his complices be able â—…o 〈◊〉 in any one law of the three Kingdomes that justifiâ—… the subjects against the supreme power in defeÌ„ce of any liberties by their armes Saint Austin and all good Christians were of another minde Iâ—…a a pleâ—…ibus Principes a servis domini ferendi sunt ut sub exercitatione tolerantiae sustineantur â—…emporalia sperentur aeterna Which I therefore cite not as if I tooke it to be the Covenanters case who did and might have continued to enjoy all just liberties withoâ—…t any such defense Yet had they not they should have ponder'd many beter politike maximes among the heathen such as this iâ—… Plutarch cheironâ—…inai monarchias paranomoâ—… polemon emphylion and that of Plinie in his Panegyrike Quanto libertate discordi servientibuâ—… situtilius unum esse cui serviant The other horne of the Bishops dilemma is as sharpe and it need be no sharper then the former The danger whereof makes the Reviewer keep his distance first not daring positavelie to assert the lawfullnesse of taking up armes for religion And then muffling himselfe in his cloake invaine hoping he shall not by this argument de gored unto the quicke His spitting Atheisme in the face of Reason the native image we beare of God will set no wisemeÌ„ on gaping for extraordinarie revelatioÌ„s nor his false translating the Bishops sense into mere apprehensions and uncertaine conceptions make him or theirs of his minde worse then Pagan Sceptikes in Religion His Lordship I beleeve grants no such pâ—…stvlate as the Reviewer seemes to looke for That every Scotish Mas. is a Moses every persecuting Presbyter before Gods judgements have humbled him to his conversion a Saint Paul He conceives their Catechisme or Directorie can passe for no Pentateuch nor Apostolical Epistles and sayth they beg the quâ—…stion that take it to be the Gospell He argues That in asserting the lawfullnes of taking armes they justisie the Independents that supplanted themselves whose new light shines as much like that from Moses's face as they Presbyterians nâ—…w doctrine sounds like the oracles he received in the mount That the Anabaptists in Germanie were no more Enthusiasts then the Anabaptists in Scotland who null the powerfull operation of the sacrament and for ought we know may be nulls in the missionarie power to administer it That Iohn of Leyden his â—…rue could not be more mad then Iohn Knoâ—… and hiâ—… nor could they have lesse reason foâ—… their militarie proceedings His Lordship is so farre from placing the summe of Religion in every simple apprehension that he desires the authoritie of the Chuch should take place of his conceptions untill the truth if different from thaâ—… doctrine which is unlikelie were seald to him by some internal impression of Gods spirit What every man is perswaded in his conscience to be divine truth he would have him praeferre before other mens apprehensions of a contrarie religion Yet if that perswasion be dissonant from what was generallie among the primitive Christians he would not that he should mistake himselfe to have a singular infallibilitie nor a transscendent commission above that of Christ and his Apostles to take armes force all men to his beleefe The most certain truths even these divine ones in religion if His Lordship doth not which I did not aske him I doe thinke to be in many men that praeteÌ„d to that supernatural grace called fayth were uncertaine conceptions or inadvertent praesumptions finding few so considerate of their very principles in Religion as to build them upon any so much as that subordinatie moral certanitiâ—… they might doe with good endeavour fewer live so devoutlie as without it can reasonablie suppose God miraculouslie infuseth his revelatious to assure them Therefore though all the truths of Christian Religion wherein controverted are reveal'd from heaven Yet I thinke we are to looke a great way backe for the persons by and unto whom immediate inspirations being now adayes very rare nor doe we live much like the holie mortified men that were wont to have them of old You know what Saint Maâ—…tin told the Divel when he appear'd arrayed like a King and would be taken for Christ come in triumph upon the earth Ego Christum nisi in â—…o habitu formaque qua passurest nisi 〈◊〉 stigmata proâ—…rentem venisse non credam He would not beleeue â—…im to bâ—… come till he saw him in the habit of his sufferings So when we see you qualified like his disciples wise as Serpents not craftie as foxes harmelesse as doves not rapacious as harpies patient like sheep not ravening like wolves Delivered up to Councels not excommunicating in Synods scourg'd in Synagogueâ—… not disciplining without mercie in your Churches Brought before Governers and Kings for Christs sake not bringing Governers and Kings to mocke-tribunalâ—… for your owne Then tell us of Divine truths the beleefe of Moses and Saint Paulâ—… revelation from hâ—…ven and we will hearken to you as Angels whom now we take to be no beter then the haeretiâ—…es who VinceÌ„t sayth are ranequaedam cyniphes muscae moriâ—…urae such contemptable creatures as croking frogs gnats and dying flies that would buzze what mischiefe you can before you leave us and make the oyntment of the Apothecarie stinke with the corruption of your writings when you are dead The second part of your apologie is most false both thesei kai hypothesâ—…i 1 Because subjects have no armes while the Magistrate is in being to hold the sword put into their hands to defend their religion and liberties how legallie so euer established They have onelie pleas by that law to claime them and petitions of right or aequitie to put up unto the Magistrate to maintaine them 2. If they goe beyond defending themselves in their religion and force others to enter into their league covenant though contrarie to their conscience this is no other thâ—…n planting of religion by armes And if the difference in any point of religion be such as to state the Magistrate in a condition to be put to death by his subjects as it doth in your sense when he joines in worship with Papists Praelates whom you make idolarers and idolatrie death unpardonable this is cutting the throates of all Magistartes And this is maintained to be just and to have the ground of Gods ordinarie judgement by your Patriaâ—…ch Knox. And to be imitated of all those that praeferre the true honour of the true worship and glory of God to the affection of flesh and wicked Princes Your hypothesis is false because the religion and liberties of your Covenant in England were never established by law and what was so established was never usurped by Papists Praelates and Malignantâ—… And if it had been from so good a King redresse had probablie been procured upon just complaint without taking armes To your third I replie That the Bishop gives no judgement makes no mention of the
the Church concernd you aswell to prove as to mention then to have draw'n a parallel of the like flaterie in the Bishop Your doubting argues you ignorant or negligent confirmes my beleefe that you have travail'd as litle in Erastus's doctrines as his wayes gone no farther then the title of his booke What His Lordship asserts about the supremacie of the Civile Magistrate Ecclesiastike jurisdiction derived from thence is but what he all his brethren have sworne to not one of the late Bishops retracted who claim'd Episcopacie by divine righs nor were they at daggers drawing with that horrible word Erastian Caesaro-papisme having a farre more monstrous creature call'd Scoto-Presbytero-Papisme to encounter Our lawes are the same aswell to the latter as the elder Bishops if their subjection to them must be accounted such an errour the next pedlars pack that you open we may looke to finde Christianitie bundell'd up into a sect The Bishop hath more charitie in him then to become an accuser of his friends so much ingenuitie as to heare your sense not onelie speake his owne about their writings which when you bring in any particular instance shewing them to joyne with the most rigid Presbyterians in opposing Erastus about the Magistrates power you may looke for your answer Here the Reviewer I can not say for want of a pare of spectacles for who is more blinde then he that will not see is pleas'd to over looke the whole bodie of the Bishops charge against them instead of quiting himselfe to any purpose recriminates onelie upon other mens scores having as it seemes been very slenderlie acquainted with the late controversies between the Papists us not sounded the depth of the question as it was stated by our later most learned writers particularlie that most glorious martyr the Right Reverend Arch-Bishop of Canterburie with the rational subtile Mr. Chillingworth who between them having clear'd the well of that dirt which defil'd commonlie the fingars of them that went to draw water at it before made the face of truth appeare at the botome to any that came impartiallie to behold it But the Bishop mentioning nothing hearebout I have no authoritie farther to enlarge being oblig'd onelie to put Mr. Baylie in mind that in his next Review he give account to the world Why the Scotish Presbyterie comes not into the harmonie of all Protestants both Lutharans Calvinists who give unto the English Episcopal Church the right hand of fellowship why he his later Brethren out doe their forefathers who durst not condemne her either as defective in any necessarie point of Christian pietie or redundant in any thing that might virtuallie or by consequence overthrow the foundation The Canterburian designe was forged at Edenburgh into a passe for the Scots to come over the borders The Prelatical partie might charitablie wish but never rationallie hope to see all Christian Churches united in truth love so long as the perverse Presbyterie confines all Religion to it selfe For whatsoever the blew caps came in we know when they went out they caried many vvainloades of somevvhat else beside the spoile of the blacke-caps reconciliation vvith Rome so long as such bootie is to be had they want more power then will to set up a new controversie in England But while they are