A Mild and Just Defense of Certain Arguments, Tract · Part 3 · Argument 11
THE 11 ARGVMENT.
Pharao in the great Egiptian famine, at his owne coſt provided for all his Idolatrous prieſts, Gen: 47:22that they might not ſell their lands. The Monks, and Fryars in Popery (yet in the twylight of the goſpell) at the diſſolution of the Abbyes, were provided for, duryng their life tyme. Ergo, The high Court of Parliament, in this cleare light of the goſpell, ought much more to provide that the miniſters of the goſpell; may not be turned out a beggyng with their wiues and children, as they are; when all other hauehave their fill.
The Marginall Notes.
G. Powele VVhere ſuperſtition fitteth Iudge, there neyther nature, nor reaſon may dare to plead the cauſe. Alas, it is very lamentable, that ſome men (I know not for what carnall reſpects) had rather curry favour with other, and beholding to other men, thē conſcionably liue … …eir owne. They ſhould well conſider the ſaying of the Apoſt 1: Tim. 5.8.
Reply.In divine matters, neither ſuperſtition muſt ſit Iudge, neyther muſt things be pleaded by nature or reaſon, but all muſt be done by the word of God, the ſtore houſe of divinity. They are ſuperſtitious, that ſtryue more for reteyning and practiſing of humane Ceremonyes in the worſhip of God, (be the pretenſe what it will) then they regard the truth of God. The (anſwerer as a very pitifull man) cryeth out, Alas it is lamentable etc. But one of theſe poore Miniſters, yea many of them by reaſon of their trobles, may come ten-tymes to ſome of his great Maſters houſes, and not be offred once, to drinke of a cupe: but the truth is, they hauehave forgotten Apoſtolicall hoſpitality, and they hauehave learned Lordly Epiſcopall hoſtility. Further marke here his contradiction, or oblivion. Before in his conſideration of the preface to the Arguments, he hath expreſly charged them with divers particular carnall reſpects, etc. Now he ſayth,contradictiō that he knoweth not for what carnall reſpects they curry favour etc. As for currying of favour; it belongeth rather to ſome hungry trencher chaplines, then to thoſe againſt whom he writeth. Yea,2 Sam. 16 13 2 Sam: 19 18 as Shimei that curſed David when his kingdome was ſomwhat doubtfull, yet at his ſafe returne and reeſtabliſhing of the Crowne unto him, was as forward as any other, by creepyng and crouchyng, by flattering and fawnyng to curry favour agayne with David, ſo it is well if there hauehave been no ſuch curryers of favor among the Prelats. The place of Timothy is abuſed. It might in like ſort hauehave been applyed to all the Martyrs. We muſt not provide for our familyes by doyng any thing againſt Gods word. That we had rather liue of our owne, then of other mens, is manifeſt in that we doe ſo earneſtly ſue to be reſtored to our places, the rather that we may not be chargable to other.
G. Powelb Alas let them hauehave pity upon themſelues, and leaue their quarreling, and they ſhall not be neglected.
This is ſpoken more like an Archbiſhop that had power to preferre other,Reply. then like a young chapline that needed and wayted for preferment himſelfe. I know not, who may more juſtly be charged with quarrelling, then they that beate and buffet their fellow ſervants: yea then they that ſmite Chriſts Syſter, his louelove, his Doue, his undefiled, yea, not only ſmite her, but alſo woūd her, and take her vayle from her. We would gladly liue in peace, (with holines) but we cannot be ſuffered.
Further anſwer to the 11. Argument.
G. PowelThe Argument doth not follow, becauſe of the disſimilitude in the inſtances, or examples:
The Argument doth follow the better,Reply. becauſe of the ſimilitude of inſtances (as the anſwerer ſpeaketh) or rather becauſe it is a minore ad maius, from the leſſe to the greater. This inequality of examples, rather ſtrenghtneth then weakeneth the Argument and the cauſe. But let us ſee his disſimilitudes.
