no Reformation of thinges if therefore Gods vvorde hath made us happy in overcomminge the dangers of the greater Change should we neglect the yet further Conforminge of things to the vvorde for feate of the danger of the lesser Change I beseech your Majestie therefore that you will so tender the Good of the Church of God as that no feare of the danger of a Change may hinder the yet further conforminge of things to the evidence of the vvill of God as vve fynde it in holy Scripture With which Petition I put an end to theise my Collections out of holy Scripture humbly praying that I may yet further continue this wryting of mync shewing unto your Majestie the evidence of the prevaylinge or not prevaylinge of the Kingdome of heaven amonge your People as the Ministers are good or bad painefull or idle who are allowed in this your Kingdome to possess our Spirituall livings Verily my most gratious Soveraigne who so loveth the prevaylinge of the Kingedome of heaven and desireth the suppression of the Kingedome of Sathan cannot but cherish and rejoice of the industrious Ministers of the Ghospell and be zealous against the negligent and idle Hopinge therefore of your Majesties gratious disposition towards the Kingedome of Heaven and zealous hatred of the Kingedome of Sathan I vvill proceede to shew the Meanes by which the Kingedome of Heaven prevayleth amonge your people petitioninge also your gratious cherishinge and assistinge the same V. CHAP. EXperience hath declared that the Kingedome of Heaven hath increased and Sathans Kingedome decreased by the Ghospells beinge Ministred by Men vvho have an inseazoning of the Spirit of God therefore every childe of the Kingdome of Heaven as he loveth the prevaylinge of the one declyninge of the other Kingedome so he is to love cherish and susteine to his Power such Ministers of the vvorde as have cvidence of an inseazoninge of the Spirit of God The Seripture every vvhere vvitnesseth that the Ministration of the vvord through the Spirit in the Minister is truly that prevaylinge vaylinge Power and effectuall Ministration by which if not onely yet cheifely the Kingedome of Heaven prevalleth the contrary Kingedomes subdued therefore though the vvorde Ministred by a wicked Minister may be of some yet certainely it is not of like Power as vvhen the Spirit of God assisteth the Minister in ministringe the same It is therefore none of the least vertues of a godly King to observe the Ministers of the Ghospell markinge in whose Ministration the Ghospell most prevaileth and in vvhose not the one to cherish as proffitable Ministers the other to reprove as unproffitable Suffer me therefore Dread Soveraigne I humbly pray you to set before your viewe in a breife manner the diverse sorts of Ministers which I fynde in this your Kingdome of ENGLANDE and the diverse effects in your people of their diverse manner of executinge their Ministrations that so it may by the effects and Fruicts appcare vvho be those Ministers vvho cheifely have an evidence of an inseazoninge of the SPIRIT of GOD. Some are admitted Ministers in the Church of Englande vvho neither by the Spirit nor yet of industrious Study cann Preach at all therefore they content themselvs to reade Divine Service onely or at the most to reade some tymes a Homily to their Parishioners Theise vvhen they reade Divine Service you shall fynde them to doe it very irreverently postinge over it also as hastily as they may Also if they reade any Homilyes it is then but seldome and this also in such a manner as plainely shewes that they little tender the peoples in struction If you observe the Speach or Communication of theise out of the Church you shall fynde the same to be vvholy of the vvorid and vvordly things havinge no evidence of Religion or of faith accordinge to the Ghospell Yea you shall fynde the most of theise to be pott companions and this also in the lewdest and most prophane company of the Parrish they are as lascivious as those who have no feare of God their talke also is full of foolish jestinges if not also of ribaldry Looke into the familyes of theise and what shall you fynde verily as little shew of Godliness feare of God or faith as in the most ignorant and prophane familyes of your Kingedome No Morninge or Eveninge Praier scarce Grace before and after meate little or no Readinge of the Scriptures No repetition of Sermons nor any Catechising throughout the yeare As for your People in such Parishes you shall commonly fynde them ignorant in Divine Mysteries necessary to Salvation Careless to knowe them at all Swearers Drinkers Iesters filthy speakers and in a vvord vvithout any Showe of true Godliness save onely that to satisfy the Lawe they resorte on sundaies to the Readinge of Divine Service but there neither caringe to marke oughts for their instruction nor comminge away to be oughts at all bettered in life or conversation In theise Parishes you shall commonly fynde very few if any Bibles no use made of them at home if there be any Nor any religious Dutyes as I said above exercised in their familyes such as are Eveninge Praier Grace before and after Meate Repeatinge of Sermons or Catechisinge Alas what evidence of the Spirit of God in such Pastors vvhat prevayling is here of the Kingdom of heaven Doth not the Kingdome of Sathan rather prevaile in such Parishes verily my Lord and Kinge you shall fynde under such Pastors as now I write of the rudest ignorantest and wickedest of your people therefore my humble petition is that for the betteringe of your people in such places and for removinge a scandall from our Church such unpreachinge Pastors enjoy not vvholy the livings but rather be put to some smale stipend and the residue bestowed on some other who cann Preach the Ghospell I grante that Homily-readinge is not wholy without use in such Parishes but yet no Divines but will confes that skill in a Pastor to divide the worde aright as the Necessityes of the Parishioners requires is much to be preferd unto the same for though Homilyes conteyne excellent and sounde Doctryne and are fraught with Christian precepts yet they are so generall that vvithout a skilfull makinge use of the perticulers in a Homily applyinge things to the present Necessityes of the Paris hioners they cannot proffit the people as doth a skilfull Sermon composed by the Spirit in the Pastor and fitted to the occasions of the tyme and of Persons For in a Pastor in seazoried with the Spirit of God the Spirit assists in his choice in his judgement and directs him secreately to the Doctrynes most proffitable for the people of his Charge therefore a Sermon so disposed is farr to be preferred before a Homily which is penned at random servinge generally for all places and all people a like But when the people feele not their owne ignorance met with nor their owne knowledge confirmd nor their owne Manners reprovd