thinking of that I must put them in mind of what we have in hand notwithstanding Mr. Baylies pretense assure him King James who had trouble enough with them makes good upon his owne experience that every nicitie u a fundamental among them every toy takes up as great a dispute as if the Holie Trinitie were question'd ...... De minimis Politiae Ecclesiasticae quaestiunculis tantum excitant turbarum ac si de sacrosancta Trinitate ageretur As touching your answer to the last charge you cunninglie omit what is found in the letter a word at least of approbation to the office of Episcopacie in that Bishops are call'd guides or leaders of Christs flockâ—… wherein a superintendence Prelacie or precedence is own they being Pastorum Pastores for by the flocke there is mean'd the inferiour Ministerie not Laitie otherwise that text of St. Peter is unfitlie applied Feed the flocke of Christ which is committed to your charge caring for it not by constraint e'piscopôuntes mi a'nagkastôs e'piscopôuntes is being Bishops over it where a'nagkastôs must relate to the Ministers who were constrained to weare the cap surplice tippet or else be deprived of all Ecclesiastical function as your Assemblie complaines at the very begining of the letter Yet had they writ no more then you produce had been of the same minde with you now it would follow necessarilie that you acknowledge several members of Antichrist Ministers of the word reverend Pastours brethren of the Kircke Which give me but under your hand in your next My Lord of Derrie I presume will use you as his profess'd brother very kindlie trouble you no more about that businesse I must adde this Mr. Knox as furious otherwise as he was before Queen Elizabeths time when as your Historian relates in his life K. Edward VI. offered him a Bishoprike he refus'd it with a grave severe yet not so severe speach saying the title of Lordship great state had quid commune cum Antichristo somewhat common with Antichrist he sayd not the office of an English Bishop was Antichristian nor his person a limbe of Antichrist himselfe What the same Assemblie sayd or did about the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrewes was in the midst of their freanzie when as by their actions may be judged they had alreadie made good what they threatned were become subjects or slaves to the tyrannie of the Devil Whose title their successours have these last ten yeares renewd payd a greater homage then ever to that Lord. What you suppone is a grant of the question That some 80. yeares agoe the Scots might admit the Proiestant Bishops tolerable in England the law being still the same upon which they are founded if their practice be not which is more then you prove whatsoever it may detract from their persons it derogates no thing from the continuance of their office Neither hath your inspection been so accurate of its nature but that like unskillfull physicians ye have cast away that balme of Gilead whereby the health of the daughter of Gods people must be recovered like ignorant simplers have throw'n over the hedge for a noxious weed that Soveraigne plant which God ordain'd for the perpetual service sanitie of his Church As for those crimes which you mention though you will never be able to make them good against the Reverend Prelates of any the three Kingdomes yet for shame say not for those you got the consent of the King to condemne kill burie in your countrey the sacred order of Episcopacie in
ae comfortlesse discourse about the flockes we once had which now alas are got into other pastures Invite strangers to fight for our Churches while our owne Congregations are instituted to forget the holinesse in the separation of such places the sacred distance of the meanest from worke-or ware-houses and the fairest from Piatz'as of pleasure or Exchanges for their bargaines If what I speake My Lord be truth I shall not hearken to them that may tell me it is misse placed my conscience suggesting that the climate season hath too often been heretofore neglected If false I have a spunge as readie as ever I had a pinne to wipe out all but my shame which shall be set forth at your Lordships pleasure in an English sheet though it never will be brought unto the Scotish stoole to do its penance In attendance on which sentence if neither your Lordships approbation nor pardon must be expected I stoup downe to acknowledge my selfe aswell in submission to your censure as execution of your commands MY LORD Your Lordships Most humblie devoted servant RI WATSON D. Hieron Praefat. in Lib. Esdr. Legant qui volunt qâ—…i nolunt abjiciant Horat. quae nivali pascitur Algidâ—… Devota quercus inter ilices Aut crescit Albanis in herbis Victima Pontificum secures Cervice tinget Dr. Creighton ' s Letter My dear Friend Brother and Fellow-sufferer Mr. Watson I Thank you for the confidence you reposed in my integrity and affection to your self and your cause that you would permit me to read your Treatise in â—…heets before it went to the press which I found so well digested in method so full of ingenuity 〈◊〉 variety of Learning so perspicuous acute and elegant that I should seem to derogate from your worth if I added ought to the commendations of your writing I may boldly say you have laid your Adversary flat on his back you have drest him to the purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Greek proverb runs in Suidas When they have caught the Polypus they ply him with bastinadoes cudgel his dissembling coat lustily to make him taâ—…e feed and grow fat Yet I am afraid your Noble Instructions will produce no great effect upon that man Parce labori Nicopompe non ignorant se errare nec moniti emendationem promittunt saith Antenorius to the Author of Argenis in that Book You might have spared your pains good Mr. Watson they know they are wrong as well as you can tell them but all the earth shall never make them confess an errour or amend it And you 'le pardon me that I quote Argenis in so weighty a cause Similes labra lactucas they are more fabulous and greater liars then Argenis and some sleight prating finical Nicopompus I hold a far more proper Antagonist to deal with these men then you or any learned grave Divine For they will say what they please and maintain what they say not by strength of reason but by wilfulness hate malice revenge and blood Crede aut jugâ—…lum dabis is their motto Believe or I 'le cut thy throat And were those holy aud primitive Saints now alive and did read the practises of those men compared with the innocent passages of Argenis that draw no bloud they would infinitely far prefer that airy well-penn'd Fancy before the Acts of their Assemblies nay even in point of truth And perhaps posterity after a while may be brought to the same degree of understanding and judgement They are a perverse generation and you have took a Wolf by the ears which you must make account to hold till dooms-day you must never hope to be free from Bailey's replies and janglings They are like the Indian Dogs in Strabo presented to Alexander the Great so fierce and pertinacious that when they once catch hold Archimedes's Instrument will hardly pull them off 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they will stick and tear till their eyes turn round in their eye-holes or sockets and drop out of their heads And I never yet knew any man go beyond your Adversary Bailey in stiâ—…ness pride and arrogance It is much about a dozen years since he first published his Canterburian self-conviction The man had seen some Visions in Trophonius's Den raptures and embryo's of his own addled brain and out he comes to vent them like Aesop's Ass jetting in purple He was now high set in pursuit of same and like a valiant Combatant he enters the field brandishes his sword and looks about whom he may dare to take up the bucklers against him and scorning to cope with a Pigmee he challenges no less men then my Lord's Grace of Canterbury and all the Learned Divines of England and much grieved he was in mind that my Lord's Grace himself would not vouchsafe him the honour to confute him as if a skie-towring Eagle or Gyre-falcon should have stoopt to a Kite or Carrion I dare say the least line of that incomparable profound Conference with Fisher written by that peerless glorious Martyr for the Church of England is of more weight and worth then all that ever Bailey did or shall compose to the worlds end could he live Methusalem's age over and over and spew out yearly whole Vaticans of Books And you may see Sir to your comfort he is no changeling He is Crimson died in grain Hyaena follicat non mutat pellem the Hyaena will double and falter this way and that yet still continue an Hyaena He had done with my Lord's Grace of Canterbury long ago and it was time when he and his complices had brought him to a scaffold But no sooner had my Lord of London-Derry appeared in publick though with some short avisoes to beware their villanies but Bailey will have at him Who but Baily the great Kill-cow of the North that unappall'd Champion that Goliath of brass that confounder of Bishops in England Scotland and Ireland He startles and stares about at the very name of a Bishop reels frets and fumes it is more odious to him then a Turkish Mufti it rides him like an Incubus or Night-mare he cannot rest or sleep for it I could not choose but smile though with much indignation to mark his saucy impertinent haughtiness In the very Frontispice of his Book how unreverently he calls my Lord Bishop Dr. Bramble Late Bishop as if his Lordship were not now what before he was as if his Order could be cancelled by popular suffrages â—…s the waspish Puritan thinks fit to rise in Arms and teach their mis-led rabble to cry No Bishops no Bishops as if they could be pulled down and set up at mens pleasure as in King Iames's minority like a Weather-cock in the wind to wave on the loose hinges of State-Interests to rise and fall with ebbs and tides of popular insurrections Dr. Bramble late Bishop How late Bailey What hath the Bramble scratcht you by the face that you so wilfully mistake his name You impudence And who made you Priest
