not exemption when the Apostle placeth euery soule vnder subiection Yee are questionlesse yee are marshalled within the listes of this order and whatsoeuer Priuiledge you assume vnto your selues you haue in this no pre-eminencie aboue others but are with like bands subiected vnto Soueraigntie Pleaseth it you to withdrawe your thoughts from the opinion which possesseth you and entertaine your studies with those fore-gone Examples of religious Church-men before time You may in their liues and Basil epist prima the histories of Gods Saints are the liuely examples of Gods common-wealths as in a Gallarie of pleasant Pictures see the viue Images of loyall spirites conforming them-selues with all submission Aaron to Moses Zadocke to Salomon Gregory to Maurilius c. Reuerend Priests to their lawfull Princes as they haue proceeded in Church businesse You may see the holy consort of Gods deuotiues with all humilitie defraying the tribute of their most due seruice to heauens Maiestie not as fancie conceiued but as the authoritie of their Superiours strengthened with his power who hath soueraigne superioritie in all causes prescribed You may see the Christian armies and Souldiers sacred vnto the seruice of our blessed Sauiour in the dissemination of his euerlasting truth though equalled in vnitie of Ordination and vnited in ministeriall equallitie yet performing their humble and vertuous obedience to them of their owne societie whom only Order the preseruer of all things had differenced in dignitie You may see our fatherly guides-men of honourable place auncient yeares reuerend behauiour gathered together in Counsells and Synods the assemblies of diuine Ordination to strengthen our spirituall commerce with the free vse of sacred consultations aduising vpon and prescribing orders for the Propagation of religious doctrine and establishment of holy discipline All which their sacred resolutions and holy sanctions were no sooner intimated vnto the Christian world but you may see them with vnquestionable obedience receiued by Princes as rules of their deuotion regarded by Priests as the Canons of their practique religion and followed by the People as the lights of their Christian conuersation What the reuerend Fathers of the Church decreed then was as much reuerenced by the best Princes as the best decrees of our reuerend Fathers now are basely contemned by the worse Subiects and with you of the faction the perswasion of your owne sufficiencie to know and performe the dutie which doth most fit you in your perochiall residences hath made them the more contemptible I know that Nature hath interessed euery perticular of you a Qui libet est rei suae moderator rector arbitrer in le in remandata mandati Lex respicit ordinem ad bonuÌ„ commune Aquin lib. 2. q. â—â— with abilitie to prescribe rules vnto your selues in your priuate actions but those rules are not lawes to binde others because they haue respect more to your owne priuate then reference to the publicke good and Natures selfe which hath preuiledged you with such prerogatiue doth disanull the libertie if your rules be repugnant to the lawes of Superiours which giues me hope you will make no more appeales from your Ordinaries vnto your selues but as men conformed to better aduise accept directions from our graue Prelates the most competent iudges of decencie in this case and with sobrietie performe the Offices of your Ministrie according to the prescript of holy rule It is safer to leaue the Paines of your conduct vnto the Lawe then vnto libertie and more honourable to order your designes with correspondencie to a stayed rule then irregularlie to worke by the prescript of fancie the mutuall impartment of Christian Iohannes de Turrecremata ciuillitie being then most rightly administred when it is communicated by the line and leuell of Iustice Wherefore sith it hath pleased God to endue you with capacitie of discourse and make you not seruilely subiect to commaund as beasts but voluntarily Eccles 15. inclinable to reasons dictates as men doe not suffer affection stubbornly to carry you away but as you are men of iudgement when iudgment doth not giue order and direction for the producement of your actions distaste the very Propension that leads you vnto the action Questionlesse you could not walke in this way of singularitie nor so irkesomely contend for things so much prohibited but that you permitte your vnderstanding too much reflexe vpon your selues and who will maruaile when the admiration of your owne skill shall holde you if the conceipt of your obedience be drowned in your owne conceipt But you are the true Philodoxes of your owne opinions and will I suppose rather hazard an opposition to the Good of the Church and peace of the Countrie then haue your zeale guided by the limmits of any lawes §. 6. The more eye-full ought you the ciuill Magistrates to be ouer this creeping and incroaching euill that errour by Schisme breake not what truth by authoritie hath builded To preserue the peace of the Church is a speciall prerogatiue belonging to the supreame power of the highest commander and all be it in his Royall person there be great excellencies his Princely minde being enriched with so many heroicke and diuine vertues yet because one as one cannot possibly gouerne many his Highnesse hath with Kingly indulgence communicated part of this royaltie with you and instiled you Iustices of peace that the mention of your names may put you in minde of your duties for the conseruation of peace a Sicut vita in homine ita pax in regno sic sanitas nihil est nisi temperantia humoruÌ„ sic pax est cum vnuÌ„-quodque retinet ordinem suuÌ„ et sicut recedente sanitate tendit homo ad interitum Sic discedente pace regnum tendit ad desolationem vnde vltimum quod attenditur pax est Vnde Philosophus inquit sicut medicus ad sanitatem sic defensor respub tendere debet ad pacem Aquin in mat cap 12 without which if so be it were possible that all other complements of common good might be had in