are we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 living Laws and Royal Examples of greatness to the World when we do and speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so as not to disgrace but adorn the Gospel and consequently stop the mouths of all gainsayers by a controuling sanctity of actions and all men be wholly convinced or compelled to unity and obedience It is expected then whatever habits are in fashion among others that the Priests should be cloathed with righteousness adorn'd with a decent conversation and produce the fruits of good works these be the evidences of the Buds Blossoms and Almonds of Aaron's Rod and denote its Supremacy Nothing will restore the Church says a Reverend Prelate to its pristine honour love and authority in mens hearts and minds but a serious setting themselves to the study preaching and practising of truth and peace in a holy life These were the Arts these the Policies these the pious Stratagems by which anciently they gained peoples hearts to love God his Truth and of themselves the witness of it to such a height of honour and ecstasie of love that they received them as the Angels of God and Ambassadors from Heaven God grant the Tribe of Levi may be like Jacob's Ladder which he saw in Bethel Gen. 28.12 whereon were Angels ascending and descending so by our Office and Ministration Angels might in us ascend and carry up ours and the peoples supplications unto God and Angels by us descend to bring Gods Word and Message to the people that there may be the sweet contexture or agreement of Beings one espoused to another in faithfulness and truth even a blessed Union betwixt Prince and People and a gracious accord too of the people among themselves in an united conformity and conjunction in the Service of God being knit together in the inviolable bonds of Loyalty and love neither entoiled with Civil broils within nor infected with Hostile inroads from without but all professing that one eternal Truth which is both the Mother and Nurse of Peace we may enjoy such a tranquillity as in the days of Solomon when Judah and Israel dwelt safely every one under his Vine and under his Fig-tree from Dan even to Beershaba Or as it was in the days of Constantine when there was silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour and the prayers of the Saints ascended up as a cloud in grateful odors The prime perfection then and pleasure in this life second to that supernatual one Faith in Christ and Sanctification through the Spirit consists in the beholding Brethren to dwell together in unity which limns and shadows out the glorious Hierarchy of Heaven the Trinity in Unity for Deus est unitas omnis unitatis affector * Dionys Areop let us therefore express this unspeakable concord by the Sacrifice of our selves to a Spirit of Unity and Truth and not a Spirit of Error and Division which causeth the breach of Union the disturbance of the Peace and quiet of the Church As the unity of Faith joyns us so the bond of Charity tyeth us fast together through one and the same Spirit to unity and godly love because Schism is the next way to Heresie which is to be hated as a thing that leads to destruction And non semper servatur unitas in credendo ubi non est unitas in colendo there will not always be unity of Doctrine in that Church where there is not uniformity of Discipline Prophane Writers can tell us by concord the weakest * The Sun-beams disperst are but of small force but they gather strength if collected in a narrow glass Scilurus the Scythian on his death-bed as story tells us taught his fourscore Sons the force of Unity by a Faggot of Rods or as it is in Plutarch a bundle of shafts while together are hardly broken but if you divide them 't is quickly done And thus it is in Ecclesiae fasciculo Hosea prophesieth destruction but this doth usher it in Their hearts are divided Hos 10.2 things grow strong by discord the mightiest States are overthrown Though States differ the Communion of Saints must be preserv'd the Church should keep at unity and by united force repel Heresie After all our unhappy Divisions what can be more seasonable to the Genius of our Times than cementing counsel that all Gods Building may be raised up as of one stone by having cor unum viam unam Jer. 32.39 one heart and one way which was the Character of the Church Christians primitive Age Acts 4.32 for Division is a sad Prognostick threatning desolation when the stones of the building begin to fall off from one another the house grows ruinous Isa 30.13 and the breach thereof comes suddenly in a moment May the number of those increase that are friends of Sion and the generation of those perish that make it their design to lay waste the City of God and bury her in her own ruines Did the godly Jews mourn for Judah And shall not the English Nation for the Land of our desires and Nativity O that ever such an inlightned Goshen should hatch or harbour such black Monsters that would gnaw out the bowels of their own Mother That so many Judasses should be found amongst Christs Disciples The Prophet Isaiah saith Isa 15.5 Chap. 16.7 9 11. My heart shall cry for Moab and bewail the vine of Sibmah I will water thee with my tears O Heshbon and my bowels shall sound like a harp for Kirharesh Is not England as dear unto us and have not we as great cause to lament for this Church and State the Womb that bare us and the Breasts that gave us suck Every one ought to bow down and go heavily as one that mourneth for his mother by reason of her Divisions * No Church so fair in this World as to be without spot and wrinkle none so happy as to be wholly priviledged from jarrs and dissentions The Jewish Church in Christs time was full of divisions there were Pharisees Sadducees Essenes c. In the Church of Philippi what contestations and tumults broils and factions were there and that not Oeconomical about meum and tuum but Ecclesiastical and in matters of Religion by those of the Concision those evil workers as S. Paul calls them In the flourishing Church of Corinth where there were so many Christians of the first magnitude eminent for Religion and Piety yet even here are strifes and divisions inasmuch as S. Paul wrote his first Epistle to dissolve those factions and repress those dissentions that were amongst them In the Church of England to come home to our selves there is Presbyterian Independent Anabaptist and Quaker and it may be said of our days as in S. Paul's time at Corinth There are divisions among us In Paradise there was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only in Heaven there 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full and perfect harmony without any discord but we can't
Purple Robe they bow their knees and cry Hail King of the Jews Joh. 19.2 3. They cut down branches and spread them in the way singing Hosanna to the Son of David when they part his garments and for his vesture cast Lots And whatever dress they put on display them to be a spurious brood within the pale but no true Sons of the Church were they so their looks would not speak smiles whilst storms did surge in their breasts who about the froth of their own brains dare rent the peace and tranquillity of it and war for the aery projections of their giddied heads as if Heaven and Earth were little enough to be mingled in the quarrel tearing the seamless Coat of the holy Jesus in pieces causing Divisions and Schisms that our holy Mother the Church is forced to utter her unwelcome voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Caesar said to Brutus What thou my Son But we are of a strange disposition we use not to regard the Sun or Moon till we see them in Eclipse Lunâ non aspicimus nisi laborante saith Seneca And that course of Aristotle with his Auditors best suits with our Natures before we are enamour'd with this holy concord we must be acquainted with its opposite vices * It is a Rule in Logick Contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt And a little knowledge in Judicial Astrology will serve the turn to predict the ill effects of the Serpents teeth division An easie Observation can foresee and foretel the sad Events of excentrick Motions and intestine Wars Peace and Unity like light and fruitful showres descend from above from Heaven from God but strifes and dissentions like tempestuous Vapours and fiery Exhalations come from the Earth from the devillish hearts designs and practices of men The Orator said well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Any rash hand or furious head may inflict a wound or kindle a fire but it is God alone who can heal up the breaches of a Church or State Private grudges and contentions like several Cards