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kingdom_n	great_a	whole_a	year_n	2,014	5	4.3345	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95843	The supreme povver of Christian states vindicated against the insolent pretences of Guillielmus Apollonii, or A translation of a book intituled, Grallæ, seu vere puerilis cothurnus sapientiæ, &c. Or, the stilts, or most childish chapin of knowledge upon which William Appolonius of Trever, and minister of the church of Middleburgh boasts, among such as are ignorant, in his patcht rhapsodies, which hee set forth concerning supreame power and jurisdiction in matters of religion. Against the book of the most famous Dr. Nicholaus Vedelius, intituled Of the episcopacy of Constantine the Great.; Grallæ. English.	Vedel, Nicolaus, 1596-1642,	1647 (1647)	Wing V168; Thomason E388_5; ESTC R201503	255,312	305

get wings with which they may flie higher which when they have got they take no longer delight in their former wives but like adulterers they begin to woe other women which are much more beautifull either because of rich Citizens or Citie commodities or for some others worldly respect And those spirituall husbands are oftentimes so impudently importunate that not onely do they use unlawfull wayes to obtaine their new Brides but make such haste also that before the former be lawfully divorsed they marry with the later Now I will aske this also if the Church be the Ministers wife how will it stand with the chastity of Wedlock that a busie Minister who loves other mens fruit better then his own should go to delight himself in other Provinces and leave his Church to other spirituall Husbands that they may performe the dues of Matrimony to her Is not he a Bawde to his own wife especially if by gluttony or sloth his meanes being spent this Husband of the Church be forced to saile to the Indies or some other part of the world to recover his losses in which case he forsakes his Wife and for the time joynes himself to a richer and lest shee should be forsaken like a Widow some other Husband succeeds in the place of the former who notwithstanding doth not suffer himself to be divorted totally from the former Wife but reserves a power to return to her if this later afterwards displease him Many things could be alledged against the Ecclesiastick marriages of Ministers and their Churches which seem to me so immodest that if it be true what these night-birds whisper that Ministers are the Husbands of their Churches all Churches will be accounted bawdy-houses and Ministers Bawdes or Whooremongers but enough of this title There is one thing remaining for establishing of Apollonius his Kingdom which I wonder that he who is in every thing the Popes Ape did not also borrow this of him there is a notable place in Jeremie Jer. 1.10 where God sending the Prophet as his Ambassador doth inaugurate him with this high elogie Behold this day I set thee over Nations and Kingdoms to pluck up and demolish to destroy and to overthrow to build and to plant c. If this elogie should be taken literally you would think it gave so much power to Jeremie that it might seem he had leave to command imperiously all Kings and Nations but Jeremie by his own example taught that this was not to be taken literally because he so performed that great Ambassie that floating through divers injuries opprobrious speeches prisons and many dangers he preached Gods judgements in great humility The Pope who strangely despiseth Gods word hath farre otherwise expounded this elogie for Sixtus the fifth in the Bull by which he excommunicated Elizabeth Queen of England in the yeere 1588. so takes these words that by them he assumes power to overthrow the whole Kingdome of England for performing of which he had Philip of Spaine ready as his executioner who by his mighty Fleet of a 150. Ships resolved then to invade that Kingdom and by the Popes command to extinguish all the Protestants but that paper-thunder vanished into the wind it appeares then by his Popes Bull what his spirituall power is that if he cannot by himself immediatly yet by his souldiers he may overthrow Kingdoms and Nations with the spirituall Sword of Excommunication and that by the same priviledge which Jeremie had who though he was the first possessor thereof yet took so small pride in it that he plainly shew by the moderation of his life that he could see no such thing in that priviledge as the Pope by his new interpretation draws from it but what can be expected else from Antichrist the man of sin and sonne of perdition the Walachrian Stilt-walker conscious of his own weaknesse durst never as I know apply this elogie to himselfe who notwithstanding seemes to observe his clandestine counsels and machinations which he is daily practising against the Magistrates of Middleburg they say that there is nothing he desires more then that he may once have power to overthrow and extirpate the Government of that famous City by the severity of which alone he perceives that his unbridled desire of domineering is curbed and though no catechisme is with him of greater esteeme as is thought then that he may recommend to trustie men the care to leave no occasion unattempted for overthrowing the foundations of that Government and dissolving the bands of their union yet I wil counsel him that he would not be too busie eager about this hemp work lest whilst he studies to weave this Church-web wherewith he may adorne himself sit ●●st he end in a Magistrates rope wherewith he