their full perfection neuerthelesse the common-wealth that should possesse them diuorced from concord could be but a spectacle of commiseration Euen as that body which adorned with sundry admirable helpes wanteth health the chiefest thing that nature desireth Prosperitie honoureth Peace as her parent and the prosperous peace of all well ordered common-weales doth acknowledge religion for her cheefest staye as well in regarde of that blessed protection which Gods mercifull hand bestoweth vpon them who faithfully serue him as also for the seruiceable disposition which Religion worketh both in the gouernours and them that are gouerned When they from whose habilities the duties of commaund and seruice proceed doe with constant resolution of minde acknowledge Heauens diuine Empire ouer all and with assured confidence repose in the assistance of God Almightie that inflameth them which are in place of authoritie with desire to resemble God in the action of common good
Sabinus with Photius and Origen with Berillus or to determine things doubtfull as the religious and graue reuerend Fathers did in their councels and Synods or to settle the Peace of the Church as in the colloqui at Ratisbonn An. 1541. An. 1603. Ia. 14. appointed by Charles the fift and it pleased his Maiestie in the late interlocutorie conserence with the Lords Bishops others of the clergie at Hampton Aust lib. 2. cap. 13. 14. contr Crescon Court hath alwaies had speciall approbation But yet if I may in the libertie of a humble spirit freely speake what some of you the Bretheren of the newfangled faction in the merite of your contentious disposition should patiently heare to liue in obedience to orders orderly by iudgment of decision established is more answerable to faith profitable for the Church and honourable for our calling By the first we bring light to the truth and confirme knowledge by the second we giue life to the truth and after our example direct others in the religious seruice of God a dutie amongst all Offices appertaining to man most excellent and most deserued whether we consider the bottomlesse graces wherwith Heauens hand hath embrodered our state in general or vnfould before our selues the vnspeakable blessings he hath enfolded vpon vs in particuler My priuate life hath giuen me the right hand of Opportunitie to read what hath been disputed and finding the christian cause become more contemptible for that the rules of Gouerment haue beene so disputable doe without all partiall construction of what I haue read in singlenesse of heart wish that the spirit of singularity in some particulars of you giuing place vnto publicke Iudgement had rather by dutious actions conformed it selfe vnto Authoritie then by vniust opposition endeauoured for licentious libertie Action is the best blazoner of vertues vertue The truest approuer of Learnings value The soundest witnesse of hearts desire and then worthy principall acceptation When it worketh by the Line not of opinion but of Iudgement not of priuate fancie but of publicke rule patternd vnto vs in the lawes both of God and men §. 2. The iust constitutions of lawfull Princes are the setled boundaries of duty vnto their Subiects and doe confine euery man within the lists of his particular obedience as the land-markes in the fields doe limmit out their inheritance He which * Deutr. 27. remoued these was held accursed Consider I pray you whether he who vncharitably offendeth against those can in his offence be reputed blessed The determinations of God are the vncontroulable warrants of power vnto Princes The infallable rules both of their duty vnto the highest ruler and authoritie ouer the greatest that are ruled Rules made knowne vnto them not so much by the dim light of nature as by the euerlasting director of holy actions in the euidence of Scripture wherein are the trulie honourable instructions for higher powers to commaund their subiects and most honest directions for Subiects to obey higher powers Vnto the King it is a patterne and carde to guide Austin lib. de vera relig cap. 31. vida lib. 2. de Reip. dignit by vnto the Subiects it is a light wherewith to iudge aright of the lawes vnder which they liue So that whatsoeuer is good in the lawes of Princes or commendable in the dutie of subiects That same is as it were coppied out of and iustified by the eternall lawe of God by whose powerfull grace Kings doe raigne and by whose gratious influence Princes doe Sap. 7. decree righteousnesse If you had made this lawe the chiefe head and principall ruler of your actions and held it so ordinary in your thoughts as it was common in your talke it would haue bred in your religious mindes a dutifull estimation of Princely offices and made you respectiue of publicke obseruances if your mindes be religious this being an Axiom inuincible that nothing is more auncient in the lawes of God nothing more pregnant to aduance common good then obedience First to God the supreame guide of this worldes masse to whose soueraigne power all flesh must stoope and to whose will all kingdomes doe owe conformitie in that he requireth Secondly to the King sent of God to be the * Rex dei figuram inter homines representat Diotogines lib. de reg representer of his Maiestie and the †Plutar. li de doctr principis Leutenant of his regencie The memorie of which subordination as it serueth to drownd all selfe conceipt that may hold the King with admiration of his sublimitie and strengthen him against all aduersary meanes which interrupt him in the exercise of that high dutie the deuine goodnesse requireth of him So it doth obedience to God preserued binde vs generallie without exception and particularlie without respect of person to obay him cheerefully without cunctation and readily without inquisition what he ought or may commaund vs to doe whether it be in causes Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill §. 