Lord Bishops None of the Lords Bishops, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Wherein is shewed, that according to the Scripture, Preshyters and Bishops are all one, without difference, so as he which is a Presbyter, is called Episcopus, a Bishop, and a Bishop a Presbyter.
THe first place of Scripture that proves this, is in Acts 20. where the Apostles called together the Presbyters, or Elders of the Church of Ephesus, as ver. 17. which Elders, or Presbyters in v. 28. he calls Episcopus, saying, Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the Flocke, over the which the Holy Gh…st hath made you Episcopous, (that is, Overseers, as our English renders the word, or) Bishops, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. From which words it is manifest, First, that Presbyters and Bishops are all one and the same Order, Calling and Office. Secondly, that in the Church of Ephesus there were many Bishops, or Presbyters. Thirdly, that they had their Calling from the Holy Ghost. Fourthly, that their Office was to feed the Flock of God, over the which the Holy Ghost had made them Overseers. And for this Cause such are called elsewhere *Eph. 4. 11.Pastors, and Teachers, right Shepheards indeed, that feed the Flocke of God. Now will our Prelates say, First, that they are those Episcopi? What more contrary to their Canons, and practise: For First, they doe not allow, that every Presbyter be called a Bishop, nor to be of the same Order, Calling, and Office. For they say, that the Order, Calling, and Office of a Bishop or Prelate is distinct and different from that of the Presbytery. Secondly, the Prelates have an old Canon, that there must be but one Bishop in one City, or Diocese. But here we see the Church of Ephesus, that one City had many Bishops in it, even as many as there were Presbyters. Thirdly, our Prelates can never prove their Authority and Office to be from the Holy Ghost either from any inward calling, or outward. Not from an inward calling, because, first, it is not any zeale of Gods glory, or desire to win soules to God, but it is the strong bias of ambition and covetousnesse, pride, and vaine glory, and love of the world, that draws them to a Bishopricke. Nor Secondly, is it an outward calling from men. For as in respect of God, they have run; afore they be sent: So in respect of Man, they come before they be called. Yea they provide and prepare a long time before for such a Purchase. For they heap up by hook or crock 3 or 4 Fat Livings, they seldome Preach at any of them, nor keep Residence, or Hospitality, but hoord up full Bagges, Sculke at the Court, …gratiate themselves with those in greatest Grace, and when the Chaire is voyd, they bring out their Bagges, and so they ar the onelyonly qualified men for such a Dignity. They are well known to be no Puritans. So as neither according to their own ancient Canons (which were framed according to the practise held in the Apostles dayes, when the People had a voyce in the election of their Pastors) have the Prelates an outward calling to their dignities. For instance; when Mr. Moutague was to be installed (or I wot not what they call it) in Bow Church, and the Tipstaffe (according to the Ancient custome in that Case) with his Mace proclaimes open liberty for any, that can come and except against the worthinesse of that Man; one stood forth, and made his exception; which though it was both legall, and very materiall, yet he was borne down, and the matter never came to tryall, but was carryed with a strong hand for the new Prelate. Thus (I say) they have no lawfull, nor truly formall, or yet Canonicall outward Calling. Yea, besides that they are notorious Simonists, either purchasing that dignity with a great Summe of money, or procuring it, obsequio, by obsequiousnesse, or Court-Service, and attendance, or by a wager, or the like (all which are branches of Simonie they doe also play the egregious hypocrites. For when the Question is asked them, Vis Episcopare, Wilt thou be a Bishop? he answers, Nolo, No forsooth. And this is done three times. A meere mock-holiday. For if the wretch were taken at his word, he were undone. Fourthly, neither doe our Prelates affect the Bishopricke for that end, that those Bishops of the Church of Ephesus were exhorted unto by the Apostle: namely, to feed the Fock of God. Yea, besides that their ayme and desire is not for the Office and worke of a true Bishop (as the Apostle saith,*1 Tim. 3. 1. He that desireth the Office of a Bishop, desireth a worthy worke) which is principally to feed the Flocke of God, as also‡1. Pet. 5. 