her beloued Children and the course of Conformitie ioyned with all these seuerally printed before reprinted in one volume and to be sold at no lesse rate then if they had beene Oracles of Apollo Secondly did come to my hand the petition of the Kirke of Scotland to the heigh Parliament of England a methodicall well digested peece beseeming the pretended Church that did preferre it next was offered to me Speculum belli sacri or the mirrour of holy warre a squint eyed worke looking at military instructions but aiming at idle impetinent impudent and fond applications as if Giges ring had beene vpon the Authours finger or his whole body sheltered when his head was not couered next to my greater admiration did I behold Altare Damascenum seu politia Ecclesiae Anglicanae obtrusa Ecclesiae Scoticanae à formalista quodam delineata opera Edwardi Didoclauii cui locis suis inserta confutatio Paraneseos Tileni ad Scotos cui adiuncta Epistola Philadelphi de regimine Eclesiae Scoticanae per Anonimum These were closed vp a malicious Satirisme against a learned graue Treatise written by the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes whose integritie of life and sinceritie of Religion none but barking curres can taxe In all these trumpets of Sedition whether in English to ensnare domestike natiues or in Latine to perswade forraigne alients to their faction sacred scripture was neuer more sensibly corrupted more wickedly wrested more impertinently applyed neither was euer the sacred person of Soueraigntie the dignitie of the learned Clergie the communion of Christians and the loyaltie of good subiects more trampled vpon by the most prophane Atheist or heretike or by Sathan himselfe then by these poysonable Satirismes ouer-flowing with gall and masked with preposterous zeale in which mirrors of conspiracy euery good subiect may obserue that if it were as easie to some of those violent spirits to bring their purposes to their ends as it is to finde shadowes for their pretences it is to be feared the fruites of their vnsanctified doctrine should haue beene dyed in blood long ago and warranted with sic dicit Dominus A bloody disposition is as well concomitant to scismatikes as profest Atheists Erasm in apo and where euer the quicksiluer of separation is ingredient there the fire of contention is vnquenchable howsoeuer it may bee smothered for a time into ashes of seeming holinesse Pirates haue their prayers as well as honest Merchants Fulgosex Sweton Dion Nic. Geta in killing his brother Caracalla had his bloody Maske when Sathan appeared to Saul Sa. 1.1.18.14 hee was lapped in Samuels Mantle Mahomet did abuse the world with the name of the Angell Gabriel Mai. 4.6 the Tempter could alledge Scripture against Christ himselfe and it is credibly reported that an Amsterdam sister did enencourage her owne daughter to periury by telling her It is better to fall in the hands of God then of man Aske whatsoeuer scismaticke the reason of their profession and they will answer that the sacred Scripture is the leuell whereby they square the frame and infallibilitie of their seuerall Churches Knox ad Nobilit Scot. and in his hir of Scot. Good man vpon the 17. of Exod. why may not then Didoclauius Philadelphus Anonimus or the other late Lybellers imitate such presidents and peruert scriptures as wel as others yet me thinkes it should seem strange in the eie of sober iudgmēt that men professing to haue the onely truth of religion should equally prosecute their seditious designes without conscience in contempt of authoritie as they make Idols of their owne braine-sicke conceptions against the rules of true wisdom When any of contrary opinion following the ordinance of the Church strengthened by ciuill power would louingly perswade them to forbeare to walke in forbidden pathes they close their eares or without weighing of reason answer by the words of Iohn We are of God he that knoweth God heareth vs as for the rest they are of the world the world whose pompe vanitie they follow heareth them when the dignity of authoritie and honour of Gods Magistrates is vpholden against them or their inabilitie to iudge in the misteries of State shewne them they answer with the Anabaptist God hath chosen the simple Will you so sensibly conuince them of folly that very children may vpbraid them of it they will tell you that Christs owne Apostles were accounted mad Selfe conceit and flatterie hath so tickled and scratched their tender eares 2. Tim. 4.3 that they are impatient of the least touch of rough truth When admonition nor no faire means can preuaile let them but feele the lightest dramme of iustice they streight lay vpon Gods vicegerents whatsoeuer they any where finde against the crueltie of most blood thirstie tyrants drawing to themselues all such sentences as Scripture hath for innocency persecuted for righteousnesse as if euery seditious disturber of State that suffers