion as will name him Christian I doubt not but he will hearken to S. Peters advice 1 Pet. 3.11 to seek peace and ensue it And will follow that which makes for peace as S. Paul would have us Rom. 14.19 for whether it be a security from open Invasions or an immunity from home-bred Oppositions it is dulce nomen pacis even to them that know no more of it besides its name The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a comprehensive term and signifies all prosperity or outward happiness in the Hebrew stile or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to knit being as 't were the tye of mens affections in either of these respects 't is a thing delightful under any notion it is amiable and lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Nazianzen It is a kind of sweet divine and heavenly concent harmony or beauty of things subordinate one to another In the oeconomy of Nature unity or peace is the combination of Creatures by symbolical qualities so contempered and disposed by the will and pleasure of the All-wise Creator that all agree to a perfect harmony of the Universe to make up one intire body the World In the lesser Worlds of mixt Bodies peace or unity is the equal balance or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 due moderation and temper of humors and parts which keep their true place and proportion Quâ quodlibet corpus non minùs appetit unitatem suam quà m Entitatem therefore it preserves Unity as its Being In the Political World the State peace or unity is the setling and due ordering of things by just Laws of Government so that Laws and Government are the Charter of our Lives and Liberty the Pillar and Basis of States and Kingdoms and Cement of all Societies for the whole design of Civil Power or Authority is to procure the private and publick happiness of Mankind to preserve men in their Rights against the insolent Usurpations and Outrages of murders perjuries fraud and violence and such like misdemeanors as would invade the World with Anarchy and disorder and bring the Politick Body to confusion There is no one thing Religion excepted that more secures and adorns the State than Justice * Jus aequitas vincula civitatum Cic. Parad. doth It is both Columna Corona Reipublicae saith a Reverend Father of the Church a prop to make it subsist firm in it self Pietas justitia duo sulcra Reipub. columnae regni Vbi non est pudor nec cura juris sanctitas pietas fides instabile regnum est As is well observed by the Tragedian and as a Crown to render it glorious in the eyes of others Truth Order and Justice are the only foundations of Peace and Unity in Church and State In the rational World as men who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rational and sociable Creatures Unity is the conjunction of every mans powers and faculties in himself composing one individual inclination and then concurring to a general union of wills and affections for Truth is but one as the Center and draws all minds to an unity which tend to it In the spiritual World as Christians the Church is not a name of division but of unity and concord * Ibi non est Ecclesia ubi non est
Testamentum nuncupant qui mortem Testatoris negant Quomodo libertatem usurpant qui negant sanguinem quo redempti sunt * Ambros ep 73. lib. 9. S. Ambrose says That he who receives the Mystery otherwise than Christ appointed i. e. in one kind when Christ has appointed two is unworthy of the Lord and he cannot have devotion It s innovation and novelty is clearly manifest if we look into the Glass of Antiquity but from the beginning it was not so ‖ Mat. 19.8 See the Reverend Dr. Pierce in his primitive Rule of Reformation as our Saviour said of Divorce which is a sufficient confutation Cassander * Ecclesia Orientalis in hunc usque diem Occidentalis verò sive Romana mille amplius annis continuis non aliter quà m sub duplici specie in conventu Ecclesiae Sacramentum hoc Dominici corporis sanguinis administrasse legitur c. Consult de utraque Spec. says That the Eastern Church to this day and the Western or Roman Church for more than a thousand years did exhibit the Sacrament in both Elements to all the Members of Christs Church S. Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Body and one Cup is given to all Pope Calixtus * Peractâ consecratione omnes communicent qui noluerint Ecclesiasticis carere hominibus sic autem etiam Apostoli statuerunt Sancta Romana tenet Ecclesia De Consecrat dist cap. 2. speaks fully When the Consecration is finish'd let all communicate that will not be thrust from the bounds of the Church for so the Apostles appointed and so the holy Church of Rome does hold Pope Gelasius ‖ Comperimus quòd quidam sumptâ tantummodo corporis sacri portione à calice sacri cruoris abstineant Qui pro culdubio quoniam nescio quâ superstitione docentur astricti aut integra Sacramenta percipiant aut ab integris arceantur quod divisio unius ejusdemque mysterii sine grandi non sit sacrilegio De Cons dist cap. 2. Some taking saith he a portion only of the sacred Body do abstain from the Chalice of the sacred Blood I know not by what Superstition they are obliged let them either receive the intire Sacrament or be kept from the whole because the division of one and the same Mystery cannot be without grand Sacriledge Nothing can be a greater cause of wonder and amazement in the consideration of it than that the Church of Rome should seek to obscure the light of Truth shining as clearly as the Sun in its Meridian beauty and splendor arrogating to themselves a Dominion over our Faith and introducing such Doctrines and Practices as are contrary to the Rules of Christ and his Apostles and the purest Ages of the Church As Lawgivers setting themselves down in S. Peters Chair as they pretend and magisterially decree * Si quis dixerit