in a Map whose Lines are drawn infinitely crossing cut and thwart each other must needs shew us the way to publick calamity When humane Societies become Cannibals to one another the bands of love which hold Mankind together must necessarily be dissolv'd and we can't but behold a very sad Landskip of horrour and confusion because animosities and divisions feed on envy and malice so long till they break forth into a consuming fire in ruine and desolation by an open Hostility The Earth grows wild and becomes a great Forest of savage and cruel Monsters and Mankind turns Beasts of prey one towards another When our united Force should encounter Babylon the common Enemy * Cumque superba foret Babylon spolianda trophaeis Lucan we weaken our selves like those ancient Romans by mutual dissentions and perish by our own oppositions If Christians would but take the Moralists counsel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to spend and derive their malice some other way for many had rather employ their time in picking and feeding quarrels in the Church at home than advance the unity of the Faith abroad and how can any expect security from their enemies while they are at variance thus with themselves Do any hope to escape the fury of Aliens while they are ready to sheath their Swords in each others bowels Eph. 4.3 S. Paul that great Patriot of Religion and glorious Angel upon Earth perswades all to keep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace And if he hath but reason enough to make him a man and so much Religion as will name him Christian I doubt not but he will hearken to S. Peters advice 1 Pet. 3.11 to seek peace and ensue it And will follow that which makes for peace as S. Paul would have us Rom. 14.19 for whether it be a security from open Invasions or an immunity from home-bred Oppositions it is dulce nomen pacis even to them that know no more of it besides its name The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a comprehensive term and signifies all prosperity or outward happiness in the Hebrew stile or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to knit being as 't were the tye of mens affections in either of these respects 't is a thing delightful under any notion it is amiable and lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Nazianzen It is a kind of sweet divine and heavenly concent harmony or beauty of things subordinate one to another In the oeconomy of Nature unity or peace is the combination of Creatures by symbolical qualities so contempered and disposed by the will and pleasure of the All-wise Creator that all agree to a perfect harmony of the Universe to make up one intire body the World In the lesser Worlds of mixt Bodies peace or unity is the equal balance or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 due moderation and temper of humors and parts which keep their true place and proportion Quâ quodlibet corpus non minùs appetit unitatem suam quà m Entitatem therefore it preserves Unity as its Being In the Political World the State peace or unity is the setling and due ordering of things by just Laws of Government so that Laws and Government are the Charter of our Lives and Liberty the Pillar and Basis of States and Kingdoms and Cement of all Societies for the whole design of Civil Power or Authority is to procure the private and publick happiness of Mankind to preserve men in their Rights against the insolent Usurpations and Outrages of murders perjuries fraud and violence and such like misdemeanors as would invade the World with Anarchy and disorder and bring the Politick Body to confusion There is no one thing Religion excepted that more secures and adorns the State than Justice * Jus aequitas vincula civitatum Cic. Parad. doth It is both Columna Corona Reipublicae saith a Reverend Father of the Church a prop to make it subsist firm in it self Pietas justitia duo sulcra Reipub. columnae regni Vbi non est pudor nec cura juris sanctitas pietas fides instabile regnum est As is well observed by the Tragedian and as a Crown to render it glorious in the eyes of others Truth Order and Justice are the only foundations of Peace and Unity in Church and State In the rational World as men who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rational and sociable Creatures Unity is the conjunction of every mans powers and faculties in himself composing one individual inclination and then concurring to a general union of wills and affections for Truth is but one as the Center and draws all minds to an unity which tend to it In the spiritual World as Christians the Church is not a name of division but of unity and concord * Ibi non est Ecclesia ubi non est
a perfum'd breath and richness of Language as if they were made with the first Adam speak of the Dictates of the Patriarchs and Testimonies of the Prophets but in vain do any boast they are descended from Abraham since he is not a Jew who is one outward in the flesh bur inward in the Spirit as our Saviour told the Pharisees vaunting of Antiquity Joh. 8. except they did the works of Abraham and abide in the Truth Truth then is the Child of Time and as there is Antiquity of Time so also of Truth and Doctrine And so long as the Romish Church continued in the profession and practice of Apostolical purity i. e. of Faith and Doctrine which was once given to the Saints all other Christian Churches held Communion with her for the Church of Rome did not anciently in former Ages hold all these Doctrines which now she owns The ancient Church of Rome was but a Member of the Catholick Church of God of which Jesus Christ was Head But the now Roman Church does at this day what S. Augustine * De Vnit Eccles cap. 6. told to the Donatists inclose the Catholick Church within their own circuits and usurps it wholly to her self of which the Pope is Head And the Papacy will have their Pope by reason of the Kingdom of Christ to be the Head and King of the Church in ordine ad Spiritualia and consequently the Supreme Civil Power over the Monarchs of the Earth in ordine ad Temporalia to be the Head and King of the Church Such a Church was never in Rome for many hundred years after our Saviour no Bishop ‖ Gregory Bishop of Rome Ego fidenter dico quia quisquis se universalem Sacerdotem vocat vel vocari desiderat in elatione sâ—â Antichristum praecurrit Pope Pelagius distinct 99. Vniversalis autem nec etiam Romanus Pontifex appelletur Cyril Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did assume Christs Title to be the Head of the Church till Boniface the Third who not contenting himself with his Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical and fulness of Spiritual Power but his towring Ambition aspires yet higher and with much contention obtained of the Rebel Phocas about the year 604. who murder'd Maurice the Emperour the Title of Universal The Pope looking for Primacy on Earth is very unlike his heavenly Master whose Vicar he pretends to be Christ paid Tribute unto Caesar Luke 20.25 but the Pope that Prevaricator of the Apostolick See exacts it from them and Caesar pays unto him Our Saviour wash'd his Disciples feet but the Bishop of Rome in these days with imaginary Supremacy causes the greatest Princes and mightiest Emperors do him Homage and swear Allegiance * Clement the Fifth call'd a Council at Vienna An. 1311. in which it was ordained and decreed That the Emperour his Lord should give his Oath of Allegiance to the Pope for being not content with his Primacy abused Religion into Policy and casting off all moderation the Pope devoured the Emperour Thus the Head of the Church degenerated into a Monster and in reaching at Temporal Soveraignty he broke the Spiritual Unity contrary to the Divine Authority and Majesty of the Scripture Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers Rom. 13. and to the King as Supreme 1 Pet. 2.13 As Heathen Rome under the Emperours Domitian and others would be adored as Gods though never so impious so Rome Christian falls under the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Apostle Sitting in the Temple of God as God 2 Thess 2.4 and exalting himself above all that is called God * Zacharias Papa ex authoritate Sancti Petri Apostoli mandat populo Francorum ut Pepinus qui potestate Regiâ utebatur etiam nominis dignitate frueretur Ita Hildericus ultimus Merovingorum qui Francis imperabat depositus est in monasterio missus est Marian. Scot. Hist lib. 3. Lambertus Danaeus in his Response to Bellarmine the great Master of Controversie contending that Childerick was lawfully deposed by Pope Zacharias Can Zachary saith he have Authority in France being a Stranger Can he depose the publick Magistrate being but a private