profit of the difference and laugh at the follies and credulity of the appellants The Supremacy of the King in all Causes and over all Persons as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal being that which hath been learnedly evinced by our Writers and is solemnly recogniz'd every day in Gods presence in Prayers and Oaths according to the settlement of our Laws by the Wisdom of the Nation But though this inside of the Church be properly Secular and Temporal because visible yet the Secular Causes which belong to the determinations of Christian Secular Authorities are well and orderly distinguishable into Ecclesiastical and Christian or Temporal and Civill as the whole Commonwealth may be considered either as a Society of men or a Society of Christian men or Church In the first respect as men all are Subject to their own Kings and Laws in matters of life limb and property whether they be Christian or Holy or Heathen and Antichristian as they were before Christ came into into the World and must be to the Worlds end For Magistracy is Gods Ordinance whom all men therefore are to be subject to from the heart which alwayes attends what God appoints though manag'd by a Claudius who was weak and infamously credulous or Nero who for his cruelty was believed by many to be Antichrist for to such the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul command obedience and subjection not only for fear of wrath and power but for Conscience sake and the fear of God Rom. 13.5 1 Pet. 2.14 16. For they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13.2 Yet on this undoubted unforfeitable right of Earthly Kings and Governours according to their several Constitutions by the Laws of their Kingdoms the Pope like a fift Monarch hath ever and still doth affect and design new incroachments as before upon the King of Heaven and spiritual pretences of Superiority Not only by exempting his Subjects and Clergy from secular subjection assuming to be the mother of the Child that 's not her own but also through his Emissaries and influence in the time of his Reign and Power in bringing the Lives of Subjects to the Stake and their States into Forfeiture from their Posterity for Opinions and the Heads and Crowns of Kings themselves to the like danger for the like insufficient cause Absolving Subjects of their Allegiance which Christ binds on every Soul and leading them into perjury and Rebellion which God forbids and damns being not only Traytors against Heaven and Earth therein but which is infinitly worse Traitor-makers as Satan is worse than a sinner and as many Traitor-makers by their Doctrine and what lyes in them as there are Subjects or Polls in any Kingdom they would absolve and seduce Which made the Nation joyn unanimously against their methods not only by Acts of Treason since the Reformation but of premunire long before A very Apostolical and comely deportment in a chief Professor of Christian Holiness and vertue that he and his Missionaries should deserve to be thrust and shoulder'd out like Pests by a wise and a Religious people and their Friends and the door made fast against them with the strongest Barricadoes that could be thought of Hanging and Drawing and Quartering Yea many of his own Confessors and Martyrs our Native Roman-Catholicks to this day who sincerely adhere to all his other Doctrines though Flead Alive with penalties and inconveniences for it yet disclaim and desert his infallible guidance in this particular and would be ready to venter Lives and Fortunes for their Laws and Countrey against any Invasion of the Land though countenanc'd or authoriz'd by the Pope for though such Loyalty be looked upon at Rome with an evil eye as hath lately appeared in the Irish Excommunications for the like principle and profession of Allegiance yet they are resolved to be true to their King let who will call them Hereticks for being honest Subjects And this their Resolution must be grounded either upon Policy or vain glory to avoid the danger as well as the Infamy of Rebellious principles or upon Conscience to God which only is true honour I am apt if I do no wrong to believe the last and to acknowledge and own all such by Consequence as true English Protestants as any in our own Church for preferring Conscience before the Pope which as I have proved is the chief point in difference between Papists and Protestants And the rather if they deal alike with the rest of their opinions which set us at distance from one another by the same rule which if it be good and right must hold in the rest as well as this dismissing all other Tenets that are excepted against and have no support from God or Conscience or the Scripture but the bare Authority of the Pontifical Chair For being so dangerously and perfidiously deceived while trusting to its judgement and of right interpreting in a case so evident and plain and Important as Neck and Estate and Salvation can amount to If they will suffer themselves again to be over-rul'd to differ from their Brethren upon no reason of Conscience but this bare Authority alone whereof they have had tryal of its fidelity and the old sophisme of believing as that Church believes This cannot be counted worthy and filial piety and well weighed Religion in them but a negligent unadvisedness equivalent to plain fault and folly especially there being present suffering and future hazard in the Case according to the known Proverb The Friend that deceives me once it is his fault twice it is my own All differences in our Religion being thus easily compos'd between us if they stand constant to their good principle throughout its consequences as reason binds them to and there will be no reason else to believe or trust their Loyalty what a day of bliss would it be to them and us to go hand in hand together like Christian as well as English brethren to their Churches and ours what peace to themselves in their concerns both within and without what tears of joy would it cause in their Protestant Tenants and dependants who would willingly resigne their lives to see that blessed day what acclamation and bone-fire throughout the Nation for the restoration of its strength and Union what Ecchoes and Halelujahs amongst the Angels of Heaven that delight in mens Salvation and return from Errour But should they offer to make themselves and us and the Nation happy with such a Festival How must they expect to be well lash'd for this by their Old Friends for Hereticks and Schismaticks and Apostates from the Holy See besides the ignobleness of changing and being unconstant to which I shall not now reply But those of them that through Gods Grace assisting them nowithstanding such discouragements and obstacles that will be leaders and examples to their brethren in such paths of Peace and Life and count it Glory and magnanimity to adhere to truth through shame and calumny and but an Heathenish
the most considerable Saxon Kingdoms the Church of Rome had not the least Hand or pretence in their first Conversion though some of its bold seducers will not stick to affirm the English in general had no Christian Faith before Luthers time but what they received Originally from Rome and count them no less than Hereticks for adhering to the Religion of their Fathers which they undoubtedly received through Brittish Teachers from the Apostles which to deny were either great Impudence in such as know this to be true or great Ignorance in such as know it not But it is not however much to be wondered at in them for as Christ's mind and the truth with Christians so the mind of the Pope and the Interest of the Church of Rome with Roman-Catholicks is the rule and measure of their Conscience and affection and their Affirmations and the Eternal standard of good and evil verity an falsity with them incurably while Roman-Catholicks And why the men of that perswasion may not depose any thing in Tribunals against their light and private knowledge of the Truth for the Interest of their Church or at the Catholick suggestion of their guides why not sweare or conspire to any thing in point of Fact as well as believe any thing in point of Faith out of Implicit obedience to Superiours against the dictates of their conscience and the Truth which with them is but a private Spirit not to be followed against the other without danger I cannot see any reason to the contrary but the Roman-Catholick Hypothesis may well beare the consequence and Improvement provided all be carried on with a Lacedemonian skill and wariness with whom stealing was no Crime but to those alone that were caught in the Fact Hitherto we have recounted those Counties in England about 26 or 27 in number with the great City of London touching which the Church of Rome hath nothing to object or upraid the Inhabitants in their Progenitors in the least with any derivation of their first Faith from them and consequently not the least Imputation of Ingratitude or Disobedience or Schism to fasten on them in that respect any more than on the Ancient Brittains themselves Next I will instance in those Provinces wherein they have some pretence and colour out of Bede to insist on somthing to say for themselves and their title of Superiority whether it hold good or not both in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which was a considerable Territory and in the three other of East-Angles South-Saxons and Kent more inconsiderable in comparison that it may appear to all how that somthing is meer nothing as some of their kind and learned favourers have observ'd and in part confessed For their title over the West-Saxon-Kingdom and the Counties that did belong f Usher 394. thereunto Surrey Southampton Berks Wilts Dorset Somerset Devon Cornwall they alledge that the first Christian King thereof Kinigilsus was converted to the Faith by Roman Ministry by Birinus by name sent thither from Pope Honorius and ordain'd Bishop at Genua It is answer'd this Conversion came to nothing and were it true and Regular and with the leave and liking of the Bishops of this Province yet it ended with that King and with Birinus who left no successor g Bede lib. 3. c. 7. 27. The succeeding King Kenwalch refusing his Fathers Faith was Converted afterwards by the means of Anna King of the East-Angles whither he was driven out of his Kingdom by Penda who saith Polydor g Bede lib. 3. c. 7. 27. satis constat it s sufficiently manifest were of the same Province and Kingdom with the East-Saxons though sometimes govern'd by two several Kings and London was the Royal City and Metropolis of both Nations Kenwalch's Conversion therefore falling out in a Brittish Oswaldian See cannot be well ascribed to Rome Besides Agilbert the first Bishop he used for his Instruction is stil'd by Bede g Bede lib. 3. c. 7. 27. Pontifex ex Hibernia a Bishop out of Ireland though of French descent for there he studied several years and learn't that Divinity which he preach'd to Kenwalch which was Brittish Doctrine by consequence Where it is observable by the way how the greatest Clergy of France for Agilbert afterwards was Archbishop of Paris came over hither to our Britttish Isles to Study Divinity And Wini h polyd Virg. lib. 4 p. 71. who was afterwards made a Partner with him in his Diocess was not from Rome but from h polyd Virg. lib. 4 p. 71. France with whom the Brittish Church held fair Communion as with Ireland i Brittish Bishops and Doctors Famous in France were Apud Usher Mellon first Archbishop of Roan p. 145. Mansuetus first Bishop of Toul in Lorraign p 747. St Winocus p. 1147. St. Winwalocus p 464. St. Leonorius cum 72 discipulis p. 1012. Faustus Reiensis p. 424. Paulus Leonensis p. 558. Sampson Maglorius and Maclovius Archbishops of Dole p. 73 75. Alcumus Rabamus Maurus c. sending to as well as receiving Teachers from them Besides the passage about Birinus is suspicious and Legend-like in several Circumstances and making much against them For it doth not mention what Countrey he was of which never could be known as k W. Malmesbury lib. 2. de Episc Occiden Saxon p. 137. Malmesbury notes besides King l Bede lib. 3. c. 7. Oswald being Recorded to have been at the same time a Suiter for Kinigils Daughter and Godfather to his Faither-in Law at his Baptism It looks not as Improbable that his Conversion was brought about as of most of the Saxon Kings by the zeal and Industry of King Oswald who else was too pious to have that value for Heathen Allyanee And therefore our Birinus might well be an Erinach or a Loegrian-Brittain How else if a Forreigner could he preach and instruct the King who understood nought but English unless King Oswald was a Gospel-Interpreter between them as well in the South as he used in the North and so in effect a Royal Preacher of it to the English from one end of the Land to the other and the tale of Birinus his Italian Ordination looks like the other lusty Affirmation of Bede that makes way for his feates in that Church who in contradiction to himself as well as the truth represents the West Saxons at his arrival amongst them to be l Bede lib. 3. c. 7. Paganissimos altogether Heathenish whereas most of those Counties and some to this day were Ancient Brittish Christians who had Bishops preserv'd amongst them from the time of King Lucius and the Christian Faith from the Resurrestion and the Landing of Joseph of Arimathaea in their Territory besides that the first power of the Saxons over those Counties was through Treaty and Allyance for mutual assistance between Kerdick and Mordred as afore and not by force and Conquest and their confirmation in it by King Arthur with particular
denied by our Adversaries themselves that the Christian Faith was first introduced to our Brittain by Joseph of Arimathea who buried our Saviour in his own new Tomb Math. 27.60 who landed here with other followers of our Saviour shortly after his Resurrection and Diu ante-long before Eleutherius his time saith (a) Baron T. 2. An. 183. p. 240. Polyd. Virgil lib 2. p. 37. Barronius fixing it to the 35 year of Christ where after he had preach'd the Gospel in this Country he ended here his days and quotes an English M.S. in the Vatican Library for one of his Authors and Sanders and Cressy and Pitseus and the rest of the Roman Catholick writers upon this Subject allow this story so that habemus confitentes reos we have such a testimony for the proof of our first point as in wordly Tribunals is counted fatall and conclusive the confession of the Adverse party And it is to be wondred of such men that they should be so ill advised as to yield such a Truth so easily to such a prejudice to their Cause but what then should become of the credit of so many holy Monks Relations and Revelations touching the Monastry of Glastenbury and not only the devout visits of Faganus and Dwywanus and Austine and Paulinus sent hither from the Pope to preach the Gospel which proves Christian Religion as well as that Old Church to have been here in their belief and perswation long before their Arrival hither but the many Divine Revelations from Angels and the Virgin Mary and Christ himself about the building and dedicating that Ancient Church It 's safer therefore with our Romish Authors and a less inconvenience of the two to confess this fact and yield the cause than question the credit of so many Miracles and Supernaturall Revelations enough to spoil and overthrow their Church whose errours are chiefly supported and confirmed by such devices and extol the wisdom of Protestants that rely on no Divine Visions but those recorded in Scripture But others are swayed much more by other Evidences so many Charters of Kings as well Brittish as Saxon and Norman several extant to this day given to this Monastery upon the account and acknowldgement of its undoubted Antiquity and priority to all other Churches in this Land or in this part of the world The Charter of King (e) Usher de Primordiis p 122. Henry the Second in the year 1185. where it is affirm'd of it Fons Origo totius Religionis Angliae pro certo habetur And recites the Charters of former Kings touching the place of William the 1. and 2. and Henry his Grandfather and those Ancienter of Edgar and Edmond and Edward and Alfred and Bringwalch Kentwin Baldred Ina Inclyti Arthuri the famous Arthur Cudred and many other Christian Kings all diligently perus'd and read before him and the Charter of Edward the third in the third year of his Reign to the like effect both perus'd by the Renowned Vsher The first Church in the Kingdom of Brittain saith King Ina counted the Principal in this Kingdom ab Antiquo from Ancient time saith Edgar built by the Disciples of Christ where in all agree And (g) Monasticon Anglican the Tombs of so many Abbots and Saints and Bishops and Kings counting it Honour to be there Interr'd and King (h) Usher p. 117. Arthur in particular whose Tomb and inscription after the burning of the Abby was there found about the year 1200. say the best Historians of (f) Idem p. 124. those times But the bringing of this Tradition to publick test and examination in several (i) Usher p. 23. 175. General Synods of Europe gives it much great reputation where the Embassadors of England in the Controversie about the Dignity and Precedency of England with France who derive their first conversion from Dionysius the Areopagite converted by St. Paul at Athens Act. 17.34 and with Spain or Castile who ascend higher for their founder to James the Brother of John kill'd by Herod Act. 12. yet claim'd Priority to England before either of them from Joseph of Arimathea's landing and preaching here statim post i Usher p. 23. 175. Passionem Christi immediately after the Passion of our Saviour and the weakness of the exceptions of the Advocates of the adverse part may be seen in the great Vsher with answers to them where requisite which Controversie was first set on foot in the Council of Pisa in the year 1409. next in the Council of Constance in 1417. between the Embassadors of France and England in the Council of Sena 1424. before Pope Martyn the fift between us and French and Spaniards together 1434. between the Embassadors of England and Castile again which passages have so prevail'd with Cressy that he hath no scruple left but one and that not against the Fact and body of the story but against the time and earliness thereof k Cressy Eccles Histor he can not hastily believe that Joseph arrived here so soon wherein yet he is to be commended by that party for his watchfulness for the Honour and Prerogative of the Church of Rome in apparent danger of being overthrown by this Church if the date and time as well as the substance of the story be once granted and evinced For if Joseph arrived here in the 35 year of Christ as Baronius guesses or the 36. as others for where some differr it to 63. m Spelman Concil p. 12. Sir H. Spelman conceives the figures displaced 63 for 36 and our Saviour suffered in the 34 of his age it follows that Joseph repaired hither immediately after the Resurrection in the 21 or 22. that is to say the last or last year saving one of Tiberius his Reign Christ being Crucified in his 20 th n Helvic Chron. whom Caligula succeeded Regning three years and ten Months And â— Claudius after him thirteen years and eight months And n Helvic Chron. Nero after Claudius another thirteen years and eight months And St. Peter's arrival at Rome is not so much as pretended by them of Rome to be before the second year of Claudius which yet Protestants can never grant finding him in those years to be in Palestine and Papists can never prove but that he came to Rome about the 12 or 13 year of Nero they have tradition more favourable for them and more reconcilable to his other abodes and Martyrdom It is consequent here upon that the Christian Faith was in Brittain before St. Peter ever came to Rome for as many years as are between the latter end of Tiberius and the second of Claudius in their own account that is for about seven years and in the account of all others for as much time as Intervenes between the end of Tiberius and the 12 or 13 year of Nero that is that the Church of Brittain is manifestly Senior and Ancienter in the Faith than the Church of Rome by thirty years complete
