The Canterburians Self-Conviction, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. The Canterburians avovved Arminianiſme.
ARminianiſme how great and dangerous an inn… …ation of the Reformed Religion it is,Arminianiſme … great and dangerous innovation o… Religion. wee m y learne by the late experiences of our neigh…ours, when that weed began to ſpread among …. The States of Holland have declared in many p…ſſages of their Dordracen Synod, that they found it a more readie meane to overthrow both their Church and State, then all the engines, Policies, armes which the Pope, and Spaniard, in any bygan time had uſed … gainſt them.
The Church of France the other yeare, when Amir…t, and Testard, and ſome few of their Divines, were but ſurmiſed to incline a little towards ſome ſmall twigs of one article of Arminius, was ſo affrighted, that they reſted not till in a generall aſſembly at Paris, they did runne together for the extinguiſhing of the firſt ſparkes, as it were of a common fire.
When Barrow in Cambridge began to run a little on this rock, how careful was my Lord of Canterburie and the Biſhops than in the meeting at Lambeth, for the cruſhing of that Cokatrice in the egge; when that Serpent againe in the ſame place began, to ſett up the noſe in the writtes of Thomſon, how carefull were the Biſhops then by the hand of their brother of Saliſburie Doctor Abbots to cutt off the head of that monſter.
But what ſpeake wee of the Churches Reformed? The very Synagogue of Rome, whoſe conſcience is enlarged as the Hell to ſwallow downe the vile… morſels of the moſt lewd errours that Antichriſt can preſent, yet did they ſtick much at this bone, when the Ieſuite Molina began to draw out theſe dreggs of Pelagianiſme from the long neglected pitts of ſome obſcure Schoolemen, what clamours were raiſed there, not onelyonly by Alvarez and his followers but ulſo by numbers of Prelates and ſome great Princes, till the credit of the Ieſuites in the Court of Rome, and the wiſedome of the Conſiſtorie prognoſticating a new Rent in their Church, did procure from the Pope a peremptorie injunction of ſilence to both ſides, on all higheſt paines: hoping if the Dominicans mouthes were once ſtopped, that the Ieſuites by their familiar arts, and ſilent Policies, would at laſt worke out their intended point, which indeed ſince that time, they have well neare by fully gained.
But to King Charles eye no evidence uſeth to bee ſo demonſtrative as that which commeth from the learned hand of his bleſſed Father. VVould wee know how gracious a Plant Arminianiſme and the dreſſers of it will prove in England, or any where elſe, adviſe with King Iames, King Iames judgement of Arminianiſme.who after full triall and long conſultation about this emergent, with the Divines of his Court, eſpecially the late archbiſhop Abbots gave out at laſt his Decreet in print, and that in Latine, not onelyonly for a preſent declaration to the States of Holland of his minde againſt Vorstius, and a cleare Confeſſion of his Faith in thoſe points to the Chriſtian VVorld, but above all to remaine a perpetuall Regiſter for his heirs and ſucceſſours, of his faithfull adviſe, if after his death their Kingdomes ſhould be ever in danger to bee peſtered with that wicked ſeed.
In that treatiſe, his Majeſtie doth firſt(a)Declarat. contr. Vorſt. pag. 15. Non erubeſcit ita craſſe mentiri, ut affirmet haereſes libro ſuo expreſſas á profeſſione Eccleſiae Anglicanae non diſsentire. avow all them to be groſſe lyers, who doe not bluſh to affirme that any of the Arminian articles, even that moſt plauſable one of the Saints apoſtaſie are conſonant with the Doctrine or articles of the Church of England.(b)Ibid. pag. 12. Gnaviter impudens & ferreioris. Hee ſtileth Bertius for ſuch a ſlander, a very impudent and brazen faced man. 2.(c)Ibid. pag. 18 Deteſtandae haereſes novitor, exortae maturè exſtinguē dae, & ad uſque inferos unde manarunt relegandae. He pronounceth theſe Doctrines of Arminius to be hereſies lately revived and damnable to the hells, from whence they come. 3.(d)Ibid. pag 12. Sola inſcriptio clamat igni damnandum. That Bertius for the very title of his booke, The Saints apoſtacie, deſerved burning. 4.(e)Ibid. pag. 14. Inimicus Deo Arminius▪ cujus diſcipuli peſtes, arrogantes, haeritici, foreign ſectarij. That A…minius and his Schollers were to be reputed peſts, enemies to God, proud, ſchiſmaticall, hereticall, Atheiſts. 5.(f)Ibid. pag. 15. A Deo maledictionem, apud. Eccleſias omnes infamiam, in Republicam perpetuam, diſtractionem. The great increaſe of Arminians in Scotland by Canterburies meanes. Hee affirmeth that their tolleration would not faile to bring upon the heads of their toleraters let be favourers, Gods malediction, an evill report, ſlander and infamie with all the Churches abroad, and certaine Schiſme, diviſion and tumults at home.
Shall wee then make any doubt of King Charles full contentment that we avow Arminianiſme to bee ſuch a dangerous innovation in our Religion as the Reformed Churches abroad, and his Father at home hath taught us to count it where ever it is found.