may hang himself I have briefly touched the elogies by which Papists do every where extoll the majesty of their Church some whereof are fained and not found in Scripture most are figurative and metaphoricall but all conditionall which shew not what Ministers are but what they should be to wit Pastors Leaders Fathers and Overseers of the Church and so they are to be accounted if they be endowed with gifts requisite for these Functions and use them aright wherefore when Teachers were divinely inspired the calling divine and imposition of hands effectuall Christians might lawfully rest in and give obedience to their Pastors and Leaders as unto faithfull Fathers Bishops and Ambassadors of Christ even as to God or Christ himself because they were infallible but this happinesse lasted not long for even whilst the Apostles were living false brethren crept into Churches who proud of their eloquence and vocation durst equall yea preferre themselves to the Apostles so that these Divine men then gave warning to Christians not to beleve absolutely every spirit but first to examine according to Scripture whether or not these spirits were of God If Christians then stood in need of such circumspection when there were so many infallible Teachers to whom they might in blind obedience safely trust their soules how carefull now must we be of our salvation when for the space of so many hundred yeers there hath been none found in all the world whom God hath so assisted with infallibility as that we may safely rely upon him the Pope hath now for a long time strangely bewitched the world in making Christians beleeve he is infallible and this supine credulity hath in Gods just judgement cast innumerable soules into hell nor is the Pope onely guity of this remerity there is no Monk or Priest so drunk as will not bragge of the character of his vocation and boldly cry out that he is a Captain a Watchman of souls as set over the souls of men a Houshelder of heaven an Ambassador of Christ which is performed by these brawlers with such eagernes oftentimes that they imprecate all curses against themselves and pawne their bodies and souls to the people if they teach or lead them otherwayes

then Gold is like Drosse For the old Censure first instituted by GOD and used by the Jewes was practised by Apostolicall Churches and that by the command of Christ and his Apostles This consisted first in verball reprehension which all were bound to exercise and that by divine right Levit. 19.17 Heb. 3.13 1 Thess 5.11 12 13 14. Secondly in Separation when they withdrew themselves from their company and avoyded the conversation of such as were not bettered by admonition and reprehension Mat. 18.15.16 1 Cor. 5.9.10 11. Which separation was made for two causes First that by this the contagion of sinne might bee avoyded Secondly that the sinner seeing himselfe despised might be ashamed and so might hence take an occasion to repent The Jewes in Christs time by vertue of this Censure alone debarred Publicans and sinners from their companies in privat whom they could not keep out of the Temple who therefore reproved Christ because he did eat and drink and keep company with Publicans and sinners whose institution Christ did not absolutely reprove but corrected shewing that it was not simply unlawfull to converse with Publicans and sinners but lawfull when any furnished with the gifts of instructing admonishing and reproving like a Physitian cures them of their evils and spirituall maladies This Doctrine Paul urgeth 2 Thess 3.6.14 where hee teacheth that we must not converse with them who live disorderly that being by this separation contemned they might be ashamed but that they should bee excommunicated out of the Church or debarred from Divine worship and meanes of salvation wee read not in Scripture but rather to admonish them to reprove them as brethren but not reject them as enemies And as he teacheth in 2 Tim. 2. v. 25. we must use them with lenity although they make resistance This is the ancient Censure grounded on Divine Precepts and the practice of Antiquity of most Divine right and most fit to remove sinne and scandall out of the Church which had it continued all Ecclesiastick tyranny had been removed out of the Church neither had so much carelesnesse and contagion of scandals fallen among Christians especially their Rulers For each Christian being sollicitous of his own and neighbours salvation by admonishing reproving and separating them when need required hee had removed from his brethren sinnes and scandall yea even from the Doctors themselves by right of this fraternity as we see how Paul reproved Peter when he walked not uprightly and how Aquila and Priscilla did instruct and admonish that famous Teacher Apollos But now here we see the Churches infelicity for the Pride of the Doctors especially among Papists hath taken away this old Censure because it gave too much power to all and singular Christians whom they began to account for Lay-men and thought it unworthy that the care of great businesse should be committed to every member of the Church But Clergie-men took all this upon themselves and made that Office peculiar to themselves which God had granted to all and singular Whence arise these mischiefes which we see this day in the Church First in that the common sort of Christians laying aside all care of the Church and holy mysteries give themselves totally over to worldly businesse leaving the Office of censuring to Ministers altogether Secondly in