2. Peter exhorteth; for they look not to the duty, but after the dignity, as Chrysostome and‡Vides omnem Ecclesiasticum zelum fervere, sola pro dignitate tuenda. Ber. Bernard have noted of old. Thou seest (saith Bernard) all Ecclesiasticall zeale to boyle and pant aft…r their Dignities onelyonly, &c. as we noted before: besides this, I say, it is a thing impossible for them to feed the Flocke of God. For some of them have foure or five hundred Flocks within their Diocese, some more… some lesse, which they never once in all their life bestow one fothering upon; onelyonly the Prelate in his Trienniall Visitation, that is once in 3. yeares, visites perhaps halfe a dozen Churches, where he comes not to feed the Flock… with one Scrap of a Sermon, but to fill his pouch with his poore Ministers double Procurations, and his paunch with their good Cheere. But our Prelates will answere (as our Non-residents doe in that case) that though themselves doe not feed the Flocke, yet their Curates do… it for them. For (say our Prelates, and that according to their Collect for Bishops and Curates) all the Ministers in their severall Diocese are their Curates, to feed so many Flocks. Thus by this reckoning, the Prelates are the most egregious Non-residents, of all other. And thus we see, how not onelyonly unlike, but directly contrary all Prelates are to those Bishops of the Church of Ephesus, and that in all and every of those particular and remarkable respects forespecified out of the Apostles own words. And therfore by that place of Scripture, Prelates, though they have usurped most unjustly the Title of Bishops, yet they have nothing in them of true Bishops indeed, and therfore are never able to prove, that they are Bishops jure divino. For they which are Bishops jure divino, are lawfull Pastors set over their particular Flocke, to feed the same with the wholesome food of the word: but Prelates call themselves Diocesan Bishops, having so many Flocks, as they neither doe, nor ever are able, nor ever intend to feed them. Nay instead of feeding them, they restraine and inhibit all Ministers to feed their Flocke at all in the Afternoone on the Lords dayes, nor at any time to feed them with sound and wholsome, and comfortable f…od of the Doctrines of Grace, and Gods free love to his Elect in giving Christ for them, effectually to Redeeme them, and certainly to bring them to that eternall glory in heaven, which God from all Eternity had Predestinated them unto. So as without this sound preaching of Grace no Flock can be Savingly fedde. Prelates therefore are Wolves to destroy, not Shepheards to feed the Flocke of Christ.
A Second place of Scripture, proveing a Presbyter and a Bishop to be all one, in Order, Calling and Office, is in Tit. 1. 5. &c. For this Cause (saith the Apostle to Titus) I left thee in Creete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordaine Elders in every City, as I had appointed thee. If any be blamelesse, &c. For a Bishop must be bl…melesse, as the Steward of God; not Selfe-willed… &c. Here againe we plainly see, that those, who are the Presbyters, or Pastors set over the Flock of God, are here called Bishops by the Apostle. Whence in is evident that in the Infancy of the Christian Church, in the time of the Apostles themselves, and that by Order from Christ, and from the Holy Ghost, all Presbyters, or true Pastors of several… Congregations (as aforesaid) were called Bishops, or Overseers, as the Greek word signifieth. And this was k…ta po…n, in every City, and Towne in Creete, especially where there was a Congregation of Christians, Titus was appointed by the Apostle to ordaine such Elders or Bishops, And in Centuries we read, …ow in some Countries, there was never a Towne, or Village, but it had a Bishop in it, which Bishop was the Pastor there. And the severall qualities required in those Presbyters or Bishops are in the same Chapter set down by the Apostle, which because we touched before upon occasion, I will not here insist upon. But those qualities are such, as our Prelates willingly leave to those poore Presbyters or Bishops, as most sutable for those Apostolick Times and Persons, Content they are to take the Name of Bishop upon them, but for the qualities there required, they are not Prelaticall enough, such as will …uit with a Lord-Bishop. For those were poore Bishops, or Overseers, and Feeders of one Flocke in this or that City: but these are Lord-bishops over a whole Di…se, as before is noted.