Conversion of the Isle of Man to the Brittish Culdees Usher 642. Man together in a miraculous manner which was his Christian retaliation to his enemies Whose reward is great with God and the greater by this that he hath the less of praise from men his very Adorers since his plantation was long obscur'd by a Romish Fog that still lasts upon it never ceasing to defame and traduce his Divine work with Superstitious descriptions and unworthy Legends though intended perhaps for Honour In 451. †Usher p. 978. Gildas Albanius born at Arcluit in Beda's time called Alcluid that is a Town upon the River Cluid now Dunbritton Inhabited then by the Brittains preach'd to and converted the North parts of Scotland beyond the Hills whether Ninias before had not reach'd And after him in 565. St. Columba of Irish Birth and Brittish Doctrine and Institution assisted by u Idem 540. Constantine Duke of Cornwall repenting of his Adulteries and Murthers upon the reproofs of Gildas Badonicus and taking orders perfected the Conversion of the Picts Serfus one of the Culdees and consequently of Brittish either Birth or Principle promoting the same work as far as the Orcades About the Year 560. St. Kentigerne y p. 686. Nephew to King Arthur and Founder of St. Asaph returned to his Bishoprick of Glasco and preached first the Gospel to the English though enemies permitted upon (f) Histor Brit. lib. 8. C. 9. M. Westm 489. submission and fealty under Octa and Ebusa Sons of Hengist newly conquer'd by Aurelius Ambrosius to live in that Brittish Territory between the Friths and the Wall where they suffer'd the Brittains before being worsted by them to reside upon like submission About 596 what by divisions among themselves what by great invasions by Gormond from Ireland as well as by the Saxons in their bowels what by a great and Epidemical Plague and Jaundize and the entrance of Monk Austin the greatest Plague of all two of their Candlesticks were removed Thadiock Arch-Bishop of the See of York and Theon of London being forc'd from their Sees and charge with the Clergy and Gentry from their Estates and Homes to retire for their safety into the parts of Wales and Cornwall and Ireland very probably none staying behind but the Peasantry at the Terms and for the conveniencies and interest of the conquerour York faring best of the two Sees for the Cambrian (m) Usher p. 1005. Kingdom or Cumberland called Valentia with Scotland or old Albany which formerly had been parcels of the See of York stood yet entire and safe under the Protection of their own Kings and Princes who were able to defend their Religion and Territories both from Pagan and Romish Encroachments about this time infesting them But in the See of London and the body of Lhoegr as the Brittains still call England the Inhabitants that remain'd behind Tributaries to the Saxon Conquerour were to retain their Faith between the heart and God after their Clergy were expell'd by the procurement of Rome as is to be suspected unless some lurked behind in cognitò as is usual for their comfort and assistance or the Pagan Conquerours as we shall see anon gave them toleration of Religion either by Grace or Articles as did Irmericus in Kent and Penda in Mercia and Kerdic in West Saxony c. whereof Bede takes little notice though he could not and doth not wholly conceale the passages But then as the loss of one sense adds strength to the other and the shutting of one eye enlarges the others Candle Ireland grew rich and famous upon this dispersion and accession of learned men into its Teritories for refuge whereby it became about this time the University as it were of these Western parts of Europe for the Christian Orthodox Religion and term'd Insula Sanctorum the Island of Saints whither recourse was made for Spiritual knowledge from all parts and Kingdoms and Wales and its Sees and Abbies was no less stock'd with choice of Able-men and particularly the famous Monastery of Bangor-is-y coed where we find about this time above two thousand learned Monks living together in a holy Fraternity all Subject to the Metropolitical See of St. David whither the Chair was removed from Caerleon by the Authority of King Arthur and a Synod about the year 521 These in 602 gave Augustine the Monk a meeting about Worcester where the pretended Supremacy of the Church of Rome with its superstitious Innovations were Synodically disclaimed and rejected Augustines design being to seize our Brittish Churches as it were by occupancy and to subject them to Rome under colour of Conversion For that their Sees were made too hot to hold Thadiock and Theon at the arrival of Augustine or not long before is some Argument that the Pagan fury was made to burn the fiercer with Roman-Catholick bellows and that the believing Brittains who needed not their Conversion must veil their Ancient Metropolitan Chair of St. David or Caerleon likewise to an upstart See of Romes erection as Austine expected this manifestly proves and discovers it was their Temporal Dominion and superiority which by them is call'd the Catholick Faith that was the chief aim of Rome by all Inhumane and Unchristian Arts to propagate here in Brittain And if we were constrained to submit in part and for a time to their yoke and superstition when the Crown in our Kings for a time was miss-led by their influence and were freed from the same yoke in H. 8. when the Crown was better rectified by Providence we stand as we were holding fast our Liberty with a better conscience than they could usurp it from us being now under no Tye or obligation to Rome either for our Faith or errours not for our first Faith which we never had from them nor for some latter superstitions which we restor'd back unto them continuing a right Church from first to last because when we were at the worst we were as Orthodox as themselves who corrupted us and recovering our clearness again from their forc'd mud and mixture we continue as well English as Brittains now mutually Incorporated to profess the same Faith which was planted here above sixteen hundred and odd years ago not only before Lutâ—er was born but before Rome it self had its Christian being SECTION VI. Brittain had not the Faith from Pope Eleutherius THe first point being thus clear'd It becomes as clear we had not our Faith from Pope Eleutherius by King Lucius and were the Epistle and the Persons contemporary it makes more against them than for them whereof the sum is this You desired of us to send you the Roman Laws which you would use in the Kingdom of Brittain we can never disallow Gods Laws but may Caesars You have lately by Divine mercy received the Law and Faith of Christ you have with you in the Kingdom both the New and Old Testament whence by the advice of your Peers and the Council of
your Kingdom you may select holy and blameless Laws which may be enacted and supported not by any Forreign but your own Authority who are Gods Vicar in your Kingdom and represent his power to your People But not a word about Lucius his Baptism or the Nations conversion which it rather plainly pre-supposes Nor was it unbeseeming in a first Christian King much less the forfeiture of the Liberties of his Brittish Church and Kingdom forever to ask the advice of Neighbouring Churches or such excellent Christians as the Popes of Rome in those times were about the settlement and Government of the Church in his Dominion and the answer and the event do shew there was no such danger for the Popes answer is Protestant and Orthodox that the King is Christs Vicar in his Kingdom and the head of the Church which he may well Govern with his own Authority without depending upon Forreign provided he took along the Law of God and the opinion of his sages for his Rule and help the advice to be theirs the Acts of Governing to be his own which with the present Church of Rome is unsound and Heretical Doctrine for it 's the Land that moves with some and not themselves when they are sailing from it And it appears by event the Popes did never intermeddle in the Government of this Church or State yea that they were such strangers to us all along to the time of Pope Gregory who sent Austine hither that by his questions and clinches about the English he met at Rome in the Market Angli Angeli Deira Dei ira King Elle Halelujah it appears whether we were Pagans or Christians here in Brittain he did not very well know but some Papists are grown willing of late to relinquish this part of their pretence and to allow this Epistle to be counterfeit because so contrary to their present Doctrines and seditious principles more than for the considerable reasons Sir H. Spelman layes down against it which Mr. Prynne takes upon him to disallow and answer to severally but the other part of the story though thus crack'd in credit that Lucius was Baptiz'd together with all the Land by Eleutherius his Emissaries must stand nevertheless which yet is wholly improbable and contrary to all sense and reason for the Brittish Church in Augustines time was found so uniformly unlike in all its rites and customs to the Roman if the Roman observations in the time of Augustine and Eleutherius were the same that one may easily believe that the fair Nothern Nations are so many Colonies of Blackamoores as believe Brittain to be regenerated by the Baptism of Rome to which Mother it held so little resemblance in any of its Ecclesiastical features For one of the main points in difference between the Brittains and Austine we find in Bede lib. 2. c. 2. was about their Ceremonies of Baptism then that known and lasting difference and contention about Easter and their abstinence on Wednesdays and Frydays not on Saturday as was and is observ'd at Rome against the sense and Custom of the Catholick Church there being as little Conformity between this Church and that in the heads and guides as well as the whole body of the People in the former rites Our Deacons varying from them in point of tonsure our Priests and Bishops in that of Marriage our Arch-Bishops in the Characteristicall Badge and livery of the Pall which these Churches never fetch'd or wore in token of compliance or dependance on that Church as shall be further proved in every particular out of their own or better Authors so that they may be justly ashamed as much of the Second part of this lye and pretence touching the Baptism of our King and Kingdom as they are of the first touching the Epistle where by the way it may be observ'd with abhorrence and detestation what unworthy Arts and Methods this holy Roman-Catholick Church makes no conscience to use to compass its Unchristian Ambition and Supremacy over Kingdoms and Nations where it can find the least colour or occasion what lyes they scruple not to Father upon all manner of men the living and the dead even on their best Popes and the Apostles and the Virgin Mary and Christ and God himself so their Carnals ends and Grandeur may be advanced thereby and what forgeries and falsehoods have they not foisted into all manner of books and Records and Histories to promote their Dominion hook or by crook particularly into our Brittish in the time of Ignorance and their Kingdom of darkness extending once to all parts and Persons Geoffrey of Monmouth affirming that that he did not compile but only Translate into Latine his History out of a Brittish Manuscript which Gualter Arch-Deacon of Oxford brought over hither from little Brittain whereas that Gualter attests likewise in the close of that very book that he Translated a A mysi Cualter Archiagon Rydychen a droes y Llyfr hwn or Lladin yn gymraâ—g I Walter Arch-Deacon of Oxford Translated this out of Latine into Welsh Histor Brittan Galfr'd Monm M. S. Cambro Brit. the same out of Latine into the Brittish tongue by which device the Enemies of the Glory of our Brittish Church and Nation have to the wrong of the first and to help on their vain Supremacy by any Art or shift shuffled in this passage touching Lucius into ours as the other touching Constantine into other Histories that both were Baptized by Popes Eleutherius and Silvester by all means because the one the first Christian King the other the first Christian Emperour and both brag 's equally true as likewise that Dubritius Arch-Bishop of Caerleon in King Arthurs time was Apostolicae sedis legatus not unlike another of their fictions of the Popes sending the Pall to St. Patrick to make him Arch-Bishop of Ireland under Rome though a Pall in Ireland was never heard off till the time b Cambrens Topograph Hiber C. 17. of Malachias Anno. 1152 and to the diminution of the Second clogg'd the Archievements of the great and Religious King Arthur with their unworthy Legends and Fables as with a designe that the one with the other might in time be of equal credit which hath induc'd some blind to lead the blind to believe there was no such King In so much that Buchanan well knowing and seeing the contrary in the Records of his own Nation could not forbear to make a digression on purpose to vindicate his name and story which in other c Ubbo Emmius Rer. frisic Hist lib. 3. Nations concerned in that History is acknowled'd as well as in the Scottish and our own in a just indignation against the underminers of the fame of so great a Hero d Buchanan Rer. Scotic lib. 5. Reg. 45. p. 151. But some light and occasion perhaps they had for their Monkish Invention in that very probably Lucius was Baptized by one from Rome viz. e Usher cap. 3. p. 31. seq Timotheus
attended but with one Clerk or two at the most and after a little refection he hastened presently away to read to his Disciples or to his private prayers after whose pattern and example in that time all devout men and women every where made it a Custom to fast every Wednesday and Friday throughout the year till three a clock afternoon except the 50 dayes between Easter and Whitsontide He never spared for fear or honour to reprove the Rich when ever they did amiss but corrected them especially with great severity He never us'd to give away Money or presents to the Rich and Great in this World but only a kind entertainment when ever they came to visit him but what ever such bestowed upon him he soon imployed it either for relief of the Poor or redemtion of Captives admitting them his Scholars and Disciples whom he so redeemed and fitting them by his pains and Instructions for the Priestly dignity Not a word of Vests and Ornaments or Palls or Crucifixes or Holy Water or Indulgencies or toyes or lyes or Prophetick Murders for they were no Roman-Catholicks but only good Brittish Christians The Right Pictures of Gildas who loved best and truest when they were most troublesom to offenders being lively Instances to guess at this distance at the spirit and efficacy of St. Patrick's Ministry upon the Ancient Irish and Scotch by the Apostolical stamp of such self-denial and contempt of this present World in their hearts and affections out of love to Christ and that to come This worthy Bishop Aidan as his name imports in the Brittish and Holy King Oswald were the Chief Authors and Instruments under God of the Conversion of the English to the Christian Faith over all the Land not only in Northumberland where they Reigned and resided but over the rest of the English Heptarchies by their Influence and good example for Oswald did not only the part of a King in the first Invitation and continual encouragement maintenance Protection of those men of God but bore a great share with them in their Ministry for as Aidan delivered Gods mind in his Doctrine and Preaching so h Bede l. 3. c. 3. 6. l. 3. c. 5. Oswald out of great zeal and humility to the better edification of his Subjects vouchsafed in his Royal Apparel to be his Clerk or Deacon interpreting Aidan's mind to the People wherein he was defective or unready for want of more skill in the tongue and which gave the greatest life of all to his endeavours exemplifying all his precepts by a leading conversation and holiness of life and largeness of Alms and charity hardly to be parallel'd parting with his meat out of his mouth with his dinner set before him to his poor Christian Subjects without that Aidan once wishing this unwearied Arm and liberal hand of his might never fail but be ever supplied by God with heart and substance for it gave occasion to Monkish Historians of the superstitious Letter wherein Bede himself was no mean proficient i Bede lib 3. c. 6. to fain and believe that his arm never rotted or decayed in the Grave forgetting or taking in the better to frame the Legend those Posts or Town Gates whereon King Penda hanged it For as by the Grace of God he exceeded all other Kings in Religion and vertue so in Gods just and unsearchable judgements he no less out went them in the disaster of his end being conquered in Battel by Penda King of Mercia his Enemy who quartered and hang'd up his head and arms for scorn and terrour to all about of which direful end of so good a Christian no conjecture can be made out of Bede of the cause but from the place of the Fathers murders and the Sons sufferings for Bede saith he was kill'd at a place call'd by the English k Math. Westm Marels-feild Bede lib 3. c. 12. Hen. Huntingdon Mesa-feild Locus conterminus Walliae Armonicae 7 millibus a civitate Schrowsbury versus Walliam Monastic Anglic. pars 1. p. 38. Maser-feild not expressing where it lay but Heaven-feild the place he Conquered and killed Cadwalhan about 46 years before Cadwalhan dyed by rearing the Cross he assigns to be about the Picts wall in the North But most probably the place of his Cross and Death was one and the same As Cambden more rightly guesses by several Circumstances to which I have particular reason to add one for at Oswestree where Oswald was kill'd by Penda thence called Oswaldsstree and in the Brittish Croâ—s Oswalht or Oswalds-Cross is to be found Cae-Nef as it is called to this day or Heaven-feild in the English which I have often gone over adjoyning near to the feilds where the ruins of Oswald's Chapel remain by a Well l Ibid. called Ffynnon-Capel-Oswalht where the late Noble Lord Capel drawing his Forces in a body was answered touching the place in my hearing that it was called Cae-Capel or Capel-feild by that famous and strong Warriour Mark Trevor Viscount Dungannon bred and born there and there abouts whom Cromwel had ever a great honour for being the only man that wounded and worsted him in the face of his Brigades which never had been known because concealed by his Armour but by Cromwel's own Ingenious Confession and kindness towards him for his Valour after the Loyal party was reduc'd as I have heard his Royal Highness relate the Story in publick Within 8 or 9 Miles of this place stands Bangor-îs-y coed whose Religious Monkes were so barbarously Murthered by his Father Ethelfred in such numbers as before By the Ministry of Aidan the m Bede lib. 3. c. 3. 6. M. Westmin A. 635. Nullus incredulus tempore Oswaldi in Northumbriâ Idem A. 634. whole Province of York this side Scotland and its English Inhabitants was restor'd to the Brittish Church that is the two Provinces of Bernicia and Deira as that Metropolitan See was divided into were entirely converted such as needed n Usher p. 1004. Bernicia containing in it Eastward the whole County of Northumberland and part of Durham On the West the North-Cumbrian Kingdom erected by the Brittains between the Rivers Derwen and the Friths upon the ruines of the Northumbrian n Usher p. 1004. And Deira the other part comprehending the Counties of York and Westmerland and Lancashire and the South part of Cumberland below Derwen Cheshire about this time being in great part within the Principality of Powys and Brochwael Scythrawg its Prince residing at West-chester as other times at Shrewsbury and there assaulted by King Ethelfred Bede lib. 2. A goodly part of the English Nation especially if we add thereunto the large Kingdom of Mercia where all the English according to Bede lib. 3. were Converted and brought up in the Faith by Finan a who was Discipulus Nennii Bannachorensis Cestriâ Elapsi Nennius his Disciple who escap'd from Chester saith Pitzeus but according to Bede both he and Diuma the other
force And as Satanical injections refus'd are the Devils guilt but the Christians merit who was buffeted with them to his grief when he could not help Of the like nature especially as to the violence were their Roman missions and Consecrations in this Land wherewith our Brittish Church was needlessly troubled and molested at the entrance of Theodore and his Canterbury Successors for it may well be said that our Brittish Clergy had alwayes thâ—ir own Sees and Prelates in reason and right although actually and forcibly Invaded and possess'd for a time against Law and Canons by Romish Tyrants who when they ordained here ordain'd not in their own but in the right of the true Owners and rightful Governours as their Deputies by fiction because of Gods permission Prov. 8.15 Rom. 13.1 Which right was conveighed down to the Ordained while the guilt and Irregularity of the Action stuck solely to the Conscience of the usurping Ordainer and to no other that was worthy to be ordain'd for which the one must account one day to their sorrow while the others temporary embasement and seeming bastardy Ecclesiastical which they could not help shall be repair'd to their relief and joy And yet in this life a Church restor'd hath the Rights and Priviledges of a Kingdom restor'd which hath and takes the power and liberty to allow or disallow reject or Legitimate enact or abrogate whatever Proceedings have pass'd in publick in the time of Vsurpation And such legitimation and allowance is founded upon the Authority of the rightful Governour coming in and not on any merit of the unrighteous Usurper turning out which makes patience commendable under any slavery or oppression though it continue 7 20 100 500 or 1000 years rather than to extricate it self by any indirect or ungodly means which in Rome is little scrupled at for God is not to be offended nor Faith and Conscience violated to save life or liberty which is more than life or Ecclesiastical liberty which is the greatest of liberties For no evil is to be done by a Christian that good may come thereof Rom. 3.8 For the Innocence of his Soul is a more substantial eternal prosperity than any Outside deliverance whatsoever The body being but a shadow to the Soul and this life but a minute to that come 2 Cor. 4 ult But to return of our own accord to that Spiritual Captivity from whence we were so happily delivered in Gods time and Counsel and by lawful means were to justifie and approve the wrongful slavery of our Ancestors and Posterity together with our own against the Spirit and honour and trust and the common sense and understanding of men and Christians and English Brittains to sell our selves for naught and spit back Gods merciful deliverances into his face SECTION XI Of the Indirect Methods of Rome in Subjugating this and other Churches under it ANd the unworthy methods of their Intrusion and prevalence over our Brittish Church which all that profess Christianity but Roman-Catholicks would abhore and be asham'd of are as manifest as the usurpation it self over us and others 1. By giving away Kingdoms from the right owners to those that had Swords in their hands to force and win them upon the termes and condition the Pope might be considered for polluting the name of Christ and Religion to countenance such injustice So the Pope and Monk Augustine got their first footing in Canterbury by the help of the prevailing Saxons Augustinus quod Dinothus persensit praetextu fidei gentem advenam alieno confirmavit imperio ut suam jurisdictionem Romanam dilataret saith one a Antiq. Eccles p. 9. Augustine the Monk as Abbot Dunawd well perceived made use of Religion to Invest and settle a Foreign Nation in a Territory that was not their own to promote and enlarge the better their own Ecclesiastical b Wheeloc note in Bede c. 2. l. 2. Supremacy by that means So have they ruin'd the Eastern Churches and expos'd them to the Turk about 140. years after by giving Charlemagne the Western Empire from its Constantinopolitan Proprietors to be their Patron and deliverer from Lombards and Exarchs so have they befool'd the Spanish Ambition all along setting him on the like designes with 88. Till their Monarchy is quite tyr'd and Jaded and endanger'd to be master'd by their less Catholick Neighbours and more Christian 2. By Politick Matches and unequal yokes and Apostates rais'd within our own Bowels by the operation of preferments and honours upon men of pride and parts as Balak converted the Prophet Balaam and by slighting and traducing the least mote in other Churches as Damnable Haeresie and maintaining their own grossest errours for Apostolical Infallibities And hard it is to define the time when this method hath been out of use and fashon in that Church these thousand years And by this stratagem they re-invaded the English-Brittish Church after its breaches were repair'd by Oswald For a match being contriv'd between his c Monastic Angl. part 1. p. 333. Bastard Brother and Successor or rather Usurper King Oswi who was not so sound a Christian at the heart as appears by his putting his d Bed l. 3. c. 14. 24. Kinsman and Neighbour King Oswin to death amidst submission and holding the Kingdom from his lawful Nephew and e Idem c. 15. Eanfled Sister of King Edwin Baptiz'd by Paulinus the new Romish Archbishop of York as his first fruits in the North She by her share in Oswi's Bed and Throne became useful and instrumental to preserve and keep alive some Relliques of her Romish Faith expiring in those parts in Cadwalhan's dayes countenancing under hand f Ibid. Romanus and Johannes Diaconus as her Chaplains and sending g Idem l. 5. c. 20. Wilfrid observing his ambitious parts from the Brittish Lindisfarn Monastery where he imbib'd his first principles to Canterbury and Rome to study the point of Easter and to be young Alchfrids Tutor Oswi's Son and to be able to perplex the Brittish Doctors at the point as it afterwards fell out at the Synod and debate at Streanshall or Whitby wherein King h Oswi ita conclusit quia hic Ostiarius est cui ego contradicere nolo ne forte me adveniente ad sores Regni Caelorum non sit qui reserat c. Bede lib. 3. c. 25. Oswi being afore tun'd into a superstitious veneration of St. Peters Keyes which are said to be kept at Rome openly declared in the close of the disputation that he counted it his best wisdom and security to side with St. Peter whom Wilfrid confidently made to be the Author of his new-stile or Golden Number for which he strove than with St. John from whom the Brittains deriv'd their old least St. Peter should turn the h Oswi ita conclusit quia hic Ostiarius est cui ego contradicere nolo ne forte me adveniente ad sores Regni Caelorum non sit qui reserat c.
