called his errors the restitution of Christianity And others that are wanderers hope to steal upon truth undiscerned by the conduct of new words and unused phrases and ever when men in their nomination of things do vary from the Law which is the quintessence of reason they do it in a humour which is the quintessence of fancy and when men suppress their opinions till they see a fit season 't is a sign they are more factors for fame then Lovers of truth and have a design of self to which the night of this or that policy not the Sun-light of an honest and open ingenuity must give furtherance The Right Reverend and Learned deceased Bishop of Salisbury tels us that in the Synod of Dort when the fourteen Divines that had subscribed their opinions in affirmance of Arminius his Doctrine first were demanded by the Synod severally whether they now acknowledged for their Doctsine that which formerly they had set down in collatione Hagiensi and published in print not one of those fourteen could be drawn to say in plain and expresst terms that he either held that Doctrine for true or he held it not but as S t Jerome wrote to Pammachi us concerning John Bishop of Jerusalem I cannot brook ambiguous words and sentences that bear two senses truths are best in their open dress what he accounts simplicity I call the malice of his stile loc that beleeves aright ought not to speak in a phrase unusual unapproved by true beleevers and Orthodox Christians Alas words are cheap when Boner was Elect of London he said he blamed Stokesly Bishop of London his Predecessor for troubling those who had the Bible in English saying God willing he did not so much hinder but I will as much further it yet he proved a most bloudy wretch and he can do little to his advantage that hath not his quiver full of them and disperses them not about to the credulous vulgar who are in some tempers and on some occasions so devoted to charity that they give themselves up to beleeve whatever is communicated to them in a serious manner with invocation of God and seeming self-denial When Nestorius after Sisinrius became Bishop of Constantinople he made an Oration to the Emperour in which he blasphemously said O Emperour clear the world of Heresie meaning the Orthodox belief and I will give thee heaven for thy reward yet when this man had his preferment he proved as great a plague to those Cacodox Christians who were not of his minde as to the Orthodox for within five daies after he was setled in his See he decreed demolition of the Arians Church and soon after vexed the Novatians because Paul their Bishop had a good name and was thought a pious man when once men swerve from Catholique Tenents and Phrases they run into a Cyclops den both of infernal pride and confusion and without great mercy never return thence by repentance but perish in their gainsaying for true is that of Tertullian Quod apud multos unum invenitur non est erratum sed irradiatum And therefore as the Sceptiques of old by their upstart Pedantism endeavoured abolition of all good learning turning all into utrum's and questionary debates and for that reason were opposed by the Ancients and their followers with great mordacity 〈◊〉 ought these in their new Systems 〈◊〉 Divinity to be treated as persons that have somewhat to vent contrary to the received faith who word it contrary to the received phrase And those saith a learned Bishop that will arrogate to themselves a new Church or new Religion or new holy orders must produce new miracles new revelations and new cloven tongues for their justification Till when I shall joyn with the Church of Christ in the belief that the spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets and that the Schools of the Prophets are most probable to acquaint men with truth and peace and to disseminate it amongst the people as that which will at once make happy both Church and State And though as the Jews in Christ's case and the Heathens in Christians cases bitterly inveighed sharpening powers against them as stirrers up of the people to mutinies and rebellions so it be common now also to possess Governours with ill principles in distrust of pious and regular Ministers and Professors yet will it be found upon search that nothing laies so strong a ground of just Government as true Religion for besides that Gods restraint is upon them and they dare not do that in his eye which will be rebuked by his word and punished by his hand of Justice they cannot be ill subjects upon the account of retaliation for where they receive protection they ex debito owe subjection and are injurious and ingrateful if they pay it not And no Magistrate is so merciless to his own fame as he who neglects to be a nursing Father to the Church and a Patron to her Schools of learning Digna certe res in qua totum occupetnr Parliamentum nisi enim haec semina dostrinae teneris animis tempestivè sparsa fuerint quaenam in Republica vel exoriatur spes vel adolescat virtus vel effloreseat pura Religio vera faelicitas As the University of Oxford phraseth it in their Letter to the Marquess of Northampton temp Edw. 6. For take away the encouragements of learning what despicable combinations of men will Common-wealths be what shall we do for learned Politicians skilful Physicians subtil Lawyers reverend Antiquaries polite Orators acurate Logicians and Schoolmen and facetious Poets Non omnis fert omnia tellus God and Nature by his leave makes us men but 't is Learning and Art renders us wise and worthy Houses of Learning are the Palaces in which these royal wits are educated and the world is as the field in which they scatter their seeds of renown and the stock on which they graft their noble Cyons and therefore as S t Jerome after he had writ that Summary of Ecclesiastical Writers from Christ's to his time breaks out Discant ergo Celsus Porphyrius Julianus rapidi adversus Christum canes c. Let them know quoth he who think the Church of Christ produces no eloquent Writers that they are deceived for there hath ever been a number of such who in all times have â—lourished in her and her have vindicated from that imputation of rustical simplicity that those Ethniques have charged on her So must I brand these enemies of Schools and learning as underminers of order civility and all good institution and endeavourers to surprise the Capitol of our Faith when learned men as the watch thereof are drawn off and discharged and therefore I appeal to such as prosecute Learning with contempt in S t Jerom's words to Jovinian when rehearsing that of the Apostle They are clouds without water he says Nonne tibi videtur pinxisse sermo Apostolicus Novam imperitiae factionem
and by Learned Bishops and Presbyters both of this and other Churches the Scheme of our Church-service and decency was ordered and to such a degree refined that Spalatenses a Forreign cals our old Praier-Book Breviarium optimè reformatum And no otherwise thought our Parliaments of those times as 5. 6. Ed 6. c. 1. 1. Eliz. c. 2. 8. Eliz. c. 1. call it a godly and virtuous Book and a means together with the preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments of the pouring forth of the blessings of God upon the Land Yea when the Popish Parliament of prâ— Q. Mary repealed the Act of the 6. Ed. 6. by which this uniformity of worship according to the Common-Praier-Book was setled The Stat. of 1 El. c. 2. saies That Repeal of Q. Mary was to the great decay of the due honour â—f God and discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christs Religion But we are wiser in our generation then those Fathers of Light our worthy Progenitors We are more holy then they because lesse orderly lesse solemn in our service of God then they yea to excuse our selves We pretene their Reformation was but partiall whenas God knows there are who wisely beleeve that their settlemenrs were such as will not be bettered by any their Successors For although they appointed set Forms of devotion for the Publike as a help to their weaknesse who could not pray without them and as a prudent entertainment of the Congregation while it was gathering which in great Parishes was long and unto Servants who came late beneficiall for by that means could they get time enough to Sermon yet intended they