without all occasion to keepe your selfe off the Irish oath â—ff these Scottish Ministers whom yee did banish from Ireland off the excessive praises of your patron the Deputie These and such other passages of your booke lift up your maske and lead any who will under the shaddow of the Jesuites hart to behold D. Leslies head that upon it without mistaking may be cast all the garlants of honour which the penning of so brave a piece in so necessary a time doth deserve But whoever you bee whether Leslie or Maxwell or Michell The laÌ„ds griefe is the CanterburiaÌ„s joy or who else of the faction certainly yee are a mirrie man in a very unseasonable time When the whole Yle is in sadnesse and dule in feare and trembling ye are upon your congratularie Epistles And why not These are the dayes yee have panted long for fire and Sword is your Element rather then Episcopall honour should lye in the dust fire water heaveÌ„ hel must all goe thorow other yet who knoweth but your singing in so foule weather may end in mourning to you and jot to all those who now are weeping for that black storme which ye his Grace your Prince have raised in our clemat If wee in one point our adversaries in an hundreth are Iesuited The onely point wherein yee make Covenanters draw neare to Iesuitisme is in their doctrine of the civill Magistrate which ye branch out in 16 particulars Is it not then your mind that whoever leaveth the Protestants in one head of doctrine doth give to the Iesuites matter of congratulation and a good ground to expect their totall apostasie to the popish religion This is the onely scope of your whole booke What then doe you thinke of your fellowes whom I have assayed to convince by their owne testimonies of a defection from the Protestantâ— to the worst of the Iesuites not in one head but so exceeding many that very few contraverted heads doe remaine wherein they are not joyned long agoe with the Jesuites Shall partialitie so farre predomine with you that we Covenanters for conformitie with Jesuites in one point alone must be reputed Apostates from the reformed church of Rome yet ye Canterburians though ye declare your conformitie with Rome in twentie in an hundreth yea well neare in all the contraverted heads of Doctrine yet no man without a great dash to a charitie may begin so much as to doubt of your full Protestanisme That one point wherein ye make us Iesuited is the doctrine of the Magistrate This to you is the head of the Protestant Faith and all their other teners but members following that head your practice is very consonant to this your profession for your new doctrine of the Magistrate is the first and most beloved article of your Creed which above all other ye preach and presse with extreame violence Your new stamped oath of alleadgeance and Supremacie whereby yee would set up the King in a place so farre above the ty of all Lawes divine and humane as his royall heart hath ever abhorred to be maâ—e such an idol Good Princes in this are like the Saints in glory all which giveth to them a degree of honour exceeding the Sphere of man and entrenshing upon Gods proper glorie they esteeme them as they are indeed nothing but flattering effronters of their sacred persons That which ye call the head of all Protestant Religion The bounds of Princes power and peoples subiectioÌ„ are points of state not oâ— Religion readily doth not concerne Religion at all Religion indeed doth oblige the conscience to give unto all Magistrates their due honour and obedience but the bounds and limits of that obedience which is the onely point ye speake off Religion meddleth not with them till the civill Lawes of States Empires have clearly defined them No Religion will oblige a Spaniard to be so farre subject to King Philip as a Grecian slave must be to the Great Turke neither doth any Religion equall the Polonish Subjection to their King with the Spanish to theirs Doth any Religion oblige the Electours of Germanie to be so much subiect to their Emperour as the Nobles in Pole are to their King or so little subject as the Venetian Senate is to their Duke or the States of Holland is to the Prince of Orange The civill Lawes and Customes set downe the limites both of the Soveraignes commanding and the subjects obedience Religion causeth these march-stones conscienciously to bee kept when once Policie hath fixed them It seemeth ye intend to make England quit their Priviledgâ— and burn their magna charta to make Scotland bury their Assemblies Parliaments that a blank may be put in Canterburies hand to write down what Lawes he will for the Church and State of both the Nations But thankes be to God that King Charles doth live to be judge betwixt you and us in so materiall a question Yee tell us further in your preambles The present danger of this Yle to fall in hands of the Pope Spaniard before ye come to your first paralell of Pope Vrbans hope to make Scotland return to Rome yee might have told us further from your companion Con who is more acquainted with Vrbans secrets then other men that the Pope hath a pretty confidence to joyne England to Scotland that so the reduction of the whole Yle your Iâ—eland with it to the Sea of Rome may be set up as an eternall trophee to the honour of this pâ—pes family Surely the ground-stones of this hope are laid on so deepe plots that except the hand of God and the king in this present Parliament pull them up Pope Vrban for all his age may yet live to putt the triumphall cope stone upon that building We grant you also that the Pope and Jesuites as yee say â—re hovering above the head of us all to fall upon the prey of â—ll Britaine when both parties which your mallice will compell to fight are wearied with mutuall wounds in this prophecie we thinke you but too true divines specially if ye will adde which all without the gift of prophecie may see to be consequent that when the Pope hath gotten the soules of those who out-live this warre for his part his Sons the French or Catholik King will not be quiet except for their share they gett the bodies The most hated of the covenanters proceedings their covenant it self is approved by the king the goods and liberties of all this poore Yle Your other gybes at the Covenanters proceedings yee might have holden in if the honour of the King had any wayes been deare unto you the worst of all our actions even that which ye were wont to proclaime our most vile and hellish rebellion Sedition Treason and what else ye could devise is now by our gracious Prince after a full search of it to the very bottome not onely absolved of all crime but so farre approved that by act of Assembly Counsell