that the Clergy are so puffed up with this prerogative that they thinke themselves the onely Judges of censures and Manners and that they are armed with such power as if they could by divine priviledge open and shut heaven bind and loose and make of a Christian a prophane man and a Publican which perswasion as soon as it possessed mens minds it first brought Ecclesiastick tyranny into the Church and at length begot Antichristian Popes who by this power of censuring hath subjected to himselfe all Christians especially the Kings of the earth As we may see in that wicked Hildebrand of whom we spoke before who about the yeare 1080. forced Henry the fourth Emperour a man of a degenerate spirit and who had committed adultery with the Whore of Babel Platina to make a journey bare-footed through Ice and Snow to him being then at Canassa where for three dayes togother he did humbly intreat to bee admitted which he could not obtaine without the intercession of dishonest Mythildes and her Ruffians by whose mediation he was admitted at last to fall down at that wicked Popes feet and to receive pardon I confesse at this day the Popes pride is not so great because out of the Revelation wee are taught that many Kings now forsake the Whore and spoyle her But whatsoever he doth at this day in his intollerable pride he doth it under the sole Title of the Sword and of the power of Censuring whose thunder-bolt is Excommunication And though this mocker of all holy things knowes and beleeves that this his thunder is not more valid then a Fart yet he perswades the timerous superstitious people and they beleeve him that it is a thing of great spirituality and force So that one who was too superstitious seeing with what pomp excommunication was denounced at Rome cried out that doubtlesse hee was thrust out of heaven whom the Pope thus excommunicated For he is a pleasant Actor in this Play which is performed with strange running up and downe of Church-Ruffians and the Popes Parasites with great jangling of Bells with a wonderfull kindling of fires and Torches and a sudden putting of them out and although in this he doth nothing but what with as great dexterity is performed daily by Stage-players in their Tragedies yet by a fatall efficacy of error he hath so prevailed with Princes that they beleeve him to be a most holy Father whom they see and often confesse to be a most wicked knave and that his excommunication is a matter of wonderfull force and sanctity albeit they know that hee debarres them not from heaven but from their earthly goods except they resist him by force of armes The chiefe places out of which heretofore the Antichristian Gyants did beat out the Popes Ecclesiastick thunder of the greater Censure are these Matth. 16.19 Matth. 18.17 18. Iohn 20.21 23. 1 Cor. 5.4.5 and that is of chiefe account which Christ promised to Peter in giving him the Key●s of the Kingdome of Heaven that is power to forgive and retaine sinnes and to bind that in Heaven which is bound on earth this is commonly thought to bee given to Peter and the Bishops of Rome by speciall priviledge with which Title the Pope is so proud that he carries the Keyes in his Armes as if he were that Door-keeper or Claviger of hell mentioned in the Revelation and so ascribes to himselfe alone as being Peters successor this power of the Keyes By the perswasion of this superstion he hath subjected the whole world to him For so he threatens that hee will shut Heaven gates against all those who will not obey him The Walachriah Stilt-Walker being instructed in the

Popes school he trumpets out every where the power of the Apostolicall Keyes with so great pride of Jurisdiction and of commanding power that the Popes Keyes and those of Apolonius seem to bee made by the same Vulcan which want nothing but a little better polishing which in time will be done For who ever will turne over the Papists writings and these of Apolonius shall see that whatsoever the Pope proudly bragges of concerning his Hierarchy in the right of Peters succession the same doth Apolonius and the new Walachrian Papists proudly challenge in right of Apostolicall succession Nor do I deny but this hath been too common among divers reformed teachers to be somewhat superstitiously affected with this right of the Keyes and of Excommunication which is not to be wondred at seeing some of the Reformers had been bred in the Romish Church whose Botchers shop was filled with such old trash of Jurisdiction it could scarce be otherwise but that the most part being born there must smell of that mother But afterwards some others treading in their foot-steps and prouder then the former did too much advance this Ecclesiastick power of the Keyes So that we must confesse it hath fallen out with many Reformers as it doth with those who goe about to purge out the Garlick which they have eate who though they doe what they can to purge and remove it yet they cease not to smell more or lesse of it This may bee seen in many chiefly in our Walachrian Stilt-walker who above all others delighting in the menstruous blood of his Romish mother and smelling so rank of it boasts so proudly every where of the power of the Keyes that you shall scarce find his equall whose fooleries that I may now refell this I say That there is nothing more certaine then that Christ in promising the Keyes to Peter and the Apostles did conferre on them no vulgar thing but what was both new rare and excellent and by which he would exalt them above humane reach as