it never to justle out the gifts of men whom God had specially enabled to extemporary praier who therefore were left free to use their gifts both in their Families and before and after their Sermons Nor to soothe up people in ignorance or so to accustome them to Forms that they should never endeavour by seeking more interest in God to receive more ability from him Nor did they appoint Holy dayes to be kept in obedience to any Popish Canon or in memory of Saints but upon civil reasons thereby to give people ease from their hard labours and to call them to the service of God in prayers and praising of him as sayes the Statute of 5 and 6 Ed. 6. c. 3. Neither hath this Church kept decent habits for her Ministry out of a desire to symbolize with Popelings but according to the wisedom of the first Reformation confirmed by the 30 th Injunction of Queen Elizabeth wherein habits for order and distinction sake were enjoyned Ministers in their Universities and Churches These I say though carped at by many were harmlesly setled and some think might usefully have been continued but they are disused now and how much purer our Religion hath been since they have been voted down let the world judg Nunc seges ubi Troja fuit Only if good pretentions were enough the Donatists had them as much as the Orthodox yet 't was observed justly of them that their designs were brought forth by passion nourished by ambition and confirmed by covetousness I will not say any thing of those who wheâ—â— they had place misplaced things well ordered let God plead his own cause Aliter hominum livor aliter Christus judicat non eadem est sententia tribunalis ejus anguli susurronum multae hominibus viae videntur justae quae postea reperiuntur pravae saith S t Jerom Let men of fury and passion rave as they list being as S t Gregory stileth them appositely Bellonae sacerdotes non Eccleâ—iae Martis faces tibicines non Evangelii lumina Cometae infausti pestis dira omnia non stellae salutares Christum pronunciantes yet my judgement shall be with Gods leave calm and moderate I will pray for a peaceable temper and till I know better conclude that councel concerning forms and order in the Church good which reverend Calvin wrote to the Protector forementioned Vt certa illa extet a qua pastoribus discâ—dere non liceat I crave leave of the Reader for this excursion which I thought necessary and I hope he will not condemn as offensive A plain ingenious freedom best befits me who am to act no part but that of a good Christian and therefore it shall be my constant resolve to rank flatterers as Erasmus did Eriers inter falsos fratres who the more holy they pretend to be are the more execrable for nihil turpius sanctis parasitis But I leave them to their proper Judge and make to the third head of Antiquities Piety which consists In care to countenance truth and censure errors And here is good reason for this if we consider the nature of truth which makes the soul free not only in professing but also in not fearing what may be the consequence of boldly owning it which armed the Martyrs with invincible courage and made them more then conquerours over their fears and persecutors There is also much to be said for care to prevent growth of error even from the nature of error which in the words of Constantine the Great makes those in whom it raigns enemies to truth promoters of dissention and often of assassination counsellours to every thing contrary to truth favourers of dangerous and fabulous evils In a word being under a shew of piety great offenders and contagious to all that border on them The good Emperour by sad experience knew what shifts and deluding courses the Arians took to bring to pass their designs therefore laid he load of reproach on them And that not without cause for first they conveyed their poison under gilded pills and in not to be understood expressions and to such a clymax of vanity ascended they that they would allow none of the ancient Fathers to be compared to them but applaâ—ded themselves to be the only knowing men the only men of self-deniall the only men to whem Jesus Christ was revealed and to whom such mysteries were made known as never came into the thought or under the experience of any men before them that as Mahomet made use of an Epilepticall distemper in which to arrogate to himself divine authority so did these of an over self-conceit and pride of soul to be the only illuminates of their time Nay when Arius was called to account for his errors he averred he had rejected them and denied those to be his belief or doctrine swearing that he beleeved as did the Orthodox in the Nicene Counsell yet for all this holy Macarius made it his prayer to God to take Arius out of the Church least errors and heresies spawned too much for truth to overcome or outlustre them And good man it fell out as he feared for though the good Emperour took away from them their meeting places and commanded their return to the Church though they were condemned and banished
out the eyes of those their Teachers for whom not many years since they would have pulled out their own But enough of this I return to Traditions which while they contend with Scripture or are made as supplements to inch out Scripture thought too short I wholly disallow Though I confess I love ingenuous freedom and I beleeve Religion is not in many things so stiffgirt as some ridgid people suggest while they portray it clubsisted ready to smite every one it meets with nay in a keenness like Peters sword strait out and off with the ear of every opponent yet do I not comply with the judgment of some who rest on a Counsel-Canon as on Gospel and make less difference between them then is almost discernable because I fear it hath somewhat of a popish smatch in it for were not the Popes infallibility and the Popes virtuall presence and authoritative influence in Counsels in part leaned to some of our Profession would be more nice in that kinde then they are I will contest in reverence and duty to holy Counsels and Synods lawfully called and convened with any he that 's most a servant to them God forbid I should depraetiate worth in any man or judge my self fit to censure and not rather to be censured but this I say Da mihi Magistrum Christum Da mihi Regulam S. Scripturam In matters of this weight I 'le to the beam of the Sanctuary no Master will I own as to imperation over my faith but Christ I like not to crave mens pardons as the Sicilian Ambassadors did Pope Martin the fourths blasphemously Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi miserere nobis While they speak according to Scripture I 'le obey them and take heed not to offend them but if they prove illuminates and eccentrically wilde that they tell me Christ is in this Enthusiasm and that new Light which neither I nor they understand nor doth Gods word clear out to me they are to me but as tinkling cymbals I neither care for their Euge's nor fear I their Anathema's Whatever then becomes of other Writings my zeal and vote shall be ever to preserve the renown of the holy Books of the old and new Testament let loose persons call them by those profane nick-names of Lesbiam regulam Evangelium nigrum Theologiam atramentariam nasum cereum and let Atheists deride them they are the Christians Magna Charta for Heaven cursed be he that violates them to profane uses they are the Christians Canaan Let profane worldlings look with bloody Gardner's eyes upon it not endure to see the Book called Verbum Dei yet the sincere Christian values it as his Canaan the milk and honey of which refresheth him against his tedious march in the wilderness of this sinful and sorrowful life accounting all other Books as Egypts garlick and onyons to its Manna and Quails This this is full of the dew of Heaven as was Gideon's Fleece when all other Writings profit nothing but are dry and sapless 't is the Iliads which every devout Alexander who by faith overcomes the world lodgeth in his noblest Cabinet his heart 'T is the Tree of life on which hangs the Fruit of the knowledge of good and evil 't is the Ark of God in which as it were is the pot of Manna and Aaron's rod comfort and correction therein are Gods staves of beauty and bonds his binding and his drawing cords yea therein the whole