Of Reformation Touching Church Discipline, Book 2

Of Reformation Touching Church Discipline · Book 2

p. 42OF REFORMATION, &c.

The Second Book.

Sir,

IT is a work good, and prudent to be able to guide one man; of larger extended vertue to order wel one house; but to govern a Nation piously, and justly, which only is to say happily, is for a spirit of the greatest size, and divinest mettle. And certainly of no lesse a mind, nor of lesse excellence in another way, were they who by writing layd the solid, and true foundations of this Science, which being of greatest importance to the life of man, yet there is no art that hath bin more canker'd in her principles, more soyl'd, and slubber'd with aphorisming pedantry then the art of policie; and that most, where a man would thinke should least be, in Christian Common-wealths. They teach not that to govern well is to train up a Nation in true wisdom and vertue, and that p. 43which springs from thence magnanimity, (take heed of that) and that which is our beginning, regeneration, and happiest end, likenes to God, which in one word we call godlines, & that this is the true florishing of a Land, other things follow as the shadow does the substance: to teach thus were meer pulpitry to them. This is the masterpiece of a modern politician, how to qualifie, and mould the sufferance and subjection of the people to the length of that foot that is to tread on their necks, how rapine may serve it selfe with the fair, and honourable pretences of publick good, how the puny Law may be brought-under the wardship, and controul of lust, and will; in which attempt if they fall short, then must a superficial colour of reputation by all means direct or indirect be gotten to wash over the unsightly bruse of honor. To make men governable in this manner their precepts mainly tend to break a nationall spirit, and courage by count'nancing open riot, luxury, and ignorance, till having thus disfigur'd and made men beneath men, as Juno in the Fable of …, they deliver up the poor transformed heifer of the Commonwealth to be …ung and vext with the breese, and goad of oppression under the custody of some Argus with a hundred eyes of jealousie. To be plainer Sir, how to soder, how to stop a leak, how to keep up the floting carcas of a crazie, and diseased Monarchy, or State betwixt wind, and water, swimming still upon her own dead lees, that now is p. 44the deepe designe of a politician. Alas Sir! a Common-welth ought to be but as one huge Christian personage, one mighty growth, and stature of an honest man, as big, and compact in vertue as in body; for looke what the grounds, and causes are of single happines to one man, the same yee shall find them to a whole state, as … both in his ethicks, and politiks, from the principles of reason layes down by consequence therfore, that which is good, and agreeable to monarchy, will appeare soonest to be so, by being good, and agreeable to the true wel-fare of every Christian, and that which can be justly prov'd hurtfull, and offensive to every true Christian, wilbe evinc't to be alike hurtful to monarchy: for God forbid, that we should separate and distinguish the end, and good of a monarch, from the end and good of the monarchy, or of that, from Christianity. How then this third, and last fort that hinder reformation, will justify that it stands not with reason of state, I much muse? For certain I am …he Bible is shut against them, as certaine that neither Plato, nor Aristotle is for their turnes, What they can bring us now from the Schools of Loyola with his Jesuites, or their Malvezzi that can cut Tacitus into slivers and steaks, we shall presently hear. They alledge 1. That the Church government must be conformable to the civill politie, next, that no forme of Church government is agreeable to monarchy, but that of Bishops. Must Church government that is p. 45appointed in the Gospel, and has chief respect to the soul, be conformable, and pliant to civil, that is arbitrary, and chiefly conversant about the visible and external part of man? this is the very maxim that moulded the Calvs of Bethel and of Dan, this was the quintessence of Jeroboams policy, he made Religion conform to his politick interests, & this was the sin that watcht over theIsraelites till their final captivity If this State principle come from the Prelates, as they affect to be counted statists, let them look back to Elutherius Bishop of Rome, and see what he thought of the policy of England; being requir'd by Lucius the first Christian King of this Iland to give his counsel for the founding of Religious Laws, little thought he of this sage caution, but bids him betake himselfe to the old, and new Testament, and receive direction from them how to administer both Church, and Common-wealth; that he was Gods Vicar, and therfore to rule by Gods Laws, that the Edicts of Caesar we may at all times disallow, but the Statutes of God for no reason we may reject. Now certaine if Church-goverment be taught in the Gofpel, as the Bishops dare not deny, we may well conclude of what late standing this Position is, newly calculated for the altitude of Bishop elevation, and lettice for their lips. But by what example can they shew that the form of Church Discipline must be minted, and modell'd out to secular pretences? The ancient Republick of the Jews is evident to p. 46have run through all the changes of civil estate, if we survey the Story from the giving of the Law to the Herods, yet did one manner of Priestly government serve without inconvenience to all these temporal mutations: it serv'd the mild Aristocracy of elective Dukes, and heads of Tribes joyn'd with them; the dictatorship of the Judges, the easie, or hard-handed Monarchy's, the domestick, or forrain tyrannies, Lastly the Roman Senat from without, the Jewish Senat at home with the Galilean Te…rarch, yet the Levites had some right to deal in civil affairs: but seeing the Euangelical precept forbids Churchmen to intermeddle with worldly imployments, what interweavings, or interworkings can knit the Minister, and the Magistrate in their several functions to the regard of any precise correspondency? Seeing that the Churchmans office is only to teach men the Christian Faith, to exhort all, to incourage the good, to admonish the bad, privately the lesse offender, publickly the scanda lous and stubborn; to censure, and separate from the commuuion of Christs flock, the contagious, and incorrigible, to receive with joy, and fatherly compassion the penitent, all this must be don, and more then this is beyond any Church autority. What is all this either here, or there to the temporal regiment of Wealpublick, whether it be Popular, Princely, or Monarchical? Where doth it intrench upon the temporal governor, where does it come in his walk? where does it p. 47make inrode upon his jurisdiction? Indeed if the Ministers part be rightly discharg'd, it renders him the people more conscionable, quiet, and easie to be gov…'d, if otherwise his life and doctrine will declare him. If therfore the Constitution of the Church be already set down by divine prescript, as all sides confesse, then can she not be a handmaid to wait on civil commodities, and respects and if the nature and limits of Church Discipline be such, as are either helpfull to all political estates indifferently, or have no particular relation to any, then is there no necessity, nor indeed possibility of linking the one with the other in a speciall conformation.

Now for their second …, That no form of Church government is agreeable to Monarchy, but that of Bishops, although it fall to pieces of it selfe by that which hath … sayd; yet to give them play front, and …, it shall be my task to prove that Episcopacy with that Autority which it challenges in England is not only not agreeable, but tending to the destruction of Monarchy. While the Primitive Pastors of the Church of God labour'd faithfully in their Ministery, tending only their Sheep, and not seeking, but avoiding all worldly matters as clogs, and indeed derogations, and debasements to their high calling, little needed the Princes, and potentates of the earth, which way soever the Gospel was spread, to study ways how to make a coherence between the Churches politic, and theirs: therfore when p. 48Pilate heard once our Saviour Christ professing that his Kingdome was not of this world, he thought the man could not stand much in Caesars light, nor much indammage the Roman Empire: for if the life of Christ be hid to this world, much more is his Scepter unoperative, but in spirituall things. And thus liv'd, for 2 or 3 ages, the Successors of the Apostles. But when through Constantines lavish Superstition they forsook their first love, and set themselvs up two Gods instead, Mammon and their Belly, then taking advantage of the spiritual power which they had on mens consciences, they began to cast a longing eye to get the body also, and bodily things into their command, upon which their carnal desires, the Spirit dayly quenching and dying in them, they knew no way to keep themselves up from falling to nothing, but by bolstering, and supporting their inward rottenes by a carnal, and outward strength. For a while they rather privily sought opportunity, then hastily disclos'd their project, but when Constantine was dead, and 3 or 4 Emperors more, their drift became notorious, and offensive to the whole world: for while Theodosius the younger reign'd, thus writes Socrates the Historian in his 7th Book, 11. chap. now began an ill name to stick upon the Bishops of Rome, and Alexandria, who beyond their Priestly bounds now long agoe had stept into principality and this was scarse 80. years since their raising from the meanest worldly condition. Of courtesie now let any man tell p. 49me, if they draw to themselves a temporall strength and power out of Caesars Dominion, is not Caesars Empire thereby diminisht? but this was a stolne bit, hitherto hee was but a Caterpiller secretly gnawing at Monarchy, the next time you shall see him a Woolfe, a Lyon, lifting his paw against his raiser, as Petrarch exprest it, and finally an open enemy, and subverter of the Greeke Empire. Philippicus and Leo, with divers other Emperours after them, not without the advice of their Patriarchs, and at length of a whole Easterne Counsell of 3. hundred thirty eight Bishops, threw the Images out of Churches as being decreed idolatrous.

