name of a Civill Lord with which bare name or shadow I fight not but also a vast unweldy I had almost sayd unlimited Power in Civill Government which must needes draw on a mighty Traine and cloath it selfe with glorious Robes of long extended and magnifique stiles scarce to be marshal'd by a better Herald than Elibu who could give no Titles Or in the last place which should be first a true faithfull Overseer that over one single Congregation hath a joynt care with the Elders Deacons and rest of the Assembly who are all fellow helpers yea servants each to others faith This last is a Bishop of the first Institution of Christs allowance setled in divers Churches even in the Apostles times The first is of the second Century when Doctrine Discipline all Religion began to waine For even then Mysterious Antichrist was not onely conceived but beganne to quicken The second rose last though first intended by the Churches Enemy Rising up while the world was busie looking all one way as amaz'd at the new Beast successour to the Dragon This is now our Adversary One monstrously compounded of different yea opposite Offices and those the greatest both Ecclesiasticke and Civill for which he seemes no way able no way fit and that for many reasons which may be brought from Scripture Church-Antiquity State-Policy I shall begin with the last as that I now ayme at most Here let us view our Bishop a while as a private man before his Office Next as a Lord over Church and State in his Office Then with some necessary Consequents to his Office as now it is exercised in this Kingdome Thus shall we quickly judge how sutable to true Policy of State are either the Antecedents Concomitants or Consequents of this too officious two-headed Bishop Antecedents to his Office are his Birth Education Election Ordination c. Concomitants or rather Ingredients we may call that almost illimited power both Intensive in sole Ordination Jurisdiction Directive by Injunctions Canons c. Corrective by Excommunication Suspension Deprivation c As also Extensive over so vast a Diocesse Hither also wee may referre his power Iuridicall or Legislative in Parliament Judiciall in many Great yea Civill Tribunals And of all monsters most ugly his power Delegative then which this sunne hath seene nothing more monstrous at least as of late it hath beene exercis'd By Consequents I meane his Relations acquired by his office both Vpward to his Soveraigne Creator Benefactors as Downward to his owne family Creatures and hang-by Dependants CHAP. II. LEt us begin with Antecedents in them the first Which we shall finde very unsutable to his after acquired office For the most part he is Ex faece plebis humi-serpent of the lowest of the people an old complaint Now for such a low borne man to be exalted high so high and that not gradatim but per saltum too as oft it is in one of few or no Schoole Degrees which yet indeede at best are scarce degrees to the Civill honour of a Peerâ— must needes make as great a Chasme in Politickes as such leapes use to doe in Naturalls A great Evill must it be and that both in himselfe and to himselfe from others In others eye his honour will be the object not so much perhaps of envy as scorne while every man of lowest worth will still value himselfe at as high a rate and still conceive he wanted not the vertuous desert but fortunate reward a Bishop had Now every Action will from hence displease sith unexpected sudden happinesse is oft times fault enough Now That fitting deportment which may but expresse the just dignity of his place answere the majesty of his high calling shall be esteem'd but pride insolence and at best but affection And from some such displeasing action or gesture though but surmis'd on some groundlesse fancy oft his very person comes to be distasted and then adieu all effectuall good which his words or actions else might soone effect Sure the chiefe Dominion of Gospell Ministers should be in That the Lord and master of the Gospell so much requires My sonne give me thy heart If a Minister once come to lose the heart and affections of his people he may indeede study some way to force their bodies but shall scarce ever winne a soule or save a sinner Homo duci vult cogi non potest if you can fasten any force on his whole person it must be that of Love For sure the Gospell constraint is onely that of Love The love of Christ constraineth This and this onely is an irresistible Attractive an uncontroulable constraint Thus is the Minister the Bishop hurt in regard of Others In regard of Himselfe sudden great changes are dangerous in Nature the skilfull Grasier the expert Gardiner will not translate from barren to an over-fruitfull soile for this suffocates the Spirits and destroyes the Plant. The sudden unexpected newes of a sonnes life which was reported dead was the death of the Parent as we read in Roman Histories High places cause a swimming in the braine your Faulkners seele a Pigeons eye when they would have her soare high to prevent a vertigo I conceive from this Reason and mainely from this it was the good pleasure of the Spirit that under the Law when the Church had an influence into state affaires the High Priest should be chosen out of one eminent family of the stocke of Levie and some of the Kings of Israel are reproved by God for that they chose their Priests out of the meanest of the