duty of man both to God and his neighbour is comprized Now judge O man what could God do more for his Vineyard the Church then he hath done In giving her such an Oracle for her doubts such a Light against her darkness such a Touchstone of her Purity and her rivals adulteration And what can the Church do less in return to God then by signal fidelity maintain the honor and authority of this Canon deposited with her Let that blasphemous new light M r Edwards mentions call the Scriptures the golden Calf and brazen Serpent that set at variance King and Parliament and Kingdom against Kingdom that things would never be well till the golden calf and brazen serpent were broken to pieces yet next to heaven I will venter all I have in the holy war for Scripture He that comes to surprize that Capitol shall have my life his sacrifice and my prayers his curse and let all Christian people say Amen Amen This is the first Jewel in Antiquities Crown her zeal for the reverence of the holy Scriptures Secondly The elder Church Christian was express about a Ministry and the right qualification of Ministers according to the holy Institution of our Lord Jesus the great Head Doctor and Bishop of his Church who left her not as common in which every Christian as to the publick use of gifts had alike right but separated some to instruct to exercise power of the Keys to continue succession and to minister the holy things of the Gospel by virtue of an infallible promise of his cooperation with them to the end of the world This separation has been for many hundred yeers declared by Imposition of hands which the Church calls Ordination and has Apostolique practice to warrant it In Acts 6. 6. Stephen is mentioned to be a man full of faith and of the holy Ghost yet did he not execute any Ministerial Office upon account of his gracious qualifications till he was presented to the Apostles they had prayed for him and laid their hands on him a Scripture well to be weighed by men of contrary judgement especially since backed by the general practice of the Church Catholique For if the Churches fidelity in this Gospel Tradition and Universally received Ordinance should be questioned the Canon of holy Writ and all the Doctrines and Practises of Christianity will become litigious since the Church as the pillar and ground of truth is the deliverer and declarer of them And we are not to doubt but that the holy Ghost who leads into all truth hath rightly guided the Catholique Church to this belief since all holy men of all times and Churches how different soever each from other in Rites and situation have agreed upon it and accordingly declared themselves and nothing hath ever been found against it worthy the sway of our assents in contradiction to so Oecumenical an acknowledgment And truly I much wonder any should be of contrary judgement who ought to know the validity of Antiquities consent echoing to Scripture were Scripture silent had the practice of Antiquity no footing therein I should be as unwilling to follow it as any he that is most against it For that of Reverend Calvin is most true Si in sola Antiquitate c. If Antiquity be only the Judge then prodigious heresies which brake out in Apostolique times will become Catholique faith But when the Word of God gives rise to what in this kinde Antiquity embraceth and
to 1 Eliz. c. 1. confirmed by 5 Eliz. 1. so Canon 1. Convocat Anno 1640. In this was maintained the antique Episcopacy as of Divine right and of annexed Prelacy as of civil foundation and Regall bounty the sacred Order of Presbytery and the validity of Ordination by Imposition of hands and holy separation to to the Ministry Thirdly This Church of England hath answered Antiquity in countenancing Truth and opposing Errour both in Doctrine and Manners It hath ever yielded stout Princes who have been warm and kindled in the Cause of God against errours of all sorts Prelates and Preachers have flourished in it whose breasts and brains by constant reading and meditation became Christs Libraries As S t Jerom saies of Nepotian They that consider but the expences and rewards given by Ed. the 6. to learned men sent for hither to assist in our refinement the grave Councill took in the declaring of the Christian faith and doctrine of the Sacraments for avoiding of diversity of opinions and for establishing of consent touching true Religion the zeal and open Protestation of many of our Prelates and Professorâ— against Toleration of Popery By name the not long since deceased Primate of England Archbishop Abbot M r Powell Chaplain to the then Bishop of London D r Suâ—liff Dean of Worcester D r Willes D r Hackwell and others Yea all the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland as appears by the Instrument read and pronounced by the then famous B. of Derry Doctor Downham before God and the whole Estate of Ireland at the Cathedrall of Dublin The proceedings of King James with the States of Holland in the case of Voâ—stius and against others in the Synod of Dort the Synod of this Nation in Anno 1640. Can. 3 4. against Socinianism yea and the judgements against Hamâ—unt 21 Eliz. Anno 1579. and Lewis 25 of the same Queen and Hacket with others together with the many excellent laws and prudent sanctions for promoting the honour of God by incouraging preaching praying and holy exercises by commanding sanctification of the Lords day and prohibiting any servile work therein with sundry other provisions of like nature They I say that well weigh these things cannot but commend our Churches well-grounded zeal I wish those that rend from her would consider what S t Jerom said to some in his time Segregas te cúm tuis vermulis novâ—m balneum aperis si te Angelus aliquis aut Apostolus rebaptizavit non infringo quod sequeris si vero in sinu meo natus si uberum meorum lacte nutritus adversum me gladium levas redde quod dedi esto si potes aliter Christianus Fourthly This Church of England hath had the blessing of God accompanying her in her waies of study and practise of general learning and holy preaching 'T were endless to enumerate the learned Bishops laborious Presbyters renowned Physicians accomplisht Lawyers florid Philologers and practicall Clerks bred up in her yea so great so considerable they were that the whole Body of the University of Oxford in An. 1603. published There were then more learned men in the Ministry in this Land then were to be found amongst all the Ministers of the Religion in France Flaunders Denmark Germany Poland Geneva Scotland or all Europe beside This touch concerning the piety of our Church No less her charity This Church was much at unity with it self few snarling or factious spiritati's in her all her notes were by the book her language Canonique things were so carried as offence to tender consciences might be as much as possible avoided I know there were ever and ever will be smaller differences in the Church and who can help it since God concludes them necessary that those who are approved might be made manifest c. I am not ignorant that many bitter invectives and hot ragings were currant between the Disciplinarian and Conformable party but yet I trust I may say they kept the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and were not alienated in affection each from other Nor were they wanting in works of Charity to the poor Gods poor and the Nations poor to both there are instances of charity since the Reformation and extrusion of the Pope I 'le begin with the renowned liberality of King Ed. the 6. who by the advice of that after famous Martyr D r Ridley then Lord Bishop of London and after his Sermon preached at the Court upon mercy and charity was moved to found the Hospitals of Christ for poor Orphans and of S t Thomas and S t Bartholmews for diseased people besides which he gave great relief to house-keepers at their own houses To perfect which charity the Bishop travelled greatly and brought the Citizens of London into the work To them and their successors for ever he gave the charge thereof and on them setled lands to the value of 100 l per annum with license to take lands in Mortmaine to the yearly value of 4000 Mark all which he setled not above two daies before his death At which time in the hearing of his Councill he