To these places, we might adde others; as Phil. 1. 1. With the Bishops and Deacons. Where the Apostle, nameing no more Orders, but of Bishops and Deacons… (the same which he nameth and describeth in the forecited places, 1 Tim. 3. and Tit. 1.) makes it cleare unto us, that by those Pishops in Philippi he meanes the same in kind, that were in Ephesus, and Creete, to wit, so many Presbyters, as were also called Bishops, or Overseers. And naming Bishops. which were at Philippi, it argues, there were many Bishops of that one Church, as we noted before of the Church of Ephesus. And in other places also, they are called Elders. For 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule will, be counted worthy of double honour, mali…ta o… kopiontes, especially th…se, that take greatest paines in the Word and Doctrine. 1 Tim. 3. ….Now those Elders (Chap. 3.) he calls Bishops. Implying they are both o…e, as also, that there were many of those Bishops in the Church of Ephesus, where Timethy then was. And those Presbyters or Bishops, some were more industrious in the word and Doctrine, did kopian, labour more hard therein (as the word signifieth) then ordinary: and therefore such the Apostle would have to be counted worthy of double honour. Now is it thus with our Lord-Bishops? First, do they kopian, …oyle hard at Gods Plough (to use La…imers Comparison) do they desire no more honour, but such as is proportionable to their paines in Preaching Gods word? Tussi, their honour is according to the honour of the City whereof they are Lord-Bishops (as the Prelate himselfe‡Confer. pag. 176. tells us, The Honours of the Church should follow the Honours of the State) or according to the greatnesse of their reven…s, or according to their great favour and place in Kings Courts, and not according to their yeares, or vertues, or good deserts, which are neither required in them, nor respected of them. Thus still all along quantum abludunt, how much distance is there, and what infinit disparity between our Lord Bishops, and Scripture-bishops? And lastly, these Bishops, so called by Paul, are called also by Peter Praesbyteri, Presbyters, or Elders: where he saith,‡1 Pet. 1, 2, 3, 4. The Elders which are among you, I exhort, who am also an Elder, and a witnesse of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory that shalbe reveald: Feed the Flocke of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof (Episcopountes) not by constra…nt, but willingly: not for filthy luore, but of a ready mind: neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage, but being Ensamples to the Flocke. And when the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare, ye shall receive a Crown that fadeth not away. Where First, he notes the Ministers and Pastors by the Title of Presbyters, or Elders, as also he stiles himselfe. He saith not My Lords, or Right Reverend Fathers, or the like. Secondly, he useth no imperious language unto them, but saith, parakalo, I exhort, or beseech you. Not as the Prelates to their Priests. These are to will and require you, upon pai…e of Episcopall Censure, &c. Thirdly, the thing he exhorts them unto, is to …eed the flocke of God committed to their Charge. But our Lord-Prelates command their inferiour Ministers to feed their flocke, as sparingly as may be, as, at the most to preach but once upon the Lords day, or once a monethmonth will serve, and for Catechising in the afternoone, altogether to forbeare expounding, and for the sound food of the Doctrins of Gods free Grace, which is the very Summe of the Gosp…l, never to preach of them at all, as being too Puritanicall, and the like. Fourthly, He exhorts them to feed, each his own Flocke, Feed the Flocke of God, which dependeth on you. He saith not Flocks, as if one Presbyter or Bishop were set over many Flocks or Congregations as our Lord Bishops are; as is noted before. Fiftly, he exhorts them to oversee their Flock…, not for filthy lucre, but of a free and ready mind. But our Lord Prelates, and their Curate Priests are of another mind, as being hirelings, and noe true Shepheards, so as it is with them, No penny, no Pater noster; they looke more to their tithes, then to their taske, and more after the sleece, then for the good of the flocke. Sixtly, Not as Lords over Gods Heritage; yea Mud' o…s katakurie…ontes, nor as Lording it ever Gods Heritage. The same word is used in Mat. 20. 25. Mark. 10. 