people He that is to goe in and out before the people and is their guide must be without blemish Those Horses which are designed to a lofty Ayre and generous manage must be of a Noble race Non bene conveniunt nec in una sede morantur Majestas Origo plebeia The Vapours which by the sunne are raised to a great height even to the second Region being of so meane a Progeny are but the matter of hayle snow raine storme and tempest which by Historians are observ'd to bee the frequent Prognostickes or at least companions of Wars and confusions CHAP. III. BUt some will say this defect in Birth may bee repaired in Breeding else we shut the doores of hope and by Consequence of Industry to Cicero Marius and such other Worthies who though but of a low Pedegree may advance themselves even to the Helme and there approve themselves men admirable in the way of Government 'T is true Art oft-times helpeth Nature some men of smal beginnings by their vertues have deserved for a Motto and impreso the Poets words Et quae non fecimus ipsi Vixea nostra voco But when was this seene in a Bishop Let us therefore in the next place examine their Breeding and see whither in probability that be not as disadvantagious to their Office as their Birth Our Education if we intend service in way of Civill Policy must be in
not long before he shew'd his Ends. Turne your Eye but a little about and you shall see an Emperour stand barefoote at his Gâ—ute Here One kneeles to kisse That foote that spuâ—â—â—â—th off His Crowne There one holds the stirâ—up while that Proud Bishop steps up into the saddle And have not our Bishops the same Designes with their Holy Father Even to free themselves from all Power and â—â— bring all things under their owne Power What meaneth of his Maxime of Episcopacie that a Clergie man cannot fall under the Execution of a Civill Magistrate Except they first degrade him which they may refuse to doe as long as they please Is not This to Exempt themselves from all Civill Jurisdiction What is the sense of This that for breach of Their Church Injunctions they may Excommunicate people Ministers Lords Kings themselves whom they please But shortly This to reduce all men Even Princes as well as others to plenary Obedience to themselves And when Once They have passed that sentence on their Soveraigne at their owne fancie I doubt not but some of Them would be ready to receive the Crowne from their kneeling Prince as of old If any King would againe so farre forget himselâ—e and lay his Glory in the dust to be trampled on by such proud insulting Prelates Which God forbid Their Insolent Words and Actions vented lately against the Crowne are very sutable to these Principles Some of themselves in open Court of Judicature have dirst to affirme They were beholding to none but Christ for the place they held Others of Them and Their Creatures have said They are under no Law of man Some have preached point blanck that Their standing did not at all depend on the Crowne Others have flatly denied the King to be Head and Governour in Ecclesiasticall Causes over all persons though they cannot but know that This Title was given mainly to Exclude any other Earthly Head as it is Interpreted by Order of Parliament All of them Erect Episcopall Courts send out Summons Exercise Jurisdiction Sentence Fine Imprison doe what they list in their Owne name Though All the Bishops put together Vis unita est fortior daâ—e not to do so for the High Inquisition had a Commission under the Broad Seale and yet Every particular Bishop Exerciseth Jurisdiction under their owne seale by their owne power in their owne name without any Commission directly against Statute by which they all incurre a Praemunire Indeed they have learnt to faune upon Princes and would make them beleeve all This is for their Honour and Advantage yet they are but Impostors This is but to stroake the Horse as the Proverb is till they are well up in the Saddle for at That they aime and thither would they come which God forbid I could heartily wish the Kings of the Earth would be pleased to read Master Broughtons Epistle in his Refining the Roman Fox Or Niâ—hol de Clemengiis in his Excellent peece de Corrupto Ecclesiae Statu Or that Noble Learned Lords incomparable Mysterium Iniquitatis presented to Our Late Learned Soveraigne King Iames though in some late Prints It hath beene refined by an English-Romish Index Expurgatorius yet It will still with the other represent the sleights of this kinde of Episcopacie in such lively Colours that I beleeve no Prince would trust them againe I neede not goe farre to seeke instances that may fully represent how much Our Bishops have in all ages promoted the Weale Peace and Honour of This Kingdome and Cowne For their Treasons against the State and King want not a Register I could briefely present you with a true Emblem of Episcopacie ab ovo ad malum and yet not goe higher than the Conquerour Lanfranck would have conquered the Conquerour and by gentle insinuations have perswaded him to submit his Scepter to the Triple Miter but Etiamsi suasit non persuasit Art could not prevaile and therefore Anselm went more rudely to worke Though Rufus forbad him yet with many thankes and much honour from the Pope he went to Rome for his Pall. After he had oftentimes bearded the King in many matters he succeeded so well that he attempts the same