Notwithſtanding this bitter roote amongſt us was ſetting up the head of late very boldly in all the prime pl…ces of our Kingdome; wee have had ſince the reformation many bickerings about the Church government and Ceremonies, but in matters of Doctrine never any controverſie was knowne, till ſome yeares agoe a favourable aire from the mouth of Doctor Laud at Court began to blow upon theſe unhappie ſeeds of Arminius. No ſooner was thoſe ſouth-winds ſenſible in our climate, but at once in S. Andrews, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and about Glaſgow that weed began to ſpring amaine.
Doctour Wederburne in the new Colledge of S. Andrews did ſtuffe his dictates to the younge Students in Divinitie with theſe errours. This man upon the feares of our Churches cenſure, having fled the Countrie, was very tenderly embraced by his Grace at Court, and well rewarded with a faire Benefice in England for his labours; But to the end his talents ſhould not lye hid, although a man very unmeete either for preaching or government, hee was at once ſent downe to us, without knowledge of our Kirk, by Canterburies onelyonly favour to be Biſhop of Dumblane, for this purpoſe mainly that in the Royall Chappell, whereof that Biſhop is alwayes Dean, hee might in deſpite of all our Preſbyteries weive out the webbe hee had begun in S. Andrews. So at once there was erected a ſociety of twentie foure Royall Chapplains, who were thought fitteſt of the whole Cleargie of the Kingdome, to be allured with hopes of favour from Court, to preach to the State, the Deans Armiminian tenets.
In Edinburgh M. Sydſerfe did partly play his part, and for the reward of his boldneſſe, had caſt in his lap in a trace the Deanrie of Edinburgh, the Biſhoprick of Brechan, and laſt of Galloway, with full hopes in a ſhort time of an Archbiſhops cloake.
In the North, Doctour Forbes the onelyonly Father of the moſt of thoſe who fell away from the doctrine of our Church, came to good ſpeed in his evill labours and for his paines was honoured with the firſt ſeate in the new erected chayre of our principall citty.
Others about Glaſgow made their preaching of the Arminian errours the pathway to their aſſured advancement.
In our generall Aſſembly we found that this cockle was comming up apace in verie manie furrowes of our field; Some of it we were forced, albeit to our great griefe, to draw up & caſt over the dike, which at once was received and replanted in England in too good a ſoyle.
We confeſſe that it happened not much beſide our expectation, that our Arminians The Kings names ſtolen by Canterburie to the defēce of Arminians.after the cenſure of our Church ſhould at Court have beene to graciouſly received and ſheltered in the ſanctuarie of his Grace at Lambeth; But this indeed did and doth aſtoniſh us all, that any ſhould have beene ſo bold as to have ſtolen King Charles name to a printed Declaration, wherein not onelyonly our generall Aſſembly is condemned for uſing any cenſure at all againſt any for the crime of Arminianiſme; (g)Large declar. pag. 74. According to their weake and poore power they did determine cō troverſies concerning predeſtination, univerſal grace irreſiſtibilitie of grace, concurrance in grace, and other ſuch like intricate points, that ſome mē would be loath to live ſo long as they could make them underſtand them.But alſo Arminius articles are all utterly ſlighted and pronounced to be of ſo obſcure and intricate a nature, that both our Aſſembly was to peart to make any determination about them, and that many of our number were altogether unable by any teaching ever to winne ſo much as to the underſtanding of the very queſtions:(h)Some Mininiſters were dedepr…ved for Armini…iſme, a courſe never heard off …n any p…ace where any rule of juſtice was obſerved, that a Min ſter ſhould bee deprived for holding any Tenet, which is not againſt t…e doctri e of that Church wherin he liveth, and that before it be prohibited & condemned by that Church. Now there is nothing in the confeſſion of that Church againſt theſe Tenets. Yea, thoſe articles are avowed to be conſonant, and in nothing to bee oppoſite to the Confeſſion of our Church, and are freely abſolved of all Poperie.
(i)Pag. 303. They could no anſwer when it was told them th ſe Tenets, could not b…e counted Popiſh, concerning which, or the chiefe of which as learned Papiſts as any in the world, the Dominicans & Ieſuites did differ as much as th… Pro…eſtants, and tha… thoſe which doe adhere to the Auguſtin confeſſion, did hold hat ſide of …hoſe Tenets. w…ich the Arminians did hold, and yet they were very far rom beeing Papiſts, beeing the firſt Pro…eſtants, and there ore it was a…ainſt all ſen…e …o condemne that for P perie wh c… was held by many Pro…ella…ts Churches, and reject by many learned Papiſts.Becauſe indeed (for this is the onelyonly reaſon) ſome learned Papiſts finde divers of Arminius points to be ſo abſurd, that their ſtomackes cannot away with them, and ſome of the Lutherian divines agree with the Arminians in certaine parcels of ſome of their articles. They muſt be ſtrangers in theſe queſtions, who are ignorant in how many things the Dominicans and all Papiſts agree with Arminius, and in how many the Lutherans diſagree from him. However wee were and are amazed to ſee Canterburie ſo malapeart, as to proclame in the Kings name, beſide many other ſtrange things, the articles of Arminius, to bee ſo farre above the capacitie of our generall Aſſembly, that it deſerves a Royall reproofe for minting to determine any thing in them, and that they are no wayes contrary to the doctrine of our Church, neither any wayes Popiſh, and that for a reaſon, which will exeeme from the note of Poperie every errour which is ſo groſly abſurd, that ſome learned Papiſts are forced to contradict it, or ſome groſſe Lutheran can gett his throat extended to ſwallow it downe.
