Neuters g N. Ips causers of the plagues continuance and other judgements which as it is in his Epitome we must never looke to have removed till some of them be hanged and indeed what not that may either vent his owne or move others splene against them Neither hath he beene contented to keepe himselfe in generalls but hath shot out the poysoned shafts of his serpentine tongue against particular persons a thing hatefull and intolerable in a publicke sermon as not to speake of those of lower ranke of whom the meanest is farre above him in every kind of worth The L. Bishop of Norwich a man eminent for his learning and approved to his Sacred Majesty by his long and faithfull service upon whom hee bestowes these titles An h pag 71. usurper a bringer in of forraigne power an Innovator Oppressor Persecutor and troubler of the peace of the Church and Kingdome The L. Bishop of Chichester that mirrour of learning hee calls a i pag. 126. Tried Champion for Rome and joyning him with that thrice Venerable the L. Bishop of Ely whom in contempt hee calls Dr. White saith k pag. 121. They are men well affected to Rome when it is well knowne they have done more reall not railing service to this Church against Rome then ever Mr. Burton or any or all his faction ever did or could but I am beneath their worth thus to compare them But if ever hee shewed himselfe his crafts-master in the art of reviling lying and slandering it is against the most reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Cant. his Grace Against whom he hath with an impudent forehead framed such odious lyes endeavouring to load him with so many false and foule aspersions and using so insolently base and reproachfull termes against his person his chaire and dignity that he may seeme to use a phrase of his owne to have strained the veines of his conscience no less than of his braines in the venting and inventing p. 126. of them and perhaps hee thought he could not sufficiently raile upon an Archbishop unless hee proved himselfe an arch-railor and peereless in his faculty The particulars at least the chiefe of them I shall hereafter meete and answer and therefore I forbeare here to relate them Yet further It was wisely and truly observed by that worthy Prelate and late glory of our Church Bishop Andrewes upon this same Bishop Andrewes serm p. 95. text That they that in the end prove to be seditious marke them well they be first detractors Ever as at first it did so doth it still begin in the gain-saying in the contradiction of Corah So began he This Moses and this Aaron they take too much upon them doe more than they may by Law they would have somewhat taken from them So Absolon Here is no body to doe any justice in the land So Ieroboam Lord what a heavy yoake is this on the peoples neck Meddle not with these detractors So he And indeed what more powerfull detractive of obedience from the Soveraigne power can there bee invented than to fill the peoples heads with conceits of the Kings neglect of religion his p. 56. c. oathes and protestations to perswade them that as if unable to rule hee suffers his royall throne Appeale p. 29. to bee overtopped by others his Lawes trampled on and himselfe swayed to acts against justice p. 54. p. â—6 and religion what greater incentive what readier way to kindle the fire of sedition than to cast contempt and scorne upon those in authority under him to make them hated as contemners of law oppressors persecutors enemies of God and all goodness What lowder alarme to rebellion than the noyse of the losse of the setled religion and the imputation of the present calamities to those who under his Majesty have the government of the Church Lastly whereas the text advises men not to joyne side or meddle with those that are given to change and that under a great penalty Mr. Burton though himselfe expound it of changes in Church or State that hee might in all points run counter to his text under the colour of crying out against changes becomes a projector himselfe and a ring-leader to others and that with so great confidence and zeale that he would adventure with an haltar about his neck to the great Senate p. 110. of this land with this proposition That the Lordly Prelacy might bee changed into such a government as might better suit with Gods word and Christs sweet yoake Thus from a detractor he is become not a medler with changers that were little for so great a Captaine as hee would seeme to be but a p. 31. leader and fore-man of their company which is just as that reverend Prelate said When men by their detraction have made the present State naught no remedy but we must have a better for it and so a change needs What change A good one you may be sure from a Lordly Prelacy to Christs sweet yoke So Mr. B. But I 'le tell you his meaning in his words that understood the text better than Mr. Burton and was well acquainted with such mens intentions You shall change for a fine new Church-government A presbytery would doe much better for you than an Hierarchy And perhaps not long after a government of States than a Monarchy And then adds Whom you find thus magnifying of changes and projecting new plots for the people be sure they are in the way to sedition and if that bee not lookt to in time the next newes is the blowing of a trumpet and Shebaes proclamation Wee have no part in David It begins in Shimei and ends in Sheba And what ever faire colours he puts upon it the change he aymes at is neither so agreeable to the word of God nor Christs sweet yoake as is the present Church-government nor the Presbytery save intitle less Lordly than the Prelacy Nay there is no Prelate nor all of them together that doth or will challenge that power and dominion which is exercised in that discipline to which not the people onely but the King himselfe must be subject yea and deposed too if hee will not submit As by their practice at Geneva where it had its first beginning is most apparent Mr. Calvin himselfe relating both of his urging Epist 71. the oath which Mr. Burton and others so much startle at and cry out against and his putting one of their foure Syndicks which is the chiefe Magistracy among them out of his place till by his publick repentance he had given satisfaction to the Presbyterian Consistory But this onely by the way To our purpose By this the Reader may judge how well Mr. Burton hath suited his text with a discourse which is fraught with matter of so farre different nature as I know not how better to resemble it than to that deformed monster I mentioned out of the Poet where the body
