Fathers own words whereby judge what truth is to be expected from sueh jugglerâ— First he cites Metaphrastes in whom saith he we read that Peter was a long time in Brittannie and drew many Countreys to the Christian faith but at last when he had illuminated many with the light of the word and had constituted Churches hee ordained Bishops Presbyters Deacons returning to Rome the 12. yâ—er of Nero Cesar here were the severall degrees of dignities Again he recites Aristobulus (h) Aristobulum quoque cuius ipse in epistola ad Romanos meminit britannorum episcopum a paulo ordinatum in Menaeis Graecorum Vsher fol. 9. whom Paul mentions in his Epistle to the Romanes and was one of his seventy Disciples him Paul ordained Bbishop of the Brittains This was a large Parish Next he relates many diversities of opinions concerning Ioseph of Arimathea his being in England (i) Vsher fol. 24. licet hoc fuisse verum quod tamen non fuit non sequitur ergo quod totum solium illud suscepit fidem and concludes that although it were true which it was not yet it follows not that therefore all the land had received the faith for it might be disperst amongst private persons but was never received by the whole kingdome nor came they to have Christian Churches till Lucius time as is confest by that reverend Bishop (k) Publice vero primum sub Lucio Elutherio receptum hic fuisse Evangelium consentiens nostrorum historicorum est sententia Vsher ibid. fol. 52. That the Gospel was first publiquely received here under Lucius and Elutherius with which accords Master Fox in his Martyrs That from Peter Anno 65. after Christ Elutherius was the twelfâ—h successive Bishop of Rome (l) Acts and Monuments fol. 34. Hieron lib. de viris illustr Iraeneus lib. 3. cap. 3. Acts and Monumets fol. 107. Vsher Brit. eccles primord fol. 54. 59. who about Anno 161. sent Fugacius or Fuganus and Dimianus or Damianus which converted first the King and people of Brittain and baptized them with the Baptisme and Sacrament of Christs faith The Temples of Idolatry and all other Monuments of Gentility they subverted converting the people from their divers and many Gods to serue one living God There were in Brittain 28. head Priests which they called Flamines and three Archpriests which they called Archflamines having the oversight of manners and as Iudges Those 28. Flamines they turned to 28. Bishops and the three Archflamynes to three Archbishops having their seats in three principall Cities which being Master Fox his own words according with the Bishop (m) Vsher ibid. â—o 59. you may observe how a lyar confounds himself for he first says The Church of England was governed some hundred yeers without Bishops from the first plantation and in the next line he disproves himself That in the instant of the conversion of the Church and supplantation of idolatry were planted Bishops from whence he concludes an excellent Argument Because they were instituted by Elutherius the twelfth successive Bishop of Rome from the Apostle Peter Non interrupta serie Converted the people to the true God subverted idolatry and supplanted the heathen Priests Ergo They are of Ethnicall or Diabolicall not Apostolicall institution Truly Reader I have spent too much time on him but it is to admonish the vulgar with the Apostle Paul to stop their ears against such Libellers and (n) 1 Tim. vers 45.6 Not to give heed to fables The end of the Commandement is Charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of faith unfained from which some have swerved unto vain jangling desiring to be teaehers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirmed I do it to perswade some able Divine not to mispend time to answer the matter of their Pamphlets but that it will be time well spent to discover the falshood of such saucie-untaught-teachers as here the Apostle speaks of to display their misquotations and distortions of Scripture It is the best and quickest plea to take away the testimony of a false witnesse to prove him formerly perjur'd And in this point the works of such persons thorowly traced they will best be rendred despicable to the world For though the Prophesie of Saint Paul (o) 2 m. 4. 3 That the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap up to themselves teachers having itching eares and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto falbes is in these dayes most evidently manifested of many yet charity forbids us to censure all to seek untruth for it s own sake many no doubt are deluded with that species of truth which the pretended though abus'd quotations of Scripture they stuffe their books withall carries with it which I dare promise any man that will take pains to examine will scarce finde patience to read any more of them Reader I have wandered too long from thee but now return not to beg thy approbation I Court no mans but to advise thee for thine own sake That being falshood is so bold to offer to outface truth in pirnt to let all whispered detractions from which no Good work is free be rejected by thee and receive and weigh these following truths of the manner of procuring the subscriptions and the reasons of presenting that Remonstrance the carriage whereof is testified the contents avowed by thy friend if thou art either a freeman or a Protestant THO. ASTON THE REMONSTRANCE REPRESENTED TO THE HOVSE OF Peers by Sir THOMAS ASTON Baronet from divers Noblemen and Gentlemen of the County-Palatine of CHESTER against PRESBYTERIAN Government To the High and Honourable Court of Parliament The Nobility Knights Gentry Ministers Freehoulders and Inhabitants of the Countie-Palatine of Chester whose names are subscribed in the severall Schedules hervnto annexed Humbly Shew THat whereas divers Petitions have lately been carried about this Country against the present form of Church-Government and the hands of many persons of ordinary quality solicited to the same with pretence to be presented to this honourable Assembly which we conceiving not so much to ayme at reformation as absolute Innovation of Government and such as must give a great advantage to the adversaries of our Religion we held it our duty to disavow them all And humbly pray that we incurre no miscensure if any such clamours have without our privitie assumed the name of the County We as others are sensible of the Common grievances of the Kingdome and have just cause to rejoyce at and acknowledge with thankfulnesse the pious care which is already taken for the suppressing of the growth of Popery the better supply of able Ministers and the removing of all Innovation and we doubt not but in your great wisdomes (a) Wee conceived it not proper for us by way of prayer to intermeddle but by way of
of an imaginary good they many times covet their owne ruine These sugred baits of parity and libertie infus'd into vulgar apprehensions under the pretext of pietie and reformation are such popular poysons as will soon o're spread the body of the Common-wealth and corrupt or dissolve the Nerves Ligaments of Government conformity to Lawes if not early prevented by those precious Antidotes against Confusion Loyalty and Constancy SECT 5. A Discussion whether they seek to pull downe or advance the Clergie LEt us then ere wee imbrace the thoughts of such a totall subversion of the Fabrick of a Church and State examine whether such Reformers aime at our liberty or their owne advancement whether such bitternesse of Spirit proceed from zeale to truth or emulation of the order c What a Monopoly is this to take away the title wherein the office of all true Pastors is comprehended and to transferre it to one alone among many Christs Throne fol 43. Is it to clip the wings of the Clergie that they soare not too high that these men crie out against Episcopall jurisdiction or rather is it not to Imp out their broken Feathers that they may mount above the reach of all Lawes Is it to regulate any exorbitant power in them or rather is it not to make their power as