person though he were Bishop of Rome or transfer that Principality to Pepin that he hath no Right unto and commit so many Sacriledges and Impieties stealing from Childerick and giving to Pepin another mans Right Authorizing Subjects to violate their Oaths which they had sworn to their King Transposing Kingdoms from one man to another whereas it doth only belong to God to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms Thou mayest see Bellarmine how many outrages this thy Zachary hath committed Resp Danae ad Bellar. lib. 2. cap. 17. pag. 316. in a superlative Greatness and that not of order and precedency only as to Ecclesiastical Regency stretching his Diocese over all Bishops and Churches in the Christian World but of absolute Authority claiming universal Jurisdiction in a Monarchiâ—al Superintendency or Regality over all Christendom with a Power to depose Kings and dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms for the benefit of the Church is a Title only of Usurpation without any ground of Scripture or Antiquity First Christ was no Temporal Monarch but an Eternal King to rescue us from the thraldom of sin the sorcery of the flesh and the Curse of the Law Christ was no earthly King and left no Regal Power to S. Peter therefore the Pope can have no Civil Power or Temporal Dominion as the Vicegerent of Christ and consequently overturns and destroys the Doctrine of Supremacy The Lawgiver himself even Ipse Ille that bare rule in Heaven the incarnate and crucified Messias Joh. 12.36 saith My Kingdom is not of this World Whereas that Sect of Politicians the Romanists turns the Kingdom of Christ into outward Pomp and Bravery and they to have the Managery and Government of it as if the now See of Rome should be known to be the most Christian Bishop not in having with Christ no Temporalties but an absolute Soveraignty to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms which is nothing less than a strange Usurpation for the Son of God did never impose such a hard duty and condition to Kings that were to become Christians as to forsake their Imperial Crowns and Diadems except in their hearts and affections and in comparison of the Kingdom of God O Eternal Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light of Truth inspire the Universal Church with the Spirit of Truth Unity and Concord and grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the Truth of thy holy Word and live in unity and godly love Secondly View it in relation to the Apostles who were the Patriarchs of the Church And the Evangelists make special mention of their Names as those to whom we owe great honour and veneration being conversant with Christ and daily instructed by him who continued with him unto his Passion and Crucifixion and after his Resurrection
Communion of Saints and bear a chief part in that spiritual consort put all out of tune by Separation and Division * Vos ergo quare sacrilegâ separatione pacis vinculum diripuistis August lib. 2. de Bapt. cont Donat. O tell it not in Gath they who are of the Ministration and should be Ring-leaders in Obedience and Conformity are become pernicious Nurseries of Fanatick Rage Sedition and Rebellion Factionum discordiarum Duces as it was said of the Syndicks of Geneva The dangerous malady of Faction made S. Chrysostome with such zeal and fervor declare against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I say and protest ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys in Ephes Hom. 11. to make Schism in the Church is no less evil than to fall into Heresie Behold therefore how good and pleasant a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity It calls to mind that rich Perfume and costly Ointment even those precious drops of love which fell from the head of the first Being to the skirts of inferior Entities The windows of Heaven are open to us in a glorious Light teaching us how to demean our selves in a state of Conjunction as Members of the Catholick Church not to be swelled with rage and fury but big with Charity and universal kindness to the whole World heaping those coals of Love Blessing and Prayer on our Enemies heads Mat. 5.44 for a Christian is not to hate his Enemy but at the same rate and expence he loves his friend Would you be revenged there 's no way to compass this design but by the contrary methods of compassion and affection If we would justifie our wrath curtesie must be the Executioner overcoming evil with good Christianity takes away all malice and hatred revenge and cruelty out of mens minds it calms the temper and fills them with kindness and good will even to their very enemies And it is most certain that living in Religion and Fear of God in Obedience to the King in Charities and Duties of Communion with our spiritual Pastors Guides and Curates of the Soul in Justice and Love with all the World in their several proportions we shall not fail of a happy End 1 Tim. 4.8 For Godliness hath the promise of this life and of that which is to come but without Piety * Principibus ad salutem sola satis vera est pietas absque illa verò nihil est vel exercitus vel Imperatoris sortitudo vel apparatus reliquus Zoz Eccles Hist lib. 9. cap. 1. there is no internal comfort to be found in Conscience nor external peace to be looked for in the World nor eternal happiness to be hoped for in Heaven There is no man indeed can expect the favour of God on the service of an historical and verbal ‖ Our Religion consists not in words but deeds saith Justin Piety or without conformity of our affections to his Law Our Consciences tell us It is not a Theory to talk only but to be makes Christians saith Ignatius The summ of Christian Religion is to imitate him whom thou worshippest saith S. Augustine Ye know these things saith our Saviour to his Disciples happy are ye if you do them here 's knowing and doing like the two Cherubims turning both their faces to the Mercy-seat of Blessedness That it is no better than Blasphemy to praise his Wisdom if we are not govern'd by it or his Goodness if we do not imitate it It is profaneness and affront to look obsequiously with eyes and hands lift up to God in our Devotions whom we scorn and revile in our lives and actions It is the special glory of our Religion that it consists not in barren Speculations or empty Formalities not in fansying curiously or speaking zealously or looking demurely but in really producing the sensible fruits * Humilitas in conversatione stabilitas in fide verecundia in verbis in factis justitia in operibus misericordia in moribus disciplina injuriam facere non nôsse factam tolerare posse cum fratribus pacem tenere Deum toto corde diligere amare in illo quod Pater est timere quod Deus est Christo nihil omninò praeponere quia nec nobis ille quicquam praeposuit charitati ejus inseparabiliter adhaerere Quando de ejus nomine honore certamen est exhibere in sermone constantiam quâ confitemur in quaestione fiduciam quâ congredimur in morte patientiam quâ coronamur Hoc est cohaeredem Christi velle esse hoc est praeceptum Dei facere hoc est voluntatem Patris adimplere S. Cyprian de Orat. Domin of goodness Religion where-ever it is truly planted is certainly the greatest obligation upon Conscience to all Civil Offices and Moral Duties which are the great bands of peace and unity among men for Christianity in the love and practice of it is a Principle of truth and fidelity of sobriety and discretion of humility and condescension of pity and forgiveness It teaches us kindness and humanity which are apt to subdue the most rugged dispositions and obliges the hearts and affections of mankind to the service of one another removing the occasions of passion and displeasure corrects irregularities and mortifies all those lusts which are the cause of enmity and division The Christian Religion saith our worthy Diocesan in his Tracts * Bish of Win. in his Sermon on the 5th of Novemb. before the King pag. 15. truly so called is so far from being a cause of commotion or disturbance in Kingdoms and States that where the Christian Religion is truly taught and truly practised it would be impossible there should be any dissension or discord any open Rebellion or privy Conspiracy in a State ‖ Fulgentius saith That no kind of Sedition can stand with Religion cùm pro nostra fide liberè respondemus c. When we answer freely for our profession we ought not to be taxed with the least suspicion of disobedience or contumely seeing we are not unmindful of the Regal Dignity and do know that we must fear God and honour the King according to the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.17 or Kingdom because all the Articles of the Christian Faith and all the Precepts of Christian practice tend unto peace Charity Love and Peace are a sacred Trinity and the great Characters of Christs Disciples though many in this degenerate Age are Jews in Christian habit not admitting Christ a Being in their hearts living in direct contrariety to his Life and Doctrine by Irreligion and Atheism and had they a power answerable to their wills would un-deifie their Creator And if his Mercy were not as infinite as his Majesty his provoked Soveraignty might in a moment reduce them into their first Nothing Do they not call Christ their King by the same kind of Irony by which the Jews called him theirs when platting a Crown upon his head and putting upon him a