articles of Parliament it is commanded to be subscribed by the hearts and hands of all in this Kingdome without exception So that new there stands at the back of that long blasphemed Covenant among the first and most conspicuous hands not onely Roxburgh Lawder-dale Southâ—ke and others of the prime Counsellours but also Traquair the Kings great Commissioner for that effect We hope then that you and your like if there remaine any sparke of reverence in your breast towards that authoritie which oft yee pretend to adore will not onely for ever hereafter bridle your very loose tongues but also eate in againe or at last cover so farre as ye can for hidding of your shame these most false lies and unchristian railings which these two yeares by-gone in word writ Print ye have vomitted out against our proceedings especially that most hatred slandered passage of them the renewing of our Covenant The fi st point wherein ye parallell us with Jesuites 1. paralel Wee are for Monarchie but against Monarchical tyranny is in our opposition to Monarchicall government By Monarchicall government yee expreslâ— enough declare that ye understand such an absolute and illimitate power as exeemeth the Prince from the tye of all Law and puts in his hand the full libertie to make what Lawes he wâ—ll withâ—ut the advice let bee consent of Parliament of Counsell or of any others and taketh absolutely all Liberty from his Subjects though met together in Parliament to defend them elves by Armes in any imaginable oppression even such a Mâ—narchie as the great Turke or the Mâ—gor of Iâ—dia or the Châ—m of Taâ—tarie this day doth enjoy over their slaves even that strange kinde of government which in my last Chapter I descrived in the words of your brethren We confesse freely that our heart is much opposite to such a Mâ—narchie yet no more then our gracious Prince king Charles his glorious Father king Iames give us expresse warrant The one in his fore-cited writ of his Atturney Suprâ— chap 8. Q.R. abhorring these injurious flatterers who would impute unto him the making of Lawes without his Parliament the other in his Parliamentary Speach Page 531. A king governing in a setled kingdome leaveth to bee a King degenerateth in to a tiraÌ„t as soone as hee leaveth off to rule according to his Lawes Therefore all Kings that are no tyrants or perjured will be glad to bound themselves within the limits of their Lawes They that perswade them the contrarie are vipers and posts both against them and the Common-wealth making that Prince a perjured tyrant who would not gladly bound himself within the limits of his laws and these men to be taken for vipers pests and common enemies to Princes and people who would assay by their flatteries to loose Princes from their pactions made with their people at their Coronation and the setled lawes of their Kingdome yea we show that your own great Bishop Laud possibly as great a Royalist as is needfull goeth before us with his own mouth what ever he directeth you and many other of his followers to the contrary to teach that no statute Supra Cap. â— Q Law can bee made any where but in Parliament even in England let bee â—cotland where to this day never any conquerour did dwell But as for true Monarchie so high as the lowable lawes any where do make it we are in nothing opposite thereto for what have we to doe to condemne the setled state Lawes of any other Nation Certainly the royall authority of our owne gratious Soveraigne so far as the lowable lawes of our Kingdome doe extend it we are sworne in our Covenant heartily to the uttermost of our power to maintaine As for the lawfulnesse The lawfulnesse of defensive Arms of resistance in the present case of our invasion I may not enter in this short postscript in any such question onely ye may if ye please understand that it hath been the tenet of our Church since the reformation it hath been the right and practice of our Kingdome since the first foundation a number of instances thereof are approved in our standing acts of Parliament unrepealed to this day it hath been the practice of all the reformed Churches abroad wherein by Queen Elizabeth King Iames King Charles they have been all allowed and the most of them countenanced with powerfull assistance of men and money Your self cannot deny but in the judgement of reformed Divines resistance in many cases is lawfull even in Kingdomes where the Prince is tyed in the fundamentall lawes by paction to his people That this is the State of the kingdome of Scotland though ye may deny it yet King James who is like to have as great understanding in the rights of the Crowne and Kingdome of Scotland as you or your like gives us assurance that by a fundamentall law the King of Scotland is obliged at his coronation to paction under his great oath the preservation of the established Religion of the Lawes of the Kingdome of the Liberties and priviledges of the Subjects P. 105 In the Coronation our Kings give their oath first to maintaine the Religion presently professed punish al those that should alter or disturbe the profession thereof and next to maintaine the lowable good lawes made by their predecessours lastly to maintain the whole Countrie and every state therein And this oath in the Coronation is the clearest civill fundamentall Law whereby the Kings office is properly defined However we love your ingenuity who doe not dissemble but professe openly your minde that when a faction about a Prince by divine providence is permitted to take courses for the evident overthrow both of the Religion of the Lawes of the Liberties of the goods of the lives and all that is deare to an whole kingdome that in those or any other imaginable cases of tyrannie whole Parliaments may not proceed for their defence one step beyond teares prayers and flight That what ever is done more by whole and consentient nations against a faction of Court misleading the Prince is simplie unlawfull Your scoffes about the questions of Bishops and Elders deserve no answer Our Tenets about bishops and ruling Elders the king hath approved nothing doe we maintaine in them but what the assemblies of our church at our first reformation ordained and was in peaceable practice among us ever till men of your coat by fraudulent and violent wayes for their owne ambition and avarice set up their novations We have no other minde in those questions then the Church of Holland and France All our tenets are so well cleared by that Learned Hollander Gersome Bucerus as none of your partie hath yet beene bold after 22. yeares advisement to make any reply yea we maintaine no more in these questions then that wherewith our gracious Prince by his Commissioner and act of Counsell in our last generall assemblie hath declared himselfe to be well pleased but ye are a
all their hundreth and six glorious Predecessours are endebted before God and the VVorld all their Prerogatives both of nature grace and estate so much as any Princes were ever to their mother church native Countrie CHAP. II. The Canterburians avovved Arminianisme ARminianisme how great and dangerous an innâ—â—ation of the Reformed Religion it is Arminianisme â— great and dangerous innovation oâ— Religion wee m y learne by the late experiences of our neighâ—ours when that weed began to spread among 〈◊〉 The States of Holland have declared in many pâ—ssages of their Dordracen Synod that they found it a more readie meane to overthrow both their Church and State then all the engines Policies armes which the Pope and Spaniard in any bygan time had used â—gainst them The Church of France the other yeare when Amirâ—t and Testard and some few of their Divines were but surmised to incline a little towards some small twigs of one article of Arminius was so affrighted that they rested not till in a generall assembly at Paris they did runne together for the extinguishing of the first sparkes as it were of a common fire When Barrow in Cambridge began to run a little on this rock how careful was my Lord of Canterburie and the Bishops than in the meeting at Lambeth for the crushing of that Cokatrice in the egge when that Serpent againe in the same place began to sett up the nose in the writtes of Thomson how carefull were the Bishops then by the hand of their brother of Salisburie Doctor Abbots to cutt off the head of that monster But what speake wee of the Churches Reformed The very Synagogue of Rome whose conscience is enlarged as the Hell to swallow downe the vileâ—â— morsels of the most lewd errours that Antichrist can present yet did they stick much at this bone when