against the First Henry and left not till he had caused the Scepter to bow and the Crowne to totter In Stephens time Two Great Prelates dispute about Precedencie and at last passing by the King they call the Pope to be Moderator Bâ—ckets heights are well knowne and scarce parallel'd in amy Story Onely as Henry the second that Great Prince did suffer sore stripes here so did the Duke of Thoulouse in France for joyning with the Albigenses That was done by a Pope This by a Bishop King Iohn fell with his whole Kingdome under an Interdict for some quarrell betwixt himselfe and Two or Three Prelates nor could he buy or begge his peace but on his knees resigning his Crowne â—o proud Pandulph In Edward the seconds time Gaveston was much abetted by Coventry in this a Traitor to his Countrey What prankes Winchester plaid with Edward the First Stratford with Edward the Third and with the second Richard Norwich was touch the â—ore Henry the fourth was ill handled by Yorke that waged warre with him at the same time Arandell vow'd he would not leave a slip of that Religion which then he saw Dawning in England In Henry the sixts time Yorkeâ— Quarrell with Wâ—â—chester lost all that England had gaineâ— from France at last Yorke sides with Warwick against the King Edward the fourth had little râ—â—rse no pardon the new Arch-Bishop Ely ended better then he beganne but it was per accidens for first he perswaded Buckingham to claime the Crowne but He refusing at least not daring to stirre for himselfe sets him on Richmond the true Heire But you will say These were all Papists and lived in the dark times of Popery True and were not Their Soveraignes such also were not Kings and Bishops of one Religion then Are they more now hath a Protestant Prince now more reason to trust a Protestant Prelate than a Popish King a Popish Bishop Let all the world judge Seeing in Those times it was no difference in Religion But Malignance against Civill Government that produced Thâ—se Commotions in Those Bishops But since the Pope and Popish Religion is confessed to be the Cause of all those Treasons and Rebellions what if I prove Prelacie and Popery to be the same in re and onely to differ in name This we stall Essay anon In the meane time It is worth considering whether Our Prelates be not more like to sâ—de with the Pope against a Protestant then Popish Prince I will over-looke the darke times of Popery Let us beginne with the Reformation which yet could hardly have entrance for that strong Opposition the Prelates still made Alas what Commotions have they still raised in Scotland ever since the Reformation Wee have felt what Our Parents onely saw They Eate at least suffered a soure
sweete way by the power of the Spirit not by force If I erre in This I shall upon better reason recant In the interim hoping that the clearnesse of my thoughts shal with the candid Reader receive gentle interpretation I shall freely declare my opinion in This point Christ as I shall more fully prove hereafter hath cleerly unfolded to us the Two main things of Church affaires 1 The Doctrine 2 The Discipline of his Church Who will come in this case to adde or diminish any thing I appeale to any Ingenuous Reader of what Religion soever he be yea of what sect in any Religion Whether any power ought to force a Church in matter of Doctrine I conceive what is True Doctrine the Scripture â—ust judge and none but the Scripture but what a Câ—â—â—ch will take for True Doctrine lyes only in That Câ—uâ—ch Will Rome admit us to expound to them this place Hoc est corpus meum shall wee admit Rome's exposition Will either of us admit force There is certainly but one Truth but what shall be taken by the Church for Truth the Church must jâ—dge If you descend to Discipline will not the Case 〈◊〉 be the same In Discipline consider three things 1 Admission of members 2 Excommunication 3 Officers to execute these and other Ordinances Whether you will Baptize children and so â—y administring to them the Sacrament of Initiation admit them members of the Church Whether you will admit all for Church members that barely professe though they be open drunkards and very ignorant persons Whether you will have Pastors Teachers and Elders as your superiours in this worke or Bishops Archbishops Primates c. who shall judge but the Church So long as the Church in her Church Tenets intermedleth not with State matters under the notion of Religion I suppose the Civill power is not to interpose It is most true if the Church will broach with the Anabaptists that they will have no Governours nor Government This is a point not of Divinity but Policie and here the Scepter must set a rule or with the Adamites if there be any such allow Communion of wives This takes away property The sword must divide this quarrell or with the Papists that it is lawfull to kill Kings that faith is not to be kept with Heritiques I conceive in all these and cases of the like nature the decision lyeth in the Magistrate for These tenets overthrow either Civill Government or civill converse The Church must not goe out of her bounds But if the Question be how you will expound such a Scripture what Gesture you will use in such an ordinance what man is fit to be excommunicated what deserveth excommunication what is Idolatry what is wil-worship what superstition what is the punishment of those crimes who