indefinite This Monopoly is a mysterie of mischiefes view Prelat Church fol. 3. as their numbers are infinite Is it not really to pull downe 26. Bishops and set up 9324. potentiall Popes when in effect the Pastor of every parish Church must be such The consequences these men promise to themselves in their petition seconded by the writing of their fellow-laborers promise no lesse which are First to quit themselves from the circumscription of any Ecclesiasticall Authoritie either in discipline or doctrine d Their petition note 16. View of the Prelaticall Church fol. 16. They pray that the revealed will of God contained in the books of the old and new Testament may be the rule that wee should follow As if certainly this whole State and Church had all this while followed a wrong Guide e Their petition note 17. d That the morall doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles may bee old Englands Canons of which themselves must be Expositors as if all Canonicall obedience were a meere intrusion upon Gods word and had no foundation in Scripture Doe wee not know that Timothy and Titus were by Saint Paul set over the Churches of Ephesus and Crete and in the stile of both the Epistles by the interpretation of the Fathers appeare to have beene Bishops and to have Canonicall power committed to them f 1 Timoth. 1.3 To suppresse false doctrines g 2 Chap. 1.8 To direct time and place for prayer and supplications h 9. To prescribe formes of apparrell i 11. To impose silence upon women k 1 Timoth. 3.2 12. To institute Bishops and Deacons l 1 Timoth. 5.19 To receive accusations and to punish Elders m Ibid. 22. To ordaine Ministers n Titus 3.10 To admonish and reject obstinate Heretiques * 1 Timoth. 1.20 To excommunicate such as blaspheme And these things not transmitted to them as doctrines but as part of their jurisdiction o 1 Timoth. 4 11. These things command and teach and rebuke with all authoritie * Titus 2.15 And let no man despise thee So that here wee may see a foundation of Ecclesiasticall Government laid even by the Apostles themselves and to us enjoyned obedience And though in the infancie of the Gospell when q Matth. 8.20 Luke 9.58 The Son of man had not where to lay his head when his Disciples all past thorow the fire of Martyrdome and no free State scarce any whole Village had received the Gospell even Rome it selfe was for many ages after the seat of the Heathen Emperours r Fox his Martyrs fol. 39. under whose terrible persecutions the Church was scattered into corners and deserts where they could best hide themselves It could not then I say be expected that so exact a platforme of Discipline should be laid down to governe handfuls as was after necessarie to be extended to sway the converted Christian world Yet then did Paul see the necessity both of instituting rules of government putting the execution into the hands of some supreme power To which purpose as Erasmus observes Å¿ Eras tom 6. fol. 343. Timotheum Paulus in ministerium adoptarat probae indolis juvenem sacris literis eruditum Quoniam autem huic Ecclesiarum curam delegarat sicut Tito instituit eum in sunctione Episcopali Hee elected Timothy a hopefull young man and learned in holy writ into the ministerie and that hee might commit to him the care of the Churches instituted him as also Titus in the office of a Bishop And Saint Hierome t Hieronymus Dialogo adversus Luciferianos Ecclesiae satus in summi Sacerdâ—tiâ— dignitate pendet cuisâ—â—on exors quaedam ob omnibus eâ—â—inens detur potest as tot in Ecclesiis efficientur Schismata quot Sacerdotes gives the reason of the necessitie of such superintendencie in the Church for sayes he The safetie of the Church depends upon the dignitie of the chiefe Priest to whom if some extraordinarie power above the rest bee not given there would bee as many schismes in the Church as there are Pastors If then the Institution of Ecclesiasticall Government were Apostolicall the administration committed by Saint Paul himselfe to prime Presbyters or as all ancient Fathers agree to Bishops Let us next see whether such Ecclesiasticall Lawes have beene deduced downe to our fore-fathers in a continued current from the fountaine head the Apostles or are but as these charitable men stile them The Reliques of Romish Tyranny SECT 6. The Ecclesiasticall Lawes agreeable to Gods word I Have in the Epistle formerly set forth the first plantation of the Gospell in England in the time of Lucius u Fox his Martyrs fol. 34. Archbishop Vsher De primord Eccles fol. 54 59. about the yeare 169. when as Elutherius then Bishop of Rome shewes from what principles wee derive our Ecclesiasticall Lawes In his lettet to Lucius King of Britaine he writes thus Fox Martyrs fol. 108. Vsher De Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Primordiis fol 102. Yee require the Roman Lawes and the Emperors to be sent over to you The Roman Lawes and Emperours we may ever reprove but the Law of God we may not w Esutherii rescriptum ad Lucium Britanniae Regem Petistis a nobis Leges Romanas Caesaris vobis transmitti quibus in Regno Britanniae uti voluistis c. Habetis penes vos in regno utramque paginam ex illis Dei gratia per Consilium regni vestri sume legem per illam Dei patientia vestrum rege Britanniae regnum Yee have received of late through Gods mercie in the Realme of Britaine the
I see in these men no shadow of true libertie by pretending legall government nor yet the false glosse of libertie by extinguishing all power but that it is evident by desiring to share the power of the keyes Paraeus Catechetica 5. praecepti and to execute Ecclesiasticall censures in their congregations within themselves Petition annexed note 3 They have no thought of the peoples libertie but to assume into their owne hands the same power they cry downe in the Bishops not to qualifie but to exalt it above all moderation The use thereof being fully explaned by Expositors of their owne straine to import no lesse than to trample under feet the sacred Crownes of Kings the power of Parliaments the seats of Justice the use of Magistrates the efficacie of Lawes and make themselves Chancellours over our lives and conversations our wives our children our servants our private families and our estates That any hands should help to hoyse up unlimited unbounded Tyranny I have nothing left me but acclamation O fortunati nimium bona si sua norint and shall conclude with that saying Quos Iupiter vult perdere hos prius dementat Yet shall I freely display some of those positions which divers that pretend reformation lesse blush to publish than I to recite as part of their new Christian doctrine which how consistent with the Monarchique Government of this State how far inclinable to an Anarchy and whether subversive of the Lawes or destructive to the Subjects libertie I shall not take upon mee to determine but perhaps the consideration may please some others though I professe I only write to please my selfe Liberare animam Yet I hope no man will be so far displeased with mee as to apply what I collect from some as meant by all that pretend a Presbyteriall Government I have charitie to thinke many men that way enclined have good intentions and desire reformation out of a pure heart But I am confident the more they acquaint themselves with such positions as these the lesse they will like the discipline SECT 9. Episcopacie most agreeable with a Monarchie HEre as in all distracted States may well be applyed the poets exclamation Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum Not that Religion it selfe which is the band of peace is cause of evils but that it is made the usuall cloake of all seditious disturbances either in Church or State All the shafts of malice every clamour obloquy shot at the order doctrine and persons of the Bishops how ever feathered wirh the pretext of pietie yet still light all in one center and may appeare to be levelled all at one mark The power of the keyes is the burthen of all their songs Sions plea fol. 82. All the fearfull evils of sin and iudgement from withholding the keyes of Christs Kingdome in which consisting the Ecclesiasti que Discipline not Doctrine of the Church it becomes rather a question in Policie than in Divinitie whether it should rest in the hands of a few intrusted by the Church or to be transmitted to the hands of a multitude or as our Preacher would have it k Politions annexed to the petition 10 to every particular member of the Church And where it is cleare in point of Divinitie where the Scripture hath not expressely set the rule as in this particular it is left doubtfull such Separatists interpreting that place of Matthew l Matth. 