the Iesuite Molina began to draw out these dreggs of Pelagianisme from the long neglected pitts of some obscure Schoolemen what clamours were raised there not onely by Alvarez and his followers but ulso by numbers of Prelates and some great Princes till the credit of the Iesuites in the Court of Rome and the wisedome of the Consistorie prognosticating a new Rent in their Church did procure from the Pope a peremptorie injunction of silence to both sides on all highest paines hoping if the Dominicans mouthes were once stopped that the Iesuites by their familiar arts and silent Policies would at last worke out their intended point which indeed since that time they have well neare by fully gained But to King Charles eye no evidence useth to bee so demonstrative as that which commeth from the learned hand of his blessed Father VVould wee know how gracious a Plant Arminianisme and the dressers of it will prove in England or any where else advise with King Iames King Iames judgement of Arminianisme who after full triall and long consultation about this emergent with the Divines of his Court especially the late archbishop Abbots gave out at last his Decreet in print and that in Latine not onely for a present declaration to the States of Holland of his minde against Vorstius and a cleare Confession of his Faith in those points to the Christian VVorld but above all to remaine a perpetuall Register for his heirs and successours of his faithfull advise if after his death their Kingdomes should be ever in danger to bee pestered with that wicked seed In that treatise his Majestie doth first (a) Declarat contr Vorst pag. 15. Non erubescit ita crasse mentiri ut affirmet haereses libro suo expressas á professione Ecclesiae Anglicanae non dissentire avow all them to be grosse lyers who doe not blush to affirme that any of the Arminian articles even that most plausable one of the Saints apostasie are consonant with the Doctrine or articles of the Church of England (b) Ibid. pag. 12. Gnaviter impudens ferreioris Hee stileth Bertius for such a slander a very impudent and brazen faced man 2. (c) Ibid. pag. 18 Detestandae haereses novitor exortae maturè exstingueÌ„dae ad usque inferos unde manarunt relegandae He pronounceth these Doctrines of Arminius to be heresies lately revived and damnable to the hells from whence they come 3. (d) Ibid. pag 12. Sola inscriptio clamat igni damnandum That Bertius for the very title of his booke The Saints apostacie deserved burning 4. (e) Ibid. pag. 14. Inimicus Deo Arminius cujus discipuli pestes arrogantes haeritici 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sectarij That Aâ—minius and his Schollers were to be reputed pests enemies to God proud schismaticall hereticall Atheists 5. (f) Ibid. pag. 15. A Deo maledictionem apud Ecclesias omnes infamiam in Republicam perpetuam distractionem The great increase of Arminians in Scotland by Canterburies meanes Hee affirmeth that their tolleration would not faile to bring upon the heads of their toleraters let be favourers Gods malediction an evill report slander and infamie with all the Churches abroad and certaine Schisme division and tumults at home Shall wee then make any doubt of King Charles full contentment that we avow Arminianisme to bee such a dangerous innovation in our Religion as the Reformed Churches abroad and his Father at home hath taught us to count it where ever it is found Notwithstanding this bitter roote amongst us was setting up the head of late very boldly in all the prime plâ—ces of our Kingdome wee have had since the reformation many bickerings about the Church government and Ceremonies but in matters of Doctrine never any controversie was knowne till some yeares agoe a favourable aire from the mouth of Doctor Laud at Court began to blow upon these unhappie seeds of Arminius No sooner was those south-winds sensible in our climate but at once in S. Andrews Edinburgh Aberdeen and about Glasgow that weed began to spring amaine Doctour Wederburne in the new Colledge of S. Andrews did stuffe his dictates to the younge Students in Divinitie with these errours This man upon the feares of our Churches censure having fled the Countrie was very tenderly embraced by his Grace at Court and well rewarded with a faire Benefice in England for his labours But to the end his talents should not lye hid although a man very unmeete either for preaching or government hee was at once sent downe to us without knowledge of our Kirk by Canterburies onely favour to be Bishop of Dumblane for this purpose mainly that in the Royall Chappell whereof that Bishop is alwayes Dean hee might in despite of all our Presbyteries weive out the webbe hee had begun in S. Andrews So at once there was erected a society of twentie foure Royall Chapplains who were thought fittest of the whole Cleargie of the Kingdome to be allured with hopes of favour from Court to preach to the State the Deans Armiminian tenets In Edinburgh M. Sydserfe did partly play his part and for the
LADENSIVM ἈΥΤΟΚΑΤΑΚΡΙΣΙS THE CANTERBVRIANS SELF-CONVICTION OR An evident demonstration of the avowed Arminianisme Poperie and tyrannie of that Faction by their owne confessions With a Post-script to the Personate Jesuite Lysimachus Nicanor a prime Canterburian Written in March and printed in April 1640 COR VNVM VIA VNA Summa Capitum THE Preface showeth the unreasonablenesse of this new warre That we have committed nothing against the late pacification That compassion hope and all reason call now for peace at home that at last we may get some order of our enemies abroad That the Canterburian faction deserveâ— not so well of England that armes in their favour ought to be taken against Scotland VVe offer to instruct their insupportable crimes by their owne writs If armes be needlesly taken in so evill a cause they cannot but end in an untimous repentance In this nicke of time very poore wits without presumption may venture to speake even to Parliaments The obstinate silence of the English Divines is prodigious CHAP. I. The delineation of the vvhole subsequent Treatise OUR Adversaries decline to answer our first and chiefe challenge The scope of this writt All our plea is but one cleare syllogisme the Major whereof is the sentence of our Iudge the Minor the confession of our partie the conclusion a cleare and necessary consequence from these two premisses CHAP. II. The Canterburians avovved Arminianisme ARminianisme is a great dangerous innovation of our Religion King Iames his judgment thereof The great increase of Arminianisme in Scotland by Canterburies meanes King Charles his name stolne by Canterburie to the defence of Arminianisme The Irish Church infected with Arminianisme by Canterburie The Canterburians in England teach the first second article of Arminius Why King James stiled Arminians Atheists They teach the third fourth article also the fifth The Arminians in England advanced Their opposites disgraced and persecuted Canterburie and his fellowes contrary to the Kings Proclamation goe on boldly to print let be to preach Arminian tenets A demonstration of Canterburies Arminianisme in the highest degree They make Arminianisme consonant to the articles of England and so not contrary to the Proclamation CHAP. III. The Canterburians professed affection towards the Pope Poperie in grosse ONce they were suspected of Lutheranisme but at last Poperie was found their marke To make way for their designes they cry down the Popes Antichristianisme they are content to have the Popes authoritie set up againe in England Their minde to the Cardinalat They affect much to be joyned