our cause vvhich is no mans particular but Christs ovvne cause should be heard at last and righteously determined that everiething in the house of the God of heauen might be done after the vvill of the God of heauen then vvhich there can be nothing more reasonable and vvhich is the summe of all our desires Our adversaries upon the contrarie out of the experience they finde of his Majesties disposition to equitie out of the conscience they haue of the iniquitie of the cause that they maintaine onely because it maintaineth their greatnes haue used all meanes to prevent his tryall haue stopped so farre as may be all vvaies of information according to the craftie counsell giuen to Pericles not being able to make account haue done vvhat they can that thâ—y be not called to account When Commissioners vvere to goe to his Majestie they vvould haue none but their ovvne vvhen some that vvere not their ovvne vvere chosen by a meeting of the Kirk they vvould not haue them to goe vvhich hath made us after long vvaiting in silence and many essayes to resolue in ende there being no other vvay left unto us vvith all submission of minde to send up our Pastor and Prelate in print vvho haue been impeded by the Prelates to come together in person Neither can it offend the Prelate that the Pastor speak the trueth this one time for himselfe and the Prelate since the Prelate so many times hath spoken his pleasure for both Our silence and ceasing in the cause vvould giue greatest vvorldly ease to our selues and greatest contentment to our adversaries vvho novv crye nothing but peace peace that is a peaceable possession of their honours and vvealth and a cruell oppression of their brethren But vvithall vvould proue us to be unfaythfull both to our God and to our King for beside the obligation that is commune to us vvith other reformed Kirks vve stand bound by solemne oath covenant and subscription published to the vvorld to defend the doctrin and discipline of this Kirk and to oppose the Hierarchie and all rites and ceremonies added to the vvorship of God Silence in such a cause may be sinne to other Kirks but to us it is perjurie in the sight of God and vvould also proue us unfaithfull to our King For hovvsoever the Prelates professe in publick That no Ceremonie no Bishop no Bishop no King and doe suggest in secret the service that they can doe to Monarchie they doe but minde themselues and their ovvne Idoll That government of the Kirk is most usefull for kings and kingdomes vvhich is best vvarranted by the Word of God by vvhom Kings reigne and kingdomes are established The pillars of his Majesties Throne are of Gods ovvn making Religion upon the right hand Righteousnes upon the left The pompe of Ceremonies and pride of prelacie are pillars artificially vvrought by the vvitte of man for setting up and supporting the Popes tyranny No Ceremony no Prelate no Prelate no Pope VVhen his Majesties vvisedome hath searched all these creitis of this controversie let us be reputed the vvorst of all men let us all be censured silenced consined deprived or exiled as some of us are and haue beene for a long time If the cause that vve maintain shall be found any other but that vve desire that God beserved his house ruled according to his ovvne vvill and if it shall not be found that the Kirk of God perfect in order and office-bearers vvithout Prelates and their ceremonies may be governed upon a small part of their great rents vvith more honour to God vvith more heartie obedience to the Kings Majestie vvith greater riches and glorie to the Crovvne vvith greater contentment to the body of the vvhole kirk kingdome greater peace amongst our selues and greater terror to Satan all his traine of heresie prophanesse and persecution as vve shall be ready to demonstrate particularly if this vvhich follovveth be not sufficient vvhensoever his Majestie shall be pleased to require and vvhich vve are assured his Majestie vvil perceiue upon small consideration for a minde inclined by divine povver to religion and pietie vvill not at first sight discerne be possessed vvith the loue of the heauenly beautie of the house of God they both proceeding from the same spirit God alsufficient blesse his Majestie both in peace and vvarre both in religion justice vvith such successe as may be seene euen by the envious eye of the enemy to be from the finger and favour of God and may also make his happie gouvernment to be a matter of gratulation to the Godly and to be admired and remembred by the posteritie as the measure and example of their desires vvhen they shall be vvishing for a religious and righteous King THE FIRST PART The Pastor Prelate compared by the VVord of God THat the Worship of God the Government of the Kirk vvhich is the house of God are to be learned out of his ovvn Word it is a trueth against the vvhich the gates of Hell shall never prevaile For vve ought to giue this glorie to God that all his bookes are full and vvritten on both sides as the booke of nature the booke of providence and the booke of conscience is perfect so also the scripture vvhich is the booke of grace is perfect We ought to giue this glorie to the sonne of God that as he is a perfect high Priest for reconciliation he is also a perfect Prophet for revelation and a perfect King and lawgiver for ruling of his owne Kirk and kingdome We ought also to giue this glorie to the Spirit of God that as he purposed to set dovvne a Covenant a Testament and a perfect Canon so in fulnes of wisedome he hath performed his purpose We ought humbly to acknowledge that the Kirk hath no power vvhether by translation of divine ordinances from the old to the new Testament under pretext of pietie or by imitation of the enemie seeme it never so charitable or by mans invention let it appeare never so plausible to make new lawes or to institute any nevv office or office-bearer any minister or part of ministration in the house of God But that it is her parte to see the will of God obeyed and to appoint Canons and Constitutions for the orderly and decent disposing of things before instituted We call here the Prelates and Pastors of Conformitie to a threefold consideration FIRST that they agree not amongst themselues about the matters in question some of them affirming that their Hierarchie is warranted by divine authoritie others confessing it is onely by ancient custome and a third sort defending neither of the tvvo but that it is Apostolick Againe some of them make the forme of Kirk government to be universall and perpetuall others holding it to be conformable to civill policie as if man might prescribe unto God what forme of government is fittest for his house
