TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS ADAMS Lord Major of the Metropolis of England the renowned Citie of LONDON Right Honourable THe concurrent desires of people of all sorts except of such as raise their owne particular interests out of the common ruines for recovery of our peace and the pantings of many lying under the power of the oppressour for deliverance from warre have of late by the good hand of God upon our publique counsels and forces thriven up to hopes and those hopes to presages that it will be an Honourable note upon your Name in time to come to have had the good hap within your view before you give up to another the Ensignes of your Honour which is the generall vote of all the true hearted Patriots of three Kingdomes that is a well compounded and compacted happinesse made up of three of the most desirable blessings of humane society which are consistent with the condition of mortalitie and they are these 1. A sincere and through reformation of Religion in Doctrine and worship of God 2. A Discipline and Government established according to Gods word and the example of the best reformed Churches whereby with the assistance of Divine grace we may be better then heretofore secured from relapses into irreligion heresie schisme and profanenesse which have beene the great crimes and curses of the last precedent and present times though through the cunning workings of Satan the evils now in course with some degrees of improvement from bad to worse are taken by some to be the remedies against foregoing corruptions 3. A third thing which in order of dignitie is the last though in most mens affections it be the first is that according to the prescript prayer of the Apostle we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 1 Tim. â— 1 he addeth in all godlinesse and honestie but both these have beene virtually premised in the two precedent particulars This will be of so much the sweeter tast to all as either by actuall suffering or by affectionate sympathy they have taken the deeper draught of the bitter cup of furious hostility That none of this hopefull expectation may faile of effect it will be requisite that every one for his part and to his power endeavour to make it good by all the good meanes and helps which conduce to the comfort and safetie not of a few but of the whole Common weale in each of the Nations now so much shaken and in danger also to be broken in pieces 1. By making an holy Covenant with God and by being stedfast in the Covenant when we have made it so we may engage his favour and power to our partie to be not onely a friend and Patron to us but an enemie to our enemies and an adversarie to our adversaries Exod. 23.22 2. By being at union among our selves and studying as much to uphold it as the seditious Shebaes on the other side plot the setting of discord betwixt the dearest brethren and if it be not to be looked for that all who are equally concerned in the same Cause should unanimously consent in that course which may carry it on to desired successe yet there may be a fivefold union among us which may give strength unto and maintaine the reputation of the great Designe it hand viz. a through reformation both in Church and State The first union is of the two Sister Nations according to our solemne League and Covenant which must be preferred before all either factions or questuoâ—s interests of any particular party whatsoever For as no two Nations under heaven have more and stronger bonds of union then we of England and our Brethren of Scotland being bounded and surrounded by the Sea as one entire Iland united under one King under one Title in the Kings Royall style the King of Great BRITAINE united yet more in Language and Religion and most of all in our late Covenant for a generall Reformation of Church and State and mutuall association and assistance against all malignant combinations So nothing is more enviously observed by our common enemies then these many obligations of union betwixt us nothing more cunningly contrived or more seriously pursued by them and I wish some among our selves had neither hearts nor heads nor hands in the plot then to dis-joyne us and to make us not onely perfidiously to fall off from performance of our common Covenant but with the same hands which we have lifted up to the most High God to fall one upon another as the confounded and accursed Midianites Iudg. 7 2â— and when by such wickednesse we are brought to a weaknesse which may be easily subdued but God forbid we should be both so bad and mad as to act a Tragedie upon our selves to set forth a Comedie for such malicious spectators as would make their greatest mirth of our most grievous misery we must expect the execution of the bloody and destructive designe resolved on in Ireland which a knowing Intelligencer hath reported of the rebels there in these words * The Irish Remonstrance p. 31. This Kingdome viz. Ireland settled and peopled onely with sound Catholicks thirty thousand men must be sent into England to joyne with thâ—â—rench and Spanish forces and the service in England perforâ—â— then they will joyntly fall upon Scotland for the reducing of that Kingdome to the obedience of the Pope which being finished they have engaged themselves for the King of Spaine for assisting him against the Hollanders Wherein though they reckon without the Lord of Hosts who onely commands both Peace and Warre at his pleasure and swayeth the successe to which side he will yet this discovers their designe of unpartiall perdition of the Protestant partie and the discovery thereof should be a motive of more confirmed union among our selves The second Vnion is that of the Parliament and Citie whereof we have had such happy experience ever since the unhappy hostility betwixt the flatterers of the King and friends of the Kingdome that we are bound to blesse God for it and to pray for the continuance of it both for our owne time and for the ages to come The third is the Vnion of the Parliament and Assembly of Divines whose reciprâ—call and proportionable respects which I mean not in an Arithmeticall but in a Geometricall Proportion give much countenance and authoritie to what is propounded to the people in their names for so the command of the one will be more awfull the advice direction and resolution of the other more usefull throughout the whole Kingdome A fourth Vnion is betwixt the Assembly of Divines and the City Ministers who may the more easily accord and agree together because many of them be but the same men under severall relations and most of them are swaid by the same principles of truth and pietie and involved in a society and participation of the same duties hopes and hazards The fifth Vnion is betwixt the City Magistracie and the Citie Ministery to which