or commended they acknowledge no Power in that read unto them out of a Homily Neither are Homilyes written to occasion in our Cleargy a Negligence of Study but rather for the help of those onely who cannot Preach soundly at all therefore fart be it from our Church to fetter a Congregation to a Homily reader onely if the tymes affoorde Ministers who cann divide the vvorde of the Ghospell aright Thus having vvritten of one sorte of Ministers I humbly pray that I may proceede to another Other Ministers there are who though they cann and doe Preach vvell yet they preach as seldome as Lawe will permit them Herewithall many of them are loose of life prophane in Conversation Yea they are common pot companions they serve as jesters at great Mens tables and make no conscience of their Speach so as they may gaine a Meales meate in such company of Credit In a vvorde neither commonly in their Conversation nor commonly in their dealings with Men they shew any Signes of a Religious disposition of mynde If you examine their family you shall fynde there as little exercise of religious Dutyes as in those familyes where there is neither faith nor feare of God In such Parishes the voice of the people is That they have a Parson that cann doe well if he would that he is a good fellowe and the like but they cannot commned him either for any painefull Preachinge or for any evidence of Piety And according to his evel disposition and example so you shall commonly fynde the Parishioners to take all liberty in vvickedness so farr fourth as they dare for the Law of your Kingedome Here what faith vvhat Sanctification vvhat feare of God vvhat talke of religious thinges here you may fynde some dusty Bibles in familyes but they serve not for any use all the yeate longe save onely to carry to Church on Sundaies Here scarce in any one family of the Parrrish you shall fynde or Morninge or Eveninge Prayer the whole yeare thorowe here no Repetition of Sermons no Catechising of the family at any tyme yea scarcely Grace before or after meate What evidence here then of the Kingedome of heaven vvhat childe of that Kingedome would not mourne to see here so smale fruicts of the Ghospell If it be obiected that Morninge and Eveninge Praier Readinge the Scriptures Repeatinge of Sermons and Catechisinge of the family are new taxes not laid upon Men by the Ghospell then I answere That theise dutyes are included either expressly or by consequence in the Commandements given us in the Ghospell Moreover because those commonly doe theise things in whom the Ghospell most prevayleth therefore the not doing them servs as a Signe that there the Ghospell prevailes not in people as it ought Lastly seinge every family is a Charge where Parents have Charge of Children and Masters of Servants therefore in every family there ought to be some Religious exercises by which faith and devotion may be furthered Another sorte of Ministers there is who both cann and doe Preach vvell yea and often as every Sabbaoth day once but though of the aboundance of their learninge they leave excellent Sermons with their Parishioners yet what comes of it they care not neither ever looke after its takinge any effect at all And for all their Preachinge yet observe them in their life and conversation and you shal never heare them speake of religious things longer then they are in the Pulpit for abroade all the weeke and yeare after their Parishioners fynde that their talke is wholy of worldly matters so that by true Signes the Parishioners discover them to be wholy worldly mynded Civilly courtious they are but Men may easely see that it springs but from Civility not from Religion Theise love their Parishioners but it is but because they reape Proffit by them not for that they fynde the Ghospell and the Grace of God to prevaile in them If you search into the familyes even of theise you may fynde commonly more store of Bibles and more use also made of them then in the Ministers howses of whom I have before vvritten but yet here you shall fynde the use to bee onely as for a vvearinge out of the tyme with readinge vvhich else they could not at present tell how to pass away Here you may fynde Graces before and after meate generally more civility in the family more showe of Religion also then in the former Ministers howses but yet for Morninge or Eveniuge Praier Repetition of Sermons or Catechisinge you shal hardly fynde theise things the whole yeare thorowe As for the People in such Parishes you shall commonly fynde them better disposed then in the Paris hes whereof before I have written they are commonly more Civill and respective of their life and conversation They resorte with more reverence to the Church and have more store of Bibles then in the Parishes before written of but as for family exercises at home such as are Morninge or Eveninge Praier Readinge the Scriptures at convenient tymes Repeatinge of Sermons or Catechisinge you shall not commonly fynde theise things used throughout the yeare If you search them more narrowly you may fynde indeed some good measure of knowledge of Divine Mysteries but as for faith or Sanctity through the Spirit as for any conversinge of things of faith as for any joy of things hoped for accordinge to the Ghospell of Christe you shall hardly fynde theise things in them no nor Signes of them Here we may thanke God for the evidence of the prevaylinge of the Kingdome of Heaven in this your Kingedome and this by the sight of a sounde Divine Service and Preaching and peoples resortinge to the Church but we cannot here rejoyce of that Kingedomes prevaylinge in the hearts lives and conversations of your people I grante indeede Dread Soveraigne that it is no smale matter that the Ghospell pressed vvith your Royall Lawes prevailes over Lords and inferior Governours of familyes so much as to bringe their familyes to the Church neither indeede is it a smale Power that hath brought even this to pass Moreover if Lords and other Governours of familyes usinge their familyes to the Church doe leave them therewithall to God hopinge that the vvorde preached and Gods Grace accompanyinge the same worketh in their family to make them inwardly good Christians not further using their family publickly to Morning or Evening Praier daily or to a reading of the Scripturs thorow every one his or hir part at convenient tymes or to Repeating of Sermons or to Catechisinge yet we may not doubt but that in every such family there is one or some in whom the worde of God worketh and faith in God groweth in them accordinge hereto and so herethorowe there is in that family a private prayinge and a private reading the Scriptures and private Meditations and selfe-Catechisinges therefore also vve may not condemne or reproach all such families as wherein publiquely the family gathered togeather
