his action but rather to be charged upon the ignorance that was in him nothing that a man doth being in moral equity and fairness of construction chargeable upon him as his action but onely what his will and as far as his will was consenting unto in the doing of it according to that of the Apostle who is not wont to flatter himself or to extenuate or deny his sinful infirmities at any time Now if I do that which I WOVLD NOT it is NO MORE I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me Rom. 6. 20. Yet further the Ministers of whom we now speak by whom much real good was done to the souls of many in the Nation applyed themselves wholly and intirely to the work of Christ in preaching the Gospel and did not make merchandize of the word of God bywresting or perverting it at any time as if it any where spake to the heart of the Prelatique Interest or recommended any such Officer or Ruler unto the Church of Christ as a Prelate or Bishop in the by-by-sense or high sense of the word or gave him power to obtrude what and what numbers of Ceremonies and Apocryphal prayers and prayers only so called he pleased upon the people of God as well Ministers as others upon severe penalties to be inflicted on those whose Consciences were not wide enough to swallow them Now such Ministers who though having received their Office from Prelates yet shall in the course and work of their Ministry wholly and constantly wave and decline their cause from the one end of it to the other never opening their mouths to cast respects either upon their Office or any thing that hath so much as one lineament of their Image or one letter of their Superscription upon it and instead hereof shall zealously and faithfully preach up Jesus Christ in the glory of all his Offices as the Gospel asserteth and declareth them which consequentially is the preaching down of Prelacy as the bringing in of the Ark of God unto Dagon's Temple was the downfal and destruction of that Idol such Ministers I say that shall quit themselves in the way of their Ministry upon such termes as these do constructively and in effect and with as much advantage to the glory of God and edification of men renounce their Prelatical Ordination as if they should do it more litterally and formally So then all things weighed in the ballance of equity the Ministers unto whom God gave the honour to triumph in Christ as the Apostle's phrase is 2 Cor. 2. 14. and by whom to make manifest the savour of his knowledge amongst the Inhabitants of this Nation were not Ministers of a Prelatical Ordination in any compleat direct or thorough sence of the denomination but only in some such mysterious and obscure notion as that wherein the Beast is termed the Beast which is not and yet is Rev. 17. 8. They that were roundly right down without any abatement or need of explication such have amongst them in matters of true Religion sound knowledge and piety towards God reduced the generality of the Nation to a morsel of Bread All those Idolatrous and Superstitious conceits and practises all that bloody ignorance and prophanesse all that customary boldness in sinning that hatred of goodness and good men which are the nakedness and shame of the Land and render it obnoxious to divine displeasure may justly call this Generation of men either Fathers or Foster Fathers or both Argument V. Many learned and good men have been and many such at this day are very confident that ordination by Bishops in the high sense of the word is regularly founded on the Scriptures yea and that there can be no lawful or true Minister any where created where there is not the hand of such a Bishop to sanctifie the action and to raise it to that worth and dignity that it may be meet to yeild the sacred fruits of a Gospel-Ministry And it is generally known and acknowledged that Ordination of Ministers by Bishops in the upper signification of the word hath been very antiently and for many ages by-past practised in the Church scarce any man questioning or contradicting it Therefore why should the hearing of such ministers be now censured as unlawful Answer This Argument calleth for the consideration of sundry particulars for it's full and due satisfaction Others many have largely and substantially answered all that is pretended and pleaded from the Scripture in the behalf either of the Order or Office of Bishops in the sence of the word lately specified or of their Sole power of Ordination So that as unto these I shall be very cursory and brief chiefly pointing at the heads of some few Considerations whereby it will be made manifest that although all that the Argument saith and pretendeth unto should be granted as true yet all will signifie little or nothing as to the proof of what is intended Therefore 1. Learning is very neer of kin unto knowledge if it be not the same Now knowledge though it be a very useful and commendable endowment yet it hath one bad property which the Apostle himself taketh and giveth notice of 1 Cor. 1. 8. it puffeth up that is it is apt to lift men up into a confident conceit that there is more worth in them than in deed and in truth there is Neither will a very good degree of goodness in the same subject at many turns and in many cases prevent the operation of this evil property upon it Learned and knowing men though good men will too frequently assume more unto themselves than by the assignment of God or good reason cometh to their share The Apostle Paul plainly signifieth that God knew that he would have been exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations vouchsafed unto him if the excessive heat of his propension in this kind had not been corrected and allayed by a Messenger of Sathan sent and given unto him to buffet him 2 Cor. 12. 7. 2. When men of learning and knowledge more than ordinary shall reflect upon their own worth in this kind and hold intelligence with their great parts and abilities as the best of men thus accomplished are apt to do witness the great Apostle Paul himself who told the Corinthians that though he was rude in speech meaning as they thought and talked of him yet not in KNOWLEDGE 2 Cor. 11. 6. See also Eph. 3. 4. especially when they shall be conceited withal that their line of knowledge and understanding is raised higher than really it is which is a weaknesse frequently incident to the strongest of this Geration they are precipitately disposed to presume as our former translation read it or to be wise or to favour as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oft signifieth above that which is written 1 Cor. 4. 6. and so to embrace sometimes and to assert with great confidence such notions and tenents for truths which the Word of Truth diligently
