for his Family the Feeder and the Ruler in Scripture being all one in Office in Expression in Person So that if he left no Rulers he left no Feeders the later We are more confident of for that Christ did clearly institute a Disparity in the Clergy which is the main Stone of Offence appears in the Apostles and 72 Disciples to whom according to the Voice of Christendome and traditive Interpretation of the Church Bishops and Presbyters do respectively Succeed and also many Actually did succeed the Apostles in their Chairs being ordained Bishops by the Apostles themselves that did Survive And also beyond all Exception that Christ did institute a Government appears in those Evangelical Words Who then is that faithful and wise Steward whom his Lord shall make Ruler over his Houshold c. Luke 12.42 which Rulers are Bishops and Priests under them or else the Church hath been Apostate from her Lord She having clearly for 1500 Years had no other Rulers then such 2. We consider that Whether there can be a Church or no without Bishops is at least a Question of great Consideration and the Negative is maintained by Apostolical and Primitive Men and Martyrs and by the greatest part of Christendom and those few in respect of the whole that Dissent being most certainly not Infallible to be sure with Episcopacy it may be a Church Eatenùs therefore it is the surest Course to retain it for fear we separate from the Church the Pillar and Ground of Truth 3. No Ordination was ever without a Bishop and if any Presbyter did impose Hands unless in Conjunction with a Bishop he was accounted an Vsurper and Anathematized by publick and unquestioned Authority and so without Bishops no Presbyters then no Absolution no Consecration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and for these Wants no Man can make a Recompence or Satisfaction 4. No Presbyter did ever impose Hands on a Bishop Viz. de jure nec idem de facto till 555 Years after Christ and then but once in the Case of Pope Pelagius and that irregularly and neversince unless by Papal Usurpation which if so famous a Resolve or publick Voice of all Christendom may have an Estimate shews their disparity and that a Bishop hath a Character which cannot be imprinted without at least an equal Hand 5. Without Bishops no Confirmation of Children and yet Confirmation called in Scripture imposition of Hands Saint Paul in his famous Catechism accounts a Fundamental Point and the Church hath always used it and it was appropriate to Bishops by the laudable Custom of Christendom and by the Example of the Apostles in the Case of the Samaritane Christians whom Philip the Evangelist had Converted and is charged upon the Parents of Children that they bring their Children to Bishops to be Confirmed And it was never otherwise but just as in the Case of Ordination videlicet by singularity and Vsurpation till of late that the Jesuits to inlarge their Phylacteries have striven to make Bishops not necessary by communicating Confirmation to Priests of their Order 6. To take away Bishops is against the Wisdom of the State of England ever since the Reformation and having been attempted by Clancular Practises was checked by the Princes respectively and their Council and constantly by the Wisdom of preceding Parliaments and this although the Bishops then were less learned and as much infamed 7. We are sure that Episcopal Government hath consisted with Monarchy ever since the English Monarchy was Christian and we are now to try whether any innovated Government can or will 8. We consider That if it could consist with Monarchy when it was byassed by the Popes prevalent Incroachment much more since the Reformation when the King hath the Reins in his own Hand and can give them Laws and ascertains them by their immediate Dependance both for their Baronies and Election and personal Jurisdiction on the Crown and by the Statute of Submission 9. We consider That St. Hierome pretended as the main Authentick Enemy against Episcopacy yet sayes in Comment in Epist ad Titum That Bishops were constituted as an Antidote and Deletory to disimprove the Issues of Schisme and that by the Apostles who best knew the Remedy And now that Schismes multiply there is more need of Bishops so that they cannot be taken away upon pretence their Regiment is not necessary for the taking them away must multiply Schisms 10. All Learning will be discountenanced if not extinguished upon the Demolition of Episcopacy the Bishops being Parties for the Advancement of Learning and on the other side if the Government should be in the Hands of Presbytery or Lay-Elders We know no Reason sufficient to stifle our Fears lest preferment be given to people unlearned and unfit to have the managing of Souls especially since a learned Clergy will be suspected by their Lay Elders as too knowing to be ruled by their Dictates which will not have so much Artifice and fineness as to command by Strength of Reason our Fears are also increased by considering that by the multiplication of Lay Elders or other Governors their personal Interest being increased partiality must be more frequent and all this is besides their incompetency of Judging the Abilities of Scholars 11. The removal of Bishops would be a Scandal not only to many weak Christians who fear all Innovations as guilty of some ill Intendments upon their Consciences but also to the strongest which shews it to be the fault of the Giver not the Weakness of the Receiver and if we must not Scandalize our weak Brethren much less our Strong since this will intrench upon us in a high measure they not being apt to be Scandalized upon Vmbrages and Impertinences 12 Where Bishops are not there is not an Honorable but fellow-like Clergy against the Apostolical Rule of double Honor. 13. By putting down Episcopacy We deprive our selves of those solemn Benedictions which the Faith of Christendom and the Profession of the Church of England enjoyning the Bishops rather to pronounce the Blessing at the end of the Communion appropriates to Episcopal Preheminence above Priestly Authority 14. Two Parts of Three of the Reformed Churches are governed by Bishops or Superintendents which is properly the Latin Word for Bishops and the other Part that wants them have often wished them as their own Doctors do profess 15. It is against the Liberties of the Clergy indulged to them by the Magna Charta Granted and Confirmed by so many Kings and about 30 Parliaments in express Act and the Violation of any Part of it by intrenchment upon the Right of the Lay Subject justly accounted a great Grievance the Charter it self being as Fundamental a Law as we conceive as any other and any of us may fear lest his Liberties may be next in Question 16. The four great General Councils in Estimation next the four Evangelists and by the Statutes of this Kingdom made the Rules of Judging Heresies were
they want of the Innocence of the Dove by the Subtilty of the Serpent finding the Laws too Powerful to be opposed by open Violence betook themselves to their usual Crafts and Artifices of working under ground and Proselyting as many as they could especially of the Nobility and Gentry to their Perswasions in Religion and Politicks and by the Witch-craft of those fair Pretences which they constantly made to austerity of Life Zeal for the Purity of Religion the Liberty of the Subject and especially an Extreme horror and Detestation of Popery to which upon all occasions both Publick and Private they Insinuated the great inclinableness which the Soveraign Power in the Civil Government and the Church by reason of the too near Affinity of the Hierarchy and Liturgy to the Romish way had to be reconciled and reunited to that Church they Poisoned the minds not only of the Easy Vulgar but of many of the Principal Nobility and Gentry and by misrepresenting all the Occurences of State as having a Bias and Tendency towards Popery and Exalting the Prerogative beyond its Bounds and Limits they insensibly Stole their Loyal and Dutiful Affections from the Crown and their warm Zeal and Piety from the Church I shall not need to descend to particulars upon this Subject though I think it a matter of that Importance to the service of the Publick that is capable of excusing Tautology and a Theme which will bear Repetition without being censured as vain but I shall rather refer the Reader to what is said in the Introduction to the first Volume to this Purpose lest I might disgust some tender Palates by serving up a Cold Crambe and thereby give my self the disappointment of my chief Design which is at once to give the Readers pleasure and advantage It shall suffice therefore to say that the same Spirit of Faction Popularity Discontent and Ambition still increased during all the Blessed and Peaceable Reign of King James and the Commotions in Scotland having given the Faction a clear Discovery and Estimate of their Interest Strength and Numbers and of the Weakness of the Government the Revenue of the Crown being so Disproportionate to the Expences unavoidably necessary to maintain and support the Charge and Dignity of the Government the Faction laid hold of this opportunity to bring their long Designed and Endeavoured Work as they termed it of Reformation to a Period It may be remembred how the Scottish Rebellion instead of coming to the decision of the Sword according to the Opinion of the Wise Earl of Strafford had been ended by a Treaty which was succeeded by the calling of the Fatal Parliament of November 3 1640. The Commons House of this Parliament was composed of such Persons as had manifested their great aversion to the King and his Government and who finding the King Extremely pressed by the necessity of his Affairs and under the uneasie burden of great Debts contracted both formerly and by the two Expeditions against the Scots they now Resolved to make a Virtue for their own Affairs of His Majesties Necessity And most of the Principal and Leading Men of the Faction knowing their preceding Actions such as rendred them obnoxious to Justice according to the Observation of the Historian Paenâ calamitate publicâ sibi impunitatem spondent They sought their own private