with the Church of Rome as shee stands CHAP. IV. The Canterburians Ioyne vvith Rome in her grossest Idolatrie IN the middes of their denyalls yet they avow their giving of religious adoration to the very stock or stone of the altar As much adoration of the Elements they grant as the Papists require In the matter of Images their full agreement with Rome About relicts they agree with Papists They come neere to the invocation of Saints CHAP. V. The Canterburians avovv their embracing of the Popish heresies and grossest errours THey joyne with Rome in setting up traditions in prejudice of Scripture In the doctrine of faith Justification fulfilling of the Law merit they are fully Popish In the doctrine of the Sacraments behold their Poperie They are for the reerection of Monasteries and placing of Monkes and Nunnes therein as of old How neere they approach to Purgatory and prayer for the dead CHAP. VI. Anent their Superstitions FEW of all Romes superstitions are against their stomack They embrace the grossest not onely of their privat but also of their publick superstitions CHAP. II. The Canterburians embrace the Masse it selfe THey cry down so farre as they can all preaching They approve the Masse both for word matter The Scotish Leiturgie is much worse then English Many alterations into the Scotish specially about the offertorie the consecration the sacrifice the Communion CHAP. ULT. The Canterburians maximes of tyranny THE tyrannous usurpation of the Canterburians are as many and heavie as these of the Romish Clergie King Charles hates all tyrannie The Canterburians flatter him in much more power then ever he will take They enable the Prince without advice of the church to doe in all Eccelesiasticall affaires what he thinks meet They give to the King power to doe in the State what ever be will without the advice of his Parliament In no imaginable case they will have the greatest tyrants resisted What they give to Kings is not for any respect they have to Majestie but for their own ambitious covetous ends The Chiefe vvitnesses vvhich in the follovving action are brought into depone WIlliam Laud Arch-bishop of Canterburie in his speech before the Starre-chamber in his relation of his Conference with Iesuite Fisher as it was the last yeare amplified and reprinted by the Kings direction In Andrewes opuscula posthuma set out by him and dedicated to the King B. VVhyte of Eli in his treatise upon the Sabbath and his answer to the lawlesse Dialogue B. Montagu of Chichester in his answer to the gagger in his appeale in his antidiatribae in his apparatus in his origenes B. Hall of Exeter in his ould Religion set out with his owne apologie and the apologies of his Friends M. Chomley and M. Butterfield In his remedie of profanesse Peter Heylen Chaplan in ordinary in his answer to Burton set out as he sayes by the command of authoritie as a full and onely Reply to bee expected against all â—he exceptions which commonly are taken at my Lord of Canterburie his actions in his antidotum Lincolinense subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane D. Pottar Chaplan in ordinary in his charitie mistaken as he prints at the command of authoritie D. Laurence Chaplan in ordinary in his Sermon preached before the King and printed at the command of authoritie D. Pocklingtoune in his Sunday no Sabbath in his Altare Christianum both subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane Christopher Dow in his answer to Burtoune subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane Couzine in his devotions the fourth Edition subscribed by the B. of London my Lord high Treasuror his owne hand Chounaeus in his Collectiones Theologicae dedicated to my Lord of Canterburie and subscribed by his Chaplane Shelfoord in his five pious Sermons printed at Cambridge by the direction of the Vice Chanceler D. Beel set out with a number of Epigrames Latine and English by diverse of the Vniversitie fellowes defended yet still by Heylene and Dow in their bookes which Canterbury hath approven Antonie Stafford in his female glory printed at London and notwithstanding of all the challenges made against it yet still defended by Heylene and Dow in their approven writs William Wats in his Sermon of apostolicall mortification Giles Widowes in his Schismaticall Puritan Edward Boughen in his sermon of order and decencie Mr. Sp. of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge in his sermon of Confession Samuel Hoards in his sermon at the metrapolecall visitation Mr.
Tedders in his sermon at the visitation of the B. of Norwitch all subscribed by the hands of my L. of Canterburies Chaplane Bray Oliver Baker or some others THE PREFACE IT is fallen out much beside our expectation Wee did expect nothing lesse then warre that the storme of warre should now againe begin to blow when we did esteem that the mercy of GOD and justice of our Prince had setled our Land in a firme peace for many generations at least for many daies ever while some appearance of provocation should have arisen from us for the kindling of the wrath of our enraged enemies whose furie though we know well not to be quite extinguished yet we did surely think it would not breake forth in haste in any publick and open flame til some new matter had been furnished or some probable colour of a new quarrell could have beene alleadged against us When we have scattered that cloud of calumnies We have committed nothing that can bee pretended with any goodly colour for the breach of the late pacâ—fication which by their tongues and pens they had spread abroad of our rebellion many other odious crimes when by our frequent supplications informations remonstrances declarations and other writs wee have cleared aboundantly the justice of our cause the innocencie of our proceedings to all the ingenuous minde of the Yle and to so many of our neighbour nations as have beene desirous to cognosce of our affaires when our gracious and just Prince in the very heat of his wrath raised alone by their mis-informations even while armes were in his hand hath beene moved with the unanimous consent of all his English Counsell of all his Commanders and whole armie to acknowledge us good and loyall Subjects And after a full hearing of our cause in his Campe to professe his satisfaction to pronounce us free of those crimes which before were falsely blazed of us to send us all home in peace with the tokens of his favour with the heartie embracement of â—hat armie which came against us for our ruine When we in a generall Assembly of our Church with the knowledge and full consent of his Majesties high Commissioner whole Counsell have justified our opposition to the innovation of our Religion and Lawes by the Prelaâ—es our excommunication of them therefore the renewing of our Covenant and all the rest of our Ecclesiastâ—call proceedings when our States in Parliament were going on in a sweet harmonie to confirme the weaknesses set right the disorders of our Estate that no farther then clear equitie reason law yea the very words of the pacificatorie Edict did permit wheÌ„ our whole people were minding nothing but quietnesse having cast their neckes under the feet of our reconciled king put all their Castles Canons in his hand without any securitie but the royall Word and received heartily all those fugitives who had taken armes in the Prelates cause against their Countrie having no other minde but to sit down with joy gâ—e about our own long neglected businesse praising God and blessing the King The martiall mindes among us panting for languor to be imployed over sea for the honour