Propositions the sence of one part is to be regulated by and accommodated into the sence and import of the other So then the Apostles meaning in the words before us is not that the preaching of Christ or that which may in a sence be called the preaching of Christ in what way or upon what terms or by what persons soever it should or could be performed would be matter of rejoycing Such a sence as this besides that the words no wayes necessitate unto it but rather lead aside from it as may be shewed presently is inconsistent with what we find in the Scripture elsewhere For when the Devil preached Christ affirming upon his knowledge that he was The Holy One of God Mark 1. 24. Luke 4. 34. And again that he was Christ the Son of God vers 41. The Lord Christ was so far from rejoycing in being thus preached that he rebuked the Preacher and commanded him to hold his peace Luke 4. 35. 41. Mark 1. 25. Thus the Damsel that followed Paul and those with him crying out and saying concerning them These men are the Servants of the Most High God which shew unto us the way of Salvation did in effect and after a sort preach Christ by giving testimony unto those who did truly preach him yet Paul rejoyced not in this her preaching of him but on the contrary was grieved at it as is expresly said Acts 16. 18. They also preached Christ who preached Justification and Salvation by him though not by him alone but in Conjunction with Circumcision and the works of the Law yet neither did Paul rejoyce in his being preached in such a manner or upon such terms Acts 15. 1. Gal. 5. 2. 4. Phil. 3. 2 3. Gal. 5. 12. compared Nor is it like that he would have much rejoyced in his being preached by such persons of whom he prophesieth Acts 20. 20. Grievous Wolves not sparing the Flock Amongst other Characters of persons of whom God himself demandeth What have you to do to declare my Statutes or that you should take my Covenant into your mouth this is one that when they saw a Thief they consented with him Psal 50. 16 18. which in a very Emphatical sence is found in those Preachers whom we judge it unbecoming a good Christian to hear For in accepting their Office of a Ministry from the Hierarchical Lords they consent with them in their sacrilegious robbing the Lord Jesus Christ of that Authority and Honour which God hath judged meet to confer upon him in anointing and appointing him to be the Sole Law giver unto his Churches in things appartaining to the Worship and Service of God as well in things to be practised as in things to be believed But of this we have spoken formerly By what hath been said to the Argument in hand it is sufficiently evident that the Apostle's general expression concerning Christ's being preached every way is to be understood with limitation and consequently that no Argument or Proof for any thing can be drawn from the generality of it 2. In propriety and strictness of speaking Christ cannot be said to be preached by a Prelatical Ministry For only then he may be properly said to be preached when he is preached and set forth like unto himself without any diminution impairment or dis-mantling of his glory and if any person be preached under the name of Christ unto whom any part of that glory is denyed by those who preach him in or by their act of preaching him which is appropriate unto the true Christ the Christ of God it is not this Christ but another an Idol Christ that is preached Now the Ministers we speak of in and by their very act or deed of preaching justifie those who both in words but especially in deeds deny the true Christ to be the Sole Lawgiver unto his Churches as hath been proved which yet is one of the richest and most illustrious and shining Gems in that Crown of Glory which God the Father hath set upon his head and whilst they preach such a Christ as this a Christ who hath no such Prerogative or Royalty belonging to him as a Sole power of Legis-lation unto his Churches but hath weak and sinful men joynt-sharers with him in his Authority in this kind do not preach the true the real Christ the Christ of God as Peter termeth him Luke 9. 20. but a Christ formed in their own imaginations having no existence but here only and in the fancies of their Proselites and is not able to justifie men from their sins nor to save their souls though it is like they ascribe these great things unto him as Idolaters in all Ages have been wont to attribute the great works of God unto their Idols And as Christ is said to APPEAR in Heaven for us Heb. 9. 24. meaning that his very appearance before God considering what he hath done and suffered on our behalf is without any other expression or application of himself unto him as by oral request prostration or the like a most effectual interceding with him for us In like manner the Sole appearance of a Prelatical Minister in the Pulpit to perform the act of preaching it being known and considered how and by what or whose Authority he appears upon such an account here is an interceding or pleading with all that are before him for that Antichristian and lawless power which is blasphemously claim'd and exercised by the great Masters of the Hierchy and consequently against that Most Sacred Prerogative of Christ which giveth him the honour of being the Sole Law-giver unto his Churches And as the Apostle speaketh of some Who in words profess that they know God but in works they deny him Tit. 1. 16. So in case such a Minister as this should in his Doctrine or Sermon affirm Jesus Christ to be the Sole Lawgiver unto his Churches yet in and by his very act of preaching he should deny it 3. and lastly This distribution Whether in pretence or in truth plainly sheweth that the Apostle in his general expression of Christ's being preached every way intended only these two his being preached either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in pretence or as some render it occasinally or in truth Now Christ may be said to be preached 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in pretence when they who preach him are acted and moved hereunto by indirect and unworthy ends and yet would be thought to preach him in truth that is out of a sincere and upright intention and desire to serve God and man in the work And inasmuch as they who preach Christ out of sinister and by-ends may neverthelesse be free from Scandal and from the guilt of any such known Act or Practise whereby Christ is denied in any of the Divine Royalties appropriate to his Kingly Office or annexed to his Mediatory Throne their preaching of Christ if it be according to the true tenor and purport of the Gospel as it may be and as it seems