3. That Princes may commaund the obseruation and practise of religion in their Realmes dominions and kingdomes according as God informeth their consciences by the direction of his alteaching spirit and rules of his sacred worde in the hands of those Priests whose lippes he hath sanctified to be the treasuries of his wisdome is by the vnited practise of all common-weales manifestly conuinced and hath euidence in the testimonies of the best common-wealths-men Amongst all things incident into the actions of men there is none more excellent then Religion saith a In Epinenide Plato In it our cheefest good consisteth saith b Lib. 3. cap. 10. Lactantius It is the vnmoueable foundation of Princely honour saith c Lib. de recta side ad Theodosium Cyrill The safest defence of publicke state saith d De conceptione digestorū Iustinian The richest store-house of mans felicitie saith e Neceph lib. 7. ca. 46 Constantine And therefore ought to be the f Inter caeteras solicitudines quas amor publi us preuigili nobis cura indixit precipuam imperatoriae maiestatis curam esse perspicimus verae religionis indagiman lib. legum Nouell tit 2. cheefest care of Maiesties Empire saith Valentinian In deed most worthy to be the highest care of all cares appertaining to Pincely rule both in respect of the Prince and of the People In respect of the Prince for by religion and * Rex orat habita in Senat. workes according therevnto God is moued to giue life vnto their councels perfection to their indeauours and settlement to their throanes for which cause the more eminent they are in regall Authoritie the more vigilant they ought to be in religious pietie In respect of the People for that the happinesse of our liues doth primarily and principally consist in the well ordering of our liues according to the rule of his will who did at the first imbreath life And when our wills doe yeeld to the regiment of his will
whose seruice ought to haue the highest care of all cares appertaining to this life Wee are sure to reeaue at his mercifull hands all things necessarie for the conseruation of life his prouidence to guide it his wisdome to instruct it his patience to support it and mercy to prouide for it with that fatherly affection which affordeth his creatures to serue and Angels to guarde vs. All which prerogatiues our liues enioy like so many Testimonies of his loue giuen by the influence of grace to make them happy as the obseruation of Pietie doth approue them to be holy So is Religion to vs the toppe of all publicke good To the King the most valued sacrifice of reingration to God both to the King and vs the best assurance of our secular happinesse and most sufficient remonstrance of celestiall blessednesse In the acknowledged knowledge whereof his Proclā 24. Octo. 1603 Maiestie knowing no greater meanes then Religion to make euident the sight of heauen and in the iudgement both of men and Angells his thanks to God and loue to vs amongst all negotiations of State dependant vpon his charge sithence the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme descended vnto him Committing his owne priuate laboured first to settle the affaires of Religion and seruice of God his sole Soueraigne Lord by whose only goodnesse he holdes the Royalties of his prerogatiues the excellencie of his calling the securitie of his content the prerogatiue of his security and glorie of his kingdomes Secondly to reforme not the State of the Proclā 16. Iuly 1604. Church formerly by Lawe established as if in any materiall point hee had found it defectiue but the troublesome spirit of some persons whose onely contentment resteth in the prosecutions of their owne fantasies and by his iudiciall authoritie made knowne in his admonitorie declarations to enrayle those partes of our Christian duties which noueltie with disdaine of Antiquity had licentiously violated §. 4. Wherein as his Highnesse hath giuen vs many singular Testimonies and euident assurances of his Princely resolution what reason haue you of the faction now that his Highnesse hath deliberated and vpon deliberation promulged the dutie which each part shall performe to refuse the dutie imposed What iust and sufficient cause are yee able to alleadge wherefore you should not absolutely condiscend in this businesse to haue your opinions ouerruled by his definitiue sentence You cannot misdoubt the sufficiencie of his Iudgement thereof you haue already receiued so good a taste as that you confesse him he thankes Humble petition you for it able of himselfe to iudge the equitie of your cause I will not wrong you so much as to thinke that you make any Question of his either a Leges sūt public vitae praecepta quibus nos omnes obtemporare semper opportet sequidē omne bonum equitatē ipsā perpetuo spectant atque ab eo qui iubendi exequēdi potestatem habet proponuntur Biesius lib. quart de repub Authoritie to commaund or power to execute what he doth commaund The whole body of this realme and euery particuler member thereof either in person or representation haue with one full voyce of tongue and heart acknowledged his rightfull Soueraigntie and their obleaged dutie vnto the last expence of bloud so that vnlesse Obedience be in your mouthes as Iustice some-time is in the mouth of a Lawyer and not as it ought to be in your harts and affections you will not like blasted Branches fall from that body but with genuine Submission not distracted by ouer-pleasing seruice of your selues nor mollified with that too much reputation of selfe conceipt referre your liues to his Lawes your desires to his will and your opinion to his iudgement If you consider his lawes herein he hath performed such godly care that we may say of them not as Polydore did of the conquerors Magis sunt ex vsu Principis quam populi But as Moses sayd of the Lawes of Israell There is no Nation so great that hath ordinances and lawes so righteous this being the cheefest endeauour of his Highnesse desire to haue the workes of Religion reuerendly performed the causes of his Subiects vprightly determined and the Iudgments of his Kingdome euenly ballanced All which are actions of most high and admirable merite wherevnto the hearts of mightie Princes ought continually to be fashioned Of these premises if you will spare me the weakest of most and let some one or other good-man if you will make illation beholde the man that was so discoursiue vpon the method of Obedience Good-man he was and you reputed him for a good-man doth in the zeale of that reformation you desire conclude that to disobay a King so compleat in all princely indowments so wise in councelling so powerfull in commanding so respectiue of publike good and deuotiue to the seruice of God must needs be condemned forwicked and vngodly rebellion Pag. 114. And if you please to make him Iudge in the action deserueth iustly to receaue Gods punishment Pag. 112. which as the Apostle threatneth is damnation Rom. 12. §. 