This boldneſſe can not in any reaſon bee imputed to our gracious Soveraigne; For how is it poſſible that hee upon any tollerable information, ſhould ever have ſuffered himſelfe to be induced to write or ſpeake in ſuch a ſtraine of theſe things which ſo lately by his learned Father was declared in print, and that in Latine to be no leſſe then hereſies, worthie of burning; yea, damnable to the very infernall pitt; whence as he ſayes, they did firſt come up. Neither is it like that theſe Sentences come from the heart of D. Balcanquell the penman of them; For hee was a member of Do…t Synod, and brought up in the Church of Scotland, the man is not unſeene in the Popiſh Tenets; How is it p…ſſible that his conſcience ſhould abſolve the Arminian errours of all Poperie, and all contrarietie to the Scotiſh confeſſion.
May any be ſo uncharitable, as to ſuſpect his late promotion in Durhame, hath altered ſo ſoone his minde? Sure not long ſince, both in England and Scotland, he did deſire to be eſteemed by his friends, one of thoſe whom Canterburie did maligne, and hold downe for his certaine and knowne reſolutions, and reputed abilitie to oppoſe his Graces Arminian, and Popiſh innovations.
His Majeſtie being certainly cleare of this imputation, and readily alſo Balcanquell, the amanuenſe, on whom can the fault lye but Canterburie, the directors back? For the world knowes, that on his ſhoulders for common alone, the King doth devolve the truſt of all Bookiſh and Eccleſiaſticall affaires that concernes him, that at his commandement hee hath written in the Kings name that part at the leaſt of the declination, which patronizeth the Arminians perſons and cauſe, we doe not conjecture, but demonſtrate by the conſtant & avowed courſe of his Graces carriage, in advancing Arminianiſme at all occaſions, in all the Kings Dominions.
That this may appeare, conſider his practiſes, not ſo much among us, as in the Iriſh Church,The Iriſh Church infected with Arminianiſme by Canterburie. where yet his hand is very nimble, to ſet theſe ungratious plants, and to nippe off all the overſpreading branches of any tree that may overtop them; For who elſe in a moment, hath advanced D. Bramble, not onelyonly to the Sea of Derrie, but to be the Kings Vicar Generall?
Who ſent D. Chappell firſt to the Univerſitie of Dubline, and then to his Epiſcopall Chaire?
Who holds downe the head of that Orthodox P…imat, and of all who have any zeale there to the truth of God?
Who cauſed not onelyonly refuſe the confirmation of theſe Antiarminian articles of Ireland, in the laſt Parliament, but threatned alſo to burne them by the hand of the hang-man? Whoſe invention are theſe privie articles, which his Creature my Lord of Derry preſents to diverſe who take Orders from his holy hands?
We will paſſe theſe and ſuch other effects, which the remote rayes of his Graces countenance doe produce in ſo great a diſtance; OnelyOnly behold! How great an increaſe that unhappie plant hath made there in England, where his eye is neerer to view, and his hand to water it.The Canterburians in England teach the firſt and ſecond article of Arminianiſme.
In the 25. yeare, at the very inſtant of King James death, D. Montagu, with D. Whites approbation, did put to the preſſe all the articles of Arminius in the ſame fearmes, with the ſame arguments and moſt injurious calumniations of the Orthodox doctrine, as Spalato and the Remonstrants had done a little before, but with this difference, that where thoſe had dipped their pennes in inke, D. Montagu doth write with venegar & gall, in every other line, caſting out the venome of his bitter Spirit, on all that cometh in his way, except they be fowles of his own feather; for oft when he ſpeakes of Ieſuites, Cardinals, Popes, hee annoynts his lips with the ſweeteſt honey, and perfumes his breath with the moſt cordiall tablets. If any doe doubt of his full Arminianiſme, let them caſt up his Appeale, and ſee it clearly,(k)Appeal, p. 60. I profeſſe my through & ſincere diſſent from the faction of novellizing Puritans, but in no point more thē in the doctrine of deſperate predeſtination. Ibid. p. 70. I ſee no reaſon why any of the divines of our Church preſent at the Synod of Dort, ſhould take any offence at my diſſenting, who had no authoritie that J know of to conclude me, more then I doe at them, for d…ffering from me in their judgment, quiſque abundet in ſuo ſenſu. Ibid. pag. 71. I am ſure the Church of England never ſo determined in her doctrine. Ibid. pag. 72, at the conference of Hamptoun-court, before his Majeſtie, by D. Bancroft, that doctrine of irreſpective predeſtination was ſtiled againſt the articles of Lambeth, then urged by the Pur…tans, a deſperate doctrine, without reproof or taxation of any. Ibid. pag. 50, your abſolute, neceſſarie, determined, irreſiſtible, irreſpective decree of God, to call, ſave, and glorifie S. Peter, for inſtance infalliblie, without any conſideration had off, or regard unto his faith, obedience, repentance: J ſay it truely, it is the fancie of ſome particular men. in the firſt and ſecond Article of Election and Redemption, he avoweth his averſneſſe from the Doctrine of Lambeth and Dort, which teacheth, that God from eternitie did elect us to grace & ſalvation, not for any conſideration of our faith, workes, or any thing in us as cauſes, reſpects, or conditions, antecedent to that decree, but onelyonly of his meere mercy; And that from this Election all our faith, workes, and perſeverance doe flow as effects. Hee calleth this the private fanſie of the Divines of Dort, oppoſite to the Doctrine of the Church of England; For this aſſertion he ſlandereth the Synod of L…mbeth, as teachers of deſperate doctrine, and would father this foule imputation, but very falſly on the Conference at Hamptoun Court.