in the time of Lent than at other seasons The Soul which made the request unto Christ now opened in the latter part of the verse giveth this reason of it For why should I be as one that turneth aside or rather as the former Translation with others read it to or unto the flocks of thy Companions By the flocks of Christ's Companions are meant as some of the best Expositors that I have met with understand the words the Congregations or Assemblies relating to and depending on such Pastors who make themselves Christs Companions or Equals by instituting new formes of divine Worship as well as he Others not much differing from the former by the Companions of Christ here understand forreign or strange Shepherds unrelated unto Christ and having no Communion with him but only in the appearance and appellation of a Shepherd So that the reason why the religious Soul desireth of Christ to be directed unto his feedings in times of Persecution and danger is lest she might otherwise be tempted and through weakness yeeld to fall in with such Assemblies which have Ministers or Shepherds only so called set over them by whom she know that He took no pleasure to feed any of his Sheep But that Christ as hath been said in tempestuous and foul weather when the spirit of the world rageth high against Church-meetings is not wont to feed his Sheep in the champion or open fields where all men use to come but to lead them into by-places or solitudes into inclosed grounds narrow lanes of a long time dis-used or un-occupied under hedg-rows or the like and to feed them here the Scriptures inform us elsewhere When the Woman that brought forth the man-child was persecuted by the Dragon there were given unto her two wings of a great Eagle that she might fly into the wilderness into her place prepared for her of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes the whole time of her persecution Rev. 12. 6. with 13 14. Therefore the Woman that brought forth the Man-child that is the successive body of Saints or true Believers during the times or reign of the Beast is not spiritually fed and nourished in such Assemblies or Congregations which are publickly authorized countenanced or approved by the Beast or by the World which goeth wondring after him Rev. 13. 3. but in those which are retired solitary and private and which neither of them can well brook or bear but that God hideth them The Meetings of Christians for the exercise of their Religion being hateful unto the Jews and which they it seems would not have tolerated amongst them had they had knowledge of them without doing mischief in one kind or other to those that thereby should have provoked them The Apostles themselves by the guidance of the Spirit of God for they were not doubtless led unto it by the wisdom of the flesh the better to secure themselves from their rage when they assembled 1. Made choice of a private house to meet in 2. Of a private time the Evening yea some what late in the Evening as some collect from passages recorded Luke 24. 29. to vers 36. 3. Of as much privacy in that private house as they could well devise for the doors of the room where they were were shut And in this posture of privacy they did enjoy the blessed Presence of Christ Then the same day at Evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them Peace be unto you John 20. 19. We reade of another meeting of Christians for the Worship of God under all the same circumstances of privacy and this doubtless upon the same account I mean for fear of the Jews Acts 12. vers 6 12 13 14. compared This meeting also had Christ in the midst of it in the sence formerly declared for by his Mediation and Interposure their Prayers fetch'd Peter out of a strong Prison with an high hand So again we reade of another religious Meeting of the Apostles together with a considerable number of other Christians in an upper room for the greater privacy and security comers and goers being oft upon occasion and for civility sake brought into one or more of the lower rooms of an house when there is no occasion of their going or carrying up into the higher Besides a continual voice may much more easily be heard and estimated by those that only pass by an house out of alow room then from an high this being more remote and from whence though the sound of a voice may possibly be sometimes heard below yet the articulateness of it being confin'd to a narrower Sphere expireth and is lost by the way And though Dr. Hamond laboureth in the very fire as his manner is when any thing occurs him in his way that seems to frown upon Episcopacy to prove that the upper room here spoken of was not any room in a private house but one of the upper Cambers of the Temple yet he hath so much of a man in him I mean of Ingenuity whereof when a man suffers himself to be dispoyled he is only a man so called as to acknowledge and this twice over for failing that Christians here met did that more privately which could not we may persume be done in the Temple he might have added nor in any Synagogue in any more publick place the Christian Religion being not much favoured that is bitterly hated by the Jews even as the Religious Worship of the true Saints of God amongst us is not much favoured by those that say they are Jews and are not in the sence of these words Rev. 2. 9. And what the Doctor here granteth namely that believing Christians kept their holy Assemblies by and amongst themselves privately for fear of disturbance or mischief in one kind or other from those that hated their way and manner of serving God maketh as much for our purpose as if the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Vpper room which he so wearieth himself to find in the Temple should prove to have been in a private house But whether the word here translated an Vpper room signifieth in this place an upper Chamber in the Temple or no certain I am that Acts 20. 8. it signifieth an upper Chamber in a private house or at least in an house commonly and properly so called where also we find another private Meeting of Christians and Christ in the sence we wot of in the midst of them Elsewhere it signifieth and this twice together as Acts 9. 37. 39. an upper Chamber in a private house but no where at least in the New Testament an upper Chamber in the Temple But this by the way From the tenour and contents of the present Consideration it clearly appeareth that in times of trouble when the Saints are not permitted