Israell and Iudah concerninge this matter of orderinge the Church and secondly takinge occasion therefrom to shevv vvherein or in vvhat needefull perticulers I in all humility crave your Royal Povverfull Assistance I. CHAP. OF David we reade 1. Chron 24 3 That he distributed Zadock of the sonnes of Eleazar and Ahimilech of the sonnes of Ithamar accordinge to their Offices in their Ministration Againe Of Hezekiah we reade 2. Chron 31 2 That he appointed the courses of the Preists and Levits by their turnes euery man accordinge to his office both Preists and Leuits for the burnts Offerings and peace Offerings to Minister and to give thancks to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord. Againe we reade of the same Kinge 2. Chron 24 25 That he appointed also the Levits in the house of the Lord with Cymbals with Viols and with Harps accordinge to the commandement of David and Gad the Kinges Secr and Nathan the Prophet for the commandement noteth this Scripture was by the Hande of the Lord and by the hande of his Prophets Hence vve have evidence that the Kinges Office streatcheth to order the Ecclesiastical Ministers Ministrations accordinge to the Ordinance or Commandement of God therefore Kinges are Gods Ministers to see that such Ecclesiasticall Officers Offices as God ordeyned in the Church be founde in the Church of God vvithin their seuerall Dominions But hovv cann Kinges vnder the Christianity doe this if they have not povver over those in vvhom is the povver of Ordeyninge Ecclesiastical Ministers constreyninge them if neede be to ordeine such Ministers as neede For Ministers must first be before they can be distributed to the seuerall Offices neither can our Kinges distribute Ministers to the seuerall Offices if they have not power over those by whoÌ„ ecclesiastical Ordination is conveyed Vnder the Lawe Ministers vvere propagated by Generatiö vnder the Ghospel they are propagated by Ordination therefore vvhere Ministers vvant to be distributed to due Offices the Kinge is Gods Minister to constreine if neede be the Minister vvho hath povver of Ordination to ordeine Ministers for needefull offices Such ecclesiasticall Ministers therefore as God by his vvoorde preserved in Scripture giues us light vvarrant for that they ought to be in the Church vve may petition your Majestie that they be ordeined and distributed to their appointed Offices if our Cleargy in vvhom is the povver of Ordination be herein negligent True it is that this Church hath bene very happy in its preservinge in the Reformation Arch-Bishops Bishops Preists and Deacons and vve of theise tymes are herein likevvise happy that such are continued in this Church vvith your Majesties gratious allovvance therefore I am not in this Chapter to petition for the ordeyninge of such Ministers That vvhich I petition your Majestie for in this Chapter is 1. That such ecclesiasticall Officers as are wantinge in our Church may be ordeyned in this Church 2. That Paâ—ishes Bishopdomes and Arch Bishopdomes may be conveniently bounded 3. That you continue to free this Church from all forreine and unlaw full ecclesiasticall usurpations Powers THose ecclesiasticall Officers which I accoumpt to wante unto our Church are Lay Elders or Governours in every Parrish Church who with though under the Cleargy in that Church should Governe the Church in that Parrish But because theise are not onely not as yet admitted in this Church but also are by our Cleargy comtemptuously written of and spoaken against therefore I humbly pray that I may first shew by the vvord of God in Scripture that God Orderned such in the Church and secondly that I may answere some questions which may be moved concerning such The Apostle S. Paule 1. Cor. 12 28 saith thus And God hath ordeined some in the Church as first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers then them that doe Miracles after that the guifts of healinge Helpers Governours diversitie of tongues From vvhich Scripture appeares that by Gods Ordinance there vvere in those time Governours in the Church which both were inferior to Teachers and also were not Teachers That they were to be inferior to Teachers appeares in that they are ranked in order farr under Teachers for as Teachers here rancked under Apostles in Order were doubtless inferior to Apostles so theise Governours thus rancked under Teachers in Order were inferior to Teachers And that they were not Teachers may appeare in that verse 29 the Apostle saith Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers for this manner interrogation of the Apostles proves that as all Teachers were not Apostles so those named after Teachers were not Teachers And indeede why saith the Apostle are all Teachers if it miply not that those which follow Teachers were not to be Teachers I conclude therefore from this Scripture that it was Gods owne Ordinance that there should be in the Church a sorte of Governours besides Teachers and which might not be Teachers To this wee may add yet a further evidence for this which we have by another portion of Scripture as 1. Tim. 5 17 where we thus reade The Elders that Rule well are worthie of double Honour specially they that labour in the vvorde and Doctrine Where the Apostle not proceedinge from Teachinge to labouringe in Teachinge but from Rulinge to labouringe in the vvorde this argues undeniably that some for Rulinge vvell onely were worthy of double Honor For when the Apostle saith The Elders that Rule well are vvorthie of double Honour who cann deny double honor to theise if they onely Ruled vvell and Taught not at all Therefore I cannot but conclude that in those times there vvere Governours in the Church who for Rulinge well onely though they laboured not in the vvorde were worthy of double Honor. And indeede if here we should take the construction which some make of this speach wher they say that here the Apostle meanes that all theise Elders are Teachers and that he specially commends some of them for labouringe or taking more paines in the vvorde then others tooke then it would followe first that not for Ruling well onely some were to have double Honor which thing is directly against this Scripture secondly that some Teachers were worthy of double honor for Rulinge well onely though they Taught not at all but this were an error not to be conceaved in the Apostle seing not to Teach but onely Rule is in a Teacher or Preacher of the Ghospell such a Neglect of a very speciall Duty as that such Teacher is worthy rather of Reproofe and Punishment then of double Honor Moreover if the Apostle would have us understande that some Teachers are worthy of double Honor for Rulinge well but specially such as labour more painefully in Teachinge then it had benefit he should have said Those Elders that teach and Rule well are worthy of double Honor specially they that labour in the vvord more then others for verily it is an unfit skippinge from Rulinge to a degree