ex Dei praecepto vel de necessitate salutis esse omnes singulos Christi fideles utramque speciem Eucharistiae sumere debere Anathema sit Concil Trident Sess 5. Can 1. Laws and Constitutions diametrically opposite to the Divine command and Christs holy Institution When the Lamp of Reason is darkened and obscured the Soul presently embraces a cloud and courts a shadow the blackest errours and most palpable wickedness must needs cover the face of those Souls that start back and apostatize from their God and their Reason To preserve therefore its lustre and integrity in the memories of all those who bear any true love to substantial Truth the ancient Light establish'd and receiv'd in the Church of England is a secure Guide to direct us not to be weary of old Truths forsaking the ancient paths to espouse new and fond Opinions that we neither incline to the cunningly composed Charms of Popery on one hand or ignorant ‖ The Separatists and Papists have been playing at Tennis and the Government and Hierarchy are the Balls they toss The Separatist strikes them into the Popes Hazard calling them Antichristian Prelacy The Papist with vehemence rackets them back again as Schismatical but the Roman Church are the Schismaticks in renouncing alâ— communion with all Christian Churches in the World except their oâ—â—â— and iâ—l it is with us which soever wins the game The one bâ—â—â—â—s down the wall of Sion by disturbing the peace of the Reformed Câ—â—â—ch â—he other builds up the ruines of Babylon in superstitious Vanitâ—â— And they are so fast linked and tied together like Samsons Fâ—â—â—â— with Fire-brands of Sedition that if they be not quenched by thâ—â—â— wâ—r of Majesty they can't chuse when the means are fitted to thâ—â— Plot but sâ—t the Church on fire and the State in an uproar Sectarians and men of unstable minds on the other who crumbling into Conventicles are ready to joyn with every Enthusiastick Sect and so making Gods Israel to become a speckled Bird of several colours Jer. 12.9 of all varieties of Religion S. Paul has a term for them 2 Tim. 3.8 if they like it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of sick brains as well as of corrupt minds And such is the arrogant disposition of some transported humors being under the torrid Zone of unruly passion that rather than they will acknowledge their errours though never so apparent the very State and Law it self must be condemn'd and condescend to their distempers being led more by their own pleasing Fancies than right Reason or the sacred Rules of Piety and Truth who have laboured to sow the Tares of Dissention in the Vineyard of the Lord disquieting the Unity of Gods Church Division is the only musical note that sounds harmoniously in the ears of our Zimries And it is a Truth undeniable That these later times have produced a doleful Scene of various transactions and consequently discover'd and brought to light the unparalell'd designs and execrable intentions of Fanatical zeal or Democratical fury for the Dissenters in this Age have conspir'd together to untye the knot of Christian Charity and produce an unhappy Schism in the Church what else mean those strange whispers mysterious workings and grand plotting who would not only uncover the roof and take down the Pyramids and Battlements of venerable Episcopacy but like the rough Sons of Edom raze it even to the ground And under hypocritical disguises contrive the sad prodigy of Treason whereby we see that Apostates to Atheism and Revolters to Schism are Monsters of ingratitude or Fiends incarnate who could imagine mischief against so much Mercy and sin against so great Goodness requiting the Protection of a gracious Prince with traiterous Machinations * See His Majesties Declaration concerning the Treasonable Conspiracy against his Sacred Person and Government read in all Churches and Chappels within this Kingdom Septemb 9. 1683. and under the mask and specious pretences of Religion bring to ruine the Government of the Kingdom as it is by Law establish'd in Church and State Loyalty like fresh and
are we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 living Laws and Royal Examples of greatness to the World when we do and speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so as not to disgrace but adorn the Gospel and consequently stop the mouths of all gainsayers by a controuling sanctity of actions and all men be wholly convinced or compelled to unity and obedience It is expected then whatever habits are in fashion among others that the Priests should be cloathed with righteousness adorn'd with a decent conversation and produce the fruits of good works these be the evidences of the Buds Blossoms and Almonds of Aaron's Rod and denote its Supremacy Nothing will restore the Church says a Reverend Prelate to its pristine honour love and authority in mens hearts and minds but a serious setting themselves to the study preaching and practising of truth and peace in a holy life These were the Arts these the Policies these the pious Stratagems by which anciently they gained peoples hearts to love God his Truth and of themselves the witness of it to such a height of honour and ecstasie of love that they received them as the Angels of God and Ambassadors from Heaven God grant the Tribe of Levi may be like Jacob's Ladder which he saw in Bethel Gen. 28.12 whereon were Angels ascending and descending so by our Office and Ministration Angels might in us ascend and carry up ours and the peoples supplications unto God and Angels by us descend to bring Gods Word and Message to the people that there may be the sweet contexture or agreement of Beings one espoused to another in faithfulness and truth even a blessed Union betwixt Prince and People and a gracious accord too of the people among themselves in an united