great deal wiselier they might conceal So that we may find that he is no ways countenancing those that think their Orders do exempt them from the common relation of subjection as if they had Church power apart But he is very precise and peremptory in reproof of such as in those times thought they might oppose the Ordinances of their then Church-Governors upon the score of their Function As if because they had as they said received their Commission and authority to preach to administer and the like from God that therefore in the manner order and other circumstances how they should be performed they should not be tied to the constitutions of men farther then they were agreeable to the Word of God even in such strict sense agreeable as to find express Texts for them if not their being agreeable to the general sense and scope thereof would not as they taught suffice to conform their obedience when as yet they could bring no Text in disproof of them No if they wanted this then they would as he said elswhere make their childish appeals to the usage of other Churches which had no authority over them at all And therefore I see not how any of that Order now can turn Non-conformists to our publick Communion when on the one hand they cannot so much as pretend there is any thing retained not agreeable to the Word of God and on the other they cannot alleadg the example of any one Church now in being whose practise is conformable to them in those things wherein they do dissent These I am sure may be justly accompted guilty of Apostacie from those Principles formerly maintained by the famous and Orthodox men of the Church of England rather then such as will not through private discontent and dislike of persons commanding and in power shew stubbornness to the command and power it self The which when it is by any done is so far from giving any reputation to them as men of Orders Learning or Gravity that it doth but discover to the world their own imbecility in respect of some peevish prejudice whereby they are swayed which a great deal wiselier they might conceal 20. And because in these cases again it is not to be supposed otherwise now then amongst Nonconformists formerly that is that some having their necessities and wants greater or being more fearful and conscientious in open opposition are ready outwardly to yield to compliance and yet do underhand deprave and discountenance the deed it self and that Authority which they do obey therein Of these he saith lib. 5. fol. 248. They do like one that should openly profess he putteth fire to his neighbours house but yet so halloweth it with his prayers that he hopeth it shall not burn It had therefore perhaps been safer and better for ours to have observed S. Basils advice both in this and all things of like nature let him which approveth not his Governours Ordinances either plainly but privately alwayes shew his dislike if he have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strong and invincible reason against them according to the true will and meaning of Scripture Or else let him quietly with silence do that which is enjoyned obedience with profest unwillingnesse to obey is no better then manifest disobedience 21. And therefore in these cases men should not go about to disturbe the peace of the Church that pillar and ground of truth which for peace and order sake God hath appointed to be obeyed in establishing things of this nature upon every plausible argument which by means of their abilities and learning they are able to bring in disparagement of any thing established by her They must rest obedient in all such things as they cannot finde strong and invincible reason against according to the true will and meaning of Scripture whose drift is Peace and Order and not according to their will and meaning onely who it may be have contrary designes no he disclaims all such kinde of proofs as ineffectuall in this case For saith he lib. 5. fol. 201. Where the Word of God leaveth the Church to make choice of her own ordinances If against those things which have been received with great reason or against that which the Ancient practise of the Church hath continued time out of mind or against such Ordinances as the power and authority of that Church under which we live hath it selfe devised for the publique good or against the discretion of the Church in mitigating sometimes with favorable equity that rigour which otherwise the literal generality of Ecclesiastical Laws hath judged to be more convenient and meet it should be lawfull for men to reject at their own liberty what they see done and practised according to order set down If in so great variety of wayes as the will of man is easily able to find out towards any purpose and in so great liking as all men especially have on those inventions whereby some one shall seem to have been more inlightned from above then many thousands the Church did give every man license to follow what himself imagineth that Gods Spirit doth reveal unto him or what he supposeth that God is likely to have revealed to some other whose vertues deserve to be highly esteemed what other effect could hereupon ensue but the utter confusion of his Church under pretence of being taught led and guided by his Spirit The gifts and graces whereof do so naturally all tend unto common peace that where such singularity is they whose hearts it professeth ought to suspect it the more in as much as if it did come of God and should for that cause prevail with others the same God which revealeth it to them would also give them power of confirming it unto others either with miraculous operation or with strong and invincible remonstrance of sound reason such as whereby it might appear that God would indeed have all mens judgements give place unto it Whereas now the Errour and insufficiency of their Arguments doth make it on the contrary side against them a strong presumption that God hath not moved their hearts to think such things as he hath not enabled them to prove 22. In this last quotation he is very expresse concerning the power of that Church under which we live and that even in devising ordinances for the publike good thereof The which to oppose is so far from shewing it self a fruit of the Spirit that by that dissention and discord which it must necessarily produce it may be suspected to have proceeded from some other Master then the God of peace and some other principle then the Gospel of Peace even from the God of this World some powerfull temptation sent by the Prince of the air whereby he is wont to rule in the hearts of the children of disobedienâ—e If God do not therefore in this case furnish them with one of those sorts of invincible proofs by him set down that is either power of miracle or such strong and
and of Soepter in the singular number we may well understand the King before mentioned And however the Pâ—ophetick designation of Monarchical government to succeed as under the notion of Kings as the adopted Father of each Country took not place until Moses but that those that were the natural Fathers of the Tribes and had right of Government by primogeniture continuâ—â— as Princes and Rulers yet their as he was the first that was so stiled being King in Jesâ—uâ—â—â—â— even as the succeeding Judges may be so well called for that in the inter-regnum it is said there was no King in Israâ—l so shall we â—ind Moses again as expresly foretelling that they should have a King as that they should possess the Land For the words to each Promise run absolute Dent. 17. 14. When tâ—â—u art come into the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee and shâ—lt possess it and shalt dwell therein and shalt say I will set a King over me like all the Nations that are round about me c. It is not said If thou shalt say no such conditional but an express duty or prophecie For the conjunction and here used and shalt possess it and dwell therein and shalt say makes all of them equally certain as certain in the blessing of Kingship as in that of the promised Land it self Of all which I have formerly at large discoursed and have briefly here premised to unprejudice such as are averse to Monarchy or the acknowledgment of the power of Kings in the Church and shall now treat of the Church it self and of its proper cognisance and power in which we shall have farther occasion to assert this Kingly superintendencie CHAP. II. Of the Church Catholick and of the power and jurisdiction of each particular Church and Head thereof THe word Ecclesia or ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we English Church doth originally import a Company called forth or men met together upon some special occasion But the Scripture treating of Religious matters applies that notion to Meetings made to that end And therefore that Assembly which Demetrius and his Craftsmen made is called by that name But then farther because to be called forth must presuppose some person or persons having power so to do and also to propound and regulate what shall be disputed of or determined in these Assemblies in that respect again we after find that those things which in the former unruly meeting could not be composed are by the Town-Clark promised to be determined in a more lawful Church or assembly to be called according to Authority All Religions agreeing in this truth that without observation of Government and Order both Church and State will quickly run into confusion After Christianity had a while been professed this name by way of excellence was appropriate to them and those of their communion Insomuch as in the beginning thereof and while the Land of Jewry did contain the whole number of Believers or that the Christians there or elswhere had not cast themselves into any proper or distinct forms of regiment all such as stood as well separated from the world as associated amongst themselves by their joint profession of the same faith stood only distinct from the rest of the world by the word Church or Church of Christ Catholickly applied without distinction thereof into parts in respect of any local application But when afterwards they came to be dispersed into several Cities so distant from one another in place and so different in jurisdictions as to require some form of Ecclesiastical discipline to be setled amongst themselves for their more orderly service in their Religion it came then to pass that as those that had begotten them in the faith and been their spiritual fathers and instructors had chief authority herein so were those their Churches and followers distinguished by topical additions as the Church or Saints at Rome at Corinth at Ephesus or the like By the use of the word at such a place and not saying the Church of Rome of Corinth of Ephesus or the like as now we do the Church of Rome England Geneva c we are to conceive that as the first Believers were in respect of this separation from the rest of the world in faith and some religious exercises called by the name of a Church so these in those several Cities wherein they lived were called Saints or Church at such a City and not of as betokening that they were aswel but a part of that City as to civil regiment as also a part of the whole Catholick Church now subordinate to some separate Authority in the exercise of their Religion But then we are to conceive that although this separation of theirs from others of the same City both in their meetings and holy exercises were done in order to their Religion yet was it not the quality of any Religion as such a Religion but difference in rites and form of Worship and in meeting thereabouts from that other Religion which was publikely authorised in that place which made it preserve this name of Church as taken in its proper sense And therefore as before said we shall usually find that the Addition of the Church of God or of Christ is put to distinguish as well as to dignifie it above other religious Congregations that were not such And upon this reason it is that we never read in the Scripture that the the word Church is applied to the Jews although they were a Nation separate from all the rest of the world both in their Religion it self and in the Ceremonies thereof even for that it was all one and the same with that which the publick Authority of that place did appoint and allow Whereas when Christianity first began amongst them the first Professors thereof being but subordinately divided were set down as a Church or Congregation of men in that respect separate saying The Church or Church of Christ which is at Jerusalem Which being considered we need not wonder why S. Paul should proceed to no higher punishment then that of Excommunication against a Blasphemer or an incestuous person or the like who by the very heinousness and nature of their sins might be presumed not greatly desirous of their Communion even for that it was at that time all the punishment he or other Heads of Churches could inflict wanting as before noted all coercive jurisdiction Upon which ground again we find not that the Jews did ever exercise this kind of punishment while they continued masters of their own soveraignty but comprising all offences under the same Law they punished transgressions of all sorts as breaches thereof when yet afterward in the time of our Saviour that the supreme power was in the hand of the Romans we find them both threatening and actually thrusting men out of their Synagogues But however such notorious sinners as those might in the infancie of Christianity set lightly of any Church-censure in that kind yet with the