INNOVATIONS Unjustly charged upon the Present CHVRCH and STATE OR AN ANSVVER TO THE MOST MATERIALL PASSAGES of a Libellous Pamphlet MADE BY MR. HENRY BURTON AND INTITVLED An Apologie of an Appeale c. BY CHRISTOPHER DOW B. D. LONDON Printed by M. F. for JOHN CLARK and are to be sold at his Shop under S. Peters Church in Cornhill M DC XXXVII To the Ingenuous Reader THis Treatise was finished and intended for the Presse at the beginning of Easter Terme last at which time it was expected that M. B. and his Confederates would have had their censure Had it then comne forth the speed it made would perhaps have made some Apology for the defects of it However in all this delay I wanted both leisure and will to adde or alter any thing and resolved to let it passe in its first dresse If it seeme incompt and lesse accurate then might haply be expected the comfort is that with all faults it is a cover fit enough for such a cup. Only one thing may seeme strange That having promised it I adde nothing particularly of the Appeale and its Apology The truth is the onely point of moment which I reserved for that part was The Legality of the Bishops exercising their Jurisdictions in their owne names and of their proceedings in the High Commission The rest excepting his often repeated railings and frivolous reasons which I never thought worthy of any serious answer I have met with in the Sermons and answered so far as I thought fit Now for that point That which was spoken in that High and Honourable Court of Star-Chamber at the Censure and the expectation of somewhat shortly to be declared by Authority for the full clearing of it Made me even when this booke was more than halfe printed to alter my first determination and suppresse those things which I once intended to publish upon that part judging it altogether needlesse if not presumption to bring my poore verdict either to second or prevent so judiciall and authentick a decision and that point excepted I held the rest not worthy a peculiar Chapter I will adde no more save the best wishes of Thine in our common Saviour C. D. THE CONTENTS OF the CHAPTERS Chap. 1. Fol. 1. AN Introduction to the ensuing Discourse containing the reasons inducing the Author to undertake it and his aime in it Chap. 2. Fol. 7. A short Relation or Description of M. H. Burton his course and manner of life Of the occasion of his discontent his dismission from the Court The ground of his dislike and hatred against the Bishops and betaking himselfe to the people The course he hath since taken in his Bookes and Sermons to make himselfe plausible and the Bishops envied Of the Booke called A divine Tragedie c. Chap. 3. Fol. 14. Of this booke of his The parts of it Of the title of his Sermons The dedication of it to his Majesty and some passages in it Chap. 4. Fol. 21. Of the Sermons The Authors intention in the examination of them A generall view of their materialls Their dissonancy from the Text in every part of it Their principall argument Supposed Innovations The Authors pitching upon them as containing the summe of all Chap. 5. Fol. 32. Of the supposed Innovations in Doctrine Of K. James his Order to the Vniversities for reading the Fathers done long since unjustly charged upon the present Bishops By whomsoever procured upon just grounds Not Popish but against Popery King James his other Order for preaching of Election c. justified Chap. 6. Fol. 38. Of his Majesties Declaration prefixed to the Articles of Religion M. Burtons cunning trick to colour his railing against his Majesties actions and the danger that may come of it All truths not necessary to be knowne or taught The Doctrine of predestination in M. Burtons sense best unknowne The Gospell not overthrowne but furthered by the want of it An uncomfortable Doctrine Chap. 7. Fol. 43. Of the bookes that have beene printed of late Of Franciscus à S. Clara. Desire of peace warranted by S. Paul We and they of Rome differ not in fundamentalls What are fundamentalls in M. Burtons sense The distinction in fundamentalibus circa fundamentalia justified The Church of England not Schismaticall How far separated and wherein yet united with the Romish Church Good workes necessary to salvation Iustification by workes By charity in what sense no Popery Whether the Pope be That Antichrist disputable Of confession Of prayer for the dead how maintained by our Church Praying to Saints justly condemned by Protestants Chap. 8. Fol. 58. Of the Doctrine of obedience to Superiours How taught and maintained by the Bishops Wherein it must be blinde and how quick-sighted Chap. 9. Fol. 67. Of the Doctrine of the Sabbath and Lords-day falsely accused of Novelty The summe of what is held or denyed in this point by those whom Mr B. opposeth The Churches power and the obligation of her precepts The maintainers of this doctrine have not strained their braines or conscience Chap. 10. Fol. 73. Of his Majesties Declaration for sports c. M. Burtons scandalizing the memory of K. James about it His wicked censure of His Majesty