that be onely may be eminent both in Kirk and Commonwealth and all others may render him blinde obedience and respect He devoureth that himselfe which should entertaine particular schooles he filleth the places of students without tryall of their ingines to pleasure his friends and suyters contrarie to the will of the maisters and the Acts of the foundations he filleth the places of learning not with the learnedst but the welthiest sort who for any vigilancie of his might both corrupt the humane sciences and bring strange fire into the house of God If a learned man happen to attaine to one of their highest places which they call the rewards of learning incontinent their learning beginneth to decay and their former gifts to wither away So that their greate places and prelacies eyther finde them or make them unlearned 7. The PASTOR by the gouvernment of the Kirk prescribed in the word is strong to resist or represse Schismes heresies corruptions and all the spirituall power of sinne and Sathan but hath no strength to withstand the temporall power and authoritie of Princes The same gouvernment sorts with monarchie no lesse then with Aristocrasie through the wisdome of the Sonne of God who fitteth the same for all nations and diverse formes of civill policie The Pastor acknowledgeth his Prince to be his onely Bishop and overseer superintendent over the whole Kirk in his dominions as being the preserver of the liberties of the Kirk and keeper of both tables To whom also the generall assembly of the Kirk of some few commissioners chosen by them and convened when it is thought expedient by the Kings Commissioner may giue his Majestie better and more speedy satisfaction in Kirk affaires and with greater loue and contentment of the whole Kirk and of all his Majesties loving subjects then can be giuen by the thirteene Prelates All which may be done upon a small parte of the prelates rent for bearing the charges of his Majesties Commissioner who also may be changed at his Majesties pleasure The PRELATE and his gouvernment it weake to withstand the spirituall forces of sinne and Sathan but is strong to oppose the temporall power of princes and hath beene of all enemies the most dangerous to monarchie for howsoever now while opposition is made he flatter fawne upon the Prince for his owne standing yet if all Ministers and the whole Kingdome did acknowledge his Superioritie of binde the conscience the Primate of the Kirk would be powerfull then any Subject in the kingdome and might proue as terrible to Kings whatsoever their Religion were as Popes haue beene to Emperors and Prelates haue beene to Kings in former times He hath no power for all his credite and Lordly authority to get any thing done to his Majesties satisfaction and with contentment of the Kirk for all the craft and violence that hath been so long bended never one whole famous congregation within the Kingdome is eyther conquested or like to be subdued to his Conformitie but eyther the better or greater part or both haue resisted And yet for his Lordly maintenance he hath impayred the rent of the crowne in so farre as it was aided by the collectorie he pulleth from the King the rents of great benefices the homage of Vassales with their commodities Regalities other priviledges more proper for the Scepter then the Shepheards staffe 8. The PASTOR desyreth no other title but to be called the minister of the towne or parish he stryveth with no man for precedencie he seekth no place in the Common wealth neyther in Counsell Session nor Exchequor but stirreth up and soundeth the Trumpet in the eare of the generous spirits of the Kingdome to shewe themselues worthy of their owne places and whether he be Minister in brough or land he is a Common servant to all from the highest to the lowest to parents and children to Masters fervants in all pastorall dueties while he liveth he harmeth none but helping all procuring honour to the greater maintenance to the poorer sorte when his life is brought to a comfortable end every soule blesseth him and all mourne for him as for a common parent The PRELATE according to the politicall axiome When vertue waineth Vanity waxeth and many titles much vanitie disdayning to he called any more the Minister of Christ hath taken upon him the Titles of the Nobilitie My Lord of Orknay My Lord or Cathnes My Lord of Murray My Lord of Argyl c. with the title he taketh the place before them and filleth their places in Councell and Session and when risen up from his dunghill he is set on high places and is drunken with his new honours he lefteth his eares like Isis Asse aud as handmaides when they become mistresses he waxeth so insolent that he can not be borne In his owne citie he will haue momage of all overtruleth the election of their Magistrates harmeth both parents and children through the Countrey by giving warrant far suddaine and secret mariages without proclamation which the verye Counsell of Trent cannot but allow he taketh the honour of the greater to himselfe and spends that upon his pride which should serue for the poorer sorte And when after many wishes his life at last is brought to an ende the whole Diocie is filled with joy and his owne familie and friends are filled with centempt and disgrace 9. The PASTOR maketh the Kingdome fitte for warre against the time that necessities giue alarme for by labouring to make the people truly religious he maketh them resolute for both parts of Christian fortitude actiue and passiue for doing valiantly and suffering constantly In the time of peace he stirreth them up against softnesse and intemperancie to diligence and labour whereby their bodies are the more able and durable He strengtheneth also the nerues of warre by contenting himselfe with a meane estate by his doctrine and example teaching people to spare in peace for the time of warre The PRELATE maketh the Kingdome unfitte for warre for by his government the people loose true fortitude with the loue of Religion that if they haue any kinde of Courage for battayle it is not so much the invincible courage of Christian Religion as the carnall and bastard Fortitude of Paganisme which in comparison of the former hath ever been but pusillanimitie By his oversight of ryoting and idlenes their bodies become weake and effeminate and by his owne large rents and his example of prodigalitie which to them is a law he enervates the estate and cutts asunder the sinewes of warre The Prelates objection THE Prelate will object that if you that are Pastors understoode eyther the manners of the people or the grounds of policie ye would see that neyther can Noblemen and others giuen to their pleasure beare your simple and censorious forme of preaching nor your austeere and precise forme of discipline and life nor yet can the High Court of Parliament wante