more conscientious sort who in regard of those many promises by Christ made no his Church had been at first won to be of their fellowship and communion as the only means to their salvation it was taken as a punishment of the highest import And however that the then Church for want of Judiciary power as aforesaid could not punish otherwise yet since it became all that were named by the name of Christ to depart from iniquity and to have their conversation such as becomed Saints and to walk worthy that vocation wherewith they were called in which respect we shall find the name of Disciples Believers Saints Church and Christians indifferently used to signifie those that made profession of Christs name It therefore became them who were to be as lights on a hill and to see that others light did so shine before men that they seeing their good works might glorifie that God in whose obedience they did it to be very sensible and tender of permitting any thing scandalous in the eye of the world to be acted or countenanced by any of their profession In reference to which gracious promises of Salvation Illumination Assistance and the like made by Christ to his Church and of that degree of sanctity wherewith those of this profession stood eminent above the rest of the world or of that City or place where they lived it is no wonder if we find that this notion of Church was still used even after the time that the publick Authority of the Country came also to be of the same belief especially considering that it was more then three hundred years after Christs birth before any Emperor at all was of that profession from which they quickly again fell and that during the said time and a good while after the more considerable and perhaps the major part of the Empire it self besides what was done in other Countries more heathenish continued still Infidels Towards whose conversion and for the greater honor of their Master and his doctrine as they desired to become worthy Disciples by the example of their holy lives so dâ—d they withall still keep up as far as might be a communion with one another therein as well as a separation from others that were not of the same belief But yet we shall never find in Scripture or Author of antiquity that was not prejudiced by particular adherence to some party that these notions of Church or Saints were used to separate Christians from Christians so as to accompt others especially their fellow-subjects that publickly professed faith and obedience to Christ to be yet none of his Church until such time as the whole Church through the goodness of God being rid of the fear of much harm from such as for Christs sake were their common enemy some separate parts thereof began in a strange requital to seek out enemies amongst themselves Ambition pride interest and passion causing men to forget those prime precepts of humility meekness patience brotherly love and the like wherewith Christianity stood at first adorned and whereby they as out of a common principle of love to Christ and his honor as well as to one another according to the true intent of Religion were piously and unanimously guided and now to prosecute that course which should at once hazard the honor and good of both Christ and his whole Church through their strife to advance some particular Sect above the rest and themselves in it As if Christs Disciples and followers must not now be called such in regard of their faith in him as formerly was used but out of belief in and for following them rather in things circumstantial or by themselves called fundamental the more to countenance that breach of Charity which must thence ensue hereby shewing that we have not as the true elect of God and beloved put on bowels of mercies kindnesses humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering so as to forbear one another and forgive one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave us But have neglected to put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness and to let the peace of God rule in our hearts to the which we are also called into one body even this body and communion of a Church Col. 3. 12 c. It being indeed impossible for any but such elect as these to escape those deceits and snares which each particular Sect as in Christs name will be ready to lay before us saying Lo here is Christ and lo there is Christ on purpose to affright us from confidence in that Name whereby alone under heaven we can be saved as if salvation were not to be found in being a Member of the Catholick Church or any part of it as Christian but in that secret Chamber or that desert Assembly which is now separately named and owned by themselves 6. This is that great misery under which Christendom hath of late been so much troubled as well through that ambitious humor of universal rule and dominion whereby those of the Roman party out of opinion of Eminencie Succession or the like would advance their Head to be Head of the whole Church even where his jurisdiction reacheth not As of others also who in any particular Church are ready to make a separation of themselves as though in regard of any extraordinary degree of sincerity of worship or sanctity of life by them professed above others the antient notion of Church could now again be appropriate to them without notice of their Brethren of the same Religion and those in Authority and perhaps more in number also in like manner as formerly the notion of Church was understood in opposition to those that were meer Heathens 7. The truth is that Christian societies may well be distinguished from Professors of other Religions by this peculiar appellation their Religion being indeed the Religion even as their God is apparently the God For where they in discovery of their meer humane extraction or wors are in their precepts wholly regardful of their own outward glory pomp and estimation and that according to humane fancie and opinion when we are by voice from heaven taught that strict conjunction which is between Glory to God in the highest and Peace on earth and good will towards men Their Deities stand manifestly on their Sacrifices professing greatest love to such as are most zealous in them or such like kind of adoration Ours pronounce Charity the end of the Law and prefer Mercy before Sacrifice and to encourage men thereto our Saviour personateth the hungry blind naked imprisoned and promiseth even the reward of Heaven to such as should most express their love and duty to him that way 8. And thereupon again as true it is that particular Churches cannot seclude one another from being members of that Catholick body while they acknowledged the same Common head much less can such as live within the authority or are members of any Christian Church or society
strifes and contentions many times and that about matters of no small importance yea her schisms factions and such other evils whereunto the body of the Church is subject sound and sick remaining both of the same body as long as both parts retain by outward profession that vital substance of Truth which maketh Christian Religion to differ from theirs which acknowledg not our Lord Jesus Christ the blessed Saviour of mankind give no credit to his glorious Gospel and have his Sacraments the seal of eternal life in derision Now the priviledg of the visible Church of God for of that we speak is to be herein like the Ark of Noah for any thing we know to the contrary all without are lost sheep Yet in this was the Ark of Noah priviledged above the Church that whereas none of them which were in the one could perish numbers in the other are cast away because to eternal life our profession is not enough Many things exclude from the Kingdom of God although from the Church they separate not In the Church there arise sundry grievous storms by means whereof whole Kingdoms and Nations professing Christ both have been heretofore and are at this present day divided about Christ During which division and contentions amongst men albeit each part do justifie it self yet the one of necessity must needs erre if there be any contradiction between them be it great or little And what side soever it be that hath the truth the same we must also acknowledg alone to hold with the true Church in that point and consequently reject the other as an enemy in that case fallen away from the true Church Wherefore of hypocrites and dissemblers whose profession at the first was but only from the teeth outward when they afterwards took occasion to oppugn certain principal Articles of Faith the Apostles which defended the truth against them pronounce them gone out from the fellowship of sound and sincere Believers when as yet the Christian religion they had not utterly cast off In like sense and meaning throughout all Ages Heretickâ— have been justly hated as branches cut off from the body of the true Vine yet only so far forth cut off as their Heresies have extended Both Heresie and many other crimes which wholly sever from God do sever from the Church of God in part only The mysterie of Piety saith the Apostle is without peradventure great GOD hath been manifested in the flesh hath been justified in the Spirit hath been seen of Angels hath been preached to Nations hath been believed on in the world hath been taken up into glory The Church a pillar and foundatiou of this truth which no where is known or profess'd but only within the Church and they all of the Church that profess it In the mean while it cannot be denied that many profess this who are not therfore cleered simply from all either faults or errors which maketh separation between us and the Wel-spring of our happiness Idolatry severed of old the Israelites Iniquity those Scribes and Pharisees from God who notwithstanding were a part of the seed of Abraham a part of that very seed which God did himself acknowledg to be his Church The Church of God may therefore contain both them which indeed are not his yet must be reputed his by us that know not their inward thoughts and them whose apparent wickedness testifieth even in the sight of the whole world that God abhorreth them For to this and no other purpose are meant those Parables which our Saviour in the Gospel hath concerning mixture of Vice with Vertue Light with Darkness Truth with Error as well an openly known and seen as a cunningly cloaked mixture That which therefore separateth utterly that which cutteth off clean from the visible Church of Christ is plain Apostacie direct denial utter rejection of the whole Christian faith as far as the same is professedly different from Infidelity Hereticks as touching those points of Doctrine wherein they fail Schismaticks as touching the quarrels for which or the duties wherein they divide themselves from their brethren Loose licentious and wicked persons as touching their several offences and crimes have all forsaken the true Church of God the Church which is sound and sincere in the doctrine that they corrupt the Church that keepeth the bond of unity which they violate the Church which walketh in the ways of righteousness which they transgress the very true Church of Christ they have left howbeit not altogether left nor forsaken simply the Church upon the main foundations whereof they continue built notwithstanding those breaches whereby they are rent from bottom to top asunder And having largely discoursed on the same argument in the beginning of his third Book he proceeds to reprove such as being then members of this Church would annihilate her being truly a Church and claim an independencie because of some corruptions they conceived in her As there are saith he fol. 86. which make the Church of Rome utterly no Church at all by reason of so many grievous errors in their Doctrine so we have them amongst us who under pretence of imagined corruptions in our Discipline do give even as hard a judgment of the Church of England it self And afterwards f. 88. coming to distinguish the visible Church into parts according to their several jurisdictions to the end that authority thereof might be made useful he farther saith For preservation of Christianity there is not any thing more needful then that such as are of the visible Church have mutual felowship and society one with another In which consideration as in the main body of the Sea being one yet within divers precincts hath divers names so the Catholick Church is in like sort divided into a number of distinct societies every of which is termed a Church within it self In this sense the Church is always a visible society of men not an Assembly but a society For although the name of the Church be given unto Christian assemblies although any multitude of Christian men congregated may be termed by the name of a Church yet Assemblies properly are rather things that belong to a Church Men are assembled for performance of publike actions which actions being ended the Assembly dissolveth it self and is no longer in being whereas the Church which was assembled doth no less continue afterwards then before Where but three are and they of the Laity also saith Tertullian yet there is a Church that is to say a Christian Assembly But a Church as now we are to understand it is a Society that is a number of men belonging unto some Christian fellowship the place and limits whereof are certain That wherein they have communion is the publike exercise of such duties as those mentioned in the Apostles Acts Instruction Breaking of bread Prayers As therefore they that are of the mystical body of Christ have those inward graces and vertues whereby they differ from all others which are not of
the same body even so again whosoever appertain to the visible body of the Church they have also the notes of external profession whereby the world knoweth what they are After the same manner even the several Societies of Christian men unto every of which the name of a Church is given with addition betokening severalty as the Church of Rome Corinth Ephesus England and so the rest must be endued with corespondent general properties belonging unto them as they are publike Christian societies And of such properties common unto all societies Christian it may not be denied that one of the very chiefest is Ecclesiastical Politie Which word I therefore the rather use because the name of Government as commonly men understand it in ordinary speech doth not comprise the largeness of that whereunto in this question it is applied For when we speak of Government what doth the greatest part conceive thereby but only the exercise of superiority peculiar unto Rulers and Guides of others To our purpose therefore the name of Church-Politie will better serve because it containeth both Government and also whatsoever besides belongeth to the ordering of the Church in publike Neither is any thing in this degree more necessary then Church-Politie which is a form of ordering the publike spiritual affairs of the Church of God But we must note that he which affirmeth Speech to be necessary amongst all men throughout the world doth not thereby import that all men must necessarily speak one kind of language Even so the necessity of Politie and Regiment in all Churches may be held without holding any one certain Form to be necessary in them all c. 15. From all which discourse these Conclusions are plainly deducible as touching the preservation of Peace and Charity First that the imputation of Heresie Schism or the like cannot by particular Churches be so charged upon one another as to take from them the reality of being true Christian Churches whilst they hold the foundation And much less that any such imputation from any the sons or members of any Church should be held of avail to take that respect which is due unto her as a Church of Christ and debar her from exercising his authority on earth and that not only for keeping of love and union but for preservation of Christianity it self which is also needful to be upheld by observation of the Rules of Society and Government in the Church as well as in the Commonwealth 16. That to a Church as now the word is applied Polity and Regiment being proper that therefore no sort of persons wanting this power but living under it or any other Christian jurisdiction can assume to themselves the notion of a Church although they should consist of such as were of the order of the Clergy In which condition since the notion of Church could be no otherwise appropriate then to import a Congregation or Assembly it might be given to the Laity also as he avoucheth out of Tertullian 