uttered these words Lord God I yield thee most hearty thanks that thou hast given me life thus long to finish this work to the glory of thy Name The greatest and most noble Work that ever I read of done by One man and he a subject was that of the Memorable Gentleman M r Thomas Sutton the Princely Founder of the Charterhouse for the entertainment of youth and decayed Gentlemen who by maims in the Warres or other casualties had been ruined The provision there is so bounteous that it hath scarce a match to it in Europe the very house and appurtenances cost him to purchase 13000 l which he endowed with five Mannors in Essex two in Lincoln and eight in Wiltshire besides very many rich Pasture grounds of near 4000. Acres in that County Two in Cambridgeshire besides his Lands in Hackney Marsh and Tottenham in the County of Middlesex and with all and singular the Woods Reversions Presentations and Rights of him the said Thomas Sutton in any the aforesaid Mannors Over and above this he hath given great gifts to poor Towns to mend High-waies to loans of young men to set up trade with gratis To the Prisons to certain Colledges to make additions to his Hospital â—5000 lb and to the Treasury of the House to defend their right if need were 1000 lb and other Gifts he hath given right liberally Next The Royal Foundations of the Exchange for the meeting of persons of trade and business and Gresham College by S r Thomas Gresham in part of which poor people are lodged and provided for and in the rest Lecturers in all the Arts are allowed is a most memorable act of charity and bounty So also is that of S r Thomas White Lord Mayor of the City of London who first purchased Glocester Hall
Ark been taken by the Philistims the glory had been departed from the Israel of Gods Church How much prophane mirth would the sonnes of Error have made with these Songs of Zion had God given them up into their power But blessed be God the Church hath ever had ane held the Scriptures in high value though not admitted all parts of it for Canon at one and the same time sometimes they found parts of it not in good hands as they thought other parts by Hereticks were corrupted and handed to them not as they were in the autographon but with emendations to which were added many spurious and rejectitious Gospels Prophecies and Epistles fitted to answer the lying divination Satan had no foot other parts of Scripture not primariò authenticae the ancients allowed to be read sub regulâ morum but not as a rule of faith but such only as were received from Prophets and allowed by Christ Jesus his Apostles and their Scribes and Schollers and their successors hath the Church owned and adhered to and those are the Books in the Canon of our holy Mother the Church of England not that all mouthes have been stopped or all Christians agreed in the harmony no all have not beleeeved Gods testimony in the Churches report and traditional fidelity S t Jerom tells us that it was usual with hereticks to corrupt Catholick Authors the Eunomians dealt thus with Clemens the elder and Ruffinus is not behind-hand for this trick while he prefixed the Name of a holy Martyr to a book of Arrianisme and Evagrius charges them of entitling their hereticall books with the Names of Holy Orthodox men such as Athanasius Gregorius Thaumaturgus and Julius in brief Theodoret is round with them telling us they cared not what Law they broke what boldness and freedom they took for maintenance of their wickedness nay oftentimes they made it the master-piece of their blasphemy to violate the holy Law of God As men in groves cut this stick and that wand they like and leave the rest so pick erroneous men this book and that passage here and there and leave the rest as useless Whatever is contrary to their device and casts dirt in their face they reject and disown their darkness and the light of Scripture agrees not Light is au ill guest to an ill conscience and because Scripture troubles their Owle eyes and dismantles their impostry they cannot away with it Tertullian perstringes the Valentinians for their clucking into corners and their sculking up and down and sayes Our Doves-coat hath no guile is open and visible to all comers who have liberty to see and hear what we do And 't is a Note unimprobated that patrons and professors of error and none but such have ever dishonoured Scripture or questioned its authority nor have ever any who had a grounded hope of Heaven by Gods mercy held themselves above Ordinances as the means of attaining it nor have they ever pick'd and choos'd cull'd and refus'd this and not that Ordinance but had respect to all Gods commands and equally adored all his dispensations Charge an holy soul with queaziness in this kind object to it that it loves not to be limited and enlarged by the word not to humble it self to God in prayer not to obey Authority for the Lord and for conscience sake and it answers in Hazael's word Am I a dog that I should do this No this spot is not the spot of Gods people 't would be a sully which mountains of niter could not cleanse 'T is true indeed in the interpretation of this or that particular Scripture there hath been yet is and ever will be to the end of the world different opinions and many passions have lathered so high that charity hath often layen in the suds as is the Proverb even amongst men otherwayes without exception as between S t Augustine and S t Jerom in the Exposition on the second Chap. of the Galatians yea and in many things and under many temptations some of you have lived and spoken somewhat against the majesty and authority of the holy Scripture as Origen by Name who therefore confessed his errors and publikely retracted them as appears in his Epistle to Fabian and as S t Jerom testifies in his Epistle to Pammachius and Oceanus And therefore Legends Canons and Traditions brought into some Churches as grounds of belief and made obligatory to the conscience as onely the holy Scriptures ought to be held are but of late date in the Christian Church for S t Jerom or Epiphanius in him writes thus to Theophilus That thou mindest us of Church-Canons we thank thee but know this that nothing is so antique as the Laws and rights of Christ And Father Marinarus in the Counsel of Trent denied that the Fathers made Traditions to stand in competition with Scripture but good man he was born down with the many voices that decried his sound assertion as that which better beseemed a Colloquie in Germany then a Counsel of the universal Church but what he said was nevertheless true because disliked by those vipers for as they then so their predecessors long before cried up Traditions and perhaps they had it from the Jews or rather from the devil the author of it both in Jews and others Our Lord Jesus arraigns the Jews for making void the Commandements of God by mens traditions and transgressing the Commandements of God by traditions yea of rejecting the Commandements of God to fulfill them and the Apostle S t Paul reproves this and cautions against it Beware saith he least any man spoyl you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ Where the Apostle doth not simply dehort from traditions in affirmance of Scripture or civil custom but from such use of traditions as tends to the eclipse of the testimony of truth in the word written which is transcendently above the witness of man and therefore I cry out to all those New-lights as S t Jerom did Spare your pains hug not the cloud of your conceits instead of the Juno truth Why do you bring that to sale which the primitive Church for four hundred years never heard of Why take you upon your shoulders that task which Peter and Paul never taught nor were they now alive would own untill this day the Christian world hath been without this Doctrine and I in mine old age will profess that faith in which I was born and into which baptized Would S t Jerom have been stanch had he lived to these times wherein old and sound Religion is like wormeaten lumber cast into the outhouses or like unfashionable furniture turned out of the chambers of note to adorn the Nursery or the Chaplains lodgings I trow he would and had he he must have reproached many professors who now would pull