shall judge but the Church The Prince hath granted to such a Body by Charter such priviledges such offices who can interpose but the power instituting Christ hath given us a platforme of Church government with the offices and officers who may here intermedle but Christ himselfe It is most true when the Church findeth any refractary and thereupon doth excommunicate him he fals into the hands of the Civill Magistrate if he continue pertinacious and not before When Parliaments do consider matters of Religion they do it to deliver the Church from some who would impose upon her who would take the keyes from her that by the help of these keyes they may wrest the Scepter out of the hand of Soveraignty which God forbid And whilst Parliaments labour thus for the Church dealing no further in the affaires of the Church than by Scripture they may certainly they do well but if they once exceed their bounds the issue will be Confusion insted of Reformation Church and State government differ as much as the Sexes Yet as there may betweene These be an happy union Both keeping their bounds whilst the Husband hath the supremacie So may there be between the Church and State a sweete harmony The State having Committed to it the custody of the 10. commandments and yet the Church preserving to her selfe Her rights If the Church swallow up the State as it is in Popery Episcopacy the issue will be slavish grosse superstition and stockish Idolatry If the State overtop the Church there will be ignorance and atheisme But give to God that which is Gods and to Caesar that which is iâ— Caesars and both Church and State will fare the better Thus under favour both by reason and president it is cleere that any Church policie besides Episcopacie though onely one by right ought may stand with Monarchy CHAP. X. WHen I say Any Church Government may stand with Monarchy or other State Policie I desire to be understood of any Church Government Well regulated Which as I cannot conceive of our Episcopacie so I must againe publiquely protest that I verily believe This kind of Episcopacy is destructive not onely to Good Monarchy but all other State Policie whatsoever I meane not now to runne over so much as the Headâ— of my former discourse Every particle of which is to represent how uncongruous and incompatible to True policie of State Our Bishops Place Calling and Office is as now it stands establisht in this Kingdome If any man shall yet dissent from mee in this Cause I shall now onely intreat him to view one place of Scripture which yet perhaps at first glance may seeme to make but little for my purpose but it is an old Maxime among Interpreters Non est haerendum in Cortice Let us therefore a little examine the Text and if I be not in the Right I will gladly learne of any that can better informe me The Place I meane is that which of old in the Primitive Church was wont to be more perused and examined than I thinke it is now or hath beene of late and I cannot much wonder sith I see all men view the Sea and well consider it at distance from the top of a Cliffe or Rocke but when they are once fallen into it they shut their eyes winke and care to see as little as â—ay be of it while they have so much round about them I must not detaine you too long without left you think my Porch longer and bigger than my House It is That of the Apostle to the Thessalonians 2. Epist. 2. Chap. 3. and 4. Verses specially those words Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God or is worshipped For the understanding of this place we must premise This That it must not be taken as spoken of One single person but a Compages of many either existing together or else succeeding one another yet agreeing together in This Great Apostasie the maine thing here spoken of And in This I have but few Adversaries None I â—hinke but some few of the Romish faction that maintaine the grand Deceiver False Prophet or Apostate â—â—or so I â—â—ther call him than
grape and Our Teeth were almost all set on edge But blessed be God that hath delivered That Church and state from Tyrannicall Prelates and will ere long deliver us also They did the same in Denmarke till One of their Kings did perswade the people to Choose another Church Government After he had in publke read a Charge for three houres long containing Their Treasons and Rebellions even since the Time that the Pope was cast out of that Countrey When I call to minde their Cariage and miscariage here in England I must beginne with that of the Poet Infandum Regina jubes renovare dolorum Our first Reformation was much opposed by Bishops Gardiner Bonner and some others were no Changelings Yea we shall finde some Good men were Bad Bishops and the Evill were intolerable Ridley was too fierce in maintenance of Ceremonies Cranmer and Ridley both were for allowing Masse to the Lady Mary but That Admirable young Prince was even in his Infancie with King David wiser then his Teachers and could weepe though not yeeld to Their perswasions What Our Bishops did in Queene Maries dayes Bloody Times we all know sure it was an unhappy Proverb that was then learnt The Bishops foote hath trodden here What they intended under the Old Queene Essayed in King Iames his Reigne and had well nigh performed under Our Gracious King Charles to the Ruine of the Crowne We now beginne to know If at least Knowledge may properly