18.17 Sions plea 285. Titus 2.15 3.10 In his rebus de quibus nihil certi statuit divina Scriptura mos populi Dei instituta majoruÌ„ pro lege tenenda sunt sicut praevaricatores divinarum legum ita contemptores EcclesiasticaruÌ„ consuetudinuÌ„ coercendi sunt August ad Casulanum Goe tell the Church to bee the whole Congregation whereas others conceive it clearely restrained to such as are set in authoritie by the Church out of that of Titus who being entrusted by Saint Paul in the Churches of Crete hee directs him to rebuke with all authoritie And more particularly A man that is an heretique after the first and second admonition reject In this case we must examine the ancient continued practice and opinions of former times and Writers And such contemners of the customes of the Church sayes Saint Austin are to be compelled But truly this was so little questioned in antiquitie that it seemes it was never doubted by Calvin himselfe sayes he Calvin Epistol ad Gasperum Lizetum Nun quam utile putavi jus excommunicundi permitti singulis pastoribus Nam res odiosa est nec exemplum probabile facilis in Tyrannidem lapsus alium usum Apostoli tradiderunt I never thought it usefull to commit the power of excommunication to everie Pastour for it is an odious thing and not to be approved but would soone slip into tyranny and the Apostles left another custome And indeed what tyranny were not to be looked for from such aspirers if they were once invested in power who cannot smother their ambition till they get into possession what is the pride of the Prelates who admit the King the supreme head of the Church under Christ receive their designation from him hold the inferiour hath not power over the superiour compared with these spirits who tell us That Princes m T. C. Reply p. 144. Rogers Preface Huic disciplinae omnes orbis Principes Monarchas falce suas submittere pareâ—e necesse est Travers de Disciplina Ecclesiae fol 142. Baron Annals 1076. must be subject unto the Church and submit their Stepters and throw downe their Crownes before the Church and lick up the dust of the feet of the Church all which is applyed to their Presbyterie ascribing to every Presbyter what the Pope onely assumes to himselfe That all Kings ought to kisse his feet How this superintendencie is derived from Scripture how consonant to Antiquitie or consistent with the glorie of a King is considerible I conceived God himselfe had an high hand in the institution of Kings and Princes when hee leaves this principle in the Mosaick Law n Deuteron 17.15 Thou shalt set him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse And in that hee sayes o 1 Samuel 15.11 I have set up Saul to be King And of David he sayes p 1 Samuel 16.1 I have provided me a King And of Salomon sayes the prophet q Nehemiah 13.26 God made him King over all Israel Nor does he dispose Crownes at the direction or by the advice of others r Daniel 4.31 for the most high ruleth in the Kingdome of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will But it should appeare he challenges to himselfe the sole proprietie of this King-making Jurisdiction in that he rebukes the Israelites saying They have set up a King but not by mee Å¿ Hosea 8.4 They have made them Princes and I knew it not And as in institution so in succession will
submission to leave these to the Iudgement of the Parliament you will regulate the rigour of Ecclesiasticall Courts to suit with the temper of our Laws and the nature of freemen Yet when we consider that Bishops were instituted in the time of the Apostles (b) philip 1.1 1 Tim. 3.1 That they were the great Lights of the Church in all the first generall Councells (c) Anno. Bishops 330. at Nice 318 380. at Constant 150 430. at Ephesus 200 451. at Chalcedon 430 553. at Constant 165 681. at Constant 289 781. at Nice 350 870. at Constant 383 That so many of them sowed the seeds of Religion in their bloods and rescued Christianity from utter extirpation in the Primitive heathen persecutions (d) Vid. Eusebius Fox his Martyrs That to them we owe the redemption of the purity of the Gospel we now professe from Romish corruption (e) Vid. booke of Martyrs Cranmer Tutor to Ed. 6. That many of them for the propagation of that truth became such glorious Martyrs (f) A Cranmer B. Latimer â— Ridley B. Hooper B. Park A Parker A. B Gri. B. Whitegift c. vid. booke of martyrs That divers of them lately and yet living with us have been so great assertors of our Religion against its common enemy of Rome (g) Bishop Iewel Bishop Andrewes bishop White Archbishop Vsher Bishop Moreton Bishop Davenant and our English Seneca Bishop Hall And that their government hath been so long approved so oft established by the Common and Statut Laws of this Kingdome (h) Bracton lib. 3. fol. 106. Flet. a lib. 7.24 Coo. Little fol. 97. 134. stat 14. E. 3. 25. E. 3. 16. R. 2. H. 8.20.1.8.9 Eli. And as yet nothing in their doctrine generally taught dissonant from the word of God or the Articles established by Law i) Partiucular men errours cannot be aken for the Tenets of the Church In this case to cal their Gouernment a perpetuall vassalage an intolerable bondage And prima facie inaudita altera parte to pray the present removall of them or as in some of their petitions to seek the utter dissolution anâ— ruine of their offices as Antichristian (l) The petition annexed note 6. we cannot conceive to rellish of Justice or Charity nor can we joyn with them But on the contrary when we consider the tenour of such writings as in the name of petitions are spread amongst the common people the tenents preached publiquely in Pulpits (m) The positions annexed and the contents of many printed Pamphlets swarming amongst us all of them dangerously exciting a disobedience to the established forme of gouernment and their severall intimatious of the desire of the power of the keyes (n) Petition anexed note 4. And that their congregations may execute Ecclesiasticall Censures within themselves (o) Petition annexed note 19. We cannot but expresse our just fears that their desire is to introduce an absolute Innovation of Presbyteriall Government whereby we who are now governed by the Canon and Civill Laws dispensed by twenty fix Ordinaries easily responsall to Parliaments for any deviation from the rule of Law conceive we should become exposed to the meer Arbitrary Goverment of a numerous Presbytery who together with their ruling Elders wil arise to neere forty thousand Church Governours and with their adherents must needs bear so great a sway in the Common-wealth that if future inconvenience shall be found in that government we humbly offer to consideration h w these shall be reducible by Parliaments how consistent with a Monarchie and how dangerously conducible to an Anarchie which we have iust cause to pray against as fearing the consequences would proue the utter losse of Learning and Laws which must necessarily produce an extermination of Nobility Gentry and Order if not of Religion With what vehemencie of spirit these things are prosecuted and how plausibly such popular infusions spread as incline to a parity we held it our duty to represent to this honourable Assemâ—ly And humbly pray that some such present course be taken as in your wisdoms shall be thought fit to suppresse