bellicus labor subdidit quam quod pax Christiana subiecit Although they got much by their warfare yet their Christian cunning peace hath got more to their dominion as a Prophet of their owne foretold and taught Tu regere Imperio populos Romane memento Hae tibi erunt artes pacique imponere nomen Like the snake Rome hath bene warmed in the bosome of our greatest kingdomes till it stung them vnto death like iuie so long it hath embraced that it hath eaten vp whole Monarchies like the Crocodile by weeping and creeping it hath got into the best estates like old Rome it vseth all Religion onely for a vantage he setteth Kings at ods and then becoms an arbiter hee brings kingdomes to the ballance and makes that weightier where hee doth propend As the Romane Emperours would bee counted Monarkes of the world although their Empire in Scipioes iudgement was but a point and vnder Traian when it flourisht most it was not the thirtieth part so the Popes will be taken for Gouernours of the world though that there bee but a little cantle of Europe which will hold of them Thus you see that it is the citties custome not the Churches right which makes them thus vsurping For there is no other no not Saint Peter that can yeeld it them Saint Peter they say was cald a Rocke therefore on Saint Peters chaire must the Church bee built to which we say that as Simon was called Peter i. a rocke so Peter was called Simon i. obedient to shew that they should build so that they might still obey nay being both Simon Peter he was after called Satan to shew the succession of that name would after proue Satannicall But Peter had the keyes of the kingdome of heauen which might loose or binde the kingdome of heauen we confesse was opened by S. Peters key the preaching of the word but the kingdomes of this earth are yet reserued in the power of God promotion comes not either frō East or West from North or South but it is God that sets vp one and pulleth downe another But Peter was bidden feed the lambes sheep why feeding is not fleecing chiefest of the flocke Peter was bidden kill and eate such killing was the conuersion not the confusion the mortifying not the murdering of the Gentiles it was not the killing sword but pricking word which wan Cornelius and 3000. at one sermon I but Peter by walking on the sea did get a dominion from sea to sea and from the floud vnto the worlds end no more say we then Christ that fled thither and walk there because he would not bee made a king But Christ came into S. Peters ship to shew that he would come into S. Peters sea yet as hee came in he came out againe as he desired Christ for to depart from him for he was a sinfull man to shew that hee would part from them when as they parted from his truth yet Peter was foretold his death and bidden follow to shew that as he followed in suffering he should follow in reigning but all this was no more then hee said vnto Iames and Iohn of the cup and baptisme they should be baptized with no more then hee told his other Disciples when he bad them take vp his crosse and follow promising they that left all for him should sit vpon twelue seates and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel who notwithstanding haue no iudgement in this world If they say S. Peter paid for Christ wee may say the fish paid it him if how Christ was first seene of Cephas then of the twelue Mary Magdalen saw him before Cephas if how S. Peter spoke the first and most vnto the Iewes of Christ we must answer it was because he spoke last and worst when he blasphemed him These are the prerogatiues of S. Peter whereon Bellarmine would build the Popes patrimony but how absurdly you may see by that vntempered morter with which hee daubes the Church-gouernment A monarchy saith Bellarmine is the best and to this we grant the best Monarke euen Christ alone as the father establisht him I haue set my king vpon mine holy hill of Zion All thinges according to S. Paul hapned vnto the Iewes in a figure saith Bellarmine and therefore our high Priesthood must resemble theirs to which we must answer Saint Paul meanes al things that are there mentioned for otherwise al their ceremonies are to become Christian the Church indeed as Bellarmine saith is a kingdome but Christ is the king to whom all power is giuen in heauen and earth a flocke but Christ is that good sheepheard a body but Christ is the head a ship which the blessed Apostles could not guide in the tempest vntill our Sauiour came and stilled the waues God forbid I should here condemne all Metropolitans and Diocaesans for I know there bee certaine Ecclesiasticall reserued cases in which they may determine but an vniuersall infinite and incontrollable iurisdiction ouer men Angels diuels and purgatorie soules cannot be but Luciferian vnto which our aduersarie compares it and Anti-christian How can the Pope take on him to direct all truth and salue all mischiefs in this world vnlesse he pull Christes office from his hands Can any man effectually call and send orders of Ministers but Christ which enables vs vnto this calling Can any determine all controuersies but the Spirit