Certain Observations, Section 6
SECTION. VI.
THE next controverſie touching D…oceſan B…ſhops is their t…tles; which though …t may ſeem a matter too n…ce & ſmal to b… …nſiſted on; becauſe ſo many worthy D…vines hauehave paſt it over, and made nothing of …t: yet if we conſider what danger hath come to the Church by varying and altering words, and how ſtr…ct the ſervants of God hauehave been in ſome caſes, it will not be amiſſe to giuegive ſome taſt of this matter in hand: eſpecially ſince our oppoſites a long while were content to claim, and hold this their authority onelyonly from the Prince, but now cla…m it as from God, therby condemning all other Churches in the world that hauehave the D ſcipline of God amongſt th…m. But to proceed to the matter.
1 It is directly againſt Luke 22, where our Saviour forbids all humane pompe, either in honour or t…tles: Be not called Graciosn Lords: As though he ſhould ſay; It ſhall come to paſſe that great places, dignities and ſtiles ſhall be offered you, but accept not of them, for it ſhall not be ſo amongſt you: whence it is plain that all that will bee ſucceſſors of the Apoſtles, muſt not enjoy ſuch titles as belong to the great men of the world. So as this place contayns worthy reaſons to diſſwade and ſhew the unfitneſſe of all ſuch things. 1 Th s is the property God hath annexed and coupled to the Magiſtrates, who are called Gods, and it is moſt fitting they hauehave ſuch externall pomp. This Argument is firm; for may they doe wrong to th… C…v…ll Mag…ſt…ate, as they doe if they uſurp his titles? 2 Chriſt himſelfe hath no ſuch Titles, but was as a ſervant. 3 All of us are here abiding with Chriſt in his temptations, and it is no time now in this great combat to bee expecting great titles. 4 Our Kingdom is not of this world, but Chriſt hath purchaſed and provided for us a Kingdom hereafter, and there ſhall the glory of the Miniſters chiefly be revealed. Theſe Arguments make as much againſt titles, as they doe againſt the authority of Miniſters.
If it be ſaid, then Princes and Mag…ſt…ates may not hauehave theſe t…tles. The anſwer is plain, the Lord giues them in a ſpeciall manner to their Callings, and denies them to the Miniſtery. 2 The Lord will hauehave his glory and Maj…ſty externally to ſhine in Princes, and the…fo…e they hauehave all allowed for magnificence and ſt te: But his glory in his Miniſters, hee will hauehave ſhewed in his gifts upon them, and the exerciſe therof.
2 Argum. It is Phariſaiſm, either to affect law full titles, or challenge or aſſume ſuch as are any way derogatory to Chriſt or our brethren, to Chriſt when there is one Lord, 1 Cor. 12, Epheſ. 4. Men claim this to be Lords over his heritage, to exerciſe a genemiſſion and power, and that unlimited, without preach…ng of the word to them whom they rule over: this is againſt Chriſt, and their fellow-ſervants. 2 To be maſters in many things, to be heard for them ſelues, and teach without inſtruction from Chriſt, as in th…ngs either ſubſtantiall or for order, to thruſt upon the Church what they hauehave no warrant from the Word for, but onelyonly authority, and becauſe they are the Church; This is againſt Chriſt. 3 To be fathers to the chu. & to beget Miniſters, & giuegive the H. Gh.
All theſe are derogatory, which all may ſee to be the meaning of the holy Ghoſt, both to Chriſt, and the true members of the Church. For Chriſts Kingdom and Lordſhip is uſurped after a ſort by the former: His Propheticall office by the ſecond. Thirdly, his Prieſtly and Kingly office both, by the laſt. For it is his priviledge to ſend out Miniſters to giuegive the Holy Ghoſt, and bleſſe the people. To the members, who are ſubjected to men in outward diſcipline, forb dde…; Be not ſervants to men; to men in teach…ng, wheras we are commanded to hear Chriſt, and him onelyonly. To men in ordayning, and ſuch ſpeciall bleſſing as they ſeeme to beſtow both by impoſit…on of hands, and confirmat…on, wheras all Miniſters hauehave alike power for the miniſteriall diſpenſat…on of theſe This Argument is plain, neither can any deny it, that is not poſſeſt with a Phariſaicall ſpirit.
3 Ap…ſtles, Evangeliſts, Prophets, Paſtors, Teachers, never had any ſuch T…tles, nor gaue any ſuch one to an other, Peter calls Paul, beloved brother. So in that famous councill at Ieruſalem, the councill ſtiles themſelues, Apoſtles, Elders, and brethren, called Barnabas & Paul &c. men beloved, 1 Pet. 5.1, Peter calls himſelfe Elder. But theſe men, as if they were abaſhed to make known their calling of the Min…ſtery, ſtiles then ſelues like Earles, as Richard of Canterbury &c. as though that were more pl…aſing to them to be like the world in ſtate and honour, then Chriſt and his Apoſtles.
4 The names and titles of Archbiſhops, Metropolitan &c. came not in till paſt 300 yea…es …fter Chriſt, when the Church began to d…cline, and changed into an earthly Monarchy, and the H…erarchy of Rome to be erected and eſtabliſhed, when Biſ…ops began to hauehave civill authority granted them; and Biſhops were choſen, ſome of Magiſtrates and great Lords, as hiſtories ment…on: wherfore this was, and is a property of Antichriſt to arrogate ſuch high glorious titles.
5 Biſhops hauehave no authority over Miniſters, nor are capable of civill authority by the Canons and Lawes of Chriſt, wherfore they are not to hauehave any title. For the Argument is firm: Titles being ſymbols and notes of the things, are to bee denyed to ſuch as hauehave not the nature of the things.
6 Wordly and earthly titles, make men to be thought onelyonly of the world, and ſo procures but worldly reverence, looſeth the true reſpect which is due to the Miniſters of the Goſpell.