perpetuitie becoming very efficacious in imposing fallacies upon the understanding so that he which doth ill may hereby be aswell perswaded that what he doth is good as he that often tells a lie hath at length himselfe believ'dit to be a truth His rigid adhaerence to the praetended rights priviledges of his Countrey being professed haereditarie takes off some what from the personal imputation yet with all demonstrates that it is not all bloud Royal which runnes in His Lordships veines nor it may be all bloud Noble having so ample testimonie from him who had allwayes some dregs of the Common shoare in his inke whose power is cankerd with envious invectives against them that have not layd their honour in the vulgar dust levell'd Majestie as well as Nobilitie with the people Whose Ghost will not thanke the Reviewer for calling him Prince of Historians being so litle enamourd with titles of that nature that he accounted them where they were more properlie due the filth of flaterie the plague of all legitimate praerogative His exemplarie practice in publike-private duties is indeed some what singular my selfe having seen him very zealouslie penning downe such slender to omit what I might call in the Reviewers language praeter anti-scripturall divinitie as was not fitting for any Novice or Catechumen in Religion to owne much lesse for so grave a Theologue to preach so well exerciz'd an adultist to register for his use I commend beter the exemplarie practice of the Reviewers brother Presbyter who seem'd to take a sound nap in the meane time hoping it may be to be better inspired in his dreame This potent Lord thus qualified brought up to his hand I can not blame Mr. Baylie for chusing him to be his patron who discernes with his eyes decernes by his dictates who being judge partie both will quaestionlesse doe right like a Lord Justice in the businesse The praejudice the Reviewer would here at first cast upon the person of the Bishop will advance his owne reputation but a litle in high way Rhetorike not advantage him one whit with any of those judicious aequitable comparers he expects who being able to instruct themselves upon these many late yeares experience that what Mr. Baylie calls that Church Kingdome is onely a praevalent partie of Schismatikes Rebells what adhaerence to the sacred truth of God an obstinate perseverance in an execrable covenant which hath tied up the hands of many a poor subject from the enjoyment of all the just liberties the established Iawes of Scotland hold out to him will looke upon the Bishop as a couragious assertour of Gods truth the Churches puritie the Kings supremacie the subjects libertie if for that condemned by an unanimous faction in both Kingdomes will commend his zeale reverence his name and ranke him with the prime Fathers of the Church who so soon endeavoured to stop that deluge of miserie wherewith Britanie Ireland have been most unhapilie overwhelmed For the dirtie language he useth here otherwhere extreme sawcie spirit stigmatiz'd incendiarie c. I desire the Reader to take notice I shall sweep it out of his my way yet if he thinkes it may serve his turne as well as the garlike heads did Cario his master in the Comoedie the Printers boy shall throw it by itselfe at the backe side of my replie in a piece of white paper that he may not fowle his fingers What the Reviewer calls Boldnesse was prudence seasonable caution in the Bishop to praesent his booke to the eminent personages in this place observing the indefatigable industrie of Mr. Baylie his brethren of the mission very frequentlie in their persons perpetuallie by many subtile active instruments they imploy'd before after their coming hither insinuating into the hearts affections of all people here of what sexe or condition soever in Courts Townes Vniversities Countrey praepossessing them with the Justice of their cause the innocencie of their proceedings the moderation of their demands the conformitie of their practice designe to the praesent discipline Government of the Church presbyterie in these Provinces And great pitie it is that all people nations languages have it not translated into their owne dialect that a discoverie of this grand imposture may be made to them who are so insolentlie summon'd to fall downe worship this wooden idol of the discipline threatned the aeternal fierie furnace if they refuse it In the next Paragraph the Reviewer drawes Cerberus like his threeheaded monster out of hell Discipline Covenant unkindne's to our late soveraigne Novos Resumit animos victus vastas furens Quassat catenas HIs Apologie for the first being the conformitie I mentioned principally with the Brethren of Holland France whom he would very faine flater into his partie make the Bishop whether he will or no fall foule upon them whom His Lordship hath scarce mentioned in all his tract And I having no reason nor desire to enlarge the breach shall say no more then this because some what he will have sayd That if their discipline harmoniouslie be the same particularlie in those extravagancies His Lordship mentions which to my knowledge they denie for alleging which they are litle beholding to Mr. Baylie they are all alike concerned yet having as learned Apologists of their owne when they finde themselves agriev'd will in their owne case very likely speake their pleasure In the interim I must require his instance where any Reformed Church hath declared regular Episcopacie which we call Apostolical Antichristian What particular persons of Mr. Baylies temper may have publish'd must not passe for an Ecclesiastical decree And if all even in those Churches he mentions might freelie speake their minde I believe that order would have their Christian approbation as it is in any reformed Countreys established some such relation was made not long since about certain Divines of the Religion in France some that came from other parts to the Synod of Dort And I can acquaint the Reviewer with the like piece of charitie bestowed by P. Mâ—…lin in the letters that passed from him to Bishop Andrewes beside what Mr. Chillingworth as I take it hath collected out of him Beza in favour both of name thing though not to the same latitude we extend them And which will not be alltogether impertinent to adde I doe not remember I have heard that Causabon Vossius no obscure men in the French Dutch Churches were at any time by their presbyterie excommunicate for becoming limbes of the English Antichrist Praebendaries of the Archiepiscopall Church of Canterburie with us But if the Reviewer here begin to cant distinguish between Episcopacie Episcopal declinations for that indeed is the expression that he useth I must ingenuouslie acknowledge that there may
out of his way to let you know That Bishops have been perpetual in your Church Nor doe you out of yours but keep the same path of truth you began in in acquainting us with the antiquitie of Presbyters who it should seem are terrae filii that sprung up in Scotland like so many mushromes the next night after Christianitie came in Though he that is read in your opinions actions will take it for granted that you must pay the acknowledgement of your Presbyterie to the Sanhedrin your sects conversion to the Iewes If you will impudentlie crowd it into the companie of the first Christians that came into Scotland you can not denie but that for some part of the Centuries you speake of it was confin'd to the monkes colls never came to clamour at the Court the poore Culdiis with a great deale more humilitie pietie then the Covenanters caried it in their cowles Rev. .......... after the reformation there was no Bishop in that land Ans. The reformation you meane began the day before or after the Greeke Calends if you will helpe me to an account of the one I shall know how to order the aera of the other Many yeares confusion there was of Poperie Presbyterie Superintendencie The reform'd Episcopacie could never get ground till King James set it forward then it went not far before it met with your violent encounter by Sword Covenant which never suffered the crowne nor Miter to stand long unshaken till both were held up by the Armes of England the Kings person secure at a distance to command you That ever such a thing as reformed Presbyterie according to the Canon in your Discipline had the free positive consent of King Parliament without which it can not legallie passe for the Religion of your Kingdome I denie to be visible any where in your storie Rev. ...... till the yeare 1610. Ans. That yeare did indeed complete the Episcopal power which King James had by degrees piouslie industriouslie promoted many yeares before Rev. ........ When Bancroft did consecrate three Scots Ministers c. Ans. A brother of yours tells us they were consecrated by Bishop Abbot As evil as their report was the men were not so bad as their names need be in charitie conceled They were Iohn Spotswood Andrew Lamb Gawin Hamilton Bishops of Glasgow Brechen Galloway Who enjoy now their reward in heaven for the reviling they had on earth it being for Gods sake his Church according to our Saviours promise St. Matth. 5. 