that leads into all truth any make one faith but one Christ in whom wee trust Can any gouerne well all the world but he must bee more then a man for a man can hardly gouerne his owne family more then an Angel for Angels are proportioned vnto seuerall prouinces in Daniels prophecie He must bee equall in iustice power and wisedome to God himselfe who takes no more in charge then the Pope challengeth Saint Paul had a care indeed of all Churches but it was of all that were conuerted then far fewer then are now to bee directed it was in writing praying preaching trauelling which the Popes haue little leasure to meddle with it was for edifiyng not destruction as they now intend Beeing destitute of Scripture they flie to their owne decretals whereof some are so plainely forged some full of so plaine falsehood the residue so much partiall that we may say with Christ He that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his owne glory and If I beare witnesse of my selfe my witnesse is not true Saint Peter did referre the choise of an Apostle to the disciples the Councell of Ierusalem preferred him before the rest hee cals himselfe but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a fellow Elder Saint Paul withstood him to his face as being in place and deed such as might and should bee blamed Cyprian saith all the Apostles had the fame fellowship of honour and office vnto which also Hierome consenteth Pelagius the second and Gregory the first would not be cald vniuersal thus it was til Phocas the murderer of his Maister made Boniface the third Pope of Priests
THE OATH OF ALLEGEANCE Defended by a Sermon preached at a Synode in the Metropoliticall Church of Yorke By THOMAS IRELAND Bachelour in Diuinitie 2. KING 11.17 And Iehoiada made a couenant betweene the Lord and the King and the people that they should be the Lords people likewise betweene the King and the people LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Edward Aggas and are to be sold at his shop vpon Snore hill neere Holborne Conduit 1610. To the most reuerend Father in God Tobie Lord Arch-bishop of Yorke Primate and Metropolitane of England My most honorable good Lord. WHereas euery one is made not onely for himselfe but for the Common-wealth which in a Monarchy such as ours consisteth in the welfare of the KING the welfare of the KING consisteth in the loyall and louing hearts of his subiects their loue and loyalty may most appeare in taking or approuing of the Oath of Allegeance I thought it also my duty most reuerend in Christ and my very good Lord being a publicke Minister by a publicke authority commanded to gather and declare the proofes thereof out of the word of God The cause is publicke both for this and for all kingdomes the place where it was vttered was publicke being a Synode of the Clergie The fruit may be publick in satisfying the doubtfull which here may see that this concerneth not so much the Popes as Gods authority bestowed vpon our King our aduersaries are growne publick in their libels contradictions therfore this without ambition or vainglory may be publisht to the world Thus determining to come in publick the fauors I haue receiued of your Grace who both cōmanded me to preach on this theame then encouraged me to print this my Sermon makes me the more presume to dedicate it vnto your gracious patronage protection for although the matter doth not answere your iudicious expectation as a mean artificer often mars good stuffe with rude hādling but that the truth wil well enough defend it selfe with a bad weapon yet the matter cannot be but acceptable vnto your most religious loyal Care which with deare and deepe affection I know desires endeauors by doctrine discipline example the confusion of Antichrist the peace of Sion the safegard and honor of our blessed Soueraigne Whatsoeuer it is it is the profession of a cleare conscience which if I haue not wel exprest there are far stronger which vphold the state of this question many may succeed in this defence There is no true Christian-subiect but wold aduêture credit life in so great good a cause And therfore humbly beseeching your Grace fauorably to censure the first aduentures of a young scholler I most humbly beseech the God of Grace to multiply his graces on your head and hart vnto your honor in this and happines in a better world And so rest Your Graces most humble and deuoted Chapleine Thomas Ireland Iuramentum Fidelitatis authoritate publica nuper stabilitum iure diuino licitum est This oath of alleageance is lawfull by the word of God wherof here followes the true copy I A. B. doe truely and sincerely acknowledge professe testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the world that our Soueraigne Lord King Iames is lawfull King of this Realme and of all other his Maiesties dominions countries And that the Pope neither of himselfe nor by any authority of the Church or Sea of Rome or by any other with any other hath any power or authority to depose the King or to dispose of any of his Maisties dominions or Kingdomes or to authorize any foraigne Prince to inuade or annoy him or his