Security though at the Expence and even Ruine of the Publique Peace And certainly as the succeeding Revolution had been long under Deliberation the Difficulties which the Faction saw they were to Encounter in compassing the alteration of Government both Civil and Ecclesiastical made them extremely cautious in the Management of their Affairs and their opposition to the Government having made them great Masters in all the Arts of Popularity and understanding the Temper and Genius of the Times they proceeded by all the Regular steps of Cunning and Artifice towards the Accomplishment of their great Design And therefore before they came to Extremities they not only fortified themselves with the Power of a Numerous and Tumultuous Party but by the most Solemn Professions of Duty and Loyalty with which all their Petitions and Remonstrances were guilded over by promises to Establish and Augment the Royal Revenue and make his Majesty the most Glorious and Potent Prince of Europe they not only deceived many of the Real Friends of the King and Monarchy but perswaded His Majesty to such Compliances and Concessions as in conclusion they most wickedly mis-employed to his Ruin and Destruction Never did any of his Royal Predecessors bestow a favour of such dangerous Latitude upon their Subjects as the Bill for making the Parliament perpetual by putting it out of his Power to Dissolve them without their own consent and never did any Subjects stretch such an unpresidented Grace and Liberty more to the Prejudice and utter Ruine or a most Indulgent Prince And it is easily observable That after the Faction had got this Flower out of the Crown they drove on amain towards the great End of their Work which was as the Scots had done before to new Model the Government of the Church and by the Democratick Form of Presbytery in the Ecclesiastical to Level the Way towards the same in the Civil State for they were now already a Venetian Senate and resolved to clip the Wings of Monarchy to that degree as to bring down the Soveraignty into a little kind of Dukedom or Stat-holders Authority which they might either manage at their pleasure Arch-Bishop Lauds Sermon upon Psal 123. v. 3 4 5. or reject at their discretion And this Design was no more then what was long before observed to be in the Intentions of the Faction and too truly predicted by the incomparable Dr. Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in a Sermon Preached Feb. 6th 1625 at the opening of the Parliament And one thing more saith that judicious Prelate I 'le be bold to speak out of a like Duty to the Church of England and the House of David They whoever they be that would overthrow Sedes Ecclesiae the Seats of Ecclesiastical Judgment will not spare if ever they get Power to have a pluck at the Throne of David And there is not a Man that is for Parity all fellows in the Church but he is against Monarchy in the State And certainly either he is but half headed to his own Principles or he can be but half hearted to the House of David And how exactly he hit the Truth in his Conjecture the Event did most Tragically justifie But still the Power of the Sword the Militia of the Nation hung terribly as they thought by the single hair of the Kings Authority over their heads and their fears of a future account if ever their Soveraignty should come to a Period and the suspicion that this Gordian-knot which they had so strongly woven though it could be no other way untied might yet be loosed by Alexander's Method made them extremely Sollicitous to wrest that Power
and habit of a Priest and to read Prayers in a Church And not only so but became an Earnest Suitor to his Majesty for a Deanery viz. that of Canterbury notwithstanding his bringing in this Bill against Deans and Chapters and his bitter Invectives upon no other ground but report as he then confessed But being by the King justly denied this Preferment he again turned Apostate to his Royal Master to whom he had fled for Sanctuary indeavoured by mean submissions to reconcile himself to those whom he had called Rebels and Traytors but being by them rejected also he not long after Ended his Unfortunate Life in grief and contempt Neither was this rough procedure from the Abuses of the Function had they been real as most certainly they were false to go about utterly to Abolish the Office so well relished but that divers of those who had hitherto sailed by the Compass of the Faction began now to make a tack and stand off from those dangerous Rocks upon which they saw if they pursued that Course not only the Church but even all Religion and their own Consciences must inevitably suffer shipwrack as appears by a Speech of Sir Benjamin Rudyard's Book of Speeches pag. 103. which I find in the Book of Speeches and several others when the matter came to be debated at a Committee of the whole House Sir Benjamin Rudyard's Speech was as there I find it Printed as followeth Mr. Speaker I Do verily believe that there are many of the Clergy in our Church Sir Benjamin Rudyard's Speech about Episcopacy who do think the simplicity of the Gospel too mean a Vocation for them to serve in They must have a Specious Pompous Sumptuous Religion with additionals of Temporal Greatness Authority Negotiation Notwithstanding they all know better than I what Fathers Schoolmen Councels are against their mixing themselves in Secular Affairs This Roman Ambition will at length bring in the Roman Religion and at last a haughty Insolence even against supream Power it self if it be not Timely and Wisely prevented They have amongst them an Apothegm of their own making which is No Miter No Scepter when we know by dear experience that if the Miter be once in danger they care not to throw the Scepter after to confound the whole Kingdom for their Interest And Histories will tell us that whensoever the Clergy went High Monarchy still went Lower If they could not make the Monarch the Head of their own Faction they would be sure to make him less witness one Example for all The Popes working the Emperor out of Italy Some of ours as soon as they are Bishops adepto sine cessat Motus They will Preach no longer their Office then is to Govern But in my Opinion they Govern worse than they Preach though they Preach not at all for we see to what Pass their Government hath brought us In conformity to themselves They silence others also though Hierom in one of his Epistles saith that even a Bishop let him be of never so blameless a Life yet he doth more hurt by his Licence then he can do good by his Example Mr. Speaker It now behoves us to restrain the Bishops to the Duties of their Function as they may never moâ—â—hanker after heterogeneous extravagant Employments Not be so absolute so single and solitary in Actions of Moment as Excommunication Absolution Ordination and the like but to joyn some of the Ministry with them and further to regulate them according to the usage of Ancient Churches in the best Times that by a well-temper'd Government they may not have Power hereafter to corrupt the Church to undo the Kingdom When they are thus circumscribed and the Publick secur'd from their Eruptions then shall not I grudge them a liberal plentiful Subsistence else I am sure they can never be given to Hospitality Although the calling of the Clergy be all glorious within yet if they have not a Large Considerable outward Support they cannot be freed from Vulgar Contempt It will alwaies be fit that the flourishing of the Church should hold proportion with the flourishing of the Common-wealth wherein it is If we dwell in Houses of Cedar why should they dwell in Skins And I hope I shall never see a good Bishop left worse than a Parson without a Gleab Certainly Sir this superintendency of Eminent Men Bishops over divers Churches is the most Primitive the most spreading the most lasting Government of the Church Wherefore whilest we are earnest to take away Innovations Let us beware we bring not in the greatest Innovation that ever was in England I do very well know what very many do very fervently desire But let us well bethink our selves whether a popular Democratical Government of the Church though fit for other Places will be either sutable or acceptable to a Regal Monarchical Government of the State Every Man can say It is so common and known a Truth that suddain and great Changes both in Natural and Politick Bodies have dangerous Operations and give me leave to say that we cannot presently see to the end of such a consequence especially in so great a Kingdome as this and where Episcopacy is so wrap'd and involv'd in the Laws of it Wherefore Mr. Speaker my humble Motion is that we may punish the present Offenders reduce and preserve the Calling for better Men hereafter Let us remember with fresh thankfulness to God those glorious Martyr-Bishops who were burn'd for our Religion in the Times of Popery who by their Learning Zeal and Constancy upheld and convey'd it down to us We have some good Rishops still who do Preach every Lords-Day and are therefore worthy of double Honour they have suffered enough already in the Disease I shall be sorry we should make them suffer more in the Remedy Mr. Bagshaw reports the Case of Mr. George Walker a Factious Minister Walker the Eactious Ministers Case Reported upon which it was Resolved c. That Mr. George Walker 's Commitment from the Council Board for Preaching a Sermon Oct. 14. 1638. at St. John the Evangelists London and his detainment for the same 12 Weeks in Pecher the Messenger's hands is against Law and the Liberty of the Subject Resolved c. That the prosecution of the said Walker in the Star-Chamber for preaching the said Sermon and his Close Imprisonment thereupon for 10 Weeks in the Gatehouse and the payment of 20 l. Fees to the said Pecher is against Law and the Liberty of the Subject Resolved c. That the 5. passages marked out in the Sermon by Mr. Attorney and Sir John Banks contained no Crime nor deserved any Censure nor he any punishment for them Resolved c. That the Enforcing the said Walker to enter into the Bond of 1000 l. for Confinement to his Brother's house at Cheswick and his Imprisonment there is against Law Resolved c. That the Sequestration of the Parsonage of the said Walker by Sir John Lamb was