it were when he gave them this power of heavens Keyes Whence it is not likely that by these is meant so small and easie a matter as the Church at this day exerciseth For what great or rare matter is this if a Church-Ruler or Preacher say at this day the Kingdome of Heaven is open to thee if thou beleeve if thou beleevest not it is shut against thee Not onely was this the ancient preaching but almost every ordinary man in the Church can say so Yea whoever reads the Scripture or heares but a childe reading them hee exerciseth this judgement of himselfe and useth the Key For if he see any disobedient hee will judge that heaven is shut against him if hee repent not If again hee see him convert he will judge that heaven is opened and so will use this Key Neither must Church-men think that they have now more power in using this Key For we finde by experience that Clergy Assemblies Consistories Classes or Synods are no more powerfull in denouncing this judgement then any private man being intent on the thing and carefull to search out the truth so that wee find by experience that one Lay-man hath judged better and hath made better use of this Key then a whole Synod For though Apolonius prate much concerning the speciall assistance of the holy Ghost yet we finde no other effects thereof then what the Pope boldly bragges concerning his infallibillity and yet hee is the lyingest faisister that ever the world saw So then these Church-men are very oftentimes deceived who bragge so much of the power and certitude of the Keyes Let Apolonius witnesse then which no man is a more impudent bragger of this power of the Keyes except the Pope and yet by his preaching Key he hath produced so many lies that he may seem to carry not the Key of Heaven but of Hell with Apollion And that you may not think this to be a personall errour except he will also ●e in this lo the whole Walachrian Classis hath cō ented to these fictions so that hence appears the false judgement of the Church in the use of the preaching Key because not onely it is not of greater force then a private Christian mans iudgement but oftentimes of lesse validity For at this day the iudgement of Church-men is so corrupted with affections that we may beleeve many whom they condemn to hell shall surely enioy heaven and on the contrary they shall goe to hell whom they iudge worthy of heaven by their Key How ever the matter be it cannot be evidently proved that now Church-men have any greater power in using the Keyes of Heaven then any particular member of the Church whilst in their Sermons their threatnings and promises of life eternall are conditionall Whence it is not likely that Christ gave so little right as this to the Apostles under the glorious title of the Keyes of heaven and of so solemne a promise but that there was in this some high matter and peculiar to the Apostles onely which I place in this because they were the first Heralds of salvation performed now by Christ and of heaven opened by him which was never proper before nor after to any of Gods Embassadours Before the work of salvation was performed salvation was hoped for but then heaven was in a manner shut as yet After Christs Ascension it was truly opened And this priviledge the Apostles had that they were the first witnesses hereof Besides before that time heaven was shut against the Gentiles who as it were by a partition wall were debarred from entring thither so that no man nay not the greatest Prophets before this had power to open heaven promiscuously to all Gentiles the Jewes being forsaken This matter was so high and rare that even the Apostles though illuminate by Gods Spirit came to know this when it was late and not without Miracles too which being understood they without wearisomnesse by a divine wonderful rapture contemning all dangers carried the Gospel almost through all the world so that Thomas himselfe as grave Authours witnesse preached and travelled as farre as India Which indeed was notable and nothing else but the opening of heaven To this was added their infallible power of preaching that they sayd nothing but by Gods prescription For the preaching Key which Christ promised and gave to his Disciples was so excellent and divine that with it he gave unto those first Patriarchs of the Church graces by which they delivered the truth infallibly so that not onely did they shew Heaven opened but by their infallible doctrine as with a Key did open it to every one and declared it infallibly by their divine power of judging to whom it was opened or shut so that what they bound and shut on earth was truly bound and shut in heaven And contrarily This power after the Apostles ceased For what they once opened remaines open nor can it be shut again by any The Pope