shall through the mercy of God be again recover'd and repair'd to its former state yea into a better condition than before And the fam'd g Dr. Davies Preface to Welsh Grammar for part thereof Taliessin to the same effect about the year 580. Which for several considerations are believed to come to pass in Henry 7th not only by others but by himself as may be conjectur'd from his Order h Powel Annot. in cap. 3. Descriptionis Cambriae Giraldi and Commission to the Heralds in Wales to give account of his Pedigree from the said King Cadwaladr and his designe to revive the name and memory of the renowned Arthur King of Brittain to the great joy of our own and the terrour i Hall 1 Henry 7. f. 5. of Foreign Nations saith an English Writer In him the Union of the Roses and in the Provident Marriage of his Daughter Margaret to James the fourth of Scotland from whom our King James descended the Vnion of the Kingdoms and the old Name of Great-Brittain early Commenc'd as it were in its causes In his time the several persons first appear'd who before they went off were the causes or great occasions of our Reformation or the Restoration of our Brittish Church to follow that of the Crown In his time and by his Order Catherine of Castile Prince Arthurs Dowager was design'd Wife for the second Brother by which Incestuous Marriage confirm'd by the Pope for k Antiquitates Eccles p. 316. a round sum both he and his Successors lost their credit and Supremacy in England ever afterwards It was his provident husbandry rais'd a Purse for Henry 8th to effect this change In his time was l Idem p 309 Fox Bishop of Winchester a Promoter of that Incestuous Match who by his favour thereby first Introduc'd Wolsey m Ibid into Court in whom Popery received its mortal wound both in Effigie as it were and in the Cause He being both the lively Type and Image of Rome and her Religion for pompous vain glory and pride and falshood and luxury and likewise the main cause of her fall and ruine through the match aforesaid which he first contriv'd to be scrupled n Idem p. 316. for other ends and his Romish Legatine power o Idem p. 325. which brought him and the whole Popish Clergy involv'd in the same guilt of Praemunire to the mercy of the King and to renounce the Pope and to acknowledge him for the head of the Church in his stead In his time to instance in more direct and positive causes and first glimmerings of our Reformation Dr. p Idem 306. Collet Founder of St. Pauls School q Pitzeus 691. where W. Lilly was his first Schoolmaster whose father was twice Lord Mayor of London appear'd zealous in his Divinity Lectures at Oxford for Scripture and Antiquity against Images and Legends and the two great Authority r Antiq. Eccles 306. of Scotus and Aquinas and the Schoolmen the great Pillars of Popery being followed in his Principles ſ Ibid. by Dr. Warner and others in that of Cambridge and especially in Court and City for his eloquent Sermons to the same effect And though Articled against as an Heretick †Ibid. Pitzeus 693. by Fitz James then Bishop of London yet King Henry the Seventh esteemed him before any other Let others chuse what Doctor they list u Antiq. Eccles 307. I am best pleased with Doctor Colet was that wise Kings saying whereby it is inferrible that the one being a Protestant in his Principles and tendency the other could be no less by his Approbation For all great Actions have smal beginnings like other things and are not in their perfection the first instant The first Alienation of Henry the Eight from depending so much on the Popes judgement and Authority to follow that of his own Clergy and Universities together with the judgement of others in Points and Cases of Religion and Conscience and particularly that of his mariadge is observ'd to be wrought by x Ibid. Cranmer afterwards Arch-Bishop at Waltham whither he retired from Cambridge where he read Divinity after the steps and Principles of y p. 323. Ibid. p. 331. Colet and Warner that went before so that if Cranmer who enlightened and Converted Henry the Eight had his first light from Colet the first motion and beginning of the Reformation must in all reason be referr'd to the time of Colet and Henry the Seventh for then I say Scripture and Fathers began to be regarded and followed before Schoolmen and Legends which is the nature and design of Protestancy And the instinct hath continued to our days amongst the learned who are restless till this Church become wholy Primitive and Apostolical and Orientall in its Doctrines and Discipline and Customs such as our Brittish Church before the mixtures of Popery appears from Records to have ever been In his time in a word it might be said Aspice venturo laetentur ut Omnia Saeclo The Nation had a manifest new Date and Epocha in respect of Church and Laws and Tenures and Fines and the Alteration of interests amongst all degrees Commons and Nobles as well as the Union of all Royal blouds and the end of former Wars and Divisions and the beginning and fair hopes of more blessed days in his time the Crown and Scepter of Brittain began after long shiverings to have its first rest as in its proper Centre from the time it was wrested from the right owners for it never rested with the Saxons who soon to quarrel about their prey being divided into seven or eight Kingdoms or Heptarchies in perpetual Wars and Jarrs with one another for about 270 years till the West-Saxon Kingdom where the Loegrian-Brittains were best us'd swallowed all the rest under King Egbert and Alured The Dane being upon their heels without above 9 years respite to swallow them The Norman afterwards swallowing both in one day and they soon after divided into bloudy Wars between Kings and Barons and especially the long contest between the two houses of York and Lancaster which never could be extinguished till Henry the Seventh and the right and Ancient owners or the Brittish line was found uppermost The Restoration of the Brittish Religion hastening after that of its Monarchy as it were by providential fate and consequence for where else better to fix the beginning of our Reformation as it is generally stil'd is hard to calculate To make those conspicious events and Audible stirrs that first accompanied it in the World by which the vulgar that are led by sence are most guided the standard of its Originals were to begin at the streame and not at the spring to place it in the visible alteration it self made by Laws in Parliament against Bulls and Palls and Supremacies and Appeals in 22.23 24. Henry Eight by which Popery in England was quite knocked in the head were to
Popes exclusion must be acknowledged to commence with Henry the Eight Executing divers Wills at once His Own will apparently or as his Enemy say his lust the presumptive Will of Henry the Seventh the longing Will of groaning Brittain and the foretold Will and providence of God whose Divine Will and Power alone could make it possible to be effected against all human probability And the favour and frown of God upon this Nation followes remarkably its disposition towards Popery either for or against it The entrance and re-entrance whereof was ever fatal to Brittain and inauspicious to our lawful Princes Popery came first in as was observ'd when our Brittish Crown began to decline in 600. and when it recover'd in 1500. went soon out as it is observable further that then our Nation most flourished in Glory and Renown and addition to its Territory when our Princes were most watchful and resolute against Romish encroachments and as soon began to moulder into confusion and contempt and loss of strength when ever they began to connive and fall in love with Rome Who more Magnificent than King Henry the 8th who gave the first fatal blow to the Popes Supremacy in England which never could recover from that time to this Some say the Title of Majesty began to be given to our Kings in his time which was highnâ—ss or Grace before for he from first to last was indeed more like an Emperour of the West in his time than King of England Francis of France a Hall 24. H. 8. fo 207. acknowledg'd his own and his children's liberty to be chiefly his favour and b Idem paid 20000 l. per annum tribute to him for his Kingdom and its defence c Idem Charles the fifth his Nephew was made King of Spain in his Mothers life time being an Inheritrix and also Emperour after that by his means and interest which could not be denyed d Idem The Pope Imprison'd in Castel St. Angelo could never get his liberty till he interposed with Purse and men King Edward the Sixth though his Reign was short as that God in him let England see saith one what a blessing sin and Iniquity would not suffer it to enjoy yet Historians observe his victory against the Scots at Musckleborrow to have been obtain'd the same day that Images were pulled down at London by his injunction Queen Mary went against fate with great trouble to her self and People and the loss of Callice which broke her heart Queen Elizabeth who was Sincere and zealous to the utmost in the defence of our Brittish Liberties against Rome what Prince his Reign from Brute was here more glorious and successful with Peace at home and victories abroad and an Addition of Forreign Colonies to her Territories and a free Trade over all or most part of the World who lives more to this day in all English hearts of all ranks and degrees as the example and measure they pray and wish all their Princes to follow to the like honour and blessing from God and their people Who had more the purses of her people or better heads and hearts and Arms at Her command and service Her Divines were Jewels Hookers Whittakers Her Courtiers Sidnyes Her Commanders Veres Drakes Norrices Rawleighs Her States-men Walsingham's and Cecils and Her Merchants Cresham's Cloughs c. our debauch Gentry and frantick Wits whose souls are too narrow and pusilanimous to bear their fortunes without transport had been clapt up in Bedlam in her days for Lunaticks and our envyed Courtezans who are said to blind our Princes and disturb our Counsels and touch our dignities and consecrations and pollute our land would have been then preferr'd to Bridewell e 1 Cor. 5.5 for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord. Her own Epitaph best shewes Gods blessing on Her sincere Reign Religio Reformata Pax fundata c. Religion Reform'd Peace settled Money recovered to its own value a formidable Navy prepar'd Our Naval honour restor'd Rebellion extinct England for 40 years prudently Govern'd Enrich'd and Fortified Scotland deliver'd from the French France relieved the low Countrys supported Spain curb'd Ireland appeas'd the whole World once and again sail'd round King James whose heart was deep met with troubles and dangers near his first entrance f Tortura Torti p. 190. Apologizers for the Powder Plot taxing him of breach of some promise of tolaration as a Provocation who reign'd however after he began to appeare but with his Pen in earnest for Protestantism in more peace and love to him and his till he ran Counter to that Profession and the Brittanick Stars and fate in his eager Ambition after Romish Matches the Pandora's box of all our evils ever since and as cold an Espousall of the Protestant Interest in the Palatinate His glorious Son had the fate of King Oswald to lose his life and three Kingdoms by the faults of others and to gain Heaven and Immortal honour by his own Innocence and vertue For it is too much to be fear'd if events may be read in their causes that Edgehill and Newbery and Maston Moore c. bloody fights and the ruin of our late Soveraign and the Exile and troubles of his children and the soyling of our restoration fell out in the days of Gondomar in our own days we might have observ'd invincible Fleets the security and glory of our Nation strangely defeated with Mists and divided Counsels Emblemes as well as blasts of dark designs God who seeth in secret disappointing openly what was contriv'd in private Conclaves against his will and attesting his displeasure by unparallel'd judgements signs and disasters Fire Plague Comets c. So that to prosper and be victorious Courage and preparations are not more necessary than sincerity and plain-dealing And to make use of a Congruous instance in an Enemy Oliver Cromwell who had here a very jarring ruffled Government to tune and order during his Usurpation the Loyal party not to be won over to him either by feare or love his own betrayed and deceived several times over yet when all parts failed by acting a Protector of the Reformed Churches against Popery especially those abroad and harping upon that string the children of this world being wiser in their Generations than the children of the Kingdom he gave that strange content to the Body of the Nation that he lull'd them into sleep and trust and too much forgetfulness of their Exil'd Princes whom he kept out all his time and made the greatest States and Monarchs of Europe unworthily desert them likewise and stand in fear of him and brought wealth besides and great trading to the Nation and strength to its Navies and additions to its Territories As if Providence had raised him on purpose to upbraid and chastize our errours about the Britannick Fate and Interest himself being discovered likewise to be of that extraction which he disgraced
denying our implicit obedience and submission to him But if Christ be God than we are safe and have the truth of our side and their errours are the more dangerous And both these Masters especially of contrary wills as it evidently appears cannot be obeyed together for there cannot be two Kings in the same Kingdom nor two Suns in the same Firmament nor two immortal Souls in the same man But it will be alledged as a Salve 1. That Gods commands in Scripture or Conscience bind not Christians but through the Pope who is to interpret them for us least we mistake and where they seem to cross his will to explain them otherwise to us or to dispense with our obedience in that Case which is an usual practice at Rome though it makes but one Master out of two and the Pope to be chief alone and Christ to stand but for a Cypher or as a Minor whose will is involv'd in his Guardian Viccar hereby the Sun is measured by the Dyal and not the Dial by the Sun It makes Conscience and Scriptures the greatest gifts of Heaven useless to Christians unless the Pope stand by in every place of the World to be consulted with by every Soul which is Christs mind in all cases and scruples And sets up man instead of Christ and confesses the Idolatry and gives up the Cause This contrivance of assuming power to interpret the mind and word of God against the plain sense thereof being the first known invention of Satan in Paradice who was the Father of Antichrist for which our Romanists ought to suspect themselves in the Imitation least they discover themselves too much 2. The second Salve will be that out of obedience to Christ who is in Heaven afar off they yield this obedience to the Pope as his Viccar on Earth as a more near and visible officer under him over them supposing not granting this feigned trust and Deputation It 's against the nature of any trust for him that is trusted to act contrary to the Interest of him that trusted him and to be followed against his Principal St. Paul would be followed by others as far as he followed Christ and no further 1 Cor. 11.1 The Radical cause of Popery lyes in the exclusion of the heart and Judgment and taking the outside to be the man and the measure of all concerns and values which by consequence must be Earthly and Carnal and answering only to the outward man But where the heart which is the man is the chief measure and faith in the heart the only evidence to judge by Christ in Heaven in his Majesty is more near and visible to such a Soul than his Holiness on Earth can be to any Roman Catholick doing Reverence to his Toe for the private end or principle that suggests this respect is nearer to his Soul than his person is to whom it is performed For our Conceptions within are nearer to us than the objects without and our actions proceed immediatly from our conceptions Princes respects and dread would be scant and inexpedient if their persons were no greater in our reasons and conceptions than they are to the eye and sense And were it true and certain that if such a Vicar were set by Christ over his whole Church which can never be proved yet out of obedience to the Soveraign we ought not to obey but shake off such an Officer that should lead us to Rebellion against him that is over him and us The Souldiers under command ought not to obey that General that went about to depose his Prince But if it could be supposed that a Prince did or could intrust any Officer with such absolute power as to interpret all commands and orders directed to him in his own sense against their plain and common meaning and to over-rule all his subjects against all the parts of their Allegiance at his pleasure to act against the known will of his Soveraign and neither to be accountable for such Treasons then the case were much altered for such a King had resigned his Crown in effect to such an Officer who were now to be absolutely obeyed without reservation of Allegiance to another And in such manner the Pope becomes Soveraign to such instead of Christ who believe he is to be obeyed against the Laws of God and men And St. Paul was mistaken in his Doctrine that Christ alone was that Lord and Soveraign and no other man but not mistaken however in his early praediction and warning that the time should come when there should be a falling away and a man of sin revealed who should exalt himself above all that is called God and as God sit in the Temple of God whereof every Christian Soul wherein Christ dwells by his Holy Spirit is so much the more for that the body of a Christian is Gods Temple 1 Cor. 6.19 and more yet the Christian Church which comprizes both And he manifestly St. Pauls Antichrist who sits and Lords it in such a Temple To trample under feet the Glories of this present World to despise the frowns and favours of Princes to adhere to God and Truth all must allow and confess to be highly pious and praise worthy and superlatively Heroick but to hazard all upon a Religion that is a manifest Irreligion and to make Conscience to act against Conscience and Truth to jar with Truth and God to be contrary to himself This were to fall into the like detestable abominations with them of old in St. Paul Who did evil that good might come of it whose damnation is just saith he Rom. 3.8 A fearful sentence from so mild a mouth or of some late zealots in our days who subverted our Laws and Government to exalt Christs Kingdom This were not courage or magnanimity but inconsiderate ignominious rashness condemnable in Shops and Markets This were not Catholick zeal or good Conscience but liker the strong Delusion of Antichrist 2 Thes 2.11 An Omen and fore-runner of further wrath and destruction to be inflicted by the jealousie and indignation of Heaven upon such as forget their Allegiance to their Redeemer preferring a deceiver before him who ought not to have been compared to the Son of God at all or the first mention of his blasphemous pretences to the Perogatives of Christ and his Soveraignty in mens hearts ought to have been attended rather with renting of cloaths and a suddain horrour and indignation and-a-God-forbid but that the needs of deluded souls which himself Redeemed with his precious bloud required the matter to be laid open and enlarged for their rescue and undeceiving but that daily experience teacheth as well as Antient memories that any lust or Avarice or Ambition or revenge or self end or the Sun and Moon or stocks and stones without keeping due watch and ward upon our hearts may and have often invaded and domineer'd in Christ Throne in the soul when deserted by God as much as this Romish perkin Warbeck whose
or quicken either or like Pipes in an Organ Dead and Dumb as of themselves yet sounding out aloud the high praises of their God in his Church when they are filled with his Breath and Holy word and spirit However when these inward conceptions of mens spirits bud and break out in Births James 1.15 and land in another World in the Territories of Earthly Soveraigns who like God are both Omniscient and Omnipotent in their own Dominions and precincts Here the case is far otherwise Here Earthly Magistrates have their free Liberty and Authority to arrest and take as in the out-side and purliews of the soul whether they be Christian or Heathen as well the one as the other in their several capacities and Characters Heathen Kings being Gods Deacons Rom 13.4 or his Ministers in the State to preserve the peace of God and man by frowning upon all vice and sin and wicked lewdness Act. 18.14 which is spiritual Idolatry and War against God in the heart provoking his vengaence and judgement against a land and to Protect and praise them in every good work and vertue which is the amicable and loyall deportment and worship of righteous souls towards God whereby he is won to be favourable in his blessings and protections not only to them and their seed but to the whole land though less deserving for their sakes Gen. 18.32 And Christian Kings being the Fathers and Bishops of the Church and Christs undoubted Viccars on Earth in all the outward affairs of that Holy Polity to preserve its beauty and order and the holiness of its Communion against blemishes and scandals according to the Rules of Christ Christian Kings I say cannot be denyed to be the Fathers of the Church according to Gods own mind in Esa 49.23 Prophecies like to Faith being the evidence of things not seen given their right stiles and Titles to persons and degrees as yet not in being as if they were And as they are Fathers so they are Bishops and Overseers of Christs Flock the Church in things without as other Holy Bishops are in things within as it was declar'd by our Constantine the first Christian Emperour in the first and great general of Counsel of Nice of 318. Primitive and the best tried Bishops the Church ever had Nemine contradicente not one dissenting or disliking the expression either then or since but our Romish Popes of late after the Church began to slumber and degenerate And Viccars on Earth they all are severally in their own Kingdoms by the Popes own confession for so Eleutherius early declares in his Epistle to our Lucius the first Christian King in the world about the year 170. if it were the Act of Eleutherius or about the year 110. if the Act of Evaristus according to a. Usher de Britan. Eccles Primordiis p. 34. Ninius or sooner according to b. Usher de Britan. Eccles Primordiis p. 34. Paulus Jovius which though it be not Authentick in all its parts and purposes yet because some of our Kings might send to some of the Popes of Rome then Famous in the world for their uprightness to be Brotherly advised about some points of their Government unless our difference from them about Easter as well as the East might interrupt such correspondence or Communion and the Epistle passes for true and Authentick amongst many of our Romanists therefore the Testimony and citation in it touching Kings being Gods Vicars in their Territories is firm however and binding against them to the full And St. Paul doth no less in the Principles he layes down in my Text by which every master is Christs Vicar to his own Servant and by consequent proportion every King is Christs Vicar to his own Subjects for the Apostle would have tied obedience upon Subjects toward Christians Kings if they had been in his time in being in the same from and tenour as upon Christian Servants here towards their Christian Masters as is observed by a right learned Person towards whom they are to do all from the heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as unto Christ himself this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as implies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so as the master is is over the Servant in his Civil capacity his Civil Lord and Master so is he over him in his Christian capacity a Christian Servant as Christ is over Christians and Subjects Masters and Kings by consequence being Christs Image or similiude or Lievtenants or Viccars as the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implies The same Apostle exhorting every soul to be subject to the higher Powers Rom. 13.1 amongst whom are comprehended Ecclesiastical persons as well as lay saith St. Chrysostom If those Powers become Christian as they are now with us they become the Vicars of Christ by consequence to all their Christian Subjects of the Clergy as well as Laity and were his Holiness a liege Subject of this Kingdom our King would be inevitably Christs Vicar on Earth unto him as he is undoubtedly to all English or Brittish Roman Catholicks who yet suffer themselves to be seduced by him who is no Viccar of Christ to them as such to withdraw their Christian obedience from him who truly is and Unchristianly and disloyally to disown his Supremacy over them who is as truly Christs Vicar over them in this world as he is their Christian King or they his Christian Subject Which is also agreeable to right reason as well as Scripture for there is a great difference between the Inside and the Outside of any Church or particular Christian which are in two several Kingdoms under two distinct Governments the one Heavenly and Eternal as is the soul the other Earthly or Temporal as is the body of which two they are severally made For such actions of the Soul as are concrete to the body and of use and moment in this present world only and not contrariant to Divine Institution and are circumstantiated with time and place whereby they become visible facts preceptible by mens senses and open to the view and cognizance of humane Authority though they be concerning matters Christian or deportments and behaviours and wears to be used within the Church and in time of service the same are not properly Spiritual as they are vulgarly call'd especially with them at Rome whose whole Religion is about the outside or Heavenly or Eternal and Invisible and belonging to Salvation which is equivalent but they carry a Temporal or Secular or Carnal nature in them and belong therefore to Temporal Jurisdiction to each Crown they are under and by no pretence to Rome but where Rome hath a temporal Authority to order them in her own Subjects but with us they belong to our Brittish Thrones and Tribunals and to Ecclesiastical Courts where they concern Christian and Temporal where they concern Civil Society and to the Kings Subjects as witnesses and Juries upon the place and not to any Forraign Chair or Rota or Pack of strangers to make