et Successores Eorum usque ad nos qui nihil tale docuerunt neque cognoverunt quale ab his deliratur Iren. advers haeres Lib. 3. Cap. 3. We are able to number those who by the Apostles were Ordained Bishops in the Churches and their Successors unto our days c. Tertullian in his Book de Praescrip advers haeret Cap. 32. p. 118. Sicut Smyrnaeorum Ecclesia Polycarpum ab Johanne conlocatum refert sicut Romanorum Clementem à Petro ordinatum edit perinde utique et Caeterae exhibent quos ab Apostolis in Episcopatum constitutos Apostolici seminis traduces habent As the Church of Smyrna had Polycarpus placed there by John and the Church at Rome Clement Ordained by Peter so the rest of the Churches did also shew what Bishops they had received by the appointment of the Apostles to propagate the Apostolical Seed Thus far the Reverend Primate From whence it is as clear as the Brightest day that ever enlightned the World That Episcopacy is a Government Instituted in the Church by Apostolical Command and how that should be Unlawful or Anti-Christian without charging the Holy Apostles the Pillars and Foundations of the Church with the horrible Guilt of setting up Antichrist and his Kingdom I think is impossible to be avoided And indeed so Great so Universal and so Powerful is the Truth in this particular that even the greatest Propugnators of Presbyterian Government and Parity have been forced to confess it Petrus Molinaeus in his Book de Munere Pastorali purposely written to defend the Presbyterian Government acknowledges That presently after the Apostles time or even in their time as Ecclesiastical History witnesseth it was Ordained That in every City one of the Presbytery should be called a Bishop who should have preheminence over his Colleagues to avoid Confusion which frequently ariseth from Equality and that truly this Form of Government all Churches every where received And Theodore Beza in Tractatu de triplici Episcopatus genere which he saith was of three kinds Divine Humane and Satanical attributing to the second which he calls Humane but as before is proved plainly is Apostolical at least not only a priority of Order but a superiority of Power and Authority over other Presbyters yet bounded by Laws and Canons provided against Tyranny yet is forced to acknowledg That of this kind of Episcopacy is to be understood whatsoever we read concerning the authority of Bishops in Ignatius and other Antient Writers And to any person that will deliberately and without prejudice debate the matter with himself it will appear either that the very Apostles were of the Confederacy to set up Antichristian Government over the whole World and where ever they founded Churches and Converted Pagans to bring them into Spiritual Sodom and Egypt and Antichristian bondage Or that the Government is Innocent Lawful and agreeable to the Will of God which must of Necessity be best known to those Miraculously inspired Men upon whom the Cloven Tongues of fire descended which were to lead them into all Truth and whether this will not bring in Question the truth of the Promise and of Him who made it and by Consequence such a Chain of Atheism and Impieties as are not fit to be named among Christians I leave to all men to consider and Judge Besides it is perfectly impossible to considering Men and thinking Minds to apprehend that for so many Hundred Years as from the Apostles Age till of late among all the Churches of Christians in the World and among all the Presbyteries that in all those Ages have yielded subjection and been in subordination to this Government of Bishops there should be none found whom either Conscience of Duty the Natural Love of Liberty or that Aversion which all Mankind have to Pride and the Usurpations of others over them should not once prevail with them to oppose this General Defection and Apostacy and Invasion of the Kingdom of Christ and Liberty of Christians The Ingenuous will I hope Excuse this Excursion which though it may appear out of my Road is not out of my Profession nor I hope of any Disadvantage to the Reader Long-winded Mr. Thomas also took the Cudgels in this Quarrel against Church-Government and shot his Bolt as follows I Have heretofore delivered the Reasons that induced me to yield my several Votes Mr. William Thomas his Speech against Deans and Chapters June 11. 1641. touching the Corruption and unsoundness of the present Episcopacy and Church Government so for the unlawfulness of their intermedling in Secular affairs and using Civil Power as also the harm and noxiousness of their Sitting as Members in the Lords House and Judges in that most Honourable and High Court Now I crave leave to do the like in shewing the Reasons of my Vote concerning Deans and their Office I say that my Opinion then was and now is that as the Office is unnecessary themselves useless so the substance of the one and continuance of the other needless nay rather as I will declare most hurtful therefore may easily be spared nay rather ought to be abolished my reasons are these that the Office of Deans doth neither tend or conduce as some have alledged to the honour of God the propagation of Piety the advancement of Learning or benefit of the Common-weal but è contra that they occasion the dishonour and disservice of God the hinderance if not destruction of Piety the suppression and discouragement of Learning and Learned Men and the detriment and prejudice of Church and Common-weal this I conceive I shall make most apparent if time and your patience will permit But first I humbly crave leave and I think it will not be impertinent to declare what Deans were Originally in their first Birth Secondly what in their encrease and further growth and Lastly their present condition being at their full and as I think their final period As to their Original it is not to be denyed but themselves and Office are of great Antiquity Saint Augustine declaring both but I do not say that it is an ancient Office in the Church but what Officers Deans then were be pleased to hear from Saint Augustin's own delivery in his Book de Moribus Ecclesiae Catholicae if that Book as also that of Monachorum be his which Erasmus and others have doubted The Monks saith he for their more retiredness and better contemplation appointed Officers which they called Decanos the Office of them and why they were so called he delivereth in these words as near as I remember Opus autem tradunt illis quos Decanos vocant eo quod sunt denis praepositi ut neminem illorum cura sui corporis tangat neque in cibo neque in vestimento neque si quid aliud vel quotidiana necessitate vel mutata ut assolet valetudine hi autem Decani magna sollicitudine omnia disponentes presto facientes quicquid illa vita propter imbecillitatem
place of sitting and the chiefest part of the power I say the chiefest part I do not say the greatest part of power The power it was more eminent in him but it was virtually residing and domesticant in the plurality of his Assessors These Assessors were the Presbyters the Elders of the Church of whom Holy Ignatius a Father so primitive that he was Disciple to Saint John the Apostle and by some thought to be that very Child whilst he was a Child whom our blessed Saviour took and set before his Disciples whereof you read in three of the Evangelists Matth. 18.2 Mark 9.26 Luke 9.27 If Simon Zelotes were the last as some affirm This Ignatius I say in his Epistle to the Trallians doth call these Elders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Councellors and Co-Assessors of the Bishop Here was in this Age and yet this Father died a Bishop and a Martyr before the last Apostle went to Heaven here was a Fellowship yet such a Fellowship as destroyed not presidency and in another Epistle that to the Magnesians you have such a presidency as doth admit also of a Fellowship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Bishop being President the very Name and Office there as in the place of God and the Presbyters as a Senate of the Apostles I forbear to dilate upon this Episcopacy But I will be bold Ponere ob oculos to set him before your Eyes I will give him you even by way of demonstration Master Hide your self are now in this great Committee Mr. Speaker is in the House The Bishop of our Congregation You are in your selves but Fellow-Members of the same House with us returned hither as we also are to sit on these Benches with us until by our Election and by common suffrage you are Incathedrated then you have and it is fit and necessary that you should have a Precedency before us and a Presidency over us Notwithstanding this you are not diversified into a several distinct order from us you must not swell with that conceit you are still the same Member of the same House you were though raised to a painful and careful degree among us and above us This Bishop had as your self have here potestatem directivam but not Correctivam Correction in our House doth dwell in the General Vote You know the power you have â—s Limited and circumscribed by them who gave it you are no Dictator to prescribe us our Laws but must gather our Votes and then your pronouncing doth fix our not your single own Orders Neither you here Master Speaker in the House can Degrade any one of us from these Seats nor can you silence us in the due liberty of our Speech Truly Sir as yet advised I do heartily wish we had in every Shire of England a Bishop such and so regulated for Church Government within that Sphear as Master Speaker is bounded in and Limited by the Rules and Cancels of this House That were indeed a well tempered and a blessed Reformation whereby our times might be approximant and conformant to the Apostolical and Pure primitive Church But this I fear is magis optandum quám sperandum yet it being the cause of God who can then dispair This happiness I mean living under Episcopal Presidency not under a domineering Prelacy this is too high above our reach yet strong Prayers and Hearty endeavours may pull the Blessing down upon us In the mean time wo is our Churches portion for our Bishop President is lost and grown