but under great dangers or penalties to assemble themselves together for their holy occasions openly Christ is not wont to bless them or do any great things for them in such promiscuous Congregations which are of a worldly complexion and constitution as well Priest as People and which upon this account are publickly countenanced and rejoyced in but his manner and good pleasure hath been in such hard seasons as these to allure them into the Wilderness and there to speak kindly and graciously unto them or to gather them together under his wings privately as a hen gathereth her chickens and so to communicate his heavenly warmth and vivifick influence unto them CONSIDERATION XXI They that keep the Word of Christ's Patience shall be kept by him from the hour of temptation which will come upon others to try them Rev. 3. 10. whereas they deprive themselves of the benefit and blessing of this precious Promise who shall betray forsake or decline this Word By the Word of Christs Patience though it be with some difference yet not great neither understood may with greatest probability as I conceive be meant any Gospel-Truth which is opposed with a strong and high hand in the place where we live and can hardly be owned and professed without suffering or at least without danger of suffering in one degree or other Such a Truth as this may be called The Word of Christ's Patience because he is the occasion by his charge upon men in that behalf why any man suffers for the profession and defence of it at any time or more briefly because it is for his sake that any man in any case whatsoever suffereth for it In a State or Nation professedly Pagan and where Christianity upon what terms soever professed is a reproach unto those that profess it or matter of deeper inconvenience the whole Gospel or Doctrine hereof in general is and may be called The Word of Christ's Patience In Kingdoms or States professing Christianity the Doctrine of the Gospel in general is never this Word because every man here may profess that he believeth this Doctrine in general without exposing himself to any danger of suffering But the Word of Christ's Patience in such Communities of men as these is alwayes some particular considerable and weighty Truth of the Gospel one or more which either plainly and in express words or else constructively and by clear consequence whether in opinion or practice or both is denied or opposed either by the Ruling Powers or by the Ministers and others reputed Learned and Orthodox or by the generality of the People here So that whoever shall keep this Word that is shall discover himself to own such a Truth or shall upon occasion openly plead the cause of it renders himself hereby obnoxious unto the hatred and ill-will of the one and the other and consequently unto all such sufferings both for nature and degree which they shall think meet and please to inflict upon him God permitting them so to do as on the contrary they may be said to let go sell or betray such a Truth and give it up as an Error into the hand of the enemy who being convinced in their consciences that it is a Word or Truth of Christ shall notwithstanding either dissemble or deny it when they ought and are called to give testimony unto it or shall comply with the Adversaries in their opposition to it Now concerning the Promise made by Christ unto those that shall keep the Word of his Patience in the sence given by being kept by him from the hour of temptation which will come or may come at one time or other upon the generality of Christians to try them throughly or with the greatest and forest tryal of all is meant That when other Professors of the Gospel shall in many places be tryed with a bloody persecution whereby they will be brought to this sad exigent either to waste their consciences by denying some manifest Truth or else either to lay down their lives or to undergo somewhat that will be bitter in the next degree to it they shall be kept or preserved from that storm So that this is the Rule of Equity by which Christ declares that he will walk towards those that profess his Name and Gospel They that shal shew themselves loyal faithful unto him in owning any of his Words when they are opposed although their faithfulness in this kind shal expose them unto or bring upon them lighter sufferings only and which are more easie to be born shall notwithstanding upon the account of such their faithfulness be excused or exempted by him from greater tryals and which are unto blood whereas those that shall faulter with him and turn their backs upon any of his Words or Truths when the danger of owning them is but little comparitively shall be in danger of being exposed and left by him unto temptations that are most fiery and grievous and exceeding difficult to be resisted Let us now apply the consideration of these things to the business in hand One of the Words of Christs Patience amongst us at this day and which for weight and moment hath the preheminence amongst some others that may passe under the same denomination is That Christ is not onely the Sovereign or Supream but the sole and onely Law-giver unto his Church and People in matters appertaining to the Worship of God Whether the open asserting and maintaining of this Truth in the terms now expressed and no further or otherwise will create danger or trouble unto any person amongst us or no I cannot affirme But certain I am that both an oral and practical maintaining of it in the right sense and import of the said words is of a threatning concernment amongst us For if the Legis-lative authority in matters of Divine worship and things requisite and necessary at all times and in all places hereunto be vested in Christ alone then they that shall keep own and give testimony unto this word must not consent unto or comply with either in word or deed any model or form of praying any ceremony one or more in or about the worship of God any Church-office for the regulating and ordering of this worship which Christ himself hath not prescribed ordered and appointed but are introduced imposed and commanded under mulcts and penalties by humane power and authority only For any thing by command made necessary in or for the worship and service of God and without which men are not permitted but at their peril to worship him hereby becomes essential to this worship and so somewhat and a part of it Those circumstances which God commanded in relation to any main part of his worship under the Law though they were in themselves considered things indifferent as that the beast to be sacrificed should be killed on the side of the Altar Northward Levit. 1. 11. that the crop and feathers of the fowles sacrificed should be cast besides the Altar on
