A Treatise of Episcopacy, Part 2 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII. The fourth Argument, From the Impoſſibility of their performance of the Epiſcopal Office, in a Dioceſane Church; And the certain excluſion and deſtruction of true particular Church Government, while one man only will undertake a work too great for many hundreds.
ALI that I have ſaid hitherto is far ſhort of this one Argument, from the notorious unqueſtionable miſchiefs which the oppoſed frame of Prelacy doth infer; not probably, but certainly; not only where Biſhops are bad, but with the beſt; not in ſome Churches, but in all.
ARGUMENT IV.
That Form of Prelacy is not lawful and to be ſworn to, which maketh the Epiſcopal Office impoſſible to be performed, and certainly deſtroyeth and nullifieth true particular Church Government wherever it obtaineth. But ſuch is the oppoſed frame.
None will deny the Major but the Eraſtians, who think that the Magiſtrate only is the Church Governour (which as to forcing Government is true) And they that ſo think, muſt needs be againſt Biſhops otherwiſe than as they are Preachers or Magiſtrates. Therefore I may let them paſs.
The Minor I am to prove by parts.
It muſt be remembred, that I have ſhewed how great the Dioceſes are, and that no work proper to the Office of a Biſhop can be done by a Lay-man, or any but a Biſhop. And have prevented the pretence of doing it per alios. And now I muſt ſhew more fully than in the former breviate, what the work of a Biſhop is; And then you ſhall ſee whether it be not impoſſible. And leſt you think I preciſely feign more work than God hath put upon them, I will take it out of Scripture and Dr. Hammonds Annotations.
I. The Teaching of the Flock. II. The Prieſtly worſhipping of God with them. III. The Government of them by Diſcipline, are the three parts of the Biſhops Office, as hath been proved.
I. The Teaching of the Flock is, 1. Publick Teaching them in their Sacred Aſſemblies, by expounding and applying the word of God. 1 Pet. 5. 2, 3. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the overſight thereof, &c. ſaith Dr. Hammond, [The Biſhops of your ſeveral Churches, I exhort—take care of your ſeveral Churches and govern them, &c.]
Heb. 13. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have ſpoken to you the word of God. Dr. H. [Set before your eyes the Biſhops and Governours that have been in your Church and preached the Goſpel to you—] Acts 20. 7. Upon the firſt day of the week when the Diſciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them—] Matth. 24. 45, 46. Who then is a faithful and wiſe ſervant whom his Lord hath made ruler over his houſhold to give them meat in due ſeaſon.]
1 Theſ. 5. 12. We beſeech you brethren to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admoniſh you, and to eſteem them very highly in love for their works ſake.] D. H. [Pay (your Biſhops) as great a reſpect as is poſſible for the pains they have taken among you.]
1 Tim. 5. 17. The Elders that rule well are worthy of double honour, eſpecially they that labour in the word and doctrine.] D. H. [Let the Biſhops that have diſcharged that function well, receive for their Reward twice as much as others have, eſpecially thoſe that preach the Goſpel to whom it was news, and alſo continue to inſtruct congregations of Chriſtians in ſetled Churches.] 1 Tim. 3. 2. A Biſhop muſt be—apt to teach.] D. H. [One that is able and ready to communicate to others the knowledge that himſelf hath.]
2 Tim. 4. 1, 2. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom, preach the word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-ſuffering and doctrine.] See Dr. H. Annot.
And can one Biſhop be the publick Teacher of a thouſand, a hundred, or many Churches: Can he feed them, and give them their meat in due ſeaſon? where one of a thouſand never heard his voice nor ſaw his face? Is the flock with them or among them? Can you ſay to his Dioceſe, I beſeech you know the Biſhop that laboureth among you and admoniſheth you, and eſteem him highly in love for his works ſake? Will they not ſay you mock them, and that they cannot know him whom they never ſaw; nor love him for his work and admonition among them, that never was among them, that never workt with them, that never admoniſht them; but only that one of many hundred ſaw him, and heard a Viſitation Sermon in one City or market Town once in three years, or a year at moſt. Muſt many hundred Congregations that never heard him, give him double honour that preacheth ſometime to one Congregation a hundred or twenty miles from them, and this as their Inſtructing Elder? Judge of the poſſibility of this.