in general and to all Nations in particular that it is not his will we should be led by strangers more than by guides of our own flesh and bloud for this cause Christ took upon him humane nature when sent by God John 17.3 to direct the world For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels for this purpose Heb. 2.16 which though greatly Holy is yet Forraign to ours and as it were of another Country and their best messages seldome received by the best Christians without fear and horrour and suspition Luk. 2.9 Math. 28.45 But he took upon him the seed of Abraham being sent unto his own John 1.11 And in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren to be the better fitted for Sympathy towards us on his part and the belief thereof on ours Heb. 2.17 18. In like manner in sending his Apostles for the conversion of Nations the first fruits in every Nation that were converted to Christ were appointed for Bishops and Teachers as soon as might be to convert their Brethren and the Supemacy over the Gentile Churches not entail'd upon a Jewish line and succession forever as our first Teachers but upon the Natives themselves in every City and Country when fitted for it to Govern and direct their people and every Province to have its own Metropolitan chief within it self and unsubordinate to Foreigners And it is likewise observed that the needs of every Country in point of food and Raiment and Physick is best supplied from within it self and whether it be for the health or interest of this Nation to delight to wear forraign Liveries above its own I shall not now dispute and but that the Witchcraft and fascination that is in errour doth Seal up the Intellect it deludes less dispute there would be with all sober minds but that we have Governours of our own Nation praised be God fitted as likely for ability and compassion to be faithful guides to their Inferiour Brethren as the greatest Angels of the Church of Rome to whom were it alwayes certain they would prove good Angels we are not so near and dear as to our own Pastors who are bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh And that our own wise Kings and Parliaments have and can make as wholesom Laws for this Church and State as the Conclave ever can or did how far and how dear soever fetched and bought To alledge as the Romanists do that Christ had his fix'd Officers his Apostles and Bishops in his Church before there were any Christian Kings which cannot be denyed that St. Peter was the chief of these Apostles which also may be granted for peace-sake as to his precedence but not any Jurisdiction that the present Popes are the successors of St. Peter in all his Authority and Holiness whether they follow him as he followed Christ or not and therefore are Superiours to all Christian Kings and Princes in their own Teritories as well as at Rome in all affairs relating to Religion is such a broken Title such a far-fetch'd Etymology and derivation of Authority as only fully proves the Antichristian humour of exalting themselves above every thing that is called God or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Majesty as the word may imply which is the Jaundize that overspreads the face and vitals of that Church all over but cannot satisfie the conscience of any sober English Christian to relinquish and renounce his manifest allegiance and Subjection to his own Prince and Church to whom it is due to bestow the same to his own wrong and Spiritual danger as well as Temporal upon a forraign Power to whom it is not due and to rob his King to maintain a cheat For neither are our Brittish Churches more Subject to the Chair of Rome than is the Crown of France to the Crown of Spain which it had long a mind to but never any right neither if degrees and dignities be compared are Crowns to be Subject to the Mitre but the Mitre to the Crown For Kings if Heathen are without the Church and therefore not Subject to the Pope were he a lawful Vicar of Christ for what have I to do to judge them that are without them that are without God judgeth 1 Cor. 5.12 13. neither do they forfeit their Soveraignty by being Christian Kings by any colour or pretence of St. Peters supremacy St. Peter himself being judge who writes to his fellow Elders to feed the flock of God which was among them 1 Pet. 5.1 2. and to be subject for the Lords sake to the King as supreme for so is the will of God 1 Pet. 5.1 2. There is no where less love and honour from the heart to that blessed Apostle St. Peter no not perhaps in Hell than amongst them at Rome an out-side love or Philauty for Secular ends and designs they may have for him beyond any such as the Ephesian Silver-smiths had for Diana by which they had their wealth Act. 19.24 25. or Turks for Christs Sepulcher which turns to account unto them which is not their love to St. Peter but to themselves and bellies for if they had the least love and honour from the heart in Christ to his name and dignity they would rather chuse to starve or beg than face their frauds and cheats upon all degrees of men with his name and Authority or make him a complice or an Author to all their impious Usurpations and Rebellions against the Kings both of Heaven and Earth against his mind and principles as before For St. Peter himself from whom Popes derive all the power over Kings they can pretend to yea Christ himself from whom St. Peter had his and the whole Christian Church in his divine person while he was on Earth did submit to Magistrates and Presidents acknowledging their Power to be from Heaven John 19.11 and his Kingdom not to be of this world Joh. 18.36 as his pretended Vicars cannot also be by consequence for a Deputy cannot have more Power than his Soveraign St. Paul commands every soul to be Subject or subordinate to the higher Powers Rom. 13.1 which St. Chrysostom upon the place as before extends to Apostles and Ecclesiasticks as well as Lay and with good reason for no Crime can be Treason where is no Subjection and gives the title of excellency to Festus an Heathen President Act. 26. as St. Luke to Theophilus a Christian Luk. 1.3 an evident argument that neither would have denied the title of Majesty to a King and much more to a Christian King for as Servants gained no outward liberty by becoming Christians but continued Servants after as well as before their conversion 1 Cor. 7 20 21. So neither do Kings lose their Prerogatives or Supremacy by being Christians but are to be received into the Christian Society or Church in the same degree and quality they had in the Civil or State Superiour to all Inferiour to none And the Texts therefore that command
obedience and submission to Heathen Magistrates do command the same much more to Christian And manifestly condemn the Pope as Antichristian in denying it And as in the World or the Kingdom of God they were Gods Deacons or Liturgists as they are stiled Rom. 13.4 6. or his Ministers for the encouragement and discouragement of Vertue and Vice v. 4. So in the Church or the Kingdom of Christ they are Christs Ministers to serve him with their Authorities in maintenance of Holiness and Order which is vertue in its highest degree and extirpation of Scandals which is Vice and Confusion under greatest aggravation Which trust and supremacy they bore in the Church of God in all Ages under all dispensations in Old Israel or the Jewish Church and New Israel or the Christian Gal. 6.16 For so Aaron gave place to Moses and Nathan though inspir'd counts himself but the servant of his King nevertheless bowing himself with his face to the ground when he came into his presence as his deportment is recorded not for naught by the Spirit of God 1 King 1.23 27. And such was the power and influence of the Kings of Israel in matters Ecclesiastical that the whole state and face of the present Church and the fate and destiny of the land it self is usually comprised by Scripture in one word in the Character of the Kings heart that reigned whether it was right with God or not When it sayes that such and such Kings did that which is good or that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and what was like to follow from such example for no face or figure of Heaven can be more benigne or fortunate No Comet so portending and ill boding to a Nation as a wakeful or a supine Prince in Mercy or Judgment appointed over it that eyes all himself in his Charge or trusts too far to others The Prince is the first and Master wheel even in the Church that gives motion and Order to all the rest all will be at a stand or out of order when this is He is the Architect in the building and ordering both of Tabernacle and Temple according to his Pattern from God he sets all to their proper work and erects and dedicates both the one and the other and places Aaron and Levi in their several Stations each one afterwards to look to their own work and duties of Instructing Sacrificing attoning interceding that God may dwell in the Camp or State as the Life and Soul and Strength there of And their care of Gods Church was not a free will Offering or a generous work of Super-erogation in the Kings of Israel which was their praise and honour to mind and attend and not their guilt to neglect and leave to others but it was the principal indispensable point of their trust and charge For Old Israel might be said to be more a Church than a Kingdom being the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lot and Inheritance the Clergy or spiritual Kingdom of God The rest of the Heathen World being revolted from him and kept in slavery under the Prince of the power of the Air Ephes 2.2 And therefore the Governour of such a Nation was more the head of a Church than the King of a Countrey being truly both the one and the other the one supremacy being common to every Heathen Prince but the other proper and peculiar to Rulers in Israel For God himself by particular condescention was King of Israel 1 King 8.7 And men came to be Kings by his permission and allowance as his Vicars and Lieutenants to maintain his Worship and Honour wherein the peoples happiness as well as their Prerogative did consist In the World he was the best and completest Prince that had most of the Councellor or Captain in him to suppress all disorder and violence at home by Laws and all invasions and dangers from abroad by Arms and Courage But in Israel he was the best King that had most of the Priest and Bishop in him to win God of his side They conquered their enemies in the field then best when they served God best at home Their Victories and Successes depended not so much upon their Bow and Chariot or the Conduct of their Generals or the Courage and Number of their men as upon having the Lord of Hosts on their side to go along with their Armies which Blasphemous Lives never had the Happiness to procure that Rule of our Saviour that directs how to prosper in the World being true as well before as since his coming But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Rightousness and all things shall be added unto you Mat. 6.33 For it was their sins that gave valour and prevalence to their enemies and despondency to themselves Then was there War in the gate when they sought after new Gods Jud. 5.8 The children of Ephraim carrying Bowes turn'd their backs in the day of Battel because they kept not the Covenant of God Psal 79.9 And it was their Piety and Repentance made them miraculously Victorious when over-match'd Yea the Heathen Historian observes and confesses the like touching the Roman Empire that its progress and success was founded in sincere zeal for their Gods as its decayes and overthrow to arise from profane remissness and easie Luxury Upon good reasons therefore as well of Conscience and Equity to approve themselves Faithful and Loyal to Gods Honour and Interest to whom Kings are immediate Subjects as they expected the like Fidedelity and Loyalty from their people appointed to be their Subjects as of publick wel-fare and prosâ—erity to their Nation obliging Arguments with riâ—ht Princely dispositions We find the best Kings of Israel and even Heathen Kings when sober chiefly to imploy their Royal Authority and Power about matters Ecclesiastical to suppress Idolatry to reform Abuses to settle wholesom Laws and Fences about Doctrine Worship and Discipline in Gods Church To put down high places Groves Idolatrous Altars Sodomites-houses and all strange Religion as did Josia 2 Kings 23.4 5 6 7. And other Kings to break in pieces the Brasen Serpenâ— though made by Moses when abused to Idolatry as did Hezechia 2 King 18.4 To send able Teachers throughout the Land as did Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 2.8 to Dedicate and Repaire and Purifie the Temple as did Solomon 1 King 8.29.6 and Joash 2 Chron. 24.4 and Hezechia 2 Chron. 5. To institute the Feast for the Dedication of the Temple as did the Macchabees 1 Macch. 4.56.59 which our Saviour honour'd with his presence Joh. 10.22 To restore the celebrating of the Passoever to its Ancient Rite 2 King 22.21 To appoint a Faâ—r to save his Nation as did the King of Niniveh with success Jon. 3.7 10. To decree Blaspheming Hectors to be cut in pieces as did the King of Babylon when converted Dan. 3.29 To appoint Judges in Causes Ecclesiastical as well as Temporal 2 Chron. 19.8 Amaria the Chief Priest in all matters of the Lord and
Zebadia the Ruler of the house of Juda for all the Kings matters v. 11. To assemble Synods and Councells about Sacred Affairs for settling the Ark as did David 1 Chron 13.2 For dedicating the Temple as did Solomon 1 Reg. 8. and reforming the Nation and bringing them back unto the Lord God of their Fathers as did Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 19.4 To maintain their Command and Soveraignity in such matters not only over all the people in general 1 King 23.21 but over the High Priests themselves in particular by assigning their work and duty 2 King 22.8 12. Where Jehoshaphat layes command upon Hilkiah the High-Priest thrusting them out of their High-Priesthood for their Disloyalty as Solomon did Abiathar 1 King 2.27 And sparing them their Lives in courtesie to their Coat v. 26. And this their pious care and zeal for God and Religion which in the Popes account were little less than intermeddling in other mens rights is recorded in Gods account as their Eternal praise and honour and good service to their Countrey And like Josiah was there no King before him that turn'd to the Lord with all his heart and with all his Soul and with all his might Neither arose there any like him 2 King 23.25 And Jehoshaphat sought to the Lord God of his Father and walked in his Commandments and not after the doings of Israel Therefore the Lord established the Kingdom in his hands and all Juda brought to Jehoshaphat Presents and he had Riches and honour in abundance 2 Chron. 17.5 And the contrary neglect about the Worship of God in their wicked Kings and making their people to sin by their defection or ill example was the ruine of their Land 2 Chron. 36.17 And a Brand of Infamy upon their names in particular forever as the followers of Jereboam the Son of Nebat which made Israel to sin and therefore liker to Satan therein than to Gracious Kings and Fathers And what was thus their bounden duty and honour in the Kings of Israel to imploy their Authority and Government for God and his Church upon the like ground and proportion is the duty and interest of all Christian Kings for a Kingdom that becomes Christian becomes a Church thereby or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 3.5 the Heritage and Clergie of God a Christian Kingdom is a new Israel of God Gal. 6.16 and Christian Kings by consequence are heyres of the same Prerogative and Supremacy that did belong in Israel to the Kings of Israel where the High-Priests were subordinate in externals to the Kings and not the Kings to the Priests It is a contradiction to be a King and to be Subject wherein Popes are made Supreme Kings are made Subjects there cannot be two Supremes in the same Church or Kingdom and it were a great snare and Spiritual misery to be subjects under two contrary Soveraigns and to be bound in conscience to obey contrary injunctions and commands whereby inevitably their obedience to the one becomes their sin and transgression against the other Soveraign which is the condition of Roman Catholicks who own the Pope for supreme to the wrong of those Christians Soveraigns over them whose right it is whereby their conscientious Catholick obedience becomes unconscionable disobedience to their right Superiour It concerns and behoves them therefore and every other Christian subject in whom the word of Christ ought to dwell richly in all wisdom Col. 3.16 to be fully satisfied who is to rule them He that mistakes his Soveraign will mistake his Loyalty The Old and New Testament knows but two Soveraigns God or the King Christ or Caesar 2. Chron. 19.11 Math. 22.21 so the Jewish so the Ancient Christian Church so the Church of England held upon the Reformation when the whole Nation both Parliament and Convocation unanimously agreed that the Pope had no more to do in England than any other Bishop The Soveraignty of the Lord the Pope starting up when the Church began to degenerate strongly savours of a fifth Monarchy or an Antichristian erection Christ only is the Immediate Soveraign of the Inside of men in his Church Kings the Immediate Soveraigns of the outside in their Dominions the Pope or Prelate is Soveraign in neither Pet. 5.3 Rom. 13.1 therefore there is no obedience due from the heart and conscience to spirituall Governours but wherein they agree in their Doctrines with Christs mind and clash not in their outward order and Discipline with the rights of Christian Kings for delegates are to be obeyed in and for and not against their Principals and the soul is subject to none but to a supreme either the Lord Christ who is absolutely such or our Lord the King who is such in externals by Christs concession Prov. 8.15 subject also it is to Governours but for his sake and by his command that is to say it 's subject not to them but to him But it will be still objected what have Kings to do with Religion that wholly belongs to Spiritual persons and the Clergy and to the Pope the Patriarch in such matters and by consequence Supreme and it must still be answered and acknowledged That the substantial part of Christian Religion lyes out of the Horizon and Territory of Kings in another world as it were where yet none is Soveraign but Christ alone Popes and Bishops and Inferiour Priests being all officers and Ministers under him in this Kingdom all of equal degree and power without difference in their Authorities or Keys saving that in equity and merit they are foremost and chiefest who are most painful and faithful in this trust Kings well observe their bounds therein they do not as they ought not intermeddle in such matters between the soul and God as are of divine Institution or immortal importance they meddle not with the Priestly office and great would be the peace of Churches and of the world if the Pope did as little meddle with the Kingly they take not upon them to preach and publish the Laws and mind of Christ in his name and Authority nor to denounce wrath and War against offenders high or low nor of themselves to Excommunicate the unworthy from the Holy Society of Christs Church and all hopes of mercy till they repent and change nor to arbitrate as for Christ who are fit and worthy of Grace or pardon neither do they travel between Heaven and Earth upon messages between Christ and souls as the Angels upon the ladder being now Gods mouth to the people in wholsom Counsels and Instructions anon the peoples mouths to God in humble confessions or thanskgivings as neither did the Kings of Israel ever offer to enter the holy place or order the Shew Bread or Sacrifice or incense which might have been done with the same skill though not with the same Authority by Common persons as by Priests and hath been attempted by one or two but to their wo No under both Law and Gospel these offices did solely belong to
