their Quarters SECT I. TO illustrate the truth of these foure Positions and withall to prove that the Churches were at first governed by Bishops and Presbyters he begins with the first Church the Church of Jerusalem Mother of all Churches from whence the sound of the Gospel went out into all the world This Church was under the charge of Iames the sonne of Alpheus one of the Apostles and his Presbyters No doubt by the consent and appointment of the other Apostles providing for the Church there before their departure into other coaâ—â—s This is comirmed too by Ignatius Clem. Alexandrinus This appeares by many pregnant passages of the Scriptures as Galar 1.18 Gal. 2.9 Act. 15.1 13 19. Gal. 2.12 All these places prove that Saint Iames had the charge of that Church as being the chiefe of that first Councel held there of which we reade Acts 15. and * And when James Peter and John c. nominated by S. Paul in that fore-named Epistle to the Gal. 2.9 before the rest of the Apostles some of whose names wee finde there recorded To denote his preheminencie and precedencie in that place And that he had Presbyters for his Assistants appeares by the second verse of the fore-cited Chapter of the Acts. ch 21. v. 19. where we find that S. Paul at his last comming to Jerusalem Acts 15. went in to Iames where all the Elders were present to advise with him that had the care of that Church about the great businesse then in hand how to behave himselfe towards those of the Circumcision who beleeved Of the Colledge of Presbyters at Jerusalem and of their concurrence and assistance with S. Iames in the Government of that Church we have two unreprovable Arguments in the Acts of the Apostles Act. 11.30 Act. 15.4 6 22 23. SECT II. THis pattern thus setled in Jerusalem the Apostles followed in other Churches which they converted to the Faith by preaching to them the Word of Life These Churches were first founded in Cities as appears by * Tert. lib. de Praescrip c. 20. Ac proinde Ecclesias apud unainquamque civitatem condiderunt Tertullian which is most worthy our observation For because they could not bestow their paines equally in all places reason required they should labour most to plant the faith of Christ in the most populous From whence it was propagated through the Townes and Countryes which were adjacent to those Cities which therefore in time became and were called the Territories Parishes or Dioceses of such or such Churches Now the form of Government estated by S. Paul over these Churches is pointed out to us Act. 14.23 where we reade that Paul and Barnabas ordained them Presbyters in every * Viz. in Lystra and Derbe Cities of Lyconia and in Iconium Church i. e. Colledges Bodies or Companies of Presbyters to order with common advice and joynt consent the Churches planted by them in severall Cities This appeares too by the 20. of Act. 17. where we find that there was a Bench of Elders at Ephesus for which Paul sent to Miletus Philip 1. Thus in the Church of Philippi you shall find that the Apostle directed his Epistle to the Bishops and Deacons there which must be to the Colledge of Presbyters next above the Order of Deacons So when the Apostle writeth to the Thestalonians 1 Thes 12. And we beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord The multitude whereof he speaketh is to be understood like wise of the body or company of the Presbyters And in all Church Writers you shall find continuall remembrance of these Presbyters whensoever there is speech of Mother Churches in Mother Cities Now the Presbyters being styled in the holy Scriptures by the name of Bishops Quest a Question will arise from hence Whether the Apostles from the beginning ordained Bishops over the Presbyters Wee must needs answer Negatively Resp And the truth of this will appeare out of Act. 20.17 where the Apostle using these words to the Presbyters of Ephesus Take heed to your selves and to the whole flocke over whom the holy Ghost hath made you EPISCOPOS Bishops or Overseers Where as he giveth the name of Bishops to the Bresbyters so he addresseth his instructions to none befides From whence we may probably infer That at that time there were no Bishops If there had been any S. Paul would have mentioned them with respect to the eminencie of their office So we finde none at Philippi Phil. 1.6 as is evident by the Epigraph or Inscription of that Epistle to the Philippians None in the Church of Corinth as is collected by S. Ambrose and others from the many and great disorders which the Apostle sharply taxeth 1 Cor. 11.21 All which happened Vide Tert. de Praeserip c 36. where he calls the fore-named Churches Apostoloram Cathedras By which it appears that the Apostles sate there as chiefe because there was no Bishop to compose the differences of that Church in the Apostles absence It seemes then that the Apostle himselfe had taken the chiefe charge and oversight of those Churches wherein he had planted bodies of Presbyters This appears by that place in the 2 Cor. 11.28 Besides those things which are without that which commeth upon me daily the care of all the Churches See Acts 15 36. 