(l)Ibid. pag. 61, 64. I ſhall as I can briefly ſet downe what I conceive of this of Gods decree of predeſtination, ſe…ting by all execution of purpoſe: this farre we have gone, and no word yet of predeſtination, for how could it be in a paritie? T…ere muſt …e firſt conceived a diſproportion, before there can be conceived an Election or dereliction: God had compaſſion of men in the maſſe of perdition, upon ſingulos generum, & genera ſingulorum, and out of his love, motu mero, no o…herwiſe ſtretched out to them deliverance, in a Mediator the Man Ieſus Chriſt, and drew them out that tooke hold of merciemercy, leaveing them there that would none of him.Againe he avoweth poſitively, that faith goeth before Election, and that to all the loſt race of Adam alike, Gods merciemercy in Chriſt is propounded till the parties free-will, by beleeving or miſ-beleeving, make the diſproportion antecedent to any divine either election, or reprobation.
One of the reaſons why King Iames ſtiled Arminius diſciples A…heiſts,Why King Iames ſtiled them Atheiſts. was, becauſe their firſt article of condi…ionall Election did draw them by an inevitable neceſſitie to the maintenance of Vorstian impiety; For make me once Gods eternall decree poſterior and dependant from faith, repentance, perſeverance, and ſuch works, which they make flow from the free-will of changeable men; that decree of God will bee changeable, it will be a ſeparable accident in him; God will be a compoſed ſubſtance of ſubject, & true accidents, no more an abſolute ſimple eſſence, and ſo no more God. Vorstius ingenuitie in profeſſing this compoſition is not miſliked by the moſt learned of the Belgick Arminians, who uſe not as many of the Engliſh, to deny the clear conſequēces of their doctrine, if they be neceſſary, though never ſo abſurd. However in this very place Montagu maintaines very Vorstian Atheiſme, as expreſly as any can doe, making the divine eſſence to be finite, his omnipreſence not to bee in ſubſtance, but in providence,(m)Appeale p. 49. the Stoicks among others held that paradox of old, Deum ire per omne terras tractuſmaris, coelumque profundum. They meant it ſubſt…ntially, and ſo impiouſly. Chriſtians doe hold it too, but diſpoſively in his providence. and ſo making God to be no G…d. This, though long agoe by learned Featlie, objected in print to Montagu, lyes ſtill upon him without any clearing. Certainly our Arminians in Scotland were begun both in word and writt to undertake the diſpute; for all that Vorstius had printed; I ſpeake what I know, and have felt oft to my great paines.
Arminianiſme is a chaine, any one linck wherof, but ſpecially the firſt will draw all the reſt, yet ſee the other alſo expreſſed by Montagu. In the articles of grace and freewill,They teach the third and fourth article. not onelie he goes cleare with the Arminians, teaching that mans will hath ever a facultie to reſiſt, and oftimes according to the Doctrine of the Church of England, actually doth reſiſt, reject, fruſtrate, and overcoms the moſt powerfull acts of the ſpirit and grace of God, even thoſe which are employed about regeneration, ſanctification, juſtification, perſeverance.(n)Appeal. p. 89. S. Steven in terminis hath the very word foreign, you reſiſt, nay, fall croſſe with the holy Ghoſt, not ſuffering him to worke grace in you. If the Counſell meaned it de gratia excitante, praeveniente operante; I think no man will deny it de gratia adiuvante, ſubſequente, cooperante; there is without queſtion in the naturall will of a regenerate man ſo much carnal concupiſcence, as may make him reſiſt and rebell againſt the Law of the Spirit. And if a man juſtified may fall away from grace, which is the doctrine of the Church of England, then without queſtion your ſelves being judges, he may reſiſt the grace of God offered. Not onelyonly doeth he thus farre proceed, but alſo he avowes, that all the difference which is betwixt the Church of England & Rome, in this head of freewill, to be in nothing materiall, (a) & reallie long agoe to be ended and agreed amongſt the moſt judicious and ſober of both the ſides.
(o)Ibid. p. 95. Thus having with as great diligence as I could examined this queſtion inter partes of free-will, I doe ingenuouſly confeſſe, that I can not finde any ſuch materiall difference betweene the Pontificians, at leaſt of better temper, and our Church.For the fifthAlſo the fifth. of perſeverance, he is as groſſe as any other Remonſtrant or Molinean Ieſuite, profeſſing, that no man in this life can have more aſſurance not to fall away both totally and finally from all the grace he gets, then the divels(p)Antigag. p. 161. Man is not likely in the State of grace to be of an higher alloy then angels were in the ſtate of glory, then Adam was in the ſtate of innocencie. Now if Adam in paradiſe, and Lucifer in heaven did fall and loſſe their originall eſtate, the one totally, & the other eternally, what greater aſſurāce hath any man in the ſtate of proficiencie, not of conſumatiō had once in heaven, and Adam once in paradiſe.