speake truth knowes that hee obtained this speciall right of Sanctity by the like mysterie of Vocation and that hee hath no other wayes almost bestowed it upon others I know that somtimes things are carried more conscionably and that the abuse of a thing takes not still away the use thereof yet this I dare say that because at this day are wanting men divinely inspired to call and because the bestowing of spirituall gifts is separate at this day from Imposition of hands though it be done by Christs command and for a spirituall end yet in respect of the manner modern vocation is meerly humane because the whole manner is fallible humane and oftentimes corrupted whence the effects must be also humane and oftentimes most vitious so that we have instead of Apollo Apollonius a Sophister for a Prophet a Sycophant for a Bishop But because this vocation is with Apollonius the chiefe Originall of moderne Church-spiritualitie least we should believe there is more in the effect then in the adequate cause I conclude that the power of excercising Church-affaires at this day is not of divine but of humane right and therefore Apollonius playes the Impostor who prates so at random of the sanctity of his Church-affaires and of the speciall spirituall right of exercising them he is not unlike to them that falsifie coyne who wash brasse leaden or iron pieces with a little silver or gold to impoverish others and inrich themselves I confesse that this is the old Popish garlick sticking close to many but he who will looke over the writings of all Divines as hee brags hee hath done may perceive that the most quick-sighted Reformers have found out long since that whatsoever is so highly talked of the speciall right of sanctity is nothing else but the secondine of the Romish mother and the pollution adhering to her sons since their nativity there is none more stubborne then the Stilt-walker who above all others delights in the polluted blood of that Romish Whore and sips up againe her excrements not being content with common Elogies he prides himselfe so much in the right of this priviledge that he affirmeth every where that the Ecclesiastick power is a kind of Majesty and hath in it some thing that is Regall I confesse that the name of Christians puts us in mind of our Kingly Office which as the Catechist saith consisteth in this that we strive against sin and subdue the lusts of the flesh and this is common to all Christians but the Stilt-walker not content with this Priviledge of a Ministeriall right of vocation he makes a right of commanding and raigning in the Church and that speciall censoriall and nomotheticall so that many times he calls this power under Christ imperiall selfe-sufficient absolute and regall I confesse they are but trifles which he spreads every where yet least he should seeme to be neglected because he is not laughed at it will not bee unpleasing to rub his eares a little Par. 1. p. 8. 25 c. Mat. 13. c. He is wonderfully pleased that Christ calls the Church his Kingdome which is not of this world but heavenly and the Kingdome of heaven whence he concludes that the visible Church is a Kingdome and that the Government thereof is like that of a Kingdome and because the power of this Government is in the Church-Rulers that therefore their power is in a manner Kingly such are the Popish enthymemes concerning a spirituall and Ecclesiastick Kingdome I answer here is a fallacy in the ambiguity of the word when they meane every where by the Church the visible Church for when Christ saith that his Kingdome is not of this world but heavenly he meanes the Catholike Church the greatest part whereof is in heaven and there raignes with Christ But because for the accomplishing of this Kingdome the visible Church here on earth is appointed and her Ministery therefore Christ transfers the name of the Kingdome of heaven to the affaires of the visible Church not as if he meant that the visible Church or her Ministery should be held for a Kingdome or for the Kingdome of heaven but by a knowne Metonymie he transfers the name of the effect and end to the efficient which leads to that end no other wayes then we use to say that a man labours for food and rayment whereas he workes for money not as if money were food and rayment but because by it these things are procured he deserves to be laughed at who in silver seeketh properly for food and rayment because figuratively it is called food and rayment as ridiculous are the Papists when they seeke in the visible Church a regall and celestiall Power and dominion because it is called the Kingdome of heaven for no other reason but because it is the medium by which we attain to that blessed Kingdome in heaven This is the old Papists Logick to seek for literall conclusions out of figurative speeches which art almost every where the Walachrian Bapist borrowes from them and chiefly in this Argument for because Christ calls the visible Church and its Government a Kingdome and of heaven figuratively he concludes that the Church-Rulers have a regall power and that they are really and simply heavenly Kings although I suspect that he wrote this and many other things but in jest yet I will drive out this joculary naile with another naile that any one may see the absurdity If the visible Church be the Kingdome of heaven truly and simply as Apollonius saith then I will infer that of necessity the Church of Midleburg is also literally the Kingdome of heaven which if so then I will conclude with another consequence that that Church is literally heaven for England and France are the Kingdomes of England and France Hence further I conclude that as often as the visible Church meeteth in the temple of Middleburg there heaven is literally and by another consequence as often as the Stilt-walker preacheth in that Church he preacheth in heaven then it must follow that while he is there with his Hearers he is not properly on the earth except he will mingle heaven and earth together And againe it will follow that because he is a Ruler in that Church and hath the power of censuring he is not only a King but the King of heaven too as Rhadamanthus is of hell How blessed then is Apollonius who if he doth not reigne in the earthly Consistory of Middleburg yet he is King of Middleburgian heaven Are not then the Magistrates of Middleburg stupid who yet doubt whether the Stilt-walker be worthy of the earthly Kingdome of his Consistory whom long ago they see to be King of heaven That he may reconcile these absurdities he will be forced to confesse that this word of the Kingdome of heaven is figuratively and improperly attributed to the visible Church But if Apollonius may with Papists expound figurative words literally there will be nothing certain in Divinity but Christians