consulted and well understood absolutely disclaimeth yea and which sober and sound reason it self will not brook There is scarce any age but hath yielded instances more than enough to confirm the truth of this observation The best Records of Antiquity yea the most un-questioned writings of the most learned and devout Fathers themselves proclaim it aloud in which it appears that they did not alwayes build Silver Gold or Precious Stones upon the true foundation but sometimes hey stubble and wood in their stead Neither is the Scripture it self barren of sayings and passages of story which look the same way But my intended brevity forbids me to insist upon Quotations where they may be omitted with as little damage to the cause in hand as they may upon the present occasion and as for those which the works and writings of the Fathers afford upon the account they have been already drawn out and presented unto the world by others Yea who is there but either knoweth or hath heard from those who do know that seldom or never did any error that proved of any dangerous or sad consequence 〈◊〉 up amongst Christians but might call some person of choice parts aâ—â— learning Father The common saying which carrieth a truth in it worthy more consideration than is by many given to it is Nullum est magnum ingenium sine mixtura insaniae There is no great wit but hath a mixture or allay of madness in it So that men of great learning and parts are no infallible Oracles to consult about a dubious opinion whether it be an error or no. 3. The notion conceit or opinion of an Hyper-presbyterian Episcopacy is of such a calculation nature and import that without the assistance of or any monitory suggestion from Sathan it is as apt to breed and to be ingendred between a corrupt ambitious heart and an head rank of wit and learning as the Bull-rush is to grow out of the mire Some indeed have laid the mischievous brat at Sathan's door confidently avouching him by reason of the enormous and even supernatural antipathy in it unto God and true Godliness to be the Father of it But herein they rather flatter than accuse or charge that unhappy parcel of flesh and blood which first gave warmth and formation unto it in the womb of their brain And whereas some expert in the Records of Antiquity carry up the day of the dawning of it upon the Christian world to the year 140 after Christ or thereabouts others seeming as capable as they of the same pretension bring it down to about the year 300 the truth is that though both these calculations of the Nativity of it especially the former give it the oppornity and advantage of a long and specious prescription yet the bewitching complexion of it considered together with the amorous inclinations towards such objects so frequently found in pregnant wits and large endowments which are apt to afford men lively hopes of enjoying them it may rather seem strange that it is not more ancient than either of the dates mentioned will allow it to be and in respect of time nearer to some Apostolical Institution It seem's indeed that even in the dayes of the Apostles there was one whom the Apostle John call's Diotrephes Ep. 3. ver 9. that had an Episcopal Embryo an unform'd conception of a Bishoprick in his heart for he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 loved a Lordly Superiority over or amongst his Christian Brethren but for want of an artificial Head as is probable to give unto this natural conception its specifical and due form it proved an abortion and like the untimely fruit of a woman which never seeth the light of the Sun It is no where found that Diotrephes ever was a formal Bishop although he acted the part of a Bishop in not suffering the writings of an Apostle to take place against his own Interest in the Church John Ep. 3. vers 9. 4. The notion of Episcopacy in the lofty sense of the word being once started though by one person only in the Church and brought into consideration and discourse amongst Christians it was easie to prophesie Plures annabunt thynni cetaria crescent More tunies will come swimming to the bait and that the generality of men whose gifts and parts of learning wit c. were paramount to those of the ordinary sort of their Brethren understanding themselves more capable and likely than others to ascend the Throne of this honour in case it were once built and well setled in the Church would be very diligent and studious in finding out all colourable and plausible pretences to commend such an office unto the people and to perswade them that it would conduce much to their Christian welfare if they did live under it and subject themselves unto it And though there have been many both in ancient and later dayes conscientious and learned that had not the mettal in their foreheads wherewith the Prelatical Advocates amongst us have more generally at least steeled theirs to obtrude the Office we speak of upon the world under the high and indisputable title of Jus Divinum yet were they so far overcome with the enticing sweetness of the morsel as to swallow it as lawful though of humane preparation and contrivance Never did there a dead body or carkass falling on the earth by the scent and favour of it more effectually draw the Eagles together about it than the pleasant notion and conceit of the Episcopal dignity having once been named in the Christian Church allure and engage many persons of eminent gifts and abilities age after age in the maintenance approbation and commendation of it They are not like to speak evil of dignities who live in hope and expectation of enjoying them themselves So that all circumstances duely weighed the great multitude of learned Assertors of the cause of Prelacy is but a slender argument to prove either the goodness or lawfulness of it Who is he saith the Son of Sirach that hath been tryed by Gold and found perfect Ecclus 31. 10. 5. As for the Arguments and Grounds which these learned Disputers commonly levie and urge from the Scriptures to compel the judgments and consciences of men to a submissive and quiet acknowledgement that their high places and functions in the Church are of kin to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 19. 35. The Image which fell down from Jupiter and that they also came from Heaven and are supported by the stately and strong pillar of Jus Divinum the truth is that being weighed in the ballance I do not say of accurate reason but of common sense it self they would be found too leight to balace the floating vessel wherein that proud Lady Episcopacy with all her triobular accoutrements is imbarqued yea and were it not for some poor relief ever and anon brought in from the shattered and sophisticated Records of after ages scarce one decree above ridiculous I shall in few words give