conformity and conjunction in the Service of God being knit together in the inviolable bonds of Loyalty and love neither entoiled with Civil broils within nor infected with Hostile inroads from without but all professing that one eternal Truth which is both the Mother and Nurse of Peace we may enjoy such a tranquillity as in the days of Solomon when Judah and Israel dwelt safely every one under his Vine and under his Fig-tree from Dan even to Beershaba Or as it was in the days of Constantine when there was silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour and the prayers of the Saints ascended up as a cloud in grateful odors The prime perfection then and pleasure in this life second to that supernatual one Faith in Christ and Sanctification through the Spirit consists in the beholding Brethren to dwell together in unity which limns and shadows out the glorious Hierarchy of Heaven the Trinity in Unity for Deus est unitas omnis unitatis affector * Dionys Areop let us therefore express this unspeakable concord by the Sacrifice of our selves to a Spirit of Unity and Truth and not a Spirit of Error and Division which causeth the breach of Union the disturbance of the Peace and quiet of the Church As the unity of Faith joyns us so the bond of Charity tyeth us fast together through one and the same Spirit to unity and godly love because Schism is the next way to Heresie which is to be hated as a thing that leads to destruction And non semper servatur unitas in credendo ubi non est unitas in colendo there will not always be unity of Doctrine in that Church where there is not uniformity of Discipline Prophane Writers can tell us by concord the weakest * The Sun-beams disperst are but of small force but they gather strength if collected in a narrow glass Scilurus the Scythian on his death-bed as story tells us taught his fourscore Sons the force of Unity by a Faggot of Rods or as it is in Plutarch a bundle of shafts while together are hardly broken but if you divide them 't is quickly done And thus it is in Ecclesiae fasciculo Hosea prophesieth destruction but this doth usher it in Their hearts are divided Hos 10.2 things grow strong by discord the mightiest States are overthrown Though States differ the Communion of Saints must be preserv'd the Church should keep at unity and by united force repel Heresie After all our unhappy Divisions what can be more seasonable to the Genius of our Times than cementing counsel that all Gods Building may be raised up as of one stone by having cor unum viam unam Jer. 32.39 one heart and one way which was the Character of the Church Christians primitive Age Acts 4.32 for Division is a sad Prognostick threatning desolation when the stones of the building begin to fall off from one another the house grows ruinous Isa 30.13 and the breach thereof comes suddenly in a moment May the number of those increase that are friends of Sion and the generation of those perish that make it their design to lay waste the City of God and bury her in her own ruines Did the godly Jews mourn for Judah And shall not the English Nation for the Land of our desires and Nativity O that ever such an inlightned Goshen should hatch or harbour such black Monsters that would gnaw out the bowels of their own Mother That so many Judasses should be found amongst Christs Disciples The Prophet Isaiah saith Isa 15.5 Chap. 16.7 9 11. My heart shall cry for Moab and bewail the vine of Sibmah I will water thee with my tears O Heshbon and my bowels shall sound like a harp for Kirharesh Is not England as dear unto us and have not we as great cause to lament for this Church and State the Womb that bare us and the Breasts that gave us suck Every one ought to bow down and go heavily as one that mourneth for his mother by reason of her Divisions * No Church so fair in this World as to be without spot and wrinkle none so happy as to be wholly priviledged from jarrs and dissentions The Jewish Church in Christs time was full of divisions there were Pharisees Sadducees Essenes c. In the Church of Philippi what contestations and tumults broils and factions were there and that not Oeconomical about meum and tuum but Ecclesiastical and in matters of Religion by those of the Concision those evil workers as S. Paul calls them In the flourishing Church of Corinth where there were so many Christians of the first magnitude eminent for Religion and Piety yet even here are strifes and divisions inasmuch as S. Paul wrote his first Epistle to dissolve those factions and repress those dissentions that were amongst them In the Church of England to come home to our selves there is Presbyterian Independent Anabaptist and Quaker and it may be said of our days as in S. Paul's time at Corinth There are divisions among us In Paradise there was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only in Heaven there 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full and perfect harmony without any discord but we can't