another They carry with them fierce Bulls such as the Poet doth mention Vulcanum naribus afflant and breathe or speak nothing but in the fiery accents of desolation of which temper the Jesuitick Spirit seems to be which deceives the Nations with the Cup of Errour setting out Truths in a painted and meretricious Bravery nay blending them with humane inventions teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men And there can be no greater Sacriledge in the World than to put our own Image upon the Ordinances of Christ 1. Our Lord and Saviour hath commanded us to read the holy Scripture Joh. 5.39 and the Holy Ghost blesseth them that delight therein Psal 1. But the Roman Church forbids the reading thereof to the Laity in the vulgar Tongue * Haeresin â—sse si quis dicit necessarium esse ut Scripturae in vulgares linguas convertantur Sander Visib Monar lib. 7. Credo institutum hoc à Diabolo esse inventum Peres de Trad. part 1. assert 3. pag. 47. which if they should be permitted the perusal of would easily discover their new Articles of Faith to be erroneous their Image-worship to be Idolatry and their not erring Bishop to be a grand Deceiver Pope Clement VIII in the Index of prohibited Books says That the Bible published in vulgar Tongues ought not to be read and retained no not so much as a Compendium or History of it And Bellarmine says That it is not necessary to Salvation to believe that there are any Scriptures at all written This is to blot out the Canonical Scripture and give us Apocrypha in the room of it to make the Divine Oracles to speak to the patronizing of their own interest and would suborn God for a Witness to their Errours As Caligula dealt with Jupiters Statue taking off the head of it and placing his own in its stead So they substitute the devices of their own Brain in the place of Gods Word putting that most excellent Candle under a bushel to make the Decretals of the Pope as authentick as holy Writ and wholly rely on the Dictates of the Priest setting more by an old Tradition than a Divine Precept Thus these insolent Usurpers who seek not so much to oppress the bodies as exercise their Tyranny over the Souls of men and pitifully inthral them to everlasting servitude As the wicked Shepherds of Midian would drive their Neighbours flocks from the watering Troughs and the Philistims would stop the Patriarchs Wells So the Emissaries of Rome use all Arts to keep the people from the use of the Scriptures the Wells of Salvation hindering them from instruction It is a great glory to the Church of England that the Bible * The difference between Pope Sixtus the Fifth and Clement the Eighth the one commanding one Bible only to be used the other another under their Curses whereby the Romish Partisans are involved into a miserable necessity being constrained not to read any or be liable to the Anathema of Pope Clement if they use Sixtus's Bible or of Sixtus if they use Clement's which was shut up in an unknown Tongue from the generality is now in our own Mother-tongue and Language of the Kingdom And what S. Chrysostome spake of old concerning the British Islands is verified at this day every where a man may hear the people discoursing of the Scriptures strangers indeed in speech yet of the Houshold of Faith in tongue Barbarians but in conversation drawing nearer unto Saints for the Christian Laity in the Britannick Church which is not permitted in the Roman walk in the most clear Light of the Gospel and drink their fill of the pure streams of the water of Life in Scripture * It is a weighty Saying of Tertullian Adoro pl nitâ—dinem Scripturarum for all Scripture was given by Divine Inspiration 2 Tim 3.16 and profitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for redargution 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for correction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for instruction that the man of God may be perfected unto all good works And we all have not only liberty by Proclamation to enjoy it but several Acts of Parliament to confirm our use of it Religion and Liturgy God grant that which is so great a mercy and happiness to us we make it not our misery by turning the cause of our thanksgiving into murmuring repining and dissatisfaction for if ever Times were under cross and unluckly Aspects if ever there were a publick Spirit of Phrensie and mischief in the World certainly this Lot is fallen upon ours in contending for Mint and Cummin disagreeing in the lesser ‖ Disunanimity and disuniformity are a breaking not only of the King 's but of God's and the Churches peace It causeth distraction hinders devotion and indisposeth men unto Religion and clouds the understanding in the disquisition of Truth and consequently hinders that blessed light which clarifies the Soul of man and predisposeth it unto the brightness of eternal felicity only when they all agree in the substance and in the greater as matters of Faith and Articles of Belief viz. to believe in the Father Son and Holy Ghost one Divinity of equal Majesty in the holy Trinity It were to be heartily wish'd that in matters that truly concern so much the glory of God the honour peace and welfare of the Church and Commonweal that all prejudicate Opinions varnish'd with plausible errour through pride and ambition might be laid aside and in the zeal of affection not forget our Duty and the Unity that should be among Christians 2. Christ administred to his Disciples both Species of the Sacrament of Eucharist and his Command stands in Sacred Record Mat. 26.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 drink ye all of this Mark 14.23 and they all drank of it saith the Canon of Scripture Christ ordains it but the Church of Rome forbids it as if they were wiser than our Saviour setting their mouths against Heaven and correcting his holy and divine Institution For in the Council of Constance * Et similiter quod licèt in primitiva Ecclesia hujusmodi Sacramentum reciperetur à fidelibus sub utraque specie tamen haec consuetudo ad evitandum aliqua pericula scandala est rationabiliter introducta quod à conficientibus sub utraque specie Laicis tantummodo sub una specie suscipiatur c. Const Sess 13. they alter'd the Testamental Legacy and Ordinance of Christ himself in taking away from the Laicks the Chalice of the Sacrament the holy Symbol of Christs Blood stiled by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Cup of Blessing for the Eucharistical Elements are not Theories or empty Signs but Seals to confirm and Instruments to exhibit Christ with all the benefits of his Passion and blessings of Heaven unto every believing Christian therefore the Romish Church does great injury to Christendom in her half Communion the deprivation of the Chalice Quomodo