and not doubt they would see a good issue and good content they need not feare they may be kept a while from their desires but in the end they will have content if their owne earnest pressing for it doe not hinder Now let us come home It would be well Sir if you would come home and keepe at home and take measure of your owne parts and sit close to your Trade and not ramble abroad to busie your selfe in writing Intelligence of matters which are farre above the elevation of your Pole or the comprehension of your head-piece But your zeale perhaps such a zeale as the Apostle taxeth which is without knowledge Rom. 10.2 just like a pressing-iron which hath heat without light stirred you up to complaine of some troublesome spirits who while the Army is labouring to end strife begin it anew and they are such say you as Fame saith have been the causes of all the strife and who be they Fame saith the late Deputie of Ireland and the little Drelate of Canterburie were prime causes of the Kingdomes and the Churches disturbance And are they since their heads were cut off as Herod thought of John Baptist Mark 6.16 raised from the dead to revive our divisions Common Fame saith the Queene and her Faction that have parted the King and the Parliament Digby Hopton Goring Greenvile and other Military male-contents have caused and doe still continue the most dangerous contentions and convulsions in England as Moutrosse and his party in Scotland Ormond and his barbarous and bloody Papists in Ireland But we must looke for these make bates at home and find out such as at present doe trouble our peace and if we doe so Fame saith that they are such among us as oppose the settling of an uniforme Government and breake out communities into severall Sects such as so divide the husband from the wife the parents from the children the master from the servants that a zealous Ioshua cannot say I and my house will serve the Lord Iosh 24.15 since his family is distracted and sorted into severall Congregations and it may be also into hereticall conventicles Fame saith that such factious journeymen as Mr. D. are publique Incendiaries and Trumpeters of Sedition by taking all occasions making use of all advantages casting about for all manner of devices to increase their divided partie that they may be able to uphold a faction and because they cannot hope that their noveltie and paucitie should be able to maintaine a publique contest against so many both persons and Churches as are engaged against their way they make it their Master-piece to leaven the most considerable Societies Cities Sea-Townes Armies but especially the Parliament with their Independent Principles and practices and either to get Independents into places of chiefe power and trust or to seduce such as are eminent in dignitie endowments or authoritie to their side and if they cannot obtaine them they plot how to displace them and if they cannot doe that to render them lesse serviceable to the Publique their way is to weaken their reputation with reproaches or cunningly to intimate some matter of suspition touching their acts or intentions if they be of such integritie as is of impregnable proofe against their obloquie then they will by way of compliance worke out of them what they can which may conduce to their designe and if they can prevaile no further they will at least by an artificiall sweetnesse of behaviour by appearances of more then ordinary piety by a pretended extenuation of difference of opinion and practice and by such insinuations so becalme or becharme the spirits of some Presbyterians of eminent parts as to make them if not favourable to their cause yet so that they may not appeare against them when they should or but in a very remisse and moderate degree of opposition Lastly to returne to our Intelligencer they set up weekly Pamphleters who are wholly of their stampe or fee them or by some other artifices worke upon them to take all occasions to magnifie their partie and to vilifie and calumniate those that oppose them and so they sometimes hyperbolize a Shrub on that side into a Cedar and disparage those who under God are the chiefe pillars and supporters of the publique welfare as if they were of no more worth or use then Reeds shaken with the wind and this is not the least part of the Independent policy to drive on their designe all over the Kingdome for most of the common people know little of the progresse of publique affaires but by such Informers and they furnish them with weekly lies to honour those of their owne sect or sects rather for they are many and to cast reproaches on such as are serious and resolute in all just and lawfull meanes of establishing of truth and restoring of peace But it may be he meaneth by Fame that report which he and his fellowes in loose sheets have dispersed abroad in City and Countrey and if so I say Famaest malum his fame is infamous notoriously false as he applyeth it viz. to those who make addresses to the Parliament by way of Petition We did intreat saith he the last weeke they would let the Parliament alone and