11. The first was a man for zeale to the Church fidelitie to the King prudence in Government constancie under affliction singular inimitable indeed for his excellent gifts onelie hatefull to the Disciplinarians though especiallie because he through long experience was of all Scotish men best acquainted with ablest to detect their crosse wayes to the King all Soveraigne Magistracie He died piouslie peaceablie at Westminster in the second yeare of this rebellion was buried in the Abbey Church The second was a great affiduous preacher even when he was blinde through extreme age He also died in peace with the good report of all except these calumniatores who hold that no Bishop can be an honest man whose invention is so rich of nothing as reproaches against better men then themselves The third was a reverend Praelate of great parts singular learning a most constant preacher who lived in peace died in his bed Rev. ...... that violent Commissioner the Earle of Dunbar Ans. His violence did not carie him beyond his Commission because he executed that upon the rebellious Aberdene Assemblers would not take off some of his kindred or acquaintance who were in the jurie that deliberatelie cast them in their verdict nor intercede for their stay in Scotland being desir'd you here meet with him at the Synod of Glasgow Which being at large prov'd legitimate in every circumstance required by law is in vaine condem'd as null by your faction Nor was it corrupt in any more then three members of about 140. who being rotten drop of from the close union harmonious suffrage of the rest Rev ........... got authorized in some part of the Bishops office Ans. I hope you will not denie that Bishops were authorized to ordaine in this Synod And into how many particulars their power of jurisdiction was branched your brother very pittifullie complaines ......... jurisdictio in omnibus offendiculis sive in doctrina sive in moribus .......... Armantur ..... potestate exauctorandi ministros suspensionis censuram irâ—…ogandi excommunicationem decerâ—…endi c. you may reade the rest then tell us what part of their office was left out Rev. Superintendents are no where the same with Bishops much lesse in Scotland Ans. That they are aequivalent to Bishops is evident by the conformitie in their offices power The particulars whereof His Lordship recites out of the fourth sixt heads of your 1. Book Discipl To which upon my Review I could adde some more if those were not enough Their ambulatorie commission was no other then our Bishops ambulatorie visitation If your onelie in the time before have any influence here exempt them from all duties in their visitation buâ—… preaching the word c. you cut of three parts of their injunction in the Discipline If they were onelie as you say for a time it concernes you to tell us where they ceas'd denie there were any since or ever shall be more but upon some future new plantation in your Churches Being pressed about obtruding your Discipline you tell us For the Eâ—…clesiastike enjoyning of a general Assemblies decrees a particular ratification of Parliament is unnecessarie Which holds not where the particular decrees of your Assemblie transgresse the general intent of that Act whereby you are authoriz'd to meet That relates to the times and matters to be treated of In the former you are limited to custome or praescription In the later to the doctrine discipline receiv'd Which are therefore ratified in such Acts together with your Assemblies Presbyterie Sessions that obedience might be render'd upon the visible conformitie of your decrees injunctions to that rule But to make any Act of Parliament so general as to ratifie at adventure all possible arbitrarie commands of your Assemblie to the altering of the doctrine or discipline established were to praecontract affinitie with all sects haeresies to enter into an implicite league or Covenant with the Devil about his worship so it may be de futuro ad placitum Synodi generalis Let me put this case suppose a general Assemblie should by an Ecclesiastical decree enjoyne the canons of that Antichristian government against which you praetend your discipline is framed Whether or nâ—… is that injunction authentike upon the general A of Parliament for their Assembling
their care gone about them as the uncontrâ—…verted parts of their Ministerial function The Bishops negligence herein was the silent reverence he payd which you owe to Majestie at a distance And His Lordships modest declining domestike curiosities a civile diversion from that wherein the word is so cleare as to need no interpreter the Husband or Masters authoritie so absolute aâ—… admits no superintendencie to praedominate Your license to preach personallie against Princes I finde given to your Fore-fathers in an answer to the Queenes proclamation 1559 Your tradition still continues the same touching which for brevities sake I must againe send you as I can not too often to the famous Grotius De Imper. Sum. Pot cap. 9. What the Parliament propon'd to you about the late engagement included no such great scruple of conscience as to long for the comfort of your resolution nor was that when they had it the starre by which they steer'd their course in the businesse They knew your violence call'd zeale to be such as would force an entrance into the hearts of many poore people which when it findes emptie swepâ—… garnished for better ghests would call in 7 wicked rebellious spirits to possesse them This epidemical mischiefe they endeavour'd to praevent by acquainting you with the plausibilitie of their enterprize if they could have praevailed for either your consent or silence they should have the lesse need they thought to looke backe in the prosecution of their designe What conjunction soever you found to be at that time driven on I can assure you there was a clearlie malignant partie on this side that found themselves separated who trembled at the hazard of their religion the persons of them that were to be most eminent instruments of its praeservation when they saw such a solemne outward compliance with oathes Covenants with a Committee of Estates that declar'd so at large for the former joint-interest with England against the Liturgie established religion in our Church Yet their warning against it made no other noyse then sounding of their bowels in compassion to the King whom they desired to have by any meanes delivered out of the hands of the mercilesse Independent and a tendernesse toward their sweeâ—… ingenuous Prince who with his loyal generous Nobilitie they feard might be deluded fall into the hands of the darke mercenarie Presbyter the orthodoxe untainted partie being not intermix'd in such a visible number as seem'd likelie to secure them from that danger The Congregational supplications were naught but your Consistorian jugglings Your selves sow'd the winde in some whispering Assemblie instructions then reap'd the whirlewind in tumultuous petitions from the people So that your own spirit first rais'd the storme then wrapt it selfe in a mistie multitude for concealment That the States of the Kingdome sent several expresse messages for that end viz. to receive an Assemblies replie in a Magisterial Declaration against their proceedings in pulpit banning cursing in Clamourous seditions as you could make militairie opposition I can not get within the compasse of my faith take it to be such a salving of conscience as none but a Scottish Classical Casuist will professe beyond what any Jesuite in ordine ad spiritualia will challenge with all the rebellious circumstances that accompanie it For that filthie conclusion you cast upon the Bishop we know aswell as if we had seen it drop that it came from the corrupt praemises in your head In the case you produce His Lordship ties not up the tongues of Gods servants but concludes the counsel of the wicked to be deceit Gods law not to be taken from your preaching nor his Covenant any more from then in your mouth To applie your general to the particular in hand The warre you thought unlawfull because it proclaim'd libertie to the captive the opening of the prison to His Majestie that was bound And the law in St Iames you had no reason to submit to who may not uncharitablie be thought to have resolved upon a connivance at or collusive neutralitie in the murder that was otherwise visiblie to follow The greatest impietie injustice I know was in it as exquisite as you are in casting the fashion of uncertain evils was the advancement of your Covenant in the Van. And if for that the Engagers were to expect nothing but the curse of God I am sure they deserv'd no anathema from your Kirke If your doubting Nation be put in the scales with your resolving Nation that engaged I beleeve we must give you at least a graine or two to make it aequiponderate They that stated their soules by the councel of your Assemblie stay'd behinde to praevent all recruit oppose the retreat of their more loyal Countrey men upon a possible misfortune For the lawfulnesse whereof they had somewhat worse then silence from the miscalled servants of God though I am sure no authoritie from his word When Religion Royaltie lay panting under the talents of most cruel Rebells the Civile businesse of warre was by the other birds of prey unseasonablie disputed What concern'd the soul in it had the cleare sunshine from the law the testimonie to warme quicken it That the Assemblie spake not according to this word was because there was then no light in them the lampe of the wicked was put out What the Church declared in their publike papers to the Parliament had very litlie of modestie or truth It bound up your engagement in so many knottie conditions as had made it sure enough for vindicating the wrongs the sectarians had done when the onelie injur'd persons were excluded out of their share in the promised successe To expect reason by Christian friendlie treaties from them that you acknowledge had bid adieâ—… to Religion Covenant when your zealous selves praetenders to both never offered any heretofore was like the fine-spun thread or Covent garden paper you put in afterward between the axe the Royal head it cut off If the good people in Scotland were so willing to hazard their lives estates what good Pastours were you that held their hands forc'd then to sit still By whose cunning misperswasion the engagement was spoyled or impeded in the stating we require no farther evidence then from your pamphlets By whose rash praecipitancie or somewhat else in the managing if it may not be ascribed to the fortune of the warre is a mysterie yet not perfectlie revealed The number was large enough though the most religious as you call them were absent the armies courage I thinke had not been much greater by their companie The lies spoken in hypocrisie did but cauterize the conscience of the wretched people that stayd at home The lethargie call'd peace which they slumber in for the time may hereafter breake out into an active warre to the ruine of the