for disobedience and breach of Christian vnitie might chalenge the name of a Martir These be the paths wherein separation walketh the steps it doth tread the doctrine wherein it is trained vp in the schoole of faction and the toyles and tossings of vnquiet spirits that are so distastfull to men of more peaceable temper that if violence done to religion vncharitable railing against Maiestie and Magistracy might be buried in silence they would rather suffer millions of personall aspersions then interrupt the peace of the Church or quiet of the state by opposing the sismaticall practices of restlesse braines who like fishers in troubled waters delight in commotions and tumults Quam dignitatis sedem quieta republica disperant eam perturbata se consequi posse arbitrantur But when the King which is the head or the State which is the body or Religion which is the soule of the commonwealth are in question to receiue preiudice necessitie which is a law aboue all lawes supplies the place of an ordinary calling then it is a harmefull modestie to keepe silence or too late to discouer such sulphurious mines when the match kisseth the powder As when the shadow of mount Athos reacheth the Ile Lemnos it is a sure forerunner of the going downe of the Sun and time for shepheards to impale their flockes So when seditious confusion striues to ouer-reach both Church and State it is time as wel to subiect as magistrate according to their seuerall places to remoue such fuell least the fire become vnquenchable and bring ruine on the one and desolation on the other O miserable times vbi tacere non licet quid cuiquam licet Is it not a most arrogant presumption that humorists vnder zealous pretexts should preferre singular paradoxes of pride and contention for euery circumstance of least moment to the feeding of their flockes vpon the sweet pastors of humility charity and other Christian duties it is aboue admiration that others should glory more in their adherents to such lying Oracles then in their Christian obedience inioyned or pietie
the place of Bishops as well to admit and exauctorate Ministers as to administrate diuine seruice Philadel ibid. pag. 3. Statuit Ecclesia ex selectissimis Pastoribus duodecem eligi quibus daretur in designatis sibi prouinciis potestas sacra administrandi auctorandi exauctorandi pastores hos superintendentes apellabant insumptum maiori stipendio instruebant Not long after whether the emenencie of superintendents did become suspicious to generall assemblies Ibid. p. 4. or whether they did not keepe their accounts streight they were first tied to a yeerely account to the brethren assembled after that certaine Commissioners of the Ministrie were adioyned to them as it seemeth to keepe them within the limits of their iniunctions howsoeuer superintendents and the former Bishops were onely fires to premature the ensuing anarchy thundred out by Iohn Knox by whom the gouernment of the Church was wholly directed In hoc negotio nemo nescit maiorem Knoxii quam omnium superintendentium luudem fuisse Vind. Phil. pag. 27. Phila. p. 5. In the assembly holden at Leeth anno 1571. Ianuary 12. Bishops were againe established but not without opposition following the next yeere in the Sinod holden at Pearthe wherein the disciples of Knox made earnest protestation against the gouernment of Bishops Anno 1573. the generall assemblies did inioyne Bishops to haue no further authoritie then superintendents had before Ibid. In the assembly holden at Edenborrough ann 1575. it was disputed whether the office of a Bishop was a place of charge or of dignitie a Thesis not vnlike that of the Popish Clergy making question to whom the Lords Prayer should be directed Pag. 6. In the assembly following at Edenborrough anno 1576. the office of Bishops is declared titular and they tyed to the gouernment of one Flocke without supremacy at all ouer other Pastours so that now they are a Stage lower then superintendents with whom they were equals by the Canons of the former assembly Ibid. Anno. 1577. the second booke of Church gouernment was confirmed and published the Hierarchy of Bishops condemned and new lawes of discipline established Ibid. In the assembly holden at Dundie anno 1580. Bishops were deuested of all authority their office declared to be a humane inuention receiued to the preiudice of the Church to bee razed out of the gouernment thereof and they inioyned to yeeld to this decree vnder the paine of excommunication But lest such dayly nouations might argue Proteus-like changes in this gouernment Ibid. Philadelphus subioyneth a reason multae erant de negligentia ignorantia Episcoporum quaerelae Such lips such latice or a mad conclusion of a fond proposition as if I should say because Philadelphus Didoclauius and the like fire-brands are the staines of the Ministry and disturbers of the Church therefore the office of all Pastors is vtterly to be defaced and forbidden