a Stranger to us and in his room is crept in and stept up a Lordly Prelate made proud with pomp and ease who neglecting the best part of his Office in Gods Vine-yard instead of supporting the weak and binding up the broken forrageth the Vines and drives away other Labourers The Vines indeed have both Grapes and Leaves and Religious Acts both Substance and Circumstance but the Gardener is much to blame who gives more charge to the Work-men of the Leaves then of the Fruit. This rough enforcement of late to that which is not the better part is an Episcopacy that turns all our Melody into a Threnody This makes many Poor Pious Christian Souls to Sing the Songs of Sion in a strange Land Psal 137. and 4. This Bishop will have no Assessors or if any so formally admitted and so awed as good have none no Senate no Consultation no Presbytery or common Suffrage but Elates himself up into usurped Titles and incompatible Power and sublimes it self by assuming a Soleship both in Orders and Censures Religion and Reason and Primitive Example are all loud against this Episcopacy This too elate subliming of one can not stand without a too mean demission I may say debasing of many other of the same order Nay this Bishop not content with Ecclesiastick Pride alone will swell also with ambition and Offices Secular Truly Sir you have done exceeding well to Vote away this Bishop for of this Bishop and of this alone I must understand the Vote you have passed until I be better instructed For your Vote is against the present Episcopacy and for the present you can hardly find any other Episcopacy but this an Authority how ever by some of them better exercised yet too solely entrusted to them all Away then with this Lordly domineerer who playes the Monarch perhaps the Tyrant in a Diocess of him it is of whom I read Episcopalis dignitas papalem fastum redolet This kind of Episcopacy it smels rank of the Papacy nor shall you ever be able utterly and absolutely to extirpate Popery unless you root out this Soleship of Episcopacy To conclude in short and plain English I am for abolishing of our present Episcopacy Both Diocesses and Diocesan as now they are But I am withal at the same time for Restauration of the pure Primitive Episcopal Presidency Cut off the usurped adjuncts of our present Episcopacy reduce the ancient Episcopacy such as it was in puris spiritualibus Both may be done with the same hand and I think in a shorter Bill then is offered now by way of addition Down then with our Prelatical Hierarchy or Hierarchical Prelacy such as now we have most of it consisting in Temporal adjuncts only the Diana and the Idol of Proud and Lazy Church-men This do but eâ lege on this condition that with the same hand in the same Bill we do gently raise again even from under the ruins of that Babel â—â—ch an Episcopacy such a Presidency as is venerable in its Antiquity and Purity and most behooveful for the Peace of our Christendom This is the way of Reforming and thus by yielding to the present Storm and throwing that over-board which is adventitious borrowed and undue Peace may be brought home unto our Church again the best of that building and the truth of Ancient Episcopacy may be preserved otherwise we hazard all This would be glorious for us and for our Religion and the glory thereof will
a Conscientious way and to yield to one another by the Rules of Charity for the publick Peace of the Church This solid course as it will allay the Heat and Precipitation of passionate Councils so it will have Authority in it self Honor in relation to other Forreign Churches and stability in these resolutions I will be bold to add another Motion that if we may be so happy to settle these troubles and scruples of tender Conscience by imbracing this only Counsel I could wish that an Intimation were made to all the Reformed Churches that if they please to send their Deputies and to assist in this Pious work they shall as Assistants be admitted And I hope there may arise from hence an occasion of re-uniting all the Protestant Churches at least in Fundemantals Leaving to every one a Christian Liberty in those Forms of Discipline which may be most agreeable to their Civil Government which would not only strengthen the General Cause of Religion but take away that strong objection of the publick Enemy of such a Division amongst our selves as make us appear outwardly to be twenty Churches or none at all for from this Branch of division and separation hath flown all the advantages both in the Estate and Church of the Papacy against the Reformation and the Princes professing one truth not fenced about with one Policy A Divine in the City gave his following Opinion upon these Particulars The Opinion of a City Divine concerning the Liturgy Church Government TO satisfie your Demands both Concerning the Liturgy and Episcopal Government First for the Book of Common Prayer it may be alledged 1. That God himself appointed in the Law a set Form of Benediction Numb 6.23 24 25 26. 2. That David himself set Psalms to be sung upon Special Occasions as the Title of them shewtth 3. That the Prophet Joel appointed a set Form of Prayer to be used by the Priest at Solemn Fasts Joel 2.7 4. That Christ not only Commands us to pray after such manner Matth. 6.9 But to use a set Form of words Luke 11.2 When you pray say Our Father 5. The Spirit of God is no more restrained by using a set Form of Prayer then by singing set Hymns or Psalms in Meeter which yet the Adversaries of our Common-Prayer practise in their Aslemblies 6. Of all Prayers premeditated are the best Ecclesiastes 5.2 7. And of premeditated Prayers those which are allowed by public Authority are to be preferred above those which are uttered by any private spirit 8. All the Churches in the Christian World in the first and best Times had their best Forms of Lyturgies wherof most are Extant in the Writings of the Fathers unto this day 9. Let our Service-Books be Compared with the French Dutch or any other Lyturgie prescribed in any of the Reformed Churches and it will appear to any indifferent Reader that it is more Exact and Compleat than any of them 10. Our Service-Book was Penned and allowed of not onely by many Learn'd Doctors but Glorious Martyrs who sealed the Truth of the Reformed Religion with their Blood Yet it cannot be denyed but that there are Spots and Blemishes naevi quidem in pulchro Corpore And it were to be wished so it be done without much Noyse 1. That the Kalendar in part might be reformed and the Lessons taken out of the Canonical Scriptures appointed to be read in the place of them for besides that there is no necessity of reading any of the Apocrypha for there are in some of the Chapters set in the Index passages repugnant to the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures as namely in some Chapters in Tobit 2. That in the Psalms Epistles and Gospels all Sentences alledged out of the Holy Scriptures the last Translation of King James his Bible may be followed for in the former there be many Passages not agreeable to the Original as might be proved by many Instances 3. That in the Rubrick whereof of late the word Priest hath been instead of the word Minister it may be Expunged and the word Minister restor'd which is less Offensive and more agreeable to the Languages of all the Reformed Churches and likewise that some Abuses which seem surreptitiously to have crept into it be expunged as namely after the Communion every Parishioner shall Communicate and also shall receive the Sacraments and other Rites according to the Order of this Book appointed which words can carry no good Sence in a Protestant's Ears nor those added against Private Baptisme That it is certain by Gods Word That Children being Baptized having all things necessary for their Salvation be undoubtedly Saved 4. That in the Hymns instead of the Songs of the Three Children some others placed out of the Canonical Scriptures and that a fitter Psalm were chosen at the Churching of Women for those Verses He will not suffer thy foot to be moved and the Sun shall not burn thee by day nor the Moon by night seem not very pertinent That in the Prayers and Collects some Expressions were bettered as when it is said Almighty God which only workest great Marvels send down upon the Bishops c. And Let thy great Mercy loose them for the honour of Jesus Christ's sake And from Fornication and all other deadly Sin as if all other Sins were not deadly and that among all the chances of this mortal Life they may be defended c. 5. And in the Visitation of the Sick I absolve thee from all thy sins and the like 6. That in singing of Psalms Either the lame Rhymes and superfluous Botches as I say and for why and homely Phrases As Thou shalt feed them with brown Bread And Take thy Hand out of thy Lap and give thy Foes a Rap and Mend this Geare and the like may be Corrected or at the least a better Translation of the Psalmes in Meeter appointed in the place of the old Secondly for Episcopal Government it may be alledged 1. That in the Old Law the Priests were above the Levites 2. That in the Gospel the Apostles were above the Seventy Disciples 3. That in the subscription of St. Paul 's Epistles which are part of Canonical Scripture as it is said That Timothy was Ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians That Titus was Ordeined the second Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians That Titus was Ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians 4. That if Episcopal Ordination and Jurisdiction hath express Warrant in Holy Scripture as namely Titus 1.5 For this Cause left I thee in Crete that thou should'st set in order things that are wanting and Ordain Presbyters that is Ministers in every City And 1 Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddenly on no man And Vers 19. Against a Presbyter or Minister Receive no Accusation but under two or three Witnesses 5. The Angels to whom the Epistles were indorsed 2 3. of Apoc. are by the Vnanimous Consent of all the best