Behold the Arminian enſigne fairly now diſplayed in England by the the hands of Montagu and White, under the conduct of D. Laud, Biſhop of S. Davids, even then the Preſident and chiefe of Eccleſiaſticall affaires, of the Duke of Buckinghames ſecret Counſel. At the firſt ſight of this black banner, a number of brave Champions got to their armes; pulpits over all England rang, preſſes ſwat againſt the boldneſſe of that, but ſmall hand full then of courtizing Divines. Their craftie leader ſeeing the ſpight of oppoſition, and finding it meet for a little to hold in, and fold up his diſplayed colours, did by the Duke his Patron perſwade the expediency of that pollicie, which the Ieſuites had immediately before, for that ſame very deſigne moved the Roman conſiſtorie to practiſe. He obtained a Proclamation, commanding ſilence to both ſides,Silence by proclamation injoyned to both ſides. diſcharging all preaching, all printing in theſe controverſies, a ſtricting to the cleare, plaine and very grammaticall ſenſe of the articles of England in theſe points, without all further deductions. By this means his intentiōs were much promoved, opē avowers of Arminianiſme were by publicke authority ſo ex…emed from any cenſure, a reall Libertie was thus proclaimed over all the Land, for any who pleaſed to embrace Arminianiſme without oppoſition.
Hereby in two or three yeares the infection ſpread ſo farre and broad, that the Parliament was forced in the 28. to make the encreaſe of Arminianiſme The Arminians in England advanced.their chiefe grievance to his Majeſtie; But at that time D. Laud was growne greater. He had mounted up from the Bath to London, and to make a ſhew there in Parliament of his power, in the eye of all the complainers, hee raiſed up Montagu to the Epiſcopall Chaire of his owne Dioceſan, D. Carletoun, who had lately chaſtiſed him in print for his Arminian appeal. D. White his other chiftane, that all great ſpirits might be encouraged to run the wayes which D. Laud pointed out to them, in deſpight of theſe Parliamentarie Remonſtrants, was advanced from Biſhoprick to Biſhoprick, till death at the ſtep of Elie did interrupt the courſe of his promotion, that to Wren a third violent follower of his Arminian Tenets, way might be made for to climb up the remaining ſteps of the Ladder of his Honours.
Now to the end that the world may know, that my lord of Canterburie doth nothing bluſh at the advancement of ſuch men, heare what a publicke Teſtimony of huge worth and deſerving, hee cauſed his Herauld Peter Heylen to proclaime to that Triumvirat, not onelyonly at his owne directions, (for that moderate anſwer of Heylens is the Iuſto volumine, which his G. did promiſe to the World in his Starre Chamber-ſpeach) but alſo in name of Authoritie; If Heylen lye not, who ſayes: Hee writes that booke at the commandement of the ſtate: There after the cryaſſe of Canterburies owne extraordinarie praiſes(q)A moderate anſwer, pag. 78. you will be troubled to finde Canterburies equall in our Church, ſince K. Edwards reformation, whether yee look to his publick or pr…vate demeanours. the renown of his three underleaders, is loudly ſounded as of plaine non-ſuches.(r)Ibid. pag 84. White, Montagu, and Wren, whom you ſo abuſe, are ſuch, who for their endeavours for this Churches honour, fidelitie in their ſervice to the King, full abilities in learning, have had no equals in this Church, ſince the Reformation.
All theſe his Graces favours to his followers,Their oppoſites diſgraced and perſecuted. would have beene the more tolerable if hee would have permitted his orthodox oppoſites to have had ſome ſhare in their Princes affection, or at leaſt have lived in peace in their owne places. But behold, all that croſſes his way muſt downe, were they the greateſt Biſhops in the Dominions. For who elſe wrought the late Arch-biſhop ſo farre out of the Kings grace, that he remained ſome yeares before his death well near confined to his houſe at Lambeth? Who hath cauſed to be caged up in the tower that great & learned Biſhop of Lincolne? what ever elſe may bee in the man. What fray makes that worthie Primate Vſher to foretell oft to his friends his expectation, to bee ſent over Sea, to dye a pedant teaching boyes for his bread, by the perſecution of this faction, whoſe wayes he avowes to many, doth tend to manifeſt Arminianiſme and Poperie. This their reſolution to perſecute with all extremitie, every one who ſhall mint to print or preach any thing againſt Arminianiſme, they avow it openly, not onelyonly by deeds (for why elſe was poore Butter caſt by Canterburie in the Fleet for printing of B. Davenants letter to B. Hall againſt ſome paſſage of A…minianiſme at the Authours direction as we ſee it ſet downe by Huntly in his Breviate) but even in open print, for when Burton complaines to the King that he was ſilenced by Canterburie for expounding of his ordinary text Rom. 8: Whom God had predestinate thoſe he hath called, and applying it to the preſent Pelagianiſme and Poperie of the Arminians, Christopher Dow (s)Chr. Dow. Anſwer to Burton. Mr. Burton did preach on the higheſt point of predeſtination in a controverted way with diſputes and clamarous invectives againſt thoſe who diſſented frō him in opinion, his queſtioning & ſuſpending for this cauſe, was nothing contrary to his Majeſties declarations. Ibid. pag. 40. Bee it ſo that the doctrine of election, effectuall vocation, aſſurance o… perſeverance, are by the Kings declaration ſuppreſſ…d, rather then the peace of the Church ſhould be diſturbed, we might truely ſay of that time when his Majeſties declaration was publiſhed, that men were uncapable of theſe doctrines, when men began to chyde, and to count each other Anathema, as it was with our neighbours, it began to be with us, was it not time to enjoyne both ſides ſilence? By this meanes you ſay, there is no Miniſter, not one among thouſand that dare clearely preach of theſe moſt comfortable doctrines, and ſo ſoundly confute the Arminian hereſie. Bleſſed be God that there are ſo few who dare, and I wiſh thoſe few who dare, had ſhewed more obedience to his Majeſtie.approven by Canterburies Chaplane, & P. Helen directed to ſpeake for Canterburie himſelfe doth not ſtand to affirme, that this was a cauſe well deſerving all the ſufferings he complained off.