the cases are matches if the one may stand in Law the other may and if we condemne the one wee must condemne the other for if we reason from the abuse of good things to the remouing of them we shall fall into an anarchy and ouerthrow all reason In the assembly holden at Glascow 1581. Aprill 24. Ibid. pag. 6. Presbiteriall gouernment and what else might aduance democratie was established and continued without great encrease till the assembly holden 1590. that paritie began to waxe like a gourd then were Commissioners or Prouinciall ouer-seers discharged and their power conferred vpon Presbiteriall assemblies as the vndoubted right of those pupils that were but nine yeeres of age Comissionariorum siue visitatorum prouinciarum potestas abrogata est Phil. p. 6. eorumque munus Presbiteriis tanquam ius suum concessum est Phil. p. 6. From the beginning of Presbiteriall gouernment vnto anno 1600. or thereabouts by the records of generall prouincial presbiteriall assemblies and Parochiall sessions nothing is to be found but the Austrian plus vltra dayly encroacht vpon and euery day new deuises In the time of this raging confusion Maiesty was ouer-swayed with clamourous railing faction incited maintained and defended by adherence of most part of the Ministrie to the strongest partie of those combustions that were too common in those dayes but now are happily remoued by the wisdome of that King whom refractarie furies hath from his very infancie so barbarously insolently and vnthankefully opposed that by diuine and nationall Lawes iustly might hee haue curbed such madnesse with a more strict censure then by his milde and royall regrate in his learned Princely Basilicon Doron Epist Altar Damasc that he had found more trueth and loyaltie amongst the dregs of his Subiects then with those who against all moderation and the conscience of their profession had left no practise vnassayed against Soueraigntie that either faction or vulgar applause could conciliate I might add here many rare paradoxes insolent misdemeanours and bold attempts not beseeming Christian sobrietie much lesse the approbation of a well settled gouernment but if it appeare that eithet the frame or administration pictured by Philadelphus bee orderly or any way sorting with an happy gouernement I desire to know what is anarchie disloyaltie and sedition but I leaue the pressure of such festered sores and continue my enquirie in the late actions of that impure Spawne of those Separatists whose Grachus doctrine Catechisme of sedition schoole of faction is neither compatible with the Lawes of God or Empire or any thing else then the ouer flowing of the surfetting stomach of Muncer the Anabaptist who drunke in selfe-conceit did bost to conquer the world with the sword of the Spirit Et cogere vniuersum orbem gladio Gedeonis ad nonum Christi regnum instituendum Gual Tug But lest any man should doubt of the perfection of the gouernment so highly aduanced Philadelp p. 7. Philadelphus crownes it with tum quidem bene currebamus It is well said Sir yet giue me leaue to tell you that oft times the more haste the worse speede and that festina lente in gouernment is more sure and commeth oft times more safely home then that hot spurre that either spoyles his horse or runneth himselfe out of winde or ioynt or as your anarchie that was rotten before it was ripe Yet let vs heare an vncharitable glosse vpon an Apocriphall text or the reason which Philadelphus giueth that this happines was interrupted by the bringing in of Bishops Diabolus sayth he hanc faelicitatem inuidens tertium Episcoporum genus noua arte supposuit Philad ibid. For answer to such prophane censures I can say no lesse then that as his former running course did shew more will then wisdome and hath shortned the life of consistorian discipline and prematured violence so is his ragged reason against all reason or probabilitie that the Prince of darkenesse and confusion should enuy anarchy and haue any hand in the frame of good gouernment which is a chiefe type
of Gods presence and the snafle that curbeth the pride selfe-conceit and presumption of vnstayed spirits who oft times in repining against Magistracy are authours in their owne destruction Thus haue you heard how Didoclauius and Philadelphus doe tilt at King and Clergy now you shall heare another bird of that same feather runne the wild-Goose chase at Councell and Court taking aime through a false looking glasse lately framed by a Scotish Separatist and steeled or put in a rauing stile at Leiden by an English Brownist Specul bell Sacr. pag. 97. A forme-changing Proteus saith this new Doctor a trecherous Seianus a time seruing Abiathar a Statizing Achitophel a calumniating Doeg are the only Councellours but Constantine tryed his Courtiers fidelitie to him by their piety towards God but now a man truly religious is thought vnfittest for state affairs a The Doctors reason because