very hardlie bestowed upon an hungrie beggar but pro pane lapidem without out saviours censure a stone instead of that bread which was never ordaind to stuffe the insataite stomach of every gaping Rebell that call'd for 't Yet whatsoever you had was you know but for a triennal experiment which being exspired in the yeare of libertie that was to succeed according to Gods paterne in Ezekiel if you could then praetend no better title then you had done it was to returne to your Prince and the inheritance of such an inseparable right to be his sonnes who of your adversaries gave this unseasonable advice I know not nor who have acknowledg'd and recanted for errours those divine truths ordained for peace but encountred with troubles and their abettours expos'd to susteime the envie and obloquie of the world Therefore alasse its in vaine for you to invite them to come nearer to hang out like a dead cat in her skin unlesse you meane to have every one of them moral the rest of the fable with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But to leave off speaking in parables I desire the reader in plaine English to marke the base ingratitude of an unworthie Presbyter In that when a most ingenuous peace-desiring Prince for him he meanes when he speakes of his Praelatical adversaries invaded by audacious importunitie encompassed with all external visible necessitie placing himselfe upon the very pinacle of Christi-an charitie shall yeild all that the softest gentlest Casuist can indulge and that upon such conditions as how easie soever the perfidious contractours litle thinke to make good he must be argued with upon the ominous advantage of his owne gratuitie praetended from his adventurous kindnesse to be demonstrativelie convinc'd to give up the rest of that which rebellious license schismatical singularitie and degenerate malice have now so devested into a new creature as neither law custome nor honour can call that English Bishop which religion instituded and reformation confirmed But a crou'd of guiltie conjured malefactours presseth shame and the proverbe to nothing so that ingratum si dixeris nihil dixeris Seneca knew it who had studied the point and experienc'd the practice Pâ—…dorem tollit multitudo peccantium definet esse probri loco commune maledictum But to send you backe some of your owne logike and language If this naked bird which you so pleasantlie play with be a new creature because the feathers are pluckt then you must confesse that old creature revested with those Euaugelical beauties and Royal graces which once it possessed to be that know'n true English Bishop that in honour law custome if not in conscience which I need not suppose is to be inviolablie maintain'd when it shall be made to appeare as it may very easilie and hath been very frequentlie that such an order not much differentlie fashion'd and habited ever was and ever is to be in the Christian Church To make good the mutual toleration indented for between your sectarian brethren and your alltogether as sectarian selves you closelie decline the warners confidence which avowes those texts of Scripture you wrest against Bishops with as much colour of reason and more truth the Independents may urge against Presbyters being resolv'd since you finde they can make you their province at pleasure if not command a transmigration of your Euangel to argue no more against them then to fight The triumph you make in two painted Syllogismes is very improperlie plac'd before the victorie where though you â—…ide like a George on horsebacke in a pageant you will passe for no beter then a dumbe shew and with your wooden launce be mistaken by none but children and fooles for that primitive armed Saint that kill'd the dragon If you cast not your texts in a couple of better molds your workemanship will beare as litle the image of Gods word as your selves doe of the reasonable men that he created Were His Lp. at better leisure his great promises would reengage him in more necessarie imployments then answering every silie Presbyter in his follie but his Acolythus servant if not because he hath taken up so much of the similitude allreadie will for once and it may be oftner follow Solomons advice in the next verse seeing you so very wise in your owne conceit The first text you are medling with is Ephes 4. 11. whence your imaginarie argument not to be denied adoration is this Maj All the officers that Christ has appointed in his Church for the ministrie of the word are either Apostles Euangelists Prophets Pastours or Doctours Mi But Bishops are none of these five Ergo. You pleade custome for the free unquaestionable passage of your major which you must give me leave to obstruct first excepting against the improprietie of your termes being such as may evacuate your argument the Ministrie of the word when the Bishops discourse is about the regiment of the persons to whom the word allreadie is ministred Secondlie demanding to have it under Saint Pauls hand whether the offices he mentions of Apostolate prophecie c were by Christs institution for the personal perfecting of Saints in a Church established and not as the word seemes rather to signific Pros ton Catartismon toon hagioon for jointing or knitting new Saints to the Church new membres to the bodie of Christ in the propagation of his gospel so aedisying the bodie of Christ by the worke of the Ministrie which in the next verse seemes to end in the unitie of â—…ayth that is the general conversion of nations to Christianitie Thirdlie whether this enumeration of the Apostle's be universal to which J finde more particulars addèd 1. Co. 12. 28. among them dynamâ—…is Kyberneseis Powers governments the former of which that you may not cavill about superinfused gifts he makes as much personal or persons as that of Apostle prophet Teacher vers 29. Besides that he expresselie calleth the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Bishops tells them they were instituted by the holie spirit which we know came downe to fulfill the promise by the mission of the sonne so they must passe upon account as officers appointed by Christ. Three fifths of your Minor thus you prove Bishops are not Apostles Euangelists nor prophets because they are confessed extraordinarie temporarie Bishops ordinarie perpetual To which I answer First That Bishops are Apostles in their ordinarie power of ordination jurisdiction though not in their extraordinarie of working miracles speaking with diverse tongues c. And this Tertullian hath sayd above 1300. yeares since who arguing with the haeretikes about succession bids them turne over their records shew that their first Bishop was an Apostle or Apostolical because personallie ordained by one of them This the Apostolical Churches could doe as that of Smyrna shewes Polycarp because placed there by Saint Iohn That of Rome Clement because ordained by St. Peter And such Bishops as
themselves their Prince's displeasure for a Rethorical libertie used in their behalfe shall be pay'd for their paines with the honourable essay of men sold unto sin enemies to God and all godlinesse the L. Sempils reward which he had from Iohn Knox as this gratefull Presbyter hath registred in his storie They that bridle the rage of their Princes the phrase usd as occasion serves will not sticke to halter the heads of their Nobles if they will neither leade nor drive but molest the progresse of their Presbyterian designes Your Historical Vindication I hope is no new nam'd Logike to prove negatives of fact your detraction from the credit of many irrefragable authours that Historize that insolent speach uttered by Bruce lookes more like a calumnie then their relation to a fâ—…ble And yet such a superstitious reverence is payd by your fond brother Didoclave to the memorie of his name that he could be content to pin his fayth on his sleeve and hang his soul at his girdle Anima mâ—…a cum anima tua Bruci si ex aliena fide esset pendendum and were there to be but one priviledge of aeternal residence in heaven he thinkes neither Patriach nor Prophet Apostle nor Martyr no nor the Virgin Mary her selfe were likelie to carie it from Bruce Which compar'd with King Iames's opinion of him as a perfidious madman that had a whirligigge in his head delivered after to many experiments of his rebellious zeale and frantike restivenesse is enough to condemne both saine and votarie to some bedlam purgatorie before imposture can fixe or facilitie of fancie finde these new imaginarie lights among the starres Your following invective is writ with Arrius's quill and by such scribling you gaine the title that Constantine gave him patroctonoâ—… epieiceias discovering your selfe to be a parricide of aequitie murdering truth in your relation and justice in your parallel His Lordship takes himselfe not concern'd in this case to recollect 800. yeares Historie of Europe to picke out of the pietie humilitie of many Reverend Bishops the pride and passionate errours of some few Noâ—… hath he malice enough with you to make that the nature of their office which hath been some litle monstrositie of minde by ill habits accidental to their persons Beside what among the Papists the nobilitie by birth of many Bishops concurring with the received dominion and large revenve of their Spiritual praeferment may elevate their thoughts and enhaunce their owne opinion of themselves if impardonable addes litle to the condemnation of ours which partake in litle with them but their titles The universal supremacie which the Pope arrogates aswell over Kings as Bishops may puffe up a litle Cardinal that is neare him in his purple possesse him with a conceit that he may Write himselfe companion to a King whom he thinkes but is mistaken oblig'd in Spiritual humilitie to lie prostrate at his holinesse foot and kisse his slipper But the same Kings soveraigntie in Ecclesiasticis at home secur'd him from all such contestation with his Bishops Though had it not the argument from a Cardinal in Rome to a Praelate in England will hardlie finde a topike Those in Scotland take themselves as capable of honour conferr'd upon their order as their Popish praedecâ—…ssours Nor are such legal establishments if not of right of Princelie favour