Upon this goodly occasion the Bishop of Rome not only seizes the City, and all the Territory about into his owne hands, and makes himselfe Lord thereof, which till then was govern'd by a Greeke Magistrate, but absolves all Italy of their Tribute, and obedience due to the Emperour, because hee obey'd Gods Commandement in abolishing Idolatry.

Mark Sir here how the Pope came by S. Peters Patrymony, as he feigns it, not the donation of Constantine, but idolatry and rebellion got it him. Yee need but read Sigonius one of his owne Sect to know the Story at large. And now to shroud himselfe against a storme from the Greek Continent, and provide a Champion to beare him out in these practises, hee takes upon him by Papall sentence to unthrone Chilpericus the rightfull K. of France, and gives the Kingdome to Pepin for no p. 50other cause but that hee seem'd to him the more active man. If he were a freind herein to Monarchy I know not, but to the Monarch I need not aske what he was.

Having thus made Pepin his fast freind, he cals him into Italy against Aistulphus the Lombard, that war…'d upon him for his late Usurpation of Rome as belonging to Ravenna which he had newly won. Pepin, not unobedient to the Popes call, passing into Italy, frees him out of danger, and wins for him the whole exarchat of Ravenna, which though it had beene almost immediately before, the hereditary possession of that Monarchy which was his cheife Patron, and Benefactor, yet he takes, and keepes it to himselfe as lawfull prize, and given to St. Peter. What a dangerous fallacie is this, when a spirituall man may snatch to himselfe any temporall Dignity, or Dominion under pretence of receiving it for the Churches use; thus he claimes Naples, Sicily, England, and what not? To bee short, under shew of his zeale against the errors of the Greeke Church, hee never ceast baiting, and goring the Successors of his best Lord Constantine what by his barking curses, and Excommunications, what by his hindering the Westerne Princes from ayding them against the Sarazens, and Turkes, unlesse when they humour'd him; so that it may be truly affirm'd, he was the subversion, and fall of that Monarchy, which was the hoisting of him; this, besides Petrarch, whom I have cited, our Chaucer also hath p. 51observ'd, and gives from hence a caution to England to beware of her Bishops in time, for that their ends, and aymes are no more freindly to Monarchy then the Popes.

Thus hee brings in the Plow-man speaking, 2. Part. Stanz. 28.

The Emperour Yafe the Pope sometime

So high Lordship him abovt

That at last the silly Kime,

The proud Pope put him out,

So of this Realme is no doubt,

But Lords beware, and them d…fend,

For now these folks be wonders …out

The King and Lords now this amend

And in the next Stanza which begins the third part of the tale he argues that they ought not to bee Lords.

Moses Law forbode it tho

That Preists should no Lordships welde

Christs Gospell biddeth also,

That they should no Lordships held

Ne Christs Apostles were never so bold

No such Lordships to hem embrace

But smeren her Sheep, and keep her Fold.

And so forward. Whether the Bishops of England have deserv'd thus to bee fear'd by men so wise as our Chaucer is esteem'd, and how agreeable p. 52to our Monarchy, and Monarchs their demeanour ha's been, he that is but meanly read in our Chronicles needs not be instructed. Have they not been as the Canaanites, and Philistims to this Kingdom? what Treasons, what revolts to the Pope, what Rebellions, and those the basest, and most preten selesse have they not been chiefe in? What could Monarchy think when Becket durst challenge the custody of Rotchester-Castle, and the Tower of London, as appertaining to his Signory? To omit his other insolencies and affronts to Regall Majestie, till the Lashes inflicted on the a…ointed body of the King washt off the holy Vnction with his blood drawn by the polluted hands of Bishops, Abbots, and Monks.

What good upholders of Royalty were the Bishops, when by their rebellious opposition against King John, Normandy was lost, he himselfe depos'd, and this Kingdom made over to the Pope? When the Bishop of Winchester durst tell the Nobles, the Pillars of the Realme, that there were no Peeres in England, as in France, but that the King might doe what hee pleas'd. What could Tyranny say more? it would bee petty now if I should insist upon the rendring up of Tournay by Woolseyes Treason, the Excommunications, Cursings, and Interdicts upon the whole Land. For haply I shall be cut off short by a reply, that these were the faults of the men, and their Popish errors, not of Episcopacie, that hath now renounc't the Pope, and is a Protestant. Yes sure; as wise p. 53and famous men have suspected, and fear'd the Protestant Episcopacie in England, as those that have fear'd the Papall.

You know Sir what was the judgement of Padre Paolo the great Venetian Antagonist of the Pope, for it is extant in the hands of many men, whereby he declares his feare, that when the Hierarchy of England shall light into the hands of busie and audacious men, or shall meet with Princes tractable to the Prelacy, then much mischiefe is like to ensue. And can it bee neerer hand, then when Bishops shall openly affirme that, No Bishop, no King? a trimme Paradox, and that yee may know where they have beene a begging for it, I will fetch you the Twin-brother to it out of the Jesuites Cell; they feeling the Axe of Gods reformation hewing at the old and hollow trunk of Papacie, and finding the Spaniard their surest friend, and safest refuge, to sooth him up in his dreame of a fift Monarchy, and withall to uphold the decrepit Papalty have invented this super-politick Aphorisme, as one termes it, One Pope, and one King.

Surely there is not any Prince in Christendome, who hearing this rare Sophistry can choose but smile, and if we be not blind at home we may as well perceive that this worthy Motto, No Bishop, no King is of the same batch, and infanted out of the same feares, a meere ague-cake coagulated of a certaine Fever they have, presaging their time to be but short: and now like those that are sinking, p. 54they catch round at that which is likeliest to hold them up. And would perswade Regall Power, that if they dive, he must after. But what greater debasement can there be to Royall Dignity, whose towring, and stedfast heighth rests upon the unmovable foundations of Justice, and Heroick vertue, then to chaine it in a dependance of subsisting, or ruining to the painted Battlements, and gaudy rottennesse of Prelatrie, which want but one puffe of the Kings to blow them down like a past bord House built of Court-Cards. Sir the little adoe, which me thinks I find in untacking these pleasant Sophismes, puts mee into the mood to tell you a tale ere I proceed further; and Menenius Agrippa speed us.