of the Crowne in spending their bloud against the insolent enemies of his Majesties house While these are our only thoughts It was more then marveilous to us that first the dumbe and obscure whisperings and at once the loud blasts the open threats of a new more terrible and cruell warre then before should come to our eares that our Castles should be filled with straÌ„gers be provided with extra ordinarie victuals and munition as against a present assault or long siege Many of our Nobles tempted to leave our cause numbers of assayes made to breake the unitie of all our Estates and at last our Parliament commanded to arise the Commissioners thereof after a long and wearisome journey to Court for the clearing of some surmised mistakes about moods and formes of proceedings refused presence a Parliament in England indicted as the rumour goeth to perswade that Nation our dearest neighbours with whom our cause is common to imploy their meanes and armes against us that so our old nationall and immortall warres may be renewed to make sport to Prelates a bridge for the Spainyard or French to come over Sea and sit downe masters of the whole Yle when both Nations by mutuall wounds are disabled for defence against the force of an enemie so potent as either France or Spaine are this day of them selves without the assistance which too like shall bee made them by the Papists of the Yle and many more who will not faile to joyne for their owne ends with any apparent victory Wee admire how it is possible that intestine armes without any necessity should be takeÌ„ up at this season Compassion hope and all reason call now for peace at home that at last we may gett some order of our enemies abroad when all the Forces the whole Yle can spare are most earnestly called for by the tears of his Ma. only sister by the bloud long desolation of her most miserable Subjects by the captivitie and banishment of all her hopefull Children Prince Charles lying dayly under the hazard of the French hang man at Paris Prince Robert of the Austrian at Vienne the rest of that royall bloud lying so many yeares with their Mother banished in a strange Countrie Pietie would command us to put up all our homeward quarrels though they were both great and manie let be to forge any where none reall can be found Yea hope would allure us to try now if ever our Armes on those spitefull Nations the hereditary enemies of our Religion and of our Yle when God hath made them contemptible by the cleare successe hee giveth dayly to every one that riseth against them Banier with a wing of the Swedâ—sh Armie dwelling in spite of the Emperour all this yeare in the heart of his Countries a part of Weymers forces with a litle help froÌ„ France triumphing on the Rhene for all that Baviere Culen the Emperour or Spainiard can doe against them That very great and strong Armado all utterly crushed in our eyes by the Hollanders alone without the assistance of any The very French not the best sea men having lately beaten oftener then once the Spanish navies in the Mediterrian Shall we alone sit still for ever shal we send alwayes nought but base contemptible derided Supplications to these intractable Princes shall we feed our selves still with their scornfull promises which so oft wee have found to our great disgrace most false yea rather then to beate them by that aboundance of power which we have if God will give us an heart to imploy it rather then to pull downe those tyrants who have shed rivers of Protestants bloud who hath loÌ„g tred on the persons of our nearest friends and in them on our honour Is it now meet we should choose
the rest to our acerâ—st and sibbest sister of England as it were in a table divers of these errours which our partie first by craft and subtilitie but now by extreame violence of fire and Sword are labouring to bring upon us to the end that our deare Brethren understanding our sufferings in the defence of such a cause may bee the more willing at this time to contribute for our assistance from God the helpe of their earnest Prayers and for ever hereafter to condole with the more hearty compassion any misery which possibly may befall us in such a quarrell All our plea is but one cleare syllogisme Albeit truely our hopes are yet greater then our feares if we could become so happie as once to get our plea but entered before our Prince for we can hardlie conceave what in reason should hinder our full assurance of a favorable decision from that Sacred mouth whose naturall equitie the World knowes in all causes whereof hee is impartially informed since our whole action is â— uâ—ht but one formall argument whereof the Mâ—j r is â—he verdict of our judge the Minor shal be the open and â—â—â—wâ—d Testimonie of our partie need we feare thâ—â— either our judge or partie will bee so irrationall as to vâ—nture upon the denyall of a conclusion whereof both the premisses is their owne open profession Our Major is this The Major thereof VVho ever in the Kings Dominions spreads abroad Poperie or any Doctrine opposite to the Religion and Lawes of the Land now established ought not to bee countenanced but severely punished by the King This Major the King hath made certaine tâ— us in his frequent most solemne asseverations not onely at his coronation both here and in England in his proclamations both here and there (a) Neither shall we ever give way to the authorizing of any tâ—â—ng wherby any innovation many steal or creep into the Church but shall preserve that unitie of doctrine discâ—pline established â—n Q. Elizabeths reign wherby the Church of England have stood flouâ— sâ—ed since Proclam dissolving the Parl of England 1628. and therefore oâ—ce for all we have thought fit to declare and hereby to assure all our good people that we neitâ—er were are nor ever by the grace of God shall bee slained with popish superstition but by the conâ—tarie are resolved to maintain the true Protestant Christian religion already professed within this our ancient Kingdom We neither intend innovation in religion or lawes proclam â—une 8. 1638. to free al our good subjects of tâ—e least suâ—pition of any intent on in us to innovate any thing either in religion or lawes and to sati fie not onely their desires but even their doubts We have discharged c. proclam Septemb 22. 1638. and to give all his Maj. people full assurance that he never intended to admit any alâ—eration or change in the true religoÌ„ pofessed wiâ—â—in this kingdome and that they may be truely and fully satisfied of the realitie of his intentions and integritie of the same his Maj. hath been pleased to require command all his good Subjects to subscribe the confession of Faith formerly signed by his dear Father in anno 1580. and it is his Maj will that this be insert and registrat in the books of Assembly as a testimony to pâ—steritie not only of the sinceritie of his intentions to the said true religion but also of his resolution to maintaine and defend the same and his Subjects in the proâ—ession thereof proclam Decemb. 18. 