Testamentum nuncupant qui mortem Testatoris negant Quomodo libertatem usurpant qui negant sanguinem quo redempti sunt * Ambros ep 73. lib. 9. S. Ambrose says That he who receives the Mystery otherwise than Christ appointed i. e. in one kind when Christ has appointed two is unworthy of the Lord and he cannot have devotion It s innovation and novelty is clearly manifest if we look into the Glass of Antiquity but from the beginning it was not so ‖ Mat. 19.8 See the Reverend Dr. Pierce in his primitive Rule of Reformation as our Saviour said of Divorce which is a sufficient confutation Cassander * Ecclesia Orientalis in hunc usque diem Occidentalis verò sive Romana mille amplius annis continuis non aliter quà m sub duplici specie in conventu Ecclesiae Sacramentum hoc Dominici corporis sanguinis administrasse legitur c. Consult de utraque Spec. says That the Eastern Church to this day and the Western or Roman Church for more than a thousand years did exhibit the Sacrament in both Elements to all the Members of Christs Church S. Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Body and one Cup is given to all Pope Calixtus * Peractâ consecratione omnes communicent qui noluerint Ecclesiasticis carere hominibus sic autem etiam Apostoli statuerunt Sancta Romana tenet Ecclesia De Consecrat dist cap. 2. speaks fully When the Consecration is finish'd let all communicate that will not be thrust from the bounds of the Church for so the Apostles appointed and so the holy Church of Rome does hold Pope Gelasius ‖ Comperimus quòd quidam sumptâ tantummodo corporis sacri portione à calice sacri cruoris abstineant Qui pro culdubio quoniam nescio quâ superstitione docentur astricti aut integra Sacramenta percipiant aut ab integris arceantur quod divisio unius ejusdemque mysterii sine grandi non sit sacrilegio De Cons dist cap. 2. Some taking saith he a portion only of the sacred Body do abstain from the Chalice of the sacred Blood I know not by what Superstition they are obliged let them either receive the intire Sacrament or be kept from the whole because the division of one and the same Mystery cannot be without grand Sacriledge Nothing can be a greater cause of wonder and amazement in the consideration of it than that the Church of Rome should seek to obscure the light of Truth shining as clearly as the Sun in its Meridian beauty and splendor arrogating to themselves a Dominion over our Faith and introducing such Doctrines and Practices as are contrary to the Rules of Christ and his Apostles and the purest Ages of the Church As Lawgivers setting themselves down in S. Peters Chair as they pretend and magisterially decree * Si quis dixerit ex Dei praecepto vel de necessitate salutis esse omnes singulos Christi fideles utramque speciem Eucharistiae sumere debere Anathema sit Concil Trident Sess 5. Can 1. Laws and Constitutions diametrically opposite to the Divine command and Christs holy Institution When the Lamp of Reason is darkened and obscured the Soul presently embraces a cloud and courts a shadow the blackest errours and most palpable wickedness must needs cover the face of those Souls that start back and apostatize from their God and their Reason To preserve therefore its lustre and integrity in the memories of all those who bear any true love to substantial Truth the ancient Light establish'd and receiv'd in the Church of England is a secure Guide to direct us not to be weary of old Truths forsaking the ancient paths to espouse new and fond Opinions that we neither incline to the cunningly composed Charms of Popery on one hand or ignorant ‖ The Separatists and Papists have been playing at Tennis and the Government and Hierarchy are the Balls they toss The Separatist strikes them into the Popes Hazard calling them Antichristian Prelacy The Papist with vehemence rackets them back again as Schismatical but the Roman Church are the Schismaticks in renouncing alâ— communion with all Christian Churches in the World except their oâ—â—â— and iâ—l it is with us which soever wins the game The one bâ—â—â—â—s down the wall of Sion by disturbing the peace of the Reformed Câ—â—â—ch â—he other builds up the ruines of Babylon in superstitious Vanitâ—â— And they are so fast linked and tied together like Samsons Fâ—â—â—â— with Fire-brands of Sedition that if they be not quenched by thâ—â—â— wâ—r of Majesty they can't chuse when the means are fitted to thâ—â— Plot but sâ—t the Church on fire and the State in an uproar Sectarians and men of unstable minds on the other who crumbling into Conventicles are ready to joyn with every Enthusiastick Sect and so making Gods Israel to become a speckled Bird of several colours Jer. 12.9 of all varieties of Religion S. Paul has a term for them 2 Tim. 3.8 if they like it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of sick brains as well as of corrupt minds And such is the arrogant disposition of some transported humors being under the torrid Zone of unruly passion that rather than they will acknowledge their errours though never so apparent the very State and Law it self must be condemn'd and condescend to their distempers being led more by their own pleasing Fancies than right Reason or the sacred Rules of Piety and Truth who have laboured to sow the Tares of Dissention in the Vineyard of the Lord disquieting the Unity of Gods Church Division is the only musical note that sounds harmoniously in the ears of our Zimries And it is a Truth undeniable That these later times have produced a doleful Scene of various transactions and consequently discover'd and brought to light the unparalell'd designs and execrable intentions of Fanatical zeal or Democratical fury for the Dissenters in this Age have conspir'd together to untye the knot of Christian Charity and produce an unhappy Schism in the Church what else mean those strange whispers mysterious workings and grand plotting who would not only uncover the roof and take down the Pyramids and Battlements of venerable Episcopacy but like the rough Sons of Edom raze it even to the ground And under hypocritical disguises contrive the sad prodigy of Treason whereby we see that Apostates to Atheism and Revolters to Schism are Monsters of ingratitude or Fiends incarnate who could imagine mischief against so much Mercy and sin against so great Goodness requiting the Protection of a gracious Prince with traiterous Machinations * See His Majesties Declaration concerning the Treasonable Conspiracy against his Sacred Person and Government read in all Churches and Chappels within this Kingdom Septemb 9. 1683. and under the mask and specious pretences of Religion bring to ruine the Government of the Kingdom as it is by Law establish'd in Church and State Loyalty like fresh and
Trinity is a fairer Object for Contemplation For in the Glass of the Trinity we may behold all Felicity it will be joy to mans Soul health to his body beauty to his eyes musick to his ears honey to his mouth perfume to his nostrils whole happiness to every part Therefore let us no longer doat upon this Mole-hill of Earth or prize its artificial complexioned Pleasures Structures of Cedar and Vermilion Garments and Embroideries of Aholiab Tables of Delicacies Couches of Ease and Ivory all things here below are but Bracteata Foelicitas Copper leav'd with Gold If we do but behold the Pavement of Heaven stuck with Stars as so many sparkling Diamonds how despicable and mean is the stateliest Palace of the greatest Monarch If the Hangings be so precious what must we think of the Room If the Frontispiece be so glorious what are those better parts yet unseen Magnum mirabile sub tanta Majestate O think then what Treasures what Riches what Excellencies are in those Courts above where the Gates of the New Jerusalem are beyond the Orient Majesty of Pearl and Streets more splendid than pure Gold where there is no need of the clear Light of the Moon nor the bright Beams of the Sun What ineffable Glory is in God the Light of those heavenly Tabernacles Consider but the Eternal Joys of that place and how heartless and dying is the best of worldly pleasures Nay were the whole World turned into a Seraglio of Delight and every Region into an Arabia could every Field become a Paradise and every Object that we meet with bring with it a Magazine of pleasure had we all the Enjoyments this Life could triumph in yet without God we should find them dismal Fruitions Heaven doth as far surmount all these things as the Celestial Sphere doth this Earthly Globe And so the Proposition is made good That Heaven is a fairer Object than Earth for our Contemplation even the glorious and Eternal Majesty of the holy Trinity that is enshrin'd in an Unity of Essence And Pythagoras that old Samian Philosopher made Unity the Original of all Things and the Cause of all Good in the World And the Fathers under the Allegorical vail of that Unity discover an undivided Deity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if That and God were so inseparably linkt together that the thought of man could not possibly part them asunder 'T is a pious Exhortation that S. Pâ—ul gives the Ephesians to holy Concord and unity of Spirit Eph. 1.4 and lays it down with a triple Argument knowing that a â—hree-fold cord is not easily broken and admits of no separation at all unless they would seem to dissolve their Religion There is one Lord whom Christians obey and therefore no distraction by service There is one Faith whereby they believe and therefore no division by Creeds There is one Baptism whereby they get entrance into the Church and therefore no distinction by initiative Grace and these three are more peculiarly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Trinity of Unities wherein God by the Ministry of the holy Apostle appears to his Church as it were in the shape of three Angels Silence now ye warbling Birds Consorts of the World be still and hear the Harmony of the Royal Prophet sung in an admirable Air tune the Instruments