they cannot say he is an honest man but with this conditionall if he were not a ranke Puritan The first part of this bold vntrue calumny deserueth rather the examination of a whip then of a pen or of a pillory then of a reply yet I wish that the fond foole the Authour should know that his Maiesty hath moe truly religious wise learned loyall Councellours and Courteours then there be honest men Puritans of his opinion in the whole world in which large circumference I doe verily thinke there is not one On the contrary I may truly affirme that there be few Courts or Statesmen in Europe or elsewhere can paralell none exceed either the fidelity or integrity of those in great Britaine if all be not a like affected or any otherwise enclined then human eyes can see or the wisdome of a wise King preuent God must be their iudge and their conscience their witnesse A runnagate that hath put his hand from Gods plough This Lybeller was once a Minister but did lately cōmence Doctor of physicke at Leiden and turned Quackesaluer is not to censure those whom he ought not to name but with honourable humble respect The brethren of his owne profession whom he calleth truly religious and whom in all his applications hee thinketh the only able men to rule both Church Court and Campe are thought vnfit as he saith for State affaires To that part I answer that euery good subiect hath great cause to thanke God that our King is more wise then to admit any into his Councell or affaires of State whom all men besides themselues know to be fairded with false colours of religion and more fit to be fagots for combustion of State then to be helpers in supporting the heauy frame of Empire because diseases of this kinde are hereditary to most of this family infusing from one to another a taint or staggers in their vitall spirits as if they were bitten with a mad Dog which frenzie maketh them vnseruiceable either in Church or Commonwealth but specially to bee vncapable to bee vpon Councell of Kings who are the onely barres that impeach their proceedings for this cause they cunningly labour to induce the people to condole their yoke of obedience cast off such fetters and purchase their libertie The reason which the Doctor giueth is like his physicall receipts which trouble his patients more then the disease for certainly if we may call these Puritans whom this lybeller esteemeth to be so King Councell and Court haue iust cause to take exception at the very name which is but a staine of Puritanisme for my part if it bee lawfull to iudge men by their actions I may safely say that he can neuer be an honest man to God and to his countrey that conceiueth such damnable thoughts farre lesse he that publisheth such hellish positions and that besides all other poysonable trash euery where intermixt in this Doctors bitter pilles this one Colaquintida so corrupts all his other drugs that it proclaimeth him to to be an impudent rayler a Pseudo-puritan or rotten hearted hypocrite and not a Puritan of which number I wish my selfe and all others to be if human infirmitie might aime at such perfection so long as it is clothed with mortalitie But thus it falleth out that as well the best men as their best actions set and performed on the conspicuous Theater of the world are alwayes attended and entertained with blacke detraction and calumnie the deformed Brats of malecontents ignorance or enuy who loath the Nectar-like drops that fall from heauen vpon sweet flowers and delight onely to sucke the poysonable iuyce of gall and wormwood Hence it is that factious spirits violently agitated with outragious passion of singularitie enuy anger desire of rule and popular applause are onely quiet in commotions Stob. apud Plut. peaceable in tumults happy in calamities disaffecting no lesse amicable concord then regal power and authoritie thereby offring vnto Gods deputies and their iust commands the pests and poysons of their infected and ill affected minds imitating those barbarous nations who in their sacrifices did offer the gall and vilest parts of their beasts What can we call the malitious censuring of sacred persons or designes but a kind of sacriledge and blasphemy both against God and Kings of whom all discourse ought to be full of Religion reuerence and respect O mercifull God! what wit is able to sound the depth of those dangerous euils whereinto the malitious nature of scismaticall sedition vailed with religion is able to sinke it selfe rather then to acknowledge error in those things which it hath taken vpon it to defend Course of conformitie pag. 88. against the streame of publike resolution ranked in the eyes of singularitie with the most tyrannous gouernement that euer did see the Sun Miserum est peccare miserius delectari miserrimum excusare tum demum consumata amentia est cum ad studium malum opinio quedam pietatis accesserit The motto of Iacke Straw Wyat Kett was viuat Euangeliū now