late date and no pedigree hath this presumption beyond our times And I wish that these men who arrogate to themselves the Office of the Priesthood would consider how unqualified they are to it and return to their callings for by reason of these wandrings all the grand renown of Antiquity is blemished For they to gain a Name so themselves reprobate all Church uses and Church-stories and make them matters of superstition and offence to tender Consciences so wise are the children of the world in their generation But for all their confidence the Church of Christ will glory in that they count her infirmities she will preserve her Catalogues of Martyrs Confessors Bishops Presbyters she will own Churches and Oratories set apart for her use before Dioclesians time called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which daily increased in number and magnificence She will own Lyturgies and set forms of Devotion and can instance S t James chosen Bishop of â—erusalem by the Apostles called Jacobus Liturgus from a Liturgie he made for the use of that Church Maronita asserting Litnrgies made by the Apostles for the Eastern and Western Churches Origen speaking of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Eusebius of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used by the good Emperour Constantine in his Court by Justin Martyr Cyprian and others upon which the painfull Centurists conclude Without doubt certain forms of prayers publick they then had and they adde not to know and rehearse those forms of prayer was in a kinde to disown the name of Christian For as S t Augustine said of the Donatists then they ceased to be oâ—r brethren when they said not Our Father which art in Heaven And if set Forms be erroneous and to use them be an error 't is an error of the purest times and purest Christians so long as Christians have Christ Jesus for their Patron and pattern they may use holy set Forms not neglecting their exercise of graces in due time and place with much benefit I and the Church will avow set Forms of faith Creeds and Systems of sound Doctrine and belief such as were the Creeds which they and we call the Apostles the Athanasian the Nicene Creeds yea and those of Tertullian Origen Gregorius Niccaesariensis Nazianzen Victorinus Hylarie Basil Epiphanius Daâ—asus and others and singing of Psalms in her meetings ever since Ignatius his time witness also Plynie's Epistle to the Emperour Trajan which Eusebius records l. 3. c. 27. And sundry other things of like nature she owns without blushing wondring that any should distaste her for her fidelity And that order may appear to be the more conservative of whatever falls under its Empire I cannot but observe how precisely the Heretick Church imitated the Orthodox and so notably did they ape it that thereby they gained much consistence to themselves and gave much grievance to the Christians of more purity then were they The Arians had their Bishops and Presbyters eight of them were in the famous Counsel of Nice Nestorius was Bishop of Constantinople and there is mention made of Paul a Novatian Bishop and others they had their places of meeting in which were Scriptures read and Sacraments administred their Creeds yea and their Martyrs such as Metrodorus Themison and Alexander Eusebius tells us that the Montanists boasted of their Martyrs and no worder for S t Chrysostome gives us the reason The Devil saith he hath his humble and meek chastâ— and charitable his fasters and prayers of every good thing that God made to mans salvation he hath a shew and semblance which he imploys to seduction to the end that there may be no distinction between real and seeming good that plain-hearted men who are artless in distinguishing may be caught by the snares of those whom they mistake for the faithful servants of God Thus that Father And may we not fear this old Serpent hath been too busie in the differences in Religion not onely abroad in the world but also at home in this Church while he hath made divisions amongst brethren such as no age or story exceeds O Lord Jesus how sad is it to think that the legacy of peace which thou bequeathedst to thy Church is expended nay defrauded and lost in the crowd and throng of private passions and private insolence and that out of this Church should come evil instruments who not like theeves only steal grapes out of the Vineyard but like wilde Asses tread down all the Vines such as Boner who when truth is backed by power shews himself a very exemplary Protestant but when the Lord Cromwell was dead who preferred him for what of God he thought was in him then he proves the most pernicious Papist and bloody fiend that the Papacy here had and truly I think there is no Church-enemy so great as a waverer who is not much beneath an Apostate for he that is any thing to gain an interest will soon be nothing indeed to preserve it And in all this coyle and hurry in this Hinnon of distasts wherein our children of prudence have been offered in sacrifice to the Molech of Passion and Contest were carried as Suidâ—s sayes those were between Dorotheus and Maâ—inus both Arrians more out of pride then piety to advance their own wills rather then to polish truth to a pervious clarity for what is the matter speak Conscience be ingenious their faces will gather blackness of reproach at the last day whose have not now the blush of full and free confession Was Christ and his Cause holiness and her Rights the main drift the cause of mounting the scaling-ladder against the Church speak ye sons of Levi whose thunderbolts not long since rent all in sunder and whose virulent irritations made such wide breaches in charity There was I confess â— time when Priests were ingaged in wars but not with their brethren but Midianites not by choice but command of God Ye grave men of the Clergie who dissented from what was established by Law and hoped to have had your judgements answered to their latitude in the change of Church-polity suffer me I beseech you to bemoan that ye should rise up in prosecution of your spiritual Fathers and brethren whose blemishes that Evangelique piety should have covered and for whose reformation not ruine ye should have strove in prayer with God and by petition to men did ye well to be angry have ye comfort in those reproaches that some cast on you when yoâ—r frailty is displayed in the Escocheon of your punishment When Reuben grows unstable as water and goeth up to his fathers bed no wonder Jacob condemns him not to excell though once he were the excellency of dignity and of power Ought ye not O holy and pious souls to have stood between the living and the dead and said to the destroyer when he was no adder to your
him error is a purpresture which the Tenants of the Lord of glory ought to present as a grievance I must not cut large thongs out of Christs leather the Churches and every Christians power is by and under not besides or above Christs I finde amongst the Ancients two chief practises for estâ—â—ishment of truth and conviction of error One was to preach and write truth taking all opportunities to call their auditors and disciples together and when their own parts were ripest and their hearers in fittest temper to be wrought upon then they catechized them they explicated Scripture to them In many of the Fathers we finde Homilies for every day almost especially at some times of the year as also upon Feasts and great solemnities And as their preachments were frequent so were their lives continued Sermons those Pilgrims and strangers here l'ved as having their conversation in Heaven as bringing themselves under subjection as disâ—ntangled by the world I ever think moderate and unengaged men competentest Judges Anchorites are likest to give the truest account of divine contemplation they who care not to die are most valiant for the truth and value not those theeves of fear and flattery that misguide the most to their own infamy and other mens seduction I read in S t Jerom of Anthony Hilarion Paul and Malchus who left the world out of zeal to serve Christ in a severity of life and in the Church story there is frequent mention of Ignatius Polycarpus Athanasius and others whose whole lives were spent in circuit of doing good instructing the ignorant convincing the obstinate confirming the wavering comforting