5. You doe not I hope thinke your selues exempted from the inbarment of this pollicie that you should as men lawlesse with so strong opposition refuse to be guided by his lawes They are the wings vnder which the good doe flie They are the yoakes vnder which the euill doe labour Well borne minds will not deny them well bredde men will readily accept them And free generous spirits endeauour conformitie with them If you will bee free obaye the Lawe If you take awaye the Lawe you take away libertie we * Libertas aufertur ablato iure ac legibus Dionisius Hallicar lib. 7. therefore obaye the Lawe that wee may be free †Cicero in oratione pro Aulo Cluentio Free not to doe what we list a Nullus sēsus priuatus rerū mensura est Plato nec libido Euripides Lust is no line to leuell libertie nor was fancie at any time the true measure of duetie But free to doe what reason shall by publick Ordinations enioyne which because they are common to all although the Lawe of the b Lex Alexandri Imperatoris Empire doe free Princes from the solemnities and formalities of them His Highnesse doth with Princely resolution and you should with c Salomonius li. 1. de principatu reuerend admiration acknowledge them for the rules of your actions If you yeeld then that Obedience which in iustice they exact and peruersnesse onely will denye you shall be imbraced as men rightly indenized in Loyalties prerogatiue But so long as you stand out against them that Obedience hath her let and incompatebilitie with you your tumultarie Agitations will giue you the imputation of disloyaltie to the King repugnance to order and enmitie to the Church which requireth your zealous labour to maintaine it with the religious imployments of your vertuous and peaceable endeauoures Plead
seuerall places haue the inquisition of these things giuen vnto you in charge If you be perswaded rhe cause why you were first instituted was that the truth might haue the better euidence if you knowe that you are chosen to be instruments of truth that you are intelligencers for the common-wealth that you are the eares and eyes of Iustices and Ordinaries If you marke how the lawes concerning these matters of the Church are opened before you and openly giuen you in charge at the times both of visitation and Session to the end not onely your selues may be truly enformed but euery other which heareth it may with God and Angels witnesse with or against you Take heed I beseech you how you neglect so great a dutie My eare did tell my soule a wonder when it heard that in such a setled State neither the Bishop in his visitation nor the Iustices in their Sessions could for these many yeares haue notice giuen them of such exorbitancie either by presentment or inditement But know ô know that when you lay your hands vpon the sacred booke to teueale vnto Iustice what is done amisse to the end that iudgment might reforme it The concealment of these misdone things shall be more deare to you then the penaltie can be greeuous to the partie indicted or presented for by you the partie delinquent may loose his mortall and fading both goods and liuings but you fill your liues with shame your state with danger your names with ignomie your houses with bloud your hearts with distrust and forfeit your Soules which by oath you haue pawnd to Gods diuine iustice But poore soules the motiue cause of this offence by concealment of things indictable and presentable is not in your selues it is the pleasure of your rulers which doth carry you as the winde doth driue Feathers which way they please and ambition of your Pastors who to couer their owne faults and vncontroulably to continue their faultfull practise doe labour to make you without conscience as Idolls without sence §. 8. The more worthy blame are you the associates of this Newfangled faction to mislead poore deceiued soules into such vnhallowed actions Dispence with their oaths you cannot and how you will excuse them of periurie I see not You hoodwinke your simple agents with facilitie of glozing speaches and beare them in hand that such and such Articles shall not be giuen them in charge And haue you indeed at any time indented with the Bishop or compounded with his Chauncelour or Archdeacon to limmit the charge which they giue according to the prescript of your content then haue you receaued too much fauour of them who haue least reason to allow disorder And it may be truly sayd such halfe-waking Gouernours haue giuen you both hart and hand to crosse the Lawe in practise with the practise of your lawes in deuise how euer you haue complotted with them The King is little beholding to you or them For eyther such Guardians of the spiritualties doe follow the execution of their offices onely as a Trade with vnconscionable thirst of gaine vnto themselues more then with desire to aduance the common good of the Church a Auâ—â—itia mater est omniuÌ„ malorum maxime cuÌ„ in animis non priuatorum sed magistratuuÌ„ innascatur Iustin Noâ—ell CoÌ„st 8 And nothing doth more dazell the eye of Iudgement or vnstrengthen the band of dutie then couetousnesse specially when she is soueraigne commaundresse in the minds of such ordinarie Maiestrates \ 2 Or they thinke