The Fundamentals of the Hierarchy Examined and Disproved, Title page – Introduction
NAZIANZENI QUERELA ET VOTUM JUSTUM. The Fundamentals of the HIERARCHY examin'd and disprov'd:
Wherein the choicest Arguments and Defences of the most applauded and latest Hierarchick or Prelatick Writers, A. M. D. D. the Author of An Enquiry into the New Opinions (chiefly) propagated by the Presbyterians in Scotland, the Author of the Fundamental Charter of Presbytry examin'd & disprov'd, and many others are sincerely expended, the Plea they bring from Ignatius's Epistles more narrowly discuss'd, many things much enlightening this Controversy, either not at all, or not so fully hitherto unfolded, are, from ancient Church-Writers, and other unsuspected Authors, advanc'd.
By William Jameson.
foreign.
Would to God there were no Prelacy, no Prerogative of Place, no Tyrannical Priviledges, that by Vertue alone we might be discerned. Now this Right and Left Hand, and midle Rank, these higher and lower Dignities, and this Statelike Precedence, have caused many fruitless Conflicts and Bruises, have cast many into the Pit, and carri'd away Multitudes to the place of the Goats.
Gregorius Nazianzenus Orat. 28.
GLASGOW, Printed by Robert Sanders, for the Author. Anno DOM. 1697.
The Introduction to all the sincere Lovers of the Christian, truly Catholick, Protestant Principles; and the Haters of Romish Dross and Innovations, but Chiefly to these of the Church of SCOTLAND.
I Can truly say I am so far from loving a Salamandra's Life, the line of Contention, or Controversie for Controversie's sake, as to pray earnestly that all our intestine Heats and Strugglings may resolve into that happy and lawfull Striving, how each of us may best please him that has called us unto Holiness & Peace, and that there be no Provocation, save unto Love and to good Works. My main End is only to Dis-abuse my Protestant Brethren mislead by some who are so uncharitable as to Vn-church and Damn the greater and better part of the Reformed, because they imbrace not as Divine that which, at best, is but of Humane Device, and who thus conspire with the mortal Enemies of all Protestants, against these of 'em whom the common and unsatiable Adversaries most implacably hate: for, above all others, the Presbyterian Puritans (as they speak) are acknowledg'd to be most irreconcilable to the Roman Catholick Doctrine, and on this account, the prime Object of their Malice. This is obvious in the Writings of the Romanists; but chiefly in these of the Jesuites; witness (to name no more) Petavius in his books of the Hierarchy and Appendix thereto, and another Papist the Author of Presbytries Triall, prime Armories whence our present Adversaries fetch most of their weapons. The Papists in this, as in many things else, are followed by the Quakers, as is evident from most of their Pamphlets, but more especially from a pretended Answer to a part of a Book, wherein I gave some further Discoveries than had been already made of the Impieties and Self-contradictions of that Sect. This Answer they (for I do not think that it belongs all to one Parent) name The Plow-man rebuking the Priest: of which I can say, with with the Prophet Jeremiah, that I have suffer'd Rebuke for my God's sake; and, with Job, can take mine Adversaries Book on my shoulder, and bind it as a Crown to me, having receiv'd all along thro't, in stead of a Confutation, a most strong Confirmation of the Truth of the Doctrine I propugn'd, and much more ground to abhorr the Impieties of Quakerism, and to bless God who hath brought to pass that their very Attempts to palliat their Abominations, proved a further Detection thereof. Read, pray, earnestly, and compare it with mine, and you shall find them most frequently yealding the whole Controversy, as also overskipping the marrow of what I had adduc'd, and yet anon triumphing as if they had never, in the least, been guilty of such dealling; you shall find that the most pardonable pieces of their Book are wild Gibberies, extravagant Roveries, meer Impertinencies, palpable Perversions, loud Lies, Heresies, Blasphemies, and, in a ward, a lump of stuff so Atheisticall, that it proclaims the Authors neither to fear God, nor regard man, never to have consulted Conscience, nor to have remembred of future Judgement, or of the account they must give