Upon a time the Body summon'd all the Members A Tale.to meet in the Guild for the common good (as Aesops Chronicles averre many stranger Accidents) the head by right takes the first seat, and next to it a huge and monstrous Wen little lesse then the Head it selfe, growing to it by a narrower excrescency. The members amaz'd began to aske one another what hee was that took place next their chief; none could resolve. Whereat the Wen, though unweildy, with much adoe gets up and bespeaks the Assembly to this purpose. That as in place he was second to the head, so by due of merit; that he was to it an ornament, and strength, and of speciall neere relation, and that if the head should faile, none were fitter then himselfe to step into his place; therefore hee p. 55thought it for the honour of the Body, that such dignities and rich indowments should be decreed him, as did adorne, and set out the noblest Members. To this was answer'd, that it should bee consulted. Then was a wise and learned Philosopher sent for, that knew all the Charters, Lawes, and Tenures of the Body. On him it is impos'd by all, as chiefe Committee to examine, and discusse the claime and Petition of right put in by the Wen; who soone perceiving the matter, and wondring at the boldnesse of such a swolne Tumor, Wilt thou (quoth he) that art but a bottle of vitious and harden'd excrements, contend with the lawfull and free-borne members, whose certaine number is set by ancient, and unrepealable Statute? head thou art none, though thou receive this huge substance from it, what office bearst thou? What good canst thou shew by thee done to the Common-weale? the Wen not easily dash't replies, that his Office was his glory, for so oft as the soule would retire out of the head from over the steaming vapours of the lower parts to Divine Contemplation, with him shee found the purest, and quietest retreat, as being most remote from soile, and disturbance. Lourdan, quoth the Philosopher, thy folly is as great as thy filth; know that all the faculties of the Soule are confin'd of old to their severall vessels, and ventricles, from which they cannot part without dissolution of the whole Body; and that thou containst no good thing in thee, but a heape of p. 56hard, and loathsome uncleannes, and art to the head a foul disfigurment and burden, when I have cut thee off, and open'd thee, as by the help of these implements I will doe, all men shall see.

But to return, whence was digress't, seeing that the throne of a King, as the wise K. Salomon often remembers us, is establisht in Justice, which is the universall Justice that Aristotle so much praises, containing in it all other vertues, it may assure us that the fall of Prelacy, whose actions are so farre distant from Justice, cannot shake the least fringe that borders the royal canopy: but that their standing doth continually oppose, and lay battery to regal safety, shall by that which follows easily appear. Amongst many secondary, and accessory causes that support Monarchy, these are not of least reckning, though common to all other States: the love of the Subjects, the multitude, and valor of the people, and store of treasure. In all these things hath the Kingdome bin of late sore weak'nd, and chiefly by the Prelates. First let any man consider, that if any Prince shall suffer under him a commission of autority to be exerciz'd, till all the Land grone, and cry out, as against a whippe of Scorpions, whether this be not likely to lessen, and keel the affections of the Subject. Next what numbers of faithfull, and freeborn Englishmen, and good Christians have bin constrain'd to forsake their dearest home, their friends, and kindred, whom nothing but the wide Ocean, and the savage de…erts of America p. 57could hide and shelter from the fury of the Bishops. O Sir, if we could but see the shape of our deare Mother England, as Poets are wont to give a personal form to what they please, how would she appeare, think ye, but in a mourning weed, with ashes upon her head, and teares abundantly flowing from her eyes, to behold so many of her children expos'd at once, and thrust from things of dearest necessity, because their conscience could not assent to things which the Bishops thought indifferent. What more binding then Conscience? what more free then indifferency? cruel then must that indifferency needs be, that shall violate the strict necessity of Conscience, merc…les, and inhumane that free choyse, and liberty that shall break asunder the bonds of Religion. Let the Astrologer be dismay'd at the portentous blaze of comets, and impressions in the aire as foretelling troubles and changes to states: I shall beleeve there cannot be a more illboding …gne to a Nation (God turne the Omen from us) then when the Inhabitants, to avoid insufferable grievances at home, are inforc'd by heaps to forsake their native Country. Now wheras the only remedy, and amends against the depopulation, and thinnesse of a Land within, is the borrow'd strength of firme alliance from without, these Priestly policies of theirs having thus exhausted our domestick forces, have gone the way also to leave us as naked of our firmest, & faithfullest neighbours abroad, by disparaging, p. 58and alienating from us all Protestant Princes, and Common-wealths, who are not ignorant that our Prelats, and as many as they can infect, account them no better then a sort of sacrilegious, and puritanical Rebels, preferring the Spaniard our deadly enemy before them, and set all orthodox writers at nought in comparison of the Jesuits, who are indeed the onelyonly corrupters of youth, and good learning; and I have heard many wise, and learned men in Italy say as much. It cannot be that the strongest knot of confederacy should not dayly slak'n, when Religion which is the chiefe ingagement of our league shall be turn'd to their reproach. Hence it is that the prosperous, and prudent states of the united Provinces, whom we ought to love, if not for themselves, yet for our own good work in them, they having bin in a manner planted, and erected by us, and having bin since to us the faithfull watchmen, and discoverers of many a Popish, and Austrian complotted Treason, and with us the partners of many a bloody, and victorious battell, whom the similitude of manners and language, the commodity of traffick, which founded the old Burgundian league betwixt us, but chiefly Religion should bind to us immortally, even such friends as these, out of some principles instill'd into us by the Prelates, have bin often dismist with distastfull answers, and somtimes unfriendly actions: nor is it to be consider'd to the breach of confederate Nations whose mutual interest is p. 59of such high consequence, though their Merchants bicker in the East Indies, neither is it safe, or warie, or indeed Christianly, that the French King, of a different Faith, should afford our neerest Allyes as good protection as we. Sir, I perswade my selfe, if our zeale to true Religion, and the brotherly usage of our truest friends were as notorious to the world, as our Prelatical Schism, and captivity to Rotchet Apothegmes, we had ere this seene our old Conquerours, and afterward Liege-men the Normans, together with the Brittains our proper Colony, and all the Gascoins that are the rightfull Dowry of our ancient Kings, come with cap, and knee, desiring the shadow of the English Scepter to defend them from the hot per…ecutions and taxes of the French. But when they come hither, and see a Tympany of Spanioliz'd Bishops swaggering in the fore-top of the State, and meddling to turne, and dandle the Royall Ball with unskilfull and Pedantick palmes, no marvell though they think it as … to commit Religion, and liberty to their arbitrating as to a Synagogue of Iesuites.

But what doe I stand reck'ning upon advantages, and gaines lost by the mis-rule, and turbulency of the Prelats, what doe I pick up so thriftily their scatterings and diminishings of the meaner Subject, whilst they by their seditious practises have indanger'd to loose the King one third of his main Stock; what have they not done to banish him from his owne Native Countrey? but to p. 60speake of this as it ought would ask a Volume by it selfe.