2. The Biſhops are alſo bound to private helps, inſtruction, counſel, and to watch over all the flock, and every particular member of them; as a Father muſt look to every Child, and a ſhepherd to every ſheep, and a Phyſician to every Patient.
Acts 20. 20, 28, 31. I taught you publickly and from houſe to houſe—Take heed therefore to your ſelves and to all the flock over which the holy Ghoſt hath made you Overſeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own bloud—Therefore watch, and remember that by the ſpace of three years, I ceaſed not to warn every one night and day with tears] D. H. [Inſtructing both in the Synagogues, and in private Schools, and in your ſeveral houſes whither I alſo came—Wherefore ye that are Biſhops or Governours of the ſeveral Churches,—look to your ſelves and the Churches committed to your truſt, to rule and order all the faithful Chriſtians under you.]
Col. 1. 28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wiſdom, that we may preſent every man perfect in Chriſt Jeſus.] Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your ſouls as thoſe that muſt give account.] D. H. [Obey thoſe that are ſet to Rule over your ſeveral Churches, the Biſhops, whoſe whole care is ſpent among you, as being to give an account of your proficiency in the Goſpel.]
I before cited Ignatius telling the Biſhop that he muſt enquire after every one by name, even ſervants and maids. And Dr. Jer. Taylor who ſaith, No man can be accountable for them that he knoweth not (or cannot know.)
Now is it poſſible for a Biſhop to do this: To inſtruct, overſee, counſel, one of many hundreds of the flock? who know him no more than one in another kingdom? Is this paſtoral teaching of particular Souls, to have an Apparitor call one of a thouſand when he Conformeth not, or offendeth, to a Chancellors Court; How little know they what the work of a Paſtor is that think ſo?
3. Biſhops muſt teach the flock by their own viſible example; By holy ſpeaking and holy living before their flocks. Heb. 13. 7. [Remember them which have the rule over you, who have ſpoken to you the word of God, whoſe faith follow, conſidering the end of their converſations.] D. H. [Set before your eyes the Biſhops—obſerve their manner of living.] If it were the Pope at Rome, we might caſt a conjecture by the report of that great liar fame, Becauſe it is a place that we hear often from in the Curranto's and Gazets: But no Ga…et telleth us of the life of our Biſhop. And how ſhall thoſe obſerve their manner of living, who know not whether they be alive or dead, till a Miniſter is to be ſilenced, or a new Biſhop doth ſucceed the old? You may as well bid us obſerve how they live in the Weſt-Indies.
1 Pet. 1. 5. 3. Neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage (or having dominion over your charges) but being enſamples to the Flock.] D. H. [Walking Chriſtianly and exemplarily before them.] What! before them that never ſaw or heard them? Before men of another Countrey, that may ſwear and not repent with Peter, We know not the man? What! be examples to them that are out of the notice of their words and lives? But if really you think that fame is ſufficient, 1. It muſt be of perſons and things not too far off. 2. It muſt be in a Golden age or another world, where good men are not hated and calumniated, and where bad men if Great are not extolled, and where falſe reports be not eaſily believed and reported; where a vile perſon is contemned, and thoſe that fear the Lord are honoured; Where the faithfulleſt Paſtors are not the object of Great mens jealouſie, of bad mens malice, of diſſenters and contentious mens backbitings and reproch, and are not made the drunkards ſong, nor the ſcorn and off-ſcouring of all things, and where he that reproveth or departeth from evil, doth not make himſelf a prey; or at leaſt where malignity, worldlineſs, and lying are not the predominant humours of the Age. When you have ſecured us of a true fame, we will make the example of a ſtranger of another land or Dioceſe, (as ſoon as one of this Dioceſe as ſtrange to us) the exemplar of our lives.