Justice and many other Difficulties daily through delayes growing Greater is such that it cannot suffer longer delay And therefore that the Houses of Parliament would be pleased so far to Express their Reciprocal respect of our Affairs that they will give present Assent to his Majesties Coming in his Royal Person at the day aforesaid without which we can have no ground to deal with the Parliament to the Effect above Adam Blaire Which Answer their Lordships taking into Consideration the House did incline that the King should go his Journey to Scotland at the prefixed time Provided that the Armies be Disbanded and the Bills pass which are ready and will be ready for Settling the Peace and Security of this Kingdom before that time And upon signification that his Majesty Commanded the abovesaid Answer to be Communicated to both Houses of Parliament it was Resolved to have a Conference with the Commons Which being done accordingly a Message was brought from the House of Commons by Mr Secretary Vane to let them know That upon the Report made to the House of Commons concerning the time of the King's Journey to Scotland they have taken the same into Consideration and they desire in Regard of the Weighty Affairs of the Kingdom at this time that their Lordships would joyn with them in Petitioning his Majesty That he would be pleased not to begin his Journey to Scotland from hence untill the 10th of August next To which their Lordships Answer That their Lordships will Joyn with the House of Commons in their Desires and will appoint some Lords to Attend his Majesty for his Answer herein And the Earl of Essex Earl of Warwick and Earl of Bristol were appointed to move the King herein for his Answer The Earl of Bristol returned with this Answer from his Majesty That he is ingaged by Promise to be in Scotland by a peremptory Day but if the Lords Commissioners do Treat with the Scots Commissioners for further Time for his Journey and they Consent thereunto his Majesty will refer himself to it Upon this the Lords Commissioners were appointed presently to meet with the Scots Commissioners and move them herein and it was returned That the Scots Commissioners hope the Parliament of Scotland will give way for deferring the King's Journey until the Tenth of August but desire the Houses of Parliament will declare whether they Consent to the King 's going then or what other certain time the Parliament will agree to And after a Conference with the Commons upon this Subject the Earl of Bristol reported That the House of Commons by way of Answer to the Conference do present a Vote which was passed in their House which was read as followeth Resolved upon the Question That this Answer shall be returned to the Lords To desire their Lordships to joyn with this House to Petition his Majesty that he will be pleased to stay his Journey into Scotland until the 10th of August and that if then he shall please to take his Journey this House shall Submit unto it Hereupon it was Ordered That this House doth Assent to the Vote of the House of Commons Upon the Petition of one Mr. Cradock it was Ordered Committee for Scandalous Ministers revived That the Committee for Scandalous Ministers should be revived to Sit on Friday and the Petition was referred to them Upon Reading the Petition of the Parson and some of the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Thomas Apostles in London A Petition against several Sectaries for pulling down Rails at St. Thomas Apostles London complaining that John Blackwel Francis Web Thomas Colley Michael Robinson Zacheus Isles George Dye and John Roberts did in a violent manner break down and carry away the Rails about the Communion-Table in the said Church Hereupon it was Ordered That the Parties aforesaid be sent for to Answer these misdemeanours on Friday next So hot were these Zealots for this pretended Reformation that the late Sentence of the Lords against some of their Brethren in Iniquity was not able to cool it But the truth is they were not only backed but set on by some sticklers in the House of Commons who had a design against these Superstitious and Idolatrous Rails and thought it a good expedient to usher it in by shewing how grateful a piece of Reformation it would be to the Godly and well-affected Party The Bill for the Poll-mony was this day read in the House of Lords and upon some dislike about the inequality of the Rates Wednesday June 30. the Bishops pleading their inability to pay their First-fruits Tenths Subsidies and that too a Conference was desired by the House of Lords with the Commons at which Conference the Lords delivered the Bill back to have some Clauses inserted therein desiring that they might Rate their own Members as the Commons did theirs But the Commons insisted upon it to be the undoubted Priviledge of the House of Commons to impose Taxes upon which occasion Sir Simon D'Ewes made this following Discourse to their Lordships My Lords I Shall humbly crave liberty to shew you Sir Simon D'Ewes his Speech about the Poll-Bill at a Conference June 30. 1641. that the House of Commons hath done no more in rating and proportioning of these particular Summs upon your Lordships then by the Ancient rights and priviledges of Parliament they might and to speak the truth they could in possibility do no less It hath been several times spoken in this place no less justly then nobly by some of your Lordships that all matters of supply should originally proceed from the House of Commons for so hath been the practice of former times in the ages past In the Parliament Roll month July 1641. de Anno 9. H. 4. Numero 21. when the Peers began but in a small circumstance to trench upon this priviledge of the Commons there arose a long and an earnest debate upon it the issue of which produced a full declaration agreed upon by both Houses That matter of supply must first proceed from the grant of the Commons and then be assented unto by the Lords so as if we had sent up the present Bill either with blanks for your Lordships to have filled them up or have left you out wholly to have inserted your own degrees and proportions one of which we must have done if we had not proceeded as we did it must of necessity have followed that your Lordships contrary to the undoubted priviledge of the same House had originally granted aid and subsidy and the Commons had but assented Before that time though not upon so great an occasion it was declared in Parliament as appears in Rotulo Parliamenti de Anno 5. R. 2. n. 16. That the House of Commons are first to treat of matter of supply to resolve upon it and then to communicate thir resolutions to the Peers Now my Lords our resolutions are most properly couched in a Bill so as we did transmit the present Grant
more cause to do well and for doing well are more renowned for the most oppressive designs which we have suffered under the pretences of his Majesty have ever bin the good of his Subjects His is the sin that is to judge by the Laws and knows the Laws are to the contrary yet puts and confirms such thoughts in his Prince He that incites another to Arbitrary Government when his self-ends are thereby compassed hates him for taking that Power he perswaded him unto The Writs those Monsters of Necessity to provide Ships to prevent Imminent Danger that could not stay 40 dayes for the Calling of a Parliament were therefore to go out in September to have Ships ready in March This hath bin adjudged by your Lordships to be destructive to the Fundamental Laws of this Realm and to the Subjects right of Property and Liberty c. that I shall say but this concerning them That this Judge published them to be inseparable Flowers of the Crown And that we have lived to see for five years together imminent Danger and thus to be prevented This Judge did advise to such a Government as future Kings here might exercise the highest Tyranny and the Subjects want the benefit of restraints known to the most Slavish Eastern Nations where if their Prince do unjustly he hath hatred for it and the Dangers that follow that This Judge will have that hatred to go to our good Laws No such Bondage as when Laws of Freedom are mis-interpreted by Judges to make men Slaves What can be considered of in a Judge of Law to give his Opinion and Advice to his Prince how the Laws the mutual Covenants of Kings and Subjects are to be broken but that his intentions are to have his Prince do ill by making his evil Servants to study and to be pleaâ—â—d with their wicked designs because they see means to put them in execution by making them to perswade their Prince because in imminent Danger his Subjects Goods are at his Will that there is such danger when there is not and they only have some by-end of their own A Judge to deliver his Opinion That if the King should intend to give up his People to be destroyed by Forraign Forces for the Safety of the people in that imminent Danger once by the Law might take away the King there could be no greater Offence This Judge will have our Law to be what to him seems reason the reason limited to him to judge of is what the Common Law saith is so what a Statute hath so Enacted For him to judge this or that is Law else a mischief shall follow is at best for him but this because the Law in such a thing is imperfect therefore he will make a Law to supply it or because that the Law written in such particulars is against his reason therefore his reasons to be Laws then must follow as often as a Judge's Reason changes or Judges change our Laws change also Our Liberties are in our Laws where a Subject may read or hear read this is his this he may do and be safe and that thus the Judge ought to give Judgment he is free The Excessive growth of Courts of Reason Conscience came from great and cunning persons and though not the most sudden yet the most dangerous and sure ways to eat out our Laws our Liberties Unlimited power must be in some to make and repeal Laws to fit the dispositions of Times and Persons Nature placeth this in common consent onely and where all cannot conveniently meet instructeth them to give their consents to some they know or believe so well of as to be bound to what they agree on His Majesty your Lordships and the Commons are thus met in Parliament and so long as we are often reduced to this main Foundation