these Cannons and Constitutions the due obseruation whereof is committed to Subdito fat non est legeÌ„ iniquitatis prostringere Vlpian their trust are not good And to accuse the lawes of that iniquitie which could neuer as yet be iustified by any their contumelious inuectiues is a defect vnbeseeming their Authoritie whether we consider their places in relation to higher powers whose hands they are and therefore with vnited hearts should set forward the execution of orders prescribed Or in reference to others whom Lawe hath confined within the borders of their iurisdiction amongst whom they should be fathers and fauters of vnitie and order 3. Or themselues are Puritans in heart and then they ride the roade waye of Athisme in keeping those their dignities Roomes and Offices so much contrarie to their puritanized opinion 4. Or they conceaue it skilleth not of what sort their religion be or with what different varietie they performe those religious duties which in reason and conscience they owe to God-ward And yet the very Turkes keepe themselues in one and Azor. 26. the same inuiolable vniformity of seruice to that one God whom they acknowledge not permitting Azor. 47. any dishonourable alteration Because they knowe that to swarue in the least points which they Azor. 13. are perswaded to be true is errour in it selfe and enmitie to God 5. Or it may be Iustice concealed or vniustice vnseene is all one or of small difference with them God forbid such an opinion should euer enter a mans vnderstanding who hath the honour to beare the name of a Diuine or Lawier If that were true a man need not to keepe in rule and order the operations of his soule which is the true seate of vertue but a Iudex non potest mutare penaÌ„ a lege statutaÌ„ l. final ne sanctum bapt iteretur onely endeauour to be iust so farre forth as it may come to the knowledge of men and from such no good seruice may be drawne or good expected For where Impietie is Iustice in the ruler all kindes of treacheries are open to the inferiour b Legislator minimas duntâ—xit mulctas Iudicibus coÌ„mittat Plato l. 9. de l. ne in rebus maioribus arbitrio proprio Iudices abutantur legibus sapientiores se este arbitrentur MartiaÌ„ lâ—ad TurpilianuÌ„ 6 Or they suppose their authoritie inuested with Power to pardon where the Law doth punish if their supposall runne vpon those penalties which the Lawe hath left attributary to their discretion the supposition is allowed The least amercements fines and penalties are left to them small things in the eye of the Lawe are as nothing And those not many least any man should seeme wiser then the Lawe and through libertie in small things abuse his will in matters of greater moment But where the Lawes with speciall words haue entailed a punishment vpon the fact committed against their rule they cannot without sinne remit or dispence in it The Lawes are aboue them as they are aboue others and must be Lords of men not men Lord of them c Leges hominuÌ„ non homines legum dominos esse oportet Pausanius apud Plut. Your actions my maisters of the faction may coulourablie giue our Rulers the imputation of such partiall and vnapprouable gouernment but howsoeuer you stroake and smooth your followers with comfort of your pretended interest In those rulers no man charitably minded wil
of speach endeauoured to entangle the choisest wittes in the toile of your misconceipted opinions For this cause You Gentlemen at the Lawe commonly haue your eyes dazeled with the first view of Fancies proiects your affections sounded with the first touch of zeales passion your eares tickled with the first note of errors tune and your Chambers stored with the first fruites of their wittes follie to the end forsooth that by your hands they might more easilie spread abroad and be dispersed among the Brethren of the cause whose foster friends Noueltie might make you Notwithstanding the quickest wittes in pliancie of disposition to Noueltie doe easily giue fauour to Nouell opinions not as reason doth warrant but as Fancie doth conceaue them yet I make no question that you my maisters the Gentlemen Apprentises at the Lawe will so goe with the current and streame of the lawe that the King who is the life of the Law the liuing Lawe the Patron of your studie and founder Philo. l. 2. de vita mosis of your honour shall not haue cause so much as to heare Complaint of your any further conniuence to enormities or indulgence to factions or supportance of discentious partialities As Charles the fift of Fraunce sayd of his Colledge Chopinus de do Frā pa. 594. of Lawyers in Angew your Houses of Innes of Court are to his Maiestie a fluent Spring to furnish him with men of high Councell both for the good gouerment of themselues and procurement of others good Two things much commended in you and much commended to you that as you studie the benefit of your Countrie by your study at the Lawe your conformitie with the Lawe may crowne your study with wisdome your dayes with peace your knowledge with obedience your zeale with iudgment and your loue to religion with your louing acceptation of religious vniformitie Your Fathers at the Lawe measuring the Lawes equitie by publicke vtilitie doe condemne them for guiltie which attempt to doe any thing contrary to Smith de repub Anglorū l. 1. cap. 2. the Lawe yea though it were to doe good And with graue resolution assure that the King cannot alter and change the lawes of this Realme at his Fortesc in cōmend of the lawes of Engl. pa. 25. pleasure because the rule of his gouerment is not onlie royall but pollitick If you cannot finde any preuiledge for the subiect at his pleasure to disobay let your examplarie approbation of rites publickly established lead them in the performance of holye duties You are reall speakers and the chiefest graduates Bartolus of your facultie haue the Prerogatiue of plea in reall Actions and therefore must more entend to the Scire leges non est eorum verba tenere sed vim potestatē Regula iuris things for which