for reviving and republishing it His abusive jeere upon my Lords Grace of Cant. Five propositions opposed to his so many unjust criminations in this argument Chap. 11. Fol. 78. Of the 1. Proposition The Declaration no inlet to profanenesse His Majesties respect to piety in it Recreations onely permitted not imposed Of the 2. Proposition The sports allowed are lawfull on those dayes and in themselves not against the Law of the Land M. Burtons seeming respect of the Fathers Of Revelling Of mixt dancing how unlawfull and how condemned by the Ancients and by the Imperiall Edicts Of Calvins judgement in this point Of the 3. Proposition The Booke no meanes of violation of the 5. Commandement Chap. 12. Fol. 97 Ministers commanded by His Majesty to reade the Book They may and ought to obey The matter of the Book not unlawfull Things unlawfully commanded may sometimes be lawfully obeyed What things are required to justifie a subjects refusing a Superiours Command Refusers to reade the Book justly punished The punishment inflicted not exceeding the offence Not without good warrant Chap. 13. Fol. 108. Of the Innovation pretended to bee in Discipline The Courts Ecclesiasticall have continued their wonted course of Iustice St. Austines Apology for the Church against the Donatists fitly serves ours The cunning used by delinquents to make themselves pitied and justice taxed Their practises to palliate and cover their faults Mr. B's endeavour to excuse Ap-Evans Mr. Burtons opposites not censorious What they thinke of those whom hee calls Professors and the profession it selfe True Piety approved and honoured in all professions The answere to this crimination summed up The censured partiall Iudges of their own censures How offences are to be rated in their censures Chap. 14. Fol. 113. Of the supposed Innovations
a true Church and yet I beleeve hee would bee loath to agree with them in all opinions which they maintaine especially if hee knew for I have heard that in place where not many yeeres agoe he bewrayed his ignorance and was faine to be informed by a brother Minister then in presence that they held all those Tenets about Predestination Freewill and falling from grace which hee so much condemnes in those whom hee termes Arminians Neither can it be imagined that King Iames when hee acknowledged Calvin and therein did him but right to bee a most judicious expositour of Scripture ever intended to exempt him from errour when it is most manifest that hee did utterly condemne many opinions of his and that though he had been bred and brought up among those who received their doctrine and discipline from Calvin yet as himselfe professed in the Conference at Hampton-Court from the time that he was tenne yeeres old hee ever disliked their Confer p. 20. opinions and that though he lived among them he was not of them And therefore might without crossing his owne judgement enjoyne young students rather to looke into the Fathers and acquaint themselves with the judgement of the Ancient Church than to take up opinions upon trust of those moderne Authors who though as he after addes they were not without their Naevi or spots yet no man without betraying insufferable pride and ignorance will account their workes a dunghill or heape of mud where haply with much raking and prying a man may chance to light upon a Pearle so as they that reade them must Margaritas è caeno legere gather pearles out of the mud as Mr. Burton is pleased to speake I am sure other men as sound and judicious as himselfe every whit have held it a point of wisedome to draw water as neere as they can from the well-head rather than from lakes and cisternes And the truth is that King Iames of famous memory whether by the procurement of the Bishops or not it matters not for neither the Author nor the procurers need blush for it having taken some just distaste at some novell points delivered by some young Divines which trenched upon his Regall power and dignity and knowing from what pits that water was drawne and that those moderne Authors mentioned were ill affected to Monarchicall Government and injurious to the just right of Kings going hand in hand with the Iesuites in the principles of popularity Did in his Princely wisedome for the preventing of so great a danger as might ensue if such principles were drunk in at the first by young and injudicious Novices give charge to the Heads of the University of Cambridge I am sure and whether of Oxford too I know not that they should take order that young students should bee well seasoned at the beginning and well grounded in the principles of Our owne Catechisme and the Articles and Doctrine of our Church and that they should not ground their studies upon those men where they might with their first milke in Divinity sucke in such unsound opinions and dangerous to the State But rather that they would search into Antiquity and study the writings of the Fathers whose consentient Doctrine is without doubt the best and soundest Divinity And if Mr. Burton had taken this course in his studies hee had learned better obedience to his Superiours and beene lesse troublesome to himselfe and others This then is but a fetch and brought in onely to increase the heape of odium upon the Bishops with those Pag. 114. who judge of things not by weight or worth but by noise and number For there is no colour for that which he suggests that it should be done the more easily to make way for the accomplishing of their the Prelats plot so long a hammering for the reinducing of Popery seeing neither that which was done nor the end for which it was done have the least affinity with Popery but was intended for the opposing and preventing of that point of Popery or Jesuitisme which animates and armes the people against their Princes But further To this