1638. but also in his late large declaration oftimes giving out his resolution to live and die in the reformed protestant religion opposite to all Poperie to maintaine his established lawes and in nothing to permitt the enervating of them Yea this resolution of the king is so peremptor publickly avowed thâ—t Canterburie himselfe dare not but applaud thereto (b) If any Prelate would labour to bring in the superstitions of the Church of Rome I doe not onely leave him to Gods judgement but if his irreligious falshood can bee discovered also to shame and severe punishment from the State and in any just way no maÌ„s hands should bee sooner against him then mine in his Starre chamber speech who can seeme more foreward then he for the great equitie to punish condignlie all who would but mind to bring in any Poperie in this Isle or assay to make any innovation in Religion or Lawes Wee beleeve indeed that my Lord Canterburie doth but juggle with the world in his fair ambiguous generalities being content to invegh as much against poperie and innovation as we could wish upon hopes ever when it comes to any particular of the grossest poperie we can name by his subtile distinctions and disputations to slide out of our hands But wee are perswaded what ever may be the jugling of sophisticating Bishops yet the magnanimous ingenuitie the royall integritie of our gracious Soveraigne is not compatible with such fraudulent equivocations as to proclaime his detestation of poperie in generals and not thereby to give us a full assurance of his abhorring every particular which all the orthodox Preachers of this Isle since the reformation by Queene Elizabeth and King Iames allowance hath ever condemned as popish errours Our Major then wee trust may be past as unquestionable Wee subjoyne our Minor The Minor But so it is that Canterburie and his dependars men raised and yet maintained by him have openly in their printed bookes without any recantation or punishment to this day spread abroad in all the Kings Dominions doctrines opposite to our Religion and Lawes especially the most points of the grossest poperie In reason all our bickering ought to be here alone This Minor I offer to instruct and that by no other middes then the testimonie of their owne pens If J doe so to the full satisfaction of all who know what are the particular heads of the reformed Religion and what the Tenets of Poperie â—pposite thereto what are the Lawes standing in all the thrâ—e Dominions and what the contrarie maximes of the Turkish Empire wherewith Matchivelists this day every where are labouring to poyson the eares of all Christian Princes for enervating the Lawes and Liberties of their Kingdomes I hope that reason and justice which stand night and day attending on either side of King Charles Throne will not faile to perswade the chearfull embracement of the conclusion The conclusion which followes by a cleare and naturall necessitie from the forenamed premisses to witt that Canterburie and his dependars in all the three Dominions ought not to be countenanced by the King but severally punished Let be that for their pastime a bloodie hazardous warre should be raised in so unseasonable a time for the undoing of that countrie and church which God hath honoured with the birth and baptisme both of his Majesties owne person and of his renowned Father and to the which both of them as
It was the continuall song of all the Bishops and Clergie in England till D. Laud gott absolute credite with the Duke of Buckinghame that the Popes Antichristianisme was an engine of such efficacie as was able of it selfe alone if well manadged to overthrow the wals of Rome For this I give but two witnesses two late English Bishops both of them deponing before all England to King Iames and he accepting their testimonie (a) Caeterum agendo quam nihil agant ambitioso magnorum voluminum apparatu non nisi lituras scribaÌ„t disputatione ista de antichristo liquido constare poterit quia si causam hanc obtinuerimus esse romanum pontificem antichristum de reliquae contraversia dubitandi non erit relictus locus quia de Antichrists doctrina quin pernitiosa sit impia dubitari non potest Abbots of Salisburrie in his dedicatorie Epâ—stle to king Iames before his Treatise of Antichrist Downame of Derry in the first paragraph (b) Illa mihi imprimus questio quae est de antichristo dignissima semper est visa in qua decti determinandi omnes tum ingenij tum industriae nervos contenderent illa enim de veritate quam nos in hac causa singulari Dei benificio tenemus si inter omnes semel conveniret de reliquis statim contraversijs actum esset debellatumque neque aliquid in pâ—sterum periculi fores quemquam â—mnino Christianum cui sua caâ— esset salus detecto jam antichristo agnitoque adhesurum of his booke dedicated also to K. James upon that same subject Notwithstanding my lord of Canterburie For making the way to Rome more smooth spareth not to cause raze downe to the earth this fort Montagu White his non-such divines as we heard them stiled at his Graces direction by his Herauld Heylene will have the kings unanswerable arguments proponed by him even to forraine Princes not onely counted weake but plaine frensies This word doth Featlie cite from their Appeal (c) Pelag. redi v. 2 tab pag. 39. As for the Protestant arguments taken out of the Apocalypse to prove the pope to be the Antichrist Bellarmine calleth them deliramenta dotages And the appealer to show more zeal to the Popes cause straineth further tearmeth them apocalypticall phrensies Christopher Dow is licentiat by Canterburie to affirme that howsoever our Divines at the beginning of the Reformation in the heat of dispute did upbraid the Pope with Antichristianisme yet now that heat being cooled the matter to men in their sober blood appeares doubtfull (d) P. 53. Many learned in our church especially when the greatest heat was stricken betweene us and Rome have affirmed the Pope to be the Antichrist yet to them that calmely and seriously consider it it may not without good reason be disputed as doubtfull his Graces Herauld appointed to speake for his lord by the State doth correct this simple Dow and puts the matter out of all doubt assuring by good scripturall proofe by a text miserablie abused that the Pope is not was not and can not be Antichrist (e) Pag. 128. I have yet one thing more to say to you in this point S. Iohn hath given it for a rule that every spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but is that spirit of Antichrist whereof yee have heard So that unlesse you can make good as I thinke you can not that the pope of Rome confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh you have no reason to conclude that he is that Antichrist And that in this matter there may heereafter betwixt the Canterburians and Rome remaine no shaddow of Controversie their man Shelfoord comes home to Bellarmine well neere in omnibus making Antichrist one single man a Iew preaching formall blasphemies against Christ natures person three yeares and an half killing by his hands Enoch and Elias And least any footsteppe of this beliefe should ever appeare in the church of England Canterburie confesseth that the place of the publicke lyturgie wherein it was imported was changed by his own hand (g) Star-chamber speach pag. 32. the first place is changed thus from Root out that Babylonish and Antichristian sect which say of Ierusalem into this forme of words Root out that Romish and Balylonish sect of them which say This alteration is of so small consequence that it is not worthie the speaking or if there be any thing of moment in it it is answered in the next where the chiefe thing he sayes is that he was commanded to alter it by the King for to remove scandall from the Papists They are conteÌ„t to have the popes authoritie set up again in England This scarre-crow being set aside at once the Pope the Cardinals and all their Religion began to (f) His fifth sermon through the whole looke with a new face Anent the Pope they tell us first (h) Montag antigage pag. 41. Gens abium unaquaeque tandem suas sibi plumas repetendo surtivis coloribus denudatam propriis etiam quod non oportuit improbantque