the future dispersing of such dangerous discontents amongst the common people we having great cause to fear that of all the distempers that at present threaten the wellfare of this state there is none more worthy the mature and grave consideration of this honourable Assembly then to stop the torrent of such spirits beâ—ore they swell beyond the bounds of Government Then we doubt not but his Majestie persevering in his gracious inclination to heare the complaints and relieve the grievances of his Subjects in frequent Parliaments it will so unite the head and the body so indissolubly cement the affections of his people to our Royall Soveraigne that without any other change of Government he can never want Revenue nor wee Justice We have presumed to annex a Copie of a Petition or Libell dispersed and certain positions preach'd in this County which vve conceive imply matter of dangerous consequence to the peace both of Church and State All vvhich vve humbly submit to your great Judgements praying they may be read And shall ever pray c Directed to the house of Peeres And subscribed by the Lieutenant of the County Three other Noblemen Knights Baronets Knights and Esquires fourscore and odde Divines fourscore and ten Gentlemen tvvo hundred threescore and odde Freeholders and other inhabitants above six thousand None of them Popish Recusants And all of the same County The Petition which was spread abroad in the Countrie amongst the Common people by some private Persons to procure hands but was concealed from the Gentrie A Copy wherâ—of was annexed to the Remonstrance and was complained of having injuriously assumed the Name of the Humble Petition of the Free-holders and the rest of the Inhabitants within the Countie of Chester which might seeme to involve the whole Countie Sheweth THat whereas the manifold unsupportable burdens wherewithal our Consciences and estates have beene long oppressed with a continuall increase thereof have at last so tyred and infeebled our strength that we find our selves unable to subsist any longer under the weight thereof wee dare not now neglect to take the present opportunitie of serving the Lords providence in the use of this meanes which we hope is of his owne appoynting for our reliefe But as we have in some measure implored God who is the blessed Author so wee thought our selves bound humbly to Petition this honourable and renowned Assembly convened in Parliament for redresse of our miseries being the likelyest instrument so farre as we apprehend not limiting the Holy one of Israel for that end and purpose which we humbly pray may be duly considered as we make bold to tender them in these few Lines following Our miseries are such as are either Ecclesiastical or Civill first Ecclesiasticall and that in regard of the usurping Prelates their lawlesse dependent officers and their irregular manner of worshipping
inconsistent with Monarchie 11 Presbytery inconsistent with Civill Magistracie 12 Presbytery inconsistent with laws 13 The inordinate violence of the Presbytery 14 That this Discipline brings not liberty to the vulgar but introduces a meere Arbitrary Government 15 That the Presbyterian discipline is confessed a yoake 16 The vain excuse that Lay-elders shall moderate refuted 17 No Reformed Church gives any president paralell with us 18 Conclusion That to introduce a new form is dangerous The Table to the Review of Episcopacie Sectio prima That there were Bishops in the Apostles times 2 That the seven Angels of the seven Churches were Bishops 3 That there hath bin a continued succession of Bishops 4 That they were Diocesan Bishops 5 That the Clergie ought to be superiour to one another 6 That they assume no power or jurisdiction their predecessors had not 7 That Bishops had the same power of Ordination in former times 8 Ecclesiasticall censures anciently in Bishops 9 Titles of Honour anciently given to Bishops 10 That there were Archbishops in the primitive times 11 That late great Writers approved Bishops 12 That Bishops were approved in the Reformed Churches 13 Episcopacie approved by the ancient customary laws 14 That abolition of Episcopacie will occasion great distraction in the Common Laws 15 That it will destroy great part of the Statute Laws 16 Whether it may be done by the Kings Legall Prerogative 17 The Conclusion REader the Authors absence hath occasion'd many omissions having not opportunity to peruse the Presse especially in the quotations The best helpe is thy friendly patience to passe by the literall faults amend these few following and beare with the rest Some of them vary the fence therefore it is desired thou wilt amend them ere thou readest Errata IN the Survey of Presbytery Praef. B 2 p. 2. line 7 all men line 11. for instructed r intrusted Sect. 2. l. 19. for them r. their Sect. 2 pag. 2. marg l. 41 read Prelate Church Sect. 3 not 1 marg r. pertulisti ibidem for eddisti r eddidisti not k for ne nec C 2 p 2. maâ—g not o for 40. r 21 Sect 7 l 12 blot out they say Sect 7 D 8 l 17 add as Calvin cals them fanatici homines c. El 9 for Deo r duo marg for Tomes r Tom. 7 E 2 p 2. l 17 r Censurers E 3 p 2 l 29 adde such unlimited Sect. 9 l 9 for every r Envy claâ—our F fol. l 13 a full point at possession fol F 2 p 2 l 4 put out it F 3 l 23 for and r c. ibid marg l 11 r frenabit fol G 2 p 2 l 25 r observable G 3 p 2 marg l 2 r Dominio G 4 marg l 2 r 59 H 3 p 2 l 19 adde man not to rest fol. I l 17 r. Presbytery fol l 2 l 1â— after repent adde The Praesbyterians affirme l 3 p 2 l. 6 r these new Standerbearers K 8 l 2 blot out that L 2 p 1 l 7 for those r these L 3 l 7 r Classicall In the Review of Episcopacie Fol 9 marg l 11 r Heraclam fol 10 marg l 25 r Episcopatum fol 11 marg l 12 for ad id r adversus fol 13 l 2 r Fencelesse fol 24 l 8 r other fol 26 marg l 25 r hoc fol 27 l 12 for many r may fol 38 l 5 for cause r course fol. 39 l 4 for received r. retained fol 43 l 2 for absolute r obsolete fol 57 l 20 for which his r with his fol 65 l 3 for if r that the Prelates l 28. put out cure fol 77 l 19 for both r but. The Preface T IS a time of Censures nor actions nor persons scape if perhaps the power yet not the tongues of men certainly the Goose-Quill did never more licentiously lesse civilly bedabble both times and persons No action of so pure intention hath beene more bespatter'd than the deliverie of this Remonstrance No man with more confidence lesse cause hath beene more mistaken misse-censured than my selfe Yet some I presume that have now seene those Motives which before they did not are satisfied there was just cause for us to complaine none for them to judge We alas are none of those that live in Goshen a Exod 8.22 sever'd from the sorrowes of our brethren wee have had our b The common Grievances swarme of flies to destroy our fruits we have felt the storme of a distempered state as well as they c Exod. 9 26. But we had rather with prayer and patience wait and hope for the reunion of our distracted peace than rend the breaches wider by pulling on our heads a greater plague than wee have yet felt or then the Egyptians suffered till their d Exod 14.25 And the Lord troubled the Egyptians and took off their Chariot wheels that they drave heavily 28 And the waters returned and covered the Chariots and the horsemen and all the Hoast of Pharaoh Chariots were taken off their wheeles or then we hope we can till our Lawes the Hinges of the State be dis-joynted the reines of Gouernment let loose Then alas how soone with them should we be overwhelmed with disorder and confusion how easily become a prey to the first invader Yet I feare we undergoe more censure who pray the preservation than those that seek the abolition of those Lawes that give us Life and safetie by preserving Order which is the Soule of Government Ordo est anima Legis Wee meet with severall sorts of Censurers some seem to robbe the Gentrie of the right of their owne free thoughts as if they were but properties to serve the ends