purpose saith he they procure Pag. 114. another order in King James his name for the inhibiting of young Ministers to preach of the Doctrines of Election and Predestination and that none but Bishops and Deanes shall handle those points And is it not great reason that those high points should bee handled with great wisedome and sobriety And who are then fitter so to handle them than the Bishops and Deanes who how contemptible soever Mr. Burton esteemes of them are presumed in reason and in the judgement of the King from whom they receive their dignities to bee the most discreet and judicious Divines Hitherto wee have no Innovation in Doctrine and much lesse any Popery For the Doctrine may bee and is still the same that it ever was from what Authors soever it is fetched and by what persons soever it be delivered So that Mr. Burton is beside the matter and hath not yet come home to the point by him proposed which was Innovations in Doctrine CHAP. VI. Of his Majesties Declaration prefixed to the Articles of Religion Mr. Burtons cunning trick to colour his rayling against his Majesties actions and the danger that may come of it All truths not necessary to be knowne or taught The Doctrine of predestination in Mr. Burtons sense best unknowne The Gospell not overthrowne but furthered by the want of it An uncomfortable Doctrine BUt leaving King Iames hee comes to our gracious Soveraigne that now is and saith After that there is set forth a Declaration before the Articles of Religion in King Charles his name And why in King Charles his name and not by him The title calls it His Majesties Declaration and the whole tenor of it runs in His Majesties style How then shall we know it was not his This is but a cunning quirk to teach the people to decline obedience to His Majesties commands If they can be perswaded that His Majesties Declarations and Proclamations which are sent out if they concerne things that crosse their fancies be none of his acts Then to what passe things in short time will grow it is easie for any man that is but halfe witted to conjecture If men may at their liberty Father the Kings acts upon the Prelates or any other whom they favour not and then rayle at them at their pleasure and reject them as none of his His Majesty will ere long be faine to stand to his subjects courtesie for obedience to his royall commands Or if men may say of such things as come out in the Kings name that they tend to the publick dishonour of God and his word to the violation and annihilation of his commandements the alteration of the Doctrine of the Church of England the destruction of the peoples soules and that they are contrary to his solemne royall protestations as Mr. B. speakes about the declaration
Bs. words either that the Bishops have these ends or that for these ends they do teach this doctrine But it is enough There is no Parliament and that they wish hoping if some such spirits as Mr. Burtons disciples get voyces in it and can prevaile they may do somewhat for their cause and ruine the Hierarchy and that there is none it must needs be the Bishops doings who as hee perswades credulous auditors will not bee able to purge themselves to a committee of the Lower-house for Religion and then if this be granted it cannot be thought a thing unlikely for them to broach such doctrine as this which cannot but be very usefull for their purpose But M. Burton will have much adoe to prove and words must not carry it that the Bishops are not Parliament-proofe and as much that they therefore are the meanes to hinder the King from having a Parliament I would to God that men of his straine and humour and poysoned with such principles of Popularity as hee labours to instill into the people had beene no greater meanes to cause heart-burning between the King and his subjects and so to keep them from meeting in Parliament than the Bishops are It is not the Bishops but the disobedient and seditious carriage of those ill-affected persons of the house of Commons in the last Parliament who raised so much heat and distemper upon causelesse jealousies That His Procla before the Declar. for the dissolut of the Parliament Majesty to use his owne words His Regall authority and commandement were so highly contemned as his Kingly office could not beare nor any former age parallel This is the meanes that severed King and people being met and this humor still fomented by turbulent and malevolent spirits such as Mr. Burton is the true and sole cause that yet hinders their re-assembling in Parliament And if thereupon any damage have or doe ensue the blame must light upon those entrenchers not upon those whom hee falsely makes the over-enlargers of the Royall prerogative Yet necessity may make them doe much and feare of danger may make them willing by any meanes whatsoever to make the King sure that they may have shelter and though God be praised they have not justly no not incurred the hatred of the whole land yet perhaps he knowes some intended mischiefe towards them or hopes well that his Sermons and the Ipswich Libell will worke so with some bloudy Assassines that they may be brought as his brother Leighton speaks Sions plea pag. 166. to strike that Hazael the Bishops in the fift rib to strike that Basilike vein as the onely cure for the plurisie of this State However it were but a poor device for their security to flatter the King into a conceit of his boundlesse authority which beside that it would be a vaine attempt upon so wise and just a Prince and such as cannot without derogation from his Majesties wisdome and gracious disposition be once imagined as faisible would but increase the subjects hatred and in the end cause his Majesty to forsake them and justly to expose them to the fury of their malice Their best security and that which