wait and no doubt they would see a good issue and good content We did intreat them to let the Parliament alone We Sir who besides your selfe and why you and what meane you by letting the Parliament alone doe you forbid the subject of England to petition the Parliament if that be your meaning as a man of Moderate Intelligence may easily perceive it is do you not mean they should be deprived of the most undoubted Priviledge and Libertie which by the Law of Nature and of Nations is allowed all over the world if the Parliament had beene of that mind since their first Session they would not have tendred so many Petitions to the King nor have received so many Petitions from all parts of the Kingdome nor could they but by the informations received in them have knowne so much of the distemper of severall Counties nor had so just grounds and causes as they had for many of their Orders and Ordinances which were issued out from that Honourable Senate and your selfe say in the next page that a part of the Parliaments Answer to the Citie Petition was that the Citizens were intreated hereafter that they would take satisfaction from themselves that is satisfaction of their doubts and desires by immediate recourse to that Honourable Court and how can that be better or more acceptably done then by way of petition But he saith They need not feare they may be kept a while from their desires but in the end they will have content if their own earnest pressing for it doe not hinder How knowes he that better then they who have put up their desires for expediting the difficulties of the Government by way of petition to the Parliament The truth is if he beleeve
pressing and imperious necessities of the Commonweale requiring the raising of supplies in extraordinarie wayes for its owne support and preservation from perpetuall ruine and notwithstanding the exemplarie justice of the Parliament upon their owne members of both Houses to which may be added to their glory and the Kingdomes comfort their most just and impartiall provision against oppression of the people either by themselves or their substituted Committees the Libellous and in respect of some passages of his Booke I may say blasphemous Authour taking no notice of any thing that may be justly pleaded for the proceedings of Parliament labours to represent them to the people as a combination of most grievous and â—ngratefull oppressours I will set downe his owne words but so as the Scripture doth the blasphemies of Satan or Rabshakeh and other such like * The word cometh of Saraph which signifieth to burne and of that is derived the noune Saraph with the onely difference of a long vowell for a short which is used for a fiery serpent Isa 14.29 Sâ—raphicall slanderers that they may be as odious as their disposition is dangerous to all good men if they had as much power in their hands as there is gall in their hearts their tongues and pens the Title of this out-lashing Libell is set downe in these words * For an Antidote against such calumnies see M. Prinnes Booke entitled The Lyar confounded Englands birthright justified against all arbitrary usurpation whether Regall or Parliamentary or under what vizor so ever With divers Queries Observances and Grievances of the people declaring this Parliaments proceedings to be directly contrary to those fundamentall Principles whereby their Actions at fast were justifiable against the King in their present Illegall dealings with those that have beene their best Friends Advancers and Preservers And in other things of high concernment to the Freedome of all the Free-borne people of England What ever the man is the Bâ—â—ke is no hypocrite for it iâ— thâ—sâ—â—â— within which it seemeth without For page the 33. he putteth this Quâ—re and his Queres are implicit resolutions on the wrong side Whether is it not agreeable to law justice equitie and conscience that there should be a Parliament once every yeare and more often if need require whereby he meaneth that this Parliament hath sate too long already for a little after he chargeth them that many of the Members have betrayed their trust and those that remaine ingrosse Law-making and also Law-executing into their owne hands contrary both to reason and to the true intent and meaning of the Law and within a few lines he goeth on thus By which manifest abusing negligent and not true using the Lawes oppressions mischiefeâ— and grievances are no lesse if not farre more increased then they were before the Parliament began and many times by the powerfull Interest of a faction in the Parliament to save some one two or three of their Members undeserving credits they so violate the knowne unrepealed and declared Law of the Land yea and their owne Votes Ordinances Declarations and Protestations as if they had never made them I say all these things considered ought not the Freemen of England who have laboured in these destroying times both to preserve the Parliament and their owne Native freedomes and birth-rights not onely to choose new Members where they are wanting once every yeare but also to renue and enquire once a yeare after the behaviour and carriage of those they have chosen And having page 44. aggraâ—â—â—ed the condition of the times by taxes and impositions instancing in the Trade of Haâ—makers he concludes with this enclamation which may serve for an incentive to seditions tumult O â—ruell pitifull and intolerable bondage no longer to be endured suffered or undergone the burden being heavier then the poore labourers can beare And that we may know of how lawlesse a Sect himself in and those whom â—e pleadâ— for he prâ—fesseth himselfe a litter enemy to Lawyers first 〈◊〉 the writer of a loose sheete of paper under the Title of Advertisements for the new election of Burgesses for the House of Commons by the name of a worthy Authour as a Caveat against filling up elections with such kind of men making the knowledge of the Law of nouse