Religion be established and God served in their dominions according to his ovvne Word It hath ever been the greatest commendation of Princes that they haue begunne their government vvith the Reformation of Religion as many vvorthy Princes haue done both before and after the comming of Christ for God preferreth Kings unto all others and therefore Kings should haste to honour GOD aboue all others Or that they haue exceeded all vvho vvent before them in this religious and Royall Chaire AZA tooke avvay Idolatrie but JEHOSHAPHAT removed the high-places also EZEKIAH vvent further and brake the Brazen Serpent albeit a monument of Gods mercie But this vvas the sinne of his Reformation that he razed not the Idoll Temples vvhich vvas kept to good JOSIAH vvho therefore hath this testimonie to the ende of the World that like unto him there vvas no King before him that turned to the LORD vvith all his heart vvith all his soule and vvith all his might Upon the other part true Religion although it propone for the principall ends the Glorie of GOD and the Safetie of the KIRK yet it serveth many vvayes for the Civill good and vvorldly benefite of Kings and Kingdomes Because the true Religion and no other maketh Kings and Kingdomes to serue that GOD that giueth both Heauenly and Earthly Kingdomes Who looseth the Bands of Kings and girdeth their loynes vvith a girdle Who is the onely Judge that putteth dovvne one and setteth up an other And therefore godlynesse hath the promise and true Religion hath many blessinges attending It is a blessed thing vvhen a King or a Kingdome serveth that GOD by vvhom kings reigne and vvho giveth and taketh avvay kingdomes at his pleaure Next because it qualifieth and disposeth every man for his ovvne place It maketh rulers to know that every Kingdome is under a greater Kingdome and as they are advanced aboue all others that they haue so much the greater account to make It maketh the subjects to obey for conscience sake and subdueth the people under theyr Prince which made Theodosius to acknowledge that his empire consisted more by Christian religion then by all other meanes It keepeth true peace both publick and private and when peace can be no longer kept it followeth after it to find it againe Jt maketh men just and temperate in time of peace not by restraint vvhich positiue lavves doe but by mortification With Christians to think that vvickednes is sinne Whether of the tvvo commandeth more fully sayth Tertullian he vvho sayth Thou shalt not kill or he who sayth thou shalt not be angry vvhich of the tvvo is more perfect to forbid adulterie or to restraine the eyes from concupiscencs c. It maketh every man to practise Christianitie in the particular duties of his calling In the time of war it maketh men couragious to feare none but him that can kill the soule In persecution it maketh invincible patience Without confusion it giveth at all times unto God that vvhich is Gods and unto Caesar that vvhich is Caesars and vvithout usurpation or injurie to any it giveth unto Noblemen Statesmen Barons Burgesses and all from the highest to the lovvest in the Kingdome their ovvn places preferments and priviledges according to the soveraigne lavv of justice All estates haue neede of this divine influence and of all these comfortable effects and every religion promiseth them all but onely Christian Religion is able to performe them and the more Christian it is that is the more neare that it cometh to the puritie simplicitie of Christ and his Apostles both in doctrine and discipline and the more christianly that is the more povverfully it be urged upon the consciences of men the more effectually it proveth for these happy ones Let us then upon this ground proceede to our tryall vvhether the Pastor or Prelate be more profitable for the Countrey and Common vvealth THE PASTOR preserveth the prosperous estate of the Kingdome and commonwealth by labouring to preserue pietie righteousnesse and temperance in the Land and by oppusing with al his might against Idolatrie and all sorts of impietie against unrighteousnesse and all sorts of injurie whether by craft or violence and against intemperancie incontinencie unlawfull mariages divorces and whatsoever kinde of impurities for these three where they reigne he knoweth to be more neare and certaine causes first of the many calamities and judgements of God and then of the alterations and periodes of states and Kingdomes then eyther the intricate numbers of Plato or the unchanged course of the heauens or what other cause is pretended by philosophers or politicks because these where they raigne they threatten a ruine from the true fatalitie of Gods providence justice doe shake the pillars of all humane societie as Idolatrie the pillars of the Kirk unrighteousnes of the Cōmon-wealth and intemperance of the family one of the three falling the other two cannot long endure The PRELATE upon the contrarie by taking in his owne hands the power of the generall assembly which was a great terror to sinne by depriving some worthy pastors of their places and others of their authoritie in censuring of sinne by destroying the discipline of the Kirk and by his owne many unlawfull practises and permissions hath giuen way to Idolatrie blaspbemie and the prophanation of the Sabbath to all sorts of Scandalous and notorious Sinnes of unrighteousnesse uncleannes and of the abuse of Gods creatures for which the wrath of God commeth upon the world But most of all by bringing a great part of the kingdome under the guiltines of the violation of the covenant of God and of doing against their oath and Subscription hath drawne on many visitations from the hand of God doeth dayly provoke the Lord to further wrath stryketh at the pillars of all Societies and posteth on the periods of State and Kingdome 2. The PASTOR accounteth vertue trueth righteousnesse Christian simplicitie and prudence to be the best policie not onely for his owne practise but for all that are in authoritie and for all societies and therefore pronounceth anathema upon the chiefest axiomes of Machiavels arte whom he judgeth to be as pernicious a master of policie as Antichrist is for matters of Religion and these two to be the principall supposts of Sathan the direct enemy of Christian fayth and obedience and the craftie subverters of Kirks and Commonwealths unfitte for all but most unfitte for us whom grace hath favoured with the light of the trueth and nature hath fashioned to be open and plaine The PRELATES practises doe proclaime what policie pleaseth him best Simulation dissimulation falsehoode and Flattery are knowen to be the wayes of his promotion He standeth in his grandeur and possesseth his peace by promising good service in parliament to the King against the Nobilitie and blowing the bellowes of dissention betwixt them he warmeth himselfe at the fire he hath raysed betwixt the King and Kirk