they onely rely upon is their integrity and just proceedings wherein they assure themselves the just God and King whom they serve will never forsake them or deny them protection Neither doe they need to borrow a lawlesse and abused Regall power nor can it be accounted tyranny to punish those that deny obedience to his Majesties commands which whatsoever he untruely and seditiously suggests shall be proved both to be his Majesties and beseeming his Royall justice and goodnesse As for their ayming by this meanes to bring the State and King under their girdle and to make Princes subject to the Bishops If malice had not made him as blind as Impudent he would have wanted a forehead to have vented for if they meant any such thing their way had beene to advance their owne and not the Kings power and prerogative which if they make boundlesse will be sure to hold themselves as well as others under the yoke of subjection To conclude this point then The Bishops teach no other doctrine of obedience to Superiours than hath beene ever taught in the Church of God They give the King that onely prerogative which we see hath been given alwaies to all godly Artic. of Relig. p. 37. Princes in holy Scriptures by God himselfe that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall and restraine with the civill sword the stubborn and evill doers This is the doctrine of our Church To this they have ex animo subscribed and to this they exact subscription of all that are under their severall Jurisdictions And this is not to give him any unlimited power they give to God and Caesar both their dues They make God the first the King the second and onely lesse than God as Tertullian speaks They make no Idol of their King nor Ad Scapulam Hominem à Deo secundum solo Deo minorem place his throne above but immediately under Gods That 's all Under God they grant acknowledging his power to be from God and that hee ought to use his power for God and not against him and our obedience to the King not sufficient to warrant disobedience to God yet immediately and above all others in his Dominions So as They beleeve and teach that his actions are not liable to the scanning much lesse to the controule no not of his greatest subjects This The King to speak with all humble reverence cannot give c. p. 72. They doe not know They dare not practice Neither will or dare They no not with humble reverence premised tell the people that the King hath not and therefore cannot give power to others to do those things which crosse their fancies as namely to punish those that refuse to conforme to his commands and the orders of the Church which he miscalls the altering of the state of Religion and to suppresse the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel this They judge no humble reverence but outragious and desperate impudency and boldnesse Yea and that it savours of unchristian disloyalty to insinuate to the people that the King is carelesse of his reiterated solemne protestations and oathes That he is forgetfull of the law of God and regardles of the laws of the Land That he useth his power or suffers it to be used to alter the state of Religion to oppresse and suppresse the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell against both law and conscience All pag 56. pag. 73. which Mr. Burton hath done ad nauseam usque even to his readers surfet and loathing Neither will his usuall scheme help him off or excuse him to say he doth not nor will not beleeve such actions as hee is pleased so deeply and desperately to censure to be the Kings
hatred of the people who are easily wrought upon by the noyse of judgements and more taken with a bold assertion of what neither they nor he that speakes it are able to discerne the truth of than by the power of solid reason or the plaine evidence of naked truth At last he preached these sermons which wee have before us in which hee shewed that extremity of virulency as the like I thinke hath not beene heard to be delivered out of the Pulpit against the persons of some Prelates and their actions against the High Commission Court the most reverend Father in God the L. Arch-bishop of Canterbury yea he hath not spared the Royall Person of his Sacred Majesty whose piety and religious government he hath most unchristianly and undutifully to say no worse endeavoured to blast by most odious insinuations and calumnies And having thus vented these things in the Pulpit they were sent abroad by way of an abstract or Epitome in a libell intituled Newes from Ipswich for any man that compares that libell with his Sermons shall finde that in both the materials are the same and if both in their formes were not his it must needs bee that hee and the author of that libell had consulted together and conferred notes or perhaps they were set out by some zelote which gathered notes from his Sermons And being questioned in the High Commission for the things by him delivered in these Sermons he Appealed from them to His Sacred Majesty and printed his Appeale and an Apology for it and two Epistles inscribed one to the true-hearted Nobility and another to the reverend Iudges together with the Sermons and dedicated both by two severall Epistles to His Majesty For the man Charity commands me to pity him but I can see no foundation for charity to excuse him for when I doe but read him in this and see to what an height of desperate boldness discontent fomented by popularity hath brought him I can devise no better Apology nor other way to free him from the just imputation of imbittered malice and trayterous intention than to say that discontent at once hath crackt his braine and his conscience Nor can I give a better character of him than that which S. Hierom long Homo turbulentus qui Loquacitatem facundiam existimat et maledicere