countries or to discharge any of his subiects of their obedience and alleagance to his Maiestie or to giue licence or leaue to beare armes raise tumults or to offer any violence or hurt vnto his Maiesties royall person state or gouernement or to any of his Maiesties subiects within his Maiesties dominions Also I doe sweare from my heart that notwithstanding any declaration or sentence of excommunication or depriuation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his successors or by any authority deriued or pretended to be deriued from him or his Sea against the said King his heires or successors or any absolution of the said subiects from their obedience I will beare faith and true allegeance to his Maiestie his heires and successors and them will defend to the vttermost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoeuer which shall be made against his or their persons their crownes and dignities by reason or colour of any such sentence declaration or otherwise And I will doe my best endeauor to disclose or make knowne vnto his Maiestie his heires and successors all treasons and traiterous conspiracies which I shal know or heare of to be against him or any of them And I do further sweare that I do from my heart abhorre detest and abiure as impious and hereticall this damnable doctrine and position that Princes which be excommunicate or depriued by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by their subiects or any other whatsoeuer And I do beleeue and am in conscience resolued that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoeuer hath power to absolue me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and lawfull authoritie to be ministred vnto me and do renounce all pardons and dispensations to the contrarie And all these things I do plainely and sincerely acknowledge and sweare according to these expresse words by me spoken and according to the plaine and common sense and vnderstanding of these same words without any equiuocation or mentall euasion or secret reseruation whatsoeuer and I make this recognition and acknowledgement heartily willingly and truly vpon the faith of a true Christian So helpe me God ECCLES 8.2 I aduertise thee to take heed to the mouth of the King and the word of the oath of God THE Writer of these words was Salomon the wisest and most peaceable gouernour that euer was in Israel The time was in his ancient yeares when after long experience of both good and euill he saw and said what was befitting euery state and place The occasion it seemes was the flight and reuolt of Ieroboam and his complices The coherence is apparant how from the commendation of true wisedome in the first verse hee deriues this wise aduertisement in the second which hee proues in the sixe following and in the ninth verse concludes his owne and his equals miseries when a ruler whose loue and care deserueth loue reapes nought but hate and hurt of his owne people His purpose was he supposeth himselfe a lawfull King as being ordained of God appointed of Dauid and admitted of Israel and thereupon requires a reuerend estimation of his worth and words and that vpon their oathes then sworne to God on his behalfe The text is diuersly read of diuerse interpreters the vulgar Latine
we may call the mouth of the king because our blessed Soueraigne endited it and yet the oath of God as it proceeded from his wisedome and is consonant with his most holy word which will appeare in proofe of the particulars If the Pope the Cardinall his Chaplein or the foule-mouthd exile would haue named any thing that had bene vnallowable they might haue saued vs a labour but since they do not because they cannot we must maintaine it all in euery part For the first assertory proposition of our Soueraignes lawfull right I could neuer haue imagined that it would euer haue bene questioned but that vir dolorum Doleman would haue aduanced their titles Clemens Octauus with his briefes would haue bard euery protestant tametsi sanguinis propinquitate niteretur Tortus I shame to speake it counts him for no Catholique and so no Christian and so not of the Church much lesse ouer it in iurisdiction But our most gracious King hath so soundly conuinced all such imputations and hath proued his and our faith to bee so conformeable to the Scriptures that the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile ouer it God hath so blest his rightfull claime with good successe and iust applause of his owne and other countries that the briefes came farre too short and perisht by their owne deliuerance to the fire whither otherwise they would haue deliuered vs Doleman I remit vnto the report of his owne brother and the seculars of his Religion which better know as iustly hate and set him out for worse then this place or present is to be made acquainted with For our Soueraigne without ambition or flatterie let me say thus much If succession can make lawfull This godly branch is lineally deriued from the blessed loynes of English Kings which for eight hundreth yeares haue swayed the Scepter of this Common-wealth If institution from God can make a king