our King and we shall prosper This Judge will not allow us our Knowledg or any Reason he will have our Minds our Souls Slaves A Grand-Jury-man gave his Fellows true Information they present an Innovation in the Church are threatned and reviled for it he that told this Truth is charged I shall use this Judge's own words to sin in that and that he made others forswear themselves This Judge sent him to the Common Goal where he is laid in Irons and all this because he and they durst meddle with Church-Matters He is forced to tear the Presentment in pieces in open Court Our Laws provide for the peace of our Consciences many Acts of Parliament are for it and the Trust by those Acts set to Juries this Judge well knew all this Your Lordships have heard what he did to the Jury at Hartford He would have us know no more Divinity then to obey what the Great of the Clergy directed no more Law than what he said was so Judges in former times but only such as were Examples of punishment as of injustice in cases of great and publick concernment forbare proceedings till the next Parliament This necessitated the Calling of Parliaments This Judge had as many such Causes before him as ever any had yet he never desired the Resolution of Parliament in any one for the ways he went the necessity was never to have a Parliament he would pull up that Root of our Safeties and Liberties which whilst we enjoy the Malice or Injustice of all other Courts and Persons can never ruine and when near to Ruin as most near of late this only sure Remedy will help us nothing can ruine a Parliament but it Self The Evils which we have suffered under they were committed by the Judges month June 1641. or by them ought to have been and might have been prevented This Judge assisted in causing the Miseries we suffered in the Star-Chamber and at the Councel-Table he denyed the known Rights which he ought to have granted us to stop our Grievances in the Ecclesiastical Courts he was the causer of our Sufferings in other Courts The best Lovers of their Laws and Liberties the most Honest suffer most by an unjust Judge they most oppose his Vices dishonest persons find such a Judge to fit their purposes the Judge finds them for his the bond of iniquity confederates them He that will do no wrong will suffer none which he can help the man that knows himself born free will do his utmost to live so and to leave Freedom to his Posterity were he in Slavery when by outward gesture thought to be most delighted were his mind then known there would be found vexation and his busie thoughts employed to redeem himself and his Posterity from Thraldom But to say Could this Judge intend to make himself and his own Posterity Slaves What he did was through errour of Judgment only No my Lords what his Ayms and Endeavours were is apparent To consider Man in the general we shall find in every Age he will be a Slave to some few that many may be Slaves to him he looks to himself only this he would do or
Judge to take Four shillings per pound out of all Increases unto his Majesty upon Compositions on defective Titles by avoiding such Patents as the same Judge condemns in an Extrajudicial way This last Question is added by Order of the Lords House Copia Vera Ex. per Phill. Percivall The Answer and Declaration of the Judges unto the Questions Transmitted from the Honourable House of Commons unto the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled whereto they desired their Lordships to require the said Judges Answers in Writing forthwith 1. FIrst The Judges Answer to the Queries propounded by the Parliament The said Judges do in all Humbleness desire to represent unto your Lordships the great sense of Grief they apprehend out of their Fear that they are fallen from that good Opinion which they desire to retain with your Lordships and the said House of Commons in that notwithstanding their humble Petition and Reasons to the contrary exhibited in Writing and declared in this most Honourable House your Lordships have Over-ruled and often Commanded their Answers unto the said Questions Although they have informed your Lordships and still with assurance do aver That no Precedent in any Age can be shewn that any Judges before them were Required or Commanded to give Answer in Writing or otherwise unto such general or so many Questions in such a manner in Parliament or elsewhere unless in that time of King Rich. 2. which they humbly conceive is not to be drawn into Example And therefore they yet humbly Supplicate your Lordships so far to tender their Professions and Places and their Relation to his Majesties Service as to take into your serious Considerations the Reasons annex'd unto this their Answers before their Answers be answered or admitted among the Acts of this High Court And that if your Lordships in your Wisdomes shall after think fit to give any Copies of their Answers that for their Justification to the Present and Succeeding Times your Lordships will be pleased to require the Clerk of this most Honourable House That no Copy may be given of the said Answers without the said Reasons 2. Secondly The said Judges humbly desire your Lordships to be pleased to be informed That the words in His Majesties Writ by which they are Commanded to attend in Parliament are That the said Judges shall be present with the Lord Justices or other Chief Governor And your Lordships at the said Parliament called Pro ardus urgentibus Regni negotiis super dictis negotiis tractaturi Confilium suum impensuri And they desire your Lordships to take into your serious Considerations Whether any Advice may be required by your Lordships from them but concerning such particular matters as are in Treaty and Agitation and Judicially depending before your Lordships upon which your Lordships may give a Judgment Order or Sentence to be recorded among the Orders and Acts of this Honourable House And whether they may be Commanded by your Lordships to Subscribe their Hands unto any Opinion or Advice they shall give upon any matter in Debate before your Lordships there And whether your Lordships conceive any final Resolution upon the maâ—ters contained in the said Questions 3. Thirdly Although the said Questions are but 22 in number yet they say That they contain at least Fifty general Questions many of them of several matters and of several natures within the Resolution of which most of the greatest Affairs of this Kingdom both for Church and Common-wealth for late years may be included And therefore the said Judges do openly aforehand profess That if any particular that may have Relation to any of those Questions shall hereafter come Judicially before them and that either upon Argument or Debate which is the Sieve or Fan of Truth or Discovery of any general Inconveniences to King or Common-wealth in Time which is the Mother of Truth or by further Search or Information in any particular they shall see Cause or receive Satisfaction for it they will not be Concluded by any Answers they now give unto any of those general Questions but they will upon better Ground and Reason with their Predecessors the Judges in all Ages with Holy Fathers Councils and Parliaments retract and alter their Opinion according to their Conscience and Knowledge and the Matter and Circumstances of the Cause as it shall appear in Judgment before them it being most certain That no general Case may be so put but a Circumstance in the matter or manner may alter a Resolution concerning the same 4. Fourthly The succeeding Judges and Age notwithstanding any Answer given by the now Judges may be of another Opinion then the now Judges are without disparagement to themselves or the now Judges in regard that many particular Circumstances in many particular Cases may fall out that may alter the Reason of the Law in such Case which could not be included or foreseen in a general Question or Answer thereunto And therefore they desire your Lordships to consider of what use such Answers may be to the present or future Times 5. Fifthly Many of the said Questions as they are propounded as the said Judges humbly conceive do concern His Majesty in a high Degree in his Regal and Prerogative Power in this Government in his Revenue in the Jurisdictions of his Courts in his martial Affairs and in Ministers of State so that the said Judges considering their Oaths and the Duty which by their Places they owe unto His Majesty humbly may not with safety give Answer thereunto without special direction from His Majesty And therefore they still humbly pray your Lordships as formerly they did not to press any Answers from them untill His Majesties Princely pleasure therein be signified 6. Sixthly If the matters of those Questions which aim at some abuses of former Times were reduced into Bills they conceive it were the speedy way to have such a Reformation which might bind the present Times and Posterity And in such proceedings they ought and would most chearfully contribute their Opinions and best endeavours but in such a course as they apprehend it which points at punishment they have Reason to be sparing in giving any Opinion further then the Duty of their Places doth Command from them 7. Seventhly Although it may be conceived that the Answering of such and so many general Questions by the now Judges may contribute some help to the Reformation now so much desired yet no Man knoweth but this new Precedent in propounding such Questions to Judge in succeeding Times as the Judges and frame and Constitution of the Common-wealth may be may fall out to be most prejudicial to the State or Common-wealth 8. Eighthly Most of the matters of several of the said Questions are already by your Lordships and the said House of Commons Voted and represented unto His Majesty for Grievances and therefore no Opinions of the said Judges under favour are needful or to be required thereunto unless the same shall