RELIGION AND LOYALTY MAINTAINED Against all Modern Opposers IN A TREATISE ON The 29th of May 1681. being Trinity-Sunday and Anniversary Day of His Majesties happy Birth and King and Kingdoms Restauration By HENRY ANDERSON M.A. Vicar of Kingsumborne in Hampshire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fear God Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 LONDON Printed by J. M. for Will. Abington near the Wonder-Tavern in Ludgate-street and Will. Clark Book-seller in Winchester 1684. TO THE High and Mighty MONARCH CHARLES II. By the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Most Dread Soveraign AMongst the multitude of Sacrifices which daily offer themselves to your Sacred Majesty of the richer sort if this mean Oblation of a Turtle find your Royal Aspect speaks only the Grandeur and Heroick Greatness of England's Monarch who darts the diffusive beams of your Goodness throughout your Realms on your Liege People by your auspicious and most gentle Government being cherish'd by the gracious Rays of Soveraign Power as the obscure parts of the Earth are by the radiations of the Sun These happy Influences like the Dew of Hermon descend upon all that are not guilty of Disloyalty and trample not on Regal Power in abstracting their Allegiance for such are no longer Subjects but Rebels that despise Dominions and speak evil of Dignities contemning the bright and splendid Crown of Soveraignty Sacred and Divine is Royal Majesty as it is a reflection of that above and it is the Glory thereof to protect things Sacred therefore it looks so high and prefixes so mighty a Name which can give a sufficient value to things in themselves both mean and worthless however imperfect your favour is able to supply and give it life if the production be not unworthy you Royal Patronage yet it is not improper to lay it at the feet of Majesty because the Holy Trinity that Theological Mystery is the Article of our Creed and it can't take a more rever'd Sanctuary for its safety than the Defender of the Faith whose prudent and Princely Conduct crowns all our Felicities with a calm Tranquillity in Church and State therefore let us serve the Lord our God and Charles our King whom he hath raised up unto us Long long may you flourish with a Crown of Glory on your head and a Scepter of Triumph in your hand bathing your feet in the blood of your Enemies and live to be as you are the delight and glory of your People and we trust under your shadow being not only to Moses a Protection but to all the Tribe of Levi that wait at the Altar and the great Argosie the Ship Royal of the Church would have dash'd against the rocks and been swallowed up by the quick Sands or by the malignity of cross and contrary Winds of a pretended Religious Crew who delight in Blood and Treason unless your Sacred Majesty who as a Guardian Angel that sits at the Stern by some propitious gales from Heaven had guided and conducted her to the fair Havens of Peace As Protection so it humbly craves Acceptance because goodness is the honour of Greatness and that Persian Monarch was not more famous for accepting a little water from the hand of a loving Subject than your Sacred Majesty is renown'd through Britain's Orb for your gracious Clemency to all and particularly to the Offerings of the Sons of Aaron though this Piece blushes at the confidence of its Dedication as not worthy the approach of Royal Presence or Majesty's judicious Eye being like the straw and brick of Egypt very inconsiderable in regard of the polishing carving and Cedar-work of the Temple performed by a Bezaleel and Aholiab that can curiously work in Gold yet I contribute my Mite and cast my little into the Treasury but with such humility presented as speaks Loyalty and not presumption shewing the World in all expressions of a grateful mind and emanations of the greatest affection where Duty binds me to pay the Fealty and Homage of my Obedience Celebrating the Memory of this Day * May 29. with ebullitions of Joy and Satisfaction as it carries the propitious Star of Royal Birth with a Constellation of Blessings to the Kingdom in a happy and peaceable Restauration Almighty Goodness setled us on our old Basis and by a Miracle of Providence restored to us our Prince Religion and Government for which Mercy we magnifie the Glorious and Eternal Trinity humbly beseeching the Father Son and Holy Ghost to continue to your Regal Majesty a long and prosperous Reign over us with an affluence of Health and Wealth Triumphs and Conquests here and when you shall put off the Glories of a Temporal Soveraignty and lay down your mortal Diadem you may exchange it for an immortal Crown eternal in the Heavens being incircled with the Rays of Glory and Happiness in a Life that never pays Tribute to Death So prays Your Majesty's most humble obedient and Loyal Subject Henry Anderson THE HOLY TRINITY ASSERTED AND MONARCHY MAINTAINED Against all disloyal Opponents in a Treatise on the 29th of May 1681. being Trinity-Sunday and Anniversary Day of His Majesties happy Birth and King and Kingdoms Restauration Psal 73. vers 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee COntentment is the universal Center to which all the thoughts actions and contrivances of Men tend the point to which they are all directed is satisfaction This is the great spring to all the various motions of Mankind and however distant and contrary their ways and courses their inclinations and constitutions are yet here they all meet and concenter in this one reconciling object Contentment and satisfaction is that which the Learned seeks to obtain in his industrious quest after Knowledge This Jewel the Merchant seeks in his dangerous Voyages the ambitious in his passionate pursuit of Honour the covetous in his unwearied heaping up of Treasure the wanton in his pleasing Charms of Beauty the Conquerour in his earnest desires of Victory and the Politician in his deep Designs But alas the misery of Man is That he would find that in the variety of the Creatures which is no where to be found but in the unity of the Creator the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost For absolute content dwells not here below It is not in Granaries fill'd with plenty in ambitious Haman's state and grandeur in Samson's lovely Dalilah's in Nebuchadnezzar's Rule over the World it must arise from no other spring but God the Holy Trinity alone who is the only Principal of Being and Fountain of true content And King David draws a right line to the immoveable Center and directs the Soul to the true Zenith of happiness God himself Whom have I Heaven but thee God alone is the purest Truth the chiefest Good and final End of intelligent Beings which speaks the excellency of Christianity in reference to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sublimity