the pretext of conscience is a cullour of disobedience to euery casheerd Leuite or ignorant consistorian whose studies are by wresting Scripture to destroy vnitie beget a scisme in the hearts or subiects and make it their common place in writings discourse or in the Pulpit to leape from the liues of their flockes to enueigh against gouernment and presumptuously incroach without all reuerence vpon the affaires of Princes as they were able to demolish the walles of the Church shake the foundations of the State and liue Libertines without controlement When authoritie commaundeth any thing that is to be presumed not against but for aduancement of Religion I would gladly know who is to be confer whether the things commanded be lawfull or not or whether some singular contentious or malecontented spirits transported with wrong ends may oppose the Church in his Maiesties lawes giuing life vnto them If Authoritie at any time swerue from the strict obseruance of religion in its owne integritie in matters of discipline that remissenes ought to
supreame head but him no other rule of faith but his word no other propitiatory sacrifice but his death no purgatory but his blood no other merit but his obedience Nemo super hoc fundamento aliud ponat quam quod positum est 2. Cor. 3.11 To this Church doth belong the couenant the promises of Peace of Loue of Saluation of the presence of God of his graces power protection We haue that Catholike Church which is founded vpon and agreeth with the trueth of the Scripture that antiquitie which agreeth with the verity of the Scripture that number which worship God according to the rules of the Scripture so farre as human infirmity can reach we haue that succession which succeedeth in the trueth of doctrine deliuered in the Scripture that vnitie which beleeues the trinitie taught in Scripture that visible congregation which is seene to God as he hath reuealed himselfe in the Scripture Our ceremonies virulently opposed by the schismaticall dregs of our owne separatists other braine-sicke sectaries or prophane hypocrites are few but Minister many instructions neither burthning the Church with the multitude or blemishing her face with the superstition of externall rites in all which shee followeth her doctrine as the beames the Sunne a shadow the body or a line the Center As in our Church the word is truly preached so in euery circumstance of policie and discipline there is no repugnancie to that doctrine or to that decency commanded by the Apostles In the whole frame of our externall gouernment God hath his true worship Princes lawfull obedience the lawes due respect and Pastors beseeming reuerence All our policy tends to the pure preaching of the word right administration of the Sacraments to the lawfull vocation of Pastors charitable supplying of the poore to the sedulous correction of manners carefull remouall of scandall and to the cherishing of Christian vnitie Thus hath our Church all the notes by which shee may safely walke in this doubtfull way of mortalitie if some personall infirmities or abuse of good Lawes somtimes eclipse the dignity of offendors as they haue done in the most pure Church is that euer was or shall be in the Church militant they are by priuate weakenesse or omission but not by generall institution and allowance In one word our Church is euery way happy if with all other blessings her children may bee conioyned in Feare Ephes 4.5 Loue and obedience as they are in one Lord in one Faith and in one Baptisme that as the loue of Christ combineth them one way so the communion of Saints may vnite them another way For what Aesculapius can cure that state wherein euery singular spirit factious fondling or malecontented humorist neither regard the face of Maiestie the wisdome of Councels nor their obedience to Lawes but on the contrary magnifie nothing but the obortiue births and firy oppositions of their fond conceptions measuring all things according to the wilde and giddy apprehensions of their owne crazy braines as if the sole skill of good gouernment had left her publike habitation to dwell retired with some few of a partie cullored liuery some of whom doe not blush to perswade their ouer capable auditors of such pleasing errors that it is the speciall illuminatiō of the Holy Ghost whereby they discerne in the Scripture euery circumstance of their discipline or other position which others cannot but such men would doe better not to trust to euery spirit Epist Ioh. 4.1 because there are but two wayes whereby the spirit leadeth men vnto all truth the one extraordinary extending it selfe but to some few and is now ceased the other common vnto all that are of God The first by a speciall diuine excellency we call reuelation and the second way is called reason If the spirit by reuelation hath discouered vnto the separatists the secrets of their discipline and liberty of their lauish tongues and lawlesse