The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 2 · Chapter 8 · Section 2 – Section 3
Borthwicke.
The Lord in the eighteenth Chapter of the Booke of Numbers said thus unto Aaron, Thou shalt possesse nothing in their Land, neither shalt thou have any portion amongst them, I am thy portion and inheritance amongst the Children of Israel: for unto the sonnes of Levi I have given all the Tithes of Israel, that they should possesse them for their Ministry which they doe execute in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. Albeit I doe not doubt, but that the Order of the Levites and of the Clergy is farre different and variable. For the administration of their sacred and holy things, after their death, passed unto their posterity, as it were by right of inheritance, which happeneth not unto the posterity of our Clergy in these dayes.
Furthermore, if any heritage be provided or gotten for them, I doe not gain…-say, but that they shall possesse it, but still I doe affirme, That all temporall jurisdiction should be taken from them: For when as twice there arose a contention amongst the Disciples, which of them should be thought the greatest, Christ answered, The kings of Nations have dominion over them,Civill domion differing f…om Ecclesiasticall. and such which have power over them are called beneficiall; you shall not doe so, for hee which is greatest amongst you, shall be made equall unto the youngest or least, and hee which is the Prince, or Ruler amongst you, shall be made equall unto him that doth minister; minding thereby, and willing utterly to debarre the Ministers of his Word from all terrene and civill dominion and Empire: For by these points he doth not onelyonly declare, that the office of a Pastor is distinct, and divided from the office of a Prince and Ruler; but they are in effect, so much different and separate, that they cannot agree or ioyne together in one man. Neither is it to be thought that Christ did set or ordaine an harder Law then hee himselfe did take upon him: For so much as in the twelfth of Luke, certaine of the company said unto him, Master, command my brother that he divide his inheritance with mee. Hee answered, Man, who made me a Judge, or a divider amongst you? Wee see therefore, that Christ even simply did reiect and refuse the office of a Judge,Christ refuseth the office of a Civill Iudge. the which thing hee would not have done, if it had beene agreeable unto his office or duty. The like thing also hee did in the eighth Chapter of Iohn, when as hee refused to give iudgement upon the woman taken in adultery, which was brought before him… Whereas they doe alleage …hat Moses did supply both offices at once.An objection made by the example of Mo…es supplying both the offices answered unto. I answer, that it was done by a rare miracle. Furthermore, that it continued but for a time, untill things were brought unto a better state; besides that, there was a certaine forme and rule prescribed him of the Lord, then tooke hee upon him the civill governance, and the Priesthood, he was commanded to resigne unto his b…other; and that not without good cause, for it is against nature, that one man should suffice both charges, wherefore it was diligently fore-seene and provided for in all ages. Neither was there any Bishop so long as any true face or shew of the Church did continue, who once thought to usurpe the right and title of the sword: whereupon in the time of Saint Ambrose, this proverbe tooke his originall, That Emperours did rather wish or desire the office of Priesthood, then Priests any Empire. For it was all mens opinions at that time, that sumptuous palaces did pertaine unto Emperours, and Churches unto Priests. Saint Bernard also writeth many things which are agreeable unto this our opinion, as is this his saying, Peter could not give that which hee had not,Palaces to Princes, Churches pertaine to priests; Peter could not give that he had not, Peter had no Lordly dominion. Ergo Peter could not give Lordly dominion to his successors. but hee gave unto his succes…ours that which hee had, that is to say, carefulnesse over the Congregation; for when as the Lord and Master saith, That he is not constituted or ordained Judge betweene two, the servant or Disciple ought not to take it scornfully, if that he may not judge all men. And lest that hee might seeme in that place to speake of the spirituall judgement, hee straightway annexeth, therefore, saith hee, your power and authority shall be in offence and transgression, not in possessions. For this purpose, and not for the other, have you received the keyes of the kingdome of Heaven, why then doe you invade other mens bounds or borders? The rest I will passe over for brevities cause.
The seventh Article.
The seventh Article.Falsly and against the Honour, State, and reverence of the sacred Majesty of the King of Scots, hee hath said, holden, and affirmed, that our most noble King of Scots, defender of the Christian faith, would appropriate unto himselfe all the possessions, lands and rents of the Church, given and granted by his predecessors, and also by himselfe, and convert them unto his owne private use. And for this end, and purpose, as hee hath many times written unto him, so hath he with his whole endeavour perswaded our said noble Lord and King thereunto.
Borthwicke.It is no marvell though these mad dogs doe so barke against mee, whom they thinke to have counselled the Kings Majesty (I would to God I had also throughly perswaded him) that hee should take away from these unjust sacrilegious possessors, the riches wherewith all they are fatted and …ngreased like Swine. For this is the nature of dogs; if any man goe about to take away the bone out of their mouth, by and by to snatch at him, and teare him with their teeth. It is out of all controversie, unto such as have any wit at all, that such men were very childish, that is to say, ignorant of all learning and judgement, which did so fat and feed with their possessions, these belly beasts; For who would not judge it more then childish, to bestow the Kings victuals or meate upon the bellies of the prophets of Baal and Iesabel? But all they which at this present doe endowe such filthy sinks (I will not call them dens of thieves) with such revenues, they doe follow the steps of Iesabel; for what other thing doe they, when as daily they are bleating and lowing before their Images, burning of Incense, and fall flat downe before their Altars, but that which in times past the prophets of Baal did, when as they transported the worship of God unto an Idoll? Wherefore, if Daniel and Elias were spotted with heresie, when they would have destroyed the Priests of Baal, I grant that I also must bee an Heretique. But for so much as then hee did nothing but which was commanded him of the Lord, that was able to kill the prophet which had allured the people to follow strange gods, he could not truly and justly be accused of heresie; so neither can my adversaries spot mee therewithall, except, peradventure, they will condemne me, that (whereas Elias dealt more rigorously with the prophets of Baal, for he cast them into the brooke Kidron) I required or desired no more, but that the riches which was wickedly bestowed upon them, and their possessions might be taken from them.