THE PASTOR and the PRELATE OR REFORMATION and CONFORMITIE shortly compared By the Word of God By Antiquity and the proceedings of the Ancient Kirk By the nature and use of things indifferent By the proceedings of our ovvne Kirk By the vveill of the Kirk and of the peoples soules And by the good of the commonvvealth and of our outvvard estate with The Answer of the common chiefest objections against everie part shewing VVhether of the tvvo is to be follovved by the true Christian and Countrieman Joshua 24. 22. And Ioshuah sayd unto the people Yee are witnesses against your selues and they sayd We are witnesses But 1 Kings 18. 21. it is sayd And the people answered him not a word ANNO M.DC.XXVIII To the Christian Reader FOR no other is this intended not for him that readeth not but casteth it by or cloaseth his eies least he see trueth judging of things controverted by his ovvne conceits or upon report and not upon tryall Neither for him that is either so Antichristian that he hath not the patience to reade on page vvritten against Prelates and their Hierarchie or that is so unchristian that his earthly designes are his highest intentions esteemeth all motions about religion that crosse him or comfort him not in these to be either seditious commotions or nothing but idlements of indifferencie But for him vvho aboue all things loues to see the trueth aboue all things loueth the trueth vvhen he hath seene it that is euen for thy selfe Christian Reader haue vve entred into this Comparison of the Pastor and Prelate and at thy hands do vve exspect the performance of tvvo christian duties one is for thy ovvne good That thou vvilt labour vvith thine heart for more feeling novv then thou had faith at the first vvhen it vvas often foretold from the vvord of God and the vvoefull experience offormer times That this transcendent Hierarchie of Lordly and lording Prelates brought in upon the Kirk of Christ without precept or example from himselfe would proue at last the ruine of Religion Novv may be seen vvhat vvas said before that the government of the Kirk and the vvorship of God are like the tvvinnes spoken of by Hippocr and that the one of them dvvyning avvay dying amōg us the vvhole face of the other looketh pale and pitifully proclaymeth if the crye of our sinnes vvould suffer us to hear that religion her self is sick at the hart for vvhat are the dayly encrease of old papistrie the spreading gangrē of nevv heresies the scoffing at holines in stead of imitating the laughing at sin in stead of lamentation but the unseparable effects of this prelacie and the ordinarie practises of our Prelats the Symptomes of the sicknes of Christian religion and the causes of this cloude of vvrath that so long hangs and hovers aboue us Consider that according to Bernard his observation of these blind vvynding staires that leade dovvn to destruction this Hierarchie vvhich in the beginning seemed a vveight so insupportable that they vvho tooke it upon them could not hold up their faces for sin and for shame did appeare soone aftervvard albeit heavie yet tollerable of heavie it became light of light insensible of insensible delectable of delectable it is at last become a matter of gloriation That vvhich vvas a glorie is become a shame and that vvhich vvas a shame is accounted a glorie Of late Ministers could not be found to fill the voyd places of prelacie novv prelacies cannot be found to fill the voide hearts of the ministers so farre haue vve turned from that vvhich vve euen novv vvere and in so fevv yeeres that vvhich vvas nothing els but a rope of disgrace is vvonderfully changed into a chaine of pride As thou lovest Jesus Christ and thine ovvne soule and vvould be loath to communicate in all the sinnes and to involue thy self into the guiltines of all the evils that this Prelacie hath produced take heede that thyne eye be not dazeled vvith the vernice and splendor that the vvorld hath put upon it for in substance it is the same it vvas at the beginning and in the fruits hath proved far vvorse then at the first vvas feared labour to keepe thy judgement sound and affection sincere still thinking of the painfull Pastor and proud prelate as they vvere thought on since the reformation and praying to God as good men did of old in the corrupt times of the Kirk That he vvould put to his hand purge his vineyard That he vvould vvhip buyers and sellers out of his Temple That he vvould strike Giezites vvith Leprosie and that he vvould bring lovv such Simonites as novv are so high being lifted up by the ministerie of Satan Another Christian dutie Christian Reader vve expect at thyne hands for the good of the Kirk That vvhatsoever be thy place higher or lovver farther or nearer unto his Majesties person vvho gladly vvould acquainte his Majestie particularly vvith the estate of the Kirk in his Majesties Kingdome of SCOTLAND as vvhat it vvas once vvhat it might haue been before this time vvhat it is become of late and vvhat it is like to be ere long But either can not for vvante of occasion or dare not for avve of the Prelates vvhose courting is more to be feared then theire cursing That thou vvould doe vvhat thou may to make this follovving Treatise come to his Majesties hands for vvee his Majesties loving people of Scotland vvho both loue his Majesties person and Croune acknovvledging the dutie vve ovve to his Majesty commanded in the first Commandement after the first Table to come nearest unto that religion and piety vvhereby vve vvorship God himselfe vvho neither loue Schismes in the Kirk nor vvittie reconcilements of trueth and error but vvould keep the trueth in peace vvho neyther are Puritanes nor Brovvnists nor Anabaptists nor seditious as men calumniate but Professors of the Religion as it vvas at the first reformed amongst us and as it hath furnished unto us all the hope that vve haue of eternall happines vve vvould shevve his gracious Majestie that according to the saying of Salomon When the righteous are in authoritie the people reioyce c. Our hearts vvere filled vvith joy and our mouthes vvith laughter vvhen at the first beginnings of his raigne vve did not onely heare the fame of his princely Inclination to equitie righteous judgmēt but did perceiue the noble proofes thereof in trying the trueth of things controverted vvhile his Majestie vvith that vvorthy King kept still one eare shut for the other partie vvith that vvyser King vvhen he declared that the vvisedome of God vvas in him to do judgment vvould haue both parties to stand before him at once that hearing both they might speede best and goe out most chearfull from his Majesties face vvho had the best cause By this vve vvere confident that his Throne should be established the Nations svveyed by his Scepter exalted