Thus as they have unpeopl'd the Kingdome by expulsion of so many thousands, as they have endeavor'd to lay the skirts of it bare by disheartning and dishonouring our loyallest Confederates abroad, so have they hamstrung the valour of the Subject by seeking to effeminate us all at home. Well knows every wise Nation that their Liberty consists in manly and honest labours, in sobriety and rigorous honour to the Marriage Bed, which in both Sexes should be bred up from chast hopes to loyall Enjoyments; and when the people slacken, and fall to loosenes, and riot, then doe they as much as if they laid downe their necks for some wily Tyrant to get up and ride. Thus learnt Cyrus to tame the Lydians, whom by Armes he could not, whilst they kept themselves from Luxury; with one easy Proclamation to set up Stews, dancing, feasting, & dicing he made them soone his slaves. I know not what drift the Prelats had, whose Brokers they were to prepare, and supple us either for a Forreigne Invasion or Domestick oppression; but this I am sure they took the ready way to despoile us both of manhood and grace at once, and that in the shamefullest and ungodliest manner upon that day which Gods Law, and even our own reason hath consecrated, that we might have one day at least of seven set apart wherein to examin and encrease our knowledge of God, to meditate, and commune of our p. 61Faith, our Hope, our eternall City in Heaven, and to quick'n, withall, the study, and exercise of Charity; at such a time that men should bee pluck't from their soberest and saddest thoughts, and by Bishops the pretended Fathers of the Church instigated by publique Edict, and with earnest indeavour push't forward to gaming, jigging, wassailing, and mixt dancing is a horror to think. Thus did the Reprobate hireling Preist Balaam seeke to subdue the Israelites to Moab, if not by force, then by this divellish Pollicy, to draw them from the Sanctuary of God to the luxurious, and ribald feasts of Baal-peor. Thus have they trespas't not onelyonly against the Monarchy of England, but of Heaven also, as others, I doubt not, can prosecute against them.

I proceed within my own bounds to shew you next what good Agents they are about the Revennues and Riches of the Kingdome, which declares of what moment they are to Monarchy, or what availe. Two Leeches they have that still suck, and suck the Kingdome, their Ceremonies, and their Courts. If any man will contend that Ceremonies bee lawfull under the Gospell, hee may bee answer'd otherwhere. This doubtlesse that they ought to bee many and over-costly, no true Protestant will affirme. Now I appeale to all wise men, what an excessive wast of Treasury hath beene within these few yeares in this Land not in the expedient, but in the Idolatrous … of Temples beautified exquisitely to out-vie p. 62the Papists, the costly and deare-bought Scandals, and snares of Images, Pictures, rich Coaps, gorgeous Altar-clothes: and by the courses they …ooke, and the opinions they held, it was not likely any stay would be, or any end of their madnes, where a pious pretext is so ready at hand to cover their insatlate desires. What can we suppose this will come to? What other materials then these have built up the spirituall BABEL to the heighth of her Abominations? Beleeve it Sir right truly it may be said, that Antichrist is Mammons Son. The soure levin of humane Traditions mixt in one putrifi'd Masfe with the poisonous dregs of hypocrisie in the hearts of Prelates that lye basking in the Sunny warmth of Wealth, and Promotion, is the Serpents Egge that will hatch an Antichrist wheresoever, and ingender the same Monster as big, or little as the Lump is which breeds him. If the splendor of Gold and Silver begin to Lord it once againe in the Church of England, wee shall see Antichrist shortly wallow heere, though his cheife Kennell be at Rome. If they had one thought upon Gods glory and the advancement of Christian Faith, they would be a meanes that with these expences thus profusely throwne away in trash, rather Churches and Schools might be built, where they cry out for want, and more added where too few are; a moderate maintenance distributed to every painfull Minister, that now scarse sustaines his Family with Bread, while the Prelats revell like p. 63Belshazzar with their full carouses in Goblets, and vessels of gold snatcht from Gods Temple. Which (I hope) the Worthy Men of our Land will consider. Now then for their COVRTS. What a Masse of Money is drawne from the Veines into the Ulcers of the Kingdome this way; their Extortions, their open Corruptions, the multitude of hungry and ravenous Harpies that swarme about their Offices declare sufficlently. And what though all this go not oversea? 'twere better it did: better a penurious Kingdom, then where excessive wealth flowes into the … and injurious hands of common sponges to the impoverishing of good and loyall men, and that by such execrable, such irreligious courses.

If the sacred and dreadfull works of holy Discipline, Censure, Pennance, Excommunication, and Absolution, where no prophane thing ought to have accesse, nothing to be assistant but sage and Christianly Admonition, brotherly Love, flaming Charity, and Zeale; and then according to the Effects, Paternall Sorrow, or Paternall Joy, milde Severity, melting Compassion, if such Divine Ministeries as these, wherin the Angel of the Church represents the Person of Christ Jesus, must lie prostitute to sordid Fees, and not passe to and fro betweene our Saviour that of free grace redeem'd us, and the submissive Penitent, without the truccage of perishing Coine, and the Burcherly execution of Tormentors, Rooks, and Rakeshames sold to …, then have the Babilonish p. 64Marchants of Soules just excuse. Hitherto Sir you have heard how the Prelates have weaken'd and withdrawne the externall Accomplishments of Kingly prosperity, the love of the People, their multitude, their valour, their wealth; mining, and sapping the out-works, and redoubts of Monarchy; now heare how they strike at the very heart, and vitals.

We know that Monarchy is made up of two parts, the Liberty of the subject, and the supremacie of the King. I begin at the root. See what gentle, and benigne Fathers they have beene to our liberty. Their trade being, by the same Alchymy that the Pope uses, to extract heaps of gold, and silver out of the drossie Bullion of the Peoples sinnes, and justly fearing that the quick-sighted Protestants eye clear'd in great part from the mist of Superstition, may at one time or other looke with a good judgement into these their deceitfull Pedleries, to gaine as many associats of guiltines as they can, and to infect the temporall Magistrate with the like lawlesse though not sacrilegious extortion, see a while what they doe; they ingage themselves to preach, and perswade an assertion for truth the most false, and to this Monarchy the most pernicious and destructive that could bee chosen. What more banefull to Monarchy then a Popular Commotion, for the dissolution of Monarchy slides aptest into a Democracy; and what stirs the Englishmen, as our wisest writers have observ'd, sooner to rebellion, then violent, p. 65and heavy hands upon their goods and purses? Yet these devout Prelates, spight of our great Charter, and the soules of our Progenitors that wrested their liberties out of the Norman gripe with their dearest blood and highest prowesse, for these many years have not ceas't in their Pulpits wrinching, and spraining the text, to set at nought and trample under foot all the most sacred, and life blood Lawes, Statutes, and Acts of Parliament that are the holy Cov'nant of Union, and Marriage betweene the King and his Realme, by proscribing, and confiscating from us all the right we have to our owne bodies, goods and liberties. What is this, but to blow a trumpet, and proclaime a fire-crosse to a hereditary, and perpetuall civill warre. Thus much against the Subjects Liberty hath been assaulted by them. Now how they have spar'd Supremacie, or likely are here-after to submit to it, remaines lastly to bee consider'd.

The emulation that under the old Law was in the King toward the Preist, is now so come about in the Gospell, that all the danger is to be fear'd from the Preist to the King. Whilst the Preists Office in the Law was set out with an exteriour lustre of Pomp and glory, Kings were ambitious to be Preists; now Priests not perceiving the heavenly brightnesse, and inward splendor of their more glorious Evangelick Ministery with as great ambition affect to be Kings; as in all their courses is easie to be observ'd. Their eyes over imminent p. 66upon worldly matters, their desires ever thirsting after worldly employments, in stead of diligent and fervent studie in the Bible, they covet to be expert in Canons, and Decretals, which may inable them to judge, and interpose in temporall Causes, however pretended …. Doe they not hord up Plefe, seeke to bee porent in secular Strength, in State Affaires, in Lands, Lordships, and Demeanes, to sway and carry all before them in high Courts, and Privie Counsels, to bring into their grasp, the high, and principall Offices of the Kingdom? have they not been bold of late to check the Common Law, to slight and brave the indiminishable Majestie of our highest Court the Law-giving and Sacred Parliament? Doe they not plainly labour to exempt Churchmen from the Magistrate? Yea, so presumptuously as to question, and menace Officers that represent the Kings Person for using their Authority against drunken Preists? The cause of protecting murderous Clergie-men was the first heartburning that swel'd up the audacious Becket to the pestilent, and odious vexation of Henry the second. Nay more, have not some of their devoted Schollers begun, I need not say to nibble, but openly to argue against the Kings Supremacie? is not the Ch…ife of them accus'd out of his owne Booke, and his late Canons to affect a certaine unquestionable Patriarchat, independent and unsubordinate to the Crowne? From whence having first brought us to a servile Estate of Religion, p. 67and Manhood, and having predispos'd his conditions with the Pope, that layes claime to this Land, or some Pepin of his owne creating, it were all as likely for him to aspire to the Monarchy among us, as that the Pope could finde meanes so on the sudden both to bereave the Emperour of the Roman Territory with the favour of Italy, and by an unexpected friend out of France, while he was in danger to lose his new-got Purchase, beyond hope to leap in to the faire Exarchat of Ravenna.