to becast away in complement Nor were they to make an unnecessarie distance out of forme when the material meaning of their vicinitie to the throne was the neare concernment of their counsel to the King Orthodoxe Monarchs as well as Papists having doubting consciences and orthodoxe Bishops as good abilities to resolve them I have not heard they crowded much or quickened their pace to get the doore of the Earles c. Their Provincial that with much humilitie and respect unto their H. H. tookeit was lead to it by the hand that had exalted them or their progernitours But for the reason of praecedence which I guesse to be your meaning you were best review the Heralds office and reforme it Poorpâ—…dants are not to be reproached for making a litle diocese of their Schooles Priests being charged to make such of their houses and from the experimental regiment of boyes raising their abilities by honest endeavours to the meriting an higher Episcopate of men Nor their conscientious demeanour in that office to be aesteemed the arrogancie of their order if it move Kings to commit the white staves to the crosiar and great seales to be under the keyes of the Church The most capricioâ—…s of them all and most contentious for the honour which I thinke were none but such as did you too much service when they had it were many straines below your Presbyterie of Knoxes Bruces c. Who have contested with Kings for their Scepters which with white staves and seales they brought under the pedantike jurisdiction of their rod. Never have Bishops so ruffled it as many base borne Presbyters with the secret Counsel To whose Consistories all Courts of Iustice were faine to doe homage the greatest Lords of the land become subordinate Elders to the parson of their parish It 's not so long that yet it can be forgoten since a most violent and malicious man call'd the Goodman of Earlstounne aclient of the E. Argile for interrupting of divine service forceable overturning the Communion Table in his Parish Kirke thâ—…eatning and abusing the Minister with many other such enormous crimes was fined but the fine never exacted by the High Commission and confined for a season The E. Argile complain'd of his hard usâ—…ge to the Lords of Counsell and enformed against the Bishop of Galloway that he promised to him somewhat which he had not perfâ—…rmed The Bishop denied the promise gainsayd what the Earle alledged whereupon sayd the Earle If you say so 't is as much as if I lie The Bishop modestlie replied I doe not say so but I beseech your Lp. to call your selfe beter to minde you will finde it as I say This is giving the lie because he would not take it on himselfe and ruffling with a great Lord because he would not be ruffled out of a just vindication of the truth yeild his consent that a Counsel Table should approve turning the communion table out of the Church The Reviewers should doe well to bring in his accounts fuller when he reckons with Bishops for braving of Noblemen All Presbyterians are heterodoxe to all good Catholike Christians with whom Episcopacie is so necessarie a truth as next to the divine institution Vniversalitie Vbiquitie and perpetuitie can render it Confingant tale aliquid haeretici nihil promovebunt Could your invention feigne such authoritie to Presbyterie yet your doctrine would diversifie you into a sect What the Bishops following words cleare shall not one whit be clouded by any obscuritie in my replie though the strongest eradiations that come from them would
third clause I hope you will shake hands with the Iesuits and them Where is no true ordination there is no true ordinarie Ministrie or lawfull Priesthood as His late Majestie call'd it As for the fourth the Bishops friends whatsoever they may doe allay it thus Where are no Bishops can be no comfortable assurance of a true ordination And so in whatsoever reformed Countrey are no Bishops being no true Apostolike ordination no comfortable assurance is had of a true visible Church in the publike administration of the Sacraments though they hope well the invisible Members have an invisible true Priesthood among them or such an high Priest as being himselfe holie harmelesse c is able to supplie what their Presbyters want able to save them â—…is to panteles very completelie and make intercession for them who sin in submission out of more good meaning then fayth to their discipline who can give no comfortable assurance that Saint Pauls rod or St. Peters keyes everwere committed to their charge Those of the Reformed which I hope are not all if any that concurre if you meane covenant like your selves under praetense of selfe praeservation being endangerd by nothing beyond the frequent ineffectual power of good advice and plea of Apostolike example with seigned words to make merchandize aswell of Bishops as Kings and like the insolent Abaddons at Edenburgh and London to assault their persons and then abolish their order declare themselves such as Saint Peters false teachers or worse because more publike in bringing in damâ—…ble hâ—…resies denying the Lord at least in his Ministrie which they 〈◊〉 Anti-Christian and what they have allreadie in part bringing 〈…〉 on thâ—…selves Your officious informer that drew the curtaine made the discoverie of what the Bishop deleted had litle good maners though it may be not so much malice as you in your uncharitable not so forâ—…mate conjecture A dâ—…ngerous question being mistaken when called a truâ—… judgement and doubting whâ—…ther it be within the pale not actuallie excluding all 〈◊〉 Ministres c. out of the line of the Church Remorse of conscience hath commonlie antecedent evidence of science puting all out of question doubt without which the vanitiâ—… or pusillanimitie of repenting had been litle commandable how condemnable soever had been the iniquitie of erring What His Lordship lest behind unscraped out doth not shew his mind onelie but the minde of all good Catholike orthodox Christians And why his feare to provoke should incline him more to delete the following expressions then his care for their comfortable satisfaction had mov'd him to pen them I know not Nor need I be curionâ—… to enquire the reason of a line blotted in his booke more then if I had seen it expunged in his papers being not concerned to give account for more then was his pleasure to have publish'd Though were all the Protestant Churches what they are not as unconscionablie cruel to us as the Presbyterian Conventicle of the Scots I see not why in reference to the Religion we professe it should be more unsafe why more unseasonable since they give I hope the same libertie they take out of a pious sollicitudâ—… to have a union of both some what ambiguouslie to â—…christen them then they out of malice to make an aeternal separation very affirmativelie antichristâ—… us in all the peevish pamphlets they put out So that whether stands upon the more extreme pinâ—…ole of impudence arrogance the Praelate that doubts your being in a Church visible true for succession Apostolike ordination or the Presbyter that denies our being in any but what is visible false by a Satanical Priesthood Antiapostolical investiture let your aequitable comparers impartiallie decide The Praelatical tenet is not to â—…verre the Church of Rome as the stands this day c to be a Church most true who praeferre that of their owne for a truer and condemne many Canons in the Counsel of Trent That they hâ—…ld she is true in respect of undoubted succession and Apostolike ordination our businesse now in dispute so much concernes them as the truth of their owne derived from that Nor can you denie what you so shamefullie dissemble that in the retrograde line your last Priest for a last there must be unlesse you have been Autóchthones or Autorâ—…ni â—…i rather coaeternal with the Priest that 's in heaven had his ordination and you thereby succession from them and so both prove as Anti-Christian as ours An easie way of salvation in the Romish Church is no second tenet of the Praelates who meet with her stumbling upon many errours in doctrine and worship going somewhat about by Lymbus Patrum Purgatorie whereas we thinke if she walked with us she might have a more easie shorter journey to heaven Yet withall knowing that the wayes of God are anexichniastoi not to be tracked and his judgements anexâ—…reuneta not to be searched we dare not damne at adventure all that goe with her no more then you can assure a ship to be sunke so soon as ever you lose sight of her saile but leave the issue to him who is great in Counsel and mightie in worke whose eyes are open upon all the wayes of the sonnes of men to give every one according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings The seperation from her Which they hold to be needlesse is such as that which you fondlie make about copes and surplices Church Musike and festivals that came not in with the Counsel of Trent That which is made upon higher points though not yet God be prays'd in the highest of having one Lord saying one Creed using one baptisme in substance however different in ceremonie they impute to them who kept not their station in conformite to the Primitive Christians of the 5. or 6. first Centuries with whom a reunion not onelie may but ought to be much desired on just conditions and that which is continued rather then the division made greater by our fruitlesse compliance with morose and humourous Reformers whose preaching being not with entising words of mans wisdome they tell us of aspirit which can not be the same with Saint Pauls because thereof they never gave us any demonstration nor of any power but the sword Could your bold praecedent priviledge or excuse me in comparing judging censuring or approving the publike transactions of our Royal Soveraigne I should with much modest innocent freedome professe more justifiable according to Christian Religion prudence His Majestieâ—… late graces and securities granted unto the returning confederated Irish then any like future concession unto the persisting covenanting Scots They gratefullie accepting a limited toleration of their publike worshp to those of their owne division in that Countrey you endeavouring to extort an absolute injunction of yours in all His Majesties dominions denying libertie of conscience so litle as to his familie or person They onelie