17. And next we may observe what those things be that are to be publikely exercised and wherein the members of each Church are to have communion and which do fall within the Churches authority and cognisance as Instruction Breaking of bread and Prayers that is to say to order and regulate the publike use of Preaching Administration of Sacraments of Prayers or other form of Service or Worship So that when any Church shall think fit to make any new appointment in any thing of these kinds It is not fit as he elswhere saith for those that are members thereof to ask why we hang our judgments on the Churches sleeve and out of stubbornness and disrespect to her authority to go about to perswade men to inconformity by making them believe that obedience to alteration in these things is hazardous or destructive to their salvation Not regarding the difference which ought to be put between things of the one and the other sort in respect of power to change Touching points of Doctrine saith he lib. 3. fol. 110 111. as for example The Vnity of God the Trinity of Persons Salvation by Christ the Resurrection of the body Life everlasting the Judgment to come and such like they have been since the first hour that there was a Church in the world and till the last they must be believed But as for matters of Regiment they are for the most part of another nature To make new Articles of Faith and Doctrine no man thiuketh it lawful New Laws of Government what Commonwealth or Church is there which maketh not either at one time or another The rule of Faith saith Tertullian is but one and that alone immoveable and impossible to be framed or cast anew The Law of outward Order and Politie not so There is no reason in the world wherefore we should esteem it as necessary always to do as always to believe the same things seeing every man knoweth that the matter of Faith is constant the matter contrariwise of Actions daily changeable especially the matter of action belonging unto Church-Politie Neither can I find that men of soundest judgments have any otherwise taught then that Articles of belief and things which all men must of necessity do to the end they may be saved are either expresly set down in the Scripture or else plainly thereby to be gathered But touching things which belong to Discipline and outward Politie the Church hath authority to make Canons Laws and Decrees even as we read in the Apostles times it did Which kind of Laws for as much as they are not in themselves necessary to salvation may after they are made be also changed as the difference of times or places shall require 18. So that then we may resolve that as the true essence of a Church as a Church doth depend on the doctrine and profession of the faith of Jesus Christ and the authority from him received so doth the essence and force of Discipline and outward Polity depend on her authority only It is from her power as a Church that they are made of this or that form It is not from any form in them as thus or thus made that her being or power can be thought to depend 19. And therefore surely if the Church have power to alter and change when they are made as well as to make Canons Laws and Decrees it must follow that those that are members of that Church are also tied to obedience Clergy as well as others as he lib 5. fol. 391. urgeth against the Non-conforming Ministers of those times viz. Why oppose they the name of a Minister in this case unto the state of a private man do their Orders exempt them from obedience to Laws That which their office and place requireth is to shew themselves Patterns of reverend subjection not Authors and Masters of contempt towards Ordinances the strength whereof when they seek to weaken they do but in truth discover to the world their own imbecilities which a
invincible Remonstrance as to cause all mens judgements to give place their opposition is to be suspected as proceeding from affected singularity or worse 23. For if in those things wherein controversie is whether they be warranted by Scripture or by the Catholick Church as Fathers Councels or the like such as live under any Christian authority should take upon them to be judges they should then usurpe that proper cognisance and power which is peculiar to the Church onely and leave her nothing to doe For since in points fundamentall or fully agreed upon her power reacheth not it must follow that to her alone it belongeth out of that variety of interpretation made of the meaning of the Texts themselves and out of that variety and contradiction which is found amongst Councels Fathers and other Writers to make choice of and give determination for what sort of doctrine or regiment she shall finde either to have been most Catholiquely received or to be grounded upon most Orthodox Principles and soundest reason Which done for men to say the Church hath no power to institute or or take away contrary to the Word of God and then produce no other Texts for condemning her in any particular then what are by others interpreted otherwise and also after the same manner she hath done already doth certainly argue great arrogance and stubbornness of mind in them that would thus apply it although the speech in it self be most true 24. And no lesse then so it is when out of the Sentences of some Councels Fathers or other Writers the doctrine and authority of the Catholike Church is alledged to take off our obedience to that Church under which we live It being none other in points of controversie in Religion then if in Civill suits and debates the parties in contention should appeal from the Laws of that Common wealth to the Verdict of the Civil Law and avouch the Testimony of Vlpian Papinian or the like for the meaning thereof Or to the Law of Nations and then prove there is such a Law and to be just so construed because some men whom they esteem well of have so thought If there be no controversie about the truth or equity of what they propound but all men are found to agree why then it is a sign God did make the discovery to them since he hath thus enabled them to prove it If not how can they think but reasonable even for peace and order sake if not for her own sake that that side and determination which in this controversie agrees with the Church should be preferred to that which is chosen by them And therefore if the Church may devise new Rites and must for Peace sake be obeyed then certainly when she doth not devise any thing new by way of addition nor so much as retain what was before taken as scandalous in things that were ancient I do not see any invincible reason no nor reason at all for Schisme or separation 25. And as for that power of mitigation what the general and literal rigour of Ecclesiasticall Laws hath set down as he spake it in justification of what was by the then Civill Magistrate or a power from her dispensed with in the cases of Plurality Non-residence and the like so it may also truly inform us that if for the further enabling men in the study of Divinity and consequently in the gift of preaching nay even for their temporal maintenance sake these general Laws and Rules of the Church were dispensed with while the same was still remaining and in power Much more may men now out of the rule of justice and charity both to themselves and others think themselves dispensed with the omission of some Rites and Ceremonies and of reading the Service Book when as not a dispensation alone but a strict injunction against the use of them is by the like soveraign power apparantly made and that Church also whose Laws they were hath neither force or being Charity I say both publike and private when as both preaching it self and the maintenance to rise thereby have so necessary a dependance on the forbearance of them If Preachers that had other places to live on and preach in might out of particular favour to them or some other person whose Chaplains they were be thus dispensed with as we know they were and that they then readily enough made use of it may we not conclude that both the rule of Charity to ones self and of generall charity to others that may reap good by their Doctrine will excuse them in a time when their own maintenance and the exercise of preaching doth wholly rely upon their obedience in this kinde So that seem the thing never so strange and new either in respect of addition or substraction to what was formerly done and established it is not by those that are Members and do live within the jurisdiction thereof to be disobeyed as out of scandal at alteration the Church having power as well to substract as to institute And therefore he saith lib. 5. fol. 196. All things cannot be of ancient continuance which are expedient and needfull for the ordering of spiritual affairs But the Church being a body which dieth not hath alwayes power as occasion requireth no lesse to ordain that which never was then to ratifie what hath been before To prescribe the order of doing all things is a peculiar prerogative which wisdome hath as Queen or Soveraign Commandress over other vertues This in every several mans actions of common life appertaineth unto Morall in publike and politick secular affairs unto civill Wisedom In like manner to devise any certain form for the outward administration of publique duties in the service of God or things belonging thereunto and to find out the most convenient rule for that use is a point of wisedome Ecclesiasticall It is not for a man which doth know or should know what order is and what peaceable government requireth to ask why we should hang our judgement upon the Churches sleeve and why in matters of Order more then in matters of Doctrine The Church hath Authority to establish that for an Order at one time which at another time it may abolish and in both do well Then which nothing could in my opinion have been spoken more pointing to Peace and silencing of disputes in our present alterations and to the satisfaction of such as think that those forms of Prayer and administration of Sacraments Ordination and other publike Rites and Ceremonies may not by a succeeding Church and Power therein be lawfully taken away like as they were by a former established 26. And that specially if to those that have the oversight of these things there shall seem to be superstition incident to the use of them through some over-value and mistake which through frequent use might be cast towards them as though they were indeed Fundamentals of themselves Superstition saith he lib. 5. fol. 191. such as that of the
to hold Sacriledge to be Gods Service Unfaithfulness and breach of promise to God to give it to a strumpet to be a vertue to abandon fasting to abhor consession to mislike Penance to like well of Usury to charge none with restitution to find no good before God in single life nor in no well working that all men as they fall to us are much worsed and more then aforecorrupted 28. Now to my thinking we are again fallen into that unhappy condition as to have the same or much like faults and scandals laid to the charge as well of those that are in Soveraign power as of those that follow them by such as out of like zeal to former publike usage and establishment are ready upon the same arguments to turn Recusants to the present Orders of this Church and yet to continue Recusants to the Popish Communion too Not well considering how that as in one case they must against our change make use of their Arguments so will they then be disâ— furnished of replyes to them for that change by the Church of England formerly made when a greater number of Ceremonies and those of a more general approbation and longer continuance in this Church were by the authority of the Civill Magistrate as they call him taken away and this form which they now cleave unto put in the place thereof And least any should object like them nullity and invalidity to our Church or her authority through some scruple of the lawfulnesse and calling of our present Pastors and Ministers in the exercise of their Functions because of the want of some Forms and Ceremonies heretofore appointed to be used in their Ordination before they were permitted to preach or administer and consequently think it unlawfull to hear or receive at their hands we shall finde him of another minde nay though they were not at all in Orders or claimed any mission from Authority For he saith lib. 5. fol 227. Nature as much as possible inclineth to validities and preservations dissolutions and nullities of things done are not onely not savoured but hated when either urged without cause or extended beyond their reach If therefore at any time it come to passe that in teaching publiquely or privately in delivering this blessed Sacrament of regeneration some unsanctified hand contrary to Christs supposed Ordinances do intrude it self to others which of these two Opinions seem more agreeable with equity ours that disallow what is done amisse yet make not the force of the Word and Sacraments much lesse their nature and very substance to depend on the Ministers Authority and Calling or else theirs which defeat disanull and annihilate both in respect of that one onely personal defect there being not any Law of God which faith That if the Minister be incompetent his word shall be no word his Baptisme no Baptisme He which teacheth and is not sent loseth the reward but yet retaineth the name of a teacher his usurped actions have in him the same nature which they have in others although they yeeld him not the same comfort And if these two cases be peers the case of Doctrine and the case of Baptism both alike sith no defect in their Vocation that teach the truth is able to take away this benefit thereof from him which heareth wherefore should the want of a lawfull calling in them that bapitze make Baptism vain And again fol. 332 The Grace of Baptisme cometh by donation from God alone that God hath committed the Ministery of Baptisme unto speciall men it is for Orders sake in his Church and not to the end that their Authority might give being or adde force to the Sacrament it self That Infants have right to the Sacrament of Baptism we all acknowledge Charge them we cannot as guilesull and wrongful possessors of that whereunto they have right by the manifest will of the Donor and are not parties unto any defect or disorder in the manner of receiving the same And if any such disorder be we have sufficiently before declared that Delictum cum capite semper ambulat Mens own faul's are their own harms Wherefore to countervail this and the like mis chosen resemblances with that which more truly and plainly agreeth The Ordinance of God concerning their vocation that minister Baptisme wherein the Mystery of our regeneration is wrought hath thereunto the same Analogy which Laws of wedlock have to our first nativity and birth So that if nature do effect Procreation notwithstanding the wicked violation and breach of Natures law made that the entrance of all mankind into this present world might be without blemish may we not justly presume that Grace doth accomplish the other