Reasons hereafter as they shall think fit The Lords Adjourned their House into a Committee during pleasure to Debate these Matters the Proposition concerning securing Recusants was deferred till the Commons brought up a List of the Particular Names of the Recusants they desired should be Secured When the other Proposition about the Isle of Wight came under Consideration the Earl of Portland affirmed That his Father lived and died a Protestant as he can make it appear by credible Witnesses that were with him when he died if his Wife be one it was against his Will and for himself his Lordship protested That his Father bred him a Protestant and he would ever live and die one Which giving good satisfaction to the House it was Ordered to be put in Writing and delivered at a Conference to the House of Commons Mr. William Crofts was Sworn and Ordered to be Examined before the Deputed Lords The Earl of Holland Reported Message from the Venetian Ambassador That the Venetian Ambassador had been with him and desired That the ill Expressions in his Paper may be Excused for he professes he meant nothing in derogation of any Member of this House but spoke it as what Reputation other States had of such an Action and that he further signified That he hath written a fair Letter to the State of Venice concerning the opening of his Letters which he hopes will satisfie them This day Wall upon his Petition was Released from the Fleet Wall released where he had been committed for neglecting to deliver the Order of the House to search for Priests and Jesuits but with this condition not to be admitted any more to the Service of the House Inquiry after the transporting of Horses It was Ordered in the Commons House That the Knights and Burgesses of the County of Kent and the Barons of the Cinque-Ports do forthwith send to the Officers that do register the Horses that are Transported beyond the Seas and to send up a List of the Number of them that have been Transported within these 12 Months and by what Warrant and by whom such Warrants were obtained Though Disloyalty to the King and Disobedience to the Church which rarely are seen asunder began now to be much in Fashion and Esteem and to depress the Prerogative and oppress the Church were accounted Great Recommendations for men to set up for Patriots of the Country and Reformers of Religion yet wanted there not some Brave Spirits who to their Eternal Reputation darest even in the face of the Breach indeavour to stop the Deluge of Schism and the Inundations of Errors which they apparently saw must overwhelm the Church upon throwing down the Banks of Episcopal Order and Government How Unwelcom these bold Truths were to the Faction appears by an Order of the House of Commons of this Day made purposely to discountenance Petitions of this Nature for maintaining the Church Government as by Law it was Established and to deterr others from attempting to give them any Interruption in their pretended Reformation Order to discourage Petitioners for Episcopacy Ordered That it be referred to the Committee for the Ministers Remonstrance to consider what indiscreet and irregular Wayes and Means have been Vsed to procure Hands to Petitions presented or to be presented for or against Episcopacy This latter clause or against was only for colour to make the other pass more fairly for it is Evident that they themselves were the Great Promoters of Petitions not only against that but for whatever they had a design to obtain as will hereafter upon occasion appear But upon this Occasion I cannot but present the Reader with a Petition which I find in a Collection of Petitions of the like Nature Printed by His Majesties particular Order which though it came from one of the smallest Counties of England yet had not the least Learning or Reason And if it received neither Countenance nor Answer it is not much to be wondred at being indeed Unanswerable The Petition was as follows To the High and Honorable Court of Parliament The Humble Petition of the Knights Esquires Gentlemen and Householders in the County of Rutland in behalf of our Selves and our Families And of the Parsons Vicars and Curates for the Clergy in behalf of themselves and their Families THat whereas there have been diverse Petitions exhibited to this Honorable Court The Rutland-Shire Petition for Episcopacy Nov. 18. 1641. by Persons disaffected to the present Government for the utter Extirpation of the Apostolical Government of the Church by Bishops they by Sedulity and Zeal supplying the want of fair Pretences for the Abolition of that which we hope no just Reason can Condemn And on the other side many Pious Persons true Sons of the Church of England have represented their just Desires of the continuance of it upon great and weighty Causes both in Divinity and true Policy We also lest We might seem unconcerned and for fear lest our Silence should be exacted as a Crime at our Hands if We be deficient to what We are persuaded is the Cause of God In pursuance of their pious Intendments and in allowance of their Reasons do also press to your great Tribunal to beg of you to do that which is the Honor of Kings to be Nutricii of the Church and her most Ancient and Successive Government We therefore humbly beg of you to leave us in that state the Apostles left the Church in That the Three Ages of Martyrs were governed by That the 13 Ages since them have always gloried in by their Succession of Bishops from the Apostles proving themselves members of the Catholique and Apostolick Church That our Laws have Established so many Kings and Parliaments have protected into which we were baptized as certainly Apostolical as the Observation of the Lords Day as the distinction of Books Apocryphal from Canonical as that such Books were written by such Evangelists and Apostles as the Consecration of the Eucharist by Presbyters as any thing which you will do by upholding the Government of the Church by Bishops which we again and again beg of you to do having Pity on our Consciences and not forcing us to seek Communion as yet we know not where So shall we be bound to pray with a Multiplyed Devotion for the increase of Publique and Personal Blessings to your Honorable Assembly to your Noble Persons We also do with all humility beg leave to represent these our Considerations subjoyned which we hope you will favourably Expound to be a well-meant Zeal and at least a Conscience of Duty and Charity to those our Fathers from whom we have received and daily hope to receive many issues of Spiritual Benedictions 1. We Consider That Christ either left his Church without a lasting Government or else Bishops and Presbyters under them are that Government the former we fear to say lest we might seem to accuse the Wisdom of the Father of Improvidence in the not providing
for the present being not very welcome These People notwithstanding the rebuke which Sir Thomas Aston had met with for a Petition of this Nature yet in the midst of these wicked Times durst be honest and publickly avow themselves so which was far more The Petition as I find it in a Collection of Petitions printed afterwards by his Majesties Command at York to let the World see that a very considerable Part of the Nation was utterly against the pretended Reformation was as follows To the King 's Most Excellent Majesty and to the Right Honorable the Lords and the Honorable the House of Commons Assembled in Parliament The Humble Petition of divers of the Nobility Justices Gentry Ministers Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County Palatine of Chester whose Names are contained in the Schedule Annexed YOur Petitioners with all Cheerfulness and Contentation The Cheshire Petition for the Common Prayer and suppression of Schismaticks c. affying in the happy settlement of the Distractions both of Church and State by his Majesties pious Care and the prudent and religious Indeavors of this Honorable Assembly and with due Humility and Obedience submitting to the unanimous Conclusions thereof yet conceive themselves bound in Duty Humbly to represent to your mature Considerations That the present Disorders of many Turbulent and Ill-disposed Spirits are such as give not only Occasion of present discontent to your Petitioners but seem to import some ill event without early prevention The pure Seed of our Faith the Doctrine of the Reformed Protestant Religion Established by so many Acts of Parliament and so harmoniously concurring with the Confessions of all other Reformed Churches being tainted with the Tares of divers Sects and Schismes lately sprung up amongst Vs Our Pious Laudable and Ancient Form of Divine Service composed by the Holy Martyrs and worthy Instruments of Reformation Established by the prudent Sages of State your religious Predecessors honored by the Approbation of many learned Foreign Divines subscribed by the Ministry of the whole Kingdom and with such general Content received by all the Laity that scarce any Family or Person that can read but are furnished with the Books of Common Prayer in the conscionable Vse whereof many Christian Hearts have found unspeakable Joy and Comfort wherein the famous Church of England our dear Mother hath just Cause to Glory and may She long flourish in the Practise of so blessed a Liturgy * * This the Reader will see presently in a Petition by Dr. Burgess c. of this Day Yet it is now not only depraved by many of those who should teach Conformity to Established Laws but in Contempt thereof in many Places wholly neglected All these dayly practised with Confidence without Punishment to the great dejection of many sound Protestants and occasioning so great insultation and rejoycing in some Separatists * * The true temper of the Separatists and Schismaticks from their first original to this Day as they not only seem to portend but menace some great Alteration and not containing themselves within the Bounds of Civil-Government do commit many tumultuous if not Sacrilegious Violences both by Day and Night upon divers Churches Therefore your Petitioners being all very apprehensive of the dangerous Consequences of Innovation and much scandalized at the present Disorders Do all unanimously Pray That there be admitted no Innovation of Doctrine or Liturgy that Holy Publick Service being so fast rooted by a long setled continuance in this Church that in Our Opinion and Judgments it cannot be altered unless by the Advice and Consent of some National