for Kings are called Fathers Lords 1 Tim. 5. Paul bids Timothy honour old men because of their gray haires as Fathers so the title of Father is given to Bishops but from hence to infer an absolute dominion and a priviledge to obey no man is childish for if we would contend about this word the King shall be the Bishops Father and the Bishop the Kings Father he shall also be an old mans Father and againe the old man shall be his Father so the one shall not obey but command the other Hence will arise Anarchie wherefore we must againe consider that figurative phrases must not be too much stretched Paul improperly attributes to himselfe the title of Father and yet he had many prerogatives by this title none is properly Father of the Church and of Beleevers but God by whose Word as by seed we are regenerated Paul himselfe confesseth that he is a sower and a planter who will not say that it is improper for a husband-man to be called Father of corne or trees Yet the Apostles had this priviledge because by instinct from God they produced that divinely inspired word which begets alwayes faith He also glorieth in this to the Galathians that he particularly as a Father had first of all converted them and had made them a Church though in this paternall right Paul had many Prerogatives yet we see that in his Government he was farre from pride and imperiousnesse wherefore the Stilt-walker againe imitates the Papists that under this most common right of Father by which he is rather a Paedagogue then a Father of the Church croaks so loud of his imperiall and kingly power that he will have himselfe preferred to all Magistrates for the word which he preacheth is but a strange kind of seed which he casts nor is it infallible as that of Pauls but corrupted and very lying in many things Neither doe we thinke the Stilt-walker so old as that he was the first Founder of the Church of Middleburg so that he wants all the prerogatives by which Paul claimes to himselfe paternall right how ridiculous then is this figurative and personated Father of the Church in making Magistrates but children and his sons whose Father he cannot be but by a very remote reason and in inveighing so eagerly against them that he seditiously moves the people to rob them of their honours and estates and then goeth about to excommunicate them with his censuring key that is to exclude them out of hezven it selfe We did here jest among our selves that these Walachrian Fathers were of the race of those Cats which Philosophers write use to bite and devour their young chite which they bring forth so that the female cats do extreamly hate the male cats or sires of their young chits not suffering them to touch or come neare them If this Wal●chrian be such a monstrous Father he will not wonder if hereafter the Churches as mothers doe abhorre and drive him away as an unnaturall Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He wonderfully swells with the title of Legat for which he quotes 2 Cor. 5.20 which Beza translates we are Embassadours the word in Paul is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and properly signifieth we are Presbyters but this our night-bird delighting himselfe in this interpretation of Beza cries out every where that he is Christs Embassadour for although Paul presently place the exercise of this Embassie in Prayers and humble perswasion yet this Walachrian rattle-mouse desiring alwaies to chirp louder in his caves under ground then the howles doe cry at Athens concludes from hence every where that he is invested with this title of Christs Embassadur by an authoritative and powerfull Jurisdiction above all Magistrates For he saith in the place quoted that Magistrates are no where called Christs Embassadours but onely Ministers and Vicars of God In this his device hee varieth much from his owne Calvin who very where honoureth Magistrates with the title of Gods Legats and surely had he well weighed what he wrote he would have seen that more belongs to the Magistrate then to Church-men because they have the title of Vicar which is more then Legat For I searce beleeve that Apollonjus will willingly assume to himselfe the title of Christs Vicar least he should make himselfe too like the Pope of Rome who despising the title of Legate calls himselfe Christs Vicar so that we may laugh at Apollonius his giddinesse who would out of the greater title fasten upon Magistrates the lesser dignity but contrary on Church-men greater honour out of the lesser title But here the Stilt-walker seeks out another mote for he makes a strange distinction between Gods Kingdome and Christs or between Christs Kingdome of mediation and creation making that much more worthy and holy then this whence he collects that he is farre to be preferred to all Magistrates because these are onely Gods Legates but he is Christs Legate as being the Mediator exalted as if he would have something more worthy and holy then God himselfe I confesse I envy not this extortioner