of your hearts unto it Thou art my portion thou art my riches I love the beauty of thine House which is no other than thine own Essence and the sole aim of my desire is the place of thy Glory The Diadems and honours of this world are of a short standing and nothing comparable to that Royalty which is everlasting and to that Kingdom which knows no end This World is an Ark wherein are clean and unclean Beasts a Park where Goats and Sheep live together a Net where good and bad Fish are found But in Heaven nothing that is impure or imperfect can have entry there In that fair place Solomon's wisdom will appear folly his knowledge ignorance Absolom's beauty shall be there deformity Samson's strength shall pass there for feebleness and the riches of all the Kings of the Earth shall be there as poverty The longest term of life in our Forefathers will appear a death for in Heaven it is in triumph above the reach of dull mortality A man may enjoy the light of the Sun and walk in its glittering rayes and now and then give a glance upon it though we cannot keep our eye fix'd upon its globe to behold its glory we may behold its beams refracted through a cloud but we may lose our sight by gazing on it in its naked beauty for according to an Axiom in Philosophy Excellens objectum laedit sensum Pliny prying into the Mountain Vesuvius to discover the fiery irruptions of Natures Kiln procured his death by his too bold attempts into the mysteries of Nature Surely it cannot but be dangerous to be too inquisitive into the Mysteries of the Trinity which ought rather to be religiously ador'd than curiously search'd into and requires not the natural Opticks or Eye of Reason but of Faith Reason can't â—ore delight in a demonstration than Faith does in revealed Truth As the Unity of the Godhead is clear to the Eye of Reason so the Trinity of Persons that is three glorious Relations in one God is as certain to an Eye of Faith Faith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 11.1 the evidence of things not seen saith the Apostle 'T is an Eye that can behold an absent Object A hand that can fasten upon what is not can grasp things in their first possibilities and the bare will of the Deity to produce any thing and gives us the knowledge of that Theological and stupendous Mystery even the Trinity in Unity or that the Deity which is essentially one is substantially three * See Zanchy de tribus Elohim uno Jehova lib. 1 cap. 2. The Soul imprisoned in a body can but darkly conceive of spiritual Beings those that are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the greatest apprehensions do but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have some broken and scatter'd notions which can't represent heavenly Truths in their proper Species so vast is the disproportion between Divine Mysteries and a finite Understanding for humane Wit knows not things here below how then can it be satisfied in the search after Divinity If he whom our Saviour cured of his blindness saw men as trees walking in what shâ—â—e shall they discern Evangelical Truths who have yet the scales upon their eyes Now there is a Curtain drawn if we are so bold to lift it up we may justly be struck with blindness even in those things which before were exposed to our view It is enough that God makes us of his Court though not of his Council That we may be free though not to rifle his Cabinet yet to sit at his Table no matter whether on the right hand or left in his Kingdom
oppose shall be interpreted a Command from Heaven to do it Judg. 5.23 Curse ye Meroz was the Text Rapine and Plunder the Comment and the Use Wars sounded as loud from the Pulpit as the Drum as if it had been the task of the Heavens to kill and slay and for its Arms hung in the Zodiack Man's Anatomy to shew they were born with those that arose oâ— the Dragon's Teeth in the Poet Mutuis perire gladiis to bleed to death on one another's Swords And here I may lead your thoughts to the unnatural Civil War in our British Isle when Tribe did rise against Tribe Brother against Brother Marte cadunt subito per mutua vulnera fratres Ovid. And the sight of one Aceldama one field of Blood will raise mens careless thoughts to a due valuation and grateful apprehension of the comforts we enjoy under our most Gracious Soveraign He that has escaped with him in Job to bring news of rapine and violence can best tell us what it is to see a flourishing Land become a Sea of Blood because War playes Pliny's Cockatrice annoying whatsoever it doth touch He can tell us what it is to see the Horse in equal state with its Rider both of them weltering in their own gore He can shew us what it is to see the obedient Son run over his slain Father to escape the hands of his own Executioner He can shew us what it is to see the burning of Cities and the woful Inhabitants martyr'd in the flames Is not every Siege the Funeral of a City * Quot obsidia tot urbium funera quot pugnae tot hominum lanienae quot agmina tot ruris supplicia quot turmae catervae cohortes acies tot suriae ad exitium agrorum hominum armatae Putean in stat bell pacis lit every pitched Battle a Massacre If a Samuel 1 Sam. 15.33 hew Agag in pieces a David in the heat of War falls a cutting Ammonites 1 Chron. 20.3 Sin Satan and War have all one Name Evil is the best of them The best of Sin is deformity the best of Satan enmity the best of War misery * The Turkish History makes mention of the Scythian Tamâ—rlane when he walked amongst the slain aâ—ter a bloody Victory against the Muscovites He accounted those Princes unhappy which by the destruction of their own kind sought to advance their own honour protesting himself grieved even from his heart to see such sorrowful tokens of his Victory It is no wonder now to complain as the Orator to the Athenians whatsoever they gain in their thrifty Peace they are deprived of by those consuming Tumults for what Paradise is there under Heaven which a lasting War will not easily turn into a Wilderness Many in this Nâ—tion have witnessed the truth of it with their eyes and its horrour with their tears by these inconveniences we may judge of the benefits of Peace and may see what gracious opportunities it doth yield for the practice of Religion and Godliness We may behold with joy and thankfulness that the Ark the Testimony of Gods presence which was long held captive among the Philistins is now returned and happily setled among us and that his Worship is duly performed in his Word and Sacraments Let his lungs waste in his breast let his spirits decay let his tongue languish to a perpetual silence that will not beseech God to establish this blessing as firm as the days of Heaven and wish its continuance O then pray for the Peace * Pulchriùs vomer quà m ensis splendet bidens quà m hasta meliùs ferro vervacta agrorum quà m agmina agricolarum proscinduntur saith Puteanus of our Jerusalem that love her and consequently for the life and prosperity of the Monarch of Great Britain King Charles II. our dread Soveraign the light of our eyes and the breath of our nostrils Lam. 4.20 who causes malignant vapours to vanish and dispels those clouds of mischief by his Princely power that would turn Religion into Rebellion and Faith into Faction cry up Priviledge to invade Regal Prerogative and under the notion of the Preservers of our Peace and Defenders of our Liberties reach out their hand to turn the stream of Royalty and subvert an excellent Monarchy into a Tyrannical Republick The Fallacy having been put on the Kingdom and Cheat acted once before it will not easily prevail with men of sober and rational judgments to renounce their Religion the best in the world or their Loyalty and obedience to the best of Kings whose Princely Goodness is not more tender of the Imperial Crown and Dignity than of the Peace and tranquillity of the Subject The one as it regards Royal honour the other the care of his People to cause Religion happily to flourish and Liberty Laws and Property to be safe and inviolable with the Blessings of Heaven notwithstanding the subtile insinuations and cunning stratagems of the old Enemies of Monarchy and the Church to throw us back into a relapse which reminds us of the late Rebellion when men in Buff durst proclaim themselves the only Legal Authority of the Nation and these like a mighty Torrent did drive all before them with an unruly violence brake down the banks of Ecclesiastical Discipline making no difference betwixt things Sacred and Common swallowed up Churches with their Revenues and laid desolate Sanctuaries of Piety and Religion Here we may wail out an Epicedium War and desolation poverty and paleness and garments roll'd in blood hearing the woful groans of