1 Cor. 5.4 where he proceedeth in the sentence of Excommunication against the incestuous person and requireth of the church i.e. the Presbyter to see it satisfied And the whole frame of his Epistles containes the Acts of his Spirituall Government which he reserved to himself in chiefe over the Churches which he himselfe had planted The like may be asserted of Saint Peter in respect of those Churches committed to his charge Vid. 1 Pet. 5.1 where he directeth his exhortation of feeding the flocke to none but Presbyters which St. Hierome long since has maintained out of the 13. to the Hebrewes 17. where the Apostle writeth in the plurall number Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves c. SECT III THings being thus setled when the Apostles by reason of that multitude of busines had not leisure to attend in person upon the Churches which they had planted they appointed certaine Heads or Superintendents over the company of Presbyters which Heads ever since have retained the name of Bishop Thus were Timothy and Titus made Bishops over the Churches of Crete and Asia Whose Mother Church was Ephesus when it was revealed to the Apostle S. Paul that from thenceforth he was to make the Westerne parts of the world his Diocesse vid. Act. 19.21 And it was at Ephesus where S. Paul thus bespake the Elders Act. 20.25 And now behold I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdome of God shall see my face no more And knowing by revelation that hee was to serve God no more in those Easterne
PALAEMON OR The Grand Reconciler Composing the great Difference and Disputes about Church-Government AND Discovering the Primitive Government of Churches built upon the Word of God and the practice of the Apostles Compiled by one who labours for the Peace of the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Can. Conc. Nic. JEREM. 6.16 Aske for the old way which is the good way Anno MDCXLVI THE PREFACE To all true-hearted Christians and good Subjects who desire a blessed Conjuncture of Truth and Peace and an happy Reformation in the State and Church AS Sufferers may complaine and Sorrowers speake so we Divines who are Seers ought not to be silent when we discover a Quick-sand of errour or any rocks of sin at which a soul may dash to its eternall perdition There is a Coward in the field who is like the Wise-mans foole his heart is at his mouth and he knowes not what he does professe forgetting even that he weares a Sword for his defence There is likewise a Coward in his faith who is like a foole that seemes wise for his mouth is in his heart and he dares not professe what he knowes not remembring that God hath committed to him the publication of his Word at which the men of this world take offence and had rather be fed with pleasing truths to their destruction then heare of true Doctrine which crosses them in their pride and ambition I am perswaded this ensuing Treatise will offend those who being of Aerius his spirit oppose moderated Episcopacie for no other end but that they themselves might Lord it over Gods heritage with a Tyrannicall Insolencie The Character which Chrysostome fastens upon some proud Heretiques in his time Hom. 8. in Gen. will fit with such mens arrogant conditions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They pretend Piety and Moderation but if they were throughly sifted and their thoughts ript up we should finde a Lions heart under a Sheeps skinne That which they doe but pretend is our totall aime and that is Moderation a Vertue so admired by that Secretarie of a French King that being commanded by his Soveraigne to set downe in writing the best word that he ever met with in all his reading he writ in a sheet of paper the French word which is sutable with our English Moderation It is for want of this that men as Chrysostome speaks runne headlong into precipices of Schismes and Divisions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Gen. It is for want of this that to repaire an accident the substance is destroyed as when instead of paring a mans nailes one should cut off his head It is for want of this that a Calling found and built upon the Scriptures allowed of by all Councels and for 1500. yeers settled without gain-saying in all Reformed Churches should now be cryed downe as illegitimate and spurious and all for the defect of some Persons Let us then have no Generalls because some have beene found tardie in the execution of their Commissions Let us have no more Captaines because some have been faulty in the discharge of their duties No more Judges because some have perverted the Lawes by their false glosses I speake this with griefe Considering what a shame it will be to our Nation when it shall be reported in After-Ages that instead of taking off the mosse and scraping off the mould that adhered to the fabrick of our Churches admired government the whole building was destroyed and another set up greater in bulk and not consisting with Monarchy the liberty of the Subject such is a Presbyterie Which I could prove and which Idol I would court and labour to set up if I were an Aerian i.e. ambitious if I desired 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristoph in Nub. to ride upon the neckes of the Gentry and the shoulders of my Parishioners being thus mounted I should be shot at with envy and hatred which would be a meanes to hinder the passage of the Gospel and choke the seed of the Word which takes root in those hearts only that are garnished with love and liking to their Ministers Againe when I consider with sorrow and teares the sad distempers the many Schismes and Heresies under which the Church now labours with shame and scorne from its enemies I must needs submit to the judgement of a wise man who concludes of an impossibility to settle these disorders to suppresse the daring boldnesse of Anabaptists and other Schismatickes unlesse there be set over the Presbyters in every Province grave and wise Overseers i.e. Bishops to restraine by their