you a taste though not of the letter or words this being a part that cannot be acted but on a larger Stage than we are now upon but of the spirit strength and substance of some of their chief arguings from the Scriptures by which you may give a neer guess how little their longsome dissertations and discourses upon the point signifie From Eph. 4. 8 11 c. they reason to no more purpose than thus Christ when he ascended up on high gave gifts unto men and he gave some Apostles some Pastors and Teachers c. Ergo he gave some Diocesan Bishops But if such Bishops as these were given by Christ at his Ascension why should the Apostle hide them either behind the Apostles or behind his Pastors as if he were ashamed of them For the Great Officers we now speak of are at a great loss amongst which of the Officers expressely named by the Apostle they should seek for their divine Institution or Donation by Christ unto the Church One while when their courage is up they claim high and will needs find their Institution in and together with the Apostles as their Predecessors under whom their Successors also as they plead who they cannot being so affectionately convinc'd through the in-evidence of the thing but presume themselves and all of their Order to be were comprehended in the same Institution with them Otherwhile fearing such a pretence as that to be too obnoxious to the incredulity of all considering and un-ingaged men they fall lower and judge it more passable to take up with Pastors and Teachers and content themselves with part and fellowship with them in their Institution Thus we see our Spiritual Lords wandring up and down to seek a divine Institution for their high Functions and Dignities but it is no marvel if they cannot find that which is not Notwithstanding they knock hard at several other doors for relief but none openeth unto them nay they are all made fast with bars of Iron against them From these words of the Apostle to Timothy 1 Tim. 1. 3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia c. In conjunction with those Lay hands suddenly on no man c. 1 Tim. 5. 22. they conclude Therefore Timothy was made Bishop of Ephesus a Diocesan Bishop by Paul Whereas the express tenour of the words I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus riseth up as it were with manifest indignation against such an inference as might be shewed and proved at large but that this hath been lately done to the stopping of all mouths that have either ingenuity or conscience belonging to them Holy and zealous men in both which qualifications Timothy excelled need no beseeching or exhorting to abide or reside upon their Bishopricks or to attend the cure of souls committed unto them Or if they will understand the place either of Timothie's being made Bishop of Ephesus or of his accepting the Bishoprick hereof being offered unto him by Paul they shall do well and un-like themselves to follow his example and not to be made Bishops until they be sought unto and desired to accept of the honour Besides Timothy was an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4. 5. and so by vertue of his Office had a right of power to do all those Canonical actions as laying on of hands c. which our high assuming Bishops appropriate to their Apocryphal Functions Therefore neither doth this Scripture take any pity at all upon their miserable cause They shew themselves the Sons of impertinency also when they discourse unto us Titus 1. 5. as if this Text had somewhat to say for them the words being only these For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain or rather settle or place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elders in every City as I had appointed thee It is plain from the words that Titus was LEFT not seated or setled in Crete by Paul for such business or such services unto the Churches there which might be dispatched within the space of a few months And that he did not make his abode here many months at least with Paul's consent and that Paul intended to send for him away from hence the winter following or rather before is evident from Chap. 3. vers 12. And from other passages in the writings of this Apostle it appears that being called back by him from Crete he imployed him otherways sending him up and down to several Churches in several Countries upon occasion nor is there the least mention any where found of his returning again unto Crete at any time after nor is there indeed the least probability of it Therefore our Diocesan Advocates vex and trouble this Scripture also as they do several others to no purpose this with all the rest solicited in their cause crying aloud unto them with one voice Depart from us we know you not He that desire further conviction that neither Timothy nor Titus were ever made Bishops in the now-ruling sence of the word may receive it in abundance together with the knowledge of many other things concerning that Generation of men which would much enlighten the darkness of these times by the perusal of a Treatise lately published by Mr. W. Prynne Esquire under the Title of The Vn-Bishoping of Timothy and Titus c. This considered it is no great marvel that learned men more generally who bare good will more than enough to the Prelatical Interest and Cause not onely in a times of a more ancient date but even in latter years also yea within less than 140. years all the Bishops Arch-Bishops Arch-Deacons and Prelatical Clergy themselves in this very Nation esteemed it their wisdom to stick in the inferior tenure of Jus Humanum for the Episcopal Dignity fearing as it seems or however as they had cause to fear that Jus Divinum would be an adversary to it and overthrow it I crave leave upon the occasion before us to acquaint the Reader with a very memorable passage if he hath not heard it formerly of an Arch-Bishop in Scotland who in a Recantation publickly made in the Synod of Fisse Anno. 1591. Professed ex animo from his soul That Bishops and Ministers by God's Word were all equal and the very same That the Hierarchy and Superiority of Bishops over other Ministers hath no foundation at all in the Word of God but was a meer humane Institution long after the Apostles times from whence the Antichristian Papacy of the Bishop of Rome hath both it's rise and progress and that for 500. years la past it hath been the chiefest instrument of persecuting and suppressing the Truth and Saints of God in all Countries and Kingdoms as all Historians manifest The name of this Great Exemplar worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance was if my Author mistakes not Patrick Adamson But even this man though he was at last one of a