Canterburie & his followers contrary to the proclamation, goe on ſtill to print, let be to preach their Tenets.Could any here but expect of his Graces wiſdome and loyaltie, when his ſollicitude appeareth to diſgrace and puniſh without reſpect of perſons all who in contempt, as hee ſaith, of the Kings proclamation will not deſiſt from the publick oppugning of Arminianiſme, that on the other hand the preachers & printers for Arminianiſme according to that ſame proclamation ſhould be put to ſome order; yet this is ſo far neglected, that all who are ſo affected, Couſins, Colin…s, Beel in Cambridge, Potter and Iackſon in Oxfoord, and many more prime Doctours in both Univerſities in the cittie, in the Court, and over all the Land, boldly give out their minde to all they meete with, for the advancement of the new way, yea boldneſſe in running thoſe pathes hath beene knowne to have beene the high way in all the three Dominions theſe yeares bygone to certaine promotion in many men who to the worlds eyes had no other ſingular eminencie of any good parts.
But that his Graces tramping upon the Kings Proclamation may be yet the more evident, behold how he doth dayly diſpenſe both with his owne pen and thoſe alſo of his friends to write and print for Arminianiſme what they pleaſe.
White being taxed by Burtoun for his ſubſcription to Montagous appeal, is ſo far from the leaſt retractation, that the fift article of Apoſtacie & uncertaintie of ſalvation, which Burton did ſingle out of all Montagous errours, as moſt oppoſite to Chriſtian comfort, he maintaines it in his owne anſwer to the Dialogue; but as the cuſtome now is under the covert of ſome Fathers name, at great length with much bitterneſſe, and caſts out without provocation in his Treatiſe of the Sabboth, the firſt and ſecond article(t)P. 82. The benefitt of redemption, by the antecedent will of Chriſt is intended to all men living, though all men by reaſon of their own demerits doe not actually receive the Fruit of it. Voluntas antecedens eſt voluntas primaria & beneplacitum Dei ex eius nativa propenſione exiſtens, nullamque ſumans occaſionem ex nobis. Mr. Dow and Schelfoord uſe the ſame plaineſſe. Yea, in the 31. yeare that faction was ſo malapeart, as to ſet out the hiſtoricall narration, by one M. A. Ileward, wherein all the Articles of Arminius at length, with theſe falſe and bitter calumniations of our doctrine; Which are uſually chanted and rechanted by the Remonſtrants, are not onelyonly ſett downe as truths, but alſo fathered upon the firſt reformers & Martyrs of England.
That booke when it had beene out a while, was called in, not becauſe the Doctrines were falſe, not becauſe the ſtorie was forged, as that learned Knight S. Ʋmphrey Lyne by the ocular inſpection of the originall manuſcript did ſince demonſtrate, but the only reaſon of the calling of it backe, as his Grace makes Heylen declare to us, was, the dinne and clamour which Burtown, then one of the Miniſters of London, made againſt it.(w)Moderat anſwer, p. 121. The Hiſtoricall narration was called in alſo for your pleaſure.
Canterburie himſelfe is nothing afrayed to lend his own hand to pull downe any thing that ſeemes croſſe to Arminianiſme. The certainty of ſalvation, the aſſurance of election, is ſuch an eyeſore, that to have it away, hee ſtands not with his owne hand to cutt and mangle the very Lyturgie of the Church, otherwiſe a ſacred peace, and a noli me tangere in England in the ſmalleſt points, were they never ſo much by any cenſured of errour: Yet if any clauſe croſſe Arminianiſme or Poperie, his Grace doth not ſpare without dinne to expurge it, did it ſtand in the moſt eminent places thereof in the very morning prayers for the Kings perſon:
Here there was this clauſe fixed ſince the reformation (who art the Father of thine Elect and their Seed) this ſeemed to be a publike profeſſion, that it was not unlawfull for King Charles to avow his certainty and perſwaſion that God was his Father, and hee his adopted Childe, elect to ſalvation. His Grace could not endure any longer ſuch a ſcandalous ſpeach to be… uttered, but with his owne hand ſcrappeth it out. Beeing challenged for it by Burtoun, and the out-cryes of the people, hee confeſſeth the Fact; OnelyOnly for excuſe, bringeth three reaſons, of which you may judge:(x)Star-chamber ſpeach, p. 28 It was put out at the Ks. direction, in my predeceſſours time when the king had no children. Firſt hee ſaith, It was done in his predeceſſours time; Doth not this make his preſumption the more intollerable, that any inferiour Biſhopp, living at the very lugge of the Archbiſhop, ſhould mint to expurge the Lyturgie. Secondly, Hee pretends the Kings command for his doing.