for making of a Statesman since it is saith he a confined and Topicall kind of learning calculated onely for the Meridian of Westminster Hall and reaching no furthen then to Dover for transplant a common Lawyer to Calice and his head is no more usefull there then a Sunne-Diall in a grave Whereas it is notorious to the world that sundry * As the L. Ver. M. I. Seld. Will. Pr. and some others whose excellently learned laboâ— praise them iâ— the gates professed Legists have been qualified with other learning and that both with great variety and in an eminent degree above other men Having impeached their heads he cometh downe to their hearts and hands and taxeth these for ill conscience as the other for ignorance Lawyers saith he being a bold and talkative kind of men will intrude themselves into the Chaires of all Committees where being accustomed to take fees they will underhand protect Delinquents and their concealed estates with tricks and devises He knoweth sure very little of the manner of Committees for no man can thrust himselfe into such an employment but is thrust into it by the major part of the Committee but there needs none Apologie where the Antilogie is none other then a most rash and unreasonable calumny and my present purpose is but to note how head-strong and unruly how refractory to Government and Law the Sectaries are already to what an height of insolence would they grow if which they presse for they should be permitted a toleration by publique Authoritie It may be some among them in time would take upon them as the proud and rude Rebell Wat Tyler in Richard the Seconds time who presumed among other most lewd and impudent demandâ— to * S. Daniel continuation of the History ad Rich. K 2. p. 5. propound this for one That all Law might be abolished affirming with an execrable oath before Night all the Law of England should passe through this strait clapping his hand upon his mouth But I must take my hand from this Table lest I trespasse against the publique Interest in detaining your Honour too long in beholding this Sciographie or shadow-draught of pernicious Sectaries sixce it is a time rather of action then of speculation and yet if your Honour have any spare houres for further information in the various and dangerous turnings and windings of the spirits of Errour whom Satan in these last and worst times hath sent out not by couples as our Saviour sent out his Disciples Mar. 6.7 but almost by Legions to seduce simple soules to trouble our publique peace and to reproach and retard the reformation desired I should make bold to offer to your view an
* M. Robert Baylie his Disswasive from the errours of the time wherein the Tenets of the principall Sect of the Independ are drawne together in one Mappe Printed for Sam. Gellibrand at the Brasen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard exact delineation or description of the whole body of Schismaticall and Hereticall noveltie drawne by a very skilfull and faithfull hand and newly published to undeceive the English especially the people of the City of whom many are miserably misled and more will be if both Magistrates and Ministers doe not watchfully overlooke them and seriously sot themselves to prevent their increase Wherein your Lordships prudence and power beginning betime and continuing your care in a proportionable tenour untill your Office expire which is the expectation of all that know the soliditie of your judgement and stability of your spirit may prevaile very much though it be but for an yeare for how great matters in how short a time have beene attempted and accomplished by that worthy Generall Sr. Thomas Fairfax undertaking and prosecuting the warre with a couragious and constant resolution not as a Trade to enrich himselfe but as a Remedy to deliver his Countrey from partly present and partly imminent miseries And for that purpose your Lordships Sword in the City may be of very great use as his in the field and that with both the Sword of the Lord may be associated as with the Sword of Gideon Iudg. 7.18 and his power may still support your state protect your person and promote your proceedings to most happy successe is the hearty desire and shall be the daily prayer of Your Honours most humble servant JOHN LEY An Advertisement to the Reader to prevent mistaking in the variety of Petitions IN the Postscript of the late Answer to Mr. Burton from Aldermanbury entituled The doore of truth opened there is an Apologetical Reply to his tart reproofe of a London Petition in these words There is one thing that Mr. Burton mentioneth in the * Pag. 2. ante med Narrative which though it concerns not Aldermanbury yet we must not wholly bury it in silence and that is concerning the late large Petition for the speedy establishment of Religion Of which he speakes very dishonourably as also of the Petitioners as of men led with blind obedience and pinning their soules upon the Priests sleeve We leave it to the Petitioners to answer for themselves For our parts we conceive that no Reader unlesse blinded with prejudice can charge them with blind obedience For the Petitioners doe not desire to have the Modell of that Reverend Assembly established but the government of Christ established a Modell whereof c. These words a Modell whereof c. come in with a Parenthesis and the sentence is compleat without them all that they affirme about the Modell is that the Reverend Assembly hath framed a Modell of the Government of Christ according to their ability and presented it to the Parliament And who but he that hath pinned his faith upon an Independents sleeve can except against this But if Mr. Burton be displeased with the Modell of the Reverend Assembly we would intreat him that he at last after so long expectation would set forth his Modell Which some have mistaken conceiving both parties speake of the late Petition sent from the Common Councell of London whereas there be these