thousand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his Repentance yet was he first one also of many thousand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who suffer themselves to be overcome of the tempting splendor of that new-divised worldly thing under an old spiritual name commonly called Bishoprick So that he also beareth witness as well to the truth of the particular in hand acknowledging in effect that the Scriptures are perverted and wrested by those who make them speak either for Bishops or Arch-Bishops as of the particular last proceeding namely that Bishopricks notwithstanding the Scriptures and they be at odds have yet a bewitching property in them to make great Scholars and learned men who are in a capacity of enjoying them excessively in love with them 6. Nor hath it any thing of an argument in it worth the insisting on to prove the lawfulness of attending the Ministry of a Prelatical Clergy that the Professors of Christianity have more generally attended such a Ministry ever since it had a being in the Church which is in our English phrase time out of mind ten times over as is on all hands confessed For 1. It being the counsel of the will of God as we gave knowledge formerly to suffer that plant of bitterness Episcopacy in the Anti-Canonical sense of the word not onely to be planted in the Soil of his Church but to take fast root to thrive and prosper and spread her branches far and neer and bring forth fruit from many Ages before he intended the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that tearing of it up by the roots of which our Saviour prophesieth as the common doom of all plants in the Church which should be planted by men and not by his Heavenly Father Matth. 15. 13. he judged it meet and well comporting with that his counsel to suffer the generality of Christian Professors to be so far deluded by the fair flourishes and enticing pretences of those who designed the setting up of the Episcopal Government over them as to yield their necks unto the yoke and so to conform themselves to all the constitutions and Magisterial injunctions thereof in matters of Religion For unless the multitude of Professors had been both at first and for many after Ages so far bewitched as willingly to bow dow at the feet of this exotique Government it could never have taken that deep rooting in the world which now it hath done nor made so much work for the right hand of Heaven to rid the world fairly and fully of it as now it is like to do For though the compliance of many Kings and Princes and Nobles yea and of many wise and learned men yea and of some worthy and good men also with it were necessary as God esteemeth things necessary in such cases to make the mountain of it so strong as according to his permissive decree it hath been for many ages by-past in many parts of the Christian world and is at this day in many yet had not the generality or main body of Christian people fallen in also and made one and the same shoulder with them to support it it had in Davids comparison been as grass upon the house top which withereth before it groweth up wherewith the mower filleth not his hand nor be that bindeth sheaves his bosome So that the general practice of Christians in receiving their spiritual food from a Prelatical Ministry thought continued for many Generations yet the practisers having all along suffered a spirit of slumber to grow upon them for the tares were sown whilest men slept Matth. 13. 25. and God not judging it meet to awaken them their example signifieth little as to the justification of the practise 2. As the Apostle saith of the poor Gentiles that they were carried away to dumb idols even as they were led 1 Cor. 12. 2. So the truth is the common sort of Christians through an un Christian yea an unman like oscitancy and supiness of spirit have been in all Ages and are at this day exceeding apt to be carried away with Opinions and Tenents even as they were and are led by their Teachers It is a right saying of an Heathen Omnes malumus credere quam judicare There is scarce any of us all but naturally had rather even in matters of a moral and much more in things of a spiritual and religious concernment believe what others whom we can have any pretence or colour to think well of shall commend for truth unto us than put our selves to the labour and travel of a serious and district examination whether it be truth or no. Offendt plerosque limae labor mora to work at the file is both toylsome and tedious and few there be that love it This was observed long since by him that said Many loth to weary themselves with searching out the truth turn in to the errors next at hand Yea it was the saying of one that had been a Teacher of the Romish Faith That had not God raised up and sent Luther amongst them they should have perswaded and brought the people to eat hey So then the Spiritual Guides and Teachers of Christian people having been for may Generations Ministers made such with Prelatical hands and justifying this Ministry before their people as legitimate and approved of God both by their accepting it and by their acting in the vertue and by the authority of it besides all occasional pleadings for it otherwise it is but matter of course as it were that their people should swallow it and make no question about it for conscience sake 3. The peoples attendance upon an Episcopal Ministry anciently and near unto the times when Episcopacy was first conceived and brought forth in the Christian Church was nothing so broadly inconsistent with the Rule of the Gospel as now it is but by many degrees more tollerable and defensible than that attendance upon a Ministry of the same denomination which is in these dayes exhibited unto it The Bishop that now is I mean that is now commonly so called is another kind of creature specifically distinct from those that were so called about the times when the Name in the high signification of the word was first heard in the Christian world For if the best Records of Antiquity signifie any thing the Bishops we speak of at and some while after their first Original were chosen by the people who were to live under their inspection and Government in conjunction with their Ministers So that those Ministers who were made afterwards by these Bishops were in a sence viz. mediately and remotely made by themselves I mean by the people themselves in and by that act of theirs whereby they close their Bishops and gave them power I do not mean a lawful power for such was not in them to give to ordain Ministers for them Now then if they did attend upon Ministers Episcopally ordained upon the tearm specified their example no wayes paralel's no wayes countenceth much lesse