dying men and bitter lamentations of Children for their Parents The Orphan blubbers his cheeks and sighs with Elisha O my Father my Father Now David breaths out an Elegy and O Absalom Absalom my Son my Son And Rachel likewise weeps and will not be comforted because they are not These were the miseries this Kingdom groan'd under after the Barbarous and horrid Murder of that Glorious Martyr King Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory And so it continued under the heavy yoke of an insolent Usurpation till his Majesty's happy Restauration actual Government and gracious Reign over us in peace and quietness security and freedom We owe the happiness of these temporal enjoyments under God to the prudent Conduct of Regal Majesty And here take this Thesis or Doctrine by way of affirmative Position If the Church be depriv'd of Kingly Majesty she is as apt to be infected with home-bred Errours as Foreign injuries for when there was no King in Israel Judg. 17.6 every man did what was right in his own eyes We see then the Office of a King is attended with as much burden as Jurisdiction He must encounter with Adversaries For has the holy Oyl been pour'd upon his Head and the Crown setled upon it by Divine Providence which over-rules Nature He that has given him the Crown gave the Sword also to secure and guard it and as it was Judah's Prerogative to
patience charity and obedience And as many as lived to Christ's sacred Institution did never revile the Government of Tyrants but carry themselves in a demeanour towards them to obey and be subject Bâ—nâ—s tanquam Deo malis propter Deum tam bonis quam malis tanquam Deo propter Deum as one saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Unto good Rulers as God bad Rulers for God Submit your selves saith S. Peter 1 Pet. 2.13 to every ordinance of man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Lords sake and to the King as supreme much less repelling by force their violence lest they should be found 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fighters against God What presumption is it then to contradict the Laws of our Superiors and shew disrespect to that order of men which God intends as his Vicegerents The immense perfections of a Deity being such that the frailty of humane Nature can't bear his immediate converses let not our Law-giver speak unto us except we shall dye therefore he rules us by our own Species and governs us by men like our selves But as the dignity and excellency of Angels are above other Creatures so of Magistrates above other men The Heathen Poet calls Kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persons divinely descended God has imparted to them his own Name Ego dixi Psal 82.6 7. I have said Ye are Gods and Sons of the most High all of you As he hath given an eminent appellation unto them so he hath conferred an eminent Authority upon them a Divine power * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diotog de Regno representing and resembling his own Soveraignty and they are Sacred and Soveraign because they bear not the Sword in vain And the same Authority that binds us to obey God commands us to revere those that so signally wear his Image Nothing can more oblige Heaven than to oblige those Heaven hath set over us especially our Princes and Governours Let us therefore shew our future Loyalty to the King and readiness to obey him by submitting our selves first unto God whose MINISTER he is that these things are enjoyned not secular men only saith S. Chrysostome * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. S. Chrysostom in Rom. Hom. 23. Et eadem habent etiam Theodoret Theophyl Oecumen ad Rom. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but even Priests and Monks also the Apostle evidently demonstrates when he saith Let every Soul be subject to the higher Power Be thou Apostle or Evangelist or Prophet or whatsoever thou beest else thou must not only obey them but even be subject unto them Here we may justly tax the intolerable Tyranny and Ambition of that man of sin 2 Thess 2.3 who not only exempts himself from all Civil subjection but even ‖ Sic Alexand. III. Frederic I. Imper. pede collum compressit Philip. Bergom Supplem Anno 1160. Petr. Justin rerum Venet. lib. 2. Papyr Masson in Alex. 3. Et Coelestinus Hen. VI. Imper. Capiti coronam pedibus imposuit eisdemque denuò dimovit Roger Hoveden Annal. par poster in Rich. I. Ranulph Polychron l. 1. c. 26. tramples on the Crowns of Princes in a most presumptuous manner Gregory VII feared neither God nor man when he erected the Papal Croisier against the Regal Scepter and read the Sentence of deprivation against the Emperour Henry †Carol. Sigâ—n de Regno Ital. lib. 9. in Vita Hen. III. Ego Authoritate Apostolica c. I by my Power Apostolical do bereave Henry of the German Kingdom and do deprive him of all subjection of Christian men absolving all men from the Allegiance sworn unto him And as I do deject Henry from Royal Dignity so I exalt Rodolph Duke of Saxony that was a sworn Subject to the Emperour to govern the Kingdom granting unto all men that shall serve him against the Emperour forgiveness of their sins in this life and in the life to come It is no wonder that Gregory his Chair clave asunder as some Writers * Benno Card. in Vit. Gregor VII affirm at the giving of the Sentence because the proud Pope and his wicked Decree were too heavy a burden for S. Peters Stool of humility to bear The ancient Fathers were not acquainted with this Divinity of the Popes Deity they were utterly ignorant of it We worship the Emperour Colimus Imperatorem ut hominem à Deo secundum solo Deo minorem Tertul. ad Sca. pul saith Tertullian as a man that is next to God inferiour to none but God alone The Speech of Optatus spoken of him by that insolent Schismatick Donatus may be applied to the proud Romish Prelate since ‖ Cùm supra Imperatorem non sit nisi Deus qui fecit Imperatorem dum se Donatus super Imperatorem extollit jam quasi hominum excesserat metas non verendo eum qui post Deum ab hominibus timebatur Optat. advers Parmen lib. 3. above the Emperour there is none but God that created him The Pope advancing himself above the Emperour goeth beyond humane bounds and carrieth himself not as man but as God in not reverencing him who of men is to be feared next after God Aeneas Sylvius saith Pius II. de ortu Author Imperii cap. 23. Sit tandem finis litium Let there be an end of contention and one principal Head to determine all temporal matters and the occasion of perpetual debate be taken away let men acknowledge themselves subject to their Prince and give reverence to him whom God hath made his Vicegerent on Earth S. Bernard though he lived but in a bad and corrupt Age writing to a great Bishop * Si omnis anima etiam vestra quis vos excepit ab universitate Qui tentat excipere conatur decipere S Bern. ad Hen. Senonens Epist 42. If every Soul must be subject to the higher Power then yours also among the rest The like may be said of the Bishop of Rome who hath given you an exemption from this general Injunction He that endeavours to exempt you doth but seek to destroy you What shall we now say of those who have blinded their understanding and overturn'd their Morals to think them Saints who have courage only to controul their Governours and fansie it piety and devotion to laugh at what the Supreme Magistrate commands is to exclude themselves from the Kingdom of Heaven It is a piece of new Divinity without colour of reason or Religion and was never heard of till Vice and Hypocrisie brought it into the World And it is hard to say which is worse mens actions or opinions that can turn the Dictates of the Holy Ghost to the temper of their own humor and transform Religion into Fancy Vertue into Speculation Zeal into Contention Truth into Policy and Faith into Faction that can see sin in a harmless circumstance a decency of habit or usage of a Ceremony which are instances of our obedience or