Doth not this encreaſe his guiltineſſe, that he and his followers are become ſo wicked and irreſpective, as to make it an ordinare pranke, to caſt their owne miſdeeds upon the broad back of the Prince. Dare hee ſay, that the King commanded any ſuch thing motu proprio? Did hee command that expunction without any information, without any mans adviſe? Did any King of England ever aſſay to expurge the publike Bookes of the Church, without the advice of his Cleargie? Did ever King Charles medle in any Church matters of farre leſſe importance, without D. Lauds counſell?
The third excuſe: That the King then had no Seed. How is this pertinent? May not a childleſſe man ſay in his prayers, that God is the Father of the Elect, and of their Seed, though himſelfe as yet have no Seed? But the true cauſe of his anger againſt this paſſage of the Leiturgie, ſeemeth to have beene none other then this Arminian concluſiō; that all faith of election in particular, of perſonall adoption or ſalvation, is nought but preſumption:
That this is his Graces faith, may appeare by his Chaplans hand, at that baſe and falſe ſtorie of Ap-Evan by Studly, wherin are bitter invectives againſt all ſuch perſwaſions as puritanik deluſions,(y)Satan like an Angell of Light ſtirring up in the heart of immortified perſons a ſpirituall pride in a high conceit of their gifts, the aſſurance of their Election, illumination, converſiō, imaginarie ſenſe of their adoptiō, &c. yea, he is contented that Chounaeus ſhould print over and over againe his unworthie collections, not onelyonly ſubſcribed by his Chaplane, but dedicated to himſelfe, wherein ſalvation is avowed to be a thing unknown, and whereof no man can have any further, or ſhould wiſh for any more then a good hope.(z)Pag. 82. Salus eorum ſatis certa quamvis ipſis ignota, ex gratia & infinita ſua miſericordia det Deus hanc ſpem & ſua viſſiman huius ſpei plerophoriam, ampliorē non expectamus, And if any deſire a clearer confeſſion, behold himſelfe in thoſe opoſcula poſthuma of Andrewes, which he ſetteth out to the world after the mans death, & dedicates to the King: avowing that the Church of England doth maintaine no perſonall perſwaſion of predeſtination, which Tenet Cardinall Pirroun had obiected to them as preſumption.(z)Stricturae, we think it not ſafe for any man peremptorily to preſume himſelf predeſtinat. White alſo in his anſwer to the Dialogue, makes mans election a miſterie, which God hath ſo hid in his ſecret counſell, that no man, can in this life come to any knowledge, let be aſſurance of it, at great length from the 97. page to the 103. and that moſt plainly.
A demonſtration of Canterburies Arminianiſme in the higheſt degree.But to cloſe this Chapter, paſſing a number of evidences, I bring but one more, which readily may be demonſtrative, though all other were layd aſide. By the Lawes and practickes of England, a Chaplans licencing of a booke for the preſſe is taken for his Lord the Biſhops deed; So Helen approven by Canterburie teacheth in his Antidotum, (a)Pag. 3. Or if you be ſo dull as not to apprehend that, yet muſt the publiſhing of this Libel reſt in concluſion on my Lord high Theſauror the Biſhop of London at whoſe houſe the booke was licentiate, which is ſo high a language againſt authoritie, againſt the practiſe of this Realme, for licenciating of bookes againſt the honour of the Star-chamber, on whoſe decree that practiſe is founded, &c.and for this there is reaſon, for the Lawes give authoritie of Licencing to no Chaplane, but to their Lords alone, who are to bee anſwerable for that which their Servant doeth in their name. Alſo the Chaplane at the Licencing receives the principall ſubſcrived Copie which he delivereth to his Lord: to be laid up in his Epiſcopall Regiſter.
William Bray, one of Canterburies Chaplanes ſubſcrived Chounaei Collectiones Theologicae, as conſonant to the doctrine of the Church of England, & meet for the preſſe. The Author dedicated the Treatiſe to my L. of Canterburie, it was printed at London 1636. In this booke, the firſt article, which by the confeſſion of all ſides drawes with it all the reſt, is ſet downe in more plaine and foule tearmes then Molina or any Jeſuite; ſure I am then A…minius, Vorſtius, or any their followers ever did deliver,(b)Pag. 18. Non vidio rationem in contrarium quare cum quae est ex Deo per unam eandemque actionem bonitatis a ſeipſo emanantem, recta ordinatio fidei in Christum reſipiſcentiae, obedientiae, perſeverantiae, ſit cauſa ſalvationis perverſa quae ex hominibus eſt damnationis, non in eadem unitatis ratione, electionis & reprobationis etiam cauſa agnoſcantur. teaching in one Theſe thoſe three groſſe errours.