A good while the Pope suttl'y acted the Lamb, writing to the Emperour, my Lord Tiberius, my Lord Mauritius, but no sooner did this his Lord pluck at the Images, and Idols, but hee threw off his Sheepes clothing, and started up a Wolfe, laying his pawes upon the Emperours right, as forfeited to Peter. Why may not wee as well, having been forewarn'd at home by our renowned Chaucer, and from abroad by the great and learned Padre Paolo, from the like beginnings, as we see they are, feare the like events? Certainly a wise, and provident King ought to suspect a Hierarchy in his Realme, being ever attended, as it is, with two such greedy Purveyers, Ambition and …, I say hee ought to suspect a Hierarchy to bee as dangerous and derogatory from his Crown as a Tetrarchy o… a Hepiarchy. Yet now that the Prelates had almost attain'd to what their insolent, and unbridl'd minds had hurried them; to thrust the Lai… …der the despoticall rule of the Monarch, that they themselves might confine p. 68the Monarch to a kind of Pupillag… under their Hierarchy, observe but how their own …inciples combat one another, and supplant each one his fellow.

Having fitted us only for peace, and that a servile peace, by lessening our numbers, dreining our estates, enfeebling our bodies, cowing our free spirits by those wayes as you have heard, their impotent actions cannot sustaine themselves the least moment, unlesse they rouze us up to a Warre fit for Cain to be the Leader of; an abhorred, a cursed, a Fraternall Warre. ENGLAND and SCOTLAND dearest Brothers both in Natnre, and in CHRIST must be set to wade in one anothers blood; and IRELAND our free Denizon upon the back of us both, as occasion should serve: a piece of Service that the Pope and all his Factors have beene compassing to doe ever since the Reformation.

But ever-blessed be he, and ever glorifi'd that from his high watch-Tower in the Heav'ns discerning the crooked wayes of perverse, and cruell men, hath hitherto maim'd, and insatuated all their damnable inventions, and deluded their great Wizzards with a delusion fit for fooles and children: had GOD beene so minded hee could have sent a Spirit of Mutiny amongst us, as hee did betweene Abimilech and the Sechemites, to have made our Funerals and slaine heaps more in number then the miserable surviving remnant, but he, when wee least deserv'd, sent out a gentle p. 69gale, and message of peace from the wings of those his Cherubins, that fanne his Mercy-seat. Nor shall the wisdome, the moderation, the Christian Pietie, the Constancy of our Nobility and Commons of England be ever forgotten, whose calme, and temperat connivence could sit still, and smile out the stormy bluster of men more audacious, and precipitant, then of solid and deep reach, till their own sury had run it selfe out of breath, assailing, by rash and heady approches, the impregnable situation of our Liberty and safety, that laught such weake enginry to scorne, such poore drifts to make a NationallWarre of a Surplice Brabble, a Tippet-scuffle, and ingage the unattainted Honour of English Knighthood, to unfurle the streaming Red Crosse, or to reare the horrid Standard of those fatall guly Dragons for so unworthy a purpose, as to force upon their Fellow-Subjects, that which themselves are weary of, the Skeleton of a Masse-Booke. Nor must the Pat…ence, the Fortitude, the firme Obedience of the Nobles and People of Scotland striving against manifold Provocations, nor must their sincere and moderate proceedings hitherto, be unremember'd, to the shamefull Conviction of all their Detractors.

Goe on both hand in hand O NATIONS never to be dis-united, be the Praise and the Heroick Song of all POSTERITY; merit this, but seeke onelyonly Vertue, not to extend your Limits; for what needs? to win a fading triumphant Lawrell out of the teares of wretched Men, but to settle p. 70the pure worship of God in his Church, and justice in the State. then shall the hardest difficulties smooth out themselves before ye; envie shall sink to hell, craft and malice be confounded, whether it be homebred mischeif, or outlandish cunning: yea … other Nations will then cover to serve ye, for Lordship and victory are but the pages of justice and vertue. Commit securely to true wisdome the vanquishing and uncasing of craft and suttlerie, which are but her two runnagates: joyn your invincible might to doe worthy, and Godlike deeds, and then he that seeks to break your union, a cleaving curse be his inheritance to all generations.

Sir, you have now at length this question for the time, and as my memory would best serve me in such a copious, and vast theme, fully handl'd, and you your selfe may judge whether Prelacy be the only Church-government agreeable to MONARCHY. Seeing therfore the perillous, and confused estate into which we are faln, and that to the certain knowledge of all men through the irreligious pride and hatefull Tyranny of Prelats (as the innumerable, and grievous complaints of every shire cry out) if we will now resolve to settle affairs either according to pure Religion, or sound Policy, we must first of all begin roundly to cashier, and cut away from the publick body the noysom, and diseased tumor of Prelacie, and come from Schisme to … with out neighbour Reformed sister Churches, p. 71which with the blessing of peace and pure doctrine have now long time flourish'd; and doubtles with all hearty joy, and gratulation, will meet, and welcome our Christian union with them, as they have bin all this while griev'd at our strangenes and little better then separation from them. And for the Discipline propounded, seeing that it hath bin inevitably prov'd that the natural, and fundamental causes of political happines in all governments are the same, and that this Church Discipline is taught in the Word of God, and, as we see, agrees according to wish with all such states as have receiv'd it, we may infallibly assure our selvs that it will as wel agree with Monarchy, though all the Tribe of Aphorismers, and Politicasters would perswade us there be secret, and misterious reasons against it. For upon the setling hereof mark what nourishing and cordial restorements to the State will follow, the Ministers of the Gospel attending only to the work of salvation every one within his limited charge, besides the diffusive blessings of God upon all our actions, the King shall sit without an old disturber, a dayly incroacher, and intruder; shall ridde his Kingdome of a strong sequester'd, and collateral power; a confronting miter, whose potent wealth, and wakefull ambition he had just cause to hold in jealousie: not to repeat the other present e…ills which only their removal will remove. And because things simply pure are inconsistent in the masse of nature, nor are the elements p. 72or humors in Mans Body exactly homogeneall, and hence the best founded Common-wealths, and least barbarous have aym'd at a certaine mixture and temperament, partaking the severall vertues of each other… State, that each part drawing to it selfe may keep up a steddy, and eev'n uprightnesse in common,