glorie of God shall evidently appeare and shall once tryumph in despight of Sathan But alas if the people shall be after unthankefull then fearefull and terrible shall the plagues be that after shal follow Another of Beza This is a greate gift of God that ye haue brought into Scotland togither pure religion and good order which is the band to hold fast the doctrine I hartily pray and beseech for Gods sake Hold fast those two together so that ye may remember that if the one be lost the other can not long remaine So Bishops brought forth poperie so false bishops the relicks of poperie shall bring into the world Epicureisme Whosoever would haue the Kirk safe let them beware of this pest and seeing ye haue tymely dispatched it in Scotland I beseech you never admitte it againe albeit it flatter with shew of the preservation of unitie which hath deceived many of the best of the ancients A third of the body of Confessions of fayth It is the rare priviledge of the Kirk of Scotland before many in which respect her name is famous euen among strangers that about the space of four and fiftie yeares without schisme let be heresie she hath kept and holden fast unitie with puritie of doctrine The greatect helpe of this unitie of the mercie of God was that with the doctrine the discipline of Christ and his Apostles as it is prescribed in the Word of God was by litle and litle together resumed and according to that discipline so neare as might be the whole government of the Kirk was disposed By this meanes all the seedes of Schismes and errors so soone as they beganne to budde and shewe themselues in the very breeding and byrth were smothered and rooted out The Lord God of his infinite goodnes grant unto the Kings most gracious Majestie to all the rulers of the Kirk to the powers that are nurcers of the Kirk that according to the word of God they may keepe perpetually that unitie and puritie of doctrine Amen The fourth is of King James our late Soveraine The religion professed in this countrey wherein I was brought up and ever made profession of and wishes my sonne ever to continew in the same as the only trew forme of Gods worship c. I doe equally loue and honour the learned and graue men of eyther of these opinions that like better of the single forme of policie in our Kirk then of the many ceremonies in the Kirk of England c. I exhort my Sonne to be beneficiall to the good men of the ministerie praysing God that there is presently a sufficient number of good men of them in this kingdome yet are they all knowē to be against the forme of the English Kirk Basilic Doron to the Reader He praysed God for that he vvas borne to be a King in the sincearest Kirk in the vvorld c. Assemblie anno 1590. The Prelates themselues and the mainteyners of conformitie dare not for shame open their mouthes against the worke of God in the Reformation and against the puritie of their mother Kirk therefore would haue her to open her mouth in their defence of ther Hierarchie and ceremonies and do wrest her authoritie and proceedings to that sense Let us then aske of herselfe whether shee liketh better of the Pastor or of the Prelate 1. THE PASTOR and men of God at the acceptable time of Reformation as they were moved by the spirit of God laboured to reform not onely the doctrine sacraments and whole worship of God but also the discipline and whole government of the house of God by abolishing the jurisdiction of prelates and all that Roman Hierarchie as is manifest by their acknowledging no other ordinarie and perpetuall officebearers in the Kirk but Pastors doctors Elders and Deacons by their petitioning that the rents of the Prelates of their traine should be converted to other uses By their subscribing the Helvetick Confession which censureth prelacie for the invention of man and by the letters which they received from forraine Kirks gratulating that they had timely purged the Kirk of this proude prelacie that they had received with the doctrine the discipline of Christ his Apostles willing and obtesting them to beware of the pest of prelacie as they loved the weale of the Kirk The PRELATE not onely in respect of his popish Religion but also in respect of his papall and episcopall jurisdiction was one of the greate evils that cryed for reformation of the Kirk and therefore albeit he kept still the title the rent and civill place of the prelate which the Kirk could not take from him and which maketh many to mistake his descent his ecclesiasticall authority was so far abolished that neither were their Successors designed to such prelates as cōtinued obstinate Papists nor was Episcopal authoritie continued in their persons that were converted nor were Superintendents ordeyned to be new prelates onely some of the converted prelates for want of meanes to furnish others were designed to be commissioners of the Kirk as other ordinarie Pastors were but with bad successe For never one of them did good to the Kirk 2. The PASTOR and men of God proceeding in the work of reformation acknowledged no government of the Kirk by the Lordly domination of Prelates but by the common consent and authoritie of assemblies which were of four sorts Nationall Provinciall Parishionall and Presbyteriall The lineaments of the last were drawen at the first when the weekely assemblies were appointed for exercise of discipline and interpretation of Scriptures but were not nor could not be accomplished and perfectly established till the light was spreade and particular Kirks were planted in the severall quarters and corners of the Land that they might make a number and conveniently assemble in presbyteriall meetings The PRELATE is restlesse proceedes whither his avarice and ambition carrie him and willing in those times rather to be a Titular or a Tulchan as he was then named then to be no bodie aboue his brethren He taketh upon him the Title Bishop with a small parte of the rent permitting the greater parte to my Lord whose bishop he was and proudly againe arrogates anthoritie over the Kirk 3. The PASTOR and men of God learning not from Geneva but from Scripture and dayly experience that the government of Prelates was full of usurpation and of all sorts of corruption whereof many did complaine that it had no warrant and was never like to haue any blessing from God resolue at last to strike at the roote therefore after many disputations in private and publick consultations with the greatest divines of other reformed Kirks and after long and mature deliberation the second Booke of Discipline pronuoncing the jurisdiction and office of the Prelate to be unlawfull was resumed by consent of the whole Kirk an ordinance made that Bishops betake them to the charge of one