the Lawes are decreed then to the words by which the Lawes are deliuered yet whether you consider the letter of the Lawe or the reason which is the life of the Lawe saith Baldus the spirit of the lawe saith Panormitan and the bond that bindeth He that wresteth the Lawe in one doth offer wrong to the Lawe in the other and by both hath often times hindred the Church of her learned Ministrie when the cause hath come to a Quare impedit How much the Church hath heeretofore reioyced in her honourable helpe of profitable and religious lawes enacted by his Maiesties most noble Progenitors the Kings of these famous Ilands to protect her peace and priuiledge her safetie against Nouelists the vntimely enimies of most auncient times truth her blessed mother on earth and best beloued to her Father in heauen the histories of our venerable predecessors doe reporte with memorable testimonies of their blessed names Let me onely tell you the Church now comforted with the pleasefull aspect and strengthened with the powerfull hand of his Maiestie hopefully expecteth that as in pleading our causes your legall Philosophie is free from Didimus ad Alexan. those rules which the Philosophy schooles doe allowe their disputants with falsated speeches to couer vntruthes so you vouchsafe her the true Testimonie of your generous freedome most demonstratiue in your Obedience to her holy prescriptions and Christian lawes of out most Christian King if she may obtaine this but reasonable and honest boone at your hands who are professors of the Lawe by obseruation of her rites and Ceremonies in your Churches Chappels and Oratories your such practise will be her preseruatiue and her prayers a blessing to your such practise §. 16. Your Actions of singularitie are in such speciall veneration with your vnlearned retinue that you cannot now leaue them without remorce hauing vsed them with so great applause nor well reclaime your followers from those giddie follyes which with such force you haue laboured to indeede vnto their conceipts There is no opinion so fantasticall nor fancie A nullis consuetudinibus homo difficilius auellitur quā ab his quae ad opinionem pertinent Origē l. 1. cōtra celsū so extrauagant but if custome set the foote of her Authoritie in vs reason cannot remoue the imposture the deepe and sensible impression of Libertie will not admit reasonable perswasions and so long as your affections lye couered vnder that stone they cannot plye to the rule which truth affordes and vnderstanding would administer Howbeit where the feare of the Lawe is there Chrisost ho. 14. ad pop Antiochenum custome is easilie broken and for that this rust hath eaten into you through their sufferance who by demandation from Soueraigntie haue receaued in charge the execution of the Lawes ordained for the strengthfull maintenance of this both Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill pollicie I trust you my Lordes the Iudges of the land which haue the iudgements of our causes the censure of our behauiour and sentence of our Actions will so take to hart the defence of these dutyes in performance whereof resteth the very Soule of our Church and life of Churches flourishing that neyther greatnesse of Authoritie nor power of person nor eminencie of place nor loue of fauourites nor fancie to faction shall cause you to winke at or dispence with any eyther Anabaptisticallie spirited or seditiouslie opposite to this pure and vnstained religion by Lawe established The vnpartiall defence of this claimeth the first place aboue all whatsoeuer Soueraigntie hath comissionated vnto your Authoritie as well in regard of the care which earth iudging vpon earth ought Aust ser 94. to haue of his iudgement which iudgeth in the heauens as also for the happy aduauncement of publick good which ebbeth or floweth as God the Author of all good is respectiuely serued For proofe of this If you looke vpon the blessings wherewith the giuer of all Prerogatiues hath prosperouslie enriched this Nation eyther in warlike action or peaceable deliberation you shall see them flowe from the spring of humble obedience towards true religion or if you please to beholde them darkned in
burthensome to your soules obliged vnto them with so strickt a bond of conscience and hurtfull to the Church which requireth your Ministeriall imployment to aduance the purchase of Iesus Christ that you ought with principall care to attend that wherevnto the holy ghost hath seperated you Depriuation from the roomes of your spirituall functions wherevnto you haue had so honourable admittance will imprint your disobedience with a full staine of disgrace vnto your obstinacie but cleare the Lustre of gouerment from those too many disgraces wherewith your obstinate disobedience hath laboured to staine it That is not a lawfull Ministrie saith Maister 2. p. 2. repl pa. 167. Cartwright that is obstinate and where the obstinacie is generall or for the most part there the State is ruinous so that the Prince may after due meanes assayed to bring them home procure that other be put in their places \ You will thinke this is much seueritie but the Lawe presumeth the extreamitie of your discent whereby you labour to blemish what his wisdome hath pollished and authoritie published Therefore if you feele his power as a strong rocke which re-gorgeth the inuectiue waues that strike against it blame your selues §. 