with the first in its adversity and contempt For every Religion expresses what honour it hath for the Deity it worships by the respect and honour it enjoyns to be paid to its Ministers and Attendants And amongst all degrees of Christians from the lowest to the highest neither Christ nor his Ministers can be said to be either lov'd or honour'd where both are not lov'd and honour'd equally if not above themselves And no man can despise the Ministers of his Religion without despising his Religion nor despise his Religion without despising himself for where is a man's self more than in his God or Idol If Christ and his Religion be to be honoured it is to be invited to sit equal with us in our Feasts if not above wherein no Church is more proportionable than this of England which hath its Minâ—stry so adequate and comporting with the several degrees and conditions of its Laity like Arteries with the veins along the body from the toe to the head But now far otherwise is it amongst Christians Teachers and Disciples when the world hath possessed their hearts And Christ dwells but at their tongues only many there are besides Quakers it is to be feared that would be well contented to be without any Gospel at all on condition to be Tith-free and judge no sort of men better to be spared or retrenched in this Commonwealth than Christs Ministers And if they had Power enough in their hands would judge an 100 l. per annum to be revenew enough or two much for any Bishop to support himself and Family and to keep Hospitality and relieve the poor and strangers and to defend the Church against its Enemies and not 10000 l. per annum too much for themselves to spend upon their lusts and Vanity And in some Nations the Lay sort Raign and Rule and the Clergy hold the stirrup or serve under revocable pay like other workmen and trained thereby to be as observant of the state as of God neither hath the degenerate Clergy been behind in over-reaching to the degenerate Laity in grudging and subducting especially in the Roman Church who conceived she never had enough untill she had all not only their Lands but their Liberties and all became her Tenants or Vassals or tributaries from the Plow to the Throne Now how would these two contrary lusts tear and destroy one another if God had not raised Kings to preserve the peace between them How would Religion and good literature all fall to the ground and Atheism and Barbarism or equivalent Ignorance and superstition come again in their place if Kings were not Nursing Fathers to secure their Rights and Defenders of the Faith to maintain their Priviledges and quietness to correct on the one hand the Idolatrous Avarice of some hard hearts who would starve the Lord Christ to cherish their Lord Mammon And to check the Hypocrisie and worldliness of others on the other hand who Christopher-like carry Christ upon their backs to begg mens hearts who make use of Purgatory and the world to come to gull men out of this present who call all men to be their Paymasters for the unvaluable unrequitable mysteries of the Gospel which they at best but counterfeit and make them Vassals for ever afterward upon the score of that Tribute and acknowledgement who claim a Supremacy over Princes not upon the score of the Pulpit and the Eternal obligations thereof which they quit but upon the score of their Chairs which was borrowed from the Throne and intended it should return to its subordination thereunto Though Spiritual Graces wherewith they are ill stock'd are above all Temporal reward as much as Salvation is above an Earthly Crown yet it doth not follow that the Instruments and conveyers of Grace are Superiours here in in this world to all that receive it by their Ministry The message and Author is but not the messenger Kings hear Gods word as Subjects to Christs whole word it is but not as Subjects to those that Preach it but their Masters rather It is an ill and Un-evangelical Inference and too much savouring of Antichrist from Spiritual Doctrines to raise Secular Superiority and to make wordly Rule and Ambition the chief end of the everlasting Gospel Ego Rex meus was a perfidious Traiterous crime in Wolsey to transfer his Masters honour and Soveraignty upon himself which is their great Disease at Rome and constant Boldness upon Christ A Pursiveant though sent from a King to Arrest a Peer is not Superiour in quality thereby to the Peer although his Authority and errand be we may as well conclude all Centinels to be Generals of the Field or every Chaplain declaring Christ will in a Sermon before the King to be Primate of the Church and every Christian who Conquers the world by his Faith to be Emperour of this world as Popes to be Supremes in Christian Kingdoms and Churches over mens souls and bodies because they are the Servants and Officers of Christ who is When St. Ambrose boldly durst suspend his Soveraign and Theodosius meekely yielded to the censure of his Subject there was no Superiority either lost or got by this in either both doing their parts of Servants herein the Bishop of fidelity about his Master's mysteries the Emperour of Submission to his Saviours Steward All orders and degrees in the Church are every one in the Postures of Servants to Christ and Servants to another for Christ his sake 1 Cor. 3.22 and he alone the only Master and Soveraign Math. 23.8 In this world it 's true it 's otherwise where some are Servants others are Masters some Rulers and others Ruled all to be regarded as unto Christ in their several Superiorities by Christians who are to serve and obey them all from the heart upon Christs account in addition to their Civil obligation which is correlative to their Civil Superiority for as we are Christians we serve none but Christ and those that Rule and Govern if Christians do it as his Servants and Pious Kings have justly esteemed it to be a greater Dignity to be Servants of Christ than Soveraignes of this world Whosoever therefore misguides or mis-governs his Inferiour or wrongs or deceives his Neighbour or disobeys or dishonours his Superiour Christian violates his Faith and duty first to his Heavenly Soveraign in his heart before he wrongs any other on Earth by his outward Act. And it is our concern and honour as to detect and shun all such as are Traytors and Faithless to our Saviour so dearly to embrace and love them from our hearts that are true But though Kings meddle not with the Substantialls of Religion or the rights of Christ yet with the out-side or Circumstantials that fall within their charge and cognizance they well may and must whatsoever in Church matters is of Temporal not of Eternal moment neither determined by Christ nor necessary to Salvation but conducing only to Order and Peace and Decency and good
Regions are parted from neighbouring Kingdoms by impervious Mountains and wild and inhospitable deserts or whether it were that the Ink then in use was Bloud and their best evidences and Records flames and Martyrdom Nevertheless the acknowledged increase of Religion over all the Land in King Lucius his time will attest the zeal and fidelity of this Age to their Principles when it shall appear from the Epistle of Eleutherius that Christian Religion is pre-supposed therein to be settled in this Land before and the King pre-instructed in it And the c Usher p. 141. great Vsher Marshalls about 20 or 30 Authors both Foreign and Domestick to confute and stop the mouths of some ignorant suggestions as if Religion had fail'd or expir'd in this Land between the time of its first planting and Dioclesians persecution For the third Age Origen and Tertullian early Fathers mention Religion to flourish here the one writing about the year 201. Brittannorum in accessa Romanis loca Christo vero subdita That Christ was received as Lord here where the Romans had much ado to enter the other that they were united to Christ in Brittain though divided from the rest by situation And Dioclesians persecution in the beginning of the fourth Age about the Year 303. largely proves the existence of the Christian Faith in this Land which it so fiercely endeavour'd totally to suppress but to little effect Yea to the more corroborating of Christianity here by the exemplary constancy of Martyrs St. Alban and Amphibalus and Julius and Aaron c. establishing it the more by their sufferings and d Bed lib. c. 7. Converting their Executioners with their invincible meekness and patience And occasioning its larger extent and the full Conversion of the Scots dwelling then in the Northwest of Scotland beyond Dunbritton Frith by the Brittish Culdees e Buchanan Rerum Scoticarum Regit ◠p. 122. Spotswood Hist lib. 1. retiring to those parts as Archbishop Spotswood and Buchanan acknowledge the Providential benefit from whose Cells the Ancient Scots denominated their Churches Who in after Ages were extruded saith the same Author e Buchanan Rerum Scoticarum Regit ◠p. 122. Spotswood Hist lib. 1. by a new sort of Popish Monks Tanto Doctrinâ pictate illis inferiores so much coming short of the other for Learning and Piety as they exceeded them in Riches and Ceremonies wherewith they affect mens Senses and infatuate their minds In the Year 313. when peace was restor'd by Constantine they begin saith Gildas f Gildas Epist to Re-build their Churches demolished to the ground and her exil'd Children dissipated into Corners gather themselves together into the bosom of the Church to Celebrate their Festivals and Triumphs over their Enemies to give God the Glory and to attend his Sacraments with pure heart and mind In the following year the Church being in good order we find the three Archbishops of Brittain taking their places and subscribing in the great Councel of Arles in France Eborius Ivor Arch-Bishop of York Restitutus Edrud Archbishop of London and Adelfius Brawdol Archbishop of Caerleon upon Vsk a Roman Colony where a Legion in the Brittish Leon kept their Garrison corruptly set down in the Council with several other places h Concil Arelat Edit Reg Paris Civitate Colonia Londinensium where an uniform Celebration of Easter was agreed upon and thereupon Constantine i Constantini Epist apud Spelm. Conc. p. 4. with good reason assures all the Orthodox Bishops that were not present at the Council of Nice which was held eleven Years before that of Arles that the Church of Brittain with others did agree with the rest of the World in the Orthodox observation of Easter In 347. in a Councel of about 400 Western Bishops we find the Bishops of Brittain to joyn in the Condemnation of the Arrian Heresie and the clearing of k Apol. 2. Athanasius as himself doth testifie About the Year 390. l Usher 787 St. Chrysostom likewise magnifies the Divine power of Christ from the Holy Faith and Life the Churches and Altars in Brittain as it were in another World In the latter end of this Age m Gildas Epist Maximus in this Island making for the Roman Empire exhausted the Nation of all its Fighting men and Arms and Treasure wherewith he Coped with two Emperours Gratian and Valentinian driving the one out of Rome the other out of his Life and leaving the Nation weak and open to the Incursion of its Enemies round about but made far more weak by Gods desertion upon the follies and ill life of Vortigern inviting the Saxons into his pay against the Scots and Picts and prefering the Beauty of Hengist's Daughter before his Faith and Countrey and his Christian Subjects after his example inter-marrying with the Saxon Infidells which was one o Ubbo Emmius Rerum Frisic Hist lib. 3. of the reasons brought over St. German and Lupus to disswade them from such wickedness but all in vain till God gave them and their Countrey over to be barbarously and mercilessly destroyed by their perfidious mercenaries Confederating with their enemies against them who were before too strong for them in their weakness yet God in his mercy rais'd them pious and Couragious Princes Aurelius Ambrosius and Vter Pendragon and the Renowned Arthur who by the strength of a Christian p Ubbo Emmius Rerum Frisic Hist lib. 3. League enter'd into with Picts and Scots made great slaughter upon the Infidels and subdued and chas'd them out of the Land And what further proves not only the continuation but the true temper and life of the Christian Faith amongst them our Brittains were zealous and successful to preach and plant the Gospel amongst their Enemies and Invaders As the most Reverend and Holy Bishop Ninian as Beda stiles him lib. 3. c. 4. about the year 412. Converted by his Preaching the Southern Picts dwelling then between the Frith of Edenburgh and the Hills having his See amongst his own Countreymen at Whitern or Candida Casa translated afterwards to Glasgow that Territory r Usher p. 663. from Dunbritton Firth down to Cumberland remaining then in the possession of the Ancient Brittains and the names of Rivers and Towns and Mountains are as Brittish as in the heart of Wales In the Year 432. the great St. Patrick a Brittain born whether about St. Davids in ſ Humph. Lhuid Frag. Britt p. 63. Wales as some say or at Kirpatrick t Usher p. 819 near Dunbritton as others will have it it matters not much the people and Language in the one place and in the other being then of the same Brittains whence he was stollen with about an hundred more by Irish Pirates and sold for a Slave whereby he had time to learn their Language and was enabled by God to Captivate the whole Nation to Christ both Princes and people and the Isle of ſ Hist Ch. Scot. lib. 1. Spotswood ascribes the
and taken for granted out of Bede that the Scottish and Pictish and Irish Churches were then one and the same exactly in Principles and Customes with their Mother the Brittish Church and what is delivered of the one belongs to the other yea the Daughters were more hot and zealous in the Cause of their Mother against Rome's Invasion than the Mother it self For the Brittish Bishops agree to give Augustine a fair meeting to dispute their Rights and Pretensions a Bed lib. 2. c. 4. but Daganus and Columbanus though Courted and respected would neither eate nor drink with those of Augustines party nor lye in the same house To give therefore a brief Character of both Churches as to their Principles its worth observing what Bede delivers of both b Usher 129. though no great favourer of the Brittains as the Learned have observed And first of the Brittains next of Augustine and his Religion The Brittish is represented to be a Church Scriptural for for its Doctrine Episcopal for its Government Primitive and Oriental for its Customes and Traditions And Augustine himself to have nothing to object against it for his quarrel but these three pretences 1. c That she observed not Easter after the way of Rome 2. Nor Baptism with Roman Ceremonies 3. And refus'd to preach the Gospel to the Saxons And the great sore of all at the bottom because they would not owne Augustine himself to be an Archbishop denying by consequence the Popes Supremacy who sent him Bede out of his moderation conjectures the cause of their Errour about Easter to be this d ut pote quibus longe ultra orbem positis c being situated out of the rest of the World the decrees of Councils about the observation of Easter had not reach'd them only what works of Piety and Purity were to be learnt out of the Writings of the Prophets and Evangelists and the Apostles they made it their chief care and diligence to observe and practice And we are not to this day in Brittain out of love with this Errour as were none of the Ancient Fathers or Councils who took Scripture for their only Rule and Gildas after their manner hath scarce one Paragraph in his Epistle unstor'd therewith and one of his chief lamentations in Diocletian's Persecution is for their Bibles being burnt in the publick Markets which kind of sight our Apostate Modern Roman-catholicks would have been content to behold in larger manner with dry eyes And that they were not in any Errour or ignorance of the Decrees of Synods about this point appears from Constantine the great his Epistle and Certificate in their behalf before mention'd and the presence of the Brittish Bishops in the great Council of Arles determining this particular Controversy about Easter e Concil Arelat can 1. The next Doctrine of our Ancient Brittains included in the former was the example of our blessed Saviours meekness and humility as the rule of imitation and Communion Mat. 11.29 so the famous Abbot Dunawd f Bed lib. 2. c. 2. or Dionothus resolved his Countrey-men upon their question whether they should give Augustine another meeting or hearken to him for in a former he had staggerd them as Bede believed not so much with Argument as with a Miracle by restoring a Blind man one of his own Company to his sight before them all but the Brittish Doctors for all this would not f Bed lib. 2. c. 2. Priscis abdicare moribus relinquish their Ancient Customes as then above a thousand years past they stil'd them without further advising with their Brethren g Ibid. Here the Brittains term their own Faith and Customes Hên ffydh counting Popery then at its first entrance here but an Innovation which is a note for our Brittains to consider who vulgarly call Popery Hên ffydh or the Old Faith whereupon Dunawd being consulted with at Bangor advised them to be guided by Christs example more then deceitful miracles give him the meeting saith he and regard his messages if he be a man of God But how may that be known say they do not you read what our Saviour saith take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart If he be meek and lowly it is very likely he bears that yoke himself and would have you to bear the same but if he be rigorous and proud it 's manifest he is not of God and you need not care for his message But how shall this also be known let him come first to the place and if when you arrive who exceed in number and other respects he arise to meet and honour you as his Christian Brethren it 's some sign he belongs to Christ you are to hear him with all respect and deference but if not but with State and distance he think to reduce and over-aw you and your People you are to defend the Liberties of your Church and disappoint him of his carnal expectation which last took place in a high degree on both sides eum notantes superbiae cunctis que dicebat contradicere laborabant neque illum pro Archiepiscopo habituros respondebant they own'd him for no Arch-Bishop but taxed him for his pride who might have had their honour by humility and contradicted and baffled him in all he had to say for they were 7. Bishops plures viri Doctissimi many very learn'd men as Bede there observes where upon he Prophesied their destruction which shortly fell out in Barbarous manner more by Instigation than prescience to the ruine of that Kings Kingdom who did execute his Prophecy and providentiall planting of the Gospel among the Saxon or English by Brittish Ministry without the help of the Romish as will further appear To these two Catholicks principles and Doctrines touching the word of God written and Incarnate best leading them to Holiness and the life of the other world they added a third that brought them peace in this obedience to Superiours or theit Gods on Earth and their Temporal and Spiritual Governours in their several districts and submission to the Synods and Councils of the Church about doubts and Controversies hapning in Religion upon this score the above said Dunawd saith the Brittish History g Histor Brittan lib. 11. c. 12 Miro modo liberalibus artibus Eruditus Augustino petenti ab Episcopis Britonibus subjectionem diversis monstravit Argumentationibus ipsos ei nulla◠subjectionem debere cum suum Archipraesulem haberent being wonderfully learned clear'd by diverse Arguments the Brittish Bishops owed him no subjection as he and his Pope expected and particularly by this because they had an Arch-Bishop of their own and were not to disobey their lawful Superiour to please an Usurper for it is the chiefest part of obedience to know ones right Superiour and to own none besides wherein lyes the first perversion of every English Subject that followes Rome and its Forreign Father against the inward
were the more lov'd and embrac'd for it by several of them returning as did Constantine the Son of Cador c Usher 540. Prince of Cornwall who upon Gildas his rebuke became a zealous Preacher of the Gospel from a bloudy Debauch and Mouric and Morcant Princes of Southwales became great Patrons and Benefactors to the Church for its fidelity to their Souls against their vitious humours both securing and gaining Heaven to themselves thereby the one by their Integrity the other by their Repentance But as to their blameless and more worthy Princes the Brittish Bishops were never distant from them neither in their d H. Spelmen Council p. 64. danger nor joyes nor deaths Eldad e Histor Brit. lib. 8. Bishop of Gloucester followed King Ambrose in all his Wars and Victories f Usher p. 1128. Dubritius Archbishop of St. David encouraged King Arthur's Army against the Infidels in his Badonic Victory The whole Clergy of the land alwayes assembled to interre g Hist Britt l. 8. c 12 16 24. their Princes at Stonehenge Cowardize in any of their Souldiers in the Cause of their Prince and Countrey h Concil Arelat praesentibus Episcopis Brittanniae can 3. was Excommunication with them The root of Brittish Valour was Conscience and Loyalty according to that Canon of the i Conc. Arausic c. 17. Council of Orange Fortitudinem gentilium mundana cupiditas fortitudinem â—utem Christianorum dei charitas facit Heathens are valiant for some lusts sake Christians for Conscience And it appears by good confession they never were reduc'd for want of Valour or Loyalty to their Prince k Cambrensis Descript Cambr. c. 8 Henric 2. à â—secretis Pitseus p. 276. Emmanuel Emperour of Constantinople requesting of King Henry the Second an account of his Kingdom and Rarities was returned this for one In quadam Insulae parte sunt Gentes quae Wallenses dicuntur tantae audaciae ferocitatis ut nudi cum armatis congredi non vereantur adeo ut sanguinem fundere pro patriâ promptissimé vitamque velint pro laude pacisci In a certain place of this Island there is a Nation called the Welsh of such bold and daring Spirits that they 'l make nothing to cope with Armed men though naked and to spend their bloud for their Countrey their lives for Honour is what they most desire and wish for Newbrigensis delivers the same Character in effect though not with the same Candour Barbaros Audaces alieni sanguinis z Newbrigensis l. 2. c. 5. avidos proprii prodigos And if they had not been not only overpowred but outwitted by Edward the first by a mercyful Providence they had sought it out to the last man with disadvantage rather than survive their Prince Rege incolumi mens omnibus una amisso rupâ—re fidem And since they came under the English Crown they have acted and greatly suffered in several Civil Wars but never against the Right Soveraign A fair Inducement to our Royal Princes of Wales not to rest content with the bare title but to be better acquainted with their people for their encouragement as we find Prince Arthur of late to have kept his Court amongst them for the best bloud will clot if never cherished by the heart Nor were the Princes and Gentry and People inferiour in their respects and honour to their Church which with Tertullian is a great sign and Character of the true and Orthodox By the Law of Howel Dha l Leges Howel Dha apud Spelman c. 29 Of the three that were of the Quorum to make a Court the Clergy man ever was one and the alone custos rotulorum The Ancient Princes never feasted nor consulted nor went to m Histor Brit. lib. 8. c. 7.8.12 l. 29. c. 4.14 â—5 War without their Bishops as before Ethelfred's cruelty towards the Monks of Bangor went soon to all their hearts which cost him above 10000 of his men upon the place and the loss of his Kingdom shortly after their common respects to the meanest of their Clergy appears out of Cambrensis n Câ—mbrens descript Cambr. c. 18. viro cuilibet Relligioso monacho vel clerico vel cuicunque Religionis habitum praeferenti statim projectis armis cernuo capite benedictionem petunt any Church-man they met whether Monk or Minister that wore the habit of Religion they threw aside their arms and with humble bow and Reverence asked his blessing the greatest Gentry for Birth and quality of right Brittish education and Principles are observ'd to our days not to take the right hand of any Minister minding him by their respect which they count no disparagement to mind himself and his coate the better The Church of Rome procures the like Reverence from the greatest of her Grandees but by Romish Arts and Indirect sollicitations as 40 dayes pardon of venial sins for kissing the Garment of him that celebrates with other secular contrivances and Inducements But the Brittish Church hath respect from her own and others of high degree and Dignity without such bribes and politick encouragements The Churches of Scotland and Ireland her Daughters sided with her against Popery about a 1000 years ago with utmost zeal and vigour when she was desolate and over-powr'd The greatest Pillars of our Church in latter years the renowned Arch-Bishops Vsher and Parker and Bramhall with others bestowed learned pains in her particular honour and defence when she had but small power to requite their Love not to mention the like esteem in the breasts and mouths of many if not all our Reverend and learned Mitres both dead and living Nor were nor are their People that retain their right Brittish principles less wanting in mutuall Charity and respects to one another and especially in compassion towards the weaker and poorer sort for in such kind of charity and succour none perhaps came nearer to the Primitive Christians who had all in o Act. 4.35 Common amongst them than our Right Ancient Brittains of whom saith Cambrensis p. Cambrens descript Camb. cap. 18. Nemo in hac gente mendicus omnium enim c. though they were poor yet none was in want amongst them if any had it to give de q ibidem Usher p. 364. quo libet pane apposito primum fractionis angulum pauperibus dant of every loafe set upon the their table the first cut was laid aside for the poor their frequent meetings prohibited by the severe Laws of Henry the fourth therein called Cymmorthaes were clubs of the Richer sort amongst themselves to relieve their poor friends and neighbours as the word imports being comportations or Collections to set up the poor not wholly out of use to this day Largitatem p. Cambrens descript Camb. cap. 18. dapsilitatem cunctis virtutibus anteponunt Lberality and Hospitality for others to farewell by them they fancied above all other vertues whatsoever I suppose he alludes to