of others act the designes of the Bishop and his Clergy who I doe absolutely affirme never knew of it till it was done yet I doe confidently assume if he required it might have as many free testimonies of qualitie of his moderation as any man of that reverend Order Others of the same stampe seeke to impeach the credit of the Subscribers as if a great part were papists All may see our instructions were not to admit such I resolutely affirme no one Gentleman of quality there is such and I confidently believe not one at all of the whole number Some that certainly never saw it Censure for company that wee onely swimme against the streame and contrary to the Torrent of other Countries have put in a justification of a plea for Bishops such I said before sure never saw it when they doe they will finde that we have the same sence of disorder in Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction as others have That to us e The Remonstrance the suppressing of Poperie the increase of able Pastors the removing of Innovations will be equally acceptable as to other Subjects onely we conceived our modest submission to the judgement of that great Counsell Remonstrance to regulate the rigour of Ecclesiasticall Courts to suit with the temper of our Lawes
and the nature of Free-men would to so grave a Senate administer as much matter of serious consideration implie as much need of Reformation as a large invective full of bitter reviling which might more convince us of want of Charitie than the Bishops of Moderation being virulence of Spirit never argued either Civility or Christianitie never tended to piety or unity nor advanced either Religion or good Order g Hoc reperiemus nimiam mor ofitatem ex superbia magis fastu falsa que sanctitatis opinione quam ex vera sanctitate veroqueejus studio nasci Itaque qui ad faciendum ab Ecclesiâ defectiones sunt aliis audaciores quasi Antesignani ij ut plurimum nihil aliud causae habent nisi ut omnium contemptu ostentent se aliis esse meliores Calvin Institut lib. 4. Cap. 1. sect 13. Calvin observes that too much bitternesse or obstinacy springs rather from pride and disdaine and a false opinion of holinesse then from true sanctity or the desire thereof And that such as are forwards and the leaders of others in their defection from the Church have for the most part no other cause but their owne selfe conceipt thinking themselves better than all men else But if either processe of time or discontinuance of Parliaments have admitted any superstructures of exorbitant power doubtlesse the wisedome of the House instructed with the steerage of the State would reduce such without our clamours For such complaints as are against the temporall power of the Bishops wee know of no such thing inherent to the Order h Si quam habent Episcopi potestatem gladii hanc non habent ut Episcopi ex mandato Evangelit sed jure humano do natam â Regibus Imperatoribus ad administrationem civilem suorum honorum Haec interim alia functio est quam ministerium Evangelii Melancthon Articul fidei 37. In his speech the 23. of Ianuarie Melancthon tells us if they have any power of the sword it is of humane institution given them by Kings and Emperours if so certainly ejus est revocare cujus est dare And where a gracious Prince ex mero motu and I may say ex puro amore out of a tender affection to the peace and welfare of his people hath freely offered a retraction of such temporall authority i If upon serious debate you shall shew that Bishops have some temporall authority not so necessarie for the government of the Church and upholding of Episcopall iurisdiction I shall not bee unwilling to desire them to lay it downe as is not necessary for the government of the Church it is more proper for the debate of his great Councell to decide the poynt than befitting the importunity of us his much satisfied subjects especially with such violence as relishes rather a sentence than a supplication Quia non consensum quaerit sed dissidium auget qui quod fact is praestatur verbis exigit But for the Office and Order it selfe 't is confessed we were so farre from joyning with them either in their prayer of abolition or the â—nâ—ecency of their Language that 't was thought it became us to vindicate the Countrey consisting of Civill Gentrie from the imputation of such incivilitie as that petition if it had past as the Act of our Countie might perhaps fixe upon us And more then in our owne excuse of not joyning with them we presumed not to move any thing for or against the Bishops but being wee intimated our feare that these practises and tenets tended to introduce a Presbyterie 't was necessarie to shew we had no hand in that Petition which would have no Bishops lest we might seem to desire neither These prejudices of opinion thus removed I hope men will with more cleare eyes see the Integritie of our intentions and will with us in time take heed of Wolves especially when they appear in sheeps cloathing As we are a Gentrie who for Antiquity shall subscribe to none so I hope shall we ever testifie our zeale as great our resolutions as firme to preserve our ancient liberties as any Countrie whatsoever And I believe if any had our provocation they would have made our complaint A Survey of Presbytery SECT 1. The Designe of some Presbyterians T IS an ill presage of worse events to begin with the subversion of Gods house the Church It is not Reformation but totall Innovation many men look for 'T was a signe of no good intent when such a petition must bee smother'd up from the knowledge and Counsells of the Gentrie And though it were supprest after it had beene spread abroad as perhaps finding the times not ripe for a full discovery of their occult designes yet to those that will see it gives light enough that under pretext of Reforming the Church the true aime of such spirits is to shake off the yoke of all obedience either to Ecclesiasticall Civill Common Statute or the Customarie Lawes of the Kingdome and to introduce a meere Arbitrary Government But it may perhaps be said this is but the fancy of some distempered Zelots in that part onely and that I doe but raise a shadow and fight with it let such compare well the harmonie of other licentious raylers whose pamphlets garnish every stall and the concurrence of those of the same straine in the times of Queen Elizabeth and King James with the present positions and petition complained of and I dare promise they shall finde them all of a peece all champions for the Presbyterie which they then cal'd The great cause the Holy cause which as they then declared k Rogers his Preface to the Articles they will never leave suing for though there should be a thousand Parliaments untill either they obtaine it And lately preach'd by Eaton in Chester in the pulpit to the like effect or bring the Lord in vengeance and bloud upon the State and the whole land for repelling the same With what Method Iustice and Moderation they goe about it is worth the observation SECT 2. The Method of their proceedings IN this Chart of their petition we may find our selves plac'd among the Antipodes to all order rather than in a State govern'd by Lawes It hath been the Method of former times that the Parliament the Primates the Nobiles with the minores Nobiles the Gentrie consult and dispence the rules of government the Plebeians submit to and obey them But in their Petition ordine converso petitioners Plebeians assume to give judgement the Parliament must execute the Nobility and Gentrie suffer by it They make not any one proof or complaint against any one Bishop or their order yet clearely sentence them all l Their Petition note 2. Martin Marprelate f. 11. 12. Engl. Compl. to Jesus Christ That the Hierarchie is that beast to which the Dragon gave his power fol. 11. All Prelaticall government is papal ib. The Bishops the limbes of the great beast of no