the dejected reclaiming the exorbitant and restoring the lapsed Christians Not solliciting their own gain not labouring their own preferments not jubilating their own praises not seen in Princes courts not the Parasites of their Tables not partakers of their pleasures not busie at publike conventions of State and seducing this and that mans soul by the tickle of his ear No this is the traffick and guise of pieties Apollyons of Court Sollicitors Jesuited spirits such as Philip the second of Spain called Clericos negotiatores such as Marcus Antonius Columna Viceroy of Naples described to have la mente al cielo le mani al mundo l'anima al Diavolo not of Church-men men sacrated to God The old Fathers were in fastings often in prayings often much upon the pearch of holy meditation these Elijahs had left the mantle of earthly care when they passed to Heaven in the whirl of a holy rapture O hearts set on fire by divine charity O hands elevated in zealous oratory O eyes fixed on Heaven in devout confidence O souls in your Saviours bosom while in your own breasts What seek ye for whom are ye pleaders If ye ask grace ye have it 't was that which moved you to ask it If ye seek a Kingdom 't is yours you have the prelibation in assurance aud ete long you shall have the possession are ye not contented to be happy your selves but would ye have others also joynt partakers with you in your Crown O inculpable ambition O immitable love O grace like the giver of it free and indeterminable But if these Church-Champions saw error come in like a mighty flood daring with Goliah any to encounter it then they took up the Sword of the Spirit and bestir'd themselves with all their might S t Jerom mentions not only Athanasius encountring Arius and after him Eustathius Bishop of Antioch but Origen taking Celsus to task and Methodius Porphyrius so S t Augustine the Pelagians and Manichees S t Cyprian the Jews and Novatians And if Powers menaced rhem as the Proconsul did S t Cyprian that he will write the Christians rules of obedience in his blood all they make of it is the will of God be done they had no cursings and anathema's no bloody execrations or unchristian imprecations on Governours but holy submissions to that Power before which they had the honour to make their confessions Christ bore a highher price in ancient times then a little pelth or a breath of favour or a small compass of land amounted to S t Jerom tells of famous Apollonius a Roman Senatour in the time of the Emperour Commodus who being by his servant discovered to be a Christian and asked by the Senate whether he were so in all hast replied Yea producing a large Confession of his Faith which before them all he read and by their decree was put to death according to an old custom among them That no Christian convented before them ever came off with his life without deniall of his faith O glorious conquest of faith over frailty when never men with more animosity contested for temporall Crowns then these for Martyrdom never pusillanimy more willing to save life then these Martyrs daring to lose it for Christs sake O stupendious masteries of nature when destroying flames were to Christians as Jubilees to bondmen that day of death beyond this of life Lord what fair copies have our foul lives and faint deaths How farre short ought we to come of Martyrs Crowns who have not in our selves the courage to dare nor deserve to have from God the honour to die for his cause O Antiquity our shame our accuser how art thou acclamated by the Mercuries and Orators of Ages for thy Piety Charity Zeal Order there is no blemish in thee thou art all lovely compared to us who envy thy praise but follow not the pattern Let then the world hang out what Trophies it will let the Grandees and excellentissimo's of it dream with Julius Coesar that they are joyning hands with Jupiter and making a League offensive and defensive between their two great Monarchies of Heaven and earth the Church will glory in nothing but the Cross of Christ and in her Cross for his sake her peace is founded upon the blood of her Saviour and her encrease owns much the bloud of Martyrs as S t Jerome elegantly Religion for above a thousand years together was next to Gods mercy supported by praiers and tears It never leaned on these worldly props of power 'T was never a bond of iniquity or a holy League of disloyalty Holy men never attempted to resist authority though they had number to make good their opposition Their faith in God put them upon praier for their Princes though Persecutors We pray saith Tertullian for Emperours that they may have long life peaceable Raigns orderly Courts Valiant Armies Faithfull Councels Discreet Subjects and all the world in amity with them yea so true were Christians to heathen Governours that they served them faithfully both in Armies and Councels Eusebius tels us of Marinus a Christian in great command in the Roman Army and of Astyrius a Christian who was a Romane Senator so much meditated they on that Scripture There is no power but of God and he that resists the power resists the Ordinance
us from these brambles fire hath come out and devoured the Cedars of Lebanon as the phrase ls Judg. 19. 15. And to what end I pray this curiosity not to amend them if evil by good counsel earnest prayer civil carriage towards them but to take the advantage to triumph over and to endeavour the ruin of them The Saints of God should be Doves that creature the Father saith is harmless neither hath gall nor does injury with its bill and not as was the Assyrian rodds of Gods wrath or as those in the Psalm Swords in Gods right hand or if such yet very warily and upon sound warrant such so sayes a man of breadth amongst us Gods people must be wary whom they curse and take heed lest trifles cause their curse and not impenitent and implacable enmity against Christ because no man knowes the mind of God every one must use holy moderation in censure but if some had not contradicted in their practise such good doctrine venting not hilastique but sarcastique Divinity from their pulpits we had not seen such confusion in the Church nor heard such different notes amongst Church-men as we have What had been amiss had wisely been amended and those in the Ministry who had been insufficient or immoral admonished or rejected w th some reasonable allowance to their families 'T is hard measure that the utmost farthing of a families felicity should be paid for the spot of the male of the flock In Primitive times all those who professed Christianity held communion together as one Church notwithstanding difference of judgment in lesser things and much corruption in conversation So say the the Learned Ministers of London in their Vindication of Presbyteriall Government p. 139. What Fronton a Heathen said to Nerva that say I in the case of Liberty 'T is an ill Government which gives no Liberty but much worse which gives all liberty Man must not binde or loose where God hath not 'T was holy Nazienzens observation long ago That Antichrist would gather strength by the dissentions of Christians and it is a thing I have ever since these differences in our Church feared that the violence of parties would much endanger the surprise of our Religion Because of the mountain of Zyon which is desolate the Foxes walk upon it Lam. 5. 