Argathelia i. e. Ar-gwyahel contra Hibernum Glasco olim Glasghu Usher p. 684. p. 684. i. e. viridis dilecta aut forsan Glasgoed viridis Sylva Aher Ostium fluvii Dyglas Dylas fl sive Duglas Dû nigrum Glâs viride unde forsan nomen Familiae Illustris Ar-cluid Urbs super cluid sive Glottam nunc Dunbritton c. Edenburgh and both the Friths down to the Rivers Derwen or b Tervyn Britt Terminus Derwen Britt Quercus Tervyn or the c Ravon-glas fluvius Caerulens Morlas in Syntaxi Mor-glas mare Caerruleum Avonlas in Syntaxi Vide Gram. Cambro-brittanicas Ravonglas or further in Cumberland and over all Scotland and Ireland and the Isle of man where it is clear against all Arts and Inventions and Legends and dreams that the first planting of the faith amongst them people was by Brittish and not by any Romish Mission or Ministery from the difference Augustine met and found here between these Churches and the Roman upon his arrival not only in several Customes and observations which savour'd of the East more than Rome but in the most material characteristical distinction that can be imagin'd or conceived between Churches that pretend to hold the same Faith that of Subjection and Ordination which the Brittish Churches never acknowledged nor received from Rome but from themselves or from Jerusalem whence Rome it self must derive as from the common mother of Christendom or it is no Church of Christ Isa 2.3 2. That the Communalty of the Brittains in Lhoegr and Alban or England and Scotland Cittizens Shop-keepers Farmars Peasants and their Wives and Daughters and Servants and little Children which were a considerable part of that as they are of every Nation were not totally put to the Sword by the Conquering Party nor expell'd their Borders nor consum'd by Plague as some vulgarly dream and believe The Trunk and body of the Brittish Nation continuing still the same under the successive yoakes of Romans and Saxons and Danes and Normans whose War was ever against the Lords and Nobility for the dominion and Tribute of the Populacy These submitting successively to the most prevalent party and in their turnes producing great Spirits for their Countrey while the others circularly degenerated and strangely vanish'd and digesting and assimilating in time their Conquerours and men of War into their own substance and temper unless abundantly and constantly recruited from their first Homes There was a particular precept and exception for the Anathema or excision of all the old Inhabitants of the Land of Canaan to secure Gods Israel against Heathenish mixtures and impurities yet how many Perizzites and Jebusites and Canaanites escaped notwithstanding from being cut off But no such command from Heaven was ever given against the Brittains nor did the Interest of the Conqueror require the desolation of the Land Neither were the Pagan Saxons so zealous before for the removal of the Brittish Clergy out of Lhoegr into Wales as after the arrival of Monk Augustine upon them When the Picts from the North Scoti à Circio saith Gildas that is the Irish from the West began to Invade and overpower the naked Brittains being a little before drain'd by Maximus making for the Empire of all their Armes and Treasure and Fighting men who never return'd home but were for some space a terrour d Pont. Verunnius l. 5. p. 110. to the whole Roman Empire it was not out of Antipathy to these Nations that they made such Inroads being themselves Colonies that time had greatly incorporated into the same bloud and Language with the Brittains as appears by the names of places to this day over Ireland and especially the North-east of Scotland the Station of the Picts being very much Brittish as in Wales But out of Revenge against the Roman power here who forced the Brittains to serve under them to fight and gall them being neighbours and flesh and bloud which made some great Spirits amongst the Brittains to fly over to the Picts as did Cremus by name or Graham their Chief leader and Father they say of the Noble Montrossian Family whom the Scottish e Cremus Grym Britt Robur Buchanan Spotswood Hist Histories confess to be a Brittain And when the Saxon Auxiliaries instead of marching against the enemy turned their Armes against their Masters upon f Usher p. 410. Gildas Epistl pretence of want of pay and the opportunity of their weakness killing all before them from one end of the Land to the other as Gildas very querulously exaggerats all that stood in their way to be killed Nevertheless the Brittains soon after recovered in Numerous and Regular Armies under Heroick Princes to call their bloudy Mercenaries to a strict account for this by the care and means chiefly of g Guitelinus Archbishop of London of Irish extraction as is conjecturable from his name to whom the Brittains did owe Aurelius Ambrosius and Vther Pendragon and consequently Arthur his Son preserved from the hands of the Usurper Vortigern who had procured Constans the Elder Brother being under his tuition to be made away and hanged the Murderers for a colour of his Innocence for as soon as they had War-like Leaders they soon became Souldiers to vindicate their wrong animated with Guiteline's exhortation of the vicissitude between the Sword and the Spade So that the destruction and slaughter could not be so universal especially upon the common sort as it is render'd For it appears further by our English Histories that their Counties and Cities in North and South and East and West were generally gain'd by grant and Composition and Treaty and fair usage of those that yielded as well as by Sieges and Battles and ruine to such as stood out which cannot well consist with that weak conceit of total extirpation So h Guitelin diminitive Gwydhel sing Hybernus Gwydhelod plur Gwydhelun diminit u pronounced as y But in the Brittish M. S His name is Cyhelin which hath no affinity with Gwydhel i◠G. Malmesb. de Gestis Anglorum c. 3. Octa and Ebusa the Son and Brother of Hengist reduc'd the North profligatis qui resistendum putaverant reliquos in fidem acceptos placidae quietis gratiâ mulcebant Breaking such as made resistance the rest upon surrender they allur'd with good usage to rest quiet And Kent is well known not to have been conquer'd but bestowed as a present for Rowenna i M. Westmin A 489. 462. Usher p. 1114. as before Queens bring their portions with them but Misses are dear bought And i M. Westmin A 489. 462. Usher p. 1114. London a great and populous Emporium at that time as appears from Marcellinus and Bede and our Pope Gregory with neighbouring Counties for the Kings liberty And which was the stoutest though not the largest Kingdom and Conquer'd and swallowed the rest of the Heptarchyes and gave the first name to England the seven Counties of the West Saxons were first yielded over to
with there Prydydhion Or at least that some worthy Wellwisher to the Brittish Nation would oblige thousands of grateful hearts and God himself by so good a work in commiserating the Spiritual condition of men and Maid-servants resorting hither from Wales for service who for several years while they are to learn the English tongue and to be able to keep pace with the volubility of Pulpits which learners of other Languages find to be too quick for the ear in the most stayed delivery are for that time in the condition of the Deaf Born without they had a Church built and assign'd as other Nations have for a morning Family service and Instruction which others that well understand the English would however resort with gladness to out of imbred delight and satisfaction to speak to their God in their own tongue and both might easily be effected with little or no charge to the friend of the Brittains but the procuring by his interest or Authority publick rule and countenance for the same And on the other hand we find the English not wanting or tardy even in times of former Hostilities to unite and incorporate the Brittains with themselves by all manner of Civility consistent with their ends of dominion For in the North beyond Humber where the Saxons did most settle and overflow g Hist Brit. l. 6. c. 13. perswading King Vortigerne it was for his better defence and safeguard against his Northern enemies the Lords and Gentry that did resist as having most to lose fared the worst by it but the rest or the Brittish Communalty had fair and alluring conditions given them as before and intermarried altogether g Hist Britt l. 6. c. 13. But in the South or West Saxon Kingdom where they were the Major part for Poll no doubt they lived in a far milder Aire and kinder usage as appears by that West Saxon h Spelm. Con. 129. Leges R. Edward Confess apud Lambard p. 148. Constitution in Sir H. Spelman attributed to King Ina about the Intermarriadges between the English and the Brittains who used the like policy towards the Danes i Not. in Faedus Aluredi Guthruni apud Lambardum though their enemies Vniversi Angli qui tunc temporis extiterunt uxores suas ceperunt de Britonum genere Britones uxores suas de illustri sanguine genere Anglorum hoc est de genere Saxonum hoc enim factum fuit per commune concilium assensum omnium Episcoporum Principum procerum comitum omnium sapientum seniorum populorum totius Regni per praeceptum Regis Inae praedicti Ita fuerunt tunc temporis per universum Regnum Brittanniae duo in carne una gens una populus unus miseratione divinâ All the English universally in those dayes married their Wives out of Brittish Families and the Brittains in like manner their Wives out of the Noble Bloud of the English or Saxons For this was done by the Common Council and the assent of all the Bishops and Princes Peers Earles and all the Wisemen and Elders and people of the whole Kingdom and by the Commandment of King Ina aforesaid so then over all the Kingdom of Brittain they were two in one flesh one Nation and one people by Gods mercy But the authentickness and truth of this Constitution is doubted by that Learned Knight not that it could be supposed that either the Brittains or Mr. Lambard were the Inventors of it but that it supposes King Ina to have married King Cadwaladr's Daughter and Heire of Brittain whom Malmesbury mentions to have had but one Wife and with her and by her perswasions to have ended his dayes at Rome in the Armes of the Apostles as then they were imposed upon yet confesses that Humphrey Lhuyd that great Antiquary and Herald averrs Ina to be Cadwaladr's Son others his Granchild and the Brittish names of the Kings immediatly succeeding Ina Cedwalla Centwin Escivin Cenwalch is some argument of affinity in use between them but this Western Constitution seems rather to refer to the time of k G. Malmsb de Gestis Angl. lib. 2. c. 1. Egbert who was Regis Inae de Fratre Inigildo abnepos King Ina's great Nephew by his Brother Ingild who first reduc'd by his Armes the rest of the Saxon Heptarchyes under himself as one Monarch over all for then saith the Constitution which proves it to have been made when as one Kingdom it was to have but one name deinde universi vocaverunt Regnum Anglorum quod antea vocatum fuit Regnum Brittaniae then all agreed it should be thenceforth called England which before was called Brittain as being his own right now not so much by Conquest wherein his numerous intermingled Brittains were not the least serviceable to him as by descent and title from the Brittish Kings the former Rightful Proprietors So naturally all right Titles usurped and invaded for a time long to return to their Right owners as a stone to its Center when the force that held it in the Aire is nigh expir'd And so this decree for Inter-marriadges was in further acknowledgment and corroboration of the right title to extinguish enmity and distance and to unite the people in one Brittish bloud Or if there was never any such decree or Law then the least that can be imagin'd is that it was some prophecy far exceeding Merlin's for event and perspicuity that got into their Rolls and Registers For what is there more plain and manifest than that the three parts of Great Brittain the Alban-Brittains or the Scots and Loegrian or Locrine-Brittains or the English and the Cambro-Brittains or the Welsh who alone ever surviv'd visibly distinct are all soderd and united into one and the same Nation by Marriadges and Bloud and name and Government And that therefore in all probability considering the Attributes of God his Justice and mercy and that prophetical Aphorisme of our Saviour All they that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword Mat. 26.52 Rev. 13.10 and the Brittish Tradition Twylh y cyllilh hirion a dhial ar y Saeson Treachery and long Knives apace will bring down vengeance on the Saxon race and the shortness of the Lives and Lines of Conquerors and bloudy men Psal 55.24 and how ready God is to have done correcting and to burn the Rod when the Child amends If all mens Cards and Pedigree throughout this Isle were known or confess'd that there would be found over all the Nation more than an hundred to one that were of Brittish extraction to any that were pure Norman or Dane or Saxon or Roman or descended either from their Martial Leaders or or Females of their Camp And further touching the Brittains of Wales apart which no doubt were the chief Gentry and Nobility and the military part of the Loegrian Brittains driven out of their Seats and Lands by the Saxons as the †Buchanan Rege 86. p. 211. H Luyd
put then in a fair posture not only to defend their Church and vindicate their Martyrs but well nigh as Bede intimates to exterminate †Bede l. 2. c. 20. or subdue all their Saxon enemies within the Land For Ethelfred having his greatest force routed at Bangor by the union of the Brittains was the easier conquer'd and kill'd by his Brother-in-law Edwin with the help of the petty King of the East-Angles with whom he lived in Exile through Ethelfreds jealousy least he should intercept the succession of his Sons and by that victory what he fear'd was fulfill'd and brought to pass For upon Edwins prevailing Oswald and Oswi c. his Sons being young were forc'd with several of their Nobles to quit Northumberland and flee into Scotland giving place to Edwin who received his Christianity wherewith he before was well acquainted among the Brittains from Paulinus one of Monk Angustine's Fellow labourers whom he makes Archbishop of York and greatly countenances the propagation of the Roman Faith among the Northern English but Cedwalla or Cadwalhan recovering for r M. Westminster 663. Edwin had beaten him out of all Wales with great slaughters upon the people beâ—â— Edwin again out of his Life and Kingdom and forc'd Paulinus and all his new Converts to shift for themselves exercising great Cruelties far and near as Bede complains both Princes dancing by turnes after Augustine's Pipe And upon the ruine of Edwin who kept but Ethelfred's Sons for about 17 years Eanfrid an Elder Brother of Oswald and Osric his Cousin were restor'd by Cadwalhan Å¿ Hect Boethius l. 9. p. 174. at the Intercession of the King of Scots to the Kingdoms of Deira and Bernicia and afterwards both destroyed t Bede l. 3. c. 1. M. Westm 634. by the same Cadwalhan for apostatizing from the Christian Faith u H. Boethius lib. 9. p. 174. § 50. after he had sent Bishops often to them to warn and advise and reclaim them but all in vain and x Ibid. § 70. Oswald was admitted King after them because in the Battel he was as zealous as Cadwallan himself against the Apostate Kings whereby it appears that the Restauration or plantation of the Christian Religion amongst the Northern English is chiefly owing to Cadwalhan's zeal and and Interest who plyed the English Commonalty with Brittish Preachers no doubt as he did the Apostate Kings with Brittish Bishops whereof Bede takes not the least notice though the passages are punctually recited in the Scottish Histories when it was not their main design as it was with Bede Which the more discovers his unwillingness to do right to the Brittains according to the Truth yea by him Oswald is restored to his Kingdom not by the Courtesie of Cadwalhan but by his y Bed l. 3. c. 1. death and overthrow against both our English and Brittish Histories z Hist Brit. lib. 12. c. 13. who relate Cadwalhan to have lived many years after Oswald and that King Penda of Mercia made War upon Oswi Oswalds Brother and Successor a M. Westm 665. Jubente Cadwallino by Cadwalhan's Order and that he died Anno 679. of b Idem 676. meer Age. But Oswald and his Companions during his Exile in Scotland were c Bede l. 3. c. 2. Baptiz'd and brought up in the Christian Religion according to the Brittish Institution as it differed from the Roman and being settled in his Throne by Cadwalhan sent to c Bede l. 3. c. 2. Scotland for Doctors to Convert the remainder of his Subjects to that end d Idem c. 3. Aidanus and Finnan and Diuma are sent who were Monkes of a Brittish Isle belonging to the Picts who bestowed the same upon St. Columbanus or Collymcille who built a Monastery there as he had done before at Armagh where the Abbot e Usher p 170. was Superiour to all the Clergy of those parts and to the Bishop himself and f Bede l. 3. c. 3 5. the Rites and Customes of the Brittains were most strictly observed and kept to the last the Monkes and Founder being all train'd up in the Principles and Religion of our St. Patrick from whom by Faith all descend as perhaps Aidan and Finnan and Dymma are by bloud of Brittish extraction as their f Aidhan the name of a King of Powys Ancestor to Blethin ap Cynwin Bwlch-Aidhan in Com. Montgom Aedani Ecclesia in Monâ Ins Gyrald Cambr c. 7. Annot. Descrip Cambr. Names may import for the Brittains flocked much to Ireland upon the Saxon persecution whereupon that Island grew very famous for Learning and Religion in those dayes as was said before being the rest bred and born some in Scotland some in Ireland as if by special Providence fitted and designed to represent and unite the four Nations into one the English by their Instruction the Scotch and Irish by their Birth and Education and the Brittains by their first Original in Faith and descent And though they had not the good fortune to be Grac'd and Canoniz'd far and wide for Saints by the Roman Church for which they had not that filiall regard and honour as for their Brittish Mother as others have been of a far lower form to them for Sanctity and Knowledge and Innocence yet that piece of Character Bede gives of Aidan may satisfie what He and the rest were and what honour they deserved and no doubt have enjoyed in Heaven though they fail'd thereof at Rome g Bed lib 3. c. 3. 4. 17. Cujus doctrinam id maxime commendabat omnibus quod non aliter quam vivebat cum suis c. Whose Doctrine saith he and their monastical Education must be remembred and allowed them nothing more set out than that he was known to teach no otherwise than he us'd to live for nothing of this present World did he care either to love or covet All the guifts and presents he received from the Princes and potentates of this World he delighted presently to bestow away amongst the first poor he met it was his manner never to be seen on Horse-back but to perform all his business on foot through all parts of City and Country unless upon great necessity if he met or saw any as he went either Rich or Poor he presently addressed towards them and invited them to the Faith if they were Infidels or if believers confirm'd them in it and stirr'd them up to alms and good works both by word and deed and all that walked in his company whether Regular or Lay so different saith Bede was his manner from the lazy kind of living in his time were to be given to mediation that is were to be ever reading the Scritures or getting some of the Psalms by heart this was his daily work and Custom and of all his Friars that were with him whithersoever they went and if it fell out which was but seldom that he was invited to Dinner by the King he went
Articles for the perpetual preservation of the Christian Faith amongst them besides the union and Intermarriadges of Saxons and Brittains in this Territory especially as elsewhere whereby the Brittains in withholding the Gospel from them as they are unjustly traduc'd did but withhold it from their own flesh and bloud so that the English Loegrian Brittains of these eight West-Saxon Counties may and ought with a good Conscience account themselves members of the old Brittish Church if they will as the other 26 Counties must whether they will or not As for the three remaining Heptarchyes which were not so large and considerable as the other four either that of the East-Angles m Usher p. 394. which contain'd the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Ely and Cambridge or the other of the South Saxons which contain'd m Usher p. 394. Sussex and part of Surry with the Isle of Wight or Kent which was the first seat of the Aliens whereof the two first were gain'd together with the East-Saxon Heptarchy dolo non ferro as Malmsbury n lib. 2. de Episc Lond. words it the last by Carnal Lure that is in the Dialect of modern Christianity not much inferiour to their Heathenism one by Pimping and the other three by Trepanning of King Vortigern whom they well knew to be an Usurper as well as dissolute Neither were the generality of the former Inhabitants thereupon all put to the Sword immediatly but accepted for Tributaries to their new Masters in all probability and serviceable perhaps thereby to their Salvation yet it is to be examined how far the English in these Counties owe their first Faith and subjection to Rome after the Archbishoprick of London wherein they stood was recovered without any long Intermission to the Brittish Church If it be alleadged that Eorpwald Son of Redwald King of the East-Angles either Father or Son or both were won over to Christianity by the means of Edwin King of Northumberland and the Romish Ministry of Kent It appears out of the same Bede o Bede l. 2. c. 15. that both Conversions ended with their persons without any erection or succession of Bishops in that Territory the one revolting to Heathenism at the perswasion of his Wife or which was far worse serving Christ and Satan at the same Altar and Eorpwald shortly after his Baptism killed by one of his own Countrey and kindred and the Kingdom lying in its old Idolatry till his Brother Sigebert succeeded in the Throne who was not Converted by the means of Rome but p Ibid. in France where he lived in exile in his Brothers time and when upon his return he was desirous to make his people partaker of the same Christian Faith We find him in Bede assisted q Ibid. by Felix a Frenchman and r Idem l. 3. c. 19. Furseus a Noble man from Ireland both Nations fairly agreeing in Communion with the Brittish Church The one being made the Bishop of the East-Angles but ordained and Consecrated in Burgundy whence he came He is said to call one Honorius then Archbishop of Canterbury and to acquaint him with his desire to Preach the Gospel who sent him to these parts neither with Ordination nor guift of Tongues nor any other token of Dependance the King himself being his Patron who probably had been the Kings old acquaintance if not his Ghostly Father and first Converter And the chiefest assistance towards the good of the people that he is particulariz'd to give King Sigebert is about the ordering of his Å¿ Bede l. 3. c. 18. School for young Children after the manner he observed in France And his successor Thomas Diaconus sent by the same Honorius after the Decease of Felix was de Girviorum or †Usher 1027. Jarrow in the North part of Aidan's plantation under King Oswald in whose time not u M. Westm An. 605· one Infidel in those parts was left unconverted In whom or him that was next Bishop the Roman Race and succession must needs have given place to Brittish Ordination how else could it be true that in x Bede l. 3. 28. Wini Bishop of Winton's time who was contemporary Bede should affirm there was no other Bishop besides him throughout this Isle of Brittain that was not of Brittish Ordination as we often have occasion to urge But the Conversion of the body of the people is chiefly and deservedly attributed to y Idem l. 3. c. 19 20. Furseus and his Companions who first founded a Monastery in the Countrey called Knobhersburgh for a Nursery to his Ministry and an example to the people of Mortification and contempt of this present World which was then their usual method in the first planting of the Gospel whose main end is to bring this World with all its pompes and self ends more out of request with men and the life to come more in view and value This St. Furseus for his quality and extraction z Bede lib. 3. c. 19. Erat de Nobilissimo genere Scotorum He was of the Princely bloud of the Scotch or Irish who with Bede are one and the same People but for his temper and education he was more noble in mind than bloud brought up to learning and sanctity from his Infancy famed far and near for his Preaching and holy living his vertues and miracles and visions He first comes from Ireland to the Brittains a lib. 3. c â—7 from them to to the East-Angels and to the Leogrian-Brittains left amongst them ill supplied with Ministers for it is observable upon Monk Augustine's arrival it was the British b Clerici vero sacerdotes mucronibus undique micantibus ac Flammis omnes simul in exterminium pelluntur tunc Archiproesul Theonus Londonnensis Thadioc Eboracensis c Math. Westm ad An. 586. Clergy their Priests and Bishops more than their Laity that with fire and Sword were hunted and driven into Wales and not left there unpursued And being honourably received by King Sigebert he fell to his wonted work of preaching the Gospel for the Irish were no strangers about this time to the English tongue as neither the English to the Irish who us'd high and low Nobiles mediocres to flock from England to c Bede l. 3. c. 27. Ireland to be instructed in the Scriptures and strict way of living c Bede l. 3. c. 27. where it cost them nothing for Instructions or Books or Diet And brought numbers of Infidels to embrace the Christian Faith or conforted and confirm'd those that had believed already by the example of his life and the power of his Doctrine leaving his Brother Foilan with other Monks and Ministers to continue what he began the whole Teritory being afterwards reduc'd and Conquered by the Kings of Mercia whose Religion we have known before to be wholly Brittish as opposed to the Roman Neither are the descendants of South-Saxons in Sussex or Surrey or the Isle of