Synod without an universal Discontent and that some speedy Course be taken to suppress such Schismaticks and Separatists whose factious Spirits do evidently indanger the Peace both of Church and State And Your Petitioners shall ever Pray c. Signed by Lords Knights Justices of the Peace and Esquires 94 By Gentlemen of Quality 440 By Divines 86 By Free-holders and others in all 8936 In all 9556 And in regard their Piety and Loyalty deserves a place in the Records of time and that in these Petitions the Reader will see the Temper and Genius of these Seditious and Turbulent Sectaries and Schismaticks the very Pests of Church and State the main Occasioners Managers Promoters Contrivers Encouragers Supporters and Conductors of this most Execrable Rebellion from its first Original till its last fatal Period most accurately pointed out in the just and too modest complaints of these Petitions for the Times and Persons would not bear truth unless apparelled in the most submissive Garb and Posture I will here subjoyn Sir Thomas Ashton's Petition which was presented to the Lords and for which he received a smart rebuke and narrowly escaped a Prison which I should have done in its proper place had this Collection of Petitions then come to my hands The Petition was as follows To the High and Honorable Court of Parliament The Nobility Knights Gentry Minsters Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County Palatine of Chester whose Names are Subscribed in several Schedules hereunto Annexed Humbly Shew THat whereas divers Petitions have lately been carried about this County against the present Form of Church Government The Cheshire Petition delivered to the House of Lords by Sir Thomas Ashton and the hands of many Persons of ordinary Quality sollicited to the same with pretence to be presented to this Honourable Assembly which we conceive not so much to aim at Reformation as absolute Innovation of Government and such as must give a great advantage to the Adversaries of our Religion We held it our Duty to disavow them all and humbly pray That we incur no mis-censure if any such Clamours have without our privity assumed the Name of the County We as others are sensible of the common Grievances of the Kingdom and have just cause to rejoyce at and acknowledge with thankfulness the pious Care which is already taken for the suppressing of the Growth of Popery the better to supply able Ministers and the removing of all Innovation and we doubt not but in your great Wisdoms you will regulate the Rigor of the Ecclesiastical Courts to suit with the Temper of our Laws and the Nature of Free-men Yet when we consider That Bishops were instituted in the time of the Apostles that they were the great Lights of the Church in all the first General Councils that so many of them sowed the Seeds of Religion in their Bloods and rescued Christianity from utter Extirpation in the Primitive Heathen Persecutions That to them we ow the Redemption of the purity of the Gospel we now profess from Romish Corruption that many of them for the propagation of the Truth became such Glorious Martyrs that divers of them lately and yet living with us have been so great Assertors of our Religion against the Common Enemy of Rome and that their Government hath been so long approved so oft Established by the Common and Statute Laws of
Soams Alderman Pennington and Mr. Venn do repair to the Common-Council of the City of London when they are sitting and to acquaint them with the Information this House received what Practices have been used to the Inns of Court and those other Informations of the like Nature that have been given to this House of the Preparations of Armed Men about White-Hall and those other Preparations at the Tower And to inform them in what danger the Parliament the Kingdom and the City is in It was also Ordered That Mr. Whittaker Sir Robert Pye and Mr. Pury do presently repair to the House of the Marquess de Neuf-ville and see if his House be furnished with Warlike Ammunition as the House is informed Memorandum Mr. Hollis Mr. Pym Sir Arthur Haslerigg Mr. The 5 Members appearance Entred in the Journal Hampden and Mr. Strode appeared to day according to the Injunction of the House And I find among the Prints of that time a Speech of Mr. Hampden's upon the occasion of his Impeachment which confirms this Memorandum which was as followeth Mr. Speaker IT is a true Saying of the Wise Man That all things happen alike to all Men Mr. Hampden's Speech in Vindication of himself against his Impeachment Jan. 4. 1641. as well to the good Man as to the bad There is no state or condition whatsoever either of Prosperity or Adversity but all sorts of Men are sharers in the same no man can be discerned truly by the outward appearance whether he be a good Subject either to his God his Prince or his Country until he be tryed by the Touchstone of Loyalty Give me leave I beseech you to parallel the Lives of either sort that we may in some measure discern Truth from Falshood and in speaking I shall similize their Lives 1. In Religion towards God 2. In Loyalty and due Subjection to their Soveraign in their Affection towards the Safety of their Country 1. Concerning Religion the best means to discern between the True and False Religion is by searching the Sacred Writings of the Old and New Testament which is of it self pure indited by the Spirit of God and written by Holy Men unspotted in their Lives and Conversations and by this Sacred Word may we prove whether our Religion be of God or no and by looking in this Glass we may discern whether we are in the Right Way or no. And looking into the same I find that by this Truth of God that there is but one God one Christ one Faith one Religion which is the Gospel of Christ and the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles In these two Testaments is contained all things necessary to Salvation if that our Religion doth hang upon this Doctrine and no other secondary Means then it is true to which comes nearest the Protestant Religion which we profess as I really and verily believe and consequently that Religion which joyneth with this Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles the Traditions and Inventions of Men Prayers to the Virgin Mary Angels Saints that are Used in the Exercise of their Religion strange and Superstitious Worshipping cringing bowing creeping to the Altar using Pictures Dirges and such like cannot be true but Erroneous nay devillish and all this is used and maintained in the Church of Rome as necessary as the Scripture to Salvation therefore is a false and Erroneous Church both in Doctrine and Discipline and all other Sects and Schisms that leans not only on the Scripture though never so contrary to the Church of Rome is a false worshipping of God and not the true Religion And thus much concerning Religion to discern the truth and falshood thereof 2 I come now Mr. Speaker to the second thing intimated unto you which was how to discern in a state between good Subjects and bad by their Loyalty and due Subjection to their Lawful Sovereign in which I shall under favour observe two things 1. Lawful Subjection to a King in his own Person and the Commands Edicts and Proclamations of the Prince and his Privy Council 2. Lawful Obedience to the Laws Statutes and Ordinances made Enacted by the King and the Lords with the Free Consent of his Great Council of State assembled in Parliament For the First To deny a willing and dutiful Obedience to a Lawful Soveraign and his Privy Council for as Cambden truly saith The Commands of the Lords Privy Councellors and the Edicts of the Prince is all one for they are inseparable the one never without the other either to defend his Royal Person and Kingdoms against the Enemies of the same either publique or private or to defend the Antient Priviledges and Prerogatives of the King pertaining and belonging of Right to his Royal Crown and the maintenance of his Honor and Dignity or to defend and maintain true Religion Established in the Land according to the truth of God is one sign of an Evil and Bad Subject Secondly To yield Obedience to the Commands of a King if against the true Religion against the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of the Land is another sign of an ill Subject Thirdly To resist the Lawful Power of the King to raise Insurrection against the King admit him adverse in his Religion to Conspire against his Sacred Person or any wayes to Rebel thô Commanding things against our Consciences in Exercising Religion or against the Rights and Priviledges of the Subject is an absolute sign of a Disaffected and Trayterous Subject And now having given the Signs of discerning Evil and Disloyal Subjects I shall only give you in a word or two the Signs of discerning which are Loyal and Good Subjects only by turning these Three Signs already shewed on the contrary side 1. He that willingly and chearfully endeavoureth himself to obey his Soveraign's Commands for the Defence of his own Person and Kingdoms for the Defence of True Religion for the Defence of the Laws of his Country is a Loyal and good Subject 2. To deny Obedience to a King commanding any thing against Gods true Worship and Religion against the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of the Land in endeavouring to perform the same is a good Subject 3. Not to resist the Lawful and Royal Power of the King to raise Sedition or Insurrection against his Person or to set Division between the King and his good Subjects by Rebellion although commanding things against Conscience in the Exercise of Religion or against the Rights and Priviledges of the Subject but patiently for the same to undergo his Prince's Displeasure whether it be to his Imprisonment Confiscation of Goods Banishment or any other Punishment whatsoever without Murmuring Grudging or Reviling against his Soveraign or his Proceedings but submitting willingly and chearfully himself and his Cause to Almighty God is the only sign of an Obedient and Loyal Subject I come now to the Second Means to know the difference between a good Subject and a bad by their Obedience to the Laws Statutes and Ordinances made