4. Another part of the Biſhops work is to preach to thoſe without that are uncalled, as he hath opportunity: To labour in the word and Doctrine, 1 Tim. 5. 17. ſaith Dr. H. To preach the Goſpel to whom it was news: which made Dr. Downam and other Prelatiſts ſay That the City and Territories are their Dioceſe even when few of them are converted, that they may firſt convert them and then govern them; and Dr. H. to Note out of Clem. Rom. that they are made Biſhops over the Infidels that ſhould after believe. And doubtleſs they muſt do their beſt to call the unbelieving and impenitent to Chriſt.
And how much of this will a Biſhop have time to do, that hath the work of a Dioceſe of Chriſtians on his hands?
5. It is the work of a Biſhop to Baptize, or at leaſt to judge of thoſe that are to be Baptized, Matth. 28. 19. Go and diſciple me all nations baptizing them. And Dr. H. thinketh that no Presbyter, but Biſhops baptized in Scripture time, becauſe there were then no other exiſtent. And it is too evident in Antiquity (by what I before cited) that no child or aged perſon was uſually baptized without a Biſhop (when Biſhops came up,) at leaſt they uſed to anoint their noſtrils, &c. with holy oyl. And doubtleſs they that Baptized or admitted to baptiſm, did examine them of their faith, and reſolutions, before they took them into the Covenant and Vow of God. And how many hundreds in a year can the Biſhop do this for, beſides all his other work?
6. It is by the Engliſh Canons and Rubrick the Biſhops duty to confirm all that were baptized: many think it is meant in Heb. 6. 1, 2. Our Biſhops take it for a proper part of their work. And they that muſt confirm them according to our Liturgy, muſt know their underſtanding, and receive their profeſſion of their faith, and ſtanding to their Baptiſmal Covenant, which requireth ſome time and labour with each one, for him that will not make a mockery of it. Look into the Bills of London, which tell you how many are born every week; and thence conjecture how many hundreds in a year the Biſhop hath in that Dioceſe to Confirm, and conſequently in other Dioceſes proportionably? Or if that will not inform you, try over England where you come, how many are (though but curſorily as a haſty ceremony) confirmedat all? Whether it be one of many hundreds? And ſet this to the reſt of the Biſhops work.
7. It is the Biſhops work to defend the truth againſt gainſayers, to confute and ſtop the mouths of Hereticks and contradicters, and confirm the troubled and wavering minded in the faith: not by fire and ſword, nor by a quick prohibition of others to preach; but by ſober conferences, and weight of evidence, and by Epiſtles as Paul did, when they are not at hand, yea even to other Churches: and as one that is gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekneſs inſtructing them that oppoſe themſelves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 2 Tim. 2. 24, 25. And ſhall the Biſhop do this for many hundred Churches? While he is defending the poor flock againſt Papiſts, Quakers, Arrians, Socinians, Infidels (alas how numerous are the deceivers!) at Newark, or Gainsborough, or Boſton, what ſhall they all do between that and Barnet, or the remoteſt part of Buckinghamſhire?
II. The ſecond part of the Biſhops office is to be the peoples Prieſtly guides in Gods worſhip: principally in the publick Aſſemblies, and oft in private, viz.
1. To confeſs the peoples ſins and their own: To be their own and the Churches mouth in prayer, thankſgiving and the praiſes of the Lord. And in how many hundred Congregations at once will they do this?
2. To conſecrate and diſtribute the Sacrament of Communion; and conſequently to diſcern who are fit for it. And in how many Churches at once will he do this?
3. To bleſs the Congregation at the end of every meeting. All theſe I have before proved that the ancient Biſhops did; and Dr. Hammond ſaith, No other in Scripture times; And what Ubiquitary ſhall do this.