G. Poweli Pharao thought his prieſts to profeſſe true religion, and diligently to obey him etc: But refractary Miniſters, though profesſing true religion, yet doe obſtinatly (beyng blynded with ſuperſtition) refuſe to ſerue God etc:
Reply.As Pharao was in error touchyng the religion & obedience of his Prieſts, ſo are our Prelats touching our refractarineſſ and ſuperſtition,The obedience of the moleſted miniſters to his Majeſtie: as good as the beſt Conformitans: as hath been ſheewed. Our obedience to his Majeſtie is as good, as of the beſt of their ſyde. That mans obedience to a Mayor of a towne or to any other inferior officer of a Prince, is alwayes the beſt, that is moſt agreable to the pleaſure of the Prince himſelfe. In like manner, that obedience is beſt unto Princes, that doth beſt agree with the pleaſure of the Prince of Princes, and King of Kings. To obey the inferior without due regard of the ſuperiors pleaſure, is but flattery and fawnyng, not good obedience. So to obey Princes, without due regard to our dutie to God. For it is more prejudiciall and hurtfull, then beneficiall or profitable to ſuch Princes. See the words of Samuell to the Iſraelits. 1 Sam. 12.15. & 25: & the example of Ioab in numbring the people by the commaundement of David, whereupon followed an exceeding plague.
Touching the ſerving of God and his Church, in the faith full and diligent function and exerciſe of the Miniſtery; we are unjuſtly charged to refuſe it, for we humbly and earneſtly deſire it, aboue all maintenance: and for this deſire we are thruſt out of our livyng.
G. Powel2 The Monks and Fryars, were put out againſt their wills for Sodomi, hereſie, Idolatry etc: The refractary Miniſters are willingly deprived for obſtinate ſuperſtition, in refuſing ſincerely to Preach the goſpell, not beyng conformable to the Chriſtian lawes of our Church, and Magiſtrat:
The more juſtly, that Monks and Fryars were put out,Reply. the ſtronger is the Argument for us to be provided for, that are put out unjuſtly: without objection of any ſuch foule crymes to us, as for which they were put out. Yet it is falſe, that they were put out for hereſie or Idolatry; though they were heretikes and Idolaters. For they were ſuffered ſtill in their hereſie & Idolatry, as well after their putting out as before. Neither alſo are we willingly, deprived, any othewiſe then Marriners, willingly throwe their goods over boord into the ſea,Acts 27.38: to ſave their liues and the ſhip the better. Of ſuperſtition I hauehave ſpoken often; this now I ad, that many account carefulnes to keep a good conſcience in ſmale matters as well as in great, to be ſuperſtition. And in the meane tyme, themſelues care neither for great nor ſmal matters, any further thē there are lawes of man in that behalfe. As for ſuperſtition indeed, we are ſilenced and deprived becauſe we will not yeeld to humā Ceremonyes, that hauehave been and are ſuperſtitiouſly abuſed in the worſhip of God, and of Idols, amongſt the Papiſts, whatſoever they are amongſt us. It is alſo as falſe, that we refuſe to be conformable to Chriſtian lawes.
G. PowelMonks and Fryars could not hauehave kept their places, by ſubmitting themſelues: But theſe may by conformyng themſelues: &c.
I know no condition of ſubmisſion offered to Monks etc: Touching the reſt, we thanke you for nothing.Reply. This is the curteſie of Prelats, to make us pay decre for our lyvings, even to buye them with ſinnyng againſt God, (as ſome of them are ſayd to doe,) with Symony, and otherwiſe. But we dare not accept them at the price. The reſt hauehave been often anſwered. I hauehave not ſuch leyſure, to uſe tautologies as the anſwerer ſeemeth to hauehave had at the writing of his anſwer, as though he were connyng a leſſon by heart, in feare of beating for forgetting the ſame.