our charity and unity but can't discern those greater lines of Duty Subjection and Loyalty And as the Scribes and Pharisees of old cry'd up every where The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord so we have many such now a-days who are seemingly great Champions for the Church and take great care of the Duties of the first Table and yet can freely indulge themselves in the violation of the second proving annoyances to the State by seditious Insurrections though the Christian Religion doth firmly oblige men to peace obedience and due submission unto Secular Governours there are many persons that owne that Name and yet entertain Positions wholly inconsistent with the Precepts of that Religion and the safety of Princes and their Kingdoms swallowing REBELLION * There was a time which is a precaution to posterity when men pretended a Call from God to do the work of the Devil viz. rebelling and then murdering the best of Kings erecting him a Scaffold for a Throne and for a Diadem of Gold gave him a Crown of Thorns and instead of a glorious Prince made him a glorious Martyr without regret which opens the floud-gates of impiety and lets in upon us a Chaos of Anarchy Libertinism and popular Confusion bringing a kind of present damnation on the World They that are Authors or Abetters of Sedition saith S. Chrysostome can neither avoid shame on Earth nor escape eternal Damnation Though God the great Judge do sometimes permit Rebels in his Justice to prevail against Kings for the contempt of the Law of the highest and neglect of their own duty the reward of Rebellion shall be no better than the recompence of Satan who is the Instrument of the Lords wrath for the punishment of all disobedience The Kings Power is from God and for any private person or any Club of Subjects to wrest it out is a double Usurpation First They invade Gods Soveraignty Rom. 12.19 who saith Vengeance is mine Secondly The Princes Prerogative whose Office is to protect and punish to defend the innocent and correct the Spirit of Contumacy and Rebellion relieve the oppressed and support the vertuous rewards to Merit as well as punishment to Sin and Vice are dispensed A terrour to evil doers 1 Pet. 2.14 saith the Text and praise to them that do well Therefore honour the King Secondly As the goodness of Heaven shines in the preservation of our Royal Soveraign from the Usurpation of cruel Enemies at home so likewise Divine Providence hath guarded him from Foreign Attempts of unreasonable men abroad and made the Plots and Conspiracies of these worse than Heathens of none effect and deliver'd our King and our Princes our Nobles and the Heads of our Tribes the Governours of our Church and Judges of our Land nay the whole Commons of this Realm from a fearful destruction that would have swallowed them up For when the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree to cut off Soveraignty and destroy the Lord 's Anointed the rest of the people who are the Branches must expect lopping The restless Emissaries of the Church of Rome whether Priests Jesuits or Colledge of Cardinals give daily proof of their inveterate malice against the King the Government and Protestant Religion thinking that new Massacres are the most effectual course to stop the cry of the old and that the readiest way to silence their Adversaries is to make them instances of the Truth of the Accusation If the great God of Heaven who refrains the Spirits of men that delight in Blood had not been gracious to our King and Kingdom you had not this Day been Auditors nor I Speaker of this Theme but all of us miserable Spectators of the contrary And the Pope's Triple Crown would have been set with many red Roses of great Triumphs in a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing less than utter extirpation of us and Memorial from under Heaven The Rivers of Rome may seem to run smooth their Sea is Blood the extracted Spirits of things work more forcibly than concrete Bodies take heed of an Elixir an Extraction of Malice sublimated spiritualized into a Religion The cruel Massacres of Primitive Christians * If we reflect on ancient times and look back to the course of the World in general in the first Monarchy we find a fiery Furnace in the second a Den of Lions in the third the madness and fury of Antiochus when to believe in one God was to be put on the Rack and to abhor Idolatry involved the Votary in cruel Tortures In the fourth Monarchy the ten Persecutions more bloody and grievous than all that went before for not to sacrifice to Idols and to offer Incense to Heathen Gods was cause enough to be torn in pieces by wild Beasts and be exposed to all manner of terrible Torments when bloody Tumults affrighted Christ's Members and chased them from their Devotions when the Priest became the Sacrifice and his Books in disdain were made a Burnt-offering will teach us the price of our own happiness and the slaughter of our Forefathers may upbraid our unthankfulness with the benefits of our peace 'T were good that we their surviving Off-spring would learn to make use of their happy Martyrdom In their crimson steps we may trace the way to our Saviour's Cross and read in the living memory of their Torments the sad Tragedy of his Sufferings The World at this day is well mended with us we know not the meaning of Rack or Faggot of Sword and Gridiron the Instruments of Romish Cruelty Let three Kingdoms therefore bow themselves as the heart of one man and praise God for his mercy unto his Servants under the Protection of our gracious and religious King Charles Heaven hath preserved our Church from ruine and confusion from the spreadings and prevailings of Errours Heresies and Schisms Superstition and Idolatry which strive to oppress us and to eclipse the truth and purity of Doctrine which is our Churche's Glory and so much offends the Eyes of Rome and makes them clip wash and new-coyn the Gold of the Sanctuary Lastly As Divine Providence and Goodness did this Day bring into the World our gracious Soveraign and hath hitherto preserv'd him from all Enemies Domestick and Foreign So the same special grace and favour of God did this Day bring home and restore to us our King a Prince of so much Clemency and Mercy that he is inferiour to none that sways a Scepter or sits upon a Throne His Restauration was wonderful without any Effusion of Blood The Voice of War is changed into Proclamations of Peace the Clattering of Swords and Spears is turned into the sweet Melody of Harps and the harsh Tones of Death into a Psalm of Thanksgiving O Lord thou art become gracious unto thy Land and hast turn'd away the Captivity of Jacob Praise therefore waits on thee in Zion and unto thee shall the Vow be perform'd in Jerusalem We celebrate the Memory of this thy Mercy in restoring our King and with him the free Profession of true Religion and Worship What doth God require now both from Prince and People but the acknowledgment of his favour He that will not glorifie God as the Father of Mercies in the rigour of Justice God may glorifie himself in his eternal ruine If we prove not the Heralds of his Glory Examples shall we be of his just indignation All tasting Mercy all should be thankful and though all have not Frankincense yet every one mâ—y have Praise Let us praise God for his miraculous preservation of our King and Kingdom Church and People and let it sound so â—oud this day as it may reach Heavens gates and meet with Hallelujahs which the bright Morning-Stars in their Orbs pay to their Creator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angels Liturgy is singing of Hymns of Glory And shall not the Militant Church say We praise thee O God our Souls do magnifie the Lord The Stork pays Tribute of her young the Trees of their fruits the Earth of her flowers and shall we be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without natural affection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without God in the world not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 return blessing and praise to the Divine Majesty for his infinite Blessing unto us We praise God in his Sanctuary and in the Firmament of his Power for his mighty Acts and according to his excellent Greatness Praise him with the Sound of the Trumpet with Psaltery and Harp with stringed Instruments and Organs shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Let us now direct our Prayers and Supplications to the Glorious and Eternal Trinity that all Blessings Divine and Humane Spiritual and Temporal like the precious Oyntment of Aaron's may be pour'd out on the Head of ouâ— Royal Soveraign length of days on hiâ— right hand on his left Riches and Honour that his Reign may be glorious and his Regal Vertues after this Life crowned with immortal Glory And we with the residue of God's holy Church may rise to that incomprehensible endless Felicity where the Blessings of the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity will gloriously shine upon our Souls for evermore Which God of his infinite Mercy vouchsafe unto us for the Mercies of his Eternal Son our blessed Saviour To whom with the Father and Holy Ghost three Persons one God be ascribed as most due is all Honour Glory Power Praise Might Majesty and Dominion the residue of our lives and for ever Amen FINIS ERRATA Pag. 56. line 13. for then read there p. 62. l. 10. fo Reershaba r. Beersheba p. 74. l. 16. for fair this read this fair