4. And in private it is the Biſhop that muſt viſit the ſick, that muſt be ſent for by them all, and muſt pray with them. As Dr. H. at large proveth, Annot. in Jam. 5. I have told you before how well and for how many he is able to do this, in one of our Dioceſes. If that ſerve not turn, I pray you if you are foreigners, ask Engliſh men what number it is of ſick men in a Dioceſe that are viſited and prayed with by the Biſhop? Compare them with the Bills of Mortality in London, and judge proportionably of the reſt, whether he viſit one of many thouſands of ſuch as die, to ſay nothing of all the ſick that do recover.
5. And it is the Biſhops work to receive all the offerings, firſt-fruits, tythes, and other maintenance of the Church, as the Canons before cited ſay. And ſee Dr. H. on Act. 2. c. and Act. 4. 33, 34, 35, &c.
6. It was the Biſhops work to take care of all the Poor, Orphans, Widows, Strangers, as the Canons cited ſhew; And Dr. H. on 1 Cor. 12. 28. c. ſaith [The ſupreme truſt a…d charge was reſerved to the Apoſtles and Biſhops of the Church.] So in Can. 41. Apoſt. A Biſhop muſt have the care of the moneys, ſo that by his power all be diſpenſed to the poor, &c. where he citeth Juſt. Mart. and Polycarp. for a particular care. I have before told you that if the poor of every pariſh be not relieved till the Biſhop take notice of them, few of the poor in England would be any more for Biſhops, than for famine, nakedneſs, and death.
III. But the principal thing which I reckon impoſſible, and is, and muſt be deſtroyed by Dioceſanes, is the Government of all the particular Churches, (or Pariſhes) in the Dio…ſe.
Where note, 1. That I ſpeak not of the Magiſtrates Government, 2. No… of that General Inſpection by which an Archbiſhop or General Paſtor overſeeth the inferiour Biſhops with their flocks, as a general Officer doth the Regiments and Troops in his Army, which have Colonels and Captains of their own. But I ſpeak of the particular Church Government of the Biſhops of ſingle Churches, like that of Captains over their own troops, or rather Schoolmaſters in their ſeveral Schools.
And I the rather mention this becauſe Biſhops making it more proper to themſelves, than Teaching or Worſhip, muſt hold, (were they conſiſtent with themſelves) that they can leſs delegate it to others.
The exerciſe of the Keys are 1. For entrance by Baptiſm. 2. By confirmation (rightly underſtood, as in a peculiar Treatiſe I have opened it) 3. By Reproof, Conſolation, Excommunication, and Abſolution of particular perſons, which I am now to ſpeak of.
Where diſtinctly note I. What the work is Materially, II. In what manner it muſt be done, III. On how great a number of perſons.
I. 1. To receive accuſations and informations of all the great and perilous hereſies, crimes, and ſcandals in the Dioceſe.
2. To judge of the credibility of the witneſſes (hardly done by a ſtranger) and of the validity of their proofs. For Councils themſelves have petitioned the Emperours, that ungodly perſons might not be witneſſes, who make ſo ſmall a matter of other ſins, as that they may be ſuppoſed to make but little of falſe witneſſing. Elſe an Atheiſt or Infidel or man of no conſcience (as he never need to miſs of Church preferment, for want of conforming to mens wills, ſo) he may be maſter of the …ame, liberty, and lives of all honeſt men, at his pleaſure, and govern them that govern Church and State. Therefore Biſhops themſelves muſt difference between witneſſes: And to ſay, I know an honeſt man that knoweth an honeſt man that ſaith they are honeſt men, is a poor ſatisfaction in compariſon of perſonal knowledge. Much leſs to truſt the whole trial to another.