18. In the Netherlands difference all things accounted more to parties then peace the Papists cruelty and the Reformists violence ended in a petulancy destructive to the Church for all that was the Churches was swallowed up between them Granuell Bishop of Arras and the Cardinal of Lorrain promoted persecution of the Reformists pretending the cause to be zeal for God and advancement of his Religion but the truth was they aymed to be enriched by the spoyl of those that were condemned of heresie On the other part those of the Religion begin their outrages with Churches break down the utensils of service in them carry away with them what was in them moveable frighten the religious men from their houses and Cloysters leave no Church in Cities fit for devotion rifle Libraries and burn Books I will not say as S t Bernard of old and Luther from him Now Domini sed daemonis haec pascua hi pastores But this I will pray as good Jacob did Into such secrets let not my soul enter mine honour be not thou joyned to such assemblies for they who dare make the things of God their prey will make nothing of devouring the lives liberties and formtunes of their brethren Oh the divisions of Levi amongst us w ch have not only caused great thoughts of heart but also broken out into bigge words like the horses in S t Johns vision Rev. 9. Out of whose mouthes have come forth fire and smoak and brimston and from whose pens bitter lines both of defiante and unkind crimination each of other He that reads but the books of their furious encounters shall satisfie himself that Ephraein hath been against Manasses and Manasses against Ephraim and I pray God that of Salvian be not applicable to us all Quid prodesse nobis prarogativa illa religiosi nominis potest quod nos Catholicos dicimus quod fideles esse jactamus Quod Gothos Vandalos haeretici nominis exprebatione despicimus cum ipsi haeretica pravitate vivamus I wish that they who talk so much of heresie making every dissent an error would consider that mortals intellects differ as do their faces and that the beauty of God is more or less in every creature and its capacity that in matters of this moment 't is not safe to be â—ash but to consider the spirits whether they be of God or no and them to try by that tryall which the Law appoints tryall of heresie the Scriptures and the four first generall Counsels accordant with Scripture For my part I will not with Philastrius pronounce any man hereticall for varying from me in opinion no more then any man dumb whose language I hear not nor when I hear understand but rather pray that God by his grace will so direct me that I practise what I know and endeavour to know what may be usefull to my self and others did this spirit possess many they would have more comfort from the small Violits of sincerity then the great garnishes of religions Tulips which offer much content to the sense but less answer the 〈◊〉 noble part of a Christian Then would our light rise out of obscurity and our darkness break forth into the brightness of noon day then would one thought of Charity chase a thousand and a thousand put ten thousand misprisions to flight then would our spiritual Oxen be strong to Iahour then would the Church be at unity within it self no axe or hammer of passion be heard in her but the oyl of compassion distill from her to heal the wounds and close the breaches of her children But O Lord who shall live when thou dost this By whom shall Jacob arise for he is small Tell us we beseech thee how the bones which thou hast broken shall rejoyce that we may pray for the Churches Jubilee and fast to entertain so blessed a feast as would be that Epiphane for as Pomponius Laetus well writes Christianos omnes sub unâ— signo crucis militare nostram Religionem unicam esse Rempublicam unicam ipsius Dei urbem cujus nos cives sumus bellum inter nos esse non posse nisi civile But alas the Church Christian hath long been in her wasting fits the watchmen have smitten her Novelties words and projects have committed wast and we may well bring a Devastavit against them against them S t Jerom of old complained Nunc sub religionis titulo exercentur injusta compendia honor nominis Christiani fraudem magis facit quam patitur intus Nero foris Cato totus ambiguus The wits of Rome were smart when they added to the 〈◊〉
forth 122 blowings and amongst Roses gilly-flowers and Pionies incredible varieties So out of the glorious and pure Doctrines of Faith which the Apostles and their Followers comprised in repent and believe there is put forth such an ocean of points of Religion and all of them pressed on the people to be believed that it is hard to finde truth in the crowd of contests about her and easie to mistake as Mary did the gardiner for Christ error for truth both pretending their Jus divinum's their authoritative confidences as their just Titles to mens beliefs and blaming men as restive and sottish if they resigne not themselves to a sensless and universal credulity In the mean time things of greater concernment are neglected and the things God slubbered over and made to run counter one to another disuse of Church-Government hath made every man a Micah an appointer to himself of whatsoever likes him best and a neglecter of those services that the Christian Church thorow out the world imbraced there are many that make preaching like the lean Kine in Pharaoh's dream to eat up all other Church-Ordinances though never so beauteous and well-favoured publick Prayers and publick Confessions of Faith even that which our Lord Jesus taught us in the Gospel as the Form of Prayer of his own dictation hardly passes current no nor is that Creed which bears the name of the Apostles Creed which this Church hath ever received and her Martyrs in Queen Mary's days by name Bishop Farrar Hooper the Bishops of Worcester and Glocester Taylor Philpot Bradford Cromt Rogers Saunders Lawrence Coverdale owned as that they believed generally and particularly censuring those to erre from the truth who do otherwise and judicious Calvin says was the form of Confession which all Christians had in common amongst them as writ from the mouths of the Apostles or faithfully collected out of their Writings This Creed I say many think unfit to be rehearsed in Congregations and some are suspected to villifie it yea the Sacraments of Christ are almost obsoleted amongst us in some Parishes neither Sacrament in others but one and if that so restrained to particular persons that there seems to be a tacite reproach laid on those who are not of the number of Communicants who therefore become enemies to Ministers and their Messages because they are in a kinde cut off from the Congregation I confess it is fit that holy things should be given to holy men and it were to be wished all the Congregation were holy but if perfection be reserved for hereafter Ministers must bear with the imperfections of their people as well as people with the over-rigidness of their Ministers If people be not scandalous the Church never denied them the benefit of Sacraments and if Ministers be not over-scrupulous they will not begrudg men their Saviours allowance In my opinion it seems but reasonable that people should give a sober free account of their faith to their lawfull Pastor in a loving and unimperious way desiring it of them but then Churchmen should be advised what is competent knowledge in a Christian and propose such questions to them as argue not a design rather to blunder them then satisfie themselves of their understanding Ministers are fathers and must bear with the infirmities of their flocks They must not be brambles rending and tearing the people committed to their charge but fig-trees vines and olive-trees yeelding them fatness sweetness and fruitfulness To such as these I am perswaded no sober Christian dare deny an account of his faith For if the Apostles charge be to be always ready to give answer to every man that askoth you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear then much more to the Embassadors of Christ his Ministers His Ministers I say by Church Mission and Canonique Authority not presumers who come unsent for as the Civilians well observe Non sunt successores in officio qui ad officium accedunt alio modo quam institutum est to such Ministers as are truly called no man ought to deny a declaration of his faith as competently he is able And with such discoveries I think Ministers ought to rest satisfied and the ignorance of their Parishioners to pity pray for and by their best instruction to amend And those Ministers whom a Parishioners sober account and inoffensive conversation will not convince to admit as worthy to communicate may be feared to have somewhat more in their design then the glory of God and the good of souls and if they will not give testimony of their candor while they live their death-beds will tell tales to the world little to their credit or comfort Learned D r Reynolds reports that Luther when he lay upon his death-bed acknowledged to Melancthon In negotio coenae nimium esse factum yet saith the learned Sir Simon D'ewes taking counsel rather of men theu Gods Word for fear lest if he retracted them the people would suspect the rest and