withholdeth that he might be reveiled in his tyme so indeede it fell out for the Emperors keepinge his Seate at Rome withheld the Bishopp of Romes Reveilinge but the Emperor removinge his Seate to Constantinople this Councill of Nice some few yeares after was assembled where theise huge extents of Iurisdiction beinge confirmed the Bishop of Rome beinge held as Cheife of them this caused his first measure of Reveilinge It is fit therefore that that Councils proceedings be examined whither in oughts God left it to dissent from his sacred Worde Papists usually alleadge that Councill as countenancinge the offeringe up of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Service of the Lords Supper but if this that Councill did then expressly erred it from the Scriptureis nstruction concerninge that Service And how neere it was to forbid Preists the copulation with their vvives vvhich Gods worde commandes 1. Cor 7 3 is well knowen to all that have read the Story of those tymes To this I may add the uncertainety of its Canons seinge they are with such uncertainety brought us by Tradition For all theise reasons I conclude that that Councill is not so to be maintayned in its Ordinances as that the instruction of sacred Scripture is not rather to be followed But who that looketh into the holy Scripture shall not see That Timothy and Titus such as were like them held the highest ordinary Offices in the Church next unto the Apostles themselvs for by the Epistles of Timothy and Titus it is evident that the Apostle set them in Office next himselfe over the Churches that were planted Churches were planted and they had their Officers and Governours but then the Apostle ordeyned theise over them againe and this is manifest in that Titus had Charge over diverse Cityes Whilst therefore there is this evidence for their Office and whilst there is that evidence before noted that our Arch-Bishops succeede them in that Office and vvhilst the Church ever held a cessation of Apostles and the Apostle 1. Cor. 4 9 saith I thinke that God hath set fourth us the last Apostles c We have good reason not to suffer other offices to usurpe Authority over Arch-Bishops or any Arch-Bishopps to be subiugated unto any other Ecclesiasticall Ministration But if we permit the continuance of those huge extents whereof we read then as necessarily many Arch-Bishopdomes yea Patriarchdomes must be comprised therein so the Bishop of that Seate must be advanced over and exercise a Ministration ovet Arch-Bishopps yea over Patriarchs which thinge what is it but both an evertion of the Politie ecclesiasticall which God by his Ordinance Apostles taken away sent the church withall under the Wings of Kinges and Princes and also a bringinge in Superiorityes Throanes and Powers never ordeyned by the Lord As therefore experience hath showen that when an Arch-Bishoprick hath necessarily bene divided then tvvo Arch-Bishops are placed therein without subiugating the one under the other so those antient extents of bounds ought with the increase of the Convertion of people to have bene divided into many Arch-Bishopdomes and this without subiugatinge every of them to the Arch-Bishopp of some one city who by this meanes as he is to take a New Title so also he entereth into a new Ministration never ordeyned by the Lord. If any say hath not every Snccessor right to retayne the bownds of his predecessors jurisdiction I answere yes where there is no prejudice thereby to the Church and to the Ordinances of God but when retayninge the same he must necessarily Rule over them whom God by his Ordinance set next unto Apostles he then subverts the Ordinance of God so longe as he cannot make himselfe an Apostle Neither cann any ones succeedinge in the Seate of an Apostle conferr upon him an Apostles Dignity and Office for this were to make such a one an Apostle but we have good cause to aske of such a one the signes of his Apostleship 2. Cor. 12 12. I conclude therefore that those extents of Iurisdiction which carry with them a bringinge into the Church Powers and Ministrations above that of Arch-Bishops are unlawfull as bringinge into the Church strange Ministrations which have no manner warrant from Gods Worde in Scripture but rather are contrary to the Politie which there God manifesteth to his Church And indeede because of the huge extent of the Pope of Romes jurisdiction we fynde that above Arch Bishopps are Patriarchs as also Cardinalls as now Cardinalls are Popes Legats and a rabble of other who all serve rather as Ministers of this Corruption of Ecclesiastical Politie warranted by God then of the church of the Ghospell For how many are the Officers which the Pope of Rome needeth for to serve him only in the executiō of so large a jurisdictiō as now he exerciseth even so proportionably is it with every Patriarch yea with every Arch-Bisshop when he hath a Iurisdiction so farr extended fourth as that neither he can personally visit conveniently the parts of his Charge nor they of his Charge cann conveniently make Accusatiōs unto him if the Parishional or Episcopal Goverments faile in executiō of Iustice But now seinge God hath given so blessed Testimony to the Reforminge of things by his worde in Scripture why should not such Offices be cut off as superfluous and justly Offensive which exercise any Authority over the Arch-Bishops of the Christian church Should we not thinke that the Lord expects a Reformation even herein aswell as in Doctryne Should not his vvords direction be of power with us aswell in Reforminge errors of Iurisdictions or Powers Offices as in reforminge of Doctrynes Therefore if the Scripture shew that the Offices of Timothy Titus was the highest ordinary Office in the Church after Apostles ceased as beinge in the life tyme of the Apostles next to the Apostles and if there be good evidence that those had under them at the most but Bishopps of Cityes then why should not Arch-Bishopps be acknowledged as Succeeders into their Office and consequently to be the highest ecclesiasticall Officer which God sent the Church with amonge the Nations after his taking away of Apostles If it be said that those who succeeded into the Seates of Timothy or Titus and others like them are Patriarchs not Arch-Bishopps then I demande what Manner Bishops cann any prove that either Timothy or Titus or the next Successors ruled over whither were they Arch-Bishos or onely Bishopps of Cityes Surely the greatest evidence of purest and most antient Tradition is that those of those Seates were first accoumpted but Arch-Bishops and though they seemed to have Charge of a greate circuit of grownde yet where any Arch-Bishop was ordeyned I fynde not any good evidence that they exercised Authority over them also as now Patriarchs doe over them and the Pope over Patriarches As for the extendinge out of Care or seeminge-Charge of the Churches in greate extent we fynde in antient tyme not