Episc Lond. l. 2. p. 134. c. Confession of all our Historians that this Wini became a Simonaick and therefore no Bishop in Law by their own Principles A remarkable vindication of the Innocent Bloud of our Bangor Martyrs through Gods wonderful Providence who is wont to give a Victory and a new Resurrection to his Church after mortal wounds and to confound its enemies For Augustine and his Italian Successors as they never had Right so neither had they any long continuance here notwithstanding all their craft and cruelty Honorius Å¿ Idem lib. 3. c. 7. was the fift and the last of their race and number from Augustine who died Anno 653. Then the Chair began to receive most an end †Mat. Westmin A. 666. English Successors such was Deusdedit a West-Saxon d G Malmesb. de Episc Lond. l. 2. p. 134. c. whose English name was Fridona whose Ordination was void by the Canons of the Church as well as his Chair For he was not Consecrated by any Archbishop in in due manner Paulinus being dead and gone but by one single Bishop †Bede l. 3. c. 20. Ithamar Bishop of Rochester who had no more power to make an Archbishop than hath a single Presbyter to Ordain and Consecrate his Superiour Bishop Therefore all his Acts and his whole sitting for 9 years were Void and Null And Will of Malmesburie's reason e Guil. Malmesbury de Gestis Roffens for their not calling the Northern Oswaldian Bishops to their assistance is very disingenious in one that had read their Principles in Bede to be so averse against Communion with the Romish See of Canterbury Cavebant Romanorum apud Cantiam Reliquiae Ordinationes erroneorumsequi The Reliques of the Roman Church in Kent saith he were shy to admit them that err'd about Easter to have an hand in their Ordinations whereas the shyness was on the other side shunning all Communion with them as Schismaticks and Intruders upon the Brittish Church So that there was no Archbishop at all in Canterbury from the time of Honorius 653. the See continuing actually Vacant for a year and a half to Deusdedit and also Deusdedit's nine years sitting being null in Law and a while after to the time of Theodorus of Tarsus in Cilicia his coming to the Chair in 668. Of which contrivance of Rome to begin a second Usurpation over the English Brittish Church as well as their first over the Brittains more shall be observed in proper place Therefore the Church of Canterbury was manifestly extinct for those 15 years between Honorius the last Italian and Theodorus the first and last Graecian Archbishop there And we have heard before of the extinction of the See of Rochester under Putta and Willelm besides the Archbishops that succeeded Theodore seem Brittish by their Countrey and Institution Birthwaldus his next successor Anno 692. was Brothers Son to Ethelfred King of Mercia x Antiquitates Eccles p. 55. where their Faith was right Brittish Tatwin after him in 731. was likewise of y Usher p. â—055 Ex Will. Malmesbury Mercia And three of his Bishops that ordain'd him Ingwald of London Aldwin of Lichfield Daniel of Winton were not of Roman but of Brittish Sees And the last ordain'd by Birthwald z Antiquit. Eccles p. 58. Nothelmus after Tatwin 736. had been Bishop of London where he was born Cuthbert after Nothelm came from the Chair of Hereford an Ancient Brittish See belonging to the Archbishoprick of Caerleon in Wales And not to mention Bregwin a Nobleman of Saxony who succeeded Cuthbert Lambert the thirteenth Archbishop was wholly depriv'd of his Primacy by the means of Offa King of Mercia who withdrew all his Revenues and Churches in Mercia from him and got the Pope to assent thereto misit nuntios donativis conferendis praemunitos b Spelman p. 302 303. Noverat enim Rex Offa desideria Romanorum for he had treated him according to his humour with great guifts And so Aldulphus Bishop of Lichfield was made Archbishop during the Reign of Offa. The Pope notwithstanding through the great darkness that was to be for several Ages in the Church restor'd the See and maintain'd his usurpation at Canterbury to the time of Henry 8. a Brittish King who putting a full end and period to all Popish powers and pretences continued here against the Laws of the Land and the Canons of the universal Church And judging fit to continue the Primacy of Canterbury upon a new and better Authority his own pleasure and the strength of the Law the Superiority of that See became lawful ever afterwards to be submitted to in Brittain according to Church Canons Which from the suppression of the old Archbishoprick of London was all along before a manifestly uncanonical and Schismatical usurpation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Photii Nomocanon Tit. 1. c. 20. infamous to boot in the sense of the Ancient Canons Usurpation and force and Conquest right or wrong being more comely in the field than in the Church and better to be legitimated by descent and time And this Argument of the English or Saxons receiving their first Faith from Brittain and not from Rome is further corroborated by that notable observation of the Reverend and Eloquent Archbishop Parker sometime Queen Elizabeths Latine Tutor as I am informed upon several Old d W. L'isle divers Ancient Monuments Antiquitates Ecclesiasticae p. 35 -to 47. Saxon Laws and Homilies containing several points and Articles and Suppositions in them quite contrary to those Doctrines that Augustine and his Romish successors endeavoured to sow and propagate as the Faith of Rome in England 1. Against Transubstantiation 2. For Communion under both kinds 3. And the Translations of Scripture into the Vulgar Tongue and Instances thereof before the time of Wicleff 4. Laymen to study and read the Scriptures and to learn Creed and Decalogue and Lords Prayer in the Vulgar Tongue 5. Against Invocation of Saints e Wheeloc not in c. 9. lib. 4. Bedae Antiquae Homiliae Saxonum nunquam sanctos invocant c. Worshiping of Images 6. Marriadges to be free 7. Kings to be Gods Vicars in their Kingdom 8. The Legislative Power to be in King and people Quae quidem veteris Ecclesiae Brittannicae dogmata c. Which verily saith he being the Tenets and Doctrines of the Old Brittish Church and long retain'd amongst the Ancient Saxons notwithstanding the influence and successions of their Roman Guides and Teachers to the contrary how agreeable they are both to to the word of God and our Modern Laws and Constitutions and how diametrically contrary in all respects to their way at Rome any one may with ease discern that will For as the same learned prelate again what Author did ever in his works report that Augustine did ever Preach to the English that they might come to believe by hearing that he was not capable to do it his own Pope
Christians for another surname as is the stile of all Roman-Catholicks And 2 likewise for no m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ordinary voluntary Austerity of life which is most of the Religion of the best of them Col. 2.23 And 3. n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epiphan in Audianis for separating from the communion of their betters which was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most grievious and dreadful miscarriage of all So that Brittain the Mother Church to Europe was made like in several parts both for sufferings and relief to Sion the Mother Church of the whole World as small circles have the genius and similitude of the greater for as the opposition and greate Combate of the one was from the Sword of the Heathen World resolving to destroy it from without and the leaven of Nicholaitans and other Hereticks combineing from within to defile and shame it which was the greater molestation and Indignity so in like manner was the Case of the other for the Primitive Brittish was permitted to be kill'd all the day long by Pagan Saxons on the one hand and hindred and pestered all along in all its good works with Roman-Catholick Gnosticism on the other which was the greater and the unworthyer Nusance yet both prevailing through their oppression The death of Brittain bringing life and Salvation to English and Germans as the seed grows by dying or as the Jews rejection was the Gentile's reconcilation in some likeness of Christ himself their first Pattern who became the life of all the World by his death and as the one had its Constantine after some time and Theodosii to vindicate and take its part so had the other it s Arthurs and Charlemagne and Henry the eight in some like proportion aâ—d Christ himself in the end to make it alike partaker in glory with him as it was in sufferings and in the mean while to live in them for whom it dyed as he doth in his Church and as Fathers live in their posterity that take their place Neither is it hence Inferrible according to Roman Logick and Sophistry that Europe therefore ought to pay such obedience for ever to Brittain upon this spiritual score as the Roman expects from other Churches which were against the Law of Nations and the Rights of Kings in their several Dominions whose respective subjects are to own and regard no other Superiour but their own Prince and as much against the Laws and Canons of the Catholick Church and the Immunities of Bishops and Metropolitans within their several Provinces by them and as much against the Law of nature likewise and the express ordinance of God himself who hath placed the woman in subjection under the man and yet by the strength and consequence of this Argument that order must be Inverted And where women have had the first hand in the Conversion of Kings and Kingdoms to the Faith there they ought by this Roman Topick to be Supreme in spirituals if they have impartial right and justice done them as they must of necessity be in England in several respects either in the right of Queen Bertha who first disposed her Husband Ethelbert to the Faith whereby Monk Augustine and Popery had their first entrance Or of Eanfled Oswi's Queen by whose zeal and diligence Theodore and Popery had its re-entrance and more durable establishment after it had been once banisht and extinct Or Anne Fulleâ—gne to whom according to the Romanists is owing its mortal wound and total overthrow and the setting up of Protestancy instead Or in France to Queen Clotildis who brought Clodoveus their first Christian King to embrace the Faith or to Mâ—esâ—o's Queen who did the like in Poland c. Or over the whole Christian World in the right of Mary Magdalen who brought the first tydings of the Resurrection to the Apostles themselves which would be a great relief to the fame of Pope Joan and the credit of her History so unjustly question'd No the English who are nearer home were they now a distinct People from the Ancient Brittains as it hath been proved they are not ow not such a debt or Tribute to the Posterity of the Ancient Brittains by whose Ancestors we have likewise prov'd they were undoubtedly fiâ—st Converted For such kind of Preaching of the Gospel on the side of the Brittains and such believing and complying with the grace of God for Salvation on the side of the English or Saxon were the personal duties and merits of both Progenitours for which both have had their full reward and payment from God long ago in rest and glory and both posterities mutually acquitted and released and remitted to seek after the like glory by the like means for indeed the just retribution and compensation for the unvaluable benefit of Gospel and Salvation belongs to God alone both to discharge and to receive instead of the one and the other party because two great a debt and obligation for a Creature to undergo or the hearer to requiâ—e or the â—reaâ—â—er to demaund and insist on besides the mâ—â—dâ—â— and telling another of our good turns towaâ—ds him Cancels Courtesies especially those between Souls because it bankrupts and annihilates by fiction him whose requital we expect For the giver representing God the receiver a Creature unless Gods proxy absent and hide his glory by a fiction of forgetfulness the Creatures proxy will appear to be nothing and consequently insolvent so near his rayes as the Sun must set that Stars may shine for while too near the presence and comparison of the greater obscures and destroys the weaker light If therefore the Generous posterity of the Saxons on the one hand believe kindness to be due to the posterity of the Brittains on the score of first Faith the Brittains on the other dare not own any such debt to be due unto them lest they wrong the merits and duties of their Progenitors but what honour or favour is forced upon them they will acknowledge it free guift without any previous merit calling for a requital and return with due increase and multiplied proportion where there is power and where that is wanting for a constant acknowledgement and rememberance and repayments in the heart through the aid of God by prayers and blessings And this were as much the duty of the Roman Church towards the English were it true that their Ancestors had received their Faith from Rome and that Faith had been pure and sound and right according to that of our Saviour freely ye have received freely give Math. 19.8 If they intend to act as men and Christians and Gentlemen of education and breeding and not as those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that had their hearts or their minds and consciences putrified and corrupted 1 Tim 6.5 as too many of their principles and practices afford apparent Symptons of such a malady For in the matter and commerce of Courtesies that forgetfulness should be the part of the Giver and remembrance of the Receiver
confidence in their Cut-throate-fathers and are call'd to severe and sharp account for the errours of their teachers and their own yet most clear and undeniable it is that the People have a good zeal in General for the true God and Religion yea are more sincerely stedfast in their errours amidst poverty and torture and double Tithes and payments and death it self than many knowing Protestants are for the true Religion which they shrink from and change upon any appearance of advantage or disadvantage as often as the Moon he that is sincere and earnest in a false Religion aims at the true in the General and in his conscience But he that lives contrary or slights the Religion which himself professes and believes to be true declares himself of no Religion or understanding for contradiction added to Atheism is the Outlary of all reason and honour The Irish therefore are the more to be regarded and tender'd by us under their Ignorance and spiritual disorder because curable and not to be neglected for what wrong or temporal mischief soever they have done to us or themselves in the time of their blindness and seduction lest we be justly guilty of the unjust calumny against the Ancient Brittains towards the Saxons but we are to be zealous of their Reformation whether we be English or Brittains if English we are their debters their Learned and Pious Ancestors have done the like and more for many of ours whom they taught the first Gospel when they lay in Heathenish Ignorance and the shadow of death And much more if we are Ancient Brittains for our Ancestors taught theirs and love descends and it belongs to a Husbandman to be more careful of his plantation than to a stranger therefore we are bound to intreat and beseech them especially their Learned and sincere Clergy that love the Salvation of their charge more than absolute Dominion over them and their remaining afflicted Gentry and Nobility in the name of God and the bowels of Christ and that we may the better prevail even upon our knees before them that they will be merciful to their land and to their own souls and Posterity and as they have of late to some trouble own'd our Soveraign in Temporals that they would also own Christ in Spirituals instead of the Pope and holy Scriptures instead of lyes and Bulls and Legends and conscience more than deceitful guides and Popery will have its end in Ireland and the Ignorance and misery of that poor Nation in soul and body and Estates together with it as we hope and trust They are as able to overthrow the pretended Infallibility of the Pope in the latter and grosser errour as they have done effectually in the first And they 'l meet their old Religion which St. Patrick taught in the Protestant Church of Ireland and England Protestant truth and Irish sincerity will make excellent Christianity The Learned and Pious Dr. Sall is worthy of everlasting honour amongst all good Christians for his great and leading example in this point amidst great discouragements And as for some other of their guides who are like to be most cross and averse against this Petition of truth and love who if they are not fowly belyed delight in the Impliciâ— saith of their Female charge as well as their Male the chastity of the soul and body from God and purity being the chief sacrifice and triumph that Satan and his Ministers delight in we are not so desirous of their company or Communion till by better reformation they assure us of their belief of any God which we doubt not in the least of the rest of their seduc'd Brethren And by this second Instance appears the difference between the Religion of the Irish under its first Plantation by the Brittains and it s after Cultivation by the Romanists by the one they became the Glory of Western Christendom for Christian life and Learning by the other the reproach and scorn of the World and Pitty of all good men for their Ignorance and wildness And the English from the time of King Ina and the Brittains while under their Power till the Reformation were well nigh as much beholding to Rome for their like improvement in knowledge And Rome hath accomplish'd most of her Conquests over Churches and Souls by this mist of Ignorance to set off mistakes and cheats Adimit rebus nox atra colorem darkness destroys differences a Serpent shall be taken for a Rope a Pool for a Meadow a Statue for a living man an enemy for a Friend a King for a Subject in the dark And so the first currant mistake by the help of this politick Ignorance that hath advanc'd and supported the Empire and credit of that Church to this day is that they make their Proselytes believe that their Church is the same with Jerusalem wich is above descended down to Rome the Mother of us all the Church of the living God out of whose Pale or Bosome there is no Salvation to be expected For so all degrees and Converts to that Church by the Bull or Test of Pius quartus must profess and swear the Holy Catholick Church in Heaven and Earth mention'd in Creeds to be their particular Roman Church which begets it great Authority and veneration from those which can believe this to be true and heretofore brought great resort and Treasure and Honour to that City several Kings and Princes leaving their Crowns and Kingdoms to end their dayes at Rome as it were in Heaven or Abraham's bosom So Bede saith of a Bede lib. 4. c. 5. Oswi that he was grown so perfect a Catholick that had not his Disease prevented he resolved to go to Rome to leave his Bones there to be sure of Heaven Which the Monkish corrupter of the Brittish History directly affirms of Cadwaladr last King of the Brittains the absurdity of which dream and forgery tending to exalt the Honour of Rome and the abuse of our Saints and worthies most evidently appears by comparing Bede and Geoffrey of Monmouth together For he with all others allows Cadwaladr to be the Son of Cedwalla or Cadwalhan King Edwins Chrony and Antagonist born the same day and brought up b Hist Britt l. 12 c. 1. in the Court of Northwales to years of manhood together That Edwin recovering Northumberland by the defeat and death of Edelfred after long exile and falling out with Cadwalhan who would not allow him to wear a Crown beyond Humber but at peril of his head and then siding with the Roman faction conquer'd Wales and drove out Cadwalhan beyond the Seas holding the Countrey in subjection for 17 years but was overthrown at last and kill'd by Cadwalhan in the year 633. being the 47 year of his Age c Bede l. 2. c. 20. saith Bede as Cadwalhan was of the same Age by consequence and Cadwaladr his Son born and in being about this time or else according to Bede he never could be born For according to