vehementer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 circumcisaÌ„ nudam ridendum exsibilandam corniculaÌ„ exposuerunt that the reformers did him pitifull wrong in spoyling him not only of those things he had usurped but of many priviledges which were his owne by due right and should have beene left to him untouched Againe they will have us to believe that the Sea of Rome was truelie Peters Apostolick chaire that Peter was truelie a Prince among the Apostles that the Pope is (i) Cant. relat of the confes pag. 183 A primacie of order was never denyed to S. Peter that Rome had potentioren principatum then other Churches the Protestants grant and that not only because the Roman Prelate was ordine primus first in order and degree which some one must be to avoide confusion but also c. Ibid. pag. 154. Austen sayeth indeed that in the Church of Rome there did ever flourish the principalitie of an Apostolick Chaire this no man denyes Ibid. pag. 133. No man of learning doubts but the Church of Rome had a powerfull principalitie within its owne patriarchat Montag Antigag pag 51. Damus à Petro ad aetatem Augustini in Ecclesia Romana Apostolicae cathedrae semper viguisse principatum Ibid. pag. 57. Quae ratio erat olim singulorum in suis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Episcoporum eadem erat in provinciis Metrapolitarum in terrarum orbe patriarcharum rectè autem quis negat consultum eratolim cautum per canones vetustae Ecclesiae ut Romanus ille primus nec hoc negatur Episcoporum cui tot per occidentem suffraganei adherebant suam sententiam rogatus adhiberet ubi fides Ecclesiae universalis aut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in rebus ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spectantibus agitabatur quicquid sanciretur suo suffragio confirmaret priusquam
autâ—m dicit author ille tuus dans gloriam Deo 8 That the temporall principalities which the Pope enjoyeth this day in Italie or elswhere are but his just possessions which none ought to invy him (p) Montag antid pag. 95. Habeat ille suas sibi opes facultates fundos habeat latifundia principatum dominium per Ecclesia terras Petri possessiones obtineat dummode contentus vetuctiorum principum liberalitate alienam non invadat possessionem 9. That the restitution of the Popes ancient authority in England and yeelding unto him all the power that this day he hath in Spaine or France would be many wayes advantageous and in nothing prejudiciall to the King (q) Cant. relat pag. 202 Hee that is not blinde may see if hee wil of what little value the popes power in France and Spaine is this day further then to serve the turns of their Kings therewith which they doe to their great advantage 10 The old constitution of the Emperour whereby all the westerne clergie is so farre subjected to the Bishop of Rome that without him they are disabled to make any Ecclesiasticall law and obliged to receave for lawes what he doth enjoyne was very reasonable Yea if the King would be pleased to command all the church men in his dominions to be that far subject to the Pope they would be unreasonable to refuse present obedience (r) Montag antid pag. 156. Quod è codice allegatur Theodosiano decernimus ne quid tam Episcopis Gallicanis quaÌ„ aliarum provinciarum contra consuetudinem veterem liceat sine viri venerabilis Papae urbis alternae authoritate tentare sed illis omnibusque legis loco sit quicquid sanxit sanxeritve sedis apostolicae authoritas Quicquid hic pontifici sayeth Montagow arrogatur id totum edicto debetur Theodosiano vel vetustae consuetudini quicquid autem per rescriptum tribuitur imperatoris ad occidentales credo solos pertinebat nec omnes quibus juxta veterem consuetudinem Pontifex praesidebat ut Patriarcha Decernat imperator de Gâ—rmanis episcopis Rex Angliâ— de Britannis suis Francorum de Gallicanis quod olim Theodosius decrevit dicto erunt omnes obedientes Onely by all meanes my Lord of Canterburies prerogative behoved to bee secured his ancient right to the patriarchat of the whole Isle of Britaine behoved to be made cleare that to his rod the whole clergie of the Isle might submit their shoulders as to their spirituall head and Monarch from whom to Rome there could bee no appeale (Å¿) Cant. relat pag. 171. It is plaine that in these ancient times in the Church government Britaine was neever subject to the Sea of Rome for it was one of the six diocies of the West Empire and had a pâ—â—mat of its own Nay Iohn Capgraw and William Mabinnesburrie tell us that Pope Vrbâ—n the second in the Councel at Bari in Apuleia accounâ—ed my worthie predecessor S. Anselme as his owne Compeer and said Hee was as the patriarch and apostolick of the other world quasi comparem veluti Apostolicum alterius orbis Patriarcham Now the Britains having a primate of their own which is greater then a Metropolitan yea a patriarch if yee wil he could not be appealed from to Rome in any cause which concerned onely the churches of the Kings dominions for in causes more universall of the whole catholicke Church willingly they are contented that the Patriarch of Britaine and all others should submit to their grand Apostolicke father of Rome (t) Montag Antid pag. 57. Rectè cautum erat olim per canones vetustae Ecclesiae ut Romanus ille primus Episcoporum cui tot per occidentem suffraganei adherebant suam sententiam rogatus adhiberet ubi fidei Ecclesiae universalis vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in rebus ad politiam spectantibus agitabatur supra Everie one of these pontificall positions since the midst of Henrie rhe eights raigne would have beene counted in England great paradoxes yet now all of them are avowed by Canterbuerie himself in that verie booke which the last yeare at the Kings direction hee set forth for to satisfie the world anent their suspition of his Poperie or else by D. Montagu in his books yet unrepealed and cleanged of all suspition of Poperie by M. Dow under the seal of his Graces licencing servant This much for the Pope About the Cardinalls they tell us that their office is an high and eminent dignitie in the Church of God Their minde to the Cardinalat for the which their persons are to be handled with great reverence and honour (w) Montag ap pag. 56 Penitere non potuit Baronium eruditissimuÌ„ laboriosissimum virum industriae suae ac deligentiae Cardinalitiame niminde merito quidem suo adeptus suscepit dignitateÌ„ ibid. pag. 75. Virum illustri adeo nominis celebritate eminentissima dignitate coÌ„stitutum honestum probum preterea in vita privata rigidem severum ac tantum non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nusquam nisi honorificentissime compellavi that their office is a reward due to high graces and vertues that some of them though the greatest enemies that ever the reformed Churches have felt such as Baronius that spent all his time in opposing the trueth and advancing Antichristianisme and Barromaeus (x) Pokling Alt. pag. 34. The Linchonshire Minister it his jearing veine flouteth Cardinal Baromaeus whereas if he list to read his life he may not be ignorant that the Cardinall was a man of exemplarie holinesse and spent the greatest part of his life in fasting prayer almes-deeds preaching exhoration and doctrine and did detest both impietie and vanitie both in word and deed Me thinkes his conscience should checke him for his scornfull usage of a man who had the report of so vertuous and pious a Bishop a bloudy persecutor of our religion and one of the fathers of Trent that even such men are so full of grace and pietie that it is a great fault in any protestant to break so much as a jest on their red hattes Where the head and shoulders are so much affected it is hard to restraine charitie from the rest of the bodie These good men vent their passion no lesse towards the bodie of the present Church of Rome then towards the Pope and the Cardinalls Foâ— first his grace avowes over and over againe that the Papists and wee are of one and the same religion They affect much to be joyned with the Church of Rome as shee stands that to speak otherwayes as the Liturgie of England did all King Iames dayes were a matter of very dangerous consequent and therefore he confesseth his helping that part of the liturgie which puts a note of infamie upon the popish religion least that note should fall upon our owne religion which with the popish is but all one (y) Cant. relat p 36 The Church of Rome