onely an affectation but also a reall effectinge of chalenginge the Charge of all those Churches whereunto some Bishop of speciall Accoumpt streatched his Advise Counsalle as if over all to whom Advise and Counsaile is given the giver of Advise Counsalle should have Charge over thē exercise Episcopall Authority If thus the Bishops of those tymes did and some evidence there is that some so did then this is no sufficient warrant for chalenginge of so excessive charges or Iurisdictions as some Patriarchs Arch-Bishops chalenge much less should we admit of such extentions when we see that it is discordant to the Ordinance of God as I have before shewed Moreover if the Councill of Nice approved of such large excessive extents of Care and Iurisdiction in any yet we are to thinke that it but Confirmed that Iurisdiction which they then had but at that tyme the extentions of Inrisdiction were not so large as in after tyme. Had the Pope of Rome then such Iurisdiction as now when no parte of Germany nor other Nations had embraced the faith as since they did Or should we thinke that that Councill subiugated to that Bishop Churches not as then propagated If no then neither by warrant of holy Scripture nor by warrant of that Councill hath that Bisshop any right of Iurisdiction over all the Arch-Bisshopps of all the Christian Nations in the West As for claime as Successor to the Apostle Peter it is strange that he alone should make a claime of succeedinge to an Apostle for where be the other Bishops who claime to succeede to this or that Apostle I fynde none but him of Antioch and that also rather a figment of the Bisshop of Romes then any true claime of that Bishops And as for his claime from Scripture I have elsew here proved it to be directly against that which our Lord commanded to his Apostles Theise things considered I now humbly beseech yoursacred Majestie that as hitherto you have showen great favour to our Cleargy so you will continue to preserve them from any forreine and unlawfull ecclesiasticall Powers which would chalenge Authority over them Princes may doe well to have an eye at the vvisedome and gratious Ordinance of God observinge with what Powers ecclesiasticall he Apostles taken away sent the Church under their wings For surely there cann be no better Politie of ecclesiasticall Goverment for Princes then that which we fynde the Lord to leave in the Church after his takinge away of Apostles Should the Lord send any Officet under the wings of Princes who should streatch his Authority farr further then any Prince cann streatch his vvings of protection Or should one Bishopp be under the vvings of many Princes protections vvhat then if those Princes fall at variance shall the one protect his Adversaries subiecte Therefore I cannot but conclude that as it is not good for the Church so it is also in convenient dangerous for Princes that there be in the church any Ecclesiastical Ministers of huge extents of Iurisdiction such as are some Patriarchs and the Pope of Rome Thus havinge written at large of theise things because our tymes greately neede the so doinge I now close up this Chapter and my notes upon the former Scriptures collected prayinge that I may proceede to other II. CHAP. OF King Hezekias we reade 2 Chron 31 4 That he commanded the people that dwelt in Hierusalem to give a part to the Preists and Levits that they might be in couraged in the Lawe of the Lord And when the Commandement was spread the Children of Israell brought abondaunce of first fruicts of Corne and Wine and Oile and Hony and of all the increase of the Feild and the Tithes of all things brought they aboundantly And Hezekias questioned the Preists and the Levits concerning the Heapes And Azariah the cheife Preist of the house of Zadock answered him and said since the people begann to bringe the Offerings into the house of the Lord we have eaten and have bene satisfied and there is left in aboundannce And Hezekias commaunded to prepare Chambers in the house of the Lord and they prepared them and caried in the first fruicts and the tythes and the dedicate thinges faithfully And over them was Coniah the Levite the cheife and Shimei his brother the second And Core the Sonne of Imnah the Levite Porter toward the east was over the things that were willingely offered unto God to distribute to their Brethren the Oblation of the Lord and the holy things that were consecrate their daily portions Againe of Kinge Iosias we reade 2. Chron 34 8 That he sent Shafan and Maaseiah the Governour of the City and Ioah the Recorder to repaire the house of the Lord. And when they came to Hilkia the high Preist they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God which the Levits that kept the dore had gathered at the hands of Manassch and Ephraim and of all the residue of Israel and of all Iudas and Beniamin and of the inhabitants of Hierusalem And they put it into the hands of them which should doe the worke Againe Exodus 36 3 we reade thus And they received of Moses all the Offeringes which the Children of Israel had brought for the worke of the service of the Sanctuary to make it Also they brought still unto him free Gifts every morninge So all the wise men that wrought all the holy worke came every Man from his worke which they had wrought and spake to Moses saying The people bringe too much and more then enough for the use of the worke which the Lord hath commanded to be made Then Moses gave a Commandement and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the hoste saying Let neither Man nor Woman prepare any more worke for the Oblation of the Sanctuary So the people were staied from Offeringe In theise Scriptures I note theise fower things specially First That the Kinge commanded the People to give to the Maintenance of the Ministers Secondly That Maintenance is for their incouragement to serve in the Ministery Thirdly That the Kinge cared also for the Repairinge of the Churches wherein God was vvors hipped Lastly That when there was a Sufficiency this was to be acknowledged by the Cleargy and the People were to be staied from giving According to which observations I humbly pray that I may petition your sacred Majestie as hereunder shall appeare It beinge the Commandement and Ordinance of God 1. Cor. 9 14 that the Ministers of the Ghospell be maintayned by them to whom they Minister the Ghospell Christians are bounde to fynde them Maintenance if they be not bounde also to maintayne them by Tythes first fruicts free-will Offeringes and the like But where the Manner of doinge is not appointed by God vvhen yet the thinge to be done is appointed there Gods Ministers of Rule and Goverment have Power to appointe the Manner of doinge and none may lawfully except against the Manner which
Musick and vvith the sight of the Stately ordetinge and perfourmance of things but this without caringe at any tyme to vvorshipp God in the Spirit and vvith the understandinge so that they onely stand gazinge thinkinge it a sufficient worshipp if they have but bene there seene Divine Service But as this evell in Gods people cannot but be displeasinge to God so surely if some good order be not taken for redress hereof it cannot but endanger the Lords acceptance of the very Service its selfe for it is not so much the Service vvherein a few vvorship as the vvorship of many in Spirit that he regards Thus havinge vvritten of my first petition I humbly pray that I may proceede to the second If onely Art be heeded in them admitted Ministers in the Divine Service as if so they be skillfull then it matters not what their lives and conversations be then vvhen any prophane or irreligiously disposed Persons are admitted we from experience cann hardly expect other then that their unsanctified Soules will bringe fourth as prophaness in their life and conversation abroade so irreverence and a measure of prophaness in the very execution of their parts in the Divine vvorshipp But when people see irreverence or any measure prophaness