other hand the lawfulness of our Restoration and recovery of those Rights and Truths whereof we were in just possession heretofore but were kept out for some hundreds of years by force and fraud and its Un-christian confederations with Infidels against us It is as hopeless and ungrateful a labour as to them I say as to read Lectures of honesty and restitution to Thieves and Robbers Willful Schismaticks being as Averse to have their Idol errours crossed and dishonour'd as right Christians their God and their Truth blasphem'd Neither were it wisdom or Prudence or right thankfulness to God in our selves by such discourses to bring into doubt our manifest Rights and Duties and Gods mercy and deliverance being all as clear as the Sun Such a foolish undertaking this were as for the Royal party as before was instanc'd to make Apologies for his Majesties return and his right to reassume his Crown against those that kept him out for so many years Or for Jews to justify their return to Jerusalem upon King Cyrus his Proclamation after the prescription of 70 years Captivity against them or their Fathers the Israelites in Egypt their departure from under Pharaohs Government after 430 years subjection or the Heathen world to justify their shaking off Satans yoak to take Christs instead after they had layen under the other well nigh 4000 years for no errour or wrong of how long time soever it be can prescribe or compare with truth and right which are Eternal Neither can we find that our Romanists themselves could be easily perswaded or inclin'd to return under their Constantinopolitan Exarchs though their lawful Governours were they yet in being nor under the Turk their Masters successor by right of Conquest to whom themselves did contribute their scandalous assistance who yet hath far more right to their subjection and return than they to ours who never were our just and rightful Superiours If they would have us return under an unjust yoak they ought to give first an example by returning themselves under one more just Else how can they expect their Counsels or Challenges to be regarded whilest themselves count it ridiculous to do that right to others which they expect from us to be done to them to our own wrong Therefore instead of proving the legality I shall chuse rather to admire the wonderful Providence of our Brittish Restoration And how God hath blessed such our Princes with great success and Glory that have sincerely advanc'd the same spiritual freedom of their Church and Countrey and hath blasted and mulcted others with trouble and disaster and loss of strength and Territory and honour and publick love that have openly or clandestinely gone about to overthrow this great blessing of our Restoration whose beginning many ascribe to the time of Henry the 8th as its accomplishment and perfection in great part to that of Edward the 6th and Queen Elizabeth But if the Restoration of the Brittish Church and Nation be consider'd in his first root and cause as all certain Science is ever by the cause The day-break of our deliverance and reformation began in the miraculous and fatal entrance of our Great and Wise and Magnificent Prince King Henry the 7th For then properly was this Church restored when according to Ancient hopes and expectations the Ancient Brittains were in him restor'd to their Crown and Countrey Who no doubt were Gods Ancient Church and first new Israel within this Isle the seed and Reliques of the first Apostolick Plantation who amidst so many stormes and Invasions that have drown'd the names and memories of other Nations were kept up a distinct people by his Providence amidst prevalent enemies round about as it were by Antiperistasis till the arrival of Henry the 7th For ever since the distinction of that people in Names Language Tenure Manners Laws Customes vanish'd by degrees and the English and Brittains are dissolv'd into one and the same Nation and the charge and right of preserving and enjoying their liberty and Reformation devolv'd on both alike For it cannot be well unobserv'd how in the deep Counsels of Gods Providence true Religion and the Brittish Monarchy like twins have fallen and risen up together hand in hand being partners by a kind of Sympathy in the wounds and prosperity of one another For when Popery and Augustine the Monk first came in the Brittish Monarchy was declining And no sooner this was up again in King Henry's Person but Popery like a Bucket was to go down and vanish as it never could since Clandestinely attempt to get up without great Convulsions and hazards and weakning of this Monarchy So that this Nation had the honour and singular mercy to be the first of all Nations especially Western in receiving the first Life the first Wounds the first Cure in its Religion It being the first Province that welcom'd Christian Religion into its own Throne under its Kings the first that exalted it into the Throne of the Roman Empire when her Kings grew Emperors The first opposer of Antichrist to its wound and glory in the beginning of its dark Raign which lasted about 900 years and the first partaker and chief cause under God in the Reformation and deliverance from it Henry the 7th being the morning Star and tydings of this day-break not only to Brittain but to the rest of Europe For King Henry came in 1485. and Martyn Luther began to shine in Germany about thirty years after As there were Prophesies and Visions to King Cadwaladr 797 years before believed saith our c Edward Hall Union of York and Lancaster 1 Hen. 7. f. 2. English Historian to be verified in his exaltation For the d Hist Britt l. 12. c. 17. Brittish story mentions an Angelical Vision to King Cadwaladr to this effect populum Britonum merito suae fidei insulam adepturum c. That the Brittains for their Faiths sake should recover this Island and their Kingdom which they had lost but the Condition of bringing Cadwaladr's bones from Rome whither we proved he never went may well be look'd upon as a Fabulous Addition of the Monks This is said to agree with other Prophesies of e Piâ—seus p. 63. Aquila of Caer-septon or Shaftsbury and other Traditions they had in both Brittains Not of Merlin only which yet are commonly cited as authorities touching the change of the Sees from London to Canterbury by our English Historians W. Malmesbury Mat. Westminster c. delebitur Relligio Dignitas Londoniae adornabit Doroberniam spoken about 150 years before it took effect But other Brittish Authors without blemish as f Apud Usher 567. St. Kentigern to his Scholars on the day his Kinsman St. David departed about the year of our Lord 544. Tradet Dominus Brittanniam exteris Nationibus deum ignorantibus c. God will deliver Brittain over unto Foreign Nations that know not God The Law of Christian Religion shall be abolished therein for a prefix'd time but it
by his high disloyalty though not by his resolution and many other great parts if rightly used And what makes our Frustrations to be Panegyricks in many mouthes of his Attainments but that having the same men and courage and preparations and more we take not the same method to prosper in a good cause as he did in a bad And to borrow light from vanity what can the skill of the best Player avail if the Dice be altogether against him For some will say that Interest and reason of State all may see that the temper of the whole Nation and the wise may observe that Heaven and fate forbid the banes and realliance of this Land with Popery For who are more miserably rent and divided then we now of this Nation are though restor'd Our people distrusting their Princes and our Princes their people whereby our strength and glory by mutual subductions is brought to nothing like a Merchant that hath 10000 l. Stock and is 20000 l. in Debt and all this only by striving against fate And making Popery and our selves the weaker by favouring it against Profession Interest Duty Oaths Trusts halting between God and Belial between Christ and the Pope between Protestant and Papist being as they say neither good fish nor flesh but deservedly weak and improsperous and contemptible and acting all in the dark like men under fear or guilt or self condemnation yet a sincere Resolution to be firm and true to God and Protestant truth without further doubling Cures the whole Nation in an Instant clears all Debts dissolves all jealousies and fears strengthens all Interests opens all hands and hearts and purses and makes us Brittains again happy and united within our selves and serviceable to our friends and formidable to our enemies and acceptable to God All our Divisions in this Nation for these 1600 years and upwards were ever rais'd and fomented by harbouring Rome within our bowels either with or against our wills The Picts from the North and the Scots or Irish from the West were enemies heretofore to the Brittains though much their flesh and bloud solely upon the score of Rome upon the like inducement as Roman-Catholicks at this day are enemies to our peace and Nation the one gnawing our bowells as the other did Infest our borders upon the same score of Rome For the Roman power ruling here while Picts and Scots were unreduc'd forc'd the Brittains to serve and fight against them whether they would or not and them to fight against us by consequence and Provocation The Roman cheat since prevailing upon many through their want of love to the truth makes men enemies and Spies and Traitors to their own Countrey not through force but by their own choice and zeal to serve and promote the ambitious ends of Forreigners which less intoxicate than mens own personal lusts and passions and renders them therefore more inexcusable and despicable than any other Traitors or Malefactors whatsoever that set up for themselves An hearty embraceing of the Ancient Apostolick Brittish Faith which the Scotch and Irish defended with us heretofore against Monk Augustine and planted amongst the English before he and his Successors sowed their Tares amongst them which our Roman-Catholicks are so fond of would unite these three Nations as one man in mutual love and peace and truth and prosperity and renown and strength and Gods blessing which was the whole aime and designe of this discourse and an effectual care taken against Roman seducers on the one hand and compassion towards the seduced on the other and the exemplification of our own right faith by an answerable good life would under God easily effect this reduction They are unnaturally unkind to their own Countrey that take part with Rome against it which was ever a bad neighbour to our Brittain returning us evil for good It destroyed our Empire through the ambition of Maximus our Church through Monk Augustine whereas we ever did but Cures upon it Planting the first Gospel amongst them before the arrival of St. Peter or St. Paul Ridding their Roman World of the remainders of their old Pagan Idolatry which there was in great power and value by the zeal of our Great Constantine and healing their new Christian Idolatry in good part wherewith it was as much enamour'd by our Henry the 8th his President Let them beware of the Repentance of another Generous Prince descending together from the same Royal Brittish stock and of no less a spirit who being once fully undeceived shall see great wrongs to the Innocent to be repair'd great indignities to his own Interest and honour to be reveng'd and chastiz'd as King Henry did his Incest great oppression to patient Protestancy both at home and in Neighouring Kingdoms yea and great abuse to all Christendom in general by Holy frauds and Impostures and abominable Idolatries to be reliev'd and redress'd to whom Cromwel their Terrour was but a Blazing-warning Meteor who shall unite to himself both the heart of God and of the three Nations by his zeal for his cause and glory against such Hypocrites and everlasting troâ—â—â—â—ers of Kingdoms and Churches and judge it a design commensurate to his Princely Grandeur and Renown to go along with Fate and Providence to put a period to their Kingdom of Lyes and Forgeries and Profanations and begin the overthrow of Turkish by suppressing Christian Antichrist the great enemy of Souls and Truth which gave the other its chief rise and growth and was the first president in Christian Kingdoms of Rebellion against lawful Soveraigns upon the pretence of Religion the only obstacle of the Union of all Christian Churches by his Pride and usurpations And the most dangerous enemies to all humane Society and Government and to all Faith and Truth among men and Christians which support them by Dispens'd Perjuries Licensed Dissimulations Equivocations Mental Reservations Canoniz'd Tteasons c. The like practices being never known or heard of in the World before amongst sober Heathens nor the most wild and barbarous much less amongst the Primitive Christians and Martyrs but only the Gnostick Disciples of Simon Magus If it be the Fate of Brittain to give Rome another Cure and Castigation without which neither England nor Christendom are like be at rest And none are easier and sooner reduc'd than such whose principles and practices have long warr'd against Heaven and the Brittish Proverb saith Drwg y Ceidw Diawl ei wâas The Devil ill brings off his Servant It were to be wish'd and prayed it might please the Almighty to effect it mildly by the Authority and power of a generous and lawful Prince like as Constantine was from hence and not for our neglect raise a Tyrannical Cromwel for the scourge and ruine of their Degenerate Church as he did Ruffinus heretofore for the overthrow of their Degenerate Empire who is a Balaus Cent. 1.42 reported to be a Brittain born and his name greatly proves his Original were he born elsewhere
children before his face as it were by a just Judgement of God wherein it is likely the Popes had no more hand in the contrivance than Monk Augustine a few years after in the bloud of Bangor though some while after we find them openly and Traiterously destroying not Emperours only â—at the Empire of the East it self and despising and chopping the Kings and Emperours of the West as fast as Tarquâ—n did Poppies till they stumbled upon a Brittain And Holy Gregory kept fair Communion with this bloudy Phocas in Letters full of Honour and Respect nevertheless and his next or next Successor saving one who sate not half a year Boniface the third obtain'd from the Grant of Phocas that Universal Primacy wherewith they have troubl'd the World to this day which in others was Antichristanism by confession and yet themselves are the men A Phocâ obtinuit Bonifacius magna tamen contentione ut sedes B. Petri Apostoli que caput est Omnium Ecclesiarum ita diceretur haberetur ab omnibus He obtain'd with much ado of Phocas that the See of St. Peter which is the head of all Churches in their fansie should be so esteemed and accounted of by all d Platina in Bonifacio tertio They were and still are long studying and hammering for a square and proportionable Title and Foundation to bear this grand Fabrick of Universal Monarchy in the Church The house of Pudens and our Ruffina their Ancientest and Truest was too narrow The undoubted residence of St. Paul in their City was their most Honourable and Glorious Title but more serviceable for Salvation than for Supremacy for it made them but co-ordinate yea Junior to several Churches of Greece Athens Ephesus Thessalonica of the same Plantation Constantine's Imperial Graunt was Subject to change of time and Emperours to change of mind therefore no shoulders seem'd broader and fitter than St. Peter's to be their Atlas who yet if ever he came to Rome came thither upon the score of the Jews who were his peculiar charge as the Gentiles were St. Pauls as is plain from Scripture and their own e Spondan An. 51. n. 4. confession according to the appointment of God Gal. 2 7. and the decree of the Hierosolymitan Synod and their particular respective undertaking lest therefore by this they were at best but Popes of the Jews they 'l borrow help from St. Paul and both shall be their founders together in despite of God who made them Separate but then there are other Prerogatives since assum'd by that See of deposing Kings and Emperours and transferring Kingdoms which cannot be well derived from Fishermen and Tent-makers and Subjects Therefore it is a more adequate Title to be Christs Vicars by whom Kings Raign but because his Kingdom was not of this World nor his Mission while on Earth but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel The Roman Parasites discern that the Plaister is never broad enough for the sore till he is Vice-Deus or e Torturi Torâ—i p. 361. Vice-God on Earth as they begin to stile him in their dedications And this comes nearest to the Scriptures 2. Thes 2. Now it is not my design at present to display the great mischief and bloud-shed and confusion that did arise to Christian Kingdoms and Churches from this groundless Primacy nor the Enchantments upon souls by this Castle in the Air nor to examine whether Turcism or Popery have been the greater Nusance to Christendom or which was the greatest wrong to the spouse of Christ to be slain or defil'd to be pillag'd or divided For all Churches heretofore from one end of the Earth to the other were all as loving Sisters of one and the same Family under one and the same roof tyed to one another in a lovely knot and Union of mutual charity and preference and still might be if by the mercy of God and zeal of Christian Princes this common disturber were raised from being Servus Servorum an Hebraism for a great slave to be equal in Vote and Authority in Publick Councils to other Metropolitans and Primates his Reverend Brethren who otherwise hinders all with his proud humility and detestable Union of slavery But my scope and purpose only is to vindicate our own Rights and Liberties and to unmask this Bishop and his Clerks who come as thieves in the Coat of Christ and St. Peter to steal away our Crowns and Mitres and to seduce wel-meaning people and unwary Grandees to assist them in the Robbery out of Conscience and to burn and destroy us as Hereticks out of zeal for keeping our own against this their Phocacian Monopoly and Usurpation which c Whâ—lock not in Bed l. 2. c. 8. Monk Augustine and his Successors were sent hither to execute amongst as many as they could abuse and deceive For what fair obligation upon Conscience which is ever correlative and corresponding with Gods will can this Intrusion on the Fights of Neighbouring Kingdoms and Churches have which is so expresly forbidden by the Laws of God and Nations and the Canons of the Universal Church Can God be contrary to himself or one Catholick Church to another or the same Lord Christ be both the Avenger and Patron also of such as over-reach their Brethren or remove bounds and Land-marks Doth not Conscience bind them rather to aid their injur'd Neighbours against these holy Robbers and to study reparations wherever they were miss-led to be accessory and assisting to such Burglaries upon the Innocent If it be good Catholick Religion and Conscience to swallow hand over head any Tradition oâ— gloss that shall produce a Commission from God against his express Will and Precept to the contrary Then Adam and Eve were commendable Catholicks in hearkning to the Serpent to the ruine of themselves and their posterity and we in protesting from plain Scripture against such glosses and suggestions culpable Protestants Protestancy is not a name of Schism but of Duty and eternal Allegiance of the Soul to God and Truth against Atheism and falsehood and the works and words of the Devil in any shape The Act that pass'd at Germany about an 100 and odd years ago in protesting from manifest Scriptures against gross Errours counterfetting Divine authority was a duty in general 1500 years before and more and will be still to the Worlds end The vow of Baptism makes every Christian a Protestant from the Font. Nothing more makes Roman-Catholicks and Cardinals and Popes than a Carnal forgetfulness and abhorrence from such Protestantism It is not believing as men would have but as God in his word and will would have us to believe that makes true Catholicks and Christians for Christians are to resist temptations whereof the most prevalent love to be cloathed with God and Religion fatuus the Latine for a fool is conjectur'd to be deriv'd from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to perswade one that is easily won to believe any Lie or Legend or Imposture Old Adam and
different Liquor unto others in Synods and Conventicles to make them turbulent and frantick and to worry their Rulers and destroy their Kings several have been so weary and tyred what with the noyse and scandal on the one hand what with the Narcotick steam and Operation on the other that they are ready to slumber and sleep at Noon-day and like sick men can find no rest but by changing their Religion as they do their Beds a deadly Symptom in both and to Rome they will go where they may sleep to purpose while their eyes are resign'd to their guides and their trust to man instead of God and never waken till the Trumpet and last Judgement to their Eternal wo. If it were to return to Rome Heathen in its glory and to change their Bibles for Tully or Seneca rather than for Lyes and Legends men might have some excuse for their intoxicated love of slavery which all free Spirits abhor and especially Spiritual slavery which is so contrary to the soul the freest of beings For there we should meet with Caesar and Cicero and Virgil and many other Heroes of several endowments we should light if not upon Christ yet upon the other part of my Text the Heart and Soul in that perfection and improvement by knowledge and virtue and valour as fully answer'd the Poets Character which compriz'd the utmost that men could do or Pen describe Imperium terris animos aequavit Olimpo they match'd the Gods with their parts and over-match'd the World with their Prowess And where the heart is well preserv'd and enlightened Christ is never far off even as Antichrist is never nigh but where the heart is first darkned and resign'd For the Sun of Righteousness was rising to the World about this time that Rome was so clear'd and enobl'd in heart and Spirit and mens souls were so awakned and sitted with Liberty and honour to receive his Truths The Roman Empire being raised and imployed in St. John Baptist's work as it were to prepare the way of the Lord and to train mens souls to value truth in the General above sordid self-love and to clense the eye in part to behold its lustre For as the Sun were of little use to people that had no eyes or were blinded with cataracts and scales so also is the Sun of righteousness to blind and servile and seal'd understandings and Christ to any heart that is muffled with Idols or enslaved to another Supremacy But in Popery neither Christ nor the Heart can well be met with both are so engrossed and devourâ—d by his Vicaâ— it is highest Honour there not to be true to Honour or Conscience which passes for a dangerous private Spirit against their Church and to quit on 's self of his soul and Heart and Judgement is the method to be a right Roman Catholick and Christ and the soul like correlates ever stand and fall together where the one departs the other seldom stays behind Which is the reason that Popish Rome in its highest manhood and perfection had little to shew of either for when it arrived to its highest pitch and all Crowns were Subject to its Mitre all Laws to its Canons where was its glory compar'd to the other Rome but in a Herd of Monkish-Blockheads to be set against the others Divine Classick Authors Bede Geoffrey Comestor or the Golden Legend against Livy and Tacitus and Plutarch c. Epistolae obscurorum virorum against those of Cicero or Seneca And who against Virgil and Juvenal and Horace Poetry was so Ingenious and true to human nature in whose exaltation it ever chirps as down in the mouth in its fall also that where the Heart was excluded it turn'd Protestant and never shewed more its head What they had left to boast of were men without souls Arguments without sence Sermons without Scriptures or Fathers Authors without the stile and dialect of men cloysterd Epicures fat and trading Monks Cardinals without Christian Lives and Popes without Faith or Religion In a word Christianity without a soul or Saviour the Image of Religion to mans eye without the life and truth thereof to God's The Pope and the Virgin Mary instead of Christ and blind Obedience instead of the heart that no time or Age since the Floud or Fall can be parallel'd to that of Popery in its full reign and adâ—ption for a total degeneracy of human and Christian nature in point of Morality and Grace and Learning and Knowledge and Pen. It were better to have our sight and Judgement and but Stars to guide us than to have a blind heart with such a Sun and Gospel It were more eligible to be Cicero â—s Servitour than a King of such Christian Cattel And this was the state of Popery in his highest culmination and plenitude of growth and Lustre And which it is still at to recover for Popery is not to be heeded by its present pretences but its known ends and humour when it hath attain'd its ends which of all things hates nothing more than eyes and private Judgement and light which Inseparablâ— accompany the heart for thieves are best at thâ—iâ— work in the dead of night and Kings are best gullâ—d of their Soveraignties and Subjects of their Câ—yn and Liberty by Ignorance and a scale or Ointment to blind their eyes and all are better cramped and confessed when they are asleep For to appeal to any mans sence or Conscience or observation is there any thing more experimentally manifest to the World in every Age than that the chief design of Popery as to its Leaders is to promote and compass secular ends and Grandeur and Wordly power upon what hazard soever to souls or disgrace to Christ and his Religion and that Mammon is as Catholickly servâ—d at Rome as God and that its main design is to have the Crowns of Kings and Purses of Subjects in its power and the Consciences of both in order thereunto Quae regio in terris c. What Territory or Kingdom can be nam'd in Europe whose Scepter it hath not made Feudatary and Tributary to St. Peters Chair by its Faith-craft as the Ancient Romans did more nobly and Lyon-like by their Arms and Manhood what hide of good land without the fence of mortmain had escap'd the Plow of mortified Monks what Chimney was in all the Kingdom without a Peter-pence what is more confessed and gloried in by our Modern Popes in their stamps and meddals wherein St. Peter is represented lifting up an old Woman from the ground with this motto Roma resurgens a fair and lucky Comment under their own Hand and Seal upon Rev. 13.12 And he exerciseth all the Power of the Beast before him and causeth the Earth and them that dwel therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wounds was heal'd whereby is prov'd as by their own confession the Succession of Rome-Papal to Rome-Imperial it being the sence of the Ancient Fathers as before that the Empire which