pens Tertul. de prescrip c. 30. which are the trumpets of sedition disobedience malice and scandall they must man and wife professe themselues Prophets or if reason led by the hād of that spirit they must for euery inuectiue and article which they disperse and hold shew some reason as strong as their Satirs are bitter or their perswasion earnest It is not the fire of railing or the feruency of perswasion incensed by malice or passion but the soundnesse of reason which must declare opinions to proceed from the Holy Ghost and not from fraud of that spirit who is strong in illusions They that take vpon them to impugne authority are to found themselues and examine whether they be puft vp with pride making their imaginations Idols 1. Tim. 5.4 or whether they can proue their vocation as Moyses and Elias did that hee that called them to so high a dignitie may giue them power to approue their vocation and induce the world to honour and reuerence them for their extraordinary workes and supernaturall vertues But if Didoclauius the Patriarch of Pseudo-Puritanisme and other separatists of his profession show not their vocation by other miracles and better reason then by accursed scandall prophane censure and seditious lybels quae in verecundae frontis nebulones olent We must not take Brightmans Apocalipsis Apocalipseos the altar of Damascus and other the like Chimeraes of distraction or melancholie and malecontented meditations for warrant Because all the gifts of Gods spirit doe so naturally tend to brotherly loue and common peace that we haue iust cause to suspect that if such doctrine did proceed from Gods spirit it should bee deliuered in sober calme and peaceable manner according to the inspiration of Gods spirit and not in bitternesse of railing and lybelling Melle prius quam felle tentandae sunt euangelicae curationes Other Simbols of pastorall vocation there be as perfect zeale right knoledge a good conscience not to bee railors contentious and authours of diuision to be patient in persecution louing the vnitie of brotherhood and deputed to death If with any part of the former and this ballance of the sanctuary the life doctrine and pretended zeal of our Separatists agree let al of sound iudgement follow or fauour them as they finde cause I haue not swerued from the trueth in the least circumstance thereof or if I would the recent actions which I oppose will not suffer me to belye the authors If I haue exceeded my intended breuitie the intricacie of the subiect will free mee If I haue beene constrained rudely and disorderly to heape together this discourse in a shorter scantling then the multiplicitie of aduerse calumnies require I hope I shall finde a time to supply that necessitous escape If my rough hewne discourse seeme somewhat harsh to the delicate eares of separation Saint Ierome will answer for me That against schismaticall insolencie no censure can bee too strict or expostulation too seuere If all that I haue sayd bee conferred with the least impudent personall aspersion
of thousands vomited by those firebrands whom I haue slightly shadowed and delineate my stile will proue more smooth then such hellish practises deserue or common patience allow and so I come to my three-fold aduertisement FIrst then to come to you my Lords that are Bishops and Rulers by place in the Church of Scotland I neede not to call to your memorie that you are the Sickles vnder your Soueraigne to cut downe euery Weed in the Garden of the Church the Snaffles to bridle Schismes and the Centinels to foresee ne quid detrimenti Ecclesia patiatur You know well that your Authoritie is to cut off the head of this Hidra of Diuision which springeth vp with such violence that your care and vigilancie is so farre as may be to ease his Maiestie of those Tumults wherewith he is dayly so much infested that you are as well to defend euery Breach in the Walls as Rupture in the bodie of the Church and that euery escape of Omission in your places is no lesse lyable to scandall then faults of Commission in your persons Your Innocencie is much wronged by Didoclauius and his brethren Separatists who labour as well by all such secret practises as by publicke Satyrs at home or abroad may draw your Authoritie or Persons into contempt But my hope is that your long patience will call to your consideration that the wisedome of good Gouernment looketh euer exactly at first into the transgression of those Lawes that are to be obserued by future Ages and that Clergie and Learning Magistracie and Lawes are so chayned together that as without Learning the one cannot be instructed so without respect to Lawes Magistracy walketh without attendance and is rather a title of honour then a frame of obedience As we doe not more reuerence and adore God in the stupendious architect of the world then in the wise conduct of it So doe wee not more admire Magistracie in the compassing and composing the