needs not endamage or entrench upon the priviledges of another These Cautions and Conditions observed there is little question but that it is very lawful to attend upon the Gospelexercises of a private person or a man nor ordained in the common sense of the word for the Work of the Ministry or of Preaching Yet this proveth not as was even now briefly shewed that it is in like manner lawful to hear he preachings of a person who hath so far neglected the honour and pleasure of his great Lord and Master CHRIST as to purchase leave and liberty to preach the Gospel of those who have neither power to grant nor power to deny and least of all power to sell any such thing but are intruders upon and usurpers yea and prophaners of the holy Priviledges both of Christ and his People 2. If it be unlawful to hear such Ministers as these as or because they are Prelatically Ordained it cannot be lawful to hear them as gifted men or as persons well qualified in respect of knowledge and utterance to preach the Gospel For it is a general and true Rule That no particular or individual action which is unlawful in respect of any one circumstance can be made lawful by the innocency of never so many circumstances otherwise Nor is there any particular action so broadly unlawful but hath some circumstance haply many lawful enough relating to it according to the saying Malum semper habitat in alieno fundo Evil alwayes dwells in a soyl that is none of its own meaning that it still cleaveth unto somewhat that is naturally good 3. And lastly In case he that thinketh it lawful to hear the Ministers we speak of as men well accomplished with Gifts for the work of Preaching though not as men sinfully ordained should openly and publickly declare and profess that he heareth them only in the former consideration and at no hand in the latter his act in hearing them I conceive would be much more excusable both with God and good men but whether it would be wholly justified hereby I somewhat doubt If a man should bow down to or before an Image although he should never so seriously protest and say that he boweth not down to it or before it as it is silver gold wood stone or the like nor as it is the workmanship of mens hands but only as it putteth him in mind of God I believe this would not make him innocent of the great offence of violating the second Commandment where bowing down to an Image is expresly forbidden for no consideration put by man upon such an action which is a direct breach of any Commandment of God can alter the property of it or cause it to be no such breach Therefore if it be against the mind of God that we should with our presence honour the Teachings of such Ministers who come in this Name unto us from under Prelatical hands it is not our considering them as persons gifted for the Ministry when we do thus honour them that will reconcile our acting in this kind with the mind or will of God how much less if we shall keep this our consideration to our selves and within our own breasts For in this case how shall our weak brother who is offended at our hearing such Ministers come to know but that we hear them upon the worst and most offensive terms of all namely as Preaching by vertue of their Episcopal Ordination and so be offended much more Again How shall the Ministers themselves whom we hear not think but that we hear them as Ministers of Christ rightly Ordained and so be strengthened or hardened in the evil of their way upon a supposal of our concurrence in Judgement with them touching their Ordination and the goodness of the Way by which they have entered into the Ministry if we hear them from time to time without declaring or protesting against their Ordination So that whoever they be that judge it unlawful to hear them as Prelatical Ministers have no reasonable ground to think that they may notwithstanding lawfully hear them as gifted men unless they shall make their tongues the Interpreters of their minds and intentions in the case Neither dare I warrant them that the loudest declaring of themselves in this kind will warrant their practice in hearing them But I really believe that they will find it much cheaper of the two and every way more commodious for them wholly to wave the hearing of the men they wot of than to make any such Declaration FINIS a Socios Christi vocat â—â—bitiosos 〈◊〉 qui 〈◊〉 cultus â—ue ac Chriâ—â—â—s ipse instiâ—â—â—erent 〈◊〉 b Sociorum 〈◊〉 i.e. Paâ—rum 〈◊〉 qui nibil te 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—ecum â—estoris specie appellatione 〈◊〉 in notis locum a Ignosci 〈◊〉 simpliciter 〈◊〉 antibus 〈◊〉 inspiratioâ—â—m vero â—â—velationem â—â—ctam sine igâ—â—rantiae 〈◊〉 peccatur â—ypr Ep. 63. a Mr. W. Prynn Vn-Bishoping of Timothy c. reprinted with adâ—itions Anno. â—661 â— 1 2 3 〈◊〉 after the Postscript a See Mr. W. Prynne Vn-Bishoping c. p. 76. 77. a A Multi raedio investigandae veritatis ad proximos divertunt errores Minut. Felix a Gal. 5. 13. b Gal 5. 13. c Rom. 14. 15. Adverbia necandi ejus cui â—dhibentur contrarium significant Mede 〈◊〉 Apoc. p. 152 a Consideration 19. a Rev. 17. 3 6. b Rev. 13. 11. c Rev. 14. 9. 10. 11. elsewhere the sore displeasure of God is declared threatning-wise against those that shall compoâ—â— with this Beast in his sins Rev. 8. 4. Chap. 19 17 18 2 Thes 2. 12. a 1 Thess 5. 22. b Prov. 23. â—1 Exod. 34. 5 16. Deut. 2. 30. with many other c Rom. 14. 14 23. d See Consideration 2 and 4. a The word Antichrist signifieth as well Christ's Substitute Deputy Vicar or one that acteth in his place or stead as one that is an Adversary or Enemy to him although it be true that he that acteth in his Head exercising such a power which is appropriately his vested in him only is his grand Adversary and must needs be so as might be shewed at large The preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as our best Lexicons inform us most properly signifieth pro vice loco for instead or place of another and is in this sense frequently used in the New Testament Matth 2. 22. Luke 11. 11. Jam. 4. 15. Not is it I verily believe here so much as once used in an adversative 〈◊〉 Yea incomposition it is used in the like signification Acts 18. 2. and elsewhere b 2 Thess 2. 5 6. 1 John 4. 3. * See Consideration 19. b 1 Cor. 14. 40. c Col. 2. 5 d Tit. 1. 5 * Psal 37. 16. a Hosen 4. 10. b Dan. 1 8 12 13 c Psal 98 25 d Numb 21. 5 e Numb 11. 6. f Psa 78 30 g Numb 11. 31. h Numb 11. 33.