18. To submit the publick constitutions of State to the instabilitie of priuate fancie no pollicie did euer tollerate no not in the ciuill Lawe where the reason of man hath most familier commerce how can you then the Brethren of this faction expect tolleration in matters of so great importance or conceaue any reason that your priuate reason which is a priuate iurisdiction should euer rule in things diuine so farre aboue the reach of common apprehention You see the rule of his Highnesse gouernment Lex ex aequo ad omnes pertinent Arch. l. de lege iustitia doth extend to all after a like measure and sith he hath authoritie of supreame commaund ouer all in fauour of whome should he remitte any part of his Soueraigntie I doe with all humilitie acknowledge his Maiesties royall power to dispence with his Lawes as in wisdome he shall thinke most conducent to the good of that pollitique body whose head God hath made him but if he should yeeld the bridle and giue you leaue to shroude your selues in the bosome of his protection and by his Prerogatiue shelter your nouelties from the rigour of the law what profit should we reape Sure I am that such passionate surprizing of Princely designements will more trouble then steed the quiet repose of the Church and assoone may you erect Colonies in the Moone for the vse as by your nouelties bring any benefit to the common-wealth The sufference which you haue already gained hath hitherto perplexed both Church and common-wealth with many difficulties and would vnauoidable cast vs into many incombrances if this rule of pollicie had not preuailed it is better to preuent then to bee preuented Compleat vnion is of better consequence to the furtherance of Religion then that admittance should be giuen to any example which leadeth from it and your knowne disposition contumeliously to traduce them who looke not the same way that you doe hath beene more violent and virulent then any ingenious spirit may willingly complie with You could neuer as yet with a single eye looke at the state opposite to the opinion you holde and gouerment you seeke for and it is to be feared that your zeale which rideth with so hotte a spurre beside the causway of Obedience will not omitte any occurrent that may procure you the equall freedome of that which you call conscience It is out of question that if you might once gaine permission to reiect those things wherof the lawes or reuerence of auncient custome hath in fomer times made impression you would not thence-forwarde allowe of any thing but what you your selues shall first giue voice and perticular consent vnto They were your teachers which account those Cartw. 2. p. of his 2. repl pa 65. Princes who are not refined by their spirite vnworthy to be accounted amongst the number of men and therefore rather to be spitted vpon then obeyed They were your teachers which defend rebellion against Princes of a different religion and honor those that are slaine in such quarrels with the glory of martyrs They were your teachers which vtterly Buccanam de Iure regni apud Scotos pa 70. mislike that Princes should be exempted from Ecclesiasticall discipline and namely from excommunication They were your teachers who haue sentenced that Prince to be vnworthy of life vpon the earth who by censure of excommunication is cast into hell These dangerous positions are to me like so manie fearefull foreshewes of an vndoubted assurance that if your democraty might haue taken place for you moue and remoue in your motions by the same springs and wardes his Maiestie should quickly haue lost the obedience and found the vexation of seditious Subiects Commaundement should be no longer his weapon where such Commaunders haue place of charge §. 19. But you will leaue your charge although Beza Discourse of troub at Frankf pa. 202. 206 and others of Geneua doe wish you rather to giue ouer your functions to open wrong and retire your selfe from these things commaunded vnto your priuate life Yet Cartwright dare not be author vnto any of you to forsake his pastorall charge for the inconuenience of a Surplisse his reason is for that the one is an absolute commaundement of the Lord and 2. p. 2. repl pa. 264. the other a thing of his owne nature indifferent which being layde in the ballance with the preaching of the worde is of lesse importance then for the refusall of it you should forgoe so necessarie a dutie You heare the iudgement of a Maister in your schoole and if you be not carried with too much auersion from the auncient fathers who knew not your schoole accept this argument taken both from the one and from the other The preaching of the worde is so necessary for him Cartvv that is called thereunto that a woe hangeth on his head that doth not preach but where the holy spirit Ierom. m prouerb denounceth a woe it notes a mortall sinne in that which followes therfore to forgoe your such charge is to transporte your selues into the very bulke of sinne and mortallitie to sinne This Scamōny is too fretting yet will not offende your stomackes if you take it as it is giuen with Quinces my moderate affections vnwilling to grieue you and so taking it my hope is that you will not omitte the principall and substantiall part of your duties for shaddowes and semblances of zeale but bend your strength with his Highnesse desire to ioyne in one against the comon aduersary for the establishing of the gospell \ You are credited with the free disposition of Gods inestimable benefits and therefore will not being as I hope you are those good guiding Pastors you soe earnestly speake for shrinke from your ministery
or decline from the worke whereunto you are called If you be Salt season if lights shine if guides goe before and as the Apostolike fathers of former time did by there labour make many of prophane holy of ignorant learned of obstinate sinners penitent conuerts so doe you endeauour that by your industry others may change their affections and better their manners towards God with reuerence to performe their outward religious offices Contempt of religious dutie argues an irreligious contempt of deitie towards the Church with humilitie to conforme themselues to her holy ordinances in the seruice of god where dutie is submission opposition betokens pride towards the Kinge with loyaltie to yeelde obedience vnto his lawes A wilfull Lawbreaker would willingly breake the Lawgiuer towards religion decently clothing themselues with the garmēts of righteousnesse and redily casting of euery opposite thing that might hinder them in the exercise of christian duties It is a manifest wrong offered to Religion when the outward action doth not consent simpathize with the affected profession for albeit faith doth giue fashion and worth vnto workes yet workes giue the true tincture and lustre vnto faith wherefore I beseech you and in the bowels of Christ I beseech you affect the excellencie of constant course in the operation of those things which belonge vnto your ministry suffer not a matter of meere formalitie to distast the performance of your duty but submit your selues vnto the wisdome of Authoritie and because you plead for your selues ingenuity of spirit your pretended leader vnto these things striue to tend to that which is most exquisit in euery ingenious spirit truth in your opinion vertue in your action and peace in your conuersation §. 