differences betwixt them 1. That Petition is of a different style tenour and date from this of the Common Councell for it was brought forth to light before this later was conceived 2. That hath the Parenthesis a Modell whereof the Assembly of Divines c. specified in the Exception and Answer the Petition of the Common Councell hath no such clause in it as I am informed for yet I have not seen it 3. That was never presented by the Petitioners to the Parliament this of the Common Councell was 4. The Petition of the Common Councell was not printed that was priuted both in a single sheet and in the Booke called Truth it 's Manifest p. 130. Which I note in this place because having denyed that the Petition of the Common Councell was yet printed a Gentleman of qualitie said he would shew it me presently and produced for proofe the Booke forementioned 5. Lastly the former Petition had not so good acceptance with the Parliament as the later partly hath had and partly may be further hoped for when the Honourable Houses have opportunitie to make their returne unto it The Contents Section I. OF the Authour and Title page of the Quere and Deter mination upon it Page 1. Sect. II. Of the Title page p. 3. Sect. III. The matter and scope of the Quere and resolution upon it p. 7. Sect. IIII. Reasons against the present settling of government taken from conscience answered p. 12. Sect. V. The Argument against the speedy settling of Church government taken from eâ—ample of the New Testament in generall answered p. 14. Sect. VI. The Argument against the speedy establishment of Church government taken from Christs description answered p. 17. Sect. VII Master Colemans experimentall exceptions against the severity and rigour of the Presbyteriall government answered p. 20. Sect. VIII The Argument against the speedy setting up of the Presbyteriall government taken from Christs practise answered p. 23. Sect. IX Reasons taken from rules and considerations of prudence answered p. 26. Sect. X. The Negative Argument taken from want of experience of the New Clergie answered p. 32. Sect. XI Objections against the Reasons for the not establishing Church government propesed and answered as Objections against M. Saltm his Tenet in the Quere with Replyes to his answers The first Observation his Answer and the Reply unto it p. 36. Sect. XII Objection second answered with a Reply to that Answer p. 38. Sect. XIII An additionall Answer to some exceptions of M. Saltm taken out of M. Prins Vindication against the present establishment of Church government in his late Book entituled The opening of M. Prins New Book called a Vindication p. 45. Sect. XIIII The Objections taken from a supposed needlesnesse of the Presbytery answered p. 47 Sect. XV. Of M. Colemans Interiâ—ist is all Magistracle p. 51. Sect. XVI The Objection of eager contestation for Church Discipline and 〈…〉 p. 53. Sect. XVII The Objection of inefficacie for holinesse of life in such as live under the Presbytery answered p. 57. Sect. XVIII Shewing what might be retorted upon the Antipresbyteriall party but concluding for unitie and peace with allegation of M. Burroughs his propositions of reconciliation and accord and some other particulars tending thereto p. 61. Sect. XIX Further grounds and hopes of union in the Churches of the Sister Kingdomes of England and Scotland with Answers to the Objections that are made against it p. 64. Sect. XX. An Appendix to the precedent Examination being an Apologeticall Narrative of the Petitions of the Common Councell of the City and Ministers of London presented to both the
Anabapt p. 6. Luther did mediate with Fredericke Duke of Saxony That within his Dominions they be favourably dealt with all because excepting their errour they seemed otherwise good men but afterwards by the connivence and indulgence that was used towards them increasing both in bodies and boldnesse he was faine to b Sleyd Comment l. 5. fol. 76. p. 22. stirre up the Princes and people of Germany against them as for the extinguishing of a common combustion or a fire that threatned the burning of City and Country Which I mention not to excite Authority to any needlesse or unseasonable severity but to note the danger of too much delay in applying remedies to imminent mischiefes He concludes this politick consideration with a sentence of Scripture which is The contentions of Brethren are like the barres of a Castle and a Brother offended is harder to be wonne then a strong City Prov. 18.19 And this he brings in as a seale to this politick Aphorisme for the ceasing of differences of themselves by silent forbearance But will the barres of a Castle be broken by letting them alone And shall one expect to take a City a strong City and doe nothing against it Wee have not found it so for the most part of our late warres either in England or Ireland Thus farre his Politicke Rules Now for particular Instance We find it of two sorts 1. Negative 2. Positive SECT 10. The Negative Argument taken from want of experience of the New Clergie answered FIrst for the Negative * § 8. p. 5. We have not yet any experience of our new Clergie saith he who are many of them branches of the old stocke and so may weild the Government too much of the Episcopall faction as the Samaritanes did with the Jewish Government because they were not naturall Jewes It is not safe trusting a power too much into those hands our Brethren of Scotland have been better used to the way of Presbytery and may better trust one another upon mutuall experience then we can yet Answer Have we not yet experience of our new Clergie Then they cannot be charged with the mis-government of the people but we have experience of much evill for want of Government but how can there be experience of them if there be no government to try them withall He saith Many are branches of the old stocke and so may weild the Government too much of the Episcopall faction and yet presently he