he applied himself especially to them to enable them for the high Mysteries of the Gospel and service of the Church by the reception of the Holy Ghost Joh. 20.22 23. Mat. 18.18 and a power of binding and loosing sins And Christ having founded his Church he left it in the hands of his Apostles therefore let us look into this pure stream of Antiquity and primitive Age of the Church In the first Synod there is no prelation of one or subordination of another but all the Apostles have equal vote and choice in the Substitution or Election of Matthias Acts 1. In that other about Circumcision all decree send and judge alike Acts 15. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us By which it is evident there is no Preeminence or Superiority but an Unity and Identity of Power according to that excellent Saying of S. Cyprian * Hoc erant utique caeteri Apostoli quod fuit Petrus pari consortio praediti honoris potestatis sed exordium ab unitate proficiâ—citur Lib. de Unit. Eccles The other Apostles are the same that S. Peter was to let us know that they and their Successors are pari authoritate pari consortio endowed with an equal fellowship of honour and power The Apostles now considered in their Apostolical dignity order of Priesthood and Authority of Preaching the light will display it self and chase away the darkness from us 1. In Apostolick Dignity then is no Principality by the Law of Christ for as they were all sent together Mat. 10. Acts 2. so they were all inspired at once the cloven Tongues like as of fire sate on each of them and they were all filled with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and gifts of the Holy Ghost which argues equality and that they are all Fellow-equals in Apostleship Rev. 12.14 The wall of the City saith S. John had twelve foundaâ—ions and in them the Names of the Lamb's twelve Apostles therefore no Primacy or preeminence of dignity being all Foundations of Evangelical Doctrine upon which the height of the Ecclesiastical Edifice is raised and Militant Church is built They are all Foundations and Rocks after Christ because they were all chosen to preach the Gospel and plant the Faith in every part of the World They were all immediately instructed by Christ they had all most ample and universal Jurisdiction throughout the whole Empire of the Church all endowed with an equal Authority as S. Cyprian expresseth it of honour and power which beats down the Rampire of defence and shews the Fortress of folly of the Romanists in their new erected Fort in challenging a Scepter of Supremacy and condemns the arrogant Usurpation of the See of Rome who will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Bishop in another mans Diocese and in appropriating that to himself which is common to him saith a Reverend Prelate with all the Bishops of Christendom 2. As to the Order of Priesthood there is no Supremacy of power to one above another in the Colledge of the Apostles because they could all equally consecrate the Body and Blood of Christ And the greatest favours to lapsed Mankind are the Sacraments where the visible corporeal Elements are the means by Faith to convey unto us spiritual Graces nay the whole Treasure of Christs Merits acquired on the Cross are made truly ours by a due reception of the blessed Eucharist for the holy Sacraments are the pledge of Glory and earnest of Immortality and the consecrated Symbols are the seeds of an eternal Duration springing up in us to Life eternal nourishing our spirits with Grace which is but the Prologue of Glory In the Divine Mysteries there is no Superiority as to Consecration it being not personal but publick not proper to S. Peter only but common to all the Apostles and consequently speaks an equal fellowship of honour and power as to order of Priesthood 3. As to the Authority of Preaching the Commission is equal Joh. 17.18 As my Father sent me so send I you which may extend not only to Jurisdiction and Ordination but Apostolical preaching Our Lord and Saviour being to ascend into Heaven commanded his Apostles saying Go ye teach all Nations Mat. 28.19 baptizing them in the Name of the Sacred Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost This commandment they put in execution and it was fulfilled Rom. 10.18 Their sound went into all the Earth and their words into the ends of the World S. Peter to the Jews S. Paul to the Gentiles no division or limitation of Jurisdiction but a distribution to all Provinces for the more commodious preaching of the Gospel Those ancient Worthies that first propagated Christianity had neither Diocese nor Parish but the wide World before them then all planting the same Doctrine every man had a care of all the Churches they went forth and preached every where * Mark 16.20 Eusebius and other Ecclesiastical Historians give us the recital and specification of the Nations and Countries S. Peter preach'd in Judea Antioch Galatia Cappadocia Pontus in Asia Bithynia and Rome S. Andrew in Scythia Europaea in Epirus Thracia and Achaia S. James the Son of Zebedee in Judea and Spain S. John in Judea and Asia the less S. James the Brother of our Lord in Jerusalem S. Philip in Scythia and Phrygia S. Bartholomew in the farther India and Armenia the great S. Matthew in Ethiopia S. Thomas to the Parthians Medes Persians Brachmans Hyrcanians Bactrians and Indians S. Simon in Mesopotamia S. Matthias in the higher Aethiopia And S. Paul and Barnabas in many Countries of Europe and Asia the Lord working with them What mean now these domineering Nimrods of Rome absolutely out of the plenitude of their Power to lord it over their Brethren as if they were