us see how they deale with one of their owne one Bluet being excommunicated writes to the Brethren that he might be restored to the Church from which hee had beene long kept out m Bishop Bancroft fol. 117. Woe is me saith hee that J am cast out of your presence this day And if this woe and shame did but touch the body it were tollerable for then at the day of death I should end my miserie and no more heare the words of reproach But woe is me that there is a partition wall between heaven and my Conscience If my offence may not be passed by without further confession even before God and his Church in London will I lye downe and lick the dust at your feet See here you eager advocates for the advancing of this holy Discipline the pretious fruits you are like to reape by it Such as these will teach you perfect humility They have learnt of Rehoboams Counsellors n 2 Chron. 10.10 To make their little finger thicker than the Bishops loynes Their punishments perhaps wrung the purse but those will grate the soule And if wee should well examine upon what easie occasions this fearefull sentence flyes out we should much more feare it Suckliffe 132. At Geneva two Ministers were deposed and banish'd for speaking against usurie Iohn Morelli for saying the words Tell the Church were not alone appropriate to the Consistorie and is frequently used upon everie private Grudge Whereas no man ought to bee excommunicate but where the Law saith hee should be condemned If Law bee King and will a Tyrant sure all that will preserve Law and will love libertie unwillingly submit their necks to the Tyrannicall yoak of such Discipline SECT 15. The forme of Discipline they prescribe is confessed to be a yoak YEt oh say many here is so excellent a forme of Government the Parochiall Presbyter can runne into no extravagance but hee is accomptable to the Presbyterie or Classitall meeting which consists of particular Kirks in such a Circuit o Report of Church Government And what 's the businesse there Not to suppresse but to exercise the power of Iurisdiction By the Ordinances of Geneva they first imprison after banish him that will not stand to the Ordinances of the Consistories Order Art 91. Ordination suspension Deprivation but principally all persons of whatsoever quality disobedient to their Ministers and Elders are with great Authoritie censured So here we must learne obedience to the wills of men not of Lawes Yet these Classes againe are responsall to the Provinciall Synods And they perhaps may regulate the rigour of the Presbyters But doe not the Pastors of New England tell us A modest Advertisement of Church Government fol. 10. That no Pastors by Gods word have authoritie over others for that every Minister hath his power both of Order and Iurisdiction immediately from Christ Iesus and therefore to him onely is responsible for the Doctrine hee teaches the Discipline hee exercises and the Censures that hee inflicts Therfore say they for any number of Ministers in a Synod to take to themselves Authoritie over others who are equall in Dignitie is to set up a Humane Authoritie that Christ never instituted and to exercise a Tyrannie and Poperie of the Presbyterie as bad nay worse than Bishops Yet there is a higher appeale to the Nationall Assembly and there the Records of Synods are perused Acts and Constitutions for all Kirkes are agreed upon with common consent And will they obey these Constitutions Some confesse that in the Assembly of the Apostles certaine observances were imposed on the Churches p Acts 15.28 But this Act of the Apostles say they is no president or patterne for succeeding ages for the Apostles were inspired with the Holy Ghost and when any Assembly can infallibly assure them they are inspired with the Holy Ghost then they will obey q Christ on his throne fol. 57. But though they will admit no Law or Superiour over themselves yet here perhaps the Laitie may receive reliefe against the rigor of their Censures for one tels us r Report of the Government of the Church by a Presbytery All Appellations Petitions Grievances and Complaints are examined and determined by this supream highest Kirk Iudicatorie what redresse we may expect hence we are informed immediately before they are responsible onely to Iesus Christ And the same reporter plainly tells us The perpetuall Kirks are not governed by the intrinsecall power of any one or many set over them as in the Monarchicall Government of Prelates but they are ruled and judged by themselves If so wee had need have a strong faith in their Integrities for if we admit a possibility of doing wrong in them we leave very little probabilitie of receiving right for first they are accomptable onely to Christ Next they are both judges and parties Those that give false judgement in the Classes are judges in the Synods in the Nationall assemblies and from them is no appeale to any Prince in the world for they sit in Christs Throne And this is utterly destructive to the peoples libertie Now in this whole Gradation of Church government by Presbyteries Classes Synods and Nationall Assemblies What 's become of our old superintendent power of Parliaments wee have all this while beene perswaded That Episcopacy is inconsistent with this State as exercising some power not warranted by our Lawes we are strongly excited by some Disciplinarians to root them out for attempting to put in execution some Constitutions not ratified by Parliament Yet now we must learne That the Parliament cannot hinder these Disciplinarians to make Lawes Ecclesiasticall seeing Ecclesiasticall Government is independant That generall Assemblies may recall Acts ratified in Parliament which being annulled In their Synods they disannull all Lawes they conceive repugnant to their Discipline Suckliffe fol. 131. the Civill ratification falls ex Consequenti And though our Lawes make voyd all Canons or Constitutions repugnant to the Kings prerogative or the Lawes and Customes of the Kingdome which preserve our liberties yet we must now know that no power nor libertie ought to be permitted to any State Degree or Authority whatsoever they be to live without the yoake of Discipline Å¿ Knox his exhortation pag. 91. 92. Et tali jugo libertatem induimus And is all our long labour'd liberty become a yoke A yoke unavoydable a yoke unsupportable Truely if this be so we may truely write Sic vos non vobis sertis Aratra Boves We have spun a faire thread That Kings the nursing Fathers and Queens the nursing Mothers of Syon t Isaiah 49.23 the supreame Governours of the Church Princes the heads of their Fathers houses u Numb 7.2 Princes of the Tribes whose office is to rule in judgement Nobles that conferre blessing upon that land where their sonnes inherite the Crowne w Isaiah 32.1 Gentrie the flowers of this garden of Europe fenc'd
had such power as the Duke of Venice And having treated with the Duke of Savoy their enemy was forced to flye during whose life they could not make a new Bishop but submitted to a new forme of Government under Master Calvin who onely wanted the Title but was of much greater power than a Bishop nor was at that enmity with the Order as our Novelists are who professe it sinne to heare them or for their sakes any Ministers f 8 Propositions in Print preach in the Church of England For hee sayes Wee confesse that Bishops or Pastors must be reverently heard as farre as they teach the word of God according to their function g Calvin opusculum in Confes Eccles Gallic Fatemur ergo Episcopos five pastores reverenter audiendos quatenus pro suae functionis ratione verbum Dei docent But admit they being a private State a Cottage in respect of a Kingdome submit themselves to the Oeconomick Government of a Family theirs is no more in comparison to this glorious Monarchy shall we relinquish our Lawes can we reduce this populous Nation that peoples so many forraine Isles into the same mould that modells a handfull Some have already entertained so degenerate thoughts that they can mention Switzerland a faire patterne and so doe I with horror and indignation Others the