Protestants set not up a differeÌ„t ReligioÌ„ for the christian Religion is the same to both but they differ in the same Religion and the difference is in certain grosse corruptions to the very endangering of salvation which each side saith the other is guiltie of Star-chamber speach pag. 36. My second reason is That the learned make but three Religions to have beene of old in the world Paganisme Iudaisme and Christianitie and now they have added a fourth which is Turcisme Now if this ground of theirs be true as it is generally neceived perhaps it will be of dangerous consequence sadly to avow that the popish religion is rebellion though this clause passed in the â—iturgie through inadvertrance in King Iames time this reason well weighed is taken from the very foundation of Religion it selfe ibid. pag. 34. His Majesty expresly commanded mee to make the alteration and to see it printed 2 They will have us to understand though wee the papists differ in some things yet that this very day their is no schisme betwixt papists and Protestants that protestants keep union and communion with the Church of Rome in all things required for the essence of a true Church necessarie for salvation that though they communicate not with some of her doctrines and practices yet this marres not the true union and communion of the two Churches both in faith and charitie That these who passe harder censures upon Rome are but zelots in whom too much zeale hath burnt up all wisedome and charitie (z) Pottar p. 3. 66. Wee darre not communicat with Rome either in her publicke Liturgie which is manifestly polluted with grosse superstition or in these corrupt and ungrounded opinions which she hath added to the faith These make up the poperie but not the Church of Rome In them our communion is dissolved but wee have still a true and reall union with that and all other members of the Church universall in faith and charitie ibid. pag. 74. To depart from the Church of Rome in some doctrines and practices wee had just necessarie cause though the Church of Rome wanted nothing necessarie to salvation There is great difference betwixt shisme from them and reformation of our selfe It is one thing to leave communion with the Church of Rome and another to leave communicating with her erros whosoever professeth himselfe to forsake the communion of any one member of Christs bodie must confesse himself consequently to forsake the whole And therefore wee forsake not Romes communion more nor the body of Christ whereof wee acknowledge the Church of Rome to bee a member though corrupted If any Zelots hath proceeded among us to heavier censures their zeal may bee excused but their charitie and wisedome can not hee iustified Cant. relat p. 192. The Protestants have not left the Church of Rome in her essence but in her errors not in things which constitute a Church but only in such abuses and corruptions which worke toward the dessolution of a Church 3 Thar the points wherein the two Churches doe differ are such as prejudge not the Salvation of either partie that they are not foundamentall and albeit they were so yet the truths that the papists doe maintaine are of force to hinder all the evil that can coÌ„me from their errours (†) Cant. relate pag. 249. The foundation is and remaineth whole in the mids of their superstitions Heylens answere pag. 124. Suppose a great Prelat in the high Commission Court had said openly That wee and the Church of Rome differed not in fundamentalibus yet how commeth this to be an innovation in the doctrine of England For that church telleth us in the 19. article That Rome doth erre in matters of Faith but it hath not told us that she doth erre in fundamentalibus Halls old religion after the beginning It is the charitable profession of zealous Luther that under the poperie there is much Christian good yea all that under the papacie there is true Christianity yea the kernell of Christianitie Neither doe wee censure that Church for what it hath not but for what it hath Fundamentall truth is like the Maronian wine which if it bee mixed with twentie times so much water holds his strength Rome as it is Babylon wee must come out of it but as it is an outward visible Church wee neither did nor would Butterfields Maskell Poperie is poyson but fundâ—mentall truch is an antidot A little quantitie of antidot that is soveraigne will destroy much poyson Pottar pag. 62. The most necessarie and fundamentall truths which constitute a Church are on both sides unquestioned ibid. By fundamentall points of Faith wee understand these prime and capitall doctrines of Religion which make up the holy Catholick Faith which essentially constitutes a true Church and a true Christian The Apostles Creed taken in a Catholicke sense that is as it was further opened in some parts by occasion of emergent heresies in the other catholicke creed of Nice Constantinople Ephesus Chalcedon and Athanasius is said generally by the Scholemen Fathers to comprehend a perfect catalogue of fundamentall truths to imply a full rejection of fundamentall heresies ibid. pag. 109. It semeed to some men of great learning and judgement such as Hooker and Morton that all who professe to love the Lord Iesus are brethren and may be saved though with erros even fundamentall truths to imply a full rejection of fundamentall heresies ibid. p. 109 It seemed to some men of great learning and judgement such as Hooker and Morton that all who professe to love the Lord Iesus are brethren and may be saved though with errors even fundamentall Heretickes doe imbrace the principles of Christianitie and erre only by misconstruction Whereupon their opinions albeit repugnant indeed to Faith yet are held other wise by them and maintained as consonant to the Faith 4 That the popish errours let bee to bee fundamentall are of so small importance as they doe not prejudge either faith hope or charitie let be salvation (a) Cant relat pag. 361 Holcat Non omnis error in his quae fidei sunt est aut infidelitas aut haeresis In things not necessarie though they bee divine truths if about them men differ it is no more then they have done more or lesse in all ages and they may differ and yet preserve that one necessary Faith intire and charitie also if they be so well minded for opinions which flattereth about that one souls saving Faith there are dangerous differences this day Pottar pag. 38. It is a great vanitie to hope or expect that all learned men in this life should absolutely consent in all the particles of the divine truth so long as the Faith once delivered to the Saints and that common faith containing all necessary verities is keeped So long as men walke charitably according to this rule though in other things they be otherwise minded the unitie of the Church is no wise