compareth them to the Samaritans and Iewes who were most adverse in affection and disposition and dealing one to another compare Ioh. 8.48 with Luke 9.53 and Ioh. 4.9 and then saith It is not safe trusting a Power too farre into those hands I thinke he needs not much to feare that The Government will be so qualified for the thing it selfe and so disposed of for the persons that are to manage it that it will not be in the power of any to abuse it but upon their perill Here lest the example of our Brethren in Scotland should be brought in by way of prejudice to his advice and resolution against the timely establishment of the Presbyteriall Government in England hee saith They are more used to the way of Presbytery and may better trust one another upon mutuall experience then we can yet It is well that Scotland the Kingdome or Country wherein there is best experience of the Presbyteriall Government yeelds least occasion of exception against it a great commendation of it doubtlesse which alone were enough to convince all those who stand for a liberty of conscience against a certaine and generall rule of which liberty if there were as much triall made as hath been of the discipline of that Kingdome it would appeare faulty scandalous dangerous so many ways as would make all good and wise men weary of it and there are men of note who affirme upon late experience in some Counties of the Kingdome that the best way to suppresse the multiplicity of Sects is to let them have scope and they will runne themselves out of breath whereto I cannot give my Vote since we may not give way that God should be dishonoured nor the people be indangered nor false teachers tolerated if wee may hinder it no not for an houre Galat 2.5 2. For the Positive Instance his next words are * § 9. p. 5. Wee experience in part some remainders of Prelacie working in many which shewes a constitution not so cleare nor pure as the Disciples of Christ should have then whether it be safe committing the power too suddenly for though I question not but some may be like the ten yet there are others that are like the two brethren who strove which should bee the greatest till the Lordended the difference It shall not be so among you Answer This parcell of his Politickes beginneth scarce with good English for where reades this writer this phrase We experience and why did he not keepe to the Termes he used in the precedent Paragraph Wee have experiment or experience And he goeth on with as little good sense for a little after he saith Then whether it be safe to commit the power too suddenly for though I question not c. Where he suspends the sense of his speech and leaves it to be made up by a supplement of the Reader yet we know his meaning thus farre that it is not safe to commit the power too suddenly if he meane by this and by the word hastily in the body of his Quere rashly or inconsiderately we say so too but we deny which he meaneth that if it had beene done sooner or be not deferred longer it will be too suddenly done but it appeareth by what before hath been observed with him to commit any power or establish any government especially the Presbyteriall government it is too soone or suddenly done if it be done at all In the next part of this Paragraph he beginneth to be rationall but so that it may make more for that part he opposeth then for that which he pleadeth for in these words For though I question not saith he but some may be like the ten yet there are others like the two brethren which strove who should be the greatest till the Lord ended the difference It shall not be so among you Where if we keepe the proportion he brings in and make application accordingly we may say for two ambitious Presbyterians it is like there may be tenne that are more modestly and humbly minded then to affect such a preeminence above their brethren Besides the Presbyterian government is framed directly according to the resolution of our Saviour It shall not be so among you as opposed to the Prelaticall authoritie * § 9. p. 5. We find saith he further the hottest controversie is now moved about Church government and there hath beene most spoken and written this way and in most violence Now when the contention for power is so much and the controversie streames
Malone in this manner The Booke indeed is presented to the world farre later then my expectation which hath beene ready as it now comes forth these many yeares But the Presse was still employed and occupied with other things by them that had command He that herein imputes sloth or negligence to me knows me not For if I should give but an Indiculus of my studies Et vacet annales nostrorum audire laborum I might make the Jesuite and a thousand more ashamed of their idlenesse Farre be it from me to brag and beast who have ever abhorred all shadow of vain-glory remembring Solomons words Let another man praise thee and not thine owne mouth Prov. 27. And therefore leaving it to the disposer and prosperer of all mine endevours I content and feast my selfe with the suffrage of my conscience as desirous for mine owne part to have something more then the world knows Though I might appeale if need were to the grand Reader of Europe as best acquainted from the very first with me and my studies But what the world knows give me leave to speake that it may appeare that this worke could never fall into fuller hands or to a man more imployed who could allot no more time to it then what must be gained succisivis horis Pro Archia Never could Tully speake more truly of his abstracted life and importunate lucubrations I expounded the whole Bible through in the Colledge in dayly Lectures and in the chiefest bookes ordinarily a verse a day we need not Origens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this work we held almost fifteene yeares A few yeares before this was ended I beganne likewise the second Exposition of the whole Bible in the Church and within tenne