authority grounded upon the Law such mens bold attempts who flye even at the Crowne and sow the seeds of errours in the mindes of poore Christians who swallow all doctrines if ushered with a seeming authority from the Scriptures And sorasmuch as every Sect will be busie in tempting others after it and so make a fatall rupture in the body and teare the Church in pieces by their multiplied divisions no better way is conceived to prevent these fearfull mischiefes and to re-establish Unity both in Doctrine and Worship in the Church then to invest one with power who not medling with temporall affaires shall with the advice and consent of a few grave Presbyters assisting him in his monethly Visitation strangle Schisme in the Cradle nip it in the bud and see that all inferiour Ministers discharge their functions both in Doctrine and Life The last of which as the Chancellor of Paris once said is the best Oratour to perswade Gerson and the best Comment upon the Word and therefore it is most necessary that every Minister be reformed himselfe if he means to instruct others in the way to heaven and happinesse Episcopacy moderated promises this reformation in the Church It was that whereby Crathilinth King of Scotland who succeeded Donald setled the Gospel of Christ in his Kingdome with the extirpation of idolatry which the Druides those idolatrous Priests had set up in those parts The godly Ministers by whose ayd and assistance the King did this were termed Colidei or Culdees Veteres Scotorum Episcopiâ—e Monasteriis electi cum ad huc non honor is lucri sed sanctitatis doctrinae certamen inter eos esset c. Buch. hist who as Buchanan himselfe asserts chose out of themselves eminent men in piety and knowledge to oversee the rest and to keepe them to the performance of their ministeriall offices with a discreet carriage of each one towards another in their severall Societies those Overseers Buchanan calls Episcopos Bishops not Superintendants In a word Episcopacy thus moderated will be by Gods blessing a meanes to reduce things and persons to that purity which God expects of us and which once acquired the Sword shall turne againe into the scabard our Wars will cease I know that middle counsels ever displeased both parties that were at ods and variance Hist c. 1. p. 437. a proofe hereof we have in Pope Pius rather
Impius the 4. in the Councell or rather Conventicle of Trent and I doubt not but by propounding this way of moderation I shall purchase many enemies and lose more friends However I shall comfort my selfe with that saying of the Apostle If I seeke to please men I am not the servant of Christ And I shall intreat all my fellow-labourers in Geds Vineyard the Ministers of the Word and Sacraments V. 3 4 5. to looke into the 13. Chapter of Ezekiel where a woe is pronounced against those Prophets who are like the Foxes in the Deserts i.e. hide their heads which go not up into the gaps neither make up the hedge of the house of Israel This Text set a spurre to my backward intentions it stirred me up to snatch a Candle out of another mans hand to give light to them that are in darknesse and are misled with corrupt and blinde Teachers whose aime is to pull others out of their seats that they may step into them themselves and when such giddy-braine Drivers shall get into the Chariot box when men led with Phansie and Ambition shall sit at the Helme of our Church then woe be to the State woe be to the Kingdome I feare they will encrease our misery and confusion To prevent all which and their inevitable ruine I desire all good men to joyne with me in their prayers to God for an happy and an honourable Union between the King and his Subjects that Mercy and Truth may meet together Righteousnesse and Peace kisse each other Amen T. N. Faults escaped correct thus Page 2. line 2. reade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 6. l. 2. reade i.e. the Presbytery to see it ratified p. 8. l. 23. reade this inference PALAEMON OR THE GRAND RECONCILER I Remember a passage in the Preface of a judicious Work written by Mr. H. one of the Assembly against the Independents In that Preface he humbly beseeches the Honourable Houses of Parliament to settle a Government in the Church and that with all speed fearing lest that if it should continue long without a fence and without Dressers and Pruners to purge and weed it to defend and guard it Psal 80.13 this Vineyard would bee rooted up by the wilde Bores out of the wood Rome is a wood full of perplexities and errours The Jesuited Papists are wilde Bores full of cruelty and malice And besides these the little Foxes the Schismaticks which we are commanded to take and kill Cant. 2.15 these would devoure the grapes of the Vineyard and trample all good Orders under their feet by which meanes there would be laid open a wide gap for all damnable Heresies Schismes and Errours which in a short time would spring up and cover the face of the Church The truth of this we have now found by sad experience Two black Devils Heresie and Schisme attended with a train of horrid opinions raised from Hell that region of darknesse have marched in triumph with great boldnesse in all quarters of our Land and spawned the poyson of their contagious Tenets which have beene silenced for many ages and scarce heard of till this And thus whilest we are disputing what government is best our Ship is sinking and the Church may rightly say with some alteration what the Mariners once to certaine Philosophers sporting with their danger and prating De ente non ente in a storme whilst they