in the Ministers it abates their devotion and is no smale Scandall to the Service its selfe Therefore I humbly petition that our Bishops have not care that they reverently perfourme their parts in the Service onely but also that they or the Deanes doe inquire of their life and conversation abroade also out of the Church for if abroade in their howses or common company they be wanton lascivious or prophane no Awe will serve to restreine that in the Service also their disposition breake not fourth upon every little advantage or opportunity to shew the same If therefore our Bishopps and Deanes Inquire after the common life and conversation of such what it is abroade out of the Church if also they inquire whither in their familyes they use or neglect religious Dutyes such as are eveninge Praier at leastwise Grace before after meate readinge the Divine Scriptures Repeatinge of Sermons some tymes and some tymes Chatechisinge then this would Awe them to exercise themselvs to a Holiness of life and conversation Especially if as they shall be founde conformable or disorderly so they shall be admitted or put by the Service Yea it were good that an exhortation were given to all that if any of them knowe any amonge them to be loose and lascivious of Speach prophane in conversation or negligent of religious Dutyes in their familyes they should informe the Bishop or Deane of the same that so the party may be observed as occasion is given be proceeded against Verily it greately endangers the Service both towards God and towards Men when the Ministers of the same are knowen to be wicked Men in their life and conversation for it cannot be but that the Lord should turne his face even from a good Service executed by such if authority allowe such to be Ministers therein as who commonly are knowen to be wicked of life and conversation Neither cann it be but that the people also should take such offence at such as that even the very Service also shall well neere be sorsaken If theise things therefore Dread Soveraigne be carefully seene unto I nothinge doubt but that our Divine Servico now used in our Cathedrall Churches will both be more acceptable to God then heretofore and also more conscionably and religiously then heretosote srequented by your people I may here add the like petition against our Clearkes of Parishes who commonly beinge of the lewdest of the Partish for life and conversation doe also so irreverently unskilfully and unseemely perfourme their Office that the people of God cannot but take offence there at and this to the scandall of the Service its selfe of out Church To conclude my Collections together with my observatiōs upon theise collected Scriptures I now humbly petition that as here it is said That the Kinge and the Princes commanded c so as in your Presence your selfe see to theise things so likewise in places remote from your sacred Presence your Princes and Magistrats by commission from you may have power and Authority to see that Divine Service be celebrated orderly and reverently throughout the Kingedome So vvill our Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall Officers be the more carefull that just cause of reproofe be not given not just cause of your Princes and Magistrates proceeding against any for disorders and unseemely perfourmance of Dutyes THeise Collections most mighty and Dread Soveraigne I have made out of sacred Scripture thereby in some speciall perticulets to shew how Gods Kinges and Princes in that antient Church under the Lawe tooke care of and by their Authority ordered even Ecclesiasticall things also pertayninge to the Divine vvorship and service Hereupon I have adventured to note unto your Majestic diverse weighty perticulers wherein this our Church of Englande needeth the redress of your powerfull hande If therefore you vouchsafe to be assistant unto the Church of God in theise things you shall surely bynde the same unto you to hold your Memory blessed for ever for by orderinge these things you shall both restore the Ordinances of God to his church and dispose rightly the extents of our Cleargy Iurisdictions you shall further the Preachinge of the Ghospel in all places of this Lande and also be the Meanes not of a pompous Service onely but of a Stately Magnificent Holy Proffitable vvorshipp of God Which beinge done it will be no less your Glory that preventinge the abuse of your and your Peoples Bounty by our Cleargy the Cleargy have a large and rich Revenewe togeather with Dignityes and Honors among your Nobles Gentry I neede not here prove from evidence of holy Scripture that Kings and Princes under the Christianity are confirmed by God in the same Offices which the Kinges under the Lawe executed this I shall prove elsew here where I have occasion to write of this subiect to those who as yet are so deluded of Papall leasings that they acknowledge not the same but your Majestie professinge your knowledge hereof and practisinge in your Kingedomes accordinge to such know ledge I neede but to certify of some things only which even to this day neede redress in this our church of England If it be obiected that I move unto Changes that Changes are ever dangerous in Kingedomes I then humbly pray your Majestie to consider that I move to no Changes but such as which the evidence of the will of God in Seripture witnesseth unto And what the Glory of Changes made under the Reformation accordinge to the vvorde of the Lord in Scripture hath bene the whole worlde now seeth your Majestie enjoyeth and inheriteth the Glory and Power of the same Doubtless without a greate Change and the same very strange dangerous we had had
there is not usually holy exercises perfourmed But yet because the very Showe of Godliness is good not onely for an evidence to Pastors of the prevailinge of Gods Grace in their Parishioners but also for examples sake to others as servinge to provoake or incite one family by another in the use of such pious exercises and Showe of Godliness it is very behoovefull that families have their publick holy exercises at convenient seazons Indeede some of those who most use theise pious family exercises make Religion a weariness to their family by so continually drawinge them in every minute of tyme wherein they worke not to theise exercises that they leave no time for their familyes recreation and refreshment by sportinge dancinge usinge exercises of Activity or exercises of danger for animatinge them to valiancy and other like Thus by an extreame a vice growes and this both to the hurte of the family and also to the scandall of the Ghospell of Christe for some erroneously conceavinge that Religion cannot stande with such things they make their Children servants dull and slowe of motion and unsit for the defence of the Kingedome and of the Church and others thinkinge that the Ghospell admits not such things make the Ghospels yoake heavier then the Lord would have it and so make the people take offēce therat Yea som have raised a reproach caused themselvs to be a by-worde through their puttinge the bridle of their owne worde in peoples mouths restreyninge them in thinges which Gods vvorde restreynes them not in such Men doe both themselvs and also the Ghospell wronge The Scriptures declare the Lord not to dislike but rather to approve of sportinges Gen. 26 8 dancings Exod. 15 20 Iudges 11 34 37 and of exercises of Activity Iudges 20 16 1. Chron. 