yeares have ended all the New Testament excepting one booke and a piece all the Prophets all Solomon and Iob so that my Answer to the Iesuite did in part concurre with both these labours What preaching what expounding this is my constant practise neither sicknesse nor any thing else withdrawing me thrice every Sabbath for the farre greater part of the yeare once every Holy-day often twice besides many other extraordinary sudden occasions Adde to these my weekely Lectures as Professor in the Controversies and my Answers to all Bellarmine in word and writing Where in above eight yeares I finished his Tome of the seven Sacraments for there we beganne his last Tome in sixe yeares and now sundry years in the Tome or Tomes remaining What breathing time had I in all these imployments or how could this worke be committed to fuller hands And though there be but a few who are so eminent in parts and in performances so laborious yet the most of those Ministers who are to beare a part in the Discipline of the Church either are or if the Refomation proceed will be so well qualified that they may give due attendance upon preaching and yet have competent time for other duties whereto as men as Christians or as Ministers whether in the Church or Consistory they are engaged And Mr. Pr. knowes by experience in his owne profession that many are able being habituated in Book-learning and Law-cases and pleading of Causes upon a little warning to speake more and better to the purpose then many others by long preparation and he himselfe we see hath time enough not onely to plead his Clients causes but to write so many books as were they bound up together would make divers very competent Volumes and while a good Minister and I hope we shall have more store of such then in former times is exercised in Church Government he is not quite out of office for preaching and instructing for he may have just occasion and faire opportunitie ministerially to admonish those that are convened either as parties to be censured or as witnesses to be examined in the Ecclesiasticall Consistorie SECT XVII The Objection of in efficacie for holinesse of life in such as live under the Presbytery answered THe second particular he produceth in Mr. Prinnes name against the Presbytery is * M. Salim in his opening of 〈◊〉 the Vindication p. 23. 24. and in the Vindication it self p. 57. the want of efficacie in it where it is established which he exemplifieth by instances in severall reformed Churches elsewhere and comparing England with them he saith That the practicall power of godlinesse is generally more eminently visible in the lives of the generalitie of the people more strict pious lesse scandalous and licentious in our English Congregations where there hath beene powerfull preaching without the practise of excommunication or suspension from the Sacrament then in the reformed Churches of France Germany Denmarke or Scotland for which I appeale saith he to all Travellours and Independent Ministers who have lived in the Netherlands who will and must acknowledge that in the sanctification of the Lords Day strictnesse of life and exemplarinesse of conversation our English Ministers and Protestants excell all others These be Mr. Pr. his words upon which Mr. Saltm maketh this inference viz. That the Vindication though it pretend in the generall face of it to be for the Presbyterie yet it is cleare that in aspersing the Government in all those reformed Kingdomes where the practise and power of it hath beene it secretly wounds the glory of it in the opinion of the world and though it pull not downe the Government quite yet it Weakens the posts or judgements of men on which it stands Answer 1. By what I have read of Mr. Prinnes writings what I have observed of him my selfe and received by report of such as are best acquainted with his mind and wayes I conceive him to be so true an Israelite without all guile that he will not pretend one thing when he intends another 2. For the Assertion it selfe there be two things to be considered 1. Whether it be true or no. 2. If so what may be the reason of it that alleadged or some other For the first Whether the Assertion be true or no The resolution of this Question must be made with difference of times for Countreys as well as particular persons have their variations in Religion not onely for profession of the faith but for practise of holinesse as in King James his dayes upon the Declaration and libertie granted upon the Sunday that is the name in the Declaration and it is the fittest name for a licence of profanenesse for sports and pastimes renewed by the King that now is the people of England were more loose and licentious on that day then now they are upon the burning of that Book and an Ordinance of Parliament set out for the more holy observation of the Sabbath The Application of this distinction may resolve the observation severall waies and we may say that sometimes one people or Nation sometimes another and the same people at one time more then at another may be more conformable in practise to the principles of piety And as there is a
