Examination of those Plausible Appearances in the Romish Church, Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI. That its meere wrangling to demand by what authority one requires an holy Reformation.
BVt be it (say they) that we hauehave in so many kindes degenerated from the purity of our ancestors, who gaue you authority to reforme vsus? Who hath appointed you iudges over vsus? See them againe at their preiudices. So the Pharises anciently outbr…ved the Lord. In what authority doest thou th…se things? But what hauehave wee done, that they should presse vsus so much, to shew our authority? We hauehave espied the wolfe in the fold, & we hauehave cryed ou… the enemie, not at the gates, but in …he cittadell, and we hauehave sounded alarme. We hauehave observed the Traytors, and fingered them out. To proceed thus farre, there needeth no other authority, then the zeale of the honour of our Soveraigne Lord, of the peace of his Ierusalem, and prosperity of his house. If the Wolfe hath made no spoile, if that man of sinne hath not taken possession of the temple of God, if the watchmen of Israel are not become gluttonous, and drowsie dogges, then our zeale hath beene without knowledge, yea not zeale, but madnes. We intreat them to giuegive vsus leaue to make it appeare, that we cryed not out, but vponupon a iust and necessary occasion, if we cannot verifie this, let vsus bee condemned. But let vsus not be thrust back vponupon the simple preiudice of want of authority in our persons; to giuegive warning, and advise, it is insteed of all authoritie, to knowe how to giuegive it seasonably. He that can shew, that he hath given an opportune, and necessary advertisement, sufficiently purgeth himselfe from the crime of rashnesse. Here then is the pith of the matter, to examine whether we hauehave so proceeded or no: This being cleared, the question touching authority will be found to be but a wrangling quirke, craftily invented to make vsus loose the principall: for who doubteth, but if that the desolation of the outward face of the Church, hath beene so lamentable as we pretend, that every one ought rather to striue to succour it, with some timely remedie, proportionably to the measure of his skill, then to make it worse by dissembling it? In the common wealth, if any one arise against the ordinary officers of the King, this is called sedition, rebellion, treason, but if this insurrection bee occasion'd by a treason attempted by those officers against the King, and state, if this be verified, it is no longer a crime, but an heroicke exploit, and an example of loyalty, so much the more famous, by how much lesse note, and authority he was of, who vndertooke, and atchieved it.
It is as truely, as commonly held, that the divine power is evidently manifested, where the strength of man, by reason of the meanesse of the person, could not come betweene. If a person not authorised by degree, and licence, should vndertake to controle the advise of Lawyers, and Physitians in their owne professions, he is not accounted rash, if hee doth it with reason, especially if he doe it according to the Canons, and rules of art: but he is esteemed, and respected so much the more, as he hath lesse commendation elsewhere, then from his owne deserts. How much more yet is he reverenced, if he doe it in time of need, in matter of great moment, when it standeth vponupon life, and death? should not such an one be advanced, and for his skill, and fidelitie worthily be promoted into their roomes, who are vnworthie of them, both for their ignorance, and vnfaithfulnesse? If this be practised, and that profitably in the affai…es of the world, for the supreame law, is the service of the King, and safety of the people; shall not the same bee practised in the Church, in divine affaires, which concerne the glory of the King of Kings, the eternall safety of our soules, the importance of the gaine, or losse being infinite. It is a… ordinary law of nature, that heavy bodies descend as it were to their center, the place of their rest, & conseruation; and yet this law is subiect to another more generall law of nature, which commandeth, that there be no vacuity against the ordinary law of nature; so that rather then there should be any emptinesse light bodies will sinke downe, and heauy bodies will mount vp. Iust so it is in Ecclesiasticall, and ciuill affaires. In the church it is an ordinary law, that every man in it follow his calling, hold his ranke, keepe the law prescribed him, to avoid confusion, which must needes arise from each ones intermedling with anothers function. But this law is subiect to another more vniuersall law, of more importance and necessity, which commandeth every one to forget his ordinary condition, and to abandon his priuate ranke, that he may goe against some extreame evill, and keep backe some irreparable losse, when it cannot otherwise be avoyded, then by this seeming breach of his ranke. I say seeming, for indeede, hee which vponupon a reasonable, and vrgent occasion quitteth his place, quitteth it not, but keepeth it: hee should abandon it, in not abandoning in this case: euen as heauy bodies should either moue, or rest against nature, if they forsooke not their ordinary centers, to ascend aloft, when by their ascent they should hinder a vacuity: So the souldier, who being ascertained, that his captiane hath traiterously deliuered the gate to the enemy, should superstitiously keepe his ranke, and not set vponupon his captaine, hee would not in effect in this case keepe his ranke, but whil'st hee would doe the duty of a souldier, hee would bee found to hauehave committed the act of a traytor.