3. He muſt hear the accuſed perſon ſpeak for himſelf. For there is no judging till both are heard.
4. He muſt rebuke falſe accuſers, and juſtifie the innocent, and vindicate their good name.
5. He muſt by convincing arguments and melting affections, labour to bring the ſinner to Repentance.
6. He muſt deſire the Church to be witneſſes of his faithful admonitions, and to avoid the like crimes and impenitence themſelves, and to pray God to give Repentance to the offender.
7. He muſt publickly declare the impenitent excommunicate, and bind him over to anſwer it at the bar of God, and ſet Gods terrors before his Conſcience.
8. He muſt try and judge of the Truth of the Repentance of thoſe that ſay they do repent (where all the ancient rigorous Penances came in.) And not truſt every incredible ſaying, I Repent.
9. He muſt receive thoſe publickly into the Church that truly repent, or credibly profeſs to do ſo; and muſt comfort him with the declaration of the pardon of his ſin.
10. He muſt perſwade the Church to receive him into their affections and Chriſtian Communion, and to eſteem and uſe him as a Brother again.
II. And as to the Manner, all this muſt be done, 1. with great Prudence and diſcretion; elſe the Church may ſoon be ſet on fire, (as by a confeſſion of a Deacons adulteries at Conſtantinople, &c.) 2. It muſt be done with deliberation and througheſt acquaintance and information of the truth: elſe raſh and haſty judgments, and believing knaves will diſgrace the Biſhop, and injure the juſt, and gratifie the wicked, & breed uncurable breaches between ſo unjuſt a Biſhop and the flock. 3. It muſt be done with the greateſt ſeriouſneſs, reverence, and gravity; As knowing that the honour of God and Religion and the Church lieth on it, and the comfort or recovery of the ſouls of men, and the preſervation of the reſt.
It is not a Chancellors check, nor ſaying, do you repent, and will you pay your fees, that diſpatcheth ſuch a work as this. It requireth much skill, and time and patience. Poor ſinners muſt not be taken in a paſſion; nor is it imperious frowns that melt men into true Repentance: The opening of the nature of the ſin, and the aggravation, not reproachfully but convincingly; the awakening of a ſecure hardened ſinner, with the terrors of the Lord; the drawing him home by the opening of the motives of Love and mercy; do all require greater skill, and holineſs, and love to Souls, than moſt Biſhops have that ever I was acquainted with; much more than a Lay Chancellor hath, who is the man that doth the work, that never pretended to be a Divine.
I muſt profeſs for my own part, that when I did this with others for one Pariſh, it called for more skill, and holy affections, and conſequently more convinced me of my weakneſs, by far, than publick preaching to the people. The heart of an honeſt judge will be turned within him, before he paſs the ſentence of death on an offender. And before we paſs the ſentence of Excommunication, our bowels muſt yearn over poor ſouls, and all means be tried to recover them.
And here it is not the cleareſt witneſs of the crime that will ſerve turn: For men are not to be excommunicated for any ordinary crime, unleſs it have impenitency and obſtinacy added to it. And therefore the work of the Biſhop is (not like a ſecular Court to judge only of the fact and fault, but) to judge of mens repentance or Impenitence. And that is a thing that cannot be done by a few Lordly awful words.
You will ſay, Becauſe of all this we judge that ordinary Prieſts are not to be truſted with ſo great a work, but a few wiſe and Reverend Prelates.
Anſ. 1. I never yet knew the beſt Biſhop that was to be compared for ability in this work to many a Pariſh Miniſter that I have known: Nor did I ever know One Biſhop tolerably fit for it, who had not for a conſiderable time been a laborious Pariſh Miniſter. Thoſe that come from the Univerſities to be Noblemens and Biſhops Chaplains, and ſo get the Tythes of two or three rich Benefices, and then are made Prebends, Deans, and Maſters of Colledges; and then he made Biſhops, may read, and talk of all this work; but know no more what it is indeed than I know how to build an houſe.