although there be faultiness in them which transgress the order which our Lord Jesus Christ hath established in his Church And afterwards again lib. 5. fol. 448. That therefore wherein a Minister differeth from other Christian men is not as some have childishly imagined the sound preaching of the Word of God but as they are lawfully and truly Governors to whom authority of regiment is given in the Common-wealth according to the order which Polity hath set so Canonical ordination in the Church of Christ is that which maketh a lawful Minister as touching the validity of any act which appertaineth to the vocation The cause why S. Paul willed Timothy not to be overhasty in ordaining Ministers was as we very well may conjecture because Imposition of hands doth consecrate and make them Ministers whether they have gifts and qualities fit for the laudable discharge of their duties or no. If want of Learning and skill to preach did frustrate their Vocation Ministers ordained before they be grown unto that maturity should receive new Ordination whensoever it chanceth that study and industry doth make them afterwards more able to perform the office then which what conceit can be more absurd 29. By those words of his That wherein a Minister differeth from other men is as they are lawsully and truly Governors to whom authority of Regiment is given in the Commonwealth according to the order which Polity hath set we may find him 〈…〉 against their judgments that would make Canonical ordination and the validity of any act appertaining to the vocation to depend on any separate Ecclesiastick authority And when again he is saying that they are lawfully and truly Governors to whom authority of Regiment is given in the Commonwealth according to the Order which Polity hath set we may presume by the words are is and hath he means that present Power and those present Overseers which the Holy Ghost or Divine Providence hath placed over them as sons of David as was by him before rehearsed and so making him the lawful Governor whom the present Polity or Law hath set For if he should admit other question of his lawfulness by saying whom Polity should set or the like he should then overthrow that course before sâ—t down in determining the lawfulness of Ministers sent by
But shall your Church lye fallow till that Infant King or green head of the Church come to years of discretion Do your Bishops your â—ierarchy your succession your Sacraments your being or not being Hereticks for want of Succession depend on this new found Supremacy-doctrine brought in by such a man meerly upon base occasions and for shamefull ends Impugned by Calvin and his followers derided by the Christian world and even by chief Protestants as Doctor Andrews Wâ—tton c not held any necessary point of Faith And from whom I pray you had Bishops their authority when there were no Christian Kings Must the Greek Patriarchs receive spiritual jurisdiction from the Greek Turk Did the Pope by the baptism of Princes lose the spiritual power he formerly had of conferring spiritual jurisdiction upon Bishops Hath the Temporal Magistrate authority to preach to assoil from sins to inflict Excommunications and other censures Why hath he not power to excommunicate as well as to dispense in irregularity as our late Soveraign Lord King James either dispensed with the late Archbishop of Canterbury or else gave Commission to some Bishops to do it And since they were subject to the Primate and not he to them it is cleer that they had no power to dispense with him but that power must proceed from the Prince as superior to them all and Head in the Protestants Church in England If we have no such authority how can he give to others what himself hath not Your Ordination or Conseâ—ration of Bishops and Priests imprinting no character can only consist in giving a power authority jurisdiction or as I said before Episcopal or Priestly functions If then the temporal Magistrate confers this power c. he can nay he cannot chuse but ordain and consecrate Bishops and Priests as often as he confers authority or jurisdiction and your Bishops as soon as they are designed and confirmed by the King must ipso facto be ordained and consecrated by him without intervention of Bishops or matter and form of Ordination Which absurdities you will be more unwilling to grant then well able to avoid if you be true to your own doctrines The Pope from whom originally you must beg your succession of Bishops never received nor will nor can acknowledg to receive any spiritual jurisdiction from any temporal Prince And therefore if jurisdiction must be derived from Princes he hath none at all and yet either you must acknowledg that he hath spiritual jurisdiction or that your selves can receive none from him And afterwards again sect 22. he saith But besides this defect in the personal succession of Protestant Bishops there is another of great moment which is that they want the right form of ordaining Bishops and Priests because the manner which they use is so much different from the Roman Church at least according to the common opinion of Divines that it cannot be sufficient for the essence of Ordination as I could demonstrate if this were the proper place of such a Treatise and will not fail to do if D. Potter give me occasion In the mean time the Reader may be pleased to read the Author cited here in the margent and then compare our form of Ordination with that of Protestants and to remember that if the form which they use either in consecrating Bishops or in ordaining Priests be at least doubtful they can never have undoubted Priests nor Bishops For Priests cannot be ordained but by true Bishops nor can any be true Bishop unless he be at first Priest I say their Ordination is at least doubtful because that sufficeth for my present purpose For Bishops and Priests whose Ordination is notoriously known to be but doubtful are not to be esteemed Bishops or Priests and no man without sacrilege can receive Sacraments from them all which they administer unlawfully And if we except Baptism with manifest danger of invalidity and with obligation to be at least conditionally repeated so Protestants must remain doubtful of Remission of sins of their Ecclesiastical Hierarchy and may not pretend to be a true Church which cannot subsist without undoubted true Bishops and Priests nor without due administration of Sacraments which according to Protestants is an essential note of the true Church And it is a world to observe the proceeding of English Protestants in this point of their Ordination For first An. 3 Ed. 6. cap. 2. when he was a Child about twelve years of age it was enacted That such a form of making and consecrating of Bishops and Priests as by six Prelates and six other to be appointed by the King should be devised Mark well this word devised and set forth under the Great Seal should be used and none other But after this Act was repealed 1 Mar. Sess 2. Insomuch as that when afterwards An. 6 7 Regin Eliz. Bishop Bonner being indicted upon a Certificate made by Doctor Horn a Protestant Bishop of Winchester for his refusal of the Oath of Supremacie and excepting against the Indictment because Dr. Horn was no Bishop they were all at a stand till An. 8 Eliz. cap. 1. the Act of Ed. 6. was renewed and confirmed with a particular Proviso That no man should be impreached or molested by means of any Certificate by any Bishop or Archbishop made before this last Act whereby it is cleer that they made some doubt of their own Ordination and that there is nothing but uncertainty in the whole business of their Ordination which forsooth must depend on six Prelates the Great Seal Acts of Parliament being contrary one to another and the like So that you see all along the authority and interposition of the Magistrate is scoffed at and by them made ineffectual in the ordering of the affairs of the Church nay the Church must be no Church if not wholly and independently governed by the Clergy and a Clergy too that do particularly derive their Ordination and power from a forein Head and according to Rights and Ceremonies then abolished If none but true Priests can administer the Sacraments nor none but true Bishops make true Priests nor none but the Pope make true Bishops but that the authority of the Magistrate doth interpose why then no true Sacraments nor no true Church by their doctrine And to that purpose he doth put a mark upon the word devised as deriding the Civil power therein 38. If we shall add to this what was before him observed by Father Parsons concerning the institution of the Service-book and objected against the validity and use of it as well as the power to abolish their Mass and other Ceremonies it will make us wary in condemning less Alterations now made by a greater Power while yet we shall commend conformity to a less Power in a matter of greater alteration For he alleadgeth in his Book of the Three Conversions of England par 2. chap. 12. sect 25. That the Reformation and Service-book were made by the then Protector to Edward the
sixth who it is well known had no such power and soveraignty in himself as our present Protector hath And to this end he saith And now Candles Ashes and Images being gone as you see there followed in the next moneth after to wit March that the Protector still desiring to go forward with his designment of alteration sent abroad a Proclamation in the Kings name with a certain Communion-book in English to be used for administration of Sacraments in stead of the Mass-book But whether it was the very same that was rejected a little before in the Parliament or another patched up afterward or the same mended or altered is not so cleer But great care there was had by the Protector and his adherents that this Book should be admited and put in practice presently even before it was allowed in Parliament To which effect Fox setteth down a large Letter of the Council to all Bishops exhorting and commanding them in the Kings name to admit and put in practice this Book We have thought good say they to pray and require your Lordships and nevertheless in the Kings Majesties our most dread Lords name to command you to have a diligent earnest and careful respect to cause these Books to be delivered to every Parson Vicar and Curate within your Diocese with such diligence as they may have sufficient time well to instruct and advise themselves for the distribution of the most holy Communion according to the Order of this Book before this Easter time c. praying you to consider that this Order is set forth to the intent there should be in all parts of the Realm one uniform manner quietly used To the execution whereof we do eftsoons require you to have a diligent respect as you tender the Kings Majesties pleasure and will answer to the contrary c. From Westminster the 13. of March 1548. By all which and by much more that might be alleadged it is evident that all that was hitherto done against Catholick Religion for these first two years until the second Parliament was done by private authority of the Protector and his adherents before Law and against Law c. 40. And if we look farther into the Preamble of the first Statute that confirmed this Book by him also set down a little after sect 35. we may find that the said Book was appointed first for Uniformity and next that it or some other had been set on foot before by the Lord Protector in the Kings name The words are Where of long time saith the Act there hath been in this Realm of England divers Forms of Common-Prayer commonly called the Service of the Church as well concerning Mattens and Evensong as also the whole Communion called the Mass c. And where the Kings Majesty with the advice of his most entirely beloved Vncle the Lord Protector and others of his Highness Council hath heretofore divers times assayed to stay Innovations or new Rites concerning the premisses yet the same hath not had such good success as his Highness required in that behalf Whereupon his Highness by the most prudent advice aforesaid being pleased to bear with the frailty and weakness of his Subjects in that behalf of his great clemencie hath not been only content to abstain from punishment in that behalf but also to the intent that an uniform quiet and godly order should be had concerning the premisses hath appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury and certain of the most learned and discreet Bishops to consider and ponder the premisses and thereupon having as well an eye and respect to the most sincere and pure Christian Religion taught by the Scriptures as the usages of the Primitive Church should draw and make one convenient and meet order rite and fashion of Common-Prayer and administration of Sacraments to be used in England Wales c. The which at this time by the aid of the Holy Ghost with uniform agreement is of them concluded set forth and delivered to his Highness great comfort and quietness of mind in a Book entituled The Book of Common-Prayer and Administration of Sacraments c. Now truly I cannot for my part see how we can make either the first Imposition or receipt of this Book lawfull if we stick not to our main principle in acknowledging the present supream Christian Magistrate to be head of the Church which doubtless the Protector was in the non-age of the King And if those elder Reformed Protestants amongst us did well to conform to this authority in abolition of the Masse and other very ancient services and that notwithstanding the Book had been by Parliament already rejected there seems to me great reason to conform to what an Act of Parliament and a Protector of more power hath determined concerning another alteration of this kinde To think that the Book or the Ceremonies thereby appointed had of themselves separate from that Authority by which they were devised and imimposed any such inherent and divine worth as for their own sake to claim admittance and continuance were plainly to contradict the act it self and the Stories of those times which tell us by whom it was made and by whom commanded and it doth plainly cross the judgement of Mr. Hooker himself who in his answer to Mr. Travers fol. 471. may be found giving sentence for indifferency in the use of these things as in themselves by the instance of kneeling sitting or walking at receiving of Sacraments his words are An order as I learn there was tendred that Communicants should neither kneel as in the most places of the Realm nor sit as in this place the custome is but walk to the one side of the Table and there standing till they had received passe afterwards away round about by the other which being on a sudden begun to be practised in the Church some sat wondring what it should mean others deliberating what to do till such time as at length by name one of them being called openly thereunto requested that they might do as they had been accustomed which was granted and as Master Travers had administred his way to the rest so a Curate was sent to minister to them after their way which unprosperous beginning of a thing saving onely for the inconvenience of needless alterations otherwise harmless did so disgrace that order in their conceit who had to allow or disallow it that it took no place Was there indifferency and harmlesness in the use of these things then and now they onely inconvenient as causing distraction and scandall to the generality of other receivers and could Master Hooker record without censure the custome of that Congregation whereof he was Minister in receiving of the Communion sitting and for ought appears gave it so to them himself whereas yet the Service Book had appointed it kneeling and shall we now think of any inherent divine worâ—â—in the things themselves No sure this would but too plainly argue them guilty of Superstition that so maintain