at the tremenduous Tribunal of God. Yet all this is but what I expected, and is not unworthy of these, who, with Satan's sworn Slaves, renounce their Holy Baptism, and, therewith, whatsoever is constitutive of a Christian. For a further Manifestation whereof, hear the Quakers themselves, who are now split into Factions; to wit, into Keithians, after George Keith a prime Pillar of Quakerism; and Foxonians, as they're called: These reckon the Keithian Quakers for lost, and call G. K. aJudgement given forth &c. Page 12.Brat of Babylon, Apostate, worse than prophane, a Liar, Devil, one that always endeavoured to keep down the Power of Truth, gone into a spirit of Enmity, foaming out his own shame, without the Fear of God before his Eyes, a Preacher of two Christs &c. Again G. K. bIbid.who is herein approv'd by his Keithian Quakers, calls them Fools, ignorant Heathens, Infidels, Liars, Hereticks, rotten Ranters, persecuting Quakers cThe Trial of Peter Boss &c. Page 6.; And informs usdPlea for the Innocent. Page 12. that no such damnable Heresies &c, are tolerated in any Christian Society as are among many called Quakers. For Example thatePag. 11. they deny the Day of Judgement and any Resurrection, but what they have already attained; that they make the Light sufficient without any thing else excluding the Man Christ Jesus, and his Obedience, Death and Resurrection, Ascension, and Mediation for us in Heaven. I am grieved (writes J. Humphrey's fMore Divisions amongst the Quakers Page 15.to hear some say they expect to be justifi'd by that Blood which was shed at Jerusalem. Wherein, as G. K. shews, he's patroniz'd by not a few. Another great Zelot among the Quakers said, and affirmed boldly (saith G. K. gJudgement given forth &c. Page 17. and Append. to the History of the Quakers. Pag. 16.that he expected not to be saved by that which di'd at Jerusalem, to wit the Man Christ. And again G. K. hIbid. pag. 12.calls them Pelagians and Deists. Andiibid. pag. 17. To many of the Quakers (saith G. K.) all are Christians [to wit, Jews, Mahumetans, Painims] in whom any good seed of Religion appeareth, and which they say is from Christ, yea is Christ himself. Andkibid. pag. 20. Many, yea the most, or rather almost all the Ministers among the Quakers (very few excepted) do affirm, that this inward Light is sufficient to bring forth the new Birth, and to give eternall Salvation, without any thing, without us, that is, without the man Christ that was outwardly born, and crucified and rose again, whom some of their Ministers in my hearing, hath called an outward thing, a shell, a husk, that doth little or nothing profit us, and the Faith of which doth nothing profit us. And William Penn (continues G. K.) in that Meeting at Ratcliff, where he falfly called me an Apostate, did publickly proclaim after this manner: Friends, said he, I see no great need of preaching, the Faith of Christ's Death and Sufferings, for all England and all Christendom hath that Faith, and it doth not profit them. But the Faith which profiteth Men is the Faith of Christ within, and that Friends preach. Let now (saith G. K.) the Author judge, or any other intelligent Person (professing Christianity) whether William Penn hath not sufficiently by these words proved himself an Apostate from the Christian Faith.
Thus you have a taste (for it is no more, compar'd with what I could produce) of Quakerism from the Quakers themselves. Surely most admirable and adorable is divine Providence in so prodigiously strange, and clear a Detection of these infernal Blasphemies and Abominations, from the very Mouths of the chief Actors themselves; to the end, doubtless, that all may hear and fear, tremble and quake indeed to meddle, in the least, with these Quakers, least God (as is the Lot of these Wretches) by giving them up to so strange Delusions and damnable Lies, make their Plagues wonderfull. May God mercifully grant, (as the Effect of this Discovery) that the sound and stable Christians may regard the Operations of his Hand, and give due Praise to him that preserves them from so deadly an Infection; that the Weak may be confirm'd in their Belief of these Divine Verities which are reveal'd in the Holy Scriptures, and that these who are catch'd in the Gin may yet escape, like a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowler.