42. Where such Heathen-like Lording, is by Christ himselfe forbidden his Disciples, as*Chap. 2. before is she…ed. But the Pontificians, and so our Lordly Prelates say, that this word katakurieuein signifieth onelyonly a tyrannicall Lordship, which they doe not use. I answere, that in Luke kurieu…in, to Lord it at all, is forbidden. And being put for katakurieuin, it noteth, that all manner of Lordship over the Flocke of God is forbidden to Christs true Ministers. Nor can the Prelates (whether Pontifician, or Protestant in Name) so easily cleare their Lordly Dominion over Gods people from Tyranny. For even our great Prelate himselfe sticks not to charge the Church of Rome with‡Confer pag. 298. Tyranny. And can he discharge himselfe of it? Wherein comes the Primate of the Church of England short of the Papall Tyranny, but in this, that the Pope tyrannizeth over the universall Church of the great world, and the Metropolitan or Metropolitician of all En…land tyrannizeth over that whole Church, which the Pope called the other world? The difference (I say) is onelyonly in the Magi… & Minus, which alter not the nature of the thing. For, for the Popes Inquisition, the Prelate hath his High-Commission; by the Law whereof though he cannot bring his Heretick Puritans to the Stake, attended with fire and fagot, as the Popes Inquisition doth, yet he can make their life more miserable, then death it selfe, by his pecpetuall close Imprisonments, and the like. Nor wants he either Canons and Ceremonies, as snares to catch, nor Pursuivants, as Beagles to hunt out the poore Sheep, and to hale them to his Shambles, for refusing to be fed with such hemlocke, instead of Gods wholesome word. Yea where his High-Commission cannot reach to suck the blood, and crucifie the bodies of Christs Servants, as upon the Pillory: he can easily remove the Cause into another Court, where himselfe sitting a grand and Powerfull Swaying Judge, will satisfie his blood-thirsty longing. And as in*Confer. pag. 204. another place of his Booke he twitteth the Church of Rome for being a Tryumphant Church: Saying, Now She must be a Triumphant Church here; Militant no longer: So no lesse Triumphant hath the Prelate made his present Prelaticall Church of England. Oh, how doth he triumph in his Chaire, as in his Charet? Yea, more specially, how did he triumph over those. Three his Remarkable men, whom he (looking out at the Court-window beheld standing on the Pillory, and loosing their Eares and Blood; how did he then applaud his politicke pate, and potent credit in Court, that he could thus anékesta, without rememedy (as the‡Socrat. Hist. Eccle. lib. 1. c, 2. Story saith of the Tyrant Licinius, a persecuter of the Christians) overthrow the most innocent Cause, and therein the most innocent Persons (and without all colour of contradiction, the Minister) that ever was Judged in any Christian Court. Thus he triumphed over them: though their triumph over him, and all his Antichristian lawlesse cruelty, in that their most constant couragious, and invincible cheerfullnes in suffering, was as much more glorious, and noble, as his was most Ignoble, and Base. But thus (I say) the Prelate, with his Prelaticall Church, must be Triumphant: Militant no longer, but in warring against the Lambe, and his poore followers. So as this Prelate, with his Confederates, are the Successors of the High-Priests, Scribes and Pharisees, and of Edmund Bonner, and Stephen Gardiner, those bloody Butchers and Wolves, which devoured and destroyed Christs Sheep in Queen Maries dayes; and therein were the Church-Triumphant in England. But this by the way. Returne we now, whence we have a little (as it were) digressed, though not impertinent to our Purpose in hand, which is to shew the true difference between the true Ministers of Christ, and those of Antichrist.
Seventhly, therefore, Not as Lording it …ver Gods Heritage, but being Ensamples to the Flocke. Now wherein are our Lord Prelates Ensamples to the Flocke? In their humble carriage? In their meeknesse of spirit? In the moderation of their government? In their continencie, and contempt of Riches, Honours, Pleasures, Ease, and the like? Nay are they not Examples to the world (farre be it from Gods Flocke) of extreme Pride, Ambition, Covetousnesse, Voluptuousnesse, Idlenesse, Profanesse, Lawlessenesse, extreme Cruelty, barbarous Injustice, implacable Malice, and intolerable Tyranny, palpable Hypocrisie, and such like Prelaticall vertues and graces, the most proper and peculiar indowments, inseperable qualities of their Hierarchie? Eightly, and lastly, true Elders, or Bishops, that with a good Conscience feed Gods Flocke, both with the wholsome food of sound Doctrine, and with the holy Example of a good life, shall, when the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare, receive a Crown of glory, that fadeth not away. Where I observe two particulars: that Iesus Christ is the onelyonly Chiefe or Arch-Shepheard. O' A' rkipóimen. So as here is no place, either for Pope, over the universall Church, or Metropolitan over a whole Kingdome, or for Archprelate over the Provinciall, or yet Prelate over all the Shepheards in his Diocese… for then such should be A' rkipoímenes, the Cheif Shepheards: but this Title and Office is peculiar to Christ alone, and incommunicable to any other. Nor did Peter himselfe, arrogate to himselfe any such Title, but was content with*… Pet. 5. 