of phrases that every novelty may please him onely this I say that this his device is nothing to purpose for Paul in 1 Cor. 15. describing Christs Kingdome as Mediator saith that by right and in recompence of the work of mediation as it were by which he did exceedingly humble himselfe was given to him the chiefe honour as being God and man not onely to fit at the right hand of God the Father but that also by a wonderfull dispensation the Father from that time hath submitted all power and bestowed on Christ the Mediator which he will not lay downe before the end of the world and after judgement will deliver it up to his Father This the Apostle calls a mystery and I confesse I am ignorant of it yet I adore it Hence this assertion of the Walachrian Papist falls to the ground For if Christ after his Ascension alone reigne in heaven earth and under the earth as the Apostle speaks then it must follow that all Kings and Magistrates even Turks and Gentiles belong to Christs Mediatorie Kingdome and that they are the Vicars and Legats of Christ the Mediator for how can they be the Legats of any other Prince when as he alone reignes every where So that of necessity the Walachrian Commentators must hatch some other fiction whose practice I compared elswhere to Swine turning up dunghills Now I adde that to expresse this Impost●r by the picture of a Heg is an Egyptian Hieroglyphick for this is the property of that filthy beast to have cloven feet as the cleane beasts have with which they are alwayes dividing dirt and clay yet never divides or freeth it selfe from filth because naturally it delights in dirt Even so we see the Walachrian hereticks dividing their fooleries with many distinctions like impure hogs parting the dirt with their cloven hoofs and yet they never free themselves from their errors The Walachrian chiefe

are placed in authority or in the government of the Kingdome to prevent the like in the future by the tye and obligation of obedience by the aforesaid Oath imposed It is further ordered that no manner of Commander of what degree soever in any the Army or Armies of the Kingdome shall receive or be paid either for any past arrears or future means to accru from the publick unto him or them respectively untill such Commander or Commanders officer or officers do produce his and their certificate respectively of taking the Oath aforesaid And it is further ordered and declared that no person or persons of what degree or quality soever shall be admitted to sue implead or shall have any other judgement sentence or decree in any court or courts Judicature or Judicatures whatsoever either spirit all or temporall within the Quarters of the confederate Catholicks before such person or persons first take the said Oath of Association and that they not taking or refusing to take the said oath of Association shall be a sufficient plea in Barre and shall abate the suit or suits of any such person or persons whatsoever And the Superiours and other persons aforesaid of secular and regular Clergie intrusted to administer the said Oath of Association and to return Rolls as before declared are injoyned as they tender the publick good of Ireland and of the Catholick cause duly and effectually to pursue and observe the contents of this order and least herein they or any of them should prove negligent those to be intrusted in authority and with the governement of the Kingdome by this Assembly are upon such failer by issuing of Commissions to such whom they shall thinke fit to trust or by some other meanes to prescribe a Course whereby the said Oath of Association shall be generally taken by all the Confederate Catholiques of Ireland in manner as is before expressed and declared Given at Killkenny the 12 of March 1647. Thursday May 13. THis morning there was a debate in the House of Commons about a Burgesse for Rippon in Yorkshire by name Solomon Swale of Grayes Inne Esquire a gentleman of a very ancient family in that County and of undoubted fidelity to the Parliament which moved the Corporation to make choice of him in his absence without any seeking of his at all and they carried it for him with so general a consent that Sir John Bourcheier his competitor had though present at the election but sixteen voices at most whereupon the Indenture was returned by the Major of the Town for Mr. Swale to the most worthy and faithfull high Sheriffe of Yorkshire who very nobly and freely signed and sealed it sending it to his undersheriffe to be returne up speedily to the House But to the affront of the Towne and the noble Sheriffe and the dishonour of the worthy gentleman elected●●e tooke the boldnesse to retard the dispatch while in the meane time some Adversaries to this election have endeavoured to null it by questioning Master Swale yesterday upon a pretended delinquency at Haberdashers Hall for passing through the Kings Quarters to a solemn funerall of the Lady Vicountesse Cambden Henry Nonell Esquire and his onely Son and Heire all at the same time interred in Cambden in Glocestershire At the performance whereof he was ingaged to be present being much trusted by the said Lady in the execution of her great Will and also in her reall estate for raising Portions and preferring her Grand-Children and accordingly had leave given him to passe by a warrant signed under the hands of the Committee for safety of both Kingdomes All which I mention to note the insolent partiall dealing of an under-officer in a busines of so high concernement as the