2. An experienced Miniſter that liveth upon the place and knoweth all the perſons and witneſſes, hath incomparable advantage above a ſtrange Prelate.
3. One that is their familiar and ordinary Teacher, whom they neither contemn, nor fear with a carnal awe, for fear of puniſhment, may diſcern whether Repentance be credibly ſerious; which he that aweth them by greatneſs and terror ſhall never know: For almoſt all the verieſt beaſts will there profeſs Repentance, though they come home with redoubled malice againſt the perſons that would have reformed them: Only a man that believeth he is in the right will incur the Biſhops wrath for not confeſſing that he is in the wrong.
4. But yet our Caution is far greater than the Biſhops; For becauſe this requireth ſo much skill and faithfulneſs, we would have no one Man truſted with it (except in a caſe of neceſſity, when a Church can have no more) For in the multitude of Counſellers is ſafety: We would have every Church have a Conſeſſus of Presbyters (and if one be a Biſhop we contend not againſt it) And we would have it done in the preſence of the Seniors of the flock, who know the perſons; that ſo if one ſhould want skill or truſtineſs, he might be helpt by others, or hindred from doing wrong. And if all this will not do, we would have the next Synod of neighbour Paſtors to have a final audience of the caſe.
And now let any thing except utterly blinding Pride and Partiality be judge; WHETHER A CONSESSVS OF MINISTERS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SENIORS OF THE FLOCK, WHO ALL KNOW THE PERSONS, be not liker to JUDGE RIGHTLY IN ONE PARISH, where alſo a neighbour Synod may review the caſe, than ONE STRANGE PRELATE or CHANCELLOR FOR A DIOCESE OF MANY CHURCHES, WHERE HE KNOWETH NOT THE PERSONS:
Eſpecially when this Chancellor and all the Proctors and Officers of the Courts do live (in wealth) upon the Trade, and therefore muſt manage it as a trade: When in the way that we deſire, no Presbyter, nor Synod, ſhould have one farthing for all his pains, but his comfort in obeying God, and end cavouring the Churches good and mens ſalvation.
Alas Lord, How long ſhall Chriſts enemies be the Paſtors of his flocks? and the ſeed of the ſerpent be the great inſtruments that muſt break the ſerpents head, and the lovers of ſin be they that muſt be the ſuppreſſers of it, and thoſe employed to teach men knowledge, who themſelves will not know, and to preach up holineſs who cannot endure it? To willing minds theſe things are plain.
Church Diſcipline hath its effect on the Conſciences of men, and theſe things take as they come with ſpiritual life, light and love. We ſee in our Preaching, how much all work is loſt, which is done proudly, unskilfully and marred in the manner. And true Paſtoral diſcipline muſt work juſt as Preaching muſt do, it being but a more particular application of the ſame word, to perſons and carſes. Athanaſius Patriarcha Conſtantinop▪ in his fifth Epiſtle for the reſidence of Biſhops (Bibl. Patr. T. 3. p. 159.) ſaith of conſtant preaching [Haec nocte dieque debent ſinguli Paſtores gregibus ſuis inculcare, quae tam neceſſaria ſunt, quam eſt reſpirare animanti: Neceſſarium inquam omnia judicia & teſtimonia Dei denunciare; ita ut ab hoc eſt proſperitas & opulentia, And in his three laſt Epiſtles he counſelleth the Emperor to force thoſe Biſhops to Preaching and Vigilancy, that will not do it without force.
And indeed, unjuſt Excommunications moſt hurt the Excommunicators. Read Nicon's Epiſtle ad Euch▪ de injuſta Excommunicatione, proving that an unjuſt Excommunication bindeth not another, but falleth on the Excommunicators head.
But the ſad truth is, that it's uſual with the Prelates to confeſs the vanity of their own Spiritual power, and to call it a leaden ſword, which would but be deſpiſed, if it were not backt with the Magiſtrates ſword, which is the very thing they truſt to.
But of this anon.