â—specially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods portion and inheritance and all Christian Churches were in a state of subordination unto them whereas they are only Fellow-labourers and Workers together with us in the Vineyard of Christ Are ye Ministers of Christ so are we The Clergy are Branches of an Apostolical and holy Stock therefore let all Aaron's Sons who ascend the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and are devoted to the Altar as Gods Priests consecrate themselves to God and Religion that we and they may do the work of an Evangelist and with alacrity and chearfulness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 give our selves to prayer and the ministration of the Word shewing the Divinity of our Function not in great swelling words of vanity in an affected Predominancy Rule and Superiority over the Christian World so much contended for by the Souldiers of the Camp of Rome This in the words of Nazianzen * Nazian Orat. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to commend a goodly Statue from the shadow it casts and to pass by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those perfections which deserve our chief commendations i. e. sanctity and holiness of life which extol Gods praises and then
sway the Royal Scepter so also to yield Protection for the King is Custos utriusque Tabúlae Defender of the Faith and a Nursing Father to the Church And the Princely Power and Soveraign Authority with God's Blessing may still preserve the true and ancient Constitution both of Church and State from Anarchy and Disorder from Popish Superstition and Fanatical Faction For the King has his Authority over us from Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord sets up Kings saith the Father And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kings are from God says the Heathen Therefore I must be subject purely out of Conscience for the Lord's sake The Religion of the Church of Rome like the Laws of Draco are written in Blood and advanced by Policy and propagated by Violence their Vow of Poverty is such as to covet Kingdoms their Humility is such that they tread upon the necks of Emperours their Charity is such as to kill Kings making black TREASON a glorious Act and to merit the brightest Crown of Immortality and highest Seat in Heaven Whereas Christianity never used the Sword the Kingdom of Heaven is another kind of Warfare Christianity came attired into the World with the white of meekness 2 Cor. 10.4 humility and patience Christ the Prince of Peace never pull'd the Crown from any Prince's head but commands the payment of all Duties to Caesar and acknowledgeth Pilate's power to be from above Nay when our blessed Lord had power with his Ego sum to strike all his Adversaries to the ground or caused Legions of Angels to have stood in his just defence to revenge the injury of the People the violence of the Souldiers Mat. 26.53 Joh. 19.15 Mat. 27.27 28 29. Luke 23.11 Mark 15 15. the scorn of Herod the judgment of Pilate yet he yielded himself patiently to suffer to teach all his Disciples that resistance is an affront to Divine Authority This was the Spirit of the great Exemplar of our Religion this was the Genius of his Doctrine and his practice Nor did any of his Followers ever rebel against their Prince usurp the State or disturb the Government and though it was their unhappy Fate at first to be accused as Factious and Seditious yet none were better Subjects nor testified their Allegiance more to Authority S. Paul in the days of Heathen Persecution and Tyranny lays down this Hypothesis There is no Power but of God the Powers that be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are ordained of God If Religion be pretended an Heathen must not be resisted If Tyranny 't is damnation to oppose a Nero. They that resist shall receive Rom. 13.1 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wrath and judgment of God saith the Apostle This made the Primitive Christians those noble Spirits where they could not comply to suffer and thought it the greatest piece of devotion to be patient under all oppositions They were so far from conspiring into tumultuous Combinations that they freely offered themselves to the fury of their Enemies and quietly suffered all extremities of death and torment chusing rather to be crown'd Martyrs for Religion than be punished as Traitors for Rebellion It was not disability * Si hostes exertos agere â—â—llemus non deesset nobis vis â—â—merorum copiarum Vestra omnia implevimus urbes insulas castella municipia conciliabula castra ipsa tribus decurias palatium senatum sorum Cui bello idonei non promâ—ti suissemus etiam impares copiis qui tam libenter trucidamur Si non apud istam disciplinam magis occidiliceret quà m occidere Tertul. but duty not want of money or Martial prowess but a reverend regard to Imperial Majesty as commanded by God caused them not to avenge themselves The ancient Martyrs in saddest days as Tertullian tells us in his Apologetical Defence of Christians had courage to say to their greatest Adversaries Cruciate torquete damnate atterite probatio est innocentiae nostrae iniquitas vestra Rack us torture us do with us what you will or what you can your iniquity is but the proof of our innocency you think to weary out the Saints of the most High Dan. 7.25 by inventing of greater torments but the Sect ‖ Exquisitior quaeque crudelitas vestra illecebra est magis sectae nostrae plures efficimur quoties morimur Tertul. Apol. of Christians is the strangest Sect that you ever read of it is allured by those miseries whereby others are terrified S. Cyprian writing to Demetrianus the Governour of Africa and Christian Persecutor God saith he is the revenger of his Servants when they are annoyed therefore none of us