omnibus bonae conscientiae signū arbitratur Hieron advers Helvid since did of Helvidius that he is a turbulent man and one that esteemes loquacity eloquence and to speake evill of others the signe of a good conscience How truely I have censured the man there is nothing able so fully to demonstrate as his book which being true-bred resembles him to the life and gives the world a more perfect picture of him than that which is sold by the Stationers without more adoe then to begin our view of that CHAP. III. Of this booke of his The parts of it Of the title of his Sermons The dedication of it to his Majesty and some passages in it THe booke divides it selfe into two maine parts the first containes his Appeale and its Apology the other he entitles For God and the King or The summe of two sermons c. I shall crave leave to passe by the first part and using a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to looke upon the last first To begin with the Sermons and then come to the Appeale and its Apology and indeed that in reason ought to have this priviledge in as much as it was the elder birth the other being yonger and made to serve it had these Sermons not beene there had beene no cause of Appeale or of Apology Now this part carrieth with it an awefull title which may usher it into the world with authority and command respect from every loyall and religious subject It is for God and the King who dares oppose himselfe Who saith holy Iob hath resisted God and prospered Iob 9. 4. and they that resist the King resist the ordinance Rom. 13. 2. of God and receive to themselves damnation If it be so it behooves us to consider well before wee adventure to gaine-say ought in it lest we bee justly as Naboth was once unjustly 1 Kings 21. judged to blaspheme God and the King But I remember I have read of Iulian the Apostate who writing a booke against the Christians to allure them to read it and that so it might prevaile the better for their seduction inscribed it Ad Christianos To Christians And surely Mr. Burton had learned some such policy of somebody which makes him prefixe so glorious a title which may at once like the Sunne dazle and allure the beholders when indeed there is nothing in it that answers the title But however they are two Sermons or as he termes them the summe of two Sermons If this be true surely the Sermons were of a large size and transgrest the bounds of an houre glasse But he after expounds Epist to the King himselfe what hee meanes and with him the summe of two sermons is two sermons and more he might have termed them two Sermons with additionals but that word did not please because so much used in the High Commission But Apol. p. 13. let that pass and take his good meaning They are two Sermons more or less such as they are had he termed them prophesies I should have taken them in that sense when Saul is said to prophesie which the Chaldee termes Insaniebat 1 Sam. 18. 10. Saul Saul was mad but that they should be sermons its more strange Yet not very strange neither among those of his straine of whom there was Peters one who being in London preacht as if he were not very well in his wits and remooving into the Low-Countries hee became stark mad and after some while being somewhat amended enquirie being made of one that knew him how he did answer was made that God be praised he now began to preach againe but he was mad still So then they may be sermons and preached too on the fifth of November last in Saint Matthewes Friday-Street and they were preached as the title tels us by H. B. Minister of Gods word there and then Sure that is not so he was no Minister of Gods Word there and then further than to make Gods word usher to his fancies frenzies he might better have said Out of Gods word Minister to Hen. B. there and then The text indeed is the word of God but thè scrmons not so they were Mr. Burtons owne neither framed according to the rule of Gods word nor founded upon that part of it which he singled out for his text Well but hee would have you beleeve it to bee Gods word and that you may guesse of what subject he treated he hath inscribed a place parallel to his text upon his title page 1 Pet. 2. 17. Feare God Honour the King which if it bee not misplaced wee must looke for nothing but religion and loyalty
or not prison is the better temper and more like the ancient martyrs were but his cause like theirs which as St. Austine long since observed and not the suffering is that which makes true Martyrs otherwise there is nothing more wicked or more perverse than for men not to know how to be ashamed of their punishment but to seek praise in their just sufferings which to use the words of the Father argues a strange blindnesse and a damnable animosity But this was but a flourish to shew his confidence in the goodnesse of his cause for had he beene thus christianly-resolute he would not have refused to have beene examined in the Starre-chamber and so forced that Honorable Court after long patience to take the things informed against him pro confesso and so proceed to sentence upon him CHAP. IIII. Of the Sermons The Authors intention in the examination of them A generall view of their materialls Their dissonancy from the Text in every part of it Their principall argument Supposed Innovations The Authors pitching upon them as containing the summe of all I Come now to the Sermons themselves The text is Pro. 24. 