cure him of his madnesse and restore him to his senses But when their Discipline makes it an act of power and jurisdiction and that as much if not more concerning the Minister as Magistrate I take it to be very emptie of oequitie as full as the Reviewer thinkes it and see not where after the Scotish mode any Church or State doth practize or approve it In the behalfe of them that doe he is to repaire the breach of the 5. Commandement by the disobedient child or shew us where in this particular it was dispens'd with In case of sinne I confesse a just apologie may be made As if the Father would admit of none but an incestuous marriage or to save his estate with one in open rebellion against the King The child must not obey nor yet is bound where is feare of incontinencie to live single The supreme Magistrate ought here to take the place doe the office of the parent And the Minister must execute all lawfull commands of this Kind in his function But if the case be so rare of the childs complaint and not heard of in an age the Dawbers of the Discipline might have saved this patch and need not have found their fingars with such untemper'd stuffe as haâ—…ng neither Scripture nor reason in its mixture was never intended to cement any building of Gods not the corrupt affections of willfull children to be called his worke Yet that the Reader may neither be unsatisfied nor delâ—…ded as he will be very often if he observes not your fraud in mistating the case I must admonish him that the Bishop's may be frequent though yours be 〈◊〉 His Lordship objecting your admission to mariage the parent gaiâ—…standing And you reponing an authoritative Sentence so enforce consent His additions about compelling the parents to give portions was fastned upon your practice not your canon Your railing accusation an impudentlie which Michael would not being when disputing with the Devil will â—… litle grace as strengthen your controversie with a better Angel of the Church In such maters of fact truth can be justified no otherwise then upon enquirie whereby will best be discovered her faythfull witnesse and the false one too that will utter lies Yet in the place alledged your canoâ—… ordering out of the text without quaestion a dowrie to a daughter that is destoured he that at a distance hath any good opinion of your conscience will praesume your care can be in justice no lesse of her who you say hath committed no such â—…shinesse before but kept the Virgin 〈◊〉 at that commends her to your super paternal powers to be made a bride The passage against sparing of the life of 〈◊〉 which you here substitute in the roome of a beter answer to the other is not so consonant to the law of God aâ—… dissonant from the milder Gospell of Christ who neither as King commanded stones to be câ—…st at the poenitent brought before him not as Priest retracted by excoâ—…unication his signal mercie shewed in her dismission A Presbyter may have a thorne in the flesh as well as a Praelate allthough for want of Saint Paule spirit he will abate no measure of his pride in â—…oclations And if he take it out to no-better purpose then to thrust it in other mens sides if he looke not to it will pricâ—…e his owne fingar in his hast The falselie praetentled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and lovers of so severe discipline make it as litle consistent with Christian libertie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to discipline their bodies and subdue them by Apostolical correction as to subject their spirits according to Apostolical doctrine to just powers ordained by God And a peice of tyrannie they count it to chasten and mortifie which by pâ—…aecedent they 〈◊〉 into reproofe ever since David did it that was a King For want of which whatsoever they fancie of I know not whose biting and spurning the Presbyterian Iesuruns have kick'd as much as before nor since this great severitie was threatned could they have the face to expunge the clause that by their owne confession occasion'd it still stands thus in their booke Whoredome fornication adulterie are sinnet most common in this realme The Bishops warrants for elandestine marriages were not without this particular caution against spoiling parents of their deare children Quod parentum modo sint in vivis vel alias Tutorum sive gubernatorum suorum expressum consensum in hac parte obtinuerint And how abundantlie otherwise was provided let your brother Didoclave beare witnesse If their mercinarie officers prostituted to their profit this indulgence granted upon very good reasons to noble personages whose praecontracts or impediments if any were not very likelie and it may be not so fiting to be discovered upon publishing their bannes this can fairlie be charged neither upon the Bishops order nor their persons unlesse you would have them ubiquitarie in their Courts omni-praescient in the actions of their instruments Their after-dispensations with marriages without warrant I hope are not culpable except you would drive them to a necessitie of divorce Among them whom you call brethren heretofore those of Middleburgh did invalidate all private marriage About which their adversaries though consenting in the substance call upon them for a text of Scripture which I never heard was hitherto produced If he that fixeth his eyes upon the sunne till the strength of the beames and luster put them out should declare before the witnesses of his misfortune that he never saw the least glimpse or brightnesse of that luminarie he were more to be credited then Master Baylie in his grosse selfe-confounding denial that ever any such mater was attempted in Scotland as drawing civile causes upon praetense of Scandal unto a Synod of Presbyters or that he ever heard alledged by their adversaries their impeding or repealing any civile proceedings Whereas the first hath been proved allreadie by the Bishop out of the very words in their discipline And the two other objected in numerous instances by most if not all the adversaries that have published any thing against them By Arch-Bishop Spotswood in the different cases of the Bishops Montgomerie and Adamson A Melvin Blacke the spanish Merchants c. So that in general he is faine to alledge against them in this language .... Ministrorum eo crevit insolentia ut non contenti sua functione lites reos omnes what and who is here excepted ad suum tribunal revocare niterentur concilii publici which is more then the meanest civile Court placita rescindere Ordinum decretis which riseth high 〈◊〉 aed siomaâ—…um non facerent intercedere c. Which is worse then Synodical impeding or repeating populum â—…nem contra hostem in armis paratâ—… esse jubere And which includeth all in all Nihil denique erat quod istos fam severos censores effugeret The Answerer by leter ... How inconsistent Presb. Government is with Monarchie
Parliament is to be disposed otherwayes Let the capitulation have been in reference to what it will the Act of what you call the English Parliament exclude the disposal of the King we know that was the subject of many papers that pass'd between you which were penned with so much collusion cunning that any broker might see a bargaine was driving between craftie merchants till having clapt hands the one brought his rich commoditie to Holmâ—…bic the other pay'd his money at Non-Castle The unexpected evil for I must alter the number admit of none but the murder of the King that followed which no mortal eye could foresce any mortal heart might fore feare the well affected brethren have prevented if they pleas'd The Armies rebellion is very nonsignificant language from your pen unlesse figurativelie expressing the vengeance of God upon that rebellious citie which with her golden cup had made the Land drunke the Nations mad with the abundance of her wine What you call destroying the Parliament was but the plucking up throwing out of the way that rotten root the stocke fairest branches whereof had been cut downe by the keen axe of a violent vote long before How readie these Scots which the Reviewer must vindicate were to the utmost of their power to have prevented the mischiefe in the murder of the King what hazard they ran of what was dearest to them appeares by their hast to come in to Duke Hamiltons partie the large contributions they gave toward the raising an armie to that purpose To make good the proverbe Murder will out the next words implie the Reviewers confession The hard measure they had often receiv'd from the King stucke then in their stomakes would not out till now with their malice impostumated in his bloud That they did not in time unanimouslie stirre to purpose for that end they are indeed to answer it to God who were the true authours thereof And who they were let the Scotish pulpits I meane not their Presbyters speake out The innocencie of the Church is not cleard in the following treatise to be so much as Pilates they can not wash their hands in it nor their mouth They made the tumults they never asked what evill he had done this Royal bloudwill be upon them upon their children But here comes up a second part of their venemous vomit for though they cast the temptation upon the serpent they charge the original sinne upon the King The King gave not his good subjects satisfaction by granting all their demands which they found most necessarie due This they say by the mouth of the Reviewer was the cause of the many miseries if there be any connexion was the cause why they stirred not in time what 's the meaning of this but Caiphas's expedit It is very expedient very necessarie he die for these people thankes good Presbyter Scot pay this debt of satisfaction in his bloud Which conclusion is no sooner dispatched but like very logical Rebells they fall presentlie on making a new syllogisme prepare a second argument of the axe The very same cause ties up this day the hands of Covenanters could they have that is