have seven no more then is contained in the sixe for my part if this be candidly and cordially in point of Church Government delivered and so received and professed by those of his side I hope such as are adversaries unto both parties shall not long rejoyce and prosper by the advantage they make of our mutuall divisions SECT XIX Further grounds and hopes of union in the Churches of the Sister Kingdomes of England and Scotland with Answers to the Objections that are made against it I Have the more hope of the Vnion fore-mentioned because if they who in respect of the paucitie and noveltie of their party compared with the Churches of the Presbyterian Government throughout the Christian World for number and Seniority are not so considerable as some conceive will yeeld as farre as they ought for a pacificall accord their Presbyterian Brethren will as farre as they may with securitie to the truth and reservation of the interest and honour of the Reformed Churches come downe to them in such a Christian accommodation as is requisite for a conclusion of peace My ground for this is that which I have observed in the disposition of the Reverend Religious and prudent Commissioners of the Church of Scotland for though that Church be supposed and censured by some as the most rigid in exacting assent to and observation of her rules and customes as if all must yeeld to her as the Standard of Discipline and she would yeeld to none they have alwaies in all their debates and behaviour even towards the dissenting Brethren carried themselves with a most Christian and Evangelicall sinceritie and sweetnesse of spirit and some of them have well witnessed to the world their hopes desires and endevours for peace especially with all the religious and faithfull Preachers and Professours of the Church of England For instance one of them in his * Mr. Gillespie his Brotherly examination of some passages of M. C. his printed Sermon p. 33. This is repeated in his latter Booke called Nihi◠Respondes p. 19. Brotherly examination of some passages in Mr. Colem his Sermon to this Question Where shall the Independents and we meet returneth this answer In holding a Church Governmeut jure divino that is that the Pastors and Elders ought to suspend or excommunicate according to the degree of the offence of scandalous sinners and who can tell but the purging of the Church frō scandals and the keeping of the Ordinances pure when it shall be actually seen to be the great worke endevoured on both sides may wake union betwixt us and the Independents more easie then many imagine and in his * Ibid. latter booke saith he we will never despaire of an union with such as are sound in the faith holy in life and willing to a Church refining and sinne-censuring government in the hands of Church Officers And in answer to Mr. C. his relation of news of agreement betwixt Presbyterians and Independents Lutherans and Calvinists Papists and Protestants Turks and Christians in holding that there is a Religion wherein men ought to walke he saith No Sir they must be united upon the like termes that is you must first have Turks to be Christians Papists to be Protestants and then you must have them as willing to purge the Church of scandals and to keep the Ordinances pure c. And after a few lines before repeated quitting Mr. C. his geering report of newes he replieth but soberly and seriously Now will I tell you my news the Presbyterians and Independents are both equally interested against the Erastian Principles and which is more for degree of assurance and for more generall concurrence in truth and peace not this Commissioner nor these Commissioners onely but the whole Church of Scotland is well prepared and disposed to a Christian and Brotherly compliance with the Church of England in the way of reformation for Mr. Coleman having objected that the Commissioners of Scotland came not to the Assembly at Westminster as Divines by dispute and disquisition to find out the truth but at Iudges to censure all different opinions as errours for so saith he come for nine Divines to Dort Alexander to the Councel of Nice Cyrill to Ephesus the Learned Commissioner answereth him thus Is it not enough to slander us though he doe not for our sakes slander those worthy Divines that came to the Synod of Dort Alexander also and Cyrill prime witnesses for the truth in their dayes would no lesse content him then to approve the Objections of the Arminians against the Synod at Dort which I had mentioned p. 33 but he gets not away so the strongest instance which I had given he hath are once touched it was concerning Paul and Barnabas who wore engaged not in the behalfe of one Nation but of all the Churches of the Gentiles against the imposition of the Mosaicall rites and had so declared themselves at Antioch before they came to Ierusalem Finally whereas he doubts though not of our willingnesse to learne more yet of our permission to receive more That very paper first given in by we which I had cited and unto which he makes this reply did speake not onely of our learning but of the Church of Scotlands receiving And which is more there is an actuall experiment of it the last generall Assembly having ordered the laying aside of some particular customes in that Church and that for the neerer uniformitie with this Church of England as was expressed in their owne Letter to the Reverend Assembly of Divines And though they thought it necessary to shew their different opinion in one point of the Directory yet they entred their dissent without any disaffection to us of the Assembly I will give you their sense in their owne words which are these Onely we have thought it necessary to declare and make knowne that the Clause in the Directory for the administration of the Lords Supper which appointeth the Table to be so placed that the Communicants may orderly sit about it or at it is not to be interpreted as if in the judgement of our Kirks it were indifferent for any of the Communicants not to come to and receive at the Table or as if we did approve the distributing of the elements by the Minister to each Communicant and not by the Communicants among themselves in which particulars we still conceive and beleeve the order and practise of our owne Kirke to be most agreeable to the word of God the example of our Lord Iesus Christ and the nature of that heavenly Feast and Table neverthelesse in other particulars we have resolved and doe agree to doe as you have desired us in your Letter This was part of the Letter from the Generall Assembly at Edenborough signed thus Subscribed in the name of the Generall Assembly by Mr. Robert Douglas Moderatour Feb. 13. 1644. Whereby we see they doe not for that difference of opinion take any offence or shew any dislike