same respect and obedience which was by the Law of God due to their Governor in chief So that he that shall read their Stories and observe the legality of their entrance will not beleeve as I said that Bishop Andrews in what he said against such as Nimrod did ever intend that such like Usurpations as might by some be attributed to those should ever take from any that respect and subjection which did belong to the Lords annointed and Head of the Church 50. Afterwards the Bishop shews how Constantine and his Successors held those Trumpets for a Thousand years after Christ and then one of them saith he fol 113. by what means we all know was let go by them or gotten away and carried to Rome But that getting hath hitherto been holden a plain usurping and an usurping noâ— upon the Congregation but upon Princes and their Rights and that they in their own wrong suffered it to be wrung from them And why Because not to Aaron but to Moses it was said Et erunt tibi To draw to an end it was then gotten away and with some a do it was recovered not long since and what you may please to remember there was not long since a Clergy in place that was wholly ad oppositum and would never have yeelded ought Nothing they would do and in eye of Law without them nothing could then be done they had incroached the power of Assembling into their own hands How then how shall we do for an Assembly then Erunt tibi was a good Text it must needs be meant of the Prince He had this power and to him of right it belonged This was then good Divinity and what Writer is there extant of those times but it may may be turned to in him And was it good divinity then and is it now no longer so Was the King but licenced for a while to hold â—his power till another Clergy were in and must he then be deprived of it again Was it then usurped from Princes and are now Princes usurpers of it themselves And is this all the difference in matter of the Assemblies and calling of them that there must be onely a change and that instead of a Forreign they shall have a Domestical and instead of one many and no remedy now but one of these two they mnst needs admit of Is this now become good Divinity Nay I trust if Erunt tibi were once true it is so still and if Tibi were then Moses it is so still â—hat we will be better advised and not thus go against our selves and let truth be no longer truth then it will serve our turns And this calls to my mind the like dealing of a sort of men not long since here among us A while they plied Prince and Parliament with Admonitions Supplications Motions and Petitions And in them it was their duty their right to frame all things to their new invented plot And this so long as any hope blew out of that coast But when that way they saw it would not be then took they up a new Tenet â—traight They needed neither Magistrate nor Trumpet they The godly among the people might do it of themselves for confusion to the wise and mighty the poor and simple must take this work in hand and so by this means the Trumpet prove their right in the end and so come by devolution to Demetrius and the Crafts-men Now if not for the love of the truth yet for very shame of these shifting absurdities let these phantasies be abandoned and that which Gods own mouth hath here spoken let it be for once and for ever true That which once we truly held and maintained for truth let us do so still that we be not like evil Servants judged Ex ore propris out of their own mouthes Let me not overweary you let this rather suffice 1. We have done as our Saviour Christ willed us resorted to the Law and found what is written the Grant of this power to Moses to call the Congregation 2. We have followed Moses's advise enquired of the days before us even from one end of heaven to another and found the practise of this Grant in Moses's Successors and the Congregation so by them called It remaineth that as God by his Law hath taken this order and his people in former ages have kept this order that we do so too that we say as God saith Erunt tibi this Power pertaineth to Moses And that neither with Core we say Non veniemus nor with Demetrius run together of our selves and think to carry it away with crying Great is Diana But as we see the power is of God so truly to acknowledg it and dutifully to yield it that so they whose it is may quietly hold it and laudably use it to his glory that gave it and their good for whom it was given Which God Almighty grant c. I have the more largely made recital of this Sermon because all along it is so express in cleering of most of those objections which are now made Now as it was then in answer to the Recusants and Nonconformists of those times in which respect I fear that what is let down towards the end thereof touching stubbornness in conformity towards the chief Magistrate in matters of Reformation when it shall be by him thought necessary will but too neerly condemn some amongst us with apostacie and tergiversation from their first principles and that ex ore proprio as he saith because they do now deny him the exercise of that power which hitherto themselves and the most eminent of their party have maintained to be their due For he sheweth that since the Church hath her Wars to fight and her Laws to make as well as the Civil State that therefore it is as necessary there should be a continual power to call and preside in all Assemblies made to that purpose in the Church as well as in the State That these Trumpers are to be of one peece Vnus juris That this power is from God immediately derived unto one without first setling it into any body collective at all And therefore truly if a whole National Church can claim no Church power no one party or separate Order therein can although they should be as eminent as Aaron himself No both powers are delivered to Moses not for his time onely but as he had it as the chief Magistrate so to succeed to such as should be chief Magistrates amongst the people of God as a Jus Regale to him that should be Rex in Jeshrune although in strict propriety he be no more King then Moses was And then he censures such as would in regard of their separate order sain have had a separate power It may be saith he if we communicate with flesh and blood we may think it more convenient as some do that God had delivered Moses and Aaron either of them one But when we see Gods Will by Gods
Word what it is that Moses is to have them both we will let that pass as a revelation of flesh and blood and think that which God thinketh to be most convenient And hence he infers that in respect of this sole and supreme power the Church or Congregation must not come uncalled or refuse to come when called that is must not act against or without him but according to his direction in Church Affairs these being the two duties which he saith Gods people have ever duly performed to the two Trumpet No meeting without a Trumpet like Demetrius and his Craftsmen out of love to any Diana of their own liking as Nonconformists formerly did nor no slighting of the Magistrates call like Core and his Company out of conceit of equal holiness with him or in favor to the supreamacy oâ— some other Head as the then Recusants did After that instancing how the Magistrates here had been troubled with those of the Roman Clergy and with that of the Non-conforming party too who would neither yeeld that he should at all make Reformation nor like that he had made but would have those Trumpets and Powers in other hands he exhorts as I may do to constancy in this Doctrine saying That which we once held and maintained for truth let us do so still that we be not like evil Servants judged ex ore proprio 51. For when as it was by the Papists usually objected against our Reformation that no such thing was necessary since no such Heresie or Superstition was in their Doctrine or publick form of Worship as was alleadged and having in proof of them brought in divers Texts of Scripture and also produced evidence of general Practise of a Thousand years for most of them in that Church which at that time was held Catholick I do not for my part find but that the chiefest stress of lawfulness of Reformation lay as I said before in asserting the power of the chief Magistrate And that way ran the late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury also who in his Answer to the Jesuite A C. Sect. 26. num 11. fol. 205. says Emperors and Kings are custodes utriusque tabulae they to whom the custody of both Tables of the Law for Worship to God and the Duty to Man are committed That a Book of the Law was by Gods own command in Moses his time to be given the King That the Kings under the Law but still according to it did proceed to necessary Reformation in Church businesses and therein commanded the very Priests themselves as appears in the Acts of Hezekiah and Josiah who yet were never censured to this day for usurping the Priests Office That the greatest Emperors for the Churches honour Theodosious the elder and Justinian and Charls the Great and divers other did not onely meddle now and then but Enact Laws to the great settlement and increase of Religion in their severall times 51. If more satisfaction be requisite to assert not one the Kings Right to meddle in these things but even to shew the necessity of having a King to that very purpose iet us see the judgement of Bishop Andrews in another place where he is speaking upon that Text In those dayes there was no King in Israel and using these words fol. 122. This is not noted as a desert in gross or at large but even in Israel Gods own chosen people It is a want not in Edom or Canaan but even in Israel too the want of a King Truely Israel being Gods own peculiar might seem co claim a prerogative above other Nations in this that they had the knowledge of this Law whereby their eyes were enlightned and their hands taught and so the most likely to spare one others had not like light yet this non abstante their light and their Law and that they were Gods own people is no Supersedeas for having a King of which there needeth no reason but this That a King is a good means to keep them Gods Israel here for want of a King Israel began and was fair onward to be no longeâ— Israel but even Babel When Mica and by good reason any other as well as he might set up Riligions and give Orders themselves as it were in open contempt of God and his Law So that the people of God can plead no exemption from this since it is his own Ordinance to make them and keep them the People of God Was it thus here in the Old Testament and is it not so likewise in the New Yes even in the New too for there Saint Peter willeth them that they be subject to the King as to the Soveraign or Most Excellent And Saint Paul goeth further and expresseth it more strongly in the Stile of Parliament and like a Law-giver saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be it Enacted that they submit themselves And when Saint Paul there had in his Act said Omnis anima That this Act reacheth to every soul which was enough Yet because that seemed too general Saint Peter came after and goeth to the very point and saith Gens sancta must do thus too That is there must be a King even in Gods Israel And what would we more I come to the third part And to what end a King Quid faciat nobis What will a King do unto us It it hath been said already He will look that every one do not that which is good in his own and evill in Gods eyes He will in his general care look to both parts the Eye and the Hand The eye that men sin not blindly for want of direction the hand that men sin not with an high hand that is wilfully for want of correction He will be their good Opthalmist with right Eye-salve that the sight may be cured and things seem as they be and not be as they seem At the hardest si noluerunt intelligere but the eye will rove and run astray that the hand be bound to the good abearing That they do it not or if they do it as do it they will yea though there be a King yet that they may not do it impune do it and nothing done to them for it and scape the punishment due unto it for that is the case when there is no King in Israel And if when there is one that be the case too where have we been all this While For if so Etiam nâ—n est Rex cum est Rex Then when there is a King there is no King or one in name but none indeed Which as it is not good for the State so neither is it safe for themselves To this special regard will be had Non enim frustra saith St. Paul for they bear not the Sword in vain That every one do not thus Every one but namely which is the occasion of this Text that not Mica for Mica's fact brought â—orth this first sight That they were not come to this pass that he or any such as he was might