But of Quakers enough; only I must repeat that I cannot think my Plow-man to be the sole Author of the Book that bears his Name; no, I think some good part thereof belongs to some, who own neither Name nor Profession of Quakerism. It's true, they hate all Protestants, and, chiefly, Presbyterians; yet, there is in that Book something singular, its Author appears rather to have studi'd the blackning and bespattering of Presbytry, than either the Defence or Palliation of Quakerism: for in lieu hereof, I find, in many places, only Libells larded with such Lies, Calumnies, and Slanders, as the more invective Romanists, and other invective Hierarchicks used to throw at all true Protestants, but mainly at the Puritan Presbyterians. There is, moreover, in some places, more plainly express'd, but all along couch'd, yet obvious enough to the observant, a warmth and kindness for these of the Hierarchick, or Prelatical Principles. In a word, much of the Book breaths forth another Species or sort of Malignancy, than is that of Quakerism, a Malignancy peculiar to the Author of Presbytries Triall, and such professed Romanists; to Heylen and Le Strange, and such barefac'd Papaturians, much rather than to these more fallacious and spiritual Antichristians. Neither can any sensible Man earnestly read their Book, and not perceive so much. Strange! Cann't they not uphold their Hierarchy, except they thus study to undermine Christianity, and join with its deadly Enemies, and that too with such Varlets of 'em whose Brutishness and molish despicableness, as was the good fortune of Aesop's Ass, are their only security, and set them too low for any Man to nottice them? I'm also inform'd that the pretended Author us'd to have most closs and frequent Converse with an Episcopal Minister of no mean Rank. Moreover, seeing many of the Prelatists oppose the sometimes receiv'd Sentiments, yea and common Articles of the Church of England, for which they pretend such Veneration, by Espousing, with Papists, Quakers, and the like Opposers of Truth, the Tenets of Pelagians, and Arminians, no great wonder tho' they syncretize with such Sectaries against the Presbyterian Calvinians (as they speak) and accordingly the Neopelagian Hierarchicks (for there are Episcopals, surely of a better Mind, and Judgement more Orthodox) make a third Squadron of this unsanctifi'd Army, and in Railing, Antichristian Sophistry, and such unworthy Methods, labour to come short of neither Quakers nor Papists. Such a black Combination would well nigh move one to say of Presbyterians as Tertullian said of Christians, There must needs (saith he) be some good thing among Christians, seeing they were chiefly persecuted by such a Monster as Nero. It's a sign of your greater Glory (saith Hierome lInter Epist, Augustini 25.to Augustine) that all the Hereticks abhorr you. And here I cannot but nottice how the Author of The fundamental Charter of Presbytry &c. (having most untruly insinuated, as if we ascribed to our first Reformers an Impeccability, and espoused every particular Sentiment or Expression of every one of 'em, as infallible) no less falsly gives out and earnestly studies to perswade the World that all these our first Reformers, and especially Mr. Knox, were nothing but a pack of treacherous bloody Rebels and most odious Men: see, to name no other places, from page 334. to 346. and is not this sufficient Evidence that the Author has a large measure of the Spirit of Ham the curs'd Exposer of his Father's nakedness, but he knows who'll thank him, Hoc Italus velit & magno mercetur Abaddon. The matter is, these Men are much grieved that ever we were fre'd from Rome's Tyranny and Superstition, and so know not how to be even with these precious Instruments of that our most happy and admirable Deliverance. Another of their Arts is that they use boldly to pretend the Doctrine of their Hierarchy to be most Catholick and absolutely necessary, and so Vn-church most of the reformed Churches; and, which is no less Vn-christian, they strive to support it with such Arguments as equally serve to establish an universal Papacy. Again, they use to English these Romish Sophisms, and yet quite dissemble the Answers and Refutations the Reform'd have giv'n thereto, as, to name no more, is the constant Practice of A. M. D. D. Moreover they now darr to assert, contrary to the acknowledgement of all Men, and the Concessions of the greatest Prelatists, that our first Reformers were of the Prelatical Perswasion. They would possess Men with the same thoughts of the Transmarine Reformers, and therefore, among other Means to effect it, they use to work on the necessituousness or ambition of some forraign Protestants, as the Romanists do on needy Greeks and other Easterns, and bribe them to publish, for the receiv'd Doctrine of the Churches they were bred in, what is quite contrary to their known and common Sentiments and publick Confessions. I only give some Examples of these their Arts (for who can recount them all) this is certain that if ye ransack and unfold their Methods, you shall find none of 'em without some noteable Cheat and fallacy at bottom. Their Hierarchy leans on three Props, as its fundamental Supporters: The first is their wretch'd perversion of some Scriptures, the second is their Fancy that it still obtain'd in the primitive Church, the third, that 'twas believ'd