the Prelates which make up one of the three estates that ye are but shallowe and considers not what depth this drawes The Pastors answer WE knowe that of all rancks there be some who loue their pleasures more then God and these according to the first flattering parte of the objection will say with the old verse Non mihi sit Servus Medicus Propheta Sacerdos He is no servant fit for me Who Phisitian Prophet Priest will be For such may neyther abide to be cured of their spirituall evils by the Counsell of God nor to heare of the evils that will come if they refuse to be cured nor to exhorted to repentance when the calamities are turned upon them that they may be turned away but all are not such and from which while they are in their pleasures we make appellation to themselues while they are in the paines or terrors of death to be presented before the judge whether thē the pastor or prelate pleaseth thē better The other part of the objection the wisdome of the King and of the honourable Estates of Parliament can answer who know how a Parliament may be perfect without eyther Pastor or Prelate If by the name of a parliament we understand a generall nationall meeting of the whole Kingdome and Kirk by their Commissioners with their supreame Magistrate and King every one to giue his advise and judgment respectiue according to the nature of the societie civil or ecclesiasticall which he presents commissioners of the Kirk to giue resolution from the word of God if neede be concerning matters civill but not to meddle with civill causes civilly and to propone petitions to the King estates for the good of the Kirk to require their civill sanction to see that nothing be concluded in things civill that may be a hinderance to the worship of God The Nobilitie with Cōmissioners of Barons and Burrowes for civill matters to add the civill sanction in the matters of Gods worship Kirkmen chosen instructed by the Kirk may sit in Parliament after this sense and are bound to cōtribute their best help for the honour of the King good both of Kirk and Countrey But if by a Parliament we understand the highest Court supreame judicature civill medling onely with civill matters or with matters of religion civilly as to adde the civill sanction and to ratifie by civill authoritie what hath been put in Cannon by the Kirk before thē the assembly of the Kirk or their Commissioners may or should attend the High Court of parliament as the Convocation house doth in our neighbour Kingdome but can haue no place nor vote in parliament neither in making lawes aboute things civill nor in the civill authorising in matters of Religion for Ministers should not judge of the right of inheritance nor pronounce sentence aboute forfeyture nor make lawes about weights and measures c. but should exhort the people to obey the civill powers Without bishops or ministers lawes haue been made by Parliament may be made now no lesse then without Abbots Priors c. who had once vote in Parliament no lesse then they Their benefices are Baronies in respect whereof they claime vote in parliament but they are not Barons or proprietars heretable possessors thereof to transmit them to their heirs or to alienate them but onely are usufructuaries to haue the use of the fruits of them for their time Neither doth it suite with the ministers calling to haue such Baronies nor are they to be reckoned for ecclesiasticall persons but for civill when they haue place in parliament in respect of these Baronies and therefore cannot vote there in name of the Kirk TO conclude then whether we looke to the word of God or to the more pure and primitiue times of the Kirk or to the nature use of things indifferent or to the Reformation and proceeding of our owne Kirk or the good of the Kirk and of the peoples soules or to the happinesse of the Commonwealth and the good of every one from the King that sitteth upon the Throne to him that heweth the woode and draweth the water we may see whether the Pastor or the Prelate whether Reformation or Conformitie is to be followed by the true Christian and Countreyman And that there is as greate difference betwixt the Bishops of our times and the faythfull Pastors of the Reformed Kirks as is from the light that commeth from the starres of heauen and the thick darkenesse that ariseth from the bottomlesse pitte And it may be made manifest that since Bishops were cast in the moulde of the man of sinne wheresoever they haue ruled whether amongst the Papisticall and the Reformed some fewe excepted who when they ventured upon these places wente out of their owne element they haue been the greatest plagues both to Kirks and Kingdomes that ever had authoritie in the Christian world Neither needeth any man to object that the Comparison that we haue made runneth all the way betwixt the good Pastor and the evill Prelate and therefore may be answered by the like unequall comparison betwixt the good Prelate and the evill Pastor as if the most part of the episcopall evils aboue mentioned were onely the personall faults of the men not the corruptions necessarily accōpanying the estate and order of Prelates and that if good men fill these places there is no danger but the Kirk may be aswell or better governed by prelates then by Pastors for the comparison is not so much betwixt the Pastor and Prelate as betwixt the office of a Pastor and the office of a Prelate or Bishop It is one thing as Augustine sayth to use an unlawfull power lawfully and an other thing to use a lawfull power unrighteously and unjustly Pastors may haue their owne personal infirmities and never so many as under the Prelates gouvernment and Prelates may haue their owne good parts and never so many as by the occasion of the Pastors opposition but neyther the one nor the other are to be ascribed to their offices nor is the lawfulnesse and unlawfulnesse of their offices to be judged by their persons It is true when an unlawful power and a lawlesse man meete together the case of those that are under his authoritie must be the worse as we may see in the Papacie which being alwaies evill for the Kirk yet haue proved worse when monsters in steade of men haue sitte in that seate But it is evident that the evils which Prelates and their Lordly government bring upon the Kirk doe flowe from their sole jurisdiction exorbitant power medling in civill government and the curse of God upon that unlawfull estate all which are common to the whole order and not peculiar to some persons And the corruptions which are common to all in these places although greater in some then in others of necessitie must flowe from the unlawfulnesse of the state and office it selfe It is so