extent of their gouernment then in the prudent administration and preseruation thereof from iniustice violence sedition faction and dissention the earthquakes that remoue it from the Center There is no possible way vnto peace and quietnesse vnlesse the probable voyce of euery entire societie or body politike ouer-rule all priuare opinion of that same body Councels are to no purpose if once their determination set downe men may afterwards defend publikely their opinions As these things which the law of God leaueth arbitrary are all subiect to the positiue Lawes of the Church and to be vsed till like authority see iust reasonable cause to alter thē so these Lawes of the Church abridge priuate mens libertie in such things that are not dissonant from the Lawes of God if it were not so we should ouerturne the world and make euery man his own commander and Iudge These considerations I leaue to your fatherly care if I haue said too much or to little purpose it is because I can doe nothing but tattle but if I were able to do more I would doe it that our diuisions might not be tould in Gath nor our nakednesse published in the streets of Askelon IN the second place I come to you of the Ministerie of Scotland or elsewhere within his Maiesties Dominions that are Lanternes of direction vnto your followers To you that thus frame the peoples hearts and on whose shoulders lyeth the burthen of this cause which so troubleth the common Peace I beseech you lend me patient hearing to that which in few wordes I shall deliuer vnto you from my soule and in the sinceritie of my heart and whereof I hope you will iudge more charitable then to thinke that you reade the wordes of an aduersarie against that Truth which you say you professe but of one that desireth to embrace the same Truth with you if it bee Truth Although I be not of the Tribe of Leui yet am I of the Tents of Sem Regard not then who it is that speaketh but weigh the truth of what I shall speake First if without fore-stalled or preiudicate affection you will truely examine that same externall Gouernment established which you oppose you shall finde it such as neither the Law of God or man hitherto alleadged are of sufficient force to disprooue your obedience thereunto but on the contrarie that the Frame of that Gouernment which you maintaine is insufficient to establish any well affected Conscience so long as it opposeth the current of lawfull Authoritie Neither in all your impartiall enquirie shall you finde one cleare proofe whereby it may bee demonstrate that your Opposition is not by mis-conception and error named the Ordinance of IESVS CHRIST Though you much vrge Apostolicall imitation yet my hope is that there is none so obstinate amongst you but will confesse that many things of the same nature were harmelesse in the Apostles times which now would prooue impossible or scandalous as the administration of the Eucharist after supper washing of feet oscula sancta the communitie of goods the feasts of charitie manuall exercise and the like wherof some many yeares after were retained in the Church and now vpon good considerations are remoued and other things established which the former times could not haue and are more fit for the Church of Christ then if for conformities sake to those times they should be taken away Or if a necessitous imitation of Apostolicall times should be yeelded in the externall gouernment of the Church all the passionate exhalations of Didoclauius and the like disturbers of State combined with your best reasons will neuer be able to proue that your compleat form of discipline was wholly practised in any age but in this which for insolencie and contempt may bee called the worst or that it is otherwise warranted but by maruellous poore coniectures and wresting of Scriptures to singular opinions Therefore giue me leaue to intreate you by that humilitie which is the crowne of well affected Christian minds by the obligation which you owe vnto the peace of the Church by the care of your owne soules and saluation of Gods people committed to your charge that beside many other important considerations you will lay before you the necessitie of vnitie and intestine tranquillitie at this time when now or neuer your allegeance challengeth your loyalty and vnited forces Animos vestros commune iungat periculum simultas post sit ne tum denique vestra intelligatis bona cum quae in potestate habetis ea amiseritis Meditate deepely with your best recollected sences that if his Maiestie should now cherish in his owne bosome the least Coale of home-bred Sedition that might obviate the successefull issue of his iust and holy designes the World might iustly take notice that his Royall prouidence is farre short of that care which so long hath vpholden the most peaceable Gouernment that any Age can paralell Call to minde that as God hath giuen him a wise and vnderstanding heart to iudge betwixt good