by all Ages to be of Apostolick Institution. These Conceits are the very Fundamentals of the Hierarchy, which I here examine, and, as I trust, disprove, and accordingly so Intitulat the subsequent Papers. I repeat as little as is possible of what has been said before, and especially meet with the Hierarchys most applauded and latest Asserters, and among these A. M. D. D. and the Author of the Fundamental Charter &c. the far more considerale part, yea the very substance of both which Books I examine and exartuat. I discuss moreover the Plea they bring from Ignatius's Epistles, as also detect most of the foremention'd Artifices together with many such ungenerous Methods not hitherto so fully discovered Hence I hope I cannot be justly accounted an Aggressor or Provocker, nor yet my Papers superfluous: I don't notwithstanding impeach as guilty of these Deallings all Episcopall men, for of these there have been and doubtless now are both good men and stout Protestants, and such, I know, will never be offended if I lay open open the Weakness and unworthy Deallings of such as anathematize whosoever preferr the Model of the prime ptimitive Church-Government, the Apostolick Humility and Simplicity, to their Diocesan Hierarchy, the secular Grandeur of subsequent and more degenerat Times, if I, among many other Demonstrations hereof, bring a Cloud of most competent and unsuspected Witnesses, who depone that during the Apostolick Age and the prime Primitive Church, there was a Bishop for each Congregation, an Identity of Bishop and preaching Presbyter, and, finally, a compleat Parity of ordinary Pastors; if I make appear that the greatest Enemies to this Truth and Adorers of the Hierarchy are (maugre all their Cunning) compell'd to subscribe and seall it. If yet some hesitat and admire, how then so many of the Learn'd can give their Hierarchy a divine Sanction, or set it so high as the times of the Apostles, such wowld remember that to fewer, at least, and these of no less Learning, no less confidently pretend a Divine Origen for many things, the Foundation whereof notwithstanding is undenyably in the dust of humane Corruption. How many Torrents of Wormwood hide their little heads in sources in that Christian foreign the space of about an hundred years after the Canon of the Scriptures was sealled, whereof so few genuine Monuments now remain, and wherein Christians (as they were also for a good many yeares after that time) being astonish'd at these more prodigious Heresies, and wholly imployed in quelling these Hydra's, were kept from watching against more fly and subtile Assaults of the Enemy, the Danger of whose Tares was scarce discernable till they were hardly to be eradicated.
Again, 'tis to be remembred that there are vast Ods between the Cases of the Contending Parties; many things tempt and invite men to patronize the Hierarchy, whereto the other side is not obnoxious: for whosoever confides in his own Parts and Abilities may probably promise to himself a graduall Ascent even to the satiety of worldly Ease, Riches, and Honour. Did not these and such Motives byass too many men, together with the Liberty Prelacy gives to Heterodox Principles and to licentious Practices, how few should there be found to agent its Cause? On the other hand Pre…h…erian Discipline they think too rigid against both these Enormites: and as to worldly Encouragements, there's nothing in Presbytry but a mediocrity of Stipend with a hard and perpetuall Labour without any Hope of Ease, Grandor, or more opulent Fortune. I should now have doon, only I can not but express how desirable 'twere that haying aside our own unscripturall Fancies, the Grounds of these most lamentable Contentions, all of us followed after the things which make for Peace, a…d things wherewith one may edifie another. Who would have thought, not many years he…ce when all true Protestants were at the very bri…k of Destruction, but that the admirable Delivera…ce God give us, should have had this most desirable Consequent. How amazing is it that a number call'd Protestants should vent their Spite, Malice and Treason against the most happy Instrument of this our Delivery in Peace, His Majesty King WILLIAM, who is under God, the main Stay of Protestants, whom yet God protects, and I pray may protect, maugre all the malicious Machinations of wicked Men. God yet continues to call us to the same Duty of Christian Concord, to name no others, by terrible Monitors: for at one Quarter we are besieg'd by nominal Theists but real Atheists who ridicule God's Sacred Word as the product of Rogues or Sots, and explode the Doctrine of the Existence of Angels and Spirits, and consequently of the Beeing of God the Father of Spirits, as the Dream of some Brainsick Weaklings, and below a man of sence: and at another Quarter, by a direfull Combination of Infernal Fiends and wretch'd Mortals. It's pleasant notwithstanding to observe how the latter of these Satanical Machines split and undoe the former: for the well known and confess'd Compacts and Commerce between these wicked Spirits and Miscreants of human Race, and Operations of Demons, and such Effects undenyably proceeding from preternatural and incorporeal Causes are sure Proofs of such immaterial Beeings, and so demonstrat the Falshood of what is broach'd by these abominable Saducees, —aliquisque malo fuit usus in illo.