Reader forborn quotations of many other famous men in our Church concurring in the same judgement and made most particular choice of Mr. Hooker and Bishop Andrews as men generally held most famous and Orthodox in their generations the one in the time of Queen Elizabeth and the other since even in the time of our late King They were then and are still for ought I know held to be the great Defenders of this Churches authority and that of the â—hief Magistrate therein against the then Recusants and Nonconformists and I hope their credit is not so lost but that their authority and yet arguments will remain of the same force still to keep us from all inclinations either to Schism or Sedition that we do not thereby give the world too just occasion to say we are indeed fallen from our Principles through some sinister prejudice or partial conceit of our own 54 To direct and encourage in this constancy let us revert to thse grounds and reasons before laid down let us consider that since the maintenance of love and charity and the preservation of mankind by peace have so necessary a dependence upon submision to the Authority of that Church where we live and since the Glory Service and Worship of God here on earth hath again so near a relation unto this preservation of mankind by peace that therefore in these and thingâ— of the like nature which are not of such express divine Precept as to be demonstrable out of the Word of God or are not fundamental to our salvation there should no opposition be made to the disturbance of the peace of â—he Church but to that very end all to submit to the determination of those that have chief power therein Let not the crafts or designs of other men lead us to dâ—quiet so as to think that in things of this nature and where controversies and differences do daily arise between Church and Church Christian and Christian our salvation should be endangered while we incline to that side that maintains Charity by submitting our selves to those that have the rule over us To this end I shall here record that remarkable speech of Dr. Vsher late Primate of Armagh That in these Propositions which without all controversie are universally received in the whole Christian World so much truth is contained as being joyned with holy obedience may be sufficient to bring a man to everlasting salvation Neither have we cause to doubt but that as many as walk according to this rule neither overthrowing that which they builded by superinducing any damnable Heresies thereupon nor otherwise violating their holy Faith with a leud and wicked conversation peace shall be upon them and upon the Israel of God This as it was alleadged by Dr. Potter in his Treatise called Charity mistaken for that the Church of Rome did make all things fundamental which she held and thereupon excluded all from salvation that were not of her communion so is it by Mr. Chillingworth in his Reply fol 20. held for as great and good a truth and as necessary for these miserable times as can be uttered For if it should stand with men in the point of salvation according to that censure which each Church or sect therein doth put upon all that differ or descent from them then could no one Christian hope for Heaven insomuch as he must necessarily be a member of some Church or other which in matters of Doctrine or Discipline if not both is by some other Churches held so far Heretical or Schâ—smatical as to exclude all of that communion from hope of salvation which thing the Papists do hold concerning all Protestants in general and many of the Protestants hold of them again and do also pass their sentence as hardly of one another But our comfort is that we shall at the last day be judged by him who knows our hearts and whether we have not sought and followed his Truth according to the uâ—most of the ability he gave us and not left to the sentence of such as out of pride prejudice or other interest are so ready to put an over-value upon their own Tenets and become both Parties and Judges 55. Corcerning those aspersions of Heresie and Schism which are now so frequently thrown by one party upon another I have in the general observed that where the names and notions themselves are ofâ—nest repeated and most stood upon there the Arguments used for confutation are the less or less weighty It faring in some mens discourses and writings about controversies as with women in their scolding where she that can call Whore lowdest and oftenest is coâ—ceived to have got the better of it So usually there is nothing to be perceived but a design cast towards disparagement when the imputation of those Ecclesiastical railing terms are used towards any without any remonsâ—rance or proof wherein their ill consists or how their Opponents are justly to be charged with them 56. As â—or Heresie I do not see why any Christian mans case should be held desperate that in things not fundamental cannot bring his judgement to assent to that of anothers always provided that it proceed not from or be encreased through discontent pride or â—ffected singularity and that he hold it peaceably to himself not seeking to disturbe the peace of the Church by publication thereof to others for then it plainly shews that some of those other coâ—râ—pâ— Principles had a hand in the entertainment as well as in the divulging of iâ— And then iâ— will come to pass â—hat that which would as in it self and aâ—â—onsidered aâ— matter of speculation have been an error in judgement onely being now infused into others so as to induce action and separation will argue pravity in the will and turn into Schism which I do look upon as a sin not to be at any time or in any Persons otherwise excusable then when the foundation of Faith or good manners cannot be otherwise preserved And because in all dissenting parties that live under any Christian Authority the name of Schismatick is by either side cast on the other I do hold it for a maxime â—hat that party iâ— onely free that conforms to the Rule set down by him that iâ— Head of that place and all the rest Schiâ—maticks Even as in State differences all parties that hold not with the Sovereign Power are to be called this or that Faction whâ—n as the other is not to be called a Faction or Party but rather to be looked upon as the whole because united to the Head â—7 And therefore truly if men could be once brought to put a greater rate upon thingâ— fundamental and a less upon superstructures considering that the not holding to â—â—â— one bringâ— on the loss of Heaven and the too strict holding to the other brings on the loss of Charity and thereby shrewdly endanger the other also besides that quiet we should imutually reap in the exercise of Religion we should preserve
claim any jurisdiction apart or make separation therefrom upon allegation of any extraordinary sanctity or neerer degree of imploiment in Religious affairs for this were to overthrow the main scope of the Church before set down And therefore since humane preservation and Peace is the end of Religious as well as Civil associations it will therefore follow that as each State hath its rule entire and absolute for the better preservation of concord and order so must each Christian State or Church much more have the like in as much as those precepts and directions leading thereunto are much more apparently within their Commission their duty and charge being to perfect and consummate that by a religious tie unto which natural perfection could not reach 9. And hereby it comes to pass that what was vertue or vice in a bare Philosophical accompt is now called righteousness or sin And so these Politick societies which upon the former light of natural reason took upon them the guidance of humane actions and were called Kingdoms and Commonwealths when they come to acknowledg subjection to this higher direction and rule are usually called Churches also And thereupon those that were formerly called Schismaticks in respect of separation or stubbornness to Ecclesiastick authority are now to be esteemed seditious and Rebels also if they do in any such thing disobey or oppose him that hath both these authorities conjoined For very hard it would seem if the same terms of separation should still be kept up against Christian Princes and Rulers as was formerly and they allowed no more honor and power being Christians then while they were Pagans But we will now proceed to shew what hath been the sense of the Church of England herein according to the doctrine of those that were eminent in it 10. As those of the Roman party had no doubt a design of stretching the Papal jurisdiction even in temporals by their engrossment of all spiritual power as Catholick head so hath it been always censured by ours as an unjust usurpation Therefore we shall find that the late Archbishop in his Answer to the Jesuite all along to disprove that claim of Universal head of the whole Church and sect 25. num 12. sheweth That after the conversion of the Emperors the Bishops of Rome themselves were still elected or confirmed by them without any title of Universal head until that John Patriarch of Constantinople having been countenanced in that title by Mauritius the Emperor who came afterward to be deposed and murthered by Phocas Phocas conferred on Boniface the third that very honor which two of his Predecessors had declaimed against as monstrous and blasphemous if not Antichristian And as he thus defends the power and jurisdiction of particular Churches and the chief Magistrate in them against the Pope so doth he defend the power and supremacie of this Magistrate over all that live within the same jurisdiction And therefore sect 26. num 9. doth set it down for a great and undoubted Rule given by Optatus That wheresoever there is a Church there the Church is in the Commonwealth not the Commonwealth in the Church and so also the Church was in the Roman Empire The truth is that at first and while some smaller parcels of the Roman Empire only were Christians then these being only of the Church might it be said to be in the Commonwealth first as being but a part and next but a subordinate part of the whole Empire or those that had jurisdictions therein But after that the Government it self became Christian then was there no question to be rightly made which was in which that is whether the Church in the Commonwealth or that in the Church For that both were one and both to be conceived included under that name of highest honor the name of Church importing as well our relation to God as to one another Whereupon also since for some Ages the authority of the Roman Empire did extend it self in a manner over all Nations that were Christian it might well come to pass that amongst the Writers of those times the Roman and Catholick Church might be taken as equivalent and alike which to use now is an absurd contradiction as implying a particular-universal for none other it is to call any man a Roman Catholick At the time the Emperor of Rome had the soveraignty or government of any Christian State then and there had the Pope or chief Bishop of Rome the like soveraignty in ordering of the affairs of that Church if the said Emperor so thought fit and to depart from that obedience or communion was then as I conceive not Schism alone but Sedition also But in case any that are neither within the Popes own territory nor jurisdiction but in the proper jurisdiction of some other Prince who yields only a voluntary conformity in doctrine and discipline to that Sea as Spain and France and other free Princes now do then are they that make alteration against the liking of that Prince or Power under whom they live not Schismaticks against the Pope of Rome but against him and if he approve of their doctrine they are neither Schismaticks nor Seditious As was the case of our Henry the Eight and those his Subjects of the Church of England which followed him and for ought I know was the case of Luther also in respect of his subjection to the Duke of Saxony 11 For it is to be considered that where the Jurisdiction doth divide and become independent there doth the notion of Church divide also as was to be seen in the Church of the Jews after they fell into two distinct Governments to wit that of Judah and that of Israel In which case although they had still but one divine Law and prescript form of Worship to live by yet the Government of each Kingdom being unsubordinate they were each of them reckoned as a Church apart and the good or ill Government of each of them attributed to none but the peculiar King thereof even as proceeding from his proper observance or breach of the Law And although the Primitive Churches in Saint Johns time had not yet any absolute Jurisdiction yet since what they had was independent we shall find that those Reproofs and Admonitions which were in the Apocalyps given to the seven Churches are directed to their several Angels or Heads apart without any hint or notice of subordination to any other Catholick Head or Curate save of CHRIST himself 12. I must confess that as the earnest desire and aim I have always had towards the silencing of disputes and civil commotions in Kingdoms hath made me the more earnest and studious in pressing the power and authority of each Prince so for common-peace sake again amongst Kings themselves and for taking off those irregularities and oppressions which each of them by this power might inflict on their Subjects I have many times entertained the thoughts of admittance of some such power like that claimed
Pharisees by whom divine things indeed were lesse because other things were more divinely esteemed of then reason would The Superstition that riseth voluntary and by degrees which are hardly discerned mingleth it self with the Rites even of every divine service done to the onely true God must be considered of as a creeping and incroaching evill an evill the beginnings whereof are commonly harmlesse So that it proveth onely then to be an evill when some farther accident doth grow unto it or it self come unto further growth for in the Church of God sometimes it cometh to passe as in over-battle grounds the fertile disposition whereof is good yet because it exceedeth due proportion it bringeth forth abundantly through too much ranknesse things lesse profitable whereby that which principally it should yeeld being either prevented in place or defrauded of nourishment faileth This if so large a discourse were necessary might be exemplified by heaps of Rites and Customes now superstitious in the greatest part of the Christian world which in their first originall beginnings when the strength of vertuous devout or charitable affection bloomed them no man could justly have condemned them as evill whereby it is still plain that things good and profitable in their first institution and setled upon good advice and great authority may by a succeeding age and Church be found prejudiciall and that then that Church hath power to take away and abolish that which the other did institute 27. And again much to the same purpose and in answer to such as think things once well and solemnly established cannot be altered he saith l. 4. fol. 165. True it is that neither Councels nor Customes be they never so ancient and so general can let the Church from taking away that thing which is hurtful to be retained Where things have been instituted which being convenient and good at the first do afterward in processe of time wax otherwise we make no doubt but they may be altered yea though Councels or Customes General have received them And therefore it is but a needless kind of opposition which they make who thus dispute If in those things which are not expressed in the Scripture that is to be observed of the Church which is the custome of the people of God and decree of our Forefathers then how can these things at any time be varied which heretofore have been once ordained in such sort Whereto we say that things so ordained are to be kept howbeit not necessarily any longer then till there grow any urgent cause to ordain the contrary For there is not any positive Law of men whether it be general or particular received by former expresse consent as in Councels or by secret approbation as in Customs it cometh to passe but the same may be taken away if occasion serve Even as we all know that many things kept generally heretofore are now in like sort generally unkept and abolished every where By which we may further finde that as it is the duty of the Members of any Church to conform to such Rights and Orders as the Authority thereof shall institute and set up so also can no plea of former establishment whether by Councels or Customes warrant their opposition or inconformity if the Church under which they live shall think fit to abrogate them when they find urgent cause to the contrary No he accounts it but a needless kinde of opposition to urge in these disputes the custome of the people of God or the decree of our Fore-fathers as if for the necessary continuance of Peace and Order there were not the same degree of respect due to a succeeding Church by her present children as was given to the former Church and such as were our Forefathers therein Can we fancie that the establishment we doe now approve might be made in place of what the Church preceding it had made before and yet think the Church under which we live cannot do the like in disanulling some things made by the Church preceding us 28. But now if all this while it should be allowed that this power should be in the Church yet what and if some mens greater affection and interest cast towards other persons then those that had the present managing of Religious affairs might make them conjecture that rather they then these ought in these things to be obeyed and what and if they might withall doubt that him they called the Civill Magistrate should have power to order affairs of the Church as head thereof we will therefore set down what he farther inferreth fol. 567. The Lord God of Israel hath given the kingdom over Israel to David for ever even to him and his sons by a Covenant of Salt And Job 56. 