12 2 therefore none ought by a vvorde of their owne to restreyn Gods people in such things Such Men would make conscience to doe as David did who for the rescue of a sheepe would followe after a Beare and after a Lion but this exposinge a Mans selfe to such dangers even upon such causes the Scripture rather approves then condemnes Surely the Scripture commendinge as an Ornament and Honor of Kingedomes that there are Active valiant Men in the same 1. Chron. 12 1 it doth consequently allow of such hazardous exercises as incyte move Men to a valiant exposinge themselvs to dangers therefore the baitinge of Bulls of Beares and huntinge of vvilde Beasts and the like are not to be condemned to be used by Gods people If any evell be done or evell Speach hearde in the usinge of theise things let that indeede be reproved and punished but let not Gods people be debarred from the use of theise lawfull things under pretence that Religion and Holiness will not stande with such thinges Would God that they that use theise things would say and resolve and profess that seinge God is gratious to allowe them to sporte to dance to use exercises for Activity and even unto danger for animatinge of them to valiancy therefore he should not be dishonored by any in the use of them for surely if Gods people did this the Lord would delight in his peoples exercisinge themselvs in theise things True it is Mans corrupt nature is such as that hardly it cann use theise things without takinge Liberty with all both to forget God and also to put away his feare in the tyme of their makinge use of theise things but if Masters of families and publick Governours as also their Pastors would teach them frequently to minde the Lord and to have care in their hearts not to displease him in their usinge theise things as also would be ready to reprove and punish any that should dishonor God in the tyme of the use of theise things then the corruption of nature would be kept downe herein as in other things hereby for the Awe of Goverment changeth the Manners which a depraved Nature is apt to bringe fourth And why should not every one of every family thinke with themselvs that as to doe or say oughts in their sportinges one with another or family with family or neighbours vvith neighbours vvhich vvould displease their Masters and also their Magistrats knewe they thereof were the next way to be deprived of theise Solaces and Refreshments so to displease God is likewise the next way to make him also to deprive them of them and to plague the Land and them Therefore people should use theise things as by Gods permission havinge an Awe of God in their hearts not to permit or doe any thinge in the use of them which is truly a breach of any of Gods Commandements As for the Sabbaoth day vvhereas some use exercises of violence unto Blood such as are baiting of bulls or beares cudgell playinge other like theise though they be lawfull at other tymes yet not on the Sabbaoth more harmeless solaces delights befits the same both for conveniency also for that it is a rest aswell to Beasts as to Men the like I might say for hobby-horses and men in vvomens apparell but this indeede unlawfull vvhich our Maygaimes commonly use for even in indifferent things there may be a fitness not to use them on the Lords Sabbaoth day Theise things I thought good to touch at here because men are apt to erre by an erroneous restreinte aswell as by an erroneous liberty-takinge Againe I finde in those who most use holy and religious dutyes a custome of long prayinge as if they would make a custome or get a Name for great prayinge whereas the Lord doth in Scripture declare himselfe to delight in shorte praiers tendinge to the present occasions of praying vvhich also are fittest for the Spirits attendance thereto and to be made in faith of that praied for There is no truth in praier when the Spirit and faith accompany not the things praied for neither cann they conveniently accompany longe and tedions praiers In Congregations indeede there must be in the Pastor a sence of and praier for publick offences Benefits and the very rehearsing of many perticulers is there truly needefull but in the private family the occasion of the prayinge vvhither it be for the morninge or eveninge is especially to be tendered though som other perticulers for the common wealth may also breifely be remembred Thus have I noted some evells whereinto some the most devoute are apt to fall that so such evells may be prevented but yet if this Care be taken against theise evells it would be very proffitable that every family aparte use its selfe to such Religious Dutyes For for vvant of accoustominge a family hereto vve fynde that Men goinge to church and comminge from thence make that all their Religion for all the vveeke after never thinkinge any more of any thinge learned at the Church nor caringe to doe in the vveeke as they vvere at Church taught to doe vvhereas if at home the family
worde you shall fynde a comforteable shewe of Godliness Here a true evidence of Christian life and conversation Here therefore is indeede an evidence of the inseazoninge and habitation of the Spirit of God both in Pastor and People Here a plaine evidence both of the Kingedome of Heaven in Power and also of the weakeninge if not castinge out of the contrary Kingedome even the Kingedome of Satan Of theise Ministers and Parishes therefore I rejoice and for your gratious favour towards them for their better incouragement in well doing I humbly petition your sacred Majestie in this writing But some and too many of theise are in the number of those whose Ministers are silenced and whose people are reproached with the nick name of Puritanes My Lord and Kinge I petition not that their errors be suffered but this I petition that the Ministers leaving their errors and the people also forsakinge them both Ministers and People may fynde you gratious towards them by restoringe the Ministers to their former Ministration and by acceptinge the people as the Lights of our Lande for Religion There is no Garden where vveedes will not growe neither doe men destroy the Garden for the vveedes sake but rather vveede out the vveedes and preserve the Garden still We may not conceave that none that are true Christians and have the Spirit fal into any errors for Peter had his error Galat. 