20. There is nothing more behoouful for the vse of life seruice of publike society then to proportion this shady terrestrial life to that most happy celestial where Angells the most industrious attendants one the supernall Maiestie and truly faithfull guardions of our much endangered saffety doe in the perfection of their obedience to God their immortall King in heauen set downe to vs the Idea of Loue Honour and duty to the King our mortall God vpon Earth †Rex orat habita in Senat. Of Loue with loue to repay that royall loue wherein his Highnesse doth more glory in our weale then in his owne perticular aduantage and with inseperable Vnion to Crowne the beauty of our Loue so visibly apprehensiue in the shine of his Glory * In principes veluti parentes beneuolentia nos affectos esse decet obedientes et venerantes nam patroni sunt ac domini ciuitatis ciuium salut Charondas in proemiis legum Of Honor humblye to acknowledge his Supreame soueraignty in the super-eminent excellencie whereof as he hath greatest conformitie with God so he cleareth the euidence of his greatnesse and potencie to effect those delectable and desirable good things which haue their dependencie vpon his greatnesse Of dutie cheerefully to performe the offices of our seuerall functions by the law proportioned as they doe the exercise of their high and admirable vertues to the glory of God and good of men They hould inuiolable the bond of fellowship wherin they are associated we should keepe fast the Linkes of Christian societie wherein we are combined by communitie of seruice and perticipation of Sacraments they vndeceauable assurances of Gods blessings the vnualuable pledges of Christ his goodnesse and venerable warrants of our future blessednesse in Angelicall happinesse They neuer incline to remit any part of their dutie we should not permit any eyther coulour of pleasure or baite of follie or pretext of fauour or vaile of Sanctitie to auert our conceipt from performance of those offices which by our owne consent and heauens immediate appointment he hath power to commaund vs but as they doe althings to fulfill and keepe the Lawe of the Almightie we should order the Actions of our liues vnto his Maiesties iust Commaunds the correspondence which is betweene the Actions of men in this estate of our mortallitie and their heauenly operations of eternitie doth require these things of all in generall but especially of vs who must appeare for others in the presence of God as Angels When the Church of God was attended on by those Apostolique Fathers whose industrious trauaile in the businesse of the Church did gaine them the names of Angels althings were carefullie performed for rhe continuation of the Catholicke peace In their Councels they determined all matters of doubt or difficultie which might disturbe the peace of the Church and what they determined was no more controuerted In their Synods they prouided by holy ordinances to reforme all trespasses repugnant to the Ancient holy Cannons and what they ordained was cheerfully obserued In their Sermons they laboured with graue exhortations to keepe their subiects in due allegance vnto their temporall Lords and what they councelled was religiouslie regarded In their Actions they did with reuerent humilitie make knowne their subiection to Christian Princes And Christian Princes amongst whom Religio iustitia politica mutuis stant non solum officiis sed beneficijs our Soueraigne doth associate with most honourable resolution esteeming nothing dearer then religion most willingly imployed their Authoritie to aduance all religious Actions and prouide for the Churches safetie by opposition to noueltie The mutuall reciprocation of these Christian offices was then the strength of their gouerment the Load-starre of their happinesse the Centor of their Peace And will be to vs that so much spoken of and much desired mother of our goulden world §. 21. The thoughtfull remembrance of this doth giue me hart to speake vnto you Right reuerend Fathers Epist ad vbique orthodoxos and to request as blessed Athanasius did those of his time so to strengthen your mindes in the liuely emotions of christian zeale the Garment that beautifieth the Stewards of Gods diuine misteries that those good things which the Church of God hath hitherto happily enioyed may not in your times vnhappilie be discontinued Many attempts haue ben made by many whose actions do witnesse they are impatient of gouerment apt to tumult zealous of nothing more then their owne conceipts though they be as the are vnwarranted by truth disclaimed by Antiquitie indeede the Mushroomes of yesterdayes Nouelty many attempts I say haue bene made to deface the beauty of the Church and weaken her strength by weakning your gouerment If their malice had bene so forcible as it was industrious and their Appellations so regardfully accepted as they were violently vrged your Authority your Dignitie should not now bene questioned but they should not now haue bene \ You haue hitherto with fatherly care restrayned your selues from the seuere execution of lawes made against them and meere compassion hath caused you to restraine your selues if the Church whose rulers you are had gayned a restraint of their vsusuall contradictions against the State