resists nor avengeth * Nemo nostrûm quando apprehenditur nec se adversus injuriam vestram quamvis nimius copiosus sit noster populus ulciscitur Odisse non licet nobis sic Deo placemus dum nullam pro injuria vicem reddimus S. Cypr. ad Demetr himself of your unjust violence though our people are numerous and able to do it The innocent rest content with their undeserved punishments and tortures and thus we please God the more whilst we retaliate no injury ‖ Euseh Eccles Hist l. 8. c. 9. Eusebius tells us That in the Dioclesian Persecution in Thebais which was none of the greatest Countries of Africa were slain by various methods of cruel death so many that the Executioners were tired out In the time of Trajan also Tiberius the President of Palestine gives this relation in his Letter to the Emperor I am weary with punishing and destroying the Galilaeans who are called Christians according to your Majesties Command It was the inspired patience and courage of these great †The World admires the Lacedaemonians and Romans and they that had courage in any Age or place to dye for their Country they were so esteem'd by the Heathens that they had Statues erected Pictures ingraven Titles of Honour inscribed the World doing what it could to make their Names immortal how much better to suffer for Christ What Soul would not desire to have his Name inrolled in that Catalogue among the Cloud of Witnesses who wander'd up and down destitute afflicted tormented were stoned slain with the Sword sawn asunder yet not accepting deliverance on unworthy terms because they looked for a better resurrection Heb. 11.35 37. Heroes that blunted the very edge of Persecution to tire as the hands so the wits of their Tormentors to turn their pity at their suffering into envy at their patience to hug their Stakes as so many horns of the Altar letting fall * Magni animi est injurias despicere Sen. de Ira l. 2. c. 32. Absit itaque à servo Christi tale inquinamentum ut patientia majoribus tentationibus praeparata in frivolis excidat Tertul. de bon pat not so much as a tear lest it might quench some sparkle of that fire wherein they were with Elijah to ride to Heaven as in a Chariot ignis
our charity and unity but can't discern those greater lines of Duty Subjection and Loyalty And as the Scribes and Pharisees of old cry'd up every where The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord so we have many such now a-days who are seemingly great Champions for the Church and take great care of the Duties of the first Table and yet can freely indulge themselves in the violation of the second proving annoyances to the State by seditious Insurrections though the Christian Religion doth firmly oblige men to peace obedience and due submission unto Secular Governours there are many persons that owne that Name and yet entertain Positions wholly inconsistent with the Precepts of that Religion and the safety of Princes and their Kingdoms swallowing REBELLION * There was a time which is a precaution to posterity when men pretended a Call from God to do the work of the Devil viz. rebelling and then murdering the best of Kings erecting him a Scaffold for a Throne and for a Diadem of Gold gave him a Crown of Thorns and instead of a glorious Prince made him a glorious Martyr without regret which opens the floud-gates of impiety and lets in upon us a Chaos of Anarchy Libertinism and popular Confusion bringing a kind of present damnation on the World They that are Authors or Abetters of Sedition saith S. Chrysostome can neither avoid shame on Earth nor escape eternal Damnation Though God the great Judge do sometimes permit Rebels in his Justice to prevail against Kings for the contempt of the Law of the highest and neglect of their own duty the reward of Rebellion shall be no better than the recompence of Satan who is the Instrument of the Lords wrath for the punishment of all disobedience The Kings Power is from God and for any private person or any Club of Subjects to wrest it out is a double Usurpation First They invade Gods Soveraignty Rom. 12.19 who saith Vengeance is mine Secondly The Princes Prerogative whose Office is to protect and punish to defend the innocent and correct the Spirit of Contumacy and Rebellion relieve the oppressed and support the vertuous rewards to Merit as well as punishment to Sin and Vice are dispensed A terrour to evil doers 1 Pet. 2.14 saith the Text and praise to them that do well Therefore honour the King Secondly As the goodness of Heaven shines in the preservation of our Royal Soveraign from the Usurpation of cruel Enemies at home so likewise Divine Providence hath guarded him from Foreign Attempts of unreasonable men abroad and made the Plots and Conspiracies of these worse than Heathens of none effect and deliver'd our King and our Princes our Nobles and the Heads of our Tribes the Governours of our Church and Judges of our Land nay the whole Commons of this Realm from a fearful destruction that would have swallowed them up For when the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree to cut off Soveraignty and destroy the Lord 's Anointed the rest of the people who are the Branches must expect lopping The restless Emissaries of the Church of Rome whether Priests Jesuits or Colledge of Cardinals give daily proof of their inveterate malice against the King the Government and Protestant Religion thinking that new Massacres are the most effectual course to stop the cry of the old and that the readiest way to silence their Adversaries is to make them instances of the Truth of the Accusation If the great God of Heaven who refrains the Spirits of men that delight in Blood had not been gracious to our King and Kingdom you had not this Day been Auditors nor I Speaker of this Theme but all of us miserable Spectators of the contrary