were perishing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doe you sport with your pens and tongues whilst my enemies are diving into my bowels with their swords and raking in my wounds And well may the Church take up that sad lamentation of the Prophet Ieremy Lam. 4.1 How is the gold become dim and the most fine gold changed and the stones of the Sanctuary are scattered in every corner of the streets How is the beauty of our Hierusalem defaced How are the beautifull flowers of this our Garden wasted I could spend many sheets in such mournfull Quomodos But as it is the property of a good Physitian not to fill his Patients eares with 〈◊〉 but to apply a remedy or a fit cure and that with care and speed for his griefe or malady so it is as vaine to weep over a gasping and dying Church and not to propose a Medicine to prevent its ruine I dare not be so bold as to prescribe of my selfe what Cordiall is fittest for a bleeding State and to advise how the ruines of this our Vineyard may be repaired Onely this I dare in all humility assert that there are two Fences most expedient the one to keep Gods wrath out and that is our hearty sorrow for our sinnes the other good government to keep good order in and with it to maintaine quietnesse and peace within our walls which peace is Religions Nurse My earnest and hearty desire of which happy peace by a blessed re-union of the disjoynted members of this Kingdome to their King moved me to take courage notwithstanding the Tobiahs and Sanballats that oppose it to collect as was once desired out of the approved Worke of Mr. Thorndike The Booke is entituled The Primitive Government of Churches a modell of the best and most ancient Church government setled by the Apostles in the East and Westerne Churches for which we have a full and cleare authority out of the holy Scriptures and which I doubt not will satisfie all parties but the Independents who would turne Christian liberty into licentiousnesse not allowing any Government either in the State or Church The Government which that worthy man labours to commend to the judgment of our Nehemiahs our State-Governours is that which is most consistent with the Crowne and the Supremacie of the King which as his Majesty himselfe confesses in his Answer to the Nineteen Propositions is tempered and allayed with an Aristocracie i. e. the Authority of a Parliament His great Councell to advise Him in all affaires which concerne the wel-fare of the State In reference to which the Government of the Church founded by the Apostles and which is certainly the onely remedy to prevent disorders in Ecclesiastick and Lay persons is a mixt Government consisting of Bishops and Presbyters Which that it was established by the Apostles he evidences by many ensuing arguments laying down first these four undenyable Truths on which he builds the fabrick of his learned Discourse 1. That the Apostles during the time of their continuance upon earth took upon them the oversight of those Churches which they planted 2. That each Apostle fixed his abode in and placed his care upon some one particular Church though all the world were to them a Diocesle in that they undertook to preach the Gospel to all Nations 3. That the Apostles were Bishops of their severall Churches which they took into their care and charge 4. That the Bishops were successors to the Apostles Because they were trusted with the oversight of one Church which the Apostles for their owne time afforded to all within
Mr. Th. is most observable and waighty He advises in the first place that with all circumspection and providence great care be used in ordering the choice of them His meaning is that if the people in the primitive Church had an interesse or share in giving consent to those who were to be ordained Presbyters much more must we think it very just and fit that the votes of the Presbyters and consent of the people should now precede and concur in the designing of such persons under whom and with whom they are to guide and be guided in spirituall affaires such persons are Bishops who should be men most holy in their life and most eminent for learning Most happy would this Nation be if all our Prelates were such and if that prescribed method were duly observed in the choice such would there alwayes or for the most part be who should fit at the Helme of this poore distracted Church now like to that Ship in which Peter was tossed and ready to sink for want of good Pilots SECT X. LAst of all because this Apostolicall government by Bishops and Presbyters is chiefly exercised in Ordination Penance a question may arise Whether it belongs to the Bishop alone without his Presbyters to censure the offences whether in doctrine or manners of those persons who have received holy orders Mr. Th. clearing first that place in 1 Tim. 5.19 20. answers the question Against an Elder receive not an accusation but under 2. or 3. witnesses c. That without all doubt it was the practice of the primitive times for the Bishop with his Presbyters to take the examination of offending Ministers whom being convicted of their offence by the mouth i. e. the asseveration of 2. or 3. witnesses he in the presence of his Presbyters did rebuke before all in the sight and hearing of the congregation that others thereby might be strucken with feare to offend God and his people by their scandalous conversation If this course had been taken formerly with Ministers and Deacons it might have so pleased God that the Church should not now have layen bleeding and gasping in this fatall ruine