There is no Civill Goverment that hath beene known, no not the Spartan, not the Roman, though both for this respect so much prais'd by the wise Polybius, more divinely and harmoniously tun'd, more equally ballanc'd as it were by the hand and scale of Justice, then is the Common-wealth of England: where under a free, and untutor'd Monarch, the noblest, worthiest, and most prudent men, with full approbation, and suffrage of the People have in their power the supreame, and finall determination of highest Affaires. Now if Conformity of Church Discipline to the Civill be so desir'd, there can be nothing more parallel, more uniform, then when under the Soveraigne Prince Christs Vicegerent using the Scepter of David, according to Gods Law, the godliest, the wisest, the learnedest Ministers in their severall charges have the instructing and disciplining of Gods people by whose full and free Election they are consecrated to that holy and equall Aristocracy. And why should not the Piety, and Conscience of Englishmen as members of the Church be trusted in the Election of Pastors to Functions that nothing concerne a Monarch, as well as their worldly p. 73wisedomes are priviledg'd as members of the State in suffraging their Knights, and Burgesses to matters that concern him neerely? And if in weighing these severall Offices, their difference in time and qualitie be cast in, I know they will not turn the beame of equall Judgement the moity of a scruple. Wee therfore having already a kind of Apostolicall, and ancient Church Election in our State, what a perversnesse would it be in us of all others to retain sorcibly a kind of imperious, and stately Election in our Church? And what a blindnesse to thinke that what is already Evangelicall as it were by a happy cha…ce in our Politie, should be repugnant to that which is the same by divine command in the Ministery? Thus then wee see that our Ecclesiall, and Politicall choyses may consent and sort as well together without any rupture in the STATE, as Christians, and Freeholders. But as for honour, that ought indeed to be different, and distinct as either Office looks a severall way, the Minister whose Calling and end is spirituall, ought to be honour'd as a Father and Physitian to the Soule (if he be found to be so) with a Son-like and Disciple-like reverence, which is indeed the dearest, and most affectionate honour, most to be desir'd by a wise man, and such as will easily command a free and plentifull provision of outward necessaries, without his furder care of this world.

The Magistrate whose Charge is to see to our Persons, and Estates, is to bee honour'd with a p. 74more elaborate and personall Courtship, with large Salaries and Stipends, that hee himselfe may abound in those things whereof his legall justice and watchfull care gives us the quiet enjoyment. And this distinction of Honour will bring forth a seemly and gracefull Uniformity over all the Kingdome.

Then shall the Nobles possesse all the Dignities and Offices of temporall honour to themselves, sole Lords without the improper mixture of Scholastick, and pusillanimous upstarts, the Parliament shall void her Vpper House of the same annoyances, the Common, and Civill Lawes shall be both set free, the former from the controule, the other from the meere vassalage and Copy hold of the Clergie.

And wheras temporall Lawes rather punish men when they have transgress't, then form them to be such as should transgresse seldomest, wee may conceive great hopes through the showres of Divine Benediction, watering the unmolested and watchfull paines of the Ministery, that the whole Inheritance of God will grow up so straight and blamelesse, that the Civill Magistrate may with farre lesse toyle and difficulty, and far more ease and delight steare the tall and goodly Vessell of the Common-wealth through all the gusts and tides of the Worlds mutability.

Here I might have ended, but that some Objections, which I have heard commonly flying about, presse mee to the endevour of an answere. p. 73We must not run they say into sudden extreams. This is a fallacious Rule, unlesse understood only of the actions of Vertue about things indifferent, for if it be found that those two extreames be Vice and Vertue, Falshood and Truth, the greater extremity of Vertue and superlative Truth we run into, the more vertuous, and the more wise, wee become; and hee that flying from degenerate and traditionall corruption, feares to shoot himselfe too far into the meeting imbraces of a Divinely-warranted Reformation, had better not have run at all. And for the suddennesse it cannot be fear'd. Who should oppose it? The Papists? They dare not. The Protestants otherwise affected. They were mad. There is nothing will be remoov'd but what to them is profess'dly indifferent. The long affection which the People have borne to it, what for it selfe, what for the odiousnes of P…elates, is evident: from the first yeare of Qu. Eliz…beth, it hath still beene more and more propounded, desir'd, and beseech't, yea sometimes favourably forwarded by the Parliaments themselves. Yet if it were sudden & swift, provided still it be from worse to better, certainly wee ought to hie us from …ill like a torrent, and rid our selves of corrupt Discipline, as wee would shake fire out of our bosomes.

Speedy and vehement were the Reformati…ns of all the good Kings of Juda, though the people had beene nuzzl'd in Idolatry never so long before; they fear'd not the bug-bear danger, nor p. 76the Lyon in the way that the sluggish and timorous Politician thinks he sees; no more did our Brethren of the Reformed Churches abroad; they ventur'd (God being their guide) out of rigid POPERY, into that which wee in mockery call precise Puritanisme, and yet wee see no inconvenience befell them.

Let us not dally with God when he offers us a full blessing, to take as much of it as wee think will serve our ends, and turne him back the rest upon his hands, lest in his anger he snatch all from us again. Next they alledge the antiquity of Episcopacy through all Ages. What it was in the Apostles time, that questionlesse it must be still and therein I trust the Ministers will be able to satisfie the Parliament. But if Episcopacie be taken for Prelacie, all the Ages they can deduce it through, will make it no more venerable then Papacie.

Most certaine it is (as all our Stories beare witnesse) that ever since their comming to the See of Canterbury for neere twelve hundred yeares, to speake of them in generall, they have beene in England to our Soules a sad and dolefull succession of illiterate and blind guides: to our purses, and goods a wastfull band of robbers, a perpetuall havock, and rapine: To our state a continuall Hydra of mischiefe, and molestation, the forge of discord and Rebellion: This is the Trophey of their Antiquity, and boasted Succession through so many Ages. And for those Prelat-Martyrs they glory of, they are to bee judg'd what they p. 77were by the Gospel, and not the Gospel to be tried by them.

And it is to be noted that if they were for Bishopricks and Ceremonies, it was in their prosperitie, and fulnes of bread, but in their persecution, which purifi'd them, and neer their death, which was their garland, they plainely dislik'd and condemn'd the Ceremonies, and threw away those Episcopall ornaments wherein they were instal'd, as foolish and detestable, for so the words of Ridley at his degradment, and his letter to Hooper expressly shew. Neither doth the Author of our Church History spare to record sadly the fall (for so he termes it) and infirmities of these Martyrs, though we would deify them. And why should their Martyrdom more countnance corrupt doctrine, or discipline, then their subscriptions justify their Treason to the Royall blood of this Relm; by diverting and intaling the right of the Crown from the true heires, to the houses of Northumberland and Suffolk, which had it tooke effect, this present King had in all likelyhood never sat on this Throne, and the happy union of this Iland had bin frustrated.

Lastly, whereas they adde that some the learnedest of the reformed abroad admire our Episcopacy, it had bin more for the strength of the Argument to tell us that som of the wisest Statesmen admire it, for thereby we might guesse them weary of the present discipline, as offensive to their State, which is the bugge we feare; but being p. 78they are Church-men, we may rather suspect them for some Prelatizing-spirits that admire our Bishopricks, not Episcopacy. The next objection vanishes of it selfe, propounding a doubt, whether a greater inconvenience would not grow from the corruption of any other discipline, then from that of Episcopacy. This seemes an unseasonable foresight, and out of order to deferre, and put off the most needfull constitution of one right discipline, while we stand ballancing the discommodity's of two corrupt ones. First constitute that which is right, and of it selfe it will discover, and rectify that which swervs, and easily remedy the pretended feare of having a Pope in every Parish, unlesse we call the zealous, and meek censure of the Church, a Popedom, which who so does let him advise how he can reject the Pastorly Rod, and Sheep-hooke of CHRIST, and those cords of love, and not feare to fall under the iron Scepter of his anger that will dash him to peeces like a Potsherd.