And the Pope's Triple Crown would have been set with many red Roses of great Triumphs in a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing less than utter extirpation of us and Memorial from under Heaven The Rivers of Rome may seem to run smooth their Sea is Blood the extracted Spirits of things work more forcibly than concrete Bodies take heed of an Elixir an Extraction of Malice sublimated spiritualized into a Religion The cruel Massacres of Primitive Christians * If we reflect on ancient times and look back to the course of the World in general in the first Monarchy we find a fiery Furnace in the second a Den of Lions in the third the madness and fury of Antiochus when to believe in one God was to be put on the Rack and to abhor Idolatry involved the Votary in cruel Tortures In the fourth Monarchy the ten Persecutions more bloody and grievous than all that went before for not to sacrifice to Idols and to offer Incense to Heathen Gods was cause enough to be torn in pieces by wild Beasts and be exposed to all manner of terrible Torments when bloody Tumults affrighted Christ's Members and chased them from their Devotions when the Priest became the Sacrifice and his Books in disdain were made a Burnt-offering will teach us the price of our own happiness and the slaughter of our Forefathers may upbraid our unthankfulness with the benefits of our peace 'T were good that we their surviving Off-spring would learn to make use of their happy Martyrdom In their crimson steps we may trace the way to our Saviour's Cross and read in the living memory of their Torments the sad Tragedy of his Sufferings The World at this day is well mended with us we know not the meaning of Rack or Faggot of Sword and Gridiron the Instruments of Romish Cruelty Let three Kingdoms therefore bow themselves as the heart of one man and praise God for his mercy unto his Servants under the Protection of our gracious and religious King Charles Heaven hath preserved our Church from ruine and confusion from the spreadings and prevailings of Errours Heresies and Schisms Superstition and Idolatry which strive to oppress us and to eclipse the truth and purity of Doctrine which is our Churche's Glory and so much offends the Eyes of Rome and makes them clip wash and new-coyn the Gold of the Sanctuary Lastly As Divine Providence and Goodness did this Day bring into the World our gracious Soveraign and hath hitherto preserv'd him from all Enemies Domestick and Foreign So the same special grace and favour of God did this Day bring home and restore to us our King a Prince of so much Clemency and Mercy that he is inferiour to none that sways a Scepter or sits upon a Throne His Restauration was wonderful without any Effusion of Blood The Voice of War is changed into Proclamations of Peace the Clattering of Swords and Spears is turned into the sweet Melody of Harps and the harsh Tones of Death into a Psalm of Thanksgiving O Lord thou art become gracious unto thy Land and hast turn'd away the Captivity of Jacob Praise therefore waits on thee in Zion and unto thee shall the Vow be perform'd in Jerusalem We celebrate the Memory of this thy Mercy in restoring our King and with him the free Profession of true Religion and Worship What doth God require now both from Prince and People but the acknowledgment of his favour He that will not glorifie God as the Father of Mercies in the rigour of Justice God may glorifie himself in his eternal ruine If we prove not the Heralds of his Glory Examples shall we be of his just indignation All tasting Mercy all should be thankful and though all have not Frankincense yet every one mâ—y have Praise Let us praise God for his miraculous preservation of our King and Kingdom Church and People and let it sound so â—oud this day as it may reach Heavens gates and meet with Hallelujahs which the bright Morning-Stars in their Orbs pay to their Creator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angels Liturgy is singing of Hymns of Glory And shall not the Militant Church say We praise thee O God our Souls do magnifie the Lord The Stork pays Tribute of her young the Trees of their fruits the Earth of her flowers and shall we be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without natural affection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without God in the world not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 return blessing and praise to the Divine Majesty for his infinite Blessing unto us We praise God in his Sanctuary and in the Firmament of his Power for his mighty Acts and according to his excellent Greatness Praise him with the Sound of the Trumpet with Psaltery and Harp with stringed Instruments and Organs shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Let us now direct our Prayers and Supplications to the Glorious and Eternal Trinity that all Blessings Divine and Humane Spiritual and Temporal like the precious Oyntment of Aaron's may be pour'd out on the Head of ouâ— Royal Soveraign length of days on hiâ— right hand on his left Riches and Honour that his Reign may be glorious and his Regal Vertues after this Life crowned with immortal Glory And we with the residue of God's holy Church may rise to that incomprehensible endless Felicity where the Blessings of the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity will gloriously shine upon our Souls for evermore Which God of his infinite Mercy vouchsafe unto us for the Mercies of his Eternal Son our blessed Saviour To whom with the Father and Holy Ghost three Persons one God be ascribed as most due is all Honour Glory Power Praise Might Majesty and Dominion the residue of our lives and for ever Amen FINIS ERRATA Pag. 56. line 13. for then read there p. 62. l. 10. fo Reershaba r. Beersheba p. 74. l. 16. for fair this read this fair