Low Countrie Discipline pleases well a fit object for such they must indeed look downewards still that are so pleas'd and not upwards to the God of Order 1 Corinth 14. and not of Confusion who sees the distracted Sects and Schismes that abound in that State and does not pitty so neare so lov'd neighbours were not partakers of that blessing wee call miserie and out of love to Noveltie are growne wearie of uniformitie of Discipline Truth is wee are taken with the shadow of that which essentially is not there The Scepter of Discipline If we must change I would bee glad we might take president from their Metropolis Amsterdam where 't is true they were busie to advance this Throne of Christ to put this yoke upon the neck of that State but their troublesome and ambitious spirits once discovered they quickly nipt these soaring Birds i th' shell reduced the Pastors to the number of thirteene of those keeping for the most part three vacant which City being compared with this of London both for populousnesse and capacity it will easily appeare those ten who must supply the accidents of Festivalls Marriages and Funeralls doe not trouble their heads with many State affaires Yet to make them sure they allow them their Classicall meetings but provided one of the Magistrates of the Citie be present And if he say no all they consult stands for nothing This proposition made and assented to by all these zealous petitioners against this usurpation this Monopoly of the power of the Keyes in the hands of the Bishops That the prime Gentleman in every parish shall be perpetuall Elder and have a negative voyce I confesse in poynt of private policie I am convinc'd I may perhaps be in time an Elder and doubt not but the Gentrie will thus make a shift to keep the Clergy humble the vulgar low enough But if we must looke for new elections every year what must this produce but a little Civil war in every parish We have yet a nearer president and before we know what it is long for the Scottish Discipline I could be glad wee had so much patience to let them be our probationers therein for one seven yeares But we shall be told sic fuit ab antiquo it was so of old with them Now what effects both to King and Common-wealth the positions of some Disciplinarians of that Nation have in former times produc'd 't is better to be forgot than looked into All I shall say is That certainly our freer people have not such dependance upon are not indeed in such vassallage to the Nobility the Gentrie as the Common people of Scotland are in to their Lords their Nobility and Gentrie having absolute power over theit Tenants shall ever beare sway in the Church But it will not be so with us the inferiour sort of people once finding their power in popular election of Elders will rather exclude both Nobility and Gentry and then no doubt the Church will be well govern'd our Communalty depend upon Lawes not Lords 'T is Law which hath made us a free people That wee know by a certaine Law that our wives our Children our Servants our goods are our owne that we build we plough we sow we reap for our selves this is true libertie How little of this they enjoy from whom wee would take a patterne who are but Tenants at will to their Lords they that will sedato animo compare the Constitution of that State with this would with mee againe crie Oh fortunati nimium bona si sua nôrint Angligenae SECT 18. Conclusion to review Episcopacie IF then there be no president that exactly parallels ours without great alteration wee must certainly introduce aliquid de novo set up some new forme by our selves And what inconveniences that may bring to a setled State was well exprest by St. Austin Ipsa mutatio Consuetudinis etiam quae adjuvat utilitate novitate perturbat k Austin ad Ianuar. Ep 118. cap. 5. which is ingeniously exprest by that learned Verulam l Verulams Considerations concerning pacification of the Church fol. 9. Way given to mutation though in taking away abuses yet it may so acquaint men with sweetnesse of change as it will undermine the stabilitie even of that which is sound and good holding it against all good policie to innovate any thing in Church matters and whether warrantable in Divinitie or no to abolish so ancient a Constitution is questionable 'T was me thinks a Maxime of some weighr Qui mala introducit voluntatem Dei oppugnat revelatam in verbo Qui nova introducit voluntatem Dei oppugnat revelatam in rebus Hee that brings into the Church any bad custome opposes the will of God revealed by his word who introduces any new customes opposeth Gods will revealed by fact If then in the whole series of this new Predicament of Discipline wee should put our selves into wee finde the designe of such is to draw their necks out of the yoaks of all Ecclesiasticall and Civill Government neither to be prescribed in Doctrine nor Discipline their persons restrayned by no Law their Government inconsistent with Monarchy Magistracy Lawes destructive to Gentrie Their calling independent either on King or people Their power above Princes Potentates Nobles People Lawes Parliaments their errours accomptible to none but Christ alone no forraine State or Reformed Church giving any exact president absolutely parallell with ours and no so great mutation being without hazard to the State and perhaps not warranted by Gods Word In the name of God let us looke ere wee take this desperate leap from the inconveniences whereof can bee no recovery if they once get the upper hand but by a new Conquest Farre bee it from mee to presume to prescribe a remedy 't is the easier way to give cautions to descry inconveniences to discover Rocks than to assume to steere the ship of State in a safe course to give Counsell other than what is warranted by good authoritie In such distractions when wee finde the time now fully come m 2 Tim. 4.3.4 That men will not endure sound Doctrine but after their owne lusts heap up to themselves teachers having itching eares turning from the truth unto Fables And as St. Peter sayes n Peter 3.16 Being unlearned and unstable wresting the Scriptures to their owne destruction Then is the Prophets Counsell seasonable State super vias Antiquas o Ieremiah 6.16 Stand yee in the wayes and see and aske for the old paths where is the good way and walke therein and yee shall finde rest for your soules Let us looke back into Antiquitie and see before wee part with this reverend old order of Episcopacy for this new fangled Discipline whether it will bee made good to bee deduc'd from Christ himselfe to his Apostles to the Angels of the Churches to the Fathers of the Primitive times continued in the same jurisdiction and superiority over other degrees of the Clergie distributed into Diocesses honour'd with Titles and Attributes indued with power approved in other Reformed Churches and no way opposite to but consistent with our Lawes and then though there be many errours crept into the execution which prove not to bee in the Constitution I hope we shall have it reduc'd to its antient puritie and not cast away our Gold for a little rust In the disquisition whereof I would not have any man looke for any thing from me de novo or thinke I assume to adde any strength to their cause I doe but binde together a posie of the flowers of others planting onely having taken some paines to please and satisfie my selfe I shall be glad if any man else can reap any content out of my labours Et tu confirmatus confirma fratres was Christian Counsell and I confesse had I power to doe it I would draw all the world to my opinion that is to reverence their Calling preserve their Order yet with as free a resolution and as respectlesse of their persons submit to the exemplar punishment of such as staine the honour of their Coat entrench upon our Liberties negligently starve their flock covetously engrosse the meanes of faithfull Labourers or with their Novelties distract the Church as any man that lives FINIS Imprimatur Tho. Wykes May 28. 1641.