At another doubt of theirs I wonder; whether this discipline which we desire, be such as can be put in practise within this Kingdom, they say it can not stand with the common Law, nor with the Kings safety; the government of Episcopacy, is now so weav'd into the common Law: In Gods name let it weave out againe; let not humain quillets keep back divine authority. Tis not the common Law, nor the civil, but piety, and justice, that are our foundresses; they stoop p. 79not, neither change colour for Aristoc…, democraty, or Monarohy, nor yet at all interrupt their just courses, but farre above the taking notice of these inferior niceties with perfect sympathy, where ever they meet, kisse each other. Lastly, they are fearfull that the discipline which will succeed cannot stand with the Ks. safety. Wherefore? it is but Episcopacy reduc't to what it should be, were it not that the Tyranny of Prelates under the name of Bishops hath made our eares tender, and startling, we might call every good Minister a Bishop, as every Bishop, yea the Apostles themselves are call'd Ministers, and the Angels ministrîng Spirits, and the Ministers againe Angels. But wherein is this propounded government so shrewd? Because the government of assemblies will succeed. Did not the Apostles govern the Church by assemblies, how should it else be Catholik, how should it have Communion? Wee count it Sacrilege to take from the rich Prelates their Lands, and revenu's which is Sacrilege in them to keep, using them as they doe, and can we think it safe to defraude the living Church of GOD of that right which GOD has given her in assemblies! O but the consequence: Assemblies draw to them the Supremacy of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction. No surely, they draw no Supremacy, but that authority which CHRIST, and Saint Paul in his name conferrs upon them. The K. may still retain the same Supremacy in the Assemblies, as in the Parliament, here he … p. 80do nothing alone against the common Law, and there neither alone, nor with consent against the Scriptures. But is this all? No, this Ecclesiasticall Supremacy draws to it the power to excommunicate Kings; and then followes the worst that can be imagin'd. Doe they hope to avoyd this by keeping Prelates that have so often don it? Not to exemplifie the malapert insolence of our owne Bishops in this kind towards our Kings: I shall turn back to the Primitive, and pure times, which the objecters would have the rule of reformation to us.

Not an assembly, but one Bishop alone, Saint AMBROSE of Millan, held Theodosius the most Christian Emperor under excommunication above eight moneths together, drove him from the Church in the presence of his Nobles, which the good Emperor bore with heroick humility, and never ceas't by prayers, and teares, till he was absolv'd, for which coming to the Bishop with Supplication into the Salutatory, some out Porch of the Church, he was charg'd by him of tyrannicall madnes against GOD, for comming into holy ground. At last upon conditions absolv'd, and after great humiliation approaching to the Altar to offer (as those thrise pure times then thought meet) he had scarse with-drawne his hand, and stood a while, when a bold Arch-deacon comes in the Bishops name, and chaces him from within the railes telling him peremptorily that the place wherein he stood, was for none p. 81but the Priests to enter, or to touch: and this is another peece of pure Primitive Divinity. Thinke yee then our Bishops will forgoe the power of excommunication on whomsoever? No certainly, unlesse to compasse sinister ends, and then revoke when they see their time. And yet this most mild, though withall dredfull, and inviolable Prerogative of Christs diadem excommunication servs for nothing with them, but to prog, and pandar for fees, or to display their pride and sharpen their revenge, debarring men the protection of the Law, and I remember not whether in some cases it bereave not men all right to their worldly goods, and Inheritanees besides the deniall of Christian buriall. But in the Evangelical, and reformed use of this sacred censure, no such prostitution, no such Jscariotical drifts are to be doubted, as that Spirituall doom, and sentence, should invade worldly possession, which is the rightfull lot and portion, even of the wicke dest men, as frankly bestow'd upon them by the al-dispensing bounty, as rain, and Sun-shine. No, no, it seekes not to bereave or destroy the body, it seekes to saue the Soule by humbling the body, not by Imprisonment, or pecuniary mulct, much lesse by stripes or bonds, or disinheritance, but by Fatherly admonishment, and Christian rebuke, to cast it into godly sorrow, whose end is joy, and ingenuous bashfulnesse to sin: if that can not be wrought, then as a tender Mother takes her Child and holds it over the pit with scarring p. 82words, that it may learne to feare, where danger is, so doth excommunication as deerly, and as freely without money, use her wholsome and saving terrors, she is instant, she beseeches, by all the deere, and sweet promises of SALVATION she entices and woos, by all the threatnings, and thunders of the Law, and rejected Gosspel she charges, and adjures; this is all her Armory, her munition, her Artillery, then she awaites with long-sufferance, and yet ardent zeale. In briefe, there is no act in all the errand of Gods Ministers to man-kind, wherein passes more loverlike contestation betweene CHRIST and the Soule of a regenerate man lapsing, then before, and in, and after the sentence of Excommunication. As for the fogging proctorage of money, with such an eye as strooke Gehezi with Leprosy, and Simon Magus with a curse, so does she looke, and so threaten her firy whip against that banking den of theeves that dare thus baffle, and buy and sell the awfull, and majestick wrincles of her brow. He that is rightly and apostolically sped with her invisible arrow, if he cā be at peace in his Soule, and not smel within him the brimstone of Hell, may have faire leave to tell all his baggs over undiminish't of the least farding, may eat his dainties, drinke his wine, use his delights, enjoy his Lands, and liberties, not the least skin rais'd, not the least haire misplac't for all that excommunication has done: much more may a King injoy his rights, and Prerogatives unflowr'd, p. 83untouch'd, and be as absolute, and compleat a King, as all his royalties and revenu's can make him. And therefore little did Theodosius fear a plot upon his Empire when he stood excommunicat by Saint Ambrose, though it were done either with much hau…y pride, or ignorant zeale. But let us rather look upon the reformed Churches beyond the seas, the Grizons the Suisses, the Hollanders, the French, that have a Supremacy to live under as well as we, where do the Churches in all these places strive for Supremacy, where do they clash and justle Supremacies with the Civil Magistrate? In France a more severe Monarchy then ours, the Protestants under this Church government carry the name of the best Subjects the King has; and yet Presbytery, if it must be so call'd, does there all that it desires to doe: how easie were it, if there be such great suspicion, to give no more scope to it in England. But let us not for feare of a scarre-crow, or else through hatred to be reform'd stand hankering and politizing, when GOD with spread hands testifies to us, and points us out the way to our peace.