be said to be wrought by Sense for If so our Feeling was enough to Teach us Yet what wanted in This may be supplied by the Daily complaints we are forced to heare not onely from England but Ireland also where yet perhaps they have more parts to act then One But he that sitteth in Heaven laugheth at them the most High hath them in derision CHAP. IX I Have scarce done with that Grand Principle of Episcopall policie No Bishop No King Yet I must now divert you a little from it or at least lay it aside awhile till It come in againe at due place which perhaps may be in This next dispute I am now come to the most moderate of Episcopall men For even These affirme that The absolute Best Church Government under a Monarchy is Monarchicall By the Way I must desire it may againe be remembred that hitherto I have contended onely with our Lordly Civill Episcopacie properly called Prelacie I have not yet disputed Ecclesiasticall Episcopacie in generall or the Prelacie of One Minister before another though I may touch That also before I conclude so that I am not bound to answer this Objection which sure cannot mean that the Best Church Government under Monarchy is Tyrannicall as indeed such Lordly Prelacie is even in their owne Judgements which are moderate but simply Monarchicall scilicet in Ecclesiasticis against which I have not yet disputed though I know This was One of the maine Foundations on which That Destroyer That man of sinne beganne first to build But I am content to follow them Here also Yet I must first sift out their meaning lest they deceive mee with words Doe they meane that All other Church Governments are destructive to Monarchy or do they mean Monarchy is destructive to All other Church Governmentâ— but Monarchicall The first sence is even the same with the former Axiâ—ome we discuss'd No Bishop no King except perhaps theâ— grant that every Monarch is a King but every King â— not an absolute Monarch But take Monarchy in what sense you please why cannot it stand with any kind of Church Government doth the supreme Civill power receive any essentiall part of it from Church Monarchy Is not Monarchy compleat even there where is no Church I am by no meanes of Their judgements who say None that are without the pale of the Church have right to any Thing here below A Tenet almost necessary to those that use to excommunicate Princes ad placitum and then stirâ— up forraine Enemies or Subjects themselves to dispossesse such Princes but to other States of very dangerous consequence I clearly conceive an Heathen Emperour may be as lawfull a Monarch as any Christian Prince And I doubt not but His Subjects owe as exact obedience to Him if his Civill Title be just as we justly pay to our Kings and Governours To say then that Monarchy cannot stand without Monarchicall Discipline in the Church is to weaken if not to breake the nerves and ligaments of supreme power nay to say that such a government will best suit with Monarchy is to vaile the lustre and Majesty of monarchy which like an healthfull stomach can easily assimulate all things to it selfe but is not changed by any If they would but speake their owne Thoughts They would turne the Proposition thus Church-Monarchy cannot stand without Civill Here the Mystery is unmasked It is true This Discipline cannot stand but where Princes will uphold it For That which hath no Footing in Scripture must leane upon Humane Right and thus it discovereth its owne weaknesse Divine Institution is able to bottome it selfe upon it selfe but Humane is like the weake Vine or Hop which without a pole must creepe and so rot upon the earth Yea some inventions of Men specially in matters of Religion are like the weake Fruitlesse Ivy that must be propt up by some Elâ—â— or mighty Oake and yet most unnaturally destroyeth That prop which holdeth it up And of This kind is That Humane or rather Demonicall Episcopacity of which we have treated all this time Our Bishops foreseeing This for They are wise in their generation thought best to invert the propositions and instead of this that Church Monarchy cannot stand without Civill They affirme Civill Monarchy cannot stand without That of the Church Thus they delude Silly people But to come a little neerer to their Best meaning Who stand so much for Church Monarchy I would gladly be shewed by Reason what there is in Church government why it may not derive it selfe into severall Corporations where either more or fewer may beare the sway still subscribing to those things which are left by Christ to the Civill government or Monarchicall power We see hundreds of Corporations are thus mannaged And what there is in formali ratione of Church government essentiall to Church government that will not endure This mihi non liquet Truly I do not yet know I cannot yet Imagine Wee see ever since the reformation of Luther and Calvin the Churches of Christ have had another discipline than ours under Elective and Successive under Protestant and Catholique Princes as will appeare clearely in Poland Denmarke in Scotland and the Palatinate in France and Germany I do from my heart agree that Civill Governours are Custodes utriusque Tabulae but what the Civill Magistrate hath to doe in Church matters till the Church hath done her utmost I could yet never learne The government of Christ is spirituall and Hee will have his worke wrought in a