8. bringing in that place of Cant. 8. 11. Solomon had a Vineyard in Baalhamon he gave the Vineyard unto keepers every one bringing for the fruit thereof a thousand pieces of silver c. He saith it is true this is meant of the Mystical Head set over the body which is not seen but as Christ hath reserved the mystical administration of the Church invisible to himself so hath he committed the mystical government of Congregations visible to the Sons of David by the same Covenant whose Sons they are in governing of the flock of Christ whomsoever the Holy Ghost hath set over them to go before them and lead them in their several pastures one in this Congregation another in that As it is written Take heed to your selves and to all the flock whereof the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood And presently after to shew who he means by those Overseers he saith The Pope hath fawned upon the Kings and Princes of the earth and by spiritual couzenage hath made them sell their lawful Authorities and Jurisdictions for titles of Catholicus Christianissimus Defensor fidei and such like And again fol. 569. complaining of the unnatural usage of some towards their Mother that were natural children of this Church under a misguided conceit that Obedience was not due to the then Queen Elizabeth but to another he saith That by this means the bowels of the child may be made the mothers grave and that it hath caused no small number of our brethen to forsake their native Country and with all disloyalty to cast off the yoke of their allegiance to our dread Soveraign whom God in mercy hath set over them for whose safeguard if they carried not the hearts of Tygers in the bosomes of men they would think the dearest blood in their bodies well spent and presently after he reckons up the faults charged by the Popish party upon them and for which they stood excommunicated as if they had been no Church nor part thereof Viz. That the Queen had quite abolished prayers within her Realm that we not only have no assemblies unto the Lord for Prayers but to hold a Common School for sin and flattery
him and leave no setled way for Peace or Order He is therefore to be understood as concluding that as the lawfulness of inferior Powers must for Peace and Orders sake depend on him who alone is to be held the lawful and true Governor to this end so his can depend on none but God But of this more hereafter 30. In the mean time it is to me a wonder how those that do now so much insist upon the necessity of their agreement with that Doctrine and Discipline which was formerly set down by the Church of England amongst which the frequent use of Sermons and Saâ—raments were set down as duties necessary to our Christian profession if not salvation can now be so much changed from their first principles as to decline those means and instruments which by the providence of God are for the present sent us to that very end and that only for want of such like formality of induction or institution which the Rule of the Church or State did in that case formerly appoint and can now even while they do profess their constancie in the same belief go about to perswade against effectualness of administration either in one kind or other through any such like objection More likely to my thinking it should follow that since there is such a great necessity still remaining in the frequent use of these things and since such manner of ordination induction and other qualifications as they themselves have received can only warrant men to be right hearers or receivers that therefore it is incumbent on them as a necessary duty to be doing hereof for fear of that sentence Wo if I preach not 31. In which case if we shall compare the cause and prosecution of Nonconformists now in their scandal in matters of abridgment with those exceptions and that demeanor therein which the former Nonconformists made against the Churches too great imposition in that kind we may as I conceive attribute more reason and Christian charity and moderation to them than these For amongst them it was held for a Maxim That they would rather preach in a Fools coat then be deprived of that benefit which might come by their Ministry and preaching And this the discreeter and more moderate sort did although the doing of a thing conceived to be unlawful by the Law of God be more to be scrupled at then the forbearance of a thing held lawful by the authority of the Church which in the condition they then stood in would not suffer them to be Preachers without actual use of the Surplice or the like whereas amongst us neither subscription nor use of any thing in the like kind is by present Authority enjoined 32. And as for those that so much stand upon the former institutions of the Service-book and other Rites and Ceremonies if we should have respect only to abolished Laws yet do I not find that it is any where said that no Sermon or Sacrament shall at any time be held lawfully or effectually made or done when these shall not be also used But the intention of the Act of Vniformity as an Act of Vniformity must be construed that in the times appointed for the use of such like things that then for preservation of peace and uniformity in the Church none other but those shall be used Doth the Act any where say or can any presume it did mean that no man should preach at any time a Sermon or come to hear others do so unless at the same time the Service-book or part of it were read No certainly if we consider the injunction as to persons it will be plain it lies not upon Preachers as Preachers but upon such as had fixed ministerial charge in delivering of the Sacraments or the like to the which the Book had chief reference and not enjoined on them neither if they had Vicars or Curates to do it It is not said if any Preacher Pastor or Lecturer shall refuse nor was ever so construed For experience tells us that never any did do it when they preached if they could have it conveniently omitted or done by others being while the Law was in force seldom read by Bishop Dean or Doctor but left to those of inferior sort however now it be pressed as necessary 33. And if we consider the intent of the words directing to the use of this Book or Form they must be construed by way of seclusion of all other Which will be manifest to such unprejudiced persons as shall consider how the whole scope of the Act doth condemn such as did by speech or action derogate or deprave against the use of the Service-book or Ceremonies as unfit or unlawful and not those that did approve them And therefore it prescribes no punishment to such as in obedience to Authority do against their own liking forbear to use or hear it but such as notwithstanding the authority of the Church do refuse it out of contempt of their power or better liking to some other form saying If any manner of Parson Vicar or other Minister whatsoever that ought or should sing or say Common Prayer mentioned in the said Book or minister the Sacraments from and after the Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming refuse to use the said Common-Prayer or to minister the Sacraments in such Cathedral or Parish-Church or other places as he should use to minister the same in such order and form as they be mentioned and set forth in the said Book or shall wilfully and obstinately standing in the same use any other Rite Ceremony order form or manner of celebrating the Lords Supper openly or privily or Mattens Evensong Administration of the Sacraments or other open prayers then is mentioned and set forth in the said Book c. But then again in case they do not refuse but have been willing and made offer of doing it and have been by others disturbed in the use of that or made to use another why then by the judgment of that very Act they are not comprised in any blame But the punishment laid on such as should by open fact deed or by open threatenings compel or cause or otherwise procure or maintain any Parson Vicar or other Minister in any Cathedral or Parish-Church or in Chappel or in any other place to sing or say any Common or open Prayer or to minister any Sacrament otherwise or in any other manner and form then is mentioned in the said Book or by any of the said means shall unlawfully interrupt or let any Parson Vicar or other Minister in any Cathedral or Parish-Church Chappel or any other place to sing or say any Common and open Prayer or to minister the Sacraments or any of them in such manner and form as is mentioned in the said Book that then every such person being lawfully convicted in form abovesaid shall forfeit to the Queen our Soveraign Lady her heirs and successors for the first offence an hundred
marks And so the Act goes on prescribing still greater punishments for the second and third offences by way of mulct to the Queen and her Successors 34. But now what if her Successors come to enact against the use of it and be themselves Compellers and Threateners may we not then conclude that they may lawfully interrupt or at least the other be excused for being interrupted where before in a Subject it was unlawful to interrupt or let any Parson in the doing what was by the then Law established So that by this very Act as I conceive such as have a reverend esteem and willingness to use it are not only freed foro interno but by the Clause following enacting That no person shall be at any time hereafter impeached or molested of or for any of the offences above-mentioned hereafter to be committed or done contrary to this Act unless he or they so offending be thereof indicted at the next General Sessions to be holden before any such Justices of Oyer and Determiner or Justices of Assise next after any offence committed or done contrary to the tenor of this Act we may conlude he is freed foro externo also and may for ought I can find rest free from all danger while obedient to the Queens Successory she dying without an Heir 35. And if by reason of any Oath or Obligation received at Ordination or taking degrees some should think themselves farther bound They are also to consider that as neither any derived power can go beyond that which impowers it so are they also to presume that their intentions are alike even to maintain Peace and Order by Uniformity to what is enjoyned and not to raise disturbance by opposition And surely if Oaths Vows or the like were to be held of force in such a case I see not how any Jesuite or Priest could in reason no nor in Conscience be perswaded to recede in any thing from their obedience and conformity to the Papall Sea and Ceremony when as their Promises are not only more strict but confirmed by Laws more ancient and general and which are still in the same force 36. It is also farther to be considered that when after in the Preface to our Bibles it is set down That where heretofore there hath been great diversity in saying and singing in Churches within this Realm some following Salisbury use some Hereford use some the use of Bangor some of York and some of Lincoln now from henceforth all the whole Realm shall have but one use And when in the directions following that Preface it is set down That all Priests and Deacons should be bound daily to say the Morning and Evening Prayer either privately or openly except they be let by preaching studying of Divinity or some other urgent cause We are still to conceive that both Uniformity was aimed at and that the duty of Preaching was in the first place held necessary 37. And if we go to experience in their practise of this precept of reading of the Service Book then we shall find it apprehended as an injunction that did onely bind them ad semper velle but not ad semper agere as Mr. Hooker elsewhere speaks of Gods affirmative Precepts as Pray continually and the like and that thereupon few could give account of their daily use of it even when the hindrance of preaching studying or the like could not well be alledged as before noted And therefore if in a time when it was commanded the use of it might be forborn rather then preaching be omitted what may we think of them that in a time it is taken away will yet rather omit preaching then it to the great discouragement and scandall of many a man in his Christian obedience and Communion and to the great detriment of the nation in generall who in a time of scarcity are much wanting of that instruction which might be had from men of their abilities In which respect as I am my self a true lover of many of them for their learning and gifts in that kinde so hath the sence of mine own losse as well as that of others now made me thus large in this particular 38. But besides this and the want of satisfaction how they can in this condition uphold the Church of England in her former sentence against non conformity if upon the same score they shall slight her authority themselves They are next to consider what answer for their present Recusancy they can bring which on the other side shall not withall justifie the Recusants themselves in their separation from our Communion also For plain it is as I said before that as the drift of all the arguments brought formerly by the Papists against our Churches authority was in respect of usurpation in our Princes and want of succession lawfull ordination and the like in our Priests so was the sum of all their Doctrine that wrote in defence of what was done by us brought to this issue That these things were not essentiall to Salvation or to the being of a Church That each Christian Church having as heretofore set down a power within it self for ordering its own affairs had as well power to abbreviate or abrogate what was in former times or by other Churches instituted before as to institute that which was new so that the casting out from our Service Book and leaving out of our publike Forms of Worship all such Prayers Ceremonies and Observations as in the opinion of those that then had power in the Church had on the one side little or no footing in Scripture and which had on the other side greatest Superstition cast towards them was then held lawfull as by that Declaration annexed to our Bibles concerning Ceremonies why some be abolished and some retained may appear And if it was then held agreeable and the Church thought a fit Judge wherein Superstition was most to be feared and what was the best way of Reformation how can we now change our Principle unlesse we joyn with the adversary to dâ—â—â—de the fact as done by the Civil power and Magistrate and with them neither own England for a Church nor him for head thereof Let us hear a little what Father Not the Jesuite in his Book called Charity maintained doth to this purpose alledge in his answer to Doctor Potter after some dispute Chap. 6. about the truth of our Ministery for want of Succession visibly derived from the Pope and Church of Rome he saith at last Sect. 20. But grant their first Bishops had such Authority from the Church of Rome after the decease of those men who gave authority to their pretended Successors The Primate of England but from whom had he such authority And after his decease who shall confer authority upon his Successors The temporall Magistrate King Henry neither a Catholique nor a Protestant King Edward a child Queen Elizabeth a woman an Infant of one houres age is true King in case of his Predecessors decease