what greater proofe hereof can be then his many deliuerances before his easie and happy passage then and his hopefull issue to continue this for euer besides the speciall gifts which are onely fit for such a maiesty that are bestowed on him in his religion the confirmation of our Gospel in his experience which euer since his cradle hath already reigned in a more trouble some estate the maintenance of our peace is most infallibly promised But his learning is most admirable in a Prince of such employments By his meditations on the Psalmes his detestation of witches and the kingly blessing that he gaue his princely sonne wherein he discourseth so diuinely for the Scripture so religiouslly for the Church so prudently for the Common-wealth so carefully for his Court and so iudiciously for other exercises we may well know that he knows how to gouerne a kingdome Those although some railing Rabshakeh would attribute vnto some others yet his graue sound and sufficient composition of the scandalous factions and opinions of our Clergie his euery-where skilfull moderating in our vniuersity disputations his most excellent orations often made vnto the Parliament may satisfie the most enuious and testifie to the most incredulous the greatnesse of his worth Beyond all these is the neuer-inough praised Apologie wherein with such plainenesse he deliuers his deepe knowledge with such mildnesse he meetes with his aduersaries and yet with such acutenesse and abundance of reading he confutes and retorts all their assertions or arguments Especially the premonition which none but a Prince of equal spirit power durst vndertake wherin he so royally defends the common cause of Kings so seuerely censures the censurers so plainly doth he declare his right professe his faith discouer Antichrist expound the Reuelation and with such loue perswades to Christian courage vnitie that it effectually demonstrates him a Prince not only philosophical which Plato thought a blessednesse but prophetical which the Scripture counts diuine his quick insight beyond the reach of his priuy Councel as appeares in discouering the powder-blow his iustice mingled with mercies which those that sought his life yet liuing can testifie his deep wisdome in deuising this iust oath well witnes him not only wiser thē Ethā Heman Chalcol Darda the cunning and most learned of our aduersaries but one for his graces and perfections worthy to rule the world what man or mind therefore can be so base wicked or peruerse which either cannot find or finding will not confesse or confessing will not reioyce in this our happines in enioying him What subiect should not promise and performe all ciuill faith Our aduersaries very wrongfully racke this oath to spirituall obedience for albeit in their owne sayings they can make mountaines of mole-hils by their mentall reseruations yet according to Saint Austin tuxta mentem eius qui ministrat iurandum est an adiuration is to bee taken as the Iudge requiring it expounds himselfe and this is no more then iure diuine should be yeelded vnto princes Thus Saint Paule admonisheth Titus he should admonish all they should be subiect and obedient vnto powers and principalities Saint Peter willeth vs to be subiect vnto all manner of humane ordinance whether vnto the king as to the superiour or to the gouernours that are sent of him where I cannot but wonder at the corrupt exposition of the Iesuites which would haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be an ordinance from man as if it were from his deuise notwithstanding Saint Paul hath said all power proceedes from God whereas it is indeed an ordinance for man or Gods ordering man as hee did his other creatures in their places and duties Like to this is that where they say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies wee must not obey the king vnlesse hee shall excell in vertues or otherwise when as the same Apostle immediatly after bids vs to submit with feare not onely to the courteous but also to the froward to which Irenaus also consenting saith some Princes are appointed for profit some for punishmēt al fit for those ouer whō they rule and to be taken as appointed of the Lord. Thus the martyrs did submit themselues vnto their persecutors as Ignatius being in prison counselled his Antiechians Thus the Christian Souldiers did vnto Iulian. Thus the Councels did vnto their Emperors by whose helpe and authority they came together and confirmed their decrees Thus the Church the more primitiue it was it was the purer from disloyalty not because as our aduersaries haue imagined it wanted power for a little faith would haue remoued mountaines if it had bene expedient for Christianity because it wanted pride and heerein would imitate her maister Christ which might haue had many legions of Angels yet had rather yeeld vnto the ciuill sword of the Magistrate It is a nouell doctrine therefore arisen vp among the Iesuites to say Reges are proprie serui very slaues vnto their subiects contrarying euen common reason by confounding the difference of those relatiues and peruerting the truth of God It was not thus