Let us not be so overcredulous, unlesse GOD hath blinded us, as to trust our deer Soules into the hands of men that beg so devoutly for the pride, and gluttony of their owne backs, and bellies, that sue and sollicite so eagerly, not for the saving of Soules, the consideration of which can have heer no place at all, but for their Bishopricks, p. 84Deaneries, Prebends, and Chanonies; how can these men not be corrup…, whose very …se is the bribe of their own pleading; whose mo… cannot open without the strong breath, and l… stench of avarice, Simony, and Sacrilege, embe… ling the treasury of the Church on painted, … guilded walles of Temples wherein GOD …h testified to have no delight, warming their Palace Kitchins, and from thence their …, and epicurean paunches, with the almes of the blind, the lame, the impotent, the …d, the … fn, the widow, for with these the …sury of CHRIST ought to be, here must be his jewels bestow'd, his rich Cabinet must be emptied heer; as the constant martyr Saint Laurence taught the Roman Praetor. Sir would you know what the remonst…ance of these men would have, what their Petition imply's? They intreate us that we would not be weary of those insupportable greevances that our shoulders have hitherto … under, they beseech us that we would think'em fit to be our Justices of peace, our Lords, our highest officers of State, though they come furnish't with no more experience then they learnt betweene the Cook, and the manciple, or more pro foundly at the Colledge audit, or the regent house, or to come to their deepest insight, at their Patrons Table; they would request us to indure still the russling of their Silken Cassocks, and that we would burst our midriffes rather then laugh to see them under Sayl in all their Lawn, and Sarcenet p. 85their shrouds, and tackle, with a geometricall rhomboides upon their heads: they would bear us in hand that we must of duty still appear before them once a year in Jerusalem like good circumcizd males, and Females to be taxt by the poul, to be scons't our head money, our tuppences in their Chaunlerly Shop book of Easter. They pray us that it would please us to let them still hale us, and worrey us with their band-dogs, and Pursivants; and that it would please the Parliament that they may yet have the whipping, fleecing, and fleaing of us in their diabolical Courts to tear the flesh from our bones, and into our wide wounds instead of balm, to power in the oil of Tartar, vitriol, and mercury; Surely a right reasonable, innocent, and soft-hearted Petition. O the relenting bowels of the Fathers. Can this bee granted them unlesse GOD have smitten us with frensie from above, and with a dazling giddinesse at …oon day? Should not those men rather be heard that come to plead against their owne preferments, their worldly advantages, their owne abundance; for honour, and obedience to Gods word, the conversion of Soules, the Christian peace of the Land, and union of the reformed Catholick Church, the unappropriating, and unmonopolizing the rewards of learning and industry, from the greasie clutch of ignorance, and high feeding. We have tri'd already, & miserably felt what ambitio… worldly glory & immoderat wealthcan do, what the boistrous & contradictional hand of p. 86a temporall, earthly, and corporeall Spiritualty can availe to the edifying of Christs holy Church; were it such a desperate hazard to put to the venture the universall Votes of Christs Congregation, the fellowly and friendly yoke of a teaching and laborious Ministery, the Pastorlike and Apostolick imitation of meeke and unlordly Discipline, the gentle and benevolent mediocritie of Church-maintenance, without the ignoble Hu…sterage of pidling Tithes? Were it such an incurable mischiefe to make a little triall, what all this would doe to the flourishing and growing up of Christs mysticall body? As rather to use every poore shift, and if that serve not, to threaten uproare and combustion, and shake the brand of Civill Discord?

O Sir, I doe now feele my selfe inwrapt on the sodaine into those mazes and Labyrinths of dreadfull and hideous thoughts, that which way to get out, or which way to end I know not, unlesse I turne mine eyes, and with your help lift up my hands to that Eternall and Propitious Throne, where nothing is readier then grace and refuge to the distresses of mortall Suppliants: and it were a shame to leave these serious thoughts lesse piously then the Heathen were wont to conclude their graver discourses.

Thou therefore that sits's in light & glory unapprochable, Parent of Angels and Men! next thee I implore Omnipotent King, Redeemer of that lost remnant whose nature thou didst assume, p. 87ineffable and everlasting Love! And thou the third subsistence of Divine Infinitude, illumining Spirit, the joy and solace of created Things! one Tri-personall GODHEAD! looke upon this thy poore and almost spent, and expiring Church, leave her not thus a prey to these importunate Wolves, that wait and thinke long till they devoure thy tender Flock, these wilde Boares that have broke into thy Vineyard, and left the print of thir polluting hoofs on the Soules of thy Servants. O let them not bring about their damned designes that stand now at the entrance of the bottomlesse pit expecting the Watch-word to open and let out those dreadfull Locusts and Scorpions, to re-involve us in that pitchy Cloud of infernall darknes, where we shall never more see the Sunne of thy Truth againe, never hope for the cheerfull dawne, never more heare the Bird of Morning sing. Be mov'd with pitty at the afflicted state of this our shaken Monarchy, that now lies labouring under her throwes, and struggling against the grudges of more dreaded Calamities.

O thou that after the impetuous rage of five bloody Inundations, and the succeeding Sword of intestine …rre, soaking the Land in her owne gore, didst pitty the sad and ceasles revolution of our swift and thick-comming sorrowes when wee were quite breathlesse, of thy free grace didst motion Peace, and termes of Co…ant with us, & having first welnigh freed us from Antichristian thraldome, didst build up this Britannick Empire p. 88to a glorious and enviable heighth with all her Daughter Ilands about her, stay us in this felicitie, let not the obstinacy of our halfe Obedlence and will-Worship bring forth that Viper of Sedition, that for these Fourescore Yeares hath been breeding to eat through the entrals of our Peace; but let her cast her Abortive Spawne without the danger of this travailling & throbbing Kingdome. That we may still remember in our solemne Thanksgivings, how for us the Northren Ocean even to the frozen Thule was scatter'd with the proud Ship-wracks of the Spanish Armado, and the very maw of Hell ransack't, and made to give up her conceal'd destruction, ere shee could vent it in that horrible and damned blast.

O how much more glorious will those former Deliverances appeare, when we shall know them not onelyonly to have sav'd us from greatest miseries past, but to have reserv'd us for greatest happinesse to come. Hitherto thou hast but freed us, and that not fully, from the unjust and Tyrannous Claime of thy Foes, now unite us intirely, and appropriate us to thy selfe, tie us everlastingly in willing Homage to the Prerogative of thy eternall Throne.

And now wee knowe, O thou our most certain hope and defence, that thine enemies have been consulting all the Sorceries of the great Whore, and have joyn'd their Plots with that sad Intelligencing Tyrant that mischiefes the World with hi… Mines of Ophir, and lies thirsting to revenge p. 89his Navall ruines that have larded our Seas; but let them all take Counsell together, and let it come to nought, let them Decree, and doe thou Cancell it, let them gather themselves, and bee scatter'd, let them embattell themselves and bee broken, let them imbattell, and be broken, for thou art with us.

Then amidst the Hymns, and Halleluiahs of Saints some one may perhaps bee heard offering at high strains in new and lofty Measures to sing and celebrate thy divine Mercies, and marvelous Judgements in this Land throughout all AGES; whereby this great and Warlike Nation instructed and inur'd to the fervent and continuall practice of Truth and Righteousnesse, and casting farre from her the rags of her old vices may presse on hard to that high and happy emulation to be found the soberest, …, and most Christian People at that day when thou the Eternall and shortly-expected King shalt open the Clouds to judge the severall Kingdomes of the World, and distributing Nationall Honours and Rewards to Religious and just Common-wealths, shalt put an end to all Earthly Tyrannies, proclaiming thy universal and milde Monarchy through Heaven and Earth. Where they undoubtedly that by their Labours, Counsels, and Prayers have been earnest … the Common good of Religion and their Countrey, shall receive, above the inferiour Orders of the Blessed, the Regall addition of Principalities, Legions, and Thrones into their glorious Titles, and in supereminence p. 90of beatifick Vision progressing the da…lesse and irrevoluble Circle of Eternity shall clasp inseparable Hands with joy, and blisse in over measure sor ever.

But they contrary that by the imp…iting and diminution of the true Faith, the distresses and servitude of their Countrey aspire to high Dig…, Rule and Pr…ion here, after a shamefull end in thsi Life (which God grant them) shall be thrown downe eternally in to the darkest and deepest … of HELL, where under the despig… …, the trample and spurne of all the other D…, that in the anguish of their Torture shall have no other case then to exercise a R…g and …all Tyr…y over them as their Slaves and N…, they shall remaine in that plight for ever, the ba…, the …most, the most de…ed, most … and … V…sals of Perd….

The End.

End of the text · John Milton, Of Reformation Touching Church Discipline (1641)