2 11 and the Churches of Corinth Galatia had their strayinges from the truth vvhen yet neither Peter was silenced but onely the error he fell into withstoode nor those Churches forsaken but onely the vveedes weeded out And it is truly a harde thinge that Mens Ministeryes are wholy suppressed for an error or two in Iudgement whereas rather first they should be but staied from Preachinge such errors and afterwardes upon obstinate persistinge silenced But seinge many of our learned and painefull Divines whose Ministry hath bene very proffitable in this Church of Englande are wholy for some few errors silenced I am now a petitioner that their Ministery may be restored so as they forsake those things which truly are errors in them And for the people I humbly pray that leaving to speake against Lawfull Powers and Offices in the Church and against our Divine Service leaving to condemne Gods people in lawfull things they may be relieved from those scandales which vvicked Men cast upon them Surely Dread Soveraigne theise Congregations vvhere silenced Ministers have bene doe manifestly declare themselvs to be Gods Saincts in your Kingdome yea I have observed that vvhere a Minister conformable to the Ordinances of our Church hath succeeded in the place of a silenced Minister Godliness hath more and more decayed in your People I vvill not say it is the fault of their Conformity God forbid but this I say it is the fault of their not exercisinge like Pastorall dutyes as the silenced Ministers exercised and it is the fault of our Bishops not pressinge them to exercise such but rather leavinge them to a prejudiciall Liberty in Life and Conversation Thus have I my most gratious Soveraigne adventured to set before your viewe the diverse dispositions of your People according to the diversely disposed Ministers set over them I neede not now doubt of your Majesties quick apprehention and discerninge where in your Kingedome the Kingedome of Heaven most prevaileth neither yet where are the best evidencyes of the Spirit of God You have given such Signes of your excellent judgement in theise things that I rather rejoice thereof then infourme you oughts at all True it is that it is not rigour of Punishment no nor Lawes that vvill bring people on to theise holy exercises in their familyes and to this blessed restreinte from ungodly conversation so well as the vvorde of God frequently preached wisely directed by a skilfull Minister Neither is there any expectation that a vvhole People should at an instant be brought to this measure of conformity to the Ghospell of Christe Yet if Parishionall Goverment might accompany Parishionall ministration of the vvorde the people would doubtless the sooner be brought hereunto Not that there should be any violent disgracinge or proceedinge against all that presently are not conformable for this were to provoake untymely the people before the Lords tyme for their conversion be come but that by little and little with Meekeness and Gentleness the Parishionall Governours drawe them on to conforme themselvs to the Rules of the Ghospell But where any family is too obstinate refusinge for longe tyme to exercise therein any religious dutyes there I humbly pray that your Majestie incourage the Parishional Governours to proceede on orderly against such for surely a family that within its self doth wholy neglect all pions exercises is neere unto Atheisme yea though they observe customarily their comminge to Church This if your Majestie vouchsafe to doe you shall surely make your Memoriall blessed for ever even as is the memory of theise good Kinges blessed of whom before I have vvritten If it be obiected that Tradition shews us no evidence that ever at all the Church had such a Goverment by Lay Elders also as which I now press for this is the difficultest Change I petition for then I answere If we receave the Office of Bishops Arch-Bishops because Tradition brings them to us when yet we have not any great vvarrant from Scripture both for Bishops and Arch-Bishopps though indeede for one set over Teachers and Churches we have great evidence shall we not much more receave a Goverment by Lay Elders vvhich hath evidence as I have before showen in Scriptures yea though corrupted Tradition affoorde us no Light for such The Lord hath not given such evidence to a Reformation which hath aymed at the purest Tradition onely as to that which hath aymed to Reforme things by his vvorde in Scripture therefore to Conforme the Offices and Goverment Ecclesiasticall to that vvhich the Scripture gives us Light for is surely most acceptable to God and shall receave the greatest blessinges Therefore I vvill conclude this my vvrytinge first vvith a petition to your Majestie for the admittinge of such a Parishionall Goverment having an eye rather at the Ordinance of God as we fynde it in holy Scripture then at corrupted Tradition and its testimony and authority and secondly with my Praier to God That he give you a hearte to execute his will and establish your Throane in the Church continuinge your flourishinge Kingedomes to your selfe and your posterity for ever For truly our Church prayeth well where it saith Almighty God whose Kingedome is everlastinge and power infinite have mercy upon the whole Congregation and so rule the hearte of thy chosen Servante Iames our Kinge and Governour that he knowinge whose Minister he is may above all things seeke thy honour and glory And that we his Subiects duly consideringe vvhose authority he hath may faithfully serve honour humbly obey him in thee and for thee according to thy blessed vvorde and ordinance through IESUS CHRISTE our Lord. Your Majesties Loyall Subiect THOMAS PROCTOR Faults escaped in the Printinge IN the Tytle of the Booke for consormably reade conformably In the Petition to the Lords of the Parliament page 3. line 1 for Ma â—tie reade Matie And lyne 4â— for off reade of And line 12. for off reade of In the Petition to the Kiuge page 6 line 32 for ordeninge reade orderinge Page 7 line 9 for your Royall Povverfull reade your Royall and Povverfull Page 7. line 15 for burnts Offeringes reade burnte Offeringee Page 8 line 5 for ovet reade over Page 8 line 11 At conveyed conceave that a full point should be Page 9 line 7 for not reade not Line 31 for miply reade imply Page 10 line 7 for rhus reade thus Page 11 line 6 for frow reade from Line 8 at labour conceave a vvantinge Page 12 line 28 for I vvrite reade I vvrite of Page 14. line 3 for Preachers of the Ghospell are may c reade Preachers of the Ghospell may c Page 14 line 6 for vvho preach the Ghospell exempted reade Preach the Ghospell are exempted Page 16 line 35 for Talks reade Talke Page 17 line 29 at City conceave a full pointe vvantinge and in the same line for for reade For. Page 20 line 17 for the Elders Church reade the Elders of the Church Page 34 line 1 for Scripturies reade scriptures for nstruction reade instruction Page 36 line 14 for as superfluous reade as are superfluous Page 38 line 21 for Officet reade Oflicer Page 39 line 28 for Iudas reade Iudah Page 46 line 18 for Lands reade Lande Page 47 line 20 for petion reade petition Page 49 line 18 for of reade off Page 52 line 3 for and made reade have made Page 55 line 2 for but reade both and line 5 for uuto reade unto Page 5 line 17 for also and reade and also Page 60 line 2. for Offeringes reade Offeringe Page 63 line 3. for Childreu reade Children Page 67 line 7 for iu reade in Page 68. line 12 at idle conceave a full pointe vvantinge Page 69 line 3. for Kingedomes reade Kingedome Page 72 line 13 for commned reade commend