Neither would there have beene given to our enemies so just an occasion of relating sad truths in Gath and Askelon Thus following the method of that most learned Gentleman I have cast his larger Modell into a lesser frame that the cmmon people may hereby be better instructed and advised not to thinke of destroying Bishops but rather labour and wish for the restoring of their Presbyteries which forme of government being set downe and delivered in the holy Scriptures is commended and countenanced by the agreement of historicall Truth and primitive practice as of the Apostles and other succeeding ages And seeing that the Bishops succeeded the Apostles in place and function I cannot but wonder that those should endeavour to destroy them those who are Sons of the Apostles Faith and Doctrine S. Hierom of all Church Writers least favorable to the Order of Bishops is neverthelesse most large in acknowledging that without it the peace of particular Churches could not be preserved In witnesse whereof we may appeale to those many and happy dayes which our Church since the Reformation by means of it hath enjoyed without such ruptures and factions which have happened in a neighbouring Church whose people were alwayes observed to be of all others most daring in matters of Religion to innovate opinions and break the bonds of peace by which the good and welfare of Church and State is promoted To re-establish which blessed peace after which we groane in our prayers with panting desires it could be wished that wee might see the Heads of our Church the Bishops stand as Mr. Th. expresses it well in their right places being set over Bodies or Colledges of Presbyteries which should consist of men conforme to the Church both in Doctrine and Discipline To the want of which government although some have attributed those many inconvenciences wherewith the Church is cumbred yet most of the Clergy-men that are versed in the affaires of the Church wishing its prosperity and peace doe acknowledge and confesse with a protestation against it That there is one in conveniency now setled in the Church which has done much mischiefe and cannot be redressed without a publique Act of Parliament It is the committing of Jurisdiction at large even that which by the power of the Keyes received from Christ is proper and essentiall to the Church to Lay persons as Chancellors and Commissaries c. who may still retaine that office and ranke they hold in regard of those other points of Jurisdiction in charitable causes annexed by the favour of Princes and Lawes of Commonwealths to the Church As the probat of Wils c. which is fittest to judge and determine in such cases yet may be nonplust sometimes for want of knowledge in the Civill Law and therefore may and must have need of such assistants who if they moved onely in the lower Sphere of the Law and medled not with that Primum mobile the great wheele of the Church the discipline of penance but did leave the execution of this to the Bishop and Presbyters If this were once amended and officers duly censured by the B ps their Presbyters openly in the Church or in any publike place of Justice And besides the exercise of this discipline if they enjoined their joint pains parts in the tryall examination of persons who come for Ordination providing that none be ordained but those who are either Assistants of and are presented to Cures according to our Lawes if this were faithfully done and Ministers without connivence censured who should offend either in life or doctrine then should we see Righteousnesse run downe like a streame in our streets and Peace would flourish within our wals and Plenty in our palaces This is my daily prayer and it is the desire of all good Christians Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris Give peace in our time O Lord. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem FINIS Kinde Reader The Authors of this Book being by multiplicity of imployments detained from meeting together to revise the whole before the impression was finished the Errata swell to a greater number then may stand with the credit of the Book but if thou pleasest before the reading of it with thy pen to correct these ensuing we hope it will tend the more to thy satisfaction PAge 1. line 5. 1 Joh. 5.22 read Joh. 5.22 p. 5. l. 26. blot out is p. 6. l. 22. in some Copies comparing r. conforming p. 52. l. 19. three r. two and l. 20. blot out these words 3. It is an exercised power p. 73. l. 6. in margin potentissima r. potissima p. 75. l. 7. serve r. swear p. 82. l. 3. conventies r. conventions and l. 34. essentiall r. severall p. 84. l. 14. subject r. directly and properly subordinate p. 85. l. 33. essentiall r. severall p. 87. l 4. seeing r. preaching p. 95. l. 36 37. blot out those words God hath not given us the spirit of feare but of power Tit. 1.7 p. 96. l. 25. 1 Cor. 19. r. 1 Cor. 14. p. 103. l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 111. l. 1. to 5. blot out the sentence from supposing to the period and l. 10. perfect r. profest p. 111. l. 7. because in no. r. but a. p. 115. l. 5. blot out joyntly p. 118. l. 3. blot out these words 3. He that sheweth mercy i. e. such as were to entertain strangers relieve the sick c. ver 8. p. 121. l. 10. blot out yet p. 123. l. 34. blot out well p. 169. l. 11. 1 Cor. 4.21 r. 1 Cor. 4.20 p. 172. l. 17. blot out of the Church p. 195. l. 5. a multitude r. multitudes p. 214. l. 28. blot out greater and l. 29. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Other literall faults will be pardoned of course