1. o… tumpresbúteros, a Fellow-Elder, as if an equall to those Elders, or Presbyters, to whom he writ. The second particular I note is, that all such Presbyters, or true Bishops (as aforesaid) may and do most certainly expect, and shall most surely receive, at the appearing of the Chief Shepheard, an immarcescible Crown of Glory-Behold, here is such a Reward, as no Lord Prelate can expect, or hope for. For these are rightly resembled by‡… Luk. 16. Dives, to whom (being in hell torments, and desiring one drop of water to coole his tongue) Abraham answered, Son remember, that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things, &c. For he had gone in his purple and fine linnen, and fared deliciously every day, while mercilessy he suffered poore Lazarus to lye at his gate full of sores, yeelding him no reliefe, or comfort at all; saving that his dogs came, and licked his Sores. A…d doe not our Diveses, our rich Lord Prelates (and which of them is poore) goe in their Purple, Satten, Velvet, and the finest lynnen, as their Lawn sleeves and Rochet, and faire deliciously every day, not induring once in their lives, with their good wills, to keep one extraordinary Fast day, so zealous are they of the observation of Lent, and other Embers; wherin they can faire deliciously with the choycest Fish, and Fruits, and Wines, and other Cates. So as with Dives they have their good things here. Only these come short of, and outstrip Dives in some things: For First, Dives yet suffered Lazarus to be layd at his doores: but these beat away the true Lazars from their doores, 2. Dives suffered his dogs to shew so much compassion, as to lick Lazarus his sores: but our Lord Prelates doe set their dogs at the true Lazarusses, to teare them in pieces; 3. Lazarus brought his sores with him, Dives did not cause them: but our Lord Prelates doe fill Gods Lazarusses full of wounds, which they carry away with them, not scaping from their Gates with a whole Skin; 4. Lazarus was willingly layd at Dives his gates: but Gods Lazarusses never come to the Lord-Bishops Gates, but with an ill will, when they are hayld and pull'd; 5. Dives denyed his Crummes, to Lazarus, because they were of his bread to feed his dogs: but the Prelates doe not onelyonly deny any one Crumme of mercy, when they are offended, or to doe right when the Lazarusses are injured: but they doe also rob, pill and poll them, stripping them of all they have, and so doe not relieve, but make Lazars.
Againe, on the other side, Lazarus in some sort may be an Embleme of Gods true Ministers: For Lazarus had all his evill things in this world: So the good and faithfull Ministers of God must undergoe manifold afflictions, tribulations, and persecutions in the world, as our Saviour *Luk 21. 12.Christ forewarned his Disciples, and so their true Successors,Mat. 24. 9. to wit, Godly and painfull Ministers of the Word; who find their Masters words verified in themselves, by manifold experince of tributations and persecutions, which they mainly and chiefly suffer at the hands of Antichrist, and his Antichristian Prelates; as the world it selfe is able to beare witnesse. In the Kingdome of England at this day, who are the great persecuters, yea and the onelyonly oppressors of Gods faithfull and painfull Ministers, and of all true Professors, but these Lordly Prelates, who will not suffer any one, Minister, or other, to burrow within th…ir Diocese (if he doe but smell of a Puritan, as they call them) but do ferrit them out, and hunt them to the death? Where by the way it is cleare to all men, that have but common sense, that the Prelates (which are, and ever have been …at least since Antichrist hath been aloft) the most furious and fiery Persecuters of Gods good Ministers and people, even for Religion sake) are false Bishops, falsely pretending their Iurisdiction from Christ, and their Succession from the Apostles. They might aswell say, that they have Authority from Christ, and his Apostles to afflict, persecute, and oppresse all true Religion, with all the true Preachers, and Professors therof, and so prove themselves to be of those of whom Christ foretold his Disciples, saying,*Iob. 16. 2. They shall put you out of the Synagogues, yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will thinke that be doth God Service. And surely the Prelates, grounding their usurped Authority upon Christ, which they so exercise in afflicting and oppressiing Christs Ministers and people, must needs consequently conclude, that this their persecution is a speciall part of Gods service. to conclude, then the Parable; as these Prelates have their good things here, and nothing is left them, but a‡Heb. 10. 27. fearefull expectation of judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devoure the Adversaries, so as they shall not find a drop of mercy in Hell, who would not shew a crumme of mercy here, but contrariwise shalbe tormented with more scorching flames, then Dives, by how much their wickednesse here exceeded his: So Gods faithfull Ministers, as they receive their evill things here (and especially at the hands of Antichristian Prelates, whose malice and cruelty against them exceedeth all other in the world) so they shalbe sure to receive a most glorious and unfading ‡2 Tim. 4. 8.Crown of Glory, which the Lord, the Chiefe Shepheard, the righteous Iudge shall give unto them, at that day, nor to them onelyonly, but to all those that love his Appearing.