III. And laſtly, let it be conſidered objectively what work it is that every Biſhop hath to do: and then you ſhall ſee whether it be poſſible.
1. As to the number of Sins in ſpecie. 2. As to the number of Sinners.
1. Such ſins as are in other Countries, and as are condemned in Scripture are among us alſo. 1. As to Intellectual evils, we have ignorant perſons who neither know what Chriſt or Chriſtianity is, or what a Sacrament is, or what are the Eſſentials of Faith. We have Atheiſts that think there is no God, or ſay ſo at leaſt; we have more Infidels, that deride Chriſt and Chriſtianity: we have impious perſons who make a mock of Godlineſs: we have Quakers and Familiſts, and Seekers, who either deny the Scripture to be Gods word, or true, or ſay Scripture, Church and Miniſtry are loſt, or turn Scripture into an Allegory, or that prefer the light within every man, Heathens and all, as ſufficient without it; and Enthuſiaſts and true Fanaticks who truſt to inward Revelations and impulſes inſtead of Gods word. We have Papiſts, we have Antinomians, Libertines, and more Sects which the Biſhops themſelves can name you, and overcharge.
2. And for more voluntary ſins, we have almoſt all the breaches of all the commandments: We have open enemies of preaching, praying, ſacraments, family duties, catechizing, the Lords days holy obſervation: Common ſcorners of thoſe that fear to ſin, and diligently ſeek God. We have (if the Biſhops could know them) malignant perſecutors, that would force Gods ſervants to moſt odious ſins, that hinder Chriſts Miniſters from doing the work to which they are devoted, and from preaching to ſinners the Goſpel of Chriſt, and calling them to Repent and live. We have idolaters, falſe worſhippers, blaſphemers, perjured perſons, common prophane ſwearers, and curſers, and liars; and we have children deſpiſers and diſhonourers of their parents, and ſervants of their maſters; and ſubjects of Princes and Rulers, (and whether of Biſhops and Paſtors, let the Biſhops judge:) Profane families; husband and wife living in open enmity or wrath: we have murderers, fighters, railers, ſuch as maliciouſly ſeek the ruine of others, great and ſmall oppreſſors, thieves, defrauders, adulterers and fornicators, filthy ſpeakers, gluttons, drunkards, ſuch as waſte their lives in gaming, plays, and idleneſs, falſe-witneſſes, Simoniacal, bribe-takers, ſubverters of juſtice, to ſay nothing of the notorious effects of groſs uncharitableneſs, covetouſneſs, and pride. Theſe and more than theſe are here.
2. And for the number of ſinners; 1. Conjecture by the number of perſons: 2. And then by the commonneſs of the ſins.
1. I have before oft told you that ſome Dioceſes have many hundred Pariſhes, ſome above a thouſand; and in the leſſer ſort of theſe Pariſhes, commonly there are in ſome 50, in moſt 100 or 200 families; and in the greater and Market Towns, there are in ſome of the leſſer about 1000 ſouls, in the middle ſort about 2000 or 3000 or 4000; and in the bigger about 5000 or 6000, and ſome few 10000: And in the greateſt Pariſhes of all in London, ſome 20000, ſome 40000, ſome 50000, and it is ſaid in ſome many thouſands more.