of excesse and superfluitie And he hath but one body so he undertaketh but one Cure where he must be resident and one Kirk living which for feare of the censures of the Kirk albeit he would he dares not delapidate but must leaue the Kirk patrimonie in as good or better case then he found it at his entry The PRELATE hath a Lords rent out of the revenewes of the Kirk which at the first was destinate and should be employed for better uses and this he hath not for the service of the Kirk but partly for his unlawfull attending civill affaires and partly for bearing out a Lordly porte in himselfe his Ladie their children and followers He uniteth Kirks farre distant to maki the morsell the greater for his wide gorge he alloweth and defendeth pluralities and Nonresidencies by setting long taks without knowledge or consent of the Kirk and by setting of fewe formes and taxwardes he raketh up all and stinteth the Minister to a poore stipendiarie portion of fiue hundreth marks So that the most Sacrilegious persons in the Land are the Bishops themselues eating the meate out of the mouthes of many worthy pastors that labour painfully in the Lords worke The Prelates objection THE PRELATE will object that there shall never be any forme of Kirk government or discipline which bringeth not with it some dangers and discommodities and that must be the best which hath the fewest It cannot be denyed but the Episcopall gouvernment hath also the owne inconvenients whether we consider the Salvation of Soules or the outward constitution of the Kirk and worship of God or the patrimonie of the Kirk But the Anarchie and confusion which ever attendeth the paritie maynteyned by the Pastor is an inconvenience greater then all sheweth plainly that the paritie of Pastors is neyther of God nor can serve for the good of the Kirk for God is not the God of confusion but of peace and most of all in the Kirks of the Saincts The Pastors answer THE gouvernment and order appoynted by Christ can haue no danger discommoditie nor inconvenience but such as men bring upon it and which through the neglect or contempte thereof they bring upon themselues That therefore must be the best which is best warranted by Christ and approacheth nearest to the simplicitie of the Apostles and the discipline of their times Malignant wits haue ever beene readie to lay imputations upon Gods ordinances as that his inward worship according to the Gospell of Christ hath no wisedome that the outward hath no majestie that his order of the Kirk is but Anarchie because it is not a monarchie but as the naturall philosopher sayth the order of nature to be full of beautie and the wise Statesman seeth the beautie of the order of a wise policie so the Christian when he seeth the order of the house of God shall with the Apostle Col. 2. rejoyce to see it and will preferre the beautie thereof to the wise government of the house Court of Salomon as being appointed by a wiser then hee euen Balaam albeit disposed to curse when his eyes are opened to behold this wise order and marvelous beautie shall be forced to open his lips and to say How goodly are thy tents o Iacob and thy tabernacles to Israell for a house full of silver and gold I would not curse for how shall I curse whom the Lord hath not cursed or how shall I defye whom the Lord hath not defyed Numb 23. and 24. And that there is no confusion in the paritie mainteyned by the Pastor it is manifest to him that desireth to see for 1. Confusion hath no subordination for disposing of things and setting every thing in it owne place The paritie mainteyned by the Pastor hath a lawfull subordination of Elders to Pastors of Deacons to Elders of a Kirk Session to a presbyterie of a presbyterie to a Synode and of a Synode to a Nationall Assembly 2. Confusion hath no prioritie of respect of precedencie nor of order Paritie of pastors so shunneth ambitiō that it mainteyneth a prioritie of precedencie and respect for age for zeale for gifts c. and a prioritie of order whereby one is moderator of others in all their Synods and meetings such as was amongst the Apostles themselues but without prioritie of power or jurisdiction aboue the rest 3. Confusion admitteth no commandement nor subjection Paritie of Pastor admitteth both for every Pastor conducteth his owne flock every pastor is subject to a joynt fellowship of pastors in Presbyteries and Synods 4. Confusion is abhorred both by nature and all Societies as their greatest enemie which overturneth all where it hath place Paritie of Pastors hath the like paritie both in nature and all sorts of societie for in nature one eye hath not power over another nor one hand over another nor one foote over another onely the head hath power over all In the common-wealth and kingdome there is a paritie without a prioritie of power of jurisdiction betwixt one Baron and another betwixt one Nobleman and another and in all the Collegiall jurisdictions in the Land under the King himselfe In the worlde paritie betwixt one King and another In the Roman Kirk equalitie betwixt one Lord Bishop and another and betwixt two Archbishops Patriarks c. and in the Kirk of Christ betwixt Apostle and Apostle c. why then shall the divine paritie of Pastors be accounted a confusion THE SIXTH PART The Pastor Prelate compared by the good of the Common wealth and of our outward estate ALbeit that sometimes the povver Ecclesiasticall be without the secular and the members of the Kirk make not any civill corporation as in the Apostles times long after And some times the secular power be vvithout the ecclesiasticall and the members of kingdomes and corporations make not a Kirk as amongst the Heathen of old and many nations and societies this day yet is it farre best both for Religion and Justice both for trueth and peace both for Kirk and Commonvvealth when both are joyned in one vvhen the Magistrate hath both svvords the use of the temporall svvord and the benefite of the spirituall svvord and vvhen the Kirk hath both svvords the use of the spirituall sword and the benefite of the temporall When the two administrations civill and ecclesiasticall like Moses and Aaron help one another mutually neyther Aaron and Miriam murmur against Moses nor Jeroboam stretcheth out his hand against the man of God Upon the one part civill authoritie mainteyneth and defendeth religion vvhere it is reformed and reformeth religion vvhere it is corrupted Kings shall be thy foster-fathers and Queenes thy nurse mothers Kings serue the Lord in fear And then serue they the Lord sayth Augustine vvhen they serue him not onely faythfully as men but as Kings and doe such things in serving him as none can doe but kings that is vvhile they rest not till