free election of a faithfull Gentleman for the service of his Country in Parliament The Petition of the Earle of Mulgrave the Petition of the Earle of Northampton and the Petition of Mr. Cartwright were this day reade It was Ordered that the Earle of Mulgraves Petition should be referred to a Committee to consider of his losses It was Ordered in relation to Mr. Cartwrights Petition who desired ten thousand pound out of the Earle of Northamptons Composition that the said Earle of Northampton shall be referred to Goldsmiths Hall to compound for his Delinquency upon the usuall Rates It was Ordered that a Letter should be sent to Captaine Batten for the discharge of those Shipps which belonging to the Queene of Swethland he lately brought into the Downes A Committee was named to consider of the great losses of Master Bourcher and Master Challoner and to receive Petitions and consider of the whole businesse concerning Alome and Aloms Pits Ordered that a third part of the Arreares of the Officers of the North shall be payd unto them in full of their Arreares which shall be charged upon the Excise in course with allowance of eight pound in the hundred to such as shall advance it Friday May 14. IT was this day Ordered that a fortnights pay shall be added to the Souldiers six weekes pay upon the disbanding And that those who goe for Ireland shall have six weekes pay more The Ordinance was past for Indemnity of Souldiers as also of the Committees of the severall Counties for what they have done in the parsuance of the Ordinances of the Parliament Letters came from Helmby certifing the Kings expectation of the Propositions to be sent unto him to which already he hath prepared an answer and that if he could not be allowed a Secretary to transcribe his answer he would write it over himselfe as faire and as well as he could the King was heard to say that his answer was such that he hoped to be justified in it Letters were also directed by the King unto the House of Peeres representing something as is conceived concerning the Proposition Saturday May 15. By Leteers from Ireland it was this day certified that the Towne and Castle of Caterlagh is surre ●dred to the Rebells upon quarter and that they intend to advance from thence to besiege another hold call'd Trymen Our ●orse are taken into the field the Rebells intend with a running Army to sall into the English quarters and sweep away all the cattell before them There is a report that the Lord I●●he q●i● hath performed good service in Munster and taken a strong Castle from the Rebells called Cupoquine where was found some store of Ammunition and provision It is also said that Generall Preston is designed with a strong power to march into Munster to divert the proceedings of the Lord Inchequin against him In the meane time from the Headquarters at Walden it is certified that the Souldiers have made their severall returns by their officers who say that they find no distempers in the Army but many grievances It is referred to a Committee of generall officers to digest into order and method what is propounded by the whole Army this accordingly hath been done and the grievances distinctly set downe in the name of the officers and souldiers of the whole Army which hath been presented to Field Marshall Skipper to represent them to the Parliament In this they meddle with nothing but that which pertains to them as Souldiers Monday May 17. THe Committee for Ireland did this day sit for the promoting of the affaires of that Kingdome from whence we received further confirmation that Generall Preston being advanced to hinder the prosperous successe of the Lord Inchequin in the Province of Munster Owen Oneale is ordered to defend the Province of Lemster and what the Rebells doe enjoy about Kilkenny which is a flourishing Country and by some called The Garden of that Kingdome A numerous party of our Horse with some companies of Foot are marched into the Field betwixt whom and the Rebells you will shortly heare of Action The Letters from Scotland doe this day certifie that the affaires in that Kingdome doe continue in the same condition as I declared to you in my last with little or almost no alteration at all Kolkiteth continueth and repeateth his old cruelties Lievtenant-Generall Lesley doth continue still at Pearth on the foot of the hills not far from Saint Johnstons he doth what he can to incurrage and fortifie the Garrisons in the Counties of Carlile and Larue He is making great preparations to advance into those Counties for the reliefe of the poore Inhabitants and to fight with Kilkitoth who it is said expecteth daily Recruits of men and Armes from Ireland The Lord Dunfermeling is not as yet gone unto the King to Hol●●by but setteth forth from London about Thursday next The present necessities of the Kingdome of Ireland doe crave sudden and considerable supplies That which this week is most remarkable is first from England The Kings Letter to the Parliament His Answer drawn up to the Propositions And his judgement of it The Queenes Letter is the King The Desires and the Demands of the Souldiers of the Army and an Order for more Pay for them The strong Castle of Catterlagh is Ireland surrendred to the Rebells And the successe of the Lord Inchequin in Munster The preparations there of our Forces and the Designes of the Enemy The cruelty of the Arch Rebell Kolkitoch in Scotland and the preparations of Lievtenant Generall Lesley to march up the Hills and to give battell to him Printed for H. B.