so return to Popery he accounted it best to declare his judgement in private Thus he Well fare the ancient Fathers who valued truth above credit yea conscience above life Ruffinus tells us that S t Clement in his Apostolique Epistle counsels all his fellow Christians rather to forsake him then to part with the peace of the Church and to incur the danger of division And S t Aug. tells us That in his time by the turbulencies of some in the Church many Orthodox and excellent Bishops and Presbyters were cast out of the Church and separated from their charges yet they bore the disgrace and persecution patiently never making Schism or starting up heresie to annoy Christianity therby Docebunt homines quam vero affectu quanta sinceritate charitatis Deo serviendum sit hos coronat in occulto pater in secreto videns Rarum hoc videtur genus sed tamen exempla non desunt immo plura sunt quam credi potest These mens demeanours quoth he teach the world What the power of grace and sincerity is in the soul and how God is to be waited upon even while he hides his face from the seed of Jacob. But though these quoth the Father be rare examples of self-deniall yet such presidents there are and those more then can be almost believed For as the same Father proceeds true Religion is neither to be found in the confusions of Pagans nor in the purgings of hereticks nor in the feebleness of schismaticks nor in the blindness of Jews but amongst those who are Orthodox and Catholick Christians And therefore the differences in this Church upon these small grounds that appear to us were in no sort worth owning by sober men especially to the degrees they are ascended to but rather are to be deplored with tears of blood for those that have true Christian charity would sooner part with much of their own
it supports it and without which honour would be honourless and he is much to be pitied who hath hands and head and has not taught them some subserviency to his necessities 't is a loose breeding and degenerous which provided not some stay against an evil time The learned and worthy S r In o Cheek Tutor to Edw. 6. being one of those that avowed the Title of the Lady Jane for which he was fain upon Queen Mary's coming to the Crown to fly was glad to take up his old Trade and relie upon that hidden Treasure of Parts which rendred him fit to be chosen Professor of the Greek Tongue at Sirasburg They are too coy who wholly trust on Lands and Moneys and cannot labour not want but are miserable when they miss a ceremonious folly they never mean to be Martyrs or be prescribed or suffer under the force of barbarous Rebels as the Irish Nobility and Gentry have done a long time who can do nothing but eat and drink and sleep and play and talk It is good to be Clerkly and acquainted with business to be handy and disposed to Country thrift a very great wisdome to be able thorow Gods blessing to do somthing towards subsistence Quaelibet patria Ingenioso patria Ingenuity and courage has given entertainment to great minds and persons when their friends and Tenants have disowned and their Lands yeelded them no bread I will conclude the Parallel of the Church and Professors of England with those of elder times in writing Books warily and so as truth had honour by them and the better to promote this here was ever an Imprimatur to pass upon all Books publickly to be vented and the Licensers were bound to take notice exactly of all things that went under their eye as they would answer the neglect upon their censure and great displeasure of Authority I know that Books have stollen into light which had they received their deserts should have been as Vives saith Cum authoribus suis ex toto consortio humani generis eliminandi deportandi in insulam ubi solae degunt ferae aut in illas Africae desertas arenas ubi nihil nascitur praeter venena Books derogatory to God to Government to civil property profane scurrilous and every way detestable they are not to be charged as faults on our Supervisors so long as they declare against them when they see them or would proceed against the Authors of them if they could be discovered But in Books of controversie our Church hath been exact and allowed those her best Champions who have least wandred from sound Authours and Doctrines A just weight and ballance gives adversaries least advantage Some in controversie are so rigid that they give no way keeping so high a dam that all bursts in pieces by their severity Others yeeld so far that they are at last nonplust how to make an honourable retreat to their party and not lose what may give their enemy the boast of conquest Ex utroque periculum In rough Seas shores are safe so rocks be avoided Passion is an ill ingredient to contests especially when it is permanent and such as doth not suit viro constanti therefore those who have with least acrimony entered the lists of controversie have been most success full for 't is easie in an humour or out of high animosity to say that which shall disadvantage a whole profession But this God be blessed few of our Church have done we have in all controversies so carried Arguments that there hath no blemish rested on us but that which we account our virtue that we are constant And as our Polemiques so our practical Books have been rare and by all Christians that could reade and understand them requested What accounts has our Nation had and yet has from her Preachers and Writers of the treasures of art and holy Theologie what rare discourses are there extant in all Sciences on all Subjects for all Seasons The world judgeth our Church and Nation Learned to a wonder and yet some amongst us who know better prefer forreign counsels and models above those at home which I think with submission to their better judgements will appear when moderated most convenient and usefull to carry on peace and piety amongst us Indeed I should rejoyce to see beauty and order in Church-matters and I blesse God for so much of it as yet there is that which grieves me is that the Charret-wheels of our settlement go so slow that passions are more in request then praiers and tears and that men fear not to run mad when to use a womans phrase they bark against the Crucifix and revile the Spouse of Christ of whom they ought not to speak but calmly and with reverence It is no good Argument of Gods being amongst us when we are thus broken in judgement and so evil-eyed to one another But I hope God will send Peace and Truth in our daies I trust to see Religion and Learning a praise in the earth My ambition is to finde that in Christians now adaies that Baroniuâ— notes was soon after Christs time It was saith he Christians praise tc have little to do which arose to a debate but if casually Christians were at variance care was to take it up and avoid scandal For our Lord hath given the rule to be at peace one with another FINIS Errata PAge 14. marg reade M. Marshall p. 43. l. 21. r. to the Ministry p. 76. l. 15. r. infesti p. 82. l. 22. r. Versipelles p. 90. l. 9. r. pretend p. 92. l. 20. r. omina p. 93. l. 17. r. there p. 95. mar r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 96. l. 15. r. ingenious p. 98. l. 15. r. should p. 121. l. 27. r. Feoffees p. 125. l. 18. for presumption r. persecution pag. 126. l. 20. r. Teechy p. 128 l. 2. r. it p. 138. l. 20. for purposed r. proposed p. 153. l. 19. r. habuere p. 162. l. 25. r. Austrians p. 192. l. 6. r. Ismaels p. 199. l. 3. r. horarum l. 9. r. him l. 28. r. that p. 199. l. 11. r. had they p. 204. l. ult r. vacillating p. 208. marg r. Bernardus p. 223. l. 19. r. communicative John 8. Josn 9. 5. Quia progrediendum a facililioribus Acts 8. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Euseb hist. l. 2. e. 12. l. 3. c. 20 21 23. Histor Magdeb. Ceut 1. l. 2. c. 7. p. 368 371. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stob. Serm. 147. p. 488. Vir nobilis â—lâ—quens audax suae alienae fortunae pudicitiae prodigus homo ingeniosissimè nequam foecundus malo publico Paterc l. 2. p. 450. Edit Sylv. * Nihil novi asserunt quin hujusmodi applaudente sibi perfidiâ— simplices quidem indoctos decipiunt sed Ecclesiasticos viros qui in lege Dei die nocte meditantur decipere non valent S. Hyeron ad Ctesiphont adv Pelagianos Philosophi Patriarchae Haereticorum