2. And for the ſins, 1. The Biſhops themſelves ſay, that Atheiſm, Infidelity, and deriſion of Scripture and Religion aboundeth among ſuch as I will not name: 2. They ſay themſelves that Rebels, and Quakers, and Seekers, and Enthuſiaſts, &c. are ſo many as that they know not what to do with them. 3. They ſay themſelves that Papiſts ſo increaſe, as that they give out their hopes to ſwallow up all. 4. One ſort which they call Schiſmaticks, as being againſt their intereſt, they really exerciſe their power againſt: and find that this one ſort are more than they know what to do with. 5. The number that malignantly labour to make all ſeriouſneſs and diligence in ſeeking God, to become a ſcorned hated thing, and make it to ſeem meer ſelf-conceitedneſs and hypocriſie, and to keep people from obeying God, is ſo great, as we cannot reckon them. 6. The number of the groſly ignorant is lamentably great. 7. Common ſwearers and curſers are uſually met with in our ordinary converſe. 8. How common drunkenneſs is, let lamenting Parents, grieved wives, and beggered families tell you. 9. Whether fornication and adultery (rarely heard of till of late, comparatively) be now grown common, if not in faſhion, I leave the Prelates themſelves to judge. 10. To paſs by all the reſt, Whether ſerious credible Repentance (though not expreſſed by the ancient ſevere penances) be now a common thing, for theſe or many other ſins, I am content that any Engliſh man be judge, that ever laboured to bring men to Repentance, and knoweth what Repentance is.
And now by this conjecture 1. How many thouſands (I ſay not the Biſhop who puts it off, but) the Lay-chancellor hath to ſtand at his bar at once, if diſcipline were tolerably exerciſed. 2. How many years, the accuſers and offenders were like to wait before a cauſe could be heard. 3. Or how ſpiritually, powerfully, meltingly this Lay-man (that never preached) is like to draw all theſe thouſands to Repentance. 4. What the Sinner and the Church ſhall do till the year come that they can be heard. 5. Whether it be poſſible for any ſuch thing as true Paſtoral conviction, exhortation, diſcipline, to be ever exerciſed on them at all, whileſt that new ſins, even heinous ones are ſtill committed; and the Biſhop or Chancellor or Surrogate, that had a thouſand, or ten thouſand ſinners at once to ſpeak to, when he could deal but with ſix or ſeven in a day (if he did nothing elſe,) ſhall before he can examine their caſes have thouſands more (of their and others) to examine.
So that nothing of this nature can be more notorious, than that our controverſie with the Biſhops is but ſuch as theſe: Whether the Lord Mayor alone ſhall not only overſee all the Families in the City, but be the Only Governour of them, ſo that Husbands, Parents, and Maſters, ſhall only teach and exhort their families, but the Lord Mayor alone ſhall rule them, as to their daily works, their ſpeeches and their lives.
Or whether the City and the whole Dioceſe ſhall have but one Schoolmaſter, who ſhall be the ſole governour of all the Schools in all thoſe hundred pariſhes, 20, or 40, or 100 miles diſtant, and the Schools ſhall have under him only Curate Uſhers, who ſhall only teach the boyes as far as they are willing to learn, and for all their untractableneſs, diſobedience, abſence, and faults, ſhall preſent their names to a Chancellors Court, ſet up by the ſole ruling Schoolmaſter.
Or whether all the Colledges in the Univerſity ſhall have no Governour but the Vicechancellor, and the reſt be but Tutors to the Voluntiers.
Or whether all the Patients in a Dioceſe ſhall have but one Phyſician, to govern the Patient by preſcripts, and under him only Apothecaries to carry about his medicines and directions? Indeed if it were the Phyſicians work to play the Soldier, and cut all their throats, it might be done in a ſhort time. But healing requireth more ado. And if it were the Biſhops or Chancellors work to do no more, than to read an accuſation, and ſay, Do you Repent, and (as ſome do, becauſe they muſt be thrice admoniſhed,) to ſay at once, I admoniſh you, I admoniſh you, I admoniſh you, I excommunicate you; or to do as the Pope doth, Interdict whole Kingdoms at once, (as Herod killed all the children in hope that he ſhould meet with Chriſt among them,) then a few hands might do the work. But whether it be poſſible to exerciſe the diſcipline of Chriſt, in their Dioceſan way on one of a thouſand, let the impartial judge: As alſo whether that Church be fitlier ſaid to be governed or ungoverned where one of a thouſand is governed indeed, whenas it is the body of the people, and not one of a thouſand, that is called the Church.