prescription is somewhat ancient for 't is said Melchizedeck y Genes 14.20 Heb. 7.2 blessed Abraham and hee gave him tythes of all things And under the Law it is ordred That z Nehem. 10.37 the Levits might have the tythes in all their Cities of our tillage This we find not discontinued under the Gospell a Heb. 7.5 They which are children of Levi which receive the office of the Priesthood have a commandement to take according to the Law tythes of the people And Saint Paul holds it good equitie 1 Corinth 9.13 That as they which wait at the Altar are partakers of the Altar even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell Our Statute Lawes have established and incorporated them into our estates for b Stat 27.31.32.37 H. 8. Tythes in the hands of Lay-men become temporall inheritances and shall be accounted Assets And Lay men proprietaries of tythes c Cookes Littleton fol. 159. have election either to sue for the treble value by the Common Law or for the double in Ecclesiasticall Courts The ancient jurisdiction of Court Leets and Court Barons d Petition note 12 13. Sions plea fol. 47. they would subtilly undermine by quarrelling at the oath whereby the Court must fall Ex consequenti Cookes Littleton fol. 58. Britton 274. Bract. de Actionibus fol. 105. Civiles actiones terminari debent in Curia Baronum de quibus ipse petens clamaverit tenere taking away the use of Juries or the testimonies of witnesses Though we find them held in the time of Edward the Confessour and so called Barones vero qui suam habent curiam de suis hominibus and continued ever since And indeed they would have no Courts at all to have jurisdiction over them as appeares by many of their writings as that they would have Courts to proceed only against sins by the word of God Chord Angl prop. 8.10 Sions plea fol. 48. If it be no sin there is no ground of an oath View Prelaticall Church 41. of which the Presbyterie would be Judges and as they say it would free us from weekely Courts The would withdraw the customarie right of e Their petition note 21. Bract. lib. 2. fol. 60. Cookes Littleton fo 185. Lambert fol. 119. 58. Herriots taken in the Saxons times in which language it is called Heregeat or the Lords best for Here is Lord and Geat is best And in the Lawes before the Conquest it is said f Sive quis incuriâ sive morte repentina fuerit intestat mortuus Dominus tamen nullam rerum suarum praeter eam quae jure debetur Herrioti nomine sibi assumito Whether by a judiciall sentence or by sudden death any man dyes intestate yet the Lord shall take none of his goods but that which is due by Law in the name of a Herriot Nay they yet goe higher even to the denyall of the right of proprietie in our estates They would pay no Fines g Their petition Note 22. do no Boons nor Duties to their Land-lords or at best bring them within the Arbitrarie Jurisdiction of the Presbyter who must be Chancellour betwixt Lord and Tenant And these things are not represented by way of complaint or submitted to the consideration and determination of the Parliament but seeme to be inforced by intimation of a strong occult implyed Covenant in that they say h Their petition Note 15. Christ on his Throne fol. 77. So woe may recover that Christian liberty wherwith Christ hath made us free and for which his bloud was powred forth Sions plea fol. 333. Rom. 14.1 2. 2 Pet. 13.14 Goodman pag 30. The contrarie priviledges Christ hath purchased and commanded them to stand unto If this be not to subvert Lawes I know not what is It is not onely a defiance to Civill Government but a Band against it Nor Law nor Gospell scape such censures If Saint Paul teach us not to resist authoritie but rather to submit to punishment Some tell us This is a dangerous doctrine taught by some by the permission of God for our sins Certainly these are dangerous doctrines indeed and God open our eyes in time to fore-see and prevent the consequences So much are people infatuated with these false glosses of pretended libertie that they are easily seduced to swallow such guilded pils with open armes to embrace with eager hands to pull upon their owne heads their owne ruine For alas what is it else but to enthrall our selves under an irrecoverable servitude whence can be no redemption Is it not to make that choyce the Israelites refused Whether is better for you Judges 9.2 either that all the sons of Ierubbaal which are threescore and ten persons reigne over you or that one reigne over you Whether shall wee content our selves with the dispensation of Lawes our selves assent to can at any time expand or contract as we shall find them too narrow or too large for the circle of our Isle trust the administration of these in the hands of six and twentie Bishops whose Delegate power is limited by our Statute Lawes whose persons are easily responsall for any extent of that power beyond those bounds the Parliament allots them Or submit our selves to the meere Arbitrarie Government of thrice twentie six thousand Presbyters and Elders for more than so many will that Hierarchy amount to under which they would now draw us by the platforme of their new pretended discipline In which if there were any more but the Species of libertie that we should thus be quit from all Ecclesiastique subjection though it is a principle too oft proved true Moulins Confession 408. Tyranny is more tollerable than such a freedome which under the title of libertie introduceth licentiousnesse and this licentiousnes bringeth in extreme servitude that Over-much desire of libertie is the originall of Tyranny every one by being too free becomming a slave The Vulgar being well resembled to birds long caged and kept tame which breaking loose starve for want of food or become a prey to the first destroyer Yet this might be a popular motive to entice many into this new Coy If it did conduce to a reall freedome I wish all men should know I hold my selfe as free-borne as any man and as much disdaine the thought of servile fetters of Romish Tyranny or an insultant Prelacie as any he that lives But I ever held that Nunquam libertas gratior extat quà m sub Rege pio That it is Law which is to a free State not a Band but a Guard against oppression That it is Magistracie which levels the scale of justice betwixt power and povertie that preserves degrees distinction order i All Societies Oeconomick Civill and Ecclesiasticall doe consist by the submission of inferiours to superiours which being removed confusion necessarily followeth without which no Church no State no family can stand And when