21 22. My son feare thou the Lord and the King and medle not with them that are given to change For their calamitie shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Here I intend not to play the Critick to carpe or catch at every trifle or to censure every solecisme or word misplaced but to passe by such slips as are common incidences to humanity And therefore I will not scan the difference betweene an exhortation and an admonition or whether Serm. pag. 3. Salomon speakes here in his owne or the person of God or in which soever whether he intend to distinguish him to whom he directs his speech from others and to appropriate him as Gods own peculiar Pag. 4. and so whether the Doctrine of finall perseverance in grace can here find a good foundation Pag. â—0 Or how his fourth point viz. That a man that truly feares God is a man of a thousand an eminent person a goodly object or spectacle to be looked upon is drawn from this text when I am sure the word Thou upon which he seems to ground it therefore writes it in great letters is not at all in the Originall but onely as it is wrapt up in the Verb. Neither will I reckon up the many other impertinencies and inconsequencies which every where throughout his discourse are obvious to a judicious eye These and the like niceties so I account them in comparison whether Logicall or Theologicall shall make no difference betweene us Though perhaps in an accurate disquisition or to a curious examiner they may bee judged not unworthy the discussing and that he who takes upon him to be the great and disdainfull censor of learning and learned men deserves the lash for smaller failings Neglecting these then as beneath my intentions when I at once in a generall view behold the text and the discourse upon it and see what a strange body he hath joyned to such an head Horac de Arte Humano capiti cervicem pictor equinam jungere si velit c. I cannot but thinke of that strangely-deformed monster which Horace saith if a Painter should draw would move laughter in the beholders From which were not the matter more serious and of an higher consequence I could hardly refraine so monstrous a disproportion there is betweene the one and the other For what better text could there be pickt out of the whole Bible to perswade Piety to God Obedience to the King and which is a part of our obedience to him submission to such as are in authority under him And what readier way can bee devised to extirpate the feare of God and true religion and piety out of mens hearts than is here taken in these Sermons For example to mocke at the devout gestures and pious expressions of holy reverence in Gods service To call that due and lowly reverence which is done at the mention of that sweet and blessed Name by which alone men can bee saved a Pag. 66. complementall crouch to Iesus and in a blasphemous jeere a Pag. 15. 25 c. Iesu-worship And that honour which is tendred to God toward that place where of all others he manifests himselfe most graciously b Ibid. c. Altar-worship c Pag. 33. Adoration of the Altar-God d Pag. 98. false-shewes will worship a kind of Courtship a complement c To stile the singing of praises to God e Pag. 163. chanting and the musicke which is used to allay distracting and disturbing thoughts to raise our dull affections and to stirre them up to a devout chearefulnesse in praising of God f Ibid. piping Yea to deride the whole service of God ever allowed and approved in our Church under the name of g pag. 160. long Babylonish service And the solemne prayers of the Church appointed and used at the Fast h pag. 148 c. Mocking of God to the face and the fast it selfe a mock-fast What a dis-heartening must this needs bee to men and what an allay to that little fervour which is in them to Gods worship when their best performances both for matter and manner shall bee thus derided and scorned Yea what a doore is here opened to let out all Religion and feare of God and to let in all prophanenesse and atheisme when they shall bee taught thus to conceive of religious duties and the publicke service of God And what is if this bee not to make men to abhorre the offering of God Againe there is 1. Sam. 2. 17. scant any one thing that argues a greater want of the feare of God and true religion than an unbridled tongue If any man among you seeme to Iames 1 26. be religious and bridleth not his tongue that mans religion is in vaine And yet how hath this man given his tongue the reines and that in publicke and in the house of God and standing in the place of God and entitling him the Author of such licencious wickednesse to utter the impure vomit of an exulcerated heart in most odious and shamefull railings What opprobrious language what bitter termes and titles of reproach hath he used against those whom hee conceives opposite to him in opinion ayming principally at the R. Bishops and Fathers of the Church whose dignity he contemnes calling them Enemies and rebels to God fogges and mists risen from the bottomlesse pit frogges pag 11. and 12. and uncleane spirits crept out of the mouth of the Dragon limbs of the Beast even of Antichrist Paralleling them with the Iewes who killed the Lord Iesus and their owne Prophets c. a pag. 32. Babel-builders factors of b pag. 15. Antichrist c pag. 83. Antichristian mushromes d pag. 121. Lukewarme e pag. 28. Miscreants f pag. 148.