set up in his house any Religion he would and no man controle him for it To look to every one therefore but especially to Mica and to care for all but above all the matter of Religion Ne quisque videat quod rectum est there that every one be not allowed to see Visions there At least Ne quisque faciat that see what they list they be not suffered to set them up But if the Eye will not be rectified the Hand be restrained And sure no where doth the eye more misse â—or the hand swerve then in this and therefore no where more cause to call for a King then for this Oâ—e would think this were impertinent and we were free enough from Mica We are not Even to this day do men still cast Images or Imaginations all as one in the mould of their conceits and up they set them at least for their own houshould to adore And then if they can get such a fellow as is hereafter described a Levite for ten Shekels and a Suit or because now the world is harder ten poâ—nd they are safe and there they have and hold a Religion by themselves For evident it is by this Text setting up of false Worship is the cause why Kings were missed and the redress of it why they were placed The cause I say and the first cause of their placing and therefore this a part and a principal part of their Charge I will touch them severally 1. A part to look to Mica and his false Worship Why this is matter Ecclesiastical It is so and thereby it appeareth I think that Kings have and are to have a hand in matters of that nature If Religion were at faulâ— because there was no King and that one there must be to set it right again For is it once to be imagined that the cause of corrupt Religion is laid on the want of a King and yet when there is one he should not meddle with it Rather the consequence is strong on the other side Mica thus did because there wâ—â— then no Kiâ—g therefore when there is one he will look better to it that never a Mica of them all shall do the like Thus it went when there was no King after when there was one I find again the not taking the High places which were plâ—ces meerly Religious where the people did Sacrifice in pated still to the King as his fault and yet shall he have nothing to do with High places or sacrificing either there or any where else Very strange it were that they who are by God himself by an express Ego dixi â—ermâ—d Gods should yet have nothing to do with Gods affairs And no less that being termed by Isaiah Nutritii Foster-Fathers to whose care the Church is committed to cherish and bring up should yet be forbidden to intermeddle with the Church in that which is of all fostering the principal part Verily when the Apostle speaketh of the service that Kings do unto God he doth not onely use the term of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Publick Officer but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 too as it were Gods Deacon oâ— Servitor by a name peculiar to the Church Offices and this he uses twice for one other It can therefore neither be denied nor doubted of in that Idâ—latry came up by defect of Kings but that Kings were placed to pull down Idolatry and to plant and preserve the true Service of God In a word there is a King in Israel that there may not be a Mica in Israel That is that no man be suffered to set up any form of Worship formerly used if not now allowed which was Micha's case with his Teraphim and think that through some lâ—gal sanctimony inherent to the Ephod and to that Priest that shall officiate as being a Levite he shall be justified herein and they onely condemned that devise some new form to be exercised in their private meetings and set up some other sort of persons even some Son of their own to be their Minister therein No the use of a King will plainly appear out of what he hath said before That Gods people or a Church cannot be without such a Government which is necessary for them as a Church even for the making and keeping them the people of God that is for keeping them united in one true Relgion That to him Omnis anima every soul is to be subject having power both to direct and correct for else it would be for Israel to have no King when there is a King And therefore since as he proved he is to take care of Religion and to see what forms of Worship are set up it is not allowed to any to set up their private imaginations now as Mica did his Images of old 52. In those differences between the Nonconformists and Papists the one in their imaginations liking of no form or settlement made by humane Direction or Precept and the other attributing too much to their Images the things themselves so settled that speech of our Saviors concerning the disagreement between the Samaritans and the Jews hath by way of comparison often come into my miud I have on the one side thought that to frame a Worship out of opposition and to have no reason for it but because our Fathers did so is but too Samaritan like to worship we know not what Whilst without due consideration of the different degree of splendor and greatness which the Church shall by the goodness of God have in doing these things at one time more then another we shall ingratefully forget to make suitable return in our expressions and acknowledgments thereof in his Worship But then on the other side again when inward devotion is chiefly expected to fancy that this or that precise form might out of any inherent worth in it self or out of singular opinion we have of some persons who first instituted them be onely observed and none other were now unreasonably to follow the example of the Jews in fixing all adoration in one precise place without consideration that the Christian Church is not now like theirs included in one Nation nor can be presumed so tyed to the constitution of any one Prince herein as they were to Solomon as to exclude others of equal jurisdiction and power from making such alterations as they shall find suitable to that present condition they shall be in If upon the score of ancâ—ent inâ—itation alone we transgress the order of that Church under which we live then singularity and difference will render us but Innovators and prove us rather antick then antient in our way of Worship 53. In these much more I might have alleadged out of these Authors I have pitched upon in justification of supream Magistrates power in ordering the affairs of the Church but these alleadged being as I conceive plain and enough for satisâ—action of any unprejudiced person I have spared that labor and have also out of ease to the
by the Bishop of Rome But upon serious excogitation of the whole I was brought to resolve that in the plea and condition of power the Pope now standeth the interposition of his authority would many times rather increase then be effectual to prevent injustice or silence differences whether acted between a Prince and his own Subjects or by one Prince upon another As for example some person or order of Princes subjects misliking their usage appeal to Rome as against injustice and oppression He must then to make his authority known to be useful determine for one party or another as his judgment shall be engaged If for the King then is he but heightned and farther warranted to do the like If for Thomas a Becket or the Barons against him as sometimes in England then are Subjects encouraged towards sedition and civil war another time Again before he can be supposed rightly to interpose between Prince and Prince in the justice of their quarrels they must all of them be brought to be of the same religion and perswasion with himself or else equally averse that he may be impartial Suppose that might be done yet since he may have kindred and relations may he not in that case favor a Nephew a Casar Borgia or the like against him that hath no relation or may he not respect interest and application so as again to favor such an one as King John not only above his Barons but other Princes too upon resignation of his Crown to be held of him and his successors But that was not all for partiality and the like is but that which the Subjects of any Monarch might object against his absolute rule But the great difference and difficulty is that since the absolute Monarch was in all causes and over all persons in his dominions supreme Governor there was hereby a sure way for prevention of civil war and disturbance which being the chief political evil would recompence those sufferings of inferior nature which could but occasionally happen and never be so general Whereas he claiming but Ecclesiastical power only and it being not at all determined or agreed upon what is certainly so or not so for prevention of question thereabouts I saw no possible hope to attain peace by his umpirage if any should say he did exceed his Commission unless he could make himself Judg of that too and so by degrees and in ordine ad spiritualia draw in cognisance of all matters whatsoever When that is done as Constantines Throne will better become him then S. Peters Chair so truly if such an Universal Christian Monarch there were which is not likely to fall to be he there might much good arise by it as to the general increase of Christian peace and profession As for that other way found out by some of that side mentioned by the late Archbishop sect 26. num 11. for advance of his Supremacie namely by setting up again one Emperor over all Christendom to rule in secular matters while himself would rule him and them too in what he would call spiritual with as supereminent splendor as the Sun doth the Moon I apprehend it still ineffectual to peace till those powers be joyned in one person unless the Emperor could indeed be content as I said to change places with him and become so subordinate as not to shine in any act of Moon like power but by the light and leave of this his Sun Could this in any likelihood have been eâ—pected I might happily then have given some credit to those slender probabilities of S. Peters primacie and the Popes succession in the chair In the mean time the usurped exercise of this his Ecclesiastick power where he had no jurisdiction as a power standing insubordinate to the Prince hath begotten that great mistake That there might be a Church in a Church that is one Christian Common-wealth in another 13. But let us hear judicious Mr. Hooker more at large in this business of the Church and in answer to such as would appropriate the notion of Church to those of their own perswasion only lib. 5. fol. 367. Church is a word which Art hath devised thereby to sever and distinguish that society of men which professeth the true Religion from the rest which professeth it not There have been in the world from the very first foundation thereof but three Râ—ligions Paganism which lived in the blindness of corrupted and depraved nature Judaism embracing the Law which reformed Heathenish impiety and taught salvation to be looked for through one whom God in the last days would send and exalt to be Lord of all finally Christian belief which yieldeth obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and acknowledgeth him the Saviour whom God did promise Seeing then that the Church is a name which Art hath given to Professors of true Religion as they which will define a man are to pass by those qualities wherein one man doth excel another and to take only those essential properties whereby a man doth differ from creatures of other kinds So he that will teach what the Church is shall never rightly perform the work whereabout he goeth till in matter of Religion he touch that difference which severeth the Churches religion from theirs who are not of the Church Religion being therefore a matter partly of contemplation partly of action we must define the Church which is a religious society by such differences as do properly explain the essence of such things that is to say by the object or matter whereabout the contemplations and actions of the Church are properly conversant For so all Knowledges and all Vertues are defined Whereupon because the only object which separateth ours from other Religions is Jesus Christ in whom none but the Church doth believe and whom none but the Church doth worship we find that accordingly the Apostles do every where distinguish hereby the Church from Infidels and from Jews accounting them which call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to be his Church If we go lower we shall but add unto this certain casual and variable accidents which are not properly of the being but make only for the happier and better being of the Church of God either indeed or in mens opinions and conceits This is the error of all Popish definitions that hitherto have been brought They define not the Church by that which the Church essentially is but by that wherein they imagine their own more perfect then the rest are Touching parts of eminencie and perfection parts likewise of imperfection and defect in the Church of God they are infinite their degrees and differences no way possible to be drawn unto any certain account There is not the least contention and variance but it blemisheth somwhat the unity that ought to be in the Church of Christ which notwithstanding may have not only without loss of essence or breach of concord her manifold varieties in Rites and Ceremonies of Religion but also her