1. That mens faith, repentance, perſeverance, are the true cauſes of their Salvation; as mis-beleefe, impenitencie, apoſtaſie, are of damnation: Doeth Bellarmine goe ſo farre in his Doctrine of Iuſtification and merite?
2. That thoſe ſinnes are no leſſe the true cauſes of reprobation then of damnation.
3. That mens faith, repentance, perſeverance, are no leſſe the true cauſes of t…eir eternall Election, then mis-beliefe, or other ſinnes of their temporall damnation. Let Charitie ſuppone that his Grace in the middeſt of his numerous and weightie imployments hath beene forced to neglect the reading of a booke of this nature, though dedicate to himſelfe, albeit it is well knowne that his watchfull eye is fixed upon nothing more then Pamphlets which paſſes the preſſe upon doctrines now controverted, yet his Grace beelng publickly upbraided, for countenancing of this Booke, by D. Baſtwick in the face of the Star-chamber, and beeing advertiſed of its dedication to himſelfe, of the errours contained in it, yea of injuries againſt the King of the deepeſt ſtaine, as theſe which ſtrooke at the very root of his Supremacie and that in favour of the Biſhops:
When in ſuch a place Canterburie was taxed for letting his name ſtand before a booke that wounded the Kings Monarchick Government at the very heart, and did transferre from the Crowne to the Miter, one of its faireſt diamonds, which the King and his Father before him did ever love moſt dearly, no charitie will longer permitt us to beleeve, but his Grace would without further delay lend ſome two, or three ſpare-houres to the viewing of ſuch a piece which did concerne the King and himſelfe ſo nearly. Having therefore without all doubt both ſeene and moſt narrowly ſifted all the corners of that ſmall Treatiſe, and yet beene ſo farre from reproving the Authour, from cenſuring the Licencer, his Chaplan, from calling in the booke, from expurging any one jot that was in it, that the Treatiſe the ſecond time is put to the preſſe at London with the ſame licence, the ſame dedication, no letter of the points in queſtion altered; May wee not conclude, with the favour of all reaſonable men, that it is my Lord of Canterburies expreſſe minde to have his owne name prefixed, and his Chaplanes hand ſubjoyned to the groſſeſt errours of Arminius, and ſo to profeſſe openly his contempt of the Kings proclamation, for the pretended violation whereof be cauſeth ſtigmatize, mutilat, fine exceſſively, impriſon for time of life, very vertuous Gentle-men, both Divines, Lawyers, Phyſicians, and of other faculties.
What here can bee ſaid for his Graces Apologie, nothing commeth in my minde, except one allegation, that the point in hand croſſeth not the proclamation, diſcharging to proceed in thoſe queſtions beyond the grammaticall conſtruction and literall ſenſe of the articles of England.Arminianiſme is conſonant to the articles of Englād, and not contrary to the proclamation.
The Authour indeed in his Epiſtle dedicatorie avowes to his Grace that the Theſe alleadged, and all the reſt of his booke doeth perfectly agree with the Engliſh Articles in the very firſt and literall ſenſe, whereof the proclamation ſpeaketh.
(c)Nec videantur ſenſum articulorum eccleſiae Anglican… in literali & grammaticali nedum in affixo verborum ſenſu tranſgredi.And to this aſſertion the Licencers hand is relative as to the reſt of the booke; But of this miſerable apologie, which yet is the onelyonly one which I can imagine poſſible, this will bee the neceſſary iſſue, that the groſſe lye, which good King Iames put upon the bold brow of impudent Bertius, for his affirming that one article of the Saints apoſtaſie, let be other more vile Arminian Tenets, was conſonant with the articles of England, muſt be throwne backe from Bertius on the Kings face, and that in as diſgracefull a way as it was firſt given; Montagew and Whit…, with his Graces permiſſion, did give that venerable Prince long agoe the lye at home in Engliſh, affirming the perfect agreeance of the Arminian Apoſtaſie with the doctrine of England.
But this affront contents not his Grace, except this barbarous medecine, under the ſhelter of his Archiepiſcopall name be lie his Majeſtie over-ſea, and over the whole world, where the Latine is underſtood.
Beſide this ſhamefull inconvenience, another dangerous evill will neceſſarily follow from this Apologie, to wit: That the Arminian Doctrine may not onelyonly be tolerated in England, which yet, if King Iames may be truſted, cannot faile to draw downe upon England a curſe from God, ſhame from abroad, horrible ſhiſme at home, but alſo, ſince their groſſeſt articles are declared in print and in Latine, under the ſhaddow of Canterburies name, to be fully conſonant to the very litterall ſenſe of the Articles of England, all the members of that Church may be compelled preſently without more delay to embrace thoſe doctrines; and that any man is permitted in England to beleeve in peace the Antiarminian Articles, wherein Queene Elizabeth and King Iames did live and dye, it is of meere favour and the Princes merciemercy, who readily by the Archbiſhops interceſſion is diverted from preſſing the profeſſion of thoſe articles, according to the firſt and moſt litterall ſenſe, which now is clearely avowed to bee after Arminius; yea, Molina his minde.