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A25413 A summarie view of the government both of the old and new testament whereby the episcopall government of Christs church is vindicated out of the rude draughts of Lancelot Andrewes, late Bishop of Winchester : whereunto is prefixed (as a preamble to the whole) a discovery of the causes of the continuance of these contentions touching church-government out of the fragments of Richard Hooker. Andrewes, Lancelot, 1555-1626.; Hooker, Richard, 1553 or 4-1600. 1641 (1641) Wing A3153; ESTC R12190 15,403 46

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A SUMMARIE VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT BOTH OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT WHEREBY The Episcopall Government of Christs Church is vindicated Out Of the rude Draughts of LANCELOT ANDREWES late Bishop of Winchester Whereunto is prefixed as a Preamble to the whole a Discovery of the Causes of the continuance of these Contentions touching Church-government out of the fragments of RICHARD HOOKER OXFORD Printed by LEON LICHFIELD Anno Dom 1641. The causes of the continuance of these Contentions concerning Church-Government COntention ariseth either through errour in mens judgements or else disorder in their affections 1. When contention doth grow by errour in judgement it ceaseth not till men by instruction come to see wherein they erre and what it is that did deceive them Without this there is neither policy nor punishment that can establish peace in the Church The Moscovian Emperour being weary of the infinite strifes and contentions amongst Preachers and by their occasion amongst others forbad preaching utterly throughout all his Dominions and in stead thereof commanded certain Sermons of the Greeke and Latine Fathers to bee translated and them to be read in publique assemblies without adding a word of their owne thereunto upon paine of death Hee thought by this politique devise to bring them to agreement or at least to cover their disagreement But so bad a policy was no fit salve for so great a soare We may think perhaps that punishment would have beene more effectuall to that purpose For neither did Solomon speak without book in saying that when folly is bound up in the heart of a child the rod of correction must drive it out and experience doth shew that when errour hath once disquieted the minds of men and made them restlesse if they doe not feare they will terrify Neither hath it repented the Church at any time to have used the rod in moderate severity for the speedier reclaiming of men from error and the reuni●ing such as by schisme have sundred themselves But we find by triall that as being taught and not terrified they shut their eares against the word of truth and sooth themselves in that wherewith custome or sinister persuasion hath inured them so contrariwise if they be terrifyed and not taught their punishment doth not commonly worke their amendment As Moses therefore so likewise Aaron as Zerubabel so Iehoshua as the Prince which hath laboured by the Scepter of righteousnesse and sword of justice to end strife so the Prophets which with the booke and doctrine of salvation have soundly and wisely endeavoured to instruct the ignorant in those litigious points wherewith the Church is now troubled whether by preaching as Apolloes among the Iewes or by disputing as Paul at Athens or by writing as the learned in their severall times and ages heretofore or by conferring in Synods and Councells as Peter Iames and others at Ierusalem or by any the like allowable and laudable meanes their praise is worthily in the Gospell and their portion in that promise which God hath made by his Prophets They that turne many unto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for ever and ever I say whosoever have soundly and wisely endeavoured by those meanes to reclaime the ignorant from their errour and to make peace Want of sound proceeding in Church controversies hath made many more stiffe in errour now then before Want of wise and discreet dealing hath much hindred the peace of the Church It may bee thought and is that Arius had never raised those tempestuous stormes which we read he did if Alexander the first that withstood the Arrians heresy had born himselfe with greater moderation and been lesse eager in so good a cause Sulpitius Severus doth note as much in the dealings of Idacius against the favourers of Priscillian when that heresy was but green and new sprung up For by overmuch vehemency against Iactantius and his mates a sparke was made a f●ame insomuch that thereby the seditious waxed rather more fierce then lesse troublesome In matters of so great moment whereupon the peace or disturbance of the Church is knowne to depend if there were in us that reverend care which should be it is not possible wee should either speak at any time without feare or ever write but with a trembling hand Doe they consider whereabout they goe or what it is they have in hand who taking upon them the causes of God deale only or chiefly against the persons of men We cannot altogether excuse our selves in this respect whose home controversies and debates at this day although I trust they be as the strife of Paul with Barnabas and not with Elymas yet because there is a truth which on the one side being unknown hath caused contention I doe wish it had pleased Almighty God that in sifting it out those offences had not grown which I had rather bewaile with secret teares then publick speech Neverthelesse as some sort of people is reported to have bred a detestation of drunkennesse in their children by presenting the deformity thereof in servants so it may come to passe I wish it might that we beholding more foule deformity in the face and countenance of a common adversary shall be induced to correct some smaller blemishes in our owne Yee are not ignorant of the Demaunds Motives Censures Apologies Defences and other writings which our great enemies have published under colour of seeking peace promising to bring nothing but reason and evident remonstrance of truth But who seeth not how full gorged they are with virulent sl●nderous and immodest speeches tending much to the disgrace to the disproofe nothing of that cause which they endeavour to overthrow Will you speake wickedly for Gods defence saith Iob. Will you dipp your tongues in gall and your pennes in blood when yee write and speak in his cause Is the truth confirmed are men convicted of their errour when they are upbrayded with the miseries of their condition and estate When their understanding wit and knowledge is depressed When suspitions and rumours without respect how true or how false are objected to diminish their credit and estimation in the world Is it likely that Invectives Epigrammes Dialogues Epistles Libells loden with contumelies and criminations should bee the meanes to procure peace Surely they which doe take this course the way of peace they have not knowne If they did but once enter into a stayed consideration with themselves what they doe no doubt they would give over and resolve with Iob. Behold I am vile what shall I answer I will lay my hand upon my mouth If I have spoken once amisse I will speak no more or if twice I will proceed no further II. But how sober and how sound soever our proceedings be in these causes all is in vaine which wee doe to abate the errours of men except their unruly affections be bridled Selfe-love vaine-glory impatience pride pertinacy these are the bane of our peace And these are not