O how clossly ought all of us to joyn in Weeping, Sighing, and Crying, not only for our oun Guilt, but also for these & such horrible Abominations that be doon in the midst of the Land. In the mean while these and a thousand such Mischiefs mostly owe themselves to this Controversy, our Divisions, Ignorance, want of Church-Discipline, and other such its odious Effects. How many, thro' God's Blessing, should that Zeal, Learning and Industry spent for the support of mens unscripturall Conceits, have brought to the Obedience of Christ from both Romanists and open Infidels?
Heu, quantum potuit Terrae, pelagique parari
Hoc, quem Civiles hauserunt, sanguine, dextrae!
Bless'd then in this Case should be the Peace-Maker, wherefore, let all of us Pray for our Jerusalem that Peace may be within her Walls, and Prosperity within her Palaces. Let us also with Tertullian mAdversus. Herm…o…enem.adore the fullness of the Scriptures; which (as Augustine nDe Doctrin… Christiana. Lib. 2. Cap. 9.teaches) contain all things needfull either for Faith or Life. The Books (saith Constantine the GreatoTheodoret. Hist. Eccles. Lib. 1. Cap. 7. & Hist. Trip…rtit. Lib. 2. Cap. 5. of the Evangelists, Apostles and ancient Prophets, clearly teach us the Mind of God wherefore laying aside hostile Discords, let us seek from these the Determination of our Controversies. Surely this is a Catholick Principle: Good had it been if the Fathers had as clo…ly stuck to't in Practice as they firmly believ'd it. You assert (saith Optatus pLib. 5.to the Donatists) We deny; between your Assertion and our Denyal the Peoples minds Waver; let none believe either you or us, we are all contentious Men, Judges must be sought, if these be sought for among Christians, they can be found among neither of the Parties, because the Truth is impeded thro' Partiality; we must seek for Judges from without, if the Judge be a Pagan, he cannot know the Mysteries of Christians; if a Jew, he is an Enemy to Christian Baptism; on Earth therefore there cann't be rou…d a Determination of this Controversie: a Judge must be sought from Heaven; but why should we knock at Heavens Gates, when, hearing the Gospel we have Christ's Testament. And having elegantly compar'd the Scripture to Man's Testament, which is able to determine every Controversie that may arise among his Children, adds, He who le…t us this Testament is in Heaven; let his Will therefore be sought for in the Gospel as in a Testament: for the things which you now do, Christ forsaw before they came to pass. The same Justice and no more do we require in the present Case; we require, with Cyprian qEpist. ad Pompejum.that Custom or Tradition which is without Scripture, tho' otherways never so Old, be thrown away as mouldy Errors. Let not the Hope of Emoluments, secular Grandeur, or Power, make Men rack their Wits to D…prave and Detire the Truth, and despise the Apostolick Humility, and Parity. Then (saith Chrysostome rIn Acta Apost. Homil. 3.speaking of these Apostolick Times, and that by way of Opposition to his own Age) Church-Government was not Honour or Grandeur, but Watching and Care of the Flock. Seeing it's evident (saith Isidorus Pelusiota) how vast a difference there is between the Ancient humble Ministry and the present Tyranny: Why don't ye Crown with Garlands and Celebrate the Lovers of Parity or Equality? Let not the gay Pageantry of foppish Ceremonies steal away our Hearts from the simplicity of the Gospel. Is such trash worth the patronizing? Nay rather, Let the Sword of God (The…'re Jerome's wordssIn primum Haggaei. cut off every thing that men, without the Authority and Testimony of the Scriptures, have devised and pretend as if they had it by Apostolick Tradition. Let all such things be broken in Pieces called Nehustan, and, finally, sacrific'd to Truth and Peace. Whatsoever thing God commands us let's observe to do't, and neither add thereto nor diminish from't. This I'm sure is the old Path, and the good Way wherein if we Walk we shall find rest to our Souls, our Peace shall be as a River, and our Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea, we shall Dwell together in that Brotherly Vnity, which is a true Antecedent of Life for evermore. And thus I can freely say, is the ultimat Design of Composing and Emitting the ensuing Treatise, and is and still shall be the fervent Prayer of
Will. Jameson. Nazianzeni