He beareth with men of every religion providing they be not Antiepiscopall He urgeth Ceremonies which he himselfe otherwise careth nothing for that they may be a band of obedience to the slavish and a buckler of Episcopacie against the opposites he suffereth papistrie to prevaile and new heresies to arise and giveth connivence to the Teachers of them that there may be some other matter of disputation amongst learned men then about his myter If all would follow his arte and example Antichrist Machiavel would be our chiefest Maisters and every Scottish man of spirit would proue another Caesar Borgia or Ludovieus Sfortia 3. The PASTOR according to the nature of things distinguisheth betwixt the things of God and the things of Caesar betwixt the soveraigntie of Christ and the souveraigntie of man betwixt the dignitie of the Statesman and honour of the Elder that labours in the word and doctrine betwixt the palace of the Prince and the Ministers manse the revenues of the Noble-man and the Ministers stipend and according to the grounds of policie holdeth that many offices should be conferred upon one man except rarely by the speciall favour of Princes upon some that are eminent as miracles for engine for wisedome and dexteritie by reason of mans infirmitie the weight of authoritie the order of the policie and the peace of the people that as everie thing in nature doeth the owne part the â—â—nne shyneth and the wind bloweth the water moysteneth so every man should be set to his owne taske that one man cannot both be Aeneas and Hector Cato and Scipio farre lesse can one and the same person be sufficient for the greatest affaires both of Kirk and policie And therefore the Pastor keepeth himselfe within the bounds of his owne place and calling and neyther medleth with civill causes nor taketh upon him civill offices nor seeketh after civill honour The PRELATE maketh no distinction but confoundeth all as compatible ynough if he be the agent And albeit for any good parts to be no miracle but neighbourlike yet he findeth himself sufficient for everything in Kirk and Common-wealth and telleth all for fish that commeth in his nette whether Civill offices Civill Honours civill causes or civill punishments Like a Prince he hath his castle his Lordship his Regalitie Vassalry c. He hath power to confyne imprison c. and taketh it hardly when he is not preferred to Offices of estate as to be Chancellor President c. which his predecessors had of old And thus against all ground of good policie he stands in pompe as a mightie Gyant with one Foote in the Kirk upon the necks of the Ministers and with another in the state upon the heads of the Nobilitie and Gentrie 4. The PASTOR assisteth the Civill Magistrate in planting of virtue and rooting out of vice partly by powerfull preaching home to the Consciences of sinners partly by censuring lesser offences which the Magistrate punisheth not as lying uncomelie jesting rash and common swearing rotten talking brauling drunckennesse c. Wherethrough the passages to murther adulterie and other great offences are stopped the people prevented in many mischiefs and great enormities and the Magistrate many waies eased and partly in censuring of greater sinnes and purging the Kingdome of foule offences for he joyneth the Censures and the spirituall sword of the Kirk with the sword of the Magistrate so unpartially that none are spared with such expedition and diligence that sinne is censured and not forgotten with such authoritie that the most obâ—tinâ—â—e haue confessed that the Kirk had power to binde and loose with such sharpnesse and severitie that Malefactors haue beene affraide and so universally that as there is no crime censurable by the Kirk but the same is punishable by temporall Iurisdiction so he holdeth no sinne punishable by Civill Authoritie but the same is allo censurable by Spirituall power the one punishing the offender in his bodye or goods the other drawing him unto repentance and to remoue the scandall The PRELATE is unprofitable to the Civill Magistrate in planting of virtue and rooting out of vice for where his government hath place preaching hath more demonstration of Arte for the praise of the speaker then of the Spirit for the censuring of sinne and conversion of the sinner He passeth small offences without any censure thereby openeth the way to the greatest sins of murther adulterie c. and giveth the Magistrate his hands full He vendicates to his court and jurisdiction some crimes as proper for his censure which yet he passeth lightly The censures of the Kirk and sword of excommunication in his hand serue for small use against greater sins For eyther they are not used at all or so partially that the greatest sinners escape uncensured or so superficially that they are rather a matter of mocking and boldnesse in sinne then of repentance to the sinner or of removing the offence 5. The PASTOR is chargeable to no man beside his sober and necessarie maintenance allotted unto him for his necessarie service which the people can no more want then they may want religion it selfe or their owne temporall and eternall happines The PRELATE contrarie to the rules of policie against the multiplying and mainteyning of idle officebearers hath for one office serving for no good use neither to King nor Kirk nor Countrey allowance of a large rent is a great burthen and is many waies chargeable to the Commonwealth and to particular persons by his great lands and Lordship by actions of improbation reductions of feiffes declarator of esheits entresses nonentresses c. by selling of commissariats c. by raysing and rigorously exacting the Quots of Testaments by sommes of money giuen unto them their sonnes or theyr servants for presentations collations testimonials of ordination or admission sometimes by people who would be at a good Minister and ordinarily by the cannie friends of the intrant who can finde no entrie but by a golden port 6. The PASTOR would haue learning to growe considering that Schooles and Colledges are both the seminarie of the Commonwealth the Lebanon of God for building the Temple desyreth earnestly that there might be a Schoole in every congregation that the people might be more civill and might more easily learne the groundes of Religion he would haue the best ingynes chosen provided to the students places in universities the worthyest best men to the places of Teachers who might faythfully keepe the Arts and Sciences from corruption and especially the trueth of Religion as the holy fire that came down from heauen was kept by the Levites He desireth the rewards of learning to be giuen to the worthyest and after they haue received them that they be faythfull in their places least by loytering and lazinesse they become both unprofitable and unlearned The PRELATE is not so desirous of learning in himselfe as of ignorance in others