they can not have the young King to joyne with them in their covenant to quit his unhappie Bishops to lay aside his formal dead liturgie the satisfaction to his good subjects which they finde necessâ—…rie due He hath drawn some what beside his limbes from the loynes of his father though the serpent hath not reach'd him the fruit of the forbiden tree he hath transmitted as much malignance in the barke Ergo when they get him into their hands which God forbid t is but talking a litle with the Pharisees Priests taking the money according to the covenant They have made the premises may then sit at home with their hands in their pockets being well assur'd the conclusion must follow quia expedit It is very expedient another man because another King which the hand of heaven powerfullie prevent To draw him into the net this decoy ducke courts His Majestie with more truth then good meaning for he puts it into a parenthesis I'observe that when hereafter it shall be left out the Scotish Reviewer Remonstrances may not jarre in their expressions A lovelie hopefull promising Prince for all naturall endowments as this day breathes in Europe or for a long time has sway'd a Sâ—…epter in Britaine And yet this lovelie Prince without taking the Covenant c. shall not breath nor sway the scepter in Scotland With which some other ungracious principles a nest of these unluckie Northeme birds did latelie besiege him not in his cabin for his fathers worke lay upon their hands when he was there they wanting then the iron instrument to cut the silver cord of his life but in his Royal bedchamber at the Hague And going home it should seem by the weeping crosse they the good people because they can doc no more sit downe with mournfull eyes till occasion be administer'd that by Dunce law which holds as well against the sonne as the Father they can doc no lesse then lie downe in their armes for their just necessarie defense But they hold here 't is time I thinke for they have transgress'd toâ—… farre the bounds of an epistle CHAPTER I. The Scots bold address with the Covenant to K. Ch. 2 Their partie inconsiderable The Bishops method language matter asserted The quaestion in controversie unawares granted by the Reviewer WHile Sixe walking Images the pretended Commissioners of the Church Kingdome of Scotland that is to say a selected packe of the most zealous disciplinarian faction which had fairlie wrought the destruction of both were with the greatest impudence that ever was heard of pressing into His Majesties sad most disconsolate retirement at the Hague when he held backe the face of his throne had spread his cloud upon it When his face was foule with weeping on his eyelids the shadow of death While with the highest crueltie that could be instead of condoling his most lamentable afflictions beyond the tyrannie of Jobs comforters they were going about not onelie to lay open in his sight but to thrust violentlie that bloudie axe the Covenant I meane which had cut off his Royal Fathers head into his hands This reverend resolute Prelate steps in between them the Court throwes in their eyes the guilt not onelie of their late actions but of their old Antimonarchical as well as Anâ—…iprelaticall government it selfe not so much hoping to amuze them or stop them in their progresse to the King whose adamantine face elephantine feet he knew would breake through all the briars thornes that the hand of truth could cut out of that Northerne wildernesse of errour lay though ne'r so thicke in
their way as to set the marke of that beast in their forhead which destroyes root branch of Religion Lawes of Regall Apostolical government yea of the libertie of the people that all well affected to any of these or themselves might have seasonable warning to get out of their way or gather strength to hunt this wild monster out of the world Which accurate Remonstrance of the Bishops carying with it the highest authoritie of their Assemblie acts provincial general of the concurrent sense in the writings of many their deified Divines prevail'd with all impartial advertend persons to bring this glittering Godesse of the Scotsh discipline to the touch to discover all the dirt drosse whereof every limbe of her is made reduc'd many her before incautious worshipers to a better practice of their dutie opinion of the Catholike truth So that the shrine trade being very likelie to goe downe the craftsmen's gaine to faile this Demetrius as it hapens at a distance from the great companie of his brethren adviseth onelie with one of his tribe 3. or 4. the idolaâ—…rous worshipers of his imaginations cries aloud in print Magna est Diana Great is Diana of the Scots yea so great he makes her in the very first page of his booke as if she were Queen of heaven earth no other divine providence but hers able to recover as he speakes the wofullie confounded affaires of the King 〈◊〉 other nations hands upon the earth but the Antiprelatical be the instruments to effect it Whereas they are at this time the most inconsiderable faction in His Majesties Dominions being kept at a bay by the present tyrannie in England having such distractions divisions among themselves so intermingled with a Royal Independent partie that let them talke or write what they will they can make no muster roll of their owne strength durst they speake out their desires or could their guilt permit them an assurance of securitie protection they would with all their hearts take sanctuarie in the person aswell as hitherto they have done an abused authoritie from the name of their King cast themselves with their covenant their claimes to all former concessions even touching their discipline at his foot But desperatione ultimâ—… in furorem animus convertitur instead of that they turne despaire into madnesse hoping onelie for some miracle to be wrought by the hand of God that they may have companie in their ruyne Naturali quodam deploratae mentis affectu morientibus gratissimum est commori But we are told the hopes of such hypocrites shall perish That they shall be cut of their trust be but a spiders web Having done his crie he begins to chop logike with the Bishop complaines of his method though most apposite to the purpose calls for Scripture Fathers Reason as if disciplinarian practical instances required the strength of any of the three unlesse the vertuous precedents of Father Iohn of Leyden or Kniperdolin should come in as they may in judgement against the Scots He admits of the Bishops proofes I am very glad he doth butias by 〈◊〉 belonging litle or nothing to the main question Whereas if The overthrowing the rights of Magistrates to convocate Synods c. Chapt. 2. Subjecting the supreme to their censures chap. 5. Cheating him of his civile power in order to religion ch 7. be but by tenets Their challenging this exorbitant power by divine right ch 8. That the exercise of it is hurtfull to all orders of men chap. 12. Belong litle or nothing to the maine questions about the discipline it should seem we must climbe heaven for the height of the controversie see whether it will suffer God any more then the King to sit sure in his throne have the supreme government of the world The heape of calumniâ—…s he mentions is a faythfull collection of historicall narrations which requires not the credulitie of the simple but the search of sedulous people if distrusted who may take the other bookes in their way satisfie themselves about what passages he pretends to be detorted If any of the Bishops allegations are coincident with them in Lysimachus Nicanor Isachars burden they have two witnesses at least to quit them at the barre need not stand to the mercie of Iudge Baylie for their pardon Whatsoever were the sufferings of the authours Mr. Corbet Mr. Maxwell the Reverend Arch-Bishop of Towmond truth integritie ought not to be danted The hand of heaven is not allwayes guided by the mouth nor Gods judgements discernd by the eye of the Disciplinarian brethren though most commonlie we heare of no lesse then the murder of the best men when they make themselves dispensers of his punishments I am crediblie informed that Mr. Corbet was murderd by the Irish the Arch-Bishop stript naked left desperatelie wounded but by Gods mercie recover'd since died a natural death What spirit it is that hath coâ—…ind Mr. Baylie into this uncharitable beliefe of Gods strange punishments in their ends or rather fram'd contrarie to his conscience this rash judgement in his mouth I leave to the Christian reader to conjecture Had the like befallen any couple of his brethren he would have writ with their bloud some red letters in the Calendar made them currentlie passe for two Martyrs of the discipline If what the Bishop they have jointlie published be fullie aswered by Mr. Baylie in his booke printed at London Edenburgh Amsterdam because the weight of the presse addes every time more strength to his arguments for I know not else to what purpose he mentions the severall impressions he might have sav'd this labour of Reviewing publish'd a fourth editon of it at Delfe After so much praejudice the Bishop is beholding to you for his hearing since you have tasted the sweetnesse of his spirit soberneâ—… of his language in his first page you doe well to spit out the bitternesse of your owne in a mad epistle before your booke If any regard had been wanting in his Lordship to the passages of Scripture whereupon you build your Antiepiscopal tenets the quotations would have been some what more numerous in your Review That no reverence should be required to the harmonie of the Reformed he takes care in the third paragraph of his booke where he sayth he hopes there is nothing whereof he convicteth you but will be disavowed ...... by all the Protestant Churches in the world which it should seem they may doe yet agree with you in the maine of your discipline for you calld all those but by-tenets ev'n now That they doe so beyond a non admission to a rejection of our Episcopacie as Antichristian between which as I take it there is some difference I desire you to tell us where What respect the Bishop beares to the Civile Magistrate