counterfeit these and what danger it may bee for men to question or reject these I leave to bee judged by those that are best able and armed with Authority But if it were his Majesties sure it was procured by some ungracious persons and ill-affected to Religion And who can they bee but the Prelates and yet hee knowes not upon which of them to lay it but hee would have the people to know whom to guesse at For hee saith it was done presently after the L. of Cant. tooke possession p. 59. of his Grace-ship and that his Grace was very zealous for the pressing of it to be read in all Churches of his province All which might very well bee and yet his Grace have no hand in the procuring of it But though I cannot affirme it be it so for I beleeve his Grace holds it no dishonor to bee the meanes of procuring or urging obedience to any Act which so just and religious a King shall avow to be his Yet must he needs for that bee degraded and deprived of that honourable Title which the King the State and Church have given him and his Predecessors ever enjoyed Must hee needs slip from his Grace presently and become the jeere of presumptuous detraction Malicious pride whither wilt thou Durst any but a wicked Edomite a Doeg thus draw out the sword of his tongue against the Lords High Priest Shall not the Ephod and Tiara inscribed Holinesse to the Lord bee a sanctuary from the violence of reprochfull taunts If pride and malice had not Disâ—at aliquando reticere qui nunquam didicit loqui Hieron advers Helvid quite bereft this man of reason or modesty and made his tongue cast his bridle He though hee never knew how to speake would have here learned to hold his peace And of all others have spared him to whose obedience he is bound by his spirituall sonne-ship if I may reckon those for sonnes who thus spit at their Fathers by the sacred tie of holy Orders and by all those names that may command reverence and esteem I speake this of the dignity of his place To which if wee joine the worth and eminency of his person so in all things suitable to so great a height of Authority and dignity so in all things becomming his Gracious Title I cannot but wonder what spirit possest this man thus to rob him of his deserved honour yea to use him with such contempt and scorne as hee hath done throughout these Sermons and the rest of his books But what doe I goe about to vindicate His Honour or to speake in his praise who is above the reach of my praises as well as of his revilings It shall suffice me that so judicious and religious a Majesty hath past his Royall sentence upon his merits and judged him most worthy to sit in the highest Chaire of this Church To proceed then The Declaration it selfe hee hath used in the same manner that hee hath done the Authors of it stiling it by all the names hee could devise to make it odious and to harden others in their obstinacy against it For answere whereunto I shall briefly oppose these five following Propositions to his so many unjust criminations First The Declaration is no in-let to profanenesse or irreligion or hindrance of the due sanctification of the Lords day 2. That the sports permitted by it to be used are lawfull and such as are not prohibited either p. 57. by Gods law or the law of the Land 3. That it is no meanes of breaking the fifth p. 61. Commandement nor doth allow any contempt of Parents or Masters authority over their children and servants 4. That the reading of it by Ministers in their p. 55. severall Congregations was injoyned and intended by his Majesty and that it is a thing that may lawfully be done by them 5. That such as refuse to publish it accordingly are justly punished and their punishment no cruelty or unjust persecution CHAP. XI Of the 1. Proposition The Declaration no inlet to profanenesse His Majesties respect to Piety in it Recreations onely permitted not imposed Of the 2. Proposition The sports allowed are lawfull on those dayes and in themselves not against the Law of the Land Mr. Burtons seeming respect of the Fathers Of Revelling Of mixt dancing how unlawfull and how condemned by the Ancients and by the Imperiall Edicts Of Calvins judgment in this point Of the 3. Proposition The Book no meanes of violation of the 5. Commandement FOr the first It is most evident to any impartiall Reader that shall peruse the Declaration that his Majesty intending onely to take away that scandall which some rigid Sabbatarians had brought upon our Religion to the hindering of the conversion of Popish Recusants and to allow especially to the meaner sort such honest recreations as might serve for their refreshment and better enabling them to goe through with their hard labours on other dayes His Majesty I say in this his charitable intention did not forget his wonted respect to Piety and the service of God or due sanctification of the Lords day For first Hee doth straitly charge and command every person first to resort to his owne Parish Church Secondly Hee doth expressely provide that none shall have the benefit of the liberty granted that will not first come to the Church and serve God thereby excluding all Recusants and idly profane persons who absent themselves from Gods house and service Thirdly He doth enjoine that they to whom it belongeth in office shall present and sharply punish all such as in abuse of this his liberty will use the exercises allowed before the ends of all Divine-services for that day Which things rightly cónsidered if they be as well put in execution as they were piously intended by his Majesty are so farre from hindering that they are a great furtherance of the due service of God upon that day in as much as thereby many that otherwise would not may bee allured and compelled to present themselves in the Church at the publicke worship of God Yea by this meanes the publike worship and service of God shall have its due honour and be preferred before even our otherwise honest and lawfull recreations so as till that be ended these cannot be used nor by any that have not first in that tendred their duty to God and if any shall presume to doe otherwise those in Authority have power to punish them and barre them from the benefit of their liberty which for ought I know no Law or Canon before did ever enable them to doe It is manifest in that his Majesty doth onely permit and not impose the use of recreations upon Bishop of Ely p. 255. any which notwithstanding devout Christians who are piously affected and able may upon the Lords day sequester themselves from secular businesse and ordinary pleasures to the end they may the more freely attend the service of God and apply their mindes